World War 3, Economic Front: U.S. job losses & store closings 23-24 February 2013.

Abercrombie & Fitch announced they will close 50 stores in the United States.  Company officials blamed dropping retail sales and crashing stock sales.

An undisclosed number of Thruway Authority personnel will be laid off in New York.  It’s part of the 234 job cuts announced last month!

In Alaska, the Anchorage School District is eliminating more than 200 jobs from next school year’s budget!

In Kentucky, the Bell County School Day Treatment and Recovery school in Pineville to close.  The Day Treatment and Recovery school was started to help troubled students, but school official say they lose $200000 USD per year running it.

In California, Sacramento’s Fruit Ridge elementary school closed down after 102 years of operations.  School officials blame declining enrollment.  The Sebastopol School District wants to close another elementary school.  Officials blame declining state funding.  Rave cave 222 Hyde, in San Francisco closed down. The owners blamed city licensing laws and the fact that there is a new landlord who doesn’t seem to want the dance club as a tenant.  And the Corcoran District Hospital laid off 19 employees.  The hospital is losing money due to a huge drop in patients from the California State Prison Corcoran and Corcoran Substance Abuse Treatment Facility.

In Louisiana, the Allen Parish Hospital closing down its ER.  Officials say the hospital has been losing a lot of money in the past six months, because of a huge decline in people coming in for treatment.

In Minnesota, all nine Dueber’s department stores closing down!   The family owners were hoping to find a buyer for their business, so they can retire.

In Pennsylvania, Blockbuster video stores closing in Lititz and Ephrata.  Part of ongoing shut down of almost all Blockbuster stores in the U.S.

In Illinois, Vie de France Yamazaki will close its frozen unbaked bread factory in Bensenville. 70 people out-o-work.  The company is moving production to a new factory in Georgia.  And the Cafe 28 closed down, on short notice, in Chicago.  Owners blamed the bad economy which reduced sales to the point they couldn’t renew their liquor license.

Volunteers of America closing its Floyd Career Learning Center in South Dakota, due to lack of funding and enrollments.

Aleris International laying off the remaining 98 employees at its factory in Roxboro, North Carolina.  At one time Aleris had 350 employees in the state.  And Scruggs Poultry closed down.  The wholesale poultry farm had been in operation since 1949. Company officials refused to talk to local media. Local buyers are scrambling to find a new wholesale source.

In Michigan, Damon’s Bar and Grill out-o-business. The manager said he was given short notice by the owners, he said he could not comment on why the restaurant was closed. 50 employees affected.

Core Systems of Painesville, Ohio, laid off 400 people!  The company supplied parts to appliance makers.  Company officials said their biggest customer, Whirlpool, canceled all contracts without warning or reason, effectively shutting down Core Systems.