Tag Archives: labor

Business/Economics

“the cuts aren’t deep enough” Idaho economy hit by Oregon pot & Wyoming booze! ObamaCare ‘correction’ underway! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 15 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise;  after 17 years internet based GameFront announced it will shutdown by the end of the month, no reason was given.

California:  In San Louis Obispo, two years after a grand re-opening Coverings boutique shutting down as soon as the inventory is gone.   Local news reports said no reason was officially given.  More proof ObamaCare is a failure: “Something has to give. Either insurers will drop out or insurers will raise premiums. The industry is clearly setting the stage for bigger premium increases in 2017”-Larry Levitt, Kaiser Family Foundation commenting on the ObamaCare “correction”

Colorado: Centennial based tax-sucker United Launch Alliance (created by Lockheed Martin and Boeing) will eliminate 875 jobs due to competition from private space race efforts led by Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos!

Connecticut:  “We continue to have serious concerns about the sustainability of the public exchanges.”-Mark Bertolini, Aetna CEO referring to the ‘correction’ of the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare)

Idaho: In Boise, after 31 years backpacking store The Benchmark shutting down so the owner can return “…to the Idaho mountains.”  Emil Hutton said it’s time to quit due to the rise of what he calls “point-n-click” shopping.

Indiana: In Union City, British empire Canada owned Applegate Livestock Equipment shutting down and laying off 80 people.

Michigan: Kalkaska Public Schools ending its lease on its Northside Alternative High School.  It’ll save the struggling school district $3-thousand 8-hundred USD per month.  The district is in trouble after a check of accounting books showed that it had been overpaid by 900-thousand tax dollars over three years.  It’s suspected certain administrators within district knew of the overpayment, but never said anything.  Now the state is taking $29-thousand per month away from the district, until the overpayment is corrected.

Minnesota: In Duluth, after 20 years Timber Lodge Steakhouse shutting down, about 50 jobs lost due to crashing sales.

Montana: In Great Falls, after 28 years One Stop Video finally shutting down.

New Jersey:  Precision Motor Transport issued a WARN, 69 Jersey City jobs lost by the end of June.

New York:   SFX Entertainment bankrupt busted and shutting down their NYC operations, 54 jobs gone by July. Lighthouse Guild issued a shutdown WARN for their The Ethel and Samuel J. Lefrak School, 32 jobs lost between July and August. The Four Seasons Restaurant issued a shutdown WARN, 130 jobs lost by the end of July!  McKinsey & Company reports that health insurers lost money in 41 states in 2014!  

In Bronx NYC,  Saint Barnabas Rehabilitation & Continuing Care Center has been sold to a vulture capitalist, a shutdown WARN has been issued, 254 jobs lost in July!

North Dakota:  Propane tank maker Trinity Containers shutting down their West Fargo operations, 91 jobs lost in June.

Oregon:   More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; California based software company Symantec resumed mass layoffs at its Springfield operations. Exact numbers were not released.    Marijuana use is legal in Oregon, except for most cities along the border with Idaho.  The only boarder town that went along with pot legalization is Huntington, and ganja stores there are reporting boo-koo sales, to Idahoans.   The owner of 420ville reports that 80% of his daily customers buy marijuana, however, state law forbids him to track exactly how many customers are coming from other states.   Scott Matthews says even residents of The Empire State of New York have shown up.

Tennessee:  After 25 years Rogersville Recycling shutting down due to low prices for recyclables: “Scrap and precious metals are traded on various commodity-based stock exchanges. With fluctuations in the market, any profit can be wiped out in a matter of minutes. The volatility of the markets has resulted in low scrap prices and in combination with the decline of scrap metal being recycled, has taken its toll on the metals industry as a whole. In 2015, two other recycling companies in Hawkins County closed their doors.”–Linda Jones, owner in correspondence to The Rogersville  Review

Texas: Houston based 21 years old Goodrich Petroleum chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Virginia: Too Big to Jail Capital One shutting down two offices in Fredericksburg, by the end of July.   Rock Bottom Brewery shutting down its Ballston Common Mall location next month. Local news reports said corporate administrators ignored inquiries as to why they’re shutting it down.

Washington: After prodding by local news, health insurance company Premera Blue Cross admitted it eliminated 165 jobs since November 2015!  Employees are pissed because they say corporate administrators never told anybody there were going to be mass layoffs: “Layoffs are handled poorly, allowing rumors to spread like wildfire, creating a horribly negative atmosphere. And instead of owning it and calling it layoffs, it’s referred to as restructuring and the cuts aren’t deep enough the first time around, so everyone knows they’ll be coming again…”-unnamed employee to local news media

West Virginia: Another example of  what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL); local news reports say Carter Machinery suddenly laid off more than 30 people, blaming the crashing coal industry.

Wisconsin: Fairmont Santrol joins other suppliers of sand for fracking ops and will layoff 55 people due to the petroleum industry’s cutbacks.

