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“You are firing the wrong people here!” Economists suspect mass exodus of workers! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 30 August 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: In San Francisco, restaurant Bugaloo’s shutdown by “whacked out Valencia Street rent”, the tiny location is now available to anybody who is stupid enough to shell out $17,500 per month.  Too Big to Jail Bank of America essentially admitted to ripping off employees of overtime pay when it made the biggest overtime settlement ever; $36-million USD!  It involves employees of BofA’s LandSafe Appraisal, which is now being sold-off.

Connecticut: “Under a cloak of secrecy, the university’s board of trustees approved a spend-heavy budget. This was an irresponsible move, and it adds justification to calls to bring transparency to the budget process.”-rep-am.com, concerning the 50 layoffs at University of Connecticut

Florida: Local news reports say the state unemployment fund is running out of money, and might have to borrow money from Uncle Sam: “Florida has a poorly financed program and one of the strictest programs in the country.”-Rick McHugh, National Employment Law Project

Idaho:   According to the Idaho State Journal, many of southeast Idaho’s school districts have shifted to a four day week realizing a huge savings in school bus transportation costs.  However, a study done by the Rural Opportunities Consortium of Idaho says that overall costs to taxpayers actually went up: “Contrary to expectations, some districts saw their costs rise as a result of the need for additional enrichment activities and after-school snacks during the extended day.” 

Indiana: In Clay County, employers and state unemployment administrators are confused as the unemployment rate is going up despite increased hiring.  All the industry and employment ‘experts’ can do is speculate that what jobs that are available are not jobs that people are willing to take: “We see those numbers, they tend to have us look internally as to what could we be doing more to be attracting people that may be looking for work.”-Jeff Deaton, administrator with Great Dane who claims they need 150 laborers

Kansas: Economists at Wichita State University might have discovered the true reason why overall unemployment rates are going down; mass exodus of workers from the U.S. market.  Economists say recent data actually conflicts concerning whether employment is going up or down, and that it seems more and more people are working more than one job and that more newly unemployed people are not registering as unemployed: “….there is still something going on. You look at it, and it just doesn’t make sense. The question is, why did it happen all of a sudden in Kansas?”-Jeremy Hill, WSU economist

“Because most of the people surveyed are leaving employment but not entering unemployment, it appears they are leaving employment for personal reasons….choosing not to work”-Justin McFarland, Kansas Department of Labor

Kentucky: In Louisville, after 52 years the Fern Valley Hotel and Conference Center shut down due to numerous “fire safety issues, electrical and plumbing violations, and general sanitation and plumbing violations.”  The current owners took over in 2011 and refused comment to local news media

Maryland: “These are very capable people being shown the door. You are firing the wrong people here!”-Peter Franchot, state comptroller concerning the recent layoffs of dozens of prison employees

Missouri: Local news reports say only one fifth of the 179,058 people counted as unemployed are getting unemployment assistance!  Despite that state ‘lawmakers’ are trying to cut back on unemployment assistance even more, the gov-na recently vetoed a bill that would limit assistance to just 13 weeks!

Montana: In Bozeman, outdoor sports store Northern Lights Trading Company shutdown, the Babcock Street location sold-off.  The remaining brick-n-mortar stores will focus on water sports only.

New York: In Canton, North Country Neighbors Too flea market shutting down in September due to the greedy property owner selling the building.  In Troy, The Grocery store shutdown, the owner admitted to a lack of focus saying “It evolved into an ineffective sandwich shop. It’s not working out.”  Supposedly the location will now become a cafe.  In Fishkill, after 22 years of providing landscaping material the Plant Depot shutdown: “It’s an intense business. It takes a lot of out you. We’ve been here seven days a week for the last 22 years. It’s just time for a break.”-Lou Paggiotta, co-owner

Ohio: Too Big to Jail Fifth Third Bank shutting down two Butler County offices, as part of their plan to shutdown 130 offices by the end of the year.

Rhode Island: “I sadly inform you that the District’s financial position may force us to layoff all of our firefighters because we will be unable to pay them.  A collective bargaining meeting is scheduled with the union at 6:30 PM on Monday, August 31st.  If this last ditch effort is unsuccessful, layoffs will be discussed….”Coventry Fire District

The non-profit mental illness Oasis Wellness & Recovery Center laid off seven employees and cut operating hours due to the loss of a state grant for “The peer support model”.   (don’t be surprised if there’s an increase in mass shootings in Rhode Island)

Tennessee: In Green County, contractor Renfrow Brothers suddenly lost their US Nitrogen contract, 350 jobs lost! Apparently the new contractor is not hiring on any of the Renfrow Brothers employees.  US Nitrogen administrators issued this statement “Changes to US Nitrogen’s contractor levels are a necessary and planned step in the complete of its state-of-the art facility.”  Local news reports make it sound like it was a surprise to Renfrow Brothers.  I’ve also discovered that US Nitrogen is fighting multiple lawsuits.  One plaintiff stated to news media that “They simply came on our land and proceeded to dig……The No Trespassing signs were removed by the workmen.”

Texas: Irving based animated pizza joint Chuck E. Cheese’s shutting down their Kingston, Ontario, Canada restaurant.  In 2014 Chuck E. Cheese’s was taken over by Apollo Global Management.  Administrators with Apollo Global told Canadian news media that the Kingston shutdown was the result of a “period of growth.”

Wisconsin: Johnson Controls halting Project Unity and eliminating 197 jobs in October!  In New Berlin, The Sportsman’s Channel laying off seven people in October.

29 August 2015: “…had to sell our three horses and three pigs, next it will be the Harley.” 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

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.”

“…access to food is poor…getting worse.” “There is no option to press forward.” There’s no bread? : U.S. Food Crisis August 2015

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of August, 2015: 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.

Warren Buffett co-owned Kraft-Heinz announced it will eliminate another 2-thousand 5-hundred jobs in Canada and United States!   Apparently most of the new layoffs will affect corporate level employees in Illinois and Pennsylvania, and jobs considered redundant as a result of the merger between Kraft and Heinz.

Alabama: Food Outlet shutting down their 27 years old Jacksonville grocery store. Administrators say new competition has “split our customer base in half”, combining that with increasing costs of operations it just wasn’t worth while to continue.

Arkansas: After 27 years of yummy peaches Collins Round Mountain Orchard shutdown for good due to climate change: “Unfortunately, the weather has not been in favor of our crop……

….the fruit just will not produce this summer. With that being said, Collins Orchard is officially closed permanently.” 

