Tag Archives: education

Business/Economics

“We’ve got a money problem! It’s going to be devastating….” Currency wars kill tens of thousands of U.S. jobs! “Emergency” layoffs begin! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 27 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama:  What automotive industry recovery?  Brazil based brake parts maker Fras’le eliminating 50 jobs at its Prattville factory, by the end of February.  Administrators blame crashing sales in Brazil and China, which are being exacerbated by international currency wars.  In Fairfield, residents are lamenting the loss (before the end of this week) of the only major employer in town; Walmart.  Local news reports say 264 jobs will be lost as a result!  City councilman Darnell Gardner bemoaned “We’ve got a money problem! It’s going to be devastating once they close those doors. And I mean devastating!”

California:  In Cathedral City, after 40 years restaurant El Gallito shutting down.  The co-owners admitted their sales have been declining for some time saying “We were not ready to close 10 years ago, but we’re ready now.”  In Arcata, after 67 years the Sierra Pacific sawmill shutdown, 123 jobs lost due to decreased consumer demand and increased costs of supplies: “When you have a facility that runs at only 50% capacity…..Then with your log supply being more expensive than it is in other areas, that’s just kind of a double whammy.”-Mark Lathrop

Colorado: In Denver, after a little more than three years Park House-Peacemaker’s Cajun Kitchen shutting down next week.  The facebook posting didn’t explain why.   Clothier GAP shutdown stores in Aurora and Loveland, as part of its ongoing plan to shutdown 175 stores.

Delaware:  Wilmington based DuPont warning that it must eliminate as many as 6-thousand jobs by the end of the year due to crashing revenues!  Administrators are blaming most of their revenue losses on international currency wars.

Florida:  More layoffs by Coca-Cola, this time their Brandon finance office will lose about 70 jobs by the end of the week.   In Naples, Keolis Transit eliminating 81 jobs by the end of March.

Massachusetts: Farmingham based Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples just eliminated “hundreds” of HQ jobs!  Exact numbers were not given but unnamed sources admitted they were “preparing” for the possibility their merger with Office Depot will be blocked by the federal regulators.  (never mind that hundreds to thousands will be laid off if the merger is approved)   In Clinton, after 87 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) the Old Timer restaurant shutting down this weekend.  It’s been for sale ever since a co-owner died in 2013, obviously nobody wants to buy it.

Michigan: 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.

Minnesota:  Maker of snowmobiles and ATVs, Medina based Polaris eliminated 1-hundred salaried jobs without warning, blaming unpredictable weather for crashing sales.  Vacant positions will not be filled.  Administrators admitted they had been trying to cut labor costs through attrition, but down sales forced them to conduct outright layoffs.

Missouri:  Georgia based Printpack shutting down its Hazelwood food packaging factory, 115 jobs lost starting in March!   Local news reports say the Hazelwood Printpack factory employed at least 3-hundred people at its peak in the late 1990s.  Administrators did not say why they were shutting it down.  In Amazonia, after 45 years Hunt Orchards shutting down. The current operators say they’re too old to carry on and hope somebody will lease the orchard, otherwise the property owner will sell to commercial developers.

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 York:  In NYC, Restaurant Associates lost their food service contract with Germany based Deutsche Bank, 59 jobs lost by April.   Georgia based CNN shutting down their NEP Imaging ops in NYC, at least 12 jobs lost by the end of April.

North Carolina:  In Cary, Connecticut based Xerox confirmed it laid off 178 people without warning!  Administrators said it’s the result of losing a major client.

Ohio: Two banks merged, now local news sources are warning of major layoffs as a result of the Huntington Bancshares take-over of FirstMerit.  The layoffs would take place by the end of the year.  The city of Niles conducted “emergency” layoffs; at least 12 city employees now jobless after an official declaration of fiscal emergency.  The mayor is now begging cash strapped local taxpayers to approve an increase in local taxes!

Oregon:  Local news media discovered that Climax Portable Machining & Welding Systems is quietly laying off employees, and employees ordered not to talk about it.  Local businesses providing logistical support to Climax are confirming the layoffs. An unnamed former employee said employees are being forced to sign a severance agreement which says they’ll lose their severance if they reveal the layoffs!  The company was taken over by a California based Industrial Growth Partners in 2013. Local news media are speculating that the layoffs are being kept quiet in an attempt to keep a multi-year tax break, which states they must maintain employment levels at the time of the awarding of the tax break!

Pennsylvania: Reports say layoffs with GE Transportation being expanded to include salaried employees.   Back in November, General Electric said 1-thousand 5-hundred train builders would be let go in 2016!  The latest reports say GE admin refuses to give an exact number regarding the salaried employee layoffs.  In Allentown, God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Saint John Vianney parish, in April.  Parish administrators admitted they are $3-million USD in debt, and the church needs $1-million in repairs.

Rhode Island:  Pawtucket based Microfibres shutting down three factories; one in North Carolina, Mississippi and Rhode Island.  At least 3-hundred jobs lost!  Administrators blame international currency wars for crashing sales in Russia and China.

Texas:  Houston based Halliburton confirmed it eliminated an additional 4-thousand jobs during its 4th quarter of 2015!  News reports say at this point the oil field service company has eliminated 22-thousand jobs!

Virginia: Norfolk based railroad transportation company Norfolk Southern is warning that it could layoff as many as 2-thousand employees! Believe it or not, the mass layoffs are part of their plan to ‘invest’ $2.1-billion USD into the company!

