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International

False Flag: U.S. ally Japan supplies Islamic State with convoys of new Toyotas! Nissan & Ford as well!

18 February 2015 (00:41 UTC-07 Tango 01)/28 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1436/29 Bahman 1393/30 Bing Yin (12th month) 4712

The neo-imperialist government of Japan talks big about not tolerating terrorism, but the latest pics out of North Africa and the Levant reveal that Islamic State (DAISH, al-DawlA al-Islamiya al-Iraq al-SHam[Syria]) has received fleets of brand new Toyota pickup trucks.

HZJ79 Landcruiser Toyotas of DAISH.

These are not a mish-mash of ‘stolen’ vehicles seen before but are obviously fleet ordered vehicles, being of two models of Toyota trucks outfitted similarly and with the same color paint.  I suspect the fleet order was placed through the United Arab Emirates, possibly through a company known as Western Group.

I’ve identified the latest model of the diesel powered Toyota HZJ79 Landcruiser (aka Landcruiser 70, when equipped with weapons it become the Toyota Type 1 Technical) pickup truck (not sold in the U.S.) and what looks like the 2014 HiLux, 2 and 4 door pickup.

Jubilant DAISH in their brand new Ford F-350.

The Toyotas make up the bulk of the fleet ordered trucks, while smaller fleets of Japanese Nissans and U.S. made Fords can be seen (and no they’re not those stolen Fords but fleets of similar equipped and painted Fords).

You can’t feel sorry for those Japanese ‘hostages’ killed by Islamic State, after all the first one killed was an outright mercenary hired by one of the U.S.-Saudi-Israeli backed ‘rebel’ groups to train them how to fight (oh, sorry, he was a “security contractor”).  The second Japanese killed was a journalist who was obviously pro-rebel and anti-Syrian government.  In fact, it turns out that many of the ‘western’ hostages were already working with rebel groups when they were supposedly captured by Islamic State.

It should be noted that the U.S. military has been supplying Iraqi forces with the exact same vehicles!

U.S. created Islamic State proves Obama a bold face liar! 

U.S. Army ‘loses’ $420-million worth of equipment, which turns up in the hands of Islamic State! 

Who buys Islamic State oil? Israel, Jordan, Turkey, United States & Russia! 

Business/Economics

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

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 11 – 15 February 2015: Iran attacks? Obama backs off troop withdrawal! USAID spends more big bucks on vague ‘women’s’ programs!

Farah Province: The provincial police chief is accusing Iranian border police of attacking Afghan workers who crossed into Iran.  The police boss says Iranian police took away most of the Afghans, but his personnel were able to recover the body of one person who was killed. The police administrator gave no other details, but many Afghans admit they cross into Iran illegally.  Iranian administrators admit they’ve adopted a ruthless policy towards illegal crossings of their border, because of increased drug trafficking and terrorists coming from U.S. occupied Afghanistan.

Helmand Province:  The Afghan Ministry of the Interior announced they’ve begun a massive military offensive across the province.

Kabul Province:  The Ministry of the Interior claims hundreds of Mujahideen killed by government forces across the country, over the past five days.  It’s been revealed that the new Obama puppet president Ashraf Ghani has suspended heavy weapons orders from India, placed by his predecessor Hamid Karzai.  So far there’s been no explanation why.

Kandahar Province: In Maiwand District, an explosion killed six cops and wounded three. Reports say the police were conducting a home invasion when the entire home exploded.  Police suspect the home was being used to make bombs.

Kunar Province: In Dangam District, a boys and girls school was burned down.  Police have no suspects.

Kunduz Province:  Reports say battles across the province have resulted in at least 21 people killed, during a 24 hours period.

Nangarhar Province: In Khogyani District, police say an Afghan National Army soldier was found hanged.  They say Mujahideen publicly executed him for killing and then desecrating the body of a Mujahid.  Reports say the ANA soldier confessed to desecrating the body.   In Jalalabad City, a female politician and former journalist died from wounds caused by an explosion.  In Naziyan District, witnesses say a drone killed two people.

06 – 10 February 2015: Motorcycles weapons of mass destruction! 

The terror group known as USAID has told Stars and Stripes that they plan on spending another $200-million U.S. tax dollars on vague ‘women’s’ programs in Afghanistan.  A recent investigation found that dumb-ass U.S. taxpayer funded programs for women benefit only the top 1% of females in Afghanistan!  So far USAID has spent $17-billion U.S. tax dollars in Afghanistan!

The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) discovered the U.S. Department of Defense built two incinerators that were never used.  They cost taxpayers $20-million USD.

