Category Archives: Idaho

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

More Economic Decline: East Idaho shopping malls to close down? Pine Ridge quietly put up to be auctioned off in November! Merry Xmas!

17 October 2013 (18:21 UTC-07 Tango 16 October 2013)/12 Dhu’l-Hijja 1434/25 Mehr 1391/13 Ren-Xu (9th month) 4711

Reports that the Pine Ridge Mall in Chubbuck, Idaho, could soon be dead!  That’s if nobody bids on it.  A quietly announced auction, on Auction.com, for the entire mall is set for 05 November.

Illinois based General Growth Properties is refusing comment, but that’s because they are no longer the official owner.  Last year GGP turned the property over to its spinoff, Howard Hughes Corporation.  Texas based Howard Hughes seems to be the executioner for GGP, getting rid of money losing properties.

Some reports say Howard Hughes has taken over improperly valued GGP malls. The starting bid for the failed Pine Ridge Mall is a paltry $3 million USD!

If you’ve been following my economic reports out of the Chubbuck/Pocatello area, you know I used to work for mall owner GGP, and JPrice before that.

Auction.com talks up the mall, claiming it’s at 80% tenant capacity!  I find that hard to believe, because it was at 80% when I worked there, and that’s before losing two anchor stores!  Just check out my pics of the empty Sears!

Local TV news reports talked up the mall by naming anchor stores Sears and ShopKo.   I used to work property management there, and ShopKo is operating under a different contract, as if they are not part of the mall.  When I worked there ShopKo was responsible for all their own building maintenance, including parking lot trash pick up, landscaping and snow and ice removal during winter.

The newest anchor store is Herbergers, which is taking up residence in the old two story ZCMI then May Company then Dillards anchor location, yet it’s only a single story operation.

Also, there is conflicting info given by Auction.com and GGP.  Auction.com states there are 50 “unit” spaces at the mall, yet GGP’s website says 77 “Retail Stores”.

In 2009 GGP went bankrupt.  By 2010, 96 GGP malls emerged from chapter 11 bankruptcy, and according to bankruptcy news reports that included the Pine Ridge Mall.  However, in 2012 GGP got a a total of $7 billion in “property-level financings” to float dozens of its malls, according to GGP’s website.  Independent reports say the Pine Ridge Mall in Chubbuck, as well as the Grand Teton Mall in Idaho Falls, were included in that list of mortgage bailout refi loans (although I didn’t see them listed on the GGP site).

This year GGP reported in its 4th quarter report for 2012 that it “…disposed of approximately 3.2 million square feet of gross leasable area for $213 million.”, but they did not specify which properties were sold.

For the 3rd quarter 2012 GGP “…disposed of assets comprising approximately 2.7 million square feet of gross leasable area for $219.3 million.”

In the 2nd quarter 2012 GGP sold off their Foothills Mall in Colorado.

In 1st quarter 2012, 30 malls were transferred to Rouse Properties.  They also sold three properties for a total of $26.6 million.

“During 2011, GGP sold, or transferred to the mortgage holder, whole or partial interests in approximately 11.5 million square feet of gross leasable area for $879.7 million including property level debt of $752.1 million.”-GGP 4th quarter report for 2011

In 2011 it was also revealed that GGP had sold, or was selling off, most of its properties in Utah.

Here’s more of my reports:

A History Lesson in Economic Decline:

Idaho Sears closing down, without official notice?

Don’t forget to add the Sears stores bought by GGP to the closing list. 

GGP owns most of the malls in Idaho.

Mormon Mitt Romney……Destroyed jobs in Chubbuck, Idaho. 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: Obama Care heading into “Death Spiral”?

14 October 2013 (02:33 UTC-07 Tango)/09 Dhu’l-Hijja 1434/22 Mehr 1391/10 Ren-Xu (9th month) 4711

More than 11-thousand federal employees in Idaho have not been paid, but that’s not stopping Idahoans from flooding their elected officials with calls to stop Obama Care!

Idaho news reports say individual Idahoans are calling for the destruction of Obama Care by more than two to one, and are demanding their representatives in the U.S. Congress keep the federal government shut down until Obama Care is dead!

Unnamed sources in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services say as of 10 October only 51-thousand people have singed up for Obama Care, in a country with more than 313-million people!  But wait, it gets worse!  A new report says that going by insurance company reports, in actuality only 5-thousand people have signed up!

