Free Republic

The owners of a New Jersey gym who famously defied orders to close the fitness center during the coronavirus pandemic have now been hit with more than $1.2 million in fines — but are staying open as a “f–k” you to Gov. Phil Murphy. The Atilis Gym in Bellmawr became an anti-lockdown posterchild in May after it repeatedly refused to adhere to the Garden State’s orders to close.

Robby Dinero, the owner of Athletes Unleashed gym located in Orchard Park, New York, tore up a $15,000 fine from the Erie County Health Department during a live Fox News interview. Dinero got hit with the extraordinarily hefty fine following a confrontation in which roughly 50 business owners attending a meeting inside the gym refused to allow a pair of sheriffs and a health inspector entry to the building without a warrant. “They picked a fight with a Marine and a whole bunch of patriots,” the gym owner said in a separate interview with WBEN, before pointing out that “The...

Several gym chains plan to reopen their doors in North Carolina on Tuesday, ahead of a possible announcement from Gov. Roy Cooper allowing a range of exercise facilities statewide to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. For now, Cooper's order that gyms remain closed to limit the spread of the virus remains in effect, but Crunch Fitness and Planet Fitness both announced over the weekend that they are using a medical exception outlined in the executive order that allows gyms to serve members who have a medical need to exercise. O2 Fitness and Orangetheory Fitness said Monday that they also will...

The owners of Atilis gym in New Jersey reopened on Saturday by kicking down the wooden barricades authorities used to block their entrance amid coronavirus restrictions. Co-owner Ian Smith posted a video of himself and his business partner, Frank Trumbetti, kicking the barriers and entering as a crowd cheers their decision. The dramatic display indicated that the months-long standoff between Gov. Phil Murphy and the gym owners wasn't finished. Smith's caption contained a defiant message for New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy: "You will not trample one [sic] our rights and you will not destroy our lives. We will not back...

Their arrest is the latest event in their months-long standoff with Democrat New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, whose lingering lockdown order has shuttered non-essential businesses for more than four months. Speaking with Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Monday, Smith remained defiant despite his arrest. ... Tyrant Governor Murphy has owners of Atilis Gym arrested while encouraging riots in the streets. That’s expected. Cops complying with these orders is what gets me. I’m done taking up for weak ass cops violating their constitutional oath ... murderers are walking free in New Jersey despite the sheriff’s vigilance to board up Smith’s...

Two New Jersey gyms owners who have repeatedly reopened in defiance of the state’s coronavirus lockdown have been arrested, police said Monday. Atilis Gym owners in Bellmawr— Ian Smith, 33, of Delanco Township, and Frank Trumbetti, 51, of Williamstown — were charged with contempt and violation of a disaster control act, according to the Camden Couty Prosecutor’s Office. The two owners have continually railed against Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order amid the pandemic COVID-19 and even sued lawmakers claiming their constitutional rights were violated when they were forced to close their South Jersey gym.

24 Hour Fitness said Monday in its Chapter 11 filing that it has secured $250 million in funding to help reopen some of its clubs and expects a majority of locations to be open by the end of June. However, it's emerging as a smaller chain: It permanently closed 100 US locations in 14 states with roughly 300 clubs remaining.

A white Minneapolis venture capitalist's office lease was terminated after a viral video showed him questioning black entrepreneurs using the gym in a building of which they were all tenants...

The owner of a Lehigh County gym who opened Sunday in defiance of the shutdown of non-life-sustaining businesses received two summary citations, making it the first Lehigh Valley business cited during the coronavirus pandemic. Ed G. Frack opened his gym, SuperSets in Hanover Township, and encouraged other struggling small-business owners and anyone who supported them to join him outside the gym.

