Tag Archives: employment

Business/Economics

Sears Kmart closing update 27 June 2015: “…turnaround is improbable.” More Hometown stores going down as franchise owners rebel! Canada loses more Sears stores!

Louisiana losing a franchised owned Sears Hometown in July.  Like most franchise owners, the owner told local news that it wasn’t worth renewing the license with Sears Holdings.

Ohio losing a Sears Hometown Store in July.  In this case, Sears Holdings decided to shut it down because they were not able to find anybody willing to become the new franchise owner.  Local news reports say the store had two previous owners who quit because it wasn’t worth it.

In Canada, Sears Holdings has shutdown two more franchise stores in North Sydney and in Cape Breton.  Local news reports indicate it’s because nobody is willing to become a sucker franchise owner of a rip-off Sears store!

In other news reports out of The Great White North, Sears is now in critical condition: “The next seven quarters are ‘make it or break it’ for Sears Canada. Our current view is that an operating turnaround is improbable.”-Keith Howlett, Desjardins

update 17 June 2015: Sears sells stores, then rents them back! 

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings that I’ve been compiling since the end of 2011:

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors. Recently revealed Arrowhead Towne Center Sears sold-off then rented back! Chandler Fashion Center Sears sold-off then rented back!

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost), Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart, Northport Kmart (68 jobs lost), Dothan Sears (68 jobs lost), Huntsville Kmart (73 jobs lost).

California: El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (more than 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart, Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost), Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down, Banning Kmart (91 jobs lost) recently revealed that Sears Holdings is still paying rent on the abandoned property, Laguna Hills Mall Sears, San Diego Mid-City Kmart (73 jobs lost), Hemet Kmart (77 jobs lost), Oakland Sears repair center (75 jobs lost), San Mateo Kmart (82 jobs lost to an apartment building connected to public transportation), Hesperia Kmart building sold at a loss to a vulture capitalist REIT, no word on if the Kmart will be shutdown. Customers complain that the Kmart employees have a bad attitude, gee I wonder why? Yuba City Kmart (63 jobs lost), Rocklin Kmart (at least 63 jobs lost, the store had just posted “Now Hiring” signs), San Leandro Kmart (102 jobs lost), San Jose Mercury News says the El Centro Kmart to shutdown in January, the website Foursquare says the Covina Kmart is now shutdown (other sources say it will shutdown in December), Cupertino Sears and Auto Center (number of employees affected not made public, no WARN filed), somebody posted on yelp* that the Diamond Bar Kmart was shutting down in December (confirmed by Armijo Newspapers), Westfield Topanga Sears (122 jobs lost), it looks like the Blythe Kmart is being slowly shutdown despite denial by Sears Holdings. San Mateo Kmart being demolished to make room for 599 unit apartment complex, as part of the the Hayward Park Caltrain Station project.

Colorado: Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost), Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40), Colorado Springs Kmart at Powers and Palmer Park boulevards (57 jobs lost), Fort Collins Sears (67 jobs lost), Denver-Cherry Creek North Sears store & Auto Center (66 jobs lost).

Connecticut: Waterbury Big Kmart, Torrington Kmart (73 jobs lost), Enfield Sears Optical (no word on jobs lost), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (employees say the shutdown was a surprise, I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (at least 13 jobs lost).

Delaware: Dover Kmart (at least 72 jobs lost, some reports said 100), Seaford Sears (30 jobs lost), Claymont Kmart (87 jobs lost).

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winter Haven Kmart (92 jobs lost), Palm Bay Kmart, Oakland Park Kmart (112 jobs lost), Clearwater Sears Auto Center (21 jobs lost), Zephyrhills Kmart (70 jobs lost), Winter Springs Kmart (69 jobs lost), Naples Kmart (72 jobs lost), New Port Richey Kmart (58 jobs lost), ‘redevelopment’ of Aventura Sears & Auto Center into an “open-air village” (unknown how many jobs affected), Kmart on Northeast 108 Street being annexed by Miami Shores, Sears Holdings threatens to shutdown Kmart as a result of higher local taxes. The property that’s home to an operating Kmart, on South Green Bay Road in Racine, was foreclosed by the local Sheriff and sold-off for $2.5-million, no word on what the new property owner will do with it. Fort Myers Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost), Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart, Warner Robins Kmart (77 jobs lost), Coweta County Kmart distribution center (164 jobs lost), one of the last two North Augusta Kmart to be torn down by new property owner from Canada, Sears Holdings denies the Kmart will shutdown.

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost! GGP spending $573-million chopping it up into smaller store spaces), Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost), Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears shutdown by the end of October/beginning of November 2014 (the remaining 28 jobs lost). Across the street, in Pocatello, the property where the Kmart is located has a “pad site available” sign, posted ever since the Kmart bankruptcy. The Kmart building takes up most of the ‘pad’. Latest news from inside sources say Sears Holdings will not comment on any plans to expand the small amount of Craftsman products already being sold at the Kmart, or shift the Kenmore products line, from the closing Chubbuck Sears to the Pocatello Kmart. In fact all plans for the Pokey Kmart are in a ‘holding pattern’.

Illinois: Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost?) revealed is now a perpetual closing sale Kmart At A Discount store, Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost), Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost), Danville Sears store & Auto Center (63 jobs lost), Forsyth Sears store & Auto Center (45 jobs lost), Peoria Kmart (73 jobs lost), Forest Park Kmart (107 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North and Harlem avenues, supposedly it’s being replaced (most likely at taxpayer expense) with a new building and it will become a Sears-Mariano’s store, Bloomington Kmart (79 jobs lost), Hoffman Estates Headquarters 100 jobs eliminated, another 15 corporate jobs eliminated elsewhere, Chicago-Wicker Park Kmart (106 jobs lost), abandoned Market Place Mall Sears location to be occupied by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field & Stream. 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. North Mayfair Kmart (99 jobs lost). By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state. The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Indiana: Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost), FairOaks Mall Kmart, Logansport Sears (43 jobs lost), Muncie Kmart (59 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on Coliseum Boulevard North (69 jobs lost), Decatur Kmart (49 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Madison Avenue (131 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Washington Street (139 jobs lost), Bedford Kmart (62 jobs lost), Indianapolis (Evansville) Sears & Auto Center at Washington Square Mall (91 jobs lost), Greenwood Kmart (78 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (“approximately” 68 jobs lost), Bloomington Sears to be replaced by Whole Foods grocery store.

Iowa: Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost), Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost), Clive Kmart (at least 49 jobs lost), Ames Kmart (44 jobs lost), Fort Dodge Sears (no job loss numbers made public, yet. The Auto Center was secretly shutdown in September).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Merriam Kmart-then Sears-then Kmart (jobs lost unknown), Wichita Sears store & Auto Center (103 jobs lost), Manhattan Sears & Auto Center (number of jobs lost were never revealed).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart, Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!), Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost), Cannonsburg Sears and Sears Auto Center (no employee info given), Louisville Dixie Highway Kmart/Sears/Kmart shutdown and now being taken over by Kroger basically to sell the same crap the old Kmart did! Madisonville Kmart (39 jobs lost), Owensboro Sears store & Auto Center (52 jobs lost). Rural King farm & home store has taken over the abandoned Wincester Kmart.

Louisiana: Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost), Metairie Kmart secretly sold off, no word if it will be shutdown, recently revealed Laplace Sears Hometown Store.

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost), Aroostook Centre Mall Sears Auto Center leased out to VIP Tires & Service.

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears rebuild & call center (115 jobs lost), Baltimore Kmart on Wabash Avenue (107 jobs lost).

