“It always bothers you when people take shots at you,” Penske said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday. “But you know something, we have a strong foundation. People know who we are and how we operate. I guess we’ll have to move on.
“But sometimes when there’s blood in the water, people like to go after you and I think that’s what happened. I’m fine. I mean, we moved on.”
Newgarden moved past Pato O’Ward in the third turn of the final lap to win his second consecutive Indianapolis 500, giving Team Penske its record 20th victory in the race amid a scandal that has rocked IndyCar.
“The controversy, as far as I’m concerned, was way overblown,” Penske told the AP.
The series shifts to the Motor City this week, racing in the Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday.
Nearly six weeks after Newgarden’s victory in Florida, IndyCar discovered Penske’s three cars had an illegal version of the push-to-pass software installed that allowed their drivers to use the horsepower boost when no one else in the field had access to the advantage.
“Newgarden never should have had to worry about it because our team missed it, but it was not malicious,” Penske said. “By the way, it was available for everybody to look at it at all the races. So at the end of the day, we took our medicine and we’re moving on.”
Penske suspended four crew members, including team president Tim Cindric, the star strategist in IndyCar who calls Newgarden’s races, for the Indy 500.
“They weren’t there and we were able to show you how deep our bench was because we won the race,” Penske said, adding the previously suspended crew members are back with the team in Detroit.
Zak Brown, head of Arrow McLaren Racing, said the Penske punishments were too light.
Brown called Cindric’s presence at Penske’s sports car win at Laguna Seca earlier this month while under suspension “a bad look.”
Newgarden, following a luncheon to promote the Detroit Grand Prix, said he did not want to hypothesize to suggest the motivation behind the shots Penske has taken.
After Newgarden’s latest Indy 500 win, though, he did say he was grateful for everything during this turbulent season.
“It’s an experience that it’s got to either break you or tough you up, and for me, that’s all I’ll say about it,” he said. “We’ve been moving forward. We’ve never worked together more as a group, and I thought that was difficult to do.
“This is the most tight-knit team I’ve ever seen.”
Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia has left the Democratic Party and is now an independent.
Manchin, previously known for being a moderate Democrat who often criticized his party's more liberal policies, made his announcement Friday.
"To stay true to myself and remain committed to put country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for Americas sensible majority," Manchin said.
The West Virginian added that "national politics are broken," noting both major parties are guilty of "partisan extremism."
"Throughout my days in elected office, I have always been proud of my commitment to common sense, bipartisanship and my desire to bring people together. Its who I am. Its who I will always be," Manchin said.
The senator announced in November that he would not seek reelection in 2024. However, it's unclear whether his decision to leave the Democratic Party will cause him to have a change of heart.
If he doesn't run for reelection, there's speculation that Manchin could run for the governorship in West Virginia.
By MICHELLE L. PRICE and JILL COLVIN (Associated Press)
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump launched into attacks on the judge in his criminal trial and continued to undermine New York’s criminal justice system Friday as he tried to repackage his conviction on 34 felony charges as fuel, not an impediment, to his latest White House bid.
Trump spoke to reporters at his namesake tower in Manhattan on Friday, his return to campaigning a day after he was convicted of trying to illegally influence the 2016 election by falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to a porn actor who claimed they had sex.
Trump, as defiant as ever, argued the verdict was illegitimate and driven by politics and sought to downplay the allegations underlying the case.
“It’s not hush money. It’s a nondisclosure agreement, totally legal, totally common,” he said.
In a message aimed to galvanize his supporters, he declared: “If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone.”
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New York. A day after a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee addressed the conviction and likely attempt to cast his campaign in a new light. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
While the guilty verdict against him and his vow to fight appeared to motivate his base of supporters, including those who began pouring donations into his campaign, it’s unclear if any of this will help him with independent voters who will be decisive in the November election.
No former president or presumptive party nominee has ever faced a felony conviction or the prospect of prison time, and Trump is expected to keep his legal troubles central to his campaign. He has long argued without evidence that the four indictments against him were orchestrated by Democratic President Joe Biden to try to keep him out of the White House. The hush money case was filed by local prosecutors in Manhattan who do not work for the Justice Department or any White House office.
Trump chose to start Friday in the atrium of Trump Tower, the brass and rose marble lobby where he descended his golden escalator to announce his 2016 campaign nine years ago next month.
In his disjointed remarks, Trump initially started attacking Biden on immigration and tax policies before pivoting to his case, growling that he was threatened with jail time if he violated a gag order. He picked apart intricate parts of the case and trial proceedings as unfair, making false statements and misrepresentations as he did so.
Trump said he wanted to testify but said the judge wanted to go into every detail. “I would have liked to have testified,” he said. “But you would have said something out of whack like ‘it was a beautiful sunny day,’ and it was actually raining out.”
Trump, who had the right to testify but didn’t, also tested the limits of the gag order that prohibits him from publicly critiquing witnesses including Michael Cohen, calling his former fixer, the star witness in the case, “a sleazebag.”
His son Eric Trump and daughter-in-law Lara Trump joined him, but his wife, Melania Trump, who has been publicly silent since the verdict, was not seen.
Outside, on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, supporters gathered across the street were flying a giant red “TRUMP OR DEATH” sign that was flapping in front of a high-end boutique. A small group of protesters held up signs that said “Guilty” and “Justice matters.”
On Friday morning, his campaign announced it had raised $34.8 million as donations poured in after the verdict. That’s more than $1 million for each felony charge and more than his political operation raised in January and February combined.
