Category Archives: Idaho

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 17 – 19 November 2014: “I can’t believe I’m turning into one of your sad stories…” Cargill & Walmart join exodus from Canada? More call centers go down!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arkansas: Bentonville based Walmart revealed it eliminated 210 jobs at its Ontario, Canada, office!  The latest round of layoffs are on top of 750 revealed earlier this Spring!

California: In Auberry, the Wish-I-Ah Healthcare & Wellness Center ordered shutdown by state health administrators who declared the nursing home to be posing “immediate and serious risks” to the paitents, at least 95 jobs lost.  Sears Holdings announced they will shutdown the Yuba City Kmart in December, 63 jobs lost.  In Auburn, after 38 years Lou La Bonite’s restaurant shutdown. In San Diego, Science Application International issued a WARN saying they will eliminate 63 jobs by February 2015.   San Diego based Pizzeria Mozza shutdown their new Seaport District restaurant, and canceled all upcoming pizza making classes: “Sadly, the gospel of Mozza pizza did not adequately spread to the people of San Diego. We regret that we will not be able to continue to serve the community there…”-company statement

Colorado: In Leadville, after 135 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) God refuses to stop the shutdown of Christian founded Saint Vincent Hospital. Perhaps because of reduced payments caused by Obama Care, the administrators say they cannot afford to fix the broken heating system.

Idaho: In Boise, after 73 years Molenaar Jewelers announced a going out of business sale, the owner was unable to find a buyer for the business which will shutdown in Janaury 2015.  Also in Boise, a year after taking over Boise Paper (aka Boise Inc) for $1.27-billion USD, Packaging Corporation of America issued a WARN saying they will shutdown the Boise location by March 2015, at least 152 jobs lost!

Florida:  Orlando based Darden Restaurants killed 85 jobs (60 filled, 25 vacant positions) at its HQ. Darden operates Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse. Company administrators say the skyrocketing price of food (like beef) is forcing them to cut $20-million USD from their 2014-15 budget!  In Palm Beach Gardens, Morrison Healthcare issued a WARN saying they will render 71 employees jobless in January 2015.

Minnesota: After announcing plans in April to expand ops in Canada, Minnetonka based food processor Cargill actually expanded their job killing! Cargill sold off a Winnipeg feed mill and shutdown a Manitoba mill, as well as shutdown a Manitoba granary. News reports gave various reasons from saying the mills needed upgrades that were too expensive to pay for, to Cargill needing to become more efficient in the Canadian livestock feed industry. No details reported on how many Great White North jobs will be lost.

Missouri: CenturyLink announced they will shutdown their Columbia dispatch center in January 2015, at least 40 jobs lost.

Nebraska: God refuses to stop Kearny based CHI (Catholic Health Initiatives) Health Good Samaritan from killing “…1,500 administrative and support positions across the country by Jan. 30, 2015.”, despite recently getting a $3.3-million grant.  Administrators blame Obama Care for driving away customers.

New York: In Auburn, AC maker Daikin Applied issued a WARN announcing a 3rd round of layoffs.  The company is shutting down by December 2015, affecting a total of 310 jobs!   In Geneva, after months of rumors 54 years old Madia’s Big M grocery store shutdown. The Madia family basically said it wasn’t worth it operating a grocery store anymore and will focus on their other business ops. In Saranac Lake, the non-profit science research Trudeau Institute continues to layoff employees, despite getting new state funding.  This time five people to become unemployed by the end of 2014.  In West Village, after 15 years Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks shutting down in January 2015, the owner says the landlord suddenly refused to renew the lease: “I can’t believe I’m turning into one of your sad stories, but I’ve just lost my lease…..My landlord doesn’t want me here….It doesn’t matter if he hears from 10-thousand people. He didn’t even offer me a different rent, he just said, ‘no!’.”

Pennsylvania: The Ephrata Library killed off 11 jobs due to funding cuts.

Ohio:  MAGY Staffing issued a WARN saying they will shutdown call centers and offices in Toledo and Holland, 225 people to become jobless by January 2015!   In Stryker, A. Schulman announced it will shutdown its color concentrates and additives factory in April 2015, 70 jobs lost.  Administrators say the bad economy is forcing them to “right size”.

Rhode Island: After 70 years Damon’s Hardware shutdown.

Texas: In Houston, Hollywood Vietnamese & Chinese Cuisine shutdown.  Oil industry companies Halliburton and Baker Hughes warned of massive layoffs saying they need to cut expenses by $2-billion!

Vermont: In Rutland, owners of Sal’s Downtown Restaurant announced they will shutdown in December. Apparently the landlord refused to renew the lease.

Virginia: Medical testing lab Health Diagnostic Laboratory revealed they laid off 132 employees! However, the company has been accused of paying (bribing) health care providers to use their service.

14-16 november 2014: “like watching people get executed”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Occupy your Failed State! The less money you make the more taxes you pay! New study shows state & local taxes overwhelmingly favor the 1%!

18 January 2015 (03:20 UTC-07 Tango)/27 Rab al’Awwal 1436/28 Dey 1393/28 Yi-Chou 4712

A new study shows that even in U.S. states with no official state level income tax the less money you make the higher the percentage of taxes you pay: “Combining all state and local income, property, sales and excise taxes that Americans pay, the nationwide average effective state and local tax rates by income group are 10.9 percent for the poorest 20 percent of individuals and families, 9.4 percent for the middle 20 percent and 5.4 percent for the top 1 percent.“-Who Pays: A Distributional Analysis of the Tax Systems in All Fifty States (fifth edition)

In fact, the U.S. state of Washington (which has no state level income tax) kisses the asses of the 1% the most: Lowest 20% pay 16.8% in various forms of taxes.  The middle 20% pay 10.1%, the top 1% pay only 2.4%.

Many police state New England states are very similar to Washington in their effective combined tax rates.  The top 1% pay very little as a percentage of their incomes compared to the bottom 20%.

Back out west, state and local governments in Idaho charge their lowest 20% of income earners a combined 8.5% for the ‘privilege’ of living in the Gem State.  The middle 20% pay 7.6% and the top 1% pay 6.4%.  Also, Idaho does not allow poor people to get a state level ‘earned income tax credit’ rebate such as states like California.  If an individual’s personal income is less than $10,500 USD the state will not accept a tax refund filing request from them (even though the state’s own tax refund charts show they should be able to get a refund, and that the unfair state income taxes were already taken out of their paychecks).

California is considered the most ‘fair’ with its plethora of state and local taxes, but the poor are still charged more than the rich.  The bottom 20% of income earners pay 10.5% for the ‘privilege’ of living in the Golden State.  The middle 20% pay 8.2% and the top 1% pay 8.7%.

To read more and weep (unless your the top 1%, then rejoice) click here for more. The study does not include federal level taxes.

As far as sales tax only, the TaxFoundation accuses Tennessee of having the highest state and local sales taxes, while Delaware,  Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no sales tax (as of 2014).  Some states, like Idaho, actually have a ‘sales’ tax law (called a Use Tax in Idaho) requiring you to pay taxes on any products you buy outside of the state!

In 2010, Bankrate.com rated Hawaii and Oregon as the states with the highest individual income tax rates, followed by California, Oregon, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Maine and Washington DC.

The Retirement Living Information Center provides state level tax info for each U.S. state (but not local level taxes).  However, they don’t rate which state is the best for least amount of taxes paid.

Do the taxes you pay justify the lack of governmental services you get in return?  Even with Obama Care the United States still does not have a true ‘socialized’ healthcare system (it’s just a profit making scheme for the insurance industry)!

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 10 – 11 November 2014: “…it’s hard to fail.”

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Connecticut: Norwalk based iconic Xerox warned that more layoffs are in the works, on top of the 13-hundred already taking place!  Administrators say demand for high-tech stuff is crashing, after reporting their 10th straight quarter of losses!

Florida: The Island Breeze Casino cruse ship now bankrupt busted, 250 employees laid off!  Administrators blame it on an engine fire that cost at least $1-million USD to fix.  In Saint Petersburg, British empire United Kingdom based medical products maker Smith & Nephew warned it will shutdown in 2015, eliminating 108 U.S. jobs!  Administrators say they must consolidate ops to Texas.

Idaho: In Challis, Colorado based Thompson Creek Mining (aka Thompson Creek Metals) issued a WARN saying they will layoff 160 people and shutdown their molybdenum mine in December.  The mining company also warned Canadian employment administrators that they will shutdown their Endako molybdenum mine, also in December.  Administrators blame the crashing price of moly-B.

Illinois: In Evanston, after 34 years Next Theater Company shutdown without notice.  Reports say subscribers will not get refunds!  Administrators blame a “sudden” crash in ticket buying and even donations, and they admitted their money management skills might not have been the best.

Indiana: In Fort Wayne, after 68 years Freeman Jewelers shutdown.  The family owners blamed the high cost of precious metals and gems, and high unemployment, for impacting their sales.

Minnesota: God refuses to stop the Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul from killing an undisclosed number jobs.  It’s blamed on their craving for sex with children, as they recently paid out a huge (undisclosed) amount of money to settle yet another sex abuse lawsuit!  In Minneapolis, printer Cenveo revealed they will shutdown and render jobless 112 people between December 2014 and March 2015!

Nebraska: It was announced that the only Schweser’s women’s clothing store in Ohama will shutdown in January 2015.  Company administrators blamed “economic reasons”.

North Carolina: Baxano Surgical now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Ohio: In Springboro, a 56 years old IGA (Independent Grocers Alliance) grocery store shutdown. The owner blames competition from ‘big box’ stores: “We’ve got third, fourth generation shoppers. I’ve seen the kids in their baby carriers, to them bringing in their own kids. It’s hard to see what this is, when you watch your inventory dwindle down trying to make excuses to the customers is just, it’s hard to fail.”-Doug Preston

South Carolina: In Conway, after six years the Eggs Up Grill shutdown, 20 jobs lost. The owners said they’re being evicted due to not being able to pay their bills. Co-owner Christine Bonar says “There’s no value to put on what we’re losing financially. It will be the value of the friendships that we’ve made and the staff that we worked with. We’re all breaking up. We’re breaking up our family!” Manager Jeanne Sudowski is worried about the employees: “Obviously losing your job right before Thanksgiving and Christmas time is very rough…..some of them I don’t know if they can collect unemployment because they’ve only been here since July.”