“This bill says loudly and clearly that we understand suicide among veterans is a national tragedy and it begins the process of addressing the problem. The suicide rate, especially among young veterans, is tragically high and we have to do everything we can get these veterans timely access to the quality of care they have earned and deserve.”-Bernie Sanders, U.S. senator from Vermont,  commenting on the signing of the too little too late Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act

The Washington Post is reporting that U.S. Army General John Campbell is re-thinking the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying he might keep more than 55-hundred combat personnel in-country after 2015.

The U.S. Army announced that the D Company, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division will deploy to Afghanistan and operate MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones.

The Army National Guard, Oregon U.S.A., has been forced to wrest $1.4-million from the U.S. National Guard Bureau to help pay for transition care for Oregon’s veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan occupations (Joint Transition Assistance Program).  Oregon currently has about 9-hundred personnel in Afghanistan.

Militia- personnel from the Army National Guard’s 232nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (Illinois U.S.A.) deploying to Afghanistan.

About 180 militia-personnel from the Army National Guard’s 1023rd Engineer Company (Louisianna U.S.A.) deploying to Kuwait in support of operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Business/Economics

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

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Business/Economics

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

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 24 – 26 January 2015: “unforeseeable circumstance”

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Canadian based international restaurant chain Tim Hortons (with at least 807 restaurants in the U.S.) killed off 350 of its HQ jobs in Oakville, Ontario, as well as regional corporate jobs! That’s according to Canadian news reports. It makes sense because Tim Hortons was recently taken over by Warren Buffet’s crony Brazilian vulture capitalist buddies at 3G Capital (you know, Buffet and his buddies at 3G Capital are the ones who killed off at least 3-thousand 4-hundred Heinz food jobs in Canada and the U.S. in 2014!) But here’s some more convoluted shell game facts. 3G Capital and Warren Buffet took over iconic U.S. Burger King chain in 2010, immediately eliminating 450 jobs! Then in early 2014, Buffet-3G owned Burger King bought Tim Hortons for $11.4-billion USD, but by December 2014 3G Capital went and bought Tim Hortons from its own Burger King for $12.5-billion! But wait there’s more! 3G Capital buys companies vulture capitalist Mitt Romney style, meaning the companies are bought with huge loans, and the immediacy of the loan payments is partly why vulture capitalists start slashing and burning jobs.

After only one year, award winning U.S. based Modern Farmer magazine shutdown. Its blamed on disputes between the editorial staff and the billionaire who actually pays for the publication.

California:  What automotive industry recovery?  In Los Angeles car battery maker Exide announced they will lay off even more employees, this time 67 people will become unemployed at the end of February. In Coachella, Sun World International laid off 24 people. Mexico based Bimbo Bakeries announced they will shutdown their Fresno bakery in March, 92 jobs lost. The bakery had been in use since 1926.  Sims Recycling issued a WARN saying they will layoff 57 people in March. In Sacramento, after 55 years House of Fashion II shutdown, the owners will continue operating out of their original store.  In San Francisco, former Netflix and Clinkle executive Andy Rendich is now the boss at Good Eggs, and is already chopping heads. Reports say the organic food delivery service has laid off about 32 employees as Rendich ‘restructures’ the three years old company. The layoffs took place not only in the Golden State but in New York and Louisiana.

Florida: In Dania Beach, Boomers! Greater Ft. Lauderdale amusement park shutdown and being forced to liquidate by greedy property developers.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? In Lansing, Ohio based Comprehensive Logistics laid off 66 automotive parts supply employees.  It’s blamed on reduced demand by Ford and GM (Cadillac).  However, it was also revealed that GM built a new factory in Tennessee, and Comprehensive Logistics will be moving operations there.  Too Big to Jail Chase Bank announced it will shutdown 37 branch offices located in Meijer stores, for the purpose of consolidation.  Too Big to Jail Independent Bank Corp announced it will shutdown six offices, for the purpose of saving $1.6-million USD per year.  Half the firefighters in Taylor hit with layoff notices!  Turns out local taxes weren’t enough to pay their salaries and they’ve been funded with federal money, but now that funding has been halted.  After 54 years Lona’s Pizza shutdown in Dearborn Heights.  the family owners blame crashing sales and family tragedies.  In Battle Creek, Planned Parenthood shutdown due to lack of customers.

New York: In Henrietta, unConstitutional anti-American anti-gun laws forced Jackson Guns and Ammo Shop to shutdown, Kordell Jackson the owner said “The SAFE Act killed us in terms of business. It was very difficult with sales and regulations with transferring and obtaining firearms, so I decided to close up.”   Armonk based IBM (International Business Machine) confirmed reports that it will begin laying off employees, however administrators deny that it will be as many as 100-thousand!  Federation Employment and Guidance Services issued a WARN saying they will conduct massive restructuring operations across the state by April, at least 976 jobs will be lost!  In Central Islip, Garda Cash Logistics issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their armored car service in February, 86 jobs will be lost by April.