Trump and his campaign had been preparing for a guilty verdict for days, even as they held out hope for a hung jury. On Tuesday, Trump railed that not even Mother Teresa, the nun and saint, could beat the charges, which he repeatedly labeled as “rigged.”
His top aides on Wednesday released a memo in which they insisted a verdict would have no impact on the election, whether Trump was convicted or acquitted.
The news nonetheless landed with a jolt. Trump, his team and reporters at the courthouse had been under the impression that the jury on Thursday would wrap up deliberations for the day at 4:30 p.m. Trump sat smiling and chatting with his lawyers as the proceedings seemed to be coming to a close.
Trump had spent the hours before the verdict was announced sequestered in the private courtroom where he had spent breaks throughout the trial, huddled with his attorneys and campaign aides, eating from a revolving lunch menu of McDonald’s, pizza, and subs.
As the jury was deciding his fate, he filled his time making calls, firing off social media missives and chatting with friends, including developer Steve Witkoff, who joined him in court, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who is considered a top vice presidential contender.
In a sign that they expected deliberations to continue, Trump’s holding room was outfitted with a television Thursday, according to two people familiar with the setup who, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the case.
Instead, Merchan announced that a verdict had been reached. Thirty minutes later, Trump listened as the jury delivered a guilty verdict on every count. Trump sat stone-faced while the verdict was read.
His campaign fired off a flurry of fundraising appeals, and GOP allies rallied to his side. One text message called him a “political prisoner,” even though he hasn’t yet found out if he will be sentenced to prison. The campaign also began selling black “Make America Great Again” caps to reflect a “dark day in history.”
Aides reported an immediate rush of contributions so intense that WinRed, the platform the campaign uses for fundraising, crashed. The $34.8 million raised Thursday did not include what Trump collected at his in-person fundraiser or any donations that continued to come in online Friday.
“President Trump and our campaign are immensely grateful from this outpouring of support from patriots across our country,” Trump’s senior campaign advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles said in a statement. “President Trump is fighting to save our nation and November 5th is the day Americans will deliver the real verdict.”
Trump has long complained that the trial limited his campaign appearances for several weeks. “I want to campaign,” he had told reporters Thursday morning before a verdict was reached.
It is unclear, however, how much Trump’s schedule will ramp up in the days ahead. He held only a handful of public campaign events as the trial unfolded, despite the fact that he had Wednesdays, as well as evenings and weekends, to do what he wished.
He’s set in the upcoming two months to have his first debate with Biden, announce a running mate and formally accept his party’s nomination at the Republican National Convention.
But before he goes to Milwaukee for the RNC, Trump will have to return to court on July 11 for sentencing. He could face penalties ranging from a fine or probation up to four years in prison.
Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami, Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina and Michael R. Sisak in New York contributed to this report.
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New York. A day after a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee addressed the conviction and likely attempt to cast his campaign in a new light. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
While Michigan personal protection orders can prohibit a person from possessing guns, state law does require them to relinquish their firearms. Advocates want to change that ‘loophole,’ but critics say it’s unnecessary.
With an invitation from Norma Stalions, a fellow Clarkston teacher, Joan Weglarski was installed into Psi chapter of the National Sigma Beta Sorority. The installation ceremony took place at the Old Mill Tavern in Waterford on June 21, 1971. For the next 53 years Joan has been a very active member at the local and multistate province level. During that time, for 32 years, she first taught at the South Sashabaw Elementary and later on at North Sashabaw Elementary. Joan retired from the Clarkston School District in 2001.
Her sorority years included holding every office numerous times at the chapter level and holding all offices on the Province I Board. She helped establish two new chapters including Epsilon Tau in Clarkston. Currently, she serves as treasurer of the Pontiac Psi chapter. Her local chapter has nominated her many times for the honor of being their Sigma Beta of the Year.
This past April, she was once again installed as the treasurer of the Sigma Beta Province I by the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Janet Helfrich in a ceremony held in Fort Wayne, IN.
Her duties throughout the 53 years, along with dedication to the offices she held, included working to raise funds for the numerous charities that the National Sigma Beta donates to, along with the many individuals and organizations that are supported locally. She worked numerous golf outings, yard sales, craft shows, cookies sales and sold countless raffle tickets. In her words, “I helped sling and set up more tables and chairs than I care to count”.
A part of fundraisers as all volunteers would attest to, was the making of tons of salads, deserts and the stand-by spaghetti. All the work and time was to uphold the philanthropic charge of her local and national sorority. Joan continues to give of her time and stay true to her promise on her installation many years ago, to work for Sigma Beta.
This past year, the National Sigma Beta Sorority’s name was changed to Sigma Beta Inc. For more information, visit www.sigmabeta.org.
From left: Janet Helfrich, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Sigma Beta Inc. Province 1 and Joan Weglarski, Province 1 treasurer and Pontiac Psi chapter treasurer. (Photo by Ruth Schluchter)
We know a lot happens throughout the week, and you may not catch all of our stories here at WXYZ. So we've decided to gather the most talked-about stories from the past week all in one place that you can check out during your free time over the weekend.
Have a story idea or tip? Feel free to let us know using the contact form below.
Here are the buzz-worthy stories from the week of May 27:
Hear from the man caught driving during virtual court hearing for suspended license Man with suspended license logs into court via Zoom while driving
It's a story that went viral all over the world this week. Corey Harris, 44, logged into a virtual court hearing two weeks ago in Washtenaw County for driving with a suspended license...while he was driving.
"What was I thinking? I was thinking about about getting my wife medical help. That's what I was thinking," Harris said. "I wasn't thinking about the fact that I got a suspended license. I don't care about all that."
