Category Archives: Ron Paul

ANN ARBOR, MI University of Michigans Weiser Hall will continue to bear the name of Regent Ron Weiser despite his controversial comments about the states elected officials earlier this year.

UM President Mark Schlissels decision came in response to a petition filed by the faculty, staff and students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy to remove the name.

Schlissel wrote a letter to the departments faculty, staff and students on Thursday, June 3 stating he does not recommend changing the name, however.

He wrote the universitys updated naming policy intends for names to remain for the life of the facility, and while there could be circumstances where a donors actions could cause the university to revoke the gift agreement, I do not think the particular circumstances here reach that level.

Weiser was elected to the Board of Regents in 2016, two years after he and his wife, Eileen, had Weiser Hall renamed as part of a gift agreement. If the university were to violate the gift agreement and remove his name from a building, the university would be obligated to return the gift, Schlissel wrote.

The gift amounts to $25 million, and overall, the Weisers have committed more than $100 million to the university.

Having considered these factors and weighed the difficult questions they raise, I have determined that I will not recommend to the Regents that they violate the gift agreement and change the name of Weiser Hall, Schlissel wrote. I have opted to continue to build on the shared ground with Regent Weiser in support of core mission work of the university and will continue to assert university values when there is disagreement.

I appreciate that this decision may be disappointing, but I do believe it is the right one for the University.

When reached for comment, Board Chair Denise Illitch said board members previously voiced their thoughts and took action at the special meeting. Vice Chair Jordan Acker declined to comment, and regents Paul Brown and Sarah Hubbard did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Weiser also did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Weiser, chair of the Michigan GOP, came under fire in March 2021 when he made comments during an event for the North Oakland Republic Club calling Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson the three witches and said the GOP needs to make sure they are ready for the burning at the stake. Weisers comments were captured in a video shared on social media.

Schlissel, Provost Susan Collins and several deans previously condemned Weisers comments, and while Schlissel said Weisers comments do not reflect the universitys values, he has done much good upholding democratic values as our nations ambassador to Slovakia and as a philanthropist, Schlissel wrote.

Weisers comments led to the UM Board of Regents calling a special session and passing a resolution condemning his language and calling on him to resign from the board. The resolution passed 5-0 with Weiser and Regent Sarah Hubbard abstaining, and Regent Katherine White absent from the meeting.

Before the vote, Weiser apologized for his words and took full responsibility for the comments, adding that he will not resign and will not be canceled.

A day later, UM community members including students, faculty and staff gathered in front of Weiser Hall to hold a mock renaming ceremony, calling the building the Weiser Center for Voter Suppression, Political Assassination and Witch Burning. The ceremony included yard signs covering the original building sign and spray-painted stencils with the new name.

University of Michigan community members hold mock renaming of Weiser Hall after regents controversial comments

This was not the first time this year that Weiser came under fire. After the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., Weiser was quoted in a news article saying he didnt know if he blamed former President Donald Trump for the violence. He later told MLive/The Ann Arbor News that he spent most of the day in a dental chair having oral surgery.

A petition to remove Weiser after the Capitol riots was re-circulated when his comments about Whitmer, Nessel and Benson were reported and currently has more than 7,000 signatures.

Weisers term on the Board of Regents runs through 2025.

READ MORE:

Nessel: Michigan GOP chairmans witches remark could have serious consequences

State lawmakers are latest to call on Ron Weiser to resign from University of Michigan Board of Regents

1,800 University of Michigan faculty members publicly condemn Ron Weisers comments

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University of Michigan to retain name on Weiser Hall, president says - MLive.com

Happy Thursday one and all.

The Arizona Cardinals started their three-day voluntary OTAs on Wednesday, meaning they are almost done!

We have all the news from around the web to help you get ready for it.

Lets get to it.

Cardinals Sign Punter Tyler NewsomeNewsome has had stints with the Chargers, Chiefs

You've Got Mail: Welcome To OTAs WeekTopics include whether Fitz fades, Rondale Moore and a Seiko tight end

Cardinals Reconvene For Offseason WorkKingsbury excited to have big group together after missing out in 2020

Rookie Photo Shoot: LB Zaven CollinsFirst-round pick Zaven Collins poses for the camera following his arrival in Arizona.

Cardinals OTA Session: June 2Images from Wednesday's OTA session at the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center

Red Sea Report - Jones, Watt Form Intimidating DuoEver since J.J. Watt and the Cardinals agreed on a free agent deal this offseason, much of the talk has been about how Watt will pair with linebacker Chandler Jones in Vance Joseph's defensive scheme. Craig Grialou, Mike Jurecki and Bertrand Berry discuss

Cardinals Cover 2 - The First Day Of SchoolEp. 427 - According to Kliff Kingsbury,

Cardinals Underground - Welcome Back, OffseasonAfter a completely virtual offseason in 2020, the Cardinals returned to the field for organized team activities this week. Paul Calvisi and Kyle Odegard discussed J.J. Watt, Kyler Murray and more while Darren Urban took advantage of the OTA session

Big Red Rage - High Expectations For Collins, SimmonsEp. 510 - The pairing of young linebackers Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons has been a hot Cardinals topic during the offseason. Linebackers coach Bill Davis joined Paul Calvisi and Ron Wolfley to talk about his first impressions of Collins

Ranking the NFL offseason's 25 biggest position upgrades - Why the Cardinals, Rams, Browns and others improvedJ.J. Watt over Zach Allen? Matthew Stafford over Jared Goff? We ranked the 25 best upgrades from the offseason, complete with player projections for the 2021 season.

Arizona Cardinals sign P Tyler Newsome to 1-year dealThe Arizona Cardinals signed punter Tyler Newsome to a one-year deal Tuesday morning, bringing their roster to 90 players.

ESPN's Clay: Cardinals adding J.J. Watt leads NFL in position upgradesESPN's Mike Clay thinks the J.J. Watt signing by the Arizona Cardinals is the most significant position upgrade NFL-wide.

Cardinals' Kyler Murray attends Suns-Lakers Game 5 before OTAs startArizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was in attendance for Tuesday's Game 5 of the opening series between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.

Cardinals' Kyler Murray present for voluntary OTAs; Green, Hicks missingAny speculation regarding quarterback Kyler Murray's presence during the Arizona Cardinals' offseason workouts was squashed Wednesday.

Arizona Cardinals sign punter Tyler NewsomeHe will give Andy Lee a break in the offseason and get a chance to show off for the rest of the league.

