MADISON- The greater North Alabama Alternative Baseball Club is in need of volunteers and coaches, but no longer a head coach as Tyler Wright has been chosen to head up the local Alternative Baseball Club.

I was scanning Facebook one night and saw the organization needed a head coach and I thought that position would be awesome, said Wright. My goal is to build the program by getting players and volunteer coaches to help expand to where we can have several local teams.

The current team plays in a league comprised of squads in Atlanta, Chattanooga and Auburn, which requires loads of travel. If the local organization can expand, the woes of traveling would mostly be a thing of the past.

The Alternative Baseball Organization is a 501c3 developmental baseball program for disabled persons ages 15 and older. The national organization has been featured on national television and publications highlighting its incredible skills to assist those with a disability who have a passion for baseball.

The 31-year old Wright was born with cerebral palsy that has affected the right side of his body where he has little movement in his right hand. He also walks with a limp, but his disabilities have led to his strong competitive spirit stemming from his several years as a player and coach of his favorite sport.

I played baseball in grades 7-10 and then I helped coach softball in grades 11-12, said Wright, who works at Huntsville Hospitals Outpatient Therapy Dept. I was asked to try out for the baseball team at New Hope Middle School when I was in the seventh grade. I was afraid I would not make the team, but the coach helped me make the transition to the team. He gave me confidence as Im a competitor. I like to play the game. With my coaching experience, I want to build social skills, confidence and team work in each player and hope they will take those skills out to everyday life.

To help reach his goal with the organization, Wright needs players and volunteers. He anticipates to try and begin practices in late July or early August. He currently has 10 players on the team roster and hopes to get many others involved.

The current COVID-19 crisis cuffed the efforts of the organization. New members are currently being recruited at the organizations website- http://www.alternativebaseball.org. Those interested in being involved can visit the websites player and volunteer portal to register. I will personally follow up on each inquiry, said Wright. Being back on the field is also an issue as the team is looking for a new home field after playing at Huntsvilles Mae Jemison High School a season ago.

Alternative Baseball is for teens and adults with autism and other disabilities.

Wright currently attends Calhoun College looking to earn a degree in Health Care Administration.

His playing days at New Hope School included his having the unique talents of throwing and catching only with his left hand. Most of his time on teams was spent as an assistant coach rather than a player. His experience led him to be a coach of travel-summer baseball teams including the Huntsville Banditos for the last three years. His coaching for his new team is a natural fit as hes lived the uneasy feelings of being out of place among others and the lack of confidence to attempt a sport.

Wrights work as the team manager for his high school football team led him to be a leader and helper. His love for baseball, especially as an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves, is easily seen in his new position of making a difference in the lives of others.

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Alternative Baseball Club Names Tyler Wright Head Coach - The Madison Record - themadisonrecord.com

Lynch Hunt, popular as Coach Lynch, is a motivational and fitness expert, who is making news for offering holistic fitness coaching in transforming people. He has got a long experience of over 15 years in the world of fitness and he shares it with his clients in his training sessions.

Coach Lynch, through his brand, AWOL, is running multiple businesses by using platforms such as fitness, supplements, motivational speaking, educational curriculum-based courses, and community outreach. The sole motive of his services is to help people transform completely into their minds and bodies.

And he is making use of his leadership spirit to educate, motivate, and empower people to undergo a complete transformation at the mental and physical level. Under Coach Lynchs visionary leadership, lots of people have managed to find their new identity and explore themselves completely.

Unlike other average coaches, he pays attention to the individual requirements of his clients and plans strategies accordingly to serve their needs. With his hard work, Coach Lynch has collected numerous certifications in the health and fitness world. Moreover, he has utilized all his experiences and life lessons to introduce the brand, AWOL Fitness for people.

Through various fitness challenges, AWOL helps to improve the overall quality of life by making a person transform his mind and body. With the help of its proprietary exercise system, known as F.A.S.T (Functional Athletic Strength Training), the AWOL Fitness team helps a person improve his performance and physique in a limited amount of time.

Coach Lynch has faced a lot of hardships in his life and he even had to spend 10 years in federal prison. After that, he never looked back and made a strong comeback in the world of fitness training and personal development. He has penned down 5 self-help books on personal development and he is about to release his new workbook titled 7 Levels of Discipline that Manifest Success along with AWOLs very own Fitness app to launch at the end of june.

