Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics

Too Big to Jail kills 7,000 additional jobs! Major insurance company admits ObamaCare is a Major Failure! New sanctions against Iran kills Boeing! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 30 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arkansas: In Fayetteville, the AQ Chicken Express suddenly shutdown without warning and the AQ Chicken House shutting down next week, according to an unnamed employee.

Colorado: In Durango, 39 years old Hassle Free Sports shutting down next month. The owner is hoping to sell the building.

Illinois: In Obama’s homie town, Chicago based Blue Cross Blue Shield Association released the results of their latest study on ObamaCare; it’s a total failure, grossly underfunding the actual costs of healthcare: “What we don’t know is where we go from here.”-Alissa Fox, Blue Cross Blue Shield senior vice president, this comes after hundreds of healthcare facilities have shutdown and thousands of healthcare employees have become unemployed!

And another Obama homie town based company, Boeing, announced even more massive layoffs (on top of what I’ve reported on so far this year).  An additional 4-thousand plus employees will become unemployed due to expected crashing sales!  Administrators didn’t say it, but you can blame their expected crashing sales on the fact that the U.S. government imposed new sanctions on Iran.  Iran had expressed interest in buying hundreds of Boeing airliners, which could have saved Boeing’s financial ass. 

Indiana: In Bloomington, after 45 years Caveat Emptor bookstore shutting down in August. The owner is hoping to sell the business.

Maine: Major healthcare shutdowns due to the state’s version of ObamaCare (MaineCare) slashing funding by as much as 100%! Merrymeeting Behavioral Health Associates shutting down in Brunswick, 170 jobs lost due to 80% funding cuts! Non-Profit bus service Coastal Trans ceasing to exist due to 100% funding cuts for disabled passengers!  In Bangor, social service agency Getchell Agency now chapter 11 bankrupt busted blaming long term lawsuits and MaineCare: “I made the decision to file for bankruptcy after long hours of deliberation and legal consultation….I cannot continue to move forward shackled by mounting legal fees and under constant threat of multimillion-dollar judgments over which only the state has control.”-Rena Getchell

Massachusetts: Just two weeks after Too Big to Jail Boston Weak based money changer in the temple State Street Corporation upped their layoffs to 852,  administrators revealed just how bad the economy is by announcing today that they will eliminate another 7-thousand jobs by 2020!!!

Nevada: Olin Corporation laying off 1-hundred workers at their chlorine factory in Henderson!  This is will greatly affect the tax base for the small town.

North Carolina: In Durham, Bar Lusconi shutting down next week.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; reports that video game and pop-culture website The Escapist has laid off employees and shutdown their Durham HQ.  Apparently the new HQ is in Seattle, Washington.  Employees were laid off last year, as well.

Oregon: In Portland, Discourage Records suddenly shutdown their 22 years old brick-n-mortar store, will continue as mail order only.   What automotive industry recovery?  Aftermarket vehicles accessories maker Lund International issued a shutdown WARN, 156 jobs lost by the end of May!  It might be the result of Lund’s 2015 takeover of Bushwacker.

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia based preggy chain store Destination Maternity going down after 2015 losses of $10-million USD, 30 stores being shutdown!  In Wilkes-Barre, Book and Spy Shop shutting down mid-April.  The owner is selling the building saying the costs to maintain the building have become too expensive.

Rhode Island: Care New England eliminating a minimum of 58 jobs at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, as well as shutting down the baby factory and the intensive care unit, blaming reduced payments caused by ObamaCare.   Union reps say they were told as many as 2-hundred employees were being let go, hospital administrators told local news sources “If there are any additional workforce reductions, we would report it publicly at the time it occurs.” 

Tennessee: Memphis based bug killer Terminix has been caught using banned chemicals in your homes!  They’ve been fined $10-million USD!  The use of banned chemicals was revealed after an “entire family” of four in U.S. Virgin Islands became permanently brain damaged when the apartment below theirs was fumigated!

Texas:  In Waco, the Hancock Fabrics store shutting down as part of the company’s bankruptcy.

Vermont: In Rutland, the BROC’s Good Cents Store store shutting down by the end of April.

Virginia: In Danville, Bubba’s Ice Cream shutting down and selling the property. Irony; the ice cream shop owner is selling the property so he can retire, and he’s selling it to a nursing home.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

29 March 2016: “This worked for many years but times have changed”

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, Idaho

“This worked for many years but times have changed” Bose revealed secretly offshoring hundreds of U.S. jobs! British empire abandons Texas! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 29 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

A study by ValuePenguin says 80% of High-Deductible Health Insurance Plans don’t qualify for the ObamaCare Health Savings Account tax break!

California: An investment company with way too many cooks in the kitchen (their website lists 10 ‘presidents’) Cetera Financial Group now chapter 11 bankrupt but not busted, it’s all part of their plan to go private in connection with RCS Capital.  At Camp Pendleton, tax sucker TransitAmerica Services eliminating 30 jobs by the end of June. 40 years old industrial metal fabricator Paris Precision issued a layoff WARN for their Paso Robles ops, 130 jobs lost by mid-May!  What housing construction industry recovery?  Home builder ZETA Communities suddenly shutdown their McClellan Park operations, 122 jobs lost, no explanation!  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; British empire United Kingdom based software solutions company (according to Bloomberg) nobody heard of, Mycom North America, revealed it suddenly shutdown their Santa Fe Springs ops, two weeks ago.  138 jobs lost, no explanation!  Boeing issued more layoff WARNs, this time 49 jobs in El Segundo and Huntington Beach gone by mid-May.

Florida: In Tampa, distribution company Hapag-Lloyd America eliminating 55 jobs by the end of May.

Georgia: In Atlanta, employees of Thirteen Pies pizza joint reporting they’ve been told they will become unemployed within 60 days.  The company that owns Thirteen Pies, Raised Palate Restaurants, says no final decision has been made, however local news reported that Raised Palate Restaurants shutdown another food joint in the same plaza back in January.