Arizona Cardinals Budda Baker only 16th in PFFs safety rankingsThe All-Pro deserves to be higher on this list.

7 NFL players who could be post-June 1 tradesTrades after June 1 are treated differently for salary cap purposes and these players could be on the move.

Questions arise with projected offensive lineup for Arizona CardinalsGregg Rosenthal projects the starting offensive lineup for the Cardinals, We question some of the choices.

2 observations from Wednesdays OTAs for the Arizona CardinalsA pair of videos on social media give us a little insight to the offensive line and defensive line.

Arizona Cardinals S Budda Baker unhappy with PFF rankingHe ranks only 16th among safeties and he would rather PFF never mention his name again.

Jordan Phillips overlooked in projected defensive starters for CardinalsOne projection for the Cardinals' defensive starters has a couple of curious picks.

3 notable Arizona Cardinals absent from voluntary OTAsThis part of the offseason is still voluntary and Kliff Kingsbury has spoken with all three.

Go here to read the rest:
Bird Droppings: Arizona Cardinals start OTAs, Kyler Murray leading the way, Cardinals sign new punter, PFFs - Revenge of the Birds

The market needs a boost, that much is for sure. Luckily, the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami is just around the corner. Would that be enough to wake up the sleeping giant? It might. It might now. Nevertheless, for sure itll raise morale and give to the community and experience to rally around. And thats whats going to take us to the next level.

In any case, Vailshire Capitals Jeff Ross gives us the technical analysis of the historical moment were facing.

As for predictions, Ross is Still noncommittal. The situation remains as Bitcoinist told you recently:

Were in the midst of it. In retrospect, everything will make sense, but right now no human being has the necessary perspective to see the whole picture.

Related Reading | Binance Burns Record $600 Million BNB In Its 15th Quarter

Even though the event is mostly sold out, the organizers dropped a huge bomb yesterday. Bitcoin Magazine and company announced an interview with the one and only Ross Ulbricht, live from jail. The Dread Pirate Roberts himself, the creator and main mind behind the legendary Silk Road marketplace in the darknet. Hate it or love it, an essential part of Bitcoins history.

In a shocking verdict thats still being contested, Ulbricht was sentenced to double life imprisonment plus forty years. Wow. Itll definitively be interesting to hear what this man has to say.

The most important thing is that therell be a YouTube Livestream. This is the first day link, and thiss the second one. Apart from that, Bitcoinists already gave you two special reports with confirmed news, rumors, and the speakers line up. Heres the first report, and heres the second one. If you dont feel like clicking, we can assure you two things.

Itll be a lightning-enabled madhouse:

Apparently, therell be sumo wrestlers and UFC world champions walking around, holding their belts. Tony Hawk will speak and do his thing on a halfpipe, plus theyre selling an exclusive Bitcoin-themed skateboard only to people that attend Hawks meet and greet. Therell be a basketball tournament, a Bitcoin art gallery, and an eSports arena with Lighting based arcade games and more than 1 BTC in prizes. In fact, Everything is Lighting enabled at the conference, said Bailey.

Related Reading | Binance Burns Record $600 Million BNB In Its 15th Quarter

Ron Paul is speaking:

The conference added Floyd Mayweather as a speaker and the community laughed and complained. Maybe they had a right to. But when Bitcoin 2021 announced Former Congressman and ex-presidential candidate Ron Paul, the reaction was a roar of approval. The title of his talk is still unknown, but the tweet promises, an important message that we need monetary freedom!

One of the organizers, Joe Rodgers, is already on site. Apart from reporting that Joe Buddens Pump it Up is on repeat, hes got this to say:

And to that, we can only say:

Let the games begin!

More:
Will The Bitcoin Miami Conference Be A Catalyst For Recovery? - bitcoinist.com

LOS ANGELES, May 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --More than 130 leaders from the entertainment industry have signed a joint statement released by the non-profit entertainment industry organization Creative Community For Peacecalling on fellow entertainers and executives to use their platforms to combat misleading and one-sided accounts of the conflict in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The open letter urges those in the entertainment community to use their voice to call for the de-escalation of violence and the end to divisive rhetoric while also acknowledging the pain and loss impacting all parties involved in the conflict.

The joint statement comes amid a wave of violence in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, including indiscriminate rocket attacks targeting metropolitan areas throughout Israel as well as Israel's retaliatory response in Gaza.

Gene Simmons(Artist/KISS), Sherry Lansing (Former CEO of Paramount Pictures), Michael Bubl (Artist), Haim Saban (Chairman & CEO, Saban Capital Group), Meghan McCain (Co-Host, The View), Orly Agai Marley (President, Tuff Gong Worldwide), David Draiman (Frontman, Disturbed), Selma Blair (Actress), Diane Warren (Songwriter, Producer), and Ben Silverman (Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Propagate Content) are among nearly 130 signers of the joint statement, which was made public Friday.

"We are deeply concerned by the escalating violence in Israel and the Palestinian Territories," the statement reads. "The loss of life and violence is heartbreaking. We call on the leaders of all parties to end the violence, urge calm, and work toward de-escalation."

The statement's signers are among the first in the entertainment industry to publicly promote peace while also opposing a surge of deceptive media narratives that have dominated the news cycle since tensions escalated nearly a week ago.

"We also call on our colleagues and friends in the entertainment community to stop posting misinformation and one-sided narratives that only work to inflame the conflict instead of bringing about peace," the statement continues.

"Misinformed and fallacious memes being posted by those far away from the conflict are being taken for truth," said Ari Ingel, Director of Creative Community for Peace. "This distorted version of reality is being spread online and then amplified by influencers, which only fans the flames of hatred and has real life consequences."

Creative Community for Peaceaims to promote the arts as a means for peace while fighting antisemitism in the entertainment industry and on prominent media platforms. To learn more about their cause, visit http://www.creativecommunityforpeace.com.

FULL STATEMENT

We are deeply concerned by the escalating violence in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The loss of life and violence is heartbreaking. We call on the leaders of all parties to end the violence, urge calm, and work toward de-escalation.

We also call on our colleagues and friends in the entertainment community to stop posting misinformation and one-sided narratives that only work to inflame the conflict instead of bringing about peace.

While we may have differing opinions on the conflict, it is never okay for Hamas to publicly call for the killing of civilians, use civilians as human shields, and rain down missiles indiscriminately on civilian populations with no care about who is killedArab or Jew.

