Tag Archives: close

Business/Economics

“I’m going down with the ship” “too difficult to compete” Idaho doctors addicted to drug money! Gun factory shuts down! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 06 – 08 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Ireland based generic prescription drugs maker Endo International reported huge quarterly losses and will now eliminate 740 jobs in Alabama and North Carolina!

Arkansas: El Dorado based Murphy Oil announced its first ever quarterly loss and revealed they’ve already laid off at least 250 employees! Murphy Oil lost nearly $200-million USD, primarily from contracted customers who failed to pay for their oil and gas!  

California: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; video game maker Glu Mobile warning of mass layoffs after losing $8.6-million USD during its last quarter.

Colorado: In Colorado Springs, after more than 40 years Zerbe Jewelers shutting down due to family health problems.

Connecticut: General Electric (GE) eliminating 1-hundred local jobs as a result of moving its HQ to Massachusetts!

Florida: Stride Rite Shoes shutting down their Coral Square mall location in August, due to not being able to renew the lease.

Idaho: According to magicvalley.com in the past year and a half Idaho doctors were paid-off by drug companies, to the tune of $24-million USD of ‘incentives’!  Now you know why so many people in The Gem State are wacked on evil prescription drugs!  What housing market recovery?  The Wilderness Society reports that most of the non-federally owned land in Idaho has been sold-off by the state government, resulting in “…lands in the hands of an elite few and Idaho’s biggest industries: the Simplot Corp., Potlatch, Boise-Cascade, cattle companies and law firms. Under these private ownerships, the new owners can lock out the public altogether or charge a trespass fee.”  (also, you now know the real reason why rents are getting jacked up)

Illinois: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; Chicago based e-coupon company Groupon laid off 30 people as part of their larger plan to eliminate 1-thousand 1-hundred jobs by 2016!

Indiana: What housing market recovery? Pennsylvania based home builder Innovative Building Systems shutting down its Decatur operations, 88 jobs gone within ten days.    Administrators also mentioned that the landlord issued them an eviction notice.

Kentucky: Iconic gun maker Remington announced it is shutting down its Mayfield factory, 2-hundred jobs gone!   Remington is joining the rest of corporate America in the consolidation trend, because their market analysis says they must become more “focused and competitive” in the near future.  (once again proving there ain’t no economic recovery)   Retailer ‘gordmans‘ shutting down its Hamburg Pavilion store because they can’t afford to renew the lease.

Maine: France based Sodexo lost its food contract with Colby College, 146 jobs gone by the end of June!  What housing market recovery? After laying off 60 employees Kaiser Homes announced they are shutting down, 123 additional employees will become unemployed!  The company is owned by now defunct Pennsylvania based Innovative Building Systems.

Massachusetts: In Worcester, after 60 years Hallmark Putnam Card & Gift shutting down, the owner blames too many other retailers selling Hallmark items.  The employees are truly loyal: “I always said, ‘I’m going down with the ship.’…..I loved my job. We are trying to go out with dignity. We straighten, clean and vacuum every day.”-Betty Ann LeBlanc, store manager and employee for past 35 years

Ohio:  Columbus Castings now up for sale after eliminating “more than 150 jobs”!  If no buyer is found by mid-June then the whole thing shuts down, rendering hundreds more employees unemployed!

Pennsylvania: What housing market recovery?  Mechanicsburg based home builder Innovative Building Systems is warning that it could go chapter 7 bankrupt (which usually means they’re dead forever).  The bankruptcy will also affect All American Homes, Epoch Homes, excelHOMES, Future Homes, HandCrafted Homes, IDBS, Kaiser Homes and Modukraft, as they are all owned by Innovative Building Systems.  Administrators say the Too Big to Jail banks refuse to continue debt financing their operations, and they tried to sell the company but nobody is interested in buying.  In Carlisle, after 56 years Rillo’s Restaurant shutdown.  The owner wants to retire and sold it to an investment group, adding “We do not know their plans or who they are negotiating with for this property.”

Texas:  In Abilene, after 19 years Box Office Video shutting down: “We were the first store in Abilene to rent DVDs when they hit the market in 2000……  It is just too difficult to compete….”-Patti Harris, owner

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification. I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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

Business/Economics

“the reality of the emerging…economy” More people losing their final paychecks! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 05 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Connecticut: In Manchester, after 27 years Choice Video shutting down by the end of the month.  The owner of the video business did not blame declining sales but “the escalating cost of operating a small business.” (especially rent)

Florida: Boca Raton based Cancer Treatment Centers of America revealed it laid off 350 people across the U.S.!  Administrators blame ObamaCare referring to it as “the reality of the emerging healthcare economy”.   In Miramar, United Health issued a WARN, 68 jobs gone by July as the insurance company begins dropping ObamaCare plans.  In Sarasota, Direct Energy issued a WARN, 159 property management jobs gone between July 2016 and April 2018!

Georgia: Another fine example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL). In Augusta, Resolute Forest Products eliminating 95 jobs due to crashing paper sales to newspaper publishers.

Pocatello Wing It eatery no more.

Pocatello Wing It eatery no more.

Idaho: In Pocatello, the Wing It chicken wing joint recently shutdown.

Illinois: Sports analytics provider to news media Stats eliminating 50 jobs, on top of the 30 jobs eliminated back in October.

Kansas: In Hutchinson, after 63 yeas Johnson Music store shutting down.

Maryland: Silver Spring based Discovery Communications warning of impending employee buyouts and mass layoffs, this after the CEO took a 79% pay-cut last year!  The job cuts are expected to be finalized by 3rd quarter 2016.

Nebraska: Hastings Public Schools shutting down 85 years old (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression and numerous recessions) Morton Elementary. The shutdown decision was made six years ago.

New Jersey: Lakeland Bank shutting down their Hewitt office in July.  In Princeton, after more than 20 years the Masala Grill shutting down next week because the greedy landlord jacked up the rent.

New York:  Too Big to Jail Goldman Sachs continues to kill sales jobs, admitting that the economy is so bad for its traditional elite clients that it is forced to hit up ‘commoner’ investors for cash.  In Buffalo, popular restaurant Martin Cooks being forced to shutdown by the end of the month.  The operators say they’re looking for a new location.  British empire Chartwells Dining Services lost its contract with Polytechnic Institute of NYU, 39 jobs lost by the end of the month.  Harris Publications suddenly shutdown its NYC ops, 65 jobs lost at the end of last month.  Sears Holdings issued a shutdown WARN for its Plattsburgh Sears store and Auto Center, 56 jobs lost by the end of July.  Power Drives is moving its factory from Falconer to Buffalo, 96 jobs affected.

Ohio:  Cincinnati Museum Center laying off 60 people in anticipation of the renovation of Union Terminal (it’s location), which will result in the museum losing $6-million USD in yearly ticket sales for the next two years!

Pennsylvania: Fabricator NuWeld has defaulted (apparently because their bank accounts were frozen) and now shutting down their Williamsport factory, 150 jobs lost due to the oil industry BS!  Local news reports say those 150 employees won’t be getting their final paychecks because NuWeld is totally broke-busted!  Education Management issued a shutdown WARN for its Pittsburgh location, 222 jobs gone by July!  France based Sodexo lost its food contract with Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, 108 jobs gone by the end of June!

Texas: Marshall Grain shutting down their 70 years old Fort Worth store by the end of June, due to crashing sales and skyrocketing crime in the neighborhood (due to more and more people losing their jobs, the city’s own crime stat website shows that since February, 27 crimes took place in that specific neighborhood)!

Virginia: In Madison County, after 180 years (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression and numerous recessions) E.A. Clore Sons “will cease manufacturing our handcrafted furniture within the year.”  Local news reports didn’t explain why, but implied it was due to competition with cheap-o fiber board furniture people buy at places like Walmart.

04 May 2016: “a terrible freakin’ thing!”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification. I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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

Business/Economics

Sears Kmart update 05 May 2016 : Surprise! “we are accelerating the closings of unprofitable stores.”

Eddie Lampert has hired Agilence to protect his ass, I mean protect the assets of Sears Holdings.  Agilence will provide data solutions for Sears Holdings’ Asset & Profit Protection.

21 April 2016 : “A lot of customers don’t even believe this” 

Here’s the updated list of U.S. store closings that I’ve been compiling since the end of 2011, 15 new closing revelations (not even included on the recent official Sears Holdings’ list) in BOLD:

Alabama: Oxford Sears, Birmingham Kmart on Chalkville Mountain, Decatur Kmart on Beltline Road, Homewood Kmart, Mobile Kmart on Z Schillingers Road. The Montgomery Sears store and Auto Center in the Eastdale Mall shutting down, 56 jobs lost by the end of June 2016. City leaders of Anniston have agreed to fork over $3-million precious local tax dollars to fund the re-development of an abandoned Kmart. Prattville Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 70 jobs lost. Florence Kmart in March, 64 jobs lost in 2016. A local news report said the employees knew nothing about it and were shocked to hear it from the news media! Dothan Kmart (south side of Ross Clark Circle) shutting down in March, 56 jobs lost in 2016. Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost), Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart, Northport Kmart (68 jobs lost), Dothan Sears (68 jobs lost), Huntsville Kmart (73 jobs lost), Sears Store and Auto Center at the Bel Air Mall in Mobile (more than 100 jobs lost).

Arkansas: Little Rock Sears.

Arizona: Nogales Kmart shutting down by July 2016, despite the fact that it’s a profit making store (many of its cash paying customers cross the border from Mexico). The Prescott Valley Kmart shutting down by April 2016. No word on how many jobs lost, but one employee was quoted by local news as saying “Walmart won.” Local news reports say there is a Now Hiring sign posted on the Kmart store front. Reports that the Glendale Kmart will shutdown, no word on job losses. Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors. Recently revealed Arrowhead Towne Center Sears sold-off then rented back! Chandler Fashion Center Sears sold-off then rented back!

