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Tag: Hawaii

  • Simone Biles shakes off leg injury to dominate at Olympic gymnastics qualifying

    Simone Biles shakes off leg injury to dominate at Olympic gymnastics qualifying

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    Simone Biles didn’t let some leg discomfort slow her down.

    The American gymnastics superstar posted an all-around total of 59.566 during Olympic qualifying on Sunday inside a packed and star-studded Bercy Arena despite complaining of a left calf injury that had her limping.

    What You Need To Know

    • Simone Biles didn’t let some leg discomfort slow her down
    • The American gymnastics superstar posted an all-around total of 59.566 during Olympic qualifying inside a packed and star-studded Bercy Arena despite complaining of a left leg injury that had her limping
    • Biles appeared to tweak the leg while warming up on floor exercise during the second rotation
    • She had the ankle taped and then returned to put on the kind of show-stopping performance that has long been her signature

    U.S. gymnastics coach Cecile Landi said the issue popped up a couple of weeks ago and described it as minor. Landi said there was no discussion of pulling Biles’ from the event.

    “I can’t express it,” she said. “I’m really proud of her and what she’s been through and what she’s showing the world what she’s capable of doing.”

    After dazzling on the balance beam, Biles appeared to tweak the leg while warming up on floor exercise during the second rotation. She exited the floor with Team USA doctor Marcia Faustin — a scene that played out three years ago in Tokyo when Biles removed herself from the team final to protect her safety.

    This wasn’t deja vu, however.

    The 27-year-old returned to the floor a few minutes later with her left leg taped and was heard on camera saying she felt something in her calf.

    She put on a show-stopping performance anyway.

    Biles posted the highest score on floor and vault through two subdivisions, a position she’ll likely find herself in at the end of the day as she tries to add to her career total of seven Olympic medals.

    The only adjustment she made was deciding to skip attempting a unique skill on uneven bars she submitted to the International Gymnastics Federation on Friday. Instead, she did her usual set to score a 14.333. She tried to keep from putting too much weight on her leg following her dismount.

    Her day’s work done, Biles celebrated by waving to the crowd and dancing with friend and longtime teammate Jordan Chiles as the five-woman U.S. team zoomed to the top of the leaderboard as expected.

    The Americans scored a 172.296, well clear of the field after two subdivisions as they search for what they’re calling “redemption” after finishing runner-up to Russia three years ago.

    The question now: Will Biles’ leg be an ongoing issue? The team final is Tuesday, and the women’s all-around final is Thursday.

    The stands were buzzing and filled with celebrities. Tom Cruise posed for selfies while waiting for Biles to emerge. Snoop Dogg had front-row seats, and Ariana Grande, Jessica Chastain, John Legend and Anna Wintour were also on hand.

    Biles arrived in Paris as the face of the U.S. Olympic movement and maybe the Olympics themselves. The buzz around her return to the Games has been palpable, with NBC leaning heavily into her star power by splashing Biles’ face on countless promotions in the lead-up to Paris.

    Her gravitational pull is real. Athletes across the Olympic spectrum have said they want to make it a point to catch the most decorated gymnast of all time in what could be the final competition of her unparalleled career. Among them: LeBron James and the U.S. men’s basketball team, which was busy Sunday with Olympic qualifying.

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    Associated Press

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  • “Here Comes the Sun,” James Patterson and more

    “Here Comes the Sun,” James Patterson and more

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    “Here Comes the Sun,” James Patterson and more – CBS News


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    After author Michael Crichton passed away in 2006, his wife Sherri Crichton asked James Patterson to finish the novel Michael had started. Tracy Smith sits down with Patterson and Sherri Crichton to discuss the process behind writing “Eruption.” Then, Ben Tracy travels to Hawaii to learn about British explorer Captain James Cook. “Here Comes the Sun” is a closer look at some of the people, places and things we bring you every week on “CBS Sunday Morning.”

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    Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.


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  • ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is already breaking box office records

    ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is already breaking box office records

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    “Deadpool & Wolverine” has gotten off to a supercharged start at the box office, breaking the Thursday preview record for an R-rated movie. The comic-book film sold an estimated $38.5 million worth of movie tickets from preview screenings Thursday, Disney said Friday.

    The previous R-rated record-holder was “Deadpool 2,” released by Fox’s 20th Century Studios in May 2018. That made $18.6 million from Thursday previews and went on to make $125.5 million in its first weekend.

    In fact, the previews played more like “Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker” ($40 million) and “Avengers: Infinity War” ($39 million) than the previous two “Deadpool” movies.

    The arrival of “Deadpool & Wolverine” has been long awaited by both audiences and theater owners. The box office as a whole continues to trail last year (down 17%), partially due to ripple effects of the actors strike affecting release schedule and a lack of major hits. Compared to the pre-pandemic 2019, 2024 is down over 34%.

    “Deadpool & Wolverine” is also the first Marvel movie of the summer season — a crucial 123 day earnings corridor for Hollywood that often accounts for some 40% of the annual box office total. Unlike many summers over the past decade, this year did not kick off with a blockbuster Marvel film; The business has been struggling to regain that footing since.

    Also at play is the idea of “superhero fatigue” at the box office, in which there have been more disappointments than runaway hits lately. But “Deadpool & Wolverine” seems to be immune from that crisis.

    With positive reviews and genuine fan enthusiasm, it is cruising to break more records over the weekend, where it’s playing on over 4,200 screens in the United States and Canada. Analysts expect it to earn at least $160 million through Sunday, which would make it the biggest R-rated opener of all time, unseating the first “Deadpool,” and the biggest debut of 2024.

    To crack the top 10 openings of all time, however, “Deadpool & Wolverine” would have to vastly over-perform and make at least $191.3, or enough to bump “Avengers: Age of Ultron” into 11th place.

    It’s also playing in 48 markets internationally where it’s earned $64.8 million in its first two days.

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    Associated Press

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  • Here’s why standing near a tree during a storm is dangerous

    Here’s why standing near a tree during a storm is dangerous

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    Unfortunately, August alone has tallied six lightning deaths in the United States. 

    What You Need To Know

    • August’s six lightning deaths brings the 2022 total to 14 so far

    • Some of the deaths happened when people were under or near a tree

    • Ground current affects a larger area than the strike itself

    (NOAA)

    It’s been a tragic month for lightning deaths, including a Central Florida woman who was killed by lightning while waiting for her daughter to get off the school bus. Reports say lightning hit a nearby tree. Earlier this month, three people near the White House were killed when lightning struck the tree they were under.

    Being under a tree is one of the leading causes of lightning casualties. But why is being under–or even near–a tree so dangerous?

    When lightning strikes a tree, the energy travels out along the ground’s surface. The ground current affects a larger area and can lead to multiple injuries or deaths.

    John Jensenius with the National Lightning Safety Council says the most recent multi-fatality incidents all have one feature in common: trees. 

    When it rains, don’t seek shelter under a tree. Find a building or a hard-topped vehicle and don’t wait until the last minute to seek shelter. Lightning can strike more than 10 miles away from a thunderstorm.

    If you can hear thunder, you are in danger of being struck by lightning, even if it’s not raining where you are. 

    Remember: “When thunder roars, go indoors!”

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Juli Marquez

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  • Here’s why standing near a tree during a storm is dangerous

    Here’s why standing near a tree during a storm is dangerous

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Seven people have been killed in the U.S. this year by lightning and two of them have been in Florida. 

    Based on the past 10 years, the U.S. averages 12 lightning deaths through July 22.

    What You Need To Know

    • Seven people have been killed in the U.S. in 2024 by lightning and two of them have been in Florida

    • Some of the deaths happened when people were under or near a tree

    • Ground current affects a larger area than the strike itself


    A 19-year-old man was struck and killed Sunday, June 30 in Davie, Florida, while walking in a park.  He was under a tree when the lightning struck.  

    Florida leads the nation in lightning deaths, now with 90 since 2006, including the two this year.

    Both Florida lightning fatalities this year were related to walking in parks.  The National Lightning Safety Council offers these tips to people planning to go out for a walk.

    http://lightningsafetycouncil.org/Graphics/Tips-For-Walkers-And-Runners.png

    Being under a tree is one of the leading causes of lightning casualties. But why is being under–or even near–a tree so dangerous?

    When lightning strikes a tree, the energy travels out along the ground’s surface. The ground current affects a larger area and can lead to multiple injuries or deaths.

    John Jensenius with the National Lightning Safety Council says the most recent multi-fatality incidents all have one feature in common: trees. 

    When it rains, don’t seek shelter under a tree. Find a building or a hard-topped vehicle and don’t wait until the last minute to seek shelter. Lightning can strike more than 10 miles away from a thunderstorm.

