Tag Archives: close

No more Verizon, 162K jobs killed, so far! : U.S. Tech/Communications layoffs, October 2016

More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise. Incomplete list of U.S. internet/high-tech/communications job destruction announcements in October 2016:

California:  San Jose based Cypress Semiconductor says it will eliminate 5-hundred jobs in an effort to spark growth! Home automation company Savant Systems shutting down a San Francisco location right after Thanksgiving.  Ten years old San Francisco based Twitter eliminating at least 350 jobs globally, as well as shutting down the video appplication Vine!  San Francisco based video game maker MaxPlay laid off most of its 70 employees after a potential new owner backed out of the deal at the last minute.    Palo Alto based Hewlett Packard (HP) continues killing jobs, this time as many as 4-thousand globally, because “markets remain very challenged!”  And get this, HP finally issued WARNs showing that they eliminated 488 California jobs between July and August!   Verizon shutting down Rancho Cordova customer service center, 1-thousand jobs gone by January 2017!  (see New York below)

Connecticut:  Verizon shutting down two call centers, 550 jobs gone by March 2017! (see New York below)

Florida: iQor shutting down their two years old Saint Petersburg tech repair center, 76 jobs gone by February 2017.  NTT America eliminating 51 jobs in time for Xmas.

Iowa: California based Hewlett Packard (HP) laid off 32 people in the Greater Des Moines area.

Louisiana: “The tiny startup that won an Academy Award” Moonbot Studios secretly eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs, it was revealed by former employees.

Massachusetts: Boston based ‘ tech-enabled natural products’ NutraClick laid off 30 employees as part of restructuring, but some news sources said it was because NutraClick got into trouble with the U.S. Federal Trade Commision.

Michigan: Automatic Data Processing shutting down Ann Arbor location, 79 jobs lost by Thanksgiving.

Nebraska: Verizon shutting down its Lincoln call center, 320 jobs gone by March 2017!

New Mexico: New York based IEC Electronics sold off its Albuquerque circut board factory, no word on how many jobs lost.

New York:  IEC Electronics revealed it eliminated at least 73 jobs in Wayne County.   Texas based Dex Media shutting down their Amherst ops, 57 jobs lost in time for Xmas. Verizon shutting down its Orangeburg and Rochester call centers, at least 946 jobs gone between January and June 2017!  It’s part of bigger plans to conduct massive shutdowns across the U.S.  Local news reports say Verizon has already eliminated 162-thousand U.S. jobs!  In Olean, Data Listing-The Connection eliminating 147 call center jobs due to loss of contract!   NYC based AppNexus suddenly laid off 150 people as part of its reorganization in preps for its initial public offering (IPO)!   If the stock markets are doing so good why is Barron’s killing jobs!  An internal email, which was accidentallty sent publicly, revealed that Wall Street Journal owned Barron’s began eliminating jobs in October.  Gannett began eliminating jobs at its The Journal News/lohud.com, proving that being good at your job won’t prevent you from becoming jobless: “It is a difficult day for the newsroom as we struggle with the realities of transformation…..we grieve the loss of incredibly committed colleagues.”-Traci Bauer, executive editor

North Carolina:  Charter Communications eliminating 258 jobs in Charlotte between now and June 2017!  LED light maker Cree continues killing jobs, no numbers were revealed this time but the layoffs took place in North Carolina and Wisconsin.

Pennsylvania: Observer-Reporter suddenly laid off 29 employees, calling it “restructuring”.

Texas:  AT&T says it will layoff an undisclosed number of employees in time for Xmas.

Utah: Salt Lake City based MaritzCX suddenly laid off at least 40 people in Salt Lake City and Fenton, as well an undisclosed number of jobs eliminated at other locations across the country.

Virginia: The biggest U.S. newspaper company, McLean based Gannett, continues killing jobs, this time more than 350 people across the country will become jobless!  Administrators admit its part of their plan to shift to digital, and spend billions of dollars taking over other news outlets.

Wisconsin: Home Security of America shutting down its Cross Plains call center, 121 jobs affected!  Company admin claim most employees will be allowed to work from home, no reason was given for the call center closure.  Gannett shutting down a newspaper printing operation in Waupaca, 52 jobs lost by Xmas.

ECONOMY SO BAD COLORADO ACTIVATES NATIONAL GUARD!

U.S. mining/industrial/logistics layoffs October 2016: “an extended slowdown environment”

September 2016 Tech/Communication layoffs: YES HE CAN, OBAMA GIVES IT ALL TO ICANN!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

Economy so bad Colorado activates National Guard!

07 November 2016  (03:32 UTC-07 Tango 01) 17 Aban 1395/06 Safar 1438/08 Ji Hai 4714

The U.S. state of Colorado has called out its militia to help feed the escalating number of starving residents!

In the city of Denver, Army National Guard personnel teamed up with ‘christian’ group Denver Rescue Mission to conduct Operation Connect Colorado.

Connect Colorado fed breakfast to hundreds of people at the Lawrence Street Community Center, on 06 November 2016.

Apparently breakfast includes lots and lots-o-brownies, mmmm, didn’t they legalize mary-jane?

Don’t forget the cinnamon rolls!  I should note that the use of the National Guard to feed hungry and homeless people comes a week after The Mile High city of Denver got slapped with an ACLU lawsuit for running off dozens of homeless people!  Recent lawsuits in other states have resulted in evil city governments being forced to pay restitution to the homeless people they evicted, and even stole property from! Watch out Boise, Idaho!

MARTIAL LAW IDAHO: Boise HOMELESS BEING FORCED INTO CONCENTRATION CAMP!

“an extended slowdown environment” : U.S. Mining/Industrial/Logistics layoffs, October 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. Mining/Industrial/Logistics job loss announcements and shutdowns for October 2016.

British empire Canada based “energy delivery company” Enbridge eliminating at least 160 jobs in the United States!

Arizona: Tax-sucking Honeywell Aerospace conducting a third round of layoffs.  Administrators refused to say how many people will lose their jobs, but blamed it on “an extended slowdown environment”.

