Tag Archives: oil

Business/Economics

“…it’s got to come to an end.” Despite thousands of layoffs Microsoft loses $3.2-billion!: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 21 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Japan based video game maker Gree laid off 30% of employees at its San Francisco operations. Analysts say it’s the result of Gree failing to accomplish its goal to dominate the mobile gaming market.  In Monterey, Osio Cinemas being shutdown by its investor owners who blame competition, rising debt and crashing sales.  Aliso Viejo based data storage company QLogic warned 2-hundred employees of mass layoffs, due to unexpected crashing sales.  In Sacramento, after 22 years City Limits Showgirls strip joint shutting down due to county ‘lawmakers’ re-zoning the land.

Connecticut: In Stamford, the New York Sports Clubs shutting down.  Administrators blamed “recent events” but didn’t go into details.

Indiana: In Fort Wayne, after 43 years Roller Dome South shutting down in August.

Iowa: In Sioux City, after 30 years Wilmes Do It Best Hardware shutdown.

Kansas: In Manhattan, the country’s oldest Pizza Hut shutdown after 55 years due to crashing sales.  The franchise owner lamented “…in 1960….No one here even knew what a pizza was! Imagine that! But I don’t think I would have guessed how big Pizza Hut ….would get either.”   The controversial taxpayer created (Kansas Economic Growth Act of 2004) investment company Kansas Bioscience Authority revealed it laid off 50% of employees last week.  Administrators blame lack of state taxpayer funding.   ‘Lawmakers’ say KBA has failed to bring in the big investment bucks needed to save the ‘christian’ state’s failing economy. (…the love of money is the root of all evil…: 1 Timothy 6:10)

Kentucky: Lexington based printer maker Lexmark will eliminate at least 5-hundred jobs around the World.  It’s the result of Lexmark taking over companies like Kofax and ReadSoft.

Massachusetts: In Hamilton, after six years Winfrey’s Fudge & Chocolates shutdown “…due to the lack of parking and foot traffic.”  The property is for sale.  In Cambridge, music venue T. T. The Bear’s Club shutdown.

Michigan: After 51 years shoe store Alfano’s Stride Rite shutting down.  But wait, it’s not just one store but five stores spread across the state: “Outlets are really affecting business…..it’s got to come to an end.”-Nick Alfano, owner

Minnesota: In Madelia, crime is being blamed for the shutdown of The Furniture Clinic after the inventory was destroyed by vandals.  What makes this worse is that the owner of the store recently started the business after he lost his regular job due to losing his eyesight!

Montana: What was that about ObamaCare increasing access to healthcare? ObamaCare forcing Lolo Family Practice to shutdown.  It’s the only medical care in Lolo.  People will have to travel to the next town for healthcare.

Nebraska: Be’ne Pizza and Pasta shutting down after 14 years.

New Jersey: Four Pathmark grocery stores in Middlesex County shutting down due to parent company A&P’s bankruptcy.

New Mexico: In Santa Fe, after 33 years Robert R. Bailey Clothiers shutting down.  The family owners decided it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease.

New York: In Manhattan, Bis.Co.Latte shutdown their brick-n-mortar store, blaming greedy property owners jacking up the rent by more than 35%!  Their handmade biscotti is still available over the internet.

Ohio: On the corner of Healthy and Happiness, Walgreens admitted they’re shutting down their Chillicothe store.  It’s part of the plan to shutdown 2-hundred stores by the end of the year.

Pennsylvania:  ObamaCare causing Geisinger Medical Group to consolidate operations and shutdown their Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in August.

Texas: Singapore based Flextronics laying off 168 people at its Fort Worth factory by the end of 2015!  In 2014 they laid off 223 people at their newly opened Motorola factory, also in Fort Worth!

Washington: Those 26-thousand layoffs couldn’t stop Redmond based Microsoft from losing $3.2-billion USD in its 4th quarter!

West Virginia: Animal Friends of Barbour County warned it will shutdown due to lack of funding.  When you realize how many animals the shelter saves it’s a sad reflection of the bad economy: “Last year we took in 1,120 animals. That’s pretty evenly divided as far as dogs and cats. We run and operate as a no-kill facility.”-Carol Talbot

Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin‘s two year Colleges eliminating 83 jobs by consolidating administration jobs.  It’s blamed on Right to Work you over gov’na Scott Walker.

19 – 20 July 2015: “significant downturn in business”

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

“significant downturn in business”: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 19 – 20 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

British empire’s United Kingdom based Too Big to Jail Barclays will eliminate 30-thousand jobs around the World, including in the United States, by the end of 2017!  Administrators are suddenly calling those positions “redundant”, but the real reason for the massive layoffs is an attempt to double the stock price of the failing bank.

Colorado: Software company Intuit now shutting down their Denver call center, 59 jobs lost.  It’s part of last month’s announcement that the California based company will eliminate 399 jobs!

Delaware: The now bankrupt A&P grocery chain will shutdown two Delaware stores.

Florida: Vizen sushi restaurant shutdown.  Critics said it was good but too expensive.  Moore’s Stonecrab shutdown, reports say a new restaurant will open, a year and a half from now!

Indiana: In Fort Wayne, after 39 years Abby Brown’s Candy Shoppe shutting down in August, due to the death of one of the co-owners.

Iowa: In Spencer, hydraulic pump make Eaton laid off 49 employees, the rest of the factory’s employees will be furloughed for a week in September.  Administrators blame the bad economy.

Massachusetts: In Somerville, after 46 years Johnny D’s Uptown Restaurant and Music Club shutting down by 2016.  The owner wants to ‘repurpose’ the property as a mixed retail-residential building .

Michigan: In Escabana, after 30 years the Record Rack shutdown due to the co-owners’ retirement.

