Tag Archives: labor

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 22 – 23 June 2015: Insurance company dumps Idaho as ObamaCare wreaks havoc on the insurance industry!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Isn’t it ironic that the healthcare reform written by the insurance industry (Affordable Care Act aka ObamaCare) is actually destroying insurance companies?  Read on to find out why I ask such a question.

Arizona: Five Coco’s Bakery Restaurants shutdown; one in Sun City and four in Phoenix!  Coco’s was sold to a competitor.  In Scottsdale, the Bamboo Club shutdown as well as Frasher’s Steakhouse and Lounge (it’s supposedly moving to Phoenix).  In Arcadia, the Milagro Grill shutdown.

California: The Employment Development Department now publishing WARNs bi-monthly, instead of daily.  Santa Clara based computer chip maker Intel officially confirmed massive layoffs across several states.  An internal Intel memo read “Yes, we are implementing headcount reductions” in Arizona and Oregon, but did not give numbers.  The mass layoffs are blamed on crashing computer sales.  In San Diego, after 36 years the owners of popular Lunch Bag Deli say their landlord is forcing them to shutdown.  They say they got a 26 day eviction notice with no explanation.  An employee of the  real estate company that manages the property would only say, to local news media, that the lease was up and they didn’t want to renew.  In Escondido, Palomar Health reports that ObamaCare is causing their Palomar Medical Center to lose $20-million USD per year! As a result they’re considering shutting it down (despite a previous announcement that the 56 acre hospital was going to be doubled in size!), forcing the 8-thousand patients who use the hospital to travel at least 12 miles for healthcare: “The right thing to do and the right decision at the right time is to make the recommendation to the board of directors they should close the downtown campus.”-Bob Hemker, CEO

Colorado: Englewood mining company Midway Gold now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Connecticut: Bloomfield based global health insurance company Cigna is fighting off attempts by Indiana based Anthem.  Recently Anthem tried to buyout Cigna for $53.8-billion.  If a takeover is successful you can bet they’ll be massive layoffs in an attempt to eliminate all the redundant jobs as a result.  A recent Nightly Business Report stated that the result of insurance company mergers will be higher premiums for individuals.  What was that about ObamaCare reducing the costs of healthcare?

Florida: After three years of operations, Jacksonville based non-profit crowdfunding venue One Spark laid off all but three employees.  Administrators blame it on a lack of “focus”.  In Rivera Beach, wholesaler Garden of Life issued a WARN for September, 28 people will be laid off.  In Clearwater, the Burger King on US19 and Sunset Point Road shutdown for failing health inspections.  In Tampa, the Tampa Tap Room shutdown for 30 health code violations.  The Paradise Biryani Pointe shutdown for 41 health code violations.

Hawaii: After 49 years the owner of two iconic restaurants is shutting them down due to health problems.  The restaurant Kenny’s will shutdown by 05 July, and Kenny’s Express will shutdown 04 July.

Idaho: In Boise, after 32 years the owners of women’s clothier Barbara Barbara announced they’re shutting down at the end of July, health problems convinced them it was time to retire.  The Department of Labor finally published a WARN issued by Assurant insurance company, submitted back on the 15th.  ObamaCare forcing Assurant to eliminate 65 health insurance jobs in Boise by August.  If you’ve been following my updates New York City based Assurant recently announced it is getting out of the health insurance business because, as CEO Alan Colberg said, Obama Care isn’t slashing & burning health care funding big enough or fast enough: “The health and employee benefits business segments possess differentiated capabilities in their respective markets, but we do not believe they can meet our return targets at the pace we require.”

Illinois:  What automotive industry recovery? Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar laid off another 50 people at their East Peoria factory, on top of the recent 120! It’s blamed on the crashing mining industry.  H&S Care Center shutting down over the next couple of weeks.  News reports say the nursing home has a number of code violations, and was recently fined $12,500 after a patient went on a stabbing rampage in April (you see, you don’t need a gun to be violent).

Iowa: After years of arguing between Scott County and the owner of  Lake Canyada Mobile Home Park, the county is forcing the park to shutdown by cutting off the watersupply!   At first it was to shutdown by the end of the month, but there are so many tenants with nowhere to go that the shutdown date has been pushed back to the end of July.  County administrators claim the water-sewer system for the mobile home park must be upgraded, but the park owner doesn’t want to pay for it.

Kentucky: State Health Department is shutting down three Women’s Infant & Children offices, 12 jobs lost.  Administrators blame lack of taxpayer funding and lack of people signing up for the measly $40 per month in food assistance.   Louisville based health insurance company Humana is considering a takeover bid by Connecticut based Aetna.   If the deal is accepted then the 12-thousand Humana employees, and the more than 47-thousand employees with Aetna, will be threatened.   A recent Nightly Business Report stated that the result of insurance company mergers will be higher premiums for individuals. What was that about ObamaCare reducing the costs of healthcare?  Texas based oil pipeline company TMK Ipsco issued a mass layoff WARN saying at least 150 Wilder steel mill employees will be laid off in July!  That’s on top of the 115 laid off this month!

Louisiana: Texas based oil holdings company Exterran issued a shutdown WARN for its Broussard oil equipment factory, 60 jobs lost between August and December.

Nevada: Colorado based & bankrupt Midway Gold shutdown their Pan Mine ops, blaming lack of money.  Administrators refused to say how many jobs lost.

New Jersey: Salem County administrators went back on their word and will indeed eliminate jobs.  A ‘letter to the editor’ revealed at least one person laid off already, and an undisclosed number going into next year.

New York: Volunteers of America Upstate New York announced they’re shutting down 11 thrift stores, apparently to focus on its services for low income families, but the fact their thrift stores lost more than $1-million last year is a better reason.  In NYC, God refuses to stop the layoff of 83 employees of Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home Boys Town operations across The Big Apple.  The WARN says the layoffs will take place in September and blames the bad economy.  Also in The Big Apple, New York Life Insurance Company issued a WARN saying they are moving between October and March (they didn’t say where to) and at least 17 people will become unemployed.  And the city of New York has become the second U.S. city (after San Francisco) to shutdown school during the Asian Lunar New Year.  Administrators say it proves they’re respectful of other ethic groups, but it’s really about saving a lot of money by shutting down schools for a week.

North Carolina: Madison County School District forced to shutdown their Laurel Elementary school.  It’s blamed on what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.   AB Tech announced it will shutdown the Haynes building and the Technology Commercialization Center on its Enka campus. News reports say AB Tech is prepping the Enka campus for sale.  It’s blamed on the loss of $2-million in county taxpayer funding.  It’s been revealed that for-profit managed county owned Yadkin Valley Community Hospital shutdown, 150 jobs lost at the end of May!  News reports blame disputes between the greedy for-profit managers and the county over the lease.

Ohio:   Cincinnati based Too Big to Jail Fifth Third Bancorp (Fifth Third Bank: The Curious Bank) will shutdown/sell-off 130 offices and other properties!  Administrators say they need to save $60-million per year.  After five years non-profit Boneyfiddle Arts Center shutdown, due to lack of funding: “It is really sad and painful for us, because we worked so hard to accomplish what we had.  When we realized we could not meet our strategic goals we knew it was the logical choice.”-Jamie Benedict

Pennsylvania: In Garfield, after five years restaurant Salt of the Earth to shutdown in August.  The owners are going to focus on their other business, architecture.

Tennessee: The McNairy County Board of Education eliminating 20 jobs; 15 current employees and five vacant teacher jobs.

Texas: The city of Brownsville shutdown its public swimming pools to all but those attending children’s swimming lessons.  City administrators were not able to hire enough lifeguards, not for a lack of money but for a lack of qualified applicants.

Washington: In Puget Sound, Boeing laid off another 153 employees!

West Virginia: After 32 years Blatt’s Greenhouse, in Lavalette, shutdown.

Wisconsin: The Wisconsin State Journal laid off four people and eliminated at least three vacant positions.

19 – 21 June 2015: “…our journey is coming to an end…” “…leadership does not care….”

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.”

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 19 – 21 June 2015: “…our journey is coming to an end…” Clothing exec calls employment The Hunger Games! “This culture will exacerbate the uncertainty…leadership does not care….”

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Louisiana/Texas based oil exploration company Saratoga Resources now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.   While they blamed oil prices, they also admitted they were dealing with challenges in their field operations.

Arizona: The Ritz Carlton Phoenix hotel is shutting down, 2-hundred jobs lost by July!  The hotel was sold to a competitor.

Arkansas: In Cabot, after 45 years the owner of Ann’s Beauty Shop is shutting it down in July.

California: What housing market recovery?  In Palo Alto, a start up company that makes ‘smart’ smoke detectors and night lights for homes, Leeo, laid off more than 30% of their employees due to lack of sales.  An inside unnamed source reported to VentureBeat that “Sales were definitely pretty terrible, and on top of that, there was just not any real direction or vision from the senior leadership. No one ever knew what the next product was going to be.” In San Diego, after 19 years the Great News Cookware Store and Cooking School shutting down by July.  After 23 years Golden Rugs Gallery shutting down their Miramar Road store.  In Walnut Creek, a 21 years old Barnes & Noble book store shutting down in January 2016. Administrators said they could not agree on a new lease agreement with the property owner.  In Oakland, the Swap-o-Rama DIY clothing swap shop shutdown.  In San Francisco, Pier 1 Imports shutdown their SoMa location. It’s part of the Texas based company’s plan to shutdown 1-hundred stores this year!  In Turlock, the owner of Ann’s Fish and Chips reports that the greedy landlord has forced her to go elsewhere, due to jacking up the rent.  The restaurant must shutdown by the 4th of July.  After 34 years newspaper and magazine printer Paradise Post Printing shutdown, at least 41 jobs lost: “Our commercial print business has eroded to the point that it is no longer sustainable to stay in business.”-Bruce Meissner, general manager

Florida: In Fort Walton Beach, after 40 years Mama Rosa’s Pizza shutdown and for sale despite the owners claim that business is good.  The owners said they’re moving to Georgia.  In Orlando, award winning Wolfie’s Pizzamia shutting down next month. The landlord signed a new lease with a gourmet dessert restaurant.  In Largo, Thai Basil Westbay restaurant shutdown, yet again, by health inspectors.  News reports say the restaurant has been accused of recurring problems with roaches, rodents, ants and improper food temperatures.  What housing market recovery?  In Melbourne, after two years home loan serving company Wingspan Portfolio Advisors shutting down, 150 people jobless by the end of the month!  Reports say that in 2013 the mortgage company had 4-hundred employees!

