by Ethan Faverino | Jul 17, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
As military families navigate permanent change of station (PCS) moves and renters search for new housing, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning consumers to remain vigilant against increasingly sophisticated scams that can result in the loss of thousands of dollars and sensitive personal information.
The agency says scammers often target people facing tight deadlines or major life transitions, including military members relocating on short notice.
Fraudsters commonly use fake rental listings, gift card payment schemes, cryptocurrency scams, and wire transfer requests to steal money before victims realize they have been deceived.
According to the FTC, rental scams remain one of the most common fraud schemes. Some scammers create listings for properties that do not exist or are not actually available for rent, while others copy legitimate listings, steal photos and descriptions, and report them with altered contact information. Many fraudulent listings advertise rent well below market value to attract prospective tenants.
One common warning sign is when a supposed landlord refuses to allow an in-person viewing, often claiming they are out of town or otherwise unavailable.
The FTC advises consumers to be cautious of anyone who pressures them to make a quick decision or demands payments before they have an opportunity to verify the property.
The agency recommends renters search the property’s address online to see whether it appears elsewhere under a different owner, management company, or rental price. Consumers who are unable to visit a property should have somebody who they trust tour it and verify it exists.
Military members can also seek assistance from relocation or housing referral offices at their new installation to identify legitimate housing options and avoid known scams.
The FTC also warns renters to protect their personal information during the application process. Fraudsters may request Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, pay stubs, or screenshots of credit card reports under the guise of processing an application.
Payment methods are another major red flag.
The FTC says legitimate landlords and businesses will not require tenants to pay using gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer. These payment methods function similarly to cash, making it extremely difficult or impossible to recover funds after they are sent.
Fraudsters often direct victims to purchase gift cards from major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Amazon, Apple, or CVS and may even remain on the phone while the victim buys and loads the cards. Once the victim provides the card number and PIN, the scammer can quickly drain the balance.
The agency is also warning consumers about cryptocurrency-related scams, which have become increasingly common as digital currencies gain popularity.
Unlike credit card purchases, cryptocurrency transactions generally do not include legal consumer protections or chargeback rights. Once crypto is transferred, it usually cannot be removed unless the recipient voluntarily returns it.
The FTC also warns that wiring money through services such as Western Union, MoneyGram, or Ria is essentially the same as sending cash. Once the funds are collected, recovering the money is typically impossible, and identifying the individual who received the transfer is often extremely difficult.
Consumers should never wire money to someone they have not met in person, anyone claiming to represent a government agency, or anyone demanding immediate payment.
To reduce the risk of becoming a victim, the FTC encourages consumers to research landlords and property management companies by searching online for reviews, complaints, or reports of scams.
Renters should compare prices with similar properties in the area, verify ownership records when possible, and obtain copies of rental contracts before sending deposits.
Anyone who discovers fraudulent rental listings should report it to the website where it was posted, the FTC, and their state’s attorney general’s office.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jul 17, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Arizona Republican Party has announced the grand opening of its new headquarters in Phoenix, the latest development in a series of organizational changes under Chairman Sergio Arellano aimed at strengthening grassroots operations and improving the party’s financial stewardship.
The celebration is scheduled for July 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the party’s new office, located at 4531 N. 16th St., Suite 114, in Phoenix. Arellano will be joined by Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters and KFYI radio host James T. Harris.
Arellano, who was elected chairman by state committeemen in Prescott in January said the new headquarters reflects his commitment to reducing costs and providing a more accessible and functional space for volunteers and candidates.
He noted that the centrally located office is intended to serve as a comfortable, user-friendly hub for grassroots efforts and party unity.
The move follows the party’s 2023 return to central Phoenix under then-Chairman Jeff DeWitt. At that time, the AZGOP purchased office space at 3033 N Central Ave. for $1.9 million using proceeds from the sale of its longtime headquarters at 24th Street and Osborn Road.
The acquisition ended a brief period in leased offices in north Scottsdale and provided more than 12,000 square feet of space, with plans to lease excess capacity to conservative organizations and Republican campaigns.
Party officials say the grand opening will celebrate both the new facility and what they describe as a return to fiscal responsibility and party cohesiveness.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jul 16, 2026 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Consumer prices declined on a month-to-month basis in June while annual inflation continued to moderate, according to the Joint Economic Committee’s latest Monthly Inflation Update.
The report found that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), the government’s primary measure of inflation, fell 0.42% from May to June. On an annual basis, consumer prices were 3.53% higher than in June 2025, down from the 4.25% year-over-year inflation rate recorded in May.
Core inflation, which excludes the more volatile food and energy categories, also eased. Core CPI declined 0.02% during June and increased 2.59% over the past 12 months, marking a slowdown from the previous month’s annual rate of 2.85%.
Energy prices were a major factor in the monthly decline. The energy index fell 5.71% in June after increasing 3.88% in May. Despite the monthly decrease, energy prices remained 15.70% higher than a year ago.
Food prices continued to rise modestly, increasing 0.21% during the month and 3.01% over the past year.
Inflation continued to vary across the country. The Northeast recorded the highest annual headline inflation rate at 4.3%, followed by the Midwest at 3.8%. The South and West each posted annual inflation rates of 3.2%
The June report also showed that workers experienced modest gains in purchasing power as inflation-adjusted wages increased. Real average weekly earnings for all private-sector employees rose 0.77% from May, while real average hourly earnings increased 0.80%.
