DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — Flash flooding at Death Valley National Park triggered by heavy rainfall on Friday buried cars, forced officials to close all roads in and out the park and stranded about 1,000 people, officials said

The park near the California-Nevada state line received at least 1.7 inches (4.3 centimeters) of rain at the Furnace Creek area, which park officials in a statement said represented "nearly an entire year's worth of rain in one morning." The park's average annual rainfall is 1.9 inches (4.8 centimeters).

About 60 vehicles were buried in debris and about 500 visitors and 500 park workers were stranded, park officials said. There were no immediate reports of injuries and the California Department of Transportation estimated it would take four to six hours to open a road that would allow park visitors to leave.

It was the second major flooding event at the park this week. Some roads were closed Monday after they were inundated with mud and debris from flash floods that also hit western Nevada and northern Arizona hard.

The rain started around 2 a.m., said John Sirlin, a photographer for an Arizona-based adventure company who witnessed the flooding as he perched on a hillside boulder where he was trying to take pictures of lightning as the storm approached.

"It was more extreme than anything I've seen there," said Sirlin, who lives in Chandler, Arizona, and has been visiting the park since 2016. He is the lead guide for Incredible Weather Adventures and said he started chasing storms in Minnesota and the high plains in the 1990s.

"I've never seen it to the point where entire trees and boulders were washing down. The noise from some of the rocks coming down the mountain was just incredible," he said in a phone interview Friday afternoon.

"A lot of washes were flowing several feet deep. There are rocks probably 3 or 4 feet covering the road," he said.

Sirlin said it took him about 6 hours to drive about 35 miles (56 kilometers) out of the park from near the Inn at Death Valley.

"There were at least two dozen cars that got smashed and stuck in there," he said, adding that he didn't see anyone injured "or any high water rescues."

During Friday's rainstorms, the "flood waters pushed dumpster containers into parked cars, which caused cars to collide into one another. Additionally, many facilities are flooded including hotel rooms and business offices," the park statement said.

A water system that provides it for park residents and offices also failed after a line broke that was being repaired, the statement said.

A flash flood warning for the park and surrounding area expired at 12:45 p.m., Friday but a flood advisory remained in effect into the evening, the National Weather Service said.

The FBI has concluded that Alec Baldwin must have fired the gun normally on the set of "Rust" -- which took Halyna Hutchins' life ... this according to a new report.ABC News published a bombshell story Friday, claiming to have obtained a copy of the forensic analysis report recently completed by the Bureau ... which was examining all facets of the fatal accident in a broader investigation to see if criminal charges are warranted.Per ABC, citing part of the FBI report, the feds found that the revolver in question -- a single-action .45 Colt caliber F.lli Pietta — could not have been fired without someone pulling the trigger ... a determination they made after conducting accidental discharge testing.Unclear if they did this testing with the same exact gun Alec used, or a separate but identical one — but what the FBI notes in their reports is ... that gun, when working properly, will not release a bullet and primer simultaneously by just fiddling with the hammer alone.That's what Alec said he was doing when the shooting occurred. You'll recall ... in a sit-down interview with ABC, he claimed all he'd done was pull the hammer back and pose it for the camera while Halyna coached him on positioning. When they were done, he released the hammer ... and says it fired without him pulling the trigger. The rest, of course, is history.Well, that just doesn't make sense to FBI officials. Their report, per ABC, notes they set the hammer at varying angles and positions to see if they could make it fire without pulling the trigger ... but they say they couldn't. The only thing the hammer could do when de-cocked and then directly struck on its own (without pulling the trigger) was detonate the primer.That essentially means it could set off the actual gunshot sound itself, without discharging a bullet, according to the FBI — but that's obviously not what happened in AB's case.Now, this conclusion doesn't necessarily mean Alec is in hot water quite yet — again, we don't know if the testing they did here was with his gun or another ... it's totally possible the revolver he used that day did, in fact, malfunction and that he's telling the truth.These findings have been sent off to law enforcement officials in New Mexico, who are still conducting their investigation dating back to October. One of the things they're still waiting on, per an official statement from the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office, is phone records from Alec.He'd said a few months ago that he was cooperating and getting those records over to local law enforcement in New York (so that they could send it over to NM) — but it sounds like someone might be dragging their feet. Once that's in, the D.A. can have a review once and for all ... with their own findings, the FBI's findings, plus any accompanying documentation.

New Mexico plans to build a new abortion clinic in a town near the Texas border.

The announcement came after the state's Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an executive order Wednesday, committing $10 million from her capital allocation funds to build the new clinic in Doña Ana County.

In a news release, Grisham said the new clinic would offer a "full spectrum of reproductive health care," including abortion.

In New Mexico, abortion is legal. However, the Associated Press reported that its neighboring states, Texas and Oklahoma, have banned abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.

“As more states move to restrict and prohibit access to reproductive care, New Mexico will continue to not only protect access to abortion but to expand and strengthen reproductive health care throughout the state,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham in the news release. “Today, I reaffirm my resolve to make sure that women and families in New Mexico – and beyond – are supported at every step of the way.”

Other services the clinic would provide include family planning, prenatal care, and postpartum care and support.

Lujan Grisham has been a proponent when it comes to abortion rights.

Three days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, she signed an executive order that would ensure safe harbor to those seeking abortions or providing abortions in the state, the Associated Press reported.

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico and others are suing the city of Albuquerque to stop officials in the state’s largest city from destroying homeless encampments and jailing and fining people who are living on the street.

The lawsuit filed Monday accuses the city of violating the civil rights of what advocates describe as Albuquerque’s most vulnerable population.

Lawyers for the ACLU, the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty and a group of homeless plaintiffs contend that Albuquerque has initiated a campaign in which city personnel is hounding and harassing the homeless.