Massachusetts: North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost), Kingston Kmart (73 jobs lost).

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials, Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Saginaw Kmart on Bay Road, Flint Kmart on Dort Highway (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost), Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 jobs lost), Saint John’s Kmart (48 jobs lost), White Lake Township “Store of the Future” Kmart (42 jobs lost), Grand Blanc Kmart (49 jobs lost), Lapeer Kmart (56 jobs lost), Southgate Kmart (155 jobs lost), Detroit’s Telegraph Road Kmart (115 jobs lost), Waterford Township Sears (no word on how many jobs lost), Rochester Hills Kmart (77 jobs lost), ‘perfect Kmart town’ of Port Huron Kmart (188 jobs lost), Flint Kmart on Miller Road (81 jobs lost), Burton Kmart (85 jobs lost), Madison Heights Kmart (179 jobs lost), it’s now official the last remaining Saginaw Kmart (on Gratiot Road) will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January 2014 (Sears Holdings claims only 18 people worked there at the time of the collapse!), Ann Arbor Kmart (59 jobs lost), Iron Mountain Kmart (54 jobs lost), Bangor Township Sears aka Bay City Mall Sears, the Auto Center was already secretly shutdown some time ago (at least 47 jobs lost), Big Rapids Kmart (about 50 jobs lost). Vacant Wyandotte Sears Auto Center is being renovated at a cost to taxpayers of $1-million & 20-thousand, plus 15 years worth of tax breaks valued at $2-million! Shakopee Kmart distribution center shutdown and sold-off for $17-million in 2013, now it’s finally getting a new tenant. Snowmobile and electric cart maker Polaris Industries will rent out a fraction of the building to use as their new parts warehouse.

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart, Monticello Kmart, GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost), Fergus Falls Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Alexandria Kmart (46 jobs lost), Grand Rapids Kmart (61 jobs lost), Seritage is selling off three Sears Auto Centers in Minnetonka, Brooklyn Center and Saint Paul, Marshall Kmart (57 jobs lost), Oakdale Kmart (77 hourly wage employees losing their jobs, unknown how many salaried employees will become unemployed), Winona Kmart (67 jobs lost), Minneapolis city officials trying to shutdown profit making Nicollet Avenue Kmart, to make way for a new road. Anoka Kmart (47 jobs lost), Blaine Kmart (60 jobs lost), Burnsville Kmart (62 jobs lost), Waite Park Kmart (57 jobs lost), Northeast Minneapolis Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale, Coon Rapids Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost), Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall, Olive Branch distribution center (unknown how many jobs lost).

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost), Ellisville Kmart (55 jobs lost), Springfield Kmart on South Campbell Avenue (60 jobs lost), South Belt Kmart (64 jobs lost), Florissant Kmart (100 jobs lost), O’Fallon Kmart (76 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost), Great Falls Kmart (closed “until further notice” due to fire, 63 jobs on hold), Great Falls Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost) due to great sales (ironically) the shutdown date has been moved from 07 December 2014 to 23 November, Bozeman Kmart (37 jobs lost), Missoula Sears store and Auto Center (57 jobs lost).

Nebraska: Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost), Omaha Kmart near West Maple Road (50 jobs lost).

Nevada: Sparks Kmart distribution center (100 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials, Portsmouth Kmart (30 jobs lost), Claremont Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New Jersey: Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost), Berlin Kmart, Dover Kmart (92 jobs lost), Randolf Kmart (91 jobs lost), Paramus Kmart (74 jobs lost), Closter Kmart (102 jobs lost).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost), Rio Rancho Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New York: Lindenhurst Sears Hardware, North Babylon Sears Hardware, Hauppauge Sears Hardware, Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost) now revealed to be turned into a Town Center with more than 200 apartments at an estimated cost of $50-million, Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 jobs lost), Tonawanda Sears Appliance and Hardware, Bronx Sears (91 jobs lost), BBN reader reported that the Ithaca Sears and Auto Center shutdown and one month later it’s been officially confirmed (at least 37 jobs lost), DeWitt Kmart (92 jobs lost), Auburn Sears (51 jobs lost), Massena Sears and Auto Center (51 jobs lost), Staten Island Mall Sears leased out to Ireland’s Primark, Bay Shore Sears and Sears Auto Center (144 jobs lost), New Hartford Sears & Auto Center (109 jobs lost), Lancaster Kmart sold for $1.7-million to Dave’s Christmas Wonderland.

North Carolina: Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost), West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost), Conover Kmart (74 jobs lost), Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost), High Point Kmart (71 jobs lost), Boone Kmart (41 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart (96 jobs lost), Gastonia Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), Kinston Kmart (64 jobs lost), Cary Sears (66 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart distribution center (130 jobs lost),  Greenville Kmart (75 jobs lost).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost), Dickinson Kmart (41 jobs lost, despite a “Now Hiring” sign on the front of the store).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard, London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost), Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost), Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost), Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost), Norwalk Kmart (52 jobs lost), Blue Ash Kmart (77 jobs lost), Northwood Sears at Woodville Mall (36 jobs lost), Conneaut Kmart (43 jobs lost), Anderson Township Kmart (71 jobs lost), Brooklyn Kmart (200 jobs lost), Columbus Lockbourne Industrial Parkway Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost), also in Columbus, Sears Product Rebuild-Call Center (112 jobs lost), Marion Sears Auto Center (at least nine jobs lost), Springfield Kmart #3767 (68 jobs lost), Fairborn Kmart (66 jobs lost), Solon Sears & Auto Center (at least 53 jobs lost), recently revealed Tiffin Sears Hometown Store.  Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location. Fairlawn Sears Appliance & Hardware, Macedonia Sears Appliance & Hardware, Lorain Sears Appliance & Hardware, Elyria Sears Appliance & Hardware, North Olmsted Sears Appliance & Hardware, Sheffield Village Sears Appliance & Hardware, Akron Sears Appliance & Hardware.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants), Shawnee Sears (31 jobs lost), Sand Springs Kmart (52 jobs lost), Muskogee Sears (60 jobs lost), Enid Sears and Auto Center (at least 38 jobs lost), Tulsa BigKmart (51 jobs lost).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 jobs lost), Albany Kmart (64 jobs lost), Portland Sears Homes Services (no notice), Albany Sears (57 jobs lost), in October a BBN reader warned that Oregon City Kmart was being quietly shutdown, confirmed on 06 November 2014 by Sears Holdings (70 jobs lost). Ontario Kmart (55 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost), Sanatoga-Lower Pottsgrove Kmart (65 jobs lost, the store was also advertising for new hires!), West Mifflin Sears store & Auto Center (88 jobs lost), Rochester Kmart (78 jobs lost), Frazer (Pittsburg Mills Mall) Sears and Auto Center (97 jobs lost), Bloomsburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Frackville Sears and Auto Center (84 jobs lost), North Cornwall Township Sears (51 jobs lost), King of Prussia Sears and Auto Center (no word on number of jobs lost), Lebanon Sears (51 jobs lost), Scotland Chambersburg Mall Sears and Auto Center (62 jobs lost), the upper level of the Willow Grove Mall Sears store to be leased by Primark, King of Prussia Sears store leased out to clothing retailer Primark, East Towne Mall Kmart (51 jobs lost), Frackville Kmart in the Skuylkill Mall (80 jobs lost), Mount Pocono Kmart (66 jobs lost), Fairless Hills Sears Hardware.

