Tag Archives: idaho

Technology

“our digital revenue is not growing fast enough”: U.S. Hi-Tech/Communications breakdown, April 2017

More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise. Incomplete list of U.S. internet/high-tech/communications job destruction announcements in April 2017:

Discount broker and T-Mobile partner Loyal3 suddenly announced it will shutdown in May!

Arkansas:  Bentonville based Walmart laid off hundreds more corporate employees, including 3-hundred Information System Division employees!  It’s part of Walmart’s plan to improve its lagging e-commerce sales.

California: Despite reporting a record breaking quarter NerdWallet laid off more than 40 people.  It’s part of NerdWallet’s plan to shift focus on different services and to consolidate operations.  After 11 years Palo Cedro Printing shutdown.  It sounds like the operator was forced out by the landlord saying “I am still in the printing business, but I am closing the store front. I will not have a location for walk in customers until I find a new space.”  In North Highlands, Advanced Call Center Technologies eliminating 135 call center jobs by the end of May!  Google suddenly laid off 104 satellite mapping employees and refuses to say why!   Reports that China based ‘smart’phone maker LeEco has eliminated hundreds of California jobs and more layoffs are planned!  Former employees told local news media that they’re still waiting for their final paychecks!  In Irvine, software company Cylance laid off an undisclosed number of employees due to restructuring.  In Santa Clara, Marvell Semiconductor laying off 13 people in June.  Online marketplace Zazzle issued a shutdown WARN for its San Jose ops, 117 jobs gone by June!  Vishay Siliconix issued a layoff WARN for Santa Clara, 71 jobs gone by the end of June. NDC Technologies shutting down its Irwindale ops, 42 jobs gone by July.  Texas Instruments issued a layoff WARN for its Santa Clara ops, 78 jobs gone by mid-June.  In Fullerton, Nelco Products laying off 62 people by mid-June. In Westlake Village, NCR laying off 76 people by the end of June.  3D Instruments issued a shutdown WARN for its Anaheim ops, 59 jobs gone by the end of June.  In San Jose, Nimble Storage finally notified the state that it laid off 67 people back in February.

Colorado: Greenwood Village based Ciber is now bankrupt busted and being sold-off to a French company. Georgia based payment processor TSYS (Total SYstem Services)  shutting down its operations in Golden, in an effort to “focus to our business model.”

Connecticut: Bristol based ESPN laid off about 1-hundred people, saying the layoffs were planned awhile ago due to “Dynamic change demands”!

Idaho: Georgia based payment processor TSYS (Total SYstem Services) laying off 64 people as it shuts down its operations in Boise, in an effort to “focus to our business model.”  Also in Boise, Marvell Semiconductor laying off 23 people in June.

Illinois: More layoffs for Chicago based Groupon, this time 1-hundred people were suddenly let go!  Apparently it’s part of Groupon’s plan to kill 1-thousand jobs and halt operations in seven countries.

Indiana: Outsourcing company StarTek laying off 207 ‘customer care’ employees in June, no reason given!

Nebraska: Warren Buffett owned BH Media Group suddenly laid off 289 people and closed 108 vacant newspaper jobs!  But don’t blame competition with digital media, CEO Terry Kroeger revealed that even digital media is losing money saying “our digital revenue is not growing fast enough”.

New Jersey: Gannett Satellite Information Network issued a WARN for its operations in Freehold, 213 jobs gone by June!

New York: Online magazine Elite Daily issued a shutdown WARN, at least 47 jobs lost due to the sale of the internet business.

North Carolina: LED light bulb maker Cree laid off 70 people “in response to current business conditions.”  Centerline Digital laid off 20% of its employees.  Upset former employees revealed on internet sites that at least 25% of employees voluntarily quit every year, due to mismanagement.  However, Centerline Digital administrators say the 20% layoff is due to its largest client conducting a “market transformation”.  Winston-Salem Journal suddenly laid off 14 people due to crashing revenues.  News & Record suddenly laid off 36 people “in response to market changes.”

Pennsylvania: Condulent laying off 149 call center employees in Moosic by the end of May!  Local news media said employees were ordered not to talk to local news media.

Texas:  Tax sucking General Dynamics shutting down its Lacy Lakeview ObamaCare sign-up call center, 840 jobs lost by the end of May!  It’s blamed on the lack of people signing up for  ObamaCare (ACA).

Virginia: Richmond-Times Dispatch suddenly laid off 33 people, announcing the company must restructure due to crashing revenues.

U.S. Tech/Communications breakdown, March 2017:  ”TO REDUCE OUR BURN RATE”

Business/Economics, Idaho

Don’t blame the Internet: Idaho internet sales tax collections flat-line!

11 JUN 2017 (08:59 UTC-07 Tango 06) 21 Khordad 1396/16 Ramadan 1438/17 Bing Wu 4715

At the beginning of 2017 it was revealed that ‘fake news’ Idaho republicans made a secret deal with Amazon to impose an internet sales tax on any Idahoan who buys online!   The Idaho Tax Commission reports that so far there’s been no significant increase in tax revenues as a result!

The so called conservative republican ‘Butch’ Otter regime says it’s too early to pass judgement on the new tax imposed on Idahoans.  However, national main stream news source Associated Press discovered that ‘Right to Work’ (you over) Idaho politicians forbade the state Tax Commission from revealing specific details concerning the Amazon internet tax deal, under the guise of respecting Amazon’s privacy.

Until the Amazon deal residents of Idaho were required to self-pay taxes on purchases made outside the state, including internet purchases.  The deal with Amazon is just the first step by ‘republicans’ to find new ways to squeeze taxes out of cash strapped Idahoans.

Overall state tax collections were slightly higher than expected in May (by a piddly 0.8%), but apparently not due to the new Amazon tax deal.

The Associated Press pointed out that in 1992 the federal Supreme Court ruled that in order for a retailer to collect taxes for any state it must have operations within that state.  Amazon has made secret tax collection deals with almost every state in the Union.

SEARS KMART DEATH SPIRAL, JUNE 2017: Don’t blame internet competition!  Karen Edwards, instructor at University of South Carolina’s College of Hospitality Retailing and Sport Management, stated to local news media that internet sales make up only 10%-15% of all U.S. retail sales!

U.S. APPAREL INDUSTRY DEATH-SPIRAL: Don’t blame the internet, the overwhelming majority of apparel retailers that’ve died, or are dying, sell online!

U.S.

“unsustainable for our company”: ObamaCare ACA Death Spiral, May 2017

Incomplete list of healthcare related layoffs and shutdowns, announced in May 2017:

Alabama:  Southeast Alabama Medical Center eliminated 80 jobs because ObamaCare is forcing them to reduce operating costs by $30-million USD per year.  The Health Care Authority of the City of Anniston laid off 19 Stringfellow Memorial Hospital employees as a result of buying a new hospital.

Arizona: Banner Health revealed that its 1st Q 2017 restructuring resulted in nearly 5-hundred people becoming unemployed!  In Tucson, non-profit Marshall Home for Men warning of shutdown after employees got a $1.95 per hour raise!

California:  In Bakersfield, Pacific Pulmonary Services eliminating 170 jobs in July, possibly in connection to a lawsuit by the federal government! It was revealed that Long Beach based ObamaCare (ACA) company Molina Healthcare allowed a data breach of patient info to go on for at least a month!  Ambry Genetics issued a layoff WARN, 99 jobs lost by the end of July.

Colorado: Longmont United Hospital shutting down its clinic in Lyons, due to financial losses.