California: Dinuba Kmart, Lodi Kmart, Tulare Kmart, Wasco Kmart. Sears Holdings created Seritage Growth Properties is renting out half of three Sears stores; one in Roseville, one in Citrus Heights and one in Sacramento. Supposedly Sears will continue its operations in the other half of the buildings. On 10 March the Garden Center roof of the Santa Rosa Kmart collapsed during a rain storm. Fire inspectors said the roof was already compromised due to dry rot before the rain storm, a local news reporter said managers knew about the condition of the roof because it was sagging, and they called in contractors. The contractors tried to prop up the roof before the rain storm hit. Anaheim Kmart shutting down, 107 jobs lost in 2016! The Chula Vista Kmart, San Mateo Sears and Citrus Heights Kmart shutting down between March and April 2016, a total of 3-hundred jobs lost! El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (more than 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart, Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost), Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down, Banning Kmart (91 jobs lost) recently revealed that Sears Holdings is still paying rent on the abandoned property, Laguna Hills Mall Sears, San Diego Mid-City Kmart (73 jobs lost), Hemet Kmart (77 jobs lost), Oakland Sears repair center (75 jobs lost), San Mateo Kmart (82 jobs lost to an apartment building connected to public transportation), Hesperia Kmart building sold at a loss to a vulture capitalist REIT, no word on if the Kmart will be shutdown. Customers complain that the Kmart employees have a bad attitude, gee I wonder why? Yuba City Kmart (63 jobs lost), Rocklin Kmart (at least 63 jobs lost, the store had just posted “Now Hiring” signs), San Leandro Kmart (102 jobs lost), San Jose Mercury News says the El Centro Kmart to shutdown in January, the website Foursquare says the Covina Kmart is now shutdown (other sources say it will shutdown in December), Cupertino Sears and Auto Center (98 jobs lost), somebody posted on yelp* that the Diamond Bar Kmart was shutting down in December (confirmed by Armijo Newspapers), Westfield Topanga Sears (122 jobs lost), it looks like the Blythe Kmart is being slowly shutdown despite denial by Sears Holdings. San Mateo Kmart being demolished to make room for 599 unit apartment complex, as part of the the Hayward Park Caltrain Station project. Atwater Kmart (74 jobs lost), Los Banos Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Colorado: Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost), Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40), Colorado Springs Kmart at Powers and Palmer Park boulevards (57 jobs lost), Fort Collins Sears (67 jobs lost), Denver-Cherry Creek North Sears store & Auto Center (66 jobs lost).

Connecticut: Putnam Kmart. Waterbury Big Kmart, Torrington Kmart (73 jobs lost), Enfield Sears Optical (no word on jobs lost), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (employees say the shutdown was a surprise, I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (at least 13 jobs lost).

Delaware: Dover Kmart (at least 72 jobs lost, some reports said 100), Seaford Sears (30 jobs lost), Claymont Kmart (87 jobs lost).

Florida: Inverness Sears Hometown suddenly announced it will shutdown due to disagreements with the landlord. Jacksonville Sears and Kmart. Neptune Beach Kmart, Perry Kmart. The Lutz Kmart shutting down by March 2016, 62 jobs lost. The 46 years old Daytona Beach Kmart, on International Speedway Boulevard, is shutting down by mid-March 2016, 86 jobs lost. Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winter Haven Kmart (92 jobs lost), Palm Bay Kmart, Oakland Park Kmart (112 jobs lost), Clearwater Sears Auto Center (21 jobs lost), Zephyrhills Kmart (70 jobs lost), Winter Springs Kmart (69 jobs lost), Naples Kmart (72 jobs lost), New Port Richey Kmart (58 jobs lost), ‘redevelopment’ of Aventura Sears & Auto Center into an “open-air village” (unknown how many jobs affected), Kmart on Northeast 108 Street being annexed by Miami Shores, Sears Holdings threatens to shutdown Kmart as a result of higher local taxes. The property that’s home to an operating Kmart, on South Green Bay Road in Racine, was foreclosed by the local Sheriff and sold-off for $2.5-million, no word on what the new property owner will do with it. Fort Myers Kmart (67 jobs lost). Dicks Sportings Goods subleasing space in an existing Sears store in Palm Beach Gardens.

Georgia: The 23 years old Rome Kmart shutting down by August, 1-hundred jobs lost! Administrators say employees can apply at other Sears Holdings stores, but local news reports say the Rome Kmart is the last Sears Holdings store in the area!   The 37 years old Carrollton Kmart shutting down by the end of April 2016. Dublin Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 71 jobs lost. Milledgeville Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 60+ jobs lost. Mount Berry Square Mall (Rome) Sears and Auto Center shutting down in March 2016, 86 jobs lost. Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost), Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart, Warner Robins Kmart (77 jobs lost), Coweta County Kmart distribution center (164 jobs lost), one of the last two North Augusta Kmart to be torn down by new property owner from Canada, Sears Holdings denies the Kmart will shutdown.

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

Hawaii: Iconic 25 years old Nimitz HWY Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart shutting down in March 2016, 141 jobs lost! Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost! GGP spending $573-million chopping it up into smaller store spaces), Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost), Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Idaho: Boise Kmart on Fairview shutting down by mid-March 2016, 56 jobs lost. Pocatello Kmart shutting down by April 2016, 65 jobs lost. Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears shutdown by the end of October/beginning of November 2014 (the remaining 28 jobs lost).

Illinois: After 90 years Chicago Sears on Lawrence Avenue shutting down by August 2016, local news says its the oldest Sears store still operating.  The last Decatur Kmart shutting down by August 2016, administrators say employees can apply at other Sears Holdings stores, but local news reports say there are no more Sears Holdings stores in the immediate area! Chicago Kmart on South Pulaski. Danville Kmart, Galesburg Kmart, Lansing Kmart, Pekin Kmart, Rock Island Kmart. Eliminated 401 Hoffman Estates HQ jobs due to crappy 2015 holiday sales! 151 of those jobs were already vacant. Morton ‘green’ Kmart shutting down by the end of April 2016, 47 jobs lost. Canton Kmart shutting down mid-April 2016, 38 jobs lost. Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost?) revealed is now a perpetual closing sale Kmart At A Discount store, Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost), Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost), Danville Sears store & Auto Center (63 jobs lost), Forsyth Sears store & Auto Center (45 jobs lost), Peoria Kmart (73 jobs lost), Forest Park Kmart (107 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North and Harlem avenues, supposedly it’s being replaced (most likely at taxpayer expense) with a new building and it will become a Sears-Mariano’s store, Bloomington Kmart (79 jobs lost), Hoffman Estates Headquarters 100 jobs eliminated, another 15 corporate jobs eliminated elsewhere, Chicago-Wicker Park Kmart (106 jobs lost), abandoned Market Place Mall Sears location to be occupied by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field & Stream. 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. North Mayfair Kmart (99 jobs lost), Chicago Kmart at 5033 North Elston Avenue (99 jobs lost). By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state. The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Indiana: Bloomington Kmart, New Albany Kmart. Bloomington’s College Mall Sears & Auto Center shutting down by mid-June 2016, at least 52 jobs lost. In Schererville, Sears Hardware shutting down in April 2016. Terre Haute Kmart by April, 62 jobs lost. Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost), FairOaks Mall Kmart, Logansport Sears (43 jobs lost), Muncie Kmart (59 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on Coliseum Boulevard North (69 jobs lost), Decatur Kmart (49 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Madison Avenue (131 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Washington Street (139 jobs lost), Bedford Kmart (62 jobs lost), Indianapolis (Evansville) Sears & Auto Center at Washington Square Mall (91 jobs lost), Greenwood Kmart (78 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (68 jobs lost), Bloomington Sears to be replaced by Whole Foods grocery store.

Iowa: Des Moines Southridge Mall Sears shutting down by August 2016, the store was in the process of dying anyway, only 37 employees left.  Sears Holdings shutting down their West Des Moines call center by June 2016, 162 jobs lost! Ottumwa Kmart shutting down by April 2016, 38 jobs lost. Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost), Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost), Clive Kmart (at least 49 jobs lost), Ames Kmart (44 jobs lost), Fort Dodge Sears (no job loss numbers made public, yet. The Auto Center was secretly shutdown in September), 56 years old Mason City Sears & Auto Center (more than 100 jobs lost). Davenport Kmart (59 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Kansas: Hutchison Kmart. North Topeka Kmart shutting down in 2016, 49 jobs lost. Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Merriam Kmart-then Sears-then Kmart (jobs lost unknown), Wichita Sears store & Auto Center (103 jobs lost), Manhattan Sears & Auto Center (number of jobs lost were never revealed).

Kentucky: Two Kmarts in Louisville. Elizabethtown Kmart, Maysville Kmart, Paintsville Kmart. Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart, Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!), Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost), Cannonsburg Sears and Sears Auto Center (no employee info given), Louisville Dixie Highway Kmart/Sears/Kmart shutdown and now being taken over by Kroger basically to sell the same crap the old Kmart did! Madisonville Kmart (39 jobs lost), Owensboro Sears store & Auto Center (52 jobs lost).

Louisiana: The Bossier Kmart shutting down by August 2016.  Houma Sears, Pineville Kmart. Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost), Metairie Kmart secretly sold off, no word if it will be shutdown, Laplace Sears Hometown Store.

Maine: Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Kmart shutting down by August 2016, more than 50 jobs lost. Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost), Aroostook Centre Mall Sears Auto Center leased out to VIP Tires & Service.

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears rebuild & call center (115 jobs lost), Baltimore Kmart on Wabash Avenue (107 jobs lost), Parkville Kmart (102 jobs lost), California Kmart (71 jobs lost), Sears Hometown Store in Perryville.

