Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: ObamaCare Layoffs 2013, part 3!

Incomplete list of publicized healthcare layoffs and closings 01-15 May 2013:

Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance laid off 55 people across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Utah (some reports said 56).

Medtronic ended about 230 jobs!

The merger of U.S. Analogic with Canadian Ultrasonix Medical resulted in 140 people losing their jobs in Colorado and Vancouver!

The labs of Astellas’ OSI Pharmaceuticals subsidiary at the Broad Hollow Business Park in Farmingdale, New York, and of the Perseid Therapeutics subsidiary in Redwood City, California, closed.  At least 200 jobs lost!

California: The not for profit doctor and hospital network known as Sutter Health announced 169 people lost their jobs! 54 employees at the Porterville Developmental Center laid off.  Dignity Health laid off 150 employees in Sacramento, and 300 in Stockton!

Florida: Liberty Medical Supply laid off 211 employees!  Liberty Medical already laid off 260 employees in January, then went bankrupt in February!

Indiana:  Eli Lilly, announced drastic cuts.  At least 1624 people lost their jobs!  Orthopedic products maker Zimmer laid off at least 50 employees.  Company officials blame it on that damned Affordable Health Care Act (Obama/Romney Care), which created a new federal medical device tax. Warner Transitional Services shut down and laid off 112 people!

Kentucky: Hospice of the Bluegrass got rid of 16 jobs.  They blame it on cuts to Medicare and Medicaid no thanks to Obama/Romney Care (Affordable Health Care).  Kentucky Spirit Health Plan laid off all its 145 employees!  The company focused on providing Medicare covered care for children.  Company officials say the drastic cuts to Medicare funding by the Affordable Health Care Act (Obama/Romney Care) forced them to shut down because the new Medicare payments don’t cover the basic costs of operations!

Louisiana: Schumacher Group shut down its Patient Financial Management Services, 41 people laid off.   Blame Obama/Romney Care (Affordable Care Act).

Massachusetts: Blood management systems provider Haemonetics, shut down operations in Braintree. 320 jobs lost!  New England Baptist Hospital in Boston laid off 12 managers.

Minnesota: 79 people lost their jobs with Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings.

Missouri:  Liberty Hospital laid off 129 employees!

New Mexico:  The Gila Regional Medical Center converted 70 full time jobs to part time only.  The hospital has also stopped the $40 million expansion project, postponed a new health information software system and shut down its Home Health Services in Luna County as well as Home Health’s D&E wavier and Helping Hands programs in Grant County!  Hospital officials blame it on the increase in uninsured customers who can’t pay and the Affordable Health Care Act (Obama/Romney Care) which drastically reduces Medicare and Medicaid payments.

New York: Arnot Health laid off 22 employees at Saint Joseph’s Hospital.  They shut down a surgical unit.  Ulster County warned employees at the Golden Hill nursing home that layoffs were coming. The Malone Veterans Affairs clinic closed down.  And 22 people laid off by MVP Health Care: “The health care marketplace is changing rapidly, and MVP must constantly adapt….”   Saint James Mercy Hospital cut 50 positions: “SJMH is continuing to experience significant declines in patient volumes, patient days and revenues, as well as reduced state and federal reimbursement and we cannot continue to support our current operation under these conditions.”-Mary LaRowe, Saint James Mercy Health System

Ohio: Mercy Hospital eliminated 18 jobs.

Pennsylvania:  In Sellersville, Israel based Teva Pharmaceutical shutting down its research and manufacturing facility by 2017.  472 employees affected!

Rhode Island:  Westerly Hospital eliminated 45 jobs.

Tennessee: Pfizer operations in Bristol laid off 25 employees.

Texas:  Galt Medical shutting down their Garland factory over the next two years.  139 people unemployed!  Galt specializes in medical devices, which are going to be hit with a massive tax under the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act!

 Washington: The Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital laid off 19 employees.

“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

ObamaCare layoffs 2013, part 2!

 ObamaCare layoffs 2013, part 1:

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 11-14 October 2013. ObamaCare kills children’s programs! Big time university layoffs! City taxes killing off grocery stores!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Savient Pharmaceuticals now bankrupt.  It’s being sold off to Sloan Holdings.

Alabama: What automotive industry recovery?  France based Michelin laying off 100 people at its BF Goodrich tire factory in Tuscaloosa.  Company officials said there was too much inventory sitting on shelves, due to the bad economy.

