September saw inflation rise yet again, and the war with Iran is driving much of it, as consumer prices rose 3.7% over the past year, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Thats slightly hotter than the 3.6% economists expected. Prices rose 0.6% in September alone.

The same report set the size of next years Social Security raise. The Social Security Administration announced Wednesday that beneficiaries will get a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, in 2027. Thats the largest increase since 2023.

The war has disrupted oil flows out of the Persian Gulf for months, and the effects are showing up across the economy. Fuel oil prices are up 74% from a year ago, gasoline is up more than 34%, and airfares are up more than 22%, according to BLS data. Natural gas utility service rose 5%, and electricity rose 4.4%.

At the pump, the national average for regular gasoline was $4.34 a gallon Tuesday, according to AAA. Thats up from $2.98 before the conflict began in late February.

Supply hasnt recovered. Only about four ships a day are moving through the Strait of Hormuz, compared with roughly 80 this time last year, according to the International Monetary Funds PortWatch tracker.

RELATED STORY | US inflation climbs as gas, clothing, and airfares get more expensive

Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, rose 2.6% over the past year. That was also above forecasts, a sign that higher costs are beginning to spread beyond fuel.

The numbers cut against President Donald Trumps message on the campaign trail.

Your costs are coming way down anyway, Trump told supporters at a midterm rally in Alaska Tuesday, adding that once the war ends, prices are going to come tumbling down. They already are.

Global trade leaders say the unpredictability is what sets this moment apart. Speaking in Bangkok on Wednesday, World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the global economy is holding up better than many expected.

The only difference with this crisis is the uncertainty that creeps in all the time, she said. Okonjo-Iweala added that the economy is showing resilience, surprising to us, but said that doesnt mean we should be complacent.

For the tens of millions of Americans who rely on Social Security, the 3.6% raise is welcome. But Robert Brokamp, senior retirement advisor at The Motley Fool, said many beneficiaries already feel behind.

The challenge with the COLA is its always backward looking, so its based on what happened in the past, Brokamp told Scripps News. The adjustment is based on average prices from July through September, but it doesnt take effect until January.

Whether its enough depends largely on what happens with the war, Brokamp said. If the conflict is resolved and energy prices fall, the raise could outpace retirees actual costs.

But if for some reason, energy prices continue to rise, the COLA may not be sufficient, he said.

RELATED STORY | Interactive: Your home insurance deductible may have quietly increased

Brokamp said the headline number doesnt tell the whole story for any one household.

Theres the overall inflation rate and then theres your personal inflation rate, he said. Someone who drives a lot will feel todays prices far more than someone who mostly stays home.

Excluding energy, Brokamp said, inflation is closer to 2.5%. Prices for groceries are up less than 2%, while eating out is up more than 3%. Medical costs, a major concern for retirees, are up about 2.5% overall, although hospital costs are up closer to 5%.

To stretch a fixed income, Brokamp suggests:

- Moving cash to higher-yield accounts. Rate hikes mean many savings accounts now pay more, but the average checking account often doesnt. Brokamp says retirees should look for between 3.5% and 4% on their cash.

- Investing for the long term. Stocks have historically been the best long-term hedge against inflation, and dividends as a group tend to grow faster than prices. He cautions against investing any money needed within the next five years.

- Considering part-time work. About half of retirees who go back to work do so for financial reasons, and half for social reasons, according to Brokamp. He noted that beneficiaries who havent reached full retirement age, which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later, may have some benefits temporarily withheld if they earn above an annual limit. Those benefits are paid back later.

The hotter report puts more pressure on the Federal Reserve. The Fed raised interest rates in September for the first time in three years. Minutes from that meeting show most officials expect one more increase before the end of the year. The central bank meets again Oct. 27 and 28.

A 56-year-old Taylor dentist is facing two felony drug charges after police say he sold methamphetamine out of a Canton Township home.

Kok-Heng Chong appeared in court this week charged with delivering or manufacturing methamphetamine and maintaining a drug house on Park Creek Lane in Canton Township.

I started looking into the case after seeing Chong in court Tuesday and have since gotten new details from Michigan State Police.

WATCH: Taylor dentist faces two felony drug charges after police say he was selling meth at Canton Township home

Lt. Ty Howard with Michigan State Police said neighbors tipped off local police.

"Mr. Chong was hosting parties at his house when he was delivering methamphetamine to the party goers," Lt. Ty Howard said.

Neighbors said they call the home the "Party House."

"It's unfortunate and shocking," a neighbor said.

A woman who lives nearby, who asked that her name and face not be used, said she is concerned.

"Yes, very much taking it in and I will say that the neighbors always watch out for each other," she said.

Evidence at the Canton Township house led investigators to Chong's workplace in Taylor, where he rents space in a larger dental office.

Howard said syringes specific to the dental industry were found with methamphetamine on them, which led to a search warrant for the dental office.

"Some of the syringes that had methamphetamine on them, those syringes are specific only to the dentist industry. You have to have proper credentials to order those syringe, so, that's what lead us to the dentist office search warrant," Howard said.

The Metro Narcotics Enforcement Team known as M-NET searched the dental practice but found nothing.

"And there was no wrong-doing found at the dentist office so we can exclude suspicious activity from the dentist office," Howard said.

I reached out to the dental office to find out whether Chong will continue practicing there. A woman who answered the phone said they have no comment.

I also contacted the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, or LARA, to find out whether his dental license is under review. I am still waiting to hear back.