When lives are at stake, we all bear responsibility to unite rather than divide. Incendiary language only benefits those at the extremes who have no interest in peace. Our thoughts are with all Israelis and Palestinians who are experiencing unfathomable levels of fear and violence, and hope for the day when both peoples can live side by side in peace.

SIGNATORIES

Jason Adelman: Vice President, Brand InnovatorsMarty Adelstein: CEO, Tomorrow StudiosMichael Adler: Partner of Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler, Feldman & Clark.Jeff Astrof: Television ProducerMoran Atias: ActressEve Barlow: Music JournalistJonathanBaruch: Rain Management GroupRichard Baskind: Partner & Head of Music, Simons Muirhead & BurtonAton Ben-Horin: Global Vice President of A&R for Warner Music GroupMiles Beard: SVP of A&R at APGPablo Bendersky: Producer/ArtistSteven Bensusan: President, Blue Note Entertainment GroupAdam Berkowitz: Founder and President, Lenore Entertainment GroupSharon Bialy: Bialy Thomas and AssociatesJosh Binder: Partner, Rotherberg, Mohr, and Binder LLPTodd Black: Film ProducerNeil Blair: Partner, The Blair PartnershipSelma Blair: ActressJared Bloch: Attorney, Felker, Toczek, Suddleson, & Abramson LLPEvan Bogart: Songwriter & Co-Founder of Boardwalk Entertainment GroupRuth Bornhauser: Thruline EntertainmentJosh Brill: Music JournalistMichael Bubl: ArtistDavid Byrnes: Partner at Ziffren, Brittenham, LLPAaron Cohen: ActorMarkell Casey: Senior Director, Creative, PULSE Music GroupBrian Celler: Bravo Charlie ManagementEmmanuelle Chriqui: Actress, ActivistRaye Cosbert: Metropolis Music. Managing Director of Metropolis MusicIvoryDaniel: President, Regime ManagementJoshDeutsch: Chairman/CEO - Premier Music GroupKoshaDillz: Artist, RapperDavidDraiman: Frontman of DisturbedDavid Sacks: Executive Producer, Never Give Up ProductionsCraigEmanuel: Partner, Paul Hastings LLCRonFair: Record Producer & CEO, Faircraft Inc.SharonFarber: ComposerDanielFederman: Owner, Maccabi Tel AvivPatti Felker: Partner, Felker, Toczek, Suddleson, & Abramson LLPKenFermaglich: United Talent AgencyMarcFineman: Founder and President FINE GroupBryan Freedman: Freedman & Taitelman, LLPJosh Fluxgold: President One Way MGMTEricaForster: VP of music partnerships at DanceOnGaryFoster: Principal in Krasnoff Foster ProductionsDarylFriedman: The Recording Academy / GRAMMYs on the Hill Chief Advocacy & Industry Relations OfficerDavidGardner: President, Artists FirstStephenGates: Founder and Partner Ellipsis Entertainment GroupAndrewGenger: Red Light ManagementGaryGersh: President, Global Touring, A.E.G.GaryGinsberg: Senior VP, SoftBank Group Corp.KarenGlauber: President, HITS MagazineDavidGlick: Founder & CEO, Edge Group, & Chairman, Tap MusicMichaelGlouberman: Television Writer and ProducerElonGold: Actor, ComedianRichardGoldgewicht: DirectorAlistairGoldsmith: Manager, Chosen MusicMichaelGoldwasser: Record Producer & President/Co-Founder of Easy Star RecordsMitchell Gossett: Industry Entertainment PartnersAndrew Gould: EVP Music Publishing, Roc NationTrudyGreen: Trudy Green Management/HKScottGreenberg: Manager and Partner at LBI EntertainmentMarcHamou: Manager/Partner, Thruline EntertainmentRonnieHarris: Partner, Harris & Trotter LLPJo Hart: Founder, Hart MediaNeilJacobson: Founder of Hallwood MediaMax Jacoby: Director of Development, 87NorthBarry Jossen: President & Head, A+E StudiosDeclan Joyce: ActorZach Katz: President of Raised In SpaceLeeKern: Writer, Comedian, ActorScottKluge: President, Tremendous EntertainmentAmanda Kogan: Agent, The Gersh AgencyWalter Kolm: CEO, W.K. EntertainmentRickKrim: Co-Founder, Worldwired MusicMattLabov: Manager/PublicistSherryLansing: Former CEO of Paramount PicturesEstelleLasher: Lasher GroupColinLester: CEO, JEM ArtistsDavidLevy: Former President of Turner/WarnerMedia, Founder of Back Nine VenturesDavidLevy: Partner, William Morris Endeavor EntertainmentDavidLonner: CEO, The David Lonner Co.Jordan Lonner: Talent Agent, UTABenMaddahi: SVP A&R, Columbia RecordsGabrielMann: Composer/ProducerSusan Markheim: Full Stop Management, The Azoff CompanyOrlyAgai Marley: President, Tuff Gong WorldwideNancy Matalon: VP of A&R, Spirit Music GroupMatisyahu: ArtistMeghanMcCain: Co-Host, The ViewWilliamMercer: Thruline EntertainmentDavidNimmer: AttorneyLeetalNissenbaum: VP of Synchronization and Licensing - Ultra RecordsLisaNupoff: Manager, IMIN MusicMandiPerkins: Artist, Songwriter, ProducerMikePraw DavidRenzer: Former Chairman/CEO of Universal Music PublishingBournRich: Social Justice Street Artist, Clothing DesignerRachel Riley: Television HostLindyRobbins: SongwriterJaimisonM. Roberts: Attorney at LawHannaRochelle: Founder & President, Lyric CultureDan Rosen: President of Warner Music Australasia MichaelRotenberg: Partner, 3 Arts EntertainmentHaim Saban: Chairman and CEO, Saban Capital GroupNancySanders: Partner,Thruline EntertainmentPaulSchindler: Senior Chair of the New York Entertainment and Media PracticeSteveSchnur: President of Music, Electronic ArtsJordanSchnur: CEO, Mimran Schur PicturesSamSchwartz: Partner, Gorfaine/Schwartz AgencyAdam Schweitzer: ICM PartnersEricSenat: Film ProducerCamilaSeta: Marketing & Content Strategy at Rogers & CowanAlan Siegel: G-BASE BenSilverman: Chairman and CEO of Propagate ContentGeneSimmons: Artist/KISSRalphSimon: Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Mobilium Global LimitedMartySinger: Attorney, Lavely and SingerJeffSosnow: EVP A&R Warner Bros. RecordsDonna Spievak: Director of Strategic Marketing - Interscope RecordsJonathanSteinsapir: Partner Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert LLPGaryStiffelman: Founder, GSS LawAaronSymonds: Film ComposerTraciSzymanski: President, Co-Star Entertainment/Isrealife Media GroupAlonaTal: Singer, ActressAdamTaylor: President, APM MusicNina Tassler: Co-Founder/Partner, PatMa ProductionsNoaTishby: Author, Producer, ActorFredToczek: Partner, Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson LLPJonathan Tropper: Screenwriter, Author, ProducerJonathanTucker: ActorJeremyVuernick: Executive VP of A&RDianeWarren: Songwriter, ProducerJonWeinbach: Executive Vice-President of Mandalay Sports MediaNolaWeinstein : Twitter, Global Head of Culture & ExperientialRonWest: Partner, Thruline EntertainmentEvanWiniker: Managing Partner, Range MediaJeffreyWinter: Executive Director, The Film CollaborativeSharonTal Yguado: Founder & CEO, Astrid Entertainment