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Coach Lynch, a Life Coach and Fitness Expert, is Offering Fitness Coaching to Transform People through his Brand, AWOL Fitness - America Daily Post

The hotel will feature increased cleaning to keep guests and staff safe amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

SANDUSKY, Ohio Cedar Point may still be closed until further notice, but there will soon be a way for you to experience some of the amusement parks lakefront property.

Park officials announced Thursday that Hotel Breakers will reopen and welcome guests back for overnight stays beginning June 12.

The safety of all guests and associates is Hotel Breakers number one priority, Cedar Point officials said in a press release. The hotel is committed to providing families with a safe environment, implementing new health, safety and hygiene protocols that have been informed by company and industry health experts and align with CDC guidelines.

Highlights of these protocols include:

Hotel Breakers is offering a Sun and Fun package through June 28, which includes a variety of activities for families staying on the property like beach yoga, water aerobics, games, live music and more. Themed dining experiences will also be available including the opportunity to taste some of Cedar Points new food options.

Access to the Cedar Point Beach, Hotel Breakers, Lighthouse Point and all activities is limited to guests who have purchased the Sun & Fun package, park officials said. Cedar Point and Cedar Point Shores Waterpark may not be open, as opening dates have not been determined.

Cedar Point, which was supposed to open for its 2020 season on May 9, remains closed amid coronavirus concerns. We're expecting an announcement from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine soon on when attractions like zoos, museums and amusement parks will be given the green light to reopen.

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Cedar Point to 'safely welcome guests back' to Hotel Breakers for overnight stays starting June 12 - WKYC.com

The dos and donts of exercising at your local fitness studio.

So, youre ready to hit the gym again? Miami fitness studios will resume business on Monday, June 8, and for some, its been the best reopening news to leave the county mayors office. Our wellness-focused city is ready to get back out there, working up a sweat safely. So what will the new protocols look like? Is social distancing even possible in a small-class setting? The short answers: thorough and yes, even boutique fitness will be expected to abide by the new norms.Keep in mind that one of the main rules of reopening is maintaining occupancy to 50 percent or less.Below, a few things to keep in mind before working up a sweat doing indoor fitness.

Whats reopening? Wellness facilities include but are not limited to: commercial gyms, fitness centers, dance studios, martial arts studios, yoga studios, spinning studios and personal training services. Basically, if the place is indoors and the activity performed there is considered exercise, its a wellness facility and it should adhere to the countys new guidelines.

Who needs to wear a mask at the gym? -All employees must wear them at all times -Folks participating in non-strenuous exercises like yoga and pilates within six feet of one another -Everyone walking in and out of the gym or fitness studio

How much will I need to socially distance myself from others while in class? The distance depends on the type of workout. If its low-impact then six feet of separation will suffice, but youll need to wear a mask. For more grueling exercises, where sweat is bound to travel, then 10 feet will be required. Any class where people are spaced 10 feet apart, no matter the level of activity, will not require the use of a mask.

What can I bring with me? Miami-Dade guidelines state that folks can bring their own towels, water bottles, heart-rate monitors and other personal-use items. However, we strongly urge you to check with your gym before doing so.

Will I have the use of a locker? No, common amenities such as lockers will not be permitted at this time. Bring yourself and leave everything else in the car or at home.

Can I shower at the gym? Thats hard no. Only showers near pools may be used and explicitly before entering the water. Saunas also remained closed.

Can I go back to Bikram? Hot yoga or exercises performed in rooms heated above 90 degrees are not allowed.

What other workouts are banned for now? Sparring and aerial fitness are not permitted for the time being.

Can I do water aerobics? Yes, but classes will be limited in size to ensure that everyone remains six feet apart in the pool. Swimming laps? Only one person per lane, please.

What other safety precautions should I take? -If youre early to class, wait in your car. Loitering outside the studio or in lobby areas that are still open will likely not be allowed. -Reserve your spot in advance. Most studios wont be allowing drop-ins but those that do will be able to plan ahead if you book ahead.

What kind of new hygiene efforts should I expect? Clean-freak levels of sanitization will be in place. Routine cleanings will happen every two hours, especially on high-touch surfaces such as door handles, screens and handrails. Equipment will be wiped down after each use, too.