Chong was given a $10,000 personal bond. He is due back in court October 23.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A group of Monroe-area men are proving that age is no barrier to having fun for a good cause.

The Monroe Center for Healthy Aging has unveiled its 2027 fundraiser calendar, titled "Naturally, The Other Half," featuring male volunteers who posed in playful, tasteful photographs to help raise money for the center.

WATCH VIDEO REPORT BY 7 NEWS DETROIT'S TONY GEFTOS BELOW:

The project follows last year's successful calendar featuring women from the center, which was inspired by the movie "Calendar Girls." According to center Director Sandie Pierce, the men wanted their turn after seeing the enthusiasm surrounding the original effort.

"They asked to be in the calendar," Pierce said. "So we did this calendar for them."

The calendar features local men ranging in age and background, including 91-year-old Danny Richardville, who said the experience gave participants something new and exciting to focus on.

"Nothing new happens to me," Richardville said. "So she gives us something to think about besides growing old."

Some participants admitted they needed time to decide whether they would take part. Others jumped at the opportunity.

For Antonio Terry, the center's cook and one of the youngest participants at age 40, the photo shoot was easy.

"I'm not camera shy or anything," Terry said.

Most of the men kept their boxer shorts on during the shoot, using props and creative photography to preserve modesty while embracing the fundraiser's lighthearted spirit.

The women featured in the previous calendar jokingly suggested the men were not quite as daring as they had been.

"I think they weren't brave enough," Pierce said.

The photographs were taken by Amy Fuller, whose creative approach helped participants feel comfortable throughout the process.

Organizers hope to match last year's success, when sales of 250 calendars generated about $3,000 for the Monroe Center for Healthy Aging. Proceeds help cover daily operating expenses and programs at the center.

The center is also hosting a calendar-signing event to help promote sales and celebrate the volunteers who participated.

"Im not a chicken," Richardville joked.

Plymouth Township is moving toward a total ban on kratom products after the Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to advance a new ordinance amendment that would prohibit the sale of the substance.

Kratom products are currently sold at locations throughout Plymouth Township. If the ordinance passes at a later meeting, those caught selling or distributing the products could face civil fines ranging from $1,000 to $7,500, depending on the offense. An aggravated violation carries a fine of up to $25,000. Repeat violations carry misdemeanor penalties.

Plymouth Township Police Chief James Knittel Jr. has been pushing to prohibit kratom sales in the community, including "7-OH" citing concerns about the substance's impact on young people.

Watch 7 News Detroit reporter Christiana Ford's story in the video below:

"This community, we look out for our kids and this is concerning for us," James Knittel Jr. said.

Knittel said kratom's effects on the central nervous system are particularly concerning for young people.

"Kratom, the nickname for kratom is gas station heroin, and it's very concerning how it impacts the central nervous system, changes mood swings, things like that, particularly with our youth," Knittel said.

He said Plymouth Township is working to follow the lead of other nearby communities that have already moved to regulate the substance.

"We're trying to stay ahead of this very similar to what Canton did, Clinton Township, some other communities in the area, because we are seeing increases in this sale and increases in folks having substance abuse issues with this product mixed with others," Knittel said.

Knittel said enforcement of the potential ban would begin with education before escalating to civil or criminal action.

"We're not going to take quick action. We're going to educate them first. We're going to advise them what the ordinance is, give them opportunity to comply, and then you know from there on forward, we will continue to monitor that. And if we need to take action, we can certainly take civil action in this ordinance. And then if that doesn't work, then we can take criminal action," Knittel said.

The concern about kratom's impact on young people is shared by nonprofit organization Growth Works, which has been encouraging communities to take action and educate themselves. Growth Works is a local nonprofit that works with at-risk youth and families, including those dealing with substance use and involvement in the juvenile justice system.

"Even if we're not seeing the volume and the numbers of kids specifically coming to Growth Works that are already struggling with kratom, the fact is it's out there, it's accessible, and we want to change that and making sure, particularly for young people and their families and anybody who's in their lives, that they know the very serious risks associated with this," Laura Reiners, Director of Government Relations and Communications at Growth Works, said.

7 News Detroit has reported on how Sterling Heights addressed the sale of kratom in the video below:

Growth Works has been hearing increased interest from local governments and regional partners, including communities involved with the Conference of Western Wayne, as the issue gains attention at both the state and federal levels. Reiners said educating communities on the issue aligns with the organization's mission.

"Growth Works mission is to serve kids and families and any time, particularly when it comes to substances, things that can be dangerous to young people, we feel that is a part of our mission to speak out," Reiners said.

Communities including Canton, Sterling Heights and Clinton Township have already taken steps to regulate kratom. Statewide legislation on the substance remains on hold in the Senate.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Federal regulators have approved a plan to remove a damaged nuclear fuel assembly at the Palisades nuclear plant in Southwest Michigan.

The fuel assembly was damaged when it tipped over after being loaded into the nuclear reactor at Palisades. The plant stopped operating in 2022, but its owner, Holtec International, has been working to make Palisades the first nuclear plant to come back online after decommissioning.

After years of work, staff began loading fuel into the reactor this August, but had to stop after the assembly tipped. Holtec said fuel loading has been paused, but other restart activities have continued.

Palisades already has procedures in place to load and unload fuel assemblies, but Holtec said the tilted assembly had damage on the “upper tile plate,” which complicated the process.

