JIMMY PATRONIS

Gov. Ron DeSantis and state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis praised Ben & Jerry’s parent company for a decision that will allow sales of ice cream in Israel.

VIDEO: Central Florida firefighter seeking PTSD coverage gets boost from state leader Central Florida firefighter seeking PTSD coverage gets boost from state leaderBREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A local firefighter in a court battle to get coverage for PTSD treatment is getting support from the state’s Chief Financial Officer and Fire Marshal. READ: Record amount of unclaimed property returned to Floridians, CFO Patronis saysIn the filing, Patronis’ office explains the intent of state lawmakers was to expand PTSD care for first responders, not limit it. “You can’t hold it anymore.”READ: Longtime firefighter says his coverage of PTSD care was deniedWilliams was diagnosed a year and a half later with PTSD, but his request for medical coverage through his department was denied. I think the law is pretty clear, but I’m not in those offices making these decisions.”Patronis is intimately familiar with first responder benefits covered by state law. VIDEO: 9 Investigates: Local firefighter says coverage of PTSD care denied 9 Investigates: Local firefighter says coverage of PTSD care deniedClick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has cancelled a meeting of the Florida Cabinet again, prompting complaints of evasion from Nikki Fried.

More than $36 million in unclaimed property was returned to Floridians last month, the state’s Chief Financial Officer and Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis announced Friday.

Florida CFO: Central Florida sitting on nearly $400 million in unclaimed property The Orlando area holds nearly $400 million in unclaimed property, according to Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced Friday that nearly $400 million in unclaimed property has been returned to Florida residents in the last fiscal year. The $368 million returned is a record for a single fiscal year in Florida. VIDEO: Inside Florida's unclaimed property vault The Orlando area holds nearly $400 million in unclaimed property, according to Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis. Since taking office in 2017, Patronis says he’s returned more than $1.5 billion in unclaimed property to Florida residents.

Investigators tell News 6 the manipulation device was first uncovered in Orlando and Tampa last June and many lawmakers are not aware of it.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced several new proposals targeting fraud as part of the upcoming special session on insurance reform. Patronis said he plans to put forward five initiatives aimed at cracking down on fraud. Only about $6M has been distributed“We need teams that live and breathe property and casualty fraud, and we need to give state attorneys good cases,” Patronis said. Ron DeSantis has called for a special session to deal with property insurance issues. The special session is scheduled for May 23 through 27.

Patronis made the announcement at the Ocoee Fire Station on South Bluford Avenue, where he announced a $112,579 disbursement to the aforementioned effec

(NCD)ORLANDO, Fla. — Hurricane season is a month away. Patronis offers the following four tips that you can put into action now before hurricane season starts:1. Secure flood insurance coverage. There are over 30 insurance carriers writing flood insurance in Florida’s private insurance market. In addition, most flood insurance policies take 30 days to go into effect, so it is vital to act now.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is not as eager as the state's chief financial officer to bring Twitter's headquarters to the Sunshine State.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference Friday in the Florida Panhandle.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — More than $37 million in unclaimed property was returned to Floridians in February, chief financial officer Jimmy Patronis said. The Division of Unclaimed Property has returned more than $269 million to Floridians this fiscal year. Since 2017, more than $1.6 billion has been returned to Floridians in unclaimed property. The most common types of unclaimed property are dormant bank accounts, unclaimed insurance proceeds, stocks, dividends, uncashed checks, deposits, credit balances and refunds, the Florida Department of Financial Services said. To check if you have unclaimed property, click here.

The governor issued Executive Order 22-54 to declare a state of emergency in Bay County after the wildfires engulfed eight homes and led to the evacuation of thousands more, with weather conditions expected to maintain a moderate drought in the area for at least the next three days, according to the order.

Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference Friday in the Florida Panhandle to give out millions of dollars in relief funds to communities in northwest Florida.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Chances are you know someone who’s been a victim of identity theft, but how do you prevent becoming a statistic yourself? Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is offering tips to Floridians to help protect themselves against identity theft in recognition of Identity Theft Awareness Week. “There are many ways you can protect yourself on a daily basis, from taking precautions while online to checking your credit report periodically,” Patronis said in a statement. Be careful with your Social Security number: Your social security number is a major target for identity thieves because it can give them access to your credit report and bank accounts. Check your credit report: At least once a year, obtain and review your credit report for suspicious activity.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Have you ever gotten a text message with a link from a number you don’t know? It may have been a relatively new kind of cyber fraud called “smishing.”Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is offering tips for consumers to avoid falling for these smishing scams, which use SMS or text messages instead of email messages to lure consumers to click on fraudulent links. READ: COVID-19 scams: How to prevent buying fake COVID testsThe Federal Trade Commission offers the following tips on how to recognize suspicious text messages. Scammers also send fake messages that claim they have some information about your account or a transaction. The scammers may:READ: Stealth omicron: New COVID-19 variant seen in 40 countriesSay they’ve noticed some suspicious activity on your account.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — If you live in Florida now or you used to, today could be your lucky day. The state said Friday that it gave back millions of dollars worth of unclaimed property to its residents last month. For all of 2021, state treasury officials identified the rightful owners of $358 million in unclaimed property. “The most common types of unclaimed property are dormant bank accounts, unclaimed insurance proceeds, stocks, dividends, uncashed checks, deposits, credit balances and refunds,” Patronis said. He also noted that unclaimed property might show up in other ways, such as a safe deposit box that was abandoned at a bank.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida officials are encouraging Floridians to dispose of their Christmas trees quickly after the holidays to prevent fires. Nearly 30% of Christmas tree fires occur in January, Patronis said. “While it may be tempting to leave the Christmas tree up longer this year, it is extremely important to take down the tree quickly to prevent a fire-related tragedy,” Patronis said. Many communities offer a Christmas tree recycling program and have specific drop-off locations or procedures for disposal. Do not burn your Christmas tree without checking with your local community for their open burn regulations.

The fire service community came together on Thursday to honor Florida’s fallen firefighters.

It would appear that the fast-food chain with Bible verses on the packaging is not interested in relocating to the “Fauci-free” peninsula of the South....

In-N-Out Burger has no plans to move the headquarters or open a location in Florida at this time despite a recent phone call between Gov. Ron DeSantis and In-N-Out Burger President Lynsi Snyder-Ellington.

Gov. Ron DeSantis had a call with In-N-Out Burger president Lynsi Snyder-Ellington at 2 p.m. on Monday.

Polk County firefighter says state law will help him in fight against cancer.

Florida's CFO Jimmy Patronis is pushing to bring the iconic West Coast burger chain In-N-Out to Florida, following the chain's pushback against vaccine mandates in...

Instead of a check for $1,000, a Titusville waitress received a check for $175 with an explanation that the missing funds were directed to the DEO because of an unemployment benefits overpayment.

Gov. Ron DeSantis commemorated the three-year anniversary of Hurricane Michael at a news conference Friday morning in the Florida Panhandle.

DeSantis and other Republicans slammed Biden’s vaccine mandate requiring employers with more than 100 workers to require vaccines.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is holding a news conference in Alachua County.

Florida could place Ben & Jerry’s on a “scrutinized” companies list that prohibits government contracts or investments, because the ice-cream maker plans to stop doing...

Texas is getting involved in Israel's battle with the socially conscious Ben & Jerry's ice cream brand.

It was the highest one-day toll since the building collapsed last Thursday into a heap of broken concrete. Patronis told The Associated Press that the ramp will permit heavy equipment to get closer to areas where debris needs to be cleared. The pancake collapse of the building has frustrated efforts to reach anyone who may have survived in a pocket of space. The possibility of severe weather prompted state officials to ask the federal government for an additional search and rescue team. Authorities said it’s still a search-and-rescue operation, but no one has been found alive since hours after the collapse on Thursday.