New Jersey: Montvale based Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P) now chapter 11 bankrupt busted (again) and will shutdown at least 25 stores and sell-off at least 120.  The Montvale HQ building was put up for sale back in January.  At least ten New Jersey A&P grocery stores will shutdown.

New York: It’s been revealed that NYC based Time received $10-million USD in taxpayer funded grants and incentives to prevent the publisher from moving to New Jersey. But according to a WNTC report, the taxpayer funded bribe allows Time to eliminate 9-hundred jobs!   NYC based radio broadcaster Westwood One laid off 50 people across several states as part of consolidation with Cumulus Media.   The now bankrupt A&P grocery chain will shutdown five New York stores.

Pennsylvania:  The now bankrupt A&P grocery chain will shutdown eight Pennsylvania stores.  A local TV station interviewed people about what they thought, many said they thought the A&P grocery prices were too high.  In Berwyn, the Pathmark grocery store is shutting down. In Kennett Square, the Super Fresh grocery store is shutting down.

South Carolina: In Charleston, after eight years Social Restaurant & Wine Bar being replaced by a restaurant targeting old fogy tourists: “The dynamic of this neighborhood has changed drastically. We’ve lost our late night. We’ve lost the younger crowd that helped keep the lights on. East Bay now has an older demographic that’s more touristy.”-Brad Ball, owner

South Dakota: Rip off discounter Big Lots shutting down their five years old Sioux Falls store in August, 17 jobs lost.

Texas: In Houston, Ohio based TimkenSteel laying off 39 employees due to “significant downturn in business” with the petroleum industry.  The Ohio company laid off 52 people outside of Texas, back in March, for the same reason.

Washington: In Seattle, “provider of travel and hospitality services” Bags will eliminate 190 jobs in August!

18 July 2015: “…they’re messing with people’s lives!”

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

“…how I will now make a living?” “…they’re messing with people’s lives!” Mom & Pop operators hint at new laws meant to shut them down!: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 18 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arkansas: In Paragould, after 33 years The Treasure House being forced to shutdown by August, the owner lamented “…how I will now make a living?” 

California: In Oakhurst, popular Grocery Discount Center shutting down in August. It’s blamed on the death of one of the owners.  Locals say the business will be missed: “I have watched them feed the poor, pray for the hurting … it’s like a family here …”-Debra Burnett

Colorado: Premier Bank has been seized by the FDIC, assets turned over to United Fidelity Bank.

Connecticut: Fairfeild based GE (General Electric) has eliminated hundreds of jobs since the beginning of the year on the grounds that revenues are going down, as well as selling off its financial ops, yet that hasn’t stop it from paying ‘investors’ $50-billion in dividends and buybacks, and now GE is about to spend $13.5-billion USD on the take over of electricity generation from France based Alstom: “We like this deal. It is our intention to really close the deal.”-Jeff Immelt, ceo

It sounds like GE’s true reason for eliminating hundreds of jobs and selling off sections of the company was all about raising cash to buyback stocks and takeover other companies.

Illinois: In Lincoln Park, after 36 years iconic dance club Neo lost its lease and is looking for a new home.  However, don’t blame the club owners, the property owners swear they offered Neo a “big drop” in rent in exchange for the dance club cleaning up its act: “You would go in and there was all kinds of dust and cobwebs and there were rats coming up in the floor behind the bar. I’ve got tenants upstairs who pay quite a lot of money in rent. You can’t have a shit-hole downstairs! It’s not fair to everybody else in the building.”-John Crombie, property owner

Louisiana: After 52 years clothier Belk Tallywood shutdown, 27 employees are supposedly being transfered to other Belk stores.

Minnesota: In Saint Paul, after 30 years the 7th Street Tavern shutting down by the end of the month.  It’s blamed on crashing sales due to crashing customer traffic at the mini-mall location.  Near Hastings, after about 60 years The Point restaurant shutdown. It’s been sold to convenience store/gas station operator SSG, who already owns the surrounding land.  Maplewood based 3M just eliminated another 51 jobs across the country, but this time it’s not military contract jobs.  3M is consolidating their filtration products business.

New York: In Elmsford, Pets Alive announced they must shutdown their animal shelter, blaming rising costs of operations and crashing revenue.  In Potsdam, after 37 years outdoor clothing and equipment store Wear On Earth shutting down by August.  Co-owner Shannon Klein said current business laws/regulations now work against mom & pop stores: “The business [Wear on Earth] is based on being owner-operated. There is no business left when the owner can’t do it anymore.  What was transferred to us cannot be transferred to a future owner due to changes in the industry during the time we owned the business…”

Ohio: In Genoa, after 61 years family owned Samsen Furniture and Design shutdown, it’s being replaced with a new franchise operation.  In Merle Hay, the 45 years old Earl May garden center forced to shutdown due to “…we lost our lease and will not be able to continue at this location.”  On Buckeye Lake, both The Copper Penny and the Sailor Joe’s restaurants shutting down.  The owner blames it on crashing water levels in the channels that feed the lake, caused by state administrators who supposedly did it to make repairs to a dam.  The owner regrets buying the restaurants just a few years ago: “They didn’t take away just the boating; they’re messing with people’s lives!….80% of our business is boats…”-Jeff Reed

Texas:  In Corpus Christi, supplier to public and private schools Rainbow Books shutting down after 31 years.  The owners are selling it to help fund their retirement, but they hope they can find a buyer who will continue the business.

Wisconsin: In Superior, Too Big to Jail banks forcing Norm’s Beer & Brats to shutdown by refusing to renew the mortgage (debt financing).  The owner hopes to find a new location soon.

17 July 2015: “…it’s all about money now.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

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

Business/Economics, Idaho

“I’m not going to put a gun to anybody’s head & make them buy a lottery ticket…” Powerball sales crash?: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 16 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: Another coal miner going down, this time Walter Energy now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  The bankruptcy will affect mining ops in Alabama and West Virginia, but will not affect operations outside the U.S.