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

“…a resource action will happen this Friday…” 3,000+ California jobs lost! “…there’s less money…” : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 26 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California:   Walmart revealed their store shutdowns in The Golden State will result in 1-thousand 652 jobs lost by April 15th!  In Santa Maria, Eldorado Berry Farms issued a “permanent” layoff WARN, 654 jobs lost by the end of April!  Superior Farming issued a layoff WARN, 225 Santa Maria jobs lost by the end of June!   In Camarillo, MAC Berry Farms issued a layoff WARN, 90 jobs lost by mid-July.  In Oxnard, Coastal Green Vegetable Company issued a shutdown WARN, 88 jobs lost by mid-March.  In Cambria, after less than one year restaurant-market Centrally Grown shutdown without warning, at least 16 jobs lost (back in December reports said the entire staff was fired, with no explanation).  Food giant ConAgra issued a shutdown WARN for their Helm operation, 102 jobs lost by mid-March!   Albertsons-Safeway eliminating an additional seven jobs at their Pleasanton office, in March.  Al Jazeera revealed their exit from the U.S. news market will kill-off at least 50 jobs in California, by the end of April.     In San Diego, HD Supply Management issued a layoff WARN, 97 jobs lost by the beginning of March.  Georgia Pacific issued a shutdown WARN for their cardboard factory in Buena Park, 148 jobs lost by the end of March!  In Santa Clara, Florida based software company Citrix Systems eliminating 65 jobs by the beginning of March.   In Oakland, Outer Harbor Terminal shutting down in March, 59 jobs lost.   In San Francisco, Destination Geary Street Management laying off 58 people in March.   In San Jose, tech company Cisco Systems laid off 123 people without warning!   Also in San Jose, Highland Metals/EZFuture finally revealed it shutdown, back in December!  In San Mateo, GoPro reported it laid off 77 employees.   In Vista, Zodiac Pool Systems shutting down in March, 52 jobs lost.  Intellectual property analyst Thomson Licensing shutting down their Burbank office in March.  In Long Beach, Molina Hospital Management eliminating 385 jobs by the end of February!  In Torrance, “premier Women’s Health laboratory” Pathology eliminating 388 jobs by the end of March! It’s directly connected to December’s takeover of Pathology by a company called LabCorp.

Florida:    In Quincy, BFN Operations issued a WARN for their Zelenka Farms, 64 jobs lost by the end of March.

Georgia: Sears Holdings confirmed they will shutdown the 37 years old Kmart, in Carrollton, by the end of April.

New Jersey: In Atlantic City, 89 years old (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Tony’s Baltimore Grill pizza joint now bankrupt busted.  The operators haven’t been able to pay their debts and blame it on the high cost of unionized labor.

New Mexico:  Coca-Cola shutting down its Portales bottling factory, 59 jobs lost to consolidation.   Coca-Cola’s warehouse in Clovis is also being shutdown.

New York: What automotive industry recovery?  In Champlain, vehicle painter Elegance Coating issued a layoff WARN, 46 of the 66 employees will be let go by the end of April.   Armonk based International Business Machines (IBM) is about to conduct mass layoffs, insiders saying “…a resource action will happen this Friday…”.  On top of that the iconic employer will reduce the amount of severance it normally gives.  If you research my past Job Losses reports you’ll discover that IBM has been conducting mass layoffs for several years now.  In NYC, 147 years old (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) plumbing supplier (originally a ship parts supplier) George Taylor Specialties shutting down because the co-owner Val Christou says “Business is the same as it has been, but there’s less money in it.”

Tennessee: Memphis based paper company Verso now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, with $2.4-million USD in debts.  In its 3rd quarter of 2015 Verso reported it lost $111-million!

Virginia: In Roanoke, restaurant Stefano’s on the Market shutting down, the owner wants more time with his family.

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

“I was not prepared…no more leases…” 50% of Idaho families in poverty, ‘get used to it’! No more nail polish? : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 24 – 25 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: AAR Aerostructures & Interiors ending metal fabrication ops in Huntsville, 72 jobs lost.  Administrators said they need to “refocus” their business.

Arizona: In Chandler, after 25 years Video Paradise shutting down next week.

California:  In San Francisco, after more than ten years the upscale Bourbon Steak shutting down in March, the owner said he decided not to renew the lease and is looking for a new home.  Cosmetic company Coty shutting down their North Hollywood OPI nail polish factory, 4-hundred California jobs being lost to North Carolina!  In San Diego, after laying off 1,314 people at the end of 2015 Qualcomm laid off an additional 32 employees.

Delaware: Local news media discovered that all four Sussex County Donut Connection shops have been shutdown!  The owners of the franchise claim they’ve “retired”, but a former employee said “Business really had slacked off.”   Tax records show $26,320-USD are still owed and a lawsuit says $31,211 in rent and utilities have never been paid!

Florida:  Clothier GAP shutting down stores in Tampa and Saint Petersburg, as part of their plan to shutdown 175 stores! 

Idaho: A new Corporation for Enterprise Development study says 45.5% of Idaho families are trapped in poverty and there’s no hope of getting out, as the 2016 Assets & Opportunity Scorecard calls the economic situation the “new normal”!   Find out more info, or how your state ranks, click here.

Gem State Right to Work (you over) ‘lawmakers’ are apparently realizing  how bad the financial situation is for families and are creating a new law that will exempt ‘cottage food’ businesses (literally mom-n-pop food sellers working out of their home) from the same health codes that traditional retail establishments must obey.

It’s been revealed that pesticides have contaminated farms in eastern Idaho.  At least 809 hectares (2-thousand acres) are affected and must be cleaned up, at taxpayer expense of course (an estimated $250-thousand USD has been quoted as an initial payment!).  The contamination was discovered when farmers reported mutations in their crops and animals.  Investigators traced it to the massive use of Methyl Bromide back in 2006.  The contamination affects potatoes, hay, alfalfa, wheat and barley.  In 2006 paranoia erupted over the discovery of a nematode that destroys potato crops, state and federal agriculture ‘experts’ told farmers to use methyl bromide to kill the microbe.  It was farmers who first reported the crop and livestock mutations, concluding that it must be the result of using the toxic chemical.

