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Business/Economics, Idaho

More Economic Decline: After Idaho shutdown, USPS takes 23 hours to deliver package that should have arrived in 3!

15 May 2015 (01:43 UTC-07 Tango 01)/25 Ordibehesht 1394/26 Rajab 1436/27 Xin Si (3rd month) 4713

The U.S. Postal Service’s Gateway Processing Center in Pocatello, Idaho, officially shutdown on April 18th.  Since then all parcel and bulk mail sorting is being done out of state in Salt Lake City, Utah.  I just received a package that, according to the tracking info, took 23 hours to go from Salt Lake City to Pocatello, a drive that normally takes 2.5 to 3 hours!

Here’s the actual info from the USPS: “Tracking # 9400109699938443767549

Departed USPS Facility May-13-15, 04:22 AM, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84199

Arrived at Post Office May-14-15, 03:09 AM, POCATELLO, ID 83201″

 That’s right, it left Salt Lake City on May 13th at 04:22 hours (that’s 4:22 am for those of you on the 12 hours clock), but didn’t arrive in Pocatello until almost 23 hours later on May 14th at 03:09 hours!

Why did it take the truck driver 23 hours when it’s normally a 2.5 to 3 hours drive (by car, maybe 4 hours by truck) from Salt Lake City to Pocatello?

East Idaho’s Gateway Processing Center is one of 82 across the U.S. being shutdown this year.

Kentucky: In Paducah, the U.S. Postal Service shutting down the mail Processing Center.  Missouri: In Cape Girardeau, the U.S. Postal Service shutting down the mail Processing Center. 

One final look at the Idaho Postal Processing Center most east Idahoans didn’t even know about! 

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 12 – 14 April 2015: “the ongoing destruction of the United States….by President Barack Obama, and his supporters!” Idaho employers continue to lie about layoffs! Surprise Walmart shutdowns, thousands now jobless!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Obama Care causes promising nursing company to go bankrupt?  In Sacramento,  Response 1 Medical Staffing now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Administrators blame it on an embezzlement case.  In Carlsbad, Ortho Organizers issued a layoff WARN for June, 97 people to become jobless.  In Irvine, MV Transportation issued a shutdown WARN for June, 436 people will become jobless!  Albertsons-Safeway announced it will shutdown its Riverside La Sierra Plaza Vons and two Bakersfield Vons in May, because they are “not meeting company goals.”  At least 2-hundred jobs lost!  Albertsons-Safeway issued yet another layoff WARN for Safeway’s Pleasanton HQ, 96 more jobs lost in June.  Walmart shutdown their Pico Rivera store, without warning, 533 jobs lost!  News reports said Walmart shutdown five stores altogether, but they’ve issued only one WARN, for their Pico Rivera store.  News reports say 2-thousand 2-hundred Californians were rendered jobless overnight!  Some people say it’s because Walmart administrators were tired of hearing complaints from their employees!

Florida: Walmart shutdown store number 3436, in Brandon, 429 jobs lost!  You know the economy is bad when Walmart starts shutting down stores!  In Jacksonville, Obama Care forced Medimix, & First Coast Health to issue a WARN saying 95 employees will become unemployed between now and September.

Idaho: In Idaho Falls, after repeated denials Curtiss-Wright Scientech laid off an undisclosed number of employees.  No WARN has been filed with state employment administrators, but the Idaho Department of Labor says they’ve heard rumors of layoffs since October 2014: “We don’t have any official numbers at all. Just simply word-of-mouth is about 30 people, or so.”-Christopher Saint Jeor, Idaho Department of Labor

Illinois: Alton Steel said it must furlough employees for at least three weeks, about 3-hundred jobs affected! Administrators blame the crashing global steel market.

Massachusetts: Obama Care medical device tax the final straw for medical device maker Grove Instruments, who is now chapter 7 bankrupt busted and liquidating.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? Drivetrain and brake maker Merito announced it is shutting down its Heath factory over the next six months.

Mississippi: The Greenwood School District laying off 28 people.

New Jersey: Freshcut Produce issued a layoff WARN saying 1-hundred employees will become unemployed in June! Company administrators blamed “economic reasons”.  Obama Care forcing  Continuum Health Alliance to announce they will kill off 88 jobs in June.  Administrators referred to Obama Care as “today’s rapidly changing health care landscape”.

New Mexico: After 41 years Tony’s Rental Sales & Service sold all their stuff and shutdown: “Everything has to come to an end.”-Tony Tapia

New York: Food service company Sodexo told state employment administrators that 167 people will become unemployed at the Niagara University, in June!  This is on top of the 193 jobs lost in Loudonville, announced last month!  GAD Bakeries joining exodus from The Empire State by issuing a shutdown WARN for their Vanilla Fudge, Sweet Dream Desserts and Great American Dessert Company ops, saying 150 people will become jobless in July!  GAD Bakeries is moving to New Jersey.  In Brooklyn, Quality Transportation reported they’ve lost their contract with NYC, 151 jobs lost by June!

North Dakota: In Grand Forks, after a year women’s clothing store Hey Ocean shutdown.  The owner admitted she was targeting Canadians, maybe that’s why the store didn’t do so good.

Pennsylvania: In Bethlehem, Obama Care killed off Metro Ambulance Service!

South Carolina: The King Street Grille in the Citadel Mall shutdown: “Due to uncontrollable circumstances, we have determined that it is in the best interest of the King Street Grille as a company to close the Citadel Mall location.” 

Texas: What automotive industry recovery? Parts supplier to General Motors (GM), Japan owned (Mitsui) Android Industries, issued a WARN saying that in June  589 Texans will become jobless!   It sounds like Android is moving 131 jobs to Detroit, Michigan, where the company is getting $620-thousand in tax exemptions.  The San Benito School District finally admitted they overspent $12-million USD, and now a as yet to be determined amount of employees will become unemployed at the end of the school year.