Puerto Rico: Vega Baja Kmart (206 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost), both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two), Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost), Harbison Sears & Sears Auto Center in the Columbiana Centre mall (97 jobs lost), Aiken Sears & Sears Auto Center (at least 54 jobs lost), Inlet Square Mall Kmart (50 jobs lost), West Ashely Kmart (69 jobs lost), Myrtle Beach Kmart (59 jobs lost), Easley Kmart (62 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin Cool Springs Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost), Dickson Kmart (65 jobs lost), talks in progress to end lease for Bellevue (Nashville) Center Mall Sears, Nashville Bellevue Center Sears & Auto Center (at least 44 jobs lost).

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors, Dallas Sears home appliance parts distribution center (77 jobs lost), Simon Property Group owned McAllen Sears store & Auto Center (so far no word on how many jobs will be lost), recently revealed Palestine Sears Hometown (franchise owner quit to work as assistant manager at a local Dollar General).

Utah: Murray Sears (for some reason Mormon controlled news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they reported that the building was demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported), Woods Cross Kmart (54 jobs lost), Provo Kmart being demolished in anticipation of new tenant (local news reports say city administrators refuse to name names).

Vermont: Rutland Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost).

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown, Newport News-Denbigh Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), Wincester Kmart (91 jobs lost), Dale City Kmart (69 jobs lost), Chesapeake Sears and Auto Center (82 jobs lost), Front Royal Kmart (88 jobs lost), Pembroke Mall Sears renting out part of their store to DSW & Nordstrom Rack, Sears Holdings say they’re still looking for a “third tenant” for their occupied space. The current nearby Sears Auto Center will be rented out to REI. Colonial Heights Kmart (113 jobs lost), Virginia Beach Hilltop Square Shopping Center Kmart (82 jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost), Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost), Oak Harbor Kmart (68 jobs lost), Sodo Sears and Sears Auto Center (79 jobs lost), Everett Kmart (65 jobs lost), Marysville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost), Bluefield Sears store & Auto Center (64 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost), Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost), Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Ashwaubenon Kmart recently revealed now owned by Green Bay Packers, will be torn down (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (55 jobs lost), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost), Glendale Sears store & Auto Center (86 jobs lost), Janesville Kmart (70 jobs lost), Glendale Sears Rebuild center (67 jobs lost), Sheboygan Sears & Auto Center (at least 31 jobs lost), Eau Claire Kmart (93 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (59 jobs lost before Xmas), Sheboygan Sears Rebuild Center (30 jobs lost), Wauwatosa Kmart (103 jobs lost).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall (see update above, GGP will close Sears store by 2014)

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center (see update above, GGP closing store)

International

Operation Jupiter: Ebola comes roaring back in USAFRICOM’s West Africa!

27 June 2015 (19:48 UTC-07 Tango 01, 26 June 2015)/06 Tir 1394/10 Ramadan 1436/12 Ren-Wu (5th month) 4713

The governments of Guinea and Sierra Leone are scrambling to squash a new outbreak of deadly ebola filovirus.  12 new cases and six deaths, hundreds of people quarantined!

In Guinea 11 new ebola cases and six deaths reported on 25 June.  Families in affected areas now under quarantine.

In Sierra Leone 31 healthcare workers under quarantine after coming into contact with a pregnant woman who tested positive for ebola.

Operation Jupiter: U.S. soldier found dead in Korea

MERS: Spawn of Operation Jupiter?

Operation Jupiter: A small part of a larger military operation spreading disease at a hospital near you! 

Ebola & anthrax part of Operation Jupiter!

Jupiter, aka Jove, aka God

When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, an Ashen Horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth. 

 

Business/Economics

General Mills kills 1,200 California jobs! Discover & Intel kill 710 California jobs! Walmart charges manufacturers for the ‘privilege’ of selling their products!: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 26 June 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona: In Phoenix yet another restaurant shutdown, this time Kincaid’s Classic American Dining closing in July after 14 years.  The owners blamed years of city construction work which put their sales into a death spiral by blocking customer access to their establishment.  Also in Phoenix two TV stations merged, KPHO and KTVK, resulting in 14 jobs being eliminated.

Arkansas: Bentonville based Walmart just became even more evil.  Greedy administrators are now charging manufacturers for the privilege of selling their products! It’s being done under the guise of charging a stocking-storage fee for ‘warehousing inventory’!  Analysts say Walmart administrators are trying to offset crashing sales and employee pay raises.

California: In San Louis Obispo, after surviving the Great (deflationary) Depression and numerous recessions Pismo Beach Hardware shutting down in August.  Local news reports say city administrators have rezoned the property for food service, but apparently there is no restaurant set to move in.   In Santa Monica, Wilshire West Car Wash issued a shutdown WARN for August, 66 jobs lost.  In Chino, Closet Maid issued a shutdown WARN for September, 71 jobs lost.  In Los Angeles, King Meat issued a shutdown WARN for August, 227 jobs lost!  In Santa Barbara, upscale clothier Saks issued a shutdown WARN for July, 56 jobs lost. In Harbor City, Flying Food Group issued a layoff WARN for August, 121 jobs lost!  In Santa Clara and Folsom, computer chip maker Intel issued layoff WARNs saying 317 people will become unemployed in July!  In Long Beach, Boeing will layoff at least 15 people in August.  What automotive industry recovery? Also in Long Beach, Japan based Toyota finally issued a WARN saying 104 parts factory jobs will be eliminated in August!  In Pacoima, Brice Manufacturing announced they will eliminate 15 jobs in August.  In San Diego, Bridgepoint Education issued WARNs saying 19 people will be laid off in August.  What housing market recovery?  And San Diego based Genetically  Modified drugs maker Celladon began laying off employees, suspended research on new drugs and announced it might have to liquidate if it can’t sell itself to a foolish vulture capitalist investor.  Apparently their GMOed drugs don’t work.   In Irvine, Discover credit card issued a shutdown WARN for their Home Loans office, 393 home loan employees will be let go in August!  It’s part of Discover’s exit from the home loan business.  In Compton, Cal State Steel issued a shutdown WARN for September, 44 jobs lost.  Food producer Genreal Mills confirmed their Lodi factory will shutdown by the end of the year, 430 jobs lost!  This is not part of General Mills recent announcement that they’re culling 7-hundred more jobs, the Lodi shutdown was planned in 2014!  Administrators of the city of Lodi say the General Mills shutdown will impact other businesses, netting more than 1-thousand 2-hundred jobs lost for the city!

Colorado:  Like your smartphone?  Greenwood Village based rare earth mineral miner Molycorp now chapter 11 bankrupt busted blaming crashing commodity prices and crashing sales to electronics makers.

Connecticut: ObamaCare forced Bristol Hospital to layoff 37 employees, and shutdown six vacant positions.  Hospital administrators blamed state ‘lawmakers’ for cutting $2-million USD in Medicaid reimbursements, but directly blamed ObamaCare for the loss of $3-million in Medicare reimbursements!  Administrators also warn of more layoffs as they are expecting another $7-million in losses over the next two years!

Illinois: In Pilsen, after six years restaurant Nightwood shutting down in July.

Indiana: The Community Blood Center shutting down its donor centers in West Chester and Richmond by September.  This seems to be part of a secret plan connected to ObamaCare: “More stringent transfusion protocols, advances in medical science and Health Care Reform continue to impact how the blood supply is managed.”-Forbes

Michigan: Flint School District laid off more employees, this time 55 teachers. Another 16 employees retired. Because of what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome, and the increased cost of health insurance caused by ObamaCare, the school district is trying to cut $5.8-million!  The new owner of Hiller’s Market grocery stores, Kroger, announced that Hiller’s stores in Ann Arbor, Plymouth and South Lyon will shutdown immediately!  Hiller’s stores in West Bloomfield and Northville have already been shutdown!

