Category Archives: Idaho

Idaho

“We’ve lost a lot…since 2007.” : Idaho Economic Decline 2014

Incomplete list of economic related events in The Gem State of Idaho, Gregorian year 2014.

JANUARY:  In Gooding, Glanbia Foods officials warned of layoffs saying “….we are actively pursuing a number of strategic growth opportunities, the current milk supply situation in Idaho is extremely tight.” Glanbia Foods claims to be the number one manufacturer of American Style Cheese, with four factories in Idaho and the world’s largest cheese factory in New Mexico!

In Garden City, after 54 years The Stagecoach Inn shutdown. The owners blame “not enough business” for their failure to pay taxes and the loss of their booze license.

In Boise, the Saint Luke’s affiliated non-profit Elk’s Rehab Hospital laid off “…less than 20 positions, all licensed practical nurses within the inpatient unit…” in an effort to adjust to reduced funding caused by ObamaCare. Elk’s Rehab Hospital began in 1947 to help victims of polio.

In Pocatello, the short lived Marhaba restaurant shutdown. The building auctioned off at the end of the month.  It’s now one of them-there vapor joints.

Also in Pocatello, the property that acted as construction storage for Sunbelt Broadcasting (a previous owner of NBC affiliate KPVI Channel 6) was abandoned and put up for sale.  It’s been replaced with a medical clinic.

FEBRUARY: In Boise, ObamaCare call center operator Maximus announced it will kill 1-thousand 6-hundred jobs by the end of April! Retail businesses located around the call center say they will be directly impacted. Employees are suing because they have not been paid for overtime that they’ve worked, and they were told the jobs were permanent full time positions. Company officials now say the positions were officially temporary! Company officials directly blame ObamaCare: “The reduction in staffing is based on the nature of the contract and the reduced volume of calls, both of which are directly related to the enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act.”

Boise based computer chip maker Micron reported profits at the end of January, but it was revealed that they also killed 419 jobs in Italy! It’s blamed on Micron’s take over of Italian chip maker Numonyx. Layoffs could be coming for Idaho.

In Meridian, cement/minerals engineering company FLSmidth laid off 46 employees.

Also in Meridian, Utah based First National Bank of Layton killed 56 jobs.

In Coeur d’Alene, Office Depot announced it will shutdown in May. It’s blamed on the merger with Office Max.

In Twin Falls, upscale home decor store Inspired Living shutdown. The owner said she wanted to retire.

Presbiterian/Agnostic Warren Buffet owned Heinz Frozen Food made it official and notified Idaho that it will shutter its Pocatello plant, killing at least 4-hundred jobs! State Department of Labor analysts said the frozen food factory shutdown will have a domino effect and kill an additional 2-hundred ‘support’ jobs in Pocatello/Chubbuck!

In Aberdeen, food and agriculture giant Simplot announced they will kill 309 food processing jobs by April!

MARCH: In Nampa, food producer Simplot announced they will shutdown operations at the end of May, 206 jobs lost! It’s part of their ongoing consolidations of food processing.

In Idaho Falls, according to an official WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) Center Partners laid off 4-hundred call center employees!

APRIL: Sandpoint based women’s clothing retailer Coldwater Creek now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and shutting down all 365 stores. More than 1-thousand jobs will be lost across the U.S.! Idaho will lose 490 of those jobs by June!

In Boise, Pennsylvania based diesel-electric locomotive maker Motive Power announced it will kill 162 jobs in June!

JUNE:  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 4-hundred employees, but state employment officials estimate there are between 5-hundred and 1-thousand people working the successful operation.

Also in Twin Falls, after 47 years the Twin 12 Cinema movie theater shutdown.

Timberline already up for auction! Note that their Grand Opening sign is still up!

Timberline already up for auction! Note that their Grand Opening sign is still up!

In Pocatello, After less than three months Timberline Home Furnishings-3G Used Car Sales is already busted! The location used to be the Ashley Furniture Liquidation store, which went away in March.

JULY: In Boise, Italy owned highway and airport food service company HMS Host (Host Marriott Services Corporation-Autogrill S.p.A.) issued a WARN saying they will kill 79 jobs by the end of September.

