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U.S.

“If I have to piss and shit on myself, I would rather be dead!” : ObamaCare destruction November 2016

It must be noted that I started documenting these ObamaCare/healthcare related shutdowns at the beginning of 2014. In that year I posted the reports biannually (every six months). In 2015 ObamaCare cutbacks ramped up and I posted quarterly (every three months). For the past 11 months of 2016 there have been so many ObamaCare cutbacks that I’ve posted a report every month!

Incomplete list of healthcare related layoffs and shutdowns, November 2016:

California: In San Diego, Ardea Biosciences finally notified the state that they eliminated 139 jobs back in July!  Israel based Teva Pharmaceuticals issued a layoff WARN for their Corona ops, 29 jobs gone in January 2017.   In San Francisco, AthenaHealth notified the state that it would kill 103 jobs right after Xmas!  It was revealed that San Francisco based Electronic Health Records (EHR) contractor McKesson eliminated 1-thousand 6-hundred jobs across the country, this past Spring 2016!

Georgia: “…300,000 of our neighbors and fellow Georgians still remain in the health insurance coverage gap and are unable to see a doctor….That number includes at least 32,000 veterans….”–Georgia Budget & Policy Institute  

Idaho: Finally after decades of draconian convict policies, and in an attempt to reduce incarceration recidivism, the state Department of Health and Welfare is asking for $11-million tax dollars to provide mental health services for probationers and parolees.  Currently The Gem State Department of Corrections has a 35% recidivism rate.  The proposed mental health program for probationers and parolees is not connected to ObamaCare.

In Nampa, Holly Lane Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (owned by ‘christian’ for-profit Tennessee based Orianna Health Systems-Covenant Dove) continues to violate Medicare and Medicaid rules for patient safety.  State inspectors accuse Holly Lane of repeatedly putting patients in “immediate jeopardy”.   The Nampa nursing home has until January to get its act together or lose all federal funding.  Local news media interviewed former patients who say the mistreatment started years ago due to lack of employees.  One patient told a state inspector “If I have to piss and shit on myself, I would rather be dead!”

Illinois:  In Buffalo Grove, PrimeSource Health Care Systems issued a shutdown WARN, 159 jobs lost starting after Xmas!

Indiana: Becon Health Systems directly blamed ObamaCare reimbursement rate reductions for forcing them to layoff 70 people, 50 of them were homecare workers.  Select Medical shutting down its Fort Wayne Select Specialty Hospital, 103 jobs lost by Jaunary 2017!

Iowa: After 40 years Central Iowa Family Planning Services shutting down all its remaining clinics, blaming reduced insurance reimbursements and radically changing healthcare environment.

Kentucky: Generic drugs tester/maker PGXL Laboratories chapter 11 bankrupt busted over claims it was massively overpaid by Medicare.

Massachusetts: Hallmark Health laid off 57 employees because ObamaCare is forcing them to make $16-million in cuts.  Brockton Hospital eliminating 64 jobs and shutting down its transitional care unit by February 2017.  Insurance company MassMutual laid off at least 150 people as a result of their take-over of rival MetLife!  This is despite the fact that local news media report that MassMutal is advertising 3-hundred open positions!

Michigan: It was revealed that publicly announced hirings at Detroit Medical Center hid the fact that the hospital could lose all federal taxpayer funding for failing to meet sterilization rules, resulting in massive layoffs if they fail to comply.  Even so, reports also say Detroit Medical Center is eliminating about 240 jobs to reduce costs by $17-million USD!  Makes you wonder why they boasted about hiring people.

Minnesota: Hennepin County Medical Center confirmed it will eliminate 275 jobs in 2017 in order to deal with “…increasing cost of salaries, wages, and benefits and the rising cost of supplies, equipment, and pharmaceuticals, together with public program reimbursements [ObamaCare] that are less than the cost of providing care…”!

Montana: Blue Cross and Blue Shield eliminating 12 InfoTech jobs by March 2017.

New Hampshire: It was revealed that Wentworth-Douglass Hospital eliminated at least 24 jobs last month, due to “advances in technology”.

New Jersey: In Whippany, Aphena Pharma Solutions eliminating 70 jobs by March 2017. Interim Healthcare eliminating more than 2-hundred jobs in Hamilton and Voorhees by the end of January 2017!

New York: Respirator maker Caire shutting down their Amherst factory, 142 jobs being consolidated to Georgia by November 2017!  Morrison Community Living at Genesee County Nursing Home now for sale, all contracted employees notified of pending job losses due to sale.  Drugs maker Pfizer reminded the state that it is still laying off employees as it winds down operations in Rouses Point.    Montefiore Care Management laying off 74 people, directly blaming ObamaCare: “…Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates have remained virtually stagnant.”-Tracy Gurrisi, director of public relations

North Carolina: California based McKesson laid off 60 EHR employees in Charlotte, in addition to the 16-hundred job losses during Spring of this year.

Ohio: ValleyCare Health System has furloughed employees and reduced hours for others, a detailed explanation was not made public.

Oregon: God powerless to stop ‘his’ non-profit Saint Charles Health System from already shutting down their new Center for Women’s Health in Bend, blaming “staffing-related issues”!  When asked for specifics John Weinsheim, president of the Saint Charles Medical Group, insisted “I really can’t.”  Facebook posts indicate the year and a half old clinic is losing doctors early next year.

Pennsylvania: C3i Healthcare Connections eliminating 56 jobs in Pittston right after Xmas. Pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts eliminating 97 jobs in Harrisburg by mid-January 2017. LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh-Monroeville eliminating 131 jobs by December!  For-profit Sharon Regional Health System began laying off employees and refused to talk to local news media.  Some employees went public and said at least 70 people lost their jobs, others are being furloughed and work hours are being reduced. Wilkes-Barre General Hospital began eliminating jobs and reducing work hours due to ObamaCare reducing the number of people going to hospital for help.  Easton Hospital instituting furloughs and work hour reductions in rsponse to declining patient volumes, caused by ObamaCare.

Rhode Island: God powerless to stop massive layoffs at ‘his’ Our Lady of Fatima Hospital and Roger Williams Medical Center. Union reps say at least 30 people are being let go, and 20 vacant positions are being eliminated.  Woonsocket based CVS Health eliminating nearly 6-hundred jobs across the U.S., blaming “changing market dynamics”!

Tennessee: In Johnson City, the American Cancer Society office shutting down after Xmas, in an effort to be more “efficient” with donations.  Brookdale, the country’s largest old folks home service, eliminated 1-hundred jobs in a further attempt to drive down costs, despite already reducing operating costs by 36%!

Texas: In Austin, Seton Healthcare Family issued a WARN saying 129 employees will become unemployed in January 2017!

U.S. Virgin Islands:  The tourist trap territorial Hospital and Health Facilities Corporation Board warning of massive healthcare cuts because of ObamaCare. Specifically, it was revealed that Juan F. Luis Hospital is being shutdown for failing to meet federal Medicaid and Medicare standards regarding its HVAC system.

Wisconsin: Cumberland Healthcare eliminating 76 jobs after Xmas, as a result of contracting out the operations of their nursing home.

THE GREAT RENEGER: TRUMP NOW LOVES OBAMACARE!

ObamaCare destruction October 2016: “CONCERNING & CERTAINLY SOMEWHAT PROBLEMATIC.”

Business/Economics, Idaho

“Nobody even knows we’re here!” 1 State, 4-thousand jobs gone after Xmas! : U.S. Banking/Retail/Service sector destruction November 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. retail/banking/service sector job loss announcements and shutdowns for November 2016:

Switzerland based owner of several ‘luxury’ brands sold in the U.S., Compagnie Financière Richemont, eliminating an additional 250 jobs due to crashing sales!  That’s on top of 250 jobs killed since May.

Alabama: Bon Ton Hatters Shoe Repair shutdown after 110 years, the owner simply said “Hats are dead.”  On US280, Rogers Trading Company shutting down after 70 years, so the owner can finally “enjoy life”.  In Selma, after 171 years Butler Truax Jewelers shutdown.

Arkansas: The FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) reports that Allied Bank is dead.

 California: Industrial waste mitigator Veolia ES Industrial Services issued a shutdown WARN for their Benicia location, 57 jobs lost before Xmas.  Florist Native Bouquet issued a shutdown WARN for their Oceanside location, 97 jobs gone right after Xmas. In Foster City, Too Big to Jail VISA issued a mass layoff WARN, 213 jobs gone right after Xmas! Opinion surveyer Competitive Edge Research & Communication issued a shutdown WARN for their San Diego ops, 85 jobs gone by mid-January 2017.  God powerless to stop ‘his’ Young Mens Christian Association (YMCA) from shutting down a location in Los Angeles, by January 2017. American Apparel issued massive shutdown WARNs for The Golden State, 3-thousand 457 jobs lost right after Xmas! And despite scandalous advertising that some people would call child porno (many ads are much worse than what I’ve posted here), Los Angeles based American Apparel also went bankrupt busted for the second time in 13 months (wouldn’t it be nice if individuals could file bankruptcy that often?)!  Pico Rivera city administrators officially announced that the Home Depot was shutting down within two years, local news media say Home Depot admin refuses to comment. Texas based GolfSmith shutting down their Pleasant Hill golf store, one of 59 being shutdown across the country.  In Santa Barbara, Churchill Jewelers shutting down after 98 years.  In Indio, after ten years the Super Target shutting down by the end of January 2017, 130 jobs lost!  Local news reports say city administrators are now bending over backwards offering Target taxpayer funded incentives to keep the store open.  Barnes & Noble shutting down their Metro Pointe store in Costa Mesa after Xmas, saying it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease.  In San Jose, after 70 years Mel Cotton’s Sporting Goods shutting down after Xmas, due to the property being sold to a greedy developer.  In Hanford, after 64 years clothier Van Andel’s shutting down when the inventory is gone.

Connecticut: Marriott hotel and Royal bank of Scotland (RBS) continue to eliminate jobs according to WARN issues.  After less than two years Ace Hardware shutting donw their new store in Bloomfield, due to lack of sales! Ethan Allen Interiors shutdown their store in Norwalk. Ethan Allen Interiors reports a slight increase in nation-wide sales, but a huge drop in profits.  After 65 years A.P. Savage Hardware shutdown in Greeneville: “It’s just been a battle. It just came to a point where the returns are diminishing.”-Michael Howard, store general manager

Florida:  Vehicle auctioneer ADESA issued a shutdown WARN for their Sanford ops, 133 jobs gone four days before Xmas!  Aéropostale shutdown their Melbourne clothing store.  Farmers Insurance eliminating 103 jobs in Broward County, according to a WARN filed with the state!  Stride Rite shutting down their Pembroke Lakes Mall shoe store the day after Xmas.  News reports say it’s the last stand-alone Stirde Rite store in the U.S.  Boca Raton based Office Depot announced 65 store shutdowns by the end of its 4th quarter 2016, as part of its planned 3-hundred store shutdown.

Georgia: The FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) reports that Woodbury Banking Company is dead.

Idaho: One year after relocating to Garden City, JoyfulTea suddenly shutdown due to “A series of events…”

Illinois:  What automotive industry recovery?  Charter bus company Megabus issued a layoff WARN, 108 jobs gone by mid-January 2017!  Car parts retailer Ventra Belvidere issued a shutdown WARN, 89 jobs lost two days before Xmas.  In Lincoln Square, after 41 years Griffins & Gargoyles Antiques shutting down so the family owners can find out what else life has to offer, before thay get any older.  In Carbondale, My Favorite Toys store shutting down when the inventory is gone. Lawrence Ventures, the independant operator of the gift shop at the U.S.Army’s second oldest museum (Rock Island Arsenal), says sales are so bad they’re shutting it down. In Galesburg, after 20 years Cherry Street Guitar Company shutdown, the owner took a managment job with a competitor.

Indiana: Furniture buying ‘club’ DirectBuy now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  DirectBuy has been for sale, but no takers.  Now it’s being offered to creditors. In Lafayette, after four years M Power Yoga Studio shutting down sometime in 2017, the owner is planning on going to Africa to teach yoga.

Iowa: In Davenport, jeweler Diamonds on the Avenue shutdown.

Kentucky: After ten years W & M Jewelry shutting down in December.  After 55 years Gross Diamond Company shutdown and the building is for sale.

Louisiana:  In Lafayette, handmade local products retailer Red Arrow Workshop shutdown due to the death of the owner’s spouse (who was also a co-owner).

Maine: In Houlton, after 93 years Town and Country Clothing and Footwear shutting down on Xmas eve, the owner said he wants to get out while he’s still ahead.

Massachusetts: Too Big to Jail Putnam Investments eliminating 115 jobs due to investors taking their money and going somewhere else!  In Great Barrington, underwear shop Bra & Girl shutting down because it “was not financially viable” (maybe it was the name, sounds like you can buy bras and girls?).  Texas based GolfSmith shutting down their Watertown golf store, one of 59 being shutdown across the country.  Washington DC based Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) laid off 55 people and is shutting down their Cape Wildlife Center in Barnstable.  This is the result of being $20-million USD in the hole, however don’t blame lack of donations.  The evil executives of HSUS are accused of offshoring millions of dollars from donations, and according to The Washington Post “Generous pet lovers may think they are benefiting their local humane shelters when they give to large national organizations like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). This wouldn’t be a problem if these groups gave most of their revenue to pet shelters. But they don’t. Only about 1 percent of the Humane Society of the United States’ revenue goes to local pet rescues and shelters.”  These revelations comes as Japan based Sanrio helped HSUS meet its fund raising goals for November in California.

