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International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 01 – 05 January 2015: Top Afghan official suddenly dies inside the U.S.! Dumb-ass U.S. taxpayer funded programs for women benefit only the top 1% of females! Karzai still in charge? 20-thousand strong Special Forces offensive!

More proof that the female 1% are just as corrupt as their male counterparts.  The U.S. Office of Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has reviewed U.S. taxpayer funded (mainly paid for by the middle and lower classes) Afghan Women Empowerment programs and suspects that the majority of the money is going to upper class and elite Afghan females.  The main U.S. agency in charge of the programs is the terrorist group known as USAID.  SIGAR has made it clear that USAID routinely refuses to cooperate in showing SIGAR where the money goes.

Here’s a prime example of the the way USAID totally wasted the taxes paid by U.S. citizens: In 2010 U.S. taxes were paid to the Afghan National Women’s Cricket Team.  It turns out that in 2010 there was no such thing as the Afghan National Women’s Cricket Team: “National Women’s Cricket Team does not exist, the situation is not very much prepared for developing women’s cricket in Afghanistan!”-Nasimullah Danish,  Afghanistan Cricket Board

So who got the money?  You taxpayers in the United States are double dumb asses!!

And speaking of corruption, the former chairman of the Afghan High Office of Oversight and Anti-corruption died, in the United States.  He suddenly flew to the U.S. ostensibly to undergo surgery, but died soon after arriving.   Azizullah Ludin was also the man in charge of the recent election debacle (Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan) and Secretary of the Lower House of Parliament.

Badghis Province:  In Bala Murghab District, local police say a magnetic bomb planted on a Afghan National Army (ANA) vehicle exploded, killing one soldier and wounding four.

Ghazni Province:  In Ghazni City, a female doctor and her husband were assassinated.  Local police say they have no clues as to who did it or why.  In Qarabagh District, two Criminal Investigation Department cops killed and two wounded when they drove over a landmine.

Helmand Province: In Sangin District, the ANA admitted that two of their own were responsible for the recent artillery attack on a wedding party.  The ANA says it will now start court martial action against two U.S.-NATO trained soldiers for firing their mortar at the wedding party.  Many dozens of people were killed or wounded.  The bride died of her wounds in the local hospital.  In Lashkargah City, a magnetic bomb exploded on a car in a bank park lot, killing three employees and a cop.

Herat Province: In Shindand District, a cook working at the police HQ assassinated a cop, then escaped and joined the local Mujahideen.  In Herat City, witnesses say two men on a motorcycle threw a hand grenade at the Pakistani consulate.  No reports of casualties.

Jowzjan Province:  In Qosh Tapa District, government administrators reported they bribed 200 Mujahideen to switch sides, however, before the deal could be concluded loyal Mujahideen launched an attack, killing at least five people and wounding at least nine.  Government administrators say this is the second time this has happened in the past week

Kabul Province: In Kabul City, a Kamikaze car bomber rammed a European Union Police (EUPOL) vehicle, one person dead and five wounded.  ‘Former’ president Hamid Karzai revealed to Reuters that he is still in charge: “President Ashraf Ghani and I are meeting very, very often. Or, almost daily……the issues that have significance to the whole of the Afghan people, I’ll be there. That’s where we meet and discuss, and it’s a very good cooperation.”

Kapisa Province: In Mahmud-i-Raqi City, an evil 1% elitist district attorney ordered the homes of three families burned to the ground.  Police prevented the home owners from putting out the fires!

Khost Province: In Tani District, police shot and killed a man on a motorcycle.  They claim he was a Kamikaze bomber.  In Khost City, police got into a firefight with a Kamikaze bomber, who blew himself up once he ran out of bullets.  In Spera District, government forces say a coalition drone strike killed seven insurgents from Pakistan.

Kunduz Province:  Bush-Obama lackey war criminal Abdul Rashid Dostum announced a major offensive against Mujahideen, using 20-thousand U.S.-NATO trained special operations forces.  Dostum says his next target will be Kunar Province.

Nangarhar Province: In Jalalabad City, a magnetic bomb exploded on a border patrol vehicle, killing one cop and wounding two.  On the Jalalabad-Torkham highway, a Kamikaze car bomber attacked a NATO convoy.  There are no reports of casualties, but reports say one NATO vehicle was damaged.

Paktika Province:  In Gayan District, government administrators say a U.S.-NATO airstrike killed 18 people.

Parwan Province: Reports that an explosion at Bagram airbase killed one occupation coalition personnel.

