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International

What U.S. Sanctions? Iran loans Syria $1-billion! Syria bans the charging of interest on small loans! There’s a whole lot more!

10 July 2015 (11:37 UTC-07 Tango 01)/19 Tir 1394/23 Ramadan 1436/25 Gui-Wie 4713

For years we in the United States have been told how impactful U.S. economic sanctions against Iran have been.  Our main stream news media has no problem finding ‘experts’ who constantly tout that Iran “is suffering greatly under sanctions”, yet Iran has enough wealth to give Syria a $1-billion USD loan?

Syria’s government run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) also revealed that the loan was agreed to back in May.  The Syrian parliament ratified it this week.

Syria needs the loan due to the four years old U.S./NATO-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia-Israel backed ‘civil war’ causing the Syrian economy to crash by 50%!

In another move to spur their economy the Syrian parliament banned the charging of interest, and even fees, on small business loans for farmers.  Administrators don’t blame the U.S. led war, but say it’s due to the 2013-14 drought.  Farmers have until the end of 2015 to become current on their loan payments.

However, Syrian government economists admit that the U.S. led war against the elected Syrian government is the main reason for their economic difficulties.

NATO Member Turkey is also working against Syria by cutting off 40% of water supplies to northern Syrian farmers. Syrian agricultural administrators are now working with Iraq to provide new sources of water.

The Syrian government is also working to protect the transportation of newly harvested wheat and cotton.  Another option to help the farmers financially is the possible purchase of  harvests by the government itself.

Despite the war, Syria is hosting the Agricultural Veterinary Exhibition.  Syrian veterinary services are now an export commodity serving 42 countries.  The CEO of Al-Farabi Company claims his company has 2-hundred licensed products and is expanding exports to Europe.

Syria is also holding Food Expo 2015, administrators stated it was a protest against the U.S. led war: “The exhibition is a message that the Syrians are determined to continue production and work.”-Kamal Eddin Toma, Industry Minister

Of course there’s oil.   Oil production is slowly increasing since Syria has pushed the U.S. led insurgents out of oil producing regions. As of April petroleum oil production was at 9-thousand 5-hundred barrels, gas production at 15.6-million cubic meters, per day.  The latest news is that Syria and the South American country Venezuela are working to accelerate the opening of the joint refinery project known as Furqlus.

Back in the U.S. sanctions strapped Iran, a new massive bridge is being built from the mainland to the island of Qeshm, in the Persian Gulf.  It will be the longest bridge built by Iranian engineers and will have two lanes of wheeled vehicle traffic as well as a rail line.  The Qeshm bridge is part of a new economic corridor extending all the way north into Central Asia.  Qeshm island has massive amounts of iron ore.  Once the bridge is completed it’s hoped that 7-million metric tons of iron ore will be shipped out to steel factories throughout the region.

On top of that, the government which is supposedly struggling under U.S. sanctions is investing $2-billion USD into the South Pars Sangan iron ore mining project.  It’s expected to produce 17-million metric tons per year!  Iran’s iron ore/steel production is expected to increase by 100%!  Two Chinese companies are joining the massive iron ore extraction operations. Iran already exports 4-million metric tons of steel per year.

In March and April of 2015 Iranian exports hit $5-billion USD!  That does not included oil or gas!  NATO members Turkey and Italy join Pakistan and Oman as top buyers of Iranian products.

Speaking of U.S.-led NATO member Italy, a 3-hundred strong trade delegation is preparing to visit the Aryan (Iranian) country.  Administrators with Iran’s Trade Exhibition Company have revealed that a “number of American companies” are now exploring the possibility of setting up shop inside Iran.

Wait, there’s more!  Iranian airlines now have direct routes to the European Union and Russia.  Iranian fisheries have signed deals with Russia to export 28-thousand metric tons of fish to Russia in August.

What was that about U.S. sanctions?

 

Business/Economics, Idaho

No “fairy tale ending” just an “Irish wake”! Texas college fires employees for revealing the truth? : U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 09 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Despite obvious signs of a death spiral economy, the administrators of the Elk Grove Teen Center claim they’re shutting down because of a great economy!  News reports say 4-hundred poor teenagers take advantage of the program, but the administrators are now claiming they can’t justifiably stay open because those poor teenagers are no longer considered poor!? However, administrators also admitted that many of the poor teenagers that come to them for help are not part of the Elk Grove School District and therefore cannot be officially counted in their program!  After 31 years Video Journeys in Silver Lake shutdown:”…Video Journeys will not be getting a fairy-tale ending. The vibe in the place these days is akin to an Irish wake.”-The Hollywood Reporter

Florida: DS Services of America shutting down their Flowery Branch call center, an undisclosed number of people will be laid off as the company consolidates operations.  Local news reports said some employees knew back in April that they would lose their jobs, while others said it was a surprise.  After 70 years Fox’s Lounge (aka Fox’s Sharron Inn) shutting down, property speculators are tearing it down to build a hotel.

Georgia: In Valdosta, the Community Depot thrift store shutting down by the end of the month, blaming lack of community support (yeah, nobody has any money).

Hawaii: ObamaCare forcing the taxpayer funded Leahi Hospital and the taxpayer funded Maluhia Hospital to layoff 64 employees. Administrators said these layoffs, coupled with reducing the number of people seeking medical help, are their last resort in an attempt to prevent an all-out shutdown of the hospitals caused by drastic funding cuts: “We hope that the impacts for current patients will not be severe because we do hope that we will accomplish this by reducing new admissions.”-Linda Rosen, Hawaii Health Systems

Idaho: Liberty Publishers Service and Orbital Publishing have been banned from doing business in The Gem State.  The reason is that they are not ‘publishing’ companies but are debt collectors acting like magazine publishers!  They’ve operated under various names: Allied Publishers Services, Associated Publishers Network, Associated Publishers Services, Magazine Billing Network, Publishers Billing Association, Publishers Billing Exchange, Publishers Distribution Services, Publishers Periodical Services, Publishers Service Exchange and United Publishers Services.

Illinois: The Bunge North America grain elevator in Fulton shutting down by the end of the month: “Fulton requires a significant investment in its barge loading equipment to keep it operating effectively. It would not be cost effective to make the upgrade based on market conditions…”-Deb Seidel

Iowa: Berry Plastics continues its downward spiral, this time they’re shutting down their Iowa Falls factory, selling it to food producer Cargill.

New Jersey: 37 years old Park and Orchard restaurant sold off and will eventually be shutdown by new owner.

New York: Sterling National Bank issued layoff WARNs for at least 59 employees who will become jobless in October.  The Commerce restaurant shutdown due to legal battles with the landlord. Seafood restaurant Barchetta shutdown. The Whiskey Soda Lounge shutdown due to “the fact it never really caught on”.  Reports say Gameloft will shutdown their NYC office, 1-hundred jobs lost!  Company administrators refused to confirm, but did not deny the rumor.  In the Bronx, God refuses to stop ConEd from shutting down ‘his’ Greater Love Deliverance Center.  The pastor says that from May to June their utility bill went from $507.15 to $10,321.89!