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!   I can attest to this claim as I know a young woman who tried the virtual school program for almost a year, before giving up and going back to old fashioned brick-n-mortar school in Pocatello.  I remember her school counselor at Pokey High warning her she’d be back because the majority of students fail to complete the online courses.  The online school seems easier because supposedly you’re on your own schedule, but it turns out to be harder than traditional school.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery?  Dearborn based Ford announced it will end sales operations in Japan and Indonesia, due to lack of sales!

Minnesota: In Saint Paul, after ten years the Highland Park Chatterbox Pub (deep fried cheeseburgers) suddenly shutdown, the owners say they were not able to find a needed third business partner and will now focus on their two smaller restaurants.

Missouri: 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.

Nebraska: Sears Holdings confirmed it will shutdown the Omaha Kmart (on South 114th Street) in April, 66 jobs lost.  It’s the second Omaha Kmart to be shutdown.

Nevada: In Mesquite, after five years Have Boutique Will Travel shutting down.  The co-owners blame their age, one is 77 and the other is 80!

New York: In Amherst, after more than 1-hundred years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Newtrend Furniture shutting down.   Maines Food & Party Warehouse shutting down their Ithaca and Greece grocery stores by February, no public explanation given.  In NYC, after 40 years kitchen supplier Broadway Panhandler shutting down.  The owner tried to sell the business but nobody wanted to buy it.

Ohio: The only Krispy Kreme donut shop in the Dayton area shutting down next week, 20 jobs lost.  No explanation.

Oregon: The Terrace Cafe in Valley River Center shutting down after 36 years of serving up yummy food, because the mall management refuses to renew the lease.  The restaurant owner said no reason was offered and “I was not prepared to have been told that no more leases would be given to me.”

Texas:  In Dallas, the operators of Zhulong Gallery suddenly announced it will shutdown at the end of the month (instead of hosting an international photo exhibit), no reason given.

West Virginia:  Coal miner Alpha Natural Resources killing more jobs, this time 9-hundred people at eight mines and two processing operations, 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.”

Business/Economics, Idaho

Massive Sprint layoffs! 333-thousand tech jobs lost! Layoffs are now SOP! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 23 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California:   Yet more Palo Alto tech employees in trouble, VMWare warning employees of mass layoffs due to their merger with Dell and EMC, as many as 9-hundred jobs lost!   But wait there’s a whole lot more!  Redwood Shores based Global Equities Research predicts that as many as 333-thousand tech jobs will be eliminated over the next 12 months, no thanks to rapidly developing advancements in areas like cloud computing!   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.  In San Francisco, popular Ames restaurant shutting down after ten years.  In Escondido, after 44 years Champion’s Family Restaurant shutting down next week.

Colorado: Kansas based Sprint shutting down their Arapahoe County call center, 178 jobs lost by April!

Connecticut:  Affinity Health Care Management bankrupt busted just five years after their last bankruptcy, but this time it’s because Medicaid payments are being held back by the state Department of Social Services!   Court documents stated that if the failed state ObamaCare loving government continues not to reimburse Medicaid services then Affinity Health Care Management will cease to exist!

Florida:  In Orlando, after five years burger & beer joint Oblivion Taproom shutting down next week.

Georgia: In Ringgold, after two years Go Georgia Arts shutdown, the owner said he wasn’t getting enough commissions.

Idaho: More Gem State Right to Work (you over) ObamaCare bull-shit; “Ferch, a Boise chiropractor, had received notice from Regence BlueShield of Idaho that the health insurance company was cutting back its payments for ‘adjustments’ — his most common procedure — to 1990s levels.  Ferch and a handful of fellow chiropractors met with the medical director for Regence. Ferch asked whether the medical director’s salary was the same as it had been in the 1990s. The room went silent……

….In Idaho, mutual insurance companies also differ from federal tax-exempt nonprofits in that they do not tell the public what they pay their leaders. Idaho law forbids regulators from divulging that information.”–SeattlePI

Illinois: God refusing to stop ‘his’ Lutheran Social Services (LSSI) from shutting down 30 offices across the state, and laying off 750 people!  LSSI is the largest social services operator in the state and blames moronic state ‘lawmakers’ for failing to come up with a budget, resulting in non-profit LSSI being owed $6-million USD: “After 7 months, we no longer can provide services for which we aren’t being paid.”-Mark Stutrud, President and CEO

Kansas: Overland Park based Sprint notified 829 local employees they will lose their jobs very soon!  In Saint John, Dillions Market shutting down by February.  Dillions is the town’s only grocery store meaning residents will have to travel 20 miles to buy food!

Maine:  New Jersey based Covanta Energy Corporation announced it will shutdown two plants, one in West Enfield and one in Jonesboro.

Missouri: New York & Co. shutting down their West Park Mall clothing store next week.

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

New Mexico: Kansas based Sprint shutting down their Rio Rancho call center, 394 jobs lost by the beginning of February!

New York: Ichor Systems shutting down their Kingston factory, 96 jobs lost by the end of April.  NYC based advertising company Ogilvy announced that layoffs are now SOP: “Today Ogilvy & Mather New York let go of less than 1% of our staff. This is yearly Standard Operating Procedure for a company of our size and scope of services.”

North Dakota: 95 coal miners about to lose their jobs at the Dakota Westmoreland Beulah mine.   The layoffs start in March.

Tennessee: Kansas based Sprint shutting down their Blountville call center, 444 jobs lost by February!

Washington DC: NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is consolidating operations at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana, possibly eliminating more than 2-hundred jobs in the process!

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

“This is going to be widespread.” : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 21 – 22 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama:  Sunset Landing Golf Course shutting down by the end of the month, as the owner (the Airport Authority) looks for better money making ways to use the land.