Also in Boise, the Elk’s Rehab Center shutting down, 516 jobs lost as Saint Luke’s Health System takes over in September! Reports say Saint Luke’s claims it needs only 4-hundred employees to do the same job, so a net job loss of 116!

In Nampa, Macy’s Clearance Center shutdown, eight jobs lost. Local news reports indicated that the lease on the property was still in effect.

What housing market recovery? RealtyTrac’s top ten list says at the end of the 2nd quarter the Boise-Nampa area had 765 properties in foreclosure, and 237 homes abandoned!

What housing market recovery? In Naples, it was revealed that Washington based Alta Forest Products (whose main product is fencing for homes) laid off at least 25 employees. Hours for other mill employees were reduced. Salesman Jeff Cook kinda blamed the housing market saying “We’ve lost a lot of sawmills and building products companies since 2007.” However, it’s probably due to the May 2014 merger of TMI Forest Products and Welco Lumber, which created Alta Forest Products. What’s (not) funny is company officials promised that job security was the goal of the merger: “This agreement will help secure employment to the local communities and strengthen the regional economy built on the growing lumber industry.”-company statement

In Pocatello, the U.S. Postal Service Gateway Processing Center made the shutdown list for 2015, about 50 jobs lost through transfers, early retirements or outright layoffs.

AUGUST:  In Chubbuck, Sears Holdings finally decided to put their dying Sears store, at the Pine Ridge Mall, to death. The store will close in October.

Also in Chubbuck, the 24 years old Carmike Cinema 7 was sold off to property developers and will be torn down. Word is that the owner does not think it’s worth it to convert the theater over to digital, especially when he already spent boo-koo bucks building a new digital theater on the north side of the Pine Ridge Mall property.

In Blackfoot, after 15 years Tweedy’s Music shutdown. The owners revealed there are two speculators competing to buy their property.

SEPTEMBER:  The fact that so many former employees of recently created Scientech (a division of nuclear industry Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Company) are applying for unemployment assistance reveals a layoff of at least 25 people in Idaho Falls. Local news reports say company administrators refuse to talk. At the end of 2013, Scientech announced they were to set up business in Idaho Falls by the summer of 2014, meaning the company had just barely started ops before killing jobs already.

NOVEMBER: In Boise, after 73 years Molenaar Jewelers announced a going out of business sale, the owner was unable to find a buyer for the business which will shutdown in Janaury 2015.

Also in Boise, a year after taking over Boise Paper (aka Boise Inc) for $1.27-billion USD, Packaging Corporation of America issued a WARN saying they will shutdown the Boise location by March 2015, at least 152 jobs lost!

After 66 years Blackfoot Appliance & Furniture announced they will shutdown by the end of January 2015, “everything must go!”

The mayor of American Falls reported that the local ALCO store was shutting down, he was alerted when he saw employees putting up the going out of business signs. It’s one of five Idaho ALCO stores being shutdown. The American Falls mayor says his small city can’t afford more job losses: “Any worker who loses their income will have an impact on the city!”-Marc Beitia

In Challis, Colorado based Thompson Creek Mining (aka Thompson Creek Metals) issued a WARN saying they will layoff 160 people and shutdown their molybdenum mine in December. Administrators blame the crashing price of moly-B.

School District 25, in Bannock County, warned they could be $1.5-million USD in the hole, with the ending of current levies. But wait, there’s more bull-shit! District 25 administrators want new levies valued at $10-million! This despite decades of levy and bond issues burdening tax payers, as well as decades of lottery payments which school district administrators can’t seem to account for! It’s interesting the school levies and bonds always pass ‘elections’ no matter how many people publicly oppose them.

In Chubbuck, after 23 years the iconic local Dapco Hobbies now up for sale. The current owner (not the friendly family owners that moved the shop to Chubbuck, Corey & Melia) is selling everything off and wants out of the hobby business. Dapco Hobbies was originally located on Garrett Way in Pocatello (according to the BBB that was beginning in 1991), then, after Corey & Melia took over Dapco relocated to Chubbuck around 2007-08. For a very brief time Dapco Hobbies had a shop in Ammon, then moved that one to Idaho Falls (apparently they left about the same time the ‘big box’ Hobby Town left Idaho Falls), and they even had an internet website. They started out focused on trains, then shifted to RC when that got big.

