Today is Wednesday, May 7, the 127th day of 2025. There are 238 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat torpedoed and sank the British liner RMS Lusitania off the southern coast of Ireland, killing 1,198 people, including 128 Americans, out of the nearly 2,000 on board.

Also on this date:

In 1945, Nazi Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Allied headquarters in Rheims, France, ending its role in World War II.

In 1954, the 55-day Battle of Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam ended with Vietnamese insurgents overrunning French forces; it would be the last major battle of the First Indochina War.

In 1975, President Gerald R. Ford formally declared an end to the “Vietnam era.” In Ho Chi Minh City — formerly Saigon — the Viet Cong celebrated its takeover.

In 1977, Seattle Slew won the Kentucky Derby, the first of his Triple Crown victories.

In 1984, Monsanto and six other chemical companies agreed to pay a $180 million settlement to Vietnam veterans who were exposed to the chemical herbicide Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

In 2020, Georgia authorities arrested a white father and son and charged them with murder in the February shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man they had pursued in a truck after spotting him running in their neighborhood near the port city of Brunswick. (The two men and a third white man would be convicted of murder in state court and hate crimes in federal court.)

Today’s Birthdays:

• Singer Thelma Houston is 82.
• Rock musician Bill Kreutzmann (Grateful Dead) is 79.
• Actor/former boxer Randall “Tex” Cobb is 75.
• Actor Breckin Meyer is 51.
• Reggaeton musician J Balvin is 40.
• Actor-comedian Aidy Bryant is 38.
• Actor-writer Maya Erskine is 38.
• Actor Alexander Ludwig is 33.
• YouTube personality MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) is 27.

ROCHESTER HILLS – Bloomfield Hills has held pole position in the OAA Red race the past several weeks.

The Black Hawks remain in control of the finish line and whether any other teams can cross it as well after Tuesday’s 2-0 win at defending Division 1 state champion Rochester Adams that secured them at least a share of the league crown.

While the Black Hawks played for a regional championship last season against eventual D1 finalist Hartland, they lost four games in the league and tied for bottom of the table, a stark contrast to this year’s 10-0-2 overall mark and 4-0-1 record in the Red.

“It’s a big deal, especially coming from (where we did) last year,” Bloomfield Hills center back Lauren Cuson said. “It’s my senior year, so it’s a big deal to me and for the program. I think we’ve worked really hard to get where we are, so just seeing it pay off is pretty great.”

Cuson has been part of a defensive trio that has limited teams to just a handful of goals throughout this season, a trend of dominance that continued Tuesday despite not being tested all too often.

That was especially the case in the first half, even though it ended without either team striking for an advantage. Adams had a chance late in the first 40 minutes with a clean look from Sadie Rogers, but possession heavily favored the visitors and their relentless intention to spread the ball to the flanks entering the final third. It nearly resulted in the opening goal when Emma Henry’s low driven service for Sofia Spano led to a shot that was clipped wide of the near post with 10 minutes left in the half.

The strategy began to pay dividends when a ball in from the left side was headed in by junior Addison Herr to put the Black Hawks up seven minutes into the second act.

Herr traded her goalscoring hat for an assisting cap with 17:36 remaining as her cross to Molly Hulstrom was chested over the line by the junior midfielder in a sequence that heavily resembled the one earlier involving Henry and Spano.

“There were good quality opportunities and chances, and we took our chances, and that was the difference,” Bloomfield Hills head coach Alan Zakaria said.

Some of Adams’ best work came in response of the second goal. Layla Tomezak gave it a go and nearly cut the lead in half with an attempt from some distance outside the 18-yard box, though her ambitious effort hit the crossbar but did not cross the line. The Highlanders also had a set piece from a promising spot that resulted in a six-player wall by the Black Hawks, but a shot angled away from the opposing row and toward the opposite corner struck a separate player and fell harmlessly before being cleared by the industrious Bloomfield Hills defense.

“They’re good at what they do,” Adams head coach Josh Hickey said. “We didn’t capitalize on our chances. We had a few. The second half was a little more open I think for both teams, but they did what they had to do, then they held out, so they deserved to win, that’s for sure.”

Photos of Bloomfield Hills vs. Rochester Adams in OAA Red girls soccer action

Despite also officially falling out of the league race, Adams showed last year that failing to win the OAA Red should be no reflection on postseason prospects, but now the focus turns solely to defending the title with three matches remaining, including a trip to Okemos on Thursday.