Michigan: After 67 years Jackson’s Toy House and Baby Too shutting down after Xmas.  They blame radical changes in the toy industry and the un-recovered economy. Don’t blame the internet, that’s how they made their shutdown announcement.

Minnesota: In Duluth, Northland Party store shutting down after 21 years, the owners ignorantly blame internet competition (they haven’t been reading by tech industry layoff reports).

Mississippi: In Natchez, after 53 years Bernie Pyron’s Furniture shutdown. Local news meida say at one time there were four stores, but the owners say the “last eight or nine years” have been really bad for business.

Montana: In Great Falls, Rogers Jewelers shutting down after more than 40 years, the owner lamented he could have made more money picking huckleberries: “I should have stuck with that. They are $50 to $60 a bucket now, I could have retired years ago.”-Daryl Rogers

Nebraska: After 118 years Lukasiewicz Furniture, Flooring and Appliances saying farwell to their Farwell location.  Local news media say at one time the store was so big it was nicknamed “the Farwell Mall”, but now the owners blame internet competition exacerbated by a disappearing local rural population for their shutdown.  In Bellevue, Antiques on Franklin shutting down the day before Xmas, and Mama Kelly’s First Class Secondhand Store shutting down after Xmas.  In Scottsbluff, Bentley’s Fine Jewelry & Repair shutting down, the owner said after 27 years he just wants a regular “eight to five, Monday through Friday job with weekends off”.

New Mexico: Defunct Radio Shack shutting down their 40 years old Ruidoso store, the local franchise owners are selling the property.  For-profit utility company PNM eliminating at least 30 jobs in an attempt to reduce costs (and increase profits for shareholders).

New York:  The iconic Waldorf Astoria ceases to exist, 1-thousand 441 jobs lost by March 2017 as the building is being remodeled (at some future date) into a smaller hotel operation!  In Middletown, hazardous waste forcing Shared Textile Services to shutdown, 65 jobs lost.  In Troy, Hill’s Stationery shutdown after 96 years.  Suffolk County National Bank laying off 76 people in Riverhead, due to being taken over by a bank from Connecticut.  NYC based clothier Kenneth Cole Productions shutting down 63 brick-n-mortar stores within six months! Kenneth Cole Productions is shifting to internet and international sales only! In Corning, after 26 years toy store Imagine That! shutting down after Xmas, the owner blames internet competition and radical changes in the toymaking industry and with wholesalers.  Despite efforts to raise $2-million USD through fund raising operations, non-profit iconic Big Apple Circus is now dead. Local news reports say Big Apple Circus was only able to raise $900-thousand!     In Watertown, after 27 years Waterbury Fine Jewelers shutting down so the owner can retire.  In Ithica, in business since the 1950s McNeil Music calling it quits by the end of Jauary 2017, the owner said the economy has not recovered: “2011 was the first bad year, and it never recovered from there. We’ve lost sales every year since 2010.”-Eric Laine

North Carolina: Retailer Belk laid off 40 people at its Charlotte HQ.

Ohio: In Ashtabula, after 69 years Outdoor Army Navy Store shutdown, the internet ignorant owner blames the internet.  In Athens, Premier Video shutdown, it was the last video store in town.  In Solon, after 50 years Rinaldi Jewelry shutting down by February 2017.  Leader Furniture, in Over-the-Rhine, shutting down after 131 years of retail sales.  In Cincinnati, California based clothier GAP shutting down two locations by the end of January 2017, due to 3rd quarter profits falling by 12%.  Also in Cincinnati, entertainment retailer FYE shutting down an undisclosed location, the owner of FYE (TransWorldEntertainment) lost $8-million in its 3rd quarter!  In Heath, another FYE shutting down anytime between Xmas and February 2017, the manager of that FYE blames it on disappearing customers.  Also in Heath, haircutter Master Cuts shutdown: “The closing is due to the lack of traffic, that would be the best way to put it. Not enough business. Nobody even knows we’re here! We have a lot of regulars, but people walk in and say: ‘I didn’t even know you were here.’ “-Jonni Jackson, manager

Oregon: Fire fighting helicopter contractor Erickson now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Erickson admin told the court they’re trying to save 7-hundred jobs country-wide.   In Corvalis, after 31 years Gracewinds Music shutting down, two of the co-owners want to retire and the third wants more time with his family.  

Pennsylvania:  Environmental Reclamation Services eliminating 30 jobs in Erie two days after Xmas. In Fort Washington, Too Big to Jail Ocwen Financial eliminating 54 jobs between now and after Xmas.  California based jeweler Shreve & Company shutting down their Portland store due to lack of sales.  And Macy’s revealed it sold-off its iconic Portland store, which should shutdown after Xmas.  Local news reports say Macy’s made a profit of $36-million off the sale.  In Pottstown, after 103 years Kiss Cycles shutting down days before Xmas. The owner esentially said he’s tired of working: “I’m going to be 64 and I want to ride a motorcycle, and I never get to do it. I push them around in here all the time, but never seem to have the time to get out there myself.”-Randy Kiss

South Dakota: In Rapid City, after 45 years the Black Hills Total Sleep Center shutting down so the 70 years old owner can retire (at the insistance of his wife).  In Britton, after 115 years Lee & Hanson Men’s Wear shutting down after Xmas.

Tennessee: After 37 years Jonesborough’s Art Glass Gallery shutdown its brick-n-mortar store, custom glass work can still be ordered.

Texas: Richardson based clothier Fossil blames its huge increase in internet sales for its decision to shutdown hundreds of its brick-n-mortar stores over the next few years!  In Houston, iconic used boot seller Texas Junk Company being forced to vacate the property due to a lawsuit.  Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples shutting down their Brownwood store in January 2017.  Austin based ‘outdoors’ clothier Backwoods now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Company administrators blame “changing shopping trends and consumer behavior, competitive pressures from both online and big-box retailers”.  It must be noted that Backwoods has a retail website.  The CEO hinted that the real reason for their bankruptcy could be the skyrocketing costs of leasing and operating brick-n-mortar stores which in turn is putting Backwoods into deeper debt.  In Beaumont, Mirror Shine and Shoe Repair shutting down due to lack of people who need shoe shines or repairs, the owner saying “I’m going to lay at home for a while”.

Virginia: In Richmond, 83 years old pawn shop Friedman’s Loan Office shutdown, the building is for sale.   In Falls Church, after 28 years Economy Party Supplies & Costumes shutdown.  Temp employment company Excel Management Service now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, blaming a lawsuit by one of their biggest financiers.  In Glen Alen, Stevens Jewelers shutting down after 23 years.  After 141 years H.W. Rountree’s Luggage shutting down their Henrico store the day before Xmas: “Our sales have been dropping, plus we have competition with all the luggage manufacturers that have their own websites. They sell direct to consumers and ship free.”-William A. King, owner

Washington: In Bellingham, after 38 years Gary’s Men’s & Women’s Wear shutdown.  Local news media say it was the eighth local clothing shop to shutdown.

Wisconsin: The oldest piano seller (and once a piano maker) in The Badger State, 131 years old Netzow’s Piano & Music Plus, shutting down when the inventory is gone.  In Durand, 112 years old Wolf’s Ladies Fashions & Shoes shutting down before Xmas, the owner lamenting “The ‘little guy’ is a dying breed unfortunately.” In Onalaska, after 18 years Treehouse Gift and Home shutting down the day before Xmas, the owners are selling everything, including the building.

U.S. government shenanigans November 2016: “THOSE HALCYON DAYS ARE OVER”

Retail/Banking/Service sector October 2016: “THERE’S NO MORE RETAIL…” TRUMP & CLINTON KILL 3,074 JOBS!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification.

I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

U.S.

“those halcyon days are over” Are ‘lawmakers’ high? : U.S. Federal, State & Local government Shenanigans, November 2016

Incomplete list (there’s just too much government BS to be able to keep up with all of it) of U.S. Federal/State/Local Government self-destruct announcements for November 2016:

Alabama: ‘Elected’ administrators are freaking out over skyrocketing taxpayer funded healthcare costs, so much so that they’re warning that current tax collections cannot support state Medicaid operations in the near future.  This is code for get ready for tax increases, and/or cuts in services.  Proof we’re in the Age of Trump, Birminigham gives TopGolf driving range $1.5-million USD in tax breaks! The high tech golf range uses balls with RFID chips! Yeah, their priorities are in the right place, NOT!

Alaska: The oil rich state is in a massive spending hole!  Local governments have been tightening their belts ever since the gov’na used his executive power to make $1.3-billion USD in  emergency spending cuts back in June. Now, the gov’na is asking those cities/counties he slashed to help him push deadlocked legislators to pass a new greatly reduced budget for 2017!

American Samoa: The tiny southern Pacific island territory approved a $280-million USD budget for fiscal 2017, $2-million more than expected.  It’s because they must match a $7-million airport improvement grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.  $1-million is being paid to “cabinet members and Governor’s staff”.

Arizona: The state’s Joint Legislative Budget Committee revealed that October’s tax colllections were $33-million USD more than what was expected.  However, the increase in tax collections was not the result of increased retail sales, it was the direct result of increased tax collections on what workers were paid.

Arkansas: There’s a battle on for the taxpayer funded state budget; the gov’na wants $50-million USD in tax cuts and huge cuts in spending.

California: The state’s Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) is predicting an incredible $2.8-billion USD surplus for the taxpayer funded government! The overly optimistic prediction is based on an extension of a ‘temporary’ tax increase on wealthy people.  However, data shows that even with the tax increase on the rich, tax collections for just the month of October were $381-million short of what was expected!  

Colorado:  State leaders must be high on that legalized mary-jane!  The Department of Transportation is getting only $1.4-billion USD to cover $9-billion worth of road construction projects!   And The Denver Post describes the state budget process as a “shell game” that’s a “necessary evil”!

Connecticut: Local news media reporting frantic taxpayer budget proposal debates.  Reports say spending cuts for the state’s fiscal year 2018 could be twice as drastic as they were for this current 2017 fiscal year.  Even with spending cuts for 2017 the state government will end up in the hole by $1.45-billion USD, because of reduced tax colllections and ‘fixed costs’ to taxpayers skyrocketing by 53%!   They did not go into details of what’s causing the 53% increase in costs, but local news reports said that ‘lawmakers’ admited that in  economic boom times (with high tax collections as a result) they actually work to keep from spending money on necessary infrastructure so they can fund their own pet projects: “During the boom years, those problems were papered over and largely hidden because tax collections were flooding the state coffers and producing surpluses. But those halcyon days are over, legislators said.”–Hartford Courant

Delaware: State agencies are demanding increased taxpayer funding.  State Medicaid administrators are warning that if the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) dies then state taxpayers will need to cough-up $100-million USD to cover the federal money that will be lost, in other words, Delaware’s expansion of Medicaid (as well as the other states who met Obamacare’s expansion demands) under ObamaCare is 100% funded by federal taxpayers. 

Florida: ‘Elected’ state administrators are warning that The Sunshine State’s economy is slowing down, and don’t blame Trump, blame Canada!  Budget proposals are factoring in increased costs of operations, especiallly in healthcare and education, and reduced tourism tax collections.  There’s been a huge decline in tourists from the British empire country of Canada, and two reasons for that is fear of zika virus and the crashing value of the Canadian dollar (CAD).  According to the Office of Economic and Demographic Research there were almost half-a-million fewer tourists from Cananda this year than in 2015, and the decline is expected to contiunue in 2017.

Georgia: “The state’s current minimum wage, $5.15 an hour, leaves Georgia in the company of only a handful of other states with minimum wages below the federal minimum hourly wage floor of $7.25….     ….300,000 of our neighbors and fellow Georgians still remain in the health insurance coverage gap and are unable to see a doctor….That number includes at least 32,000 veterans….”–Georgia Budget & Policy Institute  

Guam: The Guam Solid Waste Authority is questioning the federal court apointed receiver of the territory’s troubled trash collections ops.  Gershman, Brickner & Bratton (GBB) submitted a report which showed it was 33% over budget for items that are vaguely described.    Guam Solid Waste Authority is demanding a better explanation of where the taxpayer funding went.  This comes as a referendum to re-unify Northern Marianas Islands with Guam could be held in 2018.

Hawaii: The city of Honolulu massively jacked up property taxes, one apartment complex owner says she’s now getting the hell outta Dodge: “We got very surprised, shocked actually, when our tax bill went up to $4-thousand a year versus about $7-hundred a year!”– Karen Okazaki, condo owner

Idaho: The ‘christian’ republican decision to shutdown horse racing establishments is also resulting in the eventual shutdown of the state Horse Racing Commission which is funded primarily by the horse racing industry, not taxes.  Currently the Horse Racing Commission does not have enough money to pay the vetrenarians needed to inspect the remaining nine state approved horse racing facilities!  It’s been revealed that the State Treasurer was repremanded by the federal government for violating Securities and Exchange Commission rules.  The repremand happened almost four months ago, but only now is the Treasurer letting the taxpayers of Idaho know about it!  It was also revealed that The Gem State’s Credit Rating Enhancement Committee (which is supposed to meet yearly) hasn’t met for the past six years!

