For the second straight year, wildfires from Canada have been causing air quality concerns in the U.S.

Parts of Iowa are under an air quality alert on Tuesday as the National Weather Service says that smoke from a cluster of wildfires in northern Alberta and British Columbia has drifted into the Midwest.

However, not as many areas expect to see unhealthy air quality as on Monday.

According to the U.S. Air Quality Index, the air quality in cities like Minneapolis and Bismark, North Dakota, was considered "unhealthy" for parts of Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, the air quality is expected to be "good" in Minneapolis and "moderate" in Bismark.

Meanwhile, air quality in Des Moines, Iowa, is expected to be "unhealthy for sensitive groups."

Air quality is gauged by measuring how prevalent fine particles, generally 2.5 m or smaller, are in the air. That is then put on a scale from 0-500. This is known as the air quality index.

When the air quality index reaches 101, it is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. When it reaches 151, it is considered unhealthy for all groups; and if it goes above 201, it is considered very unhealthy.

The air quality index reached 185 on Monday in Minneapolis.

Residents of Des Moines woke up to an air quality index of 106 on Tuesday morning.

In June 2023, wildfires in eastern Canada caused significant air quality problems throughout much of the Northwestern U.S. and Midwest. The poor air quality forced some outdoor events to either be postponed or canceled.

A U.S. appeals court in Denver is set to hear arguments Tuesday in a lawsuit brought by six members of a University of Wyoming sorority who are challenging the admission of a transgender woman into their local chapter.

A judge in Wyoming threw out the lawsuit last year, ruling that he could not override how the private, voluntary organization defined a woman and order that she not belong.

The case at Wyomings only four-year public university has drawn widespread attention as transgender people fight for more acceptance in schools, athletics, workplaces and elsewhere, while others push back.

In their lawsuit, six members of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority chapter challenge Artemis Langfords admission by casting doubt on whether sorority rules allowed a transgender woman.

The lawsuit and appeal describe in detail how Langford's presence made the women feel uncomfortable in the sorority house in Laramie, Wyoming, yet sorority leaders overrode their concerns after a vote by the local chapter members to admit Langford.

Last summer, Wyoming U.S. District Court Judge Alan Johnson in Cheyenne sided with the sorority and Langford by ruling that sorority bylaws dont define whos a woman.

Filing in the three-judge U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, attorneys for the six sorority sisters continue to argue that sorority leaders have ignored sorority bylaws that they contend shouldn't allow transgender women to be members.

Johnson's ruling gave too much deference to sorority leaders in allowing them to define a woman under membership requirements, the sorority sisters argue on appeal.

Unlike in the original lawsuit, Langford is not included in the appeal. The national Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and its president, Mary Pat Rooney, are the current defendants.

The appeal brings fresh attention to transgender college students as the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority sisters in the lawsuit, their attorney and others plan a save sisterhood rally at the courthouse before the hearing.

Less than a year and a half ago, Chris McNulty was surprised to learn he was the son not of a gun, but a Machine Gun.

The Waterford resident was born in 1969 to MC5 drummer Dennis “Machine Gun” Thompson — who died May 9 at the age of 75 — and his then-girlfriend Kathleen Casey, who died last year. McNulty was adopted and raised by a couple in Sterling Heights, and it wasn’t until he was in his 20s that they told him they were not his birth parents. And even then they didn’t know who that couple was, as it was a closed adoption.

While McNulty would only have a short time getting to know them, he said he wouldn’t trade a minute of the experience.

“It’s a pretty cool story, very sweet,” says McNulty, 45, who has a wife, three dogs and two cats and works for National Seating & Mobility Inc. He discovered his lineage with help from a genealogist (and distant relative) at ancestry.com. “My first inkling to do this was really medical; when you got to a doctor’s office and they ask, ‘Does this run in your family?’ I would never know the answer to that.

“So I went into this wanting to know what runs in my family. The whole journey was so invigorating and enthralling, so exciting. I never expected that this is what I’d find.”

Thompson, born Dennis Tomich, joined the MC5 in 1965, shortly after the band formed in Lincoln Park. His explosive playing style earned him the Machine Gun nickname (after the Thompson brand submachine gun), and his style was an integral part of the sonic assault of the group’s three studio albums and hugely influential body of work that will be celebrated in October with a Musical Achievement Award from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“He was the only guy for that band,” explains Grammy Award-winning producer and artist Don Was, who was an MC5 fan while growing up in Oak Park and played with Thompson in the DKT/MC5 band he and fellow alumni Wayne Kramer and Michael Davis formed during the mid-2000s. “He was the perfect guy because he had all that energy, but he had a great groove. He was a soul music drummer at heart and just had that blend of high rock ‘n’ roll energy and groove. It wouldn’t have been that band without it.”

Legendary rock band MC5 draws hundreds of fans, music history icons to 50th anniversary reception

The MC5 also practiced communal living and an ideology of "dope, guns and f***ing in the streets," along with an association with the White Panther Party co-founded by manager John Sinclair — which McNulty's mother did not feel was conducive for a child in 1969. "She told me: 'I just didn’t' want to raise you in that kind of a lifestyle. I was nervous about how you would turn out if you stayed in that environment. I wanted you to have every opportunity,'" McNulty says.

