Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

BlackBerry announced 5-thousand people will lose their jobs!  Company officials blame crashing sales.   In June, BlackBerry reported a loss of $84-million USD.

Arizona: In Tucson, after 23 years the El Mezon del Cobre restaurant shut down.  The owner, a single mother of three, said it was getting too hard to continue operations.

Connecticut:  What automotive industry recovery? In Cheshire, Willow’s Motorsports shut down.  The motorcycle dealer blamed the high price of new motorcycles (who wants to pay more than 10-thousand dollars for a new motorcycle, anybody remember when they were just a couple of hundred?) and internet competition for their declining sales of motorcycle parts.

Florida: In Clearwater, Ruth Eckerd Hall laid off 13 employees. Officials with the non-profit performing arts organization blamed it on declining donations.

Iowa: What automotive industry recovery? In Creston, after 103 years of manufacturing automotive parts and engines, Gits will shut down in 2014! 95 jobs lost.  The company is consolidating manufacturing to other factories.

Kentucky: In Louisville, at least five Swifty gas stations shut down, without notice!  Speculation is that the company lost too much money, because they were an old fashioned gas station selling mainly gas, which generates only pennies in profits on every gallon sold. (that’s pennies on every gallon, not pennies on every dollar.  more proof that you can’t blame the gas stations for the high prices, they’re getting ripped off too)

Maine: In New Bedford, Southcoast Health System laid off 60 people.  Southcoast President and CEO, Keith Hovan, directly blamed Obama Care.

Maryland: In Salisbury, the Peninsula Regional Medical Center laid off 58 people.  That brings this year’s layoffs to 101.  Hospital officials blame declining demand for care and declining reimbursements caused by Obama Care.

Michigan: Too Big to Jail, Flagstar Bank, shut down in Troy, according to a WARN filing.  At least 299 jobs lost!

Missouri: In Saint Louis, tax sucker Boeing laid off 300 people!  Boeing ended production of their expensive C-17 military transport aircraft.

New York: Tax sucker General Electric to shut down its Fort Edward factory.  200 jobs lost!  Company officials moved production to Florida, with little notice to New York employees.

Ohio: Non-profit Summa Health System being killed by Obama Care. 30 more employees were laid off.  Back in January Summa Health laid off 54 employees.  Summa officials are hoping a deal with the Christian God’s Catholic Health Partners will save them.  The largest employer in the region, Cleveland Clinic, laying off as many as 3-thousand people!  Hospital officials blame Obama Care: “To prepare for healthcare reform, Cleveland Clinic is transforming the way care is delivered to patients.…..we need to further reduce costs to the organization by $330 million in 2014.”-Cleveland Clinic press release

Pennsylvania: In Wyomissing, Play It Again Sports shut down. The operators blame declining sales. In Waynesburg, Southwest Regional Medical Center laid off 29 employees.  Hospital officials blame reduced payments caused by Obama Care.  The hospital can no longer offer high level services: “The key change to services available locally is that we will only be performing scheduled surgical procedures and we will not be offering the highest intensity level of services as in the past.”-Cindy Cowie, CEO

South Carolina: A West Ashley Piggly Wiggly grocery store shut down. 14 other Piggy Wiggly stores were sold off!

Washington DC: Education software maker, Blackboard Incorporated, laid off an undisclosed number of employees.  Company officials refuted claims it was 140 employees. Company officials said they needed to reduce operating costs.

West Virginia: Theatre West Virginia shut down after 53 seasons! It’s blamed on the bad economy.  In Morgantown, the Kmart will be shut down. 100 jobs lost!

Wisconsin: OEM Fabricators laid off 45 employees. They blame a slow down in construction, oil and gas industries.