Category Archives: Idaho

Idaho, Technology

Idaho Wildfires 2015: Pokey Airport DC-10 Water Bomber

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15 August 2015 (10:37 UTC-07 Tango 01)/24 Mordad 1394/29 Shawwal 1436/02 Jia-Shen (7th month) 4713

Fast winds have pushed the smoke from the dozens of wildfires burning across drought stricken Idaho into the eastern part of The Gem State.  Just in time for the arrival of 10 Tanker number 910, dispatched to Pocatello Regional Airport on 11 August 2015.

Click the pics (by AAron B. Hutchins) to make bigger:

2012 Idaho Wildfires: Canadair CL 215

Pocatello Tanker Base: 13 September 2012

Idaho Wildfires 16 August 2012: MAFFS C-130s return

Idaho Wildfires 2012: Sikorsky Skycrane

S-70 Firehawk

Idaho

Amy’s-Gate: Mormon leaders of Idaho keep screwing over taxpayers!

13 August 2015 (08:30 UTC-07 Tango 01)/22 Mordad 1394/27 Shawwal 1436/29 Jia-Shen 4713

Hoku-Gate, PaveGate now Amy’s-Gate!  It’s been revealed that the Mormon dominated Bannock County administrators were under investigation by the Idaho Tax Commission over massive local tax breaks given to California based frozen veggie food maker Amy’s Kitchen.

At the end of 2014 Amy’s Kitchen took over the abandoned Heinz frozen food factory in Pocatello, but it came at a price to individual taxpayers.

Amy’s Kitchen is already getting a big state tax break called the Tax Reimbursement Incentive, but the county of Bannock also threw in their own local tax incentives, which could have violated state Law 63-602NN.

According to the Idaho State Journal “All four Idaho Tax Commissioners were at the Bannock County Courthouse Tuesday to get answers about the county commissioners granting of a 5-year tax break to Amy’s Kitchen as an incentive to the company last year that cut its county tax liability by about 75 percent.”   Apparently the issue was settled between state administrators, Bannock County and the cities of Chubbuck and Pocatello behind closed doors, so all us happy taxpayers will never know what went down.

No wonder the family owners of Amy’s Kitchen were so happy to take over the old Heinz factory.  With all the massive taxpayer funded tax breaks our exalted leaders give away to foreign companies (both outside Idaho and outside the United States), they could have used that money to create programs to help unemployed Idahoans start their own Idaho based corporations!  Or how about a much needed medical university in Pocatello?  A study done years ago said the state university system could make money hand over fist if that happened, and Idaho State University’s enrollment would explode, but for some reason Mormon dominated state Department of Edumacation (Education) administrators put the kibosh on that real fast (for some unjustified reason).

Pokey Pavegate fallout: Taxpayers asked to clean up their own streets, while paying more taxes! 

Conservative Idaho jacks up taxes!

Idaho Falls to submit to Obama regime Courts! Under the False Flag of “saving taxes”! 

the unemployed are leaving the Gem State!

Idaho politicians give away more than $18-million in Idaho taxes, to out-o-state lawyers!

Idaho politicians give away more than $1-million in Idaho taxes, to France! 

One Idaho city wants to give itself a raise, taxpayers say Bull Crap! City does it anyway! 

Bannock County, Idaho, jacks up property taxes on farmers by 90%!

Related:  NSA paying Mormons big bucks to guard data centers!

Sears & Kmart closings: Catholics, Mormons & Jews conspiring or is it just about the money? 

Mormon security company Vivint is facing sanctions by 11 states, as well as a class action lawsuit, for fraudulent and deceptive practices! 

Utah militiamen spreading Mormonism in Afghanistan?

Mormon takeover attempt and federal investigation causing newspaper layoffs? 

Mormon Mitt Romney co-founded Bain Capital destroying jobs since 1984! Destroyed jobs in Idaho! 

Business/Economics, Idaho

“We get sued by so many people we can’t keep track.” Idaho republicans rip off taxpayers, again! “…it’s left us with basically nothing.” 28,500 jobs on the chopping block!: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 11 August 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

More proof the internet is not recession proof: New York and California based StumbleUpon is out of money and laying off 70 of its 1-hundred employees!  The problem with major internet operations is that they are 100% debt financed, and rarely do they make enough money from actual sales to operate without debt financing.  StumbleUpon administrators admitted they were unable to raise enough money in their latest attempt at debt financing.

