All posts by Hutchins AAron

Born in Deutschland 1965, hometown was Bütthart, parents were not U.S. government employees. However, when father was tricked into joining the U.S. Air Force Civil Service, in 1969, with the promise that we could remain in Germany, we were promptly shipped off to Iran. Due to one of my Iranian educators being disappeared, along with her husband, by the U.S. ally Shah of Iran's Israeli & U.S. created Savak (for the then official terrorist act of promoting the idea that women can vote), and due to my U.S. citizen mother being placed on Savak's Terrorist Arrest List (for supporting the idea that women should vote, at that time the U.S. ally Shah of Iran did not allow women to vote, now they can) we left Iran for the United States in 1973, literally in the middle of the night. At the U.S. Embassy airbase the CIA operated Gooney Bird (C-47) was so packed with other U.S. citizens fleeing our ally Iran (because the Shah gave the OK to arrest any U.S. citizen for such terrorist acts as promoting the concept of voting) that we were turned away by the Loadmaster and had to take a chance on a civilian flight out of Tehran's airport. My father told me he and my mother had three culture shocks; first when they arrived in Germany as civilians, then after being shipped off to Iran as U.S. government employees, then again returning to the United States as unemployed civilians (because so much had changed in the U.S. while they were gone, their only news source was the U.S. Armed Forces Radio & Television Service which heavily censored information about the home front). Since I graduated high school in 1982 I've worked for U.S. government contractors and state & local government agencies (in California), convenience store manager in California, retail/property management in Georgia, California and Idaho. Spent the 1990s in the TV news business producing number one rated local news programs in California, Arizona and Idaho. 14+ years with California and Idaho Army National Guard and the U.S. Air Force. Obtained a BA degree in International Studies from Idaho State University at the age of 42. Unemployed since 2015, so don't tell me the economy has recovered.
Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 22 January 2013. Dish Network to close 300 Blockbuster stores, 3,000 people unemployed!

Dish Network announced they will shut down 300 Blockbuster video stores across the country.  3,000 people out-o-work!!!  Dish Network bought Blockbuster in 2011.

AT&T eliminating 66 jobs at their Greensboro, North Carolina, call center.  They call it “business reduction”.

The Food Lion grocery store chain announced it will shut down eight stores in North Carolina.

Amy’s Hallmark closing down in Shelby, North Carolina.  It’s a corporate owned store, and Hallmark blames the bad economy: “…I can confirm that it is scheduled to close on February 24, due to declining sales.”-Toni Ferro, spokeswoman for Hallmark

International Paper announced it will end operations of their number 2 paper machine at their Augusta, Georgia, factory.  75 jobs lost.  The number 2 paper machine had been in operation since 1965.

The independent owner of a Pella women’s clothing store out-o-business in Buckhead, Georgia.  The owner said the bad economy was more than her 37 years old business could handle: “The economy is not the same….Independents are struggling.”-unnamed owner

In Texas a relatively new state toll road agency is already in trouble.  The Alamo Regional Mobile Authority (ARMA) says it has to layoff staff just to make it to 2016.  There have been many problems with the new agency, including projects getting way behind schedule (ARMA blames it on federal environmental impact studies). However, county officials would like to see the ARMA disappear:  “What we’ve asked them to do is downsize their staff to zero. Why would you spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to do nothing?”-Kevin Wolff, Bexar County

After 54 years in business, Texas HVAC company Avery Air now bankrupt and liquidated.  More than 45 people out-o-work. Investors claim they tried to save the company, but previously unknown expresses and debts forced them to shut the company down.

Southern Air is moving its HQ from Connecticut to Kentucky.  It means 120 out-o-work in Connecticut: “…it has become apparent that a relocation of our headquarters is warranted for both strategic and financial reasons.”-Dan McHugh, CEO

A controversial brain injury treatment center now bankrupt. The Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation is wracked with problems, from investigations over patient abuse (one claim says caregivers forced patients to fight each other, just like in those for profit corporate prisons) to tens of millions of U.S. dollars in unpaid debt.