California: Grocery store Raley’s announced it will eliminate 29 jobs from their West Sacramento HQ and their Natomas warehouse.  Company administrators are excited about killing off so many jobs because it makes them feel “…optimistic about the future and we continue to hire in areas to support future growth.”  Raley’s also revealed they’ve leased out their Winnemucca store to Idaho based Ridley’s Family Markets, affecting 50 Raley’s employees.  The Winnemucca store is the fourth Raley’s to shutdown this year. Washington based Haggen Foods issued mass shutdown WARNs for the following locations; 2 stores in Simi Valley, 2 stores in Tustin, 2 stores in Chula Vista, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Santa Clarita Valley, La Mesa, San Marcos, San Ysidro, Bakersfield and Los Osos, 620 jobs lost by October!   Haggen administrators implied that all the Albertsons-Safeway stores they took over are losing money! A Los Angeles Times report says Haggen incorrectly overpriced 1-thousand items and at the same time underpriced other items, resulting in loss of business and revenues.   Albertsons-Safeway issued another layoff WARN for Pleasanton, this time 37 people to be unemployed in September.  Albertsons-Safeway issued yet another layoff WARN for Pleasanton, and a shutdown WARN for their Walnut Creek grocery store, 1-hundred jobs lost by October!  Delivery drivers for Albertsons and Vons grocery stores reporting mass layoffs and work hour cutbacks as a result of the Cerberus owned Albertsons takeover of Safeway: “I have a wife and three kids, and we live on a half acre of horse property in Mira Loma. We just had to sell our three horses and three pigs, next it will be the Harley.”-Jeff Dean, driver who had his hours reduced from full time to part time

Kroger owned Ralph’s issued shutdown WARNs for their following grocery stores; Hermosa Beach, Santa Ana and Pico Rivera, 210 jobs lost by October!   A company that claims to be “…the largest supplier of botanical ingredients in the U.S., for use in dietary supplements, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, personal care…”, BI NUTRACEUTICALS, issued layoff WARNs for Emeryville and Santa Clara, 79 jobs lost by September.  In Salinas, Driscoll’s Strawberry Associates shutting down in September, 38 jobs lost.  In Santa Monica, Buca Restaurants 2 issued a shutdown WARN for September, 61 jobs lost. In San Jose, after ten years “ultra lounge” Fahrenheit shutdown. The operator blames the property owner for jacking up the rent, saying the cost to do business in San Jose is “on a more rapid upswing”.  And mom & pop Paolo’s Italian restaurant shutdown by the landlord.  The property owner is getting more money by turning the location into a cafeteria.  San Francisco based food delivery internet company Good Eggs ending operations in all cities except San Francisco, 140 jobs lost!  In San Diego, after one year Table No 10 shutdown without warning, local news sources could not find out why. After 100 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) gourmet grocer A.G. Ferrari Foods shutdown its Castro location.  Since bankruptcy in 2011 the gourmet grocery chain has dwindled from 13 stores to five.    It’s estimated that the drought will kill-off $2.75-billion USD in 2015 revenues for the huge California ag industry! Thousands of agriculture jobs lost!  In Petaluma, after eight years the Come Home to Cooking School forced to shutdown by A-hole city administrators who refuse to renew the license to operate!   In Emeryville, after almost 30 years Bucci’s restaurant shutting down at the end of September.  The owners said they are retiring, but local news reports point out that the city recently jacked up the minimum wage and Bucci’s tried to compensate by charging a $2.50 per person service charge.  In Oakland, British empire style pub The Growlers’ Arms shutdown, some locals speculated that people didn’t like the British style food.  In Arroyo Grande, after 42 years The Girl’s Restaurant shutting down in September, the owners blaming a massive rent increase, from$1.18 a square foot to $3, and that does not include the common area.  Washington based Starbucks is shutting down about 22 “popular” La Boulange bakery stores across The Golden State, in September. One San Francisco TV news source said many La Boulange employees are rebelling against Starbucks by rejecting job offers to work directly for the evil corporate coffee chain store.  In San Francisco, after 37 years Ino Sushi shutdown.  And restaurant Bugaloo’s shutdown by “whacked out Valencia Street rent”, the tiny location is now available to anybody who is stupid enough to shell out $17,500 per month.

Colorado: In Denver, after three and a half years River North Brewery shutting down their Blake Street location, blaming greatly increased competition in the past couple of years.

Connecticut:  Noank Community Market shutdown.

Florida: At the Tampa International Airport, food service company HMS Host Corporation issued a shutdown WARN for October, 796 jobs lost due to loss of contract!  After 42 years the Wine & Cheese Gallery shutdown, their letter implied there was too much competition compared to when they first opened in 1973.  In the Miami metro area the Oolite restaurant shutdown without warning, despite being voted best on South Beach.  Gastropod restaurant shutdown.  Food critics were surprised when Pubbelly Boys’ L’Echon Brasserie shutdown.  The L’Entrecote de Paris shutdown as well.  In Fort Lauderdale, Taps Restaurant, Bar and Lounge and Bimini Boatyard Bar & Grill both shutdown.  In Latana, Pizzeria Oceano shutdown.  In Orlando, after five years restaurant Mi Tomatina shutdown.   In Palm Beach the owners of Blondies, a restaurant known for serving ‘breakfast’ for ‘dinner’, shut it down after four successful years blaming the greedy landlord.  In Miami Beach, the operators of restaurant Piola South Beach say they’re being shutdown by the greedy landlord, after 15 years: “There was no form of negotiation nor effort made from the other party to come to a civilized agreement amongst partners who had been together for over a decade.”-Angelo Angiolliori, manager

The South Florida Business Journal also blamed greedy landlords: “Investors are having to justify their record-high purchases with record-high rents. And it’s becoming increasingly difficult for restaurants and independent companies to make a profit while paying more than $300 per square foot….”

Georgia:   In Decatur, after almost three years Paper Plane bar and eatery shutdown, the owners didn’t say why, but tried to fool their fans by saying they had been taken over by Walmart. 

Hawaii: No more dinner cruises?  After a month of being idle 102 employees of Roberts Hawaii were laid off with only three days warning!  #Roberts Hawaii No Aloha

Idaho:  In Boise, Supervalu grocery store announced they will shutdown in October, 115 jobs lost!  The Idaho Wheat Commission is reporting that the density of wheat recently harvested is down, averaging 55 pounds per bushel.  Weight below 60 pounds per bushel  will reduce the amount of money farmers are paid for their crop.  Low density of grains is caused by hot temps and dry conditions.   Northern Idaho pea farmers report crashing yields due to lack of water, however, eastern Idaho farmers who have access to water from the Snake River are reporting bumper yields.  The bad news is that transportation costs, and the high cost of seed, are holding back many eastern idaho farmers from growing for the pea market.  In Ada County, a potato farm has been hit by a disease that causes a condition known as Zebra Chip.  It’s been two years since that last case, but this time University of Idaho Ag specialists say the plants showed none of the typical symptoms above ground, it was discovered only after they dug up the spuds. It was also alarming because Idaho spud farmers have spent a lot of money this year spraying chemicals to prevent crop destroying diseases.

Illinois: After 15 years the Lincolnwood Produce & Grocery store shutting down, the property up for sale.  It’s the last grocery store in Lincolnwood, news reports say the store owner refused to explain why he had to shutdown.  In Forest Park, after 12 years the Flavour Cooking School shutdown, the owner admits “…the business has been struggling for some time now.” Chicago based Groupon eliminated 20% of its restaurant software jobs.  In Des Moines, after 48 years popular Mr. Filet Steakhouse shutdown because the city administrators have decided the building must be torn down in the name of progress. McDonald’s will eliminate 135 jobs from its Oak Brook HQ despite mega-profits!  90 McDonald’s corporate jobs will also be eliminated overseas.  These layoffs are on top of the 128 corporate job cuts made since December 2014!  Administrators blame ongoing sales crash, however, it should be noted that in their last quarter they reported a $1.2-billion USD profit!  The layoffs can only mean that McDonald’s administrators do not see any economic recovery in the future, they actually see things getting worse. In Carol Stream, after less than a year the Butera Market grocery store is shutting down (it was formerly a Piggly Wiggly which didn’t even last a few months).  News reports indicate the property has a history of revolving door grocery store ops, analysts blame intense competition because the area has a lot of grocery stores compared to the population density.   Taffies Restaurant shutdown: “We just need to find a new location. This restaurant has been here for 35 years. It’s a leased building. We’ve put more money into it than we’re making.”-Angela Van Matre

After six years restaurant Browntrout shutdown because sales suck: “We just can’t seem to hold it together….It’s drying up on us…It’s so erratic. What’s really stopping us now is we can’t make payroll…..I can’t keep a Band-Aid on it.”-Sean Sanders, owner

Iowa: Chicken giant Tyson shutdown their Denison beef slaughter house, 4-hundred jobs lost! Administrators blame the drought in the western U.S. for causing a lack of cows for the food market.   In Windsor Heights,  Maria Grocery and Gift being kicked out by the end of September due to the building being demolished.  In Mason City, employees of Warren Buffett have gone to the local news media to report mass layoffs at the local Kraft plant.  In Ainsworth, after 56 years the Four Corners Restaurant shutdown.  It’s been sold-off, the family owners blamed lack of customers.  Food giant Cargill shutting down its Animal Nutrition customer service and sales office in Coralville blaming crashing sales, 15 to 28 jobs affected.

