Tag Archives: closings

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 01 – 02 May 2015: ObamaCare insurance company admits ObamaCare fails, will cancel insurance for 1-million people! Greedy politicians killing casinos! World’s largest bakery killing jobs! Head Start program killed in California!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alaska: Anchorage School District warned they could eliminate 74 jobs from next school year, blaming state level funding cuts.

Arizona: Northern Arizona University warned it must cut courses and eliminate 60 jobs for next school year, blaming $17.3-million USD in state level funding cuts.

California: What automotive industry recovery? South Korea based Kumho Tire issued a shutdown WARN for its U.S. HQ in Rancho Cucamonga, at least 20 jobs lost at the end of June.  In San Rafael, BMW dealer Sonnen BMW issued a shutdown WARN, 114 jobs lost in July!   In Anaheim, electronics rack maker California Chassis issued a shutdown WARN for July, 20 jobs lost.  T.G.I. Friday’s issued a shutdown WARN for its La Jolla restaurant, 54 jobs lost in June.  In La Mirada, Switzerland based frozen bakery products seller Aryzta issued a shutdown WARN, saying 131 people will become jobless at the beginning of July!  Aryzta became the World’s largest bakery after taking over bakeries in Germany and the U.S. in 2014.  In Laguna Hills, Obama Care forcing Herren Enterprises to shutdown their Doctor’s Ambulance Service in July and issue a WARN saying 117 EMT related jobs will be eliminated!  Head Start Child Development issued dozens of WARNs saying they are shutting down operations throughout California, hundreds becoming jobless by the end of June!

Delaware: Casino Dover Downs laid off an additional 24 people, on top of the 10 laid off during the 1st quarter of 2015, and 21 laid off in 2014.  Operating times for the casino have also been reduced. Casino administrators blame outrageous taxes and operating costs: “Last year, we generated an $80 million operating profit but had to pay out $80.7 million to the state and the horsemen so we were left with a net loss!”-Denis McGlynn, CEO

Florida: In Fort Pierce, Blockbuster shutdown their last video store east of the Mississippi!

Georgia: In Lexington, God refuses to stop the shutdown of his 230 years old Lexington Presbyterian Church!  It’s blamed on the Rapture, I mean crashing membership (one report indicated they were down to just three members!).

Hawaii: Island Air cutting flights and laying off about 70 employees, blaming competition and crashing sales.  One airline analyst, Pater Forman, basically says Island Air is using the wrong planes because “…the ATR’s are too big for the small markets and they’re really not nice enough on the big markets…”  However, Island Air administrators say they’ve had to cancel planned purchases of new aircraft.

Illinois: What automotive industry recovery? Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar continues to slash & burn jobs, this time 150 jobs at their Decatur factory were eliminated!   School District 122 laying off nine school lunch employees, because they are considered unnecessary.  It’s actually part of a larger plan to cut $2.3-million from next school year’s  budget.

Michigan: In Livonia, Cloverlanes Bowl shutdown.  News reports say the property owner is selling it because the property is now worth way more money than the revenue generated by the bowling lanes.  What automotive industry recovery?  Detroit based General Motors (GM, Chevy, Buick, Cadillac) announced they will layoff 1-thousand Canadians at their Canadian Oshawa factory!  Supposedly GM is moving Camaro production in Canada back to the U.S.

Missouri: What housing market recovery?  New Jersey based maker of home plumbing supplies American Standard Brands announced they will shutdown their 45 years old Nevada factory in June, 133 jobs lost!  Because of the bad economy American Standard Brands is consolidating production to other factories.

New Jersey: What automotive industry recovery? Germany based Mercedes-Benz is relocating its U.S. HQ from Montvale to Atlanta, Georgia.  375 jobs New Jersey lost over the next two years (about 172 jobs eliminated outright, the rest transferring to Georgia)!

New Mexico: Texas based ConocoPhillips announced they’re laying off another 250 people, including employees at their San Juan Basin ops.

New York: In Long Island, Krinos Foods issued a WARN saying they are moving to Bronx in August, taking 70 Long Island jobs with them.  In Clarence, Gildan Apparel-New Buffalo Shirt Factory issued a shutdown WARN for August, 85 jobs lost.  In NYC, magazine publisher ALM Media issued a layoff WARN saying 61 employees will become unemployed beginning in July.  In Latham, after 30 years Russ & Rebel Leather shutdown, the owner blames the outrageous Empire State tax system, and himself for refusing to sell on the internet.     Obama Care forcing NYC based Assurant to sell-off their Health Insurance ops, claiming that even with the Obama Care payment reductions they are still going to lose $90-million for their 1st quarter of 2015.  Basically the Assurant CEO, Alan Colberg, said Obama Care isn’t slashing & burning health care funding big enough or fast enough saying “The health and employee benefits business segments possess differentiated capabilities in their respective markets, but we do not believe they can meet our return targets at the pace we require.”   According to a report by Modern Healthcare “Assurant Health also blamed losses on low recoveries from the ACA’s [Affordable Care Act, Obama Care] insurance risk programs and the policy shift that allowed people to stay in plans that are not compliant with ACA standards.”   The sale of Assurant Health will affect access to health care for 1-million people!  One more thing; Assurant Health admits that the insurance industry written Obama Care failed in estimating just how many sick poor people there are in the U.S., saying the Affordable Care Act “had worse morbidity characteristics than we had assumed”.

