Tag Archives: education

Idaho

Idaho Mormon ‘Sheriff’ insists “our” Rape is “Consensual”! Opposes new law that could out Mormon rapists?

Video

16 March 2016 (12:52 UTC-07 Tango 01) 26 Esfand 1394/06 Jumada t-Tania 1437/08 Xin Mao (2nd month) 4714

Here in Mormon dominated (according to the U.S. Census Bureau) eastern Idaho, Bingham County Sheriff Craig T. Rowland (also a local Mormon leader) straight up said Rape Kits were unnecessary because “…the majority of our rapes that are called in, are actually consensual sex.”

Notice he specifically said “our rapes”, is that a Freudian slip?  In an interview with KIFI, Rowland actually implied that rape investigations hurt the victim: “…what does that do to her down the road [clears his throat], what does that do to her partner?”

https://youtu.be/T5ykTAVRJ2o

Update; for some unexplained reason Idaho Falls based KIFI removed their interview of the sheriff, but I found that Newsy has posted it on their YouTube channel:

The ‘christian’ leader is opposed to new proposed laws regulating the tracking of Rape Kits in The Gem State.  Currently local law enforcers are not required to use Rape Kits to collect DNA, the new proposed law would change that. Rowland is opposed to mandatory Rape Kits on the grounds that most ‘rapes’ in his area of operation are ‘legal’.  Could it be that if the new rape law goes into effect dozens, maybe hundreds, of Mormons will be revealed as rapists?

Idaho Mormon ‘lawmaker’ says Rape & Incest won’t get you pregnant! 

Christian U.S. military behind child porn and sex abuse! 

Christian Mennonites used animal drugs to gang rape their own women 

Business/Economics, Idaho

“I never thought it would end!” Avon ‘calling’ executives flee the United States! Hillary masterminded death of coal industry? : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 15 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alaska: British Petroleum (BP) eliminating at least 84 oil jobs as it reduces Prudhoe Bay rig count from five to two by Summer.  Oil industry BS has caused Alaska to have the second worst unemployment rate in the country; 6.6%.  Remember, unemployed people who get severance are not counted in the unemployment numbers, and most unemployed people who worked for non-profits (especially those run by religions) are not counted in the unemployment numbers.

California:  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Sebastopol based Safari Books Online has laid off an undisclosed number of employees, including the CEO!  The layoffs were revealed by the former CEO.  The company, which does business on the internet, is consolidating operations.

Connecticut: Gov’na Dannel P. Malloy formally notified 45-thousand 7-hundred taxpayer funded employees of pending layoffs!

Delaware: Delaware State University eliminating 23 programs, claiming lack of student participation.  Administrators also claim no jobs will be lost.

Florida:  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; global electronic payment company First Data finally notified state employment administrators that it shutdown their Maitland office and laid off at least 129 people, last year!  The late layoff notice could be because until October of 2015 it was a privately held company not subject to WARN rules.

Idaho: More twisty money scandals in the ‘Christian’ dominated Gem State, this time involving the Palouse Ice Rink-Happiest Place on the Palouse.  A former accountant has been convicted of ripping off the Latah County operation of $34-thousand USD in 2015. She gets 60 days in jail and 14 years of probation for writing company checks to herself.  However, it should be pointed out that her former boss apparently signed the checks, which he denied in court.  It gets more complicated because in her defense she said he was paying her back for unpaid overtime, and even rent on her home!  The former boss refused to deny that he had granted the accountant special ‘privileges’.  It should also be noted that once the ‘unauthorized’ check writing was discovered by administrators the accountant’s boss and “Everybody else was fired.”   

Illinois:  If you’ve been following my Job Losses reports then it should be no surprise that Illinois now has one of the worst employment numbers in the U.S. of A., 6.3% compared to the national average of 4.9%.  Remember, unemployed people who get severance are not counted in the unemployment numbers, and most unemployed people who worked for non-profits (especially those run by religions) are not counted in the unemployment numbers.

Massachusetts: Too Big to Jail Boston Weak based money changer in the temple State Street Corporation just added 252 employees to their previously announced 6-hundred layoffs, for a total of 852 jobs lost as part of their current cost cutting ops!  Administrators warned more job cuts could occur.

Minnesota: In Saint Paul, after 38 years Bonnie’s Cafe being shutdown by the greedy landlord who refused to renew the lease: “We were never offered to renew the lease……I never thought it would end!”-Becky Moosbrugger

Mississippi: The Magnolia State currently has the worst unemployment rate at 6.9%.  Remember, unemployed people who get severance are not counted in the unemployment numbers, and most unemployed people who worked for non-profits (especially those run by religions) are not counted in the unemployment numbers.

Nebraska: In Lincoln, after 34 years consignment shop Fashion II shutting down.  Unlike other brick-n-mortar operators the owner is not blaming the internet, but blames increasing competition from other brick-n-mortar operations!

Nevada: In Mesquite, the Redd Hills Cinema shutdown today, no explanation.

New Jersey: God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Mother Teresa Regional School in Atlantic Highlands, 24 jobs lost by the end of June.

New Mexico: Tied with the country’s capitol unemployment rate of 6.5%.  Remember, unemployed people who get severance are not counted in the unemployment numbers, and most unemployed people who worked for non-profits (especially those run by religions) are not counted in the unemployment numbers.  In Santa Fe, iconic Santa Fe Baking Company and Cafe shutdown this morning without warning due to “new ownership”.  Loyal customer Kerth Lundell bemoaned “I came for a breakfast burrito…This is the go-to place….”  A local radio host who does her morning shows from the restaurant, Mary-Charlotte Domandi, is pissed: “I have no idea what is going on. My equipment is still in there!”   

