Tag Archives: obamacare

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 19 – 22 February 2015: “It absolutely killed us…” ObamaCare kills off 191 years old company! “There’s money here….but the future is a question.” “We will truly miss you.”

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona: Local news media claiming the biggest employer in the Grand Canyon State, Asarco mining company, will layoff 160 people  in Pinal and Gila counties!  Asarco administrators blame the layoffs on an 80% crash in the price of copper.

California:  Iconic Frederick’s of Hollywood announced it must shutdown at least 31 stores across the U.S., including their original store in Hollywood!  Company administrators warned more stores could be shuttered saying “These stores should have been closed years ago.”   Safeway grocery chain issued a WARN saying another 213 jobs will be lost in April! Blame Cerberus Albertsons for the hostile takeover of Safeway.  In Los Angeles, after getting $24-million USD from ailing Warner Brothers, and claiming to be seeking to hire 15 people, internet video game company Machinima laid off 13 employees.  San Diego based taxsucking military contractor Cubic Corporation is combining two ops in order to cut $17-million, at least 150 people will be laid off!

Colorado: Lakewood based Einstein Bros Bagels announced it will shutdown 39 stores across the United States, apparently due to lack of sales: “After careful evaluation, Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc. (“ENRGI”) has come to the difficult decision to close 39 underperforming restaurants, effective Tuesday, February 24, 2015.” 

Hawaii: A month after shutting down their Kihei, Kona and Hilo stores, Hilo Hattie declared chapter 11 bankruptcy, for the second time in seven years.  The new owners blame the bad economy saying “…our plan was finding a retail footprint that fit today’s market, and that has proven elusive.”  The lease on their Nimitz store is now for sale.

Louisiana: The Pelican State’s Secretary of State Tom Schedler said he is laying off 24 museum employees and reducing operating hours for state run museums in April.  A special election is being postponed until October.  It’s part of a plan to cut state spending by $61-million.  Politicians are blaming crashing tax revenues from the petroleum industry caused by ‘low’ oil prices.

Massachusetts: In Tauton, the last old school silversmith,  191 years old (surviving the Long Depression, Civil War, Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Reed & Barton now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and shutting down in June!  The CEO said insurance industry written Obamacare was the final straw as it caused their employee retirement plan costs to skyrocket to as much as $18-million per year: “It absolutely killed us….We hung on as long as we could…it’s been all-consuming for the past year and half.”-Tim Riddle

Nebraska:  After 37 years, the new owner of Duggan’s Pub (formerly Sam’s Pub) announced it will be shutdown in March. The new owner is a property developer.

New Jersey: Camden based iconic soup maker Cambells announced it will begin massive job destruction in order to cut $200-million over the next three years. For proof there is no economic recovery, company administrators say company profits have been crashing steadily since 2008, with no end in sight: “Like other companies in our industry, we’re contending with now not just the long term impact of the Great Recession on consumer purchasing behavior, or the increasingly complex public dialog when it comes to food, or the regulatory environment for food.”-Denise Morrison, ceo

New York:  In NYC and Jericho, Too Big to Jail Bank of America Global Tech issued a WARN saying 88 people will become unemployed in May.  Too Big to Jail Capital One announced it will shutdown its Jamesport office in April, admitting the economy is so bad it is forcing them to work “as efficiently as possible”.   Advertising company Leo Burnett announced they will join the exodus from New York and shutdown their NYC office in order to focus on “the broader global network.”

Ohio: In Mansfield, School Specialty revealed it had laid off an undisclosed number of employees last week, this after they claimed to be investing $7-million into a new school supply warehouse.

Pennsylvania: Comcast cable company shutting down three service centers sometime after the first of April.  Customers who walk in their payments in Dallas, Duryea and Scranton will have to find another way to make their payments.  No indication how many jobs will be lost, but Comcast says the shutdowns are precisely because fewer people have been making their payments in person.

Tennessee: A 2014 University of Memphis study stated that only seven of the 77 low income areas of the city have full service grocery stores, now that might be down to six; a Kroger Food & Drugs on the 4000 block of American Way shutdown with short notice and without explaining why.  In Rogersville after 63 years the city’s only furniture-appliances store, Otis Home Center, shutdown.  The third generation owners blame recent battles with cancer: “One thing my father told me shortly before he passed away was, ‘Phillip if you want to travel and see the world and go on some trips…..you need to do it before you get in the shape I am and can’t go nowhere.'”-Phillip Henard

Texas: Marathon Oil announced they will layoff as many as 4-hundred mainly “above-the-field and support services personnel” by the end of 2015!  France based petroleum equipment maker Technip reduced its fleet of Texas based oil service ships from 36 down to 21. It’s part of the company’s 18-hundred job cuts worldwide!  Norway based oil service company Aker Solutions issued a warning from its Houston office saying “As we see it today, these challenges will continue through 2015 and possibly also into 2016.”  Their first action to deal with the “challenges” is to layoff 3-hundred people in their home country of Norway!  Will their ops in Texas be next?   Baker Hughes laid off 58 people at its Kilgore ops. Don’t blame oil prices, blame the takeover by Halliburton, one clue is that Baker Hughes told city administrators that the layoffs were “permanent”.

Vermont: In Burlington, the owners of Apple Mountain gift store shut it down saying “Unfortunately, the costs associated with running a locally owned business here has outpaced our means. We will truly miss you.”   Taxsucking military armor supplier Plasan announced they will shutdown their Bennington ops in July, 62 full-time jobs lost: “Unfortunately, economic realities in the defense industry have forced us to consolidate our facility in Michigan.”

Wisconsin: In Greenfield, after more than 30 years Naked Furniture will shutdown at the end of April.  The owner says the store was profitable but sales have been steadily crashing and he wants to get out while he’s ahead: “There’s money here and there’s profit here, but the future is a question.”-Eric Lois

17 – 18 February 2015: “It’s all over!”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 17 – 18 February 2015: “The hits just keep on coming!” Texas police state kills more jobs! “It’s all over!” More lies about oil industry layoffs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Dreamworks Animation issued several WARNs saying 517 people working in Redwood City and Glendale will become unemployed in April! In Modesto, Obama Care forcing rehab center operator Centrex to issue a WARN saying they are shutting down by August, 163 jobs lost!   In Bellevue just north of San Francisco, internet company Zwillow took over internet based real estate company Trulia.  Trulia issued a layoff WARN, saying 140 people (local news reports say 157 people, but a Wall Street Journal report said as many as 350 people will be affected) will become jobless by the end of April!    The publishers of 7×7 magazine says they will halt hardcopy publication in March and focus on a digital edition only. Denair Unified School District warned it must eliminate at least 16 teachers, shutdown classes and are even offering a bonus to anybody who’ll take early retirement.  Administrators blame ongoing DSS (what I call Disapearing Student Syndrome).

Connecticut: Legal drugs maker Boehringer Ingelheim announced they will layoff about 90 employees at their Ridgefield drugs factory.  Administrators blame a 5.4% drop in their 2014 sales, however, the truth might be that the company got fined by the state and federal governments and has to pay $650-million USD for lying about its drug Pradaxa.

Florida: ASG Software now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Based on statements made by the administrators the company isn’t in trouble, they just don’t want to pay their debts.  Whathousing market recovery?  In Jacksonville, Too Big to Jail Bank of America Mortgage issued a layoff WARN saying 69 people will be laid off in April.  In Tampa, Obama Care forcing pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts to issue a WARN saying 216 people will become unemployed in April! In Weston, Obama Care forcing wholesale legal drugs pusher Vital Pharmaceuticals to issue a WARN saying 143 people will become jobless in April!  In Orlando, logistics company Southeastern Container issued a WARN saying 70 people will be laid off between April and December.  In Fort Lauderdale, after 13 years the owners of Las Olas Boutique announced they must shutdown in March, because the evil landlord jack up their rent.

Georgia: Capitol City Bank failed, assets seized by FDIC and turned over to First Citizens Bank.  Hallmark announced it is shutting down its Litho-Krome printing ops in Midland.  Hallmark took over Litho-Krome in 1979.  Litho-Krome is 82 years old, having survived the Great (deflationary) Depression and numerous recessions, but not this so called ‘recovery’ from the Great Recession.

Hawaii: After only three years The Grove in Kailua was discovered to be shutdown.  News reports indicate the restaurant actually shutdown back in December, no comment from the owners.