North Carolina: After 80 years Captain Bill’s Waterfront Restaurant shutdown in Morehead City.

27 – 30 April 2015: “When you can’t pay your bills, you don’t keep going.”

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. Food Crisis 25 May 2015: Albertsons Safeway shutdown more stores, claims nobody will get hurt!

The new Albertsons-Safeway announced that two Safeway stores in Arizona will shutdown in June.  Administrators swore to local news media that nobody would be laid off, that somehow they would find jobs for the now redundant employees at other Safeway stores (and then probably use that as an excuse to massively reduce work hours so they don’t have to provide Obama Care insurance).

Albertsons Vons Safeway officially sucks according to Consumer Reports! 

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.: Peoria Safeway and Claypool Safeway will shutdown in June, at least 94 jobs affected.  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.: The new Albertsons-Safeway issued more layoff WARNs saying another 21 Safeway employees will be laid off in June. 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

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 27 – 30 April 2015: “When you can’t pay your bills, you don’t keep going.” Toyota kills 900+ jobs in California! ObamaCare kills 2-thousand+ health insurance jobs in 1 day! 12-thousand U.S. Steel jobs gone!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Obama Care forced managed health care provider Health Net to issue three mass layoff WARNs saying 2,122 health insurance related jobs will be eliminated on 26 June 2015!  (and never mind the reports that Health Net is being sued for canceling their customer’s treatments, resulting in at least one death!) In Joshua Tree, Obama Care forced Hi-Desert Memorial Health Care to issue a mass layoff WARN saying 541 healthcare workers will become unemployed at the end of June!  In Yucca Valley, Obama Care forced Hi-Desert Memorial Health Care to issue a layoff WARN saying at least 42 healthcare workers will become unemployed at the end of June!  In Corona, Ireland based legal drugs maker Actavis issued a layoff WARN for July.  In Modesto, Switzerland based chocolate maker Nestle issued a layoff WARN saying 56 people will become jobless by the end of June.  The new Albertsons-Safeway issued more layoff WARNs saying another 21 Safeway employees will be laid off in June.  In Duarte, Kroger issued a WARN saying they are shutting down their Ralph’s grocery store in July, 72 jobs lost.  In San Diego, aerospace company and tax-sucker Hamilton Sundstrand issued a WARN saying they will shutdown at the end of June.  In Mountain View, tech company Symantec continues to layoff people, this time they issued a WARN for June.  In San Francisco, law firm Littler Mendelson issued a mass layoff WARN saying 113 people will become jobless in July!  Santa Anna based Corinthian Colleges announced it will shutdown all remaining 28 campuses across the U.S.! It’s the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education which revealed the for-profit school was frauding its students!  In Pleasant Hill, Gun Works shutdown.  The owners said they were “just exhausted” from fighting a combination of unAmerican anti-2nd Amendment activists and politicians, greedy landlords who jacked up the rent, and new local anti-2nd Amendment laws.  What automotive industry recovery?  In Torrance, Toyota suddenly shutdown their Motor Credit Corporation, 941 jobs gone overnight!

Florida: In Saint Petersburg, finance and insurance company PSCU issued a WARN saying 53 people will be laid off in June.  In Tampa, Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down their Oak Fair Boulevard store between July and October, 47 jobs will be lost.

Illinois: In Old Irving Park, Mirabell German restaurant shutdown after 38 years of operations, apparently due to the death of the chef.  After 43 years Joliet Area Suzuki Strings shutdown, blaming crashing student enrollment: “We just cannot financially sustain it anymore, our numbers have been gradually going down over the last four or five years. Last year, we were down to 40 students, and now we’re at about 25. You just can’t exist with that.”-Mary Smelser, founder

Indiana: What automotive industry recovery?  Maker of cast iron engine blocks Pure Power Technologies shutting down its Indianapolis factory, 153 jobs lost by November!

Michigan: In Pittsfield, Pier 1 Imports shutdown.  Local news reports said company administrators wouldn’t say why, and even ordered employees not to talk about it.

Minnesota: In Saint Paul, after five years Bars Bakery shutdown both of its stores. The owners say they need more family time. Minneapolis based retailer Target announced more layoffs, this time 140 corporate positions have been eliminated! Company administrators say they are trying to reduce expenses by $2-billion USD, that’s how bad they think the economy is going to get!  In Cloquet, after 28 years Robert’s Home Furnishings shutdown.  The owner said the bad economy was forcing him to “consolidate” everything to his store in Duluth.

