Salem-News.com Business articles

America is an Oligarchy, University Study Finds

When the economic elites want something, it tends to happen, and if they don’t want something, it tends not to happen.

(SAN FRANCISCO) - America is no longer a democracy, according to a new joint university study. Instead, it has evolved into an oligarchy dominated by moneyed special interests.

The study, entitled "Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens" by Martin Gilens of Princeton University and Benjamin Page of Northwestern University, concludes that ordinary citizens have effectively lost their say over public policy.

IAB: Online Advertising Will Increase by 3% in 2014

Mobile is the sector with the highest growth rate, growing from 27% to 39.8% in 2013.

(MADRID) - The industry association for digital advertising and communication and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), presented its new Investment Study of Total Digital Advertising in 2013, which examines trends in media buying and investment in Internet, mobile and digital.

"The total investment in online media advertising in Spain is 878.4 million euros, of which 832.5 million were invested in internet PC, 39.9 million in the mobile sector and 6.1 million euros in digital signage," said Antonio Traugott, CEO of IAB.

Oregon`s Oldest Beekeeper, Gone but Not Forgotten

Remembering 99-year old Oliver Wendell Petty, A Beekeeper’s Beekeeper
June 9, 1914 — April 6, 2014

(SALEM) - As an early beekeeper in the Willamette Valley, Oliver Petty was instrumental in convincing farmers to rent bee hives to improve crop yields. Prior to that time, most beekeepers made their living by selling honey.

“Oliver, in his beekeeping career, had seen things that only we can dream about- thousands of acres of hairy vetch blooming all over the Willamette Valley and other bee forage untouched,” said beekeeper Dirk Olson.

Salem Tattoo Artist Receives Award at 2014 Body Art Expo

With over 200 tattoo artists on site, the variations of body art were endless.

(RIDGEFIELD, Wash.) - The Body Art Expo, the World’s Largest Tattoo Convention, took place last weekend at the Clark County Fairgrounds. The tattoo world came together for three days, and Oregon Body-Art Center from Salem was there.

It was the perfect place for those with some “killer ink” to show off to the folks who would appreciate it the most, and maybe get another tattoo, or a piercing, by some of the best in the business.

Say No to Big Money

We’ve already seen the results of Citizens United.  We know what happens when the special interests are left unchecked.  We know what the Koch Brothers, Karl Rove and their deep-pocketed friends can do when they have free reign to spend and spend and spend on political campaigns.

(WASHINGTON DC) - You’ve heard me say it before: The Supreme Court’s recent decision in McCutcheon v. FEC is another crack in the dam standing between us and unlimited political spending.

The decision eliminates the restrictions on how many campaigns wealthy donors can seek to influence. And let me tell you – it’s a step in the wrong direction.

Cannabis Goes Viral in Denver Colorado on April 19th

Kannaway Unveils Cannabidiol (CBD)-Rich Hemp Oil Products and Presents Unique Business Opportunity for Households Nationwide.

(SAN DIEGO GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Kannaway, LLC ("Kannaway" or "Company"), the first cannabis network marketing company that focuses on hemp botanical products, is hosting its inaugural convention during Colorado's "420 weekend" April 18th-19th at the Sheraton -- Downtown Denver.

Kannaway currently has over 60,000 marketing professionals in its network and more than 9,500 Brand Ambassadors.

USD 800 Million Acquisition of House of Fraser, China`s Largest Foreign Retail Investment to Date

Clyde & Co has a presence in four locations in Greater China, namely in Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

(LONDON) - The law firm Clyde & Co has advised Sanpower Group Co. Limited (Sanpower Group) in relation to its acquisition of an 89% stake in British retailer House of Fraser.

The deal, signed on 3 April 2014 and valued at approximately GBP 480 million (USD 800 million), is the Sanpower Group’s first major investment in the UK retail sector and China’s largest foreign retail investment to date.

Sierra Club: Fracking California... A Disaster Waiting to Happen

The environment is essential, especially since we don’t know the potential health risks associated with fracking.

(SAN LUIS OBISPO) - Sometimes fact is so much stranger than anything even the best novelist could write. Take California, which sits atop a 1,700-square-mile oil shale deposit that is threatened to be accessed by hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

Fracking is an ugly, largely unregulated process that forces massive amounts of water, sand and an unknown cocktail of chemicals into the ground, the end result of which is to release more dirty fossil-fuel pollution into our environment.

Salem Saturday Market Showered with Fun

Spring is in the air, and it was in full bloom in downtown Salem this weekend.

(SALEM) - The opening day of Salem Saturday Market 2014 was a great success with 85 vendors welcoming old friends and new to the area’s biggest outdoor market. The skies were heavy laden with clouds, and rain was in the forecast, but the sun broke through and very few drops fell. Salemites were ready for the market, and turned out by the hundred, rain or shine, umbrellas in tow.

“There are a lot of new vendors this year, and almost twice as many on opening day as we had last year,” said Kerry Jackson, the assistant Marketing Director for Salem Saturday Market. “Everyone is very enthusiastic and looking forward to a terrific season.”

More Troubles for Criminally Indicted PG&E

After all the sound and fury is over, PG&E will probably start operating as usual.

(SAN FRANCISCO) - Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) was recently criminally indicted for twelve violations of the federal Pipeline Safety Act. No executives of PG&E were indicted.

The federal indictment follows PG&E's alleged negligence in safely maintaining its natural gas pipeline infrastructure which resulted in a massive explosion in the Crestmoor residential neighborhood of San Bruno on September 9, 2010.