California:   In Camarillo, Semtech laying off 8% of employees. Back in 2014 they eliminated 6% of their jobs.  It’s blamed on crashing sales: “Given our recent revenue decline driven primarily by weak Korean smartphone demand, we have made the very difficult decision to reduce our headcount and operating expenses across a majority of Semtech’s locations.”-Mohan Maheswaran, CEO

Connecticut: ObamaCare forced non-profit Eastern Connecticut Health Network to layoff 24 employees, eliminate 14 vacant positions and cut hours for other employees.  It’s directly blamed on lower Medicaid reimbursements and higher taxes.  In Rocky Hill, news reports revealed that KS Partners replaced about 20 of their long term career janitors with cheap migrant workers: “They put in new people. No benefits. Minimum wage.”-Domingo Guerrero, 16 year employee replaced with new immigrant labor

News reports say administrators with KS Partners refuse to comment.

Idaho: KPVI revealed that Walmart was ripping off a Pocatello business.  The owners of Pocatello based American Built Apparel (not associated with troubled California based American Apparel) discovered Walmart was selling shirts with their logo on it, but they weren’t made by them!  The shirts were made by a company Walmart contracts with, called Hybrid Apparel, and Hybrid Apparel decided to settle the lawsuit brought by American Built Apparel.  American Built owner Nicholas Carson said the U.S. corporate system is unfair: “You jump through all the hoops, jump through the legal system to get a federal trademark to protect your business, and a big company comes in and steps all over it!”-KPVI interview

Pocatello administrators have revealed their hyped up deal to bring a major employer to Pocatello Regional Airport is dead, for now.  Administrators have been claiming since November that an unnamed company code named Project Pipe was about to set up shop at the airport.  One problem, the operation might be in conflict with FAA environmental regulations.  The so called Project Pipe company has announced they are not going to wait any longer for a decision by the FAA regarding the environmental impact of the project, and will go elsewhere to set up shop: “Project Pipe needed to be in place by a certain date. We were already five months behind schedule and we were getting bogged down in the environmental review process.”-David Allen, Pocatello Regional Airport press release

‘Pokey’ administrators will now play a shell game to rezone some of the airport land as no longer being airport land, to avoid the FAA rules: “We are taking the necessary steps to remove about 900 acres of land from the official Airport property map. This land was already released by the FAA for non-aeronautical use and can be removed from the map under proper procedures. The City will still own the land, it will still be annexed into the City limits and it will still have advantageous access to air transportation. But once it is no longer Airport property, it no longer falls under FAA rules. When future projects are identified, the City would only have to ensure the project does not create an aviation hazard or otherwise impact aviation.”-David Allen

Right to Work you over gov’na Butch Otter is forcing taxpayers to give ‘lawmakers’ multi-million dollar retirements!  Idaho Freedom Foundation reports that Dean Cameron of Rupert has been promised $1.4-million USD if he stays in office for only four years!  Bob Geddes of Soda Springs is being promised a little more than $1-million if he remains the Department of Administration’s director for a mere 30 months!  Gov’na Otter told Boise radio interviewers that his offers of huge pensions to at least 11 ‘officials’ were “miniscule”!  Powerball Lottery administrators in The Gem State have revealed that their kickbacks to the state are crashing.  The state dividend from Powerball fell by 8% compared to 2014.  It’s the first time the lottery dividend dropped from the previous year.  Right to Work you over gov’na Butch Otter stopped short of mandating lottery ticket purchases: “I’m not going to put a gun to anybody’s head and make them buy a lottery ticket…We can do marketing; we can encourage people in a responsible way.”

Interestingly lottery administrators said they were not going to spend anymore money on advertising, when you couple that with Otter’s statement it suggests that Idaho taxpayers will be funding the “marketing” Otter proposes.  And now for an update on the scandal ridden and now defunct Idaho Education Network (IEN); news reports say gov’na Otter and his cronies spent at least 1-million taxpayer dollars paying attorneys to defend the IEN!  This is on top of the millions of taxpayer dollars that will be spent settling lawsuits with Syringa Wireless, Education Networks of America and Qwest Communications!

Missouri: Bermuda based Bunge shutting down its cooking oil packaging factory in Bradley by 2016, about 210 jobs lost!  Administrators are consolidating operations.

Ohio:  Fiat-Chrysler announced they are considering shutting down their Jeep Wrangler factory in Toledo. However, it’s not due to bad sales but because the 2017 model Wrangler is so radically different they must re-tool the factory to build it.  The factory could be closed for at least 60 days.   Owens Community College revealed what I call massive Disappearing Students Syndrome.  In 2009 they had 23,606 students, by January 2015 they were down to 11,719!  Despite the crashing enrollment, administrators claim they will not layoff anymore employees (they’ve already eliminated 50 positions, and ask employees to take time off without pay).

Rhode Island: In Woonsocket, J’s Deli shutdown due to lack of employees, despite the fact the owner pays more than minimum wage: “Due to our repeated unsuccessful efforts to hire a full team of quality associates to join us at this location of J’s Deli, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend operations at this location only.”-sign on door

Texas: After taking-over 99 years old competitor Forest Oil, Houston based Sabine Oil & Gas now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Administrators blame low oil prices, but maybe it’s really the $2.2-billion in pro forma debt as a result of taking over Forest Oil.  It’s been revealed that L3 Communications has laid off 207 people at the Corpus Christi Army Depot!  Those layoffs took place over the past six months and more could be coming due to L3 losing its tax-sucking military contract.

Virginia: In Buena Vista, packaging label maker Mundet-Hermetite is shutting down, at least 40 jobs lost by September.

Wisconsin: In Superior, after 16 years Joe’s Pagoda restaurant shutdown.

