Tag Archives: trump

U.S.

“This is usually the busiest time of the year. Usually we’re hiring extra help.” Not this year!: U.S. Food Crisis, April 2017

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of April, 2017: 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.

California:  After 91 years the restaurant Genova Delicatessen shutdown its locations in Oakland and North Oakland, the family owners blame an increase in crime.  The Fishwife’s Turtle Bay Taqueria shutting down its Monterey location. In Fresno, after 18 years mom&pop owned Uncle Harry’s New York Bagelry & Coffee House shutting down because the “…landlord based in New York was not interested in renewing our lease and preferred/desired a ‘national’ tenant instead.”  Christian agnostic Warren Buffett owned Meadowbrook Meat Company shutting down its operations in Pleasanton and Tracy, 147 jobs gone between July and October (last month Meadowbrook announced the shutdown of its Ontario ops, 171 jobs lost in May)!  JBS USA Food Company issued a shutdown WARN for its Commerce location, 34 jobs lost by the end of May.  Food service contractor Sodexo issued a shutdown WARN for its ops in Davis, 136 jobs gone by the end of June!

Florida: Kendall based Pollo Tropical announced it will shutdown 30 restaurants in Georgia, Tennessee and Texas (in addition to the ten they’ve already shutdown).  In Gainesville, Alico Citrus Nursery suddenly laid off 31 people.  

Georgia:  Atlanta based Coca-Cola announced it will kill 1-thousand-2-hundred jobs in the second half of 2017!  Are crashing sales because of anti-soda taxes?  In Atlanta, Vine & Tap wine bar shutdown without warning after only three years, due to owner’s family health problems.

Idaho: An estimated 100 million pounds of spoiled onions have been disposed of in Idaho and Oregon following a winter of unprecedented snowfall.

Eastern Idaho potato growers are at least a week behind normal, and even further behind compared to their early starts the past two seasons. He believes the odds of repeating last season’s bumper spud and grain crops are growing longer.

Illinois:  McCain Foods USA, Inc. announced it is voluntarily recalling frozen hash brown products that may be contaminated with extraneous golf ball material.  (In 2002, the University of Idaho created a guide on “Managing Foreign Material for Quality Idaho Potatoes” in which golf balls were featured as a “common foreign material found in potatoes,” alongside bones, light bulbs, manure, shot gun shells and irrigation equipment.)   Food Service Professionals issued a shutdown WARN for its Flossmoor ops, 134 jobs lost by August!  Red Bull laid off 32 people in Chicago, no reason given.     In Hinsdale, wine seller Village Cellar shutting down when the inventory is gone because the local government nabobs refused a new expanded booze license.  The maker of food products for Tony Roma’s and Butchers Prime, Rupari Foods, now bankrupt busted and supposedly sold to competing food processor Carl Buddig.Grocery store supplier Central Grocers suddenly laid off 29 warehouse workers in Joliet.  Former employees told local news media that something is wrong because “This is usually the busiest time of the year. Usually we’re hiring extra help.”  As well as putting itself up for sale, Central Grocers is also shutting down and selling-off seven Ultra Foods grocery stores, at least 8-hundred Ultra Foods jobs lost by mid-June !  The grocery employee union has sued Central Grocers in an attempt to stop the sale of the business.

Indiana:  In Evansville, after 30 years Fred’s Bar and Grill shutting down by mid-May, sounds like it’s due to property redevelopment.

Iowa:  Grocery chain Hy-Vee threatened 60 HQ workers with layoffs unless they accepted reassignment to lower level jobs.  Administrators blamed it on a rapidly changing grocery market.  Save-a-Lot shutting down its Dubuque grocery store by mid-May, because it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease.

Kentucky: In Covington, Piccolo Casa (formerly NuVo) stopped serving lunch and will shutdown in May, no reason given.

Maryland:   Quincy’s Bar & Grille chapter 11 bankrupt busted, the bar & grill was shutdown six weeks before the bankruptcy filing.  Besides the usual debts, Quincy’s owner owes the landlord more than $73-thousand USD in rent. After 25 years Lenny’s Deli shutdown, the owners lamented to local news media about a time when business was booming.   Tian’s Teriyaki shutdown so the owner could return to China.

Massachusetts: Cumberland Farms sold-off and shutdown its small Greenfield grocery store on Main Street.

Minnesota:  In Duluth, after 29 years booze seller Lake Superior Bottle Shop secretly sold to make room for taxpayer funded housing development.  In Le Center, after less than one year The Lunchbox shutting down in July, due to not being able to renew the lease.  The building owner also revealed that it’s up for sale.  In Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area two PizzaRev restaurants shutdown after only three years.

Mississippi: In Gulfport, Winn Dixie shutting down its grocery store on East Pass Road.

Montana: In Great Falls, the Pizza Baron shutdown and the building is for sale, the owner say he doesn’t have time to run it anymore due to focusing on his other more profitable businesses.

Nevada: In Las Vegas, after only two years the world’s largest Hooters restaurant (more than 5-hundred seats) shutting down in May.  In Reno, after five years Wedge Cheese Shop shutdown due to a 25% rent increase, the owner Laura Conrow explained why she didn’t just move: “….I was so tired, I couldn’t take on another thing. Basically, the only option was to close.”

