Latest news with #Schwinn
New York Post
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Pee-wee Herman's iconic red bicycle to be permanently displayed at the Alamo
No, it won't be in the basement. The red-and-white souped-up Schwinn bicycle made famous in the 1985 film 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure' will soon have a new permanent home in what is arguably one of the unusual movie tie-ins in the history of celluloid. The bike — which served as the MacGuffin in the Tim Burton-directed cult favorite — will be permanently displayed in the Alamo Visitor Center and Museum in San Antonio to mark the 40th anniversary of the movie's theatrical release. Advertisement 6 The iconic red Schwinn from 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure' will soon be on display for visitors at the Alamo in San Antonio. The Alamo 6 The red-and-white souped-up Schwinn bicycle made famous in the 1985 film 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure' will soon have a new permanent home. ©Warner Bros/courtesy Everett Co 'We are thrilled to add this beloved piece of film history to our collection,' Dr. Kate Rogers, executive eirector of the Alamo Trust, Inc. told CBS affiliate KENS 5. 'The Alamo holds a special place in the hearts of people everywhere, and Pee-wee's Big Adventure helped to introduce a new generation to the historic site. This artifact perfectly illustrates how the Alamo lives on in pop culture, and soon, visitors to Texas' top tourist destination will be able to see it up close in our new world-class museum.' Advertisement In the hit movie, the theft of the titular character's beloved bicycle sparks a madcap multi-state search, during which Pee-wee meets an unscrupulous fortune teller who feeds the desperate hero the misinformation that the stolen cruiser is in the basement of the Alamo. After meeting a slate of oddball characters and having a wild series of misadventures — which finds Pee-wee keeping company with a felon on the run, ticking off a biker gang and hitching a ride with the ghost of a dead trucker named Large Marge — he arrives at the Alamo, only to learn it doesn't even have a basement. Since the release of the film, the bicycle has shared an inexorable connection with the famous fortress among fans and has become a widely recognizable piece of movie memorabilia. Advertisement The movie marked the major motion picture directorial debut of Tim Burton, as well as the first film scored by frequent collaborator Danny Elfman. 6 In the hit movie, the theft of the titular character's beloved bicycle sparks a madcap multi-state search, during which Pee-wee meets an unscrupulous fortune teller who feeds the desperate hero the misinformation that the stolen cruiser is in the basement of the Alamo. The Alamo 6 The bike was made famous by the oddball stage and screen character Pee-wee Herman, portrayed by actor Paul Reubens. ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection It was also the first starring vehicle for Pee-wee Herman, a childlike comedic character created and portrayed by actor Paul Reubens, who was a staple of stage and television throughout the 1980s.. Advertisement Reubens died in 2023 at age 70 after a private battle with cancer. With a production cost of just $7 million, 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure' grossed nearly $41 million ($119 million in 2025 dollars) and sparked a much-maligned and less-successful sequel, 'Big Top Pee-wee' in 1988. 6 Since the release of the film, the bicycle has shared an inexorable connection with the famous fortress among fans and has become a widely recognizable piece of movie memorabilia. The Alamo 6 Reubens died in 2023 at age 70 after a private battle with cancer. ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection The Alamo itself excitedly trumpeted the news of the bike's arrival, sharing on Facebook that it'll be viewable to visitors later this year in a limited showing inside the Ralston Family Collection Center before it's permanently placed in the fall of 2027. 'We'll also be hosting a free public screening of the film in the newly reopened Plaza de Valero. Until then, don't worry… the bike will be stored for safekeeping. Maybe in the basement!' Pee-wee's bike sold at auction to a private collector in May for $125,000 — after it was originally expected to fetch between $30,000 and $60,000, according to People.