Arkansas: The largest Humane Society in the state, Sebastian County Humane Society, is warning that it will shutdown due to lack of funding: “We have been getting by every month really just with donations, and with donations being down, and none coming in, it`s left us with basically nothing.”-Tonya Rogers

California: Sears Holdings announced the 25 years old Los Banos Kmart will shutdown in November, 67 jobs lost.

Florida: ObamaCare forcing Corizon Health to layoff 64 people in Naples, by the end of September.

Georgia: In Atlanta, two music venues shutdown;  The Masquerade and Smith’s Olde Bar.  It’s blamed on greedy property developers.

Idaho: Once again the ‘conservative’ republican leaders of Idaho are screwing over the state taxpayers, to the tune of between $900-thousand to $1-million USD!  This time taxpayers will pay for failed lawsuits brought by republican state ‘lawmakers’ against the federal government.  The repeat offender, I mean 3rd term gov’na Butch Otter was at a loss to explain it, but also admitted the dumb state republican leaders get sued all the time, saying “You’re going to have to ask the lawyers why we’re losing……We get sued by so many people we can’t keep track.”

Illinois: After eliminating more than 1-thousand jobs, Obama regime stooge Rahm Emanuel wants to get rid of more than 450 Chicago public School jobs!  In Des Moines, after 48 years popular Mr. Filet Steakhouse shutting down by the end of the week because the city administrators have decided the building must be torn down in the name of progress. What housing market recovery?  Century Tile and Carpet shutting down their ten years old Joliet store, saying it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease.

Main: After 25 years the largest independent craft store, Craft Mania, is shutting down.  15 jobs lost: “Sales were down….the reality is that enough of my customers have gone elsewhere that it’s no longer viable for us to stay open.”– Lee Duguay, co-owner

Maryland: British empire United Kingdom owned Lorch Microwave eliminated 10% of its Salisbury employees due to crashing sales.

New Jersey: The bankrupt busted Montvale based A&P (The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company) grocery chain notifying (for legal reasons) all 28-thousand 5-hundred employees of possible layoffs!   ObamaCare forces God’s Saint Michael’s Medical Center into chapter 11 bankruptcy, threatening 1-thousand 4-hundred jobs!  It’s been up for sale but republican Chris Christie’s minions are interfering: “We’ve done everything the state has asked us to do. After two and a half years, it would appear we’re no further along than when we started.”-David Ricci, ceo

New York: After decades of trapping people into music-movies by mail subscriptions, iconic Columbia House now bankrupt busted and up for sale.

North Carolina: Hibernian Irish Pub & Restaurant shutting down their Cary location, they plan on renting the space out to another eatery.  The 18 years old franchised Sears Hometown store in Lexington shutting down by the end of the month. News reports said the franchise owner refused to explain why.  The Beaufort County Board of Education laid off 16 teacher assistants due to lack of local tax funding.

Oklahoma: After 60 years, the non-profit Metropolitan Tulsa Urban League shutdown due to “lack of funding”.

Pennsylvania: In Penn Township, after five years Work Zone Fitness shutdown, the owner admitting the local population, and economy, isn’t big enough to support fitness centers.

South Dakota: Sears Holdings announced the Sturgis Kmart will shutdown in November, 57 jobs lost.  In Spearfish, both Cellar Chics and Base Camp Adventure Sports shutting down. The owner of Cellar Chics blames health problems, the owner of Base Camp Adventure Sports blames “many factors”.  What construction industry recovery? The Ziegler Building Centers in both Rapid City and Spearfish shutting down after a fire destroyed one of the locations: “It was the fire. It’s the insurance.”-Jon Ziegler, owner

Tennessee: In Memphis, restaurant ¡Chiwawa! shutdown after two years, the owner claims he’ll open a new place as soon as he figures it out.  Can’t trust him ’cause the sign on the door says “Closed for Repairs”.

Texas:  The Texas Horse Racing Commission is shutting down due to “the agency will no longer be able to pay its employees or its rent”, blaming state ‘lawmakers’ for playing politics.