Wyoming: The state rejected a plan to give away $2.9-million USD in tax money to Grand Teton Distillery, to build a new operation in Alpine.  The plan was opposed by other distillers and local farmers.  Several distillers pointed out that they have not received state grants for their operations, and the Grand Teton Distillery plans to buy all its vodka potatoes from Idaho, instead of local farmers.  

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

“eventually you run out of money” Paychecks stolen by city council! We now know where all the money went! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 14 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

What makes the economy go round? Simply, spending of cash.  Anything that takes cash out of the spending ring slows down the economy, and one thing can actually crash the domestic economy; offshoring cash to avoid paying taxes.  British empire social research group Oxfam has revealed that the top 50 U.S. corporations have off-shored $1.4-trillion USD to other countries to avoid paying their fair share of U.S. taxes (Oxfam estimates that would equal to about $100-billion in lost taxes, each year, to fund your government services. Now you know why government services are being cut.).  Three of those 50 unAmerican corporations are Apple, Microsoft and Google.  Think about that, $1.4-trillion has been sucked out of the U.S. economy by U.S. corporations!

British empire Australia based Too Big to Jail ‘investor’ McQuarie Group laid off at least 15% of its U.S. employees, according to unnamed whistleblowers.

California: In Isle Vista, after two years Jimmy John’s suddenly shutdown their sandwich shop.  Apparently the franchise owner wanted out and tried to sell it, but nobody wanted to buy.

Connecticut:  Danbury based IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics is reporting that for the second year in a row, since ObamaCare went into effect, U.S. residents will be paying more for their prescription drug fix, and it will continue going up until at least 2020.

Illinois: Western Illinois University laying off 110 employees: “Despite the ongoing furlough/voluntary pay reduction program and the drastic reductions to spending, these layoffs are necessary to protect the university’s cash resources. In spite of our best efforts to conserve financial resources, without an appropriation from our state government, the university will face even greater financial challenges.”–Jack Thomas, president

Indiana: In Fort Wayne, Komet Kuarters shutting down: “After 23 years, with the marketplace for hockey equipment and things changing so drastically over the last 10, 15 years we just felt this as an appropriate time to close the store….  There aren’t as many people in the youth programs today as there were in 1993 when we opened the store, and there’s not that kind of demand any more. It wasn’t a difficult decision.”-Micheal Frank

Kansas: God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 46 years old Shawnee Presbyterian Preschool.  The Rapture, I mean what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome is forcing them to shutdown by the end of the year.

Louisiana: GE (General Electric) eliminating 77 jobs (the majority of positions) at its Brossard petroleum drilling ops, between now and the end of June.

Maryland: In Laurel, after 25 years the Silver Diner shutting down because “from an economic standpoint, it didn’t make sense to renew” the lease.

Massachusetts: In Malden, after 50 years the Lamson and Davis hardware store shutting down because of low sales and the landlord wants more money.

Michigan:  In Okemos, Cravings Gourmet Popcorn shutting down their operations and consolidating ops to Lansing.

New York:  In Staten Island NYC, telecommunications company Midtown Express shutting down, 45 jobs gone in May.  Illinois based CME Group exodusing the NYC stock markets by the end of the year, blaming crashing energy and metals trading volumes.

North Carolina: In Asheville, after reporting a 900% (!) increase in engagement ring sales,  90 years old (surviving The Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Wick & Greene’s jewelers shutting down, the owners saying “We see an opportunity for change. Millennials are buying bigger rings, but the environment in which they are buying them is changing. We basically need to reinvigorate what’s going on in the business. Legacy businesses have a very hard time thriving in our jewelry industry today. If you don’t change with the times, you can get left in the dust really quick.”

Oklahoma: The city of Yukon is so broke that city employees are not getting paid!  Not only did the city council admit it “misspent” $1.3-million USD, but the city is short $4-million due to not being prudent and cutting back on spending when the tax revenues were crashing: “When you spend more than what comes in, eventually you run out of money…..”-Jim Crosby, city (mis)manager

Pennsylvania: Sears store in the Beaver Valley Mall shutting down by June, 62 jobs lost.

Texas: In Houston, yet another debt financed oil company, Energy XXI, chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Three years ago the CEO actually boasted they were going to expand to the South China Sea (now you know one reason why the Obama regime joined the saber rattling over that area of the world).   In Dallas the A-Hole city council prepping to tear down the homeless tent city under I-45.  City crews put up No Trespassing signs where there were none before.  Local news reports say the local homeless population doubled by the end of 2015, and the A-Hole city officials are not giving the homeless an optional place to live!  Dallas A-Holes also forcing a local ‘black’ owned auto-shop, Hinga Automotive, to shutdown by changing the property zoning: “…one of the most pressing abuses of property rights happening right now.  What’s wrong here is that the city took a perfectly legal business, and made it illegal by changing the zoning laws that apply to the business.”-Bill Maurer, Institute of Justice.

