Arkansas: University of Arkansas Medical Science eliminating 124 additional jobs, on top of the 6-hundred positions announced last month, due to being $72.3-million USD in the hole!
California: San Diego based Scripps Health reported a 94% crash in operating income! The hospital says operating costs are outpacing revenues. Anthem Blue Cross accusing Sonoma West Medical Center-Palm Drive Health Care District of a $13.5-million USD fraudulent billing scam. Federal government accusing Health Net of interfering with a Info-Tech audit, violating its contract with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. A husband and wife team accused of ripping off Medicaid taxpayers to the tune of $5-million, while they were managing Community Health Group in San Diego. Federal auditors also accuse California of failing to scrutinize $7-billion of Medicaid payments in 2016. San Diego based life science company Illumina eliminating 61 jobs mid-April. ReVision Optics issued a layoff WARN, 40 jobs in Lake Forest gone by the end of March. Blue Shield issued a layoff WARN, 44 San Francisco jobs gone by March. God powerless to stop ‘his’ Adventist Health Bakersfield from eliminating 177 jobs by April! Adventist Health White Memorial eliminating 160 Los Angeles jobs by April! Novartis Pharmaceuticals suddenly laid off 29 people in San Carlos. Pacific Alliance Medical Center finally revealed that it killed 731 Los Angeles jobs when it shutdown back in December! Texas based Concentra issued a layoff WARN for its Valencia ops, 134 jobs gone by April! Maker of plastic medical products Nypro issued a shutdown WARN for its factory in Porterville, 111 jobs gone by April!
Connecticut: New haven based Achillion Pharmaceuticals eliminating 18 jobs after partner Johnson & Johnson halted its support for developing a new Hep-C drug. After almost non-stop layoffs since 2016, Bristol-Myers Squibb announced an additional 107 more layoffs by April, as part of a plan to halt operations in Wallingford! Out of fear of lawsuits, Stamford based Purdue Pharmahalted promotional ops to get doctors to push their opioid drugs. Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics eliminating 198 jobs as part of its plan to halt ops in Brookfield by September!
Florida: Pensacola Naval Hospital shifting to outpatient pediatric care only, starting in July. Transitions Optical eliminating 34 Pinellas Park jobs mid-April.
Georgia: Federal government accusingHCA Healthcare owned Memorial University Medical Center of failing to comply with Medicare billing rules, at least 39 times, estimating that taxpayers overpaid the hospital by $1.4-million USD. Marietta based WellStar Health System laid off 49 people, including seven executives. Six hospitals suing Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield for refusing to cover the costs of MRIs and CT scans. Two nurses with Northeast Atlanta Health and Rehabilitation charged with killing a patient in 2014, while other nurses watched and laughed. Others were charged with covering up the death. Security camera video shows the nurses cutting off the air to a World War-2 veteran and other nurses laughing as he begged for his life!
Idaho: The federal Health and Human Services Secretary met with Idaho administrators to discuss Idaho’s plan to offer health insurance that is not approved by ObamaCare-ACA, details of the meeting were not made public.
Illinois: Outcome Health suddenly laid off an additional 20 people (after eliminating 215 positions last year), possibly in connection with an investor fraud settlement. Naperville based Edward-Elmhurst Health slashing $35-million USD from its budget (on top of slashing $50-million last year), with layoffs in the works, due to a $92-million accounting error! Chicago based Norwegian American Hospital threatening to shutdown its pediatric unit by the end of March, due to crashing demand for services (only nine patients in 2016 and zero in 2017). News reports say other hospitals are considering similar shutdowns. Israel based Teva issued a shutdown WARN for its ops in Gurnee, 101 jobs gone between now and the end of the year!
Indiana: Med Express Urgent Care in Terre Haute shutdown due to ‘business reasons’. Indiana University Health Paoli Hospital shutting down its obstetrics unit, ten jobs affected by the end of March. Medical device maker Cook Medical restructuring in response to the changing global healthcare market, mainly through consolidation of operations (which usually means job cuts).
Kentucky: Kindred Healthcare reported a $135-million USD loss in its fourth quarter of 2017. Four executives of Louisville based Humana made more than $12-million USD combined by selling-off their own stock holdings in Humana.
