Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics

“Idaho…lost about 14,200 residents” NFL is taxpayer funded tool of War! Tech layoffs accelerate! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 19 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: In Los Alamitos, after 35 years Ovation Flower Gallery shutting down by the end of June.

Florida:  Alachua County Public Schools eliminating 1-hundred non-teacher jobs!  Administrators say it’s the only way they can afford to hire more behavioral teachers, as there seems to be skyrocketing instances of behavior problems with students!  ObamaCare insurance companies plan to jack up ObamaCare rates for Floridians by another 17.7% in 2017! 

Idaho:  In Pocatello, the Subway sandwich shop on Garrett Way is now dead and vacated.

According to the Idaho Business Review the state Department of Labor has inadvertently revealed the true reason The Gem State is welcoming ‘war’ refugees/migrants; there is an mass exodus of U.S. residents from Idaho!  In fact, the number of U.S. families leaving Idaho outpace the number of refugee/migrant families being brought in. Jerome County alone lost more than 830 U.S. residents in a five years period, and realize that Idaho has an official population of about 1.5-million: “The 16 counties in eastern and southeastern Idaho have lost about 14,200 residents since 2010. Every county experienced a net loss in migration, and the businesses in those communities are finding it hard to grow. Many are considering moving out of the state, Regional Economist Chris St. Jeor said.”

Kentucky: Kentucky Community and Technical College eliminated 506 jobs, blaming it on what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome and $26-million USD in taxpayer funding cuts!

Nebraska: In Imperial, after 23 years Steve’s Video shutting down due to the owner’s health problems.

New Mexico:  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; California based Intel accelerating layoffs at its Rio Rancho ops, employees told local news media that the layoffs were supposed to take place two years from now, not by December of this year.  Not only are hundreds of people being laid off by Xmas, but the Rio Rancho plant is being shutdown as well!  Here’s what Intel said about accelerating layoffs across the world : “The majority of changes will be communicated worldwide over the next 60 days with some actions stretching into 2017, through site consolidations, a combination of voluntary and involuntary departures, reevaluation of projects, and an increased focus on efficiency in a variety of programs. We are not providing further site-specific information at this time.”

New York: NYC based National Football League (NFL) revealed that it’s being used by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to promote war.  It’s the result of research launched last year by Arizona’s senators John McCain and Jeff Flake.  Because of the investigation the NFL returned $724-thousand “paid patriotism” taxpayer dollars to the DoD, which McCain said “is the right thing to do.”  In Hornell, France based rail road car maker Alstom laying off 25 people on Friday, due to contract changes.  ObamaCare insurance companies plan to jack up ObamaCare rates for New Yorkers by another 17.3% in 2017! 

North Carolina: Delta Apparel shutting down their Maiden clothing factory, 159 people jobless starting in July!  The unAmerican company is moving production to Honduras.

Ohio: American Modern Insurance Group issued a WARN saying at least 68 employees would become unemployed by the end of June.  It’s the result of American Modern shutting down their Amelia Financial Institutions Division.

Oklahoma: American Energy Partners shutting down by June, already 1-hundred people have been laid off!  Local news reports blames this oil industry BS on the sudden death of the company’s founder.

Pennsylvania:  In Allentown, Black Rose Antiques and Collectibles shutting down next week, apparently they’re moving to a new location but refuse to say when.

Tennessee: In Limestone, ‘god’ powerless to stop nursing home John M. Reed Health & Rehabilitation shutting down due to the federal government ending Medicare/Medicaid payments.  The board members include members of the Church of the Brethren.   In 2015 the nursing home was accused of having so called “deficiencies” that could threaten the health of patients, mainly a lack of competent employees.

Texas:  Sears holdings revealed the Brownsville Kmart is shutting down by August.

Washington: Spectrum Glass shutting down their factory in Woodinville, 124 jobs lost starting in July!  ObamaCare insurance companies plan to jack up ObamaCare rates for Washingtonians by another 13.5% in 2017! 

Washington DC: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; the software/internet security contractor hired by failed U.S. Office of Personnel Management (responsible for the data hacking theft of more than 20-million employees, including yours truly, it took OPM a year to discover that my data had been hacked and it prevented me from getting unemployment after my layoff from the USPS because they couldn’t confirm I was a government employee) is now out of business. Imperatis Corporation suddenly halted operations and laid off employees, claiming to be cash broke.  To add insult to injury Imperatis demanded another $37-million taxpayer dollars to fix the problem, after already spending $67-million!  News reports say Imperatis has a history of screwing-up government contracts.

 

18 May 2016: “Competition has increased unbelievably!”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification.

I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

“Competition has increased unbelievably.” Bankruptcy = Growth? Idaho Panama Papers connection! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 18 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: Shaw Industries shutting down their Plant 14, 183 jobs lost due to the company’s ongoing consolidations (160 jobs eliminated last year)!  In Birmingham, after 42 years McMillan’s Big & Tall clothier shutting down in June. The building will be torn down.

California: In Stockton, after three years restaurant French 25 shutting down by June due to the greedy landlord: “We tried to negotiate a new lease. It didn’t happen.”-Bruce Davis, restaurant owner

Connecticut: In Stamford, British empire Too Big to Jail RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) laying off 33 people by the end of June.

Florida: Saks Fifth Avenue shutting down their Fort Myers store, on Cleveland Avenue, 50 jobs gone by the end of October.

Idaho: More corruption news out of the ‘christian’ dominated Gem State.  A month after the Panama Papers were made public by whistleblowers “…a number of Idaho shareholders were listed under Accelonic Ltd., an offshore company with more than 1,000 officers around the world.” Another sham offshore company reportedly involves an Idaho company that makes chemicals to preserve potatoes.  Some other sham companies involving Idaho investors are Uluwatu Holdings and DocDoc.  “First, where did the money being held in these entities come from? Second, why was the money held in these entities and hidden from view?”-John Miller, University of Idaho

Also, the AFL-CIO’s annual Executive PayWatch survey reports that chief executive officers in Idaho are paid an average 277 times more than Idahoans earning minimum wage, and 149 times more than Idahoans earning a ‘living wage’!

Illinois:  In Chicago, elitist diner Baffo shutting down by the end of the month, the owners admitted their “very expensive” eatery “is not capturing the Chicago diner as intended.”

Indiana: In Lafayette, after 37 years Aardvark Furniture shutdown, the owner says its time to retire because “The community has dramatically changed in the last 15 years. Competition has increased unbelievably.”

Kansas: In Wichita, at least three adult learning centers were shutdown due to taxpayer funding cuts.

Kentucky:  Mega grocery store owner Kroger refuses to renew the lease for the Bristol Bar and Grille, which has been located at the Kroger owned Prospect Village Shopping Center for the past ten years.  Kroger administrators admitted to local news media that they found a new tenant who is willing to pay much higher rent.

Maine: Franklin Community Health Network eliminating 40 jobs and halting any planned pay raises.  Administrators blame it on Maine’s version of ObamaCare.

Massachusetts: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; Boston Weak based electronic payment processor Merchant Customer eXchange (MCX) laid off 30 people and is once again delaying the release of its new payment processing software.

Michigan: McLaren Flint outsourcing its food service jobs, at least 83 in-house employees unemployed by July.

Minnesota: Globe University-Minnesota School of Business  shutting down four campuses due to the state attorney general charging them with frauding students, at least 45 jobs lost.

Mississippi: Merit Health Natchez laid off an undisclosed number of employees.  Merit Health Natchez was created when Natchez Regional Medical Center and Natchez Community Hospital merged in an attempt to deal with reduced customer traffic caused by ObamaCare.  Administrators said ObamaCare has reduced customer traffic so much that even their new merged hospital ops are still too big!

New Jersey: Paterson School District conducting a second round of layoffs, local news media say administrators are not willing to disclose how many people are becoming unemployed.  In Closter, after 13 years the owners of Harvest Bistro and Bar suddenly announced they were shutting down this weekend.

New Mexico: Albuquerque Public Schools eliminating 82 jobs due to being short $9.5-million USD!

New York: In NYC, concert producer SFX Entertainment-Beatport chapter 11 bankrupt busted, at least 60 people losing their jobs. Clothier The Limited shutting down their NYC Lafayette Street store, 39 jobs lost by August. Sears Holdings issued yet another WARN, this time for their Rotterdam Square Mall store, 67 jobs gone by August.  The new owner of mattress seller Sleepy’s announced they will eliminate an undisclosed number of jobs, despite building a new warehouse-office in Hicksville.   More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise;  IBM shutting down its Somers operations by March 2017.  Local news reports say at one time the IBM Somers campus employed 3-thousand people!

