skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

U.S. and Ukraine agree to minerals deal, officials say; Defense Sec. Hegseth tied to Idaho-based Christian nationalist church; As federal cuts hit Wisconsinites, one group pitches in to help; Funds sought to help address Oregon housing shortage.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump faces backlash for restricting press access. The Defense Secretary's ties to a controversial church spark debate, Speaker Mike Johnson struggles with votes for a budget that includes health care cuts. Arkansas expands school meals, and Western voters push back against cuts to wilderness agencies.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The Taos County Sheriff says he won't conduct raids or round ups of immigrants, New Hampshire worries a dearth of charging stations will force tourists driving EVs to pick another vacation destination, and Southern states improve education with workarounds.

Foreclosure-Prevention Scams Surface in MN

play audio
Play

Wednesday, December 8, 2021   

MINNEAPOLIS -- With forbearance protections ending during this stage of the pandemic, some struggling homeowners are sorting out their mortgage options, prompting fears scammers will take advantage of unsuspecting borrowers.

Minnesotans are encouraged to instead seek out free assistance programs.

Homeowners affected by the pandemic got relief through initiatives allowing them to pause their monthly payments. But those limits have been reached for many, and aid groups are reporting forbearance scams, including phony offers to extend protections.

Katherine Kelly, assistant Attorney General for Minnesota, fears they will soon hear more about scams, because they may not be evident right away.

"It takes a very long time for that person to realize it was a scam, because they think they can rest easy knowing that they've extended their forbearance, so they're not monitoring things," Kelly explained.

Inattention to detail raises the risk of foreclosure. The Minnesota Homeownership Center said a common scam right now involves dubious offers for a cash purchase of the property. Or, if the borrower is working with their lender on options, hackers might intervene with phony messages demanding immediate payment or a fee.

The Center and other nonprofits provide foreclosure prevention help at no cost.

Julie Gugin, president of the Center, said knowing the situation can be stressful, it is best to secure the help of organizations to guide you through the process without asking for a fee.

"We can help you navigate negotiations with your lender," Gugin pointed out. "We can help you understand your rights, during foreclosure and the process leading up to foreclosure."

And if you do end up deciding to sell, she advised working with a trusted real-estate professional, not an unfamiliar name who might end up taking your money while your past-due bills pile up. Earlier this fall, an estimated 1.5 million U.S. homeowners were in forbearance plans.

Disclosure: Minnesota Homeownership Center contributes to our fund for reporting on Civic Engagement, Housing/Homelessness, Livable Wages/Working Families, and Poverty Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Miranda Johnson and her family received the keys to their new home, thanks in part to the Homeownership Development Incubator Program. (McMinnville Area Habitat for Humanity)

Social Issues

play sound

Groups working to address Oregon's shortage of affordable housing are backing a bill to fund the state's Homeownership Development Incubator Program…


Social Issues

play sound

AARP is taking applications for its 2025 Community Challenge grants and Wyoming's state chapter encouraged nonprofits and municipalities to apply…

Social Issues

play sound

Workers in the fight against hunger in Arkansas are celebrating the passage and signing of Senate Bill 59. The legislation makes free breakfast …


About 17% of funding for North Carolina schools in the 2023-24 school year came from the federal government. (Noah/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

The fate of the U.S. Department of Education could have big effects for North Carolina schools. While the Trump administration has discussed …

Environment

play sound

By Ashley Stimpson of Nexus Media News for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient/Just an…

It is estimated each cow contributes around $34,000 annually to the local economy, but barriers for new dairy farmers are preventing enough new entrants to the industry to replace retiring farmers. (Ann/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

In Pennsylvania, a nonprofit striving to secure the future of small dairy farms is hoping its federal funding won't be frozen much longer. …

Environment

play sound

Michigan environmental groups are pushing back as Enbridge's Line 5 tunnel faces "emergency" review, potentially bypassing full scrutiny and public …

Social Issues

play sound

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ties with a controversial church based in Idaho and critics said the church's Christian nationalist views could gui…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021