Lawmakers Seek Probe on Banks' New Debit Card Fees

Plans from Bank of America and others to charge users monthly have sparked public outrage

2011-10-13

Marcy Gordon AP Business Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic lawmakers are asking the Justice Department to investigate whether Bank of America and other major banks improperly worked together to charge customers new monthly fees for using their debit cards. Read the complete article

The Psychology of Black Unemployment

Long-term joblessness can bring extreme stress and "learned hopelessness" to African American communities

2011-10-12

As she watched President Barack Obama lay out his jobs plan for the nation and repeatedly challenge Congress to address the issue immediately, Madelyn Broadus was thinking “finally, somebody is for the people.” Read the complete article

VIDEO: Wall Street Protests Draw Overseas Attention

Iranian leader says demonstrations a product of America’s “corrupt foundation”

2011-10-12

Verena Dobnik The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Occupy Wall Street movement, which has spawned grass-roots activities around the U.S. and prompted comments from President Barack Obama, is now drawing political remarks from overseas. Read the complete article

Questions and Answers About Netflix's Flip-Flops

The skinny on how service will work now that Qwikster is a no-go

2011-10-11

Puzzled by Netflix Inc.'s recent changes? You're not alone. Here are basic questions and answers about the company's reversal of its decision to split off its DVD-by-mail service and rename it "Qwikster." Read the complete article

Census: Housing Bust Worst Since Great Depression

Ownership gap between Blacks and Whites widest since 1960

2011-10-08

Hope Yen The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The American dream of homeownership has felt its biggest drop since the Great Depression, according to new 2010 census figures released Thursday. Read the complete article

Real Talk Story of the Day: The Occupy Portland Protest

Chat with other readers about the Rose City incarnation of Occupy Wall Street

2011-10-05

Helen Silvis of The Skanner News

Welcome to Real Talk: Story of the Day, a spot where The Skanner News readers can sound off, debate and commiserate over the hour's biggest news topic. Today's focus is the Occupy Portland protest that took 5000 people downtown to protest wealth inequality. Read the complete article

Unions Give Wall Street Protesters Some Oomph

Organizers also call for college students to walk out of class in protest

2011-10-05

Deepti Hajela and Verena Dobnik The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) -- A diverse group of powerful unions joined demonstrations near Wall Street on Wednesday, lending some focus, credibility and potentially hundreds of participants to a group that started out with a few camped-out college students. Read the complete article

Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon

It is a good time to be in business

2011-10-03

Helen Silvis of The Skanner News

Now may not be a bad time to start a business. That’s according to Nita Shah, executive director of Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon, the nonprofit that helps small businesses grow. “Our statistics are still the same: 96 percent of our clients are still in business,” Shah says. “So I think it is a good time to be in business, if they have done their research, and if they have community support.

Read the complete article

VIDEO: Wall Street Protesters Dress as Zombies in NYC

Arrest of 700 people over weekend fuels anger; demonstrations start elsewhere in nation

2011-10-03

Karen Matthews The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) -- Protesters speaking out against corporate greed and other issues showed no signs of giving up their campaign on Monday, with organizers urging participants to dress up as corporate zombies and to take part in a rally against police brutality. Read the complete article

Census: Hispanics Fuel US White Population Growth

More Latinos list themselves as White due to semantics change in government count

2011-09-30

Hope Yen The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- New census figures show an unexpected reason behind a renewed growth in the U.S. white population: more Hispanics listing themselves as white in the government count. Read the complete article