15 July 2015: “The whole market is surprised at the rapid plunge…”

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

“The whole market is surprised at the rapid plunge…” Union Pacific, BNSF & Ford to kill thousands of jobs! Micron turning Chinese?: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 15 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alaska: Maxine’s Firewood Bistro shutdown, an unnamed employee said the owners were moving to a new location.

California: Florida owned San Mateo based 11 Main internet selling site eliminating about 150 jobs!  11 main was once owned by China’s Alibaba, who sold it to Harris Corporation’s OpenSky last month.  Unnamed 11 Main employees report that the San Mateo HQ is shutting down.  Prior to the Alibaba sale of 11 Main to OpenSky, Alibaba laid off dozens of people at 11 Main as well as U.S. subsidiaries Auctiva and Vendio.  San Diego County has decided to shutdown its child prison known as the Juvenile Ranch Facility in Campo.  The good news is that administrators blame a lack of child prisoners (but really they’re trying to save $700-thousand USD per year in operating costs).  In Napa, Fagiani’s Bar and The Thomas Restaurant shutdown to make room for a New York based property developer’s bigger restaurant.  In Half Moon Bay, after 40 years the Bay Book store shutdown.

Connecticut: After two years the owner of S&S Sweet Treats shutting down her Torrington ice cream shop in September: “Essentially there is a lack of support for small businesses and a small business simply cannot exist without its community’s support.”-Tina Pesillo

Florida: Triangle Service of South Florida apparently lost their trash contract with the Tampa International Airport, they issued a WARN saying 249 jobs will be lost by the end of September!  The Red Cross shutting down their West Bradenton ops and consolidating to Lakewood Ranch.  In Sarasota, for the second time in as many years the Oriental Buffet shutdown for failing health inspections.   Florida has had a spat of restaurant shutdowns due to health code violations.  Vero Beach based Piper Aircraft announced “As a direct result of the slowdown in sales, Piper Aircraft….will require that the current workforce be reduced. While the total number of impacted employees is not yet confirmed, the company expects that the reduction will involve approximately 15 percent to 20 percent of the current workforce.”

Hawaii: After eight years Hank’s Haute Dogs will shutdown in August.

Idaho: Boise based micro chip maker Micron is about to be sold-off.  The potential buyer is China’s Tsinghua Unigroup, which is offering $23-billion for the troubled company.  If Micron agrees the deal must be accepted by the Committee on Foreign Investment.   In Meridian, after 26 years Miss Tami’s restaurant shutting down.  The owner said the economy is forcing them to scale down to a catering/drive thru operation only.  Payette County administrators have a plan to take advantage of neighboring Oregon’s new legalized marijuana; instead of jailing pot heads that cross the border into Idaho they simply fine them.  They save money by not packing their county jail full of weedies, and they’ll make money off the thousands of fines they expect to collect.

Iowa: Interstate Power and Light-Alliant Energy could shutdown five coal fired electricity generating power plants, hundreds of jobs lost!  Iowa’s second largest electricity maker must also spend $7-million in pollution controls on other coal plants, or switching to natural gas. It’s the result of being fined by the U.S. EPA and Department of Justice for violating pollution regulations.

Kansas: Wichita State University shutting down their 35 years old Lake Afton Public Observatory in August, due to lack of funding.  Also, the number of people who look to the stars has crashed by 50% compared to public attendance when it first opened in 1981.

Louisiana: News reports say that presidential hopeful gov’na Bobby Jindal killed 8,442 state classified jobs since he became gov’na in 2008!   That number does not include unclassified positions that were also eliminated.

Maine: After 28 years Videoport shutting down, owner Bill Duggan said “We can’t raise prices anymore, because of competition, so it’s hard to keep up with costs.”

Michigan: What auto industry recovery?  Despite reporting profits Ford is threatening to shutdown its massive factory in Wayne and move production of C-Max trucks and Focus cars to Mexico, 4-thousand jobs could be lost!

Minnesota: South African based Sappi Fine Paper shutting down their Cloquet paper mill for a one week furlough “Due to global market conditions…”.   In 2014 Sappi eliminated 110 U.S. jobs!

Missouri: Canadian news reports revealed that Kansas City based Kansas City Southern Railway will layoff at least 110 people!  Women’s homeless shelter Shalom House shutting down and being sold-off after 47 years.  Administrators blame crashing donations for forcing them to abandon 4-hundred women!

Nebraska: Canadian news reports revealed that Omaha based Union Pacific Railroad will furlough at least 1-thousand employees!  Union Pacific is the largest U.S. railroad operator by sales.  The Canadian news reports said it wasn’t just Union Pacific but several railroad companies across North America will be eliminating jobs due to crashing sales caused by the oil and agricultural industries: “The whole market is surprised at the rapid plunge, especially in coal volumes. The challenge is trying to align the size of the network in real time with demand that’s shifting in surprising ways.”-Keith Schoonmaker, Morningstar railroad analyst

Nevada: In Reno, clothiers Gap and Ann Taylor shutting down in The Summit Mall.  The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority eliminating 45 jobs as it switches to contractors to do the work, in an attempt to close a $1.8-million shortfall.