Illinois: In Rogers Park, the La Cazuela restaurant now for sale.  Deerfield based supplier of office products and janitorial supplies United Stationers announced it is changing its name and killing jobs, despite increased sales.  Company administrators called the bad economy “rapidly changing industry dynamics”, saying it is forcing them to consolidate operations which will result in layoffs.   In Normal, after 25 years the owner of Babbitt’s Books says he must shutdown in June: “I always thought I’d be able to, someplace down the line, sell the store and retire….There’s been a societal shift from reading …..”-Brian Simpson

Louisianna: At Barksdale Air Force Base, the Reserve unit 307th Red Horse Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron to shutdown by the end of 2015, at least 200 jobs affected!  It’s one of six Reserve units belonging to the 622nd Civil Engineer Group that will be shutdown!

Michigan: In Farmington Hills, the Hunter’s Square Michaels Arts & Crafts store shutdown. Interestingly local news media reported that administrators at the company’s corporate HQ claimed to be unaware of the shutdown, even though a sign on the store’s door clearly stated “We’re closing this location only.”  New York based Digital First Media is now selling off several Great Lake State newspapers and bribing employees to voluntarily quit!

New Mexico:  In Clovis, after more than 40 years iconic and influential Joe’s Boot Shop shutdown without warning.  The family was a major sponsor of community events and many people are shocked.  Local news media said the current owner (the grandson of the founders) would only say “It’s all over!”  The University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research warned of worsening housing market conditions because more than 2-thousand 5-hundred people fled the state in 2014! 

New York: More proof the internet is not the cause of the demise of brick-n-mortar stores.  In NYC, web site design company CreatetheGroup issued a shutdown WARN for May, 38 internet jobs lost. The Nicholas A. Rango Healthcare Facility has been sold to Allure Group, WARN indicates 158 of the 204 employees will become jobless!   In Pittsford, service provider for government-sponsored benefits programs such as the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, Medicare and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Maximus issued a WARN saying at least 54 people will become jobless due to the failure to win an Obama Care contract.  General Electric reduced battery production and is bribing employees at its Schenectady factory to quit.  GE administrators admit they want to get rid of at least 50 employees.

Ohio: United Pet Group shutting down its newly acquired Iams HQ, at least 55 jobs lost.    Hallmark announced it is shutting down its Litho-Krome printing ops in Columbus.  The shutdown is expected by September, at least 50 jobs lost.  After more than 70 years the owners of Springboro Hardware announced they will shutdown in March.  They blamed a crash in customer traffic on the shutdown of the nextdoor IGA grocery store.  Food maker General Mills confirming it will shutdown its 56 years old New Albany Pillsbury dough factory by the middle of 2016, at least 440 jobs will be lost! General Mills and worker’s union administrators claim the employees will get a generous severance package if they stay on until the shutdown, and could even make 26 bucks per hour. The shutdown will also affect 70 contracted workers at the nearby package making factory Sonoco (they make the tube cans for the Pillsbury Poppin-Fresh dough products).

Oklahoma: One year old Enable Midstream Partners laid off 2-hundred people, blaming “volatile” petroleum prices!   It’s more likely because Enable Midstream Partners was created a year ago by merging parts of two oil service companies (Enogex Midstream and CenterPoint Energy).  Mergers always result in layoffs.

Tennessee: France based energy company Alstom laid off 1-hundred people at its Chattanooga electricity factory!  Administrators blamed he bad economy and increased global competition.

Texas: The ass-hole city council of Cedar Park forced the Discount Electronics store to shutdown because the store’s sign does not comply with the latest city laws! The CEO of the chain store was actually threatened with arrest!   In Abilene, McMurry University announced it will layoff 12 people in May, blaming DSS (what I call Disapearing Student Syndrome).  Baker Hughes (now owned by Halliburton) shutdown its Alice ops, at least 51 jobs lost. Don’t blame oil prices, blame the takeover by Halliburton.  In Angelina County,  T&B Construction Services laid off 20 people, blaming the oil industry for reducing the number of planned construction projects.   Local Angelina County judge Wes Suiter summed up the bad economy thusly: “The hits just keep on coming!”

Washington DC:  What housing market recovery?  The U.S. Department of Commerce reports new U.S. home construction fell 2% from December 2014 to January 2015.  Home sales fell 6.7%.

Wisconsin: In Milwaukee, Love Handle Restaurant shutdown. Apparently the economy is so bad in The Badger State the owners decided to “head back to Indiana to start on new projects.”

13 – 16 February 2015: “I don’t think the entire truth is here because it’s NOT about money!” 

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics

U.S. Food Crisis, February 2015: No more Poppin’ Fresh? Boston Weak property owners more destructive than terrorists! No more Chiquita bananas? USDA warns of becoming dependent on food from other countries?

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of February, 2015: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) February Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade shows continuing declines in U.S. exports to other countries “…down $2.0 billion from the November forecast and $11.0 billion from fiscal 2014.”  The amount of food being imported into the U.S. is growing “…at a record $119.0 billion, up $3.0 billion from November, and $10.0 billion higher than in fiscal 2014.”  As a result U.S. trade surplus is “…down from $43.3 billion in fiscal 2014…the smallest surplus since fiscal 2007.”

Arizona: In Green Valley, after 14 years The Old Time Butcher Shop announced it will shutdown in March.  The owners say a 60% drop in business is a sign to spend more time with their great-grand-children.

California:  Safeway grocery chain issued a WARN saying another 213 jobs will be lost in April! Blame Cerberus Albertsons for the hostile takeover of Safeway.   Food and coffee supplier Farmer Brothers issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in Torrance, 271 jobs lost by May! In Santa Monica, International Coffee & Tea issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in April, 69 jobs lost. In Fresno, historic Tailspin Tommy’s Aerodrome Eatery shutdown, local news media said “money ran out”.  In Bakersfield, Caesar’s Italian Delicatessen shutdown: “February 13th will be our last day…..We first opened our doors in June of 1971…..It’s been a profound honor to serve everyone who has walked through our doors over the years and this is an incredibly sad day for us.”-owners facebook posting

Colorado: Lakewood based Einstein Bros Bagels announced it will shutdown 39 stores across the United States, apparently due to lack of sales: “After careful evaluation, Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc. (“ENRGI”) has come to the difficult decision to close 39 underperforming restaurants, effective Tuesday, February 24, 2015.”

Connecticut: Ohio based grocery store XPect Discounts announced it will shutdown all remaining stores in The Constitution State by the end of 2015! Local news reports say no ‘official’ reason was given.

Delaware: In Bethany Beach, the Harris Teeter grocery store shutdown, 39 jobs lost. This comes after company administrators said they were going to expand the grocery chain.

Hawaii: After only three years The Grove in Kailua was discovered to be shutdown. News reports indicate the restaurant actually shutdown back in December, no comment from the owners.

Illinois: In Chicago, after 18 years Carmichael’s Steakhouse announced it will shutdown in March, blaming the greedy property owner.  The property was sold off and will be used to build an apartment complex.  The restaurant manager is pissed, as his business was good: “It’s unfortunate that we have to close when we’re still doing really good business.”-Ben Sawyer

Indiana:  After seven years Richmond chocolate shop Ghyslain Bistro shutdown.  The owner said he’s focusing on his stores in Kentucky and internet sales.

Kentucky:  Remke Markets announced they could not afford to renew their lease on their Newport grocery store.  The store will shutdown at the beginning of March, 58 jobs lost.

Massachusetts:  It may have survived the Marathon bombing but it can’t survive the Boston Weak economy; the iconic FORUM Bar & Restaurant shutdown, the owner blames evil property owners for killing it off: “After the tragic events of the 2013 Boston Marathon….four long months of reconstruction…bureaucracy…the current real estate climate on Boylston Street has motivated FORUM’s landlord to raise rent…nearly three times our current rate…makes it financially impossible…” 

Michigan: Ciolino Fruit and Vegetable Market shutdown its Monroe store, saying it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease.  In Kalamazoo, with little notice to employees the Harding’s grocery store on Howard Street was sold off and is being shutdown, 60 jobs lost.   In Northville, decades old Starting Gate Saloon restaurant shutdown and was sold-off.  In Mount Morris, after 43 years meijer department and grocery store shutdown.  Administrators basically said the sales were not high enough to justify renewing the lease.  News reports say the building will be torn down, but no other info was available, 190 jobs lost!