California: What housing industry recovery? Maker of bath and spa parts Balboa Water Group issued a shutdown WARN for their Valencia ops, 245 jobs gone right after Xmas! In Union City, NPL Construction issued a shutdown WARN, 106 jobs gone right after Thanksgiving!  British empire Canada based tax-sucking metal fabricator for the military AVCORP issued a layoff WARN for 61 people in Gardena.  Tax-sucker Boeing issued more layoff WARNs, 49 people losing their jobs right before Xmas.  British empire United Kingdom based automotive-aerospace engineering company GKN issued a shutdown WARN for its Santa Ana ops, 95 jobs gone in time for Xmas.    After years of taking over competitors, biotech company Thermo Fisher issued shutdown and layoff WARNs, at least 84 Golden State jobs gone between Xmas 2016 and September 2017.  In Ontario, box maker Bert-Co issued a mass layoff WARN, 106 jobs lost, effective on Xmas day! In Tehacapi, Benz Sanitation-Propane finally revealed that it eliminated 133 jobs back in August! Texas based contract manufacturer Benchmark Electronics issued a shutdown WARN for its Anaheim ops, 89 jobs gone by the end of March 2017.  Also in Anaheim, First Transit issued a Shutdown WARN, 319 jobs gone right after Thanksgiving! World Courier Ground issued a shutdown WARN for their Burlingame ops, 66 jobs gone after Thanksgiving. Ryder eliminating 11 jobs right before Thanksgiving as it shuts down a location in Fontana.  Tax-sucker General Dynamics-NASSCO warning that 7-hundred employees could become unemployed in January 2017, due to reduced spending by the U.S. Navy!  Santa Barbara based tax-sucking military contractor Channel Technologies Group now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and for sale.  Administrators claim they’ve lost $10-million USD on their military contracts!

Colorado: Despite reports of booming ganja sales, and increased tax revenues as a result, maker of mary-jane packaging High Supply USA already chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to “theft and corporate espionage”.

Florida: In Pinelless Park, lens maker Transitions Optical eliminating 43 jobs right after Xmas. In Medley, BE Aerospace eliminating 53 office jobs right before Xmas.

Georgia: Tax-sucker Boeing shutting down its 35 years old Macon factory, 120 jobs lost by Xmas!

Illinois: Office furniture maker Bretford issued a layoff WARN for their Franklin Park factory, 128 jobs lost by right before Thanksgiving due to crashing sales! White County Coal issued a shutdown WARN for their Carmi coal mine, 227 jobs lost by the end of November!

Indiana: The White County Economic Development Organization discovered that Wisconsin based electric motor maker Regal Beloit has been eliminating jobs at their Monticello factory, and quietly moving production to Mexico! Regal Beloit administrators refused to comment to local news media about the discovery.  Wisconsin based construction machine maker Rexnord revealed it is shutting down its Indianapolis bearings factory, 3-hundred U.S. jobs being moved to Mexico by April 2017!    Manufacturing Technology suddenly laid off 24 employees due to crashing demand for welding machines that cost $1-million USD: “When a machine is over $1 million in price we’re successful, but the market is growing for machines that are $500,000 or less.”-Bob Besse, vice president of marketing and sales

Iowa:  What automotive industry recovery? International Automotive Components eliminating 440 jobs by Xmas! It’s blamed on Fiat-Chrysler halting production of the Dart.  XPO Logistics laid off 37 warehouse workers, apparently the warehouse was sold.

Kansas: Textron Aviation (Beechcraft and Cessna) laid off an undisclosed number of employees due to crashing sales.

Louisiana: Oil industry company Frank’s International issued a layoff WARN, but gave no numbers.  Furniture maker Paoli shutting down their Orleans factory, 467 jobs gone by October 2017, no reason given!

Maine: More layoffs at tax-sucking Bath Iron Works, this time 160 filled and vacant positions are being eliminated.  Administrators swear it’s not connected to the loss of a military contract.

Michigan: In Detroit auto parts supplier Faurecia North America shutting down two factories, 348 jobs lost due to Fiat-Chrysler halting production of the Dart!  Iconic car maker Ford announced it will halt production of its F150 pickup due to a sudden crash in sales, 13-thousand people in Kentucky and Mexico now ‘temporarily’ jobless!

Minnesota: Minnesota Power shutting down two coal fired power plants four years earlier than planed, at least 30 jobs lost by 2018.  Administrators blame it on studies that claim that power plants using fuel sources other than coal are cheaper to operate (partly due to less people needed to run them).

Montana: Bio-chem company Rivertop Renewables announced “We let a few people go and we have been working under reduced salary for some employees for some time….  Due to market conditions….”

New Hampshire: Exeter based sports equipment maker Performance Sports Group chapter 11 bankrupt busted and for sale, due to “adverse market and economic conditions”.  Maker of shoe patterns, Swanson Die Company, finally died after more than 60 years of providing pattern dies for the shoe industry.

New Jersey: Bankrupt busted and dying Korea based international shipper Hanjin revealed it suddenly laid off 127 people at its Paramus ops, back in September!  China owned appliance maker Qingdao Haier-Haier America shutting down their GE (General Electric) Appliance factory in Wayne, 91 jobs lost right after Xmas. Haier America will also shutdown GE Appliance factories around the U.S. as it consolidates manufacturing to Kentucky, as part if its take-over of GE Appliances.  PSEG shutting down its Jersey City and Hamilton coal fired power plants, 2-hundred jobs lost by June 2017!

New York: Bus company Professional Charter eliminating at least 34 jobs right after Xmas, for “economic” reasons. Aerospace company Triumph Structures issued a shutdown WARN for its Westbury factory, 90 jobs lost by August 2017.

North Carolina: Industrial lawn mower maker Jacobsen shutting down their Charlotte factory, 2-hundred jobs gone by Xmas!  Jacobsen is being consolidated by its owner Textron.

Ohio: What automotive industry recovery? General Motors (GM) halting production of cast iron motor parts at its Defiance factory, 285 people already laid off!  Korea based Hyundai Ideal Electric laying off an additional 50  workers at their Mansfield factory.  Local news sources say at one time Hyundai employed 5-hundred people, but are now down to just 40 employees!

Oregon: Oil-mining industry metal fabricator ESCO suddenly issued a shutdown WARN for its Portland factory, 168 people already jobless!  The factory will shutdown by July 2017.