Arizona: In Tucson, 63 years old Arizona Mail Order shutdown.  59 jobs lost.  The Massachusetts based owner is moving ops to Pennsylvania.

California: What housing market recovery?  Across the Golden State JPMorgan Chase Mortgage shutdown offices and laid off at least 897 people!  It’s blamed on crashing demand for home loans. In San Diego, LPL Financial laid off 31 employees.

Delaware: What automotive industry recovery?  Evraz Claymont Steel shutting down their steel factory.  375 jobs lost!  Company officials blame declining sales and a steel market flooded with foreign products.  They made steel plate for other industries.  In Harrington, Georgia-Pacific shutdown its Color-Box packaging facility.  95 jobs lost.

Florida: A Kmart in Panama City Beach will shutdown. 54 jobs lost.

Illinois: The city of Galesburg warns it will have to layoff more than a dozen employees in 2014, to save $1-million to $2-million USD.  Dominick’s grocery store shutdown all 72 stores!  Dominick’s was owned by Safeway, which had warned they were “exiting” the Chicago market.  In Sterling, the Kmart will shutdown.

Maine: Electronic mapping company, DeLorme, laid off 10 employees.   Company officials said they were not in financial trouble, but “in transition”.

Maryland: In Frostburg, Acropolis Restaurant shutdown.  The owner blamed his health, the bad economy and the fact that the local fire marshall reduced his legal seating capacity to 49.   The dumb ass city of Baltimore jacked up its “bottle tax” in 2010, and now Santoni’s Supermarket is dead!  80 jobs lost.  The grocery store first opened in the 1930s.  “Since the beverage tax levy went into effect in July 2010, Santoni’s has realized total store sales loss in excess of $4 million….”-Robert Santoni Junior

Massachusetts: Home grown food maker, Joseph’s Gourmet Pasta and Sauces, laid off 73 employees.  The company was sold to Switzerland based Nestle in 2006.  In Somerset, a Wendy’s fast food joint was shutdown after customers complained and it failed a health inspection.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? In Grand Rapids, Bentler Automotive shutdown, 200 jobs lost!  In Vassar, Metavation shutdown, 113 jobs lost! The company was taken over by Dayco Products.

Missouri: Paper products maker, RockTenn, shutdown their Saint Louis factory. 50 jobs lost. It’s blamed on the company’s purchase of Smurfit Stone Container in 2011.

New Jersey:  After 44 years of art education the Matawan Student Enrichment Program shutdown.  Student enrollment crashed.

New York: In Colonie, a Kmart is shutting down.  72 jobs lost.

North Carolina: Residential treatment facility The Children’s Home and Peek-A-Moo Child Development Center shutdown, 79 jobs lost.  It’s blamed on Obama Care funding cuts.

Ohio: The Dayton Daily News warned of more layoffs. At least 22 people this time.  It’s blamed on declining sales, which company officials blame on the internet.  In Cleveland, iconic Peabody’s and Rascal House live music clubs shutdown. It’s blamed on Cleveland State University, which annexed the properties.  In Solon, Park View Federal Savings Bank laid off 57 employees. In Columbus, what housing market recovery?  Too Big to Jail JPMorgan Chase Mortgage shutdown, 97 jobs lost!  In Springboro, tax sucker General Dynamics laid off 31 employees.

Texas: The University of Texas laying off 500 people!   University officials expect continued declines in taxpayer funding and student enrollment for the next ten years!  In Denton, Conn’s appliance and furniture store shutdown. Local news media say employees were given two weeks notice, but the company refused to explain the shutdown.  The company actually reported a profit to investors.   What housing market recovery?  In Coppell, Too Big to Jail JP Morgan Chase Mortgage shutdown, 52 jobs lost.  In Fort Worth, JPMorgan Chase Home Lending shutdown, 451 jobs lost!

Wisconsin: In Milwaukee, JPMorgan Chase shutdown, 94 jobs lost.

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: ObamaCare layoffs 2013, part 2!

Incomplete list of publicized healthcare layoffs and closings from 26 February to 20 April 2013:

California: In Modesto, Memorial Medical Center laid off 39 office employees.

Connecticut: The New Milford Hospital closed its Family Birthing Center.

Delaware Hospice laid off 52 employees (after laying off 104 employees starting in January).

Florida: Rotech Healthcare now bankrupt after being accused of ripping off Meidcare-Medicaid.

Indiana: Orthopedics company, Medtronic, laid off 50 people in Warsaw.  Company officials blame the Obama/Romney Care medical device tax.