Virginia: Sears Holdings announced the shutdown of the Chester Kmart, 76 jobs gone by mid-July.

Washington DC: The Federal Reserve and the FDIC (both government created but privately operated) are accusing Too Big to Jails JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Bank of New York Mellon and State Street of failing to meet the 2010 Dodd-Frank banking rules.  Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are also under suspicion.

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

Thousands of millionaires flee for their lives! Drivers now taxed by the mile! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 13 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Several failed states across the United States are conducting ‘experiments’ taxing drivers by the mile, known as VMT (vehicle miles traveled); California, Illinois and Oregon.  Another 16 states have been considering such new taxes. The concept has been pushed since at least 2014 by the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Federal Highway Administration.  At the state level the excuse is being used that taxes collected from fuel purchases are decreasing (due to people being more conservative with fuel usage), but the true reason could be preparation of forcing people to switch to remotely controllable vehicles that do not use petroleum based fuels (which renders the fuel tax useless).

California:  In Los Angeles, union reps are reporting that bankrupt American Apparel has laid off more than 5-hundred people in the past week!  All former employees are getting severance, which means they will not be included in official unemployment numbers.   University California Berkeley announced it will eliminate 5-hundred jobs (not counting the 60 people being laid off now) over the next two years, due to lack of taxpayer funding!  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; New York based IBM laying off 109 people at its San Jose ops, by the end of May!

Florida:  In Fort Myers, after 15 years 3 Fisherman Seafood Restaurant shutting down on Saturday.  The owner actually blames it on the success of his second 3 Fisherman location: “For five years now I’ve been saying I would close that location, but it’s easier said than done.”-John Browning, who says he’s thinking about consolidating his other restaurants as well

Illinois:  The Chicago Tribune revealed how bad it is in Obama’s  homie town: “About 3,000 individuals with net assets of $1 million or more, not including their primary residence, moved from the city last year, with many citing rising racial tensions and worries about crime as factors in the decision, according to research firm New World Wealth.” 

Maine: In Brunswick, after seven years Summer Island Studio and Gallery of Fine Artisans shutting down.  The owner can’t afford to rent a storefront anymore so she’s continuing jewelry making in her house.

Michigan: In Shields, restaurant Bob Evans (on Gratiot) suddenly announced today that they’re shutting down next week, blaming lack of sales.  44 jobs lost.   What automotive industry recovery? Another perfect example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL) Cedar Rapids Plastics shutting down on Friday due to Fiat Chrysler’s decision to end production of the Chrysler 200.  It was revealed that 85 employees were laid off back at the end of February, a second round of layoffs will take place by May.

Missouri: As predicted, Saint Louis based coal company Peabody Energy chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Missouri University eliminating 54 jobs due to $5.4-million USD in taxpayer funding cuts, caused by what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.

Nebraska: Natural gas supplier Black Hills Energy shutting down their Lincoln call center, at least 50 jobs lost.  Administrators of the utility claim it’s the only way to prevent rate increases!

South Dakota: In Sioux Falls, after six years furniture store Zing shutting down next month, no explanation, can’t blame the internet because they sell online as well (and will continue after the brick-n-mortar shop shuts down).

Texas: More oil industry BS; Houston based natural gas storage company Peregrine Midstream Partners chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  This comes after a 2013 Oil & Gas Financial Journal interview revealed the company was created, and operated, with debt financing for the sole purpose of “…the market will decide when it’s time to sell or maybe create an MLP or implement whatever exit strategy makes the most sense.” Automotive oil and fuel additive maker Lubizol shutting down their Latexo factory by 2017, 40 jobs lost.  The company is joining the rest of unAmerican corporate America in consolidating operations to “improve profitability”.

Virginia: Augusta Health shutting down two Convenient Care clinics located inside Walmarts, by May.  Administrators say ObamaCare is pushing people to go to Urgent Care clinics instead.

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

“Maybe we overestimated…” Alcoa income crashes 92%! Los Angeles hit hard! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 12 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: In Montgomery, after six years Charlotte’s Jewelry shutting down on my B-Day in May.   The owner wants more time with her new granddaughter.

