Tag Archives: education

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 15 – 16 June 2015: “insurmountable financial challenges” Americans flee Puerto Rico! No more M16s or M4s? More ‘synergies’ destroying California!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

American Family Association is urging ‘christians’ to close out their Wells Fargo bank accounts, to protest the banks public support of homosexuals.  Really?  I can think of a much better reason to dump that bank, like it’s one of the Too Big to Jail banks that caused our economic meltdown and is part of the ongoing robo-home foreclosure nightmare!

Arkansas: Pulaski Technical College blaming what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome for forcing them to shutdown their west Little Rock (wLR) campus.   In Fall 2014 they had a total of 510 students on the wLR, but for Spring 2015 only 362 students attended classes on the wLR campus!

Arizona: PetSmart warned of impending layoffs at its Phoenix HQ.  At least 15% of employees will be laid off over the next few weeks.  It’s directly related to PetSmart being sold to vulture capitalist BC Partners, back in March.

California:  Remember when I reported back in May that the term synergies now meant layoffs?  Apparently main stream news sources in California took hold of that concept (Another O.C. merger reminds us that ‘synergies’ means layoffs – but it didn’t always).  The latest article out of The Golden State reports that Orange County will see massive layoffs due to “synergies”.  They include expected layoffs from the mergers of companies like drugs makers Allergan & Actavis, computer chip makers Broadcom & Avago, and what housing market recovery? The latest merger between home builders Standard Pacific & The Relyan Group.   The new CEO of tax-sucker Aerojet Rocketdyne confirmed that 250 jobs will be eliminated at their Rancho Cordova HQ, and another 250 across the U.S., over the next four years!  Great Harvest Bread shutting down its 11 years old Folsom store by the end of the month, no explanation.  News reports say it’s the last Great Harvest Bread store in the Sacramento area.  In San Francisco, after six years Wexler’s upscale BBQ restaurant shutting down and being sold-off.  The owner said the timing is right to get out and spend more time with his family.  And San Francisco based clothing retailer GAP announced it will eliminate 250 HQ jobs, plus shutdown 175 stores across the United States (140 by the end of 2015)!  The 250 job cuts apply only to GAP’s HQ and does not count the layoffs caused by the store shutdowns.  Company administrators said the slashing & burning is necessary to save the GAP, but then ironically admitted the store shutdowns would cause them to lose $300-million USD in sales!   Riverside County warns that 114 people could become jobless under the budget for the upcoming fiscal year!  47 county prosecutors and 51 animal control personnel could be let go.  In Arcata, after 17 years Rookery Books shutdown, the owner blamed “Amazon”.

Connecticut: The maker of the M16 and M4, 179 years old West Hartford based Colt Defense, now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Administrators blame crashing sales on the Obama regime’s Department of Defense.    Newtown school administrators announced they want to shutdown the Hawley Elementary School, due to what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome. Pissed-off taxpayers then demanded to know why $50-million in donated money is being spent on rebuilding the infamous Sandy Hook Elementary School if there aren’t enough students! Some parents even said they did not want their children attending the new Sandy Hook school.

Florida: In Fort Lauderdale, wholesale company Commonwealth-Altadis issued a shutdown WARN saying 150 people will become jobless by the end of the year!  In Miami, after only six months Ted’s restaurant will shutdown by the end of the month.

Hawaii: The state run ObamaCare Hawaii Health Connector laid off 25 people. It’s because state administrators are shifting from running their own ObamaCare website to the federal government’s insurance exchange website.

Illinois: In Peoria, after more than 50 years Strode Music shutdown.  The owners blame crashing sales, they even had to stop renting out instruments two years ago.

Indiana: Bloomingfoods Co-op is eliminating an undisclosed number of jobs (so far 18 people laid off, but reports say more layoffs are in the works), blaming a 20% crash in sales on “competition”.   But is the real reason because employees tried to unionize?  What automotive industry recovery?  Gear drive/power transmissions maker Oerlikon Fairfield laid off 50 people at their Lafayette factory.  Administrators blamed the bad economy.

Kentucky: After eight years the owner of My Old Kentucky Homebrew announced he’s shutting it down in July.

Maryland: The first medical research school in the United States, John Hopkins University, announced they must eliminate jobs due to crashing federal taxpayer funding, and increased costs artificially created by new federal regulations.  At this point 109 jobs being eliminated or “reorganized”!  However, unnamed employees say they’ve been warned that 10% of the 20-thousand employees will eventually be laid off!

Massachusetts: 51 years old Marian Court College shutdown due to “insurmountable financial challenges…..given declining enrollment numbers”.

Michigan: Battle Creek Public Schools eliminating 23 jobs. The district is lacking $2.1-million.  East Grand Rapids Board of Education laying off four people, cutting pay and moving some teachers to part time. The district is so short on funding that parents have started donation drives for the schools.  Ypsilanti Community Schools laid off 18 teachers, blaming it on a $2.2-million drop in state level taxpayer funding caused by a 7.8% drop in enrollment (they lost 325 students from last year)!  It must be pointed out that state funding was actually increased by $163 per student, but what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome is so massive in Michigan that the increase in per student state funding cannot make up for the losses! The Grand River Coffee Café in East Lansing shutdown.  Troy based Olga’s Kitchen now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  However “The future is bright for Olga’s Kitchen. The 28 restaurants are now profitable and growing in profitably.”  News reports basically said the chain restaurant didn’t want to pay its debts.  Gee, if bankruptcy was only that easy for us individuals.

New Jersey: Brick Township School District eliminated 24 bus driver jobs.  The transportation manager blamed the school board for being a bunch of control freaks!  Administrators warned that by not laying off more bus drivers they are going to have to cut jobs elsewhere.     Their original plan was to eliminate 31 bus drivers, but they caught heat from the union.   Newark, the biggest city in the state, eliminated 155 school district employees, and the teachers union says that doesn’t include the teachers who are next on the chopping block!

New York: The Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System announced it is shutting down its Brooklyn unit in July.  VA administrators said that with the drastic budget cuts for next fiscal year the only way to continue funding programs is to halt inpatient care.  In NYC, 15 years old Lucky announced it will stop publishing hardcopy version of their magazine and focus on virtual (internet) issues only. At least 14 unlucky Lucky employees have been laid off.

Oregon: In Hillsboro, after 80 years the Hank’s Thriftway grocery store shutting down, after a surprise announcement: “Starting Monday June 15th, we will be open short hours 10am to 7pm to liquidate the inventory. During this time we will be offering a 25% discount on all items other than lottery, money orders and postage stamps. All sales will be final and we will not be able to accept checks.”

Pennsylvania: God refuses to stop the shutdown of three of ‘his’ churches; Incarnation of Our Lord Church, Our Mother of Sorrows and Holy Saviour Church.  Church administrators said all are in desperate need of repair work that the congregations (members) cannot afford to pay for.

Puerto Rico: A mass exodus is taking place in the U.S. Territory, the Pew Research Center says there are more Puerto Ricans living in Florida than in Puerto Rico.  From 2010 to 2013 there was a net exodus of 48-thousand people, purely for economic reasons: “We’re in unprecedented territory because this is, in recent memory, the biggest out-migration that Puerto Rico has experienced!”-Mark Lopez, Pew Resaerch Center

Texas:  58 Head Start employees being laid off across Refugio, Goliad and Bee counties.

12 – 14 June 2015:  “I want off the roller coaster of uncertainty.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 12 – 14 June 2015: “I want off the roller coaster of uncertainty.” “…there’s no reason to stay in New York anymore.” Proof there is no automotive industry recovery! Another insurance company admits ObamaCare is a failure!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Energy industry recruiting firm Swift Worldwide Resources says the oil industry killed off 150-thousand jobs by the end of May!  And this despite reports that demand for energy will increase by 35%, just in Asia.

