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SD public defense duties shift from counties to state; SCOTUS appears skeptical of restricting government communications with social media companies; Trump lawyers say he can't make bond; new scholarships aim to connect class of 2024 to high-demand jobs.

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The SCOTUS weighs government influence on social media, and who groups like the NRA can do business with. Biden signs an executive order to advance women's health research and the White House tells Israel it's responsible for the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

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Midwest regenerative farmers are rethinking chicken production, Medicare Advantage is squeezing the finances of rural hospitals and California's extreme swing from floods to drought has some thinking it's time to turn rural farm parcels into floodplains.

Be Careful How You Give to Disaster Relief

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Tuesday, December 11, 2012   

PHOENIX - Wildfires charred the West and Superstorm Sandy clobbered the East this year. Consumer advocates encourage holiday disaster relief donations, but they also caution that some homework is in order. The Federal Trade Commission ranks Arizona sixth-highest in the nation for its rate of consumer fraud complaints.

Attorney Beverly Salhanick suggests you take a moment on-line, or on the phone, before you make a donation.

"When you're looking at helping someone who's been in a disaster, check out that organization, just as you would check out any organization that you'd be giving a charitable gift to."

Salhanick says you can turn to a website called Guide Star to confirm if a nonprofit is registered with the IRS. You can also call the Better Business Bureau to check out a charity.

She points out that you don't have to live near a disaster to give help, and says your gift doesn't have to be a monetary donation.

"We've all seen that photograph of a New York police officer providing boots for the homeless person. Anywhere that you are in the country, there's always someone who's in need, and it may be that one little gesture that may be your charitable gift for the year."

If you are going to make a financial donation, Salhanick says there are other proven sites like Charity Navigator for checking out charities. She also suggests a newer resource that uses social media input, Great Nonprofits.

"And it's a social comment site; it's kind of like a Yelp for charities, so you get an impression of what their position is in the community."

Salhanick says the feedback you get can help you decide if the organization deserves your charity dollars for disaster relief or any other purpose.




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