California:  In San Francisco, British empire owned BAE continues with mass layoffs, this time BAE revealed they laid off 155 people at the end of March!  Also in San Francisco, New York based Too Big to Jail rip-off artist, I mean investment company BlackRock eliminating 64 jobs by June.  Standard Parking shutting down their Los Angeles ops, 430 people jobless starting at the end of May!  Triangle Brass Manufacturing shutting down their Los Angeles factory, 55 jobs lost by the start of May.  Too Big to Jail British empire Royal Bank of Canada owned City National Bank shutting down one of their LA offices by mid-June.  The largest grocery wholesaler in the United States, United Grocers, announced they’re shutting down their Los Angeles ops, 132 jobs lost by June!  Live Nation Entertainment shutting down their Anaheim ops, 3-hundred people jobless starting at the end of May!  Schenker Logistics shutting down their Ontario distribution center, 52 jobs lost by the beginning of June.  Tax-sucking Northrop Grumman issued yet another WARN for Fort Irwin, 483 jobs gone at the end of May!  Also at Fort Irwin, tax-sucker PULAU eliminating 91 jobs by the end of the month, one of the military contractor’s double-speak slogans is “PULAU leads the way in fostering peace and stability across the world. “   Tax-sucking Lockheed-Martin shutting down their San Jose location, 59 jobs gone in June.  Japan based Sony Pictures shutting down their Culver City ops, 59 jobs gone by May.   For-profit ICDC College shutting down their Huntington Park campus, 244 jobs lost by the end of May!  In Temecula, Abbott Vascular continues with its medical device layoffs, this time 131 people laid off without warning at the beginning of this month!   Chevron issued yet another layoff WARN for its Bakersfield ops, 98 jobs lost by mid-June.  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; in Oakland software maker APN (Ask Partner Network) issued a layoff WARN, 19 employees unemployed by the end of May.   Mindspark Interactive Network revealed it too will eliminate jobs.  Internet company IAC (InterActiveCorp) issued layoff WARNs for 15 employees, effective at the end of May.

Florida:  In Saint Petersburg, America’s Auction Network shutting down, 192 jobs gone by June!

Illinois:  Barnes & Noble shutting down three bookstores by the end of May; one in the Arlington Shopping Center, the Woodfield Plaza Shopping Center and in Deer Park Town Center!  No word on how many jobs will be lost, some news reports indicate employees have yet to officially be told.

New York:  Buffalo Cardiology and Pulmonary Associates issued a shutdown WARN for its Williamsville location, 119 jobs gone by mid-May!  After ten years P.S. Bookstore forced to shutdown because it can’t pay its NYC (Brooklyn) property taxes.   The bookstore operator  says he never got a tax bill for the first three years of operations (the fault of the landlord, in NYC evil landlord’s collect property taxes from their tenants), then he suddenly got a massive bill in 2014 which he just could not pay.  He even tried raising the money through internet crowdfunding but failed.  Also in Brooklyn, record store Deadly Dragon Sound shutting down this weekend.  After 11 years the evil landlord kicked them out. The world’s 3rd biggest aluminum maker, NYC based Alcoa, reported its 1st quarter 2016 net income crashed by 92%!  It is now eliminating 2-thousand jobs and splitting itself into two companies!

Texas: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise;  Arlington based software company Opower laid off 25 U.S. employees as “…part of an effort to cut back on our overall spending….”  

Virginia: In Richmond not even two years after opening an upscale grocery store-restaurant Southern Season-Southerly shutting down, 115 people forced to transfer or become jobless!  Administrators say the location is too expensive to operate because they built it too big: “We had hoped to do more volume in the store. Maybe we overestimated….Most retailers are downsizing….”-Dave Herman, president

Wisconsin: Oil industry manufacturer Miller Electric laid off 75 employees without warning, blaming the oil industry BS.

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

“It’s just an absolute train wreck!” Largest U.S. insurance op declares ObamaCare DoA! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 10 – 11 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arkansas: In Pine Bluff, after 36 years Fashion Wigs shutting down by the end of the year.  The owner blames never ending Main Street construction work (called Main Street Clean Up Project by city A-Holes, I mean administrators) for blocking customer access and killing her sales: “Many of my customers don’t want to deal with the maze it takes to get to my store…..there is nothing I can do about it.”-Young Lee

California: In Pacoima, after 50 years (and surviving several robberies) Laurel Pharmacy shutting down.  Owner Barry Wise was hoping somebody could takeover the business, “But I couldn’t find a buyer, so it’s sad.”

Connecticut:  In Fairfield, after 66 years the Angus Steakhouse shutting down, supposedly it’s being replaced with a new thing called Little Pub.

Florida:  Brown Distributing issued a WARN, 84 jobs in Orlando gone by the end of June.

Idaho:  The Gem State’s version of ObamaCare is in trouble, news reports reveal that at the end of March a warning letter was sent out to Your Health Idaho employees telling them what to do if a healthcare provider is dealing with a person with life threatening issues, yet doesn’t qualify for Idaho’s version of ObamaCare: “Please be sure to include MEDICAL URGENT in the subject line as well as a detailed description of the client’s situation in the message body.”  (this is probably due to the claims by hospital directors that at least 1-thousand Idahoans have died as a direct result of not qualifying for ObamaCare through Your Health idaho)  However, an insurance agent in McCall said he deals with insuring people in five other states and compared to them Idahoans have it good: “It’s just an absolute train wreck! I’m licensed in six states, and believe me, in the other five states, it’s even worse.”-Stanley Dean

Illinois:  Edwardsville School District 7 warning of mass layoffs, fee increases and local tax hikes due to the economy failing to recover, contrary to what U.S. ‘leadership’ and main stream news media falsely claim.  Local news reports explained that the school district was flush with “reserve” cash when the official recession started, but the economy never recovered and now the district is not only out of money, but is $4.5-million USD in the hole!  Read the Belleville News-Democrat for the sobering truth (and a long list of drastic school district changes).  In Obama’s homie town, after 20 years Harpo Studios (owned by elitist Oprah Winfry) finally shutdown.  Its new home is in California.