California: In Burbank, Disney-ABC canceled plans to replace 35 IT workers with foreigners.  This comes after hundreds of former Disney IT workers in Florida revealed they were forced to train their foreign replacements!

Colorado: After 50 years Hadley’s Canon Western Wear announced they’re shutting down as soon as the inventory is sold off.  The owners blame the un-recovered economy and competition: “The economy is a big deal! All the box stores are moving in. People are shopping online and we are not going to have mom-and-pop stores anymore!”-Mike Hadley, co-owner

Connecticut: In Ridgefield, clothing store Suburban Underground shutting down after their inventory is gone.  The Valley Sports Center shutting down next week: “The demands of the owner’s corporate career has made it impossible to commit the time necessary to ensure the success of the business.”

Georgia: In Atlanta, after eight years video game store UGAME shutting down by the end of the month.  They’re being forced out by the landlord who made a deal with next door Papa Murphy’s to allow them to expand into the UGAME space.

Illinois: In Saint Charles, smoke detector maker Honeywell System Sensor issued a shutdown WARN for their manufacturing operations, 252 jobs lost July!  The company is consolidating manufacturing to other factories.  After 65 years the Indiana Harbor Dairy Queen shutdown.  City administrators said the Dairy Queen corporation demanded the franchise owners pay to upgrade the restaurant, but the franchise owners didn’t have the money.

Michigan: Wayne-Westland Community Schools laid off ten teachers.  The Livonia Public Schools laid off 40 teachers.  Plymouth-Canton Community Schools warned 73 teachers of pending layoffs.  Garden City Schools laid off 46 teachers.  Farmington Public Schools laid off 30 teachers.  It’s all blamed on crashing funding due to what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.  What automotive industry recovery? General Motors (GM) laying off 1-hundred people at their Orion factory, by July!  Administrators stated the new layoffs are on top of the 160 announced at the end of last year!  They blame crashing sales of their Chevy Sonic (down by 28%) and Buick Verano (down by 15%).  In Edwardsburg, after 30 years outdoor rec store Lunker’s shutdown. The pissed-off owners blame the recession and the Too Big to Jail banks in an official press release: “While the big box stores were able to secure large cash infusions during those difficult times, Lunker’s was not able to. An investor came on board and provided some temporary relief, but still it was not able to secure the funds needed to make it a truly viable venture.”

A coal fired electricity factory in Escanaba shutdown, city administrators say they’ve made a deal to buy electricity from a cheaper source.  In Howell, after seven years Pet Provisions pet store shutdown.  The owners blamed their crashing sales on the loss of the shopping center’s two anchor stores (Big Lots! and Secretary of State) for killing off customer traffic: “We love Howell, and we were really hoping to make it work. We did not want to close the store; it was a last resort.”– Sarah Holliday, co-owner

Minnesota:  In Saint Paul, after 40 years Pro Pharmacy shutdown.  The owner has sold it to Walgreens-Boots Alliance, which just happens to be in the process of shutting down 2-hundred Walgreens stores.

Missouri:  God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 117 years old Dover Place Christian Church.  One member of the church lamented “We just don’t have anybody coming, that’s all. We don’t have the income on Sunday morning’s to take care of everything.”  You see, even christians think only about ‘money’.  Don’t they remember Jesus evicting the money changers?

Nebraska: In Grand Island, after 20 years the Heartland School of Dance shutting down, as well as Mid-Town Barbers, due to the greedy attorney-landlords: “I recently received a lease-termination notice from the studio’s landlords…….The old heating system is worn out and too expensive to fix.”-Karen Jamieson, owner of the dance studio

New Jersey: Pet-livestock drugs maker Zoetis announced they’re eliminating 165 jobs at their Florham Park HQ!  The Burlington County Corrections and Work Release Center shutting down, female prisoners will be sent to Atlantic County Jail.

New York: In Melville, Too Big to Jail Bank of America issued a shutdown WARN for their Consumer & LAS Operations, 29 jobs lost by September.  In NYC, restaurant Ouest shutdown due to the greedy landlord jacking up the rent.  The New York Times said one loyal customer was so upset she said “I feel there’s no reason to stay in New York anymore.”  After almost 50 years the Candle Bar shutting down due to the fact the owner has sold off the building.  

North Carolina: Physicians Choice Laboratory Services laid off 120 people at their Rock Hill Riverwalk Business Park!  Christine Marks, vice president for marketing, directly blamed ObamaCare/healthcare reforms for reduced reimbursements from Medicare and private insurance.   After 58 years restaurant Bonnie Kay Seafood shutdown in Greensboro.  The owners blamed the rising cost of food: “Basically it’s economics, trying to maintain a model of a seafood camp which means bringing a lot of people, putting a lot of food on the plate at a reasonable price; with seafood that’s getting harder and harder to do.”-Tina Oliver, co-owner

Ohio: Ridge Tools announced they will begin eliminating an undisclosed number of jobs at their Elyria factory.  Back in March they tried to convince employees to voluntarily quit.  Local news reports said they tried to contact the company president, but he was away in China on a business trip.  This suggests that Ridge Tools is about to off-shore their production.  In Lyndhurst, after less than four years high priced cookware store Le Creuset announced it is shutting down in July.  What housing market recovery? Columbus based mortgage company Huntington Bancshares announced they will wave real estate closing costs in an effort to boost languishing home sales.

Oregon:  More reports out of Oregon that California based computer chip maker Intel will be killing off massive numbers of jobs.  Intel is the largest employer in Oregon and the latest report says layoffs will begin on the 15th.  The Oregonian says the layoffs are a combination of crashing sales and Intel’s $17-billion USD takeover of competitor Altera.

Pennsylvania: In Camden, after 20 years the Francis House AIDS ministry shutdown.  But the operators say it’s good news, because local AIDS cases and deaths have crashed.  But so has donations, and Francis House can no longer pay their utilities.  ObamaCare forcing the Cumberland Family Practice to be merged with Good Hope Family Physicians, and forcing Baughman Family Medicine to shutdown!  Doctor Paul Baughman directly blamed ObamaCare for “…dropping reimbursement, increasing overhead and a few unexpected bumps in the road.”  Administrators with insurance company Capital BlueCross admitted that ObamaCare was going to drive up the cost of healthcare, ironically by forcing people back into emergency rooms as more health clincs shutdown or consolidate due to reduced reimbursements: “If they have health issues, they may have to go to the ER, hopefully an urgent care clinic, and the ER is an expensive place to get primary care. That adds to the cost.”-Aji Abraham

Tennessee: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams joins Blue Bell Creameries in shutting down all their stores due to listeria contamination! Jeni’s has halted the grand opening of their latest store, because their ice cream has tested positive a second time for listeria.

Texas: The SMART Schools summer camp for kids, held on Rice University property,  shutdown six weeks early.  It’s complicated but basically SMART  Schools could not verify the certifications of the  counselors, and they claim that promised funding from Be Inspired never came through.

Rhode Island: That which can’t be named refuses to stop ‘its’ Jews from suing each other over ceremonial bells, supposedly worth $7.4-million, and causing the shutdown of the 250 years old Touro Synagogue in Newport!  Oh those silly money grubbing ‘Jews’.

Virginia: Willow Pod at Daleville Town Center shutdown.  The owner said “Life happens…I want off the roller coaster of uncertainty. It has been a difficult couple of weeks. I have really put myself into Willow Pod. It can be depressing thinking about closing it. But now is the time to move forward.”-Jennifer Aylor

Wisconsin: In Mequon, the Centennial Bar & Grille shutting down next week.   It was sold to Sobelman’s Pub & Grill.

