Tag Archives: education

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 11 – 12 May 2015: “I didn’t see this coming at all. We’ve been assured repeatedly…that everything was really good…”

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: In Trona, evil gold miner CR Briggs issued a WARN saying 39 employees will become unemployed in July.  The city of Shasta Lake laid off three firefighters due to lack of tax payer funding.  The fire chief was upset: “It’s horrible, I told three friends of mine they don’t have a job anymore…”-Dennis Bech

Colorado: Zenith Education Group continues mass kill-off of jobs, this time in Thornton.  131 call center employees were laid off!  It’s the result of Zenith’s takeover of failed Corinthian College, as well as what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS): “We had a reduction in the student population and we are merging some call centers to the one located in Tampa.”-Krissy Humenesky 

Florida: Darden Restaurants laid off 30 people at their Orlando HQ. They laid off employees last year as well. Administrators say the economy is forcing them to “streamline”. Darden operates Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Eddie V’s Prime Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52 and Bahama Breeze.

Georgia: In Augusta, after 35 years Ming Yat Chinese Restaurant shutdown.

Illinois: God refuses to stop the shutdown of the 44 years old  Sunshine Preschool based in the Wheaton Evangelical Free Church.  It’s blamed on the need for renovations and The Rapture, I mean Disappearing Student Syndrome.  What automotive industry recovery?  In Decatur, Allied Recreation Group laid off more than 50 recreational vehicle (RV) employees due to crashing sales.

Maryland: Unilever announced it is moving its vegetable oil and margarine (like Country Crock and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter) ops from Baltimore to Kansas, 137 jobs lost by June!  Company administrators blamed it on crashing demand, resulting in too much supply (which they called “over-capacity”).

Michigan: In Parchment, paper products company Georgia-Pacific announced they’re shutting down their Dixie factory in December, at least 57 jobs lost.  Parchment mayor Rob Heasley reacted as any ‘merican who doesn’t pay attention to economic reality does, saying “I didn’t see this coming at all. We’ve been assured repeatedly by the plant staff that everything was really good and the place was very profitable.” If he really paid attention he’d realize that corporate America always claims things are going good right before they shut things down, it’s standard propaganda.

New York: In Cheektowaga, second run Movieland 8 Theatres (note the British empire way of spelling theater) shutdown, apparently without notice. The owners said they couldn’t afford to upgrade to digital.  Theaters are being forced to upgrade to digital because more and more movies are available only in digital.  The owners tried to raise money through crowdsourcing, but it failed.  Lackmann Culinary Services issued a WARN saying they’ve lost their contract with Stony Brook University’s Kelly Dining Center, 386 jobs lost by the end of June!  In Bronx, Amertex Textile Services issued a WARN saying 95 laundry workers will become jobless in August, due to the bad economy.  In North Syracuse, Seneca Data Distributors (owned by Arrow Electronics) amended their 2014 WARN, yet again, this time pushing their shutdown to September. They are joining the mass exodus from The Empire State and moving to Arizona.  What automotive industry recovery? In Tonawanda, British empire Canada owned auto parts wholesaler Uni-Select issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down in August, 33 jobs lost.  The assets of the U.S. Uni-Select operations are being sold to U.S. based Icahn Enterprises, which will affect 38 warehouses, 240 stores and 3-thousand 5-hundred U.S. employees across the country!    It’s part of Canadian owned Uni-Select’s plan to get out of the suck-ass U.S. market!   The Delaware and Hudson Railway Company is no more!  They’ve issued a shutdown WARN that affects nine locations, and at least 3-hundred jobs will be lost by August!

North Carolina: Employees of computer company Lenovo reported that the company is laying off people.  Local news reports say Lenovo administrators refused to talk at first, but then admitted they were eliminating the jobs of 235 former IBM employees!  It’s the result of  Lenovo’s purchase of IBM’s System X ops.   Software company  ChannelAdvisor admitted it laid off employees, but refused to say how many.  Local news reports say the company hasn’t filed a WARN, yet.