North Carolina: In Durham, LED light bulb maker Cree is killing off 319 in-house jobs in favor of cheap-o contractors, blaming an “unforeseeable circumstance”!

Ohio: What housing industry recovery?  Florida based Trulite Glass and Aluminum Solutions announced they are shutting down their Hebron factory in March, as a result of taking over a competitor, 70 jobs lost.  The new owners of Buckingham coal mine laid off 56 people.  Colorado based Westmoreland Coal took over the mine in January, and blamed the layoffs on “changing external market conditions.”  In Springfield, Strategic Fundraising shutdown their call center, as many as 100 jobs lost!  In Mentor, school administrators announced that Rice Elementary School will shutdown at the end of the school year.  The school now boasts the lowest enrollment in the district.

Oregon:  The Oregonians Credit Union announced they will shutdown their 55 years old Portland office in February.

Pennsylvania: The Holiday Inn at Fort Washington announced it will shutdown in February, 61 jobs lost.  Local news reports said the hotel was secretly sold off, the employees were told after the fact.   In Lower Paxton, after only two years ‘organic’ Smoke BBQ restaurant shutdown, the owners didn’t explain why.  In Allentown, after 97 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) A-Treat Bottling soda-pop company shutdown suddenly, 40 jobs lost. People knew the end was near when back in November the family owned independent soda-pop maker canceled their deal with Walmart, because Walmart administrators demanded the family adopt unhealthy mass production methods. However, it turns out that A-Treat was fined in 2013 for unhealthy and unsafe working conditions by the federal government. And don’t blame the internet for their demise, reports say they were selling two dozen cases of their soda at least once per month over the internet. Don Cunningham, of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, blamed the “changing consumer market” (meaning Bad Economy) pointing out that even Coca-Cola and Pepsi are in trouble, it’s just the little guys can’t withstand the bad economy for as long as the big guys.

South Carolina: France based upscale boat builder Beneteau revealed they laid off 10 people at its Marion factory.

Texas: Austin based BitCoin miner CoinTerra now chapter 7 bankrupt busted.  It’s blamed on the crashing value of BitCoins, and could be related to the settlement of a law suit last year.

22-23-January-2015: Chevron admits job cuts planned before oil price crash!

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

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 22 – 23 January 2015: Tax sales of seized homes fail! Offshore oil rigs shutdown due to refusal to issue permits, not oil prices! Chevron admits job cuts planned before oil price crash! No more Sports Illustrated?

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alaska: The University of Alaska Southeast shutdown their bookstore, due to crashing revenues.

Arizona: After 25 years Phoenix based SkyMall now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  It’s directly connected to Xhibit’s bankruptcy.  Xhibit took over SkyMall in 2013.  Xhibit administrators say the Too Big to Jail banks refuse to continue debt funding their operations.

California:  The state Employment Development Department revealed that a piss-poor 700 jobs were created in December, so much for Xmas season holiday hires.  In Azusa, aviation staffing contractor G2 Secure Staff issued a WARN saying they will render 106 people jobless by March! In Palo Alto, internet ‘cloud’ service company VMware issued a WARN saying they will render 114 people jobless by March!  In San Francisco, clothing store Gap issued a WARN saying they will render 108 people jobless by March! In Santa Clara, semiconductor maker Tabula issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in March, 120 jobs lost!   In San Diego-South Park, after six years Alchemy Dining announced it will shutdown in February. The co-owners said the economy is so bad, and competition so tight, that it’s not worth pouring money back into the restaurant: “We were noticing there was a decline in sales because of the market and age of our business, and just the general environment changing because of the amount of new restaurants in San Diego in general….We recreated the restaurant a number of times, from farm-to-table to street food to a neighborhood feel, and we got to a point where we would have had to sway a lot further and we made a choice not to.” 

Connecticut: In Hartford, after 15 years Jojo’s Coffee Roasting shutdown. The pissed-off owner directly blamed the suck-ass economy, asking where’s the gott damned recovery: “The last six months have been the toughest for us businesswise…People say, ‘It’s up and coming its up and coming’. Well, it’s been up and coming for 15 years now! It’s not up and coming, I can tell you that!!!”-Bill Sze

Florida: In Maitland, data company Windstream issued a WARN saying they will layoff 62 people between March and May.