West Virginia: After 60 years the Workman’s IGA shutting down their Chapmanville grocery store: “We hate it most for our top notch team of employees. We hate it for the community as well because competition keeps prices where they should be….Because federal, state, and local governments are so overbearing with laws and regulations, it is hard for small businesses to exist. Workman’s IGA is closing…because running a small business, especially a grocery store, is just no fun anymore.“-owners

Wisconsin: In Appleton, after 16 years Sai Ram Indian Cuisine shutdown, the owner’s sons claiming that “It’s been hard to find employees.”  The owners are planning on spending more time back in India.

10 August 2015: Google rips off taxpayers!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Idaho, U.S.

ObamaCare (?) forces Boise area ‘christian’ hospitals to play dirty with your healthcare!

09 August 2015 (04:04 UTC-07 Tango 01)/18 Mordad 1394/23 Shawwal 1436/25 Jia-Shen 4713

“…discretion has been exercised to favor the hospital where the physician was employed.  After St. Luke’s purchased five specialty practices, ‘their business at Saint Alphonsus Boise dropped dramatically…the amount of business that they did at St. Luke’s facilities increased dramatically.'”– B. Lynn Winmill, U.S. District Judge

A lawsuit has revealed how desperate Boise, Idaho, area hospitals are, and could be a sign of things to come across the United States  now that ObamaCare is ‘law’.

In order to justify treating people hospitals are intimidating patients into thinking they’ll get no treatment unless they use the respective hospital’s emergency room (ER) before being admitted.  Specifically; ‘Christian’ run Saint Luke’s was sued, in part, for posting signs that read “Please use the Emergency Department at St. Luke’s in Boise or Meridian. St. Luke’s Internal Medicine doctors admit patients only to St. Luke’s facilities. Therefore, if your treatment requires hospitalization, we can manage your care more efficiently and effectively if you have received your emergency care at St. Luke’s.”

The word “only” was printed in bold by Saint Luke’s.  The implication is that if you go to another hospital’s ER you might not be accepted at Saint Luke’s if you need to be transfered, or vice versa.  News reports say Saint Luke’s also indicated that a person’s personal doctor might not be allowed to see them, and that once admitted to Saint Luke’s it would be almost impossible to get transfered elsewhere.

But this lawsuit was brought by competing ‘Christian’ run hospital Saint Alphonsus, and their complaints go back to 2010.  They admit they began playing the Saint Luke’s game of forcing ER patients to be admitted to their hospital only, but it was because Saint Luke’s was playing hardball by buying-out most of the Boise area’s smaller healthcare operations.  In other words a monopoly situation developed, which is exactly what healthcare analysts are warning is happening with hospitals and insurance companies across the U.S. under ObamaCare.

“…doctors who work for hospitals can be influenced to increase their referrals and hospital admissions, thus raising costs…”-Idaho Statesman

In 2012 the lack of competing hospitals in the Boise area got so bad that the state Attorney General actually warned Saint Luke’s not to take over Nampa’s Saltzer Medical Group (a huge doctors organization), but Saint Luke’s did it anyway.

ObamaCare job destruction, 2nd quarter 2015: “The mortality rates will increase, we will have deaths….” 

Idaho

2015 Chubbuck Days Car Show

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Click/tap the pics (by AAron B. Hutchins) to make bigger and read the text:

2014 Chubbuck Days Car Show

For kit builders: REVELL 1937 FORD PICKUP, OR WHY MODEL ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS CAN BE WRONG!

Business/Economics, Idaho

Robots killing jobs! Coal mines stick taxpayers with the bill! Idaho shells out $1.5-billion to shady contractors?: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 06 August 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: In San Jose, mom & pop Paolo’s Italian restaurant shutdown by the landlord.  The property owner is getting more money by turning the location into a cafeteria.

Florida: After 42 years the Wine & Cheese Gallery shutdown, their letter implied there was too much competition compared to when they first opened in 1973.  In Miami, Out of the Closet thrift store shutdown.  News reports say it’s the second area thrift store to close this year, due to crashing sales.  It’s been revealed that Broward Clerk of Courts began “…furloughs, reduced hours…employee layoffs…” due to budget cuts.

