Category Archives: Idaho

Business/Economics, Idaho

“an industry-wide slowdown…throughout North America” ObamaCare kills additional 1,400+ jobs! California property manager kills 1-thousand jobs! Shopko kills hundreds of jobs! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 28 – 29 October 2015

Germany’s Deutsche Bank eliminating 35-thousand jobs globally, including within the United States!

Failed State Alabama: What automotive industry recovery?  Vehicle interior maker Faurecia announced it will shutdown its Tuscaloosa factory, at least 132 jobs lost before Xmas!

Not anymore!

California: What home construction industry recovery?  In Van Nuys Danmer Custom Shutters revealed they were eliminating 70 jobs right before Xmas.  Marvell Semiconductor revealed they will layoff 21 people right before Xmas. Bridgepoint Education laying off four San Diegans right before Xmas.  Microsoft laying off four San Diegans right before Xmas.  In Palo Alto, Hewlett Packard (HP) just can’t stop with the layoffs, an additional 65 jobs eliminated last week.  What property management recovery?  In Laguna Woods, Professional Community Management eliminating 968 jobs just three days before Xmas, due to sudden loss of contract!    In San Francisco, DD Traders laying off 18 employees on New Year’s Eve.  In Saint Helena, it was revealed just how many people work at the 28 years old Tra Vigne restaurant; 136! Their lease was not renewed, they will shutdown five days before Xmas.   Napa City Winery shutting down on New Year’s Day, 37 jobs lost.  In Los Angeles, Hersha Hospitality Management shutting down before Xmas, 71 jobs lost (they claim it’s temporary).  What housing market recovery? Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo shutting down their Santa Ana mortgage office right before Xmas, 65 jobs lost.

Connecticut: In Danbury, United Technologies Corporation Aerospace laid off 35 people. In Avon, after two years Boyles Furniture & Rugs shutting down when everything is sold.  Administrators admitted they got an offer for the property that’s worth more than what they’ve been getting in sales!

Delaware: Wilmington based chemical company Chemours warning of mass layoffs because the suck-ass economy is forcing them to cut $350-million USD in expenses by 2017!

Florida: In Orlando, drugs pusher Nephron Pharmaceuticals issued a WARN saying 4-hundred people will become jobless by 15 January 2016!

Georgia:  Restaurant chain Christophe’s To Go shutdown their stores in Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs: “We ran into many challenges, but at the end of the day our biggest challenge was that we could not maintain enough sales to make the model viable.”

Idaho: Shopko issued a shutdown WARN for their East Gowen Road, Boise, store.  148 jobs lost on New Year’s Day!

Failed State Illinois: Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) medical device tax (and crashing profits) forcing medical device maker Baxter International to eliminate 1-thousand 4-hundred jobs!  In Chicago, Motorola Solutions killing 2-hundred jobs as part of their reorganization (downsizing)!   Fox Valley Country Club shutdown.

Indiana:  Valley National Bank shutting down 15 more offices, on top of the 13 already shutdown!

Kansas: UMB Financial announced they will eliminate an undisclosed number of jobs well into 2016.

Main: After 24 years Riverbooks shutdown.  

Maryland: Carroll County Public Schools wants to shutdown three schools by 2017, due to crashing enrollment.

Failed State Michigan: Mercantile Bank announced it will shutdown at least five offices.

Minnesota:  Minneapolis based food giant General Mills announced they’re shutting down operations in British empire United Kingdom and New Zealand! Local news reports that General Mills has already eliminated at least 2-thousand 5-hundred jobs due to stagnant frozen food sales! 

Nebraska: Sidney based outdoor store Cabela’s laid off 70 administrators. 

Failed State New Jersey: Monmouth County issued a WARN saying 235 people will become jobless by New Year’s Eve!  In Vineland, ObamaCare forcing Bishop McCarthy Residence to eliminate 50 jobs after Thanksgiving.  In Pleasantville, ObamaCare forcing Our Lady’s Residence to eliminate 50 jobs after Thanksgiving.  In Cherry Hill, ObamaCare forcing Saint Mary’s Catholic Home to eliminate 50 jobs after Thanksgiving.

Failed State New York: GE (General Electric) issued a shutdown WARN for their Fort Edward ops, 127 jobs lost by the end of January 2016!  Sachem School District (the largest school district in New York by population) announced it must shutdown three schools due to no money!

North Carolina: In Charlotte, Too Big to Jail Bank of America eliminating an additional 1-hundred mortgage jobs!  Local news reports say Bank of Failed State America has eliminated more than 68-thousand 8-hundred jobs since 2010! 

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, 105 years old (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) upscale retailer Miss Jackson’s shutting down in January 2016.  No official reason given, but word is that the store for rich people is no longer “sustainable”.

Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing shutting down by New Year’s Eve, 108 jobs lost!  Texas based oil service company Halliburton eliminated 22 jobs in Carmichaels.  The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia eliminating 47 jobs by New Year’s Day.  In Erie, GE Transportation warning of mass layoffs, even shutdown of their train factory, due to a sudden and huge crash in orders from the railroad industry.  5-hundred jobs could be lost!  In Lititz, food giant Cargill announced it will shutdown the Wilbur Chocolate factory, 130 jobs lost!  Cargill is consolidating ops, just like the rest of unAmerican corporate ‘merica!

Texas: What automotive industry recovery?  Denton based truck maker Peterbuilt announced an undisclosed number of layoffs blaming “…an industry-wide slowdown in truck orders throughout North America…”  The layoffs come right after the city of Denton approved $822-thousand USD in tax breaks for Peterbuilt!  The U.S. Postal Service is shutting down the Grangerland Post Office after Xmas.

Washington DC: U.S. Department of Commerce reports the U.S. economy is stagnating at 1.5% (anything below 3% is stagnation, not “growth” as the mainstream newsies claim).

Wisconsin: State employment administrators got a WARN from the contractor running the Shopko distribution center in De Pere saying 247 jobs could be lost!  Administrators with Shopko actually told local news they knew nothing about it!  Supposedly the contractor is Spectrum Supply Chain Solutions.

24-27 October 2015: Idaho’s “death by poverty.”