** Note - The signers of this statement do so as individuals on their own behalf and not on behalf of their companies or organizations. All organizations and companies listed are for affiliation purposes only.

ABOUT CREATIVE COMMUNITY FOR PEACE:

Founded by entertainment industry executives, Creative Community for Peace (CCFP) is a non-profit organization comprised of prominent members of the entertainment industry who have come together to promote the arts as a means to peace, to counter antisemitism within the entertainment industry, and to galvanize support against the cultural boycott of Israel. CCFP is apolitical and does not stand for any government official or party. Instead, CCFP believes in artists and their ability to affect lives and effect positive change in the world. For more information please visit: creativecommunityforpeace.com

SOURCE Creative Community for Peace

Creative Community For Peace

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Entertainment Leaders Call on Celebrities and Influencers to Stop Spreading Misinformation about Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - PRNewswire

Last Call A prime-time read of whats going down in Florida politics.

First Shot

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the bill implementing the new Seminole Compact, teeing it up for a floor vote as soon as Tuesday.

Senators were largely amenable to SB 2A, the chambers main piece of legislation for the Special Session on gaming. St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes was the only lawmaker to vote against the bill as it cleared the committee on an 18-1 vote.

The Senates fast pace indicates the Special Session will be a short one.

Assuming the bill passes the chamber on Tuesday, senators will stick around for the House to give it the OK on Wednesday before turning the lights off and heading home.

Day 1 wasnt without drama, however.

Minutes after House Speaker Chris Sprowls gaveled in the Special Session, he announced that online casino gaming was off the table.

Some language in the Compact could be construed to lead to the backdoor expansion of online gaming, Sprowls said. Even the mere possibility of this was unacceptable, and therefore Chairman (Paul) Renner, Chairman (Randy) Fine, and I engaged directly with the Seminole Tribe on this issue.

The online gaming provision required the state and Tribe to enter good faith negotiations on allowing online casino games within the next three years.

Removing the provision brought some reticent lawmakers back into the yea column, which will likely keep the Legislature on track for a Wednesday afternoon Sine Die.

___

Conservative journalist Christina Pushaw will take over as Gov. Ron DeSantis press secretary.

Pushaw has worked as a freelance journalist with articles running in conservative outlets such as The National Interest and Human Events. She also has a background in public policy and international political communication.

However, what likely caught the eye of the DeSantis administration were her rebuttals to Rebekah Jones allegations that the state Department of Health, at the administrations request, was misrepresented coronavirus infections and deaths.

Former DeSantis communications director Helen Aguirre Ferr said Pushaw comfortably stands up to would-be cyberbullies and those that regularly defame and lie. As such, she is a natural fit to work in Gov. DeSantis communications shop as he continues to lead Florida safely and successfully through the challenges brought upon our state and nation as a result of a global pandemic.

Pushaw is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where she earned a bachelors degree in history, and Johns Hopkins University, where she earned a masters degree in international relations and economics.

Coronavirus Numbers

Positive cases:

2,251,148 FL residents (+1,938 since Sunday)

42,832 Non-FL residents (+38 since Sunday)

Origin:

18,086 Travel related

902,618 Contact with a confirmed case

24,477 Both

1,305,967 Under investigation

Hospitalizations:

93,148 in FL

Deaths:

36,857 in FL

Vaccinations:

16,514,520 Doses administered

9,608,397 Total people vaccinated

2,012,175 First dose

690,099 Completed one-dose series (+6,879 since Sunday)

6,906,123 Completed two-dose series (+34,528 since Sunday)

Evening Reads

Joel Greenberg pleads guilty in federal court after striking cooperation deal via Martin E. Comas of the Orlando Sentinel

Democrats confront reality on voting rights: Congress probably isnt coming to the rescue via Mike DeBonis of The Washington Post

How the Republican push to restrict voting could affect our elections via Geoffrey Skelley of FiveThirtyEight

Supreme Court to hear abortion case challenging Roe v. Wade via Adam Liptak of The New York Times

Endorsement? Rick Scott says Ron DeSantis will continue to lead the party into 2022 via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics

Florida lawmakers consider gambling pact with Seminole Tribe via Brendan Farrington and Bobby Caina Calvan of The Associated Press

DeSantis staff lobbies lawmakers ahead of Special Session on gaming via Haley Brown of Florida Politics

House enlists gaming expert to help lawmakers navigate Seminole Tribe Compact via Jason Delgado of Florida Politics

Senate panel OKs Gaming Compact via Renzo Downey of Florida Politics

Tribe tries to ease concerns about gambling deal via Dara Kam of News Service of Florida

House Republicans demand last-minute change to gambling deal with Seminoles via Gary Fineout of POLITICO

As FL considers casino expansion, advocates want to protect against problem gambling via Issac Morgan of the Florida Phoenix

Prospect of online casino gaming axed from Seminole Tribe Compact via Jason Delgado of Florida Politics

Online poker dropped from Florida gambling deal via Skyler Swisher of the Orlando Sentinel

Houses fantasy sports bill could block weekend leagues via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics

Jeb Bush speaks out against new casino gambling measures via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics

Chris Latvala talks Special Session gamblinglegislation via Kelly Hayes of Florida Politics

Dan Daley pushes to preserve Standardbred horse racing as Special Sessionbegins via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics

Dont overlook Democrats hard-fought wins for everyday Floridians this Session via Lauren Book for the Tallahassee Democrat

Lawsuit alleges massive cover-up, lies in Hialeah police chase and killing of motorist via David Ovalle of the Miami Herald

Quote of the Day

Are you pleading guilty to these charges because you are guilty? United States Magistrate Judge Leslie Hoffman.