New York: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; global electronic payment company First Data shutting down their Melville data processing center, 641 jobs lost between now and December 2017!  That Which Cannot Be Named powerless stop the shutdown of ‘its’ Rosenthal Jewish Community Center of Northern Westchester, 72 jobs lost by the end of June.  In Cicero, Burlington (Coat Factory) suddenly shutdown their 23 years old Driver’s Village/Penn Can Mall store, no warning or explanation, but is probably related to the death of the entire mall!  In SoHo, pub Puck Fair shutting down due to the property owner tearing down the building.   British empire owned Chartwells lost their food service contract with Nazareth College, 90 jobs lost by May (Chartwells is owned by British empire Compass Group, which runs food ops for the military and prisons, and owns other food servers that’ve been involved in scandals such as lying about meat product ingredients in Europe and underpaying U.S. employees!).  Iconic U.S. cosmetics seller Avon not only joining the mass exodus from The Empire State, but fleeing the United States as well!  2-thousand 5-hundred U.S. jobs lost as Avon execs move their NYC headquarters to the British empire country of United Kingdom!

North Carolina: In Raleigh, after four years ‘night life’ joint and former restaurant Zinda shutting down this weekend, no explanation.

North Dakota: God powerless to stop ObamaCare from forcing ‘his’ Saint Alexius Health hospital to layoff 23 people and re-classify another 39.    Inpatient rehab and child care services have been shutdown!  They referred to ObamaCare as “Industry trends and other circumstances”.

Ohio: Meijer shutting down their big Columbus store, 250 jobs threatened by Summer!  Administrators claim the building needs upgrades which are too expensive to justify (this has become a common excuse across the retail sector).  News reports say the building is being torn down.

Oklahoma: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Switzerland based oil industry automation tech supplier ABB Totalflow laid off 13 people in Bartlesville.

Oregon: Mary’s River Lumber shutdown yesterday, no warning, but blaming lack of trees: “After 42 years in the cedar lumber business, Mary’s River Lumber Company has made the very difficult decision to cease its operations effective March 14, 2016. Unfortunately, the extremely limited availability of suitable cedar logs has led us to this point….”-Brad D. Kirkbride, president

Pennsylvania:  Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has taken credit for the destruction of the U.S. coal industry saying “We’re going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business.”    And on que Blaschak Coal announced it’ll layoff 27 employees this Friday.  Local news reports say Blaschak has been conducting layoffs since 2013.

South Carolina: Pickens County School Board approved the shutdown of two elementary schools due to lack of taxpayer funding.  Obviously uneducated taxpayers protested the decision. If you can’t generate the tax revenues you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

Texas: Popular ‘free’ but privately owned park operations at the retail pavilion The Beach at The Village at Fairview shutdown, to be replaced by a hotel.  Those who’ve been using the privately owned parks (playgrounds, water fountain, dog park) for free filed an injunction.

Virginia: British empire based-U.S. tax sucking BAE issued a mass layoff WARN at the Norfolk shipyards. Another 530 jobs gone by this Friday!  BAE laid off 345 employees in November and December last year.

Washington DC: Unemployment rate of 6.5%.  Remember, unemployed people who get severance are not counted in the unemployment numbers, and most unemployed people who worked for non-profits (especially those run by religions) are not counted in the unemployment numbers.  Restaurant GDB (Golden Brown Delicious) shutdown suddenly.

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

“…it’s going into history.” God allows seizure of ‘Black Christian’ bank! Trump using J-1 workers as Jamaican arrested for ripping off J-1 workers? : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 14 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

It’s been revealed that Donald Trump, the presidential candidate that wants to end the J-1 foreign student work visa, made big bucks using the very same J-1 student workers at the hotels he created. (Trump no longer owns the hotels which still use his name)  And on the British empire island country of Jamaica, a 33 years old man has been arrested for scamming many of those student workers.  While working for a legitimate employment agency, which supplies students for the U.S. J-1/hospitality & farm industry program, he also pretended to be an unemployment agent forcing students to pay him an ‘unemployment’ fee to ‘protect’ them if they ever lost their job in the United States!

California: In Oakland, after 47 years restaurant Francesco’s shutting down: “There’s nobody to pick it up. So it’s going into history.”-Theresa Erwin, 3rd generation family owner

Florida: In Miami, Noven Pharmaceuticals issued a WARN, 80 jobs lost in May.

Illinois: Commuter train service Metra suddenly shutdown two ticket offices due to lack of customers. The Rock Island Beverly Branch Line’s 95th and 99th Street ticket offices are closed, riders at those stations have to buy their tickets from the conductor.  Administrators blame low ticket sales on “technology”.

Maine: The Madison Paper Industries mill shutting down, 214 jobs lost by the end of May, due to a crash in demand for paper used to print magazines!  Administrators say they expect demand for magazines to continue to crash.

New York: Too Big to Jail Switzerland based Credit Suisse Securities issued a WARN saying 163 NYC-ers will lose their jobs between now and May!

Oregon: Bankrupt Washington based Haggen (assassinated by Albertsons-Safeway) issued a shutdown WARN for their Oregon City grocery store, 70 jobs lost by mid-May.

Tennessee: The Great Depression era TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) shutting down coal ash storage units at ten power plants.  TVA administrators say they still haven’t worked out the details about how to clean their ash.

Texas: In Robstown, C&J Energy issued a layoff WARN, 87 jobs lost by May.  In San Antonio, CalFrac Well Services issued a layoff WARN, 87 jobs lost by May.  In Houston, Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling eliminated 80 jobs this past Friday.  Also in Houston, bar Hughes Hangar suddenly shutdown, owners won’t explain, but there’s speculation that a recent electrical fire might have something to do with it.   In Baytown, National Oilwell Varco issued a layoff WARN, 107 jobs lost by the end of April!