Illinois: What automotive industry recovery?  Moline based farm vehicle maker Deere (formerly John Deere) announced they will kill off more jobs, this time 900 people across two states will become jobless by March!   In Chicago, after 50 years independent Family Pride Finer Foods grocery store announced shutdown, 35 jobs lost. The current owner blamed “competition” pointing out that there are now competing ‘big box’ grocery stores within “a two mile radius” of his store.  The Peruvian owned “intimate supper club “ Monari’s 101 announced it will shutdown in Spring. The owners said over the past two years they’ve tried to sell the restaurant with no takers, and they can’t wait any longer so they’ve decided to retire. The FDIC seized Highland Community Bank and turned over assets to United Fidelity Bank.  U.S. Steel announced they will shutdown their tin factory and layoff 369 people, blaming the crashing prices of metals!

Kansas: Textron Aviation is taking over the Wichita UTC Aerospace operations, which will result in layoffs.

Kentucky: In Louisville’s upscale retail Highlands area, restaurant Palermo Viejo announced it will shutdown in February: “I wanted to thank the Louisville community for the opportunity to share my family’s food for the last 14 years. There are certain reasons why I am closing. But the most important is my family has sacrificed so that I can live my dream. I have come to a point where I feel they have sacrificed enough…….I plan to look into leasing the property.”-Francisco Elbl

Louisiana: Harrisonburg based oil logistics company Tomahawk Resources now chapter 11 bankrupt busted in Texas. It might be connected to the company being fined for improper disposal of waste at its Texas operations, not oil prices.  Reports say GE (General Electric) will shutdown its Pineville factory, 300 jobs will be lost!  GE paid $3-billion USD to take over the factory in 2010.  GE administrators say no final decision has been made, but the employees say they are planning for the worst.

Michigan: In Jackson, after nine years Caffe Lilla shutdown, local news reports claim the owners refuse to say why.  What housing market recovery?  The tax auctions of homes in Detroit are now considered failures.  In 2014, 394 homes were put up for auction, but so far only 138 auctions have actually been closed!    Too Big to Jail Independent Bank Corporation shutdown six offices.  Bank administrators implied that less and less people were putting their hard earned money into banks that don’t pay any interest on their savings.

Missouri: Newspaper publisher Gannett shutting down their Saint Louis Offset operations, 28 jobs lost.  At one point 70 people were employed. It sounds like Gannett wants to sell the property, which is estimated to be worth $3.4-million.  U.S. Steel shutting down their more than 30 years old Granite City coke ovens, 176 jobs lost in March!   Law firm Green Jacobson shutdown due to being hit with a $10.5-million judgement. The questionable attorneys are already working for other law firms.

New Jersey: Legal drugs pusher Merck issued a WARN saying 172 people will become jobless by March!

New York: Time-Warner owned Sports Illustrated laid off the last of its in-house photographers, in total 36 people were let go.  In Long Island, food producer Organic Avenue laid off 38 employees.  In Batavia, prison contractor Valley-Metro Barbosa Group shutdown due to loss of contract, 256 jobs lost!  In West Nyack, Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge (aka Cambridge University Press) issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in June, 42 jobs lost.  In NYC, New York Life Insurance issued a WARN they will layoff at least 29 people by the end of the year.  In Syracuse, after a little more than two years ‘outerwear’ clothing store Quicksilver shutdown in the Destiny USA center.  The Great American Cookie store also shutdown in the Destiny USA mall.

North Carolina: What housing market recovery?  In Franklin, hardwood flooring maker Shaw Floors announced they will layoff 25 employees by February.

Ohio:  Ann’s Hallmark in Xenia Towne Square shutdown.  It’s not the only store that has vacated the Xenia Towne Square; Rite Aid, Fulmer and Kmart have all left as well.

Pennsylvania: California based Chevron laid off 162 people working their natural gas ops in Moon!  Chevron administrators admitted to local news that the layoffs were started back in November (when WTI oil prices averaged between $80 and $70 per barrel) as part of their overall corporate restructuring: “As a part of this restructuring, Chevron is taking steps to streamline its organization and ensure our workforce is the right size for expected activity levels in this region, which are lower than originally anticipated.”-Trip Oliver, who indicated that even at $80 per barrel the U.S. oil industry was losing money big time

Texas: In Houston, Hercules Offshore announced a second round of layoffs.  They are shutting down five oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, affecting about 1250 employees!  But wait, don’t blame low oil prices. Company administrators have revealed that permits to operate have been drastically cut, saying they’ve been able to get permits to operate only two rigs since June 2014!  British empire Canada based petroleum company GasFrac now chapter 15 bankruptcy busted. The company made the bankruptcy filing in the U.S. state of Texas, where 46 jobs are threatened. The fracking company is also officially bankrupt in Canada.  British empire Australia based BHP Billiton warned of impending layoffs as it shuts down 40% of its shale oil operations near San Antonio.  Obama Care forced the El Paso Children’s Hospital to layoff five more people, and eliminated vacant positions.  The Children’s Hospital also rents space to University Medical Center of El Paso, which reported that Obama Care has caused them to lose $60-million!  As a result the University medical Center cannot pay the rent owed to Children’s Hospital.

