Phelps documentary to air nationally

¢ “Fall from Grace,” the documentary directed by a Kansas University graduate student about Topeka’s Westboro Baptist Church, is getting national media attention as its national TV debut approaches.The film, which depicts the anti-gay beliefs and demonstrations of the group led by Fred Phelps, airs at 9 p.m. Tuesday on Showtime, with several repeat showings planned. It was directed by K. Ryan Jones.A Bloomberg News reviewer offers this take on the film:_The 70-minute documentary marks the filmmaking debut of K. Ryan Jones, a student at the University of Kansas who interviewed Phelps and several of his 13 children. Most appear to have inherited the loony gene; one or two have also succumbed to the temptations of the deep-fat fryer.__Yet they do have one profound talent: spewing hatred._¢ George Frederickson, a KU professor of public administration, was recently flown to Glendale, Ariz., and paid $5,500 to help the City Council there talk about their ethics rules._Frederickson said Glendale must be a “gift-and-favor heaven,” thanks to its sports venues and mega-events.__Council members agreed they do see gifts but opted against adopting stricter limits than state law mandates._