Cop’s hand injured – civilian executed with eight shots in return: Once again a Columbus Police Department (CPD) officer dubiously reveals what a pathetic abject coward he really is (though the Free Press is cautiously suspicious of every version of an officer-involved killing that involves the phrase “I feared for my life.”)

In Franklinton on August 23, Officer Andrew Mitchell shot 23-year-old Donna Dalton (Castleberry) eight times in his cruiser after she allegedly stabbed his hand with a knife.

Think about it. You are a 30-year grizzled veteran on the CPD vice squad. You’ve got 80 prostitution arrests under your belt just this calendar year, because your beat is the west side of the city where young women gather.

You are undercover. You are in an unmarked car. The rest of the story is unclear.

Of course, we don’t have a “he said, she said” situation since “she” is dead. And there are no witnesses.

Crazy Rich Asians has been hailed as a possible game-changer, being the first Hollywood movie in 25 years to feature a predominantly Asian cast. As a harbinger of a more-inclusive future, though, I’d rather look to a smaller film called Searching.

Directed and co-written by Aneesh Chaganty, it’s the story of a widowed father desperately trying to learn why his teenage daughter has suddenly disappeared. This new entry is unusual for two reasons. First, the plot unfolds almost entirely on computer screens as the dad searches the girl’s social-media outlets for clues. And second, the dad is an Asian-American named David Kim (played by Star Trek’s John Cho). 

The offbeat casting seems almost as revolutionary as the offbeat filmmaking.

&Juice Co. has three locations around town and has a fantastic variety of 100 percent vegan juice blends as well as allergen-friendly (gluten-free/nut free, seed-based alternative) options in Columbus. I was positively impressed by their brunch at their Italian Village/4th Street location this past weekend.

If your idea of brunch includes a gluten-free waffle, a grilled cheeze sandwich, an Italian style marinara chickpea-based “meatball” sub, a carrot and lox bagel, or a supercharged infusion of fresh juice, this place is for you. Brunch happens every other weekend.

They have a variety of toasts, too: avocado, hummus, deviled “egg” (tofu) salad and an ever-changing list of specials. All produce is 100 percent source identified organic, most coming from within 20 miles – and they are a minority woman-owned business.

Only one smoothie has honey that can be substituted for agave. This is a great, open space with an inviting clean atmosphere, community seating, and peaceful music in the background.

One woman is willing to sacrifice for the good of the Democratic Party.

Another woman is not.

Betty Sutton, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, originally was a candidate for the gubernatorial nomination.

In the early polls she was running neck-and-neck with Richard Cordray. She would have made history as the first women elected governor of Ohio.

Political leaders and party insiders sat down with her and asked her to make a significant sacrifice. Give up her campaign for the state's highest office and become Cordray's running mate.

She accepted.

One insider told me that Betty Sutton was willing to defer her own ambitions for the good of the party and to increase the chances that a Democrat will win.

This contrasts with 2010 when several Democratic state officeholders declined a relatively safe race for re-election and ran for higher office only to lose and drag down the rest of the ticket with them.

Wednesday, September 5, 2018, 7:00 – 8:30 PM JVP members are inspired by Jewish tradition to work together for peace, social justice, equality, human rights, respect for international law, and a U.S. foreign policy based on these ideals.  All are welcome.   Note new location:  Columbus Public Library, Main Library, Meeting room 3A, 96 S. Grant Ave., Columbus 43215.  Parking available in the library garage.  For more information please contact,  centralohio@jvp.org.