07-09 November-2014

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics, Idaho

Shopko opens new Idaho store, while news reports reveal the closing of 14 others! Landlord preps for evictions?

15 January 2015 (10:16 UTC-07 Tango)/24 Rab al’Awwal 1436/25 Dey 1393/25 Yi-Chou 4712

Wisconsin based Shopko boasted about the opening of its new Salmon (Idaho) store, and about giving away $1.1-million USD to charities, but isn’t saying a word about reports of their planned shutdown of at least 14 stores across the United States.

The Salmon store is actually a new down sized version of Shopko called Shopko Hometown.  Apparently this is the type of store Shopko administrators have been switching to as they shutdown their bigger operations, blaming the bad economy.

Administrators have also begun a new marketing policy called JustEnough, intended to “reduce marketing costs”.

1st Quarter 2015 shutdowns (revealed so far):

In Kentucky, the Hodgenville Shopko Hometown store will shutdown in April.

In Missouri, the Tarkio Shopko Hometown store will shutdown in April.

In Ohio, Shopko to shutdown its Greenfield, Archbold, Montpelier and Newton Falls stores by April, at least 70 jobs will be affected.

In South Dakota, the Avera FastCare health clinic located inside the Aberdeen Shopko shutdown.  Local news reports said there are currently no plans to replace it.

In Utah, employees spreading the word that the Provo Shopko will shutdown by 15 April 2015.  Also, reports that the Bountiful (apparently actually located in West Bountiful even though the address is in Bountiful?) Shopko will shutdown in April.

In Wisconsin, Shopko will shutdown its Ashland Hometown store by April,  at least 29 jobs lost.

Also of importance, a major retail landlord just modified its lease agreement with Shopko.  The deal makes it easier for Spirit Realty Capital to evict Shopko in favor of new tenants (Shopko also got paid $18.8-million for the inconvenience of being kicked out).  The retail landlord said it wanted to reduce its reliance on Shopko for revenue!  

Related: Shopko backtracks on new Hometown store in Indiana as tax deal halted

Shopko kicks back $500 for Christian run volleyball in Iowa

2014 shutdowns (that I’ve found so far):

In Wisconsin, ShopKo killed off 40 jobs at its Ashwaubenon corporate HQ. Company administrators blame the bad economy for their “reorganization”.  A Madison store was shutdown, 66 jobs lost.

In Ohio, Shopko shutdown their store in Georgetown.

In Indiana, Shopko issued a WARN in November saying it will shutdown a distribution center.  The shutdown will be completed by September 2015, at least 95 jobs lost.   A Loogootee Shopko was shutdown, at least 14 jobs lost.  The Petersburg and Bloomfield Shopkos were also shutdown.

It should be noted that Shopko has been quietly and slowly shutting down stores since 2001.

 

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 05 – 06 November 2014: Another 2-thousand+ food jobs lost! France & Germany kill U.S. jobs! Job search service kills 100 jobs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Florida: For profit Full Sail University laid off 50 employees. Puerto Rico based Banco Popular North America issued a WARN saying 108 people will be laid off by the end of December!

Georgia: Atlanta based (NBC, Blackstone and Mitt Romney’s Bain Capital owned) Weather Channel laid off 40 employees. About 40 employees were let go back in October.

Hawaii: In Honolulu, the operators of a 59 years old Foodland grocery store announced they are shutting down in December. Real estate analysts say local Hawaiian business are being killed by ‘big box’ stores and property speculators from mainland U.S.A., and Foodland customers agree: “…it’s all the construction and they’re bringing in all the mainland retailers, so it’s kind of sad…”-Eulie Villegas, loyal Foodland shopper

Idaho:  The Associated Press revealed that furniture maker Kimball International will shutdown and sell off its Post Falls metal fab shop, 250 jobs lost!  Due to the bad economy the company is consolidating ops to Indiana.  As of November the company had failed to issue a mandatory WARN to state employment administrators.

Iowa:  After 33 years, Heritage Art Gallery in Cedar Falls shutdown.  The owner sold his building.  In Ottumwa, after 20 years the West Music store announced it will shutdown in December.  News reports blamed the bad economy.

Kansas: In Kansas City, after 50 years Quick’s Bar-B-Q shutdown. The owner says road construction is killing off mom-n-pops: “…I want to get out on my terms and while things are good. It is hard and these little mom-and-pop folks, you see them dropping.”-Ron Quick

Massachusetts: More proof the internet isn’t killing off brick-n-mortars.  TV through the internet service provider Aereo shutdown their Boston office, 43 jobs lost.  It’s blamed on lack of funding and a federal court order preventing the company from streaming specific TV shows.  In Lowell, Cobham Electrical warned they will shutdown by November 2015, at least 300 jobs lost!  Due to the bad economy the company is consolidating operations.

Michigan: Iconic employment service company Kelly Services announced 100 people in Troy will be rendered jobless, and 50 job search offices will be shutdown by the end of 2015!   The Fork in the Road restaurant shutdown, the owners admitting they didn’t realize how expensive it was to keep 100% of their business local. Despite having lots of customers, buying food and supplies locally was killing them financially: “There’s a lot of compromises that we could have made but we’re just not willing to do that. That’s not why we started. We need to have a business plan to keep staying true to those principles. To compromise those principles, that would be failing.”-Jesse Hahn, who added that he was faced with two choices; shutdown or cut employee wages, raise prices and buy from outside sources

Minnesota: Northland Community and Technical College eliminated eight jobs and cut two programs, blaming a $1-million shortfall on everything including what I call DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome).

Missouri: The largest pharmacy benefits manager in the United States, Saint Louis based Express Scripts, announced they will kill off 400 jobs on top of the 19-hundred jobs already killed off this year!

New York: In Rochester, once iconic Eastman Kodak continues to kill jobs, issuing a WARN saying at least 19 people will be let go in January 2015.

North Carolina: Salisbury based the Bottom Dollar Food chain store was sold off and all 66 stores are being shutdown, 2-thousand 2-hundred jobs lost across the country by the end of December! Furniture maker La-Z-Boy announced they will shutdown their High Point office by the end of 2016, at least 38 jobs lost.  Company administrators blame crashing sales for ‘case goods’, and they don’t expect an upturn anytime soon.  In Greensboro, after 31 years Mark Holder Jewelers announced they will shutdown in January 2015.  After only six years France based engine maker Turbomeca announced they will shutdown their Monroe factory by the end of 2015, at least 112 jobs lost!  Company administrators said sales for helicopter turbines have crashed.

Ohio:  New Albany School District beginning massive layoffs and jacking up ‘pay to play’ fees after 56% of local taxpayers rejected yet another levy, indicating that they could no longer afford to float failing public education since their own incomes are crashing.

Oregon: News reports say plans by Nordstrom are on track to shutdown two Portland area department stores by January 2015, at least 300 jobs lost!

Pennsylvania:   Lackawanna County warned of layoffs and public transportation cuts due to the fact they owe the state Department of Transportation $6-million USD!  DoT administrators say the County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) improperly got $6-million in taxpayer subsidies and they must pay it back.  Germany based chemical company Lanxess announced it was killing off 1-thousand jobs globally, possibly affecting U.S. employees at its Pittsburgh area operations!   Germany based optical glass maker Schott North America warned that 80 people will become jobless at their Duryea factory: “A lot of that glass has gone away. There’s been a decline in camera sales.”-Michael Brown, factory boss

Vermont: In Stowe, after 42 years Samara’s Cards and Gifts shutting down by December.

Washington DC:  More proof the internet isn’t killing off brick-n-mortars.  Internet based coupon-daily deal website LivingSocial announced they were laying off 400 employees and shutting down its California ops!   LivingSocial even sold off its Korean ops to competitor Groupon!

Wisconsin: Beer bottle label supplier Multi-Color Corporation warned state officials it will shutdown its Watertown factory in January 2015, at least 58 jobs lost.

04-November-2014

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics, Idaho

“There’s no way they can propose this plan without threatening patient care!”: Massive healthcare job destruction caused by Obamacare, last six months of 2014!

Incomplete list of healthcare job cuts that took place, or were announced, from July to December 2014, and were directly or indirectly blamed on Obama Care:

Becker’s Hospital Review revealed that by the end of 2013 eighteen U.S. hospitals shutdown as a direct result of problems caused by the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care).

The Carolinas HealthCare System announced they must kill at least 100 jobs in North and South Carolina by the beginning of 2015, due to Obama Care! Reduced insurance payments as a result of the so called ‘Affordable Car Act’ will cause the hospital system to lose at least $110-million USD in their fiscal 2015 year!

Arkansas:  Obama Care forced now vacant county owned Crittenden Regional Hospital into chapter 7 bankruptcy (which usually means it’s ‘toast’). More than 400 healthcare workers lost their jobs! The draconian insurance reimbursements cuts imposed by Obama Care means the county hospital cannot pay off nearly $7-million in bonds, however, city and even federal government administrators are suing, accusing the county hospital board of essentially taking the bond money because bookkeeping can’t seam to account for it.  Washington Regional Medical Center laid off 27 healthcare workers, directly blaming Obama Care. Hospital officials blame the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for causing the hospital a loss of $8.75-million!

Arizona: Obama Care forced University of Arizona Health Network to sell itself to Phoenix based Banner Health. Now there are reports this is a portent for things to come in the U.S. medical school sector. The Association of American Medical Colleges warns that Obama Care’s reduced insurance reimbursements is the final straw that will force medical schools to sell themselves to private medical corporations, or greatly reduce their services to the public, either way it means massive healthcare job cuts.