Missouri: A major advertising company in Saint Louis laid off 15 people. Administrators of Osborn Barr blame crashing orders for advertisements from its primary client; the farm industry.

Nebraska: After 19 years the Herbs & More store shutdown.  The owner is retiring due to massive competition.  After 37 years, the new owner of Duggan’s Pub (formerly Sam’s Pub) announced it will be  shutdown in March.  The new owner is a property developer.   Italy-Netherlands based New Holland farm equipment maker CNH Industrial announced they will layoff 136 U.S. citizens at their Grand Island factory by the end of July! Company administrators blame the bad global economy for crashing sales.

New Jersey: Camden based iconic soup maker Cambells announced it will begin massive job destruction in order to cut $200-million USD over the next three years.  For proof there is no economic recovery, company administrators say company profits have been crashing steadily since 2008, with no end in sight: “Like other companies in our industry, we’re contending with now not just the long term impact of the Great Recession on consumer purchasing behavior, or the increasingly complex public dialog when it comes to food, or the regulatory environment for food.”-Denise Morrison, ceo

New York: In West Point, Land O’Frost announced it will shutdown its recently acquired Wimmer’s Meats factory by Autumn.  Company administrators claim they had plans to operate the factory for years to come, but the economy is worse than they thought, 125 jobs lost!  In Fredonia, food company ConAgra-The Carriage House issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in May, 423 jobs lost! They also revealed the layoffs actually began back in October!

North Carolina:  The new Brazil based owners of iconic Chiquita is shutting down the Charlotte HQ beginning in April, between 262 and 350 jobs lost!  State and local administrators are demanding Chiquita pay back all the tax incentives it got.  Brazilian Cutrale and Safra group took over Chiquita late last year.   In Charlotte, famous chef Emeril announced he is shutting down his e2 emeril’s eatery and e2GO in April: “The restaurant was never able to achieve the volume projected…”-facebook statement

Ohio: After more than 70 years the owners of Springboro Hardware announced they will shutdown in March. They blamed a crash in customer traffic on the shutdown of the nextdoor IGA grocery store. Food maker General Mills confirming it will shutdown its 56 years old New Albany Pillsbury dough factory by the middle of 2016, at least 440 jobs will be lost! General Mills and worker’s union administrators claim the employees will get a generous severance package if they stay on until the shutdown, and could even make 26 bucks per hour. The shutdown will also affect 70 contracted workers at the nearby package making factory Sonoco (they make the tube cans for the Pillsbury Pop-n-Fresh dough products). The New Albany Pillsbury dough factory is the lifeblood of the community, half of the employees will be retired early: “My brother’s been there as long as I have, my dad retired from there, my wife works there, her nephew works there, so it’s a big family thing. These people have been around each other all this time, and it’s coming to an end.”-Steve Early, employed at the mill for the past 21 years

Pennsylvania:  Conshohocken based Saladworks now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and up for sale.  Administrators claim the bankruptcy shouldn’t affect their more than 100 restaurants.  The bankruptcy is blamed on internal fighting between top brass.  O’Hara based Giant Eagle owned Good Cents Grocery shutting down all eight stores in Pennsylvania and Ohio, in March.  Administrators with Giant Eagle blamed the bad economy for the failure of their Good Cents Grocery chain.  Some of the Good Cents Grocery stores had been open for only one year, replacing Valu King stores!  Each store has about 35 employees.

South Dakota: Michigan based grocery store owner SpartanNash announced they will shutdown their Rapid City food distribution center in April, 49 jobs lost.  Company administrators say the bad economy is forcing them to consolidate warehouses.

Tennessee: A 2014 University of Memphis study stated that only seven of the 77 low income areas of the city have full service grocery stores, now that might be down to six; a Kroger Food & Drugs on the 4000 block of American Way, in Memphis, shutdown with short notice and without explaining why.

Virginia: In Martinsville, the owners of 50 years old Snow’s Sandwich Shop say the bad economy is forcing them to shutdown at the end of March, unless somebody loaded with cash can take it over.  In Arlington Heights, Panera Bread shutdown: “For 15 years, the Panera Bread bakery-cafe on Evergreen Street has been privileged to serve our neighbors in downtown Arlington Heights. With the expiration of our lease, we have decided to close this location on Feb. 24 at 6 p.m.” 

Washington:   The owner of Boat Street Cafe says she will shut it down in May, she still has two other restaurants.  More proof you can’t blame the internet for stealing business from brick-n-mortars!  Internet based ‘organic’ food promoter Farmstr shutdown.  Ignorant company administrators blamed competitors like California based GoodEggs, which if you read my January 2015 Food Crisis report you’ll see even GoodEggs is in trouble!  In other words, it’s the overall bad economy not competition.

Wisconsin:  In Milwaukee, Love Handle Restaurant shutdown.  Apparently the economy is so bad in The Badger State the owners decided to “head back to Indiana to start on new projects.”

January 2015: “we’re losing everything”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 13 – 16 February 2015: “I don’t think the entire truth is here because it’s NOT about money!” California flooded with massive WARNs about massive layoffs & shutdowns for April!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: The day after I wrote that state Employment Development Department stopped posting WARNs, BOOM, now there’s a whole lotta new WARNs posted! Apparently a lot of companies were late in notifying state administrators about their layoffs and shutdowns! In Santa Monica, International Coffee & Tea issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in April, 69 jobs lost.  At Los Angeles International Airport, Menzies Aviation issued a WARN saying 134 people will become jobless in April!  In Palo Alto, Hewlett Packard revealed they laid off another 52 employees.  In San Diego, United Technologies issued a WARN saying at least four employees will be laid off in April.  Also in San Diego, EverQuest maker Daybreak Game finally issued a WARN revealing they will kill 140 jobs in April! In Novato, Fireman’s Fund Insurance issued a WARN saying they laid off 23 people. In Foothill Ranch, legal drugs pusher Pfizer issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in May, 70 jobs lost.  Mitt Romney’s evil Massachusetts based wunderkind Staples issued several WARNs saying they will shutdown in La Mirada and Los Angeles by the end of April, more than 200 jobs lost!  Food and coffee supplier Farmer Brothers issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in Torrance, 271 jobs lost by May!  In Korbel, Washington based Green Diamond Resource issued a shutdown WARN for April, at least 12 jobs lost. In San Ramon, AT&T issued a WARN saying 74 people will be laid off in April.  In Vista, free PennySaver newspaper issued a shutdown WARN for April, 131 jobs lost!  In Truckee, Marriott hotels issued a shutdown WARN for April, 259 jobs lost! In Chico, what automotive industry recovery?  Courtesy Motors issued a shutdown WARN for April, 91 jobs lost.  Obama Care forcing El Centro Medical Center to issue a WARN saying 20 people will be laid off in April. In San Pablo, Obama Care forcing Doctors Medical Center to issue a shutdown WARN for April, 709 jobs lost!  In San Francisco, VPM Maintenance issued a WARN saying they’re laying off 35 people in April.  Also in San Francisco, Marriott hotels issued a layoff WARN for April, 24 people will be laid off.  In Compton, Nabors Completion & Production issued a WARN saying 136 people will become jobless in April!  In Willmington, joint Norway-Sweden based Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics issued a WARN saying 96 people will be laid off in April.  In Fresno, historic Tailspin Tommy’s Aerodrome Eatery shutdown, local news media said “money ran out”.  Taxsucking military contractor DynCorp International issued several WARNS saying they are shutting down ops in El Centro and San Diego in March, 93 jobs lost.  More proof you can’t blame the internet for crashing sales at brick-n-mortar stores; Sunnyvale based Yahoo eliminated about 200 jobs in Canada and California!  It’s assumed most of the layoffs were in Canada becasue Yahoo never submitted the required WARN in California.  Back in September Yahoo shutdown their Carslbad ops, eliminating 59 Golden State jobs.  The job culling is the result of Yahoo taking over numerous smaller competitors/start-ups.   In Auburn, after 40 years Mountain Mama clothing store shutdown.  The owner thinks by shifting to internet only sales she’ll be able to stay a float.