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

Idaho’s “death by poverty.” “…markets have been weak…and are worsening.” Willkommen zu Amerika, Hündin! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 24 – 27 October 2015

California: In Oakland, Svenhard’s Swedish Bakery shutting down after Thanksgiving, 168 jobs lost!   In Gardena, Apro Distribution shutting down after Thanksgiving, 61 jobs lost.  In Irwindale, Southern California Edison eliminating 32 jobs right after Thanksgiving.  Too Big to Jail British empire Barclays eliminating 35 jobs right after Xmas.  In Thousand Oaks, tax-sucker General Dynamics eliminating 55 jobs right after Thanksgiving.  Audio electronics maker Western Digital eliminating 111 jobs right before Xmas!  TTM Technologies shutdown with short notice, 175 jobs lost in Milpitas!  In Santa Ana, Zenith Education laying off 48 people after Thanksgiving.  In Poway, Rockwell Collins laying off 29 people before Xmas.  Twitter issued a layoff WARN, 240 people in San Francisco losing their jobs before Xmas! In Eastvale, GENCO laying off 68 people before Xmas.  Tax-sucker Boeing eliminating 222 jobs between Thanksgiving and Xmas!  What housing market recovery?  Ontario (California) based First Mortgage ceased to exist, news reports say the lender actually stopped issuing home loans back in July!

Colorado: Longmont’s Front Range Community College shutting down its nursing program!  For the 2017-18 school year the program is being consolidated to other campuses, apparently due to the construction of a new hospital.

Georgia: In Emory, after 70 years Evans Fine Food shutdown.

Idaho: Hungry people have increased in The Gem State as demonstrated by the fact that the Idaho Foodbank Fund (funded by donations from taxpayers) has supported seven more local food banks than last year!  The evil Right to Work (you over) ‘lawmakers’ made it harder to qualify for federally funded food aid (aka SNAP or food stamps), but created a local taxpayer supported Idaho Foodbank Fund.  Since then evil pro-government weenie heads pointed to the resulting drop in food stamp (SNAP) distributions as proof Idahoans weren’t going hungry! I wonder what those Right to Work (you over) ‘elected’ lawmakers are doing with that federal food stamp funding?   Idaho’s version of ObamaCare has directly caused a death. Jenny Steinke died in Idaho Falls,  her husband Jason had just gotten insurance, but it didn’t go into effect until 01 September, the very day Jenny suffocated to death due to her asthma.  Jason stated that ObamaCare is “just not affordable” and bemoaned his wife’s death “I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.”  Jason’s mother Cella describes Idaho’s version of ObamaCare as nothing more than “death by poverty.”

Failed State Illinois: Despite record number of local layoffs the desperate non-profit charity United Way is begging cash strapped residents for at least $11-million USD!  So far they’ve raised $8.8-million, that’s less than last year.

Indiana: Columbus based diesel engine maker Cummins announced it must eliminate 2-thousand jobs before the end of the year!  CEO Tom Linebarger says there ain’t no gott-damned economic recovery: “We are taking difficult but necessary actions to lower costs in the face of weak demand in many of our markets. Global off highway and power generation markets have been weak for some time and are worsening.”

Kentucky:  Lexington based bed maker Tempur Sealy eliminated jobs across the country, saying it’s necessary to remain competitive in the long run (in other words no economic recovery is taking place).

Main: Paper maker Verso Mills submitted an official WARN saying 3-hundred people will become jobless right before Xmas!   They’ve already shutdown mill #2, blaming crashing sales.

Failed State Michigan: Midland based lithium ion battery maker XALT laid off another 106 employees (35 in September) blaming the failure of its Chinese customer who so far hasn’t been buying all the batteries it ordered back in March.  This is what happens there’s only one global customer with the money to buy your product, and their economy starts crashing.

Minnesota: South Central College eliminating five jobs.  Even with a piddly reduction in tuition college administrators expect enrollment to decline by 3.5%.

Missouri:  Saint Louis based evil Monsanto announced more layoffs, shutting down three research centers across the U.S., about 90 evil jobs lost.  In Columbia, industrial supplier Grainer shutting down the day before Thanksgiving.  In Springfield, the false God refused to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 25 years old CPO Christian Discount Store: “Each year has become increasingly more challenging. Although we have made many changes and adjustments to our store, sales have been on a steady decline for many years.”–Bruce Erdel, owner

Montana: Great Falls based restaurant chain Shoot the Moon Grill now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Customers got suspicious when restaurants started shutting down, posting signs that read “closed due to flooding”. 

New Jersey: The false God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Our Lady of the Assumption church in Bayonne, even though it supposedly has 1-thousand 7-hundred families as members, and despite reports that the local population is actually growing!

New York:  Insurance company POMCO laid off yet more employees, this time 18 on top of the 50 last month.  In Pekin, after 40 years restaurant Schimschacks shutdown.  In West Village, after 30 years Empire Szechuan Village restaurant shutdown because the landlord wanted to jack the rent from $5-thousand per month to $25-thousand!  Who’s really to blame for the crashing and burning?

Ohio: Global food company Manitowoc suddenly announced they are shutting down their Cleveland ops and leaving 274 people out in the cold by April 2016!  Like the rest of unAmerican corporate Amerika Mantiwoc is consolidating production.  Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act forcing Gallipolis based Holzer Health System to eliminate 1-hundred jobs in Ohio and West Virginia!  Administrators directly blamed ObamaCare saying it “resulted in dramatic change in healthcare service delivery models.”  They also stated that ObamaCare is actually doing the reverse of what it promised, it’s actually preventing people from getting healthcare!

South Dakota: In Sturgis, the Whitewood Campground and Event Center now bankrupt busted and shutdown.

Tennessee: After 15 years Vaudeville Cafe shutdown due to “financial burdens”.

Texas:  12 Del Taco restaurants shutting down in the Dallas/Fort Worth metro, 218 jobs gone before Xmas!  Administrators said “Del Taco has made this decision for financial reasons.”, however the real reason is the company has a new owner from the Failed State of Illinois (Larry Levy) and he’s crashing and burning the burrito joint.

Despite being abandoned by their false god they still ask him to bless you. Perhaps it’s really a curse? Willkommen zu Amerika, Hündin!  Hey, I can be a jerk if you can choose to remain blind! I’m constantly on the verge of being homeless myself, so screw you Amerika!

Washington DC:  U.S. Department of Commerce confirms the new home market bubble is bursting.  Home sales are still below the 52 year average.  In September: A drop in sales of 11.5% overall since last month, but a huge 61.8% crash in the northeast of the U.S.!  

Wisconsin: Middleton Sports & Fitness shutting down right before Xmas.