New Jersey: In Atlantic Highlands, after 32 years the Memphis Pig Out shutdown, with the long time owners exclaiming “We are ecstatic to be free of all the responsibilities of owning a business!”

New York: In Pine City, after 134 years (surviving The Great Depression and two World Wars) Shepard’s Market shutdown due to the current owner’s health problems and the fact that nobody wanted to takeover the family run grocery store.  In West Hurley, Hurley Ridge Market has been sold, the new owner (HR Market) is shutting it down, 60 jobs lost in July.  The Fresh Market in Woodbury shutting down due to economic reasons, 47 jobs lost between May and July.  Openly anti-Trump Kellogg Snacks
shutting down its Orangeburg and Hauppauge Distribution Centers, 41 jobs lost between July and August supposedly due to a sudden crash in sales after Trump was elected (or maybe it’s part of Kellogg’s ongoing job killing Operation Project K).

North Carolina: With short notice Food Lion shutdown its 20 years old store in Mills River saying it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease, 40 jobs lost.

North Dakota: In Fargo, after 37 years Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream shutdown, supposedly due to problems finding competent employees.

Ohio: In Girard, after 14 years Daffin’s Candies suddenly shutdown blaming lack of sales.  Marsh shutting down its grocery store in Colerain, as part of plans by Marsh to shutdown ten grocery stores in the next month (supposedly due to lack of sales).  Chad Anthony’s Italian Grill & Pub shutdown its Salem and Boardman locations, due to lack of sales.

Oregon: In Portland, Bridgeport Brewery suddenly laid off 13 people due to skyrocketing competition in the craft brewery industry.

Pennsylvania: New taxes being blamed for crashing soda sales, causing Coca-Cola to layoff 40 people in Philadelphia.

South Carolina: In Columbia, after 16 years El Burrito forced to shutdown by a California based REIT which bought up the area’s commercial properties.

Texas: In Dallas, after decades Über-popular El Corazon de Tejas (Tejano, El Chico) suddenly sold-off and will shutdown so the building can be torn down.  In Houston, Red Ox Bar & Grill shutdown on short notice, apparently losing their lease to another restaurant.

Virginia:  Martin’s Food Market (Martin’s Food & Drug Stores) announced it is eliminating 487 jobs and shutting down four stores between June and July!  This is on top of the seven stores already shutdown and 1-thousand-110 people already rendered jobless! It’s directly connected to the takeover of Martin’s by Florida based competitor Publix Super Markets.  With short notice Food Lion shutdown its 20 years old store in Roanoke (on Williamson Road) saying it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease.  In Lynchburg, after four years Hill City House Grill suddenly shutdown due to government plans to use the property as part of a new connector road to Route 501.

Wisconsin: In Madison, Copps grocery store shutdown affecting 76 jobs, as a result of a decision by the owner Roundy’s, which in turn is owned by Kroger.  Kroger-Roundy’s administrators said the Copps chain of grocery stores is losing money.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

REIT=Real Estate Investment Trust

U.S. Food Crisis, March 2017: “YOU HAVE TO WORK ONE JOB TO PAY TO WORK ANOTHER”

U.S.

Stop your Bitchin’: 1st mixed Male-Female Infantry unit completes training!

Video

Recently at Fort Benning, Georgia, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 198th Infantry Brigade, graduated 137 new U.S. Army infantry soldiers, including the first 18 women to complete Infantry One Unit Station Training:

Video of  Infantry One Unit Station Training (Basic and Advanced Infantry training combined):

TRUMP DEPLOYS MISSISSIPPI MILITIA 

TRUMP DEPLOYS OKLAHOMA MILITIA

TRUMP DEPLOYS ARKANSAS MILITIA

U.S.

Stop your bitchin’!: USAF introduces you to their Female Sniper!

Video

At Fort Bliss, near El Paso, Texas, the U.S. Air Force runs a sniper school which boasts the only female sniper instructor in the U.S.    She might be cute but stay out of her crosshairs, she considers her killing skill “talent”:

MEET SOME OF THE 2,000 FEMALE SNIPERS IN SYRIA!

STOP YOUR BITCHIN’! FEMALE PILOT TELLS YOU WHY SHE FLYS MAFFS

U.S.

“you have to work one job to pay to work another”: U.S. Food Crisis, March 2017

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of March, 2017: 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.

