Tag Archives: education

Idaho

“We’ve lost a lot…since 2007.” : Idaho Economic Decline 2014

Incomplete list of economic related events in The Gem State of Idaho, Gregorian year 2014.

JANUARY:  In Gooding, Glanbia Foods officials warned of layoffs saying “….we are actively pursuing a number of strategic growth opportunities, the current milk supply situation in Idaho is extremely tight.” Glanbia Foods claims to be the number one manufacturer of American Style Cheese, with four factories in Idaho and the world’s largest cheese factory in New Mexico!

In Garden City, after 54 years The Stagecoach Inn shutdown. The owners blame “not enough business” for their failure to pay taxes and the loss of their booze license.

In Boise, the Saint Luke’s affiliated non-profit Elk’s Rehab Hospital laid off “…less than 20 positions, all licensed practical nurses within the inpatient unit…” in an effort to adjust to reduced funding caused by ObamaCare. Elk’s Rehab Hospital began in 1947 to help victims of polio.

In Pocatello, the short lived Marhaba restaurant shutdown. The building auctioned off at the end of the month.  It’s now one of them-there vapor joints.

Also in Pocatello, the property that acted as construction storage for Sunbelt Broadcasting (a previous owner of NBC affiliate KPVI Channel 6) was abandoned and put up for sale.  It’s been replaced with a medical clinic.

FEBRUARY: In Boise, ObamaCare call center operator Maximus announced it will kill 1-thousand 6-hundred jobs by the end of April! Retail businesses located around the call center say they will be directly impacted. Employees are suing because they have not been paid for overtime that they’ve worked, and they were told the jobs were permanent full time positions. Company officials now say the positions were officially temporary! Company officials directly blame ObamaCare: “The reduction in staffing is based on the nature of the contract and the reduced volume of calls, both of which are directly related to the enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act.”

Boise based computer chip maker Micron reported profits at the end of January, but it was revealed that they also killed 419 jobs in Italy! It’s blamed on Micron’s take over of Italian chip maker Numonyx. Layoffs could be coming for Idaho.

In Meridian, cement/minerals engineering company FLSmidth laid off 46 employees.

Also in Meridian, Utah based First National Bank of Layton killed 56 jobs.

In Coeur d’Alene, Office Depot announced it will shutdown in May. It’s blamed on the merger with Office Max.

In Twin Falls, upscale home decor store Inspired Living shutdown. The owner said she wanted to retire.

Presbiterian/Agnostic Warren Buffet owned Heinz Frozen Food made it official and notified Idaho that it will shutter its Pocatello plant, killing at least 4-hundred jobs! State Department of Labor analysts said the frozen food factory shutdown will have a domino effect and kill an additional 2-hundred ‘support’ jobs in Pocatello/Chubbuck!

In Aberdeen, food and agriculture giant Simplot announced they will kill 309 food processing jobs by April!

MARCH: In Nampa, food producer Simplot announced they will shutdown operations at the end of May, 206 jobs lost! It’s part of their ongoing consolidations of food processing.

In Idaho Falls, according to an official WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) Center Partners laid off 4-hundred call center employees!

APRIL: Sandpoint based women’s clothing retailer Coldwater Creek now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and shutting down all 365 stores. More than 1-thousand jobs will be lost across the U.S.! Idaho will lose 490 of those jobs by June!

In Boise, Pennsylvania based diesel-electric locomotive maker Motive Power announced it will kill 162 jobs in June!

JUNE:  In Twin Falls after only two years of production at the world’s largest yogurt factory, Chobani laid off an undisclosed number of employees. Officials say the layoffs are because production quotas were reached (in other words the former employees did their jobs well)! But wait, more layoffs could be in the planning! Chobani officials told local news media that the factory was still using hundreds more employees than they really need. The new factory was designed for 4-hundred employees, but state employment officials estimate there are between 5-hundred and 1-thousand people working the successful operation.

Also in Twin Falls, after 47 years the Twin 12 Cinema movie theater shutdown.

Timberline already up for auction! Note that their Grand Opening sign is still up!

Timberline already up for auction! Note that their Grand Opening sign is still up!

In Pocatello, After less than three months Timberline Home Furnishings-3G Used Car Sales is already busted! The location used to be the Ashley Furniture Liquidation store, which went away in March.

JULY: In Boise, Italy owned highway and airport food service company HMS Host (Host Marriott Services Corporation-Autogrill S.p.A.) issued a WARN saying they will kill 79 jobs by the end of September.

Also in Boise, the Elk’s Rehab Center shutting down, 516 jobs lost as Saint Luke’s Health System takes over in September! Reports say Saint Luke’s claims it needs only 4-hundred employees to do the same job, so a net job loss of 116!

In Nampa, Macy’s Clearance Center shutdown, eight jobs lost. Local news reports indicated that the lease on the property was still in effect.

What housing market recovery? RealtyTrac’s top ten list says at the end of the 2nd quarter the Boise-Nampa area had 765 properties in foreclosure, and 237 homes abandoned!

What housing market recovery? In Naples, it was revealed that Washington based Alta Forest Products (whose main product is fencing for homes) laid off at least 25 employees. Hours for other mill employees were reduced. Salesman Jeff Cook kinda blamed the housing market saying “We’ve lost a lot of sawmills and building products companies since 2007.” However, it’s probably due to the May 2014 merger of TMI Forest Products and Welco Lumber, which created Alta Forest Products. What’s (not) funny is company officials promised that job security was the goal of the merger: “This agreement will help secure employment to the local communities and strengthen the regional economy built on the growing lumber industry.”-company statement

In Pocatello, the U.S. Postal Service Gateway Processing Center made the shutdown list for 2015, about 50 jobs lost through transfers, early retirements or outright layoffs.

AUGUST:  In Chubbuck, Sears Holdings finally decided to put their dying Sears store, at the Pine Ridge Mall, to death. The store will close in October.

Also in Chubbuck, the 24 years old Carmike Cinema 7 was sold off to property developers and will be torn down. Word is that the owner does not think it’s worth it to convert the theater over to digital, especially when he already spent boo-koo bucks building a new digital theater on the north side of the Pine Ridge Mall property.

In Blackfoot, after 15 years Tweedy’s Music shutdown. The owners revealed there are two speculators competing to buy their property.

SEPTEMBER:  The fact that so many former employees of recently created Scientech (a division of nuclear industry Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Company) are applying for unemployment assistance reveals a layoff of at least 25 people in Idaho Falls. Local news reports say company administrators refuse to talk. At the end of 2013, Scientech announced they were to set up business in Idaho Falls by the summer of 2014, meaning the company had just barely started ops before killing jobs already.