The Grant Family Farms out-o-business.  The Colorado family blamed crop damage and the bad economy, but swore to come back: “We have farmed here in Colorado for 61 years; we will figure out a way.”-Andy Grant

Envi, a specialty re-sale store in Old Colorado City, Colorado, giving up the ghost because of the bad economy: “It’s just been a roller coaster ride and it’s time to get off. I don’t feel like it was great when I started, and I don’t feel like it’s getting any better, to be honest.”-Marci Austin, owner

The owner of several women’s clothing store chains, Big M, now bankrupt.  The New Jersey based corporation owns 150 stores in the United States.  The company says it has $50 million in assets, but owes more than $100 million in debt.

In Idaho, the Ann Taylor women’s clothing store in the GGP owned Boise Towne Square mall, gone for good. 14 employees out-o-work.

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As I’ve stated in my updated reports on Kmart & Sears closings, the Milwaukie Kmart in Oregon being shut down.  At least 61 people out-o-work.

In California, the 50 years old restaurant, Hof’s Marina, shutting down in Long Beach.  No info about the other five Hof’s restaurants.

In Minnesota, a Work Out World in Rochester shut down with little notice: “There was a semi-truck hauling out equipment and a terse sign about it closing on the door. I couldn’t believe it.”-Victoria Nyari, customer

In Queensbury, New York, the Sokol’s Market closed down after 40 years of operation.  “Everybody has been affected by the economy. We could have held on and made the best of it, but we have an opportunity to end on a good note.”-Matt Sokol

In Pearl River, New York, Hadeler Hardware up for sale. The owner of the store first started in 1905, wants to retire.

U.S.

2nd U.S. civil war & Christian Evil: White Iowa Taliban want to send victims of rape and incest to prison for murder!!! Racism involved!

“We’re talking about the victim of rape would go to prison along with her rapist! It’s very hard to understand the feeling behind it. It’s a health care issue, I mean, sometimes in order to save someone’s life a woman could possibly need an abortion. When we talk about being pro-life, my new question is ‘whose life?’”-Wessel-Kroeschell, Iowa state representative opposed to potential new law

A new bill, called House File 2298, has within it a section called “Feticide” which could make it a crime of murder for any woman who gets an abortion, even in rape and incest cases.

The bill was introduced by nine Republicans (some Tea Party members, lets call them Iowa Taliban) who call themselves Christians.

The proposed law forces health care providers to report suspected cases of abortion to police. The report must include the age, education level, marital status and even the “race” of the woman.  It also must include whether the woman has children or past history of abortions.

A woman who gets and abortion, and/or the doctor who performs abortion will go to prison for life without parole.  A failed abortion results in 25 years in prison. The bill also creates a guilt by association crime.

Even a person who “unintentionally” causes abortion could face 25 years in prison.

The Iowa Taliban say they will never stop until their bill becomes law: “There are some who say that we need to ease up on this because it’s not winning us anything. My thought is we can’t let this drop. Even if I’m in here screaming to empty walls, I will always be a voice for the unborn.”-Rob Bacon, Iowa state representative supporting potential new law

U.S.

2nd U.S. civil war: 790% increase in federal prisons population!!! Immigrants, drugs & guns main targets!!! Push for more private for profit prisons?

“Since the early 1980s, there has been a historically unprecedented increase in the federal prison population. Some of the growth is attributable to changes in federal criminal justice policy during the previous three decades.”-The Federal Prison Population Buildup: Overview, Policy Changes, Issues, and Options

08 February 2013, according to a Congressional Research Service report made public at the end of January, the number of Americans now incarcerated in federal prisons has skyrocket by 790%, since 1980!

“Since FY [fiscal year] 1980, the federal prison population has increased, on average, by approximately 6,100 inmates each year. Data show that a growing proportion of inmates are being incarcerated for immigration- and weapons-related offenses, but the largest portion of newly admitted inmates are being incarcerated for drug offenses.”

The researchers suggested using more private for profit prisons: “Placing more inmates in private facilities could help alleviate overcrowding in federal prisons without the need to invest in a large-scale expansion of federal prison bedspace.”

However, they admitted that recent studies were inconclusive as to the effectiveness and cost savings of privately run prisons, because of the way data was put together.  They quoted the conclusion of another study which said “…prison privatization provides neither a clear advantage nor disadvantage compared with publicly managed prisons. Neither cost savings nor improvements in quality of confinement are guaranteed through privatization.”-Brad W. Lundahl, Chelsea Kunz, and Cyndi Brownell, et al., “A Meta-analysis of Cost and Quality of Confinement Indicators,” Research on Social Work Practice, vol. 19, no. 4 (July 2009), p. 392

What was that about the Land of the Free?