Washington: Bankrupt Haggen issued more shutdown WARNs for its grocery stores; Puyallup and Port Angeles, 145 jobs lost by mid-May!

Wisconsin: God powerless to stop 45 years old ‘Black owned’ North Milwaukee State Bank from being shutdown by state Department of Financial Institutions, assets are being turned over to First-Citizens Bank & Trust. The federally mandated, but privately run, FDIC is overseeing the transfer.  Black Enterprise Wealth for Life stated that most of North Milwaukee State Bank’s customer base were Christian “Church congregations…”.

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

Tech bubble deflate; stop blaming high-tech for brick-n-mortar probs! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 12 – 13 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: Yet another video game maker killing jobs, this time Aliso Viejo based Carbine Studios laid off about 70 people as the performance of their latest game didn’t live up to expectations.  The launch of that game, WildStar, has been canceled for China and administrators say they are re-focusing efforts on the U.S. and European markets.  And San Francisco based software maker Optimizely laid off about 40 employees blaming the devaluation of the tech industry: “This being the right decision shifted on February 5. The impact of that day on public SaaS [Software as a Service] companies, in some cases cutting their value in half, was a wake up call for me personally to realize that ultimately if we want to build a business that can endure and be impactful, we need to make ourselves resilient…”-Dan Siroker, ceo during interview with Forbes

Colorado: Oklahoma based WPX Energy issued a shutdown WARN for its Parachute ops (that’s the name of the town), 208 jobs affected due to sale of the operations to Texas based Terra Energy Partners.

Connecticut: God powerless to stop ‘his’ Archdiocese from shutting down 89 years old (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Saint Augustine School, the last Catholic elementary school in Hartford.  It’s blamed on what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome (some Christians call it The Rapture).

Florida: An employer who constantly makes Fortune’s list of best places to work has conducted mass layoffs.  Law firm of Baker Donelson eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs in its Consumer Finance Litigation and Compliance offices in Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.

Illinois: In Park Ridge, clothier Talbots Outlet Store shutting down their 30 years old Village Green Shopping Center location, by the end of April.  Company administrators said they spent two years evaluating which stores to shutdown, local news reports say loyal customers consider the shutdown fallacious as the store was “really busy”.

Kansas: In Emporia, after 68 years Stanely Jewelry shutting down on Tuesday.  The owner has health problems and nobody in the family want’s to take over the business.

Louisiana: In Baton Rouge, after 49 years the elitist private membership only eatery Camelot Club suddenly shutdown due to “declining membership and a dramatic increase in rent”.

Montana: Federally funded Head Start programs in “Joliet and Red Lodge are closing so schools in Billings and Laurel can admit more children.”

New Jersey: Mercer County Community College eliminating IT jobs as it will now use a cheap contractor.  Some in-house Information Tech employees will be laid off while others will be shifted to other departments.

Oklahoma: Tulsa based Williams Companies announced job culling beginning as soon as the end of this month.  About 670 people across North America will be laid off due to the oil industry BS!

Texas: In Houston, Fiesta Mart shutting down their 40 years old North Shepard grocery store for “business reasons”.   Basically the store needed upgrades and the company administrators believe it’s not worth it.  1-hundred jobs lost! 

Virginia:  In Clarendon, after four years Grateful Red Wine & Gifts suddenly shutdown. The owners decided the rent for their brick-n-mortar op was too expensive and they will continue sales on the internet only.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

11 March 2016: “circumstances beyond my control.”

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

Boobies boost business! No Navy College? Bar industry in Death Spiral! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 11 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: City administrators of Stanton are suing to shutdown a thriving coffee shop.  What’s the problem?  GZ Cafe employs waitresses that wear bikinis (and even just pasties), however, there are reports that several customers complained to the city claiming some of the waitresses were showing off their ‘hardware’ to other customers. A next door barber shop owner praises GZ Cafe for greatly increasing his business!  Barnes & Noble shutting down their Mountain View College Bookstore, 40 jobs lost by May.  City National Bank shutting down an office in Los Angeles, five jobs lost by mid-May.  In San Jose, TiVo laid off 52 people.  In Sunnyvale, Imagine Communications issued a shutdown WARN, 50 jobs lost by April.  Investors Business Daily issued multiple layoff WARNs, at least 49 jobs lost in several cities by the end of April.  Sutter Central Valley Hospitals issued multiple layoff WARNs, at least 96 jobs lost in several locations by the end of April.  In Bakersfield, Xerox eliminating 15 jobs by the end of April.  Direct Energy issued a shutdown WARN for their Corona ops, 47 jobs lost by the end of April. Massachusetts based valve maker Circor shutting down their Corona ops, 64 jobs lost by mid-April.  Envoy Air  flying outta Palm Springs, 52 jobs lost by May.  In San Francisco, internet/tech company YourPeople-Zenefits officially revealed how many jobs they eliminated last month, 83.    In Tustin, Pacific Bell Telephone eliminating 121 jobs by May! Southern Home Care Services shutting down their San Leandro ops, 123 employees unemployed by May!  Memorial Health Services shutting down their San Clemente operations, 194 jobs lost by the end of May!  In Orange, National Oilwell Varco issued a mass layoff WARN, 232 people laid off by the end of April!  Illinois based drugs maker Baxalta issued several layoff WARNs, 239 jobs in three cities gone by May, due to being taken over by an Irish company!  Back in Sunnyvale, internet/tech company NetApp eliminating 376 jobs by the end of April!

Illinois: Starting next week 1-thousand Northeastern Illinois University employees must take one day off without pay, due to the Failed State ‘lawmakers’.  All Illinois universities are warning of massive layoffs if the Govna’s proposed budget is adopted.

