COLUMBUS, Ohio — Over the course of the year, the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Unclaimed Funds hosts outreach events to raise awareness to help connect people with their missing money. However, no event can match the attention unclaimed funds have received following the Ohio legislature's $600 million plan to help fund a new Browns stadium in Brook Park.

News 5 traveled to Columbus to speak with Akil Hardy, the Superintendent of the Division of Unclaimed Funds. According to the Ohio Department of Commerce's annual report, there were 69,169 claims paid out in 2024. Hardy estimates that they've paid out that same number of claims in just the past two months and are on track for a record number of claims and money paid out this year.

"Right now, we’re going to blow it out of th

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