Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings 14 – 17 June 2014: “I’m tired of fighting it!” Cops gunnin’ for your taxes! No more Elephant Bar! More proof of housing market crash! Another U.S. shoe maker kicks the bucket!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

The U.S. based International Monetary Fund predicts the U.S. job market won’t return to “full employment” until at least 2017.

Arizona: In Tempe, after almost 20 years Big Fish Pub shutdown. Local news reports say it is the result of years of disputes between the Pub owners and the property owners.   The Pub owners stated in a long letter to their customers that the property owners finally jacked up the rent so high, it was impossible to pay.

California:  In Costa Mesa, after several leaked reports of restaurant shutdowns across the country, upscale Elephant Bar & Restaurant chain made it official and is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, and up for sale.  Company officials are also asking the bankruptcy court for $3.3-million USD to keep the restaurant chain going until a new owner can be found!  In Beverly Hills, after 27 years the upscale snooty Kate Mantilini restaurant shutdown.   In Pico Rivera, Plaza de la Raza Child Development Services finally notified the state that they killed 52 jobs, back in May.  In Oakland, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center warned of more layoffs in August.  In Simi Valley, after 50 years of selling steam showers ThermaSol warned state officials of a “closure” in August, at least 21 jobs will be lost.  It might have something to do with the company’s shift to internet sales.

Connecticut: The Poquonnock Bridge Fire District warned it must layoff nine firefighters and default on its retirement plan payment due to lack of tax revenues.  Apparently that’s even with increased taxation.  Local residents and firefighters didn’t seem to understand,  perhaps they think money grows on trees?

Delaware: After 32 years Twice Nice Antiques shutdown.

Florida:  Miami-Dade County warned of layoffs for law enforcers.  According to reports, the county is $140-million in the hole and as a result 416 cops and 160 prison guards, as well as other county employees, could become unemployed!   But are the cops worth saving?  Miami-Dade has nearly 3-thousand police, yet, according to their very own Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association their homicide “closure rate is only about 20%” (that means 80% of killings are unsolved)!   Of course police officials say the answer to their ineffectiveness is to hire even more cops (apparently cops think taxpayers can just shit the money out of their asses)!

Georgia: In Albany, after 32 years Ed Jordan Music shutdown, the owner blames the bad economy: “I’m 72 years old and I’m tired of fighting it! I think it is time to retire.”-Ed Jordan

Louisiana: University of New Orleans announced they will kill an undisclosed number of their 84 degree programs, which will result in layoffs.  The university laid off 28 people back in February.   Since 2012 more than 110 employees have been laid off, and they shutdown their child daycare.  It’s blamed on disappearing students, for example; in 2003 the university had more than 17-thousand students, in 2013 they had only 9323, an almost 50% reduction over ten years!

Massachusetts: After only 11 years, Center for Digital Imaging Arts  now chapter 7 bankrupt busted.   Chapter 7 bankruptcy indicates they are toast and will be liqudated.

Michigan:  What housing industry recovery?  Only six years after moving mortgage operations to Pittsfield Township, Too Big to Jail CitiMortgage laid off 180 people!   However, Citi has so much money that the affected employees will get 60 days of pay (and probably not be counted in the unemployment data as a result). The Detroit Land Bank Authority began taking bids on dozens of abandoned houses.  This round of auctions involve ‘new build’ homes and bidding starts at $1-thousand.  There’s one catch, you have to pay in cash only, plus you must remodel the house (apparently these ‘new’ homes are damaged).  Eaton County preps for new round of home auctions on 06 August.  The 47 properties were seized from the owners for failure to pay taxes.  There is another auction planned later in the month of August.  And as far as jobs are concerned, employment service Michigan Works is consolidating its operations resulting in 65 people becoming unemployed.

Minnesota:  In Minneapolis, after 32 years Falafel King shutdown.  The owner sold off the building because he was “tired” of playing the landlord game.

Nebraska: Italy based portable electricity generator machine maker Pramac America laid off employees.  No official reason, or exact number of layoffs were given.  Unnamed employees told local news media that the layoffs came without notice, and that only 12 employees were left on the assembly line! Company officials swear they are not shutting down.

Nevada: In Sparks, after 18 years Scolari’s Food & Drug shutdown, 50 jobs lost.  Company officials say the shutdown is meant to “keep the company….viable”.

New Hampshire: In Goffstown, after 96 years (and surviving the Great Depression) God refused to stop the shutdown of Villa Augustina School.  It’s blamed on disappearing Catholic students.  In 2008-09 the Catholic parents tried to save the school by buying it  from the Catholic church.  However, the students just wouldn’t show up (maybe they’re all in heaven now. Oh no, the rapture?).  “A community embracing Christian Values, Academic Excellence, and Loving Service consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church and the charism of St. Claudine Thevenet.”-school mission statement

New Mexico: In Albuquerque, Maloney’s Tavern shutdown, 25 jobs lost.  Apparently the property owner wants to sell off the building.

New Jersey:  In Secacuse, Classic Party Rentals is shutting down their New Jersey warehouse and laying off 94 people.  The California based company recently emerged from bankruptcy and told state officials they had to shutdown their New Jersey ops due to “competition”.

New York:  In Brooklyn, after 151 years (and surviving the Great Depression as well as dozens of recessions) snooty upscale prep school Adelphi Academy now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  School officials blame it on disappearing students.  Court documents show current K through 12 enrollment at only 100.  The Erie County Department of Social Services warning that 11 Child Protective Services employees could lose their jobs.  However, county officials say they are working to actually add 37 CPS jobs, the problem is finding the money (yeah, there trying to figure out how to force unemployed taxpayers to shit out more money).  For some reason Erie County has seen an “explosion” of child protection cases since 2013.  In Corning, World Kitchen warned of mass layoffs at its Pressware dinnerware factory.  The Pressware factory started in 1938 making Pyrex, there are reports that this last U.S. owned dinnerware company is being sold off.  In Rome,  after 33 years B&L Italian Bakery shutdown.  In Nanuet, after 50 years sporting goods provider Cleats ‘n Sneaks shutdown.  In Batavia,  shoe makers (yes there are still some U.S. based shoe makers) P.W. Minor and Sons announced they are shutting down in September.  Layoffs for 72 employees beginning now.  The owners blame the bad economy.

Ohio:  Ohio State University eliminated 13 jobs.  School officials said it’s either the layoffs or jacking up tuition.  A week after Fifth Third  revealed they killed one thousand jobs last year, the Too Big to Jail bank announced it is preparing to shut down, or sell off, 1-thousand offices! Bank officials said they are trying to cut  $972-million from their expenses!

Tennessee: The state Department of Human Services killed 121 jobs across 46 counties!  State officials ironically claim it’s part of their plan to make access to social services easier!

