Tag Archives: wall street

Business/Economics

Shopko closing update 27 January 2015: Rite Aid buys Shopko pharmacy ops?

Illinois has joined the shutdown list.  The Sullivan Shopko will be slammed shut by April, the store manager told local news media his store wasn’t making enough money.

According to a Wisconsin news outlet Rite Aid has made it clear they’ve taken over Shopko’s pharmacy operations: “…we had a seamless transition with acquiring Shopko’s pharmacy…”-Kristin Kellum

2015 shutdowns (revealed so far):

Illinois: Two years old Sullivan Shopko in April, at least 30 jobs lost.

Kentucky: Hodgenville Shopko Hometown store will shutdown in April.

Missouri: Tarkio Shopko Hometown store will shutdown in April.

Ohio: Shopko to shutdown its Greenfield, Archbold, Montpelier and Newton Falls stores by April, at least 70 jobs will be affected.

South Dakota: Avera FastCare health clinic located inside the Aberdeen Shopko shutdown. Local news reports said there are currently no plans to replace it.

Utah: Employees spreading the word that the Provo Shopko will shutdown by 15 April 2015. Also, reports that the Bountiful (apparently actually located in West Bountiful even though the address is in Bountiful?) Shopko will shutdown in April.

Wisconsin: Shopko will shutdown its Ashland Hometown store by April, at least 29 jobs lost.

Of importance, a major retail landlord just modified its lease agreement with Shopko. The deal makes it easier for Spirit Realty Capital to evict Shopko in favor of new tenants (Shopko also got paid $18.8-million for the inconvenience of being kicked out). The retail landlord said it wanted to reduce its reliance on Shopko for revenue!

2014 shutdowns (that I’ve found so far):

Wisconsin: ShopKo killed off 40 jobs at its Ashwaubenon corporate HQ. Company administrators blame the bad economy for their “reorganization”. A Madison store was shutdown, 66 jobs lost.

Ohio: Georgetown Shopko shutdown.

Indiana: Shopko issued a WARN in November saying it will shutdown a distribution center. The shutdown will be completed by September 2015, at least 95 jobs lost. A Loogootee Shopko was shutdown, at least 14 jobs lost. The Petersburg and Bloomfield Shopkos were also shutdown.

It should be noted that Shopko has been quietly and slowly shutting down stores since 2001.

shopko opens new store in idaho then announces shutdowns

Business/Economics

U.S. Food Crisis, January 2015: “…we’re losing everything that we have as a family…” Corporate America kills family food businesses! “Nobody falls in love with a prostitute.” says one politician regarding Government’s love affair with corporate America!

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of January, 2015: 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.

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

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.

Alabama: After 25 years Applebee’s shutting down their Brookwood Village restaurant on 01 February 2015.  The Texas based property owner refused to renew the lease with the restaurant.  Cafe and market V.Richards shutting down, the store owner made the decision suddenly saying he will chase “other ventures”.

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

California: Mexico based Bimbo Bakeries announced they will shutdown their Fresno bakery in March, 92 jobs lost.  The bakery had been in use since 1926.  Sandwich maker Raybern Foods issued WARNs saying they will shutdown operations in Hayward and Oakland in May, 158 jobs lost!  Pleasanton Safeway grocery store headquarters will layoff at least 26 people by 13 February 2015.  Grocery store Vons issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Arcadia SuperStore in March, 168 jobs lost!  Grocery store Albertsons issued WARNs saying they will shutdown their Marina Del Ray and San Diego stores in February,  143 jobs lost!  Kroger owned grocery store Ralph’s issued a WARN saying they will shutdown a Los Angeles store in March, they did not state how many jobs will be lost.  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.  In Walnut Creek, baseball themed McCovey’s restaurant shutting down.  The owners say they are trying to relocate near a real major league baseball stadium, if they can afford the rent.  In San Diego-South Park, after six years Alchemy Dining announced it will shutdown in February.  The co-owners said the economy is so bad, and competition so tight, that it’s not worth pouring money back into the restaurant: “We were noticing there was a decline in sales because of the market and age of our business, and just the general environment changing because of the amount of new restaurants in San Diego in general….We recreated the restaurant a number of times, from farm-to-table to street food to a neighborhood feel, and we got to a point where we would have had to sway a lot further and we made a choice not to.” 