23 October 2015:“I lost, they won.” Banks & illegal drugs cause illegal immigration to U.S.!

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 lost, they won.” Banks & illegal drugs cause illegal immigration to U.S.! Major restaurant chain being dumped, too much debt & mysterious fires! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 23 October 2015

God’s immigrant help NGO Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People is warning of increased illegal immigration to the United States caused by the crashing & burning of the Honduran economy.  It’s partly blamed on a crackdown on illegal drug trafficking which has revealed even multi-national corporations and the government are involved, like Jaime Rolando Rosenthal Oliva owned Grupo Continental-Continental Bank.  Of Romanian ancestry Rosenthal Olivia got his business and civil engineering degrees from MIT in the U.S. (just like so many other evil people)!  The latest layoffs involve 7-thousand government employees!  At least 1.5-million Hondurans are currently unemployed and more layoffs are expected. (that’s equivalent to the entire population of the U.S. state of Idaho, which is much larger geographically, by almost double the square miles)  (Obama orders new War on Drugs targeting legal prescription drug users & his own ObamaCare!)

Italy based drugs maker Perrigo eliminating 8-hundred jobs and selling off its U.S. Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements division!

Failed State Alabama: The city of Bayou La Batre laid off six employees without warning.  The city is in the financial hole by at least $750-thousand USD.

California: In Saint Helena, after 28 years Tra Vigne restaurant shutting down right before Xmas, the lease was not renewed.

Florida: Tampa based restaurant chain owner Bloomin’ Brands is in trouble (as usual), but so much so this time that investor analyst Zacks has told shareholders to dump their stocks in the corporation.  Stocks of Bloomin’ Brands downgraded to Sell status, the company failed to show any significant increase in revenues in its last report but is still considered to have too much debt.  The debt is probably from all the new restaurants Bloomin’ Brands has opened in the past year.  The food corporation controls restaurant chains known as Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, and Roy’s.  Interesting side note, several of Bloomin’ Brands restaurants have suffered fires this year; the Outback Steakhouse at the Meridian Crossroads plaza in Meridian, Idaho (blamed on corroded gas line).  Then two months later another Meridian, Idaho, Outback Steakhouse caught fire, this time at the Bonita Crossroads Shopping Center, firefighters said it “seemed to be electrical”.  The Carrabba’s in Suntree, Florida, caught fire last week with initial reports saying the fire started on the roof around an air conditioning unit.  In June, the West Springfield, Massachusetts, Carrabba’s caught fire twice, first initial reports said the fire somehow started in between the metal and rubberized roofing materials around a vent fan, then the next morning the kitchen caught on fire!  It’s not just fires, the Richland, Washington, Bonefish Grill was vandalized with a blowtorch in June.

ISU located in Pocatello, Idaho, lost 671 students since last year!

Idaho: Yet again, Idaho State University reports crashing enrolment (what I call the Disappearing Students Syndrome affecting schools across the U.S.).   This year’s admission (as in they’re admitting they lost students, because in recent years past they lied and said enrollment was up) stated that they lost 671 students compared to Fall 2014!

Failed State Illinois:  Peoria based Caterpillar bribed 2-thousand 1-hundred employees to take early retirement!    In Aurora, after less than a year the massive Cosmopolitan Marketplace grocery store shutting down!  The shutdown was revealed by signs that read “All Sales Final”.  A local alderman blames the shutdown on lack of sales.  In Danville, after eight years consignment store Kid’s Kloset shutting down when the inventory is gone.

Iowa:  In Keokuk, after 88 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Johnson-Schmidt Menswear shutting down as soon as the inventory is gone,  because the owner says he can’t eat it “Because it doesn’t taste good with salt and pepper”.

Kansas: Cell phone company Sprint is eliminating jobs, but now it says it doesn’t have the money to cover the two weeks of severance originally promised.  As a result they will cut it down to one week of severance for all layoff notifications made after January 2016.  After 16 years E.G. Geller shutting down their Country Club Plaza shoe store in January 2016, blaming crashing sales caused by most of the Plaza’s tenants shutting down.

Maryland: After 32 years The Yule Cupboard shutting down before Thanksgiving, blaming “…a smaller clientele. Today’s retail world is so different. We realize that you have to have an online presence basically, and I’m not willing to do that. We’re just too hands-on. We buy what we see, we don’t buy from a catalog…”  In Cross Keys, after 40 years the Jones & Jones boutique shutting down by December.

Massachusetts: Boston Weak based evil holding company State Street warned of layoffs due to flat profits and declining assets (running out of cash).

Failed State Michigan: What automotive industry recovery?  General Motors (GM) eliminating another 5-hundred jobs as it shuts down its 2nd shift in the Orion Assembly factory!  GM administrators say they must “align” their production to meet demand.  The city of Detroit has already eliminated 1-thousand 1-hundred water department employees and now news reports say another 1-hundred will be let go!  In Kalamazoo, after 50 years Wayside West sports bar shutdown.  Local news reports blame a shooting that happened last year, but in reality the property was sold-off.

Minnesota: After 115 years God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ First Presbyterian Church in Wilmont.  The Rapture has resulted in 12 members being Left Behind.

Nebraska: In Omaha, God refuses to stop ObamaCare from forcing Catholic Health Initiatives from eliminating 60 jobs.

New York:  Premier Laser Spa of Albany now chapter 11 bankrupt, local news reports say the company hasn’t been able to pay its advertising debts.  TD Bank revealed it will shutdown its Glens Falls office. The dumb administrators opened too many offices too close together.

Oklahoma:  Halliburton killing more jobs in The Sooner State.  In Duncan, 30 former Halliburton employees reported to the local unemployment office on Friday, that’s how the layoffs were discovered.

Oregon: In Prineville, Woodgrain Mill shutting down 55 remaining jobs lost.  The mill has been struggling since last year’s roof collapse, which forced 2-hundred people out of work!   

Pennsylvania: State budget cuts forcing pre-Kindergarten programs to shutdown.  Local news reports say some pre-K operations are trying to stay open by asking employees to work for free!  In Jim Thorpe, after surviving The Great Depression Dugan’s General Store cannot handle this so called ‘recovery’ from The Great Recession and will shutdown.  News reports revealed the current owners have been floating the store using lottery winnings they won back in 2000!

Rhode Island: Bankrupt busted City Sports shutting down their Providence store at the end of the month due to crashing sales.  It’s the eighth City Sports store to shutdown.