Harris told us that he never should have been charged with driving on a suspended license last fall, and he blames the mix-up on Saginaw Friend of the Court.
Secretary of State records show Harris' license was first suspended in 2010 for unpaid child support in Saginaw County.
Then in 2022, court records show that a judge rescinded that suspension, allowing Harris to drive again. But it appears that information never got to the Secretary of State where even as of Thursday afternoon, Harris' license is still listed as suspended the same records police and the judge were going by.
Reactions to Trump's guilty verdict mixed in Macomb County Reactions to Trump's guilty verdict mixed in Macomb County
It was a historic day on Thursday as a jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts against him in his New York hush money trial. He became the first former president to be convicted of a crime.
We went out to Macomb County, a hotbed for Trump supporters, to see how people were feeling. The reactions were mixed.
Some people were happy, saying, "it was long coming due," while others called it "garbage."
'Better late than never.' Daughter of Detroit Stars' superstar on MLB merging records 'Better late than never.' Daughter of Negro League superstar on MLB merging records
This week, Major League Baseball said it merged Negro Leagues statistics with MLB stats, updating the record books.
With the news, a Negro League legend who played for the Detroit Stars and died in Detroit after his career was over, becomes one of the best players in MLB history.
We caught up with his daughter, Joyce Stearnes Thompson, on the field that bears her father's name in Hamtramck.
She said, Im ecstatic and elated that its happening because he deserves to have this recognition as do the other Negro Leaguers.
'Exciting!' 'Phenomenal!' Detroiters want a WNBA team to return to the city 'Exciting!' 'Pheonomenal!' Detroiters want a WNBA team to return to the city
The WNBA continues to grow in popularity, but in metro Detroit, it feels like we're missing out on the action. The Detroit Shock, the city's three-time championship team, left the city for Tulsa after the 2009 season.
"Oh, man, I would love to have WNBA basketball back in the city of Detroit," Royce Kinniebrew said.
"It's exciting! My very first basketball game I ever went to was a WNBA game," Stephanie Kenneh said. "Guys get all this hype, especially about basketball. Women are out here. Women do it too and we're sometimes better at it."
'The noise can actually scare you': Metro Detroiters react to bill cracking down on loud cars 'The noise can actually scare you': Metro Detroiters react to bill cracking down on loud cars
The sound of revving engines from a souped-up exhaust system is a noise that almost everyone living in Metro Detroit recognizes.
"It makes me a little sad because we all live in the motor city and there is so much car culture in Michigan," Noah Hudson, who drives his dream car, a Porsche 911, said.
However, Kevin Davenport from Southfield disagrees and thinks they are a nuisance.
"When you are riding next to them, the noise can actually scare you," Davenport said.
Ferndale preparing for Pride Festival amid FBI warning of heightened terrorist threats Ferndale preparing for Pride Festival amid FBI warning of heightened terrorist threats
Ferndale Pride is taking place this weekend, with tens of thousands of people expected to attend. Organizers are keeping safety at the top of mind.
The Ferndale Police Department says during the event, all hands will be on deck to ensure safety for everyone attending.
Probably 20% of our force (at the event) that day, which is a substantial amount of protection," Ferndale Police Chief Dennis Emmi said.
Emmi says he was made aware of the PSA from federal partners this month. The statement says foreign terrorist organizations "have previously promoted anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric and targeted LGBTQIA+ related events or venues for attacks."
'I just see them all over TikTok': Dangerous drinking trend known as BORG hitting college campuses Dangerous drinking trend known as BORG hitting college campuses
You probably haven't heard of the term "BORG drinking." It's rapidly gaining popularity among high school and college students.
Our Keenan Smith hit the campus of Wayne State University to find out what students and other 20-somethings know about BORGs and talked to a licensed professional counselor at the college about binge drinking.
Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group, the owner of social networking site Truth Social, rebounded before the opening bell Friday after former President Donald Trump was found guilty in his hush money trial.
A New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex.
Shares fell 9% immediately Thursday in after-hours trading as news of the verdict emerged, but they edged back into positive territory an hour before the opening bell Friday.
The stock, which trades under the ticker symbol DJT, has been extraordinarily volatile since its debut in late March, joining the group of meme stocks that are prone to ricochet from highs to lows as small-pocketed investors attempt to catch an upward momentum swing at the right time.
The stock has tripled this year, in the process frequently making double-digit percentage moves either higher or lower on a single day. It peaked at nearly $80 in intraday trading on March 26. For context, the S&P 500 is up almost 10% year to date.
In a filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission before going public, Trump Media warned investors of the potential pitfalls faced by the former president and the adverse affect it might have on the stock. President Donald J. Trump is the subject of numerous legal proceedings, the scope and scale of which are unprecedented for a former President of the United States and current candidate for that office. An adverse outcome in one or more of the ongoing legal proceedings in which President Donald J. Trump is involved could negatively impact TMTG and its Truth Social platform.
Earlier this month, Trump Media reported that it lost more than $300 million last quarter, according to its first earnings report as a publicly traded company.
For the three-month period that ended March 31, the company posted a loss of $327.6 million, which it said included $311 million in non-cash expenses related to its merger with a company called Digital World Acquisition Corp. DWAC was an example of whats known as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, which can give young companies quicker and easier routes to getting their shares trading publicly, but with much less scrutiny.
Trump Media & Technology fired an auditor this month that federal regulators recently charged with massive fraud. The media company dismissed BF Borgers as its independent public accounting firm on May 3, delaying the filing of its quarterly earnings report.