Texas: In Abilene, God refused to stop non-profit Sears Methodist Retirement Systems from becoming chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  The medical housing and care company says it needs $600-thousand right now or it will shut down its 11 centers.  1500 old people and veterans could be affected!  Christian officials blamed old people for not being able to pay for the service! (What happened to Obama Care?)

12 – 13 June 2014: School administrators caught in secret bonus deals!

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

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

Business/Economics, U.S.

Where are they going? Walgreens refuses to abandon United States! Proof elitist British-Jewish empire investors are destroying your country! Obamacare connection?

24 August 2014 (14:15 UTC-07 Tango)/27 Shawwal 1435/02 Shahrivar 1393/29 Ren-Shen 4712

For the 2nd quarter 2014 just under 600 people renounced their U.S. citizenship.  Add that to the nearly 1-thousand people in the 1st quarter, then compare that to all of 2013 and we’re more than half way to beating that record.

By the way, despite all that rhetoric from the Obama regime, many ‘U.S.’ corporations continue to move offshore, giving up their U.S. registration (citizenship for corporations, remember the courts consider corporations people too).  However, one company called Walgreens (a legal drugs pusher, aka The Walgreen Company) has refused to renounce its U.S. citizenship despite demands from its stockholders to do so.

According to former U.S. Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich, the biggest investor in Walgreens is the Jewish Goldman-Sachs.  And apparently they’re pissed!

Walgreens’ decision to remain ‘American’ resulted in the price of their stock dropping almost $20 per share the day after the announcement!  This is proof that ‘Wall Street’ investors like Goldman-Sachs don’t give a crap about not only the working class, but they don’t give a crap about the state of affairs of the country you live in.   And this is more reason why the main stream news media must stop tying the performance of the stock markets to the performance of the economy.

You see, shareholders (investors) love it when U.S. companies renounce their citizenship (such a move is officially called a tax inversion), because it means much less taxes those companies will pay which in turn means more profits that can be divided up amongst the investors.

On paper the United States is considered to have the highest corporate tax rate in the World, at an official 39.1% (of course once you factor in all those deductions and write offs the ‘effective’ tax rate is much lower, even the U.S. Government Accountability Office discovered that in a review of 2010 tax filings many big U.S. corporations actually paid ZERO taxes!), Japan comes in second.

We can’t blame it all on Jewish elites:  Realize that the majority of Foreign Direct Investments into U.S. corporations come from the British empire (Commonwealth of Nations), then maybe you can see why I consider such demands to offshore U.S. corporations an act of War!  (By the way, American Walgreens is attempting to take over  the British drugs pusher known as Boots, so don’t be surprised if Walgreens suddenly goes British)

And we must also blame our own government’s stupid rules that allow former U.S. corporations to continue making money the old fashioned way; by ripping off the taxpayer!   Robert Reich gave a hypothetical example of how former U.S. companies can still make money off your taxes under the new Obama Care: “So if Walgreen as a Swiss company continues to fill Medicaid and Medicare payments as well as, say, CVS, it’s likely that Walgreen will continue to earn almost a quarter of its $72 billion annual revenues directly from the U.S. government.”

 

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings 12 – 13 June 2014: School administrators caught in secret bonus deals! More Long John Silver’s shutdowns! Too Big to Jail bank kills non-profit hospital housing! ObamaCare cuts 25-thousand old people off Medicare?

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona:  It’s been revealed that Nellis Management will be shutting down Long John Silver’s restaurants (see Iowa).  In Phoenix, Barnes & Nobel bookstore announced the will shutdown their Ahwatukee store in August.   California based Mimi’s Cafe shutdown.  In Scottsdale, more proof the internet can’t be blamed for killing brick-n-mortar stores; GoDaddy.com revealed it lost $200-million USD last year (and $279-million in 2012)!  The privately held internet domain registry is trying to go ‘public’ and had to make the revelation as part of SEC rules.

California:  In Turlock, God can’t stop the all powerful Obama Care from killing 1314 healthcare jobs with Emanual Medical Center!  The 97 years old evangelical Christian run hospital warned California officials the massive healthcare layoffs will take place by the end of July, due to the takeover by Texas based secular (investor-owned) Tenet Healthcare.   In Bakersfield, Kern Medical Center finally revealed how many jobs they will kill due to Obama Care; 111!  On top of that the taxpayer funded county hospital system shutdown their home health and outpatient physical therapy operations!  After 34 years the San Jose Repertory Theatre shutdown, 51 jobs lost.  More proof the internet can’t be blamed for killing brick-n-mortar stores; in Santa Monica video gaming info website GameTrailers laid off an undisclosed number of employees.  It’s blamed on the takeover by New York based Defy Media.  In Palo Alto, Hewlett Packard (HP) continues to kill jobs, this time 36 people let go without warning.

Florida: In Winter Haven, Medicare insurer Physicians United Plan now being liquidated.  300 jobs lost!  25-thousand Medicare recipients affected!  So much for Obama Care!  What housing market recovery?  Brevard County is now the country’s leading area for home foreclosures.  RealtyTrac says one in every 303 homes has been foreclosed by the Too Big to Jail banks!  In Sweetwater, EurosSuites Residences and Resort hotel has been foreclosed by a Spanish bank! In Dania Beach, Thunderboat Marine Center in foreclosure.  In Hollywood, a redevelopment project being foreclosed despite the loans being backed by taxpayer funding.   7-Eleven selling off 31 convenience stores. It’s part of the Texas based company’s plan to sell at least 78 stores this year.  Company officials say the stores don’t fit their new “business model”.

Illinois: In Galesburg, the Sandburg Mall now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  The mall is at least $10-million in debt.  Schaumburg based Motorola Solutions announced they will kill an undisclosed number of jobs across the U.S., starting now.  Company officials say they need to cut $200-million in costs, however, it might actually have something to do with the sale of Motorola Solutions to Zebra Technologies.  In Collinsville, Kmart announced they will shutdown in September, 84 jobs lost.  What housing industry recovery? In Chicago, troubled Armaclad Windows and Doors shutting down, 195 jobs lost!  The company is being liquidated due to crashing sales and bad management.  The company even got $10-million in local tax incentives, but it obviously isn’t enough in this bad economy.

Iowa: Another Long John Silver’s franchise going down, this time in The Hawkeye State.  After 42 years Nellis Management announced they are shutting down at least eight of their Iowa stores (as well as their Illinois stores, reported in a prior Job Losses report).  As in Illinois, news reports said Iowa employees were given no notice. Nellis Management claims they’ve suffered as much as 50% drop in sales!  They blame a scientific report which dubbed Long John Silver’s the “worst restaurant” in the U.S.