Idaho: It’s been revealed that the Madison County Sheriff used $42-thousand USD from fees collected for concealed gun permits to put new flooring in his office.  He claimed the tile and carpeting were a “wise use” of money.  $17-thousand was spent buying a new vehicle for a ‘civil’ deputy.  Only a fraction of the fees were spent on things like police gun range maintenance and new guns for cops.  In Boise, Gem State ‘lawmakers‘ have finally realized their contracting system is at the very least a failure (and very likely totally corrupt) so they created a committee to come up with a new system.  Some of the biggest scandals involve the evil for-profit prison operator Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and the state prison which became known as The Gladiator School under CCA’s watch, and the $61-million failure known as Schoolnet.  Auditors say taxpayers were forced to payout $1.5-billion to contractors in 2014!

Illinois: McDonald’s will eliminate 135 jobs from its Oak Brook HQ despite mega-profits!  90 McDonald’s corporate jobs will also be eliminated overseas.  These layoffs are on top of the 128 corporate job cuts made since December 2014!  Administrators blame ongoing sales crash, however, it should be noted that in their last quarter they reported a $1.2-billion profit!  The layoffs can only mean that McDonald’s administrators do not see any economic recovery in the future, they actually see things getting worse.  More proof the internet is not immune from recession; the rip-off DeVry Education Group announced they will eliminate 95 DeVry Online Services jobs by September.  In Cook County, Community Development Institute Head Start will eliminate 215 jobs due to slashed federal taxpayer funding!  In Carol Stream, after less than a year the Butera Market grocery store is shutting down (it was formerly a Piggly Wiggly which didn’t even last a few months).  News reports indicate the property has a history of revolving door grocery store ops, analysts blame intense competition because the area has a lot of grocery stores compared to the population density. In Wauconda, The Rustic Touch shutdown, but only because the owner said he was being swamped with custom T-Shirt and custom furniture orders.  He says he will now focus on custom order ops only. The East Central Illinois Community Action Agency laid off four Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) employees, blaming ‘lawmakers’ for failing to come up with a new budget.  Gov’na Bruce Rauner wants to shutdown the Illinois State Museum, 54 employees have been put on layoff notice.  The gov’na also wants to layoff 40 employees with the Commerce Commission, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Emergency Management Agency.

Minnesota: God refuses to stop ‘his’ Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Church from shutting down. It’s blamed on “…the age of the building, the maintenance of the building, the facilities……We have less priests, and we have changes to where people live, work and pray…..We have less people in the pews…”

North Carolina: God refuses to stop ‘his’ First Presbyterian from shutting down their respected First School daycare program, in October.  It’s blamed on The Rapture, I mean their enrollment has crashed to 70 students (reports indicated they normally have 150).

Ohio: In Hamilton, after 98 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Tom’s Cigar Shop shutdown and being auctioned off. The owner said “There’s not enough revenue coming in to pay the bills.” 

Oregon: In Bend, after 37 years The Electronics Shop shutdown.

Pennsylvania:  More proof robots are taking your jobs; Amoroso’s Baking just told 2-hundred Philadelphia employees that many would be laid off as the company is moving to a new automated location in New Jersey.  It’s the result of their merger with Ginsburg Bakery.

Texas: In Jacksonville, Goodwill Industries shutdown their thrift store due to lack of “long term financial performance”.

Washington: 35 years old maker and seller of backpacks and cases for tech gadgets, Brenthaven, is shutting down their Bellingham store.   It’s blamed on competition.  In West Seattle, after six years The Feedback lounge shutdown.  In Seattle, Vespolina italian restaurant shutdown, the owners blamed insufficient sales.  And Hommage restaurant shutting down next weekend.

Wisconsin: In Waukesha, Roundy’s owned Pick ‘n Save discount store shutting down in October, 80 jobs lost.

Wyoming: ‘Lawmakers’ claim the bankruptcy of mining company Alpha Natural Resources will stick state taxpayers with $411-million in mine waste cleanup costs!

05 August 2015: Kmart kills Thriftway!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Idaho, U.S.

U.S. Civil War: Having a stroke makes you a terrorist? Idaho cops defend Navy veteran from illegal gun confiscation by Obama regime!

