Investigators suspect it was a metal bullet, not a blank, that killed cinematographer

Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Juan Rios confirmed with Source New Mexico in a phone call after the news conference Wednesday that investigators suspect it was a real metal bullet that killed Halyna Hutchins, 42, last week on the set of “Rust.”

Sheriff Adan Mendoza said there was “complacency” on the set of the New Mexico-filmed movie, and practices need to be improved in the film industry to prevent such a thing from happening again.  Read more

A lack of ballot drop boxes adds another barrier to Native voting access

New Mexico will not enforce a new rule requiring drop boxes in every county this year

Access to the ballot is already difficult for Native communities in New Mexico, and this problem is only compounded by the pandemic and ongoing state problems that undermine efforts to offer more COVID-safe ways to vote.

This year was supposed to be the first in New Mexico when there would be at least two ballot drop boxes — more depending on population — permanently bolted to the ground in every county. But nearly half of all counties in New Mexico will not have enough of the boxes, and several have none, according to reporting from KUNM News.

The drop boxes allow voters to submit their ballots without having to go inside a polling place or wait in line near other people. They are also useful if mail pickup is sparse in rural and tribal regions. Read more

U.S. attorney general defends FBI probe of threats against school board members

 U.S. Senate Republicans grilled Attorney General Merrick Garland for more than four hours on Wednesday about a Justice Department investigation into threats made to local school board members in multiple states.

Garland at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing declined to revoke a memo he wrote asking the FBI to meet with local law enforcement to look into threats, intimidation and harassment directed at school officials, teachers, administrators and staff.

Read more

 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

‘Rust’ cast member: Production was rushed, crew overworked before fatal shooting

Ian Hudson stared down four pistols and a shotgun Oct. 3, bracing for his on-camera death for the movie “Rust,” filmed southwest of Santa Fe.

Hudson raised his pistol, inviting a hail of fake gunfire — at least 22 blanks fired by actors about 20 feet away out of antique, fully-functioning firearms, he said. 

The gunfire spat burning cardboard and other tiny projectiles at him, Hudson said, some of which hit his face. He depicted his character, a drunk outlaw, dying from his wounds anyway. Getting hit on a set like that is often just part of the job, he said. 

The scene wrapped, so Hudson, who is from New Mexico, could finally leave after a 12-hour day. As he left the set, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins congratulated him on his work, he said. Read more