Tag Archives: idaho

Business/Economics, Idaho

“an economy in distress” Idaho kills thousands of Equine jobs & tens of millions in revenues! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 21 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

A warning for people who shop for food in grocery stores: U.S. employee unions are warning that the 2015 Giant Food (based in Netherlands) and Food Lion (based in Belgium) merger will result in the sell-off or shutdown of at least eight Giant and Martin’s grocery stores in Maryland and Virginia!  The sell-off is the result of U.S. anti-trust laws (the same reason Albertsons-Safeway used to trick now bankrupt-dead Haggen into buying 130 failing stores).

The National Association of Realtors said sales of existing homes dropped 7.1% in February.

Idaho: In Garden City, after 40 years The Gem State’s largest horse racing op Les Bois Park suddenly shutdown. It’s the latest victim of a recent decision by A-hole Christian regulators declaring ‘instant horse racing’ machines to be “unconstitutional”! Boise State University conducted an economic study which concluded that Les Bois Park alone generated $50-million USD for Ada County, and provided 536 jobs, all lost now!  The Idaho Horse Council says there will be a domino effect across Idaho’s equine economy: “It’s the feed, the hotels, the traveling, eating… it’s just a trickledown effect. Horses are going to be shipped out of state and that’s income Idaho doesn’t get. That’s devastating for our horse economy.”-Myron Amsden

Indiana: In Mishawaka, Cinemark Six shutting down their dollar movie theater this Thursday.  Local news reports say it’s been for sale for some time, apparently nobody is interested in buying it.

Michigan: Jackson based CMS Energy (aka Consumers Energy) reported they are on track to shutdown seven coal fired electricity power plants, by the end of Spring.  Administrators claim their natural gas fired plant can replace the seven coal fired plants, but they didn’t say what’s going to happen to all those employees.

New Jersey: In Swedesboro, Netherlands based potato starch supplier Royal Ingredients issued a WARN, 80 jobs lost by mid-May.

New York:  In Cohoes, after 26 years Tables Chairs and More shutting down so the owner can retire, blaming the bad economy: “…the overall business conditions aren’t the best, and I don’t think that there has ever been a real full recovery from the recession in 2008, and it’s become more of a struggle.”-Fred Turcotte

North Carolina:  In Durham, after five years G2B Brewery & Restaurant shutting down.  Despite being critically acclaimed they never generated enough sales to pay their expenses.  In Chapel Hill, after six years upscale restaurant One shutting down after the third set of lead chefs (since opening) decided to leave.

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, after 36 years God powerless to stop ‘christian’ education supply store The Apple Tree from shutting down by the end of May, blaming the lack of economic recovery (proving once again the real ‘god’ is money): “…. the sustainability of a small business in an economy in distress and an industry….has become increasingly difficult to remain competitive…” 

Pennsylvania: ‘Life sciences’ drugs maker Morphotek laid off 27 people. What construction industry recovery? Plumbing parts maker Zurn issued a shutdown WARN for their Erie HQ, no layoff numbers made public.  Zurn is moving their HQ to Wisconsin between May and August.  Zurn administrators claim that Wisconsin is the land of “global water industry leaders”, so that’s where the business is.

West Virginia: In Huntington, after 70 years Glaser Furniture shutting down by April.  The owners say their adult children are not interested in carrying on the family business.

Wyoming: After 14 years community owned clothing co-op Powell Mercantile shutting down, blaming locals for buying on the internet or traveling all the way to Billings to do their shopping.  Apparently the co-op is shifting to stores that offer products not easily found elsewhere.  Casper County wants $5-million USD in state taxpayer funding to shutdown their trash dump! And they say that’ll cover only half the costs to shutdown Horsethief Canyon Landfill! Of course the state ordered the shutdown, due to leaking toxic materials.  This is a fine example of how taxpayers are royally screwed over by ‘their’ system.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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

Business/Economics, Idaho

“…haven’t been able to get that magic to happen.” Dept of Education falsifies employment numbers! Saudi Arabia controls U.S. refineries? : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 19 – 20 March 2016

Japan based electronics maker Toshiba, who was caught out last year cooking its own accounting books revealing that it was actually losing money (over the past seven years), is now under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  The U.S. investigation is about Toshiba’s U.S. subsidiaries lying about their revenues to avoid paying U.S. taxes, and includes the U.S. nuclear power plant maker/operator Westinghouse (which is now owned by Toshiba).  Toshiba has recently been fined a record $66-million USD by Japan’s Financial Services Agency for lying about their revenues.

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: In Sacramento, after more than 20 years furniture store Three Women & an Armoire shutting down by April, blaming jacked up rent and jacked up competition.   In San Mateo, after 60 years Kaufmann’s Cameras shutting down due to the new landlord quadrupling the rent: “… it was very difficult finding someplace in the new economy. I almost kind of doubt we’ll open up a brick and mortar again. We’ll look for it and if we find it we’ll do it, but that’s not our thought right now.”-Warren Kaufmann

Connecticut:  The mayor of Bridgeport laid of the city’s Health Director, who says he doesn’t have the authority to do that and will sue. This is just one of many recent controversal personnel issues that the mayor’s administration claims are attempts to save money, but many critics say it’ll cost the city more money fighting legal actions.

Florida: In Naples, after 45 years, and several armed robberies, Thalheimers Jewelers shutting down due to injuries the owner suffered in a bike accident last year.

Idaho: An update on that false organic seed selling operation that ripped off dozens of farmers east of the Rockies for five years; one of the co-owners of Saul Farms/Bliss Seed pled guilty to mislabeling products.  Prosecutors say the seed sellers sold ‘inorganic’ seed at organic seed prices, getting at least $1 USD per pound more than they should have, resulting in $1.9-million USD in fraudulent sales!  And there’s even more fraud from the Christian dominated Gem State; this time illegal drugs involving a doctor and his family.  In Coeur d’Alene a doctor, his wife and his son appeared in federal court and pled not guilty to charges of running a meth/heroin/oxycodone op that covered the states of Idaho, Washington, Montana, Nevada and North Dakota!    Two of the doctor’s other children pled not guilty at an earlier court appearance.  The FBI and multiple local police agencies from several states made the bust, describing it as a massive drug running-money laundering op. The investigation also included the U.S. Border Patrol.  Local news reports say the doctor was “prominent” in the area and was part of the larger multi-state operation.  This isn’t the first time huge drug running ops have been shutdown in Idaho.

Indiana: In Fort Wayne, Gropp’s Famous Fish of Stroh shutting down  due to the retirement of the owners.  The family hopes to make money by licensing its secret recipes.