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 Melville, NCO Financial Systems issued a shutdown WARN for their Extended Office Services, 28 jobs lost by July.  In East Syracuse, General Super Plating finally notified state employment administrators that they shutdown back in March, 95 jobs lost.  In NYC, Cambridge University Press issued a layoff WARN saying 67 of their 190 employees will be jobless by July.  God refuses to stop his Museum of Biblical Art from shutting down, due to the American Bible Society selling off the building (those greedy Christians)!   In Albany, the Brighter Choice Charter Middle School for Boys issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down in July, 37 jobs lost.   The Brighter Choice Charter Middle School for Girls is also shutting down in July, 35 jobs lost.  In Rochester, Durham School Services issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down in July, due to loss of contract, 142 jobs lost!  In Webster, iconic Xerox issued a WARN saying they’re contracting out their Corporate Trucking & Cross Dock jobs in July, 35 in-house jobs lost.  The new Obama Care medical device tax possibly forcing Ortho Clinical Diagnostics to hand over their Rochester operations to Nypro in July.  They expect at least 105 of their 1-thousand jobs to be lost in the transfer!  In Clifton Park, Berkshire Bank announced they will shutdown their 15 Park Avenue office in July.

North Carolina: In Winston-Salem, the owners of New Town Bistro and Bar said it will shutdown in May.  It needs a major remodel and the owners said in this bad economy it wasn’t worth it.  Also, after 60 years Towne Jewelers shutdown, the owners said “It’s time for a change.” The state Department of Transportation announced they will eliminate 81 jobs by June.  It’s due to a new state law forcing taxpayer funded agencies to hire cheap-o contractors.

Ohio: After more than 40 years the West Chester Garden Center shutdown, due to competition from ‘Big Box’ stores.  The owners gave a good example of why the economy sucks; they could barely afford to pay their employees $10 per hour, but admitted you can’t live in the area on $10 per hour without financial assistance.  New Albany based Bob Evans Farms announced they will shutdown 20 restaurants! After spending millions of dollars trying to improve their restaurants, administrators decided that at least 20 of them still weren’t “meeting expectations.” They said most of the failed restaurants were outside Ohio.  After numerous layoffs, the owners of the Toledo Free Press gave up and shutdown: “When you can’t pay your bills, you don’t keep going.”-Tom Pounds, publisher

Oklahoma: Oil rig maker Falcon Rigs now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, saying they can’t pay 192 creditors!

Pennsylvania: After more than 90 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression) restaurant Cohick’s Trading Post shutdown. One of the co-owners turned evil greedy and actually sued the other co-owner to force them to sell the family business!  Pittsburgh based US Steel announced another 9-thousand people will become jobless this year!  That’s on top of the almost 3-thousand people they’ve already laid off since January!

South Dakota: In Sioux Falls, after 25 years Valentino’s restaurant shutdown. The owner said the restaurant business ain’t what it used to be: “This is such a demanding industry right now, and right now most people don’t realize we’re still ranked very high in the nation for restaurants per capita. So it’s gotten more challenging over the years, so it takes a lot. It takes a lot out of you.”-John Jones

Texas: Fort Worth based federal tax-sucker Bell Helicopter announced they will layoff 1-thousand 1-hundred people!  It’s blamed on its tax-payer money-pit the continually (literally) crashing V-22 tilt-rotor assault plane.  In Robstown, Maxum Petroleum issued a WARN saying 60 jobs will be lost in June.  Soon to be a part of Halliburton, Baker-Hughes issued a WARN saying 21 people at their Alice 2 site will be laid off.

Utah: Cereal maker Kellogg Company (aka Kellogg’s) announced they are shutting down their Clearfield facility, at least 2-hundred jobs lost! It’s part of the company’s “efficiency and effectiveness program”.  Idiotic and out-o-touch city administrators say they’re confident “Another company will come in right behind, and we’ll still continue to have a lot of employment here in Clearfield.”

Vermont: Concord High School will shutdown due to lack of funding caused by lack of students.

Virginia: In Carytown, the owners of ‘artesian retailer’ Modern Artifacts said they’re quitting in May, calling it a “lifestyle choice”.

Washington:  Simpson Lumber shutting down three mills, 120 jobs lost due to sale of company to competitor in California!

24 – 26 April 2015: 27-thousand home care product jobs gone!

Food Crisis 29 April 2015: There’s human in that can of tuna? “I think our lives are in the hands of the Lord of Death.” 

U.S. Food Crisis 29 April 2015: Albertsons Safeway to kill 800+ California jobs! 

U.S. Food Crisis, April 2015: “…it hit me like a bag of rocks!”

ObamaCare job destruction, 1st quarter 2015: “more change than we’ve seen in the past 75 years combined.”

Dumbing Down the United States, 1st Quarter 2015: “we’ve had a 66% decrease in our enrollment!”

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, 24 – 26 April 2015: Pro-police state company now under investigation by the United Police States of America? 27-thousand home care product jobs gone!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Misleading for profit technical school DeVry is shutting down at least 12 campuses in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota,  Pennsylvania, Oregon, Washington, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas and Florida!  Apparently DeVry has decided to move courses from brick -n-mortar classrooms to the internet.

California: What automotive industry recovery?  In the City of Industry, United Brothers Motor Group issued a WARN saying 72 employees will become unemployed by the end of June.  Seafood supplier Prospect Enterprises issued multiple WARNs saying at least 130 people will become jobless in July!  The seafood distribution ops of Prospect Enterprises were taken over by rival Santa Monica Seafood.  Local news reports say San Francisco based BitTorrent laid off 40 people, however, I did not find any WARN issued for the layoffs.