Kentucky:  Murray-Calloway County Hospital laid off 28 employees.  Hospital officials blame Obama/Romney Care and a huge decrease in customers ($7.5 million USD decrease)!

Maryland: Obama/Romney Care being blamed for layoffs at Frederick Memorial Hospital.  40 people let go: “What hospitals are doing nationwide, and in Maryland in particular, are to find ways to adjust the provision care models to adjust to the decreasing amount of Medicare reimbursements.”-Harry Grandinett, Frederick Memorial Hospital

Massachusetts: The Cape Cod Hospital closed its endoscopy center. At least 20 employees laid off.  You can blame Obama/Romney Care for reduced reimbursements for services rendered.  Quincy Medical laid off 30 nurses.  Tuell Nursing Home shut down after four decades of operations.  The operators blamed skyrocketing health care costs, and reduced Medicare payments under the Obama/Romney Care.

Michigan: Detroit Medical Center laid off 300 people!  Those still with jobs got pay cuts!  Blame Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Plan!

New York: Oswego Hospital closed its pediatric unit.

New Jersey: The Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center announced the ending of 15 positions and reduction in services due to reduced funding.

New Mexico: 57 UNM Hospital employees lost their jobs.  The hospital contracted out their jobs to try and save money under Obama Care.

North Carolina: Three Streams Family Health Center, which helps people without insurance, closed down.

Ohio: Maker of home healthcare products, Invacare, laid off 68 people.  Company officials are blaming the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Oregon: Easter Seals closed their Children’s Therapy Center in Salem.

Pennsylvania: Reading Eagle, owner of Reading Hospital, laid off 210 medical staff, plus eliminating another 181 jobs through attrition!  Officials blame the Obama/Romney Care (Affordable Care Act) cuts to Medicare/Medicaid!

Texas: In Houston, the DePelchin Children’s Center shut down its Elkins residential treatment center.  44 people unemployed. The owners blamed the closing on the changes being made to how federal and state governments reimburse for the treatment of children with severe mental, emotional and behavioral problems (Obama Care).

“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

 ObamaCare layoffs 2013, part 1:

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 10 October 2013. Major ObamaCare shutdown hits Virginia! White House bankrupt! Jewish drugs pusher laying off 5-thousand! More big bank layoffs!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Israeli based, U.S. traded, legal drugs pusher Teva laying off 5-thousand people around the world, including the United States.  “Teva improves health in the US every day, every minute, every second…….Teva is the world’s largest maker of generic pharmaceutical products. We have a global product portfolio of more than 1,000 molecules and a direct presence in about 60 countries.”-company statement

Internet news source, The Daily Beast, laid off 24 employees. It’s blamed on its short lived merger with Newsweek.

California: In Rancho Cordova, a Kmart will close, 97 jobs lost.

Florida: The PGA Tour Stop shop at World Golf Village shutdown.

Indiana: In Fort Wayne, it was announced a Kmart would close down. 70 jobs lost.

Louisiana: In Monroe, the University of Louisiana cut 35 jobs.  School officials blame it on continued declining revenues.

Massachusetts: In Saugus, the 52 years old Hilltop Steak House, with its 21.3 meters (70 feet) tall cactus sign, shutdown. The owners gave only a week long warning and blamed it on a “…dramatic change in the volume of our business.”

Michigan: In Petoskey, Glen’s grocery store shutdown.  It is consolidating with another store.

New Jersey: Cranford Paint and Hardware shutdown.

New York: In Rochester, Rich’s Products Manufacturing shutdown, 92 jobs lost.

Pennsylvania: MacOutfitters shutdown three stores. The company went bust.

Ohio:  Gallipolis Developmental Center eliminated 80 jobs.  The home for people with developmental disabilities blames it on crashing demand for their services.

Oregon:  The Portland Development Commission laid off 15 people.  The city is still trying to slash its budget.

Texas: What automotive industry recovery? Too Big to Jail OmniAmerican Bank laid off 24 employees, and announced they are cutting back on loans for buying cars.  Bank officials said the going interest rates on car loans are too small to make it worth their while. In Irving, Too Big to Jail Retreat Capital Management shutdown, 73 jobs lost.

