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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.

Idaho, International, U.S.

U.S., Mexico & Canada Measles, 15 February 2015: New mystery outbreak in Wisconsin community that’s 94% vaccinated! Christians locked down! Most California 7th graders 95% – 100% vaccinated!

Canada

Ontario has 11 cases of measles.  Of note is that none of the infected Canadians traveled outside Ontario.  It has been confirmed that at least one of the infected adults, in the Greater Toronto Area, had been vaccinated for measles!

Manitoba health administrators report an infant is infected.  The infant is too young for full measles vaccination.  The family had traveled to India.  The Manitoba case is considered a different strain of measles from the Ontario cases.

Mexico

The New York based World Bank reports that measles vaccination rates for children 12 months to 23 months, in Mexico, dropped in 2013 to 89%.  In 2012 the vaccination rate was at 99%.  It should be noted that the World Bank considers a child vaccinated after only one dose, even though it actually takes more than one dose over several years.

Despite declining vaccination rates Mexico has reported only two measles cases, so far.

United States

“To date there are 22 confirmed cases in Los Angeles County, 17 of which are linked to the Disneyland Parks. As the outbreak continues to unfold, it is likely that new measles cases will occur among those who have had contact with persons in the initial wave of infection.”-Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, California

Orange County, California, confirms 35 cases.

Contra Costa County, California, reports one case of measles.  The person had ridden on a Bay Are Rapid Transit (BART) bus before getting sick: “…we don’t know yet where this person was exposed.”-Erika Jenssen, Contra Costa Public Health

“As of 2-13-2015, Ventura County Public Health has confirmed 13 cases of measles. The age range of the cases is 13 months to 59 years of age. One case previously reported does not meet the case definition for this outbreak. No measles cases were confirmed in Ventura County in 2014.”-Ventura County Health Care Agency, California

Ventura County health administrators announced the following locations as being measles hotspots:  Gold’s Gym, 1357 E Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. Target, Simi Valley. Sycamore Square, 2907 Cochran St., Simi Valley.  Oxnard West Target, 2850 N Oxnard Blvd.  Dickey’s’s BBQ Pit, 2902 Tapo Canyon Rd., Simi Valley.  Costco Simi Valley, 2660 Park Center Dr.  Costco Oxnard, 2001 E Ventura Blvd.  BG’s Restaurant, 428 S. A Street, Oxnard. Vons, 1291 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard. El Torito, 1720 E. Ventura Blvd., Oxnard. Andrea’s Seafood, 1449 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura.  Albertson’s, 920 N. Ventura Rd., Oxnard.  Carl’s Jr., 2301 N. Oxnard Blvd., (corner of Vineyard).  Century RiverPark 16 Theaters, 2766 Seaglass Way, Oxnard.  Little Explorers Preschool, 5165 Cochran Street, Simi Valley.  Cal Lutheran University, 1 University Dr., Simi Valley.  Toppers, 2701 Peninsula Road, Oxnard.  CitiBank, 430 Arneill Road, Camarillo.

Ventura County health officers claim they’ve screened all employees at those locations, and have “excluded from work” those who are “at risk of coming down with measles” (code for locking down unvaccinated people).

Alameda County Public Health Department, California, confirm six cases.

California’s Shots for Schools reports most schools with 7th grade students have a 95% – 100% vaccination rate, and most kindergartners are 80% – 94% vaccinated!

Elko County, Nevada, health administrators suspect a measles outbreak in local schools and as such has locked down at least 12 unvaccinated elementary students in their homes!  Four people are confirmed infected.

Since September 2014, western and northern Idaho has seen 21 cases of mumps.  Mumps is covered in the measles vaccine known as MMR.  So far no cases of measles have been confirmed.

Washington state confirms two cases of mumps can be traced to Idaho.

King County, Washington, reporting the following locations as possible measles hot spots: Sheraton Hotel (common areas), 1400 6th Ave, Seattle.  SeaTac Airport, Main Terminal and Concourse D and Rental Car Facility.  Dicks Drive-In, 115 Broadway Ave. East, Seattle.

