Dominican Republic

It isn't easy making a movie in the Dominican Republic. When Michael Mann tried shooting part of "Miami Vice" there in 2005, a gunfight broke out near the film set, prompting costar Jamie Foxx to leave the country and forcing the film to relocate to Miami. The filmmakers who made "La Soga," which recently earned several standing ovations at the Toronto International Film Festival, managed to finish their movie without anyone being killed, though they do have colorful stories, which include hiring a machete fighter to handle security.

The campaign of President Leonel Fernandez declared that he won election to a third term with enough votes to avoid a runoff. Campaign chief Francisco Javier Garcia said that according to a tally by Fernandez's centrist Dominican Liberation Party, with 61% of the votes counted, the president had won nearly 54%.

The final rosters for next month's World Baseball Classic were released Tuesday with both the U.S. and the Dominican Republic, the pre-tournament favorite, selecting teams composed entirely of major leaguers. Times staff writer Kevin Baxter offers a first look at the tournament, which begins next week and has second-round play at San Diego's Petco Park and the semifinals and finals at Dodger Stadium: Pool A, at Tokyo Teams: China, Japan, Chinese Taipei, South Korea.

Stunned twice by a pesky Netherlands team, the Dominican Republic is done at the World Baseball Classic. Eugene Kingsale singled in the tying run and scored the game-winner in the 11th inning Tuesday night as the Netherlands rallied for a 2-1 victory over the heavily favored Dominicans, earning a surprise spot in the second round.

Orson Charles, a five-star tight end prospect from Tampa, Fla., took an unforgettable tour last April of the University of Florida football facility. And, in this case, unforgettable was not a good thing. According to the Palm Beach Post's "Inside UF" blog, Charles bumped into the 2006 BCS Championship crystal, knocking it to the ground and shattering it. "Nobody said anything for 10 minutes, then Florida assistant coach John Hevesy said, 'What do I do? Who do I call?

Names like Dummy Ruiz and Dear Pineapple may become a thing of the past in the Dominican Republic as officials consider a ban on odd monikers. Officials say Dominicans are increasingly giving their children names that are car brands, cartoon characters or even body parts, and a judge has submitted a proposal to the Central Electoral Commission that would put some limits on the practice.

Learning experience -- to a degree In the Dominican Republic, where boys commonly drop out of school at 12 or 13 to play baseball, little importance has been placed on higher education. That's been especially true of major league teams, which have benefited from their prospects' early dedication to the sport. Now that's beginning to change. Four years ago, the Cleveland Indians began sending every player in their Dominican program back to school as many as five nights a week.

Not scheduled to make his next start until Wednesday in Washington, Chad Billingsley was sent to the Dodgers' bullpen again Friday. Billingsley pitched 1 2/3 innings, giving up two runs, including a solo home run to San Francisco's Aaron Rowand . The loser of four consecutive decisions, Billingsley was scratched from his start against the Giants. Billingsley said he would try to make the best of the situation, which he admitted wasn't ideal. "I don't want to be there," Billingsley said.

Examining some of Alex Rodriguez's answers during Tuesday's news conference: Question: Rodriguez identified the banned substance he took as "bole" or "boli." What is that? Answer: According to an official with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), "bole" or "boli" may be street names for either Dianabol or Primobolan, powerful anabolic steroids that can be taken orally or injected. According to Sports Illustrated, Rodriguez tested positive in 2003 for testosterone and methenolone, which goes by the brand name Primobolan.

A ferry capsized off Haiti's southern coast, killing at least five people. Authorities said as many as two dozen could be missing. Civil protection official Jean-Michel Sabbat said the boat overturned en route from Anse a Pitre, near the border with the Dominican Republic, to the southern peninsula city of Jacmel. Twenty-two passengers were rescued. Sabbat said estimates indicated that as many as 60 people may have been aboard the vessel.