Alaska: Swamp Donkey Oilfield Services laying off 70 employees, owner Trent Lindberg warned “This is going to be widespread…….Overhead is too high to work for a reduced price. You can’t reduce your prices as much as oil companies require to get the jobs, but you need to reduce them if you’re going to get the work.”

Arizona:  The Art Institute of Tucson shutting down as soon as the last of its 3-hundred students graduate.  It’s directly connected to Education Management Corporation’s troubles with the U.S. Department of Education.

California:  In Nevada County, Higgins Fire District laying off six employees in July due to local cash strapped taxpayers voting down a plan to raise taxes.  Another recycling center going down, the Arcata Resource Recovery Center shutting down, blaming lack of people bringing in recyclables.  Of course, prices are so low now you’re actually losing money going through the effort!  But wait, what about the fact that Arcata City forces residents to use recycling bins, isn’t that enough for Arcata Resource Recovery Center?  Nope, because Arcata Resource Recovery Center is being affected by low prices as well.

Florida:  Ameris Bank shutting down its Jasper office on 2nd Avenue, by the end of the month.

Illinois: Chicago Public Schools announced yet more mass layoffs, 227 non-teaching jobs being eliminated!    Sears Holdings confirmed the Morton ‘green’ Kmart shutting down by the end of April, 47 jobs lost.  

Louisiana: East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court’s Office laid off 12 employees, as the Office is investigated for how it spends taxpayer funding.

Massachusetts: A prime example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs; local news reports say that because of Johnson & Johnson’s 3-thousand layoffs in its medical device division, another company called DePuy Synthes warned it might be forced to conduct mass layoffs at its Raynham medical device factory.  Raynham city administrators are pissed because they gave DePuy massive tax breaks to prevent them from moving the factory to Indiana.

Mississippi:  Coast Clothing shutting down in Pascagoula after 42 years.

New Mexico:  In Albuquerque, after 18 years Lauren’s Hallmark Shop shutting down in February.

New Jersey: In Englishtown, Reiss Manufacturing issued a WARN saying 125 plastics molding employees will become unemployed in March!

France based Sanofi is about to issue a WARN affecting hundreds of employees in New Jersey.  News reports say the drugs pusher is cutting jobs worldwide and “…a disproportionate number of job losses may occur in the United States.”

New York: “Home energy solutions” company K&L Green shutting down its Copiague operations, 56 jobs lost by the end of the month. In DeWitt, HVAC company Carrier sent a press release to local news media saying that layoffs are about to take place, no numbers given.    

North Carolina:   Sitel Operating Corporation shutting down its Asheville call center, 250 jobs lost by July!

Ohio:  A prime example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs; local news reports say that because of Johnson & Johnson’s 3-thousand layoffs in its medical device division, another company called Ethicon could layoff all 824 medical device making employees in Blue Ash! (local news reports say at one point Ethicon employed 1,200+ people in Blue Ash)   But wait there’s more!  Proctor & Gamble is also killing jobs in Blue Ash, 1-thousand 150 jobs are being consolidated to operations in Mason!    Sears Holdings confirmed the Warren Kmart on Parkman Road NW will shutdown in April, 63 jobs lost. 

Tennessee: In Springfield, the Goody’s in the Moorland Shopping Center shutting down by the end of March.

Texas:    Houston based natural gas driller Southwestern Energy laying off 1-thousand 1-hundred people, the majority in Arkansas, Pennsylvania and West Virginia!  Administrators blame crashing gas prices.   Houston based oil driller Schlumberger revealed it eliminated 10-thousand jobs in 2015, and it will eliminate even more in 2016 because it lost $1-billion USD in its 4th quarter of 2015!  The Galveston County Commissioners voted to shutdown popular fishing spot Rollover Pass saying it contributes to land erosion during hurricanes!  Rollover Pass, which connects to the Gulf of Mexico, has been a favorite fishing destination since the 1950s.

Virginia: Historical tourist attraction Colonial Williamsburg laying off 60 people, blaming “conflicting priorities” and “strained resources”.  In Arlington, Executive Menswear at the Crystal City Shops shutting down “very soon”.

Washington: Illinois based (but Seattle founded) Boeing warning that it could end production of its latest version of the iconic 747, resulting in mass layoffs for The Evergreen State. Administrators blame declining demand for civilian cargo aircraft.  Seattle based Starbucks announced it will shutdown several two years old Teavana ‘tea bars’ in New York and California.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

20 January 2016: “circumstances beyond our control…changing demographics…declining sales”

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

“circumstances beyond our control…changing demographics…declining sales” Ripple effect layoffs! ObamaCare keeps on cutting! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 20 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama:  Sears Holdings confirmed that the Prattville Kmart will shutdown in April, 70 jobs lost. 

California:  What did you get when you got laid off?  It’s been revealed that Newark based StemCells Incorporated gave its recently ‘resigned’ CEO a $1-million USD severance package!  Pier 1 Imports shutting down their El Cerrito Plaza store by the end of February.  Local news reports say a retailer from Japan will move into the vacated Pier 1 location. 

Florida:  Orlando based Total Sleep Management now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.   Administrators blame ObamaCare: “The sleep industry ran into trouble around 2013. Pre-authorizations became a requirement for most private insurers. We lost about 40% of our revenue.”

Georgia:  Sears Holdings confirmed that the Dublin Kmart will shutdown in April, 71 jobs lost. 

Hawaii:  Simply Organized shutting down their Ewa Beach store in February.