07 August 2015 (23:04 UTC-07 Tango 01, 06 August 2015)/16 Mordad 1394/21 Shawwal 1436/23 Jia-Shen 4713

“I took an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution and uphold the laws of Idaho! This seemed appropriate to show my support. I was going to make sure Mr. Arnold’s rights weren’t going to be breached.”-Daryl Wheeler, Bonner County Sheriff

The Obama regime’s genocidal Veterans Affairs (VA culled more than a quarter million U.S. veterans!) has warned U.S. Navy veteran John Arnold they have ordered the confiscation of his guns!  This after the Priest River man served his country to protect the very Inalienable Right to own military grade weapons (2nd Amendment).

Local news reports said Gem State Representative Heather Scott led about 1-hundred people in a protectionist protest, placing themselves around Arnold’s home to stop any federal agents from conducting a home invasion op.  Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler announced that he and his deputies will also prevent federal agents from any home invasion operation again Arnold.

The Obama regime VA refused to say why they ordered Arnold’s guns confiscated, but regulations allow the VA to declare veterans incapable of owning guns!  It requires the veteran to be declared mentally unfit, however it’s obvious that John Arnold’s neighbors, and even the Sheriff, don’t believe he qualifies as incompetent.  Apparently this is all because Arnold had a stroke in 2014, and  Arnold says when he filled out VA paperwork (in January 2015) he mistakenly checked a box that said he could not handle his own affairs!

In March 2014,  gov’na Butch Otter signed the FEDERAL FIREARM, MAGAZINE AND REGISTER BAN ENFORCEMENT ACT into law, which makes it a crime for state and local cops to help federal cops take guns away from Idahoans!  

Anti-gun gov’na shuts down World Shooting Complex!

KOA tries to take away Idaho rancher’s right to open carry guns!

Idahoans arming themselves in record numbers?

Supreme Court judge wants to make it a crime to own guns! 

Never use a BB gun to attack an Idahoan armed with a 9mm!

Oregon sheriffs refuse to enforce any new anti-gun laws! The 2nd Amendment is about civilians owning military weapons!!! 

gun laws don’t work: California cops caught selling illegal guns! Justification for the 2nd Amendment! 

Pew poll says the Federal Government is your biggest enemy! 

Idaho

Poky Pavegate fallout: Taxpayers asked to clean up their own streets, while paying more taxes!

03 August 2015 (12:45 UTC-07 Tango 01)/11 Mordad 1394/16 Shawwal 1436/19 Jia-Shen 4713

For the past few weeks the Mormon dominated (74.5% according to census data) Gem State city of Pocatello has been running TV PSAs asking taxpaying residents to voluntarily clean out storm drains in their neighborhood streets.  This comes after revelations of “abuse of authority” at the hands of the city’s Mormon mayor (“Blad is clearly conservative, something his Mormon, southern Idaho upbringing certainly influenced…”-Tara A. Rowe, commenting on Blad’s suprise 2009 election win), and a new investigation by the state Attorney General for a trend that’s hitting cities across the U.S.: Pavegate.

Pocatello’s storm clean up campaign (led by mascots Drip and Drop) is also part of a growing trend across the country, as cities supposedly don’t have the tax funding to pay their own road crews to do the clean-up, but in Pocatello’s case Pavegate makes the public service campaign questionable.

Pocatello’s (aka Poky) Pavegate started back in June 2014, when residents  noticed Pocatello road crews doing road work in other cities.  This pissed off Pokey taxpayers because for years they’ve been told there wasn’t enough funding to tackle all the road work needed in Pocatello.

When the city council was first questioned about it, they denied it was happening.  In July 2014, local TV station KPVI even questioned Poky mayor Brian Blad about it, he actually denied knowing anything: “I don’t know if our crews were up there or not. I know our equipment was up there. We may have had crews up there. If we did, then there will be a swap where the County is doing the work for the City of Pocatello for us as well.” 

In that instance KPVI was asking about Poky road crews doing work for the city of McCammon.  McCammon administrators indicated that Poky administrators offered to save McCammon taxpayer money by doing needed road repairs for the cost of materials only, the labor was free (meaning Poky taxpayers paid for the labor)!

