Tag Archives: education

Business/Economics

74 restaurants shutdown without warning! Another company admits it “over-hired” in 2015! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 05 – 06 February 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

According to some reports, 70% of the jobs ‘created’ in January were minimum wage, temp jobs!   The so called increase in wages was a piddly-ass half a percent (0.05%) compared to December!

California:  More proof the internet is not recession resistant; San Francisco based Indiegogo admitted it eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs “A few weeks ago…..to invest in growth.” (it used to be that layoffs were not seen as a sign of growth)  And San Francisco based Marinello School of Beauty shutting down its 56 schools across the U.S., due to it being caught ripping off the U.S. Department of Education!  In Oxnard, after 27 years frozen veggie food maker Coastal Green Vegetable shutting down, 137 jobs lost by March!  The owners blamed currency wars, crashing sales and gave out a list of increasing costs; water, regulations, wages and ObamaCare health care.  In Malibu, expensive clothier Banana Republic shutting down, the general manager said the high rent is not justified.  In Redding, God refuses to stop ‘his’ Simpson University from laying off ten people.  Administrators blame The Rapture, I mean crashing enrollment of students which I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.

Delaware: What housing market recovery? Without warning, Too Big to Jail Capital One eliminated more than 1-hundred jobs at its mortgage operations in Wilmington.

Georgia: Fayette County Schools laying off 18 people. Administrators say the layoffs are not connected to the fact the school system is lacking money, but that student enrollment has declined by 1-hundred!  God refusing to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ British empire based Salvation Army second hand Family Store in Decatur.  But it’s not due to lack of sales, instead the heating system in the building never works so they’re looking for a new location.

Hawaii: In Honolulu, Tsukiji Fish Market and Restaurant shutdown due to the landlord demanding the keys to the store by Monday.  The landlord is one of my former evil employers, GGP (General Growth Properties).  A rep for the operator of the restaurant said there were three years left on the lease.

Illinois: Sycamore School District 427 says it must eliminate a yet to be determined number of teaching jobs, as part of their three year plan to reduce expenses.  Administrators blame “financial constraints and unknown enrollment”.  TFC Bank replacing 33 offices with ATM machines.  Number of jobs being killed was not disclosed.

Kentucky:  Delta Airlines eliminating 120 jobs and reducing hours for another 185 at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport!  Administrators claim they “over-hired” in 2015.  Alliance Coal warning of another 75 layoffs at several of its mines.

Louisiana: California based Chevron eliminating 385 jobs between April and June!  Chevron revealed it is selling off its oil and gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico.  While The Empire State of New York bribed Alcoa to stop mass layoffs there, the cash strapped state of Louisiana isn’t so lucky.  Alcoa eliminating dozens of jobs at its Lake Charles operations, on top of the 130 job cuts announced back in September!

Michigan:  The Bradley Kmart has a new owner who is shutting it down.  Retailer Meijer bought the Kmart property for $5-million USD. The Kmart will be shutdown in May, but the new Meijer store won’t be ready until 2018.

Minnesota: Egan based Ovation Brands suddenly shutdown 74 restaurants!  Apparently the only warning was given back in August when company administrators warned they were about to begin shutting down ‘underperforming’ restaurants (August is also when Ovation Brands was taken over by Food Management Partners).  The shutdown restaurants include Home Town Buffet (three just in the San Francisco area of California), Old Country Buffet, Ryan’s, Fire Mountain and Country Buffet (as opposed to Old Country Buffet?).

New Jersey:  New York Life Insurance issued a WARN, 70 people in Lebanon and Parsippany losing their jobs by April.

New York: Despite a massive taxpayer funded bribe to stop the mass layoffs at Alcoa’s Massena operations (as I reported back in November), Alcoa will still layoff 37 unlucky employees by the end of the month.

Oklahoma:  Without warning oil exploration company Helmerich & Payne laid off about 40 employees in Tusla.

Ohio:  The 28 years old Sears and its Auto Center in New Philadelphia shutting down by mid-April, 46 jobs lost.

Oregon: Perfect example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL); in Springfield, after 32 years Thurston Book Exchange shutting down.  The owner blames loss of customer traffic on the shutdown of the next door Haggen grocery store (which was caused by Haggen being tricked into buying up hundreds of failing Albertsons grocery stores).

Pennsylvania: In Heidelberg, after 63 years Target Cleaners shutting down.  The owners say their business is great, but they need to retire.  Customers (including schools and churches) are upset because Target Cleaners is one of the last dry cleaners in the area.

Texas:  Houston based natural gas company Ryckman Creek Resources and its sibling company Peregrine Rocky Mountains both chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Operations in Colorado and Wyoming could be affected.

Virginia: Genworth has halted its life insurance operations and as a result 330 employees  will become unemployed starting within 60 days of now!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

04 February 2016: “…deteriorating beyond repair for…several years.” Layoffs skyrocket 218%! 

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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

“…deteriorating beyond repair for…several years.” Layoffs skyrocket 218%! Idaho beggars for donations! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 04 February 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arizona: In Yuma, a local business is blaming currency wars for its demise.  After two years restaurant Carnivores of Yuma shutting down due to lack of Snow Birds from Canada.  The Canadian dollar has dropped in value against the U.S. dollar, making it too expensive for many Canadians to travel within the United States.  I lived in hot-as-hell Yuma for almost two years and I can tell you that Snow Birds from the north, during winter, are a major source of revenue for local mom-n-pops.  The rest of the year revenues come from taxpayer funded Yuma Marine Corps Air Station and Yuma Army Proving Grounds.

Arkansas:  In Little Rock, non-profit Lewis Burnett Employment Finders shutting down after 29 years of helping former prisoners find jobs.  It’s blamed on health problems of the founder.

Connecticut: Governor Dannel Malloy is calling for the elimination of thousands of state jobs, by July!  The gov’na also wants cuts to state benefits and pay in order to cut $500-million USD from the state budget.   The first state employees to be laid off will be non-union members.  Ohio based Xpect Discounts shutting down the last three of its stores in The Constitution State, 178 jobs lost by April!