Illinois: The township of Blue Mound shutdown its police department, the Macon County Sheriff’s department will handle law enforcement.  ObamaCare forcing hospital operator Porter Health to eliminate 70 administrative/IT jobs. In a complicated way administrators blamed the new electronic medical records system pushed by ObamaCare.   99 jobs lost as the North Mayfair Kmart being shutdown to make room for a seafood store.   The owner of Eric’s Restaurant gave up and shutdown after he lost his booze license: “He is closed and is thinking about keeping it closed and moving to a different location because he’s completely worn out.”-Hal Jennings, attorney

Iowa: In Mason City, after 30 years the Bonanza steak restaurant shutdown.  The property owner swears another restaurant is moving in.  The owners of Görtz Haus Gallery shutting down in August.  It’s blamed on a $5,000 USD fine for refusing to host a homosexual wedding.

Louisiana: Oil spill claims centers, set up after the 2010 BP (British Petroleum) oil blowout, have shutdown.  The Pine Prairie Correctional Center shutting down in July.  Greedy state ‘lawmakers’ turned it over to evil for-profit concentration camp operator GEO.  The mayor of Pine Prairie, who said the deal seems to have been done in secret, is totally pissed-off: “We were averaging from $5,000 to $5,500 a month from the facility, which is around $60,000 dollars a year, so we’re going to lose that!”-Terry Savat

Maryland: Teen pregnancy prevention op Teens Have Choices shutdown due to lack of funding caused by declining teen pregnancies.

Massachusetts: Blaming what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome, Gordon College warned of impending layoffs.  As of last month only 475 freshman students made the required deposits for the upcoming semester.

Minnesota: Duluth Parks and Recreation Commission warned they are being forced to shutdown the Lake Superior Zoo.  Administrators say the zoo must be brought up to current standards, which will cost at least $40-million, but administrator Jim Filby Williams said “We simply don’t have the money.”

Montana: In Helena, a kitchen fire has permanently shutdown Louie’s Casa Diego restaurant.  The owner says the cost to repair the damage is too high, especially after his insurance provider claimed they never got any of his premium payments: “I’ve put in a lot of money and I’m strapped now. So I can’t get no farther.”-Luis Lopez

Nebraska: H5N2 causing mass layoffs at Michael Foods Egg Products. The food factory is shutting down and more than 1-hundred people will be “temporarily” unemployed! The Knolls golf, tennis and swimming Country Club & Restaurant shutting down in November.  Locals claim a lot of people use the facility, but the owners say otherwise.  Membership crashed to only 70 at the beginning of the year.

New Jersey:  The Route 33 Foodtown grocery store shutting down.  Local news reports say company administrators refused to explain, but a local grocery store analyst said there was too much competition.  In Long Branch, after 85 years pizza joint Tony’s Tomato Pies shutdown.  The owner said they never recovered after Hurricane Sandy: “Basically, times have changed after 85 years….after Sandy a lot of businesses got hit hard.”-Gina Chiafullo

New York: What housing market recovery? NYC based start up company Quirky gave up on its ‘smart’ home products company Wink and put it up for sale.  After clothier J.Crew laid off 175 people, there are news reports that the arrogant executive that issued the layoff notices then went out and bragged about it, calling it the Hunger Games!  Supposedly he has been fired.  NYC based Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia on the verge of being sold-off.  The new owner will be Sequential Brands, which will make money by licensing the use of the name Martha Stewart to other companies, meaning there’s no need for the original Martha Stewart employees.  NYC based NBCUniversal eliminated as many as 30 jobs with their E and Esquire networks.  Hartwick College eliminated more than 20 jobs, without warning.  Administrators also suddenly changed their 2015-16 school year budget.  Apparently those who were laid off are forbidden to talk about it: “This culture will exacerbate the uncertainty and negative feelings following the layoff. They will feel that leadership does not care….”-Theodore Peters, professor

North Carolina: In Raleigh, after 20 years the Cat Banjo boutique shutting down, the owner is focusing on her animal rights foundation.  Sears Holdings shutting down their Greenville Kmart in September, 75 jobs lost.  In Washington, after 24 years The Moss House bed & breakfast shutdown.  It has been sold to a buyer that will make it their private residence.  In Elkin, Heaven’s Scent Restaurant shutting down, the owners would only say that “…our journey is coming to an end…”.  They will continue catering, but only until the end of the year.

Ohio: After 17 years Medina Steak & Seafood shutdown.  The owner blames competition.

Pennsylvania: Stonebridge Bank now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and for sale.  Lancaster based chocolate maker Hershey Company (Hershey’s) announced it will eliminate at least 3-hundred jobs by the end of 2015!  Administrators would not give details, but implied they don’t see any economic recovery taking place: “Removing cost and complexity from our business will make us more flexible to quickly react to changing consumer and competitive marketplace trends.”-John Bilbrey, CEO

Tennessee: Shelby County Schools laid off 5-hundred people!  490 teachers and 30 administrators: “We are a district with declining enrollment and budget issues. Every year we’re having to make tough decisions, and we try to keep as many of those decisions away from the classroom as possible.”-Sheila Redick

Texas: In Austin, Freddie’s Place restaurant being shutdown, the property was sold to another restaurant.  The franchise owner of the Palestine Sears Hometown quit and shut it down, saying he can make more money as an assistant manager at a nearby Dollar General!

Virginia: Thrive Healthcare shutdown blaming debts.  In Chester, after 27 years the Weekend Brewer shutdown, the owners retired.

Wisconsin: Milwaukee County warns that it must contract out its Mental Health Complex blaming ObamaCare for causing “Uncontrollable expenses significantly influence the cost of doing business as a county…”.  585 jobs could be lost!  Assurant announced that 1-thousand 2-hundred people in Milwaukee will become unemployed!  The layoffs start in August and will continue into 2016. It’s the result of Assurant’s earlier announcement that it is getting out of the health insurance business, and as I wrote in an earlier post administrators directly blame ObamaCare.  Racine Unified School District halting public use of their classroom decorations and resources facility, in order to save taxpayer money.

17 – 18 June 2015: “I…couldn’t take it anymore.”

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.”

Opinion

Proof Human societies on Earth are the creators of Hell

“What is Hell?”

“A place without peace that never gets better.”-Thai Buddism, Hell Temple proverb

For most Earthlings, their respective societies on Earth are the “place without peace that never gets better”.

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 17 – 18 June 2015: “I…couldn’t take it anymore.” Christie kills at least 300 teaching jobs! More proof of coming housing market crash! Massive layoffs despite massive tax breaks!

What housing market recovery? “The supply of existing homes for sale is incredibly short, and while builders are starting to construct more homes than they did a year ago, they are still producing well below normal volumes….. 

…..More than 60 percent of builders surveyed in May reported that the overall supply of developed lots…..was low to very low, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). That is the highest percentage since the builders began asking the question back in 1997.”-NBR, Why aren’t more homes being built?

Four Too Big to Jail mortgage stealers are having their home loan ops restricted by the  Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.  This because JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Santander, HSBC, US Bank and EverBank failed to comply with a 2011 consent order in which they promised they would stop their fraudulent robo-home foreclosure practices.

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

God refuses to stop ObamaCare from forcing ‘his’ multi-state non-profit Mercy Health System to eliminate at least 350 jobs!  The layoffs will take place in the states of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas: “Mercy faces increasing challenges to our reimbursement structure as we adjust to reductions mandated by the Affordable Care Act and other budget cuts, as well as the lack of Medicaid expansion in most of our states.”-official statement

Alaska: What automotive & construction industry recovery?  Johnson’s Tire Service now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  It’s blamed on a lawsuit filed by a construction contractor.

California:  In San Francisco, Starbucks announced it is shutting down its recently acquired La Boulange bakery operations, which includes 23 stores!   Starbucks also announced it will shutdown its San Francisco Evolution Fresh juice store.

Connecticut: ObamaCare forcing Yale-New Haven Health System to shutdown their East Haven and Branford clinics, through taxpayer funding cuts. 31 jobs lost.  ObamaCare forcing Hartford HealthCare to eliminate 355 full-time jobs, along with part-time jobs, at two of its hospitals; Backus and Windham.  Hartford laid off 350 healthcare workers in 2014: “Despite our best efforts to reduce costs and increase revenues this year, Hartford HealthCare faces additional Medicaid cuts, bringing our total Medicaid payment reductions from the State of Connecticut to more than $100-million over five years. The magnitude of these cuts makes our model unsustainable going forward.”-Jeffrey Flaks

Florida: After 40 years, Wet n Wild Orlando amusement park shutting down by the end of 2016.  It’s being replaced with a ‘volcano park’.

Idaho: The Boise Co-Op grocery store shutdown after 30 people tested positive for salmonella after eating food from the store’s delicatessen.  Cash strapped School District 93 taxpayers voted down the latest school bond, again!  The bond issue was put to voters a second time after it was voted down the first time.  On top of that district administrators called for a recount this time, the recount actually resulted in more votes against the bond issue!   You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip!

Illinois:  For the first time since 1970, Oak Brook based McDonald’s will shutdown more U.S. restaurants than it plans to open.  Fast food administrators refused to go into details.  What housing market recovery?  Riverwoods based credit card company Discover announced it is getting out of the home loan business, 460 jobs lost!  Their mortgage business is being transfered to AmeriSave Mortgage in August.  In Jacksonville, after 40 years the maker of trusses for building construction, ALCO White, shutting down in July.  What automotive industry recovery?  Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar laid off another 120 people, this time at their East Peoria factory! It’s blamed on the crashing mining industry.

