Morning rundown: ‘Rust’ movie set shooting charges, record Colorado snow

KARAH RUCKER: NEW ZEALAND’S PRIME MINISTER…PREVIOUSLY BLASTED OVER STRICT COVID-19 PROTOCOL…IS NOW STEPPING DOWN. AND RECORD-SNOW IN COLORADO CAUSES A 20 CAR PILE UP. BUT FIRST…TODAY WE FIND OUT IF CHARGES WILL BE SOUGHT IN THE DEADLY SHOOTING ON THE RUST MOVIE SET. THIS IS YOUR DAILY RUNDOWN WITH STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS. UNBIASED. STRAIGHT FACTS.

POSSIBLE CHARGES IN RUST SHOOTING DECIDED

PROSECUTORS ARE SET TO ANNOUNCE WHETHER ANY CRIMINAL CHARGES WILL BE FILED OVER THE FATAL FILM-SET SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED IN 2021.

WHILE THE MOVIE “RUST” WAS BEING MADE…CINEMATOGRAPHER HALYNA HUTCHINS WAS STRUCK BY GUN-FIRE AND KILLED. THE PROP-GUN WAS BEING HELD BY ACTOR ALEC BALDWIN WHEN THE WEAPON WENT OFF.

THE DA’S OFFICE IS SAID TO RELEASE A STATEMENT LATER THIS MORNING ON THEIR DECISION TO CHARGE OR NOT CHARGE ANYONE IN THE ACCIDENTAL-SHOOTING.

NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER RESIGNS

Jacinda Ardern | New Zealand Prime Minister: “I think the cumulative challenges that we’ve faced as a team, and they have been extraordinary, has taken its toll. I had the privilege of being alongside New Zealand during the crisis, and they placed their faith in me.”

NEW ZEALAND’S PRIME MINISTER, JACINDA ARDERN, IS STEPPING DOWN NEXT MONTH…SAYING SHE “NO LONGER HAS ENOUGH IN THE TANK” TO DO THE JOB. HER RESIGNATION TAKES EFFECT FEBRUARY SEVENTH.

ARDERN FACED MUCH CRITICISM DURING HER TIME LEADING THE COUNTRY. GIVEN SEVERAL CRISES DURING HER TENURE, INCLUDING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WHERE SHE TOOK A STRICT-STANCE ON LOCKDOWNS.

SHE WAS THE YOUNGEST PRIME MINISTER TO EVER SERVE NEW ZEALAND.

DEBT CEILING TO BE REACHED THURSDAY

TODAY, IT’S EXPECTED THAT THE U.S. WILL HIT IT’S DEBT CEILING. MEANING AMERICA IS MAXED OUT ON IT’S BORROWING LIMIT.

SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW THAT WE’VE REACHED THAT THRESHOLD?

NOTHING DRASTIC WILL CHANGE FOR US TODAY…BUT IT’S THE BEGINNING OF SIGNIFICANT DEBATE ON CAPITOL HILL.

THE U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT WILL TAKE WHAT THEY CALL “EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES” IN “ACCOUNT MANEUVERING” TO ENSURE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN KEEP PAYING ITS BILLS UNTIL AT LEAST JUNE.

RIGHT NOW CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE ARE A STAND STILL OVER RAISING THE NATION’S DEBT CEILING.

REPUBLICANS WANT TO SEE CUTS AND CHANGES IN FEDERAL SPENDING.

WHILE THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THEY’RE NOT NEGOTIATING ON RAISING THE DEBT LIMIT. A CURRENT STALEMATE THAT HAS SIX MONTHS TO PLAY OUT.

ITEMS COLLECTED FROM KOHBERGER RESIDENCE

NEW DETAILS FROM AN UNSEALED SEARCH WARRANT OF BRIAN KOHBERGER’S RESIDENCE IS OFFERING NEW INSIGHT INTO THE MURDERS OF 4 IDAHO COLLEGE STUDENTS.

ACCORDING TO THE SEARCH WARRANT, POLICE RECOVERED A PILLOW CASE WITH REDDISH-BROWN STAINS ON IT. HAIR STRANDS WERE TAKEN FROM HIS APARTMENT ALONG WITH ONE BLACK GLOVE.

ANIMAL-HAIR WAS ALSO FOUND DURING THE SEARCH, SOMETHING POLICE WERE HOPING TO FIND GIVEN ONE OF THE VICTIMS HAD A DOG.

A VACUUM, RECEIPTS FROM WALMART, AND ELECTRONICS WERE ALSO COLLECTED.

A MURDER WEAPON WAS NOT RECOVERED ACCORDING TO THE WARRANT.

WHILE THE NEWLY RELEASED POLICE RECORDS TELL US MORE ABOUT THE RESIDENCE OF THE ALLEGED-KILLER. IT ALSO PROVIDED MORE EVIDENCE POLICE FOUND AT THE CRIME SCENE. INCLUDING A SHOE PRINT.

DENVER’S RECORD JANUARY SNOWFALL

HEAVY SNOW IS DRIFTING ACROSS THE PLAINS AND MIDWEST IN THE LATEST WINTER STORM SYSTEM…AFFECTING SOME-15-MILLION AMERICANS FROM COLORADO TO MICHIGAN.

DENVER JUST RECORDED THE LARGEST JANUARY-SNOWFALL SEEN THERE IN THREE DECADES.

A MAJOR INTERSTATE HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN AFTER MORE THAN 20 VEHICLES…INCLUDING 9 SEMI-TRUCKS AND 12 CARS…WERE INVOLVED IN A PILE-UP.

AT TIMES—OFFICIALS WERE REPORTING NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY ON THE ROADWAYS.

THE SAME STORM SYSTEM WILL NOW TRAVEL ACROSS THE EAST COAST TODAY AND INTO TOMORROW.