North Carolina:  The Roanoke Rapids Staples store shutting down in August, it’s just par for the course with the Mitt Romney wunderkind : “As customers shift online, we are taking aggressive action to right-size our retail footprint.”  

Ohio: Texas based industrial pump maker National Oilwell Varco shutting down its Springfield ops, 150 jobs lost!  After 22 years the Duck Creek Antique Mall shutting down in August, 10 jobs lost and more than 1-hundred dealers affected, the owner blames the greedy landlord: “I felt the lease was too high. I love the land, but I’m not willing to put my own personal finances on the line.”-Ginger Dawson

Tennessee: In Hermitage, after 65 years Benson’s Market shutting down: “It’s just time that I got out of the business. It’s a tough business to be in right now.”-Richard Benson

Texas: Kilgore College contracting out their entire maintenance department, employees forced to retire early or be laid off, at least 40 jobs affected. Is it because maintenance employees went to state officials reporting that college administrators deliberately ordered violations of environmental laws?  Willacy County Judge Aurelio Guerra is warning of layoffs, position eliminations and benefit cuts due to the loss of $2.7-million in revenue caused by the shutdown of the county prison (which was caused by a prison uprising due to evil conditions).  The evil county is now relying on revenue loss insurance payments for money.  Hastings shutting down their College Station store, 30 jobs lost “due to store operating profit being less than required by management”.

Vermont: In Shelburne, Archie’s Grill shutdown, the owner sold out to Dunkin’ Donuts saying “It’s about me and my family, that’s what’s first.”

Virginia: Bristol based Alpha Coal (Alpha Natural Resources) revealed they are being sold-off and announced that in preparation 292 people will be laid off at coal mines in Kentucky and Virginia!  What construction industry recovery? In Shirlington, after 50 years ABC Distributors is shutting down their lumber yard by the end of summer: “It’s been a struggle, to be honest with you, in the last seven years to stay in business.”-Bernard Lynch

Washington: Joint Base Lewis McChord about to lose another 1,250 military personnel!  Since 2012, the Department of Defense has laid off 4,721 personnel from Joint Base Lewis McChord!  In West Seattle, Eats Market Café being shutdown by Westwood Village Mall management: “The mall management has decided not to renew my lease. This is a huge loss not just for me but for my wonderful staff and for all of you, my favorite customers. We have all become a family over the last 10 years and it truly breaks my heart to have to say goodbye.”-Toby Matasar

08 July 2015: “It’s out of our hands. We don’t call the shots.”

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

“It’s out of our hands. We don’t call the shots.” Texas going the way of Greece? : U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 08 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Los Angeles based clothier XXI Forever (aka Forever 21) shutting down their Powell and Market streets store by August.  Company administrators said the store is too big and too close to another XXI Forever store.

Connecticut: Missouri based Hallmark continues its death spiral, this time 570 people will become jobless as Hallmark shuts down their 63 years old Enfield distribution center by 2016!

Delaware: NYC based publisher Condé Nast laid off 30 people at its Wilmington Shared Services office. Half of the positions were eliminated outright while the other 15 went to contractors.  Local news reports said the publisher had no comment.  Pike Creek Coffee Roasterie announced that “Due to increasing health concerns of the owner, we are scaling back our business…”.

Hawaii: Krazy Karaoke shutting down by the end of the month, no thanks to the greedy landlord: “We were hoping to renew the lease, it didn’t work out….We’re really sad that we’re going to lose the location. It’s out of our hands. We don’t call the shots.”-Lynn Shiroma, co-owner

Illinois: In Glen Ellyn, after 50 years Katy’s Boutique shutdown, due to the owners third bout with cancer.  In Skokie, after 50 years Jack’s Restaurant shutdown, the property is being sold so the owner can retire.

Kansas: What housing market recovery? Mortgage company Service Link issued a layoff WARN for  53 employees at its Overland Park office.

Massachusetts: In Wayland, J.J. Mckay’s restaurant and Beyond Beans bakery shutdown.  After being charged with fraud and then laying off 25% of employees, Wellesley based Too Big to Jail F-Squared Investments now bankrupt busted and being sold off.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery?  “Due to loss of customer business and competitive pressures to consolidate our business operations, Visteon Corporation will permanently close our facility located at 915 East 32nd Street in Holland, Michigan.”  151 automotive engineers will become jobless by September!

New York: Too Big to Jail JP Morgan Chase is paying out an additional $125-million USD in fines to settle new state and federal charges of credit card fraud. JP Morgan Chase has already paid $389-million to settle previous accusations.

North Carolina: Trucking and warehousing company Schenker issued a layoff WARN for 33 employees in September. It’s directly connected to Proctor & Gamble’s consolidation of shipping ops.  After 150 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Raleigh’s Briggs Hardware shutdown.  No reason given, but supposedly the owners are opening a new store in a new location.

Tennessee: In Memphis, after 38 years Buckley’s Antiques shutdown.

Texas: The city of Houston warned of mass layoffs due to massive debt financing of public works.  Sounds like Greece.  City administrators are blaming ObamaCare increases in retirement funds for most of the skyrocketing costs of operations, and said state ‘lawmakers’ are not willing to help out.  A local TV (KPRC) news poll asked cash strapped Houstonians if they were willing to pay more taxes, more than 90% said no!

Vermont: In Williston, after 30 years children’s store Buttered Noodles shutdown.

Washington: As I’ve been warning, Redmond based Microsoft announced mass layoffs (again), this time 7-thousand 8-hundred people (mainly in Microsoft’s cell phone business) becoming jobless!

04 – 07 July 2015: “…we lost money every single month…”

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

“…we lost money every single month….Short of winning the lottery, we just can no longer afford to stay open.” More massive ObamaCare cuts! : U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 04 – 07 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: In Modesto, God refused to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 32 years old Grace Lutheran School.  ‘Christian’ administrators admitted they were in so much debt that the current student enrollment couldn’t cover the church mortgage payments!  Los Angeles based American Apparel announced an undisclosed number of stores will be shutdown, and hundreds of employees laid off!  Administrators say they have to cut $30-million USD in costs, and they’re facing lawsuits from former executives. Costa Mesa based bankrupt busted home decor chain store Anna’s Linens announced all 2-hundred stores across the U.S. will shutdown!  In West Hollywood, after 41 years the French Quarter restaurant shutting down ‘officially’ for remodeling, but local news reports say the new owners might actually be tearing the whole thing down for some unknown construction project.

Connecticut: Major ObamaCare insurance provider Aetna has just announced $1-billion in cuts (jobs) between now and 2018! As I warned in earlier posts about insurance companies cornering the ObamaCare market by merging, it’s all connected to Aetna’s takeover of rival ObamaCare insurance provider Humana. Potentially thousands of jobs will be cut, and insurance rates will go up!  After 15 years The Stone House restaurant shutdown due to “Recently, we lost one of our dearest shareholders. This loss has affected some of us greatly, and between the hardships we suffered and this loss, the opportunity that was presented by the unsolicited offer came at a time when some of us needed to rethink our lives and priorities.”-Dolores and Jim Quinlivan, owners

Delaware: In Dover, after 14 years Bell, Book & Candle shutdown: “Like a lot of stores, we were hit by the financial downturn from 2007 to 2009 and never really recovered. Last year, we lost money every single month and that trend has continued this year. Short of winning the lottery, we just can no longer afford to stay open.”-Ivo Dominguez, co-owner

Georgia: In Columbus, after 20 years Millie’s International Market shutting down due to the owner’s health problems.