Connecticut:  Stamford Health laid off 20 people blaming ObamaCare for causing “flat or lower volumes in inpatient services and surgical specialties.”  The state’s new hospital tax doesn’t help either.

Florida:  University of Miami Hospital is shifting focus to outpatient care and will eliminate jobs as a result.  Fort Myers based “world’s largest cancer treatment” operation 21st Century Oncology now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, after a year of data breaches and accusations of fraud.  Campbellton-Graceville Hospital now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to “a lot of factors”, including a lot of lawsuits.

Idaho: Insurance company BridgeSpan announced it will exit The Gem State’s ObamaCare system in 2018, due to lack of profits and “uncertainty and instability for the exchanges”.

Iowa:   Planned Parenthood shutting down four clinics due to state taxpayer funding cuts.

Kansas: Blue Cross Blue Shield getting out of the state’s ObamaCare business in 2018.  67-thousand Kansans will lose health insurance as a result, but many will then qualify for taxpayer funded insurance!  Blue Cross Blue Shield said ObamaCare is “… unsustainable for our company…”

Louisiana: Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital laid off 14 people blaming ObamaCare’s “declining reimbursements”.

Massachusetts: South Shore Health System suddenly laid off 27 management employees, blaming ObamaCare for lower payer reimbursements, yet at the same time reported that its 2016 revenues actually went up.  Partners HealthCare System’s Spaulding Rehabilitation Network laying off 35 people blaming “The external environment for healthcare providers…”, ie ObamaCare.  Harrington Hospital shutting down its Family Birthing Center.  UMass closing 13 inpatient psychiatric beds.

Mississippi:  The state Department of Mental Health eliminating 650 jobs due to state taxpayer funding cuts!

Missouri:  Blue Cross Blue Shield getting out of the state’s ObamaCare business in 2018.  The insurance company says that since 2014 it lost more than $100-million USD as a result of doing business in Missouri and Kansas!   Saint Louis University School of Medicine suddenly eliminated 21 jobs by shutting down its Center for World Health and medicine, due to a budget deficit of $16-million USD.

New Jersey: God powerless to stop ObamaCare from forcing Saint Mary’s General Hospital to layoff 20 people.  Administrators blamed ObamaCare saying “Our hospital never denies care to the poor or uninsured, and this major loss of government reimbursement negatively affected our finances.” 

New Mexico: California based Molina Healthcare eliminating 81 jobs, claiming its Healthcare Services Department is overstaffed.

New York: An unnamed Coney Island Hospital employee reported that as many as 3-hundred people could lose their jobs, and that no warning will be given to them, only those employees keeping their jobs will be notified, it’s part of New York City Health & Hospitals plan to eliminate at least 6-hundred management jobs throughout its network of municipal hospitals!  Eyecare company Davis Vision shutting down its factory in Plainview (eyecare, vision, plainview, for real), 151 jobs gone by the end of May!  Healthcare contract service company IPRO eliminating 162 jobs at nine locations in August!

North Carolina: Blue Cross and Blue Shield laying off 165 call center employees!  News reports say those employees were hired for the expected flood of ObamaCare sign-ups for 2017, apparently the flood of new enrollees didn’t happen (administrators referred to to the lack of enrollments as “stability of our systems”).

Ohio:  Medical device maker Invacare adding another 50 people to its North American layoff spree (on top of the 1-hundred already laid off this year) in an effort towards “improving profitability and managing cash flow”.

Pennsylvania: Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton suddenly laid off employees, but refused to say how many.  They also admitted they’re having trouble retaining doctors as ObamaCare is forcing them to focus on outpatient clinic ops.  Capital BlueCross notified 48 employees they would soon become unemployed due to a “constantly changing environment”.   After 27 years non-profit Camelot for Children halting services for disabled kids due to lack of funding.

Texas: Woodland Heights Medical Center laid off six people due to declining patient volumes.

Washington:  UW Medicine’s Valley Medical Center suddenly eliminated 60 jobs, including top administrative positions, saying they’ve been hit with “exploded” patient volumes, but greatly reduced reimbursements as ObamaCare-Medicare is now the main payment source.

ObamaCare (ACA) death spiral April 2017: “WE ARE ACTIVELY COURSE CORRECTING”

U.S.

“..sales dropped over 30%..” “It’s going to be a big downfall…”: U.S. Food Crisis, May 2017

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of May, 2017: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production, spread of disease and extreme weather.

Alabama: In Huntsville, after more than 50 years El Palacio shutdown due to the owner’s health problems, and nobody interested in taking over the popular restaurant.

Arizona: In Tucson, after 44 years Delectables Restaurant & Catering shutting down restaurant operations by the end of June, the owner will focus on catering only.  Also in Tucson, after 64 years Molina’s Midway Mexican Food shutdown and sold-off, the now former owners blaming “the stress of running a restaurant.”

California:  Verdugo Restaurant Corporation issued a temporary shutdown WARN for its location in Burbank, 155 jobs affected in August!  Grimmway Farms issued mass layoff WARNs, 384 jobs gone by the end of July!  Nestle issued layoff WARN for its Modesto ops, 93 jobs gone by the end of July. Donald Trump hater Kellogg Company (Kellogg’s) issued shutdown WARNs for its warehouse ops, 510 jobs gone by August!  In Kern County one of the largest landowners in The Golden State, Tejon Ranch, suddenly laid off 11 employees blaming it on low commodity prices.  Norway based Marine Harvest shutting down its Los Angeles office by the end of June.  Hines Growers issued a shutdown WARN for its San Juan operations, 115 jobs gone by October!  In Anaheim, Arundel Cuisine shutting down, 62 jobs lost by the end of July.   Applebees shutting down its 17 years old Neighborhood Grill and Bar in Rancho Mirage, saying it’s not worth it to renew the lease.  In San Diego, after 31 years restaurant Busalacchi’s A Modo Mio shutdown so the owners can focus on their newer restaurant gigs.  France based food contractor Sodexo continues to lose contracts, this time it lost its contract with UC Davis, 136 jobs lost by the end of June! In San Francisco, meal delivery service Sprig suddenly shutdown: “The demand for Sprig’s convenient, high-quality food was always incredibly high, but the complexity of owning meal production through delivery at scale was a challenge.”-Gagan Biyani, CEO

Colorado: Walmart shutting down its four years old Neighborhood Market in Boulder, supposedly the 70 employees can transfer to a Walmart Supercenter.  Also in Boulder, after 40 years Turley’s Kitchen shutdown due to the owners being unable to hire competent employees, and being unable to find a buyer for the iconic ‘health food’ restaurant.   Despite record levels of legal immigration into the U.S., the owners say it’s gotten harder to find people who’re willing to do things like wash dishes!  Local news media says the building is still for sale and the lease is good for 27 years!

Connecticut: The Original Swanky Franks suddenly shutdown after more than 60 years of hot dogs.  It was revealed the family owners were planning on selling it, but an injury to one of the co-owners forced them to shutdown sooner than planned.  ShopRite shutting down in West Haven, 148 jobs gone by the end of July!

Florida: In North Naples restaurant Masa shutdown after five years, the owners saying it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease. Openly anti-Trump Kellogg’s (Kellogg Company) announced it will shutdown its Weston food distribution center, killing 246 jobs by mid-August, as part of Kellogg’s ongoing operation Special K (Project K, started in 2013)!  Winn Dixie shutting down store-72 in Jacksonville, about 60 to 70 jobs lost in June. Florida news media say an unnamed Winn Dixie manager revealed that many management level jobs are being eliminated at other Winn Dixie stores.  Meat company Colorado Premium issued a WARN, 167 jobs in Miami gone between June and September!