Kansas: After 11 years Sutera’s Restaurant & Bar shutdown.  In Topeka, Aussie themed Florida based Outback Steakhouse shutdown with little notice, 60 jobs lost.  The manager hinted that profits have crashed, but refused to give a specific ‘official’ reason to local news media.  After less than ten months Take Five Coffee + Bar shutdown due to the lack of customers: “We don’t have a choice. There is no option to press forward.”-Lori Chandler, co-owner

Kentucky: In Mount Sterling, after 55 years Jerry’s Restaurant shutdown.  Kroger shutting down their Lexington grocery store in September, 103 jobs lost!   In Louisville, after five years Hillbilly Tea shutdown without warning.  After 30 years non-profit Kentucky Harvest warned they’ll be no more food for the poor: “We’re in a dire state! We’re inside four months operating cash left before we have to cease operation.”– Brent Smith, chairman

News reports indicate that donations to Kentucky Harvest are down partly because one of the founders is now in federal prison for stealing donations!

Maine: In Freeport, S&S Seafood shutdown due to a crash in supplies of clams.  At one time they were handling more than 1-million pounds per year, but now barely 300-thousand pounds are brought in.  The owner sold the property and is moving to Florida.  After 70 years Nicely’s Market shutting down due to “Mom is retiring, and I have other ventures going on.”-Kyle Nicely

Massachusetts: In Pittsfield, Madeleine’s Patisserie & Cafe shutting down after less than two years. It’s blamed on the greedy landlord.  In Littleton, Sunny Delight Beverages shutting down their Harvard Road factory in December.  Sunny D has been laying off Littleton employees since 2014.  As with other corporations Sunny D is consolidating operations, and selling off their Littleton juice factory. In Boston Weak, after 96 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Quinzani’s Bakery shutdown, being sold-off, 90 jobs lost.  Local news reports say the area has become a revolving door of failed businesses (“rapidly gentrifying”).  After 56 years The Beachcomer shutdown and was sold-off.  The new owner says it will be torn down, and maybe a new ‘high-end’ restaurant will be built.  Cupcake Town shutting down in Mansfield.

Michigan: In Grand Rapids, after less than a year the Memphis Smokehouse restaurant shutdown, due to a death in the family.   Bagger Dave’s restaurants shutdown in Grandville and Holland, no warning or explanation given.  In Niles, God refuses to help ‘his’ British empire founded Salvation Army Food Pantry stay open.  The local Salvation Army Major blames a decrease in donations and a steady increase in poor people: “We have been seeing for the last three or four years a lot of new folks that we’ve never seen before.”-Major William Walters

Minnesota:  Blue Point Restaurant shutdown both their seafood joints, one in Wayzata and one in Bloomington. Restaurant Zen Box shutdown their skyway location.  The Lowery Cafe and Ancestry Books being forced to shutdown their brick-n-mortar ops by a Snidely Whiplash landlord: “…our landlord…abruptly and we believe arbitrarily removed the management at The Lowry Cafe and closed it down…our landlord has neglected to give us a new written lease, which has placed us in a month to month as of June 1st. These grievances and the vulnerable position we are left in are our reasons for closing Ancestry’s physical location.”-Chaun Webster and Verna Wong

Mississippi:   Isle of Capri Casinos shutting down its Natchez casino due to declining revenues.  The non-gambling assets (like food service) are being sold-off for $11.5-million.   In Jackson, a Piggly Wiggly grocery store on McDowell Road is shutting down.  Local news says it’s the second grocery store in the area to shutdown this year.  After ten years Kostaki’s Pizzeria shutdown, the owners said they’d rather spend time with family.

Missouri: Farmers are reporting wheat with wet feet, which is a bad thing.  A long run of rain has caused an outbreak of fungus and other diseases that attack wheat.  The result is the quality of wheat harvests went down the toilet, many farmers report they got only $1 to $3 per bushel when they normally get $4 to $5.

Montana: In Great Falls, grocery store Vans’ IGA shutting down by the end of September.  It’s blamed on the greedy property owner.

Nebraska: Julio’s Old Market restaurant shutdown because the property owner sold the building.  Farm vehicle maker CNH (Case New Holland) Industrial eliminating 70 jobs at its Grand Island factory, in October.  One reports said CNH laid off 136 workers in February 2015, and more than 2-hundred in August 2014!  It’s blamed on a 40% crash in farm equipment sales,  according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.  Those sales are down because farmers are losing their financial ass in the commodity markets: “The state of the Ag economy right now is in trouble. I’m in the red….I’m losing money at the current market values.”-Miles Ramsey, farmer

New Jersey: The bankrupt busted Montvale based A&P (The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company) grocery chain notifying (for legal reasons) all 28-thousand 5-hundred employees across the U.S. of possible layoffs!  Specifically, Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (aka A&P) notified 8,662 New Jerseyians that they will become unemployed by Thanksgiving!  That’s on top of the 871 New Jersey A&P jobs being eliminated by September!  A&P is shutting down or selling off their New Jersey stores, including its Super Fresh, Pathmark and Food Basics stores.  In Jersey City the Thessalonians Community Outreach Church’s food pantry losing its lease.  It feeds at least 2-hundred people per month (open twice per week), it’s hoped they can find a new location.  In Parsippany, cereal maker Post Foods issued a WARN saying 48 people will become jobless by the end of September.

