USMC Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment CH-53E Super Stallion during Weapons and Tactics Instructor course (WTI) at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, 07 October 2016:
2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division fast ropes out of a CH-53E Super Stallion at Auxiliary Airfield 2, Yuma, Arizona, 30 September 2016:
Opposing Forces (OpFor) U.S. Army 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment M113s disguised as Soviet/Russian BMPs, Fort Irwin, California, October 2016:
U.S. Army photo, 07OCT2016.
USA photo, 07OCT2016.
USA photo, 07OCT2016.
116th Snake River’s 2015 NTC rotation: The last time the 116th went to NTC was in 1998, with yours truly. 
“THIS IS WHERE ARMOR FIGHTS!” IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD RETURNS TO COLD WAR ERA “TOTAL FORCE” WARFARE TRAINING!: Includes a couple of my crappy photos of NTC in 1998. 
Georgia National Guard 810th Engineer Company assists the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia after Hurricane Matthew:
V-22B Osprey, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment Weapons and Tactics Instructor course (WTI) Yuma, Arizona, 07 October 2016:
The following are hurricane rescues conducted by Department of Defense and state militias from 08 October to 09 October 2016.
U.S. Coast Guard, Bull River, Georgia:
South Carolina National Guard home rescue:
U.S. Coast Guard, marsh rescue at night, North Carolina:
U.S. Coast Guard multiple rescues in Pinetops, North Carolina:
Georgia National Guard, aftermath cleanup:
South Carolina National Guard MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) distribution:
Florida National Guard JOC ops:
On 09 October 2016, U.S. Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel responded to calls of cannonballs hitting Folly Beach, South Carolina.
Turns out Hurricane Matthew dug up some U.S. Civil War era cannonballs. During the War Between the States, Charleston was the site of several naval battles, including the use of some of the world’s first armored battleships, called monitors (aka Ironclads).
Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of September, 2016: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production, spread of disease and extreme weather.
The Wall Street Journal reports that despite a 65% increase in hops farming the number of new ‘craft’ breweries in operation far outpace hops production, creating a massive shortage of citra hops.
Read the article Digested: Buying the Farm to find out why the so-called organic farm industry is bogus. The article is about U.S. demand exceeding U.S. supply, but read between the lines and you should realize that there’s now so much government and corporate involvement that who knows if what you’re eating is truly ‘organic’.
Alabama: After 89 years C.F. Penn Hamburgers posted a shutdown notice on their Decature store, blaming crashing sales and skyrocketing rent: “This decision was made as the result of a decline in business, coupled with our rent increasing 80%.”
However, once the word got out the greedy landlord changed their mind and claimed it was a misunderstanding so, according to local news reports, C.F. Penn Hamburgers will remain open.
Arizona: Less than a month after shutting down a Tennessee location (without warning) Florida based World of Beer suddenly shutdown their Gilbert, Tempe and Tucson locations!
California: Border Grill shutting down their 26 years old Santa Monica location in October. In Bakersfield, after being evicted at the end of June RJ’s Bar & Grill now legally chapter 7 bankrupt dead. In San Francisco, Buttons Candy Bar shutdown, a defiant video store which shares the same retail space said “we aren’t intending to close.” Keil’s Food Stores issued a shutdown WARN for their Clairemont location, 49 jobs gone by November.
Colorado: Spice and ‘spirits’ seller Vom Fass shutdown their Fort Collins location to focus on internet sales. In Boulder, Conor O’Neill’s Traditional Irish Pub & Restaurant shutdown due to crashing sales, caused by construction on a next-door building, and on jacked-up rent and property tax.
Connecticut: Monsanto laying off 39 people in Mystic, at the end of October.
Florida: After 41 years Mama B’s Giant Subs shutting down two Orlando locations, the owner is selling the properties so she can retire. Local news media said it was the third sandwich chain to recently shutdown restaurants in Orlando. In Ybor, Spaghetti Warehouse shutting down at the beginning of October. The owners spent 12 months looking for cheaper place to rent, with no luck.
Georgia: Food Lion shutdown their 20 years old Gainsville grocery store, the store’s manager said “Sales had really been suffering.” After 12 years Kitchenware Outfitters shutting down at the end of October.
Idaho: Trading Company Stores suddenly shutdown their Post Falls and Bonners Ferry locations, 68 jobs lost due to the owner selling out to Washington based Yoke’s. In Twin Falls, after more than 42 years Addison Restaurant West shutting down in October. The owner sold it so he could take care of his 98 years old mom.