Georgia:   Winn Dixie shutting down store-97 in Brunswick, about 60 to 70 jobs lost in June.   In Covington, Henderson’s shutdown due to the state Department of Transportation’s ‘realignment’ project for the intersection (right in front of the restaurant) taking much longer to complete than was officially anticipated.

Idaho: After years of negative customer reviews one of two Pocatello Pizza Huts quietly shutdown, as did the Pizza Hut in Chubbuck.  Both Pizza Huts (operated by the same family) were repainted olive green and are now for sale.  The Idaho Wine Commission is accusing the city of Boise of intentionally restricting the issuing of booze permits for public events.  It started last year when the city switched to issuing only one catering permit per event.  The result is that many area wineries are refusing to take part in Boise events: “As a consequence of this, we no longer…. participate in events in Boise.”-Earl Sullivan, Telaya Wine Company

Because of more than a decade of drought Idaho ‘lawmakers’ came up with a law changing how state controlled aquifers are recharged, now they’re claiming success as recharging efforts resulted in more than expected water capture.  However, the new law involves taxpayers paying independent canal operators to divert their water into state aquifers.  Under complicated water access ‘rights’ laws the state of Idaho is limited to how much water it can collect for its aquifers, but, by paying canal operators the state can get around the access limit.  Idaho is incorrectly known as the potato state even though potatoes are not its biggest ag product (the myth is perpetuated by the potato industry and the state government), beef is usually the biggest money making ag product in Idaho. Then  there’s fishing.  Anglers from around the U.S. come to Idaho to fish but this year the Spring chinook season was shutdown early due to low numbers of the salmon: “….we are still very concerned regarding our ability to collect brood stock for future hatchery releases. In addition, returns of natural chinook salmon in the Salmon River are far below expected and are likely to fall below the level needed for incidental hook and release mortality within those fisheries.”-Brett Bowersox, Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Illinois: Grocery store supplier Central Grocers went chapter 11 bankrupt and upped its layoffs at its Joliet warehouse to 550!  Blaming E.coli contamination (resulting in lawsuits), and $10-million USD of debts, SoyNut Butter went chapter 7 bankrupt busted and will be slowly killed-off via liquidation.  Butterball shutting down its meat factory in Montgomery, nearly 6-hundred jobs gone by July!   The oldest tavern in Chicago, Schaller’s Pump, shutdown after 136 years due to the death of the family’s patriarch.  Openly anti-Trump Kellogg’s (Kellogg Company) announced it will shutdown its Batavia food distribution center, killing 278 jobs by mid-August, as part of Kellogg’s ongoing operation Special K (Project K, started in 2013)!

Indiana:  After shutting down dozens of grocery stores 86 years old Marsh Supermarkets (owned by Florida based Sun Capital since 2006) went bankrupt and will attempt to sell its remaining 44 stores.  In Jasper, after 60 years Heichelbech’s Restaurant and Bar shutdown, apparently it’s been sold.  In Indianapolis, after only six months restaurant LongBranch suddenly shutdown, no reason given and local news media say it was popular.

Louisiana: In Lafayette, after two years Mellow Mushroom pizza joint shutdown without explanation. After almost 40 years Guidry’s Reef shutdown due to family health problems. Hurricane Grill and Wings suddenly shutdown its Lafayette location, no reason given.  And Country Cuisine announced it too will shutdown its more than 30 years old Lafayette restaurant.

Maryland: In Baltimore, after ten years Annabel Lee Tavern shutdown due to increasing competition: “The competition around me is such that it’s killed my revenue over the last two years.”-Kurt Bragunier, owner

Massachusetts:  After 31 years the Ashby Food Pantry shutting down by mid-June, supposedly due to lack of demand for food.  After 34 years Concord Cookware shutdown because of increased competition.

Michigan: After less than two years Dutch Girl Brewery suddenly shutdown and declared chapter 7 bankruptcy.  The owners refused to comment to local news media.

Minnesota: Openly anti-Trump Kellogg’s (Kellogg Company) announced it will shutdown its ‘Twin Cities’ food distribution center, killing 216 jobs by mid-August, as part of Kellogg’s ongoing operation Special K!  In Saint Paul, after 17 years of noodles Tanpopo shutdown. In Saint Cloud, after one year upscale burger joint JL Beers shutdown blaming city administrators for ignoring parking and safety issues: “After a year of going through that and the city not paying any attention, it’s like they don’t want to see the downtown succeed.”-Lance Thorson, owner

Missouri: Eagle Family Foods shutting down its food factory in Seneca, 56 jobs lost in June due to consolidation.  Openly anti-Trump Kellogg’s (Kellogg Company) announced it will shutdown its Kansas City food distribution center, killing 185 jobs by mid-August, as part of Kellogg’s ongoing operation Special K!  Also in Kansas City, after eight years upscale restaurant Julian shutting down in July, the owner can’t renew the lease.

New Hampshire: Hannaford shutdown its Hudson grocery store, claiming the employees were offered jobs elsewhere.

New Jersey: In Paterson, after more than 70 years Egg Platter Diner shutdown, supposedly the owners are looking for a new location.  After about ten years Taco Truck suddenly halted ops in three cities, with no explanation.

New York: Openly anti-Trump Kellogg’s (Kellogg Company, Kellogg Snacks) added four more food distribution centers to its Empire State shutdown list (from the two in April), killing about 277 additional jobs by mid-August, as part of Kellogg’s ongoing operation Special K!  France based Sodexo lost its food service contract with Dutchess Community College, 34 jobs gone by the end of July.  In Troy, after only six months Donna’s Italian restaurant shutdown because the eatery owners weren’t allowed to buy the property.  They told local news media that it’s impossible to actually make a profit “…without owning the building.”   NYC based grocery chain Price Chopper shutdown a store in Winnipeg, Canada.  In NYC, Chelsea Hospitality Partners shutting down its Avenue lounge in July, 42 jobs lost due to building renovations.  Sparks Steak House possibly shutting down depending upon lease renewal, 87 jobs could be gone by the end of August.  Cabana Midtown shutting down, 43 jobs gone by the end of July due to the landlord revoking the lease.  And after 14 years Schiller’s Liquor Bar shutting down in August due to the greedy landlord jacking up the rent: “We simply cannot afford it.”-Sophie McNally, co-owner

North Carolina:  Openly anti-Trump Kellogg’s (Kellogg Company) announced it will shutdown two food distribution centers, killing 5-hundred jobs by mid-August, as part of Kellogg’s ongoing operation Special K!   Bi-Lo shutting down its 24 years old grocery store in Columbus, 45 jobs lost by the end of June.

North Dakota: In Grand Forks, after 45 years Amazing Grains Natural Foods Market shutdown blaming internet and ‘big box’ competition: “Sales were dropping slowly for a year or so, and then Natural Grocers opened and sales dropped over 30%, and it’s hard for any business to recover from that.”-Betsy Perkins, manager

Oklahoma: Russell Stover shutting down a chocolate store in Tulsa due to the property manager refusing to renew the lease.  Local news media revealed that the property manager has been running off tenants since last year.

Oregon: In Ashland, after 25 years Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant shutting down in July, after being for sale for more than a year.  In Portland, after 13 years Tabor Czech style food stand shutting down so the owners can focus on the lower overhead cost business of catering.  Food service contractor Aramark lost its contract with University of Oregon, an unspecified number of jobs will be affected by the end of June.