DECEMBER: In Chubbuck, Mario’s Pizza and Orange Julius announced they will shutdown their Pine Ridge Mall stores in 2015. Local TV station KPVI said company administrators told them the economy was so bad in the Pocatello/Chubbuck area that it wasn’t worth keeping the decades old pizza joint and juice blender open any longer.

Also in Chubbuck, the demolition of the 24 years old Carmike Cinema 7 is slowly underway. It will be replaced with yet more redundant chain restaurants.

In Post Falls, office furniture maker Kimbal International issued a WARN saying they will shutdown beginning in February 2015, at least 251 jobs lost!

What housing market recovery? Administrators with “the nation’s largest supplier of building materials for home building” ProBuild announced they’re shutting down their Sandpoint ops due to crashing sales.

“We’re going to go down.”: Idaho’s Economic Decline 2015 

“It was a blow, cut us off at the knees.”: Idaho, Economic Decline 2013 

Idaho

“It was a blow, cut us off at the knees.” : Idaho, Economic Decline 2013

Incomplete list of economic shenanigans in The Gem State, Gregorian year 2013

January: In Chubbuck, both Eddie’s Bakery and car cruise gathering spot Johnny B Goode’s restaurant shutdown. Eddie’s was killed off by the sudden collapse of parent company Hostess (the original Hostess, the Hostess snacks you see in the grocery stores now are phony).

Johnny B Goode’s had been declining in food quality, cleanliness and popularity (I know, I had been eating there since 1997).

With almost no notice, Boise based Honk’s $1.00 filed chapter 11 bankruptcy around 16 January 2013.

However, and despite what Boise media reported, they started closing down stores weeks earlier, like the one in Pocatello (the pic was actually taken a week before the Boise news media reported the bankruptcy). It’s reported that the dollar store corporation just can’t sell enough of the crap they have, and in Utah they owe tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid sales taxes and rent!

The Ann Taylor women’s clothing store in the Boise Towne Square mall, gone for good. 14 employees out-o-work.  And California based See Jane Run women’s sports wear closed their only store outside of The Golden State, in Boise.

Famous Rhodes Bake-N-Serv shutdown its Caldwell bread factory and moved to Wisconsin, leaving 49 Idahoans out-o-work. The Caldwell factory had been in operation since 1962.

February: In Emmett, the Emerald Forest Products lumber mill shutdown without notice, and some reports said without paying employees final paychecks (I experienced that back in September 2012, when Metro Couriers went bust without notice, and no help from Idaho Job Service). According to signs on the company’s gate Emerald Forest Products was getting money from U.S. taxpayers ($4 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act). Media reports did not explain why the mill closed, but gave the impression lumber mills in Idaho could only operate profitably with tax payer subsidies. (so much for Idaho being a Republican Right Wing Conservative state)

Wholesale Sports shutdown its Coeur d’Alene store. Blame it on California based real estate investment company Alamo Group.

As I’ve reported before, the Heinz frozen food factory in Pocatello ending production of T.G.I. Friday’s frozen entrees, 80 jobs lost. Shortly afterwards Presbyterian/Agnostic Warren Buffett announced he was investing big into Heinz. Investors from Brazil, known as 3G Capital, joined Buffett in the Heinz take over because they also own Burger King, which uses a lot of Heinz ketchup. 3G Capital is known for “cutting up” companies (typical Romneyite vulture capitalists) so it’s expected Heinz will layoff more people. Also, there are now reports of an inside trader investigation.

Also in Pocatello, the Wesco Paint store shutdown.  A note was on the door instructing loyal customers to drive about 112.7km (70 miles) to the nearest Wesco store!

