Things To Do In SW Florida

By HALELUYA HADERO

It’s one of the most under-publicized policies of some of the biggest U.S. retailers: sometimes they give customers full refunds and let them keep unwanted items too.

Returnless refunds are a tool that more retailers are using to keep online shoppers happy and to reduce shipping fees, processing time and other ballooning costs from returned products.

Companies such as Amazon, Walmart and Target have decided some items are not worth the cost or hassle of getting back. Think a $20 T-shirt that might cost $30 in shipping and handling to recover. There are also single-use items, such as a package of plastic straws, that might be difficult to resell or medicines that could be unsafe to market again.

Analysts say the companies offering returnless refunds do it somewhat sporadically, typically reserving the option for low-cost objects or ones with limited resale value. But some online shoppers said they’ve also been allowed to keep more pricey products.

Dalya Harel, 48, received a return-free refund recently after ordering a desk from Amazon that cost roughly $300. When the desk arrived, she noticed it was missing some key pieces and would be impossible to put together, Harel said. She couldn’t request a replacement and have it within a reasonable time for the office of her New York lice detection removal service because the item was out of stock. read more

By Sally French, NerdWallet

The big screen version of the Broadway musical “Wicked” is set to defy more than just gravity; it could break box office records. According to NBCUniversal, “Wicked” is already the No. 3 best PG-rated first-day ticket pre-seller of all time on movie ticket website Fandango, which indicates high interest in the movie ahead of its Nov. 22 release date.

These weeks before and after the movie’s release is the ideal time to celebrate “Wicked” fandom in the U.S. and abroad. There are brand collaborations spanning everything from beauty products to Crocs to Starbucks’ lineup of “Wicked” drinks, including a green cold brew. There are even glossy pink and green “Wicked” luggage.

But where should you go since the Land of Oz isn’t an option? Here are some ideas for a “Wicked”-inspired vacation good enough to rival any trip to Munchkinland.

1. New York City

(Getty Images)

New York City is home to the Broadway version, which has been playing in the Gershwin Theatre since 2003. In 2023, it became Broadway’s fourth longest-running production. read more

TALLAHASSEE — Incoming House Speaker Daniel Perez on Thursday rolled out changes to House committees, while saying lawmakers have “spent taxpayer funds excessively and indiscriminately in the last few years.”

Perez, R-Miami, detailed a revised committee structure while also announcing a leadership team for the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions. At the same time, incoming Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, announced his leadership team, which includes outgoing Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, serving as chairwoman of the Rules Committee.

The Legislature will hold a post-election organization session Nov. 19, when Perez and Albritton will formally begin their new roles.

Perez announced what he called a “leaner” committee structure and renamed the Appropriations Committee as the Budget Committee. In making the name change, he cited an increase in lawmakers getting budget earmarks for projects and programs — what are known as “member projects.”

“Although seemingly a cosmetic change, it (the name change) carries a deeper philosophical point. We have spent taxpayer funds excessively and indiscriminately in the last few years,” Perez wrote in a memo to House members. “Member projects in the House budget have grown from $174 million in 2019 to $1.3 billion in 2024, which is a 645% increase. As elected officials, we should not be asking, ‘How much of the public’s money can we spend?’” read more

Boards of directors

Asif Ramji, founder and chief executive officer of Venture Worx, was appointed to the board of directors of Worth, Orlando.

Melinda McBride, senior vice president of partnerships and general manager at Equifax, was appointed to the board of directors of Worth, Orlando.

Sonali Sambhus, former senior vice president at Block Inc. (formerly Square), was appointed to the board of directors of Worth, Orlando.

Hospitality

Nibaldo Urdaneta was appointed executive chef at Park Avenue Tavern in Winter Park.

Law

Attorney Joel Ramos II has joined ShuffieldLowman’s Orlando office, practicing in commercial real estate.

Attorney Jonathan A. Hewett has joined ShuffieldLowman’s Orlando office, practicing in estate planning.

Real estate read more

Consumers who purchased long-term care insurance (LTC) policies several years ago have discovered that they did not have any protection from increases in premiums. State insurance departments in charge of regulating the industry have by and large allowed insurance companies to increase premiums for existing policies.

In many cases, consumers’ premiums have more than doubled, and such trends seem likely to continue into the future. And when their increased premiums become unbearable, most consumers who purchased policies years ago only have access to poor alternatives.

At the heart of this problem is that insurance companies largely mispriced these policies. They underestimated the future costs associated with nursing homes and assisted-living facilities. In addition, they made unrealistic assumptions regarding future interest rates, which in many years were much lower than they anticipated, which lowered the income they received from their investments.

Rather than admit their mistakes in pricing and suffer losses, the insurance companies have pleaded their cases with the state regulators, who all too often have been inclined to protect the insurance companies rather than the consumers who purchased the LTC policies. The insurance companies can only increase premiums with the approval of the state insurance department where the insurance company is registered. read more