Florida: BlackBerry issued a WARN for its Sunrise factory, 75 jobs lost by the end of the month.

Idaho: It’s been revealed that state Department of Parks and Recreation has been running on $70-thousand USD in private donations after running out of normal fees and taxpayer funding!  The majority of the donations came from corporations Airstream and Cabela’s.  State ‘lawmakers’ allowed Parks & Rec to beggar for donations last year, in order to offset massive state funding cuts.

Illinois: Chicago based employment analysts Challenger, Grey & Christmas report a 218% increase in U.S. job losses from December 2015 to January 2016! Even compared year to year (January 2015 vs January 2016) U.S. layoffs jumped 43%!

Indiana: In Fort Wayne, drugs pusher Walgreens shutting down their 20 years old store on Pettit Avenue.  But don’t cry, local news reports say Walgreens has a monopoly on the Fort Wayne market, with at least 15 other drug pushing stores in the city.

Iowa: What automotive industry recovery?  Ireland based Eaton announced it’s no longer worth it to continue its transmission factory in Shenandoah, 250 jobs lost within six months!  Local news reported that at one point there were at least 1-thousand employees at the factory, between October 2015 and now hundreds were let go! 

Kansas: After 50 years friend to unwanted pets Merriam Great Plains SPCA’s Lost Pet & Intake Center shutting down by the end of the month: “After being the center point of animal welfare in Johnson County for 50 years, the building just simply can’t keep up with the volume of animals. It’s been deteriorating beyond repair for the past several years.”-Courtney Thomas, CEO

Michigan:   Flint based McLaren Medical Group eliminating 89 jobs by April.  The layoffs will hit medical operations in four cities.  In Muskegon County, maker of printing inks and paints SunChemical laid off 20 employees without warning, and then had them escorted off the work site.

New York: CNN forcing Maslow Media Group to issue a shutdown WARN for several NYC locations, 97 jobs lost by the end of April.

North Carolina: California based Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo continues to kill jobs, this time 87 people in Raleigh losing their jobs to “better align with current market volumes.”

Ohio: Oil pipe maker TMK-IPSCO laying off 106 employees, in Brookfield, within 60 days!

Pennsylvania: Texas based upChuck Cheese, I mean Chuck E. Cheese pizza joint shutting down in the Clearview Mall by the end of March.

South Carolina: South State Bank shutting down two Orangeburg offices, as part of bigger plans to shutdown offices across South Carolina and Georgia.  It’s the result of South State Bank taking over failed Bank of America offices in 2015.

Tennessee: What automotive industry recovery? In Bristol DlhBOWLES shutting down, 1-hundred jobs lost by April!  The company makes parts for the automotive and other industries, the shutdown is the result of two companies merging;  DLH and Bowles Fluidics.

Texas: In Austin, restaurant Arro shutting down on Friday, apparently it’s being turned into a bar.

Virginia: Catabwa Hospital shutting down as part of the governor’s plan to shutdown mental health hospitals.

Washington DC: National debt now at record $19-trillion USD!  $1-trillion in debt added in the past 13 months!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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

“…we just didn’t realize the enormity of it.” Target kills 10-thousand jobs in 1 city! Idaho’s ObamaCare kills 1-thousand people in 3 years! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 03 February 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California:  After four years the Malibu Bank of Books shutting down in April.  The owner blames lack of sales and points out that the landlord actually tried to helped the bookstore.  Yet more proof the internet is not recession resistant; San Rafael based AutoDesk eliminating 925 jobs in order to expedite its transition to ‘the cloud’!  Plus the administrators claim they “over-hired” in 2015.

Florida: In Lake Buena Vista, Fulton’s Crab House issued a shutdown WARN, 214 food service jobs gone by mid-April!

Idaho:  The Gem State’s version of ObamaCare is being directly blamed for the deaths of 1-thousand Idahoans since 2013!  That accusation came from Kenneth Krell, director of Eastern Idaho Medical Center in Idaho Falls.  He targeted the claim at state Right to Work (you over) ‘lawmakers’ whom he was testifying in front of: “And I kept asking myself, how could this be? How, in a state like Idaho where we care about each other, could I be seeing deaths and really damaging illness on a nearly daily basis as a result of failure to expand Medicaid that cost tangible lives? It’s difficult to understand.”

Louisiana: In Lafayette, after seven years Jolie’s Louisiana Bistro shutting down next week.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery?  After announcing it will shutdown its sales operations in Japan and Indonesia, Dearborn based Ford announced it will eliminate $200-million USD worth of jobs in Europe!  Administrators say the job cuts are necessary to “build a viable business in the future”.

Minnesota: The Minneapolis Downtown Council discovered that retail giant Target eliminated 10-thousand jobs within the city over the past two years!  Local news reports say Target administrators confirmed the number!

Mississippi: Hattiesburg Public Schools cutting pay and eliminating jobs “immediately”.  No details about how many jobs will be lost, local news reports say employees have yet to be notified.

Nebraska: Food giant ConAgra shutting down a frozen food production line in Council Bluffs, administrators claim this time they won’t layoff any employees.

New York: In NYC, D’Agostino Supermarkets on 3rd Avenue shutting down, 41 jobs lost by the end of April.

Ohio: In Cincinnati, House of Adam clothier shutting down after 61 years.

Pennsylvania: Waynesboro, after 15 years Dru’s Books-n-Things Hallmark gift store shutting down by the end of the month.  Despite massive layoffs throughout the state, partly caused by failure to create a state budget on-time, ‘lawmakers’ enjoy “generous pay, benefits and job security” according to Berks & Beyond.  Steel worker Dan Adam even blasted state ‘lawmakers’ because “They do live in their own little bubble and it’s not right! But what are we going to do about it?”