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? FedEx radical changes, buys out 10% of executives! More changes to come!

The world’s second largest shipping provider, FedEx, is buying out 10% of its U.S. executives!

Company officials refused to give exact numbers.  Don’t feel too bad for those officers and directors, they’ll get anywhere from four weeks to two years worth of pay (depending on how long they worked for FedEx) as part of the buyout.

But this is just the beginning of employee cuts. Fedex officials said they have to radically change up their operations in order to hit a profit target of $1.7 billion USD: “The goal is to explain, at a high level, the most significant organizational realignments we plan to make in the months following the voluntary buyout process. A series of cross-functional teams continue to work on plans for our future structure below the director level. Those details cannot be finalized until after the voluntary buyout process is complete.”-recent FedEx memo to employees

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 21 January 2013. Bad economy hits commercial truck tire factory! Another Romney wonderkind Staples goin’ down! No more AAFES movie theaters?

Goodyear tire maker recently bought out the contracts of 200 employees at its Fayetteville, North Carolina factory. Now Goodyear wants to layoff 41 people at its Danville, Virginia factory.  The Danville factory makes commercial truck tires, and company officials say the bad economy has reduced demand for the big truck tires.

In Ohio, one of Mitt Romney’s claim to fame, a Staples office supply store will shut down in Bellefontaine.  It’s part of the company’s plans to downsize its operations.

Fairview Clinics-Chaska, in Minnesota, closing down and moving to a new location.  They blame it on a drastic reduction in customers seeking health care.

As part of their plans to cut back worldwide, Canada’s Cirque du Soleil ended its Iris show in Los Angeles, California.  100 people out-o-work!

The U.S. Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) is shutting down half of its movie theaters at U.S. military bases around the world.  The reason is that the AAFES movie theaters never upgraded to the latest projection technologies, and now the cost to upgrade is not justified by amount of business the theaters get.  100s of jobs will be lost. AAFES is upgrading the other half of its theaters (about 60).

Just a few days after announcing the closing of two Pennsylvania, Bottom Dollar food stores, three more closings were announced.  One each in North Wales, Chalfont and near Reading.

Computer repair shop in Burlington, North Carolina, out-o-business. No reason was given for the TechVets demise.

Another Christian school goin’ down! The Our Lady of Fatima School in New Castle, Delaware, being consolidated with All Saints Catholic School in Millcreek.  School officials blame declining enrollment.

South Dakota’s LodgeNet Interactive (hotel movie service provider) now bankrupt after making deal with California’s Colony Capital.

Nonprofit Baltimore Behavioral Health goes bankrupt because of $5 million in debt.  However, in 2010 an investigative reporter discovered that the nonprofit was overcharging Medicaid, with the excess payments going to the family that controlled the mental health service (you see it’s not the people who need the help that’re ripping off social programs, it’s the service providers).  By the middle of 2012 all the family members were removed from the board of directors. Also, in 2011 Bank of America sued saying the clinic was not making the payments (default) on a $2.5 million worth of loans.  The result is that the people who need the help are not going to get it.

In Iowa, the G&R Feed and Grain went bankrupt.

The maker of a new blood test that identifies anti-biotic resistant staph now bankrupt. Colorado’s MicroPhage claims to have too much debt, yet SEC filings show the company just made a deal with the biggest medical distributor in the country, to distribute its new staph test. Also, the filings revealed a $6 million investment from a single investor.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 30 January – 01 February 2013. Big Asian bank gives Afghanistan more money! More U.S. led home invasions! Women kidnapping & killing children!

01 February 2013

The German government has announced that they will keep German/NATO  troops in Afghanistan for at least 13 more months.

In Takhar Province, a man entered the university and started shooting. He killed two cops before being wounded. At this point it seems the man was upset about not being let onto the university compound.

In Faryab Province, two members of a government funded paramilitary group joined the Mujahideen.

In Uruzgan Province, seven Afghan government security personnel joined the Mujahideen.