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

In New Haven, the Anchor Bar shutdown without notice, local reports say employees were ordered not to say anything to the news media.  In Norwich, after six years Chacer’s Bar & Grill shutdown, the co-owner blaming the suck ass economy not only for shutting them down but for destroying his marriage: “It wasn’t easy at all, and it took a toll on our marriage. It stinks because we had a lot of fun in that business.”-Geoffrey Chase

Georgia:  Atlanta based iconic Coca-Cola announced it will add another 18-hundred job cuts to the previously announced 2-thousand!

Illinois: Iconic McDonald’s announced it will kill off 63 jobs at its Oak Harbor HQ in February.  Burger joint administrators admitted that their sales sucked ass for the past 13 months.  And administrators of McDonald’s Japan are reeling from crashing sales caused by food shortages, which in turn are being caused by a strike by dock workers on the U.S. west coast which has halted U.S. potato shipments to McDonald’s Japan, and food sabotage (strange things being found in the food).  The Peruvian owned “intimate supper club “ Monari’s 101 announced it will shutdown in Spring.  The owners said over the past two years they’ve tried to sell the restaurant with no takers, and they can’t wait any longer so they’ve decided to retire.  In Chicago, after 50 years independent Family Pride Finer Foods grocery store announced shutdown, 35 jobs lost.  The current owner blamed “competition” pointing out that there are now competing ‘big box’ grocery stores within “a two mile radius” of his store.

Indiana: General Mills announced they will shutdown their New Albany Pillsbury frigerated food factory by 2016, at least 400 jobs lost!  Company administrators said they have “excess capacity”.  That’s corporate speak for too much supply and not enough demand for their products (aka a suck ass economy).

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

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

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…” (or what I call the suck-ass economy).  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”

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

Michigan: After only five years Just Baked cupcake shop shutdown ten of its Detroit metro area stores!  In Jackson, after nine years Caffe Lilla shutdown, local news reports claim the owners refuse to say why.

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 plant.”  In Wrenshall, family owned One Stop Market shutdown.   The owner blames a new unAmerican corporate America competitor for costing him big losses, just in December: “Their advertising, their marketing, free milk, and 99 cent butter….It just kills these little businesses, little towns…..we’re losing everything that we have as a family…”-Chad Pfau, now legally bankrupt

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: Cargill announced it is shutting down their Springfield meat factory, by March, 118 jobs lost!   Some employees will be able to move to Nebraska or Texas, if they want to keep their Cargill jobs.

Montana:  In Missoula, after 41 years Curley’s restaurant was shutdown and sold off.   The manager told local news that the reasons for the sale are private.  In Billings, the Mongolian Grill shutdown, local news reports say nobody at the restaurant would talk to them.  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 Jersey:  Belgium-Brazil owned beer brewer Anheuser-Busch announced it will kill off 60 jobs at its Newark brewery, in March: “After a thorough study, we have made the decision to idle the bottle line.”-Kevin Lee, general manager

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

North Carolina:  Vegetable dehydrator McCall Farms of Wilson issued a WARN saying it will shutdown in February, affecting as many as 285 permanent and seasonal jobs by the end of March!  Beef prices the final straw in the killing off of another steak restaurant.  After 30 years family owned Prime Sirloin buffet shutdown: “The building is old and the money to keep up the 30-year old property, which we leased, was simply going to be too much for us to keep on operating. We decided it was time to make the decision and like ripping off a band aid, there wasn’t any good way to do this.”-Lisa Martin, general manager

Iconic fruit supplier Chiquita announced it is pulling its HQ out of Charlotte, causing 320 jobs to be in limbo!  Apparently company administrators don’t think the millions in taxpayer funded incentives are enough (they promised to pay back all the taxpayer funded incentives they got).   A local politician had an epiphany about corporate America: “You can’t expect loyalty from any company if you’re paying them to move. Government was basically prostituting themselves to get them here. … Nobody falls in love with a prostitute.”-Bill James, Mecklenburg County commissioner

Another local politician describes unAmerican corporate America like this: “It’s like my dad always told me, if the girl dates you for your money, etc., remember there is always someone with more of whatever she is looking for.”-Jim Puckett, Mecklenburg County commissioner

Ohio: A Cleveland Noodlecat ramen restaurant shutdown, due to  disagreements with the property owner over the lease.