Pennsylvania:  Allegheny Technologies officially shutdown two idled factories, local news media estimate that 475 employees are affected!  Manitowoc Crane Group eliminated yet more jobs, this time 85 people became jobless without warning “… due to the continued downturn in the economy…”

Texas: Despite surviving bankruptcy Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Company (TCEH) announced it will eliminate 658 jobs with its Luminant and TXU Energy operations!  Alabama based Continental Motors shutting down their San Antonio aircraft parts factory, 50 jobs lost in time for Thanksgiving.

Virginia: Richmond based tobacco company Altria announced it will shutdown factories in Illinois and Pennsylvania, 580 jobs gone by 2018! What automotive industry recovery? Japan based Yokohama Tire eliminating 50 jobs at its Salem factory, in the name of efficiency.

Washington: Boeing eliminating 56 more jobs in Puget Sound, right before Xmas.  Jorgensen Forge suddenly shutdown its Tukwila factory, 111 jobs gone!

Wisconsin: What automotive industry recovery? Harley-Davidson warning of yet more layoffs.  No numbers given but the layoffs will take place around Xmas time.  It’s blamed on non-stop crashing sales.

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

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

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

U.S. Mining/Industrial/Logistics layoffs, September 2016 :“SUSTAINED MARKET CHALLENGES”

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!

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.”

Utah: Phinal Phantom Phlight, no more USAF F-4 Phantoms!

03 November 2016  (12:10 UTC-07 Tango 01) 13 Aban 1395/02 Safar 1438/04 Ji Hai 4714

“I felt like we had an opportunity and an obligation to get this aircraft on the road one more time because so many people have this connection with it. It’s just been absolutely amazing for me to do this.”-Lieutenant Colonel Ron King

One of two QF-4 Phantoms on Phinal Phlight at Hill AFB

At the end of October, just in time for Halloween, a couple of Phunky Phantoms of the U.S. Air Force drone type made their phinal phlights at Hill Air Force Base in Utah.

In the 1990s iconic F-4 Phantom-2s were converted, at Davis-Monthan in Arizona, into QF-4 target drones for the U.S. military.  In 2015 they were transferred to Holloman in New Mexico for phinal phlight preps.  The last unmanned drone phlight took place in August 2016: “Ironically, the majority of QF-4 missions are flown in the manned configuration to support manned presentation, unmanned flight chase missions, and pilot proficiency training.”– Scott Johnson, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center

The remaining 13 USAF QF-4s will be converted to ground targets for use at White Sands in New Mexico.  Utah’s Hill AFB AFLCMC (Air Force Life Cycle Management Center) System Program Office will continue to be involved with the creation of new target drones for the USAF, like the QF-16.

Official USAF video explainer:

 

USAF Kadena subsidizes ops with your trash!

26 October 2016 (13:38 UTC-07 Tango 01) 05 Aban 1395/24 Muharram 1438/26 Wu Zu 4714

The U.S. Air Force operations known as Kadena, on Japan’s Okinawa, subsidizes their base maintenance by recycling trash, to the tune of $2-million USD per year:

 

“an unforeseen slowdown” Drowning in beer & chromium-6? : U.S. Food Crisis, October 2016

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of October, 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.

California: Treehouse Foods ( Treehouse Private Brands) issued a shutdown WARN for their Azusa food factory, 647 jobs gone right after Thanksgiving!  In Fresno, Sierra Food Group issued a layoff WARN, 46 jobs gone after Thanksgiving.  Also in Fresno, after 93 years Louie Kee Market shutdown so the tired owner can “…do some traveling, some fishing, and maybe a little casino work.”  Kroger owned Ralph’s issued a shutdown WARN for a grocery store in Los Angeles, 87 jobs gone after Xmas.  After 38 years San Diego based Garden Fresh-Souplantation-Sweet Tomatoes now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and shutting down as many as 30 restaurants.  The restaurant chain owner, Garden Fresh, has been up for sale for some time.  Escondido-based Stone Brewing suddenly laid off as many as 60 people “…due to an unforeseen slowdown in our consistent growth and changes in the craft beer landscape.” Research by two universities has revealed that the typical marijuana farm in northern Cali is contributing to the demise of Salmon and Trout: “…the sites are typically placed on remote plots of land in forested areas, many on steep slopes. Access roads need to be created and swaths of land cleared for production, regardless of whether the cannabis is grown outdoors or in a greenhouse; that increases potential for soil erosion and chemical run-off into streams in which the Chinook salmon and steelhead trout live.”

Colorado: Albertsons-Safeway shutting down their grocery store on Pueblo’s east side right before Thanksgiving.  News reports say its the second Pueblo Safeway to shutdown this year.

Connecticut: Greenwood Village based Red Robin suddenly shutdown nine of its 12 experimental fast casual restaurants, mainly in Illinois (see below), calling the experiment an economic failure.

Delaware: Berri Yummi Frozen Yogurt shutdown as the owners refused to renew the lease because “It did not make economic sense…”

Florida: In Pensacola, Sluggo’s shutdown due to a “…long battle with the landlord over power in the building.”  In Miami, British empire owned Miller Brewing (SABMiller) suddenly laid off 104 people, then issued the required WARN three days after the fact!

Idaho: Instant potatoes maker Basic American Ingredients issued a WARN for their Blackfoot ops, 91 additional jobs gone. The Blackfoot potato factory was sold to Basic American Ingredients back in February 2013, and 103 people lost their jobs just three months later.

Illinois: Fake sweetener maker Merisant shutting down their Equal factory in Manteno, 86 jobs lost.  The company is moving to Kansas because the cost of labor is apparently cheaper than the $16 to $24 per hour they pay employees in Illinois.  Colorado based burger joint Red Robin suddenly shutdown all five of its Chicago area experimental ‘fast casual’ restaurants, including two that had been opened just in the past six months!

Indiana: After only two years donut shop Rocket 88 shutdown its only two locations; Fountain Square and the other in South Broad Ripple.  The owner said he’s pursuing his dream of owning a record shop.  In Indianapolis, O’Malia’s Food Market shutting down their South Meridian Street store by November.  According to local news reports the shutdown will leave the local grocery chain (started in 1966)  with only one store.  Paradise Bakery & Cafe shutdown its last store, news reports say at one time there were a dozen Paradise Bakery & Cafes.  AGWEB reports that farmers are being forced to pay cash upfront for rent, causing many farmers to quit: “We’d been previously farming on shares….when this lease was up, the owner wanted to go to a cash rent. We felt it was just in an area where we couldn’t survive long-term.”-Jason Wykoff, farmer for 22 years

Kansas: In Haysville, Taco J’s suddenly shutdown after 34 years, their Facebook page said “With the cost of product going up we are not comfortable with the prices we need to charge to stay profitable.”