Pennsylvania: In Philadelphia, after 40 years Little Pete’s in ‘Center City’ shutdown due to the property being turned into a hotel.  France based Sodexo lost its contract with Elk Regional Health Center- St. Mary’s/Penn Highlands, 51 jobs gone by the end of June.  Openly anti-Trump Kellogg’s (Kellogg Company) announced it will shutdown two food distribution centers, killing 503 jobs by mid-August, as part of Kellogg’s ongoing operation Special K!

South Carolina:  Bi-Lo shutting down its grocery store in Fort Mill when the lease expires.  Local news media discovered there are nine Bi-Lo stores within 32km (20 miles) of Fort Mill.

South Dakota: In Sioux Falls, Pizza Patrol forced to shutdown because the greedy property owner sold the property.

Tennessee:  Pinnacle Foods canceled production of Aunt Jemima frozen breakfast items, effectively shutting down its factory in Jackson, blaming skyrocketing food recalls.  At least 2-hundred people out of work, local residents told news media the shutdown will have ripple effects with the local economy: “It’s going to be a big downfall for Jackson……We need to keep on growing instead of shutting down.”-Danny Gillard

Texas:  Openly anti-Trump Kellogg’s (Kellogg Company) announced it will shutdown two food distribution centers, killing 421 jobs by mid-August, as part of Kellogg’s ongoing operation Special K!  Beer distributor Capitol Wright Distributing shutting down two warehouses and killing 140 jobs by July!  Administrators say the skyrocketing costs of maintaining/leasing properties is forcing them to consolidate operations into fewer warehouses.  In Houston, Sullivan’s Steakhouse shutdown because the corporate owners could not renew the lease due to the property being re-developed. In Round Rock, after three years The Scarlet Rabbit shutdown, the owners claim they’re working on a new concept.

Vermont: In Montpelier, after 57 years Coffee Corner shutdown earlier than planned due to lack of employees.

Washington: State Fish and Wildlife shutdown the Spring chinook season early due to low numbers of the salmon. According to reports the actual numbers of chinook are half what was expected!  Redhook shutting down its Woodinville brewery due to lack of use.

Wisconsin: In Madison, 4&20 Bakery & Cafe shutdown due to the sudden death of the owner, which caused an exodus of loyal employees.  Roundy’s owned Pick n Save shutting down grocery stores in New Berlin, Pewaukee and Shawano, about 190 jobs lost in June, due to lack of sales.  Roundy’s claims the employees can get jobs at other Pick n Save stores, however, the store in Shawano was the only Pick n Save there, the next nearest Pick n Save to Shawano is 56km (35 miles) away.  Schoolhouse Artisan Cheese shutting down its six years old store/eatery in Egg Harbor, apparently no reason given.  In Milwaukee, restaurant Hotch shutdown after 11 years due to the greedy landlord deciding to use the property for something else.  The Milwaukee Record described the shutdown as “Another day, another east side closing”.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Pub: An arrogant British empire shortening of the term Public House, meaning a food establishment that is open to the general, non-royalty/non-nobility, public.   In other words, pubs are for the lowly working class subjects of the empire.

U.S. Food Crisis, April 2017:  “THIS IS USUALLY THE BUSIEST TIME OF THE YEAR. USUALLY WE’RE HIRING EXTRA HELP.” NOT THIS YEAR!

U.S.

Great Reneger: Trump fails to stop immigration Tsunami!

01 JUN 2017 (16:40 UTC-07 Tango 06) 11 Khordad 1396/06 Ramadan 1438/07 Bing Wu 4715

This map represents estimated Syrian refugee settlements projected for the 1st Q of 2017.

The latest government data reveals that two months after Donald Trump began his presidency legal immigration into the United States suddenly increased! It’s still far less than the amount of immigrants/refugees coming in under Barack Obama’s regime, however, according to U.S. Department of State Refugee Processing Center the number of legal immigrants/refugees allowed into the U.S. in May was 91% higher than in March (which was the month that saw the lowest number of people flooding into  the U.S.)!

The sudden jump in legal migrant numbers is the result of Trump’s 120 days halt on immigration coming to an end.  Where are all these people coming from?  Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar (still referred to by the U.S. government as Burma), Bhutan, Ukraine, Somalia, Eritrea, Iraq, Syria and Iran.  Realize these are countries where the United States is directly or indirectly interfering with, due to efforts to control their natural resources (such as oil/natural gas/rare-earth minerals).

THE GREAT RENEGER: TRUMP FAILS AFTER TENS WEEKS IN THE WHITE HOUSE!

THE GREAT RENEGER: PEACE PRIZE WINNER OBAMA DEPLOYS ADDITIONAL MARINES TO AFGHANISTAN!

Business/Economics

Dying Payless wants to shutdown 800 stores!

01 JUN 2017 (14:22 UTC-07 Tango 06) 11 Khordad 1396/06 Ramadan 1438/07 Bing Wu 4715

Payless in the Pine Ridge Mall in Chubbuck, Idaho. It escaped the shutdowns announced in April, but will it survive this new round of shutdowns?

In April, Kansas based shoe seller Payless suddenly went bankrupt and shutdown 4-hundred U.S. stores!  Now Payless administrators have asked the bankruptcy court for permission to shutdown an additional 4-hundred, bringing the total so far this year to 8-hundred!

The new shutdown list adds stores in Hawaii, Connecticut, Louisiana, Arizona, New Jersey, Michigan, Florida, and “a whopping 117 stores in Texas and 132 in California”!  Administrators say the new additions to the shutdown list are the result of failed attempts to get the rents on the properties lowered.

U.S.

“We are actively course correcting”: ObamaCare Death Spiral, April 2017

Incomplete list of healthcare related layoffs and shutdowns, announced in April 2017:

Arizona: Green Valley Hospital went chapter 11 bankrupt busted blaming a “massive amount of debt at a high interest rate, plus fees”.

California:  Brentwood based medical device maker Halt Medical now bankrupt busted and being forced to sell itself to Acessa Health.  Victor Valley Global Medical Center laid off 18 people, administrators blamed reduced ObamaCare (ACA) taxpayer funding for Medi-Cal.  Non-profit Rideout Health issued layoff and shutdown WARNs for three locations, 89 jobs lost between May and the end of June. Abbott Laboratories shutdown its Carlsbad ops, 60 jobs lost.  Drugs company Amgen issued a mass layoff WARN for Thousand Oaks, 494 jobs gone by mid-June!  Drugs seller DaVita Rx eliminating 15 jobs in June.  In Redwood, OncoMed Pharmaceuticals suddenly laid off 62 people. 

Connecticut: Greensprings Healthcare and Rehab issued a shutdown WARN for East Hartford, 150 jobs going away starting at the end of June!

Florida: Drugs packaging company International Laboratories laying off 112 people in June!  Tampa General Hospital laying off 119 people in June!

Georgia: Jenkins County Medical Center shutting down, 55 jobs lost by June due to merger with another medical center.

Idaho: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows that almost 40% of Idahoans have ‘pre-existing’ medical conditions that would prevent them from getting health insurance.  The Washington based franchise owner of Positive Changes Hypnosis Centers, ET Research, went bankrupt and shutdown its Boise office without warning.  The parent company in Iowa said ET Research was in so much debt they owed money to 1-thousand-2-hundred creditors!   A Rexburg woman had her insurance license revoked by state officials after she filed false medical claims. 

Illinois: In Danville, after more than 70 years Bratland’s Prescription Shop shutdown.

Indiana: Covance Clinical Development Services shutting down its Evansville laboratory, more than 1-hundred jobs lost in July!  God powerless to stop ‘his’ Saint Vincent Frankfort Hospital from laying off 124 people due to not renewing its lease with Clinton County!