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

Pennsylvania: In Lower Paxton, after only two years ‘organic’ Smoke BBQ restaurant shutdown, the owners didn’t explain why.  After 25 years Booty’s Place restaurant shutdown in the Church Hill Mall, the owner would only say “No comment.”  A fundraising company that raises money for schools by selling food, Market Day, announced they would layoff 43 people in Cranberry Township by March.  It’s blamed on crashing sales.  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: A Piggly Wiggly grocery store shutting down in Summerton.  But don’t blame competition, it’s the only grocery store in town!   It’s a result of the massive shutdown of Piggly Wiggly stores across the United States.

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

Tennessee:  In Harding Pike, after only five years it was announced that the Harris Teeter grocery store would shutdown in February.  The store was bought out by competitor Kroger, who already has a store in the same area.

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.   In Whitesboro, after 60 years the family owned Clinnon’s grocery store shutdown.  In San Antonio, it was announced that a Sprouts grocery store would shutdown in March.  In Rockwell, after only two years in their new location KE Cellars Winery shutdown: “We tried to make it work, but with so many sources of wine all over, road construction, a slow economy and everything Murphy could throw at us, it is just time for us to say we tried.”-owners

Virginia: In Old Town, after 64 years the Giant Food grocery store will shutdown.  Company administrators say it’s because the town is too small to continue supporting it, and it’s not worth it to spend money on expanding it.   News reports implied that there are too many Giant Food stores in the area around Old Town anyway.   Minnesota based Famous Daves BBQ announced it’s getting the hell outta Richmond! All three stores already shutdown and the property is up for sale! Administrators say their restaurants never made enough money in Richmond.

Washington: Iconic Starbucks announced it will layoff a “small number” of employees at its Seattle HQ.

Wisconsin: 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”.

December 2014: “…we’ve hit the end!”

Business/Economics

Cerberus sells-off California & Idaho based grocery stores! 146 stores affected, shutdowns already announced!

27 January 2015 (19:48 UTC-07 Tango 26 January 2015)/06 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1436/07 Bahman 1393/08 Yi-Chou (12th month) 4712

In 2014 evil Cerberus Capital concluded a hostile $9.2-billion USD takeover of California based Safeway.  The hostile takeover, which was challenged in court, was done through Idaho based Albertsons.  Safeway was the second largest grocery store owner in the U.S., the Safeway family of grocery stores include California’s iconic Vons, and Mexico’s Casa Ley.  It should be noted that part of the hostile takeover agreement is that Cerberus must sell off Safeway owned grocery store chains.   Now Cerberus has sold off dozens of Vons.

In January 2013 evil Cerberus Capital Management became sole owner of Idaho based Albertsons. 14 stores were shut down in 2013,  another 26 Albertsons were shutdown by the end of February 2014.  Now, Cerberus has sold off dozens more Albertsons stores, as a result of the takeover of Safeway.

Cerberus has sold 146 Vons and Albertsons stores to a Washington based company called Haggen.  The affected stores are located in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.  Already WARNs (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications) have been issued in California announcing the shutdown of several grocery stores.

This is interesting because at the beginning of January a Haggen spokeswoman said this: “The stores will remain open during the conversions and there are no plans to close any stores. In California, I would expect to see conversions more toward July.”-Deborah Pleva

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

California WARN list:

Arcadia Vons Pavillion SuperStore, 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 on 26 February 2015, at least 80 jobs lost.

Pleasanton Safeway headquarters will layoff at least 26 people by 13 February 2015.

San Diego Albertsons, shutdown on 26 February 2015, at least 63 jobs lost.

Albertsons shutting down?

Pocatello’s Old Fred Meyer & Albertsons…did not close down in the 1990s

International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 20 – 25 January 2015: U.S. taxpayers send in extra helicopters for Afghan Air Force! Air National Guard deployments ramping up?

A new Gallop Poll reported that the average Afghan says their suck-ass economy is far more dangerous (despite trillions of taxpayer funding spent on the Afghan 1%) than any resurgence of the Taliban!  Only 6% of Afghans think their economy is getting better!

Farah Province: Thousands of Afghans protested France.

Ghazni Province: On the Jaghori-Gilan highway, police report that two families of men, women and children were killed when the mini-bus ran over a landmine.