Massachusetts: Tewksbury Kmart. Fairhaven Sears Appliance & Hardware shutting down by mid-April. Local news reports said the ignorant employees actually thought the shutdown notice was a joke! I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News. 79 jobs lost as the Fall River Kmart shuts down in May 2016. North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost), Kingston Kmart (73 jobs lost). Braintree Kmart on Grossman Drive shutdown. Also, the Braintree South Shore Plaza Sears store is renting out an entire floor to Ireland based Primark. Even with the lease to Primark there is still 4-thousand square feet of vacant space in the Sears store. The Sears at the Auburn Mall shutdown on Black Friday due to electrical fire. The store was experiencing electrical problems, an investigation is underway.

Michigan: The Farmington Hills Kmart shutting down by mid-July 2016, 61 jobs lost.   Midland Sears, Houghton Lake Kmart, Taylor Kmart. The Bradley Kmart has a new owner who is shutting it down in 2016. Retailer Meijer bought the Kmart property for $5-million USD. The Kmart will be shutdown in May, but the new Meijer store won’t be ready until 2018. The Sears and Auto Center in Fort Gratiot shutting down by mid-March, 48 jobs lost. Ironwood Kmart by mid-April, 47 jobs lost. Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials, Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Saginaw Kmart on Bay Road, Flint Kmart on Dort Highway (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost), Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 jobs lost), Saint John’s Kmart (48 jobs lost), White Lake Township “Store of the Future” Kmart (42 jobs lost), Grand Blanc Kmart (49 jobs lost), Lapeer Kmart (56 jobs lost), Southgate Kmart (155 jobs lost), Detroit’s Telegraph Road Kmart (115 jobs lost), Waterford Township Sears (no word on how many jobs lost), Rochester Hills Kmart (77 jobs lost), ‘perfect Kmart town’ of Port Huron Kmart (188 jobs lost), Flint Kmart on Miller Road (81 jobs lost), Burton Kmart (85 jobs lost), Madison Heights Kmart (179 jobs lost), it’s now official the last remaining Saginaw Kmart (on Gratiot Road) will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January 2014 (Sears Holdings claims only 18 people worked there at the time of the collapse!), Ann Arbor Kmart (59 jobs lost), Iron Mountain Kmart (54 jobs lost), Bangor Township Sears aka Bay City Mall Sears, the Auto Center was already secretly shutdown some time ago (at least 47 jobs lost), Big Rapids Kmart (about 50 jobs lost). Vacant Wyandotte Sears Auto Center is being renovated at a cost to taxpayers of $1-million & 20-thousand, plus 15 years worth of tax breaks valued at $2-million! Shakopee Kmart distribution center shutdown and sold-off for $17-million in 2013, now it’s finally getting a new tenant; snowmobile and electric cart maker Polaris Industries will rent out a fraction of the building to use as their new parts warehouse. The Kmart Plaza in Sandusky sold to “A group of investors”, no word on what will happen to the Kmart store.

Minnesota: Dundas Kmart by April 2016, 32 jobs lost. Thunderbird Mall Kmart shutting down in April 2016, 48 jobs lost. Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart, Monticello Kmart, GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost), Fergus Falls Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Alexandria Kmart (46 jobs lost), Grand Rapids Kmart (61 jobs lost), Seritage is selling off three Sears Auto Centers in Minnetonka, Brooklyn Center and Saint Paul, Marshall Kmart (57 jobs lost), Oakdale Kmart (77 hourly wage employees losing their jobs, unknown how many salaried employees will become unemployed), Winona Kmart (67 jobs lost), Minneapolis city officials trying to shutdown profit making Nicollet Avenue Kmart, to make way for a new road. Anoka Kmart (47 jobs lost), Blaine Kmart (60 jobs lost), Burnsville Kmart (62 jobs lost), Waite Park Kmart (57 jobs lost), Northeast Minneapolis Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale, Coon Rapids Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale.

Mississippi: Corinth Kmart. The 44 years old Greenville Kmart shutting down in April, no word on job losses. Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost), Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall, Olive Branch distribution center (unknown how many jobs lost).

Missouri: Bridgeton Kmart, Springfield Kmart. Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost), Ellisville Kmart (55 jobs lost), Springfield Kmart on South Campbell Avenue (60 jobs lost), South Belt Kmart (64 jobs lost), Florissant Kmart (100 jobs lost), O’Fallon Kmart (76 jobs lost).

Montana: Billings Kmart. Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost), Great Falls Kmart (closed “until further notice” due to fire, 63 jobs on hold), Great Falls Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost) due to great sales (ironically) the shutdown date has been moved from 07 December 2014 to 23 November, Bozeman Kmart (37 jobs lost), Missoula Sears store and Auto Center (57 jobs lost).

Nebraska: Hastings Kmart. Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost), Omaha Kmart near West Maple Road (50 jobs lost).

Nevada: Sparks Kmart distribution center (100 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials, Portsmouth Kmart (30 jobs lost), Claremont Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New Jersey: Lodi Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 75 jobs lost. Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost), Berlin Kmart, Dover Kmart (92 jobs lost), Randolf Kmart (91 jobs lost), Paramus Kmart (74 jobs lost), Closter Kmart (102 jobs lost), Vineland Kmart (74 jobs lost). After 18 years Sears Holdings shutdown their Roselle Sears Hardware store due to “landlord issues”.

New Mexico: Albuquerque’s Coronado Center Sears suddenly shutdown their Auto Center, and will reduce the size of the main store by 50% within two months. Sears goon Howard Riefs stated “We will rightsize the labor…”, but gave no numbers. The ‘rightsizing’ of the Coronado Center store is in partnership with one of my evil former employers, mall owner GGP. SearsLas Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost), Rio Rancho Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New York: Rotterdam Mall Sears and Auto Center shutting down by August 2016.  Sears Holdings issued yet another WARN, this time 75 people in Rochester losing their jobs by mid-July.   Irondequoit Sears, Plattsburgh Sears, Poughkeepsie Kmart, Rochester Kmart. Staten Island Mall Sears Auto Center will shutdown in February, 20 jobs lost. Lindenhurst Sears Hardware, North Babylon Sears Hardware, Hauppauge Sears Hardware, Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost) now revealed to be turned into a Town Center with more than 200 apartments at an estimated cost of $50-million, Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 jobs lost), Tonawanda Sears Appliance and Hardware, Bronx Sears (91 jobs lost), BBN reader reported that the Ithaca Sears and Auto Center shutdown and one month later it’s been officially confirmed (at least 37 jobs lost), DeWitt Kmart (92 jobs lost), Auburn Sears (51 jobs lost), Massena Sears and Auto Center (51 jobs lost), Staten Island Mall Sears leased out to Ireland’s Primark, Bay Shore Sears and Sears Auto Center (144 jobs lost), New Hartford (Sangertown Mall) Sears & Auto Center (109 jobs lost), Lancaster Kmart sold for $1.7-million to Dave’s Christmas Wonderland. Herkimer Sears Hometown, Saranac Lake Sears Hometown the ‘independent’ co-owners said Sears Holdings forced them to shutdown. Melville Appliance Repair Division (31 jobs lost).

North Carolina: Brevard Kmart, Gastonia Kmart, Lumberton Kmart, Pineville Kmart, Rocky Mount Kmart. Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost), West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost), Conover Kmart (74 jobs lost), Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost), High Point Kmart (71 jobs lost), Boone Kmart (41 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart (96 jobs lost), Gastonia Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), Kinston Kmart (64 jobs lost), Cary Sears (66 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart distribution center (130 jobs lost), Greenville Kmart (75 jobs lost), Kinston Sears Hometown Store shutdown with little notice, Lexington Sears Hometown Store.

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost), Dickinson Kmart (41 jobs lost, despite a “Now Hiring” sign on the front of the store).

Ohio: 18 years old Defiance Sears shutting down by August 2016.  Marion Sears, Ashtabula Kmart, Eaton Kmart, Fremont Kmart, Lima Kmart, Lorain Kmart, Springboro Kmart. Englewood Kmart, 57 jobs lost by the end of July 2016. Fort Stueben Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 53 jobs lost in June 2016. Sandusky Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 44 jobs lost in June 2016. 78 jobs lost as the Lancaster Kmart is shutting down in May 2016. 18 jobs lost as the Dixie Highway Sears Hardware shuts down this Friday. The 28 years old Sears and its Auto Center in New Philadelphia shutting down by mid-April 2016, 46 jobs lost. Without warning the Medina Sears Appliance & Hardware Store shutdown. Warren Kmart on Parkman Road NW will shutdown in April 2016, 63 jobs lost. Zanesville Kmart shutting down mid-April 2016, 47 jobs lost. Steubenville Kmart shutting down by April 2016, 65 jobs lost. Boardman Kmart by April 2016, 81 jobs lost. Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard, London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost), Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost), Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost), Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost), Norwalk Kmart (52 jobs lost), Blue Ash Kmart (77 jobs lost), Northwood Sears at Woodville Mall (36 jobs lost), Conneaut Kmart (43 jobs lost), Anderson Township Kmart (71 jobs lost), Brooklyn Kmart (200 jobs lost), Columbus Lockbourne Industrial Parkway Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost), also in Columbus, Sears Product Rebuild-Call Center (112 jobs lost), Marion Sears Auto Center (at least nine jobs lost), Springfield Kmart #3767 (68 jobs lost), Fairborn Kmart (66 jobs lost), Solon Sears & Auto Center (at least 53 jobs lost), Tiffin Sears Hometown Store. Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location. Fairlawn Sears Appliance & Hardware, Macedonia Sears Appliance & Hardware, Lorain Sears Appliance & Hardware, Elyria Sears Appliance & Hardware, North Olmsted Sears Appliance & Hardware, Sheffield Village Sears Appliance & Hardware, Akron Sears Appliance & Hardware.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants), Shawnee Sears (31 jobs lost), Sand Springs Kmart (52 jobs lost), Muskogee Sears (60 jobs lost), Enid Sears and Auto Center (at least 38 jobs lost), Tulsa BigKmart (51 jobs lost).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 jobs lost), Albany Kmart (64 jobs lost), Portland Sears Homes Services (no notice), Albany Sears (57 jobs lost), in October a BBN reader warned that Oregon City Kmart was being quietly shutdown, confirmed on 06 November 2014 by Sears Holdings (70 jobs lost). Ontario Kmart (55 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Butler Sears, New Castle Sears, Beaver Falls Kmart, Philadelphia Kmart on Frankford Avenue. Two Pittsburgh Kmarts. Reading Kmart, Uniontown Kmart. Sears store in the Beaver Valley Mall shutting down by June 2016, 62 jobs lost. Viewmont Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 86 jobs lost in July 2016. Reports that the Exton Kmart will shutdown, no word on job losses. Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost), Sanatoga-Lower Pottsgrove Kmart (65 jobs lost, the store was also advertising for new hires!), West Mifflin Sears store & Auto Center (88 jobs lost), Rochester Kmart (78 jobs lost), Frazer (Pittsburg Mills Mall) Sears and Auto Center (97 jobs lost), Bloomsburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Frackville Sears and Auto Center (84 jobs lost), North Cornwall Township Sears (51 jobs lost), King of Prussia Sears and Auto Center (no word on number of jobs lost), Lebanon Sears (51 jobs lost), Scotland Chambersburg Mall Sears and Auto Center (62 jobs lost), the upper level of the Willow Grove Mall Sears store to be leased by Primark, King of Prussia Sears store leased out to clothing retailer Primark, East Towne Mall Kmart (51 jobs lost), Frackville Kmart in the Skuylkill Mall (80 jobs lost), Mount Pocono Kmart (66 jobs lost), Fairless Hills Sears Hardware. Granite Run Mall shutdown, meaning the Sears and Sears Auto Center now apparently on a month to month (possibly day to day) lease are soon to follow. Brookhaven Kmart (89 jobs lost).