    If you can hear thunder, you are in danger of being struck by lightning, even if it’s not raining where you are. 

    Remember: “When thunder roars, go indoors!”

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Juli Marquez

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  • Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigns

    Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigns

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    Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned after the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump at his rally in Pennsylvania last week.

    What You Need To Know

    • Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned after the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump

    • In an email to staff on Tuesday announcing her resignation, Cheatle admitted that the agency “fell short” on its mission to protect the country’s leaders

    • The announcement comes hours after Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Democratic Leader announced a bipartisan task force to investigate the attack, and one day after congressional lawmakers grilled Cheatle over security lapses at a contentious hearing
    • President Joe Biden said in a statement that he “will plan to appoint a new Director soon”; Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced Tuesday that Secret Service Deputy Director Ronald Rowe will take over as the head of the agency in an acting capacity



    On July 13, a 20-year-old man perched on a nearby warehouse rooftop fired several shots at Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, striking the former president in the right ear. One rallygoer was killed, and two others were wounded. The gunman was fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper.

    Several investigations have been launched into the attack. In addition to congressional inquiries, the FBI is conducting a criminal probe and the Secret Service is performing an internal investigation, Cheatle told Congress on Monday.

    In the days that followed, Cheatle faced numerous calls for clarity about how such an attack could have happened, including a dramatic hallway confrontation with Republican U.S. Senators at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last week.

    In an email to staff on Tuesday announcing her resignation, Cheatle admitted that the agency “fell short” on its mission to protect the country’s leaders.

    “The scrutiny over the last week has been intense and will continue to remain as our operational tempo increases,” Cheatle wrote. “As your Director, I take full responsibility for the security lapse.”

    The embattled Secret Service chief faced bipartisan calls for her resignation. The announcement comes hours after Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Democratic Leader announced a bipartisan task force to investigate the attack, and one day after congressional lawmakers grilled Cheatle over security lapses at a contentious hearing.

    “I’m glad she did the right thing,” Johnson said at a press conference on Tuesday. “The immediate reaction to her resignation is that it is overdue. She should have done this at least a week ago. I’m happy to see that. I’m happy to to see that she has heeded the call of both Republicans and Democrats.”

    “Now we have to pick up the pieces,” he continued. “We have to rebuild the American people’s faith and trust in the Secret Service. As an agency, it has an incredibly important responsibility in protecting presidents, former presidents and other officials in the executive branch, and we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

    The message of “overdue” appeared to be one echoed by lawmakers in Washington, particularly among House Republicans, who were planning legislative efforts to force Cheatle’s ouster.

    “The resignation of USSS Director Cheatle is long overdue,” New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, the House GOP conference chair, wrote on social media. “The failure to answer basic questions over the last ten days and at yesterday’s Congressional hearing was a disgrace. House Republicans will not rest until we have 100% transparency and accountability.”

    “This is 10 days overdue,” wrote New York Rep. Mike Lawler on X, formerly known as Twitter. “This was a colossal failure on the part of the agency and requires transparency and accountability. Director Cheatle provided neither in her testimony yesterday.”

    “Kimberly Cheatle’s resignation is welcome but overdue,” said Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy. “This is only the beginning of accountability for an incredible failure to protect a former president and leading candidate for that office.”

    In a post on social media after the news broke, Trump did not specificaly address Cheatle’s resignation, but accused the Biden administration of failing to “properly protect” him.

    “I was forced to take a bullet for Democracy,” he wrote on Truth Social. “IT WAS MY GREAT HONOR TO DO SO!”

    In a statement, President Joe Biden, who immediately ordered an independent security review into the shooting after it took place, expressed gratitude for Cheatle’s “decades of public service” and said it “takes honor, courage, and incredible integrity to take full responsibility for an organization tasked with one of the most challenging jobs in public service.”

    “The independent review to get to the bottom of what happened on July 13 continues, and I look forward to assessing its conclusions,” the president said. “We all know what happened that day can never happen again. As we move forward, I wish Kim all the best, and I will plan to appoint a new Director soon.”

    Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced Tuesday that Secret Service Deputy Director Ronald Rowe will take over as the head of the agency in an acting capacity.

    In a House Oversight Committee hearing Monday, members of both parties called for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign. 

    “Today, you failed to provide answers to basic questions regarding that stunning operational failure and to reassure the American people that the Secret Service has learned its lessons and begun to correct its systemic blunders and failures,” committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and ranking member Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said in a statement following Monday’s hearing. 

    “In the middle of a presidential election, the Committee and the American people demand serious institutional accountability and transparency that you are not providing,” they continued. “We call on you to resign as Director as a first step to allowing new leadership to swiftly address this crisis and rebuild the trust of a truly concerned Congress and the American people.”

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    Ryan Chatelain

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  • Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigns

    Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigns

    [ad_1]

    Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned after the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump at his rally in Pennsylvania last week.

    What You Need To Know

    • Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned after the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump

    • In an email to staff on Tuesday announcing her resignation, Cheatle admitted that the agency “fell short” on its mission to protect the country’s leaders

    • The announcement comes hours after Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Democratic Leader announced a bipartisan task force to investigate the attack, and one day after congressional lawmakers grilled Cheatle over security lapses at a contentious hearing
    • President Joe Biden said in a statement that he “will plan to appoint a new Director soon”; Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced Tuesday that Secret Service Deputy Director Ronald Rowe will take over as the head of the agency in an acting capacity



    On July 13, a 20-year-old man perched on a nearby warehouse rooftop fired several shots at Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, striking the former president in the right ear. One rallygoer was killed, and two others were wounded. The gunman was fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper.

    Several investigations have been launched into the attack. In addition to congressional inquiries, the FBI is conducting a criminal probe and the Secret Service is performing an internal investigation, Cheatle told Congress on Monday.

    In the days that followed, Cheatle faced numerous calls for clarity about how such an attack could have happened, including a dramatic hallway confrontation with Republican U.S. Senators at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last week.

    In an email to staff on Tuesday announcing her resignation, Cheatle admitted that the agency “fell short” on its mission to protect the country’s leaders.

    “The scrutiny over the last week has been intense and will continue to remain as our operational tempo increases,” Cheatle wrote. “As your Director, I take full responsibility for the security lapse.”

    The embattled Secret Service chief faced bipartisan calls for her resignation. The announcement comes hours after Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Democratic Leader announced a bipartisan task force to investigate the attack, and one day after congressional lawmakers grilled Cheatle over security lapses at a contentious hearing.

    “I’m glad she did the right thing,” Johnson said at a press conference on Tuesday. “The immediate reaction to her resignation is that it is overdue. She should have done this at least a week ago. I’m happy to see that. I’m happy to to see that she has heeded the call of both Republicans and Democrats.”

    “Now we have to pick up the pieces,” he continued. “We have to rebuild the American people’s faith and trust in the Secret Service. As an agency, it has an incredibly important responsibility in protecting presidents, former presidents and other officials in the executive branch, and we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

    The message of “overdue” appeared to be one echoed by lawmakers in Washington, particularly among House Republicans, who were planning legislative efforts to force Cheatle’s ouster.

    “The resignation of USSS Director Cheatle is long overdue,” New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, the House GOP conference chair, wrote on social media. “The failure to answer basic questions over the last ten days and at yesterday’s Congressional hearing was a disgrace. House Republicans will not rest until we have 100% transparency and accountability.”

    “This is 10 days overdue,” wrote New York Rep. Mike Lawler on X, formerly known as Twitter. “This was a colossal failure on the part of the agency and requires transparency and accountability. Director Cheatle provided neither in her testimony yesterday.”

    “Kimberly Cheatle’s resignation is welcome but overdue,” said Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy. “This is only the beginning of accountability for an incredible failure to protect a former president and leading candidate for that office.”

    In a post on social media after the news broke, Trump did not specificaly address Cheatle’s resignation, but accused the Biden administration of failing to “properly protect” him.

    “I was forced to take a bullet for Democracy,” he wrote on Truth Social. “IT WAS MY GREAT HONOR TO DO SO!”

    In a statement, President Joe Biden, who immediately ordered an independent security review into the shooting after it took place, expressed gratitude for Cheatle’s “decades of public service” and said it “takes honor, courage, and incredible integrity to take full responsibility for an organization tasked with one of the most challenging jobs in public service.”

    “The independent review to get to the bottom of what happened on July 13 continues, and I look forward to assessing its conclusions,” the president said. “We all know what happened that day can never happen again. As we move forward, I wish Kim all the best, and I will plan to appoint a new Director soon.”

    Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced Tuesday that Secret Service Deputy Director Ronald Rowe will take over as the head of the agency in an acting capacity.

    In a House Oversight Committee hearing Monday, members of both parties called for Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign. 

    “Today, you failed to provide answers to basic questions regarding that stunning operational failure and to reassure the American people that the Secret Service has learned its lessons and begun to correct its systemic blunders and failures,” committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and ranking member Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said in a statement following Monday’s hearing. 

    “In the middle of a presidential election, the Committee and the American people demand serious institutional accountability and transparency that you are not providing,” they continued. “We call on you to resign as Director as a first step to allowing new leadership to swiftly address this crisis and rebuild the trust of a truly concerned Congress and the American people.”

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    Ryan Chatelain

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  • Widespread Microsoft outage disrupts flights, banks, and companies worldwide

    Widespread Microsoft outage disrupts flights, banks, and companies worldwide

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    A global technology outage grounded flights, knocked banks and hospital systems offline and media outlets off air on Friday in a massive disruption that affected companies and services around the world and highlighted dependence on software from a handful of providers.

    What You Need To Know

    • Escalating disruptions continued hours after Microsoft said it was gradually fixing an issue

    • The website DownDectector, which tracks user-reported internet outages, recorded growing outages in services at Visa, ADT security and Amazon, and airlines including American Airlines and Delta

    • Meanwhile, major disruptions reported by airlines and airports grew; the FAA said the airlines United, American, Delta and Allegiant had all been grounded

    Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike said that the issue believed to be behind the outage was not a security incident or cyberattack — and that a fix was on the way. The company said the problem occurred when it deployed a faulty update to computers running Microsoft Windows.

    But hours after the problem was first detected, the disarray continued — and escalated.

    Long lines formed at airports in the U.S., Europe and Asia as airlines lost access to check-in and booking services at a time when many travelers are heading away on summer vacations. News outlets in Australia — where telecommunications were severely affected — were pushed off air for hours. Hospitals and doctor’s offices had problems with their appointment systems, while banks in South Africa and New Zealand reported outages to their payment system or websites and apps.

    President Joe Biden has been briefed on the outage and members of his administration have been in touch with CrowdStrike and other impacted entities.

    Biden’s team “is engaged across the interagency to get sector by sector updates throughout the day and is standing by to provide assistance as needed, per the White House.

    “We’re continuing to address effects on transportation systems from today’s widespread tech outage,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wrote on social media. “Many flights are impacted as systems recover—passengers should check with their airline for updates and visit our website for more on passenger protections.”

    Some athletes and spectators descending on Paris ahead of the Olympics were delayed as was the arrival of their uniforms and accreditations, but Games organizers said disruptions were limited and didn’t affect ticketing or the torch relay.

    A disturbing reminder of vulnerability

    “This is a very, very uncomfortable illustration of the fragility of the world’s core internet infrastructure,” said Ciaran Martin, a professor at Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government and former Head of Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre.

    DownDectector, which tracks user-reported disruptions to internet services, recorded that airlines, payment platforms and online shopping websites across the world were affected — although the disruption appeared piecemeal and was apparently related to whether the companies used Microsoft cloud-based services.

    Cyber expert James Bore said real harm would be caused by the outage because systems we’ve come to rely on at critical times are not going to be available. Hospitals, for example, will struggle to sort out appointments and those who need care may not get it.

    “There are going to be deaths because of this. It’s inevitable,’’ Bore said. “We’ve got so many systems tied up with this.”

    Microsoft 365 posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that the company was “working on rerouting the impacted traffic to alternate systems to alleviate impact” and that they were “observing a positive trend in service availability.”

    The company did not respond to a request for comment.

    CrowdStrike said in an emailed statement that the company “is actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts.”

    It said: “This is not a security incident or cyberattack. The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed.”

    The Austin, Texas-based company’s Nasdaq-traded shares were down nearly 15% in premarket trading early Friday.

    A recording playing on its customer service line said, “CrowdStrike is aware of the reports of crashes on Microsoft ports related to the Falcon sensor,” referring to one of its products used to block online attacks.

    Broadcasters go dark, surgeries delayed, ‘blue screens of death’

    Meanwhile, governments, officials and companies across the world scrambled to respond.

    New Zealand’s acting prime minister, David Seymour, said on X that officials in the country were “moving at pace to understand the potential impacts,” adding that he had no information indicating it was a cybersecurity threat.

    The issue was causing “inconvenience” for the public and businesses, he added.

    On the Milan stock exchange, the FTSE MIB index of blue-chip Italian stocks could not be compiled for an hour, though trading continued.

    Major delays reported at airports grew on Friday morning, with most attributing the problems in booking systems of individual airlines.

    In the U.S., the FAA said the airlines United, American, Delta and Allegiant had all been grounded.

    Airlines and railways in the U.K. were also affected, with longer than usual waiting times.

    In Germany, Berlin-Brandenburg Airport halted flights for several hours due to difficulties in checking in passengers, while landings at Zurich airport were suspended and flights in Hungary, Italy and Turkey disrupted.

    The Dutch carrier KLM said it had been “forced to suspend most” of its operations.

    Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport warned that the outage was having a “major impact on flights” to and from the busy European hub. The chaotic morning coincided with one of the busiest days of the year for Schiphol.

    Widespread problems were reported at Australian airports, where lines grew and some passengers were stranded as online check-in services and self-service booths were disabled — although flights were still operating.

    In India, Hong Kong and Thailand, many airlines were forced to manually check in passengers. An airline in Kenya was also reporting disruption.

    Australia bears brunt of outages in Asia

    While the outages were being experienced worldwide, Australia appeared to be severely affected by the issue. Disruption reported on the site DownDetector included the banks NAB, Commonwealth and Bendigo, and the airlines Virgin Australia and Qantas, as well as internet and phone providers such as Telstra.

    National news outlets — including public broadcaster ABC and Sky News Australia — were unable to broadcast on their TV and radio channels for hours. Some news anchors went on air online from dark offices, in front of computers showing “blue screens of death.”

    Hospitals in several countries also reported problems.

    Britain’s National Health Service said the outage caused problems at most doctors’ offices across England. NHS England said in a statement said the glitch was affecting the appointment and patient record system used across the public health system.

    Some hospitals in northern Germany canceled all elective surgery scheduled for Friday, but emergency care was unaffected.

    Israel said its hospitals and post office operations were disrupted.

    In South Africa, at least one major bank said it was experiencing nationwide service disruptions as customers reported they were unable to make payments using their bank cards in stores. The New Zealand banks ASB and Kiwibank said their services were down as well.

    Shipping was disrupted too: A major container hub in the Baltic port of Gdansk, Poland, the Baltic Hub, said it was battling problems resulting from the global system outage.

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    Associated Press

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  • Widespread Microsoft outage disrupts flights, banks, and companies worldwide

    Widespread Microsoft outage disrupts flights, banks, and companies worldwide

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    NATIONWIDE — A widespread Microsoft outage was disrupting flights, banks, media outlets and companies around the world on Friday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Escalating disruptions continued hours after Microsoft said it was gradually fixing an issue
    • The website DownDectector, which tracks user-reported internet outages, recorded growing outages in services at Visa, ADT security and Amazon, and airlines including American Airlines and Delta

    • Meanwhile, major disruptions reported by airlines and airports grew; the FAA said the airlines United, American, Delta and Allegiant had all been grounded

    Escalating disruptions continued hours after the technology company said it was gradually fixing an issue affecting access to Microsoft 365 apps and services.

    The website DownDectector, which tracks user-reported internet outages, recorded growing outages in services at Visa, ADT security and Amazon, and airlines including American Airlines and Delta.

    News outlets in Australia reported that airlines, telecommunications providers and banks, and media broadcasters were disrupted as they lost access to computer systems. Some New Zealand banks said they were also offline.

    Microsoft 365 posted on X that the company was “working on rerouting the impacted traffic to alternate systems to alleviate impact in a more expedient fashion” and that they were “observing a positive trend in service availability.”

    The company did not respond to a request for comment. It did not explain the cause of the outage further.

    Meanwhile, major disruptions reported by airlines and airports grew.

    In the U.S., the FAA said the airlines United, American, Delta and Allegiant had all been grounded.

    Airlines, railways and television stations in the United Kingdom were being disrupted by the computer issues. The budget airline Ryanair, train operators TransPennine Express and Govia Thameslink Railway, as well as broadcaster Sky News are among those affected.

    “We’re currently experiencing disruption across the network due to a global third party IT outage which is out of our control,’’ Ryanair said. “We advise all passengers to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their scheduled departure time.”