Kansas: In Topeka, God powerless to stop the shutdown and sell-off of ‘his’ 130 years old (surviving The Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Central Congregational United Church Of Christ.   Church leaders say the costs to maintain the old biddy, I mean building far exceeds revenues (yep, hypocritical Christians can only live off money, despite what Jesus of Nazareth said).

Maine: The city of Auburn eliminating four salaried administrative positions, due to lack of taxpayer funds.  One of the administrators had recently moved to Maine, from Texas, in 2012.  In Farmington, after three years Upcountry Artist Gallery shutting down by the end of the month due to lack of sales.

Michigan: Consumers Energy shutting down their 64 years old Luna Pier coal fired electricity factory, local news media forgot to ask how many jobs would be negatively impacted.

Minnesota: The largest health insurance company in the United States is getting the hell away from ObamaCare!  Minnetonka based UnitedHealth joins BlueCross-BlueShield is declaring the Affordable Care Act Dead on Arrival!   UnitedHealth will begin exiting ObamaCare plans beginning with the states of Arkansas and Georgia.  In 2014 UnitedHealth entered the ObamaCare market, but is getting out while it can still live to tell about it: “It was for us a bad decision. In retrospect, we should have stayed out….”-Stephen Hemsley, CEO

Missouri: In Bridgeton, SchnuckS Markets shutting down their grocery distribution center as work is being consolidated into a new larger facility in Saint Louis.  But don’t think the SchnuckS’ employees will be transferred, local news media discovered the employees at the new facility will be cheap-o contractors, meaning 190 good paying jobs in Bridgeton gone between July and September!   In Springfield, after 43 years Marylin’s Fine Jewelry shutting down.  The co-owners are retiring due to their age, but they admitted the local economy has been going down for a long time: “We moved here in ’73 and every store in the square was filled up…….Now there’s not very many retail stores on the square…”-Marilyn Scott, co-owner

Pennsylvania:  Meadowbrook Meat issued a layoff WARN, 76 jobs in Lancaster gone by mid-June.  In York, Durham School Services announced it will eliminate 88 jobs by the beginning of June.

Vermont: For the third year in a row the Burlington School District is prepping employees for mass layoffs, and for the second time is jacking up local taxes, and will eliminate classes because “…the decline in overall enrollment has resulted in numerous under-enrolled classes that can be consolidated.”  Teacher Bob Abbey bemoaned “…Burlington has become a second-tier educational system. We are going in the wrong direction.”  Read the sobering Burlington Free Press article which gives a list of drastic changes coming for the school district.

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

LDS kills Mormon bookstore! Churches killing churches! North Carolina kills 5,800 jobs in 3 months! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 08 – 09 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: Without warning, Los Angeles based bankrupt American Apparel began laying off employees in The (not so) Golden State.  By the end of next week 450 people will be jobless!  More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; San Francisco based health tech diagnostic company Counsyl laid off 27 people, despite boasting of “double digit” demand for their carrier screening services.

Colorado: In Cameo, after 58 years Eagles Nest Family Dining shutdown.  The restaurant was sold to a Texas based corporation in 2015, and they’ve decided it wasn’t making enough money.

Connecticut: Immucor Transplant Diagnostics issued a shutdown WARN for its Stamford location, 59 jobs lost by the beginning of June.

Florida: In Doral, ‘entertainment developer’ DLA laying off 92 people between May and November.  The Ritz Carlton issued a WARN for their Bal Harbor food service ops in Miami, 89 jobs lost by mid-June.

Idaho: In Twin Falls, after 37 years God powerless to stop ‘unofficial’ Mormon Bell’s Family Books from being shutdown by ‘official’ Mormon bookstore Deseret Book! You read right!  Local news reports say Bell’s Family Books was facing increasing competition, the final straw being when their own religion opened a bookstore down the street.

Illinois:  Highland Community College eliminating six jobs, blaming the failed ‘law makers’ for failing to come up with a state budget. Highland Community College is also jacking up tuition!  In Elgin, God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 50 years old Messiah Lutheran Church.  The property was sold to competitor Greek Orthodox Church.  After 34 years thrift store Kenneth Young Center Resale Shop shutting down when the previously owned inventory is gone, as well as halting their funding of programs for children with mental health problems.  The operator blames the failed state ‘lawmakers’: “…Illinois is the only state in the nation without a budget, decisions are being made where the most vulnerable people are suffering.”– Susan Cowan, CEO

Kentucky: Beauty First shutting down both its Louisville stores by the end of May, blaming crashed sales on competition from the internet, and jacked up rent by greedy property owners.