“Visual inspections of the tilted assembly concluded that damage sustained by the fuel assembly prevents retrieval using the grapple on the refueling machine,” the company wrote in a letter to regulators.

In the letter, Holtec requested an amendment to its license to allow it to use a new procedure for removing the damaged assembly and transporting it into a spent fuel pool in another building.

Holtec requested emergency approval of the plan, without a public hearing, because it said a delay could impact the plant’s timeline for restart.

Some nearby residents and nuclear critics wrote to the NRC, urging the commission to slow down the process.

“I urge the NRC not to approve Holtec’s proposed one-time alternative fuel-handling amendment on an expedited basis without a rigorous, independently verified safety review and meaningful public scrutiny,” wrote Kraig Schultz, of Grand Haven, in a letter submitted to the NRC.

“The proposed operation is not routine. It would use a newly fabricated fuel movement device and transfer canister, lift and transport the assembly outside the normal underwater transfer route, and carry the loaded canister through the equipment hatch into the spent fuel pool building.”

But Monday, the NRC issued a letter approving the license changes, allowing Holtec to move forward with its plan.

“The Commission has concluded, based on the considerations discussed above, that: (1) there is reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the public will not be endangered by operation in the proposed manner, (2) there is reasonable assurance that such activities will be conducted in compliance with the Commission’s regulations, and (3) the issuance of the amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public,” the commission wrote in a safety review attached to the letter.

The safety analysis included considerations of the possibility of an earthquake during the process, and the possibility that the canister could be dropped during transport.

The NRC is still looking into why the fuel assembly tipped over, and a spokesperson says the commission will continue to monitor the removal of the tipped fuel assembly.

As Van Buren Township's Planning Commission prepares to consider final site plan approval for a proposed Google data center, some residents who live near the project say they remain frustrated by ongoing construction activity and believe their concerns have not been adequately addressed.

Residents who have spoken out for weeks about the development say noise from construction has disrupted their daily lives, and more recently, dust from the site has become a growing concern.

Watch 7 News Detroit Reporter Tiarra Braddocks' story in the video player below:

Max Schroeder, who has lived on Jackson Street for about seven years, said construction activity tied to the planned data center has changed the character of the neighborhood.

"No one wants this, it feels like we're being ignored, no one wants this giant data center right on Haggerty," Schroeder said.

Schroeder said construction has brought significant noise and dust to the area.

"Now, it's just loud, dirty and the view's gone," he said.

He pointed to an antenna box attached to his home that was once white but is now coated in what he describes as soot and dust from the nearby work.

"Just sends a huge dust cloud over," Schroeder said. "My house is the only one without a fence, but even with a chain-link fence, it doesn't do anything for the dust. Eventually, you just see a coat of dust on everything."

The construction work near the site is being conducted by ITC. In a statement, the company said it is working with the township to address residents' concerns.

Ashley Shukait, who lives nearby, said she believes residents' input was overlooked during the planning process.

"It's really frustrating and sad to see our voices not heard in our community, our health not considered," Shukait said.

Van Buren Township Supervisor Kevin McNamara said township officials have worked to balance residents' concerns with legal requirements governing the project review process.

"We really did listen to every one of their complaints. To just say no to data centers is against the law and we would have lost, and we wouldn't have been able to take care of all of their other ideas, water protection, wildlife corridors, sound suppression, continuous monitoring around the plant," McNamara said.

McNamara said the township will continue working with residents as the project moves forward.

"We are going to build the best darn data center as we can that's going to have as low an impact on our community as possible," he said.

The Planning Commission is expected to consider final approval of the project's site plans during its meeting Tuesday evening. The vote marks a significant step in the development process for the planned data center, which has drawn both support and opposition from residents living nearby.

Grief and outrage are rippling across Detroits east side following a tragic drive-by shooting that took the life of a 16-year-old girl who had already endured an unthinkable amount of personal tragedy.

Police say 16-year-old Kaliyah Embery was gunned down Tuesday evening in a drive-by shooting near her home. Another young man, who was her friend, was injured in the attack.

Investigators say multiple shots were fired indiscriminately into a vehicle, killing the teenager.

Watch 7 News Detroit reporter Randy Wimbley's story in the video below:

"So for these ones that did this senseless act, this drive-by shooting, firing multiple shots into a vehicle, not even knowing who's in the vehicle, not caring we're going to throw the book at them," Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said.

Embery's family shared the heartbreaking reality of the young teen's life, revealing that she had lost both her father and her mother a few years ago. Compounding the family's sorrow, her older sister died in a car crash earlier this year.

Quincy Smith, who leads Team Pursuit one of Detroits Community Violence Intervention groups noted that while this fatal drive-by did not happen within a designated CVI zone, its emotional impact is felt heavily across the entire city.

The tragedy adds to a grim and mounting wave of violent outbursts across Detroit over recent days:

"Im sick and I'm tired of the violence for individuals just simply not knowing how to regulate their own emotions and deal with their issues and their problems and their beefs from a conversation," Smith said. "That's a skill set that needs to be taught, and a lot of our young people lack that skill set."

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison announced that the 5th Precinct is stepping up patrols in the neighborhood where Kaliyah was killed, while homicide detectives aggressively work to track down the person or people responsible.

However, community leaders emphasize that law enforcement cannot do it alone.

"I think the community has a responsibility to call people out that, you know, they know. The hood knows, we got to start calling people out," Smith said. "If you cannot treat our seniors, our youth, women with respect and honor and be bearers of our community and uplift our community, then you don't deserve to be walking our streets freely."