In Port Angeles, Washington, Clallam County health administrators quarantined several Olympic Christian School students after a 5 years old was found infected: “All students who cannot demonstrate proof of immunity to measles have been excluded from Olympic Christian School until February 27, 2015, and placed in quarantine.”– Clallam County Health and Human Services

Cook County, Illinois, reports 13 cases, however the Chicago Sun Times reports those cases might not have anything to do with ground zero at Disneyland in California: “Illinois health officials are still trying to figure out how the people became infected with the measles virus. No ties have been found to the December outbreak at Disneyland in California, health officials said.” 

Madison County, Illinois, now says a reported case of measles was a “false positive”, proving that even the tests for measles can be wrong.

Portage County, Wisconsin, has locked down two people on suspicion of having measles.  If confirmed as measles the two children would be the first cases in that state.  Portage County health administrators say 94% of residents are vaccinated!

U.S. news media spreading lies about vaccine

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

Albertsons Vons Safeway update, 14 February 2015: Stores being used to spread Measles?

Ventura County health administrators, in California, are now warning that measles has been detected in dozens of restaurants and stores, including a Vons and a Albertson’s grocery stores, both in Oxnard.

The new owner of Safeway, Cerberus Albertsons, is being forced to negotiate with unionized Safeway employees in California.   United Food & Commercial Workers Local 8 Golden State says their contracts expired and they “anticipate a successful resolution.”

U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar is reducing the amount of a class action settlement against Safeway.  It’s from a lawsuit that was filed back in 2006 which said Safeway violated their contracted prices for home delivery service!  Basically Safeway successfully argued a technical point to get the damages reduced.

Updated list:

Arizona: In Lake Havasu, three Safeway and seven Albertsons are being switched over to Haggen. I suspect that eventually some will be shutdown, it doesn’t make sense to have that many grocery stores of the same brand in one place.

California: Arcadia Vons Pavillion SuperStore to be shutdown on 18 March 2015, at least 168 jobs lost! The 32 years old Hemet Vons shutdown on 28 December 2014, at least 55 jobs lost. Company administrators claimed it had nothing to do with the hostile takeover by Cerberus. Marina Del Ray Albertsons, shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 80 jobs lost. Pleasanton Safeway HQ will layoff at least 26 people by 13 February 2015. In Pleasonton, Safeway issued a WARN saying an additional 18 HQ employees will be laid off in March.  San Diego Albertsons, shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 63 jobs lost.  Six Vons and Albertsons in San Louis Obispo County to become Haggen.  25 Vons and Albertsons stores in San Diego County will become Haggen between March and May.  Nine Albertsons and Vons stores in Ventura County to become Haggen.  28 Albertsons, Pavilions and Vons stores to become Haggen in Los Angeles City.  Vons in Palm Desert to become Haggen.  Pavillions in Rancho Mirage to become Haggen.  A total of 83 California stores will become Haggen.

Colorado: Colorado Springs Albertsons shutting down in March. Cerberus administrators say it has nothing to do with their takeover of Safeway-Vons: “That store basically has not been profitable for quite some time, despite the best efforts of our company and associates there and the location…..That’s why we’re closing it.”

Oregon: In Lake Oswego, Albertsons being shutdown on 16 February, being taken over by Haggen in March. Cerberus administrators made the exact same claim as in their Colorado Springs shutdown saying “The store has not been profitable for quite some time.” This is interesting because according to local news reports there are only two grocery stores in the city! In Lake Grove, the Albertsons being switch over to Haggen. Safeway shutting down their Clackamas regional office, 91 jobs lost by March.  Safeway in Ashland, two in Klamath Falls and one in Springfield to become Haggen.  Albertsons in Baker, Beaver, two in Bend, one in Clackamas, two in Eugene and in Grants Pass, one in Keizer, Milwaukee, Sherwood, West Linn and two in Tigard.        

Texas: In East Dallas, an Albertsons was renamed Minyard Sun Fresh Market. Reports said the grand opening was delayed due to problems switching over the cash register system. A second East Dallas Alberstons is expected to make the changeover to Minyard Sun Fresh Market on 16 February. Only one of the three East Dallas Albertsons will remain Albertsons. One store manager said the changes are a direct result of the takeover of Safeway. Interestingly I found a report that said Cerberus swore there would be no name changes after the takeover of Safeway, but they failed to explain the sale of 12 stores to RLS Supermarkets.