California: In San Francisco a book store which also doubles as a booze-food joint, Two Sisters Bar & Books, shutdown.  In San Diego, Coca-Cola eliminating 102 jobs, blaming a 30% crash in soda-pop sales with water taking the number one spot for beverage of choice in California (why would it take ‘health conscious’ Californians decades to switch to water, is it really because of taxes?)!  In Los Angeles, after 70 years Club Tee Gee shutting down because the owners can’t afford to renew the booze license or the lease, and a new operator who can hasn’t been found.  Also in Los Angeles, Thai restaurant Pok Pok shutting down after only two years of yum, apparently the owner is moving back to Oregon.  Also in Los Angeles, ProPortion Foods issued a shutdown WARN, 70 jobs lost by June.  In Napa, Stagecoach Vineyards issued a shutdown WARN, 1-hundred jobs lost by mid-May!  Mi Pueblo issued a layoff WARN for its grocery store in San Jose, 39 jobs gone by June.  Meadowbrook Meat Company issued a shutdown WARN for its Ontario ops, 171 jobs gone by mid-May!  Food processor Conagra issued a shutdown WARN for its Fresno ops, 73 jobs lost by mid-May.  In Stockton, Diamond Foods issued a mass layoff WARN, 240 jobs gone by mid-April!  So called nutritional supplement company BeachBody eliminating 197 jobs in Santa Monica and El Segundo by the end of April!  So called nutritional supplement maker The Nature’s Bounty issued shutdown WARNs for two locations, 223 jobs gone by May!

Colorado: Walmart shutting down its Littleton Neighborhood Market.  Denver based Chipotle suddenly shutdown all 15 of its ShopHouse Asian Kitchen restaurants!  In Colorado Springs, after 15 years Southside Johnny’s shutdown due to the rent being jacked up by 30%.

Connecticut: After five years restaurant Darien Social shutting down by April, supposedly to be replaced by another restaurant.

Delaware: In Wilmington, after 87 years Leo & Jimmy’s shutting down by May, the property was sold to pay for the owner’s retirement.   Georgia based perishable food distribution and warehousing company Burris Logistics eliminated about 50 jobs due to losing a major contract with The Fresh Market.

Florida:  In Sunny Isles Beach, the Epicure Market shutdown because “They had seen a decline in sales…….External pressures caused them to lose market share.”   The Cheesecake Factory issued a shutdown WARN for its Coconut Grove location, 92 jobs gone by the end of May.  In Tallahassee, food service company Aramark issued a WARN for its Seminole Dining ops, 899 jobs lost by the end of May!  In Hallandale, Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails issued a WARN, 101 jobs lost by May!  In Orlando, the Winn Dixie grocery store on South Orange Blossom Trail shutting down in May, administrators say it’s not worth upgrading.  Also in Orlando, after two years Baoery Asian Gastropub suddenly shutdown: “We really love the concept but it just didn’t seem to work….”-Greg Richie, Executive Chef

Georgia: Perishable food distribution and warehousing company Burris Logistic shutting down its Atlanta warehouse, 160 jobs lost due to losing a major contract with The Fresh Market!

Hawaii: In Hilo, after 45 years restaurant Itsu’s Fishing Supplies shutdown, however, local news reports say there are new owners taking over.

Illinois: In Clinton, after 77 years restaurant The Shack shutting down due to the property owner selling out to a gas station operation.  The Shack owners hope they can find a new affordable place to restart their popular restaurant.  Chicago based, Warren Buffett co-owned, Kraft-Heinz suddenly laid off 2-hundred ‘white collar’ employees in Canada and United States, as part of ongoing consolidation ops! After more than 40 years Chicago Brauhaus put up for sale so the owners can retire.  In Chicago, food service company MAC One Midway issued a shutdown WARN, 336 jobs lost by the end of MAY due to loss of contract!   Strack & Van Til shutting down a Chicago grocery store, 89 jobs gone by the end of April.  Ultra Foods issued shutdown WARNs for three locations; Chicago, Downers Grove and Lombard, 282 jobs lost by the end of April!  Meijer grocery store issued shutdown WARNs for two locations; Berwyn and Melrose Park, 299 jobs lost by mid-June!  After 28 years Splinters Sports Pub Restaurant in Palatine shutdown.

Indiana:   Wisconsin based farm vehicle parts maker Rexnord shutting down its Indianapolis bearings factory and moving more than 3-hundred jobs to Mexico by the end of the year, despite threats by Donald Trump!  By April an additional two Marsh grocery stores are shutting down in Indianapolis.  Local news media reported the total Indianapolis Marsh shutdowns (since January 2017) are now at four, hundreds of jobs lost!

Maryland: In Parkville, after 53 years Bel-Loc Diner shutdown to be turned into yet another Starbucks.  Georgia based perishable food distribution and warehousing company Burris Logistics eliminating an undisclosed number of jobs at its Elkton and New Castle ops, due to losing a major contract with The Fresh Market.  Cookware retailer Williams Sonoma shutting down its Towson Town Center location in April.

Massachusetts: The Jillian’s in Worcester shutdown.  In Northampton, after 12 years Lhasa Cafe shutdown so the owners can spend more time with their growing family.  In Deerfield, after more than 20 years Chandler’s Restaurant shutdown due to customer complaints.

Michigan: After 50 years the only Big Boy restaurant in Detroit shutdown, the property was sold to a developer.  Luxembourg based truck and farm vehicle parts maker SAF-Holland consolidating its U.S. operations, including shutting down their Holland factory, 97 Michigan jobs lost in October.

Minnesota: In Edina, cookware retailer Cooks of Crocus Hill shutdown due to the changing “desires and demographics” of local customers, as well as increased competition.  In Saint Louis Park, Granite City Food & Brewery shutdown due to rent increase.

Nebraska:  In Grand Island, after at least 29 years Nathan’s Detroit shutdown, supposedly being replaced by a brewery.