Massachusetts: UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital shutting down its gastrointestinal unit, eight jobs affected. Morton Hospital shutting down its maternity ward in April. Lemuel Shattuck Hospital shutting down, 7-hundred jobs affected by 2021! Boston based drugs maker Intarcia suddenly laid off 60 people due to the FDA rejecting its latest drug. Steward Health Care moving its HQ to Texas, affecting 1-hundred jobs in Boston! Partners HealthCare off-shoring 1-hundred tech jobs, to India! Also in Boston, Sanofi Genzyme laying off 130 people in an effort to reduce operating costs! Lowell General Hospital laid off seven health info-tech employees.
Michigan: Employees of Borgess Medical Center warned of massive layoffs due to the hospital being “over budget”, despite hospital administrators boasting of building a new addition to the hospital, which will cost at least $35-million USD. Mmmm, wonder why they’re over budget? Texas owned Detroit Medical Center reducing meal options for patients and eliminating 3-hundred jobs saying “It’s part of a plan to be much more efficient…” Sparrow Health System shutting down its Saint Lawrence emergency room in May. Henry Ford Allegiance Health agreed to settled a federal lawsuit accusing it of colluding with other hospitals to intentionally limit advertising competition within their respective counties. Memorial Healthcare facing a federal lawsuit after allegedly rejecting a nurses job application, because she refused to get a flu shot as part of her religious beliefs.
Minnesota: Shriners Hospitals for Children-Twin Cities“evaluating alternative options for inpatient care” including a total shutdown. The Star Tribune reporting 341 ‘preventable’ medical errors in 2017, at least 12 people died and 103 injured due to increased incompetence in Minnesota hospitals. In Fridley, DaVita Clinical Research eliminating 53 jobs by mid-April.
Missouri: Non-profit Western Missouri Medical Center suddenly eliminated 41 jobs saying “We have not been immune to the ever-growing challenges in the healthcare industry…” A woman sentenced to five years probation for posing as a nurse instructor at Saint Alexius Hospital, it was shown she lied about her education and employment history, and stole a nursing license from a nurse in New Mexico. Taxpayer funded Iron County Medical Center now chapter 9 bankrupt busted. Administrators are also asking voters to approve a sales tax hike to increase funding of the hospital.
Montana: A now former CFO of Rocky Boy Health Clinic spending 12 months in prison for fraud.
Nebraska: Methodist Hospital halting home health and hospice services in March, affecting 40 jobs.
New Hampshire:LRGHealthcare shutting down its maternity ward by the end of May. Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital shutting down its maternity ward, 12 jobs gone mid-July.
New Jersey: Israel based Teva Pharmaceuticals suddenly laid off 46 people in Parsippany, as part of its plan to eliminate 18-thousand jobs globally.
New Mexico: University of New Mexico Hospital being sued by a former immigrant employee who says co-workers bullied her because of her accent. The state health department is facing lawsuits claiming conflict of interest in how Medicaid contracts are awarded, such a lawsuit by Molina Healthcare has been thrown out of court, but other lawsuits are pending.
New York: Pfizer issued a shutdown WARN for its Rouses Point drugs factory, 82 jobs affected by March. Cayuga Centers eliminating 120 jobs as it halts residential treatment ops, blaming ObamaCare-ACA for the loss of $2-million USD since July 2017! On-demand tele-health company Teledoc reported a loss of $106.8-million, possibly in connection with its take-over of rival Best Doctors. A U.S. District Judge found the now former drugs company CEO Martin Shkreli (the one who jacked-up prices outrageously) guilty of frauding investors and causing the companies he worked for to lose a combined total of $10.4-million. Nassau University Medical Center spent two days eliminating $674-thousand worth of salaried and contracted jobs, in an effort to save $1.67-million for “mission critical” jobs. Taxpayer funded Hunter College is suing one of its nurses after it discovered the nurse is living in the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing dorm, and has been for the past 40 years. Local news reports say that particular nurse isn’t the only one living in the college dorm as it’s apparently the result of a contract from a discontinued nursing program that dates back to the 1960s.
North Carolina: A doctor at Duke University School of Medicine sued saying the university engaged in hiring collusion with UNC School of Medicine. The case could affect 5-thousand-649 faculty at both universities! Atrium Health (formerly Carolinas HealthCare System) admitted it had reduced working hours for 90 employees since November 2017 and more labor cost cuts were in the planning, which is interesting because Atrium Health is still advertising that it is hiring. Novant Health suddenly eliminated 23 jobs. State investigators fined Strategic Behavioral Health Center $20-thousand for violating patient safety laws. The ‘behavioral’ center was mistreating patients so badly that dozens escaped, which alerted investigators.
