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International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 01 – 04 September 2014: Islamic State shows up in Afghanistan? While U.S. infrastructure collapses, U.S. taxpayers give away billions of $ to Afghanistan!

Ghazni Province:  In Ghazni City, a U.S. Army Specialist from Massachusetts was shot and killed by Mujahideen.   Worcester Telegram & Gazette said he “was valiantly killed”, as if they were there and witnessed it.   According to French news sources, Mujahideen launched their attack on the police-military compound with a massive kamikaze truck bomb explosion followed by three hours of shooting.   Agence France-Presse says the battle resulted in at least 13 pro-U.S. personnel being killed, and 60 wounded.  However, they did not mention the presence of U.S. forces.  The local police chief says 15 Mujahideen were killed, and various Afghan news sources say as many as 190 people are wounded.   Ghazni’s provincial Hajj and Religious Affairs chief, along with two other people, were kidnapped as they drove to Kabul.  The kidnapping took place as they were passing through Maidan Wardak Province.

Helmand Province: In Mosa Qala District, government officials report they are battling a major offensive by Mujahideen.  No other info given.   In Garamser District, the Afghan National Army officially opened a new base.  That base was built by the U.S. Marine Corps at a cost to U.S. taxpayers of $86-million USD!  In Greshk District, taxpayers of NATO member countries are about to hand over Shorab Airfield to the Afghan government.

Herat province: In Obe District, for some unknown reason Mujahideen released four cops they captured in a recent battle.

Kabul Province:  The Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan (IEC) has now thrown out thousands of votes from at least 307 polling stations!  How’s that for Obama’s “succesful” ‘democratic’ election?  Out going president Hamid Karzai says he’s now forced to hold office until the “succesful” election vote recounts are concluded, if the Obama puppet candidates can behave themselves and accept the decision.   The U.S. led NATO announced it will somehow increase taxpayer funding to the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police to $5.1-billion after 2014!

Kandahar Province: The terror group USAID just gave away 27-million U.S. tax dollars, under the Power Transmission Expansion and Connectivity (PTEC) Program.

Kunar Province: In Shonkiri area, a U.S. airstrike killed three people. Local government officials say they were all Pakistanis trying to attack Afghanistan.  Provincial officials claim Pakistan fired more than 100 artillery rounds,  forcing dozens of evacuations of families in the area.  Afghan National Army (ANA) officials revealed that a group of ANA soldiers turned their guns on each other, at least 11 were killed.   It happened at a FOB (Forward Operating Base).

Nangarhar Province: In Ghani Khel District, an explosion killed at least two cops and two civilians.  Dozens of people were wounded.  Local government officials say police had gathered to investigate reports of a kamikaze bomber in the area when the explosion occurred.

Uruzgan Province: In Shahid Asas District, four policemen attacked and killed three other cops.  The four renegade cops escaped with all the weapons and ammo at the police checkpoint.

26 – 31 August 2014: Afghan provinces are creations of the U.S.!

The British empire’s BBC interviewed members of a Mujahideen group.  They threaten to join the Islamic State (aka ISIS or ISIL) now operating in Iraq and Syria.  Pakistani officials say Islamic State is distributing Khilafah propaganda in refugee camps along the Afghan-Pakistan border.

In the U.S. state of Georgia, a police officer is suing the city of Savannah.  He claims he has been denied promotions and even pay because he is a member of the Army National Guard, and has been deployed to Kuwait and Afghanistan.  Even the city’s Human Resources officer told the court that back in 2001 the cop was actually threatened with unemployment if he was ever called up for active duty.  I know exactly what his ass-hole employers are doing, they think that because he joined the National Guard after they hired him they can use that as an legal excuse to refuse to promote him, or to even fire him.  They need to read the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, as well as their own state’s laws regarding members of the National Guard.

The Army National Guard’s 262nd Engineering Company (Maine U.S.A.) has had their deployment to Afghanistan canceled: “This cancellation marks the first time since 2003 that we do not have any Maine Army Guard units deployed or readying to deploy.”-Brigadier General James Campbell

Militia-Medics of the Army National Guard’s 182nd Medical Company (Massachusetts U.S.A.) deploying to Afghanistan.

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings 04 – 06 July 2014: “It’s slowly dying…” “It’s…a losing proposition.” “We’re kind of tired…” WIC killing businesses! Home Depot kills new store due to construction costs! More massive Obamacare shutdowns!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alaska: The city of Juneau eliminated 12 positions, due to being $6-million USD in debt.  The hours for the library and museum were cut, and the bear awareness program was suspended, along with the adult basketball league.  City officials say that even with the cuts next year they’ll have $9-million in debt!

Arizona: Phoenix based Peter Piper Pizza chain now up for auction.  The restaurant chain was taken over seven years ago by an international ‘investment’ company headquartered in Washington DC.  Some restaurant industry analysts say there’s just too many restaurants out there.

California: More trouble for Irvine based for profit Corinthian Colleges (CCi).  They’ve announced they will begin shutting down, selling off or reducing classes at 97 campuses across the U.S., over the next six months!  It’s part of a deal with the U.S. Department of Education.  The college is under investigation by state and federal officials, for ripping off students and violating federal education laws.  Everest College, Heald College and Wyotech campuses are part of the shutdown.   In San Pablo, West Contra Costa Healthcare District- Doctors Medical Center announced they’re shutting down in September, 832 healthcare jobs lost!  In San Francisco, for the third time Home Depot killed off its planned Bayview store.  This time Home Depot officials blame it on skyrocketing costs of construction (they should know).

Florida: Glades Brewery Partners and Palm Beach Brewery Associates now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  They own a restaurant chain called Brewzii, and recently a judge actually shutdown one of the restaurants for failure to pay rent.

