Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 01-03 December 2013. Snobbish home decor business shutsdown 25 stores! Retirement plans shutdown companies! Property tax increase can’t stop city layoffs! More grocery store shutdowns!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Too Big to Jail bank holding company BOK Financial shutting down banks in Colorado, Kansas and Texas.  The banks include Bank of Texas, Colorado State Bank and Trust and Bank of Kansas City.

Arkansas: In Mountain Home, after 35 years the Carmike Village Five movie theater was shutdown.  The manager says they got little notice and no explanation: “I’m not sure what happened…”-Lee Davis

California: Internet money lender Cashcall going down, 769 people laid off!  In Los Angeles a McDonalds shutdown. 55 jobs lost.  Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services laid off 66 employees.  In Panorama City, Ricon laid off 50 employees.  In Roseville, Obama Care victim Sutter Roseville Medical Center laid off 68 healthcare workers.  In Sacramento, Obama Care victim Sutter Oaks Midtown Nursing Center laid off 128 people! Sutter Health Sacramento laid off 11 employees.  In El Centro, International Paper laid off another three people.  In San Jose, Microsemi killed 110 jobs!

Colorado: Oxbow Mining laid off 115 people at its Elk Creek coal mine!  That’s on top of the 150 people they let go earlier! The company is doing needed structural improvements to the mine.   Royal Gorge Bridge Company laid off about 24 park employees.  Some of the employees had been with the company for 30 years.  It’s blamed on construction delays, loss of funds and city lease obligations.  In Colorado Springs, CS West Bikes shutdown: “It’s time for a new chapter, but business hasn’t been easy with all the fires and flooding going on.”-Mindy Carter, owner

Connecticut: In Collinsville, the two years old Flea Circus second hand store shutdown.  The owners consider it a success, because they expected to last only one year.  In Bristol, the Bare Bones Gallery shutdown.

Florida: In Kissimmee, Arabian Nights theme show restaurant shutdown: “Unfortunately, we have reached a point where the marketplace demands a cheaper product than we can provide.”-Mark Miller, owner

Illinois: In Elgin, Ball Corporation shutdown, 245 jobs lost!

Kentucky: In Covington, after 20 years the Behle Street Cafe shutdown.  The owner blames the bad local economy: “…with the loss of two major businesses in Covington, along with the development of The Banks, OTR, and no further development in Covington in many years we just couldn’t keep up.”-Shawn Thomas

Maine: The city of Methuan warning its firefighters and cops of layoffs to come.  It’s blamed on reduced tax revenues due to the suck ass economy, and that’s even with a $100 USD property tax increase!

Maryland: All Fresh & Green’s grocery stores shutdown: “We’ve reached the point at which continuing to operate these stores does not make financial sense…”-Robin Michel, CEO Natural Markets Food Group

Michigan: In Ypsilanti, after 27 years Fantasy Attic Costumes shutdown: “Our sales have dropped to a point where it is no longer feasible to maintain operations, so the going out of business sale begins now.”-Bill Brennan, owner

New Jersey: Atlantic City laid off 51 firefighters.  The jobs were being paid for by federal tax funds, and those funds ran out.

New York: Legal drugs pusher, Forest Laboratories, laying off 500 people! Company officials said they need to cut $500-million from their budget, and $110-million of that will come from job cuts.  In Utica, Xerox Business Services shutdown, 55 jobs lost.

North Carolina: Interactive mirror maker, Luxury Tec, now bankrupt.  Company officials had publicly stated they were about to expand.  Company officials are refusing to comment as to why they are now bankrupt.  PCS Phosphate Company (PotashCorp Aurora) laid off 85 employees. Company officials say the layoffs are a part of their new “sustainability efforts”.  The Just Released video store in the Southgate Mall shutdown.

Ohio: In Cleveland, Too Big to Jail Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) owned Charter One bank shutdown three offices.  It’s part of the banking industry’s plan to push everybody into electronic banking only.  California based upscale home decor store, Z Gallerie, shutdown all 25 Ohio stores, 350 jobs lost!  It’s blamed on the bad economy.

Pennsylvania: In West Chester, Feminique sex shop shutdown.  The owner, Jill McDevitt, said her true reasons for opening the sex store was to make a statement and apparently she did.

South Dakota: In Rapid City, the Parent Teacher Outlet store shutdown.  The owner needed to sell the store.