Ohio:New York Based Personal Touch Home Care halting ops in Ohio and eliminating at least 257 jobs by mid-April! Memorial Health Systems suddenly laid off 15 people and shifted 1-hundred employees into new jobs, blaming it on an expected reduction in taxpayer funded Medicare spending. Philips Medical Systems eliminating 65 jobs mid-April. Cardinal Health eliminating 101 jobs mid-April!
Oklahoma: The state Department of Health interim commissioner and Cabinet Secretary of Finance, Administration and Information Technology resigned after being accused of domestic violence.
Oregon: God powerless to stop ‘his’ Adventist Medical Center from eliminating 157 jobs in Portland!
Pennsylvania: A now former UPMC Health Plan director is spending two years in federal prison for stealing $846-thousand USD from UPMC, by creating ‘ghost workers’ on the payroll.
South Carolina: Regional Medical Center suddenly laid off an undisclosed number of people, an audit last month revealed the hospital lost $7-million USD, administrators warned of more layoffs saying “We are in very challenging times.” Medical University of South Carolina revealed it fired 13 employees for espionage-ing patient records, in 2017.
Tennessee: Franklin based Community Health Systems reported a loss of $2-billion USD in their fourth quarter of 2017, despite selling-off hospitals! More Community Health Systems owned hospitals will be sold-off in 2018.
Texas: Dallas based Tenet Healthcare reported a $230-million USD loss in its fourth quarter of 2017, despite $5-billion in revenues, despite killing 2-thousand jobs nationwide and despite taking advantage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Utah: State legislators advanced a bill to the state Senate that would prohibit hospitals and health systems from testing a doctor’s competency! 20 volunteers at University of Utah Hospital are ensuring no patient dies alone, it’s part of a growing movement called No One Dies Alone.
Vermont: It was revealed that Brattleboro Memorial Hospital paid state and federal regulators $1.7-million USD to settle claims that it submitted false outpatient laboratory claims to Medicaid and Medicare.
Virginia: University of Virginia Health System ‘exposed’ data of more than 1-thousand-8-hundred patients over 17 months.
Washington: Skagit Regional Health revealed it had laid off 94 people and shutdown 36 vacant positions during the past seven months, due to $17-million USD in losses since 2016.
Washington DC: The former CMO of United Medical Center says he was fired for blowing the whistle on the hospital’s “malfeasance affecting patient health and safety” and “submission of fraudulent statements to Medicare and Medicaid.” The Internal Revenue Service hitting employers with fines for violating ObamaCare-ACA employee insurance mandate. Federal Health and Human Services new Conscience and Religious Freedom division received more than 3-hundred complaints since 18JAN2018.
Wisconsin: Marshfield Clinic Health System reported a loss of $17-million USD directly blaming lower reimbursements on the halting of cost sharing taxpayer funded subsidies to ObamaCare-ACA. Agnesian HealthCare hit by federal lawsuit accusing it of a doctor kick-back Medicare scam. Mike Flint Enterprises-Interim Healthcare of Wisconsin-Mallatt’s Homecare Pharmacy eliminating 168 jobs starting in April!
Wyoming: Campbell County Health-Powder River Surgery Center lost $200-thousand USD as a result of Medicaid and Medicare billing delays caused by recent changes to the hospital system, including software upgrades, however they still reported an overall profit in 2017.
“Today is really special, the relationship with National Guard goes back to 1961 and they have gone the extra mile to get this building in great condition for this transfer of ownership.”-Kenneth Manuel, Mayor of Woodland
At the end of February the North Carolina Army National Guard quietly off-loaded one of its Armories onto the city taxpayers of Woodland. It’s part of an operation called Installation Strategic Action Plan/Readiness Center Transformation Master Plan (RCTMP).
Ostensibly North Carolina is trying to save state taxpayers money by consolidating its Army National Guard Armories into larger state-run military bases. According to military sources it’s really about dealing with North Carolina’s changing population demographics and the acquisition of the latest Army technologies: “The RCTMP is a consolidation effort to better serve the state and meet the needs of a modernized force.”-Lieutenant Colonel Rodney Newton
The RCMTPs being built in Morganton and McLeansville are costing state taxpayers at least $70-million USD. Many other states are attempting their own RCMTPs, but apparently are not able to raise the local taxpayer funds to do so.
