New Mexico

N.M. fines ‘Rust’ film company, details safety failures on Baldwin set before fatal shooting

Published

2 years ago

April 20, 2022

N.M. fines ‘Rust’ film company, details safety failures on Baldwin set before fatal shooting

SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico office security regulators on Wednesday issued the utmost attainable fantastic of almost $137,000 towards a movie manufacturing firm for firearms security failures on the set of “Rust” the place a cinematographer was fatally shot in October by actor and producer Alec Baldwin.

New Mexico’s Occupational Well being and Security Bureau mentioned Rust Film Productions should pay $136,793, and distributed a scathing narrative of security failures in violation of ordinary trade protocols, together with testimony that manufacturing managers took restricted or no motion to deal with two misfires on set previous to the deadly taking pictures.

The bureau additionally documented gun security complaints from crew members that went unheeded and mentioned weapons specialists weren’t allowed to make choices about extra security coaching.

“What we had, based mostly on our investigators’ findings, was a set of apparent hazards to staff relating to the usage of firearms and administration’s failure to behave upon these apparent hazards,” Bob Genoway, bureau chief for occupational security, advised The Related Press.

At a ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe on Oct. 21, 2021, Baldwin was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins inside a small church throughout setup for the filming of a scene when it went off, killing Hutchins and wounding the director, Joel Souza.

‘I did not pull the set off,’ Alec Baldwin tells George Stephanopoulos in ABC unique interview

Baldwin mentioned in a December interview with ABC Information that he was pointing the gun at Hutchins at her instruction on the New Mexico set of the Western movie when it went off with out his pulling the set off.

The brand new occupational security report confirms {that a} large-caliber revolver was handed to Baldwin by an assistant director, David Halls, with out consulting with on-set weapons specialists throughout or after the gun was loaded.

Regulators word that Halls additionally served as security coordinator and that he was current and witnessed two unintentional discharges of rifles on set, and that he and different managers who knew of the misfires took no investigative, corrective or disciplinary motion. Crew members expressed shock and discomfort.

“The Security Coordinator was current on set and took no direct motion to deal with security issues,” the report states. “Administration was supplied with a number of alternatives to take corrective actions and selected not to take action. On account of these failures, Director Joel Souza and cinematographer Halyna Hutchins had been severely injured. Halyna Hutchins succumbed to her accidents.”

A spokesman for Rust Film Productions didn’t instantly reply to an e mail searching for remark. An lawyer for Baldwin was not instantly accessible.

James Kenney, secretary of the Atmosphere Division that oversees occupational security, mentioned the company devoted 1,500 workers hours to its investigation, examined a whole lot of paperwork and carried out not less than a dozen interviews with forged and crew members.

Investigators discovered manufacturing managers positioned tight limits on assets for a small staff that managed weapons on set and failed to deal with issues a few shotgun left unattended twice.

Armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the daughter of a sharpshooter and marketing consultant to movie productions, was restricted to eight paid days as an armorer to supervise weapons and coaching, and was assigned in any other case to lighter duties as a props assistant.

As her time as an armorer ran out, Gutierrez Reed warned a supervisor and was rebuffed.

Alec Baldwin says ‘Rust’ lawsuits geared toward individuals thought-about ‘deep-pocket litigants’

Security investigators additionally word that the manufacturing firm didn’t develop a course of to make sure reside rounds of ammunition weren’t introduced on set, in violation of trade security protocols. Security conferences had been carried out, however not day-after-day weapons had been used, as required.

Kenney mentioned the separate investigations into attainable prison fees are nonetheless underway.

He mentioned his company acquired no direct security complaints from forged or crew previous to the deadly taking pictures, although anonymity is obtainable.

“This tragedy, this lack of life, it might have been prevented, and we wish individuals to say one thing,” he mentioned.

Kenney was appointed in 2019 by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a staunch advocate for the movie trade who elevated a state cap in trade incentives shortly after taking workplace.

New Mexico competes with non-Hollywood manufacturing websites in states akin to Georgia, Louisiana and New York. Movie productions have flocked to New Mexico in recent times to grab on its numerous out of doors surroundings, reasonable prices and beneficiant state incentives, together with a rebate of between 25% and 35% of in-state spending for video manufacturing that helps filmmakers massive and small underwrite their work.