    Widespread problems were reported at Australian airports, where lines grew and some passengers were stranded as online check-in services and self-service booths were disabled. Passengers in Melbourne queued for more than an hour to check in.

    Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport said on its website that the outage was having a “major impact on flights” to and from the busy European hub. The outage came on one of the busiest days of the year for the airport, at the start of many people’s summer vacations.

    In Germany, Berlin Airport said Friday morning that “due to a technical fault, there will be delays in check-in.” It said that flights were suspended until 10 a.m. (0800GMT), without giving details, German news agency dpa reported.

    At Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport, some US-bound flights had posted delays, while others were unaffected.

    Australian outages reported on the site included the banks NAB, Commonwealth and Bendigo, and the airlines Virgin Australia and Qantas, as well as internet and phone providers such as Telstra.

    News outlets in Australia — including the ABC and Sky News — were unable to broadcast on their TV and radio channels, and reported sudden shutdowns of Windows-based computers. Some news anchors broadcast live online from dark offices, in front of computers showing “blue screens of death.”

    Shoppers were unable to pay at some supermarkets and stores due to payment system outages.

    The New Zealand banks ASB and Kiwibank said their services were down.

    An X user posted a screenshot of an alert from the company Crowdstrike that said the company was aware of “reports of crashes on Windows hosts” related to its Falcon Sensor platform. The alert was posted on a password-protected Crowdstrike site and could not be verified. Crowdstrike did not respond to a request for comment.

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    Associated Press

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  • Full buck moon peaks on Sunday morning

    Full buck moon peaks on Sunday morning

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    This month when the full moon peaks on Sunday at 6:17 a.m. Eastern Time, it will be the climax of the full buck moon, aptly named for those furry, even white-tailed, creatures who possess the woods and fields alike.

    What You Need To Know

    • Full July moon peaks Sunday morning but will be visible this weekend

    • Named the full buck moon for male deer that shed their antlers

    • Origins come from several sources, including Native Americans


    The origins of the name come from several sources, including Native Americans, early American settlers and even European foundations. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, it gets its name from the time of the year when male deer or bucks shed their antlers.

    Other names include the Berry Moon, Thunder Moon, Halfway Summer Moon, Salmon Moon and Feather Molting Moon.

    You can download the moon app to see when the moon will rise from your location. 

    Does the full moon make people or animals act differently? Here are five myths about the full moon.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

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  • More Americans apply for jobless benefits as layoffs

    More Americans apply for jobless benefits as layoffs

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    U.S. filings for unemployment benefits rose again last week and appear to be settling consistently at a slightly higher though still healthy level.

    What You Need To Know

    • U.S. filings for unemployment benefits rose again last week and appear to be settling consistently at a slightly higher though still healthy level

    • The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims for the week ending July 13 rose by 20,000 to 243,000 from 223,000 the previous week

    • The total number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits rose after declining last week for the first time in 10 weeks

    • About 1.87 million Americans were collecting jobless benefits for the week of July 6, around 20,000 more than the previous week

    More Americans apply for jobless benefits as layoffs settle at higher levels in recent weeks

    Jobless claims for the week ending July 13 rose by 20,000 to 243,000 from 223,000 the previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

    The total number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits rose after declining last week for the first time in 10 weeks. About 1.87 million Americans were collecting jobless benefits for the week of July 6, around 20,000 more than the previous week. That’s the most since November of 2021.

    Weekly unemployment claims are widely considered as representative of layoffs.

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    Associated Press

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  • 1 dead, 2 missing after tourist helicopter crashes off Hawaiian island of Kauai

    1 dead, 2 missing after tourist helicopter crashes off Hawaiian island of Kauai

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    HONOLULU (AP) — A tour company helicopter crashed off the Hawaiian island of Kauai, police said, killing one person and leaving two missing in the latest in a series of crashes to plague the industry in recent years.

    A hiker on the Kalalau trail reported seeing the helicopter crash into the water about a quarter of a mile (0.4 kilometers) off the Na Pali Coast on Thursday afternoon and contacted the fire department, officials said.

    The Robinson R44 helicopter was part of Ali’i Kauai Air Tours & Charters, authorities said.

    The company bills itself as the only Hawaiian-family-owned and -operated air tour company on Kauai, and its website said it has more than three decades of flying experience. It offers private tours by plane or helicopter.

    “Preliminary information indicates that the pilot on board was a local resident, and the two passengers on board are believed to be visitors from the mainland,” Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck said at a news conference Friday. Authorities did not provide their identities.

    Kauai lifeguards on personal watercraft recovered one body from the water Thursday. They also saw what appeared to be an oil slick on the water, along with some small pieces of floating debris, Kauai Fire Chief Michael Gibson said.

    The U.S. Coast Guard and Kauai crews continued searching Friday for the two people in the water.

    The weather at the time was normal for this time of year with winds of about 15 mph to 25 mph, light clouds and scattered showers, Gibson said: “We do not believe the weather was a concern.”

    The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. Once the aircraft is recovered, an NTSB investigator will begin documenting the scene and examining the aircraft, the agency said Friday. The aircraft will then be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation.

    Last year the Federal Aviation Administration established a new process for air tour operators in Hawaii to be approved to fly at lower altitudes following other fatal crashes.

    Tour operators can fly at 1,500 feet (460 meters) unless they have authorization to go lower. The FAA said it would review each operator’s safety plan before issuing permission.

    The move came after three deadly crashes in 2019, including one that killed a pilot and six passengers on the Na Pali Coast. The NTSB blamed the crash on the pilot’s decision to continue flying in bad weather.

    Three people died when a tour helicopter crashed in a Honolulu suburb, and 11 were killed when their skydiving plane went down after takeoff on Oahu’s North Shore. Federal investigators blamed that crash on the pilot’s aggressive takeoff.

    Another helicopter crashed into a remote Big Island lava field during a sunset tour in June 2022, injuring the six people on board.

    Ladd Sanger, a Texas-based aviation attorney and helicopter pilot, has handled air tour crash litigation in Hawaii and has flown a helicopter over Kauai.

    The latest crash shows it’s not prudent to be flying single-engine helicopters over Hawaii, including off Kauai’s rugged coastline, he said.

    “If there is an engine problem on Kauai, it is very likely going to be a terrible outcome,” he said. “It is a really rough island, and there are so few places to land a helicopter.”

    A Robinson R44 is also more susceptible to Hawaii’s often-changing climates, he said.

    “Kauai is gorgeous, and there is no way to see the beauty of Kauai but from a helicopter,” he said. “But it needs to be the right helicopter.”

    Not many Hawaii tour companies operate twin-engine turbine helicopters because they’re more expensive, Sanger said.

    “Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those affected,” David Smith, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company, said in a statement. “Safety is our highest priority, and we are cooperating fully with all investigating authorities to understand the circumstances surrounding this event.”

    Robinson helicopters, including the R44 model, “have a proven track record of safe operation across diverse and challenging environments, from the mountainous terrain of Switzerland to the tropical climate of Hawaii,” the company said. “Robinson helicopters have been operating safely in Hawaii since the 1980s, with some operators flying up to 16,000 flight hours a year without incident.”

    While the federal government generally controls air safety measures, Hawaii lawmakers have tried to indirectly make helicopter tours safer, said state Rep. Nadine Nakamura, whose Kauai district includes the Na Pali Coast.

    But a bill last session attempting to increase aircraft liability insurance didn’t make it to the governor’s desk, she said.

    She noted that past crashes have been due to a variety of issues including weather and mechanical problems.

    “And that’s what visitors have to weigh — that there have been crashes in the past,” she said. “People have to balance their desire to see remote and exotic places, from a vantage point that is quite stunning, to the risks involved.”

    ___

    Thiessen reported from Anchorage, Alaska.

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  • 988 suicide line has answered more than 10 million calls, texts, chats

    988 suicide line has answered more than 10 million calls, texts, chats

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    The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has answered more than 10 million calls, texts or chats in its first two years, Biden administration officials said Tuesday.

    What You Need To Know

    • The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has answered more than 10 million calls, texts or chats in its first two years, Biden administration officials said Tuesday

    • Tuesday marks the second anniversary of the launch of the hotline and affiliated website, which provide confidential support all hours of the day to people in distress

    • Launching the crisis line was included in President Joe Biden’s strategy to address the nation’s mental health crisis, unveiled in March 2022

    • Over its two years, 988 has expanded to broaden its reach
    • If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or live chat at 988lifeline.org. 

    Tuesday marks the second anniversary of the launch of the hotline and affiliated website, which provide confidential support all hours of the day to people in distress. Previously, those seeking help had to dial a harder-to-remember 10-digit number.

    “Make no mistake, 988 saves lives,” Neera Tanden, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, told reporters.

