Council tax in Bolton to rise by more than four per cent from April as budget agreed

The district attorney in the "Rust" case is fighting back against Alec Baldwin's request to disqualify the special prosecutor.  Baldwin is facing involuntary manslaughter charges following the death of Halyna Hutchins.The cinematographer died on Oct. 21, 2021 after a gun Baldwin was holding fired in a small church on Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico. Baldwin's legal team had asked to have Republican state Rep.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The Santa Fe district attorney on Monday defended the appointment of a state lawmaker to prosecute Alec Baldwin in the “Rust” case, saying there is no reason she cannot fulfill both roles. Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed both face involuntary manslaughter charges in the October 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. They are scheduled for a virtual court appearance on Thursday. Baldwin’s lawyers are seeking to disqualify the special prosecutor, Andrea Reeb, arguing that she cannot serve as both a prosecutor and a member of the state Legislature under the separation-of-powers provision of the state constitution.

Matt Hancock told aides he wanted to “frighten the pants off everyone” about the Kent variant of Covid to ensure compliance with lockdown rules, leaked messages have revealed. The latest set of WhatsApp exchanges show the then-health secretary and others discussing how to use an announcement about the variant to scare the public into changing their behaviour. The messages, among 100,000 passed to the Telegraph by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, show cabinet secretary Simon Case suggested in January 2021 that the “fear” factor would be “vital”.

“I can’t even ask my children if I want a loaf,” Val Barlow says as she looks into the distance. “My son asks me if I need anything but I know he’s got family. He’s working and he’s seeing nowt of it. I’m struggling like everybody else but you’ve got to go on.”

A community fridge aiming to help Greater Manchester families during the cost of living crisis has opened in Oldham, gaining the support of Andy Burnham and Oldham Council Leader, Amanda Chadderton.

Sorry, ModSun! Avril Lavigne continues to fuel those romance rumors with Tyga.

Hundreds of young people across Greater Manchester are to get free cycle hire, in a new promotion announced by Mayor Andy Burnham. The first 1,000 Our Pass members to sign up for the offer will get 50 minutes free 'bee bike' hire in March, April and May.

Councillors for Wigan confirmed that tax will rise by 4.99 per cent after a majority vote came in following four hours of debate.

Councillors have agreed to hike council tax by nearly five per cent at a meeting where one Labour member described his Tory opposition as the ‘Tameside Trump’.

Once again, Alec Baldwin and Rust producers are being taken to court by crew members of the indie Western over the fatal 2021 on-set shooting of cinematographer Haylna Hutchins.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Three “Rust” crew members sued Alec Baldwin and the film’s producers on Monday, alleging they have suffered anxiety and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the shooting death of the film’s cinematographer. The three crew members were in the church building at the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, N.M., when Baldwin’s gun fired, striking cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and director Joel Souza. Baldwin has denied pulling the trigger, though prosecutors have charged him with involuntarily manslaughter for allegedly firing the weapon while it was pointed at Hutchins. The plaintiffs in the latest suit are Ross Addiego, the dolly operator, Doran Curtin, the set costumer, and Reese Price, the key grip. According to the suit, all three were in close proximity to Baldwin when the gun was fired, and suffered “blast injuries” from the deafening sound of the shot.

Calls to make council tax cheaper for some of the poorest Mancunians have been voted down. The Lib Dems' proposal to increase the maximum discount on council tax bills in Manchester from 82.5 pc to 85 pc has been rejected.

Alec Baldwin pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection to the death of Halyna Hutchins on Thursday. Hutchins died on Oct. 21, 2021, after a gun that Baldwin was holding fired on the set of "Rust." The actor also waived his first appearance, which legal experts explained is a "routine court proceeding." "By waiving his first appearance in court, he's sending a signal that this is a case that really ought not be taken seriously, even though it is obviously an extremely serious case.

People in Stockport will see their council tax bills rise by more than 4 per cent from April after town hall bosses passed a ‘robust’ budget for the year ahead.

Rents for council house tenants in Falkirk will rise by two per cent this year, councillors have agreed.

Rochdale council has passed its annual budget unopposed for the first time in nearly 50 years - including plans for a 2pc council tax rebate to all households. Labour’s proposals were unanimously approved by members, with none of the three opposition parties tabling an alternative budget or amendments.The financial plan for the next 12 months will see council tax bills rise by 4.99pc - including 2pc ring fenced for adult social care - rising to 5.15pc with Andy Burham’s mayoral precepts. It means the average 'Band D' household’s bill will rise by around £9 more per month from April.However, to cushion the blow somewhat, every home will automatically receive a 2pc rebate regardless of which council tax band it is in. This will be funded by reserves. An extra £500k has also been put aside for targeted support to help the poorest households in the borough ‘weather the storm of the cost of living crisis’.READ MORE: Council smash huge £65m-a-year crime network after being led to single Manchester trader

APPOINTMENTSManagement company YMU has hired Yvette Medina as Head Of Latin Music. She joins from her own management business the Creative Management Firm. “YMU’s global resources and commitment to continue driving Latin music forward on a global scale aligned with my vision and passion, making them a perfect partner”, she says.Music publisher Wise Music has promoted Marcus Wise to CEO for Europe.

Alec Baldwin and his legal team didn’t have anything to say Monday when the Santa Fa D.A. dropped a disputed charge in the fatal Rust shooting criminal case that could have seen the actor behind bars for up to five years for the death of cinematographer Haylna Hutchins.

Thousands of O2 and Virgin Mobile customers across Ayrshire will be hit with price hikes of up to 17.3% on part of their bill.

Alec Baldwin in connection to the accidental shooting of a Rust crew member have been downgraded.In October 2021, while filming the movie on location, Baldwin was holding a Colt .45-caliber pistol that fired a live round, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.Baldwin and the movie’s armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, were then both charged with involuntary manslaughter last month following the tragic incident.Per The Hollywood Reporter, the involuntary manslaughter charge remains against the pair, but The Santa Fe District Attorney has now removed a firearm enhancement from a second charge, meaning that a potential five-year prison sentence for Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed is now no longer possible.If found guilty of the involuntary manslaughter charge, the pair face a maximum of 18 months in prison.Discussing the reason for the change in charges, New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney spokesperson Heather Brewer said (via THR): “In order to avoid further litigious distractions by Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys, the District Attorney and the special prosecutor have removed the firearm enhancement to the involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the Rust film set.“The prosecution’s priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big-city attorneys.”Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyer Jason Bowles added that he “applaud[s] the decision by the District Attorney and it was the right call, ethically, and on the merits.”In November of 2022, Alec Baldwin filed a lawsuit for negligence and indemnification against a number of Rust crew members including Gutierrez-Reed, weapons and rounds supplier Seth Kenney, first assistant director David Halls and property master Sarah Zachry.