The video within the media participant above is from an earlier story

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New Mexico

Los Poblanos hotel receives 2 Michelin keys

Published

3 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Press Room

Los Poblanos hotel receives 2 Michelin keys

While many New Mexicans already know about Los Poblanos, the 25-acre inn with gardens, fields and farming is finally giving New Mexico some national recognition.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – While many New Mexicans already know about Los Poblanos, the 25-acre inn with gardens, fields and farming is finally giving New Mexico some national recognition.

“They spent the last four years compiling information on the best hotels in the United States and came up with a new concept on Michelin keys,” said Matthew Rembe, an executive director of Los Poblanos.

Los Poblanos was just named a Michelin two key hotel. It’s a recognition that Rembe never expected.

“We are a unique experience, and we were happy that New Mexico was recognized. Sometimes New Mexico is overlooked in things like this. We are happy for New Mexico, and we were certainly humbled, so it is exciting,” said Rembe.

Each place is judged on five categories: Architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall character, value for the price and guest experience.

“New Mexico has the oldest architecture in the United States and Los Poblanos has a couple of different examples of important architecture, kind of agricultural old dairy buildings. The other is territory revival by John Gaw Meem and that is what sets up apart from other states, that New Mexican-style of architecture,” Rembe said.

This is only the second time the Michelin guide has announced Michelin key hotels.

Rembe hopes it gives people the opportunity to visit the Land of Enchantment and see everything that New Mexico has to offer.

“They can disconnect from their phones and technology and just kind of chill and relax and take in New Mexican culture. It always brings people back, I think New Mexico always exceeds their expectations because they have certain ideas on what the experience is going to be like,” said Rembe.

Los Poblanos got two keys, but there was another inn that got one key in New Mexico. That’s the Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe.

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New Mexico

Student podcast focuses on gun violence in Albuquerque

Published

10 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Press Room

Student podcast focuses on gun violence in Albuquerque

We’ve seen school threats cause lockdowns at campuses surrounded by police, and a handful of students are facing charges. That includes three metro teens accused of bringing guns on campus.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – We’ve seen school threats cause lockdowns at campuses surrounded by police, and a handful of students are facing charges. That includes three metro teens accused of bringing guns on campus.

Now, a group of teens is more than ready to have very grown-up conversations.

“It’s a really amazing way to help us spread awareness on how many youths and how many of us have been killed throughout our state and everywhere around the world,” said Briana Salazar, a college freshman.

Kaery Camacho and Salazar are just two of about 20 New Mexico students launching a new podcast series called “Aimed At Us.”

“Having experienced it, you always now have in mind in the back of your head, what if it will happen again?” said Salazar.

Before Salazar started college, she had already experienced a school shooting.

“There was two male students, and they had a confrontation with each other, and one of the male students pulled out his gun and unfortunately killed the other student, and it was right in front of our school,” Salazar said.

Camacho argues even if students haven’t gone through a shooting, many of them live with that potential fear.

“You’re not even safe at your school anymore,” Camacho said.

They both believe this podcast will give them and other students the chance to finally share their thoughts, worries, and ideas on what has become a continuous problem in New Mexico.

“They don’t want to listen to us, you know, like we’re the ones who are getting affected the most. We should be able to speak our truths,” said Camacho.

They plan on tackling all angles of the teen gun violence epidemic, speaking to people connected to both sides of the trigger.

“We are interviewing people who have been affected with gun violence, or people who have done gun violence, and see how that changed their lives and affected it, and how they’re doing better in their lives,” Camacho said.

New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence is backing the effort and paying the students on the podcast.

“They’re deciding who they want to interview. So it’s not us. We’re just kind of helping in the background,” said Miranda Viscoli, co-president of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence.

Viscoli says she hopes the podcast provides an outlet for New Mexico students who are on the frontlines of this state and national debate.

“Hear what these youth are going through, what these youth want to see changed, because they have real ideas. They have good ideas. and they’re extremely intelligent,” said Viscoli.

The podcast is supposed to launch in November. if you are a student who would like to be part of it, or know of one, just fill out the contact form on the New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence website.

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