California:  In Temecula, Illinois based Abbott Vascular laid off 100 people! Reports say at just two years ago the company had 4-thousand employees, but now has less than 17-hundred!  In Jackson, Obama Care forcing Sutter Amador Hospital to warn of layoffs coming in January 2015.  Allergan warned that Obama Care forced them to kill off 545 specialized healthcare employees in November, and shutdown one of their healthcare operations in Goleta! In Fallbrook, Obama Care forced Fallbrook Home Health and Hospice to issue a WARN saying they will shutdown just three days before Xmas, 37 jobs lost.  Fallbrook Hospital issued a WARN saying they will kill off 365 jobs in December!  In Palm Springs, Crothall Healthcare shutdown, 91 jobs lost.  In Orange, Children’s Hospital of Orange County killed another 89 jobs. This is on top of the 61 layoffs in June and the 20 layoffs in May, for a grand total of 170 in three months! Hospital officials say job layoffs are the only way they can deal with decreasing insurance payments caused by Obama Care.  In San Pablo, West Contra Costa Healthcare District- Doctors Medical Center shutdown in September, 832 healthcare jobs lost!  In Torrance, Obama Care forced American Medical Response of Southern California to shutdown in November, 120 healthcare jobs lost!  In Montebello, insurance industry created Obama Care forced Beverly Community Hospital to cull 82 healthcare jobs in September.  In Sylmar, God can’t stop the new Obama Care medical device taxes from killing 270 jobs with medical device maker Saint Jude Medical!  In Oakland, Sutter Health/Alta Bates Summit Medical Center laid off four more healthcare workers.  In Lancaster, Obama Care killed at least 99 jobs with Antelope Valley Hospital in November.   In San Jose, BD Biosciences warned it will kill 60 jobs in November.   In Fountain Valley, Los Alamitos and Palm Springs Obama Care killed off Morrison Healthcare. The provider of meals to hospitals and nursing homes announced they will shutdown in November, 229 jobs lost! In Rancho Cucamonga, intravascular imaging medical company Volcano Corporation issued a WARN saying 170 people will become unemployed before Xmas!   Unnamed former employees revealed that Obama Care is forcing American Medical Response (owned by Envision Health) to save money by shutting down its Salida billing center and move it to Philippines, 200 U.S. jobs lost!  In Newbury Park, legal drugs pusher Amgen issued a WARN saying they will kill off 349 jobs just three days before Xmas!    In Fremont, Obama Care killed 31 jobs at Washington Hospital, that’s on top of the already 196 jobs destroyed since 2013! Hospital administrators directly blamed the federal government: “Washington Hospital experienced a cumulative net revenue loss of more than $74 million during the past five years due to federal payment reforms, some of which were mandated by the Affordable Care Act.”-Christopher Brown

Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital killing 120 healthcare jobs! Hospital administrators say insurance written Obama Care (Affordable Car Act) is forcing them to cut back in the name of being “efficient”.  However, like frogs in a boiling pot, it’s obvious that the ignorant healthcare workers are still oblivious to what Obama Care is doing to them, instead blaming the hospital for reducing access to medical care: “There’s no way they can propose this plan without threatening patient care!”-Damian Tryon, California Nurses Association

Colorado: In Leadville, after 135 years (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) God refuses to stop the shutdown of Christian founded Saint Vincent Hospital.  Perhaps because of reduced payments caused by Obama Care, the administrators say they cannot afford to fix the broken heating system.

Florida:   In Saint Petersburg, Obama Care forced the nearly 40 years old Edward White Hospital to shutdown in November, 363 jobs affected! Hospital administrators blame the federal government for slashing funding, and pro-insurance industry Obama Care for causing a drop in customers.  In Polk County, Chapters Health System killing 89 healthcare jobs at their LifePath Hospice, Good Shepherd and Chapters’ palliative care and pharmacy programs. Hospital officials directly blamed Obama Care (Affordable Care Act) for drastically reducing payments for people on Medicare and Medicaid, which make up 92% of Chapters Health System’s clients!   University of Florida Health to sell off its Medicaid focused First Coast Advantage healthcare operations, at least 63 healthcare jobs lost.  In Saint Petersburg, the nearly 40 years old Edward White Hospital  shutdown, 363 jobs affected! Hospital administrators blame the federal government for slashing funding, and pro-insurance industry Obama Care for causing a drop in customers.

Georgia: 55 years old logistics company Drug Transport now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. The company supplied critical shipments to hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics.  God refuses to stop Saint Francis Hospital from laying off 65 healthcare workers, suddenly. Administrators implied that reduced funding caused by Obama Care forced them to re-examine their ‘books’, during which they discovered they were $30-million short! Administrators admitted to employees that they “overestimated” expected payments.

Hawaii: Obama Care killed off 35 healthcare jobs with Hawaii Health Systems Corporation. Hospital administrators said the layoffs will take place in December. They say Obama Care (Affordable Care Act) caused them to lose at least $48-million!

Idaho: In Boise, the Elk’s Rehab Center shutting down, 516 jobs lost as Saint Luke’s Health System takes over in September! Reports say Saint Luke’s claims it needs only 400 employees to do the same job, so a net job loss of 116!

Illinois:   In Palatine and Inverness, Obama Care killing off 14 years old non-profit Wellness Place cancer center. Kathy Scortino, clinical director and interim executive director, hinted that Obama Care was the last straw because “It just became very difficult to sustain it financially.”   In Rockford, the College of Medicine shutdown their psychiatric clinic by the end of September.  2-thousand patients affected! Clinic officials blame never ending funding cuts.   Marion General Hospital warned it will layoff 69 employees in February 2015.

Indiana: Columbus Regional Health announced that ObamaCare was forcing them to eliminate 219 jobs! Administrators say ObamaCare has caused them to loose about $17-million in 2014!  Obama Care killing 361 rescue jobs with ambulance service provider Rural/Metro Corporation! More than 30 communities will lose ambulance service! Company officials directly blamed reduced insurance reimbursements caused by Obama Care. What was that about Obama Care increasing access to healthcare?   Monroe Hospital is chapter 11 bankrupt busted and up for sale! But it’s not all Obama Care’s fault, hospital officials also blame the greedy property owners.  Non-profit behavioral and development treatment center Damar Services laid off 44 employees.  Obama Care killing 150 healthcare jobs at Union Hospital in Terre Haute! The CEO said “We face numerous challenges due to changes in the healthcare environment…”

Kentucky: The Kentucky Association of Regional Programs says 33 of 50 mental health programs across the state have shutdown! Four mental health providers have cut their operating hours in half! Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities blames Obama Care (Affordable Care Act) for changing how mental health care is handled. More than 1-thousand patients affected!  Obama Care killing 70 healthcare jobs at Jennie Stuart Medical Center: “…like many hospitals nationwide….We are adjusting to federal sequester cuts, declining Medicare reimbursement, an increasingly complex and restrictive Medicaid system, and a commercial insurance marketplace that is placing more of the burden of cost on its insureds.”– official statement from hospital

Louisiana: The third best ranked hospital in the Pelican State, Saint Francis Medical Center, announced 300 healthcare workers will become unemployed! Administrators blamed Obama Care, referring to it as “Major market shifts in the health care industry”.

Massachusetts:  Steward Health Care System announced they will shutdown their Quincy Medical Center at the end of December, 680 jobs lost!  In Leominster, Obama Care forced HealthAlliance Hospital to kill off 18 jobs (on top of the 160 jobs killed off earlier in the year). Crashing patient referrals caused by Obama Care, and a referring hospital, forced Radius Specialty Hospital to warn that it must shutdown two rehabilitation facilities, 350 healthcare jobs lost! Cape Cod Healthcare laid off eight lab workers. Many full time jobs are being cut back to part time.  Peabody based medical imaging company Analogic announced they’re laying off 50 employees. As a portent of the worsening economy to come, company officials said Obama Care is forcing them to reduce costs by $6-million starting in 2015!  In Easthampton, medical plastics maker Berry Plastics ‘voluntarily retired’ 23 employees. Company administrators blamed it on crashing sales.  Obama Care has caused Southcoast Health to layoff 70 people. Administrators say their 2014 revenues are down 3% due to pro-insurance industry Obama Care.  Non-profit Masonic Health System warned of layoffs at its Overlook Life Care Community, and as a result of its sale of its failed Overlook Health Care operation.

Michigan:    In order to cut costs due to reduced payments caused by Obama Care,  Holland Hospital laid off all their in-house language interpreters.  In Owosso, Planned Parenthood shutting down in December due to crashing federal funding.  Detroit Medical Center going to a new contracted janitor service putting 565 jobs at seven hospitals in limbo, right before Xmas!   Insurance industry written Obama Care killed off Gerontology Network‘s CareTree Adult Day Care service, along with their Outreach and Assistance program.  An undisclosed number of healthcare workers laid off.  In Rochester Hills, the non-profit Crittenton Hospital Medical Center revealed it is now up for sale. Hospital officials say since Obama Care went into effect their financial losses have increased by tens of millions of dollars! The city of Flint is warning that Obama Care’s increased employee benefit costs, and the bad economy, are pushing the city into bankruptcy: “Flint’s at the forefront, but a lot of cities are on the same train, and that train is headed for the cliff!”-Eric Scorsone, Michigan State University economist

Southwest Regional Rehabilitation Center shutting down and killing off 96 jobs due to reduced inpatient care caused by Obama Care: “We wish we weren’t writing the final chapter, but the changing healthcare environment has left us no alternative.”-Jim Hettinger, Board of Trustees

The CEO of the Oaklawn Hospital, Ginger Williams, said people should have seen this coming before Obama Care became law, saying it’s “…an unfortunate, but entirely predictable, consequence of health care reform.”

Mississippi: Obama Care forced Singing River Health System to shutdown two of their Medworks clinics in August, one in Gautier and one in D’Iberville. Back in March, hospital officials revealed that even with the new Obama Care that $88-million in medical services will not be paid for! Officials say Obama Care is not solving the problem of people who can’t pay for medical care: “The amount of uncompensated care that we generate every year is growing every year, and it is the largest it has ever been! This is a very difficult time in the industry.”-Kevin Holland, CEO

Obama Care forced Trace Regional Hospital to shutdown their Emergency Room in September: “The federal government is cutting or eliminating programs that pay hospitals for treating uninsured patients. This money is being redirected to fund the cost of Medicaid expansion….”-David Blount, state senator

Missouri: The largest pharmacy benefits manager in the United States, Saint Louis based Express Scripts, announced they will kill off 400 jobs on top of the 19-hundred jobs already killed off this year!   In Mount Vernon, the Missouri Rehabilitation Center and VA Clinic shutting down! It’s run by greedy Missouri University Health System, who basically said they’re losing money on the veteran care op. Veteran Larry Hilburn accused them of constantly short changing veterans: “There’s a lot of veterans that need more help than they’re getting!”

Builder of hospitals, HBE Company, has ceased building new hospitals due to Obama Care! Former employees blamed it on the Obama Care funding crash, saying losses accelerated into Death Spiral mode in 2013. Here’s what HBE President and CEO Fred Kummer said: “The reason for the decision to stop seeking future work is a result of the very real changes that the current administration in Washington has brought about in healthcare.”