Virginia: In Christiansburg, StellarOne bank warned of layoffs due to its merger with Union First Market Bank. In the Richmond area, Too Big to Jail Capital One laid off 200 people, despite claiming they have 470 open positions!  In King George County, three medical centers shutdown!!!  They are Gateway Medical Urgent Care, King George Pediatrics and King George Medical Center.  According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services the county is “medically underserved”. So much for the Affordable Health Care scam! Georgia-Pacific laid off 80 employees, and shutdown its Jarratt fiberboard plant.

Washington DC: The White House Gift Shop now bankrupt.  The store is located a couple of blocks from the real White House.

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: Albertsons shutting down 26 stores by February!

17 January 2014 (10:41 UTC-07 Tango)/15 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/27 Dey 1392/17 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

The downward spiral of what was once Idaho based Albertsons grocery stores continues.  In January 2013 evil Cerberus Capital Management became sole owner of Albertsons.  14 stores were shut down in 2013.

It’s just been announced that another 26 stores will shutdown by the end of February 2014!

One store in Arizona, 11 stores in California, two in Nevada, one in New Mexico, two in Oregon, five in Washington.  As well as two Acme Markets in Pennsylvania, and two Shaw’s in Massachusetts.

Alberstons is playing the same game as Sears Holdings: As leases expire they shut-em-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: Macy’s to kill 2500 jobs in 2014!

17 January 2014 (10:29 UTC-07 Tango)/15 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/27 Dey 1392/17 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

Department store Macy’s-Bloomingdale’s closing five stores and laying off 25-hundred employees in 2014!

Company officials say they need to cut $100-million from the yearly budget! This is strange because they also announced plans to build eight new stores!

The five stores being closed are in Mesa, Arizona, Overland Park, Kansas, Florrisant, Missouri, Irondequoit, New York and Murray, Utah.

“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: JCPenney killing 33 stores & 2-thousand jobs!

17 January 2014 (10:19 UTC-07 Tango)/15 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/27 Dey 1392/17 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

Despite saying they’re happy with the end of year holiday sales, JCPenney officials are going to shutdown 33 stores and kill 2-thousand U.S. jobs in 2014!

Company officials said they still aren’t profitable, and they need to cut $65-million from their yearly budget! If you’ve been following the Sears-Kmart debacle you’ll realize that shutting down a lot of stores only creates a downward spiral, because shutting down huge numbers of stores also kills overall sales.

Stores will be closed in Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.

“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

Exceptional Failed State: Sears to kill minimum 1600 jobs in 2014! Kmart store built on top of cemetery?

 17 January 2014 (10:06 UTC-07 Tango)/15 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/27 Dey 1392/17 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

Alabama to lose the Decatur Sears in April.  In South Carolina, reports suggesting a now closed Kmart store was built on the old Hampton Plantation slave cemetery.  Activists are asking for a ground radar survey before anymore construction work is done by the property developer.  Another Kmart in Florida closing. This one will shutdown in March.

Sears Holdings is laying off more than 1600 Canadians in 2014!  These cuts are on top of the 800 cuts announced back in November 2013.  Most of the new job losses are in Sears Canada call centers.  Those jobs have been contracted out to IBM.  The rest of the job cuts are in “logistics”.

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), recently revealed Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost).

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.

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).

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).

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), recently revealed 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).

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).  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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

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

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

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

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost).

New York: Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost),  Fulton Kmart (51 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).   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).

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).

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).

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).

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:  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.

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).

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).

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, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 08-09 October 2013. Boston Strong kills green energy transport company! Costco kills organic Peanut Butter? Target layoffs! ObamaCare killing non-profits!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

France based telecommunications company, Alcatel-Lucent, announced at least 10-thousand layoffs around the World.  At least 2100 layoffs will take place in the Americas.  Alcatel-Lucent has offices in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia.  Company officials said their past layoffs were “not sufficient”, and warned of total collapse: “Everyone recognizes that this is the last chance. The situation in the enterprise is serious, very serious!”-Michel Combes, CEO

Alabama: Handy Head Start school shutdown.  It’s blamed on the temporary federal government shutdown, which only affected 18% of government spending.