Idaho: What timing! After ‘christian lawmakers’ shit-canned a bill to close the ObamaCare healthcare gap for at least 78-thousand people (also attributed to killing 1-thousand Idahoans) a new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report shows Idaho is the second worst state for lack of healthcare for low-income people with mental problems or addictions.    Interestingly the top two offenders, Utah (ranked at 40% of low-income disabled residents uninsured) and Idaho (ranked 39% uninsured), are both densely packed with Mormons/Christians (U.S. Census Bureau data), who also dominate their government services.

Illinois: In Bradely, after six years Impact Fitness shutting down on Thursday because the owner can’t afford to make the facility accessible to disabled people: “…due to circumstances out of our control stemming from complaints filed against Impact Fitness with the Illinois AG office for violations and anti-business practices of the city of Bradley…”-Charles Navarro

Iowa: After more than 1-hundred years (surviving The Great depression and numerous recessions) Kingston Hill old folks home shutting down in May, administrators say that after all this time ObamaCare reimbursement reductions render Kingston Hill  “financial unsustainable”.

Maryland: Meritus Health shutting down their 30 years old Hagerstown child Learning Center in June. 125 children affected.  Local news did not indicate a reason saying only that the decision to shut it down was made suddenly.

Massachusetts: Non-profit Mayo Clinic shutting down its 20 years old Andover lab, 105 jobs lost by the end of 2016!  Work is being shifted to labs in Minnesota.  Without warning audio equipment maker Bose began layoffs at their Framingham call center.  Local news reports say Bose administrators claim it’s because more customers are using the internet to complain rather than the phone, but employees revealed that at least 2-hundred call center jobs are actually being offshored: “They have the Philippines up and running now. They will be letting more of the call center go in waves after May 6, as they bring more people online in the Philippines. They are sending our own people to train them, three months at a time.”-unnamed Bose employee

Minnesota: In Minneapolis, Maison Darras sandwich shop and the U.S. Postal Service extension office being forced to shutdown on Thursday, due to massive $20-million USD remodeling of Baker Center.  News reports say the sandwich and postal operations will not resume because the ‘Skyway’ is being eliminated by the remodel work.

Montana: In Great Falls, the Teton County Nursing Home shutting down in May, 34 jobs lost.  ObamaCare reimbursement reductions forced the county to beg the cash-strapped voters to approve a levy to fund the home, but it was rejected.

New York: Manhattan Beauty Supply shutting down at the end of April. No explanation, but locals who shop in that area lamented that most of the kitschy shops that lined the street in the 1990s are gone.   In Rochester, Corner Bakery Cafe suddenly shutdown after the owner posted a sign that said “will be closing early tonight.”  Local news reports blame it on property developers.   The Broome Developmental Center for disabled people shutting down on Thursday, 6-hundred jobs lost! Officially it’s blamed on federal rules changes and ObamaCare reduction in reimbursements, however, I should point out that last year at least one employee was arrested for sexually abusing the tenants.

North Dakota: Dickinson State University shutting down their Strom Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation due to the loss of $1-million USD in grants and taxpayer funding.

Oklahoma: Main stream news media is confused about unemployment data.  They know tens of thousands of Okies have been laid off due to the oil industry BS, but state unemployment numbers are showing unemployment going down.  Here’s what I’ve been saying for the past few years at the end of every Job Losses report; if an employee gets laid off but gets severance they are not counted as unemployed. The overwhelming majority of oil industry workers are getting severance, therefore their unemployment is not being counted!  While I don’t advocate for Donald Trump as president (he’s just a salesman, will say whatever he has-to to close the deal, then files bankruptcy, study his history) he’s correct when he estimates true unemployment around 50%!

Texas: In Dallas, after 16 years Monica’s Hallmark gift store shutting down.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; British empire United Kingdom based software solutions company (according to Bloomberg) nobody heard of, Mycom North America, revealed it suddenly shutdown their Dallas office, two weeks ago.  At least 22 jobs lost, no explanation.  British empire’s Too Big to Jail bank-investment company Barclays issued a shutdown WARN for their McKinney operations, 196 jobs lost by mid-May! British Petroleum (BP) issued three layoff WARNs, 5-hundred jobs in Houston and Coppell lost by the end of May! Rotary Drilling eliminating 65 jobs in Beasley by mid-May.  Boeing revealed it laid off 15 people in Houston.

Washington: After 39 years Kathy’s Studio of Dance shutting down: “This was a very difficult decision for me to make but the dance world is changing and I am no longer up for the challenge. I started my studio with the idea that anyone should be able to dance – no matter their size, talent or ability to pay…….This worked for many years but times have changed….”-Kathryn Lahey

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

27-28 March 2016: “tiny 4-inch fish” killing economy?

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, Idaho

“tiny 4-inch fish” killing Wisconsin economy? ‘Christian’ school closed for breaking kid’s bones! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 27 – 28 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California:  New York based Corning issued a shutdown WARN for their Axygen Scientific Union City operations, 193 jobs lost by November!  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; in Aliso Viejo, video game maker Carbine Studios laying off 18 people in May.  And video game maker NC Interactive (NCsoft) already laid off 11 people.  Evil student loan debt collector Collection Tech shutting down their Monterey Park location and eliminating jobs in Rancho Cucamonga, 55 jobs gone by mid-May.  In Santa Monica, GMRI shutting down their Seasons 52 restaurant next month, 70 jobs lost.  The Yamashiro restaurant in Los Angeles shutting down by the end of May, 88 jobs lost.  In Camarillo, Alma Farms finally issued an official WARN revealing they shutdown back on 01 January, 73 jobs lost. Retailer Williams-Sonoma issued layoff WARNs for several Golden State locations, 77 jobs lost by mid-May.  Georgia-Pacific shutting down their San Leandro operations, 65 jobs gone by mid-May.