Tennessee: 133 years old Hardwick Clothes now bankrupt.  Company officials blamed the retirement plan run by Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, and the bad economy: “….the economic downturn and the reduced stock market, all made the plan impossible to maintain and keep the company running. It was a good plan for its time but was just no longer feasible for us.”-Tommy Hopper, president

Texas:  In Copperas Cove the last local book store, Books, Comics and Things, shutdown.  The owner suffered a stroke.  In Houston, GE Power & Water shutdown, 200 jobs lost!  It’s blamed on company “restructuring”.

Virginia: No more fried pickles! In Fredericksburg, the Cheeseburger in Paradise on Carl D. Silver Parkway shutdown.  It might have something to do with the lease.

Washington: In Wapato, Piety Flats Winery shutdown.  It’s blamed on health problems, so much for Obama Care.  In Bellingham, 41 years old Sportsman Chalet shutdown.  It’s blamed on internet competition.

Washington DC: All Fresh & Green’s grocery stores shutdown: “We’ve reached the point at which continuing to operate these stores does not make financial sense…”-Robin Michel, CEO Natural Markets Food Group

Wisconsin: In Milwaukee, Kohls laid off 55 employees.

27-30 November 2013: JCPenney shutdowns!

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 27-30 November 2013. JCPenney shutdowns! More shutdowns in California!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Alabama: In Selma, evil taxsucker KBR laid off 73 employees.

California: In Boron, Rio Tinto Minerals shutdown their borax mine, 234 jobs lost! In Lynwood, Elite Slides laid off 78 employees.  In Ontario, JCPenney’s JC’s 5 Star Outlet shutdown, 136 jobs lost!  In Vernon, Trinity Sports shutdown, 164 jobs lost!  In Los Angeles, Aircraft Service International Group shutdown, 90 jobs lost.

Connecticut: In Branford, 454 Life Sciences shutdown, 31 jobs lost.  In Glastonbury, Japan based printer maker Ricoh Americas shutdown, 147 jobs lost!

Florida: Duke Energy laid off 24 employees.

New Jersey: In Kearny, Dessert Service laid off 85 employees, for unknown reasons.

New York:  In Horseheads, Missouri based networking products maker Belden Incorporated shutdown.  173 jobs lost!

Ohio: In Canton, Capital Senior Living shutdown, 43 jobs lost.

Pennsylvania: In Reading, JCPenney’s JC’s 5 Star Outlet shutdown, 66 jobs lost.

According to employment consultant Challenger, Gray & Christmas, employers in the United States issued 45314 “planned” job cut notices in November 2013.  This does not count the small mom and pop operations.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: More proof ‘Wall Street’ is a scam to steal your money! Regulator deletes “Red Flag” info about stock brokers!

07 March 2014 (19:26 UTC-07 Tango 06 March 2014)/05 Jumada l-Ula 1435/16 Esfand 1392/07 Ding-Mao 4712

“…there are problems at all those levels….it’s really been an honor system…there were breakdowns at all levels….”-Micheal Siconolfi, Wall Street Journal interviewed on CNBC’s Nightly Business Report

“PIABA Warning: FINRA Withholds Critical ‘Red Flag’ Information in Broker Background Check Disclosures to Investors.”-Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association

“The report is being issued as deeper problems with FINRA’s disclosure BrokerCheck were brought to light. A Wall Street Journal investigation published late Wednesday found that the public records of some 1,600 brokers failed to include criminal charges, bankruptcy filings and other problematic issues that should have been in their files.”–Reuters

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is a private corporation hired to supposedly keep ‘Wall Street’ honest.  FINRA is not a government agency.

“…investors need to be a lot more active…..do a little forensic investigation of your own…go to your state securities commissioners….”-Micheal Siconolfi, Wall Street Journal interviewed on CNBC’s Nightly Business Report

How can Idahoans trust their own state regulators?  Idaho’s own State Treasurer, Ron Crane, was outed by an internal audit which revealed that he recently blew through at least $10.6-million of taxpayers money, betting it on ‘Wall Street’!  Crane has been Idaho State Treasurer since 1998!

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: The Hell of ObamaCare Lies! More double/triple taxation! Got a great health insurance plan? Get ready to pay a 40% “Cadillac” tax on that!