Aramark Healthcare Support Services warned they will render 100 people jobless at the Saint Louis University Hospital in February 2015!

Montana: The state’s Department of Livestock warned of layoffs and unpaid furloughs due to increased spending on brucellosis testing on cows, and increased employee insurance and retirement funding mandated by Obama Care! To make things worse, state administrators have actually cut overall funding for the Department of Livestock.

Nebraska: God refused to stop Kearney based Christian CHI Health Good Samaritan from making this statement: “CHI will eliminate 1,500 administrative and support positions across the country by Jan. 30, 2015.”

New Jersey:  In Ridgewood, Obama Care is the final straw that killed off decades old Harding Pharmacy and Liquors. The independent owner of the store directly blamed “reduced reimbursements” for forcing him to sell out and go to work for a competing pharmacy.  Obama Care killing 102 jobs at Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center! Hospital officials say the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has caused a 30% reduction in healthcare customers, just from May 2014 to June 2014!  In Secaucus, Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center to kill 102 healthcare jobs! The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act caused the hospital to lose 30% of its patients just in the month of May! Obama Care could be the final nail in the coffin for Meadowlands hospital, which is facing legal problems due to the fact it’s being run by vulture capitalist investors who have no experience in the medical field.   Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton warned state administrators that they will render 87 healthcare workers jobless by the end of 2014.  Woodbridge Developmental Center, a home for people with developmental disabilities, announced it will shutdown on New Year’s Day, 333 patients affected, 622 jobs lost!

New Mexico: ABQ Health Partners revealed they killed off 54 healthcare jobs in October.  According to the New Mexico Hospital Association (NMHA) Obama Care is destroying access to healthcare! 20 of New Mexico’s 44 hospitals have killed jobs and cut services as a direct result of insurance payment reductions mandated by Obama Care: “…. key services are being eroded around the state at the very time when services are needed to respond to the growing demand resulting from coverage expansion.”-Jeff Dye, NMHA

New York:  In Hawthorne, Quintiles Medical Education warned it is shutting down in December, at least 27 jobs lost. In Buffalo, medical supplies maker Ethox Medical warned it is being sold off sometime after December, 62 employees affected.  Is Obama Care behind the shutdown of Robert Mapplethorpe Residential Treatment Facility? Administrators say they will shutdown in December, at least 33 jobs lost.  God refuses to stop Obama Care(?) from shutting down the Convent of Mary the Queen nursing home. Christian leaders say they will shut it down by June 2015 (layoffs will begin in December), and shift many of the residents to a Jewish nursing home. That Which Cannot be Named is refusing to stop Obama Care from killing 58 mental and physically disabled healthcare jobs at the Jewish Board of Family and Children Services.  That Which Cannot be Named refuses to stop the selloff of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Yeshiva University Substance Abuse Treatment program at three Bronx locations, 189 jobs now in limbo!  In Hamilton, is Obama Care behind the shutdown of Community Memorial?  Nursing facility administrators warned they will shutdown in December, at least 29 jobs lost.  It was revealed that Obama Care killed jobs with Rural/Metro Medical Services in July. Company administrators finally notified the state in September that they killed off at least 68 jobs.    In Vestal, Obama Care forced Practicare Medical Management to kill 76 healthcare jobs in November.  South Brookhaven Health Center West announced they will kill 93 healthcare jobs at their two hospitals in Shirley and Patchogue.  231 jobs lost as the Rivington House Healthcare Facility shutdown!  In NYC, healthcare provider SinglePoint Care Network warned they will shutdown in January 2015, at least 22 jobs lost.  59 employees were already let go from October to December.  In Fishkill, Mid Hudson Medical Group revealed they have sold out to Mount Kisco Medical Group, 746 healthcare jobs now in limbo!  Due to Obama Care Eastern Niagara Hospital ceased its inpatient care services at its Newfane hospital, and ceased its ER ops at its Lockport hospital, 300+ jobs lost as a result! Eastern Niagara Hospital administrators say they’ve lost $1.7-million since Obama Care went into effect: “Healthcare is undergoing a very significant change. Hospitalizations are decreasing and work is shifting to outpatient care, so we are reacting to the shifts that are occurring.”-Clair Haar, CEO

In Wyandanch, Obama Care forced Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center to shutdown in October, 64 healthcare jobs lost.   The Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center sold off its Chronic Dialysis Centers in Bay Shore and Lindenhurst, at least 102 jobs in limbo!  The Visiting Nurse Service of New York Home Care (VNSNY) added more people to their Obama Care job culling; dozens of healthcare workers at 13 locations will become jobless in January 2015.

North Carolina:  Washington County Hospital in Plymouth laid off 35 employees. Administrators blamed it on problems with North Carolina’s handling of Obama Care.  UNC Health Care reports that Obama Care has lost them $4-million in revenue! They are now $8-million behind on their budget! UNC Health Care administrators say they are still owed $15-million from the state and federal governments!  Dosher Memorial Hospital now asking that all healthcare workers who’re 60 years of age and had five years of employment, to take early retirement! If that’s not enough they’ll be forced to outright layoff healthcare workers. Hospital officials blame the bad economy made worse by reduced insurance payments due to Obama Care. Administrators with giant Vidant Health are directly blaming Obama Care for crashing revenues, which are forcing them to kill 175 healthcare jobs! Vidant Health runs eight hospitals in-state and was planning on spending $128-million for upgrades, but officials say if the Obama Care insurance payments reductions get worse then the upgrades are off.  Obama Care killing off the Women’s Hospital in Greensboro. The operator, Cone Health, says cost cutting forced by Obama Care means they must consolidate healthcare services into fewer hospitals.   After 35 years Obama Care (Affordable Care Act) forced Cancer Centers of North Carolina (CCNC) to shutdown in October, 135 healthcare jobs lost: “The doctors have really tried for the past couple years to stay independent. They just can’t sustain it anymore.”-Sheri Dyke, CCNC director

In Belhaven, Vidant Pungo Hospital shutdown without notice: “Closing this hospital means everybody takes another 30 minutes to get emergency help. 30 minutes is a long time when you’re dying!”-Adam O’Neal, mayor

Hospital officials point out they are building a new 24 hours clinic (which is more cost effective under Obama Care), and they also pointed out that city officials failed to take part in negotiations: “The Town’s recent accusations only serve to disguise the fact that it has failed to fulfill its obligations as outlined by the mediation agreement…… the lack of response made it apparent that the Town knew that it did not have a plan to take over hospital operations…….The mediation agreement clearly stated that the Town of Belhaven was required to work with Pantego Creek, LLC, for use of the hospital property. To our knowledge, the Town never contacted Pantego Creek prior to June 11.”

Cape Fear Valley Health reported a $24-million loss in 2013, and expects to loose another $16-million by the end of 2014 due to Obama Care, so they fired 19 of their Harnett Health employees.  Morehead Memorial Hospital laid off 22 people, and reduced the work hours for another 160!  WFMY News 2 reported that hospital administrators directly blame Obama Care.

Ohio:  Medical supplies maker Invacare killing 210 healthcare jobs globally, 60 in Ohio.  Obama Care killing 47 healthcare jobs at Trumble Memorial Hospital. Obama Care is forcing the hospital to get rid of LPNs, however, the unionized nurses will take it to court.   United Rehabilitation Services shutdown its Berry Hearing Center.  Butler County eliminated 14 jobs by shutting down the Family Connections operation, as well as five other Children Services jobs. County administrators are contracting out the jobs to save money as a result of the radical changes in Medicaid payments caused by Obama Care.

Pennsylvania:  Apparently Obama Care doesn’t want men having sex.  A legal drugs pushing company that makes money off of penis dysfunction, Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, laid off 200 employees! Company administrators directly blamed the new taxes created by the so called ‘Affordable Care Act’, and warned more layoffs on the way as they are now moving their U.S. operations to Canada!  Medical device maker Echo Theraputics announced they must layoff 35% of their employees.  In Lehigh County, Obama Care killed 11 jobs at the county funded Cedarbrook nursing home.  Sharon Regional Health System eliminated about 87 jobs, some local news reports said the actual number is a secret.

South Dakota: In Rapid City, Planned Parenthood shutdown in December, due to federal funding cuts.

Tennessee: City of Memphis officials say Obama Care has jacked up the cost of employee insurance so much that they’re forced to reduce how much the city pays, meaning employees will have to pay a greater share of their insurance costs. Hey you cops, don’t get mad at your employer, get mad at insurance industry authored Obama Care! God can’t stop pro-insurance industry Obama Care from forcing Baptist Memorial Health Care from killing 112 healthcare related jobs! The Memphis based hospital system runs 14 hospitals in several states. Administrators reported that as of June 2014 Obama Care caused them to lose $124-million!

Texas:  More Obama Care BS as United Regional Health Care System laid off 14 employees. An anonymous letter to a local newspaper said the affected employees were “certified phlebotomists”.   Obama Care involved in University Medical Center’s (UMC) decision to kill 56 healthcare jobs at the two years old non-profit El Paso Children’s Hospital (which was built with local taxpayer funding). UMC officials say most of the patients at the Children’s Hospital cannot pay for their medical care, despite Obama Care, to the tune of $70-million in lost revenue for UMC! The UMC director was slightly perturbed: “It’s just plain shitty! There’s a lot of emotion, but that’s how I feel!”-Jim Valenti, UMC CEO for past ten years

Valenti says UMC must now borrow $20-million to float itself. He refused to directly blame Obama Care (Affordable Care Act) but said that because of the so called federal health care reforms “We are in no position to continue subsidizing Children’s Hospital through the coming years.”

God refused to stop the ‘Christian’ operator of the taxpayer owned Ambrosio Guillen Veterans Home from becoming chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Senior Dimensions-Sears Methodist Retirement System swears their bankruptcy won’t affect the care of military veterans. However, an unnamed insider told a local news source that “They’re not doing what they’re supposed to do. Things were going real good a year ago. Not now.”

Virginia: In Fredericksburg, non-profit Mary Washington Healthcare laid off 66 healthcare workers without notice: “This came as a complete shock! Everyone had their mouths open!”-hospital employee who refused to be named by local news media  (obviously healthcare workers haven’t been reading my job losses reports, or they would be well aware of the Obama Care job destruction)

Mary Washington Healthcare administrators said they’re also cutting pay for 46 other employees. 157 employees will be transfered elsewhere! The non-profit hospital has lost $31-million since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care)!