North Carolina: Medical device maker Arrow International eliminating 456 jobs in Ashboro, between now and sometime in 2017!

Pennsylvania: Too Big to Jail ‘financial services holdings’ company BB&T issued mass layoff WARN, 241 jobs gone by mid-July!  Pocono Medical Center laid off 55 people.

Tennessee: In Chattanooga, after more than two years Brash Coffee shutting down by the end of the month.  The owners blame their employees “for moving on with their careers……..Brash Chattanooga cannot continue without these amazing people…” 

Texas: Three years after emerging from bankruptcy, Dallas based phone number publisher dexmedia.com now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Administrators said it’s part of their “new strategy” for growth.

West Virginia: In Chester, River Islands Collectibles shutdown.

Wisconsin: Globe University-Minnesota School of Business shutting down two of its four Wisconsin campuses due to the Minnesota state attorney general charging them with frauding students.

17 May 2016: “There’s no reason to be here!”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification.

I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

“There’s no reason to be here!” Blame China for jacked-up rents! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 17 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Investigation by the Rosen Consulting Group and the Asia Society has discovered that from 2010-15 Chinese ‘investors’ have bought more than $300-billion USD worth of commercial and residential U.S. properties and real estate securities.  This can explain the sudden and unjustified skyrocketing rents (which coincide with the same time period) that are making U.S. families homeless and shutting down mom-n-pop businesses!

California: Los Angeles based ‘old oil well restorer’ BreitBurn Energy Partners now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Mississippi: A federal court ordered the Cleveland School District to merge its still segregated junior highs and high schools.  This proves to you liberal law loving weenie heads that just because its one of your beloved laws on paper doesn’t mean its being complied with.   The consolidation of segregated schools will result in layoffs.

Nebraska: In Lincoln, after 55 years Four Star Drug suddenly announced it was shutting down three stores! The owner blames a combination of jacked up rents (blame China) and ObamaCare.  He pointed out that in 1980 only 30% of prescription drug costs were covered by insurance or government, 70% of customers paid in cash.  Today he says 97% of drug costs are covered by insurance-government plans and under ObamaCare the insurance companies dictate the price, which is too low for small independent pharmacies to exist on.

Ohio: In Cincinnati, after two years happy belly On Vine shutting down their Over-the-Rhine ‘healthy foods’ location by the end of the month.  It sounds like the owner is too busy with another restaurant and a “growing family”.

South Carolina: It was revealed that Frank Theatres CineBowl in Inlet Square Mall suddenly shutdown last Saturday. There was no comment by the theater operator or the mall owner.  Local news reports say many theater customers are pissed, saying it was their only reason to go to the mall: “There’s no reason to be here! the only reason to come here was the movie theater. The only.”-John Chiesa

Tennessee:  Automotive parts maker Leroy-Somer laying off 180 people at its Lexington factory, due to “a drop in demand for our industrial alternator products and the impact of the weakened economy”!

Texas: The city of Navasota eliminating 17 city jobs blaming crashing tax revenues due to the petroleum industry BS: “We have postponed projects, we have had a hiring freeze, we tried everything. Unfortunately, sales of natural gas and other utilities have not picked up.”-Brad Stafford, city manager

Virginia: Bristol Compressors eliminating 120 jobs, blaming the oil industry BS!

Washington DC: Reports that Corcoran School of Art and Design at George Washington University laid off ten professors, while at the same time hiring-on a new “visiting” professor.  It’s connected to plans to merge with Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.

West Virginia: In Charleston, after 82 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) clothier Kelly’s on Bridge shutting down by the end of the month.

Wisconsin: Graphic Packaging International shutting down their 70 years old Menasha industrial paper products factory, 228 jobs gone by Xmas 2016!  Administrators admitted “We have acquired other facilities recently that have state-of-the-art capabilities.”

Wyoming: Due to incompetent doctors, which are now resulting in “a flood of litigation”, Powell Valley Healthcare now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification.

I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

“600,000 additional job losses” ObamaCare to shutdown cancer clinics? Taxpayers fund prison labor! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 16 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; Palo Alto based Jive Software laying off 1-hundred people by the end of June, in an attempt to reach “sustainable profitability.”  In San Francisco, after 20 years OK Corral Western and Work Wear shutting down, despite the fact they’re also on the internet: “We are closing because the whole demographic has changed a lot.”-Juan Carlos Mora, owner

Colorado: British empire Canada based petroleum services company Sanjel sold-off their Colorado operations, 155 jobs lost by the end of the month!  The new owner of the oil field ops, Liberty Oilfield Services, says it will not hire-on the former Sanjel employees.

Idaho:  More corruption in the ‘christian’ dominated Gem State; Olympus Healthcare agrees to pay Idaho $107,219 in restitution after getting caught bribing (kickbacks) Idaho healthcare providers!

Illinois: Dynegy shutting down two of three of its coal fired generators at the Baldwin Energy Complex, 122 jobs lost!  Administrators blame the Midcontinent Independent Service Operator for setting electric rates so low it guaranteed they would financially fail.

Kentucky: Gateway Community and Technical College laid off ten people and halted four programs, due to massive state taxpayer funding cuts.

Minnesota: Local news reports revealed a new Obama regime plan to fight terrorism; give them jobs!  The new ‘anti-radicalism’ program is through the U.S. Department of Justice and is focused on preventing refugee/immigrants from going all terrorist on your ass by using your tax dollars to create busy-work programs for them.  For some reason the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota (CSCM) is getting the lion’s share of the busy-work funding.  Local news reports say the local Somali population suspects the ‘anti-radicalism’ program is just another way to illegally spy on them.

Missouri: After 20 years the Campbell 16 movie theater shutting down by the end of July: “I will tell you that attendance has been declining, and it’s made it impossible to keep the doors open.”-Kelly Hoskins, Wehrenberg Theatres

New York: Local news sources revealed that the Obama regime is spending more of your tax dollars on busy-work programs for refugees settling in Utica.   It’s part of a $21-million USD federal grant spread across 11 U.S. cities, under the guise of providing refugee ‘students’ with summer jobs. 

Oklahoma: Petroleum explorer SandRidge Energy now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

The state Department of Corrections shutting down 15 prisoner work camps, local news reports say slave loving municipalities are crying in their ‘christian’ beer about how they’re going to replace their cheap prison workers.  State administrators revealed the prisoner work camps were actually costing taxpayers $18-million USD to operate! 

Vermont: Burlington College shutting down by the end of the month!  Administrators blame it on their 2010 decision to buy property once owned by the ‘christian’ god, saying the college “struggled under the crushing weight of the debt incurred by the purchase of the Archdiocese property on North Avenue.”

Washington: In Blaine, after more than ten years Dakota Creek Winery shutting down so the owner can enjoy a “true retirement”.  

Washington DC: After 40 years the U.S. Department of Treasury finally revealed by how much the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) owns your sorry taxpaying ass; $117-billion USD! That puts KSA in 13th place (China and Japan are currently tied for the #1 position).  The revelation was forced by a Freedom of Information Act demand by Bloomberg.   U.S. Representative Peter J. Visclosky, of Indiana, and Congressional Steel Caucus Chairman Tim Murphy stated “Recognition of China as a market economy by the WTO would be devastating to the American steel market and its supply chain costing upwards of 600,000 additional job losses and sending catastrophic shockwaves across the entire United States economy.”   Utah based cancer doctor William E. Nibley is warning that the Obama regime is about to institute an Medicare Part B ‘experiment’ which could result in the shutdown of 75% of cancer treatment providers!  In 2013 the Obama regime slashed Part B reimbursements and under this new cancer treatment experiment will slash and burn payments to doctors/clinics even more!  Obama regime cronies (with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) say the ‘experiment’ is meant to see if reducing payments will actually reduce the level of care for people dealing with cancer! 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification.

I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

50% of new jobs pay poverty wages! Idaho fires tax saving employees! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 14 – 15 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: Despite Kroger’s claim that they plan to hire 14-thousand people this year, and after Kroger issued a shutdown WARN for their Indian Wells grocery store,  and revelations of the shutdown of their Rialto Ralphs, local news reports say the Arcadia Ralphs in the Rancho Santa Anita Shopping Center is also being shutdown. A spokesman for Ralphs claims that between 80 and 1-hundred Arcadia Ralphs employees have been transfered to other stores.  In Paso Robles, after 11 years Faultline Music shutting down next month.    The ignorant owner blames internet competition, even saying that “Even the big guys like Walmart, Target…” are suffering despite the fact that Walmart and Target sell on the internet!