South Carolina:  ObamaCare killing off yet another affordable insurance co-op, this time it’s non-profit Consumers’ Choice Health Insurance being forced to shutdown, leaving 67-thousand customers without affordable insurance!

Texas:  Retailer JCPenney eliminated another 3-hundred jobs at its Plano HQ!  In Victoria, a Subway sandwich shop on Main and Constitution streets shutdown.

Zions Bank branch in Pocatello, Idaho.

Zions Bank branch in Pocatello, Idaho.

Utah: Mormon Zions Bank reported what they think is good news, they’ve increased loans to small businesses in Idaho (71% increase) and Utah (29% increase).  Here’s why it’s bad news; those loans are to help companies make payroll, in other words companies still can’t generate enough revenue to pay their employees with cash.   Zions Bank administrators claim their debt financing of regional businesses created more than 5-hundred jobs!  Jobs created by pure debt is not a good thing, debt financing of things like payroll is one of the main reasons Corporate America is in such financial trouble.  In Cottonwood Heights, police are being blamed for the shutdown of the 25 years old Canyon Inn.   The owner said he’s tired of cops intimidating his customers into staying away: “I lost, they won.”-Jim Stojack

Washington DC:  JUST A FEW OF THE POTENTIAL JOB LOSSES DUE TO PROPOSED 2017 MILITARY BASE SHUTDOWNS  

20 – 22 October 2015: “…an absolute nightmare!”

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

“…an absolute nightmare!” 9,000+ new layoffs! Small town Soda Springs hit with big time layoffs, Idaho Dept. of Labor sits on WARN notice! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 20 – 22 October 2015

Texas founded but Ireland based oil service company Weatherford International just jacked up the number of their layoffs (again) by 3-thousand! Reports say 11-thousand people have already become jobless, now the ‘planned’ total will hit 14-thousand before the end of 2015! Most of those jobs were in Canada and United States.

California: What housing market recovery?  Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo announced 6-hundred additional job cuts to its countrywide mortgage ops, blaming declining demand for mortgage services!  The grocery chain store known as Fresh & Easy is now being shutdown by its current owners Yucaipa Companies, which is known for chopping up and selling off businesses (Mormon Mitt Romney style).  The shutdown of 97 grocery stores will result in 3-thousand people across the U.S. desert southwest becoming jobless starting now!  Yucaipa has been trying to sell the grocery chain but nobody is interested in buying.

Colorado: Another Great Harvest Bread store shuts down, this time in Montrose.

Connecticut:  In Stamford, Too Big to Jail British empire RBS eliminating an additional 64 jobs to the 186 layoffs currently underway!

Florida: Affordable Care Act forcing ResCare to layoff 79 employees in Homestead before Thanksgiving.   After 42 years the WACO gift shop shutdown in Marianna.

Iconic geyser of Soda Springs, Idaho, population about 3,000. They just lost 100 jobs!

Idaho: What construction industry recovery?  The small southeast Idaho town of Soda Springs got hit with at least 1-hundred layoffs when apparently Mark III Plant Construction shutdown! I could not find any local news reports about it, I only found the WARN notice conspicuously publicly posted by the state Department of Labor after the fact (about 20 October, the layoffs took place on 11 October), even though they got the notice back at the beginning of September!   Another WARN that Dept. of Labor dragged its feet on publicly posting is architecture, design, engineering, and construction company AECOM laying off 85 people in Boise right before Thanksgiving.  Depart. of Labor got the WARN on 21 September, but just posted it to their website this week!  Last year AECOM merged with rival URS.

Indiana:  Food maker Sonoco shutting down their New Albany dough packaging plant by August 2016, at least 76 jobs lost.  In Evansville, Penny Lane Coffeehouse shutdown, the owner blamed ongoing construction that’s blocking access to his shop: “Very, very frustrated, I don’t feel like we’ve gotten any support from the City of Evansville. We’ve had our entrances blocked, which I know is a fire hazard, it’s just been an absolute nightmare!”-Brian Bennett, owner

Iowa: In Ames, after 31 years The Ark pet store shutting down, the property has been sold.

Kentucky:  In Louisville, Fabulous Finds second hand store shutdown because “…we felt the time was right to focus on our other philanthropic endeavors to benefit Heuser.”

Louisiana: Oil industry company Frank’s International announced it will eliminate an additional 1-hundred jobs, on top of the 6-hundred they got rid of during the first half of the year!

Massachusetts:  Boston Weak based Cabot Corporation eliminating 3-hundred jobs blaming the not so recovered global economy!  Cambridge based drugs pusher Biogen eliminating 880 jobs, saying it needs to save $250-million per year!

Minnesota: Saint Paul based 3M announced they’re killing 1-thousand 5-hundred jobs due to crashing sales caused by global currency wars!   In 2012 I wrote how 3M execs warned there was no economic recovery taking place.

Mississippi: In Jackson, after 62 years Lamar Restaurant shutdown: “The last four to five years it has really gone down. People just aren’t eating as many plate lunches as they were…..They want what I call plastic food.”-Chris Grillis, owner

Missouri: Saint Louis based iconic beer maker Anheuser-Busch offshoring less than 40 U.S. jobs to India, blaming crashing sales in the United States.

New York:  Grocery store Drew’s Food issued a shutdown WARN for their Brooklyn 4511-8th Avenue store, 51 jobs lost in January 2016 because it’s not worth it to renew the lease due to skyrocketing rents.  That Which Cannot Be Named refuses to stop Affordable Care Act from forcing Jewish Board of Family and Children Services from shutting down their Hempstead Mental Health Clinic & Nassau County Care Coordination Programs, 72 jobs lost at the end of the year.  Hillstone Restaurant Group shutting down its Houston’s Restaurant in Garden City, 71 jobs lost after Xmas because it’s not worth it to renew the lease due to skyrocketing rents.  Too Big to Jail British empire Barclays issued a mass layoff WARN saying more than 3-hundred New Yorkers will begin losing their jobs right after Xmas!

Ohio: Vallourec Star eliminated an additional 1-hundred jobs in Youngstown, on top of the 60 jobs killed off back in July!  It’s blamed on ‘low’ oil prices.  The Bon Ton shutting down their Lima Mall Elder Beerman store by the end of January 2016.