Puerto Rico: Vega Baja Kmart (206 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Camden Kmart. 61 jobs lost as the North Augusta Kmart is shutting down by May 2016. Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost), both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two), Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost), Harbison Sears & Sears Auto Center in the Columbiana Centre mall (97 jobs lost), Aiken Sears & Sears Auto Center (at least 54 jobs lost), Inlet Square Mall Kmart (50 jobs lost), West Ashely Kmart (69 jobs lost), Myrtle Beach Kmart (59 jobs lost), Easley Kmart (62 jobs lost).

South Dakota: Huron Kmart, Yankton Kmart. The Pierre Kmart shutting down by the end of March 2016, 45 jobs lost. The Michell Kmart shutting down in April 2016, 52 jobs lost. Spearfish Kmart (51 jobs lost), Sturgis Kmart (57 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Bristol Kmart shutting down by August 2016.  Athens Kmart, Sweetwater Kmart, Maryville Kmart. The Murfreesboro Kmart shutting down by the end of April, 43 jobs lost. A Memphis Sears and Auto Center (on Poplar Avenue) shutting down in April, 109 jobs lost! Clarksville Kmart shutting down in April, 68 jobs lost. Cleveland Kmart shutting down by mid-March 2016, 67 jobs lost. Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin Cool Springs Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost), Dickson Kmart (65 jobs lost), talks in progress to end lease for Bellevue (Nashville) Center Mall Sears, Nashville Bellevue Center Sears & Auto Center (at least 44 jobs lost).

Texas: El Paso Kmart, Mission Kmart, Sweetwater Kmart. Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors, Dallas Sears home appliance parts distribution center (77 jobs lost), Simon Property Group owned McAllen Sears store & Auto Center (so far no word on how many jobs will be lost), recently revealed Palestine Sears Hometown (franchise owner quit to work as assistant manager at a local Dollar General). Wichita Falls Sikes Senter Mall Sears (56 jobs lost).

Utah: Draper Kmart, Price Kmart, West Jordan Kmart. 35 years old Richfield Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 63 jobs lost. North Logan Kmart shutting down by April 2016, 58 jobs lost. Murray Sears (local news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they reported that the building was demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported), Woods Cross Kmart (54 jobs lost), Provo Kmart demolished in anticipation of yet another AtHome furniture store.

Vermont: The Bennington Sears Hometown Store shutdown. Rutland Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), South Burlington Kmart (66 jobs lost).

Virginia: Christiansburg Kmart and the Hampton Kmart shutting down by August 2016.  Chester Kmart, 76 jobs gone by mid-July 2016. The Cedar Bluff (50 jobs lost), Covington (36 jobs lost) and Virginia Beach on General Booth Boulevard (no job numbers reported) Kmarts shutting down between March and April 2016! The Sears Hometown Store in Culpeper shutting down by the end of the month. Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown, Newport News-Denbigh Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), Winchester Kmart (91 jobs lost), Dale City Kmart (69 jobs lost), Chesapeake Sears and Auto Center (82 jobs lost), Front Royal Kmart (88 jobs lost), Pembroke Mall Sears renting out part of their store to DSW & Nordstrom Rack, Sears Holdings say they’re still looking for a “third tenant” for their occupied space. The current nearby Sears Auto Center will be rented out to REI. Colonial Heights Kmart (113 jobs lost), Virginia Beach Hilltop Square Shopping Center Kmart (82 jobs lost).

Washington: Eatonville Sears Hometown store. Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost), Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost), Oak Harbor Kmart (68 jobs lost), Sodo Sears and Sears Auto Center (79 jobs lost), Everett Kmart (65 jobs lost), Marysville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

West Virginia: The Bluefield Kmart shutting down by August 2016.  Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost), Bluefield Sears store & Auto Center (64 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: The Wausau Center Sears shutting down, 35 remaining employees becoming unemployed by the end of June 2016. Sears Holdings administrators would only say “we are accelerating the closings of unprofitable stores.”  Hartford Kmart. Superior Kmart shutting down in April 2016, 42 jobs lost. West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost), Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost), Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Ashwaubenon Kmart recently revealed now owned by Green Bay Packers, will be torn down (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (55 jobs lost), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost), Glendale Sears store & Auto Center (86 jobs lost), Janesville Kmart (70 jobs lost), Glendale Sears Rebuild center (67 jobs lost), Sheboygan Sears & Auto Center (at least 31 jobs lost), Eau Claire Kmart (93 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (59 jobs lost before Xmas), Sheboygan Sears Rebuild Center (30 jobs lost), Wauwatosa Kmart (103 jobs lost).

In April 2015, Sears Holdings (through Seritage Growth Properties) and General Growth Properties (GGP) became 50/50 joint owners of 12 Sears stores.

Here’s a list of 11 Sears stores 100% owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall (see update above, GGP will close Sears store by 2014)

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center (see update above, GGP closing store)

Business/Economics

“a terrible freakin’ thing!” Twin Falls & Chubbuck make massive shutdown list! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 04 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: What automotive industry recovery? In Piedmont, Ohio based maker of seats Commercial Vehicle Group eliminating 120 jobs, leaving only 40 employees to run operations: “It’s a terrible freakin’ thing! Some people have been here 20 years. This is the only job I’ve ever known! ….They told us in October that this was the number one plant CVG had, the most profitable plant in all the CVG organization. Now, all of a sudden business is short, this plant ain’t good enough?”-Jacob Collins, employee

Arkansas: Pine Haven Golf Course shutting down at the end of the month due to crashing revenues.

California: In Oakland, Barclays Pub forced to shutdown by the greedy landlord.  The pub operators say they were willing to go with current market lease rates but “…it just doesn’t seem like he was interested in negotiating a lease at any amount… …It’s bizzare….doesn’t make any sense.”  

Connecticut: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise; Norwalk based internet travel company Priceline warning of bad results for its upcoming quarterly report.   Amid massive state employee layoffs, the city of Hartford notified 40 employees they will become unemployed soon, due to lack of tax revenues.  I’ll keep saying this: Crashing tax revenues are sure sign your economy has failed.  But those highly edumagcated ‘elected’ officials will counter low tax collections by jacking up tax rates, and even creating new taxes.  Hello!  Lack of good paying non-government jobs equals lack of tax revenues, no matter how high the rates go!

Florida: In Brandenton, after 27 years Smitty’s Pub & Grill shutting down mid-month, the owner saying “I’m taking a whole year off and then we’ll see.”    Despite claims of ever increasing revenues, local news reports say the Sunshine State’s hotel industry is eliminating the most jobs since 2009, at least 585 hospitality workers (just in southern Florida) will become unemployed between now and the end of June!  The Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association actually blames it on increased tourism, saying it’s forcing many hotels to renovate to accommodate increased numbers of customers, but that means hotel shutdowns during the renovations.  In Port Richey, the American Health Institute college shutdown without warning.  The owner blames the administrators for wasting money while former administrators blame the owner for wasting money!  Administrators also told local news media they have evidence the owner was lying about enrollment numbers to get more federal funding.  The college had only 50 med-tech students.

Idaho:  Near Grangeville, Blue North Forest Products confirmed that low lumber sales forced them to sell their mill to competitor Idaho Forest Group (who so far refuses to say what their plans are), 65 jobs threatened.

Iowa:  Surprise! A Sears store not on the recent official Sears Holdings shutdown list is shutting down! The Des Moines Southridge Mall Sears shutting down by August.  Sears Holdings administrators actually refused to say how many employees were becoming unemployed!

Kansas: Aircraft parts maker Triumph Group reported $1-billion USD in yearly losses and used it as an excuse to begin consolidation of its ten factories, resulting in an undisclosed number of mass layoffs.  Investors cheered the mass layoffs by driving stock prices up!

Louisiana: Surprise! A Kmart store not on the recent official Sears Holdings shutdown list is shutting down! The Bossier Kmart shutting down by August.

Massachusetts: In Boston-Weak, The Boston Globe prepping for yet another round of layoffs, due to continued crashing subscriptions (and don’t blame the internet ’cause they have an internet version).