By August 2014, city council members (who are part timers only) were concerned enough to pay for an independent investigation: “We’ve got to have the facts. We just don’t know at this point.”-Craig Cooper, council president

In September 2014, KPVI was basically told that what was to be called Poky Pavegate was nothing more than semantics: “I’m confident that what they are looking at is not an invoice. What they are looking at is a work order……No we haven’t reimbursed the City of Pocatello for these costs.”-Kurk Bybee, attorney for the city

It is not uncommon for one city to hire-out its road crews to another city, and get paid for it.  But in this case it seemed that the full time mayor indeed knew about the farming out of Poky road crews to other cities (after denying it on local TV news) but did not charge for the labor, and the part time city council members continued to claim they knew nothing.  Industrious taxpaying residents found out otherwise: “A large volume of documents secured by Pocatello resident Steven Medellin under a Freedom of Information request show numerous paving projects were done in Driggs and Teton County dating back to 2013 with no documentation showing payments to the city of Pocatello for the work.”–Out-of-town Pocatello paving projects spur audit (even at this point the mayor feigned no knowledge of the Pavegate)

These Pavegate lies by Mormon dominated city administration are just the tip of the iceberg, as residents (the majority being Mormons themselves, 74.5%) have publicly questioned the jacking up of property taxes, the hiring-on of 30 new city employees, “secretive” projects and the seemingly sudden disappearance of millions of taxpayer funds.

In January 2015, Deanton & Company made public the results of their Pavegate investigation:  “Although there appears to be an abuse of authority, because of the nature of fraud, no assurances can be given that fraud does not exist……..it became clear that various levels of management within the city of Pocatello do not fully understand their level of authority…….There was also a lack of supporting evidence of communication between management and….City Council.”

The quickly done investigation said Poky taxpayers paid for at least $15,773 USD worth of labor costs, and in response the mayor adamantly stated that he would not seek reimbursement from the cities that benefitted from that labor: “…we’re going to move on and be done with it.”  

In February 2015, the city’s own Chief Financial Officer, Joyce Stroschein, revealed that they’re basically missing $1.5-million!  She blamed it on three ongoing projects in which there was no accountability in how the money was spent: “It’s all about cleaning house….. Cleaning up the project resolution because the projects have ended at this point.”

By April 2015, the Idaho Attorney General announced an investigation of his own.  The investigation was pushed for by a Pocatello grass roots committee Taxpayers for Honest Government: “Taxpayers for Honest Government has methodically investigated and reviewed public information…and found that the city of Pocatello is in serious trouble, both financially and ethically….most of the problems facing the city of Pocatello are because of the abuse of power created by Mayor Blad’s secretive, closed-door governing style.”– Helen Delahunt-Avila

The disappearance of millions of taxpayer dollars, confirmed by the city’s own treasurer in February, should be noted because the mayor continually stated the city wasn’t hurting for money.  Now Poky tax payers are being asked to clean out the storm drains in their neighborhood streets!

In June 2015, despite missing millions in funding Pocatello created a new Public Information Officer job, hiring a former KPVI reporter as their new Public Information Officer.  The first order of business for that PIO was reporting that Poky administrators suddenly ordered road crews to put fresh blacktop on dozens of city streets, and then claimed it was done in a way that saved taxpayers money.  City administrators say they are now conducting an almost year long review of finances as “…a kind of review of how we look at ourselves.”

In July 2015,  CFO Joyce Stroschein proposed jacking up taxes and fees for Poky residents, in order to fund the city’s 2016 fiscal year.

Poky’s Martin Luther King Way project, despite no money

Pocatello considers fines for false fire alarms

Pocatello Fire Department responds to record number of calls

Pocatello considers moving money to fund connector project

Despite being broke, Pocatello Sanitation Department loans $2 million to Federal Aid Project

Pocatello Regional Transit gets free busses?

Massive Wellness Complex no cost to taxpayers?

Poky’s South Valley Connector project 

Pocatello & Chubbuck consider merging Fire Departments

City Council OKs $1.04 million for vehicles

City Must Cut $2.2 Million from Budget

LDS leader arranged outside attorney on LGBT ordinance

NSA paying Mormons big bucks to guard data centers! 