Texas: County of Zapata warned there will be even more layoffs as the size of the County’s budget has gone from $22-million USD per year down to just $12-million in the past five years! Local news reports say the County has eliminated jobs every year for five years.  What construction industry recovery?  In Gregory layoffs hit a factory under construction.  12 people working on a Chinese owned pipe factory laid off by TPCO due to bad “market conditions”.  In Orange, Invista shutting down one of its factories and eliminating 110 jobs due to crashing demand in the United States!  The factory they will shutdown makes oil based ingredients for the clothing and plastics industries.  Harland Clarke Holdings issued a shutdown WARN for its San Antonio financial forms factory, 107 jobs lost!

Vermont: In Stowe, Phoenix Table and Bar shutdown due to lack of money: “Here’s what happened. A big undertaking with hard-working staff doing twice the work that was needed to keep it going; an off-season looming without much cash; an exhausted ownership that needed a breather. Sorry, everyone!”-Julie Pickett

Washington: In Renton, Graphic Packaging issued a shutdown WARN, 108 people jobless before Xmas!  Colorado based oil and gas engineering company CH2M made it official and issued a shutdown WARN for their Bellingham operations, 128 jobs lost before Xmas! After 126 years (surviving the great Depression and numerous recessions) Fairhaven Pharmacy shutdown, the owner Rob Johansen blamed ObamaCare saying “Financially it is almost impossible to run an independent pharmacy. It’s a frustrating field to be in right now.” Redmond based Microsoft just announced yet another round of mass job destruction, this time 1-thousand more people will join the already 25-thousand 8-hundred people who’ve lost their jobs due to Microsoft!

West Virginia:  The Bon Ton shutting down their Huntington Mall Elder Beerman store by the end of January 2016.

Wisconsin: Affordable Care Act medical device tax killing yet another medical device maker. Cardiac Science now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, 190 jobs threatened!  The company has failed to make payments on $80-million USD of debt.  Milwaukee based iconic Harley Davidson motorcycles in big trouble after big losses in global sales, 250 people will become jobless as a result!  God refuses to stop ObamaCare from forcing ‘his’ Ministry Health Care from eliminating 5-hundred jobs from their hospital system!  Administrators say the Affordable Care Act does not cover the actual costs of providing healthcare!  In Whitewater, grocery store Daniel’s Sentry shutting down after Xmas, 53 jobs lost.

18 – 19 October 2015:“Once again…been dealt a severe financial blow…”

U.S. Pay TV loses nearly half million customers in 3 months!

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.”

Idaho

SWAT cops shoot each other in Idaho, don’t blame lack of anti-gun laws!

22 October 2015 (16:35 UTC-07 Tango 01)/30 Mehr 1394/08 Muharram 1437/10 Bing-Xu (9th month) 4713

In Lewiston a fine example of idiocy by the city’s finest as two SWAT cops get shot in the police department’s basement!

Apparently the two cops were mishandling a gun when it went off, wounding both in the hands.  Were these guys actually fighting over the gun?  Local news reports suggest the ammo in the gun was being removed in preparation for gun cleaning, after a “training event”, but why does it take two cops to do that?

No amount of anti-gun laws, not even a total ban on private ownership, would have stopped this shooting.

SWAT = Special Weapons and Tactics

Business/Economics, Idaho

“Once again…been dealt a severe financial blow…” Idaho taxpayers pay extra for not making ObamaCare available for everybody! Major healthcare ObamaCare shutdowns! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 18 – 19 October 2015

California: San Luis Obispo losing yet another mom-n-pop,  after 25 years Bali’s Yogurt shutdown, the owners admitted they were shutting down sooner than they thought, due to increasing competition.  In Los Angeles, iconic Los Chavos Restaurant shutting down in November. Local news reports say the owner sold-out, and the buyer refuses to comment.

Connecticut:  ObamaCare forcing the state to cut Medicare, which in turn forcing Day Kimball Healthcare to eliminate 23 jobs: “Once again, our organization has been dealt a severe financial blow from the state that has far-reaching repercussions. We have no choice but to be proactive in cutting costs…”-Robert Smanik, president and CEO

Idaho: Kaiser Family Foundation study says Idaho is one of dozens of states keeping low income people from affordable ObamaCare (called the Coverage Gap), and that it’s actually costing taxpayers more money as a result, saying the cost of healthcare in The Gem State went up 6.9%!  

Washington based electricity supplier Avista has won a settlement that will result in electric rates going up for Idahoan customers of Avista starting in January 2016.    

Potato growers are warning of lower crop yields this year, even though acreage is way up.   Analysts say this year’s spud harvest will be below the five year average: “We’ve had some unusual weather this year. Some growers were hit by cold, some by heat and some had a lot of water. And with the water came late blight.”-Frank Muir, Idaho Potato Commission

Now for some good news (hopefully), a 20 year lease to create a large solar power project on the property of the Pocatello Airport has been approved.  It will be run by Energy Partners-Pocatello Solar One and will sell the electricity to Idaho Power.   

Indiana: In Gary, charter school Thea Bowman Leadership Academy laid off seven people due to what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome, which caused a drop in federal taxpayer funding.

Iowa: In Davenport, Hancock Fabrics shutdown due to the greedy landlord selling out to a greedy property developer.

Kansas:  After 17 years Robuck Jewelers shutdown because the owners can make more money off their property management business.  It’s been revealed that 1-hundred years old (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) Mercy Hospital shutdown last week, admitting they’ve lost a lot of money since Affordable Care Act went into effect. It’s proof that ObamaCare actually prevents access to healthcare in less densely populated areas (known as small town syndrome).

Kentucky:  AK Steel shutting down its Ashland plant, starting in December 940 people will be laid off over a six months period!  They blame cheap imported steel (which is an excuse I’ve heard since the 1980s).

Louisiana:  A surprise announcement; South Beauregard Health Center in Longville shutting down by the end of the month, blaming crashing patient volume caused by Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare)!

Minnesota:  In Knife River, the Lighthouse at Emily’s restaurant shutdown when a potential sale to non-profit North Shore Scenic Railroad fell through.   After only 26 months Lake State Credit Union shutting down their Duluth Technology Village fully automated office on 01 November.  It’s blamed on the merger with Members Cooperative Credit Union.  Cliffs Natural Resources threatening to shutdown due to future competition: “…if they [Essar Steel] go online, I will shut down a plant up there the same day.”-Lourenco Goncalves, ceo

New Hampshire: Valley Regional Hospital eliminated eight jobs in an effort to be “not quite break-even but…sustainable”, no thanks to ObamaCare.