Toronto Sun
19-06-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Letters to the Editor, June 19, 2025
Thursday letters Photo by Illustration / Toronto Sun TRUMP THE CAT, CARNEY THE MOUSE Donald Trump using 'Mark' instead of Prime Minister Carney shows that Trump sees a very weak man — he does it more subtly than he did for Justin Trudeau! Trump's still playing Carney — he sees a weakness in Carney. Carney looks completely out of his depth and Trump sees it! I look at Trump the cat, Carney the little mouse! This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Shelley Carrington Jempson (This encounter does not bode well for Canada getting a favourable trade deal with the U.S. But things can change) ADMIRATION IN HIS EYE When I was 10 years old in 1944, I had worked with my father collecting metal to help in the Second World War drive. My father was so proud of me he bought a used Schwinn, balloon tire, longhorn handle bar bicycle for me, I would be the most popular in my neighbourhood. When dad was talking, I looked up at him as the greatest man who ever lived. An old photo shows me fixated at my father in such an adoring gaze — he was my hero, he was the strength, the idol, the person I always wanted to be. He was the person I would follow anywhere. Now, Donald Trump was answering questions outside of the G7 meeting explaining why he had to leave early. Look at the video. Look at the photo. Look at Carney's face, his expression, his complete unashamed adoration for the man who was talking. Carney's look was that of a follower of their hero, a complete worshipping, hanging on every word as if the president was proclaiming a new gospel for politicians. That look, that adoring gaze, the unspoken commitment by Carney that like a faithful disciple, he would follow Trump anywhere. Carney looked at Trump the same as I looked at my father many years ago. We all have heroes, Carney openly showed his hero is Donald Trump. Russ Sanders Ennismore, Ont. (It was quite pathetic compared to what we heard Carney say during the election — elbows up etc. etc. What he is learning is governing is complex and nuanced) NHL Canada Soccer Columnists Canada
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Amid Calls to Close Ed Dept., Schwinn Promises to Aid ‘Most Struggling Schools'
Despite strong opposition to her nomination from some conservative groups, Penny Schwinn faced relatively light questioning from senators Thursday as she seeks to become second in charge of the U.S. Department of Education. Though Democrats probed where she stands on President Donald Trump's plan to shutter the department, the former Tennessee education commissioner appeared to answer questions to their satisfaction. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Democratic Sen. Maggie Hasan of New Hampshire homed in on the administration's move to end grants to train and hire K-12 school mental health professionals — part of a 2022 law that passed with bipartisan support. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter 'Do you think that what the department did helps or hurts the communities that were counting on the funding that they were promised?' she asked. 'If confirmed, do you commit to reigning in the chaos and operational failures that we are seeing at the department?' Schwinn said the department will open a new competition for those grants and promised to 'have an efficient, effective and outcomes-oriented department.' Related She voiced support for Trump's ultimate goal to eliminate the department and repeatedly said states and local communities are in the best position to make decisions about education. As a charter school founder who served in the Delaware and Texas education agencies before leading Tennessee's for four years, Schwinn has a reputation for working across the aisle. She pushed for reading reforms and using pandemic relief funds to implement a statewide tutoring program. A vote on her confirmation is expected in the coming days. 'What we need to do is ensure that we've created a system that is going to drive outcomes,' she told GOP Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana. 'That is not going to happen from the federal government, whether there's a Department of Education or not.' At the same time, Schwinn implied that there is a role for the department in ensuring states intervene in their lowest-performing schools. 'There must be a commitment to ensuring that our most struggling schools improve because our students deserve that,' she said. A 2024 report from the Government Accountability Office found that less than half of states are meeting those requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Schwinn's tenure in Tennessee, for example, included overseeing a state turnaround effort known as the Achievement School District. Considering it a failure, the state legislature recently shut it down and will try another approach. 'There's real tension there,' Thomas Toch, director of FutureEd, a think tank at Georgetown University, told The 74. 'Will the Trump administration make a meaningful commitment to school improvement? Or will [Education Secretary Linda] McMahon and her team dodge that responsibility in the name of local control?' Some observers have called Schwinn a smart pick for her focus on improving reading achievement and her attempts to avoid some of the more divisive culture war debates of the post-pandemic era. But to others she has a troubled track record that includes contracts with vendors that gave the appearance of a conflict of interest. On Wednesday, The 74 reported that after Trump nominated her, she registered a new business in Florida with a longtime colleague. While the venture was ultimately dissolved, Schwinn's sister replaced her as a manager a few weeks before the nominee submitted her financial disclosure documents. Related Some parent groups have vehemently opposed her nomination, viewing her as more left-leaning than most Trump nominees. 'It amazes me that President Trump would consider Penny Schwinn conservative,' said Tiffany Boyd, a homeschool advocate who opposed Schwinn's plan to conduct well-being checks on students during the pandemic. Schwinn nixed the idea after strong backlash. Boyd also cited a teacher recruitment effort that focused, in part, on attracting more teachers of color — efforts that the department now says push 'illegal diversity, equity and inclusion.' But none of that surfaced during the hearing. Even Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who has vowed to fight the 'left's indoctrination of students,' opted to skip direct questions to Schwinn and said he would submit them in writing. The committee interviewed Schwinn as part of a panel, along with Kimberly Richey, Trump's choice to lead the Office for Civil Rights, and two Department of Labor nominees. In that format, the senators focused on issues most important to them — for example, Chairman Bill Cassidy emphasized better serving students with dyslexia. 'As the Department of Education streamlines educational funding, how can we ensure that resources are there to identify and address an issue, specifically speaking of dyslexia?' he asked. Schwinn touted Tennessee's move to include 'characteristics of dyslexia' as a disability category in its state education funding formula and ramp up screening of students' early reading skills. The federal government, she said, could do a better job of guiding states on this issue and sharing lessons from states that have posted the greatest gains in literacy, like Mississippi and Louisiana. Related Some advocates are eager to have an educator who prioritized reading instruction at the department. 'We love her track record of improving student outcomes in Tennessee and talking a bit more technically about literacy and the science of reading — which we think having leadership on the federal level around is going to be key,' said Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Foundation. But she stressed that it was federally funded research, now at risk under the Trump administration, that informed those improvements. 'The research and the funding for all these 'state miracles,' ' she said, 'come from regional and federal efforts — which I think a lot of folks are forgetting.'