New York:  In Clay, after 13 years Liehs & Steigerwald Downtown Butcher-Grocer-Pub shutting down by the end of the month, the owners are focusing on a bigger food project.  Gourmet grocery chain Fairway Group Holdings now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  After three years, and a lot of location and marketing changes, NYC clothier Carson Street shutting down by the end of June.  Bankrupt NYC based clothier Aéropostale released its shutdown list: Alabama; Spanish Fort & Birmingham.
Alaska; two stores in Anchorage, one in Fairbanks.
Arizona; Scottsdale & Tucson. Arkansas; Little Rock, Hot Springs & Rogers. California; San Jose, Chula Vista, Los Angeles, Citrus Heights & Chico. Colorado; Lakewood; Bel Mark, Grand Junction & Silverthorne.  Connecticut; Waterford.  Florida; Sarasota, Beach,
Miami, Orlando, Estero & Palm Beach. Georgia; Athens, Lithonia &
Macon. Hawaii; Honolulu, Kaneohe & Aiea.  

The Pine Ridge Mall, Idaho location

The Pine Ridge Mall, Idaho location

Idaho; Chubbuck (Pine Ridge Mall, one of my many former employers [the mall, not Aéropostale]) & Twin Falls. Illinois; Springfield, Carbondale, Geneva, Bolingbrook, Forsyth & Bourbonnais. Indiana; Bloomington & Wayne. Kentucky; Paducah,
Elizabethtown & Owensboro.  Louisiana; Monroe & Slidell. Maryland; Glen Burnie & Ocean City. Massachusetts; Worcester. Michigan; Muskegon, Fort Gratiot, Jackson, Traverse City & Howell.  Minnesota; Maplewood, Blaine, Woodbury & Coon Rapids.
Mississippi; Southaven & Flowood.  Missouri; Columbia, Kansas City & Branson. Montana; Missoula. Nebraska; Lincoln & Omaha. Nevada; Las Vegas. North Carolina; Asheville. New Mexico; Santa Fe. New York; Amherst, Clay, Buffalo, Brooklyn & NYC.  Ohio; Clairsville, two stores in Cincinnati, Heath, Zanesville, Youngstown, Akron, Niles & Columbus.  Oklahoma; Norman, Oklahoma City & Shawnee.  Pennsylvania;  Monroeville, Moosic & Chambersburg. South Carolina; Columbia. South Dakota; Rapid City. Tennessee; Chattanooga, Cleveland, Memphis & Kingsport.  Texas; Plano, Houston, Hillsboro, Lake Jackson, San Antonio & San Angelo. Virginia; Christiansburg & Chesapeake. Washington; Bellingham & Bellevue. West Virginia; Bluefield. Wisconsin; Wausau & Fond Du Lac.  Wyoming; Casper.

North Carolina: Greensboro based gourmet grocery chain The Fresh Market shutting down 13 stores in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Texas, starting now!  In fact all Texas Fresh Markets will shutdown.   A news source estimated that 60 people work at each store, that’s 780 jobs lost within the next two months!  In Cramerton, South Fork Deli shutdown without warning, due to family health problems.  Also in Cramerton, Captain Jim’s Seafood and Steaks shutdown due to the owner’s death, and Next Generation Interiors of Bakers posted “Going out of business” sale signs.

Ohio:  Across the U.S. 197 Cargill employees to become unemployed 18 months from now!  It has something to do with the sale of Cargill’s sauces unit to California based Ventura Foods.

Texas: In Denton, after 20 years Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios shutting down.  It sounds like they’re being kicked out: “We apologize for the sudden news, and how that may affect those whom have shows booked after that date. Please trust us when we say we didn’t want or expect this to happen. We’re still trying to wrap our heads around the shock of it all ourselves.”

Vermont: Burlington School District eliminating 24 jobs, in line with the budget approved by cash strapped voters.

Wisconsin: Childfirst shutting down two daycare ops, one in La Crosse and one in Onalaska. Two other Childfirst locations are being taken over by Red Ballon.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification. I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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

Business/Economics

Cops enforce shutdowns! Arizona law kills jobs & 400 dogs! Idaho brand inspector branded a criminal? : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 03 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arizona:  So much for animal ‘rights’.  A bill is about to become a new state law outlawing dog racing.  The result will be as many as 4-hundred Greyhound dogs at the Tucson Greyhound Park made instantly homeless!  The bill was passed partly due to criticism about abuse and neglect of racing dogs, but to those who support the bill I ask “How many of you will adopt one of those 4-hundred dogs soon to become homeless?”

Colorado: ‘Elected’ lawmakers have admitted they’ve been violating federal law by jailing poor people who can’t pay their fines! The admission comes in the form of House Bill 1311, which states that in the future local courts must prove the individual is not financially destitute before sending them to jail for failure to pay fines. 

Florida:  The Conservancy of Southwest Florida shutting down their Upscale Resale Furniture & More Store by mid-month.  Administrators confirmed there is no economic recovery, and they don’t think they’ll be one: “Over the last few years, we have seen a steady decline in net profits from sales at the store. A task force was put in place recently to assess the current situation……Projected earnings would continue to decline even with a very large amount of effort and investment…”– Rob Moher, ceo

The following is an incomplete list of restaurant shutdowns, recently revealed from last month, across The Sunshine State: Bazi, Tap Global Beer Collection, Hudson, Oaki Steakhouse, Sheila’s Conch & Wings, Rhino Doughnuts & Coffee and Hickory Sticks BBQ.

Georgia: Surprise! A Kmart store not on the official Sears Holdings shutdown list is shutting down! The 23 years old Rome Kmart shutting down by August, 1-hundred jobs lost!  Administrators say employees can apply at other Sears Holdings stores, but local news reports say the Rome Kmart is the last Sears Holdings store in the area!

Idaho:  The state livestock Brand Inspector, Justin Archer, resigned after being charged by Jerome County Sheriff’s Office with felony grand theft!   Washington based Potlatch Corporation has sold-off  69605.9 hectares (172-thousand acres) of Gem State tree-land to ‘investors’ in U.S. state of Georgia, blaming Idaho’s suck-ass economy: “We purchased the central Idaho timberlands in 2007 intending to take advantage of what was a strong rural recreational real estate market around McCall…..Unfortunately, that market declined significantly due to the recession and the bankruptcy of the Tamarack Resort.”– Mike Covey, ceo

DraftKings and FanDuel  shutting down their Idaho participants’ accounts, after state Attorney General Lawrence Wasden shutdown fantasy sports gambling: “….paid daily sports offerings provided by these companies constitute gambling under Idaho law. I have a duty to enforce and uphold that law. I commend the companies for negotiating in good faith and agreeing not to make these contests available in Idaho.”  

Maine: In Westbrook, after 77 years Colonial Bowling Lanes shutting down because the owner was unable to pay $14-thousand USD in back due local taxes!  The property was sold to pay the taxes.

Michigan: After 17 years The Great Lakes Shipping Co. Restaurant and Tavern forced to shutdown by the end of the month.  The greedy landlord, CWD Real Estate Investment, has other plans for the property. Surprise! A Kmart store not on the official Sears Holdings shutdown list is shutting down!  The Farmington Hills Kmart shutting down by mid-July, 61 jobs lost.

Mississippi: As I’ve said before, lack of tax revenues is sure sign your economy has failed.  Possible collapse coming for state departments and agencies as ‘elected’ lawmakers drastically reduced funding across the board, due to lack of tax revenues.  In some cases the reduced state funding will result in less federal funding as well, such as the Department of Health which says the state funding cuts will mean $4-million USD in automatic federal funding cuts!

Missouri: In Shrewsbury, after 20 years Powerhouse Gym shutdown without warning, and without refunding 2-thousand 3-hundred customers’ money!  Local news reports say employees were shocked when an unknown man began locking the doors.  They blocked his efforts and eventually the owner called in local police, not to help employees but to help the unknown man shutdown the 24 hours workout joint!

New York: In Long Island NYC, after three years the Doshi STEM Institute shutting down due to lack of enrollments and a lack of $1-million USD in taxpayer funding!

NYC based clothier Aéropostale joins the growing list of retailers going down as it files for chapter 11 bankruptcy and announces the shutdown more than 1-hundred stores!  The bankruptcy comes right before rent payments for May are due, which means many landlords might not get paid! Aéropostale was kicked off the New York Stock Exchange last month. Fortune reports that in 2010 the clothier was worth $3-billion USD, today it’s worth only $30-million!  Sears Holdings issued yet another WARN, this time 75 people in Rochester losing their jobs by mid-July.

North Carolina: In Charlotte, By Design furniture store shutting down as soon as the inventory is gone.  The property owner claims they’ll be a new tenant moving in.

The state Department of Commerce reports an official 1-thousand 235 publicly revealed layoffs in April! (that’s more than in April 2015)

Oklahoma: Broken Arrow based oil industry manufacturer Zeeco revealed it began eliminating jobs “from various U.S. offices” last Friday.  Administrators refused to give numbers.

Ohio: In Hubbard, god powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Saint Patrick School.  The Bishop of Youngstown blames it on ten years of declining enrollment.

Puerto Rico: The U.S. territorial government failed to make a $422-million USD debt payment, but in this case (and unlike other governors throughout the U.S.) governor Padilla is looking out for residents: “I had to make a choice. I decided that essential services for the 3.5 million American citizens in Puerto Rico came first.”-Alejandro Garcia Padilla

Texas: In Houston, Gems by Chao shutting down after 44 years.

Virginia: In Blacksburg, after seven years Sal’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria shutting down mid-June.

Washington: In Seattle, after eight years Cairo local music venue-art gallery-clothing store shutting down due to lack of revenues.