Indiana: Proof the economy is only getting worse; Lafayette Transitional Housing Center shutting down their meal service.  Operators say they are “overcrowded” and have decided to focus their service only on providing a place to live for people who’re homeless.  Operators say they are working to find a charity who can take over their meal service.  Over the past few years Lafayette Transitional Housing Center has become the largest food provider in a 16-county region!

Iowa: In Valley Junction, after 32 years Elinor’s Wood’n Wares shutdown.  God refuses to stop ObamaCare from shutting down ‘his’ Quakerdale residential treatment programs.  Administrators say since ObamaCare went into effect referrals have crashed and state funding has dried up.  In Cedar Rapids, Smuggler’s Warf Big Bam Boo Bar shutdown.  The owner blames crashing business for causing him to lose his booze license and for preventing him from paying rent, plus health problems: “I am 60 years old, got some health issues, and couldn’t take it anymore.”-Al Zindrick

Kansas: In Topeka, after more than 40 years the owners of Grover’s Smokehouse announced they must shutdown in July, due to the landlord kicking them out.  It sounds like the property has been sold to some evil property developers.

Maine:  God refuses to stop ObamaCare from pushing ‘his’ Parkview Adventist Medical Center into chapter 11 bankruptcy.  They plan to merge with Mid Coast Health Services, 180 jobs affected!

Maryland:  After more than 40 years The Gazette newspaper shutdown.  US Foods shutting down its Anne Arundel County distribution warehouse, 350 jobs lost!  Because of the bad economy US Foods is consolidating ops “serving the Washington DC metropolitan area”.

Massachusetts: In New Bedford, the Horatio A. Kempton Elementary School being shutdown.  Administrators are hoping that by shutting down a school they won’t have to eliminate jobs.  In Springfield, non-profit New England Farm Workers Council laid off 40 people due to loss of state taxpayer funding.

Minnesota: Retailer Target eliminated an additional 190 jobs at their Minneapolis HQ!  It’s all part of their bigger plan to eliminate thousands of U.S. jobs this year.

New Hampshire: Tri-County Community Action Program shutting down five of its eight walk-in offices.  The program helps people pay for home heating.

New Jersey: British empire based United Kingdom drugs maker GlaxoSmithKline issued a WARN saying 350 people at its Parsippany operations will be laid off!  The Paterson School District eliminating 3-hundred teachers in an effort to eliminate $20-million in costs!  The teacher’s union blames gov’na Chris Christie: “I don’t see anybody overwhelming the governor’s veto.  I don’t know why they’re afraid of him?”-Peter Tirri, Paterson Teacher’s Union

New York:  In NYC, the publisher of Rolling Stone, Us Weekly and Men’s Journal, Wenner Media, laid off an undisclosed number of employees.  Also, reports from union reps say the Wall Street Journal laid off less than 30 people.   In Canandaigua, news reports say Wade’s Market Center will shutdown, 133 grocery jobs lost! The property was sold-off without warning. Local residents say they will now have to drive 20 miles to shop for food.  Earthlink issued a shutdown WARN for their Amherst call center, 65 jobs lost by the end of the year.

Ohio: Rumors have been confirmed, Haverhill Chemicals in Franklin Furnace shutting down within 60 days, 175 jobs lost!  Company administrators claim that despite three years and millions of dollars spent to improve the factory it is still not economically sustainable.  In Coshocton, the Cheez-Kake Bake Shop shutdown.  The owner is selling his assets and moving to Florida.

Oregon: More revelations about California based computer chip maker Intel, and the massive job destruction about to hit The Beaver State; the county of Washington gave Intel a record setting $2-billion in tax breaks!  But wait there’s more!  None of those  tax breaks were connected to creating jobs!  All that was required was that Intel keep the vague promise of maintaining economic security.  News reports say there are 18-thousand Intel workers in Washington County, and Intel plans on cutting $300-million in operating costs, which will include cutting jobs.  Analysts are reporting that Intel is already pushing employees to voluntarily quit.  After 43 years the Grande Ronde Child Center shutting down.  It’s blamed on the loss of a contract with Greater Oregon Behavioral Health.  State mental health administrators blame ObamaCare: “The services currently being offered by GRCC are not in line with the direction health care reform is going.”-Henry O’Keefe,  Greater Oregon Behavioral Health

Pennsylvania: In Lower Township, the Mount Hill Tavern shutdown and up for sale.  The owners implied it was too much work for what they got in return.  Pittsburgh Filmmakers/Pittsburgh Center for the Arts laid off 18 people.

Rhode Island: Cash strapped Coventry taxpayers have spoken, and voted not to increase taxes to prevent the collapse of the financially broke Coventry Fire District.   You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip!

Texas:  School bus contractor Gold Star will shutdown in Manor, eliminating 69 jobs.  The Manor Independent School District realized it’s actually cheaper to run their own school bus system.   Gary Shelton, the owner of the Sack & Save grocery store on Interstate 35E, says “We stuck it out as long as we could, but there’s not a light at the end of the tunnel anymore.” Sack & Save will shutdown on 27 June, due to the landlord owner selling property to the University of North Texas for $6.25-million (almost three times the appraised value!).

Vermont: Cash strapped Concord taxpayers voted to shutdown their  high school.   High school students will now travel to other districts.   You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip!

Virginia: Tax-sucker Northrop Grumman laid off 51 state employees.  The military contractor was hired to take over the multi-billion-dollar Virginia Information Technologies Agency.  Not all state employees elected to transfer to Northrop Grumman.  Florida based Home Shopping Network shutting down their Roanoke County operations and moving it to Tennessee.  The county will lose 350 jobs by April 2016!

Washington: In Seattle, after 39 years restaurant Charlie’s shutting down by this weekend.  The owners have been trying to sell it since 2010.  What was that about ObamaCare increasing access to healthcare?  In Castle Rock, Peace Health shutting down their clinic by the end of September.  1-thousand 6-hundred primary and pediatric care patients affected!  Customers are being told they will have to travel to Longview for services.

Washington DC: The U.S. Army/Defense Manpower Data Center revealed that in the past 12 months 26,425 Regular Army personnel have been laid off, and another 2-thousand jobs will be eliminated by September!

West Virginia: What housing market recovery?  The new owners of the 120 years old (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Duncan Box & Lumber gave up and are shutting it down.

Wisconsin: Kodiak Jack’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant bankrupt busted and being evicted!

15 – 16 June 2015: “insurmountable financial challenges”

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.”

Business/Economics

Sears Kmart closing update 17 June 2015: Santa buys Kmart? Sears sells stores, then rents them back!

Illinois, the home state of Sears Holdings, losing yet another Kmart.  Reports say the North Mayfair space has been leased to a California seafood seller.

North Carolina losing a 38 years old Kmart, in September.

In New York, Dave’s Christmas Wonderland has reportedly bought an abandoned Lancaster Kmart for $1.7-million USD.   It won’t be a big store as news reports say only 30 new jobs will be created.

Reports say Sears Holdings is changing up Kmart’s marketing team, and will re-launch the Kmart brand.

Kmarts in Utah and California being torn down.

A Kentucky Kmart now a farm and home store.

In Arizona, Sears Holdings has sold two Sears stores to shopping mall owner Macerich for $50-million, then rented them back!  It’s part of Eddie Lampert’s false flag efforts to ‘save’ the retailer.

update 10 June 2015: Sales crash by 67%! Eddie Lampert revealed as False Flag operator? 

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings that I’ve been compiling since the end of 2011:

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors.  Recently revealed Arrowhead Towne Center Sears sold-off then rented back!  Recently revealed Chandler Fashion Center Sears sold-off then rented back! 

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost), Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart, Northport Kmart (68 jobs lost), Dothan Sears (68 jobs lost), Huntsville Kmart (73 jobs lost).

California: El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (more than 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart, Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost), Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down, Banning Kmart (91 jobs lost) recently revealed that Sears Holdings is still paying rent on the abandoned property, Laguna Hills Mall Sears, San Diego Mid-City Kmart (73 jobs lost), Hemet Kmart (77 jobs lost), Oakland Sears repair center (75 jobs lost), San Mateo Kmart (82 jobs lost to an apartment building connected to public transportation), Hesperia Kmart building sold at a loss to a vulture capitalist REIT, no word on if the Kmart will be shutdown. Customers complain that the Kmart employees have a bad attitude, gee I wonder why? Yuba City Kmart (63 jobs lost), Rocklin Kmart (at least 63 jobs lost, the store had just posted “Now Hiring” signs), San Leandro Kmart (102 jobs lost), San Jose Mercury News says the El Centro Kmart to shutdown in January, the website Foursquare says the Covina Kmart is now shutdown (other sources say it will shutdown in December), Cupertino Sears and Auto Center (number of employees affected not made public, no WARN filed), somebody posted on yelp* that the Diamond Bar Kmart was shutting down in December (confirmed by Armijo Newspapers), Westfield Topanga Sears (122 jobs lost), it looks like the Blythe Kmart is being slowly shutdown despite denial by Sears Holdings. San Mateo Kmart being demolished to make room for 599 unit apartment complex, as part of the the Hayward Park Caltrain Station project.

Colorado: Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost), Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40), Colorado Springs Kmart at Powers and Palmer Park boulevards (57 jobs lost), Fort Collins Sears (67 jobs lost), Denver-Cherry Creek North Sears store & Auto Center (66 jobs lost).

Connecticut: Waterbury Big Kmart, Torrington Kmart (73 jobs lost), Enfield Sears Optical (no word on jobs lost), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (employees say the shutdown was a surprise, I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (at least 13 jobs lost).

Delaware: Dover Kmart (at least 72 jobs lost, some reports said 100), Seaford Sears (30 jobs lost), Claymont Kmart (87 jobs lost).

