usatoday--2020-07-02--Hurricane fallout creates financial ruin for Puerto Rico's seniors with reverse mortgages

Almost one in four reverse mortgage loans in Puerto Rico failed from 2014 to 2018 over technical snags .
Kevin Crowe/USA TODAY SAN JUAN – Reverse mortgages are failing at nearly double the U.S. national average in Puerto Rico , a problem magnified on the island by sliding property values , lenders ’ responses after natural disasters and unique challenges ranging from spotty mail service to the lack of some loan materials in Spanish .
Across the United States , the loans – which allow seniors to draw down equity in their homes – are falling into default at unprecedented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Great Recession , when brokers wrote the most loans in the program ’ s history .
An analysis by USA TODAY and the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo found waves of reverse mortgages headed to foreclosure in Puerto Rico for reasons other than death , the natural way the loans are supposed to end .
Almost one in four reverse mortgage loans failed from 2014 to 2018 over technical snags , according to the Government Accountability Office .
Totals from 2019 compiled by the island 's office for financial institutions suggests an even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year 's reverse mortgage foreclosures in 2019 were the result of tax defaults , insurance issues or occupancy problems .
Across the U.S. , about one in seven loans met the same fate during those years , the USA TODAY analysis found .
The work was done in partnership with Grand Valley State University in Michigan with support from the McGraw Center for Business Journalism and the Economic Hardship Reporting Project .
Each of the 1,617 foreclosures last year , and hundreds before them , represents a reverse mortgage loan that did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stable housing as seniors age .
Nearly 70 % of homes in Puerto Rico are occupied by their owners – far above the U.S. national average – creating a large potential market for reverse mortgages .
In some parts of the island , including communities ringing San Juan , loan brokers wrote new loans at four times the rate of the entire U.S. San Juan-based Moneyhouse dominated the reverse mortgage market there since 2007 and wrote nearly 4,300 of the island ’ s 10,800 loans through the end of last year .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radio and television ads that entice seniors with the prospect of staving off monthly payments to better enjoy their retirement .
After seeing one of those TV spots featuring his favorite singer , José Sajiún Soto , 82 , took out a reverse mortgage in 2013 for his home in San Juan ’ s Las Monjas neighborhood .
Today , he regrets it , and he acknowledges he didn ’ t read all the fine print .
Moneyhouse has built years of local trust with customers , but , like other lenders , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market to U.S.-based servicers .
Soto ’ s daughter , Ramona , says she routinely has to help her father deal with paperwork with the loan ’ s current Michigan-based servicer , Celink , that arrive in a jumble of English and Spanish threatening default for failure to pay homeowners insurance .
Celink did not respond to a request for comment .
“ They have said like 20 times that something was not paid and I would send them back evidence that it was paid and a copy of the check , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a problem that they don ’ t have an office here.
” Some loans issued by Moneyhouse to Puerto Rico residents included extra service charges significantly higher than in other parts of the country , too , according to an analysis of 2008 and 2009 federal loan data .
Those fees were discontinued by the bank and others as lenders and servicers became more efficient , a bank spokesman said .
Company president and CEO David Levis defended the loans as “ a godsend ” for seniors who didn ’ t have enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their bills .
But seniors on the island face unique challenges , said Tara Twomey , an attorney with the National Consumer Law Center who trains attorneys there on defending clients against foreclosure .
A reverse mortgage failure can begin with something as basic as the island ’ s postal delivery , which in some areas relies on building names instead of traditional addresses .
“ The system with reverse mortgages is not set up for success here , ” Twomey said .
`` Seniors face compounding challenges , with a complicated product @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disaster and a lagging economy.
” Reverse mortgages require that borrowers must live in their home , keep the home maintained and stay current with taxes and hazard insurance – all things thrown into disarray by a hurricane .
Twomey said Puerto Rico seniors ran into trouble with the insurance requirement after hurricanes , particularly with Hurricane Maria , which damaged 472,000 homes in 2017 .
“ If your house is not habitable because of Maria and your loan requires it be insured while your claims for repair are pending , who ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you out ?
” Twomey asked .
The Federal Housing Authority , which backs the loans , issued a foreclosure moratorium for hurricane victims in 2017 .
But that freeze expired in 2018 after two extensions .
Wall Street investors and banks started filing foreclosure claims almost immediately .
María Isabel Menéndez Soto , 70 , lives in a quiet neighborhood in Arecibo on Puerto Rico ’ s northern coast .
Last year , she nearly lost her small two-story home .
The culprit wasn ’ t the flooding from Maria ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside her washer/dryer during the hurricane .
It was the reverse mortgage Menéndez Soto had obtained in 2012 .
She did not discover until last September , via a 10-day eviction letter , that her loan was not only in default but already had gone through a federal foreclosure proceeding and been sold at auction .
The foreclosure was triggered by an allegation that Menéndez Soto was behind on her hazard insurance .
The proceedings had been frozen during the Maria foreclosure moratorium , until September 2018 .
New Jersey-based Reverse Mortgage Funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the foreclosure , saying Menéndez Soto owed about $ 6,500 on her insurance .
Representatives from both companies failed to respond to questions about the case .
Menéndez Soto said a marshal from the courts showed up with an eviction notice , a moment she described as crippling .
“ I hid in the room , closed the door and threw myself on my knees , and I said : ‘ God , this is in your hands .
I do not know what comes next.
’ ” She contacted lawyer friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Legales , which focuses on low-income help .
Attorney Rafael Rodríguez Roselló untangled the situation , identifying various administrative errors and proving that Menéndez Soto had correctly paid for her insurance .
He unwound the sale of her property and she says she paid $ 3,700 to get back on track .
Not all of Rodríguez Roselló ’ s clients are so lucky .
In recent years , as the reverse mortgage market has consolidated to a few major players , lenders have sold off their mortgages – which can lead to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ names holding borrowers ’ paperwork .
Rodríguez Roselló said all of his cases involve mortgages that have been sold at least once .
“ They will sell to a company in the U.S. , and that ’ s where the problems begin : communication , language barriers , lack of documents or evidence , ” he said .
The reverse mortgage requirement that borrowers keep current with local property taxes conflicts with special tax exemptions in Puerto Rico .
Thousands on the island do not pay taxes under agreements such as homestead tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becoming unaffordable for low-income , senior or disabled residents .
When new servicers aren ’ t aware of those arrangements , the consequences can be devastating .
That ’ s what happened to Luis Nieves , 80 , and Ada Guzmán , 75 , who took out a reverse mortgage in 2009 on the home they ’ ve now lived in for 55 years in Carolina , on Puerto Rico 's northeast coast .
Under threat of foreclosure , they had to prove several times to their services , JB Nutter , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , unbeknownst to Nieves and Guzmán , their insurance company stopped sending proof of their policy to the Kansas City-based firm .
In 2014 , JB Nutter filed for foreclosure of their house , citing lack of insurance .
The couple was able to provide proof they had a policy but unable to get receipts showing the payments as required by the company .
Representatives from JB Nutter did not respond to questions from USA TODAY .
“ I cried , ” Luis Nieves said .
“ I couldn ’ t sleep , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to move.
” The case stretched out for five years .
The couple prepared to move out of their home and put down a $ 1,000 deposit on a rental property .
When Hurricane Maria wrecked the rental property , and the owner kept half of their deposit , they decided to fight the foreclosure instead .
After a string of pro bono attorneys could not resolve the case , Rodgríguez Roselló , also working for free , took over in May 2019 .
He stopped the foreclosure .
But another problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single-story cement home , is among the 7,100 on the island with active reverse mortgage loans hit by lagging property values .
The accruing interest and fees are pushing the mortgage balance close to what the couple might be able to recoup in a sale – a danger zone for reverse mortgages .
The median list price in their neighborhood is about $ 110,000 .
They are better off than many .
Records from the commonwealth ’ s financial regulator show that many current reverse mortgage loans on the island included the projection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % a year .
Instead , they have slid by about 4 % .
That gap won ’ t hurt borrowers in the short term .
But it will have an impact when borrowers or their heirs try to pay off a loan balance to keep the home .
It also will add to pressure on the Federal Housing Administration ’ s mortgage insurance fund , which pays lenders the difference between ballooning loan balances and actual market values after borrowers die .
With their high financing costs upfront and risks of foreclosure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposition for Puerto Rico ’ s seniors , said Rogelio Cardona , an accounting professor at the University of Puerto Rico , Río Piedras .
He and co-researcher Karen Castro-González advocate for less expensive alternatives like refinancing at a lower interest rate or downsizing by selling the home and moving to a smaller house or apartment .
Problems with reverse mortgages often crop up since many are sold to U.S.-based financial institutions that send warning letters in English and seek legal judgements in San Juan ’ s federal courthouse , “ where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expensive and all cases are processed faster than in the local courts , ” Cardona said .
“ Any senior who decides to obtain a reverse mortgage must read carefully all the financing documents , or have a trusted family friend or attorney do so , and ask a lot of questions , ” Cardona said .
Moneyhouse acknowledges that reverse mortgages aren ’ t a solution for all Puerto Ricans .
Levis said his company does use bilingual U.S.-based servicers , including Reverse Mortgage Solutions in Houston .
He acknowledged problems with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second and third notices , as well as phone calls , before a default action begins .
But he criticized the federal government ’ s response to a surge in foreclosures for closing the door to too many seniors seeking the loans .
Gradually over the past five years , the HUD has ramped up financial requirements for seniors , lowered how much could be borrowed and added some mandatory set-asides nationwide – making the product less appealing for many .
Levis acknowledged HUD had to adjust the program to address the spike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but said the government overcorrected by ratcheting down principal limits and adding the set-aside funds .
The set-aside withholds some reverse mortgage proceeds to help cover taxes and insurance charges throughout the life of the loan , ensuring a senior won ’ t forget and miss an important payment that could lead to foreclosure .
“ The changes they made were massive – but the issues we face in Puerto Rico are a lot different than California and a lot different than Philadelphia , ” Levis said .
Differences on the island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lower home values and cultural habits of saving money , he said .
Today , some of Puerto Rico 's seniors can borrow a maximum of $ 15,000 on their $ 100,000 home because of the new federal policies .
What once might have seemed enticing is less so .
Moneyhouse used to average 50 to 60 reverse mortgage loans a month , with spikes up to 120 .
In the first quarter this year , the company closed just four .
This report was produced in partnership with Grand Valley State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Centro de Periodismo Investigativo from the McGraw Center for Business Journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York and the Economic Hardship Reporting Project .