Georgia: In Augusta, after 25 years Thai Jong restaurant shutdown: “We’re kind of tired…”-Lephuong Tran, co-owner

Illinois: After 94 years (surviving several recessions and the Great Depression) Gayety’s Chocolates & Ice Cream stores now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  It’s blamed on the bad economy, but the owners swear they’ll make a come back.

Indiana: In Bedford, Planned Parenthood announced the shutdown of their health clinic.  It’s blamed on Obama Care actually raising the cost of providing medical services!

Iowa: In Clinton, North Carolina based Evergreen Packaging shutting down by September, 100 jobs lost!  Company officials blame the bad economy.

Maine: In Waterville, after 30 years Bolley’s Famous Franks restaurant shutdown: “I just want less stress.”-Zena McFadden, co-owner

Michigan:  Legal fees for Detroit‘s chapter 9 bankruptcy have hit $75-million, and the taxpayers get to pay for it!  Retail store owners are going public, saying the WIC (Women Infants Children) taxpayer funded food program is killing their business.  Apparently state Department of Community Health (DCH) is now limiting reimbursements for rural WIC sales, based on postal zip code.  And in urban areas DCH will allow only 175 WIC customers per store.  Roy Rabban, the owner of a Save-A-Lot, is pissed: “Not having WIC is like taking 10% of your business out of your pocket.  I’m getting penalized…”

Missouri: What economic recovery?  State tax revenues dropped by $80-million, the first time since 2010.   That means some heavy cuts are coming, as out of touch political leaders were expecting tax revenues to actually go up by several hundreds of millions!

New Jersey: Sun National Bank-Sun Bancorp shutting down dozens of offices and killing at least 200 jobs!  The FDIC says the bank has lost money every year since 2009.

North Carolina: In Havelock, an 18 years old Food Lion grocery store shutting down in October.  Company officials said the high rent killed it off.   After 20 years the Crooked Creek Golf Club shutting down.  The owners are selling it off due to the bad economy: “It’s just economically a losing proposition.”-Tony Withers, co-owner

Texas: In Waco, after 147 years (surviving several recessions and the Great Depression) iconic Padgitt’s shutdown!  The store opened in the late 1800s selling gear to cowpokes, recently they were trying to stay relevant by selling electronic gadgets, but the current co-owner Chris Schroeder says “We just couldn’t make enough to stay in business.”   God refused to stop the ‘Christian’ operator of the taxpayer owned Ambrosio Guillen Veterans Home from becoming chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Senior Dimensions-Sears Methodist Retirement System swears their bankruptcy won’t affect the care of military veterans.  However, an unnamed insider told a local news source that “They’re not doing what they’re supposed to do. Things were going real good a year ago. Not now.” 

Washington DC:  The taxsucking  Government Printing Office is asking 100 employees to voluntarily quit.  The GPO has actually killed 70% of its jobs since 1980!  Watergate Wine & Beverage store now bankrupt busted and shutting down.  The owner, Joseph Park, said regarding the economy that since 2006 “It’s slowly dying…..the business is just not here.”

Wisconsin: In Menomonee Falls, metal fabricator ArcRon shutting down in time for Xmas, 42 jobs lost.

02 – 03 July 2014: “This would be a worst case scenario…”

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 shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security…That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics

Sears & Kmart closing update 13 September 2014: BBN reader gives warning about last Sears call center shutdown! Con artists take advantage of Sears downfall!

“The last Sears Home Improvement call center is closing November 8th. My husband works there. Only people who were full time at the time of the announcement will be getting severance pay. The are lots of people who have been there 10 years or more and they get nothing if they weren’t full time as of last week. It is a crappy situation.”-Tahnna Isbell, comment made to Blind Bat News on 11 September 2014

On 12 September 2014, Sears Holdings officially notified the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services that they were shutting down their “rebuild” and customer call center in Columbus by 09 November 2014.  According to Tahnna Isbell, this is the last Sears call center in the U.S.

In Iowa another Kmart being shutdown, this one will close for good right before Xmas!

To show you how desperate retailers in the U.S. are, Kmart (along with other retailers) have already started running Xmas sale adds, in September!

In Connecticut, police arrested three people they accuse of running a scam on potential Sears customers.  Apparently the two men and one woman had been hitting up local businesses, telling them they can get a really good deal on TVs at Sears, due to the many store shutdowns.  In one case a local restaurant ‘bought’ $8800 worth of TVs from the ‘Sears salesmen’, then when they arrived at Sears to pick them up they got nothin’!  One of those arrested actually came out to the Sears parking lot wearing an employee ID, gave the sucker a fake receipt and said they would be right out with those TVs, but never returned.  Those arrested are from Maryland, and police say more arrests are expected.

Public transportation kills California Kmart!

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings since the end of 2011:

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

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

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

California: El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (more than 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart, Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost), Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down, Banning Kmart (91 jobs lost) recently revealed that Sears Holdings is still paying rent on the abandoned property, Laguna Hills Mall Sears, San Diego Mid-City Kmart (73 jobs lost), Hemet Kmart (77 jobs lost), Oakland Sears repair center (75 jobs lost),  San Mateo Kmart (82 jobs lost to an apartment building connected to public transportation), Hesperia Kmart building sold at a loss to a vulture capitalist REIT, no word on if the Kmart will be shutdown. Customers complain that the Kmart employees have a bad attitude, gee I wonder why?

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

Connecticut: Waterbury Big Kmart, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost).

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

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winter Haven Kmart (92 jobs lost), Palm Bay Kmart, Oakland Park Kmart (112 jobs lost).

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!), Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost), Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears going’ down in November (the remaining 28 jobs lost). Across the street, in Pocatello, the property where the Kmart is located has a “pad site available” sign, posted ever since the Kmart bankruptcy. The Kmart building takes up most of the “pad”.