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winter Haven Kmart (92 jobs lost), Palm Bay Kmart, Oakland Park Kmart (112 jobs lost), Clearwater Sears Auto Center (21 jobs lost), Zephyrhills Kmart (70 jobs lost), Winter Springs Kmart (69 jobs lost), Naples Kmart (72 jobs lost), New Port Richey Kmart (58 jobs lost), ‘redevelopment’ of Aventura Sears & Auto Center into an “open-air village” (unknown how many jobs affected), Kmart on Northeast 108 Street being annexed by Miami Shores, Sears Holdings threatens to shutdown Kmart as a result of higher local taxes. The property that’s home to an operating Kmart, on South Green Bay Road in Racine, was foreclosed by the local Sheriff and sold-off for $2.5-million, no word on what the new property owner will do with it. Fort Myers Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost), Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart, Warner Robins Kmart (77 jobs lost), Coweta County Kmart distribution center (164 jobs lost), one of the last two North Augusta Kmart to be torn down by new property owner from Canada, Sears Holdings denies the Kmart will shutdown.

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost! GGP spending $573-million chopping it up into smaller store spaces), Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost), Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears shutdown by the end of October/beginning of November 2014 (the remaining 28 jobs lost). Across the street, in Pocatello, the property where the Kmart is located has a “pad site available” sign, posted ever since the Kmart bankruptcy. The Kmart building takes up most of the ‘pad’. Latest news from inside sources say Sears Holdings will not comment on any plans to expand the small amount of Craftsman products already being sold at the Kmart, or shift the Kenmore products line, from the closing Chubbuck Sears to the Pocatello Kmart. In fact all plans for the Pokey Kmart are in a ‘holding pattern’.

Illinois: Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost?) revealed is now a perpetual closing sale Kmart At A Discount store, Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost), Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost), Danville Sears store & Auto Center (63 jobs lost), Forsyth Sears store & Auto Center (45 jobs lost), Peoria Kmart (73 jobs lost), Forest Park Kmart (107 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North and Harlem avenues, supposedly it’s being replaced (most likely at taxpayer expense) with a new building and it will become a Sears-Mariano’s store, Bloomington Kmart (79 jobs lost), Hoffman Estates Headquarters 100 jobs eliminated, another 15 corporate jobs eliminated elsewhere, Chicago-Wicker Park Kmart (106 jobs lost), abandoned Market Place Mall Sears location to be occupied by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field & Stream. 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. Recently revealed North Mayfair Kmart (99 jobs lost).  By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state. The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Indiana: Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost), FairOaks Mall Kmart, Logansport Sears (43 jobs lost), Muncie Kmart (59 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on Coliseum Boulevard North (69 jobs lost), Decatur Kmart (49 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Madison Avenue (131 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Washington Street (139 jobs lost), Bedford Kmart (62 jobs lost), Indianapolis (Evansville) Sears & Auto Center at Washington Square Mall (91 jobs lost), Greenwood Kmart (78 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (“approximately” 68 jobs lost), Bloomington Sears to be replaced by Whole Foods grocery store.

Iowa: Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost), Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost), Clive Kmart (at least 49 jobs lost), Ames Kmart (44 jobs lost), Fort Dodge Sears (no job loss numbers made public, yet. The Auto Center was secretly shutdown in September).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Merriam Kmart-then Sears-then Kmart (jobs lost unknown), Wichita Sears store & Auto Center (103 jobs lost), Manhattan Sears & Auto Center (number of jobs lost were never revealed).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart, Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!), Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost), Cannonsburg Sears and Sears Auto Center (no employee info given), Louisville Dixie Highway Kmart/Sears/Kmart shutdown and now being taken over by Kroger basically to sell the same crap the old Kmart did! Madisonville Kmart (39 jobs lost), Owensboro Sears store & Auto Center (52 jobs lost).  Rural King farm & home store has taken over the abandoned Wincester Kmart.

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

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost), Aroostook Centre Mall Sears Auto Center leased out to VIP Tires & Service.

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears rebuild & call center (115 jobs lost), Baltimore Kmart on Wabash Avenue (107 jobs lost).

Massachusetts: North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost), Kingston Kmart (73 jobs lost).

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials, Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Saginaw Kmart on Bay Road, Flint Kmart on Dort Highway (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost), Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 jobs lost), Saint John’s Kmart (48 jobs lost), White Lake Township “Store of the Future” Kmart (42 jobs lost), Grand Blanc Kmart (49 jobs lost), Lapeer Kmart (56 jobs lost), Southgate Kmart (155 jobs lost), Detroit’s Telegraph Road Kmart (115 jobs lost), Waterford Township Sears (no word on how many jobs lost), Rochester Hills Kmart (77 jobs lost), ‘perfect Kmart town’ of Port Huron Kmart (188 jobs lost), Flint Kmart on Miller Road (81 jobs lost), Burton Kmart (85 jobs lost), Madison Heights Kmart (179 jobs lost), it’s now official the last remaining Saginaw Kmart (on Gratiot Road) will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January 2014 (Sears Holdings claims only 18 people worked there at the time of the collapse!), Ann Arbor Kmart (59 jobs lost), Iron Mountain Kmart (54 jobs lost), Bangor Township Sears aka Bay City Mall Sears, the Auto Center was already secretly shutdown some time ago (at least 47 jobs lost), Big Rapids Kmart (about 50 jobs lost). Vacant Wyandotte Sears Auto Center is being renovated at a cost to taxpayers of $1-million & 20-thousand, plus 15 years worth of tax breaks valued at $2-million! Shakopee Kmart distribution center shutdown and sold-off for $17-million in 2013, now it’s finally getting a new tenant. Snowmobile and electric cart maker Polaris Industries will rent out a fraction of the building to use as their new parts warehouse.

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart, Monticello Kmart, GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost), Fergus Falls Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Alexandria Kmart (46 jobs lost), Grand Rapids Kmart (61 jobs lost), Seritage is selling off three Sears Auto Centers in Minnetonka, Brooklyn Center and Saint Paul, Marshall Kmart (57 jobs lost), Oakdale Kmart (77 hourly wage employees losing their jobs, unknown how many salaried employees will become unemployed), Winona Kmart (67 jobs lost), Minneapolis city officials trying to shutdown profit making Nicollet Avenue Kmart, to make way for a new road. Anoka Kmart (47 jobs lost), Blaine Kmart (60 jobs lost), Burnsville Kmart (62 jobs lost), Waite Park Kmart (57 jobs lost), Northeast Minneapolis Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale, Coon Rapids Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost), Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall, Olive Branch distribution center (unknown how many jobs lost).

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost), Ellisville Kmart (55 jobs lost), Springfield Kmart on South Campbell Avenue (60 jobs lost), South Belt Kmart (64 jobs lost), Florissant Kmart (100 jobs lost), O’Fallon Kmart (76 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost), Great Falls Kmart (closed “until further notice” due to fire, 63 jobs on hold), Great Falls Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost) due to great sales (ironically) the shutdown date has been moved from 07 December 2014 to 23 November, Bozeman Kmart (37 jobs lost), Missoula Sears store and Auto Center (57 jobs lost).

Nebraska: Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost), Omaha Kmart near West Maple Road (50 jobs lost).

Nevada: Sparks Kmart distribution center (100 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials, Portsmouth Kmart (30 jobs lost), Claremont Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New Jersey: Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost), Berlin Kmart, Dover Kmart (92 jobs lost), Randolf Kmart (91 jobs lost), Paramus Kmart (74 jobs lost), Closter Kmart (102 jobs lost).

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

New York: Lindenhurst Sears Hardware, North Babylon Sears Hardware, Hauppauge Sears Hardware, Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost) now revealed to be turned into a Town Center with more than 200 apartments at an estimated cost of $50-million, Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 jobs lost), Tonawanda Sears Appliance and Hardware, Bronx Sears (91 jobs lost), BBN reader reported that the Ithaca Sears and Auto Center shutdown and one month later it’s been officially confirmed (at least 37 jobs lost), DeWitt Kmart (92 jobs lost), Auburn Sears (51 jobs lost), Massena Sears and Auto Center (51 jobs lost), Staten Island Mall Sears leased out to Ireland’s Primark, Bay Shore Sears and Sears Auto Center (144 jobs lost), New Hartford Sears & Auto Center (109 jobs lost), recently revealed Lancaster Kmart sold for $1.7-million to Dave’s Christmas Wonderland.

North Carolina: Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost), West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost), Conover Kmart (74 jobs lost), Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost), High Point Kmart (71 jobs lost), Boone Kmart (41 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart (96 jobs lost), Gastonia Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), Kinston Kmart (64 jobs lost), Cary Sears (66 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart distribution center (130 jobs lost), recently revealed Greenville Kmart (75 jobs lost).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost), Dickinson Kmart (41 jobs lost, despite a “Now Hiring” sign on the front of the store).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard, London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost), Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost), Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost), Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost), Norwalk Kmart (52 jobs lost), Blue Ash Kmart (77 jobs lost), Northwood Sears at Woodville Mall (36 jobs lost), Conneaut Kmart (43 jobs lost), Anderson Township Kmart (71 jobs lost), Brooklyn Kmart (200 jobs lost), Columbus Lockbourne Industrial Parkway Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost), also in Columbus, Sears Product Rebuild-Call Center (112 jobs lost), Marion Sears Auto Center (at least nine jobs lost), Springfield Kmart #3767 (68 jobs lost), Fairborn Kmart (66 jobs lost), Solon Sears & Auto Center (at least 53 jobs lost). Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location. Fairlawn Sears Appliance & Hardware, Macedonia Sears Appliance & Hardware, Lorain Sears Appliance & Hardware, Elyria Sears Appliance & Hardware, North Olmsted Sears Appliance & Hardware, Sheffield Village Sears Appliance & Hardware, Akron Sears Appliance & Hardware.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants), Shawnee Sears (31 jobs lost), Sand Springs Kmart (52 jobs lost), Muskogee Sears (60 jobs lost), Enid Sears and Auto Center (at least 38 jobs lost), Tulsa BigKmart (51 jobs lost).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 jobs lost), Albany Kmart (64 jobs lost), Portland Sears Homes Services (no notice), Albany Sears (57 jobs lost), in October a BBN reader warned that Oregon City Kmart was being quietly shutdown, confirmed on 06 November 2014 by Sears Holdings (70 jobs lost). Ontario Kmart (55 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost), Sanatoga-Lower Pottsgrove Kmart (65 jobs lost, the store was also advertising for new hires!), West Mifflin Sears store & Auto Center (88 jobs lost), Rochester Kmart (78 jobs lost), Frazer (Pittsburg Mills Mall) Sears and Auto Center (97 jobs lost), Bloomsburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Frackville Sears and Auto Center (84 jobs lost), North Cornwall Township Sears (51 jobs lost), King of Prussia Sears and Auto Center (no word on number of jobs lost), Lebanon Sears (51 jobs lost), Scotland Chambersburg Mall Sears and Auto Center (62 jobs lost), the upper level of the Willow Grove Mall Sears store to be leased by Primark, King of Prussia Sears store leased out to clothing retailer Primark, East Towne Mall Kmart (51 jobs lost), Frackville Kmart in the Skuylkill Mall (80 jobs lost), Mount Pocono Kmart (66 jobs lost), Fairless Hills Sears Hardware.