New Hampshire: Beverage distributor Clarke Distributors-White Mountain Distributors being sold-off, affecting at least 123 employees!

New Jersey: Beverage distributor Warren Distributing eliminating 128 jobs by the end of April (is it about taxes killing sales?)!

New York: Restaurant Koi NY Downtown shutting down, 85 jobs gone by mid-June.    AvroKO Hospitality Group issued a shutdown WARN for its PUBLIC restaurant in NYC, 55 jobs gone by June.  In Manhattan-NYC, after more than 40 years upscale restaurant Le Cirque (located in snooty Bloomberg tower) now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to $1-million USD of debt.  In Staten Island-NYC, restaurant Afternoone’s shutdown after 24 years, the owner (for the past year and a half) saying “….it just got tough. Instead of sticking it out any longer, I think it’s wise we cut the losses.”  In Binghamton, after nine years Tranquil Bar and Bistro shutting down by April, the owners blame crashing sales on skyrocketing competition.  Chartwells Dining Services lost its contract with Elmira College, 105 jobs gone by the end of June!  Sodexo warning of possible food service contract losses with Stony Brook University and Houghton College, more than 4-hundred jobs could be lost between the end of May and July!  Food packaging maker Genpak issued a shutdown WARN for its Glens Falls ops, 55 jobs gone in July.  In Cicero, Buffalo Wild Wings shutdown on short notice because it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease.  In Kingston, after 13 years Fleishers Craft Butchery shutdown due to the greedy landlord selling the building out from under the butcher shop!  The owners of Fleishers Craft Butchery said it wasn’t worth moving to a new location.

North Carolina:  In Raleigh, after more than 30 years Barbecue Lodge now chapter 7 bankrupt and died without warning due to more debts than income.  In Gastonia, after four years Zoe’s Coffee House shutting down by the end of April. The owners say they’ve been looking for a cheaper location but haven’t found one.  In Pilot Mountain, Lowe’s Foods-JustSave shutting down by the end of April, city administrators claim the loss “will not be significant”.

Ohio: Maumee based agribusiness and farm retailer Andersons shutdown its distribution center as part of plans to go-out-of-business (announced last month).  In Columbus, after three years restaurant Double Comfort shutdown due to the landlord jacking up the rent by 150%!

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, Spaghetti Warehouse shutdown. Also in Tulsa, grocery store Reasor’s, at 51st and Harvard, shutting down by May due to sales not justifying renewal of the lease.  In Broken Arrow, less than one year after Full Moon Cafe was sold the new owners (Healthy & Tasty Brands) shut it down.  Local news media discovered that Healthy & Tasty Brands took over several area restaurants and most are now closed.

Pennsylvania: Kings Family Restaurant suddenly shutdown five restaurants with only a few hours warning, 130 jobs gone!  Local news media blames it on the new corporate owner from California. Giant Foods issued shutdown WARNs for two Lancaster locations, 158 jobs lost by mid-May!  After more than ten years in Pittsburgh, Vanilla Pastry Studio shutdown so the owner can focus on catering.  New taxes being blamed for crashing soda sales, causing Pepsi to layoff 1-hundred people in Philadelphia!  Candy maker Hersey announced it will eliminate thousands of jobs worldwide under an operation called Margin for Growth!

Tennessee:  Kroger shutting down yet another grocery store, this time on Western Avenue in Knoxville, 80 jobs lost.

Texas: In El Paso, after 20 years JR’s Bratwurst stand shutdown due to “maintenance” problems.  After six years Dallas based Rave Restaurant Group shutdown 14  Pie Five Pizza restaurants in Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota, without warning!  Eight of those surprise shutdowns were the two years old Chicago area restaurants!  News media reports say Rave Restaurant Group is losing money and is accused of fraud.

Virginia: In Chatham, ChathaMooCa shutdown with the owner claiming a new restaurant is coming in.  CarPool shutting down its Ballston location so it can move to another county.   Farm Fresh suddenly laid off 21 merchandising and operations employees at its Virginia Beach HQ, due to consolidating ops with Maryland-based Shoppers.  After only two years Food Wise Discount Grocery, on Porterfield Highway, shutting down by April due to crashing ‘health’ food sales: “When you have to work one job to pay to work another, it’s not the right direction.”-Lanesa Breeding, co-owner

Washington: Ostrom’s Mushroom Farms eliminating 65 jobs in Everson by June.  In Ephrata, Tractor Supply Company-Del’s Feed and Farm Supply shutting down in Autumn, as part of a plan to shutdown all remaining seven Pacific Northwest Del’s Feed and Farm Supply stores: “Our decision to close these locations was based on many business factors.”-John Logan, Tractor Supply Company

West Virginia: TGI Friday’s shutdown its South Charleston Cross Lanes location, supposedly due to lack of profits.

Wisconsin: In Milwaukee, after 19 years Rascal’s on Murray shutdown so the owner could retire.  In Shorewood, after 90 years grocer Sendik’s suddenly shutdown “due to circumstances beyond our control and the decline in support of our small family store.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

U.S. Food Crisis, February 2017: “FLOODS, PESTS, DROUGHT, LAND USE”

U.S. Hi-Tech/Communications breakdown, March 2017: “TO REDUCE OUR BURN RATE”

U.S. Retail/Banking/Service sector collapse, March 2017: “WE JUST DIDN’T WANT TO DO IT ANYMORE.”