The complaint blames the city's own policies for causing a housing shortage, along with escalating home prices that have put ownership out of reach and have resulted in more pressure on the rental market. They also point to the trend of institutional investors buying single-family homes and renting them at sky-high rates.

“The lack of affordable housing and adequately paid employment in Albuquerque has not only caused precariously housed individuals and families to lose their housing, but it has also presented a barrier for currently unhoused people to exit homelessness," the lawsuit states.

The lawyers also acknowledge that mental illness, disabilities or substance abuse can be contributing factors to some people’s homelessness, but that the city simply doesn't have enough beds or shelters to accommodate the growing population.

Democratic Mayor Tim Keller's office did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the lawsuit.

The ACLU is fighting similar actions in Arizona, where a federal judge last week temporarily halted Phoenix from conducting sweeps of a huge homeless encampment downtown.

In Albuquerque, the mayor's office has struggled to address the complaints of residents about homeless encampments taking over public parks and about aggressive panhandling. The city plans to develop a multimillion-dollar center on Albuquerque's south side where the homeless can seek services but the number of beds will meet only a fraction of the need.

Those without a place to go also have complained that the city's emergency housing shelter in a remote area west of Albuquerque is dangerous, unsanitary and infested with black mold.

According to the lawsuit, the shelter — which is able to house as many as 450 people — lacks working fire hydrants, does not meet fire safety and building codes, and has no means of sanitizing sheets, blankets or bedding to rid them of bed bugs and parasites.

Many of those at the shelter also have mental illness and behavioral health disabilities, and the advocates say mental health therapy is not provided there.

The lawsuit also detailed a homeless community of about 120 people that set up camp in Coronado Park, a city park north of downtown along a busy interstate. City workers began clearing the park of tents and belongings earlier this summer, making for what the plaintiffs described as a chaotic scene.

“Because the city lacks adequate shelter space and because even the available shelter space is not a viable option for some people, the people evicted from Coronado Park had nowhere to go," the lawsuit states. “People have looked for other locations, but the city continues to sweep unhoused people from wherever they land, making it impossible for people to settle anywhere.”

The New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness estimates the number of New Mexicans experiencing homelessness statewide is between 15,000 and 20,000. That includes those staying in shelters or outdoors and those who are temporarily living with others, living in unsafe housing conditions, sleeping in cars or staying in motels.

Maria Martinez Sanchez, legal director at ACLU-NM, said laws that criminalize people experiencing homelessness make it harder for them to find housing and jobs because even misdemeanor convictions can make someone ineligible for subsidized housing.

“Criminalizing homelessness does nothing to address its root causes. In fact, it exacerbates the problem," she said. "We know the solution — affordable housing. The city just needs to find the will and the courage to make it happen.”

FARMINGTON, N.M. —

Three civilians are dead and two police officers were injured in an active shooting incident in New Mexico Monday afternoon.

Police in Farmington said there were multiple civilian victims in the shooting and confirmed that one suspect was confronted by officers and was been killed.

The officers who were shot are being treated for their injuries at San Juan Regional Medical Center.

A tweet from ATF officials confirmed the agency's assistance with the investigation.

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Earlier Monday, Farmington police urged the public to stay away from two streets within Farmington. Area elementary schools went into emergency lockdown. Those lockdowns have since been lifted.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

A megadrought ailing the American West got even drier last year and is becoming the deepest dry spell in more than 1,200 years. A study out Monday said the megadrought is now the worst-case scenario officials and scientists worried about in the 1900s. The drought deepened so much in 2021 that it is 5% worse than the old record in the late 1500s.

Scientists compare this megadrought to what would happen in a hypothetical world without human-caused climate change. And they calculate that 42% of this drought is due to global warming from the burning of fossil fuels.

A study published in the journal Nature Climate Change found that the window of time between 2020-2021 was the driest for southwestern North America in 1,200 years.

In the study, researchers said, "Since the year 2000, southwestern North America has been unusually dry due to low precipitation totals and heat, punctuated most recently by exceptional drought in 2021."

As CNN reported, the burning of fossil fuels has been found to be directly related to water availability in the West. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that in December Los Angles experienced its second-wettest month on record, but then last month Los Angeles experienced its eight-driest January on record for the city.

Warning to viewers — video may be disturbing.

It is a miracle one baby boy is alive. Prosecutors say hours after he was born, his 18-year-old mother tossed the newborn into a trash dumpster.

Six hours later, people going through that trash dumpster found the baby in a bag and called for help. The baby is currently at a hospital in Lubbock, Texas.

All of it was caught on camera, including the 18-year-old's license plate, police said.

Officers said when they went to her home, she told police she didn't know she was pregnant until she gave birth.

Then police said she changed her story saying she found out she was pregnant the day before the baby was born. That she panicked and didn't know what to do.

Watch the full story in the video above.

New Mexico search and rescue crews used ropes and helicopters Saturday to rescue 21 people who were stranded overnight in two tram cars after an iced-over cable caused the cars to get stuck high up in the Sandia Mountains overlooking Albuquerque.

Lt. Robert Arguelles a Bernalillo County Fire Department spokesperson, said early Saturday afternoon that crews first rescued 20 people stranded in one car and several hours later rescued a 21st person stranded by themselves in a second car.

All the people on the two cars were employees of the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway or a mountaintop restaurant, and the 20 in one car were being ferried down to the base of the mountains at the end of their workdays, Arguelles said.

The other employee had been heading up the mountain to provide overnight security when the tram system shut down Friday night due to icing, Arguelles said.

There were no reported injuries among those stranded, Arguelles said. “More just pretty frustrated.”

To rescue the 20 people in the one car, operators were able to move it to a nearby support tower more than halfway up the mountain, and search and rescue personnel early Saturday morning hiked to the area and climbed the tower to deliver blankets and other supplies to those inside the heated car, Arguelles said.