West Virginia: Boone County Schools eliminating 77 jobs after the bad economy caused tax revenues to be cut by more than half: “There were signs that it was happening….just didn’t expect it all at once…came on very quickly….we just didn’t realize the enormity of it.”-Jerry Pcholinsky, Boone County Education president

Wisconsin: More layoff points for Right to Work (you over) Scott Walker as Public International shuts down its Yorkville office, 50 jobs lost because a major client walked.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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. central bank going negative? Insurance wants martial law enforcement of ObamaCare! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 02 February 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

British empire based British Petroleum (BP, formerly known as Anglo-Iranian Oil) boosting its January layoff announcement by another 3-thousand! Last month it said it would eliminate at least 4-thousand jobs around the world, now it’s 7-thousand jobs gone by the end of 2017, including within the U.S.  Low oil prices and lawsuit settlements caused BP to lose $5.2-billion USD in 2015 (its biggest loss ever).

Alabama: Birmingham based Regions Bank (aka Regions Financial Corporation) announced it will eliminate 260 jobs across several states!  The layoffs will take place by the end of March.

California: In Los Angeles, t-shirt shop Johnny Cupcakes shutting down by the end of April.  News reports say despite being popular sales weren’t high enough to justify the “overpriced lease”.  In Oakland, Outer Harbor Terminal now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. It’s the result of a major client shifting to other port operations along the U.S. west coast.

Connecticut: Hartford based health insurance giant Aetna is now accusing the federal government of not enforcing ObamaCare with martial law, saying current enforcement is “not sufficient”!  Greedy Aetna administrators blame low ObamaCare participation rates for their loss of revenues.

Florida: In Bradenton, after almost five years Tarpon Pointe Grill & Tiki Bar shutting down by the end of the month, because of an evil landlord: “Our landlord has chosen not to renew our lease. Why? He states we are not successful. We have always paid our rent and a percentage of our sales to him on time, which has equated to almost $1.1 million in five years, and our initial investment of over $800,000 to build Tarpon Pointe.”-Facebook posting

Illinois: Eastern Illinois University quietly issuing layoff notices to non-instructional staff (latest reports say as many as 2-hundred!).  It’s blamed on the state ‘lawmakers’ failing to come up with a budget. The layoffs will start in March, university administrators say the state owes them at least $40-million USD.  Chicago Public Schools (CPS) warning of even more layoffs after the teacher union rejected their latest offer.  The Failed State system CPS claims it is lacking $500-million for its latest budget, but they’re actually $1-billion ‘in the hole’, structurally!  In Carbondale, after 32 years The Great Outdoors clothing store shutting down, the owner said his retirement is an “economic decision”.  Local news media revealed that three other Carbondale/Route 13 area businesses shutdown in January; KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), Show Me’s Restaurant and Advanced Auto Parts.  In Galesburg, after 21 years Casey’s Party Creations shutting down in March.

Kansas: In Wichita, payday loan shark Speedy Cash laid off 50 people at its HQ and call center.  Administrators blame a ‘slow’ federal tax return season.  However, Speedy Cash also shutdown ten offices in the British empire country of United Kingdom (can’t blame U.S. tax refunds on that).

Louisiana: In Lafayette, the Winn-Dixie grocery store, on Ambassador Caffery Parkway, shutting down.  61 jobs lost by March.

Michigan: Midland based Dow Chemical revealed it eliminated 1-thousand 2-hundred jobs and will eliminate another 1-thousand jobs, for a total of 2-thousand 2-hundred!  Administrators say they need to cut $300-million USD in costs this year.

Mississippi:  Chapter 11 bankrupt busted (for the second time in nine years) Baldwyn based Hancock Fabrics shutting down/liquidating at least 70 stores across the U.S.  

New York:  In Brooklyn, after seven years the owners of Bark Hot Dogs shutting down their Park Slope eatery this weekend, saying “…economics just weren’t working out.”  NYC based music event promoter SFX Entertainment now chapter 11 bankrupt busted after only two years on the NASDAQ.  In Yonkers, Sterling National Bank eliminating ten jobs by June.

Oklahoma: Non-profit Sayre Memorial Hospital shutdown without warning, due to “continual financial strain” caused by declining Medicare reimbursements, and the crashing-n-burning of the local economy.

Oregon: In Portland, California based logistics company UTi Worldwide issued a WARN, 41 jobs lost by the end of March.  After 36 years Sewick’s Dive Bar shutting down, to be replaced by a 46 unit apartment building.

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh based Horsehead Holding now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Administrators blame the low prices of zinc, however it also sounds like financial incompetence as the bankruptcy attorneys could only guess that the company had between 1-thousand and 5-thousand creditors!

Virginia: In Fredericksburg, after 27 years The Cat’s Closet shutting down in late Spring. The family owners will rent out the building to somebody else.   Huntington Ingalls Industries eliminating 738 jobs at the crashing-n-burning Newport News shipyards!  It’s blamed on the completion of construction of new USN aircraft carriers, and reduced taxpayer spending by the federal government.  In Richmond, God refuses to get involved with the scandal with ‘his’ Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board (IMB).  The so called Christian organization began laying off employees without warning, drawing criticism from fellow Baptists: “Unexplainably, IMB planned no announcement about eliminating its entire communications department. Nothing was to be said about jettisoning about 10 percent of its staff or about how IMB would tell its missions stories going forward.”-Bob Terry, editor The Alabama Baptist

Washington DC: The Federal Reserve Bank about to go the way of Japan and officially charge negative interests rates.  Essentially Too Big to Jail banks would actually be paid to ‘borrow’ money from The Fed.

Wisconsin: Sussex based Quad Graphics announced it will shutdown two printing ops, one in Pennsylvania and one in Kansas.  The newspaper insert shutdown in Pennsylvania will cost 150 jobs, that’s on top of 4-hundred Pennsylvania Quad Graphics jobs lost at the beginning of January!  About 1-hundred jobs lost in Kansas!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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

“We fought a battle we just couldn’t win…” : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 01 February 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Florida: Preferred Medical Plan eliminating 18 jobs in Coral Gables, by the beginning of April.  At Patrick Air Force Base two contractors, GCR and InDyne, issued mass layoff WARNs for 209 people by the end of March!

