California

New rules about guns on movie sets fail in California

Published

3 years ago

May 22, 2022

New rules about guns on movie sets fail in California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — New guidelines about how and when actors can use weapons whereas filming didn’t go the California Legislature on Thursday simply months after a gun actor Alec Baldwin was holding went off and killed a cinematographer on a film set in New Mexico.

Democrats within the state Legislature had filed two payments in response to the tragedy, which killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza.

With competing proposals, Democratic state Sen. Anthony Portantino, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the writer of one of many proposals, mentioned he “strongly urged” leisure business teams to “work collaboratively to carry ahead a consensus method.

However nobody did. Thursday, Portantino determined to carry each payments in committee, that means they’re unlikely to go the Legislature this yr.

“It’s a robust and ruthless business. First the business killed Halyna. Then they killed the invoice that may’ve made folks like her protected,” mentioned state Sen. Dave Cortese, a Democrat who authored the opposite proposal. “Regardless of setbacks, I’m dedicated to actual reforms that can defend our staff.”

Cortese’s invoice would have banned using weapons and clean ammunition containing gunpowder or different explosive expenses from movie units, with some exceptions. It additionally would have required producers to rent a set security coordinator to carry out a threat evaluation previous to the primary day of filming and to implement security guidelines all through the manufacturing.

Portantino’s invoice would have allowed weapons with clean ammunition on set, however solely below the supervision of an armorer who has accomplished a gun security course created by the Workplace of the State Hearth Marshal. It could have allowed dwell ammunition solely in sure circumstances.

Portantino mentioned he was “extraordinarily upset” leisure business teams failed to succeed in a consensus on the laws.

“Ought to there be an settlement forthcoming, I’d be prepared and desirous to entertain it earlier than the top of the legislative session,” he mentioned.

Portantino’s invoice was supported by the Movement Image Affiliation whereas Cortese’s invoice had the assist of the California Worldwide Alliance of Theatrical and State Staff Council. Neither returned messages from the Related Press on Thursday.

The Alliance of Particular Results and Pyrotechnic Operators opposed Cortese’s invoice, writing in a letter to lawmakers that it “wouldn’t have prevented this tragedy that occurred in one other state” however mentioned it might “negatively affect movement image productions right here in California.”

The deadly capturing occurred throughout filming of the Western film “Rust” on a movie set in New Mexico final October. Baldwin, who was an actor and producer for the movie, was pointing a gun at Hutchins, the cinematographer, whereas making ready for a scene inside a small church when it went off. Baldwin mentioned he didn’t pull the set off and that Hutchins had advised him to level the gun at her, based on an interview with ABC Information in December.

New Mexico security regulators fined the movie manufacturing firm $137,000 for firearms security failures. Hutchins’ household has sued Baldwin and the movie’s different producers, one in every of a number of lawsuits filed in reference to the capturing.

The payments have been two of tons of of proposals that didn’t go on Thursday forward of a Friday deadline for payments to go the appropriations committees within the state Senate and Meeting.

Different payments that failed included a proposal to terminate oil and fuel drilling in state waters, a plan to borrow $7.4 billion for varied ingesting water and wildfire prevention initiatives, and a program that may have awarded grants to convert public golf programs into inexpensive housing.

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California

Where are mandatory evacuation orders in place for California wildfires? See maps

Published

1 hour ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Where are mandatory evacuation orders in place for California wildfires? See maps

Mandatory evacuation orders remained in effect Thursday morning as wildfires continued to rage across parts of Southern California.

The deadly fires broke out this week and have destroyed more than 1,000 homes, businesses, and other structures, according to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. As of Thursday morning, at least five deaths had been confirmed, and nearly 250,000 were without power in the region, according to the USA TODAY power outage tracker.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency this week as more than 100,000 people have been forced to flee homes and evacuate the area.

The fires − Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, and Sunset − have burned thousands of acres and continue to spread due to humidity and dry vegetation, authorities said. Before the fires started, the National Weather Service issued its highest alert for extreme fire conditions in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

As of Thursday morning, Cal Fire reported the Palisades, Eaton, and Sunset fires were at zero containment, while firefighters had contained 10% of the Hurst Fire and 40% of the Lidia Fire.

Here’s where evacuation orders are in place for California and how to stay up-to-date on the latest.

Where are evacuation orders in place for the Palisades Fire?

Evacuation orders were in place from Malibu to Santa Monica, including Topanga State Park and stretching into the city as far south as Montana Avenue, as of just after 4:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, according to Cal Fire.

Wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour are expected to continue through Thursday in that area, CAL Fire reported online, “potentially aiding in further fire activity and suppression efforts.”

View an interactive map of Palisades Fire evacuation orders and warnings on the Cal Fire website.