As more human remains emerge from the rubble of the collapsed Florida condo tower, the dead now include the first children.

As rescue crews continue their search for survivors, disturbing details are emerging about the structural history of the building.

The disaster in Surfside has drawn emergency crews from across Florida. The number on the ground is equal to what was deployed in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 hurricane that devastated the Panhandle in 2018, the state fire marshal said.

The fifth day of an unprecedented international rescue effort brought only grim news: Two more bodies were pulled from the twisted metal-and-concrete ruins of Champlain Towers South, raising the death toll on Monday to 11 and dimming prospects of finding survivors.

The arduous and heartbreaking task of recovering the bodies of victims at the site of the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo began overnight and continued into a somber Friday morning in Surfside.

Authorities say nearly 100 people are still unaccounted for after part of a 12-story beachfront condo building collapsed in a town outside Miami.

Hurricane season is already here and Central Florida leaders want to make sure all residents are prepared.

It’s Monday, May 31, Memorial Day, and time to commemorate the men and women whose profound sacrifices allow us to gather freely today.

Florida Republican leaders touted the state’s economy Wednesday and said they expect businesses to boost hiring as additional federal unemployment benefits end in the coming...

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a tax relief package into law that includes the state’s first-ever Freedom Week and extends the state’s Back to School tax-free period.

Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis will hold a news conference at the Sanford Fire Department.

Gov. Ron DeSantis will be holding a press conference in Temple Terrace Wednesday afternoon.

Patronis: 'We've got to figure out a way to make things easier for them' Declaring that Florida leaders "can and will do better" for the...

For the past decade, felons in Florida have had to wait at least five years after being released from prison before becoming eligible to have their civil rights restored. But last week DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet, acting as the Board of Executive Clemency, did away with the waiting periods, opening the door for so-called "returning citizens" to have their rights restored and possibly wiping out a backlog of thousands of other cases awaiting review. The revamped clemency rules also establish an expedited process for felons who have paid all of the legal financial obligations related to their crimes. "I think this is going to be a huge advancement toward reducing that backlog," she added. "What about the vast majority who can't afford the fines, fees, court costs and money that is owed to the government?"

ORLANDO, Fla. – One in five Sunshine State residents have unclaimed property, according to the Florida Department of Financial Services. Officials said more than $27 million in unclaimed property was returned to Floridians in February. CFO Jimmy Patronis said more than $349 million in unclaimed property has been returned since March 2020. [TRENDING: Video: Arrest of Naked Cowboy at Bike Week | 36,000 Fla. Republicans leave GOP | Man rescued 135 miles off Fla. coast]AdThe state released the most common types of unclaimed property: dormant bank accounts, unclaimed insurance proceeds, stocks, dividends, uncashed checks, deposits, credit card balances and refunds. More than $4.8 million was returned to people in the Orlando area in February.

Forty-three percent of the overall claims had been denied payment, according to the monthly report, published by state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis’ office. Nearly 46 percent of claims filed by health care workers and educators had been denied.Claims related to COVID-19 accounted for 31 percent of the 93,228 workers’ compensation claims filed in 2020. Herrle acknowledged that decisions about whether claims are compensable appear to be “all over the place.”“Inconsistency in the workers’ compensation system isn’t good, and that probably needs to be resolved,” Herrle said. It is supposed to provide workers who are injured on the job access to medical benefits they need to be made whole. “Maybe the Legislature should put some kind of moratorium on workers’ compensation carriers that you can’t just increase insurance.

Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami, wants the governor to call Cabinet meetings at least once every two months. The Cabinet officer calling the meeting would also get to propose the agenda. Cabinet meetings are set for Feb. 2, March 9, May 4, June 15, Aug. 10, Sept. 21, Oct. 26 and Dec. 14. They had planned eight Cabinet meetings for 2020 before schedules were changed because of the coronavirus pandemic. In 2018, the Cabinet held nine meetings, including two teleconferences.