International, U.S.

Mississippi Militia deploys

Video

On 14 MAY 2017, about 130 personnel of 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment of the Mississippi National Guard took off for Fort Hood, Texas, to prepare for a ten months deployment to support NATO police ops in Kosovo:

“We cannot be the policeman of the world, we cannot protect countries all over the world…..”-Donald Trump, September 2016

TRUMP DEPLOYS OKLAHOMA ON NATO POLICE MISSION

TRUMP DEPLOYS ARKANSAS MILITIA ON NATO POLICE MISSION

International, U.S.

Oklahoma Militia deploys

Video

On 14 May 2017, Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen from Detachment 1, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, 90th Troop Command performed a Christian ritual before their deployment to provide medevac for NATO police ops in Kosovo:

1st Amendment of the United States Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

“We cannot be the policeman of the world, we cannot protect countries all over the world…..”-Donald Trump, September 2016

Deutschland news media: “Trump’s new doctrine makes US the world police”

TRUMP DEPLOYS ARKANSAS MILITIA ON NATO POLICE MISSION

Technology

”to reduce our burn rate”: U.S. Hi-Tech/Communications breakdown, March 2017

More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise. Incomplete list of U.S. internet/high-tech/communications job destruction announcements in March 2017:

Internet based, but Allstate owned, Esurance suddenly laid off 1-hundred people across the U.S.!   Administrators said the layoffs were necessary for “modern protection solutions”.

British empire based The Guardian eliminating an undisclosed number of U.S. jobs (possibly 20%) after canceling plans to move into an office building owned by Donald Trump’s son-in-law.  This follows U.S. job cuts (30%) The Guardian made at the end of 2016.

California: 27 years old San Diego based video gaming device maker Mad Catz now bankrupt busted, with several administrators suddenly resigning, due to being “unable to find a satisfactory solution to its cash liquidity problems”.  Nippon (Japan) owned mobile game maker Gree eliminated 85 jobs at its San Francisco operations.  GoPro continues to kill jobs, this time 270 employees becoming unemployed in a third round of layoffs since November 2016!  I’m not sure if GoPro included the 94 jobs it killed without warning in San Mateo on 14 MAR 2017.  SunEdison laid off more employees, without warning, on 09 MAR 2017.   Unnamed sources revealed to main stream news media that Sunnyvale based Juniper Networks suddenly laid off 7-hundred people!  Administrators denied the claim, they issued an official layoff WARN saying 99 jobs would be lost by May.   Technicolor (remember when color film was ‘hi-tech’?) issued a shutdown WARN for its Ontario ops, 71 jobs gone by mid-May.  San Jose based PayPal finally notified the state that it laid off employees back in December 2016. In San Jose, Cisco Systems suddenly laid off 115 people!   Chemring Energetic Devices issued a shutdown WARN for its Torrance ops, 93 jobs lost by May.  A year after praising DSSD, Texas based Dell computers decided to halt DSSD production, 68 jobs in Menlo Park gone by May.  In Santa Clara, Nippon based Hitachi Data Systems issued a layoff WARN, 118 jobs lost by the end of April!  Marvell Semiconductor eliminating 30 jobs by May.

Connecticut: Sports network ESPN warning of massive layoffs due to skyrocketing licensing fees and crashing viewership.

Florida: ComTech Communications shutting down its Tampa ops, 40 jobs lost by June.  American Tower issued a WARN, 56 jobs in Boca Raton gone by May.

Iowa: Tax sucking federal contractor General Dynamics eliminating 220 jobs at its Medicaid call center ops in Coralville!   Administrators directly blamed ObamaCare open enrollment demand saying “The call centers are staffed to handle the demands of open enrollment periods. As has been done in previous years, we will continue to manage staffing levels throughout the year to meet consumer demand.”  Maquoketa Web Printing eliminating 42 jobs by mid-April.

Kansas: Alorica shutting down its call center in Topeka, 3-hundred jobs lost in May due to consolidation operations!

Maryland: HealthStream shutting down its internet based patient interview operations in Laurel, 134 jobs gone by the end of June!

Massachusetts: Boston based Liberty Mutual eliminating 360 InfoTech jobs across two states so it can hire “…5,000 worldwide, several hundred in IT operations and in the next 3-5 years we will hire 25,000 people worldwide.”   Video game maker Harmonix suddenly laid off 17 people “as we restructured to align with our current and anticipated development need.”  GateHouse Media eliminating 47 jobs in Framingham by mid-June.  Broadband operator KCST USA (aka Axia NG Networks USA) now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  It’s the result of failed management which, for some reason, failed to follow their own plan and as a result failed to meet their publicly stated objective of connecting 1-thousand-4-hundred community groups to the ‘network’.