Connecticut:  The state Department of Administrative Services revealed that the average state employee has 177 hours of unused paid vacation time, money that will be owed them when the Malloy regime lays them off.  The Malloy regime is now working to find a ‘legal’ way to steal that vacation pay from the employees they want to layoff.  (and he’s considered Obama’s favorite governor! more reason to stop saving up your paid vacation days!)

Florida: In Tampa, Zenith Education revealed they laid off 123 people, last week! It’s part of their plan to consolidate operations.  It should be noted that Zenith Education Group was created in 2015 as a non-profit to accept students from the criminal and now defunct Corinthian Colleges, yet Zenith began laying off employees in the same year they were created!

Idaho: More fraud in The Gem State; a waiter at a restaurant (mostly likely a Christian going by U.S. Census Bureau data) in Ammon stole a customer’s credit card and went shopping at the Idaho Falls Home Depot.  It happened last month, the waiter managed to buy $740 USD worth of home improvement items before Idaho Falls police caught up with him.

Massachusetts: In the state of Boston Weak; a school for disabled boys was shutdown after the ‘christian’ (the school hosts the traditional Great Barrington Christmas Party) employees were arrested for abusing those students, and even threatening witnesses.  Eagleton School also had a contract with the state of Vermont, which is now scrambling to find a new school.  One student had his sternum broken: “Eagleton staff continue to place residents at risk by utilizing physical force and unwarranted restraint techniques to control emotionally and mentally disabled individuals.”-Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care

Michigan: In Saint Clair, after eight years Sweet Pea’s Yarn & Gifts shutting down: “There was a combination of factors, sales were down last year, but mostly, we’ve had a lot of family illness….”-Patty Armstrong

New York:  Macy’s shutdown three stores in the Eastern Hills Mall and McKinley Mall, 160 jobs lost!  Local news reports say only a dozen employees transferred to other Macy stores.  In Buffalo, after three years Butterwood Sweet & Savory restaurant suddenly shutdown and will be auctioned off in April.

Pennsylvania: In Philadelphia, after three years Fireside Camp Supply shutting down their brick-n-mortar store after 01 April, they’re shifting to internet sales only.

Texas: The remaining four franchised Blockbuster video stores in El Paso shutting down after 02 April: “We opened our first El Paso stores back in 1992. It’s been a great run, but over the past few years more and more people have changed how they watch movies.”-Alan Payne, owner

Virginia:  Washington County Adult Skill Center shutting down in June, people needing job training will have to go to Virginia Highlands Community College.  It was revealed that the plans to shutdown the skill center began seven years ago.  Due to increasing numbers of people losing their jobs the skill center was overwhelmed and needed larger facilities.

Wisconsin: The Menasha lock being shutdown permanently to prevent the spread of invasive species, local business owners say blocking ship traffic will force them to shutdown: “This is huge to have something like this happen. We’ve had a locks system since 1855 or somewhere around there, and it’s never been anything like this. Who would ever think a tiny 4-inch fish would do it?”-Diane Schabach, Menasha’s harbor master

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

26 March 2016: “we have given away every dollar.”

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, Idaho

“we have given away every dollar” Florida screws the healthy & employed Homeless! Coal company says ‘fuck you’ to Illinois taxpayers! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 26 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arizona: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; in Phoenix, internet medical check up scheduling service Zocdoc laid off 33 people and is consolidating its sales team to its NYC HQ.   Local news reports say its part of a larger plan by the high-tech industry to drastically cut back because they expect the economy to get much worse!

California: Martial Law as Chase Bank blocked a disabled San Francisco man access to his account because his service dog’s name is on the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control list of possible terrorists!  The dog’s name is Dash, and the Chase Bank’s automatic online search program for possible terrorists linked it to the name Daesh (the incorrect ‘western’ news media created acronym for DAIISH-Islamic State-ISIS-ISIL, etc. DAIISH=DA for al-DAwla, I for al-Islamiya, I for al-Iraq, SH for al-SHam [al-Sham=Syria])!  11 months after going out of business Corinthian Colleges lost a lawsuit brought by the state.  They must now fork over $1.1-billion USD after being caught lying about employment placement after graduation, running ads for education programs that didn’t exist, illegal debt collections, and using U.S. Department of Defense promotional material without permission!   It’s also hoped that the thousands of students who were suddenly dropped will get some restitution to help them pay back their student loans (individuals can’t claim bankruptcy protect against student loans, yet the school was about to file bankruptcy to protect its own ass).

Connecticut: Gov’na Malloy shutting down two nursing homes,  Ella T. Grasso Center and the Meriden Center, 171 jobs lost by June!  At least 40 aging and disabled residents kicked to the curb!  Gov’na Malloy claims the shutdowns will actually help the state ‘care’ for more people!

Florida: In Gulf Breeze, God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ more than 60 years old WaterFront Rescue Mission for women, and consolidate ‘his’ men’s shelters, and sell off ‘his’ Olive Road Career Development Center and lay off 20 paid staff.  The homeless shelter funded itself mainly with recycling projects, but because of the crash in prices of recycled goods they’re now broke: “We’ve been in the business of trying to help people, so we have given away every dollar.”-Devin Simmons

“Yeshua [Jesus of Nazareth] said to him, ‘Foxes have lairs and birds of the sky have shelters, but The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’”-Matthew 8:20, Aramaic Bible

Local news media pointed out that most homeless shelters are packed to capacity with homeless people with disabilities, mental problems or addictions, and as a result the growing number of healthy and employed, yet homeless, people (mainly women) are being kicked to the curb: “We just don’t have the beds available for women who don’t have a substance abuse problem or mental health.”-John Johnson, EscaRosa Coalition

In Jacksonville, after eight years O’Brothers Irish Pub shutting down tomorrow: “I tell people that restaurants are like martinis: One isn’t enough and two is too many. We’re going back to one. It’s time to slow down.”-Drew Cavins, co-owner

Idaho:  Right to Work ‘elected christian lawmakers’ have killed the bill to expand healthcare coverage to those in The Gap, proving they’re evil sadistic genocidal maniacs!  I’ve reported how the director of an east Idaho hospital directly blames Idaho’s version of ObamaCare for killing at least 1-thousand Idahoans, due to The Gap!