Idaho: The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis revealed that the net personal income for Idahoans in the 1st quarter of 2015 dropped by $500-million!  In Idaho the state ‘lawmakers’ have realized what idiots they are, especially after years of giving away hundreds of millions of tax dollars to lure foreign companies to Idaho, only to have most of them back out or fail, so now they’ve authorized the Department of Labor, and the Workforce Development Council, to offer a new “micro-grant” to train Idahoans for jobs within The Gem State.  However, the “community based teams” doing the training must be able to 100% match the funding, so good luck.    The Idaho Statesman has revealed that ObamaCare is actually raising healthcare prices in The Gem State through insurance and hospital mergers, which the healthcare system administrators claim is the only way they can survive the ObamaCare reimbursement cuts: “Size matters, and the objective of many hospitals and hospital systems is to get sufficiently big in a given geographic area so that you have leverage over the insurance company, because if you’re big enough, the insurance company needs your facilities in their network, because if they don’t have your facilities in their network, they can’t sell their product to the employers in town or the individuals in town.”– Paul Levy, a former hospital CEO

Illinois:  Taxpayer funded community action agencies and non-profit charities across the sorry-ass state began laying off 1-thousand 5-hundred employees due to drastic funding cuts! ‘Elected lawmakers’ basically said if you’re poor then go die!  What automotive industry recovery? Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar continues to eliminate jobs due to crashing sales, this time a total of 45 employees are being laid off at their Pontiac factory.  In Peoria, “After more than 30 years of creating ‘smiles made from scratch’ for central Illinois, our last day of operation will be July 11.”–Apple’s Bakery

Kansas: In Hiawatha, the Thriftway grocery store shutting down in the next three weeks.  Administrators blaming “competition is a big factor….We have had declining sales…”, at least 38 jobs lost. 

Kentucky: ObamaCare forced Nurses Registry and Home Health into chapter 11 bankruptcy.  Administrators say they are owed $1-million in Medicaid payments, about 65% of its average monthly revenue! 2-hundred jobs threatened, and 1,350 home healthcare patients affected!

Maine: After 22 years, the Biddeford Free Clinic shutting down in September, the operators say ever since ObamaCare went into effect the number of uninsured patients they see has crashed (they treat only uninsured people).   In Bath, after 57 years Gilmore’s Seafood shutdown, the owner forced to sell the property and blames the bad economy: “…it’s not been as good was it was in the late 80’s early 90’s….nowadays, it’s not the same. A two month gig in July and August, and the rest of the year isn’t that great.”-Ben Gilmore

Michigan: In Dearborn Heights, after 40 years Ken Baron’s Florist shutdown.

Missouri: Administrators with Mercy Springfield Communities directly blame ObamaCare for causing them to lose $30-million, thus forcing them to kill 127 healthcare jobs!  Administrators say the ObamaCare reimbursement cuts actually outpace the increase in their patient volume, meaning they’re doing more work for less money: “Continued implementation of cuts in the Affordable Care Act, cuts in Medicare reimbursement, a switch to value-based payments, and lack of Medicaid expansion in Missouri are among many reasons that the Springfield Communities will see at least $30 million less revenue in the coming year, despite taking care of more patients.”– Alan Scarrow, president

Montana: In Butte, God refuses to stop the shutdown of two churches; Trinity United Methodist Church and Mountain View United Methodist Church.  It’s blamed on the Rapture, I mean “severely dwindling congregations.”

New Mexico: In Santa Teresa, the state Public Education Commission shutdown the Health Sciences Academy after only one year of operations.  State administrators claim the school was being operated fraudulently.

New York: In Utica, ObamaCare forced Bosch Healthcare Systems to issue a shutdown WARN, at least 23 jobs lost in September. ObamaCare also forcing Fresenius Medical Care-Brooklyn Kidney Center to shutdown their Park Slope dialysis center, affecting 65 employees and 150 Medicaid and Medicare patients!  The dumb Medicare and Medicaid recipients are oblivious to the fact that ObamaCare is causing all these healthcare shutdowns. Also in Brooklyn, ObamaCare forcing medical supplies company GeriMedix to issue a shutdown WARN, 52 jobs lost in September.  In Canandaigua, Wade’s Market Center issued a shutdown WARN for September, 133 grocery jobs lost!   In Long Island, the state Department of Labor eliminating 2,540 jobs as the Nassau Coliseum shuts down!  Supposedly a new contractor is taking over and conducting massive remodeling work.  It’s unknown how many Coliseum employees will be hired back, renovations aren’t expected to be finished until December 2016.  After creating 40 jobs in the Rochester area, booze seller Constellation Brands laid off at least 11 people.  In NYC, clothier The Donna Karan Company issued a shutdown WARN for their corporate offices and their West 40th Street store, 133 jobs lost by January 2016!  Administrators say the bad economy is forcing them to “reorganize”.  In North Syracuse, hotel Ramada Syracuse issued a shutdown WARN for September, blaming the bad economy, 81 jobs lost.

North Carolina: The state Board of Education shutdown the Carrboro PACE Academy due to “persistent patterns of noncompliance, low academic performance, and potential financial issues.”

Ohio: In Lorain, the Erieview Motel shutdown, leaving dozens of long term residents homeless. City administrators ordered the motel torn down due to multiple health and safety code violations, and are so arrogant they said they were doing the residents a favor!  However, residents say the city council is not providing them with new living options!  Many of the residents are people who can’t meet traditional qualifications for renting apartments.

Pennsylvania: What automotive industry recovery?  In Somerset, tire retreading company McCarthy Tire Service shutting down, 38 jobs lost in August. Point Park University laid off 32 employees “in response to changing demands in the higher education market”, meaning crashing student enrollment (what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome, DSS).  In Reading, Giant Food Stores shutting down its Rockland Plaza store in August, 90 jobs lost.  Administrators say the crashing economy cannot support all their Reading area stores.  Clothing store Gap shutting down in the Wyoming Valley Mall, as part of plans to eliminate 175 stores across the U.S.

Rhode Island: After 39 years restaurant Rue de L’Espoir up for sale so the owner can retire.

South Carolina: After 94 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Morris Sokol Furniture Company shutdown.

Washington: Redmond based Microsoft has sold part of its bing mapping service to Uber, expect mass layoffs.   From July 2014 to June 2015 Microsoft eliminated at least 18-thousand jobs!  In Seattle, Cinema Books shutdown after 31 years of business.  The owner blames major construction across the street for blocking customer access: “I don’t have the financial resources to hold over many months of having a declining customer base.”-Stephanie Ogle

03 July 2015: “…as if the faucet had been turned off.”

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.”