Indiana: Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost), FairOaks Mall Kmart, Logansport Sears (43 jobs lost).

Illinois: Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost?) recently revealed is now a perpetual closing sale Kmart At A Discount store, Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost), Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost). 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state. The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Iowa: Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost), Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost), recently revealed Clive Kmart (at least 49 jobs lost).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Merriam Kmart-then Sears-then Kmart (jobs lost unknown).

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

Louisiana: Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Sears (80 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears “rebuild” call center (115 jobs lost).

Massachusetts: North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed.

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials, Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost), Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 jobs lost), Saint John’s Kmart (48 jobs lost), White Lake Township “Store of the Future” Kmart (42 jobs lost), Grand Blanc Kmart (49 jobs lost), Lapeer Kmart (56 jobs lost), Southgate Kmart (155 jobs lost), Detroit’s Telegraph Road Kmart (115 jobs lost).

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

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

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

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost), Great Falls Kmart (closed “until further notice” due to fire, 63 jobs on hold).

Nebraska: Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

New York: Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost), Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 jobs lost), Tonawanda Sears Appliance and Hardware, Bronx Sears (91 jobs lost).

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

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

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

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

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 jobs lost), Albany Kmart (64 jobs lost), Portland Sears Homes Services (no notice).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost), Sanatoga-Lower Pottsgrove Kmart (65 jobs lost, the store was also advertising for new hires!).

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

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin CoolSprings Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost).

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

Utah: Murray Sears (for some reason Mormon controlled news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they’re reporting that the building has just been demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported).

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown, Newport News Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), Wincester Kmart (91 jobs lost).

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

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost), Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost), Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Ashwaubenon Kmart (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (55 jobs lost), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

Florida: West Oaks Mall

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

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

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

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

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

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

Idaho, U.S.

World War 3: “This is where armor fights!” Idaho National Guard returns to Cold War era ‘Total Force’ warfare training! First female combat mechanic! Pure Armor ecstasy!

12 September 2014 (23:59 UTC-07 Tango 11 September 2014)/16 Dhu l-Qa’da 1435/20 Shahrivar 1393/19 Gui-You 4712

“…we’re re-energizing that thing that we knew, and applying the new systems that are available to us. It continues what we’ve established over the last 10 years in Afghanistan and Iraq; it’s an opportunity for us to combine forces and re-engage the heavy fight….”-Colonel Brad Christopher, 116th Cav Brigade Combat Team Idaho National Guard

After a decade of training for low intensity conflicts (like the questionable occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan) the Idaho and Oregon National Guards just concluded new Total Force warfare training, similar to what we trained for during the Cold War and in the 1990s.

Back in the day, we trained hard for massive force on force warfare with the ultimate ground force wargame being held at Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC) in California.  But that all went away with the occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq.  (remember, not one Afghan or Iraqi was involved in the 9-11 attacks on the U.S., the alleged attackers were Saudi, Egyptian, Lebanese or from the UAE)

Apparently the growing tensions with Russia is pushing the U.S. Army to return to Cold War training, even though the Obama regime continues to deny that we’re returning to a Cold War mentality.

“Being at the Orchard Training Center allows leaders to get their tanks, their Bradleys and their crews and Soldiers with live-fire and tactical maneuver and practice those skills, so when and if it becomes time to use them, they are already trained, proficient and confident.”-Lieutenant Colonel Brian Dean,  3-116th Cav Battalion Oregon National Guard

Orchard Training Area (OTA), south of Boise, was recently the scene of massive armor and artillery (I assume  Pocatello’s 1-148th Arti was there, for a couple of years I was a 13F with that unit) wargames not seen since the late 1990s.  Units from the U.S. Army’s Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, as well as Army Reserve and the Idaho and Oregon National Guards went head to head in the eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC, pronounced ‘ecstasy’) operation.

As a former 19K with B Co 2-116th Armored Cav (as it was known then), as well as a former 19E with California’s D Co 1-185th Armor (I was also a 12F with CSC 1-185th Armor before that, and somewhere in between I was an IsoDock crew chief on C-130s with 463rd MAC at Dyess AFB),  I can tell you that being on the line during tank gunnery is XCTC.

Click the pics to make bigger (unfortunately some of the photos were taken with crappy 110 camera with fixed focus lens and are fuzzy)

A couple of sergeants from Oregon accuratly describe what it’s like training at the OTA: “This environment and these big guns going off just adds to the chaos.  We eat a lot of dirt out here, a lot of dirt!”-Staff Sergeant Brian Allender

“It’s an adrenaline rush when you’ve got tanks and Bradleys and armor meshing out here in the middle of nowhere. It’s a lot of fun! The training value out here is invaluable. This is where armor fights!”– Staff Sergeant David Wahlstrom

Of note, a woman has become the first female M1A2 SEP mechanic in the Oregon National Guard.  Specialist Samantha Brumley also took part in the recent XCTC wargames, but never thought she’d be a first: “I wanted to be a nurse. I actually wanted to be a medic when I got in, but that didn’t happen….I like getting hands-on. I like getting dirty…I never thought I would join the National Guard and be a tank mechanic. I certainly never thought I’d be the first woman.” 

TRILATERAL COMMISSION PLAN IN MOTION: JAPAN TO JOIN U.S. & U.K. IN CREATING JOINT MILITARY FORCE! PREPARATIONS FOR TOTAL WORLD WAR?

International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 26 – 31 August 2014: Afghan provinces are creations of the U.S.! Karzai ready to split! More Guard deployments as Congress cuts funding! More proof taxpayers being ripped off!

Farah Province: In Bala Bolok District, somebody beheaded a local religious leader.   Local news reports say Mujahideen assassinated the Imam because he was actually a spy for the pro-Obama government.   In Posht-e-Rod District, battles resulted in four local cops and one Mujahid killed.  In Posht-e-Koh District, government officials accuse Mujahideen of attacking a group of people who were traveling to Iran for work.  11 killed, four wounded.