Yes. Joel Greenberg, pleading guilty to sex trafficking of a child and other crimes.

Bill Days Latest

Breakthrough Insights

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Last Call for 5.17.21 A prime-time read of what's going down in Florida politics - Florida Politics

Clark Countys first day of election filing week wrapped up with a few surprises, as 66 candidates declared campaigns for 53 offices as of 5 p.m.

Many candidates filed paperwork for their already-declared 2021 campaigns, formalizing an election year already well underway. A few announced their intent to run on Monday.

In Vancouver, Kara Tess quietly registered her intent to seek Position 2 on the city council currently held by Erik Paulsen. Tess, who hadnt previously announced her campaign, didnt return The Columbians request for comment.

Paulsen also filed his reelection campaign Monday, as did the currently unopposed Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. Candidates Kim Harless, Mike Pond and John Blom made official their previously announced bids for Vancouver City Council Position 1, while Diana Perez and David Gellatly filed for Position 3. Both council seats are wide open, with their incumbents not seeking reelection in the fall.

Elsewhere in Clark County, two candidates are running for mayor of Camas: current Camas City Councilor Steve Hogan, and Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jennifer Senescu.

Hogan announced his bid late last week, following the abrupt resignation of Camas Mayor Barry McDonnell. Senescu launched her campaign in tandem with her filing on Monday.

Tim Hein also filed his campaign to fill Hogans seat on the city council.

In Battle Ground, so-far uncontested candidates Troy McCoy, Adrian Cortes and Neil Butler filed their campaigns for city council, while Cherish DesRochers and Josie Calderon are both running for Position 6.

A competitive race is also underway in La Center, with Janice Fowler and T.R. Randy Williams both running for Position 3; Ron Ostrander and Dennis Hill are thus far running for their city council seats unchallenged.

In Woodland, Keith Bellisle,Jenn Rowland and David Plaza are officially seeking city council positions 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Ridgefields Ron Onslow, Don Stose and Jennifer Lindsay also filed currently uncontested bids for city council seats. Washougals Paul Greenlee is currently the only official candidate for mayor, and David Stuebe, Molly Coston and Julie Russell are all running for the city council without filed opponents. Michelle Dawson and Joshua Beck are running for two seats on the Yacolt Town Council.

Another 17 people filed campaigns to sit on the countys school district boards. Six fire commissioner candidates, three port commission hopefuls, two would-be wastewater district commissioners, two people seeking Superior Court judges seats and a single cemetery district commissioner candidate also filed their paperwork Monday.

Anyone running for a local office needs to file their candidacy with the Clark County Elections Department this week. The department will continue to accept online campaign declarations through 4 p.m. Friday, and candidates can also file in person through 5 p.m. Friday in the elections office at 1408 Franklin St. in Vancouver.

The paperwork for filing online can be found at clark.wa.gov/elections. Candidates must have a valid email address and be registered to vote in Clark County. Fees can be paid via credit or debit card.

Those filing in-person cannot use credit cards. Due to COVID-19 social distancing regulations, only a limited number of candidates will be permitted in the office at a time.

The primary election will be held Aug. 2 and the general election will be held Nov. 2.

Link:
Election filing week kicks off with a few surprises - The Columbian

Photo-Illustration: by Vulture; Photo by Shutterstock

For actor Paul Bettany, all roads lead back to the one he trudges down in A Knights Tale. The argument holds water when you consider how his American studio-feature-film debut planted the seeds for a robust screen-acting career that has put the BAFTA-nominated performer toe-to-toe with Tom Hanks (The Da Vinci Code) and Russell Crowe (A Beautiful Mind, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World), had him co-leading prestigious small-screen and indie dramas (Discoverys Manhunt: Unabomber, Margin Call), and launched him into some of todays largest entertainment franchises with Solo: A Star Wars Story and, of course, 13 years voicing J.A.R.V.I.S. and playing Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

As the story goes, Bettanys performance as a fictionalized Geoffrey Chaucer in A Knights Tale so impressed filmmaker Brian Helgeland that when Ron Howard needed an actor to play Charles Herman, the imaginary roommate and confidant to Crowes schizophrenic mathematician in A Beautiful Mind, he threw Bettanys name up for consideration. The job was his. He met his future wife, Jennifer Connelly, on set; both Howard and Crowe became repeat Bettany collaborators down the line; and forward the world spun. Life is really curly, and you can keep doing that because its all this sort of continuous rolling kind of weird journey, Bettany reflects by Zoom from his rented London flat. The truth is, one thing always leads to another.

A Knights Tale is remembered not just for its fusing of period-specific 14th century flourishes with a contemporary pop-rock soundtrack and other modern nods, but for being a Heath Ledger breakout vehicle. The late Oscar winner stars as peasant and squire William Thatcher, who, upon his employers death, adopts the knights armor (and the name Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein) to change his stars and follow his dreams as a master swordsman and jouster. Flanked by two fellow squires (played by Alan Tudyk and Mark Addy), William stumbles upon a nude and muddied Chaucer, the esteemed Canterbury Tales author and poet of the Middle Ages. He agrees to forge documents proving Thatchers noble lineage in exchange for clothes, food, and companionship. Thus begins a rollicking buddy action-comedy-romance that made a star out of Ledger and helped solidify its supporting players as future screen stalwarts.

In recognition of the films 20th anniversary, Bettany fresh off his run on Disney+ and Marvels WandaVision took a break from filming the upcoming A Very British Scandal (in which he and Claire Foy dramatize the notoriously contentious divorce of the duke and duchess of Argyll) to reminisce on his time filming, his intoxicated (and admittedly blurry) bonding with Ledger and Helgeland, and the wrap present that to this day makes him blush in memory.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of filming A Knights Tale 20 years ago?Well, what year was it?

It came out in May 2001, so you mustve been filming in 2000.The first thing that comes to mind is Brian Helgeland, who really supported me and had tried to get me on a previous film [called The Sin Eater, which was later made in 2003 as The Order, reuniting A Knights Tale actors Ledger, Addy, and Shannyn Sossamon without Bettany], but the studio didnt want me.