West Virginia: Murray American Energy laid off 214 people at three coal mines!  Company administrators are pissed off, blaming “…the ongoing destruction of the United States coal industry by President Barack Obama, and his supporters, by the increased utilization of natural gas to generate electricity, and by the extremely excessive coal severance tax in the State of West Virginia.”

Wisconsin: Food service company Sodexo told state employment administrators that 3-hundred people will become unemployed at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, in June!  Sodexo lost their contract.

09 – 11 April 2015: “this relentless downturn of our fragile economy….has caused…substantial unrecoverable financial losses.” 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 09 – 11 April 2015: “this relentless downturn of our fragile economy….has caused…substantial unrecoverable financial losses.”

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Japan based legal drugs maker Eisai announced it will eliminate more than 2-hundred jobs within the United States!  Eisai has ops in Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.  Administrators blame the job cuts on a 47% drop in profits.

 Bermuda based booze maker Bacardi announced it will layoff about 80 people in North America, including the United States. It’s blamed on crashing booze sales. 

California: In San Jose, NYC Food and Beverage issued a shutdown WARN for June, 144 jobs lost!  In Burbank, Deluxe 3D-Stereo D issued a mass layoff WARN saying 227 people will become jobless in June!

Connecticut: The Carmen Anthony Restaurant Group shutdown two steak restaurants, one in Waterbury and one in New Haven. At least 70 jobs lost. The Carmen Anthony Restaurant Group blames Mother Nature, ongoing road construction and the suck-ass economy: “The challenges of this relentless downturn of our fragile economy, in addition to Phase I of road construction that lasted approx 28 months on Chase Avenue, directly in front of my Waterbury Steakhouse, has caused me a tremendous hardship and substantial unrecoverable financial losses. Phase II of this road widening construction has started up again in April 2015 and is projected to last approximately another two years or more to complete this project. I cannot afford another two years of substantial losses. These challenges alone were very difficult to manage but adding this year’s disastrous winter was the last straw that I could not overcome. January, February and March are normally difficult months but this year’s extremely cold weather and snow storms, most of which fell on weekends where I do 30 to 40% of my sales, was devastating.”

Florida: After 40 years the Siesta Market shutdown in Sarasota.

Illinois: Deerfield based legal drugs pusher, commonly known as Walgreens, announced they will shutdown 2-hundred U.S. stores between now and the end of 2017, in order to cut $1.5-billion USD from their budget. Walgreens shutdown 76 stores in 2014.  This comes after Walgreens spent $16-billion to merge with United Kingdom based Alliance Boots, it’s now officially called Walgreens Boots Alliance.  More cuts will follow: “These American markets are ready for more consolidation…..We will be at the forefront of consolidation…..we should every year review all the stores and if every year we have to close ten stores…do it.”-Stefano Pessina, acting CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance

Indiana: Administrators with Marsh Supermarket announced they will shutdown stores in Lafayette, Mooresville, Fishers and Indianapolis! They claim the grocery stores “do not meet our business requirements regarding sales or future growth potential”.

Iowa: In Davenport, the Paul Mitchell beauty school shutdown.  The owners blame low enrollment.

Maryland: What housing market recovery?  Lumber distributor American Forest Products (AFP) issued a WARN saying they will layoff 74 people in the Baltimore area by June.  Administrators say they are prepping the company to be sold-off.  AFP has operations in several states including Indiana, California and Connecticut. The sell-off will affect jobs around the country.

Missouri: In Springfield, after 42 years the owners of Lawrence Photo and Video announced they will shutdown in May.

New Jersey: The American Boychoir School in Princeton now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, saying they don’t even have any money to finish the school year: “The board has been compelled to consider several drastic alternatives, including closing the school immediately and ceasing operations.”-Rob D’Avanzo, Chairman of the Board

New York: In Buffalo, PolyUrethane caster Fenner Precision contacted state employment administrators saying they’ve been laying off employees since January, and will shutdown by the end of April.   Sears Holdings issued a WARN saying their New Hartford Sears & Auto Center will shutdown in July, 109 jobs lost!  Cable TV giant Viacom issued another WARN saying at least 21 people will be laid off by July.  In NYC, financial brokerage Jefferies issued a WARN saying they’ll shutdown their Bache Division between July 2015 and April 2016, at least 120 jobs lost!  Legal drugs maker Forest Laboratories reminded state employment administrators that they’ve been sold to Ireland based drugs maker Actavis, and that Actavis plans to move New York ops to New Jersey, 5-hundred jobs affected!  The Tuxedo Union Free School District announced they will layoff 20 people for next school year, they say it’s that or shutdown the George F. Baker High School.  Albany based legal drugs maker Albany Molecular Research announced it will shutdown its United Kingdom ops by the end of the year.  Last year they shutdown their Syracuse, New York, ops.  In 2012 they shutdown their Hungary ops.

Ohio: What automotive/aerospace industry recovery?  North Canton based bearing maker Timken announced they will layoff 20 employees at its Lebanon factory.

Pennsylvania: News reports say after 14 years McFadden’s restaurant in Philadelphia shutdown.  In Lancaster, after seven years Little Pine Traditional Crafts shutdown.

Tennessee: Coal miner Xinergy now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  It’s blamed on crashing demand and increasing government regulation.  The bankruptcy will affect mines in Virginia and West Virginia.

Wisconsin: AnchorBank says it must eliminate 167 jobs and shutdown seven offices.  Administrators say it’s all about increasing their profit margin: “…to improve business delivery and customer service, streamline operations, and improve overall profitability for the company.”-Chris Bauer, president

04 – 08 April 2015: “A lot of the smaller stores are being wiped out!”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

Sears Kmart Closing update 13 May 2015: Police state cops take children away from parents in New Jersey Kmarts!