Zabul Province: Near Lashkar Gah City, a bomb planted on a cop car exploded killing two people and wounding at least 11.  Police report that, amazingly, the cop driving the car was not hurt.

A major Afghan Mujahideen support group has published data regarding Mujahideen achievements for 2014:

“A total of 15554 attacks were carried out by Mujahideen on enemy forces throughout the year 2014, rounding out to around 41 attacks daily.

812 foreign invaders were killed throughout this year with 364 wounded which rounds out to around 2 persons killed and 1 wounded daily.

ANA, Police and Arbaki militiamen killed last year totals 22564 with 14807 wounded, rounding out to around 61 killed daily and 40 wounded.

The last year campaign killed 764 high-ranking enemy commanders making it around 2 commanders killed daily.

 A total of 5063 enemy military vehicles (APCs, pickup trucks, logistics trucks and other vehicles) were destroyed last year, rounding out to around 78 destroyed daily.

Total enemy helicopters and aircrafts downed last year is 26.

 Similarly the total number of Mujahideen martyred throughout 2014 is 930 fighters with 1251 injured, rounding out to around 2 martyrs daily with 3 others injured.

50 Mujahideen vehicles were also destroyed last year.

Similarly the Islamic Emirate had great achievements last year, 2014, in the field of recruiting and peeling off personnel from enemy ranks and assimilating them into ordinary life. Due to the untiring efforts of the personnel from the Recruitment Commission of the Islamic Emirate throughout 2014, a total of 3545 people were taken out of enemy ranks and united with Mujahideen. The complete details of these persons, their names, villages, districts etc are published monthly by Al-Emarah website.”

27-31 december 2014: Police are the number 1 rapists?

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Occupy your Failed State! The less money you make the more taxes you pay! New study shows state & local taxes overwhelmingly favor the 1%!

18 January 2015 (03:20 UTC-07 Tango)/27 Rab al’Awwal 1436/28 Dey 1393/28 Yi-Chou 4712

A new study shows that even in U.S. states with no official state level income tax the less money you make the higher the percentage of taxes you pay: “Combining all state and local income, property, sales and excise taxes that Americans pay, the nationwide average effective state and local tax rates by income group are 10.9 percent for the poorest 20 percent of individuals and families, 9.4 percent for the middle 20 percent and 5.4 percent for the top 1 percent.“-Who Pays: A Distributional Analysis of the Tax Systems in All Fifty States (fifth edition)

In fact, the U.S. state of Washington (which has no state level income tax) kisses the asses of the 1% the most: Lowest 20% pay 16.8% in various forms of taxes.  The middle 20% pay 10.1%, the top 1% pay only 2.4%.

Many police state New England states are very similar to Washington in their effective combined tax rates.  The top 1% pay very little as a percentage of their incomes compared to the bottom 20%.

Back out west, state and local governments in Idaho charge their lowest 20% of income earners a combined 8.5% for the ‘privilege’ of living in the Gem State.  The middle 20% pay 7.6% and the top 1% pay 6.4%.  Also, Idaho does not allow poor people to get a state level ‘earned income tax credit’ rebate such as states like California.  If an individual’s personal income is less than $10,500 USD the state will not accept a tax refund filing request from them (even though the state’s own tax refund charts show they should be able to get a refund, and that the unfair state income taxes were already taken out of their paychecks).

California is considered the most ‘fair’ with its plethora of state and local taxes, but the poor are still charged more than the rich.  The bottom 20% of income earners pay 10.5% for the ‘privilege’ of living in the Golden State.  The middle 20% pay 8.2% and the top 1% pay 8.7%.

To read more and weep (unless your the top 1%, then rejoice) click here for more. The study does not include federal level taxes.

As far as sales tax only, the TaxFoundation accuses Tennessee of having the highest state and local sales taxes, while Delaware,  Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no sales tax (as of 2014).  Some states, like Idaho, actually have a ‘sales’ tax law (called a Use Tax in Idaho) requiring you to pay taxes on any products you buy outside of the state!

In 2010, Bankrate.com rated Hawaii and Oregon as the states with the highest individual income tax rates, followed by California, Oregon, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Maine and Washington DC.

The Retirement Living Information Center provides state level tax info for each U.S. state (but not local level taxes).  However, they don’t rate which state is the best for least amount of taxes paid.

Do the taxes you pay justify the lack of governmental services you get in return?  Even with Obama Care the United States still does not have a true ‘socialized’ healthcare system (it’s just a profit making scheme for the insurance industry)!