10 – 11 June 2015: “We’re not making any money anymore…”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 10 – 11 June 2015: “We’re not making any money anymore…” Tax breaks for companies getting vicious, companies being paid with tax dollars to kill jobs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: In Newport Beach, after 25 years restaurant Jackshrimp shutdown. The owner did not renew the lease and implied he was being pushed out by greedy property developers.  In Red Bluff, after four years the owners of 3 Generations Arts & Shop announced they will shutdown by July.  News reports didn’t say why.

Delaware: In Dover, God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 25 years old Branch Christian Bookstore.  The owner said “We just couldn’t compete anymore.”

Florida:  The city of Palm Bay warned that they are so low on cash that they might have to layoff 45 employees, just so they can pay for much needed road repairs without raising taxes.

Idaho: In Boise, the Chili’s restaurant on West Franklin Road (near Boise Towne Square mall) shutting down.  The Montana based franchise owner says they are getting outta Boise and moving to Nampa.   Is bankruptcy next for the unlucky Lucky Friday Mine near Mullan?  The silver mine is owned by troubled Hecla Mining.  In April 2011 the Lucky Friday Mine was hit by a rock fall that killed one employee.  In November 2011 the mine was shutdown for 12 months by a second rock fall that trapped several miners.  At the end of 2013 four of those employees, that were trapped, sued Hecla for $1-million USD saying the company violated federal mine safety rules.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice investigated Lucky Friday Mine and concluded, in 2014, that Hecla committed at least 5-hundred violations of federal regulations (mostly pollution violations).  Just days ago Hecla agreed to pay a $600-thousand fine.  About 1-hundred people work at the mine.

Maryland: The Bel Air Wallgreens is the latest victim of the legal drugs pusher’s (now called Walgreens-Boots Alliance) plan to shutdown 2-hundred stores across the country.

Massachusetts: The city of Fall River laid off 90 employees.  The mayor is also pushing for a new $10 per month trash fee (which is less than what I’m paying here in Chubbuck, Idaho).  Fall River is missing $6.5-million.

Michigan: The city of Saginaw warned it must shutdown two fire stations and eliminate jobs.  Yet again, this is a case of a city relying on federal taxpayer funded grant money, which expires at the end of June.  Suttons Bay Public Schools laid off at least five teachers.  Administrators said they had to take drastic action to get the school district back in the ‘black’, or face a takeover by state administrators.

Minnesota: The Upper Saint Anthony Falls Lock and Dam shutdown in an effort to stop the spread of invasive carp.

Missouri: Katy Industries WARNed they will shutdown their Bridgeton facility and layoff 155 people!  They’re moving operations to Jefferson City.  It was revealed that Jefferson City and Cole County bribed Kay Industries with tax breaks, which required them to kill off the 155 jobs in Bridgeton (the jobs must be created new for Jefferson City)!

Nebraska: What housing market recovery? Omaha based Mutual of Omaha Bank announced it is shutting down home loan offices in Lincoln and in Fort Myers, Florida.   Mutual of Omaha has contracted out their mortgage serving ops to Guild Mortgage.

New Hampshire: Hamden Board of Education blames what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome for forcing them to eliminate 24 jobs. Reports say the junior high lost 86 students since last year, and the high school lost 4-hundred over the past seven years.

New Jersey: What automotive industry recovery?  “global diversified technology and industrial leader” Johnson Controls issued a shutdown WARN for five locations connected to its automotive division, at least 310 jobs lost!  It’s part of the Wisconsin based company’s plan to get out of the automotive parts making business.  Stop & Shop announced they’re shutting down their Manalapan grocery store in July, 80 jobs affected.  A local grocery store analyst says profits for food stores has become “very, very, tight”.   Another analyst blames the grocery store shutdowns on ShopRite, who is now “dominating the supermarket landscape in New Jersey.”

New York: Clothier J.Crew laid off 175 people at its NYC HQ!  Company administrators said they are preparing for the “future”.  In Forrest Hill, 20 years old teenager clothing store Strawberry shutdown.  News reports say it’s one of many stores that have shutdown in the same area, all blaming outrageously jacked up rents! Reports say landlords refuse to talk to the local news media.  ObamaCare forcing Brooklyn Kidney Center to sell-off their New York Dialysis Services, 65 jobs threatened.

Oklahoma: Sand Ridge Energy laid off 40 people in Alva.  Local news reports say administrators refuse to explain why.  Also, local news reports said the company tried to keep the layoffs quiet, and even refused to acknowledge them when questioned.

Oregon: What construction industry recovery? After 60 years the Allen’s Mill shutdown, 45 jobs lost.  The lumber mill’s general manager blames bad timber and a strong U.S. dollar: “The current log situation is so sad, you can’t buy a predictable supply of marketable logs……It is just a sign of the times, a strong U.S. dollar…..puts log exports at a disadvantage.”-Gerry Lane

Pennsylvania: The second-oldest Jewish newspaper in America, Jewish Exponent, laid off 15 people.  Managers said they are out-sourcing jobs in an effort to save the company, admitting they’ve been losing about $300-thousand per year!

Tennessee: British empire Scotland owned Weir Minerals shutdown their Gallatin operations, 47 jobs lost: “The demands of our customers are declining with plant closures throughout the coal, steel and power industries in recent years and less money being spent on original equipment in the hard rock mining and oil sands markets.”-Aaron Ravenscroft

Virginia: Tax-sucker Raytheon lost their spy satellite contract with the federal government (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency), 59 jobs lost in Springfield.  In Norfolk, decades old O’Sullivan’s Wharf restaurant suddenly shutdown. The owners would only say “Friends, family, customers, neighbors it is with a heavy heart we announce that today will be our final day open for business.”  In Hampton, the 45 years old Cesar Tarrant Elementary School shutdown due to what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.   After 16 years Vacuum Store Sales & Services in Leesburg shutting down.  The owner blames the greedy landlord: “I got priced out of the area. They want way too much money for these spaces and didn’t want to negotiate. We’re not making any money anymore as it is.”-Bob Baird

07 – 09 June 2015: “It was so humiliating to train somebody else to take over your job!” 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 07 – 09 June 2015: “It was so humiliating to train somebody else to take over your job! I still can’t grasp it!” Disney kills U.S. jobs with foreigners! World’s richest man shuts down oil company!

Stock market analysts warning of a massive crash coming:

“Companies are tilting the results and the analysts are buying it….

…What if they said they’re going to pay for rent by issuing stock?”-Tom Brown, Second Curve Capital

“The analysts aren’t doing enough to get behind the numbers that management gives them to find out what’s really going on.”-Lynn Turner, former Securities and Exchange Commission accountant

“The longer the rally, the bigger the downside because of all the smoke and mirrors.”-John Del Vecchio, asset manager

“The data is more confusing than it’s been in a long time, and the reason is all the ‘junk’ they put in the numbers.”-Michael Lewitt, Credit Strategist Group

“People [investors] just want to know the number. They don’t care how the sausage is made.”-Michelle Leder, financial analyst with Footnoted.com

Also, what housing market recovery? Federal administrators have changed the real estate sales closing rules.  The Truth in Lending Act and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (TILA-RESPA) created new home selling rules supposedly to help buyers understand the process, and to ensure that buyers aren’t getting ripped off on their home loan.  Those rules go into effect in August.  However, when I looked at it, it just looks like a heck of a lot more smoke-n-mirrors fine print and it will probably delay home sales, and drive closing costs up.

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alaska: News reports warn that 16-thousand state employees will be laid off if politicians can’t agree on a new budget by 01 July.