Nick Penzenstadler and Kevin Crowe, USA TODAY; Luis J. Valentín Ortiz, Centro de Periodismo Investigativo; and Jeff Kelly Lowenstein, Grand Valley State University

Almost one in four reverse mortgage loans in Puerto Rico failed from 2014 to 2018 over technical snags. Alberto Bartholomei/For USA TODAY
Lee una historia en español: Por el Centro de Periodismo Investigativo
SAN JUAN – Reverse mortgages are failing at nearly double the U.S. national average in Puerto Rico, a problem magnified on the island by sliding property values, lenders’ responses after natural disasters and unique challenges ranging from spotty mail service to the lack of some loan materials in Spanish.
Across the United States, the loans – which allow seniors to draw down equity in their homes – are falling into default at unprecedented rates a decade after the onset of the Great Recession, when brokers wrote the most loans in the program’s history.
An analysis by USA TODAY and the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo found waves of reverse mortgages headed to foreclosure in Puerto Rico for reasons other than death, the natural way the loans are supposed to end. Almost one in four reverse mortgage loans failed from 2014 to 2018 over technical snags, according to the Government Accountability Office.
Totals from 2019 compiled by the island's office for financial institutions suggests an even greater share: 80% of the last year's reverse mortgage foreclosures in 2019 were the result of tax defaults, insurance issues or occupancy problems.
Across the U.S., about one in seven loans met the same fate during those years, the USA TODAY analysis found. The work was done in partnership with Grand Valley State University in Michigan with support from the McGraw Center for Business Journalism and the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.
Each of the 1,617 foreclosures last year, and hundreds before them, represents a reverse mortgage loan that did not deliver on its original promise of stable housing as seniors age.
Nearly 70% of homes in Puerto Rico are occupied by their owners – far above the U.S. national average – creating a large potential market for reverse mortgages. In some parts of the island, including communities ringing San Juan, loan brokers wrote new loans at four times the rate of the entire U.S.
San Juan-based Moneyhouse dominated the reverse mortgage market there since 2007 and wrote nearly 4,300 of the island’s 10,800 loans through the end of last year. The company used a popular salsa singer for radio and television ads that entice seniors with the prospect of staving off monthly payments to better enjoy their retirement.
After seeing one of those TV spots featuring his favorite singer, José Sajiún Soto, 82, took out a reverse mortgage in 2013 for his home in San Juan’s Las Monjas neighborhood. Today, he regrets it, and he acknowledges he didn’t read all the fine print.
Moneyhouse has built years of local trust with customers, but, like other lenders, it sells its loans in the secondary market to U.S.-based servicers.
Soto’s daughter, Ramona, says she routinely has to help her father deal with paperwork with the loan’s current Michigan-based servicer, Celink, that arrive in a jumble of English and Spanish threatening default for failure to pay homeowners insurance. Celink did not respond to a request for comment.
“They have said like 20 times that something was not paid and I would send them back evidence that it was paid and a copy of the check,” Ramona Soto said. “It is a problem that they don’t have an office here.”
Some loans issued by Moneyhouse to Puerto Rico residents included extra service charges significantly higher than in other parts of the country, too, according to an analysis of 2008 and 2009 federal loan data. Those fees were discontinued by the bank and others as lenders and servicers became more efficient, a bank spokesman said.
Company president and CEO David Levis defended the loans as “a godsend” for seniors who didn’t have enough Social Security or pension income to cover their bills.
Many reverse mortgages in Puerto Rico are failing Almost one in four reverse mortgage loans in Puerto Rico failed from 2014 to 2018 over technical snags. USA TODAY
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But seniors on the island face unique challenges, said Tara Twomey, an attorney with the National Consumer Law Center who trains attorneys there on defending clients against foreclosure. A reverse mortgage failure can begin with something as basic as the island’s postal delivery, which in some areas relies on building names instead of traditional addresses.
“The system with reverse mortgages is not set up for success here,” Twomey said. "Seniors face compounding challenges, with a complicated product mixed with a language barrier, natural disaster and a lagging economy.”
Hurricane Maria: A tempest in reverse mortgages
Reverse mortgages require that borrowers must live in their home, keep the home maintained and stay current with taxes and hazard insurance – all things thrown into disarray by a hurricane.
Twomey said Puerto Rico seniors ran into trouble with the insurance requirement after hurricanes, particularly with Hurricane Maria, which damaged 472,000 homes in 2017.
“If your house is not habitable because of Maria and your loan requires it be insured while your claims for repair are pending, who’s going to insure that and help you out?” Twomey asked.
Hurricane Maria damaged 472,000 homes in 2017, complicating reverse mortgage issues. Mario Tama / Getty Images
The Federal Housing Authority, which backs the loans, issued a foreclosure moratorium for hurricane victims in 2017. But that freeze expired in 2018 after two extensions. Wall Street investors and banks started filing foreclosure claims almost immediately.
María Isabel Menéndez Soto, 70, lives in a quiet neighborhood in Arecibo on Puerto Rico’s northern coast. Last year, she nearly lost her small two-story home.
The culprit wasn’t the flooding from Maria’s deluge or the fire that broke out inside her washer/dryer during the hurricane. It was the reverse mortgage Menéndez Soto had obtained in 2012.
Last year, María Isabel Menéndez Soto, 70, nearly lost her house in Arecibo on Puerto Rico’s northern coast. Alberto Bartolomei/For USA TODAY
She did not discover until last September, via a 10-day eviction letter, that her loan was not only in default but already had gone through a federal foreclosure proceeding and been sold at auction.
The foreclosure was triggered by an allegation that Menéndez Soto was behind on her hazard insurance. The proceedings had been frozen during the Maria foreclosure moratorium, until September 2018.
New Jersey-based Reverse Mortgage Funding and Celink, its servicer, filed for the foreclosure, saying Menéndez Soto owed about $6,500 on her insurance. Representatives from both companies failed to respond to questions about the case.
Menéndez Soto said a marshal from the courts showed up with an eviction notice, a moment she described as crippling.
“I hid in the room, closed the door and threw myself on my knees, and I said: ‘God, this is in your hands. I do not know what comes next.’”
María Isabel Menéndez Soto said a marshal from the courts showed up with an eviction notice, a moment she described as crippling. Alberto Bartolomei/For USA TODAY
She contacted lawyer friends who referred her to Puerto Rico Servicios Legales, which focuses on low-income help. Attorney Rafael Rodríguez Roselló untangled the situation, identifying various administrative errors and proving that Menéndez Soto had correctly paid for her insurance. He unwound the sale of her property and she says she paid $3,700 to get back on track.
Not all of Rodríguez Roselló’s clients are so lucky. In recent years, as the reverse mortgage market has consolidated to a few major players, lenders have sold off their mortgages – which can lead to a revolving, and confusing, cast of names holding borrowers’ paperwork.
Rodríguez Roselló said all of his cases involve mortgages that have been sold at least once.
“They will sell to a company in the U.S., and that’s where the problems begin: communication, language barriers, lack of documents or evidence,” he said.
María Isabel Menéndez Soto fought her foreclosure, and won. Alberto Bartolomei/For USA TODAY
Loan companies unaware of special property tax exemptions
The reverse mortgage requirement that borrowers keep current with local property taxes conflicts with special tax exemptions in Puerto Rico.
Thousands on the island do not pay taxes under agreements such as homestead tax exemptions, intended to protect homes from becoming unaffordable for low-income, senior or disabled residents.
When new servicers aren’t aware of those arrangements, the consequences can be devastating.
That’s what happened to Luis Nieves, 80, and Ada Guzmán, 75, who took out a reverse mortgage in 2009 on the home they’ve now lived in for 55 years in Carolina, on Puerto Rico's northeast coast.
Ada Guzmán, 75, took out a reverse mortgage in 2009 on the home she's lived in for 55 years with her husband Luis Nieves, in Carolina, on Puerto Rico's northeast coast. Alberto Bartolomei/For USA TODAY
Under threat of foreclosure, they had to prove several times to their servicer, JB Nutter, that they were exempt from taxes.
Then, unbeknownst to Nieves and Guzmán, their insurance company stopped sending proof of their policy to the Kansas City-based firm. In 2014, JB Nutter filed for foreclosure of their house, citing lack of insurance.
The couple was able to provide proof they had a policy but unable to get receipts showing the payments as required by the company. Representatives from JB Nutter did not respond to questions from USA TODAY.
“I cried,” Luis Nieves said. “I couldn’t sleep, thinking about this, that we would have to move.”
The case stretched out for five years. The couple prepared to move out of their home and put down a $1,000 deposit on a rental property. When Hurricane Maria wrecked the rental property, and the owner kept half of their deposit, they decided to fight the foreclosure instead.
After a string of pro bono attorneys could not resolve the case, Rodgríguez Roselló, also working for free, took over in May 2019. He stopped the foreclosure.
Attorney Rafael Rodríguez Roselló works pro bono to help seniors untangle reverse mortgage problems. Alberto Bartolomei/For USA TODAY
But another problem looms: The property, a modest single-story cement home, is among the 7,100 on the island with active reverse mortgage loans hit by lagging property values. The accruing interest and fees are pushing the mortgage balance close to what the couple might be able to recoup in a sale – a danger zone for reverse mortgages. The median list price in their neighborhood is about $110,000.
They are better off than many.
Records from the commonwealth’s financial regulator show that many current reverse mortgage loans on the island included the projection that home values would rise about 6% a year. Instead, they have slid by about 4%.
That gap won’t hurt borrowers in the short term. But it will have an impact when borrowers or their heirs try to pay off a loan balance to keep the home. It also will add to pressure on the Federal Housing Administration’s mortgage insurance fund, which pays lenders the difference between ballooning loan balances and actual market values after borrowers die.
With their high financing costs upfront and risks of foreclosure, reverse mortgages are not a good proposition for Puerto Rico’s seniors, said Rogelio Cardona, an accounting professor at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras.
He and co-researcher Karen Castro-González advocate for less expensive alternatives like refinancing at a lower interest rate or downsizing by selling the home and moving to a smaller house or apartment.
Problems with reverse mortgages often crop up since many are sold to U.S.-based financial institutions that send warning letters in English and seek legal judgements in San Juan’s federal courthouse, “where the proceedings are in English, are more expensive and all cases are processed faster than in the local courts,” Cardona said.
“Any senior who decides to obtain a reverse mortgage must read carefully all the financing documents, or have a trusted family friend or attorney do so, and ask a lot of questions,” Cardona said.
Inconsistent mail delivery is one wrinkle reverse mortgages borrowers face in Puerto Rico. Alberto Bartolomei/For USA TODAY
Reverse mortgage reforms gut market in Puerto Rico
Moneyhouse acknowledges that reverse mortgages aren’t a solution for all Puerto Ricans.
Levis said his company does use bilingual U.S.-based servicers, including Reverse Mortgage Solutions in Houston. He acknowledged problems with inconsistent mail delivery but said borrowers receive second and third notices, as well as phone calls, before a default action begins.
But he criticized the federal government’s response to a surge in foreclosures for closing the door to too many seniors seeking the loans.
Gradually over the past five years, the HUD has ramped up financial requirements for seniors, lowered how much could be borrowed and added some mandatory set-asides nationwide – making the product less appealing for many.
Moneyhouse is based in the Puerta la Tierra neighborhood of San Juan. Cristina Martinez Mattei, Centro de Periodismo Investigativo
Levis acknowledged HUD had to adjust the program to address the spike in foreclosures, including in Puerto Rico, but said the government overcorrected by ratcheting down principal limits and adding the set-aside funds.
The set-aside withholds some reverse mortgage proceeds to help cover taxes and insurance charges throughout the life of the loan, ensuring a senior won’t forget and miss an important payment that could lead to foreclosure.
“The changes they made were massive – but the issues we face in Puerto Rico are a lot different than California and a lot different than Philadelphia,” Levis said.
Differences on the island range from a lower cost of living, lower home values and cultural habits of saving money, he said.
Today, some of Puerto Rico's seniors can borrow a maximum of $15,000 on their $100,000 home because of the new federal policies. What once might have seemed enticing is less so.
Moneyhouse used to average 50 to 60 reverse mortgage loans a month, with spikes up to 120. In the first quarter this year, the company closed just four.
This report was produced in partnership with Grand Valley State University, with financial support for the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo from the McGraw Center for Business Journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York and the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.