New Jersey:  Japan based drug pusher Daiichi Sankyo eliminating 1-thousand 2-hundred jobs across the U.S. but mainly at their Parsippany operations!   It’s part of their global cutbacks begun earlier this year.  Cherry Hill based Too Big to Jail TD Bank began eliminating jobs across United States and Canada, in an effort “push efficiencies”.

New York:  County taxpayer funded Summit Park Hospital and Nursing Care Center shutting down after Xmas, due to a potential buyer backing out of the $32-million USD sale.  4-hundred jobs lost! 

Oregon:  In Newberg the more than 1-hundred years old (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) SP Fiber paper mill shutting down, 2-hundred jobs lost before Thanksgiving!   The paper mill was recently taken over by WestRock, which is shutting down operations around the country.  ObamaCare killing off yet another affordable insurance co-op, this time it’s non-profit Health Republic.  The forced shutdown will affect 8-hundred Oregon businesses and 15-thousand individuals!

Pennsylvania: God refusing to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 166 years old Saint Mary of the Assumption Church due to the loss of $142-thousand USD.  “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”-1 Timothy 6:10

16 – 17 October 2015:“We are in the throes of a deep depression, and nothing is changing!” 

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 didn’t believe in my wildest dreams they would be shutting it all down!” “We are in the throes of a deep depression, and nothing is changing!” : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 16 – 17 October 2015

More proof of a growing food crisis in the U.S.: India based internet restaurant finding service Zomato eliminating 3-hundred jobs mainly within the United States!  The U.S. employees affected are those tasked with collecting data on U.S. restaurants.

Arkansas: Military subcontractor Actronix now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Administrators of the company that works for Lockheed Martin and British empire BAE say they have $2.3-million USD of debt versus $50-thousand in assets!

California: In Fresno, Club One casino now bankrupt busted with $9.5-million USD of debt!  It was revealed by an employee that storytelling app Flipagram laid off 17 people two weeks ago.

Colorado:  Even high tech can’t stop ObamaCare from killing healthcare services as Datu Health shutdown their Boulder HQ, 42 jobs lost.  It’s the result of its computer programs being consolidated under the control of Saint Joseph Health.

Florida:  In Naples, Estates Country Stores shutting down two of their Golden Gate Estates stores after selling the properties to convenience store giant 7-Eleven.

Failed State Hawaii: In Honolulu, after 30 years popular Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream & Desserts  (known for ‘R’ rated ice cream names) shutdown its Varsity Center store, shocked customers reacted with “Oh my Gaawwdd!”  The owner said they will now focus solely on wholesale production of mochi ice cream.

Homeless families in tent cities on Hawaii’s beaches, hurting tourism, the real reason for the state of emergency declaration.

For proof Hawaii has failed, the governor just declared a state of emergency due to rampant homelessness (the highest in the U.S. of A., per capita)!  The martial law governor admitted his plan is to round up the homeless: “We are making sure that we have options for those who are homeless to move into an emergency shelter….”-David Ige

Idaho: Local news media proudly boasted of Idaho’s personal income ‘growth’ making The Gem State number 8 in the country.  Hate to burst your bubble but 1.1% is not growth, it’s stagnation! And what does that say about the rest of the country?  Let’s break it down to reveal just who’s getting that 1.1% increase in personal income; utilities, landlords-property owners-property developers-real estate, banks and insurance companies.  Yep, if you’ve been paying attention to my Job Losses reports those are the very people jacking up costs to everybody! Gee, the 1% of Idaho are the ones getting the 1.1% increase in personal income, go figure.

Failed State Illinois: After 61 years Gillenberg’s Furniture shutting down because the owner said “I am tired, I want to do some traveling.”  Oak Brook based McDonald’s in deeper trouble than first thought.  According to Business Insider, franchise operators are fed up with corporate policies that include not offering financial help to 30% of franchise owners who admit they are broke: “We are in the throes of a deep depression, and nothing is changing!  Probably 30% of operators are insolvent.”-Mark Kalinowski, analyst

Louisiana:  CHI Aviation shutting down its Galliano operation after Xmas, 74 jobs lost due to the collapsing oil industry.

New York:  The Bon Ton shutting down their Syracuse store by February 2016, 43 jobs lost.  Due to the pending shutdown of New York Presbyterian Hospital Family Medicine Center (caused by ObamaCare) Hunter Ambulette-Ambulance lost their contract, 113 jobs lost after Xmas!  Watertown’s New York Air Brake laid off 20 people and warned more layoffs will take place if sales do not improve, no severance either.

Ohio: What construction industry recovery?  WestRock shutting down their Coshocton operation two days after Thanksgiving, 225 jobs lost!  It’s the result of two mergers in the past five years.

Pennsylvania: Allegheny Technologies warned of mass layoffs at it Pittsburgh HQ, no numbers given.

Tennessee:  Hutcheson Medical Center laid off 70 more employees and eliminated the Chickamauga clinic, the Battlefield Lung Specialists, and the Multi-Family Practice Clinic on Battlefield Parkway and the intensive care unit! Local news reports say the hospital with 179 beds now has a “skeleton crew”, an employee said don’t waist your time going there because you’ll be sent to another hospital.  So much for Affordable Care Act increasing access to healthcare!  Rail company CSX laid off an additional 3-hundred people as they suddenly shutdown their Erwin rail yard, Unicoi County Mayor Greg Lynch exclaimed “I knew Wednesday that something was going on, but I didn’t believe in my wildest dreams they would be shutting it all down! …it’s the worst thing that’s happened here in my nine years as mayor.”

Texas:  Oil company Schlumberger warned of even more layoffs, no number given.

Virginia: In Williamsburg, The Inspired Bride shutdown ironically because the co-owners got divorced!

Washington:  Virginia Mason Hospital and Medical Center warned of job cuts in 2016, “because we anticipate a short-term reduction in patient volumes” caused by Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare).  India based restaurant locating service Zomato shutdown their Seattle office without warning, it’s part of their plans to eliminate at least 150 U.S. jobs! 

Orwellian double speak for Think Like a Thief!

Wisconsin:  University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire laid off 11 people blaming state funding cuts.  More proof Apple is a hypocritical thief (after accusing Samsung of stealing their patents) as a jury of the U.S. District Court ruled that Apple ripped off the patents of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.  Apple must pay WARF $234-million USD in damages.