Music was in his DNA, however. He took up drums as a youth and played in "a junior high, garage type of band" but ultimately "chose the path of sports over music," specifically hockey. But McNulty remained a big music fan and was well aware of the MC5 for many years before he found out who his father was.

"In the Detroit area, there are certain things you grow up with. Coney islands. The Red Wings. Motown. And the MC5," he says. "They're all just part of it."

While McNulty was growing up, his father was pursuing a variety of different musical adventures — including bands such as The New Order and New Race, along with a variety of business interests. McNulty's search to discover "my true heritage" started when his adoptive father died about five years ago. He found his birth mother first, during the fall of 2022, living in South Carolina. Shortly after the Ancestry rep told him that she'd traced him to Dennis Tomich — whose name was familiar to McNulty from reading the acclaimed 1996 book "Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk."

"Dennis appears in that book quite a bit," McNulty says. "I went to Google Images, and as soon as I saw his picture I’m like, 'Well, OK, I don't need to see anything else.' I was, like, a doppelganger. And that was exciting." It took some additional searching to track down Thompson, who was living in Southgate — which included making contact with bandmate Kramer, who died Feb. 2 in Los Angeles, and his wife, Margaret Saadi Kramer.

"Wayne completely understood what I was trying to do and wished me nothing but luck," McNulty recalls. "He said, 'Y'know, Chris, I remember Dennis saying: 'I've got a son out there, somewhere. I hope I get to meet him someday.'"

That day came near the end of 2022. McNulty had tried to contact Thompson via mail and Facebook messages, with no response. "I just finally got up the courage and went and knocked on his door," he says. "He looked at me and said: 'Well, where you been? What took so long?'

"He was under the impression that I knew about him. That's when I said: 'I just found out who you are. I had no idea.' And that was the beginning."

McNulty says he and Thompson — who he called Pops — had "your typical father-son relationship" during their short time together, "just a couple of people that met later in life. I would go and hang out at his house. He wanted to know everything about me and I wanted to know everything about him. I wanted to hear the stories.

"I have to admit I was a little star-struck at first. But it went beyond meeting a rock star to, 'Yeah, you're my dad.' We had some pretty deep conversations about life, about death, about love, about music, sports, the state of the world."

McNulty says Thompson was "a very opinionated person, and extremely intelligent. Dennis kept you on your toes; when we had a conversation I best know what I’m talking about, 'cause he'd call you out. You couldn't try to BS your way through a topic. … But I think I was able to see a side of Dennis that you don't hear about as much, too."

Greg Clark, Thompson's manager, says that connecting with McNulty meant "everything" to the drummer. "It was just a huge joy for him," Clark notes. "It was a little shocking at first, but the more time we spent with him, we realized (McNulty) really loved him. He was a huge fan of the band, played drums, loved all the Motor City music. They really became family."

McNulty last saw Thompson on May 6, visiting him at the MediLodge rehabilitation facility in Taylor, where Thompson was recovering from a heart attack he suffered in April. It was there Thompson learned about the MC5's Rock Hall honor after six previous nominations. "He said, 'It's about f***in' time!' — those were his exact words," McNulty says. "He really was grateful. He said that made him extremely happy and honored. I think he was extremely humbled."

Thompson was the last living member of the MC5, and it's been a brutal year for the band with Kramer's death and Sinclair dying on April 2 — both preceded by Rob Tyner (1991), Fred "Sonic" Smith (1994) and Michael Davis (2012). The music lives on, however — and there's more of it coming.

Kramer recorded a new MC5 album, "Heavy Lifting," that's due out in mid-October with Thompson playing on two tracks. And Clark says he's looking for distribution of an unreleased Thompson album called "Phantom Patriots," while some new songs Thompson worked on in recent years are also around.

McNulty plans to be part of all of that, including the Rock Hall ceremony Oct. 19 in Cleveland.

"Everything I'm doing right now is for my dad," he says. "I want to represent him, posthumously, as best I can. I want to be there for him and preserve his legacy and get people to know him through a different avenue — through his son, even though it was a brief time we shared. I want to make his legacy great."

Electric bikes could soon become more affordable in Michigan under the new state budget.

A $2.94 million voucher program proposed by House Democrats would provide a discount on the bikes, depending on your income.

The vouchers could save buyers anywhere from $500 to just over $1,200.

The full amount would be tiered based on income, but capped at 90% of the cost of the e-bike.

Republicans say the program is another example of wasteful spending.

The legislation is currently in the House Committee on Tax Policy, and is expected to receive a hearing this week.

Holistic health is big businesses, and vitamins, minerals and supplements make up a large portion of that market with annual sales of $36 billion and climbing.

But do they work and are they safe? I spoke to a supplement shop owner and an integrative psychiatrist about the effectiveness and safety of dietary supplments.

Uli Laczkovich owns Ullman's Health and Beauty in Berkley, where wellness is the name of the game.

"If your gut is mediocre, it could affect other functions of your body," Laczkovich said.