West Virginia:  Surprise! A Kmart store not on the official Sears Holdings shutdown list is shutting down! The Bluefield Kmart shutting down by August.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification.  I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.    The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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

Business/Economics

“I’m going mobile.” “forecasted volume…does not sustain…business.” ObamaCare blamed for low food sales! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 01 – 02 May 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

“I went shoppin’ the other day…..I went to go buy beef, and I didn’t end up with four steaks, I only ended up with two steaks….times are tough for everyone. I think a lot more money is going towards healthcare, and other hidden expenses in America that people don’t realize…when times are tough you’re gonna go to pork and chicken, and us Italians go to the pasta.”-Tommy Grisafi,  agricultural commodities analyst, U.S. Farm Report 30 April 2016

California:  According  to the Bay Area Council, 34% of San Francisco Bay area residents want to leave!  The number one reason is the outrageously high cost of living!  After 113 years (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression, 2nd World War [despite many of its employees being forced into U.S. concentration camps] and numerous recessions), Los Angeles based newspaper Rafu Shimpo on the verge of shutdown unless it can somehow get 10-thousand new subscribers!   At one time the newspaper had 23-thousand subscribers, but is now down to 7-thousand 8-hundred.  And for more evidence the internet is not recession proof Rafu Shimpo does have an internet version, but only 8-hundred people subscribe to it.  The newspaper will shutdown in December if it can’t drastically increase the subscription rate.  In Fresno, a Starbucks Coffee on Herndon and Golden State Avenues suddenly shutdown today, and being demolished this week.  Administrators blame the High Speed Rail construction.  In Gilroy, Saint Louise Regional Hospital revealed it began laying off employees in March!  Administrators admitted they won’t know how many people will lose their jobs until they are done with the layoff process, which could go on for several weeks or even months!  In Stockton, Dameron Hospital shutdown its baby delivery and child healthcare services, 70 jobs lost.  In Torrance, after 44 years Cookin’ Stuff shutting down, the ignorant owner blames a 75% drop in sales (since 11 September 2001) on the internet!

Florida: In Vero Beach, after more than 27 years The Boardwalk craft beer, wine and ice cream restaurant shutdown.  The owners claim they want to retire, but their daughter will continue the business out of a food truck, avoiding the greedy landlord: “I’m going mobile. I’m taking my food on the road.”-Stephanie Swink

In Jacksonville, two Krispy Kreme donut shops shutting down this weekend, 50 jobs lost!  A local Pizza Hut franchise says it will consider hiring the former donut makers.

Illinois: Obama’s homie town of Chicago is the origin of International Worker’s Day (every 01 May). In 1886 oppressed workers (who had no set work schedule [in some cases security guards literally determined who got to work for the day], no benefits and were paid pittance) went on strike.  The corporations and their lackey government soldiers, police and private security guards went on the warpath shooting into the unarmed strikers, killing at least 18.  It’s called The Haymarket Affair and is a fine example of a False Flag op which allowed corporate Dogs of War to justify shooting and killing their fellow ‘Mericans!  (It’s also a good reminder why citizens of the U.S. must never let government take away their Constitutional right to arm themselves.)

Indiana: More proof corporate America is not experiencing a recovering economy; Flow International-Flow Aerospace shutting down high pressure water cutting operations in Jeffersonville, 40 jobs lost by 2017: “Despite major investments…the current and forecasted volume of business does not sustain a stand-alone Abrasive Waterjet  machine-building business.“-Andy Jones, general manager

Iowa: In Cedar Rapids, after 33 years antique store Cellar Door up for sale so the aged owner can finally retire and enjoy life.

Kentucky: Texas based TMK Ipsco issued a 4th round layoff WARN for the year, this time 113 Wilder steel workers unemployed by June!

Massachusetts: Boston-Weak based Partners HealthCare made a major accounting error which will cause hospitals across the state to see “steep and extraordinarily serious” reductions in ObamaCare reimbursements that will cause as many as 2-thousand 1-hundred people to lose their jobs!  The reimbursement accounting error was made back in September 2015, but is only now being revealed! 

Mississippi: Baldwyn based bankrupt Hancock Fabrics has released a 1st round list of stores shutting down as part of their plans to shutdown all remaining stores;  NORTH LITTLE ROCK & LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas. TUCSON, Arizona.  SLIDELL & SHREVEPORT, Louisiana. JACKSON & MURFREESBORO, Tennessee. MESQUITE, WACO, HOUSTON & SAN ANTONIO, Texas. UPLAND,  SAN JOSE & BAKERSVILLE, California. CLARKSVILLE, MISHAWAKA & INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana. LOUISVILLE, Kentucky. PORT CHARLOTTE & TAMPA, Florida.  CHESAPEAKE, RICHMOND & FREDERICKSBURG, Virginia. SPOKANE,  SPOKANE VALLEY,  YAKIMA & VANCOUVER, Washington.  GAINESVILLE,  ACWORTH, BUFORD, ATHENS, ROME, MACON & MARIETTA, Georgia.  MACHESNEY PARK, CHICAGO, FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, CHAMPAIGN, BLOOMINGTON & ROCKFORD, Illinois.  CEDAR RAPIDS & NW CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa. GREENWOOD & COLUMBIA, South Carolina.   ASHEBORO, CHARLOTTE & WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina.   BEND & SALEM, Oregon. HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania. IDAHO FALLS & TWIN FALLS, Idaho.  TUPELO & SOUTHAVEN, Mississippi. MONTGOMERY, Alabama. LINCOLN, Nebraska.  BILLINGS, Montana.  SHAWNEE, Oklahoma.   WICHITA, Kansas. BISMARCK, North Dakota.  SAINT PETERS, Missouri.  ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico.   RENO, Nevada.  CARLISLE, Pennsylvania.  WOODBURY, MINNEAPOLIS & SAINT PAUL, Minnesota. GAITHERSBURG, Maryland. MADISON, Wisconsin.

Missouri: In Saint Louis, it was revealed that restaurants Mama Josephine’s (by a buy-out offer from a business partner) and Revel Kitchen (the owners are focusing efforts on another restaurant) shutdown.

New Jersey: The Brick Board of Education warning of 17 layoffs and an increase in local taxes, blaming numerous issues including increasing employee healthcare costs caused by ObamaCare. In North Brunswick, Eastern Mountain Sports shutting down because parent company Vestis Retail Group went chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Vestis Retail is also the owner of Bob’s Stores and the now dead Sport Chalet.

New Mexico: The Silver Consolidated Schools Board of Education reports a taxpayer funding shortage of $1.3-million USD, warning of layoffs.

New York: It’s finally been revealed that  NYC based EmblemHealth eliminated 250 Information Technology (IT) jobs! They’re switching to a contractor.  After 30 years kid’s clothing store Shoofly shutting down, the owners simply said it was time to “move on…!”  After 65 years Lee’s Art Shop shutting down:  “We’re closing because the building is being sold.”-David Steinberg, ceo

North Dakota: Federally funded Job Service reporting increasing unemployment assistance claims, some of which might be their own former employees.  60 Job Service employees were laid off in January.  The Bismarck School Board shutting down 64 years old Saxvik Elementary school due to renovations that would cost $2.5-million USD.

Oregon: Illinois based RR Donnelley shutting down their North Portland printing ops, 113 jobs gone starting in August!  Local news reports say at one time employment peaked at 3-hundred, and in 2006 RR Donnelley got a five years property tax exemption to create jobs.

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh based GNC is exploring “strategic and financial alternatives”, possibly putting itself up for sale.  Supposedly the troubled ‘fitness nutrition’ chain store is worth $3.1-billion USD.

Texas: In Fort Worth, Walmart shutting down one of their Neighborhood Market stores by the end of May, 108 jobs lost! 

After eliminating tens of thousands of jobs across the U.S., Houston based petroleum industry contractors Halliburton and Baker Hughes reluctantly canceled their plan to merge on order of the U.S. Department of Justice: “The companies’ decision to abandon this transaction, which would have left many oilfield service markets in the hands of a duopoly, is a victory for the U.S. economy and for all Americans.”-Loretta E. Lynch, U.S. Attorney General

Washington DC: The following eateries shutdown, or shutting down: Bistrot Royal, Crane & Turtle, Hälsa, El Sol, Millie & Al’s, Sona Creamery and Teaism Old Town.

West Virginia: Ohio Valley Coal Company shutting down the Powhatan mine, 431 jobs lost by November!

Wisconsin: Surprise! A Sears store not even on the official shutdown list (recently made public) is shutting down.  The Wausau Center Sears shutting down by the end of June, 35 jobs lost.     Sears Holdings administrators would only say “we are accelerating the closings of unprofitable stores.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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

Business/Economics

“the economy went south.” : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 30 April 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

“Factories shed nearly 50,000 jobs in February and March, wiping out all of the gains recorded last year. The proportion of Americans in the active labor force remains depressed by historical standards, and more than 6 million workers say they are in part-time positions because they cannot find full-time work.”–The New York Times, 28 April 2016

California: San Ramon based oil giant Chevron announced it will eliminate an additional 1-thousand jobs before the end of the year, for a grand total of at least 8-thousand jobs killed!

Connecticut: In Norwalk, Guckenheimer Bridgewater On-Site Commissary issued a WARN, 90 jobs gone by June.

Idaho: EastIdahoNews reporting there is no recovery in eastern Idaho. Their latest article explains what happened with a lot of home construction projects: “It was just one of those things where the economy went south.”-Dave Ogden, mayor of Sugar City

Illinois: Chicago State University announced the elimination of 3-hundred jobs!  It’s blamed on the fact that failed ‘elected’ state lawmakers withheld a year’s worth of funding from Illinois higher education providers by failing to come up with a budget!

Indiana: In Gary, after 70 years Esquire Men’s Clothing shutting down so the owner can retire.

Kansas: In Overland Park, Sprint revealed it eliminated an additional 113 jobs at its HQ!

Maine: In Portland, the new owner of pet medication maker Putney laid off 17 employees.  Putney is now owned by British empire  Dechra Pharmaceuticals, who still refuses to say what it has planned for Putney.  In Farmington, Franklin Community Health Network laid off a little more than 50% of its employees (mostly full time jobs), blaming $15-million USD in losses on ObamaCare!  Administrators say the losses would have been much bigger if they hadn’t received a one-time federal grant.