International, U.S.

Operation Jupiter: Ebola, Michigan & Illinois next? Comes roaring back in USAFRICOM’s Liberia! Don’t eat your dog!

04 July 2015 (22:19 UTC-07 Tango 01, 03 July 2015)/12 Tir 1394/16 Ramadan 1436/19 Gui-Wie 4713

Just days after ebola cases jumped in Guinea and Sierra Leone, now the UN’s World Health Organization reports that health administrators in the former U.S. colony of Liberia are scrambling to contain a new ebola outbreak.

There are three confirmed cases (one of the infected died) and at least 2-hundred people are suspected of being in contact with the infected individuals.  In previous ebola outbreaks bats were the suspected source of the virus, but according to a report in the United Kingdom’s The Times news venue the three infected Liberians got sick after eating a dog.

In United Kingdom, a man who recently returned from west Africa is now in the Royal Liverpool Hospital being tested for diseases, including ebola, after becoming unexplainably sick at work.

It’s interesting that these new west African ebola outbreaks come right when the U.S. state of Michigan’s Special Pathogen Response Network just received $5.5-million USD from the U.S. CDC and HHS, specifically to prepare for an ebola outbreak!

Detroit Receiving Hospital in Detroit, Spectrum Health-Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, and Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor have been selected as ebola “tier-1 facilities”.

In the state of Illinois, news reports say Madison County is prepping for ebola.  County chairman Alan J. Dunstan said now was “A timely opportunity to call together key representatives from public health, healthcare and other front line partners to share current preparedness activities occurring in each discipline and ensure continued coordination of our efforts here in Madison County. It is the responsibility of Madison County officials, public health officials and healthcare providers to protect our residents as best we can, and we are attempting to do just that.”

If you’ve been following my Operation Jupiter reports you’d know that USAFRICOM began their version of JUPITR ATD, involving ebola, ‘officially’ at the end of 2014, a few months after the first outbreak began in west Africa: “…the BSP [Bio-Surveillance Portal] is now adapted to the Ebola portal and is being used by U.S. AFRICOM in West Africa…..It is also being used in…CENTCOM…..we haven’t really gone very public with that…. “-Peter Emanuel, U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center, December 2014

USAFRICOM = United States Africa Command

Mystery measles kills woman in United States!

Ebola comes roaring back in USAFRICOM’s West Africa! 

Jupiter, aka Jove, aka God

When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, an Ashen Horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Business/Economics

38% unemployment rate! “…as if the faucet had been turned off.” Paypal & ebay cuts off Greece! More VA shutdowns!: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 03 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: San Jose based electronic payment service Paypal has shutdown all Paypal users in Greece!  This means that people in Greece are not able to access their money in Paypal accounts. This also directly affects people trying to sell items on ebay!   Apparently this is because the Greek government has frozen all bank transfers to Paypal, and other e-payment services.  Speaking of Paypal, they just spent $890-million USD to buy rival Xoom.  Expect mass layoffs.

Connecticut: In New Haven, after 18 years the Bentara Malaysian restaurant shutdown.  The owner said business has crashed ever since customers were forced to start paying for parking.

Florida: Leon County’s Adult and Community Education service killed off by state ‘lawmakers’ who canceled funding, at least 15 jobs lost.

Illinois: State ‘lawmakers’ have yet to pass a new budget, and there’s already a victim; Northwester Illinois Center for Independent Living shutdown, affecting 3-hundred customers!  Northfield based insurance giant Allstate laid off an undisclosed number of IT employees, according to unnamed employees.  Allstate administrators confirmed by saying “As a result of a recent review, positions have been eliminated in some of Allstate’s technology areas.”  Local news reports revealed that while Allstate has been eliminating jobs in the U.S. they’ve been creating jobs elsewhere, like India.   Sears Holdings issued a WARN saying the Chicago Kmart 5033 North Elston Avenue is shutting down in August, at least 99 jobs lost.   We Clean Maintenance and Supplies has become the victim of the Obama regime, losing their contract with Chicago Public Schools which means 540 people becoming unemployed next month!  That’s on top of the 1-thousand 4-hundred school employees being let go!  Food service contractor Aramark issued a WARN saying they lost major contracts with New Trier School District, Wheaton School District and Edwards Hospital, at least 222 people already laid off!  Lincoln-Way High School District 210 warned it must shutdown one of its four schools, they’ll decide which one in the next 30 to 60 days.  Office Max issued a layoff WARN for their Ottawa operations, 108 jobs lost!  They gave no reason, probably connected to the merger.   The largest public employees union in the country, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is warning of massive layoffs at Eastern Illinois University that would affect more than just union workers: “Before they lay off any fulltime people, they have to get rid of all student workers in our departments. And they also have to get rid of all part-time temporary before they can actually lay any of us off.”-Derek Light

Indiana: What automotive industry recovery?  In New Albany, after 50 years Fink’s Motorcycle Parts Accessories & Leathers shutdown. Sharon Fink blames the Ohio River Bridges project which killed at least 50% of her business, saying it was “Maybe a month after the construction really started I noticed as if the faucet had been turned off.” 

Kentucky: The Letcher County Sheriff’s Department forced to layoff personnel due to budget cuts. Not only that but they won’t be open on weekends!  A county judge blames it on crashing tax revenues caused by the crashing coal industry: “The Fiscal Court can’t afford to supplement the Sheriff’s Office with extra money for double-retirement when 70% of the hard working coal miners in Letcher County have lost their jobs as a result of the War on Coal!”-Jim Ward,  Letcher County Judge Executive

Maine: In South Portland, after 60 years GM Pollack shutdown their last jewelry store.  The family run business was sold to employees in 2008, but the new owners were soon forced to shutdown stores blaming crashing sales.

Michigan: The downtown Flint Post Office shutting down when the lease expires at the end of the month.

New Mexico: More ObamaCare vampires as the United Blood Services, the only blood collection agency in the Land of Enchantment,  laid off an undisclosed number of people and announced they are now sending blood donations to Texas for processing.

New York: In Skaneateles, it’s been revealed that the new owners of medical device maker Welch Allyn, Hill-Rom, is shutting down factories and laying off hundreds of employees in consolidation operations.  More proof that mergers are bad for employees.

Ohio: State ‘lawmakers’ failed to pass a new budget and the first victim is the state’s own Division of Aeronautics which flies politicians around at taxpayer expense.  All flights have been grounded, except for emergencies.

Oregon: After 30 years Columbia River Music shutting down by the end of the month.

South Dakota: A VA hospital that once treated veterans of the War Between the States is being shutdown.  The Obama regime’s Veterans Affairs ‘ bean counters want to shutdown the Battle Mountain Sanitarium because they don’t think its remote location away from busy city life has any benefit to veterans seeking help!

Tennessee: Non-profit Rutherford County Family YMCA in Murfreesboro shutting down in August, due to crashing revenues.

Texas: Graham Newspapers, which operations ten companies in The Lone Star State, began layoffs under its new restructuring plan.

