Category Archives: Idaho

Business/Economics, Idaho

“…we just didn’t realize the enormity of it.” Target kills 10-thousand jobs in 1 city! Idaho’s ObamaCare kills 1-thousand people in 3 years! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 03 February 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California:  After four years the Malibu Bank of Books shutting down in April.  The owner blames lack of sales and points out that the landlord actually tried to helped the bookstore.  Yet more proof the internet is not recession resistant; San Rafael based AutoDesk eliminating 925 jobs in order to expedite its transition to ‘the cloud’!  Plus the administrators claim they “over-hired” in 2015.

Florida: In Lake Buena Vista, Fulton’s Crab House issued a shutdown WARN, 214 food service jobs gone by mid-April!

Idaho:  The Gem State’s version of ObamaCare is being directly blamed for the deaths of 1-thousand Idahoans since 2013!  That accusation came from Kenneth Krell, director of Eastern Idaho Medical Center in Idaho Falls.  He targeted the claim at state Right to Work (you over) ‘lawmakers’ whom he was testifying in front of: “And I kept asking myself, how could this be? How, in a state like Idaho where we care about each other, could I be seeing deaths and really damaging illness on a nearly daily basis as a result of failure to expand Medicaid that cost tangible lives? It’s difficult to understand.”

Louisiana: In Lafayette, after seven years Jolie’s Louisiana Bistro shutting down next week.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery?  After announcing it will shutdown its sales operations in Japan and Indonesia, Dearborn based Ford announced it will eliminate $200-million USD worth of jobs in Europe!  Administrators say the job cuts are necessary to “build a viable business in the future”.

Minnesota: The Minneapolis Downtown Council discovered that retail giant Target eliminated 10-thousand jobs within the city over the past two years!  Local news reports say Target administrators confirmed the number!

Mississippi: Hattiesburg Public Schools cutting pay and eliminating jobs “immediately”.  No details about how many jobs will be lost, local news reports say employees have yet to be notified.

Nebraska: Food giant ConAgra shutting down a frozen food production line in Council Bluffs, administrators claim this time they won’t layoff any employees.

New York: In NYC, D’Agostino Supermarkets on 3rd Avenue shutting down, 41 jobs lost by the end of April.

Ohio: In Cincinnati, House of Adam clothier shutting down after 61 years.

Pennsylvania: Waynesboro, after 15 years Dru’s Books-n-Things Hallmark gift store shutting down by the end of the month.  Despite massive layoffs throughout the state, partly caused by failure to create a state budget on-time, ‘lawmakers’ enjoy “generous pay, benefits and job security” according to Berks & Beyond.  Steel worker Dan Adam even blasted state ‘lawmakers’ because “They do live in their own little bubble and it’s not right! But what are we going to do about it?”

West Virginia: Boone County Schools eliminating 77 jobs after the bad economy caused tax revenues to be cut by more than half: “There were signs that it was happening….just didn’t expect it all at once…came on very quickly….we just didn’t realize the enormity of it.”-Jerry Pcholinsky, Boone County Education president

Wisconsin: More layoff points for Right to Work (you over) Scott Walker as Public International shuts down its Yorkville office, 50 jobs lost because a major client walked.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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

Governor kills state jobs claiming lack of money, then Senator reveals $400-million+ cash surplus! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 29 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arizona:  Phoenix based rip off artist Apollo Education Group (owner of University of Phoenix,Western International University, Axia College, and College for Financial Planning) eliminated 70 jobs, as part of their plan to “re-engineer” the for-profit education operation due to crashing revenues.  (possible due to the federal Department of Education accusing Apollo Education of lying about job placement rates)

Colorado: Westwood College suddenly halted enrollments and announced it will shutdown its Denver campuses by the end of March!  Administrators blame crashing enrollments, but it could also have to do with the fact the state sued Westwood, accusing it of making false claims about students being able to find jobs after they graduate.

Georgia:  Illinois base heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar eliminating 2-hundred jobs as it shuts down its Thomasville fuel factory!  (see Illinois below)

Idaho: A new study shows that proposed new state tax rules actually puts money into the wallets of the rich!  HB380 could result in an average tax reduction of $815 USD per 1-percenter and only a piddly $7 reduction for poorest of idahoans!   This comes as the state Department of Health and Welfare revealed that a minimum of 21.1% of Idahoans received some sort of taxpayer funded assistance for every month of 2015.  What Health and Welfare administrators didn’t reveal is that is a record number of Idahoans needing taxpayer funded help!   According to Watchdog.org  2013 and 2014 were also record years, and 2016 is projected to set a record as well!

Illinois:  In Streator, God couldn’t stop ObamaCare from forcing ‘his’ Saint Mary’s Hospital from laying off 1-hundred employees this month!  Another 2-hundred employees affected as the hospital shifts to out-patient care services!  The Affordable Care Act does not pay enough to cover the costs of inpatient care.  Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar announced an additional 230 layoffs in East Peoria as the bad economy forces radical restructuring and consolidations!  A press release by Caterpillar execs stated they expect the bad times to last until at least 2018.

Indiana:  In Irvington, after 17 years Dufour’s restaurant-bakery shutting down, the owner admitted “As I’ve aged, this business gets harder. My insides feel 18, but my outsides don’t.”   Georgia based Southwire shutting down its Plainfield service center beginning in March, 50 jobs lost.

Kentucky:  Carmeuse Lime and Stone laid off 35 people at its Black River mine.

Maryland:  Shenanigans with taxpayer money, this time employees at the state run Springfield Hospital Center are questioning why they’re being laid off when the hospital supposedly has a surplus of money!  At least 57 people will lose their jobs under the govna’s proposal to privatize the mental hospital, supposedly to save money.  However, state Senate President Thomas V. Miller revealed that the Springfield Hospital Center is actually projected to have a surplus of more than $400-million USD!!!

Massachusetts: Nashoba Valley Medical Center began reducing nursing jobs as they reduce Emergency Room operations (under ObamaCare).  In Lynn, General Electric (GE) laying off 59 aviation engineers, as part of a larger 3-hundred aviation jobs elimination across the country!

New York:    CNN shutting down their Manhattan Center Productions operations, 74 jobs lost by the end of April.   Sterling National Bank issued layoff WARNs for at least six offices, 27 jobs lost between May and June.  In Ithaca, after 18 years Jabberwock curiosity shop shutdown due to ongoing construction and a greedy landlord who jack up the rent three times!

North Dakota: Farm vehicle maker CNH (Case New Holland) hitting Fargo with even more layoffs, this time 70 people becoming unemployed.  Local news reports say that since 2014 CNH has eliminated 260 jobs in Fargo.  Reports that Massachusetts based oil/ethanol company Global Partners is eliminating jobs with its Peace Garden State operations.