Louisiana: In Baton Rouge, restaurant supplier Ready Portion Meat shutdown their 56 years old retail operation this past Friday, and eventually will end wholesale ops as well.  It’s connected to the 2013 sale of the company to Washington based government contractor Mobius Industries.  Administrators with Mobius refused to give job loss numbers, but blame the shutdown on crashing sales to the restaurant industry, a 20% crash just last year: “We put a tremendous amount of effort into increasing sales in the last year or two and haven’t been able to get that magic to happen.”-Brian Clayton  (the claim of crashing restaurant industry sales is interesting because every year the National Restaurant Association claims sales are way up)

New York: Lack of funding and students forcing Kenmore Town of Tonawanda District to shutdown the Roosevelt and Hamilton elementary schools and Kenmore Middle School (Junior High damn it, we’re not supposed to be part of the bloody British empire!) next school year.  Local news reports say the district has been trying to figure out a way to cut taxpayer costs since 2012, and this was the best they could do.

North Carolina: The 3rd largest cigarette maker in the U.S. International Textile Group (ITG Brands) laid off 20 salaried employees in Greensboro, as part of their recent massive layoff announcement blamed on declining cigarette sales.

Ohio: In Cleveland, Playmatters Toys shutting down its 20 years old Shaker Square store.  It’s the third Playmatters store to shutdown, apparently there are only two stores left.  Don’t blame competition, local news reports say ever since 2008 dozens of mom-n-pop toy stores in the region have shutdown, Playmatters owner Michael Ziegenhagen confirmed by saying “…we had really strong years before the recession hit in 2008…”

Pennsylvania: In Philadelphia, Perch Pub shutting down next week, the building’s owner wants to construct a hotel.

South Dakota: The state level corruption investigation into the U.S. Department of Education’s GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) has revealed that contractors are lying about employment data, using old employment rosters to pad current employment numbers in order to get more taxpayer money! (in Nigeria it’s called creating Ghost Employees, and they claimed they learned it from the U.S. government) Those bogus employment records were part of contracts with “…former top officials of the state Department of Education, the University of South Dakota and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Education.” What’s really scandalous is that no criminal charges have yet to be filed!

Texas: Royal Dutch Shell and Saudi Aramco are splitting up their oil refinery ops in the United States, the result is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia now controls the largest U.S. refinery located at Port Arthur!

Virginia: In Richmond, tonight is the last picture show at the 78 years old Regal Westhampton Cinemas.  Local news reports said the manager told them she was not allowed to publicly say why.

Washington DC: Independently operated Law School Transparency has revealed that only 56% of law school graduates find full employment after graduating, which challenges the official employment placement claims made by the top law schools in the U.S.

Wisconsin: Food service company and construction industry supplier Mantiwoc Company announced layoffs for their operations in Manitowoc and in the state of Pennsylvania. No numbers were given but it’s part of Mantiwoc Company’s “right sizing” which recently included the spinning off it’s construction crane maker subsidiary called Cranes.  In Milwaukee, after 28 years Paintball Dave’s shutting down due to operational costs that now exceed revenues.

Wyoming: In Casper, oil equipment maker Power Service eliminated more than 50 jobs. Administrators admitted that since 2008 they’ve been struggling to control operational costs, but the oil industry downsizing pushed them over the edge.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

18 March 2016: “If the plant goes out this town will dry up!” States admit to ignoring federal unemployment laws!

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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

Business/Economics, Idaho

“If the plant goes out this town will dry up!” States admit to ignoring federal unemployment laws! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 18 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Colorado: Employment administrators with The Centennial State admit they ignore federal unemployment laws: “We have no enforcement authority. We can’t call companies and say we’re hearing about layoffs.”-Bill Thoennes, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, who says people screwed over by their employers are told to hire their own lawyer (hey, that happened to me and a dozen of my co-workers here in the Right to Work [you over] state of Idaho, back in 2012)

Connecticut: Xpect Discounts announced it will exodus The Constitution State, shutting down all remaining four of its stores and laying off more than 1-hundred people, by the end of the month! At one time they had seven stores in-state.    Evil Too Big to Jail British empire taxpayer owned Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) issued several layoff WARNs, 37 people in Stamford losing their jobs between now and May.  West Hartford Walmart shutting down mid-April, 111 jobs lost! Back in August 2015, laser maker Lumentum announced it will shutdown their Bloomfield factory. Now they’ve revealed how many jobs will be killed; 231 by October!  Georgia based cardboard box maker WestRock shutdown their Uncasville factory, 87 jobs lost this past Wednesday.  Germany based Siemens Healthcare shutting down their Brookfield diagnostics ops, at least 236 jobs lost by March 2018!  Retailer Macy’s shutting down their Enfield store, 104 jobs lost by the end of the month!  Hallmark Cards shutting down their Enfield warehouse-distribution operation, 553 jobs gone by Summer!

Florida: In Center Hill, Central Beef issued a WARN, 214 jobs being eliminated between now and the end of May!  For nearly a decade the meat packager was dumping water contaminated with salt and feces onto a rancher’s property. It took the rancher filing several court actions, and a plant manager turning whistleblower, to get any of the state and federal government agencies to act!  The dumping was stopped, however, criminal charges against the food company were eventually dropped.  So far there’s no explanation for the mass layoffs.

Idaho: Is ObamaCare at fault for the shooting death of a 60 years old man in the parking lot of an Idaho Falls hospital?  It happened today, in the parking lot of the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC), police are investigating the true cause of the shooting.  It was just a few months ago that the director of EIRMC testified to Failed State ‘lawmakers’ that their version of ObamaCare was directly responsible for the deaths of at least 1-thousand Idahoans!  And just yesterday Idaho senator Dan Schmidt gave back his state taxpayer funded health plan to protest republicans’ continued refusal to close the ObamaCare gap responsible for such deaths. 

Illinois: After 152 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) law firm Schiff Hardin laid off 11 lawyers, and back in January 22 left voluntarily.  Administrators are now blaming its “realignment” on the 22 who voluntarily left.  In Niles, Meijer department store shutting down in June, no word on how many employees will become unemployed.  There was no explanation for the shutdown either, although Meijer recently used the excuse of age to shutdown their huge Columbus, Ohio, store.

Maine: In Portland, after 40 years Paul’s Food Center shutting down, and being sold-off due to the death of the owner.

Massachusetts: Rockland Trust has taken over Bank of Cape Cod and as a result will shutdown all Bank of Cape Cod offices that are located near Rockland Trust offices.  Administrators claim they will try to find jobs for the soon to be former Bank of Cape Cod employees.

New York: Harlem Hand Carwash issued a shutdown WARN for their NYC ops on Adam Clayton Powell Junior Boulevard, due to “non renewal of the lease”, 34 jobs lost by the end of the month.  Also in totally corrupt NYC, a non-profit (sure) political organization connected to the current mayor shutdown.  Campaign for One New York had been accused of operating as a ‘shadow government’, and official investigation requests have been filed.  So called ‘mayor’ de Blassio would only comment “The work is done….bottom line.”  In Buffalo, the Blue Monk beer church (just kidding) shutting down sometime between April and May.  A co-owner of the brew-pub says his partner is also the landlord’s son, and they no longer get along!