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Schwinn's Business Venture After Nomination to Ed Dept. Could Raise Questions
Just one month after President Donald Trump tapped her to be the second in command at the U.S. Department of Education, Penny Schwinn registered a new educational consulting business in Florida with a longtime friend and business colleague, according to state documents reviewed by The 74. The business venture never got off the ground, but the arrangement could raise ethical issues for Schwinn as she heads before the Senate education committee for confirmation Thursday. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The colleague with whom she co-founded the business, Donald Fennoy, told The 74 in an interview that the enterprise, named New Horizon BluePrint Group, was intended to combine their expertise as education leaders. Fennoy, the former superintendent of the Palm Beach County School District, was to consult with districts, while Schwinn, who has experience in Delaware, Texas and most recently as Tennessee's education commissioner, would focus on state leadership. The pair have known each other for a decade, Fennoy said, meeting when they were part of the 2015-16 class of the Broad Academy, an education leadership program. But the business does not appear among financial ties outlined in mandatory disclosure documents Schwinn submitted to the Office of Government Ethics on March 24. One reason could be that three weeks earlier, Schwinn's sister, Katherine Sully, replaced her as manager of the business, according to state documents. Sully, whose LinkedIn profile identifies her as an assistant principal at a Texas charter school, has far less educational experience than Schwinn or Fennoy. On Friday, as The 74 began asking Schwinn and the department questions about the venture, Fennoy dissolved the company, documents show, listing 'business never started' as the reason. 'Right when we were securing the name, she got a phone call,' Fennoy told The 74, referring to the nomination. The plan, he said, was to bring in at least one more leader with district experience and build a team to do work 'nationally and internationally.' On Jan. 18, Trump announced his pick of Schwinn to be the department's deputy secretary, citing her 'strong record of delivering results for children and families.' The LLC wasn't registered until Feb. 18. But pressed for details about why Schwinn registered the business after her nomination, Fennoy appeared confused about the timeline. 'This is on what day?' he asked in response to a reporter's question. He did not respond to additional questions sent by email. Contacted by The 74, Schwinn referred the matter to the Education Department. Madison Bidermann, a department spokesman, declined to address why Schwinn moved forward with a business venture after her nomination and said the nominee 'worked with the relevant ethics officials and resolved any conflicts.' Sully did not respond to attempts to contact her over email. The Florida LLC would have been just one of Schwinn's many business interests, detailed in the disclosure filed with the federal government. She stated in May that if confirmed, she would divest or resign her positions at multiple companies. Historically, potential business conflicts could raise red flags for senators vetting a potential nominee. As deputy secretary, Schwinn would be tasked with overseeing federal policy and a vast network of K-12 programs — the same policy and programs that districts might seek help from a consulting firm to navigate. She would also enter the department at a crisis point, as Education Secretary Linda McMahon drastically cuts staff and cancels funding to reach Trump's goal of eliminating the department. The proposed 2026 budget slashes over $4 billion from K-12 programs, raising concerns that officials won't be able to carry out their congressionally mandated duties The period between nomination and confirmation is typically a time when candidates distance themselves from financial entanglements and potential conflicts of interest. 'Once you're nominated, the typical rule of thumb would be that you kind of slow down,' said Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, interim vice president for policy and government affairs at the Project On Government Oversight, a nonprofit focused on government accountability. 'You probably wouldn't establish a new LLC, for example' But Schwinn is not a typical nominee, and this is not a typical administration. Trump reportedly held an exclusive dinner on May 22 for investors in his meme coin, a form of cryptocurrency. As president, he maintains control of his business empire. In the midst of negotiations with Vietnam over punishing U.S. tariffs, for example, the country approved the development of Trump hotels and golf courses. Previous reporting revealed that FBI Director Kash Patel refused to divest from a Chinese 'fast fashion' company, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's wife owned stock in companies that contract with that department. It's not unusual for administrations to run into trouble with officials who have close ties to the industries they oversee, Hedtler-Gaudette said. In 2022, his group filed a complaint about a Biden administration official in charge of digital services who had investments in the tech industry. 