Idaho: More proof poverty is skyrocketing in The Gem State; the only form of housing assistance comes from federally funded Section 8 and private donations (unlike most densely populated states that have a state level tax payer funded match to the federal Section 8 funding). Housing assistance is managed by Idaho Housing and Finance (IHFA, “a  self-supporting corporation”) and starting in 2011 was forced by increasing homelessness in Idaho to start a new charity fund raising operation called Home Partnership Foundation-Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge.  In 2015 they raised $317-thousand USD to supplement what they already have to work with.  Almost half of that has just been given to 32 non-profit organizations through out the state.    It’s been revealed by the state Office of Performance Evaluations that Psychosocial Rehabilitation Counselor (aka PSR or Psycho Social Rehabilitation workers) jacked up costs to Idaho Medicaid nine times over a ten years period.  In 2001 PSR costs were $8-million USD, by 2012 costs hit $76-million!    In 2013 the state tried to counter by pushing for more “managed” inpatient care, however that is backfiring because many providers are confused by the regulations which are causing problems with care.

Illinois: Baker Mondelez told 277 Chicago workers they will become unemployed starting in March, as part of the company’s plan to move to Mexico!  Also in Chicago, the Blue Buddha Boutique shutting down after 13 years because the owner’s doctor told her to reduce her “stress levels”.  You mean Buddha, meditation and the stress of running a business don’t jive?

Indiana:   The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art  laid off five people due to crashing revenues.   Marsh shutting down their Bloomington grocery store because it’s not worth it to renew the lease.

Iowa: In Ames, after 30 years restaurant Valentino’s shutdown, the owners saying “Recent circumstances beyond our control, coupled with changing demographics in our current location and declining sales made this very difficult decision necessary.”

Louisiana: Noranda shutting down its alumina factory in Gramercy, blaming a bauxite tax imposed by the government of Jamaica, and crashing sales, 444 jobs lost over the next two months!  Texas based National Oilwell Varco shutting down its Houma ops, 80 jobs lost in March.

Maine: (Ripple Effect layoffs) Chipotle Mexican Grill killing off Hutamaki.   The paper product maker said it had to layoff 30 employees due to crashing packaging orders from the troubled chain restaurant.

Maryland: After 18 years restaurant Donna’s shutting down by the end of the month.  The owners admitted they were losing money and they could not renew the lease.

Michigan:  Oregon based expensive clothier Pendleton Woolen Mills shutting down three stores in The Wolverine State blaming lack of “sales and profitability”!

Missouri:  (Ripple Effect Layoffs) In Lamar, the 117 years old Thorco Industries announced it will layoff 93 people starting in Spring. The company makes point of sales (aka point of purchase or POP) displays for retailers.  Administrators blamed the layoffs on “…retail industry changes, including the growth of e-commerce and the opening of fewer brick-and-mortar stores, has resulted in a continued decline in demand for store fixtures, such as the wire-based merchandising displays and accessories…”

Nebraska: Food giant ConAgra eliminating more jobs due to an expected drop in sales.  News reports say several hundreds of ConAgra employees in Omaha will lose there jobs to cheaper contractors as ConAgra attempts to cut operating costs!    The reports are based on a video leaked last week, but what’s really interesting is that ConAgra execs are also killing 40 sales positions (maybe that’s why they expect sales to go down?).

New Mexico:   In Los Lunas, Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples shutting down in February, 22 jobs lost. 

New York: Qatar based news source Al Jazeera made it official and issued a shutdown WARN for its NYC ops, 197 jobs lost by the end of April!  Internet fantasy sports site FanFuel revealed they’ve begun laying off employees, no numbers given.  It’s connected to legal threats challenging FanDuel’s claim that it’s not a gambling site.  The movie theater Ziegfeld Theater is shutting down after 47 years to be re-purposed as ‘a high-end event center’ for corporate elites.  Months after announcing plans to hire 125 people, Dial America now shutting down its 28 years old Amherst call center, 120 jobs lost by the beginning of March! Administrators blamed it on a major client deciding to do business with a foreign call center operator!   Sears Holdings confirms the Staten Island Mall Sears Auto Center will shutdown in February, 20 jobs lost.   After laying off 20 employees in October, Watertown’s New York Air Brake eliminating another 30 jobs blaming declining sales to the railroad industry. This is a prime example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs; New York Air Brake’s job losses caused by railroad industry which in turn is losing jobs caused by the oil and coal industries which in turn are losing jobs due to crashing commodity prices.

North Carolina:  Ohio based call center operator Convergys issued a layoff WARN for its Greenville center, 163 jobs lost by April due to the loss of a contract.

Oklahoma:  Oil company Devon Energy warned more “…layoffs will be a necessary part of the company’s near-term cost-management efforts. The company has not determined the extent of the reduction but expects the majority of layoffs to occur by the end of the first quarter.”

Pennsylvania:  Lehigh Valley Health Network warning that it must shutdown five offices across two counties!  LVHN rep Brian Downs said they didn’t know when the shutdowns would take place, or how many people will lose their jobs, but warned “This is health care today. This is an ongoing thing.” 

Texas:  (Ripple Effect Layoffs) In Longview, after already laying off employees in 2015, US Steel now says it might shutdown its Lone Star Tubular Operations  starting in March, 677 remaining jobs threatened by the crashing oil industry!  (Ripple Effect Layoffs) Raymondville city leaders are warning of citywide layoffs due to the shutdown of the local Walmart store.  Last year the Willacy County Correctional Center shutdown, which generated money for the city through water sales, now the Walmart is the only major source of revenue for the city and it’s shutting down!

Utah:   Sears Holdings confirmed that the 35 years old Richfield Kmart will shutdown in April, 63 jobs lost. 

Virginia: Richmond’s four years old Carytown Dixie Donuts shutting down by the end of the month.   In Pulaski, Food Lion shutting down its Memorial Drive grocery store by February because it’s not worth it to renew the lease.

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

Massive ObamaCare job destruction! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 19 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: Molded Fiber Glass Manufacturing laid off 39 people from its Opp factory, blaming a delay in new tooling and the U.S. Congress for delaying a renewable energy tax credit.   Sears Holdings shutting down the Dothan Kmart on the south side of Ross Clark Circle, 56 jobs lost in March.