Simplot shutdown its Heyburn potato processing factory. 56 employees affected. The company spent big bucks building a new more efficient potato factory in Caldwell. What’s interesting is that the Heyburn employees say the news was a surprise to them, however I’ve been reading about the planned move since November 2011!!! According to Capital Press, the November 2011 announcement said the new Caldwell factory would be so efficient that J.R. Simplot would shut down three older factories in Idaho (including Heyburn), resulting in 8-hundred Idahoans losing their jobs! (in fact I warned about it in a 10 November 2011 posting)

March: The Idaho National Laboratory laid off 101 people in eastern Idaho, that’s after 114 employees voluntarily quit and 60 positions were eliminated! As many as 450 layoffs are planned: “We will be watching the budget situation closely in the coming months and hope to have a clearer picture of any additional actions that will be necessary.”-Mark Holubar, INL human resources

May:  Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance laid off 55 people across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Utah (some reports said 56). Regence is outsourcing claims processing to a company in New Jersey.

In Pocatello, after five years of delays the now failed local taxpayer funded polysilicon project Hoku Materials sits idle and unfinished, no thanks to Obama regime’s anti-China sanctions and commodity markets. 

June: Utility company Idaho Power blames its rate increases on the failure of Hoku Materials’ $700-million USD polysilicon factory. It turns out that Idaho Power invested $23-million into the failed factory, but not only that Hoku Materials repeatedly refused to pay their massive electric bill! 

The Cactus Grill, in Twin Falls, closed despite seven years of booming business. The eatery operation located on the property of Home Depot was shutdown by the very same Home Depot corporation (the Home Depot manager was unaware of the corporate decision). It was part of Home Depot’s plan to end eatery operations just outside their store exits. Cactus Grill owner, Billy Elser said “It was a blow, cut us off at the knees. That’s how I make a living!”

In Caldwell, Caldwell Pawn shutdown. The owner said he dealt in micro-loans years before they were called micro-loans (some as small as $20) to help people out, but after 22 years of business he wants to retire. He also stated that sales dropped since 2009.

July: The Galena silver mine laid off 126 employees! Company officials are taking a 10% to 20% pay cut. They blame declining silver prices: “The ongoing decline in the price of silver required us to look for further cost savings in order to be profitable and protect our balance sheet going forward.”-Darren Blasutti, CEO

August: In Boise, Micron Technologies (the World’s 2nd largest DRAM maker) announced it will fire 1-thousand 5-hundred employees! It’s the result of Micron taking over Japanese competitor Elpida. Micron officials say the layoffs will be spread around the World, but a Boise financial consultant, Dave Pesto, said “It appears to be pretty heavy here.” Micron laid off 2-thousand people in Boise back in 2009!

In Pocatello, the Computer Medical Center died, and Discount Cosmetic Boutique, with its “Amazing Makeup” and “Amazing Prices”, began an ‘amazing‘ going out of business sale.

In Caldwell, the Canyon County Animal Shelter warned of layoffs due to county budget concerns and crashing donations!

September: In Boise, Affinion Group kills 226 jobs!

In Wallace, U.S. Silver & Gold mine laid off 130 people! The company calls itself “…the second largest primary silver producer in the United States.” Company officials blamed the layoffs on falling silver prices.

October: Sandpoint based women’s clothing retailer, Coldwater Creek, warned it will layoff at least 20% of its employees in 2014.

In Nampa, Farm and City Supply shutdown. “There’s not enough sales to make it work right now. It’s been a struggle the whole time!”-Carl Woodburn, owner

November: It’s official, Heinz is shutting down their long time Pocatello food factory, 410 Heinz employees to become unemployed in 2014! That’s another huge impact on the Chubbuck/Pocatello area. The Idaho Department of Labor estimates the shutdown will also kill 2-hundred additional local jobs! The city of Pocatello currently has the highest unemployment rate in the Gem State.

Also in Pocatello, in what would be the first of two auctions, Hoku Materials was bought by the unpaid contractor that did most of the construction on the polysilicon factory.  JH Kelly submitted the winning bid of $5.273-million USD, for a factory worth $700-million!    But like I said, this would turn out to be the first of two auctions.  Just a couple of weeks later a federal court blocked JH Kelly’s winning bid and ordered another auction! 

In Chubbuck, the GGP owned (and dying) Pine Ridge Mall sells for a paltry $9-million USD.  

In Idaho Falls, Mattress Country “Calls it Quits!”, and shutdown.