Hawaii reported no sign ups!

Kansas reported no sign up!

Maryland officials reported that nobody can sign up because there are no doctors participating: “….doctors and other providers are not yet available in Maryland Health Connection; therefore, if you choose to search for them on the website, you will receive a message that ‘no doctors are found’…”

Also in Maryland, the ignorant mayor of Baltimore, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, is now begging poor people to sign up!  I guess the elitist mayor doesn’t know that there are no participating doctors in the state (read above).

In Texas, a man says he tried for more than a week to access Healthcare.gov, and got nowhere.

National Public Radio (NPR) confirmed that Obama Care relies on young adults baring the burden of funding it.  It’s the Affordable Heath Care Act’s Achilles Heel: “The danger if you don’t get young, healthy people signing up…is that this program will collapse…We call it a death spiral. And many insurance companies have had death spirals so this is not a theoretical exercise.”-Robert Laszewski, Health Policy and Strategy Associates

Reports say young adults, who’re expected to bare the cost of Obama Care, are not signing up.  Here’s what one young adult said: “The problem with this plan is that it hoses young, relatively poor people like me right when we least need high bills for services they’re not using. And it helps older, relatively rich people who should be able to afford the care they need. If America’s downtrodden and struggling young people are smart, they’ll opt out. Then it’ll be up to the federal government to fine them enough to make up for the shortfall.”-Cathy Reisenwitz

Reports say anybody with a Health Savings bank account might as well spend that money on something else ’cause it doesn’t count under Obama Care!

Here’s a medical martial law reality check that one person got hit with after opting out of Obama Care (the statements have been disputed by Obama Care officials): “I actually made it through this morning at 8:00 A.M. I have a preexisting condition (Type 1 Diabetes) and my income base was 45K-55K annually I chose tier 2 ‘Silver Plan’ and my monthly premiums came out to $597.00 with $13,988 yearly deductible!!! There is NO POSSIBLE way that I can afford this so I ‘opt-out’ and chose to continue along with no insurance. I received an email tonight at 5:00 P.M. informing me that my fine would be $4,037 and could be attached to my yearly income tax return. Then you make it to the ‘REPERCUSSIONS PORTION’ for ‘non-payment’ of yearly fine. First, your drivers license will be suspended until paid, and if you go 24 consecutive months with ‘Non-Payment’ and you happen to be a home owner, you will have a federal tax lien placed on your home. You can agree to give your bank information so that they can easy ‘Automatically withdraw’ your ‘penalties’ weekly, bi-weekly or monthly! This by no means is ‘Free’ or even ‘Affordable’.”

By the way, the Healthcare.gov website cost taxpayers $634 million USD!

Some “exceptionalism”, way to go U.S.A.!

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 03-06 August 2013. Canadian company bails on California, says U.S. economy dragging them down! Japan taking over U.S. ATM industry! Social Security has already been cut, causing layoffs!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

AOL laid off another undisclosed number of employees.

Apple subsidiary FileMaker laid off 20 employees.

Internet shopping innovator, Geek.com, has abandoned the internet and will now operate traditional brick & mortar stores.

Alabama: At Fort Rucker, tax sucking military aircraft maintenance contractor, Army Fleet Support, laid off 70 employees.  Apparently the U.S. Army is intentionally reducing aircraft flights to save money on fuel, but that also means a reduction in aircraft maintenance intervals.  In Jefferson County, two Food World grocery stores closed.  The parent company, Belle Foods, is bankrupt and will close/sell off stores in several states.

California: In La Jolla, Kashi closed down. 28 people laid off.  In San Jose, Bon Appetit Management closed, 188 people out-o-work!  In Hayward, for profit legal drugs pusher, Impax Labs, laid off 142 employees! The FDA rejected Impax’s new costly Parkinson’s drug.  In Fontana, Canadian based trucking company, Viatran Express, ended U.S. operations. Company officials said they had to get out of the U.S. economy if they were to remain profitable! 87 California jobs lost.  In Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center laid off 113 employees!  In Bassett, National Envelope shut down, 147 jobs lost!  For the reason see Wisconsin, below.  In Yuba, Rideout Health laid off 13 employees. Originally 90 employees were gonna get the axe.  Company officials are struggling to adjust their operating budget to the new Obama Care funding.