California:   Yet more tech layoffs as Cupertino based Apple laid off 1-hundred people from its iAd ops!  Administrators claim they will create new jobs later on.   In Bakersfield, Guarantee Shoe Center is blaming the crashing oil industry for a 20% drop in sales.  The shoe store owners said most of their customers were oil workers, many of whom have lost their jobs.  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.  More proof the internet is not recession resistant, reports that Sunnyvale based Yahoo is about to layoff 25% of its employees (about 2-thousand 7-hundred)!

Colorado: Louisville based non-profit cable TV research company CableLabs laid off 30 people, in order “to ensure that CableLabs can rapidly build and sustain a significant innovation pipeline for the industry”.  Albertsons-Safeway shutting down their Denver bakery, 95 jobs lost by the end of February.

Florida: In Orlando, Nephron Pharmaceuticals issued a mass layoff WARN, 250 people becoming unemployed by April!  (is it because Jeb Bush made a campaign stop there?)

Idaho:  Privately owned tourist attraction railroad company Thunder Mountain Line shutdown, without warning or explanation.  Trader Joe’s is recalling cashews sold in Boise (as well as in 31 other locations across the U.S.).  The nuts are suspected of being contaminated with salmonella.  Mental healthcare provider Optum has revealed it’s sitting on $5-million USD in unspent Idaho Medicaid funding!  This is significant because Optum’s parent company United Health claims it lost $1-billion in 2015 (see Minnesota below)!

Illinois: What automotive industry recovery?  Quincy based Titan Tire says it’s forced to eliminate more jobs, for 2016 they’re looking at laying off 130 people in Ohio and 150 in Europe!  And that’s just for the first quarter of 2016.

Indiana: In Fort Wayne, British empire based U.S. tax-sucker BAE eliminating at least 110 jobs by the end of the year!     

Louisiana: Switzerland based oil driller Noble laying off as many as 120 people who work on its Galliano facility!

Michigan: In Bloomfield Hills, after more than 40 years Hogan’s restaurant shutting down at the end of the month.  The owner admitted his old golf themed eatery can’t compete with the new “really trendy” restaurants.  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.

Minnesota: Evil people and lazy local news media caused a charity horse rescue op to shutdown.  Despite a sheriff’s department investigation which cleared the charity of all of the false accusations brought against it, Hightail Horse Ranch and Rescue is now blaming “overwhelming negative publicity” for halting donations and stopping volunteers needed to run the center.  Minnetonka based United Health blames ObamaCare for causing it to lose $1-billion USD, massive job cuts coming!  United Health is considering getting the hell outta the Affordable Care Act exchange system!

Missouri:  Another Saint Louis restaurant shutting down, Mile 277, and like others they’re blaming the A-hole re-development projects and greedy landlords: “The development of other venues such as Ballpark Village along with numerous lease terms has significantly impacted the operations of Mile 277. The combination of these factors has resulted in significant losses of revenue and profits. Mile 277 cannot continue to sustain these losses.”   

New Jersey:  New Brunswick based Johnson & Johnson announced it is eliminating 3-thousand medical device jobs over the next two years!  ObamaCare taxes, the bad economy, and plans to take over medical device maker rivals are forcing them to cut $1-billion USD in costs!

New York: In Queens, after 25 years The Comic Den shutting down due to “new generation of readers” opting for comics on the internet.  Jeweler to the elites Tiffany’s announced its holiday sales dropped enough to warrant layoffs.  Administrators have yet to reveal how many employees will be let go.  Too Big to Jail Morgan Stanley announced it will join the exodus from The Empire State (and other high cots areas) by moving jobs to “lower cost centers” around the world, potentially affecting thousands of jobs!

Ohio: In Youngstown, the 106 years old Masonic Temple on Wick Avenue shutting down by the end of June.  The members say the large building has become too expensive to heat during winter.   The Upper Valley Mall losing two more stores, Cardboard Heroes shutdown without warning and Lens Crafters shutting down this weekend! 

South Carolina: Barnwell County’s only hospital shutdown!  The 140 employees of Southern Palmetto Hospital said they were notified in an emergency meeting on Tuesday that they were losing their jobs on Thursday, this week!   The emergency meeting was called by the Director of Nursing, local news says hospital administrators refuse to talk to them and county administrators swear they know nothing about it.

Washington DC: Once touted by politicians like Obama, the 10 years old Five Guys Burgers and Fries joint on Wisconsin Avenue shutting down next week.  There’s no explanation, just a note taped to the door.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

18 January 2016:  “Iconic places are going out of business, and nobody cares.” 

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

“Iconic places are going out of business, and nobody cares.” Goodwill ramps up shutdowns! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 18 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: Sears Holdings shutting down the Florence Kmart in March, more than 1-hundred jobs lost!  A local news report said the employees knew nothing about it and were shocked to hear it from the news!

Arkansas: Good Food by Ferneau shutting down because the owner-chef is taking a job working for somebody else. 

California:  In San Francisco, the Gangway bar shutdown due to ignoramus owner failing to pay his employees at least minimum wage.  In California the so called Tip Credit does not apply, food service workers must be paid minimum wage even though they’re paid tips by customers.  According to the lawsuit the owner, who’s lived in California for decades, thought the Tip Credit rule was valid in California (I knew about that rule back in the 1980s, how can people who’ve lived in California longer than me be so stupid regarding The Golden State’s wage laws?).  In Anaheim Hills, after at least 30 years popular Foxfire An American Chophouse shutting down at the start of February, to make room for a shopping plaza.  In Los Altos, Main Street Cafe shutting down by the end of the month, apparently to eventually be replaced with yet another restaurant “concept”.  