Hickey noted that team chemistry could still stand to be improved. "We've had some people missing in multiple games," he said. "We have a good team, we play hard, and the losses we've had, even though they've been like 2-0 differentials for most of them, I feel like we've been closer in those games. I didn't feel like this was a 2-0 loss, but the scoreboard reads that, so it is what it is. They played great."

By virtue of Athens' 2-0 win at rival Troy on Tuesday, only the Red Hawks have the potential to win a share of the OAA Red spoils from Bloomfield Hills -- Rochester, like the Black Hawks, are unbeaten in the league, but with three ties, the Falcons don't have the requisite points.

Regardless, Bloomfield Hills can win the division outright with a win or draw at home against Oxford (4-7-3, 0-3-2) on May 13.

"I think just the growth in mindset (explains the improvement)," Zakaria said. "In the offseason, and during the season, we're just continuing to try to get better and trying to grow. And I think we got better today. We're going to continue to grow tomorrow, practice, and it's another big game on Thursday (against Lake Orion) to try and get better, and I think that's been helpful for us this year."

TROY – A few seats were removed Tuesday night from the game of musical chairs that is the OAA Red league race.

Athens kept itself alive and simultaneously eliminated rival Troy from contention with a 2-0 victory for the Soccer City Cup on the Colts’ turf.

After a very even first half that yielded no goals, Athens sophomore Charlotte Cotta jumped on a Troy mistake and hit the back of the net just over three minutes into the second half. Cotta also added the Red Hawks’ second goal with 23 minutes remaining.

“We just talked about settling in,” Athens head coach Jason Clark said of the halftime chat. “I think we were a little bit frantic to start, and we told them to calm down and play our game. I think we really started playing better when we calmed down.”

Clark understood why his team was riled up in a game like this. “We also told them in a rivalry game with two evenly matched teams it is about heart sometimes,” he said. “It’s about who wants it more, and the little things.”

Athens (11-2-1, 3-1-1 OAA Red) saw its season end at the hands of Troy in districts last season, but the 4-1 score on that day marked a big difference from what took place on the field Tuesday. While Clark acknowledged the team discussed the events of last year, it wasn’t the main storyline for them.

“It was briefly mentioned, but this whole season has been one game at a time,” Clark said. “Our mentality has been taking this piece by piece and living in the moment. We have talked all year about living in the moment and enjoying where we are, not looking in the past and not looking too far into the future.”

Clark was very complimentary about his duo up front of Cotta and senior Lauren Dejonckheere.

“They’re our difference makers up top,” Clark said of the tandem. “The composure they have on the ball is second to none. We talk all the time to them about staying connected.

“They work so well together.”

Cotta had one highlight goal that caught some major reaction from the crowd, and her coach took notice of the move as well, with Clark saying, “For Charlotte to have the composure to stay on the ball, cut back and finish on the near post, it was just so much fun to watch. She is a gamer and steps up when we need her.”

Photo gallery of Troy vs. Athens in OAA Red girls soccer action

Troy head coach Daniel Troccoli was pleased with his squad's overall performance, but viewed the two goals they allowed as plays they can’t make.

“It was a pretty even game and we just made two mistakes,” Troccoli said. “Outside of that, we played pretty well. We did very well moving the ball to the outside and getting it back in, but we just can’t make mistakes in a game like this.”

This one stung for the Colts (7-3-2, 3-2), who came into the night just a point behind division leader Bloomfield Hills in the penultimate round of league play, but Troccoli made sure his team was ready to move on with three top-10 opponents left on the regular season slate. He also wanted them to understand the finish line is still out there.

“Our goals are still in front of us," Troccoli said. "I asked our team, ‘Was this the last game of our season?’ They said no. We have lots of games in front of us. We have things to work on, and we will work on them while looking ahead at what’s in front of us.”

With Bloomfield Hills' win at Adams on Tuesday, Athens remains in the race for the Red, but the Red Hawks need to beat the Highlanders in Rochester Hills and would also require Oxford to defeat the Black Hawks on May 13 in order to be named co-champions with Bloomfield Hills.

Athens and Troy battled through a scoreless first half before a second-half brace by Charlotte Cotta gave the Red Hawks a 2-0 victory and possession of the Soccer City Cup Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Troy.

By VANESSA GERA, Associated Press

VATICAN CITY (AP) — One hundred and thirty-three cardinals are sequestering themselves behind the Vatican’s medieval walls for the start of a conclave starting Wednesday to elect a successor to Pope Francis.

Here are some things to know about the election of the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church, which has 1.4 billion faithful across the world.

Why is the conclave being held now?