Virginia: In Leesburg, The Beer Joint restaurant now chapter 7 bankrupt busted and liquidating.  In Reston, taxsucking government contractor Extreme Security now chapter 7 bankrupt busted and liquidating.  An investigation is underway concerning what the Department of Defense taxsucker did with the money it made.

Wisconsin:  Clothing store Ma Jolie shutdown in Bayshore Town Center.  The owner said crashing mall traffic was the deciding factor in not renewing the lease.

Wyoming: Western Research Institute laid five people and cut the hours of 16 employees.  Administrators blame crashing prices across the mining industry (which includes oil, gas, silver, copper and coal).

18-21-January-2015: “like ripping off a band aid!”

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

International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 06 – 10 February 2015: Motorcycles illegal, now considered weapons of mass destruction! U.S. occupation steals land from home owners! Afghans have more balls than Americans ’cause they physically attack their lying politicians!

Helmand Province: In Washir District, a van loaded with people going to a wedding ran over a landmine.  Two people killed, three wounded.  In Lashkar Gah, a U.S. drone killed six people. U.S. administrators claim one of those killed was released from Guantanamo Bay.  It should be noted that they claim he had joined Islamic State.  In Arabic they call themselves DAISH (al-Dawla al-Islamiya al-Iraq al-SHam[Syria]) which shows they are not an Afghan group, most Afghans don’t speak Arabic, and Islamic State did not exist at the time he was kidnapped to Guantanamo Bay.  Most of the people killed in the drone strike were from Pakistan.  In Sangin District, villagers in Zeydanano area say government mercenaries (security contractors) shot and killed a fellow villager, apparently for the hell of it, as he was out walking.

Herat Province: In Shindand District, a man was killed and then set on fire.  Police swear they don’t know who did it, but claim the victim was an insurgent from Pakistan.  Following the announcement of the burning of the body Mujahideen attacked government buildings en masse.  News reports said Afghan National Army units are being rushed to the scene.  There are reports that government personnel conducted a two days operation in which they seized more than 100 motorcycles from the local population, after declaring the use of motorcycles illegal!

Kabul Province: At Hamid Karzai International Airport (formerly Kabul Airport-Air Base) police arrested eight people trying to smuggle heroine to India and Canada. In police district 8, angry residents attacked the bodyguards of a local politician.  The taxpayers of police district 8 accuse the politician of illegally selling off public land to property speculators.   Three people, including a cop, were injured in the fight.  Recent reports say over the duration of the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan at least a quarter million hectares (617,763 thousand acres) of land have been stolen from the original property owners!

Kandahar Province: In Kandahar City, two Kamikaze bombers attacked two police check points.  In one attack the would be bomber got into a firefight with cops killing one cop before he was shot and killed.  In the other attack a similar firefight took place, however the bomber managed to blow himself up, wounding three cops.  In Maruf District, villagers in the Jar area report that government soldiers shot into homes, killing one child.  It’s suspected the government personnel did it as vengeance for seven villagers openly declaring their support for Mujahideen.

Kunar Province: In Naray District, police report a girl’s religious Madrasa and a clinic were blown up in separate incidents.  The Qurans in the Madrasa were burned.  Police apparently have no suspects.  At the same time police admitted that Mujahideen have seized control of the only highway in the district.

Kunduz Province: The provincial police HQ was attacked.  At least five attackers killed, one cop killed and three wounded.

Maidan Wardak Province: Villagers in Nirkh District report that government forces raided their homes, kidnapping three men.

Nangarhar Province: In Ghanikhil District, two cops were killed in a firefight.  Provincial administrators also say that in another part of the province a battle left six people dead and ten wounded.  Administrators did not call the dead and wounded Mujahideen, instead they referred to them as “insurgents”.  In Momand Dara District, local administrators say unknown persons burned a school.  In Rodat District, unknown persons shot and killed two people inside a Mosque, another person was wounded.  In Jalalabad City, a magnetic bomb attached to a vehicle exploded, killing one civilian and wounding four government administrators.   For seven hours the Kabul-Jalalabad highway was blocked by hundreds of people protesting the taking of their land by force.  Provincial administrators promised to resolve the issue.

01-05 February 2015: u-s-army-admits-junior-officer-cover-up

Pakistan evicted 22-thousand Afghan refugees in January.

33 militia-personnel of the Army National Guard’s A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 300th Field Artillery (Wyoming U.S.A.) will be deploying to Afghanistan for Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.