California: Albertsons-Safeway issued yet another WARN saying eight more employees will be let go from Safeway‘s Pleasanton HQ, in August.  Back in February, Southern California Edison laid off 4-hundred U.S. citizens, and then replaced then with migrant workers from other countries!  What housing market recovery?  Costa Mesa based 28 years old home decor chain-store Anna’s Linens on the verge of bankruptcy.  Company administrators admit they are trying to sell-off the business.  3-hundred stores across the U.S. will be affected.  Dating app Tinder laid off six employees.  Monterey County has shutdown access to Lake San Antonio, there’s literally no more water.

Florida:  Too Big to Jail Bank of America is shutting down 14 drive-thru teller windows throughout The Sunshine State.  In Orlando, it’s been revealed by former U.S. employees of Disney that they were replaced with migrant workers.  250 U.S. citizens have been laid off at the Disney amusement park in Florida, since October 2014!  An unnamed former employee said they were forced to train their foreign replacements: “I just couldn’t believe they could fly people in to sit at our desks and take over our jobs exactly. It was so humiliating to train somebody else to take over your job! I still can’t grasp it!”

Georgia: Yarn maker Mohawk Industries shutting down their Chatsworth factory in August, 156 jobs affected!  The company is consolidating operations to newer factories.

Idaho: In Coeur d’Alene, youth outreach program Crosswalk North Idaho shutdown due to having its federal taxpayer funding canceled.  Also in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Youth Ranch announced they must shutdown their Anchor House addiction treatment center for boys, it will be re-purposed as a family resource center.

Illinois: God refuses to stop ‘his’ Catholic Charities from shutting down two family shelters and two child development centers by July. The religious organization blames lack of taxpayer funding.  In the U.S., religion is supposed to be separate from government!

Michigan: Injection molder Klein Plastics laid off 74 employees in a first round of layoffs.  Its part of parent company’s Klein Tools’ plan to consolidate its Michigan and Illinois operations to Texas by 2016.  In Ferndale, restaurant Torino suddenly shutdown.  The owners claim that Health Department rules do not allow them to serve the type of food they offer where they are located: “This week we were visited by the Health Department and together we have determined that it is no longer possible to continue serving a menu of our caliber due to the current size of our facility.”

Minnesota: Minnetonka based food processor Cargill laid off 45 more IT (information technology) employees, blaming the not recovered economy.

Missouri:   Chesterfield based oil pipe maker Boomerang Tube now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Reports say creditors could be taking over the company. Boomerang Tube was started by Len Blavatnik, who (according to some news reports) is now considered the World’s richest man. Saint Louis based coal company Peabody Energy eliminating 250 jobs! Administrators say the bad economy is forcing them to cut costs by $45-million USD. In Saint Charles, the Saint Andrews second run movie theater shutdown.  As with many other movie theater shutdowns they probably couldn’t afford to upgrade to digital.

Montana: What housing market recovery?  Cross-laminated lumber maker SmartLam revealed they laid off at least nine employees last week.  Administrators say they are trying to diversify their customer base as they admitted they’ve been focused only on building construction in the oil industry.

Nebraska:  The Nebraska Bookstore shutdown, 20 jobs lost.  Reports say it’s being sold to  the University of Nebraska for $4.75-million.

New Jersey: God refuses to stop the shutdown of two of ‘his’ churches.  In Atlantic City, Saint Michael‘s and Saint Monica‘s will shutdown as the Catholic community will be forced by the Diocese of Camden into one parish.  Catholic administrators blame massive debts and the growing exodus of people on the city’s collapsed gambling industry, and warned more bad things are coming: “The consolidations are not done. There will be more as we go forward.”

New York: Eight years old bakery Sherry Lynn’s Gluten Free shutdown. The owners blamed “struggles keeping this store open”.   Euromarket Designs announced they’re shutting down their big Crate & Barrel store in NYC by August, 137 jobs lost!  NYC based Time Incorporated blasted their managers for apologizing to employees who are being laid off!  At least 11 of their U.S. jobs were off-shored to Philippines.  Local news reports say a total of 80 IT (information tech) workers for Time will be laid off.  A manual on how to fire employees was issued to Time Inc. managers, and somebody  leaked it to the news media, it stated “Don’t say you’re sorry”.  After ten years art venue Proteus Gowanus shutting down, but not because of lack of interest.  The operators said they’ve become too successful, but it was never their intent to create a commercialized/institutionalized/corporatized arts center.  Keep raging against the Machine!  After 40 years the La Marmite restaurant shutdown.

North Carolina: The 20 years old High Point Pier 1 Imports store shutdown.  It’s part of the Texas based company’s plan to shutdown 1-hundred stores this year!

Oregon: The Alhambra music theater shutting down, yet again.  This time it’s blamed on the landlord.

Rhode Island:  The Lonsdale Fire District discovered they have a grand total of $14-thousand to operate on and must layoff all full-time firefighters!  Taxpayers are demanding to know what happened to the money as fire district administrators never warned of any financial problems.

Texas: What housing market recovery?  Houston based real estate company PM Realty Group announced it must eliminated 52 jobs in July.  The jobs were part of a contract to maintain an office building for oil company Chevron.

Virginia:  The iconic Virginia Beach 66 years old Oceanfront Dairy Queen shutting down due to greedy property developers. Property developers forced, I mean convinced family owners to sell it to them. It will be torn down in September to make room for two big hotel developments.  Richmond based Health Diagnostic Laboratory now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, after announcing it will layoff 42 more employees across the country. Last year the medical testing company laid off 162 people! It’s connected to a federal investigation, and subsequent $47-million fine, in which the company is accused of bribing doctors and hospitals.

Washington: What was that about legalized marijuana saving the economy? The evil ‘lawmakers’ passed a new law banning anymore new marijuana shops.  Already the city of Seattle has issued shutdown notices to eight ganja shops!  Three weed sellers have filed lawsuits against the city.  Also in the evil city of Seattle, 38 years old Cinema Books shutdown, the owner was struggling with competing with ‘Big Box’ stores, but the final straw was construction projects that blocked customers. News media say several business in the area report crashing sales due to the fact the construction projects destroyed parking for customers.  What construction industry recovery? After 75 years the Seattle-Snohomish Mill shutdown due to crashing sales.   Cerberus controlled and AB Acquisition owned Albertsons-Safeway decided to shutdown another grocery store: “In Mercer Island, we are also unfortunately facing a substantial rent increase that makes it financially unfeasible to remain in the space.”

04 – 06 June 2015: “…efforts have been unsuccessful…”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 01 – 03 June 2015: “…a long, agonizing death…” “…the company is required to terminate all employees’…immediately…” France threatens hundreds of Idaho jobs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

It was revealed by Scottish news sources that British empire United Kingdom based Too Big to Jail HSBC will eliminate 22-thousand jobs around the World, including in the United States!  HSBC is the European Union’s largest bank.  HSBC is also in the process of carving itself up and selling off the pieces.

Arizona: University of Arizona warned of mass layoffs in August, this after the new budget forces the school to make $43-million USD in cuts!

Arkansas: Switzerland based Nestlé laid off 75 people at its Gerber Fort Smith baby food factory. Administrators claim its because they switched to using plastic baby food containers.

California: Recently the city of Fresno learned it would lose at least two Vons grocery stores, now Save Mart announced it to is shutting down. The will shutdown before the end of the month, and company administrators claim all 62 employees will be moved to other Save Marts (which doesn’t make sense because Save Mart will then have a lot of redundant employees). Officially administrators blame competition (really, with Vons getting outta town?), but it turns out that Save Mart owns the property, where they’re closing down their Clinton and Blackstone avenues grocery store, and they’ve decided to play the Sears Holdings game and make more money by leasing it out to their ‘competition’!  Palo Alto based Hewlett-Packard (HP) warned of more layoffs.  HP is in the process of eliminating 55-thousand+ jobs by October!  Originally the plan was to eliminate 27-thousand jobs.