North Dakota: In Bismarck, After almost 80 years Corwin Churchill Appliance shutdown.  Bruce Whittey, the president of the appliance chain store, blames the greedy landowner who sold the property out from under their feet!

Oklahoma: Cinemark shutdown its Tusla theater.  The movie venue had degraded to a ‘second run’ operation in recent years, and apparently Cinemark didn’t think the Tusla market was worth upgrading their 26 years old eight screened theater.

Pennsylvania: Camden City School District laid off 92 employees due to funding cuts caused by what I call DSS.  Superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard called it “a brutal process”.

Texas: In San Antonio, specialty grocery store Gaucho Gourmet shutdown. It will continue to sell on the internet.  Maritime diesel engine maintainer Kirby laid off 2-hundred people, due to crashing demand for the service!

Washington: In Spokane, aircraft interior manufacturer Triumph Composite Systems laid off 25 employees.

West Virginia: Only 18 months after emerging from bankruptcy, Patriot Coal is again chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  The mining company has $1-billion of debt.  Kanawha Eagle Coal, Patriot Ventures and Highland Mining Company also went chapter 11 bankrupt.

08 – 10 May 2015: “I love the business….I’m just not making money.”

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, 08 – 10 May 2015: “I love the business….I’m just not making money.” Company that got huge tax breaks employed illegal workers, and lied about wages? God begins consolidation ops!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Has the drought killed off Golden State fruit?  Fruit distributor Fruit Patch issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down their Dinuba operations in July, 132 jobs lost!  Local news reports blame the vulture capitalist owners, American Capital, saying there are unconfirmed reports that Fruit Patch assets are being sold off (American Capital administrators refused to talk to local reporters). The shutdown will affect 10-thousand grocery/retail stores across the U.S.!  In Modesto, vegetable processor Olam issued a shutdown WARN for their Spices & Vegetables operation, saying their remaining 65 employees will become jobless in July.  That’s on top of the 177 people laid off since December 2014!  Olam administrators stated “We’ve had sales diminish and costs continue to rise.”   In San Diego, British empire oil company BP (British Petroleum) issued a shutdown WARN saying at least 90 people will become unemployed in July.  In Long Beach, tax-sucking Boeing issued yet another WARN saying 26 employees will be laid off in July.  Tech company Avago has taken over networking company Emulex, several WARNs issued saying at least 88 Californians will become jobless in August as a result.  In Napa, God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Saint Joseph’s Religious Gift & Bookstore: “I love the business. And I really love the people, but it’s just not enough. I’m just not making money.”-Joseph Sciambra

Colorado: Albertsons Safeway shutting down the following grocery stores; Redlands Safeway, Castle Rock Safeway, Thornton Safeway, Westminster Safeway, three Aurora Safeways, Littleton Safeway, Denver Safeway and Centennial Safeway, hundreds of jobs lost by June!   Littleton based oil service company American Eagle Energy now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, admitting they haven’t paid their bondholders for at least two months.

Florida: Turns out Fort Myers is yet another U.S. city that relies on federal tax money to pay its firefighters, and yes that money is coming to an end and as a result 21 firefighters will become unemployed.

Illinois: The FDIC shutdown the Edgebrook Bank, assets have been turned over to the Republic Bank of Chicago.   In Sterling, the owners of Kidder music store on East Lincolnway announced they’re shutting down in June.  It’s located in the same plaza that once held a Kmart (which shutdown last year).  Administrators for the Kidder chain indicated their reason for shutting down the Sterling store was that too many retailers have left the area, creating a downward spiral in customer traffic.  Plus, the greedy property owners jacked up the rent: “Even with smaller places, the expenses go up in more active retail areas.  And with the numbers and trends we see, we just couldn’t make that investment.”-Beth Houlihan, Kidder president

Iowa: In Belmond, God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 112 years old Saint John Lutheran Church.  Church administrators said they’re lucky if 15 people show up on Sundays.  Originally sermons were done in German, reflecting the fact that German, not English, was the most popular non-hispanic European language in the early days of the United States.