Maine: Gov’na Paul LePage warned that 9-hundred people in York County will become unemployed, due to their employer getting the hell outta Dodge! LePage refused to say which un-American corporation was fleeing the state.

North Carolina:  Local news reports say that since January 5-thousand 8-hundred people in North Carolina have been laid off!  New York based Croscill Home-Ex-Cell Home Fashions-Glenoit issued a layoff WARN, 50 distribution jobs gone by June.

Ohio:  Pilot Thomas Logistics issued a layoff WARN for their Fracking support (aka Frac) ops, 58 jobs gone by April.

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, when pressured by local news Chart Cooler Service admitted they laid off employees, but still refused to say how many.   They blamed it on the oil industry BS.

Pennsylvania: NHS Youth Services issued a WARN for their
Northwestern Academy, but failed to say how many people were losing their jobs.

South Dakota: Southeast Technical Institute warned of layoffs due to crashing student enrollment.

Texas:  In Dallas, Select Medical issued a WARN, 77 jobs gone by the end of May.  In El Paso, Schenker Logistics laying off nine employees by July.  DuPont issued a layoff WARN for its La Porte ops, 17 jobs lost by the end of May.  Denmark based Maersk Drilling revealed it  laid off an additional 57 people in Houston, just a few weeks after laying off 35.

California based Chevron laid off 655 people at its Houston ops!  The former employees are getting severance, which means they will not be counted as unemployed in the ‘official’ unemployment reports.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

07 April 2016: “it’s time to move on”

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, U.S.

Fracking Food Crisis: Idaho, Oregon, Washington hit by contaminated water, coincides with oil industry Fracking!

10 April 2016 (15:21 UTC-07 Tango 01) 22 Farvardin 1395/02 Rajab 1437/04 Ren-Chen 4714

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revealed that ever since oil industry Fracking ops have been allowed to take place in the Pacific northwest (about 2004) water quality has suffered.  More than 60 public water sources in Idaho, Oregon and Washington have exceeded federal safe levels of lead contamination in the past three years!

The majority of contaminated water systems are in Oregon with 37, followed by Idaho with 22.  Washington has eight contaminated systems.

The majority of those water sources supply local grade schools.  Some Oregon school administrators admitted they were informed of the lead contamination in 2013, and have been buying bottled water ever since.   In Idaho, several school directors blamed lead contamination on old plumbing and claim that lead levels went down after the plumbing was replaced.  In Washington the first reported case of lead contamination was at the State Patrol Academy, in 2012.  Directors say they’ve been on bottled water since then, but are working to hook up to ‘city’ supplied water.

Most of the contaminated water sources involve systems using well water.  Across the U.S. the EPA found at least 1-thousand 4-hundred public water systems contaminated with lead, affecting 3.6-million people!

I find it interesting that here in Idaho the lead contamination (even though blamed on old plumbing) begins just after ‘test Fracking’ began in 2011.  In 2012 Gem State ‘law makers’ officially allowed Fracking, and also banned city and county governments from banning Fracking!  Isn’t it possible the chemicals (solvents) used in Fracking caused the built up contaminants in the old plumbing to come loose?  Current unconfirmed reports indicate Fracking ops have halted.

In Oregon there are reports that Fracking stopped by 2015.  Fracking for Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) began as early as 2004.  Apparently Fracking for LNG in Washington was supposed to start in 2012, however, recent reports say no Fracking is taking place. It is difficult to find reliable sources of public info on Fracking because the industry, and even state governments, are tight lipped about the controversial operation.

Blind Bat News: Another study proves Fracking destroys your drinking water, main stream news ignores it! 

Blind Bat News: Michigan violence skyrockets, is it the water? Lead poisoning causes violent behavior! 

The Oregonian: Lead-tainted Oregon armories remain open to public despite dangers

Blind Bat News: “Re-fracking” 39-thousand + oil jobs gone, as companies hoard Black Gold! 

Blind Bat News: 2013 Duke University study says Fracking poisons drinking water!

Blind Bat News: Ohio & Arkansas suffering mass earthquakes in 2012, officials blame Fracking.

Business/Economics

“it’s time to move on.” More U.S. jobs killed by foreign contractors! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 07 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alabama: The Montgomery Sears store and Auto Center in the Eastdale Mall shutting down, 56 jobs lost by the end of June 2016.

California:  Anaheim based PacSun (Pacific Sunwear) now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, one of the reasons blamed is the skyrocketing rents (high occupancy cots) by evil property owners.  Administrators warned of ramped up store shutdowns.  New York based Barnes & Noble shutting down an office in Santa Clara, 80 jobs lost.  It’s part of the book seller’s plan to cut costs by $13-million USD.

Delaware: The U.S. Air Force shutting down the 40 years old jet engine shop at Dover AFB.  It’s being blamed on engine upgrades for the massive C-5M Galaxy heavy lifter.  The new engines supposedly need far less maintenance.  Local news reports say at peak the Dover AFB engine shop had 2-hundred personnel.