Ohio: In Liberty, Campus Health Care nursing home suddenly shutdown after its Tennessee based owner went bankrupt.  Residents are being rescued from the nursing home that local news media discovered was considered “the worst of the worst” by federal regulators!  Clothier Express shutting down its Dayton Mall store, as part of its parent company’s (Limited Brands) ongoing store shutdowns.

Oregon:  In Clatskanie, Massachusetts based Global Partners laid off 50 oil terminal workers according to the official WARN.  According to local news reports that’s more than the last reported number of employees who work there! In Lake Oswego, Youth Villages issued a layoff WARN for its Christie Campuses, 74 jobs lost by the beginning of March.  In Springfield, Pacific States Plywood eliminating 39 jobs by mid-February.  Medical device maker Greatbatch eliminated at least 140 jobs in Beaverton, as the company moves production to Mexico (probably to avoid the new ObamaCare medical device tax)!  In Portland, A-List/H-List/Kitson hair salon apparently shutdown (according to state WARN listing).

Pennsylvania:  In Allentown, American Hairlines and clothier Popmart shutting down, the operators admitted they bit off more than they could chew when they decided to open additional stores.  Emmaus based publisher of health magazines Rodale eliminated 40 jobs in an effort to “focus on growing the business”.

Utah:  Wild West themed Porter’s Place shutting down its Lehi restaurant because city administrators are running the operator outta town.  The city owns the building and they want to tear it down.  The owner of Porter’s Place say he hopes to open a new restaurant in the city of Nephi.

Virginia:  Tobacco company Altria eliminating 490 jobs over the next two months!  Despite claiming they had “a strong year” company administrators say the job cuts are part of preparations for expected changes in the industry (mainly increased competition).  In Alexandria, the Urban Angler shutdown, the operators blame competition as well as city bureaucracy for delaying the grand opening for months.

Washington: Regional grocer (and bankrupt no thanks to being tricked by Albertson-Safeway) Haggen issued a shutdown WARN for their Puyallup store, 87 jobs lost at the beginning of March.   Macy’s issued a shutdown WARN for their Spokane store, 94 jobs lost by mid-March.  In Beacon Hill, after about ten years drag queen waitress restaurant Inay’s shutdown.  In Bremerton, Concentrix shutting down their call center, 5-hundred jobs lost by the end of March!  Administrators blame it on the loss of a major client.

Wisconsin:  More proof the internet is not recession resistant; online party-costume supplier BuySeasons eliminating 130 jobs, blaming competition!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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

U.S. loses $1.2-trillion in three months! “…cuts would probably occur weeks after Bank of America pays bonuses…” Sprint kills more jobs! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 28 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California:   In San Francisco, Belcampo Meat Company shutting down their Mission Street butcher shop.  The operators of the butcher shop chain said the Mission Street location could not maintain enough volume sales to justify its existence.  In Desert Hot Springs, after 70 years Haidet’s True Value Hardware shutdown.

Connecticut: It’s been revealed that Yale University laid off at least 24 IT employees.  CIO Len Peters warns of more job cuts saying “In order to further close our budget gap, some involuntary layoffs have taken place. Moving forward, we will continue to look for ways to be more cost-effective and agile with our services.”    God refuses to stop the shutdown of two of ‘his’ schools; Saint Vincent De Paul in East Haven and Saint Gabriel in Milford.  The schools managed to survive The Great Depression and numerous recessions, but for some reason they can’t survive what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.   Saint Vincent is reportedly down to just 89 students.

Florida:  Health Support Network- Center for Building Hope-Brides Against Breast Cancer now chapter 7 bankrupt busted and being liquidated, after shutting down without warning back in September.  A former CEO is accused of stealing donations meant to help families dealing with cancer treatment.  Local news media reporting that General Growth Properties (GGP) will tear down part of their Pembroke Lakes Mall Sears store to build a new movie theater, pending approval by the local zoning board.

Georgia: No more iconic The Varsity burger joint? “After a great deal of thought and consideration, the leadership of The Varsity has decided to close our store in Alpharetta on Feb 1. We would like to sincerely thank the people of Alpharetta for welcoming us in their community for the past 12 years. We weighed a number of options and came to the conclusion that our three other stores….can effectively serve our customers in this area.”

Idaho: University of Idaho shutting down their Caine Veterinary Teaching Center.  Apparently the university plans on teaching veterinarian skills directly through livestock owners, news reports say the university veterinarian faculty are being laid off.

Illinois:  All seven Off Track Betting locations suddenly shutdown after 24 years. The horse racing gambling sites were operated by a company called All Seasons, no explanation was given for the sudden shutdown.  In Evanston, after 35 years Howard’s Books shutting down by the end of February.  The owner say it “makes sense” to shutdown because “The chains hurt the independents, and then Amazon comes along and hurts the chains.”  The Western Illinois University laid off 30 people due to the failed state ‘lawmakers’ failing to come up with a budget.

Indiana: Locally operated oil company Country Mark laid off 20 employees, blaming low oil prices for forcing them to reduce output.

Iowa:  British empire based education publisher Pearson suddenly began laying off an undisclosed number of employees in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City area, as part of their plans to eliminate 4-thousand jobs globally!  Administrators claim that by not giving out the exact number of people laid off in Iowa that they are somehow “protecting the privacy” of those employees.

Kansas: Local news media revealed that Overland Park based Sprint has eliminated at least 6-thousand jobs in the past two years! Read on to learn of the latest Sprint layoffs in Texas and Virginia.  (don’t forget the other mass layoffs revealed a couple of days ago)

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? Fiat Chrysler Automotive is shutting down its Sterling Heights Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart factory for at least six weeks, due to crashing sales.  In Holland, after more than 60 years Dykstra Post and Home supply store shutting down by the end of February.  Apparently the operator was overwhelmed by his other full time job and offered to sell it to employees, but they weren’t able to buy.  The landlord then offered to end the lease early, and that offer was accepted.

New York:  In Freeport, the Stop&Shop grocery store shutting down in February, residents say it will leave them with only one grocery store in their city.  Stop&Shop is one of several grocery chain stores owned by Netherlands based Ahold which recently announced it was massively cutting back on operations in the United States.  American HomePatient shutting down their Regional Billing Center in Buffalo, 42 jobs lost by the end of April.  In Astoria, Empire Merchants ending their booze distribution operations, 109 jobs lost by the end of April!  Bloomberg reporting that NYC based Too Big to Jail Bank of America will kill even more jobs by March: “Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan has said he will eliminate jobs this year as the industry is squeezed by sluggish trading, low interest rates and rising loan losses…..    ….The cuts would probably occur weeks after Bank of America pays bonuses to traders and bankers in mid-February.”