Minnesota: The Saint Louis Park Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill shutdown without warning.  A now unemployed server who didn’t know her employer shutdown told local news media “They didn’t pay their liquor taxes, we ran out of beer and liquor last weekend, and I was here Monday working and nobody has told me anything.”  Across the country Toby Keith’s have been shutting down without warning since 2014.

Missouri: Janitorial products maker Continental Commercial (ContiCo) eliminating 155 jobs as they shutdown their Bridgeton factory!  Administrators say crashing sales are forcing them to consolidate operations.

Nevada: The city of North Las Vegas has won state supreme court cases that support their elimination of police jobs and the shutdown of the city’s jail.  Former employees claim the city failed to pay them their accrued vacation time.

New York: Durso Lefferts Boulevard Foods issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down their Richmond Hill grocery store in September, 83 jobs lost.  They blame crashing sales.

Ohio: In Dayton, the Community Blood Center shutting down its Donor Testing Laboratory in September.  This seems to be part of a secret plan connected to ObamaCare: “More stringent transfusion protocols, advances in medical science and Health Care Reform continue to impact how the blood supply is managed.”-Forbes

Oklahoma: Reports say the World’s largest oil service company, Texas based Schlumberger, laid off even more employees at their Bartlesville factory. The number of people laid off is not know and are supposedly on top of the 20-thousand global layoffs announced in April.

Pennsylvania: Olney Charter High School eliminating 36 jobs including the principal.  Employees say it’s retaliation for them forming their own union.

Texas: God refuses to stop ‘his’ Oak Cliff United Methodist Church from shutting down.  The pastor says the building needs at least $3-million in repairs, but the 120 church members cannot afford it and voted to shut it down.  In Wichita Falls, the WDS Global-Xerox call center shutting down “because it is no longer sustainable.”  257 jobs lost by August!  News reports say back in 2012 the call center employed 423 people, apparently 171 jobs had already been eliminated before the shutdown announcement, and this after city administrators gave WDS Global $3-million in tax breaks and cold hard taxpayer cash!

Virginia: Sweden based mining engineering company Sandvik announced it’s shutting down its Bristol factory and moving to Mexico.   Administrators blame the crashing U.S. mining industry, 74 U.S. jobs lost by the end of 2016.

Washington: The Golden Nugget Tukwila Casino officially shutdown, 69 jobs lost.  In Bellevue, after 41 years the Skate King roller rink shutdown, managers say the property owner leased the property to a motorcycle dealer.

Wisconsin: In Eau Claire, Maine based animal drugs lab IDEXX laid off 24 employees, indicating sales are crashing.  Metal caster Grede announced it is shutting down its Berlin foundry, 157 jobs lost by December!  As with other companies, Grede administrators say crashing sales are forcing them to consolidate.

25 June 2015: “This is part of a bigger plan.”

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.”

International

False Flag: U.S. backed Free Syrian Army working with Islamic State!

26 June 2015 (09:16 UTC-07 Tango 01)/05 Tir 1394/09 Ramadan 1436/11 Ren-Wu (5th month) 4713

Chinese news reports say today’s DAESH (Islamic State) attack on Syrian city Kobane was done with the implicit help of the Free Syrian Army, a rebel group openly favored by the Obama regime.

At least 120 silly-vilians living in Kobane have been mass executed by DAESH.  DAESH snuck into Kobane with the help of Free Syrian Army, who claimed they were their own Free Syrian Army personnel.  It turns out this is a standard practice between DAESH and Free Syrian Army.

It also explains why main U.S. led airstrikes have been ineffective, and backs up claims that only silly-vilians were killed by those airstrikes; Free Syrian Army has been protecting DAESH forces by telling U.S. led advisors that they are their own personnel, and by directing U.S. led airstrikes against silly-vilians that oppose them.

Some analyst in Syria believe Free Syrian Army and DAESH have joined together because Iranian backed Kurds (including female Kurdish Mujahideen whom I consider to be modern day Amazons) are kicking both their asses!

Israel now in open warfare with Iran, Syria and Lebanon! 

unknown illness among Syrian refugees?

Syria did not consent & UN did not issue resolution! 

U.S.

Human Rights Record of the United States in 2014

Civil rights are threatened by rampant violent crimes. According to the “Crime in the United States” released by the FBI, there were an estimated 1,163,146 violent crimes reported to law enforcement in 2013, of which 14,196 are murders, 79,770 are rapes, 345,031 robberies and 724,149 aggravated assaults (http://www.fbi.gov.) There were an estimated 367.9 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in 2013. The Market Watch announced 10 most dangerous cities in America (www.marketwatch.com, November 20, 2014)). The lowest ranking of the ten was Birmingham in Alabama, where 1,345 crimes were reported for every 100,000 residents, while in Detroit, 2,072 violent crimes were reported for 100,000 residents, the highest in the nation in 2013. In 2014, Los Angeles’s overall total of violent crimes was up 7.6 percent by early October, compared with the same time in 2013 (The Los Angeles Times, October 4, 2014). There was about 1,500 violent crimes registered a month in 2014. Meanwhile, gang violence in the U.S. was at an all time high. There were currently an estimated 1.7 million gang members spread throughout the country (www.insidermonkey.com, November 1, 2014).

Police officers were ignoring sex crimes on a regular basis. A report released in November by the inspector general of New Orleans found that of 1,290 sex crime calls for service assigned to five New Orleans police detectives from 2011 to 2013, 840 were designated as miscellaneous, and nothing at all was done (The New York Times, November 13, 2014).

Police and prosecutors were allowing tens of thousands of wanted felons to escape justice merely by crossing a state border (The USA Today, March 12, 2014).

The Wall Street Journal reported on December 3, 2014, that many of the law enforcement agencies did not submit the statistics about killings by police when enforcing laws to the FBI. The report found at least 1,800 police killings took place in 105 police departments between 2007 and 2012. The Associated Press reported on December 7, 2014 that at least 400 deaths happened every year as a result of the law enforcement activities by the U.S. police officers, most of who were not prosecuted. And some police officers had repeated killings on record, though they were investigated for every case. There were 55 police officers who were sued at least 10 times with one being sued for 28 times. Los Angeles Times reported on September 14 that since 2004 a committee reviewed 809 complaints of excessive force or misconduct at the Southwest border, but no police officers had been punished.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, an independent federal privacy watchdog, concluded that the National Security Agency’s (NSA) program to bulk phone call records was illegal (The New York Times, January 23, 2014).

Prisons in the U.S. were crowded and violence and deaths there were increasing. According to a report titled “Prisoners in 2013” by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. state and federal correctional facilities held an estimated 1,574,700 prisoners on December 31, 2013, an increase of 4,300 prisoners from yearend 2012 (www.bjs.gov, September 16, 2014).

….violence in prisons was occurring frequently. In 2012, 4,309 inmates died while in the custody of local jails or state prisons (www.bjs.gov, October 9, 2014). The number of deaths in local jails increased, from 889 in 2011 to 958 in 2012. In Rikers Island, a vast New York City jail complex, the use of force by correction officers jumped nearly 240 percent over the last decade since 2004 (The New York Times, March 19, 2014). In the Julia Tutwiler Prison in Alabama, there was a large amount of complaints about the sex abuse and harassment involving guards and supervisors. However, state investigators time and again classified the complaints as unfounded or unsubstantiated and often recommended that the matters be closed without further action (The Washington Post, October 6, 2014).