Illinois: After 25 years Italian restaurant Rose Angelis shutdown in Lincoln Park, there was no explanation on the restaurant website. In Chicago, after 48 years The Parthenon suddenly shutdown, local news reports said the restaurant had failed two health inspections, which were supposedly rectified. There was no official reason for the unexpected permanent shutdown. Shop-N-Save shutting down a grocery store in Peoria, 69 jobs gone by October.
Indiana: Orscheln Farm and Home shutting down their Seymour store once the inventory is gone.
Kentucky: In Lexington, after 82 years Fayette Seed shutting down by the end of October. The owner is hoping to find a buyer for the business. In Louisville, McDonald’s shutting down their Kosair Children’s Hospital by Xmas. The lease expires and the Kosair-McDonald’s franchise can’t afford to renew it!
Massachusetts: Boston based restaurant operator Cosi now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, and possibly for sale.
Minnesota: In Saint Paul, The Barbary Fig Mediterranean Cuisine shutdown, the owner-chef said he’s tired of repairs, government regulations and employees calling in sick right before their shift.
Mississippi: Cheeky Monkey shutdown its D’Iberville bakery right after opening a new operation in Biloxi. In Jackson, The Penguin Restaurant & Bar suddenly shutdown.
Nebraska: Lincoln based United States Drought Monitor declared extreme drought conditions in the eastern half of Massachusetts, southeastern New Hampshire and the southern part of Maine.
New Jersey: General Mills shutting down the 76 years old Vineland Progresso soup factory, 340 jobs gone by 2018! Corporate administrators blame the labor union!
New Mexico: In Albuquerque, after 36 years Fair-n-Square grocery store shutdown so the mom-n-pop owners could retire.
New York: Another TGI Friday’s shutdown, this time their 20 years old restaurant in Dewitt. Administrators claim the 30 employees were offered jobs at other locations. After 79 years in the Big Apple iconic Carnegie Deli shutting down by the end of 2016, apparently it’s become a money losing proposition to do business in New York. In Schenectady, the Grog Shoppe shutting down after 40 years, the owners are considering whether to open a new business or just rent out their property to somebody else. In Wading River, the Davis Peach Farm shutdown due to a massive storm that destroyed their peach crop.
North Carolina: Rudean’s Restaurant shutdown after 17 years so the owner, who started operating restaurants while she was a teenager in the 1950s, could retire. The popular (customers started a petition to keep it open) Rusty Rudder shutdown by greedy landlord: “Regrettably, our landlord has decided not to renew the lease after 15 years of business forcing us to close our doors.”-Eric Paul and Brian Johnston, co-owners
North Dakota: In Grand Fork, after eight months of trying to sell the operation, 10 years old Dakota Harvest Bakers finally died. Local news media wasn’t sure if the popular bakery was finally sold as nobody in-the-know was talking.
Ohio: In Fairfield, after 13 years Symmes Tavern on the Green forced to shutdown by the greedy landlord, the owners hope to find a new affordable location. The Greene Town Center is now suing Florida based World of Beer for backing out on plans to open a restaurant. The lawsuit revealed that World of Beer had signed and then reneged on a ten year lease. Buehler Food Markets shutting down their nine years old store in Brunswick, 125 jobs gone by the end of October! In Bowling Green, after 39 years Myles’ Pizza Pub shutting down at the beginning of October. In Hamilton, after 102 years Milillo Grocery was suddenly shutdown for not being in compliance with current state health and city building codes, despite a waver for ‘grandfathered’ businesses. The third generation owner says city and state administrators are singling him out: “They’re considering me a new owner even though I’m the third Frank Milillo to stand behind that counter in the last 102 years. They consider this a new business.”-Frank Milillo
Oregon: After 53 years restaurant Der Rheinalnder was sold and the new owners are shutting it down at the begining of 2017. Grower owned fruit packer Tree Top shutting down their Woodburn operation in January 2017, 60 people losing their jobs because the factory supposedly isn’t effecient (which is a bogus excuse because many employers have laid off employees precisly becasue they became too efficient, as I’ve pointed out in past postings). The Dairy Queen in Gold Beach shutdown, the owners are building a new Dairy Queen in the town of Brookings and say updating the Gold Beach location is too expensive: “If we weren’t trying to build the one in Brookings right now, we’d try to figure out the financing and do the remodel.”-Bart Burroughs
Pennsylvania: In Lancaster, after four years employee owned The Seed cafe shutdown due to “a variety of concerns”. Pepsi shutting down their Reading distribution center, 95 jobs lost by November. In Levittown the Big Q BBQ suddenly shutdown, the owners consolidated several of their restaurants. In York Haven, Hummingbird Ridge Winery shutdown, the owner has a full-time job and apparently making and selling wine part time isn’t worth the effort.
South Carolina: In Myrtle Beach, the Piggly Wiggly grocery store in The Market Common shutting down due to increased competition.