Connecticut: The failed ‘elected’ state lawmakers finally passed a budget; state agencies, and private non-profits getting taxpayer funding, will lose a total of $821-million USD, resulting in massive shutdowns and layoffs!

Idaho: ‘Suspect’ State Treasurer Ron Crane is now facing wrongful termination charges by a former employee, who was fired “in direct retaliation for communicating in good faith the existence of extensive waste of public funds/manpower and illegality”.  In November 2015 five state employees reported to their superiors massive corruption in the Republican ‘christian’ controlled state government. Instead of being praised for revealing the waste of taxpayer funding, they were accused of insubordination!  Two were fired!     The Idaho Housing and Finance Association reports that the number of homeless people in northern Idaho has increased 5% since 2015.  Local charities say the homeless rate is actually higher than the official count because not all localities are included in the head-counting, and warned the homeless rate will go up: “Although the homeless number is always interesting, those living from paycheck to paycheck who are on the verge of losing their homes is far greater. That’s the bigger issue.”-Jeff Conroy, Saint Vincent de Paul of North Idaho

New Hampshire: Teledyne PCT was sold-off and local news reports say the new owner, FTC Circuts, plans to shut it down, 80 jobs lost. 

New Jersey: Sussex County Community College eliminated 47 jobs.

New Mexico: Albuquerque Public Schools shutting down 57 years old Acoma Elementary, due to what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome (low enrollment).

New York:  New York City’s own Quarterly Economic Update admits that almost 50% of all new jobs in The Big Apple pay poverty level wages.  This is proven by the fact that the number of people finding jobs have increased, yet city level personal income tax collections are crashing due to the low wages: “New York City’s private sector added 41,700 jobs, or 4.6 percent (seasonally adjusted annualized rate), in 1Q16, after adding a moderate 8,800 jobs in 4Q15….           ….NYC personal income tax (PIT) revenues, a proxy for personal income, fell 0.3 percent on a year-over-year basis to over $3 billion in 1Q16, due to weak collections and a higher volume of refunds.”

North Carolina: Without waring Vertex Railcar laid off 60 people, but then turned around and said a new order for railcars came in so they’ll rehire some of those laid off: “…market conditions and commodity prices change all the time. Because of our global footprint, Vertex understands the challenges that come with the ever-changing nature of the industry.”-Donald Croteau, ceo

Ohio: In Harrison Township, after 46 years Barnsider restaurant shutdown on Saturday, the building was sold-off three days prior.

Oklahoma: Despite surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions, Lyon’s Indian Store shutting down after 1-hundred years in Tusla. 40% of sales went to tourists. The owners are dealing with health problems and tried to sell the iconic novelty store, but nobody made a “true offer”.

Tennessee: In Chattanooga, after two years Harvest Grocery suddenly announced it was shutting down.  An arrogant loyal customer blamed “the community” for not “supporting” the ‘natural foods’ store.  Personally, my lack of income is enough to prevent me from “supporting” such expensive ‘natural foods’ ops.  The economy sucks because the ‘99%’ don’t have any cash because the ‘1%’ are sucking it up.  99-percenters stop blaming each other!

Virginia: In Waynesboro, after 60 years McCoy’s Furniture shutting down when the inventory is gone.  The store was sold to a guy in Texas because the original owner’s adult children did not want to take over the business.  The ‘new’ Texas owner refused to say why he was shutting down the supposedly successful store.

West Virginia: In Belle, Walker Machinery issued a WARN, saying an undisclosed number of employees will become unemployed in July.  I’ve repeatedly pointed out that a sure sign your ‘system’ has failed is the jack-up of taxes and/or creation of new taxes.  Gov’na Earl Ray Tomblin has called a special legislative session to do just that!  On the agenda is increasing the state sales and tobacco taxes and creating a telecommunications tax.  The gov’na says it’s the only way to prevent funding cuts.

Wyoming:  What housing market recovery? In another example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL), in Gillette local news reports say residential vacancies have skyrocketed due to the oil-mining industry BS: “About 18 months ago, finding an apartment to rent was difficult, with a stingy vacancy rate of only 0.7 percent. By the end of March, the vacancy rate has jumped to 12 percent.”

“It was costing us more to keep it open.” : 13 MAY 2016

 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification.

I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

“It was costing us more to keep it open.” Secret Jewish hospital shutdown underway! Boise steals business investments? : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 13 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; after three years the website The Toast will cease new postings by July.  The owners revealed they’ve been discussing shutting it down altogether for the past six months.  They also admitted it’s actually difficult to finance such a website.

California: Despite Kroger’s claim that they plan to hire 14-thousand people this year, and after Kroger issued a shutdown WARN for their Indian Wells Ralphs grocery store, local news reports say the Rialto Ralphs is also being shutdown.  A spokesman for Ralphs said the “The store had been significantly under-performing for many years” and will shutdown by June.   57 years old Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena shutdown, supposedly it’s being replaced by a $250-million USD project.

 

More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; Mountain View based software company Symantec announced a restructuring plan that will eliminate 1-thousand 2-hundred jobs and shutdown some operations!

Florida: God powerless to stop ‘his’ Saint Leo University system from eliminating 30 jobs due to “restructuring”. Interestingly local news reports say administrators claim they’re actually creating new jobs.

Idaho: The Idaho Technology Council reports that from 2014 to 2015  business investments into The Gem State tripled ($3.47 billion to $16.29 billion)!  However, when you break it down by region all the big increases in investments went to the Boise area (aka southern sector of the state), north and east sectors saw little change in investments.  And 60% went to the service sector (retail).

New Jersey: Paterson School District eliminating 80 office jobs, and considering shutting down four schools.

New York: That which cannot be named powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘its’ Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center.  The Villager reports that three nurses are blowing the whistle on plans to shutdown the hospital, which has survived The Great Depression and numerous recessions.  Administrators had been talking about renovations, but three months ago that talk stopped and now some nurses are being offered transfers elsewhere.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; 3D printer maker MakerBot issued a layoff WARN for their Brooklyn location, at least 80 people jobless by mid-July.  After ten years Northeast Kingdom restaurant shutting down by the end of the month, the owners are focusing on their upstate farm.

Ohio: The Top Ohio Pet Shelter in Logan County shutting down due to massive debt, more than 60 dogs and cats threatened. Administrators say they get only $7-thousand USD from the county every month, which is not enough to cover all expenses, and commissioners refuse to give anymore.   Despite surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions, Gearhart’s Hardware Store shutting down saying the economy is not recovering: “It’s just that people are not buying. It just seems like the economy hit us hard on this side of town. I just don’t have anything left. I’m basically broke. I’m going to have to file for bankruptcy.”-David Miller, owner

Pennsylvania: Camden School District eliminating 154 jobs due to a $39-million USD budget shortfall!   Despite surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions, Radnor based oil drilling company Penn Virginia now bankrupt busted with $1.4-billion in debts!  In Lebanon, after 31 years American Home Video shutting down. The owners tried everything to beat the competition including selling non-video items, then they tried selling the property but nobody wants it: “It was costing us more to keep it open. We’re just ready to get rid of it. It’s a good location, but there’s just no interest in it so far.”-Darlene Springborn

Texas: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; Austin based video game maker Wizard101-KingIsle Entertainment revealed they laid off an undisclosed number of employees, after canceling the release of some new smart phone video games.  In Cypress, reports say eT Craft Burgers and Beer suddenly shutdown, even their social media site is gone.

Washington: In Pasco, CRF Frozen Foods suddenly shutdown, 250 jobs on hold!  Administrators claim the shutdown is temporary due to the listeria outbreak connected to its products.  In Bellingham, Cozy Corner Books & Coffee shutting down tomorrow, due to not being able to renew the lease.