usatoday--2020-07-02--'I'm ready to start with a career': 2020 graduates face uncertain job market with hope

NASHVILLE , Tenn. — If everything had gone according to plan , Missy Wood thought she 'd have a job helping at-risk youths by now .
Wood , a recent graduate of Middle Tennessee State University , saw her internship with Court-Appointed Special Advocates end abruptly in March as the COVID-19 pandemic took root in Tennessee .
She started applying for jobs with the Department of Children 's Services and similar organizations in April .
By the time she graduated in May , new job postings for her chosen career had all but disappeared .
Wood is one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face a turbulent job market amid the novel coronavirus pandemic .
More than 47 million Americans have filed jobless benefit claims since the middle of March , according to the Labor Department .
Now , she 's babysitting for a Murfreesboro-area family twice a week as she continues to search for full-time work .
`` I 'm just sitting and waiting , and it 's frustrating because I took the five years and got a degree , and I 'm ready to start with a career , '' Wood said .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' In March , businesses across the country temporarily closed their doors — some by choice and some due to state mandates — in an effort to prevent the virus ' spread from overwhelming hospital systems .
The economic impact of these closures was swift and severe .
While the nation experienced an unexpected uptick in jobs when roughly 2.5 million positions were added in May , economists expect the unemployment rate to stay high , hovering around 10 % by the end of the year .
Vincent Phamvan , owner of recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no stranger to the challenges of starting a career in a withering economy , having graduated from college during a recession in 2009 .
`` I think even for the Class of 2020 , it 's worse than the Class of 2009 , '' Phamvan told The Tennessean in a phone interview .
`` The dichotomy of going to college in one of the best economies and then months before graduation have it turn into one of the worst economic crises in decades — I do n't think anybody could have expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The rising number of unemployed Americans was n't the only blow for college students looking to join the labor market .
Internships , a typical gateway for college students and entry-level workers to gain experience in their chosen field , also were hit hard — between March 1 and April 9 , the volume of new internships posted on LinkedIn 's job listing platform dropped by about 60 % , according to the company .
Devin Wilkinson , a junior at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville , was slated for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Knoxville office , where he would focus on portfolio and relationship management .
Due to COVID-19 , the internship became a remote position working for an office based in Minneapolis .
Wilkinson , a finance major , said his career plans have n't changed , and he views the shift as a learning experience and an opportunity to build his virtual communication skills .
`` I was one of the fortunate ones that ( my internship ) did n't get canceled , '' he said in a video interview .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internships canceled . ''
In 2019 , the top 10 industries for new graduates had more than 3.3 million open entry-level positions posted on LinkedIn 's job boards , according to a guide published for new graduates in May 2019 .
LinkedIn 's 2020 guide for graduates shows more than 1.5 million open postings for entry-level jobs and more than 65,000 postings for internships in the United States .
Some industries have been bolstered by the pandemic .
This year there is `` increased demand from health care and retail companies who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines of coronavirus , '' Blake Barnes , author of LinkedIn 's 2020 guide , told The Tennessean .
`` And as companies are pivoting to fully remote teams , we ’ re also seeing demand for jobs that can be done from home , such as systems engineers and developers . ''
The data does leave questions .
It 's not clear how much of the apparent year-to-year decrease in overall job listings can be attributed to the economic impact of the pandemic versus other factors , and it 's not clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and internships that are actively being filled by the companies that post them .
Wood wonders what job listings will look like as more opportunities begin to open back up , and she 's beginning to consider applying for positions outside of her career path .
Increased competition on job boards is a palpable concern .
`` There 's a lot of us out here that are looking for jobs , '' Wood said .
`` That 's kind of scary . ''
Phamvan , the owner of Vyten , said the percentage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase in the next few years — a ripple effect of the pandemic .
But he does n't want this prospect to discourage recent graduates from continuing their job search and bettering themselves .
Phamvan went to work at Best Buy after college , making $ 12.50 an hour , a near 50 % pay cut from his high school job .
At the time , he said , the challenges he faced felt like `` the end of the world . ''
'The world decided to pause ' : New college grad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Looking back on it 10 years later , I made it through it , and it got better , '' he said .
`` It got better for everybody else that I know as well .
The doctors still became doctors .
The lawyers still became lawyers .
The teachers are teaching .
It just was on an adjusted time frame , but everybody eventually made it through it . ''
This message was a focus of Vyten 's first conference , a virtual event called the Hope Summit that took place in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joined the online career coaching conference , including roughly 680 people ages 18 to 24 , according to data collected by Vyten .
The largest group in attendance fell in the 25 to 34 age bracket , with roughly 1,400 in attendance .
Of the attendees , 16 % said they felt confident or very confident that they would be able to find a `` good '' job within a few months , according to a survey conducted during the conference .
About 37 % of the attendees reported applying for more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % said they have applied for more than 10 .
Some students and recent graduates have seen start dates postponed , internships canceled and job offers rescinded , according to Mark McCloud , director of career planning and development for the University of Tennessee , Martin , and Stephanie Kit , director of the Center for Career Development at UT Knoxville .
College career centers quickly transitioned to offering virtual career coaching , job search help and opportunities to develop more skills .
McCloud and Kit are encouraging students to continue to network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a key to `` staying in the game . ''
`` I would say the biggest message of all is that people need to be applying , '' Kit said .
`` There are industries and employers that are actually doing well right now , and growing and hiring .
So it may represent sometimes a shift in goals or plans for your first job , but there are still opportunities out there to be had . ''
Brooks Leftwich graduated from UT Knoxville in May with a bachelor 's degree in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave for Taiwan in August to teach English to elementary school students as part of the Fulbright program , but travel restrictions pushed back those plans until at least January .
He turned down a job opportunity in sales to accept the Fulbright position , and March was rife with uncertainty about his immediate future .
Now he 's continuing to do data analytics work for UT Knoxville , which kept on many of its student employees through the summer .
If he 's unable to find a position at the university in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volunteer opportunities related to children 's programs at the Knoxville Zoo or The Muse Knoxville to help him prepare for his eventual teaching role .
Leftwich is also studying for the GRE graduate school entry exam and keeping connections with the friends he made in college .
`` I 'm really just looking out for the next opportunities that are coming up , because you never know what a new season can bring , '' he said .
Leftwich , Wood and Wilkinson have at least one thing in common : an overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some people kind of have gone into hibernation mode , I guess , and not really taken a lot of action , '' Wilkinson said .
`` But I 've also seen people spending the time to learn a new skill over the summer if their internship was canceled or networking . ''
McCloud thinks students and recent graduates , many of whom are well-versed in technology , are uniquely qualified for work-from-home positions and social media roles .
Kit said she 's seen more students considering graduate school , and UT Knoxville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enrollment , which she said can be a positive thing .
Coronavirus , unemployment , DACA : A 'Dreamer ' graduates into an especially uncertain world Those whose plans have changed can shift their mindsets and keep moving forward , she said .
If an internship opportunity was lost , one might look for a micro-internship or online opportunities , for example .
Phamvan said job seekers should consider if a particular role fits their passions and skills instead of what they originally imagined themselves doing .
`` In the coming year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this global pandemic impacted anybody 's ideas for career goals in general , '' Kit said .
`` I 'm wondering if people are getting interested in epidemiology or public health because of this , or maybe they 're seeing risks in other ways that makes them not want to go into a certain ( field ) . ''
Among the career coaches ' advice , the common threads are preparation and faith , so when employment opportunities come , the newest additions to the American workforce will be prepared .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Wood said .
`` I 'm so excited .
( I spent ) these past five years working toward child development and family studies , and I 'm just so ready for that . ''