    Launching the crisis line was included in President Joe Biden’s strategy to address the nation’s mental health crisis, unveiled in March 2022. 

    Over its two years, 988 has expanded to broaden its reach.

    The Department of Health and Human Services has invested $1.5 billion in 988, paid for though the 2021 American Rescue Plan and 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Much of that funding has gone to states, territories and tribes to hire crisis counselors and improve local responses. 

    Federal funding has also been used to bolster the national backup system, which ensures callers speak to a counselor even when their local centers have reached capacity. Some states have contributed their own funding. 

    More than 200 contact centers across the country provide support for 988.

    “Behavioral health crisis is a crisis, something we need to face together,” Tanden said. “As a country, we have a moral obligation to be there for each other, to reach out to offer help or just a listening ear.”

    Meanwhile, 988 has added tailored lines to help groups including Spanish speakers, military veterans and active service members, and LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. Those lines can be reached by calling 988 and then entering a number when prompted. The Spanish phone number has existed since 2006, but not the text and chat options.

    A videoline also has been added to help people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

    “In the two years since we launched 988, it’s become one of the most effective first-line responses that we have to help individuals who feel alone and without options,” said HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm. 

    If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or live chat at 988lifeline.org. 

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    Ryan Chatelain

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  • 988 suicide line has answered more than 10 million calls, texts, chats

    988 suicide line has answered more than 10 million calls, texts, chats

    [ad_1]

    The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has answered more than 10 million calls, texts or chats in its first two years, Biden administration officials said Tuesday.

    What You Need To Know

    • The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has answered more than 10 million calls, texts or chats in its first two years, Biden administration officials said Tuesday

    • Tuesday marks the second anniversary of the launch of the hotline and affiliated website, which provide confidential support all hours of the day to people in distress

    • Launching the crisis line was included in President Joe Biden’s strategy to address the nation’s mental health crisis, unveiled in March 2022

    • Over its two years, 988 has expanded to broaden its reach
    • If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or live chat at 988lifeline.org. 

    Tuesday marks the second anniversary of the launch of the hotline and affiliated website, which provide confidential support all hours of the day to people in distress. Previously, those seeking help had to dial a harder-to-remember 10-digit number.

    “Make no mistake, 988 saves lives,” Neera Tanden, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, told reporters.

    Launching the crisis line was included in President Joe Biden’s strategy to address the nation’s mental health crisis, unveiled in March 2022. 

    Over its two years, 988 has expanded to broaden its reach.

    The Department of Health and Human Services has invested $1.5 billion in 988, paid for though the 2021 American Rescue Plan and 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Much of that funding has gone to states, territories and tribes to hire crisis counselors and improve local responses. 

    Federal funding has also been used to bolster the national backup system, which ensures callers speak to a counselor even when their local centers have reached capacity. Some states have contributed their own funding. 

    More than 200 contact centers across the country provide support for 988.

    “Behavioral health crisis is a crisis, something we need to face together,” Tanden said. “As a country, we have a moral obligation to be there for each other, to reach out to offer help or just a listening ear.”

    Meanwhile, 988 has added tailored lines to help groups including Spanish speakers, military veterans and active service members, and LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. Those lines can be reached by calling 988 and then entering a number when prompted. The Spanish phone number has existed since 2006, but not the text and chat options.

    A videoline also has been added to help people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

    “In the two years since we launched 988, it’s become one of the most effective first-line responses that we have to help individuals who feel alone and without options,” said HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm. 

    If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or live chat at 988lifeline.org. 

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    Ryan Chatelain

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  • Man killed at Trump rally hailed by friends and loved ones

    Man killed at Trump rally hailed by friends and loved ones

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    Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief who was shot and killed at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, spent his final moments protecting his family from gunfire in the attempted assassination of the former president.

    According to those that knew him, that’s just the kind of person Comperatore was; someone who lived and died helping others.

    What You Need To Know

    • Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief, was shot and killed at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday in an effort to protect his wife and daughter from gunfire

    • His friends, coworkers and loved ones remembered him as a hero and a man of conviction

    • Both President Joe Biden and Trump honored Comperatore and expressed their condolences to his loved ones

    • A GoFundMe for his family has received nearly $1 million in donations as of Monday afternoon



    “He’s a literal hero. He shoved his family out of the way, and he got killed for them,” said neighbor Mike Morehouse, who lived next to Comperatore for eight years. “He’s a hero that I was happy to have as a neighbor.”

    Comperatore, 50, was a proud Trump supporter. His quick thinking in putting his body between his wife and daughter and the bullets attempting to reach the former president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee rings true to those that knew him. 

    “In his last moments, he was shielding his family from the gunfire,” said Craig Cirrincione, Lieutenant at the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company, where Comperatore was previously a fire chief. “Even if that was just a random civilian beside him, he would have done the same thing. He was a man that just wanted to protect and serve and love. He was truly a man of love.”

    Firefighters placed black bunting outside the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company to honor Comperatore.

    “Corey was a lifetime volunteer firefighter within our company and will be greatly missed by all who knew him,” the fire department wrote in a post on Facebook. “Corey, rest easy brother and we will take it from here. Please pray and send good thoughts to Corey’s family and everyone that knew him.”

    In the front yard of the family’s Pennsylvania home, a memorial of flowers and an American flag was erected.

    Comperatore was remembered as a father to two daughters, a husband and a churchgoing member of the community.

    “Corey was a girl dad,” said Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in his memory. “Corey was a firefighter. Corey went to church every Sunday. Corey loved his community. Most especially, Corey loved his family.”

    “This is the last thing that this man ever deserved,” Cirrincione said.

    Assistant Chief Ricky Heasley, who knew Comperatore for more than a decade, remembered him as someone who “never had a bad word.”

    Both President Joe Biden and Trump honored Comperatore and expressed their condolences to his loved ones.

    “He was a father,” Biden said. “He was protecting his family from the bullets being fired when he lost his life. God love him.”

    A GoFundMe for his family has received nearly $1 million in donations as of Monday afternoon.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    Justin Tasolides

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  • Shannen Doherty, ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ star, dies at 53

    Shannen Doherty, ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ star, dies at 53

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    LOS ANGELES — Shannen Doherty, the “Beverly Hills, 90210” star whose life and career were roiled by illness and tabloid stories, has died at 53.

    What You Need To Know

    • Shannen Doherty died Saturday, according to a statement from her publicist, Leslie Sloane

    • Doherty had had breast cancer for years

    • Her illness was publicly revealed in a lawsuit filed in 2015 against her former business managers, in which she alleged they mismanaged her money and allowed her health insurance to lapse

    • In 1990, the doe-eyed, dark-haired actor won her breakout role as Brenda Walsh in producer Aaron Spelling’s hit teenage melodrama set in posh Beverly Hills

    After years with breast cancer, Doherty died Saturday, according to a statement from her publicist, Leslie Sloane.

    “The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace,” Sloane said Sunday. The news was first reported by People magazine.

    Her illness was publicly revealed in a lawsuit filed in 2015 against her former business managers, in which she alleged they mismanaged her money and allowed her health insurance to lapse. She later shared intimate details of her treatment following a single mastectomy. In December 2016, she posted a photo of her first day of radiation, calling the treatment “frightening” for her.

    In February 2020, Doherty revealed that the cancer had returned and she was at stage four. She said she came forward because her health conditions could come out in court. The actor had sued insurance giant State Farm after her California home was damaged in a fire in 2018.

    “I have no idea how long I’m going to be on the chemo for. … That’s not something that I can predict, it’s not something my doctors can predict. And it’s scary, it’s like a big wake-up call,” Doherty said on a late June episode of her podcast “Let’s Be Clear,” adding that a recent change in the shape of her cancer cells meant there were new treatment protocols for her to try. “For the first time in a couple months probably, I feel hopeful because there are so many more protocols now, whereas before I was hopeful — but I was still getting prepared.”

    A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Doherty moved to Los Angeles with her family at age 7 and, within a few years, became an actor.

    “It was completely my decision,” she told The Associated Press in a 1994 interview. “My parents never pushed me into anything. They support me. It really wouldn’t matter if I was a professional soccer player — they’d still be as supportive and loving.”

    As a child star, she worked steadily in such TV series as “Little House on the Prairie,” in which she played Jenny Wilder. She detoured as a teenager to the big screen in “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (1985) and “Heathers.”

    In 1990, the doe-eyed, dark-haired actor won her breakout role as Brenda Walsh in producer Aaron Spelling’s hit teenage melodrama set in posh Beverly Hills. She and Jason Priestley’s Brandon, Brenda’s twin brother, were fish-out-of-water Midwesterners.