Kentucky: In Louisville, BBQ joint Smoketown USA shutdown after nine years, the owner called it a “success”.  In Lexington, after 83 years Fayette Seed shutdown, the retiring owners blame it on a radical change in home gardening.

Massachusetts: Boston based Boloco sold-off nine of their restaurants to a competitor, some will be shutdown due to lack of sales.  In Worcester, Sakura Tokyo shutdown pending the sale of the restaurant property.  In Somerville, Spoke Wine Bar shutting down just days before Xmas, due to the owner’s health problems.

Michigan: In South Lyon, Brown’s Root Beer & Sandwich Shop shutdown after 56 years.

Minnesota:  Heartland Restaurant & Wine Bar shutting down and selling-off its original 14 years old location in Saint Paul.

Missouri: In Saint Joseph, the Apple Market shutting down in November, the owners cry “..the current market conditions and incoming competition, we see no alternative but to cease operations.”   U.S. Environmental Protection Agency investigating the improper use of the Monsanto made herbicide Dicamba.  The herbicide is for use before planting, or after harvest, only.  Missouri farmers complained that somebody sprayed their crops with the herbicide, damaging at least 16,600 hectares (41-thousand acres)!  

Montana: After “34 years of… hard creative work” John Bozeman’s Bistro suddenly shutdown days after filing chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Nebraska: Omaha’s Alchemy Bar & Grill shutdown, the operators saying only that the action was “sudden and unplanned”.

New Mexico: In Las Cruces, after 11 years popular Si Italian Bistro shutdown, the owners blaming increasing costs of operations, especially building maintenance costs.

New York: It was revealed that Larchmont based Natural Markets Food Group-Mrs. Green’s Natural Market quietly shutdown four stores across the country, since 2015. Local news reports say inventories at other stores are not being restocked and plans to open 1-hundred new stores are now dead. Company administrators are refusing to explain.  In Buffalo, Century Grill shutdown due to the greedy landlord selling the property out from under the restaurant owner’s feet. In Rochester, Mex Restaurant shutdown after 17 years.  In Ithaca, after five years Smart Yogurt shutting down right before Xmas. In Fayetteville, after only one year Kandied Kernal shutdown: “It’s a combination of high rent, and not enough business.”-Melissa Kelly, owner

North Carolina: Golden Corral suddenly shutdown their New Bern all-you-can-eat buffet, more than 50 jobs gone.  Local news media said employees told them it was due to crashing sales.

North Dakota: In Medina, fire destroyed the Diamond W Feed main grinding operations for area livestock.

Ohio: In Sylvania, Anderson’s Market shutting down right before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, 96 jobs gone due to sales not being able to cover costs.

Oregon: Farmers Insurance issued a layoff WARN for Hillsboro, 50 jobs lost right after Xmas.

Pennsylvania: In Palmyra, after six years popular Top That Restaurant shutdown, not because of low sales but because the owners could not find a new bigger, and affordable, location. O’Hara based grocery chain Giant Eagle announced it will force as many as 350 corporate HQ employees to quit by offering voluntary buyouts! It’s blamed on declining profits.

South Carolina: Brown Roof Coffee shutdown, the operators say it became too expensive to operate, and the operators of Brown Roof Thrift say it was interfering with their thrift store business.

Tennessee: In Mount Juliet, after ten years Marble Slab Creamery suddenly shutdown, due to the greedy landlord refusing to renew the lease: “They were not interested in renewing our lease…..The thing that took me off guard was the lack of communication and telling us why.”-Carey Hook, operator

Restaurant Krystal shutting down their Green Hills location due to pending road construction.  Memphis based Ag info ‘expert’ Informa Economics IEG predicts U.S. grain exports will set a record 150-million to 180-million bushels this year, despite all the bad news affecting farmers. But they also had this warning: “If we’re not going to keep investing in our system and we’re not investing high enough nor efficient enough, we’re going to have challenges to really be a competitive, long-term player in the market.”-Ken Eriksen

Texas: Lubbock based Rita Restaurant Group-Don Pablo’s now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  At one point there were 120 Don Pablo’s restaurants, but news reports say there are now only 12.   In Houston, after 14 years Ponzo’s Italian Food shutdown.  In San Angelo, TJ’s Frozen Yogurt shutdown their store on North Bryant due to “Not enough income…”  In Austin, Brass House shutdown, the owner blaming the “…rising tide of the downtown Austin rental market, lack of free parking and unforeseen circumstances.”  After 111 years, Dallas based Sigel’s Beverages now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and shutting down five stores.  It’s blamed on increasing competition caused by more ‘dry christian’ Texas municipalities going ‘wet’ (in order to increase local tax revenues).   Dallas based Fiesta Restaurant Group revealed it suddenly shutdown 10 Pollo Tropical restaurants, and will convert three Pollo Tropicals to Taco Cabana restaurants, after a loss of $4.8-million USD!  Also, administrators suddenly halted all expansion plans and are reportedly prepping to sell everything off!

Virginia: In Fredericksburg, after 35 years commercial bankers confirmed to local news that Sammy T’s was sold. The restaurant manager said it will shutdown pending plans of the new owners.  In Rocky Mount, Bootleggers Cafe shutdown, 20 jobs gone because the restaurant “…could not live up to our market potential…” In Cornerstone, after two years Auburnlea Farms Corner Market shutdown because “…it didn’t work out…”

Washington: Craft Brew Alliance suddenly laid off “at least a dozen” Redhook brewery employees, due to crashing contracts for beer from Pabst Brewing Company.  In Seattle, after 46 years The Old Spaghetti Factory shutting down right before Xmas, due to the property being sold to developers.  Healthy Options food maker issued a shutdown WARN for its Wenatchee ops, 66 jobs lost by January 2017.  Ocean Beauty Seafoods shutting down its Seattle ops, 69 jobs lost right after Xmas.

Washington DC:  A study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found cancer causing chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium) in most of the public drinking water, affecting 200-million people across the country (Including where I live in Bannock County, Idaho. Maybe it’s a good thing the city shutoff my public water supply back in March, due to not being able to pay their newly imposed late fees).  The study ran from 2013 to 2015, with more than 75% of water samples showing contamination.