By my own record keeping (starting in 2010) Bank of America has eliminated nearly 100-thousand jobs globally!  

North Carolina:  Morrison Healthcare continues to kill jobs after losing a food service contract with Carolinas HealthCare Systems, local news reports say layoffs will now hit 350!   Grace’s Café, an eatery at Duke University, is shutting down at the end of the semester.  The operator said sales are not enough to pay for needed renovations to the kitchen.

Pennsylvania: Too Big to Jail Warren based Northwest Bancorp (aka Northwest Bank) shutting down 24 offices in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York and Ohio.  The shutdowns will be complete by Summer and are blamed on customers.

Tennessee:  In West Nashville, The Stone Fox  shutting down this weekend, 30 jobs lost.  After four years of success the restaurant-live music joint is apparently being replaced with something else.

Texas:  In Dallas, after 45 years Herrera’s Tex Mex shutting down this weekend because the landlords want to re-purpose the property.  Sprint shutting down their Temple call center, 350 jobs lost by the first week in February!

Virginia: Sprint shutting down their Hampton call center, 380 jobs lost in March!

Washington DC: The Federal Reserve Bank reported that the overall net worth of the United States crashed by $1.2-trillion USD in the 3rd quarter of 2015!  (interestingly that’s the same as the record student loan debt total)

Wisconsin:  What housing market recovery?  Too Big to Jail Chase shutting down its Milwaukee mortgage customer service office, 135 jobs lost by the end of March!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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

“I was not prepared…no more leases…” 50% of Idaho families in poverty, ‘get used to it’! No more nail polish? : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 24 – 25 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: AAR Aerostructures & Interiors ending metal fabrication ops in Huntsville, 72 jobs lost.  Administrators said they need to “refocus” their business.

Arizona: In Chandler, after 25 years Video Paradise shutting down next week.

California:  In San Francisco, after more than ten years the upscale Bourbon Steak shutting down in March, the owner said he decided not to renew the lease and is looking for a new home.  Cosmetic company Coty shutting down their North Hollywood OPI nail polish factory, 4-hundred California jobs being lost to North Carolina!  In San Diego, after laying off 1,314 people at the end of 2015 Qualcomm laid off an additional 32 employees.

Delaware: Local news media discovered that all four Sussex County Donut Connection shops have been shutdown!  The owners of the franchise claim they’ve “retired”, but a former employee said “Business really had slacked off.”   Tax records show $26,320-USD are still owed and a lawsuit says $31,211 in rent and utilities have never been paid!

Florida:  Clothier GAP shutting down stores in Tampa and Saint Petersburg, as part of their plan to shutdown 175 stores! 

Idaho: A new Corporation for Enterprise Development study says 45.5% of Idaho families are trapped in poverty and there’s no hope of getting out, as the 2016 Assets & Opportunity Scorecard calls the economic situation the “new normal”!   Find out more info, or how your state ranks, click here.

Gem State Right to Work (you over) ‘lawmakers’ are apparently realizing  how bad the financial situation is for families and are creating a new law that will exempt ‘cottage food’ businesses (literally mom-n-pop food sellers working out of their home) from the same health codes that traditional retail establishments must obey.

It’s been revealed that pesticides have contaminated farms in eastern Idaho.  At least 809 hectares (2-thousand acres) are affected and must be cleaned up, at taxpayer expense of course (an estimated $250-thousand USD has been quoted as an initial payment!).  The contamination was discovered when farmers reported mutations in their crops and animals.  Investigators traced it to the massive use of Methyl Bromide back in 2006.  The contamination affects potatoes, hay, alfalfa, wheat and barley.  In 2006 paranoia erupted over the discovery of a nematode that destroys potato crops, state and federal agriculture ‘experts’ told farmers to use methyl bromide to kill the microbe.  It was farmers who first reported the crop and livestock mutations, concluding that it must be the result of using the toxic chemical.

A new study is blaming low Gem State high school graduation rates on internet classes!   The state Board of Education reported that ‘virtual schools’ can barely graduate 20% of their online students!   I can attest to this claim as I know a young woman who tried the virtual school program for almost a year, before giving up and going back to old fashioned brick-n-mortar school in Pocatello.  I remember her school counselor at Pokey High warning her she’d be back because the majority of students fail to complete the online courses.  The online school seems easier because supposedly you’re on your own schedule, but it turns out to be harder than traditional school.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery?  Dearborn based Ford announced it will end sales operations in Japan and Indonesia, due to lack of sales!

Minnesota: In Saint Paul, after ten years the Highland Park Chatterbox Pub (deep fried cheeseburgers) suddenly shutdown, the owners say they were not able to find a needed third business partner and will now focus on their two smaller restaurants.

Missouri: University of Missouri Saint Louis warned of mass layoffs in order to deal with a $15-million USD shortfall ($2-million more than reported two months ago), no layoff numbers given, yet.

Nebraska: Sears Holdings confirmed it will shutdown the Omaha Kmart (on South 114th Street) in April, 66 jobs lost.  It’s the second Omaha Kmart to be shutdown.

Nevada: In Mesquite, after five years Have Boutique Will Travel shutting down.  The co-owners blame their age, one is 77 and the other is 80!

New York: In Amherst, after more than 1-hundred years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Newtrend Furniture shutting down.   Maines Food & Party Warehouse shutting down their Ithaca and Greece grocery stores by February, no public explanation given.  In NYC, after 40 years kitchen supplier Broadway Panhandler shutting down.  The owner tried to sell the business but nobody wanted to buy it.

Ohio: The only Krispy Kreme donut shop in the Dayton area shutting down next week, 20 jobs lost.  No explanation.

Oregon: The Terrace Cafe in Valley River Center shutting down after 36 years of serving up yummy food, because the mall management refuses to renew the lease.  The restaurant owner said no reason was offered and “I was not prepared to have been told that no more leases would be given to me.”

Texas:  In Dallas, the operators of Zhulong Gallery suddenly announced it will shutdown at the end of the month (instead of hosting an international photo exhibit), no reason given.

West Virginia:  Coal miner Alpha Natural Resources killing more jobs, this time 9-hundred people at eight mines and two processing operations, by the end of March!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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

Massive Sprint layoffs! 333-thousand tech jobs lost! Layoffs are now SOP! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 23 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California:   Yet more Palo Alto tech employees in trouble, VMWare warning employees of mass layoffs due to their merger with Dell and EMC, as many as 9-hundred jobs lost!   But wait there’s a whole lot more!  Redwood Shores based Global Equities Research predicts that as many as 333-thousand tech jobs will be eliminated over the next 12 months, no thanks to rapidly developing advancements in areas like cloud computing!   University of California Berkeley’s Campus Shared Services quietly laid off 28 people, back in December.  Local Teamsters Union members are now making sure the public knows about the layoffs.  In San Francisco, popular Ames restaurant shutting down after ten years.  In Escondido, after 44 years Champion’s Family Restaurant shutting down next week.