Illinois: Peabody Energy’s Arclar Mine Complex eliminated 75 coal mining jobs due to crashing demand for coal.  In Evanston, Montoya Fiber Studios shutting down after 13 years of tying up locals in yarn.  The owners said it’s time for them to travel.

Maryland: C&S Wholesale Grocers shutting down their distribution ops on Lums Road, about 2-hundred jobs lost by April!  A county administrator said she was surprised because C&S was recently advertising to hire more employees!  C&S administrators told county officials they could not stop the shutdown due to the sudden loss of a major contract.

Massachusetts: In Somerville, after five years Sabertooth Vegan Bakery shutting down so the owner can get the hell outta Boston Weak Massachusetts and go on “permanent vacation”: “…things here just haven’t been working out. It’s always been my dream to live in California and work on an animal sanctuary and I was offered an amazing opportunity to do that.”-Evie Noël   

Missouri: Doe Run Company announced it must eliminate 75 mining jobs as a result of complying with Environmental Protection Agency lawsuits.

New York:   New York Life Insurance is shutting down their IT & Finance office in Sleepy Hollow, layoffs will take place between April and December. Administrators indicated they were moving the jobs elsewhere, but didn’t say where.   Principal Service Solutions-Global Foundries revealed they laid off at least 28 people in Hopewell Junction due to loss of a maintenance contract.    Brach’s Supermarket issued a shutdown WARN for their Lawrence grocery store, 127 jobs lost by the first of May! Administrators blame the bad economy.

Despite a grand opening send-off by U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, Constantino’s Market in Rochester’s College Town shutting down after less than one year in business!  It’s blamed on lack of sales: “Unfortunately, Constantino’s was ultimately not supported at a level that allowed them to be profitable.”-Randy Ruttenberg, Fairmount Properties

North Carolina: Flex Global shutting down their Charlotte logistics operation, 255 jobs lost by April!

Ohio: Key Bank shutting down their Canton office by the end of April.

Oklahoma: Oil company Unit Corporation confirmed to local news media that it laid off several Tulsa employees in the past week, no numbers given.   In OKC, Texas based Spaghetti Warehouse suddenly shutdown, with no explanation why: “After more than 30 years in the community, we have made the difficult business decision to suspend operations and announce the closure of the Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant in Oklahoma City. The closure is effective on Tuesday, February 2nd. ….we are hopeful that in the near future we can reopen Spaghetti Warehouse….”

Texas: Houston based Southwestern Energy issued a mass layoff WARN saying 376 people will lose their jobs by March!  National Oilwell Varco has begun laying off 129 employees!  And yet another of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL) as Argentina based steel oil pipe maker Tenarus shutting down their Houston factory, 166 jobs lost by the end of March!   Forth Worth based bankrupt Quicksilver Resources will eliminate 164 oil industry jobs!   Retailer Kohl’s shutting down their Plano store by mid-February, supposedly the 80 employees are being transferred to other Dallas area Kohl’s.

In El Paso, Airline International Luggage shutting down their Westside brick-n-mortar shop, blaming people who buy luggage over the internet.  The owners of Airline International Luggage should know about the shift to internet shopping, they began selling on the internet in 1995! They continue to operate their Eastside location which includes their online shop and warehouse.

Washington: Cardinal Health issued a WARN for its Auburn ops, 59 jobs lost by the end of March.

West Virginia: Kingston Mining laying off 89 coal miners, blaming declining demand for coal.

Wisconsin: In Sheboygan, after five years restaurant Weimann’s Sports Center shutting down this weekend, despite being voted best sports bar.  The owners blame constant road construction projects among other issues: “We fought a battle we just couldn’t win and ultimately felt it would be a lot less stressful for our family to not be in business. It’s a tough business.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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

Harley-Davidson crashes 43%! Massive REL! No more Live365! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 30 – 31 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alaska: Taxpayer funding cuts (caused by the crashing & burning oil industry) are forcing University of Alaska Fairbanks to shutdown the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory.   It’s the only soil testing lab in the state and is not only helpful to gardeners but is used to help pilots land on unprepared runways: “That lab has been responsible for saving the aviation industry probably millions of dollars in aircraft damage. The closing of the lab has so many ripple effects that are just hard to calculate.”-Steve Brown, Agricultural Extension agent

California: San Ramon based Chevron confirmed it eliminated 3-thousand 2-hundred jobs in 2015, and that another 4-thousand oil jobs will be destroyed in 2016!  Administrators say they lost so much money in 2015 that they need to cut more than $9-billion USD in operating costs!

More proof the internet is not recession resistant; Foster City based Live365 internet radio officially shutting down, analysts are blaming the Copyright Royalty Board.  Back at the end of December it was reported that Live365 was laying off the majority of its employees, no word on how many people will lose their jobs.  Health insurance company Blue Shield of California eliminating at least 99 jobs at their Lodi call center, apparently forcing people to buy ObamaCare insurance isn’t generating enough captive audience profits.

Georgia: In Garden City, Daylight Donuts shutdown due to problems with the building and low sales.

Illinois: Jake’sTavern shutdown after 78 years in Galesburg, the current owner refused to say why. 

  Here’s three fine examples of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL);  Illinois base heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar issued a press release stating they will eliminate 10-thousand jobs between now and 2018, due to the crashing mining-oil industry!   In Danville, Germany based ThyssenKrupp Crankshaft eliminating 48 jobs due to declining sales caused by the declining heavy vehicle industry, which is the result of the declining mining-oil industry.  Also in Danville, Freight Car America eliminating 180 jobs by mid-February, blaming the declining railroad industry, which is the result of the declining mining-oil industry!