Iowa: In Des Moines, after 145 years (surviving The Great Depression and two World Wars) Hammer Pharmacy shutdown after merging with competitor Medicap.

Kentucky: KentuckyOne Health eliminating 250 jobs blaming ObamaCare’s “continuing evolution of health care reform and reimbursement structures.”  God powerless to stop ‘his’ Methodist Hospital from suddenly laying off 61 people, admitting that ObamaCare is more powerful than god saying “Our hospital admissions and outpatient volumes are not meeting expectations, while uncompensated care expenses are up significantly. This imbalance mirrors what healthcare organizations across our state are experiencing.”

Louisiana: LifeCare Specialty Hospital shutting down, 167 jobs lost between now and June!

Massachusetts: University of Massachusetts Medical School eliminating 65 jobs due to lack of money.

Michigan: UP Health System-Marquette suddenly laid off “a few dozen employees”.

Minnesota: Minnetonka based insurance company Medica announced it is quitting the state administered Medicaid program, resulting in 250 jobs disappearing and cutting off 300-thousand ObamaCare customers!   Medica claims it lost $200-million USD under Minnesota’s version of ObamaCare-Medicaid (called MinnesotaCare).

Mississippi:  East Mississippi State Hospital eliminating 74 jobs in Meridian due to state taxpayer funding cuts.

New Jersey: Jersey City Medical Center-RWJBarnabas Health suddenly laid off an undisclosed number of employees due to ObamaCare directed conversion to digital records keeping.

New York: NYC Health warned of more layoffs by saying it’s “redesigning management structure to create a more efficient and financially sustainable organization”.  Medicaid NCC Customer Service Anthem issued a shutdown WARN, 86 jobs gone by the end of July.

North Dakota: God powerless to stop ‘his’ CHI Saint Alexius from laying off an additional 25 people, for a total so far of 119 in the past year!

Ohio:  Non-profit nursing home operator Evant issued a shutdown WARN for operations in Summit County, 198 jobs gone by the end of May!

Oregon:  The Washington based franchise owner of Positive Changes Hypnosis Centers, ET Research, went bankrupt and shutdown its Oregon locations without warning.  The parent company in Iowa said ET Research was in so much debt they owed money to 1-thousand-2-hundred creditors!  Mid-Columbia Medical Center laid off 11 people, administrators blamed many things including ObamaCare insurance reimbursements.  Three employees also had their pay reduced and ten employees had their hours cut.

Pennsylvania: York based Unilife now bankrupt busted, more than 140 jobs eliminated without warning! The medical device maker also laid off 40% of its employees in 2016.

Rhode Island:  Non-profit Care New England warned of impending layoffs, mainly in its women’s and children’s operations, due to massive financial losses.  In 2016 ObamaCare caused Care New England (the second largest hospital group in the state) to lose $68-million.

South Carolina: Abbeville Area Medical Center laid off 13 people blaming “the challenges health care is throwing at us.”

Texas: Operator of 90 freestanding emergency rooms across five states Adeptus Health now bankrupt busted due to lack of revenue.

Virginia: Central Virginia Training Center laying off 14 people in the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services in May.  After 60 years on Charlottesville, Meadowbrook Pharmacy shutdown due to competition from ‘big box’ pharmacies.  Despite that claim, ‘big box’ pharmacy Rite Aid shutdown its Pulaski store due to lack of profits.

Washington: Spokane based franchise owner of Positive Changes Hypnosis Centers, ET Research, went bankrupt and shutdown its Washington locations without warning.  The parent company in Iowa said ET Research was in so much debt they owed money to 1-thousand-2-hundred creditors!  Trios Health-Kennewick Public Hospital District suddenly laid off 95 people saying “We are actively course correcting….”  Vancouver based PeaceHealth eliminated more than 3-hundred jobs in Washington and Oregon as it shutdown its Outreach Laboratories!  Healthcare analytics company Caradigm issued a layoff WARN for Bellevue, 39 jobs lost by mid-June.

ObamaCare (ACA) death spiral March 2017: “TREATING AN INCREASING NUMBER OF UNINSURED & UNDERINSURED PATIENTS.”

U.S.

“This is usually the busiest time of the year. Usually we’re hiring extra help.” Not this year!: U.S. Food Crisis, April 2017

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of April, 2017: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production, spread of disease and extreme weather.

California:  After 91 years the restaurant Genova Delicatessen shutdown its locations in Oakland and North Oakland, the family owners blame an increase in crime.  The Fishwife’s Turtle Bay Taqueria shutting down its Monterey location. In Fresno, after 18 years mom&pop owned Uncle Harry’s New York Bagelry & Coffee House shutting down because the “…landlord based in New York was not interested in renewing our lease and preferred/desired a ‘national’ tenant instead.”  Christian agnostic Warren Buffett owned Meadowbrook Meat Company shutting down its operations in Pleasanton and Tracy, 147 jobs gone between July and October (last month Meadowbrook announced the shutdown of its Ontario ops, 171 jobs lost in May)!  JBS USA Food Company issued a shutdown WARN for its Commerce location, 34 jobs lost by the end of May.  Food service contractor Sodexo issued a shutdown WARN for its ops in Davis, 136 jobs gone by the end of June!

Florida: Kendall based Pollo Tropical announced it will shutdown 30 restaurants in Georgia, Tennessee and Texas (in addition to the ten they’ve already shutdown).  In Gainesville, Alico Citrus Nursery suddenly laid off 31 people.  

Georgia:  Atlanta based Coca-Cola announced it will kill 1-thousand-2-hundred jobs in the second half of 2017!  Are crashing sales because of anti-soda taxes?  In Atlanta, Vine & Tap wine bar shutdown without warning after only three years, due to owner’s family health problems.

Idaho: An estimated 100 million pounds of spoiled onions have been disposed of in Idaho and Oregon following a winter of unprecedented snowfall.

Eastern Idaho potato growers are at least a week behind normal, and even further behind compared to their early starts the past two seasons. He believes the odds of repeating last season’s bumper spud and grain crops are growing longer.

Illinois:  McCain Foods USA, Inc. announced it is voluntarily recalling frozen hash brown products that may be contaminated with extraneous golf ball material.  (In 2002, the University of Idaho created a guide on “Managing Foreign Material for Quality Idaho Potatoes” in which golf balls were featured as a “common foreign material found in potatoes,” alongside bones, light bulbs, manure, shot gun shells and irrigation equipment.)   Food Service Professionals issued a shutdown WARN for its Flossmoor ops, 134 jobs lost by August!  Red Bull laid off 32 people in Chicago, no reason given.     In Hinsdale, wine seller Village Cellar shutting down when the inventory is gone because the local government nabobs refused a new expanded booze license.  The maker of food products for Tony Roma’s and Butchers Prime, Rupari Foods, now bankrupt busted and supposedly sold to competing food processor Carl Buddig.Grocery store supplier Central Grocers suddenly laid off 29 warehouse workers in Joliet.  Former employees told local news media that something is wrong because “This is usually the busiest time of the year. Usually we’re hiring extra help.”  As well as putting itself up for sale, Central Grocers is also shutting down and selling-off seven Ultra Foods grocery stores, at least 8-hundred Ultra Foods jobs lost by mid-June !  The grocery employee union has sued Central Grocers in an attempt to stop the sale of the business.

Indiana:  In Evansville, after 30 years Fred’s Bar and Grill shutting down by mid-May, sounds like it’s due to property redevelopment.

Iowa:  Grocery chain Hy-Vee threatened 60 HQ workers with layoffs unless they accepted reassignment to lower level jobs.  Administrators blamed it on a rapidly changing grocery market.  Save-a-Lot shutting down its Dubuque grocery store by mid-May, because it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease.