Business/Economics, Idaho

“Help us…” “We are ramping down…experiencing a massive reduction in staff.”: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 01 – 02 August 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Colorado: After 12 years con artists, I mean investment company Curian Capital stopped accepting new suckers, I mean accounts, and said they will shutdown sometime in 2016, at least 3-hundred jobs lost!  Here’s their official reason for shutting down: “Given the industry-wide changes in technology, product offerings and market size, Curian has determined that it is no longer commercially positioned to provide clients high value investment programs over the long term.” (in other words they see the economy getting so bad that even the stock market is going to crash, for real this time)

Florida: Keolis Transit Services issued a shutdown WARN for their Naples ops, 103 jobs lost by the end of September!  At Kennedy Space Center, InoMedic Health Applications issued a WARN saying 172 people will become jobless by the end of September!  ObamaCare medical device taxes, and changes to Medicare, forced home medical device provider Univita to quit!  According to WARNs, 785 people in Miramar are now unemployed!  Last week Univita employees were told “We are ramping down our operations and will be experiencing a massive reduction in staff.”  It should be noted that the privately run Better Business Bureau said Univita was a terrible company.

Georgia: California based bankrupt busted Anna’s Linens announced they’re shutting down their less than two years old Augusta store. It’s the result of the company totally crashing & burning, 2-hundred stores across the U.S. will shutdown!  

Hawaii: No more dinner cruises?  After a month of being idle 102 employees of Roberts Hawaii were laid off with only three days warning!  #Roberts Hawaii No Aloha

Idaho: In Boise, Supervalu grocery store announced they will shutdown in October, 115 jobs lost!  What housing market recovery? Recently KPVI reported on Pocatello housing projects that have sat unfinished for years.

Illinois: In Pontiac, after eight years Joanna’s Floral Creations & Gifts shutting down.  The owner blames the bad economy for destroying her American Dream: “…I have two small children, a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old, and it’s just too hard to run a business full time and raise them…If the economy were a little bit stronger…It’s just hard times.
It’s difficult to run a small business the way the economy is right now, especially this type of business.”-Joanna Von Rhein

Kansas: After less than ten months Take Five Coffee + Bar shutdown due to the lack of customers: “We don’t have a choice. There is no option to press forward.”-Lori Chandler, co-owner

Kentucky: Liquor Barn in Saint Matthews shutting down, it might have something to do with their ongoing lawsuit against a local rival.  In Louisville, Target is shutting down their only store on the Dixie Highway, just in time for Xmas.

Maryland: ObamaCare forcing Laurel Regional Hospital to become an outpatient clinic only!  News reports say hundreds of people will be laid off over the next year!  The hospital will be remodeled (at a cost of at least $25-million) and re-open around 2018 as an ambulatory care clinic (walk-ins only).  Many hospital administrators say they cannot make enough money under ObamaCare as a full hospital service, so they are either merging with other hospitals, reducing services to walk-in only clinics, or shutting down all together.

North Carolina:  Administrators with Legacy Paddlesports announced that due to crashing sales they are merging with a rival, and then they laid off 25 employees without warning.

New York: Addiction treatment center Narco Freedom issued a shutdown WARN for all locations in The Empire State, 513 jobs lost by the end of September!  The owners of the non-profit were accused of frauding the government and customers of billions of dollars.

South Carolina: ObamaCare medical device tax killing off medical products maker Hill-Rom, 70 jobs lost.  That’s a huge drop from the number of employees they had in 2008, according to local news reports Hill-Rom at one time employed 4-hundred people in that location.  Hill-Rom is consolidating their manufacturing and call center ops.

Tennessee: After 16 years Rhythm & Brews shutting down in September.

Virginia: After 28 years toy store Quilts ’N’ Treasures shutdown, the owner has stage 4 lung cancer.   Collapsing Bristol based coal miner Alpha Natural Resources is making it official and going chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  A Cardinal Camera store shutdown with no warning in Richmond.  No explanation, but a sign taped to the door said “Help us stay in Richmond…..and look for a new home…” implying they lost their lease.