Medical testing lab Health Diagnostic Laboratory revealed they laid off 132 employees!  However, the company has been accused of paying (bribing) health care providers to use their service.

Washington: Legal drugs pusher Amgen announced they will shutdown their Seattle area ops, killing off 274 jobs by 31 December, another 386 jobs will be killed off in 2015! The announcement comes just a couple of days after Amgen announced it would kill off 349 jobs in California three days before Xmas! It’s all part of Amgen’s plans to kill off a total of 29-hundred jobs by the end of 2015!

Wisconsin: Non-profit WPS Health Insurance (aka Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation) laid off 20 IT (information technology) workers. The company laid off 250 people in 2013!   Administrators blame their military Tricare (formerly known as CHAMPUS, Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services) and Medicare contracts, as well as blaming Obama Care: “The reality is the competition for these government contracts, along with health care reform, is requiring everyone to look for more efficiencies.”– Ellen Foley

1st six months of 2014

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Food Crisis, December 2014: “…we’ve hit the end!” No more Coca Cola? Famous burger joints shutdown on Xmas eve! Mystic make-over restaurant gets evicted? No beef in Montana, no thanks to ObamaCare? Even a Jackass (BBQ) says there ain’t no recovery!

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of December, 2014: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production.

California:  In Folsom, after only  two years Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill shutdown without explanation.   Jamba Juice revealed it will layoff 23 people (including three senior vice presidents) at its Emeryville support center in 2015.  Company administrators say the economic situation is forcing them to reduce costs.   Only a year after ‘expanding’ Berkeley founded Peet’s Coffee & Tea shutdown all six Ohio shops, plus three in Pennsylvania and two in Michigan, without warning! 70 jobs lost, company administrators said only that those stores “…are not performing to our sales expectations and didn’t have a promising future…” Peet’s also shutdown seven former Caribou Coffee House stores in August, killing off 150 jobs!  After eight years award winning restaurant Hatfield’s shutdown.  No explanation, but the owners swore they’d be back with a new restaurant.  In Rancho Mirage, Acqua Pazza California Bistro at The River shutdown due to not renewing the lease.  Jerry Keller, co-owner, pointed out how risky the restaurant business is saying “It’s been a great 10 years and when you think that 90% of restaurants here close in two years, that’s a pretty good run.”    In Santa Rosa, after nearly 40 years Arrigoni’s Deli & Cafe shutdown.   Safeway announced they will shutdown one of their  Vons grocery stores in Hemet by January 2015, at least 55 jobs lost.  And in Pleasanton, Safeway HQ will layoff at least 26 people by 13 February 2015, due to the takeover by Cerberus owned Albertsons.   Uniform and food service contractor Aramark issued several WARNs saying they are shutting down ops across the Golden State, at least 570 jobs lost!

Georgia: Atlanta based iconic Coca Cola announced it is cutting $100-million AUD from its Australian ops in 2015, killing off at least 250 jobs in the Land Down Under!  Coca Cola already killed off at least 157 Australian jobs for 2014!  But wait there’s more! Coca Cola is also killing off 2-thousand jobs in the United States, before the end of January 2015!  Company administrators say the U.S. economy is so bad they’re forced to cut $3-billion USD by 2019!

Dying food court (The Courtyard), only zombified Orange Julius and Mario's Pizza left. The obligatory pretzel joint moved to center court. Mrs. Powell's, Dairy Queen, the corn dog place and others all died.

Dying food court (The Courtyard), only zombified Orange Julius and Mario’s Pizza left. The obligatory pretzel joint moved to center court. Mrs. Powell’s, Dairy Queen, the corn dog place and others all died.

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

Illinois: In Chicago, anti-2nd Amendment Pepsi laid off an undisclosed number of North America Nutrition (Gatorade, Quaker, Tropicana) employees.  Pepsi also extended its cost cutting plan (originally to end in 2014) to 2019, saying it now needs to save $8-billion!  A Panera Bread store shutdown.  Company administrators said the city’s recent minimum wage hike, to $13 per hour over the next five years, was the final straw that broke their Beverly store’s back.  Rumors say the company will simply open a new store just outside city limits.  The owner of Beverly’s Original Rainbow Cone warned she is contemplating a similar decision.   In Urbana, after only one year a Kroger owned Ruler Foods discount grocery store shutdown without notice.  For some reason Kroger built three Ruler Foods stores in Urbana in the space of two years, apparently that was one too many.  Company administrators refused to talk to local news media.  In Mount Prospect, the owners of Randhurst Village shopping center forced the three years old The Billy Goat Tavern to shutdown. Basically the shopping center owners found a new tenant who’s willing to pay more in rent.  In Oregon city, after four years Jackass BBQ shutdown with little notice, the owner is pissed about the lack of any economic recovery, he’s now forced to auction off his personal tools: “Business is slow here in Oregon…Most people from Dixon do not drive here anymore….We will have lots of Craftsman tools and toolboxes, antiques, household items and furniture. We have a welder and oxygen acetylene cutting torches, along with several steel industrial work benches.”-Andy Riegel

Iowa:  In Cedar Rapids, after nine years Cranky Hank’s pizza joint shutdown.

Michigan:  Battle Creek based cereal maker Kellogg was forced by union members to admit they are shutting down two major cereal making factories.  It’s blamed on crashing cereal sales.  However, company administrators refuse to say which factories will die.

Minnesota: After only nine months Boneyard Kitchen and Bar shutdown, some customers told local news that they were not happy with the menu items.

Missouri:  In Kansas City, 65 years old Golden Ox steak restaurant shutdown.  News reports said the owner wanted to retire, but could his retirement have been influenced by the skyrocketing prices of beef?  In Florissant, after 95 years (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) Yacovelli’s Restaurant to shutdown on New Year’s Day.  In Columbia, the Marconi Grill shutdown without notice.  A local news source discovered it when they spotted moving vans at the property.  Reports said a few months ago it was rumored the restaurant would close, but employees said it was for remodeling. Those loyal employees are now eating crow, as competing restaurants are now being flooded with applications from former Marconi Grill employees.

Montana: The state’s Department of Livestock warned of layoffs and unpaid furloughs due to increased spending on brucellosis testing on cows, and increased employee insurance and retirement funding mandated by Obama Care!  To make things worse, state administrators have actually cut overall funding for the Department of Livestock.

New Jersey: Rumors that after 15 years Stanley’s Prime Meat Market shutdown.  In Hoboken, after 78 years Helmers’ Restaurant shutdown.  Reports say the German themed restaurant has been in trouble ever since a fire in 2006.  The property owner has reportedly rented out the space to a new tenant at $15-thousand per month!

New York: In Ithaca, after more than 40 years Manos Diner shutdown.  The news was revealed by an employee.

North Carolina: In Willmington, Golden Corral all you can eat at the Monkey Junction shutdown without notice on 29 December.  Local news reports said company administrators wouldn’t talk to them, but an employee said sales had crashed.  In Fayetteville, after 57 years Vick’s Drive-In restaurant shutdown by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to make way for the rerouting of the nearby Rowan Street bridge.

Ohio:    In Waverly, 78 years old Lake White Club restaurant shutdown.  After months of spending money on renovations, the bad economy forced the current owners to put the restaurant up for auction in October, but nobody bid on it.  Iconic White Castle burger joint shutting down all five restaurants in Cleveland and Akron!  To top it off, they’re being shutdown on Xmas eve!  Administrators of the family owned burger joint says the economy is so bad in Cleveland and Akron that they can’t afford to continue operating in those cities.  In Lakewood, the World of Beer bar shutdown, apparently with no explanation.  In Hilliard, after only two years the Auddino’s Bakery & Cafe on Fishinger Boulevard shutdown.  The bakery owners say the property owners didn’t promote the business as promised.

Oregon: In Ashland, only one month after getting a Restaurant Impossible TV show make-over Mystic Treats shutdown, without explanation.  Prior to the make-over the landlord was in the process of evicting Mystic Treats.  In Portland, after 35 years the Hunan Restaurant shutdown “Due to personal health issues”.

Pennsylvania:  In Kingston, after more than four years the owners of Vanderlyn’s Restaurant announced that New Year’s Eve is their last day of operations.  They said they need more “family time”.  In Centre County, after nearly 100 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) the Mount Nittany Inn shutdown. The restaurant has been for sale for the past three years, but nobody wants to buy. A co-owner blames the lack of ‘recovery’ and evil Too Big to Jail banks: “We tried our best! There just isn’t enough cash flow….”-Nancy Silvis

Tennessee: After 17 years the GollyWhoppers sandwich shop shutdown the day before xmas.

Utah: In Ogden, after 38 years the family owners of Sandy’s Fine Foods restaurant announced they will shutdown by the end of the month.  It will end with a yard sale of restaurant memorabilia.  The family will focus on their catering business.

Vermont:  In Burlington, after five years Das Bierhaus German restaurant shutdown: “Renewal time had come and, as the dust of negotiations and exploring other options settled, I was fortunate enough to have been presented with an offer I could not refuse.”-Nick Karabelas, owner

Virginia: After only seven months Dash Kitchen & Carry restaurant shutdown! The owners admitted they were ignorant of the bad economy saying “…we misjudged the demand for it in that market and failed….Dash will either be sold ….or will be reimagined…”  In King George, after 18 years the owner of Howard’s Bakery & Restaurant announced they will shutdown after Xmas.  Local news reports said the owner blamed the past three years of suck-ass sales.  In Richmond, the co-owner of ‘adult themed’ Tiki Bob’s club announced they will shutdown in February 2015, blaming competition and lazy city administrators:  “After 16 years we’ve hit the end! You see all the great food and stuff going on in Richmond. There’s no more room for just a club anymore. I’ve waited a year for the city to get the ballpark. I can’t wait any longer….I don’t know if I want to put another 200-300k in the bottom without the city doing anything down here.”-Erik Brockdorff

Wisconsin:  In Madison, after 22 years Jolly Bob’s Caribbean restaurant shutdown.  The owner, Tim Erickson, blamed the lack of economic recovery: “The last five years have been really difficult, not that the first 17 years were easy, but especially the last five years have been really tough. And I’m not a young man anymore.” 