Connecticut: In Waterbury, watch maker Timex is shutting down their Timexpo Museum, due to lack of interest from the public.

Illinois: In Chicago, after seven years the so called ‘green’ children’s clothing store Green Genes shutdown.  In Rantoul, after more than 20 years the Chanute Air Museum shutting down due to lack of funding.  Administrators decided to quit while they were ahead saying “…we were not in a negative situation financially”, but it cost a minimum of $10-thousand USD per month to operate the non-profit museum, and yet even with 15-thousand visitors each year they were barely able to raise enough money to pay the $64-hundred in monthly rent, plus utilities.

Massachusetts: In the state of Boston Weak, the Dracut Public Schools announced they must layoff 30 people, due to declining tax revenues which are the result of the bad economy.  In a true sign of a failed system, the idiot School Chairman is pushing to create new taxes and fees for the already financially strapped residents.  The Chairman says if the public doesn’t vote for the new austerity then obviously “education is not a priority in Dracut.”  Hey education man, you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip!  You need to get yourself some learnin’ ’bout reality!  The answer is jobs that pay people enough money so they can live well and pay the existing taxes for their government services!

New Hampshire: In Manchester, after 55 years God refused to stop the shutdown of Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift Store.  The operators say they could not compete with Savers and Goodwill.  You know the economy is bad when second hand/thrift stores can’t compete with each other!

New Mexico: After only 18 months of operations, tax-sucking federal contractor Stolar Research Corporation laid off the majority of the workers at its new Rio Rancho HQ!  The company is now under investigation by the very government it works for!  Company administrators are pissed: “Stolar, like many other small businesses that contract with the government, has been impacted by funding cuts out of Washington, D.C., due to government dysfunction, and shifts away from funding America’s homeland security efforts and defense.”-Gerald Stolarczyk, tax loving pro-police state CEO who is now under investigation by that police state

But wait, the police state intrigue gets deeper still.  Local news reports say the FBI, U.S. Marshals and even Homeland Security all deny they are investigating Stolar, and, they claim they do not know who is!  Local reporters were unable to find anybody in the federal government who is willing to talk about it.  Since 2013 Stolar has been paid at least $9-million U.S. tax dollars for contracts with the Department of Defense and the Department of the Interior.  Stolar is officially a radio geophysics detection and imaging company.

New York: Obama Care forcing Visiting Nurse Service Home Care to issued several layoff WARNs saying at least 50 people will be jobless by the end of July.  In Skaneateles Falls, data collector Honeywell Scanning and Mobility issued a WARN for its Clean Energy Systems ops saying at least 41 people will be laid off between July and December.

Ohio: Cincinnati based home care product giant Procter & Gamble announced they will layoff 6-thousand employees over the next two years!   Since 2012 Procter & Gamble has already killed off 21-thousand jobs around the World!   The company is still making a profit, but their sales have been steadily falling for years.   Obviously they don’t expect the economy to improve anytime soon.  In Youngstown, after 60 years the owner of Jerry Lee’s Jewelers says he’s shutting it down in June.  The owners of Dayton Mall kicked out the Orivs store in favor of a new store, which they refuse to name.

Pennsylvania: In Lawrenceville, after six years the owner of restaurant Tamari announced it will shutdown in May, but promised to open a new restaurant in the future.  Blue Bell based computer company Unisys announced they will eliminate 1-thousand 8-hundred jobs due to crashing export sales, which they blame on the strong U.S. dollar.

Wisconsin: In Watertown, Eaton Corporation issued a WARN saying 93 employees will become unemployed starting in June.  The company is halting its printed circuits production.

22 – 23 April 2015: “It’s just time to go, we’ve got nothing left in us.” 

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, 22 – 23 April 2015: “It’s just time to go, we’ve got nothing left in us.” No more Family Circle or Better Homes & Garden?

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Texas founded but Ireland based oil service company Weatherford International announced it will increase planned layoffs to 10-thousand!  Reports say 6,449 people have already become jobless!  Most of those jobs were in Canada and United States.

Arkansas: The Pine Bluff School District killed 68 jobs without warning.  One elementary school and one junior high school (‘middle school’ is a British empire term) are being shutdown.  News reports said the affected employees found out they were jobless from the news media, school administrators have apologized for the “mistake” in the way they announced the layoffs.  The whole thing is being blamed on crashing student enrollment, which has caused the district to be short at least $3.1-million USD.

California: In Burbank, Technicolor issued a shutdown WARN saying 106 people will become jobless in June!  Disney Interactive is quietly laying off employees in Los Angeles (as well as in the British empire’s Canada and United Kingdom).

Colorado: In Denver, Texas based Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group announced they will shutdown the 15 years old Wazee Street Sullivan’s Steakhouse at the end of May. They do not want to renew the lease.

Florida: At the Orlando International Airport, DAL Global Services issued a WARN saying 98 people will become unemployed in June.