Minnesota: In Morris, employees of Aaron Carlson Architectural Woodwork (aka furniture) have been on strike since 11 April, and now the company says it’s shutting down for good.  The employees were striking because of what they claim are low wages.  Company administrators say there is no way they can increase wages and compete with the plethora of local and national furniture makers, so they’re shutting it down.

New Jersey: New York based Colgate-Palmolive issued a shutdown WARN for its Morristown ops, 3-hundred jobs gone by mid-June!

North Carolina: Germany based BASF laying off 190 highly educated employees at its Research Triangle Park ops by the end of Summer!  It’s part of BASF’s plans to eliminate 350 local jobs in total!

Ohio: Utility company Direct Energy laying off 50 people as it shuts down its Miamisburg location by October 2017.

Pennsylvania: In Smithfield, CalFrac Well Services issued a layoff WARN, 63 jobs lost by the end of June.  In Harrisburg, DST Health Solutions issued a WARN, 107 jobs gone by the end of June!

Tennessee:  The Trust Company Bank has been seized by the FDIC.  The bank of Fayette County is taking over the assets.

Texas: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; in Austin internet based business education service Amazing Academy (amazing.com) laid off 50% of its employees without warning!  The news came from the former employees.   In Fort Worth, after 36 years iconic Rig Steakhouse shutdown, the property is for sale.  In Arlington, after two years Super Chix sandwich shop suddenly shutdown last week, administrators said “We tried for two years, but not enough people came.”

Wisconsin: In La Crosse, oil contractor Chart eliminating 65 jobs next week, due to the oil industry BS.  Local news media reported that it’s the 6th round of Chart layoffs in the past 15 months!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

29 April 2016: “I don’t want to move again.”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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

Business/Economics

“I don’t want to move again.” Sports Authority is dead! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 29 April 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arkansas: In Hot Springs, flea market Central Station Marketplace shutting down by mid-May.  The evil greedy Texas based property owner is kicking  all the mom-n-pop tenants out in favor of a national retailer.  Local news media says the property owner refuses to say who the new major retailer is going to be.

California: After 105 years (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression and numerous recessions) San Joaquin Lumber shutting down due to the economy not recovering.  The owners told local news media that before the 2007 recession began they had more than twice the number of employees they have now.  Their sales are so low they can make more money renting out their property to other businesses.

Colorado: Englewood based bankrupt Sports Authority announced it will shutdown all 464 stores, thousands of jobs lost!  Back in March they said they were shutting down 140 stores, but their financial situation is much worse than they originally thought.  In Denver, after 33 years Video One shutting down, the landlord found another tenant to pay higher rent. The store owner tried to keep the store open for those people who don’t have access to streaming video.  He also tried using internet crowd-funding to save the store, but it failed.

Florida: In Fort Myers, John’s Good Food popular BBQ joint shutting down tomorrow, due to a combination of the owner’s ongoing health problems and the greedy landlord kicking him out.   In Pinellas Park, Transitions Optical laying off 11 people by the end of June.  In Panama City, healthcare “revenue cycle” manager Navigant Gymetrix issued a WARN, 60 jobs gone by the end of June.

Illinois: Yet more massive shutdowns and layoffs for industrial vehicle maker Caterpillar.  Five factories in Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina are shutting down with some employees being transfered, but at least 820 people will become unemployed!

Missouri: University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor Thomas George eliminating 85 jobs due to a shortage of $15-million USD!

New York:  In Elmira, after 94 years (surviving The Great [deflationary] Depression and numerous recessions) Deister & Butler  jewelers shutting down so the family owners can retire.  In Ogdensburg, god powerless to stop the shutdown of 60 years old Wesleyan Church due to active membership dropping to 30 people (it’s TheRapture eyes tells ya, just kidding, or am I).  In Dewitt, Christopher & Banks shutting down their ShoppingTownMall clothing store.  Too Big to Jail Goldman Sachs issued a mass layoff WARN, 146 NYCers losing their jobs by the end of September!  Sears Holdings issued another WARN, this time 47 people in Rochester losing their jobs by mid-July.

North Carolina: In Concord, public transportation contractor First Transit lost their contract, 38 jobs lost by the end of June.

Ohio: Color additive and plastics maker Techmer Polymer Modifiers shutting down their Avon factory, affecting 26 jobs as they consolidate ops to Illinois and Delaware.

Oregon: In Portland, after 60 years Gordon’s Fireplace Shop shutting down, the owner tried to sell it but nobody was interested.  Local news reports say at one time there were 11 Gordon’s Fireplace Shops across the Pacific Northwest. More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; Veritas Software issued a WARN for their Springfield ops, 50 jobs lost by mid-June.

Pennsylvania: Gift store Hallmark announced the shutdown of six stores; Hazleton, Scranton, Shamokin, Bloomsburg, Lehighton, and Williamsport.  It’s blamed on lack of sales.  Some of the stores are more than 45 years old, local news media claimed that once word got out shoppers lined up outside the stores slated for shutdown. After 63 years iconic The Matey’s Crossroads Hotel Pizza & Steaks shutting down after a failed attempt to sell it.

Tennessee: In Chattanooga, after 31 years Kenton’s Shoe Repair shutting down due to the new property owner’s plans for the building.   The owner of the shoe repair shop, Reginald Cousin, said business was booming, but “The building’s been sold and I don’t want to move again. Me, being 73 years old, it’s time for me to retire.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

27-28 April 2016: “I can’t go on forever.”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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

U.S.

Dumbing Down the United States April 2016 : “It is unfortunate our students cannot complete their programs…”

It must be noted that I started documenting these education shutdowns at the beginning of 2014. In that year I posted the reports biannually (every six months). In 2015 education cutbacks ramped up and I posted quarterly (every three months). For the past four months of 2016 there have been so many education cutbacks that I’ve posted a report every month!

Disappearing Students Syndrome (DSS): A phrase created by me to describe a phenomenon taking place across the United States, affecting both privately and publicly funded schools, from Kindergarten all the way through University levels.

Incomplete list of publicly announced education related layoffs & school shutdowns, April 2016:

Arizona: Scandalous University of Phoenix eliminated more jobs, this time 470 people were laid off without warning, due to crashing student enrollment! The for-profit university is for sale.  More proof higher education is a waste of your time and money; the state Department of Administration says the fastest growing sector of the Grand Canyon State’s job market (by 27.7%) are jobs that don’t even require a high school education! The next biggest job sector is that which requires only a high school diploma. You should note that the ‘elected’ state leaders have been focusing job promotion on sectors that require higher education.

California:  New York based Barnes & Noble shutting down an office in Santa Clara, 80 jobs lost. It’s part of the book seller’s plan to cut costs by $13-million USD.  For-profit ICDC College shutting down their Huntington Park campus, 244 jobs lost by the end of May!  University California Berkeley announced it will eliminate 5-hundred jobs (not counting the 60 people being laid off now) over the next two years, due to lack of taxpayer funding!

Florida:   In Orlando, Florida Connections Academy issued a WARN, 80 jobs lost between June and August.

Georgia: The Ivy Preparatory Academy’s Young Men’s Leadership Academy shutting down by next school year. This is the second Ivy Prep school to be shutdown by state education administrators, supposedly due to weak finances and academic performance (but I wonder if it really has something to do with the plurality of the students and employees being ‘black’).

Idaho: The Dean of Science for University of Idaho was found dead in his Prius after it was pulled from the Dworshak Reservoir.  He was reported missing and a few hours later was found in his car in the reservoir, near a boat ramp.  The situation is being investigated.  In Twin Falls, after 37 years God powerless to stop ‘unofficial’ Mormon Bell’s Family Books from being shutdown by ‘official’ Mormon bookstore Deseret Book! You read right! Local news reports say Bell’s Family Books was facing increasing competition, the final straw being when their own religion opened a bookstore down the street.

Illinois:  Chicago State University announced the elimination of 3-hundred jobs! It’s blamed on the fact that failed ‘elected’ state lawmakers withheld a year’s worth of funding from Illinois higher education providers by failing to come up with a budget!  Local news reports say Harper College in Palatine, and College of Lake County in Grayslake, laid off about 49 employees due to the failed ‘elected’ lawmakers’ budget battles. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign warning of mass layoffs due to the incompetent ‘elected’ state lawmakers. The mass layoffs would take place by the end of August.  Highland Community College eliminating six jobs, blaming the failed ‘law makers’ for failing to come up with a state budget. Highland Community College is also jacking up tuition!   Edwardsville School District 7 warning of mass layoffs, fee increases and local tax hikes due to the economy failing to recover, contrary to what U.S. ‘leadership’ and main stream news media falsely claim. Local news reports explained that the school district was flush with “reserve” cash when the official recession started, but the economy never recovered and now the district is not only out of money, but is $4.5-million USD in the hole! Read the Belleville News-Democrat for the sobering truth (and a long list of drastic school district changes).  Barnes & Noble shutting down three bookstores by the end of May; one in the Arlington Shopping Center, the Woodfield Plaza Shopping Center and in Deer Park Town Center! No word on how many jobs will be lost.  Western Illinois University laying off 110 employees: “Despite the ongoing furlough/voluntary pay reduction program and the drastic reductions to spending, these layoffs are necessary to protect the university’s cash resources. In spite of our best efforts to conserve financial resources, without an appropriation from our state government, the university will face even greater financial challenges.”–Jack Thomas, president

Kansas: God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 46 years old Shawnee Presbyterian Preschool. The Rapture, I mean what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome is forcing them to shutdown by the end of the year.   Mission Group Kansas owned Wright Career College ceased to exist. The chapter 7 bankruptcy shuts down campuses in Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Administrators said “From our beginning in 1921 until our closure, we have always operated with the focus of putting the interests of our students first. It is unfortunate our students cannot complete their programs at Wright Career College.” However, in 2013 hundreds of students sued the college saying it “purposefully enticed prospective students to enroll and apply for student loans they cannot pay back through a systematic, deceptive marketing scheme.” 