    But Doherty’s fame came with media scrutiny and accounts of outbursts, drinking and impulsiveness — the latter most notably after a very brief marriage to actor George Hamilton’s son, Ashley. Doherty’s second marriage, in 2002, was to Rick Salomon and was annulled within a year. In 2011, Doherty married photographer Kurt Iswarienko. She filed for divorce in April 2023.

    She left “Beverly Hills, 90210” at the end of its fourth season in 1994 (the show aired until 2000), reportedly removed by Spelling because of conflicts with her co-stars and chronic lateness.

    But in her 1994 AP interview, Doherty described her life as peaceful.

    “It must be, if you pick up the Enquirer and find the only thing they can write about me is that I installed a pay phone next to my house and was seen at Stroud’s (a discount bed-and-bath chain) buying $1,400 worth of bed linens and wouldn’t go to an expensive store,” she said. “It must be calm if they’re pulling that stuff out of their heads.”

    Three years later, in 1997, Doherty was sentenced to anger-management counseling by a Beverly Hills Municipal Court judge after she allegedly smashed a beer bottle onto a man’s windshield during a quarrel. After a 2001 drunken driving arrest, she pleaded no contest and was ordered to serve five days in a work-release program.

    Doherty reunited with Spelling when he cast her in 1998 as Prue Halliwell in “Charmed.” In an AP interview that year, the actor expressed regrets about her past.

    “I did bring a lot of it on myself,” Doherty said. “I don’t think I can point fingers and say, ‘Oh, YOU’RE to blame.’ And I don’t do that with myself, either. Because I was just growing up.”

    Her personality was “grotesquely misconstrued” by the media, Doherty added.

    Spelling said at the time that their relationship was never as bad as some made it seem.

    “We had a few bumps along the road, but golly, who doesn’t?” said Spelling, who died in 2006. “Everything Shannen did was blown out of proportion by the rag sheets.”

    Doherty starred with Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano in “Charmed” from 1998-2001, at which point her character was replaced by one played by Rose McGowan. Doherty appeared in the “90210” sequel series seven years later and competed on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010. She also worked on the third “Beverly Hills, 90210” reboot, “BH90210,” a meta send-up that reunited most of the original cast and aired for one season in 2019.

    She also appeared in a tribute episode of “Riverdale” dedicated to that show’s star — and her late “Beverly Hills, 90210” on-screen love interest — Luke Perry.

    Doherty struggled to recapture her “Beverly Hills, 90210” star status, but worked in big-screen films including “Mallrats” and “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” and in such TV movies as “A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story,” in which she played the “Gone with the Wind” author. A nadir was “Blindfold: Acts of Obsession,” an erotic thriller opposite Judd Nelson.

    Doherty’s lawsuit against her ex-business managers was settled in 2016. She was open about the toll that cancer was taking. She posted photos that showed the baldness that followed treatment and, in an August 2016 interview with “Entertainment Tonight,” shared her fears.

    “The unknown is always the scariest part,” she said. “Is the chemo going to work? Is the radiation going to work?” she said. “Pain is manageable, you know living without a breast is manageable, it’s the worry of your future and how your future is going to affect the people that you love.”

    Doherty advocated for cancer awareness and care, and spoke to the AP in 2021 about how spending years with the disease affected her life and sense of optimism.

    “When you get something like cancer, your tolerance for drama is zero. I don’t like people wasting my time. I don’t like negativity,” she said. “It’s odd because I think if you look back, you’re like, ‘Oh, gosh, it’s so much drama around her,’ but I don’t think I was necessarily into the drama. I just think if we took young 18-year-old Shannon, 19-year-old Shannon, and we took her and planted her like right now, I would be a nerd and nobody would be writing about me.”

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    Associated Press

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  • Shannen Doherty, ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ star, dies at 53

    Shannen Doherty, ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ star, dies at 53

    [ad_1]

    LOS ANGELES — Shannen Doherty, the “Beverly Hills, 90210” star whose life and career were roiled by illness and tabloid stories, has died at 53.

    What You Need To Know

    • Shannen Doherty died Saturday, according to a statement from her publicist, Leslie Sloane

    • Doherty had had breast cancer for years

    • Her illness was publicly revealed in a lawsuit filed in 2015 against her former business managers, in which she alleged they mismanaged her money and allowed her health insurance to lapse

    • In 1990, the doe-eyed, dark-haired actor won her breakout role as Brenda Walsh in producer Aaron Spelling’s hit teenage melodrama set in posh Beverly Hills

    After years with breast cancer, Doherty died Saturday, according to a statement from her publicist, Leslie Sloane.

    “The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace,” Sloane said Sunday. The news was first reported by People magazine.

    Her illness was publicly revealed in a lawsuit filed in 2015 against her former business managers, in which she alleged they mismanaged her money and allowed her health insurance to lapse. She later shared intimate details of her treatment following a single mastectomy. In December 2016, she posted a photo of her first day of radiation, calling the treatment “frightening” for her.

    In February 2020, Doherty revealed that the cancer had returned and she was at stage four. She said she came forward because her health conditions could come out in court. The actor had sued insurance giant State Farm after her California home was damaged in a fire in 2018.

    “I have no idea how long I’m going to be on the chemo for. … That’s not something that I can predict, it’s not something my doctors can predict. And it’s scary, it’s like a big wake-up call,” Doherty said on a late June episode of her podcast “Let’s Be Clear,” adding that a recent change in the shape of her cancer cells meant there were new treatment protocols for her to try. “For the first time in a couple months probably, I feel hopeful because there are so many more protocols now, whereas before I was hopeful — but I was still getting prepared.”

    A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Doherty moved to Los Angeles with her family at age 7 and, within a few years, became an actor.

    “It was completely my decision,” she told The Associated Press in a 1994 interview. “My parents never pushed me into anything. They support me. It really wouldn’t matter if I was a professional soccer player — they’d still be as supportive and loving.”

    As a child star, she worked steadily in such TV series as “Little House on the Prairie,” in which she played Jenny Wilder. She detoured as a teenager to the big screen in “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (1985) and “Heathers.”

    In 1990, the doe-eyed, dark-haired actor won her breakout role as Brenda Walsh in producer Aaron Spelling’s hit teenage melodrama set in posh Beverly Hills. She and Jason Priestley’s Brandon, Brenda’s twin brother, were fish-out-of-water Midwesterners.

    But Doherty’s fame came with media scrutiny and accounts of outbursts, drinking and impulsiveness — the latter most notably after a very brief marriage to actor George Hamilton’s son, Ashley. Doherty’s second marriage, in 2002, was to Rick Salomon and was annulled within a year. In 2011, Doherty married photographer Kurt Iswarienko. She filed for divorce in April 2023.

    She left “Beverly Hills, 90210” at the end of its fourth season in 1994 (the show aired until 2000), reportedly removed by Spelling because of conflicts with her co-stars and chronic lateness.

    But in her 1994 AP interview, Doherty described her life as peaceful.

    “It must be, if you pick up the Enquirer and find the only thing they can write about me is that I installed a pay phone next to my house and was seen at Stroud’s (a discount bed-and-bath chain) buying $1,400 worth of bed linens and wouldn’t go to an expensive store,” she said. “It must be calm if they’re pulling that stuff out of their heads.”

    Three years later, in 1997, Doherty was sentenced to anger-management counseling by a Beverly Hills Municipal Court judge after she allegedly smashed a beer bottle onto a man’s windshield during a quarrel. After a 2001 drunken driving arrest, she pleaded no contest and was ordered to serve five days in a work-release program.

    Doherty reunited with Spelling when he cast her in 1998 as Prue Halliwell in “Charmed.” In an AP interview that year, the actor expressed regrets about her past.

    “I did bring a lot of it on myself,” Doherty said. “I don’t think I can point fingers and say, ‘Oh, YOU’RE to blame.’ And I don’t do that with myself, either. Because I was just growing up.”

    Her personality was “grotesquely misconstrued” by the media, Doherty added.

    Spelling said at the time that their relationship was never as bad as some made it seem.

    “We had a few bumps along the road, but golly, who doesn’t?” said Spelling, who died in 2006. “Everything Shannen did was blown out of proportion by the rag sheets.”

    Doherty starred with Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano in “Charmed” from 1998-2001, at which point her character was replaced by one played by Rose McGowan. Doherty appeared in the “90210” sequel series seven years later and competed on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010. She also worked on the third “Beverly Hills, 90210” reboot, “BH90210,” a meta send-up that reunited most of the original cast and aired for one season in 2019.