Laczkovich spent decades as a pharmacist in Europe where many of the supplements sold over the counter, in store and online in the U.S. can only be found in pharmacies and some by prescription only. Thats because supplements can have a real effect.

"Ashwagandha is a big seller?" I asked.

"That's why Canada is a super big seller. Because it really works. So, customers feel when they take it," Laczkovich said.

Ashwagandha users say they feel relief from anxiety and stress. There are a growing number of Americans are turning to supplements like Ginkgo Biloba, St. Johns Wort, Kava Kava, Valerian Root, and magnesium for their potential mental health benefits.

But some of these supplements can interact with medicine making some less effective and others more dangerous.

"Saint John's wort is relatively safe, but it has a tremendous number of interactions with drugs," Dr. Lila Massoumi said.

Massoumi is an integrative medicine psychiatrist who combines traditional medicine with alternative treatments, like supplements. She says before you take a supplement, its important to know how it will affect medicines youre already taking. For instance. St. John's Wort can make other drugs less potent.

"Making your birth control pills less effective, making blood thinners less effective, anti-cancer drugs less effective," Massoumi said.

It can also interact with widely used anti-depressants causing a building up of the neurotransmitter serotonin with potentially negative side effects .

Other supplements pose their own risk: Ginkgo Biloba can increase your risk of bleeding, Kava Kava can prolong the effect of anesthesia and have been linked to liver damage, and Valerian root can increase the effects of seizure drugs and medicines to treat insomnia

But that doesnt mean you have to shy away from supplements.

"Everyone's a candidate for treatment with supplements, but not everyone will be treated sufficiently with supplements alone," Massoumi said.

Massoumi says if your symptoms are mild and youre looking for a little boost, supplements may do the job. But if you need more than that, it may be time to get professional help.

"If your symptoms are moderate to severe, then you're going to want something with the large effect size. And in general, medications have a larger effect size than supplements," Massoumi said.

If youre already taking supplements, let your provider know. It's a matter of safety.

Back at Ullmans, if tablets and pills aren't your thing, Uli says try a tea like this Ashwagandha latte that can help with anxiety.

"It also helps us food cravings. Whatever stress does to you, it will be a little bit lessened," Laczkovich said.

If youre interested in using supplements to manage your health, there is a ton of information online. It can be overwhelming and its difficult to know what to trust.

Dr. Massoumi suggests starting at examine.com as it was founded by a former FDA reviewer.

She says its scientifically sound and is great to learn what supplements help, for what conditions and to what degree.

She also suggests consumerlab.com for individual product reviews. Is the product what it claims to be? Is it reliable or contaminated?

Both sites are ad-free and independent and a good place to start if you want to incorporate supplements in your health care regime

Trackers hidden on cars and small cameras tucked into yards are just two ways highly trained small transnational gangs of thieves have targeted affluent homeowners in Oakland County.

Sheriff Mike Bouchard estimates about 100 such teams are operating across the U.S. moving from one community to another. He led a town hall Bloomfield Hills Police Captain Thomas Van Simaeys and Bloomfield Township Police James Gallagher Monday night at Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills.

Nearly 100 area residents attended, listening raptly as police officials shared specific details and showed short video clips from homes that have been hit.

After recapping the rise of transnational gangs dispatching small teams of thieves across the U.S., Bouchard said Southeast Michigan has had intermittent attacks by groups from Chile and Columbia since late last summer. He warned that Venezuelan gangs have been detected in other states.

Chileans are “contact averse,” Bouchard said, explaining that they will leave a home quickly if it’s occupied. The Columbian gangs have shown a tendency to violence, he said.

Secluded homes along a golf course, woods, a lake or a park, for example, are the most likely to be targeted. The thieves often enter by a second-story backyard window.

Police have detected Columbian crews in Oakland County over the last two weeks, Bouchard said. He estimates between 40 and 50 homes have been hit since last year.

Seven Chileans have been arrested in connection with two types of crimes, he said, including a smash-and-grab jewelry store robbery and area home invasions. The audience erupted in applause when he said they remain in Oakland County’s jail. Gallagher said police departments are asking prosecutors for charges with higher penalties.

At one point thieves were stealing up to $1 million a week in valuables from Oakland County, Bouchard said. Gallagher said nearly every home in one Oakland Township neighborhood had been hit.

The thieves spend time watching a neighborhood to figure out residents’ habits, sometimes making videos or taking photos. In some cases, they use drones in the planning process.

Bouchard said these South American gangs send small teams into the U.S. two ways, either by illegal border crossing or using a while others arrived legally on the U.S. visa waiver program, which allows people from certain countries to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days for business or pleasure.

Once the gang members get here, Bouchard said, they often assume a Puerto Rican identity, because Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens – and local police officers often can’t tell the difference between a fake foreign ID and a real one.

“(These gangs) are extremely well trained and well equipped,” Bouchard said, comparing them to special operations teams in the military. One video clip showed a small team, dressed in black, break a window and disable wireless security systems in a matter of seconds – a few in the audience gasped at the speed of entry. Other videos showed a team of four rolling a large safe outside the house into a waiting vehicle.

