(PHOTO: State treasurer's office)

It was a good year for returning lost property.

The treasurer’s office exceeded its previous record of returning $32.8 million in unclaimed property. Wisconsin State Treasurer Kurt Schuller continues to dole out misplaced or forgotten property to happy recipients in the state. No matter how much money he returns to the rightful owners, Schuller says, he just keeps finding more. “I started out the year with $405 million; I gave back $33.5 million and I still have $411 million to give back.”

Schuller says more than 26,000 Wisconsinites got a check from his office this year, that’s money they didn’t know they had. So, where is the money coming from; what exactly is unclaimed property? “We’re talking about stocks that were bought long ago in the family name, bank accounts, safety deposit boxes, insurance policies that demutualized, bank accounts that you forgot about — you moved, utility deposits.”

Schuller says there are many ways people lose track of money, but relocation is a big reason. He says when people move, businesses or old employers might not know how to contact them. Schuller says he used facebook to track down a woman who had $225,000 coming to her. The treasurer’s office is currently working with the state Veterans Department to get a hold of over 4,000 Wisconsin veterans who are unaware of their unclaimed property.

Schuller’s office returned $33,891,714 this year, over $1 million more than last year’s record of $32,836,258. Begin your search immediately by accessing the unclaimed property database 24/7/365 or call 877-699-9211 to speak with a claims examiner.

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:46

Several families in Janesville will have some extra holiday cheer, after anonymous donors paid off their K-Mart layaway bills.

It’s a phenomenon being seen at several stores across the country. Store assistant manager Vicki Collier-Vereb says the donations have come from multiple sources and have ranged from between $50 to $300.

AUDIO: Vicki Collier-Vereb (:19)

Several of the donors have come in to the store, although at least one person called from another state.

Collier-Vereb say many recipients of the random generosity are near tears when they find out their bill has been paid off. She believes those stepping up with the donations are “paying forward” some goodwill to help families feeling the financial pinch.

Beth Wheelock, WCLO

(PHOTO: Courtesy of Rep. Paul Ryan's office)

The editors at Time Magazine call House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan “the most influential American politician.” However, the Janesville Republican does not get the highest honors; the Person of the Year designation goes to a composite person: “the protester.”

Ryan is surprised and gratified to be recognized as a runner-up, saying he’s just doing his job. “I was very surprised to hear about it. I’m just very humbled and it’s simply because I’m trying to put solutions out there to fix this crisis.”

Time gives Ryan kudos for being able to harness his party’s support for a dramatic budget plan necessary to “defuse the American debt bomb.” The magazine says Ryan had the “courage to look the future in the eye.”

Time cited Ryan’s “hard work, good timing, and possibly suicidal guts.” Ryan responds, “The way I look at this … if you want to be good at this kind of a job, you have to be willing to lose it. If you come to Washington and only worry about reelection, you’re not going to be an effective representative.”

Ryan, who was elected to the 1st Congressional District in 1998, says the people of southern Wisconsin sent him to DC to be “part of the solution, not part of the problem,” and that’s what he’s been doing — proposing ideas for growing the economy, paying off the debt, and preventing a debt crisis like the one in Europe. “To simply be acknowledged for putting those solutions on the table is very gratifying.”

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:25

A 15-year-old South Beloit boy rescued an alligator from the banks of the Rock River. His grandfather, James Gander, says Stephen found the two foot reptile on the south side of the Sherman Avenue bridge early Sunday night. Gander says the gator was moving very slowly until they took it indoors and it started snapping at everyone. Police officers who came to help turn the creature over to animal control even had their pictures taken with the unusual catch. The animal is now in the hands of Winnebago County animal services. Gander says the family also took pictures to document their story.

AUDIO: James Gander (:55)

Stan Stricker, WCLO

City of Madison officials are jumping to action over concerns that the WIAA is considering moving state high school basketball tournaments away from the UW-Madison’s Kohl Center.

The WIAA’s contract with the Kohl Center ends in 2013. The association is looking at moving the tournaments to Milwaukee or Green Bay because of conflicts with Badger hockey.

Mayor Paul Soglin says losing the tournaments to another city could result in a loss of more than $9 million in tourism revenues. He’s hoping the UW and the high school athletic association can reach some sort of agreement to keep student athletes coming to the Madison area each year.

AUDIO: Paul Soglin (:20)

Soglin says it just makes sense for the tournaments to be held in Madison, with students enjoying a chance to play in the same location as the Badgers.

A decision on where tournaments will be held in the future is expected within the next few weeks.

Robin Colbert, WIBA