Colorado: In Colorado Springs, Lang’s Shoes closed.

Florida: In Miami, AgroTrade America laid off 157 employees!  No official reason given. Homewrecker RealAuction.com/RealForeclosure.com now bankrupt.  Good!  ATM operator, Global Axcess, sold its assets for $10 Million USD, then went bankrupt!  U.S. news reports said the ATM operations were sold to a California based company, however, according to a report in The Japan Times the so-called California company is really a front (“wholly owned U.S. subsidiary”) for a Japanese company called Seven Banks. In Orlando, Orlando Health laid off hundreds of employees in a second round of cuts.  Hospital officials warned back in November 2012 they were forced to layoff up to 400 employees, due to a 20% cut in Medicaid funding (thank you Obama Care)!  In West Boca, popular kids indoor playcenter, Playtown Cafe, shut down. It’s blamed on the property owner and property developers.

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

Illinois: Allsup, a company that helps people with their disability funding, laid off 65 employees.  Company officials blame it on the U.S. Social Security Administration.  Company officials also warned of more possible layoffs due to the rip off called Obama Care.

Indiana: In Lafayette, heavy equipment maker Caterpillar laid off 125 people!  Company officials blame their crashing sales on the dead economy in Europe, and a slowing economy in China.

Kentucky: Fruit of the Loom laid off an undisclosed number of employees.  Company officials would only say it was less than 100.  The United States Enrichment [Uranium] Corporation began laying off employees at its Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant.  The first round will put 160 people out-o-work.  It’s blamed on high production costs and falling nuclear fuel prices.

Maryland: In Hagerstown, women’s clothing store Lena’s closed.  The store’s manager/investor said the economy is dead: “The economic situation in Hagerstown and Washington County is, I mean I know others may say other things, but to me it is pretty devastated!”-Lori Ruda

Massachusetts: In Wesseley, the 84 years old upscale women’s clothing Triangle Shop closed. The greedy property owner suddenly canceled the lease, no warning.  The current shop owner is hoping to re-open in a new location.

New Hampshire: Stop & Shop grocery stores shut down across the state.  670 people out-o-work!  It sounds like BS to me because the corporate officials said the grocery stores “…have not achieved performance goals…”, they never said the stores were losing money.

New York: In NYC, Green Chimneys-Gramercy Group Residence for homeless homosexual children closed after hidden video cameras revealed physical abuse of children by staff.  Teenagers also claimed sexual and financial exploitation.  43 people deservedly unemployed. Upstate Cerebral Palsy laid off 26 teachers. It’s blamed on a sudden and unexpected crash in student enrollment: “We can’t refer students if we don’t have them.”-Lori Eccleston, Utica City School District

North Carolina: The Craven County School District laid off 36 teachers.  It’s blamed on $1.27 million in state funding cuts!  In Rockingham, the Goodman Furniture store closed.

Ohio: In Mason, Bradley Caldwell (BCI) closed down.  81 jobs lost.  In Waverly, 58 years old Streitenberger’s Garage shut down.  In Toledo, Maryland based Ukazoo Books closed. The retail space is now being used for internet sales only.

Oregon: The Umatilla Chemical Weapons Depot laid off 100 people! The depot is shutting down, claiming they’ve destroyed the last of their CW.  Since 2011 hundreds of employees have been laid off.

Pennsylvania: In Johnstown, Yankee Shoe Repair factory shut down after 92 years of operations. The owner blamed a multitude of things: “Without sufficient skilled staff, and considering current footwear buying trends, coupled with economic conditions, the long term stability of the business was in jeopardy…Given the materials used in footwear today, 95% of the shoes people buy can’t be repaired.”-Larry Coco

South Carolina: In Clinton non-profit Alzheimer’s care center, Senior Options, laid off 21 more staff.  Back in March they laid off 20 drivers, a direct result of cuts to Medicaid funding (Obama Care)!  In Aiken, funding cuts from the U.S. Department of Energy forces Shaw Project Services Group/Savannah River Remediation to layoff 485 employees!  Also in Aiken, AREVA Federal Services laid off 28 employees.  In Landrum, the Christian God can’t stop the Blue Ridge Christian Academy from shutting down.  School officials said they couldn’t raise enough funding for the school year.  The school also caused controversy with a science test given to fourth graders last year.