New Jersey Appellate Court has ruled it was illegal for child cops (Division of Family and Youth Services, DFYS) to take a child from a mother just because the mother was arrested for “causing a scene” at a local Kmart!  The incident happened in 2012, the mother was arrested (after “they slammed [her] to the ground” according to court documents) for arguing with a Kmart employee, and her four years old child was taken by DFYS.  DFSY told the court they stole the child because the child was “upset”, the Appellate Court said that is not reason enough to kidnap somebody’s child.  It should also be noted that you can get arrested in New Jersey for having an argument (Kmart employees claim she made a “terrorist” threat against them)!

Speaking of New Jersey; it’s been revealed that 102 Kmart employees in The Garden State will become unemployed a few months from now.

Katrina Sanchez reported that a Sears Hardware in Pennsylvania has posted Store Closing signs.

After four years Sears and the Kardashian family canceled their clothing deal.  Sears Holdings said it was a mutual deal, but the Kardashians said it was because “Sears wasn’t stable”.

Right to Work you over Governor fails to pay his Sears debt? 

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings that I’ve been compiling since the end of 2011:

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors.

Alabama: 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).

California: 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 (number of employees affected not made public, no WARN filed), 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.

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: 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: 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).

Georgia: 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: 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: 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). Across the street, in Pocatello, the property where the Kmart is located has a “pad site available” sign, posted ever since the Kmart bankruptcy. The Kmart building takes up most of the ‘pad’. Latest news from inside sources say Sears Holdings will not comment on any plans to expand the small amount of Craftsman products already being sold at the Kmart, or shift the Kenmore products line, from the closing Chubbuck Sears to the Pocatello Kmart. In fact all plans for the Pokey Kmart are in a ‘holding pattern’.

Illinois: 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. 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: 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 (“approximately” 68 jobs lost), Bloomington Sears to be replaced by Whole Foods grocery store.

Iowa: 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).

Kansas: 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: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), 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: Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost), Metairie Kmart secretly sold off, no word if it will be shutdown.

Maine: 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).

Massachusetts: North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost), Kingston Kmart (73 jobs lost).

Michigan: Novi 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!

Minnesota: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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), recently revealed Closter Kmart (102 jobs lost).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost), Rio Rancho Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New York: 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 Sears & Auto Center (109 jobs lost).

North Carolina: 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).

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

Ohio: 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). 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: 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), recently revealed Fairless Hills Sears Hardware.

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

South Carolina: 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).

Tennessee: 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.

Texas: 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).

Utah: Murray Sears (for some reason Mormon controlled 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).

Vermont: Rutland Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost).

Virginia: 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), Wincester 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).

Washington: 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: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost), Bluefield Sears store & Auto Center (64 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: 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).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now 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

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 04 – 08 April 2015: ObamaCare job killing! “A lot of the smaller stores are being wiped out! Even the trading companies are being wiped out….”

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arkansas: Little Rock School District is losing $37-million USD in funding, and will be forced to layoff at least 30% of employees!  Administrators say they will also cut in half how much they pay into the employee health insurance, which means employees will have to pay a lot more for their Obama Care!

California:    In Sherman Oaks, Jerry’s Famous Deli issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in June, 60 jobs lost.  In Eureka, God refuses to stop the shutdown of his Saint Bernard’s elementary school.

Florida: In Niceville, food service company Sodexo issued a WARN saying 176 people will become unemployed in June!  The city of Fort Myers will layoff 21 firefighters.  The jobs were paid for with federal tax funds, and that funding is ending.

Illinois: In Normal, That’s So Sweet cheesecake shop shutdown, the owner blamed it on her pregnancy which made it difficult to commute to her Normal store.  Central Beverage issued a WARN saying 124 employees are now unemployed! It’s blamed on the takeover by Lakeshore Beverage.

Massachusetts: The Look Restaurant shutdown in Leeds. The owner blamed the bad economy and rising costs of operation. At one time he had 17 employees, but by the time he decided to shutdown he had only five.

Minnesota: In Bloomington, Toys R Us shutdown a 26 years old store in the Southtown Shopping Center.  The only explanation given was that the lease expired.

Missouri:  Grocery store chain Schnucks laid off 52 people, and eliminated eight open jobs, at its Saint Louis HQ. No explanation given. This comes weeks after administrators spent $1.69-million buying a property that they’ve rented for years. Administrators admitted they weren’t using the Saint Louis property for anything, and had no future plans for it!

New York: In Brooklyn, SCO Family of Services issued a shutdown WARN for their The Renaissance Men’s Shelter, to take place in July, 34 jobs affected.  Mental health clinic operator The Pederson Krag Center amended a WARN saying they have sold-off their operations, 85 jobs affected.   In Yonkers, God refuses to stop Obama Care from forcing his non-profit Saint John’s Riverside Hospital from shutting down and selling off their Michael Malotz Skilled Nursing Facility, 226 jobs to be lost starting in July!   All American School Bus issued a shutdown WARN for June, at least 207 jobs lost!  In SoHo, after 44 years the Pearl River Mart forced to shutdown because of a greedy property owner.  Reports say when the lease expires (in December) the rent will skyrocket to $500-thousand per month: “When we moved in this section of Broadway was so quiet. Now it’s very, very busy and the rent has rocketed. A lot of the smaller stores are being wiped out! Even the trading companies are being wiped out….”-Ming Yi Chen, owner of Pearl River Mart

Ohio: Lancaster based EveryWare Global, owner of food preparation products companies Anchor Hocking and Oneida, is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. They report overall sales crashed 17% in their 4th quarter 2014 (so much for Xmas sales). For the year they lost $4.87-million USD!