Illinois: Rock Island County warning of layoffs after cash strapped taxpayers voted down a proposed half cent sales tax, between 35 and 80 taxpayer funded jobs will be eliminated.  Public bus service contractor Connect Transit will shutdown because the failed state of Illinois hasn’t been paying them, at least 150 jobs gone by January 2017, and 8-thousand bus riders stranded!  Connect Transit says the state owes them $5-million USD.

Indiana: State ‘lawmakers’ warning that there is little or no taxpayer funding to expand pre-K education programs.  This ‘pre-K’ thing is a little confusing, there’s already something called HeadStart that takes place before Kindergarten, and when will this early education thing end?  When they start pre-natal education programs for fetuses yet to be developed?

Iowa: The Secretary of State is threatening to shutdown the expensive electronic voting system if he doesn’t get additonal taxpayer funding.  Why bother, aren’t the elections rigged anyway?

Kansas: By the end of November the state budget was described as being in a $290-million hole, due to three years of already proven to be a failure ‘trickle down economics’.

Kentucky: State ‘elected’ leaders failed at trying to save money by cutting education funding as teachers are now suing the state for underfunding retirment plans.

Louisiana: State leaders warning of massive cutbacks as the fiscal 2016 budget came up short by at least $313-million due to crashing tax collections.

Maine: The state Finance Commissioner continues to claim that tax revenues continue to exceed expectations, and that doesn’t include revenues from projected tax increases or legalization of marijuana.  So far there’s been no detailed explanation for the better than expect tax collections.

Maryland: State leaders are trying to come up with a new budget that’s already $800-million short of taxpayer funding.

Massachusetts: ‘Elected’ leaders gave their staff employees a raise totaling $1.3-million, despite the state budget being short by at least $294-million!

Michigan: It’s already been revealed that the record level budget includes taxpayer funding to people and organizations never heard of before: “Deep in the new budget that started Oct. 1 are $10 million in grants to recipients identified only with general descriptions and the population of their unnamed community.”–Detroit Free Press

Minnesota: The state Department of Natural Resources shutting down the 40 years old French River Hatchery, saying they can’t justify skyrocketing costs of operations. Despite reports of better than expected tax collections, state universities are complaining of massive funding shortfalls due to “rising costs, coupled with declining enrollment and state investment”.

Mississippi: The gov’na is warning of massive cuts to the fiscal 2018 budget due to lower than expected tax collections, which the gov’na blames on the federal budget inaction and on recent state tax cuts.

Missouri: The new gov’na elect warned of massive budget cuts due to lower than expected tax collections, and “explosive growth” in Medicaid funding to the tune of $550-million just to maintain the healthcare program.

Montana: ‘Elected’ leaders say creating a new budget is the number one priority, and it could include new taxes on marijuana and vapes, as well as jack up taxes on booze and tobacco.

Nebraska:  ‘Elected’ officials are trying to figure out how to deal with a $900-million shortfall!

Nevada:  Voters approved new gun purchase background checks and legalizing marijuana, as reports of crashing sales tax revenues came in.

New Hampshire: State agencies are demanding a total of $12.6-billion over the next two years.

New Jersey: To save their budgetary ass ‘elected’ officials reinstated a 40 years old tax law forcing New Jersey residents who work in another state with a lower tax rate to pay higher New Jersey income tax.  

New Mexico:  The gov’na’s office and the Legislative Finance Committee disagree over how much money the state actually has.  The gov’na claims there is a small surplus, but the Committee says the state is in the hole by $100-million.  That’s a major difference, and is proof your exalted officials don’t know what’s going on with your money.

New York: The state of New Jersey is criticising The Empire State’s gov’na for reducing taxpayer funding on New York’s portion of a new joint Port Authority Bus Terminal. Gov’na Cumo is instead shifting that funding to Kennedy International Airport.  The mayor of NYC wants an increase in taxpayer spending, most of that will go to ‘security’, caused partly by skyrocketing incareration rates at infamous Rikers Island concentration camp. The city of Troy warning that 90 employees will be laid off due to not being able to raise taxes in 2017.  Failed tax increase proposals ranged from 9% to a crippling 22.95%!  Onondaga County laying off 11 employees and offering more than 2-hundred employees bribes (buyouts) to get them to quit! News reports say the county is willing to spend $2-million tax dollars to buyout employees!  One ‘elected’ county administrator already took a $10-thousand buyout to ‘retire’ early! County administrators say the layoffs and buyouts are necessary because they don’t see any future improvement in tax collections, and costs of operations are only going to go up.

North Carolina: Evil politicians spent a record $22-million on getting your vote, and investigators discovered that “As of Nov. 7, at least $2.3 million in outside spending reported to the N.C. State Board of Elections lacks information on targeted candidates…..”

North Dakota: Want to bring down the government machine? Just hold never ending protests.  Local news reports say the Standing Rock protests “…have created an unprecedented burden for the state’s court system, which faces huge cost overruns and doesn’t have enough judges, lawyers and clerks to handle the workload.”

Northern Marianas Islands:  The U.S. Pacific commonwealth passed a publicly undisclosed budget with amendments to explain why government employees got bonuses and a 5% pay raise ( refered to as “salary adjustments”).  This comes as a referendum to re-unify Northern Marianas Islands with Guam could be held in 2018.

Ohio:  The gov’na warning that taxpayer spending cuts will continue into the new year due to never ending crashing-n-burning tax collections.  Tax collections for October came in $88-million short of what was expected!

Oklahoma: Department of Public Safety announced work hour reductions for state police personnel, and reduction in use of cop cars and aircraft, due to October tax collections comeing in 10% short of what was expected!

Oregon: The near-socialist state government is short $1.7-billion and the gov’na wants to create new taxes to cover the shortfall!

Pennsylvania: Irony as the state Department of Labor & Industry warned it will shutdown an unemployment call center, eliminating 6-hundred jobs in 2017! It’s blamed on ‘elected’ officials failing to provide funding for the call center, not because of any reduction in people applying for employment help, but because of reduced tax collections.

Puerto Rico: The federally created Financial Oversight and Management Board warned of massive cuts in taxpayer funding, by at least $70-million because “Additional federal assistance appears unlikely.”

Rhode Island: For some odd reason this tini-tiny state is claiming to have a $59-million budget surplus.  Administrators claim its due to agencies staying within their budgets and tax collections that were $45-million more than expected! 

South Carolina:  Administrators are warning of “hundreds” of state job cuts if $200-million in budget cuts are approved!

South Dakota: The gov’na warns of a “pretty lean” budget due to tax collections from July through October being $20-million lower than expected!

Tennessee:  Reports say state and counties are experiencing increased sales tax collections. However, local property tax collections and hotel/motel taxes are below expectations.

Texas: Taxpayer funding of various programs is being cut again, partly due to sales tax collections being less than expected.

Utah: State education leaders claim their schools will be flooded with more than 10-thousand new students next school year, requiring an additional $115-million in taxpayer funding!  State ‘lawmakers’ want to cash in on a supposed solar power boom by ending tax credits for the solar power/electric car industry.  One ‘lawmaker’ said he expects the state to make an extra $60-million by canceling ‘green industry’ tax credits!

U.S. Virgin Islands:  Since 2011 the tourist trap territory has been trying to reduce its taxpayer funded budget.  The federal Third Circut Court (in Pennsylvania) ruled that Virgin Islands must stop trying to cut its budget by renegging on promised pay for unionized employees: “The government is not entitled to impair its contracts at will. The Contracts Clause is not toothless.”-Circuit Judge Michael Fisher

Vermont: Economists are warning the new state legeslature of tough econmic times ahead, on top of the budget’s $70-million shortfall: “There’s tremendous uncertainty between what’s been said and what might actually happen, much more than usual.”-Tom Kavet, economist

Virginia: The state government is short $1.5-billion in taxpayer funding!  Despite this state and local police are demanding pay raises.

Washington: Voters rejected what would have become the country’s first carbon tax.  Local news media revealed the tax was just a backdoor way of raising $2-billion for the greedy and fiscally inept ‘elected’ officials.

Washington DC:  The capital city wants to cutback on taxpayer funding of homeless shelters.  They’ll do this under the guise of verifying if a homeless person is a legal resident of DC, the mayor admitted it’s because of “our very limited resources”.

West Virginia:  The gov’na warned he might have to impose budget cuts through exective order.   Public grade schools are facing $11-million in taxpayer funding cuts.

Wisconsin: More failure with Scott Walker’s Right to Work (you over) system as tax revenues are short by at least $461-million in current and projected collections, according to the new Department of Administration!

Wyoming: The gov’na’s budget proposal contains no ‘new’ spending cuts, but never mind that $317-million in cuts have already been ordered this year!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Government Shenanigans October 2016: “BREAKING POINT” NEW LAW ALLOWS POLITICIANS TO ‘STEAL’ DISASTER RELIEF MONEY!

U.S. Food Crisis October 2016: “…LEAN TIMES FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.”

Dumbing Down the U.S., October 2016: “FINANCIAL EXIGENCY” AS MORE STUDENTS DISAPPEAR

U.S.

“…lean times further down the road.” : U.S. Food Crisis, November 2016

 Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of November, 2016: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production, spread of disease and extreme weather.

Expect anything made with soy to go up in price.  Commodity prices for soybeans hit a four month high due to skyrocketing use of the bean in fuel production, and you can blame that on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordering an increase in bio-fuel production for 2017.

As Agriculture.com reports, another reason for soybean prices skyrocketing could be because farmers have been hoarding soy and corn, refusing to sell at low prices.  But hoarding is resulting in so much grain in storage that there is now nowhere to put this year’s harvests!

California: The maker of food coolers for retailers, KPS Global, issued a shutdown WARN for their ops in Chino, 78 jobs gone by mid-January 2017.  Switzerland based Nestlé issued a layoff WARN for their Modesto ops, 78 people jobless the day before Xmas.  In Redwood City, FoodCo issued a shutdown WARN, 69 jobs gone after Xmas.  In Los Angeles, Norm’s Restaurant issued a shutdown WARN, 73 jobs lost the day after Xmas.  In Oxnard, Harbor View Farms laying off 97 people after Xmas.  In San Diego, Carnitas Snack Shack shutdown their two years old Del Mar Highlands Town Center restaurant due to lack of sales.  Also in San Diego, S&M Sausage & Meat restaurant shutdown after two years of protests by vegans! Indio, after ten years the Super Target (which sells groceries) shutting down by the end of January 2017, 130 jobs lost!  Local news reports say city administrators are now bending over backwards offering Target taxpayer funded incentives to keep the store open. The Hungry Cat shutting down their Santa Barbara location due to the “current economic climate”. In Oakland, “pioneering” yet struggling restaurant Ozumo shutdown, one of the co-owners lamented “Little did we know of the hard times that greeted us when we opened in December 2008, nor of lean times further down the road.”

Colorado: Broomfield based Noodles & Company warning that it must shutdown about 45 restaurants due to a negative cash flow of $2.6-million USD in their 3rd quarter of 2016!

Florida: Level1-Spice Modern Steakhouse bankrupt busted for the fourth time!  The Smiling Bison shutting down their popular Orlando location after Xmas, due to “many circumstances well beyond our control”.  Switzerland based Nestlé  shutting down its Professional food service office in Tampa, 77 jobs gone by May 2017.  In Jacksonville, Reinhart Foodservice issued a WARN, 66 jobs gone by the end of March 2017.

Georgia: In Macon, restaurant Twang shutdown after less than four years, the co-owners say they’re too busy with other things and it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease.

Idaho: In Twin Falls, popular Kona Coffee & Cakes shutdown due to “other circumstances”.  The not-so-‘elected’ leaders of Idaho continue using taxpayer funding to look for new agricultural markets, this year they’re sending University of Idaho’s Dean of Agriculture to China. According to Capital Press, 20% of state legislatures are directly connected to farming/ranching.  The state Department of Agriculture is conducting classes for farmers regarding new federal rules for farm labor: “There’s too much information to absorb in two hours, and they’re doing their best to comply with this.”-Luis Urias

Illinois: After 83 years the Drake Hotel’s Cape Cod Room shutting down on New Year’s Day, due to property re-development.  The Chicago Grill on the Alley issued a shutdown WARN, 44 jobs gone after Xmas.

Kentucky: Kroger shutdown their Shively’s Southland Terrace store right after Thanksgiving.  Kroger claims the 108 employees were offered jobs at another Kroger grocery store.

Louisiana: In Algiers Point, after eight years Vine & Dine shutdown, the co-owners claim they’ll be back with something new.

Michigan:  Battle Creek based food giant Kellogg Company pulling its ads on pro-Trump website Breitbart, saying they suddenly consider the website guilty of ‘hate speech’.  In Dearborn Heights, Moo Cluck Moo shutdown after less than four years. The owners of Moo Cluck Moo were known for paying its restaurant employees $12 per hour, perhaps that was too much?  Plumb’s shutdown their grocery stores in Newaygo and Norton Shores, on the same weekend.  The 70 employees were given less than seven days notice.  Plumb’s administrators have yet to explain the sudden shutdowns.  A 38 years old Pizza Hut in Bay City shutdown without warning, or reason.  Local news media says the restaurant manager was not told why it was being shutdown.

Minnesota:  In Minneapolis, after nine years Saffron Restaurant & Lounge shutting down in December, the co-owners claim they’ll be back with something new.

Nevada: In Reno, Buffalo Wild Wings suddenly shutdown their Summit Sierra Mall restaurant, employees told local news media that the company couldn’t afford a new lease.