Kentucky: Yet another coal mine shutting down, this time in Harlan.  Alpha Natural Resources announced they must shutdown their Clover Lick #3 mine, 64 jobs lost.  Local news reports say over the past two years 5-hundred coal related jobs have been lost, and it’s their main industry!

Maryland: U.S. tax sucking France based military contractor Labinal Power Systems says it must layoff 480 employees in Salisbury!  The French company is consolidating operations to Texas, only about 1-hundred Maryland employees will be transfered to The Lone Star State.

Montana: Call center operator Asurion announced they’re shutting down their Great Falls operation in August, 348 jobs lost!  Tennessee based Asurion is the 4th largest employer in Great Falls.  Asurion threatened employees, when one employee was approached by a local reporter she said “We aren’t allowed to speak and were told to refer reporters to public relations.”   The Asurion building still has a display reading “Become a valued team member. See what career awaits you at asurian.com/careers.”  Local reports say $550-thousand USD is still owed to the Great Falls Development Authority, and the Montana Board of Investments, for the Asurion building.

New Jersey: The cash strapped Atlantic City and the Atlantic City School District warned another 4-hundred city and school district employees they could be let go!  That’s on top of the 2-hundred who already got layoff notices!  This is what happens when you put all your eggs in one basket (specifically the gambling industry).  In Pittman, after 48 years Bob’s Hobbies and Crafts shutdown.  The busy owner says it’s time to retire, the property is for sale.

New York:  In Sullivan County the largest employer in the county, Ideal Snacks,  began laying off employees, however, local news reports say most of those employees turned out to be illegal migrant workers!  In 2012 administrators swore they were employing U.S. citizens at $13 per hour.  They made these statements in exchange for tax breaks.  Local news reports say Ideal Snacks administrators are ignoring their questions about the “large number” of layoffs.   Empire State based Burger King franchisee Carrols Restaurant Group announced they will shutdown 25 restaurants, as their leases expire. This is strange because Carrols administrators reported an 11.5% increase in sales at their Burger Kings. Administrators say the restaurants they’re shutting down just didn’t make enough money to satisfy them.  God refuses to stop the shutdown of two of ‘his’ Westchester Catholic churches.  Also, God is joining unAmerican Corporate America and will consolidate the following churches; Our Lady of Mount Carmel in White Plains and Our Lady of Pompeii in Dobbs Ferry.  Saint Matthew in Hastings-on-Hudson will unite with Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ardsley.  Saint Paul’s in Congers and St. Ann’s in Nyack.  At least 28 parishes will be affected when the consolidations and shutdowns are complete.

North Carolina: France owned body care products chain store The Body Shop announced it is moving its Wake Forest U.S. HQ to New York City, and eliminating 145 jobs!   Essentially the L’Oréal owned company is doing what so many other companies are doing in this bad economy, consolidating operations and killing jobs.

Ohio: In Amherst, after more than 1-hundred years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Riddle’s True Value Hardware shutdown.  The owner said he had to sell the property, blaming his poor health and implying he was tired of competing with ‘Big Box’ stores.  At one time the store operated under the Western Auto brand.

06 – 07 May 2015: ObamaCare vampires draining blood supply! 

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, 06 – 07 May 2015: ObamaCare vampires draining blood supply! Art Institute no more!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: Birmingham based 28 years old Simply Fashion and Dots clothing chain now dead, 243 stores across the U.S. to be sold-off or shutdown!