07 March 2014 (18:39 UTC-07 Tango 06 March 2014)/05 Jumada l-Ula 1435/16 Esfand 1392/07 Ding-Mao 4712

“The 19th Annual Towers Watson/NBGH Employer Survey on Purchasing Value in Health Care found that employer costs are expected to reach $9,560 per employee in 2014, an increase of 4.4%* from $9,157 in 2013………..employees’ share of premiums increased nearly 7%, to $2,975, this year. Out-of-pocket costs also increased. The total employee cost share has climbed from 34.4% in 2011 to 37% in 2014. Employees now pay over $100 more each month for health care compared with just three years ago.

Nearly half (49%) of employers have increased employee contributions for dependent tiers at higher rates than for individuals. Another 19% expect to make this move next year. About one-quarter (24%) of companies now use spousal surcharges of around $100 per month……..the trend toward increased cost sharing for spouses will likely continue.

The survey was completed by 595 employers between November 2013 and January 2014. Respondents collectively employ 11.3 million full-time employees, have 7.8 million employees enrolled in their health care programs…..”–Towers Watson

“One big reason: the so-called Cadillac Tax. In 2018, under the Affordable Care Act, high-priced employer-sponsored insurance plans will trigger a 40 percent excise tax on insurance benefits in excess of $10,200 for an individual and $27,500 for a family plan.”–Bertha Coombs, CNBC’s Nightly Business Report

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

More Economic Decline: Radio Shack & Staples ups the ante, more than 1-thousand stores to close down!

06 March 2014 (08:17 UTC-07 Tango)/04 Jumada l-Ula 1435/15 Esfand 1392/06 Ding-Mao 4712

At he beginning of 2014 Radio Shack announced it will close 500 stores.  That was before they compiled their crappy Xmas 2013 sales.  Turns out Santa decided to take a dump down their electronic chimney!

Click pics to make bigger.

End of Gregorian year 2013 sales crashed 20% for the iconic Radio Shack.  So now 1100 Radio Shacks will close down.  There has yet to be confirmation as to whether this is an additional 1100 stores on top of the 500, or is this the final 2014 total?   An investor/ bankruptcy analyst says Radio Shack is in a death spiral: “They can continue to operate but they are in a cash-flow negative spiral and that doesn’t usually reverse itself.”-David Tawil

In the late 1980s I worked at a Lompoc, California, Radio Shack.  I lost my job when I tried to blow the whistle on a scam the lead sales associate was running with the electronic repairs.  The guy would take customers’ broken electronics, charge them the usual Radio Shack fees to send it back to Texas for repair, but instead he did the work himself.  People started complaining because many of the repair jobs were failures, and some people never got their items back.  I found some repair orders sitting in a closet that had receipts dated from more than a year earlier! I quickly learned the store manager was involved because I lost my job when I told him about the scam.

Now comes Mitt Romney’s wunderkind Staples.  Their end of year revenues were were so bad they’ve just announced they will close 225 stores by the middle of 2015!

Santa’s dump on Staples was so big that company officials say they need to cut $500-million USD!  It’s blamed on increased competition from the merged Office Max/Office Depot.

Staples shutdown 40 U.S. stores in 2013.

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 22-26 November 2013. Prison layoffs! Internet advertising company cut backs!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

California:  Taxsucker Boeing continued layoffs, this time 22 employees let go.  In El Centro, International Paper continued layoffs, this time three people fired.  In Pocoima, clothing store Juicy Couture laid off 17 employees.  The company was sold off.  In West Sacramento, Xyratex International laid off 17 people.  In California City, the Correctional Center (prison) laid off 296 people!  It’s blamed on the bad economy and a federal court order.  In Riverbank, Silgan Containers continues layoffs, this time 25 employees kicked out.   In Long Beach, transportation company Keolis Transit America laid off 77 people.

Indiana: In Indianapolis, metal fab company CMW International shutdown, 100 jobs lost!  The company was trying to sell off the factory, due to lack of cash.  A lawsuit filed in New York indicates the company hasn’t been paying its suppliers.  Company officials blame the bad economy: “The company has been actively seeking capital, actively seeking additional business……”-CMW statement

New Jersey: In Barnegat, Healthcare Services Group laid off 100 people!

New York:  More proof you can’t blame the internet for brick & mortar shutdowns! In NYC, internet pop-up ad company Fab.com laid off 79 employees.  It’s blamed on the bad economy.  Tax service provider, PricewaterhouseCoopers, laid off 27 people.  It’s blamed on the bad economy.  Clothing store Juicy Couture laid off 61 employees.  The company was sold off.

