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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Mar 18, 2014
March 18, 2014
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Those @$#%* Foreigners:
Could Venice become a sovereign state for the first time in more than 200 years?
That's what voters are considering in a non-binding referendum on Venetian independence. Venice's online vote, which continues all week, raises the possibility of separating from Italy and becoming the Republic of Veneto. Polls suggest about two-thirds of Venetians back the idea.
About half the region's four million people are expected to vote, but Italian media has taken little notice. Asked whether Italy's constitution would bar secession, the regional governor pointed to international law, which he said provides for "the right to self-determination."
Venice and its surrounding area, Veneto, comprised a sovereign state for a thousand years, until Napoleon overthrew its leader in 1797. (Maiman)Guilty Pleasures:
No winner in Friday night's drawing for the Mega Millions Lottery. That means tonight's drawing is valued at $400 million ($224 million cash value). Mega Millions is played in 43 states, Washington DC and the US Virgin Islands. Chances of winning the big prize are 1 in 258.9 million.
Trash talk and satellite dish:
AMANDA SEYFRIED isn't a fan of flying the friendly skies. The blue-eyed cutie Tweeted a message to the Transportation Safety Administration that she accidentally carried a Swiss Army knife aboard a plane last Friday and called the faux pas: "Scary!" Us Weekly reports the actress has had several problems with airlines over the years and even accused American Airlines of tipping off the paparazzi. (Lee)
KATE HUDSON and MATTHEW BELLEMY may never make it down the aisle. According to Star magazine, Kate has been getting super cozy with "Dancing with the Stars" hunk DEREK HOUGH after hiring him to give her private dance lessons. (Myers)
Grace notes from Vinny Marino:
JASON DERULO will release his new album on April 15th. It's called "Talk Dirty" and features guest appearances from 2 CHAINZ, SNOOP DOGG, TYGA, KID INK and JORDIN SPARKS. You saw Jason do the title track on last night's season premiere of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars." Jason will throw an all-star release party for the new album on April 19th in Las Vegas. (Marino)
Lowering expectations:
A British couple held their wedding reception in style --at Pizza Hut.
49-year-old PAUL YOUNG and his new bride JULIE invited 80 guests to a reception at the restaurant where they first met 14-years ago. Staff at the Salisbury, England, branch dressed up for the occasion with lilac colored aprons over their regular uniforms. The entire wedding party feasted on pizza, then topped it off with a pizza-shaped cake. (Still) -
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