December: In Pocatello, Hallmark Coach House Gifts shutdown with little notice, and no explanation. Employees were told just four days before the shutdown. At least 11 jobs lost. Coach House Gifts is a Iowa based franchise, the shutdown could be part of Hallmark’s ongoing restructuring because of the bad economy.

And in the second auction for Pocatello’s failed Hoku Materials factory, unpaid contractor JH Kelly won again with a bid of $8.3-million.  Optimism was so high in eastern Idaho that local TV news reports claimed 1-thousand jobs were on their way!  However, as I reported, attorneys for JH Kelly said they knew nothing about any deal to bring jobs and they were going to chop it up and sell it off.

In Meridian, tax-sucking pistol holster maker ATK/Blackhawk! laid off 75 employees. Their biggest customers were the U.S. military and law enforcement.

In Caldwell, food company Simplot shutdown, 262 jobs lost!

“We’re going to go down.” : Idaho’s Economic Decline 2015 

More Economic Decline: Who is the new owner of Chubbuck’s Pine Ridge Mall? It’s not the “family” company you think it is! GGP connection? 

Kroger joins other employers in using Obama Care as excuse to cut employee hours and benefits, including at Fred Meyer in Idaho & Washington! 

A History Lesson in Economic Decline: Pocatello’s Old Fred Meyer & Albertsons on Yellowstone Ave, did not close down in the 1990s

Occupy America: Some facts about Revolutions the leaderless Wall Street occupiers, and Tea Partiers, need to know

Mormon Mitt Romney co-founded Bain Capital destroyed jobs in Chubbuck, Idaho. 

Idaho, U.S.

Fracking Food Crisis: Idaho, Oregon, Washington hit by contaminated water, coincides with oil industry Fracking!

10 April 2016 (15:21 UTC-07 Tango 01) 22 Farvardin 1395/02 Rajab 1437/04 Ren-Chen 4714

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revealed that ever since oil industry Fracking ops have been allowed to take place in the Pacific northwest (about 2004) water quality has suffered.  More than 60 public water sources in Idaho, Oregon and Washington have exceeded federal safe levels of lead contamination in the past three years!

The majority of contaminated water systems are in Oregon with 37, followed by Idaho with 22.  Washington has eight contaminated systems.

The majority of those water sources supply local grade schools.  Some Oregon school administrators admitted they were informed of the lead contamination in 2013, and have been buying bottled water ever since.   In Idaho, several school directors blamed lead contamination on old plumbing and claim that lead levels went down after the plumbing was replaced.  In Washington the first reported case of lead contamination was at the State Patrol Academy, in 2012.  Directors say they’ve been on bottled water since then, but are working to hook up to ‘city’ supplied water.

Most of the contaminated water sources involve systems using well water.  Across the U.S. the EPA found at least 1-thousand 4-hundred public water systems contaminated with lead, affecting 3.6-million people!

I find it interesting that here in Idaho the lead contamination (even though blamed on old plumbing) begins just after ‘test Fracking’ began in 2011.  In 2012 Gem State ‘law makers’ officially allowed Fracking, and also banned city and county governments from banning Fracking!  Isn’t it possible the chemicals (solvents) used in Fracking caused the built up contaminants in the old plumbing to come loose?  Current unconfirmed reports indicate Fracking ops have halted.

In Oregon there are reports that Fracking stopped by 2015.  Fracking for Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) began as early as 2004.  Apparently Fracking for LNG in Washington was supposed to start in 2012, however, recent reports say no Fracking is taking place. It is difficult to find reliable sources of public info on Fracking because the industry, and even state governments, are tight lipped about the controversial operation.

Blind Bat News: Another study proves Fracking destroys your drinking water, main stream news ignores it! 

Blind Bat News: Michigan violence skyrockets, is it the water? Lead poisoning causes violent behavior! 

The Oregonian: Lead-tainted Oregon armories remain open to public despite dangers

Blind Bat News: “Re-fracking” 39-thousand + oil jobs gone, as companies hoard Black Gold! 

Blind Bat News: 2013 Duke University study says Fracking poisons drinking water!

Blind Bat News: Ohio & Arkansas suffering mass earthquakes in 2012, officials blame Fracking.