Pennsylvania: Dyno Nobel shutting down its Donora chemicals factory, at least 50 jobs lost.  Reports say the final economic straw was the shutdown of a 106 years old bridge, which connects the town to the outside world.  25% of the residents of Donora live below the federal government’s poverty level.  After 26 years the JCPenney Nittany Mall store shutdown, 55 jobs lost.

Texas:  In Victoria, DHW Well Service issued a WARN saying 55 people will be laid off in May.  Houston based Noble Energy announced they will layoff another 220 people! It’s blamed on oil prices and competition from Halliburton.   San Antonio based Food Management Partners shutting down 70 Carrows and Coco’s Bakery restaurants across Arizona, California and Nevada! Administrators blame the suck-ass economy: “The current market climate has forced us to make difficult decisions about many of our restaurants that are not performing at a competitive financial level.” 

Virginia: Pier 1 Imports shutdown their Norfolk store, no explanation given.

Washington: Redmond based Microsoft revealed it laid off “hundreds” of employees the week prior!  Administrators say it’s just one more round of layoffs in their plan to eliminate 18-thousand jobs by the end of the year!

Washington DC: Privately funded Howard University laid off 84 people without warning.  Last year administrators laid off 2-hundred employees!

Wisconsin: Obama Care forcing home health care provider GeminiCares to issue a WARN saying 7-hundred employees will become unemployed in May!  In Milwaukee, restaurant Nourri forced to shutdown after its chef and its general manager walked out. The owners blame frustrations with ongoing road construction that is killing off sales.

02 – 03 April 2015: “The market conditions are severe”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 02 – 03 April 2015: “The market conditions are severe, we’ve seen a 30% decrease…” Yet another women’s clothing chain going down! More healthcare, education and bank layoffs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Obama Care Racism in the good ol’ U.S. of A?  The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) laid off employees in New York, Washington DC, California and Wyoming.  ACLU administrators blamed it on the loss of a major donor, but also mentioned the increased employee health care costs, caused by Obama Care.

California: Los Angeles based American Apparel laid off 180 people!  This is the third year in a row the clothing company has laid off employees.  Some analysts say its their way of preventing employees from unionizing, however it could also be due to American Apparel losing $28-million USD in its 4th quarter of 2014!    Boeing announced that another round of layoffs will take place, this time nine people will be let go at the beginning of June.  In Santa Barbara, after less than two years Granada Books shutdown.  The owner tried an internet/social media based campaign to raise money to save the store, but it failed.   In Mountain View, OnLive issued a layoff WARN saying 98 people will become jobless by June.  In Los Alamitos, Dex Media issued yet another layoff WARN, this time saying the last of its employees will be let go in September.  In Irvine, legal drugs maker Allergan issued a layoff WARN saying 577 people will become jobless in June, due to takeover by Ireland based Actavis!  In Fresno, Charlotte’s BakerEatery sold to competitor Dusty Buns.  In Natomas, OfficeMax announced it will shutdown its North Freeway Boulevard store in May.  It’s part of a larger plan to shutdown more than 2-hundred stores across the U.S.: “In 2014, we closed approximately 165 locations and plan to close at least another 100 by the second quarter in 2015.”– Julianne Embry

Colorado: Boulder based children’s and women’s clothing chain Fresh Produce now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and up for sale.  Administrators say the company is in so much debt that they listed some as “unknown”.  Fresh Produce has several dozens of stores across six U.S. states.

Florida: FlexSteel Pipeline shutdown their Panama City factory, 76 jobs lost.  Administrators blame oil prices.

Illinois:  School District 65 will eliminate 29 full time jobs for the upcoming school year.  School administrators say they’re preparing for the state to slash and burn their funding even more.

Indiana: What automotive industry recovery?  Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar continues to kill jobs, this time 250 jobs will be eliminated in Lafayette!  Also, driveline maker Oerlikon Fairfield laid off 35 people at its Lafayette factory.  The new Obama Care medical device tax, combined with a takeover by Tecomet, forcing Symmetry Medical Manufacturing to shutdown its Noble County factory by the end of the year, 130 jobs lost (layoffs start in June)!  In Indianapolis, Too Big to Jail Chase Bank announced it is shutting down its student loan center in May, 73 jobs lost.  It’s the final stage of the bank’s exit from higher education: “We have gotten out of the student loan business; that was announced years ago. So this is the trailing end of the servicing of the loans that were still on the books.”

Kentucky: In Paducah, the U.S. Postal Service shutting down the mail Processing Center, at least 41 jobs affected.  The loading dock will remain in operation, but work hours for those employees remaining will be greatly reduced.

Maine: Massachusetts based aerospace and oil industry parts supplier Midstate Berkshire laid off 70 people in Winslow and Waterville.  On top of that the Waterville factory will be shutdown by the end of the year, so more job losses are expected: “The market conditions are severe, we’ve seen a 30% decrease in our key markets over the past year!”-Duane Pekar, CEO

Massachusetts: In the state known as Boston Weak, the new Obama Care medical device tax, combined with a takeover by Tecomet, forcing Symmetry Medical Manufacturing to shutdown its New Bedford factory over the next 12 months.  Layoffs begin in June, 190 jobs lost!

Minnesota:  After 57 years Richfield’s Lariat Lanes bowling alley announced it will shutdown in May.

Missouri: In Cape Girardeau, the U.S. Postal Service shutting down the mail Processing Center, at least 45 jobs affected.

New York: In Clifton Park, California based Everett Charles Technology joined the exodus and announced they will layoff 25 people in August, by offshoring the jobs to Malaysia.  In Syracuse, Too Big to Jail JP Morgan Chase issued a shutdown WARN saying their Global Technology Department will cease to exist in June, 91 jobs lost.  In Bay Shore, Duralee Fabrics issued a WARN saying they’re joining the exodus from The Empire State and moving 64 jobs to North Carolina by July.  In Bronx, That Which Cannot be Named refuses to stop the sell-off of its Yeshiva University Albert Einstein School of Medicine, 1,512 jobs affected!  Apparently the school is being taken over by the College of Medicine.

