Fred Nathan

New Mexicans in financial trouble who take out small loans from storefront lenders are now less likely to get trapped in a cycle of debt. KUNM’s Nash Jones reports a law passed last year went into effect on Jan. 1 that drastically reduces the amount of interest these lenders can charge.

On this week’s Let's Talk New Mexico, we look at what happens next now that voters approved a constitutional amendment to funnel more money from the Land Grant Permanent Fund into early childhood education and public schools.

We have ten days left in this legislative session. This is the point where everything starts moving very quickly - almost frantically - so lawmakers can get to all of the bills they care about before time runs out. On today's #YNMG we’re going to focus on House Bill 132, a bill that would limit interest rates on storefront loans - you know, the kinds of loans given in strip malls that sometimes require a car title as collateral. They’re problematic for the way they tend to cluster in less affluent parts of town and for the exceptionally high interest rates that often keep borrowers trapped in a cycle of debt that’s difficult to escape.

Storefront lenders offering payday loans or title loans are a quick way to get money for people who are often in dire straits financially. And it can be a…

The final presidential debate of 2020 got passing marks because the candidates managed to take turns. But rarely did they roll out the kind of action…

A nonpartisan statewide think tank is warning the high rate of seniors living in poverty in New Mexico could grow without significant changes. Think New…

New Mexico’s unique way of paying for public infrastructure projects has been under fire lately. Critics say lawmakers often divert money as political…

Lawmakers sidelined a proposal Friday to change the way New Mexico pays for public works projects. A broad coalition of business, labor and good…

New Mexico lawmakers are readying their infrastructure wishlists for this year’s session. But some believe the capital outlay system – that funds our…

KUNM Call In Show 10/16 8a: A new water system for the Cebolleta Land Grant down South. A dam in Cabresto, near Taos. The new interchange at Paseo del…