NOVEMBER: In Boise, after 73 years Molenaar Jewelers announced a going out of business sale, the owner was unable to find a buyer for the business which will shutdown in Janaury 2015.

Also in Boise, a year after taking over Boise Paper (aka Boise Inc) for $1.27-billion USD, Packaging Corporation of America issued a WARN saying they will shutdown the Boise location by March 2015, at least 152 jobs lost!

After 66 years Blackfoot Appliance & Furniture announced they will shutdown by the end of January 2015, “everything must go!”

The mayor of American Falls reported that the local ALCO store was shutting down, he was alerted when he saw employees putting up the going out of business signs. It’s one of five Idaho ALCO stores being shutdown. The American Falls mayor says his small city can’t afford more job losses: “Any worker who loses their income will have an impact on the city!”-Marc Beitia

In Challis, Colorado based Thompson Creek Mining (aka Thompson Creek Metals) issued a WARN saying they will layoff 160 people and shutdown their molybdenum mine in December. Administrators blame the crashing price of moly-B.

School District 25, in Bannock County, warned they could be $1.5-million USD in the hole, with the ending of current levies. But wait, there’s more bull-shit! District 25 administrators want new levies valued at $10-million! This despite decades of levy and bond issues burdening tax payers, as well as decades of lottery payments which school district administrators can’t seem to account for! It’s interesting the school levies and bonds always pass ‘elections’ no matter how many people publicly oppose them.

In Chubbuck, after 23 years the iconic local Dapco Hobbies now up for sale. The current owner (not the friendly family owners that moved the shop to Chubbuck, Corey & Melia) is selling everything off and wants out of the hobby business. Dapco Hobbies was originally located on Garrett Way in Pocatello (according to the BBB that was beginning in 1991), then, after Corey & Melia took over Dapco relocated to Chubbuck around 2007-08. For a very brief time Dapco Hobbies had a shop in Ammon, then moved that one to Idaho Falls (apparently they left about the same time the ‘big box’ Hobby Town left Idaho Falls), and they even had an internet website. They started out focused on trains, then shifted to RC when that got big.

DECEMBER: In Chubbuck, Mario’s Pizza and Orange Julius announced they will shutdown their Pine Ridge Mall stores in 2015. Local TV station KPVI said company administrators told them the economy was so bad in the Pocatello/Chubbuck area that it wasn’t worth keeping the decades old pizza joint and juice blender open any longer.

Also in Chubbuck, the demolition of the 24 years old Carmike Cinema 7 is slowly underway. It will be replaced with yet more redundant chain restaurants.

In Post Falls, office furniture maker Kimbal International issued a WARN saying they will shutdown beginning in February 2015, at least 251 jobs lost!

What housing market recovery? Administrators with “the nation’s largest supplier of building materials for home building” ProBuild announced they’re shutting down their Sandpoint ops due to crashing sales.

“We’re going to go down.”: Idaho’s Economic Decline 2015 

“It was a blow, cut us off at the knees.”: Idaho, Economic Decline 2013 

Business/Economics

“People are hanging on by their fingernails…” Economist reveals 10,000 jobs lost every month! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 10 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Since 2008 beer maker Anheuser-Busch has been owned by Belgium, today in an effort to increase sales they changed the name of Budweiser to America.  It’ll probably work ’cause there are still a lot of people in the U.S. that think Budweiser, I mean America, is still American.  Remember, it was the Belgians who created French Fries, the name came from dumb American ‘Dough Boys’ (World War 1 soldiers) who thought they were in France.  Then after 9-11 the dumb American Congress tried to ban French Fries as a way of punishing France for not supporting the illegal invasion of Iraq.

California: In Simi Valley, Too Big to Jail Bank of America eliminating 90 jobs by mid-June. In South Lake Tahoe, Diversified Transportation shutting down, 65 jobs lost by the end of June. In Yucca Valley, school bus contractor First Student laying off five people (in addition to the previously announced 71 layoffs) by the end of June.  In Los Angeles, Andromeda Entertainment shutting down, 96 jobs gone by July. In Lake Forest, Quantum Fuel Systems shutting down, 110 jobs gone by the end of June!  In Menlo Park, after 134 years (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression and numerous recessions) pioneering Beltramo’s Wines & Spirits shutting down to be sold-off. Don’t blame the economy or the internet (they sell on ebay), the only heir to the family business says she is not ready to take over.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; Sacramento based newspaper owner The McClatchy Company off-shoring 150 U.S. InfoTech jobs to India!  Xerox laying off 55 people in Riverside, by the end of June.  Cisco Systems killed yet more jobs, this time 83 people in San Jose rendered jobless.  In San Francisco, Roof Diagnostics Solar and Electric issued a WARN, 48 jobs gone by July.

Colorado: The following restaurants reported as shutting down this week; Bubu Lowry, Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs, Big Country’s Bar-B-Que, Protein Bar Colorado Boulevard, Viand and Willie G’s Seafood & Steak.

Connecticut:  Roof Diagnostics Solar and Electric issued a shutdown WARN for their Middletown operation, 46 jobs lost by mid-July.  In South Windsor, General Electric (GE) issued a WARN saying 1-hundred people will become jobless starting in July, no official reason given.

Florida:  Tampa Media Group shutting down, 3-hundred jobs gone by July!

Kansas: It’s being revealed that Gessler Drug Company suddenly shutdown two drug stores two weeks ago: “It hit me like a ton of bricks! ….I couldn’t tell anybody what was going on.”-Allen Ames, operated Ames Watch Repair inside Gessler’s stores for more than forty years

Minnesota: In Minneapolis, after 20 years Big Brain Comics shutting down in June.  Owner Michael Drivas says he’s tired of playing the game, “You’re either always working, or never working.”

Missouri:  What housing market recovery? Two years after re-entering the home loan market Ditech Financial eliminating 103 jobs by September, as it shuts down its debt collects ops in Earth City!

New York: British empire founded but now NYC based news agency Reuters essentially reported that your ‘elected’ officials are lying about economic recovery, especially in manufacturing: “People are hanging on by their fingernails in manufacturing.”-J.B. Brown, Bremen Castings of Indiana which saw a 40% crash in sales since 2014

“Companies are becoming more reluctant to expand and more cost conscious, so that cutback in hiring is a reflection of that.”-Christopher Williamson, economist who says U.S. factories are eliminating an average of 10-thousand jobs per month

In Rochester, Moe’s Southwest Grill shutting down their East Avenue location this weekend.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; insurance company New York Life issued a WARN saying 104 InfoTech employees in NYC and Sleepy Hollow will become unemployed by January 2017!  The jobs are being “outsourced”.

North Carolina: Haywood County Board of Education eliminating 14 jobs and shutting down Central Elementary.  They need to cut $2-million USD from their budget.