Kansas: In Topeka, after 60 years Roy Frey Western Lifestyle store shutdown.

Kentucky: In Mount Vernon, the Anchor Packaging ‘Rock Castle’ operation shutting down and moving to Arkansas in August.  Company officials claim it’s in response to customer demands.

Massachusetts:  In Westfield, Savage Arms laid off an additional 48 employees.  The gun maker killed 37 jobs back in March.  Company officials say the layoffs were necessary in order to keep their guns affordable.

Michigan: At the Detroit Metro Airport a contract with Chili’s Too, Jose Cuervo Tequileria, Home Team Sports and Starbucks Fountain was ended.  If a new contract is not signed 135 jobs will be lost in August!

Minnesota: Sky Ventures warning it will shutdown six Pizza Huts in June, if there are no buyers.  Sky Ventures is bankrupt, the franchise company has already sold off 54 Pizza Huts.

Missouri:  Troubled Saint Joseph School District killed more jobs.  Three more teachers were added to the growing list of former employees.  Last month three employees were laid off as well.  School board officials blame it on disappearing students.  However, the school district is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The FBI wants to know why the administrators secretly gave themselves $200-thousand in bonuses!  In Clayton, Brazikat restaurant shutdown.   The owner blames bad reviews, however, it turns out the owner is being sued for breach of contract.  In Richmond Heights-Saint Louis, after 18 years the troubled Harvest Restaurant shutdown.  The owner blamed competition, however, the restaurant had routinely changed ownership for some reason.

New Jersey: Bankrupt trucking company New Century Transportation revealed they will kill 1500 jobs!  Employees found out when they checked the Better Business Bureau’s website and discovered the company has been declared “to be out of business”.

New York: In NYC, British empire Australia based News Corp began killing an undisclosed number of jobs within its New York Community Newspaper Group (CNG).  CNG is up for sale, it’s blamed on crashing newspaper revenues.  Last year News Corp sold off Dow Jones Local Media Group for the same reason.  After 20 years Chelsea’s Antiques Garage shutdown, it’s blamed on property developers.  Hachette Book Group shutdown their Business Plus operation, at least 28 jobs lost.  The company is fighting a legal battle with Amazon.

Oregon: In Albany, Kmart announced it will shutdown in September, 64 jobs lost.

Pennsylvania:  Chartiers-Houston School District warned of layoffs, and they blamed the state for withholding payments on recent construction and renovations, and the federal government for  increasing health care and retirement costs (Obama Care).  District officials say the result is that they are now $1-million in the hole!  In Lansdale, after more than 25 years soccer (football) clothing store Kick-N-Wear shutdown.  The owner said he could no longer compete with bigger retailers.   Minnesota based SuperValu announced they are selling off four Pennsylvania Shop ‘n Save stores.  No word on how many jobs could be lost.  Montgomery County killed 95 healthcare jobs with Abington Health.  They blame Obama Care: “Like many other regional health systems, Abington Health is navigating changes in the health-care environment. These changes are numerous, the most significant being the shift in volume from inpatient care to outpatient care and declining reimbursements.”-Laurence M. Merlis, CEO

South Dakota: It’s been revealed that Nellis Management will be shutting down Long John Silver’s restaurants (see Iowa).

West Virginia: In Huntington, after 14 years the non-profit Jeffrey E. George Comfort House shutdown.  The House was a place for families (who lived outside a 50 mile radius) of hospital patients to stay while visiting their ill relatives.  It’s blamed on a Too Big to Jail bank which suddenly demanded full payment of the mortgage (called de-leveraging): “The bank holding the mortgage on our 25 year loan is calling it in after only 12 years of our timely payments and great credit rating!”-Grant Shy, chairman

10 – 11 June 2014: No more Long John Silver’s

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

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

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings 10 – 11 June 2014: “We haven’t made a profit since 1989!” No more Long John Silver’s? Too Big to Jail Banks kill off trucking company! More education cuts! God abandons Boston Strong Jews? God abandons churches as Christians disappear?

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama:  Hoover City Schools laid off nine employees.  School officials bemoaned the facts that student population is growing, but due to the bad economy “….our property tax receipts have declined or stayed flat.”  School officials stated that local taxes began declining suddenly in 2009-10 (isn’t that when the ‘recession’ officially ended?).   Funding has fallen so much that they’ve cut the upcoming school year’s budget by 50%!  And it doesn’t help that Obama Care has drastically increased the costs of employee benefits.

Arizona: University of Phoenix (Apollo Education Group) laid off less than 50 employees.  Company officials say it’s part of their restructuring.

California: More bad news for the Orange County Register newspaper.  The new owners are requesting as many as 100 employees voluntarily quit (by accepting a buyout bribe), or face outright layoffs.  In San Jose, Motorola announced 45 employees will become unemployed in August.  In San Francisco, British empire and U.S. taxsucking military contractor BAE revealed to state officials that it had killed 194 jobs back on 13 May 2014!  WARN notices are supposed to be filed before the layoffs, but BAE filed their mandatory notice a month late.  In Beverly Hills medical systems management company, Forward Business Solutions, laid off 61 employees without notce.  In Lake Forest, dairy flavorings provider Kerry Flavor Systems shutting down in September, 85 jobs lost.  It might be connected to Kerry’s takeover of Wynnstar Flavors.

Connecticut: In Westport, after 59 years Max’s Art supply store shutdown.  The owner revealed the U.S. economy has been in the shitter for the past three decades: “We haven’t made a profit since 1989!”-Shirley Mellor

Florida: In Sarasota, upscale golf themed Sam Snead’s American Grill shutting down.  Employees were given two weeks notice, but were also “ordered” not to talk to the news media.

Idaho: In Twin Falls, after 47 years the Twin 12 Cinema movie theater shutdown.

Illinois: In Galesburg, the Long John Silver’s fast fish food joint shutdown without notice, 10 jobs lost.  Employees were officially notified the same morning that the restaurant was shutdown.  The franchise owner, Nellis Management, said the store was losing money big time.   Nellis Management also said sales at their other 31 Long John Silver’s (across four states) began crashing in 2013, and they plan on shutting more stores down as a result.

Kansas:  In Wichita, Canada based Bombardier shutdown LearJet-85 production, 200 jobs lost!  The employees were given less than a weeks notice.  Production was also killed in Mexico.

Kentucky: The Courier-Journal newspaper laid off seven employees, including the managing editor.  It’s blamed on declining revenue, and efforts to switch to digital.

Massachusetts: In Norwood, That Which Cannot Be Named refused to stop the shutdown of the Jewish elementary school Kehillah Schechter Academy.  It’s blamed on disappearing Jewish students (it also doesn’t help that the school is millions of dollars in debt).