Trump Media had previously cycled through at least two other auditors one that resigned in July 2023, and another that was terminated by its board in March, just as it was rehiring BF Borgers.
Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records at his company in connection with an alleged scheme to hide potentially embarrassing stories about him during his 2016 Republican presidential election campaign.
The charge, a felony, arose from reimbursements paid to then-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen after he made a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to silence her claims of an extramarital sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. Trump was accused of misrepresenting Cohens reimbursements as legal expenses to hide that they were tied to a hush money payment.
Trump's defense contended that the Cohen payments were for legitimate legal services.
Eminem is calling back to the early 2000s with his new single "Houdini," which was released on Friday ahead of an upcoming album.
Earlier this week, he teased the song, and it begins with Em's longtime manager, Paul Rosenburg," saying "Good f***ing luck, you're on your own."
The song also begins with the same style that his 2002 hit song "Without Me" started with, and references many people throughout the song.
Other aspects of the music video, that was also released on Friday. morning, play back to the "Without Me" music video, including Eminem and Dr. Dre re-enacting their scene driving a car as superheroes.
The Biden administration has shifted its stance on Ukraines use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Russia in its fight against Putin's invasion, in a limited capacity, amid calls for looser restrictions for Ukraines ability to strike in Russian territory.
The guidance approved by President Biden following recommendations from senior officials took effect Thursday. It allows Ukraines use of counter-fire capabilities against targets across the border that Russia is using to attack the Kharkiv region from, according to a source familiar with the decision.
The President recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S.-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them, a U.S. official stated, noting that the policy against the use of ATACMS, or long-range strikes, inside Russia is unchanged.
International allies have called for reconsideration of restrictions as Ukraine has faced Russian attacks against Kharkiv.
We need to consider those national restrictions especially in the light of the nature of the fighting now taking place in the Kharkiv region where the Russians can be protected by the national border which is more or less the same as the front line, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier this week, while noting it was a decision for individual allies to make.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken first publicly indicated a potential policy shift, pointing to the adaptability in U.S. support Wednesday.
As the conditions have changed, as the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed in terms of how its pursuing its aggression, escalation, weve adapted and adjusted too, and Im confident well continue to do that, Blinken told reporters.
But the start of considerations dates back nearly three weeks to when Russia launched its renewed offensive across the border toward the Kharkiv region in early May.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown agreed to make a recommendation to Biden after meeting virtually with the Ukrainians just three days after the start of the new offensive, in which the Ukrainians made a request to use U.S.-supplied weapons against locations across the border aiding the offensive, according to a source familiar with the decision.
President Biden agreed when the recommendation was made to him two days later that Ukraine be able to use the weapons to defend against Russias offensive, according to a source familiar.
The president carried out follow-up conversations, and asked his team to finalize details and to continue to go over the proposal, but was clear that Ukraine should be able to counterstrike. Blinken also backed the proposal after returning from Kyiv.
Last week, President Biden gave the green light to the policy after the officials met once more. The administration remained quiet about the decision due to operational security, according to an official who suggested the timeline was more compressed than the time it typically takes for a policy like this.
Officials had previously maintained that they do not encourage the use of U.S. weapons to strike within Russia, though Austin said in response to a question posed by Scripps News last week that the aerial dynamics a little bit different.
The U.S. does not restrict Ukraines use of U.S.-supplied weapons against Russian aircraft posing an imminent threat to Ukraine, according to a U.S. official, which includes Russian airspace. Officials have noted Ukraines previous successful operations with Western weapons against Russian aircraft.
However, the Biden administration continues to face criticism for the pace of decisions in aid for Ukraine.
This is a step forward, but perhaps its better described as a half-step forward. Its part of the continuing pattern of administration caution, John Herbst, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and senior director of the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center, said, pointing to the limits on the use of longer-range weapons.
The administration announces all the restrictions that remain and that does not smack of bold policy and that limits the impact of what Ukraine can do, he said.
Herbst doesnt rule out further changes, but believes the comments from allies may have influenced the administrations decision.
The administration has maintained that its efforts to rush assistance are working. An official pointed to stalled Russian progress and confidence that Russia wont be successful in taking Kharkiv.
The final steps are underway to connecting the Gordie Howe International Bridge deck between the U.S. and Canadian sides.
Officials for the bridge said there is now only 36 feet feet between the two sides and it's expected that they will be connected at the end of June.
Earlier in May, officials said the final steps were to begin with 85 feet between the sides.
On Tuesday, the final two cables of the Canadian side were installed and there are just four cables left to be installed on the U.S. side. Each tower houses 108 cables.
See video of work being done on the bridge below Gordie Howe International Bridge now just 85 feet from connection
According to officials, over the next few weeks weeks, people will see a multi-step process leading up to the bridge deck connection.
Achieving the bridge deck connection is monumental in the progress on the Gordie Howe International Bridge project. This new bridge is the physical representation of the international cooperation that exists between the neighbouring communities in Windsor and Detroit, throughout Ontario and Michigan, and across North America. After years of planning and construction, we remain on course to open the bridge in fall 2025, and, with that, create new opportunities for economic growth and prosperity," Windsor-Detroit Bridge authority CEO Charl van Niekerk said in a statement.
See Chopper 7 video from earlier this month Gordie Howe International Bridge nears connection over the Detroit River
Bridging North America is proud of the dedicated engineers and skilled trades people whose unwavering commitment to safety and excellence has propelled us closer to completing the bridge deck of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Their resilience and skill are the driving force behind the realization of this historic infrastructure project," Bridging North America CEO David Henderson added in a statement.
