AP-US-PROP-FIREARM-MOVIE-SET

Alec Baldwin fired prop gun on set, killing cinematographer

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Officials say actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun on the set of a Western and killed the cinematographer. The director of the movie was wounded, and authorities are investigating. Santa Fe County Sheriff’s officials said cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and director Joel Souza were shot Thursday on the set of “Rust.” A Baldwin spokesperson said there was an accident involving the misfire of a prop gun with blanks. A sheriff’s spokesman said detectives were investigating what type of projectile was discharged and how. No immediate charges were filed. Baldwin tweeted Friday that he “no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident.”

OBIT-HALYNA HUTCHINS

Woman shot on film set remembered as gifted cinematographer

NEW YORK (AP) — The cinematographer who was fatally shot with a prop gun by Alec Baldwin on a movie set grew up on a Soviet military base in the Arctic Circle and worked as an investigative reporter in Europe before studying film in Los Angeles. Halyna Hutchins was 42. She identified herself on Instagram as a “restless dreamer” and “adrenaline junkie.” According to her website, she grew up surrounded by reindeer and nuclear submarines. She received a graduate degree in international journalism from Kyiv National University in Ukraine, worked on British documentary productions in Europe and graduated from the American Film Institute Conservatory in 2015.

FATAL POLICE PURSUIT-OFFICER CHARGED

Minneapolis officer charged in pursuit that killed motorist

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A prosecutor says a Minneapolis police officer has been charged with manslaughter and vehicular homicide in a fatal crash in July that occurred while the officer was pursuing a stolen vehicle. Authorities say Officer Brian Cummings was driving nearly 80 mph in Minneapolis with his siren and lights activated when his squad car slammed into a vehicle, killing 40-year-old Leneal Frazier. Cummings’ attorney didn’t immediately comment following Friday’s announcement and the police union didn’t respond to a message. Frazier was the uncle of Darnella Frazier, whose cellphone video of Derek Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd’s neck in 2020 was viewed worldwide and helped launch a global protest movement against racial injustice.

AP-US-ROBERT-DURST-WIFE-DISAPPEARANCE

Robert Durst charged with 1982 murder of wife Kathie Durst

NEW YORK (AP) — Millionaire real estate scion Robert Durst has been charged in suburban New York City with the death of his wife, Kathie Durst, who vanished in 1982. A state police investigator filed a criminal complaint Tuesday at a town court in Lewisboro, New York, that accuses Durst of second-degree murder. The 78-year-old Durst was sentenced last week to life in prison without parole for murdering a confidante who prosecutors say helped him cover up Kathie Durst’s killing. Durst sat in a wheelchair during much of the sentencing hearing. A lawyer said that in the days afterward he was on a ventilator with COVID-19.

SUPREME COURT-ABORTION-TEXAS

Administration makes final pitch to block Texas abortion law

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration, in its final pitch to block Texas’ ban on most abortions, is warning the Supreme Court that none of its decisions would be safe if it allows the state law to remain in force. The high court is weighing the administration’s request to put the law on hold at least until the legal fight over it is resolved. The justices could act any time. The law has been in effect since September, aside from a district court-ordered pause that lasted just 48 hours. It bans abortions once cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks and before some women know they are pregnant. 

AP-US-CONGRESS-BUDGET

Biden, top Dems strategize; Pelosi says deal ‘very possible’

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Congress’ top two Democrats are strategizing on how to wrap up their giant domestic legislation. Biden had breakfast at the White House with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer joined the discussion in a Zoom call from New York. Their meeting came as the party continues scaling back the measure in an effort to break deadlocks that have stalled it for months. Biden and the Democratic leaders hope to reach agreement soon between the party’s progressives and moderates in Congress. Pelosi says a deal is “very possible” 

AP-US-BUDGET-DEFICIT

US budget deficit hits $2.77 trillion in 2021, 2nd highest

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. budget deficit totaled $2.77 trillion for 2021, the second highest on record but an improvement from the all-time high of $3.13 trillion in 2020. The deficits in both years reflected trillions of dollars in government spending to counteract the devastating effects of a global pandemic. The Biden administration said Friday that the 2021 deficit, for the budget year that ended Sept. 30, was $360 billion lower than 2020 as a recovering economy boosted revenues, The biggest deficit the federal government recorded had been a shortfall of $1.4 trillion in 2009 during the Obama administration as the government spent heavily to lift the country out of a severe recession following the 2008 financial crisis.

ELECTION 2020-AUDITS-WISCONSIN

Wisconsin audit finds elections are ‘safe and secure’

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A highly anticipated nonpartisan audit of the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin did not identify any widespread fraud in the battleground state, which a key Republican legislative leader says shows that the state’s elections are “safe and secure.” The report released Friday by the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau did make dozens of recommendations to improve how elections are run. Republican state Sen. Robert Cowles, who co-chairs the Legislature’s Audit Committee, says he hopes the report leads to bipartisan fixes for the issues the audit identified, but that the state’s elections, overall, are “safe and secure.” Wisconsin is one of several states pursuing investigations into the 2020 presidential election.

AP-US-TRUMP-MEDIA-VENTURE

Stock tied to Trump media venture soars in another frenzy

NEW YORK (AP) — The company planning to bring President Donald Trump’s new media venture to the stock market soared further on Friday amid another frenzy of trading. Digital World Acquisition Corp. nearly tripled in the first minute of trading before trading in it was temporarily halted. It then gave up a chunk of those gains and was was sitting on a 93.3% gain at $88.78, as of noon. Eastern time. A day before, the stock more than quadrupled after it said it would merge with Trump Media & Technology Group. Experts are split on the company’s prospects. 

BC-FINANCIAL MARKETS

Stocks edge lower, major indexes still head for weekly gains

Stocks edged lower in midday trading as sharp losses for several large technology and communications companies weighed on the market. The S&P 500, which notched a record high a day earlier, fell 0.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2% and the Nasdaq fell 1.2%. Every major index is on track for a third consecutive week of gains. Intel sank after reporting revenue that fell short of analysts’ forecasts, and Snap fell sharply after saying its ad sales are being hurt by a privacy crackdown on Apple’s iPhones earlier this year. American Express rose after posting strong results. 

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