Washington: The Thunderbird Motel in Aberdeen voluntarily shutdown due to health code violations and public outcry.

Washington DC:  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in June 93.6 million unemployed/underemployed U.S. citizens quit looking for jobs, meaning they are no longer counted as unemployed!   On top of that, the number of U.S. citizens considered fully employed dropped to 62%, that effectively means that 38% of U.S. citizens are unofficially unemployed!  On top of that, in May the number of fully employed women dropped to a 27 years high, only 56% of women are fully employed!

02 July 2015: “We cannot succeed with ‘business as usual.’”

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

125% increase in rent! “I have businesses….telling me they’re going to close!” Year old ObamaCare hospital shutdown killing entire city! “We cannot succeed with ‘business as usual.'”: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 02 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona: In Tucson, after eight years On a Roll Sushi restaurant shutdown.  The landlord put the building up for sale and the restaurant owner is sure any new landlord will jack up his rent, so he’s getting out now as his lease is almost up.

California: The city of Eureka shutdown Humboldt Bay Fire Station 4.  The Fire Chief is also being forced to retire early, under the implied promise that nobody else would lose their job.  In Los Angeles, after ten years Sushi Central shutting down by the end of the month due to the greedy landlord selling the property.

Connecticut: Greenwich based Too Big to Jail AlphaBridge Capital Management hit with a $5-million SEC fine, and will now start killing jobs because the SEC has barred the owners from doing business for the next three years!

Georgia: Law firm Morris Schneider Wittstadt bankrupt busted and shutting down, 480 jobs lost!  It’s connected to the loss of $30-million USD apparently embezzled by a managing partner.

Hawaii: The University of Hawaii is refusing to re-open the the Mauna Kea summit road and visitor center.  The road was originally shutdown by people protesting the University’s Thirty Meter Telescope on the Mount.  University administrators say they can’t open the road until they’re sure it’s safe, fearing the protestors had sabotaged the road.  Now eight tour guide companies are warning they will be forced to shutdown and layoff employees.

Kentucky: Bankrupt food producer Gourmet Express was sold off, and now their Muhlenberg County factory is shutdown, at least 81 jobs lost.

Maryland: Armored bank truck maker Dunbar Armor laying off 1-hundred people in August!  It’s blamed on the loss of their Too Big to Jail Bank of America contract.  In Gaitherburg, Largent’s restaurant shutdown, the chef blamed “a variety of reasons”.

Michigan:  The Royal Park Hotel’s 11 years old Brookshire restaurant shutdown, because it became “passé”.  Coldwater Board of Education eliminated 17 jobs, blaming the loss of 625 students since the 2000-01 school year.  In Greenville, three businesses shutting down at the same time; Springrove Variety store, Cottage Porch Gift Shoppe and Anne’s Pet Shoppe.  The owner-manager of Springrove Variety says many customers are still ignorant of the bad the economy: “We’ve been struggling for quite awhile now. Our regulars have a hard time understanding. Everybody’s just disappointed.”-Kristin Sprenger

MInnesota: A leaked internal memo revealed that American Public Media Group is about to eliminate jobs at its Minnesota Public Radio ops.  Among other things the memo stated “We will eliminate and change positions in some departments….We cannot succeed with ‘business as usual.'” In Hutchinson, after seven years video game store GameStop shutdown with little warning.  Cafe co-op Jefferson People’s House shutdown because “Our team has simultaneously discovered new opportunities and have decided as a collective to dissolve Jefferson People’s House to put our energies into new, exciting projects.”

New Jersey: Dale and Thomas Popcorn issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Englewood popcorn factory in August, the remaining 53 jobs lost.  56 employees were laid off a few months ago, the company is moving operations to Indiana.

New York: In Elmira, Cyberdark Computing shutdown, the owner blamed crashing sales.  In Oneida, Oneida Financial-Oneida Savings Bank eliminating 60 jobs in October, due to their takeover of Community Bank of DeWitt.  In Brooklyn, after seven years the owner of restaurant Char No 4 announced they will shutdown, but didn’t explain why.  In NYC, the owner of Dusty Buttons blames slumlord Icon Realty Management for forcing her to shutdown by jacking up her rent by 125%!   Turns out one grocer in The Big Apple is a Big Liar, but finally admitted to overcharging customers. Whole Foods Markets had gained the nickname Whole Paycheck because of their outrageous prices (it’s amazing that sheeple NYCers shopped there at all) and the executives in charge revealed that yes indeed they were overcharging customers. But don’t give those A-Holes a break, they called the overcharging “mistakes” and would have never admitted to it if it weren’t for the fact they were being investigated by the city’s Department of Consumer Affairs, who called it “the worst case of overcharges that they have ever seen.” And to top things, those evil Whole Foods Market execs went as far as to imply blame on their employees by saying employees will be retrained in proper pricing of food! The Department of Consumer Affairs also revealed that 77% of grocery stores in NYC are overcharging customers in some way, but since 2010 NYC has chalked up 8-hundred violations against Whole Foods Market, way more than any other grocery chain. Yeah right Whole Paycheck-Whole Foods, overcharging customers since 2010 is not the result of “mistakes”.

North Carolina: After 22 years, non-profit local business start-up support company Hand Made in America shutdown blaming lack of funding.  The city of Belhaven says the ObamaCare shutdown of their Vidant Pungo Hospital one year ago is about to kill-off their entire economy: “We have a situation where we have our largest employer that closed down, all the people who came to Belhaven every day to the hospital don’t come anymore. I have businesses talking to me telling me they’re going to close! The revenues we used to get from the hospital aren’t there anymore!”-Adam O’Neal, mayor

Pennsylvania: The 41 years old Granite Run Mall is now officially dead!  Only the anchor and exterior stores are open, but news reports say all leases have expired which means they could walk a way at any time.  In 2013 JCPenney said they would remain to be part of the new shopping plaza that would replace Granite Run mall, but that’s changed and they’re now shutting down their 39 years old Granite Run Mall store.

Ohio: Two of Ohio’s ten Developmental Centers  being shutdown between now and next year, hundreds of jobs already lost and hundreds of families affected!  State ‘lawmakers’ say the number of people using the service has dropped by 7-hundred over the past eight years, so they’re not willing to keep all ten centers open.

Texas:  In Austin, after 35 years the Dallas Nightclub dance venue shutting down in September, the owners didn’t explain why.   God refuses to stop ‘his’ Oak Cliff United Methodist Church from shutting down. The congregation of 128 people blame outrageous electricity costs (about $300-thousand per year) and $3-million in needed repairs.  In the wealthy area known as North Dallas, The Dog Stop hot dog joint shutdown: “My lease is up and the landlords want to tear down this building. I don’t know where I am going to go after this. I put a sign in the window and people are very sad. They love to drive through with their kids. I didn’t know how much they cared until now.”-Yon Kim, owner of 13 years old hot dog eatery

Virginia: Dominion Virginia Power shutting down their oil burning  Yorktown power plant by 2020, at least 108 jobs lost!  This is on top of their plans to shutdown their coal fired plants.  The power company says the cost to modify the electricity factories to meet new U.S. EPA standards doesn’t make it worth while to stay in the business.