Helmand Province:  In Lashkar Gah City, at least two people killed and 10 wounded by a Kamikaze bomber when he rammed his Toyota Corolla bomb car into a National Civil Order Police convoy.  In the same city, a commanding officer managing a police check point was assassinated.  What’s interesting is that apparently there were no witnesses, as police say they don’t know who shot their commanding officer. The governor of Helmand is joining local Mujahideen in denying reports that U.S.-U.K.-Saudi created Islamic State (DAESH) is alive and well in Helmand.

Kabul Province:  In Kabul City thousands of Afghans protested France chanting “Death to America, Death France, Death to Israel!”  In the same city a fruit cart exploded, wounding two people.  Police say somebody put a bomb in the cart.

MD-530F Cayuse Warrior flies over Kabul, 06DEC2014. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Perry Aston.

The Afghan Air Force announced they will receive an additional twenty MD530F Cayuse helicopters by the end of 2015.  Afghan administrators said U.S. taxpayers are “donating” the helicopters.  On top of that, the Obama regime has approved an additional $44-million USD worth of weapons for 17 of the helicopters “donated” to Afghanistan under previous programs.

Kandahar Province: In Panjwaee District, an unattended motorcycle exploded, wounding two cops and one civilian.

Kunduz Province:  In Imam Sahib District, battles between Afghan National Army and Mujahideen, at least 32 people killed.  ANA officers say they’ve been battling for control of 31 villages.  Mujahideen say they’ve destroyed six international taxpayer funded armored vehicles.

Nangarhar Province: A legal advisor was arrested for bribery.  Police say their undercover agent paid the legal consultant $5-thousand USD to rig a court decision, and they arrested the man as he took the money.  In Jalalabad City, two border cops killed and two wounded after a magnetic bomb was placed on their vehicle.

Zabul Province: Thousands of Afghans protested France.

Pakistan continues its mass arrests of Afghans, this time 935 Afghans arrested in Punjab Province.

16-20-january-2015: 9-11 was a self inflicted sucker punch!

Air National Guard’s 292nd Combat Communications Squadron (Hawaii U.S.A.) deploying to a secret location in support of the ongoing occupation of Afghanistan, and other military ops in the region.

Brigadier General Carol Timmons, of the Air National Guard (Delaware U.S.A.), is now at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar to assist in the ongoing air war over Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.  She said she got short notice of her new duty assignment: “Normally, you get a little more heads-up than two months…..The priorities have shifted towards the fight with ISIS. So it’s organizing all that, and looking at the big picture.”   

The U.S. Air Force has revealed that the Obama regime’s expansion of the use of attack drones will force the USAF to push Air National Guard personnel “onto active duty” to address a shortage of drone pilots.

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 27 – 30 November 2014: “everything must go!” Iconic eastern Idaho hobbie shop up for sale!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California:  In Stockton, food processor Hormel announced they will shutdown their 65 years old chili and Dinty Moore beef stew factory in February 2015, at least 110 jobs lost! Company administrators blame the record level prices of beef for causing a 21% drop in profits!

Hawaii: After 93 years of name changes family owned “Cheap, cheap, cheap, plenty, plenty, plenty!” Pinky’s convenience store shutdown.   The owner says she has “other plans”.

Click pics to make bigger

Idaho: After 66 years Blackfoot Appliance & Furniture announced they will shutdown by the end of January 2015, “everything must go!” In Chubbuck, after 23 years the iconic local Dapco Hobbies now up for sale.  The current owner (not the friendly family owners that moved the shop to Chubbuck, Corey & Melia) is selling everything off and wants out of the hobby business.   Dapco Hobbies was originally located on Garrett Way in Pocatello (according to the BBB that was beginning in 1991), then, after Corey & Melia took over Dapco relocated to Chubbuck around 2007-08.  For a very brief time Dapco Hobbies had a shop in Ammon then Idaho Falls (apparently they left about the same time the ‘big box’ Hobby Town left Idaho Falls), and they even had an internet website.  They started out focused on trains, then shifted to RC when that got big.  I went there for the plastic model kits (and I still do although it’s looking empty, hope there’s somebody who can buy it and keep running it as a hobby shop).

Missouri: In Hannibal, after 34 years the owners of Artique Frame Palette announced they will shutdown in December.

New Jersey: After 86 years Garden State based Becker’s School Supplies shutting down six of its seven stores in Pennsylvania and Delaware! Apparently the school supplies company is shifting to internet sales only.