Connecticut: Famous Stratford based helicopter maker Sikorsky announced that it is eliminating 1-thousand 4-hundred jobs around the World!  180 jobs will be lost in The Constitution State!  Sikorsky is consolidating operations due to the bad economy.

Delaware: In Wilmington, DuPont chemical company Chemours warned of layoffs.  This is connected to DuPont’s plan to spin-off Chemours.  City administrators are afraid Chemours will pull stakes and move somewhere else after the spin-off.

Florida: Orlando based Golf Channel laid off 30 employees.  It’s part of Comcast’s plan to downsize.

Idaho: France based French taxpayer owned nuclear power company Areva has been sold off and now 6-thousand jobs around the World are threatened!  Areva has been operating under contract at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in eastern Idaho.   On 03 June the French government approved  the sale of the majority of Areva to a company called EDF (Electricite de France).   Areva administrators are challenging the sale.

Kentucky: Rhino Resource Partners announced they’ve issued layoff notices to 192 coal miners!

Michigan: In Ann Arbor, successful Lexi’s Toy Box shutdown, the owner said she want’s to join her husband in retirement: “I just thought it would be a nice time to be free.”-Crystal Metzger

New Hampshire: After 32 years, the owner of Video Headquarters announced he will shutdown in July: “Despite our success, the home entertainment industry has evolved dramatically in recent years with a major shift to digital media and this evolution is impossible to ignore. After 32 years of operation, the time has come to lock the doors for the last time when our lease ends……It would just be a long, agonizing death, this way we can say we got out on top”-Kenneth McAleer

New York: Nirvana Spring Water now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and shutting down their Oneida County bottling factory, 70 jobs lost by September. The company owes millions of dollars to the New York Business Development Corporation.  Obama Care forcing Mount Kisco Medical Group to issue a WARN saying 109 employees will become unemployed by August!   In NYC, law firm Mel S. Harris and Associates issued a shutdown WARN for September, at least 53 jobs lost.  NYC based quirky new products company Quirky laid off between 20 and 30 employees.  The news was reported by three former employees.  Company administrators admitted they had to cut costs by outsourcing their manufacturing.  California based clothier Band of Outsiders shutdown their nine months old Soho store! News reports say company administrators refuse to explain.

Oklahoma: Texas based Apache Oil & Gas announced it will shutdown its Tulsa office in August, 160 jobs affected!

Oregon: In Portland, after 36 years Martinotti’s Cafe & Deli was killed off by the greedy landlord jacking up the rent: “Rent has raised considerably! It’s more than what’s doable for us which is why we aren’t staying.”– Martina Martinotti, granddaughter of owner

Pennsylvania: Administrators of the city of Coatesville learned that Sikorsky will eliminate 720 local jobs over the next 12 months (see above)!   In Kingston, after 24 years the Pizza Mill restaurant shutdown: “We’re moving onto other things. We want to have some time with our families and do some traveling and catch up on lost time.”-Mark Cardone, co-owner

Rhode Island: Empire Beauty Schools blames what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome for the reason they’re shutting down their Providence school.

South Carolina: CertusBank announced it is dead!  Administrators are shutting down their HQ and are carving up and selling off the rest of the Too Big to Jail bank.  The Bank of North Carolina and the Community & Southern Bank have been named as some of the buyers.  No indication how many jobs are lost, CertusBank had dozens of offices in several southern states.

Texas: San Benito School District warned they will make additional layoffs.  A week prior eight employees were let go, the district is trying to cut $14.5-million in costs.  Administrators admitted they made mistakes in hiring more employees at a time when they were losing students (Disappearing Student Syndrome).   Administrators also revealed they’ve already saved $5-million by pushing employees to retire early or quit.  The owners of El Paso Saddleblanket will shutdown their warehouse outlet store in July, and will focus on wholesale and internet sales only.  The maker of cowboy stuff will also keep their El Paso Airport gift shop open.  The owners said 80% of their sales are now wholesale/import-export.

Virginia:  The Entenmann’s Bakery Outlet, on Peters Creek and Brandon in Roanoke, shutdown with no explanation.

Washington: What housing market recovery?  Federal Home Loan Bank laid off 109 people in Seattle!

Wisconsin: Golden County Foods revealed it went chapter 11 bankrupt busted back in May, and has been sold-off, threatening 432 jobs: “As a condition to the sale to Monogram, the company is required to terminate all employees’ employment with the company immediately prior to the closing of the sale…”-Tina Check, Golden County Foods

28 – 31 May 2015: Republicans call 9,500 layoffs a “Good Day”!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 28 – 31 May 2015: Republicans call 9,500 layoffs a “Good Day”! Students continue to disappear from schools, causing more layoffs! More than 5-thousand Too Big to Jail jobs eliminated, blaming the Federal Reserve!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: San Francisco based “creative agency” Goodby Silverstein & Partners laying off an undisclosed number of people in The Golden State and New York.  In Burbank, god refused to stop Obama Care from shutting down ‘his’ Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center blood donor service, 34 jobs lost.   State employment administrators stopped posting WARNs on 21 May.

Colorado: Boulder based Fresh Produce women’s clothing chain shutting down 12 stores in six states, as part of their chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Florida: Clothier Izod shutdown its Palm Beach Gardens store, then announced their Palm Beach Outlets store will shutdown in June.  It’s part of the parent company’s plan to shutdown 1-hundred Izod stores!  After 43 years Brasington’s Adventure Outfitters shutdown. The owner said 2008, the year of the start of the recession, was their best year but then sales crashed and never recovered.   In Jacksonville, after 30 years Benny’s Sandwich Shop shutdown due to the owner’s health problems.  State employment administrators stopped posting WARNs on 15 May.

Illinois: In Granite City, US Steel has suspended its plans to shutdown its Granite City Works factory.  Instead, 80 employees will be laid off.

Indiana:  Muncie Community Schools warned of layoffs, even after selling off their Wilson Junior High School building.   Administrators said that because of what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome, and years of consolidation ops, their Central High School is now overstaffed.  In Richmond, after 27 years Optical Disc Solutions has been sold to WTS Media and will be shutdown.

Iowa: In Davenport, the more than 20 years old Flowerama store shutdown.  The parent company, Flowerama of America, was taken over by 1-800-Flowers in 2011.

Kansas: Kansas City Public Schools laid off 31 employees and cut pay for hundreds of others, blaming $2-million USD in state taxpayer funding cuts.

Maryland: Baltimore City School District laid off 209 employees!  Administrators blame a $108-million shortfall.  Restaurant Langermann’s of Baltimore now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Owners blame ‘Freddie Gray’ social unrest as the final straw in their ongoing financial nightmare.  In Frederick, God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 1-hundred years old Saint Timothy’s Episcopal Church.  Attendance was down to less than 13 per week, and administrators said “They were just not going to be able to pay their bills.”  

Massachusetts:  In Cambridge, the award winning Hungry Mother restaurant being shutdown in July due to one of the co-owners leaving, and the other co-owners deciding to try something else.

Michigan: The Garden City School Board laid off 46 teachers, blaming Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS) for putting the district into a $4-million hole.    Marshall Public Schools laid off eight people.  Another seven employees are being pushed into retirement.  Administrators say enrollment is fine and blame the layoffs on state taxpayer funding cuts and the loss of grant money.

Minnesota: State administrators warned 9-thousand 5-hundred state employees that their jobs are on the chopping block!  Local news reports said Democrats called it a “bad day”, while Republicans called it a “good day”!  It’s what I call a Failed State!   Minneapolis based Too Big to Jail US Bank (Bancorp) warned of mass layoffs if the Federal Reserve failed to jack up interests rates.

