Haitian gang boss threatens missionaries, Alec Baldwin discharged prop gun: 5 Things Podcast
On today's episode of the 5 Things podcast: A Haitian gang boss threatens to kill kidnapped missionaries.The group includes children and a baby. Plus, the CDC signs off on mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines, Alec Baldwin accidentally kills someone on set, human remains in Florida are confirmed to be Brian Laundrie and 'The French Dispatch' hits theaters.
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Hit play on the player above to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript below.This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.
Taylor Wilson:
Good morning, I'm Taylor Wilson, and this is 5 Things you need to know, Friday the 22nd of October, 2021. Today, a Haitian gang boss threatens to kill the kidnapped missionaries there, plus mixing and matching vaccines gets the green light, and more.
Taylor Wilson:
Here are some of the top headlines.
- The house has voted to hold former Trump advisor Steve Bannon, in contempt of Congress. Bannon had refused to comply with subpoenas from the House committee investigating the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
- At least four people are dead after a Tacoma Washington shooting. Police said late yesterday, that the suspect remains at large.
- And Syria has executed 24 people after convicting them on terrorism charges for sparking last year's devastating wildfires.
Taylor Wilson:
A gang boss in Haiti is threatening to kill the Christian missionaries, who were kidnapped there last weekend. Sixteen Americans and one Canadian, along with their Haitian driver, were abducted outside the capital of Port-au-Prince, by the 400 Mawozo gang. Officials said earlier this week, that the group was demanding $1 million, for each of those kidnapped. Though, it was not clear if that applied to five children in the group, including an eight month old baby. In a video posted on social media yesterday, gang leader Wilson Joseph said, "I swear by thunder, that if I don't get what I'm looking for, I will put a bullet in the heads of these Americans."
Taylor Wilson:
Joseph also threatened Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, and Haiti's national police chief as he stood in front of open coffins that apparently held several members of his gang, who were recently killed. The missionaries were abducted during a visit to an orphanage. They're in Haiti as part of Ohio based Christian Aid Ministries, which held a news conference before Joseph's video was posted yesterday. They read a letter from families of the kidnapped missionaries. Here's spokesman Weston Showalter.
Weston Showalter:
Dear Church of Christ around the world, thank you for your prayers on behalf of our family members, who are being held hostage in Haiti. God has given our loved ones the unique opportunity to live out our Lord's command, to love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.
Taylor Wilson:
He said, those kidnapped are from Amish, Mennonite and other conservative Anabaptist communities, stretching from Ohio to Ontario and Oregon. Abductions are on the rise in Haiti, after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, in July, a devastating earthquake in August and general economic desperation. On the same day, the missionaries were kidnapped, a Haitian university professor was also abducted by a gang. Crime groups are also targeting women and children with more frequency. UNICEF said yesterday that 71 women and 30 children have been kidnapped so far this year in the country. That passes the 59 women and 37 children abducted in all of last year. Meanwhile, demonstrations continue across Port-au-Prince and nationwide, calling on the prime minister to step down, and for new security measures. There's also a severe fuel shortage, and gangs have been accused of blocking gas stations and hijacking supply trucks.
Taylor Wilson:
Pick a vaccine, any vaccine. Americans can now get a free booster shot of any of the three authorized COVID-19 vaccines, and can even mix and match them, according to a CDC decision last night. At the same time, the CDC also recommended boosters for some people who originally got Moderna shots, and for everyone who received the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, without restrictions. For those vaccinated with Moderna, people are recommended to get a booster six months, after their second shot, but only for those aged 65 and older, or others who might be at high risk or in jobs with frequent exposure to the virus. Pfizer boosters have been circulating since last month with similar restrictions, but pharmacies will not be checking to see that anyone meets qualifications, and boosters will instead be based on an honor system. The CDC's Advisory Committee on immunization practices, made its decision yesterday, based on data presented by the vaccine makers, and a National Institutes of Health's study. It also considered the endorsement of similar recommendations earlier this week by the FDA. Here's CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky:
These past 20 months have taught us many things, but mostly to have humility. We are constantly learning about this virus, growing the evidence base and accumulating more data. None of us individually can predict what may happen next, and none of us individually can know exactly what to do. But together, we can be prepared and make the best recommendations to protect the greatest number of people.
Taylor Wilson:
A booster dose is not required for someone to be considered fully vaccinated. If you got two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, you're fully vaccinated, and the same goes with just one dose of Johnson & Johnson. 66.2% of Americans are at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19, and 57.2% are fully vaccinated.
Taylor Wilson:
Authorities say, that actor Alec Baldwin killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, on the New Mexico set of an upcoming film called Rust. He also injured the film's Director Joel Souza, after accidentally firing a prop gun. Detectives are looking into how exactly a prop weapon caused such damage. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that Baldwin was seen outside the Sheriff's office in tears. But USA TODAY has been unable to get a comment from him. No charges have been filed as an investigation continues. Hutchins previously served as director of photography on the 2020 action film, called Archenemy. Born in Ukraine, she worked as an investigative journalist in her career for British documentary productions in Eastern Europe. She was 42. Production on the movie has been put on hold.
Taylor Wilson:
The human remains found this week in a Florida wilderness park have been officially identified as Brian Laundrie. That's according to the FBI who said the remains were identified using dental records. The announcement ends a weeks long search for the fiancé of murder victim Gabby Petito. Laundry has been named a person of interest in Petito's death. She went missing earlier this fall, after the two went on a cross-country road trip, and Laundry initially returned to Florida alone without her. Petito's body was later found in Wyoming, and a coroner ruled her death a homicide by strangulation.
Taylor Wilson:
Well, after a long wait, The French Dispatch is here.
Narrator:
It began as a holiday. Eager to escape a bright future on the great planes, Arthur Howitzer Jr. transformed the series of travel log columns into The French Dispatch. Factual weekly report on the subjects of world politics, the arts, high and low, and diverse stories of human interest.
Speaker 1:
You don't think it's almost too seedy this time.
Speaker 2:
No, I don't.
Speaker 1:
For decent people.
Speaker 2:
Supposed to be charming.
Narrator:
He assembled a team of the best expatriate journalists of his time. Berenson, Saserak, Krementz, Roebuck Wright. These were his people.
Taylor Wilson:
Wes Anderson's latest feature hits theaters today. The film follows stories centered on American expat journalists in France, ranging from murderous artists, to student revolutionaries, and even a master of police cooking. The guest includes Bill Murray, Timothée Chalamet, Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson and more. Our movie critic, Brian Truitt writes, "Like most anthologies, some segments are better than others. But they all highlight different inspirations Anderson's woven together, for a delightful cinematic sampler." Brian gives it three and a half, out of four stars. Thanks for listening to 5 Things. You can find us seven days a week, wherever you're listening right now. And if you have a chance, be sure to drop us a rating and review over at Apple Podcasts. Thanks to Shannon Green and Claire Thornton, for the great work on the show. And I'll be back tomorrow with more of 5 Things, from USA TODAY.