In Helmand Province, Mujahideen report that a Georgian/ISAF dismounted patrol stepped on a landmine, killing one and wounding two.

31 January 2013

In Nuristan Province, a school was set on fire.  Mujahideen say it was done by government forces and then blamed on Mujahideen.  In the past Mujahideen have always denied being involved with attacks on schools.  They pointed out that the latest school burning involved burning Qurans, which they would not do.

In Kunar Province, reports saying U.S./NATO troops shot and wounded three farmers as they were working in their fields.  Supposedly the U.S. led troops apologized.

In Kandahar Province, Mujahideen say they repelled a U.S./NATO heliborne operation.  They then witnessed two medivacs called in to take out the casualties in Spirwan area of Panjwaee district.

In Herat Province, an 11 years old child was kidnapped, and then killed.  The child belonged to a wealthy family in the area.  Two women have been arrested in connection to the crime.

In Nangarhar Province, a civil servant was assassinated by gunshot.

In Helmand Province, a NATO convoy was ambushed in Anzar Shali Karez area of Nawzad district.  A two hour firefight then ensued, casualties unknown.

The Asian Development Bank is granting the Afghan government $300 million USD, supposedly for use in building the country’s infrastructure.

30 January 2013

In Kandahar Province, Mujahideen said a U.S. led heliborne operation landed in a booby trap. It happened in Band Taimoor region of Maiwand district. Mujahideen say they detonated remote controlled bombs as the helicopters came in.  It took three more helicopters to medivac out the casualties.

In Kunduz Province, a U.S. led home invasion resulted in five people kidnapped.

In Ghazni Province, U.S. led home invasion forces kidnapped a local Imam.

In Nangarhar Province, reports of yet another U.S. led nighttime home invasion. Two people were killed and nine kidnapped.

In Faryab Province, one woman killed, 15 people wounded, after a motorcycle bomb went off in a market place.

In Khost Province, two children were killed when a bomb exploded near a shopping bazaar.  The bomb went off just as a police patrol went by.

A U.S. Army solider is being accused of being an unwitting propagandist for the Mujahideen. Last year he was trying to upload his helmet cam video to a private internet account, but it ended up on YouTube.  The two minute long video shows an U.S. soldier, seemingly separated from his unit, coming under fire, and calling for help after being shot.

In Paktika Province, an Afghan National Army commander, and two soldiers, joined the Mujahideen.  Also, reports that a U.S./NATO armored vehicle ran over a landmine, killing two and wounding three crewmen.

In Uruzgan Province, two Afghan government personnel joined the Mujahideen.  They then ambushed a patrol of Afghan government forces. Three killed, two wounded and one captured. One Mujahid killed.

The government of Denmark announced they will pull out their troops by the end of 2014.

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 20 January 2013. Another Christian school goin’ down!

Operators of the Troy Mine in Montana say they might have to lay off employees, if they can’t stop repeated cave ins. So far the 205 employees have been kept busy on other projects, but company officials say if the silver and copper mines remain closed for any longer then they’ll have to layoff employees.  The Troy Mine has been shut down since December 2012.

Schuler Books & Music shutting down Grand Rapids, Michigan, store.  Owners say they can not renew the lease because sales have always been “marginal”.

First Niagara Bank closing down Greenport, New York, branch.  Bank officials say they have to consolidate branches.

Indiana’s John Paul II Catholic High School will closed down.   A press release given to local media did not explain why.

Oak Ridge Market in Oak Ridge, Missouri, closing for good.  Owners say it’s the bad economy, not only are their employees now out-o-work, but so are they.

U.S. division of video game maker Atari, now bankrupt.  Some reports say it’s a way for the U.S. division to protect itself from the bad finances of the French parent company.

Sky High Sports arcade in Bellevue, Washington, now bankrupt.

Arizona trucking company, Cooley Industries, now bankrupt.

In Texas, Handy Hardware Wholesale group now bankrupt.

Financial services company, Pension Worldwide, now bankrupt in Delaware.

Wisconsin’s Golden Guernsey milk bottler now bankrupt.  The new California based owners said, in a round-a-bout way, that they were not going to get their investment back because of “seemingly nonnegotiable operating expenses.”

Business/Economics, Idaho, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Idaho Heinz operation cutting 80 jobs! Par for the course for the city of Pocatello! T.G.I. Fridays going down?