Nevada: Canada based Veris Gold now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Despite the price of gold, mining company officials say they are unable to get enough operating capital (Too Big to Jail Bank loans) due to their massive debt load.

New Jersey:  Trucking company New Century Transportation now chapter 7 bankrupt busted and shutting down.  Company officials say they were killed off by the Too Big to Jail Banks, who refused to continue providing operating capital (daily operating loans).  Company officials claim they even tried to sell off parts of the company to raise cash, but nobody is interested in buying.

New York:  Healthcare contractor IPRO laying off 114 employees in August! It’s blamed on the loss of a contract.   Wilson Central School District laid off two employees.  Once again the New York City Housing Authority made threats of shutting down 57 Community Centers!  Since at least 2011 NYCHA has made alternating massive layoff threats, then suddenly canceling those threats.  This is a sure sign of cooked books and political games being played with wasted tax dollars.  In Whitehall, Family Dollar store shutting down in July, 10 jobs lost.  It’s one of 370 Family Dollar stores to be shutdown in 2014.  The shutdown list has not been made public.  In East Syracuse, maker of parts for anything like golf carts to fork lifts Nidec Advanced Motors and Drives announced they will layoff between 34 and 189 employees in September!  In Brooklyn, prepared meals provider Blue Apron laying off 82 people in September.  Company officials announced they’re moving to New Jersey.

Ohio:  In Anderson Township, the Kmart announced it will shutdown in September, 71 jobs lost.

Pennsylvania: Medical device maker Medline Industries is shutting down and moving to New York.  40 jobs lost by October.  In Bridgeville, God refused to stop the closing of Holy Child Catholic School, as well as the Saint Ignatius and Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Barnabas churches.  Church officials blame it on disappearing Christians!

06 – 09 June 2014: “the effort just wasn’t bringing a return” 

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

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

Business/Economics, Idaho, International, U.S.

Global Food Crisis: Late blight kills Idaho’s 2014 potato crops? Confirmed in Bannock County! Blame Mexico or Global Cooling?

19 August 2014 (01:53 UTC-07 Tango)/22 Shawwal 1435/28 Mordad 1393/24 Ren-Shen 4712

“…..just the beginning. The opportunity for this thing to be explosive in its spread is definitely there.”-Phil Nolte, University of Idaho

A few days ago it was reported by local news media that potato late blight was devastating crops in Bingham County, I can tell you it’s here in Bannock County, and it started back in July.

Farm field on the west side of Chubbuck. About 4 weeks ago these spuds were full and green.

Farm field on the west side of Chubbuck. About 4 weeks ago this spud field was full and green.

Don’t blame the drought, since the end of July eastern Idaho has been hit with abnormal rain, so much that University of Idaho pathologists warned the unseasonable heavy rain is causing late blight (Phytophthora infestans).  Late blight was confirmed in Blackfoot farm fields on 11-12 August 2014, in Bingham County.

I can tell you that the farm field on the west side of Chubbuck (Bannock County) was showing signs of disease before the heavy rains started, back at the beginning of July.   It’s an irrigated farm, and several types of crops are rotated every year.   The farmer stopped irrigating by the time the rains hit.

Check out the devastation. Back in July the potato plants were more than 2 feet tall, now they're dead! Late blight killed off the large fields in only a few weeks time.

Check out the devastation. Back in July the potato plants were more than 2 feet tall, now they’re dead! The only plants growing now are the tumble weeds! Late blight killed off the large fields in only a few weeks time.

Apparently it only takes the late blight fungus about five days to begin spreading spores (the spores travel by air).

A late blight is blamed for the infamous Irish Potato Famine, and it made its way to North America in the late 1800s.  But ever since the 1990s new strains of late blight evolved in Mexico, and are making their way north.  The new strains are considered more lethal than the old Irish Potato Famine version.   It attacks tomatoes as well.

University of Idaho ag officials stated that spraying fungicides should kill the blight, however they admitted many farmers are short on cash and can’t afford the chemicals.  A farmer from Aberdeen (Bingham County) stated that he hoped his anti-early blight spray would suffice for preventing late blight, due to cost concerns.   After all, potatoes haven’t really been a money making crop for Idaho farmers (despite the propaganda spouted in the metropolitan areas of the United States).

It’s not just potatoes, Idaho hay/alfalfa growers are facing fungus problems due to the unseasonal heavy rains.  By the end of the first week of August, Jefferson and Bingham counties reported record rain fall totals.

Hay farmers had already shipped off their first cuts, but University of Idaho officials reported that the second cut (now stacked in bales) is in jeopardy of mold contamination due to being soaked: “…..there was enough rain on uncovered stacks that it probably went through the first bale. We could have more hay fires and a bunch of ruined hay. Monitor your stacks.”-Glenn Shewmaker

A Blackfoot hay farmer reported that his hay stacks had already turned black with mold: “It’s the ugliest hay I’ve ever been a part of!”-Dewey Stander, lost 404 hectares (1-thousand acres) of cut hay

Up ’till now the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had been making optimistic reports regarding agricultural crop production in Idaho.

But there’s more climate change threats coming for Idaho farmers.  Climatologist Cliff Harris says he and his colleges agree that Idaho could see a colder than normal Autumn (our temps have actually been unusually cool for August).  He even warns that there could be hard freezes in September, meaning less food for you city folks to eat.

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings 06 – 09 June 2014: “the effort just wasn’t bringing a return” More employment services shutting down! Rite Aid stabs union workers in the back! Yes, more ObamaCare job cuts!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that from 1999 to 2013 the number of people moving across the country because of employment reasons remained unchanged at 10%.  This is a sign that the job market has been stagnant for far longer than the 2007-09 Recession.

France based Hachette Book Group confirmed it will layoff 28 U.S. employees due to crashing sales.  The book publisher is best known for Harry Potter, but no magic can save the company from the bad economy or its problems with Amazon.

Alabama: In Tuscaloosa, legal drugs pusher Rite Aid announced they will shutdown their distribution center over the next two years, 299 jobs lost!  It is one of three Rite Aid distribution centers being shutdown in the United States.

California: In Santa Anna, PSS World Medical shutting down in August.  In Cerritos, hospital ER and Urgent Care contractor RevCycle+ announced it is killing 256 medical billing jobs in August!  They laid off 26 employees back in February.  In Milpitas, Korea based Samsung Semiconductor announced they are killing 111 high tech jobs in August!  Since 2009 Samsung has been slowly shutting down its U.S. operations, despite billions of USD in investments.  In Laguna Niguel, Kroger owned Ralph’s grocery store shutting down in July.   In Newport Beach, after ten years successful Z Pizza shutdown by the landlord.  The property owner refused to renew the lease.  In Irvine, Red Brick Pizza forced to shutdown by the same property owners that shutdown Z Pizza.  A Denny’s restaurant is being shutdown because the property owner (apparently the same one who shutdown the two pizza joints) refuses to renew the lease.  An upscale Elephant Bar & Restaurant shutting down.  Restaurant officials refused to say why.