New York:  In Sunnyside, the Bliss Street Station Irish pub shutdown.  Turns out it’s been for sale for several years, finally somebody bought the property.  Warren Buffett revealed that he will shutdown the Tarrytown Heinz food factory, 149 people to become jobless between now and Thanksgiving!  It’s a result of the merger with Kraft. Rumors are building that the Food Emporium on Greenwich Street in NYC is shutting down due to jacked up rent. The store manager is reported to have said “That’s news to me.”  In Greenport, after 15 years Cuvee Bistro and Bar shutting down in September.  Family health problems are blamed.  The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (aka A&P) issued a mass shutdown WARN for all their Empire State grocery stores, 13-thousand and 97 jobs lost in time for Thanksgiving!  Restaurant Associates lost their contract with Too Big to Jail Capital One, 37 jobs lost by October.  In Allentown, after ten years outdoor La Tee Da Cafe shutdown, the owners said “…we’re ready to do something else.” In Ogdensburg, 11 jobs lost suddenly after the eight years old A&W-Long John Silver’s restaurant on Champlain Street shutdown without warning: “The owner said they aren’t making enough to keep things open.”-Josh Hitsman, manager

North Carolina:  Hibernian Irish Pub & Restaurant shutting down their Cary location, they plan on renting the space out to another eatery.  In Durham, the Foster Street Daisy Cakes bakery shutdown, supposedly a popular donut shop is moving in sometime this Winter.  A Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Wilson shutdown, 30 jobs lost. Officially it’s blamed on low sales.  Divine Wine and Beer shutdown, the owner blames it on his wife who became the new pastor of the Church of Asheville.  In Greenville, only four years after a grand re-opening Lowes Foods shutting down in September, 45 jobs lost.  Administrators said it’s part of their plan to stay viable, but is it possible the new owners of the Lynncroft Shopping Center wanted more rent money?  It’s been revealed that the shutdown of popular restaurant Greek Isles was due to the greedy landlord jacking up the rent after the 11 years lease expired. The restaurant operators are hoping to find a new ‘home’.   In Burlington, after two years Verona Italian Restaurant shutdown.  In Greensboro, Graffiti’s Bistro shutdown due to the owners realizing they can make more money selling it off.  In Eden,after five years 912 Bethlehem Restaurant shutdown “for personal reasons”.

North Dakota: In Fargo, farm vehicle maker CNH (Case New Holland) Industrial launched a fourth round of layoffs since last year, this time 34 people will become jobless in September, bringing the total layoffs to almost 2-hundred since November 2014!  Also in Fargo, Country Hearth Bread on South University Drive shutdown without notice. Local news report said the corporate owner refused to explain why.  North Dakota State University claims to have developed a new durum wheat that can handle extreme weather conditions, it’s called Joppa.  Farmers are reporting at least two bushels per acre more yield than the previous durum they’ve been growing, even with extreme rain.

Ohio: The Cleveland Clinic announced it is kicking McDonald’s out of its food court, as part its new War on Fat People.  To show you how a-feared people are of the Anti-Fast Food Police State a technician at the clinic was caught by news media eating a Mickey D’s meal, and he wimp assedly confessed “Every now and again I stray just a little. I don’t eat too much of it. I just wanted it right now.”    In Huber Heights, after six years Granny C’s Bakery shutting down due to skyrocketing operating costs: “A lot of my good friends, who’ve worked for me and who are still here are going to be jobless. We’ve never made money……When I get to the point where I don’t have any more money in my personal fund to switch over into the bakery funds to pay salaries to pay ingredient costs, I can’t go any further.”-Rebecca McDaniel

Oregon: Wheat yields vary greatly within the state; on the western side of Umatilla they’re down more than 50%, in Wasco and Sherman counties and in Pendleton and Walla Walla average yields were reported, it’s blamed on the radical weather.  After more than 12 months the anti-GMO Moreland Farmers Pantry shutdown, according to local news reports it has something to do with the owner also being anti-homosexual marriage. The Fenrir restaurant shutdown. News reports claim the owners are looking for a new location.  After three years the Jamison restaurant shutdown.  The owners blamed escalating operating costs. Albertsons-Safeway announced the NE 181st Avenue Safeway grocery store in Portland will shutdown before the end of the month.  It’s blamed on the fact that 25% of the people who live in the area are paupers.  It was pointed out that the area has “…lost four grocery stores over the last 20 years. And the access to food is poor already and getting worse.”  But guess what?  It was revealed that Albertsons-Safeway will continue paying the rent on the property for the next five years: “…Safeway signed a five-year lease earlier this year with California-based developer Retail Opportunity Investments Corporation (ROIC)….they will continue to pay rent for the space rather than lease it to another grocer.”–The Skanner News 

In Saint John’s Bar, The Central Hotel restaurant and bar shutdown, 11 jobs lost.  The property owner is selling it to a property developer.   The restaurant operator also admitted they never had any intention of running a restaurant anyway: “…we ended up taking over the restaurant, which is never something that we planned on doing. We just kind of said, ‘Why are we killing ourselves to do this financially?’….it has been a huge financial strain.”-Risa Davis, co-owner

Pennsylvania:  In Dubois, Fezell’s Sandy Township Shop N Save issued a shutdown WARN for October, 50 jobs lost.   More proof robots are taking your jobs; Amoroso’s Baking told 2-hundred Philadelphia employees that many would be laid off as the company is moving to a new automated location in New Jersey.  It’s the result of their merger with Ginsburg Bakery.  In State College, gas station-convenience store Sheetz shutdown on East College Avenue. Administrators indicated that food and beverage sales were too low.   In Philadelphia County, the Department of Labor & Industry published a mass shutdown WARN for A&P (The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company) grocery stores, without revealing how many people will be laid off.

South Carolina: Greer based restaurant food supplier Ovation Brands was taken over by Texas based Food Management Partners (FMP).  As a result an undisclosed number of Ovation employees were laid off without warning: “FMP offered zero severance to the laid-off employees. No advanced notification was given either.”-unnamed former employee

The takeover of Ovation Brands will affect restaurant chains Ryan’s, Fire Mountain, Country Buffet, Old Country Buffet, Hometown Buffet and Tahoe Joes Famous Steakhouse.

Tennessee:  In Memphis, restaurant ¡Chiwawa! shutdown after two years, the owner claims he’ll open a new place as soon as he figures it out.  Can’t trust him ’cause the sign on the door says “Closed for Repairs”.  In Nashville, reports say the Granny White Market (aka Purple Cow) is being forced to shutdown by the greedy property owner who suddenly told the store owner he had six weeks to vacate: “After 19 years he tells me we need to close the doors. It just makes you sick.”-Dan Smith, Purple Cow owner 

Texas: In San Antonio,  Big Easy Cafe being forced to shutdown and look for a new home.  In the Cincinnati Entertainment District in West El Paso yet more shutdowns, including the Cincinnati Bar and Grill and the Corner Tavern.  Local news reports blame high rents and low sales.  Silverleaf Resorts issued a WARN saying 203 people across the Lone State State will become jobless by the end of September!  45 years old Stanley’s BBQ shutdown.  Two years ago it was sold to a family that tried to keep it alive but failed, blaming crashing sales.   In San Antonio, The Monterey restaurant shutting down in November, despite five years of successful sales: “The Monty was a much bigger success than we ever expected it to be, but it was never expected to be an economic success. It was a laboratory, but we didn’t really even have a plan when we first started.”-Chad Carey, founder

Vermont: Waterbury based coffee roaster Keurig Green Mountain announced it will eliminate 2-hundred jobs due to expected future drop in sales!

Virginia: In Appomattox, the employees and customers of Huddle House restaurant were shocked at the sudden shutdown. Employees claim the management used the excuse that a freezer was broken to send everybody home one night, then the next day the place was shutdown, and the employees are still waiting for their final paychecks. Local news media say the corporate HQ in Georgia is ignoring their inquiries.   A 26 years old locally owned Roanoke Piggly Wiggly grocery store shutdown due to crashing sales. In King George, 38 years old grocery store Dutch’s Mart shutting down in September, blaming lack of sales: “…it is what it is. We have a very loyal following, but you still need certain numbers.”-David Clare, owner

Washington:In West Seattle, after six years The Feedback lounge shutdown.  In Seattle, Vespolina Italian restaurant shutdown, the owners blamed insufficient sales.  Hommage restaurant shutdown.  Restaurant Gastropod and brewery Epic Ales shutting down in September.   Bellingham based Haggen Foods will shutdown at least 27 grocery stores across the western U.S.  Haggen Foods announced they will shutdown their Spanaway grocery store in October, 62 jobs lost.  Analyst blame it on the fact that Haggen might have been tricked into taking over of 146 Albertsons-Safeway stores almost overnight: “The requirements of the deal almost made it impossible for them to succeed. If you tell me that I’ve got to drive my car from Portland to Connecticut, but you’ve got to do it in four days, going no more than 50 miles per hour……You’re creating parameters under which I can’t possibly succeed………Haggen is lucky if they get out of this with the 18 stores they started with.”-Kevin Coupe 

Washington DC: Riyad Market forced to shutdown in November by the property owner and the federal Attorney General. The Obama regime used a 2014 drug bust at the store as the reason.