New Jersey: God refuses to stop ‘his’ 54 years old Mount Laurel Monastery from shutting down. Monks say it’s due to lack of work, however, local journalists discovered the property has been zoned for residential use and valued at $1.3-million, and church administrators had conducted an audit of assets on the property. Sounds like the false christians are about to sell their souls, I mean property for money.  Food flavor additive maker Frutarom shutting down their North Bergen operations by August, 50 jobs lost.  It’s blamed on the millions of dollars spent taking over British empire United Kingdom company FoodBlenders and Belgian company  Taiga International.  Sears Holdings announced the Vineland Kmart will shutdown in October, 74 jobs lost.  In the land of presidential candidate gov’na Chris Christie, the state Supreme Court revealed it is truly an economically Failed State and gave local governments the go-ahead to eliminate union jobs at will: “….municipalities acted for reasons of economy based on municipal fiscal distress existing at the time, rendering the management choice to use a temporary or permanent layoff solution one that constituted a managerial prerogative not subject to negotiation.”-Jaynee LaVecchia, Supreme Court judge

New York: NYC based drugs pusher Pfizer is shutting down their 50 years old drugs factory in Navi Mumbai/Thane, India. Company administrators revealed they halted drugs production at the factory back in 2013, affecting at least 212 jobs!  Reports reveal that the computer crash at the New York Stock Exchange might have been caused by the mass layoffs made by the new owner of the NYSE.  In 2012 InterContinental Exchange (ICE) took over the NYSE, and some reports say as many as 8-hundred people were laid off, including many techies!  NYC based IBT Media owned Newsweek will end its European hard copy publication just 18 months after it started!  Newsweek’s Europe/Middle East/Africa edition will apparently be edited in NYC instead of London, U.K.: “We felt that this was an important moment to create a more unified editorial platform…”-IBT Media

North Carolina: ObamaCare forcing Winston-Salem based Novant Health to layoff 4-hundred people!  Administrators said Novant Health is “financially healthy and strong today” but that ongoing “declining reimbursements and many other challenges” caused by ObamaCare are forcing them to re-organize.

North Dakota: In Fargo, Metro Drugs shutting down by the end of the month, blaming crashing sales despite the recent oil boom that skyrocketed the population.

Ohio: Yet another Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples store shutting down, this time in Moraine.  It’s preparation for the pending merger of Staples and Office Depot.  Staples will shutdown a total of 225 stores while Office Depot will shutdown 135, by the end of the year!

Texas:  Canadian news reports revealed that Forth Worth based Warren Buffet owned BNSF Railway laid off an undisclosed number of employees, due to crashing sales caused by the oil and agricultural industries.  BNSF is the second largest U.S. rail operator by sales.

Utah: In Logan, the World’s biggest maker of fitness equipment Icon Fitness & Health will layoff 4-hundred people by October!  Administrators blame competition and crashing profits.  Local news reports say local police were called to the factory before the announcement was made, as part of factory production was suddenly shutdown.

Virginia: In Portsmouth, the civil war between the Sheriff and the Courthouse is ramping up.  A few months ago the Sheriff was reprimanded for trying to hoist the U.S. flag on the Courthouse property.  Then the Sheriff was forced to layoff 25 deputies, so he chose those deputies who specifically handle Courthouse security.  The result is long lines of citizens trying to get into the Courthouse to conduct legal business.

Washington: So much for legalized pot!  The city of Seattle has created new licensing laws that will result in dozens of marijuana shops being shutdown!  It sounds likes city administrators aren’t happy with the explosion of new ganja shops since 2013, and neither are the owners of several ganja shops that opened prior to 2013 (guess they can’t handle the competition).  On top of that, King County administrators revealed they’ve shutdown 15 marijuana shops in the past few weeks!

Wisconsin: In Milwaukee, after two years the now bankrupt Blue Jacket restaurant shutting down in ten days, their chef already quit.     In Sturgeon Bay, God refuses to stop ‘his’ United Methodist Church’s addict recovery Kimberly House from shutting down.  It’s blamed on crashing donations, and crashing funding from United Way.  The city of Madison warned of mass layoffs due to a shortfall of $7.9-million: “Unfortunately because of the situation we’re in, it’s really going to be incumbent upon people to focus on what they want to retain in terms of city services and city programs rather than exploring new areas.”-Paul Soglin, mayor

14 July 2015: “I sold the land…to put food on the table.”

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.” 

U.S.

VA culled more than a quarter million U.S. veterans!

15 July 2015 (22:16 UTC-07 Tango 01, 14 July 2015)/24 Tir 1394/28 Ramadan 1436/30 Gui-Wie 4713

It’s been revealed by a whistleblower that the U.S. Veterans Affairs has killed off 238-thousand veterans who needed healthcare but were put on hold instead!

According to the once secret data that’s 1 out of every 3 veterans on the healthcare  waiting list!  The Huffington Post reports they were given the internal data by a man working for the VA Health Eligibility Center in Georgia.

The culling of U.S. veterans will increase because, if you’ve read my latest Job Losses report, the VA says it will shutdown dozens of VA hospitals!   

So, the VA has managed to kill more military personnel than those killed in Iraq, Afghanistan and who knows elsewhere!

Business/Economics, Idaho

“I sold the land…to put food on the table.” California company to kill 4,000 jobs! VA to close more hospitals!: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 14 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: Sears Holdings announced the Bel Air Mall Sears Store and Auto Center will shutdown between August and September, more than 100 jobs lost!

Arkansas: Jefferson County going the way of Greece, announcing that they will barley be able to pay their employees for work in July.  County administrators warned that layoffs for ten employees are coming due to crashing tax revenues.  Administrators blame their own dumb-ass department heads for ignoring a hiring freeze ordered two years ago: “Now we are in a tough situation.”-Dutch King, County Judge

California: In Sacramento, after almost 100 years Porter-Sprague Auto Shop shutdown.  The owner’s secret for success is “good vodka.”  In Fullerton, after 20 years Steamers Jazz Club & Cafe shutdown. The owner admitted he’s been trying to sell the place for the past four years, apparently he finally sold it to a brewery. San Diego based semiconductor maker Qualcomm warned of massive layoffs; 4-thousand!  More details will be revealed by the end of the month.  Qualcomm eliminated 1-thousand 4-hundred jobs back in December!  It’s blamed on the crashing computer chip market.  City administrators of Atwater revealed that Sears Holdings will shutdown the Kmart in October.

Colorado: Business owners in Idaho Springs say construction work on Interstate 70 is killing their local economy.  Despite promises to have the road construction done in time for the tourist season, the road work is still ongoing, ever since Autumn 2014.   Local news reports say sales for Idaho Springs shop owners are down 60%!