Michigan: Solar panel maker Suniva shutdown its Saginaw factory without warning,  just two years after being praised for creating jobs.  In February Suniva eliminated a shift, at least 60 remaining jobs lost with the sudden shutdown.  Local news media discovered that Suniva still owes Saginaw Township about $20-thousand in taxes!  Automatic Data Processing (ADP) shutdown its Ann Arbor office, at least 1-hundred jobs lost!

Missouri: Healthcare software company Lumeris warned of more layoffs as it spends more money taking over competitors.  Saint Louis based Answers Corporation-Answers.com now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Nebraska: Cabela’s shutting down its call center in Sidney, and has begun an undisclosed number of corporate layoffs at various locations.  Cabela’s is hoping to sell itself to competitor Bass Pro, but administrators say their consolidation ops aren’t related to the pending sale.

New Jersey:  Social media/electronic payments data security company VALID USA laid off 76 people in South Plainfield.   In Logan-Swedesboro, drugs pusher Walgreens shutting down its 18 years old e-commerce distribution center, 133 jobs lost in June!  Walgreens is consolidating its internet operations.  Amazon owned Quidsi eliminating 263 jobs due to not being able to make money on the internet: “We have worked extremely hard for the past seven years to get Quidsi to be profitable, and unfortunately we have not been able to do so….”-Amazon statement

New York:  NYC based Us Weekly laid off 40 people in direct connection to its sale to AMI.   The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
Smart System Technology and Commercialization Center shutting down its research and development ops, 30 jobs lost by mid-June.  Altice issued a shutdown WARN for its Bethpage location, at least 67 jobs lost by mid-June.

North Carolina: ‘Big Blue’ IBM confirmed it suddenly laid off a “relatively small” number of employees at Research Triangle Park.

Oregon: Glu Mobile has been killing jobs since January, now its Portland office suddenly shutdown, at least 25 people jobless.

Pennsylvania: In Langhorne, First Data Resources eliminating 93 jobs between May and August.

Texas: Grapevine based video game seller GameStop announced it will shutdown at least 150 brick-n-mortar stores in 2017, due to crashing sales.

Virginia: Rosetta Stone suddenly eliminated an undisclosed number of employees at its Harrisonburg office.  Unnamed former employees told local news media it was as many as 50.

Washington: Video game maker Motiga laid off 15 employees “to reduce our burn rate”.

Washington DC: In October 2016  Groupon took over DC based LivingSocial, and now says it will layoff the remaining 95 LivingSocial employees.

Wisconsin:  Alorica eliminating 137 call center jobs by the end of May!  Administrators called it a strategic business decision.  Temp agency Manpower eliminating 150 HQ jobs in Milwaukee, the administrative jobs are being replaced by robots/computers!  Gannett Consumer Solutions shutting down its call center in Milwaukee, at least 24 jobs gone by mid-May.

U.S. Tech/Communications breakdown, February 2017: “REDUCE STAFF…BY 30%.”

U.S. Mining/Industrial/Logistics layoffs, March 2017: “UNFORESEEABLE SIGNIFICANT DOWNTURN”

U.S. government shenanigans, March 2017: “IT JUST ECONOMICALLY DIDN’T MAKE SENSE”

Dumbing Down the U.S. of A., March 2017: “EXPERIENCING DECLINING ENROLLMENT, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO”

ObamaCare Death Spiral, March 2017: “TREATING AN INCREASING NUMBER OF UNINSURED & UNDERINSURED PATIENTS.”

Retail/Banking/Service Sector Collapse, March 2017: “WE JUST DIDN’T WANT TO DO IT ANYMORE.”

International, U.S.

Arkansas Militia deploys

Arkansas National Guard arrive at the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, 08 MAY 2017

Bravo Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Arkansas National Guard deployed to Kosovo on 08 MAY 2017, for a nine months NATO support mission:

VERMONT MILITIA NEEDS MEDICS, BUT CAN YOU ‘STICK IT’?

Business/Economics, Fukushima

No Ammo, no Guns, no Job! “unforeseeable significant downturn”: U.S. Mining/Industry/Logistics layoffs, March 2017

Incomplete list of U.S. Mining/Industrial/Logistics job loss/shutdown announcements made in March 2017.

Iconic and at one time the largest U.S. moving company Graebel Van Lines “ceasing ongoing operations, effective immediately”!  At least 2-thousand jobs suddenly gone!  News reports say its the second major moving company to go bust since December 2016 (Kane Company)!  News media also discovered that some employees and creditors began lawsuits this year over unpaid wages and debts!  If the company is legally broke they’ll never get paid (happened to me in 2012).

 California:  In Riverside, SiftMill issued a shutdown WARN, for April.  Waste cleanup company Global Sulfur Systems shutting down its Cerritos ops by the end of April.  What construction industry recovery? Construction engineering company Mas Tec North America eliminating 74 jobs by May.

Colorado: Distributor Bartkus Oil shutting down after 71 years due to crashing demand from the farm industry.

Connecticut:  In Orange, Valley Tool eliminating 65 jobs by June.

Florida: JCPenney issued a shutdown WARN for its Lakeland Logistics Center, 119 jobs gone between May and October!  What construction industry recovery?  CTIS eliminating 70 jobs at its West Palm Beach location, by mid-May.  At Elgin AFB, federal tax sucker SURVICE Engineering eliminating 91 jobs by mid-April.  And federal tax sucker PAE Aviation and Technical Services laid off 133 people at Elgin AFB!