West Virginia: After 60 years the Workman’s IGA shutting down their Chapmanville grocery store: “We hate it most for our top notch team of employees. We hate it for the community as well because competition keeps prices where they should be….Because federal, state, and local governments are so overbearing with laws and regulations, it is hard for small businesses to exist. Workman’s IGA is closing…because running a small business, especially a grocery store, is just no fun anymore.“-owners

Wisconsin: It’s been revealed that Warren Buffett is shutting down the Kraft-Heinz owned Oscar Mayer meat plant in Madison, 165 factory worker jobs lost, another 147 corporate positions lost!  In Appleton, after 16 years Sai Ram Indian Cuisine shutdown, the owner’s sons claiming that “It’s been hard to find employees.”  The owners are planning on spending more time back in India.  In Columbus, Hydro Street Brewing & Eatery shutdown after failing to pay back a taxpayer funded loan. Ramen noodle joint Tochi shutdown in Shorewood due to problems with the new lease.  The owner is hoping for a new location.  In Stevens Point, restaurant @1800 shutdown without warning by the property owner, apparently because the owners of the Sentry Insurance building say they must remodel the entire building.

Wyoming: After 20 years of ethanol production Wyoming Ethanol shutting down their Torrington plant, 23 jobs lost. They can’t compete against lower oil prices. Mayor Mike Varney said the shutdown will directly affect local corn growers: “It`s going to hurt us…..our farmers that have raised corn for ethanol production, that’s going to be a real blow to them…”

“We’re going to go down.” U.S. Food Crisis, July 2015 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

“We’ve never made money…I can’t go any further.” Idaho jacks up ObamaCare rates! Pro ObamaCare health service admits ObamaCare can’t pay the bills! Haggen, Ralph’s & Safeway reveal mass California grocer kill-off! : U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 26 August 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Washington based Haggen Foods issued mass shutdown WARNs for the following locations; 2 stores in Simi Valley, 2 stores in Tustin, 2 stores in Chula Vista, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Santa Clarita Valley (I previously reported on), La Mesa, San Marcos, San Ysidro, Bakersfield (I previously reported) and Los Osos, 620 jobs lost by October!    Kroger owned Ralph’s issued shutdown WARNs for their following grocery stores; Hermosa Beach, Santa Ana and Pico Rivera, 210 jobs lost by October!  Albertsons-Safeway issued yet another layoff WARN for Pleasanton, and a shutdown WARN for their Walnut Creek grocery store, 1-hundred jobs lost by October!   A company that claims to be “…the largest supplier of botanical ingredients in the U.S., for use in dietary supplements, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, personal care…”, BI NUTRACEUTICALS, issued layoff WARNs for Emeryville and Santa Clara, 79 jobs lost by September.   ObamaCare probably was the real reason for two dental companies merging back in May, now Zimmer Biomet Dental issued shutdown WARNs for their Carlsbad ops, 279 jobs lost by the end of October!  Mountain View based tech company Intuit eliminating more jobs, this time 249 laid off!

Florida: Too Big to Jail American Express issued a WARN for their Weston office, 86 jobs lost in time for Thanksgiving.

Idaho: The state Department of Insurance has approved ObamaCare (Affordable Care Act) health insurance rate increases by as much as 26% in 2016!  It was also revealed that ObamaCare Idaho insurance rates have already gone up by as much as 15%!  Health insurance providers claim that they still payout far more than what they get in premium payments under ObamaCare, which means from the insurance industry perspective their own ObamaCare (they wrote the law folks) is a failure!   The wimp-ass state Department of Insurance director feebly said “In spite of our best efforts in working with carriers, health insurance rates will be increasing for some Idahoans in 2016….we urge consumers to review their plans and shop wisely…”

Illinois: Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar killing even more jobs, this time 475 people to become unemployed as sales continue to crash!

Iowa: Unnamed news sources say Dethmers Manufacturing (aka Demco) eliminated a “substantial” number of jobs.

Maine: ObamaCare forcing the new owners of Mid Coast Health Services walk-in medical clinic to shutdown in September.  Administrators said ObamaCare is “…realigning health care services.”

Maryland: Sears Holdings revealed they will shutdown their California Kmart right before Thanksgiving, 71 jobs lost.

Montana: Slow internet service provider CenturyLink shutting down their Kalispell retail store in September.

Nevada: ObamaCare created Nevada Health Co-Op shutting down, admitting that it cannot make enough money under ObamaCare to pay for day-to-day operating costs! 

New York: Sears Holdings revealed they will shutdown their Appliance Repair Division in Melville, 31 jobs lost in time for Thanksgiving.  What construction industry recovery? San Mateo Construction is closing up shop in White Plains after losing their contract with utility con artist ConEd, 90 jobs lost by the end of the month.  Sterling National Bank issued WARNs for several offices, at least 11 jobs lost right before Xmas.  In Brooklyn, after six years Bergen Street Comics shutting down in September.  The owner refused to comment to news media, but there are reports that rents in that neighborhood have gone through the roof.  Taxpayer rip-off artist NRG Energy finally shutting down the money-pit Huntley coal fired electricity power plant, 90 jobs lost in 2016.  It was revealed the power plant has lost millions of dollars over several decades!  NRG Energy will also idle their Dunkirk power plant in January 2016.

North Carolina:  After 115 years (surviving The Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Sutton Park Baptist Church.  Because of The Rapture, I mean declining membership, there are only about 18 members left.  But maybe it’s racism, after all the remaining members are ‘white’ and apparently no ‘black’ or ‘brown’ people want to join the church, according to local news reports.

Ohio: ObamaCare(?) forced taxpayer funded Ashtabula County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to layoff 17 people and reduce working hours for others.  Fluor BWXT warned 1-thousand 4-hundred people of mass layoffs at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant uranium decontamination operation in Piketon!  570 could be let go by 01 October!  Flour BWXT administrators blame a lack of taxpayer funding.  In Huber Heights, after six years Granny C’s Bakery shutting down due to skyrocketing operating costs: “A lot of my good friends, who’ve worked for me and who are still here are going to be jobless. We’ve never made money……When I get to the point where I don’t have any more money in my personal fund to switch over into the bakery funds to pay salaries, to pay ingredient costs, I can’t go any further.”-Rebecca McDaniel

Pennsylvania:  God refuses to stop what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome at ‘his’ La Salle University, 23 employees laid off due to a $12-million USD shortfall caused partly by crashing freshmen enrollments.