California:  After 100 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Dick’s Menswear shutdown in Fresno.  Apparently the new Albertsons-Safeway is shutting down three Vons grocery stores in Fresno (one more than earlier reported) because they’ve issued three WARNs for July, totaling 2-hundred jobs lost!  In Duarte, Kroger announced they will shutdown their Ralph’s grocery store on Huntington Drive, in July, about 50 jobs lost. Kroger administrators claim the store has “failed to perform” for years.   In Elk Grove, Obama Care forcing Sutter Medical Foundation to issue a WARN saying 17 people will be laid off in July. In West Sacramento, Greatwide Distribution Logistics issued a WARN saying 71 people will be laid off in July.  In San Francisco and Santa Clara, social media gaming company Zynga suddenly laid off 180 people, then announced that a total of 364 people will become jobless by the end of the year!  Company administrators say they need to cut $45-million USD per year, due to crashing sales.    In San Jose, Cypress Semiconductor finally issued a WARN revealing they killed off 51 jobs back in January!

Connecticut: In Milford, Uno Pizzeria and Grill shutdown without warning.

Florida: Military themed Acclaim Academy shutdown without warning.  Various school district administrators said they were told by the owner of the military charter schools that there was no more money. Thousands of families now struggling to find schools for their children.   Obama Care being directly blamed for the of 46 jobs lost with non-profit OneBlood blood collection service: “More stringent transfusion protocols, advances in medical science and Health Care Reform continue to impact how the blood supply is managed.”-Forbes

Illinois:  What automotive industry recovery?  In Quincy, tire maker Titan International announced they must kill 60 jobs due to volatile currency markets and crashing sales to the farmer’s markets: “North America large agriculture is down approximately 35 percent, and we believe it will remain that way for the balance of 2015…..Titan’s first quarter sales were below our internal plan, but well over half of the decrease was due to currency impacts from Europe, South America, Russia and Australia.”

Indiana: What construction industry recovery?  After 100 years, the company that provided the doors for the Twin Towers (NYC Trade Center, bombed in 9/11), International Revolving Door Company, shutdown!   Company administrators say orders for doors had crashed to only 22 in the past year!

Louisiana: In Port Allen, First Student lost its school bus contract, 72 people to become jobless in June.  Company administrators say the loss of contract was “sudden” and “unforeseen”.  In Fort Polk, tax-sucker Northrop Grumman issued a WARN saying 426 people will become unemployed between June and July, unless Northrop Grumman can renew their contract.  Evil for profit prison contractor CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) issued a WARN saying 252 privatized Winn Prison employees will be laid off in July!  Just like Idaho, Louisiana refuses to renew the contract with evil CCA.  (CCA abandons prisoners in Idaho prison! CCA says Idaho officials just as evil!) (Evil CCA has lost their contract with Ohio)

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery?  In Holland, automotive parts supplier Visteon shutting down and consolidating ops to Detroit, 240 jobs affected!

Missouri: What construction industry recovery?  In Springfield, HVAC maker Mammoth announced it will shutdown in December,  2-hundred jobs lost!  Local news reports said the shutdown would also affect another 2-hundred support jobs outside the company! It sounds like the company is joining dozens of other companies and consolidating operations into fewer factories, a sure sign there is no recovery.

New Jersey: The World’s largest pet drug supply company, New Jersey based Zoetis’s (spun-off from Pfizer), announced it is shutting down or selling off ten drugs factories, and eliminating 2-thousand 5-hundred jobs across the United States!   This comes even as the company is spending big bucks expanding operations in Nebraska.  The shutdowns and layoffs are being blamed on stockholders who are demanding the company ‘right-size’.  In Hazlet, Jam Apparel shutdown.  The owner said her rent was jacked up and she didn’t have the money to pay it.

New York: In East Syracuse, “global diversified technology and industrial leader” Johnson Controls issued a shutdown WARN for their Operations and Maintenance unit in July, at least 39 jobs lost.  In NYC, Northern Leasing Systems issued a shutdown WARN for July, 29 jobs lost. The company is joining the exodus from The Big Apple, moving ops to Albany and Jersey City.  In Hicksville, Land O’Lakes issued a layoff WARN for August, saying 32 food distribution jobs will go away as the dairy company consolidates operations due to the bad economy.  In Westbury, tax-sucker Raytheon issued a shutdown WARN for their Air Traffic Control training ops in July, 33 jobs lost due to loss of contract.  In Amityville, NBTY is getting outta the food supplement business, and outta New York.  They issued a WARN saying they’re transferring the operations to a California company between July and October, 214 jobs lost!

