HARTFORD, Connecticut, March 26 -- Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued the following news release on March 25, 2024: Attorney General William Tong announced today that Florida-based ghost gun dealer Steel Fox Firearms will dissolve in a settlement with the State (https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/AG/Press_Releases/2024/Steel-Fox---Exec-Stip-Judg---32124.pdf) following the sale of illegal, untraceable ghost gun parts in Connecticut. Steel Fox has agreed to dissolve, surrender its inter  more

EGLIN AFB, Florida, March 26 -- The U.S. Air Force's Eglin Air Force Base issued the following news: By Samuel King Jr. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics recently selected the 40th Flight Test Squadron's Advanced Capabilities Division the 2024 Aerospace Excellence Award. This relatively new 96th Test Wing unit that began in April 2023, is responsible for artificial intelligence and autonomy-based experimental aircrafts at Eglin. "This award is a culmination of tireless h  more

TAMPA, Florida, March 26 -- The Tampa Convention Center issued the following news on March 25, 2024: The Southeast Produce Council and its exhibitors donated 60,233 pounds of fresh produce after the Southern Exposure Retail & Food Service Conference & Expo, held at the Tampa Convention Center in March 2024. Southern Exposure is a trade show designed to bring the Southeast Produce Industry together with retailers, growers, food service distributors, and wholesalers. It brought approximately 1,3  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, March 26 -- The Florida Auditor General released the following financial audit (No. 2024-165) on March 21, 2024, involving Daytona State College. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY OF REPORT ON THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Our audit disclosed that the basic financial statements of Daytona State College (a component unit of the State of Florida) were presented fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with prescribed financial reporting standards. SUMMARY O  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, March 26 -- The Florida Auditor General released the following financial audit (No. 2024-164) on March 21, 2024, involving St. Petersburg College. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY OF REPORT ON THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Our audit disclosed that the basic financial statements of St. Petersburg College (a component unit of the State of Florida) were presented fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with prescribed financial reporting standards. SUMMARY  more

MIAMI, Florida, March 26 -- Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis issued the following news release on March 25, 2024: Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the arrest of Miguel Reyes, Jr. in Miami-Dade County on charges of Burglary, Arson, and Throwing a Destructive Device. On March 22, 2024, Miguel Reyes and another suspect were caught on a surveillance recording system approaching a local barbershop, shattering the front glass windows, and throwing two ignite  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, March 26 -- Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz issued the following news on March 25, 2024: Today, Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. announced March's chosen books for the Commissioner's Book of the Month, a monthly reading challenge to promote literacy and reading engagement in preK-12 schools. Each month, Commissioner Diaz highlights five recommended books- one per selected grade range. "In a world filled with endless distractions, it's key that w  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, March 26 -- The Florida Public Service Commission issued the following weekly summary of orders in the electric industry division docket: * * * DOCKET NO. 20210015-EI DATE FILED: 03/25/2024 ORDER NO. AND DESCRIPTION: PSC-2024-0078-FOF-EI Supplemental Final Order PSC-2024-0078-FOF-EI affirming Order PSC-2021-0446-S-EI, as amended by Order PSC-2021-0446A-S-EI and supplemented by this order; docket to be closed. DOCKET TITLE: Petition for rate increase by Florida Power &  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, March 26 -- The Florida Public Service Commission issued the following weekly summary of orders in the water and wastewater industry division docket: * * * DOCKET NO. 20220064-WS DATE FILED: 03/25/2024 ORDER NO. AND DESCRIPTION: PSC-2024-0079-CO-WS Consummating Order PSC-2024-0079-CO-WS makes Order PSC-2023-0305-PAA-WS, amended by Order PSC-2023-0305A-PAA-WS effective and final; docket to remain open. DOCKET TITLE: Application for transfer of water and wastewater faci  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, March 26 -- The Florida State Senate issued the following statement on March 25, 2024, by State Sen. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach: * * * Senator Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach) today released the following statement regarding House Bill 3, which requires social media platforms that employ algorithms combined with deceptive design features to perform reasonable age verification and calls for commercial entities that publish or distribute material harmful to minors on websites and ap  more