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said that the world sees “a democracy that’s not working” (www.usatoday.com, October 11, 2013). It revealed the institutional root for the fact that the political rights of U.S. citizens had not been effectively protected.

Money is still a deciding factor for the U.S. politics…..The influence of average Americans on the election results diminished (www.usatoday.com, November 2, 2014).

The voting rights in the U.S. are restricted by economic income, race and other factors, and many citizens were prevented from voting.

According to a report by the Huffington Post on December 2, 2014, only nine percent of Americans approved of Congress in the weeks leading up to the midterms elections (www.huffingtonpost.com, December 2, 2014).

The living conditions for homeless people continuously deteriorated; the income and property gaps caused by distribution inequality continued to enlarge; ordinary people’s rights of health and education could not be well ensured as relative resources were more frequently used to serve the rich.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives overwhelmingly targeted racial and ethnic minorities as it expanded its use of controversial drug sting operations. At least 91 percent of the people agents have locked up using those stings were racial or ethnic minorities, and nearly all were either black or Hispanic (www.usatoday.com, July, 20, 2014).

Child laborers were engaged in dangerous works. American Labor Law allows juniors to work, as long as his or her parents consent and the work does not directly conflict with school hours. That means, it is perfectly legal for a 12-year-old to work 50 or 60 hours a week in tobacco fields. Based on interviews with 141 child tobacco workers, aged 7 to 17, in the country’s four largest tobacco-producing states: North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, nearly three-quarters of children interviewed reported feeling sick – with nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, difficulty in breathing, or other serious symptoms while working in tobacco fields. Many of these symptoms were consistent with acute nicotine poisoning (www.politico.com, September 16, 2014).

In the field of international human rights, the U.S. has long refused to approve some core human rights conventions of the United Nations and voted against some important UN human rights resolutions. More than that, the U.S. continued to go even further to violate human rights in other countries, including infringing on the privacy of citizens of other countries with the overseas monitoring project, killing large number of innocent civilians of other countries in drone strikes, and raping and killing locals by U.S. soldiers garrisoned overseas.

Read more damning examples here

International

MERS: U.S. Army reveals suspected cases! Doctor dies, was allowed to spread disease! Sick man allowed to go to China! Is this biological warfare?

26 June 2015 (04:03 UTC-07 Tango 01)/05 Tir 1394/09 Ramadan 1436/11 Ren-Wu (5th month) 4713

Confirmed number of MERS (Coronavirus) cases in Republic of Korea (RoK) now at 181. All are connected to hospitals or ambulance services. Deaths now at 31. Up until now almost every person that died was old and had other health problems.  This time one of the latest victims to die was a 70 years old healthy doctor treating MERS patients.

What is significant about the doctor’s death is that, according to Korean news reports, she was exposed to MERS on 05 June and for some reason the health authorities suspected it but didn’t tell her!   Then on 10 June she began showing symptoms, but for some reason health administrators allowed her to treat patients at several hospitals even though they allegedly knew she was infected!  She became so sick that she was admitted to hospital on 20 June, then told she had MERS on 22 June and died two days later.  Another significant issue with the doctor’s infection and death, while almost all the people who’ve died had other health problems the doctor was considered healthy with no preexisting medical problems.

RoK health administrators say 81 people have recovered from the infection.  The number of silly-vilians under quarantine has dropped to 2,931.

The United States Army has revealed that two military families living at Army Garrison Yongsan had been under Medical Martial Law quarantine due to suspected exposure to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.  The USA (under U.S. grammar rules USA without punctuation stands for United States Army, just as USAF is United States Air Forces, USN=United States Navy, USMC=United States Marine Corps.  U.S.A. with punctuation is the proper way to abbreviate United States of America.  Only the evil British empire uses USA without punctuation to mean United States of America, and that’s a clue that your ‘U.S.’ main stream news media is controlled by the British because they rarely, if ever, punctuate U.S.A. when referring to the country) now says the families are clear of quarantine.  Reports say the two families were quarantined after at least one U.S. service personnel and one dependent were put into hospital, sometime on or before 15 June.  Their respective families were then quarantined.  On 25 June USFK (United States Forces Korea) medical personnel released all the individuals from quarantine.

In China, a 44 years old Korean who arrived in-country infected with MERS (back on 26 May) has been cleared by Chinese doctors to return home.  Chinese health administrators suggested that Korea allowed the man to fly to Hong Kong (and then to Huizhou City via Shenzhen) knowing he was sick!  He had been in contact with MERS infected people in Korea, and even complained of feeling sick on 21 May.  A Korean doctor did advise against traveling to China, but the man was allowed to go anyway!

Vietnam reports that a 24 years old Russian woman, and her boyfriend, who were suspected of being infected with MERS have been cleared.  Vietnam is now conducting hospital drills in preparation for possible outbreak.  The first drill was conducted in a pediatric hospital, even though the overwhelming majority of MERS victims in Korea are not children.  Health administrators in Ho Chi Minh City say they have designated one hospital for adult MERS victims and two hospitals for children.  Do they know something we don’t?

Indonesia reports that a toddler suspected of being sick with MERS is clear of the coronavirus.  The two years old has the flu.  Indonesian health administrators revealed why Vietnam is prepping for masses of children to become infected; the coronavirus has mutated to attack younger people.  Prior to 2014 the majority of victims averaged about 55 years of age, now it’s down to 49 years. Another disturbing trend is that the death rate is going up over the years; in 2013 it was 39%, by the end of 2014 it hit 47%.  Administrators had another warning: “…go see a doctor to treat any chronic diseases you might have. Chronic diseases that attack lungs, heart and kidneys could increase the prospect of contracting MERS…..Don’t drink raw camel milk and don’t visit camel farms.”-Tjandra Yoga Aditama, Health Ministry

Paranoia in Thailand?

U.S. soldier found dead

When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, an Ashen Horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Business/Economics

No more Cheerios, Yoplait or Progresso? “This is part of a bigger plan.” ObamaCare kills more hospitals! “Life is too short!” No more Sizzler?: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 25 June 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Mission Viejo based restaurant chain Sizzler blindsided by its Australian operator, who said it is shutting down its restaurants in the Down Under!  The Aussie Sizzler franchise is owned by Collins Foods who stated “We no longer consider Sizzler to be a strategic growth prospect in Australia and therefore we will not be investing further capital.”   The city administrators of Covina are crediting their elimination of nine City Hall jobs for helping them to create a “precariously balanced” budget.  Because of ObamaCare, Palomar Health announced yet another hospital shutdown, this time Pomerado Hospital in Poway, hundreds of jobs lost and hundreds of patients affected!  Administrators have previously blamed ObamaCare for causing their hospitals to lose tens of millions of dollars.  It’s been revealed that Ireland based drugs makers Allergan and Actavis eliminated at least 1,577 jobs in the city of Irvine, since January!  It’s the result of Allergan taking over Actavis (Actavis is now officially called Allergan).  But wait there’s more!  Allergan is now trying to takeover Los Angeles based Kythera, and admitted jobs would be culled there as well.  Irvine based Local.com is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, blaming it on a sudden crash in web traffic.  In Sonora, Bertelli’s Pharmacy shutdown. The family owners of the 53 years old pharmacy chain have been consolidating their operations with Rite Aid.

Florida: In Saint Pete Beach, after 30 years Nancy Markoe Fine American Crafts Gallery shutting down as soon as the inventory is sold.  The 71 years old owner said “There are so many things I want to do and it’s time.”  