Ohio: In Mansfield, God refuses to stop the shutdown of Saint  Peter’s Child Care Center in June.  Church administrators say “The Child Center’s operational losses have been substantial, with a projected shortfall this year in excess of $50,000. These factors make it impossible for St. Peter’s to continue offering this service to our community.”

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh based for-profit Education Management Corporation is shutting down at least 15 of its Art Institute college campuses over the next two years!  Education Management Corporation is one of several for-profit schools under investigation by U.S. Department of Education.

Tennessee: Call center operator Conduit Global announced it will eliminate 592 jobs in Cordova, starting in July!   Administrators blame “an unforeseen loss of business”.   Some of the employees being let go were hired last month.  Last year the company promised to bring 1-thousand jobs to the area in exchange for $2-million in tax breaks.  Now only 70 jobs will remain.

Texas: The oil industry meltdown affecting the planned $7.6-billion deal involving Germany based Siemans taking over Houston based Dresser-Rand.  The European Union is also reviewing the takeover bid.  What will happen to Dresser-Rand if the sale fails?  By the way, Siemens announced it is eliminating 4-thousand 5-hundred jobs around the World! (so what would happen if the sale is approved?)

03 – 05 May 2015: “it has become impossible for us to compete”

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, 03 – 05 May 2015: “it has become impossible for us to compete” ObamaCare kills Catholic Charities in New York? Why are Iron Ore mining companies shutting down?

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: What automotive industry recovery?  Illinois based automotive parts maker Flex-N-Gate says it must layoff 97 people at their McCalla factory in May.  Local news reports say Flex-N-Gate administrators wouldn’t talk to them.

California:   Is Obama Care forcing the Fireman’s Fund Insurnace Company to kill jobs?  They issued a WARN saying they will layoff employees in July.  Obama Care forcing God’s Hollywood Presbyterian Medical to issue a WARN saying 87 people will be laid off in July.  In Santa Maria, Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples shutdown their Superstore in the Crossroads Shopping Center. Employees said they were given a two weeks notice.  Also in Santa Maria, Coco’s Bakery Restaurant shutdown due to being sold to a competitor. The employees discovered that management threw all the employee data into a dumpster (instead of destroying the data) on the same day they were laid off: “To give everything that you have and just like that, they treat you like a piece of trash that’s it, go, you know, it feels bad.”-Elvia Calderon

Colorado: God refused to stop his Colorado Springs based non-profit poverty fighter Compassion International from laying off 48 Christians.  Despite increased donations, company administrators say volatile currency prices are making it harder to pay for expenses in the various countries they work in.

Florida: In Ormond, Zenith Education Group announced they will layoff 18 people in June.  In Cantonment, Marianna Airmotive announced that 80 people will become jobless in May.  Obama Care forcing The Manors at Hobe Sound to issue a WARN saying 164 healthcare and social workers will become unemployed in August!

Georgia: Atlanta based global payment processing company First Data announced it will eliminate “a few thousand” jobs and shutdown their smaller offices this year!  Some of the U.S. job cuts will be the result of ‘offshoring’ of those jobs to other countries.  Administrators didn’t explain why, but said that despite increased revenues they need to cut $200-million USD in operating costs per year.

Hawaii: The Lawai Menehune Food Mart shutdown. The owner said he couldn’t renew the lease.

Illinois: Chicago based maker of video game devices and electronic slot machines WMS Gaming issued a WARN saying 247 people will become jobless in June!  It’s the result of the merger of Scientific Games and Bally Technologies.  WMS Games was taken over by Scientific Games in 2013.

