After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton

Purchasers of certain Skechers Resistance Running athletic shoes may be in line for a refund as part of a $45 million settlement between Florida, 42 other states, the Federal Trade Commission and the maker of the footwear, Skechers USA Inc. Attorney General Pam Bondis office reported Wednesday on the settlement that resolves health-related claimsthe company made in marketing its line of rocker-bottom shoes.

On Wednesday, Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies (Crossroads GPS), a conservative political group affiliated with Republican strategist Karl Rove, unveiled a new ad that will run in Florida and nine other battleground states that hammers President Barack Obamas record on economic issues.

A former insurance agent from Palm Harbor was arrested for allegedly running a scam aimed at seniors where details of financial products were misrepresented, according to the office of Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. Neal Seth Smalbach, 49, was charged with grand theft after an investigation by the state Department of Financial Services Division of Insurance Fraud revealed Smalbachs misrepresentations resulted in an estimated $4.6 million being invested by seniors in products that were unsuitable for them, the CFO office reported.

Gov. Rick Scott will attend the Hurricane Conference being held Wednesday at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/ Broward County Convention Center. More than 1,600 emergency managers, rescue workers and public officials are expected to be in attendance at the conference that is spending time recalling Hurricane Andrew, which devastated South Florida 20 years ago.