New Jersey: In Paramus, cooking supply store Chef Central shutting down on New Year’s Day due to competition and jacked up rent.

New Mexico: Colorado based Intrepid Potash warned that 57 Carlsbad miners will be laid off after Xmas, due to “We created more inventory [fertilizer] than we were able to sell.”

New York: In Moravia, after more than 50 years John’s Grocery shutdown due to the death of the owner.  In Watkins Glen, 50 years old Mister Chicken shutting down due to the owner’s health problems.  Morrison Community Living at Genesee County Nursing Home now for sale, 46 contracted food service employees notified of pending job losses due to sale.

North Carolina: In Raleigh, after 12 years Cafe Helios shutdown, the owners claim “something new” will take its place.

Ohio: Carnival Foods shutting down its three grocery stores once inventory is gone, saying “… the economic conditions in the area and competition make it clear that small grocery stores are becoming a thing of the past.”  In Girard, after 75 years Santisi’s IGA grocery store shutting down due to sales not covering operating costs. In Springboro, frozen yogurt shop Orange Leaf shutting down before Xmas, the owner told local news media the decision was personal.

Pennsylvania:  Mexico based Bimbo Bakeries issued a WARN for their Sunbury bakery, 67 people jobless by the end of January 2017.  In Spring Brook, decades old Barrel Family Restaurant shutting down unless a buyer who wants to keep it open can be found. In Linden, after almost 40 years the original Mountain View Deli and Samurai Subs shutdown.  Local news reports say at one time their were three Mountain View Deli and Samurai Subs.

South Carolina: In Charleston, after 24 years Wild Wing Cafe shutdown due to the greedy property owner selling out to a hotel developer.

Texas: In Amarillo, it was revealed that Baker Brothers American Deli shutdown their Wolflin Square store last month.  The owners admitted it was a way of increasing sales at their other locations.  In Austin, Doc’s Motorworks Bar & Grill shutting down its 11 years old South Congress location due to property re-development.

Virginia: In Carytown, C Street Restaurant shutdown two years after being expanded to hold more customers. Shoney’s shutdown its 40 years old Dumbarton Square restaurant, employees told local news media that sales crashed when the next door Martin’s grocery store shutdown.  In Charlottesville, after 47 years Spudnut Coffee Shop shutting down after Xmas, the owners refused to comment to local news media.  In Woodbridge, Glory Days Grill shutting down right before Xmas, after 20 years of eats: “…we made the very difficult decision not to renew our lease at Smoketown Plaza due to the substantial financial constraints involved in renovating this location….”

Washington: In Seattle, after more than 1-hundred years the Shanty Cafe shutdown, the owners sold the building saying they “needed a break”.  Seattle based Starbucks raised prices on cold drinks and bakery items, some prices went up by as much as 30 cents.  This follows a price increase in July.

Washington DC: Hellbender Brewery chapter 11 bankrupt busted saying “We’re dealing with some issues that go beyond financial issues that need to be taken care of.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

WHY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE BAD: THANKSGIVING, CHRISTIANITY’S OPEN HUNTING SEASON ON NATIVE AMERICANS!

U.S. FOOD CRISIS: USAF MAKES MONEY OFF CATTLE RANCHERS!

U.S. Food Crisis, October 2016: “AN UNFORESEEN SLOWDOWN” DROWNING IN BEER & CHROMIUM-6

GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS: WORLD BANK BEHIND BIRD FLU SLAUGHTER? LOANS HEALTHCARE MONEY FOR WAR-FIGHTING!

U.S.

“financial exigency” as The Rapture claims more students? Mo proof Mo Education does not equal Mo Money! : Dumbing Down the U.S., November 2016

It must be noted that I started documenting these education shutdowns at the beginning of 2014, in that year I posted the reports biannually (every six months). In 2015 education cutbacks ramped up and I posted quarterly (every three months). For the past 11 months of 2016 there have been so many education cutbacks that I’ve posted a report every month!

Disappearing Students Syndrome (DSS): A phrase created by me to describe a phenomenon taking place across the United States, affecting both privately and publicly funded schools, from Kindergarten all the way through University levels.

As of 3rd Quarter 2016: $1.26-trillion in total U.S. student loan debt, entrapping 44.2-million people for the next 20 to 30 years (you can’t declare bankruptcy against government loans)!  

Incomplete list of publicly announced education related layoffs & school shutdowns, November 2016:

Alabama: In Mobile, after only 13 months the taxpayer-investor subsidized (at least $70-million USD to build) GulfQuest Maritime Museum shutting down due to lack of paying customers.  Last month the mayor of Mobile revealed that the museum was behind on utility payments by $400-thousand!

California: In Los Angeles the Bienvenidos Children Center laying off 13 people right after Xmas.

Colorado: In Denver shock as Colorado Heights University joins the growing list of higher education establishments shutting down for good, before next school year.  Administrators blame DSS and problems maintaining its accreditation.

Idaho:  Once again the ‘christian’ Right to Work (you over) republican leaders are realizing too late that their education policies suck.  Last month I told you how the number of Idaho high school grads going on to college continues to crash-n-burn, now a new Student Loan Report survey shows as much as 82% of Idahoans who did “Go-On” and graduate from college (both public and private) are now saddled with debt.  To address the issues of crashing college enrollment (of Idahoans) and skyrocketing indebtedness Idaho ‘lawmakers’ have approved a $3-thousand USD grant to help individual Idahoans pay for college (too late for me and my adult children)!  The federal government is helping by shelling out $1.4-million to expand Idaho’s apprenticeships in healthcare, Info-Tech, manufacturing and energy.   A  Fort Hall Elementary principal admitted to stealing more than $9-thousand from the Blackfoot School District.  She was sentenced to five years probation and 3-hundred hours of community work, and supposedly has already paid back the money.  Combative state Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra now swears she will comply with federal Department of Education rules by submitting the Every Student Succeeds Act plan by March 2017.  The announcement came after Ybarra failed to met her own self imposed ESSA filing deadline!

Kansas: Without warning to students Heritage College suddenly shutdown all ten campuses, students found out when they showed up for classes and found the doors locked!  A note on the doors said the school was bankrupt dead, students are frantic: “I don’t know where I’m going, I don’t know what’s going on with my loans, I don’t know what to do next!”-Stephanie Hermrack

Kentucky: In Lexington, The Morris Book Shop shutting down in January 2017, after nine years: “I’m sorry to have to report that our search for a buyer has come to an end………declining sales over the past two years have erased all realistic hope of a rebound.”– Wyn Morris, owner

Maryland: In Towson, after nine years Ukazoo Books can’t renew their lease and will shutdown before Xmas.  Ukazoo proprietors tried to buy a building of their own, but the deal fell through.

Missouri: Saint Louis Public Schools warns it must shutdown two schools by fall 2017 due to ongoing DSS.  God can’t stop ‘his’ Our Lady of Sorrows and Saint James schools from shutting down due to The Rapture (I mean massive DSS), local news reports say the Saint Louis Archdiocese has suffered a net loss of 12-thousand 5-hundred students over the past decade (that sounds like The Rapture numbers to me)! The Lincoln University imposed a hiring freeze and will eliminate jobs by April 2017, due to the gov’na withholding $1-million USD in taxpayer funding.  Administrators say that without that money they could shutdown after seven months.

New Jersey:  Money problems forcing County College of Morris to shutdown its Morristown campus right after Xmas, as it consolidates operations.

New Mexico:  San Juan College warning of layoffs due to being forced to cut $1.14-million USD from its budget in December, describing it as a “financial exigency” (urgent demand) caused by a sudden taxpayer funding cut of 5%: “We have reached the point where we must reduce our workforce as our budgetary resources in this fiscal year, and next, will not support all of the positions on our organizational chart.”– Toni Pendergrass, college president

New York:  Dowling College chapter 11 bankrupt dead and selling off its properties. Dowling suddenly shutdown in August affecting at least 450 employees and 1-thousand 7-hundred students!  In NYC, That Which Cannot be Named refuses to stop ‘its’ Yeshiva University from shutting down Info-Tech services at four locations across The Empire State, at least 52 jobs “affected” by February 2017.  SUNY Plattsburgh warning of layoffs as part of efforts to save $1.4-million USD.  Clinton Community College eliminating jobs after losing 221 students over the past year.  That Which Cannot be Named powerless to stop Yeshiva University from shutting down their Israel Henry Beren Campus Technology Services Division a week before Xmas.

North Dakota: In Fargo,two grade school teachers were praised for attending the biased Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC, admittedly for extensive brainwashing: “In the face of rising anti-semitism and Holocaust denial, educating students about this history is becoming increasingly urgent.”-Peter Fredlake, museum director of teacher education and special programs

Ohio: Dayton Public Schools warned 77 employees of layoffs due to ongoing DSS.   Rural Maplewood Schools warning of school shutdowns in 2017 due to never ending DSS; a net loss of 447 students since 2003!

Oregon: Southern Oregon Historical Society warns that paid employees will be laid off right after Xmas, due to cash strapped taxpayers voting down (overwhelmingly, 65% to 35%) a new funding proposal.

Pennsylvania: McCann School of Business and Technology suddenly stopped accepting new students, and will shutdown as soon as enrolled students are ‘taken care of’.  The shutdown is blamed on DSS.

Rhode Island: Nathaniel Hilger of the National Bureau of Economic Research discovered that higher education does not equate to earning more money.  He discovered this while researching the myth that Asian Americans earn more money because of their education level.  That myth has been going around since the 1960s, and Hilger found it was a lie.  The true reason was declining discrimination against Asians: “Asians used to be paid like blacks. But between 1940 and 1970, they started to get paid like whites.”

South Dakota: In Aberdeen, after two years education supply store Teacher’s Pet shutting down right after Xmas. The owner blames an economy that has not recovered, with the final straw being ObamaCare insurance rates for employees.

Tennessee: In Nashville, after 20 years BookmanBookwoman shutdown its brick-n-mortar store, now selling on the internet only.

Wisconsin: In Madison, after 27 years of supposedly being ‘progressive’ Rainbow Bookstore co-op shutting down due to crashing enrollment at University of Wisconsin Madison: “Rainbow’s been struggling for a number of years. I think we’ve had a couple different challenges that we’ve been trying to address simultaneously. Our main source of revenue, which was selling textbooks that supported the rest of the bookstore, is vanishing.”-Debbie Rasmussen, volunteer (slave?) employee

Dumbing Down October 2016: TAXPAYER FUNDED SCHOOLS CAUGHT FAVORING MORMONS!

WHY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE BAD: THANKSGIVING, CHRISTIANITY’S OPEN HUNTING SEASON ON NATIVE AMERICANS!

Business/Economics

Sears Kmart shutdowns, November 2016: More taxpayer funded Bull-Shit!

Reuters reporting that Sears Canada just sold-off $70-million CAD worth of properties, yet Sears Canada swears the sale will not result in any shutdowns.  Then, on the same day, an unnamed Sears employee reported that the Coburg Sears store, in Ontario, will shutdown by the end of March 2017.  

24/7 Wall St. declared Eddie Lampert the most hated corporate executive in the United States.

A holiday employee at a Salisbury, North Carolina, Kmart was caught activating gift cards without paying for them.  Police say she bought a variety of things with the stolen gift cards, including the can of soda pop she was holding when they questioned her.

October 2016: KMART MAKES SANTA’S NAUGHTY LIST, NO TOYS FOR XMAS!

WARN = Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears-Kmart store closings that I’ve been compiling since the end of 2011, new revelations in BOLD:

Alabama: The Madison Square Mall Sears store & Auto Center shutting down in January 2017, but only because the leaders of Huntsville want to redevelop the mall property. No word on how many people will become jobless. Supposedly a new, and much smaller, contractor operated Sears appliance only store will be part of the mall redevelopment.  Taxpayers of Huntsville are expected to spend at least $12-million USD on the redevelopment!  Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says the ‘Sears’ property in Cullman is shutting down.   27 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  After 16 years the Troy Sears Hometown Store suddenly shutdown, the contracted owners said they couldn’t find anybody willing to take over the contract. Oxford Sears (local news reports said the Oxford Sears opened in 1985 with 225 employees!), Birmingham Kmart on Chalkville Mountain, Decatur Kmart on Beltline Road, Homewood Kmart, Mobile Kmart on Z Schillingers Road. The Montgomery Sears store and Auto Center in the Eastdale Mall shutting down, 56 jobs lost in June 2016. City leaders of Anniston have agreed to fork over $3-million precious local tax dollars to fund the re-development of an abandoned Kmart. Prattville Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 70 jobs lost. Florence Kmart in March, 64 jobs lost in 2016. A local news report said the employees knew nothing about it and were shocked to hear it from the news media! Dothan Kmart (south side of Ross Clark Circle) shutting down in March, 56 jobs lost in 2016. 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), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost), Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart, Northport Kmart (68 jobs lost), Dothan Sears (68 jobs lost), Huntsville Kmart (73 jobs lost), Sears Store and Auto Center at the Bel Air Mall in Mobile (more than 100 jobs lost).

Alaska: The Anchorage Sears Store & Auto Center, the Wasilla Sears Store, the Fairbanks Sears Store & Auto Center made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.

Arkansas: 17 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.  Sears store and Auto Center in Pine Bluff shutting down in August 2016. Little Rock Sears shutdown in July 2016.

