Latest news with #Arizonans'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Arizona woman gets years in prison for using stolen identity to get health care
A Maricopa County woman was sentenced to nearly nine years in prison and ordered to pay restitution after she accumulated nearly $300,000 in medical bills using a stolen identity, prosecutors said. Between September 2022 and March 2024, Shannon Lee Smith, 48, used another woman's name to fraudulently obtain medical care from various hospitals and ambulance providers, according to a statement from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. The woman discovered her identity had been stolen when she received a bill from her insurance company for services she never received, the County Attorney's Office statement said. Smith received care at the Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, according to her indictment. She was ordered to repay Honor Health, Maricopa Ambulance, Radiology Partners, Mayo Clinic and Aetna, the insurance company, according to her plea agreement. "The impact of identity theft goes far beyond the financial implications," said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. "It takes away a victim's peace of mind and leaves them to deal with the fallout of having false information tied to their name. I am proud of the work our prosecution team has done to hold the defendant accountable and allow the victim to start reclaiming her life." Victimized: Arizonans' stolen personal information used in large-scale fraud scheme This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona woman gets prison for using stolen identity for health care
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
8 States Changing Their Crypto Policies — Is Yours One of Them?
Unless you've been living under a rock, you've surely heard about cryptocurrency by now or have at least heard the term. Over the past several years, cryptocurrency has emerged as an alternative currency that can be bought and sold as a digital asset. While some have embraced crypto like President Trump, others have not and this includes some U.S. states. Read Next: For You: PYMNTS reported that since Trump took office for his second term, he's pushed the idea of creating a crypto reserve with plans to make the U.S. the capital of cryptocurrency. In March, Trump signed an executive order to create a 'Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.' The order mandates the establishment of a 'United States Digital Asset Stockpile' to serve as a secure account for the management of federally held digital assets. Discover Next: It's explained that the U.S. government currently holds a significant amount of Bitcoin (BTC), but has yet to implement a policy to maximize Bitcoin as a 'unique store of value in the global financial system.' Ultimately, Trump wants to harness the power of crypto to the country's advantage. While the president is taking action to make crypto a relevant store of value at the federal level, some states that initially set out to establish their own crypto reserves are walking back the idea. Some states had plans to allocate a percentage of their public funds to invest in Bitcoin. But now, these states are rejecting the proposed crypto legislation: Florida Arizona Montana North Dakota Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Dakota Wyoming For example, AInvest reported that a pair of bills proposed in Florida, House Bill 487 and Senate Bill 550, were created to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve at the state level. However, lawmakers are walking back their legislative efforts. Ultimately, the bills faced opposition and pushback before passage and were withdrawn. The state's legislative inaction could slow down the adoption and relevance of Bitcoin as a viable digital asset. In Arizona, similar crypto legislation made it further than it did in Florida. It passed both chambers of government, only to be vetoed by the state's governor. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs ultimately rejected legislation that planned to invest part of the state's retirement fund into Bitcoin. 'Arizonans' retirement funds are not the place for the state to try untested investments like virtual currency,' Hobbs wrote in a letter to the state senate president, as reported by PYMNTS. Mitrade explained that in Montana, the state's proposed Inflation Protection Act, which was passed by the House Business and Labor Committee, included the creation of a state Bitcoin reserve fund. However, the legislation was voted down by the full House; the final vote was 41 in favor and 59 against. The debate over the proposed bill included proponents who said it was a smart way to enhance state funds and opponents labeled the bill as speculative and a risky use of taxpayer money. Particularly at the state level, there is continued debate over whether cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are still considered speculative assets or not. While some digital assets have seen impressive gains, they can also be highly volatile and result in major losses (including Bitcoin). Establishing crypto reserves at the state level will require overcoming significant political opposition and regulatory challenges. Editor's note on political coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on Sources: PYMNTS, 'States Halting Efforts to Create Strategic Bitcoin Reserves.' The White House, 'Establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and United States Digital Asset Stockpile.' This article originally appeared on 8 States Changing Their Crypto Policies — Is Yours One of Them? Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