275 militia-personnel of the Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment  (Oregon U.S.A.) will be deploying to Afghanistan for Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 18 – 21 January 2015: “…like ripping off a band aid…” More than 17-thousand jobs lost! Increased use of credit cards results in massive layoffs! Proof you’re worth more dead than alive; corporate America even sells your impending death to investors!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: In Huntsville, Colorado based Sports Authority announced they will shutdown their Bridge Street Town Centre store in February.  JCPenney announced they will shutdown their Cullman Shopping Center store in April, 25 jobs lost.

California: In Los Angeles, old style clothing store Revival Vintage shutdown, the owner did not want to renew the lease.  San Jose news sources report that ebay administrators have confirmed they will sell off their PayPal ops, resulting in at least 2-thousand 4-hundred people becoming jobless! The sale of PayPal is being pushed by ‘activist’ (more like vulture capitalist) investors who now control most of ebay’s stock.  DreamWorks Animation announced they will eliminate 400 to 500 jobs and shutdown their Redwood City studio in 2015!  DreamWorks laid off 350 people in 2014!  Company administrators say their revenues have fallen by tens of millions of dollars. In Moreno Valley, G2 Secure Staff issued a WARN saying they will layoff 39 people in March.  In Willows, Johns Manville issued a WARN saying they will layoff 40 people by March. In Vista, Zodiac Pool Systems issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in October, at least 97 jobs lost.  In Vandenberg AFB, taxsucker InDyne issued a WARN saying they will layoff 541 people in March!   In San Ramon, California oil company Chevron finally issued a WARN revealing they laid off 100 people back in December!   I doubt it’s really about oil prices, Chevron is at least the second oil company operating in California to issue a WARN about massive layoffs after the fact (a violation of WARN regulations)!

Colorado: After 25 years Pismo Fine Art Glass shutdown, the owner wants to retire.  Renewable bio-fuel maker Gevo laid off 23 HQ employees and the CEO claims he’s cutting his base pay by 25%: “Gevo has determined this to be an opportune time to scale down the team to focus primarily on technology optimizations…”

Connecticut: The Milford Board of Education is planning to layoff 18 teachers for the 2015-16 school year, “primarily stemming from continued enrollment decline”.  The University of Connecticut admitted they laid off employees, but refused to say how many.

Florida: 289 employees of rail company CSX have accepted early retirement buyouts! CSX was hoping for 300, which means the other 11 employes will probably be forced out.

Idaho: An independent investigation revealed that recently re-‘elected’ Pocatello mayor Brian Blad farmed out city road crews to other cities, for free and without permission of the city council (as required by law).  The cost to Pocatello taxpayers is at least $15,773 in labor!  To add insult to injury the city council said they aren’t going to pursue the matter, even though Idaho laws allows them to call in the Attorney General!  The investigation was done by Deaton and Company, who submitted a seven page report to the city.  Local news media refer to the scandal as ‘PaveGate’.

Illinois: Chicago based United Continental joins other airlines in contracting out thousands of in-house jobs, as many as 2-thousand jobs now going to cheap-o contractors!

Massachusetts: Kickass Cupcakes now chapter 7 bankrupt busted. The cupcake company has been shutting down stores since 2013. The owner refused to talk to local news media.

Michigan: God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Christian bookstore, Kregel Parable.  The owners of Restaurant Mediteran announced it will shutdown in March.  Two of the co-owners want to retire and the third owner says he can’t handle more than one restaurant at a time.  In Dearborn, The Mediterranean Chef shutdown and being liqudated.

Montana: Washington based Revett Mining shutting down their copper and silver Troy Mine, blaming low prices.  70 jobs lost.

Nebraska: In Scottsbluff, after six years female clothing store T & Company shutdown.

New Hampshire: In Nashua, the owners of Silverlight Candle & Gift Shoppe announced they will shutdown in February.  They blame the unexpected shutdown of next door Aubuchon Hardware for the final nail in their coffin.

New Jersey: Belgium-Brazil owned Anheuser-Busch laying off 60 people and cutting beer production in Newark. It’s probably because this year’s malt barley crops in three states has been killed off by mother nature. 