Kentucky: In Covington, Piccolo Casa (formerly NuVo) stopped serving lunch and will shutdown in May, no reason given.

Maryland:   Quincy’s Bar & Grille chapter 11 bankrupt busted, the bar & grill was shutdown six weeks before the bankruptcy filing.  Besides the usual debts, Quincy’s owner owes the landlord more than $73-thousand USD in rent. After 25 years Lenny’s Deli shutdown, the owners lamented to local news media about a time when business was booming.   Tian’s Teriyaki shutdown so the owner could return to China.

Massachusetts: Cumberland Farms sold-off and shutdown its small Greenfield grocery store on Main Street.

Minnesota:  In Duluth, after 29 years booze seller Lake Superior Bottle Shop secretly sold to make room for taxpayer funded housing development.  In Le Center, after less than one year The Lunchbox shutting down in July, due to not being able to renew the lease.  The building owner also revealed that it’s up for sale.  In Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area two PizzaRev restaurants shutdown after only three years.

Mississippi: In Gulfport, Winn Dixie shutting down its grocery store on East Pass Road.

Montana: In Great Falls, the Pizza Baron shutdown and the building is for sale, the owner say he doesn’t have time to run it anymore due to focusing on his other more profitable businesses.

Nevada: In Las Vegas, after only two years the world’s largest Hooters restaurant (more than 5-hundred seats) shutting down in May.  In Reno, after five years Wedge Cheese Shop shutdown due to a 25% rent increase, the owner Laura Conrow explained why she didn’t just move: “….I was so tired, I couldn’t take on another thing. Basically, the only option was to close.”

New Jersey: In Atlantic Highlands, after 32 years the Memphis Pig Out shutdown, with the long time owners exclaiming “We are ecstatic to be free of all the responsibilities of owning a business!”

New York: In Pine City, after 134 years (surviving The Great Depression and two World Wars) Shepard’s Market shutdown due to the current owner’s health problems and the fact that nobody wanted to takeover the family run grocery store.  In West Hurley, Hurley Ridge Market has been sold, the new owner (HR Market) is shutting it down, 60 jobs lost in July.  The Fresh Market in Woodbury shutting down due to economic reasons, 47 jobs lost between May and July.  Openly anti-Trump Kellogg Snacks
shutting down its Orangeburg and Hauppauge Distribution Centers, 41 jobs lost between July and August supposedly due to a sudden crash in sales after Trump was elected (or maybe it’s part of Kellogg’s ongoing job killing Operation Project K).

North Carolina: With short notice Food Lion shutdown its 20 years old store in Mills River saying it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease, 40 jobs lost.

North Dakota: In Fargo, after 37 years Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream shutdown, supposedly due to problems finding competent employees.

Ohio: In Girard, after 14 years Daffin’s Candies suddenly shutdown blaming lack of sales.  Marsh shutting down its grocery store in Colerain, as part of plans by Marsh to shutdown ten grocery stores in the next month (supposedly due to lack of sales).  Chad Anthony’s Italian Grill & Pub shutdown its Salem and Boardman locations, due to lack of sales.

Oregon: In Portland, Bridgeport Brewery suddenly laid off 13 people due to skyrocketing competition in the craft brewery industry.

Pennsylvania: New taxes being blamed for crashing soda sales, causing Coca-Cola to layoff 40 people in Philadelphia.

South Carolina: In Columbia, after 16 years El Burrito forced to shutdown by a California based REIT which bought up the area’s commercial properties.

Texas: In Dallas, after decades Über-popular El Corazon de Tejas (Tejano, El Chico) suddenly sold-off and will shutdown so the building can be torn down.  In Houston, Red Ox Bar & Grill shutdown on short notice, apparently losing their lease to another restaurant.

Virginia:  Martin’s Food Market (Martin’s Food & Drug Stores) announced it is eliminating 487 jobs and shutting down four stores between June and July!  This is on top of the seven stores already shutdown and 1-thousand-110 people already rendered jobless! It’s directly connected to the takeover of Martin’s by Florida based competitor Publix Super Markets.  With short notice Food Lion shutdown its 20 years old store in Roanoke (on Williamson Road) saying it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease.  In Lynchburg, after four years Hill City House Grill suddenly shutdown due to government plans to use the property as part of a new connector road to Route 501.

Wisconsin: In Madison, Copps grocery store shutdown affecting 76 jobs, as a result of a decision by the owner Roundy’s, which in turn is owned by Kroger.  Kroger-Roundy’s administrators said the Copps chain of grocery stores is losing money.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

REIT=Real Estate Investment Trust

U.S. Food Crisis, March 2017: “YOU HAVE TO WORK ONE JOB TO PAY TO WORK ANOTHER”

Business/Economics, Fukushima

No Ammo, no Guns, no Job! “unforeseeable significant downturn”: U.S. Mining/Industry/Logistics layoffs, March 2017

Incomplete list of U.S. Mining/Industrial/Logistics job loss/shutdown announcements made in March 2017.

Iconic and at one time the largest U.S. moving company Graebel Van Lines “ceasing ongoing operations, effective immediately”!  At least 2-thousand jobs suddenly gone!  News reports say its the second major moving company to go bust since December 2016 (Kane Company)!  News media also discovered that some employees and creditors began lawsuits this year over unpaid wages and debts!  If the company is legally broke they’ll never get paid (happened to me in 2012).

 California:  In Riverside, SiftMill issued a shutdown WARN, for April.  Waste cleanup company Global Sulfur Systems shutting down its Cerritos ops by the end of April.  What construction industry recovery? Construction engineering company Mas Tec North America eliminating 74 jobs by May.

Colorado: Distributor Bartkus Oil shutting down after 71 years due to crashing demand from the farm industry.

Connecticut:  In Orange, Valley Tool eliminating 65 jobs by June.

Florida: JCPenney issued a shutdown WARN for its Lakeland Logistics Center, 119 jobs gone between May and October!  What construction industry recovery?  CTIS eliminating 70 jobs at its West Palm Beach location, by mid-May.  At Elgin AFB, federal tax sucker SURVICE Engineering eliminating 91 jobs by mid-April.  And federal tax sucker PAE Aviation and Technical Services laid off 133 people at Elgin AFB!

Idaho:   Ammo maker Federal Cartridge (Federal Premium Ammunition) suddenly furloughed 1-hundred employees at its Lewiston factory, blaming hunters and Donald Trump: “…we experienced a challenging retail environment due in part to a weak hunting season and the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.”

Illinois: Troubled United Airlines eliminating 3-hundred HQ jobs in Chicago!  School bus company First Student laying off 75 people in June due to loss of contract. Jackobson Warehouse shutting down its Romeoville location, 162 jobs lost by the end of May!  In Bolingbrook, Dedicated Logistics issued a shutdown WARN, 121 jobs lost by May due to loss of contract!  Also in Bolingbrook, logistics consultant Radial shutting down, 132 jobs lost by the end of June!  In Belvidere, Auto Releasing shutting down, 68 rail jobs lost by May due to loss of contract.  Also in Belvidere, Pierce Packaging shutting down, 46 jobs lost by the end of May due to loss of contract.  What automotive industry recovery? Tri-Dim Filter suddenly laid off 27 people in Belvidere. In Stockton, Dura Automotive Systems issued a layoff WARN, 171 jobs lost in May due to loss of contract!  In Romeoville, Stant USA shutting down, 69 jobs lost by January 2018.