The conclave was called after Francis died on April 21 at age 88. There was a delay between his death and the conclave to allow time for a funeral, burial and a period of mourning. It was also necessary to give cardinals time to arrive in Rome from all corners of the Earth, and to let them get acquainted before entering the conclave, an ancient ritual steeped in mystery and ritual.

What happens in a conclave?

The cardinals are cut off from the world at the Vatican, between residences and the Sistine Chapel, where they vote in secret — and in silence — beneath Michelangelo’s famed ceiling fresco of the Creation and his monumental “Last Judgment.”

The process — fictionalized in the 2024 political thriller “Conclave” — is said to be guided by the Holy Spirit, and is designed to be both contemplative and free from outside interference.

Taking no chances, the Vatican is asking cardinals to hand over their phones for the duration of the conclave and is deactivating cell phone coverage at the Vatican. It also plans to use signal jammers around the Sistine Chapel and the Domus Santa Marta hotel and adjacent residence where the cardinals will sleep, in order to prevent surveillance and communication with the outside world.

White or black smoke signals?

The electors cast paper ballots, and voting continues until one candidate receives a two-thirds majority, or 89 votes. After two rounds of voting, ballots are burned in a special stove — black smoke signals no decision, while white smoke means a new pope has been chosen.

Electors must be under 80 years old, and are more geographically diverse than ever. They represent Catholicism’s growing presence in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as well as its traditional power base in Europe.

How long does it take?

The longest conclave in history lasted nearly three years, but it’s reasonable to assume that this conclave will be much, much shorter.

Cardinals this week said they expect a short conclave, though it will likely take at least a few rounds of voting. The conclave opens late afternoon Wednesday. Cardinals are expected to hold the first round of voting on Wednesday, but there is no requirement that they do so.

For most of the past century, it has taken between three and eight ballots to find a pope. John Paul I — the pope who reigned for 33 days — was elected on the third ballot in 1978. His successor, St. John Paul II, needed eight. Francis was elected on the fifth in 2013.

Who are the contenders?

There are no official candidates for the papacy, but some cardinals are considered “papabile,” or possessing the characteristics necessary to become pope.

After John Paul II broke the Italian hold on the papacy in 1978, the field has broadened considerably, such that cardinals from far-flung countries are now seen as contenders. The past three popes have hailed from Poland (John Paul II), Germany (Benedict XVI) and Argentina (Francis).

Of the 133 cardinals expected to vote at the conclave, 108 were appointed by Francis. They may feel a loyalty to continuing his legacy — even though the late pontiff didn’t choose cardinals based on ideology, but rather for their pastoral priorities and geographical diversity.

Beyond that, the cardinals will consider practical matters, like age. Picking a relatively young man — say in his 60s — could result in a papacy of 20 years or longer.

Picking a pope from where the church is growing – Asia or Africa – could bring more upheaval to the Vatican’s Italian-heavy bureaucracy that is still smarting from the Argentine pope’s go-it-alone style.

What happens after a new pope is chosen?

Once a candidate receives the necessary votes and accepts, he chooses a papal name and enters the “Room of Tears” — named for the emotional weight of the responsibility ahead — to don his papal vestments.

Minutes later, he is introduced to the world from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica with the proclamation in Latin: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!” (“I bring you tidings of great joy: We have a pope!”)

That will be immediately followed by the revelation of his baptismal name, in Latin, followed by the papal name he has chosen.

A line that stretches back to St. Peter and Jesus

Every new pope is seen as a successor to St. Peter, the apostle believed by Catholics to have been appointed by Jesus as the head of the church. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells him, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,” a verse that forms the biblical basis for the papacy.

According to tradition, Peter traveled to Rome to spread the Christian message and was martyred there during the reign of the Emperor Nero, around 64 A.D., as Christians were being persecuted. He was said to be crucified upside down at his own request, considering himself unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus.

St. Peter’s Basilica now stands over what is believed to be his tomb.

Why does the pope matter beyond the Catholic Church?

Though the pope leads a religious institution, his influence extends far beyond it. Pope John Paul II played a pivotal role in supporting the Solidarity movement in his native Poland and encouraging resistance to Soviet domination in Eastern Europe. His moral leadership was credited by many with helping to hasten the end of the Cold War.

Pope Francis, the first pontiff from Latin America, became a prominent voice on global issues from climate change to migration and economic inequality. He called for compassion toward refugees, warned against the dangers of nationalism, and urged action to protect the planet — stances that resonated well beyond church walls, and at times put him at odds with political leaders.

A name to signal a papal direction

The first sign of the new pope’s priorities will come in the name he chooses.

A Francis II might signal a new pope’s embrace of Francis’ legacy of prioritizing the poor and marginalized; a Pius would hint at a traditionalist restoration.

