Driver taken into custody near the I-10 ‘Stack’ interchange in Phoenix

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation’s thermal camera-based wrong-way vehicle detection system along Interstate 17 in Phoenix alerted authorities and other motorists to a pickup truck being driven the wrong-way on the freeway early Monday morning.

No one was hurt as the vehicle traveled southbound on northbound I-17, primarily in the HOV lane, from Camelback Road until just before the “Stack” interchange with Interstate 10, where Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers took the driver into custody.

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by Jennifer Leach
Acting Associate Director, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC

Earlier this month, we told you about a growing scam: people pretend to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and try to get your Social Security number or your money. That scam is now growing exponentially. To compare: in 2017, we heard from 3,200 people about SSA imposter scams, and those people reported losing nearly $210,000. So far THIS year: more than 35,000 people have reported the scam, and they tell us they’ve lost $10 million.

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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has detailed which functions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will remain available during a lapse in government funding.

“There may be a lapse in funding for the federal government, but that will not relieve USDA of its responsibilities for safeguarding life and property through the critical services we provide,” said Secretary Perdue. “Our employees work hard every day to benefit our customers and the farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers who depend on our programs. During a shutdown, we will leverage our existing resources as best we can to continue to provide the top-notch service people expect.”

Some USDA activities will be shut down or significantly reduced and some USDA employees will be furloughed. However, certain USDA activities would continue because they are related to law enforcement, the protection of life and property, or are financed through available funding (such as through mandatory appropriations, multi-year discretionary funding, or user fees).   more...

Looking for a florist?

Perhaps you're not sure whom you should use when the need arises to send flowers for that special occasion.

After receiving several warnings and complaints about JustFlowers.com, an online florist company, we decided to put them to the test. A call was made to their 800 number by a member of our staff while also perusing their online site. A female voice offered assistance. Our staff member then suggested that the site offered a number of choices and it would perhaps be best to find the preferred choice and then call back with the selection. The JustFlowers.com representative stated she would wait.

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The United States Government announced historic action to confront the illegal immigration crisis facing the United States. We notified the Government of Mexico that the United States is invoking Section 235(b)(2)(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. We will begin implementation immediately. Individuals arriving in the United States from Mexico—illegally or without proper documentation—will be returned to Mexico for the duration of their immigration proceedings. In response, the Mexican government has informed us that it will support the human rights of migrants by affording affected migrants humanitarian visas to stay on Mexican soil, the ability to apply for work, and other protections while they await U.S. proceedings.   more...

QUESTION: Pompeo is with us now. I don’t know what’s been happening, Mr. Secretary, but oh my gosh, we tried to get you on, couldn’t hear you. We’re doing shadow puppets over here. Hey, Mr. Secretary. How are you?

SECRETARY POMPEO: (Laughter.) Laura, good morning. I’m good. Thank you. How are you today?

QUESTION: Good. It’s our last show so I wanted to bring on my faves, and you made the list. Isn’t that amazing?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Congratulations on 17-plus years of excellence.

QUESTION: Oh, thank you very much. The soundbite we played for you when we were coming in was a series of comments made by Republicans criticizing the President’s decision to pull troops out of Syria. Number one, were you – did you get a heads-up on this decision? And number two, why is this the right decision now?

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