Tennessee: Local news reports revealed that not only did Florida based World of Beer shutdown its Chattanooga location without warning last month, but it failed to pay the employees final paychecks, and even walked away with their tips: “I depend on this income. …how I’m going to make money in the next couple of weeks? ….it was so sudden.”-Jenison Owens, who says World of Beer still owes two weeks of pay plus tips customers made using their credit cards
Texas: The Kettle Restaurant in Killeen shutdown after 36 years, the property was sold. San Angelo based Logan’s Roadhouse now bankrupt busted and shutting down at least 21 of their restaurants due to a 9.9% drop in revenue this year. In Longview, the Waffle Shoppes of Texas shutting down by the end of October, after 40 years of Belgian style waffles. The Highland Village Kroger shutting down in November, 80 jobs lost due to crashing sales. Zio’s Italian Kitchen chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Administrators blame the oil industry BS for crashing sales.
Vermont: In Lyndonville, Phat Kats Tavern shutdown.
Virginia: Food Lion shutdown one of their grocery stores in Martinsville saying it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease, 35 jobs affected. Despite using illegal employees and continuing taxpayer subsidies, U.S. farmers also benefit from 31st Farm Aid concert in Bristow.
Washington DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reducing allowable levels of dangerous atrazine weed killer used on food crops. Chemical addicted farmers are complaining it will effectively ban the use of most weed killers. 
U.S. Department of Labor confirms that more than 50% of farm workers are in the U.S. illegally! Blame farmers who bemoan that there aren’t enough cheap-ass illegal workers for U.S. businesses! On top of that, U.S. taxpayers are again being raped to subsidize farmers with the Urban Agricultural Act of 2016: “This legislation offers services and support to urban farmers. The research component of the bill is not only critical for production, but also for exploring the risk management, food safety, environmental and economic factors that are critical for economic success.”-Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau Federation
Wisconsin: After only five months that restaurant with the ‘racist’ sounding name, Hibachi Boy, shutdown. The owner would only say that it was “a difficult but necessary decision.”
Food Crisis August 2016: ALBERTSONS MAKES “BILLIONS IN PROFITS” YET PAYS EMPLOYEES WELFARE WAGES!
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification
Incomplete list of U.S. Mining/Industrial/Logistics job loss announcements and shutdowns for September 2016.
Arkansas: Fuel tank maker Amfuel shutting down its Magnolia factory, 3-hundred people jobless due to operations being moved to Texas!
California: National Oilwell Varco laying off 72 people by Halloween. After reporting ” historic record financial results” at the end of 2015, shipping company United States Lines shutting down their Newport Beach port operations, 92 jobs lost by Halloween. Taxpayer subsidized (to the recent tune of $300-million USD!) hotel builder Good Hope International laid off 60 people in Anaheim. Apparently Boeing wasn’t satisfied with last month’s layoff warning for its ops in El Segundo and Huntington Beach, an additional 82 jobs being eliminated. In Garden Grove, Morning Sun Shirt Company laying off 76 employees in November. Israel owned clothing maker VF Contemporary Brands laid off 105 people without warning! Clothing brand Max Azira eliminating 123 jobs in Vernon, by November! Upscale sunglass maker Oakley issued a shutdown WARN for its Mira Loma operations, 119 jobs gone by January 2017! What automotive industry recovery? Maker of custom wheels, Carlstar Group issued a shutdown WARN for their Ontario operations, 139 jobs gone by December! In Santa Maria, Zodiac Seat Shells issued a layoff WARN, 205 jobs gone by Halloween! Kyocera Precisions Tools shutdown their San Jose office. Also in San Jose, Menzies Aviation issued a layoff WARN, 85 jobs lost by November.
Colorado: Near Hesperus, the King II coal mine revealed it eliminated 38 jobs through attrition and layoffs.
Florida: Taxsucker Honeywell laying off 52 Sensing and Productivity Solutions factory workers by 2017. Administrators said it was “driven by just better and better efficiency”. Sweden based Bonnier shutting down its profitable U.S. (Winter Park) based print magazine ops. Publication of Islands, Destination Weddings & Honeymoons, and Caribbean Travel & Life will cease this year due to declining subscriptions, the owners want to get out while they’re still ahead, of course jobs will be lost.
Illinois: What construction industry recovery? In Joppa, the LaFarge cement factory announced that 40 jobs will be eliminated due to crashing demand for cement. In Mossville, Caterpillar eliminating 3-hundred support-management jobs as part of plans to halt overseas productions and massive layoff globally (some reports say more than 10-thousand jobs lost), due to crashing sales! Dynegy laying off 64 Baldwin Energy Complex employees due to “loss of contract”. Dynegy also issued a shutdown WARN for its Newton Power Plant, 48 jobs lost in October. Wholesaler PartyLite shutting down their Batavia location, 144 jobs lost starting after Thanksgiving! What automotive industry recovery? Maker of electrical parts for vehicles, IAC Belvidere, shutting down by Xmas.