-Get free stuff from these Miami makers when you donate to the Black Lives Matter movement-You can now have dinner in this Little Havana speakeasy-Do you have a burger-loving dad in your life? Get him this box.-This directory details over 100 black-owned Miami businesses to support-The Little Haiti Book Festival returns this month

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Miami gyms are reopeningand here's what you can and can't do - Time Out

Mike Easterling, Farmington Daily Times Published 9:12 a.m. MT June 6, 2020

The Health and Human Performance Center at San Juan College will reopen at 50 percent capacity on June 8, college officials have announced.(Photo: Photo by San Juan College)

FARMINGTON Over the next few weeks, San Juan College will begin to implement a phased reopening of its Farmington campus, college officials announced late on June 5.

Various campus facilities will reopen on different dates. College President Dr. Toni Pendergrasssaid the reopening of campus facilities is being conducted in a gradual and deliberate fashion to ensure the safety and well-being of employees, students and community members.

"Throughout the course of reopening, we will continue to follow the governor's guidance and recommendations," she stated in a press release.

The reopening will begin with the Health and Human Performance Center on Monday, June 8 at 50 percent capacity. Specifics about the center's hours, offerings and classes can be found at sanjuancollege.edu/HHPC.

Jon Betz(Photo: Courtesy of San Juan College)

College officials recently announced the hiring of Jon Betzto serve as director of the 130,000-square-foot facility, which is open to all San Juan College students, faculty and staff members, and community members. Betz said last month that any reopening of the facility first would require a thorough cleaning and sanitizing of all its equipment and spaces.

According to the website, the center will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. The fitness conditioning center will be restricted to 50 people at a time, while the gym will be restricted to 48 people at a time. Up to 20 people will be allowed in the open are, and up to five people will be permitted in the mezzanine. The jogging track will be restricted to a dozen runners.

The aerobics, dance and boxing rooms will be closed, as will the climbing wall and challenge course.

Visitors to the facility will be required to undergo a temperature check prior to entering the facility, and they will be required to respond to a symptoms survey.

More: New director looks forward to reopening of Health and Human Performance Center at college

The college's Testing Center will also open on June 8, which will operate at 25 percent capacity by offering ATI TEAS exams for specific health science programs, high school equivalency exams and limited vendor exams. Test availability can be check at sanjuancollege.edu/test.

The San Juan College Bookstore will reopen at 25 percent capacity on Monday, June 15 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, though it will be closed June 24-30 for its annual scheduled inventory. The store will reopen July 1.

All credit summer classes that begin before June 22 will be conducted in an online format, the press release from the college states. After that date, the college will provide face-to-face instruction for students who need to complete spring 2020 course work in which no remote alternatives are available.

No decision has been made regarding the format in which fall classes will be presented, according to the press release.

College officials said all students, employees and visitors who come to the campus and enter buildings will be required to stop for a no-contact temperature check and respond to a health condition questionnaire. They also will be required to wear masks.

The college canceled its entire fall 2020 fine arts season after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced recently that her ban on mass gatherings could last 12 months. But fine arts course offerings and instruction will continue, according to the press release.

"Canceling the fall season was a very difficult decision," Pendergrass stated in the press release. "We recognize how very important our fine arts are to our college and community. Unfortunately, the arts, sporting events, concerts and theaters are being affected at every level locally and nationally. In a few months, we will evaluate our options for the spring season, based on the governor's recommendations."

As it announced on its Facebook page late last week, the college is planning a virtual graduation ceremony at 6:30 p.m. June 30. The event will be webcast on the college's website at sanjuancollege.edu.

Mike Easterling can be reached at 505-564-4610 or measterling@daily-times.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription.

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San Juan College will begin phased reopening on June 8 starting with HHPC - Farmington Daily Times

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These days it is an accepted aspect of life that exercise is vital for our health. Gyms are practically on every street corner, groups of runners regularly put in work along roads and parks, and fitness apps are abundant on our phones and tablets. Humans have always been physically active. It used to be part of the day whether hunting, farming, or enjoying bodily pleasure with other people. When work began to move into cities however, a sedentary lifestyle became more common.

To combat this change in the way we live our lives, the media was quick to respond. Long running popular sports magazine Sports Illustrated released an article warning of the dangers of remaining immobile. Warning that unless a change in habits was made, the heart and organs will slowly deteriorate due to disuse, SI urged its readers to take up exercise in 1955.

Pastimes such as bowling were at peak popularity in the US during this time, and it was seen as unhealthy to over-exert oneself. The advice took years to be heeded.