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 12 – 13 November 2014: “That’s it, I’m done!” Greedy employees & Too Big to Jail banks kill off car dealership! No more Remington? Microsoft kills NBC?

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Illinois based Abbott Vascular issued several WARNs saying more than 100 Golden Staters will be laid off!  Reports say just two years ago the medical device company had 4-thousand employees, but now has less than 17-hundred (is the job culling related to the new Obama Care medical device tax?)!  In Silver Lakes, after eight years kids shoe store Wee Soles shutdown.  The owner blames crashing sales saying “…people are not willing to pay what a good shoe costs.”  The owner is now returning to her previous job as a dance instructor.  In El Segundo, Aimbridge Employee Service issued a WARN saying they will “temporarily” close in December, 13 jobs lost.  In Santa Anna, ITT Cannon warned they will layoff at least five people in January 2015.  More layoffs for failing Hewlett Packard, this time they laid off 25 people in Palo Alto.  In Torrance, Obama Care caused Providence Health to issue a WARN saying they will shutdown in January 2015, at least 59 jobs lost.

Connecticut: Foxwood Casino laid off 84 people.  That’s on top of the 195 employees already rendered jobless at the failing casino!  What automotive industry recovery?  In Bridgport, after 45 years the Dragone used car dealership shutdown.  The family owned dealership was done in partly by a greedy employee who embezzled them, but the final straw was when the Too Big to Jail banks refused to help out the current owner: “I came in last Friday and said, `That’s it, I’m done!’ That really hurt, I couldn’t get new financing.”-Carman ‘Mimi’ Dragone

Florida: Railroad company CSX warned they will eliminate 300 management jobs, mainly in Jacksonville!  Salaries and travel expenses will also be cut.  Company administrators say that despite revenues going up, operational expenses went up even more.   Also in Jacksonville, URS Federal Services issued a WARN saying 81 people will become jobless at the end of December.   American Express issued a WARN saying at least three people will lose their jobs at their Weston office in January 2015.

Illinois: In Matteson, the owners of the 41 years old Lincoln Mall announced it will shutdown in January 2015.  Don’t blame the economy as a court judge ordered it torn down because it was literally falling apart (the mall owners said they could not afford to maintain the building).  City administrators are scrambling to find new homes for the mall tenants.

Maryland: In Federal Hill, after 116 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Morstein’s Jewelers shutdown.

Michigan:  What automotive industry recovery?  In Lansing, GM (General Motors) revealed that 450 people at its Grand River Assembly Plant could become jobless in early 2015! It’s blamed on crashing sales of upscale Cadillacs. GM also announced the killing off of at least 160 jobs at its Buick and Chevy Assembly Plant in Orion by the end of 2015 (they hope production will go up when they introduce the new Camaro)!

Mississippi: Emilia Cosmetics laid off about 30 employees at its newly acquired skin care factory in Dekalb.  It’s blamed on massive delays in shipments of primary ingredients.  After announcing a $50-million USD expansion in August, light bulb maker Philips laid off 49 employees at their Tupelo factory.  Administrators claim the layoffs are “seasonal”.

New Hampshire: Home heating oil supplier Fred Fuller now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and up for sale.

New Jersey: In Egg Harbor City, Renault Winery Resort and Golf now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. The administrators say they are fighting for the life of the iconic winery: “We have been here for 150 years, and our plan will ensure us being here long into the future. We’re not looking to sell the place. We’re looking to continue the legacy here.”-Dennis Del Vecchio

New York: NBCnews.com (formerly MSNBC.com) will layoff an undisclosed number of employees in New York and Washington state beginning in 2015.  It’s blamed on the expiration of the joint venture with Microsoft.  Reports that Remington Arms laid off 126 people!  This is on top of the 105 people already laid off!  It’s the result of the gun maker getting the hell outta unAmerican New York and moving to Alabama.  Sweden based air traffic manager Saab Sensis laid off 27 people in DeWitt: “As a result of continued challenging business environments in both domestic and international markets…”-Mike Gerry, president

Nevada: In Las Vegas, Caesars Entertainment warned of massive layoffs (as many as 600 people!) and possible chapter 11 bankruptcy.  The gambling empire reports they’ve lost money every year since the 2008 recession.

