Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 08-09 April 2013. More than 2000 losing their jobs!

In Oklahoma, Too Big to Jail bank insurance company, BancInsure, ordered by state officials to spend more money!  This is after the company went bankrupt, and then the company was sold to New York based Foster Jennings, for only one dollar!!!

The 38 years old Wine Cellar in North Redington Beach, Florida, shut down.  It was sold to a property developer.  In Winter Park Village, the Truffles Grill closed up.  It’s part of the new business plan by parent company Ruby Tuesday.

In Virginia, taxpayer assisted MicroAire laid off 22 employees.  The state paid the company $100000 to move to Albemarle County.  The county gave the company $151000 as well.  County officials say the money was in exchange for creating 51 new jobs, not cutting 22 jobs! County officials also pointed out that they’ve been waiting for those 51 new jobs since 2011!  Company officials gave no reason for the layoffs.   In Woodbridge, Uno Chicago Grill closed up.

The Baltimore Museum of Art laid off 14 employees.  Officials with Maryland‘s biggest museum blame the bad economy.   And Boonsboro Video closed down.   The store opened in 1989.  The owners say they can’t compete against all the alternative forms of viewing movies at home.

In New York, a major maker of disposable catheters, Covidien, will close its Argyle factory by June 2014. 183 jobs lost!  In Horseheads, the Belden factory to close at the end of the year. They make parts for the cable TV industry.  At least 123 jobs lost!  And government contractor SRC laid off 77 employees, blaming cuts in government contracts.  Company officials also sounded a warning for more layoffs to come: “We need to take action now to prepare. The government is our largest customer.”-Lisa Mondello, SRC

Another government supported company, Wisconsin based Oshkosh, announced they will layoff 900 people!  Company officials say they are preparing for a huge reduction in sales of their military vehicles.  And the popular Confucius Restaurant in Appleton closed down.  The owners retired.

In Kentucky, body armor maker Ceradyne will layoff 93 people on 10 June.   The company has been getting less money from the U.S. Department of Defense, and they were bought out by 3M.

The University of Southern Maine will be laying off an undisclosed amount of employees, in an effort to save $5 million!  Union reps say at least seven people were let go.

In Washington, the Port Angeles School Board will layoff 15 people.  Last year they laid off or cut 47 positions.  School officials blame declining enrollment and lack of state funds.

The San Luis Coastal Unified School District, in California, announced 43 layoffs.  Officials blame a $6 million deficit!  The College of the Sequoias, in Visalia, laid off 11 child care workers.  The building the college normally used was closed due to mold contamination. Then the lease on the church the college was renting for child care, expired.  College officials say they did not renew the lease because of declining enrollment.  In San Fransisco, Live at the Rrazz (Rrazz Room) shut down.  It’s blamed on legal problems and failed business plans.

In Ohio, maker of home healthcare products, Invacare, laid off 68 people.  Company officials are blaming declining sales on an agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.   Back at the end of 2012, company officials made the same excuse when they laid off 143 people!

Harrison Steel Castings laid off 85 people, just two months after laying off 70 people.  The Attica, Indiana, steel company gave dire warning about the economy saying the layoffs are needed “to weather the current storm.”

General Electric shutting down production at their Pennsylvania locomotive factory.  950 people will lose their jobs!  Company officials blame competition: “Cost is becoming more and more of a factor.  We’ve got to match our competition and that’s what we’re trying to do.”-Lorenzo Simonelli, GE

In an ironic move, South Carolina’s De­part­­ment of Employment and Workforce laying off 100 people in June!  State officials blame huge reductions in federal funding, and a modernization program.

The New London Police Department, in Connecticut, laying off 20 employees.  Officials blame a $1.4 million cut in their budget.

In Iowa, the Muscatine County Jail laid off 14 employees.  Prison officials blame it on a huge reduction in federal prisoners.  No explanation why the number of federal prisoners are being reduced.

Caribou Coffee announced it will close 168 coffee shops around the United States.  Company officials said that 80 stores will be shut down and 88 will change names.   Officials said the closures are necessary for the long term.