Missouri: In Clayton, after five years Coastal Bistro & Bar shutdown, no comment from owners. In Chesterfield, Miller’s Crossing Pub & Grill shutdown with no warning or explanation.  In Krikwood, after five years Petra Restaurant shutdown, no further info.

New Jersey: In Freehold, Top Tomato grocery store shutdown, a manager of another Top Tomato store told local news media that relative to sales volume the Freehold store is “too big for them”.    However, on Facebook the owner of the Top Tomato chain straight up blamed the greedy landlord: “…due to circumstances with our landlord that could not be resolved and were out of our control, we were forced to close our Freehold sister store.”

New Mexico: Illinois base heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar eliminated 50 jobs without warning when it suddenly shutdown its Santa Fe factory.  Caterpillar took over the factory from CleanAir Systems in 2010.  In Albuquerque, after 18 years stationary and gift shop Gatherings shutdown, the owner blamed competition with the internet.

New York:   RCS Capital (Realty Capital Securities) now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Back in December they WARNed they were shutting down their NYC office by March.  The bankruptcy filing will somehow provide the failing investor $150-million USD and take it ‘private’.  No wonder big companies like to file bankruptcy so much, who knew it was just another way for them to make money?   That Which CanNot Be Named refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘its’ 51+ years old kosher bakery Monsey Kosher Bake Shop (aka Frank’s Family Bakery).  Yehuda Frank began crying when he told local news media that “circumstances made that we close”.   Those “circumstances” include the health and age of the owners.

North Carolina: In Greenville, Fitgerald’s restaurant shutdown without warning less than two years after opening.  Local news media report that the building now has a sign that says “Do not enter, no one”.   Asheboro Elastics shutting down their Narrow Fabrics military fabrics factory.  The vice president of AEC Narrow Fabrics admitted that selling products to the military is not as profitable as they thought, 90 jobs lost between March and April.

North Dakota:  In Fargo, Eloise Boutique & Gift shutting down by the end of March.  The store owner is also the property owner and she admitted she could make more money just being the landlord instead of the tenant.

Ohio: In Columbus, after 29 years Patrick J’s Food + Drink shutdown, apparently the owner could end up in prison for 20 years after pleading guilty to charges of ‘interference with commerce by threats’.

Oregon:  For the second time in one week,  Aequitas Capital Management announced layoffs.  This time 1-hundred people, almost all the remaining employees, will be laid off! Company bosses blame significant financial problems after it was revealed their debt/investment agency was involved in questionable student loans.

Wisconsin: Illinois base heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar eliminating 220 jobs at its factory in Prentice!  What automotive industry recovery?  Milwaukee based iconic Harley-Davidson dropped its expected 2016 shipments of motorcycles from 3% to 1%!  Profits were down 43% for 2015!  Lack of sales means they’re stuck with a 31% increase in leftover inventory compared to 2014.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

29 January 2016: Governor kills state jobs claiming lack of money, then Senator reveals $400-million+ cash surplus!

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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.” 

International

More proof humans don’t cause climate change: Plankton did it!

29 January 2016 19:20 UTC-07 Tango 01 (10 Bahman 1394/19 Rabi’a’-Thani 1437/21 Ding-Chou (12th month) 4713)

A new study by biologists in New Zealand is now blaming Plankton for climate change!  Well, not that Plankton, but more than 2-thousand species of ancient plankton, and another micro-animal called graptolite, that lived as long as 400-million years ago.

And actually they’re not blaming the plankton, but rather they believe the extinction of the ancient plankton was caused by radical climate change.  Professor James Crampton, of Victoria University, concluded that “…extinction happens in short bursts or episodes…  ….it is the severity of the change in the environment that determines if old or new species are prone to extinction….  …the modern rate of environmental change could alter the balance of extinction risk….”

Please note that the ancient creatures studied lived at a time when humans did not exist, yet the extinction of these micro-animals is blamed on radical climate change.  So what happened?  Did professor Emmet Brown travel back in time in his piece-o-junk Chevy wannabe DeLorean (he got the car because they were dirt cheap because nobody wanted them) and then proceed to massively pollute the atmosphere?

Study says tropical groundwater benefits from climate change!  

U.S.

Dumbing Down the United States, January 2016: “…in the end, you have to say ‘it’s not working.’”

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

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

Arizona:  Phoenix based rip off artist Apollo Education Group (owner of University of Phoenix,Western International University, Axia College, and College for Financial Planning) eliminated 70 jobs, as part of their plan to “re-engineer” the for-profit education operation due to crashing revenues.  (possible due to the federal Department of Education accusing Apollo Education of lying about job placement rates)

California:  In Berkeley, after 33 years Black Oak Books shutting down, the owner lamenting “I wish I could have kept it open, but, in the end, you have to say ‘it’s not working.’”  It must be noted that current owner Gary Cornell has been subsidizing the rent payments out of his pocket, store revenues are not high enough, and he said the city’s minimum wage increases are the final straw.   University of California Berkeley’s Campus Shared Services quietly laid off 28 people, back in December.  Local Teamsters Union members are now making sure the public knows about the layoffs.  After 65 years privately funded Pinecrest Schools shutting down all their San Fernando Valley campuses (Woodland Hills, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Canyon Country and Simi Valley) at the end of this school year!  Administrators blame increased operating costs and increased competition from publicly funded charter schools.

Colorado: Westwood College suddenly halted enrollments and announced it will shutdown its Denver campuses by the end of March!  Administrators blame crashing enrollments, but it could also have to do with the fact the state sued Westwood, accusing it of making false claims about students being able to find jobs after they graduate.

Connecticut: Post University eliminated 15 jobs and reclassified another 15.  One teacher said her ‘reclassification’ included a 53% cut in pay!   God refuses to stop the shutdown of two of ‘his’ schools; Saint Vincent De Paul in East Haven and Saint Gabriel in Milford.  The schools managed to survive The Great Depression and numerous recessions, but for some reason they can’t survive what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.   Saint Vincent is reportedly down to just 89 students.