14 – 15 October 2015: Factory says America is broke, will move to Russia!

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.” 

Idaho, International

Idaho woman dies after selling herself to foreigners for gestational surrogacy! Idaho turns to now deadly Baby Farming for economic survival!

17 October 2015 (14:56 UTC-07 Tango 01)/25 Mehr 1394/03 Muharram 1436/05 Bing-Xu (9th month) 4713

“Parents from all over the world are coming to The Gem State to have children.”-KTVB, Boise, Idaho

“American women are being paid to put themselves at significant physical risk every day in this country to produce babies for others.These mostly low income women are injected with powerful hormones and other drugs to maximize chances of pregnancy, virtually without government oversight. Women didn’t get this far to be treated like breeding animals.”-Jennifer Lahl, Center for Bioethics and Culture Network

According to Surro Sisters for Brooke the Burley, Idaho, woman was gestating twins for a couple from Spain when she died from “a rare medical complication” on 08 October 2015.  This was not the first time she sold herself to be a surrogate fetus carrier (for legal reasons they now avoid the term surrogate ‘mother’).

Please note that Brooke’s own home town news media failed to mention that her pregnancy was not ‘hers’ but was a way of making money.

The Huffington Post is the one who found out about Brooke’s role in what is being called Baby Farming in Idaho.  The article pointed out that in Spain (where the paying parents are from) it is illegal to be a surrogate mother. Despite being paid to carry twins for the Spanish couple, a fund raiser was held to pay for her funeral!  It was through that fundraiser that the Huffington Post reporters discovered the Baby Farming deal.

A post by Jennifer Block reveals the downside of being a surrogate, and even reveals that women can make between “…$15,000 to $30,000 – for a job that is high-risk, 24/7, and lasts about a year, maybe more…” (THE OTHER SIDE OF SURROGACY. WHAT GESTATIONAL SURROGATES REALLY GO THROUGH.)

The Huff’ Post article estimates an 89% increase in U.S. women becoming surrogate gestators, primarily due to economic reasons.  Hard and fast data is not available because apparently Baby Farming is supposed to be ‘hush hush’.

Business/Economics, Idaho

Idaho loses jobs, record number of people in workforce, yet unemployment rate remains the same? Blame immigrants!

17 October 2015 (14:10 UTC-07 Tango 01)/25 Mehr 1394/03 Muharram 1436/05 Bing-Xu (9th month) 4713

Local news media continue to be confused by conflicting data from the Department of Labor, thinking an unchanging unemployment rate is good.

Here are some reasons it’s bad: A net of 5-thousand jobs added in September but those were mainly the usual education jobs that happen at the start of every school year, so they can’t be counted as a sign of ‘growth’.  1-thousand construction jobs lost in September, this is interesting because at the same time the Dept. of Labor says job growth in the construction industry increased.  The Department also stated that the number of people in The Gem State’s workforce hit a record high of 800-thousand 800 (in a state that has a population between 1.5 million and 2 million), yet stated that only 1-hundred people were newly unemployed and yet also stated that the labor participation rate (as well as unemployment rate) was “unchanged” from the previous three months, and apparently 22% of unemployed people getting unemployment assistance dropped out!

The so called ‘Republican conservative’ Red State is among the most “welcoming” to migrants! Yet another reason why it’s a Right to Work (you citizens over) State!

This data comes after the University of Idaho reported a 6% increase in people moving to metro areas to look for work (basically the Boise area is the only metro area) because they can’t find any in the rural areas, and an admission by the Depart. of Education that the immigrant population has become so big that taxpayers will now pay for their English classes!  

Even the Catholic Church encourages immigration to Idaho!

Mmmm, immigrants, is that why there’s now a record number of people in The Gem State’s workforce and an unchanging unemployment rate despite the fact people are struggling to find jobs (Like me, in the past five months I’ve gotten five rejection emails saying I didn’t “have the qualifications” they were looking for, and they were all ‘entry level’ jobs! Is it my age or my ethnic status?  Way to go Bannock County! )?  (Blind Bat News does not make any money, I am not paid to write this stuff and I’m not the owner of Blind Bat News.  The owner has been paying out of their pocket to maintain this site because they believe in the ‘message’.  In the past advertisers have ripped the owner off, and now nobody wants to click on the relatively new Donate button and donate!)

Business/Economics, Idaho

Obama Homie Town Lottery Broke! Swiss company screws U.S. taxpayers! Another hospital openly blames Obama! Factory says America is broke, moving to Russia! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 14 – 15 October 2015

“No one should be surprised from soft numbers in the industrial economy, regional or national.  Just as the downshift in capex in the oil sector began to ease, the strong dollar and the slowdown in China’s industrial economy have bitten, hard, and likely will inflict more pain over the next few months.”-Ian Shepherdson, Pantheon Macroeconomics, reacting to the latest comments by the Federal Reserve

Failed State Alabama: Back in May, Walter Energy laid off 4-hundred people at its Brookwood Mine, now they will eliminate an additional 129 jobs!  The company went bankrupt in July.

Arizona: Washington DC based Living Social suddenly laid off 180 people at its Phoenix call center!

Ontario, California, Arrowhead water bottler. It doesn’t come from a mountain spring, it comes from the U.S. taxpayer!

California:  The U.S. Forest Service has been hit with a class action lawsuit accusing it of illegally giving Switzerland based food producer Nestlé taxpayer owned water in the drought stricken state! It was used for the Arrowhead brand bottled water.  If you buy Arrowhead you’re contributing to the plight of California’s farmers!  In Costa Mesa, after 26 years Scott’s upscale restaurant shutting down in January because the owner decided it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease.  The only bank in the town of Upper Lake, Westamerica Bank, shutdown.  In Burbank, the Helping Hands for Animals Thrift Store shutdown due to a sudden increase in rent, the owner swore “I didn’t see it coming.”   The 8 Ball ‘retro shop’ shutting down due to losing its lease.   Not A Burger Stand eatery shutdown due to landlord issues.

Colorado:  After four years the Booknook in Louisville shutdown due to ever increasing costs of operations.

Connecticut: Fontana Bridal Shop shutdown without notice and now people are mad.  The owner says it’s because his wife suddenly went into a coma.

Delaware: In Wilmington, after ten years Black Lab Breads suddenly shutdown due to the lease not being renewed.  The owner is hoping he can find a new affordable location.