Once connected, the bridge will be .53 miles long between the two towers, the longest main span of any cable-stayed bridge in North America and the 10th longest in the world.
While it will appear the bridge will be complete, officials said there is plenty of work remaining before the bridge opens in the fall of 2025. Other work includes crews stressing cables, installing electrical, fire suppression and drainage systems, as well as barriers, signage, lighting, deck paving and more.
Timelapse of construction of the Gordie Howe Bridge Timelapse of construction of the Gordie Howe Bridge
The bridge features 216 stay cables, and all but 10 have been installed, with the rest to be be installed by mid June.
Once the bridge is connected, it will be treated as an international crossing by the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Both agencies will have a presence on the bridge sites once it's completed.
Officials also say progress is continuing on the Canadian and U.S. Ports of Entry, as well as the Michigan interchange. That work includes:
interior work on all buildings within the Canadian POE including window fixtures, heating and cooling, electrical, plumbing and flooring interior work on more than half of the buildings at the US POE placement of all the girders on the ramps over I-75 leading to the US POE.
A part of Downtown Detroit has been turned into a race track for the Detroit Grand Prix. The big event starts on Friday.
Its great to be back in Detroit, its been a busy week, just came off our biggest race of the year, the Indianapolis 500 and we come to do a great season race here in Detroit, Penske IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden said.
Newgarden is one of the race car drivers who will be competing in the Grand Prix. He just won the Indy 500.
Winning the Indy 500, its a great honor, said Newgarden.
Newgarden says he is looking forward to racing downtown this weekend.
In the past, the Grand Prix was held on Belle Isle.
Newgarden walked me through what some of the major differences are when it comes to the track downtown versus Belle Isle.
Belle Isle probably had a little more flow to it, it was a really pretty track, I actually enjoyed it a lot coming around the fountain you had more high speed section, said Newgarden. This track, it looks simple on a map, but its really complex to drive, theres a lot of hair pins, hair pins are really technical corners, its funny, the slowest corners on the track are the most difficult to get right.
I got a chance to experience what the downtown track was like. I took a ride around the track with a professional driver on Thursday.
VIDEO: Watch as reporter Tiarra Braddock does a hot lap ride-along on the Grand Prix circuit: VIDEO: Reporter Tiarra Braddock does a hot lap ride-along on the Grand Prix circuit
While you wont be able to sit in the passenger seat during the races, there are plenty of other sections where you can watch them.
Grand Prix President Michael Montri says they expect a huge crowd downtown.
Sunday, our reserve grandstands are already sold out, we still have our rooftops available, so still plenty of areas to watch the race on Sunday so come on down, 50% is open for free should be a great day, said Montri.
Meanwhile, Newgarden says Detroit is one of his favorite cities to race in.
Detroit is all about the community, we have a lot of volunteers that come out here, I think over 1,000 volunteers work this event and I feel the community aspect in Detroit more than anything else we go, said Newgarden.
There will be Detroit Grand Prix events going on through Sunday.
Looking to scoop up some late spring and early summer deals? June is a great month to shop.
Sure, it doesn't come with the highly promoted Memorial Day or Labor Day sales. But it still offers lots of discounts, if you know where to look.
Melissa Robbins is grabbing some of those deals: She is loving all the sales on outdoor gear right now.
"Maybe I'll buy my husband a new grilling set," she said.
She's got the right idea.
Brad Baker, manager of a Great Lakes Ace Hardware store, says his location is stocked with mowers and blowers and grills, with lots of pre-summer markdowns.
Consumer Reports breaks down the sales
With June falling between two major holidays, Samantha Gordon of Consumer Reports says you'll still find deals on big-ticket items like large appliances and mattresses.
"Those sales tend to linger for Memorial Day and start early for July 4th," she said.
In addition, Consumer Reports says tech deals will start to pop ahead of Father's Day.
And don't brush off deals on laptops and electronic accessories for recent graduates.
"We tend to see a lot of smartwatches and fitness trackers and headphones, maybe even TVs going on sale around the middle of the month," Gordon said.
Shop now ... but watch for better July deals
Are you hoping for a wardrobe update?
NerdWallet, in its report on June deals, says Victoria's Secret is known to offer discounts in June for its first of two semi-annual savings events.
But for high-end clothing, you may want to hold off for Nordstrom's anniversary sale in mid-July.
Another reason you may want to hold off on spending in June, according to Consumer Reports, is that Amazon Prime Day is just a month away.
"Amazon has already made it clear that they're going to be holding another Prime Day (or days) in July, which means all the retailers will be having big sales," Gordon said.
Former president Donald Trump is addressing the public after being found guilty on 34 felony counts in his hush money case.
Speaking live from Trump Tower in Manhattan Friday morning, the former president said his trial was very unfair, calling it a scam and a "rigged trial.
He spoke on being denied his request for a venue change, judge change and working with what he called a failed district attorney with crime being rampant in New York.
The former president said he could not speak out fully, pointing to his gag order.
While Trump did not testify in his case, he said he would have liked to.
I would have loved to have testified to this day I would have liked to have testified, but you would have said something out of whack like it was a beautiful, sunny day, and it was actually raining out.
As soon as you testify, anybody if it were George Washington dont testify because theyll get you on something that you said slightly wrong and then they sue you for perjury, Trump said.
Referring to being found guilty of falsifying business records, Trump said "the money that was paid, was paid legally."
This was standard stuff. Everything involved was standard. There was no crime here," he said.
Trump said this was only brought up now to derail his election plans.