Helmand Province: In Khanshin and Garamser districts, reports of large scale battles.  Government officials gave no details, other than claiming they’ve repelled the Mujahideen.    Mujahideen say they killed at least 19 government personnel as well as destroyed five armored vehicles.

Herat Province:  In separate incidents five women were killed.  Two killed by their husbands, two killed by unknown assassins and one killed by her brother-in-law.  In Ghorian District, an assassination attempt against a local politician left one person dead, but the politician escaped with his life.  Three people were also wounded, after the politician’s police escort vehicle was hit by an explosion.  In Obe District, five policeman have gone missing.  Local government officials say they were kidnapped by Mujahideen during an attack, however there is the strong possibility the cops switched sides and became Mujahideen.

Jawzjan Province: In Mardian District, a battle between Mujahideen and people bribed by the pro-Obama government left at least two people dead and the pro-Obama forces without food.

Kabul Province: In Sarubi District, reports that government helicopters attacked a village, killing four people.  In Kabul City, a high peace council committee member from Nuristan Province was assassinated while in the capital of Afghanistan.  He was shot while returning from a Mosque.  Thousands of votes from another 69 polling stations have been declared invalid in the “successful” elections.  Of course one of Obama’s puppets, Abdullah Abdullah, is again refusing to recognize the internationally observed vote recount.  The United Nations asked the other Obama puppet, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadai, to remove his election observers from the vote recount process.  UN officials said the Obama regime puppet candidates were actually interfering with the recount.  Even the Obama regime’s ambassador to Afghanistan admitted to CNN that both Obama regime puppet candidates committed election fraud.   So much for Obama’s “successful” elections and Afghanistan getting a new president by the end of August.  Despite the obvious failure of the elections, local news reports say out going president Hamid Karzai is all ready to get out-a-town: “The president has packed up already, days ago.  A lot of the furniture is staying as it belongs to the palace, but his personal belongings, everything and especially his books, which are very dear to him, are packed.”

Afghan news reports say the new U.S. general in charge of Afghanistan claims the United States isn’t  going anywhere, even though he is officially the last general to command ISAF.   U.S. Army General John Campbell has taken over from USMC General Joseph Dunford.  In an official ceremony held in Kabul Serena Hotel,  taxpayers from around the world were told they can be proud that they’ve paid for Afghanistan to switch over from analog broadcast radio-TV to digital broadcast!  An official with the Minister of Communications and Information Technology stated that an “unprecedented” $2.2-billion USD has been “invested” into the Afghan communications industry.

Kunar Province: More reports of Pakistani artillery strikes.

Laghman Province: In Badpakh District, reports that a village was hit by an airstrike, killing one man and wounding two other people.

Logar Province: In Pul-e-Alam City, a bomb exploded at the compound of the local Obama regime sponsored militia.  At least three cops and two civilians were killed.

Nangarhar Province: In Jalalabad City, Mujahideen attacked the  National Directorate of Security (NDS) compound.  At least eight people killed, 59 wounded.

Nuristan Province: In Du-Aab District, battles left at least 28 people dead, 13 wounded.  Government officials say many of those killed were militants from Pakistan.  However, Mujahideen say most of those killed were government personnel, claiming only one Mujahid was killed.

Paktika Province: The Border Police claim they’ve  captured 27 armed Pakistanis trying to infiltrate into Afghanistan.  Police say the Pakistanis were in a convoy of four vehicles and had radios as well.

There are many provinces in Afghanistan, but if you do the research you’ll discover that many weren’t officially established (internationally recognized) until after the U.S. invasion in 2001.  In other words they are artificial, and are one of the reasons why Mujahideen see their country as being occupied and controlled by the United States.

Interpol and Afghan police helped Iranian police capture a woman convicted of murder in Iran.  She somehow escaped to Afghanistan. Reports said Iran also turned over nine Afghans wanted for murder in Afghanistan.

Why are U.S. and international taxpayers forking over billions to help Afghanistan, when such help has been forthcoming since the 1990s through charities?  The Aga Khan Foundation revealed that Afghanistan has been getting hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in aid (mainly through India) ever since the Taliban government was established in 1994: “We have sent variety of technical support to our teams working in Afghanistan, and teams in Afghanistan including Afghanis have come and trained in India from our staff. For example, we have a support called Aga Khan World support program.  They are primarily based in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar and the work they do is natural resource management. Water shed management, check dams working with community organizations on how to govern water resources and another resources as well as agricultural work, things like rain water harvesting, safe water those kinds of things.”-Matt Reed,  Aga Khan Foundation

About 60 personnel from the National Guard’s Agricultural Development Team (Arkansas U.S.A.) deploying to Afghanistan.

At least 124 militiamen (that includes women) of the Army National Guard’s 105th Personnel Division and 252nd Military Police Company (Tennessee U.S.A.) deploying to Afghanistan.

Militia-airmen of the Air National Guard’s 179th Airlift Wing (Ohio U.S.A.) deploying to Afghanistan.  The deployment is called “involuntary tasking”.

According to news reports out of the U.S. state of Washington, the U.S. Congress is about to pass a funding bill that will kill one out of every five Washington National Guard jobs.  In fact the entire 66th Theater Aviation Command could be shutdown!  These cuts by the still warmongering U.S. Congress will affect all Guard units in all U.S. states: “What we object to, is that we are being taken down to a force structure level that we haven’t seen since before World War Two.  And we think that’s dangerous.”-Major General Bret Daugherty

The Iowa National Guard reports that the cuts proposed by the U.S. Congress would kill 650 jobs in the Hawkeye State!