 Wisconsin: In Milwaukee, Lucille’s suddenly shutdown.  After 45 years John Hawk’s Pub shutdown due to not being able to renew the lease.

Wyoming: Western Sugar shutting down their Torrington operation, 86 jobs gone as the co-op consolidates production to Colorado.  After several decades the Ghost Town Restaurant shutdown, at least eight jobs lost due to two years of crashing sales.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

September 2016: IT’S OFFICIAL; MORE THAN HALF OF U.S. FARM WORKERS ARE ILLEGAL! FARMERS ARE THE BIGGEST WELFARE PROGRAM?

FOOD CRISIS: U.S. DEFORESTATION CAUSED LANDSLIDES IN HAITI! NO MORE CHEAP COFFEE OR COCOA?

Sears Kmart shutdowns, October 2016: Kmart makes Santa’s naughty list, no toys for Xmas!

More shutdowns in Canada, this time the Edmonton Sears in the Bonnie Doon Centre shutting down, 70 jobs lost by the end of January 2017.  Also, the Sears department store at Dartmouth’s Penhorn Mall will shutdown, 73 jobs gone by September 2017.

“We came to the conclusion that at this time based off of what we have seen and what we have read with regards to the retailer that it would be best served for our company to suspend shipments to this retailer to minimize any risk going forward.”-Stephen Berman, CEO Jakks Pacific

Toy supplier Jakks Pacific says they will no longer make deliveries to Kmart due to the unpredictable management decisions of Eddie Lampert-Sears Holdings.  Administrators of Jakks Pacific are basically scared they won’t be paid for their end of year holiday deliveries.

Months ago Eddie Lampert made the decision to sell-off  Kenmore, Craftsman, and DieHard brands.  News reports now indicate several hopeful buyers of the Craftsman brand have offered as much as $2-billion USD!

September 2016: 2,583 STORES UP FOR LEASE OR SALE!

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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. Dundas Kmart in April 2016, 32 jobs lost. 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: Sears offspring Seritage Growth Properties says the ‘Sears’ property in Kearney is shutting down.  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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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: Five Sears & Kmart properties made the new Sears Holdings Real Estate for sale or lease list.

South Carolina: 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:  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: 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 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. The Wausau Center Sears shutting down, 35 remaining employees became unemployed June 2016. Sears Holdings administrators would only say “we are accelerating the closings of unprofitable stores.” 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!

“You can’t keep the doors open if you don’t have providers” : September 2016 ObamaCare destruction

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 nine 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, September 2016:

Denmark based drugs maker Novo Nordisk eliminating 1-thousand jobs worldwide, blaming crashing U.S. sales (due to its own skyrocketing prices for insulin).

California: Tulare Regional Medical Center laid off 29 people.  Administrators hinted that layoffs will be ongoing because they “continue to streamline operations”.  Israel based drugs maker Teva issued a layoff WARN, 11 jobs gone in Corona, by December.

Florida: Drugs maker Merck eliminating 112 jobs between November 2016 and June 2017!  CVS Pharmacy issued a WARN, 94 jobs in Tampa gone by Thanksgiving.

Idaho: The state Department of Insurance warning of yet another rate hike for insurance, as much as 24% for 2017!

Illinois:  Health Care Service Corporation (parent company of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois) off-shoring as many as 540 InfoTech jobs, by April 2017! Health Care Service Corporation has also been encouraging employees 50 years of age or older to quit, by offering them buy-outs.

Kentucky: God powerless to stop ‘his’ Catholic owned  KentuckyOne Health from laying off three top executives, a fourth executive resigned. The ‘christian’ hospital admin called it “leader transitions”.  Signature Healthcare shutting down two locations, 207 jobs gone by Thanksgiving!  Patients are being transferred elsewhere.   In Louisville, McDonald’s shutting down their Kosair Children’s Hospital by Xmas. The lease expires and the Kosair-McDonald’s franchise can’t afford to renew it!

Louisiana: Non-profit Lafayette General Medical Center eliminating 70 jobs by the end of October.

Maine: Mercy Hospital suddenly laid off 31 people.  Administrators say it was a “clinical redesign of services offered”.

Massachusetts: Drugs maker ImmunoGen laid off 65 people.

Minnesota: Superior View Assisted Living shutdown, the CEO Rob Gannucci blamed the state and federal government saying “It just wasn’t worth it anymore.”

Mississippi: Quitman County Hospital quit and shutdown due to lack of money. Local news reports indicated it was the only hospital in the area.

Montana: Medicare health insurer New West Health Services shutting down, 14-thousand customers losing their insurance by the end of the year, and 84 people losing their jobs.  Administrators directly blame ObamaCare saying “…with the increased complexity in this industry and the new challenges that affect our ability to break even, we are not able to make this insurance plan financially successful.”

New Hampshire: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center eliminating up to 460 jobs by Xmas!  ObamaCare is forcing the hospital to make at least $100-million USD in cuts, CEO James Weinstein saying “We cannot be all things to all people…… Reductions at all levels of the organization will be considered…”

New York:   Crouse Hospital laid off nine management, 13 non-union and 12 union employees. Unfilled positions are also being eliminated. Administrators called the layoffs ‘routine’.  God powerless to stop ‘his’ Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services from issuing a layoff WARN for their ops in Brooklyn. The layoffs take place right before Xmas.

North Carolina: Oncology specialist Biologics shutting down their Cary ops after being taken over by California based McKesson, 132 jobs gone! Johnston Ambulance Service shutdown, 4-hundred jobs suddenly gone! Administrators blame ObamaCare rules for lack of payment of services rendered.

Oklahoma:  Pushmataha Hospital now chapter 9 bankrupt busted despite four years of trying to reign in costs to deal with greatly reduced ObamaCare insurance reimbursements.

Pennsylvania: Ohio based HCR ManorCare sold-off their Devon Manor nursing home, 124 jobs gone by the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday!  Patients are being transferred elsewhere.  Drug testing startup Falcon Genomics already chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to failing to raise enough investment cash.  Somerset Hospital shutting down their obstetrics unit by the end of November.

