Rex Mundi, a criminal hacker organization whose name alludes to Judeo-Christian lore, leaked the personal information of AmeriCash Advance customers in a tweet on June 17, 2012. AmeriCash Advance is a cash advance loans company that provides quick cash to customers with bad credit. Five days prior to the leak, Rex Mundi faxed a “ransom note” to AmeriCash Advance informing them that their site had been hacked. The hacker organization demanded $20,000 from AmeriCash, for what they called an “idiot tax,” in exchange for not releasing the information retrieved.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has approved a bill designed to regulate payday loans. The bill, which was put forward by Rep. Chris Ross, R-Chester, won with a 102-90 vote. Democrats in the state resoundingly voiced opposition to the bill and largely voted against it. Now that it has passed in the House, the bill, more formally known as HB 2191, will move on to a vote in the State Senate.

San Jose is attempting to pass large payday loan restrictions for future lenders in their city. If the ordinance is passed, the city’s existing 38 payday lenders will be permitted to stay where they are, but future lenders will need to adhere to strict zoning rules. The central California city is trying to prohibited short-term lenders from being stationed within a quarter mile of low-income areas. Additionally, future lenders will be required to be at least a quarter mile away from existing lenders.

Payday lenders are typically governed by state law. Depending on what border they wish to operate within, lenders will need to abide by that state’s particular laws. Texas currently permits payday loan operations, and allows lenders to charge a maximum of 309 percent on a 14-day $100 loan. But some Texan cities aren’t happy with their state’s relaxed short-term lending laws. According to the Texas Tribune, city councils across the Lone Star State have taken it upon themselves to outlaw payday loans from their local communities by imposing local ordinances.