"The community has to stand up and they gotta speak up and they gotta start turning folks in, plain and simple, cause this right here is out of control," Bettison said.

If you have any information about this shooting, you are urged to contact the Detroit Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. Remember, you can always remain anonymous. Detroit Police is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

A desperate search for two children from Inkster has come to a close on Wednesday after the kids were found safe across state lines.

Police say a father assaulted the mother of his children before taking off with the kids, threatening to take their lives and his own. That sparked a search across Detroit, Inkster, and Ohio, where the kids were ultimately found.

"So naturally, any time we receive a call that there's kids missing and can possibly be harmed it ... kind of raised a bunch of emotions throughout all of the departments involved. We were working really diligently to make sure that we use every resource that we had to locate those children, and we're just thankful that they were found safe and unharmed," said Inkster Police Chief Tamika Jenkins.

Family tells 7 News Detroit that the 4- and 6-year-old boys are en route to be reunited with their mother.

Police from Inkster, Detroit and Ohio put all hands on deck, tracking cellphones and using Flock, and ultimately finding those children in a cornfield in Ohio.

Family says this started Wednesday morning with the 36-year-old father of the children tying up their mother before taking off with the kids in a vehicle.

Relatives say the 36-year-old had been struggling mentally since the passing of his mother last year, and was having an episode this morning.

Family says once the mother of his children was able to free herself, she contacted Inkster police, who then launched into action working to locate the children.

Police say they received information from the kids' mother that the father was at Rouge Park in Detroit threatening to take his and the kids' lives. Thats where we saw a massive police search for the children, but they were not found there.

Police confirm the father actually crossed state lines with the children into Ohio, where investigators say the 36-year-old shot himself in a cornfield. Officials have identified the father as Brandon Deandre Lee.

Chief Jenkins spoke of the challenges of the day in locating the children, calling it intense.

"They were no longer in Michigan, and so that makes it a little bit more difficult because now you have to bring in other organizations and get them involved and trying to just keep that communication open between all the departments that were trying to bring these kids home safely," said Chief Jenkins.

Police tell us Flock cameras were also integral in their search for the children.

The post Detroit Evening Report: City council to look into poor conditions at the Greenhouse Apartments appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The U.S. Department of Justice has threatened California with possible legal action over what it says are noncitizens believed to have received mail ballots for next months midterm elections.

A letter sent Tuesday to Secretary of State Shirley Weber from Trent McCotter, the acting deputy U.S. attorney general, says the department has provided officials in Los Angeles County with a password-protected thumb drive that contains a list of names the federal government believes are likely noncitizens who were sent ballots to participate in the Nov. 3 election.

California mails ballots to all registered voters.

The letter obtained by The Associated Press gives the state 48 hours to determine whether any citizens are included on the list. For individuals whose citizenship cannot be independently verified, the state is to instruct local election officials to segregate their mail-in ballots until their status can be determined, and to not provide a ballot to anyone who has not yet received it. The letters warns that legal action may follow if the state does not meet the 48-hour deadline to review the list.

If you cannot implement this process by then, given the ongoing federal election, the United States will have no choice but to seek emergency relief, the letter states.

RELATED STORY | Records show ICE reviewed tens of millions of voter records looking for noncitizen voters

A separate, similar letter was sent to the registrar's office in Los Angeles County, which the U.S. attorney's office had investigated during the state's June primary.

Unclear how many names DOJ flagged

Los Angeles County Registrar Dean Logan confirmed in a statement that his office received the letter and a thumb drive, along with a hand written note providing a password to access the list of alleged noncitizens on the voter rolls.

He said he did not consider the thumb drive a secure device and hasn't yet accessed any files. The letter, which Logan made public, does not specify the number of individuals flagged by the federal government.

Logan said his office is working with the secretary of state and attorney general's offices to decide how to proceed. Neither of those two offices immediately responded to an emailed request for comment.

Federal and state laws are clear on how voter eligibility is established, Logan wrote. And any action to remove a voter from eligibility must be based on verifiable information, not assertions of unconfirmed data matching.

Nationwide search for alleged noncitizen voters

The Trump administration has made the hunt for noncitizen voters a priority this year, even though the problem is exceptionally rare. The Justice Department has charged about 90 people for various types of election misconduct so far this year, including 50 who are alleged to have voted as noncitizens. There were more than 227 million registered voters in the United States during the 2024 presidential election.

In July, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin sent letters to California, Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, alleging that as many as 250,000 noncitizens were registered in those states. Election officials there were skeptical of the claim, including Weber, the California secretary of state.

I have serious doubts about the reliability of your data and accuracy of your claims, since my office has not shared our statewide voter registration list with DHS or any other federal agency or official, Weber said in response.

That same month, the Republican administration claimed Nevada had 1,500 noncitizen voters on its voter rolls. But after the federal government identified them to the state, the number of actual registered noncitizens turned out to be zero.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Young voter turnout could be pivotal in this year's midterms

As part of its project to find noncitizens on the voter rolls, the Justice Department has been seeking detailed voter information including dates of birth, addresses, driver's license numbers and partial Social Security numbers from the states. Some Republican-led states have turned over the information, which has been run through a U.S. Department of Homeland Security database that has been criticized as inaccurately flagging U.S. citizens.

The Justice Department has sued 30 states and the District of Columbia for that information, but so far has lost those cases in court. California is among the states that successfully sued, in part by arguing that turning over the data would violate state privacy laws.