8 States Changing Their Crypto Policies — Is Yours One of Them?
Unless you've been living under a rock, you've surely heard about cryptocurrency by now or have at least heard the term. Over the past several years, cryptocurrency has emerged as an alternative currency that can be bought and sold as a digital asset. While some have embraced crypto like President Trump, others have not and this includes some U.S. states. Read Next: For You: PYMNTS reported that since Trump took office for his second term, he's pushed the idea of creating a crypto reserve with plans to make the U.S. the capital of cryptocurrency. In March, Trump signed an executive order to create a 'Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.' The order mandates the establishment of a 'United States Digital Asset Stockpile' to serve as a secure account for the management of federally held digital assets. Discover Next: It's explained that the U.S. government currently holds a significant amount of Bitcoin (BTC), but has yet to implement a policy to maximize Bitcoin as a 'unique store of value in the global financial system.' Ultimately, Trump wants to harness the power of crypto to the country's advantage. While the president is taking action to make crypto a relevant store of value at the federal level, some states that initially set out to establish their own crypto reserves are walking back the idea. Some states had plans to allocate a percentage of their public funds to invest in Bitcoin. But now, these states are rejecting the proposed crypto legislation: Florida Arizona Montana North Dakota Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Dakota Wyoming For example, AInvest reported that a pair of bills proposed in Florida, House Bill 487 and Senate Bill 550, were created to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve at the state level. However, lawmakers are walking back their legislative efforts. Ultimately, the bills faced opposition and pushback before passage and were withdrawn. The state's legislative inaction could slow down the adoption and relevance of Bitcoin as a viable digital asset. In Arizona, similar crypto legislation made it further than it did in Florida. It passed both chambers of government, only to be vetoed by the state's governor. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs ultimately rejected legislation that planned to invest part of the state's retirement fund into Bitcoin. 'Arizonans' retirement funds are not the place for the state to try untested investments like virtual currency,' Hobbs wrote in a letter to the state senate president, as reported by PYMNTS. Mitrade explained that in Montana, the state's proposed Inflation Protection Act, which was passed by the House Business and Labor Committee, included the creation of a state Bitcoin reserve fund. However, the legislation was voted down by the full House; the final vote was 41 in favor and 59 against. The debate over the proposed bill included proponents who said it was a smart way to enhance state funds and opponents labeled the bill as speculative and a risky use of taxpayer money. Particularly at the state level, there is continued debate over whether cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are still considered speculative assets or not. While some digital assets have seen impressive gains, they can also be highly volatile and result in major losses (including Bitcoin). Establishing crypto reserves at the state level will require overcoming significant political opposition and regulatory challenges. Editor's note on political coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on Sources: PYMNTS, 'States Halting Efforts to Create Strategic Bitcoin Reserves.' The White House, 'Establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and United States Digital Asset Stockpile.' This article originally appeared on 8 States Changing Their Crypto Policies — Is Yours One of Them?