Illinois:  Missouri based coal company Peabody Energy has essentially told Illinois taxpayers to ‘fuck off’!  That’s in response to state administrators asking Peabody how it would pay the estimated $92-million USD to clean up its shutdown mining operations.  Reports say the world’s largest privately held coal company Peabody Energy is about to go chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  After making a fool of themselves and telling readers that the Lake Zurich Sports Authority was not shutting down, local news media now eating their words as the Lake Zurich Sports Authority announced it is shutting down. It’s blamed on the recent Sports Authority bankruptcy, a corporate rep said they cannot pay the rent.

Indiana: Indianapolis based sports shoe store Finish Line revealed it has shutdown 54 stores and will continue until they’ve shuttered 150 stores across the U.S.! It’s because the athletic apparel industry expects the economy to get worse! Finish Line administrators also blame supply chain problems for its 3rd quarter loss of $21.8-million USD.

Montana: In the city of Billings there’s a growing number of residents who are employed, but now homeless! 

New York:  Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples shutting down one of its two Binghamton stores by mid-April.

North Carolina: In Beaufort County, after 18 years the Golden Corral suddenly shutdown on Friday, rented Uhaul trucks were carting away the contents of the restaurant.  Local news media said there was no explanation from the corporate office.

Virginia: Martin’s shutting down three grocery stores by Summer, they are not part of the shutdowns due to the merger of Giant Food and Food Lion, but are the result of a decision back in 2015.  Another ten Martin’s stores in Virginia will be sold off as part of the merger!  Hundreds of jobs lost! In Lynchburg, after two years art co-op 5th Street Art House shutting down, the owner is “moving on”.

Washington: In Spokane, after almost 60 years Williams Seafood suddenly shutdown on Saturday.  The owner blames increasingly low quality of imported seafood and damage from a windstorm back in November.   More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; Rosetta Stone owned Seattle based critically acclaimed internet language service Livemocha shutting down by mid-April.

Washington DC: CityBikes shutdown their five years old store on 8th Street SE on Sunday, due to jacked up rent.  However, the store owners are opening a new ElectricCityBikes in an abandoned VW dealership.  Popular bar, known for its model planes and Starship Enterprise, Millie & Al’s shutting down in April, the property was sold.

Wyoming: More of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL); local TV news KCWY reported that the massive oil and coal industry shutdowns and layoffs are having Ripple Effect on the overall state economy.  Truck stops/convenience stores and local manufacturers of specialty oil field trucks all reporting a crash in sales: “Right now, I think it could be said were probably at about 50% of what we were last year this time.”-Rick McFall, Ameri-Tech Equipment

“Over the last year we have seen a steady decline so just month to month it gets a little worse, a little worse.”-Tiffany Mortimer, business advisor

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

24-25 March 2016: “Catastrophic!” 

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

“Catastrophic!” Tax revenues crash! More international banks flee United States! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 24 – 25 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Japan based Too Big to Jail Nomura Holdings joins Credit Suisse in eliminating thousands of North American jobs, at least 2-thousand 5-hundred jobs in Canada and United States! In 2008, Nomura was tricked in buying failed Lehman Brothers Holdings and lost big-time money as a result.

California: Maker of natural gas tanks Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Georgia: In Liburn, after 37 years restaurant Mama Mia’s sold-off, the new owners are changing the menu but swear they’ll keep the most popular of Mama Mia’s dishes.

Illinois: Due to crashing taxpayer revenues Rock Island County eliminating at least four jobs, saying they must prepare for the long term.

Iowa: In Granger, God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 87 years old (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Assumption Catholic School.  15 years ago there were 150 elementary students, this current school year only 62!

Kentucky: Virginia based Magic Mart shutting down their South Side Mall store, directly blaming the suck-ass economy: “…the current economic conditions here in the heart of the coalfields leave us with no alternative. We have tried very hard over the past few years to find ways to keep our store open here and we just haven’t been able to…”-K.A. Ammar III (Trey), president

Louisiana: What recovery from Hurricane Karina? Dean Foods-Brown’s Dairy shutting down their New Orleans operation, 185 jobs lost over the next several months!  Like the rest of corporate America the company is consolidating production elsewhere.

Minnesota: In White Bear Lake, after 27 years Borgstrom’s Hallmark gift store suddenly shutdown. The owner blamed crashing sales, 10 jobs lost.

Missouri: After 56 years Sansone Floral shutting down next week.

New York:  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; NYC based ‘digital news media’ International Business Times laid off at least 15 people in New York and California, without warning. Employees had 10 minutes to vacate the premises!  Unnamed sources say more layoffs could be on the way.

Ohio:  Proof we’re in a Depression; Blue Ash City Council shutting down the Sycamore Senior Center by April.  It’s blamed on massive tax funding cuts to Medicaid/Medicare, and on the fact that the majority of dues paying members are unable to pay their dues!  Services for old people are being consolidated to other senior centers.  The Canton Fire Department eliminating at least 10 jobs and shutting down Fire Station No.2, due to the city’s $5.1-million USD shortfall caused by a crash in local and state tax revenues!  Local news reports pointed out that Canton Fire Department never recovered from layoffs back in 2009.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Public Schools eliminating 208 teaching jobs due to lack of taxpayer funding, the situation is being describe by superintendent Rob Neu as “catastrophic”!