“Competing seemed like a great opportunity. For me, it wasn’t an imitation factor. I used to be a Marine and I remember every year my commander would send out an invite for individuals interested in the competition. When I saw the email for this year and saw the list of different knowledge responsibilities I went ahead and tried out.”-Technical Sergeant Jennifer Brown, Texas Air National Guard
Only eight Texas Air Guards-‘men’ were chosen for the 2018 Texas Military Department Best Warrior Competition, one of them is a woman.
“The ruck has been the most challenging thus far. I don’t think I was as prepared for the last four miles of fatigue, but it’s something you have to learn and power through on your own. The obstacle course was the most fun. It was hard at points, but the competition is about challenging yourself. Getting over the fear factor.”-Technical Sergeant Jennifer Brown, more than fifteen years combined USMC and Texas Air National Guard
Official video explainer:
Another official video explainer:
The Texas Best Warrior Competition involves warfare simulations, written and physical exams, as well as things like a 19km (12 miles) march, followed by M4 (M16) and .50 caliber machine gun qualification. Personnel from the Texas Army National Guard, as well as personnel from Czech Republic and Republic of Chile, also participated.
“….I’ve seen lots of snowstorms, rainstorms, wind but I have never seen anything like this before. That kind of flooding, I didn’t think it was possible.”-Wayne Adams, rescued resident
According to local news reports more than 1-hundred people in the city of Quincy were rescued after becoming trapped in their homes by a nor’easter (north easter) storm.
Video of Massachusetts Army National Guard’s 125th Quartermaster Company assisting local emergency responders with flood rescue operations:
Possibly due to increasing radical weather patterns, the Arkansas National Guard’s 77th Combat Aviation Brigade decided it was time to train up local Boy Scouts in the art of survival:
During the last full week of February 2018, hundreds of National Guard personnel from Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, South Dakota, Utah and Washington deployed to Valdez, Alaska, in response to a major CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) event.
Two M1135 NBCRV—Strykers search for the fictional Russian satellite that has hit near Valdez. Colorado Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant John Rohrer, 22FEB2018.
Operation Arctic Eagle 2018 was underway, a ‘Russian’ satellite had crashed to Earth contaminating the impact area with radiation. National Guard units, along with various federal agencies, had six hours to complete their mission: “The Homeland Response Force is a regionally aligned Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, high-yield Explosive asset established in response to natural, man-made, or terrorist initiated CBRNE disasters.”-First Sergeant Fausto Crespo, Washington National Guard
There are ten Homeland Response Force units across the United States, working in conjunction with FEMA’s ten regions. Region Ten includes Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Washington.
Don’t worry Arctic Eagle 2018 was a training event……or was it? Mulder, Scully?
During the training event an actual CBRN event took place, forcing the 103rd Civil Support Team of the Alaska National Guard, and the 10th Homeland Response Team of the Washington National Guard, to respond, 23FEB2018:
Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of February, 2018: 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, spread of disease and extreme weather.
While I don’t like most of the crazy stuff the folks at PETA do, they have compelling evidence that those ‘free range’ poultry products you buy at Walmart, Harris Teeter and Whole Foods are anything but:
Alabama: A female employee of Dothan’s Farm Service Agency charged with fraud, theft of government property, and using a false document, relating to crop insurance. Pike Road Butcher Block suddenly shutdown due to “small town politics”, the landlord is the town of Pike Road.
Alaska: Hook Line and Sinker-Humpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. It’s blamed on a massive re-development project (gentrification) which left Humpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse with millions of dollars of debt.