Fukushima, Idaho

Five Years Later: Contamination of Japanese rivers skyrocket! INL admits its radiation detectors don’t work! More WIPP problems!

31 March 2016 /19:16 UTC-07 Tango 01 (13 Farvardin 1395/22 Jumada t-Tania 1437/24 Xin Mao 4714)

Idaho: The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) recently revealed their onsite radiation detectors don’t work!  They discovered this a month after an ‘incident’ contaminated several employees!

INL glove box

Local eastern Idaho newspapers got copy of a 43 page internal document detailing what happened.  The INL report was actually completed in December 2015, and concerns an accident that happened in August 2014.  In the Fuel Manufacturing Facility (under management of contractor Battelle Energy Alliance) the seal on a ‘glove box’ failed causing radiation to leak out, however, the radiation detectors never sounded the alarm.  The leak was accidentally discovered a month later during a routine test of the detectors.  Nine of 15 employees in the room suffered internal radiation contamination.  It should be noted that it wasn’t until January this year that the specific room where the incident took place was deemed OK to resume work!  The internal report suggested better safety procedures must be undertaken by contractor Battelle Energy Alliance.

Newspaper Post Register suggested the incident would never have been made public if it weren’t for their first reporting the incident back in September 2015, a year after the incident.  The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) only alluded to the INL incident in random postings on its website starting in October 2014, but failed to mention that employees had been exposed!

New Mexico: It’s been revealed that work at the failed Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP, with direct connections to INL) was halted for a month when detection devices picked up  carbon monoxide and ‘volatile organic compounds’ in the underground air.

Work is ongoing to install new ventilation systems as a result of the 2014 explosion of a mixed waste drum from Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Despite the ongoing problems at WIPP, the U.S. DoE has decided to ship six tonnes of ‘surplus’ nuclear bomb making plutonium to WIPP, under the guise of reducing any chance that terrorists might get their hands on it.   All that weapons grade plutonium is supposedly coming from South Carolina’s Savannah River Site.

Japan: The prefecture of Fukushima concluded testing on the 72 rivers flowing through the area and was shocked at the results.

After five years of supposed effort to contain and clean up the ongoing meltdowns at the GE designed Fukushima Daiichi, radiation contamination levels have skyrocketed!

The worst offenders are:  Maeda River in Futaba Town (location of Fukushima Daiichi)=54-thousand 5-hundred becquerels per kilogram of radioactive substances

Hiru River in Fukushima City=39-thousand 6-hundred becquerels

Five other rivers=more than 10-thousand bq

When prefectural administrators approached the national government about the situation the Ministry of Environment said under current Japanese nuclear regulations “decontamination is not required for areas outside of residential zones”!

It should be noted that Japan recently shipped several tonnes worth of weapons grade plutonium to the United States and United Kingdom, under the guise of reducing any chance that terrorists might get their hands on it.  Here’s the thing; according to signed agreements Japan is not supposed to have weapons grade plutonium to begin with.  These shipments back up claims by China that Japan is hoarding plutonium for the secret purpose of making nuclear weapons.  What was that about Donald Trump wanting Japan to make it’s own nukes?

Imperialist Japan to make 6,000 nuclear bombs! Blind Bat News revealed in 2013, new damning evidence!

False Flag: Belgian nuke plant security guard assassinated, ID stolen!

Five Years Later: Myth busted, nuke plants shutting down, they cost too much to operate!

INL admits “nobody really knows what’s going on.”

INL VIOLATES OWN RULES!

Business/Economics, Idaho

“We have not paid our employees in over a month!” Shooting forces business owners to choose family over money! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 31 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Today is U.S. federal commemorative holiday Cesar Chavez Day.

Industry analysts Challenger, Gray & Christmas report that publicly announced corporate layoffs for the past 12 months are at a 4 years high.

California: In Berkeley, The Bone Room curiosity shop (selling preserved bones of animals, etc) shutting down their brick-n-mortar shop by June, blaming rent and utilities.  They’ll continue on the internet and at local events.  After only two months “high-priced” restaurant Antoinette shutdown due to disagreements with the Claremont Club & Spa hotel.