Wisconsin: Another example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL). Texas based Superior Silica Sands laying off 69 employees at their New Auburn sand mine ops.  Sand is used in the oil industry’s fracking ops, and demand for sand is crashing.  It’s so bad that Minnesota based Unimin WARNed that it will shutdown its Tunnel City sand mine, 65 jobs lost by mid-May.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

23 March 2016: “the pleasure has just gone out of it.” ” the model is no longer sustainable.” 

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

“the pleasure has just gone out of it.” ” the model is no longer sustainable.” : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 23 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Switzerland based Too Big to Jail Credit Suisse eliminating 2-thousand marketing jobs “mostly in London and New York”!

California: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; Redwood based smartwatch maker Pebble already in trouble, eliminating 40 jobs due to lack of “support” from those idiots who throw their money at tech startups.  Administrators blame it on increasing competition from other tech companies for that “support”.  In other words; tech companies don’t make money off actually selling something, it comes from geeks who “support” those companies (hey, why doesn’t anybody want to support Blind Bat News? hit the donate button).  Japan owned Sony Pictures Entertainment eliminating 20 marketing-distribution jobs due to money losing movies.  Non-profit Memorial Care Health System shutting down their Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, 194 jobs lost by May!  It’s blamed on failed attempts to get state ‘lawmakers’ to pass a bill that would’ve turned the medical center into an outpatient operation (no thanks to ObamaCare).

Georgia: In Atlanta, after more than five years H. Harper Station bar shutting down next week.  The owner blames the landlord: “While signs point to the area’s impending development coming to fruition, it also brings the pressure of increased costs. After a great five-year run, we feel the model is no longer sustainable. We wish the best to the new tenant…”-Jerry Slater

Illinois: After 27 years Monticello Drugs shutting down next week. ObamaCare was the final straw for the owner: “…after a burden of 27 years of ownership, the pleasure has just gone out of it.”-Marty Woodruff

Indiana: In Terre Haute, after ten years Guitar Center shutting down due to increased rent, 11 jobs affected.

Kentucky: Printer maker Lexmark issued a WARN, 143 Fayette County jobs lost by the end of May! Company administrators did not give a reason.  India based office management company Firstsource Group issued a shutdown WARN for their Jefferson County operations, 282 jobs gone by mid-May!

Massachusetts: In Agawam, after only two years the YMCA shutting down by the end of May due to lack of membership.  Since opening in 2014 a grand total of only 550 people signed up!

New Jersey: Trenton Board of Education shutting down Stokes Early Childhood Center and eliminating a net 164 jobs! It’s the second year in a row for shutdowns and layoffs due to lack of students and taxpayer funding.

New York:  In DeWitt, a combined Office Max-Offcie Depot store shutting down by mid-May.  Oceanside Institutional Industries issued a shutdown WARN for their food service linens operations, 171 jobs lost by mid-June!  After 47 years, God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Elmira Christian Academy due to The Rapture of students (what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome).  At the school’s peak there were 220 students, this year there’s only 80, the pastor blames the parents: “It’s hard to compete with families who feel that it would be more advantageous for them to educate their kids from home.”-David Leandre

Ohio: In Hebron, Lakewood Digital Academy shutting down in June due to cancelation of taxpayer funding. The local school district must also payback $150-thousand USD to the state Department of Education.  It’s blamed on changes in laws affecting charter schools.

Pennsylvania: Radio Shack-Sprint shutting down their Schuylkill Mall store next Monday, due to lack of “performance”.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

22 March 2016:  Low-tech girls in low-cut shirts can’t stop the high-tech bubble from bursting! 

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

Low-tech girls in low-cut shirts can’t save high-tech companies! Court orders employer to reveal layoffs! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 22 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; British empire United Kingdom based software solutions company (according to Bloomberg) nobody heard of, Mycom North America, is apparently dead in the water as it suddenly issued shutdown WARNs for all its offices around the United States, to close next week!  Last week a lawsuit was filed by a U.S. contractor accusing Mycom of failing to pay them for work rendered, and last year Mycom was sued by a U.S. property management company for failing to pay rent on property in West Virginia!  I have yet to find anything explaining why Mycom is suddenly shutting down.   Mycom’s website has been disabled.

Arkansas: In Fayetteville, after 24 years Big Red Razorbacks Fan Shop shutting down so the owner can start his second retirement.

California: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; Palo Alto based credit card validating e-reader Jumio now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and for sale. Administrators blame lack of ‘crowd funding’ (guess those low-tech girls in low-cut t-shirts didn’t work).  This is more proof that most tech companies were never successful, playing the accounting shell game of including that ‘funding’ in their earnings reports which made it look like people were buying their products/services.

Colorado: Denver based oil company Venoco now bankrupt busted with 50% of “production curtailed” and $1-billion USD in debt, partly blaming it on the massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California .   Another Denver based oil company legally bankrupt busted, Emerald Oil.  They first defaulted on their debts due to low oil prices.  

Analysts have warned that if oil prices remain low for too long there will be a dominos effect of collapsing oil industry related companies. (what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs [REL])

Florida:  Mycom North America suddenly announced they’re shutting down their Orlando office next week.  Interestingly the WARN list the company as “construction”, but Bloomberg’s Company Overview calls it a UK based privately held software-engineering company.  In Hollywood, Schumacher Clinical Partners issued a WARN, 163 people will be laid off between May and December!

Illinois: Peoria School District 150 laying off about 78 teachers, most under “honorable discharge” and some due to lack of “performance”.  A Freedom of Information Act court order forced Kishwaukee College to reveal it eliminated at least 24 jobs, due to lack of students and taxpayer funding.  Note that it took a Freedom of Information Act court order to get the publicly funded college to reveal the layoffs!

Missouri: An Office Max shutting down in Saint Loius, and an Office Depot shutting down in Brentwood.  It’s part of the merged Florida based office supply sellers’ plan to shutdown more than 7-hundred stores, so much for “Now More Choice”!