Connecticut: God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Saint John Paul II School.  Christian officials officially blame lack of money, but one parent thinks it’s a conspiracy: “I don’t think the entire truth is here because it’s NOT about money!”– Ewald Kuchciak, who pointed out that Christian students are being forced into a smaller school building

Delaware: In Bethany Beach, the Harris Teeter grocery store shutdown, 39 jobs lost.  This comes after company administrators said they were going to expand the grocery chain.

Kansas: The owner of The Great Mall of the Great Plains announced they must shut it down by Autumn 2015!  They blame the bad economy.

New York: Cayman Islands based Caledonian Bank now bankrupt busted because the U.S. federal court froze their assets with Northern Trust International Banking and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission says the bank was improperly registering corporations.

North Carolina: What housing market recovery? Bank of America Mortgage laying off 250 people in Charlotte!  Apparently that’s on top of the 540 layoffs announced back in June 2014!

Ohio: More Obama Care cuts! The Youngstown Developmental Center is being shutdown by 2017, at least 500 jobs lost!  It’s part of the massive shutdown being done by the Department of Developmental Disabilities, who blamed crashing government funding and a crashing population.  An ‘elected’ representative was upset: “… I, intend, as a state legislator, to hold the governor accountable.”-Michele Lepore-Hagan

Pennsylvania: Conshohocken based Saladworks now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and up for sale. Administrators claim the bankruptcy shouldn’t affect their more 100 restaurants. The bankruptcy is blamed on internal fighting between top brass.  The  Carnegie Museum of Art revealed they must eliminate seven jobs, but also said they must consolidate other jobs.   Sears Holdings announced they’re shutting down their 38 years old East Towne Mall Kmart in May, 51 jobs lost.

Tennessee:  In Nashville, after 16 years Curious Heart Emporium shutdown.  The owner blamed the bad economy.

Texas: Fort Worth based oil exploration company Quicksilver Resources joins the massive job killing by announcing they will layoff 10% of their employees in the U.S. and Canada.  Company administrators blame crashing oil prices for reducing the demand for oil exploration.

Vermont: The gov’na warned of more than 4-hundred state level job cuts if the state employees refuse to accept massive pay cuts!  It was also revealed that taxes might be raised in order to pay for increased health insurance costs caused by Obama Care!  In Montpelier, after more than 25 years Downstairs Video shutdown. The owner admitted his store was able to survive for so long “Because the broadband in this surrounding area is so bad…”

Virginia: In Martinsville, the owners of 50 years old Snow’s Sandwich Shop say the bad economy is forcing them to shutdown at the end of March, unless somebody loaded with cash can take it over. In Arlington Heights, Panera Bread shutdown: “For 15 years, the Panera Bread bakery-cafe on Evergreen Street has been privileged to serve our neighbors in downtown Arlington Heights. With the expiration of our lease, we have decided to close this location on Feb. 24 at 6 p.m.” 

Washington: More proof you can’t blame the internet for stealing business from brick-n-mortars! Internet based ‘organic’ food promoter Farmstr shutdown. Ignorant company administrators blamed competitors like California based GoodEggs, which if you read my January 2015 Food Crisis report you’ll see even GoodEggs is in trouble! In other words, it’s the overall bad economy not competition.

11 – 12 February 2015: “…it’s coming to an end.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 11 – 12 February 2015: “It’s becoming a losing battle.” “…it’s coming to an end.” No more Pop-n-Fresh? GM shuts down Siverado parts center despite increased Siverado sales! California stops posting WARNs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

What housing market recovery? “The number of future foreclosure auctions scheduled in January continued to increase in many states, foreshadowing more foreclosure spring cleaning to come in the next several months…”-RealtyTrac

Arizona: What building construction industry recovery? The Grand Canyon State lost 43-hundred construction jobs in 2014, the most in the U.S.!  The Associated General Contractors warns that even more jobs will be lost in 2015.  RealtyTrac says foreclosures jumped 100% from December 2014 to January 2015!

California: For some unknown reason the state Employment Development Department has stop posting WARNs.  The last two WARNs are dated 09 February 2015.  San Diego based Daybreak Game Company announced they are laying off employees in California and Texas, directly affecting the popular EverQuest franchise.  It’s the result of Japan based Sony selling them off to New York based Columbus Nova.  What housing market recovery? RealtyTrac reported a sudden jump in foreclosures by the end of January.  In Los Angeles County 1231 homes were foreclosed on.

Colorado: DCP Midstream reducing fracking ops in the Denver-Julesburg Basin, and shutting down offices in Oklahoma, affecting at least 200 jobs!  But don’t blame crashing oil prices, local news reports say company administrators planned the downsizing in summer 2014, before the prices started crashing!  Crashing oil prices only galvanized their existing plans to downsize.

Connecticut: In Berlin, The Learning Experience preschool shutdown with ten days notice.  The operators blamed “several circumstances beyond our control”.

Florida: Suwannee Valley Transit/North Central Florida Transit Authority to layoff six employees in March.  It’s blamed on crashing revenues due to lack of customers and the fact that two former employees absconded with $200-thousand USD!  But wait, there more bull-shit! For all their whining about not having any money the Transit Authority just replaced their board secretary, who was making $175 per month, with a new secretary who’ll be paid $275 per month!  I though they didn’t have any money?

Georgia: What building construction industry recovery?  Maker of concrete reinforcing steel Insteel Industries shutting down their Newnan factory in March, 20 jobs lost.  They are consolidating ops as part of their takeover of American Spring Wire.

Hawaii: In Honolulu, after 42 years Sanders Piano shutdown.  The owners said “It’s becoming a losing battle.”

Idaho: The state Department of Labor stopped posting WARNs, the last one dated 15 December 2014.

Illinois: Employees went public and revealed that the Ace Hardware on East Oakton Street, in Des Plaines, will shutdown by March.  What housing market recovery?  RealtyTrac reports that foreclosures for January 2015 beat out foreclosures for January 2014.  In Cook County there was a 24% increase!

Kentucky: After 25 years JJ’s Consignment Shop shutdown without notice, clients say they’re owed big money!  The owner disappeared months ago and apparently his son was running the store for the last few weeks.

Louisiana:  TeleServices Direct announced they will shutdown their Lafayette office in March, 125 jobs lost!  Administrators blame the bad economy.

Maryland: Spain based Santander Bank announced it is shutting down all ten of its Old Line State offices!  Arrogant bank administrators told customers they could do their banking over the internet.

Massachusetts:  France based legal drugs pusher Sanofi announced it will layoff about 1-hundred employees from several disease research centers!

Michigan: God refuses to stop ‘his’ bible seller, Family Christian, from becoming  chapter 11 bankrupt busted, 266 stores across 36 states now threatened.  The president of the ‘christian’ company, Chuck Bengochea, admitted the want of money caused by the 2008 crash forced them to take “on too much debt”.

Minnesota: Minneapolis based retailer Target laid off 550 people at its HQ!  It’s part of Target’s massive and sudden exit from Canada.  The Imperial Room bar and restaurant shutdown after losing its license to operate due to failure to pay taxes.

New Jersey: The Trenton School District says it must eliminate 113 teaching jobs due to a $19-million shortfall!  But wait there’s more, previous announcements said a total of 350 jobs could be lost, once the state government puts out its final funding numbers for the 2015-16 school year! (and those layoffs are for just one of many school districts!)

New York: What construction market recovery?  In Alden, building contractor Gamma North issued a WARN saying they will layoff 81 of their 99 employees by April.  Administrators also admitted they already started layoffs back in January.

North Carolina: For the third year in a row Durham based legal drugs pusher Quintiles announced layoffs, this year at least 270 people will become jobless!   Monument stone provider North Carolina Granite laid off 28 people.  The 125 years old (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) company has been laying off people since the early 2000s, reports say they are down to only 97 employees.  What housing market recovery? RealtyTrac ranks North Carolina number 10 for zombie foreclosures (foreclosure of abandoned homes), at 3177 by the end of January!