Colorado: Kansas based Sprint shutting down their Arapahoe County call center, 178 jobs lost by April!

Connecticut:  Affinity Health Care Management bankrupt busted just five years after their last bankruptcy, but this time it’s because Medicaid payments are being held back by the state Department of Social Services!   Court documents stated that if the failed state ObamaCare loving government continues not to reimburse Medicaid services then Affinity Health Care Management will cease to exist!

Florida:  In Orlando, after five years burger & beer joint Oblivion Taproom shutting down next week.

Georgia: In Ringgold, after two years Go Georgia Arts shutdown, the owner said he wasn’t getting enough commissions.

Idaho: More Gem State Right to Work (you over) ObamaCare bull-shit; “Ferch, a Boise chiropractor, had received notice from Regence BlueShield of Idaho that the health insurance company was cutting back its payments for ‘adjustments’ — his most common procedure — to 1990s levels.  Ferch and a handful of fellow chiropractors met with the medical director for Regence. Ferch asked whether the medical director’s salary was the same as it had been in the 1990s. The room went silent……

….In Idaho, mutual insurance companies also differ from federal tax-exempt nonprofits in that they do not tell the public what they pay their leaders. Idaho law forbids regulators from divulging that information.”–SeattlePI

Illinois: God refusing to stop ‘his’ Lutheran Social Services (LSSI) from shutting down 30 offices across the state, and laying off 750 people!  LSSI is the largest social services operator in the state and blames moronic state ‘lawmakers’ for failing to come up with a budget, resulting in non-profit LSSI being owed $6-million USD: “After 7 months, we no longer can provide services for which we aren’t being paid.”-Mark Stutrud, President and CEO

Kansas: Overland Park based Sprint notified 829 local employees they will lose their jobs very soon!  In Saint John, Dillions Market shutting down by February.  Dillions is the town’s only grocery store meaning residents will have to travel 20 miles to buy food!

Maine:  New Jersey based Covanta Energy Corporation announced it will shutdown two plants, one in West Enfield and one in Jonesboro.

Missouri: New York & Co. shutting down their West Park Mall clothing store next week.

Montana:  University of Montana has begun mass layoffs, eventually 192 full-time jobs will be eliminated!

New Mexico: Kansas based Sprint shutting down their Rio Rancho call center, 394 jobs lost by the beginning of February!

New York: Ichor Systems shutting down their Kingston factory, 96 jobs lost by the end of April.  NYC based advertising company Ogilvy announced that layoffs are now SOP: “Today Ogilvy & Mather New York let go of less than 1% of our staff. This is yearly Standard Operating Procedure for a company of our size and scope of services.”

North Dakota: 95 coal miners about to lose their jobs at the Dakota Westmoreland Beulah mine.   The layoffs start in March.

Tennessee: Kansas based Sprint shutting down their Blountville call center, 444 jobs lost by February!

Washington DC: NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is consolidating operations at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana, possibly eliminating more than 2-hundred jobs in the process!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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

“circumstances beyond our control…changing demographics…declining sales” Ripple effect layoffs! ObamaCare keeps on cutting! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 20 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama:  Sears Holdings confirmed that the Prattville Kmart will shutdown in April, 70 jobs lost. 

California:  What did you get when you got laid off?  It’s been revealed that Newark based StemCells Incorporated gave its recently ‘resigned’ CEO a $1-million USD severance package!  Pier 1 Imports shutting down their El Cerrito Plaza store by the end of February.  Local news reports say a retailer from Japan will move into the vacated Pier 1 location. 

Florida:  Orlando based Total Sleep Management now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.   Administrators blame ObamaCare: “The sleep industry ran into trouble around 2013. Pre-authorizations became a requirement for most private insurers. We lost about 40% of our revenue.”

Georgia:  Sears Holdings confirmed that the Dublin Kmart will shutdown in April, 71 jobs lost. 

Hawaii:  Simply Organized shutting down their Ewa Beach store in February.

Idaho: More proof poverty is skyrocketing in The Gem State; the only form of housing assistance comes from federally funded Section 8 and private donations (unlike most densely populated states that have a state level tax payer funded match to the federal Section 8 funding). Housing assistance is managed by Idaho Housing and Finance (IHFA, “a  self-supporting corporation”) and starting in 2011 was forced by increasing homelessness in Idaho to start a new charity fund raising operation called Home Partnership Foundation-Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge.  In 2015 they raised $317-thousand USD to supplement what they already have to work with.  Almost half of that has just been given to 32 non-profit organizations through out the state.    It’s been revealed by the state Office of Performance Evaluations that Psychosocial Rehabilitation Counselor (aka PSR or Psycho Social Rehabilitation workers) jacked up costs to Idaho Medicaid nine times over a ten years period.  In 2001 PSR costs were $8-million USD, by 2012 costs hit $76-million!    In 2013 the state tried to counter by pushing for more “managed” inpatient care, however that is backfiring because many providers are confused by the regulations which are causing problems with care.

Illinois: Baker Mondelez told 277 Chicago workers they will become unemployed starting in March, as part of the company’s plan to move to Mexico!  Also in Chicago, the Blue Buddha Boutique shutting down after 13 years because the owner’s doctor told her to reduce her “stress levels”.  You mean Buddha, meditation and the stress of running a business don’t jive?

Indiana:   The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art  laid off five people due to crashing revenues.   Marsh shutting down their Bloomington grocery store because it’s not worth it to renew the lease.

Iowa: In Ames, after 30 years restaurant Valentino’s shutdown, the owners saying “Recent circumstances beyond our control, coupled with changing demographics in our current location and declining sales made this very difficult decision necessary.”

Louisiana: Noranda shutting down its alumina factory in Gramercy, blaming a bauxite tax imposed by the government of Jamaica, and crashing sales, 444 jobs lost over the next two months!  Texas based National Oilwell Varco shutting down its Houma ops, 80 jobs lost in March.

Maine: (Ripple Effect layoffs) Chipotle Mexican Grill killing off Hutamaki.   The paper product maker said it had to layoff 30 employees due to crashing packaging orders from the troubled chain restaurant.

Maryland: After 18 years restaurant Donna’s shutting down by the end of the month.  The owners admitted they were losing money and they could not renew the lease.

Michigan:  Oregon based expensive clothier Pendleton Woolen Mills shutting down three stores in The Wolverine State blaming lack of “sales and profitability”!