Another reason they’re so fast, Bouchard said, is they know exactly what to look for – money, jewelry and other small valuables. The safes are loaded into a vehicle and taken elsewhere – in one case a duck hunter alerted police to a safe in a small lake, he said.

Most of the other stolen items are boxed up and shipped to a second location, often New York, Florida or California, before being resold or, in the case of metals, melted down, Bouchard said.

A woman in the audience asked about a series of small thefts from health clubs, which Bouchard said is being done by different groups than the home invasion gangs.

A man in the audience said his home was among those burglarized. The thieves didn’t want his shotgun or 9mm pistol but hid them elsewhere in the home – “they did like Louis Vuitton bags,” he said.

Bouchard said the thieves typically hide the guns to avoid getting shot, recalling another recent home invasion where a missing gun was found in a bush outside the home.

Others in the audience asked what type of glass they should have in their windows and what alarm companies to use.

The lawmen said they couldn’t endorse any alarm company and each homeowner must decide what security measures were cost effective. Van Simaeys encouraged people to consider having their alarm company call police before calling the homeowner to cut down on response times.

Bouchard encouraged people to join or form neighborhood watch groups or simply call police if they notice suspicious activity on their street.

The crews carry such tools as crowbars, diamond testers, and sophisticated electronics for jamming wireless security systems. He recommended basing wireless systems toward the front of the home to make jamming more difficult.

One woman asked why all of the safety information was being made public. Bouchard said he wants the thieves to know residents are warned and prepared – and he wants them to know law enforcement agencies at all levels are working together.

“We’re gonna be relentless looking for them,” he said. “Watch out for your neighbors and don’t be afraid to call (the police).

Tips for homeowners:

•  Layer security. Use motion detectors on all floors and a combination of wireless and hardwired devices and cameras. Device coverage should overlap for a 360-degree view.

•  Use different companies for security, Bouchard said, because thieves can disable devices operated by a single company more quickly than several types of security.

•  Always turn on security devices, even if you’re at home so that it’s a habit, Bouchard said.

•  Keep the local police department or sheriff’s office number on your phone. Bouchard said one out-of-town homeowner called their real estate agent after getting an break-in alert. “They couldn’t dial 911 because they were out of town,” Bouchard said.

•  Take photos of your valuables – but if you use your phone’s camera, put the photos in a second location, in case the phone is lost or damaged.

•  Record serial numbers of valuables.

•  Don’t keep all your valuable jewelry at home – use a bank safety deposit box. Bouchard said thieves make a beeline for any home’s master bedroom, knowing that’s where most valuables are, even if they’re hidden.

•  Don’t keep large amounts of cash at home. Bouchard said small business owners have been targeted after bringing home cash receipts from their shops.

•  Vary your daily routine.

•  Don’t leave a garage door opener in cars parked in the driveway.

•  Lock the door between the attached garage and the house.

•  If you’re buying a safe, choose one that is fireproof.

•  Large safes should be secured to the floor.

•  Don’t share vacation plans or photos on social media until the trip is over.

•  Use outside motion-detection lights.

Bloomfield Community Television (BCTV) recorded the session and will post the video online and broadcast locally.

 

A pilot who miraculously survived a plane crash in Novi is recovering from a broken knee and other broken bones.

A family member of the pilot shared the update with 7 News Detroit on Monday.

Watch our report on the plane crash from Sunday below Single-engine plane crash in Novi sends pilot to hospital

The single-engine military plane crashed just before 7 p.m. on Sunday night near 8 Mile just west of I-275.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane experience engine issues and made a forced landing.

This Bloomfield Hills dream home exceeds all expectations for luxury and elegance. The charming Tudor-style home is nestled on 1.5 acres with tranquil surroundings and mature trees on a quiet cul-de-sac in the exclusive Hidden Ridge community.

The 7,659 square-foot luxury home was recently listed for sale by Dan Gutfreund of Signature Sotheby’s International Realty.

Designed with a combination of classic architecture and contemporary allure, the luxury home was curated by Art-Harrison Interior Design, according to the real estate listing.

The home was built in 1997 and has been recently renovated with modern amenities and additional comfort and functionality for luxury living. The luxurious home features gleaming hardwood floors, abundant windows and elegant Schonbek Crystal Chandeliers.

The home includes a double-sided fireplace between the family room and kitchen, and a fireplace in the primary bedroom and the library.

The kitchen was renovated by Millennium in 2023 with Cristallo Quartzite countertops and premium Thermador appliances. A butler pantry and espresso bar, just off the dining room, make entertaining a breeze.

The lower level features an entertainment room which adds 1,000 square feet of living space, including a newly constructed bar and adjacent TV room.

The expansive backyard patio is surrounded by lush gardens and trees,  providing a secluded retreat.

The luxurious home includes five bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and two half baths. The primary bedroom and loft underwent a transformative renovation in 2018 by Sterling Development. The marble-clad primary bathroom features spa-like amenities.

The home includes a whole house generator and garage space for six cars.

The property is located east of Woodward Avenue and is close to Cranbrook, restaurants, shops and country clubs.