Colorado: In Steamboat Springs, after 34 years La Montana shutdown today, after being sold off. It’s hoped the new owner will keep the 38 workers employed with a new establishment.

Florida: Yet more medical school shutdowns!  The first victim of non-profit Zenith Education Groups massive cutbacks; Everest University announced it must shutdown campuses in Lakeland, Brandon and two in Tampa Bay, affecting at least 343 medical students: “It’s a slap in the face for everybody really!”-Angela Adams, medical billing student

Idaho: Evil Blue Cross of Idaho ended its ObamaCare exchange coverage of dialysis, resulting in many Idahoans with no way to pay for treatment. The Idaho Statesman newspaper says Blue Cross is refusing to cover any medical service provider that is not willing to take Blue Cross’ cutthroat rates. The Idaho Department of Insurance refuses to comment about the issue, claiming they’re investigating it.  Dozens more Idahoans could die.: “…we were with Blue Cross last year, when I was diagnosed with kidney failure…started…hemodialysis…..then we got a bill for $115,000…..  Blue Cross of Idaho did not re-up our contract…”-Debbie Birch

The Post Register reporting that a yet another newbie to The Gem State (who moved here from a more ‘socialist’ state) got a big shock when he enrolled with Blue Cross through Idaho’s ObamaCare exchange (Your Health Idaho).  The man is suffering from cancer but recently was told by the pharmacy that his prescriptions would not longer be filled because of Blue Cross.  Let me explain how evil Blue Cross of Idaho is; the cancer patient’s treatment is so expensive that he’s getting financial help from charities on top of his Affordable Care Act insurance, however, Blue Cross told him ObamaCare does not allow “third party funding” of medical treatments!  But get this, in a follow up interview with Blue Cross the Post register said that suddenly everything is fine and they will go ahead and pay for the man’s prescriptions! 

Iowa: Chain restaurant Village Inn shutdown its Lindale Mall location without warning, administrators blamed it on high rent.  What automotive industry recovery?  Eaton Corporation revealed it will shutdown its Shenandoah transmission factory by mid-April.  I’m not sure if this is part of the 250 layoffs announced back in February.  Local news reports say employees are already listing their homes for sale.  An unnamed employee says the factory shutdown will kill the community: “There’s no rhyme or reason to much anymore. Shenandoah is already seeing a hit. It will kill this small town.”  

Louisiana: In Lafayette, after 42 years Doucet Heritage Hardware shutting down by mid-May. Despite having the reputation for carrying stuff people can’t find at ‘big box stores’ the owners blame competition with the big box, as well as increasing costs of operations and decreased sales.  But the final straw was when they witnessed people being shot that caused them to realize that family time was more important than trying to make money: “I just never had that kind of panic, never in my life. It just made me realize how fast something can happen. My family is so important to me…….It was a really big eye opener.”-Laura Leblanc, co-owner

Massachusetts: Southcoast Health System laying off at least 95 employees in its hospital chain due to crashing revenues caused by ObamaCare.  It should be noted that Southcoast Health System is trying to merge with another hospital chain that’s also eliminating jobs; Care New England of Rhode Island.  After 32 years Au Bon Pain  shutdown their Harvard Square restaurant apparently because of property remodeling by Harvard University.  Administrators say “We continue to search for a location in this area.”

Michigan: Feeding America shutting down its warehouses in Ishpeming and Sault Set Marie, claiming they’re moving to a larger operation.  However, several food banks are reporting that the move by Feeding America is actually forcing them to shutdown.   The Ishpeming Food Bank and Tom’s Pantry in Quinnesec both point out that even though Feeding America’s is moving to a larger location the delivery times aren’t compensating for the further distance, meaning food banks will have to expanded refrigerated storage and/or hire delivery trucks to make extra food runs: “Because they only come up twice a month, you’re going to have to have a lot more refrigeration space than what I have. You’re going to have to have pickups and trailers in order to pick up your food. This is going to cause us to have to close.”-Mary Dixon, Tom’s Pantry

New York: Too Big to Jail NYC based ‘asset manager’ BlackRock reportedly will eliminate 4-hundred jobs in the next two weeks!  The news comes from unnamed insiders, who pointed out that the company also plans to continue hiring new employees while they layoff old employees.  After more than 30 years of school bus service, Carrier Coach issued a shutdown WARN for multiple locations, 224 jobs lost by the end of June due to “economic” reasons!  In Montauk, the Sloppy Tuna restaurant shutdown due to the co-owners filing lawsuits against each other.