Oklahoma: Oil and natural gas producer Chaparral Energy chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to $1.2-billion USD of debt!

Pennsylvania: The FDIC seized First CornerStone Bank and handed the assets over to First-Citizens Bank & Trust.  What housing market recovery?  As part of the demise of Mechanicsburg based home builder Innovative Building Systems, subsidiary excelHomes notified state administrators that they’ve already laid off 291 employees!  In Harrisburg, school bus contractor First Student issued a layoff WARN, 43 people jobless by the end of June.  Despite reporting an increased demand for Ketchup, Presbyterian/Agnostic Warren Buffett eliminating 40 Kraft-Heinz jobs in Pittsburgh, they’re being contracted out by June.  In Richland Township, customers and employees woke to find the Ryan’s restaurant shutdown.  Parent company Ovation Brands apparently exited bankruptcy, but the property owner is still pissed that they didn’t pay the rent while in bankruptcy so he kicked them out: “I was there last night, I closed, and they didn’t say a word to us.”-Trista Miller, a pregnant Ryan’s employee who worked a 13 hours shift

Tennessee: The FDIC seized Trust Company Bank and handed the assets over to The Bank of Fayette County.

Texas: Bloomberg reports that so far this year Houston based petroleum contractor Schlumberger is leading the way with the most  job cuts; 20-thousand in the past four months!

Washington:  The manager of radioactive River Corridor Closure Project, Washington Closure Hanford, issued a shutdown WARN for their Richland office, 435 jobs gone starting in July! 

Wisconsin: Tyson Foods shutting down their Jefferson pepperoni factory in July,  250 jobs lost! 

09 May 2016: “We are done…”

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

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

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

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

Business/Economics

“We are done….It’s been a long, hard time.” 35% increase in layoffs! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 09 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Connecticut: In South Windsor, school bus contractor First Student issued a layoff WARN, 48 people jobless by the end of June.  In Bridgeport, Parcc Health Care shutting down Astoria Park nursing home, 127 jobs lost by September/October!   Last year state administrators took control of the nursing home using the excuse the “…facility has sustained a serious financial loss or failure which jeopardizes the health, safety and welfare of the patients or there is a reasonable likelihood of such loss or failure.”

Florida: In Saint Armands, ‘resort’ clothing boutique Patchington shutting down this weekend.  Another Patchington in Sarasota has already shutdown.  At one time Patchington had 50 clothing stores in several states, now they’re down to about a dozen in Florida and New Jersey.  Don’t blame the internet, they have a website.

Idaho: Idaho state level ‘elected’ politicians have so far spent $136-thousand taxpayer dollars on travel expenses for this past 75 days legislative session! The revelation was made after The Associated Press forced the release of data through a Freedom of Information demand.  Not all reimbursement requests have been submitted, so expect the total tax dollars spent to go up.

Illinois: Chicago based employment tracker Challenger, Gray & Christmas reports a 35% increase in publicly announced layoffs from March through April, the biggest increase since January to April 2009!

In Chicago, The Berghoff Restaurant issued a shutdown WARN, 156 jobs gone by the end of June due to sale of the massive restaurant! In Aurora, UTi Integrated Logistics issued a shutdown WARN, 31 jobs lost by the end of July. In Buffalo Grove, car insurance and information management company LYNX Services-HyperQuest issued a shutdown WARN, 55 jobs lost by mid-June.   “Poor economy” being blamed for the shutdown WARN issued for Wood River Power Station, 83 jobs gone by mid-July.  The Kmart Super Center in Bradley shutting down this weekend, 125 jobs lost!  Sears Holdings sold the building to Meijer, unconfirmed reports say the Kmart Super Center (which has a full grocery op) was actually making money.

Michigan:  Michigan South Central Power Agency shutting down the 30 years old coal fired Endicott power plant, 65 jobs lost by the end of the month.

Missouri: In Washington, after 27 years Town ‘N Country Lanes shutting down by the end of the month: “We are done….It’s been a long, hard time. We can’t make ends meet anymore. It’s devastating.”-Lance Unnerstall, owner

New Hampshire: Elliot Health Systems shutting down their five years old Ob-Gyn operations in Manchester.  The two doctors that work there say lack of customers is not the reason as 210 babies were born last year!   Administrators of Elliot Health say they’re now focusing on ‘high risk pregnancies’ only, one of the affected doctors calls it BS: “I really didn’t think they’d do it because we’re just so busy….I don’t know the reasons of why they’re closing the practice.”-Thomas Antisdel

New Jersey: NGR Solar announced it is streamlining its home solar division, meaning 5-hundred employees becoming unemployed!

New York: In Albany, god powerless to stop ‘his’ girls only Academy of the Holy Names from shutting down its elementary school, due to crashing enrollment (Rapture?).   After 20 years all remaining 15 Scoop NYC clothing stores shutting down due to lack of sales!  Don’t blame internet competition because Scoop NYC has its own website.  After more than 20 years Other Music shutting down their brick-n-mortar store and ending their mail order business, they will focus on their recording ops.  The owners said “times have changed”.

Ohio: What auto industry recovery? Wheel bearing maker KBI (Kyklos Bearing International) shutting down their Sandusky factory, more than 3-hundred jobs gone by the end of the year!  Without warning the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections announced they will shutdown 10 prison farm ops, even though they recently spent $9-million tax dollars upgrading farm equipment.  72 unions jobs threatened, the union says they could sue because their contract requires state administrators to discuss such a shutdown with union members before making a decision to do so.  In Pleasant Ridge, the Highland Remke Markets grocery store shutting down, 54 jobs gone in June.  Administrators say shutting it down is the only way they can pay to remodel other better performing Remke Markets.

Tennessee: JoS. A. Bank Clothiers shutting down its massive store at The Columns, this weekend.  There will be no ‘going out of business sale’, this is part of the parent company’s plan to shutdown 250 JoS. A. Banks and Men’s Warehouse stores across the U.S.!

Virginia: In Arlington, after 35 years Dominion Pet Center shutting down, incorrectly blaming the internet when in fact it could be the big national chain pet store that moved into the neighborhood a couple of years ago.

Washington: In Bainbridge Island, after 60 years Winslow Drug shutting down.  The owner blames multiple reasons, but says the final straws were when Virginia Mason announced it was shutting down its Bainbridge Island Medical Center, and reductions in insurance reimbursements caused by ObamaCare. 

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

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

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

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

Business/Economics

“I’m going down with the ship” “too difficult to compete” Idaho doctors addicted to drug money! Gun factory shuts down! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 06 – 08 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Ireland based generic prescription drugs maker Endo International reported huge quarterly losses and will now eliminate 740 jobs in Alabama and North Carolina!

