Horseshoe Chamber Blog

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...

Across the United States, many homeowners are investing in one of the biggest advances in roof technology: solar panels. Installing solar panels on your roof not only reduces reliance on traditional utilities, but can also increase your home's value. After all, a new roof even without solar technology can yield a return on investment of up to 75%, and solar panels are just as effective. However, thanks to a recent increase in solar rates, one of the largest rooftop solar installers in Arizona says it is relocating at least 85 of its 900 Arizona workers out of state, and more may follow. On Wednesday, April 29, the CEO of SolarCity, Lyndon Rive, announced that the solar rate fees approved by the Salt River Project in February are too restrictive, hampering the potential for nearly all of t...

Arizona researchers and small business owners are leading the way in mobile app development, especially when it comes to health and wellness apps. The Daily Wildcat reports that several Arizona organizations have been developing, releasing, and experimenting with mobile apps designed to address health issues. See Me Smoke-Free, for example, is an app created by a professor at the University of Arizona (UA) designed to help women quite smoking and improve their overall health. The app allows users to set up goals, listen to soothing music, and read about tobacco and its effects on the body -- all of which is designed to help the user gradually quit smoking. "It's primarily aimed at getting women to feel good about themselves and to live a healthier lifestyle," said associate professor Jud...

Most small businesses invest in predictable industries that are certain provide a tangible return on investment (ROI) in the form of increased sales or resource savings; whether businesses choose to invest in marketing (35%), sales (28%), or technology (22%), it's easy to see why these are the top three sectors for investing. But the developing company McDowell Enterprises, which is behind Arizona's new Green Valley Hospital, is trying out a new type of ROI for foreign investors: Green Cards. According to the Arizona Daily Star, Green Valley Hospital began participating in the federal EB-5 immigration program after the recession caused a strain on the hospital's finances. Under the program, foreign investors can apply for Green Cards for themselves and their immediate family if (1) they ...