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Will Alec Baldwin face criminal charges?

The Santa Fe County Sheriff says that a "live round" was fired by Alec Baldwin on the set of "Rust." More than half a million people are without power in the Northeast after a storm pummeled the area. And the U.S. just issued the first 'X' gender passport.

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'Live round' fired by Baldwin, sheriff says

The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office says the "actual lead projectile that was fired" was taken from "Rust" director John Souza's shoulder and is believed to be a "live round" fired by Alec Baldwin on the set of the Western that ended in tragedy last week. The bullet was "the same live round" that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, officials say. Police say there is no footage of the incident, and that they found a mix of blanks, dummy rounds and suspected live rounds on the set. The sheriff's office said at a press conference Wednesday that it's too early to comment on whether charges will be filed in the killing of 42-year-old Hutchins during a rehearsal at a New Mexico ranch. Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies would not rule out criminal charges being filed. "All options are on the table at this point," she said.

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Director of photography Halyna Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was injured on the set while filming the movie "Rust" in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Oct. 21, 2021. The film's star and producer Alec Baldwin discharged a prop firearm that misfired while loaded with blanks, according to authorities.
Director of photography Halyna Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was injured on the set while filming the movie "Rust" in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Oct. 21, 2021. The film's star and producer Alec Baldwin discharged a prop firearm that misfired while loaded with blanks, according to authorities.

Severe weather leaves over half a million without power

More than 600,000 homes and businesses were without power across the Northeast Wednesday as a wall of hurricane-force winds and heavy rains hammered the region. The storm, categorized as a nor'easter for the northeasterly winds blasting along the coast, was forecast to complete a counterclockwise loop Wednesday night, extending bad weather conditions in New England and Long Island, New York, AccuWeather said. Forecasters said the storm had undergone a period of rapid intensification known as bombogenesis – when the central pressure of a storm drops by 0.71 of an inch of mercury or more over a 24-hour period to become a "bomb cyclone." Two similar storms that formed in the Pacific Ocean in the past week were blamed for torrential rains, high winds and mudslides across much of California. Remnants of those storms touched off tornadoes and severe weather in Missouri and were fueling the East's weather chaos.

A pedestrian walks during a heavy downpour of rain over the Williamsburg bridge, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, in New York. A flash flood watch is in effect as a nor'easter moves through the New York metro area.
A pedestrian walks during a heavy downpour of rain over the Williamsburg bridge, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, in New York. A flash flood watch is in effect as a nor'easter moves through the New York metro area.

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A fourth shot

Adults with pre-existing medical conditions who have already received the Moderna or Pfizer double vaccinations and a third shot will be able to get a booster shot, federal health officials say. The CDC authorized a third dose for immunocompromised people 18 and older in August. The fourth shot should be received at least six months after the third, the CDC said. The CDC does not consider the third shots now being approved for Moderna and Pfizer vaccines as boosters. Some medical conditions and treatments can make it difficult for immunocompromised people to build and retain immunity, resulting in the need for a fourth shot, the CDC says.

US issues its first passport with gender 'X' designation

The United States is joining countries like Australia and Canada in allowing its citizens to designate their gender other than male or female on their passports. The U.S. issued its first gender "X" designated passport – a new milestone in the recognition of the rights for those who do not identify as male or female. The State Department will also now allow applicants to self-select their gender, no longer requiring them to provide certification if their gender does not match the gender on their other identification documents.

A passport belonging to Dana Zzyym rests on a table, Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021, in Fort Collins, Colo. Zzyym, who prefers a gender-neutral pronoun, told the Associated Press that their passport is the first U.S. passport to be issued with an "X" gender designation, marking a milestone in the recognition of the rights of people who do not identify as male or female.

Real quick

A win for Vanessa Bryant

The widow of Kobe Bryant has won another legal battle in her lawsuit against Los Angeles County, this time with a court order that forces the county sheriff and fire chief to answer questions under oath about photos of her dead husband and daughter. U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Eick granted Vanessa Bryant’s request to compel the pretrial deposition testimony of L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva and County Fire Chief Daryl Osby, two of LA's top public safety officials. Bryant is suing the county for invasion of privacy and negligence, claiming that county sheriff’s and fire department employees improperly shared photos of human remains from a helicopter crash that killed the NBA legend, their daughter and seven others in January 2020.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Rust' shooting, severe weather in the Northeast, COVID-19 vaccines, Vanessa Bryant wins in court. It's Wednesday's news.