Texas:  In College Station, after 14 years La Bodega taco bar shutdown. The owner said they had to vacate the old decrepit building, and hopes to find a new location.

Washington: After 63 years A&J Meats and Seafood shutdown.

Wisconsin: After more than 25 years the owners of Golden Karat Jewelers in Rhinelander announced they will shutdown in January 2015.

23-26-november-2014: HP kills 41-thousand jobs!

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 update, 26 January 2015: Kmart to be split up & sold off?

After Eddie Lampert’s ESL Investments who’s the next biggest shareholder in Sears Holdings?  An outfit called Fairholme.  It was created, and is still run by Bruce R. Berkowitz.

Berkowitz used to work for Lehman Brothers, you know the outfit credited with starting the recession in 2008.  He was also managing director of Smith Barney, a ‘financial services’ company that went through numerous ownership changes including CitiGroup, who sold off Smith Barney to Morgan Stanely in 2009.

On 22 January 2015, Sears Holdings (SHLD) announced they’ve hired on a new senior vice president, Philip J. Keough the 4th.  SHLD also announced Keough was their new president of pharmacy at Kmart.

What’s the significance?  Keough has worked for CVS, RiteAid and created his own Keoco pharmacy consulting company, but in his last pharmacy job he oversaw the selloff of Millennium Pharmacy Systems in September 2014.  Portent of things to come for Sears-Kmart?

update, 21 January 2015: Sex Trafficking & Property Deals!

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 23 – 26 November 2014: “unprecedented financial challenges” California based HP kills 41-thousand+ jobs! More massive healthcare cuts! More foreign companies funded with U.S. taxes killing jobs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Reports revealed that Palo Alto based Hewlett Packard will kill off 41-thousand jobs by the end of 2014!!!  As many as 32-thousand people around the World have already been rendered jobless!!!  But wait there’s more!  Those same reports say evil Meg Whitman is planning on killing off more jobs in 2015, and splitting the company into two smaller operations, which usually means at least one will be sold off!   In Mountain View, software company Symantec issued a WARN saying at least 12 people will become unemployed in January 2015.  In Monterey, Aramark Sports issued a WARN saying they are shutting down in February 2015, at least 119 people to become jobless!

Florida: In Miami, RBC Wealth Management issued a WARN saying it will render 115 employees jobless between now and August 2015!  Also in Miami, healthcare and social assistance company CHARLEE of Dade County issued a WARN saying they will layoff 67 employees between January and February 2015.  In Port Saint Lucie, diabetes testing supply company Liberty Medical issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down in January 2015, at least 417 jobs lost!  In Fort Lauderdale, Senior Healthcare Services issued a WARN saying they will shutdown between January and February 2015, at least 348 jobs lost!

Idaho: School District 25, in Bannock County, warned they could be  $1.5-million USD in the hole, with the ending of current levies.  But wait, there’s more bull-shit!  District 25 administrators want new levies valued at $10-million!   This despite decades of levy and bond issues burdening tax payers, as well as decades of lottery payments which school district administrators can’t seem to account for!   It’s interesting the school levies and bonds always pass ‘elections’ no matter how many people publicly oppose them.

Illinois:  Exelon administrators warned they are considering shutting down three aged nuclear power plants sometime after Summer 2015.  They blame little or no growth in electricity demand since 2008 (gee, isn’t that when the ‘recession’ began?).

Kansas: After 91 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Jilka Furniture announced it will shutdown in December: “With the many changes taking place in the furniture industry, we felt it was a wise decision to close our store.”-Bud and Loretta Jilka

Kentucky: God refuses to stop layoffs at ‘his’ Lexington Quest Community Church, at least 15 people will be let go due to “unprecedented financial challenges”, never mind that the two head pastors were engaged in “crossing of physical boundaries while stopping short of sexual intercourse.”  The two perfect examples of Christian morality are married, but not to each other!

Michigan: In Liberty Township, more than four decades old Yukon Jack Food & Spirits restaurant shutdown. Before it was a restaurant (starting in 1970) it was a grocery store. Local news media said the owners refused to talk.