Missouri: State ‘lawmakers’ have pledged $1.7-million in taxpayer funding to help the 850 people who lost their jobs when Tennessee based Noranda Aluminum went bankrupt.  In Saint Joseph, after 70 years wire maker WireCo laying off 49 people and halting production, blaming the oil industry for crashing sales.  14 employees will remain to close up shop over the next 12 months.  Local news reports say at one time WireCo (Wire Rope Co.) employed 1-thousand 5-hundred people!  After two years of booze and coloring books, ArtBar St. Louis shutdown without warning due to “circumstances beyond my control.”

New York:   Phillips Hardware shutting down their Colonie store, will focus on expanding their Altamonte store (which still needs approval from the city).  NYC based research company Nielsen says the bar industry is now in an official Death Spiral.  Every month an average of 334 new bars open across the U.S., but, that pales in comparison to the 609 per month that shutdown (and that’s why it’s a death spiral, more deaths than births)!  It’s blamed on jacked up rents, increasing competition from restaurants serving booze and increasingly restrictive laws.

Oregon: Bankrupt Washington based Haggen (assassinated by Albertsons-Safeway) shutting down two grocery stores, in Clackamas and West Linn, 138 jobs lost by May!

Pennsylvania: Last month SBC Building Systems WARNed they were shutting down two locations, today they revised that WARN to say “No longer closing”.  No explanation.

Virginia: In Norfolk, Empire Little Bar Bistro shutting down next month, can’t renew the lease.  The owners blame never ending construction and city trash dumpsters taking up precious space in the parking lot.

Washington DC: The U.S. Navy planning on shutting down its remaining 20 voluntary education program College offices saying they can no longer afford to offer courses ‘on base’.  Civilian employees will be relocated to a central call center.  Administrators say they’re trying to save everybody some money: “For every dollar I get to spend on college education for our sailors, I would like to see it go to their tuition assistance pot and not paying for overhead.”– Rear Admiral Mike White, Naval Education and Training Command

Wyoming: Kiewit Mining Group laid off 38 coal miners at their Buckskin mine last week.  Peabody Energy eliminated an undisclosed number of coal mine jobs in the Powder River Basin: “In response to market conditions and customer needs, Peabody has implemented a small number of job reductions at its Caballo and Rawhide mines…”  

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

Haggen selling out to Albertsons-Safeway? ObamaCare kills mo non-profits & Med-Labs : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 10 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: After 20 years Birmingham based healthcare diagnostics lab Atherotech suddenly shutdown at the end of February, now chapter 7 bankrupt busted directly blaming ObamaCare for its death: “…Atherotech has worked hard to overcome numerous business challenges that resulted from adverse changes in the regulatory environment, increased pressure from commercial insurance payors and continued compression of profit margins….  ….we have been unsuccessful in convincing our lenders to cooperate so that we can extend the financing necessary to allow us to continue operations. As a result, we are now forced to close permanently.”

California: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Santa Barbara  based wireless company Sonos announced it will eliminate jobs (but refuses to say how many) as they shift focus from WiFi to Streaming.    And in Los Angeles, Fox Sports-digital suddenly eliminated more than 20 internet writer jobs through a loophole in their contracts.  Basically Fox Sports blaming low ratings of their internet ‘team news-letters’ on the writers.  After 22 years the Chula Vista Kmart shutting down, 103 jobs lost!

Colorado: Texas based Anadarko Petroleum confirmed it already eliminated dozens of jobs in The Centennial State, as it announced it will eliminate 1-thousand more jobs across the U.S. of A!  British empire Canada based Encana Oil & Gas also announce mass layoffs, which will affect jobs with their Colorado operations.

Connecticut: “We are going to be closing state facilities, I’m sure. We are going to be laying off state employees, I’m quite certain.”-Dannel P. Malloy, governor talking about the 1-thousand state jobs ‘lawmakers’ are about to kill, by June

Iowa: A couple of weeks after eliminating 1-hundred jobs,  farm vehicle maker Deere (John Deere) eliminating an additional 125 jobs at factories in Ankeny and Dubuque!

Kentucky: Morehead State University notified employees of a pending furlough of five days without pay.  It’ll happen before the end of June and is the result of governor Matt Bevin’s $1.95-million USD in funding cuts.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise;  e-commerce and logistics company Innotrac shutting down their Hebron operation, 338 jobs lost by July!  There was no official reason given, but local news sources suspect it’s connected to a deal with Amazon.

Massachusetts:  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Aspect Software now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, admitting it’s a “pre-arranged restructuring” to reduce its massive debt by 40%.  In Fairhaven, Sears Appliance & Hardware shutting down by mid-April.  Local news reports said the ignorant employees actually thought the shutdown notice was a joke! I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News.

New York:  Investor’s Business Daily eliminating a handful of jobs at their NYC publishing ops, by the end of April. Food service company HMS Host issued a layoff WARN for their JFK Airport ops, 134 jobs lost due to loss of contract!  NYC based Colgate-Palmolive announced that sales are so bad they’ll extend their ongoing job culling into 2017, and increase the layoffs to a new total of 3-thousand 8-hundred!

North Carolina:  In Winston-Salem, non-profit Community Care Center forced to shutdown their Med-Aid Pharmacy due to crashing donations and state taxpayer funding.  Yep, even with ObamaCare there are still at least 530 low income people not covered by insurance, who rely on Med-Aid, in the Novant Health Medical Park area!

Ohio:  Huntington Bancshares about to takeover First Merit and will shutdown 107 bank offices across Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Pennsylvania as a result!  The shutdowns will take place in the 1st quarter of 2017, if the takeover is approved.

