And Forbes magazine, apparently unimpressed with the official "Near nature, near perfect" city slogan in Spokane, today pronounced the Lilac City the "Scam Capital of America."

From writer William Barrett's story:

Welcome to Spokane, Wash., a metropolitan object lesson in what can befall the unwary when rugged individualism is revered and consumers unsuspecting.

The story paints the city as a sort of freewheeling frontier town. And I suspect it has city leaders doubling up on their blood-pressure medication this morning.

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