The Plainview ISD, in Texas, closing two schools.  School officials blame it on the closing of the Cargill plant.  In Austin, Fran’s Hamburgers on South Congress Avenue closed down.  The lease on the 40 years old business was expiring, and the owners said it wasn’t worth it to renew.

The Wheaton Paper House closed down after 40 years of operation in Illinois.  The owner blamed competition from national chain stores.

Live event, tech service and marketing service company, UBM, laying off as many as 300 people!  Several offices around the U.S. will be closed.  The company will stop printing its publications in July (which includes Game Developer), and switch to digital only.  The company will also stop servicing certain live events.  Company officials blame “dramatic changes” in the industry in recent years.

In Massachusetts, Beehive Art studio shut down. Owners blamed a “neighbor” and the “landlord”.  After almost 100 years, Sealey’s restaurant closed down.  The owners said they were given an offer they couldn’t refuse.

In Fairmont, Minnesota, Premiere Video out-o-business.  The owners blamed internet services.  And god can’t stop another shut down of another Christian run business.  Journey Church and its alcohol free social center, U-Turn, shut down.  The pastor blames the bad economy, but is now concerned about the community at large, because “80% of our congregation is now recovering ex-cons.”-Rich Bontrager

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.

Business/Economics, U.S.

Martial Law U.S.A.: Government tracking your credit card purchases! Is there a government connection to increasing credit card scams!

08 June 2013 (22:29 UTC-07 Tango 07 June 2013)/29 Rajab 1434/18 Khordad 1391/01 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

“…[It’s] like giving someone the keys to your expensive car, letting them drive it around the block in a potentially dangerous neighborhood and saying please don’t get carjacked!”-Kumar McMillan, Mozilla developer on using credit cards on the internet

The Wall Street Journal reporting that it’s not just Verizon turning over phone records, but AT&T and Sprint Nextel.   The WSJ also reporting that the government seizure of your phone and internet data includes your credit card purchases.

A Democrat tried to downplay the whole thing, but inadvertently revealed this has been going on for a long time: “Everyone should just calm down and understand this isn’t anything that is brand new.”-Harry Reid, U.S. Senator from Nevada

The WSJ says credit card companies are refusing to comment.

The revelation that credit card transactions are being tracked causes me to question why there have been so many credit card scams, that are not stopped until after hundreds of millions of dollars are stolen.

Here are the most recent cases of massive credit card fraud, just from the past week:

The Too Big to Jail banks (like Bank of America, JP Morgan) have been ‘robo-signing’ credit card collections.  In other words just like some mortgage foreclosures made against people who had actually paid off their home loans, some credit card holders with good credit had their accounts falsely frozen or canceled (like me).

Another case involves the alternative money system, Bitcoin.  Apparently a credit card scam has managed to run $200 million USD through Bitcoin.  So far 11 people have been arrested.

In Ohio, it took two years to bust a credit card fraud ring.  At least 19 people have been arrested.  Eight suspects on the loose. The investigation involved a federal agency, known as the U. S. Marshals of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitives Task Force.  An investigator said massive credit card fraud is going on now, and involves big construction companies: “This is happening all over, it’s everywhere. Think about just about every retailer it has been occurring at. Primarily at the construction, home-improvement businesses because some of this was being funneled back into construction trades.”-Jim Gross, Perrysburg Township police

In Alabama, two men have been arrested for making $1 million per year by ripping off credit cards.  Other people were involved.  Investigators say the ringleaders ripped off credit cards by attaching ‘skimmers’ to card machines in stores.

In San Fransisco, California, a bail bonds company discovered people using fraudulent credit card info to post bail for people recently arrested.

If the federales have been tracking credit card transactions, in the name of law enforcement, then why have the numbers of credit card fraud been going up?

 

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

Martial Law U.S.A.: Pennsylvania trades schools and jobs for new prisons!

07 June 2013 (12:08 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Rajab 1434/17 Khordad 1391/29 Wu-Wu (4th month) 4711

Pennsylvania’s School Reform Commission has approved a school budget that will close 23 schools, and affect almost 3000 jobs.

Officials in the Keystone state say it’s necessary to pay down $304 million USD in debt.

But wait, that’s almost how much the evil police stateist elites are spending to build two new prisons!   $400 million is being spent to build State Correctional Institutions Phoenix I and II.