South Carolina: Greer based restaurant food supplier Ovation Brands was taken over by Texas based Food Management Partners (FMP).  As a result an undisclosed number of Ovation employees were laid off without warning: “FMP offered zero severance to the laid-off employees. No advanced notification was given either.”-unnamed former employee

The takeover of Ovation Brands will affect restaurant chains Ryan’s, Fire Mountain, Country Buffet, Old Country Buffet, Hometown Buffet and Tahoe Joes Famous Steakhouse.

25 August 2015: More A&P, Haggen shutdowns!

“If we weren’t a food desert before, we certainly are now!”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

More A&P, Haggen shutdowns! Idaho says solar & wind power cost customers mo money! : U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 25 August 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: In Santa Clarita Valley, only four months after its grand opening Haggen Foods announced it is shutting down within the next 60 days.  It’s part of Washington based Haggen’s plan to dump dozens of former Albertsons and Safeway stores they were tricked into buying.

Idaho: Since 1978 renewable energy contracts with the Public Utilities Commission lasted 20 years, but not anymore.  Contracts will now be as short as two years.  An investigation by state regulators discovered that 20 years contracts actually increased renewable energy prices for customers.  Solar and wind power companies argued against shortening the contracts.

Kentucky: In Owensboro, God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Precious Blood Catholic Church daycare center.  Church administrators say the daycare center is $60-thousand USD in debt.

Maine: After 17 years the Aqua City Actors Theater shutting down blaming the landlord for jacking up the rent.

Massachusetts: Tufts University laid off four people, reports say more layoffs are in the planning. More proof tech is not recession resistant, Boston based fitness app maker RunKeeper laid off 16 of its employees.  The CEO said they have to start selling more stuff.  In Westfield, Soup’s On has been put up for sale, will shutdown at the end of the month.  The owner is recovering from an injury.

Minnesota: In International Falls, after more than seven years the Ben Franklin Crafts store shutting down by September.  The owner tried to sell the store, but nobody wanted it.

New York: Too Big to Jail First American International Bank issued a shutdown WARN for their Forest Hills office.  Restaurant Associates lost their contract with Too Big to Jail Capital One, 37 jobs lost by October.

North Carolina: Charlotte based 127 years old upscale department store Belk has been sold-off for $3-billion.  Administrators swear no stores will be shutdown or employees laid off.  Famous last words as I’ve yet to see the sale of a company not result in at least employee layoffs.

North Dakota: In Fargo, farm vehicle maker CNH Industrial launched a fourth round of layoffs since last year, this time 34 people will become jobless in September, bringing the total layoffs to almost 2-hundred since November 2014!  Also in Fargo, after 27 years One World Boutique shutting down in September, due to the owner’s health problems.

Pennsylvania: The Education Plus Cyber Charter School in Abington shutdown without warning, 1-thousand families affected!  The state Department of Education did not like the charter school’s “education model”, even though parents reported great success with their ‘special needs’ children.  In York County, the Department of Labor & Industry published a shutdown WARN for Coyne Textile Services, however they did not reveal how many people will become unemployed.  In Philadelphia County, the Department of Labor & Industry published a mass shutdown WARN for A&P (The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company) grocery stores, without revealing how many people will be laid off.

Washington: Tax sucker Boeing warned its employees of mass layoffs in connection to military spending cuts for satellites, and recent failures of commercial launches of Boeing satellites.  “Several hundreds” could be laid off by Xmas!   Haggen Foods announced they will shutdown their Spanaway grocery store in October, 62 jobs lost.  What construction industry recovery?  In Tacoma, lumber provider Interfor suddenly shutdown, 127 jobs lost!  And China (Taiwan) based tech company HTC killing more jobs in the U.S., this time 85 people were laid off in Bellevue.  15 days ago HTC laid off 47 people throughout Washington.

23-24 August 2015: “Go Donald Trump! You’re nothing compared to me!”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

“Go Donald Trump! You’re nothing compared to me!” Grocery chain kills 13,097 jobs in The Empire State! Minimum wage increase kills mom & pop? : U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 23 – 24 August 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona: Ohio based employment agency Cavalry Staffing shutting down its Phoenix office, 411 jobs lost by October!

California: The Santee VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) warned of shutdown in September due to lack of donations.  In Emeryville, after almost 30 years Bucci’s restaurant shutting down at the end of September.  The owners said they are retiring, but local news reports point out that the city recently jacked up the minimum wage and Bucci’s tried to compensate by charging a $2.50 per person service charge.  In Oakland, British empire style pub The Growlers’ Arms shutdown, some locals speculated that people didn’t like the British style food.  In Arroyo Grande, after 42 years The Girl’s Restaurant shutting down in September, the owners blaming a massive rent increase, from$1.18 a square foot to $3, and that does not include the common area.

Idaho: In order to generate more funding for public schools the state Department of Lands is auctioning-off 38 Priest Lake vacation lots, “…we hope to make a lot of money for the school trust up there.”   Last year they auctioned-off 59 Priest Lake lots.  Normally people buy cabins but must pay rent for the lot.  Another auction for state owned cabins/lots is scheduled for Payette Lake.  Last year’s sale of lots generated more than $52-million USD for the permanent endowment, however, it’s been revealed that some of the cabins/lots are up for auction because the previous owners couldn’t make their payments.

Illinois: After 15 years the Lincolnwood Produce & Grocery store shutting down, the property up for sale.  It’s the last grocery store in Lincolnwood, news reports say the store owner refused to explain why he had to shutdown.

Kentucky: In Mount Sterling, after 55 years Jerry’s Restaurant shutdown.

Louisiana: In Opelousas, the Blockbuster Video store shutting down within eight weeks.

Maine: In Sanford, ObamaCare forcing non-profit Spectrum Health Systems to shutdown their outpatient addiction treatment center, 1-hundred patients affected! A local news report even insinuated that the ObamaCare shutdowns of addiction treatment centers is to blame for the rise in heroin addicts!  In Rumford, after 40 years Maureen’s Preschool shutting down, the local news media didn’t explain why but the owner exclaimed “I still think there isn’t a richer woman in the world than me. Go Donald Trump! You’re nothing compared to me!”

Maryland: Too Big to Jail PNC Bank shutting down its East Patrick Street office in Frederick, in October.

Michigan: The Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services warned that the fiscal 2015-16 budget will mean 21 employees becoming unemployed in October.

Minnesota: In Albert Lea, Book World shutting down in September: “There weren’t enough people buying books there to support the store, unfortunately.”-Mark Dupont

New York: Bankrupt The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (aka A&P) issued a mass shutdown WARN for all their Empire State grocery stores, 13-thousand and 97 jobs lost in time for Thanksgiving! (for more massive A&P layoffs see my Federal Reserve confirms no recovery!) NYC based insurance company and drugs maker Pfizer announced their plan to takeover rival Hospira has been approved, so get ready for mass layoffs as redundant jobs are eliminated.  In Sunnyside, the Bliss Street Station Irish pub shutting down this weekend.  Turns out it’s been for sale for several years, finally somebody bought the property.

North Carolina: In Greenville, only four years after a grand re-opening Lowes Foods shutting down in September, 45 jobs lost.  Administrators said it’s part of their plan to stay viable, but is it possible the new owners of the Lynncroft Shopping Center wanted more rent money?

PennsylvaniaJustice Resource Institute issued a shutdown WARN for their child prison Cresson Secure Treatment Unit, 57 jobs lost in September.  In Altoona, General Cable Industries issued a shutdown WARN, 174 jobs gone by Xmas!