Arizona: Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says a ‘Sears’ property in Sierra Vista is shutting down. 42 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  Nogales Kmart shutdown by July 2016, despite the fact that it’s a profit making store (many of its cash paying customers cross the border from Mexico). The Prescott Valley Kmart shutdown April 2016. No word on how many jobs lost, but one employee was quoted by local news as saying “Walmart won.” Reports that the Glendale Kmart will shutdown, no word on job losses. Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors. Recently revealed Arrowhead Towne Center Sears sold-off then rented back! Chandler Fashion Center Sears sold-off then rented back!

California:  The Town & Country Center Kmart in Indio shutting down right before Xmas. The GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Bakersfield Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”.  A shutdown WARN issued for the Fontana Kmart, 133 jobs gone before Xmas!  A shutdown WARN issued for a Los Angeles Kmart, 234 jobs gone right before Xmas!  233 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!!!  Sears Holdings shutdown a Los Angeles Kmart, 132 jobs lost in May 2016! Dinuba Kmart 68 jobs lost, Lodi Kmart, Tulare Kmart, Wasco Kmart. Sears Holdings created Seritage Growth Properties is renting out half of three Sears stores; one in Roseville, one in Citrus Heights and one in Sacramento. Supposedly Sears will continue its operations in the other half of the buildings. On 10 March the Garden Center roof of the Santa Rosa Kmart collapsed during a rain storm. Fire inspectors said the roof was already compromised due to dry rot before the rain storm, a local news reporter said managers knew about the condition of the roof because it was sagging, and they called in contractors. The contractors tried to prop up the roof before the rain storm hit. Anaheim Kmart shutdown, 107 jobs lost in 2016! The Chula Vista Kmart, San Mateo Sears and Citrus Heights Kmart shutdown between March and April 2016, a total of 3-hundred jobs lost! 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 (more than 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart, Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost), Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down, Banning Kmart (91 jobs lost) recently revealed that Sears Holdings is still paying rent on the abandoned property, Laguna Hills Mall Sears, San Diego Mid-City Kmart (73 jobs lost), Hemet Kmart (77 jobs lost), Oakland Sears repair center (75 jobs lost), San Mateo Kmart (82 jobs lost to an apartment building connected to public transportation), Hesperia Kmart building sold at a loss to a vulture capitalist REIT, no word on if the Kmart will be shutdown. Customers complain that the Kmart employees have a bad attitude, gee I wonder why? Yuba City Kmart (63 jobs lost), Rocklin Kmart (at least 63 jobs lost, the store had just posted “Now Hiring” signs), San Leandro Kmart (102 jobs lost), San Jose Mercury News says the El Centro Kmart to shutdown in January, the website Foursquare says the Covina Kmart is now shutdown (other sources say it will shutdown in December), Cupertino Sears and Auto Center (98 jobs lost), somebody posted on yelp* that the Diamond Bar Kmart was shutting down in December (confirmed by Armijo Newspapers), Westfield Topanga Sears (122 jobs lost), it looks like the Blythe Kmart is being slowly shutdown despite denial by Sears Holdings. San Mateo Kmart being demolished to make room for 599 unit apartment complex, as part of the the Hayward Park Caltrain Station project. Atwater Kmart (74 jobs lost), Los Banos Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Colorado: Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says the ‘Sears’ property in Thornton is shutting down. 40 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  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), Colorado Springs Kmart at Powers and Palmer Park boulevards (57 jobs lost), Fort Collins Sears (67 jobs lost), Denver-Cherry Creek North Sears store & Auto Center (66 jobs lost).

Connecticut: 113 jobs lost as the West Hartford GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Sears store and Auto Center shuts down by the end of January 2017!  Local news media pointed out that every remaining Sears and Kmart store in the state is on the new Sears Holdings Real Estate “opportunities” list! Putnam Kmart. Waterbury Big Kmart, Torrington Kmart (73 jobs lost), Enfield Sears Optical (no word on jobs lost), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (employees say the shutdown was a surprise, I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (at least 13 jobs lost).

Delaware: Seven Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.  Dover Kmart (at least 72 jobs lost, some reports said 100), Seaford Sears (30 jobs lost), Claymont Kmart (87 jobs lost).

Florida: It’s been revealed that Santa Rosa County School District is spending $1.45-million tax dollars to buy a property now owned by Sears Holdings (via Kmart)! The sale of the property is delayed because only now has it been revealed that Kmart is the new owner of the former Food World property!   The GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Pembroke Pines Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”.  WARNs issued for the Saint Petersburg Sears store and Auto Center, 126 jobs gone by the end of January 2017!  173 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!!   In Orlando, the 50 years old Fashion Square Mall Sears & Auto Center shutting down, 101 jobs lost by mid-November! Inverness Sears Hometown suddenly shutdown due to disagreements with the landlord. Jacksonville Sears. Mandarin (Jacksonville) Kmart, Neptune Beach Kmart and Perry Kmart shutting down between July-September. The Lutz Kmart shutdown March 2016, 62 jobs lost. The 46 years old Daytona Beach Kmart, on International Speedway Boulevard, is shutdown mid-March 2016, 86 jobs lost. 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 in February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winter Haven Kmart (92 jobs lost), Palm Bay Kmart, Oakland Park Kmart (112 jobs lost), Clearwater Sears Auto Center (21 jobs lost), Zephyrhills Kmart (70 jobs lost), Winter Springs Kmart (69 jobs lost), Naples Kmart (72 jobs lost), New Port Richey Kmart (58 jobs lost), ‘redevelopment’ of Aventura Sears & Auto Center into an “open-air village” (unknown how many jobs affected), Kmart on Northeast 108 Street being annexed by Miami Shores, Sears Holdings threatens to shutdown Kmart as a result of higher local taxes. The property that’s home to an operating Kmart, on South Green Bay Road in Racine, was foreclosed by the local Sheriff and sold-off for $2.5-million, no word on what the new property owner will do with it. Fort Myers Kmart (67 jobs lost). Dicks Sportings Goods subleasing space in an existing Sears store in Palm Beach Gardens.

Georgia: Yet another Augusta Kmart shutting down, this time the one on Deans Bridge Road.  63 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! The 23 years old Rome Kmart shutdown in August 2016, 1-hundred jobs lost! Administrators say employees can apply at other Sears Holdings stores, but local news reports say the Rome Kmart is the last Sears Holdings store in the area! The 37 years old Carrollton Kmart shutdown April 2016. Dublin Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 71 jobs lost. Milledgeville Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 60+ jobs lost. Mount Berry Square Mall (Rome) Sears and Auto Center shutting down in March 2016, 86 jobs lost. 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), Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart, Warner Robins Kmart (77 jobs lost), Coweta County Kmart distribution center (164 jobs lost), one of the last two North Augusta Kmart to be torn down by new property owner from Canada, Sears Holdings denies the Kmart will shutdown.

Guam: Tamuning Kmart made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.  Sears Hometown Store.

Hawaii: 14 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.  Iconic 25 years old Nimitz HWY Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart shutdown in March 2016, 141 jobs lost! Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost! GGP spending $573-million chopping it up into smaller store spaces), Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost), Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Idaho: Lewiston Kmart, Boise Town Square Mall Sears Store & Auto Center, Boise Kmart Auto Center, the Nampa Kmart Store & Auto Center, the Coeur d’Alene Kmart and Sears Store & Auto Center, the Twin Falls Sears Store & Auto Center and Kmart, the Ammon Kmart, the Idaho Falls Sears Store & Auto Center, the abandoned but still owned by Sears Holdings Chubbuck (the“opportunities” listing incorrectly says Pocatello) Sears Store (esentially all remaining Sears & Kmarts in Idaho) made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  Boise Kmart on Fairview shutdown mid-March 2016, 56 jobs lost. Pocatello Kmart shutdown April 2016, 65 jobs lost. Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears shutdown by the end of October/beginning of November 2014 (the remaining 28 jobs lost).

Illinois: Another update for the abandoned Rock Island Kmart; looks like Augustana College found a fool to buy the Kmart property that was dumped on the college (in the form of a tax avoiding donation) and then vacated in July 2016, it was sold to a company called Rock Island KM.   The GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Oak Brook Sears store being reduced by half and the Auto Center being shutdown between 2017 & 2018.  Sears Hardware in Edwardsville shutting down right before Thanksgiving, 21 jobs lost. A local TV station reported that Sears Hardware in Collinsville is shutting down, no comment from store management.  Shutdown WARNs issued for Kmarts in Tinley Park and South Kedzie Avenue in Chicago, 275 jobs gone by Xmas! News reports out of Tinley say a total of six Kmarts will shutdown by Xmas! Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties confirmed that two ‘Sears’ properties, in Chicago and Springfield, are shutting down. 116 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!!  An update for the abandoned Rock Island Kmart; the recently vacated property was ‘donated’ to Augustana College, but now college adminitrators are looking to sell the property to anybody foolish enough to buy it. The real reason the college is trying to dump the vacant Kmart is that the property tax is about $92-thousand per year, indicating the ‘donation’ was actually a screw-job (lets not forget that local news media pointed out that city officials spent $15-million tax dollars attracting Walmart to town, but spent zilch on trying to keep Kmart from leaving!). The Kmart Super Center in Bradley shutdown, 125 jobs lost! Sears Holdings sold the building to Meijer, unconfirmed reports say the Bradley Kmart Super Center (which has a full grocery op) was actually making money. After 90 years Chicago Sears on Lawrence Avenue shutting down by August 2016, local news says its the oldest Sears store still operating. The last Decatur Kmart shutting down by August 2016, 61 jobs lost, administrators say employees can apply at other Sears Holdings stores, but local news reports say there are no more Sears Holdings stores in the immediate area! Chicago Kmart on South Pulaski. Danville Kmart, Galesburg Kmart, Lansing Kmart, Pekin Kmart, Eddie Lampert eliminated 401 Hoffman Estates HQ jobs due to crappy 2015 holiday sales! 151 of those jobs were already vacant. Morton ‘green’ Kmart shutting down by the end of April 2016, 47 jobs lost. Canton Kmart shutting down mid-April 2016, 38 jobs lost. 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), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost?) revealed is now a perpetual closing sale Kmart At A Discount store, Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost), Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost), Danville Sears store & Auto Center (63 jobs lost), Forsyth Sears store & Auto Center (45 jobs lost), Peoria Kmart (73 jobs lost), Forest Park Kmart (107 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North and Harlem avenues, supposedly it’s being replaced (most likely at taxpayer expense) with a new building and it will become a Sears-Mariano’s store, Bloomington Kmart (79 jobs lost), Hoffman Estates Headquarters 100 jobs eliminated, another 15 corporate jobs eliminated elsewhere, Chicago-Wicker Park Kmart (106 jobs lost), abandoned Market Place Mall Sears location to be occupied by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field & Stream. 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. North Mayfair Kmart (99 jobs lost), Chicago Kmart at 5033 North Elston Avenue (99 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.

Indiana: Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says the ‘Sears’ properties in Elkhart and Merrillville are shutting down.  A WARN revealed that 99 Kmart employees in Merrillville will lose their jobs right before Xmas.   67 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Bloomington Kmart, New Albany Kmart. Bloomington’s College Mall Sears & Auto Center shutdown mid-June 2016, at least 52 jobs lost. In Schererville, Sears Hardware shutdown in April 2016. Terre Haute Kmart April 2016, 62 jobs lost. Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost), FairOaks Mall Kmart, Logansport Sears (43 jobs lost), Muncie Kmart (59 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on Coliseum Boulevard North (69 jobs lost), Decatur Kmart (49 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Madison Avenue (131 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Washington Street (139 jobs lost), Bedford Kmart (62 jobs lost), Indianapolis (Evansville) Sears & Auto Center at Washington Square Mall (91 jobs lost), Greenwood Kmart (78 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (68 jobs lost), Bloomington Sears to be replaced by Whole Foods grocery store.

Iowa: 22 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  Des Moines Southridge Mall Sears shutting down by August 2016, the store was in the process of dying anyway, only 37 employees left. Sears Holdings shutdown their West Des Moines call center in June 2016, 162 jobs lost! Ottumwa Kmart shutdown April 2016, 38 jobs lost. Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (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), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost), Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost), Clive Kmart (at least 49 jobs lost), Ames Kmart (44 jobs lost), Fort Dodge Sears (no job loss numbers made public, yet. The Auto Center was secretly shutdown in September), 56 years old Mason City Sears & Auto Center (more than 100 jobs lost). Davenport Kmart (59 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Kansas: 18 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.  In El Dorado, a contracted Sears store suddenly shutdown due to Sears Holdings continually changing the contract: “We had a contract that we had to follow to a ‘T’ while they changed it at will. They changed our commission bonuses and percentages and that hurt us.”-Russ Christy, contracted Sears store operator

Hutchison Kmart. North Topeka Kmart shutting down in 2016, 49 jobs lost. Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Merriam Kmart-then Sears-then Kmart (jobs lost unknown), Wichita Sears store & Auto Center (103 jobs lost), Manhattan Sears & Auto Center (number of jobs lost were never revealed).

Kentucky: Pikeville Kmart shutting down right before Xmas. 31 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  Two Kmarts in Louisville. Elizabethtown Kmart, Maysville Kmart, Paintsville Kmart. Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart, Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!), Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost), Cannonsburg Sears and Sears Auto Center (no employee info given), Louisville Dixie Highway Kmart/Sears/Kmart shutdown and now being taken over by Kroger basically to sell the same crap the old Kmart did! Madisonville Kmart (39 jobs lost), Owensboro Sears store & Auto Center (52 jobs lost).