Ask yourself, why would government officials slash and burn millions of dollars in funding for schools, in favor of spending millions of dollars on new prisons?

Not only could it be that Martial Law is coming and they expect to be filling those prisons, but under the private corporate prison system they’re actually making money while public schools don’t make a dime.

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 06-07 April 2013.

Florida based Rotech Healthcare now bankrupt.  Company officials blamed it on debt that went back to 2002, but they also got into trouble after it was discovered they overbilled Medicare.  Rotech paid back $6.2 million USD to Medicare, and blamed the overbilling on a computer glitch.  Also in Florida, the Old Town amusement park in Kissimmee now bankrupt.   In Miami, emergency home repair service provider, HomeServe, laid off 160 people!  Local media said company officials would not say why they were laying off the employees.

Vodka seller Central European Distribution now bankrupt in the United States.  They blamed crashing sales.

In Ohio, Columbus State Community College will close its child development center on June 15.  School officials said they could no longer afford to keep it operating.

Delgado Community College, in Louisiana, is planning on laying off 100 employees!  School officials blame a 10% drop in enrollment.  Last school year they laid off 46 people.

In Indiana, Purdue University laid off 33 employees in the printing services department.  They laid off 22 people in their construction inspection department in March.  School officials blame several hundred of thousands of dollars in debt.

The Maine Public Broadcasting Network laid of 10 people.   They blame state and federal funding cuts.  In Bucksport, after more than 100 years in business, family owned Rosen’s department store closed down.

In Oregon, the Portland Development Commission wants to layoff 40 people.  Officials say it’s the only way to stay financially sustainable.

The New York Observer laid off 11 people.  Company officials say they need to improve efficiency.   In Gloversville, the Beacon Warehouse closed down.  The clothing store owner blamed it on the bad economy.

In Hawaii, French restaurant Le Guignol, closed down in Honolulu.   The owner blamed the bad economy.

Without notice, a popular lumber supply store shut down in Michigan.  Plainfield Lumber and Hardware closed after 67 years in business.  One local news media report said the company was in trouble with lawsuits and taxes.

In Illinois women’s clothing store, Deena’s, out-o-business.   The owner blamed the bad sales on people who don’t want to get ‘dressed up’ anymore.

 

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Class Warfare Front: Growing number of children denied food, whistleblowers fired!!!

06 June 2013 (18:20 UTC-07 Tango 05 June 2013)/27 Rajab 1434/16 Khordad 1391/28 Wu-Wu (4th month) 4711

“I think the county’s response is probably indicative of a larger mindset that is really frightening right now in the public school system. That we’ve stopped seeing kids as individuals…..Instead, they’re a number, or they’re a dollar sign!”-Katie Kaiser, outraged parent in Kentucky

“He sat at a table and watched his friends eat lunch. He was embarrassed and he was hungry. He came home starving.”-Elizabeth Ireland, outraged that her son was denied food at J.A. Leonard Middle School in Maine

Here’s what dip schtick school superintendent David Walker said: “[Middle School] Students are old enough to take responsibility for their lunches.”

Another parent responded angrily: “Take financial issues up with me, not my child!”-Kyla Harrison

“I’m proud that I was able to take a stand where others might not have been able to, and that I can maybe, in some little way, cause a change.”-Johnny Cook, school bus driver in Georgia, fired after he revealed that students are being denied food

Here’s what Johnny Cook wrote that got him fired: “A middle schooler got on my bus this evening and said mr johnny im hungry. I said why are you hungry buddy? Didn’t you eat lunch ? He said no sir I didn’t have any money on my account. I said they would let you charge it? No sir.

Huh! What! This child is already on reduced lunch and we can’t let him eat. Are you kidding me? I’m certain there was leftover food thrown away today. But kids were turned away because they didn’t have .40 on there account .

As a tax payer, I would much rather feed a child than throw it away. I would rather feed a child than to give food stamps to a crack head. My number is (…) the next time we can’t feed a kid for forty cent, please call me . We will scrape up the money.

This is what the world has come to.”