Georgia: Shaw Industries shutting down their Augusta Evergreen Carpet recycling operations, 70 jobs affected.  Recycling ops are being moved to a new facility.

Idaho: In yet another example of failed state ‘lawmakers’ wasting taxpayer money, The Gem State now owes Syringa Wireless $930-thousand USD!  It’s connected to the controversial and now defunct Idaho Education Network scandal.   Syringa sued the state after being blocked from the IEN contract.  Of course state taxpayer funded lawyers are appealing the case, but wait there’s more!  Education Networks of America and Qwest Communications are demanding at least $6-million for unpaid work they did on the IEN project!  Idaho ‘lawmakers’ have a history of wasting millions of taxpayer funding on attorneys.  The Right to Work you over gov’na Butch Otter refused to comment.

Illinois:  In Chicago, Cyrano’s Farm Kitchen has been sold and will shutdown in August, the now former owner saying “I just need to move on.”  Obama regime stoogie Rahm Emanuel warns that Chicago Public Schools is facing another $60-million in cuts on top of the recently announced 1-thousand 4-hundred layoffs!  He said while 2-hundred schools are reporting student enrollment increases they’re being outpaced by a mass exodus of students at more than 4-hundred other CPS schools!  CPS is short $1-billion in taxpayer funding!  Also in Chicago, for-profit DeVry Education Group shutting down their office in September, 90 jobs lost.  The failing higher education outfit also returned $100-thousand of local taxpayer financing to the city.  After warnings from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union, it’s been revealed that Eastern Illinois University has not renewed contracts for at least 10 faculty members, and 26 contracted faculty members have not been given teaching assignments.  Three faculty members have had their hours cut in half.  In Joliet, Glasscock Farm shutdown their corn growing ops. The owner said he had to sell most of the property as a matter economic survival: “…I sold the land at 125 times what my father paid for it back in 1959, and now I have an inheritance to put food on the table.”-Scott Glasscock

Indiana: Dean Foods (aka Dean’s) issued a WARN saying it will shutdown its Rochester factory, 138 jobs lost in October!

Iowa:  In another example of Failed State-ism, state ‘lawmakers’ want to eliminate prison programs and conduct mass layoffs of prison personnel in order to save money, despite the fact an audit showed at least $1-million is wasted on perks for top prison managers!

Louisiana: In New Orleans, four Freret Street businesses shutdown; Freret Garden Center, Freret Auto Service Center, Jaques Clothing and Full Blossom Chic.

Massachusetts: JCPenney is shutting down their eight years old Natick Mall store in August, 95 jobs lost.

Michigan: Texas based Pier 1 Imports shutting down yet another store, this time in Genoa Township.  It’s part of their plan to eliminate at least 1-hundred stores in three years.

Minnesota: California based clothier Gap and Gap Kids shutting down their stores in the IDS Center.  It’s all part of their plan to shutdown 175 stores.

Missouri: Software company Answers Corporation eliminated 1-hundred jobs last week!  It was revealed by former employees. It’s the result of Answers’ takeover of Michigan tech company ForeSee.

Montana: Stillwater Mining laid off 11 employees.  It’s blamed on crashing prices of platinum and palladium.

New York: In Buffalo, California clothier Gap announced it will shutdown its 39 years old Boulevard Mall store.  Gap stores in Syracuse and Ithaca are also being shutdown.  The city of Tonawanda shutdown the Wheeler Street fire station.  Administrators hope their budget shortfall is temporary.  NYC based CBS Radio (formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation) eliminated 2-hundred jobs across its U.S. network, and the latest reports say more heads are gonna roll!  Some of the news reports I’ve read say radio personalities who’ve been on air for at least 20 years have been laid off, other reports said some of the stations affected are the top ranked in their market, yet I found no explanation for the mass layoffs.  Another report I read said CBS Radio has no massive debt, but might be prepping itself for sale, or station swap, to a company called Entercom.

North Carolina: Stokes County School Board voted to shutdown their Francisco Elementary School.  It’s blamed on what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome, enrollment is down to 50 students.

Pennsylvania: Consol Energy conducted a new round of layoffs.  The news is so new that it’s unknown how many people got canned this time.  Back in April 190 people lost their jobs!  Consol administrators also said that due to the Supreme Court’s ruling on ObamaCare they will end healthcare benefits for retired employees!  After 15 years the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network shutting down.  Local news reports said the Network didn’t explain why.

South Dakota: Printing company Midstates laid off 55 employees last week, blaming crashing sales.

Texas: Houston based Noble Energy (the company heavily involved in Israel’s Leviathan gas fields, which is the true cause of unrest in the region) announced it will shutdown the Rosetta Resources HQ, 306 jobs affected!   Noble Energy took over Rosetta Resources back in May.   Once California based but Germany owned Fireman’s Fund Insurance shutdown their Dallas office.  Local news reports say at one time their Ross Tower location employed 4-hundred people!  Fireman’s Fund was taken over by Germany’s Allianz in the 1990s. But since the implementation of ObamaCare, Allianz has been carving up and selling off Fireman’s Fund.

Virginia: Norfolk based Freedom Home & Electronics shutting down 11 stores near military bases.  The company targets military personnel.  Administrators blame increasing rents, and decreasing profit margins that cannot be offset by increasing sale volumes.

Washington: Spokane based Ambassadors Group shutting down by the end of 2015.  The travel company has been laying off employees for years now, last year they were down to 170.  Administrators blame it on crashing sales.

Washington DC: The Veterans Affairs announced it will shutdown more VA hospitals due to a lack of $2.5-billion in taxpayer funding.  VA administrators claim they’re forced to use $3-billion in Veterans Choice funding to make up the difference.

Wisconsin:  What construction industry recovery? After 38 years construction company TCI issued a WARN saying they’re done!  39 jobs already eliminated and more to come as the company shuts down in December.