Connecticut: In Greenwich, after a little more than 12 years Graham’s Toys shutdown due to the greedy landlord: “The rents are not sustainable.  The amount of business we’ve done is respectable, but it’s just not sustainable for this market.”-Shelly Steinberg, owner

Idaho:   Another Gem State Kmart shutting down, this time the Boise Kmart on Fairview shutting down by mid-March, 56 jobs lost.  A sure sign that healthcare costs are going up, the state Department of Health and Welfare is requesting a $26.3-million USD budget increase!  Administrators are now saying the previous 3.9% increase is not enough to fund the new mandate (Primary Care Access Program) to cover the 78-thousand Idahoans who fall into the Right to Work (you over) ObamaCare gap!

Illinois:  In Orland Park, Palos Community Hospital shutting down their Palos Health & Fitness center in May.  In a round-a-bout way administrators said ObamaCare was forcing them to “prioritize” their services.

Kansas: In Wichita, after 105 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Head’s Shoes shutdown. Local news said the owners aren’t commenting as to why.

Maryland: Rockville based charity thrift store/’job training center’ Goodwill shutdown 26 stores and donation centers in Toronto, Canada, apparently with no warning!  The Ontario Great Lakes Goodwill regional office claims the shutdowns are part of their plan to  remain “financially very strong and on a path of growth and prosperity.”  In other words they’re preparing for the economy to get worse!

Michigan:  New York based clothier Aeropostale shutting down their Mall of Monroe store by the end of the month.  Aeropostale has shutdown hundreds of stores since 2014 and recently said they will eliminate 1-hundred corporate level jobs.

Missouri:  In Saint Louis, after almost 20 years Harry’s Bar & Restaurant shutting down by the end of the month.  It’s starting to sound like city re-development projects are killing off local businesses: “It’s the economy, the highway closing, Ballpark Village. Downtown is just a dead area right now….nobody is talking about it. Iconic places are going out of business, and nobody cares.  Ballpark Village was the nail in the coffin. It shut down Washington Avenue and took 70% of our business.”-Tim Pieri, co-owner

New York: In Saugerties the McDonald’s junk food joint on 8 Manor Lane shutting down by the end of the month, the owner saying “It’s a business decisions…”, revealing that even when the restaurant was “making money” it was considered “under-performing”!

Ohio: With no warning Columbus based chain restaurant Max & Erma’s shutdown 13 operations in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana, hundreds now jobless!  Corporate administrators said they have to “streamline” operations due to the economy.  Overwhelmingly employees say they’re shocked that their employer could shutdown overnight, (I’ve been there experienced that several times, so welcome to reality. Now try living with so many of your peers not believing that your former employer could lay you off with no warning, your employed peers always think you did something wrong! It’s amazing what the working class takes for granted, oh the power of false belief.).

Pennsylvania:  After more than three years Marty’s Market shutdown without warning, the owners saying only “We have had to make the extremely difficult decision to close…” 

Rhode Island:  More trouble for video games.  A state investigation into former Major League Baseball player Curt Schilling’s video game company 38 Studios could result in a criminal case.  38 Studios went mysteriously bankrupt and shutdown a few months after releasing it’s only video game (the game was considered a success and sold well).  The problem is that 38 Studios was partially funded with millions in state taxpayer loans, which were never paid back.

Virginia: France based nuclear power plant operator Areva laid off 50 people in Lynchburg, and another 40 at nuclear operations around the U.S.   Local news reports say since 2014 Areva has eliminated 3-hundred jobs in Luynchburg.

West Virginia: After announcing that it had suffered a 13% drop in revenue in 2015, Florida based railroad company CSX announced it will shutdown its Huntington operations, 121 jobs affected!  The work will be spread out among other CSX depots.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

17 January 2016: “we have nothing left…financially, emotionally or physically.”

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 have nothing left…financially, emotionally or physically.” Consumer spending falls in 2015! Execs get bonuses for killing jobs! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 17 January 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Jamaica, a member country of the West Indies Federation, is reporting that the unAmerican corporate America hospitality industry will hire 3-thousand Jamaicans in 2016, that’s a 50% increase from 2015!  The majority of Jamaicans are working in the U.S. states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Michigan.

Arkansas: Bentonville based economic canary in the coal mine Walmart began shutting down 154 U.S. stores on 17 January 2016, at least 10-thousand U.S. jobs lost!   (here’s the list)

California:  Cupertino based Apple is hurting for cash so much that it will now charge you to listen to ad plastered iTunes Radio in the U.S.   Here’s a fine example of why it’s not worth it to do business in The Golden State: The city of Palo Alto is demanding the family owners of Buena Vista mobile home park pay an $8-million USD fine for wanting to shutdown their money losing operation:  “The city says the money is needed so that the tenants can get expensive alternative housing in the area; in effect, the city is holding the Jissers uniquely responsible for solving the city’s severe housing affordability problem. That’s not just wrong, it’s unconstitutional.   …..The city’s motion to dismiss doesn’t deny that the city is commanding a payment of $8 million…It just says the case shouldn’t be heard by a judge….. -Larry Salzman, Pacific Legal Foundation

Hawaii:  Kahului Trucking & Storage laying off drivers as a result of the sudden shutdown of The Aloha State’s last sugar farm.

Idaho:  A new study by the United Way shows 37% of Idahoans are in poverty and employed!  Specifically, 37% of Idahoans are now classified as working poor, or Asset Limited-Income Constrained-Employed (aka ALICE).  The United Way says even with the piddly-ass social services Idahoans cannot afford to buy basic necessities!   And for more proof Right to Work only Works You Over keep reading.Governor Butch Otter wants a third mental health crisis center built in The Gem State.  Between 2014-15 eastern and northern Idaho got one each, and now Otter wants one in southern Idaho.  ‘Lawmakers’ and even local sheriffs praise the crisis centers but don’t give examples of why they’re so good.  The centers are meant to temporarily house people having mental health or drug abuse problems, instead of putting them in county jails.  The fact that sheriffs are praising them, and the governor wants to spend another $1.72-million building another one, indicates a huge need, that a lot of Idahoans are having trouble dealing with their Right to Work (you over) circumstances, yet Right to Work officials don’t want to admit it.     The city owned utility Idaho Falls Power is about to take over part of Rocky Mountain Power’s turf.  If the state Public Utilities Commission approves Rocky Mountain Power will transfer poles, conductors and conduits around the Fielding Cemetery property to the control of taxpayers of the city of Idaho Falls, for the price of  $50-thousand USD.   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.

