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Consumers warned of scam offering credit for utility bills

Last updated Monday, May 21, 2012 - 8:49pm

OGDEN -- The Utah Department of Commerce and Rocky Mountain Power are warning Utahns to be aware of a scam that offers credit to their utility bills.

Consumer Protection, Scams, State government, Utah, Utilities Read more Comments

State website updates allow users to check professionals for disciplinary actions

Tim Gurrister Standard-Examiner

Last updated Sunday, May 6, 2012 - 10:28pm

OGDEN -- Now for the first time, we can just type in a name on our PC, laptop or handheld device to call up disciplinary actions against our doctor, accountant, massage therapist or nail technician.

Updates to the website of state regulators in the Department of Commerce were announced late last week, the biggest being the new search capability for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.

"The most significant change is to the DOPL disciplinary database," Jennifer Bolton, the commerce department's public information officer, said in an interview. "We've uploaded all of these records of actions taken, going back to 2007."

Business, Consumer Protection, Dentists, Doctors, Gov. Gary Herbert, Health, Internet, State government, Utah Read more Comments

How is a sick 12-year-old girl like an accused cop killer?

Charles F. Trentelman Standard-Examiner

Last updated Sunday, March 11, 2012 - 8:13am

When Utah told Matthew David Stewart’s parents to stop raising money for their son’s legal defense, my first thought was: Has it gotten this nasty?

The shooting of six cops, and the death of one, was bad enough. But in 34 years, I have never seen my community so torn. People think the cops can do no wrong, or got what was coming to them. People think Stewart is evil, or misunderstood.

Crime, 6 police officers shot, Charities, Charity, Consumer Protection, Donation, Donations, Fraud, Fraud prevention, Fundraiser, Fundraising, Law, Matthew David Stewart, Medical, Medical care, Staff column, Utah, Wasatch Rambler Read more Comments

Know your rights if you have to get a payday loan

E. Kent Winward Standard-Examiner

Last updated Friday, March 9, 2012 - 11:26pm

Those brightly lit, garish-looking storefronts that promise "CASH NOW!" and "NO CREDIT CHECKS!!!" are the purveyors of payday loans, or "deferred deposit loans," as the Utah Code prefers to call them.

The loans are usually for smaller amounts, between $50 and $500, but carry annual interest rates often exceeding 500 percent.

Business, Emergency, Budgeting, Business Law, Consumer Protection, Payday Loan, Staff column, State government, Utah, Utah Legislature Read more Comments

Matthew David Stewart faces charges in the death of a Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force agent and the wounding of five other law enforcement officials. His family has been trying to raise funds for his legal defense but must file for a permit and have it approved first.

Official explains fundraising legalities in Stewart case

Charles F. Trentelman Standard-Examiner

Last updated Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - 8:22pm

OGDEN — As far as the law knows, there’s only one difference between the family of Matthew David Stewart asking for money to pay their son’s legal bills in the shooting death of a policeman and the family of a sick child asking for money to pay hospital bills: Someone complained about the Stewart family.

Other than that, all things being equal, both situations are private charities seeking public donations. Both have to follow the law.

Business, 6 police officers shot, Bank of Utah, Charities, Charity, Consumer Protection, Fraud, Fraud prevention, Fundraising, Health, Jared Daniel Francom, Jared Francom, Matthew David Stewart, Medical care, Obituaries, Obituary, Ogden Police, Ogden Police Department, Utah, Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force, Deaths Read more Comments

In January, Michael Stewart holds a photo of his son Matthew David Stewart, who is accused of shooting six police officers and killing one. The family had resumed raising funds for Matthew's defense but stopped after being reached by the Standard-Examiner on Monday and told that the Utah Division of Consumer Protection was looking into the issue. Michael Stewart has filed the appropriate paperwork to raise funds, but the application has not been approved. (Associated Press file photo)

Stewarts family starts, stops, starts, stops website fundraising effort following state warnings

Scott Schwebke Standard-Examiner

Last updated Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - 7:28am

OGDEN — The father of Matthew David Stewart abruptly stopped renewed fundraising efforts on a website Monday night for his son’s legal defense against capital murder charges following warnings of possible fines from the state.