Axios
20-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Proposed federal land sale stokes concerns over Utah water pipeline
A proposed sale of federal land to local governments in Utah is raising concerns that it could help pave the way for a controversial water pipeline from Lake Powell. The big picture: The Lake Powell Pipeline is a proposed 143-mile duct that would transport 86,000 acre-feet of water annually from the lake into southwestern Utah. Water officials from Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Wyoming — the six states that share the Colorado River basin with Utah — asked U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt in 2020 to halt an environmental impact statement for the pipeline until "substantive legal and operational issues" were resolved. The project has largely been on hold for the past several years. Driving the news: In the House Committee on Natural Resources on May 6, a late-night amendment to President Trump's " big, beautiful bill" by U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nevada) included provisions to transfer federal land to Washington County in southwestern Utah, the Washington County Water Conservation District and the city of St. George. The intrigue: An analysis that the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) provided to U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton's office called the amendment "a direct threat to Arizona's water future." The analysis said the land sale that aligns with the pipeline's path would have "serious implications" for ongoing Colorado River negotiations, would weaken Arizona's negotiating position and would risk "an escalation of unilateral actions by other states, further destabilizing river governance." ADWR told Axios it contributed to the analysis, but it's unclear who else was involved or which details came from the agency. Between the lines: Maps obtained by Axios that the Bureau of Land Management prepared for U.S. Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), who introduced the amendment with Amodei, show that a small stretch of land running parallel to the Arizona state line, and another spur that juts off to the north, largely mirrors a segment of the pipeline route. A portion would also run through a block of land that would go to the water district. Yes, but: The overwhelming majority of the pathway is outside the federal land from the amendment, including lengthy segments in Coconino and Mohave counties in Arizona and Utah's Kane County. What they're saying: Stanton and U.S. Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nevada) said several of the federal parcels align with the pipeline's proposed route, and water managers in their states warned the land sale could be used to develop the project. They called on House Republicans to remove the proposed land sale from the bill, calling it a "Trojan horse to steal Nevadans' and Arizonans' water." The other side: Karry Rathje, a spokesperson for the Washington County Water Conservancy District, told Axios the land it would receive isn't related to the pipeline and wouldn't help expedite it, adding it wouldn't change the National Environmental Policy Act process required for the pipeline. The district plans to use that parcel for a potential reservoir, while the county said it intends to use the land for transportation and other infrastructure projects like enhancements to a regional water reuse system. County Commissioner Adam Snow said in a statement the amendment only authorizes the land's sale and doesn't require any purchases. The statement didn't directly mention the pipeline, but Snow said the county is open to discussions with anyone concerned about specific parcels, including about possible deed restrictions "to ensure proper use if the option to acquire was exercised." Maloy said the land is for "trails, roads, water infrastructure, a little bit for the airport," and is unrelated to the pipeline, E&E News by Politico reported last week.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
HB 2755: New AZ law to allow law enforcement to shoot down drug-carrying drones at the border
The Brief A new Arizona law will help law enforcement target drug-carrying drones at the southern border. HB 2733 shields public entities and public employees from damage liability when they intercept, capture, disable, shoot, destroy, or otherwise render inoperative a drone within 15 miles of the southern border. Supporters say the new law is crucial in protecting Arizonans' livelihoods. PHOENIX - A new Arizona law is helping law enforcement target drones that transport narcotics into the state, Lawmakers say drones are being used daily to carry drugs like fentanyl into Arizona, and under the previous law, officers in the state were not allowed to target those drones. That, however, has changed with House Bill 2733. What we know HB 2733, which was signed into law in April, gives officers legal protection to take down drones suspected of supporting criminal activity within 15 miles of Arizona's international border. Officers will also not be liable for any damages caused by the interception. "A public entity or public employee is not liable to an unmanned aircraft operator for any injury to personal property caused by a peace officer intercepting, capturing, disabling, shooting, destroying or otherwise rendering inoperative an unmanned aircraft within fifteen miles of this state's international border if the peace officer had reasonable suspicion that the unmanned aircraft was being used to commit a violation of title 13, chapter 23, 34 or 34.1," read the new law. On May 12, State Rep. David Marshall and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes both talked about how the law will help Arizona communities, saying it's crucial in protecting Arizonans' livelihoods, and combating the opioid crisis. What they're saying "In 2024 alone, Arizona saw 1,479 opioid-related overdose deaths. That is 1,479 lives taken too soon, countless families changed forever because of these deadly drugs," said State Rep. Marshall (R-District 7). "When we give law enforcement the tools they need, like House Bill 2733, they are able to capture these drugs before they cause irreparable harm to our communities." "Protecting Arizonans from the devastation of fentanyl should never, ever be a partisan issue, and this bill proves that it does not have to be," said AG Mayes. What's next AG Mayes said her office will also be working with the FAA to combat drones, and will provide local law enforcement with drone hammers.