Address: 59 Hidden Ridge, Bloomfield Hills

Price: $4,290,000

For more information, contact Dan Gutfreund of Signature Sotheby’s International Realty-Birmingham at 248-644-7000 or visit www.isellmichigan.com/homes-for-sale-details/59-HIDDEN-RIDGE-BLOOMFIELD-HILLS-MI-48304/20240031559/404.

While dining out, you know that you're going to add gratuity, but lately, more restaurants have been adding more fees. Some call it a service fee. Others, a credit card fee, or an inflation charge.

It's a practice happening so frequently in the state of California that lawmakers are putting a stop to it.

The state will soon require that all restaurants bake those costs into the price shown on the menu in an effort toward price transparency.

I went out to Royal Oak, Birmingham and Berkley to talk to community members and a restaurant owner about the potential of something like it here in Michigan.

"The price went up in recent years for sure," Darnell Williams from Detroit saod.

"Theyre up a little bit. Not ridiculously in my opinion," Kirk Pesta from Clarkston added.

"Definitely seems like more and a lot of gratuity is automatically added now," Whitney Balkany from Hazel Park said. "I feel like theyre taking it from the wrong group of people. I feel like they should be negotiating better prices maybe from their suppliers instead of passing it on to the consumers. I dont feel like we should be bearing the brunt of that."

"When I see gratuity charges on my bill, it makes me less likely to tip because theyre taking so much of a percentage out for the gratuity. So I just tip a little less," Williams added.

"Id rather them just bake it into the cost of the food like theyve always done," Pesta said.

However, some others say the fees are reasonable.

"Ive noticed things have went up, but I do understand that in order to stay in business and to attract more customers, you gotta have that balance where youre going to have to pay a little more if you want to continue to go to your favorite restaurants because they have to pay for supply overhead and most of all labor costs," Bryant Watkins said.

The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association said 89% of restaurant owners in our state report dealing with inflation in the last year. The MRLA said most operators are seeing 5-10% inflation but some as high as 20%.

"I think a universal truth about anybody in the restaurant business is that theyre born to pivot, to adapt, to find a way through the fire and were no different," Curt Catallo, the co-owner of Union Joints, said.

Catallo has been in the restaurant business for nearly 30 years, co-owning spots like Union Assembly and Mom's Spaghetti in Detroit, and Vinsetta Garage in Berkley.

He said no matter how small, additional fees can be a tough sell for many customers in this market, but he believes slightly elevated prices are something we'll have to get used to.

"I think you have to be transparent with your pricing and weve never been a place to throw in surcharges and we wont. We want to be straight forward about it. People understand our crew is making more money now because they have to. Theyre buying the same gas and the same eggs. Its just the cost of living," he said.

Where Your Voice Matters

ROCHESTER HILLS – Rochester sliced visiting rival Rochester Adams’ lead in half in the fourth inning Monday afternoon before the Highlanders used some old-fashioned power to help pull away for an 8-3 victory.

Leading 4-2, Adams cleanup hitter Abby Young smacked her fourth home run over the fence in center in the sixth, a solo shot that bought her team a little more breathing room before the visitors tacked on three more runs in the seventh.

“I had two strikes, I was choked up, close to the bag and I just swung to get a hit, and it went over,” said Young, who altogether drove in a team-high three runs in the victory.

Young and the rest of the top of the order delivered for the Highlanders (17-4), as she and the three hitters ahead of her – Tenley Boughner, Lilley Lutzka and Elle Moody – accounted for eight of Adams’ dozen total hits. All but Young in that aforementioned group also drew a walk.

Rochester Adams at Rochester softball photo gallery

“We wanted to put pressure on them, and we did, it’s just we didn’t get that key hit to bust it (open) until the seventh inning,” Adams head coach Fran Scislowicz said. “But yeah, the top half of the lineup makes us go, and the bottom half will produce. We had three seniors batting down there today, and they had good at-bats, too. We stayed in the zone and didn’t give away any strikes.”

Lutzka, Moody and Young singled in consecutive trips to the plate in the top of the first, and that coupled with a sacrifice by Olivia Viazanko helped Adams get out to a 2-0 lead. Then Moody and Sam Blaine each came across in the second and third innings, respectively, on sacrifice outs to increase their advantage.

The Falcons, though, flew back into the thick of it in the bottom of the fourth. Taylor Parsons slapped a hit through the hole between short and third base to get it going, then Grace Osterholzer doubled to drive Parsons in. Running for Osterholzer, Allison Hudson crossed the plate on a passed ball with two outs to make it a two-run game.

The Highlanders didn’t get to Osterholzer, who went the distance, again until Young’s homer, and then in the last frame, when Lutzka doubled in Tenley Boughner, and Lutzka (5 IP, 3 H, 6 Ks) later scored on a passed ball for Adams’ final run.

Despite getting three runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, Viazanko, who pitched two innings of relief, let in just one run, which came on a sac fly by Osterholzer.

Parsons and Julia Krause joined Osterholzer as Falcons (4-13) who finished with a pair of hits on the day.

“We always want the run production to match the hits, but the one thing that’s bitten us is having a bit of the error bug going around,” said Falcons head coach Larry Martin, whose team committed three on the day. “That’s a lot on us that we need to go back to the drawing board on, but I have full confidence in these girls.