A private contracted food service company “…fired four employees after about two dozen students at a Massachusetts middle school were denied lunches…”-Associated Press

But wait, the New York based food service contractor didn’t fire the employees because they denied the students at Coelho Middle School food, but because masses of parents complained!  In other words, the employees were following orders!   Parent, John Greaves, is pissed off: “There are people in prison who are getting meals, my daughter, an honor student, is going hungry!?”

“Parent Katie Kaiser said her daughter who attends R.C. Hinsdale Elementary School was forced to dump out a full tray of food and given saltine crackers and cheese last week during state testing because of a $1.15 debt in her lunch account. Kaiser says she deposited money in her daughter’s online lunch account the night before, but the transaction wasn’t posted by lunch time the next day.”-WCPO channel 6, Kentucky 

It was revealed by WCPO that at least 40 impoverished Kenton County, Kentucky, elementary school students were denied food during state testing in May 2013!

“Kenton County Assistant Superintendent Kim Banta says they are authorized to give away only certain foods that the federal government provides the school for free.”-WCPO

According to WCPO, teachers, principals, parents with money and even unnamed donors are now paying to make sure all students get fed.   Gee, we already pay outrageous taxes for public schools and they can’t even provide one meal?

“Students at a Rhode Island middle school…..were forced to go back to class hungry after some of them were denied lunch and others were even ordered to throw away the lunches….24 students in all were turned away….The school’s principal said he is shocked, and has since launched an investigation into the [contracted] lunch provider.”-WHAS channel 11, Rhode Island

“Parents in New Jersey are outraged after learning their autistic son was forced to go hungry all day at school.  That’s because the school denied the boy his lunch…..So the 5-year-old just sat there at Cliffwood Elementary in Matawan and watched others eat.”-WABC channel 7, New York

“I put my number in and they just said that I was short 20 cents and I couldn’t get a lunch.”-Kerstin Hughes, Lakewood Middle School student in Washington

In Virginia, a Montevideo Middle School student was denied lunch, and was told even the so called ‘free’ lunch would cost her money: “….they just took my lunch back and said, ‘Sorry, you can’t have lunch today, and if we give you bread and milk, we’re gonna have to charge you an extra fifty cents.’”-Casey Irvine

KOMU, channel 8 in Missouri, reported that at least 12 students were denied food at Moberly High School.  “…they took his tray from him and dumped it out. My son said he wasn’t the only kid it was happening to. It was happening to other kids!”-Johnnie Carden, angry parent

In Michigan, a Roseville Middle School student was denied food, not because his parents owed money, but because the pre-paid account was too low and the lunch officials were not willing to extend credit: “He just said they denied him lunch.  He said, ‘I need money,’ but that was too late in the day for me to get him any money.  I was never notified by the school.  He just said that they said he couldn’t have it.”-Fred Eckert, angry parent

In Pennsylvania, Millersburg Middle School students were denied food, because the pre-paid accounts were negative $5.  School officials say it’s standard policy. Angry parents say they were not notified about the account shortage, or the policy.

In Tennessee, Mount Juliet Middle School lunch officials denied food to a 12 years old: “They took the tray away from him and said, ‘You can go find 30 cents if you want to eat your lunch’.”-Jennifer Jones, angry parent

And just what did Mount Juliet Middle School do with the lunch?  They threw it in the trash!  Give the kid the food or throw it in the trash, either way the dip schtick food service provider/school still loses the money!!!!

Even the Pope is pissed: “Throwing away food is like stealing from the table of those who are poor and hungry.”-Pope Francis

I’d like to correct the Pope; it isn’t “like stealing” from the poor, by denying food and throwing it away they have actually stolen the food from the poor!!!

In 2007 a school lunch lady, in Iowa, was fired for not only denying students food, but intentionally denigrating them in front of other students.  Here’s what she said about low income students: “[students] didn’t deserve to eat because they didn’t have money.”-Nancy J. Harvey

But wait, there’s more! Don’t think this is all about money, in one case a four years old was denied his own lunch that he brought from home!!!   In Raeford, North Carolina, the food police at West Hoke Elementary School took her home made lunch on the grounds it was not nutritional!  Here’s what was in her lunch made with love by mom:  A turkey and cheese sandwich, a banana, a container of apple juice, and potato chips.