Ohio: What automotive industry recovery?  Maker of specialty metal parts for the automotive and aerospace industries Avalon Precision Metalsmiths (formerly known as Avalon Castings and Precision Metalsmiths) announced it will shutdown its 69 years old Euclid factory, about 50 jobs lost.  Administrators blame crashing sales, pointing out that sales have been crashing for the past ten years!

Oklahoma: What automotive industry recovery?  Auto parts maker Federal Mogul revealed they will shutdown their recently acquired Oklahoma City factory in 2015, at least 165 jobs lost! Federal Mogul took over the factory from Affina Group in June 2014.  The Bank of Oklahoma announced it will shutdown branch offices located in 24 grocery stores, in 2015.  Bank administrators claim they will find jobs for the 75 affected employees.  In Bartlesville, the aged Eastland Four Theater cinema shutdown.  The owners could not afford to switch to digital projectors.  The cost to switch to digital is so expensive that only 88% of U.S. cinemas are digital.

West Virginia: Hendricks Coal issued a WARN saying 90 employees will be laid off from three coal mines, in December.  Alpha Natural Resources laid off 36 coal miners.

Wisconsin: Sears Holdings announced they will shutdown the Eau Claire Kmart in February 2015, at least 93 jobs lost.

10-11 November-2014 “It’s hard to fail.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 27 – 31 December 2014: Courts controlled by criminals, cops are the number 1 rapists? President fires officials connected to the oil industry! Afghans found dead in Iran! More battles involving “unknown” gunmen!

Balkh Province: German news sources have revealed that the Obama regime placed the governor of the province on its assassination list in 2010!  It’s called the Joint Prioritized Effects List (JPEL).  According to the documents released by Edward Snowden, the governor of Balkh is considered a drug lord.   He was never assassinated because he was too far down on the list (ranked 1,722nd).  But get this, the governor isn’t mad about being placed on Obama’s hit list, he’s mad that the German news media made it public!

Badghis Province: In Abkamri District, government administrators say two “illegal groups” attacked each other, four people killed.  The term illegal groups applies to people who are not known to local police as local militia personnel.

Ghazni Province: In Qarabagh District, a coalition drone strike killed four people and wounded several others.   The deputy governor admits that the U.S. led occupation of Afghanistan has resulted in governmental crime syndicates, not the Mujahideen, being in total control of the province: “The judicial department, under the pretext of being independent, has tied up our hands and we cannot take any action against them. The judicial and justice departments in Ghazni violate the laws and through their support most of the government land has been seized by the ‘land mafia’ and members of the armed opposition groups and abductor gangs are released from the jails.”-Mohammad Ali Ahmadi, deputy governor

Helmand Province: In Nad-e-Ali District, a woman and her two kids were killed when one of them stepped on a landmine.  In Gerishk District, reports that a coalition airstrike killed one woman and two children, and wounded another woman and a child.  The airstrike might have been in response to Mujahideen attacking local government forces.  In Sangin District, an artillery round impacted directly on a wedding party killing at least 26 people. As many as 60 people wounded.  Government administrators admitted that the stray arty round was the result of an intense battle with Mujahideen.

Herat Province: Local government administrators reporting that Afghans from the district of Ghoryan were found dead inside Iran.  The bodies of a woman and her two daughters were returned to Afghanistan for burial.  The only explanation given was they were killed while staying at a home inside Iran.  And the Obama regime puppet president of Afghanistan fired five government administrators in Herat Province.  Mohammad Ashraf Ghani didn’t fire the administrators because of the mystery deaths taking place in Iran, the administrators were in charge of utilities, customs-trade and  petroleum operations.  Reports say president Ghani is about to fire 15 police chiefs as well!

Jowzjan Province: Four bodyguards of the U.S. backed war criminal Abdul Rashid Dostum joined the Mujahideen.  They even had their names publicized.  Bush-Obama lackey Dostum now holds the Afghan office of 1st vice president.

Kabul Province: In Kabul City, a bomb planted in a police vehicle went off wounding at least three people.  There was a firefight that lasted for one hour, causing panic in the city.  Apparently some Mujahideen attacked the home of a Afghan National Army general.  Preliminary reports say one of the general’s sons was wounded, while another son was killed.

Kandahar Province: In Dund District, a National Directorate of Security (NDS) vehicle was destroyed by a bomb, four NDS agents were killed along with at least one civilian.  In Kandahar City, a man was shot dead by two other men. Police suspect it was a crime and not related to war.  In Shahwalikot District, police shot and killed two men they claim were attacking their police HQ.