Oregon: Washington based Starbucks coffee rip-off artist suddenly shutting down their Lancaster Mall shop this weekend.  The press release gave no explanation why, and local news sources said even the employees refused to talk!

Pennsylvania: Another fine example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL). Pittsburgh based US Steel issued mass layoff WARNs in Alabama and Texas saying at least 8-hundred people will become unemployed! It’s blamed on crashing orders for oil pipe from the oil industry.

Rhode Island: The evil state is finally shutting down a nursing home after years of multiple accusations of abuse, and even a death of a disabled resident!  The taxpayer funded College Park Apartments will shutdown next week.

Virginia: Just a few of days after announcing the end of 530 jobs,  British empire based-U.S. tax sucking BAE reduced those layoffs to 265 shipyard jobs gone by the end of the month! Administrators credit new contracts for work, but warn they’re only good ’till May, meaning more possible layoffs.  BAE also laid off 345 employees in November and December last year.  What automotive industry recovery?  In Altavista, bearing maker Timken shutting down their factory, 125 jobs lost by Spring 2017! Just like the rest of corporate America, Ohio based Timken is consolidating operations: “Everybody here works up there at Timken. It’s just the life of a small industrial town… If the plant goes out this town will dry up!”-Corrie Thacker, Altavista resident

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

16 March 2016: “Shame on us!”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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

Business/Economics, Idaho

“Shame on us!” Idaho Democrat gives back taxpayer funded health insurance! Using less electricity gets your rates jacked up! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 17 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

China is leading the world in dumping a record amount of U.S. Treasury Bonds: 

Yesterday I noted that Michigan is suffering from increased violence (which is directly impacting businesses), and noted that lead poisoning is directly connected to violent behavior.  Now, a USA Today report revealed that at least 350 water suppliers to public schools across the United States are serving up lead contaminated water!   Is that the real reason for increased school violence? (stop blaming guns)

Arizona: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Washington DC based e-commerce Living Social shutting down their Tucson call center, 160 jobs lost by the end Spring!  Administrators claim the bad economy is forcing them to restructure, and they warned the call center shutdown was just “the initial phase” (even though they’ve eliminated 6-hundred jobs since 2014!).

California: Plumas Unified School District laying off ten teachers due to lack of taxpayer funding.  Wisconsin based Kohl’s shutting down eight department stores by June, about 8-hundred jobs lost!  San Francisco based drugs dealer McKesson eliminating at least 1-thousand 6-hundred jobs due to the loss of several buyers!  In San Diego, non-profit Scripps Health eliminating 1-hundred jobs, blaming ObamaCare: “….Scripps is financially strong, but we cannot continue to allow our costs and operations to rise while our revenue continues to be flat.”-Chris Van Gorder, ceo who took over in 2002 promising “no layoffs” 

Florida: Kohl’s shutting down two department stores by June; Hialeah and Tallahassee, about 2-hundred jobs lost! The owners of three Denmark Interiors stores have shut them down and sold them off to fund their retirement!

Georgia: Kohl’s shutting down three department stores by June; Roswell, Lithonia and Atlanta, about 3-hundred jobs lost!

Idaho: The biggest electricity supplier in The Gem State is asking for a 2.2% increase (more than $2 per month for ‘average’ users) in utility bills.  Idaho Power says current rates are not allowing them to cover their “fixed costs” of operations. What’s not being reported is that more and more Idaho Power customers are using less electricity, and Idaho Power administrators expect that to continue, that’s the true reason for the rate jack up!   Idaho senator Dan Schmidt gave back his state taxpayer funded health plan to protest republicans continued refusal to ‘close the healthcare gap’, which according to an east Idaho hospital director has directly caused at least 1-thousand deaths in Idaho since ObamaCare was imposed: “I don’t think it’s fair that I get the taxpayers of Idaho to buy me health insurance, and we’re not willing to look at that problem for our other citizens who don’t have that benefit….  …And shame on us for not solving it!” -Dan Schmidt

Some good news for Idaho; New York based yogurt maker Chobani announced plans to expand what is already the world’s largest yogurt factory, in Twin Falls, primarily to make products for sale in Mexico! (yesterday I reported how Idaho’s ag industry was addicted to Mexican money)

Illinois:  Kohl’s shutting down their Saint Charles department store by June, about 1-hundred jobs lost!  Barrington District 220 notified 114 employees of layoffs, saying they’re prepping for the state ‘lawmakers’ to cut their funding by $2.6-million USD!  God powerless to stop ObamaCare from forcing ‘his’ Catholic Presence Health to eliminate 7-hundred jobs through attrition and outright layoffs! CEO Michael Englehart said ObamaCare was forcing them “to get in line”.

Massachusetts:  In New Bedford, Flagship Cinemas shutting down in August due of the A-hole city administrators who secretly rezoned the property: “….they rezoned the space to industrial about two and a half years ago and city officials wanted nothing to do with a movie theater anymore.”-John Crowley, who said city administrators never notified him of the zoning change

Michigan:  In Lansing, 50 years old restaurant House of ING shutting down by the end of the month.  The owner says he must focus on his other restaurants.

New Jersey:  Kohl’s shutting down their Princeton department store by June, about 1-hundred jobs lost!

New York: It’s been revealed that troubled NYC based restaurant chain Fig & Olive eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs, revealed by at least four former employees.  Fig & Olive had to shutdown restaurants back in 2015 because of a salmonella outbreak.

North Carolina:  Kohl’s shutting down their Charlotte department store by June, about 1-hundred jobs lost! 

Pennsylvania:  Cancer treatment center Helomics eliminating 125 jobs in Pittsburgh by mid-April!

Texas:  In Houston, after two years Georges Bistro shutting down by the end of the month, the husband and wife immigrant owners (who’re longtime Houston restauranteurs) are getting the hell outta Dodge and returning to their home country of France!

Washington: In Bellingham, Medicare policy seller Sterling Insurance shutting down their Barkley District office, 55 jobs lost by May.  Too Big to Jail (provocateur of the home foreclosure scandal) California based Wells Fargo issued a layoff WARN for their Vancouver Mortgage Servicing office, to take place by April.

Washington DC:  The Obama regime is giving $35-million USD in taxpayer funding to coal mining communities hit hard by the Hillary Clinton admitted conspiracy to shutdown the coal industry.

Wisconsin: In Fond du Loc, after 17 years Trinkets ‘n Treasures Arts & Crafts & More shutting down by the end of the month.  The store owner is selling the property to fund her retirement, but also admitted her sales crashed after 2008.  After more than 1-hundred years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Kremer Pharmacy shutdown.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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

Business/Economics, Idaho

4 years later Sandy officially kills New Jersey! Michigan violence skyrockets, is it the water? Idaho Ag industry reveals addiction to Mexico! Military behind oil industry shutdown? : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 16 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: In Huntsville, Haysland Square Shopping Center losing two stores in one blow; Goody’s and Burkes Outlet, between now and the end of April.