Ohio: The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities announced plans to shutdown the Montgomery Developmental Center by 2017, at least 213 jobs lost!  Apparently Obama Care is forcing them to consolidate operations.  What automotive industry recovery?  General Motors (GM) is in the middle of shutting down their contractor run Trotwood distribution center, 107 jobs affected! This is strange because GM’s global profits are coming thanks to a 10% increase in Silverado sales (in 2014), especially in China and Venezuela  which are the two countries the Trotwood distribution center ships Silverado parts to!   Food maker General Mills confirming it will shutdown its 56 years old New Albany Pillsbury dough factory by the middle of 2016, at least 440 jobs will be lost!  General Mills and worker’s union administrators claim the employees will get a generous severance package if they stay on until the shutdown, and could even make 26 bucks per hour.  The shutdown will also affect 70 contracted workers at the nearby package making factory Sonoco (they make the tube cans for the Pillsbury Pop-n-Fresh dough products).  The New Albany Pillsbury dough factory is the lifeblood of the community, half of the employees will be retired early: “My brother’s been there as long as I have, my dad retired from there, my wife works there, her nephew works there, so it’s a big family thing. These people have been around each other all this time, and it’s coming to an end.”-Steve Early, employed at the mill for the past 21 years

Oklahoma: In Jenks, after only ten years the RiverWalk movie theater shutdown by property developers who claim they will spend the next few years building a mega entertainment center.

Oregon: China based Hanjin Shipping has ended its operations at the Port of Portland, $83-million per year in wages and tax revenues lost, as well as 657 jobs!

Pennsylvania: Latrobe based industrial supplier Kennametal trying to bribe 1-thousand employees to quit by offering buyouts, administrators blame the oil, coal and construction industries!  Administrators also revealed they began laying off employees back in December.

South Carolina: Milliken announced it will shutdown its Greenville textile mill starting in April, 200 jobs affected! Company administrators say the bad economy is forcing them to consolidate operations.

Tennessee: Illinois based R.R. Donnelley shutting down their Nashville printers, 133 jobs lost!

Texas: Houston based FMC says it will eliminate 2-thousand jobs, blaming the oil industry for projected crashing sales of its fracking equipment!

Wisconsin: After only one year the Shops of Grand Avenue Office Max shutdown!   What housing market recovery? Lighting company Orion Energy Systems laid off 40 people. Company administrators said of the economy “The issues we face today are far more complex.”   In De Pere, Furniture and Appliance Outlet being shutdown due to “The building has been a challenge to operate since the storefront itself got blocked by highway construction.”  University of Wisconsin Madison warned of layoffs: “I just want to say how sorry I am. Because some of the people in this room are going to be impacted by cuts. I know how hard you work for this university and this state… we will get through this.”-Rebecca Blank, Chancellor, apologizing for the actions of Right to Work you over gov’na Scott Walker

07 – 10 February 2015: “You’ll starve to damn death….!”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 07 – 10 February 2015: “You’ll starve to damn death….!” LEGAL immigration kills thousands of jobs in California while Off shoring of U.S. jobs continues!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: Georgia based EarthLink laid off 110 people in Anniston and Arab!

California: It’s being revealed that the thousands of jobs held by U.S. citizens, that Southern California Edison killed off (and continues to kill off), actually went to LEGAL immigrants with H-1B visas!  In Sacramento, Practice Yoga shutdown.  The owner, Jim Cahill, blamed “The business climate and rents in downtown don’t support small enterprise.”

Connecticut: What housing market recovery? In Wallingford, Acuity Brands Lighting issued a WARN saying it will shutdown in April, 93 jobs lost.  It’s part of the company’s consolidation plans.   In Fairfield, after 82 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Blinn’s toy store shutdown.  The co-owner said the economy is worse now than in 2008: “Things were going pretty normal until about two years ago. Two years ago was bad, but the last year was just terrible!”-Mark Crofutt

Florida: After more than 20 years the Myrtle Beach Flea Market shutdown.   The owner blamed the suck-ass economy: “I’ve lost my butt here in the last five years. I lost my life savings and everything I made here in the six or eight years it was good……You’ll starve to damn death on local business!”-Jim Lee

Idaho: What housing market recovery?  Washington based wood products company Plum Creek Timber announced it will sell-off its Meridian remanufacturing factory in March, at least 61 jobs lost.  I did not find any WARN issued by the company.

Indiana: At the South Bend International Airport, Towne Air Freight was sold-off to Tennessee based Forward Air, layoffs will be next.

Iowa: In Muscatine, Kirlin’s Hallmark shutdown: “…in today’s challenging economic climate, we sometimes have to take the difficult step of closing a location.”

Louisiana: The Gov’na warned that more than 1-hundred state parks employees could become jobless due to crashing tax revenues.  The Pelican State must cut spending by $103.5-million USD before the end of June!  The Gov’na also warned of massive layoffs for the university-higher education system, saying there’s a $1.6-billion shortfall!

Massachusetts: Legal drugs pusher Synta Pharmaceuticals announced it will layoff 20% of its employees.  They laid off workers last year.

Michigan: Ciolino Fruit and Vegetable Market shutdown its Monroe store, saying it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease.  In Northville, decades old Starting Gate Saloon restaurant shutdown and sold-off.

Missouri: What housing market recovery? Ten years old Town & Country Masonry and Tuckpointing now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Nebraska: After 19 years the Herbs & More store shutdown. The owner is retiring due to massive competition.

New York: In NYC, GL Bus Lines issued a WARN saying they will layoff 149 people in March!  In Hauppauge, God refuses to stop Obama Care from forcing ‘his’ Catholic Health Services from issuing a WARN saying they will shutdown their Home Support Services in May, at least 40 jobs lost.

North Carolina: The new Brazil based owners of iconic Chiquita is shutting down the Charlotte HQ beginning in April, between 262 and 350 jobs lost! State and local administrators are demanding Chiquita pay back all the tax incentives it got. Brazilian Cutrale and Safra group took over Chiquita late last year.

Ohio: In Lancaster, boiler cleaner Diamond Power International laid off 23 employees.  Union reps said the company is contracting out operations, which could result in more layoffs of in-house employees. Evil Texas based fracking company GoFrac announced it will exit the Utica shale fields near Cambridge, after buying 90 acres and promising to hire 250 people!

Pennsylvania: British empire Canada based clothing retailer Lord & Taylor announced it will shutdown its Wilkes-Barre Township store.  Company administrators blame their own successful internet sales!  The store is being closed so they can expand their warehouse to meet internet sales demands.

South Dakota: Michigan based grocery store owner SpartanNash announced they will shutdown their Rapid City food distribution center in April, 49 jobs lost. Company administrators say the bad economy is forcing them to consolidate warehouses.

Tennessee: In Nashville, after 70 years Travel shutdown. The owner of the travel agency blames competition and health problems.

Texas:  Maryland based Apex Tools announced they are shutting down their Garland factory and moving production to South Carolina, 261 jobs affected! In Orange, after 40 years a Conn’s department store shutdown. The administrators of the 120 years old company said the economy isn’t strong enough to support all of their stores.  Infamous fracking company Halliburton upped its kill-off of jobs, from 1-thousand to 65-hundred around the World! Ignorant main stream news media blamed crashing oil prices, but guess what? It’s really because of the Obama regime imposed sanctions on Russia, ebola/civil war turmoil in west Africa, plus their takeover of Baker Hughes.  Oil company Forestar Group announced it will shutdown their Fort Worth office, but don’t blame oil prices, company administrators said the decision to halt their north Texas production was pushed on them by their ‘investors’!   Fort Worth based RadioShack has made public a massive list of 1784 stores across the United States that will be shutdown by the end of March!

Wisconsin: Mitt Romney’s evil Massachusetts based wunderkind Staples announced it will layoff 53 people at their Oak Creek Tech Solutions operations.  In Janesville, industrial supplier Grainger laying off 30 people outright, as well as transfering 130 jobs out-o-country to Panama beginning in October!  Reports say it’s just the “first wave” of layoffs-transfers!  Too Big to Jail Bank Mutual announced it will shutdown seven offices, because it expects to lose $1.5-million!

05 – 06 February 2015: Staples kills off 1-thousand stores!

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 05 – 06 February 2015: More proof you can’t blame low oil prices for layoffs! Staples kills off 1-thousand stores! More proof Obamacare kills off access to healthcare! RadioShack is Dead, long live Sprint?

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: Obama Care forcing Alabama Psychiatric Services to shutdown.  250 jobs lost and 28-hundred patients affected!  Administrators say Obama Care created a situation in which Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama pushed the majority of people into more expensive insurance plans, and effectively killed off most of Alabama Psychiatric Services business!  (What was that about Obama Care increasing access to healthcare?)   The U.S. Army announced it will kill off 190 jobs at its Anniston Depot: “The reason we’re releasing the temporary employees is due to a change in the workload.”-Colonel Brent T. Bolander

Arizona: Phoenix based Sleep America shutdown after being taken over by Mattress Firm.