Election official calls 48-hour deadline unreasonable

Santa Cruz County Clerk Tricia Webber, who is president of the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials, said she had not seen the letters but said the 48-hour deadline to vet voters flagged by the federal government was completely unreasonable.

She said when there is a report of an ineligible voter incorrectly on the rolls, her office does due diligence to investigate. That involves looking at the voters registration history, identifying whether that person had voted before and, most importantly, reaching out to the voter, she said.

It would take more than 48 hours to even begin to get the full picture, Webber said. She also questioned how the federal government came up with a list of alleged noncitizen voters since it doesnt have access to the state's detailed voter information.

Webber added that throughout the course of her decades-long career working for local election agencies, she has never seen anything that would make me believe that our voter records are filled with fraudulent voters.

Cornerstone Schools is celebrating innovation and creativity with the unveiling of Michigans first Verizon Innovative Learning Labs at Adams-Young Middle School on Detroits west side.

School leaders, students and Verizon representatives gathered Wednesday to cut the ribbon on the new learning space, which is designed to give students hands-on access to emerging technologies, including augmented reality, 3-D printing and robotics.

Technology, it's a very good thing. It's the future right now, said Skylar Parrish, a student at Adams-Young Middle School.

The lab and its equipment were made possible through Verizon as part of an initiative aimed at expanding access to technology and innovation in local communities.

So that students really have limitless possibilities to become creators, thinkers, and innovators, said Brianna Fritz, head of government and community affairs for Verizon in Michigan.

Fritz said the program also helps introduce students to skills that can prepare them for high-paying jobs in the future.

Technology is always going to change. It's always going to evolve, and if you can find an opportunity to get paid to learn new things as part of your job, I think that's a win-win, Fritz said.

Principal Artina Tyus said the new lab is a major upgrade from the school's previous technology space.

It was really small with just like regular computers and not much technology integrated, Tyus said.

Tyus said interest in technology has grown significantly since the introduction of the Verizon lab.

Everyone wants to be in the tech team. Our tech team is now exceeding 30 students, Tyus said.

Students are already using the technology to learn skills such as coding and wiring.

The more you do it, the more you'll understand it just like normal schoolwork. The more study, the more you do, the more you learn, said Lorenzo Mullen, a student.

Cornerstone officials said Cornerstone Jefferson-Douglass Academy and Cornerstone Washington-Parks Academy were also selected to receive Verizon Innovative Learning Labs.

Ukrainian drones lost some of their speed after restrictions were suddenly imposed on battlefield use of the country's U.S.-made Starlink communication terminals, officials said Wednesday as the capital endured a second consecutive night of missile attacks.

At the same time, Ukraine did not receive the usual advance warning from its Western partners about the devastating Russian ballistic missiles aimed at Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, triggering fears that Ukraine is being starved of vital intelligence, especially from the U.S.

Zelenskyy did not specify which partners he was talking about when referring to the lack of warning. U.S. President Donald Trump has said the U.S. has not stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine.

RELATED STORY | Trump claims Ukraine and Russia have agreed to energy ceasefire

The developments frustrated the Ukrainian military and deepened fears that Kyivs relationship with Washington is unraveling.

Ukrainian officials fear U.S. support for the war effort is falling away after Trump struck a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel despite international efforts to sanction Russia for its invasion and isolate Putin.

Trump has also leveled sharp criticism at Zelenskyy. He said Saturday that it was time for Ukraine to get a new president, suggesting Zelenskyy has not done enough to end the war with Russia and blaming him for high diesel prices in the U.S.

Trumps efforts to stop the fighting have yielded no progress.

Starlink is an essential tool for Ukraine

Ukrainian officials are concerned that U.S. support, especially related to the sharing of military intelligence and the use of Elon Musks Starlink satellite communications system, may be in jeopardy.

The American tech titan's SpaceX company overnight imposed a speed limit on Ukraines Starlink terminals mounted on drones, Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Zelenskyy, said on social media. The restriction disrupted operations, including making the slower-flying attack drones easier targets for Russian defenses.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | SpaceX puts new limits on Starlink internet to keep Russia from using it to target drone strikes

Musk said on X that the military version of Starlink is controlled by the U.S. military and Trump. The Pentagon and U.S. Space Force did not immediately respond to questions about any restrictions that the American military may have placed on satellite-communication services in Ukraine.

Starlink is a vital tool for the Ukrainian military, both in offensive and defensive operations. The network is used for long-range drone missions, interceptor air-defense systems and front-line logistics, Beskrestnov said.

Obviously, this action cannot be a coincidence and is connected to the current political situation, Beskrestnov said, without elaborating.

The White House did not offer any immediate comment.

Kyiv got no warning about initial ballistic missile attack, official says

Yurii Ihnat, Ukraines air force spokesman, said there was no warning of an initial Russian ballistic missile attack on Tuesday night, although Kyiv was warned about three later waves of missiles.

A lawmaker on Ukraines parliamentary Defense Committee told The Associated Press that intelligence sharing with international partners has not stopped. The lawmaker spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give statements to the press.

Five people were killed and 36 wounded in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital that lasted from Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, Kyiv police said.

Russia keeps bombing Ukraine's power grid despite Trump's truce demand

Zelenskyy voiced outrage Wednesday over Russias continuing aerial bombardment of Ukraines energy infrastructure in apparent defiance of Trumps demand for a ceasefire.