Kapisa Province: Reports that a drone strike killed at least four people.  In Nijrab District, it’s been confirmed that six local policemen raped a 12 years old girl.  The victim has been moved to Kabul Province out of fear for her life.  Government administrators now admit that most of the rape cases across Afghanistan, in the past few months, involve cops!

Kunduz Province: In Khanabad District, local government administrators reporting a battle between two groups, at least three people killed.  Police say one group is suspected to be Mujahideen, but the those in the other group are not part of any known, or authorized, local militia and are being officially called “unknown gunmen”.  This is the second time in the past month this has happened.

Kunar Province: In Dangam District, after two weeks intense battles continue to rage between government forces and Mujahideen.  U.S. trained government forces are now blaming their lack of progress on trying to avoid civilian casualties.  In Noorgal District, local government administrators say their district is now under full invasion by Mujahideen and their insurgent allies.  Government security administrators say that the insurgents helping Afghan Mujahideen are Uzbek, Panjabi and Waziristis.

Laghman Province: In Alingar District, a farmer was killed and three other farmers wounded when they were hit by bullets.  Police say they don’t know who shot them, or why.  In the same district, a bomb exploded inside a store killing two people and wounding two.

Logar Province: In Baraki Barak District, a coalition airstrike bombed a house killing five people and wounding at least five others.

Maidan Wardak Province: In Nerkh District, an artillery round impacted near a volleyball game, killing five people and wounding three.  Nobody is saying where the arty round was fired from.  In Syedabad District, a Kamikaze car bomber attacked a government FOB.  Afghan National Army says only two soldiers were wounded, but Mujahideen say there are dozens of casualties.

Nangarhar Province: In Chaparhar District, a U.S. drone strike killed at least six people.  In Ghanikhil District, a U.S. drone strike killed four people.  In Bati Kot District, a battle resulted in two people killed, five wounded.

Nuristan Province: In Wanat Wigal District, a “coalition” drone strike killed at least four people.

Paktika Province: In Yahiya Khel District, reports that government forces demolished a school, and evicted the teachers from their homes and then demolished the homes.  Apparently the school was not sanctioned by the U.S. backed government.

Uruzgan Province: In Tarinkot District, two 13 years old boys went missing.  15 days later their bodies were found next to a guard tower near a U.S. backed government base.  Witnesses say they saw the guards shooting in the direction of the area where the bodies were found.  Did the guards mistake the teenagers as attackers?  In Dehrawad District, a cop turned his gun on fellow cops killing five of them.  The renegade cop escaped.

Pakistan has arrested dozens of Afghans in relation to the attack on the army run grade school, that left at least 140 people dead.  Pakistani police say they’ve traced cell phone data regarding the attack to many Afghans that were working in the school cafeteria.  Police also arrested at least 41 Afghans living in the city of Peshawar.

The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) is now demanding the U.S. Congress cooperate in trying to retrieve the wasted and even stolen U.S. tax dollars paid to mainly U.S. contractors.  Don’t hold your breath.

At least 50 militia-personnel of the Air National Guard’s 155th Air Refueling Wing (Nebraska U.S.A.) deploying to several Middle East locations in support of the new Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan.

22-26 december 2014: Iran bans Afghans?

Business/Economics

Sears & Kmart closing update, 17 January 2015: City developments kill off another Sears? Spending money they don’t have to get you to spend your hard earned cash!

Sears Holdings being sued once again!  This time a Texas software developer (called Droplets) is suing both Sears Holdings and Overstock.com for essentially ripping off their patented “…system and method for delivering remotely stored applications and information.”

In California, Sears holdings is spending money it doesn’t have on creating a new shopping experience. In San Bruno you’ll soon be able to stroll a “live demo” display for high-tech wireless products.  The Connected Solutions demo is designed to show you how converting your home into a wireless self-policing state will make your life easier.

In Minnesota, Sears Holdings has put up for sale two Sears Hometown and Outlet stores.  Administrators hope to get between $1-million USD and $1.2-million per store.  But wait, that doesn’t include the property itself, that’s just for the rights to use the property along with the Sears name!

Colorado is the latest U.S. state to get hit with a Sears store and Auto Center shutdown, which will take place in March.  Sears Holdings does not own the building itself.  City administrators revealed in 2012 that the Sears & Auto Center is located in an “area of change” that is expected to see business revenue actually go up over the next 20 years.  The property owner as well as city administrators have big plans for development of commercial and public land in that area, and apparently the 60 years old Sears is in the way!

update 08 January 2015: Yet another distribution center goes down

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.