31 July 2015: “…a catastrophic event…”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

“…a catastrophic event…” “…it had a domino effect.” “It has to come to an end…”: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 31 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

“…it’s unfortunate for employees that are put into this situation when it occurs, and you hate to say it, but typically investors reward stocks for these types of layoffs. Stocks react favorable to big announced layoffs.”-Brian Yarbrough, Edward Jones retail analyst

British Petroleum (BP) claims it lost $6.3-billion USD, and as a result “…significant headcount reductions in upstream and downstream as we progress through the year and I think you’ll see more of that before we get to the end of the year.”-Brian Gilvary, cfo

Alabama: Bankrupt coal miner Walter Energy revealed it will eliminate as many as 739 jobs!  US Steel shutting down their Fairfield Works blast furnace next month, the company just posted a $261-million USD loss (more than twice their loss for the same time last year)!  County commissioner Jimmie Stephens calls the Fairfield Works shutdown “…a catastrophic event for western Jefferson County.”

California: News reports say Burbank based visual effects company Stereo D laid off about 225 people!  Work is being shifted to Canada.  In Berkeley, after 40 years Nabolom Collective Bakery shutting down on Sunday. News reports say the operators refuse to explain.   More Haggen grocery store fallout: “When we met with Haggen management prior to the store conversions, they assured us that they were committed to making this takeover a success and that they would do everything possible to keep the customers. It is now apparent that they have not followed through on those commitments and, in fact, have done nothing to assure that customers’ first impressions would be positive. We know that many of you have offered positive suggestions that have been disregarded. Haggen’s failure to live up to their commitments is extremely disappointing.”–UFCW Local 770

Colorado: Switzerland owned Diamond Materials Tech laid off 46 people in Colorado Springs in order to “further optimizing the cost structure and production capacity.” They laid off 43 people in January, and 105 people in October 2014!

Connecticut: Stone House Restaurant shutdown after being bought out by the non-profit Rothberg Institute: “We were just going about our day-to-day operations when a realtor said someone was interested in buying this building. We weren’t actively thinking about selling, but this was an opportunity for us to get out before another storm hit and we were left with nothing.”-Peter Hamme, co-owner

Delaware: Casino Dover Downs revealed it eliminated 48 jobs over the past three months, twice what it originally claimed: “When we cut those table games, it had a domino effect. We ended up not needing food and beverage workers, valet operators and other jobs that provided services during that same time period.”-Denis McGlynn, ceo

Idaho: The city of Coeur d’Alene (population about 45-thousand) must layoff four employees to meet their new budget.  The state Department of Labor reports that personal farm income fell 18%, and profits crashed 23% from the end of 2014!  Economists say expect more crashing & burning: “We’re looking at soft prices for every crop in the state basically, except for beef. Cash receipts will be way, way down this year.”-Garth Taylor, University of Idaho

Maryland: In Joppatowne the only marina is about to shutdown. Gunpowder Cove Marina told boat owners to ship out by November.  Residents are pissed: “They lost the pool, they lost this place, the neighborhood is changing!”-Bill Moore, Joppatowne resident since 1965

Michigan: Five Port Huron firefighters forced to retire early as part of budget cuts.

Ohio: Remke Markets announced they will not renew their lease on their Westwood neighborhood grocery store, 63 jobs lost by October.

Utah: Despite recently announcing the shutdown of their fitness machine factory in Logan (eliminating 400 jobs), ICON Health & Fitness administrators posted a “Now Hiring” sign on the very same factory.  They claim they need to hire 1-hundred temp workers to meet demand before they officially shutdown the factory in October. ICON Health & Fitness is moving production ‘overseas’.

Tennessee: After 42 years shoe store The Athlete’s House shutting down in August: “It has to come to an end sometime….it’s just time while everything is good. It’s best to go out on top.”-David Graeflin, owner

Texas: In Dallas, World of Beer on SMU Boulevard shutdown.  Black-eyed Pea in Preston Center shutdown, employees blame lack of parking for customers.  In Arlington, Olenjacks restaurant shutdown.   In Deep Ellum, BBQ joint Mama Faye’s shutdown. Here’s one reason why the construction industry is not recovering; Gander Mountain retailer shutting down its Corsicana store due to an incompetent building contractor: “Based on the recent recommendation from independent engineering experts, it is apparent that the Corsicana Gander Mountain building has certain significant defects. These defects resulted from mistakes made by contractors during the construction of the building.”

30 July 2015: “…taxpayers were…underwriting a vast criminal enterprise…”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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.”