They came out and made me proud like they always do. We’re battling back with a lot of girls new to the team and to varsity. It’s fun watching them go out, do their thing and never give up no matter what the circumstances are.”

Returning 12 of 13 girls, including three pitchers, Adams had plenty of reason to expect such a record at this point in the season. They’re sitting alongside a number of other talented OAA Red teams who are looking up at the standings at Lake Orion and Stoney Creek, who will meet each other later this week.

Speaking of the Dragons and Cougars, those teams, along with Rochester and Adams, make up what’s set to be quite a talented four-team district this postseason.

“We drew Stoney Creek, Lake Orion drew Rochester … it’s a tough district,” said Scislowicz, who said the focus will be to keep games against favored opponents like them close and hope that a swing of a bat like Young’s can provide “an ESPN moment” for an upset.

Martin is also aware his team will be up against the odds and seems to relish it. “Bring it,” he said, laughing. “Honestly, I don’t have any problem. I know the teams. Yeah, it’s going to be tough competition. We might be coming in the underdog, but I don’t think there’s any way we’d rather have it. We’ve got a lot of time before then and I’m sure you’ll see a whole different Rochester coming into districts than we did today.”

Tensions are allegedly rising between pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Michigan and school officials.

The pro-Palestinian encampment built on the Diag is demanding the school divests money from companies profiting from the war in Gaza. Students say theyve been asked to leave by school officials but remain steadfast in their goals.

The encampment has remained on the Diag for approximately three weeks now, with goals of bringing attention to the war in Gaza.

I hope our continued presence here, you know, were going on three weeks... is heard," student protester Ember McCoy said. "I really hope the university can see us and feel us and hear us and know that were going to continue to push for this divestment campaign.

Peaceful songs filled the pro-Palestinian encampment site at the University of Michigan Monday evening. However, student protesters like McCoy know that could all change this week.

Weve had some admin people from the university coming out in the morning and talking to our police liaisons and weve kind of felt that increasing over the last few days," she said. "They made it clear this weekend were not supposed to be here and that were not supposed to have tents overnight here."

McCoy says she's seen the other encampments around the country be raided and hopes it doesn't come to that in Ann Arbor.

"I think it would actually show a lot if they choose to bring the police in instead of actually just talk to their own students," McCoy said.

Protesters say they will continue to occupy the Diag until their voices and demands are heard from the school.

7 News Detroit reached out to the school to see if there are plans to clear out the encampment and if arrests would be made if protesters refuse to leave, but we have not heard back as of Monday evening.

Monday night in Bloomfield Hills, dozens came out for a town hall focused on the rash of South American burglars targeting high-end homes.

Thefts have been reported in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties and is part of a nationwide trend thats been ongoing for months.

VIDEO: Bouchard calls for Visa Waiver Program changes as international gangs target high-end homes Oakland County sheriff to hold public town hall on high-end break-ins tonight

Monday's event comes after months of investigation by local, state and federal law enforcement and the creation of a regional task force. Police and the Oakland County sheriff say theyve been getting so many calls from concerned residents that they wanted to have a town hall to answer questions, and explain what they know.

Dozens packed into pews at Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills for the event.

Were very concerned like all of our neighbors," Bloomfield Township resident Jack Martin said. "There doesn't seem to be an end in sight.

Martin and his neighbors from Bloomfield Township came out after multiple homes in their neighborhood were broken into including the home right next door.

We're looking at alarm systems and how we can enhance those, Martin said. We're hopeful that law enforcement in this area, in this state and other law enforcement officials can get it straightened out.

We had a car parked in front of our home and it was a stolen car with four guys in it, said Albert Cassar, who also lives in the same neighborhood and says his next door neighbor fell victim to the burglars. They actually threw the safe in a Bentley comfortable and took off with it.

"Its scary. It's just too close for comfort, Albert's wife Janette Cassar added.

They're just some of the concerned residents that showed up for the town hall, where Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard and multiple police agencies came together to give tips and discuss the investigation.

It's important for them (residents) to see that we're not just one agency working this we're working as a unified force to try and solve these crimes, Bloomfield Township Police Chief James Gallagher said.

VIDEO: Surveillance video captures high-end break-ins Surveillance video captures high-end break-ins; sheriff announces task force

Bouchard says it's estimated that 100 of the crews are operating nationwide, mostly coming from Chile. At one point, they were stealing $1 million a week from Oakland County. They're highly trained and well organized, surveying expensive homes before planning their heist when no one is home.

They've done pre-op surveillance," Bouchard explained. "We've seen here and across the country utilizing trail cameras, remote battery operated cameras, trackers on cars and even drone units.

While the thieves have ran off when homes are occupied, Bouchard warned that may not always be the case. He's urging the importance of alarm systems, hard wired cameras, keeping lights on and watching for anything suspicious.

I thought it was very informative," Bloomfield Township resident Bettye Martin said. "A lot of the things he said we're doing. But... theres no guarantee, obviously.