California: Iconic Chico Sportsman’s Den shutting down in two months, the owner says he’s ready to retire.    In Bakersfield, Caesar’s Italian Delicatessen shutdown: “February 13th will be our last day…..We first opened our doors in June of 1971…..It’s been a profound honor to serve everyone who has walked through our doors over the years and this is an incredibly sad day for us.”-owners facebook posting

Florida: At Patrick Air Force Base, taxsucker Computer Sciences Raytheon issued a WARN saying 420 people will be jobless by April!

Idaho: It’s official, six (of approximately 24) Gem State RadioShack stores will be shutdown; in Chubbuck, Meridian, Nampa, Pocatello, Post Falls and Rexburg.  Some stores have already shutdown.

Illinois: The Chicago-Wicker Park area Kmart is shutting down, 106 jobs lost!  Lowe’s apparently paid Sears Holdings in order to take over the Wicker Park Kmart lease, but will not set up shop until 2016.  Also in Chicago, after 18 years Carmichael’s Steakhouse announced it will shutdown in March, blaming the greedy property owner. The property was sold off and will be used to build an apartment complex. The restaurant manager is pissed, as his business was good: “It’s unfortunate that we have to close when we’re still doing really good business.”-Ben Sawyer

Indiana: After seven years Richmond chocolate shop Ghyslain Bistro shutdown. The owner said he’s focusing on his stores in Kentucky and internet sales.

Maryland: The White Flint Mall shutdown and will be demolished.

Massachusetts: Mitt Romney’s evil Farmington based wunderkind Staples is the new owner of Office Depot after trading $6.3-billion USD worth of stocks for it, 1-thousand stores will be shutdown!  The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) recently signed a deal with Staples to kill off your local Post Office jobs! 

Michigan: In Kalamazoo, with little notice to employees the Harding’s grocery store on Howard Street was sold off and is being shutdown, 60 jobs lost.

Minnesota: Colorado based Arrow Electronics issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Saint Paul operations in March, 77 jobs lost. Company administrators are moving their electronics salvage ops to Ohio.

Montana: Bilderberger vaccine pusher GlaxoSmithKline announced they’re shutting down their Hamilton research center during 2015, at least 27 jobs lost.  Administrators also warned shutdowns and layoffs will take place elsewhere: “Other parts of the business are facing similar restructuring. It’s happening companywide, not just Hamilton, but all parts of GSK’s business.”-Melinda Stubbee

New Jersey: The Sports and Exposition Authority announced they will shutdown the 34 years old Izod Center in March, 17-hundred jobs lost!  Administrators say the sports arena has been losing money big time, and expects it would lose $8.5-million in 2015, if they kept it open.  In Middletown, God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Mater Dei Prep school: “It is with great sadness that I inform you that Mater Dei Prep will close at the end of this school year, June 2015.  Over the many years, Mater Dei Prep has been running large financial deficits. It had been the hope of the Parish Finance Council and myself that these trends could be reversed. However, the 2014-2015 projected loss is close to one million dollars.”-Jeff Kegley, pastor

Camden based iconic soup maker Cambells announced it will split into three division and begin massive job destruction in order to cut $200-million over the next three years!  For proof there is no economic recovery, company administrators say company profits have been crashing steadily since 2008, with no end in sight: “Like other companies in our industry, we’re contending with now not just the long term impact of the Great Recession on consumer purchasing behavior, or the increasingly complex public dialog when it comes to food, or the regulatory environment for food.”-Denise Morrison, ceo

New York: Lucky Magazine laid off at least 12 people.  In Rouses Point, legal drugs maker Pfizer issued a WARN saying they will shutdown by June.  In NYC, clothing retailer Jack Spade and Kate Spade Saturday issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in May, 47 jobs lost, saying they are undergoing a “brand overhaul”.

North Carolina:  Obama Care forcing Transylvania Regional Hospital to shutdown its  labor and delivery services.  Women in the area are complaining they must now travel out of the area to give birth.  (What was that about Obama Care increasing access to healthcare?)  In Raleigh, decades old Crowley’s restaurant and bar shutdown, with no explanation.   In Research Triangle Park, Massachusetts based data storage company EMC warned of layoffs in an effort to cut $150-million!

Ohio: In Youngstown, France based Vallourec Star announced it will shutdown its oil industry seemless pipe operations for at least three weeks, more than 5-hundred jobs affected!

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, Texas based Team Oil Tools announced they will shutdown in April, 93 jobs lost.  Administrators tried to blame low oil prices but a local Fox23 news TV station discovered the company has been having money problems for a long time.  Oklahoma City based PostRock Energy announced it will kill off 25% of its jobs, conveniently blaming oil prices for its decision to halt oil drilling for 2015.  The ignorant administrators revealed they had assumed WTI oil prices would average $92.73 per barrel through to the end of 2016!  Guess they didn’t think the fact that Islamic State selling off oil on the black market would affect oil prices.  And who’s buying that Islamic State oil? 

Oregon:  Portland based software company VendScreen laid off more employees, earlier this year they had 30, now it’s reported they’re down to 19.  Helicopter maker Erickson laid off 150 people!  Administrators admitted it was connected to their take over of competing companies in the U.S. and Brazil.

Texas:  It’s official, iconic 94 years old (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) RadioShack now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and shutting down as many as 25-hundred stores across the country, the other 15-hundred will be sold to cell phone service company Sprint! Oil service company  Weatherford International killing off 8-thousand jobs, blaming low oil prices!  However, an official company statement revealed it was actually due to “quickly changing market conditions”.  It was revealed that company administrators have been making personnel and operations changes for months now.  Houston based fracking company Royalty Partners now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, don’t blame oil prices, the relatively new company owes more than $1-million in rent and to lawyers.

Wisconsin: Gov’na Right to Work you over Scott Walker will preside over the killing of 446 state jobs!  The Right to Work you over policies have resulted in The Badger State facing a $2-billion shortfall!   Right to Work you over Walker says he will also steal $2-million from the Educational Communications Board!  In Janesville, Veterans Affairs contractor Data Dimensions laid off 120 people without warning or explanation: “I got this job and I was so happy, because it was full time and I got off of food stamps, no more W2…..came as a complete surprise to us, because we have been being pushed for months to produce more and more and more.”-Karly Yager, laid off six hours into her shift

01 – 04 February 2015: “All good things come to an end.”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 01 – 04 February 2015: “All good things come to an end.” Yet another women’s clothing chain bites the big one!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Reports coming in that San Jose based ebay, and its soon to be sold off electronic payment processor PayPal, began laying off employees.  In Palmdale, taxsucker Lockheed Martin issued a WARN saying 74 people will become unemployed in March.  Japan owned Sony Pictures issued a WARN saying they are shutting down their Culver City ops by April, 69 jobs lost.  In Mountain View, Symantec continues their job destruction, their latest WARN says 85 people will be laid off in March.  In Santa Clara, Florida based software company Citrix Systems issued a WARN saying 99 people will be jobless by April.

Florida: In Orlando, legal drugs seller Walgreens issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down their Central Operations by April, 252 jobs lost!  At Naval Air Station Jacksonville, taxsucker Tyonek Services Group issued a WARN saying they will shutdown by the end of March, 311 jobs lost!

Illinois: After 50 years Hyde Park Shoe Rebuilders shutdown, the owner was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.   The Chicago-Sun Times laid off two video producers.

Indiana: Too Big to Jail Old National Bancorp announced they will selloff 17 offices and close-consolidate 19 others.  Bank administrators say they can no longer generate enough profits to justify the size of their operations.

Kentucky: Remke Markets announced they could not afford to renew their lease on their Newport grocery store. The store will shutdown at the beginning of March, 58 jobs lost.

Louisiana: After 40 years J & R Educational Supplies shutdown: “We’ve been lucky to have lasted this long. All good things come to an end.”-Marie Martin-Darby, co-owner

Maryland: In Hagerstown, after 22 years Obama Care forcing the Robinwood Surgery Center to shutdown.  The operators said Obama Care is forcing healthcare providers to become smaller, so much for expanding access to healthcare.

Massachusetts: Acton based software company SeaChange laying off about 70 employees by the end of the year.