But there’s insult to injury, the police stateist school told the mother of the child that they’re going to charge her for the crappy school made lunch that they forced her daughter to eat!!!

And in California, an Agoura High School student, with learning disabilities, who normally leaves campus for lunch was prevented from doing so because he scored low on the STAR (Standardized Testing And Reporting) test!!!  In other words school officials were using denial of access to food as a punishment for doing bad on a test!

Here’s what the evil school officials said in response to complaints by the parents: “It’s a privilege, not a right.”

Eating is a privilege?  I thought it was a necessity!

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 05 April 2013.

Stems, a major flower supplier to grocery stores and other retailers in Florida, Texas and Georgia, now bankrupt.

In Illinois, U.S. Cellular announced that as many as 600 people will lose their jobs!  It’s part of the takeover by Sprint.   Also, heavy equipment maker, Caterpillar, will layoff at least 460 people in June!  Company officials blame declining sales.

What automotive recovery?  California based hybrid car maker Fisker Automotive laid off about 175 people!  Company officials blame the Obama administration for cancelling a $529 million USD loan last year.

In Florida, United Space Alliance laid off 68 people.  The final layoffs as a result of the retirement of the Space Shuttle.  Also, hundreds of government contractors were laid off with little or no notice, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base: “I just bought a new house in October thinking I had a pretty secure job. And that’s not the case. Just got my lay off notice.”-Dustin Rhoades, contracted firefighter

The Grand Opera House in Wilmington, Delaware, laid off 25% of employees.  Ticket sales have been down, as well as corporate donations.  Main Street Sliders restaurant closed down in Newark.  The owner blames the bad economy and credit cards: “My fixed costs have started to outweigh my income.  This used to be a cash heavy business.  Today as much as 80% of my business is in credit cards.”-Jason Voit

In Tennessee, 32 people lost their jobs with cell phone insurer Asurion.

Front Street Books in Marathon, Texas, closed.

In Alabama, Books-A-Million closed its Tuscaloosa store.  The Books-A-Million chain lost $2.8 million at the end of their last fiscal year!  Also, the Gap clothing store closed their University Mall location.

Italian-American restaurant, Serafina, closed their Concord, Massachusetts operation.  The owners were done in by the bad economy: “It has been an up and down ride for the last seven years….We worked 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days a week. We thought it was time for us to move on.”-Sam Cannarozzi

In Maryland, Kids Consignments closed in Edgewater.

Language software company, Rosetta Stone, announced they will close 56 kiosk locations, and layoff 245 people!  This is after they laid off 70 people back in March.

What automotive recovery?  In Indiana, Hy-Matic Manufacturing shut down after 50 years of operations.  The owners of the automotive parts supplier say they lost their two biggest contracts.

In Potsdam, New York, the Sugar Creek/Wilson Farms store closed down.  It might be connected to the 2011 takeover by 7-Eleven.

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 04 April 2013.

In Kentucky, Seven Counties Services bankrupt.  Company officials blame mandatory payments into the Kentucky Employees Retirement System.  According to local news reports, if the mental health/developmental services/addiction treatment center shuts down it will affect 32000 people!

Too Big to Jail, Bank of America, laying off hundreds more employees, this time in New Jersey.   469 people lost their jobs in Newark!

Nebraska State Bank & Trust closed two branch offices, in Oconto and Mason City.  Bank officials blamed declining customers.

Allstate Insurance laying off an undisclosed number of employees in Virginia.

In Florida, U.S. Navy contractor East Coast Repair and Fabrication laid off 25 people.  Company officials blame contract cancellations by the USN.

Price Chopper lays off 34 more employees in New York. Company officials blame it on skyrocketing health care costs.  In West Village, The Lively Set antique shop closed down.  The owner says sales are no longer high enough to pay the rent.

In Kansas, Bunge North America is suspending soybean crushing and laid off one third of its employees. Company officials blame “depleted supplies” of soybeans.

The Higley Unified School District, in Arizona, cut 11 administration jobs.  The school district is short $1.8 million USD!