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).

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), recently revealed 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).

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).

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).

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). 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. 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).

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 (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), 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, Madisonville Kmart (39 jobs lost), Owensboro Sears store & Auto Center (52 jobs lost).

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

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost).

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 obvious the last remaining Saginaw Kmart will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January 2014, 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).

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), recently revealed Northeast Minneapolis Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale, recently revealed 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).

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).

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).

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

New York: Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost), 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).

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).

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). 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.

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).

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).

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).

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.

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).

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).

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).

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).

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)

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 10 – 11 November 2014: “…it’s hard to fail.”

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Connecticut: Norwalk based iconic Xerox warned that more layoffs are in the works, on top of the 13-hundred already taking place!  Administrators say demand for high-tech stuff is crashing, after reporting their 10th straight quarter of losses!

Florida: The Island Breeze Casino cruse ship now bankrupt busted, 250 employees laid off!  Administrators blame it on an engine fire that cost at least $1-million USD to fix.  In Saint Petersburg, British empire United Kingdom based medical products maker Smith & Nephew warned it will shutdown in 2015, eliminating 108 U.S. jobs!  Administrators say they must consolidate ops to Texas.

Idaho: In Challis, Colorado based Thompson Creek Mining (aka Thompson Creek Metals) issued a WARN saying they will layoff 160 people and shutdown their molybdenum mine in December.  The mining company also warned Canadian employment administrators that they will shutdown their Endako molybdenum mine, also in December.  Administrators blame the crashing price of moly-B.

Illinois: In Evanston, after 34 years Next Theater Company shutdown without notice.  Reports say subscribers will not get refunds!  Administrators blame a “sudden” crash in ticket buying and even donations, and they admitted their money management skills might not have been the best.

Indiana: In Fort Wayne, after 68 years Freeman Jewelers shutdown.  The family owners blamed the high cost of precious metals and gems, and high unemployment, for impacting their sales.

Minnesota: God refuses to stop the Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul from killing an undisclosed number jobs.  It’s blamed on their craving for sex with children, as they recently paid out a huge (undisclosed) amount of money to settle yet another sex abuse lawsuit!  In Minneapolis, printer Cenveo revealed they will shutdown and render jobless 112 people between December 2014 and March 2015!

Nebraska: It was announced that the only Schweser’s women’s clothing store in Ohama will shutdown in January 2015.  Company administrators blamed “economic reasons”.

North Carolina: Baxano Surgical now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Ohio: In Springboro, a 56 years old IGA (Independent Grocers Alliance) grocery store shutdown. The owner blames competition from ‘big box’ stores: “We’ve got third, fourth generation shoppers. I’ve seen the kids in their baby carriers, to them bringing in their own kids. It’s hard to see what this is, when you watch your inventory dwindle down trying to make excuses to the customers is just, it’s hard to fail.”-Doug Preston

South Carolina: In Conway, after six years the Eggs Up Grill shutdown, 20 jobs lost. The owners said they’re being evicted due to not being able to pay their bills. Co-owner Christine Bonar says “There’s no value to put on what we’re losing financially. It will be the value of the friendships that we’ve made and the staff that we worked with. We’re all breaking up. We’re breaking up our family!” Manager Jeanne Sudowski is worried about the employees: “Obviously losing your job right before Thanksgiving and Christmas time is very rough…..some of them I don’t know if they can collect unemployment because they’ve only been here since July.”

07-09 November-2014

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics

Target kills off 17-thousand jobs & joins massive exodus from the Great White North! Investors happy!

15 January 2015 (17:04 UTC-07 Tango)/24 Rab al’Awwal 1436/25 Dey 1393/25 Yi-Chou 4712

“The losses were just too great.”-Brian Cornell, ceo

Less than one year after officially opening its first stores in Canada, U.S. based (Minnesota) retailer Target threw in the towel, basically saying the Canadian economy sucks ass!  All 133 stores to shutdown and 17-thousand 6-hundred Canadians will become jobless!

In 2011 Target took over Canadian retailer Zellers (to the tune of $1.83-billion CAD).  It took two years to convert all the stores into the Target format, and the official “soft” opening for many of the Canuck Targets was in 2013.  March of 2014 saw the last “milestone” grand opening of a new Canadian Target store.

Target Canada administrators say the economy is so bad in Canada that there was no way they could make a profit until 2021, and investors can’t wait that long.  However, they also blamed a dysfunctional supply system that left many Canadian Targets without merchandise.