California: In Victorville, local Desert Community Bank (DCB) shutdown its Dunia Plaza branch.  It’s blamed on the 2007 merger with East West Bank.  Back in 1994 as the News Producer for struggling KHIZ I worked with the president of DCB (Ron Wilson, who quit in 2007 over the merger with East West Bank) to present old school banking advise to our audience. DCB was a true hometown bank, and the president’s weekly advise was appreciated by our audience.  Unfortunately, in 1996 KHIZ was sold off to the local cable company and I had to move on.  KHIZ was in Victorville, but listed officially as being in the Los Angeles TV market.  According to info on the internet it is now owned by a company called Multicultural.  However, none of the internet info lists the 1994-96 years when we busted our asses making KHIZ the number two rated independent 9pm newscast in the LA market. The internet info also doesn’t explain that we all lost our jobs after it was discovered that the station management had royally ripped off the company, stealing millions in “advertising trades” and skipping town (cops actually traced one of the managers to Florida), forcing the new family inheritors (the son-in-law of the widowed owner of Sunbelt) of the station to sell to the local cable company (at least that’s what he told us when he canceled our news department!).   In Walnut Creek, Liliana Castelllanos clothing boutique shutdown.  In Thousand Oaks, what automotive industry recovery?  Silver Star Automotive laid off 47 people.

Illinois: In Chicago, sushi restaurant Ginza shutdown after 26 years.  The greedy property owners sold off the property out from under the restaurant owner’s feet!

Kentucky: In Pikeville, 53 years old Jerry’s Restaurant shutdown. It’s the second Jerry’s Restaurant to shutdown.  The family owners blame the bad economy saying “Times change.”

Massachusetts: In Boston, North End Segway Tours now bankrupt. So much for battery powered transportation.  Apparently the city of Boston Strong didn’t like people riding Segways on the sidewalks and hit the tour company with massive fines!  Decas Cranberries laid off 20 workers, saying the company needed to become more “efficient”.  In Somerset, Brayton Point coal fired power plant shutdown, 240 jobs lost!  It’s blamed on the takeover by Energy Capital Partners.

Michigan: In Detroit, non-profit Crittenton Hospital laid off at least 24 employees. Hospital officials said Obama Care was forcing them to become more “efficient”.  The hospital was already struggling financially, but Obama Care might do them in.

Minnesota: Target laid off 150 people at its Twin Cities corporate HQ!  Target officials blamed employee “inefficiencies” and consumer “behavior”.  In Owatonno, the Cedar Gallery shutdown. The owner said she has to spend more time taking care of her sick parents.

Missouri: Non-profit SSM Health Care warned employees of pending layoffs: “We’re making announcements this week to our employees. There’s nothing more we can say…Out of respect for those affected, we can’t really discuss the details…”-Kristen Johnson

New Mexico: Costco (along with other retailers) is being blamed for killing off the biggest supplier of ‘organically grown’ peanuts in the United States; Sunland. According to court documents, Costco canceled a major contract with Sunland, and then demanded delivery of $20-million USD worth of peanuts currently in storage.  Sunland officials say Costco has yet to pay for at least $4-million worth of those peanuts! The U.S. FDA had recently traced a salmonella outbreak to Sunland. Next time someone says “it’s just peanuts” remind them that attitude killed off one of the biggest peanut suppliers in the country; Sundland is now being liquidated in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  The demise of Sunland not only affects hundreds of workers in Portales, but also several peanut farming operations throughout New Mexico and Texas.

New York: In Buffalo, after 145 years of suds Ulrich’s Tavern shutdown!  They went bankrupt because of the bad economy.  In Watertown, the 40 years old non-profit North Country Children’s Clinic shutdown. 128 jobs lost! Clinic officials blame it on crashing donations and reduced Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements under Obama Care: “Unfortunately the way that the funding has rolled out, we have no choice other than to make this very difficult decision.”-Daniel A. Wasneechak, director

North Carolina: One Lowes Food and two JustSave grocery stores shutdown!  In Mount Airy, Northern Hospital of Surry County laid off 12 people. It’s blamed on reduced Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements under Obama Care.  Hospital official also stated that hospitals became big because they were ordered to: “It’s easy to be criticized for over-expanding, but that’s what hospitals were told to do to handle an aging demographic.”-Bill James, CEO

Ohio: In Lancaster, Cord Camera shutdown.  Fayette County Memorial Hospital laid off eight staff, and warned of more, blaming Obama Care: “Health care is going through unprecedented change, and we will have to do more with less!”-Lyndon Christman, CEO

Oklahoma: After already announcing 1200 layoffs (including all their in-house Christian chaplains), Christian owned Chesapeake Energy warned of even more layoffs in 2014! The company has also sold off $4-million in assets.  Also, in-house ops like Chesapeake Weather have disappeared, news reports saying websites have been taken down and nobody answers phone calls.  In Oklahoma City, US Foods shutdown its distribution center. 175 jobs lost!