Iowa: Williamsburg based Kinze Manufacturing has become the latest farm equipment maker to go down.  Months after cutting work hours to 30 hours per week (in-line with avoiding ObamaCare mandated benefits, but of course they didn’t say that) administrators announced they must eliminate 215 jobs across the U.S.!  Employees say administrators gave them no warning (which is typical and I’m still amazed how many sheeple workers in the U.S. are shocked that their employers can kill their jobs without warning).  As with other farm equipment makers, it’s blamed on crashing sales: “Despite our efforts, the current demand does not support our present staffing level.”-Kinze Manufacturing news release

Massachusetts:  Back in January, drugs maker CRO Praxel predicted big sales in 2015, but guess what?  CRO Praxel now eliminating 850 jobs!  Administrators are now “restructuring” due to the expected big sales actually “normalizing to some extent” (Orwellian code for declining sales).

Michigan: In Ottawa County, ObamaCare, along with massive state taxpayer funding cuts, forcing Community Mental Health to layoff 30 people without warning: “…a $2 million cut, and so there’s been 20 to 30 employees that have been laid off and services that aren’t being provided.”-Al Vanderberg, county commissioner

Minnesota: Like your Cheerios, Yoplait and Progresso?  Minneapolis based food maker General Mills just announced yet another mass layoff, 725 jobs eliminated globally!  Administrators still blame crashing sales, and say “restructuring” will continue into 2017 (showing you how little faith in any “recovery” General Mills has).  The restructuring is known as Project Catalyst and in the past 12+ months has resulted in the shutdown of two dough factories, and with todays job culling announcement, elimination of at least 2,125 food producing jobs!

Mississippi: Piccadilly Cafeteria in Edgewater Mall shutdown.  The manager of the mall would only say “This is part of a bigger plan.”

Missouri: God refused to stop ‘his’ Chesterfield based Mercy Health from eliminating 474 jobs across their multi-state hospital system!  I guess ObamaCare showed them (Missouri is nicknamed The Show Me State)!  Mercy administrators directly blame ObamaCare: “…Mercy faces increasing challenges to our reimbursement structure as we adjust to reductions mandated by the Affordable Care Act and other budget cuts, as well as the lack of Medicaid expansion in most of our states.”

Montana: The state prison system eliminating 16 jobs due to lack of money.  The gov’na’s budget director said the “public won’t really notice a difference” because it turns out they were vacant positions anyway.  Does that means taxpayer money was supposedly being set aside for 16 vacant jobs, that now don’t exist?

New Hampshire: The city of Derry laid off eight fire fighters and then shutdown the Hampshire Road Fire Station, due to lack of money.

New Jersey: In Vineland, the Amish Market shutting down in July.  No reason has been given, but apparently their sales weren’t good enough to justify keeping to their ten years lease.  Neighboring businesses say they will lose customer traffic after the Amish Market shuts down.

New York:  NYC based Verizon (formerly Bell Atlantic) is now the owner of AOL, expect massive layoffs.   NYC based drugs maker Brystol Myers Squib announced a restructuring plan that will be completed by 2018.  The plan is to consolidate research work into fewer locations, the move will affect at least 7-hundred employees in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Washington!   Swizterland based drugs maker Novartis issued a WARN announcing a 5th round of layoffs at their Suffern factory, taking place by September.  The Novartis Suffern factory is shutting down in early 2016.  I think it’s part of the 2014 deal between Novartis and British empire based GlaxoSmithKline (Novartis took over GSK’s drugs ops and GSK took over Novartis’ vaccine ops).  Food service company Sodexo issued yet another shutdown WARN, this time they lost their contract with Colgate University, 99 jobs lost by July.  In Rochester, iconic Eastman Kodak has been killing jobs slowly for the past couple of years, about one or two per month.   Now they’ve canceled their contract with Johnson Controls, 32 Johnson Controls jobs lost by September.  In Pearl River, the owners of the 63 years old Ringer’s Furniture shutting it down in September to begin their ‘christian’ ministry.

North Carolina: In Raleigh, after five years Natty Green’s Pub & Brewing shutting down by August because of its greedy landlord.  Apparently the landlord suddenly backed out of a recent lease agreement and jacked up the rent so high that the pub owners can’t pay!  The pub owners say on their last day of operations all sales will go to the employees.  In Durham, Gregoria’s Cuban Steakhouse being shutdown and replaced.  The charity March of Dimes shutting down their Fayetteville and Wilmington operations.  Local administrators said the announcement was a “surprise” and that March of Dimes is now restructuring to focus on parts of the U.S. that have the greatest donations potetial.  In other words they’re following the money.  It also suggests that people in the Fayetteville-Wilmington areas will no longer have access to March of Dimes services: “So really, I guess March of Dimes is not going to have any presence in southeastern North Carolina any more.”-Vance Townsend, local board of directors

Ohio: What automotive industry recovery?  Akron based tire maker Goodyear announced it is shutting down its British empire United Kingdom tire factory, 330 jobs lost!  By the way the British spell tire T-Y-R-E, just one of many examples that U.S. English is not the same as British English.  After 101 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) That Which Cannot be Named refused to stop the shutdown of the Greater Cleveland Hadassah.   It’s blamed on big investor scam artists, and those silly Jews being money grubbers: “The change began four years ago due to a lot of cutbacks Hadassah was forced to make because they were a victim of the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme.”-Arlene Weider, chapter president

Pennsylvania: Big Heart Pet Brands has a new owner (Smucker) who has decided to shutdown their Pittsburgh factory by April 2016, at least 225 jobs lost!  After 89 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) The Red Rose restaurant shutdown: “Life is too short! We only have so many good years left and by the grace of God, we think we have enough resources to retire and what we want to do is just enjoy whatever years with have left with each other and our family.”-Nick Flouras

South Carolina: Lake City shutdown their jail due to lack of money, but at the same time they said they will hire more cops.

Texas: In Austin, music venue Holy Mountain shutting down in October, by the greedy landlord.  Holy Mountain owners blame a 45% increase in rent coupled with taxes, insurance and fees the operation of the music venue is now finically impossible.

Virginia: Printpack is shutting down their 34 years old label factory in Fredericksburg blaming crashing sales, 150 jobs lost!

Washington: What construction industry recovery?  Simpson Lumber Company shutdown their Shelton mill, 275 jobs lost!

Wisconsin: Aglio Ristorante in Janesville shutdown.  It sounds like the property owner kicked them out in favor of another business.

24 June 2015: “There are no more presents under the Christmas tree!” 

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

Fighting over food ramps up in Illinois! “There are no more presents under the Christmas tree!” Idaho faces up to the music of Disappearing Students! Kansas & Missouri admit to failed economic warfare, at taxpayer expense!: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 24 June 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California:  The Los Angeles Unified School District approved plans to eliminate 774 jobs despite an increase in funding and a 10% pay raise for employees!  Administrators blame what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome, but critics say the new budget, with its pay raises and mass layoffs, doesn’t make sense. It was also revealed that LAUSD has to pay more into their employee retirement plans (ObamaCare anybody?). The LAUSD superintendent commented that “There are no more presents under the Christmas tree!” Local news reports say the superintendent implied he would be stepping down within the next six months.  The East Contra Costa Fire District is now shelling out $15,000 to settle claims by former firefighters who say they were unfairly laid off.  Apparently the district failed to comply with union contracts that said they must negotiate with employees before laying them off.  So much for saving taxpayer money.  In Chula Vista, a judge shutdown the Eyecandy Showgirls strip joint.  The employees have been accused of illegal lap dances and drug use.