Arkansas: El Dorado based Murphy Oil announced its first ever quarterly loss and revealed they’ve already laid off at least 250 employees! Murphy Oil lost nearly $200-million USD, primarily from contracted customers who failed to pay for their oil and gas!  

California: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; video game maker Glu Mobile warning of mass layoffs after losing $8.6-million USD during its last quarter.

Colorado: In Colorado Springs, after more than 40 years Zerbe Jewelers shutting down due to family health problems.

Connecticut: General Electric (GE) eliminating 1-hundred local jobs as a result of moving its HQ to Massachusetts!

Florida: Stride Rite Shoes shutting down their Coral Square mall location in August, due to not being able to renew the lease.

Idaho: According to magicvalley.com in the past year and a half Idaho doctors were paid-off by drug companies, to the tune of $24-million USD of ‘incentives’!  Now you know why so many people in The Gem State are wacked on evil prescription drugs!  What housing market recovery?  The Wilderness Society reports that most of the non-federally owned land in Idaho has been sold-off by the state government, resulting in “…lands in the hands of an elite few and Idaho’s biggest industries: the Simplot Corp., Potlatch, Boise-Cascade, cattle companies and law firms. Under these private ownerships, the new owners can lock out the public altogether or charge a trespass fee.”  (also, you now know the real reason why rents are getting jacked up)

Illinois: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; Chicago based e-coupon company Groupon laid off 30 people as part of their larger plan to eliminate 1-thousand 1-hundred jobs by 2016!

Indiana: What housing market recovery? Pennsylvania based home builder Innovative Building Systems shutting down its Decatur operations, 88 jobs gone within ten days.    Administrators also mentioned that the landlord issued them an eviction notice.

Kentucky: Iconic gun maker Remington announced it is shutting down its Mayfield factory, 2-hundred jobs gone!   Remington is joining the rest of corporate America in the consolidation trend, because their market analysis says they must become more “focused and competitive” in the near future.  (once again proving there ain’t no economic recovery)   Retailer ‘gordmans‘ shutting down its Hamburg Pavilion store because they can’t afford to renew the lease.

Maine: France based Sodexo lost its food contract with Colby College, 146 jobs gone by the end of June!  What housing market recovery? After laying off 60 employees Kaiser Homes announced they are shutting down, 123 additional employees will become unemployed!  The company is owned by now defunct Pennsylvania based Innovative Building Systems.

Massachusetts: In Worcester, after 60 years Hallmark Putnam Card & Gift shutting down, the owner blames too many other retailers selling Hallmark items.  The employees are truly loyal: “I always said, ‘I’m going down with the ship.’…..I loved my job. We are trying to go out with dignity. We straighten, clean and vacuum every day.”-Betty Ann LeBlanc, store manager and employee for past 35 years

Ohio:  Columbus Castings now up for sale after eliminating “more than 150 jobs”!  If no buyer is found by mid-June then the whole thing shuts down, rendering hundreds more employees unemployed!

Pennsylvania: What housing market recovery?  Mechanicsburg based home builder Innovative Building Systems is warning that it could go chapter 7 bankrupt (which usually means they’re dead forever).  The bankruptcy will also affect All American Homes, Epoch Homes, excelHOMES, Future Homes, HandCrafted Homes, IDBS, Kaiser Homes and Modukraft, as they are all owned by Innovative Building Systems.  Administrators say the Too Big to Jail banks refuse to continue debt financing their operations, and they tried to sell the company but nobody is interested in buying.  In Carlisle, after 56 years Rillo’s Restaurant shutdown.  The owner wants to retire and sold it to an investment group, adding “We do not know their plans or who they are negotiating with for this property.”

Texas:  In Abilene, after 19 years Box Office Video shutting down: “We were the first store in Abilene to rent DVDs when they hit the market in 2000……  It is just too difficult to compete….”-Patti Harris, owner

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

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

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

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

Business/Economics

“the reality of the emerging…economy” More people losing their final paychecks! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 05 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Connecticut: In Manchester, after 27 years Choice Video shutting down by the end of the month.  The owner of the video business did not blame declining sales but “the escalating cost of operating a small business.” (especially rent)

Florida: Boca Raton based Cancer Treatment Centers of America revealed it laid off 350 people across the U.S.!  Administrators blame ObamaCare referring to it as “the reality of the emerging healthcare economy”.   In Miramar, United Health issued a WARN, 68 jobs gone by July as the insurance company begins dropping ObamaCare plans.  In Sarasota, Direct Energy issued a WARN, 159 property management jobs gone between July 2016 and April 2018!

Georgia: Another fine example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL). In Augusta, Resolute Forest Products eliminating 95 jobs due to crashing paper sales to newspaper publishers.

Pocatello Wing It eatery no more.

Pocatello Wing It eatery no more.

Idaho: In Pocatello, the Wing It chicken wing joint recently shutdown.

Illinois: Sports analytics provider to news media Stats eliminating 50 jobs, on top of the 30 jobs eliminated back in October.

Kansas: In Hutchinson, after 63 yeas Johnson Music store shutting down.

Maryland: Silver Spring based Discovery Communications warning of impending employee buyouts and mass layoffs, this after the CEO took a 79% pay-cut last year!  The job cuts are expected to be finalized by 3rd quarter 2016.

Nebraska: Hastings Public Schools shutting down 85 years old (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression and numerous recessions) Morton Elementary. The shutdown decision was made six years ago.

New Jersey: Lakeland Bank shutting down their Hewitt office in July.  In Princeton, after more than 20 years the Masala Grill shutting down next week because the greedy landlord jacked up the rent.

New York:  Too Big to Jail Goldman Sachs continues to kill sales jobs, admitting that the economy is so bad for its traditional elite clients that it is forced to hit up ‘commoner’ investors for cash.  In Buffalo, popular restaurant Martin Cooks being forced to shutdown by the end of the month.  The operators say they’re looking for a new location.  British empire Chartwells Dining Services lost its contract with Polytechnic Institute of NYU, 39 jobs lost by the end of the month.  Harris Publications suddenly shutdown its NYC ops, 65 jobs lost at the end of last month.  Sears Holdings issued a shutdown WARN for its Plattsburgh Sears store and Auto Center, 56 jobs lost by the end of July.  Power Drives is moving its factory from Falconer to Buffalo, 96 jobs affected.

Ohio:  Cincinnati Museum Center laying off 60 people in anticipation of the renovation of Union Terminal (it’s location), which will result in the museum losing $6-million USD in yearly ticket sales for the next two years!