Delaware:  More job killing by DuPont, this time 2-hundred highly educated people (many with doctorates) at the Central Research and Development division at the Experimental Station in Wilmington now unemployed: “As part of this restructuring, we are redesigning the existing Central Research & Development operating model to assess and seed new, transformational science-based ventures as the next step in the evolution of corporately funded R&D for DuPont.”  

Florida:  The Venice public library shutting down by the end of the month due to unsanitary conditions that never go away despite numerous attempts to repair the building.  The National Deaf Academy shutting down between March and April after being hit with lawsuits alleging child abuse (administrators refused to give an official reason).

Idaho: The University of Idaho’s McClure Center for Public Policy Research discovered that one third of Idaho high school grads surveyed see no reason to ‘Go-On’ to college or university because the job market doesn’t justify the cost of higher education.  The study also discovered that while 53% of females go on to higher education only 38% of Idaho males ‘Go-On’.  That means Idaho’s ‘Go-On’ gender gap rate is higher than the national average.  University of Idaho shutting down their Caine Veterinary Teaching Center.  Apparently the university plans on teaching veterinarian skills directly through livestock owners, news reports say the university veterinarian faculty are being laid off.    Even God couldn’t stop a Christian student from ripping off the Mormon Brigham Young University-Idaho of $6-thousand 2-hundred, using a university credit card.  Of course that ‘christian’ student wasn’t very smart because you can trace credit card transactions, and that’s how he got caught.  A new study is blaming low Gem State high school graduation rates on internet classes!   The state Board of Education reported that ‘virtual schools’ can barely graduate 20% of their online students!

Illinois:  Chicago Public Schools announced yet more mass layoffs, 227 non-teaching jobs being eliminated!  God refuses to stop the shutdown of three of ‘his’ Christian schools; Saint Agatha Catholic Academy, Saint Peter elementary and Seton Academy.  It’s blamed on The Rapture, I mean what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.  God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Oak Park Saint Edmund Catholic School, due to crashing enrollments.   In Evanston, after 35 years Howard’s Books shutting down by the end of February.  The owner say it “makes sense” to shutdown because “The chains hurt the independents, and then Amazon comes along and hurts the chains.”  The Western Illinois University laid off 30 people due to the failed state ‘lawmakers’ failing to come up with a budget.

Indiana: Bargain Books shutting down its Mishawaka store. Company administrators admitted their profit margin is much higher with their internet sales than with brick-n-mortar ops.

Iowa:  British empire based education publisher Pearson suddenly began laying off employees in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City area, as part of their plans to eliminate 4-thousand jobs globally!  Perhaps U.S. textbooks being published by the mortal enemy of the United States is one reason for the dumbing down of the U.S.?  After all British English is not the same as U.S. English (grammatically or with the spelling and pronunciation of words).

Kentucky:  People suffering from the coal industry shutdowns revealed it costing former employees a lot of money to re-train: “If they switch everything from coal to gas, that retraining program that they’re doing now is going to take five to six years of training. Woth Eastern Kentucky Power down there, if they switch everything to gas…if they change all that then everybody is going to have to through more school after they already went through their apprenticeship and pay their $600 for their book and pay for that gas going to that school.“-Dakota Cones, interviewed by WOWK

Maryland: The Baltimore School Board approved the shutdown of four schools; Westside Elementary School, Maritime Industries Academy High School, Baltimore Community High School and the Maryland Academy of Technology & Health Sciences.  The school board is considering shutting down a fifth school as well.  The shutdowns are blamed on poor academic performance and what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.  Baltimore County Public Schools shutdown Deep Creek junior high school due to lack of heating.

Michigan:  In Lansing, God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 150 years old (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Trinity Lutheran School from shutting down.  Parents criticized the church leaders saying they never considered outside sources of funding and the decision to shutdown came without warning.  Beecher School District needs to cut costs and will do so with layoffs, pay cuts and even contracting out jobs that are currently in-house.  Local news reports say the school district has less than 1-thousand students.

Missouri: Better Learning Communities Academy being shutdown due to low academic achievement and money  problems.  University of Missouri Saint Louis warned of mass layoffs in order to deal with a $15-million USD shortfall ($2-million more than reported two months ago), no layoff numbers given, yet.

Montana:  University of Montana has begun mass layoffs, eventually 192 full-time jobs will be eliminated!

New Hampshire: God’s River University is so desperate for students they are now offering a guarantee of employment upon graduation!  If the student can’t get a job after six months of graduating from a bachelors program (undergraduate) then the university will pay for their masters program (graduate)!

New Jersey:  God refuses to stop the shutdown of his Mother Teresa Catholic School, in June.  Enrollment is down below 1-hundred students.

New York:  The Federal Reserve Bank’s New York office posted the results of their investigation into the viability of college/university educations.  They found that of those people who graduated between 2009-13 about 45% were working jobs that do not require higher education (typically low paying)!

North Carolina:  The Books-A-Million Bookland in the Signal Hill Mall shutdown.   Haywood County in big trouble, they’ve reduced their operating budget by $2.4-million USD and will have to shutdown at least one school, conduct layoffs and reduce pay for remaining employees!    It’s blamed on the loss of state school funding (due in part to crashing enrollment) and half a million dollars in tax collections being diverted to other counties that are in bigger trouble than Haywood!

Ohio:  Digital Works shutdown their high-tech skills training programs in Logan, Lynchburg, Middleport, Portsmouth and West Union.  The training program was started in 2013 with taxpayer funding, that taxpayer funding ended in 2015.

Oregon: In Hillsboro, Jacobsen’s Books & More shutting down because the owner is tired of being told by looky-loos “I’ll just go buy it on-line.”     For the second time in one week,  Aequitas Capital Management announced layoffs.  This time 1-hundred people, almost all the remaining employees, will be laid off! Company bosses blame significant financial problems after it was revealed the loan agency was involved in questionable student loans.