Idaho:  Idaho State University (ISU, my alma mater) is finally facing up to the fact they’ve been losing students (what I call DSS) for years, and now they’re cutting programs.  Some courses, like German and French, will no longer be offered as a BA degree, just a piddly certificate (in fact many other courses will now get you just a certificate).  The administrators voted to eliminate their BS in Theater, Bachelors in University Studies,  MS in Physical Education Pedagogy, Graduate Certificate in Gerontological Studies and Bachelor of Music in Music/Business.  ISU will also shutdown their Environmental Science and Policy Research Institute, Center for Environmental Sensing, Geospatial Research Facility, Musculoskeletal Research Institute , Permian Research Institute and International Center for Bayesian Methods (by Fall 2020).  This means mass layoffs, but administrators didn’t mention it.  ISU is so proud of their austerity that they went on local TV news to brag about it: “…ISU also received a commendation from our regional accreditor, The Northwest Commissioner On College and Universities, for the process we undertook, that we can be a model for other states.”-Selena Grace, Associate Vice President for Institution Effectiveness, KPVI interview

Illinois: Another food bank going down, this time in Cahokia, and this time it’s purely political.  Christina Walker, director of the Cahokia Community Basket, says they’re being shutdown because they opposed the election of the current mayor, but admitted “I’ve not been given a reason. I spoke with Curtis McCall yesterday in his office personally and asked why am I being put on administrative leave and the purpose of us vacating the building and he told me ‘Due to future litigation I cannot comment at this time.'”  The food bank feeds 1-thousand 2-hundred people every month.  Local news reports say representatives of other food banks told them that somebody was making threatening phone calls to them, implying they were with the Cahokia Community Basket.  News reports indicate the Rock Island Public Library plans to shutdown satellite libraries after dropping their association with Friends of the Library, and yet claiming there is a “surplus of money”.

Kansas: Can you say Double Dumb-Asses?  State ‘lawmakers’ admitted there is an economic war between Kansas and Missouri.  Commerce Secretary Pat George announced the warring parties are about to make peace because, he admitted, all the taxpayer funded incentives to steal businesses/jobs away from each other had no positive impact on their respective economies!     In Wichita, after 90 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Rieger Medical Supply shutdown.  The owner blamed the internet and “massive government regulations”, but the final straw was when her husband died: “A family business doesn’t do well without a family.”-Karin Rieger

Louisiana: Baker School District administrators revealed they’ve already laid off employees for the upcoming school year, but refuse to say how many will become unemployed, which will include teachers with tenure.  They’re short $1.2-million.

Massachusetts: Reports say Marshfield Public Schools’ plan to eliminate jobs has been softened by the retirement of 25 teachers.

Michigan: In Escabana, the new owners of New Page Mill laid off 19 employees, in an effort to become more efficient.  Utica Community Schools laying off 34 teachers due to loss of students and federal taxpayer funded grants.  News reports say the district lost 1-thousand 3-hundred students in the past ten years.  Farmington Public Schools just increased their layoff list by 24 more employees.  At this point at least 180 people are being laid off before the beginning of the 2015-16 school year: “It’s not as though we have a hidden pot of money.”-George Gurrola, vice president

Minnesota: After less than one year beer seller Four Firkins shutdown.  The owner blames competition and new anti-beer laws.

Missouri: After only two years the Edwardsville Robust Wine Bar shutdown.  The owners said they have plans to expand but their Edwardsville location was actually preventing that.

Nebraska: Too Big to Jail TD Ameritrade laid off less than 30 people, mainly in Omaha.

New Jersey: A law firm that specializes in protecting evil creditors in bankruptcy and foreclosure cases, Zucker, Goldberg & Ackerman, says it’s not profitable anymore and is shutting down.  The WARN report said 289 people to become jobless before the end of August!

New York: In Latham, after 24 years Book Barn shutdown. The owner said it’s not because of lack of sales, in fact he’s making profits, instead he says his greedy landlord is kicking him out by jacking up the rent to a point that is not doable!   In NYC, after several layoffs Spanier Building Maintenance issued a shutdown WARN for September.  Master Lock announced it will shutdown its 85 years old Rochester SentrySafe factory in 2016.  The company is joining the mass exodus from New York and moving production elsewhere, 350 jobs lost beginning in January! Administrators directly blame the suck-ass U.S. economy: “This decision has been made to help us remain competitive in the marketplace by eliminating excess capacity in our domestic supply chain. We are optimizing our operational footprint by consolidating locations and adding meaningful scale to other existing facilities.”

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh based Education Management Corporation announced it will eliminate another 3-hundred jobs across the U.S. in “ongoing efforts to offer students a great learning experience while keeping education affordable”.  Back in May, Education Management corporation shutdown all 15 of its Art Institute campuses.  What automotive & housing markets recovery?  Michigan based maker of automotive and building glass, Guardian Industries, issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down their Jefferson Hills factory, 114 jobs lost by the beginning of August!  It was revealed that back in November the company made a shutdown deal with the employees’ union, and it might be connected to the costs of failing to meet environmental regulations, including a $25-thousand fine.

Texas: In San Antonio, Arcade Midtown Kitchen shutdown so the owner could pursue other interests.

Washington: Assisted living center Emeritus Senior Living laid off 10 HQ employees.

22 – 23 June 2015: ObamaCare wreaks havoc on the insurance industry!

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.”

International

Global Food Crisis: Major insurance company says prepare for World War F!

24 June 2015 (12:35 UTC-07 Tango 01)/03 Tir 1394/07 Ramadan 1436/09 Ren-Wu (5th month) 4713

F = Food

“Food security has a major influence on national and international politics. A globalised world and food system means that it is a system particularly vulnerable to governments and businesses succumbing to panic, hoarding foods or limiting exports. In the past, non-governmental/ intergovernmental organisations have measured and managed the risks faced by vulnerable populations. Now, insurance is well placed to play a large role in progress and in enhancing food production, processing and trading systems – by providing effective risk management advice and expertise, as well as risk transfer.”-Feast or Famine: Business and Insurance Implications of Food Safety and Security

Milan, Italy, is hosting the Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life expo until October.  One organization attending is the iconic British empire Lloyd’s of London who recently issued a dire warning, titled Feast or Famine: Business and Insurance Implications of Food Safety and Security.

Lloyd’s analyst warn of skyrocketing food prices and crashing economies caused by population booms, lack of water and other resources, and the threat of a new form of terrorism that targets food supplies.  The result, they say, will be food riots around the World.

As an insurance company Lloyd’s is concerned with the growing risk of providing agricultural insurance, yet is so arrogant about their service that they think insurance is “vital to increasing agricultural production”.

Another danger that Lloyd’s is pushing as the answer to all our prayers is the creation of more and more GMO crops!  (surprisingly there are a vast number of sheeple who still don’t know what GMO is)

Lloyd’s is pushing the idea of forcing everybody involved in the food supply chain to have insurance.  But how does Lloyd’s propose replacing damaged or destroyed or lost food stuffs?  With money?  If there ain’t no food it doesn’t matter how much money you have.

Idaho wheat unfit for human consumption?!

When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a Black Horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; but do not damage the oil and the wine.”

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 22 – 23 June 2015: Insurance company dumps Idaho as ObamaCare wreaks havoc on the insurance industry!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Isn’t it ironic that the healthcare reform written by the insurance industry (Affordable Care Act aka ObamaCare) is actually destroying insurance companies?  Read on to find out why I ask such a question.