Tennessee: In Memphis, tech startup Work for Pie failed.  Lack of revenue is blamed.

Texas: In Midland, AT&T closed down, 101 people unemployed! In Roanoke, Ryder Logistics closed down, 60 people unemployed.

Wisconsin: In Appleton, bankrupt National Envelope shut down after being sold off.  153 people unemployed!  Employees across the country affected as well.

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 shut down.

Business/Economics, Idaho, Technology, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? 700 million+ dollar white elephant for sale in Idaho! I’ve been warning you!

11 October 2013 (16:48 UTC-07 Tango)/06 Dhu’l-Hijja 1434/19 Mehr 1391/07 Ren-Xu (9th month) 4711

It’s now official; Idaho’s Hoku Materials polysilicon factory is now up for auction, in whole or in part, without ever making one production run.

The “bulk or piecemeal” auction runs for 24 hours, beginning on 23 October 2013.  Visit www.hgpauction.com for more info (under In Progress and Upcoming Sales) .

I’ve been following this disaster for years, here’s more on the demise of Hoku Materials:

Idaho Falls company needs your support…

Idaho Electric rates going up, blame the demise of Pocatello’s Hoku silicone factory!

Capitalist Commodity Markets to blame for Pocatello’s Hoku Polysilicon near abandonment!

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 16 July 2013. Hundreds more call center employees now unemployed! Hundreds lose their jobs as a result of government investigations!

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

In Arkansas, the Christian God allowed 170 people to lose their jobs with hospitals run by Baptist Health.  Company officials blame Obama Care: “We are undertaking a number of initiatives that will position our organization to address the challenges of health reform and severe federal budget cuts.”-Mark Lowman, company spokeman

California based vascular disease treatment device maker Volcano Corporation laid off 39 employees.  The new Obama Care creates a new tax on medical devices.  In Fresno, Too Big to Jail Bank of America laid off 543 call center employees.  In Redwood City, video game maker Trion Worlds laid off 68 employees.  In Sunnyvale, data collections manager Netapp laid off 235 people. It’s part of the 900 layoffs announced back in May.

Oklahoma based phone company, TerraCom, laid off 700 people across 23 states.  This was a result of the Federal Communications Commission warning phone companies that their sales staff will be investigated for violating FCC rules.

In Oklahoma, The Tulsa World laid off 50 employees.

Government contractor, Lockheed Martin, announced plans to layoff 300 employees (on top of those they’ve already been laying off).  Company officials blame the unstable economy.

In New York, United Airlines laid off 40 employees at the Greater Rochester International Airport.  United Airlines is also ending operations at the airport, as well as in Albany.  Company officials blame the bad economy.  The Harrisville Dry Kiln plant shut down, laying off 30 employees.  In Mineola, Mexican owned Entenmann’s Bakery Outlet closed.  Company officials claim they will open again, if property owners can agree to an acceptable lease deal.  In Mount Kisco, The Farm grocery store closed. The owner says the recession is far from over: “We’ve experienced a big drop off every year since the recession! Business has simply not been good. There’s no other reason to it.”-George Kim

In New Jersey, 80 people lost their jobs with Wagner Spray Tech.  Jobs are being moved to Minneapolis. The Revel casino lad off 75 management staff.  Company officials blame the bad economy: “We are looking at how to run the business given the difficult operating environment.”-Jeffrey Hartmann, CEO

In North Carolina, Wilson County Schools laying off 67 teacher assistants.  It’s blamed on state funding cuts.  Government contractor, General Dynamics, closing its Charlotte Armament and Technical Products operations.  90 employees affected.  Company officials blamed unstable economic conditions.

What automotive industry recovery? In South Carolina, 200 jobs lost as Federal Mogul Friction Products shut down operations.  They make brakes for cars.  Company officials say they are consolidating operations to remain competitive.

Total Quality Plastics shutting down their Waukesha County operations in Wisconsin.  32 people unemployed.

In Washington, Mel’s Nursery shut down after 40 years in business.  The owner said she had to sell the property, but hopes she can open another nursery business.

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 shut down.

Idaho, International, U.S.

World War 3, Asian Front-Afghanistan, 28-29 August 2013: Idaho NGO gets out? New war promised in India after 2014 NATO pullout! Cops shoot up fellow cops!