Texas: In Abilene, Kids Village furniture store shutting down in May, the owner doesn’t want to renew her lease.  She indirectly blames the oil industry layoffs for slowing sales.  Houston based Tailored Brands-Men’s Warehouse-Jos A. Bank clothier announced it will shutdown 250 stores after 4th quarter 2015 holiday sales went down the crapper!

Washington: Bankrupt Haggen (assassinated by Albertsons-Safeway) shutdown two grocery stores, in Federal Way and Burein, 125 jobs gone!  Despite being killed off by Albertsons-Safeway, by being tricked into buying more than 1-hundred money losing Albertsons stores, Haggen is now attempting to sell 33 of its remaining stores to Albertsons-Safeway!  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; a week after Seattle based retailer Nordstrom eliminated ten IT jobs, they laid off an additional 1-hundred tech employees! 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

09 March 2016: “no longer economically feasible to continue”

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.”

International

Japan intentionally suiciding teenagers? Or just more gross incompetence by officials!

09 March 2016 /18:42 UTC-07 Tango 01 (20 Esfand 1394/30 Jumada al-Ula 1437/02 Xin Mao [2nd month] 4714)

“Our child would never have taken his life if the school’s data management had not been sloppy and the school had not made the mistake.”-Parents of suicide school victim

If the earthquakes, tsunamis and nuclear melt downs don’t kill you then Japan’s Jisatsu Junior Highs will!

In Hiroshima Prefecture, a junior high school principal was no pal when he admitted he and his staff’s incompetence might have caused a 15 years old boy to kill himself in December!

Sakamoto Hiroshi, the junior high principal who is no pal of students

The boy thought he was moving on to high school when school administrators denied it on the grounds he was a criminal, and that he wasn’t smart enough for high school entrance exams.  It turns out he was not a criminal, he was being confused for another student, but school A-hole officials didn’t realize it until after the wrongly accused boy committed Jisatsu!

But wait there’s more!  Up until now school A-hole administrators kept the suicide a secret, telling fellow students and parents that the boy died of “heart failure”.  The boy’s father finally went public with the scandal on 08 March 2016.    Now school ‘officials’ say they lied about the suicide at the father’s request!

And what about that accusation of the boy being a criminal?  Turns out it was totally word of mouth, spread from teacher to teacher until one of them officially entered it in the boy’s school computer records.    An investigation after his death revealed the truth, found in the hard copy school records, whom ever entered the data into the computer mixed up the students.

Business/Economics, Idaho

“no longer economically feasible to continue” Taxpayers spend $5,555 to kill 1 wolf! Covert op to Dumb-U-Down revealed! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 09 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

24/7 compiled the top nine retailers shutting down a minimum of 1-hundred stores in the U.S.:  Wolverine World Wide; 1-hundred. Chico’s; 120. Sports Authority; 140. Finnish Line; 150. American Eagle; 150. Walmart; 154. Walgreens; 2-hundred. Children’s Place; 2-hundred. Office Depot; 4-hundred.

Alabama: The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC restaurant shutdowns continues as at least four Ryan’s were suddenly shutdown in as many cities.

California: In San Jose, after 30 years the Silicon Valley Ballet shutting down due to a crash in donation funding.  In the Santa Cruz Mountains, God is powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Christian campsite in San Mateo County Parks Department’s Memorial Park.  It’s due to water supply issues.  The state water regulations concerning the campsite limits how many people can use the site at one time, apparently God’s minions have been overpopulating the camp.  God’s minions tried to build their own water well, but failed (remember, there is a drought): “We have our last group in here now and are closing down Thursday and I’m laying off staff.”-Reverend Larry Rice

Connecticut: In Wallingford, after six years Panacea a Boutique shutting down by the end of the month.

Florida: In Tallahassee, Gold’s Gym shutting down their 26 years old Apalachee Parkway Center operation next week.  The operators admitted that due to competition and increased costs they should’ve shutdown three years ago: “It was a good club for 10 years. And then you could start to feel it through the years that it became harder and harder to make it work.”-Doug Dickinson

Idaho: In Boise, public school officials are finally outing the so-called friend of education J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation for what it really is, a covert effort to Dumb Down Idahoans: “Why would someone want to undermine public education in Idaho? The motive is quite clear. At a recent Downtown Rotary Club meeting, the executive director of the Albertson Foundation stated that the goal of the Foundation is to increase charter school seats by 20,000 in the next few years. That will only happen if Idahoans lose faith in their public schools…..   …..Let’s be clear; this campaign promotes an agenda designed to undermine public schools. It is highly inaccurate. It offers no real solutions to increasing post-secondary readiness. It is a disservice to the work public school teachers, parents, and students do every day.”-Boise School District

Also in Boise,  Blind Bat News readers report that the Maverik convenience store (#175 on 1909 West Boise Avenue and Protest Road) has suddenly shutdown, the fuel pumps have already been removed.   As well as Boise Maverick store #206 (Franklin and Maple Grove)!  

And the Garden City Maverick store #4 on Chinden Boulevard!On the other side of the state, the Rexburg Maverik #169 shutdown by giving away free drinks. Company administrators told EastIdahoNews that they’re shutting down all older convenience stores/fuel stations that need upgrades, because under current economic conditions it’s not worth it.  It’s actually cheaper to build new stores, and they’re hoping to sell-off the old properties to help pay for the new ones!  And while businesses continue to shutdown and public schools flounder for lack of state funding, the state Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved $400-thousand USD to fund the killing of wolves.  Last year 72 wolves were killed under the program, if the same amount are killed this year that’ll cost taxpayers $5,555.55 per wolf!  This proves the majority of happy taxpayers are the ‘bitches’ of the extreme minority of farmers and ranchers!