Ron DeSantis’ handling of the coronavirus pandemic Thursday, as first-time unemployment claims in Florida were up last week from the holiday-shortened previous week. Last week’s Florida total was among the lowest for a seven-day period since pandemic-related unemployment exploded across the state and nation in March. Since the start of November, the state has averaged just over 26,000 new claims a week. However, the weekly uptick in claims could reflect mounting pressure on businesses as reported Covid-19 cases and deaths have again been on the rise. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has paid out nearly $19.1 billion, mostly in federal money, to almost 2.13 million unemployment claimants since March 15.

Florida’s CFO Jimmy Patronis, stopped in Central Florida Wednesday for his Rally at the Restaurant Tour. “We must provide our small business owners the confidence to be able to re-open without the fear of litigation,” said Patronis. Patronis, surrounded by legislators and business owners, said in the midst of a pandemic, he’d like to see Tallahassee pass liability protections for Florida businesses. It’s something business owners agree is a protection that’s needed. “Legislation is extremely important so that our small businesses can stay in business and continue to thrive whenever we get beyond this,” said business owner, Lauren Miller.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida’s top financial official is on a treasure hunt to find the owners of millions of dollars worth of unclaimed property. Jimmy Patronis, the state’s chief financial officer, announced Monday that the Orlando area currently has more than $359 million in unclaimed funds. Overall, Florida has $2 billion in unclaimed property. According to his office, one in five Floridians has unclaimed property. Patronis said to keep up with this month’s Holiday Money Hunt, follow the hashtag #FLHolidayMoneyHunt on Twitter.

In another major sign of how Covid-19 has damaged Florida’s tourism industry, about 6,700 layoffs are expected to hit non-union workers at Walt Disney World starting Dec. 4. On Tuesday, Disney Parks Chairman of Experiences and Products Josh D’Amaro advised employees of the pending layoffs. “We’ve had Disney parks open since July. He later encouraged the parks to increase their daily attendance after a summer surge in Covid-19 cases started to slow. Still, by the start of September, Disney and Universal scaled back operating hours due to low attendance.

Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody and state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis called for investigations Wednesday into former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg joining the effort to help Florida felons pay outstanding legal fees so they can register to vote in November. Before the money for the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition was announced, Bloomberg reportedly was putting $100 million into Florida to help Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential effort. The coalition has collected more than $20 million for a “Fines and Fees” fund established in response to a state law and a recent court ruling requiring felons to pay “legal financial obligations” — fees, fines, costs and restitution — to be eligible to vote. Felons and their advocates are racing against an Oct. 5 deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election. Volz said Tuesday his organization already has spent $5 million to clear up the court-ordered debts of about 5,000 convicted felons.

click to enlarge Photo via Desmond Meade/TwitterSheena and Desmond Meade and familyAfter his bid for a pardon was blocked Wednesday, Florida felons’ voting-rights leader Desmond Meade said the decision made him even more committed to continuing his work.Meade, a former drug dealer who has garnered international accolades after leading the drive to pass a 2018 constitutional amendment to restore voting rights for felons, said he’s been waiting two decades to have his civil rights, which include the right to sit on juries and run for public office, restored.“If a person with my record would have to wait, what does that say for everyone else?” said Meade, who has been able to register to vote thanks to the constitutional amendment, known as Amendment 4. “So my resolve is strengthened.”Meade, who’s been clean and crime-free for more than a decade, appeared Wednesday before the state Board of Executive Clemency —- comprised of Gov. The 2019 law requiring felons to pay outstanding fines and fees could prevent hundreds of thousands of felons from registering to vote.Fried also was among the critics of the clemency board’s decision Wednesday in Meade’s case.She said the board has signed off on just 30 restoration-of-rights cases since DeSantis and the Cabinet members took office in 2019. There’s a backlog of 24,000 felons seeking rights restoration with or without hearings.DeSantis also has not acted on more than 800 applications in which Patronis and Fried have given a thumbs-up, Fried said.“If restoring and protecting Floridians’ constitutional rights were a priority for this governor, it would happen —- but it’s not, so it won’t. And that’s a damn shame,” she said.