New York:  In NYC, insurance company AIG (American International Group) issued a mass layoff WARN, 242 people being laid off between now and September!  The Clifton Park Office Max shutting down in May.

North Carolina: In Durham, after 140 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) ‘black owned’ Scarborough & Hargett Funeral Home now chapter 11 bankrupt busted claiming more than $1-million USD of debt.  However, in 2013 state regulators fined the funeral home and put it on probation for two years after being caught lying about its ‘advance sales’ of funeral services.   Mycom North America suddenly announced they’re shutting down their Bessemer office next week.  Ecolab issued a shutdown WARN for its Charlotte location, 60 jobs lost by May.  Tuscarora Yarns issued a shutdown WARN for its China Grove operations, 123 jobs lost by May!

Oregon: Mycom North America suddenly announced they’re shutting down their Portland office next week. India based office management company Firstsource Group issued a shutdown WARN for their Eugene operations, 275 jobs gone by mid-May!

Pennsylvania:  Malvern based grocery chain ACME shutting down three stores, two in New Jersey and one in Pennsylvania, by the end of April.  Hundreds of jobs lost! Administrators said the economy is so bad that it’s not worth it to renew the leases on those locations!

South Carolina:  Charleston Cooks shutdown their stores in Greenville and Columbia, the owner suddenly “made the decision to retire”.  Cooking classes will continue until the end of April.   In Columbia, after one year in their new location formal dress shop Carolina Couture suddenly shutdown their Gervais Street shop, due to an ‘undisclosed legal action’.

Texas: In Dallas, Dealertrack Tech issued a WARN, 56 jobs gone by mid-May.  Shade Structures revealed they laid off 54 employees last month.  In Coppell, Japan based Panasonic Avionics issued a WARN, 51 jobs gone by the end of June.  And for Ripple Effect Layoffs caused by the oil industry: Cudd Energy Services issued a WARN, 60 jobs lost in San Antonio by mid-May.  And in Longview, Trinity Rail-Tank Car issued mass layoff WARNs saying 609 people will become unemployed by mid-May!

Vermont: Q Burke Mountain Resort said it must layoff employees, blaming weather for delaying the opening of a new $50-million USD conference center.

Washington: Mycom North America suddenly announced they’re shutting down their Redmond office next week.  And for more proof that you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise;  Bellevue based video game maker 5th Cell forced to layoff 45 people under orders from publisher Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment.  Initial reports say Warner Brothers was shutting 5th Cell down.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

21 March 2016: “an economy in distress” Gem State kills thousands of jobs & tens of millions in revenues!

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, Idaho

“an economy in distress” Idaho kills thousands of Equine jobs & tens of millions in revenues! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 21 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

A warning for people who shop for food in grocery stores: U.S. employee unions are warning that the 2015 Giant Food (based in Netherlands) and Food Lion (based in Belgium) merger will result in the sell-off or shutdown of at least eight Giant and Martin’s grocery stores in Maryland and Virginia!  The sell-off is the result of U.S. anti-trust laws (the same reason Albertsons-Safeway used to trick now bankrupt-dead Haggen into buying 130 failing stores).

The National Association of Realtors said sales of existing homes dropped 7.1% in February.

Idaho: In Garden City, after 40 years The Gem State’s largest horse racing op Les Bois Park suddenly shutdown. It’s the latest victim of a recent decision by A-hole Christian regulators declaring ‘instant horse racing’ machines to be “unconstitutional”! Boise State University conducted an economic study which concluded that Les Bois Park alone generated $50-million USD for Ada County, and provided 536 jobs, all lost now!  The Idaho Horse Council says there will be a domino effect across Idaho’s equine economy: “It’s the feed, the hotels, the traveling, eating… it’s just a trickledown effect. Horses are going to be shipped out of state and that’s income Idaho doesn’t get. That’s devastating for our horse economy.”-Myron Amsden

Indiana: In Mishawaka, Cinemark Six shutting down their dollar movie theater this Thursday.  Local news reports say it’s been for sale for some time, apparently nobody is interested in buying it.

Michigan: Jackson based CMS Energy (aka Consumers Energy) reported they are on track to shutdown seven coal fired electricity power plants, by the end of Spring.  Administrators claim their natural gas fired plant can replace the seven coal fired plants, but they didn’t say what’s going to happen to all those employees.

New Jersey: In Swedesboro, Netherlands based potato starch supplier Royal Ingredients issued a WARN, 80 jobs lost by mid-May.

New York:  In Cohoes, after 26 years Tables Chairs and More shutting down so the owner can retire, blaming the bad economy: “…the overall business conditions aren’t the best, and I don’t think that there has ever been a real full recovery from the recession in 2008, and it’s become more of a struggle.”-Fred Turcotte

North Carolina:  In Durham, after five years G2B Brewery & Restaurant shutting down.  Despite being critically acclaimed they never generated enough sales to pay their expenses.  In Chapel Hill, after six years upscale restaurant One shutting down after the third set of lead chefs (since opening) decided to leave.

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, after 36 years God powerless to stop ‘christian’ education supply store The Apple Tree from shutting down by the end of May, blaming the lack of economic recovery (proving once again the real ‘god’ is money): “…. the sustainability of a small business in an economy in distress and an industry….has become increasingly difficult to remain competitive…” 

Pennsylvania: ‘Life sciences’ drugs maker Morphotek laid off 27 people. What construction industry recovery? Plumbing parts maker Zurn issued a shutdown WARN for their Erie HQ, no layoff numbers made public.  Zurn is moving their HQ to Wisconsin between May and August.  Zurn administrators claim that Wisconsin is the land of “global water industry leaders”, so that’s where the business is.

West Virginia: In Huntington, after 70 years Glaser Furniture shutting down by April.  The owners say their adult children are not interested in carrying on the family business.