Pennsylvania: Fabricator NuWeld has defaulted (apparently because their bank accounts were frozen) and now shutting down their Williamsport factory, 150 jobs lost due to the oil industry BS!  Local news reports say those 150 employees won’t be getting their final paychecks because NuWeld is totally broke-busted!  Education Management issued a shutdown WARN for its Pittsburgh location, 222 jobs gone by July!  France based Sodexo lost its food contract with Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, 108 jobs gone by the end of June!

Texas: Marshall Grain shutting down their 70 years old Fort Worth store by the end of June, due to crashing sales and skyrocketing crime in the neighborhood (due to more and more people losing their jobs, the city’s own crime stat website shows that since February, 27 crimes took place in that specific neighborhood)!

Virginia: In Madison County, after 180 years (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression and numerous recessions) E.A. Clore Sons “will cease manufacturing our handcrafted furniture within the year.”  Local news reports didn’t explain why, but implied it was due to competition with cheap-o fiber board furniture people buy at places like Walmart.

04 May 2016: “a terrible freakin’ thing!”

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

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

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

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

Business/Economics

“a terrible freakin’ thing!” Twin Falls & Chubbuck make massive shutdown list! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 04 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: What automotive industry recovery? In Piedmont, Ohio based maker of seats Commercial Vehicle Group eliminating 120 jobs, leaving only 40 employees to run operations: “It’s a terrible freakin’ thing! Some people have been here 20 years. This is the only job I’ve ever known! ….They told us in October that this was the number one plant CVG had, the most profitable plant in all the CVG organization. Now, all of a sudden business is short, this plant ain’t good enough?”-Jacob Collins, employee

Arkansas: Pine Haven Golf Course shutting down at the end of the month due to crashing revenues.

California: In Oakland, Barclays Pub forced to shutdown by the greedy landlord.  The pub operators say they were willing to go with current market lease rates but “…it just doesn’t seem like he was interested in negotiating a lease at any amount… …It’s bizzare….doesn’t make any sense.”  

Connecticut: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; Norwalk based internet travel company Priceline warning of bad results for its upcoming quarterly report.   Amid massive state employee layoffs, the city of Hartford notified 40 employees they will become unemployed soon, due to lack of tax revenues.  I’ll keep saying this: Crashing tax revenues are sure sign your economy has failed.  But those highly edumagcated ‘elected’ officials will counter low tax collections by jacking up tax rates, and even creating new taxes.  Hello!  Lack of good paying non-government jobs equals lack of tax revenues, no matter how high the rates go!

Florida: In Brandenton, after 27 years Smitty’s Pub & Grill shutting down mid-month, the owner saying “I’m taking a whole year off and then we’ll see.”    Despite claims of ever increasing revenues, local news reports say the Sunshine State’s hotel industry is eliminating the most jobs since 2009, at least 585 hospitality workers (just in southern Florida) will become unemployed between now and the end of June!  The Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association actually blames it on increased tourism, saying it’s forcing many hotels to renovate to accommodate increased numbers of customers, but that means hotel shutdowns during the renovations.  In Port Richey, the American Health Institute college shutdown without warning.  The owner blames the administrators for wasting money while former administrators blame the owner for wasting money!  Administrators also told local news media they have evidence the owner was lying about enrollment numbers to get more federal funding.  The college had only 50 med-tech students.

Idaho:  Near Grangeville, Blue North Forest Products confirmed that low lumber sales forced them to sell their mill to competitor Idaho Forest Group (who so far refuses to say what their plans are), 65 jobs threatened.

Iowa:  Surprise! A Sears store not on the recent official Sears Holdings shutdown list is shutting down! The Des Moines Southridge Mall Sears shutting down by August.  Sears Holdings administrators actually refused to say how many employees were becoming unemployed!

Kansas: Aircraft parts maker Triumph Group reported $1-billion USD in yearly losses and used it as an excuse to begin consolidation of its ten factories, resulting in an undisclosed number of mass layoffs.  Investors cheered the mass layoffs by driving stock prices up!

Louisiana: Surprise! A Kmart store not on the recent official Sears Holdings shutdown list is shutting down! The Bossier Kmart shutting down by August.

Massachusetts: In Boston-Weak, The Boston Globe prepping for yet another round of layoffs, due to continued crashing subscriptions (and don’t blame the internet ’cause they have an internet version).

New York:  In Clay, after 13 years Liehs & Steigerwald Downtown Butcher-Grocer-Pub shutting down by the end of the month, the owners are focusing on a bigger food project.  Gourmet grocery chain Fairway Group Holdings now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  After three years, and a lot of location and marketing changes, NYC clothier Carson Street shutting down by the end of June.  Bankrupt NYC based clothier Aéropostale released its shutdown list: Alabama; Spanish Fort & Birmingham.
Alaska; two stores in Anchorage, one in Fairbanks.
Arizona; Scottsdale & Tucson. Arkansas; Little Rock, Hot Springs & Rogers. California; San Jose, Chula Vista, Los Angeles, Citrus Heights & Chico. Colorado; Lakewood; Bel Mark, Grand Junction & Silverthorne.  Connecticut; Waterford.  Florida; Sarasota, Beach,
Miami, Orlando, Estero & Palm Beach. Georgia; Athens, Lithonia &
Macon. Hawaii; Honolulu, Kaneohe & Aiea.  

The Pine Ridge Mall, Idaho location

The Pine Ridge Mall, Idaho location

Idaho; Chubbuck (Pine Ridge Mall, one of my many former employers [the mall, not Aéropostale]) & Twin Falls. Illinois; Springfield, Carbondale, Geneva, Bolingbrook, Forsyth & Bourbonnais. Indiana; Bloomington & Wayne. Kentucky; Paducah,
Elizabethtown & Owensboro.  Louisiana; Monroe & Slidell. Maryland; Glen Burnie & Ocean City. Massachusetts; Worcester. Michigan; Muskegon, Fort Gratiot, Jackson, Traverse City & Howell.  Minnesota; Maplewood, Blaine, Woodbury & Coon Rapids.
Mississippi; Southaven & Flowood.  Missouri; Columbia, Kansas City & Branson. Montana; Missoula. Nebraska; Lincoln & Omaha. Nevada; Las Vegas. North Carolina; Asheville. New Mexico; Santa Fe. New York; Amherst, Clay, Buffalo, Brooklyn & NYC.  Ohio; Clairsville, two stores in Cincinnati, Heath, Zanesville, Youngstown, Akron, Niles & Columbus.  Oklahoma; Norman, Oklahoma City & Shawnee.  Pennsylvania;  Monroeville, Moosic & Chambersburg. South Carolina; Columbia. South Dakota; Rapid City. Tennessee; Chattanooga, Cleveland, Memphis & Kingsport.  Texas; Plano, Houston, Hillsboro, Lake Jackson, San Antonio & San Angelo. Virginia; Christiansburg & Chesapeake. Washington; Bellingham & Bellevue. West Virginia; Bluefield. Wisconsin; Wausau & Fond Du Lac.  Wyoming; Casper.