New York: In Valley Stream, after 30 years Sunrise Multiplex Cinemas shutdown, they sold out to a shopping mall developer.  Despite reporting “substantial” quarterly gains (due to increased credit card use) NYC based American Express announced it will kill off 4-thousand jobs by the end of 2015!  Company administrators also credited their better than expected quarterly results on past job cutting, so they are ramping up job cuts as part of their plan to “reinvent” the credit card company!  Grocery store 173 Food issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in April, at least 30 jobs lost.  Another NYC based company, AOL (formerly America OnLine) announced they will kill off 150 advertising jobs! Business Insider is also reporting that their sources say dozens of AOL employees have been voluntarily quitting since December: “Media and technology are drastically evolving to keep up with today’s consumer. The lines are becoming blurred, and as you well know, our industry is converging at a faster pace than anyone predicted.”-Bob Lord, president AOL

North Carolina: Mitt Romney’s wunderkind Staples shutdown their Greensboro store on Golden Gate Drive.  After 30 years family owned Prime Sirloin buffet shutdown: “The building is old and the money to keep up the 30-year old property, which we leased, was simply going to be too much for us to keep on operating. We decided it was time to make the decision and like ripping off a band aid, there wasn’t any good way to do this.”-Lisa Martin, general manager

Ohio: ShurTech laid off 20 people at its Avon HQ: “The company needed to make these employment adjustments due to retail changes and the high cost of doing business in areas such as freight.”-Patti Sack, media manager

Oregon: What automotive industry recovery?  Commercial Vehicle Group issued a WARN saying they are shutting down their interior parts factory, 117 jobs lost!

Pennsylvania: In Philipsburg, bowling alley Moshannon Valley Super Bowl shutdown after seven years, they were evicted for failure to pay their mortgage.

Puerto Rico: Sears Holdings announced they will shutdown their 25 years old Vega Baja Kmart in March, 206 jobs lost!  Switzerland based legal drugs pusher Novartis announced they will shutdown operations in Humacao over the next three years, 270 jobs lost!  The Federal Bank of New York blames it on the expiration of tax incentives.

Texas: In Garland, Valspar issued a WARN saying they will shutdown subsidiary Engineered Polymer Solutions between March and May, 54 jobs lost.   In Austin, video game maker Lightbox Interactive laid off an undisclosed number of people, and might even shutdown.  Evil Waco based Life Partners Holdings now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  They buy the rights to life insurance policies and then sell them to investors, that’s evil.  In other words, unAmerican corporate America, and their investors, love to bet on your death!  Oklahoma based Laredo Petroleum shutdown their Dallas office without warning, 75 jobs lost. Company administrators also claim $60 per barrel oil prices forced them to cut their operating budget in half, from $1-billion USD to about $525-million!  In Houston two mega oil service companies announced massive layoffs; Halliburton (already reported in one of my previous reports) and Baker Hughes.  Dumb-ass news media blames low oil prices but it’s really because Halliburton is taking over Baker Hughes!  At least 7-thousand Baker Hughes employees will be let go because of the $35-billion Halliburton takeover, not the oil prices!  Another Houston based oil company, Apache, announced it will kill off 250 jobs, after it hired on the former Baker Hughes CFO!

Virginia: In Old Town, after 64 years the Giant Food grocery store will shutdown. Company administrators say it’s because the town is too small to continue supporting it, and it’s not worth it to spend money on expanding it. News reports implied that there are too many Giant Food stores in the area around Old Town anyway.

Washington: A chapter 11 bankrupt busted company that loves to hit your smartphone with advertisements, Bellvue based Hipcricket, has been taken over by competitor SITO Mobile for $4.5 million.  As in all such cases you should expect layoffs, despite the fact that Hipcricket administrators said their sale to SITO would “protect human capital”, corporate weenies always say things like that.

Wisconsin: In Racine, two Vanity clothing stores shutdown, despite increased revenues for the North Dakota based company.

16-17-January-2015: U.S. oil company kills 9-thousand jobs, then pumps $1.7-billion into Russian oil! 

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

 

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 16 – 17 January 2015: U.S. oil company kills 9-thousand jobs, blames oil prices then pumps $1.7-billion into Russian oil!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

What housing market recovery?  Kingdom of Luxembourg based mortgage technology and outsourcing company Altisource Portfolio Solutions laid off more than 800 people from Massachusetts U.S.A. to India!  Inside sources said it was to make investors happy.  There are also reports that the former parent company, Ocwen, might lose its California mortgage license.

Arizona: Dysart Unified School District announced they will kill off 147 jobs over the next three years!  Administrators added that the 147 job cuts was just the first round of cuts!  Back in November tax burdened voters rejected a school levy that would have jacked up their taxes even more.  What gets me is why, year after year, school districts need more and more tax creating levies and bonds to be passed?  Where is all that money going, especially the lottery money for those school systems that get money from lotteries as well as taxes?!

California: In Sacramento, after 29 years the owner of clothing store Robin Lyle announced she will shut it down.  The owner says she will continue working as a personal shopper for her most loyal clients.  Also in Sacramento, two Mark’s Hallmark stores shutdown.  In December Mark’s Hallmark shutdown their store in Hawaii claiming it was because of high rent, they’re basically claiming the same thing for their California shutdowns.  In Camarillo, maker of electronic equipment, especially for the medical industry, OSI Electronics issued a WARN saying they are shutting down in April, 118 jobs lost!  In Marina Del Ray, Albertsons issued a WARN saying they will shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 80 jobs lost.  In San Diego, Albertsons grocery store issued a WARN saying they will shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 63 jobs lost.  Boeing issued more WARNs saying at least 24 more Californians will become unemployed by March.  In Anaheim, UTI issued a WARN saying they will shutdown in March, 32 jobs lost.

