Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
The New Mexico Financial Institutions Division will hear public comment in Santa Fe today on its proposed regulations for HB 347, which imposes a 175% interest rate cap on small loans. The law, passed during the 2017 New Mexico legislative session, also ensures that borrowers have the right to clear information about loan total costs, allows borrowers to develop credit history via payments made on small-dollar loans, and stipulates that all such loans have an initial maturity of 120 days and cannot be subject to a repayment plan smaller than four payments of loan principal and interest.
Travis Dodson, a Deming native, along with other members of the USA Paralympic Sled Hockey Team, will be honored in Washington D.C. this month for being named as the Paralympic Team of the 2018 Games held in South Korea. Travis is a 2004 graduate of Deming High School and helped the U.S sled hockey team win a gold medal at the games. The Team USA awards will be presented on Thursday, April 26th in Washington, D.C., and for the first time will be televised on NBC-SN on May 12th. Congratulations to Travis and Team USA!
The Silver City Police Department conducted a warrant roundup on March 29th from 4:00 to 10:00 P.M. Officers arrested six individuals on a host of charges that included: distribution of a controlled substance (Marijuana, Heroin, and Methamphetamine ) ; possession of drug paraphernalia; conspiracy to commit trafficking of a controlled substance (Methamphetamine); receiving or transferring stolen vehicles; battery on a household member; criminal damage to the property of a household member under $1000; failure to appear; no seatbelts, and a child not restrained in vehicle. In addition, there was an arrest over the weekend related to a burglary reported in the 1400 Block of West 6th Street.
Area farmers were presented with a new program called the Southwest New Mexico Food Hub, that will assist farmers in achieving improved market access. The National Center for Frontier Communities non- profit group in Silver City, received a three- year grant totaling $125,000 from the Department of Agriculture to be used in creating the food hub. A feasibility study conducted a few years ago showed that local food producers need a greater market access for their products. The food hub will serve as a broker to find markets for the produce in addition to transporting it to larger markets. The presentation included information on owning a farming business, buying land and managing crops.