Ghazni Province, U.S./NATO Provincial Reconstruction Team-Ghazni was attacked by Mujahideen.  Two U.S./NATO helicopters that landed at the PRT base were engaged with heavy caliber machine gun fire.  Several U.S./NATO ground vehicles destroyed. 15 Mujahideen killed. Two local cops killed, seven civilians killed, at least 50 people wounded.  Nine Polish/NATO troops wounded.  A U.S. Army Staff Sergeant from New York was killed. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.  A U.S. Army Sergeant 1st Class, from Arkansas, was also killed.  He was assigned to 307th Engineer Battalion (Combat/Airborne), 20th Engineer Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps.

Maidan Wardak Province, Nerkh District, U.S./NATO airstrike killed two people.  In Syed Abad District, Mujahideen claim they attacked the same U.S./NATO supply convoy at least twice.  They say they destroyed 17 fuelers, two escort vehicles, and killed 10 people.

Paktia Province, Syed Karam District, U.S./NATO bombed a village killing at least three people.

Zabul Province, Nawbahar District, during heavy fighting between Afghan and Mujahideen forces the Afghan National Army called in a U.S./NATO airstrike.  It hit several villages, killing at least seven civilians.

Farah Province, Balablock District, Mujahideen ambushed a U.S./NATO fuel supply convoy, using RPGs.  At least 35 fuelers exploded into massive fireballs (some reports say 40).  Six contract drivers killed, dozens reported wounded.  In Bakwa and Gulistan districts Mujahideen ambushed a Afghan police convoy.  15 cops killed, 22 wounded, five cop vehicles destroyed.  Two Mujahideen killed.

Helmand Province, Lashkar Gah city, a suicide bomber rammed his car into a NATO military convoy.  At least four people killed and 15 wounded.  In Nawzad District a night time Israeli style home invasion resulted in one villager being killed.

Herat Province, Gulran District, the Idaho based International Rescue Committee has temporarily suspended operations, after five employees were killed.

Baghlan Province, Tala Barfak District, villagers rescued four engineers who had been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

Kabul Province, Kabul city, the Ministry of Mines was attacked with rockets.  One person wounded.

Kandahar Province, Daman District, a cop from Helmand shot and wounded 16 others cops.  In Maiwand District a day time Israeli home invasion resulted in two ‘white beard’ elders being kidnapped by government forces.

Nine government personnel joined the Mujahideen in the provinces of Herat and Nanagarhar.

Khost Province, Qalandar District, rare forests are being illegally chopped down: “…a lucrative industry has developed smuggling high value hardwoods to Pakistan.”-United Nations Environment Programme

In India controlled Kashmir, freedom fighters promised to launch a new war for independence as soon as U.S. led NATO leaves Afghanistan.  Thousands of Mujahideen from Afghanistan will help liberate Kashmir: “The encounter between Mujahideen and Indian forces will enhance to an unprecedented level. The increase in attacks will be enormous and Indian forces will face huge losses.”-Syed Salahuddin, United Jihadi Council

A U.S. News & World report reveals that the U.S. Department of Defense buys all its fuel, for the occupation of Afghanistan, from Russia and other former Soviet countries!

Business/Economics, Idaho

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 05-08 July 2013. California hit hard again! More health care cuts! More greedy landlords!

In Tennessee, Vanderbilt University Medical Center laid off an undisclosed amount of employees.  Hospital officials blame “unprecedented financial challenges” on the Obama/Romney care (2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act).

Eastern State Hospital laid off at least 65 people in Kentucky.  It’s a result of a change in who runs the state hospital.

200 people lost their jobs with the Kansas Department for Children and Families.  Kansas privatized their child support enforcement.

Rock Tenn closed in Wisconsin.  60 people unemployed.

In Illinois, the Martin George culinary antique store closed after only one year in business.  The owner is switching to internet sales only.   The Competitive Foot closed in LaGrange.   The store opened in 1974 and was the “first athletic shoe store in Illinois”.  The owners are focusing on one store now.