Puerto Rico: Vega Baja Kmart (206 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost), both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two), Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost), Harbison Sears & Sears Auto Center in the Columbiana Centre mall (97 jobs lost), Aiken Sears & Sears Auto Center (at least 54 jobs lost), Inlet Square Mall Kmart (50 jobs lost), West Ashely Kmart (69 jobs lost), Myrtle Beach Kmart (59 jobs lost), Easley Kmart (62 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin Cool Springs Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost), Dickson Kmart (65 jobs lost), talks in progress to end lease for Bellevue (Nashville) Center Mall Sears, Nashville Bellevue Center Sears & Auto Center (at least 44 jobs lost).

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors, Dallas Sears home appliance parts distribution center (77 jobs lost), Simon Property Group owned McAllen Sears store & Auto Center (so far no word on how many jobs will be lost), recently revealed Palestine Sears Hometown (franchise owner quit to work as assistant manager at a local Dollar General).

Utah: Murray Sears (for some reason Mormon controlled news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they reported that the building was demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported), Woods Cross Kmart (54 jobs lost), Provo Kmart being demolished in anticipation of new tenant (local news reports say city administrators refuse to name names).

Vermont: Rutland Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost).

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown, Newport News-Denbigh Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), Wincester Kmart (91 jobs lost), Dale City Kmart (69 jobs lost), Chesapeake Sears and Auto Center (82 jobs lost), Front Royal Kmart (88 jobs lost), Pembroke Mall Sears renting out part of their store to DSW & Nordstrom Rack, Sears Holdings say they’re still looking for a “third tenant” for their occupied space. The current nearby Sears Auto Center will be rented out to REI. Colonial Heights Kmart (113 jobs lost),  Virginia Beach Hilltop Square Shopping Center Kmart (82 jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost), Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost), Oak Harbor Kmart (68 jobs lost), Sodo Sears and Sears Auto Center (79 jobs lost), Everett Kmart (65 jobs lost), Marysville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost), Bluefield Sears store & Auto Center (64 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost), Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost), Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Ashwaubenon Kmart recently revealed now owned by Green Bay Packers, will be torn down (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (55 jobs lost), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost), Glendale Sears store & Auto Center (86 jobs lost), Janesville Kmart (70 jobs lost), Glendale Sears Rebuild center (67 jobs lost), Sheboygan Sears & Auto Center (at least 31 jobs lost), Eau Claire Kmart (93 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (59 jobs lost before Xmas), Sheboygan Sears Rebuild Center (30 jobs lost), Wauwatosa Kmart (103 jobs lost).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall (see update above, GGP will close Sears store by 2014)

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center (see update above, GGP closing store)

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 15 – 16 June 2015: “insurmountable financial challenges” Americans flee Puerto Rico! No more M16s or M4s? More ‘synergies’ destroying California!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

American Family Association is urging ‘christians’ to close out their Wells Fargo bank accounts, to protest the banks public support of homosexuals.  Really?  I can think of a much better reason to dump that bank, like it’s one of the Too Big to Jail banks that caused our economic meltdown and is part of the ongoing robo-home foreclosure nightmare!

Arkansas: Pulaski Technical College blaming what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome for forcing them to shutdown their west Little Rock (wLR) campus.   In Fall 2014 they had a total of 510 students on the wLR, but for Spring 2015 only 362 students attended classes on the wLR campus!

Arizona: PetSmart warned of impending layoffs at its Phoenix HQ.  At least 15% of employees will be laid off over the next few weeks.  It’s directly related to PetSmart being sold to vulture capitalist BC Partners, back in March.

California:  Remember when I reported back in May that the term synergies now meant layoffs?  Apparently main stream news sources in California took hold of that concept (Another O.C. merger reminds us that ‘synergies’ means layoffs – but it didn’t always).  The latest article out of The Golden State reports that Orange County will see massive layoffs due to “synergies”.  They include expected layoffs from the mergers of companies like drugs makers Allergan & Actavis, computer chip makers Broadcom & Avago, and what housing market recovery? The latest merger between home builders Standard Pacific & The Relyan Group.   The new CEO of tax-sucker Aerojet Rocketdyne confirmed that 250 jobs will be eliminated at their Rancho Cordova HQ, and another 250 across the U.S., over the next four years!  Great Harvest Bread shutting down its 11 years old Folsom store by the end of the month, no explanation.  News reports say it’s the last Great Harvest Bread store in the Sacramento area.  In San Francisco, after six years Wexler’s upscale BBQ restaurant shutting down and being sold-off.  The owner said the timing is right to get out and spend more time with his family.  And San Francisco based clothing retailer GAP announced it will eliminate 250 HQ jobs, plus shutdown 175 stores across the United States (140 by the end of 2015)!  The 250 job cuts apply only to GAP’s HQ and does not count the layoffs caused by the store shutdowns.  Company administrators said the slashing & burning is necessary to save the GAP, but then ironically admitted the store shutdowns would cause them to lose $300-million USD in sales!   Riverside County warns that 114 people could become jobless under the budget for the upcoming fiscal year!  47 county prosecutors and 51 animal control personnel could be let go.  In Arcata, after 17 years Rookery Books shutdown, the owner blamed “Amazon”.

Connecticut: The maker of the M16 and M4, 179 years old West Hartford based Colt Defense, now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Administrators blame crashing sales on the Obama regime’s Department of Defense.    Newtown school administrators announced they want to shutdown the Hawley Elementary School, due to what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome. Pissed-off taxpayers then demanded to know why $50-million in donated money is being spent on rebuilding the infamous Sandy Hook Elementary School if there aren’t enough students! Some parents even said they did not want their children attending the new Sandy Hook school.

Florida: In Fort Lauderdale, wholesale company Commonwealth-Altadis issued a shutdown WARN saying 150 people will become jobless by the end of the year!  In Miami, after only six months Ted’s restaurant will shutdown by the end of the month.

Hawaii: The state run ObamaCare Hawaii Health Connector laid off 25 people. It’s because state administrators are shifting from running their own ObamaCare website to the federal government’s insurance exchange website.

Illinois: In Peoria, after more than 50 years Strode Music shutdown.  The owners blame crashing sales, they even had to stop renting out instruments two years ago.

Indiana: Bloomingfoods Co-op is eliminating an undisclosed number of jobs (so far 18 people laid off, but reports say more layoffs are in the works), blaming a 20% crash in sales on “competition”.   But is the real reason because employees tried to unionize?  What automotive industry recovery?  Gear drive/power transmissions maker Oerlikon Fairfield laid off 50 people at their Lafayette factory.  Administrators blamed the bad economy.

Kentucky: After eight years the owner of My Old Kentucky Homebrew announced he’s shutting it down in July.

Maryland: The first medical research school in the United States, John Hopkins University, announced they must eliminate jobs due to crashing federal taxpayer funding, and increased costs artificially created by new federal regulations.  At this point 109 jobs being eliminated or “reorganized”!  However, unnamed employees say they’ve been warned that 10% of the 20-thousand employees will eventually be laid off!

Massachusetts: 51 years old Marian Court College shutdown due to “insurmountable financial challenges…..given declining enrollment numbers”.

Michigan: Battle Creek Public Schools eliminating 23 jobs. The district is lacking $2.1-million.  East Grand Rapids Board of Education laying off four people, cutting pay and moving some teachers to part time. The district is so short on funding that parents have started donation drives for the schools.  Ypsilanti Community Schools laid off 18 teachers, blaming it on a $2.2-million drop in state level taxpayer funding caused by a 7.8% drop in enrollment (they lost 325 students from last year)!  It must be pointed out that state funding was actually increased by $163 per student, but what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome is so massive in Michigan that the increase in per student state funding cannot make up for the losses! The Grand River Coffee Café in East Lansing shutdown.  Troy based Olga’s Kitchen now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  However “The future is bright for Olga’s Kitchen. The 28 restaurants are now profitable and growing in profitably.”  News reports basically said the chain restaurant didn’t want to pay its debts.  Gee, if bankruptcy was only that easy for us individuals.

New Jersey: Brick Township School District eliminated 24 bus driver jobs.  The transportation manager blamed the school board for being a bunch of control freaks!  Administrators warned that by not laying off more bus drivers they are going to have to cut jobs elsewhere.     Their original plan was to eliminate 31 bus drivers, but they caught heat from the union.   Newark, the biggest city in the state, eliminated 155 school district employees, and the teachers union says that doesn’t include the teachers who are next on the chopping block!

New York: The Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System announced it is shutting down its Brooklyn unit in July.  VA administrators said that with the drastic budget cuts for next fiscal year the only way to continue funding programs is to halt inpatient care.  In NYC, 15 years old Lucky announced it will stop publishing hardcopy version of their magazine and focus on virtual (internet) issues only. At least 14 unlucky Lucky employees have been laid off.

Oregon: In Hillsboro, after 80 years the Hank’s Thriftway grocery store shutting down, after a surprise announcement: “Starting Monday June 15th, we will be open short hours 10am to 7pm to liquidate the inventory. During this time we will be offering a 25% discount on all items other than lottery, money orders and postage stamps. All sales will be final and we will not be able to accept checks.”

Pennsylvania: God refuses to stop the shutdown of three of ‘his’ churches; Incarnation of Our Lord Church, Our Mother of Sorrows and Holy Saviour Church.  Church administrators said all are in desperate need of repair work that the congregations (members) cannot afford to pay for.