Administrators also blamed Canadian government price regulations, reports say shoppers complained that prices at Target were too high as a result.  An Associated Press report quoted one shopper blaming Target for high prices, adding “They think we’re idiots or something.” (well, yes you guys are idiots because the U.S. doesn’t impose price regulations like your Canadian government does)

Competition with other companies, both U.S. and Canadian, was also blamed.

Target expects a $5.4-billion USD loss for its 4th quarter 2014!  The lesson learned; it’s not a good idea to do business in Canada.  Target employees were quoted as saying “No one was happy about it.”  However, that’s not true as investors were very happy about the exit from Canada, because they drove the price of Target stocks up 2% upon hearing the news!

Massive retail exodus from Canada underway

Business/Economics, Idaho

Shopko opens new Idaho store, while news reports reveal the closing of 14 others! Landlord preps for evictions?

15 January 2015 (10:16 UTC-07 Tango)/24 Rab al’Awwal 1436/25 Dey 1393/25 Yi-Chou 4712

Wisconsin based Shopko boasted about the opening of its new Salmon (Idaho) store, and about giving away $1.1-million USD to charities, but isn’t saying a word about reports of their planned shutdown of at least 14 stores across the United States.

The Salmon store is actually a new down sized version of Shopko called Shopko Hometown.  Apparently this is the type of store Shopko administrators have been switching to as they shutdown their bigger operations, blaming the bad economy.

Administrators have also begun a new marketing policy called JustEnough, intended to “reduce marketing costs”.

1st Quarter 2015 shutdowns (revealed so far):

In Kentucky, the Hodgenville Shopko Hometown store will shutdown in April.

In Missouri, the Tarkio Shopko Hometown store will shutdown in April.

In Ohio, Shopko to shutdown its Greenfield, Archbold, Montpelier and Newton Falls stores by April, at least 70 jobs will be affected.

In South Dakota, the Avera FastCare health clinic located inside the Aberdeen Shopko shutdown.  Local news reports said there are currently no plans to replace it.

In Utah, employees spreading the word that the Provo Shopko will shutdown by 15 April 2015.  Also, reports that the Bountiful (apparently actually located in West Bountiful even though the address is in Bountiful?) Shopko will shutdown in April.

In Wisconsin, Shopko will shutdown its Ashland Hometown store by April,  at least 29 jobs lost.

Also of importance, a major retail landlord just modified its lease agreement with Shopko.  The deal makes it easier for Spirit Realty Capital to evict Shopko in favor of new tenants (Shopko also got paid $18.8-million for the inconvenience of being kicked out).  The retail landlord said it wanted to reduce its reliance on Shopko for revenue!  

Related: Shopko backtracks on new Hometown store in Indiana as tax deal halted

Shopko kicks back $500 for Christian run volleyball in Iowa

2014 shutdowns (that I’ve found so far):

In Wisconsin, ShopKo killed off 40 jobs at its Ashwaubenon corporate HQ. Company administrators blame the bad economy for their “reorganization”.  A Madison store was shutdown, 66 jobs lost.

In Ohio, Shopko shutdown their store in Georgetown.

In Indiana, Shopko issued a WARN in November saying it will shutdown a distribution center.  The shutdown will be completed by September 2015, at least 95 jobs lost.   A Loogootee Shopko was shutdown, at least 14 jobs lost.  The Petersburg and Bloomfield Shopkos were also shutdown.

It should be noted that Shopko has been quietly and slowly shutting down stores since 2001.

 

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 07 – 09 November 2014: Too Big to Jail corporate welfare recipient kills off 45-thousand jobs! Competition kills bio-fuel!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Laying off 57 employees in Palo Alto, Space Systems/Loral finally gave state employment administrators a late WARN!  What automotive industry recovery?  In San Jose, Capitol Expressway Ford warned they will render 102 people jobless in December!  In Lodi, food processor General Mills warned they will render 410 people jobless by January 2015!  The FDIC seized the bank known as Frontier Bank (aka El Paseo Bank), assets were assumed by Bank of Southern California.  Los Angeles based Capitol Music Group laid off at least 12 employees, blamed on crashing sales.  Mountain View based Symantec confirmed it will kill off 2-thousand jobs by the end of 2015, and the tech company will split in half in an effort to ‘right-size’!  Dublin based hamburger joint Wendy’s announced it is killing an undisclosed number of HQ jobs (rumored to be in the hundreds) by December, and said that it will continue with its massive store selloffs into 2015! Wendy’s has been selling off its stores to franchise holders. Company administrators say they need to cut at least $30-million USD going into 2015! It’s not due to crashing sales (not yet anyway) but mainly because of skyrocketing beef prices (Wendy’s actually uses 100% beef, unlike McDonald’s)! The supply of cow meat is dwindling due to the decades old drought in the western half of the U.S., and not only is Wendy’s competing with people shopping for beef in grocery stores, but with other burger and steak restaurants as well.