New Jersey: Sussex County Community College eliminating 11 jobs.  Administrators blame a new $3-million renovation project for the Student Center, and five years of DSS.  They expect to lose $1.2-million in the upcoming school year due to crashing student enrollment.

New York: The largest Too Big to Jail bank in the U.S., NYC based JP Morgan Chase, began mass layoffs across the country that will total more than 5-thousand by the end of 2016!   In Commack, import/export company CBC America issued a WARN saying they are joining the exodus from The Empire State.  46 jobs to be moved to North Carolina by the end of the year.   At John F. Kennedy International Airport, Envoy Air issued a mass layoff WARN saying 693 jobs will be lost as they join the exodus from The Empire State and move ops to Texas and Illinois!  The Commission on Economic Opportunity issued a WARN saying they are shutting down their Stepping Stones Two childcare center in Rensselaer, 34 jobs lost in August.

North Carolina: In Winston-Salem, after almost four years District Roof Top Bar & Grille shutdown, the owners blame the un-recovered economy: “It takes time, resources and a bit of luck to establish a restaurant. In our case it was just one winter season too many.”-Mark Skoggard, co-owner

North Dakota: Texas based Warren Buffet owned BNSF Railway  began furloughing employees due to crashing demand for North Dakota Oil Patch shipments by rail.  In Fargo, Case IH and New Holland farm equipment maker CNH Industrial laid off 38 people.  Back in February they laid off 80 employees.  In 2014  they laid off 40 people.

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, after nearly 80 years Triplets children’s shoe store shutdown.

Pennsylvania: Connellsville Area School District laid off 40 teachers.  What I call Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS) is the cause.  Reporters with WPXI did some math and discovered that the district lost 1-thousand 3-hundred students in the past ten years!  In Gettysburg, after 33 years Wentz Stained Glass Studio shutdown.

South Carolina: After 95 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Pruitt’s Grocery shutdown due to the owner’s poor health.

Virginia:  In Orange, after 19 years the Dairy Korner Restaurant shutdown.

24 – 27 May 2015: New word for layoffs is ‘synergies’, “…and unfortunately for a lot of people today we’re realizing those synergies.” 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 24 – 27 May 2015: New word for layoffs is ‘synergies’, “…and unfortunately for a lot of people today we’re realizing those synergies.”!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: California’s The PennySaver shutdown after 50 years of publication (there are many other independent ‘pennysaver’ publications throughout the U.S.)!  Employee Luann Benton told local news media “We had no idea the company was going to shutdown!”  It’s blamed on last year’s takeover by vulture capitalist Open Gate.   In San Bernardino, after 67 years the owners of The Mug restaurant announced it will shutdown in June. Loyal customers call it “a huge icon”. Local news reports said the owner would not explain why it was being shutdown, but employees explained that the area has been losing businesses for several years now, and that’s negatively impacted the number of people that check out the restaurant (in other words, sales have crashed).  The San Diego Union Tribune laid off 178 truck drivers, machinists, electricians, packagers circulation, sales, finance and pressroom workers!  Most employees said it came without warning.  It’s blamed on the takeover by Tribune Publishing, and resulting consolidation of operations to Los Angeles, at the same place the Los Angeles Times is published.  Company administrators tried to say they warned employees, but the problem is they called impending layoffs “synergies”: “When the two companies announced that they were coming together, we said at the time there were going to be some synergies, and unfortunately for a lot of people today we’re realizing those synergies.”-Russ Newton, president San Diego Union Tribune

Colorado: In Longmont, the legal drugs seller Walgreens announced it will shutdown its Main Street  store in June. Company administrators would only say “We are closing a number of stores that are underperforming around the country.” 

Illinois: Closeout retailer Tuesday Morning announced it is shutting down its Rockford store in July.

Louisiana:  In Metairie, a greedy landlord shutdown the 38 years old Tiffin Inn Pancake House. The property owner signed a new contract with a home decor chain store.

Maine: Catalyst Paper says it must “temporarily” layoff 50 employees.  A temporary layoff is basically what’s known as a furlough.  However, there’s a possibility the temp layoff could become permanent as company administrators said they will be “re-evaluating the situation throughout the summer”.  The company makes paper for magazines, and with all the magazine shutdowns orders are crashing.

Michigan: In Northville, the owners of Riffle’s Homestyle Kitchen announced it will shutdown in June. After 31 years they said they’ve finally realized you can’t provided quality food while competing against the low prices of ‘Big Box’ restaurants, so “Rather than cut corners or raise prices, we’ve elected to move on to other endeavors.”

Minnesota: Indiana based Steel Dynamics shutdown two pig iron ops, one in Hoyt Lakes and the other in Chisholm, at least 2-hundred jobs lost!  To give you an idea how long this so called ‘recovered’ economy is going to last, Steel Dynamics said the layoffs would be in effect for at least two years!  Minnesota’s Iron Range ops have seen employers eliminate more than 1-thousand jobs so far this year!  Obama Care medical device tax forcing Minnetonka based IMRIS (Innovative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems) to go chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Reports say the company could be taken over by vulture capitalist Deerfield Management.

Mississippi: In Hamilton, chemical company Tronox will shutdown one of two sodium chlorate factories this year, 70 jobs lost.  The chemical is used in the paper industry and Tronox administrators say orders from paper companies have crashed.

New Jersey: Crashing & burning Atlantic City conducted a second round of school district cuts, laying off 75 more employees.  It was also revealed that more than 30 employees were forced to resign or retire early.  City administrators warned that a third round of layoffs is in the works.  Gerresheimer Glass announced it will shutdown its Millville factory by the end of the year, 1-hundred more jobs lost!   They already laid off 115 factory workers back in January! Administrators say the bad economy is forcing them to consolidate operations.

New York: In Jamaica, milk products distributor Derle Farms issued a shutdown WARN saying they are moving operations to Bathpage by September, 72 employees will be affected.  Evil financial advisor PricewaterhouseCoopers issued a WARN saying they are shutting down their Albany office in August, 38 jobs lost.

Ohio: Sweden based Johnson Metall announced it will shutdown its Lorain ops in July, at least 35 jobs lost.  Local news reports say at one point there were more than 1-hundred employees at the industrial parts factory.  Company administrators stated “Most recently, we’ve manufactured parts for wind turbines, and then the oil and gas industry. With the decline in both of those industries, and the lack of profitable replacement work, we have seen a significant decline in customer orders and are running the facility at a loss.”

Oregon: After 20 years the operators of Oregon Coast Periodontics announced it will shutdown in June, supposedly because the owner moved to Louisiana, which they called “unfortunate circumstances”.

Pennsylvania: In Deptford, the owners of 37 years old Freeway Diner shutdown on Memorial Day. The property is being re-purposed as a strip mall.

Texas: In San Antonio, aircraft customizer GDC Technics laid off 162 people!  Ironically company administrators blamed a “growing backlog” of work for forcing them to move to Fort Worth and eliminate the 162 positions!  In Aransas Pass, off shore oil rig fabricator Gulf Marine Fabricators warned it will eliminate 554 jobs!

Virginia: In Richmond, MARTIN’S Food Markets announced they will shutdown their 42 years old store on Staples Mill Road, in July. They claim “the store has not achieved performance goals.” MARTIN’s bought the store from Ukrop in 2010.  Sears Holdings announced the Hilltop Square Shopping Center Kmart will shutdown in July, 82 jobs lost.

Washington: In Spokane, without warning the 25 years old Olive Garden restaurant shutdown by owner Darden Restaurants, 80 jobs lost overnight. Local news reports said Darden Restaurants administrators accused the Spokane Olive Garden of failing to perform.