Missouri:  (Ripple Effect Layoffs) In Lamar, the 117 years old Thorco Industries announced it will layoff 93 people starting in Spring. The company makes point of sales (aka point of purchase or POP) displays for retailers.  Administrators blamed the layoffs on “…retail industry changes, including the growth of e-commerce and the opening of fewer brick-and-mortar stores, has resulted in a continued decline in demand for store fixtures, such as the wire-based merchandising displays and accessories…”

Nebraska: Food giant ConAgra eliminating more jobs due to an expected drop in sales.  News reports say several hundreds of ConAgra employees in Omaha will lose there jobs to cheaper contractors as ConAgra attempts to cut operating costs!    The reports are based on a video leaked last week, but what’s really interesting is that ConAgra execs are also killing 40 sales positions (maybe that’s why they expect sales to go down?).

New Mexico:   In Los Lunas, Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples shutting down in February, 22 jobs lost. 

New York: Qatar based news source Al Jazeera made it official and issued a shutdown WARN for its NYC ops, 197 jobs lost by the end of April!  Internet fantasy sports site FanFuel revealed they’ve begun laying off employees, no numbers given.  It’s connected to legal threats challenging FanDuel’s claim that it’s not a gambling site.  The movie theater Ziegfeld Theater is shutting down after 47 years to be re-purposed as ‘a high-end event center’ for corporate elites.  Months after announcing plans to hire 125 people, Dial America now shutting down its 28 years old Amherst call center, 120 jobs lost by the beginning of March! Administrators blamed it on a major client deciding to do business with a foreign call center operator!   Sears Holdings confirms the Staten Island Mall Sears Auto Center will shutdown in February, 20 jobs lost.   After laying off 20 employees in October, Watertown’s New York Air Brake eliminating another 30 jobs blaming declining sales to the railroad industry. This is a prime example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs; New York Air Brake’s job losses caused by railroad industry which in turn is losing jobs caused by the oil and coal industries which in turn are losing jobs due to crashing commodity prices.

North Carolina:  Ohio based call center operator Convergys issued a layoff WARN for its Greenville center, 163 jobs lost by April due to the loss of a contract.

Oklahoma:  Oil company Devon Energy warned more “…layoffs will be a necessary part of the company’s near-term cost-management efforts. The company has not determined the extent of the reduction but expects the majority of layoffs to occur by the end of the first quarter.”

Pennsylvania:  Lehigh Valley Health Network warning that it must shutdown five offices across two counties!  LVHN rep Brian Downs said they didn’t know when the shutdowns would take place, or how many people will lose their jobs, but warned “This is health care today. This is an ongoing thing.” 

Texas:  (Ripple Effect Layoffs) In Longview, after already laying off employees in 2015, US Steel now says it might shutdown its Lone Star Tubular Operations  starting in March, 677 remaining jobs threatened by the crashing oil industry!  (Ripple Effect Layoffs) Raymondville city leaders are warning of citywide layoffs due to the shutdown of the local Walmart store.  Last year the Willacy County Correctional Center shutdown, which generated money for the city through water sales, now the Walmart is the only major source of revenue for the city and it’s shutting down!

Utah:   Sears Holdings confirmed that the 35 years old Richfield Kmart will shutdown in April, 63 jobs lost. 

Virginia: Richmond’s four years old Carytown Dixie Donuts shutting down by the end of the month.   In Pulaski, Food Lion shutting down its Memorial Drive grocery store by February because it’s not worth it to renew the lease.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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

Massive ObamaCare job destruction! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 19 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: Molded Fiber Glass Manufacturing laid off 39 people from its Opp factory, blaming a delay in new tooling and the U.S. Congress for delaying a renewable energy tax credit.   Sears Holdings shutting down the Dothan Kmart on the south side of Ross Clark Circle, 56 jobs lost in March.

California:   Yet more tech layoffs as Cupertino based Apple laid off 1-hundred people from its iAd ops!  Administrators claim they will create new jobs later on.   In Bakersfield, Guarantee Shoe Center is blaming the crashing oil industry for a 20% drop in sales.  The shoe store owners said most of their customers were oil workers, many of whom have lost their jobs.  After 65 years privately funded Pinecrest Schools shutting down all their San Fernando Valley campuses (Woodland Hills, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Canyon Country and Simi Valley) at the end of this school year!  Administrators blame increased operating costs and increased competition from publicly funded charter schools.  More proof the internet is not recession resistant, reports that Sunnyvale based Yahoo is about to layoff 25% of its employees (about 2-thousand 7-hundred)!

Colorado: Louisville based non-profit cable TV research company CableLabs laid off 30 people, in order “to ensure that CableLabs can rapidly build and sustain a significant innovation pipeline for the industry”.  Albertsons-Safeway shutting down their Denver bakery, 95 jobs lost by the end of February.

Florida: In Orlando, Nephron Pharmaceuticals issued a mass layoff WARN, 250 people becoming unemployed by April!  (is it because Jeb Bush made a campaign stop there?)

Idaho:  Privately owned tourist attraction railroad company Thunder Mountain Line shutdown, without warning or explanation.  Trader Joe’s is recalling cashews sold in Boise (as well as in 31 other locations across the U.S.).  The nuts are suspected of being contaminated with salmonella.  Mental healthcare provider Optum has revealed it’s sitting on $5-million USD in unspent Idaho Medicaid funding!  This is significant because Optum’s parent company United Health claims it lost $1-billion in 2015 (see Minnesota below)!

Illinois: What automotive industry recovery?  Quincy based Titan Tire says it’s forced to eliminate more jobs, for 2016 they’re looking at laying off 130 people in Ohio and 150 in Europe!  And that’s just for the first quarter of 2016.

Indiana: In Fort Wayne, British empire based U.S. tax-sucker BAE eliminating at least 110 jobs by the end of the year!     

Louisiana: Switzerland based oil driller Noble laying off as many as 120 people who work on its Galliano facility!

Michigan: In Bloomfield Hills, after more than 40 years Hogan’s restaurant shutting down at the end of the month.  The owner admitted his old golf themed eatery can’t compete with the new “really trendy” restaurants.  In Lansing, God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 150 years old (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Trinity Lutheran School from shutting down.  Parents criticized the church leaders saying they never considered outside sources of funding and the decision to shutdown came without warning.

Minnesota: Evil people and lazy local news media caused a charity horse rescue op to shutdown.  Despite a sheriff’s department investigation which cleared the charity of all of the false accusations brought against it, Hightail Horse Ranch and Rescue is now blaming “overwhelming negative publicity” for halting donations and stopping volunteers needed to run the center.  Minnetonka based United Health blames ObamaCare for causing it to lose $1-billion USD, massive job cuts coming!  United Health is considering getting the hell outta the Affordable Care Act exchange system!