DeSantis and Patronis on Wednesday blocked Meade’s request for a pardon, with DeSantis saying the panel should take the issue “under advisement” until it can gather more information. The state’s labyrinthine and years-long clemency process prompted Meade and other advocates to initiate the constitutional amendment, which enabled Meade to cast a ballot in last month’s primary elections. Meade said his focus is on getting his rights restored in Florida, as a pardon would restore rights such as being able to serve on juries and have firearms. Critics have condemned the state’s clemency process as a remnant of Jim Crow-era laws designed to keep Black people from voting. The number is a stark contrast to more than 155,000 felons who had their rights restored under an “automatic” process initiated by Scott’s predecessor, former Gov.

click to enlarge Photo via News Service of FloridaFlorida CabinetWith Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried calling for a coordinated response by statewide elected officials to the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. And how we will conduct safe elections while ensuring the sacred right to vote. It is our job as constitutional officers to give the people answers. “You know we're on it because we understand how important it is. And so those are just a lot of things that, you know, are not necessarily under the Cabinet's purview at the same time.”

click to enlarge Photo via News Service of FloridaAgriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried teed off Monday on a wide range of economic, health and election issues that she says the state Cabinet and lawmakers should have addressed throughout the coronavirus pandemic.On the eve of a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, Fried said Gov. DeSantis make all the decisions at the margins of what's constitutional for the state. How is it possible in an unprecedented pandemic and unprecedented economic crisis that the Legislature has quote, nothing to do? DeSantis is counting on using the $5.8 billion Florida allocation of coronavirus relief funds to fill our revenue shortfall. At the end of that meeting, Fried asserted Cabinet members were “left in the dark” regarding the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.Patronis replied by comparing the state’s response to the pandemic to the actions of New York Democratic Gov.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Dan Crowder’s wait for unemployment benefits has turned into a 8-week test of endurance as the furloughed Disney worker waits for his first check from the Florida Department of Employment Opportunity. By April 19, an estimated 43,000 Disney World employees were out of work with health benefits still covered by the entertainment giant. Disney employees furloughed due to closures were automatically enrolled in Florida’s unemployment system known as CONNECT. Crowder’s wait for benefits seems to reflect the frustration hundreds of people have reported their benefits are “pending” without explanation. If you would like to help Dan Crowder or you have an unemployment issue email us at makeendsmeet@wkmg.com.

click to enlarge Photo via News Service of FloridaAgriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Tuesday reiterated a call for Gov. There are still too many key questions for which there are no current answers. "Now more than ever, the governor and Cabinet need to be meeting in the sunshine to coordinate the states response to COVID-19, Diamond said in a statement Monday. The governor should not use this state of emergency to put off Cabinet meetings. The governor and Cabinet should come together and work collaboratively and publicly to help all Floridians during this crisis.

Moodys concluded that a combination of tax revenue losses and increased Medicaid spending will wipe out the reserves of many states, including Florida. TALLAHASSEE A new analysis predicts that Florida might have to make deep budget cuts because of the economic collapse brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Moodys concluded that a combination of tax revenue losses and increased Medicaid spending will wipe out the reserves of many states, including Florida. In each scenario, Florida is projected to be one of 10 states whose budgets would be hit hardest. Patronis office did not know Tuesday how much Florida has received because of the increased federal Medicaid funding, staff told The News Service of Florida.

click to enlarge Photo via Florida Memory ProjectSheriff Willis McCall and an unidentified man with Charles Greenlee, Samuel Shepherd and Walter Irvin in the Lake County Jail, 1949Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and state Rep. Geraldine Thompson, D-Windermere, want exoneration for the Groveland Four, expanding on pardons granted in January by Gov. An exoneration would be an official statement that the four men didnt do the crime.Thomas was killed by a posse in Madison County after the rape accusation. Shepherd, Greenlee and Irvin were beaten to coerce confessions before they were convicted by an all-white jury.Greenlee, at 16, was given a life sentence. Shepherd and Irvin, both U.S. Army veterans, were sentenced to death. Greenlee, released from prison in the early 1960s, died in 2012.The pardons were supported by current Lake County officials.