Illinois: Oak Brook based McDonald’s administrators report their profits fell $400-million during their 1st quarter of 2015, their biggest profit decline ever! As a result they will begin shutting down hundreds of U.S. restaurants!  In Downers Grove, the owner of scrapbooking store Memories & Beyond announced it will shutdown in May.  Karen Bushy blames an increase in rent and “this coming minimum wage increase” saying “a small business just can’t absorb it”.

Iowa: De Moines based publisher of Family Circle and Better Homes & Garden, Meredith Corporation, laid off 1-hundred people in Iowa and New York!  Administrators blame crashing advertising revenue, then tried to claim they actually hired 6-hundred people in the past year.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery?  In Wayne, Ford announced it will eliminate 7-hundred jobs in June, as it cuts back on hybrid vehicle production due to crashing sales!

Mississippi: Proof the economy has not recovered; the Mississippi Development Authority is shutting down eight economic development offices across The Magnolia State: “Twenty years ago, communications were still by phone and fax. Today, you can do more things digitally and electronically, so it’s cut back on the need to have people in these districts. We want to continue to streamline our operations and become more efficient.”-Jeff Rent

Missouri: Germany based legal drugs maker Bayer announced it will shutdown its Saint Joseph animal drugs making factory, 130 jobs lost! Administrators tried to sell the pet drugs factory, but nobody wanted it.

New York: In Brooklyn, Catholic Charities issued a shutdown WARN saying all their Early Childhood Education Programs will close in July, 89 jobs lost.

North Carolina: Yadkin Bank has been merged with VantageSouth and as a result six offices will be shutdown, and employees will be laid off.  Administrators with the new bank want to cut $1.9-million in costs.  Privately funded Guilford College announced they will eliminate 52 jobs, due to crashing enrollment.

Ohio: What automotive industry recovery?  Volvo announced it will shutdown its Orange Township distribution ops, 3-hundred jobs to be lost between June and December!

Oregon: The Oregon School Board laid off five special ed assistants.  Reports say it was the second round of layoffs so far.  Administrators have decided that special ‘needs’ students don’t need the help, but it’s really because of what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS).   Their high schools, alone, have seen a 22% drop in enrollment over the past six years!

Pennsylvania: In State College, after 24 years the owner of Miska Jewelers says as soon as his inventory is sold-off he will shut it down. He’s moving to Washington DC.  In Pottsville, West Coast Video shutdown.  After 65 years Del’s Bar & Ristorante DelPizzo shutdown. The family owners had tried to sell it for the past year, but nobody was interested, the owners say the bad economy sucked them dry: “It’s just time to go, we’ve got nothing left in us.”-Marianne DelPizzo

Tennessee: In Chattanooga, after 12 years the North Chatt Cat bar-restaurant shutdown.  The owner had to sell it due to health problems, supposedly the new owners will re-open it.

Texas: The owner of Kate’s Frosting Events announced she will shutdown her last cupcake shop in May.  She shutdown another shop at the beginning of the year.  Her reason is that she wants at least one day off per week.

Virginia: Fabric printer AirDye Solutions laid off at least 50 people.  The company is shifting to digital printing, instead of the old fashioned dye method.

Washington: Boeing continues to kill jobs.  This time 153 people in the Puget Sound area will become jobless in June!  Boeing administrators admitted the layoffs have been planned for “years”.

Wisconsin: British empire Canada based McCain Foods USA shutting down its Fort Atkinson factory, 119 jobs lost by the end of the year!  The layoffs just keep hitting La Crosse.  First the USPS shuts down their processing center, then food contractor Sodexo announced that 3-hundred people will become unemployed at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse!  Now the University itself is killing jobs.  University of Wisconsin-La Crosse announced it will eliminate 45 jobs to try and save $1.5-million.  University administrators say they will take more action because they need to close an $8-million hole, caused by what I call DSS!

19 – 21 April 2015: ObamaCare kills six hospitals with one blow!

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 21 May 2015: Store shutdown makes Sears $14.4-million! Sears stoves catch fire, resulting in recall!

In Virginia, the Hilltop Square Shopping Center Kmart will shutdown in July.

Sears Kenmore Elite stainless steel slide-in ranges with gas cooktops and electric ovens are spontaneously combusting, resulting in a massive recall.  They are made by Electrolux and sold only in Sears stores.  Sears Holdings claims they will fix the stoves for free, but the owners must call to get the free fix.  Reports say the pilot light on the gas stove top goes out, allowing unburned gas to build up.

In Tennessee, a Sears store & Auto Center will shutdown in August.  Its location, the Bellevue Center mall, is being torn down to make a massive apartment complex, hotel and smaller retail shops.

Eddie Lampert sold several Sears stores to Simon Property Group last month and now it looks like the mall owner wants to shut them down under the guise of massive remodeling projects for their mall operations.

In Texas, REIT Simon Property Group (SPG) decided to shutdown the  39 years old La Plaza Mall Sears store & Auto Center (along with other stores in the mall).  SPG did not give a final date for the Sears store, but says they will replace it with a new two story building with as many as 60 shops inside.  The Sears store will obviously be shutdown before the end of 2015, because the demolition is scheduled for January 2016 (the remodel isn’t expected to be finished until 2017).  Supposedly the employees of the Sears store have yet to be officially notified of the shutdown.