Trump's case marks the first time a U.S. president has been found guilty of a crime.
Sentencing is set for July 11, and Trump could face a wide range of punishments from probation to up to four years in prison. The case could lead to years of appeals, possibly ending up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The former president has survived two impeachments, has been found liable for sexual abuse and defamation, and also received a civil judgment, a massive penalty levied against the Trump Organization. Now his survival skills will be tested once again after his huge defeat in court.
The former president sat stone-faced in a New York City courtroom as the verdict was delivered shortly after 5 p.m. local time Thursday.
The jury, made up of 12 New Yorkers in heavily liberal Manhattan, reached a verdict on day two of deliberations, which took a little more than nine hours.
During that time, the jury asked the judge to reread instructions and asked to rehear testimony of two key witnesses, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and Trump's former "fixer," Michael Cohen. This came after weeks of, at times, dramatic testimony, with prosecutors leaning on 20 witnesses to build a case that Trump falsified the records to conceal damaging stories, including an alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels, ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Despite being found guilty, Trumps supporters are backing him more than ever, as Trump fundraises off the verdict.
Political ramifications are still unfolding, but the case will have a dramatic impact on the presidential campaign and on the future of the country. The upcoming presidential election in November is still expected to be a tight race.
BIRMINGHAM – Game plans in soccer usually go out the window when the opposition scores early in the half.
In that way, two major events went Troy’s way in the first two minutes of both halves of the Colts’ 4-1 victory over rival Athens in Thursday night’s Division 1 district title game.
Out of the gates, Colts sophomore Olivia Jasniewicz played provider to junior Ava Fleming on the first goal of the night to send the Red Hawks chasing right away.
Less than 1:30 into the second half, Athens senior defender Nichole Russell picked up her second yellow card and was sent off, relegating her team to playing a man down for the remainder of the contest.
By the time the latter of the two occurred, the Colts had tacked on another pair of goals, and that proved to be enough for Troy to raise its first district championship trophy since 2021.
"We came out hard, fast and aggressive, and that's our game," Colts head coach Dan Troccoli said. "I'm proud of them. They follow the game plan to a T. I knew if we followed it, we'd be fine, and we were."
Troy doubled its lead inside 14 minutes when Jasniewicz struck a volley with precision that came from a corner kick delivery. Athens nearly held the Colts at bay for the remainder of the half, but when Sabrina Gaul got behind the Red Hawks' defense in the final four minutes, Red Hawks goalkeeper Ashley Miller had to rush off her line to try to cut off the scoring chance, and the Troy sophomore headed it beyond Miller into an empty net to make it 3-nil.
It was not the opening 40 minutes Athens head coach Jason Clark and his team envisioned.
"Troy had us on our heels the whole entire game right from the start, so we had to make adjustments from the first goal, really," Clark said. "We were trying to make them as we could and claw our way back into the game. Play for our school, each other, for pride. Just one goal at a time, try to claw our way back in."
There was a belief that an improved effort on 50-50 balls and other tweaks could get Athens right back into a match that was played at such a pace that more goals seemed inevitable.
"It's a heated rivalry (between) two great OAA Red teams, so especially with this much at stake, there's going to be goals," Clark said. "We told the girls at halftime, 'One goal at a time. Don't try to get all three at once, it's not possible.' But you get the one, it turns the momentum a little bit."
Colts sophomore Sabrina Gaul's header goes over Athens goalkeeper Ashley Miller for Troy's third goal of Thursday's district championship match. (BRYAN EVERSON - MediaNews Group)
However, playing at the disadvantage made climbing back from the deficit all the more difficult, and Colts freshman Kaylee Worrell made it a four-goal contest just over five minutes after the red card was brandished.
Red Hawks senior midfielder Alex Haggarty countered with a left-footed strike swiveled past Troy junior goalkeeper Sophia Peronis just 24 seconds later, but the scoring ended there as Troy joined Grand Blanc and Rochester Adams as the only teams to hold Athens to one goal in a loss this season.
Peronis had a denial with around 11 minutes remaining, then Miller and the Red Hawks' defenders worked in conjunction, all of which kept the score static as time dwindled down to nothing and Troy began its celebration.
"People, they don't know how to defend her," Troccoli said. "He was man-marking her at the beginning of the game, basically put two people on her, and the first two goals came with her beating two people. She's around 17 goals and 10 assists on the year, and you know the schedule we play ... she's pretty good."
Athens (13-4-3) lists a dozen seniors who will graduate, but will return forward Lauren DeJonckheere as well as several freshmen who saw the field in the defeat.
"There's a lot of experience in that senior class, and we leaned heavily on that leadership, especially with a new coaching staff coming in," said Clark, who came over from West Bloomfield. "A lot of the traditions, the little things they like to do at practice. I'm not looking to change the program. We relied on them and they were the leaders of this team."
When asked about how a loss in a game of that magnitude can drive his team going forward, Clark, who graduated from and played at Athens, said, "The scoreboard, it speaks for itself. There's not any added motivation that's needed. Everyone understands what the rivalry is and knows there's always that next game next year that always means more."
Troy (13-1-3), meanwhile, heads to regionals where it will take on St. Clair Shores Lakeview (18-0-2) at Stoney Creek next Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Huskies won the MAC Blue Division, then defeated Fraser for their district title in a shootout that was also played Thursday night.
Troy celebrates with its Division 1 district title trophy following Thursday night's 4-1 win over rival Athens at Birmingham Seaholm. (BRYAN EVERSON - MediaNews Group)
It feels like the WNBA is more popular than ever, but in metro Detroit, we're missing out on the action. The Detroit Shock, the city's three-time championship winning team, left the city for Tulsa after the 2009 season.