Illinois:  In Obama’s homie town of Chicago, law firm Leo Burnett revealed it eliminated more jobs, but refused to say how many.  Local news reports said it was “significant”.

New Jersey: In Mount Olive, after 73 years iconic americana Cherokee Trading Post shutting down when everything is sold-off.  The second owners said “it’s time to move on.”  The property is for sale.

New York: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech for your demise; NYC based digital news service Mashable Studios announced will begin eliminating jobs because “…to keep our voice consistent across every platform, it’s clear that all our video producers should live on the same team.”  NYC based Barnes & Noble is offshoring  its Nook e-reader support/development to a company in India.  It’s part of the book seller’s plan to cut costs by $13-million USD, partly blamed on a 29% crash in Nook sales.  Administrators did not say how many U.S. jobs would be lost as a result of the off-shoring.

Ohio:  Northside Medical Center eliminating 68 full time jobs because ObamaCare has greatly reduced “the community’s usage of services”.

Pennsylvania:  In Chestnut Hill, sexist workout clothier for women Indigo Schuy shutting down brick-n-mortar ops after four years, you now have to buy on the internet.

Texas:  What automotive industry recovery? New Braunfels based transportation-logistics vehicle maker Rush Enterprises revealed it has begun shutting down 13 operations and selling off real estate.  (of course this is after Rush Enterprises went around buying up competition) The shutdowns affect two locations in Georgia, five locations in Illinois, one location in Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Utah!

West Virginia: In Charleston, the Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples (on Corridor G) shutting down by May, the manager refused to give anymore info.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

06 April 2016: “We hoped things were going to be turning around, but they have not.”

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.”

Fukushima

Five Years Later: WiFi spreading radiation! Bullet proof vest blocks radiation? More mystery radiation from Fukushima! Tomatoes block radiation?

07 April 2016 (15:31 UTC-07 Tango 01) 19 Farvardin 1395/28 Jumada t-Tania 1437/01 Ren-Chen 4714

Iran: The Ministry of Defense is now using octagen as a bomb.  Octagen is also used as rocket fuel and, in countries that have nuclear weapons, it is used as the detonator for nukes.

The government revealed a new nuclear site called Pasman Gor.  Government administrators claim they will reveal numerous nuclear industry developments that until now were “currently under the monopoly of a handful of nations.” 

Japan: News reports that Tokyo Electric Power Company is concerned over a massive radiation spike coming from a near empty wastewater storage tank.  At TEPCo’s Fukushima Daiichi a three years old wastewater tank is now emitting 8-thousand 1-hundred becquerels (bq) of radiation, last week it was only 87bq!  TEPCo administrators are trying to find out why.

Japan’s Board of Audit says this year’s decontamination efforts around Fukushima Daiichi will cost at least $27-billion USD! Now extrapolate that to $27-billion every year for the next 40 years, that’s how long they think decontamination efforts are to last (right, tell that to the people of Chernobyl).

Switzerland:  Researchers say they’ve come up with a product to greatly speed up wireless (WiFi) computer communications by blocking exposure to radiation that’s actually created by computer electronics. It’s called Graphene.  Radiation created by WiFi electronics themselves is one reason microchips can’t currently be made to operate any faster.   Graphene acts like polarized sunglasses for microchips, filtering out radiation.

United States: The U.S. is being turned into the world’s nuclear waste dumpsite.  Last month Japan shipped off tonnes of weapons grade plutonium to the U.S., now it’s being revealed that United Kingdom is shipping 7-hundred kg (1,543 pounds) of uranium to the U.S.

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton reminded people of a forgotten radiation contamination event that took place at Bethlehem Steel in New York.  It happened in the 1940s and 50s.  Workers were exposed to uranium while making fuel rods for nuclear plants.  It wasn’t until the year 2000 that the U.S. Congress finally decided to pay for medical costs for those who were still alive!

North Carolina State University’s Afsaneh Rabiei claims to have created a bullet proof metallic foam that can also block radiation. Rabiei swears the secret for Composite Metal Foam’s ability to stop armor piercing bullets is the air bubbles, not the metal.  However, when it comes to blocking radiation CMF must use exotic metals like tungsten and vanadium.

United Kingdom:  Researchers at University of Manchester claim that the chemical that turns tomatoes red can block radiation contamination, under certain conditions.  They hope that one day lycopene can be used to help people undergoing radiation treatment for cancer.  Earlier studies suggested that lycopene can protect cigarette smokers from cancer causing nitrogen dioxide radical and peroxynitrite.

Five Years Later: Contamination of Japanese rivers skyrocket! INL admits its radiation detectors don’t work! 

Business/Economics

“We hoped things were going to be turning around, but they have not.” Bridal shop shutdown in favor of Dog Food! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 06 April 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arizona: Scandalous University of Phoenix eliminated more jobs, this time 470 people were laid off without warning, due to crashing student enrollment!  The for-profit university is for sale.