Indiana: Plastics molder CPX shutdown without warning, 214 jobs instantly gone due to “unforeseeable economic circumstances”.
Iowa: Taxsucking helicopter parts maker Fansteel now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, blaming reduced Department of Defense (DoD) spending. Flexsteel shutting down their 120 years old furniture factory in Dubuque, at least 250 jobs gone by December 2017! Adminstrators say it will cost too much money to bring the old factory up to date, and they don’t seem so sure about building a new one.
Kentucky: Coal mining layoffs never stop as Alpha Natural Resources issued shutdown WARNs for two operations, resulting in 117 jobs lost!
Louisiana: In Amite, Bradken laying off 65 people in late October. Trinity Marine Products shutting down in Brusley, 288 jobs gone between October and December! In Barkesdale, taxsucking ProActive Technologies failed to get its DoD contract renewed, 51 jobs lost after Halloween (it’s hoped the new contractor will hire them).
Maine: Taxsucking General Dynamics Bath Iron Works about to kill 1-thousand 2-hundred jobs after losing a $10.5-billion U.S. taxdollar funded contract to a company in Florida!
Maryland: What automotive industry recovery? Sweden based Volvo suddenly laid off 143 people at its truck factory in Hagerstown and also revealed they laid off 138 employees during the 1st quarter of the year!
Missouri: Maker of bricks and heat resistant industrial products, HarbisonWalker International shutting down their Fulton factory. 87 jobs gone due to crashing sales. Administrators say if the economy truly recovers then they might start back up.
New Jersey: Trucking company Veltri eliminating 77 jobs in Kearny, by November. Packaging maker for consumer products, AQL Decorating eliminating 98 jobs in Fairview, right after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. In Princeton, Tyco International Management eliminating 45 jobs before the New Year.
New Mexico: Taxsucking Lockheed Martin announced the elimination of 330 jobs due to the loss of a contract with the DoD!
New York: GL Bus Lines issued a layoff WARN, 82 jobs gone right before Xmas. Lock maker Allegion shutting down their Bronx NYC factory, 58 jobs lost starting in December.
Ohio: Cast Fab Tech shutting down their Oakely ops, 97 jobs gone in November due to take-over by competitor Elyria and Hodge Foundries. 
God powerless to stop christian agnostic Warren Buffett owned NetJets eliminating 80 jobs at its Lunken Repair Station right before Xmas.
Oklahoma: ConocoPhillips laid off 90 people in Bartlesville. WPX Energy eliminated 40 jobs in Tulsa as part of plans to kill jobs. In 2015 WPX employed 1-thousand 75 people, local news reports say when the job culling ends they’ll have 650 employees!
Pennsylvania: Air Products laid off 26 people due to crashing demand for natural gas equipment. Packaging Corporation of America eliminating 51 jobs before Thanksgiving. Cheetah Chassis Corporation issued a layoff WARN, but didn’t say how many people would become unemployed. ATI (Allegheny Technologies) shutting down its Specialty Alloys and Components factory in Frackville, 40 jobs gone by Xmas.
Tennessee: What construction industry recovery? Maker of plumbing fixtures, Kohler eliminating 161 jobs at its Union City factory! Administrators blame crashing sales.
Texas: Houston based ConocoPhillips began 1-thousand layoffs around the world, including 3-hundred people in Canada, and is selling-off its stake in the Indonesian oil-gas field! Houston based Noble Energy warning of more layoffs despite slowly rising oil prices. Colorado based Whiting Petroleum issued a WARN saying at least 102 Texans will become unemployed by the end of November! Whiting is selling-off its Texas ops. In Houston, filter maker Purolator shutting down due to “sustained market challenges”, 74 jobs gone. Prime Flight Aviation Services lost contracts with several airlines and will eliminate 90 jobs at the San Antonio International Airport.
Virginia: Industrial fastener and glue maker Norsdon Corporation shutting down its Pulaski factory, as part of plans to consolidate operations to Ohio (which will affect 260 employees in Pulanski, and employees at two other factories in Pennsylvania and Ohio). Apparently Nordon’s primary cutomers are down to just Deutschland and Thailand, yet they reported their earnings were better-than-expected for their 3rd quarter.
Washington: France based make-up maker L’oreal eliminating 120 jobs at its Redmond and Kent operations, by Thanksgiving!