Tennessee: It’s been revealed that in August Church Hill Emergency Medical Services suddenly shutdown, eliminating “dozens” of jobs due to lack of funding.  Church Hill EMS is now officially chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Tennova Healthcare eliminating 45 jobs in October.

Texas:  Saint Mark’s Medical laid off nine people and then sold their La Grange office building to Rainier Realty Investments.  Administrators directly blame ObamaCare for the layoffs saying “The layoffs were…..an adjustment to our current healthcare environment.  As penalties increase and volumes decrease, it’s critical each hospital/physician office adapt to the new landscape.”

Virginia:  After 40 years Dominion Psychiatric Associates shutting down in November, one of the doctors told local news media “You can’t keep the doors open if you don’t have providers.”

Wisconsin: Integrated Health Network laid off 21 employees.

Wyoming: Mountain View Regional Hospital laid off 15 employees.

August 2016: “…WE’LL ALL HAVE TO DO MORE WITH LESS.”

ObamaCare = Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

It’s official; more than half of U.S. farm workers are ILLEGAL! Farmers biggest welfare program? : September 2016 Food Crisis

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of September, 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.

The Wall Street Journal reports that despite a 65% increase in hops farming the number of new ‘craft’ breweries in operation far outpace hops production, creating a massive shortage of citra hops.

Read the article Digested: Buying the Farm to find out why the so-called organic farm industry is bogus. The article is about U.S. demand exceeding U.S. supply, but read between the lines and you should realize that there’s now so much government and corporate involvement that who knows if what you’re eating is truly ‘organic’.

Alabama: After 89 years C.F. Penn Hamburgers posted a shutdown notice on their Decature store, blaming crashing sales and skyrocketing rent: “This decision was made as the result of a decline in business, coupled with our rent increasing 80%.”

However, once the word got out the greedy landlord changed their mind and claimed it was a misunderstanding so, according to local news reports, C.F. Penn Hamburgers will remain open.

Arizona: Less than a month after shutting down a Tennessee location (without warning) Florida based World of Beer suddenly shutdown their Gilbert, Tempe and Tucson locations!

California:  Border Grill shutting down their 26 years old Santa Monica location in October.  In Bakersfield,  after being evicted at the end of June RJ’s Bar & Grill now legally chapter 7 bankrupt dead.  In San Francisco, Buttons Candy Bar shutdown, a defiant video store which shares the same retail space said “we aren’t intending to close.”  Keil’s Food Stores issued a shutdown WARN for their Clairemont location, 49 jobs gone by November.

Colorado:  Spice and ‘spirits’ seller Vom Fass shutdown their Fort Collins location to focus on internet sales. In Boulder, Conor O’Neill’s Traditional Irish Pub & Restaurant shutdown due to crashing sales, caused by construction on a next-door building, and on jacked-up rent and property tax.

Connecticut: Monsanto laying off 39 people in Mystic, at the end of October.

Florida:  After 41 years Mama B’s Giant Subs shutting down two Orlando locations, the owner is selling the properties so she can retire.  Local news media said it was the third sandwich chain to recently shutdown restaurants in Orlando.  In Ybor, Spaghetti Warehouse shutting down at the beginning of October.  The owners spent 12 months looking for cheaper place to rent, with no luck.

Georgia:  Food Lion shutdown their 20 years old Gainsville grocery store, the store’s manager said “Sales had really been suffering.”  After 12 years Kitchenware Outfitters shutting down at the end of October.

Idaho: Trading Company Stores suddenly shutdown their Post Falls and Bonners Ferry locations, 68 jobs lost due to the owner selling out to Washington based Yoke’s.  In Twin Falls, after more than 42 years Addison Restaurant West shutting down in October.  The owner sold it so he could take care of his 98 years old mom.

Illinois: After 25 years Italian restaurant Rose Angelis shutdown in Lincoln Park, there was no explanation on the restaurant website.  In Chicago, after 48 years The Parthenon suddenly shutdown, local news reports said the restaurant had failed two health inspections, which were supposedly rectified.  There was no official reason for the unexpected permanent shutdown.  Shop-N-Save shutting down a grocery store in Peoria, 69 jobs gone by October.

Indiana: Orscheln Farm and Home shutting down their Seymour store once the inventory is gone.

Kentucky: In Lexington, after 82 years Fayette Seed shutting down by the end of October.  The owner is hoping to find a buyer for the business.  In Louisville, McDonald’s shutting down their Kosair Children’s Hospital by Xmas. The lease expires and the Kosair-McDonald’s franchise can’t afford to renew it!

Massachusetts: Boston based restaurant operator Cosi now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, and possibly for sale.

Minnesota: In Saint Paul, The Barbary Fig Mediterranean Cuisine shutdown, the owner-chef said he’s tired of repairs, government regulations and employees calling in sick right before their shift.

Mississippi: Cheeky Monkey shutdown its D’Iberville bakery right after opening a new operation in Biloxi.  In Jackson, The Penguin Restaurant & Bar suddenly shutdown.

Nebraska: Lincoln based United States Drought Monitor declared extreme drought conditions in the eastern half of Massachusetts, southeastern New Hampshire and the southern part of Maine.

New Jersey: General Mills shutting down the 76 years old Vineland Progresso soup factory, 340 jobs gone by 2018!  Corporate administrators blame the labor union!

New Mexico: In Albuquerque, after 36 years Fair-n-Square grocery store shutdown so the mom-n-pop owners could retire.

New York: Another TGI Friday’s shutdown, this time their 20 years old restaurant in Dewitt. Administrators claim the 30 employees were offered jobs at other locations. After 79 years in the Big Apple iconic Carnegie Deli shutting down by the end of 2016, apparently it’s become a money losing proposition to do business in New York. In Schenectady, the Grog Shoppe shutting down after 40 years, the owners are considering whether to open a new business or just rent out their property to somebody else.  In Wading River, the Davis Peach Farm shutdown due to a massive storm that destroyed their peach crop.

North Carolina: Rudean’s Restaurant shutdown after 17 years so the owner, who started operating restaurants while she was a teenager in the 1950s, could retire.  The popular (customers started a petition to keep it open) Rusty Rudder shutdown by greedy landlord: “Regrettably, our landlord has decided not to renew the lease after 15 years of business forcing us to close our doors.”-Eric Paul and Brian Johnston, co-owners

North Dakota: In Grand Fork, after eight months of trying to sell the operation, 10 years old Dakota Harvest Bakers finally died.  Local news media wasn’t sure if the popular bakery was finally sold as nobody in-the-know was talking.