California: In The Golden State that loves migrant workers “A Soledad farm labor contractor has been fined $168,082 in penalties for housing employees in unsanitary and dangerous conditions following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.”New York based Seneca Foods shutdown its factory in Modesto, 265 full-time jobs suddenly gone due to “competition from overseas”! DineEquity owned, Gelndale based, schizophrenic IHOP shutting down 40 restaurants in 2018, while at the same time claiming they will open even more restaurants. Cafe Napa Valley Traditions forced to shutdown after 24 years by a huge rent increase. San Francisco based coffee roaster Four Barrel began laying off employees due to crashing wholesale orders. K and R Farms shutting down operations in Salinas, 235 jobs gone by April! CKE Restaurant Holdings (aka Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, Green Burrito and Red Burrito) eliminating 54 jobs in Anaheim, by mid-April. Freshly Picked issued a shutdown WARN for its Cypress location, 26 jobs gone in March. After 25 years non-profit animal rescue op Farm Sanctuary-Orland Shelter shutdown, the owners got the hell outta The Golden State and took the 250+ animals to a new 39 hectares (96 acres) ranch in New York. In San Luis Obispo, after three years popular Bowl’d shutting down because the owners say the profits just aren’t high enough to cover the rent. In Fresno, Parsley Garden Cafe suddenly shutdown due to not being able to renew the lease. Tyson Foods killing yet more jobs as it issues another WARN, this time 401 people in Otay Mesa out-o-work as the frozen food factory is shutdown! Oregon based New Seasons Market suddenly shutdown its six months old grocery store in Sunnyvale saying “This location proved to be a challenge for several reasons”, 101 jobs gone! Connecticut based food service company Centerplate issued a mass layoff WARN, 759 Levi’s Stadium jobs in Santa Clara gone by mid-April! TGI Friday’s issued a shutdown WARN for a restaurant in Brea, 57 jobs gone by mid-April. In Modesto, the 25 years old Hometown Buffet was suddenly shutdown by a greedy landlord who canceled the lease. After 60 years Menlo Park’s Oasis Beer Garden shutting down by March because of the greedy landlord: “After several months of effort, we were unable to negotiate a reasonable lease for our business, nor meet the requested terms of the building’s owner.”-facebook post
Colorado: In Fort Collins, employee owned New Belgium Brewing suddenly laid off 28 employees (25 in Colorado, three in North Carolina). It’s probably due to increasing competition as local news sources reported that in Denver alone four new breweries have opened in the past four months!
Connecticut: Iconic Woody’s hot dog joint shutdown after 41 years so the owners can take a vacation, before their next business venture.
Florida: Southeastern Grocers owned, BI-LO, Harveys, Winn-Dixie, and Fresco y Más threatening to shutdown 2-hundred grocery stores in an attempt to avoid bankruptcy, it could mean more than 18-thousand jobs lost! In Fort Pierce, Granny’s shutdown after 53 years, the worn-out owners saying “We are going to sit on the front porch and rest…..I think we deserve it.” Hard Rock Cafe issued a shutdown WARN for its HQ in Orlando, 184 jobs gone between April and July!
Georgia: Atlanta based Coca Cola eliminating even more jobs, this time an additional 350 corporate level jobs! At the same time Coca Cola administrators swear they are hiring. Kroger shutting down a 26 years old grocery store, on the south side of Savannah, more than 1-hundred jobs gone in March due to “declining sales and negative profit” (‘negative profit’ is Orwellian doublespeak for losses). Local news reports said customers were shocked as the store is “always packed”, but also admitted there were now a lot of competitors in the area.
Hawaii: The Shack suddenly shutdown its 26 years old Hawaii Kai location, the owners were not able to renew the lease.
Idaho: Blind Bat News reader reported that the Pita Pit, in Pocatello, shutdown without warning.
Illinois: In Chicago, after 41 years iconic Carson’s Prime Steaks Famous BBQ forced to shutdown by property developers. Also in Chicago, Marcello’s suddenly shutdown one of its three pizza joints, no official reason given but property redevelopment (gentrification) is suspected. In Downers Grove, after 15 years restaurant Carlucci suddenlyshutdown, the property was sold.In Belleville, IHOP shutting down its 45 years old restaurant, on Carlyle Avenue, because the local franchise owner is retiring and nobody wanted to take-over the franchise. In Crystal Lake, Joseph’s Marketplace shutdown after 12 years, no official explanation, but residents and even city leaders blame it on several new grocery stores that have opened since 2015: “I’m not sure we can support all these stores. Obviously, we can’t.”-Judi Spizzirri, customer
Iowa: Hy-Vee shutting down its grocery store in Waterloo, 282 jobs gone by the end of March because Hy-Vee built too many grocery stores in the region!