Washington DC: The U.S. Federal Reserve Bank admitted that U.S. factory production is stagnating. In August production dropped 0.4%, canceling out the piddly 0.4% increase in July.
West Virginia: US Well Services laid off 60 people (according to employees), administrators admitted their ops in Jane Lew “…did not win the work we thought we were going to…” Caterpillar Global Mining shutting down their one year old Bluefield call center, an undisclosed number of people jobless by the end of October.
Wisconsin: Brillion Iron Works shutting down, 342 jobs killed by new owner Metaldyne Performance Group! Graebel Van Lines eliminating 50 jobs by the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, due to consolidation of billing ops. Machined parts maker Spirit Manufacturing shutting down one of its operations, 60 jobs lost due to “changing business circumstances”.
August 2016 : “A FINANCIALLY RUINOUS GAME OF MUSICAL CHAIRS”
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification.
I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.
Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!
The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”
It must be noted that I started documenting these education shutdowns at the beginning of 2014, in that year I posted the reports biannually (every six months). In 2015 education cutbacks ramped up and I posted quarterly (every three months). For the past eight months of 2016 there have been so many education cutbacks that I’ve posted a report every month!
Disappearing Students Syndrome (DSS): A phrase created by me to describe a phenomenon taking place across the United States, affecting both privately and publicly funded schools, from Kindergarten all the way through University levels.
Incomplete list of publicly announced education related layoffs & school shutdowns, September 2016:
California: Reports of unknown rash affecting 40 teachers and children at Lake Forest Elementary, in Orange County. Some victims say the rash looks and feels like “bug bites”. Orange County health administrators ruled out vectors. A local TV station showed video of the lawn at the school with Do Not Cross ‘tape’ around it, school admin refused to comment but parents say many of the affected students were playing on the lawn (chemical contamination?).
Idaho: State education administrators and ‘lawmakers’ debating new ways to divy out dwindling taxpayer funding for schools, some plans would see as much as $131-million USD cut from school funding! School district administrators also told ‘lawmakers’ that ObamaCare mandated employee health insurance is sucking up more and more taxpayer funding. Blue Cross of Idaho provides the insurance for Idaho teachers and jacked up their rates by 16.5% in 2015. One plan for handling ObamaCare insurance for Idaho teachers could actually cost taxpayers an additional $17-million! Budget policy analyst Paul Headlee warned “This is a This is a particularly complex and potentially expensive endeavor, endeavor.”
Illinois: In Mount Carmel, District 348 shutting down South Elementary at the end of their school year. It’s blamed on building repair costs and years of tax funding cuts due to years of Disappearing Students Syndrome. In Obama’s Failed Homie State of Chicago, after years of slowly declining enrollments Chicago Public Schools reported a sudden 3.5% drop in enrollments, compared to last school year. Administrators are now warning of even more layoffs.
Indiana: ITT Tech now officially bankrupt dead after the U.S. Department of Education banned the for-profit national school from accepting new students who rely on federal education loans or grants, because it couldn’t prove graduates were getting good paying jobs. 8-thousand jobs gone, at least 35-thousand students screwed! I find it par-for-the-course (in this age of Dumbing Down) that many former ITT students say they were unaware of the school’s problems, despite at least two months of news reports!
Michigan: In Detroit, the Big Bookstore near Wayne State University shutting down, due to the owner getting an incredible offer for the land from a property developer.
Minnesota: Blaine based Regency Beauty Institute suddenly shutdown all 79 campuses across the country. Administrators say there is a conspiracy to Dumb Down the U.S. : “…declining numbers of cosmetology students nationwide, a negative characterization of for-profit education by regulators and politicians that continues to worsen and, in light of these factors, an inability to obtain continued financing…. ..The environment is simply not one that allows us to remain open.”
New York: God powerless to stop ‘his’ College of Saint Rose from possibly eliminating 23 jobs due to a $9-million shortfall, despite boasting of a record number of enrollments this school year! It should be noted that the College of Saint Rose is deeply involved/connected with U.S. attorneys and court judges, unAmerican corporate America and the main stream news media.
North Dakota: North Dakota State University eliminating 95 jobs through attrition, buyouts, and vacant positions will not be filled. Remaining employees will have their hours reduced. Administrators say they must cut their 2017-19 budget by $15.7-million USD!
Oregon: In Northeast Portland, pissed-off parents say the now dead Tiny Revolution Montessori failed to refund their money after shutting down without warning on 04 September. What’s more interesting is that according to court documents the school owners knew they would be shutting down back in July!
Pennsylvania: DuBois Business College shutting down all four campuses due to problems with the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).
Texas: In Bryan, after 30 years of supplying educators Jacque’s Toys and Books shutting down after Halloween.