The FTC has OKd the $8.5-billion takeover of Family Dollar by Dollar Tree. Will it affect this Chubbuck, Idaho, Family Dollar store?

Reports say Chesapeake based Dollar Tree will become the owner of Family Dollar on 06 July.  Expect store shutdowns and mass layoffs.

Washington: Penryn Farm U-Pick berry farm shutting down because the evil insurance industry (specifically State Farm) threatened to cancel their home insurance.  State Farm has labeled the hobby farm (which doesn’t make enough money to cover the actual costs of growing the berries) a “business” and wants the owners to pay for more costly business insurance.

Washington DC:  After 12 years clothier Urban Chic is shutting down their upper Wisconsin Avenue store by the end of the month, despite recently remodeling the store.  The operator blames competition, and even admitted to local news that she knew a full year ago that the store would shutdown.  In an interview with MSNBC U.S. Department of Education secretary Arne Duncan might have revealed an ulterior motive for shutting down fraudulent Corinthian Colleges; the Obama regime has now become the collector of all debts owed to the college by the ripped off students under the guise of “protecting taxpayers”!

Chris Hayes MSNBC: “The Department of Education has announced a loan forgiveness program, but…it requires onerous steps to jump through, why not just offer the students….a blanket debt forgiveness?”

Arne Duncan Obama regime Department of Education: “…we are thrilled to be able to close down Corinthian….despite stiff opposition from Congress…we’ve been working on this since 2009…we’re working with a number of students…we’ve also brought in a special ‘master’[he failed to explain this special master thing]...this is new work for us [wait, didn’t he just say they’ve been working on this since 2009?]”  Despite all the rehtoric Duncan used during the MSNBC interview he failed to actually explain why they’re treating students like crap.

Consumer groups suspect fraud on the part of the Obama regime: “Why would Secretary Duncan be thrilled to shut down Corinthian if there wasn’t systemic fraud? It tells you everything you need to know that his department continues to collect on Corinthian students’ debts when he could, under current law, erase it this very moment with a stroke of the pen.”– Debt Collective, representing 2-hundred former Corinthian students

Wisconsin: Too Big to Jail Anchor BanCorp (Anchor Bank) revealed it bought out 78 employees (Voluntary Separation Plan), 23 employees laid off outright, sold a branch office and shutdown six others.  Administrators blame crashing transaction volumes.

01 July 2015: “It’s a necessary evil.”

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

“We never thought we’d see this day” “It’s a necessary evil.” Obama’s homie town kills 1,400 jobs in 1 day! Corporate America layoffs hit 5 years high!: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 01 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona: After two years the non-profit Tucson Reptile Rescue warns it will shutdown due to crashing donations and crashing adoptions of rescued pets.

California: Monterey based CTB/McGraw-Hill laid off at least 33 Ryan Ranch HQ employees, due to selling off ‘key assets’ to Minnesota’s  Data Recognition Corporation.  In Oakland, after 40 years the owners of Bay Wolf restaurant announced they will shut it down in August.  They want to retire, so they’re selling the property.  In Berkeley, after 40 years the newspaper Poetry Flash warns it will shutdown at the end of the year due to a 27% increase in rent.

Connecticut: In East Hampton, popular restaurant Governor’s Tavern shutdown due to water problems that an uncoperative landlord won’t fix.

Florida: In Miami Beach, the restaurant L’echon Brasserie ended its Hilton Cabana Hotel operation.

Idaho: In another sign of a failed state Republicans have successfully forced all state taxpayers to fund their $2-million USD GOP only Primary: “It’s a small, basically private election, and the Republican leaders in Idaho have succeeded in getting the taxpayer to fund that private election.”-Dave Finkelnburg, Bannock County Democrats, interviewed by KIFI

Illinois: “Homie don’t play that!” Obama stooge Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools announced 1-thousand 4-hundred job cuts after being forced to make a $634-million  ObamaCare retirement fund payment!  The highly edumacated idjiot golutes borrowed the money to make the retirement fund payment, but says it’s coming outta the hides of 1-thousand 4-hundred employees who will now become unemployed!  The Chicago Teachers Union directly blames the Obama regime appointed school board: “This is a handpicked school board. It’s an appointed school board. The responsibility for this goes to the person who runs the school board, which is the mayor. These are the financial policies this mayor has pursued over the course of the years, where they’ve consistently left revenue on the table.”-Jesse Sharkey, vice president

But wait, there’s more! Chicago based employment analyst Challenger, Gray & Christmas says publicly announced layoffs hit a five years high in June 2015, up 43% from June 2014!  At least 45-thousand jobs were announced dead on arrival in June!  And then there’s Eastern Illinois University which says they must kill jobs due to a 28% crash in enrollment since 2007.  The Connect Transit Transportation (formerly known as Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System) laid off employees, union members protested saying “Connect Transit….has become very toxic, hostile, and harassing” as well as “The problems are not changing; they’re getting worse.” 

Indiana: Missouri based Silgan Plastics (aka Silgan Containers, aka Silgan Holdings) laying off at least 70 people from its Ligonier factory, in August.  The company has been eliminating jobs across the United States since at least 2013.

Kansas: In Hutchinson, the New Beginnings Overflow Emergency Lodging (Noel Lodge) shutdown due to loss of federal taxpayer funding (called a federal grant).  In Topeka, Books and More shutting down by the middle of July.

Michigan: Yet again, Farmington Public Schools increased their layoffs, this time by 51, bringing the total to at least 231 for the 2015-16 school year!  In Kalamazoo, sandwich shop Panini Express shutting down their City Center drive thru window because it “was hindering opportunities to expanded production for larger groups.”  After 95 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recession) the Wayne County Library system died.  Cities within Wayne County will have to run their own libraries.

MInnesota: In Duluth, the Department of Human Services shutting down the heroine addict treatment center Lake Superior Treatment Center in September, supposedly for code violations.

Nevada: In Las Vegas, the Book & Stage sportsbook and music venue shutting down by the middle of July.

New Hampshire: The Derry Fire Station 4 shutdown due to lack of money.  The city administrators also eliminated four vacant positions and cut hours for firefighters and police: “We never thought we’d see this day, but it’s actually going to happen.”-Michael Gagnon, Fire Chief

New Jersey: God refuses to stop ‘his’ Holy Family School in Lakewood, and ‘his’ Saint Denis School in Manasquan, from shutting down.  It’s blamed on what I call DSS.

New Mexico: In Las Cruces, atheists and homosexual marriage are being blamed for the shutdown of the First Baptist Church’s daycare center.  God’s church administrators said they don’t want the government forcing them to hire “homosexuals and atheists”, but you have to blame the money grubbing false christians for violating the 1st Amendment and taking government taxpayer money to run their daycare: “When the government gives you money, they have the right to tell you how to run certain aspects of your organization. We understand that. It’s not one particular group…it’s the fact they get to dictate to us, across the board, how to run our organization or different organization or ministries.”-David Burrows, church leader just now waking up to the fact that they must “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s…..” (Matthew 22:21)

New York: In Yonkers, Consumer Reports laid off 17 employees, in connection with ending publication of its magazine.  It should be noted that the current president of Consumer Reports used to work for the Ford Foundation.  Union reps say the company’s administrators and lawyers are violating the union contracts.