Business/Economics

Sears & Kmart closing update 10 September 2014: Sears now officially considered Deep Junk! Public transportation kills California Kmart!

Sears Holdings’ stock has been downgraded to CC (aka Deep Junk) by Fitch Ratings: “The magnitude of Sears’ decline in profitability and lack of visibility to turn operations around remains a significant concern. EBITDA for Sears Holdings Corporation is expected to be negative $1 billion in 2014 and potentially worse in 2015, after turning negative $337 million in 2013……Fitch does not expect any catalysts in the business that will stem the rate of decline.

…..cash burn (prior to any working capital benefit) is expected to be around $2 billion or higher annually….

…the risk of restructuring is high…”

A California Kmart shutdown, apparently without notice, to make room for a new apartment-public park complex being built in anticipation of the new Hayward Park Caltrain station.  According to one local news report, the plan to turn the Kmart into a public transportation connected apartment complex, which will also include a public park, was originally to take place back in 2011.

Another Illinois Kmart shutting down in November.  Pharmacy customers will have their prescriptions transfered to a nearby Target. A local news report indicated that the lease on the property was still in effect.

$1-billion loss! No more employee healthcare?

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings since the end of 2011:

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

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

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

California: El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (more than 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart, Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost), Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down, Banning Kmart (91 jobs lost) recently revealed that Sears Holdings is still paying rent on the abandoned property, Laguna Hills Mall Sears, San Diego Mid-City Kmart (73 jobs lost), Hemet Kmart (77 jobs lost), Oakland Sears repair center (75 jobs lost), recently revealed San Mateo Kmart (82 jobs lost to an apartment building connected to public transportation), Hesperia Kmart building sold at a loss to a vulture capitalist REIT, no word on if the Kmart will be shutdown. Customers complain that the Kmart employees have a bad attitude, gee I wonder why?

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

Connecticut: Waterbury Big Kmart, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost).

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

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winter Haven Kmart (92 jobs lost), Palm Bay Kmart, Oakland Park Kmart (112 jobs lost).

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!), Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost), Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears going’ down in November (the remaining 28 jobs lost). Across the street, in Pocatello, the property where the Kmart is located has a “pad site available” sign, posted ever since the Kmart bankruptcy. The Kmart building takes up most of the “pad”.

Indiana: Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost), FairOaks Mall Kmart, Logansport Sears (43 jobs lost).

Illinois: Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost?) recently revealed is now a perpetual closing sale Kmart At A Discount store, Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost), recently revealed Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost). 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state. The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Iowa: Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost), Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Merriam Kmart-then Sears-then Kmart (jobs lost unknown).

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

Louisiana: Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Sears (80 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears (115 jobs lost).

Massachusetts: North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed.

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials, Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost), Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 jobs lost), Saint John’s Kmart (48 jobs lost), White Lake Township “Store of the Future” Kmart (42 jobs lost), Grand Blanc Kmart (49 jobs lost), Lapeer Kmart (56 jobs lost), Southgate Kmart (155 jobs lost), Detroit’s Telegraph Road Kmart (115 jobs lost).

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

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

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

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost), Great Falls Kmart (closed “until further notice” due to fire, 63 jobs on hold).

Nebraska: Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

New York: Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost), Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 jobs lost), Tonawanda Sears Appliance and Hardware, Bronx Sears (91 jobs lost).

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

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

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

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

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 jobs lost), Albany Kmart (64 jobs lost), Portland Sears Homes Services (no notice).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost), Sanatoga-Lower Pottsgrove Kmart (65 jobs lost, the store was also advertising for new hires!).

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

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin CoolSprings Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost).

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

Utah: Murray Sears (for some reason Mormon controlled news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they’re reporting that the building has just been demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported).

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown, Newport News Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), Wincester Kmart (91 jobs lost).

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

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost), Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost), Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Ashwaubenon Kmart (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (55 jobs lost), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

Florida: West Oaks Mall

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

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

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

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

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

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

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings 02 – 03 July 2014: “This would be a worst case scenario…” God can’t stop the bad economy! “…please continue to pray…” Military contractor admits U.S. forces inside Iran? More Obamacare job cuts!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Who said the internet is killing brick-n-mortar businesses?  In San Francisco, ebay owned internet movie-concert ticket seller StubHub! killed 100 jobs! Company officials refused to comment to local news sources.  In Orange, Children’s Hospital of Orange County killed another 89 jobs.  This is on top of the 61 layoffs in June and the 20 layoffs in May, for a grand total of 170 in three months!  Hospital officials say job layoffs are the only way they can deal with decreasing insurance payments caused by Obama Care.  In Petaluma, Massachusetts based Brooks Automation announced they’re shutting down in October, 89 jobs lost.

Colorado: In Loveland, the Family Tree Restaurant shutdown and the owners are pissed about the bad economy saying “We don’t have enough customers to pay our bills, so we’re closing our doors! ….it’s stupid…..We did our crying….”  Also, it was discovered that the Red Dragon restaurant shutdown in June, the property was sold off back in May.  Also, the Great Wall Chinese Buffet could be shutting down due to the fact the greedy property owner is trying to sell off the building.  However, the restaurant owner swears “We’re not going anywhere!”

Hawaii: In Waikiki, Capital One shutting down their 360 Cafe in August.  The property is owned by California based  American Commercial Equities and might have been sold off.  In Honolulu, after only five years Cake Couture shutdown, not surprising when they were charging $3.50 for a little cupcake.

Maryland: In Silver Springs, after 64 years Dale Music Company shutdown.  The co-owner blamed the bad economy and greedy property developers: “We have done what we can. It would be too expensive to move, and with Silver Spring redevelopment happening now, we decided it was best to close our doors.”-Carol Warden

Massachusetts: In Woburn, the Sea Dog Brew Pub now chapter 7 bankrupt busted, and shutdown without notice.