Another tip Bouchard said is to have the phone number of your local police department programmed into your phone. If you're out of town and your cameras alert you that someone is in your home, calling 911 will route you to the local dispatch where you are and not where you live. Having a direct number could lead to a quicker response time.

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday in an unannounced diplomatic mission to reassure Ukraine that it has American support as it struggles to defend against increasingly intense Russian attacks.

The visit comes less than a month after Congress approved a long-delayed foreign assistance package that sets aside $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, much of which will go toward replenishing badly depleted artillery and air defense systems.

On his fourth trip to Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Blinken will underscore the Biden administrations commitment to Ukraines defense and long-term security, U.S. officials said. They noted that since President Joe Biden signed the aid package late last month, the administration has already announced $1.4 billion in short-term military assistance and $6 billion in longer-term support.

It is trying to really accelerate the tempo of U.S. weapon shipments to Ukraine, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.

What I am going to suggest is that the level of intensity being exhibited right now in terms of moving stuff is at a 10 out of 10, Sullivan told reporters at a White House briefing Monday.

Artillery, air defense interceptors and long-range ballistic missiles have already been delivered, some of them already to the front lines, said a senior U.S. official traveling with the secretary on an overnight train from Poland.

Blinken will send a strong signal of reassurance to Ukrainian leaders and civil society figures he will meet during his two-day visit, said the official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity ahead of Blinkens meetings.

Delays in U.S. assistance, particularly since Israels war with Hamas began to preoccupy top administration officials, triggered deep concerns in Kyiv and Europe. Blinken, for example, has visited the Middle East seven times since the Gaza conflict began in October. His last trip to Kyiv was in September.

The U.S. official added that Blinken also would give a speech later Tuesday extolling Ukraines strategic successes in the war. It is intended to complement a Blinken address last year in Helsinki, Finland, deriding Russian President Vladimir Putin for Moscows strategic failures in launching the war.

Since the Helsinki speech, however, Russia has intensified its attacks, most noticeably as the U.S. House sat on the aid package for months without action, forcing a suspension in the provision of most U.S. assistance. Those attacks have increased in recent weeks as Russia has sought to take advantage of Ukrainian shortages in manpower and weapons while the new assistance is in transit.

Top Biden administration officials and Ukrainian national security officials held a call Monday about the situation on the front, about the capabilities that they are most in need of, and a real triage effort to say, Get us this stuff this fast so that we can be in a position to effectively defend against the Russian onslaught, Sullivan said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said over the weekend that fierce battles are taking place near the border in eastern and northeastern Ukraine as outgunned and outnumbered Ukrainian soldiers try to push back a significant Russian ground offensive.

The Kremlins forces are aiming to exploit Ukrainian weaknesses before a big batch of new military aid for Kyiv from the U.S. and European partners arrives on the battlefield in the coming weeks and months, Ukrainian commanders and analysts say. That makes this period a window of opportunity for Moscow and one of the most dangerous for Kyiv in the two-year war, they say.

The new Russian push in the northeastern Kharkiv region and a drive into the eastern Donetsk region come after months when the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line barely budged. In the meantime, both sides have used long-range strikes in what largely became a war of attrition.

The senior U.S. official said despite some recent setbacks, Ukraine could still claim significant victories. Those include reclaiming some 50% of the territory Russian forces took in the early months of the war, boosting its economic standing and improving transportation and trade links, not least through military successes in the Black Sea.

The official acknowledged that Ukraine faces a tough fight and is under tremendous pressure but argued that Ukrainians will become increasingly more confident as the new U.S. and other Western assistance begins to surge.

Blinken said Sunday that there was no doubt the monthslong delay in aid caused problems but that we are doing everything we can to rush this assistance out there.

Its a challenging moment, he told CBS Face the Nation. We are not going anywhere, and neither are more than some 50 countries that are supporting Ukraine. That will continue, and if Putin thinks he can outlast Ukraine, outlast its supporters, hes wrong.

Rochester scratched several runs back before Rochester Adams pulled away for an 8-3 victory Monday, May 13, 2024 in Rochester Hills.

Phoenix Mercury All-Star center Brittney Griner has a fractured toe in her left foot, which will cause her to miss an undisclosed amount of time.

The team confirmed the injury on Monday and said she will be out and re-evaluated in the coming weeks. The 33-year-old is entering her 11th NBA season.

The 6-foot-8 Griner made her eighth All-Star team last season, which was her first since being detained for nearly a year in Russia. She averaged 17.5 points and 6.3 rebounds in 2023.

She shared details about her harrowing experience in Russia in her new book "Coming Home, which came out last week.

A police chase ended with a crash involving innocent people in an Uber on Monday.

Police say the chase started around 5:30 p.m. at 12 Mile Road and Northwestern Highway as Southfield officers went after a parole violator.

The chase continued south and ended with the crash at W. Outer Drive and James Couzens Freeway on Detroit's west side.

Detroit police say the car that the suspect was in, which was driven by someone else, ran a red light at the intersection and crashed into the Uber. The Uber was heading west on Outer Drive.

Six people were taken to the hospital, including the suspect, the driver of the car he was in and two other passengers in the vehicle, Detroit Police Chief James White said.

Both the driver and suspect were arrested.