Wyoming: After 14 years community owned clothing co-op Powell Mercantile shutting down, blaming locals for buying on the internet or traveling all the way to Billings to do their shopping.  Apparently the co-op is shifting to stores that offer products not easily found elsewhere.  Casper County wants $5-million USD in state taxpayer funding to shutdown their trash dump! And they say that’ll cover only half the costs to shutdown Horsethief Canyon Landfill! Of course the state ordered the shutdown, due to leaking toxic materials.  This is a fine example of how taxpayers are royally screwed over by ‘their’ system.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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, Idaho

“…haven’t been able to get that magic to happen.” Dept of Education falsifies employment numbers! Saudi Arabia controls U.S. refineries? : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 19 – 20 March 2016

Japan based electronics maker Toshiba, who was caught out last year cooking its own accounting books revealing that it was actually losing money (over the past seven years), is now under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  The U.S. investigation is about Toshiba’s U.S. subsidiaries lying about their revenues to avoid paying U.S. taxes, and includes the U.S. nuclear power plant maker/operator Westinghouse (which is now owned by Toshiba).  Toshiba has recently been fined a record $66-million USD by Japan’s Financial Services Agency for lying about their revenues.

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: In Sacramento, after more than 20 years furniture store Three Women & an Armoire shutting down by April, blaming jacked up rent and jacked up competition.   In San Mateo, after 60 years Kaufmann’s Cameras shutting down due to the new landlord quadrupling the rent: “… it was very difficult finding someplace in the new economy. I almost kind of doubt we’ll open up a brick and mortar again. We’ll look for it and if we find it we’ll do it, but that’s not our thought right now.”-Warren Kaufmann

Connecticut:  The mayor of Bridgeport laid of the city’s Health Director, who says he doesn’t have the authority to do that and will sue. This is just one of many recent controversal personnel issues that the mayor’s administration claims are attempts to save money, but many critics say it’ll cost the city more money fighting legal actions.

Florida: In Naples, after 45 years, and several armed robberies, Thalheimers Jewelers shutting down due to injuries the owner suffered in a bike accident last year.

Idaho: An update on that false organic seed selling operation that ripped off dozens of farmers east of the Rockies for five years; one of the co-owners of Saul Farms/Bliss Seed pled guilty to mislabeling products.  Prosecutors say the seed sellers sold ‘inorganic’ seed at organic seed prices, getting at least $1 USD per pound more than they should have, resulting in $1.9-million USD in fraudulent sales!  And there’s even more fraud from the Christian dominated Gem State; this time illegal drugs involving a doctor and his family.  In Coeur d’Alene a doctor, his wife and his son appeared in federal court and pled not guilty to charges of running a meth/heroin/oxycodone op that covered the states of Idaho, Washington, Montana, Nevada and North Dakota!    Two of the doctor’s other children pled not guilty at an earlier court appearance.  The FBI and multiple local police agencies from several states made the bust, describing it as a massive drug running-money laundering op. The investigation also included the U.S. Border Patrol.  Local news reports say the doctor was “prominent” in the area and was part of the larger multi-state operation.  This isn’t the first time huge drug running ops have been shutdown in Idaho.

Indiana: In Fort Wayne, Gropp’s Famous Fish of Stroh shutting down  due to the retirement of the owners.  The family hopes to make money by licensing its secret recipes.

Louisiana: In Baton Rouge, restaurant supplier Ready Portion Meat shutdown their 56 years old retail operation this past Friday, and eventually will end wholesale ops as well.  It’s connected to the 2013 sale of the company to Washington based government contractor Mobius Industries.  Administrators with Mobius refused to give job loss numbers, but blame the shutdown on crashing sales to the restaurant industry, a 20% crash just last year: “We put a tremendous amount of effort into increasing sales in the last year or two and haven’t been able to get that magic to happen.”-Brian Clayton  (the claim of crashing restaurant industry sales is interesting because every year the National Restaurant Association claims sales are way up)

New York: Lack of funding and students forcing Kenmore Town of Tonawanda District to shutdown the Roosevelt and Hamilton elementary schools and Kenmore Middle School (Junior High damn it, we’re not supposed to be part of the bloody British empire!) next school year.  Local news reports say the district has been trying to figure out a way to cut taxpayer costs since 2012, and this was the best they could do.

North Carolina: The 3rd largest cigarette maker in the U.S. International Textile Group (ITG Brands) laid off 20 salaried employees in Greensboro, as part of their recent massive layoff announcement blamed on declining cigarette sales.

Ohio: In Cleveland, Playmatters Toys shutting down its 20 years old Shaker Square store.  It’s the third Playmatters store to shutdown, apparently there are only two stores left.  Don’t blame competition, local news reports say ever since 2008 dozens of mom-n-pop toy stores in the region have shutdown, Playmatters owner Michael Ziegenhagen confirmed by saying “…we had really strong years before the recession hit in 2008…”

Pennsylvania: In Philadelphia, Perch Pub shutting down next week, the building’s owner wants to construct a hotel.

South Dakota: The state level corruption investigation into the U.S. Department of Education’s GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) has revealed that contractors are lying about employment data, using old employment rosters to pad current employment numbers in order to get more taxpayer money! (in Nigeria it’s called creating Ghost Employees, and they claimed they learned it from the U.S. government) Those bogus employment records were part of contracts with “…former top officials of the state Department of Education, the University of South Dakota and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Education.” What’s really scandalous is that no criminal charges have yet to be filed!

Texas: Royal Dutch Shell and Saudi Aramco are splitting up their oil refinery ops in the United States, the result is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia now controls the largest U.S. refinery located at Port Arthur!

Virginia: In Richmond, tonight is the last picture show at the 78 years old Regal Westhampton Cinemas.  Local news reports said the manager told them she was not allowed to publicly say why.

Washington DC: Independently operated Law School Transparency has revealed that only 56% of law school graduates find full employment after graduating, which challenges the official employment placement claims made by the top law schools in the U.S.