California:  Premium Transportation-Total Transportation Services claiming chapter 11 bankruptcy after losing lawsuit brought by its contracted drivers, and blaming “downward pricing pressure from some of its major clients”.  The trucking company is also facing other lawsuits and claims to have lost $4-million USD fighting recent court actions (this is a lesson in why you should treat your employees and clients with respect), they also spent a lot of money on hydrogen powered trucks.   After 18 years the Lafayette Art Gallery shutting down due to sales so low they can’t pay their rent.   Office Depot shutting down their Pleasant Hill store in April, directly blaming “The overlapping retail footprint created by the merger of Office Depot and OfficeMax in 2013…” In El Segundo, after ten years restaurant Farm Stand shutting down next week.  The owners hope to open a new restaurant with new partners somewhere in Los Angeles, sometime next year.

Connecticut:  Expect mass hospital layoffs as gov’na Malloy is refusing to issue $140-million USD in payments to state hospitals!  To show you how much The Constitution State is a Failed State, republican ‘lawmakers’ claim they’re willing to cut their own pay by 10% in order to get a budget passed!  In Derby, a 15 years old Walmart is shutting down by the end of July, 150 jobs lost!

Idaho: In Boise, after only four months the brand new Boise Co-op grocery store located at The Village at Meridian laid off 29 employees, due to lack of sales!  Boise Co-op opened the store in November 2015, expecting big sales because Maureen Valko, Boise Co-op marketing manager, assumed there was a demand for their products saying  “There’s a demand for a good, natural food store on this side of town….”  It should be noted that in 2015 Boise Co-op was hit with numerous health code violations by city inspectors, in connection to a June 2015 salmonella outbreak at an older store.  So much for ‘natural foods’.  Also in Boise, it was revealed that Idaho Heritage Inn was sold-off last month, the former owner blames a 20% crash in bookings on Airbnb.com.  However, it should be noted that the bed-n-breakfast owner accepted a healthy offer from Saint Luke’s Medical Center for the land.  And just how addicted to Mexican money is Idaho?  Recently Mexico’s Minister of Trade Armando Orellana died.  Idaho’s government and agriculture industry are officially mourning Orellana as he’s credited for making Idaho a major ag partner for Mexico, generating $191-million USD in sales for Idaho’s minority (mainly corporate owned now) farmers-ranchers, just in 2015:  “Idaho agriculture lost a great friend. He touched many lives over the years and the tragic loss of Armando will be felt throughout Idaho.”-Celia Gould, Idaho Department of Agriculture   (Idaho even has its own website promoting itself in Mexico)

Kansas:  Parsons based oil industry Tank Connection Affiliate Group revealed it conducted two rounds of layoffs, but still refuses to say how many people lost their jobs.  We will never know, because people who get severance when they’re laid off are not counted in the government’s ‘official’ unemployment reports.

Kentucky: Yet more of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL) as Florida based rail transporter CSX eliminating more jobs, this time an additional 101 Russell facility workers being let go.  CSX has been eliminating jobs since 2015, blaming the oil industry.

Maine: Penobscot Valley Hospital eliminating 10 jobs due to crashing revenues.  Administrators say the hospital has been losing money since 2012 due to declining local population.

Massachusetts: In Needham, after 18 years Cowlicks Deli suddenly shutdown last Thursday.  It’s due to the new landlord refusing to renew the lease.  The new landlord is convenience store chain 7-Eleven.

Michigan: In Lansing, violence being blamed for the shutdown of Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge.  The owner is voluntarily shutting it down after police responded to 60 calls of violence in 2015.  Is there something in the water? (there is a connection between lead poisoning and violent behavior)  And speaking of health, Blue Cross Blue Shield eliminated 22 IT jobs, as part of their bigger plan to eliminate $300-million USD in Michigan jobs by 2018, no thanks to ObamaCare!  Farmington Public Schools approved the shutdown/repurposing of three schools. The school district has lost 12% of its student population since 2000, causing an $11-million USD reduction in taxpayer funding.

New Jersey: Proof of no recovery four years after Hurricane Sandy, in fact many coastal communities are officially Failed States as taxes were jacked up and nothing was done to return things to ‘normal’.  The biggest proof is that tax revenues are down despite tax rates being jacked up.

Pennsylvania: Iconic Meadville based hand-tool maker Channellock laid off 15 managers, “In order to remain competitive….”  J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital eliminated 11 jobs, and is being forced by ObamaCare to eliminate inpatient care and focus on outpatient services.  Brockie Internal Medicine, Pine Grove Adult Medicine and Saint Charles Internal Medicine all shutting down! ObamaCare forcing them to be consolidated into one operation called WellSpan Internal Medicine, with a lot fewer employees.

Tennessee: God powerless to stop ‘his’ Texas owned Saint Francis Hospital from laying off 33 people. Administrators said ObamaCare was forcing them to do business “more efficiently.”

Texas:  Albertsons-Safeway shutting down their Plano Albertsons on Custer Road.  Local news reports say Albertsons-Safeway is not responding to inquiries, but unnamed employees say the grocery store will shutdown by the end of April.  In Longview, blaming the oil industry Trinity Tank Car announced that 6-hundred local employees will become unemployed with “no expectation of recall”!

Washington: Xerox notified 325 call center employees they are about to lose their jobs!  The call center in Redmond will shutdown in May.

Washington DC: President Barack Obama reneged on yet another ‘promise’ refusing to lease oil drilling rights in the Artic and off the coasts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.  Don’t go praising (or condemning) environmental wackos, point the finger at the U.S. Department of Defense.  The DoD objects to the oil drilling locations because they would interfere with “live training events” for the military.   (low oil prices might also have something to do with it)  Taxpayer funded United Medical Center eliminating 112 jobs as a result of demands by city administrators to reduce costs by $10-million!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

15 March 2016: “I never thought it would end!”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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

Idaho

Idaho Mormon ‘Sheriff’ insists “our” Rape is “Consensual”! Opposes new law that could out Mormon rapists?

Video

16 March 2016 (12:52 UTC-07 Tango 01) 26 Esfand 1394/06 Jumada t-Tania 1437/08 Xin Mao (2nd month) 4714

Here in Mormon dominated (according to the U.S. Census Bureau) eastern Idaho, Bingham County Sheriff Craig T. Rowland (also a local Mormon leader) straight up said Rape Kits were unnecessary because “…the majority of our rapes that are called in, are actually consensual sex.”