Florida:  Manatee County Schools laid off 12 employees.  Reports that the Hollywood Pavilion mental hospital and its Hollywood Hills Rehabilitation Center are being foreclosed.  No word on how many jobs will be affected.  The hospital’s former CEO is now serving a 25 years federal prison sentence for frauding the government, and for bribing patients.   Emilio and Gloria Estefan’s Bongos Cuban Cafe shutdown.  They could not renew the lease.

Georgia: WellStar Health System eliminated 29 positions.  It’s blamed on Obama Care: “The healthcare industry is going through unprecedented changes. There is uncertainty around every corner. In 2013, the U.S. government began cutting $113 billion from hospital payments over the next 10 years with $400 billion additional cuts under discussion.  As a not-for-profit health system, we face an extraordinary challenge to plan for the future without knowing the payment mechanisms.”-David Anderson, VP HR

Hawaii: In Kauai, after 98 years the Kojima Store shutdown.  The family owners blamed decreasing sales and increasing costs of operations.

Illinois: God refuses to stop all powerful Obama Care from forcing Saint John’s Hospital from laying off 43 employees.  In Joliet, employment service Randstad announced it will kill 125 jobs in July!  California based supply company Menlo Worldwide Logistics announced it will layoff 77 people in July.  In Northbrook,  Swizterland based Nestle’s shutdown their DiGiorno and Jack’s Frozen Pies factory, 66 jobs lost.  They are consolidating operations.  In Niles, audio and video equipment maker Shure announced they’re shutting down in August, 50 jobs lost.  In Chicago, advertising company Leo Burnett quietly laid off about ten employees.  It might have something to do with losing a McDonald’s contract.   The ad agency laid off about 40 people back in February.  Heavy equipment maker Caterpillar shutting down four of its Anchor Coupling production and logistics facilities, at least 170 full time jobs lost!

Kentucky: Wisconsin based electric motor maker Regal Beloit announced they’re shutting down their Mount Sterling factory, 212 jobs will be lost by 2015!   The layoffs will begin in July/August.

Maryland: In Baltimore two restaurants, California based Pabu and Lamill, shutdown.

Michigan:  Lawrence Technological University shutting down their 10 years old Center for Nonprofit Management by July.  In Jackson, Too Big to Jail FirstMerit bank shutdown two locations.  It’s part of the bank’s plan to close 26 offices in five states.  In Coloma, after 54 years Nancy’s Furniture (aka Nilson’s Furniture) shutdown.  The owner says their sales never recovered from the ‘recession’: “We tried very hard to keep our business well and to see it through hard times. The time had to come when the effort just wasn’t bringing a return, and that time is right now.”-Jim Edwards

Minnesota:  In Minneapolis, after 25 years the Saks Off 5th store announced it is shutting down in Jaunary.

Missouri:  God refuses to stop all powerful Obama Care from killing as many as 300 jobs in the Mercy hospital system! Mercy’s layoffs will hit several hospitals throughout The Show Me State.  Mercy is the sixth largest Catholic hospital system in the U.S.

New Jersey: Gloucester Manor Rehabilitation and Care killed 130 healthcare jobs!  This is because the nursing home is now under government investigation, placed on the Special Focus List for the next 36 months.  After only seven years upscale furniture retailer Design Spree shutting down two stores.  Bankruptcy could be next.

New Mexico: In Bernalillo, after 37 years the TaGrMo True Value hardware store shutdown.  The owner said the “poor economy” is a sign that it’s time to retire.

New York: In Yonkers, after only two years Brio Tuscan Grille announced they will shutdown in August, 78 jobs lost.  Restaurant officials blame the suck-ass economy.  In Jamaica, Swissport USA announced it is laying off 180 cargo handlers at the JFK Airport in August!  In Syracuse, Travelers Indemnity announced it is shutting down by September, 80 employees to become unemployed between now and April 2015.

North Carolina: In Charlotte, legal drugs pusher Rite Aid announced they will shutdown their distribution center over the next two years.  Rite Aid is consolidating its eastern U.S. distribution centers.

Ohio: Food processor ConAgra killing 170 jobs! The company is shutting down two popcorn factories.  It’s blamed on its takeover of Ralcorp.  In North Toledo, Mitt Romney connected Toys R Us shutting down in July, 30 jobs lost.  Youngstown State University eliminated 58 positions.  University officials said state officials have already cut $20-million USD in funding over the past three years, but that $22-million is going to be cut for the 2014-15 school year!  The University laid off employees in 2013 as well.

Oregon: In Portland, after 13 years Jackpot Records shutdown almost one month earlier than first announced.

South Carolina: What automotive industry recovery?  In Spartanburg County, after only four years France base car parts maker Faurecia shutting down, 150 jobs lost!   In Vista, after more than 55 years Bluestein Wholesale Dry Goods shutdown, it’s blamed on one of the owners developing brain cancer.

Tennessee:  In Oak Ridge, the Food Lion grocery store shutdown, 40 jobs lost.

Texas: San Antonio Children’s Museum shutdown and now for sale.  The building will be totally vacated by 2015.

Virginia:  Military contractor NW Systems now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  This comes as the company had its employee 401k program seized and a lawsuit filed over who really owns the company (among many other lawsuits).

West Virginia: In Poca, legal drugs pusher Rite Aid announced they will shutdown their distribution center over the next three years, 250 jobs will be lost!  Originally Rite Aid was going to close the warehouse in 2016, but the employee’s union went berserk.  Unionized employees accused Rite Aid of stabbing them in the back, because they made concessions in exchange for keeping the distribution center open.  Rite Aid will now keep the warehouse open until 2017, which is apparently when the union contract ends.

Wisconsin: In La Crosse, the Mayo Clinic has revised the number of medical transcriptionists to become unemployed, upward.  Now 188  jobs lost in September!  Mayo Clinic decided to go ahead and outsource all its transcription work.  In Tomah, native American owned Hardware Hank store shutting down in July.

04 – 05 June 2014: “I don’t know if we can overcome this”

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

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

Business/Economics, Idaho

More Economic Decline: Only 3 years after opening, Chubbuck’s Allstate call center already killing jobs!

15 August 2014 (03:25 UTC-07 Tango)/18 Shawwal 1435/24 Mordad 1393/20 Ren-Shen 4712

In October 2010 insurance company Allstate, the mayor of Chubbuck (Steve England) and the governor of Idaho (Butch Otter) announced at a public ground breaking ceremony the creation of a call center that was promised to eventually employ 500 people.