We ask America and EVERYONE in the world who does not turn a blind eye to reality to respond and to respond forcefully to Russias ongoing aerial barrages, Zelenskyy said in a social media post.

Russia has squandered the opportunity for de-escalation and has clearly chosen to continue its insane war of annihilation, he said.

Moscows forces pounded the Ukrainian power grid, as well as oil and gas facilities, for the third straight night, Zelenskyy said, after Trump claimed that Russia and Ukraine had agreed not to strike energy infrastructure 4 years after Moscows forces invaded.

Zelenskyy, meanwhile, has agreed to halt Ukraine's monthslong campaign targeting Russian oil refineries that caused fuel shortages for Russians.

Ukraines last widely reported hit on an oil refinery was Friday. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak accused Ukraine of attacking more refineries Wednesday, something local officials and independent media did not report. Ukraine called it a false claim.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that details of the energy ceasefire are still being decided. The work in that direction is continuing, he told reporters.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday that its forces attacked Ukraines energy infrastructure in Kyiv, the wider Kyiv region and the northeastern Kharkiv region overnight, striking a total of six power plants.

Russian forces hit all three of Kyivs combined heat and power plants overnight into Wednesday, Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said. At least 600,000 people were left without power, Zelenskyy said.

Russia fired 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 drones at energy and other infrastructure in Kyiv, the Kyiv region and Kharkiv overnight, Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy visits London for talks on more help in the war

Zelenskyy arrived Wednesday in London for talks with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who announced the accelerated delivery of British-made air defenses for Ukraine.

Ahead of their hourlong meeting at Downing Street, Burnham told Zelenskyy that Britains support for Ukraine would not change as he acknowledged that recent days have been dark and difficult for Ukraine. Zelenskyy also met with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace.

European leaders fear Moscows wider ambitions on the continent and accuse Russia of sabotage as part of a hybrid war. They seek to keep Washington on Ukraine's side.

Ukraine claims it is pushing Russia back on the battlefield

Ukrainian officials say they are pushing back Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, which Russias bigger army has been trying to capture for years.

Ukraine has liberated 277 square kilometers (107 square miles) in the operation that started in the summer, Ukraines Third Army Corps commander Brig. Gen. Andrii Biletskyi said Wednesday.

It was not possible to independently verify the claim, and Russian officials did not comment.

Russian air defenses overnight downed 902 Ukrainian drones over multiple Russian regions, illegally annexed Crimea and the waters of the Azov Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 493 drones flew toward the capital region. Most were downed far away, and 180 were intercepted as they approached the Russian capital, he said. He did not report any damage or casualties.

Russias state-backed Sberbank confirmed an attack on its Saratov data center, once slated to become Europes biggest data center.

Russian state news agency Tass quoted a member of the bank's board as saying that Sberbank systems were operating normally.

Weight-loss drugs could be changing the way people spend money, according to a new study.

Researchers at the Wharton School are studying whether GLP-1 drugs can curb impulses tied to shopping, gambling and other financial decisions.

The study plans to follow about 180 people, using brain scans while participants make choices involving food and money.

RELATED STORY | GLP-1 drugs are booming in 2026 here's how to find a safe telehealth provider

Researchers want to determine whether GLP-1 use changes the brain's reward system and reduces the preference for instant gratification.

About 1 in 5 American adults say they have already tried a GLP-1 medication, and as costs come down, that number is expected to continue climbing.

Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are among the biggest health trends of 2026, and their reach is expanding beyond weight loss into treatments for heart disease, kidney disease, arthritis and even addiction.

Gretel Schueller, managing editor of Health at U.S. News & World Report, said 52% of health experts identified GLP-1 expansion as the biggest public health trend of 2026.

"There's no doubt that these drugs work," Schueller said. "They're finding now that these drugs may be helpful not just for weight loss, but also for heart disease, arthritis and possibly addiction. In some circles, these are being touted as longevity drugs. But there's still a lot more research that needs to be done."

Michigan’s secretary of state runs the offices that renew licenses and register cars. The same office also runs elections in the state.

Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist is one of two people running for the position. 

Gilchrist was a software engineer who then ran and lost a bid for Detroit City Clerk in 2017. Since 2018, he’s been lieutenant governor for the state. Now, he’s running for secretary of state after leaving the governor’s race. 

Why? How did Gilchrist’s role of lieutenant governor prepare him to be secretary of state? Gilchrist spoke with The Metro‘s Robyn Vincent about this and more.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have thoughts? Email the show at metro@wdet.org.

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Today on Stateside, the details of lawsuit against the Michigan Department of Corrections. A woman is suing the agency over allegations that officers at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility used their body cams to record her without consent while she was giving birth and during her postpartum care. According to her attorney, the experience has left her traumatized.

Then, another installment of What The Vote?, a series highlighting Gen Z voters, their priorities, and their concerns leading up to the 2026 Midterms. This week, a Muskegon city commissioner and resident talked about the qualities she hopes to see in a candidate.

Also, a window into the operations at Froehlich's, a beloved bakery in Three Oaks, Michigan. Founder Colleen Froehlich joined us to talk about her new cookbook, The Froehlich's Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from the Beloved Restaurant and Bakery.

Plus, an off-Broadway play about the Flint Water Crisis makes its way to theatres in Michigan this week. We spoke with the writer and director behind The Poisoner. After the show in Detroit, there will be a talkback with the audience with Michigan Public’s Lindsey Smith and Vince Duffy, who were in Michigan Public's newsroom and closely followed the Flint Water Crisis in 2014.