Washington: In Kirkland, reports that Goodwill thrift store is taking over the now vacant Albertsons store. Haggen took control of the Monroe Albertsons. Safeway becoming Haggen in Gig Harbor and Tacoma beginning in March. Albertsons becoming Haggen in Olympia, Puyallup, Tacoma and Lakewood beginning in March. Albertsons becoming Haggen in Federal Way and Milton by June.  Albertsons in Port Angeles, Wenatchee and Shoreline becoming Haggen in February.  Albertsons in Redmond, Walla Walla, Snohomish, Silverdale, Burien, becoming Haggen in March.  Albertsons in Seattle, another one in Burien, Renton, Bremerton and Milton becoming Haggen in June.  Shoreline Safeway becomeing Haggen in February.  Safeway in Everett, Renton, Oak Harbor and Port Orchard in March.  Liberty Lake Safeway becomes Haggen in June.   

Starbucks included in sale!

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

Sears & Kmart closing update, 13 February 2015: More closings! Once again, taxpayers stuck with the bill! New British empire leader of Kmart spends big bucks on new house!

In New York, the taxpayers of Cattaraugus County are being forced to help fund a $3-million project to turn a vacant Kmart into a ‘tourist attraction’! Officially it’s called a mixed use tourism development.

Reports out of Illinois reveal that the new president of Kmart, Alasdair James (who’s a former British empire Tesco executive), spent $1.9-million USD buying a new home, while stores continue to be shutdown and employees get laid off!

Ever heard of the Sears Holdings Shop Your Way rewards program?  It’s really popular with in-house criminals.  Two former Kmart employees are accused of creating 3797 fake Shop Your Way accounts!  Guess the program wasn’t as popular with real shoppers as Eddie Lampert thought.

In Virginia, the currently operating Pembroke Mall Sears is being replaced with shoe & bag store DSW, Nordstrom Rack and a third unnamed tenant.  The nearby Sears Auto Center is being replaced with outdoor store REI, some Auto Center employees told local news they knew nothing about it.  Officially Sears Holdings isn’t shutting down, they’ve simply sub-leased their currently occupied space to other retailers.

Pennsylvania losing a 38 years old Kmart, in May.

update, 09 February 2015:Sears turns to Amazon to create giant data center 

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

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors.

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

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

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

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

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

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winter Haven Kmart (92 jobs lost), Palm Bay Kmart, Oakland Park Kmart (112 jobs lost), Clearwater Sears Auto Center (21 jobs lost), Zephyrhills Kmart (70 jobs lost), Winter Springs Kmart (69 jobs lost), Naples Kmart (72 jobs lost), New Port Richey Kmart (58 jobs lost), ‘redevelopment’ of Aventura Sears & Auto Center into an “open-air village” (unknown how many jobs affected), Kmart on Northeast 108 Street being annexed by Miami Shores, Sears Holdings threatens to shutdown Kmart as a result of higher local taxes.

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost), Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart, Warner Robins Kmart (77 jobs lost), Coweta County Kmart distribution center (164 jobs lost).

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!), Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost), Cannonsburg Sears and Sears Auto Center (no employee info given), Louisville Dixie Highway Kmart/Sears/Kmart, Madisonville Kmart (39 jobs lost), Owensboro Sears store & Auto Center (52 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials, Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Saginaw Kmart on Bay Road, Flint Kmart on Dort Highway (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost), Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 jobs lost), Saint John’s Kmart (48 jobs lost), White Lake Township “Store of the Future” Kmart (42 jobs lost), Grand Blanc Kmart (49 jobs lost), Lapeer Kmart (56 jobs lost), Southgate Kmart (155 jobs lost), Detroit’s Telegraph Road Kmart (115 jobs lost), Waterford Township Sears (no word on how many jobs lost), Rochester Hills Kmart (77 jobs lost), ‘perfect Kmart town’ of Port Huron Kmart (188 jobs lost), Flint Kmart on Miller Road (81 jobs lost), Burton Kmart (85 jobs lost), Madison Heights Kmart (179 jobs lost), it’s now official the last remaining Saginaw Kmart (on Gratiot Road) will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January 2014 (Sears Holdings claims only 18 people worked there at the time of the collapse!), Ann Arbor Kmart (59 jobs lost), Iron Mountain Kmart (54 jobs lost), Bangor Township Sears aka Bay City Mall Sears, the Auto Center was already secretly shutdown some time ago (at least 47 jobs lost), Big Rapids Kmart (about 50 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New York: Lindenhurst Sears Hardware, North Babylon Sears Hardware, Hauppauge Sears Hardware, Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost), Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 jobs lost), Tonawanda Sears Appliance and Hardware, Bronx Sears (91 jobs lost), BBN reader reported that the Ithaca Sears and Auto Center shutdown and one month later it’s been officially confirmed (at least 37 jobs lost), DeWitt Kmart (92 jobs lost), Auburn Sears (51 jobs lost), Massena Sears and Auto Center (51 jobs lost), Staten Island Mall Sears leased out to Ireland’s Primark.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors, Dallas Sears home appliance parts distribution center (77 jobs lost).