Wyoming: Due to the continued mining/oil industry layoffs, Wyoming Machinery laid off an undisclosed number of employees, without warning.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification. I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

Factory wages at welfare levels! Half of retail stores to shutdown! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 12 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

“…on an apples-to-apples basis, we have twice as much per-capita retail space as any other place in the world. The U.K. is second. ….we are the most over-stored place in the world.  …it’s going to have to go down by at least half at some point in time.  In the next 13 years…50% of sales will be online…”-Jan Kniffen, retail analyst interviewed by CNBC

California:  A UC Berkeley-National Employment Law Project study has revealed that about 6-million U.S. factory workers are paid so little they also qualify for welfare: “…between 2009 and 2013 the federal government and the states spent $10.2 billion per year on public safety net programs for workers (and their families) who hold frontline manufacturing production jobs. This includes workers directly hired by manufacturers and those hired through staffing agencies.”    In Fresno, bicycle customizer Fulton Cycle Works shutting down, the owner and member of the California Air National Guard says his insurance company is tired of him being the victim of burglars. The latest theft was done by a woman who broke through a window to steal one bike! Interestingly the bike she stole didn’t have any pedals, so she came back for another bike! The stolen bikes were recovered, but this is just one burglary among dozens to hit Fulton Cycle Works and the business insurance provider said they are canceling the policy.   More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; The Mercury News reports that in the first four months of 2016, “…3,135 tech jobs lost in the four-county region of Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda and San Francisco counties…”! That’s more than double from the same time last year.

Florida: In Saint Petersburg, after 31 years Brighton Prep School shutting down due to the not-so-recovered economy preventing parents from paying the school fees.

Illinois: The Gary School Board suddenly laid off 13 people, including their InfoTech director.

Louisiana: Fruit of the Loom-Martin Mills shutting down its Vidalia Distribution Center, 167 jobs gone by July! Hexion chemicals announced the slow burn shutdown of its Norco location, 97 jobs lost over the next few years. Despite reporting better than expected revenues, Arizona based mining company Freeport-McMoRan will eliminate 32 oil jobs in New Orleans. Offshore Specialty Fabricators announced that the 67 people furloughed in March are now permanently laid off.   More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; in Baton Rouge, Xerox eliminated 84 data collection jobs with its State & Local Solutions ops.

New York: Roof Diagnostics Solar and Electric issued a shutdown WARN for its Henrietta operations, 38 jobs gone by mid-August.  Here’s a list of recently discovered restaurant shutdowns in the Big Apple; Thirteen Pies, Afredo’s, Asante, H. Harper Station and The Pecan.  

North Carolina: Gold’s Gym shutdown their Winston-Salem Fourth Street location, it’s the 4th Gold’s Gym to shutdown in Winston-Salem.

Ohio: In Lima, after 39 years restaurant Lickity Split shutting down due to the owner’s health problems, and the owner says nobody wants to take over the business.

Pennsylvania: In Mechanicsburg, after 25 years Grandpa’s Growler restaurant shutting down after being sold-off.

Rhode Island: Warwick School Committee eliminating a net of 42 teaching jobs as part of consolidation efforts to save $4.2-million USD.

Texas: In the Austin area, small scale beer brewer Ironsight shutdown without warning, indicating it might have something to do with the landlord when they said they were looking “for a new home with a new name”.   In the same area small scale Beer brewer Bindlestick shutting down soon, possibly due to increasing competition.   According to the Brewers Association last year 620 new ‘craft beer’ breweries opened across the U.S.  There are now more breweries in the U.S. than in the past 126+ years!

Washington DC: California owned Howard University Hospital eliminating 110 jobs by the end of June!  So far for this fiscal year the hospital has lost $10-million USD, no thanks to ObamaCare!

West Virginia: In Morgantown, after 60 years autoshop Jimmy’s Sunoco shutting down this weekend.

Wisconsin: Joy Global shutting down its Milwaukee welding ops, turns out 130 people have already been laid off!  It’s blamed on the petroleum and coal industries.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification. I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

Disney kills Star Wars? “it’s putting me out of business” Congress continues to steal from USPS! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 11 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California:  Despite Korger’s claim that they plan to hire 14-thousand people this year, Kroger issued a shutdown WARN for their Indian Wells Ralph’s grocery store, 63 jobs lost by July.   Maggiano’s Little Italy shutting down their Sacramento restaurant, 103 jobs gone by July!  In Vernon, without warning Handmade Real Foods laid off 316 people! Amazingly, for such a large and sudden layoff, there’s been no news media reports about it.  Also in Vernon, food packaging maker Pactiv issued a shutdown WARN, 107 jobs gone by July! Aircraft maintainer World Service West issued a shutdown WARN for their Los Angeles operations, 137 jobs gone by mid-June!  In Santa Maria, aircraft seat maker Zodiac Seat Shells laying off 168 people by mid-June! In Santa Rosa, school bus contractor First Student eliminating 136 jobs by the end of June!  Solara Holdings shutting down their San Diego ops, 83 jobs gone by the end of June.  Also in San Diego, used cell phone seller ecoATM laying off 107 people by the end of the month!  Hotel The Declan Suites eliminating 65 jobs by the end of June. Ardea Biosciences eliminating 141 jobs by July!  Switzerland based drugs maker Actavis eliminating 19 jobs in Corona, by July. Surgical glove maker Sempermed shutting down their Ontario location by the end of June.  Without warning Visiting Nurse Association laid off 16 people in Redlands and Riverside.  What housing market recovery?  Building designer Los Angeles Guild eliminating 57 jobs at their Hawthorne location, by July.   Nortek Security & Control shutting down their Eastvale location by July, 25 jobs lost.  In San Francisco, ‘peer-to-peer’ lender Prosper Marketplace will layoff 65 people by July.   Aramark Sports and Entertainment shutting down in Palm Springs, 68 jobs gone by the end of June.  In North Hollywood, hypocritically Versi-Staff Solutions eliminating 150 jobs by July!  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; data storage contractor Western Digital issued multiple layoff WARNs, 204 jobs gone between June and July!  Symantec continues to kill jobs, this time 15 employees in Mountain View to be unemployed by June.

Missouri: Maker of parts for aerospace, military and healthcare, Machine Laboratory shutting down its Chesterfield factory, 73 jobs gone by July.

New York: In Albany, after two years the Fort Orange General Store shutting down in June, due to the owner’s health problems.

North Carolina: Sitel shutting down its Ashville call center, 189 jobs gone starting in July!  In Morganton, after 55 years Mimosa Lanes shutting down this weekend. The owner blames it on changing demographics and the fact that he hasn’t been able to sever beer for several years: “…it’s putting me out of business. ….we’ve lost a significant amount of business because of it.”-Grier Franklin

Oklahoma: Texas based petroleum company Newfield Exploration announced it will transfer or layoff most of its 2-hundred Tulsa employees!  Tulsa Community College eliminating 30 jobs due to an expected reduction of $4-million USD in taxpayer funding.

Oregon: In Bear Creek, sandwich shop Quizno’s suddenly shutting down this weekend.  The owner blames repair bills, employee issues, family issues and the increase in minimum wage.

Pennsylvania: In Frackville, after 18 years Black Diamond Antiques & Collectibles suddenly announced it will shutdown its Schuylkill Mall location this weekend, due to a court order.  The local sheriff’s department will auction off anything left behind.   In Catasauqua, Medical Academy Charter School shutting down in July.  The school is in debt by $1.8-million USD, and has only $4-thousand in cash to operate on!

Texas: Houston based natural gas extractor (fracker) Linn Energy chapter 11 bankrupt busted.   In Amarillo, ANconnect sold-off its book distribution service, 172 jobs gone starting in July!

Utah: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise;  In Salt Lake City, without warning Disney Infinity killed 3-hundred jobs as Disney halted production and design of Star Wars related toys and video games!  Disney administrators revealed how bad the future economy still is by saying “…we did not have enough confidence in the business in terms of it being stable enough to stay in it.”

Washington DC:  In 2015 I lost my job (Gateway Processing Center in Pocatello, Idaho) with the U.S. Postal Service due to their plans to shutdown processing centers in the name of saving money.  Now the USPS announced it has lost $2-billion USD in the past three months!  USPS administrators claim they actually saved money on the massive shutdowns and layoffs (what they call “controllable” costs), but that things beyond their control, like crashing magazine subscriptions and the evil U.S. Congress stealing U.S. Postal Service earnings (the USPS is not funded with taxes, it is self supporting) under the guise of “pre-fund retiree health benefits”, robbed them of $2.04-billion (a half billion dollar increase over last year’s pillage)!