Louisiana: Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says the ‘Sears’ properties in Houma and New Iberia are shutting down. 36 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! The Bossier Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Houma Sears, Pineville Kmart. Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost), Metairie Kmart secretly sold off, no word if it will be shutdown, Laplace Sears Hometown Store.

Maine: 13 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list. Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Kmart shutting down by August 2016, more than 50 jobs lost. Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost), Aroostook Centre Mall Sears Auto Center leased out to VIP Tires & Service.

Maryland: GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Columbia Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”.  54 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears rebuild & call center (115 jobs lost), Baltimore Kmart on Wabash Avenue (107 jobs lost), Parkville Kmart (102 jobs lost), California Kmart (71 jobs lost), Sears Hometown Store in Perryville.

Massachusetts: GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Natick Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”.  64 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  Tewksbury Kmart. Fairhaven Sears Appliance & Hardware shutdown mid-April 2016. Local news reports said the ignorant employees actually thought the shutdown notice was a joke! I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News. 79 jobs lost as the Fall River Kmart shutdown in May 2016. North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost), Kingston Kmart (73 jobs lost). Braintree Kmart on Grossman Drive shutdown. Also, the Braintree South Shore Plaza Sears store is renting out an entire floor to Ireland based Primark. Even with the lease to Primark there is still 4-thousand square feet of vacant space in the Sears store. The Sears at the Auburn Mall shutdown on Black Friday due to electrical fire. The store was experiencing electrical problems, an investigation is underway.

Michigan: Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says the ‘Sears’ properties in Alpena, Manistee and Sault Saint Marie are shutting down.  WARNs filed with the state revealed that on top of the Seritage Growth shutdowns the Kmarts in Jackson, Grand Rapids, Byron Center and Fenton will also shutdown. A total of 390 Kmart jobs will be killed right before Xmas!  113 Sears and Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!! The Holland Sears Appliance & Hardware shutdown, the manager of the francise store refused to say why. Plymouth Township Super Kmart shutting down by November 2017 (that’s when the lease expires). According to Plymouth’s Planning Commission, Sears Holdings is selling the property to a developer. A Kmart on Groesbeck Highway, Clinton Township, shutting down, 82 jobs lost by October 2016. The Farmington Hills Kmart shutting down by mid-July 2016, 61 jobs lost. Midland Sears, Houghton Lake Kmart, Taylor Kmart. The Bradley Kmart has a new owner who is shutting it down in 2016. Retailer Meijer bought the Kmart property for $5-million USD. The Kmart shutdown in May, but the new Meijer store won’t be ready until 2018. The Sears and Auto Center in Fort Gratiot shutdown by mid-March, 48 jobs lost. Ironwood Kmart by mid-April, 47 jobs lost. 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, Saginaw Kmart on Bay Road, Flint Kmart on Dort Highway (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost), Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 jobs lost), Saint John’s Kmart (48 jobs lost), White Lake Township “Store of the Future” Kmart (42 jobs lost), Grand Blanc Kmart (49 jobs lost), Lapeer Kmart (56 jobs lost), Southgate Kmart (155 jobs lost), Detroit’s Telegraph Road Kmart (115 jobs lost), Waterford Township Sears (no word on how many jobs lost), Rochester Hills Kmart (77 jobs lost), ‘perfect Kmart town’ of Port Huron Kmart (188 jobs lost), Flint Kmart on Miller Road (81 jobs lost), Burton Kmart (85 jobs lost), Madison Heights Kmart (179 jobs lost), it’s now official the last remaining Saginaw Kmart (on Gratiot Road) will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January 2014 (Sears Holdings claims only 18 people worked there at the time of the collapse!), Ann Arbor Kmart (59 jobs lost), Iron Mountain Kmart (54 jobs lost), Bangor Township Sears aka Bay City Mall Sears, the Auto Center was already secretly shutdown some time ago (at least 47 jobs lost), Big Rapids Kmart (about 50 jobs lost). Vacant Wyandotte Sears Auto Center is being renovated at a cost to taxpayers of $1-million & 20-thousand, plus 15 years worth of tax breaks valued at $2-million! Shakopee Kmart distribution center shutdown and sold-off for $17-million in 2013, now it’s finally getting a new tenant; snowmobile and electric cart maker Polaris Industries will rent out a fraction of the building to use as their new parts warehouse. The Kmart Plaza in Sandusky sold to “A group of investors”, no word on what will happen to the Kmart store.

Minnesota: GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Minnetonka Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”.  The Dundas Planning Commission met with CJB II Real Estate to discuss the future of the abandoned Kmart.  ‘Elected’ leaders expressed a willingness to throw $100-thousand tax dollars at the redevelopment project. The Dundas Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 32 jobs lost.   West Saint Paul Kmart shutting down by Xmas.  32 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  The 40 years old Eden Prairie Center Sears store shutting down in time for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Eddie Lampert sold the store to the mall owner for $16-million! The owner of the mall wants to carve up the Sears into smaller stores. Thunderbird Mall Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 48 jobs lost. Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart, Monticello Kmart, GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost), Fergus Falls Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Alexandria Kmart (46 jobs lost), Grand Rapids Kmart (61 jobs lost), Seritage is selling off three Sears Auto Centers in Minnetonka, Brooklyn Center and Saint Paul, Marshall Kmart (57 jobs lost), Oakdale Kmart (77 hourly wage employees losing their jobs, unknown how many salaried employees will become unemployed), Winona Kmart (67 jobs lost), Minneapolis city officials trying to shutdown profit making Nicollet Avenue Kmart, to make way for a new road. Anoka Kmart (47 jobs lost), Blaine Kmart (60 jobs lost), Burnsville Kmart (62 jobs lost), Waite Park Kmart (57 jobs lost), Northeast Minneapolis Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale, Coon Rapids Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale.

Mississippi: 14 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.  Corinth Kmart. The 44 years old Greenville Kmart shutdown in April, no word on job losses. Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost), Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall, Olive Branch distribution center (unknown how many jobs lost).

Missouri: 48 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  Bridgeton Kmart, Springfield Kmart. Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost), Ellisville Kmart (55 jobs lost), Springfield Kmart on South Campbell Avenue (60 jobs lost), South Belt Kmart (64 jobs lost), Florissant Kmart (100 jobs lost), O’Fallon Kmart (76 jobs lost).

Montana: The Hamilton Kmart, Havre Kmart, Helena Kmart, Glendive Kmart, Billings Sears Store & Auto Center, Butte Kmart, Great Falls Kmart Store & Auto Center, Kalispell Kmart Store & Auto Center (essentially all remaining stores) made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  Billings Kmart. Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost), Great Falls Kmart (closed “until further notice” due to fire, 63 jobs on hold), Great Falls Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost) due to great sales (ironically) the shutdown date has been moved from 07 December 2014 to 23 November, Bozeman Kmart (37 jobs lost), Missoula Sears store and Auto Center (57 jobs lost).

Nebraska: Seritage Growth Properties says its Kmart property in Kearney is shutting down by Xmas.  Six Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.  40 years old Hastings Kmart. Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost), Omaha Kmart near West Maple Road (50 jobs lost).

Nevada: 22 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  Sparks Kmart distribution center (100 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: 23 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials, Portsmouth Kmart (30 jobs lost), Claremont Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New Jersey: GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Paramus Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”. 53 Kmart and Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Nearly one acre of the Rockaway Townsquare Mall Sears (which is still in operation) is now rented out to a furniture dealer. Lodi Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 75 jobs lost. Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost), Berlin Kmart, Dover Kmart (92 jobs lost), Randolf Kmart (91 jobs lost), Paramus Kmart (74 jobs lost), Closter Kmart (102 jobs lost), Vineland Kmart (74 jobs lost). After 18 years Sears Holdings shutdown their Roselle Sears Hardware store due to “landlord issues”.

New Mexico: GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Albuquerque Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”.  Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says the ‘Sears’ property in Deming is shutting down.  21 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Back in May local news reports said the Artesia Kmart was shutting down, in July Sears Holdings finally confirmed it. Albuquerque’s Coronado Center Sears suddenly shutdown their Auto Center, and will reduce the size of the main store by 50% within two months. Sears goon Howard Riefs stated “We will rightsize the labor…”, but gave no numbers. The ‘rightsizing’ of the Coronado Center store is in partnership with one of my evil former employers, mall owner GGP. SearsLas Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost), Rio Rancho Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New York:  The Queensbury Super Kmart is being reduced to just a Kmart, ending 24 hour grocery sales by January 2017.  Shutdown WARN issued for the Binghamton Kmart, 69 jobs gone by Xmas. Shutdown WARN issued for the Cheektowaga Kmart, 101 jobs gone by Xmas!  The second level of the GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Staten Island Sears shutting down right before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, 44 jobs killed, it’s been leased to Ireland’s clothier Primark. 104 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!! The 50 years old Sears Auto Center in the Colonie Center Mall shutdown by Sears Holdings subsidiary Seritage Growth Properties, so the space could be rented out to Avis-Budget Car Rental Group. In Brooklyn, the Kings Plaza Sears shutting down, 210 jobs gone by mid-September 2016! Eddie Lampert is renting the space to a couple of European clothing retailers. Sears Holdings issued a shutdown WARN for its Plattsburgh Sears store and Auto Center, 56 jobs lost by the end of July 2016. New York Post says Sears is shutting down their NYC clothing design office, 40 jobs moved to California, another 154 jobs gone by July! Rotterdam Mall Sears and Auto Center shutting down by August 2016 (67 jobs lost). Sears Holdings issued yet another WARN, this time 75 Rochester Kmart employees losing their jobs by mid-July 2016. Irondequoit Sears, Plattsburgh Sears, Poughkeepsie Kmart, Rochester Kmart. Staten Island Mall Sears Auto Center shutdown in February, 20 jobs lost. Lindenhurst Sears Hardware, North Babylon Sears Hardware, Hauppauge Sears Hardware, Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost) now revealed to be turned into a Town Center with more than 200 apartments at an estimated cost of $50-million, Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 jobs lost), Tonawanda Sears Appliance and Hardware, Bronx Sears (91 jobs lost), BBN reader reported that the Ithaca Sears and Auto Center shutdown and one month later it’s been officially confirmed (at least 37 jobs lost), DeWitt Kmart (92 jobs lost), Auburn Sears (51 jobs lost), Massena Sears and Auto Center (51 jobs lost), Staten Island Mall Sears leased out to Ireland’s Primark, Bay Shore Sears and Sears Auto Center (144 jobs lost), New Hartford (Sangertown Mall) Sears & Auto Center (109 jobs lost), Lancaster Kmart sold for $1.7-million to Dave’s Christmas Wonderland. Herkimer Sears Hometown, Saranac Lake Sears Hometown the ‘independent’ co-owners said Sears Holdings forced them to shutdown. Melville Appliance Repair Division (31 jobs lost).

North Carolina: The High Point Sears Call Center shutting down by February 2017, Sears Holdings actually refused to tell local news media how many jobs will be lost, unnamed employees said it “will be in the hundreds” (local news reports said the last time Sears publicized how many employees worked the call center it was more than 3-hundred)!  Mount Airy Kmart (in the Mayberry Mall) shutting down right before Xmas.  Burlington Kmart shutting down right before Xmas, local news reports said nobody was surprised.  71 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! 40 years old Thomasville Kmart shutting down in time for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Brevard Kmart, Gastonia Kmart, Lumberton Kmart, Pineville Kmart, Rocky Mount Kmart. Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), 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), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost), Conover Kmart (74 jobs lost), Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost), High Point Kmart (71 jobs lost), Boone Kmart (41 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart (96 jobs lost), Gastonia Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), Kinston Kmart (64 jobs lost), Cary Sears (66 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart distribution center (130 jobs lost), Greenville Kmart (75 jobs lost), Kinston Sears Hometown Store shutdown with little notice, Lexington Sears Hometown Store.

North Dakota: 18 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.  Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost), Dickinson Kmart (41 jobs lost, despite a “Now Hiring” sign on the front of the store).

Ohio: The Fairborn and Springfield Kmart stores shutting down, 134 jobs gone right before Xmas!  Reports that a Knox County Kmart is shutting down its pharmacy operations.   Employees confirmed to local news media that the 21 years old Austintown Sears Appliance and Hardware will shutdown by Xmas.  Mentor Kmart shutting down by Xmas, local news reports say in the 1990s the store employed 2-hundred people!  124 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!! 18 years old Defiance Sears shutting down by August 2016. Marion Sears store (the Auto Center was shutdown in 2014), Ashtabula Kmart, Eaton Kmart, Fremont Kmart, Lima Kmart, Lorain Kmart, Springboro Kmart. Englewood Kmart, 57 jobs lost by the end of July 2016. Fort Stueben Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 53 jobs lost in June 2016. Sandusky Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 44 jobs lost in June 2016. 78 jobs lost as the Lancaster Kmart is shutdown in May 2016. 18 jobs lost as the Dixie Highway Sears Hardware shuts down this Friday. The 28 years old Sears and its Auto Center in New Philadelphia shutdown by mid-April 2016, 46 jobs lost. Without warning the Medina Sears Appliance & Hardware Store shutdown. Warren Kmart on Parkman Road NW shutdown in April 2016, 63 jobs lost. Zanesville Kmart shutdown mid-April 2016, 47 jobs lost. Steubenville Kmart shutdown by April 2016, 65 jobs lost. Boardman Kmart by April 2016, 81 jobs lost. 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), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard, London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost), Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost), Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost), Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost), Norwalk Kmart (52 jobs lost), Blue Ash Kmart (77 jobs lost), Northwood Sears at Woodville Mall (36 jobs lost), Conneaut Kmart (43 jobs lost), Anderson Township Kmart (71 jobs lost), Brooklyn Kmart (200 jobs lost), Columbus Lockbourne Industrial Parkway Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost), also in Columbus, Sears Product Rebuild-Call Center (112 jobs lost), Marion Sears Auto Center (at least nine jobs lost), Springfield Kmart #3767 (68 jobs lost), Fairborn Kmart (66 jobs lost), Solon Sears & Auto Center (at least 53 jobs lost), Tiffin Sears Hometown Store. 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. Fairlawn Sears Appliance & Hardware, Macedonia Sears Appliance & Hardware, Lorain Sears Appliance & Hardware, Elyria Sears Appliance & Hardware, North Olmsted Sears Appliance & Hardware, Sheffield Village Sears Appliance & Hardware, Akron Sears Appliance & Hardware.