Search and rescue personnel over several hours used ropes and other equipment to lower the stranded employees about 85 feet (26 meters) to the ground before escorting them to a nearby landing zone in the steep and rocky terrain where the tower was located, Arguelles said.

The 20 people were then ferried by helicopter several at a time to the base of the mountains, he said.

Arguelles said the second car with the one employee aboard was higher up the mountain and at a location where the car was too high above the ground to lower people by ropes.

But the tram system was able to inch the second car down the cable to the rescue site at the support tower, and rescuers then used ropes to lower the 21st person as was done with the others, Arguelles said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Watch the video above to see pictures and videos of the group trapped in the tram car.

Sunday marks the start of Kwanzaa and one woman is turning to education to celebrate the special tradition.

It's a seven-day, non-religious holiday observed in the United States. Kwanzaa is meant to honor African Americans' ancestral roots.

"It’s so important to convey this tradition because it’s ancient. It’s not new, it’s old, and it brings us together," Doris Fields, who celebrates Kwanzaa, said.

The tradition often involves symbolic items like a candle holder (Kinara), unity cup (Kikombe cha Umoja), placemat (Mkeka), crops (Mazao), corn (Muhindi) and gifts (Zawadi).

Fields has celebrated the holiday for over 35 years, from paying homage to ancestors to sharing hopes for the new year.

"Usually there are people in their 90s [who attend], and they have so much wisdom," Fields said. "They have so much to offer to us."

While Fields' annual events may look smaller due to the coronavirus pandemic, she said she doesn't stop the opportunity to teach.

On Sunday, her home was a haven for a small group of friends, eager to learn more about the tradition.

"There were people here who had not had Kwanzaa with us before, so it's very nice to be able to share our thoughts," Fields said.

The holiday involves seven principles, represented by candles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

"I’ve been celebrating Kwanzaa with my family. probably for the last like 10 or 15 years," Markella Clinton, who also celebrates Kwanzaa, said. "It’s something I look forward to every year. It’s a great family excuse. It’s a great community motivator as well because you don’t just have to be family to be able to come and enjoy."

According to UCHealth, a not-for-profit health care system, Kwanzaa is the fastest-growing holiday in the world.

As popularity increases, Clinton said it's important to ask important questions.

"Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to look for information," Clinton said. "Educate yourself, because it’s not a religious holiday. It’s about community engagement and having faith in yourself and having faith in your community."

The celebration lasts until Jan. 1.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

Nan Zhang came to America 15 years ago, became a citizen and decided she wanted to serve her new country.

“So my ultimate goal (was to) become APD police officer,” said Zhang who was originally from China. “It's (to) protect my community."

But her plans to become an Albuquerque police officer were cut short, she says, when she was forced to resign. She claims in a lawsuit that she underwent abuse, discrimination and was has given the nickname “Cadet COVID.”

"People kept telling me that you don't belong here,” Zhang said. “They tell me these things every day. This is harassment. I mean, it's just because of my age, my language and my race."

Now, Target 7 is being told that the Department of Justice has reached out to Zhang’s attorney.

Target 7 reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s office and they will not confirm or deny an investigation. APD says they don’t believe the DOJ is looking into Zhang's claims and in legal documents city attorneys denied that Zhang was pushed out of the academy and instead she voluntarily quit. City attorneys also denied any that any academy personnel discriminated against Zhang.

"I'm an American citizen, I'm American,” Zhang said. “And, my rights is equal like everybody else, but they treat me so different."

KOAT legal expert John Day said there is plenty of accusations for the DOJ to look at.

“The Department of Justice, that's one of their jobs,” Day said. “One of their missions is to investigate allegations of civil rights violations. The Department of Justice has an obligation to investigate. If they are in fact investigating, It means that they there is some information that they have that has led them to decide that we have got to look into this further.”

Zhang moved to the U.S. about 15 years ago. She eventually ended up in Albuquerque and decided to become a police officer after her home was broken into twice in the same week.

"I work out every day to try to meet the requirement for APD,” Zhang said.

Zhang tested and passed APD's physical agility tests and written tests with flying colors
She then interviewed with three high-ranking police officers — two deputy chiefs and a lieutenant- they all approved her to become a cadet.

In order to become a police officer cadets have to complete 26 weeks of training at the APD Law Enforcement Academy. Zhang had and finished six weeks before she says she was asked to resign.

In her lawsuit, she says academy personnel made her sign a resignation letter in which she says, “I was made to believe that she was quote — unfit for the role.”

Before Zhang signed that letter she says she went through weeks of what she calls "abuse."
She claims everyone kept telling her they couldn't understand her English.

Zhang hired retired Albuquerque police officer-turned attorney, Tom Grover to represent her. Grover himself graduated from the same academy

"What stood out to me when I looked at the records that Nan had when she provided her narrative of what occurred was how they were such a dwelling upon her while others were getting passes,” Grover said. “This was completely inappropriate and not consistent with the typical stress that a police academy is.”

Earlier this year the state's department of workforce solutions investigated her complaint and found no probable cause that the city discriminated against her.

Despite what she claims she went through Zhang says she still wants to be a police officer and serve her community.

"I really want to become a police officer, honestly,” Zhang said. “But I don't think they will accept the people who look like me. Look different. Talk different."

A graphic designer and animator has come up with an interactive light display that you need to see, and hear, to believe.

Michael Coffing has his home in New Mexico decked out with lights that light up to different songs.

He runs the show using a single-board computer called a Raspberry Pi, which he says is about the size of a credit card.

The video above is a light display set to the holiday classic, the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy."

He has other shows set to other favorites like "Winter Wonderland," "O Holy Night" and "Little Drummer Boy."

Coffing’s display runs the entire month of December from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., except on the weekends when it goes till 10.

Watch the light display in the video above.

SANTA FE, N.M. —

Discussions of workplace safety are now front and center after the fatal 'Rust' movie set shooting at Bonanza Creek Ranch.