The other two victims were in the Uber. Police believe one of them was thrown from the vehicle and is fighting for her life in critical condition.

The chief says four people are in serious condition. The condition of the sixth person is unknown.

The suspect is on parole for second-degree murder and cocaine possession. He is expected to face more charges including fleeing and eluding police.

White said Detroit police will be leading the investigation.

Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program before Game 4 on Monday night of a second-round series with Dallas.

The National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players Association announced the news about an hour before the start of the game with the Stars. Its the second time this season hes been in the program. Stage 3 means Nichushkin violated the terms of the program.

The 29-year-old Russian forward will miss the rest of the postseason and the first month next season at a minimum.

He leads the team with nine playoff goals this season.

Nichushkin was gone for nearly two months earlier this season to receive care from the NHLPA/NHL Player Assistance Program for issues that were not disclosed. This was on the heels of missing the final five games of a playoff loss last season for what the team explained as personal reasons.

Nichushkin wasn't available to the team from Jan. 13 to March 7 after entering the program. He became the second Avalanche player to enter the program during the regular season, following defenseman Samuel Girard, who said in November that anxiety and depression led to alcohol abuse. Girard returned in mid-December.

In a first-round playoff series last spring against Seattle, Nichushkin abruptly left the team with only the explanation that it was for personal reasons. His absence started after officers responded to a crisis call at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle before Game 3. A 28-year-old woman was in an ambulance when officers arrived, and medics were told to speak with an Avalanche team physician to gather more details.

The report, obtained at the time from the Seattle Police Department by The Associated Press, said the Avalanche physician told officers that team employees found the woman when they were checking on Nichushkin. The physician told officers the woman appeared to be heavily intoxicated, too intoxicated to have left the hotel in a ride share or cab service, and requested EMS assistance.

Before the season, Nichushkin dodged questions about the situation, saying only, I know you guys want to find something there, but its nothing really interesting. I think we should close it.

By DAVE HOGG
The Associated Press

DETROIT — Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run home run to highlight a three-run outburst in the eighth inning as the Detroit Tigers rallied for a 6-5 win over the Miami Marlins on Monday night.

After Miami got a two-run homer from Otto Lopez in the top of the eighth to take a 5-3 lead, Wenceel Pérez doubled off Anthony Maldonado (0-1) with one out and scored on Andy Ibáñez’s base hit. Matt Vierling struck out before Torkelson hit a 1-2 slider 446 feet over the Miami bullpen in left-center field.

The homer came one day after Torkelson, who hit 31 homers last year, got his first of the season in a 9-3 loss to the Houston Astros.

The Tigers won for the third time in 10 games, while Miami dropped to 2-8 in their last 10.

Alex Faedo (3-1) got the win despite allowing Lopez’s third homer of the season in the top of the eighth. Jason Foley pitched a perfect ninth for his 10th save.

Neither starter was involved in the decision. Detroit’s Matt Manning allowed three runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings, and Marlins starter Sixto Sanchez gave up three runs, all unearned, in 4 2/3 innings.

The Tigers took a 3-0 lead in the second. Javier Baez grounded into a force at second with the bases loaded, and Carson Kelly and Riley Greene followed with RBI singles.

Miami tied the game in the fifth. With two out and a runner on second, Bryan De La Cruz hit an RBI single and scored on Josh Bell’s double. Jesus Sanchez then singled to make it 3-all.

The Tigers scoreboard took some shots at the Marlins in the first inning, with “Player Notes” that included “Only two actual Marlins fans attend games in Miami,” when De La Cruz was at the plate.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: Placed INF Tim Anderson on the injured list with back tightness. Activated LHP A.J. Puk (shoulder fatigue) from the injured list.

Tigers: Placed RHP Shelby Miller (ulnar nerve irritation) on the injured list, retroactive to May 12, and optioned OF Ryan Vilade to Triple-A Toledo. Recalled Manning and RHP Beau Brieske from Toledo.

UP NEXT

The teams continue the three-game series on Tuesday with Detroit RHP Reese Olson (0-4, 2.52) facing LHP Ryan Weathers (2-4, 4.54).

The Duke and Duchess of Sussexs charity, The Archewell Foundation, was ordered by the Attorney General of California to stop raising or spending money, as it has reportedly been declared delinquent.

According to reports from NBC News and People Magazine, the charity, created by the couple in 2020 to "uplift and unite communities," received a delinquency notice from California Attorney General Rob Bonta earlier this month. The notice states that the organization is now "listed as delinquent with the Registry of Charities and Fundraisers for failing to submit required annual report(s) and/or renewal fees."

The notice obtained by the outlets explains that an organization marked as delinquent is not in good standing and is barred from certain activities such as fundraising, and it may face penalties and potential suspension or revocation of its registration by the Registry. However, the reports state that a source close to the matter explains that a check was lost in the mail, but payment has been resubmitted, and the issue could be resolved within days.

The news comes as Prince Harry and Meghan are visiting Lagos, Nigeria, to support soldiers' mental health and empower young people through their charity work.

Scripps News hasn't independently verified the reports yet but has reached out to The Archewell Foundation for clarification.