21 – 23 May 2015: “I was stunned! It just kind of happened…”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 21 – 23 May 2015: “I was stunned! It just kind of happened…” Landlord & city officials conspire against longtime local restaurant owner! ObamaCare getting EPIC!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arkansas: In Russelville, after 64 years Wilkins Brothers Outdoors brick-n-mortar sporting goods store shutdown. The owners said they are focusing on internet sales only.

Arizona: In Phoenix, after 59 years iconic Bill Johnson’s Big Apple restaurant shutdown, 32 jobs lost. It’s being turned into a parking lot for the worthless taxpayer supported GateWay Community College! In Mesa, after 34 years Landmark Restaurant shutdown, the building was sold to a company that specializes in weddings.

California: In Fresno, Texas based Greatwide Distribution Logistics issued a layoff WARN, 93 jobs lost in August.  News reports also said that Greatwide Distribution Logistics was eliminating 71 jobs in West Sacramento, by July.  What automotive industry recovery? In Long Beach, Japan based Toyota announced they will eliminate 95 jobs at their Auto Body California factory.  Toyota is moving some production of its Tacoma pickup truck to Texas.  The Ventura County Community Foundation laid off five employees.  LAN company Extreme Networks announced it is eliminating 285 jobs!  Company administrators are trying to cut $40-million USD in costs by relying “on our channel partners” to get the job done.

Indiana: Is Obama Care the reason why 67 Goodwill employees suddenly lost their jobs at the Richard K. Roudebush VA Medical Center?   Goodwill administrators said that “Specifically, the Medical Center unexpectedly ended its longstanding contractual relationship with Goodwill without any prior notice of performance problems.”  They also hinted at Obama Care, blaming “unforeseeable business circumstances”.

Iowa: In Sioux City, after 73 years farm equipment maker Soo Tractor Sweep-Rake is shutting down, 53 jobs lost. Company administrators blame crashing farm equipment sales.

Kansas: In Wichita, after 20 years Garcia’s Tacos shutdown.

Massachusetts: In Boston weak, Obama Care forcing Lahey Health to eliminate 130 jobs at three of its hospitals!  Administrators referred to Obama Care as “an exceedingly challenging health care environment”.   They also blamed the implementation of a new healthcare information sharing system called EPIC.

Michigan:  Obama Care forcing insurance provider HealthPlus to eliminate 5-hundred jobs!  The layoffs will begin in July.  HealthPlus is selling its Medicaid and MIChild contracts to a competitor.    In Flint, after 29 years Salvatore Scallopini restaurant shutdown without warning by the greedy landlord and city administrators, 28 jobs affected. Unbeknownst to the restaurant operator, the landlord and the city council agreed to replace the Italian restaurant with a shitty IHOP: “I was stunned! It just kind of happened and everyone found out.”-Bill Nivicki, restaurant operator

Minnesota: Hartford Financial Services eliminating 190 jobs as it shuts down its Woodbury office and consolidates to Pennsylvania!

Montana: In Helena, after 32 years The Donut Hole shutdown once and for all. Back in January the owner tried to find funding to help him move the store to a new location but nothing panned out, so the donut shop was sold to property speculators from Utah who claim they will turn it into a coffee shop.

New York: In Cortland, after 181 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Apex Tool issued a shutdown WARN, 89 jobs lost between August and December.  Company administrators are joining the great exodus from The Empire State and moving production to Pennsylvania and South Carolina.  In Rouses Point, legal drugs maker Pfizer issued a shutdown WARN for December, and added that layoffs will start in August.

Ohio: In Dayton, after 23 years China Royal restaurant shutdown. The property owner blamed a grease fire as being the final straw, implying that the old buildings in Dayton need to be updated to prevent such fires.  The state’s Office of Unemployment Operations laid off 42 employees.  State administrators say it’s because Ohio’s economy is improving.  Then, right as state ‘officials’ claimed the economy was good, the country’s largest private coal producer, Ohio based Murray Energy/American Energy, announced 1-thousand 8-hundred job cuts!  That’s on top of the 214 job cuts the company made in West Virginia back in April!  Murray Energy also operates mines in Illinois, Kentucky and Utah.

Tennessee: Sears Holdings announced a Sears store & Auto Center will shutdown in August. Its location, the Bellevue Center mall, is being torn down to make a massive apartment complex, hotel and smaller retail shops.  At least 44 jobs lost.

Texas: Houston based FMC Technologies announced at least 59 layoffs planned for its Schilling Robotics locations in California, Texas and Aberdeen, Scotland.

Virginia: Babcock & Wilcox laid off 10 employees at its nuclear division in Lynchburg.

Washington: Ace Hardware shutdown in Mill Plain. The evil property owner (Killian Pacific) kicked them out so they could demolish the Garrison Square shopping center.  Other businesses that will be affected by the “major rebranding of the property” are Planet Fitness, Manning Academy Beauty School and Spa, and Mexico Lindo Restaurant.

18 – 20 May 2015: “healthcare services for our communities will be reduced and disrupted” 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 15 – 17 May 2015: “We’ve noticed an exodus…just vacancies….and lots of for rent signs…” No more Oreos? No more guns in Utah?

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: In Mobile, 37 years old Book Stop shutdown, the owner said she had to care for her mother.

Arizona:  Texas based Blue Bell Creameries is closing three Grand Canyon State distribution centers, more than 1-hundred jobs lost!

Florida: What automotive industry recovery?  Iconic Estero based  Hertz car rental company announced they are shutting down 2-hundred stores across the U.S.! Company administrators said rentals are so bad they need to cut $10-million USD per year in operating costs!   In Tampa, US Foods issued a shutdown WARN saying 206 people will become jobless by August! The company is consolidating ops and is trying to merge with rival Sysco. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is challenging the merger.  Obama Care forcing Panama City’s Crothall Healthcare to issue a WARN saying 167 people will become unemployed in July!

Illinois: News reports say Deerfield based Oreo Cookie bakery Mondelez International will eliminate at least 6-hundred people at their Chicago operations!  News reports also say the industrial baker is considering shifting work to Mexico.  Ironically, company administrators said even if they decide to stay and expand operations in Chicago at least 3-hundred jobs would still be eliminated!

Louisiana: In Lafayette, after more than 40 years the owners of Whole Wheatery Eatery announced they will shutdown in June. Owners Jean Goodman blame the landlord for jacking up the rent and “We’ve had poor sales for the past year. We’ve noticed an exodus of offices, just vacancies of offices and lots of for rent signs in the area.” 

Minnesota: What housing market recovery?  In Saint Cloud, after five years the owners of home furnishings store Accents announced they will shutdown at the end of June, blaming competition.    H5N2 causing Rembrandt Enterprises egg farm to layoff 231 employees, due to “quickly declining” production!

Missouri: Golf Galaxy suddenly shutdown their Brentwood store.  News reports said it’s being replaced with a booze store.

New Jersey: Trenton Board of Education announced they must eliminate 162 jobs!  Administrators blame competition with charter schools.   Paterson School District eliminating 547 jobs!  That’s 60% more than what was being discussed!  The state appointed school superintendent said the district must cut at least $21-million from its budget.

New York: At John F. Kennedy International Airport, DAL Global issued a WARN saying they must layoff 46 baggage handlers due to loss of contract.  News reports say NYC based The Meredith Vieira Show laid off an undisclosed number of employees “Due to the changing and evolving format of the show….”.  Digital First Media continues to slash & burn, this time an undisclosed number of employees at their Record, Capital Region and Saratogian newspapers were let go.  Also in NYC, Toys R Us shutting down the iconic FAO Schwarz store in July, blaming greedy property owners (Boston Properties) who jacked up the rent: “The decision to vacate this space is due to the continuing rising costs of operating a retail location on Fifth Avenue in New York City.”