North Carolina: In Raleigh, legal drugs maker Salix Pharmaceuticals is laying off 258 people!  Administrators blame it on the $11-billion they spent taking over Canadian drugs maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals.

Ohio:  After 130 years (surviving numerous depressions and recessions) God refuses to stop the shutdown of his Saint Aloysius School. It’s blamed on the Rapture, I mean what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome.  From the 2012-13 school year to 2014-15 they suffered a 50% drop in enrollment! Regency Hospital of Akron shutting down, 85 jobs lost.  New York based insurance company Assurant laid off 125 people in Dayton and Springfield due to lack of sales!  Gee, what happened to Obama Care forcing everybody to get insurance?

Oklahoma: SandRidge Energy laid off 132 people, blaming “Market conditions”!

Oregon: Netflix is going ahead with their May shutdown of their Hillsboro call center, saying the remaining 68 employees will become unemployed.  Last year news reports said 188 people worked at the call center!

Pennsylvania: In Honesdale, after 34 years the owners of Country Dawn say their greedy landlord is forcing them to shutdown in May.  The landlord wants to replace the gift shop with a bar.

Virginia: In Charlottesville, after almost 70 years Downtown Athletic Store shutdown.  It sounds like the company is going to focus on internet sales only.  Richmond based Health Diagnostic Laboratory announced it will begin laying off 42 more employees across the country.   Last year the medical testing company laid off 162 people!  It’s connected to a federal investigation, and subsequent $47-million fine, in which the company is accused of bribing doctors and hospitals.

Washington: What housing market recovery? Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle will layoff 109 people between now and January 2016!  Administrators say they still haven’t recovered from the 2008-09 housing market crash.

Washington DC: Steptoe & Johnson, a law firm that represents the oil industry, revealed it laid off 34 people across the U.S.

Wisconsin: Ohio based natural gas company Chart Industries laid off 50 more people from its La Crosse factory.  That’s on top of the 55 laid off at the end of 2014.  Company administrators said the economy still sucks, despite shelling out $50-million to expand their La Crosse ops.  University of Wisconsin Madison warned it must eliminate 4-hundred jobs and drop 320 courses over the next two years, no thanks to the new Right to Work (you over) state education budget!  Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) laid off less than 20 people from its central office.  MPS has a terrible graduation rate for high school students; in 2014 only 60.9% of students succeeded in graduating after four years of high school!  Of the students who took five years only 68.8% graduated, and those who took six years only 73.4% graduated!

01 April 2015: “we lost some very good people”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 01 April 2015: God joins exodus from The Big Apple! Proof the economy sucks, fewer tax returns! “These were deep and painful…We lost some very good people…”

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: In Berkeley, Obama Care forced East Bay Perinatal Medical to issue a layoff WARN, saying 34 people will become jobless by the end of May.  British empire Australia based oil service company WorleyParsons Group issued two layoff WARNs, saying 90 Californians will become jobless at the end of May. It’s part of their plan to eliminate 2-thousand oil jobs, mainly in North America!  The Rolling Hills Country Club issued a layoff WARN, saying 60 people will be laid off by June.  In San Luis Obispo, after 42 years the Coastal Pool Center shutting down because the greedy property owner is evicting the family business.

Indiana: In Elkhart, the Youth and Community Center shutdown, due to repairs that the community center can’t afford to pay for.

Michigan: Hazel Park Schools announced they will eliminate 116 jobs and slash salaries over the next five years, due to what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome (a 30% decline since 2010)!

Minnesota: US Steel continues to kill jobs, this time 680 jobs are being eliminated at its Minntac ops!

Mississippi: In Jackson, after 87 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) the owner of Mori Luggage & Gifts announced he will shut it down at the end of May: “To be honest, retailing isn’t fun any more because of online shoppers and social media…..All of our suppliers are on the Internet themselves.”-George S. Mori

Missouri: The taxman taketh, H&R Block announced it will eliminate 90 jobs, mainly from its Kansas City HQ.  Administrators blame 4.2% fewer tax returns being filed by the increasingly unemployed and underemployed U.S. workforce.

New York: LifeMed Pharmacy has been sold, 65 employees to be laid off in May.  In NYC, God refuses to stop his American Bible Society from shutting down.  Their WARN says layoffs begin in June, and they expect to be shutdown by December.  American Bible Society has joined the mass exodus from New York and is moving to Pennsylvania.  The Center for Educational Innovation issued a WARN saying they’ve lost a contract and at least 32 people will be laid off by July.  In Ward’s Island, Volunteers of America Keener Assessment & Rapid Rehousing issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their homeless shelter by June, 39 jobs affected due to loss of contract.  Some good news; in Staten Island, Richmond University Medical Center has rescinded their plans to outsource their security guard jobs.

North Carolina: The Fayetteville Observer laid off 16 employees due to crashing revenues: “These were deep and painful cuts today…We lost some very good people…”-Charles Broadwell, publisher

Ohio: Evil CCA (Corrections Corporation of America), the for-profit contractor running the evil Northeast Ohio Correctional Center, has lost their contract and will eliminate 185 jobs!  Last year CCA got kicked out of Idaho for creating what became known as the Gladiator School prison.  After 17 years office supply business CP&E Marketing will shutdown in Coshocton by the end of the month.  It’s blamed partly on a death in the family.   Too Big to Jail Chase Bank announced it is shutting down its Warren office in June.

Pennsylvania: Spring based Carpenter Technology announced that the economy is so bad they will eliminate 260 jobs!  Administrators blame cuts in spending in the petroleum and military industries.  After 29 years Massachusetts based advertising company Mullen shutdown their Pittsburgh office.