Ron DeSantis and members of the state Cabinet on Monday named a Coral Gables securities lawyer to become Floridas third top financial regulator in less than two years. In a conference call lasting just over a minute, DeSantis recommended Russell Weigel for the job with a $166,000-a-year salary. DeSantis was backed by state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Attorney General Ashley Moody, while Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried abstained. DeSantis, Patronis and Moody ultimately decided to fire Rubin in July. DeSantis and the Cabinet share oversight of the Office of Financial Regulation.

Ron DeSantis and members of the state Cabinet on Monday named a Coral Gables securities lawyer to become Floridas third top financial regulator in less than two years. In a conference call lasting just over a minute, DeSantis recommended Russell Weigel for the job with a $166,000-a-year salary. DeSantis was backed by state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Attorney General Ashley Moody, while Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried abstained. DeSantis and the Cabinet share oversight of the Office of Financial Regulation. Fried, a Democrat, had been unsuccessful in repeated calls for DeSantis and the other Cabinet members, all Republicans, to name an interim leader for the Office of Financial Regulation.

"It's basically giving older people free medical braces but billing Medicare a crazy amount for the brace that's been sent out," Quilici said. Quilici said the Medicare setup ranked first among the top 10 robocall schemes reported in Orlando last month. Interest rate -- Visa alert system3. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis reviewed the robocall recordings, including the medical brace scheme. To learn more about the YouMail robocall data for Orlando, click here.

Lintao Zhang/Getty ImagesORLANDO, Fla. - The Federal Trade Commission's battle to track and block unwanted calls has already accumulated 239.5 million numbers on the agency's do not call registry. The new report, released Thursday, points to a staggering 5.4 million complaints about unwanted calls this year with 71% of those complaints linked to a robocall. According to the FTC, imposter calls are the "most-reported type of unwanted call, with 574,000 complaints." More than 4 million numbers were placed on the Feds do not call list this year. If you have a recording of an unwanted robocall, send it to Mike Holfeld at mholfeld@wkmg.com.

Ron DeSantis and state Cabinet members will interview five candidates to become Floridas top financial regulator but have canceled a meeting next week to allow more time for background checks. All but one of six applicants will be interviewed for the job, which opened this summer when former Office of Financial Regulation Commissioner Ronald Rubin was fired after sexual-harassment allegations. Schneider was secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation from 2015 until early this year. The only applicant not invited to be interviewed was Linda Charity, a two-time former interim commissioner of the Office of Financial Regulation. State Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis led efforts to oust Rubin.

One of the seven candidates to become commissioner of the state Office of Financial Regulation withdrew his name from consideration, according to the state Cabinet website. DeSantis and the Cabinet are scheduled to take up the commissioners job during a meeting next Tuesday. Former Office of Financial Regulation Commissioner Ronald Rubin, who was fired this summer amid allegations of sexual harassment, was paid an annual salary of $166,000. Last year, Drew Breakspear resigned as commissioner after Patronis pointed to a lack of cooperation, responsiveness, and communication from Breakspears office. Aides for the governor and Cabinet meet Wednesday and are expected to create a short list of applicants for the job.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Dozens of bidders got an opportunity to look at unclaimed items Friday ahead of the Unclaimed Property Auction this weekend. Armando Sancerni is a coin collector and said it's been a tradition for years to attend the auction. The fisher auction does a great job with the state over the years, and we've seen more and more people come out," Sancerni said. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said there's about 58,000 unclaimed items from safe deposit boxes from all over the state. The auction will start at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the DoubleTree Hotel Orlando Airport at 5555 Hazeltine Drive.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Imagine finding money or property you never knew you had just by making a phone call. The Central Florida portion of Florida's current unclaimed property covers 1.3 million accounts and is estimated to be worth more than $312 million. For example, unclaimed accounts in Orange County range from a few pennies to $28,000. Devin Galetta, a spokesperson for the CFO's office, said unclaimed property is a financial asset that is lost "or has been left inactive, unclaimed or abandoned by its owner." You can get details and review photos of many of the unclaimed items at FLTreasureHunt.gov.