10 May 2016: “People are hanging on by their fingernails…”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification. I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

“People are hanging on by their fingernails…” Economist reveals 10,000 jobs lost every month! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 10 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Since 2008 beer maker Anheuser-Busch has been owned by Belgium, today in an effort to increase sales they changed the name of Budweiser to America.  It’ll probably work ’cause there are still a lot of people in the U.S. that think Budweiser, I mean America, is still American.  Remember, it was the Belgians who created French Fries, the name came from dumb American ‘Dough Boys’ (World War 1 soldiers) who thought they were in France.  Then after 9-11 the dumb American Congress tried to ban French Fries as a way of punishing France for not supporting the illegal invasion of Iraq.

California: In Simi Valley, Too Big to Jail Bank of America eliminating 90 jobs by mid-June. In South Lake Tahoe, Diversified Transportation shutting down, 65 jobs lost by the end of June. In Yucca Valley, school bus contractor First Student laying off five people (in addition to the previously announced 71 layoffs) by the end of June.  In Los Angeles, Andromeda Entertainment shutting down, 96 jobs gone by July. In Lake Forest, Quantum Fuel Systems shutting down, 110 jobs gone by the end of June!  In Menlo Park, after 134 years (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression and numerous recessions) pioneering Beltramo’s Wines & Spirits shutting down to be sold-off. Don’t blame the economy or the internet (they sell on ebay), the only heir to the family business says she is not ready to take over.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; Sacramento based newspaper owner The McClatchy Company off-shoring 150 U.S. InfoTech jobs to India!  Xerox laying off 55 people in Riverside, by the end of June.  Cisco Systems killed yet more jobs, this time 83 people in San Jose rendered jobless.  In San Francisco, Roof Diagnostics Solar and Electric issued a WARN, 48 jobs gone by July.

Colorado: The following restaurants reported as shutting down this week; Bubu Lowry, Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs, Big Country’s Bar-B-Que, Protein Bar Colorado Boulevard, Viand and Willie G’s Seafood & Steak.

Connecticut:  Roof Diagnostics Solar and Electric issued a shutdown WARN for their Middletown operation, 46 jobs lost by mid-July.  In South Windsor, General Electric (GE) issued a WARN saying 1-hundred people will become jobless starting in July, no official reason given.

Florida:  Tampa Media Group shutting down, 3-hundred jobs gone by July!

Kansas: It’s being revealed that Gessler Drug Company suddenly shutdown two drug stores two weeks ago: “It hit me like a ton of bricks! ….I couldn’t tell anybody what was going on.”-Allen Ames, operated Ames Watch Repair inside Gessler’s stores for more than forty years

Minnesota: In Minneapolis, after 20 years Big Brain Comics shutting down in June.  Owner Michael Drivas says he’s tired of playing the game, “You’re either always working, or never working.”

Missouri:  What housing market recovery? Two years after re-entering the home loan market Ditech Financial eliminating 103 jobs by September, as it shuts down its debt collects ops in Earth City!

New York: British empire founded but now NYC based news agency Reuters essentially reported that your ‘elected’ officials are lying about economic recovery, especially in manufacturing: “People are hanging on by their fingernails in manufacturing.”-J.B. Brown, Bremen Castings of Indiana which saw a 40% crash in sales since 2014

“Companies are becoming more reluctant to expand and more cost conscious, so that cutback in hiring is a reflection of that.”-Christopher Williamson, economist who says U.S. factories are eliminating an average of 10-thousand jobs per month

In Rochester, Moe’s Southwest Grill shutting down their East Avenue location this weekend.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; insurance company New York Life issued a WARN saying 104 InfoTech employees in NYC and Sleepy Hollow will become unemployed by January 2017!  The jobs are being “outsourced”.

North Carolina: Haywood County Board of Education eliminating 14 jobs and shutting down Central Elementary.  They need to cut $2-million USD from their budget.

Oklahoma: Oil and natural gas producer Chaparral Energy chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to $1.2-billion USD of debt!

Pennsylvania: The FDIC seized First CornerStone Bank and handed the assets over to First-Citizens Bank & Trust.  What housing market recovery?  As part of the demise of Mechanicsburg based home builder Innovative Building Systems, subsidiary excelHomes notified state administrators that they’ve already laid off 291 employees!  In Harrisburg, school bus contractor First Student issued a layoff WARN, 43 people jobless by the end of June.  Despite reporting an increased demand for Ketchup, Presbyterian/Agnostic Warren Buffett eliminating 40 Kraft-Heinz jobs in Pittsburgh, they’re being contracted out by June.  In Richland Township, customers and employees woke to find the Ryan’s restaurant shutdown.  Parent company Ovation Brands apparently exited bankruptcy, but the property owner is still pissed that they didn’t pay the rent while in bankruptcy so he kicked them out: “I was there last night, I closed, and they didn’t say a word to us.”-Trista Miller, a pregnant Ryan’s employee who worked a 13 hours shift

Tennessee: The FDIC seized Trust Company Bank and handed the assets over to The Bank of Fayette County.

Texas: Bloomberg reports that so far this year Houston based petroleum contractor Schlumberger is leading the way with the most  job cuts; 20-thousand in the past four months!

Washington:  The manager of radioactive River Corridor Closure Project, Washington Closure Hanford, issued a shutdown WARN for their Richland office, 435 jobs gone starting in July! 

Wisconsin: Tyson Foods shutting down their Jefferson pepperoni factory in July,  250 jobs lost! 

09 May 2016: “We are done…”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification. I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

Sears Kmart update 10 May 2016 : Trump connection?

U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump has shocked the investor world by hiring Steven Mnuchin as his campaign fundraiser.  Mnuchin worked for Jewish controlled Goldman Sachs,  George Soros, donated money to Hillary Clinton, took over failed IndyMac renaming it OneWest and then dumped OneWest after being hit with massive lawsuits about fraudulent home foreclosures, and here’s the connection to Sears; after leaving Goldman Sachs he worked for Eddie Lampert (now considered by Fortune to be the 2nd worst CEO ever).  Unfortunately this proves Trump isn’t about change, but wants to maintain the unAmerican corporate America status quo!

05 May 2016: Surprise! “we are accelerating the closings of unprofitable stores.” 

Here’s the updated list of U.S. store closings that I’ve been compiling since the end of 2011,  new closing revelations in BOLD:

Alabama: Oxford Sears, Birmingham Kmart on Chalkville Mountain, Decatur Kmart on Beltline Road, Homewood Kmart, Mobile Kmart on Z Schillingers Road. The Montgomery Sears store and Auto Center in the Eastdale Mall shutting down, 56 jobs lost by the end of June 2016. City leaders of Anniston have agreed to fork over $3-million precious local tax dollars to fund the re-development of an abandoned Kmart. Prattville Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 70 jobs lost. Florence Kmart in March, 64 jobs lost in 2016. A local news report said the employees knew nothing about it and were shocked to hear it from the news media! Dothan Kmart (south side of Ross Clark Circle) shutting down in March, 56 jobs lost in 2016. 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, Northport Kmart (68 jobs lost), Dothan Sears (68 jobs lost), Huntsville Kmart (73 jobs lost), Sears Store and Auto Center at the Bel Air Mall in Mobile (more than 100 jobs lost).

Arkansas: Sears store and Auto Center in Pine Bluff shutting down in August 2016.  Little Rock Sears.

Arizona: Nogales Kmart shutting down by July 2016, despite the fact that it’s a profit making store (many of its cash paying customers cross the border from Mexico). The Prescott Valley Kmart shutting down by April 2016. No word on how many jobs lost, but one employee was quoted by local news as saying “Walmart won.” Local news reports say there is a Now Hiring sign posted on the Kmart store front. Reports that the Glendale Kmart will shutdown, no word on job losses. Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors. Recently revealed Arrowhead Towne Center Sears sold-off then rented back! Chandler Fashion Center Sears sold-off then rented back!