North Carolina: The state Department of Commerce reports that at least 3-thousand 5-hundred people lost their jobs in the first half of 2015!  Youngsville based Xerium Technologies announced it is shutting down its Quebec, Canada, machined cloth factory.  The U.S. company is moving operations to socialist Europe saying employee costs there are half what they are in Canada!  News reports say the Vernon Park Mall is now almost empty after a year of store shutdowns: “There was a lot more stores but now there’s nothing here.”-Jermica Mumford, mall rat

Oklahoma: Employment analysts with Region Track warn that another 11-thousand oil industry jobs will be eliminated in The Sooner State!  So far Oklahoma has lost 5-thousand 4-hundred petroleum industry jobs!  The East Side Elementary School in Okmulgee shutting down due to a one third drop in enrollment and a $1-million shortfall: “To save that kind of money, you have to do something drastic and that’s what this is. It’s a necessary evil.”-Tod Williams, school superintendent

Pennsylvania: Connellsville Area School Board jacked up property taxes, took out a $5-million loan (tax anticipation note) from PNC Bank and killed 11 jobs.  News reports say Drexel University laid off “several dozens” of employees due to what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.  It’s been revealed that last week Mondelez International quietly shutdown their Roosevelt Boulevard and Byberry Road bakery, eliminating 350 jobs overnight!  Mondelez International makes iconic products for Nabisco, Standard Brands and Kraft.  The massive bakery is now for sale.  In Lansdowne, after 85 years the Mar-Win Market grocery store shutdown, 35 jobs lost: “It’s definitely the economy. Everybody’s trying to watch their pennies…..It’s a multitude of everything.”-Kirk Fuessinger, owner

South Carolina: What construction market recovery?  Engineering company Fluor revealed it recently eliminated 15 jobs in Greenville.

Tennessee: After 36 years the Stock-Yard restaurant shutdown.

Washington: Redmond based Microsoft announced yet more layoffs.  1-thousand 2-hundred jobs culled as Micrsoft sells its advertising service (bing ads) to AOL! More job losses are expected as Microsoft plans to sell more divisions.  From July 2014 to June 2015 Microsoft eliminated at least 18-thousand jobs!

Wisconsin: The state Department of Workforce Development reports that WARNs issued in the first six months of 2015 have exceeded the number of WARNs issued for all of 2014!  It’s no thanks to the Right to Work you over Scott Walker state government slashing & burning another 6,685 jobs (in 2014 they killed 6,186 and in 2012 they killed 6,511)!  Add that to the private sector job culling already announced and The Badger State will lose more than 13-thousand jobs in 2015!

30 June 2015: Restaurant owner chooses Greece over United States!  

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

Restaurant owner chooses Greece over United States! VA abandons veterans! Disney shutdowns! Investors kill solar power!: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 30 June 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona: Phoenix based for-profit Apollo Education Group-University of Phoenix announced that 6-hundred additional employees across the U.S. will become jobless!  This is on top of the previously announced 9-hundred!  It’s blamed on crashing enrollment, or what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.  Mother Nature forcing parts of Bonita Canyon Campground at Chiricahua National Monument to shutdown due to fears of flooding.  In Tucson, after 13 years the Chantilly Tea Room and Gift Boutique shutdown.  The owner is hoping the sale of the building will get her enough cash to open a new establishment.

California: Ongoing oil spills along Santa Barbara’s coast, the source of which has yet to be determined,  resulted in the “indefinite” shutdown of the Plains All American Pipeline operated pipelines as well as three Exxon oil platforms!  The oil has been spilling since May, and so far has cost $92-million USD to clean up.   San Ramon based oil giant Chevron laid off 20 people at its Newfoundland-Labrador, Canada, operations.  In San Francisco, sandwich shop Giordano Brothers shutdown their 11 years old North Beach location.  Administrators say the lease expired and the location just isn’t big enough.  What housing market recovery? In San Louis Obisbo, after 33 years the owners of Pismo Bob’s Hardware and Nursery shutting down their Hardware store in August, saying they will focus on the Nursery. The owners blame competition from ‘big box’ hardware stores, but they also said their Nursery business is doing great because it sells only drought resistant succulents.

Colorado: In Denver, the owners of two years old Session Kitchen say they must shutdown in July.  Despite rave reviews sales were never high enough to cover costs of operations.  Fort Collins based Advanced Energy (AE) announced it is fleeing the solar power business.  Hundreds of people will be laid off!  Administrators blame crashing sales of their solar power inverters, they even revealed they tried to sell off their inverter operations but none of the potential buyers were willing to pay what AE administrators wanted for it!   However, one administrator slipped up and revealed the shutdown is really about making profits for ‘investors’: “…over the last six months, we concluded that focusing solely on our Precision Power business, and exiting the Solar Inverter business aligns with our long-term goal of maximizing value for our shareholders.”-Yuval Wasserman, CEO

Florida: Melbourne based (? see below comment from former employee) Too Big to Jail financial institution Wingspan Portfolio Advisors shutdown today, without warning (at least to the state Department of Economic Opportunity), 150 jobs lost!  Disney shutting down their Magic of Disney Animation attraction in July, and their Disney Quest attraction in 2016.  Administrators claim they will eventually replace them with something else.

Indiana: Belgium based compressor maker Atlas Copco Portable Energy shutting down their Franklin factory, and fleeing the United States, 32 jobs lost.  Company administrators say the crashing U.S. oil and gas industry is forcing them to consolidate ops back to Belgium.   God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Frontline Foundations addiction treatment center in Valparaiso.  Christian administrators blame lack of funding.

Kentucky: Price Less IGA shutdown one of their Bowling Green grocery stores.  The store was only two years old, and local news reports say administrators refused to explain the shutdown.  In Louisville, ObamaCare forcing Indiana based Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to layoff 54 people in July.  Administrators swear they warned employees back in May.  Administrators blame it on mergers with other ObamaCare insurance companies.

Massachusetts:   Partners Health Care-North Shore Medical Center shutdown their Union Hospital, about 1-hundred jobs lost!  Administrators say because of ObamaCare slashing and burning reimbursements they have no choice but to consolidate hospitals.  Tyco Fire Protection Products moving some of their Westminster factory production to Texas and Mexico, at least 51 jobs lost.

Michigan: In Detroit, after 30 years Ren Cen 4 cinema shutdown, basically because it’s not worth it to upgrade for “the current moviegoer”.

Mississippi: Two employees of the Ridgeland Kids Kloset forced the consignment shop to shutdown.  They’ve admitted to stealing money from their employer, and the embezzlement resulted in tax liens filed against the owner, who is now missing.

Nevada: In Sparks, after 100 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) W.R. Adams & Son Jewelers shutdown.