Louisiana: In New Orleans, Lakeview Harbor Restaurant forced to shutdown after 25 years because the landlord revoked the lease. Non-profit Hollygrove Market & Farm suddenly shutdown saying “We are reorganizing financially and will have another announcement about our permanent status as soon as possible.” It was later revealed they ran out of money. Internet based food delivery service Street Breads now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to debts that far outweigh its assets.
Massachusetts: InArlington, after a couple of decades Bagels By Us shutting down in March, the property is for sale.
Michigan: In Brighton, after 35 years iconic ice cream shop Yum Yum Tree suddenly shutdown, on facebook the owners promised a detailed explanation would be released. Angry customers said they should have given at least a month notice so they could fatten up on the unique ice cream treats. In Ostego, after 70 years Harding’s (Harding and Hill) shutdown, no reason given.
Minnesota: Colorado based Pilgrim’s Pride shutting down a former Gold’n Plump corporate office in Saint Cloud, 30 jobs gone due to Pilgrim’s Pride $350-million USD take-over of Gold’n Plump in 2016-17. In Saint Paul, after 20 years the Wild Onion shutting down in March, the owner blamed reduced revenues and increased costs such as minimum wage. In Duluth, after 14 years Johnson’s Bakery Lakeside shutting down by the end of April, due to not being able to renew the lease. In Minneapolis, after more than 60 years the last Vescio’s Italian Restaurant shutdown. At one time there were two Vescio’s. Bellisio Foods issued a WARN, 105 jobs in Austin gone by April!
Missouri: DineEquity owned, Kansas City based, Applebee’s added an additional 80 restaurants to its previously announced plan to shutdown 1-hundred restaurants in 2018, due to “lack of performance”. In Kansas City, after 54 years upscale Plaza III The Steakhouse shutting down in March, 30 jobs lost with no explanation by the owners. Pi Pizzeria suddenlyshutdown its Kirkwoood location due to gentrification (construction projects) destroying the employee parking lot: “…we’ve lost our employee parking lot due to a redevelopment, and that leaves us with fewer than 25 guest parking spots…”-facebook post
Montana: In Missoula, after 27 years Uptown Diner shutdown, crashing sales were blamed on the demise of the Macy’s store next door.
Nebraska: C & C Specialty Market shutting down its store in Beatrice, in April, so the owners can focus on their more profitable operations.
New Jersey: In Freehold, International Vitamin eliminating 160 jobs in May!
New Mexico: In Albuquerque, the once profitable Farmers Market chain is now dead. Local news media say at one time there were ten Farmers Markets in New Mexico: “We’ve always had competition, but in the last five to seven years, it was much harder.”-Jhett Browne, owner of the last Farmers Market
New York: In NYC, 21-Club revealed to state officials that they suddenly shutdown back in January, 156 jobs suddenly gone, blamed on Mother Earth (climate change-storm damage)! Also in NYC, Siggy’s Good Food suddenly shutdown, the owner saying “…it’s time to fly.”JJC Food suddenly shutdown its Hicksville grocery store, 38 jobs gone, blamed on Mother Earth (climate change-storm damage)! Williamsville based Tops Friendly Markets now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, blaming increased competition. GLK Foods shutting down ops in Shortsville, 50 jobs gone in September due to consolidation. In Rochester, after almost 20 years restaurant 2-Vine shutdown due to the owner’s health problems. PepsiCo eliminating 2-hundred corporate level InfoTech and finance jobs in Westchester, as part of its global plan to kill jobs. Local news media revealed that PepsiCo (Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Tropicana, Gatorade, Quaker) was getting $4-million USD in state taxpayer funded credits and another $7-million from sales-tax breaks in Westchester County!
North Carolina: Charlotte based Healthy Home Market grocery chain now chapter 7 bankrupt and being consumed by its creditors, its last two stores were shutdown in January, thousands of jobs lost! In Monroe, after 25 years Seacrest Feed & Seed shutting down by March, due to the greedy property owners. Logan’s Roadhouse suddenly shutdown due to a “corporate decision”.
North Dakota: In Bismarck, Dan’s Supermarket shutdown after 65 years, due to not being able to renew the lease.
Ohio:A fire in a barn on Country Lane Tree Farm killed dozens of goats and chickens.
Despite supplying restaurants with poultry for more than ten years, family run Quails R Us Plus facing foreclosure, several area chefs are holding a ‘rescue dinner’ to save the poultry farm.