Notice he specifically said “our rapes”, is that a Freudian slip?  In an interview with KIFI, Rowland actually implied that rape investigations hurt the victim: “…what does that do to her down the road [clears his throat], what does that do to her partner?”

https://youtu.be/T5ykTAVRJ2o

Update; for some unexplained reason Idaho Falls based KIFI removed their interview of the sheriff, but I found that Newsy has posted it on their YouTube channel:

The ‘christian’ leader is opposed to new proposed laws regulating the tracking of Rape Kits in The Gem State.  Currently local law enforcers are not required to use Rape Kits to collect DNA, the new proposed law would change that. Rowland is opposed to mandatory Rape Kits on the grounds that most ‘rapes’ in his area of operation are ‘legal’.  Could it be that if the new rape law goes into effect dozens, maybe hundreds, of Mormons will be revealed as rapists?

Idaho Mormon ‘lawmaker’ says Rape & Incest won’t get you pregnant! 

Christian U.S. military behind child porn and sex abuse! 

Christian Mennonites used animal drugs to gang rape their own women 

Business/Economics, Idaho

“I never thought it would end!” Avon ‘calling’ executives flee the United States! Hillary masterminded death of coal industry? : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 15 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alaska: British Petroleum (BP) eliminating at least 84 oil jobs as it reduces Prudhoe Bay rig count from five to two by Summer.  Oil industry BS has caused Alaska to have the second worst unemployment rate in the country; 6.6%.  Remember, unemployed people who get severance are not counted in the unemployment numbers, and most unemployed people who worked for non-profits (especially those run by religions) are not counted in the unemployment numbers.

California:  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Sebastopol based Safari Books Online has laid off an undisclosed number of employees, including the CEO!  The layoffs were revealed by the former CEO.  The company, which does business on the internet, is consolidating operations.

Connecticut: Gov’na Dannel P. Malloy formally notified 45-thousand 7-hundred taxpayer funded employees of pending layoffs!

Delaware: Delaware State University eliminating 23 programs, claiming lack of student participation.  Administrators also claim no jobs will be lost.

Florida:  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; global electronic payment company First Data finally notified state employment administrators that it shutdown their Maitland office and laid off at least 129 people, last year!  The late layoff notice could be because until October of 2015 it was a privately held company not subject to WARN rules.

Idaho: More twisty money scandals in the ‘Christian’ dominated Gem State, this time involving the Palouse Ice Rink-Happiest Place on the Palouse.  A former accountant has been convicted of ripping off the Latah County operation of $34-thousand USD in 2015. She gets 60 days in jail and 14 years of probation for writing company checks to herself.  However, it should be pointed out that her former boss apparently signed the checks, which he denied in court.  It gets more complicated because in her defense she said he was paying her back for unpaid overtime, and even rent on her home!  The former boss refused to deny that he had granted the accountant special ‘privileges’.  It should also be noted that once the ‘unauthorized’ check writing was discovered by administrators the accountant’s boss and “Everybody else was fired.”   

Illinois:  If you’ve been following my Job Losses reports then it should be no surprise that Illinois now has one of the worst employment numbers in the U.S. of A., 6.3% compared to the national average of 4.9%.  Remember, unemployed people who get severance are not counted in the unemployment numbers, and most unemployed people who worked for non-profits (especially those run by religions) are not counted in the unemployment numbers.

Massachusetts: Too Big to Jail Boston Weak based money changer in the temple State Street Corporation just added 252 employees to their previously announced 6-hundred layoffs, for a total of 852 jobs lost as part of their current cost cutting ops!  Administrators warned more job cuts could occur.

Minnesota: In Saint Paul, after 38 years Bonnie’s Cafe being shutdown by the greedy landlord who refused to renew the lease: “We were never offered to renew the lease……I never thought it would end!”-Becky Moosbrugger

Mississippi: The Magnolia State currently has the worst unemployment rate at 6.9%.  Remember, unemployed people who get severance are not counted in the unemployment numbers, and most unemployed people who worked for non-profits (especially those run by religions) are not counted in the unemployment numbers.

Nebraska: In Lincoln, after 34 years consignment shop Fashion II shutting down.  Unlike other brick-n-mortar operators the owner is not blaming the internet, but blames increasing competition from other brick-n-mortar operations!

Nevada: In Mesquite, the Redd Hills Cinema shutdown today, no explanation.

New Jersey: God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Mother Teresa Regional School in Atlantic Highlands, 24 jobs lost by the end of June.

New Mexico: Tied with the country’s capitol unemployment rate of 6.5%.  Remember, unemployed people who get severance are not counted in the unemployment numbers, and most unemployed people who worked for non-profits (especially those run by religions) are not counted in the unemployment numbers.  In Santa Fe, iconic Santa Fe Baking Company and Cafe shutdown this morning without warning due to “new ownership”.  Loyal customer Kerth Lundell bemoaned “I came for a breakfast burrito…This is the go-to place….”  A local radio host who does her morning shows from the restaurant, Mary-Charlotte Domandi, is pissed: “I have no idea what is going on. My equipment is still in there!”   

New York: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; global electronic payment company First Data shutting down their Melville data processing center, 641 jobs lost between now and December 2017!  That Which Cannot Be Named powerless stop the shutdown of ‘its’ Rosenthal Jewish Community Center of Northern Westchester, 72 jobs lost by the end of June.  In Cicero, Burlington (Coat Factory) suddenly shutdown their 23 years old Driver’s Village/Penn Can Mall store, no warning or explanation, but is probably related to the death of the entire mall!  In SoHo, pub Puck Fair shutting down due to the property owner tearing down the building.   British empire owned Chartwells lost their food service contract with Nazareth College, 90 jobs lost by May (Chartwells is owned by British empire Compass Group, which runs food ops for the military and prisons, and owns other food servers that’ve been involved in scandals such as lying about meat product ingredients in Europe and underpaying U.S. employees!).  Iconic U.S. cosmetics seller Avon not only joining the mass exodus from The Empire State, but fleeing the United States as well!  2-thousand 5-hundred U.S. jobs lost as Avon execs move their NYC headquarters to the British empire country of United Kingdom!

North Carolina: In Raleigh, after four years ‘night life’ joint and former restaurant Zinda shutting down this weekend, no explanation.

North Dakota: God powerless to stop ObamaCare from forcing ‘his’ Saint Alexius Health hospital to layoff 23 people and re-classify another 39.    Inpatient rehab and child care services have been shutdown!  They referred to ObamaCare as “Industry trends and other circumstances”.

Ohio: Meijer shutting down their big Columbus store, 250 jobs threatened by Summer!  Administrators claim the building needs upgrades which are too expensive to justify (this has become a common excuse across the retail sector).  News reports say the building is being torn down.

Oklahoma: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Switzerland based oil industry automation tech supplier ABB Totalflow laid off 13 people in Bartlesville.

Oregon: Mary’s River Lumber shutdown yesterday, no warning, but blaming lack of trees: “After 42 years in the cedar lumber business, Mary’s River Lumber Company has made the very difficult decision to cease its operations effective March 14, 2016. Unfortunately, the extremely limited availability of suitable cedar logs has led us to this point….”-Brad D. Kirkbride, president

Pennsylvania:  Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has taken credit for the destruction of the U.S. coal industry saying “We’re going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business.”    And on que Blaschak Coal announced it’ll layoff 27 employees this Friday.  Local news reports say Blaschak has been conducting layoffs since 2013.