In 1968, Kenneth Cooper, a cardiologist and former Colonel of the US Air Force, released a book entitled, Aerobics. In the book, which became instrumental in the rise of jogging, Cooper encourages readers to eat real food, and to perform aerobic exercises to increase life expectancy. The main exercises recommended by Cooper were cycling, swimming, and running.

Running was a vital part of any athlete or soldiers regimen. Running has long been publicised with soldiers initial training, and boxers such as Muhammad Ali would regularly include roadwork into his schedule before an upcoming title bout. Waking up at the crack of dawn to fill up his gas tank, Ali saw running as a vital part of his longevity.

However, as Ali was a well-known boxer, with a life far from normal, his running wasnt seen as anything worth repeating by the public. The average American wasnt interested.

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Why Jogging Was So Dangerous In The 70s - WhatCulture

As protests in the United States continue and the population grapples with the death of George Floyd in police custody, attentions have turned, in part, to increasing awareness about systemic injustice.

With this increased awareness, books on race and criminal justice have begun to rise on bestseller charts, as readers look to educate themselves about these long-standing issues.

To increase your own awareness of the factors fueling racial injustice, here are 8 books that powerfully explore the topic from economic, political and cultural perspectives.

1. The Color of Money by Mehrsa Baradaran

According to McKinsey, the racial wealth gap between black and white families grew from around $100,000 in 1992 to $154,000 in 2016. This gap is worsened by a lack of access to traditional financial services, such as banks, making it difficult for people of color to accumulate savings.

In The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap, American law professor Mehrsa Baradaran takes on this pressing issue, while sharing sobering realities, such as the fact that the share of wealth owned by African Americans in the US has barely budged in more than 150 years.

The Color of Money argues that black banking solutions and community self-help are not enough to cut through structural economic inequality; instead bold reforms are needed.

The Color of Money by Mehrsa Baradaran.

Image: Harvard University Press

2. For Jobs and Freedom by Robert H Zieger

In his wide-ranging book, Jobs and Freedom: Race and Labor in America since 1865, historian Robert H Zieger charts the hard-fought progress of black workers to gain employment rights in the labor movement and the workplace. Many historians have declared this authoritative take on race and labor a worthwhile introduction to the barriers to opportunity facing African Americans from the days following the Civil War to modern times of globalization.

For Jobs and Freedom by Robert H Zieger.

Image: University Press of Kentucky

The first global pandemic in more than 100 years, COVID-19 has spread throughout the world at an unprecedented speed. At the time of writing, 4.5 million cases have been confirmed and more than 300,000 people have died due to the virus.

As countries seek to recover, some of the more long-term economic, business, environmental, societal and technological challenges and opportunities are just beginning to become visible.

To help all stakeholders communities, governments, businesses and individuals understand the emerging risks and follow-on effects generated by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Marsh and McLennan and Zurich Insurance Group, has launched its COVID-19 Risks Outlook: A Preliminary Mapping and its Implications - a companion for decision-makers, building on the Forums annual Global Risks Report.

The report reveals that the economic impact of COVID-19 is dominating companies risks perceptions.

Companies are invited to join the Forums work to help manage the identified emerging risks of COVID-19 across industries to shape a better future. Read the full COVID-19 Risks Outlook: A Preliminary Mapping and its Implications report here, and our impact story with further information.

3. The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

In The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, civil rights lawyer Michelle Alexander argues that strict drugs laws have disproportionately impacted black communities and the issue should be at the top of the civil rights agenda. The book is regarded as one of the most influential civil rights books in recent years and important for understanding how incarceration rates impact this community and the efforts to bridge equality gaps.

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander.

Image: Penguin Random House

4. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

In Between the World and Me, African American author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates tackles issues of race and injustice in the US in a fresh and moving way: through a letter to his adolescent son. The book by the Atlantic writer was called one of the most influential in the last decade.

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Image: Text Publishing

5. White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

This widely-read book that spent months near the top of the New York Times bestseller list explores the defensive tropes some people fall into when challenged about their attitudes to race. In White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, academic Robin DiAngelo asks what we can do to move beyond these challenges and engage with these key issues more constructively.

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo.

Image: Beacon Press

6. I, Too, Am America by Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes (19021967) was one of Americas leading chroniclers of the black experience. In this beautiful childrens book, Hughes famous poem I, too, is retold through rich illustration. The images are the work of the award-winning Bryan Collier, known for his vivid combination of watercolour and detailed collage.