New York: After only a year neighborhood grocery store Delancey Market shutdown.  In Brooklyn, nursing home Shorefront Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing Care amended their WARN saying they will shutdown in December due to sale of the business, 482 jobs affected!  In NYC, rapid response healthcare provider Rivington House shutdown, 231 jobs lost!   Also in NYC, Too Big to Jail Bank of America issued a WARN saying they are rendering jobless 95 people by Febraury 2015.  Also in NYC, after 44 years Lea’s Dress Shop shutdown.  Is it because the monthly rent for the small space is $8-thousand?  And fashion designer Ralph Rucci abandoned his snooty upscale fashion house and the new operators laid off at least 15 employees.  The new operators say that because of the bad economy (which appears to affect even the pocketbooks of the wanna-be 1%) Ralph Rucci LLC will now focus on “a more accessible designer product assortment for a wider audience.”  Holiday Inn issued a WARN saying they are shutting down their operations at the Latham hotel in February 2015, at least 50 jobs lost due to loss of contract. In Troy, city administrators warned they will have to eliminated 18 fire fighter and police  jobs.  However, fire fighters and cops say the plan would result in lots of overtime pay, so the layoffs don’t make sense.   However, they might make sense if you’re looking at trying to reduce the amount of money per employee going to the jacked up Obama Care health insurance and retirement plans (wake up people!).

North Carolina: Switzerland based evil GMO seeds and agrochemicals company Syngenta announced it will kill off 18-hundred jobs between 2015 and 2018 (note they obviously don’t expect any recovery until after 2018)!  The job culling will be felt within the United States, like Greensboro where the company is getting a state taxpayer grant of $2.98-million!

Ohio: All 14 Ohio Friendly’s Restaurants shutdown! The francisee blamed the bad economy: “These closings are regrettable, however continuing operation was no longer viable.”-Apex Eagle Hospitality

Tennessee: In Chattanooga, the owners of SturmHaus Beer Market announced it will shutdown in December, blaming the bad economy: “Craft beer share is not enough to sustain our vision for a quaint, downtown on-premise, off-premise gathering place.”

Wisconsin: Water management company Pentair Flow Tech. issued a WARN saying they’re halting a production line at their Delavan operations, 60 jobs lost.

21 – 22 november 2014: “any worker who loses their income will have an impact”

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

International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 16 – 20 January 2015: Undeniable proof the U.S. created the Taliban, & 9-11 was a self inflicted sucker punch! New Pro-Obama president frees imprisoned drug dealers! Turkey sends in more troops, takes over airport! U.S. funded training center literally melting!

The Washington Post revealed (some time ago) that during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan the U.S. Reagan regime spent $51-million U.S. tax dollars creating ‘Islamic terrorism how to guides’, and then issued them to Mujahideen fighting the Soviets.  Those “textbooks” went on to be used by groups who later called themselves Taliban.  The tactics taught by the U.S. published ‘Jihad’ books include almost every type of ‘Islamic’ terror attack we’ve seen since the end of the Soviet occupation in 1989!  But wait, this info is not new, the Washington Post first wrote about it in 2002!   When are you dumb-asses in the western World going to wake up to the fact that your War on Terror is a massive False Flag operation started by your ‘elected’ officials?

Farah Province:  Obama regime puppet president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has fired the acting provincial governor, provincial police chief, and four other senior administrators.  The official reason was corruption, is this how the Islamic State managed to set up training camps in the province?  Mujahideen are disputing recent reports that Islamic State (DAESH) has established bases in Farah Province, and claim they are still in control.

Faryab Province: In Almar District, the police chief and a top police investigator were assassinated by explosion.  Apparently they drove over a landmine.  One cop was wounded.

Ghor Province: Reports saying the entire population of the Shewech area have declared that they are Mujahideen.  That’s about 2-thousand families and 200 local police!

Helmand Province: In Lashkargah City, a Kamikaze van bomber attacked a National Civil Order Police convoy, at least four dead and 10 wounded.  Mujahideen say the number of killed and wounded is more than 30.  The van was packed with massive amounts of explosives, Mujahideen say two Armored Personnel Carriers and four pickup trucks were also damaged or destroyed.