Where are evacuation orders in place for the Hurst Fire?

Evacuation orders were in place for the San Fernando Valley, specifically at the Michael D. Antonovich Open Space Preserve, Stetson Ranch Park and Whitney Canyon Park, about 4:45 a.m. local time on Thursday, according to Cal Fire. Evacuation warnings were in place just north and south of the area.

View an interactive map of Hurst Fire evacuation orders and warnings on the Cal Fire website.

What are the evacuation orders in place for the Lidia Fire?

As of just after 4 a.m. local time on Thursday, no evacuation orders were in effect in connection to the Lidia Fire.

But Soledad Canyon Road between Agua Dulce Canyon Road and Crown Valley Road remained closed, CAL FIRE reported, as well as the entire Angeles National Forest for public safety and the protection of natural resources. The forest will remain closed through Jan. 15 at midnight.

View an interactive map of Lidia Fire on the Cal Fire website.

What are the evacuation orders in place for the Sunset Fire?

“The majority of the evacuation zone for the Sunset Fire is lifted with the exception of the area North of Franklin Ave from Camino Palmero St (East border) to North Sierra Bonita Ave. (West border)”, according to Cal Fire.

Where are evacuation orders in place for the Eaton Fire?

Evacuation orders were in place, as of about 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, for areas near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive, Altadena and Pasadena, Cal Fire reported.

Evacuation warnings were in place for areas just west and south of the area.

View an interactive map of Eaton Fire evacuation orders and warnings on the Cal Fire website.

Contributing: Greta Cross, USA TODAY

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

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California

Jamie Lee Curtis fights back tears on ‘Tonight Show’ over California wildfire ‘catastrophe’ near her home: ‘It’s f–king gnarly, guys’

Published

9 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Jamie Lee Curtis fights back tears on ‘Tonight Show’ over California wildfire ‘catastrophe’ near her home: ‘It’s f–king gnarly, guys’

Jamie Lee Curtis fought back tears as she detailed the “catastrophe” of the Palisades Fire near her California home when she appeared on “The Tonight Show” Wednesday.

“As you know, where I live is on fire right now. Literally, the entire city of the Pacific Palisades is burning. I flew here last night. I was on the plane and started getting texts. It’s f–king gnarly, you guys,” Curtis said.

“It’s a catastrophe in Southern California. Obviously there has been horrific fires in many places. This is literally where I live. Everything.”

Curtis said she had “many, many, many” friends who have lost their homes in the devastation of the fires.

“It’s a really awful situation,” she added.

The 66-year-old added she was flying home first thing Thursday to be with her family and friends.

The Academy Award-winning actress, who lives in Los Angeles with her husband Christopher Guest, took to Instagram earlier Wednesday to share with her followers that her home was “possibly” on fire.

“My community and possibly my home is on fire,” the actress wrote in the post. “My family is safe. Many of my friends will lose their homes. Many other communities as well.”

“Take care of each other,” she told her followers. “Stay out of the way and let the firefighters do their work. Pray if you believe in it and even if you don’t, pray for those who do.”

Stay up to date with the NYP’s coverage of the terrifying LA-area fires

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The Emmy winner is one of tens of thousands of people who have been forced to flee their homes in Pacific Palisades and neighboring areas.

Four fires have exploded in Los Angeles County, taking over 27,000 acres of land with zero containment in the Palisades, Eaton and Sunset fires.

The Hurst Fire is 10 percent contained, officials announced.

The fires are being fueled by strong winds, “dry fuels” and low humidity.

The “Halloween” star isn’t the only Hollywood figure whose home is under threat due to the fires.

Harrison Ford was seen talking to police as he attempted to get through to check on his $12.6 million Brentwood home he had evacuated because of the raging blaze.

Ford’s “Star Wars” co-star Mark Hamill was forced to flee his Malibu home Tuesday as the fire bore down on the area.

The 73-year-old actor detailed his hour-long “last minute” evacuation from Malibu as he experienced the most horrific fire since 1993.

Other LA-based celebrities have been forced to evacuate their homes amid the crisis, including “This Is Us” star Mandy Moore, “Schitt’s Creek” star Eugene Levy and “Once Upon a Time in America” actor James Woods.

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California

Maps: See how large the California wildfires are

Published

17 hours ago

January 8, 2025

Press Room

Maps: See how large the California wildfires are

Multiple major wildfires are leaving a trail of destruction and death in the Los Angeles area.

A handful of wildfires kicked up Tuesday, powered by high winds and dry conditions , and have exploded in size. As of Tuesday afternoon, 2 people have been killed and more than 80,000 people have been evacuated.

Follow live coverage here.

The maps below show the size and status of the fires. They will be updated frequently.

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