Missouri:  Another Saint Louis restaurant shutting down, Mile 277, and like others they’re blaming the A-hole re-development projects and greedy landlords: “The development of other venues such as Ballpark Village along with numerous lease terms has significantly impacted the operations of Mile 277. The combination of these factors has resulted in significant losses of revenue and profits. Mile 277 cannot continue to sustain these losses.”   

New Jersey:  New Brunswick based Johnson & Johnson announced it is eliminating 3-thousand medical device jobs over the next two years!  ObamaCare taxes, the bad economy, and plans to take over medical device maker rivals are forcing them to cut $1-billion USD in costs!

New York: In Queens, after 25 years The Comic Den shutting down due to “new generation of readers” opting for comics on the internet.  Jeweler to the elites Tiffany’s announced its holiday sales dropped enough to warrant layoffs.  Administrators have yet to reveal how many employees will be let go.  Too Big to Jail Morgan Stanley announced it will join the exodus from The Empire State (and other high cots areas) by moving jobs to “lower cost centers” around the world, potentially affecting thousands of jobs!

Ohio: In Youngstown, the 106 years old Masonic Temple on Wick Avenue shutting down by the end of June.  The members say the large building has become too expensive to heat during winter.   The Upper Valley Mall losing two more stores, Cardboard Heroes shutdown without warning and Lens Crafters shutting down this weekend! 

South Carolina: Barnwell County’s only hospital shutdown!  The 140 employees of Southern Palmetto Hospital said they were notified in an emergency meeting on Tuesday that they were losing their jobs on Thursday, this week!   The emergency meeting was called by the Director of Nursing, local news says hospital administrators refuse to talk to them and county administrators swear they know nothing about it.

Washington DC: Once touted by politicians like Obama, the 10 years old Five Guys Burgers and Fries joint on Wisconsin Avenue shutting down next week.  There’s no explanation, just a note taped to the door.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

18 January 2016:  “Iconic places are going out of business, and nobody cares.” 

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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

“Iconic places are going out of business, and nobody cares.” Goodwill ramps up shutdowns! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 18 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: Sears Holdings shutting down the Florence Kmart in March, more than 1-hundred jobs lost!  A local news report said the employees knew nothing about it and were shocked to hear it from the news!

Arkansas: Good Food by Ferneau shutting down because the owner-chef is taking a job working for somebody else. 

California:  In San Francisco, the Gangway bar shutdown due to ignoramus owner failing to pay his employees at least minimum wage.  In California the so called Tip Credit does not apply, food service workers must be paid minimum wage even though they’re paid tips by customers.  According to the lawsuit the owner, who’s lived in California for decades, thought the Tip Credit rule was valid in California (I knew about that rule back in the 1980s, how can people who’ve lived in California longer than me be so stupid regarding The Golden State’s wage laws?).  In Anaheim Hills, after at least 30 years popular Foxfire An American Chophouse shutting down at the start of February, to make room for a shopping plaza.  In Los Altos, Main Street Cafe shutting down by the end of the month, apparently to eventually be replaced with yet another restaurant “concept”.  

Connecticut: In Greenwich, after a little more than 12 years Graham’s Toys shutdown due to the greedy landlord: “The rents are not sustainable.  The amount of business we’ve done is respectable, but it’s just not sustainable for this market.”-Shelly Steinberg, owner

Idaho:   Another Gem State Kmart shutting down, this time the Boise Kmart on Fairview shutting down by mid-March, 56 jobs lost.  A sure sign that healthcare costs are going up, the state Department of Health and Welfare is requesting a $26.3-million USD budget increase!  Administrators are now saying the previous 3.9% increase is not enough to fund the new mandate (Primary Care Access Program) to cover the 78-thousand Idahoans who fall into the Right to Work (you over) ObamaCare gap!

Illinois:  In Orland Park, Palos Community Hospital shutting down their Palos Health & Fitness center in May.  In a round-a-bout way administrators said ObamaCare was forcing them to “prioritize” their services.

Kansas: In Wichita, after 105 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Head’s Shoes shutdown. Local news said the owners aren’t commenting as to why.

Maryland: Rockville based charity thrift store/’job training center’ Goodwill shutdown 26 stores and donation centers in Toronto, Canada, apparently with no warning!  The Ontario Great Lakes Goodwill regional office claims the shutdowns are part of their plan to  remain “financially very strong and on a path of growth and prosperity.”  In other words they’re preparing for the economy to get worse!

Michigan:  New York based clothier Aeropostale shutting down their Mall of Monroe store by the end of the month.  Aeropostale has shutdown hundreds of stores since 2014 and recently said they will eliminate 1-hundred corporate level jobs.

Missouri:  In Saint Louis, after almost 20 years Harry’s Bar & Restaurant shutting down by the end of the month.  It’s starting to sound like city re-development projects are killing off local businesses: “It’s the economy, the highway closing, Ballpark Village. Downtown is just a dead area right now….nobody is talking about it. Iconic places are going out of business, and nobody cares.  Ballpark Village was the nail in the coffin. It shut down Washington Avenue and took 70% of our business.”-Tim Pieri, co-owner

New York: In Saugerties the McDonald’s junk food joint on 8 Manor Lane shutting down by the end of the month, the owner saying “It’s a business decisions…”, revealing that even when the restaurant was “making money” it was considered “under-performing”!

Ohio: With no warning Columbus based chain restaurant Max & Erma’s shutdown 13 operations in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana, hundreds now jobless!  Corporate administrators said they have to “streamline” operations due to the economy.  Overwhelmingly employees say they’re shocked that their employer could shutdown overnight, (I’ve been there experienced that several times, so welcome to reality. Now try living with so many of your peers not believing that your former employer could lay you off with no warning, your employed peers always think you did something wrong! It’s amazing what the working class takes for granted, oh the power of false belief.).

Pennsylvania:  After more than three years Marty’s Market shutdown without warning, the owners saying only “We have had to make the extremely difficult decision to close…” 

Rhode Island:  More trouble for video games.  A state investigation into former Major League Baseball player Curt Schilling’s video game company 38 Studios could result in a criminal case.  38 Studios went mysteriously bankrupt and shutdown a few months after releasing it’s only video game (the game was considered a success and sold well).  The problem is that 38 Studios was partially funded with millions in state taxpayer loans, which were never paid back.

Virginia: France based nuclear power plant operator Areva laid off 50 people in Lynchburg, and another 40 at nuclear operations around the U.S.   Local news reports say since 2014 Areva has eliminated 3-hundred jobs in Luynchburg.