Cassandra Stephenson, Nashville Tennessean

'I'm ready to start with a career': 2020 graduates face uncertain job market with hope
Show Caption Hide Caption 2020 MTSU grad babysits while looking for her career Recent MTSU grad babysits while looking for a job in her chosen field Helen Comer, Murfreesboro
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – If everything had gone according to plan, Missy Wood thought she'd have a job helping at-risk youths by now.
Wood, a recent graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, saw her internship with Court-Appointed Special Advocates end abruptly in March as the COVID-19 pandemic took root in Tennessee. She started applying for jobs with the Department of Children's Services and similar organizations in April.
By the time she graduated in May, new job postings for her chosen career had all but disappeared.
Wood is one of the thousands of graduates across the nation who face a turbulent job market amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. More than 47 million Americans have filed jobless benefit claims since the middle of March, according to the Labor Department.
Now, she's babysitting for a Murfreesboro-area family twice a week as she continues to search for full-time work.
"I'm just sitting and waiting, and it's frustrating because I took the five years and got a degree, and I'm ready to start with a career," Wood said. "I'm just on hold right now."
In March, businesses across the country temporarily closed their doors – some by choice and some due to state mandates – in an effort to prevent the virus' spread from overwhelming hospital systems.
The economic impact of these closures was swift and severe. While the nation experienced an unexpected uptick in jobs when roughly 2.5 million positions were added in May, economists expect the unemployment rate to stay high, hovering around 10% by the end of the year.
Vincent Phamvan, the owner of recently-launched Nashville career coaching company Vyten, is no stranger to the challenges of starting a career in a withering economy, having graduated from college during a recession in 2009.
"I think even for the Class of 2020, it's worse than the Class of 2009," Phamvan told The Tennessean in a phone interview. "The dichotomy of going to college in one of the best economies and then months before graduation have it turn into one of the worst economic crises in decades – I don't think anybody could have expected that type of an extreme change."
'Kind of scary'
The rising number of unemployed Americans wasn't the only blow for college students looking to join the labor market. Internships, a typical gateway for college students and entry-level workers to gain experience in their chosen field, also were hit hard – between March 1 and April 9, the volume of new internships posted on LinkedIn's job listing platform dropped by about 60%, according to the company.
Devin Wilkinson, a junior at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, was slated for an internship with a bank holding company in a Knoxville office, where he would focus on portfolio and relationship management. Due to COVID-19, the internship became a remote position working for an office based in Minneapolis.
Wilkinson, a finance major, said his career plans haven't changed, and he views the shift as a learning experience and an opportunity to build his virtual communication skills.
"I was one of the fortunate ones that (my internship) didn't get canceled," he said in a video interview. "I know a lot of people had their internships canceled."
In 2019, the top 10 industries for new graduates had more than 3.3 million open entry-level positions posted on LinkedIn's job boards, according to a guide published for new graduates in May 2019. LinkedIn's 2020 guide for graduates shows more than 1.5 million open postings for entry-level jobs and more than 65,000 postings for internships in the United States.
Some industries have been bolstered by the pandemic.
This year there is "increased demand from health care and retail companies who are hiring workers to be on the front lines of coronavirus," Blake Barnes, author of LinkedIn's 2020 guide, told The Tennessean. "And as companies are pivoting to fully-remote teams, we’re also seeing demand for jobs that can be done from home, such as systems engineers and developers."
The data does leave questions. It's not clear how much of the apparent year-to-year decrease in overall job listings can be attributed to the economic impact of the pandemic versus other factors, and it's not clear how many of these listings represent jobs and internships that are actively being filled by the companies that post them.
Wood wonders what job listings will look like as more opportunities begin to open back up, and she's beginning to consider applying for positions outside of her career path. Increased competition on job boards is a palpable concern.
"There's a lot of us out here that are looking for jobs," Wood said. "That's kind of scary."
Adapting to changing opportunities
Phamvan, the owner of Vyten, said the percentage of underemployed college graduates is likely to increase in the next few years – a ripple effect of the pandemic. But he doesn't want this prospect to discourage recent graduates from continuing their job search and bettering themselves.
Phamvan went to work at Best Buy after college, making $12.50 an hour, a near 50% pay cut from his high school job. At the time, he said, the challenges he faced felt like "the end of the world."
'The world decided to pause': New college grad finds work in COVID-19 homeless shelter
"Looking back on it 10 years later, I made it through it, and it got better," he said. "It got better for everybody else that I know as well. The doctors still became doctors. The lawyers still became lawyers. The teachers are teaching. It just was on an adjusted time frame, but everybody eventually made it through it."
This message was a focus of Vyten's first conference, a virtual event called the Hope Summit that took place in early May.
More than 6,000 people joined the online career coaching conference, including roughly 680 people ages 18 to 24, according to data collected by Vyten. The largest group in attendance fell in the 25 to 34 age bracket, with roughly 1,400 in attendance.
Of the attendees, 16% said they felt confident or very confident that they would be able to find a "good" job within a few months, according to a survey conducted during the conference. About 37% of the attendees reported applying for more than 25 jobs this year, and 60% said they have applied for more than 10.
Some students and recent graduates have seen start dates postponed, internships canceled and job offers rescinded, according to Mark McCloud, director of career planning and development for the University of Tennessee, Martin, and Stephanie Kit, director of the Center for Career Development at UT Knoxville.
College career centers quickly transitioned to offering virtual career coaching, job search help and opportunities to develop more skills. McCloud and Kit are encouraging students to continue to network with their colleagues and potential employers virtually – a key to "staying in the game."
"I would say the biggest message of all is that people need to be applying," Kit said. "There are industries and employers that are actually doing well right now, and growing and hiring. So it may represent sometimes a shift in goals or plans for your first job, but there are still opportunities out there to be had."
Brooks Leftwich graduated from UT Knoxville in May with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
He was supposed to leave for Taiwan in August to teach English to elementary school students as part of the Fulbright program but travel restrictions pushed back those plans until at least January. He turned down a job opportunity in sales to accept the Fulbright position, and March was rife with uncertainty about his immediate future.
Now he's continuing to do data analytics work for UT Knoxville, which kept on many of its student employees through the summer. If he's unable to find a position at the university in the fall, he plans to explore volunteer opportunities related to children's programs at the Knoxville Zoo or The Muse Knoxville to help him prepare for his eventual teaching role.
Leftwich is also studying for the GRE graduate school entry exam and keeping connections with the friends he made in college.
"I'm really just looking out for the next opportunities that are coming up because you never know what a new season can bring," he said.
Optimism amid uncertainty
Leftwich, Wood and Wilkinson have at least one thing in common: an overall hopeful attitude about their future.
Wilkinson offered a simple message: "Don't give up."