This was for The Sin Eater?Yeah, and the studio didnt want me. He fought and fought and fought and then he decided he was going to write me something that wasnt the lead so that he could sneak me in. So he did, and I auditioned, and the studio didnt want me. And he flew me over to meet with everybody, and I auditioned. They looked at the tape and decided they didnt want me. [Laughs] So I went home, and I came out again; he flew me out and I auditioned again. And they decided they didnt want me. And finally, Brian said, All right, Im not gonna make the movie. And I think that they had such a going concern with Heath, who was suddenly a big star, I guess, from 10 Things I Hate About You is that what its called? that they didnt want to lose the picture. So they thought, All right, well let him have this gangly, blond actor from England. Im really glad they did let him!

What was your read of the situation when you were getting that feedback?I think I was too young and naive to have any thoughts regarding it except to think I wasnt good enough.

What was it that developed your relationship with Brian in the first place?The story Brian told me was that I had sent in a video I went to a casting director I dont know who it was in England, and I tested. I did an audition and I sent it off into the world and then didnt think about it nor did he because he didnt get to see it. And then he found the video in some office in L.A. for Sin Eater, and he was like, Oh, I like this guy! Whos this guy? And then he flew over to London and did a proper screen test with a crew and everything and God bless him, I dont know why. I mean, I guess we just really enjoyed each others company and he recognized in me, maybe I dont know! Maybe he recognized somebody like himself who was trying to sort of, like in A Knights Tale, change their stars. Plus, we have a shared love of the Beatles.

I had assumed you might have been friends beforehand, but it turns out he was just a fan of yours.Oh, no! I hadnt even met an American at that point.

Looking at the way A Knights Tale really plays with genre and modernizes some aspects while keeping others period-specific was that playfulness appealing to you? What made you want to play this character in the first place?Oh, Ben having a job was appealing to me! I was just trying to pay my rent at that point in my life and just get experience. I fell in love with being in front of cameras. Well, let me clarify: I hate being in front of still cameras, but [I loved] being in front of movie cameras, and I loved everything about being on a set, and I had a sort of voracious appetite for knowledge about how its done. And so I was just excited to go and play in another movie.

What kind of research, if any, went into playing Chaucer?Theres not really a lot you can do, except reading The Canterbury Tales. Theres not a great deal of source material on that, so no, I was just sort of making it up as I went along, I think.

For your first scene in the film, youre butt naked, for lack of a better phrase. Youre covered in mud. Was that a daunting ask for you to bare it all on screen?I didnt really think about it at that point. The idea was: If you could pull off being naked and covered in mud and still have a smile on your face, the audience is probably going to love you. That was, Im sure, Brians idea for writing it like that.

No, I wasnt daunted at walking naked I was much more daunted at I remember costume coming to me, and I went, Oh! Ive got a costume? I thought I was naked. And they brought my costume, which was a Day-Glo yellow sock.

I can imagine what that was for Well, I didnt! I couldnt! I said, Whats this for? And they said, Um, its to put on your penis. And I said, Well, why would I put a Day-Glo yellow sock on my penis? And they went, In case you feel embarrassed. And I went, The one thing more embarrassing than walking down the street naked in front of people is walking down the street with a Day-Glo sock on your penis. So we didnt go with the sock. Actually, my wrap gift from Brian Helgeland was because it was all on film all the cut footage of my penis in a film tin that must be somewhere in my house, never to have been shown.

Have you revisited that footage, or its just good to know its in a safe place?Well, you know, I havent a projector, so I never really thought about revisiting it.

Speaking of costumes, a lot of people love the jacket that costume designer Caroline Harris had you in as Chaucer. What are the chances thats still hanging in your closet?I dont know that in real life that jacket would have worked on me. I cant imagine a situation where I might find myself wearing that jacket. Not to in any way deride the jacket the jackets marvelous, in a medieval-pop comedy. But I dont think, walking down the streets of New York City it doesnt feel like a good choice for me, sartorially speaking.

Tell me a little bit about these big introductory speech scenes before the jousting tournaments. Howd you go about memorizing those lines? Was anything ad-libbed?I remember on the first day, there was a big list of names I just had to recite a bunch of names, and I just couldnt learn it. I said, Look, youre just gonna have to put it on the wall behind this actors head so I can do it. Because theres no logic to it, and I couldnt learn it. I remember all the producers getting very worried, like, Hes got these huge speeches coming up! And the difference between huge speeches and lists is that I dont really have to I dont know what to say about this because I know some people who do learn lines. I dont ever learn my lines. It never comes to the point, really, where Im learning lines because they just start sticking to whatever the idea of the speech is. They just start sticking, and hopefully they stick in the right order.

There wasnt really improvisation. But there was a lot with the speeches of me going to Brian saying, Oh, what about this? and him going away with that idea and rewriting. But Brian is a really great writer; Ive never felt the need to mess with his words.

At this point, there was a lot of buzz around Heaths career after 10 Things I Hate About You, The Patriot. But you were 28, 29; he was 20, 21. Was that a felt age difference, or were you quick friends? What can you tell us about working with him?I can tell you that he just had a light that shined off him. He was a movie star, you know? Just immediately, you met him, and he shone, as you lot say, and it was very hard not to fall in love with him I think for anybody. He was a very playful, joyous spirit.

For the two weeks prior to filming, Ive read, you, Heath, Brian, and the rest of the cast had a rehearsal period that turned into mostly drinking and bonding in Prague, is that right?Yeah, its a little blurry. Or maybe I was a little blurry. But yeah, we became a really tight-knit group that really enjoyed each others company, and it was just a really funny time. You can imagine: We were all young and in the Czech Republic all together having a ball. And then at some point, it turned out we had to start working, but it never really felt like work at all.

My understanding from there is that it was also Brian who put you on Ron Howards radar for A Beautiful Mind, and then you can connect the dots from there to several other projects, and to several personal developments in your life including meeting your wife, Jennifer Connelly. Is it funny for you to be able to link it all back to A Knights Tale?Theres so much of that, though. Life is really curly and you can keep doing that because its all this sort of continuous rolling kind of weird journey. The truth is, one thing always leads to another, so yes, I believe that is true. But other things are true: I remember Peter Weir had an issue when my name was put up for being in Master and Commander, with my being blond. [He] couldnt believe that I could look brunette, and he really wanted the character to be brunette. So my manager sneaked into his hotel and left a video of me in another film where I was a brunette outside his door. So, you know, theres all of those stories.