Wisconsin: Food service company and construction industry supplier Mantiwoc Company announced layoffs for their operations in Manitowoc and in the state of Pennsylvania. No numbers were given but it’s part of Mantiwoc Company’s “right sizing” which recently included the spinning off it’s construction crane maker subsidiary called Cranes.  In Milwaukee, after 28 years Paintball Dave’s shutting down due to operational costs that now exceed revenues.

Wyoming: In Casper, oil equipment maker Power Service eliminated more than 50 jobs. Administrators admitted that since 2008 they’ve been struggling to control operational costs, but the oil industry downsizing pushed them over the edge.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

18 March 2016: “If the plant goes out this town will dry up!” States admit to ignoring federal unemployment laws!

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, Idaho

“If the plant goes out this town will dry up!” States admit to ignoring federal unemployment laws! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 18 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Colorado: Employment administrators with The Centennial State admit they ignore federal unemployment laws: “We have no enforcement authority. We can’t call companies and say we’re hearing about layoffs.”-Bill Thoennes, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, who says people screwed over by their employers are told to hire their own lawyer (hey, that happened to me and a dozen of my co-workers here in the Right to Work [you over] state of Idaho, back in 2012)

Connecticut: Xpect Discounts announced it will exodus The Constitution State, shutting down all remaining four of its stores and laying off more than 1-hundred people, by the end of the month! At one time they had seven stores in-state.    Evil Too Big to Jail British empire taxpayer owned Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) issued several layoff WARNs, 37 people in Stamford losing their jobs between now and May.  West Hartford Walmart shutting down mid-April, 111 jobs lost! Back in August 2015, laser maker Lumentum announced it will shutdown their Bloomfield factory. Now they’ve revealed how many jobs will be killed; 231 by October!  Georgia based cardboard box maker WestRock shutdown their Uncasville factory, 87 jobs lost this past Wednesday.  Germany based Siemens Healthcare shutting down their Brookfield diagnostics ops, at least 236 jobs lost by March 2018!  Retailer Macy’s shutting down their Enfield store, 104 jobs lost by the end of the month!  Hallmark Cards shutting down their Enfield warehouse-distribution operation, 553 jobs gone by Summer!

Florida: In Center Hill, Central Beef issued a WARN, 214 jobs being eliminated between now and the end of May!  For nearly a decade the meat packager was dumping water contaminated with salt and feces onto a rancher’s property. It took the rancher filing several court actions, and a plant manager turning whistleblower, to get any of the state and federal government agencies to act!  The dumping was stopped, however, criminal charges against the food company were eventually dropped.  So far there’s no explanation for the mass layoffs.

Idaho: Is ObamaCare at fault for the shooting death of a 60 years old man in the parking lot of an Idaho Falls hospital?  It happened today, in the parking lot of the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC), police are investigating the true cause of the shooting.  It was just a few months ago that the director of EIRMC testified to Failed State ‘lawmakers’ that their version of ObamaCare was directly responsible for the deaths of at least 1-thousand Idahoans!  And just yesterday Idaho senator Dan Schmidt gave back his state taxpayer funded health plan to protest republicans’ continued refusal to close the ObamaCare gap responsible for such deaths. 

Illinois: After 152 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) law firm Schiff Hardin laid off 11 lawyers, and back in January 22 left voluntarily.  Administrators are now blaming its “realignment” on the 22 who voluntarily left.  In Niles, Meijer department store shutting down in June, no word on how many employees will become unemployed.  There was no explanation for the shutdown either, although Meijer recently used the excuse of age to shutdown their huge Columbus, Ohio, store.

Maine: In Portland, after 40 years Paul’s Food Center shutting down, and being sold-off due to the death of the owner.

Massachusetts: Rockland Trust has taken over Bank of Cape Cod and as a result will shutdown all Bank of Cape Cod offices that are located near Rockland Trust offices.  Administrators claim they will try to find jobs for the soon to be former Bank of Cape Cod employees.

New York: Harlem Hand Carwash issued a shutdown WARN for their NYC ops on Adam Clayton Powell Junior Boulevard, due to “non renewal of the lease”, 34 jobs lost by the end of the month.  Also in totally corrupt NYC, a non-profit (sure) political organization connected to the current mayor shutdown.  Campaign for One New York had been accused of operating as a ‘shadow government’, and official investigation requests have been filed.  So called ‘mayor’ de Blassio would only comment “The work is done….bottom line.”  In Buffalo, the Blue Monk beer church (just kidding) shutting down sometime between April and May.  A co-owner of the brew-pub says his partner is also the landlord’s son, and they no longer get along!

Oregon: Washington based Starbucks coffee rip-off artist suddenly shutting down their Lancaster Mall shop this weekend.  The press release gave no explanation why, and local news sources said even the employees refused to talk!

Pennsylvania: Another fine example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL). Pittsburgh based US Steel issued mass layoff WARNs in Alabama and Texas saying at least 8-hundred people will become unemployed! It’s blamed on crashing orders for oil pipe from the oil industry.

Rhode Island: The evil state is finally shutting down a nursing home after years of multiple accusations of abuse, and even a death of a disabled resident!  The taxpayer funded College Park Apartments will shutdown next week.

Virginia: Just a few of days after announcing the end of 530 jobs,  British empire based-U.S. tax sucking BAE reduced those layoffs to 265 shipyard jobs gone by the end of the month! Administrators credit new contracts for work, but warn they’re only good ’till May, meaning more possible layoffs.  BAE also laid off 345 employees in November and December last year.  What automotive industry recovery?  In Altavista, bearing maker Timken shutting down their factory, 125 jobs lost by Spring 2017! Just like the rest of corporate America, Ohio based Timken is consolidating operations: “Everybody here works up there at Timken. It’s just the life of a small industrial town… If the plant goes out this town will dry up!”-Corrie Thacker, Altavista resident

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

16 March 2016: “Shame on us!”

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.”