Wyoming: It’s been revealed (nationally) that the shutdown of Midwest School, back in May, was caused by the oil industry. To show you how much the oil industry controls The Cowboy State an oil well ‘donkey pump’ was planted on one end of the school’s football-track field! The school had to shutdown because gas from the pumping of the well filled the only school for the town of Midwest!
Incomplete list of U.S. retail/banking/service sector job loss announcements and shutdowns for September 2016:
Arkansas: Bentonville based Walmart continues eliminating jobs, this time 7-thousand accounting jobs at stores across the U.S., over the next few months! Administrators claim they’ll hire more customer service employees. B.Jaxx Accessories shutdown in Saline County after ten years: “I can’t stress enough how important it is to shop local.”-company Facebook post
California: San Francisco based Wells Fargo going down. At one time the top Too Big to Jail bank in the U.S., based on ‘market value’, it’s now crashing & burning after revelations by the city of Los Angeles, and the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, that 2-million of Wells Fargo accounts are fake! Wells Fargo agreed to pay $185-million USD to settle the charges. The state treasurer has suspended billions of dollars in taxpayer funded investments with the bank. In an apparent move to shift blame Wells Fargo administrators fired 5-thousand 3-hundred employees, many had tried to blow the whistle on the scam! But that backfired as former employees, some who quit many years ago because they realized Wells Fargo was stacking the deck, have launched massive lawsuits showing it’s been Wells Fargo policy to create fake accounts for decades (supposedly starting in 1998)! Employees were also made to work overtime without pay. Wells Fargo illegally repossed military personnel’s vehicles while on deployment, and don’t forget it was proven in court years ago that Wells Fargo was the lead bank in the home foreclosure scams! How many other Too Big to Jail banks are playing the same game (called Cross-Selling) to make their stockholders happy? Wells Fargo could be the tip of the banking industry ice berg that’s about to be smashed into tiny pieces.
CNN: How to tell if any bank opened fake accounts with your name
Forbes: Close Your Account!
In San Rafael, Genworth Financial issued a shutdown WARN, 58 jobs gone after Halloween. In San Francisco, clothier Benny Gold shutting down its six years old store on 16th Street, and moving to a new location. Hertz issued a layoff WARN for its vehicle rental/sales ops in San Francisco, 156 jobs lost by November! In Palo Alto, after 51 years Keeble & Shuchat Photography shutting down in October, the owners warning that “small retail is just really doomed”. In Long Beach, Tanaka Lawnmower shutdown after 33 years, the aged owners say it’s too hard to see to make repairs to customer’s lawnmowers. In San Jose, Camera 12 (formerly United Artists movie theater) shutdown after ten years of losses. In Reedley, Sunnyside Bicycles shutdown due to greedy landlords: “The lease was up, and we just couldn’t come to an agreement with the landowners….. Business was good….it’s like jumping out of a perfectly good airplane!”-John McCracken
Colorado: Office Max shutting down their Pueblo store as part of plans to shutdown an additional 3-hundred U.S. stores.
Connecticut: In Stamford, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) issued two layoff WARNs, 43 jobs lost between Halloween and Thanksgiving. Stamford based Starwoods Hotel and Resorts will begin eliminating jobs due ot being taken over by Marriot. The world’s largest hedge fund company, Bridgewater Associates, has new administrators who think the company has become too large and as such will begin eliminating an undisclosed number of jobs. After surviving The Great Depression, Clough’s Hardware & Gifts shutdown in Stratford. God powerless to stop the British empire based Salvation Army from shutting down four thrift stores in The Constitution State. Perhaps the not-so recovered economy is what Salvation Army admin was refereing to in this statement: “…current circumstances have made supporting these programs through these store locations impossible.”
Florida: France based travel and ’emergency’ insurance agency AXA Assistance eliminating 40 jobs in Miami, between November 2016 and February 2017. In Melbourne, after 53 years Southern Photo suddenly shutdown by unfinished road construction: “Quite simply, while we await answers from the Florida (Department of Transportation), we find that our best efforts to operate our business are not enough to navigate through the environment in which we find ourselves today.”– Lisa Stirtzinger, owner
Underwood’s shutting down its six years old Avenues Mall jewelry store, directly blaming the not-so-recovered economy: “They’re not shopping the same way they did, because they don’t have the money.”-C. Clayton Bromberg, owner
Georgia: In Athens, Masada Leather & Outdoor shutdown after 40 years. The owner says he’ll focus on custom leather work only, at a smaller location.
Hawaii: Japan based Fujifilm shutting down their Oahu office, 24 jobs gone by the end of the year.