Puerto Rico: A mass exodus is taking place in the U.S. Territory, the Pew Research Center says there are more Puerto Ricans living in Florida than in Puerto Rico.  From 2010 to 2013 there was a net exodus of 48-thousand people, purely for economic reasons: “We’re in unprecedented territory because this is, in recent memory, the biggest out-migration that Puerto Rico has experienced!”-Mark Lopez, Pew Resaerch Center

Texas:  58 Head Start employees being laid off across Refugio, Goliad and Bee counties.

12 – 14 June 2015:  “I want off the roller coaster of uncertainty.”

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.”

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 12 – 14 June 2015: “I want off the roller coaster of uncertainty.” “…there’s no reason to stay in New York anymore.” Proof there is no automotive industry recovery! Another insurance company admits ObamaCare is a failure!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Energy industry recruiting firm Swift Worldwide Resources says the oil industry killed off 150-thousand jobs by the end of May!  And this despite reports that demand for energy will increase by 35%, just in Asia.

California: In Burbank, Disney-ABC canceled plans to replace 35 IT workers with foreigners.  This comes after hundreds of former Disney IT workers in Florida revealed they were forced to train their foreign replacements!

Colorado: After 50 years Hadley’s Canon Western Wear announced they’re shutting down as soon as the inventory is sold off.  The owners blame the un-recovered economy and competition: “The economy is a big deal! All the box stores are moving in. People are shopping online and we are not going to have mom-and-pop stores anymore!”-Mike Hadley, co-owner

Connecticut: In Ridgefield, clothing store Suburban Underground shutting down after their inventory is gone.  The Valley Sports Center shutting down next week: “The demands of the owner’s corporate career has made it impossible to commit the time necessary to ensure the success of the business.”

Georgia: In Atlanta, after eight years video game store UGAME shutting down by the end of the month.  They’re being forced out by the landlord who made a deal with next door Papa Murphy’s to allow them to expand into the UGAME space.

Illinois: In Saint Charles, smoke detector maker Honeywell System Sensor issued a shutdown WARN for their manufacturing operations, 252 jobs lost July!  The company is consolidating manufacturing to other factories.  After 65 years the Indiana Harbor Dairy Queen shutdown.  City administrators said the Dairy Queen corporation demanded the franchise owners pay to upgrade the restaurant, but the franchise owners didn’t have the money.

Michigan: Wayne-Westland Community Schools laid off ten teachers.  The Livonia Public Schools laid off 40 teachers.  Plymouth-Canton Community Schools warned 73 teachers of pending layoffs.  Garden City Schools laid off 46 teachers.  Farmington Public Schools laid off 30 teachers.  It’s all blamed on crashing funding due to what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.  What automotive industry recovery? General Motors (GM) laying off 1-hundred people at their Orion factory, by July!  Administrators stated the new layoffs are on top of the 160 announced at the end of last year!  They blame crashing sales of their Chevy Sonic (down by 28%) and Buick Verano (down by 15%).  In Edwardsburg, after 30 years outdoor rec store Lunker’s shutdown. The pissed-off owners blame the recession and the Too Big to Jail banks in an official press release: “While the big box stores were able to secure large cash infusions during those difficult times, Lunker’s was not able to. An investor came on board and provided some temporary relief, but still it was not able to secure the funds needed to make it a truly viable venture.”

A coal fired electricity factory in Escanaba shutdown, city administrators say they’ve made a deal to buy electricity from a cheaper source.  In Howell, after seven years Pet Provisions pet store shutdown.  The owners blamed their crashing sales on the loss of the shopping center’s two anchor stores (Big Lots! and Secretary of State) for killing off customer traffic: “We love Howell, and we were really hoping to make it work. We did not want to close the store; it was a last resort.”– Sarah Holliday, co-owner

Minnesota:  In Saint Paul, after 40 years Pro Pharmacy shutdown.  The owner has sold it to Walgreens-Boots Alliance, which just happens to be in the process of shutting down 2-hundred Walgreens stores.

Missouri:  God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 117 years old Dover Place Christian Church.  One member of the church lamented “We just don’t have anybody coming, that’s all. We don’t have the income on Sunday morning’s to take care of everything.”  You see, even christians think only about ‘money’.  Don’t they remember Jesus evicting the money changers?

Nebraska: In Grand Island, after 20 years the Heartland School of Dance shutting down, as well as Mid-Town Barbers, due to the greedy attorney-landlords: “I recently received a lease-termination notice from the studio’s landlords…….The old heating system is worn out and too expensive to fix.”-Karen Jamieson, owner of the dance studio

New Jersey: Pet-livestock drugs maker Zoetis announced they’re eliminating 165 jobs at their Florham Park HQ!  The Burlington County Corrections and Work Release Center shutting down, female prisoners will be sent to Atlantic County Jail.

New York: In Melville, Too Big to Jail Bank of America issued a shutdown WARN for their Consumer & LAS Operations, 29 jobs lost by September.  In NYC, restaurant Ouest shutdown due to the greedy landlord jacking up the rent.  The New York Times said one loyal customer was so upset she said “I feel there’s no reason to stay in New York anymore.”  After almost 50 years the Candle Bar shutting down due to the fact the owner has sold off the building.  

North Carolina: Physicians Choice Laboratory Services laid off 120 people at their Rock Hill Riverwalk Business Park!  Christine Marks, vice president for marketing, directly blamed ObamaCare/healthcare reforms for reduced reimbursements from Medicare and private insurance.   After 58 years restaurant Bonnie Kay Seafood shutdown in Greensboro.  The owners blamed the rising cost of food: “Basically it’s economics, trying to maintain a model of a seafood camp which means bringing a lot of people, putting a lot of food on the plate at a reasonable price; with seafood that’s getting harder and harder to do.”-Tina Oliver, co-owner

Ohio: Ridge Tools announced they will begin eliminating an undisclosed number of jobs at their Elyria factory.  Back in March they tried to convince employees to voluntarily quit.  Local news reports said they tried to contact the company president, but he was away in China on a business trip.  This suggests that Ridge Tools is about to off-shore their production.  In Lyndhurst, after less than four years high priced cookware store Le Creuset announced it is shutting down in July.  What housing market recovery? Columbus based mortgage company Huntington Bancshares announced they will wave real estate closing costs in an effort to boost languishing home sales.

Oregon:  More reports out of Oregon that California based computer chip maker Intel will be killing off massive numbers of jobs.  Intel is the largest employer in Oregon and the latest report says layoffs will begin on the 15th.  The Oregonian says the layoffs are a combination of crashing sales and Intel’s $17-billion USD takeover of competitor Altera.

Pennsylvania: In Camden, after 20 years the Francis House AIDS ministry shutdown.  But the operators say it’s good news, because local AIDS cases and deaths have crashed.  But so has donations, and Francis House can no longer pay their utilities.  ObamaCare forcing the Cumberland Family Practice to be merged with Good Hope Family Physicians, and forcing Baughman Family Medicine to shutdown!  Doctor Paul Baughman directly blamed ObamaCare for “…dropping reimbursement, increasing overhead and a few unexpected bumps in the road.”  Administrators with insurance company Capital BlueCross admitted that ObamaCare was going to drive up the cost of healthcare, ironically by forcing people back into emergency rooms as more health clincs shutdown or consolidate due to reduced reimbursements: “If they have health issues, they may have to go to the ER, hopefully an urgent care clinic, and the ER is an expensive place to get primary care. That adds to the cost.”-Aji Abraham

Tennessee: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams joins Blue Bell Creameries in shutting down all their stores due to listeria contamination! Jeni’s has halted the grand opening of their latest store, because their ice cream has tested positive a second time for listeria.

Texas: The SMART Schools summer camp for kids, held on Rice University property,  shutdown six weeks early.  It’s complicated but basically SMART  Schools could not verify the certifications of the  counselors, and they claim that promised funding from Be Inspired never came through.

Rhode Island: That which can’t be named refuses to stop ‘its’ Jews from suing each other over ceremonial bells, supposedly worth $7.4-million, and causing the shutdown of the 250 years old Touro Synagogue in Newport!  Oh those silly money grubbing ‘Jews’.

Virginia: Willow Pod at Daleville Town Center shutdown.  The owner said “Life happens…I want off the roller coaster of uncertainty. It has been a difficult couple of weeks. I have really put myself into Willow Pod. It can be depressing thinking about closing it. But now is the time to move forward.”-Jennifer Aylor

Wisconsin: In Mequon, the Centennial Bar & Grille shutting down next week.   It was sold to Sobelman’s Pub & Grill.

10 – 11 June 2015: “We’re not making any money anymore…”

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.”

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 10 – 11 June 2015: “We’re not making any money anymore…” Tax breaks for companies getting vicious, companies being paid with tax dollars to kill jobs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: In Newport Beach, after 25 years restaurant Jackshrimp shutdown. The owner did not renew the lease and implied he was being pushed out by greedy property developers.  In Red Bluff, after four years the owners of 3 Generations Arts & Shop announced they will shutdown by July.  News reports didn’t say why.

Delaware: In Dover, God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 25 years old Branch Christian Bookstore.  The owner said “We just couldn’t compete anymore.”

Florida:  The city of Palm Bay warned that they are so low on cash that they might have to layoff 45 employees, just so they can pay for much needed road repairs without raising taxes.

Idaho: In Boise, the Chili’s restaurant on West Franklin Road (near Boise Towne Square mall) shutting down.  The Montana based franchise owner says they are getting outta Boise and moving to Nampa.   Is bankruptcy next for the unlucky Lucky Friday Mine near Mullan?  The silver mine is owned by troubled Hecla Mining.  In April 2011 the Lucky Friday Mine was hit by a rock fall that killed one employee.  In November 2011 the mine was shutdown for 12 months by a second rock fall that trapped several miners.  At the end of 2013 four of those employees, that were trapped, sued Hecla for $1-million USD saying the company violated federal mine safety rules.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice investigated Lucky Friday Mine and concluded, in 2014, that Hecla committed at least 5-hundred violations of federal regulations (mostly pollution violations).  Just days ago Hecla agreed to pay a $600-thousand fine.  About 1-hundred people work at the mine.