I, Too, Am America by Langston Hughes.

Image: Simon and Schuster

7. The Origin of Others by Toni Morrison

What is race and why does it matter? The answer often lies in literature and the often subliminal racial messages on the page. So argues the American literary giant, Beloved author Toni Morrison (1931-2019), in this book based on a series of lectures at Harvard University.

Morrison considers works by writers including Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner, and looks at how literature has often used skin colour to reveal character traits.

Morrisons book is not just about the African American experience; it also tackles defining themes that dominate the politics of the world, including the mass movement of people and globalization.

The Origin of Others by Toni Morrison.

Image: Harvard University Press

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The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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7 powerful, memorable books that explore racial injustice in the US - World Economic Forum

Marcus Baskerville, Co-Founder of Weathered Souls Brewing Co. in San Antonio, Texas

Like many around the United States, Weathered Souls Brewing Companys Co-Founder Marcus Baskerville was having a tough week.

I was dealing with some of the frustrations that were going on with murders, he says. Breonna Taylor, George Floyd. All of these situations that keep arising.

As a Black business owner, Baskerville felt a responsibility to use his platform to promote justice. And yet, as a business frequented mostly by white, middle-aged men, Baskerville worried about alienating his fan base.

You have to tread lightly, especially in the industry were in, he says.

This week, Baskerville launched the Black Is Beautiful initiative, a project firmly at the intersection of these thoughts and emotions. Its a strong move in the fight to raise awareness around injustice and a step toward bringing more diverse voices to an industry traditionally antagonistic toward minority populations.

The can label for Black is Beautiful

Like Other Halfs All Together Project that mobilized craft brewers in support of a common goal, Black Is Beautiful highlights the need for equality and the injustice faced by people of color.

As part of the project, Baskerville worked with graphic designer Kevin Dyer to create a label for a beer can.

Its a general label that we created but a large portion of the label is left open for breweries to attach their own artwork to it, says Baskerville.

Baskerville then posted an open-source beer recipe on the Black Is Beautiful website.

We created a recipe for people to use as a stout base, says Baskerville. But they can get creative and put their own spins on it.

Donations to a local justice organization are encouraged, but thats not the main focus, Baskerville says. Weathered Souls has chosen to donate proceeds from their beer to Know Your Rights Camp, an organization started by Colin Kaepernick to educate and empower the next generation of change leaders.

Initially, Weathered Souls planned to make a single beer. But after speaking with Jester Kings Jeff Stuffings at Jester King Brewery one of craft beers most vocal supporters and a man Baskerville credits as a mentor Baskerville turned his project into a collaborative effort.

Ive been a fan boy of Jeffs for years, and it developed into a friendship, says Baskerville. Hes actually the one that got us to open a brewpub over a brewery. In every situation where Im like, I want to do this, or I want to be part of this, Jeff has been like, Note to self help Marcus.

With Stuffings support, Baskerville was able to promote the initiative and reach a relatively large group of craft brewers in a short amount of time.

Less than twenty-four hours after announcing the Black Is Beautiful project, Baskerville had sign-on from over eighty breweries. Only twenty-four hours after that, the number sits at 226.

There have been some great names getting involved, Baskerville says. Trillium, J. Wakefield, Perennial. Today we heard from Great Notion, WeldWerks, and Voodoo.

While these name might not mean much to someone outside of the craft beer scene, each of the named breweries plays a powerful role in shaping craft beer culture. Their support goes a long way in encouraging the most avid consumers to take the project seriously.

Justin Gyorfi, founder of Ingenious Brewing and a frequent collaborator of Baskervilles, noted hes not surprised at the projects success.

Marcus passion about the project is contagious and I couldnt imagine a brewery owner who read his message and who had the means to participate not wanting to be involved, he says.

Ingenious, along with fellow independent Texas brewery and close Weathered Souls / Ingenious collaborator Turning Point Beer, are both participating in the project.

Now, even those who dont know Baskerville personally want to get involved. Ignacio Montenegro, owner and Director of Marketing at Tripping Animals Brewing Co. in Doral, Florida, committed his brewery to participating after hearing about the initiative on social media.

We didnt think twice about it, he said. We dont have a relationship with Weathered Souls just yet, but if we can use our platform to raise awareness in our community, were more than happy to do it.