Illinois: In Northbrook, Maurice Sporting Goods shutting down, 49 jobs gone by November. Insurance and financial services company AIG eliminating 70 Springfield jobs by Xmas. Local news reports say no reason was given. The Illinois state treasurer is going after Wells Fargo to “suspend billions of dollars” in taxpayer funded ‘investments’.
Indiana: In Alexandria, after 45 years Cox Hallmark Gift Shop shutdown. In Shelbyville, Connor Jewelry shutdown after 81 years, the current owners blame ‘big box’ and internet competition.
Iowa: In Forest City, after more than 20 years re-sale store, and vocational services for mentally handicapped people, KrysMart shutdown. The operators said they could no longer maintain the operation. In West Des Moines, after 30 years Letter Perfect stationary shop shutdown, the 71 years old owner said it’s time to retire.
Kentucky: In Lexington two entertainment venues going down, the Cinemark Movies 10 theater and Premiere Home Video.
Maryland: In Cantonsville, 121 years old Plymouth Wallpaper Furnishing & Gifts may-or may-not be shutting down. A ‘space available’ sign has been posted and the owners told local news “We’re testing the waters for alternatives to the real estate owned by the company.”
Massachusetts: After 54 years The Surrey Shoppe shutdown. It should be noted that the Christian owners (who used a Bible in their window display) admitted that during the time of the christian imposed ‘Sharia’ law (aka Blue Laws) banning businesses from being open on Sunday, they rebelled and remained open seven days a week. In Greenfield, after almost 1-hundred years Home Furnishing Company shutting down in October. In Springfield, after 54 years Clothes Tree shutdown the owners blaming unAmerican corporate America for killing the jobs that employed their loyal customers, saying “…they brought in machines and got rid of all the girls.”
Michigan: In Livonia, after ten years Scrappy Chic scrapbook shop shutting down by the end of October, unless a new owner is found. In Port Huron, after five years Bargain Barn shutdown becasue the ‘god fearing’ property owners, Cross Current Church, refused to renew the lease.
Missouri: In Woodside, after 70 years Surplus City shutting down, the owner says slow sales (5% -10% decline every year since 2011) are a sign that it’s time to retire. In Monett, after 46 years retail store Brownsberger shutdown, so the 70 years old owner can retire. California based First Allied Securities shutting down its Chesterfield office as part of its consolidation operations.
Nebraska: SWBC (SouthWest Business Corporation) laid off 15 people while at the same time is advertising for 20 vacant positions. In Omaha, after 45 years Post & Nickel shutdown, the owners say they need to focus on their Lincoln store.
Nevada: In Sparks, after 19 years The Century 14 Theater shutdown with only a few days notice to the public.
New Hampshire: After 30 years Gilford Gift Outlet shutdown, not because of low sales (the owner claims sales are great) but because the owner is getting ready to retire.
New Jersey: After 70 years the Spring Lake Variety Store shutdown. The 74 years old owner of 80 years old Pettersons Men’s Shop shut-it-down so he can retire. Bankrupt clothier Aeropostale eliminating 108 jobs in Lyndhurst, by November! In Fair Haven, popular Bike Haven shutting down due to the not-so-recovered economy and to greedy landlords: “They’re basically doubling the rent.”-Cliff Wittenberg, owner
New York: What housing market recovery? In Elma, Seneca Mortgage will begin laying off mortgage servicing employees in December, due to selling out to competitor National Mortgage Holdings. In Williamsville, PHH Mortgage laying off 91 people in January 2017, due to “Reduction in loan originations.” In Rochester, after 67 years R.C. Shaheen Paint & Decorating Center officially shutdown as winners of the auction picked up their merchandise, the owner blames the ‘big box’ stores. In Massena, 115 years old Smith’s True Value Hardware shutting down by the end of next month. In Hicksville, matress retailer Sleepy’s issued a shutdown WARN for its Finance & Accounting Unit, 28 jobs lost after Xmas due to “restructuring”. In NYC, Oscar Insurance moving 31 jobs to The Grand Canyon State of Arizona, right after Xmas. Best Buy shutting down their Lawrence store by mid November, 60 jobs lost due to “economic” reasons. Bankrupt clothier Aeropostale issued a shutdown WARN for its NYC HQ and corporate offices, 228 jobs gone right before Xmas! American Capital issued a shutdown WARN for its NYC office, 53 jobs lost before Xmas due to merger with a competitor. Too Big to Jail Goldman Sachs eliminated 90 jobs within its Asian market offices, blaming it on a decline in Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A). The Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Global Initiative notified “dozens” of employees of layoffs by the end of the year, due to the wind down of operations.
North Carolina: What housing market recovery? Property manger Kornerstone Community Management now chapter 7 bankrupt dead and under investigation by the Garner Police Department.