From John Paul to Benedict to Francis, each name has carried historical weight and theological intent. For the 267th pope, it will be his first message to the world.

---

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

By NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press

VATICAN CITY (AP) — With all the pomp, drama and solemnity that the Catholic Church can muster, 133 cardinals on Wednesday begin the secretive, centuries-old ritual to elect a successor to Pope Francis, opening the most geographically diverse conclave in the faith’s 2,000-year history.

The cardinals, from 70 countries, will be sequestered from the outside world, their cellphones surrendered and airwaves around the Vatican jammed to prevent them from all communications until they find a new leader for the 1.4 billion-member church.

Francis named 108 of the 133 “princes of the church,” choosing many pastors in his image from far-flung countries like Mongolia, Sweden and Tonga that had never had a cardinal before.

His decision to surpass the usual limit of 120 cardinal electors and include younger ones from the “global south” — those often marginalized countries with lower economic clout — has injected an unusual degree of uncertainty in a process that is always full of mystery and suspense.

Many hadn’t met one another until last week and lamented they needed more time to get to know one another, raising questions about how long it might take for one man to secure the two-thirds majority, or 89 ballots, necessary to become the 267th pope.

“Wait and see, a little patience, wait and see,” said Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Vatican’s ambassador to Syria as he arrived for the final day of pre-vote discussions.

A final Mass, then ‘All out’

The cardinals begin by participating in a final pre-conclave Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. The dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, celebrates the Mass, which is meant to pray for cardinals to find the wisdom, counsel and understanding to elect a worthy new shepherd.

Re, 91, had presided at Francis’ funeral, delivering a heartfelt sermon recalling history’s first Latin American pope and the reforming 12-year papacy he oversaw.

At 4:30 p.m. (1430 GMT; 10:30 a.m. EDT) the cardinals walk solemnly into the frescoed Sistine Chapel, chanting the meditative “Litany of the Saints” and the Latin hymn “Veni Creator,” imploring the saints and the Holy Spirit to help them pick a pope.

Once there, they pledge to maintain secrecy about what is about to transpire and to not allow “any interference, opposition or any other form of intervention” from outsiders to influence their voting.

Standing before Michelangelo’s vision of heaven and hell in “The Last Judgment,” each cardinal places his hand on the Gospel and swears to carry out that duty “so help me God and these Holy Gospels, which I touch with my hand.”

After that, the retired preacher of the papal household, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, delivers a meditation. The master of papal liturgical ceremonies, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, calls out “Extra omnes,” Latin for “all out.” Anyone not eligible to vote then leaves and the chapel doors close, allowing the work to begin.

The cardinals don’t have to take a first vote on Wednesday, but they usually do. Assuming no winner is found, the Vatican said black smoke could be expected out of the Sistine Chapel chimney at around 7 p.m.

The cardinals retire for the night and return Thursday morning. They can hold up to two ballots in the morning and two in the afternoon until a winner is found.

While cardinals this week said they expected a short conclave, it will likely take at least a few rounds of voting. For the past century, it has taken between three and eight ballots to find a pope. John Paul I — the pope who reigned for 33 days in 1978 — was elected on the third ballot. His successor, John Paul II, needed eight. Francis was elected on the fifth in 2013.

Challenges facing a new pope

There are any number of challenges facing a new pope and weighing on the cardinals, above all whether to continue and consolidate Francis’ progressive legacy on promoting women, LGBTQ+ acceptance, the environment and migrants, or roll it back to try to unify a church that became more polarized during his pontificate. The clergy sex abuse scandal hung over the pre-conclave talks.

Since Francis chose 80% of the voters, continuity is likely but the form it might take is uncertain.

As a result, identifying front-runners has been a challenge. But some names keep appearing on lists of “papabile,” or cardinals having the qualities to be pope.

• Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, is a leading Italian, by nature of his office: He was Francis’ secretary of state, the Vatican No. 2, so known to every cardinal.
• Filippino Cardinal Luis Tagle, 67, is a top candidate to be history’s first Asian pope. He had a similarly high-profile job, heading the Vatican’s evangelization office responsible for the Catholic Church in much of the developing world.
• Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72, the archbishop of Budapest, is a leading candidate representing the more conservative wing of the church.

A choreography to the vote:

The voting follows a strict choreography, dictated by church law.

Each cardinal writes his choice on a paper inscribed with the words “Eligo in summen pontificem” — “I elect as Supreme Pontiff.” They approach the altar one by one and say: “I call as my witness, Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who, before God, I think should be elected.”