"Some people kind of have gone into hibernation mode, I guess, and not really taken a lot of action," Wilkinson said. "But I've also seen people spending the time to learn a new skill over the summer if their internship was canceled or networking."
McCloud thinks students and recent graduates, many of whom are well-versed in technology, are uniquely qualified for work-from-home positions and social media roles.
Kit said she's seen more students considering graduate school, and UT Knoxville has seen an increase in summer school enrollment, which she said can be a positive thing.
Coronavirus, unemployment, DACA: A 'Dreamer' graduates into an especially uncertain world
Those whose plans have changed can shift their mindsets and keep moving forward, she said. If an internship opportunity was lost, one might look for a micro-internship or online opportunities, for example.
Phamvan said job seekers should consider if a particular role fits their passions and skills instead of what they originally imagined themselves doing.
"In the coming year, it will be interesting to see if this global pandemic impacted anybody's ideas for career goals in general," Kit said. "I'm wondering if people are getting interested in epidemiology or public health because of this, or maybe they're seeing risks in other ways that make them not want to go into a certain (field)."
Among the career coaches' advice, the common threads are preparation and faith, so when employment opportunities come, the newest additions to the American workforce will be prepared.
"I'm ready to start my career," Wood said. "I'm so excited. (I spent) these past five years working toward child development and family studies, and I'm just so ready for that."


usatoday--2020-07-02--Multiple FC Dallas players test positive for coronavirus after arriving in Orlando

Since arriving in Orlando for the MLS is Back tournament , multiple members of FC Dallas have tested positive for COVID-19 .
The team revealed on Wednesday that six members of FC Dallas have tested positive for coronavirus .
On Wednesday night , multiple reports indicated that three more players and a coach also tested positive for coronavirus , bringing the team total to nine players with positive tests .
The Athletic was the first to report this news .
The team said all players , coaches and staff members had tested negative before leaving Dallas on Saturday .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Walt Disney World resort – where the tournament is set to begin on July 8 – two players tested positive on Saturday , followed by more this week .
As a result , all members of the club delegation `` will remain quarantined in their hotel rooms pending the results of further COVID-19 testing , '' the team said .
The identities of the players who have tested positive have not been made public .
All 26 Major League Soccer teams are staying at the Disney 's Swan and Dolphin resort as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season , which was interrupted in March by the coronavirus pandemic .
FC Dallas ' opening game in the MLS is Back Tournament is July 9 against the Vancouver Whitecaps .
Though , the team 's status for the tournament is now in jeopardy .
The Orlando Pride women 's professional soccer team pulled out of the NWSL 's Challenge Cup after six players tested positive for COVID-19 .
As will be the case later this month when the NBA arrives to resume its season , team members are not allowed to leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the nearby ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex .

Multiple FC Dallas players test positive for coronavirus after arriving in Orlando
Show Caption Hide Caption Here's how the NBA bubble looks for players at Disney World USA TODAY Sports' Mark Medina breaks down the details of the NBA bubble in Orlando. USA TODAY
Since arriving in Orlando for the MLS is Back tournament, multiple members of FC Dallas have tested positive for COVID-19.
The team revealed on Wednesday that six members of FC Dallas have tested positive for coronavirus. On Wednesday night, multiple reports indicated that three more players and a coach also tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the team total to nine players with positive tests. The Athletic was the first to report this news.
The team said all players, coaches and staff members had tested negative before leaving Dallas on Saturday. But as part of the screening process at the Walt Disney World resort – where the tournament is set to begin on July 8 – two players tested positive on Saturday, followed by more this week.
As a result, all members of the club delegation "will remain quarantined in their hotel rooms pending the results of further COVID-19 testing," the team said.
The identities of the players who have tested positive have not been made public.
All 26 Major League Soccer teams are staying at the Disney's Swan and Dolphin resort as the league prepares to resume its regular season, which was interrupted in March by the coronavirus pandemic.
FC Dallas' opening game in the MLS is Back Tournament is July 9 against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Though, the team's status for the tournament is now in jeopardy. The Orlando Pride women's professional soccer team pulled out of the NWSL's Challenge Cup after six players tested positive for COVID-19.
As will be the case later this month when the NBA arrives to resume its season, team members are not allowed to leave "the bubble" except for practices at the nearby ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.


usatoday--2020-07-02--Amazon driver in Detroit quits job on Twitter, leaves package-filled van with keys in the ignition.

In a tweet that has gone viral , a 22-year-old Amazon driver said he quit Monday , walking off the job and abandoning his delivery truck at a gas station in a Detroit neighborhood .
So much for the Amazon smile .
`` I did n't think it would get over 10 million interactions , '' Derick Lancaster told the Free Press , part of the USA TODAY Network .
`` I thought it was going to get more like 50 'likes ' and 20 retweets — and call it a day . ''
Lancaster tweeted that he `` quit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the van at the gas station and `` it 's full of gas wit the keys in the IGNITION . ''
The tweet struck a chord with many people .
In fact , he said , he 's gotten Twitter messages from folks telling him he inspired them to quit , too .
But , he added , that was n't what he expected , nor was it the reason he took to Twitter .
`` This does not reflect the high standards we have for delivery partners , '' Amazon said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We are taking this matter seriously , and have investigated the matter and are taking appropriate action . ''
Among the grievances that led Lancaster to quit : He said he was late getting to his sister 's recent graduation party because he was working , and he felt constant pressure to deliver more packages — and to do it faster .
Pay conditions : Amazon workers go back to pre-coronavirus pay , with cuts to hourly pay raise Lancaster said after he left the van , he called a Lyft and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his senses hours later and returned to the gas station and waited for someone from Amazon to pick up the van .
He also got back on Twitter and posted a live video about why his job and mental health was n't worth $ 15.50 an hour .
Since the pandemic began , Amazon workers nationwide have called out sick in protest and held rallies to raise awareness about what they say are unsafe and harsh working conditions .
And as pandemic fears — and package volumes — increased , delivery companies have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , employees of a metro Detroit Amazon fulfillment center , where three people have tested positive for COVID-19 , walked off the job .
They said they wanted the Romulus warehouse to be shut down for a thorough cleaning .
This weekend , protesters marched outside a home of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos .
At 8:39 p.m. , Lancaster posted a 13-minute , profane video , explaining why he walked off the job .
He said he was waking up at 9 and 9:15 a.m. and working until 9 or 10 , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'd , go to sleep , wake up and do it again .
Lancaster 's video is a stark contrast to the feel-good worker-vignettes that the company has been airing as TV commercials .
Lancaster said later in a separate video he sent to the Free Press on Wednesday afternoon that he regrets posting his dramatic departure on social media because it probably will hurt his future job prospects , but not quitting .