Arkansas: Illinois based Superior Graphite shutting down their Russellville factory starting now.  70 jobs will be lost due to low commodity prices and competition from imported “electrode and specialty graphite products”.

California: In Half Moon Bay, after 37 years the owner of Pescadero II is selling it off so she can retire.

Colorado: Albertsons-Safeway shutting down the Pueblo Safeway grocery store on 29th Street, 59 jobs lost (the employees were told about it on Monday).

Illinois: In East Dundee, after 145 years (surviving The Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Haeger Potteries shutting down.  The family owners blamed government regulations, competition and forced wage increases during a bad economy: “The reality is that we are finding it more and more difficult to compete in a market with significant wage pressure, increased regulations and generally rising costs. We hoped things were going to be turning around, but they have not.”-Haeger Estes

Iowa: In Mason City, after 60 years bridal shop Formalities shutting down.  The owner, who also owns other businesses including a pet food business, says the economy is so bad for the wedding business that she’s going to use the bridal store for her dog food business: “I want to keep it to retail the dog food out of here. If I get the right price, I might sell it.”-Angie Braun

Massachusetts: Bay Valley Foods shutting down their Ayer food factory, 1-hundred jobs lost by the end of 2017!  Like the rest of unAmerican corporate America, Bay Valley Foods is joining the growing trend of consolidation.

Michigan: In past months I’ve reported how Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) furloughed more than a thousand Sterling Heights employees, now FCA has turned those furloughs into indefinite layoffs for at least 1-thousand 3-hundred people, blaming it on a 63% crash in Chrysler 200 sales! An additional 120 people are losing their jobs at the nearby Sterling Stamping factory!  The auto worker’s union revealed the truth about U.S. car sales saying “FCA is not the only company experiencing a slow market for small cars.”

Missouri: Twin Rivers shutting down their Neosho chicken processing factory by June, 3-hundred jobs lost!  The WARN gave no reason.  Local news speculate that operations are being consolidated, and also stated that employee turnover was always high due to low wages.

New York: Great example of what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs (REL); in Watertown, AirBrake laid off an additional 19 people, blaming the slow down in railroad operations (15% of rail cars are not in use), which in turn is blamed on the oil-coal (mining) industry (coal transportation down 10% in past 12 months).  

In Canton, Blackbird Cafe shutting down on Friday, instead of the promised renovations, 11 jobs lost.  The upstairs music venue Parkview is also shutting down.   The owner of both establishments blames the decision to shutdown (instead of renovating) on a sudden 50% crash in sales since last year!  The owner suspects that two new restaurants are to blame (and this is a sign the local market can’t support that many eateries).

North Carolina: In Elkin, after 18 years the owner of Song’s Jewelry shutting it down in June so she can ‘retire’ to pursue other interests.

Ohio: Sears Holdings shutting down their Fort Stueben Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 53 jobs lost in June.  They’re also shutting down their Sandusky Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 44 jobs lost in June.  Despite better than expected earnings, Columbus based Limited Brands (aka L brands) is going ahead with its restructuring of Victoria’s Secret, Pink and Victoria’s Secret Beauty, resulting in 2-hundred administrative jobs being culled in Ohio and New York!

Oklahoma: In Broken Arrow, after 37 years the Army & Family Surplus store being forced to shutdown by an A-Hole landlord who gave them a 30 days eviction notice. The A-Hole local news media downplayed that important fact and instead reported that the owners were retiring!   John Daniel Footwear joins the growing list of retailers exiting the Utica Square plaza.  Local news reports say it’s the third Utica Square store in the past five months to shutdown, long time loyal shoppers are upset: “Over the last 10 or 15 years most of the smaller family owned stores are no longer here. Not to say anything about the other stores, but you kind of miss that family, that private service, the local service that you get.”-Marilyn Mabrey Sullivant, Utica Square shopper for past 50 years

Pennsylvania: Sears Holdings shutting down their Viewmont Mall Sears store and Auto Center, 86 jobs lost in July. Pittsburgh based US Steel announced yet more layoffs, this time 750 salaried employees are being kicked to the curb.  Local news reports say in the past five years US Steel has eliminated 8-thousand 3-hundred jobs in North America and Europe, blaming competition, the oil industry and currency wars. Overall, steel companies in the United States have eliminated 12-thousand jobs!  US Steel reported a loss of $1.5-billion USD in 2015.

Texas: CleanFUEL USA now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, blaming “the changing dynamics in the alternative fuel industry.” 

Washington DC:  U.S. Department of Education has revealed that their economic outlook for the future of the United States is so bad that 43% of us fools who got into debt to get a higher education will never be able to pay-off that debt to the government!  As of January 2016, 3.6-million former higher education students had defaulted (meaning they stopped making payments, you can’t declare bankruptcy against student debt) on $56-billion USD worth of student loans!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

05 April 2016: “…no realistic prospects for a return to profitability…” 10-million+ unemployed!

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.”