A Knights Tale also showcases your comedic skills, which you havent always had the chance to flex until something like WandaVision, where youre playing with all those sitcom mini-genres. Is comedy something you wouldve liked to explore a bit more in your career or that you hope to in the future?I dont really think like that. There are certain sorts of comedy that I just dont think Id be any good at at all. But I mostly respond to a mixture of the material just being really good and speaking to me or a sort of quite bullish desire to do something thats very opposite of what Ive just done. And I cant shake that. Im not sure its particularly helpful for a young actor because I sort of always wanted to be a character actor and play lots of different sorts of roles. But I happened to be coming up at a time when branding yourself was really happening and you branded yourself as this sort of an actor. And I just didnt want to.

Im hoping its going to pay dividends now as Im not in my 20s any longer, but I cant shake that thing, you know? Right now is an example, in point of fact: I finished WandaVision, where Im playing Vision, whos an incredibly sort of warm, Jimmy Stewart sort of character. And now Im doing this thing with Claire Foy where Im a misogynistic drunk duke whos incredibly cold and cut off. So I still have that instinct.

As a final question for you, we really are taking a walk down memory lane here: If you could give your younger self any piece of advice, something that youve learned over the years that wouldve been helpful back then, what would it be?Id say this: 90 percent, maybe more, 95 percent, of the things that youre gonna spend the next 30 years worrying about are never gonna happen, and if you worry about each and every single one of them, youre going to be exhausted when a real crisis comes up. So keep your worry powder dry, and enjoy being young. I think that being young is almost wasted on the youth, you know? Its so vital, its such a vital time. I really try and teach that to my kids. Its extraordinary. Its just extraordinary, and the world is opening up for you, and it will open up for you. Dont worry so much.

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Paul Bettany Answers Every Question We Have About A Knights Tale - Vulture

Decades before Spotify, Pandora, and even satellite radio, terrestrial (land-based) AM and FM radio reigned supreme. Many listeners, including Utica resident Ron Robinson, idolized the disc jockeys just as much as the artists they played.

Robinson, 51, is working on a documentary film entitled Radio Dayz The Movie, which focuses on the history of radio, including the early days of Detroit radio. (The film) tells the story of radio through the people who worked in radio, he said.

Robinson interviewed several well-known radio personalities such as Paul W. Smith, Dick Purtain, Fred Jacobs, Dick Kernen, and more for the film. Robinson, who worked for WJR for 20 years before starting his own production company, has several connections in the industry. He started interviewing for the documentary in 2013.

Most people think of radio, they think of New York, California, and Chicago, and rightfully so. But, Detroit has been an important and ground-breaking city for the medium of radio, Robinson said.

The documentary is a chronological look at the history of radio, starting with the first radio stations. It also takes aim at the first radio celebrity, Fr. Charles Coughlin. The Detroit-area priest took to the airways in the 1920s and eventually garnered an audience of 30 million to his weekly radio show. Coughlin would later become a polarizing figure as World War II approached. Hes on the wrong side of history, if you will, Robinson said.

Other notable glimpses into radios history are also featured in the film, including President Franklin D. Roosevelts Fireside Chats and the healing effect these popular radio segments would have on a nation crippled by The Great Depression and the war.

Then I go and talk about the 1940s and 1950s and what Elvis and the Beatles mean to radio. Theres a part about how radio changed when TV became the mainstay in everybodys house, Robinson said.

Robinsons podcast Radio Dayz! delves into the history of radio as well and has served as a promotional piece for the documentary. What we do is let listeners in on what happened behind the scenes in radio, he said. Most people know their (radio personalities) voices, but not their story.

The documentary has served as a labor of love for Robinson. And although it is not yet complete, he plans to wrap up the project soon. He had hoped to finish in time for WWJs 100th anniversary but was unable to interview key radio personalities due to COVID-19 restrictions.

He said it is important to preserve radios history for future generations, especially today when few people even own a radio. There are so many stories people dont know and I want to share that with people because I think they will be better off and more enriched and appreciate where this country has been, he said.

When the film is complete, possibly later this year, Robinson hopes to have it available to stream.

This is Robinsons fourth documentary film. He also produced It Takes a Village, Networking, Your Business The Movie, and If You Build It, They Will Come. The later film focuses on the development of Jimmy Johns Field in Utica.

In addition to making documentary films, Robinson is a photographer and aerial/drone media pilot. His production company, Ron Robinson Studios, also offers video marketing services for businesses.

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Utica man producing film about the history of radio - The Oakland Press

All three appointments must be confirmed by the Florida Senate.

In a slew of Friday appointments, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced three new appointees to the Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board.

DeSantis announced, in a press release, the appointment of William Hogarth, Paul Jack Bispham and Johnnie Hall to the districts Governing Board.

All three appointments must be confirmed by the Florida Senate.

Hogarth, from Treasure Island, is the former director of the Florida Institute of Oceanography at the University of South Florida. Previously, Hogarth served as dean of the University of South Floridas College of Marine Science and as the assistant administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Services at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Hogarth earned his bachelors and masters degrees in biology from the University of Richmond and a doctorate degree in marine fisheries from North Carolina State University.

Bispham, lives in Myakka City and owns and operates Red Bluff Plantation and Pauls Parrish. Previously Bispham owned and operated Bayside Sod.

Bispham has served on the Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board before. He has been a member since 2019 and previously served on the Manasota Basin Board. Bispham has also served on the Sarasota Planning Commission and is a member of the Sarasota Sportsmens Association and The Argus Foundation. Bispham earned his bachelors degree in agriculture from the University of Florida.

Hall, from Auburndale, is a Cattle Rancher and owns Polk Community Association Management. Previously, he served two terms on the Polk County Board of County Commissioners.

Hall is also a member of the Polk County Cattlemans Association and a Registered Environmental Manager with the National Registry of Environmental Professionals.

Hall earned his bachelors degree in business administration from Saint Leo University.

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Gov. DeSantis appoints three to the Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board - Florida Politics

The truth is out there at the 40th annual Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival.

In a handful of outdoor screenings and hundreds of online ones, the festival shows dozens of films from 70 countries.

The May 13-23 event boasts thrillers, comedies and experimental efforts, but many of the best I've screened in advance are documentaries. The Holocaust-themed "Love It Was Not" and music docs "The Sparks Brothers" and "Karen Dalton: In My Own Time" find inventive ways to explore their very different subjects. Even the more traditional "Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It," made for PBS' "American Masters" series, uses animation to stretch the traditional bounds of nonfiction filmmaking.