Tennessee: The YMCA announced it is shutting down three operations; one in North Clarksville and two in Nashville, 130 jobs lost!  Administrators say the bad economy has caused them to lose more than $850-thousand USD last year.

Texas: Halliburton laid off more petroleum industry employees, this time 60 people at its Alice fracking ops.  Houston based oil equipment maker Frank’s International announced they are eliminating 6-hundred jobs!  ConocoPhillips, the largest independent oil company within the U.S., claims to have lost money in its last quarter and will begin eliminating an undisclosed number of jobs.

28 – 31 March 2015: “I don’t think we’ve seen the bottom yet.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the thousands of layoffs in its 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

U.S. Food Crisis 10 May 2015: Albertsons Safeway Vons shuts down more stores, kills hundreds of jobs! Demands money for earthquake victims!

Cerberus-AB Acquisition controlled Albertsons-Safeway announced more store shutdowns; two Vons in California and 10 Safeway stores in Colorado!  Administrators claim all 12 stores are not making enough money!

While Cerberus-AB Acquisition has been slashing and burning jobs at their Albertsons-Safeway-Vons stores they’ve been asking their customers to donate food to Nepal! A press release sates that their United Supermarket, Market Street, Amigos, United Express and Albertson’s Market locations, in Texas and New Mexico, are asking customers to donate money, supposedly to help the victims of the earthquake. How about donate money to help the victims of Cerberus-AB Acquisition?

New Jersey based food distributor BeaconUnited-B&G Foods’ has signed a major deal with Albertsons-Safeway.

A maker of eating utensils made from recycled materials, Repurpose, signed a deal with Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions stores in California.

Cerberus-AB Acquisition now controls Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United (aka United Supermarket & United Express), Pavilions, Star Market, Market Street, Amigos (aka Amigos United) and Carrs.

29 April 2015: Albertsons Safeway to kill 800+ California jobs! 

Updated list:

Manitoba, Canada: Sobeys-Safeway announced it will shutdown it’s King Edward Street warehouse by 2016, at least 172 jobs lost!

Arizona, U.S.A.: The following grocery stores will become Haggen; Anthem Safeway, two Tucson Safeways, Tucson Albertsons, two Scottsdale Albertsons, Flagstaff Albertsons, Prescott Valley Albertsons. In Lake Havasu, three Safeway and seven Albertsons are being switched over to Haggen.

California, U.S.A.: Two Albertsons-Safeway owned Vons stores will shutdown in Fresno, by June, 127 jobs lost!  Albertsons-Safeway laid off 129 people from their Pleasanton HQ in April. Albertsons-Safeway issued a WARN saying another 188 layoffs are scheduled for the Pleasanton by the end of May! Albertsons-Vons announced it will shutdown its Riverside La Sierra Plaza Vons and two Bakersfield Vons in May, because they are “not meeting company goals.” Arcadia Vons Pavillions SuperStore shutdown on 18 March 2015, at least 168 jobs lost! The 32 years old Hemet Vons shutdown on 28 December 2014, at least 55 jobs lost. Company administrators claimed it had nothing to do with the hostile takeover by Cerberus. Marina Del Ray Albertsons, shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 80 jobs lost. Pleasanton Safeway HQ laid off at least 26 people in February 2015. In Pleasonton, Safeway laid off an additional 18 HQ employees in March. A San Diego Albertsons shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 63 jobs lost. The following additional grocery stores will become Haggen; Vons in Palm Desert, Pavillions in Rancho Mirage, two Santa Barbara Albertsons, two Goleta Vons, Lompoc Albertsons, Paso Robles Vons, Arroyo Grande Albertsons, San Louis Obispo Albertsons, Atascadero Albertsons, Los Osos Vons, Palmdale Albertsons, three Bakersfield Albertsons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), two Simi Valley Albertsons, Simi Valley Vons, Oxnard Albertsons, Carpinteria Vons, Camarillo Albertsons, Ventura albertsons, Yorba Linda Albertsons, two Tustin Vons, Mission Viejo Vons, Mission Viejo Albertsons, Trabuco Canyon Albertsons, Laguna Beach Albertsons, Laguna Niguel Vons, Corona Del Mar Albertsons, Irvine (Vons) Pavillions, eight San Diego Albertsons (don’t be surprised if several are closed), San Yisidro Albertsons, Rancho Bernardo Albertsons, Coronado Albertsons, San Marcos Vons, two El Cajon Vons, Santee Albertsons, Poway Albertsons, Del Mar Albertsons, two Carlsbad Albertsons, two La Mesa Vons, three Chula Vista Vons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), Upland Albertsons, Diamond Bar Vons, Rancho Cucamonga Albertsons, Chino Hills Vons, Burbank Albertsons, Woodland Hills Vons, Westlake Village Albertsons, Thousand Oaks Albertsons, Santa Clarita (Vons) Pavillions, Saugus Vons, Newbury Park Vons, Tujunga Albertsons, Long Beach Albertsons, two San Pedro Albertsons, Lomita Albertsons, Torrance Albertsons, Santa Monica Albertsons, three Redondo Beach Albertsons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), two Los Angeles Albertsons.

Colorado, U.S.A.: Redlands Safeway, Castle Rock Safeway, Thornton Safeway, Westminster Safeway, three Aurora Safeways, Littleton Safeway, Denver Safeway and Centennial Safeway, hundreds of jobs lost by June!  Colorado Springs Albertsons shutdown in March. Cerberus administrators say it has nothing to do with their takeover of Safeway-Vons: “That store basically has not been profitable for quite some time, despite the best efforts of our company and associates there and the location…..That’s why we’re closing it.”

Florida, U.S.A.: Albertsons issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Clearwater store in May, 86 jobs lost.