On Oct. 21, Santa Fe County deputies said Alec Baldwin, the actor and co-producer of the film, discharged a prop gun that misfired. The weapon fatally wounded cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.

Questions also remain, like how live rounds showed up on the set.

The lawyer for the film's armorer, 24-year-old Hannah Gutierrez, released a statement Friday.

Jason Bowles said Gutierrez had no idea where the live rounds came from and added that the guns were locked up every night.

The incident has been a big concern for many people, including Baldwin.

On Saturday, Baldwin briefly spoke with reporters in Vermont, where he and his family have been laying low since the shooting.

"An ongoing effort to limit the use of firearms on film sets is something I’m extremely interested in," Baldwin said.

The actor added safety measures are needed when it comes to guns on movie sets.

"We have to realize that when it does go wrong, and it’s this horrible, catastrophic thing, some new measures have to take place," Baldwin said. "Whatever other people decide is the best way to go in terms of protecting people’s safety on film sets."

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the state may take action to address those concerns.

Her office provided the following statement to sister station KOAT:

"Workplace safety in any and every industry in New Mexico is absolutely paramount. A workplace death is never acceptable and must compel an analysis of what can and should be done better. My full expectation is that the film and television industry will, at the conclusion of the investigation into this tragic incident and once all the facts are in hand, bring forward comprehensive new safety protocols to ensure this kind of incident never, ever happens again. If that sort of comprehensive new approach does not materialize, the state of New Mexico will take immediate action, throughout whatever means are available to us, to ensure the safety of all personnel on all film and television sets here in our state. This industry is important to us economically and to so many workers throughout New Mexico, and I look forward to a full accounting of how this could have possibly happened, and we will determine our next steps from there."

The investigation is still ongoing and no charges have been filed.

Production on the movie 'Rust' has since halted.

SANTA FE, N.M. —

New Mexico authorities said Wednesday they have recovered a lead projectile believed to have been fired from the gun used in the fatal movie-set shooting.

Investigators discussed their initial findings in the shooting in which actor Alec Baldwin fired a gun, killing a cinematographer and wounding the director.

Testing is being done to determine whether the lead projectile recovered from director Joel Souza’s shoulder was fired from the gun — a long Colt revolver — used by Baldwin. Two other guns seized include a single-action revolver that may have been modified and a plastic prop gun that was described as a revolver.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said it’s too early to comment on whether any charges will be filed. He also noted that 500 rounds of ammunition — a mix of blanks, dummy rounds and live rounds — were found while searching the set.

The sheriff would not comment on how the rounds got on set.

Investigators said they will also be following up on reports that there were other incidents involving misfires with guns used on the set.

District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said investigators can’t say whether it was negligence or by whom at this point.

Both the sheriff and district attorney said they will not rush to judgment and that more investigation is needed.

The shooting has baffled Hollywood professionals and prompted calls to better regulate firearms on sets or even ban them in the age of seamless computer-generated imagery. Court records say that an assistant director grabbed the gun from a cart and indicated the weapon was safe by yelling “cold gun.”

The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, said she checked dummy bullets on the day of the shooting to ensure that none were “hot” rounds. She also told a detective that while the guns used for filming were locked up during a crew lunch break, ammunition was left on a cart unsecured, according to a search warrant released Wednesday ahead of the press conference.

Gutierrez Reed told a detective that no live ammo was ever kept on the set.

Assistant director David Halls, who handed the gun to Baldwin before the shooting, said Gutierrez Reed typically opened the hatch of the gun and spun the drum, though he couldn’t recall if she did that before the shooting. He said he only remembered seeing three rounds in the gun.

After the shooting, Halls took the gun to Gutierrez and said he saw five rounds in the gun, at least four of them were “dummy” rounds indicated by a hole on the side and a cap on the round. Halls said there was also a casing in the gun that did not have the cap and did not have the hole indicating it was a dummy.

“David advised the incident was not a deliberate act,” according to the warrant.

The warrant was issued Wednesday in order to search a truck that was used on the set.

SANTA FE, N.M. —

A camera operator told authorities that Alec Baldwin had been careful with weapons on the set of the film "Rust" before the actor shot and killed a cinematographer with a gun he'd been told was safe to use, court records released Sunday show.

Cameraman Reid Russell told a detective that Baldwin was rehearsing a scene Thursday in which he was set to draw his gun while sitting in a church pew. The camera wasn't rolling when the gun went off, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Russell told a detective according to a search warrant affidavit.

Authorities said Friday that the assistant director, Dave Halls, had handed the weapon to Baldwin and announced "cold gun," indicating it was safe to use. When asked about how Baldwin treated firearms on the set, Russell said the actor was very careful, citing an instance when Baldwin made sure a child actor was not near him when a gun was being discharged.

The affidavit released Sunday also includes statements by director Joel Souza, who was standing behind Hutchins and was also wounded.

It detailed the moments before the shooting and shows that there was turmoil on the set the day of the shooting. Several members of the camera crew walked off the production in a dispute over payment and lodging, Russell said, so a new crew had to be hired. He said he was unsure whether the weapon was checked before it was handed to Baldwin.

Souza said that he was focused on how the scene would appear on camera. He said he recalled hearing the phrase "cold gun" being used before the shooting.

He said the scene they were shooting did not call for the use of live rounds.

Souza described the gunshot as sounding like a whip and a loud pop.

On Sunday, a crew member who worked with Halls on another project said she had raised safety concerns about him in 2019.

Maggie Goll, a prop maker and licensed pyrotechnician, said in a statement that she filed an internal complaint with the executive producers of Hulu's "Into the Dark" series in 2019 over concerns about Halls' behavior on set. Goll said in a phone interview Sunday that Halls disregarded safety protocols for weapons and pyrotechnics and tried to continue filming after the supervising pyrotechnician lost consciousness on set.