U.S. Food Crisis, November 2014

Fukushima, Idaho

Fukushima – WIPP – Radiation Fallout: More proof cell phones can kill you! Idaho & California elementary schools site of new radioactive cell towers? TEPCo finally pouring concrete! Santa Barbara hit by giant radioactive lobsters? WIPP wants more of your money!

24 November 2014 (10:15 UTC-07 Tango)/01 Safar 1436/03 Azar 1393/03 Yi-Hai (10th month) 4712

India: A new report shows the nuclear power industry is not cost effective, but like a parasite lives off the backs of unsuspecting taxpayers!  The Hindu reveals even more ugly truths about nuclear power: “The key fact about nuclear power is that it is the world’s most subsidy-fattened energy industry…..Commercial reactors have been in operation for more than half-a-century, yet the industry still cannot stand on its own feet without major state support….costs have escalated multiple times…..The nuclear share of the world’s total electricity production reached its peak of 17 per cent in the late 1980s. Since then, it has been falling, and is currently estimated at about 13 per cent, even as new uranium discoveries have swelled global reserves…..there is enough uranium to meet current demand for more than 100 years.

Yet….wind power, solar power and biomass — has surpassed installed nuclear-generating capacity. In India and China, wind power output alone exceeds nuclear-generated electricity.”

France: French nuclear company Areva is in big trouble, losing 23% of its stock value due to massive delays in its Finnish nuke reactor, and other nuke projects.  Areva is also a major player at the Idaho National Laboratory in United States.  Areva administrators are rethinking their financial projections for 2015 and 2016.

Sweden: Yet another international study on cell phone radiation concludes that chronic use of the little computer could give you brain cancer.  The study was published in Pathophysiology, and concluded that insecure people who just have to constantly gab their heads off to somebody on the other end of that smart phone, will lose their heads to cancer; 25 years of manic cell phone use increases your chance of brain cancer by 300%!

U.S.A.:  Speaking of cell phones and cancer, lets not forget that government administrators in India put a hold on cell tower construction in their country, based on their own studies and studies done by the UN WHO (which says ‘cell’ signals cause cancer).  In fact  the Indian Cellular Association requires new cell phones to show users the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) they get from cell phone use.  But that isn’t going to stop the administrators of School District 25 and the city of Chubbuck, in the U.S. state of Idaho, from allowing T-Mobil to build a cell phone tower right on the playground of Chubbuck Elementary (which is also right next to a residential area).  Of course T-Mobile is going to pay School District 25 a hefty monthly rent for putting the tower on the playground, and the scandalously administered district is short on cash.  Parents have justifiably threatened to pull their kids from school if the cell tower deal goes through.

But wait there’s more!  In Clairemont, California, Verizon is forcing the building of cell towers on school properties!  School administrators of the English-French elementary and preschool La Petite Ecole are actually against such a plan (in contrast with the greedy administrators in Idaho), which will see 16 antennae and a microwave dish (I’ve seen radiation from a radar dish on a C-130 kill a bird that was sitting in front of it, during a test of the radar) implanted on the school property!  Verizon administrators responded by pointing out that there are already cell towers in the area.

The Federal Communciations Commission says local governments cannot dictate to cell phone companies, and the United States government allows much higher exposure rates from cell towers than other countries.

In New Mexico, the number of nuke workers allowed into the failed Waste Isolation Pilot Project has been increased to 74.  Administrators are crediting the increase in recovery ops to the repair work done on a massive “emergency” elevator hoist, which can carry vehicles.  It was also revealed that the explosion(s ?) was strong enough to require replacing of roof bolts needed to secure the roof and walls of the underground tunnel system.  The massive bolts are 3.6 meters (12 feet) long!

Administrators with Los Alomos Nuclear Laboratory (the source of the exploding waste drums) are denying that they got lazy with safety protocols. Their tantrum was in response to an article in The Santa Fe New Mexican.  The old school newspaper spent six months investigating the WIPP fiasco and concluded administrators made mistakes and then covered them up: “…workers packaging the waste came across a batch that was extraordinarily acidic, making it unsafe for shipping……

Instead, the lab and its various contractors took shortcuts in treating the acidic nuclear waste, adding neutralizer and a wheat-based organic kitty litter to absorb excess liquid. The combination turned the waste into a potential bomb that one lab chemist later characterized as akin to plastic explosives….” 

Senators from New Mexico are asking the U.S. taxpayers to fork over even more money for WIPP, this time they want an additional $113-million USD on top of what’s already been approved!

(and back to The Golden State) Reports that cesium 134 from Fukushima Daiichi has been detected off the California coast.  Could this have anything to do with the record 12 pound lobster caught near Santa Barbara?  

Jamaica: More than a year and a half has past since the Caribbean country impounded a mini-van from Japan.  It is contaminated with radiation from Fukushima Daiichi.  Jamaican port administrators say Japan is still refusing to take back the contaminated mini-van.  One of the problems is that the contaminated cargo would end up passing through other ports on its way back to Japan: “It may go through other jurisdictions, so you have to get those clearances. It means that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade would have to engage other missions to seek their assistance to have it returned.”-Major Richard Reese, Jamaican commissioner of customs

Japan:  The Japanese government is paying U.S. (Texas based) company Kurion $10-million to come up with a way to get rid of tritium contamination in the 400+ metric tons per day of contaminated water pouring out of Fukushima Daiichi into the Pacific Ocean. Kurion is already making bank on filtering cesium and strontium from the water.

The new contract award to Kurion came days before Tokyo Electric Power Company essentially admitted failure in dealing with the never ending slow burn China Syndrome melt down of Fukushima Daiichi, the following are reasons why.

TEPCo is now filling in trenches connected to reactors 2 and 3 turbine buildings with concrete, because they cannot stop the flow of highly irradiated water, and they still can’t figure out where it’s coming from!  The trench outside unit 2 is said to contain at least 5-thousand metric tons of contaminated water, while the trench outside unit 3 holds 6-thousand metric tons!

Japanese news reports say TEPCo has already tried to use cement to block water sources, but it has failed.  TEPCo administrators say they will try using a new type of water repelling cement.

TEPCo administrators have admitted that their radical plan to freeze the ground, in order to stop the contaminated water from getting to the Pacific Ocean, has failed.

At least three ‘throwaway’ workers were injured when the 13 meter (42 feet) tall cooling tank they were building collapsed.

For some unexplained reason, removal of unused fuel rods from storage pools on top of the GE designed reactor unit 4 cannot be attempted at this point. Unit 4 was not in use at the time of the quake and tsunami in 2011, and all its fuel was in storage in the fuel pool. The plan was to remove the massively heavy, and ignitable, rods to a more stable storage pool, but suddenly Japan’s Nuclear Energy Safety Organization halted the operation, demanding an evaluation of TEPCo’s plan be conducted by Tokyo based International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning.  Supposedly all the spent (used) fuel rods have been removed (400 metric tons worth), but there are still 204 new (unused) fully explodable with the force of a small tactical nuke fuel rods in the storage pool.

TEPCo and Japan’s Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NRA) have pushed back their hopes for securing Fukushima Daiichi by five years, from 2020 to 2025.

Schools in Fukushima Prefecture are being used to store contaminated dirt, against the will of the locals, and Japan’s Jiji Press discovered there are no plans to remove the radioactive dirt piles!  Prefectural government administrators are blaming a national law implemented in 2012, after the radioactive dirt was piled on school property.  The cost of removing the contaminated soil is also a factor.

Renovations reveal U.S. park is nuke disaster area! 

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 11 – 12 September 2014: “Our current models are no longer effective…” DSS continues to kill education jobs! New Idaho company kills jobs just months after starting up! New York company kills jobs just 3 weeks after hiring spree! “I’m so confused as to what happened…I just about fell over!”

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama:  Maker of insulation and hardware for utility companies, MacLean Power Systems, announced they will shutdown their Red Hollow Road factory in October, 75 jobs lost (although company administrators claim they can transfer to other factories).

Arizona: Reports that military taxsucker General Dynamics is threatening as many as 4-thousand jobs in Scottsdale, by shutting down and moving their Scottsdale ops to Virginia!  General Dynamics has already sold off one huge building, and reports say the massive move will take place in January 2015.

California: Spin Media killed more jobs.  This time 19 people were let go, and they ended publication of their their hard copy magazine Vibe.  Back in January the music news media outlet killed 14 jobs.  The Calaveras Unified School District announced they must kill an estimated 50 jobs. They blame years of what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS) for creating a $2-million USD shortfall!  In San Mateo, Sears Holdings shutdown one of two local Kmarts, 82 jobs lost.  Local news reports say the Kmart is being replaced with a building housing public transportation and apartments.  What automotive industry recovery? Yet another California Superstores  car  dealer going down, this time in Valencia in November, 64 jobs lost. Obama Care killing off Morrison Healthcare, which announced they’re shutting down their Los Alamitos and Palm Springs ops in November, 138 jobs lost!  In San Jose, BD Biosciences warned it will kill 60 jobs in November.

Florida: In Weston, Too Big to Jail American Express announced they will kill 113 Global Billing Services jobs in November! The bad global economy is forcing them to downsize.  In Jacksonville, after 68 years Fred Cotten’s BBQ shutdown, the current owner-operator revealed the U.S. economy has always sucked for him: “The financial aspect of this, I cannot continue to absorb it. I’ve never made a profit here in 14 years, and that’s the truth!”-Bill Cowart, took over restaurant in 2000

Georgia: In Macon, after 43 years music venue Grants Lounge shutdown by violent crime.  The owner says they’ve been trying to address the problem by looking into things like more security and moving to a new location, but nothing seems to be working out for them.

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

Illinois: In Wheaton, after 25 years MC Sports supply store shutdown.  There were reports that the new owner of the property is running all the existing business out, such as the IHOP restaurant located on the same property.

Maine: In Portland, after 25 years vegetarian Pepperclub-Good Egg Café shutdown.  Local news reports said the owner had “…anticipated a very profitable summer….but numbers dipped this summer to levels I have never seen!”  The owner also blamed steadily increasing rent: “I’m so confused as to what happened. I know the city has reached a saturation point. I was looking at places that were $35 a square foot and I just about fell over!”-Melissa Sawyer

Minnesota:  It’s been revealed that of the 18 Roundy’s Rainbow grocery stores that were up for sale, nine failed to sell and were shutdown, and two that were sold were shutdown by the new owner (Jerry’s Enterprises), nearly 1-thousand jobs lost!