Pennsylvania: 68 years old Penn Refrigeration Service now bankrupt, and being liquidated under Chapter 7.  Company officials blamed the bad economy.  State run Presque Isle Downs & Casino laid off 26 employees.

Rhode Island: Care New England Health System, Memorial Hospital laid off seven staff.  Spokeswoman for the hospital, Susan McDonald warned that layoffs would be “…an ongoing process” due to Obama Care.

Tennessee:  In Olive Branch, Closure Systems International shutdown its bottle top factory. At least 100 jobs lost!

West Virginia: What housing market recovery? Fairmont Ruskin Manufacturing Plant shutdown. 185 jobs lost!  Company officials blame it on declining “commercial construction markets”.

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 04-07 October 2013. Massive grocery store shutdowns! Baby killer lays off 3-thousand people! What automotive & housing industries recovery? Rent & taxes killing mom & pops!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Alabama: Wiregrass Medical Center laid off at least 20 employees. Hospital officials say Obama Care is forcing them to “…cut $1.2-million…”! Hospital CEO, Jim Heitzenrater, said Affordable Health Care has hospital officials scrambling to figure out how they’ll stay alive under Obama Care.  What automotive industry recovery?  In Opelika, Benteler Automotive shutdown, 115 jobs lost!  All across the Yellowhammer State six Food World grocery stores shutdown. At least 500 jobs affected!

Arizona: In Scottsdale, Martini Ranch entertainment venue shutdown after 19 years of live shows.

California: In Salinas, the River Ranch Fresh Foods packing operation shutdown. More than 170 jobs lost! Owners said costs to fresh pack produce keep going up while sales keep going down! Sutter Health laid off at least 17 employees across the Golden State.

Colorado: In Fort Collins, Office Depot shutdown. Company officials said the property owner refused to reduce the rent.

Connecticut: In Danielson, after 46 years Gil’s Shoe Barn shutdown.

Georgia: In Cave Springs, Country Cousins gift store shutdown.

Indiana: Too Big to Jail, Citizens Financial Bank laid off at least 84 employees.  It’s blamed on First Merchants taking over the bank. Bank officials revealed that they consider IT employees to be “redundant” and are the first to be laid off.

Iowa: What automotive industry recovery? In Lake Mills, Cummins Filtration shutting down by the end of 2014.  80 jobs will be lost.

Florida: What housing market recovery? In Jacksonville, PHH Mortgage laid off 365 people!  It’s blamed on crashing demand in home loans.  All across the Sunshine State six Food World grocery stores shutdown, at least 500 jobs affected!

Maryland: Major tax sucker and baby killer Lockheed Martin laid off 3-thousand employees!!!  It’s blamed on military budget cuts.

Michigan: In Harvey, Walstrom’s Restaurant shutdown after 51 years of food.  The restaurant owner blamed ever increasing rent and taxes.

Minnesota: In Duluth, Garon Brothers jewelers shutdown.  They are focusing on internet sales only.

Nebraska: In Lincoln, Murray’s for Men of Stature shutdown.  Also, Kent’s Mens Shoes shutdown.

New York: In Queensbury, cancer drug delivery systems maker Delcath laid off 21 workers.  They blame it on the U.S. FDA.  In Rochester, Bausch + Lomb laid off 24 employees.  It’s blamed on the new Bausch + Lomb owner, Valeant Pharmaceuticals.  In Glenn Falls, a Blockbuster video store shutdown.

North Carolina: Computer seller Lenovo reported a “small” number of layoffs, even though their sales are up.

Ohio: What housing market recovery?  In West Chester, Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo shutdown their mortgage office, 63 jobs lost.  It’s blamed on crashing home loan demand.

Oklahoma: Prosthetics manufacturer OrthoCare Innovations shutdown.  The company is moving to Washington.

Texas: In Plano, Christian owned Dillards upscale department store shutdown. 101 jobs lost!  In Bryan, after 102 years of operations Parker-Astin Hardware shutdown.  The current owner, Zane Anderson, bought the store in 2005 because he “loved” it. He says the bad economy killed his dream!

Washington: In Olympia, a Office Max shutdown. It’s blamed on the merger of Office Max and Office Depot.

Wisconsin: In La Crosse, clothing store Scott Joseph Menswear shutdown after only eight years. It was the only men’s clothing store in town. The pissed off owner blames the bad economy: “It was a tough decision, but I just can’t get ahead. I thought the economy would come around.”-Scott Koenen

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