Idaho:   Ammo maker Federal Cartridge (Federal Premium Ammunition) suddenly furloughed 1-hundred employees at its Lewiston factory, blaming hunters and Donald Trump: “…we experienced a challenging retail environment due in part to a weak hunting season and the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.”

Illinois: Troubled United Airlines eliminating 3-hundred HQ jobs in Chicago!  School bus company First Student laying off 75 people in June due to loss of contract. Jackobson Warehouse shutting down its Romeoville location, 162 jobs lost by the end of May!  In Bolingbrook, Dedicated Logistics issued a shutdown WARN, 121 jobs lost by May due to loss of contract!  Also in Bolingbrook, logistics consultant Radial shutting down, 132 jobs lost by the end of June!  In Belvidere, Auto Releasing shutting down, 68 rail jobs lost by May due to loss of contract.  Also in Belvidere, Pierce Packaging shutting down, 46 jobs lost by the end of May due to loss of contract.  What automotive industry recovery? Tri-Dim Filter suddenly laid off 27 people in Belvidere. In Stockton, Dura Automotive Systems issued a layoff WARN, 171 jobs lost in May due to loss of contract!  In Romeoville, Stant USA shutting down, 69 jobs lost by January 2018.

Indiana: What automotive industry recovery?  Wisconsin based farm vehicle parts maker Rexnord shutting down its Indianapolis bearings factory and moving more than 3-hundred jobs to Mexico by the end of the year, despite threats by Donald Trump!  The layoffs started at the beginning of March.  Surface finisher Saran Industries eliminating 110 jobs by the end of June due to factory shutdown!

Iowa: What automotive industry recovery?  Caterpillar shutting down its Elkader factory, 75 jobs lost to Kansas.

Kentucky:  Gun maker Remington laid off about 16 people in Lexington.

Louisiana:  In Morgan, Petroleum Helicopters suddenly shutdown “…due to a very difficult economic environment and changes in our customers’ needs.”  The company transports workers to off-shore oil rigs.

Maryland: Georgia based Burris Logistics eliminating an undisclosed number of employees at its Elkton ops. Local news media discovered that Burris already eliminated about 50 jobs in neighboring Delaware, and speculated it might have something to due with Burris’ biggest customer BJ’s Wholesale Clubs.  Maker of store display units, Missouri based iDX Corporation, shutting down its Columbia factory, 68 jobs lost.  Local  news media reported that iDX wanted to expand but was not able to find a larger property at a price they could afford.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? Luxembourg based truck and farm vehicle parts maker SAF-Holland consolidating its U.S. operations, including shutting down their Holland factory, 97 Michigan jobs lost in October.  Auto parts maker Inteva Products furloughing 2-hundred employees for at least six months due to “the cancellation of our agreement with one of our largest customers”.  General Motors (GM) laying off 1-thousand-1-hundred people as it phases out GMC Acadia production at its factory in Lansing, by May!

Minnesota: Ammo maker Federal Cartridge (Federal Premium Ammunition) suddenly laid off 110 employees at its Anoka factory, blaming hunters and Donald Trump: “…we experienced a challenging retail environment due in part to a weak hunting season and the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.”

New Hampshire: Thompson Investment Casting suddenly laid off 53 gun foundry workers, blaming the election of Donald Trump for crashing gun sales. Clarke Distributors-White Mountain Distributors being sold-off, affecting at least 123 employees!

New Jersey:   In Logan-Swedesboro, drugs pusher Walgreens shutting down its 18 years old e-commerce distribution center, 133 jobs lost in June!  Walgreens is consolidating its internet operations.  Warren Distributing eliminating 128 jobs by the end of April! Local news media say no reason was given.  In Wall, NRG Energy issued a WARN, 65 jobs gone by mid-June.  In Paulsboro, oil refiner AXEON issued a WARN, 115 jobs lost by May!  In Lawrenceville, Hub City Distributing issued a WARN, 101 jobs lost by the end of April!  Switzerland based ‘inspection’ company SGS issued a WARN for its Mawah location, 37 jobs gone by mid-May.

New York: Local news media reporting that General Electric (GE) will layoff a “small percentage” of people in Schenectady due to “current challenges in the power market and the integration of GE and legacy Alstom”.  Gun maker Remington laid off 122 people in Ilion blaming “poor economic policies pushed by Gov. Cuomo and Assembly Democrats as well as the SAFE Act. Make no mistake, there is a direct correlation.”  In Rotterdam, Railex issued a shutdown WARN, 138 rail jobs gone by the end of June, due to loss of contract!  Manufacturer Allenair issued a shutdown WARN for its Mineola location, 69 jobs lost by September.  The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
Smart System Technology and Commercialization Center shutting down its research and development ops, 30 jobs lost by mid-June.  School bus company East End Bus Lines shutting down in Medford, 255 jobs lost due to loss of contract!

North Carolina:  North State Aviation shutting down operations at the Smith Reynolds Airport, 345 jobs lost due to “unforeseeable significant downturn in business”!