South Carolina: Pickens County School Board approved the shutdown of two elementary schools due to lack of taxpayer funding.  Obviously uneducated taxpayers protested the decision. If you can’t generate the tax revenues you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

Texas: Popular ‘free’ but privately owned park operations at the retail pavilion The Beach at The Village at Fairview shutdown, to be replaced by a hotel.  Those who’ve been using the privately owned parks (playgrounds, water fountain, dog park) for free filed an injunction.

Virginia: British empire based-U.S. tax sucking BAE issued a mass layoff WARN at the Norfolk shipyards. Another 530 jobs gone by this Friday!  BAE laid off 345 employees in November and December last year.

Washington DC: Unemployment rate of 6.5%.  Remember, unemployed people who get severance are not counted in the unemployment numbers, and most unemployed people who worked for non-profits (especially those run by religions) are not counted in the unemployment numbers.  Restaurant GDB (Golden Brown Delicious) shutdown suddenly.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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

Business/Economics, Idaho

“no longer economically feasible to continue” Taxpayers spend $5,555 to kill 1 wolf! Covert op to Dumb-U-Down revealed! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 09 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

24/7 compiled the top nine retailers shutting down a minimum of 1-hundred stores in the U.S.:  Wolverine World Wide; 1-hundred. Chico’s; 120. Sports Authority; 140. Finnish Line; 150. American Eagle; 150. Walmart; 154. Walgreens; 2-hundred. Children’s Place; 2-hundred. Office Depot; 4-hundred.

Alabama: The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC restaurant shutdowns continues as at least four Ryan’s were suddenly shutdown in as many cities.

California: In San Jose, after 30 years the Silicon Valley Ballet shutting down due to a crash in donation funding.  In the Santa Cruz Mountains, God is powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Christian campsite in San Mateo County Parks Department’s Memorial Park.  It’s due to water supply issues.  The state water regulations concerning the campsite limits how many people can use the site at one time, apparently God’s minions have been overpopulating the camp.  God’s minions tried to build their own water well, but failed (remember, there is a drought): “We have our last group in here now and are closing down Thursday and I’m laying off staff.”-Reverend Larry Rice

Connecticut: In Wallingford, after six years Panacea a Boutique shutting down by the end of the month.

Florida: In Tallahassee, Gold’s Gym shutting down their 26 years old Apalachee Parkway Center operation next week.  The operators admitted that due to competition and increased costs they should’ve shutdown three years ago: “It was a good club for 10 years. And then you could start to feel it through the years that it became harder and harder to make it work.”-Doug Dickinson

Idaho: In Boise, public school officials are finally outing the so-called friend of education J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation for what it really is, a covert effort to Dumb Down Idahoans: “Why would someone want to undermine public education in Idaho? The motive is quite clear. At a recent Downtown Rotary Club meeting, the executive director of the Albertson Foundation stated that the goal of the Foundation is to increase charter school seats by 20,000 in the next few years. That will only happen if Idahoans lose faith in their public schools…..   …..Let’s be clear; this campaign promotes an agenda designed to undermine public schools. It is highly inaccurate. It offers no real solutions to increasing post-secondary readiness. It is a disservice to the work public school teachers, parents, and students do every day.”-Boise School District

Also in Boise,  Blind Bat News readers report that the Maverik convenience store (#175 on 1909 West Boise Avenue and Protest Road) has suddenly shutdown, the fuel pumps have already been removed.   As well as Boise Maverick store #206 (Franklin and Maple Grove)!  

And the Garden City Maverick store #4 on Chinden Boulevard!On the other side of the state, the Rexburg Maverik #169 shutdown by giving away free drinks. Company administrators told EastIdahoNews that they’re shutting down all older convenience stores/fuel stations that need upgrades, because under current economic conditions it’s not worth it.  It’s actually cheaper to build new stores, and they’re hoping to sell-off the old properties to help pay for the new ones!  And while businesses continue to shutdown and public schools flounder for lack of state funding, the state Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved $400-thousand USD to fund the killing of wolves.  Last year 72 wolves were killed under the program, if the same amount are killed this year that’ll cost taxpayers $5,555.55 per wolf!  This proves the majority of happy taxpayers are the ‘bitches’ of the extreme minority of farmers and ranchers!

Illinois: Kishwaukee College has decided to eliminate about 24 jobs due to Failed State ‘lawmakers’ failing to come through with funding.  Sycamore School District 427 approved an additional 18 layoffs, on top of the 56 approved last month.  Administrators blame it on a shortfall of $2.3-million USD, partly caused by Failed State ‘lawmakers’ failing to approve state funding.   More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Chicago based internet coupon service Groupon conducting more job culling, this time 25 Breadcrumb employees were let go. Back in August 20 Breadcrumb employees lost their jobs.  News reports say Groupon has now cut in half the number of Breadcrumb employees it once had.  Inside sources say eventually Groupon will shutdown Breadcrumb altogether, despite adamant denials by Groupon administrators.

Iowa: In Cedar Rapids, so much for creating jobs with your donations; Goodwill’s pre-vocational training program and sheltered workshop shutting down due to changes in federal funding.  Yep, that’s right, Goodwill’s job creation is mainly funded with federal taxpayer money, not your donations.

Kentucky: Convergys eliminating up to 1-hundred jobs at their Erlanger call center, due to the loss of a client.

Louisiana: Oil industry company Frank’s International announced it will conduct a third round of layoffs since Spring 2015, no numbers given at this time.  Last year more than 6-hundred employees were laid off, with about 250 in Lafayette.  In Baton Rouge, Xerox State & Local Solutions issued a layoff WARN, 84 jobs lost by May due to “a change in business condition”.

Maryland: The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC restaurant shutdowns continues as the Hagerstown Ryan’s shutdown without warning or paychecks.   Bethesda based tax-sucker Lockheed Martin is pushing 1-thousand employees to suffer “voluntary layoffs”!  Most layoffs will take place in Texas and Georgia.  Administrators say it’s their only way of “staying competitive”, never mind that fact they’ve raped taxpayers for decades over their never ending ‘development’ of the grossly failed F-35 project! The at least 16 years old F-35 project has cost taxpayers $400-billion USD so far!

$400,000 helmet for F-35 pilots

If the Department of Defense finally decides to buy the plane it’ll cost and additional $85-million per plane, and the special helmet for the pilot will cost $400-thousand each!  The F-35 has continually failed to live up to it’s original billing, yet your ‘elected’ government continues to throw your money at it!     It should also be pointed out that Russia boasts that its current fighter aircraft can easily take out the F-35.