The Allstate call center was built in The Crossings plaza adjacent to the Pine Ridge Mall, and became operational at the end of 2011, but nowhere near 500 jobs were created.

By the end of 2012, there were about 250 employees at the Chubbuck Allstate call center, making Allstate the largest employer in the city.  Many of the positions are part time only.  Allstate claims they spent more than $22-million USD on the project, but I know they got a lot of incentives from the state (taxpayers.  Allstate called it “nine months of negotiations”).

The $22-million+ Allstate call center in Chubbuck, Idaho, already shedding jobs after barely 3 years of operations.

The $22-million+ Allstate call center in Chubbuck, Idaho, already shedding jobs after barely 3 years of operations.

In 2013 Allstate added Roadside Services to the Chubbuck call center (at the expense of Allstate jobs in other states).  Local news reports said the move would create an additional 225 jobs, thereby keeping the promise of nearly 500 jobs made back in 2010.   Well, that didn’t last long.

Right after the groundbreaking ceremonies in 2010. The property is known as The Crossings, with Home Depot being the only occupant until Allstate came along.

On 13 August 2014, it was revealed that Allstate is shutting down their Chubbuck call center’s Roadside Services.  Those jobs will be shipped off to other call centers (including a new call center in Draper, Utah), or the Chubbuck Roadside Services employees can hope to be transfered to the original Chubbuck Customer Contact Center.

Allstate officials told local news media that this does not mean Allstate is leaving Chubbuck after only three years of operations, but guess what folks, Allstate has already done that in other parts of the country.  In fact, Allstate has been shutting down call centers (some only recently opened) across the country for the past two years!  (as I’ve pointed out in many of my Job Losses & Store Closings reports)

Allstate is playing the same game other call center operators are playing: They come to town and build new call centers using taxpayer funded incentives (basically no cost to the call center operators), they employ a couple hundred people for a few years, then, when the tax incentives expire they pull stakes and move on to the next sucker who’s willing (desperate for jobs) to waste their taxdollars on them.

Don’t be surprised if they eventually shutdown the entire Chubbuck Allstate call center.

East Idaho television news didn’t tell the story clearly

500 ALLSTATE JOBS?

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings 04 – 05 June 2014: “I don’t know if we can overcome this” Mormon security company in big trouble! Is Vivint connected to the NSA? More proof working hard gets you laid off! Yes Virginia, more healthcare cuts!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Radio Shack CEO Joseph Magnacca stated to shareholders “I don’t know if we can overcome this impasse…”, implying that the economy is so bad they might need to shutdown even more stores.  He also ignored questions about bankruptcy.

California: What housing market recovery and who said internet businesses are killing brick-n-mortar operations?  In San Francisco, internet based real estate search site Trulia laid off 85 employees.  Apparently four executives got demoted as well.  Company officials said they are trying to eliminate redundant jobs.  What automotive industry recovery?   Car dealer California Superstores announced they’re shutting down three locations across the Golden State, 203 jobs lost by August!  In San Diego, Midway Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram announced they’re shutting down in August, 96 jobs lost.   In Thousand Oaks, legal drugs pusher Amgen announced more job losses, this time 59 in August.   In Sunnyvale, semiconductor maker Supertex announced plans to layoff 19 people in August.  In Davis, the Davis Healthcare Center shutdown after a fire caused massive damage, 142 jobs lost!  In Long Beach, Bags Inc laying off 60 employees in August.  In Concord, Too Big to Jail Bank of America continues to kill jobs, this time seven people will become unemployed in August.  In Bonsall, San Luis Rey Downs Golf Course shutting down by August, 47 jobs lost.  In Santa Anna, newspaper publisher Freedom Communications announced the bad economy is forcing them to consolidate several newspapers, which will mean 100 people being laid off!  The city of La Puente laid off the city clerk and the entire code enforcement division!  Code enforcement will be contracted with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Florida: In Fort Myers, after only six years the trendy Elephant Bar Restaurant shutdown.  Company officials blamed lack of customers on the bad economy.

Hawaii: The Hilo Medical Center warned of Obama Care layoffs.  The state run hospital says increased cost of operations plus decreased funding due to Obama Care is pushing them into the red by $48-million USD!  In Maui, after 47 years Buzz’s Wharf restaurant shutdown.  The owner blamed the bad economy.

Idaho:  In Twin Falls, after only two years of production at the World’s largest yogurt factory Chobani laid off an undisclosed number of employees.  Officials say the layoffs are because production quotas were reached (in other words the former employees did their jobs well)!  But wait, more layoffs could be in the planning!  Chobani officials told local news media that the factory was still using hundreds more employees than they really need.  The new factory was designed for 400 employees, but state employment officials estimate there are between 500 and 1-thousand people working the successful operation.

Illinois:  In Springfield, AT&T shutting down a call center, 200 jobs lost!

Kansas: In Pittsburg, book, music and video store Hastings announced they’re shutting down in July, 35 jobs lost.

Kentucky: In Lexington, taxsucker Lockheed Martin revealed they’ve laid off 110 people back in May!   But wait, doesn’t that violate the tax deal they made with the state?  In 2013 Lockheed Martin got $10.8-million in tax incentives in exchange for employing 391 people at least until 2015!   In Princeton, Pennyroyal Center laid off 15 employees and could be closing its mental health clinic.

Massachusetts: In Wellesley, after ten years women’s boutique Essentia shutdown.

Michigan: In Saginaw, after 34 years Mr. Van’s Shoe Repair shutdown.  The Flint Community Schools announced 250 job cuts for the upcoming school year!

Missouri: In Saint Louis, food processor ConAgra killing 130 jobs!  It’s blamed on its takeover of Ralcorp.

Nebraska: In Omaha, food processor ConAgra killing 100 jobs! It’s blamed on its takeover of Ralcorp.  Company officials claim that in the long run they’ll create more jobs.

New Jersey: GE Healthcare Life Sciences warned of hundreds of layoffs by 2015: “GE Healthcare can confirm that in the Spring of 2015, the GE Healthcare Life Sciences business will begin to consolidate some of its northeastern operations into a greater Boston-area site. As a result of this consolidation, GE Healthcare Life Sciences will begin to transition away from Princeton and Piscataway, New Jersey, and some roles may be affected, although it is too early in the process to say how many.”-Benjamin Fox, GE spokesman

New York: Pet Supplies Plus announced their statewide operations will shut down by the end of the month, 86 jobs lost.  The pet supply franchise has been sold off.   In Flushing, Professional Billing Associates announced they will shut down in September, 38 jobs lost.

North Dakota: What oil boom?  In Fargo, after 34 years Happy Joe’s Pizza and Ice Cream shutdown.  The owner blamed health problems and the bad economy saying his business was no longer “cutting it”.