Ohio: Oneida Group laid off ten people at its Anchor-Hocking glass cookware operations near Lancaster.  The jobs were outsourced to a company based in India, in order to improve “profitability”.  3M shutting down its factory in Elyria, 136 jobs lost between May and August!  Rail company CSX laid off 34 people “as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to be more efficient and reduce operating costs”.  What coal industry recovery? Dayton Power & Light going ahead with plans to shutdown two co-op owned coal fired power plants in 2018.

Oklahoma:  Linde Engineering eliminating about 80 jobs in Tulsa; 30 with outright layoffs and about 50 jobs being transferred to Texas.  It’s blamed on the petroleum industry BS.  Industrial emission control system maker John Zink eliminated an undisclosed number of jobs blaming “changing market conditions”.

Ohio: Maumee based agribusiness and farm retailer Andersons shutdown its distribution center as part of plans to go-out-of-business (announced last month).  Standex International-Enginetics shutting down its Eastlake aerospace factory, 28 jobs lost by July, “due to the strategic consolidation”.

Oregon: What construction industry recovery? Maker of fireplaces Portland Willamette shutting down its factory near Portland International Airport, the remaining 62 jobs gone by mid-May.

Pennsylvania: Nippon (Japan) owned nuclear power plant company Westinghouse now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Parent company Toshiba has been losing money hand-over-fist ever since the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Westinghouse will probably be sold to raise cash.  220 jobs lost as chemical company Indspec shuts down its factory in Petrolia, at the end of July!   Classtex suddenly shutdown its 70 years old knitting mill in Orwigsburg, the remaining 15 employees lost their jobs due to “Offshore competition mainly. It’s difficult to compete with countries that are not even paying their people $1 an hour, and they don’t have to worry paying their people any kind of benefits.”  Despite investment by Bill Gates hi-tech battery maker Aquion Energy suddenly laid off 80% of employees and declared bankruptcy!  Administrators said that even with funding by Bill Gates “the company has been unable to raise the growth capital needed to continue operating”.  Blaschak Coal laid off 55 people blaming a warm winter for low sales.  In Steelton, ArcelorMittal laid off an additional 86 people as it reduces the number of shifts. In September 2016, ArcelorMittal laid off 27 people. In Carlise, CEVA Logistics issued a WARN, 101 jobs lost by May!  In York, heat exchanger maker Kelvion eliminating 72 jobs by the end of June. Injection mold maker DME eliminating 61 jobs in Youngwood, by June.

South Carolina: Local news media reporting that General Electric (GE) will layoff a “small percentage” of people due to “current challenges in the power market and the integration of GE and legacy Alstom”.  After more than 20 years plastic packaging maker Buckhorn shutting down its factory in Bluffton, 1-hundred jobs lost due to sudden consolidation of ops!  The mayor of Bluffton, Ted Ellis, said “When I asked management if there was something we could have done, or could do to keep them here, they said no. That was a decision made elsewhere and we’re just at their mercy.” What automotive industry recovery?  Vehicle parts maker Dayco shutting down its 43 years old Walterboro factory, more than 120 jobs lost over the next few months!

Tennessee: Mississippi hauler Ingram Barge suddenly laid off 47 people blaming it on a sudden drop in business.

Texas: Troubled (by corporate insider games) oil contractor Ethos Offshore now chapter 7 bankrupt busted.   Oil contractor Enbridge eliminating 1-thousand jobs in the U.S. and Canada!  It’s the result of Enbridge’s takeover of competitor Sprecta Energy.  Gulf Marine Fabricators killing another 19 jobs on top of the hundreds it killed in the past 22 months.

Virginia: Local news media reporting that General Electric (GE) will layoff a “small percentage” of people in Salem due to “current challenges in the power market and the integration of GE and legacy Alstom”.  In Fisherville, Wilson Trucking laid off about 1-hundred people due to its takeover by a Texas company.

Washington: Boeing issued yet another mass layoff WARN, 245 jobs lost starting mid-May!  Japan owned Nippon Paper suddenly laid off 151 Port Angeles workers!  In SeaTac, Menzie’s Aviation shutting down, 949 jobs gone by May!  What automotive industry recovery?  Car electronics parts maker Harman International Industries issued a shutdown WARN for its factory in Cheney, 86 jobs gone by May.  At nuke disaster site Hanford, tax sucking contractor CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation warned employees that 250 could lose their jobs because ‘key work’ at the disaster site was considered finished.  Also at Hanford, tax sucker Mission Support Alliance said it was laying off as many as 50 people.

West Virginia:  New York based Special Metals laid off 34 people in Huntington, in what local news media called “another round of layoffs”.  What construction industry recovery?  In Holden, hardwood floor maker Mohawk Industries laid off 111 people due to consolidation operations!

Wisconsin: Temp agency Manpower eliminating 150 HQ jobs in Milwaukee!  The administrative jobs are being replaced by robots/computers!

Mining/Industrial/Logistics layoffs, February 2017:  “INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION PROGRAM”

Retail/Banking/Service Sector Collapse, March 2017: “WE JUST DIDN’T WANT TO DO IT ANYMORE.”