Now, according to multiple reports, the Pistons have reportedly expressed interest in bringing the WNBA back to Detroit.
7 News Detroit Photojournalist Mike Glover caught up with Detroit basketball fans to see how they would feel about a possible return.
"Oh, man, I would love to have WNBA basketball back in the city of Detroit," Royce Kinniebrew said.
"It's exciting! My very first basketball game I ever went to was a WNBA game," Stephanie Kenneh said. "Guys get all this hype, especially about basketball. Women are out here. Women do it too and we're sometimes better at it."
"They should have never moved the Shock away. That's the sister team. You got the bad boys here. You should have the bad girls here," Walter Shields said.
"It's something the city could use, especially women and young girls in the area," Katie Kus said.
"Seems like the women are more competitive right now. Guys are a little watered down," Myron McWhite said said.
They've always been extraordinary. I think they're just more eyes on them to see how extraordinary they are," Kinniebrew said.
"I originally wasn't watching women's basketball, but social media got me into the hype and it's kind of exciting," Kenneh said. "You love to see women doing women things."
"I was just looking at social media and saw a young lady dunk another one did a tip dunk the other day. I said, 'man, that type of excitement inside of a game for women's basketball would be phenomenal,'" Kinniebrew said.
"As an athlete growing up, you're always looking for females in sports that you could look up to," Kus added. "And it's great that especially with Caitlin Clark and the explosion that she really has had."
"What do you think they should name them? The Shock was the old name, you wanna stay with?
"They might as well keep it the same. Maybe they'll shock the world," McWhite said.
The total closure of southbound M-53 between 18 Mile Rd. and M-59 will be extended until late June, according to MDOT officials.
The construction was originally set to be complete at the end of May, but it will last until the end of June, the department said.
Also, starting Friday night, May 31, northbound M-53 will also close from 18 Mile to M-59 for bridge deck demolition of the Clinton River Rd. bridge over M-53. The northbound lanes of the highway are expected to reopen by 1 p.m. on Monday, June 3.
Northbound M-53 traffic will be detoured via westbound 18 Mile Road to northbound Mound Road, then eastbound Dorby Drive/M-59 (Hall Road) to northbound M-53.
Clinton River Rd. closed between 19 Mile and Schoenherr Rd. for approximately three months.
As a glassblowing artist working the hot ovens at Dearborn’s Greenfield Village, Ryan Thompson knows how to stay cool, calm and creative.
But competing on television against some of North America’s top glassmakers really kicked up the heat.
But he proved that he could handle it, coming in as the runner-up against nine other contenders on season 4 of the Netflix series, “Blown Away.”
“So grateful for this opportunity,” he said on the final episode. “I think I made some really great stuff. Excited to see what the world thinks.”
Getting on the show nearly didn’t happen, though.
“I was not interested, initially,” Thompson said. “But as I thought about it more, I decided it was an opportunity to take the next step as an artist.”
The television series pitted 10 glassblowers in a 10-episode challenge to put their best work forward in what Thompson called “a pressure cooker for my relationship” with glassmaking.
Ryan Thompson, a glassblowing artist at Dearborn’s Greenfield Village, was the runner-up against nine other contenders on season 4 of the Netflix series, “Blown Away.” (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
The unique opportunity proved irresistible.
“If I didn’t do it, I wondered how I would feel 10 or 20 years down the road. I decided I had to give it a shot,” Thompson said.
The competitive cauldron of “Blown Away” expanded the artistic portfolio of Thompson, whose early efforts included drawing Batman illustrations while a schoolboy in Sandusky, Ohio, a few miles from the Cedar Point amusement park.
“As a young person, I found my knack for drawing and my love for creativity,” said Thompson, 34. “It set me on a path that continues to this day.”
Along the way, Thompson expanded his creative pursuits to include drumming and percussion — talents he said complement the rhythm, focus and hand skills essential to glassblowing.
So, too, does the ensemble nature of drumming in support of a band or group of musicians.
“There is so much in parallel,” he said, emphasizing that glassblowing — like music — is a “constant balancing act between urgency and patience.”
At Greenfield Village, Thompson is the lead to a team of three full-time and three part-time glassmakers at the Henry Ford Glass Works. Their collaborative work is apparent to village visitors who line up to watch the process. Turning, timing and team, emphasized Thompson.
“It takes several hands to make the objects,” he said, noting that the team is so in sync during the delicate process that a nod or gesture often is all that’s needed to coordinate the process.
Thompson was introduced to glassmaking as a student at Bowling Green State University, where he received a bachelor of arts degree in 2013.
“I was very bad at first, but I loved it,” he recalled.
Not surprisingly, his early career included a stop in Toledo, home to the Libbey glass company and America’s studio glass movement. The northern Ohio manufacturing community takes pride in its reputation as “The Glass Capital of the World.”
He subsequently worked with several world-famous glassmakers in America and Europe. Thompson was teaching in New York, he said, when a friend alerted him to an opening at Greenfield Village.
“I immediately applied that evening,” Thompson said, citing the history and commitment to glassmaking at Greenfield Village.
“That legacy is something I was excited to become a part of,” he said.
The glassworks at the storied Village include contemporary designs and historical recreations from two centuries of American glass.
Among the glassware available for sale in the Village gift shop (thf.org/shop) are tumblers designed and handcrafted by Thompson. Each tumbler is molded twice, once for the surface texture and again for the octagonal shape of the finished product.