Maryland: The Bel Air Wallgreens is the latest victim of the legal drugs pusher’s (now called Walgreens-Boots Alliance) plan to shutdown 2-hundred stores across the country.

Massachusetts: The city of Fall River laid off 90 employees.  The mayor is also pushing for a new $10 per month trash fee (which is less than what I’m paying here in Chubbuck, Idaho).  Fall River is missing $6.5-million.

Michigan: The city of Saginaw warned it must shutdown two fire stations and eliminate jobs.  Yet again, this is a case of a city relying on federal taxpayer funded grant money, which expires at the end of June.  Suttons Bay Public Schools laid off at least five teachers.  Administrators said they had to take drastic action to get the school district back in the ‘black’, or face a takeover by state administrators.

Minnesota: The Upper Saint Anthony Falls Lock and Dam shutdown in an effort to stop the spread of invasive carp.

Missouri: Katy Industries WARNed they will shutdown their Bridgeton facility and layoff 155 people!  They’re moving operations to Jefferson City.  It was revealed that Jefferson City and Cole County bribed Kay Industries with tax breaks, which required them to kill off the 155 jobs in Bridgeton (the jobs must be created new for Jefferson City)!

Nebraska: What housing market recovery? Omaha based Mutual of Omaha Bank announced it is shutting down home loan offices in Lincoln and in Fort Myers, Florida.   Mutual of Omaha has contracted out their mortgage serving ops to Guild Mortgage.

New Hampshire: Hamden Board of Education blames what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome for forcing them to eliminate 24 jobs. Reports say the junior high lost 86 students since last year, and the high school lost 4-hundred over the past seven years.

New Jersey: What automotive industry recovery?  “global diversified technology and industrial leader” Johnson Controls issued a shutdown WARN for five locations connected to its automotive division, at least 310 jobs lost!  It’s part of the Wisconsin based company’s plan to get out of the automotive parts making business.  Stop & Shop announced they’re shutting down their Manalapan grocery store in July, 80 jobs affected.  A local grocery store analyst says profits for food stores has become “very, very, tight”.   Another analyst blames the grocery store shutdowns on ShopRite, who is now “dominating the supermarket landscape in New Jersey.”

New York: Clothier J.Crew laid off 175 people at its NYC HQ!  Company administrators said they are preparing for the “future”.  In Forrest Hill, 20 years old teenager clothing store Strawberry shutdown.  News reports say it’s one of many stores that have shutdown in the same area, all blaming outrageously jacked up rents! Reports say landlords refuse to talk to the local news media.  ObamaCare forcing Brooklyn Kidney Center to sell-off their New York Dialysis Services, 65 jobs threatened.

Oklahoma: Sand Ridge Energy laid off 40 people in Alva.  Local news reports say administrators refuse to explain why.  Also, local news reports said the company tried to keep the layoffs quiet, and even refused to acknowledge them when questioned.

Oregon: What construction industry recovery? After 60 years the Allen’s Mill shutdown, 45 jobs lost.  The lumber mill’s general manager blames bad timber and a strong U.S. dollar: “The current log situation is so sad, you can’t buy a predictable supply of marketable logs……It is just a sign of the times, a strong U.S. dollar…..puts log exports at a disadvantage.”-Gerry Lane

Pennsylvania: The second-oldest Jewish newspaper in America, Jewish Exponent, laid off 15 people.  Managers said they are out-sourcing jobs in an effort to save the company, admitting they’ve been losing about $300-thousand per year!

Tennessee: British empire Scotland owned Weir Minerals shutdown their Gallatin operations, 47 jobs lost: “The demands of our customers are declining with plant closures throughout the coal, steel and power industries in recent years and less money being spent on original equipment in the hard rock mining and oil sands markets.”-Aaron Ravenscroft

Virginia: Tax-sucker Raytheon lost their spy satellite contract with the federal government (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency), 59 jobs lost in Springfield.  In Norfolk, decades old O’Sullivan’s Wharf restaurant suddenly shutdown. The owners would only say “Friends, family, customers, neighbors it is with a heavy heart we announce that today will be our final day open for business.”  In Hampton, the 45 years old Cesar Tarrant Elementary School shutdown due to what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.   After 16 years Vacuum Store Sales & Services in Leesburg shutting down.  The owner blames the greedy landlord: “I got priced out of the area. They want way too much money for these spaces and didn’t want to negotiate. We’re not making any money anymore as it is.”-Bob Baird

07 – 09 June 2015: “It was so humiliating to train somebody else to take over your job!” 

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.”

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 07 – 09 June 2015: “It was so humiliating to train somebody else to take over your job! I still can’t grasp it!” Disney kills U.S. jobs with foreigners! World’s richest man shuts down oil company!

Stock market analysts warning of a massive crash coming:

“Companies are tilting the results and the analysts are buying it….

…What if they said they’re going to pay for rent by issuing stock?”-Tom Brown, Second Curve Capital

“The analysts aren’t doing enough to get behind the numbers that management gives them to find out what’s really going on.”-Lynn Turner, former Securities and Exchange Commission accountant

“The longer the rally, the bigger the downside because of all the smoke and mirrors.”-John Del Vecchio, asset manager

“The data is more confusing than it’s been in a long time, and the reason is all the ‘junk’ they put in the numbers.”-Michael Lewitt, Credit Strategist Group

“People [investors] just want to know the number. They don’t care how the sausage is made.”-Michelle Leder, financial analyst with Footnoted.com

Also, what housing market recovery? Federal administrators have changed the real estate sales closing rules.  The Truth in Lending Act and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (TILA-RESPA) created new home selling rules supposedly to help buyers understand the process, and to ensure that buyers aren’t getting ripped off on their home loan.  Those rules go into effect in August.  However, when I looked at it, it just looks like a heck of a lot more smoke-n-mirrors fine print and it will probably delay home sales, and drive closing costs up.

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alaska: News reports warn that 16-thousand state employees will be laid off if politicians can’t agree on a new budget by 01 July.

California: Albertsons-Safeway issued yet another WARN saying eight more employees will be let go from Safeway‘s Pleasanton HQ, in August.  Back in February, Southern California Edison laid off 4-hundred U.S. citizens, and then replaced then with migrant workers from other countries!  What housing market recovery?  Costa Mesa based 28 years old home decor chain-store Anna’s Linens on the verge of bankruptcy.  Company administrators admit they are trying to sell-off the business.  3-hundred stores across the U.S. will be affected.  Dating app Tinder laid off six employees.  Monterey County has shutdown access to Lake San Antonio, there’s literally no more water.

Florida:  Too Big to Jail Bank of America is shutting down 14 drive-thru teller windows throughout The Sunshine State.  In Orlando, it’s been revealed by former U.S. employees of Disney that they were replaced with migrant workers.  250 U.S. citizens have been laid off at the Disney amusement park in Florida, since October 2014!  An unnamed former employee said they were forced to train their foreign replacements: “I just couldn’t believe they could fly people in to sit at our desks and take over our jobs exactly. It was so humiliating to train somebody else to take over your job! I still can’t grasp it!”

Georgia: Yarn maker Mohawk Industries shutting down their Chatsworth factory in August, 156 jobs affected!  The company is consolidating operations to newer factories.

Idaho: In Coeur d’Alene, youth outreach program Crosswalk North Idaho shutdown due to having its federal taxpayer funding canceled.  Also in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Youth Ranch announced they must shutdown their Anchor House addiction treatment center for boys, it will be re-purposed as a family resource center.

Illinois: God refuses to stop ‘his’ Catholic Charities from shutting down two family shelters and two child development centers by July. The religious organization blames lack of taxpayer funding.  In the U.S., religion is supposed to be separate from government!

Michigan: Injection molder Klein Plastics laid off 74 employees in a first round of layoffs.  Its part of parent company’s Klein Tools’ plan to consolidate its Michigan and Illinois operations to Texas by 2016.  In Ferndale, restaurant Torino suddenly shutdown.  The owners claim that Health Department rules do not allow them to serve the type of food they offer where they are located: “This week we were visited by the Health Department and together we have determined that it is no longer possible to continue serving a menu of our caliber due to the current size of our facility.”

Minnesota: Minnetonka based food processor Cargill laid off 45 more IT (information technology) employees, blaming the not recovered economy.

Missouri:   Chesterfield based oil pipe maker Boomerang Tube now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Reports say creditors could be taking over the company. Boomerang Tube was started by Len Blavatnik, who (according to some news reports) is now considered the World’s richest man. Saint Louis based coal company Peabody Energy eliminating 250 jobs! Administrators say the bad economy is forcing them to cut costs by $45-million USD. In Saint Charles, the Saint Andrews second run movie theater shutdown.  As with many other movie theater shutdowns they probably couldn’t afford to upgrade to digital.

Montana: What housing market recovery?  Cross-laminated lumber maker SmartLam revealed they laid off at least nine employees last week.  Administrators say they are trying to diversify their customer base as they admitted they’ve been focused only on building construction in the oil industry.

Nebraska:  The Nebraska Bookstore shutdown, 20 jobs lost.  Reports say it’s being sold to  the University of Nebraska for $4.75-million.

New Jersey: God refuses to stop the shutdown of two of ‘his’ churches.  In Atlantic City, Saint Michael‘s and Saint Monica‘s will shutdown as the Catholic community will be forced by the Diocese of Camden into one parish.  Catholic administrators blame massive debts and the growing exodus of people on the city’s collapsed gambling industry, and warned more bad things are coming: “The consolidations are not done. There will be more as we go forward.”

New York: Eight years old bakery Sherry Lynn’s Gluten Free shutdown. The owners blamed “struggles keeping this store open”.   Euromarket Designs announced they’re shutting down their big Crate & Barrel store in NYC by August, 137 jobs lost!  NYC based Time Incorporated blasted their managers for apologizing to employees who are being laid off!  At least 11 of their U.S. jobs were off-shored to Philippines.  Local news reports say a total of 80 IT (information tech) workers for Time will be laid off.  A manual on how to fire employees was issued to Time Inc. managers, and somebody  leaked it to the news media, it stated “Don’t say you’re sorry”.  After ten years art venue Proteus Gowanus shutting down, but not because of lack of interest.  The operators said they’ve become too successful, but it was never their intent to create a commercialized/institutionalized/corporatized arts center.  Keep raging against the Machine!  After 40 years the La Marmite restaurant shutdown.