Massachusetts: In the state of Boston Weak, after nearly 50 years the owner of Taunton’s Benjamin restaurant went chapter 7 bankrupt busted and laid off 1-hundred employees without warning! It sounds like it was caused by a family feud that ended up in court. The property is now for sale.

Michigan: Midland based Dow Chemical announced they will kill-off 1,750 jobs!  Administrators said they need to cut $300-million in costs per year, but also admitted it was all about increasing their profits.  In Kalamazoo, after five years women’s clothing store Cakes Boutique shutdown.  Local news reports said the shop was empty even though signs on the store said they’d remain open for that week.

Minnesota: H5N2 causes Jennie-O Turkey to layoff 233 people at its poultry processing factory in Faribault!  After laying off employees in April, Grand Rapids based iron ore mining and recovery company Magnetation now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Creditors agreed to give Magnetation until 2018 to pay-up.

Nevada: In Reno, Scolari’s Food & Drug announced they will shutdown their Sharlands Avenue East store in June: “We have struggled at this location since it opened because of the downturn…..because of the economics of our lease…..” 

New Jersey: Administrators of failing Atlantic City announced that at least 2-hundred city employees will have to be laid off.  It’s due to the crashing & burning casino industry, which provided the overwhelming majority of tax revenues for the city.  Woodbridge based tech company RCC Consultants now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  The company is so broke they admitted they haven’t paid their employees: “As of the petition date, employees are owed approximately $1.3 million (consisting of 4½ missed payrolls). Officers, performing as employees, are owed approximately $1 million (consisting of 10 missed payrolls), and have not been reimbursed for business expenses totaling approximately $250,000.”-Mike Hunter, CEO

New York: In Buffalo, steel bar maker Niagara LaSalle issued a WARN saying they are shutting down at the end of July, 49 jobs lost.  In Melville, Arrow Electronics announced their exodus from The Empire State by issuing a WARN saying they are moving to Colorado between June 2015 and March 2017, taking 135 jobs with them!  God can’t stop Obama Care from forcing Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services to issue a mass layoff WARN saying they are canceling funding for all Residences and Day Habilitation operations across the state!  At least 719 jobs lost by August!  In Rockaway Beach, Visiting Nurse Service of New York Home Care announced it is forced to hand over their Headstart Program to another operator in July, 48 jobs affected.

North Carolina: In Shelby, Fireside Books shutdown: “… it has become impossible for us to compete with the many shopping choices online as well as the big box stores pricing…” 

Ohio: Iron ore mining company Cliffs Natural Resources announced it is eliminating 1-hundred non-union jobs! News reports said company administrators claim they must cut operating costs, but refused to explain why.

Texas: In Stephenville, FMC Technologies announced a third round of layoffs, this time 46 people are being let go due to “continued decrease in activity from our customers”.  In March 79 people were laid off, and 5% of employees were laid off in January.  FMC administrators say it’s part of their plans to eliminate 2-thousand jobs across the U.S.A.!  San Benito Consolidated Independent School District decided to layoff 37 employees for the upcoming school year.  Administrators say they need to cut $14.5-million over the next three years.

Wyoming:  News reports say about three dozen WyoTech-Laramie employees got laid off by the new owner, Zenith Education Group.  Wyo-Tech is one of many schools formerly owned by failed California based Corinthian Colleges.  Zenith Education Group blamed the layoffs on crashing student enrollment, saying the campus is down to just 5-hundred students.  I call it Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS).

01 – 02 May 2015: ObamaCare insurance company admits ObamaCare fails, will cancel insurance for 1-million people! 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

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

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

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

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 24 – 26 April 2015: Pro-police state company now under investigation by the United Police States of America? 27-thousand home care product jobs gone!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

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

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 19 – 21 April 2015: “Re-fracking” 39-thousand + oil jobs gone, as companies hoard Black Gold! ObamaCare kills six hospitals with one blow!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics

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

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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