Month: December 2015

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries, and it's typically pretty safe. About 400,000 breast augmentation cases are performed each year, and in 2009, there were more than 3.557 million cosmetic surgeries performed in the Mountain region -- where Arizona is grouped -- and the Pacific region combined. However, accidents do happen, some of which can be more traumatic than others. Just ask the Florida woman who discovered mold in her breast implants. Back in 2011, Anne Ziegenhorn of Shalimar, Florida became perilously sick. The totally healthy woman began putting on weight, losing her vision, and experiencing chronic pain. Her thinking got so foggy that at point, she thought she was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Ziegenhorn went to countless doctors who offere...

More than 110 religious leaders have asked Alabama Governor Robert Bentley to rethink his position on the Syrian refugee crisis and do what they refer to as his Christian duty, welcoming and sheltering those in trouble. Greater Birmingham Ministries, an ecumenical organization based in Alabama's largest city, has organized a group of 116 pastors and other religious leaders from around the state. Each figure has signed the organization's letter that says the governor's faith requires kindness "to the least of these." "In this season where Christians remember the plight of Jesus and his family as political refugees, let it not be said that in Alabama, there was no room in the inn," read the letter, signed by the collective of moderate leaders of Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other grou...

Arizona residents can spread some extra holiday cheer this season in a little-known way. With a tax credit program, they can donate funds to school children in need. The tax credit program is “one of the state’s best kept secrets,” according to AZ Central. The program allows taxpayers to give $200 each to a public school or charter school of their choice. Many public schools are running low on important resources and rely on state funding to provide them with the supplies they need. Tax credit donations are an easy way to give back at the price of a postage stamp. The benefit? Taxpayers get a dollar-for-dollar discount on their 2015 tax bill if filed by Dec. 31st. The tax credit program has existed for 18 years, but many residents are still unaware of its benefits. The money go...

Arizona might not get much precipitation, but temperatures do go below zero, which can cause plumbing problems. Who has the time to deal with an issue like that at this time of the year with all of the holiday rushing around going on? Here are just a few of the things professionals say you can do to prevent the most common of holiday plumbing problems. Keep pipes warm. Frozen pipes aren't typically a huge issue in the Grand Canyon State, but it only takes one night of freezing weather to destroy your pipes. If you plan on going out of town this holiday, make sure you leave your heater on to keep the pipes warm. If you have an outdoor spigot, put styrofoam insulation over it. It's also a good idea to leave a drip in the faucet, since moving water is less likely to freeze. In the event that...

The health and well-being of military veterans should be one of the country's highest priorities. Many companies in Arizona appear to be doing their part to support such efforts as new data from WalletHub, a financial information site, shows that they rank near the top in terms of hiring numbers and standard of living metrics, according to AZCentral.com. Several businesses in particular have even implemented special policies to try and increase the number of military vets they hire with respect to the fact that many face challenges integrating back into civilian life. In total, there are 21.2 million veterans in the United States, of which 422,000 were unemployed as of October, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, four Arizona cities made the top 20 of WalletHub...

While retiring to Scottsdale used to be one of the best-kept secrets of local retirees, the population is set to increase after a major website has named the city as one of the top ten best places to retire in 2015. According to local news affiliate ABC 15, Scottsdale ranked tenth on the Livability.com Top Ten Best Places to Retire list for 2015, which is no surprise to the thousands of people already spending their golden years in the city. Approximately 28% of the city's population is 60 or older, and there are a few key reasons that so many retirees flock to Scottsdale. A major factor in the city's ranking is that it's located in Arizona, one of the only states that does not tax Social Security checks. Other primary reasons for Scottsdale's showing on the list include the city'...

A major Silicon Valley lab-testing company is in some hot water after lab inspectors in Arizona found several issues in its practices, management, and general direction. According to USA Today, lab-testing giant Theranos recently suspended use of its finger-prick blood draw technique after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration raised concerns with the technology. As it turns out, this decision was prompted by Arizona inspectors who questioned the company's consistent failure to meet basic lab regulations. The failed inspection centered around four main deficiencies at the lab: proficiency testing; validation of instruments used to analyze blood samples; humidity levels for lab instruments; and blood sample collection methods. Theranos currently operates retail locations in 40 diff...

Small businesses are finding it difficult to keep up with rising health insurance costs sweeping the nation. The National Small Business Association did a recent survey of over 800 small businesses and found that most of those offering health benefits saw them as necessary for recruiting and retaining workers. About 90% of those business owners reported an increase in costs in their last renewal. Only 41% of companies with zero to five employees are now offering health coverage, and the concern is that with costs on the rise, even larger small businesses will have to cut back. This survey was only "the tip of the iceberg when it comes to health-care costs for small businesses," Rick Murray, the CEO of the Arizona Small Business Association, told the East Arizona Courier. "Although...

Nobody expected Arizona to be the wealthiest state in the country, but it may be poorer than most people would have predicted. According to new research from the Washington-based Economic Innovation Group, 22% of Arizonans -- or more than one in five state residents -- live in poverty-stricken neighborhoods. Ten Arizona ZIP codes are on the list of America’s poorest 100 neighborhoods, according to the Phoenix Business Journal; one of these ZIP codes is located in Phoenix, while the other nine are located on Native American reservations. In fact, it’s hard to ignore the connection between Arizona’s poorest communities and its Native American communities. In Yuma and Apache counties, two out of every three residents lives at or below the poverty line. In the town of Blackwater, whic...