North Carolina: The 20 years old High Point Pier 1 Imports store shutdown.  It’s part of the Texas based company’s plan to shutdown 1-hundred stores this year!

Oregon: The Alhambra music theater shutting down, yet again.  This time it’s blamed on the landlord.

Rhode Island:  The Lonsdale Fire District discovered they have a grand total of $14-thousand to operate on and must layoff all full-time firefighters!  Taxpayers are demanding to know what happened to the money as fire district administrators never warned of any financial problems.

Texas: What housing market recovery?  Houston based real estate company PM Realty Group announced it must eliminated 52 jobs in July.  The jobs were part of a contract to maintain an office building for oil company Chevron.

Virginia:  The iconic Virginia Beach 66 years old Oceanfront Dairy Queen shutting down due to greedy property developers. Property developers forced, I mean convinced family owners to sell it to them. It will be torn down in September to make room for two big hotel developments.  Richmond based Health Diagnostic Laboratory now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, after announcing it will layoff 42 more employees across the country. Last year the medical testing company laid off 162 people! It’s connected to a federal investigation, and subsequent $47-million fine, in which the company is accused of bribing doctors and hospitals.

Washington: What was that about legalized marijuana saving the economy? The evil ‘lawmakers’ passed a new law banning anymore new marijuana shops.  Already the city of Seattle has issued shutdown notices to eight ganja shops!  Three weed sellers have filed lawsuits against the city.  Also in the evil city of Seattle, 38 years old Cinema Books shutdown, the owner was struggling with competing with ‘Big Box’ stores, but the final straw was construction projects that blocked customers. News media say several business in the area report crashing sales due to the fact the construction projects destroyed parking for customers.  What construction industry recovery? After 75 years the Seattle-Snohomish Mill shutdown due to crashing sales.   Cerberus controlled and AB Acquisition owned Albertsons-Safeway decided to shutdown another grocery store: “In Mercer Island, we are also unfortunately facing a substantial rent increase that makes it financially unfeasible to remain in the space.”

04 – 06 June 2015: “…efforts have been unsuccessful…”

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.”—

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 04 – 06 June 2015: “…efforts have been unsuccessful…” No more House of Blues? Golden State job destruction rolls on! The Rapture kills Christian college?

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: What housing market recovery? Warren Buffet owned carpet maker Shaw Industries announced they will layoff 160 people in Dekalb County! Warren Buffet administrators blame crashing sales.  British empire Canada owned Birmingham Coal & Coke now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  The parent Canadian company is CanAm, and they’re not happy with the economy: “Over the past several years, the coal markets in the U.S. have faced a number of significant challenges, including increased environmental regulations and reductions in demand due to weaknesses in the U.S. and global economy and lower natural gas prices. This environment has created an extremely challenging financing environment as the company attempted to refinance its existing debt obligations.”

California:  A day after I posted that state employment administrators stopped publicizing WARNs, they began posting new WARNs. A whole lot of them!  Here we go; What housing market recovery?  “It’s against the law for a loan servicer to lie about the debts people owe, or threaten and harass people about their debts!”– Jessica Rich, Federal Trade Commision

Minnesota based evil mortgage servicing company Green Tree Servicing issued a layoff WARN for their office in Rancho Cucamonga, 53 jobs lost in August.  It’s connected to the $63-million USD fine imposed by the federal government for ripping off customers! Amazingly, Fannie Mae gave the mortgage stealer a five star rating in 2014!   In Trona, evil gold miner CR Briggs issued a second WARN saying 31 employees will become unemployed in August (their first WARN said 39 people will be laid off in July).  In Poway, Brooks Automation issued a shutdown WARN for September,  68 jobs lost.   In Mountain View, Alexza Pharmaceuticals issued a WARN saying 28 employees will be laid off in July.  In San Gabriel, Obama Care forcing Compass Pointe Healthcare System to issue a shutdown WARN for August, 68 jobs lost.  In Chatsworth, Warren Buffet owned Heinz food processor announced they’re shutting down in July, 144 jobs lost! In Irvine, Verizon issued a layoff WARN for August, 50 jobs lost.   In Garden Grove, God refuses to stop ‘his’ Crystal Cathedral from shutting down, 27 jobs lost in July.  In Inglewood, Certified Players issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down in July, 118 jobs lost!  SureFire issued several WARNs saying 44 jobs in Fountain Valley and Santa Ana will be lost in July.  Boeing issued several WARNs saying 163 Californians will become unemployed in July!  Social program manager Campesinos Unidos announced they’re shutting down operations in several cities by the end of the month, 98 jobs lost.  In San Diego, Envoy stated they will layoff 79 people in July.  In West Hollywood, the House of Blues revealed they will shutdown in August, 197 jobs lost!  Rio Mesa shutting down two farms in July, one in Santa Paula the other in Somis, 135 jobs lost!  In Reedely, Ito Packing Company issued a shutdown WARN for July, 197 jobs lost!  In Yucaipa, after 45 years the owners of the Kimberly Hallmark store announced they are forced to shutdown by July.  In Berkeley, after 51 years the Shakespeare & Co. Books store shutdown without warning, the owner blames crashing sales.  In Fresno, Massachusetts based Blast Fitness club, located at Shaw and Blythe avenues, shutdown without warning.  In Santa Ana, ITT Cannon revealed they laid off 10 more employees than they originally WARNed about.  Kroger announced it will shutdown its Mission Hills Ralph’s grocery store in July, 70 jobs lost.  In West Sacramento, Raley’s shutdown their Mack Road grocery store saying “We made several operational changes in an effort to help the struggling store. We modified the store hours…and implemented several cost-control measures in order to drive sales. Unfortunately, these efforts have been unsuccessful in increasing the store’s performance.” 

Colorado: Privately funded Catalyst High School shutdown after eight years: “We didn’t have enough students or financial support to make it work in the long run.”– Ed Porritt, executive director

Florida:  God refused to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Clearwater Christian College.  Administrators blamed debt and The Rapture (actually what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome, or crashing enrollment).  In Port Saint Lucie, QVC confirmed they are shutting down their call center by March 2016, about 8-hundred jobs lost!  In Fort Lauderdale, after 25 years the pissed-off owners of Thai restaurant Sukhothai announced it will shutdown at a time of their choosing, they blame the lack of economic recovery for not being able to break even: “My heart is broken. Not only will I lose my business, I will miss my customers.”-Susie Komolsane, co-owner

Illinois: Career Education announced it will shutdown in July, 149 jobs lost!  It’s part of the U.S. Department of Education’s crackdown on for-profit colleges who can’t prove that their graduates can find good paying jobs.  The University of Illinois warned of layoffs, and said employees who retire or quit will not be replaced.  The Chicago Tribune laid off 25 employees.

Michigan: Hanover-Horton School District laid off ten teachers.  Administrators blame crashing enrollment, and admitted they do not know how many students will enroll for the upcoming school year.   Recently voted the second best coffee shop in Saginaw County, three years old ThunderBrew Coffee Company shutdown. Co-owner Dan Propp blamed crashing sales and Too Big to Jail banks who refused to debt finance their operation, his wife Elizabeth would only say “We tried, and if you don’t try, you never know. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you don’t win. Dan and I have poured our heart, soul, and life into building ThunderBrew. We are thankful for all of the support we have received over the last 3 years. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs….”

Minnesota: Minneapolis based retailer Target revealed it has eliminated 17-thousand 6-hundred jobs in Canada, 2,220 jobs in the United States, and 350 in India!  In Saint Paul, after 16 years Peapods Natural Toys and Baby Care shutdown. The owners blamed the toy companies saying “Many of the brands we helped introduce to the Twin Cities are abandoning specialty stores like ours in favor of big boxes, Amazon.com, or direct sales to customers.”

Missouri: Hallmark began involuntary  layoffs at their Kansas City HQ.  For the past few months they’ve been pushing for employees to voluntarily quit (which would’ve saved Hallmark a lot of money).

New Mexico: A report by The Oregonian says California based computer chip maker Intel is planning on massive layoffs, causing concern for employees at its Rio Rancho operation.  News reports out of The Land of Enchantment say Intel has already reduced its Rio Rancho workforce by 1-thousand since 2013!

New York: Obama Care forcing medical tech company Getinge Sourcing issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Rochester operations in September, 68 jobs lost.  Solid State Advanced Controls (SSAC) issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Baldwinsville op by the end of the year, 47 jobs lost.  HVAC maker Daikin Applied issued a new WARN announcing a 7th round of layoffs for their Auburn factory.  Their Auburn operations will cease by December killing off more than 3-hundred jobs!

North Carolina:  Electrolux laid off an undisclosed number of people in Charlotte.  It might be connected to Electrolux’s takeover of GE’s appliance division, which cost Electrolux more than $3-billion!  Unnamed employees told local news media at least 1-hundred co-workers were suddenly let go: “There was no warning at all. In fact, they ensured us that everything was fine a few weeks ago!”

Oregon: In Springfield, California based Symantec laid off 175 people!   Symantec has been laying off Californians on a regular bases.  It’s all part of their plans to offshore their software security ops.  The owner of the 5 years old Dallas Health & Vitality Center says she’s shutting down by the end of the month.  She says for the amount of work she puts into the business, and the amount of time lost with her family, she gets very little out of it.  In other words it’s not worth it anymore.

Vermont: 13 state employees were laid off.  State administrators reminded taxpayers that they plan on eliminating as many as 4-hundred jobs!  At least 3-hundred employees will be pushed to retire early!

Virginia: In Staunton, a sign on the the ABC booze store on Greenville Avenue said it was shutting down, however, when the property managers were approached by news media they said “They’re negotiating.”

01 – 03 June 2015: “…a long, agonizing death…”

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.”