Illinois: Kishwaukee College has decided to eliminate about 24 jobs due to Failed State ‘lawmakers’ failing to come through with funding.  Sycamore School District 427 approved an additional 18 layoffs, on top of the 56 approved last month.  Administrators blame it on a shortfall of $2.3-million USD, partly caused by Failed State ‘lawmakers’ failing to approve state funding.   More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Chicago based internet coupon service Groupon conducting more job culling, this time 25 Breadcrumb employees were let go. Back in August 20 Breadcrumb employees lost their jobs.  News reports say Groupon has now cut in half the number of Breadcrumb employees it once had.  Inside sources say eventually Groupon will shutdown Breadcrumb altogether, despite adamant denials by Groupon administrators.

Iowa: In Cedar Rapids, so much for creating jobs with your donations; Goodwill’s pre-vocational training program and sheltered workshop shutting down due to changes in federal funding.  Yep, that’s right, Goodwill’s job creation is mainly funded with federal taxpayer money, not your donations.

Kentucky: Convergys eliminating up to 1-hundred jobs at their Erlanger call center, due to the loss of a client.

Louisiana: Oil industry company Frank’s International announced it will conduct a third round of layoffs since Spring 2015, no numbers given at this time.  Last year more than 6-hundred employees were laid off, with about 250 in Lafayette.  In Baton Rouge, Xerox State & Local Solutions issued a layoff WARN, 84 jobs lost by May due to “a change in business condition”.

Maryland: The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC restaurant shutdowns continues as the Hagerstown Ryan’s shutdown without warning or paychecks.   Bethesda based tax-sucker Lockheed Martin is pushing 1-thousand employees to suffer “voluntary layoffs”!  Most layoffs will take place in Texas and Georgia.  Administrators say it’s their only way of “staying competitive”, never mind that fact they’ve raped taxpayers for decades over their never ending ‘development’ of the grossly failed F-35 project! The at least 16 years old F-35 project has cost taxpayers $400-billion USD so far!

$400,000 helmet for F-35 pilots

If the Department of Defense finally decides to buy the plane it’ll cost and additional $85-million per plane, and the special helmet for the pilot will cost $400-thousand each!  The F-35 has continually failed to live up to it’s original billing, yet your ‘elected’ government continues to throw your money at it!     It should also be pointed out that Russia boasts that its current fighter aircraft can easily take out the F-35.

Massachusetts:  In Leominster, after 21 years Gear Works Cyclery shutting down by the end of the month.  It’s blamed on increased costs and decreased sales.  Yet again, Chipotle restaurants are being shutdown due to employees getting sick!  This time an employee at their Billerica location got sick with norovirus.

Michigan:  The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC restaurant shutdowns continues as the Battle Creek Old Country Buffet shutdown and is being auctioned off.

Minnesota: After ten years of paying for eye checkups, tutoring and giving teachers grants, non-profit Saint Paul Public Schools Foundation shutting down due to lack of corporate donations.

Missouri: In Maryland Heights, Belgium based Bellevue Pharmacy issued a layoff WARN, 150 jobs lost by May!  The parent company Fagron blames it on ObamaCare for causing crashing reimbursement rates for drugs, to the tune of a $248-million USD crash in 2015! Fagron also warns that if things don’t improve revenue wise, they’ll be forced to sell-off Bellevue Pharmacy.

New Jersey: In Middlesex, Impax Labs shutting down its manufacturing and packaging ops, 213 jobs lost over the next two years! Impax took over the site from CorePharma in 2014.  Impax is consolidating operations among all the competitors it took over in 2014-15.  It was also revealed that Impax is being investigated by the U.S. Attorney General for fraud.

New York: The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC restaurant shutdowns continues as the Amherst Old Country Buffet was suddenly shutdown.

North Carolina:  Rite Aid shutting down their Charlotte distribution center, 270 jobs gone by the end of Spring, following the big trend this year of consolidating operations!

Ohio: Atwood Lake Resort and Golf Club shutting down: “Management informed us it is no longer economically feasible to continue operations due to the current economic state.”-Bob Wirkner, Carroll County Commissioner

Pennsylvania: In Duncannon, the ‘ancient’ Doyle Hotel shutting down in two weeks due to lack of revenues: “With no hikers on the trail during the winter season, the timing of the tax deadlines and mortgage deadlines just hits at the wrong time of year.”-Pat Kelly, co-owner

Texas: In Alvin, Dish Network eliminating 550 call center jobs!  Administrators said the lease was up and it wasn’t worth it to renew.   In Houston, hospitality contractor Compass Group-Eurest issued a WARN, 55 jobs lost by the end of April.  In Cleburne, Caddo Street Grill shutting down, the owners directly blaming the Affordable Care Act: “The Obamacare mandate has effected us in ways that do not effect other local restaurants, due to the various businesses we own. This forces us into an uncompetitive business environment and it is no longer viable for us to continue in the restaurant business.” 

Utah: Maverik shutdown their store #227 in Salt Lake City, claiming new stores are-a-comin’ for the old employees.

Virginia:  In Leesburg, Melodee Music shutting down their 40 years old store by the end of the month.  The owners are focusing on their Sterling shop.   

The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC restaurant shutdowns continues as the Old Country Buffet shutdown without warning or paychecks in Alexandra. Local news reports revealed the so called “asset inventory” is a cover for mass auctioning of kitchen equipment: “Each store contains everything from kitchen equipment and smallwares to furniture and decor. To be able to bid on the entire Alexandria VA Old Country Buffet is an amazing opportunity for anyone in the restaurant business!”-Jose Paz, vulture auction manager

Washington: Georgia based underground utilities “damage prevention” service Locating Incorporated issued a shutdown WARN for their Lakewood ops, 60 jobs lost by May.