In Massachusetts, the 40 years old J&N Joke Shop closed down.  The owner is shifting to internet sales.  And the family owned West Concord SuperMarket closed down.  The brother owners want to retire, and no one else in the family wants to take over.

In California, My Baby News baby store closed in Santa Rosa.  The owners blamed crashing sales on internet competition.  Amylin Pharmaceuticals announced they are ending their San Diego operations in 2014.  420 employees will be affected!

After 90 years in business, Savrud Paint Shop closed in Kalispell, Montana.  They blamed the bad housing construction market: “The construction downturn has been very long. Very, very long. We don’t have nearly as much contractor business as we had.”-Dale Saverud

In Michigan, Michigan Steel has died.  The company was seized by creditors.  Last year company officials outright lied to local news media, telling them that business was so good they were expanding operations.  Then news that employee paychecks were bouncing, then checks to their creditors started bouncing.  State and federal tax liens were placed against the company.  At the beginning of this year company officials admitted they were in trouble but would not give details.  At one point the company had 200 employees.

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 03 April 2013. Obama/Romney Care takes out more health care providers! New York hit hard!

In California, Japanese video game maker, Square Enix, will layoff an undisclosed number of employees in Los Angeles.  Also, evil Disney killed video game maker LucasArts.  Unnamed sources said 150 LucasArts employees will lose their jobs!

In Texas, the La Paz Community Health Care Center now bankrupt.  The for profit mental health care center said it experienced a $3 million USD drop in revenue in 2012, blamed on Obama/Romney Care!

Also in Texas, the La Marque Independent School District is laying off 54 employees.

In Maine, the Brewer School System will layoff 30 employees.  Officials blame a $1.5 million shortfall.

The Waukesha School District, in Wisconsin, canceled a school bus contract with Dairyland Buses. 155 people out-o-work!  The dumb school officials switched to a company that uses buses that run on non-renewable inefficient propane.  Dairyland Buses use efficient diesel, and could be run on renewable bio-diesel.

In New York, the Chappaqua Central School District wants to cut 12 jobs.  After 34 years, the Good Food grocery store closed in Carroll Gardens.  The owner blames competition and an confidential offer from his bank.  In Corning, the Berger’s Ski & Snowboard Shop shut down.  The owner blames global warming.  Saratoga Beads closed down in Saratoga Springs.  The owner says it’s time to retire.  Too Big to Jail Bank of America announced that 1320 people will lose their jobs in Getzville!

The Roma Bank will layoff 57 employees in New Jersey. It’s the result of their merger with Investors Bank.

Flower & Craft Warehouse in Pennsylvania, shutting down.   Interestingly, the East Earl Township requires businesses that are going out of business to get a license to do so (apparently it’s also a state law)!  Before the township approved the going out of business sale, the store owners called it a “customer appreciation sale”.   This is an example of what’s wrong with local government vs local businesses.

In Florida, Duke Energy’s Crystal River CR3 nuclear powered electricity maker laying off 31employees.  It was also revealed that the nuke plant operators have plans to cut the nearly 600 employees down to about 80, over the long haul.

In Maryland, Famous Footwear closed down their Riva store.

Christian book store, LAOS Interfaith Bookstore in Amherst, Massachusetts, closing down.

In Connecticut, clothing maker Warnaco closing down its Milford factory.  208 people out-o-work!  They blame being taken over by New York based PVH.  In Cheshire, Willow’s Motorsports went out-o-business after 35 years in operation.  The owner wanted to retire, ten employees out-o-work.

Business/Economics

Employee owned WinCo expanding big into Arizona! Delays caused by Arizona aesthetics cops!

01 June 2013 (23:26 UTC-07 Tango 31 May 2013)/22 Rajab 1434/11 Khordad 1391/23 Wu-Wu (4th month) 4711

Since 2010 news out of Arizona talked of Idaho based WinCo opening a store in Gilbert, and a second one in Glendale.

The latest news says WinCo is also opening a massive warehouse near Phoenix, creating as many as 300 good paying jobs, with great benefits!   WinCo has already spent $12 million USD cash for the warehouse property.