GUESTS ON TODAY'S SHOW:

• Zena Issa, criminal justice reporter for Michigan Public
• Kiley Jackson, Muskegon city commissioner at-large
• Colleen Froehlich, founder of Froelich's Bakery
• Lee Sunday Evans, director, The Poisoner
• Maura McCarthy Haney, writer, The Poisoner
  

More than a year after President Donald Trump deployed National Guard members to begin patrolling the streets of the nation's capital, a federal appeals court on Wednesday opened a hearing on the legality of his action by asking the government if there were any limits on a president's authority to do so.

The hearing began with the three-judge panel collectively questioning the government's attorney, Eric McArthur. Judge Cornelia T.L. Pillard asked how the government's argument about an administration's authorities was "not federalization and therefore running up against" the Posse Comitatus Act, an 1878 U.S. law forbidding the use of the federal military for domestic law enforcement unless authorized by the Constitution or Congress.

McArthur, answering Judge Judith Rogers' question on the limits of a president's action, said, "I think the limiting principle in our position is the president has to be calling out the guard in aid of the civil authorities."

Trump deployed the guard in August 2025 as part of what he said was a crime-fighting mission in Washington, D.C. The force, which rose to a peak of about 5,000 troops over the summer, has supported arrest operations, patrolled city streets and neighborhoods and participated in cleanup efforts.

RELATED STORY | DHS memo shows Trump administration explored using National Guard in immigration enforcement

Trump's Republican administration says the deployment has contributed to a decrease in crime in the city, where crime was already on the decline before the National Guard arrived. Officials and activists in the overwhelmingly Democratic city say the deployment is a waste of taxpayer money and has normalized the militarization of a major American city.

Mitchell Reich, who was arguing for D.C., did not escape the hearing unscathed, with the panel concentrating on his argument that there are laws and guidelines that lay out a president's ability to call out the guard and there were circumstances when those steps would be unnecessary, including during an invasion or an insurrection.

"If there's any kind of organized violence in the district, the president can deploy the guard for the purpose of suppressing the same," he said.

The 90-minute hearing came months after a different three-judge panel paused a lower court's ruling that Trump's deployment of the guard was illegal.

Three judges who issued the stay last December two appointed by Trump and one appointed by President Barack Obama, a Democrat said in a unanimous 32-page ruling that a number of factors favored the Trump administration, including the "disruption to the lives of thousands of service members," as well as what it said was the president's interest "in the protection of federal governmental functions and property within the nation's capital."

The three judges on the panel on Wednesday were nominated by Democratic presidents: Pillard by Obama, Rogers by Bill Clinton and Bradley Garcia by Joe Biden.

ICYMI | Judge says Trump administration's National Guard deployment in DC violates the Constitution

The case is about whether the president has the authority

At the heart of the court case, brought by D.C.'s attorney general, is whether the president has the authority to deploy the National Guard to the city, which, as a federal district, has limited autonomy over its own affairs. The U.S. Constitution gives federal lawmakers authority over the District of Columbia, while the Home Rule Act of 1973 lets residents elect a mayor, a council and neighborhood commissioners.

The city has argued that the mobilization is an illegal use of the military for domestic law enforcement, a point Reich made during the hearing.

Last December, the three-judge panel that paused the lower court's ruling said Trump might prevail in his argument that the president "possesses a unique power" to mobilize the guard in Washington.

Those judges found that the district "has not identified any ongoing injury to its statutory interests."

Even if D.C. wins at the appeals court level, the Trump administration will undoubtedly go to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has already shown deference to the president in a number of cases.

A legal expert looks at the arguments

Syracuse law professor William Banks said D.C. might have a slim argument under its home rule, questioning whether National Guard units can be deployed to the city when it isn't authorized by local law.

But, he said, outside of that argument "there is no overarching federal principle that would bail out the district in this case."

Because D.C. is not a state and because the president is commander in chief, there's a "tremendous amount of leeway and discretion for the president" to control or delegate control of the local National Guard and out-of-state units, Banks said.

A judge said Trump couldn't unilaterally deploy the DC National Guard

U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb concluded last November that Trump's military takeover in Washington illegally intrudes on local officials' authority to direct law enforcement in the district.

Cobb, a Biden nominee, found that while the president does have authority to protect federal functioning and property, he can't unilaterally deploy the D.C. National Guard to help with crime control as he sees fit or call in troops from other states.

The appeals court stayed the order and has allowed the guard to remain in place while the case is pending.

The mobilization, extended until January 2029 by the Defense Department, has taken on a sense of permanence, despite the court case.

The federal government awarded a $292 million contract to a private company to provide members of the Joint Task Force-D.C. with apartments. The numbers have grown as well, ballooning to around 5,000 during the height of the semiquincentennial celebration. As of last week, that number had dropped to about 2,900.

DC residents rally against the National Guard's presence

Before the hearing began, several dozen people rallied outside the courthouse to oppose the continuing presence of the military in the city.

David Barrows, a retired office manager and city resident, was dressed in a Trump costume. "It's easier to boss around the people in Washington, D.C., because we don't have any representation in either House or Congress. So we're basically an abused people," he said. "We pay the highest federal taxes in the land, and we get no representation in both houses. So we're a cheated people, and we're scapegoats for Trump."

He also questioned the premise of the guard's presence: "There's no national emergency here in Washington," he said.

Jennifer Pace, a longtime resident and former banker, said she suspected the case would continue through the courts.