Dumbing Down the United States, 4th Quarter 2015

Business/Economics, Idaho

Governor kills state jobs claiming lack of money, then Senator reveals $400-million+ cash surplus! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 29 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arizona:  Phoenix based rip off artist Apollo Education Group (owner of University of Phoenix,Western International University, Axia College, and College for Financial Planning) eliminated 70 jobs, as part of their plan to “re-engineer” the for-profit education operation due to crashing revenues.  (possible due to the federal Department of Education accusing Apollo Education of lying about job placement rates)

Colorado: Westwood College suddenly halted enrollments and announced it will shutdown its Denver campuses by the end of March!  Administrators blame crashing enrollments, but it could also have to do with the fact the state sued Westwood, accusing it of making false claims about students being able to find jobs after they graduate.

Georgia:  Illinois base heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar eliminating 2-hundred jobs as it shuts down its Thomasville fuel factory!  (see Illinois below)

Idaho: A new study shows that proposed new state tax rules actually puts money into the wallets of the rich!  HB380 could result in an average tax reduction of $815 USD per 1-percenter and only a piddly $7 reduction for poorest of idahoans!   This comes as the state Department of Health and Welfare revealed that a minimum of 21.1% of Idahoans received some sort of taxpayer funded assistance for every month of 2015.  What Health and Welfare administrators didn’t reveal is that is a record number of Idahoans needing taxpayer funded help!   According to Watchdog.org  2013 and 2014 were also record years, and 2016 is projected to set a record as well!

Illinois:  In Streator, God couldn’t stop ObamaCare from forcing ‘his’ Saint Mary’s Hospital from laying off 1-hundred employees this month!  Another 2-hundred employees affected as the hospital shifts to out-patient care services!  The Affordable Care Act does not pay enough to cover the costs of inpatient care.  Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar announced an additional 230 layoffs in East Peoria as the bad economy forces radical restructuring and consolidations!  A press release by Caterpillar execs stated they expect the bad times to last until at least 2018.

Indiana:  In Irvington, after 17 years Dufour’s restaurant-bakery shutting down, the owner admitted “As I’ve aged, this business gets harder. My insides feel 18, but my outsides don’t.”   Georgia based Southwire shutting down its Plainfield service center beginning in March, 50 jobs lost.

Kentucky:  Carmeuse Lime and Stone laid off 35 people at its Black River mine.

Maryland:  Shenanigans with taxpayer money, this time employees at the state run Springfield Hospital Center are questioning why they’re being laid off when the hospital supposedly has a surplus of money!  At least 57 people will lose their jobs under the govna’s proposal to privatize the mental hospital, supposedly to save money.  However, state Senate President Thomas V. Miller revealed that the Springfield Hospital Center is actually projected to have a surplus of more than $400-million USD!!!

Massachusetts: Nashoba Valley Medical Center began reducing nursing jobs as they reduce Emergency Room operations (under ObamaCare).  In Lynn, General Electric (GE) laying off 59 aviation engineers, as part of a larger 3-hundred aviation jobs elimination across the country!

New York:    CNN shutting down their Manhattan Center Productions operations, 74 jobs lost by the end of April.   Sterling National Bank issued layoff WARNs for at least six offices, 27 jobs lost between May and June.  In Ithaca, after 18 years Jabberwock curiosity shop shutdown due to ongoing construction and a greedy landlord who jack up the rent three times!

North Dakota: Farm vehicle maker CNH (Case New Holland) hitting Fargo with even more layoffs, this time 70 people becoming unemployed.  Local news reports say that since 2014 CNH has eliminated 260 jobs in Fargo.  Reports that Massachusetts based oil/ethanol company Global Partners is eliminating jobs with its Peace Garden State operations.

Ohio: In Liberty, Campus Health Care nursing home suddenly shutdown after its Tennessee based owner went bankrupt.  Residents are being rescued from the nursing home that local news media discovered was considered “the worst of the worst” by federal regulators!  Clothier Express shutting down its Dayton Mall store, as part of its parent company’s (Limited Brands) ongoing store shutdowns.

Oregon:  In Clatskanie, Massachusetts based Global Partners laid off 50 oil terminal workers according to the official WARN.  According to local news reports that’s more than the last reported number of employees who work there! In Lake Oswego, Youth Villages issued a layoff WARN for its Christie Campuses, 74 jobs lost by the beginning of March.  In Springfield, Pacific States Plywood eliminating 39 jobs by mid-February.  Medical device maker Greatbatch eliminated at least 140 jobs in Beaverton, as the company moves production to Mexico (probably to avoid the new ObamaCare medical device tax)!  In Portland, A-List/H-List/Kitson hair salon apparently shutdown (according to state WARN listing).

Pennsylvania:  In Allentown, American Hairlines and clothier Popmart shutting down, the operators admitted they bit off more than they could chew when they decided to open additional stores.  Emmaus based publisher of health magazines Rodale eliminated 40 jobs in an effort to “focus on growing the business”.

Utah:  Wild West themed Porter’s Place shutting down its Lehi restaurant because city administrators are running the operator outta town.  The city owns the building and they want to tear it down.  The owner of Porter’s Place say he hopes to open a new restaurant in the city of Nephi.

Virginia:  Tobacco company Altria eliminating 490 jobs over the next two months!  Despite claiming they had “a strong year” company administrators say the job cuts are part of preparations for expected changes in the industry (mainly increased competition).  In Alexandria, the Urban Angler shutdown, the operators blame competition as well as city bureaucracy for delaying the grand opening for months.

Washington: Regional grocer (and bankrupt no thanks to being tricked by Albertson-Safeway) Haggen issued a shutdown WARN for their Puyallup store, 87 jobs lost at the beginning of March.   Macy’s issued a shutdown WARN for their Spokane store, 94 jobs lost by mid-March.  In Beacon Hill, after about ten years drag queen waitress restaurant Inay’s shutdown.  In Bremerton, Concentrix shutting down their call center, 5-hundred jobs lost by the end of March!  Administrators blame it on the loss of a major client.