Ohio: In Youngstown, Mitt Romney connected Toys R Us shutting down their 23 years old distribution center.  At least 70 jobs lost.  In Toledo, Community Development Institute-Head Start killing 280 jobs in July! The 2014-15 Head Start contract went to another contractor.

Pennsylvania:  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette laid off 136 people!  After 59 years car/home custom audio/video company HiFi House shutdown without notice.

Tennessee: In Nashville, Brazil based aircraft maker/servicer Embraer laid off 83 employees.  They blamed declining business on the bad economy.

Texas: In Houston, one of three upscale Brio Tuscan Grille restaurants shutdown without notice.  The Saint Genevieve bar was shutdown without notice.  They’re reports that many eateries are being shutdown for property re-development.

Virginia: In Stauton, after 77 years Jimmy Anderson’s Food Mart shutdown.  In South Boston, Comcast cable shutting down their service center by the end of the month.

Washington: In Seattle, Eagle Marine Services announced they will layoff 94 employees in July.  No reason was given.  Student travel company Ambassadors Group laying off at least 40 employees.  It’s blamed on crashing revenues from its People to People Student Ambassadors Program.  The company is also selling off its HQ building in Spokane.  Utah based and privately held Mormon home security company, Vivint, shutting down their Liberty Lake call center by the end of the month.  It’s estimated that hundreds of people will lose their jobs, but local news reports said Vivint officials refused to say why they’re shutting down, or exactly how many people will become unemployed.  It should be noted that Vivint is facing sanctions by 11 states, as well as a class action lawsuit, for fraudulent and deceptive practices!  Apparently the company’s current president used to work for Mitt Romney.  It should also be noted that Utah is the base camp for the federal government’s domestic data spying operations!  Is there a connection between the ‘home security’  company and the NSA?

Wisconsin: In Little Chute, wireless company Airadigm Communications laid off 55 employees.  In La Crosse, the Mayo Clinic  announced it will kill 51 medical transcription jobs in September.  In Milwaukee, train maker Talgo shutdown and moved its last two passenger trains out of state.  Company officials blame state officials.  The Milwaukee YMCA now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

01 – 03 June 2014:  1-thousand people secretly laid off in Ohio

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

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

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings 01 – 03 June 2014: “…it started falling off the face of the Earth…” “We’re not…a cost effective producer anymore.” 1-thousand people secretly laid off in Ohio? Disney kills more jobs! Lots more ObamaCare job destruction!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Iconic U.S. Steel shutting down operations in Pennsylvania and Texas, at least 260 jobs lost!

British empire Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS, which operates in the United States as well) could totally fail.  It was discovered that the mega-bank is missing $168-billion USD!  The British taxpayers bailed out the bank, and are now the official owners.  The revelation was made in the new book Shredded: Inside RBS, The Bank That Broke Britain.

Alabama: In Birmingham, Athenahealth announced it will shutdown its Liberty Park  office by 2015, 64 jobs lost.

Alaska:  Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation eliminated 160 positions!  It’s blame on federal funding cuts for Indian Health Service, and Obama Care.  At the end of 2013 the hospital operator laid off 50 employees.

California: In Bakersfield, Kern Medical Center administrators once again made public statements that Obama Care is causing the county run hospital to lose millions of dollars every month!  The Kern County Board of Supervisors will decide if it’s worth it to keep the hospital open.  In Culver City, Disney’s takeover of the multichannel network Maker Studios resulted in at least 38 employees losing their jobs.  In Orange, business manager Service Response Partners announced they will layoff 78 people at the end of July.  In Chatsworth, Peerless Building Maintenance announced they will layoff 89 employees in August.  In Corona, legal drugs pusher Actavis continues to kill jobs, this time 58 employees will be let go in August.  In Los Angeles, Xerox announced they will kill 51 jobs in August.  In Modesto, SkyWest Airlines killed its Modesto City-County Airport flights, blaming government regulations.  SkyWest was the only airline with regular flights out of the airport.

Connecticut: Hartford HealthCare announced it has eliminated 350 positions!  Hospitals officials had to cut $200-million from their budget, blaming Obama Care for “massive reductions in government reimbursement” and creating a 25% reduction in people seeking care at hospitals.  In Bridgeport, Too Big to Jail Citizens Bank announced it will kill 125 jobs beginning in August!

Florida: British empire Canada based Potash Corporation laid off 56 employees at their Suwannee River Chemical Plant.  This is the company’s second round of layoffs, which began in December 2013.  When the culling is finally done, 248 jobs will have been destroyed! The Florida Panthers laid off at least 30 people, including a VP.  Team officials blame crashing ticket sales on the bad economy.   In Daytona Beach, gun parts maker AO Precision Manufacturing laid off 40 employees.  Company officials blame it on crashing gun sales: “The biggest year for gun business was 2013, but it started falling off the face of the Earth in October.”-Steve Koch, president

Georgia: Muscogee County School District eliminated 113 jobs (69 occupied positions and 44 vacant positions)!  It’s due to funding problems, but 19 teachers were fired specifically for poor performance.

Illinois: In Rockford, after 101 years, and surviving the Great Depression, Lundgren’s Camera and Video shutdown.  The owner blames digital.

Kansas: In Leawood, a Hy-Vee grocery store shutdown, however the pharmacy is still open.  Company officials wanted to remodel the store but blame city officials for playing games with permits and/or zoning laws.

Maryland:  Dimensions Healthcare System eliminated 62 positions at two hospitals.  Employees say they received at least three notices from hospital officials stating that as many as 500 healthcare workers could lose their jobs by the end of the year!  Hospital officials hope a partnership with University of Maryland Medical System will save them from Obama Care.  The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC, a government mandated privately run company) shutdown Slavie Federal Savings Bank. Most of the assets were sold to Bay Bank, the FDIC gets stuck with the rest.

Massachusetts:  The Worcester Telegram & Gazette began laying off at least 20 employees as the Halifax Media Group took over.  In Holyoke, after 54 years the Mount Tom coal fired electricity maker shutting down this year.  28 jobs lost.  In Cambridge, video game maker Harmonix laid off 37 people.

Michigan: According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture 13.4% of Michiganians are unable to buy enough food.   In Genoa Township, reports that the Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples shutdown.  In failed state Detroit, it was revealed that a taxpayer funded job training program resulted in very few people getting hired.  Marathon Petroleum got a $175-million tax break from the city to put people through a job training program in conjunction with a community college.  But dozens of people who went through the program say they were never hired, even though they completed the training and an internship with the company.  To add insult to injury local news reports say it turns out that many of the positions supposedly open required no special training!  In Macomb County, reports say taxsucker General Dynamics and British empire company BAE (formerly known as British Aerospace) could kill 300+ jobs, due to federal spending cuts for the new Ground Combat Vehicle.