Amazon driver in Detroit quits job on Twitter, leaves package-filled van with keys in the ignition. Here's why he did it.
Show Caption Hide Caption Metro Detroit Amazon driver quits job on Twitter, post goes viral In a tweet that has gone viral, a 22-year-old Amazon driver Derick Lancaster said he quit Monday, walking off the job and abandoned his delivery truck at a Marathon gas station in Lathrup Village. Derick Lancaster
DETROIT — In a tweet that has gone viral, a 22-year-old Amazon driver said he quit Monday, walking off the job and abandoning his delivery truck at a gas station in a Detroit neighborhood.
So much for the Amazon smile.
"I didn't think it would get over 10 million interactions," Derick Lancaster told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. "I thought it was going to get more like 50 'likes' and 20 retweets — and call it a day."
Lancaster tweeted that he "quit amazon," adding that he left the van at the gas station and "it's full of gas wit the keys in the IGNITION."
The tweet struck a chord with many people.
In fact, he said, he's gotten Twitter messages from folks telling him he inspired them to quit, too. But, he added, that wasn't what he expected, nor was it the reason he took to Twitter.
"This does not reflect the high standards we have for delivery partners," Amazon said in an email to the Free Press. "We are taking this matter seriously, and have investigated the matter and are taking appropriate action."
Among the grievances that led Lancaster to quit: He said he was late getting to his sister's recent graduation party because he was working, and he felt constant pressure to deliver more packages — and to do it faster.
Pay conditions: Amazon workers go back to pre-coronavirus pay, with cuts to hourly pay raise
Lancaster said after he left the van, he called a Lyft and went home, until he came to his senses hours later and returned to the gas station and waited for someone from Amazon to pick up the van.
He also got back on Twitter and posted a live video about why his job and mental health wasn't worth $15.50 an hour.
Since the pandemic began, Amazon workers nationwide have called out sick in protest and held rallies to raise awareness about what they say are unsafe and harsh working conditions.
And as pandemic fears — and package volumes — increased, delivery companies have struggled to keep pace.
In April, employees of a metro Detroit Amazon fulfillment center, where three people have tested positive for COVID-19, walked off the job. They said they wanted the Romulus warehouse to be shut down for a thorough cleaning.
This weekend, protesters marched outside a home of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
At 8:39 p.m., Lancaster posted a 13-minute, profane video, explaining why he walked off the job. He said he was waking up at 9 and 9:15 a.m. and working until 9 or 10, after delivering 200 packages.
And then he'd, go to sleep, wake up and do it again.
Lancaster's video is a stark contrast to the feel-good worker-vignettes that the company has been airing as TV commercials.
Lancaster said later in a separate video he sent to the Free Press on Wednesday afternoon that he regrets posting his dramatic departure on social media because it probably will hurt his future job prospects, but not quitting.
Follow Frank Witsil on Twitter: @fwitsil.


usatoday--2020-07-02--'Shocked and angered': Miami police director calls for investigation after video shows officer punch

'Shocked and angered': Miami police director calls for investigation after video shows officer punching woman

The director of the Miami-Dade Police Department ordered an investigation on Wednesday night after a video on social media showed one of its officers punching a Black woman at Miami International Airport .
The video , dated July 1 and identified by police as bodycam footage , shows a masked male officer arguing with the unmasked woman near a check-in desk at the airport .
The woman , at one point , can be heard saying that the officer is `` acting like you white when you really Black . ''
The woman yells at the officer , `` What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer responds by hitting her in the face before pushing her to the ground , the video shows .
Two officers , including the one whose the bodycam was recording the incident , then rush in as the first officer says , “ she headbutted me . ''
We found 85,000 cops who 've been investigated for misconduct : Now you can read their records .
Within minutes of the video appearing on Twitter , Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez III tweeted that he was `` shocked and angered '' and said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` Actions such as these undermine the hard work that we have invested in our community and causes my heart to break for our community and for the vast majority of our officers who dedicate their lives to serving our County , '' Ramirez said .
He also said he had `` ordered that the involved officers be relieved of duty . ''
`` This will not stand , and I assure our community that any officer acting in this vain will be held to account , '' the director said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ brutality and calls for the defunding the police , spurred by the May death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody .
On Tuesday , New York City officials agreed on a budget that shifts roughly $ 1 billion from its police department .
Los Angeles and Philadelphia also cut their police budgets , and many cities have committed to police reform .

Miami-Dade police announce investigation after footage of officer striking Black woman in Miami airport emerges on Twitter
Show Caption Hide Caption Qualified immunity: How it protects police from civil lawsuits The doctrine of qualified immunity has been used to protect police from civil lawsuits and trials. Here's why it was put in place. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The director of the Miami-Dade Police Department ordered an investigation Wednesday after video footage posted to social media showed one of its officers punching a Black woman at Miami International Airport.
The video on Twitter shows Anthony Rodriguez, a Miami-Dade police officer, punching Paris Sharon Anderson, a 21-year-old Black woman, after she reportedly caused a disturbance..
In the video, Anderson can be heard addressing Rodriguez, "You're acting like you're white but you're really Black," she said while getting closer to Rodriguez. She asked what he was going to do and then he punched her.
Another officer, Ricardo Alvarez, who is also visible in the footage helped Rodriguez bring Anderson to the ground. Later in the video, Rodriguez can be heard saying Anderson "head-butted" him. Anderson was arrested.
According to the arrest report obtained by USA TODAY, Rodriguez had been dispatched around 8 p.m. Wednesday to the American Airlines rebooking desk at Miami International Airport "due to a disturbance involving a Black female."
As Rodriguez and Alvarez made their way to the area, they were informed by dispatch that Anderson had moved behind the rebooking counter and was threatening employees.
Once there, Alvarez walked Anderson away from the counter and Rodriguez spoke to Jose Roman, the service center supervisor who issued the complaint against Anderson. Roman explained that Anderson had been late to board a flight to Chicago and thus was denied boarding. She was advised to visit the rebooking desk to find a new flight.
Upon learning that there were no available flights until the next day, Anderson became upset, according to the report and tried to go behind the counter to retrieve her boarding pass. When she was told she wasn't allowed to go behind the desk she began to "threaten and curse" employees. Roman told her that she would not be flying on American and that her flight would be reimbursed.
After speaking with Roman, Rodriguez informed Anderson that while she would not be flying on American that she could take a flight with a different airline within the airport. He asked her to gather her things with the intent to escort her away from the area.
Then, Anderson "became belligerent and began to yell obscenities at which time she said, 'I should go over there and punch him in his face,'" referring to Roman, according to the report.
Rodriguez repeated to Anderson that she should gather her things. At that point, according to the report, she "aggressively approached" Rodriguez, and proceeded to bump the officer with her body and hit him on the chin with her head, according to the report. That was when Rodriguez took a step back and "struck Ms. Anderson on her left side of the face with an open hand." After which, she fell stumbled back and was taken to the floor and into custody.
As she was escorted to the patrol vehicle she continued to yell and Rodriguez "felt spittle" coming from her mouth. Anderson was not wearing a face mask or any kind of face covering. While she was yelling "additional spittle" came towards the area of the officers and Rodriguez had to grab her by the hair to keep her facing forward, according to the report.
Miami International Airport, in compliance with Miami-Dade County, does require the use of face masks.
We found 85,000 cops who've been investigated for misconduct: Now you can read their records.
Filmmaker Billy Corben posted some footage of the incident to Twitter on Wednesday night.
"#BREAKING: @MiamiDadePD cop hits woman at Miami International Airport @iflymia #BecauseMiami," Corben wrote. Corben told USA TODAY that he had received the footage from "a source" within local law enforcement.
Within minutes of the video appearing on Twitter, Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez III tweeted too, announcing that he initiated an investigation.
“I am shocked and angered by a body cam video that I just saw involving one our officers," Ramirez said Wednesday in a statement shared with USA TODAY by Angel Rodriguez, a detective with the department.
Ramirez noted that he "immediately initiated" an investigation and had ordered Rodriguez be relieved of duty.
"[Rodriguez] has been employed with MDPD for 31 years," Argemis Colome, a police officer in the MDPD's media unit, told USA TODAY in an email. "Three years as a Public Service Aide, and 28 years as a sworn Law Enforcement Officer."
In his statement, Ramirez added that any officer who acts similarly will be held accountable.
"Actions such as these undermine the hard work that we have invested in our community and causes my heart to break for our community and for the vast majority of our officers who dedicate their lives to serving our County," he said.
Ramirez added that he had spoken with Florida's state attorney, Kathy Fernandez Rundle, and asked that her office become involved with in the investigation.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez also took to Twitter to address what happened.
"This is appalling. It’s excessive use of force and unnecessary. That’s NOT what our @MiamiDadePD are trained to do," he wrote, quoting Ramirez's tweet. "Ramirez has ordered the officer relieved of duty & investigation is underway. This is why I instituted body cameras & MDPD is reviewing all footage."
The incident comes amid protests against police brutality and calls for the defunding the police, spurred by the May death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.
On Tuesday, New York City officials agreed on a budget that shifts roughly $1 billion from its police department. Los Angeles and Philadelphia also cut their police budgets, and many cities have committed to police reform.