Missouri: Too Big to Jail NCO Financial issued a WARN saying 275 people will become unemployed by the end of March!  It’s blamed on the loss of a major client.

Nebraska: In Hastings, after 30 years Applause Video shutdown, the owner said it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease.

New York:  NYC based women’s clothing chain Cache now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  It was also revealed they shutdown 20 stores just since December!  Another 218 stores now threatened.  NYC based already bankrupt women’s clothing retailer Jones New York-Jones Apparel issued a WARN saying at least 229 New Yorkers will become unemployed by July!  In Painted Post, Sitel Operating Corporation issued a WARN saying they will shutdown by April, at least 278 jobs lost!   In Fredonia, food company ConAgra-The Carriage House issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in May, 423 jobs lost!  They also revealed the layoffs actually began back in October!   In Syracuse, Pyramid Management Group issued a WARN saying they will halt in-house janitor services in May, at least 50 jobs being outsourced to cheap-o contractors.   In Plattsburgh, Japan based Fujitsu Frontech issued a WARN saying 38 people will be laid off in May, due to reorganization.

North Carolina: In Asheville, Featherheads Emporium shutdown.  The owners will focus on their Chimney Rock store.

North Dakota: In Bismarck, after ten years Stringbean Music & Sound shutdown.

Oklahoma: Oil industry company Chaparral Energy announced it will layoff 121 people in Oklahoma City: “While we expect the market to rebound to a more economically favorable level, we cannot predict when that will occur. That being the case, we are taking a conservative approach to decrease our capital, operating and administrative costs.”  

Oregon: Seven Feathers Casino laid off 93 people.  Casino administrators say there is no economic recovery, and there too much competition: “The post 2008 economy has forced businesses to change. The demographics of today’s typical gaming customer have also changed. Those facts accompanied with the potentially devastating threat the Cow Creek Tribe is facing by a neighboring tribe’s intent to build an illegal casino in Medford demands our business approach be more conservative. We have had to respond to this reality.”

Pennsylvania: Russia based oil industry pipe maker OAO TMK announced it will layoff about 75 people at their factories in Beaver County.

Texas: Reports that Fort Worth based iconic RadioShack might go bankrupt and shutdown at least 550 stores!  British empire Canada based oil pumping company Trican Well Service issued a WARN saying 129 Texans will become unemployed in March!   In Lufkin, GE (General Electric) revealed just how many people will become jobless; 330!

Virginia: What housing market recovery?  In Norfolk, Too Big to Jail Bank of America announced it will layoff 200+ people in their mortgage servicing division, by the end of March!

Wisconsin:  In New Holstein, after ten years Tennessee based Tractor Supply Company shutdown. Administrators would only say that “many factors” were behind the decision to shutdown the store.  What housing market recovery?  In Shell Lake, maker of home products like door hardware and light fixtures, Hampton Products, issued a WARN saying they will layoff 29 employees by April.

30-31-January-2015: “How can human beings that have given so much be cast aside?” 

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 30 – 31 January 2015: “How can human beings that have given so much be cast aside?” More proof it’s not the internet! Disney kills hundreds of jobs! No more RyKrisp!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Japan based video game maker Sega Sammy said it will push 300 employees to “voluntarily retire”, that includes employees in the United States!

Alabama: Cafe and market V.Richards shutting down, the store owner made the decision suddenly saying he will chase “other ventures”.

Arizona: What real estate market recovery?  The city of Phoenix now has a 22% office vacancy rate, or more than one in five!

California: In Pleasanton, Too Big to Jail JPMorgan Chase Mortgage issued a WARN saying 63 people will become unemployed in March.  Obama Care forcing Fallbrook Hospital to issue a WARN saying they’re shutting down their Skilled Nursing ops by the end of March, 96 jobs lost.  Boeing issued more WARNs saying another 127 Californians will become jobless by April!  In Shafter, Baker Hughes issued a WARN saying 130 people will be laid off immediately!  Don’t blame oil prices, it’s totally related to Halliburton’s $35-billion USD takeover of Baker Hughes! At the U.S. Army’s National Training Center, Fort Irwin, taxsucker Northrop Grumman issued a WARN saying 443 people will become jobless by May!

Florida: What housing market recovery?  In Jacksonville, JPMorgan Chase Mortgage issued a WARN saying 163 people will be rendered jobless by the end of March!  Walt Disney World laid off 500 IT employees!  Many employees told local news there was no warning, while other employees say they were suspicious when last year they were told to re-apply for their jobs.  Disney administrators refuse to confirm the number of laid off employees, as well as reports that IT jobs are being contracted out.  C1 Bank announced they are shutting down their Tampa office in March.

Indiana: After only 18 months Skate America shutting down their rink in Lafayette by the middle of February, blaming the greedy landlord.

Kansas: Vess Oil Corporation has halted all “new projects”, but said nothing about jobs.  News reports say oil drilling in the Wichita area has declined by 23%.

Michigan: The city of Detroit is kicking many retired city employees off the city health insurance plan! Here’s what one ignorant retired city worker said: “How can human beings that have given so much be cast aside?”-Nancy Headapohl   (that’s exactly what happened to millions of people in the former Soviet Union, and good ol’ Ronald Reagan took credit for wining that Cold War)

Minnesota: No more RyKrisp crackers! ConAgra stated “After a careful evaluation of our options, ConAgra Foods has decided to exit the RyKrisp and rye cracker business and close the [Twin Cities] plant.”  Administrators with the Minnesota Zoo warned of layoffs and exhibit shutdowns.

Mississippi: In Jackson, Kroger announced they will shutdown their more than 20 years old grocery store on Terry Road in February 2015, at least 109 jobs affected!

Missouri: In Fenton, industrial packaging maker Greif issued a WARN saying at least 33 people will become jobless by May.  Administrators say their company is still making profits, but those profits have been getting smaller and smaller year after year.

Montana: In Helena, after more than 25 years The Donut Hole shutting down. A financial partner backed out of a deal that would have seen the donut shop move to a new location, now it’s up for sale.

New Mexico: Flying Star now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and shutting down two Santa Fe restaurants.

New York: More proof you can’t blame the internet for killing brick-n-mortar stores; Georgia based internet service provider EarthLink issued a WARN saying 60 employees in Rochester and Pittsford will be laid off between now and May.  Too Big to Jail JPMorgan Chase Mortgage killing off 350 jobs in Rochester by Autumn!  NYC based communication company Viacom warned employees of massive layoffs before the end of the 1st quarter 2015, saying the bad economy is forcing them to “pull all the levers”.

North Carolina: What automotive industry recovery?  In Fayetteville, employees of tire maker Goodyear have gone to the local news media saying at least 40 salaried workers will be laid off.  It sounds like they’re being forced to ‘retire’.  Company administrators refuse to comment.

Ohio: Zane State College laid off eight people.  Enrollment has been falling since 2011.  After six years Big Fun Cleveland toy store shutdown.  The owners say the economy is so bad in Cleveland that they will focus on their store in Coventry.

Oregon: Safeway shutting down their Clackamas regional office, due to the takeover by Cerberus owned Albertsons. 91 jobs lost by March.

Pennsylvania: In Hazelton, OfficeMax announced they will shutdown their Humboldt Industrial Park distribution center by Summer, 200 jobs lost!  It’s blamed on the merger with Office Depot.

Texas: In East Austin, Live Oak BBQ being shutdown and sold off by the owner, who said “simple math” proved it wasn’t worth it anymore.  Oil drilling company Lariat Services laid off 245 people in the Permian Basin!  Carrizo Oil & Gas reducing their Eagle Ford Shale production by 35%, but said nothing about layoffs.   Houston based oil company ConocoPhillips claims they’ve lost $39-million during their 4th quarter of 2014, and made this warning: “We’ve informed our workforce that reductions should be expected.” 

Virginia: SunCoke Energy has shutdown a coal mine in Buchanan County, 150 jobs lost!

Washington DC: Seven Pinkberry frozen yogurt stores now for sale as a result of chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Wisconsin: Publisher of many model kit building magazines Kalmbach Publishers laid off 15 people from their Discover and Art Jeweler magazines, blaming crashing sales.  Don’t blame the internet most of their publications are available on the internet, in fact Kalmbach has twice as many websites (including one about drones) as it does hardcopy magazine titles!

