Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs.

Alabama: In Jacksonville, Jillybeans Cupcakes and Ice Cream closed down.

Arkansas: Arkansas State University laid off 30 scientists. It’s blamed on reduced federal taxpayer funding.

California: In Ridgecrest, Mitt Romney’s Staples shut down, 20 jobs lost.  In Calabasas, landscaper Valley Crest closed down, 69 jobs lost. In Rancho Cordova, Volcano Corporation laid off 39 employees. In Riverbank, Silgan Containers laid off 160 people!  In Emeryville, Bayer Healthcare laid off  187 people!  In Escondido, Palomar Health closed down, 122 health care jobs lost!  In Modesto, Memorial Medical Center laid off 16 people. The Menlo Park Surgical Hospital laid off two employees.  In Burlingame, the Mills-Peninsula Medical Center laid off 12 people.

Colorado: In Durango, upscale hoity toity Polo-Ralph Lauren Factory Store closed down.  Company officials decided the store wasn’t making enough money.

Florida: In Largo, Twedt’s Bowling Center closed down.

Illinois: University of Chicago laid off six cancer researchers, due to cuts in federal taxpayer funding.  In Metropolis, after 60 years Farley’s Cafeteria shut down.  On the last day the cafeteria was crowded, some people blamed the lost of the restaurant on lack of local support: “They had such a successful [last] day. I just wish when they were open they could have had these types of crowds so they could stay open. We have to support the local businesses.”-Melissa Griffith, regular customer

Indiana: In Shelbyville, RoadLink Workforce Solutions laid off 120 freight handlers!  Company officials blame it on the loss of a major contract with grocery company Kroger.

Iowa: In Sycamore, the Ben Franklin Crafts and Custom Frame Shop store shut down.

Maryland: In Baltimore, after 50 years of advertising ad agency Carton Donofrio Partners ceased operations. It’s blamed on multiple reasons.

Massachusetts: In Newton, the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology laid off seven employees.  School officials blamed “redundancies”.

Missouri: In Kirkwood, Culpeppers restaurant closed down.  It was sold to property developers.

North Carolina: Winston-Salem’s Twin City Chop House upscale restaurant closed down (dinners ranged in price from $28 to $59 USD), 50 jobs lost.  The owners would not explain the reason for the closing.

Washington: In Seattle, Andrews International laid off 35 employees.

West Virginia: Fairmont General Hospital now bankrupt.  Hospital officials are hoping to find a financial partner to support operations.