Ohio: In Fairfield, after 13 years Symmes Tavern on the Green forced to shutdown by the greedy landlord, the owners hope to find a new affordable location.  The Greene Town Center is now suing  Florida based World of Beer for backing out on plans to open a restaurant.  The lawsuit revealed that World of Beer had signed and then reneged on a ten year lease.  Buehler Food Markets shutting down their nine years old store in Brunswick, 125 jobs gone by the end of October!  In Bowling Green, after 39 years Myles’ Pizza Pub shutting down at the beginning of October. In Hamilton, after 102 years Milillo Grocery was suddenly shutdown for not being in compliance with current state health and city building codes, despite a waver for ‘grandfathered’ businesses.  The third generation owner says city and state administrators are singling him out: “They’re considering me a new owner even though I’m the third Frank Milillo to stand behind that counter in the last 102 years. They consider this a new business.”-Frank Milillo

Oregon: After 53 years restaurant Der Rheinalnder was sold and the new owners are shutting it down at the begining of 2017.   Grower owned fruit packer Tree Top shutting down their Woodburn operation in January 2017, 60 people losing their jobs because the factory supposedly isn’t effecient (which is a bogus excuse because many employers have laid off employees precisly becasue they became too efficient, as I’ve pointed out in past postings).  The Dairy Queen in Gold Beach shutdown, the owners are building a new Dairy Queen in the town of Brookings and say updating the Gold Beach location is too expensive: “If we weren’t trying to build the one in Brookings right now, we’d try to figure out the financing and do the remodel.”-Bart Burroughs

Pennsylvania:  In Lancaster, after four years employee owned The Seed cafe shutdown due to “a variety of concerns”.    Pepsi shutting down their Reading distribution center, 95 jobs lost by November.  In Levittown the Big Q BBQ suddenly shutdown, the owners consolidated several of their restaurants.  In York Haven, Hummingbird Ridge Winery shutdown, the owner has a full-time job and apparently making and selling wine part time isn’t worth the effort.

South Carolina: In Myrtle Beach, the Piggly Wiggly grocery store in The Market Common shutting down due to increased competition.

Tennessee: Local news reports revealed that not only did Florida based World of Beer shutdown its Chattanooga location without warning last month, but it failed to pay the employees final paychecks, and even walked away with their tips: “I depend on this income. …how I’m going to make money in the next couple of weeks?  ….it was so sudden.”-Jenison Owens, who says World of Beer still owes two weeks of pay plus tips customers made using their credit cards

Texas: The Kettle Restaurant in Killeen shutdown after 36 years, the property was sold. San Angelo based Logan’s Roadhouse now bankrupt busted and shutting down at least 21 of their restaurants due to a 9.9% drop in revenue this year. In Longview, the Waffle Shoppes of Texas shutting down by the end of October, after 40 years of Belgian style waffles.  The Highland Village Kroger shutting down in November, 80 jobs lost due to crashing sales. Zio’s Italian Kitchen chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Administrators blame the oil industry BS for crashing sales.

Vermont: In Lyndonville, Phat Kats Tavern shutdown.

Virginia: Food Lion shutdown one of their grocery stores in Martinsville saying it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease, 35 jobs affected.  Despite using illegal employees and continuing taxpayer subsidies, U.S. farmers also benefit from 31st Farm Aid concert in Bristow.

Washington DC:  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reducing allowable levels of dangerous atrazine weed killer used on food crops.  Chemical addicted farmers are complaining it will effectively ban the use of most weed killers.    U.S. Department of Labor confirms that more than 50% of farm workers are in the U.S. illegally!  Blame farmers who bemoan that there aren’t enough cheap-ass illegal workers for U.S. businesses!  On top of that, U.S. taxpayers are again being raped to subsidize farmers with the Urban Agricultural Act of 2016: “This legislation offers services and support to urban farmers. The research component of the bill is not only critical for production, but also for exploring the risk management, food safety, environmental and economic factors that are critical for economic success.”-Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau Federation

Wisconsin: After only five months that restaurant with the ‘racist’ sounding name, Hibachi Boy, shutdown.  The owner would only say that it was “a difficult but necessary decision.”

Food Crisis August 2016: ALBERTSONS MAKES “BILLIONS IN PROFITS” YET PAYS EMPLOYEES WELFARE WAGES!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

“sustained market challenges” : September 2016 U.S. MINING/INDUSTRIAL/LOGISTICS LAYOFFS

Incomplete list of U.S. Mining/Industrial/Logistics job loss announcements and shutdowns for September 2016.

Arkansas: Fuel tank maker Amfuel shutting down its Magnolia factory, 3-hundred people jobless due to operations being moved to Texas!

California:    National Oilwell Varco laying off 72 people by Halloween. After reporting ” historic record financial results” at the end of 2015, shipping company United States Lines shutting down their Newport Beach port operations, 92 jobs lost by Halloween.  Taxpayer subsidized (to the recent tune of $300-million USD!) hotel builder Good Hope International laid off 60 people in Anaheim.   Apparently Boeing wasn’t satisfied with last month’s layoff warning for its ops in El Segundo and Huntington Beach, an additional 82 jobs being eliminated.   In Garden Grove, Morning Sun Shirt Company laying off 76 employees in November.  Israel owned clothing maker VF Contemporary Brands laid off 105 people without warning!  Clothing brand Max Azira eliminating 123 jobs in Vernon, by November!  Upscale sunglass maker Oakley issued a shutdown WARN for its Mira Loma operations, 119 jobs gone by January 2017! What automotive industry recovery?  Maker of custom wheels, Carlstar Group issued a shutdown WARN for their Ontario operations, 139 jobs gone by December!   In Santa Maria, Zodiac Seat Shells issued a layoff WARN, 205 jobs gone by Halloween! Kyocera Precisions Tools shutdown their San Jose office.  Also in San Jose, Menzies Aviation issued a layoff WARN, 85 jobs lost by November.

Colorado: Near Hesperus, the King II coal mine revealed it eliminated 38 jobs through attrition and layoffs.