Massachusetts:  In Leominster, after 21 years Gear Works Cyclery shutting down by the end of the month.  It’s blamed on increased costs and decreased sales.  Yet again, Chipotle restaurants are being shutdown due to employees getting sick!  This time an employee at their Billerica location got sick with norovirus.

Michigan:  The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC restaurant shutdowns continues as the Battle Creek Old Country Buffet shutdown and is being auctioned off.

Minnesota: After ten years of paying for eye checkups, tutoring and giving teachers grants, non-profit Saint Paul Public Schools Foundation shutting down due to lack of corporate donations.

Missouri: In Maryland Heights, Belgium based Bellevue Pharmacy issued a layoff WARN, 150 jobs lost by May!  The parent company Fagron blames it on ObamaCare for causing crashing reimbursement rates for drugs, to the tune of a $248-million USD crash in 2015! Fagron also warns that if things don’t improve revenue wise, they’ll be forced to sell-off Bellevue Pharmacy.

New Jersey: In Middlesex, Impax Labs shutting down its manufacturing and packaging ops, 213 jobs lost over the next two years! Impax took over the site from CorePharma in 2014.  Impax is consolidating operations among all the competitors it took over in 2014-15.  It was also revealed that Impax is being investigated by the U.S. Attorney General for fraud.

New York: The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC restaurant shutdowns continues as the Amherst Old Country Buffet was suddenly shutdown.

North Carolina:  Rite Aid shutting down their Charlotte distribution center, 270 jobs gone by the end of Spring, following the big trend this year of consolidating operations!

Ohio: Atwood Lake Resort and Golf Club shutting down: “Management informed us it is no longer economically feasible to continue operations due to the current economic state.”-Bob Wirkner, Carroll County Commissioner

Pennsylvania: In Duncannon, the ‘ancient’ Doyle Hotel shutting down in two weeks due to lack of revenues: “With no hikers on the trail during the winter season, the timing of the tax deadlines and mortgage deadlines just hits at the wrong time of year.”-Pat Kelly, co-owner

Texas: In Alvin, Dish Network eliminating 550 call center jobs!  Administrators said the lease was up and it wasn’t worth it to renew.   In Houston, hospitality contractor Compass Group-Eurest issued a WARN, 55 jobs lost by the end of April.  In Cleburne, Caddo Street Grill shutting down, the owners directly blaming the Affordable Care Act: “The Obamacare mandate has effected us in ways that do not effect other local restaurants, due to the various businesses we own. This forces us into an uncompetitive business environment and it is no longer viable for us to continue in the restaurant business.” 

Utah: Maverik shutdown their store #227 in Salt Lake City, claiming new stores are-a-comin’ for the old employees.

Virginia:  In Leesburg, Melodee Music shutting down their 40 years old store by the end of the month.  The owners are focusing on their Sterling shop.   

The saga of the sudden mass FMP owned Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC restaurant shutdowns continues as the Old Country Buffet shutdown without warning or paychecks in Alexandra. Local news reports revealed the so called “asset inventory” is a cover for mass auctioning of kitchen equipment: “Each store contains everything from kitchen equipment and smallwares to furniture and decor. To be able to bid on the entire Alexandria VA Old Country Buffet is an amazing opportunity for anyone in the restaurant business!”-Jose Paz, vulture auction manager

Washington: Georgia based underground utilities “damage prevention” service Locating Incorporated issued a shutdown WARN for their Lakewood ops, 60 jobs lost by May.

Wisconsin: River Hills West Health Center shutting down, 144 jobs lost starting in May!

Wyoming: Maverik shutdown their store #308 in Gillette. (too bad, 308 [aka 7.62mm NATO] is a good caliber)

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

08 March 2016: “It hit me like a brick!”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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

Business/Economics, Idaho

“It hit me like a brick!” Romney style Vulture capitalist behind sudden shutdown of 166 restaurants, with no paychecks for thousands of employees! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 08 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Delaware:  In Newark, God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ British empire based 23 years old Salvation Army Thrift Store (in the Park N Shop plaza).   Obviously money is the true god as the greedy landlord demanded more in rent!

Florida: The saga of the sudden mass Ovation Brands restaurant shutdowns continues. This time reports that several Ryan’s Buffets shutdown without warning, or paychecks for employees, in Horry County. A local news report said as many as 3-hundred restaurants across the U.S. are affected by the sudden bankruptcy!    In Pensacola, after 28 years Dollarhide’s Music Center shutting down, the owners want to retire: “I turned 70, it hit me like a brick!”-Bill Dollarhide, co-owner

Idaho: East of Boise, after 73 years iconic Ben’s Crow Inn shutting down by September.  The owner admitted in the early years all he served was pizza and beer. Now it’s famous for seafood and steak.  The owner also admitted that the ever expanding metro of Boise has jacked up local property values so much that he couldn’t refuse an offer from a greedy property developer.

Illinois: In Naperville, after 3-million customers the 21 years old Zero Gravity Food-Dancing club shutting down mid-month.  Rumors say it’ll be replaced with a bigger operation.

Iowa: The saga of the sudden mass Ovation Brands restaurant shutdowns continues.  This time a Ryan’s in Clive, and an Old Country Buffet in Des Moines shutdown without warning or final paychecks.

Maryland: Allen Harim Foods shutting down their 71 years old Cordova operations, 3-hundred jobs lost as the company consolidates ops to save money!

Massachusetts:  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Boston Weak based sports app Fancred now for sale, all employees now unemployed!  It’s blamed on a failed crowd sourcing attempt.  After 47 years Johnny D’s Restaurant Music Club shutting down this weekend.  In Lowell, God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’  108 years old (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Franco American School.  It’s blamed on increasing costs and declining student enrollment.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) furloughed more than 3-thousand people at its Sterling Heights factory back in February! They were supposed to be back to work this month, but FCA has extended the furlough ’till April! FCA is ending production of its slow selling Chrysler 200.

Minnesota: God powerless to stop ‘his’ 70 years old mega-church North Heights Lutheran from shutdown. Local news reports say it’s due to a “civil war” inside the church!  Traverse City Area Public Schools shutting down the Interlochen Community School and the International School at Bertha Vos, blaming a $1.2-million USD shortfall.  Administrators will also not replace retiring employees (attrition) and reduce school bus service.

Nebraska: Schweser’s shutting down their 87 years old store (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) in Columbus, by this weekend.  Last year the Fremont based clothing retailer announced it would begin shutting down stores due to “…a dropoff in sales…over the past 3-4 years…We can come up with many excuses from the rise of internet shopping, reduced trips to physical stores, or changing demographics, but whatever the reason, we have not been able to overcome them quickly enough in some towns. Our expenses continue to rise….”