13 July 2015: “prepare for a steady decline”

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.”

U.S.

Flesh eating microbes ramp up their feasting on humans in Florida!

14 July 2015 (22:31 UTC-07 Tango 01, 13 July 2015)/23 Tir 1394/27 Ramadan 1436/29 Gui-Wie 4713

“The department recommends that persons with open wounds or broken skin should avoid exposure to warm salt or brackish waters. Open wounds include cuts, scrapes or other abrasions. Most at risk for Vibrio vulnificus infections are those with underlying health concerns, particularly chronic liver disease, kidney disease or weakened immune system.”-Florida Health Department

Local news reports say at least 14 people have been attacked by ‘flesh eating’ bacteria, and seven have died so far this year.  In 2013, 41 Floridians were attacked and 12 died, meaning these little buggers (which went on a rampage after the 2006 BP oil spill) have a high kill rate.   And these numbers are just for the Gulf state of Florida.

Yet again, Florida & Flesh Eating bacteria 

Business/Economics

“prepare for a steady decline” as “more planned layoffs than in all of 2014.” Immigrant Specialists code for Slave Traffickers! NAZI Virginia shutdown, thousands of evil jobs lost!: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 13 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: Another oil service company down the drain, but not because of prices.  Mobile based Signal international is accused of joining the growing list of U.S. companies being caught using slave wage trafficked workers.  Signal lost a $20-million USD lawsuit filed by former workers from India, who were trafficked into Mississippi.  Now the oil rig maintainer is chapter 11 bankrupt busted.   Administrators with Signal claim ignorance because they contracted out the hiring of foreign workers to ‘immigrant specialists’.

Arizona: In Flagstaff, taxpayer funded Coconino County dental clinic shutting down by the end of September.  Is crashing patient participation being caused by ObamaCare?  County administrators say in the past year about 50% of patients never showed up for their scheduled appointments!  The patient turnout is so low now that the only county public health dentist quit!

California: Amy’s Baking Company shutting down.  The owners blame the landlord for complaining about “weird odors”.

Connecticut: After 32 years the Red Barn Restaurant shutdown, no explanation.

Georgia: Pediatria Healthcare blames ObamaCare for forcing them to shutdown five of their daycare operations for children with medical problems!  Administrators say since 2013 ‘reforms’ to Medicaid resulted in massive funding cuts and affected patient referrals.  ObamaCare is forcing the families of the “medically fragile” children to care for them at home, on their own: “DCH is working alongside the provider to transition all children to in-home skilled nursing support services. (DCH) is taking all necessary steps to ensure that the parents and guardians are connected to and able to access the full scope of Medicaid services available to their children.”– Department of Community Health

Illinois: Health insurance giant Blue Cross Blue Shield began laying off 60 employees across the state.  Apparently those jobs are being contracted out so the ObamaCare insurance company can make bigger profits for the shareholders. The Alton Animal Control Department shutting down in August.  City administrators are trying to cut $80-thousand by contracting out the work.

Iowa:  Iowa Student Loan lost their government contract, 60 jobs gone.   Administrators would only say that their “…administration of the program did not live up to goals described when the legislation was approved by Congress…”

Kentucky: In Benton, after 40 years the King Brothers grocery store shutdown.

Massachusetts: Gordon College just added seven professors to the previously announced 14 layoffs.  It’s blamed on what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.

Michigan: In Ann Arbor, tech company ForeSee conducted a second round of layoffs, refusing to confirm how many people are now jobless.  Local news reports say as many as 37 employees were laid off.  Back in January as many as 70 people were laid off.  It’s blamed on ForeSee being taken over by Answers Corporation.  The Bellaire Village Council announced they “have to prepare for a steady decline” in tax revenues due to the collapsing mine industry.  The village also voted to require cash or credit cards for utility payments, no more checks.

New Jersey: Atlantic City has warned all its union employees of massive layoffs this Autumn.

New York: Too Big to Jail KeyBank shutting down their City of Newburgh office by October.  After 13 years the Lit Lounge will shutdown by September, one co-owner blames Millennials who “don’t go out”.   NYC based Barnes & Noble will shutdown all Nook stores outside of the U.S. and U.K.  The book seller will remove their Windows based content and start refunding customers their money.   After seven money losing years the Tourism Center in Queens is shutting down, blamed on lack of tourists.  In 2012 an employee revealed that the majority of visitors to the Center are residents of Queens!

Ohio: In Toledo, God refuses to stop ‘his’ Good Shepherd Parish from shutting down in August.  They lost 65% of their congregation to the Rapture (well, they went somewhere)!

Pennsylvania:  Macy’s is shutting down their Pittsburgh store by the end of September.  They sold their iconic 128 years old 13 story building to a real estate company.  170 jobs affected!

Texas: In Pasadena, the Sun Products household cleaning products factory shutting down in August because “the chemical manufacturing assets” are being sold-off.  115 jobs lost!

Virginia:  The largest employer in Amherst County, Central Virginia Training Center, is shutting down.  Layoffs start this October, more than 1-thousand jobs will be lost by 2020!  But wait, that’s the tip of the iceberg; four of the five taxpayer funded Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Training Centers are being shutdown because of what was revealed in a $2-billion 2012 lawsuit brought by the federal government!  Some people are afraid their disabled relatives will die without the services of the Training Center, even though the 2012 federal lawsuit accused Virginia of “needlessly warehousing” undesirable (disabled) people instead of providing proper medical care.    Here’s a history lesson of why Training Center is evil; NAZI Germany used Virginia’s Training Center as a template for creating one of their ‘final solutions’ for “inferior races”!

Wisconsin: After 65 years the National Ace Hardware on North 4th Street in Milwaukee shutting down.  The Right to Work you over gov’na Scott Walker‘s (and his minion’s) plan to create jobs has done the opposite according to American Bridge 21st Century: “At the halfway point of 2015, Wisconsin employers have already notified the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) of more planned layoffs than in all of 2014.