Wisconsin: River Hills West Health Center shutting down, 144 jobs lost starting in May!

Wyoming: Maverik shutdown their store #308 in Gillette. (too bad, 308 [aka 7.62mm NATO] is a good caliber)

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

08 March 2016: “It hit me like a brick!”

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, Idaho

“It hit me like a brick!” Romney style Vulture capitalist behind sudden shutdown of 166 restaurants, with no paychecks for thousands of employees! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 08 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Delaware:  In Newark, God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ British empire based 23 years old Salvation Army Thrift Store (in the Park N Shop plaza).   Obviously money is the true god as the greedy landlord demanded more in rent!

Florida: The saga of the sudden mass Ovation Brands restaurant shutdowns continues. This time reports that several Ryan’s Buffets shutdown without warning, or paychecks for employees, in Horry County. A local news report said as many as 3-hundred restaurants across the U.S. are affected by the sudden bankruptcy!    In Pensacola, after 28 years Dollarhide’s Music Center shutting down, the owners want to retire: “I turned 70, it hit me like a brick!”-Bill Dollarhide, co-owner

Idaho: East of Boise, after 73 years iconic Ben’s Crow Inn shutting down by September.  The owner admitted in the early years all he served was pizza and beer. Now it’s famous for seafood and steak.  The owner also admitted that the ever expanding metro of Boise has jacked up local property values so much that he couldn’t refuse an offer from a greedy property developer.

Illinois: In Naperville, after 3-million customers the 21 years old Zero Gravity Food-Dancing club shutting down mid-month.  Rumors say it’ll be replaced with a bigger operation.

Iowa: The saga of the sudden mass Ovation Brands restaurant shutdowns continues.  This time a Ryan’s in Clive, and an Old Country Buffet in Des Moines shutdown without warning or final paychecks.

Maryland: Allen Harim Foods shutting down their 71 years old Cordova operations, 3-hundred jobs lost as the company consolidates ops to save money!

Massachusetts:  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Boston Weak based sports app Fancred now for sale, all employees now unemployed!  It’s blamed on a failed crowd sourcing attempt.  After 47 years Johnny D’s Restaurant Music Club shutting down this weekend.  In Lowell, God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’  108 years old (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Franco American School.  It’s blamed on increasing costs and declining student enrollment.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) furloughed more than 3-thousand people at its Sterling Heights factory back in February! They were supposed to be back to work this month, but FCA has extended the furlough ’till April! FCA is ending production of its slow selling Chrysler 200.

Minnesota: God powerless to stop ‘his’ 70 years old mega-church North Heights Lutheran from shutdown. Local news reports say it’s due to a “civil war” inside the church!  Traverse City Area Public Schools shutting down the Interlochen Community School and the International School at Bertha Vos, blaming a $1.2-million USD shortfall.  Administrators will also not replace retiring employees (attrition) and reduce school bus service.

Nebraska: Schweser’s shutting down their 87 years old store (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) in Columbus, by this weekend.  Last year the Fremont based clothing retailer announced it would begin shutting down stores due to “…a dropoff in sales…over the past 3-4 years…We can come up with many excuses from the rise of internet shopping, reduced trips to physical stores, or changing demographics, but whatever the reason, we have not been able to overcome them quickly enough in some towns. Our expenses continue to rise….”

Pennsylvania: Joy Global Underground Mining conducted mass layoffs in Venango County, 382 jobs gone!  In Fredericksburg, after 28 years ‘natural’ food store The Pantry Self shutting down due to the death of the owner.  The saga of the sudden mass Ovation Brands restaurant shutdowns continues. This time the Old Country Buffet in Summit Township suddenly shutdown, claiming it was for “asset inventory” and asking employees to return on Wednesday for an update.  Non-profit Historic Philadelphia Center shutting down, the bad economy is forcing the non-profit operator to focus on more popular Historic Philadelphia sites.

South Carolina:  The saga of the sudden mass Ovation Brands restaurant shutdowns continues. This time six Ryan’s restaurants (in Columbia, Conway, Greer, Orangeburg, Spartanburg and Surfside Beach) suddenly shutdown, no warning, no paychecks for hundreds of employees! Local news reports say this is the third bankruptcy for Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC since 2008!  Nation’s Restaurant News reports that 92 restaurants across the country were shutdown over the weekend without warning! That’s on top of 74 restaurants shutdown last month, for a total of 166 in the past five weeks!  Not only did they shutdown the restaurants without warning, but they quickly removed cooking equipment and hauled it away (this must be what they mean by “conducting asset inventory”)!  Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC was taken over last year by Texas based FMP (Food Management Partners).   In the bankruptcy filing FMP claims their take over of Ovation Brands was a big money losing mistake as sales immediately crashed by 22%!  Nation’s Restaurant News discovered that FMP is a Mitt Romney-Bain Capital style vulture capitalist group that is responsible for the sudden shutdown of California based Catalina Restaurant Group’s Coco’s Bakery and Carrows restaurants last year!  “FMP has also acquired Don Pablo’s, Furr’s Fresh Buffet and Zio’s Italian Kitchen.”

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

Profiteering corporations avoid taxes! Mo massive restaurant shutdowns & no final paychecks! Healthcare provider kills shopping mall! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 07 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

According to S&P Global Market Intelligence only 28 corporations made 50% of all profits in the U.S. in 2015, and 27 avoided paying U.S. taxes due to pro-corporation tax laws! The 28 profit stealers are: Apple, Too Big to Jail JPMorgan Chase, Warren Buffett’s job killing Berkshire Hathaway, Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo, drugs maker Gilead Sciences, Verizon Communications, Too Big to Jail Citigroup, Alphabet-Google, despite low oil prices Exxon Mobil, Too Big To Jail Bank of America, Johnson & Johnson, Walmart (who recently announced mass store shutdowns and layoffs), AT&T, IBM, Intel,  Microsoft, Cisco Systems, General Motors (GM), Oracle, Disney, Procter & Gamble, Comcast, Dow Chemical, American Airlines, United Technologies, Ford Motor,  Coca-Cola, and United Continental.