North Carolina: Greensboro based gourmet grocery chain The Fresh Market shutting down 13 stores in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Texas, starting now!  In fact all Texas Fresh Markets will shutdown.   A news source estimated that 60 people work at each store, that’s 780 jobs lost within the next two months!  In Cramerton, South Fork Deli shutdown without warning, due to family health problems.  Also in Cramerton, Captain Jim’s Seafood and Steaks shutdown due to the owner’s death, and Next Generation Interiors of Bakers posted “Going out of business” sale signs.

Ohio:  Across the U.S. 197 Cargill employees to become unemployed 18 months from now!  It has something to do with the sale of Cargill’s sauces unit to California based Ventura Foods.

Texas: In Denton, after 20 years Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios shutting down.  It sounds like they’re being kicked out: “We apologize for the sudden news, and how that may affect those whom have shows booked after that date. Please trust us when we say we didn’t want or expect this to happen. We’re still trying to wrap our heads around the shock of it all ourselves.”

Vermont: Burlington School District eliminating 24 jobs, in line with the budget approved by cash strapped voters.

Wisconsin: Childfirst shutting down two daycare ops, one in La Crosse and one in Onalaska. Two other Childfirst locations are being taken over by Red Ballon.

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

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

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

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

Business/Economics

Cops enforce shutdowns! Arizona law kills jobs & 400 dogs! Idaho brand inspector branded a criminal? : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 03 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arizona:  So much for animal ‘rights’.  A bill is about to become a new state law outlawing dog racing.  The result will be as many as 4-hundred Greyhound dogs at the Tucson Greyhound Park made instantly homeless!  The bill was passed partly due to criticism about abuse and neglect of racing dogs, but to those who support the bill I ask “How many of you will adopt one of those 4-hundred dogs soon to become homeless?”

Colorado: ‘Elected’ lawmakers have admitted they’ve been violating federal law by jailing poor people who can’t pay their fines! The admission comes in the form of House Bill 1311, which states that in the future local courts must prove the individual is not financially destitute before sending them to jail for failure to pay fines. 

Florida:  The Conservancy of Southwest Florida shutting down their Upscale Resale Furniture & More Store by mid-month.  Administrators confirmed there is no economic recovery, and they don’t think they’ll be one: “Over the last few years, we have seen a steady decline in net profits from sales at the store. A task force was put in place recently to assess the current situation……Projected earnings would continue to decline even with a very large amount of effort and investment…”– Rob Moher, ceo

The following is an incomplete list of restaurant shutdowns, recently revealed from last month, across The Sunshine State: Bazi, Tap Global Beer Collection, Hudson, Oaki Steakhouse, Sheila’s Conch & Wings, Rhino Doughnuts & Coffee and Hickory Sticks BBQ.

Georgia: Surprise! A Kmart store not on the official Sears Holdings shutdown list is shutting down! The 23 years old Rome Kmart shutting down by August, 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!

Idaho:  The state livestock Brand Inspector, Justin Archer, resigned after being charged by Jerome County Sheriff’s Office with felony grand theft!   Washington based Potlatch Corporation has sold-off  69605.9 hectares (172-thousand acres) of Gem State tree-land to ‘investors’ in U.S. state of Georgia, blaming Idaho’s suck-ass economy: “We purchased the central Idaho timberlands in 2007 intending to take advantage of what was a strong rural recreational real estate market around McCall…..Unfortunately, that market declined significantly due to the recession and the bankruptcy of the Tamarack Resort.”– Mike Covey, ceo

DraftKings and FanDuel  shutting down their Idaho participants’ accounts, after state Attorney General Lawrence Wasden shutdown fantasy sports gambling: “….paid daily sports offerings provided by these companies constitute gambling under Idaho law. I have a duty to enforce and uphold that law. I commend the companies for negotiating in good faith and agreeing not to make these contests available in Idaho.”  

Maine: In Westbrook, after 77 years Colonial Bowling Lanes shutting down because the owner was unable to pay $14-thousand USD in back due local taxes!  The property was sold to pay the taxes.

Michigan: After 17 years The Great Lakes Shipping Co. Restaurant and Tavern forced to shutdown by the end of the month.  The greedy landlord, CWD Real Estate Investment, has other plans for the property. Surprise! A Kmart store not on the official Sears Holdings shutdown list is shutting down!  The Farmington Hills Kmart shutting down by mid-July, 61 jobs lost.

Mississippi: As I’ve said before, lack of tax revenues is sure sign your economy has failed.  Possible collapse coming for state departments and agencies as ‘elected’ lawmakers drastically reduced funding across the board, due to lack of tax revenues.  In some cases the reduced state funding will result in less federal funding as well, such as the Department of Health which says the state funding cuts will mean $4-million USD in automatic federal funding cuts!

Missouri: In Shrewsbury, after 20 years Powerhouse Gym shutdown without warning, and without refunding 2-thousand 3-hundred customers’ money!  Local news reports say employees were shocked when an unknown man began locking the doors.  They blocked his efforts and eventually the owner called in local police, not to help employees but to help the unknown man shutdown the 24 hours workout joint!

New York: In Long Island NYC, after three years the Doshi STEM Institute shutting down due to lack of enrollments and a lack of $1-million USD in taxpayer funding!

NYC based clothier Aéropostale joins the growing list of retailers going down as it files for chapter 11 bankruptcy and announces the shutdown more than 1-hundred stores!  The bankruptcy comes right before rent payments for May are due, which means many landlords might not get paid! Aéropostale was kicked off the New York Stock Exchange last month. Fortune reports that in 2010 the clothier was worth $3-billion USD, today it’s worth only $30-million!  Sears Holdings issued yet another WARN, this time 75 people in Rochester losing their jobs by mid-July.

North Carolina: In Charlotte, By Design furniture store shutting down as soon as the inventory is gone.  The property owner claims they’ll be a new tenant moving in.

The state Department of Commerce reports an official 1-thousand 235 publicly revealed layoffs in April! (that’s more than in April 2015)

Oklahoma: Broken Arrow based oil industry manufacturer Zeeco revealed it began eliminating jobs “from various U.S. offices” last Friday.  Administrators refused to give numbers.

Ohio: In Hubbard, god powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Saint Patrick School.  The Bishop of Youngstown blames it on ten years of declining enrollment.

