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Ducey’s confidence in DES director ‘shaken’
Gov. Doug Ducey said he’s disappointed in what he’s hearing out of the Department of Economic Security and said his confidence in Director Tim Jeffries has been “shaken,” a marked change in tone regarding the embattled agency head and the controversies that have dogged him in recent weeks.
DES officials revel in national attention over food stamp indictment
Vance Phillips and Tasya Peterson were impressed with the popularity of a Fox News tweet featuring the indictment of Rep. Ceci Velasquez on charges related to food stamp fraud.
Director disparages, fires DES employee for critical email
A state employee of 22 years was fired from the Department of Economic Security and branded an “idiot” by Director Tim Jeffries after objecting to a news report shared with agency staff that the employee felt was purely political in nature.
State agency shames workers by publicizing workplace arrests
Gary Phillips’ case was one of several involving publicized arrests of DES employees, including one in which the agency may have unlawfully disclosed the name of an employee who was a food stamp recipient.
White Cane Day at Capitol challenges assumptions about blind
Tapping white canes and carrying signs reading “white cane = competent traveler,” more than 100 blind people and their advocates stormed the Capitol on October 19 to protest assumptions about, and state practices regarding, the blind.
DES director forwards email designed to ‘blow up’ pro-marijuana arguments
The head of the state Department of Economic Security sent a message to all of his employees on a state-owned email list with a link to a story with arguments against Proposition 205.
UPDATE: Supervisor fired for opposing ‘abuse of power’ at DES, complaint alleges
A former Department of Economic Security employee has filed a whistleblower complaint alleging the agency’s director fired her after she refused to fire half of her staff due to their negative responses on employee surveys.
MCSO says it had no hand in DES false entries against fraud suspect
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said a surveillance video dispels a Department of Economic Security allegation that one of its detention officers had entered false information on a court form about a DES employee arrested on suspicion of food stamp fraud.
Sheriff’s office looks into source of false court document
The arrest Wednesday of a Department of Economic Security employee on suspicion of food stamp fraud has led to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office looking into who is responsible for putting falsehoods about her criminal history in a court document.
State representative indicted in alleged food stamp scam
A state grand jury has indicted a Democratic lawmaker on allegations she ripped off the state’s food stamp program.
DES doubles security budget, adds armed guards
The San Bernardino shooting massacre that took 14 lives last December has prompted Department of Economic Security Director Tim Jeffries to go on a security blitz.
Reduction in Adult Protective Services backlog means longer HCBS waitlists
And while we cite the good that has resulted in the drop in APS caseload, Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) on the other hand continues to experience an ever-increasing caseload of vulnerable older adults who desperately need help. These individuals are being waitlisted. Some have to wait nearly a year to receive any assistance depending on the type of service they need.