Florida: In Neptune Beach, after five years Lillie’s Coffee & Bar shutting down at the end of the month because of the greedy landlord.

Idaho:  The state Department of Education has revealed it is using taxpayer money to create a new department for migrants!  State Right to Work (you over) administrators admitted there are so many migrant workers who don’t speak English that they feel compelled to rape taxpayers in order to provide migrants English classes. 

Just last week I revealed that Idahoans are being forced to spend at least $187-million USD towards illegal migrant workers!  This comes as the University of Idaho’s McClure Center for Public Policy Research discovered that since 2009 the population in the metro areas of The Gem State increased by 6% while rural areas flatlined.  Researchers say it’s because it’s harder to find good paying jobs in the rural areas.   In Idaho Falls, presidential candidate Carly Fiorina has gained the support of the Mormon owned snake oil salesman, I mean personal care product maker Melaleuca, so much so that company administrators forced their mainly Mormon employees to attend a speech given by Fiorina!    The Idaho Supreme Court upheld Boise’s plan to use hotel room taxes to pay bondholders via a series of one-year leases to fund the expansion of the city’s convention center (for some reason they choose to use the British empire spelling of Centre).  Pumpkin farmers south of the Boise area reporting a shortage of pumpkins: “It’s been a rough year. It’s probably been the roughest year I’ve had with pumpkins since we’ve been doing it, and we’ve been doing it a long time.”-Fred Schreffler, owner of The Berry Ranch

NOT ANYMORE!

Failed State Illinois: Last month state Lottery administrators said they could not honor jackpots of $25-thousand USD or more, now they’ve announced they can’t pay jackpots of only $6-hundred or more, because they’re broke! Despite this Lottery tickets are still being sold!  Pumpkin farmers report massive losses, Illinois normally grows 90% of the pumpkins in the United States!  Peoria based heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar shutting down their Electro-Motive Diesel rail office in London, Ontario (Canada).  50 jobs lost right after Xmas.  Because of the crashing economy Caterpillar is consolidating all its operations.

Maryland:  Bethesda based taxsucker Lockheed Martin will eliminate 250 jobs in its Missiles and Fire Control division, right after Thanksgiving!  Umami Bistro of Pikesville shutting down due to landlord issues.

Massachusetts: Too Big to Jail evil British empire bank Barclays eliminating 25 jobs in Boston Weak.  The Boston Globe laying off ten employees, more than a dozen accepted voluntary quit bribes (buyouts).  And after 43 years iconic Medieval Manor restaurant theater shutdown due to crashed and burned sales.  A survey revealed many Bostonians thought the place had shutdown a long time ago!

Failed State Michigan: Oakdale based Imation warned of more job cuts, possibly due to its $7.5-million takeover of Connected Data.  The only movie theater in Newberry is shutting down.  The owner of Great Depression era TahquaLand Theatre says he can’t afford to convert to digital.

Minnesota: PM Beef is shutting down its Windom meat plant right before Xmas, 260 jobs lost!  Windom City administrators say they will lose almost half of their revenues from lost taxes and fees!   After 14 years Minneapolis French cuisine Vincent A Restaurant shutting down after Xmas, so the owner can “move on with my life”.

Mississippi:  In Fulton, after 58 years Bob Steele’s Flowers and Gifts shutting down after Xmas.

Missouri: East Saint Louis laid off eight cops and in a sign of a Failed State warned that local taxes will be increased.

New Hampshire: Keene base food supplier C&S Wholesale Grocers laid off an undisclosed number of employees due to the gigantic collapse of A & P (Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company) grocery stores across the eastern U.S.  Monadnock Community Hospital laid off six people and eliminated vacant jobs, directly blaming ObamaCare: “This is largely as a result of the changes in the Affordable Care Act, which really got into full swing in 2014.”-Laura Gingras, vice president of philanthropy and community relations

New Mexico: In Albuquerque, Flying Star Cafe shutting down its ten years old restaurant on Silver and 8th Street.  It’s the third Flying Star to shutdown since the company went bankrupt.  It’s been revealed that Halliburton laid off an undisclosed number of people in Hobbs, last month.

New York: Semiconductor maker GlobalFoundries warned of mass layoffs at its Luther Forest Technology Campus.  Administrators said they’d have more details about just how many people will be let go by the end of the month.  The California based company is also killing jobs in Germany.  Bankrupt busted Organic Avenue shutting down all its juice bars! Administrators refused to say how many people will become unemployed.  Local news reports say sales crashed and burned last year.

North Carolina:  Tin Tin Box and Noodles shutting down at the end of the month, apparently because of the greedy landlord because the owner of the Japanese restaurant said he’s looking for a new location.

Says the money is in China and Russia, will abandon U.S.A.

Ohio: TerraSource Global shutting down its Cuyahoga Falls machine factory right before Xmas, 53 jobs lost.  Administrators say their U.S. sales have crashed and they’re forced to move to where the money is; Russia and China!   Health insurance company Assurant shutting down their two years old Dayton call center, 150 jobs affected!  Two years ago the company promised to employ 2-hundred people, in anticipation of increased demand due to ObamaCare forcing people to buy health insurance, but guess what, it didn’t happen.  The overwhelming majority of people on ObamaCare are people who already had insurance, meaning the rest of us are flippin’ ObamaCare the ‘bird’!

Pennsylvania: Too Big to Jail evil British empire bank Barclays eliminating six jobs in Philadelphia, right after Xmas.  Iconic music venue North Star Bar shutdown, its being replaced with a restaurant.

Vermont: Semiconductor maker GlobalFoundries warned of mass layoffs at its Essex Junction and Hopewell Junction fabs.

Virginia: What automotive industry recovery?  In Sterling, after only two years Advance Auto Parts shutdown. Local news reports say it was the fifth auto parts store to try to set up shop in town.

Washington DC: Living Social suddenly laid off 30 people at its headquarters.  Administrators warned that another hundred employees will soon be let go, saying the bad economy is forcing them to reorganize their ‘daily deals’ offerings.

Wisconsin: Kimberly Clark laid off 70 IT employees, blaming the bad economy for forcing them to become even more efficient.  Texas based Hi-Crush Proppants shutting down its plant in the city of Augusta, 27 jobs lost.  Maryland based U.S. Silica laid off an additional 16 people in Sparta.

13 October 2015: Sales to students have crashed by 44% from last year! 

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.”