Missouri: In Kansas City, after only four years Pandolfi’s Deli shutdown.  The owner said he was ready for something different.

Mississippi: According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture 20.9% of Mississippians are unable to buy enough food.

New Mexico: Chevron shutting down their 100 years old Questa molybdenum mine, 300 jobs lost!  Company officials blame crashing market prices and skyrocketing operating costs: “We’re not in a position to be a cost effective producer anymore. In fact, we’re the highest cost producer in the world in terms of the global market.”-David Partridge, CEO

New York:  In a press conference out of NYC, Germany based Siemens announced they will kill 11600 jobs globally (including U.S. jobs) by the end of 2016!  It might have something to do with the company’s attempts to take over turbine maker Alstom.   In Henrietta, Kango Academy and Play Centre shutting down, apparently the cost of operations are so high that no customer could afford to pay a fee that truley reflected that cost.   In Niskayuna, Barnes & Noble continues shutting down bookstores.  Local news reports said the company refused to say how many people became unemployed.  In Brooklyn, God refused to stop Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School from shutting down in August, 83 jobs lost.  In NYC, Williams Lea Corporate Information Solutions shutting down in September, 51 jobs lost.  In Melville, Sbarro pizza restaurant shutting down in September, at least 43 jobs lost.

North Carolina:  In Morganton, furniture maker Heritage Home Group shutdown yet another factory, 87 jobs lost.  The company has been shutting down factories since the beginning of the year, a far cry from 2013 when they told a bankruptcy court they were “a well-capitalized company”!  That is until they took over the bankrupt Furniture Brands’ company, and that was all she wrote.  Local news reports stated that between Furniture Brands and Heritage Home Group North Carolina has lost 9113 furniture making jobs!  In Piedmont, the Obama Care medical device tax is forcing yet another company out of the country.  After 60 years Arrow International is killing 600 jobs and moving production to Mexico by 2016!  In Charlotte, after 15 years Miro Spanish Grille shutting down in July.  The property owner refused to renew the restaurant’s lease.

Ohio: Allen County Child Support Agency laid off three employees.  It has been revealed that Too Big to Jail Fifth Third Bank killed one thousand jobs over the past 15 months!  The revelation came at a stockholders meeting, to the delight of the ‘investors’.  Bank officials credit their secret job layoffs to going digital.

Pennsylvania: In Ellwood, Texas based steel fabricator Sabre Industries shutting down this summer, 80 jobs lost.  Company officials blamed the bad economy for crashing sales.

Texas: In Fort Worth, after only one year of operation Motorola Mobility shutting down their Moto X factory, 700 jobs lost by Xmas 2014!  Company officials blame it on crashing cell phone sales, but it was revealed that Moto X production is being offshored to China and Brazil.  In Austin, Paggi House restaurant shutdown, the owner blames “progress”.  Garrido’s restaurant shutdown, the owner wants to try something new.

Vermont: Switzerland based electronics maker TE Connectivity continues to kill jobs, this time 36 people let go.  The company is consolidating operations.

Virginia: In Chester, German eyeglass maker Carl Zeiss laying off 73 people and consolidating production.  The company will now make lenses in Oregon and Mexico.

West Virginia: McDowell County Commission laid off at least eight employees.  It’s blamed on crashing tax revenues, especially taxes collected on coal mining, due to the fact that coal mines have shut down.

Wisconsin: GE Healthcare announced it will kill at least 90 medical device manufacturing jobs by the end of the 1st quarter 2015.  Apparently Obama Care has reduced demand for such products.  Airadigm Communications-AirFire Mobile shutting down six stores across the state, 55 jobs lost.

27 – 31 May 2014: “the end of an era”

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

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

Business/Economics

Sears & Kmart closing update, 12 August 2014: 300 jobs being killed in time for Xmas! Sears becomes your new DMV! British empire taking over Kmart?

Sears Holdings announced it is shutting down two distribution centers by December, one in Nevada the other in Ohio.  Hundreds of jobs lost.  Merry Xmas!

Eddie Lampert used a store fire as an excuse to shutdown a Montana Kmart.  The store caught fire the night of 04 August, it is now closed “until further notice”.

In Minnesota, the Sears on Rice Street (in Saint Paul) not only sells you crappy products but is now your local DMV office.  It’s located on the second floor, hidden behind the drapery samples.

It was just announced that the new president of Kmart is Alasdair James.  Sounds English doesn’t it?  It is.  Alasdair James is the former commercial director for United Kingdom’s grocery chain store Tesco.

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

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

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost), Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart, Northport Kmart (68 jobs lost).

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

California: El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (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 (jobs lost unknown), 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?

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).

Connecticut: Waterbury Big Kmart, recently revealed Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost).

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost), Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart, Warner Robins Kmart (77 jobs lost).

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

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

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

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears going’ down in November (the remaining 28 jobs lost). Across the street, in Pocatello, the property where the Kmart is located has a “pad site available” sign, posted ever since the Kmart bankruptcy. The Kmart building takes up most of the “pad”.

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

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

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

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Merriam Kmart-then Sears-then Kmart (jobs lost unknown).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!), Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost), Cannonsburg Sears and Sears Auto Center (no employee info given), Louisville Dixie Highway Kmart/Sears/Kmart, Madisonville Kmart (39 jobs lost).

Louisiana: Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost), recently revealed Great Falls Kmart (closed “until further notice” due to fire, 63 jobs on hold).

Nebraska: Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost).

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

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

New Jersey: Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost), Berlin Kmart, Dover Kmart (92 jobs lost).

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

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

North Carolina: Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost), West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost), Conover Kmart (74 jobs lost), Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost), High Point Kmart (71 jobs lost), Boone Kmart (41 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart (96 jobs lost).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard, London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost), Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost), Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost), Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost), Norwalk Kmart (52 jobs lost), Blue Ash Kmart (77 jobs lost), Northwood Sears at Woodville Mall (36 jobs lost), Conneaut Kmart (43 jobs lost), Anderson Township Kmart (71 jobs lost), Brooklyn Kmart (200 jobs lost), recently revealed Columbus Lockbourne Industrial Parkway Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost). Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants), Shawnee Sears (31 jobs lost), Sand Springs Kmart (52 jobs lost), Muskogee Sears (60 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).

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

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

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

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

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

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

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost), Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost), Oak Harbor Kmart (68 jobs lost), Sodo Sears and Sears Auto Center (79 jobs lost), Everett Kmart (65 jobs lost).

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

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost), Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost), Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Ashwaubenon Kmart (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (no job loss info given), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

Florida: West Oaks Mall

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

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

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

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

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

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