Local news reports say McAllen city administrators have not, as of now, given SPG any tax incentives for their job-destroying remodel of the La Plaza Mall.

One report said the La Plaza Mall Sears store deal with SPG was worth $14.4-million USD to Sears Holdings.

Nanny state cops take children away from parents in Kmarts! 

Sears, Kmart, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Radio Shack will continue closing stores, because it makes them money! 

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), 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), 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, recently revealed Nashville Bellevue Center Sears & Auto Center (at least 44 jobs lost).

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), recently revealed Simon Property Group owned McAllen Sears store & Auto Center (so far no word on how many jobs will be 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), recently revealed Virginia Beach Hilltop Square Shopping Center Kmart (82 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, 19 – 21 April 2015: “Re-fracking” 39-thousand + oil jobs gone, as companies hoard Black Gold! ObamaCare kills six hospitals with one blow!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California:  God can’t stop Obama Care from killing off six Christian run hospitals in one fell swoop! Bankrupt Daughters of Charity Health System tried to sell-off six hospitals but nobody wanted to buy, so now at least 280 healthcare workers will become unemployed!  Administrators stated that the current layoffs will barely “restore our hospitals to break-even status financially” due to Obama Care insurance reimbursement cuts.  To make matters worse, and guarantee a total hospital system shutdown, government Obama Care administrators have told ten insurance companies to stop sending their customers to Daughters of Charity Health System!  Riverbed Technology issued two layoff WARNs for June, saying 160 people will become jobless!  After more than 50 years San Francisco’s iconic Capp’s Italian Dinners Family Style shutdown. The owners blame the greedy landlord and legalities with insurance for their closure.  Also in San Francisco, Apollo Education issued a WARN saying 60 people will be laid off in June.  In Bakersfield, oil field service company Halliburton laid off 14 people without warning. In Milpitas, SanDisk issued a layoff WARN for June, saying 61 people will be let go.

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

Maine: British empire Canada based AIM (American Iron & Metal) Development USA has begun layoffs in what will finally be the end for the Bucksport paper mill and power plant.  The failed mill and power plant was sold to the Canadian owned AIM in January, for $60-million USD in cash, now the latest news reports say there is only 13 employees left.  This is interesting because last year local news reports swore AIM was going to continue operating the power plant, but employees pointed out the power plant ran directly off heat generated by the paper mill’s natural gas boilers.  AIM administrators now say they’ve realized it is too expensive to operate the former paper mill’s boilers just to generate electricity, so they’re considering  shutting it all down.

Maryland: California based tax-sucker Jacobs Engineering Group announced they will eliminate 104 jobs at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Grounds, blaming lack of taxpayer funding!

Minnesota: Ohio based biomedical and natural gas company Chart Industries issued a WARN saying 65 people at their Owatonna factory will become jobless in June. That’s on top of the 50 people recently laid off in Wisconsin.  Administrators blame “A significant decline in orders” as well as “dynamic energy prices and the stronger U.S. dollar”.

Missouri: What automotive industry recovery?  The country’s largest car hauler, Jack Cooper Transport, issued a WARN saying they will layoff 95 people at their Claycomo op, in May.

New York: In Niskayuna, school bus company First Student issued a shutdown WARN for July, saying 62 people will become unemployed.  Beverage distributor Windmill Distributing reminded state employment administrators that they are shutting down in May,  638 jobs lost!  It’s the result of their merger with Manhattan Beer.  In Bethpage, Goya Foods issued a shutdown WARN for July, 57 jobs lost.  In Auburn, air conditioner maker Daikin Applied reminded state administrators that they are about to begin their 6th round of layoffs (in July).  Once the shutdown is complete more than 3-hundred jobs will be lost!  In Elmsford, after 21 years the Fairview Golf Center shutdown.  The property was sold for big bucks to FedEx.

North Carolina: Raleigh’s last registered bed-and-breakfast, The Oakwood Inn, shutdown after 31 years. The owner blames “illegal” competition from internet company Airbnb saying “If I have to [be licensed], why don’t they have to do it? And if they don’t have to do it, then I shouldn’t have to!” 

Ohio:  In Short North, after ten years the Surly Girl Saloon shutdown, the owner indicated that demand for such a bar in Short North is crashing.

Pennsylvania: Snack maker Pepsi/Frito-Lay announced they will eliminate 7% of jobs at their Williamsport factory.  It’s part of Pepsi’s ongoing plan to slash and burn operating costs (jobs).  Crappy clothing op American Eagle Outfitters announced they’re shutting down their Warrendale distribution center in July, 2-hundred jobs lost!   Administrators have been planning the shutdown for the past two years, which shows you how much confidence they have in the ‘recovery’.

Tennessee: In Chattanooga, after three years fitness center Thrive Studio shutdown.