South Carolina: Florida based Tijuana Flats shutting down its less than two years old restaurant on Percival Road, in Columbia, by March. Terrace Restaurants suddenly shutdown its Greenville location, after being open less than a year, due to lack of sales.
Tennessee: In Murfreesboro, after more than two years Sub Stop suddenly shutdown because the owners got an offer from a property developer they couldn’t refuse. After ten years in East Nashville, Pied Piper Eatery shutdown as a result of the owner’s death two years ago.
Texas: In Pflugerville, after one year Idle Vine Brewery shutting down by March. In Austin, after 45 years Buck Moore Feed & Supply shutdown. Bellisio Foods shutting down its factory in Austin. Kettle & Brine shutdown its brick-n-mortar store in Austin, will continue selling kitchen krap online. In San Angelo, after 30 years Chinese Kitchen shutdown, the overworked underpaid owner complained “It has been extremely hard to get workers for the restaurant……..working 14 hours for seven days a week is hard on my husband and me.” After seven years Grinners Daiquiri Bar shutdown due to not being a good ‘fit’ for San Angelo.
Virginia: After more than 35 years Frankie’s Place for Ribs shutdown without warning, die-hard fans were shocked, the owner blamed declining sales and increasing costs. In Richmond, after less than five years Kitchen on Cary suddenly shutdown. A poultry farm fire in Mount Vernonkilled an estimated 14-thousand chicks!
Washington: In Spokane, after 20 years Wolf Creek Lodge Steakhouse suddenly shutdown. Marine View Beverage shutting down operations across the state, 278 jobs gone by mid-April! Pacific Seafood issued a shutdown WARN, 69 Federal Way jobs gone by the end of April.
Washington DC:Le Mano Coffee Bar shutdown after almost five years, the owner wants more family time. After nine years award winning chocolate restaurant Co CoSala suddenly shutdown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) warns “…a relatively strong U.S. dollar is expected to dampen growth in U.S. agricultural exports, the United States remains competitive in global agricultural markets, in part due to efficiency and quality margins, and export values grow over the next ten years. Net farm income is expected to increase in 2018 followed by a drop…”
Wisconsin: After 110 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Silver Spring House Bar & Restaurant suddenly shutdown, the property is for sale, asking price $1.2-million USD. For the fifth year in a row income for Wisconsin farmers is expected to be down from the record high in 2013.
“The threat environment has changed.”-Lieutenant Colonel James Bowling, explaining that the new ‘threat’ is not terrorists using guns or bombs, or even vehicles, but using drugs
South Carolina Army National Guard’s 43rd Civil Support Team took part in a ‘multi-agency’ drug lab training session. It also involved the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Lexington Fire Department, Cayce Department of Public Safety and the Pine Ridge Police Department.
South Carolina Army National Guard photo by Specialist Chelsea Baker, 22FEB2022.
“One of the biggest concerns we have right now is dealing with fentanyl exposure. Fentanyl is not just a police problem, or a CST problem. It’s everyone’s problem. We are seeing more and more fatalities from fentanyl exposure. The goal of this training is safety. We want to make sure that when these guys enter a situation and see evidence of fentanyl, they know what to do.”-Michael Cashman, retired DEA
Fentanyl can be ingested orally, inhaled through the nose or mouth, or absorbed through the skin or eyes, any substance suspected to contain fentanyl must be treated with extreme caution as exposure to even a small amount can lead to significant health-related complications, respiratory depression, or death.
Associated Press: “…some large law enforcement agencies have recently abandoned the routine tests out of concern that officers could be exposed to opioids that can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled. Even a minute amount of the most potent drugs, such as fentanyl, can cause violent illness or death.”
Iowa: Is the state Department of Human Services accusing parents of doing drugs in order to ‘legally kidnap’ children? In the latest case a woman who swears she’s never done illegal drugs, and also tested negative for illegal drugs, is still fighting to get her child back (and have her name removed from child abuse records) after a DHS employee burst into her home, without a warrant, and stole her child!
Ostensibly North Carolina is trying to save state taxpayers money by consolidating its Army National Guard Armories into larger state-run military bases. According to military sources it’s really about dealing with North Carolina’s changing population demographics and the acquisition of the latest Army technologies: “The RCTMP is a consolidation effort to better serve the state and meet the needs of a modernized force.”-Lieutenant Colonel Rodney Newton