Michigan: Thomas M. Cooley Law School warned of major employee and program cuts, due to disappearing students.  They reported a 40% drop in enrollment from 2010 to 2013!

Missouri: Medicare reviewer Primaris warned of massive layoffs due to Obama Care, starting in August.  Company officials say the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act caused them to loose a $5-million USD contract!

New Mexico:  Los Alamos National Laboratory contractor and U.S. taxsucker and Mormon owned Energy Solutions killed 115 jobs!  Company officials swear it has nothing to due with the explosion at the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP).    By the way, back in 2005 Energy Solutions founder and LDS member, Steve Creamer, actually lobbied the state of Utah to ban nuclear ‘B’ and ‘C’ waste storage in the Beehive State!  Is that ironic or hypocritical?

New York: What automotive industry recovery?  Manhattan Ford Lincoln announced they’re shutting down in September, 245 jobs lost!  In Albany, RiverSource Life Insurance announced they’re shutting down and moving to Minnesota, 29 jobs lost.  Company officials blame the bad economy in the Empire State.  Also, Newkirk Products announced they are moving 76 jobs out-o-state in October.  In Bronx, IAC Acoustics announced they’re shutting down in November, 101 jobs lost!  In NYC, The New York Times reports that the Wall Street Journal killed up to 40 jobs.  Eastern Niagara Hospital laying off 60 healthcare workers.  Officials blame Obama Care for forcing them to consolidate ops with another hospital: “Healthcare is undergoing a very significant change. Hospitalizations are decreasing and work is shifting to outpatient care, so we are reacting to the shifts that are occurring.”-Clair Haar, CEO

North Carolina: In Raleigh, after 47 years the city’s first Dunkin’ Donuts shutdown.  The owners said their franchise agreement expired in December 2013, and they just can’t afford to renew it.

Ohio: In Tipp City, after two years of bragging that it was about to add 500 jobs, Process Equipment actually killed 70 jobs.  Back in 2012 the fabrication company was in trouble, so one of the partner-owners spent his own money buying the company in order to save it.  He thought he had some big contracts lined up so he announced he was about to buy new property and hire hundreds of new employees, but apparently that all fell through due to the bad economy.  Now Process Equipment is shutting down its equipment, gear and robotic welding services lines.  In Dayton, the Dayton Mall and the Mall at Fairfield Commons are both up for sale.  They are the biggest malls in the city.

Oregon: Texas based Berry Family of Nurseries announced they’re shutting down their Cornelius ops in September, at least 100 jobs lost!  Company officials blame it on crashing sales to their clients Lowe’s, Home Depot and Walmart.

Pennsylvania: New Obama Care medical device taxes forcing Johnson & Johnson to kill 400 jobs with its DePuy Synthes medical device subsidiary!  The Prince Music Theater told its landlord that it will not be able to pay its rent for October.  Theater officials also said that unless they can find a lot of money fast they’re out-o-business.

Tennessee: In Nashville, the Green Wagon “sustainable” products store shutting down their brick-n-mortar ops and going mobile.  They’re shifting to a Green Wagon ‘food type’ truck and internet site. Apparently they can’t afford the rent and utilities of a old school store.

Texas:  In San Angelo, Tennessee based SITEL (Systems International TELemarketing) announced as many as 348 people will be laid off, saying “This would be a worst case scenario…”!  The company lost a major contract, officials said they could not reveal who the contract was with.

Virginia: Snack maker Prime Choice Foods now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Company officials say the need a new ‘partner’ willing to make a big investment in order to survive bankruptcy.  In Roanoke County, taxsucking military contractor Exelis Night Vision and Communications Solutions killed 60 jobs.  Earlier this year the company laid off an undisclosed number of employees, and in the past three years they killed at least 800 jobs!  A local news report slipped up and reported that Exelis was supplying U.S. forces inside Iran: “Demand [for] the company’s night vision goggles and other products has dropped due to a reduction of U.S. forces in Iraq and Iran.”-WTOP 103.5 FM

Washington: In Redmond, after tens years award winning video game maker Airtight Games shutdown without notice. Earlier in the year 14 employees were laid off.  Company officials did not give a reason for their surprise shutdown, but did thank their fans.  God refused to stop Seattle based Mars Hill Church from killing jobs.  Officials with the mega-church blame the bad economy for a surprise crash in tithes: “…the budget crunch caught the executive elders by surprise and was related to a dramatic decline in attendance and giving…please continue to pray for the church as we navigate through a tough season.” 

Wisconsin: In Stevens Point, Copps and Roundy’s grocery distribution center shutting down in August, 196 jobs lost!  27 Roundy’s grocery stores were sold off to SuperValu.  The first Roundy’s was opened in 1872.

01 July 2014:  “30 minutes is a long time when you’re dying!” 

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 shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security…That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

U.S.

U.S. Civil War Chicago, 26 – 31 August 2014: Many “uncooperative” victims, and more stabbings!

Incomplete list:

4700 block of North Lawndale Avenue: 38 years old woman stabbed 22 times, and killed.  A witness says the attacker threatened his life if he told police. The cops called it a domestic violence case, an arrest has been made.

10900 block of South Racine Avenue: 34 years old man shot in the gut.  He was taken to a hospital where police said he was “uncooperative” with them.  Then, five hours after being shot he was declared dead!

5400 block of South Damen Avenue: Police found a 36 years old man shot to death.  Cops say they were responding to a 911 call.  Local news reports say at least 20 brass casings littered the scene of the shooting.

7400 block of North Ridge Boulevard: Two men shot.  One man died.

2600 West 65th Street: 28 years old man shot in the back and wounded.  He said the shooter stepped out of a vehicle before blasting him.