California: Sears Holdings issued a shutdown WARN for a Los Angeles Kmart, 132 jobs gone by the end of May 2016!  Dinuba Kmart, Lodi Kmart, Tulare Kmart, Wasco Kmart. Sears Holdings created Seritage Growth Properties is renting out half of three Sears stores; one in Roseville, one in Citrus Heights and one in Sacramento. Supposedly Sears will continue its operations in the other half of the buildings. On 10 March the Garden Center roof of the Santa Rosa Kmart collapsed during a rain storm. Fire inspectors said the roof was already compromised due to dry rot before the rain storm, a local news reporter said managers knew about the condition of the roof because it was sagging, and they called in contractors. The contractors tried to prop up the roof before the rain storm hit. Anaheim Kmart shutting down, 107 jobs lost in 2016! The Chula Vista Kmart, San Mateo Sears and Citrus Heights Kmart shutting down between March and April 2016, a total of 3-hundred jobs lost! 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 (more than 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) recently revealed that Sears Holdings is still paying rent on the abandoned property, Laguna Hills Mall Sears, San Diego Mid-City Kmart (73 jobs lost), Hemet Kmart (77 jobs lost), Oakland Sears repair center (75 jobs lost), San Mateo Kmart (82 jobs lost to an apartment building connected to public transportation), Hesperia Kmart building sold at a loss to a vulture capitalist REIT, no word on if the Kmart will be shutdown. Customers complain that the Kmart employees have a bad attitude, gee I wonder why? Yuba City Kmart (63 jobs lost), Rocklin Kmart (at least 63 jobs lost, the store had just posted “Now Hiring” signs), San Leandro Kmart (102 jobs lost), San Jose Mercury News says the El Centro Kmart to shutdown in January, the website Foursquare says the Covina Kmart is now shutdown (other sources say it will shutdown in December), Cupertino Sears and Auto Center (98 jobs lost), somebody posted on yelp* that the Diamond Bar Kmart was shutting down in December (confirmed by Armijo Newspapers), Westfield Topanga Sears (122 jobs lost), it looks like the Blythe Kmart is being slowly shutdown despite denial by Sears Holdings. San Mateo Kmart being demolished to make room for 599 unit apartment complex, as part of the the Hayward Park Caltrain Station project. Atwater Kmart (74 jobs lost), Los Banos Kmart (67 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), Fort Collins Sears (67 jobs lost), Denver-Cherry Creek North Sears store & Auto Center (66 jobs lost).

Connecticut: Putnam Kmart. Waterbury Big Kmart, Torrington Kmart (73 jobs lost), Enfield Sears Optical (no word on jobs lost), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (employees say the shutdown was a surprise, I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (at least 13 jobs lost).

Delaware: Dover Kmart (at least 72 jobs lost, some reports said 100), Seaford Sears (30 jobs lost), Claymont Kmart (87 jobs lost).

Florida: Inverness Sears Hometown suddenly announced it will shutdown due to disagreements with the landlord. Jacksonville Sears. Mandarin (Jacksonville) Kmart, Neptune Beach Kmart and Perry Kmart shutting down by July-September. The Lutz Kmart shutting down by March 2016, 62 jobs lost. The 46 years old Daytona Beach Kmart, on International Speedway Boulevard, is shutting down by mid-March 2016, 86 jobs lost. 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), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winter Haven Kmart (92 jobs lost), Palm Bay Kmart, Oakland Park Kmart (112 jobs lost), Clearwater Sears Auto Center (21 jobs lost), Zephyrhills Kmart (70 jobs lost), Winter Springs Kmart (69 jobs lost), Naples Kmart (72 jobs lost), New Port Richey Kmart (58 jobs lost), ‘redevelopment’ of Aventura Sears & Auto Center into an “open-air village” (unknown how many jobs affected), Kmart on Northeast 108 Street being annexed by Miami Shores, Sears Holdings threatens to shutdown Kmart as a result of higher local taxes. The property that’s home to an operating Kmart, on South Green Bay Road in Racine, was foreclosed by the local Sheriff and sold-off for $2.5-million, no word on what the new property owner will do with it. Fort Myers Kmart (67 jobs lost). Dicks Sportings Goods subleasing space in an existing Sears store in Palm Beach Gardens.

Georgia: The 23 years old Rome Kmart shutting down by August, 1-hundred jobs lost! Administrators say employees can apply at other Sears Holdings stores, but local news reports say the Rome Kmart is the last Sears Holdings store in the area! The 37 years old Carrollton Kmart shutting down by the end of April 2016. Dublin Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 71 jobs lost. Milledgeville Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 60+ jobs lost. Mount Berry Square Mall (Rome) Sears and Auto Center shutting down in March 2016, 86 jobs lost. 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, Warner Robins Kmart (77 jobs lost), Coweta County Kmart distribution center (164 jobs lost), one of the last two North Augusta Kmart to be torn down by new property owner from Canada, Sears Holdings denies the Kmart will shutdown.

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

Hawaii: Iconic 25 years old Nimitz HWY Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart shutting down in March 2016, 141 jobs lost! Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost! GGP spending $573-million chopping it up into smaller store spaces), Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost), Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Idaho: Boise Kmart on Fairview shutdown mid-March 2016, 56 jobs lost. Pocatello Kmart shutdown April 2016, 65 jobs lost. Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears shutdown by the end of October/beginning of November 2014 (the remaining 28 jobs lost).

Illinois: The Kmart Super Center in Bradley shutdown, 125 jobs lost! Sears Holdings sold the building to Meijer, unconfirmed reports say the Bradley Kmart Super Center (which has a full grocery op) was actually making money.   After 90 years Chicago Sears on Lawrence Avenue shutting down by August 2016, local news says its the oldest Sears store still operating. The last Decatur Kmart shutting down by August 2016, 61 jobs lost, administrators say employees can apply at other Sears Holdings stores, but local news reports say there are no more Sears Holdings stores in the immediate area! Chicago Kmart on South Pulaski. Danville Kmart, Galesburg Kmart, Lansing Kmart, Pekin Kmart, Rock Island Kmart.  Eddie Lampert eliminated 401 Hoffman Estates HQ jobs due to crappy 2015 holiday sales! 151 of those jobs were already vacant. Morton ‘green’ Kmart shutting down by the end of April 2016, 47 jobs lost. Canton Kmart shutting down mid-April 2016, 38 jobs lost. 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?) revealed is now a perpetual closing sale Kmart At A Discount store, 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), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost), Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost), Danville Sears store & Auto Center (63 jobs lost), Forsyth Sears store & Auto Center (45 jobs lost), Peoria Kmart (73 jobs lost), Forest Park Kmart (107 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North and Harlem avenues, supposedly it’s being replaced (most likely at taxpayer expense) with a new building and it will become a Sears-Mariano’s store, Bloomington Kmart (79 jobs lost), Hoffman Estates Headquarters 100 jobs eliminated, another 15 corporate jobs eliminated elsewhere, Chicago-Wicker Park Kmart (106 jobs lost), abandoned Market Place Mall Sears location to be occupied by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field & Stream. 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. North Mayfair Kmart (99 jobs lost), Chicago Kmart at 5033 North Elston Avenue (99 jobs lost). 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.

Indiana: Bloomington Kmart, New Albany Kmart. Bloomington’s College Mall Sears & Auto Center shutting down by mid-June 2016, at least 52 jobs lost. In Schererville, Sears Hardware shutting down in April 2016. Terre Haute Kmart by April, 62 jobs lost. 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), Muncie Kmart (59 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on Coliseum Boulevard North (69 jobs lost), Decatur Kmart (49 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Madison Avenue (131 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Washington Street (139 jobs lost), Bedford Kmart (62 jobs lost), Indianapolis (Evansville) Sears & Auto Center at Washington Square Mall (91 jobs lost), Greenwood Kmart (78 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (68 jobs lost), Bloomington Sears to be replaced by Whole Foods grocery store.

Iowa: Des Moines Southridge Mall Sears shutting down by August 2016, the store was in the process of dying anyway, only 37 employees left. Sears Holdings shutting down their West Des Moines call center by June 2016, 162 jobs lost! Ottumwa Kmart shutting down by April 2016, 38 jobs lost. 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), Clive Kmart (at least 49 jobs lost), Ames Kmart (44 jobs lost), Fort Dodge Sears (no job loss numbers made public, yet. The Auto Center was secretly shutdown in September), 56 years old Mason City Sears & Auto Center (more than 100 jobs lost). Davenport Kmart (59 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Kansas: Hutchison Kmart. North Topeka Kmart shutting down in 2016, 49 jobs lost. Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Merriam Kmart-then Sears-then Kmart (jobs lost unknown), Wichita Sears store & Auto Center (103 jobs lost), Manhattan Sears & Auto Center (number of jobs lost were never revealed).

Kentucky: Two Kmarts in Louisville. Elizabethtown Kmart, Maysville Kmart, Paintsville Kmart. Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart, 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), Louisville Dixie Highway Kmart/Sears/Kmart shutdown and now being taken over by Kroger basically to sell the same crap the old Kmart did! Madisonville Kmart (39 jobs lost), Owensboro Sears store & Auto Center (52 jobs lost).