As brewers and business owners, we bring another perspective thats a little different, says William Teasley, founder of Khonso Brewing in Atlanta, Georgia. The best thing anyone can do to help is ensure were part of the conversation.

While Weathered Souls initiative is a huge step toward a more equitable craft beer industry, the true test of the projects success will be to see whether or not current industry leaders extend themselves to the BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) community.

As the editor of a craft beer magazine, Ill be the first to say that our industry hasnt been very good at this. While programs like Fresh Fest and Beers With(out) Beards provide spots of hope, major industry events (including ones that Ive personally thrown) have left brewers who are African American out of the conversation.

Still, things are changing. Hopefully the Black Is Beautiful project will not only show solidarity, but convince industry leaders to extend themselves to more people of color in the industry.

I remember when I started, there was maybe one or two other black-owned breweries, says Chris Harris, owner of Black Frog Brewing in Holland, Ohio. Now youre looking at close to thirty or forty right now. The change is happening. Slowly but surely, its happening.

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Weathered Souls Black Is Beautiful Campaign Shows Racial Solidarity In Craft Beer - Forbes

Disneyland is still closed, but that shouldnt stop people from being able to enjoy a taste of the historic Southern California theme park at home. At least thats the thought put forth in a new survey sent out to annual park passholders, which asked about the likelihood of fans of the park ordering food like the famous Dole Whip, Monte Cristo sandwich, and churros it if were available for delivery. The OC Register peeked further into the possibility of that happening any time soon, what with the pandemic ongoing and no reopening in immediate sight, but so far there is no firm timeline for such a feat.

And in other news:

Valerie Confections in Echo Park has made a cake to help celebrate the life and memory of Breonna Taylor, who was killed by Louisville police in her home. All proceeds from each slice sold will go to a fund set up by the Taylor family.

Food writer Tien Nguyen further highlights the disparity between LAs new Al Fresco dining initiative and the rules applied to street vendors. Nguyen says of the Friday reveal that restaurants can reopen immediately: What baffles me is not just the abruptness of this announcement... but just how starkly it stands in contrast to the state of sidewalk vending in L.A.

MiniBar Hollywoods roving martini cart will donate 100% of sales today to We Love Lake Street, a fund set up for Minneapolis small businesses to help them get back on their feet.

LA Times has the story of Antidote Eats, a new-ish food truck that started up just days before lockdowns countywide. Owner Anthony Suggs survived group homes in Compton and a stint in prison, and is now selling comfort food across LA.

Underground West LA barbecue spot Flatpoint is helping the Black Lives Matter cause this weekend, donating 10% of sales of brisket and pulled pork on Sunday.

Cal Matters spent some time in Sage Plant Based Bistro, discussing the difficulties of reopening, of rehiring staff, and of preparing for whatevers next.

Broken Spanish is selling some of its sealed menu items at Surfas now, the culinary store on Washington Boulevard east of Downtown.

Found Oyster in East Hollywood is taking Saturday and Sunday off to let its employees join the expected protests if they wish. As a result theyre unloading lots of oysters, and donating 50 percent of profits to Black Lives Matter, and a portion of total sales as well.

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Disneyland Might Start Delivering Its Iconic Foods to Your Home Instead - Eater LA

We are living in and through unprecedented times. The coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the globe has had a number of crippling effects on the nation - pushing its healthcare system to the brink, driving many out of the workforce, and dashing what was just a few short months ago a booming economy. And, as the saying goes, unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures.

To address the staggering job losses in Massachusetts, in late March, the commonwealth's attorney general issued emergency regulations to provide residents with relief from certain collection-related activities.

Massachusetts has two debt collection regulatory schemes. One (under the administrative authority of the Division of Banks) requires the licensure and regulates the conduct of third-party debt collectors, and the other (issued by the attorney general) regulates the conduct (but does not require the licensure) of creditors collecting their own debts.

The emergency regulations, effective immediately upon their issuance, bridge these two schemes. Some of the limitations found in the emergency regulations apply specifically to "debt collectors" (defined in a manner similar, but not identical, to how that term is defined in the Division of Banks' third-party debt collector regulations), while others also apply to "creditors."

The emergency regulations expressly prohibit certain actions undertaken by both creditors and debt collectors, including:

The emphasis on "threatening to initiate" repossession is not found in the emergency regulations. However, I have added it here as a bookmark to be returned to later.