Kabul Province:  NATO member Turkey announced it’s deploying an additional 400 military personnel, and taking over civilian and military operations at the Kabul International Airport!  Turkey already has 700 troops in Afghanistan.  The Turkish government will force its taxpayers to spend at least $58-million USD to operate the airport over the next two years.  In Mosahe District, the Afghan National Army (ANA) reports they’ve captured three men attempting to poison the local ANA water supply.   Civil war among ANA generals; General Murad Ali Murad has rejected the plan by first vice president (and war criminal) General Abdul Rashid Dostum to use 20-thousand U.S.-NATO trained special forces personnel to invade Kunduz and Kunar provinces.  Obama regime puppet president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has nominated a man to the post of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock, but it turns out that man is wanted by Estonian police for tax evasion!    Obama regime puppet president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has declared that anybody who  gives even a hint at opposing his government will be “eliminated”!  Since Ghani bcame president police in Kabul City have arrested more than 174 people on “suspicion” of being a terrorist!

Kandahar Province: In Ayno Meena bazaar an explosion killed two people.  Police claim it was a Kamikaze car bomber.  In Arghastan District, two cops turned their guns on fellow cops, killing two of them.  The renegade cops joined up with Mujhadieen, bring with them taxpayer funded machine-guns, pistols, radios and a motorcycle.

Kunar Province: Weeks later battles continue to rage in Dangam District.  The ANA reports they’ve killed 42 insurgents in a 24 hours period. Government forces are increasing their use of airpower.  Government administrators continue to claim many of the insurgents are Chechens, Uzbeks and Arabs.

Kunduz Province: Mujahideen claim they’ve captured four FOB (Forward Operating Bases) in Imam Sahib District.  13 people killed, eight wounded.  In Khanabad District, Mujahideen say they’ve liberated five villages. Five people killed, eight wounded.

Laghman Province: In Alishang District, an ANA vehicle ran over a landmine, two men killed one wounded.

Logar Province: Local radio citing the provincial police chief saying that two Mujahideen who fought against Islamic State (DAESH) in Charkh District have been arrested inside Pakistan.

Maidan Wardak Province: Massive public protests demanding that the French “get out!”.  In Jalriz District, people are demanding the French shutdown their embassy in Kabul.   Obama regime puppet president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has ordered the release of four men who were arrested on drugs trafficking charges!  No further info on why they were released was reported.   The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) revealed another U.S. taxpayer funded sinkhole; this time it’s a building that’s literally melting!  Half a million USD were spent on a military training building, however, it was built with unprotected sand and clay bricks that are literally being washed away by rain!  U.S. CentCom claims they will find the officers in charge of hiring the contractor who built the shoddy building and discipline them, as well as try to get the money back from the contractor (I’ll believe it when I see it).

Nangarhar Province: In Jalalabad City, massive public protests demanding that the French shutdown the embassy, shouting “Death to France!”.  In a village of Khogyani District, witnesses say a coalition drone strike killed five people including a child, and wounded three others. In Bati Kot District, a reporter for a local radio station was assassinated while he attended a wedding.  The assassins got away, police claim they have no clue who they are.  In Chaprihar District, villagers report that an artillery round impacted on a house, wounding three people.

Uruzgan Province: In Siyah Sang area of Char Chino District, an Afghan National Police-man turned his gun on fellow cops killing at least one.  Mujahideen report he escaped with three guns and a mortar. Also in Char Chino, 14 cops switched sides and became Mujahideen.

Pakistan has given Afghan refugees in Lower Dir District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province three days to get the hell outa-Dodge!  Pakistani intelligence says recent increases in terror attacks in their country can be traced back to Afghans living in that part of Pakistan.

11-15-january-2015: islamic state proves obama a bold face liar

The U.S. Army has warned its 361st Medical Logistics Company Reserve unit, at Fort Des Moines in the state of Iowa, to prep for deployment to Afghanistan.

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 21 – 22 November 2014: “Any worker who loses their income will have an impact on the city!” Obamacare kills off government jobs in California!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alpha Natural Resources announced at least 62 people laid off at their coal mine ops in Kentucky and West Virginia.

Arkansas: Little Rock based Windstream Communications announced another 350 layoffs, on top of the 400 layoffs earlier this year!  The company is undergoing radical change due to the suck-ass economy, including trying to become an evil REIT (real estate investment trust).

California: In Walnut Creek, Valley Waste Management issued a WARN saying 66 employees will be laid off in February 2015.  Boeing issued more WARNs saying another 181 employees across southern California will be laid off by January 2015!  In Van Nuys, Keaster Products issued a WARN saying they will shutdown at the end of December.  San Francisco based video game maker Double Fine laid off at least 12 employees, and cancelled work on its latest video game.  In Sacramento, the Golden State senate immediately laid off 39 of its own upper house employees.  Another 50 employees will be laid off through attrition.  Also, state employees will see at least a $30 per month increase in their health insurance payments, no thanks to Obama Care!