'But this administration is unique,' he said, 'and just doesn't seem to take any of that into consideration.' Schwinn is also an unusual choice. She has fans among GOP moderates and Democrats. The former charter school founder and Teach for America alum earned respect for directing COVID relief funds toward academic recovery in Tennessee and implementing far-reaching reforms in reading instruction. For a Trump nominee, she has also faced a high degree of conservative ire. Some of that is due to her past support for the kind of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives the Trump administration wants to eliminate from schools, like hiring more teachers of color. But accusations of conflicts of interest and other ethical lapses have followed her for years. They include a $4.4 million no-bid contract that the Texas Education Agency signed in 2017 with SPEDx, a Georgia software startup, despite what a state audit called Schwinn's 'professional relationship' with a subcontractor for the company. At the time, she was a deputy superintendent of the state agency. Critics also point to an $8 million deal in 2021 that the Tennessee Department of Education signed with TNTP, a teacher training organization where her husband Paul Schwinn was employed at the time. The state's procurement office approved the contract and Schwinn agreed to distance herself from the project, but some lawmakers still considered the deal a 'huge conflict.' ' 'Drain the swamp' is a phrase coined by President Trump, signifying the removal of corruption and special interests from government,' said J.C. Bowman, executive director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-union association. 'Many conservatives oppose Penny Schwinn's nomination as deputy secretary of education, believing she embodies the interests they want to eliminate from the agency.' Related Others say she left the state better off. She pushed requirements that districts screen students for reading difficulties and use a phonics-based curriculum. After the state passed a literacy law in 2021, roughly 30,000 teachers received summer training in the science of reading. The investments paid off. Tennessee was among the first to see test scores bounce back after the pandemic. Results from 2023-24 show students continue to make gains. To many education advocates, she represents the best chance to shift the national department's focus away from culture war issues and toward bipartisan priorities like improving literacy and maintaining accountability. 'I certainly wholeheartedly hope she gets approved, and think members on both sides would be gratified by her performance in office,' said Rick Hess, director of education policy studies at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. Yet dozens of conservative groups and individuals have sent senators letters outlining why they think she's wrong for the job. They list, for example, her affiliation with Chiefs for Change, made up of left-leaning district and state officials, and cite complaints about her support for a reading curriculum they say has elements of critical race theory, which holds that racism in America is systemic. Several were offended that Ruby Bridges' children's book about being the first Black child to integrate a white elementary school referenced 'a large crowd of angry white people.' Others thought a first grade book about seahorses was inappropriate because it explains how males carry the eggs. While never implemented, her plan to conduct 'well-being' home visits during the pandemic still angers parents who consider it an example of government overreach. If the committee advances Schwinn's nomination, Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn, a Republican who is running for governor, is expected to vote against her, multiple sources told The 74. 'She's a Democrat, through and through,' said Elizabeth Story, legislative chair for the Tennessee chapter of Moms for Liberty, the conservative advocacy group that opposes progressive ideas in school about race, sex and gender. 'We need President Trump to withdraw her.' Just after her nomination, she met with anti-DEI activist Chris Rufo in an apparent effort to reassure the Trump administration she would be a good fit. According to his Jan. 21 post on X, she promised to 'shut down the terrible programs at the Department of Education, fight critical race theory, gender cultism, and DEI in America's schools, and support new initiatives on school choice and classical education.' If she loses the support of some conservatives, she may have to lean on Democrats to secure her nomination. Related To Leslie Finger, an assistant political science professor at the University of North Texas, that would be an appropriate finale to a nomination that has veered far from the typical Trump playbook. 'In many ways, she seems opposed to the Trump administration's education agenda,' she said. 'One might think it was meant to show that they want to reach across the aisle on education issues, since she would be supported by bipartisan education reform types. But when has the Trump administration taken actions to signal bipartisanship?' Since leaving her post as Tennessee commissioner, Schwinn has invested in and been involved with companies at the forefront of education, her disclosure forms show. Those include Amira, an AI reading curriculum program; Odyssey, a vendor that manages education savings accounts in multiple states; and Edmentum, an online curriculum and assessment company. She's also a board member for Really Great Reading, a literacy program used in at least five states, and a consultant for BHA Strategy, a lobbying firm. Blake Harris, former communications director for Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, founded BHA, where Schwinn served as chief operating officer until February. Two other LLCs she owns would cease operations, she wrote in a letter to the Education Department. John Pelissero, a government ethics expert at Santa Clara University in California, said her financial ties deserve a closer look. 