Oklahoma: GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Norman Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”.  23 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants), Shawnee Sears (31 jobs lost), Sand Springs Kmart (52 jobs lost), Muskogee Sears (60 jobs lost), Enid Sears and Auto Center (at least 38 jobs lost), Tulsa BigKmart (51 jobs lost).

Oregon: Local news reports revealed the Lloyd Center Sears store was sold and will shutdown sometime in the future, the space will be re-purposed into smaller storefronts.  23 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  A Blind Bat News reader warning that the Beaverton Kmart has replaced its permanent signage with temporary ones, and the store is looking empty. There’s been no public reports of the store shutting down. 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), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 jobs lost), Albany Kmart (64 jobs lost), Portland Sears Homes Services (no notice), Albany Sears (57 jobs lost), in October a BBN reader warned that Oregon City Kmart was being quietly shutdown, confirmed on 06 November 2014 by Sears Holdings (70 jobs lost). Ontario Kmart (55 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: 168 Sears and Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!! In July, Sears Holdings shutdown the Uniontown Kmart, killing at least 73 jobs. But the shutdown is also affecting a locally owned restaurant (Mark C’s Diner) still on the property, whose owners say their sales have crashed-n-burned since the shutdown. Now Sears Holdings say they are about to sell the Uniontown property in an effort to “realize shareholder value from the property”. Butler Sears, New Castle Sears, Beaver Falls Kmart, Philadelphia Kmart on Frankford Avenue. Two Pittsburgh Kmarts. Reading Kmart. Sears store in the Beaver Valley Mall, 62 jobs lost. Viewmont Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 86 jobs lost in July 2016. Reports that the Exton Kmart will shutdown, no word on job losses. Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost), Sanatoga-Lower Pottsgrove Kmart (65 jobs lost, the store was also advertising for new hires!), West Mifflin Sears store & Auto Center (88 jobs lost), Rochester Kmart (78 jobs lost), Frazer (Pittsburg Mills Mall) Sears and Auto Center (97 jobs lost), Bloomsburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Frackville Sears and Auto Center (84 jobs lost), North Cornwall Township Sears (51 jobs lost), King of Prussia Sears and Auto Center (no word on number of jobs lost), Lebanon Sears (51 jobs lost), Scotland Chambersburg Mall Sears and Auto Center (62 jobs lost), the upper level of the Willow Grove Mall Sears store to be leased by Primark, King of Prussia Sears store leased out to clothing retailer Primark, East Towne Mall Kmart (51 jobs lost), Frackville Kmart in the Skuylkill Mall (80 jobs lost), Mount Pocono Kmart (66 jobs lost), Fairless Hills Sears Hardware. Granite Run Mall shutdown, meaning the Sears and Sears Auto Center now apparently on a month to month (possibly day to day) lease are soon to follow. Brookhaven Kmart (89 jobs lost).

Puerto Rico: 31 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  Vega Baja Kmart (206 jobs lost).

Rhode Island: Rhode Island Mall Sears Auto Center shutdown right before Thanksgiving.  Five Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.

South Carolina: The new owner of a Kmart on the boundaries of Anderson, Seritage KMT Finance, announced it will cut the Kmart store to half its size and is requesting the city of Anderson annex the land (probably in exchange for some taxpayer funded incentives for Seritage).  37 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! The 44 years old Orangeburg Kmart shutting down in August 2016. Camden Kmart. 61 jobs lost as the North Augusta Kmart is shutdown by May 2016. 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, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost), both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two), Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost), Harbison Sears & Sears Auto Center in the Columbiana Centre mall (97 jobs lost), Aiken Sears & Sears Auto Center (at least 54 jobs lost), Inlet Square Mall Kmart (50 jobs lost), West Ashely Kmart (69 jobs lost), Myrtle Beach Kmart (59 jobs lost), Easley Kmart (62 jobs lost).

South Dakota: 11 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.  Huron Kmart, Yankton Kmart. The Pierre Kmart shutdown March 2016, 45 jobs lost. The Michell Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 52 jobs lost. Spearfish Kmart (51 jobs lost), Sturgis Kmart (57 jobs lost).

Tennessee: After 30 years the Sears Hometown Store in Dyersburg shutdown. Local news reports say the shutdown was no surprise to the store’s manager.  58 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!   Local news reports say Sears Holdings has posted “Going out of business!” signs on the North Knoxville Kmart, however they could not get any confirmation of shutdown from corporate administrators. Bristol Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Athens Kmart, Sweetwater Kmart, Maryville Kmart. The Murfreesboro Kmart shutdown April, 43 jobs lost. A Memphis Sears and Auto Center (on Poplar Avenue) shutdown in April, 109 jobs lost! Clarksville Kmart shutdown in April, 68 jobs lost. Cleveland Kmart shutdown by mid-March 2016, 67 jobs lost. 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), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin Cool Springs Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost), Dickson Kmart (65 jobs lost), talks in progress to end lease for Bellevue (Nashville) Center Mall Sears, Nashville Bellevue Center Sears & Auto Center (at least 44 jobs lost).

Texas: GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Frisco Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”.   Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says the ‘Sears’ property in Harlingen is shutting down.  Local news reports confirmed the Lubbock Kmart is shutting down right before Xmas.  134 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!! Fort Stockton Sears Hometown Store was ‘re-branded’ the America’s Appliance Experts outlet. Sears Holdings revealed the Brownsville Kmart is shutting down by August. El Paso Kmart, Mission Kmart, Sweetwater Kmart. 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, Dallas Sears home appliance parts distribution center (77 jobs lost), Simon Property Group owned McAllen Sears store & Auto Center (so far no word on how many jobs will be lost), recently revealed Palestine Sears Hometown (franchise owner quit to work as assistant manager at a local Dollar General). Wichita Falls Sikes Senter Mall Sears (56 jobs lost).

Utah: 16 Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.  Draper Kmart, Price Kmart, West Jordan Kmart. 35 years old Richfield Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 63 jobs lost. North Logan Kmart shutdown April 2016, 58 jobs lost. Murray Sears (local news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they reported that the building was demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported), Woods Cross Kmart (54 jobs lost), Provo Kmart demolished in anticipation of yet another AtHome furniture store.

Vermont: Five Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.  The Bennington Sears Hometown Store shutdown. Rutland Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), South Burlington Kmart (66 jobs lost).

Virgin Islands: Three Kmarts  made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.

Virginia: 63 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  Christiansburg Kmart and the Hampton Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Chester Kmart, 76 jobs gone by mid-July 2016. The Cedar Bluff (50 jobs lost), Covington (36 jobs lost) and Virginia Beach on General Booth Boulevard (no job numbers reported) Kmarts shutdown between March and April 2016! The Sears Hometown Store in Culpeper. 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), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown, Newport News-Denbigh Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), Winchester Kmart (91 jobs lost), Dale City Kmart (69 jobs lost), Chesapeake Sears and Auto Center (82 jobs lost), Front Royal Kmart (88 jobs lost), Pembroke Mall Sears renting out part of their store to DSW & Nordstrom Rack, Sears Holdings say they’re still looking for a “third tenant” for their occupied space. The current nearby Sears Auto Center will be rented out to REI. Colonial Heights Kmart (113 jobs lost), Virginia Beach Hilltop Square Shopping Center Kmart (82 jobs lost).

Washington: GGP-Seritage Growth Partners owned Lynwood Sears store reduced in size and the Auto Center shutting down “in the near future”.   Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says a ‘Sears’ property in Yakima is shutting down. 46 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! After officially denying that their Marysville Kmart was shutting down, calling it a “a bad rumor” and swearing to local news media that “the store will remain open”, guess what? Local news media reporting that the Marysville Kmart is now plastered with “store closing” signs, 47 jobs lost by by mid-July. Arrogantly Sears Holdings said the employees can apply at other Sears/Kmart stores, however, local news reports say it’s the last Kmart in all of Snohomish County. Eatonville Sears Hometown store. 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), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost), Oak Harbor Kmart (68 jobs lost), Sodo Sears and Sears Auto Center (79 jobs lost), Everett Kmart (65 jobs lost), Marysville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

West Virginia: 34 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!  The Bluefield Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost), Bluefield Sears store & Auto Center (64 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: The city of Wausau just put the local taxpayers into debt by at least $650-thousand USD, buying the former Sears location at the Wausau Center. The Wausau Sears shutdown on June 2016. Sears Holdings administrators would only say “we are accelerating the closings of unprofitable stores.”  The Land’s End outlet in the Madison West Towne Mall Sears store suddenly shutdown.  It was also revealed that Sears connected Land’s End has shutdown at least five stores since 2015, due to crashing sales.  36 Kmart & Sears properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list! Seritage Growth Properties is ‘downsizing’ the Sears store in the West Towne Mall, according to plans filed with the city of Madison. Those plans show a new restaurant taking up more than half of the space of the Sears store. Administrators refused to answer questions from the local news media.  Hartford Kmart. Superior Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 42 jobs lost. 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), Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost), Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Ashwaubenon Kmart recently revealed now owned by Green Bay Packers, will be torn down (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (55 jobs lost), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost), Glendale Sears store & Auto Center (86 jobs lost), Janesville Kmart (70 jobs lost), Glendale Sears Rebuild center (67 jobs lost), Sheboygan Sears & Auto Center (at least 31 jobs lost), Eau Claire Kmart (93 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (59 jobs lost before Xmas), Sheboygan Sears Rebuild Center (30 jobs lost), Wauwatosa Kmart (103 jobs lost).

Wyoming: Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties confirmed a ‘Sears’ property in Riverton is shutting down. Sheridan Kmart, Rock Springs Kmart, Riverton Kmart, Cody Kmart & Auto Center, Laramie Kmart, Jackson Kmart, Gillette Kmart, and in Casper and Cheyenne the Sears Stores & Auto Centers and Kmarts (essentially all remaining stores) made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list!

U.S.

Taxpayer funded schools caught favoring Mormons! : Dumbing Down the U.S., October 2016

It must be noted that I started documenting these education shutdowns at the beginning of 2014, in that year I posted the reports biannually (every six months). In 2015 education cutbacks ramped up and I posted quarterly (every three months). For the past ten months of 2016 there have been so many education cutbacks that I’ve posted a report every month!

Disappearing Students Syndrome (DSS): A phrase created by me to describe a phenomenon taking place across the United States, affecting both privately and publicly funded schools, from Kindergarten all the way through University levels.

Incomplete list of publicly announced education related layoffs & school shutdowns, October 2016:

Idaho: The number of Gem State high school graduates who immediately go on to college dropped below the halfway mark, in 2014 and 2015.  This is despite the Board of Education spending taxpayer money on several years of “Go-On” propaganda.  Superintendent of Public Schools Sherri Ybarra lost her attempt to block the investigation into the falsifying of teacher performance records.  Last month law makers created a $50-thousand USD fine for any district official caught falsifying such data. This is the result of an investigation by IdEdNews which revealed that school districts were deliberately lying about their teacher’s performance in order to justify pay raises!  Cassia County Joint School District decided not to fight a ACLU lawsuit accusing it of discriminating against non-Mormon students.  Details of the settlement were not disclosed but the taxpayer funded Mormon dominated school district claims it will make changes to its official policies of favoring Mormon students.  What happened was a non-Mormon student wanted to run for student body president but was denied on the grounds of not having the required classes completed.  But it turns out the only candidate, a Mormon, also did not meet the requirements to campaign for president yet was allowed to run!  The Mormon dominated district was counting Mormon seminary as credit towards the class requirement.

Illinois: It was revealed that the University of Illinois killed more than 5-hundred jobs over the past 18 months, due to crashing taxpayer funding!  Obama regime controlled Chicago Public Schools eliminating even more jobs, this time 250 people will become jobless due to crashing enrollment!

Louisiana: God powerless to stop ‘his’ Saint Pius Child Development Center from shutting down sometime in 2017, claiming the church cannot afford to make needed repairs to the facility.

Massachusetts: God powerless to stop the last of ‘his’ Catholic high schools in Berkshire County from shutting down, Saint Joseph Central High will shutdown in June 2017.

Minnesota:  University of Minnesota Duluth eliminating 38 jobs in order to save $2-million USD.

New York: Wayne Central School District warns that crashing enrollment will force them to shutdown two of their three elementary schools!

North Carolina: In Lumberton, god powerless to stop ‘his’ 39 years old Christian Book Store from shutting down right after Xmas.  The owner basically said it was because they couldn’t find a ‘christian’ buyer willing to take over the business.