New York: In Buffalo, restaurant Nektar Ambrosia shutdown, the immigrant owner sold the building and is moving back to economically failed Greece rather than stay in the United States! NYC based Digital First Media forced its puppet operator New England Newspapers to layoff 10 employees of local newspapers in Vermont and Massachusetts.  NYC based aluminum maker ALCOA (ALuminum COmpany of America) shutdown its Brazilian smelter due to crashing aluminum prices.  In Hyde Park, God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Hyde Park Nursery School and ‘his’ Roman Catholic Regina Coeli School.   Regina Coeli School currently has only 50 students enrolled.  In the case of Hyde Park Nursery School, church administrators blame city administrators: “Unfortunately, with the introduction of universal pre-kindergarten, the Hyde Nursery School and many other preschools, day care centers, and early learning centers were never offered the opportunity by the Hyde Park Central School District to provide universal pre-kindergarten to their students.”   

Ohio: News reports say 30 years old pumpkins, turkeys, beef/education venue Schapperacher Family Farm forced to shutdown.  The operators would only say “…our family has been asked to vacate the Schappacher Farm property.”

Pennsylvania: Pipe maker Wheatland Tube shutting down their Sharon factory in August, blaming crashing sales on a 68% increase in imported pipes being dumped on the U.S. market!  In Hazelton, after less than ten years Heritage Fresh Food grocery store shutting down once everything is sold off, administrators saying they can no longer compete.   ObamaCare caused a riff between the the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, Philly.com and the employee’s Newspaper Guild. The employers did not want to pay more to cover increased health insurance costs, but after negotiations they agreed to pay more for the ObamaCare insurance, but in exchange there will be no pay raises for the next two years!   Texas based oil contractor Halliburton announced they will shutdown their Homer City operations, consolidating them to Ohio, 430 jobs lost for the city! Pissed off state ‘lawmakers’ say Halliburton bold faced lied to them: “Just a few months ago, we were approached by concerned employees and community leaders about ongoing rumors that such a decision may be on the horizon. However, after speaking with Halliburton officials we were told such rumors were unfounded. Now, we’re told the decision to close is permanent and nothing can be done to reverse course.”-Senator Don White and Representative Dave Reed, joint statement

South Dakota: In Sioux Falls the Veteran’s Outreach Center shutting down in August due to lack of funding.  It’s connected in part to the collapse of New York based Volunteers of America, but also because the Obama regime’s Veterans Affairs (VA) has canceled their contract with Veteran’s Outreach Center.  Essentially the VA admitted they can’t pay for the care of military veterans!

Virginia: ObamaCare forced tax-sucker General Dynamics to layoff 137 IT workers!  Those information technology employees were supporting the Healthcare Quality Improvement Systems contract to “monitor and improve utilization and quality of care for Medicare and Medicaid”.  General Dynamics lost the contract.

Wyoming: The county of Sheridan eliminated 14 jobs due to lack of money.  County administrators admitted they overestimated how much revenue they would get from mining ops.

29 June 2015: “I’m not going…to retire, I’m just going to close the store.” 

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

“This is not politics, this is math.” Puerto Rico plunges into Death Spiral! Conservative Idaho jacks up taxes! “I’m not going…to retire, I’m just going to close the store.”: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 29 June 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: More proof the internet is not to blame for brick-n-mortar shutdowns;  Sunnyvale based rent-utility electronic payment service PayNearMe failed to raise the crowd funding they wanted and laid off an undisclosed number of employees.  They also canceled their rent payment service located in Family Dollar stores.

Colorado: Meridian based money transfer company Western Union shutting down all its operations in Greece, supposedly temporarily.

Florida: University of Florida shutting down the high security lab and quarantine facility known as Indian River Research and Education Center, due to the gov-na vetoing funding, 12 jobs lost.  In Palm Beach, after 87 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) newsstand Main Street News shutting down.  The owner laments that no matter what he tried people have just stopped buying hardcopy journals: “I’ve had no other opportunities to make it work. I finally had to pull the plug.”-Thomas Morrison

Idaho: The false conservative/Republican state ‘lawmakers’ created new taxes and fees which will now impact already cash strapped taxpayers.    Vehicle registrations fees increasing by $21, and by much more for vehicles deemed to be fuel efficient such as electric cars.   The fuel tax increasing by an additional 7 cents per gallon.  Taxpayer funded teacher pay being increased, which implies taxes will have to be raised to pay for it.  A total of 342 new ‘laws’ were approved, can you figure them out?  Way to put the brakes on any economy recovery you ‘Republicans’!  (jacking up taxes is a sign of a failed state system)

Indiana: The Oliver Winery Downtown, restaurant Max’s Place,  and restaurant El Norteño all shutdown in Bloomington’s town square.  It’s blamed on massive competition for “entertainment dollars”.

Minnesota: Tax-sucking Maplewood based 3M warned it will shutdown its body and vehicle armor operations.  Administrators blame the U.S. Army for dragging its taxpayer funded feet on a new contract.  They also revealed they’ve already laid off 50 people in Kentucky and 40 people in California.

New Jersey: More nails in the coffin for Atlantic City; the close to bankrupt Trump Entertainment Resorts announced it has canceled plans to re-open the former Trump Plaza casino, for at least ten years, in order to avoid paying the new taxes imposed by gov-na Chris Christie.

New York: Envoy Air issued layoff WARNs for John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia International Airport, at least 46 aircraft maintenance jobs lost by September.  Drugs pusher Walgreens-Boots Alliance shutdown their eight years old Ogdensburg store, 20 jobs lost.

Ohio:  In Mount Healthy, the 11 years old game playing store Yottaquest shutting down in August.  Jamboree Foods shutting down their Pierpoint grocery store by the end of the week: “It’s just getting to the point where all the Walmarts and drug stores kept nickel and diming us….It’s hard. I’m not going to be able to retire, I’m just going to close the store. My whole life savings is tied into the store!”-Dan Swift, owner

Pennsylvania: Clothier Gap and Gap Kids shutting down its stores in the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley. It’s part of the California based company’s plan to shutdown at least 175 stores.  In Philadelphia, Chiarella’s Ristorante shutdown. The owner said “We’re not closing because we want to close” the greedy landlord was “pushing” them out.

Puerto Rico:  The gov-na of the U.S. territory announced they are in a “Death spiral” and cannot pay $72-billion in debts.  Alejandro García Padilla stated “The debt is not payable. There is no other option. I would love to have an easier option. This is not politics, this is math.”  On 17 June I wrote how there’s a mass exodus of people fleeing Puerto Rico.    Reports say as a U.S. territory Puerto Rico can’t claim bankruptcy protection, like Detroit did, and the Obama regime says they’ll be no taxpayer funded bailout.

Texas: Arizona based Avnet shutting down its Coppell eCycling operations, at least 71 jobs lost. Administrators blame the bad economy for forcing them to consolidate operations.

Utah: The visitors center of Little Sahara Recreation Area temporarily shutdown.  It’s blamed on an attempt to cut costs and on lack of visitation during summer.

27 – 28 June 2015: “It’s just gotten to be too much work…”

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.”