Pennsylvania: Joy Global Underground Mining conducted mass layoffs in Venango County, 382 jobs gone!  In Fredericksburg, after 28 years ‘natural’ food store The Pantry Self shutting down due to the death of the owner.  The saga of the sudden mass Ovation Brands restaurant shutdowns continues. This time the Old Country Buffet in Summit Township suddenly shutdown, claiming it was for “asset inventory” and asking employees to return on Wednesday for an update.  Non-profit Historic Philadelphia Center shutting down, the bad economy is forcing the non-profit operator to focus on more popular Historic Philadelphia sites.

South Carolina:  The saga of the sudden mass Ovation Brands restaurant shutdowns continues. This time six Ryan’s restaurants (in Columbia, Conway, Greer, Orangeburg, Spartanburg and Surfside Beach) suddenly shutdown, no warning, no paychecks for hundreds of employees! Local news reports say this is the third bankruptcy for Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC since 2008!  Nation’s Restaurant News reports that 92 restaurants across the country were shutdown over the weekend without warning! That’s on top of 74 restaurants shutdown last month, for a total of 166 in the past five weeks!  Not only did they shutdown the restaurants without warning, but they quickly removed cooking equipment and hauled it away (this must be what they mean by “conducting asset inventory”)!  Ovation Brands/Buffet LLC was taken over last year by Texas based FMP (Food Management Partners).   In the bankruptcy filing FMP claims their take over of Ovation Brands was a big money losing mistake as sales immediately crashed by 22%!  Nation’s Restaurant News discovered that FMP is a Mitt Romney-Bain Capital style vulture capitalist group that is responsible for the sudden shutdown of California based Catalina Restaurant Group’s Coco’s Bakery and Carrows restaurants last year!  “FMP has also acquired Don Pablo’s, Furr’s Fresh Buffet and Zio’s Italian Kitchen.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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

Business/Economics, Idaho

“This sudden decline in demand was unexpected.” Idaho’s youth get the hell outta Dodge! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 05 – 06 March 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arizona: In Phoenix, Fuego Bistro shutdown its CityScape location.  In Glendale, after 46 years restaurant La Peria shutdown due to not being able to pay its rent.  In Scottsdale, Stingray Sushi shutdown.  RT O’Sullivans sports bar-eatery shutdown on U.S. 60.

California: Illinois based drugs maker Baxalta eliminating 1-hundred jobs in Thousand Oaks by May, due to being taken over by an Irish company.  In Stockton, S-Mart grocery store shutting down mid-month, 50 jobs lost due to lack of profits.

Connecticut:  More proof of Depression; the city of Bridgeport eliminated 24 jobs due to lack of tax revenues.  Administrators warned “There may be more than that.”  And here’s another reason why tax revenues will continue to go down,  battery maker Duracell warns it will move its Bethel HQ to Illinois due to being taken over by job killer Warren Buffett.

Florida: Tomato Land Farmers Market store-restaurant shutting down next month, due to the property being sold-off.  In Tampa’s Ybor City, after 33 years The Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurant shutting down on Wednesday. No specific reason was given, but in 2010 the Church of Scientology became the new landlord.

Idaho:  Good news if you hate loan sharks, bad news if that’s how you make your living; according to the state Department of Finance the number of ‘licensed’ payday loan business crashed by 34% in 2015!  More will shutdown as new tougher federal laws go into effect: “What we are hearing and reading nationally is the lenders are saying they cannot afford to stay in the business.”-Mike Larsen, Idaho Dept. of Finance Consumer Finance Bureau

The Idaho Department of Labor admits that many Idahoans born between 1980 and 2000 are fleeing the Right to Work (you over) Gem State, and the biggest reason is the same reason I’ve heard since arriving in 1997, not enough good paying jobs: “People want to stay here, but there aren’t many options or much industry available in Idaho.  We’ve been avoiding this issue for a long time, because our employers don’t like to hear it: We don’t pay well!”-Ken Edmunds, Idaho Department of Labor

Back in 2003 I interviewed several Idaho State University Alumni who graduated in 1973.  They all stated they were making more money back in the 1970s.  One social sciences graduate stated he continued working at his loading dock job because he was making more money than what he would get with his sociology degree, but once Idaho became a Right to Work state (in the 1980s) everything went to hell.  As a dock worker in Pocatello (on Garrett Way) he was making $15.00 per hour in the 1970s, and that’s not adjusting for inflation!  He wasn’t married and his rent, utilities and food was so cheap by today’s costs that he felt like he was living in luxury.  By 2003 most of the distribution/warehouse jobs left the city, and at his age he was lucky to find a job that paid him $7.00 per hour.  He said the only reason why he wasn’t homeless was because he paid-off his cheap mobile home in the late 1970s and was still living in it.  Many of the older Pocatellans I interviewed wondered how young adults were surviving financially.   For decades local and state level politicians promised to bring god paying jobs to the state.  In Pocatello and Chubbuck there is a covert push to make the area a warehousing/distribution hub again, but the average starting wage for such jobs is between $10 and $15 per hour.  When adjusted for inflation that’s way less than what the same jobs paid in the 1970s!

Illinois: In Moline, Ryan’s Steakhouse shutdown without warning, pissing off employees.  The restaurant was shutdown officially for an “asset inventory”, but then, the employees were told they could pick up their final paychecks!  A local TV news report said one employee was told of the layoff after she clocked-out to go home.

Kentucky: An example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL), Carmeuse Lime and Stone eliminating 76 jobs in Maysville, blaming it on a customer who suddenly announced it will shutdown a coal fired power plant in Pennsylvania: “FirstEnergy is the largest customer for Carmeuse’s Maysville Operation and the idling of the Bruce Mansfield power generation capacity has caused a significant and abrupt decline in demand for our products. This sudden decline in demand was unexpected.”    

Minnesota: Stillwater School District shutting down three elementary schools. Interestingly administrators blame increasing enrollment!  They claim they’re shifting children out of older schools into new buildings designed to handle more students.

New York: In NYC, after 29 years never ending building remodeling by the landlord killed-off Cardiology gift store: “We lost all the morning business. It’s a struggle every month to make the rent.”-Richard Barbosa

Pennsylvania: FirstEnergy suddenly shutting down its Bruce Mansfield power generation plant, after asking PJM Interconnection to grant a surcharge rate increase to its utility customers, and after claiming it spent $450-million USD on upgrades last year.  The news of the sudden shutdown was revealed by a major supplier in Kentucky.  385 jobs threatened! 

Texas: Aluminum maker Alcoa announce more layoffs, this time a second round of layoffs at their Howmet Castings ops in Wichita Falls.  They already laid off 60 people back in January, no numbers given for this section round of job culling.

Virginia: In South Richmond, after less than six months White Horse Tavern shutdown due to lack of dinner sales.  News reports say yet another restauranteur is about to take a whack at opening an eatery in the same location.

In Richmond, low income daycare Southside Child Development Center shutting down in June: “Funders are saying that they just can’t continue to support us without us being able to support ourselves, which is a hardship when you deal with the families that we serve.”-Sheila Pleasants

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

03-04 March 2016: “unsustainable”

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!

Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”

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