Hawaii, U.S.A.: Drugs pusher Walgreens canceled plans to open a pharmacy in the Kauai Safeway: “As part of this process, Walgreens did a comprehensive financial reassessment of its plans to open a new store in Lihue on Kauai, and have concluded that it is not in the company’s best interests to move forward with opening a store in that location.”

Illinois: The Jewel-Osco HQ in Itasca was sold for $23.7-million.  A local news report implied it was the result of the hostile takeover of Safeway by Albertsons.

Nevada, U.S.A.: The following grocery stores will become Haggen; Boulder City Vons, three Henderson Albertsons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), three Las Vegas Vons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed).

Oregon, U.S.A.: In Lake Oswego, Albertsons taken over by Haggen. Cerberus administrators made the exact same claim as in their Colorado Springs shutdown saying “The store has not been profitable for quite some time.” This is interesting because according to local news reports there are only two grocery stores in the city! In Lake Grove, the Albertsons being switch over to Haggen. Safeway shutting down their Clackamas regional office, 91 jobs lost by March. Safeway in Ashland, two in Klamath Falls and one in Springfield to become Haggen. Albertsons in Baker, Beaver, two in Bend, one in Clackamas, two in Eugene and in Grants Pass, one in Keizer, Milwaukee, Sherwood, West Linn and two in Tigard.

Texas, U.S.A.: In East Dallas, an Albertsons was renamed Minyard Sun Fresh Market. Reports said the grand opening was delayed due to problems switching over the cash register system. A second East Dallas Alberstons is expected to make the changeover to Minyard Sun Fresh Market on 16 February. Only one of the three East Dallas Albertsons will remain Albertsons. One store manager said the changes are a direct result of the takeover of Safeway. Interestingly I found a report that said Cerberus swore there would be no name changes after the takeover of Safeway, but they failed to explain the sale of 12 stores to RLS Supermarkets (apparently the result of a court order). The Tom Thumb grocery stores in Bedford and Grapevine converting to Minyard Sun Fresh Market.

Washington, U.S.A.: The Safeway in Spokane Valley shutdown in March, 60 jobs lost. Company administrators said it was not due to the takeover by Cerberus controlled Albertsons, but that the lease expired and it wasn’t worth renewing it. In Kirkland, reports that Goodwill thrift store is taking over the now vacant Albertsons store. Haggen took control of the Monroe Albertsons. Safeway becoming Haggen in Gig Harbor and Tacoma beginning in March. Albertsons becoming Haggen in Olympia, Puyallup, Tacoma and Lakewood beginning in March. Albertsons becoming Haggen in Federal Way and Milton by June. Albertsons in Port Angeles, Wenatchee and Shoreline becoming Haggen in February. Albertsons in Redmond, Walla Walla, Snohomish, Silverdale, Burien, becoming Haggen in March. Albertsons in Seattle, another one in Burien, Renton, Bremerton and Milton becoming Haggen in June. Shoreline Safeway becomeing Haggen in February. Safeway in Everett, Renton, Oak Harbor and Port Orchard in March. Liberty Lake Safeway becomes Haggen in June.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 28 – 31 March 2015: “I don’t think we’ve seen the bottom yet.” Hallmark going down!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: In Helena, after 13 years the owners of Frankie’s Market Café announced they are shutting down in April. They blame rising costs of operations, especially utility cots.  Jefferson County Board of Education will beginning laying off 160 employees in July!

California: In San Pablo, Obama Care forcing Doctors Medical Center to issue a shutdown WARN for April, 709 jobs lost!  In Fort Irwin, tax-sucker Northrop Grumman issued a WARN saying an additional 476 people will lose their jobs by June!  Vose Technical Systems also issued a WARN saying they will layoff 60 people at Fort Irwin, in May.  In San Francisco, Apollo Education issued two WARNs saying 38 people will be laid off between June and August.  Sutton Place issued a WARN saying they are shutting down by the end of May, 98 jobs lost.  Lightspeed-SkilledUp issued a WARN saying 27 people will be laid off in May.  In Mountain View, tech company Symantech continues to kill jobs, this time their latest WARN says 30 people will be let go in May.

Florida: In Panama City, Flexsteel Pipeline issued a WARN saying 70 people will be laid off by the end of the year.

Idaho: In Nampa, after 69 years Nafziger Men’s Store shutdown.

Indiana: In Evansville, Wesselman’s Supermarkets announced they will shutdown their Pollack Avenue store.

Louisiana: Oil derrick operator Loadmaster Derrick & Equipment revealed  they conducted “very minimal” layoffs the week prior.

Maryland: Men’s clothing chain store Jos. A. Bank issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down their Hampstead HQ and 122 people will be laid off between May and December!  It’s blamed on the take over by Texas based Men’s Warehouse.  Reports say at one point Jos. A. Bank employed more than 7-hundred people in Hampstead.

Missouri: Kansas City based Hallmark Cards wants 2-hundred employees to voluntarily quit, and they’re offering buyout bribes for “eligible employees”!  Company administrators blame “changes in consumer spending”.  In Jackson, Nearly Perfect Shoes shutdown, a co-owner said it was because the local economy can no longer support two shoe stores less than eight miles apart.

New York: In Brooklyn, Milestone School for Child Development issued a WARN saying they will shutdown, 73 jobs lost in June.  In NYC, Skyline Tours announced they’ve been sold-off and 120 jobs will be affected! Grandpa’s Bus Service issued a massive shutdown WARN saying they lost their state Department of Education contract, more than 5-hundred jobs threatened!  In Loudonville, Sodexo issued a WARN saying they lost a major food service contract and will shutdown in June, 193 jobs lost!  DAL Global Services continues to warn that they could lose their contract with Etihad Airways at John F. Kennedy International Airport, 122 jobs lost in May!

North Dakota: In Bismarck, Box Office Video shutdown one of its two stores.