Mississippi: In Jackson, after more than 85 years (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home shutdown.  The family owners referred to the bad economy as “changing business conditions”.

Nevada: In Las Vegas, the Kardashian family announced they will shutdown their three years old Kardashian Khaos store in October.

New Jersey:    What I call Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS) forcing Brookdale Community College to warn of layoffs: “These are tough times and the organizational structure we have now is not sustainable; the board is aware of this harsh fact. Our current models are no longer effective in serving today’s students, and we must catch up with the advances that have been made in educational technology.”-Maureen Murphy, president

New York: In Canton, kitchen utensil maker Corning is now asking its newly hired employees to voluntarily quit!  In the middle of August Corning hired on 40 new employees, but now says a sudden and huge crash in sales is forcing them to cancel their plans for expansion.  The Metropolitan Opera laid off 22 administration staff.  Opera administrators said “The reductions are part of an ongoing effort to make the 131-year-old organization leaner fiscally…”

Ohio:  Too Big to Jail PNC Bank announced it is shutting down offices in Cleveland and Elyira between now and November.  Bank administrators blame it on the changing habits of their ‘customers’.

Texas: In Round Rock, after only nine months Curly’s Carolina BBQ restaurant shutdown.  Fort Worth based Radio Shack warned its stockholders that they are on the verge of chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Washington DC: What housing market recovery?  At a time when rents are going up the federal government has decided to cut rent subsidies (Section 8) for low income renters in the country’s capital city.  Apparently the Section 8 program for Washington DC is short $37-million!  This doesn’t just affect the renters but the landlords as well, because you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip.

Wisconsin: In Milwaukee, iconic home and industry food canning supplier Ball announced they will kill 24 jobs in November.  They killed 74 jobs at the same factory last year.   Company administrators blame it on crashing sales to corporate food producers.  After almost 40 years Roger Stevens Menswear shutdown.  What housing market recovery?  The Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors reports the city has suffered eight years in a row of crashing home sales!  In La Crosse, Hooters restaurant shutdown.  Restaurant administrators said it’s not worth it to renew the lease.  Bon-Ton announced it will shutdown a Naperville furniture store in January 2015, 20 jobs lost.

09-10 September 2014

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Food Crisis, July 2014: “We had absolutely no control over this situation…” They put up the sign then changed their minds! “You’re shocked at how things just ended.”

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of July, 2014: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production.

Alabama: In Tuscaloosa, the manager of a Bruno’s grocery store went public and warned that the store will be shutdown. No comment from the owners.

Arizona: Phoenix based Peter Piper Pizza chain now up for auction. The restaurant chain was taken over seven years ago by an international ‘investment’ company headquartered in Washington DC.  Some restaurant industry analysts say there’s just too many restaurants out there.

Arkansas: Springdale based Tyson Foods killing off three major chicken processing factories in Iowa, New Mexico and New York! The processing plants will close between September and sometime in 2015, at least 950 jobs lost! Tyson Foods officials blame the rising prices of chickens, and reduced demand from chicken eaters. However, the true reason could be because Tyson Foods is taking over Hillshire for $8.5-billion USD, by the end of September!

California:  In Sunnyvale, Idaho based SummerWinds Nursery shutdown, but only because the greedy Californian property owner sold the land to a hotel developer (for $5-million)!  In Sacramento, the Starbucks coffee house on 15th & H streets shutdown. It’s blamed on low sales. In San Diego, TGI Friday’s warned it is shutting down a restaurant in September, 56 jobs lost.  In San Francisco, after almost 60 years Villa Romana restaurant shutdown. The owners want to retire, and their two adult children say the economy doesn’t make it worthwhile for them to give up their current careers to continue the family business.  The Grand Cafe warned that at least three employees will be let go in September. In Porterville, Foster Poultry Farms announced 60 chicken pluckers will be laid off come September. In Los Angeles, Wolfgang Pucks shutting down their restaurant at LAX Terminal 2 in September, 24 jobs lost. Also at Terminal 1 LAX, Delaware North Companies (DNC) Travel Hospitality Services shutting down their Back Lot Deli in September, 25 jobs lost.  Another LA McDonald’s announced it is shutting down a restaurant in August, 55 jobs lost. In Ballico, Sierra-Cascade Nursery announced it is shutting down (supposedly temporarily) in September, 544 jobs lost! In Irvine, Buca Restaurants announced they’re shutting down in September, 87 jobs lost.  In Fresno, Mexico based Bimbo Bakeries announced they are laying off 73 employees in September.

Colorado: A Pueblo Jack in the Box restaurant shutdown, 50 jobs lost.  In Loveland, the Family Tree Restaurant shutdown and the owners are pissed about the bad economy saying “We don’t have enough customers to pay our bills, so we’re closing our doors! ….it’s stupid…..We did our crying….” Also, it was discovered that the Red Dragon restaurant shutdown in June, the property was sold off back in May. Also, the Great Wall Chinese Buffet could be shutting down due to the fact the greedy property owner is trying to sell off the building. However, the restaurant owner swears “We’re not going anywhere!”    Three Bella’s Markets grocery stores shutting down! There are reports of complaints from customers about the produce, but the store owner blames the landlord for forcing them to shutdown three of their eight stores. The current owner of Bella’s took over in 2006, and it sounds like he regrets it.  In Broomfield, Safeway grocery store announced it will shutdown in August, 54 jobs lost. Company officials said the economy sucks: “At a certain point, it doesn’t make sense to keep it open.”-Kris Staaf

Connecticut: In Torrington, after eight years Bogey’s Restaurant shutdown. The restaurant owner says it is “…time to exit out.” 

Florida:  In Brickell, after eight years Finnegan’s River bar being shutdown by greedy property developers. The owners of the bar sold out to a New York company for $15-million. 40 years old homosexual bar Parliament House chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to $15.5-million in debt! The owners say their business crashed in 2009 and they’re still trying to recover.  Unilever killing 210 jobs by shutting down their Pinellas Park ice cream factory! The company is consolidating operations to Tennessee and Missouri.  Glades Brewery Partners and Palm Beach Brewery Associates now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. They own a restaurant chain called Brewzii, and recently a judge actually shutdown one of the restaurants for failure to pay rent.  In Miami, after 60 years iconic Jumbo’s restaurant shutdown. It was the area’s first ‘white’ owned restaurant to serve ‘black’ customers. Despite surviving years of riots, bad weather and even drunk drivers, the owner says the bad economy finally did him in: “I thought I could get the neighborhood redeveloped, and I couldn’t. I thought because I knew politicians, I thought I could be an influencing factor in getting this neighborhood to turn. It might, now that I sold. I’ve worked seven days a week for 47 years. It’s time.”-Bobby Flam, second generation owner

Georgia: In Augusta, after 25 years Thai Jong restaurant shutdown.  After more than 42 years cereal maker Kellogg announced they’re shutting down their Columbus factory in 2015, at least 325 jobs lost! Employees were pissed: “The way they went about it is pretty bad. They did the people wrong! A lot of these people been here 30, 40 years.”-Eugene Gilmore

Hawaii: In Honolulu, after only five years Cake Couture shutdown, not surprising when they were charging $3.50 for a little cupcake.

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

Illinois:  After 94 years (surviving several recessions and the Great Depression) Gayety’s Chocolates & Ice Cream stores now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  In Chicago, the Taste of Chicago fair now dead. Yearly attendance has crashed since 2007, and this year the show was cancelled on the last day! Interestingly, Obama regime city officials claim the food fair was finally making a profit, despite declining attendance.  In Oak Park, after 19 years Marion Street Grille shutdown. The owner blamed the bad economy saying “We’re just not getting enough coming through the door.”   In Deerfield, God refuses to stop the shutdown of the Stained Glass Coffeehouse, located in the Congregational Church. Should churches be running retail operations? “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 King James Bible

Kansas:  In Wichita, Kroger owned Dillions shutdown two stores, at least 100 jobs lost! The Red Beans Bayou Grill shutdown without notice. The owner is now focusing on catering only.

Maine: In Waterville, after 30 years Bolley’s Famous Franks restaurant shutdown: “I just want less stress.”-Zena McFadden, co-owner

Maryland: In Frederick, Texas based Dickey’s Barbecue Pit shutdown without notice, and without paying its employees! Company officials simply said “It was not meeting our standards”, but local circuit court officials revealed that the restaurant failed to get a required business license. Most former employees claim they are still owed about $600.  After 36 years of selling food, Stop Shop Save announced it is shutting down all its Baltimore grocery stores! At one time there were 16 Stop Shop Save stores. Company officials say their sales have crashed from $69.4-million in 2004 to $28.1-million in 2013! Despite several dozen gorcery stores in the city, The Balitmore Sun says 1 in 5 residents lack easy access to food shopping, as 40% of the city’s poor have no means of transportation. “It all started so good, was so convenient…..You’re shocked at how things just ended.”-Yvonne Epps, loyal customer

Massachusetts:  In Brighton, after 41 years Imperial Pizza shutdown.  In Woburn, the Sea Dog Brew Pub now chapter 7 bankrupt busted, and shutdown without notice.  In Foxborogh, after six years Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro now chapter 7 bankrupt and deceased. The owners blame the suck ass economy: “The combination of a weak economy, high and persistent unemployment, and high staff turnover has led us to this difficult decision.” 

