Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Warns Tennesseans of Identity Theft

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The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) warned Tennesseans of identity theft during their Identity Theft Awareness Week. The week (Jan. 31 – Feb. 4, 2022) will include events to help spread awareness on the various forms of online theft, and how to protect personal information. 

According to the statement, the Federal Trade Commission’s Sentinel Network identified over 15,000 instances of identity theft across Tennessee in 2021.

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Tennessee Law Enforcement Veteran Chip Kain Will Serve in Dual Role as Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy Exec. Dir. and Exec. Sec. of the Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) announced this week the appointment of law enforcement veteran leader William “Chip” Kain to serve in a dual role as the new executive director of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (TLETA) and as the new executive secretary of the Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (POST).

“For over 50 years, TLETA has provided training that has been critical to the success of thousands of Tennessee law enforcement officers and the millions of Tennesseans they serve and protect,” said TDCI Commissioner Carter Lawrence. “Through an extensive nationwide search, Chip distinguished himself from the many qualified candidates with his experience, expertise, and customer-focused vision. I am confident that he will help lead TLETA into another 50 successful years because of his passion for training law enforcement officers and his proven commitment to serving Tennessee.”

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State Launches $1 Million Grant Program for Tennessee Volunteer Fire Departments for the Purchase of Equipment

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) announced Tuesday that a total of $1 million in grants will be made available to the over 500 volunteer fire departments across the state for the purchase of firefighting equipment. The TDCI and Tennessee State Fire Marshall’s Office (SFMO) partnered to make the grants available through the Volunteer Firefighter Equipment and Training Grant Program.

“We are grateful for the leadership of Governor Bill Lee and the General Assembly who increased the amount of funding to $1 million in order to help provide more support to Tennessee volunteer departments and their communities,” said Tennessee State Fire Marshal and TDCI Commissioner Carter Lawrence. “This program supports Governor Lee’s vision of strengthening Tennessee’s rural communities by providing more resources for our volunteer fire departments so that can help save lives and protect property.”

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Tort Reform Prompts Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Rates to Decline for Ninth Consecutive Year

Staff at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) announced Tuesday that, in 2022, workers’ compensation insurance premiums are likely to decline for most Tennessee businesses for the ninth consecutive year.

TDCI officials, in a press release, attribute the savings to workers comp reforms that the state enacted in the previous decade.

“Since Tennessee’s workers’ compensation system reforms began in 2014, loss cost reductions of over 59 percent have been approved, representing substantial savings for Tennessee employers,” according to the TDCI press release.

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Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Hosts Event That Educates People on How to Be Aware of Financial Fraud Schemes

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) held a FaceBook Live where they discussed how to be aware of financial fraud schemes. The group, hosted by PBS Book’s Fred Nahhat, discussed how to spot scammers, 

From 2020, Donna Lowry said that “the federal trade commission recorded more than 3.3 billon dollars lost to financial fraud schemes. It was up almost double from the year before.”

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Former Tennessee Commissioner Hodgen Mainda, Accused of Sexual Harassment, Has Uncertain Status with Leadership Tennessee

Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Hodgen Mainda has stepped down from his position after someone reportedly lodged sexual harassment allegations against him, and it appears Mainda might have also left his role on Leadership Tennessee’s Advisory Council. Leadership Tennessee’s website listed Mainda as a member of its Advisory Council on Wednesday. By Thursday, however, the Leadership Tennessee website no longer listed Mainda as a member of the Advisory Council.

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Tennessee Participates in Coordinated International Crackdown on COVID-19 Scams

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) Securities Division will participate in the COVID-19 Enforcement Task Force, an international investor protection initiative to crack down on schemes related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The North American Securities Administrators Association, of which Tennessee is a member, is coordinating the task force.

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Most Tennesseans Don’t Have Earthquake Coverage Despite Being Near New Madrid Fault Line

Most Volunteer State residents don’t have earthquake insurance, according to an official with the state’s Department of Commerce and Insurance. That matters because Tennessee lies along two fault lines — the New Madrid Fault Line in West Tennessee and the East Tennessee fault line. “Earthquakes can cause a great deal of damage that won’t be covered under your homeowners, renters or condominium insurance policy,” said Kevin Walters, spokesman for the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance in an emailed statement to The Tennessee Star. “These policies don’t cover damage due to natural disasters such as earthquake, flood and landslide. Your home is insured for earthquake damage only if you’ve added an endorsement to your policy or bought a separate earthquake policy. A homeowners’ policy and earthquake insurance don’t overlap, but work together to give your home more insurance protection.” A minor earthquake centered in East Tennessee recently reverberated into four surrounding states. Media outlets have already predicted a massive earthquake will strike this area of the country at some point. Nashville insurance agent Scott Koon told The Star Wednesday that some, but not many, customers have called in recent days inquiring about earthquake coverage. “I would say we have gotten…

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Family of Keri King Needs Financial Help After Alleged Illegal Immigrant Killed Her

If you’re out on the roads in Tennessee and a reckless driver without insurance kills you then your surviving family members might have to pay a massive sum of money for hospital bills or funeral costs. Especially if the driver is an alleged illegal immigrant who escaped the custody of the Tennessee Highway Patrol and is currently a fugitive. That’s exactly what the family of Keri King is dealing with right now in Bedford County — they have more than $35,000 in hospital and funeral costs brought on through someone else’s negligence. But, fortunately for them, staff members of a Shelbyville bank are collecting funds to help. As The Tennessee Star reported, Edgar Torres-Rangel was intoxicated in late October when he hit and killed King, 29, as she was on her way home. Torres-Rangel sustained his own injuries in the crash. Authorities transported him to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He later escaped the facility without anyone noticing. Officers with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation recently placed Torres-Rangel on their 10 Most Wanted List. Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance spokesman Kevin Walters told The Star Monday Tennessee law requires drivers to carry insurance. “Because Tennessee is an ‘at fault’ state, the…

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