Alabama:  Yet again, Walter Energy eliminated hundreds of jobs, this time 319!  Earlier the bankrupt coal miner eliminated 794 jobs between July and November!

Arizona: After 46 years Oasis Bedroom shutting down all four furniture stores, blaming competition from national chain stores.  In Prescott, Hooligan’s Pub and the bar Swagger shutting down after Gregorian New Year’s Eve.  The owners blame health problems for forcing them to retire early.

California:  More proof internet based businesses are not recession resistant; grocery delivery service Instacart (once valued at $2-billion USD) laid off 12 employees. Administrators also stated they “no longer need to maintain such an aggressive hiring pace”  in 2016.   Cupertino based Apple computers has essentially admitted to tax evasion charges in Italy.  Apple wil pay the equivilant of $347.7-million USD to settle unpaid Italian taxes from 2008 to 2013.

Colorado: In Colorado Springs, after three years Lucha Cantina shutdown.  The operators are consolidating their food ops to fewer restaurants.

Hawaii:  The Fresh Cafe Downtown and Fresh Cafe Kakaako shutdown with little warning.  It’s blamed on a dispute between the co-owners.

Idaho:  More rebellion against the 30+ years old Right to Work you over laws as yet another company is taken over by its employees.  Boise based Norco, “the nation’s largest privately owned welding, safety, medical and gas supplier”, is now 35% owned by its employees under the ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan)!  Utility company Idaho Power begging wealthy customers to make donations to Idaho Power’s privately funded Project Share, which helps low income people pay their winter heating bills.  Between October 2014 and September 2015 a measly $200-thousand USD has been raised for Project Share.  The Gem State does not have taxpayer funded social programs to help people pay their utility bills, yet taxes in the Right to Work you over state are unusually high for so few social programs.

Illinois: Overpriced (at least here in Idaho) Big Lots! shutting down their Rockford East State Street store in January 2016.

Kentucky:  A building collapse has shutdown several businesses in Brooksville, some permanently.   Local news reports say the vacant building along Miami Street had a history of problems, and was last listed as being worth a piddly $1-thousand USD.  City administrators are working with the current owners of the building to figure out what to do.  The owner of next door Carota’s Pizza says “This is devastating to us and other businesses. I hate being closed. We have been trying to shift around employees, but I may lose some employees because they need the work.”

Louisiana:  Department of Wildlife & Fisheries ending deer hunting season early due to radical weather causing record flooding from the Mississippi River.

Minnesota: After 43 years Borgstrom’s Hallmark gift store sutting down in 2016 because “We’re not seeing any growth.”

Mississippi:  Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks ending deer hunting season early due to record flooding from the Mississippi River.

Montana: Signal Peak’s Bull Mountain Mine under threat of shutdown due to state permit problems, 320 jobs threatened!

New York:  NYC based ‘investment’ fund Seneca Capital Investments being shutdown by its owner, all investments supposedly being returned to the investors because 2016 is looking to be a bad year for investments: “I am no longer able to continue making the commitment and sacrifices required to run outside capital. Despite negligible redemption requests and increasing market opportunities that are the result of a challenging year in event-driven investing, I cannot in good faith start next year with the dedication required to manage your capital.”-Doug Hirsch  

North Carolina: DAL (Delta Air Lines) Global Services (aka DGS) laying off 56 employees contracted to work for American Airlines at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.  In Charlotte, after 18 years Cosmo Cafe shutting down in January 2016.  The owner decided he could make more money renting out the property.

North Dakota: In Grand Forks, after 47 years locally owned auto parts store H.E. Everson shutting down, blaming the encroachment of national chain auto parts stores since the oil boom.  At one time there were 19 H.E. Everson stores across two states.

 Pennsylvania:  Once again, God not as powerful as ObamaCare as Saint Joseph’s Hospital is shutting down, at least 675 people unemployed by March 2016!  Because of ObamaCare hospital services are being consolidated into fewer locations.

South Dakota:  Veterans Affairs wants to shutdown the Hot Springs VA Medical Center, 418 jobs lost by 2020!  Analysts say it’ll result in the regional economy losing $55-million per year!

Tennessee: In Memphis, Kroger shutting down their Hickory Hill Road grocery store, blaming 10 years of low sales. Administrators say the 17 years old store has not made a profit since 2006.

Texas:   The second largest U.S. rail company, Fort Worth based and Warren Buffett owned BNSF, laid off 1-hundred people in North Dakota and Minnesota, blaming crashing freight shipments!

Utah: In Logan, the Golden Corral all you can eat buffet shutdown.  According to local news reports this followed a ten week span that saw Gold’s Gym, Dunkin Donuts and Sports Authority shutdown in Logan.  The city’s Economic Development office told local news sources that based on tax revenues the economy is still good there in Logan/Cache County!

Wisconsin: Door County Rubber Stamp & Scrapbooking shutting down their 22 years old Egg Harbor store.  Like many other businesses the owners are consolidating retail operations into fewer stores.

U.S. Job Losses & Closings 29 December 2015: “We were blindsided….It’s like a funeral here.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”