Texas: GE Oil & Gas announced it is shutting down its Lufkin foundry and reducing the number of employees at Buck Creek, 262 jobs lost “As a result of increasingly challenging market conditions…”!

Virginia: In Roanoke, after 116 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Fallon Florist shutting down by the end of the month.  Clothing and antique shop Birdy’s Loft shutdown due to lack of sales.

Washington: Redmond based Microsoft announced it will eliminate an additional 2-thousand to 3-thousand jobs in Finland as it shuts down a handset factory! 

Wisconsin:  In Stevens Point, restaurant @1800 shutdown without warning by the property owner, apparently because the owners of the Sentry Insurance building say they must remodel the entire building.

22 August 2015: “Why are we killing ourselves…?”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Federal Reserve confirms no recovery! Red Coats walk away from $1-billion USD! More massive grocery job cuts! : U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 21 August 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

The British empire University College London compiled data from 25 studies (and published in The Lancet) and concluded that working more than 40 hours per week increases your chances of having a  heart attack by 13%, and increases chance of stroke by 27%.

California: The state Employment Development Department reports an increase in new unemployment claims. 16-thousand state employees lost their jobs between June and July!  3-thousand 6-hundred farm workers lost their jobs between June and July!  At least 1-thousand 6-hundred people in the service industry lost their jobs between June and July!

Colorado:  British empire owned Too Big to Jail Curian Capital laying off 224 employees, and then has plans to shutdown in 2016! To show how little faith the British empire owned company has in the U.S. economy, by shutting down Curian is abandoning $1-billion USD in asset management accounts!

Idaho: The state Department of Labor reported that July was the third straight month of increased new unemployment claims.

Iowa: In Ainsworth, after 56 years the Four Corners Restaurant shutdown.  It’s been sold-off, the family owners blamed lack of customers.

Kentucky:  The city of Hillview is now chapter 9 bankrupt busted!  It’s partly blamed on a land war with Truck America.  Truck America says the city has defaulted on $15-million of payments for 40 acres of land!  The city of Wickliffe warned of city layoffs due to the shutdown of the Verso Corporation paper mill.

Louisiana:  After 40 years newsstand Lakeside News shutting down in September: “…20 years ago, there’d be 10 people waiting for me to open at 4:30 am. Now, we’re lucky if we get 10 people coming through all morning! It’s not enough to sustain a business.”-Michael Marcello, owner

Maryland: ObamaCare forcing Laurel Regional Hospital to shutdown their Maternal & Child Health department in October.  Administrators said “…obstetrical services has been a persistent problem.”, meaning they can’t make enough money off it.   In Elkton, the Historic Little Wedding Chapel reportedly shutting down because Too Big to Jail Cecil Bank refused to renew the owner’s debt financing, and then demanded payment in full immediately (this is called deleveraging, it happened to me).   Deleveraging related: IMF pushes for U.S. consolidation, code for even more drastic deleveraging!

model railroad company deleveraged to death by Too Big to Jail banks!

All part of the IMF’s orders to deleverage!

4,000 people stranded when Australian airline is suddenly deleveraged by too big to fail creditors 

De-leveraging will continue until the economy improves, and that means you! 

Michigan: After 15 years maze amusement park Fort Custer shutting down, the owner said “…it’s time to move on.”

Minnesota: The state Department of Employment and Economic Development reported an increase in new unemployment claims.  3-thousand 9-hundred jobs were lost in July! 

New Jersey: Bankrupt grocery chain Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (aka A&P) notified 8,662 New Jerseyians that they will become unemployed by Thanksgiving!  That’s on top of the 871 New Jersey A&P jobs being eliminated by September!  A&P is shutting down or selling off their New Jersey stores, including its Super Fresh, Pathmark and Food Basics stores.  In Kinnelon, after 14 years Lynne’s Hallmark card shop shutdown after the property was sold-out from under the gift card shop owner’s feet.

New York: In NYC, after 40 years Himalayan Crafts shutdown, the owner said “We have been here too many years.” 

Ohio: What construction industry recovery? In Akron, after 32 years building supply store Building 9 shutting down and moving elsewhere.  Administrators blame yet another massive road construction project.

Texas: ObamaCare forced San Antonio based United Allergy Services to fire ten people from their HQ and an undisclosed number of employees elsewhere.  The allergy treatment company is also pulling out of some of the U.S. states where it operates, blaming problems with insurance reimbursements.

Washington DC: The Federal Reserve System has confirmed there is no recovery, at least for U.S. factories.  The Washington Post writes “It took less than a year for America’s factory output to rebound from the 1991 recession. It took 3½ years to bounce back from the 2001 recession. Now, six years clear of the Great Recession, manufacturing output still hasn’t returned to the pre-crisis levels it reached in 2007, according to revised economic data from the Federal Reserve.”

20 August 2015: “They’re getting rid of family men and I’m scared!”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

“They’re getting rid of family men and I’m scared!” Booo! HP to kill far more than 55,000 jobs by Halloween! : U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 20 August 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: More proof tech isn’t recession resistant, NetApp announced it will kill-off 5-hundred jobs, blaming crashing revenues!  Now add to that the announcement by Palo Alto based Hewlett Packard (HP) that they must eliminate far more than their amended plan of 55-thousand jobs, by October!!!  They’ve already eliminated 51-thousand 9-hundred jobs since 2012!  Administrators say even more jobs will be eliminated after October, when HP will be split into two companies!  News reports say the surprise shutdown of Ohio based government paper supplier Sekuworks (see Ohio below) has resulted in no issuing of official documents, like birth certificates, in The Golden State!    It’s estimated that the drought will kill-off $2.75-billion USD in 2015 revenues for the huge California ag industry! Thousands of agriculture jobs lost!  In Petaluma, after eight years the Come Home to Cooking School forced to shutdown by A-hole city administrators who refuse to renew the license to operate!

Colorado: Evil oil industry service company Haliburton eliminating “dozens” of jobs in Grand Junction.  One employee is pissed saying “…nine years and they can’t even tell me face-to-face what’s going on!”  His wife lamented “They’re getting rid of family men and I’m scared! I am about ready to have a baby and I don’t know what we are going to do about insurance!”

Connecticut: Too Big to Jail British empire owned RBS Securities announced it will layoff 50 people in Stamford. Local news reports say RBS Securities has eliminated 550 Stamford jobs since 2013!  University of Connecticut is laying off employees, reports say about 50.

Delaware: Chemours, a chemical company founded in July 2015, is already killing off 330 jobs in Edge Moor (also spelled Edgemoor)!  They’re shutting down the old DuPont titanium dioxide factory.  One employee told local news media that his coworkers are scrambling to figure out what they’re going to do.

Idaho: The city council of Chubbuck has put the kibosh on the dynastic mayor’s desire to give himself a 45% pay raise!  However, the council did agree to give the mayor, and themselves, a pay raise in 2017.  I hope it’s because they know the local economic situation is going to be much improved by then.

Kentucky: Tennessee based paper company Verso Corporation announced they will eliminate 310 jobs as they shutdown their Wickliffe paper mill!  It’s blamed on crashing paper sales and a strong USD.

Louisiana: California based oil company Chevron has begun laying off an undisclosed number of employees at its Covington office.  It could be in the hundreds.

Maine: Tennessee based paper company Verso Corporation announced they will eliminate 3-hundred jobs at their Androscoggin paper mill!  The layoffs will leave 5-hundred employees at the mill, compare that to 1987 when the Androscoggin Mill employed 1-thousand 4-hundred people!