Texas: US Steel has already laid off hundreds of people across the U.S., now The Lone Star State is about to lose 1,404 US Steel jobs!  The WARN shows that all the jobs lost are related to supporting the oil industry.  Houston based Halliburton revealed that since the beginning of the year it has eliminated 9-thousand jobs!  In an interview with investors Halliburton president Jeff Miller admitted that oil companies are ‘stashing oil’ in 4-thousand undeveloped wells, and are preparing to begin “re-fracking” operations.  Another Houston based oil company, Baker Hughes (in the process of being taken over by Halliburton) announced they will now layoff 10-thousand 5-hundred people in North America! Earlier in the year they said 7-thousand people would be laid off, but administrators say reduction in oil field services has been bigger than they estimated (and don’t forget that the takeover by Halliburton will create a lot of redundant jobs).  A report by fuelfix says the top three oil field service companies in the U.S. (Schlumberger, Halliburton & Baker Hughes) have laid off a total of 39-thousand 5-hundred people, so far!  4th largest (according to fuelfix) Weatherford International is laying off 8-thousand!

15 – 18 April 2015: “a time of unprecedented and rapid change”

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, 15 – 18 April 2015: “a time of unprecedented and rapid change” USPS going Postal with your Mail! 11-thousand oil jobs gone! Homeless people being rounded up!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: Birmingham based women’s clothing chain store Simply Fashion Stores now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and liquidating.  250 stores across 25 states to shutdown, 1,332 jobs lost!

Arizona: Pima County warned it might have to shutdown four libraries, and shorten hours at remaining libraries.  County administrators say they need to save $1.5-million USD annually.  After 10 years, the Scottsdale Jean Company shutdown.  The store owner says he sold his lease contract to a “high end grocer”.

California: Crosby at Rancho Santa Fe golf club now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  In Sunnyvale, Cypress Semiconductor revealed they killed off 95 jobs, back in January.   In Irvine, Western Digital Technologies issued a layoff WARN for June, 115 jobs lost! Advanced Micro Devices issued a layoff WARN saying 85 people will be laid off in June.  The USPS shutdown the Industry Processing Center (P&DC).  The USPS shutdown the Redding Processing Center (CSMPC).  Iconic 68 years old Frederick’s of Hollywood chapter 11 bankrupt busted and shutting down all 111 stores!  They want to focus on internet sales only.  Boeing issued three more layoff WARNS for June, saying 125 people will be let go!   Mitt Romney’s wunderkind Staples announced they’re shutting down two more stores in June, one in Ontario and one in Poway, 94 jobs lost.

Florida: Obama Care forced 50 years old Campbellton-Graceville Hospital to shutdown, at least 95 jobs lost.  Administrators said Obama Care was the final straw, causing a huge drop off in people coming in for help, and causing a huge drop in insurance reimbursements.

Georgia: The USPS shutdown the Athens Processing Center (P&DF).

Idaho: God’s Northwest Nazarene University is in trouble.  The Administrators want to layoff staff, but the staff countered with a 77% no confidence vote.  Now layoffs are on hold pending an independent review of the university’s budget on 15 June.

Several meetings were held with employees at the Gateway Processing Center between March 9th & 20th. Most are being laid off by 18 April 2015.

Several meetings were held with employees at the Gateway Processing Center between March 9th & 20th. Many are being laid off by 18 April 2015.

17 April is the official last day of U.S. Postal Processing Center ops for the Gateway Center (Pocatello CSMPC) in eastern Idaho.  At least 50 jobs lost in the Pocatello/Chubbuck communities.  The remaining employees will see their hours cut to part time status.   Postal Administrators claim the shutdowns will delay mail deliveries by only two days, that’s impossible. (After Idaho shutdown, USPS takes 23 hours to deliver package that should have arrived in 3!)

Illinois: DuPont Pioneer-Hi Bred laid off an undisclosed number of employees at their Good Hope GMO seed factory.  Oak Brook based McDonald’s administrators say the economy is so bad in Japan that they expect to lose between $210-million to $318-million by the end of the year (at least triple their losses last year), so, they will shutdown 131 Japanese stores, more than 1-thousand jobs affected, and they will layoff about 1-hundred jobs at their Tokyo HQ! They blame logistical problems getting reliable food!

Indiana: The USPS shutdown the Lafayette Processing Center (P&DF).  Obama forcing the Mental Health America Day Homeless Shelter to shutdown in May.  Administrator Jennifer Flora says the police state federal government is forcing cities to round up homeless people into one location: “They’re wanting individuals who are homeless to be able to go to one place…”

Kansas: The USPS shutdown the Salina Processing Center (P&DF).

Kentucky: Fort Campbell announced that 23 people will be laid off at their Department of Defense run grade schools.

Michigan: The USPS shutdown the Kalamazoo Processing Center (P&DC).  Benton Charter based appliance maker Whirlpool announced they will invest $1.1-million into its European ops, yet at the same time kill off 1,350 jobs!  

Minnesota: The USPS shutdown the Duluth Processing Center (P&DF).   The Litchfield School District warned it must increase the number of employees on its layoff list, due to crashing student enrollment.

Mississippi: Obama Care forcing Garden Park Medical Center to shutdown eight of its 10 clinics!  News reports say the shutdowns will begin in May and end by October, and that hospital administrators have ordered employees not to talk to the media about it, or they will lose their jobs.  Administrators say Obama Care is forcing them to cut costs drastically.