This year's festival is the first without its co-founder, Twin Cities film icon Al Milgrom, who died in December. The event pays tribute to him in the form of an annual Milgrom series, this year spotlighting movies made by his Oscar-nominated pal Agnieszka Holland, who'll also appear in a live Zoom call. She's one of several top filmmakers in the fest, which includes Germany's Christian Petzold, an MSPIFF regular whose fairy tale-derived latest is called "Undine," and France's Franois Ozon, whose "Summer of '85" is a nostalgic love story.

Closer to home, MSPIFF includes several made-in-Minnesota projects, starting with "The Claw." Based on a play that premiered at St. Paul's History Theatre in 2007, "The Claw" is Philip Harder's portrait of pro wrestler Baron von Raschke (aka Jim Raschke), largely seen through the eyes of his adoring kids.

Another Minnesota icon, explorer Will Steger, is featured in "After Antarctica." It's a look back at Steger's 1989 trip across the continent. Short film "Ignited States," meanwhile, examines the year of activism that has followed in the wake of George Floyd's murder.

That's just scratching the surface. Your best bet is to explore the festival's site and plunge in. Here are thoughts on the titles I've seen, beginning with my favorite:

"Love It Was Not" Historical documentaries often lack footage of the time they're trying to recapture. Writer/director Maya Sarfaty's ingenious solution is to cut up still images as if they're paper dolls and manipulate them into different settings and actions. The technique gives the film an elegiac, handmade quality that amplifies the reminiscences of elderly Auschwitz survivors who recall a Slovakian Jewish woman's shocking relationship with her SS captor. He's also featured and while he says it was love, she describes something else.

"My Donkey, My Lover and I" Fans of the French comedy series "Call My Agent!" will recognize irresistible Laure Calamy as the lovelorn assistant on that Netflix show. She's even more irresistible here as a quirky teacher whose smug, married lover cancels their vacation because he's taking a mountain hiking trip with his family. She follows, inexpertly spying on her unworthy lover while trying to wrangle the donkey she accidentally hired to accompany her on the hike. The ass' name is Vladimir. The donkey's name is Patrick.

"Karen Dalton: In My Own Time" "Whether you like it or not, you have to enter her world, and it's a despairing world," says Nick Cave near the start of a biographical documentary that, indeed, describes quite a bit of sadness. Dalton was a wildly original folkie Bob Dylan called "my favorite singer," but her personal life was a nightmare. Featuring tons of well-identified music, the compassionate doc does exactly what you'd hope it would. I'd never heard of Dalton but, after seeing the film, I want to listen to every note she ever recorded.

"The Whaler Boy" The Russian drama, a kind of brutal fairy tale, is endlessly surprising. Two teenage boys grow up on the Bering Strait. One longs to go to America, with Alaska a tantalizing 70 miles away. The other has a different so-near-yet-so-far dream. He has fallen in love on an internet porn site. The Venice Film Festival prize winner opens like a humdrum character study but morphs into a stirring story of immigration, compassion and home.

"Ane Is Missing" Borrowing some of the observational style of Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne ("Two Days, One Night"), the Spanish drama tracks the fraught relationship of security guard Lide, who works for a company building a train route, and daughter Ane, who protests against the train. The politics are compelling but what drives the movie is the role-switching between a principled teenager and her impulsive mom, who gave birth to her daughter before she knew how to be an adult.

"The Sparks Brothers" Director Edgar Wright ("Scott Pilgrim vs. the World") geeks out in a love letter to the cult band, still going strong in its fifth, hit-free decade. It's an inventive doc even the interviews are cleverly photographed and brothers Ron and Russell Mael clearly still get a bang out of each other. There's lots of period footage alongside contemporary interviews that reveal the band's huge influence on many top pop acts.

"Dream Horse" It's such a conventional movie that you can name half a dozen others where a community in Great Britain unites behind an inspiring cause ("Waking Ned Devine," "The Full Monty"). But darned if it doesn't work again. Toni Collette plays a hardworking, impoverished woman in picturesque Wales who decides to breed a racehorse, which she does with the help of her neighbors and results in many twists. All of it might not seem credible except it really happened.

"Hotel Coppelia" "This movie is for the unsung women who resisted the foreign invasion," reads the dedication of this handsome drama. It's set in a Dominican Republic brothel, whose residents/employees are a bright, varied bunch. Their home is a surreal oasis from the civil war ripping apart their country until soldiers first Dominicans, then Americans bust in.

"Mickey on the Road" The story is familiar a road trip leads two young women to surprising revelations. But when you're as assured a visual stylist as Taiwanese writer/director Mian-Mian Lu, who cares? On a guess, she's a fan of Wong Kar-wai's "Chungking Express" and its candy-colored, neon-lit images. Lu's trippy visuals peak in a scene backdropped by a gilt-and-bejeweled dragon headboard, in front of which appears pink-haired Gin Gin. She stands behind a window that has streams of golden syrup drizzling down, prompting her to begin licking all of it up.

"The Claw" Wrestling legend Baron von Raschke is the subject of a loving documentary, directed by Philip Harder and produced by the grappler's son Karl. Sweet recollections from the producer and sister Heidi (full disclosure both are former co-workers) paint a dual portrait of the brash, "German"-accented Baron von Raschke in the ring and tender, supportive, Nebraska-native Jim Raschke at home.

"Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It" The portrait of the EGOT-winner inspires by showing how often she has reinvented her career to come back from the brink of tragedies, including a suicide attempt after Marlon Brando dumped her. It's standard soul-baring but Moreno is unusually candid, especially when she revisits lows such as being raped by her agent and not firing him because "I thought so little of myself."

"Hollywood Fringe" The latest from former Minnesotans Wyatt McDill and Megan Huber turns on an interesting idea. The art and life of Los Angeles actors Travis (Justin Kirk) and Samantha (Jennifer Prediger) are so intertwined that we can't always tell if we're watching their home life or a fringe festival play inspired by it. The plot occasionally is too "Inside Hollywood" but most of the jokes land.

"Devil's Pie: D'Angelo" The story of the notoriously sexy singer, who virtually disappeared for 14 years, should be more interesting than it is in this slow-moving, unrevealing documentary. Long story short: The product of a churchgoing clan was not comfortable with his image and he did way too many drugs.

Chris Hewitt 612-673-4367

Minneapolis St. Paul International Film FestivalWhen: May 13-23.Where: Como Lakeside Pavilion, St. Paul, and at mspfilm.org.Tickets: $10-$15. Multi-film passes also available at mspfilm.org.

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Twin Cities' biggest film fest includes 'Claw,' hits from around the world - Minneapolis Star Tribune