27-29-January-2015: “Was the writing on the wall? Certainly!”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 27 – 29 January 2015: “Was the writing on the wall? Certainly!” No more Bonnie Bell! The new employee bonus; getting fired? Another women’s clothing chain goes down! Big Blue begins big layoffs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: U.S. Steel issued a massive WARN saying 16-hundred Fairfield employees are on notice that layoffs could happen at any time!  The market conditions are so bad that U.S. Steel administrators say they cannot predict exactly how many people will become jobless, or when it will happen.  It’s being blamed on deflationary trends.

Arizona: In Tucson, after ten years The District Tavern shutdown, it’s blamed on jacked up rent.

Arkansas: Walmart announced they laid off 50 Bentonville HQ employees.  Administrators claim the layoffs are ‘normal’ for this time of year.

California: In Thousand Oaks, 45 years old Hart’s Jewelers shutdown.  In Santa Monica, after 30 years video store Vidiots shutdown.  In San Jose, IBM (International Business Machine) issued a WARN saying 68 people will be laid off in March.  In West Hills, Too Big to Jail Bank of America issued a WARN saying 113 people will become jobless in March!  In Pleasonton, Safeway issued a WARN saying an additional 18 HQ employees will be laid off in March. Ryder Logistics revealed they’ve shutdown their Inglewood ops, 73 jobs lost without warning.  Sears Holdings issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down their Canoga Park (West Topanga Mall) Sears in May, 122 jobs lost!  Ireland based legal drugs pusher Actavis issued a WARN saying they will layoff 40 people in Corona, in April.  In Aliso Viejo, Fluor Enterprises issued a WARN saying at least six people will be laid off in March.  In Lakeview, Access Business Group finally issued a WARN revealing they shutdown back in December, 72 jobs lost.  Mexico based Bimbo Bakeries announced they will shutdown their Fresno bakery in March, 92 jobs lost.

Colorado: With only four days notice EVRAZ steel mill laid off 200 people involved in making pipes for the oil industry!  iQor issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Pueblo call center in March, 251 jobs lost!  Administrators blame “unforeseen business circumstances”.  (this seems to be the latest excuse for corporations to shutdown)

Connecticut: After 49 years the owner of Wallingford Optical said he must shutdown at the end of February, blaming his suppliers: “I’m paying more for product than Walmart or BJ’s are even selling stuff for. I can’t compete with the big box stores.”-James Comeau

Florida: After forcing 289 employees into early retirement, railroad company CSX laid off 52 Jacksonville HQ employees.  Fort Lauderdale based software company Citrix Systems announced it will eliminate 900 in-house and contracted jobs!  They blame crashing sales.  In Weston, Too Big to Jail American Express issued a WARN saying 27 people will be laid off in April.

Illinois: Sears Holdings laid off 100 Hoffman Estates HQ employees, and another 15 jobs were eliminated elsewhere in the company!  In Rockford, girl’s prison Rock River Academy shutdown amid accusations of child abuse including sex crimes.  The evil girl’s prison was revealed by local news hounds who aren’t afraid to take on The Man!  There were increasing cases of girls escaping the prison and reporting to police their abuse.

Indiana: Kingdom of Luxembourg based ArcelorMittal announced it will shutdown two steel operations beginning in March, 304 jobs lost!  Company administrators say the operations have lost money since 2011.

Iowa: In Cedar Rapids, the owner of women’s clothing store Positively Plus announced it will shutdown in March, saying “I’m a registered nurse, and I would like to go back and work in an office for someone else.”   Des Moines based Meredith Corporation ended hardcopy publication of its newly aquired magazines Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health.   It was revealed that IBM (International Business Machine) will layoff 202 people at their Dubuque facility in February!  After 16 years recycling center Ames Area Redemption Center shutdown: “We couldn’t make it anymore, that’s the whole thing in a nutshell.  The redemption on bottles is only a penny and everything else keeps going up and that doesn’t.”-Sandy Warren, co-owner

Maine: After 46 years Iconic Kittery based Weathervane Seafood Restaurants has shutdown a restaurant in New Hampshire and three restaurants in Maine. The COO of the family run chain said “My family and I are sorry to have to make this difficult decision…” blaming “…current economic conditions…”   The general manager of the Waterville Weathervane said any fool could see the economy is crashing and burning: “The final ending is certainly a shock. Was the writing on the wall? Certainly!”-Sean Callahan, whose restaurant had a big sign in the window saying “due to current economic conditions, this location is closed”

Michigan:  Baraga Area School District warned that Pelkie Elementary School could shutdown due to massive DSS (what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome): “The primary problem is shared actually across the district. We have been experiencing declining enrollments in a very similar pattern that the State of Michigan has, but it really hit hard about two years ago.”-Jennifer Lynn, superintendent

New York: NYC based, AOL (formerly America OnLine) shutting down internet video game website Joystick.   NYC based Jones New York-Jones Apparel announced they are shutting down all 127 stores across the U.S. and 36 in Canada, 1-thousand plus jobs lost!  In NYC, 30 years old The Family Jewels shutting down in April.   In Mount Vernon, crashing metals prices and rising operating costs forcing Hugo Neu Recycling to issue a WARN saying they will shutdown in April, 27 jobs lost.  In Elmsford, internet publisher MYPublisher-Shutterfly issued a WARN saying they will layoff 47 people between May and July.  Obama Care forcing Saint James Mercy Hospital to kill off 342 healthcare jobs between April and August!  Administrators say the changes made by Obama Care are forcing them to shutdown their inpatient medical surgery and inpatient maternity care services.  What was that about Obama Care increasing access to healthcare?

Ohio: Germany based logistics company Exel (Deutsche Post DHL) issued a WARN saying 278 people will be laid off by April!  Administrators blame it on a major client.  Cosmetic company Bonnie Bell shutting down their Westlake factory, 91 jobs lost by March. Bonnie Bell has been quietly taken over by Markwins International.   Akron based FirstMerit Bank announced it will shutdown 16 offices in Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan.  In Dayton, RadioShack on Wilmington shutting down.

Oregon: In Hillsboro, after 26 years Mary’s Saddle & Tack shutdown, the owners blame the bad economy saying “We just can’t make money.”  

South Dakota: After 45 years the Ming Wah Cafe shutdown.

Tennessee: The Chattanooga Times Free Press paid out bonuses then immediately laid off an undisclosed number of employees.  It’s blamed on crashing advertising sales.  In Lawrenceburg, Jones New York announced it will shutdown its Jones Apparel distribution center, at least 207 jobs lost!

Texas: In Lufkin, GE (General Electric) warned that layoffs are coming.    Their Lufkin ops support the oil industry and not only are jobs threatened but so is their planned $60-million foundry expansion.   British empire British Petroleum (BP, formerly known as the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, formerly known as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company) confirmed it will eliminate jobs at its Houston office.  Here’s what one historically ignorant Houstonian said: “It was always a big goal of mine to get into oil and gas. I never thought it would come to this where we’re having layoffs.”  (I’ve lived long enough to see and personally experience dozens of oil boom & bust cycles, why are so many people in love with the oil industry and so ignorant about its normal down cycle?)

Virginia: nTelos wireless communication laid off 48 people at its HQ in Waynesboro.  It’s the result of company administrators deciding to exit the Richmond and Hampton Roads area, back in December.

Washington: In Panther Lake, the Great American Casino shutdown despite gambling taxes being reduced, 90 jobs lost.  In Seattle, the one year old OfficeMax on Broadway shutting down in February.

Wisconsin: More proof it’s not the internet killing brick-n-mortar stores.  SupplementWarehouse, which sells mainly on the internet and has only two brick-n-mortar stores, is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  The administrators blame “inventory leakage” for their massive profit losses, and the Too Big to Jail banks who refused to continue floating them with debt financing.  The University of Wisconsin warned of more layoffs and student services cuts.  It’s because the Right to Work you over governor Scott Walker wants to cut higher education funding by $300-million over the next two years!  Dean Foods announced it will shutdown its Sheboygan Verifine Dairy before April, at least 70 jobs lost. Company administrators said the suck-ass economy is forcing them to eliminate “redundancies”.  In Green Bay, Excel Driving School shutdown without notice.  Somehow the state DMV heard of the shutdown before anybody else.  The owner of the driving school said he could no longer juggle his personal life with his business.  About 250 paid up students looking for answers and refunds.

24-26-January-2015: “unforeseeable circumstance”

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.