North Dakota: In Fargo, successful Junk Giant shutdown so the owners can focus on even more successfull Vinyl Giant. In Williston, oil industry BS forcing two hotels to shutdown, with only a few days notice; Missouri Flats Inn and Marquis Plaza and Suites.
Ohio: Fifth Third Bank shutting down 44 offices in addition to the 1-hundred office shutdowns announced in 2015. Administrators warned that bank office shutdowns will “…be an annual exercise.” In Plain, J&D Surplus Junk Store shutting down by the end of October. The Columbus Motor Speedway shutdown after 71 years of racing, it’s being turned into a park with rugby fields.
Oklahoma: In Oklahoma City, after 69 years iconic ‘hot rod’ parts retailer Parr Automotive shutdown. A massive auction of hot rodder automobila, and the property itself, will be held towards the end of October.
Oregon: In Roseburg, taxpayer funded Goodwill shutting down their store on Diamond Lake Boulevard (Goodwill’s job training program is mainly funded with federal tax-dollars, not your donations). Local Goodwill administrators claim they can’t afford the new lease. In Astoria, after 15 years Rent-A-Center shutdown due to increased competition and rent. In Springfield, after 26 years Ben Franklin Crafts & Frame Shop shutdown. The owners blame the greedy landlord for suddenly, and unexplainedly, refusing to renew the lease: “They said they didn’t have someone else in mind for the space. I don’t think they’ve tried to make it available to anyone yet.”-Paul Johnson, co-owner
Pennsylvania: Customer services contractor IBEX Global eliminating 79 jobs at the end of October. TV based retailer QVC laid off an additional 1-hundred people at its West Chester HQ! QVC has eliminated at least 247 jobs since 2015, however, administrators claim they’re hiring for their California operations.
South Carolina: Best Buy shutting down their Beaufort store by the end of October. It’s part of Best Buy’s policy not to renew the leases on their stores.
Tennessee: Citizens National Bank of Athens eliminated 55 jobs due to being taken over by Simmons First National. In Franklin, soap shop Bathos shutdown after 18 years. The owner say he will now focusing on internet and event sales, and on his real estate job. In Hermitage, Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples shutdown yet another store. In Johnson City, the Animal Shelter Thirft Store shutting down so the owner can retire. The local animal shelter must now find new funding for its program.
Texas: British empire Canada owned golf retailer Golfsmith now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, for sale, and already shutting down its 109 U.S. stores. Too Big to Jail Capital One shutting down branches in Tyler and Jacksonville by December, they’re going digital. Mortgage lender One Main Financial eliminating 29 additional jobs in Irvine in November. News reports say One Main has laid off 116 people in Irvine, since it was sold to Springleaf last year.
Vermont: Five months after a co-op took over management of Underhill Country Store they’ve thrown in the towel saying “Unfortunately with the reserves that we have and the overhead we have, we couldn’t do it there was just no path that was sustainable.” God refuses to stop ‘his’ British empire based Salvation Army from shutting down their thrift store in Burlington. Local news said an unnamed employee blamed crashing sales and skyrocketing costs of operation.
Virginia: The Martin Agency laid off 29 people after losing an advertising account with Walmart.
Washington: Taxsucker Chugach Federal Services eliminating 83 government contractor jobs by October in an effort to be more efficient. In Marysville, after 93 years Carr’s Hardware shutting down. The third generation family owners claim sales are good, they’re just tired of it.
Washington DC: Members of Congress demanded that the Federal Reserve Bank take action against Wells Fargo: “Will you at least seriously consider breaking up Wells Fargo?”–Brad Sherman, Represenative from California questioning Janet Yellen’s lack of action against Too Big to Jail banks
West Virginia: In Fairmont, decades old The Fashion Scene shutdown so the 77 years old owner can retire.
Wisconsin: Northwestern Mutual eliminating 1-hundred jobs by the end of this year, and “hundreds more” next year!
September 2016 Tech/Communications losses: YES HE CAN, OBAMA GIVES IT ALL TO ICANN!
SEARS KMART UPDATE, September 2016: 2,583 STORES UP FOR LEASE OR SALE!
August 2016: “WE PLAN TO SELL IT DOWN TO THE BONES.”
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification.
I found a 2010 AFL-CIO analysis (titled The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure…) which proves what I’ve been suspecting in my search of state WARN notices; most states are not complying with federal WARN regulations and are not publicizing or tracking mass layoffs.
Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed!
Employees of religious non-profits might not qualify for unemployment assistance: “If the non-profit organization is a church, you may or may not be entitled to unemployment. It all depends upon state regulations for church employers. In many cases, churches are allowed to set their own rules regarding unemployment benefits, meaning the church can choose whether to offer benefits to former employees.”
The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”