Texas:  NATO member Turkey is accusing Houston based Harmony Public Schools, which operates hundreds of campuses across the U.S. (under different names),  of not only employment discrimination against Turkish immigrants, but of supporting Islamic Extremism.  However, the ‘christian’ dominated Texas Education Agency declared the accusations against Harmony to be “unfounded”.  In San Antonio, Career Point College suddenly announced it is dead as a result of violating federal regulations.

Government shenanigans, October 2016: “BREAKING POINT” NEW STATE LAW ALLOWS POLITICIANS TO ‘STEAL’ DISASTER RELIEF MONEY!

Dumbing Down, September 2016: “PARTICULARLY COMPLEX…POTENTIALLY EXPENSIVE”

U.S.

“breaking point” New law allows politicians to ‘steal’ disaster relief money! : U.S. federal, state, local government shenanigans, October 2016

Incomplete list (there’s just too much government BS to be able to keep up with all of it) of U.S. Federal/State/Local Government self-destruct announcements for October 2016:

Arkansas: State ‘law makers’ warn they might cut taxpayer funding for the War Memorial Stadium by at least 50%, due to lack of tax revenues and lack of use of the tax-sucking sports stadium.  It turns out the biggest users of the taxpayer funded sports venue are local high schools.

California: “PG&E, the California-based utility company, has paid zero net taxes since 2007. In fact, it has paid negative taxes, receiving tax breaks more valuable than its tax payments.”-David Leonhardt

Colorado:  The city of Grand Junction is begging employees to voluntarily quit, to prevent outright layoffs as a result of a $2-million USD shortfall.

Kansas: In Dodge City, foster child center EmberHope-Youthville shutting down due to unspecified financial problems, 50 jobs lost.

Maine: At least ten Department of Health and Human Services employees are now unemployed. Union reps say more layoffs are coming as other employees recieved layoff notices.  Taxpayer funded government equipment refurbisher Maine Military Authority suddenly laid off 35 people due to the states of Maine and Massachusetts canceling contracts.  The need for the Maine Military Authority was sold to taxpayers on the grounds it was about creating much needed jobs.

Missouri: The city of Joplin eliminating 13 filled and vacant positions in November.

Nebraska:  Omaha Public Power shutting down Fort Calhone nucleaer power plant, nearly 570 jobs gone by October 2017!

New York: Onondaga County warning of 13 layoffs in 2017, more if not enough employees accept early retirement.  Schenectady County decided not to raise taxes for 2017 (and might even cut taxes) because they’re hoping that a new casino (opening in 2017) will create millions of dollars in tax & fee revenue for the county.  It’s a fine example of counting your chicks before the eggs hatch.

North Carolina: State attorney general Roy Cooper accused governor Pat McCrory of ‘stealing’ $500-thousand USD from Hurricane Matthew distaster funding, and using it to promote House Bill 2 (aka The Bathroom Bill)!  Of course gov’na McCrory denied it, but Cooper pointed out the ‘theft’ of the disaster relief money was actually codified into a new law: “The governor could’ve vetoed this legislation that took this $500-thousand out of the Disaster Relief Fund, but he did not.”

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) eliminated 126 jobs due to a $21-million USD budget deficit caused by crashing federal taxpayer funding!

Texas: “We are at breaking point. We have the highest number of illegal aliens in custody in history in Border Patrol’s RGV [Rio Grande Valley]  Sector and this information has been kept from the American public. …..We are simply overwhelmed.”-Brandon Judd, U.S. Border Patrol Agent who also accuses the government of lying about it

Washington DC:  The Metro public transportation system warning of 1-thousand layoffs in 2018, due to crashing revenues!  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) gave away $327-million USD, supposedly to help 423 businesses across the U.S. make improvements that would lead to less energy usage.

Wisconsin: State taxpayers are being raped in the name of research to create a system to turn cow crap into electricity.  Wisconsin Public Service Commission wants to spend $20-million USD on manure digester technology, and is encouraging other taxpayer funded agencies to follow suite.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

THE GREAT RENEGER: TRUMP NOW LOVES PARTS OF OBAMACARE!

OBAMA REGIME SECRET REFUGEE DEAL WITH AUSTRALIA!

Government shenanigans September 2016: MARIJUANA SAVES COLORADO? ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS PROTECTED IN IDAHO

U.S.

The Great Reneger: Trump now loves parts of ObamaCare!

Video
 13 November 2016 (03:35 UTC-07 Tango 01) 23 Aban 1395/12 Safar 1438/14 Ji Hai 4714

“Real change begins with immediately repealing and replacing ObamaCare!”-Donald Trump, in numerous campaign speeches

President-elect Donald Trump said he would consider leaving in place certain parts of the Affordable Care Act, an indication of possible compromise after a campaign in which he pledged repeatedly to repeal the 2010 health-care law.-Wall Street Journal

ObamaCare Destruction, October 2016: “CONCERNING & CERTAINLY SOMEWHAT PROBLEMATIC.”

THE GREAT RENEGER: OBAMA CANCELS FUTURE OIL DRILLING OPERATIONS!

“Meet the new boss, same as the old boss!”

Business/Economics

“There’s no more retail…” Trump & Clinton kill 3,074 jobs! : U.S. Retail/Banking/Service sector job losses, October 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. retail/banking/service sector job loss announcements and shutdowns for October 2016:

Arizona: In Glendale, Divine Consign shutdown without warning, leaving employees and consignment sellers in the lurch: “People are wanting to get their things…..I came down and opened the door so they can get their things. I no longer have a job…..I don’t know what’s going on from here on out!”-Shannon Couch, former employee

 California: In San Rafael, after 23 years Bullseye Indoor Range & Firearms Store forced to shutdown by greedy landlord and new anti-2nd Amendment ‘laws’.  Richard Simmons forced to shutdown his Beverly Hills 42 years old Slimmons fitness center.  Associated Third Party Administrators issued multiple shutdown WARNs across California, 218 jobs gone by Thanksgiving!   The Red Lion Hotel shutting down their Woodlake Center in Sacramento, 120 jobs gone right before Xmas!  San Francisco based clothier Gap shutting down all its Banana Republic stores in the British empire country of United Kingdom.   In San Francisco, Japan based Hotel Nikko shutting down, 336 jobs gone right after Thanksgiving.  Supposedly the shutdown is “temporary”.   Also in San Francisco, after 30 years Arthur Ben Shoes shutdown, the owner blames five years of rent increases.   Switzerland based staffing agency Adecco issued a shutdown WARN for its Jurupa Valley location, 129 jobs lost by the end of January 2017! In Palo Alto, Pennisula Hardware shutting down after 63 years, the owner is retiring but admitted he gave up trying to compete with the “big box stores”.

Connecticut: Bon Ton shutting down their Hampden store, 61 jobs gone by January 2017.  Hotel chain Marriott International killing 163 Stamford jobs right after Xmas!  Also in Stamford, British empire’s Royal Bank of Scotland issued yet another layoff WARN, this time 40 jobs killed right before Xmas.

Georgia: WestPoint Home Bed & Bath Outlet in Lake Park shutting down in November, local news media says the corporate office refused to comment.

Idaho: After 40 years in Idaho Falls, Madsen’s Crafts and Framing shutting down in November.  One of the retiring co-owners said decades ago he quit his job with Sears in Utah to run the local Idaho craft store, and he has no regrets.  In Lewiston, Discount Vacuum shutdown after 35 years, due to the owner’s health problems.

Illinois:  Bon Ton shutting down their Bergner’s store in Machesney Park, 43 jobs gone by January 2017.  Cherry Street Guitar Company shutting down because the owner just got hired by his competitor’s West Music store.  Office Max shutting down their Yorkville store in time for Thanksgiving, as part of their three years plan to shutdown at least 3-hundred stores.  Payless Shoes shutting down three stores in the Centralia area, right after Thanksgiving.  Payless Shoes blames it on “landlord issues”.  In Bloomington, after 37 years Bob Taylor’s Classic Auto shutdown, the classic cars auctioned off so the owner can retire.  In Hickory Hills, First Midwest Bank eliminating 109 jobs after Thanksgiving, no reason given in the WARNs!  Hilton Indian Lakes Resort issued a layoff WARN, 80 jobs lost by January 2017, no reason given.

Indiana: In South Bend, Buttons & Bows clothing store shutdown due to the death of the owner.

Maryland: Lanham based patio furniture chain-store Offenbachers bankrupt busted and shutting down all eight stores after 44 years of business!

Michigan: After 149 years Hoekstra Hardware shutting down in time for Xmas.  The oldest business in Kalamazoo was up for sale for the past two years, nobody was interested in buying the successful business.

Minnesota: In Alexandria, Randy’s Menswear shutdown.  The retiring owner revealed that 40 years ago his successful foray into selling clothing was meant as a temporary job.

Missouri: Walmart shutting down their Piedmond and Caruthersville stores, 160 jobs gone by January 2017!

New Jersey: In Atlantic City, the Icahn-Trump owned Trump Taj Mahal Casino officially shutdown, 3-thousand jobs gone!

New Mexico: Office Max shutting down their store on Menaul near Carlisle, in time for Thanksgiving.

New York: The Clinton Foundation issued yet another layoff WARN, this time 74 Clinton Global Initiative employees unemployed right after Xmas.  In Middletown, A&P Coat, Apron & Linen Supply issued a shutdown WARN for their Unitex Textile Rental Services, 65 jobs gone by January 2017.  Clothier Aéropostale shutting down three Capital Region stores, despite ending its bankruptcy.   Goldman Sachs laid off an additional 20 people. Local news reports say the Too Big to Jail company has eliminated 486 New York jobs so far this year! In Elmira, after 107 years Rubin’s Newsstand shutting down after Xmas: “There’s no more retail in there. The complexion for retail changed……it’s time, time for us to dedicate efforts to our operations at Southern Tier News.”-Geoff Rubin

North Carolina: In Raleigh, after 70 years Askew-Taylor Paints shutting down, the family heir to the business can make more money with her college degree.

North Dakota:  What housing market recovery? Too Big to Jail Coldwell Banker suddenly shutdown their 47 years old real estate ops in Fargo.  Local news reports say state officials got suspicious when Coldwell real estate agents failed to renew their state issued licenses, no comment from Coldwell admin.

Ohio: After 45 years 36 hole Weatherwax Golf Course shutting down in November.  The owners swear it’s not because of low sales, yet local news media says it’s the fifth area golf course to shutdown.  Apparently golf courses in Ohio are being taken over at taxpayer expense to be turned into money losing parks.  In Lima, after 42 years SAY Furniture & Mattress shutting down in time for Xmas.  The owner blames his health problems, but admitted he could make more money renting out the building.

Oklahoma: Tulsa based BOK Financial suddenly laid off ‘about’ 1-hundred people, in an effort to cut costs.

Pennsylvania: The owner of the Schuylkill Mall is now chapter 7 bankrupt busted, which usually means they’re dead-in-the-water.  The sale of the mall is already in the hands of the local sheriff.  Popular roller skate rink Romp-n-Roll shutting down after Thanksgiving, no reason given.  Office Max shutting down their Colonial Commons shopping center store in time for Thanksgiving, as part of their three years plan to shutdown at least 3-hundred stores.

South Dakota: In Britton, after 115 years Lee & Hanson Men’s Wear shutting down when the inventory is gone.  In Sioux Falls, god powerless to stop ‘his’ YMCA from shutting down the Wise Buys thrift store, 37 jobs lost.  YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) administrators blame “market conditions”.  Also in Sioux Falls, The Clothing Agency for Men shutdown.

Tennessee:  After 40 years Woodstream Hardwoods shutting down right after Xmas, the owner is retiring to teach people how to work with wood.

Texas: Dallas based Commerce Bank shutting down 16 offices across the country (most in Michigan), 2-hundred jobs gone by April 2017!

Vermont: In Burlington, 176 years old Fremeau’s Jewelers shutting down because the aged owner can’t find anybody who wants to take over the business.  Local news media suggested the city’s plan to jack-up taxes was also a factor. The Zutano Baby chain-store was sold, the Montpelier location was confirmed to shutdown.  The new owners also changed the name and moved the HQ to Massachusetts.

Virginia: In Virginia Beach, Town Center Fitness shutting down due to family health problems.  After 47 years Adkins Lighting Center shutting down because the retiring owners realized it would be too hard to find a buyer for their successful business.

Washington: Too Big to Jail Capital One laid off 234 people in Seattle without warning!  In Everett, Hollander Investments eliminating 84 jobs right before Xmas.  Bankrupt Hastings shutdown their store in Richland.  In Kennewick, after at least 32 years Music Machine shutdown due to the owner deciding to leave the state to be with his ‘rising star executive’ wife.  The last video store in Longview, Video’n More, shutdown.

Wyoming: After 30 years Worland Hardware shutdown, the owners blame a declining local population and yet an increase in retail competition: “As the town keeps shrinking it gets to having fewer and fewer customers. For years there were just two of us in town and now there are five that carry hardware. So the pie has gotten split in more pieces. ……we’ve really tried to sell it and we really did not want to see Worland lose another business but at the same time we can’t keep supporting it either.”– Lowell and Punkie Peterson

U.S. Tech/Communications layoffs, October 2016: No more Verizon?

September 2016: “THEY DON’T HAVE THE MONEY.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification.

I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”