Utah: Murray Sears (for some reason Mormon controlled news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they reported that the building was demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported), Woods Cross Kmart (54 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Florida: West Oaks Mall

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

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

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

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

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

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

U.S.

Martial Law U.S.A.: Cities in Missouri sue their own constituents for voting down Red Light Cameras!

13 February 2015 (09:36 UTC-07 Tango 01)/23 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1436/24 Bahman 1393/25 Bing Yin (12th month) 4712

“73% of the voters pass a ban on red light cameras so what these cities are doing are suing 73% of the voters in Saint Charles County, within their own cities. They’re suing their own residents!”-Joe Brazi,  Saint Charles County councilman KMOV interview

In November 2014, at least 73% of the residents of Saint Charles County voted against the use of Red Light Cameras anywhere in their county.  Now the cities administrators of Saint Peters, O’Fallon and Lake Saint Louis are effectively suing their own constituents to force the use of Red Light Cameras!

cops adopt Israeli tactics; kill man for throwing rock! 

U.S.

Obamacare pays you to be destitute? Obamacare widens the great income divide!

13 February 2015 (09:23 UTC-07 Tango 01)/23 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1436/24 Bahman 1393/25 Bing Yin (12th month) 4712

Not only are millions of Obama Care participants being forced to pay more because they underestimated their incomes, but the bad economy is actually resulting in millions more Obama Care recipients getting huge tax refunds!

According to professional tax accountants the majority of subsidized Obama Care recipients had their incomes overestimated when they signed up, or they lost their jobs after getting Obama Care, with the result being even bigger than expected tax refunds.  Jackson Hewitt reports that one of their clients is getting an extra $75-hundred USD refunded from Obama Care!

Case worker announces Obamacare to be unaffordable! 

U.S.

Case worker announces Obamacare to be unaffordable!

13 February 2015 (09:15 UTC-07 Tango 01)/23 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1436/24 Bahman 1393/25 Bing Yin (12th month) 4712

“It’s not really affordable. I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep it.”-Erica Cherington, disability case worker reacting to her new Obama Care premium after it was revised upward because of her income, she says it would be cheaper to pay the tax penalty for not having Obama Care!

Got subsidized Obamacare? Think again

U.S.

Got subsidized Obamacare? Think again, no tax refund for you!

13 February 2015 (09:04 UTC-07 Tango 01)/23 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1436/24 Bahman 1393/25 Bing Yin (12th month) 4712

You got Obama Care, you even got it subsidized so you’re paying little or nothing for it out of pocket.  Now you file your tax return expecting a refund only to find out you owe money?!

According to tax analysts millions of U.S. citizens getting subsidized Obama Care signed up by estimating their yearly income.  Optimistic analysts think many of those estimated incomes are going to come in far too low for the individual’s actual income, which means those individuals are going to be hit with an Obama Care tax bill!  Some stupid pro-Obama people already have and are going nuts trying to figure out how to pay it: “I was blindsided that the subsidy has to be paid back. I’m in shock…but I have no choice. Do I want to argue with the IRS or the Obama administration?”-Janice Riddle, Obama Care user who apparently didn’t think it was a big deal that her income went up while receiving almost free ($1 per month premium!) Obama Care

A recent PBS NewsHour report revealed that many U.S. taxpayers still don’t realize that Obama Care can impose a fine that’s levied against your tax return.  On top of that, the amount of the fine has basically tripled this year compared to last year.

Into the New Dark Ages as students ‘disappear’ and Obamacare ‘kills’ 

Massive healthcare job destruction caused by Obamacare, last six months of 2014!