Indiana: What automotive industry recovery?  Wisconsin based farm vehicle parts maker Rexnord shutting down its Indianapolis bearings factory and moving more than 3-hundred jobs to Mexico by the end of the year, despite threats by Donald Trump!  The layoffs started at the beginning of March.  Surface finisher Saran Industries eliminating 110 jobs by the end of June due to factory shutdown!

Iowa: What automotive industry recovery?  Caterpillar shutting down its Elkader factory, 75 jobs lost to Kansas.

Kentucky:  Gun maker Remington laid off about 16 people in Lexington.

Louisiana:  In Morgan, Petroleum Helicopters suddenly shutdown “…due to a very difficult economic environment and changes in our customers’ needs.”  The company transports workers to off-shore oil rigs.

Maryland: Georgia based Burris Logistics eliminating an undisclosed number of employees at its Elkton ops. Local news media discovered that Burris already eliminated about 50 jobs in neighboring Delaware, and speculated it might have something to due with Burris’ biggest customer BJ’s Wholesale Clubs.  Maker of store display units, Missouri based iDX Corporation, shutting down its Columbia factory, 68 jobs lost.  Local  news media reported that iDX wanted to expand but was not able to find a larger property at a price they could afford.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? Luxembourg based truck and farm vehicle parts maker SAF-Holland consolidating its U.S. operations, including shutting down their Holland factory, 97 Michigan jobs lost in October.  Auto parts maker Inteva Products furloughing 2-hundred employees for at least six months due to “the cancellation of our agreement with one of our largest customers”.  General Motors (GM) laying off 1-thousand-1-hundred people as it phases out GMC Acadia production at its factory in Lansing, by May!

Minnesota: Ammo maker Federal Cartridge (Federal Premium Ammunition) suddenly laid off 110 employees at its Anoka factory, blaming hunters and Donald Trump: “…we experienced a challenging retail environment due in part to a weak hunting season and the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.”

New Hampshire: Thompson Investment Casting suddenly laid off 53 gun foundry workers, blaming the election of Donald Trump for crashing gun sales. Clarke Distributors-White Mountain Distributors being sold-off, affecting at least 123 employees!

New Jersey:   In Logan-Swedesboro, drugs pusher Walgreens shutting down its 18 years old e-commerce distribution center, 133 jobs lost in June!  Walgreens is consolidating its internet operations.  Warren Distributing eliminating 128 jobs by the end of April! Local news media say no reason was given.  In Wall, NRG Energy issued a WARN, 65 jobs gone by mid-June.  In Paulsboro, oil refiner AXEON issued a WARN, 115 jobs lost by May!  In Lawrenceville, Hub City Distributing issued a WARN, 101 jobs lost by the end of April!  Switzerland based ‘inspection’ company SGS issued a WARN for its Mawah location, 37 jobs gone by mid-May.

New York: Local news media reporting that General Electric (GE) will layoff a “small percentage” of people in Schenectady due to “current challenges in the power market and the integration of GE and legacy Alstom”.  Gun maker Remington laid off 122 people in Ilion blaming “poor economic policies pushed by Gov. Cuomo and Assembly Democrats as well as the SAFE Act. Make no mistake, there is a direct correlation.”  In Rotterdam, Railex issued a shutdown WARN, 138 rail jobs gone by the end of June, due to loss of contract!  Manufacturer Allenair issued a shutdown WARN for its Mineola location, 69 jobs lost by September.  The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
Smart System Technology and Commercialization Center shutting down its research and development ops, 30 jobs lost by mid-June.  School bus company East End Bus Lines shutting down in Medford, 255 jobs lost due to loss of contract!

North Carolina:  North State Aviation shutting down operations at the Smith Reynolds Airport, 345 jobs lost due to “unforeseeable significant downturn in business”!

Ohio: Oneida Group laid off ten people at its Anchor-Hocking glass cookware operations near Lancaster.  The jobs were outsourced to a company based in India, in order to improve “profitability”.  3M shutting down its factory in Elyria, 136 jobs lost between May and August!  Rail company CSX laid off 34 people “as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to be more efficient and reduce operating costs”.  What coal industry recovery? Dayton Power & Light going ahead with plans to shutdown two co-op owned coal fired power plants in 2018.

Oklahoma:  Linde Engineering eliminating about 80 jobs in Tulsa; 30 with outright layoffs and about 50 jobs being transferred to Texas.  It’s blamed on the petroleum industry BS.  Industrial emission control system maker John Zink eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs blaming “changing market conditions”.

Ohio: Maumee based agribusiness and farm retailer Andersons shutdown its distribution center as part of plans to go-out-of-business (announced last month).  Standex International-Enginetics shutting down its Eastlake aerospace factory, 28 jobs lost by July, “due to the strategic consolidation”.

Oregon: What construction industry recovery? Maker of fireplaces Portland Willamette shutting down its factory near Portland International Airport, the remaining 62 jobs gone by mid-May.

Pennsylvania: Nippon (Japan) owned nuclear power plant company Westinghouse now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Parent company Toshiba has been losing money hand-over-fist ever since the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Westinghouse will probably be sold to raise cash.  220 jobs lost as chemical company Indspec shuts down its factory in Petrolia, at the end of July!   Classtex suddenly shutdown its 70 years old knitting mill in Orwigsburg, the remaining 15 employees lost their jobs due to “Offshore competition mainly. It’s difficult to compete with countries that are not even paying their people $1 an hour, and they don’t have to worry paying their people any kind of benefits.”  Despite investment by Bill Gates hi-tech battery maker Aquion Energy suddenly laid off 80% of employees and declared bankruptcy!  Administrators said that even with funding by Bill Gates “the company has been unable to raise the growth capital needed to continue operating”.  Blaschak Coal laid off 55 people blaming a warm winter for low sales.  In Steelton, ArcelorMittal laid off an additional 86 people as it reduces the number of shifts. In September 2016, ArcelorMittal laid off 27 people. In Carlise, CEVA Logistics issued a WARN, 101 jobs lost by May!  In York, heat exchanger maker Kelvion eliminating 72 jobs by the end of June. Injection mold maker DME eliminating 61 jobs in Youngwood, by June.

South Carolina: Local news media reporting that General Electric (GE) will layoff a “small percentage” of people due to “current challenges in the power market and the integration of GE and legacy Alstom”.  After more than 20 years plastic packaging maker Buckhorn shutting down its factory in Bluffton, 1-hundred jobs lost due to sudden consolidation of ops!  The mayor of Bluffton, Ted Ellis, said “When I asked management if there was something we could have done, or could do to keep them here, they said no. That was a decision made elsewhere and we’re just at their mercy.” What automotive industry recovery?  Vehicle parts maker Dayco shutting down its 43 years old Walterboro factory, more than 120 jobs lost over the next few months!

Tennessee: Mississippi hauler Ingram Barge suddenly laid off 47 people blaming it on a sudden drop in business.

Texas: Troubled (by corporate insider games) oil contractor Ethos Offshore now chapter 7 bankrupt busted.   Oil contractor Enbridge eliminating 1-thousand jobs in the U.S. and Canada!  It’s the result of Enbridge’s takeover of competitor Sprecta Energy.  Gulf Marine Fabricators killing another 19 jobs on top of the hundreds it killed in the past 22 months.

Virginia: Local news media reporting that General Electric (GE) will layoff a “small percentage” of people in Salem due to “current challenges in the power market and the integration of GE and legacy Alstom”.  In Fisherville, Wilson Trucking laid off about 1-hundred people due to its takeover by a Texas company.