The emergency regulations also make it an unfair and/or deceptive act or practice for a debt collector to initiate any live or prerecorded communication via telephone, except if the debt collector is responding to a request from the debtor to be called or if the sole purpose of the call is to inform the debtor of a rescheduled court appearance or to discuss a mutually convenient date for a rescheduled court appearance.

There are limitations on these prohibitions. For one, the prohibitions do not apply to mortgage debt. Second, the emergency regulations only apply to the collection of consumer-purpose debt. Finally, the emergency regulations sunset on the earlier of 90 days from the effective date of the regulations (which would be in late June) or 30 days after the termination of the current pandemic state of emergency.

Because the emergency regulations were issued quickly and without the benefit of public comment, they left many questions unanswered. The attorney general rectified this problem roughly a week after the passage of the emergency regulations by issuing a Frequently Asked Questions document. For auto finance creditors, there is a relatively important clarification lurking in these FAQs.

And it is here that I return to the notion (emphasized earlier) that not only is the repossession of a motor vehicle prohibited while the emergency regulations are effective, but so too is the initiation of a threat to do so. It is this concept on which the following question and answer are premised:

Question: Do the Emergency Regulations require creditors to halt all activity relative to the repossession of a vehicle?

Answer: Yes. Under 940 CMR 35.03(1)(c), a creditor may not initiate, threaten to initiate or act upon the repossession of a vehicle. Calls, emails or letters stating an intention to repossess a vehicle would likely constitute a "[threat] to initiate or act upon any legal or equitable remedy for the repossession of any vehicle" in violation of 940 CMR 35.03(1)(c).

This particular answer is among the thornier traps for the unwary in the emergency regulations. As a practical matter, it requires both creditors and debt collectors to review all communications with debtors to determine if they directly or indirectly reference repossession of the vehicle as a potential action and to table any such communications while the emergency regulations remain effective.

The final stop on the journey of the emergency regulations is, unsurprisingly, litigation. Shortly after their passage, the emergency regulations were challenged by a trade association for the credit and collection industry. This litigation has resulted, to date, in the federal district court for Massachusetts issuing a temporary restraining order regarding certain aspects of the emergency regulations. Under the TRO, the Massachusetts attorney general is prohibited from enforcing:

While the TRO was certainly helpful in terms of its clarification of the reach of the emergency regulations, there are several considerations that the financial services industry should keep in mind when developing compliance plans.

For one, the TRO is not a silver bullet, and it does not mean that all of the emergency regulations are on hold. For auto finance creditors, this is especially true with regard to the limitations on repossessing (or threatening to repossess) a vehicle. Although the TRO means that a debt collector cannot be prevented from going to court, Massachusetts provides a right of self-help (i.e., non-judicial) repossession if parties comply with the appropriate notification and cure rights. Self-help repossession is not within the relief granted by the TRO and, at the moment, remains prohibited for both creditors and debt collectors.

There is also something of a definitional puzzle caused by the wording of the court order. Specifically, while the TRO prohibits the attorney general from enforcing the emergency regulations against "debt collectors," it does not appear to provide similar relief to "creditors," as that term is defined in the emergency regulations. Whether this difference between creditors and debt collectors results in varying degrees of comfort in the industry remains to be seen.

Coupled with these drafting considerations, the nature of the TRO is just that - it's temporary and remains in place only until the final adjudication of the underlying suit. The court could ultimately decide that the emergency regulations are proper and lift the TRO, thereby allowing the Massachusetts attorney general to enforce the emergency regulations as initially drafted.

Moreover, even if the emergency regulations are overturned (either in whole or in part), the Massachusetts attorney general has a number of other consumer protection arrows in her quiver. Among them are an expansive unfair and deceptive acts and practices statute and a perhaps compelling argument that the bar for what constitutes "unfair, deceptive, or abusive conduct" should be lower in the face of a worldwide pandemic.

Unsurprisingly, the end result is a confusing mosaic of requirements cobbled together from three separate components - emergency regulations intended to provide relief from certain collection activities in the face of a 100-year pandemic, FAQs to provide clarity on these requirements, and a lawsuit that temporarily halts enforcement of portions of the newly minted rules - set against the backdrop of a regulatory environment that often holds the feet of the financial services industry to the fire to address alleged noncompliant behavior. Creditors and debt collectors alike will need to proceed with caution as they navigate these waters. Unprecedented times, indeed.

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COVID-19 Debt Collection in Massachusetts: A Story in Three Parts - JD Supra