Michigan:  In Pittsfield Township, they put up the sign then changed their mind. Texas based Carrabba’s Italian Grill has backed out of their plans to open a restaurant, citing the suck ass economy. Florida based LongHorn Steakhouse also backed out.   In Failed State Detroit, the Comet Bar threatened with being forced to shutdown by a desperate baseball team. Apparently the popular local bar might be in the way of the new stadium for the Detroit Red Wings.  After 125 years the building housing the iconic and elitist Detroit Club now up for auction only seven months after the new owner spent more than a million dollars buying and renovating the building. The starting bid is less than a million!  In Saginaw, after only eight months the Lettuce Lounge Eatery shutdown. It’s just more proof humans aren’t rabbits, however the operators of the veg restaurant blame it on the greedy owners of the shopping plaza where they’re located.   In East Lansing, after 50 years Goodrich’s Shop Rite grocery store shutdown. The owners said their lease expired and the property owners wanted mo money.  In the Failed State of Flint, Kroger shutting down their Pierson Road grocery store in August. Company officials say sales have dropped so much they can’t pay the rent: “…it was determined during our evaluation that we were unable to continue operating at the 2629 Pierson Road, Flint location and made the decision to not renew our lease…” 

Retail store owners are going public, saying the WIC (Women Infants Children) taxpayer funded food program is killing their business. Apparently state Department of Community Health (DCH) is now limiting reimbursements for rural WIC sales, based on postal zip code. And in urban areas DCH will allow only 175 WIC customers per store. Roy Rabban, the owner of a Save-A-Lot, is pissed: “Not having WIC is like taking 10% of your business out of your pocket. I’m getting penalized…” 

Minnesota: In Twin Cities, nine Roundy owned Rainbow Foods grocery stores shutdown, with little notice! Officials from Roundy said the economy is so bad it can’t support all the grocery stores that are out there.  In Minneapolis, after nine years Social House restaurant shutdown, the operators blame the property owner for kicking them out, saying “We had absolutely no control over this situation…”   In Austin, after 10 years Quizno’s sandwich shop shutting down due to nobody wanting to takeover the store. The franchise owners simply said “It doesn’t look good.” In Mankato, after 20 years Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant announced they will shutdown in August. The local franchise owner blames “circumstances beyond my control.”

Mississippi: In Greenville, Kroger announced it will shutdown a grocery store in August, 70 jobs lost.

New Mexico: In Albuquerque, after 11 years the Thai Crystal-Thai Saweiy restaurant shutdown.

New Jersey: In West Milford, after at least six decades Big John’s Pub shutting down in August. Tracey Bennett, the owner, said “It is time for me to have a normal life without stress.”  In Montclair, Health, Love & Soul, Juice Bar & Grill shutdown.   In Berkeley Heights, after only four months New York based Garden of Eden grocery store shutdown. Company officials said “…business needs dictate that we cut our losses.” 

New York:  In Batavia, after ten years the drive thru Hot Shots Caffé shutting down in August. The owners made it sound like they were forced to go somewhere else.   After 77 years the Subway Inn announced it will shutdown in August. It’s being done in by a greedy property developer, the son of the bar owner said “It is upsetting but times have changed.”    In Buffalo, after only two months the owners of Chef’s Garage Pizza announced they’re shutting down. The owner basically said there are too many pizza restaurants.  In NYC, after seven years New Amsterdam Market shutdown. The owner of the popular market place said nobody was willing to continue debt financing the operation (which is actually how retail America works, not by actual sales).  In Greenwich Village the Pink Elephant bar now chapter 7 bankrupt busted. It’s blamed on the greedy property owner.  Crumbs Bake Shop shut down all 48 stores across several states, without notice! The cupcake store is now chapter 7 bankrupt busted, apparently the cupcake thing was just a fad, in the past year the company’s stock value fell from $13 per share to just 27 cents!  In Rochester, Nick Tahou Hots restaurant shutdown.

North Carolina:  In Greensboro, after 18 years Mahi’s Seafood Restaurant shutdown. The owner said he wanted to move to a cheaper location, but the economy is so bad he couldn’t pay for the move.  In Raleigh, after 102 years ( and surviving the Great Depression & numerous recessions) the Cameron Park Inn shutdown.  After 47 years the city’s first Dunkin’ Donuts shutdown. The owners said their franchise agreement expired in December 2013, and they just can’t afford to renew it.  In Durham, the owners of the ‘private’ Whiskey bar announced it will shutdown by August.  Charlotte based snack maker Snyder’s-Lance warned it will start killing jobs, after it sold off its private brands ops and took over Wisconsin based Baptista’s Bakery. In Havelock, an 18 years old Food Lion grocery store shutting down in October.

Ohio: In Massillon, Food4Less grocery store shutdown without notice! It was shutdown right in the middle of the afternoon while customers were shopping, about 15:00 hours according to local news reports. It’s the 3rd grocery store in the past six months to shutdown in the city of Massillon. Local news reports indicate that the owner of all three grocery stores had lost a major legal battle. One lawsuit claims the owner has yet to pay for store supplies she received as far back as 2011! Hundreds of jobs lost due to a incompetent or possibly deceitful store owner (kinda like a metaphor for those who’re running the United States)!  In Dayton, after less than one year two Peet’s Coffee & Tea shops shutdown, and another five throughout Ohio will shutdown in August! At least 90 jobs will be lost, but company officials said their own surveys show the economy in Ohio is going down the shitter, saying their stores “…have not performed to our expectations and didn’t have a promising future outlook.”  Springfield based Eby-Brown revealed it is shutting down their NewFreshCo Foods operations in August, 31 jobs lost. Eby-Brown claims to be the largest privately owned convenience store distributor in the U.S.

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, World Quality Holdings-World Foods announced they will shutdown their frozen foods op in September, 70 jobs lost. Company officials blame global competition, however, it could be more about their upcoming sale to a Japanese company.  The Gateway Market shutdown, way earlier than it was supposed to. Local news reports said it was the only grocery store for miles: “Everybody’s frustrated, the whole neighborhood. You know, I mean, they ain’t got no cars, no way of getting their groceries. What they going to do now?”-David Campbell, customer

Oregon: Texas based Berry Family of Nurseries announced they’re shutting down their Cornelius ops in September, at least 100 jobs lost!  In Portland, after four years Mextiza restaurant shutdown. In Eugene, after 35 years Keystone Cafe shutdown, 17 jobs lost. The owners blame increasing costs of operation, including higher insurance rates caused by Obama Care, for forcing them to “regretfully retire”. In Forest Grove, controversial Dream Girls Espresso shutdown. Apparently the female employees wore bikinis and would flash their boobs at customers. Even though they were wearing pasties on their nipples, one man (who for some reason liked to go there and buy coffee and take pics with his cell phone) was outraged and complained so much to the landlord that the lease was not renewed. This sounds like a clear case of ‘christian/religious’ prudery gone wild and resulting in job destruction: “He has basically stalked the stand since we’ve been open and has made several attempts at sending my landlord pictures to the point where it’s affecting their livelihood!”-Leah Sizemore, store owner

Pennsylvania: Four Arby’s restaurants were shutdown, without warning! The owner was under pressure to find debt financing to continue operations. Apparently the economy in Pennsylvania can’t support Arby’s.  In Lawrenceville, Paragon Foods canceled their plans to build a distribution center. The female president of the company said “It was unaffordable for us…”  In Monaca, EveryWare Global (formerly Anchor Hocking) announced that the temporary shutdown of their kitchenware factory could become permanent, 450 jobs lost! It’s blamed on EveryWare not being able to pay its debts. The deadline to come up with a payment plan favorable to creditors is July 15.   God refuses to stop the Franktuary hot dog restaurant at Trinity Cathedral from shutting down: “We’ve come to the end of an era. Franktuary will close its original set of doors on National Hot Dog Day, July 23rd, at 4 pm.”-owners

In Harrisburg, Zia’s at Red Door shutdown. The owner blames jacked up rent and the fact that the idiot A-hole city officials jacked up the cost of parking at the restaurant: “Parking definitely has a lot to do with it. We lost a lot of customers. A lot of customers won’t come down because of it.”-Rocco Rama

South Carolina: In Charleston, after six years the Vegetable Bin announced it is shutting down in August. The building failed a fire code inspection, and the owner says their sales aren’t enough to cover the cost of bringing it up to code.  In Walterboro, after 12 years the local Arby’s restaurant shutdown without notice. Local news reports say the restaurant has two signs posted on the building, one saying “Now Hiring!” and the other saying “Sorry we’re close.” (yep, they actually forgot to put the ‘d’ on the end of “close”). Local news reports said no restaurant official would talk to them to explain why the restaurant shutdown.

Tennessee:  In Chattanooga, after only two years wine bar Brix Nouveau shutdown. The owner blamed “several factors”.    Sharky’s Gulf Grill shutdown. Apparently the property is under a U.S. Department of Justice forced sale, having something to due with the property owner being accused of Facebook scams.  After four decades Vic and Bill’s Deli shutdown: “….it’s a part of home actually and it kinda feels that way closing it. But all good things have their time have their season and I guess our season is kind of ending.”-Angelia Captain Townsend, manager

Texas:  In Dallas/Fort Worth, Bonchon Korean style chicken restaurant shutdown. Reports said it seems there aren’t enough fans of Korean style food in Texas.   In Dallas (Oak Lawn), after 22 years Good Eats shutdown. The owners blame the greedy property owner saying “our landlord has refused to renew our lease”. In Austin, the Pour House Pub shutdown. The property is being demolished for a big retail development.  In Houston, after less than nine months Trenza restaurant shutdown.

Utah: In Salt Lake City, after 13 years two Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill restaurants shutting down at the beginning of August. Company officials blame the bad economy and competition: “It’s based on more competition in the downtown area. We appreciate every one of our guests, but unfortunately over the past few years, there have been fewer and fewer.”-Kennedy Turner

Virginia: After 50 years Fresh Pride began shutting down the last of its grocery stores, without notice. An undisclosed number of employees laid off, in the hundreds at least! The owner of Fresh Pride, Camellia Food Stores, said they can no longer compete in this bad economy.   Snack maker Prime Choice Foods now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Washington: In Seattle, after 20 years the owner of Hurricane Cafe announced he is forced to shutdown in January 2015. The restaurant owner blames the greedy property owner: “It’s not the way we wanted to go out for sure, losing a lease and getting torn down!”

Washington DC:  Watergate Wine & Beverage store now bankrupt busted and shutting down. The owner, Joseph Park, said regarding the economy that since 2006 “It’s slowly dying…..the business is just not here.” 

Wisconsin: In Stevens Point, Copps and Roundy’s grocery distribution center shutting down in August, 196 jobs lost! 27 Roundy’s grocery stores were sold off to SuperValu. The first Roundy’s was opened in 1872.  Food producer Cargill suddenly shutdown their Milwaukee slaughterhouse, killing off 600 jobs! Company officials blame a lack of affordable cows: “The harsh reality is that the U.S. beef cattle herd is at its lowest level since 1951, with any significant herd expansion being years away.”-company statement

U.S. Food Crisis, June 2014