Linens-n-More closed in Niles, Ohio.  Company officials did not give an explanation.  In Lakewood, Tess’ Tender Touch closed after less than a year in business!  The owners blame the greedy landlord: “We just simply cannot afford the rent any longer.  I am very sad as I poured my heart and soul into it.”-Theresa Ferline-Carr

The Kellogg Municipal Liquor store shut down in Minnesota. It’s blamed on the bad economy, they can make more money renting out the building or even selling it.

In Nebraska, Dietze Music shut down their original 87 years old store in Lincoln.  Company officials blamed competition and themselves: “We either have a lot of stamina or are really stupid. It had worked for us until the competition got more and more, including our own competition.”-Tim Pratt

In Massachusetts, Mid-Cape Home Centers Design Showroom closed in Hyannis.  The owners blamed it on a bad location, and the fact that design centers don’t make enough money, even Home Depot stopped their design center scheme a few years ago.

Historic WBAI, broadcasting from atop the Empire State building in New York City, going out-o-business?  80% of employees were laid off!  Company officials blame it on their unionized workers.  The Golden Eagle Artist Supply store closed in East Hampton, after more than 50 years of  service.  Store owners said the evil property owner rented the building out to another tenant, without notice to them!  The New York Foundling closed.  34 people laid off.  In Astoria, Anchor Tank Lines shut down.  67 people unemployed.  After 40 years of business the Hampton Bays Hallmark store closed.  The owner blamed the bad economy and greedy landlords: “Our lease was up and we couldn’t afford the increase.”-Frank (refused to give last name)

In New Jersey, The Press of Atlantic City Media Group laid off 43 employees.

In Connecticut, Brookfield Craft Center closed after almost 60 years of service. Declining funding is blamed on the bad economy.

In Pennsylvania, Waterloo Gardens closed in Exton. The 71 years old gardening and landscaping center went bankrupt, the owners blame it on their evil bank.   After 80 years, Mt. Oliver Men’s Shop closed down!  The current owner said the store survived the Great Depression, but not this bad economy: “I thought the next year would be better. This store made it through the Depression. But then I had another bad year, and I couldn’t restock because everyone wants paid up front.”-Ralph Woods

Chenega Aerospace closed in West Virginia.  128 people out-o-work!

In Arkansas, Hewlett Packard laid off 500 people, a little less than half of the employees at the Conway HP call center!  HP is “restructuring” its call center operations.

In Frisco City, Alabama, Standard Furniture shut down.  157 jobs lost!

After 40 years, the Lollipop Shop children’s clothing store in Greensboro, North Carolina, shut down.  The owner blamed the bad economy.

Barnie’s Coffee & Tea closed in Florida.  The owner is moving to a new location and changing the name.  Liberty Medical Supply laid off another 211 employees!

After more than 50 years in business, Play It Again Sports closed in Aberdeen, South Dakota: “Our closing is a sign of the times. Smaller sporting goods stores have a hard time making it.”-Chad Masters, owner

In Montana, the Copper Colander kitchen supply store closed down.  The owner was trying to sell the business, but there were no buyers.

In Twin Falls, Idaho, Nazzkart go-cart racing center shut down.  The operator was given the chance to buy the property but couldn’t, so the property owner sold it to someone else.

SolarWorld Industries America laid off 100 employees in Oregon!  This despite Qatar investing $50 million USD into the company.  Company officials blame their losses on competition from Chinese made solar power products, even though the Obama regime imposed outrageous tariffs on Chinese products.  Xerox shut down call center operations in Coos Bay and North Bend. 300 jobs lost!

In Riverside, California, Monograms Etc closed after 30 years in business.  The store owners blame it on the Utah based property owners, who jacked up the rent, and is selling the building off anyway!  In San Diego, Health Net laid off 33 people.  And evil British empire BAE Systems laid off another 81 employees.  In Palm Springs, Hotel Zoso closed.  98 people unemployed.  In Simi Valley, Avnet Integrated laid off 108 people!  In Vernon, Pneumatic Scale Angelus closed, 111 jobs lost!

After two decades, Microsoft turning off MSN TV (aka WebTV).  Company officials blame new better ways to access TV shows on the internet.

Residential Capital, the mortgage lending unit of U.S. government owned Ally Financial, now bankrupt with at least $4 billion in debt.  U.S. taxpayers own about 75% of Ally Financial, a former General Motors company.  Ally still owes at least $10 billion to U.S. taxpayers.

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 shut down.

