The Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) for the South Mountain Freeway was released on April 26, but as the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) continues to study putting the freeway down Pecos Road a group of Gila River Indian Community Landowners are stuck waiting for answers as their initiative — which could make it possible for the freeway to go on tribal land — is stalled by the Tribal Council.

"There’s a sucker born every minute” was originally coined by David Hannum, but we all associate it with P.T. Barnum, which proves the point that anyone can be a victim of scams and hoaxes if the line is made believable enough and the person being scammed wants to believe it. Such is the case with a scam currently being run by a group claiming to be from Microsoft but who are, in reality, salespeople.

It’s a call from a relative. It may be a grandson or a cousin. But this is one call you don’t want.

Attorney General Tom Horne did nothing wrong in transferring $50 million from a nationwide mortgage settlement to the state general fund to balance the budget, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.

Yes, it snowed in the Phoenix metro area last week, a phenomenon that caused weather forecasters to run with glee to report former records and caused our snowbirds to wonder why they escaped Minnesota to enjoy our sunshine. Yet, slow down, everyone … global warming is REAL.

Saying it will help prevent fraud, state lawmakers voted Wednesday to impose new burdens on some people seeking unemployment insurance.

The way state lawmakers figure it, it’s annoying enough to get an unwanted text message.

Forty nonprofit representatives recently discussed tax law amendments and education on fraud and embezzlement, which targeted private organizations in 2012, according to a BeachFleischman PC shareholder.

The way state lawmakers figure it, it's annoying enough to get an unwanted text message.

"Your entry last month has WON! Go to www.****.com to claim your FREE $1,000 Target gift card within 24 hrs.”

Editor’s note: The Ahwatukee Foothills News is proud to share with our readers this weekly consumer advocacy column from ABC15 Investigator Joe Ducey. Beginning today, you can find it regularly in print, online at Ahwatukee.com, or on our “AFNNews” mobile app (available for download now at Ahwatukee.com/onthego).

APS and SRP have received reports of individuals falsely claiming to represent the utility companies to collect payment for electric service.

Here’s a disturbing statistic: One out of every five Americans over the age of 65 has been victimized by a financial scheme, according to the Investor Protection Trust, a nonprofit organization devoted to investor education. If your parents are in this age group, should you be concerned? And can you help them avoid being “scammed” so that they maintain control over their finances?

Arizona legislators on Tuesday will review Attorney General Tom Horne’s plan for use of the state’s $6 million share of a multistate settlement with the drug company Johnson & Johnson.

Cyber Monday is a popular day for fast online deals, but it can also be a popular day for quick scams through fraudulent websites.

A day-long conference on homeowners’ rights under the National Mortgage Settlement will be at the Arizona State University Homeowner Advocacy Unit at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law on Oct. 19.

• 23 million Americans are out of work, have stopped looking for work, or are underemployed.

Divorce can be ugly, but with a Divorce Asset Search at least the financial part will be honest.

As the son of two immigrants, I watched my parents work incredibly hard. But because of good public schools and federal college aid, I was able to go from a kid whose parents didn’t speak much English to working for President Clinton in the White House and serving my country in uniform in the Navy reserve. That ladder of opportunity that is the bedrock of the American middle class is eroding and Washington isn’t doing enough to save it.

As the son of two immigrants, I watched my parents work incredibly hard. But because of good public schools and federal college aid, I was able to go from a kid whose parents didn’t speak much English to working for President Clinton in the White House and serving my country in uniform in the Navy reserve. That ladder of opportunity that is the bedrock of the American middle class is eroding and Washington isn’t doing enough to save it.

Arizona, already at odds with the federal government and civil-rights groups over immigration, is adding voter ID and the Voting Rights Act to the disputes.

I’m truly excited about the Aug. 28 Democratic primary for Congress because we have an opportunity to elect someone who can make a real difference for Ahwatukee families: my friend, Andrei Cherny.

I’m truly excited about the Aug. 28 Democratic primary for Congress because we have an opportunity to elect someone who can make a real difference for Ahwatukee families: my friend, Andrei Cherny.

WASHINGTON – Up to 1.76 million illegal immigrants could be eligible for a two-year reprieve from deportation under an Obama administration program that begins accepting applications Wednesday.

Phoenix police said another money scam has reached the Ahwatukee Foothills area, this time posing as a sweepstakes winning from Reader’s Digest.