Halls has not returned phone calls and email messages seeking comment.

The fatal shooting and previous experiences point to larger safety issues that need to be addressed, Goll said, adding that crew member safety and wellbeing are top issues in ongoing contract negotiations between a union that represents film and TV workers and a major producers' group.

"This situation is not about Dave Halls. ... It's in no way one person's fault," she said. "It's a bigger conversation about safety on set and what we are trying to achieve with that culture."

The film's chief electrician Serge Svetnoy blamed producers for Hutchins' death in an emotional Facebook post on Sunday. Svetnoy said he had worked with Hutchins on multiple films and faulted "negligence and unprofessionalism" among those handling weapons on the set. He said producers hired an inexperienced armorer.

Hollywood professionals say they're baffled by the circumstances and production crews have quickly stepped up safety measures.

Jeffrey Wright, who has worked on projects including the James Bond franchise and the upcoming movie "The Batman," was acting with a weapon on the set of "Westworld" when news broke of the shooting Thursday at a New Mexico ranch. "We were all pretty shocked. And it informed what we did from that moment on," he said in an interview Sunday at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

"I don't recall ever being handed a weapon that was not cleared in front of me — meaning chamber open, barrel shown to me, light flashed inside the barrel to make sure that it's cleared," Wright said. "Clearly, that was a mismanaged set."

Actor Ray Liotta agreed with Wright that the checks on firearms are usually extensive.

"They always — that I know of — they check it so you can see," Liotta said. "They give it to the person you're pointing the gun at, they do it to the producer, they show whoever is there that it doesn't work."

A vigil for Hutchins was held Sunday in Southern California, where attendees exchanged tearful hugs and speakers echoed calls for heightened safety standards.

Baldwin, who is known for his roles in "30 Rock" and "The Hunt for Red October" and his impression of former President Donald Trump on "Saturday Night Live," has described the killing as a "tragic accident."

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died Thursday after a prop firearm that actor Alec Baldwin was holding discharged on the New Mexico set of "Rust." Director Joel Souza was also hit and injured but has since been released from the hospital. While many things still aren't known — police are investigating — the AP looks at the use of firearms on film and television productions and the safety protocols in place.

WHAT IS A "PROP FIREARM"?

It's a loose definition and could apply to anything from a rubber toy to a real firearm that can fire a projectile. However, if it's used for firing (even just blanks) it's considered a real gun. Chris Burbank, a former police chief in Salt Lake City who has consulted on several TV productions, said firearms for simulations during police trainings or film productions are often made so that they can only be loaded with blanks.

WHAT ARE BLANKS AND CAN THEY KILL?

A blank is a type of gun cartridge that contains gunpowder but no bullet. Still, it can serious hurt or kill someone who is close by, according to the Actors' Equity Association. Film firearms-safety coordinator Dave Brown wrote in a 2019 piece for American Cinematographer that, "Blanks expel gunpowder and hot gases out of the front of the barrel in a cone shape. This is harmless at longer ranges, but the explosion can seriously injure someone if it's too close."

IN THIS INSTANCE, WERE BLANKS FIRED?

We don't know. The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office is investigating what "type of projectile was discharged."

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WEAPONS ON SET?

Generally, a weapons master or armorer oversees all weapons that are used on a production. This can mean anything from selecting the correct items for a certain period in history, to taking care of the weapons on set and making sure they are being used safely and properly by actors and stuntpeople. It's a fairly new position in the history of film production, going back only to the 1980s. Before that, the prop master handled everything. Recently, it's become more common to enlist specialists.

WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR FIREARMS ON SET?

The weapons master is required to be on set whenever a weapon is being used. The Actors' Equity Association's guidelines state that, "Before each use, make sure the gun has been test-fired off stage and then ask to test fire it yourself. Watch the prop master check the cylinders and barrel to be sure no foreign object or dummy bullet has become lodged inside." Further, "All loading of firearms must be done by the property master, armorer or experienced persons working under their direct supervision."

Armory coordinator Sam Dormer said that, "Nowadays, all weapons are checked before your blanks are put into the weapon. ... The blanks themselves are never loaded until the very last minute when all crew is in position, so the armorer knows exactly where every member of the crew is so that no one's walking through any danger areas the armorer has set up."

HOW DOES ONE BECOME A WEAPONS MASTER?

According to Backstage magazine, there's no formal path but it is common to have internships and apprenticeships or a background in stunt work, the military, police or security. Weapons masters are required to abide by state and federal laws and hold proper operating permits.

WHY WOULD THE GUN HAVE BEEN POINTING AT THE CINEMATOGRAPHER?

We don't know what happened on the set of "Rust," but it is fairly common to have a gun pointed at the camera, and by extension the cinematographer, to get a certain angle.

"We've all seen the very famous shots in films where you get that dramatic effect of a gun being pointed at you, the audience, and of course, it's being pointed towards the camera," explained Steven Hall, a veteran second unit director and cinematographer who has worked on films like "Fury" and "Thor: The Dark World." "To minimize that, one would put a remote camera in that place, or at least if someone does have to operate the camera, I'm normally protected by safety goggles, a safety visor and often a PERSPEX screen that withstands pretty much anything. Obviously, it wouldn't withstand a real shot from a gun, but it would certainly withstand a blank."

GIVEN THE MANY REGULATIONS, HOW COULD SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN?

While the specific circumstances of the "Rust" shooting are still unknown, professionals in the business say that sometimes the crew and production are encouraged to "speed things up" for any number of reasons which can sometimes lead to "relaxed" safety protocols.

DOES IT MAKE IT MORE COMPLICATED WHEN IT'S A PERIOD PIECE?

"Rust" is set in the 1880s and according to Hall, when period weapons are used "you have to use actual historic period weapons and to check the safety of those weapons. I have known live rounds to be fired out of revolvers, certainly, to make sure that they do function in a way that when you put a blank in, it isn't going to blow up or explode in the actor's hands."