Crain’s New York Business reported that the rent for FAO Schwarz was jumping from $3-hundred per square foot to $2-thousand per square foot!   FAO Schwarz is 150 years old, Toys R Us claims they will find a new location.

North Carolina: Charlotte based FairPoint Communications announced they are shutting down call centers, 219 jobs lost in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire! FairPoint is also cutting another 41 jobs across 17 states.  CEO Paul Sunu admitted, in a round-a-bout way, that there is no recovery: “Faced with the realities of the industry and the competitive landscape in which we operate, we must be keenly focused on managing costs and enhancing productivity…”

Pennsylvania: After 35 years Rubinstein’s Kennett Square office supply store shutdown.  Management blamed competition with the internet, but then also stated that business was so good customers were having a hard time finding parking spaces.  Operations are being consolidated to another store with a bigger parking lot.

South Carolina: Luxembourg based ArcelorMittal announced it will shutdown its Georgetown steel wire mill by summer, 226 jobs lost!  This is the second time the factory has been shutdown since 2009, administrators blame competition.

Texas: Brenham based ice cream maker Blue Bell Creameries is now killing off 1,450 jobs, plus furloughing another 1,400 employees, plus reducing pay and hours for the 1,050 employees who will remain working, for a grand total of 3,900 jobs affected!  What automotive industry recovery?  In Waco, after 105 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Bill Miller’s car lot shutdown.  The owner blames his cancer treatments: “The radiation that cured the cancer did a number on my neck and throat.”

Utah: Gun maker Vector Arms now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Sales crashed 50%, possibly a result of the company’s involvement in violating a U.S. Army contract to supply the Afghan government with guns & ammo.

Washington: KapStone Paper and Packaging laid off 33 people at their Longview factory saying “Relative to other companies in our industry we have too many people….”.

Wisconsin:  Plover based frozen snack food maker Golden County Foods now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

13 – 14 May 2015: “When does this stop?”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 13 – 14 May 2015: “When does this stop? What’s next…?” Christians continue to throw their cash to the Money Changers in the Temple! ObamaCare killing streak continues! “…we will have deaths related to the closure of Doctors Medical Center.”

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: What housing market recovery? In Alhambra, after 76 years Potts Plumbing Parts announced it will shutdown in June.  The owner blames crashing sales on the internet and ‘Big Box’ stores, as well as lazy people: “What we do is becoming obsolete. People don’t think to repair things anymore unless it’s something they can’t change without a remodel. If it’s something like a faucet or sink, they just take it out and replace it.”-Joe Potts

What was that about Obama Care increasing access to healthcare?  In San Pablo, Obama Care forced taxpayer funded Doctors Medical Center to shutdown at the end of April, and failing to find a new owner/operator it will be carved up and sold-off.  80% of the customers are on Medicare or Medicaid (Medical in California) and Obama Care drastically cut reimbursements, and even forces Medicare/Medicaid recipients to stop going to hospitals.  Local news reports said the loss of the hospital results in the residents of West Contra Costa County losing 79% of their access to healthcare: “The mortality rates will increase, we will have deaths related to the closure of Doctors Medical Center.”-Maria Sahagun, registered nurse

Obama Care forced Western Dental Services to stop taking low income patients at 13 California offices, a shutdown WARN indicated 237 jobs could be lost: “…the extremely low funding and reimbursement levels …..have finally proven impossible to bear.”-official Western Dental Services statement

In San Ramon, AT&T Global Customer Service issued a layoff WARN for July, 89 jobs lost.  In Oakland, Owens-Brockway Glass Container issued a layoff WARN saying 67 people will be laid off in July.  In Redwood City, EA owned video game maker Visceral Games “made a small staffing change in our Visceral studio today to support the needs of the studio’s two current development priorities”.  Monterey Peninsula Unified School District warned that at least 17 employees will be laid off, due to lack of money.  PTA leaders and parents are pissed off and called Bull-Shit on the money issue: “We already pay for half of these positions! In the PTA we pay for science lab, the PE teacher. When does this stop? What’s next, the office clerk? Recess, instruction? Is this all going to fall on the parents? Why don’t we go to a private school already?”-unnamed mom and PTA member

Florida: In Tampa, US Foods issued a shutdown WARN saying 206 people will become jobless by August! The company is consolidating ops and is trying to merge with rival Sysco. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is challenging the merger.   In Lake Mary, Obama Care medical device tax forced Access MediQuip to layoff 84 people and shutdown, without warning.

Indiana:  Packaging maker Essentra announced they’re consolidating to North Carolina in October, 150 employees will be abandoned in Evansville!  Basically the new owners of the factory said the economy is so bad in the “Americas” that they can’t justify their recently purchased Evansville ops.

Maryland: In Baltimore, after less than two years the Shoo-Fly Diner is about to shutdown, the owner is trying to work a deal to keep the place open during summer. Critics have written that the food isn’t that good.

Michigan: God refused to stop ‘his’ Calvin College from bribing seven employees to quit, and warning that outright layoffs are coming.  The Christian college has been relying on debt financing and is fighting to pay it down.  Christians have already donated $25-million USD to pay down the debt, and the school is trying to cut $4.5-million in costs by 2017.  News reports from 2013 said ‘Christian’ administrators overspent on new construction and made bad investments with donated money.  In one case, $5-million that was supposed to pay down the debt was used to buy real estate instead!  This is a clear case of Christians putting their faith into the money changers in the Temple (capitalist administrators) rather than in their God: “The former administration, the former president certainly had a reputation as someone who understood finances and business. He came from a banking background. And so I think there’s some bewilderment at the scope of the problem.”– David Diephouse, professor (who is obviously of ‘Blind Faith’)

Missouri: What housing market recovery?  After 25 years the Long Lighting Center shutting down.  The owners blame crashing sales, but they blame that on the internet and ‘Big Box’ home improvement stores.

New Jersey: Sears Holdings announced the Closter Kmart will shutdown in August, 102 jobs lost!

New York: Oneida Savings Bank issued a shutdown WARN for offices in Oneida and Rome, as least 63 jobs lost by July.  In Dewitt, after 29 years Daugherty’s Masquerade (aka The Masquerade Store) has ended full time operations and will be open seasonally.  The owners blame increasing competition.  In Amherst, after 40 years Boulevard Mall Bootery shutdown, the owner blames crashing sales on the internet and ‘Big Box’ shoe stores.

North Carolina: For profit student rip off artist Brookstone College of Business suddenly shutdown, administrators admit they can’t comply with new federal education rules that require higher education to prove its students can find jobs after they graduate!

Ohio: In Mansfield, after 59 years the owners of Weidle’s Meats and Delicatessen announced they will shutdown in June. It’s been up for sale since October 2014.  In Columbus, repair and logistics support company Decision One laid off 75 people due to losing their contract with Microsoft.

Oklahoma: Sears Holdings announced the Tulsa Kmart will shutdown in August, at least 51 jobs lost!

Pennsylvania: Russia owned pipe maker OAO TMK revealed it has laid off 115 U.S. citizens, and reduced working hours for the rest of their employees!  Company administrators originally planned to layoff 75 people, but they blame the U.S. oil industry for massively reducing orders for steel pipe.

Texas: In Houston, Obama Care medical device tax forced Access MediQuip to layoff at least 80 people and shutdown without warning.  Fort Worth based oil well operator FTS International said it is consolidating operations, resulting in layoffs in Louisiana and in Longview, Texas.  In Edinburg, Ignite Public Schools has been shutdown by the Texas Education Agency.  TEA administrators said the charter school failed at academics and managing their own budget.

Wisconsin: In East Tosa, after 29 years North Star Music store shutdown.  The property has been for sale for a while, yet nobody seems interested.

11 – 12 May 2015: “I didn’t see this coming….everything was really good…”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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