    She also appeared in a tribute episode of “Riverdale” dedicated to that show’s star — and her late “Beverly Hills, 90210” on-screen love interest — Luke Perry.

    Doherty struggled to recapture her “Beverly Hills, 90210” star status, but worked in big-screen films including “Mallrats” and “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” and in such TV movies as “A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story,” in which she played the “Gone with the Wind” author. A nadir was “Blindfold: Acts of Obsession,” an erotic thriller opposite Judd Nelson.

    Doherty’s lawsuit against her ex-business managers was settled in 2016. She was open about the toll that cancer was taking. She posted photos that showed the baldness that followed treatment and, in an August 2016 interview with “Entertainment Tonight,” shared her fears.

    “The unknown is always the scariest part,” she said. “Is the chemo going to work? Is the radiation going to work?” she said. “Pain is manageable, you know living without a breast is manageable, it’s the worry of your future and how your future is going to affect the people that you love.”

    Doherty advocated for cancer awareness and care, and spoke to the AP in 2021 about how spending years with the disease affected her life and sense of optimism.

    “When you get something like cancer, your tolerance for drama is zero. I don’t like people wasting my time. I don’t like negativity,” she said. “It’s odd because I think if you look back, you’re like, ‘Oh, gosh, it’s so much drama around her,’ but I don’t think I was necessarily into the drama. I just think if we took young 18-year-old Shannon, 19-year-old Shannon, and we took her and planted her like right now, I would be a nerd and nobody would be writing about me.”

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    Associated Press

    Source link

  • FBI identifies suspect in Trump assassination attempt

    FBI identifies suspect in Trump assassination attempt

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    Former President Donald Trump was whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night after a shooting that killed at least one rally attendee. The former president said he was “shot with a bullet” that pierced part of his ear.

    The FBI early Sunday identified the suspected shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pa. He was killed by the United States Secret Service.

    “The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania,” the FBI said in a statement, asking for anyone with more information to come forward.

    What You Need To Know

    • Former President Donald Trump was whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night after a shooting that killed at least one rally attendee
    • Trump said in a statement later Saturday night that he was “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear”
    • The FBI identified the suspected shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pa. He was killed by the United States Secret Service
    • President Joe Biden condemned the attack on his presumptive rival in November’s election, adding that he is “grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well”



    Law enforcement officials told Spectrum News on Sunday that explosive devices were found inside Crooks’ vehicle. Two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press there were also bomb-making materials found at his home.

    Not much is known about the suspect, save for that he was registered as a Republican voter in Pennsylvania. He did, however, donate $15 to a progressive political action committee on the day of President Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2021, according Federal Election Commission records.

    Early on in his speech, Trump was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers when banging sounds started ringing through the crowd. Someone could be heard saying “get down, get down” and directing Trump to the ground. The ex-president could be seen reaching with his right hand toward his neck. There appeared to be blood on his face.

    He quickly ducked behind the podium as agents from his protective detail rushed the stage and screams rang out from the crowd. The bangs continued as agents tended to him on stage. Trump could be heard on microphones asking about his shoes.

    The crowd cheered as he got back up and pumped his fist. Police began vacating the fairgrounds shortly after Trump left the stage.

    Officials said that one spectator was killed, and two others were critically injured.

    According to a spokesperson for the Secret Service, a suspected shooter “fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue.”

    Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said that agents “neutralized” the suspected shooter and took protective measures to secure scene and get the former president to safety.

    “The incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Guglielmi added. The FBI said later Saturday that assumed the lead in the investigation into the incident.

    A source told The Associated Press that an AR-style rifle was recovered by law enforcement at the scene of the shooting.

    In a statement on his Truth Social platform on Saturday night, Trump thanked the Secret Service and law enforcement for their “rapid response” and expressed his condolences to the family of the person who was killed at the rally, as well as his thoughts for another person who was “badly injured.”

    “It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country,” Trump said. “Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.”

    “I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” he added. “Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”

    Trump traveled back to his New Jersey golf club to spend the night. His campaign and the Republican National Committee said in a statement Saturday night that the Republican National Convention will continue as planned in Milwaukee next week.

    “Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday morning. “Our love goes out to the other victims and their families. We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed.”

    He went on to write that it was “more important than ever” that Americans “stand United, and show our True Character,” ending his post by saying “I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.”

    In remarks to the nation from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, President Joe Biden said he reached out to Trump, but the ex-president is “with his doctors” and said he’s hoping to speak to him soon. Biden expressed gratitude about Trump’s condition and condemned the attack, calling for unity.

    “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence,” Biden said. “It’s sick. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons we have to unite this country.”

    “We cannot allow for this to be happening,” Biden said. “We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”

    Biden hailed the Secret Service and local law enforcement for their efforts to protect Trump and secure the scene.

    “The bottom line is: The Trump rally … he should’ve been able to conduct peacefully without any problem,” the president said. “But the idea, the idea, that there’s political violence or violence in America like this, it’s just unheard of. It’s just not appropriate. And everybody must condemn it. Everybody.”

    “So far it appears that he’s doing well,” Biden said of Trump. The two spoke later Saturday night, per the White House. Biden also spoke with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Butler, Pennsylvania, Mayor Bob Dandoy. The president left Delaware to return to Washington, and will receive an updated briefing from homeland security and law enforcement officials on Sunday morning.

    When asked by reporters if he believes it’s an assassination attempt, Biden declined to weigh in: “I have an opinion, but I don’t have any facts.”

    A Biden campaign official said that his reelection effort “is pausing all outbound communications and working to pull down our television ads as quickly as possible.”

    In a statement earlier Saturday, Biden condemned the attack on his presumptive rival in November’s election, adding that he is “grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well.”

    “I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information,” Biden said. “Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”

    Biden received multiple briefings on the incident, including one with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, the White House said. The president and Vice President Kamala Harris were expected to recieve another briefing from homeland security and law enforcemnet officials on Sunday morning.

    Mayorkas said in a statement Saturday night that the Department of Homeland Security is “engaged with President Biden, former President Trump, and their campaigns, and are taking every possible measure to ensure their safety and security.”

    Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was also briefed on the incident.

    “Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable,” Shapiro wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States.”

    Amid prayers for Trump and condemnations for political violence from world leaders and politicians on both sides of the aisle, some of his congressional allies called for investigations. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on NBC News’ “Today” on Sunday that Congress would launch a full investigation and that he spoke with Mayorkas on Saturday night and “asked him some pointed questions.”

    “Political violence in all forms is unamerican and unacceptable,” House Oversight Chairman James Comer said in a statement. “There are many questions and Americans demand answers. I have already contacted the Secret Service for a briefing and am also calling on Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to appear for a hearing. The Oversight Committee will send a formal invitation soon.”

    One Republican lawmaker, Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia, even went as far as to say that Biden “sent the orders,” referencing comments reportedly made by the Democrat about putting Trump “in a bullseye” in terms of a campaign strategy. 

    Ohio Sen. JD Vance, a possible Trump running mate contender, also condemned rhetoric from Biden and Democrats and directly blamed them for the incident.

    “Today is not just some isolated incident. The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs,” Vance charged. “That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”

    This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • FBI identifies suspect in Trump assassination attempt

    FBI identifies suspect in Trump assassination attempt

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    Former President Donald Trump was whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night after a shooting that killed at least one rally attendee. The former president said he was “shot with a bullet” that pierced part of his ear.

    The FBI early Sunday identified the suspected shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pa. He was killed by the United States Secret Service.

    “The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania,” the FBI said in a statement, asking for anyone with more information to come forward.

    What You Need To Know

    • Former President Donald Trump was whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night after a shooting that killed at least one rally attendee
    • Trump said in a statement later Saturday night that he was “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear”
    • The FBI identified the suspected shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pa. He was killed by the United States Secret Service
    • President Joe Biden condemned the attack on his presumptive rival in November’s election, adding that he is “grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well”



    Not much is known about the suspect, save for that he was registered as a Republican voter in Pennsylvania. He did, however, donate $15 to a progressive political action committee on the day of President Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2021, according Federal Election Commission records.

    Early on in his speech, Trump was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers when banging sounds started ringing through the crowd. Someone could be heard saying “get down, get down” and directing Trump to the ground. The ex-president could be seen reaching with his right hand toward his neck. There appeared to be blood on his face.

    He quickly ducked behind the podium as agents from his protective detail rushed the stage and screams rang out from the crowd. The bangs continued as agents tended to him on stage. Trump could be heard on microphones asking about his shoes.

    The crowd cheered as he got back up and pumped his fist. Police began vacating the fairgrounds shortly after Trump left the stage.

    Officials said that one spectator was killed, and two others were critically injured.

