Horseshoe Chamber Blog

Twenty-four-year-old Danielle Jacobs is one of 3.5 million Americans with an autism spectrum disorder -- in her case, Asperger's Syndrome. But she also has a service dog to help her in her daily life, and together they went viral in a video that Jacobs filmed to show people what it's like to have Asperger's. On June 1, Jacobs posted a video of herself having a depressive episode, or "meltdown," on YouTube. But her 120-pound Rottweiler, Samson, is trained to respond to certain behaviors typical for Jacobs and others like her on the autism spectrum. Just a couple of weeks later, the video has gone viral and been viewed more than 3.6 million times. In the video, Jacobs is seen crying and hitting herself, but Samson uses his paws to stop her from self-harming and then rests on her when she ...

At an event on Tuesday, June 9, Gov. Doug Ducey offered praise for Arizona's past water planning and conservation efforts while also urging the importance of addressing water levels in Lake Mead, which continue to drop. According to the Arizona Daily Star, Ducey also reinforced the need for federally-financed water saving efforts to help avoid over-tapping the Colorado River. “Uncertainty and vulnerability surrounding our water supply remain," Ducey explanied. “Despite the uncertainties, vulnerabilities and challenges we face, Arizona does not face an immediate crisis. And we won’t, as long as we follow the examples of those before us: good planning, good management and good policy.” But are Arizona's farms -- 97% of which are family-owned and operated -- ready to cut down on their water u...

Many people in Arizona have already begun a campaign to legalize marijuana. Proponents are working hard to collect enough signatures to get it on the ballot in 2016. There's just one issue. Matforce, a substance abuse coalition, has put up billboards warning that using marijuana could be dangerous. One billboard near the highway I-17 claims, "Regular long-term marijuana use, lowers IQ, marijuana harmless? Think again." Another says "Would your child know if this cookie has pot in it?" Some believe that the billboards are an effort to oppose the ballot initiative to legalize marijuana, but Matforce claims they're not against it. The group insists they're only focused on youth substance abuse. Whatever their intention, the billboards are definitely going to influence the public. Accordi...

For the millions of seniors across the country who live independently, life can quickly become lonely, stressful and even painful. And while there are medications one can take to help with these feelings, scientific research has proven the many benefits seniors can enjoy by living with a pet. By simply living with a companion animal, whether it's a cat, dog or other animal, people are instantly less stressed, lonely and sad. In response to these findings, Orchard Pointe Assisted Living and Memory Support in Surprise has begun to allow its residents to own a furry or feathered friend; it's one of a growing number of senior living communities to encourage pet ownership. Orchard Pointe doesn't even charge a monthly pet fee. “Not only does the pet provide companionship, but it also stimulat...

A new federal report has revealed that Arizona ranks fifth in the nation in terms of money lost to Internet scams last year. According to a May 23 AZ Central article, the federal Internet Crime Complaint Center, which produced the report, found that Arizonans lost approximately $25 million throughout 2014 to various Internet scams. The Internet Crime Complaint Center works with the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center to aid in investigating cyber crimes against the public. Women aged 40 to 49 were most likely to be targeted by scammers, the agency found; this group lost an estimated $7.6 million total. The majority of Arizona complaints made to the Internet Crime Complaint Center came from residents over the age of 60. And while Arizona ranked fifth in the amount of money it ...

Arizona media is ablaze with news about solar energy this week, as Mesa firefighters responded to a fire of rooftop solar panels at an Apple plant. More than 100 firefighters were required to control the blaze, which collapsed part of the roof. And the Apple fire wasn't the only jolt felt this week because of solar energy. Solar advocates in Arizona are once again battling their utility companies, which have proposed controversial new ways to reimburse customers who produce their own energy through solar panels. The Tucson Electric Power company and the Arizona Public Service utility say their new proposals make the energy policy more equitable for everyone, but Arizona solar advocates say it's an attack on self-generators. “Customers who install distributed generation, like rooftop sol...

Home décor superstore At Home is finally coming to Arizona, with the first of its stores opening in the Arizona Mills mall in Tempe, but will a new selection of décor really be the solution couples need? Or does it take more than the actual furnishings to make décor work? "At Home is a new brand venture from [At Home's parent company] Garden Ridge and it's going to give shoppers really a greater selection of home décor than ever before," said Arizona Mills general manager David Johnston. Although it has no online shopping component, At Home does offer an impressive selection of housewares, decorative accents, wall art, rugs, room furnishings, and patio furnishings for shoppers on a budget. The new store will occupy 105,000 square feet in Tempe's discount mall, replacing the JC Penney Out...

Tempe, AZ, has passed a controversial law aimed at keeping kids away from tobacco smoke, but it's got critics up in arms over double standards. Tempe's City Council passed an ordinance last week that fines drivers $50 if officers catch them smoking while there is a child in the car. Any subsequent offenses get bumped up to $100 per ticket. But the law doesn't only include parents or other adults smoking tobacco cigarettes. The legislation also lumps e-cigarettes into the mix, which are used for vaping rather than smoking. What is vaping? Vapor cigarettes use a solution that is heated within the device to produce a vapor. E-cigarettes have become popular in recent years, with more than four million Americans now vaping, either for smoking cessation purposes or simply for recreational use...

For Iraq War veterans like Gus Montez, becoming a homeowner can seem impossible due to the high costs of property, despite current low interest rates. But after turning to KTAR's "That Real Estate Show" in Phoenix, Montez, a 52-year-old collision investigator with the Mesa Police Department, was able to achieve that goal -- thanks to the show's Unsung Heroes program and discounts provided to first responders. Last month, Montez was able to move into a brand new home in San Tan Valley. Because interest rates were so low, Montez decided that it was time to go from renting to owning. But on his own, he was unable to afford a home. Then he heard about the Unsung Heroes program on KTAR, which he'd been listening to for years. Montez then worked with Diane Brennan, host of "That Real Estate...

New research is revealing that Arizona has had the fourth-highest number of fatal shootings by police over the past two years, with 93 individuals killed during 2013, 2014, and the first quarter of 2015. The report was compiled using information from a database, Fatal Encounters, and assessed the total number of civilian fatalities in all 50 states, during the same time period, for which law enforcement officials were responsible. According to the database, Arizona is the 15th-largest state in terms of population, but ranked just behind California, Florida, and Texas in terms of fatal civilian shootings. California ranked first, with 323 fatalities caused by police during the two-year period. Texas came in second place with 188, and Florida came in third place with 165. Because the dat...