Idaho, International, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Front: Short lived anti-war protest in Pocatello

31 August 2013 (15:29 UTC-07 Tango)/24 Shawwal 1434/09 Shahrivar 1391/25 Geng-Shen (7th month) 4711

Click pics to make bigger

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 27 June 2013. Idaho steals jobs from California! Florida steals jobs from South Carolina! “End of an era!”

Waterbury Hospital laid off 83 employees in Connecticut.  It’s blamed on Affordable Health Care Act.   Sikorsky Aircraft laid off 200 people, mostly in Connecticut.  Company officials blame the government and the bad economy: “…we face difficult challenges. U.S. and international government budgets are shrinking, our costs to compete are increasing, and many customers are delaying purchase decisions amid the economic uncertainty.”-Paul Jackson

Kansas based Butler National Corporation warned of jobs and wage cuts.  The aerospace and service sector business reported its first economic loss since 2001.

Pepperidge Farm closed its bakery in Aiken, South Carolina.  115 people out-o-work!  Production shifted to Florida.

In Florida, California based Pinkberry frozen yogurt closed its Citrus Park store.  No official explanation why.

Cobb Electric Membership eliminating off as many as 110 jobs in Georgia!  Officials basically said they believe the utility co-op is overstaffed.

Too Big to Jail, Bank of America, laying off even more employees.  This time 20 people will lose their jobs in Belfast, Maine.

In New York, the Mecca of capitalist unAmerican corporate America, employees of Dow Jones Newswires (DJN), and the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), were warned of massive layoffs.   Evil British empire in U.S. clothing News Corporation is splitting up WSJ and DJN.  España Spanish restaurant closed in Larchmont.  The owner said “someone made an offer too good to pass up.”

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society laid off 22 employees.  It’s blamed on a surprise drop in the 2013 Flower Show attendance, the lowest in more than a decade.

In Wisconsin, Thelma’s and the Guy’s Shop shut down after 40 years of operations.  The owners said it’s time to retire.  And the Jade Cafe closed.  The owner blames the bad economy.  He says he’s lost $100-thousand USD since last year!  He couldn’t get the debt financing to continue: “In my heart, I knew probably three months ago, unless something changed dramatically, we were going to have to be closing, the finances weren’t what they needed to be for us to stay open.”-Ryan Niemeier

PNC Bank closed two offices in Ohio.  It’s part of a country wide scheme by most Too Big to Jail banks to close down as many offices as possible.

What housing market recovery?  In Illinois, after 118 years the Winfield Fuel & Material building supply store shut down.  The owner said there’s no housing market recovery for him: “It just hurts. I can’t tell you how many days I’ve been in there and I’ve been in tears.  It’s very traumatic to go through this.…It’s like the end of an era!”-Tom Saylor, had planned on leaving the business to his adult children

In Folsom, California, evil Verizon laid off 132 people!  It’s part of Verizon’s country wide job cutting plan.  The operator of the defunct San Onofre nuke plant, Southern California Edison, began laying off employees.  600 people were let go.  Many hundreds more will eventually be laid off.  After 85 years of business Glass & Gifts in Santa Cruz closed down.  The latest owner said the bad economy is a sign for her to move on.   In San Fransisco 20 years old Lakeside Cafe shut down.  Reports say there was a dispute with the property owner.  And France based Mozzarella Fresca in Tipton shut down.  144 people out-o-work!  Production was shifted to a new $40 million factory in Nampa, Idaho.

No more Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Hawaii?  Two KFCs closed in connection to the GGP owned Ala Moana Center.  The franchise owner says he has to become more efficient by consolidating restaurants.

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 shut down.

 

Idaho

13 year drought finally finished? Pocatello, Idaho, hit with massive downpour!!!

24 August 2013 (19:27 UTC-07 Tango 23 August 2013)/17 Shawwal 1434/02 Shahrivar 1391/18 Geng-Shen (7th month) 4711

Officially, Idaho has been in a drought since 2000.  Has it finally ended for Bannock County?

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There were many other streets flooded, including residential streets that had water up to the axles of the pick up trucks parked on the side of the road, and all the front yards were flooded.  There were parts of Yellowstone Avenue that looked like someone took a sledge hammer to it, lots-o-new pot holes.  My camera battery died, and it didn’t help that some jerk in a big SUV almost drowned me as I was taking pics!