For production and nonsupervisory employees, real average weekly earnings increased 0.55% and real average hourly earnings rose 0.81%.
The Joint Economic Committee noted that “real” earnings reflect wages after adjusting for inflation making them a better indicator of workers’ purchasing power. Weekly earnings are considered a more comprehensive measure of income because they account for changes in both hourly pay and hours worked.
The report also showed inflation came in below expectations. According to forecasts from the Cleveland Federal Reserve, economists had projected monthly headline inflation of a 0.06% decline and annual inflation of 3.92%. Instead, headline CPI fell 0.42% in June and the annual rate registered 3.53%, indicating inflation cooled more than anticipated.
Compared with June 2025, annual inflation remained elevated but continued its gradual moderation. Headline inflation stood at 3.53%, food inflation at 3.01%, core inflation at 2.59%, and energy prices remained the fastest-growing component, rising 15.70% over the past year despite their sharp monthly decline.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jul 14, 2026 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona taxpayers could face nearly $200 million in additional costs if the state fails to reduce its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment error rate in the coming years.
Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows Arizona’s SNAP payment error rate reached 10.8% in Fiscal Year 2025, ranking 33rd nationally and rising from 8.84% in Fiscal Year 2024.
Under changes enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), states with SNAP payment error rates below 6% by Fiscal Year 2028 will avoid cost-sharing requirements with the federal government.
States with error rates between 6-8% must provide a 5% match, those between 8-10% a 10% match, and states exceeding 10% a 15% match.
If Arizona’s error rate remains at 10.8% in Fiscal Year 2028, the state would be subject to the highest matching requirement.
Based on Fiscal Year 2025 figures, eight states recorded error rates below 6% (Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming), while six fell between 6-8%. Another 16 states posted rates between 8-10%, and 20 states exceeded 10%.
Zach Milne, senior economist at Common Sense Institute Arizona said the state has a strong incentive to improve its performance.
Mile told The Center Square, “Improving program accuracy strengthens program integrity and helps the state avoid potentially significant federal cost-sharing penalties.”
He described Arizona’s elevated error rate as a relatively recent development, noting that the state’s rate stood at 5.2% in Fiscal Year 2019 — below the new federal threshold.
The Arizona Legislature passed several measures during the 2026 session aimed at lowering the state’s SNAP payment error rate, but they were vetoed by Governor Hobbs.
Senate Bill 1002 would have expanded eligibility verification tools for the Arizona Department of Economic Security, while Senate Bill 1331 proposed work requirements for SNAP recipients age 60 and younger.
Senate Bill 1334 would have barred the department from seeking work-requirement waivers for able-bodied adults without dependents. House Bill 2206 sought to require the state to reduce its SNAP payment error rate to below 3% by 2030.
In her veto messages, Hobbs argued that the legislation duplicated ongoing efforts by the Department of Economic Security to improve accuracy, including enhanced eligibility verification, additional staffing and training, and investments in technology.
“SNAP is the most robust and effective anti-hunger tool we have in Arizona-I know this firsthand,” Hobbs said in her veto letter of the three Senate Bills. “It’s also the most secure, thanks to strong anti-fraud measures and oversight. Instead of creating more needless frustration for Arizona families, I invite you to join me in actually lowering costs for them.”
She also criticized H.R. 1 for imposing unfunded mandates that she said have strained agency resources, noting that she allocated $7.5 million to increase the department’s capacity. Hobbs maintained that the vetoed bills would have added further unfunded requirements without providing resources for implementation or modernization.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jul 14, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
A new analysis of federal traffic fatality data ranks Arizona among the nation’s most dangerous states for deadly hit-and-run crashes, underscoring the persistent toll of drivers who flee the scene of collisions.
Researchers at Andrew Pickett Law examined data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System covering 2019 through 2024.
Arizona ranked eighth nationwide for per-capita risk, averaging 1.55 hit-and-run fatalities per 100,000 licensed drivers. During the six-year period, the state recorded 535 hit-and-run deaths among 7,081 total traffic fatalities.
Arizona also placed 11th nationally for the share of traffic deaths involving a fleeing driver, with hit-and-run crashes accounting for 7.56% of all vehicle crash fatalities.
New Mexico led the nation in per-capita risk, followed by Louisiana (1.84) and Tennessee (1.83). California recorded the highest percentage of overall traffic fatalities involving hit-and-run drivers at 11.01% followed by Hawaii (10.03%), and Nevada (9.81%).
“Leaving the scene of an accident is a critical public safety crisis that costs thousands of lives every year,” stated personal injury lawyer Andrew Pickett. “Drivers need to understand that panic is no excuse. Staying at the scene, rendering immediate aid, and contacting emergency services is a universal responsibility that can mean the difference between life and death for an injured victim.”
The findings align with a recent report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, which found that hit-and-run crashes nationwide accounted for more than 919,000 police-reported collisions, nearly 243,000 injuries, and 2,872 deaths in 2023.
Arizona’s most recent statewide figures paint a similar picture. In 2024, the state recorded 16,136 hit-and-run crashes, resulting in 4,202 injuries and 86 deaths. That total represented an increase of 488 incidents compared with 2023.
Arizona law imposes severe penalties for leaving the scene of a crash involving death or serious physical injury. A conviction for a Class 2 felony hit-and-run offense can carry a prison sentence of up to 12.5 years for a first-time offender, in addition to lengthy license suspension, including a 10-year revocation in fatal cases.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
