| Payday lending reform needed
Ohio's 1995 legislation that enabled the practice of payday lending now looks like a classic case of good intentions gone awry. The idea was to allow people with modest incomes and checking accounts to take out small, two-week loans from check-cashing outlets, giving them quick access to cash to tide them over until their next paychecks. Lenders were permitted to charge high fees, $15 per $100 loaned, on the theory that people would make one-time use of this service in emergencies. But too often, it hasn't worked that way for cash-strapped Ohioans who use payday lending as a last resort. By the time they get their next paychecks, they find themselves unable to pay back the loan plus fees, so they end up taking out a second loan to pay the first one, and on and on.
May 2007
Alternative power backers say Del. move will aid other states Delaware's decision to pursue offshore wind power can help move projects along in other states, too, advocates said. For more than five years, renewable power advocates in Massachusetts have been working against considerable local opposition to build offshore wind power in Nantucket Sound. Delaware's recent move will support the push for wind, said Barbara Hill, executive director of Clean Power Now, an advocacy group in Hyannis, Mass. "We're not hanging out there on a limb," said Hill. "A Bluewater Wind and a Cape Wind isn't going to solve global warming. But they're going to be major, major first steps in where we move as a nation, creating a new energy paradigm." In addition to Delaware and Massachusetts, offshore wind projects are being considered in New York, New Jersey, Texas and Rhode Island. The controversial Massachusetts project, known as Cape Wind, has come a long way in recent months.
Rate cuts designed to boost buying
He added people should start to notice the lower rates in about 30 to 45 days.
He said it also could lead to financial institutions relaxing their standards for issuing lines of credit. Staff writers Richard Lake and Jerry Mitchell contributed to this story.
To comment on this story, call Jeff Ayres at (601) 961-7050. .
Join the Navy, Kill Some Whales
This is unacceptable and we have filed a new brief to challenge the waiver," says David Hinerfeld, spokesman for the Natural Resources Defense Council in Los Angeles. "It is beyond dispute that sonar kills whales -- the court quoted the Navy's own estimates of damage that this testing will affect the hearing of 8,000 whales and permanently injure 450." Michael Jasny, a Vancouver-based NRDC attorney who specializes in the impact of ocean noise on marine life, says there are plenty of reports of whales, orcas and dolphins being injured and dying as a result of exposure to midfrequency sonar, including strandings in the Bahamas and Hawaii, and animals in distress in the Haro Strait in Washington state. Marine mammals have very sophisticated hearing they rely on to find food, navigate and communicate with one another.
Raging Cheryl Cole sends cheating husband Ashley packing
He wasn't worthy of Cheryl even before he took his pants off. Oh, and let's not forget Ashley is "not very big". I hope footie fans are making up some chants. Cheryl is in a league above every other WAG in existence and not just because she's independent and has her own career. A little bit of my soul will die if she takes the Posh/McLoughlin route of pretending she's the only person who hasn't heard the rumours and everything's fine. And I'm pretty sure she won't. Giving up on her marriage will probably be the hardest thing Cheryl's ever done. But once a cheater, always a cheater - she has to leave a man who obviously has no respect for her. It's the understatement of the century to say that it's Ashley's loss. And it's an out-and-out threat to say that I will kick him in the shin as hard as I can if I ever see him.
Sikhs from France to meet SGPC chief today
Earlier the villagers were dependent on water available through natural sources. Due to substantial increase in population and depleting water level, the villagers of the area had been facing shortage of water. To meet the increasing demand of water in the area about Rs 44.42 lakh has been spent on the water supply scheme at Kiratpur Sahib and Rs 283 lakh for the Gara Moura scheme. Interacting with mediapersons, Mr Henry said that the projects were developed to cater to the increased demand of water by raising per capita water supply level from 40 lpcd to 70 lpcd. He said that under both schemes a treatment plant of 0.25 MGD capacity, a water tank with 5.50 lakh litres, electrical sub-station and a standby arrangement of 200KVA capacity were installed here. With a view to providing clean water to each village in the state the government has decided to take Rs 1,814 crore from the World Bank.
What's $250K between acquaintances?
Mr Fraser was arrested over an incident near Port Macquarie on Boxing Day. Police allege he entered a property at Pappinbarra and argued with his alleged victim, George Grue, over stolen property. Mr Fraser then allegedly pulled a shortened .22-calibre rifle out of his backpack and fired at Mr Grue, missing him by just 50cm. Police allege Mr Fraser was reloading the weapon when Mr Grue charged at him. They allege Mr Fraser shot at Mr Grue for a second time, but missed again. He then allegedly reloaded for a third time but the gun jammed and he left the property. Police facts tendered in court claim Mr Grue and several of his friends did not report the incident immediately. Instead they waited on the property for two days before driving into a nearby town for groceries and other supplies. When Mr Grue drove back to the property, the tyres on his vehicle were punctured by home-made road spikes.
Ask Noel
My husband bought an investment property in 2003 for $182,000 with a mortgage of $160,000; the property is now worth $330,000. In 2004 we bought a family home for $385,000 with a mortgage of $300,000. The value of our family home is still steady and not increasing like our investment property. We are planning to get a $180,000 business loan within the next two years. Is there any way to get the business loan without selling any of our properties? Your total equity in the properties is about $255,000, so you will be pushing to get an additional loan of $180,000 from your bankers unless you can show the business you are buying has a very good cash flow. I suggest you pour all your resources into reducing the non-deductible debt on the family home, so you will be in a better position when the time comes to apply for the business loan.
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