'What she puts down on her disclosure form for her confirmation is always kind of an important starting point for how transparent she will be,' he said. 'Scrutiny should be given to whether she has the capacity to demonstrate that she'll act in the public interest.' Related Schwinn isn't the first Trump nominee to face opposition from Republicans. Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former majority leader from Kentucky, voted against Hegseth and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. But those objections focused more on the nominees' qualifications, said Jonathan Collins, an assistant professor of education and political science at Teachers College, Columbia University. Conservatives' concerns about Schwinn, 'seem like more of a test — or critique — of her loyalty to the new Republican culture war coalition,' he said. 'She's as moderate as it gets. She's a pragmatist who in no way pushes far-left progressive policies.' Under McMahon, the department required states to sign a certification saying they wouldn't implement DEI programs. The Office for Civil Rights has also prioritized investigations into state and district policies allowing transgender students to compete against girls in school sports. Not all parental rights advocates are opposed to her nomination. Moms for America, founded in 2004, is a conservative, Christian organization that shares many of the same values as Moms for Liberty. Last year, the group presented Trump with its Man of the Century Award. The organization, however, said Schwinn would make 'an excellent choice' for deputy secretary, citing her 'extensive experience as an educator, innovator and state leader.' As the department's number two, she would oversee K-12 initiatives, which McMahon has said will prioritize the science of reading, school choice and giving states more control over education. 'She has a proven ability to improve student outcomes, champion school choice, and navigate crises like the pandemic,' the organization said in a statement to The 74. 'We stand by her candidacy for nomination as deputy education secretary and wish her the best in that role.' Disclosure: According to financial disclosure documents filed with the Office of Government Ethics, Penny Schwinn earned $250,000 as a consultant and adviser to the Walton Family Foundation. The foundation provides financial support to The 74.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Tennessee education leader promises feds she will cut conflicts
Former Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn is promising to rid herself of financial conflicts should she gain a post with the U.S. Department of Education. (Photo by) Seeking a deputy secretary post in the Trump administration, former Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn is promising to eliminate financial conflicts of interest to get the job, including minimizing ties to a Tennessee lobbying firm. Schwinn, who left the state job in 2023 and served for a short time as Vice President for PK-12 and Pre-Bachelors Programs at the University of Florida, was selected for the U.S. Department of Education position nearly as soon as President Donald Trump won election this year but still hasn't received Senate confirmation to take the appointment. In a May 5 letter to an Education Department ethics official, the former Tennessee education leader for Gov. Bill Lee described steps she would take to avoid any 'actual or apparent' conflict of interest, including personal participation in any matter in which she would have a financial interest. If confirmed for the job, Schwinn said she will resign from an unpaid position with Nashville-based 38 Ventures LLC and become a non-managing member, though she will receive passive investment income from the entity. Blake Harris, former chief of staff for Lee, is the registered agent for the company located at 611 Commerce St. In addition, Schwinn said she would resign her post with BHA Strategy, a lobbying company founded by Harris, Lee's former communication director Laine Arnold, and Brent Easley, the governor's former legislative director. Schwinn wrote, though, that she would receive a set referral fee of 30% for a contract she brought to BHA. Education commissioner runs into possible conflict with $8M contract Schwinn said two companies she controls, Bexley Group, LLC, and PLSchwinn LLC, which are set up to receive business income, would stop conducting business and representing clients. Bexley Group's listed address also is 611 Commerce St. in Nashville. After being confirmed, she also would resign from a post with Soliant Health LLC through which she holds vested and unvested incentives with TVG-Soliant Holdings, LP. She would receive a cash payout for her vested incentives before taking the deputy secretary post, according to the letter. In addition, Schwinn said she would resign from posts with TVG-MGT, Edmuntum Inc. and Really Great Reading and would divest interests in Odyssey and Amira Learning. Schwinn went through a similar ethics process in March 2021 when she told Tennessee's Central Procurement Office she would distance herself from an $8 million contract with TNTP Inc., a reading skills educator training company that employed her husband, Paul. Schwinn came under fire from lawmakers in 2020 when the legislature removed the education commissioner as a voting member of the Tennessee textbook commission and took away the commissioner's ability to grant waivers for school districts seeking to use unapproved books and materials. Lawmakers were concerned that Schwinn was too involved in the textbook adoption process. Schwinn 2