Missouri: In Springfield, after more than 50 years the owners of Holiday Lanes bowling alley announced it will shutdown in May.

Nebraska: The USPS shutdown the Grand Island Processing Center (P&DF). The USPS shutdown the Norfolk Processing Center (P&DF).

Nevada: The USPS shutdown the Customer Service Mail Processing Center (CSMPC) in Elko.

New York: In Uniondale, the SMG Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum sports arena is shutting down in July, supposedly for a massive remodel, 2,540 jobs lost!  In White Plains, God refuses to stop his Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School from issuing a shutdown WARN, saying 48 people will be laid off in August. NYC based 3D printer company MakerBot announced they will shutdown three stores and layoff 20% of their employees.  It’s connected to being taken over by Stratasys.  In Buffalo, Dug’s Dive shutdown. It might have something to do with the new landlord. After 90 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions), HP Hood issued a shutdown WARN for its Heluva Good Cheese Plant and Heluva Good Country Store.  At least 59 people will become jobless between now and September.  In Mount Vernon, Hugo Neu Recycling explained that they are shutting down because they are joining the exodus from The Empire State.  They’re moving to Kearny, New Jersey, in June.

North Carolina: The USPS shutdown the Asheville Processing Center (P&DF), package sorting to be shutdown on 16 May 2015.  In Asheville, booze maker Blue Kudzu Sake shutdown, blaming the crashing U.S. market for preventing them to “secure a large enough market share to make our operation profitable”.  In Salisbury, famous Rick’s BBQ shutdown, the owner blamed his bad health.

North Dakota: The USPS shutdown the Minot Processing Center (CSMPC).

Ohio: The USPS shutdown the Toledo Processing Center (P&DF). The USPS shutdown the Akron Postal Processing Center (P&DC), flat sorting to be shutdown on 30 May 2015.  News media continues to lie and report the USPS is losing money.  How can that be when the USPS reported a record $1.37-billion profit for 2014?  The USPS has already surpassed that amount for the 1st quarter of 2015!    In Montgomery, after less than one year Verde Salad shutdown for “personal and financial reasons”!  Office Depot announced it will shutdown its Canton store in May.

Oregon: The USPS shutdown the Bend CSMPC.  The USPS shutdown the Pendleton CSMPC.

Pennsylvania:  The USPS shutdown the Erie Processing Center (P&DF).  The USPS shutdown the Lancaster Processing Center (P&DF).  British empire based legal drugs maker GlaxoSmithKline announced they will kill off 274 jobs in Moon Township! It’s the result of their merger with Novartis.

South Carolina: The USPS shutdown the Florence Processing Center (P&DF).

Tennessee: In Knoxville, after 40 years the Pic N Grin record store shutdown.  The owners will sell on the internet only, in the future.

Texas: The USPS shutdown the Houston Processing Center (P&DC).   The World’s largest oil service company, Houston based Schlumberger, announced it will kill off 11-thousand jobs!  In January they said they were going to kill off 9-thousand jobs!  Interestingly company administrators said “oil demand is still expected to increase by 1 million bbl/d in 2015.”

Utah: The USPS is shutting down the East Bay Postal Processing Center, in Provo, and “consolidating” ops to Salt Lake City, Colorado and Nevada (doesn’t that sound more like they’re splitting up operations?).  A handful of employees will remain to continue “window” (Post Office) operations.  The official shutdown date is 11 July.  USPS’s Brian Sperry blames “Americans…sending fewer letters and considerably more packages. Stamped first class mail has declined more than 50% in the last 10 years. The status quo is not an option.”

Virginia: The USPS shutdown the Roanoke Processing Center (P&DC).  Obama Care forcing health insurance provider Anthem to  eliminate an undisclosed number of jobs in Henrico County.  Company administrators call Obama Care “a time of unprecedented and rapid change in our industry.”   Norfolk State University warned of layoffs due to a drop in enrollment by almost 1-thousand students since last year!  In Arlington, after 28 years Mother’s Macaroons Bakery shutdown. The owner blames the death of her husband and the crashing economy saying “It was a series of things, and it hit me like a bag of rocks!” 

Washington: In Auburn, after 76 years the owners of Rottles Clothing and Shoes announced it will shutdown in June: “The landscape for brick and mortar retail has changed dramatically over the past several years. The advent of internet commerce, big box discounters, and an overall relaxation of dress codes has taken its toll.”-John Rottle

Wisconsin: The USPS shutdown the La Crosse Processing Center (P&DF).  Sears Holdings announced the Wauwatosa Kmart will shutdown in June, 103 jobs lost!  What automotive industry recovery?  In East Troy, motorcycle company Erik Buell Racing is shutting down, 126 jobs lost!

Wyoming: The USPS is shutting down the Customer Service Mail Processing Center in Rock Springs: “We’re not talking about post offices. …..It’s what happens in the back and those are the things that we’re changing and its the thing that most people don’t think about. It’s how the mail moves after it gets put in that collection box, that’s how we’re changing things.”-David Rupert

12 – 14 April 2015: “the ongoing destruction of the United States…”

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, 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.”