7900-block of South State Street: Conflicting reports.  A 36 years old man was stabbed in the face while riding a Chicago Transit Authority bus.  Initial news reports said two men were arguing before the knife attack.  However, later news reports say the attack was unprovoked.   Prosecutors now say the two men did not know each other.   A 55 years old man with a criminal record has been arrested for the attack.

8100 block of South Muskegon Avenue: 47 years old woman shot while she was sitting in a car.  She’s in critical condition.

4400 block of South Archer Avenue: 32 years old man shot in the arm while he was a passenger in a car.

10900 block of South Racine Avenue: 34 years old man shot and wounded, police say he won’t cooperate with them.

10000 block of South Avenue M: 26 years old man shot and wounded after people flashed gang signs and then started shooting at each other.

4600 block of West Van Buren Street: 32 years old man shot in the finger.

1800 block of South Throop Street: Two men standing on a sidewalk shot and wounded by drive-by-shooter.

9100 block of South Yates Boulevard: 23 years old man sitting on his porch when he was shot and wounded by drive-by-shooter in a black Sport Utility Vehicle.

1st block East 101st Street: 28 years old man standing on the sidewalk reported that he suddenly felt pain.  Turns out he was shot in the butt.  Apparently no ‘bang’ from any gunshot was heard.

300 block of West 66th Street: 29 years old man shot in the leg.

10000 block of South State Street: 24 years old man shot and wounded in the back and arm.

9500 block of South Oglesby Avenue: A 51 years old man shot and killed.  A 27 years old woman shot and wounded.  Police call it a domestic violence case, however, they don’t seem to know who shot the victims.  Apparently no arrests were made.

5700 block of South Keeler Avenue: 54 years old man shot in the leg.  Police suspect it was a drive-by-shooting.

1300 block of West Morse Avenue: A man and a woman shot and wounded.  They say they saw two men arguing in a park then suddenly there were gunshots, and they got hit.  The woman is in critical condition.

800 block of West 95th Street: 20 years old woman shot in the hand while she was a passenger in a car. The woman says the wimp ass male driver of the car jumped out and left her in the car, which was still driving down the street!  Police say the woman took control of the car but crashed into a bus, wounding the bus driver!

It’s interesting that the police seem to know how most shootings went down, even though they weren’t present and most victims refuse to “cooperate”. And yet, few arrests (except in the case of stabbings, there’s always arrests).

The majority of victims are male. Police continue to insist most of the gun violence is caused by gangbangers, but have made few arrests. That’s because police believe most of the victims are also gangbangers. Realize that police in metropolitan areas keep records of whose who in the local gangs, this how they know if a victim is a “documented gang member”. This also means police probably know who the assailants are. So why no arrests?

Once again, majority of shooting victims were not armed, it’s as if the shooters are deliberately targeting unarmed people. It also questions the police claims that the victims are gang members. Wouldn’t they be armed?

New anti-gun laws would not stop the shootings, because most guns used in Chicago shootings are already illegal!

Now here’s something interesting: Notice police claim most of the victims of the shootings are gangbangers, and realize that it’s the families of those victimized gangbangers demanding all out police state gun bans! Is that irony?

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security….That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013, calls Chicagoland his homie town

Chicago, 21 – 25 August 2014

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings 01 July 2014: NASCAR killing jobs in favor of computers! More Obamacare killing hospitals, “30 minutes is a long time when you’re dying!”!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced it will shutdown 82 distribution centers beginning in January 2015, thousands of jobs lost!

The USPS Gateway Station (aka CSMPC) in Pocatello, Idaho, survived past shutdown threats but made the 2015 Phase 2 shutdown list, 50+ jobs lost.

It was leaked by insiders that National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) killed 20 jobs.  NASCAR officials refused to admit to the layoffs, but did admit they want to “modernize the company’s operations with technology”.   In other words, replace humans with computers.

The troubled Family Dollar store chain announced it will shutdown 30 stores in North Carolina and South Carolina, hundreds of jobs lost!  It’s part of the company’s plans to shutdown 370 stores across the U.S.!

Generation mPower nuclear power project has killed 100 jobs across several east coast states (at one point officials said 211 people would become unemployed)!  Generation mPower is a joint nuclear power project by Bechtel and Babcock & Wilcox.  In 2011 they got some state funding, but since then have been relying on private funding, which dried up at the end of 2013.  Efforts to sell a majority stake in the nuke op failed in February.    Bechtel and Babcock & Wilcox said they need a minimum $15-million per year to keep the project running.

Arkansas: Washington Regional Medical Center laid off 27 healthcare workers, directly blaming Obama Care.  Hospital officials blame the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for causing the hospital a loss of $8.75-million USD!

California: In Universal City, reports that movie studio DreamWorks killed as many as 50 jobs, with no warning.  In Palmdale, maker of hydraulic and fuel systems Crissair announced they’re shutting down in September, 170 jobs lost!  It’s part of their consolidations after their takeover of Canyon Engineering last year.

Colorado: Another crappy Old Navy clothing store shutting down, 75 jobs lost.  A Pueblo Jack in the Box restaurant shutdown, 50 jobs lost.  A sign said it was being replaced with a new “concept”.

Idaho: In Pocatello, the USPS Gateway Processing Center made the shutdown list for 2015, about 50 jobs lost.

Florida: In Miramar, marketing company Red Ventures shutting down in September, 255 jobs lost!  The company is consolidating ops into South Carolina.

Massachusetts:  In Foxborogh, after six years Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro now chapter 7 bankrupt and deceased.  The owners blame the suck ass economy: “The combination of a weak economy, high and persistent unemployment, and high staff turnover has led us to this difficult decision.” 

New Hampshire: Franklin Pierce University eliminated 12 positions. Earlier this year the university eliminated academic programs.

New York: In Rochester, Nick Tahou Hots restaurant shutdown.