Kentucky: Jefferson Community and Technical College eliminating 101 jobs (61 ’employees’ & 40 ‘instructors’) due to what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome (DSS)! Since 2010 student enrollment has crashed by 4-thousand 3-hundred!

Michigan:  Kalkaska Public Schools ending its lease on its Northside Alternative High School. It’ll save the struggling school district $3-thousand 8-hundred USD per month. The district is in trouble after a check of accounting books showed that it had been overpaid by 900-thousand tax dollars over three years. It’s suspected certain administrators within district knew of the overpayment, but never said anything. Now the state is taking $29-thousand per month away from the district, until the overpayment is corrected.  Pittsford Area Schools Board of Education approved the layoff of five employees. It’s blamed on what I call DSS, the school board even stated that families are moving away from the state of Michigan.

Missouri: Missouri University eliminating 54 jobs due to $5.4-million USD in taxpayer funding cuts, caused by what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.  University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor Thomas George eliminating 85 jobs due to a shortage of $15-million USD!

New Hampshire: Dartmouth College’s Geisel School of Medicine laying off 30 people, and conducting restructuring that will affect 285 employees! The 285 are being considered for transfer to Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

New Jersey:  In South Amboy, after more than 1-hundred years (surviving The Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Sacred Heart Elementary School because “…enrollment has decreased by 40 students and the subsidy required to sustain the school’s operation has risen to over a half-million dollars annually…”   The Clifton Board of Education approved the outright elimination of 49 jobs and also notified 5-hundred non-tenured employees that they will not be considered for re-hire next school year!  The Lacey Township School District eliminating 25 jobs and jacking up local taxes by 4.4.%! Local news reports said school taxes are supposed to be capped at 2%!

New York:  God powerless to stop ‘his’ Catholic Charities of Buffalo from shutting down their social services operations within taxpayer funded public schools (hey, isn’t that a violation of the 1st Amendment, government shall not recognize a religion?), at least 65 jobs lost by the end of June.   After ten years P.S. Bookstore forced to shutdown because it can’t pay its NYC (Brooklyn) property taxes. The bookstore operator says he never got a tax bill for the first three years of operations (the fault of the landlord, in NYC evil landlord’s collect property taxes from their tenants), then he suddenly got a massive bill in 2014 which he just could not pay. He even tried raising the money through internet crowdfunding but failed.  Lighthouse Guild issued a shutdown WARN for their The Ethel and Samuel J. Lefrak School, 32 jobs lost between July and August.  In Albion, after almost six years the owners of Bindings Bookstore suddenly shut it down. Sales are good, but not good enough for the owners and they’re trying trying to sell it off.  Sodexo lost its food contract with Fordham University, 382 jobs gone by the end of June!

North Carolina:  Teachers Memorial School in Kinston shutting down by August. Vague news reports say the county questioned the school district’s operating costs.

North Dakota:  University of North Dakota suddenly laid off 20 people and halted admissions to several programs. The school is short at least $5.3-million USD! However, local news reports said the UND music therapy program, itself, is short $7-million USD!

Ohio:   After 164 years (surviving The Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) children’s mental health treatment chain Beech Brook forced to eliminate 179 jobs due to Medicaid funding cuts!

Pennsylvania: The Society Hill Playhouse (educating kids and adults in the theater arts) shutdown after more than 50 years. There was no reason given in the reports I read.  ‘Troubled youth’ caretaker NHS Youth Services issued a layoff WARN for their Northwestern Academy, but failed to say how many people were losing their jobs.   In York, Durham School Services announced it will eliminate 88 jobs by the beginning of June.  In Lansford, Our Lady of Angels Academy has gone from 8-hundred students to just more than 1-hundred, and god is powerless to stop the shutdown in July. Administrators said the only way they could stay open was to jack up the fees, but christian parents can’t afford to pay more fees.

South Dakota: Southeast Technical Institute warned of layoffs due to what I call DSS.

Texas: In Austin internet based business education service Amazing Academy (amazing.com) laid off 50% of its employees without warning! The news came from the former employees.

Vermont: For the third year in a row the Burlington School District is prepping employees for mass layoffs, and for the second time is jacking up local taxes, and will eliminate classes because “…the decline in overall enrollment has resulted in numerous under-enrolled classes that can be consolidated.” Teacher Bob Abbey bemoaned “…Burlington has become a second-tier educational system. We are going in the wrong direction.” Read the sobering Burlington Free Press article which gives a list of drastic changes coming for the school district. 

Washington DC: U.S. Department of Education has revealed that their economic outlook for the future of the United States is so bad that 43% of us fools who got into debt to get a higher education will never be able to pay off that debt to the government! As of January 2016, 3.6-million former higher education students had defaulted (meaning they stopped making payments, you can’t declare bankruptcy against student debt) on $56-billion USD worth of student loans!

Dumbing Down the United States, March 2016:  “Let’s be clear; this campaign promotes an agenda designed to undermine public schools.”

Business/Economics

“I can’t go on forever.” Kohl’s & Sport Chalet shutting ’em down in Cali! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 27 – 28 April 2016

Incomplete list of U.S. job loss announcements and shutdowns.

More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise;  Mormon Glen Beck’s ‘news’ network The Blaze is warning at least 40 employees across the U.S. that they will lose their jobs.  This is at least the second round of layoffs for Glen Beck.  Back in February a Daily Beast report basically said former employees accused ‘christian’ Beck of being a backstabber.  It’s blamed on crashing ratings and the crashing numbers of people looking at Beck’s websites Glennbeck.com and TheBlaze.com.

Alabama: In Auburn, after 38 years Price’s Barbeque House shutting down sometime between May and December.  The greedy (and tired) owner admitted he decided to ‘join the crowd’ and sell-out to a property developer for a lot of money: “It’s a good living, but it’s a tough one as well. It’s something that I’ve had to think about for a very long time, and I can’t go on forever. The timing is just right, as sad as it is.”-Jeff Price

Arizona: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; California based Intel eliminating 560 jobs in Chandler, by the end of May!

California: Wisconsin state based department store Kohl’s issued mass shutdown WARNs for nine Golden State stores, 780 jobs gone by mid-June! La Cañada city based Sport Chalet issued mass shutdown WARNs for six Golden State locations, 367 jobs gone by mid-June! In Gonzales, Sonora Packing issued a shutdown WARN, 176 jobs gone by mid-June!  British empire Scotland based school bus contractor First Student issued mass shutdown WARNs for at least three Golden State locations, 212 jobs gone by mid-June!  In Gardenia, Normandie Casino shutting down by mid-June, 380 jobs lost!  Elitist Burke Williams Day Spa shutting down their Los Angeles location, 101 jobs gone by mid-June!  Montana based engineering company MSE Tech issued a layoff WARN for their Van Nuys ops, 205 jobs gone by mid-June!   In Torrance, Japan based Kubota Tractor shutting down, 72 jobs gone by mid-June.  Southern California Edison eliminating 46 jobs in Rosemead by June.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; in Irvine, Sage Software eliminating 26 jobs by the end of June.  In San Jose, Western Digital Technology eliminating 71 jobs by mid-June.

Florida: Netherlands based Louis Dreyfus Company Citrus eliminating 59 jobs and shutting down its Winter Garden ops by the end of May.  The orange juice maker sold its Winter Garden ops to a competitor (Peace River Citrus) who apparently has no plans to continue the operation.  In Orlando, Florida Connections Academy issued a WARN, 80 jobs lost between June and August.

Kansas: Too Big to Jail Shawnee Mission based Waddell & Reed Financial says it must eliminate 10% of jobs at its Overland Park location, due to ongoing crashing revenues.

Kentucky: A week after eliminating 61 jobs, Jefferson Community and Technical College notified 34 more employees of layoffs.

Louisiana: Texas based Union Tank Car WARNing that it will eliminate 224 jobs in Alexandria, by the end of June, due to the oil industry BS!

Missouri: Proof that the economy sucks; lack of tax filings!  Kansas City based tax filing preper H&R Block announced that there were so few filings this year that they must eliminate 250 jobs!

New Jersey: The Lacey Township School District eliminating 25 jobs and jacking up local taxes by 4.4.%!  Local news reports said school taxes are supposed to be capped at 2%!

New York:  Sodexo lost its food contract with Fordham University, 382 jobs gone by the end of June!  

The company behind those crappy entertainment shows like American Idol, NYC based CORE Media, now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Despite years of high ratings the company was not able to pay off massive debts, and now ratings for those BS shows are crashin’-n-burnin’.

North Dakota:  University of North Dakota suddenly laid off 20 people and halted admissions to several programs.  The school is short at least $5.3-million USD!  However, local news reports said the UND music therapy program, itself, is short $7-million USD!   

Pennsylvania: In Lansford, Our Lady of Angels Academy has gone from 8-hundred students to just more than 1-hundred, and god is powerless to stop the shutdown in July.  Administrators said the only way they could stay open was to jack up the fees, but christian parents can’t afford to pay more fees.

Tennessee: In Farragut, after 24 years the original Aubrey’s restaurant (originally called Aubrey’s Cafe) shutting down by mid-May.  The administrators blame the shutdown on the age of the building.

Washington DC: The Migration Policy Institute discovered that refugees get more help from taxpayer funded social programs than do poor U.S. citizens (30% vs 27%).  The report (Young Children of Refugees in the United States: Integration Successes and Challenges) is actually meant to praise the U.S. efforts at helping refugees, but inadvertently reveals it’s at the expense of citizens who also need help.

 Wyoming: Another mine layoff, this time bankrupt Virginia based Alpha Natural Resources laying off 37 coal miners at Belle Ayr and Eagle Butte mines.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

26 April 2016: “It just never came back after the recession.”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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