Connecticut: In Torrington, after more than 60 years the owner of children’s items store Reibman’s said she might shutdown in December.  The owner of the store also owns the building, and is jumping on the property development train.  She’s been trying to sell the building with no luck, so maybe she can rent it out?

Georgia: God refuses to stop Saint Francis Hospital from laying off 65 healthcare workers, suddenly. Administrators implied that reduced funding caused by Obama Care forced them to re-examine their ‘books’, during which they discovered they were $30-million USD short! Administrators admitted to employees that they “overestimated” expected payments.

Idaho: The mayor of American Falls reported that the local ALCO store was shutting down, he was alerted when he saw employees putting up the going out of business signs.  It’s one of five Idaho ALCO stores being shutdown (see Texas below). The American Falls mayor says his small city can’t afford more job losses: “Any worker who loses their income will have an impact on the city!”-Marc Beitia

Illinois: In Geneva, after 18 years women’s clothing store Sandra Webster shutdown.

Kentucky: In Louisville, after 33 years Gavi’s Restaurant shutdown.

Michigan: In Owosso, Planned Parenthood shutting down in December due to crashing federal funding.

Minnesota: God refuses to stop ‘his’ 60 years old Christian Book and Gift Store in Rochester from shutting down right after Xmas!

Ohio: In Mansfield, after 47 years Grantie’s Grinders (sub style sandwiches) shutdown, 11 jobs lost. The owners blame competition from a ‘big box’ sandwich shop that recently moved into the neighborhood.

Pennsylvania: Only four years after Swedish vehicle maker Volvo set up shop in Shippensburg, Volvo administrators revealed they will shutdown specific heavy construction vehicle production, not only in the U.S. but in Poland and Brazil, killing off at least 1-thousand jobs into 2015!    Mercyhurst University laid off 14 administrators and demoted six full time employees to part time. Other employees are taking pay cuts, it’s blamed on crashing enrollment.  In Muhlenburg, God refuses to stop’his’ Salvation Army Thrift Store from shutting down.  Administrators with the Queen of England controlled Salvation Army says the store has been losing money for years.

Tennessee: In West Knoxville Sonny’s BBQ shutdown.

Texas: After 113 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Coppell based ALCO (formerly known as Duckwall-ALCO) announced they will shutdown all 198 stores across the United States!

Vermont:  Vermont Technical College warned of layoffs due partly to the loss of 160 students over the past three years.

Washington: Too Big to Jail Union Bank announced they will shutdown 20 offices by March 2015.  Those offices once belonged to Frontier Bank (which failed).

West Virginia: Patriot Coal announced another 130 coal mining jobs lost!

20 november 2014: armed guards used to layoff employees!

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

It’s the Economy, stupid! Or, is it vulture capitalist investors? Iconic ebay kills at least 24-hundred jobs in 2015!

22 January 2015 (12:02 UTC-07 Tango)/01 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1436/02 Bahman 1393/03 Yi-Chou (12th month) 4712

More proof it’s not the internet killing off brick-n-mortars!  News out of California saying massive job cuts and company destruction involving internet auction and selling site ebay.

Local San Jose news sources report that ebay administrators have confirmed they will sell off their PayPal ops, resulting in at least 2-thousand 4-hundred people becoming jobless!  The sale of PayPal is being pushed by ‘activist’ (more like vulture capitalist) investors who now control most of ebay’s stock.

Not only that, but ebay will further split into two units (confirming what I reported at the end of last year), which will most likely result in even more job destruction.  Company administrators are blaming last year’s cyber attack: “ebay’s loyal customers are back, but our more occasional customers have not returned.”-John Donahoe, ceo

However, I know that ebay has also been suffering from declining revenues caused by a reduction in users, because I’m a struggling long time seller on ebay.

It also doesn’t help that in 2013 the USPS jacked up international shipping rates by 60%, totally killing off my ebay auctions for 2013, since 90% of my sales were international!

ebay shutting down after Xmas? 

Sears turns to ebay!

ebay….build World’s largest data collection spy center system in Utah!

Obama regime uses their 2011 financing executive order to seize ebay linked PayPal accounts!

eBay striking it rich in China?