Puerto Rico: The U.S. territorial government failed to make a $422-million USD debt payment, but in this case (and unlike other governors throughout the U.S.) governor Padilla is looking out for residents: “I had to make a choice. I decided that essential services for the 3.5 million American citizens in Puerto Rico came first.”-Alejandro Garcia Padilla

Texas: In Houston, Gems by Chao shutting down after 44 years.

Virginia: In Blacksburg, after seven years Sal’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria shutting down mid-June.

Washington: In Seattle, after eight years Cairo local music venue-art gallery-clothing store shutting down due to lack of revenues.

West Virginia:  Surprise! A Kmart store not on the official Sears Holdings shutdown list is shutting down! The Bluefield Kmart shutting down by August.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification.  I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis 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.    The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

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

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

Business/Economics

“I’m going mobile.” “forecasted volume…does not sustain…business.” ObamaCare blamed for low food sales! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 01 – 02 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

“I went shoppin’ the other day…..I went to go buy beef, and I didn’t end up with four steaks, I only ended up with two steaks….times are tough for everyone. I think a lot more money is going towards healthcare, and other hidden expenses in America that people don’t realize…when times are tough you’re gonna go to pork and chicken, and us Italians go to the pasta.”-Tommy Grisafi,  agricultural commodities analyst, U.S. Farm Report 30 April 2016

California:  According  to the Bay Area Council, 34% of San Francisco Bay area residents want to leave!  The number one reason is the outrageously high cost of living!  After 113 years (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression, 2nd World War [despite many of its employees being forced into U.S. concentration camps] and numerous recessions), Los Angeles based newspaper Rafu Shimpo on the verge of shutdown unless it can somehow get 10-thousand new subscribers!   At one time the newspaper had 23-thousand subscribers, but is now down to 7-thousand 8-hundred.  And for more evidence the internet is not recession proof Rafu Shimpo does have an internet version, but only 8-hundred people subscribe to it.  The newspaper will shutdown in December if it can’t drastically increase the subscription rate.  In Fresno, a Starbucks Coffee on Herndon and Golden State Avenues suddenly shutdown today, and being demolished this week.  Administrators blame the High Speed Rail construction.  In Gilroy, Saint Louise Regional Hospital revealed it began laying off employees in March!  Administrators admitted they won’t know how many people will lose their jobs until they are done with the layoff process, which could go on for several weeks or even months!  In Stockton, Dameron Hospital shutdown its baby delivery and child healthcare services, 70 jobs lost.  In Torrance, after 44 years Cookin’ Stuff shutting down, the ignorant owner blames a 75% drop in sales (since 11 September 2001) on the internet!

Florida: In Vero Beach, after more than 27 years The Boardwalk craft beer, wine and ice cream restaurant shutdown.  The owners claim they want to retire, but their daughter will continue the business out of a food truck, avoiding the greedy landlord: “I’m going mobile. I’m taking my food on the road.”-Stephanie Swink

In Jacksonville, two Krispy Kreme donut shops shutting down this weekend, 50 jobs lost!  A local Pizza Hut franchise says it will consider hiring the former donut makers.

Illinois: Obama’s homie town of Chicago is the origin of International Worker’s Day (every 01 May). In 1886 oppressed workers (who had no set work schedule [in some cases security guards literally determined who got to work for the day], no benefits and were paid pittance) went on strike.  The corporations and their lackey government soldiers, police and private security guards went on the warpath shooting into the unarmed strikers, killing at least 18.  It’s called The Haymarket Affair and is a fine example of a False Flag op which allowed corporate Dogs of War to justify shooting and killing their fellow ‘Mericans!  (It’s also a good reminder why citizens of the U.S. must never let government take away their Constitutional right to arm themselves.)

Indiana: More proof corporate America is not experiencing a recovering economy; Flow International-Flow Aerospace shutting down high pressure water cutting operations in Jeffersonville, 40 jobs lost by 2017: “Despite major investments…the current and forecasted volume of business does not sustain a stand-alone Abrasive Waterjet  machine-building business.“-Andy Jones, general manager

Iowa: In Cedar Rapids, after 33 years antique store Cellar Door up for sale so the aged owner can finally retire and enjoy life.

Kentucky: Texas based TMK Ipsco issued a 4th round layoff WARN for the year, this time 113 Wilder steel workers unemployed by June!

Massachusetts: Boston-Weak based Partners HealthCare made a major accounting error which will cause hospitals across the state to see “steep and extraordinarily serious” reductions in ObamaCare reimbursements that will cause as many as 2-thousand 1-hundred people to lose their jobs!  The reimbursement accounting error was made back in September 2015, but is only now being revealed! 

Mississippi: Baldwyn based bankrupt Hancock Fabrics has released a 1st round list of stores shutting down as part of their plans to shutdown all remaining stores;  NORTH LITTLE ROCK & LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas. TUCSON, Arizona.  SLIDELL & SHREVEPORT, Louisiana. JACKSON & MURFREESBORO, Tennessee. MESQUITE, WACO, HOUSTON & SAN ANTONIO, Texas. UPLAND,  SAN JOSE & BAKERSVILLE, California. CLARKSVILLE, MISHAWAKA & INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana. LOUISVILLE, Kentucky. PORT CHARLOTTE & TAMPA, Florida.  CHESAPEAKE, RICHMOND & FREDERICKSBURG, Virginia. SPOKANE,  SPOKANE VALLEY,  YAKIMA & VANCOUVER, Washington.  GAINESVILLE,  ACWORTH, BUFORD, ATHENS, ROME, MACON & MARIETTA, Georgia.  MACHESNEY PARK, CHICAGO, FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, CHAMPAIGN, BLOOMINGTON & ROCKFORD, Illinois.  CEDAR RAPIDS & NW CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa. GREENWOOD & COLUMBIA, South Carolina.   ASHEBORO, CHARLOTTE & WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina.   BEND & SALEM, Oregon. HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania. IDAHO FALLS & TWIN FALLS, Idaho.  TUPELO & SOUTHAVEN, Mississippi. MONTGOMERY, Alabama. LINCOLN, Nebraska.  BILLINGS, Montana.  SHAWNEE, Oklahoma.   WICHITA, Kansas. BISMARCK, North Dakota.  SAINT PETERS, Missouri.  ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico.   RENO, Nevada.  CARLISLE, Pennsylvania.  WOODBURY, MINNEAPOLIS & SAINT PAUL, Minnesota. GAITHERSBURG, Maryland. MADISON, Wisconsin.

Missouri: In Saint Louis, it was revealed that restaurants Mama Josephine’s (by a buy-out offer from a business partner) and Revel Kitchen (the owners are focusing efforts on another restaurant) shutdown.