Virginia: In Glen Allen, cancer screening lab Bostwick Laboratories laid off 34 employees.  This after the company paid a $503,668 USD fine for “inducing” doctors to send their lab work to Bostwick labs only.

 According to employment consultant Challenger, Gray & Christmas, employers in the United States issued 45314 “planned” job cut notices in November 2013.  This does not count the small mom and pop operations.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 16-21 November 2013. More bank layoffs!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

California:   Accurate Metal Solutions shutdown, 426 jobs lost!  In Chatsworth, Too Big to Jail JP Morgan Chase-Mortgage Bank laid off 88 employees.  In Emeryville, evil legal drugs maker Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostic laid off 54 employees.  In Los Angeles, The Proud Bird shutdown, 96 jobs lost.  In Pittsburg, Quad/Graphics shutdown, 88 jobs lost.  In Valencia, King Brothers plastic plumbing fixtures maker shutdown, 83 jobs lost.

Florida: In Jacksonville, Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo laid off 17 people, for “unknown” reasons.

Illinois:  In Chicago, Too Big to Jail JPMorgan Chase laid off 145 people!  In Montgomery, Caterpillar let go the last of their employees, 22, as they shutdown their factory.

Indiana:  In Carmel, Frontier Communications laid off 54 people.  In Indianapolis, Too Big to Jail JPMorgan Chase laid off seven people.

New York:  In Melville, Too Big to Jail First National Bank of New York laid off 36 employees.  It’s blamed on a merger with another bank.  

According to employment consultant Challenger, Gray & Christmas, employers in the United States issued 45314 “planned” job cut notices in November 2013.  This does not count the small mom and pop operations.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

More Economic Decline: General Mills abandons East Idaho!

04 March 2014 (17:04 UTC-07 Tango)/02 Jumada l-Ula 1435/13 Esfand 1392/04 Ding-Mao 4712

Minnesota based cereal maker General Mills selling off all its eastern Idaho grain elevator operations.  It will affect the cities of Newdale, Blackfoot, American Falls, Rockford, Idaho Falls and Pocatello.

General Mills has been experiencing crashing sales.  Awake consumers will tell you it’s because General Mills uses GMO (genetically engineered) crops.  Also, Oxfam International ranks General Mills in last place for sustainability and human rights, including treatment of women and farm workers.   This has led to a boycott of General Mills products by awake consumers.

But that’s not how General Mills sees it: “The slowdown in category sales……isn’t a consumer issue, it’s due to insufficient product news and advertising….”-Ken Powell, CEO

The new owner of the east Idaho grain elevators, Agspring, claims they have plans to expand their new operations in Idaho, by using a “…a new combination of existing resources with a different business approach….”

Business/Economics

More Kmart closings! Sears boss says entire U.S. retail industry will end up like Sears & Kmart!

04 March 2014 (22:40 UTC-07 Tango 03 March 2014)/02 Jumada l-Ula 1435/13 Esfand 1392/04 Ding-Mao 4712

“I believe the entire retail industry is headed to where we already are.”-Eddie Lampert, CEO Sears Holdings, and he meant that in a good way

Another Raleigh Kmart to close, in May.  A 26 years old Tennessee Kmart closing in May.  A Berlin, New Jersey, Kmart shutting down, no other details given.   Virginia losing two more Kmarts, in June.  Minnesota losing a 40+ years old Kmart in June.

The U.S. Secret Service is investigating a possible secret data breach at Sears.

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings since the end of 2011:

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors.

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost),  Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart.

California:   El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (at least 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart,  Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost),  Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down, Banning Kmart (91 jobs lost).

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost),  Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40), Colorado Springs Kmart at Powers and Palmer Park boulevards (57 jobs lost).

Connecticut:  Waterbury Big Kmart.

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost),  Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart.

Guam:  Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost),  Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost).

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!!!),  Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost),  Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Vacant bedroom/bathroom section.

One corner of the half vacant Chubbuck, Idaho, Sears. No official closing announcement was made.

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).  No official announcement, but it’s painfully obvious the Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears going’ down. Or, maybe it’s preps for Shop within a Shop, or one of those domestic spy data storage centers?  On 07 November 2013, GGP sold off the Pine Ridge Mall for a paltry $9 million USD.