usatoday--2020-07-02--What hotels, tourism will look like in Southwest Florida over the Fourth of July

Fourth of July usually brings visitors to Southwest Florida in droves .
This year will be different amid the coronavirus pandemic , reports the Marco Eagle , which is a part of the USA TODAY Network..
While some hotels and resorts expect to fill up as usual , others do n't anticipate the crowds they 'd typically get , due to coronavirus-related risks and restrictions .
With Independence Day falling on Saturday and the holiday observed on Friday , it naturally creates a long holiday weekend for many workers , making it easier for them to get away for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are expected to stay home — or at least closer to home — and away from crowds this year to avoid exposure to the deadly virus .
With so much economic uncertainty caused by the virus , AAA did n't issue its usual travel forecast for Fourth of July travel this year .
However , data company Arrivalist predicts Americans will take 36.8 million road trips over the long weekend based on its own index , which makes Independence Day the biggest road trip event so far this year .
`` There 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , persuasions or beliefs together like the great American summer road trip , '' said Cree Lawson , Arrivalist 's CEO and founder , in a news release .
`` Whether it 's a cross-country trip or a jaunt to see fireworks set off the highest local bridge , it 's a time-honored tradition , just like guessing how many Americans will hit the road.
” While many will still hit the road for the holiday weekend , road trip travel will be down 11 % from last year based on the AAA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 4 weeks : What it 's really like to fly during the coronavirus pandemic That 's expected to leave more hotel rooms sitting empty in Southwest Florida , as the region 's tourism industry continues to fight for its survival after taking a big blow from COVID-19 , which brought travel to a virtual standstill for three months starting in March .
`` We are usually 100 % occupied over the Fourth of July .
This holiday we will be between 60-70 % — weather dependent , '' said Brian Kramer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs .
`` We always have a big contingent of drive-market staycationers over the holiday weekends and we expect this weekend to be the same . ''
Many events in Southwest Florida have been canceled or postponed , including some of the usual fireworks displays and parades , over concerns about the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus .
After officials in Miami-Dade , Broward and Monroe counties decided to close their public beaches for the long weekend due to a spike in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders feared residents there might flock to this coast in greater numbers to enjoy the sand , surf and sun over the coming days , creating a greater safety risk .
Due to those concerns , several local governments , including Collier County , Marco Island and Naples , voted to restrict weekend beach hours and parking starting Friday .
Beaches and national parks are usually top draws for Fourth of July travelers .
Once the news hit about the closure of Miami 's beaches late last week , Kramer said he expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Hyatt Coconut Point for the coming weekend , but that never happened .
`` To date we have still just been on our normal pace of business , '' he said .
By normal , Kramer said he means the `` new normal , '' which has left the hotel operating at a less than ideal occupancy , forcing it to keep more than 100 employees on a temporary layoff .
Some area hotels have self-imposed restrictions on capacity for safety reasons , which are designed to protect their guests — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pink Shell Resort on Fort Myers Beach , for example , has set its occupancy limit at 85 % , which makes it easier to follow the federal social distancing , cleaning and sanitation guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
This weekend will be a good one for the resort , which has sold out all of its available rooms , said principal Robert Boykin .
`` We have reached our capacity for a month now .
So we expect to be as busy as we are allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Hotel Escalante , a boutique hotel in downtown Naples , will be fully occupied and operating at 100 % capacity for the holiday weekend , said Mary Brandt , the owner .
On top of that good news , half the reservations are for four nights or longer , making the holiday business even better .
With rooms that are spread apart , its easier to keep guests at a safer distance , so there are no capacity limits in place at the hotel , Brandt said .
A few of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be Florida residents from the east coast , she said , but there are more travelers than usual coming from other parts of the country , including the Midwestern and Northeastern states .
When asked why more visitors are coming from up north , Brandt said : `` Because cruises may be something they do n't want to do or international travel either . ''
At the JW Marriott on Marco Island , Amanda Cox , director of sales and marketing , said all of the property 's available rooms sold out before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida 's east coast , `` so we 've not really seen the impact of that recent news . ''
Her resort has also limited its capacity for now .
`` We are not selling the entire resort to ensure social distancing , '' Cox said .
The resort plans `` lots of social distancing-friendly opportunities to enjoy nature and the surrounding area , she said , but it 's still not offering its customary children ’ s activities , `` as they don ’ t fit in with today ’ s social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` Marco Island has canceled its annual fireworks display for similar reasons , so we are crossing our fingers that Mother Nature gives us an amazing sunset that evening for our own version of fire in the sky , '' Cox said .
Because the JW Marriott sits on a 10.1-acre private beach , the city 's decision to restrict beach access does n't impact its guests .
`` We will continue with the same practice we ’ ve had since March of pre-setting all umbrellas and chairs on our private beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while observing appropriate social distancing , '' Cox said .
Jenny Gezella , president of Naples Princess , said she 's been `` happily surprised '' by the demand for its two boats in Naples , which both offer daily cruises .
Still it 's not business as usual .
The tour boat operator can only operate at half of its capacity under the state 's current Phase 2 reopening rules , but it 's keeping its capacity at `` just under 50 % '' to create enough spacing for people to feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We are cruising on both boats five nights a week with limited daytime cruises , '' she said .
`` It ’ s down mostly due to the restrictions of the 50 % capacity versus the demand and us wanting to ensure a safe environment for guests and our staff . ''
Wow : Their cruises were canceled months ago .
These customers are still waiting on refunds .
The local restrictions on public beach access this weekend could actually bring in more business , Gezella pointed out .
`` Typically July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BBQs , but if the beaches are closed in the afternoon it may open up both local and visitors eyes to doing something else to get out on the water , '' she said .
At The Shell Factory in North Fort Myers , owner Pamela Cronin expects a busy weekend ahead .
She anticipates seeing more customers originating from other parts of the state this holiday weekend — and for the rest of the summer , as many look to travel , but still stay closer to home .
The iconic attraction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a way that makes social distancing not so difficult .
There 's an outdoor Nature Park and a 50,000-square-foot store , where separating visitors is `` not a problem , '' Cronin said in a text message .
There 's also a miniature golf course , with the `` very reasonable '' rate of $ 3 per person , making it a big attraction for families on a budget , especially in these hard economic times when so many people are still unemployed due to the pandemic .
As for the carousel and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with social distancing in place , Cronin assures .
`` I think all of our local attraction owners are very caring and concerned about their staff and guests , '' she said .
`` We live in a fabulous community . ''
As she looks ahead she remains optimistic , despite the fact that fewer people are expected to take trips this summer .
AAA forecasts Americans will take a combined total of 700 million trips from July to September through all modes of transportation , including airplanes .
That number is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same months a year ago — and if it rings true it would be the first decline in summer travel seen since 2009 .
`` AAA booking trends show Americans are still making travel plans , though more cautiously and spur of the moment , often seeking long weekend getaways instead of extended vacations , ” said Mark Jenkins , a spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group , in a statement “ When they do venture out , the greatest share of travelers will pack up the car for 683 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't for the spread of COVID-19 , AAA 's projected trip count for Americans this summer was expected to hit nearly 860 million — for a 3.6 % increase over last year .
Based on those numbers , the pandemic wiped out nearly 150 million trips this summer .
Meanwhile , a recent study by Morning Consult commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association found that fewer than 45 % of Americans are planning overnight vacation or leisure travel this year , with high interest in road trips , family events , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Encouragingly , 68 percent of these travelers say they are likely to stay in a hotel in 2020 .
Among Americans planning to travel in 2020 , 59 percent expect to take their first overnight trip by the end of the summer .
Summer road trips will take center stage , with 72 percent planning an overnight vacation via car over the next five months .
Of these , 75 percent expect to drive two or more hours .
Elsewhere in travel : CBP postpones Trusted Traveler enrollment centers reopening until Aug. @