WHY DO PRODUCTIONS EVEN USE REAL GUNFIRE WHEN SPECIAL EFFECTS ARE AVAILABLE?

It is becoming more common to add in gunfire in post-production when working on the visual effects. But visual effects can be expensive and it can be easier, and cheaper, to use props. Also, Dormer says that there can be advantages to using props and blanks, like getting an authentic reaction from an actor.

HOW IS HOLLYWOOD RESPONDING?

There has been an outpouring of dismay and anger from all levels of the industry that something like this could have happened. Director James Gunn tweeted that his greatest fear is that "someone will be fatally hurt on one of my sets." Alex Winter tweeted that, "Crew should never be unsafe on set and when they are there is always a clearly definable reason why."

AP reporters Lizzie Knight and Adam Egan contributed from London and Lindsay Whitehurst from Salt Lake City.

911 calls are shedding light on the moments after the shooting on the film set of "Rust" Thursday that killed the directory of photography. You can listen to the 911 call in the video above. In the tapes, a script supervisor is heard asking for help immediately. The supervisor is heard saying they were rehearsing when she heard the gun go off. She mentions seeing someone doubled over. She goes on to identify those shot as the film’s director and a camerawoman. We now know she was referring Joel Souza, "Rust" director, and Halyna Hutchinson, director of photography.Actor Alec Baldwin discharged the prop gun that fatally wounded Hutchinson and injured Souza. The 911 dispatcher asks the caller if the gun was loaded with real bullets, but the script supervisor says she didn't know.

For more than 30 years, this dance studio has been teaching students of all ages the culture of Mexican Ballet Folklórico dance.

The sound of music and heels clicking is a small part of what goes into traditional Mexican Ballet Folklórico.

Director at Baila Baila! Dance Company Israela Garcia said, “A lot of these students find something that they really love and they, it's a connection that they don't expect to have. And once they have it it's just natural.”

Garcia has taught folklórico for 32 years.

Although it was not in her life plans to run a dance studio she's happy it's made a positive impact.

Garcia said, “I saw the changes it made in children's lives and how it added so much to their life as far as a connection to their culture. And something that they could be proud of, something that helped them that helps them concentrate on that was something other than getting in trouble. Help them in their schoolwork.”

Students start dancing as young as 2 years old and some of the oldest students in their 80s.

Julie Weaver dances in the intermediate class at Baila! Baila! She said, “It's a unique style of dancing and it's new to me because I never did the heel work and it's challenging.”

For dancers, discipline and practice also come with lessons.

“Dancing is storytelling to me so every dance has a history behind it has a story behind it and I think that's really important to learn,” Garcia said.

Garcia says it's not all about turns, waltzes and costumes.

She said, “It just really brings the families a lot closer together. It's something that I'm glad I can provide to the students because it's something that they're missing and they didn't even know it.”

With every step, is a message.

“Joy. That's the first thing that comes to mind is joy. The joy of actually doing and dancing and performing for others and the joy of being able to see it,” Garcia said.

Watch the video above for the full story.

In Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado and even as far away as Illinois, clinics around the country are reporting an increase in Texans seeking an abortion.

"Our phones have been a lot busier this week, mainly from Texas patients and also from patients that normally would be seen in Texas," said Ashley Brink, clinic director at Wichita Trust Women.

"We've had to cap our schedule. We're scheduling out three weeks, until September 21, is the earliest available appointments," said Kailey Voellinger, the Oklaholma City clinic director at Trust Women. "We had a patient call today who was a Texas patient. She had done her ultrasound visit, right in Texas. They have the mandatory ultrasound, 24 hours in advance. She was under six weeks. When they got her back for her procedure, they could hear heart tone, and they had to turn her away right before her surgery."

Researchers at the Guttmacher Institute have predicted some of the impact on women.

In Texas, instead of driving an average of 12 miles one way to an abortion clinic, they now need to drive closer to 250 miles. That's 20 times more.  

"Even if you have the money to afford abortion, could you have the time to take off of work? Do you have the people to watch your children? Can you stay overnight? You know?" Voellinger questioned. "Or can you do a 20-hour day driving to the clinic, for seven hours being in the clinic, for eight hours and driving home?"

Back in Texas, providers say the punitive damages that would come from violating the new law aren't worth the risk.  

"The state has placed a bounty, a $10,000 bounty, on our head," said Marva Sadler, senior director of clinical services at Whole Woman's Health. "They've now allowed the everyday citizen to bring lawsuits against us if they feel we've aided and abetted a woman having an abortion past the time of fetal heart tone."

Anti-abortion groups say these providers represent a minority and the law reflects the will of many Texans who see abortion as a matter of life and death. 

"This is a law that was passed and signed by the governor, passed by duly-elected state legislators, you know, that are representing the people, signed by the governor, who was elected and to represent the people," said Mallory Quigley with the Susan B. Anthony List. "This is what Texans want to do."

In Washington, Democrats in the House are pushing for a bill to make Roe v. Wade a federal law. But without a majority in the Senate plus 10 votes from Republicans, that push is mostly symbolic. 

This story was originally reported by Amber Strong on Newsy.com.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed late Wednesday it is investigating Richard Branson's flight to space, saying the rocket-powered plane operated by his company, Virgin Galactic, veered off course during its descent.

The FAA's statement came not long after the New Yorker's Nicholas Schmidle reported that warning lights had shown up on the dashboard of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo — signaling that the vehicle was on a wayward trajectory — as the company's billionaire founder, Richard Branson, was riding in it during a minutes-long joyride-slash-PR-event that reached the edge of space. Schmidle also revealed the existence of the FAA investigation.