Kentucky:  ISO copper wire maker Belden shutting down their factory in Monticello, 260 jobs being lost to the state of Indiana and to the country of Mexico, between now and the beginning of next year!

Louisiana: In Opelousas, dancehall Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki shutdown after 69 years.  The property is now for sale.  The family owners blame young people and today’s greedy spoiled bands: “They don’t look at the overhead you have, the utilities and things like that. They tell me, ‘We’ll take the door.’ They’ll start off charging at $10, then $15 and $20. By midnight, they’ll have a packed house. They’ll put the money in their pockets and go home. Then you have all the stress of what the night crowd destroyed and what you have to fix. It got to where we weren’t hardly making any more money.”

Missouri:  Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood shutting down their 30 years old downtown Saint Louis location,  claiming it will help them focus on “franchise expansion”.

Montana: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission records reveal that five executives of Stillwater Mining got paid the equivalent of millions of dollars in bonuses less than five months after they eliminated 120 jobs!  The bonuses were paid in the form of stocks in the company.  Company administrators refused to comment when questioned by local news media.

New Hampshire:  In Bath, The Brick Store (one of the oldest general stores in the U.S.) shutting down “due to changes in the economy”.  The owners, Mike and Nancy Lusby, added “We did our best, but we have exhausted our resources, and lost Mike’s pension. We have done everything we can for 24 years to save the store, but we have nothing left to give … financially, emotionally or physically.”

New Jersey:  God refuses to stop the shutdown of his Mother Teresa Catholic School, in June.  Enrollment is down below 1-hundred students.    For more proof the economy has not recovered, a major shipping company, which services retailers like Disney Store and Amazon.com, Elizabeth based EZ Worldwide Express is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to crashing shipment orders!   The company even invested $12-million USD into new trucks, but now the 7-hundred employees are threatened with unemployment!  With the massive retail store shutdowns now taking place across the U.S. you can expect even more shipping companies to go bust.

Ohio:  Researchers at Ohio State University have proven that an ‘Amazon Tax’ killed internet holiday sales in 2015.   They determined that sales on Amazon.com dropped an average of 8.3% in states that implemented taxes on internet purchases.  The Washington Post article said sales declines increased as the price of the item went up: “The Amazon Tax had an especially chilling effect on big-ticket purchases that totaled more than $250, the study found. On these transactions, Amazon sales declined 11.4 percent once the tax was put in place.”      U.S. Department of Energy awarded a contract potentially valued at $139.7-million USD to a company in Idaho, to provide infrastructure support services at the radioactive Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, in Piketon.  Interestingly the Idaho Falls, Idaho, based company is called Portsmouth Mission Alliance.  In Toledo, Laffs comedy club shutdown just short of the two year mark. The club’s operations manager said “…the turnout was not quite where we needed it to be.”

Pennsylvania: In Moosic, controversial adult outdoor movie theater Oak Hill Drive-In shutdown because they couldn’t afford to upgrade to digital.

Tennessee:  Jerky maker Oberto shutting down its two years old Nashville meat factory despite promising to create 310 jobs and getting almost $2-million in taxpayer funds and grants (not tax breaks, outright cash!).  State ‘lawmakers’ swear they’ll go after the jerky maker for a refund of the tax funding.  The Nashville factory never got above 82 employees, despite Oberto’s promise.  See more below in -Washington-.   Here’s what Karl Dean, the now former mayor of Nashville, said back in 2012: “Oberto’s decision to locate a plant in Nashville speaks to the vitality of our city and the talent of our workforce. I’m especially pleased that Oberto will be bringing an existing facility back to life. Filling vacant buildings in and around our urban core is important to the strength and future of our city.”   

Washington:  Kent based mass produced jerky maker Oberto announced it will shutdown its two years old meat factory in Tennessee (well, the factory is two years old, I don’t know about the meat) and sell-off a meat factory in Oregon!   The suck-ass economy is forcing Oberto to consolidate jerky treat making to its Washington ops.

Washington DC: Wonder what’s up with all the massive retail store shutdowns?  The Department of Commerce released consumer spending numbers for 2015 and overall spending fell from 2014, and is on its way to 2008-09 levels!  Even 2015 holiday sales flatlined!   Of course the self exalted ‘expert’ analysts on TV still claim that consumers are just “holding onto their money”.   I can tell you why I didn’t spend any money in 2015 on gifts or ‘extras’, same reason as the prior two years I don’t have any extra money to spend, I’m actually borrowing money to pay utilities gottdamn it!

Wisconsin:  Retail packaging company Sealed Air shutting down their Mount Pleasant office, 74 jobs lost.  It’s part of their plans, announced back in 2014, to move 3-hundred jobs out of The Badger State!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

16 January 2016: Wells Fargo home foreclosures funding bad oil industry debts? 

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

Woolly Mammoths killed by weapons, 10,000 years before humans arrived?

16 January 2016 (03:25 UTC-07 Tango 01)/26 Dey 1394/05 Rabi’a’-Thani 1437/07 Ding-Chou (12th month) 4713

Russian paleontologists studying the remains of a 45-thousand years old Woolly Mammoth discovered it had been killed with human made weapons (spears).  This is significant because the age of the mammoth puts it 10-thousand years before evidence of humans show up in the Arctic region!

 

The mammoth remains also show the Too Early for Arctic Time humans butchered their kill, and attempted-but-failed to crack open a tusk.