Some of Ryan Thompson’s glasswork is available for sale at Greenfield Village where he works. Each tumbler is molded twice, once for the surface texture and again for the octagonal shape of the finished product. (Photo courtesy of The Henry Ford)
The Village glassmakers produce a wide array of products, including seasonal ornaments, snowmen, pumpkins, candy cane bowls and recreations of historic bowls, carafes, bottles, pouring vases and drinkware.
Thompson said he’s proud of the work he’s done — both at work and on “Blown Away.”
“Being on the show was — by far — the most challenging thing I’ve done as a professional artist,” said Thompson, noting the competition included “artists I have been looking up to, as well as new faces.
“It was anybody’s game,” he said, adding that he is pleased with his results.
Ryan Thompson got to create several different styles of glasswork on season 4 of the Netflix series, “Blown Away.” (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
Ryan Thompson initially wasn't interested in being on the Netflix show, "Blown Away," but he later decided "it was an opportunity to take the next step as an artist.” Of 10 contestants, he finished as the runner-up. (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
Hundreds of people gathered at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery in Troy for the 93rd Annual WWI Polar Bear Memorial Service on May 27 to honor a group of Michigan soldiers known as the “Polar Bears,” according to a press release.
They made history more than 100 years ago as the first U.S. soldiers to fight Russians in battle. This spring marks the 105th anniversary of the Polar Bears returning home. The Polar Bear Expedition was a contingent of about 5,000 U.S. troops from the 85th Division, 339th infantry (mostly from Michigan) who landed in Arkhangelsk, Russia and fought the Bolshevik forces in the surrounding region during the period of September 1918 through July 1919.
A recovery mission in the autumn of 1929 found, identified, and brought out the remains of 86 U.S. soldiers. Another dozen remains were shipped by the Soviet Union to the U.S. in 1934. The remains of 56 Polar Bear soldiers were eventually re-buried at White Chapel Memorial Cemetery in Troy surrounding the Polar Bear Monument by French American sculptor Leon Hermant.
“Our Annual WWI Polar Bear Memorial Service is a way to remember soldiers from all branches of the military,” said David R. Krall, Vice President, White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery.
“We want future generations to know about the men and women of the military who have made enormous sacrifices for our country.”
White Chapel also hosted its annual concert on Sunday, May 26, featuring a program of patriotic songs performed by The Birmingham Concert Band.
Upcoming events at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery include:
The 75th Annual WWII Four Freedoms Memorial Service at noon on Sunday, Aug. 11, featuring the Gold Star Mothers to commemorate and honor WWII veterans and the 6th Annual Patriots Race at 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 8. The event raises funds for the Michigan Wounded & Returning Warriors Project and includes a 10K/5K Run and 1 Mile Walk. Participants can register online at https://thepatriotsrace.com to secure an early bird discount.
White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery is at 621 W. Long Lake Road, (just west of I-75) in Troy. For more information, visit www.whitechapelcemetery.com.
Watkins Lake Activities Committee hosts service on Memorial Day
A Waterford Township Watkins Lake service in honor of fallen and local veterans was held by The Watkins Lake Activities Committee on Memorial Day. The event included a speech to honor them, and then each veteran stepped out when they heard their branch of service song played. All then said the Pledge of Allegiance to veteran Craig Cunningham’s large Patriotic Flag. The ceremony ended with a trumpeter playing taps.
Veterans that participated included Nick Coghill, Ron Boschert, Chris Kherker, Doug Lamm, Dennis Barberi, Craig Cunningham and Tim Pohlman. Approximately 120 neighbors attended the event, 70 on land and about 50 in their boats on the water. Carole and Pat Karbon with neighbors Kevin and Renee Lynch spearheaded the event, according to a press release from Tracy Wolicki. For more information, email tracywolicki@yahoo.com.
Upcoming events
• Miracle Quilts for our Wounded Troops to host Annual Quilt Show and Display from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at Independence Village, 701 Market St., Oxford. This annual show and display with free admission, will feature quilts, a quilt raffle, and a deluxe sewers and crafters garage sale and craft sale. All proceeds from the sales will go towards the purchase of new materials to create the quilts in the upcoming year. For more information, call Carole Carroll 248-321-8669 or email MiracleQuilts@att.net.
• The Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial to host the 80th Anniversary of D-Day from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday, June 6. at Royal Oak Memorial Park. Members of the Military Vehicle Collectors Club will have vehicles on display and Mission BBQ will be serving food from noon-5 p.m. D-Day veterans present will be recognized, and the names of D-Day veterans represented by family will be read. To notify if a D-Day veteran will attend or to attend in their memory, visit www.michiganww2memorial.org.
• Holly American Legion Post 149 to host Line Dancing Class at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 3, at 408 S. Saginaw. For more information, call Tina Thurlow at 810-348-1359.
• Clarkston American Legion Post 377 to host Bingo from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, at 4819 Mary Sue Ave. For more information, call 248-673-9301.
• Oxford American Legion Post 108 to host Taco Tuesday Mexican Buffet from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 4. and Chef’s Choice Buffet from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, and Fish dinners from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, June 7, at 130 Drahner Road, Oxford. For more information, call 248-628-9081.
The Oakland Press is interested in all veterans events in Oakland County. Please send info in the body of an email with subject line “Veterans Affairs” to Sharon Longman at sslstart@aol.com. Allow two weeks’ notice for scheduled events and include a phone number for readers to call for more information.
Community members gather in front of WWI Polar Bear Memorial at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery to honor veterans. (Photo courtesy of White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery)
Login