Washington: Boeing issued yet another mass layoff WARN, 245 jobs lost starting mid-May!  Japan owned Nippon Paper suddenly laid off 151 Port Angeles workers!  In SeaTac, Menzie’s Aviation shutting down, 949 jobs gone by May!  What automotive industry recovery?  Car electronics parts maker Harman International Industries issued a shutdown WARN for its factory in Cheney, 86 jobs gone by May.  At nuke disaster site Hanford, tax sucking contractor CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation warned employees that 250 could lose their jobs because ‘key work’ at the disaster site was considered finished.  Also at Hanford, tax sucker Mission Support Alliance said it was laying off as many as 50 people.

West Virginia:  New York based Special Metals laid off 34 people in Huntington, in what local news media called “another round of layoffs”.  What construction industry recovery?  In Holden, hardwood floor maker Mohawk Industries laid off 111 people due to consolidation operations!

Wisconsin: Temp agency Manpower eliminating 150 HQ jobs in Milwaukee!  The administrative jobs are being replaced by robots/computers!

Mining/Industrial/Logistics layoffs, February 2017:  “INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION PROGRAM”

Retail/Banking/Service Sector Collapse, March 2017: “WE JUST DIDN’T WANT TO DO IT ANYMORE.”

U.S.

“experiencing declining enrollment, and we will continue to”: Dumbing Down the U.S. of A., March 2017

Disappearing Students Syndrome (DSS): A phrase created by me to describe a phenomenon taking place across the United States, affecting both privately and publicly funded schools, from Kindergarten all the way through University levels.

Incomplete list of publicly announced education related layoffs & school shutdowns, March 2017:

California:  A true sign of advanced education; in San Francisco a book store which also doubles as a booze joint, Two Sisters Bar & Books, shutdown.  Los Angeles Unified School District notified 1-thousand-6-hundred employees of layoffs due to massive DSS and taxpayer funding cuts!  At a “special” meeting Azusa School District voted to layoff 14 teachers due to an unexpected reduction in taxpayer funding.  Local news media pointed out that the superintendent got an 8% pay raise, but supposedly that was before the sudden reduction in state funding. San Diego Unified School District eliminating 850 jobs due to a $124-million deficit!  Administrators pointed out that if they didn’t start laying people off then the state could take over.  In the largest county in the world, Rim of the World Unified School District notified at least ten teachers of layoffs.  In Santa Monica, American Flyers shutting down its flight school in April.  Local news media said its the second flight school at the Santa Monica Airport to shutdown in the past 12 months, speculating it has to due with ongoing problems with city administrators.  However, city admin smugly stated “They chose to leave on their own for their own reasons.”  In Modesto, Nasco Education eliminating 46 jobs at the end of May.

Idaho: As I warned back in 2016, Islamic extremist U.S. ally Saudi Arabia’s funding cuts to Idaho State University (ISU) could result in layoffs. Local news media reporting that ISU is dealing with a $12-million USD shortfall and the loss of 35% of its Middle Eastern students!  ISU admin warned of layoffs if state taxpayers aren’t forced to make up the funding difference!  (Related: SAUDI ARABIA TAKES OVER TEXAS OIL SUPPLY & SOUTHEAST U.S. FUEL SALES!)

Illinois: Community Unit School District 308 notified at least 48 people of layoffs (mainly teachers) due to crashing enrollments and taxpayer funding.  Richland Community College laid off 18 people due to crashing taxpayer funding and what I call DSS.   McHenry County College eliminating 25 jobs, reducing work hours for five positions and not filling six soon to be vacant positions, blaming crashing taxpayer funding and what I call DSS.  Aurora University suddenly laid off about 45 people due to problems with state taxpayer MAP (Monetary Award Program) funding.   Community High School District 155 warning of layoffs and reduced work hours, blaming a $1.6-million deficit on “experiencing declining enrollment, and we will continue to”.   School bus company First Student laying off 75 people in June due to loss of contract.   Aramark Educational Services lost its food contract with Indian Prairie School District, 169 jobs gone by June!  In Moline, Readmore Book World and Rock Shop shutdown: “We’re closing this time mostly because I’m not as interested in staying in retail anymore…..you’ve got to have the fire in your belly to keep going, especially in independent retail, and stuff that has small profit margins like this.”-Randy Pearson, co-owner

Maryland: Kent County Board of Education shutting down Millington and Worton elementary schools due to a $1.2-million deficit caused by 20 years of crashing student enrollments!

Massachusetts:  Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District eliminating at least 18 jobs due to being in the hole by $1.2-million USD.  Administrators admitted that the elimination of 18 jobs still wouldn’t make up for the budget deficit.

Michigan: Central Michigan University warning of mass layoffs due to an estimated $20-million deficit!

Missouri:  Saint Louis University eliminating 120 jobs due to a $16-million deficit caused by increasing costs and decreasing student enrollments!

New York:  In Buffalo, after 70 years god powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Mary Queen of Angels school due to The Rapture, I mean declining student enrollments and increasing costs of operations.  Interestingly the christian school’s mascot is a winged bison. Fairport Central School District eliminating 30 teaching jobs in the 2017-18 school year.  The local teacher’s union warned that layoffs could be more depending upon the state budget.  School bus company Durham School Services issued a layoff WARN, 216 jobs lost due to loss of contract!   School bus company East End Bus Lines shutting down in Medford, 255 jobs lost due to loss of contract!

Oregon: Portland Public Schools warning of 70 teacher layoffs due to crashing student enrollments.  Administrators swear they’ve eliminated jobs elsewhere in an attempt to save teaching jobs, but the enrollment problem is only getting worse. University of Oregon notified 75 employees of layoffs, after years of hiring new employees.  Administrators blame an expected $8.8-million deficit on skyrocketing costs of employee benefits (partially caused by ObamaCare). The employee’s union says the number of people to be laid off will actually be more than 75.

Pennsylvania:  Norwin School District warning of layoffs due to being short an estimated $3.3-million.  Mansfield University warning of layoffs and shutdowns of departments due to a 35% crash in enrollments since 2010!  In the middle of the school year Khepera Charter School suddenly laid off 11 people, including teachers, blaming a lack of funding. The ‘African-American’ Khepera Charter School has a history of sudden layoffs and last year a whistle-blower revealed massive financial fraud.  Michigan based Baker College shutting down its one year old campus in Reading, due to lack of students.  Non-profit Mount Pleasant Glass Museum shutdown after only three years, they didn’t charge an admission fee and never got enough donations.

Tennessee: God powerless to stop ‘his’ Aquinas College from suddenly laying off the majority of its employees and forcing half the student body to transfer to other ‘christian’ schools!

Texas: In Fort Worth, the short lived Military Museum shutdown.  Local news reports said until 2016 about 3-thousand people per year visited the museum, but last year only 1-thousand showed up.

South Dakota: After almost 40 years the privately owned National Museum of Wood Carving shutdown.  The owners needed money so they put everything up for sale.

Virginia:  More proof god can’t save you, and neither can the internet; god powerless to stop ‘his’ online based Liberty University from eliminating an undisclosed number of jobs.  Administrators blame “competition” for causing The Rapture, I mean the loss of several thousands of students!

Washington: After 68 years School of Piano Technology for the Blind  shutting down due to no more students!  Local news reports say the last two students graduated in December 2016.

West Virginia: During an emergency meeting Wayne County Schools announced the elimination of  85 jobs due to an expected $1.8-million reduction in taxpayer funding caused by ongoing Disappearing Students Syndrome.

Dumbing Down February 2017: OBAMA KILLS 200 COLLEGES! “STRATEGIC REALIGNMENT”