The warehouse will be located on 74 acres, and employee owned WinCo has $78 million in cash to spend on the project (although it’s expected actual costs could go over $90 million).  It’s hoped it will be completed in 12 months.  According to my contacts at WinCo it is company policy to try and fund all their new projects with cash.  I’ve also been told that not one WinCo store is losing money!

It’s also company policy not to talk too much about future plans.  That’s because WinCo is an employee owned company, and publicly held crony corporations hate employee owned operations (and so do unions).

WinCo already has Arizona stores in Phoenix (a former Walmart), Mesa and Glendale (both former Costcos).  A new store is under construction for Gilbert (located where a former Dodge dealer was), and another in Glendale.

It was revealed that the Gilbert store was delayed last year when the Gilbert Design Review Board rejected WinCo’s architectural plans, on aesthetic grounds.  The new design was only recently approved by the Gilbert aesthetics cops.

Some advise for WinCo employees:  Don’t be tricked into taking the company public, it’ll be chopped up by Romney style vulture capitalists!

Washington Unions & city officials opposed to employee owned WinCo!

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 01-02 April 2013. Decreased student enrollment continues hitting schools hard!

In Pennsylvania, biotech company PolyMedix went bankrupt.  The Mountain Gate Family Restaurant closed down in Waynesboro.  A new restaurant will take its place.  In Plymouth Meeting, the Jewelbilee women’s accessory store closed down. The owners blame the bad economy.  The Bricks 4 Kidz creativity center, in The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, closed without notice.  One report says employees stopping by to get their paychecks found a pottery store in its place.

In Ohio, the Owens Community College wants to layoff as many as 60 employees, including teachers and administrators.

In Michigan, the Milan Area Schools will layoff up to 25 people. School officials blame it on a sudden decrease of $1.4 million USD in funding, connected to decreased student enrollment.  In Dearborn, 1-800 Flowers out-o-business, with out notice.  The store owner blames lack of business on lack of customer parking.

The Pomona School District, in California, announced it will have to layoff even more employees.  100 people were already planned to be laid off, now they want to add another 27.  Nanosolar wants to layoff 170 employees in San Jose!  SoloPower, also in San Jose, wants to layoff 61 employees.   Video game maker Activision forced High Moon Studios to layoff at least 40 employees.

The Maribu clothing accessory store in Massachusetts closed down.  The Webster Five Cents Savings Bank is closing a branch in Worcester.  Bank officials said “deposits” had not “grown enough” to justify keeping it open.

In Illinois, the Antique Emporium in Winnetka closed down after 40 years of operations.  The owner wants to retire.

In New York, Washington County will begin laying off employees, as it privatizes public services.   After 72 years in business the Rudnick’s Uniforms & Clothing service shut down in Schenectady.  The owners blamed low sales, increasing taxes and the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority: “….I’m not going to fight this city anymore. Metroplex hasn’t given me anything, and I’m not subservient to them!”-Linda Tolokonsky, co-owner

A major glove maker for the U.S. military is laying off at least 85 people in Mississippi.  Officials with Ansell Hawkeye say they are in the process of fulfilling their last government contract, and it looks like they aren’t going to be getting anymore contracts, so the layoffs might turn into a company shutdown.

Another Department of Defense contractor, AAR Mobility Systems in Colorado, will layoff 130 employees!  Company officials partially blamed government spending cuts.

Communications company, Briljent, said it will layoff as many as 130 people in Indiana.  Company officials blame it on losing a federal contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid.

In Texas, the East Texas Medical Center will layoff 7% of employees.  Hospital officials blame Obama/Romney Care: “…Changes in the healthcare landscape are resulting in further cuts in reimbursement from Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers….”

Beer maker, Anheuser-Busch, laying off 30 people in Saint Louis, Missouri.  Some of the work is being transferred to Argentina.  In Maplewood, Saint Louis Cellars wine store shut down to make room for an entertainment service.   It was finally revealed that CPI was closing down portrait studios in Walmarts (although CPI still refuses to comment to news media). Some of us in Idaho noticed the portrait studios started disappearing from Idaho Walmarts back in January.

In Florida, the J. Alexander’s restaurant in Orlando closed down.  No reason given to the local news media.

Kind of good news from Wisconsin.  The Outagamie County juvi prison is closing down, due to a lack of child criminals!