News of the World

[kyonides]

Alec Baldwin waives preliminary appearance in fatal ‘Rust’ shooting case

"I understand that I am entitled to personally appear before the Court at every stage of the criminal proceedings.

"After reading and understanding the above, I request that the Court permit me to waive a personal appearance in court for the following proceedings: PRELIMINARY HEARING," it concluded.

The judge in the case approved the waiver, meaning Baldwin will not have to physically appear at the Santa Fe County courthouse on May 3. The preliminary hearing in the case is expected to last two weeks.

Baldwin pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Hutchins, who died on Oct. 21, 2021, after a gun that Baldwin was holding fired on the set of "Rust." The 65-year-old is also a producer on the film and has denied he pulled the trigger of the gun that killed Hutchins.

The actor also waived his first court appearance in February, which legal experts explained at the time was a "routine court proceeding."

Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is also charged with involuntary manslaughter. Gutierrez-Reed’s preliminary hearing is on May 3 as well.

"Rust" assistant director Dave Halls was also charged with a misdemeanor of negligent use of a deadly weapon and was sentenced in March to six months of unsupervised probation.

Trump tells Tucker he has doubts about Biden
seeking re-election: 'There's something wrong'

He addressed his indictment, Biden's overtures toward running for re-election, and much more.

While Biden has informally indicated he wants to seek a second term, he has yet to make an official announcement. However, in an interview Monday with NBC meteorologist Al Roker, Biden declared, "I plan on running," before following up with, "but we're not prepared to announce it yet."
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Trump replied he found Biden unable to provide cogent answers in his softball interview with Roker, saying it is unclear if the president could handle another campaign.

"Look, I watch him just like you do. And I think it’s almost inappropriate for me to say it – I don’t see how it’s possible," Trump said.

"But there’s something wrong. I saw his answer on television about whether or not he was going to run, to a very nice guy named Al Roker."

Trump said Biden could not have gotten easier questions than those posed by the longtime "Today" weatherman:

"[Biden gave] a long answer about the eggs and this and that -- look, I don’t think he can," he said.

Taiwan Air Force mocks Chinese President Xi Jinping
with patch of Winnie the Pooh being punched

Taiwanese citizens are rushing to buy a patch worn by members of its air force that mocks Chinese President Xi Jinping amid escalating tensions between the island and mainland China.

The patch shows a Formosan black bear, which is native to Taiwan, holding Taiwan's flag while punching Winnie the Pooh, which Chinese dissidents have increasingly used to mock Xi due to his supposed resemblance to the fictional teddy bear.

The patch has the word, "SCRAMBLE!," at the bottom, which appears to be a nod to the Taiwanese Air Force's efforts to combat near-daily incursions by China's military in recent months.
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Chinese censors have increasingly cracked down on images that compare Xi to Winnie the Pooh in recent years. Last month, a horror film that features Winnie the Pooh was scrapped in Hong Kong and Macao.
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In 2018, Disney's animated film "Christopher Robin," which includes Winnie the Pooh as a prominent character, was denied release in Chinese theaters. That same year, China cut off access to HBO after host John Oliver criticized Xi for being sensitive to the comparisons.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg sues Rep. Jim Jordan
over Trump indictment subpoenas

In his lawsuit, the Democratic D.A. said he's taking legal action "in response to an unprecedently brazen and unconstitutional attack by members of Congress on an ongoing New York State criminal prosecution and investigation of former President Donald J. Trump."
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"Chairman Jordan's subpoena is an unconstitutional attempt to undermine an ongoing New York felony criminal prosecution and investigation," Bragg said. "As our complaint details, this is an unprecedented, illegitimate interference by Congress that lacks any legal merit and defies basic principles of federalism."

"The Manhattan D.A.'s Office focuses on the law and the evidence, not political gamesmanship or threats. We look forward to presenting our case in court to enjoin enforcement of the subpoena."

The case is assigned to U.S. District Mary Kay Vyskocil, a Trump appointee who previously served as a federal bankruptcy court judge.

In recent weeks, the Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena seeking testimony from a former prosecutor, Mark Pomerantz, who previously oversaw the Trump investigation. The committee has also sought documents and testimony about the case from Bragg and his office. Bragg has rejected those requests.
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"Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to it," Jordan wrote.

Biden admin outlines plan to cut vital water supplies in western states

The Biden administration proposed actions Tuesday that would significantly reduce water supplies in seven western states amid severe drought conditions that stretch back decades.

The Department of the Interior (DOI) released a draft proposal that highlighted two potential actions it could take to combat the Colorado River Basin's deteriorating water levels. The two proposals would each consist of federally-mandated supply reductions for states that are dependent on the river system which provides water for more than 40 million Americans and is vital for western states' economies.

"Failure is not an option," Tommy Beaudreau, the DOI's deputy secretary, said in a statement. "Recognizing the severity of the worsening drought, the Biden-Harris administration is bringing every tool and every resource to bear through the President’s Investing in America agenda to protect the stability and sustainability of the Colorado River System now and into the future."

In addition to the water it supplies to millions of Americans, the 1,450-mile Colorado River supports 5.5 million acres of agricultural lands, provides electricity to millions of residents through hydroelectric dams and has key recreational and ecological uses.

Overall, the river provides water resources to seven states which are divided into two groups: the Upper Basin and Lower Basin. The Upper Basin consists of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming while the Lower Basin includes Arizona, California, and Nevada.