North Carolina: In Durham,  Datrose Industries shutting down its Technical Response call center, 167 jobs lost!  They lost a major contract.  In Belhaven, Vidant Pungo Hospital shutdown without notice: “Closing this hospital means everybody takes another 30 minutes to get emergency help. 30 minutes is a long time when you’re dying!”-Adam O’Neal, mayor

Hospital officials point out they are building a new 24 hours clinic (which is more cost effective under Obama Care), and they also pointed out that city officials failed to take part in negotiations: “The Town’s recent accusations only serve to disguise the fact that it has failed to fulfill its obligations as outlined by the mediation agreement…… the lack of response made it apparent that the Town knew that it did not have a plan to take over hospital operations…….The mediation agreement clearly stated that the Town of Belhaven was required to work with Pantego Creek, LLC, for use of the hospital property. To our knowledge, the Town never contacted Pantego Creek prior to June 11.”

Texas: In Dallas (Oak Lawn), after 22 years Good Eats shutdown.  The owners blame the greedy property owner saying “our landlord has refused to renew our lease”.  In Austin, the Pour House Pub shutdown.  The property is being demolished for a big retail development.

Virginia:  Buchanan County Public School Board shutting down Russell Prater Elementary School.  It’s blamed on $2.1-million in debt.

28 – 30 June 2014: Massive auto parts store shutdown, despite massive taxpayer funding! 

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 shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security…That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics

Economic Martial Law U.S.A.: Federal Reserve admits their efforts to save the economy makes the rich richer, and everyone else poor!

06 September 2014 (15:55 UTC-07 Tango)/11 Dhu l-Qa’da 1435/15 Shahrivar 1393/13 Gui-You 4712

“Families at the bottom of the income distribution saw continued substantial declines in average real incomes between 2010 and 2013, continuing the trend observed between the 2007 and 2010 surveys.”-2013 Survey of Consumer Finances

Every three years the privately Jewish run U.S. central bank known as Federal Reserve releases data called Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF).  Their latest survey has them admitting that all their efforts to save the U.S. economy, since 2007, has only resulted in making the rich richer and everybody else poor.

The SCF says overall ‘mean (average) income’ went up 4%, but when you look at income using the ‘median’ method it actually dropped 5%.

The Federal Reserve calls making the rich richer “income concentration”.  This means the majority of money being made is going to a small elite, specifically to the top 10% of “families”:   “…all but the highest quintile saw declines in median income between 2010 and 2013, with second and third quintiles seeing the largest declines (7 percent and 6 percent, respectively).  Median income increased 2 percent for the top income decile.  Mean income declined strongly for the bottom two quintiles and barely budged for those between the 40th and 90th percentiles, whereas the mean income of the top decile increased 10 percent between 2010 and 2013.”

“Families in the middle to uppermiddle parts (between the 40th and 90th percentiles) of the income distribution saw little change in average real incomes between 2010 and 2013 and thus have failed to recover the losses experienced between 2007 and 2010.    Only families at the very top of the income distribution saw widespread income gains between 2010 and 2013, although mean and median incomes were still below 2007 levels.”

“Overall, between 2010 and 2013 there was little movement in median and mean net worth, as the median fell a modest 2 percent and the mean increased slightly…..families at the bottom of the income distribution saw continued substantial declines in real net worth between 2010 and 2013, while those in the top half saw, on average, modest gains.  Ownership rates of housing and businesses fell substantially between 2010 and 2013.   Retirement plan participation in 2013 continued on the downward trajectory observed between the 2007 and 2010 surveys for families in the bottom half of the income distribution.  Participation rebounded slightly for upper-middle income families, but it did not move back to the levels observed in 2007……decrease in stock ownership rates was most pronounced for the bottom half of the income distribution.  The decrease in ownership rates for housing and corporate equity holdings was concentrated in the bottom and upper-middle parts of the income distribution, though the decrease in business ownership was concentrated among higher-income families.”

The Federal Reserve has noted a new trend involving education; instead of seeing a high school diploma as increasing your income, it is now seen as reducing the amount of pay you might lose, compared to somebody with no high school diploma.  Apparently having a college degree is still the best way to attain income security: “The median income of households with a high school diploma or less fell between 6 and 9 percent, whereas the mean income of those without a high school diploma fell much more than that of those who graduated from high school (a 17 percent decline versus a 2 percent decline).  The median income of those with some college decreased 11 percent, whereas the median income of those with a college degree increased 1 percent.  Mean income for those with a college degree increased 5 percent.”

Overall, the net worth of the average U.S. citizen is down: “…the median net worth of all families fell a modest 2 percent…..mean net worth was effectively unchanged….the 2010 SCF showed dramatic decreases in median and mean net worth in the 2007–10 period….driven by the boom and bust in house and other asset prices. The bust, in particular, had a disproportionate effect on families in the middle of the net worth distribution, whose wealth portfolio is dominated by housing.

….Families with higher levels of usual income reported greater levels of net worth…..Median net worth decreased between 2010 and 2013 for most usual income groups, falling between 10 and 17 percent….Those in the lowest usual income quintile saw small decreases in median net worth (12 percent,….), but they also saw the largest proportional decrease in mean net worth (21 percent,….).  Households in the second and third quintile of usual income saw large declines in median net worth (10 percent and 17 percent, respectively),….The fourth income quintile was the only group that experienced increases in both median and mean net worth: 16 percent for median net worth and 14 percent for mean net worth.

Those without a high school diploma saw no change in median net worth between 2010 and 2013, but their mean net worth fell 9 percent. Those with high school diplomas or some college both saw 14 percent declines in median net worth; the former saw a 15 percent decline in mean net worth, while those with some college had 9 percent higher mean net worth in 2013.  Median net worth increased 5 percent for those with college degrees, while their mean net worth declined 2 percent.”