Alabama: In Huntsville, the now shuttered non-profit Sci-Quest museum is officially chapter 7 bankrupt busted.

California: The once Sears Holdings owned Orchard Supply Hardware shutting down their stores in Watsonville and Folsom.  The Watsonville store is apparently being kicked out by the landlord, who wants them out by January 2017, 40 jobs lost.  The Folsom store will shutdown during Summer.  These shutdowns come after Orchard Supply donated $5-thousand USD to the McClellan Ranch Preserve, and revealed they’ve been building new stores.  In Watsonville, the owner of the Crossroads shopping center served eight tenants with eviction notices! Yep, it’s the same landlord that’s kicking out the Orchard Supply store.  The eight mom-n-pop tenants being kicked out in the next 30 days are Crossroads Books, Arcadia Hair Salon, Wild Rose Artists’ Supplies & Custom Framing, Jansen Music, The Gamer’s Den, Queen’s Shoes & More, Trop-Aquarium & Pet Center and Claudio Franca Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Some of the tenants have been there for the past 22 years!  You can blame this on the  Crossroads property owner signing a more lucrative deal to allow healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente to move in.  City administrators are pissed at the uncouth healthcare provider and greedy property owner, who gave no warning of the deal: “It’s not a good way for them to come into the community, by kicking out eight businesses with eviction notices. I am going to make sure they know that the mayor is opposed to the 30-day eviction…..!”-Felipe Hernandez, mayor

Connecticut:  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise;  Hartford based healthcare provider Aetna eliminated 26 jobs with its iTriage App in Colorado.  Aetna then announced plans to merge iTriage App with WellMatch App.  No word on how many more IT jobs will be lost.

Florida: In Miami, food service contractor Boykin Management issued a mass layoff WARN, 119 jobs lost by May!

Illinois:  In Chicago, after two years critically acclaimed restaurant Tete Charcuterie shutdown without warning over the weekend, due to lack of sales.  In Frankfort, Burger King shutdown their Town Center location without explanation.

Michigan: What construction industry recovery? Germany based WKW Roof Rail Systems shutting down their Battle Creek factory, 130 jobs eliminated to “reduce costs and improve competitiveness”!

Minnesota: State Department of Employment and Economic Development reports that in 2015 The North Star State lost 1-thousand 990 mining jobs!  And in what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL), another 4-thousand 7-hundred suppliers and contractors lost their jobs as a result!  Employment administrators also admitted that not all those who lost their jobs registered with the  Department of Employment and Economic Development (one reason why official unemployment rate is down).

Missouri: In Saint Louis, Peabody Energy revealed it eliminated more jobs, but would not say how many.  Reports say creditors are pushing for bankruptcy.

New York: In NYC, after five years Team Gallery shutting down its space on Wooster Street due to the greedy landlord wanting to double the rent to $50-thousand USD per month!

Pennsylvania: In Wilkes-Barre Township, two Old Country Buffet restaurants shutdown without warning, leaving almost 1-hundred people without a job or a paycheck!  It’s connected to the sudden bankruptcy of Ovation Brands (see South Carolina below).  Weis Markets shutting down its 56 years old Manchester Township grocery store by the end of the month, claiming it’s too small: “Given the age and size of the building, it was no longer possible to operate a full service supermarket in this location.” 

   

South Carolina: Greer based restaurant operator Ovation Brands (formerly known as Buffets) now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, affecting restaurants Country Buffet, HomeTown Buffet, Ryan’s, Ryan’s Family Steakhouse, Granny’s, Tahoe Joe’s, Tahoe Joe’s Famous Steakhouse, Soup ‘N Salad Unlimited, Roadhouse Grill and J.J. North’s Grand Buffet.  Already local news reports say 74 restaurants have been shutdown across the U.S. without warning.  Two Ryan’s restaurants suddenly shutdown in Upstate South Carolina leaving 80 people without a job or paycheck!  (a warning shutdown took place in Moline, Illinois, the day before)

Texas: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; in Austin after moving into new HQ, 10 years old internet based wholesaler network Bazaarvoice announced it will eliminate 50 jobs in order to remain successful “…in the coming year and for many years to come.”  Invista Victoria issued a WARN, 50 jobs lost by May.  What automotive industry recovery? In Grapevine, Standard Motor Products issued a WARN, 93 jobs lost by the end of April. In El Paso, Bruce Foods shutting down, 171 jobs lost by May!  The Forever 21 clothing store in Dallas shutting down, 68 jobs lost by the end of April.  San Antonio based Palmaz Scientific now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to being “…seriously impaired by a negative campaign of false information disseminated by certain individuals about the company. Litigation involving these false charges was brought by and against the company in 2015.”

Washington: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise;  Redmond based Microsoft announced it will shutdown two game development studios, one in United Kingdom the other in Denmark.  In Bellingham, Albertsons-Safeway shutting down their 56 years old store on Birchwood Avenue, 66 jobs lost by May.

Wisconsin: In New Berlin junk food maker Mexican Accent issued a WARN, 155 jobs lost by the end of April!   In Yorkville, Publications International eliminating 50 jobs by April.  In Watertown, Eaton Corporation eliminating 91 jobs starting in June.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

05-06 March 2016: “We don’t pay well!”

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.”