Florida:  Taxsucker Honeywell laying off 52 Sensing and Productivity Solutions factory workers by 2017.   Administrators said it was “driven by just better and better efficiency”.  Sweden based Bonnier shutting down its profitable U.S. (Winter Park) based print magazine ops. Publication of Islands, Destination Weddings & Honeymoons, and Caribbean Travel & Life will cease this year due to declining subscriptions, the owners want to get out while they’re still ahead, of course jobs will be lost.

Illinois: What construction industry recovery? In Joppa, the LaFarge cement factory announced that 40 jobs will be eliminated due to crashing demand for cement. In Mossville, Caterpillar eliminating 3-hundred support-management jobs as part of plans to halt overseas productions and massive layoff globally (some reports say more than 10-thousand jobs lost), due to crashing sales!  Dynegy laying off 64 Baldwin Energy Complex employees due to “loss of contract”.  Dynegy also issued a shutdown WARN for its Newton Power Plant, 48 jobs lost in October.  Wholesaler PartyLite shutting down their Batavia location, 144 jobs lost starting after Thanksgiving!  What automotive industry recovery? Maker of electrical parts for vehicles, IAC Belvidere, shutting down by Xmas.

Indiana: Plastics molder CPX shutdown without warning, 214 jobs instantly gone due to “unforeseeable economic circumstances”.

Iowa:  Taxsucking helicopter parts maker Fansteel now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, blaming reduced Department of Defense (DoD) spending.  Flexsteel shutting down their 120 years old furniture factory in Dubuque, at least 250 jobs gone by December 2017!  Adminstrators say it will cost too much money to bring the old factory up to date, and they don’t seem so sure about building a new one.

Kentucky: Coal mining layoffs never stop as Alpha Natural Resources issued shutdown WARNs for two operations, resulting in 117 jobs lost!

Louisiana: In Amite, Bradken laying off 65 people in late October.   Trinity Marine Products shutting down in Brusley, 288 jobs gone between October and December!  In Barkesdale, taxsucking ProActive Technologies failed to get its DoD contract renewed, 51 jobs lost after Halloween (it’s hoped the new contractor will hire them).

Maine: Taxsucking General Dynamics Bath Iron Works about to kill 1-thousand 2-hundred jobs after losing a $10.5-billion U.S. taxdollar funded contract to a company in Florida!

Maryland: What automotive industry recovery? Sweden based Volvo suddenly laid off 143 people at its truck factory in Hagerstown and also revealed they laid off 138 employees during the 1st quarter of the year!

Missouri: Maker of bricks and heat resistant industrial products, HarbisonWalker International shutting down their Fulton factory. 87 jobs gone due to crashing sales.  Administrators say if the economy truly recovers then they might start back up.

New Jersey: Trucking company Veltri eliminating 77 jobs in Kearny, by November.  Packaging maker for consumer products, AQL Decorating eliminating 98 jobs in Fairview, right after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.  In Princeton, Tyco International Management eliminating 45 jobs before the New Year.

New Mexico: Taxsucking Lockheed Martin announced the elimination of 330 jobs due to the loss of a contract with the DoD!

New York: GL Bus Lines issued a layoff WARN, 82 jobs gone right before Xmas. Lock maker Allegion shutting down their Bronx NYC factory, 58 jobs lost starting in December.

Ohio: Cast Fab Tech shutting down their Oakely ops, 97 jobs gone in November due to take-over by competitor Elyria and Hodge Foundries. God powerless to stop christian agnostic Warren Buffett owned NetJets eliminating 80 jobs at its Lunken Repair Station right before Xmas.

Oklahoma: ConocoPhillips laid off 90 people in Bartlesville.  WPX Energy eliminated 40 jobs in Tulsa as part of plans to kill jobs.  In 2015 WPX employed 1-thousand 75 people, local news reports say when the job culling ends they’ll have 650 employees!

Pennsylvania:  Air Products laid off 26 people due to crashing demand for natural gas equipment.  Packaging Corporation of America eliminating 51 jobs before Thanksgiving.  Cheetah Chassis Corporation issued a layoff WARN, but didn’t say how many people would become unemployed.  ATI (Allegheny Technologies) shutting down its Specialty Alloys and Components factory in Frackville, 40 jobs gone by Xmas.

Tennessee: What construction industry recovery?  Maker of plumbing fixtures, Kohler eliminating 161 jobs at its Union City factory!  Administrators blame crashing sales.

Texas: Houston based ConocoPhillips began 1-thousand layoffs around the world, including 3-hundred people in Canada, and is selling-off its stake in the Indonesian oil-gas field!  Houston based Noble Energy warning of more layoffs despite slowly rising oil prices.  Colorado based Whiting Petroleum issued a WARN saying at least 102 Texans will become unemployed by the end of November!  Whiting is selling-off its Texas ops.  In Houston, filter maker Purolator shutting down due to “sustained market challenges”, 74 jobs gone.  Prime Flight Aviation Services lost contracts with several airlines and will eliminate 90 jobs at the San Antonio International Airport.

Virginia:  Industrial fastener and glue maker Norsdon Corporation shutting down its Pulaski factory, as part of plans to consolidate operations to Ohio (which will affect 260 employees in Pulanski, and employees at two other factories in Pennsylvania and Ohio).  Apparently Nordon’s primary cutomers are down to just Deutschland and Thailand, yet they reported their earnings were better-than-expected for their 3rd quarter.

Washington: France based make-up maker L’oreal eliminating 120 jobs at its Redmond and Kent operations, by Thanksgiving!

Washington DC: The U.S. Federal Reserve Bank admitted that U.S. factory production is stagnating.  In August production dropped 0.4%, canceling out the piddly 0.4% increase in July.

West Virginia: US Well Services laid off 60 people (according to employees), administrators admitted their ops in Jane Lew “…did not win the work we thought we were going to…”  Caterpillar Global Mining shutting down their one year old Bluefield call center, an undisclosed number of people jobless by the end of October.

Wisconsin:  Brillion Iron Works shutting down, 342 jobs killed by new owner Metaldyne Performance Group!   Graebel Van Lines eliminating 50 jobs by the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, due to consolidation of billing ops.  Machined parts maker Spirit Manufacturing shutting down one of its operations, 60 jobs lost due to “changing business circumstances”.

August 2016 : “A FINANCIALLY RUINOUS GAME OF MUSICAL CHAIRS”

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!

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.”