West Virginia: After announcing that it had suffered a 13% drop in revenue in 2015, Florida based railroad company CSX announced it will shutdown its Huntington operations, 121 jobs affected!  The work will be spread out among other CSX depots.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

17 January 2016: “we have nothing left…financially, emotionally or physically.”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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 nothing left…financially, emotionally or physically.” Consumer spending falls in 2015! Execs get bonuses for killing jobs! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 17 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Jamaica, a member country of the West Indies Federation, is reporting that the unAmerican corporate America hospitality industry will hire 3-thousand Jamaicans in 2016, that’s a 50% increase from 2015!  The majority of Jamaicans are working in the U.S. states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Michigan.

Arkansas: Bentonville based economic canary in the coal mine Walmart began shutting down 154 U.S. stores on 17 January 2016, at least 10-thousand U.S. jobs lost!   (here’s the list)

California:  Cupertino based Apple is hurting for cash so much that it will now charge you to listen to ad plastered iTunes Radio in the U.S.   Here’s a fine example of why it’s not worth it to do business in The Golden State: The city of Palo Alto is demanding the family owners of Buena Vista mobile home park pay an $8-million USD fine for wanting to shutdown their money losing operation:  “The city says the money is needed so that the tenants can get expensive alternative housing in the area; in effect, the city is holding the Jissers uniquely responsible for solving the city’s severe housing affordability problem. That’s not just wrong, it’s unconstitutional.   …..The city’s motion to dismiss doesn’t deny that the city is commanding a payment of $8 million…It just says the case shouldn’t be heard by a judge….. -Larry Salzman, Pacific Legal Foundation

Hawaii:  Kahului Trucking & Storage laying off drivers as a result of the sudden shutdown of The Aloha State’s last sugar farm.

Idaho:  A new study by the United Way shows 37% of Idahoans are in poverty and employed!  Specifically, 37% of Idahoans are now classified as working poor, or Asset Limited-Income Constrained-Employed (aka ALICE).  The United Way says even with the piddly-ass social services Idahoans cannot afford to buy basic necessities!   And for more proof Right to Work only Works You Over keep reading.Governor Butch Otter wants a third mental health crisis center built in The Gem State.  Between 2014-15 eastern and northern Idaho got one each, and now Otter wants one in southern Idaho.  ‘Lawmakers’ and even local sheriffs praise the crisis centers but don’t give examples of why they’re so good.  The centers are meant to temporarily house people having mental health or drug abuse problems, instead of putting them in county jails.  The fact that sheriffs are praising them, and the governor wants to spend another $1.72-million building another one, indicates a huge need, that a lot of Idahoans are having trouble dealing with their Right to Work (you over) circumstances, yet Right to Work officials don’t want to admit it.     The city owned utility Idaho Falls Power is about to take over part of Rocky Mountain Power’s turf.  If the state Public Utilities Commission approves Rocky Mountain Power will transfer poles, conductors and conduits around the Fielding Cemetery property to the control of taxpayers of the city of Idaho Falls, for the price of  $50-thousand USD.   Even God couldn’t stop a Christian student from ripping off the Mormon Brigham Young University-Idaho of $6-thousand 2-hundred, using a university credit card.  Of course that ‘christian’ student wasn’t very smart because you can trace credit card transactions, and that’s how he got caught.

Kentucky:  ISO copper wire maker Belden shutting down their factory in Monticello, 260 jobs being lost to the state of Indiana and to the country of Mexico, between now and the beginning of next year!

Louisiana: In Opelousas, dancehall Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki shutdown after 69 years.  The property is now for sale.  The family owners blame young people and today’s greedy spoiled bands: “They don’t look at the overhead you have, the utilities and things like that. They tell me, ‘We’ll take the door.’ They’ll start off charging at $10, then $15 and $20. By midnight, they’ll have a packed house. They’ll put the money in their pockets and go home. Then you have all the stress of what the night crowd destroyed and what you have to fix. It got to where we weren’t hardly making any more money.”

Missouri:  Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood shutting down their 30 years old downtown Saint Louis location,  claiming it will help them focus on “franchise expansion”.

Montana: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission records reveal that five executives of Stillwater Mining got paid the equivalent of millions of dollars in bonuses less than five months after they eliminated 120 jobs!  The bonuses were paid in the form of stocks in the company.  Company administrators refused to comment when questioned by local news media.

New Hampshire:  In Bath, The Brick Store (one of the oldest general stores in the U.S.) shutting down “due to changes in the economy”.  The owners, Mike and Nancy Lusby, added “We did our best, but we have exhausted our resources, and lost Mike’s pension. We have done everything we can for 24 years to save the store, but we have nothing left to give … financially, emotionally or physically.”

New Jersey:  God refuses to stop the shutdown of his Mother Teresa Catholic School, in June.  Enrollment is down below 1-hundred students.    For more proof the economy has not recovered, a major shipping company, which services retailers like Disney Store and Amazon.com, Elizabeth based EZ Worldwide Express is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to crashing shipment orders!   The company even invested $12-million USD into new trucks, but now the 7-hundred employees are threatened with unemployment!  With the massive retail store shutdowns now taking place across the U.S. you can expect even more shipping companies to go bust.

Ohio:  Researchers at Ohio State University have proven that an ‘Amazon Tax’ killed internet holiday sales in 2015.   They determined that sales on Amazon.com dropped an average of 8.3% in states that implemented taxes on internet purchases.  The Washington Post article said sales declines increased as the price of the item went up: “The Amazon Tax had an especially chilling effect on big-ticket purchases that totaled more than $250, the study found. On these transactions, Amazon sales declined 11.4 percent once the tax was put in place.”      U.S. Department of Energy awarded a contract potentially valued at $139.7-million USD to a company in Idaho, to provide infrastructure support services at the radioactive Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, in Piketon.  Interestingly the Idaho Falls, Idaho, based company is called Portsmouth Mission Alliance.  In Toledo, Laffs comedy club shutdown just short of the two year mark. The club’s operations manager said “…the turnout was not quite where we needed it to be.”

Pennsylvania: In Moosic, controversial adult outdoor movie theater Oak Hill Drive-In shutdown because they couldn’t afford to upgrade to digital.

Tennessee:  Jerky maker Oberto shutting down its two years old Nashville meat factory despite promising to create 310 jobs and getting almost $2-million in taxpayer funds and grants (not tax breaks, outright cash!).  State ‘lawmakers’ swear they’ll go after the jerky maker for a refund of the tax funding.  The Nashville factory never got above 82 employees, despite Oberto’s promise.  See more below in -Washington-.   Here’s what Karl Dean, the now former mayor of Nashville, said back in 2012: “Oberto’s decision to locate a plant in Nashville speaks to the vitality of our city and the talent of our workforce. I’m especially pleased that Oberto will be bringing an existing facility back to life. Filling vacant buildings in and around our urban core is important to the strength and future of our city.”   