"But I really want it to move forward so they can just go home," Pace said. "I'm sure they want to go home, too, because it's clear they're bored. They're just standing around."

A new study has found that struggles with money and work are the main factors driving global stress levels.

According to research conducted by the Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research, stress levels are rising worldwide, with women and younger adults reporting the highest levels.

RELATED STORY | Study finds small finance changes can dramatically reduce stress

Researchers found that 42% of people across the globe reported feeling stressed very often or fairly often.

This is up 10 percentage points from 2025.

Younger adults are reporting some of the highest stress levels. The study found that about 50% of people ages 18 to 34 report frequent stress, compared with 24% of those over 65.

The study found that everyday pressures are causing the most stress for people globally.

Among those who reported feeling stressed frequently, 44% cited financial difficulties, while 40% identified their job as a source of stress.

RELATED STORY | Most Gen Z workers struggle to live on their own, report finds

Other sources of stress included family and health concerns.

Researchers also found that the rise in stress is widespread. Of the 39 countries included in the study, 34 reported increases in stress levels.

Americans under 30 dont vote as much as their older peers, but experts say 1829-year-olds may be a group to watch this election. There are signs Gen Z is motivated to show up to the polls in historically high numbers.

"This is personal for a lot of young people, and that's really what's motivating a lot of their political engagement, is the desire for change, for improvement in their lives, the lives of their peers and communities, explained Alberto Medina, the communications manager for the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University.

A survey from Alliance for Youth Power PAC and YouGov released earlier this month focused on eight key battlegrounds, and that poll found over 80% of people age 18-29 said they probably or definitely plan to vote.

Medina says that high political engagement for young voters is a trend weve seen in recent years, and Gen Z is one of the most diverse generations in American history. Almost half of youth under age 30 are young people of color. About one in five of them identify as LGBTQ. So, on a lot of issues that they feel touch on, their identities, or their rights, or their rights for their peers, their friends, their communities, that can be something really, really powerful for young people in terms of their ideology or their political views.

RELATED STORY | Barack Obama to campaign with Ohio Democrats as he expands his outreach ahead of Election Day

Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Ohio all have competitive Senate races on the ballot, and that AYP survey found 60% of young voters in those states plan to vote for the Democratic candidate.

There are nearly 50 million people between 18 and 29 years old who are eligible to vote in November, and that age group often leans Democratic. But Gen Z is one of the most diverse generations in American history. Medina said young voters are usually swayed by the issues, and their political leanings stem from a desire for change. Almost half of youth under age 30 are young people of color. About one in five of them identify as LGBTQ. So, on a lot of issues that they feel touch on, their identities, or their rights, or their rights for their peers, their friends, their communities, that can be something really, really powerful for young people in terms of their ideology or their political views, he said.

Multiple surveys in 2026 show cost of living and economic issues are a top concern among young voters. Another big issue for them is combating corruption and big money in politics.

MORE ON MIDTERMS | Scripps News poll: 43% of voters say theyve been fooled by AI ads this campaign

"They want to improve their communities. They want to improve their own lives. And so they look at our political system and go, okay, What's in the way of me having power? of me being able to affect change? Medina said.

One advantage for politicians and advocacy groups young voters are more persuadable than other voting blocs and they're willing to consider new ideas.

Joni Mitchell has finally become an American citizen, more than 60 years after leaving her native Canada.

The legendary singer-songwriter posted a picture of herself holding a US flag at the naturalization ceremony on Tuesday, with the caption: A journey that began 62 years ago.

In the image shared with her more than 1 million Instagram followers, a smiling Mitchell wore a red beret and sunglasses, and extra stars and stripes pinned to her cardigan lapel.

Mitchell, who turns 83 next month and was using a walking stick, also posted a short video clip from the ceremony, in which she was applauded by others gathered in the room.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Joni Mitchell's music catalog returns to Spotify after 2022 protest

Born in Fort Macleod in Alberta, Canada, in 1943, Mitchell will continue to have a Canadian passport as both countries allow residents to hold dual citizenship.

The iconic artist, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 2002, is best known for 1970s hits such as Big Yellow Taxi, Blue, Amelia and Woodstock.

She studied commercial art in Alberta before moving to Toronto in 1964, where she performed at local folk club and coffee houses. Then, during a brief marriage to folk singer Chuck Mitchell, she lived in Detroit before eventually relocating to New York City. It was there that she made her eponymous album, also known as Song to a Seagull.

Mitchell, who has 19 studio albums and six live records to her name, later moved to Los Angeles, where she settled in the citys Laurel Canyon before later moving to Bel Air.

It is unclear why Mitchell chose this time, when relations between Canada and the US are particularly strained, to become an American. She was widely reported to have taken a swipe at President Donald Trump while performing at the Hollywood Bowl ahead of the last presidential election in 2024.

According to media reports at the time, the noted protest singer encouraged her audience to go to the polls: Everybody get out and vote. This is an important one. I wish I could vote Im Canadian. Im one of those lousy immigrants.

Mitchell has suffered from a series of health problems in recent years, including a stroke and a brain aneurysm in 2015.

Her health setbacks did not stop her from performing at the 2024 Grammys, where she won the award for best folk album for her 2023 release Joni Mitchell at Newport. This year she also received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Junos, Canadas equivalent of the Grammys.

An as yet untitled biopic of Mitchells life is said to be in development, with IMDb listing Cameron Crowe as the director and Meryl Streep in the starring role.