Virgin Galactic will not be permitted to conduct another spaceflight until the FAA's "mishap investigation" concludes, as is standard during such investigations, the FAA confirmed on Thursday. The company previously said it was entering a months-long, self-imposed no-fly period anyway, as the company works to refurbish some of its hardware. But as recently as Thursday morning, the company said it was targeting later this month or early October for its next flight. It's not clear if that schedule will hold.

"Virgin Galactic may not return the SpaceShipTwo vehicle to flight until the FAA approves the final mishap investigation report or determines the issues related to the mishap do not affect public safety," according to a statement from the FAA.

The company's stock dipped about 4% during trading hours Thursday.

Virgin Galactic spokesperson Barney Gimbel confirmed in an email to CNN Business that the trajectory of the flight "changed," adding that "when the glide cone message indicated that the pilots should modify the flight path to adjust the trajectory, our pilots did exactly as they were trained and followed the procedures."

In its initial statement Wednesday afternoon, the company defended the safety of the flight, which had been dubbed "Unity 22," saying that it disputes what it termed "the misleading characterizations and conclusions" in Schmidle's article.

"Unity 22 was a safe and successful test flight that adhered to our flight procedures and training protocols. When the vehicle encountered high altitude winds which changed the trajectory, the pilots and systems monitored the trajectory to ensure it remained within mission parameters," the company said.

"Although the flight's ultimate trajectory deviated from our initial plan, it was a controlled and intentional flight path that allowed Unity 22 to successfully reach space and land safely at our Spaceport in New Mexico. At no time were passengers and crew put in any danger as a result of this change in trajectory," it said.

The statement added that the pilots of the spaceplane encountered high-altitude winds, and "responded appropriately to these changing flight conditions."

But in a separate statement in response to the FAA investigation, it also acknowledged that the flight "deviated from our initial plan" and the spacecraft dropped below the altitude it was approved to fly at for one minute and 41 seconds.

"At no time did the ship travel above any population centers or cause a hazard to the public," the company said. "FAA representatives were present in our control room during the flight and in post-flight debriefs. We are working in partnership with the FAA to address the airspace for future flights."

Virgin Galactic did not respond to follow-up questions about the reported warning lights in the cockpit of the spacecraft during Branson's flight.

The pilots of the rocket-powered, supersonic SpaceShipTwo were faced with yellow and red warning indicators as the vehicle veered off course, according to Schmidle's report.

The wayward orientation of the vehicle put the vehicle off-kilter for its descent back to Earth, which could have forced it to make an emergency landing in the New Mexican desert, according to the article.

The new report adds to several bombshell scoops Schmidle has had about the company's safety record, which its executives and PR officials have tried to sweep under the rug to save face among Virgin Galactic's wealthy clientele and would-be space travelers.

Branson's flight was only the fourth trip to space that Virgin Galactic has successfully completed following a tragic 2014 test flight that killed one pilot and badly injured another. And of those four trips, at least two have had serious safety issues. A test fight in 2019 — which was the first to include a passenger, Virgin Galactic engineer Beth Moses — nearly ended very differently due to a serious problem with the space plane's wing, according to Schmidle, who also wrote "Test Gods," a recently-published book about Virgin Galactic and years he spent with inside access to the company.

"This should have been a come-to-Jesus moment, not the kind of thing you brush under the rug," Todd Ericson, Virgin Galactic's former vice president of safety, who has since resigned from the company, told Schmidle last year.

Neither the FAA nor Virgin Galactic publicly disclosed the issues associated with the 2019 flight or Branson's flight.

The FAA did not respond to requests for additional comment.

At just 12 years old, Cody Unser was left paralyzed from the waist down.

“I was really depressed and angry,” Unser said. “You know, everybody has like an idea of what their life is going to be like… especially when you're younger, you have all these dreams and aspirations.”

Her paralysis was caused by a rare autoimmune disease called Transverse Myelitis. The disease causes inflammation of the spinal cord, the part of the nervous system which sends messages from the brain to nerves.

Unser adapted to the challenge of life in a wheelchair and then dove deep into the daring sport of scuba diving.

“It was the first time that I felt not only free, but also very confident, independent,” she said.

Unser and her late mother, Shelley, founded the Cody Unser First Step Foundation shortly after her diagnosis, to improve quality of life for those living with spinal-cord related paralysis.

On the third anniversary of her mother's death, Unser partnered with The Scuba Company to hold an event at the Rio Rancho Aquatic Center in New Mexico to teach people with disabilities the power of adaptive scuba diving.

Rio Rancho Mayor Greg Hull attended and participated in the event.

“This is just another example of how we want to make sure we're reaching out to the whole community – that we're being inclusive and making sure that everyone has a great quality of life here,” he said.

But inclusivity is often a struggle for people with disabilities.

“We live in a concrete jungle that's not always giving to people with disabilities,” Unser said.

The beauty of scuba diving, she said, is that it can be adapted to nearly everyone.

Twenty-five-year-old Cameron Lewis' way of life changed this past April when his leg was amputated following a nasty crash on I-40.

His doctor recommended he attend Unser's event to meet new people and better adapt to his new circumstances. Although it was his first time scuba diving, it's safe to say, it won't be his last.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “It's making me work a lot of joints I haven't moved in a while. It's freeing, I love it.”

Yasmany Fuentes, a certified instructor and manager at The Scuba Company said watching people experience the sport brings him immense joy.

“They're just feeling weightless, the weight of the world, the stress, how injured they are, how heavy they are, however the equipment is…. it does not matter,” he said. “They're completely weightless. They're in complete Zen.”

“Our motto is ‘changing lives one dive at a time.’” Unser said. “It really only takes one dive to change someone's life.”

If you'd like to learn more about this program, you can visit their website at www.codysfirststep.org

Watch the video above for Cody's full story.

A bill to shore up abortion rights in New Mexico by overturning a dormant 1969 ban on most abortion procedures has been approved by the Democrat-led Legislature.