Wisconsin:  More proof the internet is not recession resistant; online party-costume supplier BuySeasons eliminating 130 jobs, blaming competition!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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

U.S. loses $1.2-trillion in three months! “…cuts would probably occur weeks after Bank of America pays bonuses…” Sprint kills more jobs! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 28 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California:   In San Francisco, Belcampo Meat Company shutting down their Mission Street butcher shop.  The operators of the butcher shop chain said the Mission Street location could not maintain enough volume sales to justify its existence.  In Desert Hot Springs, after 70 years Haidet’s True Value Hardware shutdown.

Connecticut: It’s been revealed that Yale University laid off at least 24 IT employees.  CIO Len Peters warns of more job cuts saying “In order to further close our budget gap, some involuntary layoffs have taken place. Moving forward, we will continue to look for ways to be more cost-effective and agile with our services.”    God refuses to stop the shutdown of two of ‘his’ schools; Saint Vincent De Paul in East Haven and Saint Gabriel in Milford.  The schools managed to survive The Great Depression and numerous recessions, but for some reason they can’t survive what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.   Saint Vincent is reportedly down to just 89 students.

Florida:  Health Support Network- Center for Building Hope-Brides Against Breast Cancer now chapter 7 bankrupt busted and being liquidated, after shutting down without warning back in September.  A former CEO is accused of stealing donations meant to help families dealing with cancer treatment.  Local news media reporting that General Growth Properties (GGP) will tear down part of their Pembroke Lakes Mall Sears store to build a new movie theater, pending approval by the local zoning board.

Georgia: No more iconic The Varsity burger joint? “After a great deal of thought and consideration, the leadership of The Varsity has decided to close our store in Alpharetta on Feb 1. We would like to sincerely thank the people of Alpharetta for welcoming us in their community for the past 12 years. We weighed a number of options and came to the conclusion that our three other stores….can effectively serve our customers in this area.”

Idaho: University of Idaho shutting down their Caine Veterinary Teaching Center.  Apparently the university plans on teaching veterinarian skills directly through livestock owners, news reports say the university veterinarian faculty are being laid off.

Illinois:  All seven Off Track Betting locations suddenly shutdown after 24 years. The horse racing gambling sites were operated by a company called All Seasons, no explanation was given for the sudden shutdown.  In Evanston, after 35 years Howard’s Books shutting down by the end of February.  The owner say it “makes sense” to shutdown because “The chains hurt the independents, and then Amazon comes along and hurts the chains.”  The Western Illinois University laid off 30 people due to the failed state ‘lawmakers’ failing to come up with a budget.

Indiana: Locally operated oil company Country Mark laid off 20 employees, blaming low oil prices for forcing them to reduce output.

Iowa:  British empire based education publisher Pearson suddenly began laying off an undisclosed number of employees in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City area, as part of their plans to eliminate 4-thousand jobs globally!  Administrators claim that by not giving out the exact number of people laid off in Iowa that they are somehow “protecting the privacy” of those employees.

Kansas: Local news media revealed that Overland Park based Sprint has eliminated at least 6-thousand jobs in the past two years! Read on to learn of the latest Sprint layoffs in Texas and Virginia.  (don’t forget the other mass layoffs revealed a couple of days ago)

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? Fiat Chrysler Automotive is shutting down its Sterling Heights Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart factory for at least six weeks, due to crashing sales.  In Holland, after more than 60 years Dykstra Post and Home supply store shutting down by the end of February.  Apparently the operator was overwhelmed by his other full time job and offered to sell it to employees, but they weren’t able to buy.  The landlord then offered to end the lease early, and that offer was accepted.

New York:  In Freeport, the Stop&Shop grocery store shutting down in February, residents say it will leave them with only one grocery store in their city.  Stop&Shop is one of several grocery chain stores owned by Netherlands based Ahold which recently announced it was massively cutting back on operations in the United States.  American HomePatient shutting down their Regional Billing Center in Buffalo, 42 jobs lost by the end of April.  In Astoria, Empire Merchants ending their booze distribution operations, 109 jobs lost by the end of April!  Bloomberg reporting that NYC based Too Big to Jail Bank of America will kill even more jobs by March: “Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan has said he will eliminate jobs this year as the industry is squeezed by sluggish trading, low interest rates and rising loan losses…..    ….The cuts would probably occur weeks after Bank of America pays bonuses to traders and bankers in mid-February.”

By my own record keeping (starting in 2010) Bank of America has eliminated nearly 100-thousand jobs globally!  

North Carolina:  Morrison Healthcare continues to kill jobs after losing a food service contract with Carolinas HealthCare Systems, local news reports say layoffs will now hit 350!   Grace’s Café, an eatery at Duke University, is shutting down at the end of the semester.  The operator said sales are not enough to pay for needed renovations to the kitchen.

Pennsylvania: Too Big to Jail Warren based Northwest Bancorp (aka Northwest Bank) shutting down 24 offices in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York and Ohio.  The shutdowns will be complete by Summer and are blamed on customers.

Tennessee:  In West Nashville, The Stone Fox  shutting down this weekend, 30 jobs lost.  After four years of success the restaurant-live music joint is apparently being replaced with something else.

Texas:  In Dallas, after 45 years Herrera’s Tex Mex shutting down this weekend because the landlords want to re-purpose the property.  Sprint shutting down their Temple call center, 350 jobs lost by the first week in February!

Virginia: Sprint shutting down their Hampton call center, 380 jobs lost in March!

Washington DC: The Federal Reserve Bank reported that the overall net worth of the United States crashed by $1.2-trillion USD in the 3rd quarter of 2015!  (interestingly that’s the same as the record student loan debt total)

Wisconsin:  What housing market recovery?  Too Big to Jail Chase shutting down its Milwaukee mortgage customer service office, 135 jobs lost by the end of March!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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.”