    According to a spokesperson for the Secret Service, a suspected shooter “fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue.”

    Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said that agents “neutralized” the suspected shooter and took protective measures to secure scene and get the former president to safety.

    “The incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Guglielmi added. The FBI said later Saturday that assumed the lead in the investigation into the incident.

    A source told The Associated Press that an AR-style rifle was recovered by law enforcement at the scene of the shooting.

    In a statement on his Truth Social platform on Saturday night, Trump thanked the Secret Service and law enforcement for their “rapid response” and expressed his condolences to the family of the person who was killed at the rally, as well as his thoughts for another person who was “badly injured.”

    “It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country,” Trump said. “Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.”

    “I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” he added. “Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”

    Trump traveled back to his New Jersey golf club to spend the night. His campaign and the Republican National Committee said in a statement Saturday night that the Republican National Convention will continue as planned in Milwaukee next week.

    “Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday morning. “Our love goes out to the other victims and their families. We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed.”

    He went on to write that it was “more important than ever” that Americans “stand United, and show our True Character,” ending his post by saying “I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.”

    In remarks to the nation from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, President Joe Biden said he reached out to Trump, but the ex-president is “with his doctors” and said he’s hoping to speak to him soon. Biden expressed gratitude about Trump’s condition and condemned the attack, calling for unity.

    “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence,” Biden said. “It’s sick. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons we have to unite this country.”

    “We cannot allow for this to be happening,” Biden said. “We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this.”

    Biden hailed the Secret Service and local law enforcement for their efforts to protect Trump and secure the scene.

    “The bottom line is: The Trump rally … he should’ve been able to conduct peacefully without any problem,” the president said. “But the idea, the idea, that there’s political violence or violence in America like this, it’s just unheard of. It’s just not appropriate. And everybody must condemn it. Everybody.”

    “So far it appears that he’s doing well,” Biden said of Trump. The two spoke later Saturday night, per the White House. Biden also spoke with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Butler, Pennsylvania, Mayor Bob Dandoy. The president left Delaware to return to Washington, and will receive an updated briefing from homeland security and law enforcement officials on Sunday morning.

    When asked by reporters if he believes it’s an assassination attempt, Biden declined to weigh in: “I have an opinion, but I don’t have any facts.”

    A Biden campaign official said that his reelection effort “is pausing all outbound communications and working to pull down our television ads as quickly as possible.”

    In a statement earlier Saturday, Biden condemned the attack on his presumptive rival in November’s election, adding that he is “grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well.”

    “I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information,” Biden said. “Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”

    Biden received multiple briefings on the incident, including one with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, the White House said. The president and Vice President Kamala Harris were expected to recieve another briefing from homeland security and law enforcemnet officials on Sunday morning.

    Mayorkas said in a statement Saturday night that the Department of Homeland Security is “engaged with President Biden, former President Trump, and their campaigns, and are taking every possible measure to ensure their safety and security.”

    Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was also briefed on the incident.

    “Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable,” Shapiro wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States.”

    Amid prayers for Trump and condemnations for political violence from world leaders and politicians on both sides of the aisle, some of his congressional allies called for investigations. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on NBC News’ “Today” on Sunday that Congress would launch a full investigation and that he spoke with Mayorkas on Saturday night and “asked him some pointed questions.”

    “Political violence in all forms is unamerican and unacceptable,” House Oversight Chairman James Comer said in a statement. “There are many questions and Americans demand answers. I have already contacted the Secret Service for a briefing and am also calling on Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to appear for a hearing. The Oversight Committee will send a formal invitation soon.”

    One Republican lawmaker, Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia, even went as far as to say that Biden “sent the orders,” referencing comments reportedly made by the Democrat about putting Trump “in a bullseye” in terms of a campaign strategy. 

    Ohio Sen. JD Vance, a possible Trump running mate contender, also condemned rhetoric from Biden and Democrats and directly blamed them for the incident.

    “Today is not just some isolated incident. The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs,” Vance charged. “That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”

    This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    Justin Tasolides

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  • Lead detective in Alec Baldwin case to testify in ‘Rust’ trial

    Lead detective in Alec Baldwin case to testify in ‘Rust’ trial

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    SANTA FE, N.M. — The lead detective in the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust” is likely to be on the stand for most of Friday at Alec Baldwin‘s involuntary manslaughter trial in New Mexico, as prosecutors try to cast the movie star as a reckless cavalier with a gun in his hand and the defense seeks to portray him as a working actor just doing his job.

    What You Need To Know

    • Cpl. Alexandria Hancock of the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office was on the stand briefly at the end of the day Thursday and will continue her direct examination by the prosecution Friday
    • Before Hancock took the stand, Italian gunmaker Alessandro Pietta testified Thursday about quality control in the manufacturing process for the gun
    • Baldwin has claimed the gun fired accidentally after he followed instructions to point it toward Hutchins
    • “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney said they have been informed prosecutors will try to call her to testify

    Cpl. Alexandria Hancock of the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office didn’t become the chief investigator until two weeks after the October 2021 shooting, but she conducted the first interviews of Baldwin, “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and assistant director David Halls, the three people criminally charged in the case.

    Hancock was on the stand briefly at the end of the day Thursday and will continue her direct examination by the prosecution Friday before undergoing what’s likely to be a long cross-examination by the defense as they look to poke holes in an investigation they have suggested unfairly focused on Baldwin.

    Before Hancock took the stand, Italian gunmaker Alessandro Pietta testified Thursday about quality control in the manufacturing process for the gun eventually acquired by an Albuquerque-based gun and ammunition supplier to “Rust” and handled by Baldwin in the fatal shooting. It was shipped in 2017, and Pietta last examined the gun in 2018 through a sales and distribution company.

    The provenance of the gun and its use for several years in trade shows are under the microscope as defense attorneys raise concerns that the gun might have been modified or might otherwise discharge under some circumstances without a trigger pull.

    Baldwin has claimed the gun fired accidentally after he followed instructions to point it toward Hutchins, who was behind the camera. Unaware that it was loaded with a live round, he said he pulled back the hammer — not the trigger — and it fired.

    Both Pietta and a sales distributor who handled the gun as recently as September 2021 testified that the revolver was in good working order and had not been modified.

    Pietta testified that the hammer on the gun will only drop with a trigger pull.

    “If you want to release the hammer, you have to pull the trigger,” he told the courtroom.

    But Pietta also noted that standard practice is to only load the gun — a remake of a 19th century revolver — with five rounds, and not six, to ensure the firing pin does not rest on a live round. Gun experts, including an FBI forensic expert, acknowledge that the revolver can discharge if pressure is applied to the hammer while resting on a live round.

    Before Hancock returns to the stand, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer will consider striking testimony from Thursday about a “good Samaritan” who walked into a sheriff’s station with what he told authorities was the supply of ammunition that the bullet that killed Hutchins came from, after the conviction early this year of Gutierrez-Reed for involuntary manslaughter.

    The issue came up during defense questioning of sheriff’s crime scene technician Marissa Poppell. Baldwin lawyer Alex Spiro suggested with his questions that Poppell and other authorities had been overly cozy with the film’s firearms supplier Seth Kenney and had insufficiently investigated whether he was responsible for the fatal ammunition reaching the set.

    Spiro asked Poppell whether the “good Samaritan” had brought the ammunition into the sheriff’s department, and she said he had and she had written a report on it, denying that she had “buried it” to keep it from the defense.

    Spiro asked whether the man “told you you all had been duped by Seth Kenney.” Poppell said she had no recollection of that.

    The prosecution reacted with contempt for the suggestion that the man’s claims were legitimate.

    Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey established in her questioning that the source of the ammunition was Troy Teske, a friend of Gutierrez-Reed’s father with motivations to redirect the blame, and despite similarities the bullets were not the same size as the live rounds found on the “Rust” set, including the one that killed Hutchins.

    Morrissey sought to further defend Kenney’s role in her questioning of Hancock.

    “Did you ever discover any evidence throughout your entire investigation that Seth Kenney supplied live rounds to the set of ‘Rust?’” Morrissey asked. Hancock said, “No.”

    Kenney has not been charged with any wrongdoing. An email sent to his attorney seeking comment was not immediately returned.

    Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney said they have been informed prosecutors will try to call her to testify.

    The lawyer, Jason Bowles, told The Associated Press in an email that Gutierrez-Reed will assert her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination if she is called because she has an appeal of her conviction pending.

    The judge declined to grant a pretrial request from prosecutors to give Gutierrez-Reed immunity for her testimony.

    She is serving an 18-month sentence, the same penalty Baldwin faces if he’s convicted.

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    Associated Press

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