As of June 30, state employers have notified DWD they will be laying off a total of 6,685 employees. That is higher than the total number for both 2012 (6,511) and 2014 (6,186).

At the current pace Wisconsin would see more than 13,000 planned layoffs announced in 2015, the highest of any year under Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wisconsin). The previous high during the Walker administration was just over 9,000 in 2011, his first year in office.”

10 – 12 July 2015: “It was a whole lot easier…up to 2006.”

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

Walmart kills 1,000 more jobs! “It was a whole lot easier…up to 2006.”: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 10 – 12 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona:  New York based perfume maker Coty eliminating 205 jobs at its philosophy believe in miracles operations in Phoenix!

Arkansas: New rumors say Bentonville based Walmart-Sam’s Club eliminating 1-thousand HQ jobs by November!  They already eliminated 50 HQ jobs back in February.  In June reports said Walmart was going to charge manufactures for the ‘privilege’ of having Walmart warehouse their products in Walmart stores!   Back in May news reports out of California said Walmart eliminated 2-thousand 2-hundred jobs in The Golden State!  About 429 jobs were lost in Florida!  If Walmart is the ‘bellwether’ of the U.S. economy then there ain’t no recovery.

California: In Lake Tahoe, after two years Tom Wohrman’s Sports is shutting down and moving to Big Bear Lake.  In San Jose, Maxim Integrated issued a shutdown WARN, 150 jobs lost by March 2016!  In Monterey, McGraw Hill Education issued a layoff WARN, 137 jobs lost by the end of August!   In Palo Alto, Hewlett Packard (HP) issued a late WARN revealing they laid off 65 people back in the middle of June.  Also in Palo Alto, ObamaCare forcing Bosch Healthcare Systems to shutdown by the end of September, 55 jobs lost.   In Carlsbad, ObamaCare medical device taxes forced medical device maker Alphatec Spine to layoff at least 99 employees!  ObamaCare forcing Long Beach Memorial Medical Center to layoff 88 employees by August. Boeing issued yet another layoff WARN, 56 jobs lost in Long Beach by September. In El Segundo, tax-sucking ‘security’ contractor Leidos issued a layoff WARN for September, 72 jobs lost.  In Los Angeles, Encompass Digital Media issued a shutdown WARN for September, 41 jobs lost.  Mountain View based Symantec continues to eliminate jobs, this time 60 people will become jobless by the beginning of August.  In Santa Maria, “customer care, technical support, billing inquiry, inbound sales and retention” Fusion Contacts Centers issued a shutdown WARN, 50 jobs lost in August.  Tech company KLA-Tencor issued a mass layoff WARN for their Milpitas ops, 213 jobs lost in September! A major utility company known for replacing U.S. citizens with foreign workers, Southern California Edison, issued yet another WARN.  This time they’re shutting down their San Clemente ops by September, at least 1-hundred jobs lost!   In Wilmington, State Fish Company shutting down by September, 76 jobs lost.  In San Diego, Bridgepoint Education laying off 22 people by September.  Also in San Diego, Washington based Microsoft laying off 129 people by September!   In San Francisco, once again British empire based U.S. tax-sucker BAE Systems issued layoff WARNs after the fact, revealing they laid off 82 people at the end of June.  Washington based Starbucks shutting down two Bay Bread operations in September.  The closure of Bay Bread’s South San Francisco and San Fernando bakeries will result in 171 people becoming jobless!  In Brentwood, it was discovered by local newsies that Cafe Röckenwagner quietly shutdown two weeks ago.

Iowa: The Ashford University shutting down its Clinton campus in May 2016, due to what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome: “Ashford’s Clinton campus has been unable to resolve its significant and ongoing enrollment shortfall, a trend that is especially troubling in today’s highly competitive environment.”-Gregory Geoffroy, board of trustees.

Minnesota: What automotive industry recovery?  Maker of cabs for heavy vehicles (and consoles for computers), Crenlo announced 30 people will be laid off by the end of the month.  It’s blamed on crashing sales.

New York: Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples shutting down yet another store, this time their Altamont Avenue store in Schenectady. In Staten Island, after 54 years restaurant supplier Twin Supply blaming the internet for the demise of their last brick-n-mortar store.  The owners should know, they began switching to internet sales in 2000: “In 2002 we took our trucks off the road, we sold two buildings and began to concentrate on the web. A lot of major corporations, and major hospitals are our customers.”

Ohio: The University of Akron announced a three years plan to eliminate at least 215 jobs!  What I call Disappearing Students Syndrome has caused the university to lose $60-million USD.   Another factor is the skyrocketing costs of employee healthcare costs caused by ObamaCare.  Administrators say they will renegotiate healthcare benefits with employees, meaning it will cost the employees more money for the same benefits.

Pennsylvania: In Ridley, Boeing revealed it laid off 49 people back in the middle of June.

Tennessee: In Nashville, after 19 years the bar stool capital of Middle Tennessee, Norbert’s Home Decor, shutting down in August.

Texas: In San Antonio, after 34 years advertising agency Bromley shutdown.  The owner wants to get a PhD in the shopping behavior of sheeple.

Virginia: Tax-sucker Newport News Shipbuilding warned employees of massive layoffs over the next year and a half, due to crashing orders from the U.S. Navy.

Washington: After nearly 70 years the Merry Go Round children’s store shutting down.  The current owner says something sinister happened to the U.S. economy in 2006: “It literally is just a completely different place now. Consumers these days are completely different than they’ve ever been, and the industry is tougher than it’s ever been. It was a whole lot easier to be a small business owner up to 2006.”-Molly Pressey

09 July 2015: No “fairy tale ending” just an “Irish wake”!

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.”