Washington:  Kent based mass produced jerky maker Oberto announced it will shutdown its two years old meat factory in Tennessee (well, the factory is two years old, I don’t know about the meat) and sell-off a meat factory in Oregon!   The suck-ass economy is forcing Oberto to consolidate jerky treat making to its Washington ops.

Washington DC: Wonder what’s up with all the massive retail store shutdowns?  The Department of Commerce released consumer spending numbers for 2015 and overall spending fell from 2014, and is on its way to 2008-09 levels!  Even 2015 holiday sales flatlined!   Of course the self exalted ‘expert’ analysts on TV still claim that consumers are just “holding onto their money”.   I can tell you why I didn’t spend any money in 2015 on gifts or ‘extras’, same reason as the prior two years I don’t have any extra money to spend, I’m actually borrowing money to pay utilities gottdamn it!

Wisconsin:  Retail packaging company Sealed Air shutting down their Mount Pleasant office, 74 jobs lost.  It’s part of their plans, announced back in 2014, to move 3-hundred jobs out of The Badger State!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

16 January 2016: Wells Fargo home foreclosures funding bad oil industry debts? 

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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

Great Lakes tonnage down by 9-million! Wells Fargo home foreclosures covering bad oil industry debts? Walmart fallout already killing other businesses! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 16 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Journal Boating Industry reports “Both the unemployment rate and the number of job openings have remained essentially unchanged month-over-month, and yearly gains are starting to flatten.”  Thom Dammrich, of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, reported mixed news for the boating industry as a whole, going into 2016:  “Fuel prices remain low. Interest rates remain low. There’s nothing negative happening to adversely affect boat sales in the coming year that we can see today……The saltwater category has been growing in double digits…..” but he had a warning “We still are not getting entry-level boaters and that’s who buys these boats. That seems to be who’s missing from this equation.”

Alabama: Birmingham based Regions Bank announced the elimination of 260 jobs!  

Arkansas: Oil pipe maker Tenaris laid off 1-hundred people, blaming the crashing-n-burning oil industry!

Arizona: Days after non-profit Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) boasted that it was responsible for creating  jobs in the Phoenix area, several former employees came forth and essentially said ‘bull-shit!’ as they were part of a round of unreported TGen layoffs in October!  A reporter, who just happens to live next door to one of those laid off, did some research and discovered that TGen laid off 12 people and eliminated four vacant positions by the end of 2015. Industry reports say mining company Freeport-McMoRan has begun to layoff at least 8-hundred people at its Green Valley molybdenum Sierrita Mine!  In December a co-founder of the company resigned, after vulture capitalist investor Carl Icahn gained a controlling stake in the company (Icahn is the same guy who recently took over auto parts store Pep Boys).

California:  San Francisco based Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo continues to kill jobs, this time 121 tech jobs across the country!  It’s been revealed that Wells Fargo is actually covering the bad loans of huge oil companies (by literally throwing money at them), this should piss you off because Wells Fargo (a major mortgage company) does not hesitate to foreclose on homeowners!  (Mmmm, is it a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul?)   More proof you can’t blame the internet for brick-n-mortar destruction, dating website Zoosk laid off 40 employees.  In Venice, Superba Snack Bar shutting down at the end of the month.   In Tulare,  a class action lawsuit against Jan & Gail’s Care Homes (“Care Homes”) said newly hired employees were forced to sign an agreement waiving their right to uninterrupted meal periods without notifying employees of their right to revoke the agreement at any time.  However, the trial court ruled subdivision 11(E) of Wage Order 5 allows residential care facilities to force their employees to work on-duty meal periods!  

Florida:   In Lake City, Sitel Operating Corporation issued a WARN saying 94 people will be laid off in March.

Idaho: State Department of Health and Welfare hit with lawsuit accusing the Right to Work (you over) agency of hiding the changes in Medicaid healthcare costs for people who face being institutionalized.  The lawsuit accuses the state administrators of pretending that costs will not go up by being placed in a nursing home or hospital, and, of not informing patients of their rights.  This lawsuit comes as state ‘lawmakers’ claimed their version of ObamaCare was saving money!

Kansas: Besides the nine Walmart stores shutting down within The Sunflower State, the QuickTrip fuel station on 13th and Oliver, in Wichita, shutting down after 25 years.  It’s directly and immediately blamed on the shutdowns of nearby Walmarts: “We didn’t know it was going to be affected as dramatically as it has.The other store has suffered much quicker than we anticipated. We’ve been watching it for a while, and we could see that, unfortunately, the sales continue to decline.”-Mike Thornbrugh, QuickTrip

Michigan:  A great indicator of a good, or bad, economy are the lock systems used by shipping around The Great Lakes.   Soo Locks reports shipping for 2015 was down 10%, actual cargo tonnage down 9-million U.S. tons!    California based direct selling company ViSalus is eliminating 87 jobs in Troy by March, officially because their sales have crashed (down 44% in 2013), but it might also have something to do with lawsuits accusing the company of being yet another pyramid scheme.

Minnesota: Sears Holdings shutting down the Dundas Kmart by April, 32 jobs lost.   In Minneapolis, popular Nye’s Polonaise Room shutting down in April because property developers want to build a 29 story apartment complex in its place.

New York:  American Rock Salt laid off 17 employees blaming the unusually warm winter weather in The Empire State.   Cumberland Packing officially issued a shutdown WARN for their Brooklyn Naval Yard Sweet-n-Low ops, 335 jobs lost between May and December!  What automotive industry recovery?  In Plattsburgh, British empire Canada based bus maker Prevost Car issued a shutdown WARN, at least 55 jobs lost in April.  In Schenectady, Granite Services lost their contract with GE Power, 41 jobs lost by March.  NYC based MTV laid off an undisclosed number of people, as reported by those who were laid off.

Ohio: Florida based upscale Ruth’s Chris Steak House shutting down their 17 years old Columbus location in February “due to changing marketplace dynamics”, possibly referring to increased rent.

Oklahoma:  Inola Public Schools laid off four people and literally turned down the lights due to lack of money.  Administrators warn of more cuts.

Texas:  Sears Holdings shutting down the Longview Kmart in April, 60 jobs lost.

Virginia:  After boosting production and bringing new jobs to the area in 2015, Poland based Korona Candles laid off an undisclosed number of people, and reduced hours for employees, claiming it’s a normal seasonal thing.

Washington DC: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the number of people finding work as information security analysts (cybersecurity) is steadily growing, yet it’s still not enough to meet demand.  Apparently the concept of cybersecurity is too vague, mysterious, or even sinister, for many people trying to figure out what type of career they’re interested in.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

15 January 2016: The U.S. economy “…has gone the way of the Dodo Bird.” 

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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.”