Louisiana: The Bossier Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Houma Sears, Pineville Kmart. Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost), Metairie Kmart secretly sold off, no word if it will be shutdown, Laplace Sears Hometown Store.

Maine: Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Kmart shutting down by August 2016, more than 50 jobs lost. Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost), Aroostook Centre Mall Sears Auto Center leased out to VIP Tires & Service.

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears rebuild & call center (115 jobs lost), Baltimore Kmart on Wabash Avenue (107 jobs lost), Parkville Kmart (102 jobs lost), California Kmart (71 jobs lost), Sears Hometown Store in Perryville.

Massachusetts: Tewksbury Kmart. Fairhaven Sears Appliance & Hardware shutting down by mid-April. Local news reports said the ignorant employees actually thought the shutdown notice was a joke! I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News. 79 jobs lost as the Fall River Kmart shuts down in May 2016. North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost), Kingston Kmart (73 jobs lost). Braintree Kmart on Grossman Drive shutdown. Also, the Braintree South Shore Plaza Sears store is renting out an entire floor to Ireland based Primark. Even with the lease to Primark there is still 4-thousand square feet of vacant space in the Sears store. The Sears at the Auburn Mall shutdown on Black Friday due to electrical fire. The store was experiencing electrical problems, an investigation is underway.

Michigan: The Farmington Hills Kmart shutting down by mid-July 2016, 61 jobs lost. Midland Sears, Houghton Lake Kmart, Taylor Kmart. The Bradley Kmart has a new owner who is shutting it down in 2016. Retailer Meijer bought the Kmart property for $5-million USD. The Kmart will be shutdown in May, but the new Meijer store won’t be ready until 2018. The Sears and Auto Center in Fort Gratiot shutting down by mid-March, 48 jobs lost. Ironwood Kmart by mid-April, 47 jobs lost. 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, Saginaw Kmart on Bay Road, Flint Kmart on Dort Highway (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), Saint John’s Kmart (48 jobs lost), White Lake Township “Store of the Future” Kmart (42 jobs lost), Grand Blanc Kmart (49 jobs lost), Lapeer Kmart (56 jobs lost), Southgate Kmart (155 jobs lost), Detroit’s Telegraph Road Kmart (115 jobs lost), Waterford Township Sears (no word on how many jobs lost), Rochester Hills Kmart (77 jobs lost), ‘perfect Kmart town’ of Port Huron Kmart (188 jobs lost), Flint Kmart on Miller Road (81 jobs lost), Burton Kmart (85 jobs lost), Madison Heights Kmart (179 jobs lost), it’s now official the last remaining Saginaw Kmart (on Gratiot Road) will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January 2014 (Sears Holdings claims only 18 people worked there at the time of the collapse!), Ann Arbor Kmart (59 jobs lost), Iron Mountain Kmart (54 jobs lost), Bangor Township Sears aka Bay City Mall Sears, the Auto Center was already secretly shutdown some time ago (at least 47 jobs lost), Big Rapids Kmart (about 50 jobs lost). Vacant Wyandotte Sears Auto Center is being renovated at a cost to taxpayers of $1-million & 20-thousand, plus 15 years worth of tax breaks valued at $2-million! Shakopee Kmart distribution center shutdown and sold-off for $17-million in 2013, now it’s finally getting a new tenant; snowmobile and electric cart maker Polaris Industries will rent out a fraction of the building to use as their new parts warehouse. The Kmart Plaza in Sandusky sold to “A group of investors”, no word on what will happen to the Kmart store.

Minnesota: Dundas Kmart by April 2016, 32 jobs lost. Thunderbird Mall Kmart shutting down in April 2016, 48 jobs lost. 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), Grand Rapids Kmart (61 jobs lost), Seritage is selling off three Sears Auto Centers in Minnetonka, Brooklyn Center and Saint Paul, Marshall Kmart (57 jobs lost), Oakdale Kmart (77 hourly wage employees losing their jobs, unknown how many salaried employees will become unemployed), Winona Kmart (67 jobs lost), Minneapolis city officials trying to shutdown profit making Nicollet Avenue Kmart, to make way for a new road. Anoka Kmart (47 jobs lost), Blaine Kmart (60 jobs lost), Burnsville Kmart (62 jobs lost), Waite Park Kmart (57 jobs lost), Northeast Minneapolis Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale, Coon Rapids Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale.

Mississippi: Corinth Kmart. The 44 years old Greenville Kmart shutting down in April, no word on job losses. 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, Olive Branch distribution center (unknown how many jobs lost).

Missouri: Bridgeton Kmart, Springfield Kmart. Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost), Ellisville Kmart (55 jobs lost), Springfield Kmart on South Campbell Avenue (60 jobs lost), South Belt Kmart (64 jobs lost), Florissant Kmart (100 jobs lost), O’Fallon Kmart (76 jobs lost).

Montana: Billings Kmart. Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost), Great Falls Kmart (closed “until further notice” due to fire, 63 jobs on hold), Great Falls Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost) due to great sales (ironically) the shutdown date has been moved from 07 December 2014 to 23 November, Bozeman Kmart (37 jobs lost), Missoula Sears store and Auto Center (57 jobs lost).

Nebraska: Hastings Kmart. Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost), Omaha Kmart near West Maple Road (50 jobs lost).

Nevada: Sparks Kmart distribution center (100 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials, Portsmouth Kmart (30 jobs lost), Claremont Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New Jersey: Lodi Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 75 jobs lost. Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost), Berlin Kmart, Dover Kmart (92 jobs lost), Randolf Kmart (91 jobs lost), Paramus Kmart (74 jobs lost), Closter Kmart (102 jobs lost), Vineland Kmart (74 jobs lost). After 18 years Sears Holdings shutdown their Roselle Sears Hardware store due to “landlord issues”.

New Mexico: Artesia Kmart shutting down by August, there was no official announcement, only advertisements for a liquidation sale.  Albuquerque’s Coronado Center Sears suddenly shutdown their Auto Center, and will reduce the size of the main store by 50% within two months. Sears goon Howard Riefs stated “We will rightsize the labor…”, but gave no numbers. The ‘rightsizing’ of the Coronado Center store is in partnership with one of my evil former employers, mall owner GGP. SearsLas Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost), Rio Rancho Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New York: Sears Holdings issued a shutdown WARN for its Plattsburgh Sears store and Auto Center, 56 jobs lost by the end of July 2016.  New York Post says Sears is shutting down their NYC clothing design office, 40 jobs moved to California, another 154 jobs gone by July! Rotterdam Mall Sears and Auto Center shutting down by August 2016 (67 jobs lost). Sears Holdings issued yet another WARN, this time 75 Rochester Kmart employees losing their jobs by mid-July 2016. Irondequoit Sears, Plattsburgh Sears, Poughkeepsie Kmart, Rochester Kmart. Staten Island Mall Sears Auto Center will shutdown in February, 20 jobs lost. Lindenhurst Sears Hardware, North Babylon Sears Hardware, Hauppauge Sears Hardware, Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost) now revealed to be turned into a Town Center with more than 200 apartments at an estimated cost of $50-million, Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 jobs lost), Tonawanda Sears Appliance and Hardware, Bronx Sears (91 jobs lost), BBN reader reported that the Ithaca Sears and Auto Center shutdown and one month later it’s been officially confirmed (at least 37 jobs lost), DeWitt Kmart (92 jobs lost), Auburn Sears (51 jobs lost), Massena Sears and Auto Center (51 jobs lost), Staten Island Mall Sears leased out to Ireland’s Primark, Bay Shore Sears and Sears Auto Center (144 jobs lost), New Hartford (Sangertown Mall) Sears & Auto Center (109 jobs lost), Lancaster Kmart sold for $1.7-million to Dave’s Christmas Wonderland. Herkimer Sears Hometown, Saranac Lake Sears Hometown the ‘independent’ co-owners said Sears Holdings forced them to shutdown. Melville Appliance Repair Division (31 jobs lost).

North Carolina: Brevard Kmart, Gastonia Kmart, Lumberton Kmart, Pineville Kmart, Rocky Mount Kmart. 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), Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost), High Point Kmart (71 jobs lost), Boone Kmart (41 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart (96 jobs lost), Gastonia Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), Kinston Kmart (64 jobs lost), Cary Sears (66 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart distribution center (130 jobs lost), Greenville Kmart (75 jobs lost), Kinston Sears Hometown Store shutdown with little notice, Lexington Sears Hometown Store.