Georgia: In Alpharetta, 400 people becoming jobless as Too Big to Jail insurance company AIG (American International Group, which has its origins in China) laid them off in the name of becoming “more agile”!

Illinois:   Lawn and garden products maker County Stone Holdings now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Company administrators blame crashing sales to homeowners, resulting in at least 74 employees becoming unemployed.

Iowa: After 83 years iconic Dahl’s Foods now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. The bankruptcy will make it easier for the iconic food company to be sold off to a competitor (Associated Wholesale Grocers), 950 employees affected!  After 30 years, Foster Family Music shutdown, the owners blaming a changing market.

Massachusetts: Maine based Hannaford Supermarkets announced they will shutdown their Ayer grocery store in February 2015, at least 87 jobs lost. Company administrators said they will not renew the lease and admitted the bad economy cannot support all the grocery stores they have.  Steward Health Care System announced they will shutdown their Quincy Medical Center at the end of December, 680 jobs lost!

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery?  Plastic parts maker for the automotive industry Flint Hills Resources shutting down their Marysville plant by mid-2015, at least 75 jobs lost.  Company administrators said that despite their best efforts the factory could not “remain competitive”.

Missouri: Air ambulance service Air Evac Lifeteam announced the shutdown of their West Plains ops, 36 jobs lost.  Company administrators blamed a number of things including the costs to upgrade helicopters and problems with landlords.

New Jersey: Gerresheimer Glass issued a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) saying 115 people will become jobless in January 2015!  They are shutting down their Millville soda lime furnace, blaming it on global competition.   Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton warned state administrators that they will render 87 healthcare workers jobless by the end of 2014.

New York:  NYC based Too Big to Jail taxpayer bailout eater JP Morgan Chase radically upped its job killing, now reports say a total of 45-thousand JP Morgan Chase workers will become unemployed, apparently by the end of 2014!  And for more proof of a coming housing implosion, about 18-thousand of those job cuts are in the mortgage sector (due to a 48% drop in mortgage related business)!  In 2012 a Bloomberg study revealed that JP Morgan Chase was getting $14-billion per year from the U.S. taxpayers!  The iconic bank has also been accused of massive fraud and in 2013 agreed to pay the federal government a piddly $13-billion in fines (however, criminal charges are still pending).  Oak-Mitsui Technologies warned it will shutdown its Hoosick Falls plant in February 2015, at least 29 jobs lost.  Castle Oil issued a WARN revealing they’ve been sold off, putting in limbo at least 182 jobs!  Some good news; Suffolk Bus has rescinded a previous WARN.  Supposedly they aren’t shutting down after all.

North Carolina: Obamacare forced Harnett Health to lose $24-million and kill off 19 jobs!

Texas: Pasadena based bio-fuel maker Kior now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and up for sale.  Administrators said it’s just to expensive to scale up bio-fuel production to compete with old fashioned petroleum oil.  In Fort Worth, British empire based U.S. taxsucker BAE Systems killed off 190 U.S. jobs!  It’s blamed on U.S. ally Korea (south, aka RoK) canceling an order to upgrade more than 130 F-16 jets.  The upgrade deal was (mis?)-handled by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

Washington: Seattle based legal bio-tech drugs pusher Dendreon now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Administrators say the company has $664-million in debt, but only $364-million in assets.

05-06 November-2014

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics

Deb Shops shuts down, nearly 3-thousand jobs lost in 2015!

11 January 2015 (07:20 UTC-07 Tango)/20 Rab al’Awwal 1436/21 Dey 1393/21 Yi-Chou 4712

After 80 years, Pennsylvania based female clothing store Deb Shops (aka DEB) went chapter 11 bankrupt busted in December, and is now going down!  All 287 stores across the United States will shutdown by April.

No word on how many people will become jobless, but most Deb Stores have about ten employees each so I figure that’s about 2,870 unemployed people by April!

Body Central shuts down & kills off 2-thousand 5-hundred jobs