North Carolina: What housing market recovery? In Wilson, bathtub maker Bathcraft announced they will shutdown in May, 87 jobs lost.  HR director Sandy Moore directly blamed the crashing housing market.   In Asheville, the owner of Uncle Junebug’s General Store announced it will shutdown in April.  He blames construction projects: “I had no idea there was going to be so much development of hotels in that area. I’m almost certain that the entire length of my lease, which would have been three years, would have just been eaten up by construction.”-David Hawkins

Ohio: Columbus based oil tank maker Worthington Industries began laying off employees, without any warning.  More than 5-hundred people in Ohio and Kansas now unemployed, as one analyst said “I don’t think we’ve seen the bottom yet.” 

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, after 50 years Amir’s Persian Imports shutdown. The owner says he hopes to continue his rug cleaning business.

Rhode Island: The non-profit East Greenwich Animal Protection League shutdown due to lack of donations.

Virginia: 70 years old The Fine Arts Shop shutdown.  Store managers say the shutdown came without warning, and they thought it was financially stable.  The owners basically said they don’t want to deal with it anymore, and they want to retire while they’re on top.

West Virginia: In Huntington, Oregon based Precision Castparts laid off at least 1-hundred people at their Special Metals factory, without warning!  Administrators blame oil prices for its low “level of business activity.”

26 – 27 March 2015: “all options exhausted…no alternative”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 26 – 27 March 2015: “all options exhausted…we are left with no alternative” 2-thousand+ jobs lost in The Empire State! Money making & bailed-out banks kill jobs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: US Steel announced it will kill off 1-thousand 8-hundred jobs in The Yellowhammer State!  Company administrators blamed a plethora of reasons, including low steel prices and low oil prices.

California: In Hawthorne, Schencker issued a WARN saying 29 people will be laid off in May.  In Los Gatos, video game maker Cryptic Studios revealed they laid off 27 people without warning.  In Pico Rivera, Greatwide Distribution Logistics issued a layoff WARN saying 156 people will become jobless by the end of May!   Dex Media finally admitted they shutdown their Los Alamitos ops and laid off 49 people, back in February!  In Redwood City, The Perfect World laid off 31 people.  In Pacoima, Brice Manufacturing issued a layoff WARN saying 19 people will be let go in May.

Florida:  In Weston, American Express issued a layoff WARN saying 21 people will be laid off in May.  In Tampa, Too Big to Jail JP Morgan Chase issued a WARN saying 65 people will be laid off in May.

Illinois: US Steel has upped its Prairie State job killing to 2-thousand! In Lansing, after more than 90 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) De Jong Brothers Farm shutdown. The spinach farmers blamed ever increasing operating costs, especially those created artificially by new federal regulations (Food Safety Modernization Act), 30 jobs lost.

Iowa: In Des Moines, the owners of the 27 years old food store New City Market announced they will shutdown by the end of April: “A lot of it has to do with the business climate.”-Jim Raife

Maine: In Ellsworth, the Coffee Express shutdown, the owner refused to talk to local news media.

Massachusetts: Mitt Romney co-created, Framingham based Staples announced they will kill off 2-hundred jobs in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan!  Staples is shutting down their Regina call center by November.

Minnesota: What housing market recovery?  In Morris, the owners of Cullen’s Home Center announced they are shutting down in April: “It’s just a number of different factors and we feel terrible about it, obviously it was the last thing we wanted to do…”-John Cullen

Montana: Platinum miner Stillwater Mining announced they will shutdown their Billings office by summer.

New Jersey: The Paterson Board of Education has decided it will not jack up taxes on the impoverished taxpayers, but it means 363 school employees will become jobless next school year!

New York: In Lake Placid, after 90 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) another iconic Howard Johnson’s restaurant shutdown. It was one of only three left in the United States. The owner sold the property.   Corning Community College shutdown its 30 years old child care center.  What housing market recovery?  In Rochester, Too Big to Jail JP Morgan Chase issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their mortgage ops in June, 390 jobs lost!   Pioneer Transportation issued a mass layoff WARN saying 991 transportation jobs will be lost, throughout three cities, by June!  In Bronx, Hoyt Transportation issued a shutdown WARN saying 349 people will become jobless in June!  In Long Island, Arrow Electronics announced they are taking part in the exodus from The Empire State, and will move 150 jobs to Colorado!  Arrow Electronics was once the largest employer in Long Island.

North Carolina: After 60 years Mohican Mills shutdown, 157 textile jobs lost!  In 2012 the company was voted Industry of the Year and employed more than 3-hundred people. The textile factory is now for sale: “We are truly sad that this action has to be taken but with all options exhausted to continue in business we are left with no alternative but to close.”-Steven Myers

Ohio: Republic Steel announced it will layoff 2-hundred people at their Lorain operations, blaming “declining conditions in the oil and gas markets as well as the reduced demand”.   The layoffs are rumored to begin at the end of the month.

Oklahoma: IPSCO Tubulars laid off 226 people, blaming “the low commodity price environment”!  Samson Resource laying off 270 people, blaming low oil prices and huge debt!

Oregon: In Portland, after 15 years the Red & Black Cafe shutdown. The owners were known to refuse service to cops. Their reason for shutting down was unclear, as they said they were just being responsible business owners.

Pennsylvania: The Express-Times newspaper announced they laid off an undisclosed number of employees.

Texas: In Amarillo, Too Big to Jail American International Group (AIG) laid off 20 people, this after getting a $1-million USD Amarillo Economic Development grant to create 120 jobs!  Administrators for AIG claim they haven’t touched that free money.  AIG also reported $7.5-billion in revenue for 2014, and don’t forget the $182-billion bailout given to AIG in 2008!

Wisconsin:  After 46 years DeLind’s Gallery of Fine Art shutting down just as soon as their inventory is sold off.

24 – 25 March 2015: “we were unable to get some sort of rescue plan.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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