U.S. Coast Guard photoWhether you pray, channel positive vibes, or just send good thoughts, I know two families who could really use all the help they can get. And if miracles can happen, I bet both families are hoping one will come their way, because the Coast Guard is hours away from suspending the search for the two missing boaters we've been talking about all week. After days of searching, the Coast Guard announced Thursday that if they aren't found today, the active search for the missing pair will be suspended at sundown. Final Delta IV missionThe final Delta IV Medium launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Launch Complex 37 carrying a GPS satellite on Aug. 22, 2019. United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Medium rocket lifted off for its final mission this morning and it was gorgeous.

Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet on Monday formally began the search for candidates to become the states third top financial regulator in little more than a year. The next Cabinet meeting is scheduled for Aug. 27, as an Aug. 6 meeting has been canceled. DeSantis and the Cabinet Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, Attorney General Ashley Moody and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis share oversight of the commissioner of the Office of Financial Regulation. She walked out of the Cabinet meeting before the vote to fire Rubin on Thursday, objecting the vote wasnt properly noticed. After the meeting, Patronis sidestepped questions about whether the public airing of complaints would make it difficult to find a replacement.

A recap and analysis of the week in Florida's state governmentTALLAHASSEE Summer is supposed to be a sleepy time in the Sunshine State capital. A scandal involving a financial regulator has rocked the Florida Cabinet. Meanwhile, DeSantis administration this week asked a state appellate court to revisit a decision that Florida officials argue injected confusion and uncertainty into the medical-marijuana industry. DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody backed Patronis call to end Rubins employment and begin the search for a replacement. I have refrained from saying much about this entire situation publicly, because I felt we as the Florida Cabinet needed to have all the available information, Fried said in the statement.

TALLAHASSEE Floridas top financial regulator was fired Thursday by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Cabinet members, after a controversy sparked by an employee lodging a sexual harassment complaint. DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody backed Patronis call to end Rubins employment and begin the search for a replacement. He labeled Rubins actions as outlined in a report by Office of Financial Regulation Inspector General Branden Perry as predatory behavior.Mr. Patronis public release of a redacted version of the initial sexual harassment complaint also is under review by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

FreeImages.com/Nimalan TharmalingamORLANDO, Fla. - Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis issued a warning Monday after a recent report from the Federal Trade Commission about a new imposter scam. According to the FTC, callers claiming to be from Medicare are asking people for their Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers and other personal information in exchange for free DNA testing kits. "Unfortunately, imposter scams are prevalent, and in 2018 alone consumers reported losing nearly $488 million nationwide." "Never share your personal information over the phone and stay up-to-date on the latest scam and fraud tactics." Here are three tips to avoid imposter scams:Government agencies will rarely, if ever, call you.

CLERMONT Members of the Clermont Fire Department participated in the state fire marshal's hurricane preparedness event in Orlando last week to meet with local agencies about hurricane preparedness as the hurricane season continues into its second month. Clermont Fire Assistant Chief Kathy Johnston also attended the event. "Clermont Fire Department urges residents to prepare for hurricanes in advance," Johnston said, echoing the message of State Fire Marshal and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis. On average, hurricane seasons produce 12 named storms, six of which become hurricanes, and three of which become major events. Hurricane preparedness information, guides and checklists for residents and businesses are available at the State of Florida website and at Lake County's website, www.LakeCountFL.gov/hurricane_guide/.