This is a sad video.  Nick is a combat vet who loves America.  He served 12 years in the Marine Corps Recon, in combat in Afghanistan, etc..  Now he just wants to raise his family, run his business (a gym) and hopefully one retire.  Although like many of people he is waking up to a fundamentally changed America.https://youtu.be/nOseD1OVrb4 

ROGUE NEW JERSEY GYM SABOTAGED! Sewer Backed Up with Paper Towels Even Though Facility Has No Paper Towels - State Shuts Down Business! https://youtu.be/0kmgf5Xx-1k  

The New Jersey man who has gotten national attention for opening his Bellmawr gym in defiance of the state’s shutdown orders is now facing some backlash after word circulated online that he also broke the law 13 years ago in an incident that cost a young man his life. Ian A. Smith was a 20-year-old Stockton University student in 2007 when he drank 10 to 12 beers and in the morning ran a stop sign, killing Kevin Ade, 19, of Galloway Township, according to 6ABC reports at the time. He pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter and was sentenced to five...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Good news for gym owners, according to new state and federal recommendations, if the government signs off, gyms can open back up May 1st, as long as members social distance. Fitness 4U 24/7 in Hoover says as a small business, they can’t wait to get back up and running, but reassures members they are preparing to do so safely. When gyms are allowed to reopen, the state recommends individuals stay six feet apart when working out. “If someone is on the treadmill or elliptical, don’t get on one right beside them,” said William Blake, owner of...

AUSTIN (KXAN) — “Please help!” KXAN has heard frustrated pleas from gym members running into problems trying to cancel memberships. “Gold’s Gym is still charging people for gym memberships and the only way you can cancel is to send a certified letter where no one is working,” writes a KXAN News viewer. “When you don’t have a job because of this pandemic every dollar counts!” Another viewer tells KXAN, “Members must go to a location in person to cancel or suspend membership. Very unethical in time of crisis.” The state ordered all gyms and fitness centers to close because of...

A man says he was asked not to wear a shirt supporting President Trump at a gym that he attends in Troy, Mo. Staff Sgt. Jake Talbot says he has worn the shirt to CDY Fitness in Troy many times before but on Sunday, he says the owner asked him not to wear the shirt again, saying the shirt was offensive to her and others. “I was just puzzled there for a second. She said that it was racist and represents racism and that’s when I when I was like ‘oh, you’re done," said Talbot. Talbot says he finished his...

Moon Fahel from San Antonio, Texas, had just gotten home from a martial arts class that he’s been taking for the last 15 years when he answered the phone call from Runner’s World. It wasn’t an anomaly—he stays busy with other classes during rest of the week, too: kickboxing, Zumba, athletic dancing, and BODYPUMP, among others. Plus, he just ran his fifth marathon this past Sunday at the San Antonio Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon. Oh, and he’s 85 years of age. (The word “old” doesn’t have a place in his vocabulary.) “I don’t know what old is,” Fahel said. “If...

Editor’s note: After this article was published and was linked on the Drudge Report, Ohio University spokesman Jim Sabin contacted The College Fix and denied the school is considering a gym room for students of color. Asked about Ohio University’s own student news report on the matter (screenshot above), school officials contacted The New Political and also asked its student reporters to amend their 6-day-old report on the matter. The student news outlet now reports the workout room for minorities would also be open to all students. This article has been amended accordingly. Also, the school is public, not private.

Hamilton, NJ (FOX5NY) - Authorities in New Jersey are investigating the death of a man who was found in a tanning bed at a gym. It happened Monday in a Crunch Fitness on South Broad Street in Hamilton. Police say that the body of Nicholas Ricigliani, 27, of Hamilton was found in the tanning-bed room by an employee of the gym. Investigators said that there was no indication that foul play was involved but did not elaborate. Ricigliani's body was transported by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner's Office to determine the exact cause of death. The Hamilton Police asked that...

Enough with the polarizing political chatter on cable TV. Life Time Fitness has removed CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC and CNBC from its televisions.

A former middle school gym teacher was arrested Monday for a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Monday. Shawnetta D. Reece, 40, of Blairsville, was sexually involved with the student in 2013, the agency said in a news release. Reece was arrested after the Union County Sheriff’s Office received information on the alleged relationship, and asked the GBI to assist with the investigation. “The student was moving from the 8th grade into the 9th grade during this time,” the news release stated. “As a result of the investigation, Reece has been arrested for child...