Massachusetts: In Lowell, after 125 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) wholesaler A.H. Notini & Sons shutdown. It was sold-off to a competitor in Maine.

Michigan: Flint School District eliminated an additional 26 jobs, blaming a 10% drop in enrollment. Bagger Dave’s restaurants shutdown in Grandville and Holland, no warning or explanation given.  In Kimball, M&R Surplus shutting down in time for Thanksgiving, after 44 years of selling military gear.  After surviving the Great (deflationary) Depression Sunnybrook Golf & Bowling shutting down.  The land is rumored to have been sold-off.

Mississippi: The city of Jackson has warned that in order to meet their new budget without raising taxes they must layoff employees, impose a hiring freeze and cut pay for all city employees including the mayor and city council.

Nevada: ObamaCare is the final nail in the coffin for Nye Regional Medical Center in Tonopah.  The hospital went bankrupt in 2013 and never recovered, even with taxpayer assistance. News reports say there is only one doctor in town and the nearest hospital is more than an hours drive away.

New York: Barcomb’s Furniture shutting down their Champlain store.  The owner admitted that sales have been declining since the 1990s.  Major news media outlet Thomson Reuters joining the mass exodus by issuing a shutdown WARN for their Valhalla Tax & Accounting Customer Service and Financial Operations, 37 jobs lost between now and March 2016.  Unnamed sources say major news outlet Bloomberg is about to eliminate 1-hundred NYC jobs! It’s blamed on the return of elitist Michael Rubens Bloomberg.  The U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement has canceled their contract with The New York Foundling-Casa de Paz migrant children housing program.  33 jobs lost by September.

Ohio: Harrison based commercial paper-printer Sekuworks has gone bust, shutting down without warning.  Not only are hundreds of jobs lost, but several U.S. states are now struggling to find a new supplier for official state documents, as Sekuworks was apparently the only one who could perform Intaglio printing!

Pennsylvania:  British empire U.S. tax-sucker BAE Systems shutting down their Jessup military factory by Xmas, the remaining 111 jobs lost!  Administrators say they’ve completed the contract they had with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Rhode Island: The city of Providence suddenly shutdown all five public swimming pools, with no explanation. Rumors say the incompetent city administrators tried to save money by painting the pools with cheap paint that could pose a health hazard when chlorinated water comes into contact with it.

Texas: Houston based department store owner Stage Stores announced they will shutdown 90 stores across 40 U.S. states.  Those stores include Bealls, Goody’s, Palais Royal, Peebles and Stage.  Administrators blame “economic softness”.  To show you that administrators don’t see any future recovery, the shutdowns will take place over the next few years.

Utah:  State Charter School Board ordering the shutdown of Alianza Academy K-8 charter schools in West Valley City and South Salt Lake City. It’s blamed on what I call DSS (Disappearing Students Syndrome), as enrollment has crashed below the state required minimum of 290.

19 August 2015: “…numbers they gave Wall Street were inflated….management don’t want to say no to the big guys…”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Idaho Wildfires kill woman

16 August 2015 (04:17 UTC-07 Tango 01)/25 Mordad 1394/01 Dhu al-Qa’dah 1436/03 Jia-Shen (7th month) 4713

Repeat offender, I mean 3rd term gov’na Butch Otter declared a state of emergency.

In northern Idaho’s Idaho County a 70 years old woman died and it’s blamed on the wildfires.  She was preparing to evacuate her home when she fell and hit her head, fatally.

In the southwestern part of Idaho, in Owyhee County, the Soda Fire is currently the largest in the United States, forcing a delay to the start of the new school year and prompting voluntary evacuations.

Pokey Airport DC-10 Water Bomber

Charlotte Fire 2?

Pocatello Charlotte Fire update

 

Idaho Wildfires 2015: Pokey Airport DC-10 Water Bomber

15 August 2015 (10:37 UTC-07 Tango 01)/24 Mordad 1394/29 Shawwal 1436/02 Jia-Shen (7th month) 4713

Fast winds have pushed the smoke from the dozens of wildfires burning across drought stricken Idaho into the eastern part of The Gem State.  Just in time for the arrival of 10 Tanker number 910, dispatched to Pocatello Regional Airport on 11 August 2015.

Click the pics (by AAron B. Hutchins) to make bigger:

2012 Idaho Wildfires: Canadair CL 215

Pocatello Tanker Base: 13 September 2012

Idaho Wildfires 16 August 2012: MAFFS C-130s return

Idaho Wildfires 2012: Sikorsky Skycrane

S-70 Firehawk

Amy’s-Gate: Mormon leaders of Idaho keep screwing over taxpayers!

13 August 2015 (08:30 UTC-07 Tango 01)/22 Mordad 1394/27 Shawwal 1436/29 Jia-Shen 4713

Hoku-Gate, PaveGate now Amy’s-Gate!  It’s been revealed that the Mormon dominated Bannock County administrators were under investigation by the Idaho Tax Commission over massive local tax breaks given to California based frozen veggie food maker Amy’s Kitchen.

At the end of 2014 Amy’s Kitchen took over the abandoned Heinz frozen food factory in Pocatello, but it came at a price to individual taxpayers.

Amy’s Kitchen is already getting a big state tax break called the Tax Reimbursement Incentive, but the county of Bannock also threw in their own local tax incentives, which could have violated state Law 63-602NN.

According to the Idaho State Journal “All four Idaho Tax Commissioners were at the Bannock County Courthouse Tuesday to get answers about the county commissioners granting of a 5-year tax break to Amy’s Kitchen as an incentive to the company last year that cut its county tax liability by about 75 percent.”   Apparently the issue was settled between state administrators, Bannock County and the cities of Chubbuck and Pocatello behind closed doors, so all us happy taxpayers will never know what went down.

No wonder the family owners of Amy’s Kitchen were so happy to take over the old Heinz factory.  With all the massive taxpayer funded tax breaks our exalted leaders give away to foreign companies (both outside Idaho and outside the United States), they could have used that money to create programs to help unemployed Idahoans start their own Idaho based corporations!  Or how about a much needed medical university in Pocatello?  A study done years ago said the state university system could make money hand over fist if that happened, and Idaho State University’s enrollment would explode, but for some reason Mormon dominated state Department of Edumacation (Education) administrators put the kibosh on that real fast (for some unjustified reason).

Pokey Pavegate fallout: Taxpayers asked to clean up their own streets, while paying more taxes! 

Conservative Idaho jacks up taxes!

Idaho Falls to submit to Obama regime Courts! Under the False Flag of “saving taxes”! 

the unemployed are leaving the Gem State!

Idaho politicians give away more than $18-million in Idaho taxes, to out-o-state lawyers!

Idaho politicians give away more than $1-million in Idaho taxes, to France! 

One Idaho city wants to give itself a raise, taxpayers say Bull Crap! City does it anyway! 

Bannock County, Idaho, jacks up property taxes on farmers by 90%!

Related:  NSA paying Mormons big bucks to guard data centers!

Sears & Kmart closings: Catholics, Mormons & Jews conspiring or is it just about the money? 

Mormon security company Vivint is facing sanctions by 11 states, as well as a class action lawsuit, for fraudulent and deceptive practices! 

Utah militiamen spreading Mormonism in Afghanistan?

Mormon takeover attempt and federal investigation causing newspaper layoffs? 

Mormon Mitt Romney co-founded Bain Capital destroying jobs since 1984! Destroyed jobs in Idaho!