Ever since the Kmart bankruptcy, this pad site for sale sign has been seen in the Pocatello, Idaho, Big Kmart parking lot. The Kmart is the only building on the lot.

Ever since the Kmart bankruptcy, this pad site for sale sign has been seen in the Pocatello, Idaho, Big Kmart parking lot. The Kmart is the only building on the lot.

Indiana:  Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost), FairOaks Mall Kmart, Logansport Sears (43 jobs lost).

Illinois:  Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost),  Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost),  Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost),  Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost).  58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale.  By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state.  The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Iowa:  Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost),  Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!),  Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost), Cannonsburg Sears and Sears Auto Center (no employee info given).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Sears (80 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears (115 jobs lost).

Massachusetts: North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed.

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials,  Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost),  Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 jobs lost).

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart, Monticello Kmart, GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost), Fergus Falls Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Alexandria Kmart (46 jobs lost), recently revealed Grand Rapids Kmart (61 jobs lost).

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost),  Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost), Ellisville Kmart (55 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

Nebraska: Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials,  Portsmouth Kmart (30 jobs lost).

New Jersey:  Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost), recently revealed Berlin Kmart.

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost).

New York: Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost),  Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost), Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 jobs lost).

North Carolina: Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost),  West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost), Conover Kmart (74 jobs lost), recently revealed Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard,  London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost),  Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost),  Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost),  Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost), Norwalk Kmart (52 jobs lost), Blue Ash Kmart (77 jobs lost).   Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants), Shawnee Sears (31 jobs lost).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost),  both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two),  Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost), Harbison Sears & Sears Auto Center in the Columbiana Centre mall (97 jobs lost), Aiken Sears & Sears Auto Center (at least 54 jobs lost), Inlet Square Mall Kmart (50 jobs lost), West Ashely Kmart (69 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin CoolSprings Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), recently revealed Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost).

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors.

Utah:  Murray Sears (for some reason Mormon control news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they’re reporting that the building has just been demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported).

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost),  Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown, Newport News Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), recently revealed Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), recently revealed Wincester Kmart (91 jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost),  Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost), Oak Harbor Kmart (68 jobs lost), Sodo Sears and Sears Auto Center (79 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost),  Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost),  Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall  (see update above, GGP will close Sears store by 2014)

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center (see update above, GGP closing store)

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 10-15 November 2013. Once again, more ObamaCare layoffs!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Alabama: In Jasper, Twin Pines Resort & Conference Center shutdown.  60 jobs lost.  In Birmingham, Rock Mountain Mining laid off 53 employees.

California:  Intuit laid off 13 employees.  Symantec laid off seven people.  In Riverbank, more layoffs by Silgan Containers, this time 30.  In Los Angeles, Investors Business Daily laid off 15 employees.  NBC Universal laid off 97 entertainment industry workers.  In San Bernardino, McLain/Suneast laid off 53 workers.   In El Centro, International Paper laid off two employees.  At Fort Irwin U.S. Army National Training Center, taxsucker Northrop Grumman laid off 55 employees.  At Yosemite National Park, taxsucker DNC Parks & Resorts laid off 1396 people!  In Santa Anna, PSS World Medical laid off 38 employees.  In San Diego, US Security Associates laid off 53 security guards.

Idaho: In Idaho Falls, Mattress Country “Calls it Quits!”, and shutdown.

New York:  Atlantic Express Transportation went bust and shutdown.  At least 199 jobs lost!  Too Big to Jail, Sterling National Bank laid off 16 employees.  12th Restaurant began shutting down some of its operations (such as Nathan’s/ Roy Roger’s/Tim Horton’s/Lindy’s).  So far 46 jobs lost.  In Rouses Point, legal drugs maker Pfizer shutdown its drugs factory.  51 jobs lost.  In Brooklyn, Interfaith Medical Center shutdown.  1542 jobs lost!  In the official WARN statement they blamed Obama Care for funding cuts.  In Yonkers, Excelsior Packaging shutdown.  112 jobs lost to the bad economy!  In Buffalo, Budwey’s Supermarket shutdown, 156 jobs lost!  The grocery store was sold to a competitor. 

Wisconsin: What automotive industry recovery?  In Oshkosh, AxleTech International laid off 63 workers.

According to employment consultant Challenger, Gray & Christmas, employers in the United States issued 45314 “planned” job cut notices in November 2013.  This does not count the small mom and pop operations.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013