Arizona: Five Coco’s Bakery Restaurants shutdown; one in Sun City and four in Phoenix!  Coco’s was sold to a competitor.  In Scottsdale, the Bamboo Club shutdown as well as Frasher’s Steakhouse and Lounge (it’s supposedly moving to Phoenix).  In Arcadia, the Milagro Grill shutdown.

California: The Employment Development Department now publishing WARNs bi-monthly, instead of daily.  Santa Clara based computer chip maker Intel officially confirmed massive layoffs across several states.  An internal Intel memo read “Yes, we are implementing headcount reductions” in Arizona and Oregon, but did not give numbers.  The mass layoffs are blamed on crashing computer sales.  In San Diego, after 36 years the owners of popular Lunch Bag Deli say their landlord is forcing them to shutdown.  They say they got a 26 day eviction notice with no explanation.  An employee of the  real estate company that manages the property would only say, to local news media, that the lease was up and they didn’t want to renew.  In Escondido, Palomar Health reports that ObamaCare is causing their Palomar Medical Center to lose $20-million USD per year! As a result they’re considering shutting it down (despite a previous announcement that the 56 acre hospital was going to be doubled in size!), forcing the 8-thousand patients who use the hospital to travel at least 12 miles for healthcare: “The right thing to do and the right decision at the right time is to make the recommendation to the board of directors they should close the downtown campus.”-Bob Hemker, CEO

Colorado: Englewood mining company Midway Gold now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Connecticut: Bloomfield based global health insurance company Cigna is fighting off attempts by Indiana based Anthem.  Recently Anthem tried to buyout Cigna for $53.8-billion.  If a takeover is successful you can bet they’ll be massive layoffs in an attempt to eliminate all the redundant jobs as a result.  A recent Nightly Business Report stated that the result of insurance company mergers will be higher premiums for individuals.  What was that about ObamaCare reducing the costs of healthcare?

Florida: After three years of operations, Jacksonville based non-profit crowdfunding venue One Spark laid off all but three employees.  Administrators blame it on a lack of “focus”.  In Rivera Beach, wholesaler Garden of Life issued a WARN for September, 28 people will be laid off.  In Clearwater, the Burger King on US19 and Sunset Point Road shutdown for failing health inspections.  In Tampa, the Tampa Tap Room shutdown for 30 health code violations.  The Paradise Biryani Pointe shutdown for 41 health code violations.

Hawaii: After 49 years the owner of two iconic restaurants is shutting them down due to health problems.  The restaurant Kenny’s will shutdown by 05 July, and Kenny’s Express will shutdown 04 July.

Idaho: In Boise, after 32 years the owners of women’s clothier Barbara Barbara announced they’re shutting down at the end of July, health problems convinced them it was time to retire.  The Department of Labor finally published a WARN issued by Assurant insurance company, submitted back on the 15th.  ObamaCare forcing Assurant to eliminate 65 health insurance jobs in Boise by August.  If you’ve been following my updates New York City based Assurant recently announced it is getting out of the health insurance business because, as CEO Alan Colberg said, Obama Care isn’t slashing & burning health care funding big enough or fast enough: “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.”

Illinois:  What automotive industry recovery? Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar laid off another 50 people at their East Peoria factory, on top of the recent 120! It’s blamed on the crashing mining industry.  H&S Care Center shutting down over the next couple of weeks.  News reports say the nursing home has a number of code violations, and was recently fined $12,500 after a patient went on a stabbing rampage in April (you see, you don’t need a gun to be violent).

Iowa: After years of arguing between Scott County and the owner of  Lake Canyada Mobile Home Park, the county is forcing the park to shutdown by cutting off the watersupply!   At first it was to shutdown by the end of the month, but there are so many tenants with nowhere to go that the shutdown date has been pushed back to the end of July.  County administrators claim the water-sewer system for the mobile home park must be upgraded, but the park owner doesn’t want to pay for it.

Kentucky: State Health Department is shutting down three Women’s Infant & Children offices, 12 jobs lost.  Administrators blame lack of taxpayer funding and lack of people signing up for the measly $40 per month in food assistance.   Louisville based health insurance company Humana is considering a takeover bid by Connecticut based Aetna.   If the deal is accepted then the 12-thousand Humana employees, and the more than 47-thousand employees with Aetna, will be threatened.   A recent Nightly Business Report stated that the result of insurance company mergers will be higher premiums for individuals. What was that about ObamaCare reducing the costs of healthcare?  Texas based oil pipeline company TMK Ipsco issued a mass layoff WARN saying at least 150 Wilder steel mill employees will be laid off in July!  That’s on top of the 115 laid off this month!

Louisiana: Texas based oil holdings company Exterran issued a shutdown WARN for its Broussard oil equipment factory, 60 jobs lost between August and December.

Nevada: Colorado based & bankrupt Midway Gold shutdown their Pan Mine ops, blaming lack of money.  Administrators refused to say how many jobs lost.

New Jersey: Salem County administrators went back on their word and will indeed eliminate jobs.  A ‘letter to the editor’ revealed at least one person laid off already, and an undisclosed number going into next year.

New York: Volunteers of America Upstate New York announced they’re shutting down 11 thrift stores, apparently to focus on its services for low income families, but the fact their thrift stores lost more than $1-million last year is a better reason.  In NYC, God refuses to stop the layoff of 83 employees of Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home Boys Town operations across The Big Apple.  The WARN says the layoffs will take place in September and blames the bad economy.  Also in The Big Apple, New York Life Insurance Company issued a WARN saying they are moving between October and March (they didn’t say where to) and at least 17 people will become unemployed.  And the city of New York has become the second U.S. city (after San Francisco) to shutdown school during the Asian Lunar New Year.  Administrators say it proves they’re respectful of other ethic groups, but it’s really about saving a lot of money by shutting down schools for a week.

North Carolina: Madison County School District forced to shutdown their Laurel Elementary school.  It’s blamed on what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.   AB Tech announced it will shutdown the Haynes building and the Technology Commercialization Center on its Enka campus. News reports say AB Tech is prepping the Enka campus for sale.  It’s blamed on the loss of $2-million in county taxpayer funding.  It’s been revealed that for-profit managed county owned Yadkin Valley Community Hospital shutdown, 150 jobs lost at the end of May!  News reports blame disputes between the greedy for-profit managers and the county over the lease.

Ohio:   Cincinnati based Too Big to Jail Fifth Third Bancorp (Fifth Third Bank: The Curious Bank) will shutdown/sell-off 130 offices and other properties!  Administrators say they need to save $60-million per year.  After five years non-profit Boneyfiddle Arts Center shutdown, due to lack of funding: “It is really sad and painful for us, because we worked so hard to accomplish what we had.  When we realized we could not meet our strategic goals we knew it was the logical choice.”-Jamie Benedict

Pennsylvania: In Garfield, after five years restaurant Salt of the Earth to shutdown in August.  The owners are going to focus on their other business, architecture.

Tennessee: The McNairy County Board of Education eliminating 20 jobs; 15 current employees and five vacant teacher jobs.

Texas: The city of Brownsville shutdown its public swimming pools to all but those attending children’s swimming lessons.  City administrators were not able to hire enough lifeguards, not for a lack of money but for a lack of qualified applicants.

Washington: In Puget Sound, Boeing laid off another 153 employees!

West Virginia: After 32 years Blatt’s Greenhouse, in Lavalette, shutdown.

Wisconsin: The Wisconsin State Journal laid off four people and eliminated at least three vacant positions.

19 – 21 June 2015: “…our journey is coming to an end…” “…leadership does not care….”

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.”