The state House passed the bill Friday and sent it to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has said she will sign it. The initiative stands as a counterpoint to proposed abortion bans this year in several Republican-led legislatures.

If left in place, New Mexico’s ban on most abortion procedures could go into effect if the U.S. Supreme Court eventually overturns the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.

Meanwhile on Friday, South Carolina's new law banning most abortions was suspended by a federal judge on its second day in effect. Friday's suspension will last until the judge can hold a more substantial hearing March 9 on whether the law should not be enforced until Planned Parenthood's legal challenge is finished.

Gov. Henry McMaster signed the law Thursday. South Carolina's new ban is similar to abortion restriction laws that a dozen states have previously passed. All were stopped from taking effect and currently are tied up in court.

Abortion is legal under federal law.

The wild horse crossing doesn't stop in New Mexico.

A herd of wild horses was caught crossing a street on video.

Sister station KOAT Action 7 News shared the remarkable video of the wild horse parade crossing the street.

The long line of wild horses caused traffic to temporarily pause so the animals could safely make their way to the other side of the street.

Watch the video to see the wild horse parade in action.

Video above: Healthy Frozen Foods You Should Always Have in Your FreezerAs the country reopens in an ongoing pandemic, Los Alamos County, New Mexico, has been ranked the healthiest U.S. community for the second year in a row.Located roughly 40 miles from Sante Fe, the county is home to canyons and mesas connected by a 58-mile trail network, 13 developed public parks and an expansive golf course. The community of more than 19,000 people scored highest in the housing, population health and infrastructure categories, according to the annual U.S. News & World Report Healthiest Communities rankings report published Tuesday.It's the first community to take the No. 1 spot more than once since U.S. News launched the rankings in 2018, according to the report.Known for its vast, breathtaking mountain ranges, Los Alamos County also ranked among the best communities for factors such as low COVID-19 case rates, citizen income, employment and educational achievement. However, the county and the four runners-up — Douglas County, Colorado; Falls Church, Virginia; Loudoun County, Virginia; and San Miguel County, Colorado — all scored below average in the subcategory of educational equity."A healthy environment is part of what definitely contributes to (Los Alamos County) being a healthy community," Los Alamos County Council Chair Sara Scott, who wasn't involved in the report, previously told CNN. "People have the opportunity and the interest in getting out, taking advantage of our mountains, trails, biking, horse-riding (and) golfing."When Los Alamos County ranked No. 1 last year, Scott said a giving community that takes health and safety seriously contributes to what makes the county so healthy overall.That has included pandemic-related donations, volunteer mask-making, up-to-date communication between health officials and citizens on safety precautions, and the public's compliance with the county's layered public health response. Census responses, too, have helped county officials identify needs and priorities, Scott said.Colorado counties Gilpin, Teller, Pitkin, Summit and Park earned the top five spots of the environment ranking, which considered factors like air quality, drinking water safety, amount of land area covered by trees, and how many people lived within a half mile of a park.U.S. News and the University of Missouri Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems based the rankings on how nearly 3,000 U.S. communities scored on 84 health and health-related metrics placed within 10 categories: community vitality, equity, economy, education, environment, food and nutrition, population health, housing, public safety and infrastructure. For each metric, the researchers scaled the values for each community relative to the average for that metric.A community's public health past affects its presentMost data used to establish the rankings predated the pandemic, but some tools did highlight counties' COVID-19 case and vaccination rates. Kauai County, Hawaii, for example, had the lowest case rate, with 444 cases per 100,000 residents between the start of the pandemic and May 31, 2021. And four of the top 10 communities had full vaccination rates that were higher than the national rate of 41.4% as of June 4, according to the report.Conversely, vaccine hesitancy was associated with poorer health scores: None of the 10 most hesitant counties landed in the top 100 healthiest communities — but six of the 10 least hesitant counties placed in the 100 healthiest communities."What I learned in talking to health care and public health experts is that ... the type of public health infrastructure and trust in public health that you need to have for a pandemic is something you start building, not at the time of the pandemic, but 10 years earlier," said Alex Matthews, a data editor at U.S. News & World Report."Many of the counties that have, like, really high vaccination rates also scored well on our food nutrition category. And those two things don't seem related (at first)," Matthews said, adding that in some communities, a Fruit & Vegetable Prescription Program connects local farmers with families who need affordable access to produce."What ends up happening is, years down the line when the public health authorities come to you and say, 'Hey, we need you to wear masks' or 'Hey, we need you to get this shot,' you think to yourself, 'Well, of course. These people are invested in my health; they've been investing in it every day. So I'm going to listen to them, and I'm going to trust them.'"The top community for mental health Counties in Hawaii took the top three spots in the mental health category, with Honolulu County ranking No. 1.Honolulu has "coordinated systems that focus on making sure they're keeping track of" and responding to residents who are experiencing mental illness, homelessness and other crises, Matthews said.Community measures of "physical health and well-being can also impact mental health because they can limit or support the way individuals are able to move through their day and interact with their community," Susan L. Polan, the associate executive director of public affairs and advocacy at the American Public Health Association, previously told CNN. Polan wasn't involved in the study. In the report, poor mental health was associated with higher rates of poverty, inadequate physical activity, heart disease, diabetes and lower life expectancy.U.S. News produces the rankings to inform community health officials of best policies and practices for productive, healthy lives, according to the report.When scoping out potential homes, people should assess whether the area is "is a cohesive community with easy access to healthy food, safe places to play and walk, good schools, diverse residents and leaderships, affordable housing, public transportation and a full range of other services," Polan said. Local governments interested in investing in communities and economically sound, locally involved businesses are other good signs of healthy residential areas, she added.The Healthiest Communities project results from support from the Aetna Foundation, a health philanthropy organization; CVS Health; and the University of Missouri Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems, a research institution for community health. Researchers based the rankings on data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Census Bureau and Environmental Protection Agency.