What hotels, tourism will look like in Southwest Florida over the Fourth of July
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: Road trips, outdoor landmarks may be safest for vacation The coronavirus pandemic has canceled a lot of things, but your summer vacation doesn't have to be one of them. USA TODAY
Fourth of July usually brings visitors to Southwest Florida in droves.
This year will be different amid the coronavirus pandemic, reports the Marco Eagle, which is a part of the USA TODAY Network..
While some hotels and resorts expect to fill up as usual, others don't anticipate the crowds they'd typically get, due to coronavirus-related risks and restrictions.
With Independence Day falling on Saturday and the holiday observed on Friday, it naturally creates a long holiday weekend for many workers, making it easier for them to get away for a quick trip.
However, more people are expected to stay home — or at least closer to home — and away from crowds this year to avoid exposure to the deadly virus.
With so much economic uncertainty caused by the virus, AAA didn't issue its usual travel forecast for Fourth of July travel this year.
However, data company Arrivalist predicts Americans will take 36.8 million road trips over the long weekend based on its own index, which makes Independence Day the biggest road trip event so far this year.
"There's nothing that binds Americans of all races, persuasions or beliefs together like the great American summer road trip," said Cree Lawson, Arrivalist's CEO and founder, in a news release. "Whether it's a cross-country trip or a jaunt to see fireworks set off the highest local bridge, it's a time-honored tradition, just like guessing how many Americans will hit the road.”
While many will still hit the road for the holiday weekend, road trip travel will be down 11% from last year based on the AAA's forecast for 2019.
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That's expected to leave more hotel rooms sitting empty in Southwest Florida, as the region's tourism industry continues to fight for its survival after taking a big blow from COVID-19, which brought travel to a virtual standstill for three months starting in March.
"We are usually 100% occupied over the Fourth of July. This holiday we will be between 60-70% — weather dependent," said Brian Kramer, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs. "We always have a big contingent of drive-market staycationers over the holiday weekends and we expect this weekend to be the same."
Many events in Southwest Florida have been canceled or postponed, including some of the usual fireworks displays and parades, over concerns about the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
After officials in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties decided to close their public beaches for the long weekend due to a spike in coronavirus cases on their coast, local leaders feared residents there might flock to this coast in greater numbers to enjoy the sand, surf and sun over the coming days, creating a greater safety risk.
Due to those concerns, several local governments, including Collier County, Marco Island and Naples, voted to restrict weekend beach hours and parking starting Friday.
Beaches and national parks are usually top draws for Fourth of July travelers.
Once the news hit about the closure of Miami's beaches late last week, Kramer said he expected to see an immediate uptick in reservations at the Hyatt Coconut Point for the coming weekend, but that never happened.
"To date we have still just been on our normal pace of business," he said.
By normal, Kramer said he means the "new normal," which has left the hotel operating at a less than ideal occupancy, forcing it to keep more than 100 employees on a temporary layoff.
Some area hotels have self-imposed restrictions on capacity for safety reasons, which are designed to protect their guests — as well as their employees.
The Pink Shell Resort on Fort Myers Beach, for example, has set its occupancy limit at 85%, which makes it easier to follow the federal social distancing, cleaning and sanitation guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This weekend will be a good one for the resort, which has sold out all of its available rooms, said principal Robert Boykin.
"We have reached our capacity for a month now. So we expect to be as busy as we are allowing ourselves to be," he said.
The Hotel Escalante, a boutique hotel in downtown Naples, will be fully occupied and operating at 100% capacity for the holiday weekend, said Mary Brandt, the owner.
On top of that good news, half the reservations are for four nights or longer, making the holiday business even better.
With rooms that are spread apart, its easier to keep guests at a safer distance, so there are no capacity limits in place at the hotel, Brandt said.
A few of the hotel's guests this weekend will be Florida residents from the east coast, she said, but there are more travelers than usual coming from other parts of the country, including the Midwestern and Northeastern states.
When asked why more visitors are coming from up north, Brandt said: "Because cruises may be something they don't want to do or international travel either."
At the JW Marriott on Marco Island, Amanda Cox, director of sales and marketing, said all of the property's available rooms sold out before government leaders decided to close beaches on Florida's east coast, "so we've not really seen the impact of that recent news."
Her resort has also limited its capacity for now.
"We are not selling the entire resort to ensure social distancing," Cox said.
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The resort plans "lots of social distancing-friendly opportunities to enjoy nature and the surrounding area, she said, but it's still not offering its customary children’s activities, "as they don’t fit in with today’s social distancing environment or local health recommendations."
"Marco Island has canceled its annual fireworks display for similar reasons, so we are crossing our fingers that Mother Nature gives us an amazing sunset that evening for our own version of fire in the sky," Cox said.
Because the JW Marriott sits on a 10.1-acre private beach, the city's decision to restrict beach access doesn't impact its guests.
"We will continue with the same practice we’ve had since March of pre-setting all umbrellas and chairs on our private beach to ensure our guests enjoy the beach while observing appropriate social distancing," Cox said.
Jenny Gezella, president of Naples Princess, said she's been "happily surprised" by the demand for its two boats in Naples, which both offer daily cruises.
Still it's not business as usual.
The tour boat operator can only operate at half of its capacity under the state's current Phase 2 reopening rules, but it's keeping its capacity at "just under 50%" to create enough spacing for people to feel comfortable, Gezella said via email.
"We are cruising on both boats five nights a week with limited daytime cruises," she said. "It’s down mostly due to the restrictions of the 50% capacity versus the demand and us wanting to ensure a safe environment for guests and our staff."
Wow: Their cruises were canceled months ago. These customers are still waiting on refunds.
The local restrictions on public beach access this weekend could actually bring in more business, Gezella pointed out.
"Typically July 4th weekend people think of beaches and BBQs, but if the beaches are closed in the afternoon it may open up both local and visitors eyes to doing something else to get out on the water," she said.
At The Shell Factory in North Fort Myers, owner Pamela Cronin expects a busy weekend ahead.
She anticipates seeing more customers originating from other parts of the state this holiday weekend — and for the rest of the summer, as many look to travel, but still stay closer to home.
The iconic attraction is lucky to be set up in a way that makes social distancing not so difficult. There's an outdoor Nature Park and a 50,000-square-foot store, where separating visitors is "not a problem," Cronin said in a text message.
There's also a miniature golf course, with the "very reasonable" rate of $3 per person, making it a big attraction for families on a budget, especially in these hard economic times when so many people are still unemployed due to the pandemic.
As for the carousel and zipline, they're kept extremely clean, with social distancing in place, Cronin assures.
"I think all of our local attraction owners are very caring and concerned about their staff and guests," she said. "We live in a fabulous community."
As she looks ahead she remains optimistic, despite the fact that fewer people are expected to take trips this summer.
AAA forecasts Americans will take a combined total of 700 million trips from July to September through all modes of transportation, including airplanes. That number is down nearly 15% when compared to the same months a year ago — and if it rings true it would be the first decline in summer travel seen since 2009.
"AAA booking trends show Americans are still making travel plans, though more cautiously and spur of the moment, often seeking long weekend getaways instead of extended vacations,” said Mark Jenkins, a spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group, in a statement “When they do venture out, the greatest share of travelers will pack up the car for 683 million road trips.”
If it weren't for the spread of COVID-19, AAA's projected trip count for Americans this summer was expected to hit nearly 860 million — for a 3.6% increase over last year.
Based on those numbers, the pandemic wiped out nearly 150 million trips this summer.
Meanwhile, a recent study by Morning Consult commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association found that fewer than 45% of Americans are planning overnight vacation or leisure travel this year, with high interest in road trips, family events, and long weekends over the summer months.
Encouragingly, 68 percent of these travelers say they are likely to stay in a hotel in 2020.
Among Americans planning to travel in 2020, 59 percent expect to take their first overnight trip by the end of the summer. Summer road trips will take center stage, with 72 percent planning an overnight vacation via car over the next five months. Of these, 75 percent expect to drive two or more hours.
Elsewhere in travel: CBP postpones Trusted Traveler enrollment centers reopening until Aug. 10
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