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost), Dickinson Kmart (41 jobs lost, despite a “Now Hiring” sign on the front of the store).

Ohio: 18 years old Defiance Sears shutting down by August 2016. Marion Sears, Ashtabula Kmart, Eaton Kmart, Fremont Kmart, Lima Kmart, Lorain Kmart, Springboro Kmart. Englewood Kmart, 57 jobs lost by the end of July 2016. Fort Stueben Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 53 jobs lost in June 2016. Sandusky Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 44 jobs lost in June 2016. 78 jobs lost as the Lancaster Kmart is shutting down in May 2016. 18 jobs lost as the Dixie Highway Sears Hardware shuts down this Friday. The 28 years old Sears and its Auto Center in New Philadelphia shutting down by mid-April 2016, 46 jobs lost. Without warning the Medina Sears Appliance & Hardware Store shutdown. Warren Kmart on Parkman Road NW will shutdown in April 2016, 63 jobs lost. Zanesville Kmart shutting down mid-April 2016, 47 jobs lost. Steubenville Kmart shutting down by April 2016, 65 jobs lost. Boardman Kmart by April 2016, 81 jobs lost. 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), Northwood Sears at Woodville Mall (36 jobs lost), Conneaut Kmart (43 jobs lost), Anderson Township Kmart (71 jobs lost), Brooklyn Kmart (200 jobs lost), Columbus Lockbourne Industrial Parkway Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost), also in Columbus, Sears Product Rebuild-Call Center (112 jobs lost), Marion Sears Auto Center (at least nine jobs lost), Springfield Kmart #3767 (68 jobs lost), Fairborn Kmart (66 jobs lost), Solon Sears & Auto Center (at least 53 jobs lost), Tiffin Sears Hometown Store. 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. Fairlawn Sears Appliance & Hardware, Macedonia Sears Appliance & Hardware, Lorain Sears Appliance & Hardware, Elyria Sears Appliance & Hardware, North Olmsted Sears Appliance & Hardware, Sheffield Village Sears Appliance & Hardware, Akron Sears Appliance & Hardware.

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), Sand Springs Kmart (52 jobs lost), Muskogee Sears (60 jobs lost), Enid Sears and Auto Center (at least 38 jobs lost), Tulsa BigKmart (51 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), Albany Kmart (64 jobs lost), Portland Sears Homes Services (no notice), Albany Sears (57 jobs lost), in October a BBN reader warned that Oregon City Kmart was being quietly shutdown, confirmed on 06 November 2014 by Sears Holdings (70 jobs lost). Ontario Kmart (55 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Sears Holdings revealed that the July, 2016, shutdown of the Uniontown Kmart will cost 73 jobs.  Butler Sears, New Castle Sears, Beaver Falls Kmart, Philadelphia Kmart on Frankford Avenue. Two Pittsburgh Kmarts. Reading Kmart. Sears store in the Beaver Valley Mall shutting down by June 2016, 62 jobs lost. Viewmont Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 86 jobs lost in July 2016. Reports that the Exton Kmart will shutdown, no word on job losses. 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), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost), Sanatoga-Lower Pottsgrove Kmart (65 jobs lost, the store was also advertising for new hires!), West Mifflin Sears store & Auto Center (88 jobs lost), Rochester Kmart (78 jobs lost), Frazer (Pittsburg Mills Mall) Sears and Auto Center (97 jobs lost), Bloomsburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Frackville Sears and Auto Center (84 jobs lost), North Cornwall Township Sears (51 jobs lost), King of Prussia Sears and Auto Center (no word on number of jobs lost), Lebanon Sears (51 jobs lost), Scotland Chambersburg Mall Sears and Auto Center (62 jobs lost), the upper level of the Willow Grove Mall Sears store to be leased by Primark, King of Prussia Sears store leased out to clothing retailer Primark, East Towne Mall Kmart (51 jobs lost), Frackville Kmart in the Skuylkill Mall (80 jobs lost), Mount Pocono Kmart (66 jobs lost), Fairless Hills Sears Hardware. Granite Run Mall shutdown, meaning the Sears and Sears Auto Center now apparently on a month to month (possibly day to day) lease are soon to follow. Brookhaven Kmart (89 jobs lost).

Puerto Rico: Vega Baja Kmart (206 jobs lost).

South Carolina: The 44 years old Orangeburg Kmart shutting down in August 2016.  Camden Kmart. 61 jobs lost as the North Augusta Kmart is shutting down by May 2016. 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), Myrtle Beach Kmart (59 jobs lost), Easley Kmart (62 jobs lost).

South Dakota: Huron Kmart, Yankton Kmart. The Pierre Kmart shutting down by the end of March 2016, 45 jobs lost. The Michell Kmart shutting down in April 2016, 52 jobs lost. Spearfish Kmart (51 jobs lost), Sturgis Kmart (57 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Bristol Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Athens Kmart, Sweetwater Kmart, Maryville Kmart. The Murfreesboro Kmart shutting down by the end of April, 43 jobs lost. A Memphis Sears and Auto Center (on Poplar Avenue) shutting down in April, 109 jobs lost! Clarksville Kmart shutting down in April, 68 jobs lost. Cleveland Kmart shutting down by mid-March 2016, 67 jobs lost. 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 Cool Springs 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), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost), Dickson Kmart (65 jobs lost), talks in progress to end lease for Bellevue (Nashville) Center Mall Sears, Nashville Bellevue Center Sears & Auto Center (at least 44 jobs lost).

Texas: El Paso Kmart, Mission Kmart, Sweetwater Kmart. 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, Dallas Sears home appliance parts distribution center (77 jobs lost), Simon Property Group owned McAllen Sears store & Auto Center (so far no word on how many jobs will be lost), recently revealed Palestine Sears Hometown (franchise owner quit to work as assistant manager at a local Dollar General). Wichita Falls Sikes Senter Mall Sears (56 jobs lost).

Utah: Draper Kmart, Price Kmart, West Jordan Kmart. 35 years old Richfield Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 63 jobs lost. North Logan Kmart shutting down by April 2016, 58 jobs lost. Murray Sears (local news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they reported that the building was demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported), Woods Cross Kmart (54 jobs lost), Provo Kmart demolished in anticipation of yet another AtHome furniture store.

Vermont: The Bennington Sears Hometown Store shutdown. Rutland Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), South Burlington Kmart (66 jobs lost).

Virginia: Christiansburg Kmart and the Hampton Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Chester Kmart, 76 jobs gone by mid-July 2016. The Cedar Bluff (50 jobs lost), Covington (36 jobs lost) and Virginia Beach on General Booth Boulevard (no job numbers reported) Kmarts shutting down between March and April 2016! The Sears Hometown Store in Culpeper shutting down by the end of the month. 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-Denbigh Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), Winchester Kmart (91 jobs lost), Dale City Kmart (69 jobs lost), Chesapeake Sears and Auto Center (82 jobs lost), Front Royal Kmart (88 jobs lost), Pembroke Mall Sears renting out part of their store to DSW & Nordstrom Rack, Sears Holdings say they’re still looking for a “third tenant” for their occupied space. The current nearby Sears Auto Center will be rented out to REI. Colonial Heights Kmart (113 jobs lost), Virginia Beach Hilltop Square Shopping Center Kmart (82 jobs lost).

Washington: Eatonville Sears Hometown store. 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), Everett Kmart (65 jobs lost), Marysville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

West Virginia: The Bluefield Kmart shutting down by August 2016. Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost), Bluefield Sears store & Auto Center (64 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: The Wausau Center Sears shutting down, 35 remaining employees becoming unemployed by the end of June 2016. Sears Holdings administrators would only say “we are accelerating the closings of unprofitable stores.” Hartford Kmart. Superior Kmart shutting down in April 2016, 42 jobs lost. 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), Ashwaubenon Kmart recently revealed now owned by Green Bay Packers, will be torn down (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (55 jobs lost), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost), Glendale Sears store & Auto Center (86 jobs lost), Janesville Kmart (70 jobs lost), Glendale Sears Rebuild center (67 jobs lost), Sheboygan Sears & Auto Center (at least 31 jobs lost), Eau Claire Kmart (93 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (59 jobs lost before Xmas), Sheboygan Sears Rebuild Center (30 jobs lost), Wauwatosa Kmart (103 jobs lost).

In April 2015, Sears Holdings (through Seritage Growth Properties) and General Growth Properties (GGP) became 50/50 joint owners of 12 Sears stores.

Here’s a list of 11 Sears stores 100% 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)