“Following the discontinuation of its T.G.I. Friday’s frozen meals, Heinz conducted a thorough evaluation of the production needs at its Pocatello, Idaho factory. To ensure the number of employees is in line with production needs, Heinz has made the difficult but necessary decision to lay off 80 full-time, hourly team members, effective March 4, 2013.”-Heinz Frozen Food statement

On 05 February 2013, Heinz Frozen Food (a division of H.J. Heinz) announced that 80 of their Pocatello, Idaho, employees will be out-o-work by March.

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Heinz finally decided to put the T.G.I. Friday’s frozen food brand meals out of its misery. The company famous for ketchup will focus on T.G.I. Friday’s frozen snacks, as opposed to full meals.

Frozen foods have not been selling well in the United States. A report last month said that frozen meal (aka entree) sales have been falling for the past five years.  It’s not just Heinz that’s struggling, but other frozen entree makers like Con-Agra and Nestle.  These companies are coming up with new plans for their frozen food operations, including laying employees off.

It’s these plans that might have prompted Warren Buffet to buy into Heinz.  That’s right, investors like when companies layoff employees.  Heinz began shutting down T.G.I. Friday’s frozen single serve entree lines, as well as multi-serve entrees, in February 2012, so, this shutting down of the Pocatello, Idaho, production line is just par for the course.

What about the T.G.I. Friday’s restaurant chain? In 2011 sales were down, by only 1.5%, and company officials say 2012 sales are looking to be even better.  And the restaurant is doing fantastic in the United Kingdom.

Reports out of Britain say that business is so good that TGI Friday’s (they don’t use periods after the TGI in Merry Olde England) is about to hire 600 new employees by opening six new restaurants!

Despite the upbeat attitude of company officials, just last month a T.G.I. Friday’s was closed in Oakley Hyde Park Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio.  The reason was that the owners were not going to renew the lease. (this has become the new official reason for unAmerican Corporate America to close down stores)

 

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Another Kmart going down, nearly 100 people out-o-work! Idaho Kmart for sale? New York Kmart gone! Sears being forced out of Colorado?

06 February 2013, a just released Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) report revealed that 98 people working at a Kmart in Naperville will soon be unemployed.

Ever since the Kmart bankruptcy, this pad site for sale sign has been seen in the Pocatello, Idaho, Big Kmart parking lot. The Kmart is the only building on the lot.

Also, in New York, a Kmart in Depew will cease to exist by April. 68 people out-o-work.  The reason is the new mantra for shutting down retail businesses: “This store is being closed because the lease was not renewed.”-Howard Riefs,  Kmart spokesman

In Fort Collins, Colorado, the new mall owner wants everyone out, including Sears.  Sears Holdings owns the building and land where their store is, and they’ve said they want that store to remain in business.  However, Alberta Development Partners say the store has to go, as part of their plans to tear everything down and build a new shopping plaza.  Stay tuned.

Here’s my updated list of store closings since the end of 2011:

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors.

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost).

California:   El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (at least 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost).

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost),  Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40).

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost).

Guam:  Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed on 03 February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost).


Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).

Indiana:  Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

Illinois:  Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost).  Recently revealed Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost). By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state.  The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Iowa:  Cedar Rapids Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors.

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials,  Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost).

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line.

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials.

North Carolina: High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost),  West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost).

New Jersey:  Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost).

New York: Recently revealed Depew Kmart (68 jobs lost).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost).   Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost).

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors.

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost),  Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost),  Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears will be closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (will be closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Illinois to see another 1,200 people out-o-work!

06 February 2013, nine companies in the Prairie State are about to layoff a combined 1,200 employees.  That’s according to a January WARN report.

Lyon Workspace Products: Bankrupt.

Sun-Times Media, major newspaper publisher: Consolidating operations.

Walgreen pharmacy: Laying off warehouse workers.

Naperville Kmart: Lease expired.

Georgia-Pacific Corrugated: Reducing number of manufacturing employees.

Kroger gorcery store: Closing DuQuoin store.  (as I warned a few days a ago)

Cardinal Health: Selling off wholesale operation.

Best Buy electronics retailer: Closing down a store in Skokie.  (as I warned a few days ago)