North Carolina: After ten years and without warning the Park West Barber School shutdown four of its campuses.  The school’s website had the following message: “IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS AND REGRET THAT WE MUST INFORM YOU THAT EFFECTIVE TUESDAY MARCH 29, 2016 PARK WEST HAS MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO CLOSE…..THINGS SEEMED PROMISING, BUT UNFORTUNATELY AT THE FINAL HOUR, OUR ONLY OPTION WAS TO CLOSE.”   

Pennsylvania: In Richland, the Planet Ice ice rink shutting down July, it’s blamed on competition and will be re-purposed.

Vermont: In Stowe, after 25 years dog themed restaurant Gracie’s shutting down so the owners can retire.

Virginia: Just short of a year Shoryuken Ramen shutting down its noodle eatery on Virginia Commonwealth University campus in May.

Washington: Socialist yet ‘wants everything for free’ Seattle city leaders are upset that a major homeless shelter is shutting down, even threaten them if they do.  But SHARE/WELL (Seattle Housing Resource Effort, Women’s Housing Equality Enhancement League) says they can’t pay the bills due to drastic cuts in county level funding and the high cost of living in Seattle, so they’re forced to close 15 shelters: “So we can’t pay the money out if we don’t have it, and we’ve fallen behind $75,000 right now, so we can no longer operate. We have not paid our employees and they’re all minimum wage employees. We have not paid our employees in over a month!”-Clint Wade

Wisconsin: In Middleton, Max’s Farm Table shutdown. The pissed-off owner revealed he recently spent $1-thousand USD for one week of advertising, yet still his restaurant went several hours per day without a customer: “Sales aren’t even close to where they need to be to justify continuing to invest. Not even close!”-Max Harn, who also said the rent was too high for the unpredictable location

Wyoming: In Casper, what I call Ripple Effect layoffs (REL) as oil industry equipment supplier Power Service laid off at least 50 people.  And Wyoming Machinery is begging employees at its five locations to retire early.  Missouri based Peabody Energy handed out new layoff notices at its North Antelope Rochelle mine, employees say actual number of layoffs won’t be revealed until Friday.  Earlier this week I revealed that Peabody Energy is threatening bankruptcy as one way to get out of paying for mine waste cleanup in Illinois.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

30 March 2016: Too Big to Jail kills 7,000 additional jobs! Major insurance company admits ObamaCare is a Major Failure! New Obama sanctions against Iran kills Boeing! 

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.”

Idaho, U.S.

Revolution in Idaho! Record turnout for Democrat Caucus!

23 March 2016 (09:18 UTC-07 Tango 01) 04 Farvardin 1395/13 Jumada t-Tania 1437/15 Xin Mao 4714

Boisians tell me there was a record turnout for the Tuesday Democrat Caucus in Idaho, something the dominant Republicans should be fearful of.  One attendee claimed it was the largest turnout of all the U.S. caucuses held that night.  The local Democrat Party wasn’t prepared for it.  Main stream news sources confirmed it was a record turnout of ‘Democrats’ in Red Right to Work (you over) Idaho.

Bernie Sanders supporters?

At one point the oligarchal mayor of Boise (remember, he led the mass roundups of homeless people into concentration camps at the beginning of December) actually said that Hillary Clinton was more “radical” than Bernie Sanders! One attendee described Hillary’s voice as “grating”.  It should be noted that Hillary refers to the United States as “America” (the British empire term for the colonies), and Sanders uses the correct term of United States of America.

An honest Hillary supporter?

Vote counting took longer than expected, due to the high turnout, but in the end Bernie Sanders won Idaho!  The Huffington Post stated Bernie “solidly defeated Hillary Clinton” with 78% of the votes!

Oh the folly, when are people gonna realize this whole thing is a sham?    When it comes to elections, I’m with George Carlin and Mark Twain.

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.”