New Jersey: The Brick Board of Education warning of 17 layoffs and an increase in local taxes, blaming numerous issues including increasing employee healthcare costs caused by ObamaCare. In North Brunswick, Eastern Mountain Sports shutting down because parent company Vestis Retail Group went chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Vestis Retail is also the owner of Bob’s Stores and the now dead Sport Chalet.

New Mexico: The Silver Consolidated Schools Board of Education reports a taxpayer funding shortage of $1.3-million USD, warning of layoffs.

New York: It’s finally been revealed that  NYC based EmblemHealth eliminated 250 Information Technology (IT) jobs! They’re switching to a contractor.  After 30 years kid’s clothing store Shoofly shutting down, the owners simply said it was time to “move on…!”  After 65 years Lee’s Art Shop shutting down:  “We’re closing because the building is being sold.”-David Steinberg, ceo

North Dakota: Federally funded Job Service reporting increasing unemployment assistance claims, some of which might be their own former employees.  60 Job Service employees were laid off in January.  The Bismarck School Board shutting down 64 years old Saxvik Elementary school due to renovations that would cost $2.5-million USD.

Oregon: Illinois based RR Donnelley shutting down their North Portland printing ops, 113 jobs gone starting in August!  Local news reports say at one time employment peaked at 3-hundred, and in 2006 RR Donnelley got a five years property tax exemption to create jobs.

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh based GNC is exploring “strategic and financial alternatives”, possibly putting itself up for sale.  Supposedly the troubled ‘fitness nutrition’ chain store is worth $3.1-billion USD.

Texas: In Fort Worth, Walmart shutting down one of their Neighborhood Market stores by the end of May, 108 jobs lost! 

After eliminating tens of thousands of jobs across the U.S., Houston based petroleum industry contractors Halliburton and Baker Hughes reluctantly canceled their plan to merge on order of the U.S. Department of Justice: “The companies’ decision to abandon this transaction, which would have left many oilfield service markets in the hands of a duopoly, is a victory for the U.S. economy and for all Americans.”-Loretta E. Lynch, U.S. Attorney General

Washington DC: The following eateries shutdown, or shutting down: Bistrot Royal, Crane & Turtle, Hälsa, El Sol, Millie & Al’s, Sona Creamery and Teaism Old Town.

West Virginia: Ohio Valley Coal Company shutting down the Powhatan mine, 431 jobs lost by November!

Wisconsin: Surprise! A Sears store not even on the official shutdown list (recently made public) is shutting down.  The Wausau Center Sears shutting down by the end of June, 35 jobs lost.     Sears Holdings administrators would only say “we are accelerating the closings of unprofitable stores.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

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

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

Business/Economics

“the economy went south.” : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 30 April 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

“Factories shed nearly 50,000 jobs in February and March, wiping out all of the gains recorded last year. The proportion of Americans in the active labor force remains depressed by historical standards, and more than 6 million workers say they are in part-time positions because they cannot find full-time work.”–The New York Times, 28 April 2016

California: San Ramon based oil giant Chevron announced it will eliminate an additional 1-thousand jobs before the end of the year, for a grand total of at least 8-thousand jobs killed!

Connecticut: In Norwalk, Guckenheimer Bridgewater On-Site Commissary issued a WARN, 90 jobs gone by June.

Idaho: EastIdahoNews reporting there is no recovery in eastern Idaho. Their latest article explains what happened with a lot of home construction projects: “It was just one of those things where the economy went south.”-Dave Ogden, mayor of Sugar City

Illinois: Chicago State University announced the elimination of 3-hundred jobs!  It’s blamed on the fact that failed ‘elected’ state lawmakers withheld a year’s worth of funding from Illinois higher education providers by failing to come up with a budget!

Indiana: In Gary, after 70 years Esquire Men’s Clothing shutting down so the owner can retire.

Kansas: In Overland Park, Sprint revealed it eliminated an additional 113 jobs at its HQ!

Maine: In Portland, the new owner of pet medication maker Putney laid off 17 employees.  Putney is now owned by British empire  Dechra Pharmaceuticals, who still refuses to say what it has planned for Putney.  In Farmington, Franklin Community Health Network laid off a little more than 50% of its employees (mostly full time jobs), blaming $15-million USD in losses on ObamaCare!  Administrators say the losses would have been much bigger if they hadn’t received a one-time federal grant.

Minnesota: In Morris, employees of Aaron Carlson Architectural Woodwork (aka furniture) have been on strike since 11 April, and now the company says it’s shutting down for good.  The employees were striking because of what they claim are low wages.  Company administrators say there is no way they can increase wages and compete with the plethora of local and national furniture makers, so they’re shutting it down.

New Jersey: New York based Colgate-Palmolive issued a shutdown WARN for its Morristown ops, 3-hundred jobs gone by mid-June!

North Carolina: Germany based BASF laying off 190 highly educated employees at its Research Triangle Park ops by the end of Summer!  It’s part of BASF’s plans to eliminate 350 local jobs in total!

Ohio: Utility company Direct Energy laying off 50 people as it shuts down its Miamisburg location by October 2017.

Pennsylvania: In Smithfield, CalFrac Well Services issued a layoff WARN, 63 jobs lost by the end of June.  In Harrisburg, DST Health Solutions issued a WARN, 107 jobs gone by the end of June!

Tennessee:  The Trust Company Bank has been seized by the FDIC.  The bank of Fayette County is taking over the assets.

Texas: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; in Austin internet based business education service Amazing Academy (amazing.com) laid off 50% of its employees without warning!  The news came from the former employees.   In Fort Worth, after 36 years iconic Rig Steakhouse shutdown, the property is for sale.  In Arlington, after two years Super Chix sandwich shop suddenly shutdown last week, administrators said “We tried for two years, but not enough people came.”

Wisconsin: In La Crosse, oil contractor Chart eliminating 65 jobs next week, due to the oil industry BS.  Local news media reported that it’s the 6th round of Chart layoffs in the past 15 months!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

29 April 2016: “I don’t want to move again.”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

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

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

U.S.

150+ people, per day, sacrificed on the alter of Corporate America!

29 April 2016 (15:46 UTC-07 Tango 01) 10 Ordibehesht 1395/21 Rajab 1437/23 Ren-Chen 4714

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released damning data which shows that on average 150 people per day die working for unAmerican Corporate America!  And the AFL-CIO says that statistic is low-balled!

The deaths are a combination of dying on the job (accidents or workplace violence) and slow deaths over time due to exposure to hazardous materials. The AFL-CIO has compiled the data into a report called Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, 2015.

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) points out that the government data does not include incidents involving government employees!  Not only that, but each state has a different reporting system for deaths or injuries on the job, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that as many as 50% of workplace incidents are not being reported!