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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.

Federal Rules Tighten, But High-Interest Lending Remains in AZ

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Monday, May 21, 2018   

PHOENIX – Federal rules on high interest payday loans are set to tighten up since Congress allowed a deadline to pass without changing the regulations.

The new rules will require short-term lenders to determine if the borrower can afford a loan, and limit the number of loans a person could take out.

Payday lending isn't legal in Arizona, but Zaida Dedolph, director of public policy for the Arizona Community Action Association, says the federal rules could help set the tone for other lenders.

However, there are still red flags borrowers should watch for.

"We're happy to see that this particular rule will go into effect, but that victory really comes after a number of attempts at both the state and federal level to undermine our financial regulations," she points out.

Dedolph says the Arizona State Legislature made some changes this year that could allow for more risky financial practices.

For example, a new law known as a Regulatory Sandbox Program will let some businesses test new financial services or products with no license and little oversight for up to two years in the state.

Another bill Gov. Doug Ducey recently signed into law repeals state inspection requirements for banks and financial institutions, including those that offer high interest auto title loans.

Dedolph predicts that will make it harder to catch banks and lenders in Arizona that aren't playing by the rules.

"Everyone needs to be aware of these issues, because even if you're not taking out a title loan, you still are going to be impacted by the lending industry,” she stresses. “We saw the financial collapse – all of us were impacted by that in one way or another, even though not all of us had mortgages."

Dedolph cautions anyone in Arizona to always double check interest rates and fees before borrowing money.

The Center for Responsible Lending estimates Arizonans pay nearly $255 million each year just on fees for high interest title loans on their vehicles.


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