MIAMI, Florida, March 26 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release: On March 22, four defendants were sentenced to federal prison following their convictions for conspiracy to rob drug-traffickers of their narcotics, money, and other property. Three of the defendants, Palacio Valdes Farley, aka BoBo, 43, Joassaint Josiah Aristil Jr., aka JoJo, 28, Jamar Brandon Nattiel, aka Debo and D-Boy, 47, were convicted by a jury in Dec  more

MIAMI, Florida, March 26 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, issued the following news release: On March 22, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida ordered a man to remove a shipping container and floating docks on which it rested from Lake Worth Lagoon near Palm Beach, Florida. A 2021 complaint alleged that Fane Lozman violated the Rivers and Harbors Act (RHA) by placing the shipping container - which Lozman modified to include w  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, March 26 -- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued the following news release: Looking for a way to show your support of Florida panther conservation? Consider getting the newly designed Protect the Panther License Plate whether you are renewing your Florida plates or licensing your car in the state for the first time. Staff with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) worked with photographer Carlton Ward and the Fish & Wildlife   more

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Internal Revenue Service issued the following news release on March 25, 2024: The Internal Revenue Service announced today that almost 940,000 people across the nation have unclaimed refunds for tax year 2020 but face a May 17 deadline to submit their tax returns. The IRS estimates more than $1 billion in refunds remain unclaimed because people haven't filed their 2020 tax returns yet. The average median refund is $932 for 2020, and  more

MACDILL AFB, Florida, March 26 -- The U.S. Air Force MacDill Air Force Base (6th Air Mobility Wing) issued the following news: By Senior Airman Michael Killian, 6th Air Refueling Wing The Tampa Bay AirFest, known for its stunning aerial displays and as a beacon for aviation enthusiasts, holds a special place in the heart of U.S. Marine Corps Major Adam Luff, Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Commander of United States Special Operations Command. From a young age, Luff was captivated by the power and   more

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida, March 25 -- The U.S. Central Command issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. - U.S. Central Command conducted an air drop of humanitarian assistance into Northern Gaza on March 25, 2024, at 12:10 p.m. (Gaza time) to provide essential relief to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict. The joint operation included two C-17 U.S. Air Force aircraft, and U.S. Army Soldiers specialized in aerial delivery of U.S humanitarian assistance supplies. U.S. C-17s   more

MIAMI, Florida, March 26 -- Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava issued the following news release on March 25, 2024: On Monday, April 1, 2024, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava will announce Miami-Dade's next Poet Laureate. Two years after Inaugural Poet Laureate Richard Blanco was appointed in April 2022, he will pass the baton at the press conference. Who: Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava Ray Baker, Director, Miami-Dade Public Library System Nicole Tallma  more

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, March 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina issued the following news release on March 25, 2024: A newly unsealed federal indictment charges two individuals for their roles in a conspiracy to buy and sell stolen high-end vehicles worth millions of dollars, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The defendants are also charged with gun offenses. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Cha  more

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, March 26 -- The U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve issued the following news release: By Lance Cpl. Sarah Pysher, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces South held a change of command ceremony March 21, 2024, here. U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. David Bellon relinquished command to Lt. Gen. Leonard Anderson IV during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans. Later that day, Bellon retired from the Marine Corp  more

CINCINNATI, Ohio, March 26 -- The Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded seven competitive financial assistance grant awards to the minority serving institutions (MSI) shown below, as a result of its Office of Environmental Management (EM) Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP) Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0002820. The awards will focus on enhancing MSI programs to h  more

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, March 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania issued the following news release: The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that John H. Johnson and Paula Z. Johnson, both age 62, of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging them with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. John H. Johnson also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to   more

HURLBURT FIELD, Florida, March 26 -- The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command issued the following news: By Maj. Jessica Gross & 1st Lt. Cassandra Saphore, Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs Air Force Special Operations Command, in collaboration with the United States Space Force Special Operations Element (USSFSOE), unveiled the 527th Space Aggressor Squadron full suite of capabilities for the first time during its annual Emerald Warrior exercise, underscoring the unique  more

HURLBURT FIELD, Florida, March 26 -- The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command issued the following news: By Maj. Jessica Gross & 1st Lt. Cassandra Saphore, Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs Air Force Special Operations Command, in collaboration with the United States Space Force Special Operations Element (USSFSOE), unveiled the 527th Space Aggressor Squadron full suite of capabilities for the first time during its annual Emerald Warrior exercise, underscoring the unique  more