Colorado: Denver based Frontier Airlines announced they will kill off 13-hundred in-house jobs in favor of cheap-o contractors!

Florida: First National Bank of Crestview was seized by the FDIC, assets turned over to First NBC Bank.  What housing market recovery?  RealtyTrac says southern Florida still ranks as the top spot for home foreclosures; 68,696 properties foreclosed in 2014!  Speaking of failed recovery in the housing market, the taxsucking developer of so called affordable housing, Aburn Trace, is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted!  This could mean no chance of recovering any taxpayer funding the company got.  It’s blamed on numerous lawsuits filed by and against home developers, banks and even the federal government! (classic cluster f*ck with taxpayer and investor funds)

Illinois: In Harvey, Obama Care forcing 92 years old Ingalls Memorial Hospital to layoff 80 people and shutdown their child care center.  Administrators say Obama Care, plus the bad economy, is forcing them to slash $3.5-million USD from its budget!

Iowa:  French based maker of polyols, starches, proteins, fibers and sweeteners Roquette America suddenly laid off 85 people at its Lee County factory. Apparently the mayor of Keokuk knew about the layoffs the week prior, but said nothing hoping the newly unemployed would be hired by other local businesses.

Maryland: Telecommunications company Ciena issued a WARN saying 57 people in Lithinicum will become jobless by May.

Massachusetts: Obama Care forced Southcoast Health System to layoff 35 people. Three months ago they laid off 70 people.

Minnesota: Spill the Wine restaurant shutdown, the owner sold out to another restaurant.  120 years old (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Waldorf Nevens Cleaners now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  It was revealed that Wuollet shutdown their 15 years old bakery on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis, saying it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease.

Missouri: Hallmark Gold Crown laid off 33 people, most at its Kansas City divisional office.  In addition, Hallmark also laid off four people from its product integrity group, and eight people in their tooling department.

Nebraska: In Lincoln, after 33 years the owner of BB&R Pawn announced he will shut it down by summer.  He and one of his long time employees say they’re both “tired of it”.

Nevada: In Las Vegas, non-profit Safe Faith United liquidating and shutting down.  The administrators of the safe house for victims of domestic violence blame crashing donations with the final straw coming from the federal government, which refused to award much needed grant money.

New York: In Pear River, legal drugs pusher Pfizer issued a WARN saying 50 people will become jobless by April.  In Orchard Park, the owner of B is for Books announced she is calling it quits: “Despite being a labor of love, and having the best staff in the world, running the bookstore is a lot of work.  I have decided to close so that I will have more time to spend with my husband and our four children.”-Jane Bell

Oregon: What automotive industry recovery? Portland based Schnitzer Steel Industries announced they will cut 4% of their employees who are directly involved with auto parts sales.  Company administrators say sales have dropped so much they need to cut $14-million from their budget!

Pennsylvania: Obama Care forcing 114 years old (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) hospital Penn Highlands Clearfield to layoff 30 people, eliminate 11 vacant jobs and cut hours for 50 employees.  Administrators say they’re being forced to cut $3.1-million per year from their budget, pointing out that 65% of their customers are on Medicare or Medicaid, which are being drastically cut by Obama Care!  God refuses to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Roseto, and ‘his’ Pius X Junior/Senior High School in Bangor.

Texas: Oil services company Schlumberger announced it will kill off 9-thousand jobs!  Ignorant news analysts blame it on the crashing oil prices, however, when Schlumberger made the job cuts announcement their stock price shot up. It’s also been revealed that three Schlumberger execs dumped their own stock in the company, and then invested $1.7-billion into Russia’s Eurasia Drilling Company (so much for U.S. sanctions)!    God refuses to stop ‘his’ Southern Methodist University from laying off 100 people in February!  The Christian school will also eliminate 50 vacant jobs.  Typical of ‘christians’ the administrators are living in denial, regarding their financial status, calling efforts to cut $35-million from their budget  “addressing our slight structural budget deficit”.

Washington:  Georgia based EarthLink laid off an undisclosed number of people at their Vancouver location.  Local news assume it was less than 50 because EarthLink never filed a WARN.

West Virginia: Mitt Romney’s wunderkind Staples shutdown their less than five years old Martinsburg store.

15-January-2015: “They are ruining families’ lives!”

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