The folded ballot is placed on a round plate and tipped into an oval silver and gold urn. Once cast, the ballots are opened one by one by three different “scrutineers,” cardinals selected at random who write down the names and read them aloud. Cardinals can keep their own tally on a sheet of paper provided but must turn their notes in to be burned at the end of voting.

The scrutineers, whose work is checked by other cardinals called revisors, then add up the results of each round of balloting and write the results down on a separate sheet of paper, which is preserved in the papal archives.

As the scrutineer reads out each name, he pierces each ballot with a needle through the word “Eligo” and binds them with thread and ties a knot. The ballots are then put aside and burned in the chapel stove along with a chemical to produce either black smoke to signal no winner, or white smoke to announce that a new pope has been elected.

---

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

By NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press

The conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis will begin Wednesday.

A conclave is the centuries-old election of a pope that derives its name from the Italian “con clave” (with a key) to underscore that cardinals are sequestered until they find a winner.

Cardinals have no contact with the outside world after the master of liturgical ceremonies utters the words “Extra Omnes” the Latin phrase for “all out,” to ask all those present except the cardinal electors to leave the Sistine Chapel to begin the voting process.

In between votes, the cardinals will be staying at the Domus Santa Marta hotel in Vatican City and possibly another nearby Vatican residence, since there are more cardinal electors than Santa Marta hotel rooms.

The Associated Press is providing a livestream here:

How will it work?

The conclave begins May 7, in the afternoon.

The day begins with Mass celebrated in the morning by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.

In the afternoon, the cardinals process into the Sistine Chapel and take their seats. A priest delivers a meditation and the cardinals take an oath. After the “Extra Omnes,” the conclave begins.

Unless there are any outstanding questions or problems, cardinals take a single vote the afternoon of May 7, seeking a two-thirds majority. If they don’t find a winner on the first ballot, they retire for the evening and return to the Sistine Chapel the following morning.

They can take up to two votes each morning, and two each afternoon until they have a winner.

How does the conclave announce that they’ve selected a new pope?

After the ballots are pierced, they are burned in a cylindrical stove at the end of the voting session. Black smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney means no decision; white smoke signals the cardinals have chosen a pope and that he has accepted.

Chemical cartridges are added to ensure there is no confusion over the color. To produce black smoke, a cartridge containing potassium perchlorate, anthracene — the component of coal tar — and sulfur is burned with the ballots. For white smoke, a cartridge of potassium chlorate, lactose and chloroform resin is burned with the ballots.

Bells also are rung to signal the election of a pope, for further clarity.

The new pope is introduced from the loggia overlooking St. Peter’s Square with the words, “Habemus Papam!” (“We have a pope!”) and his chosen papal name. The new pope then emerges and gives his first blessing.

---

Visiting Bloomfield Hills and Rochester Adams played a scoreless 40 minutes, then the Black Hawks finished a pair of chances in the second half to beat the Highlanders 2-0 on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

Ferndale voters delivered two victories on Tuesday. Proposals before Clawson and Lamphere Schools’ voters failed.

Ferndale voters’ ballot included a city millage and school bond proposal. The city asked for a 10-year, 5.4 millage to restore money lost through the Headlee Act rollbacks. Of the 4,230 voters who cast ballots, 2,455 voted yes and 1,775 voted no. The city will receive an estimated $5.4 million starting in 2026.

Voters approved Ferndale Public Schools’ request for a 30-year, $114.8 million bond with 3,665 voting yes and 1,563 voting no.
The district will move ahead with renovations and additions to the middle/high school buildings, upgrading fine art spaces and athletic fields and purchasing new equipment, furniture, and technology.

Clawson residents affirmed a commitment to the city charter approved in 2023 by a nearly 70% majority. Proposal 1 would have kept the city council at four members, while the new charter allows six members. cast 888 yes to limit the board and 1,573 voting no on Proposal 1. as stated in the city charter approved in 2023.Proposal 2, would have set council terms to four years with elections every  two years. Only 907 voted yes while 1,549 voted no. Now, the three candidates with the most votes win 4-year terms and the candidate with the fourth-highest vote wins a 2-year term of office.

Lamphere Schools’ 30-year, $85 million bond request didn’t fare well. While 1,066 voted yes, 1,449 voted no.

The district had planned a new gym for the high school, new equipment for the middle-school robotics program, along with remodeling facilities, upgrading playgrounds and athletic fields. Some of the money would have been used to buy new technology, equipment, furniture and for new secure entrances at the school buildings.

The next election, the Aug. 5 primary, includes mayoral, council and library races in Pontiac and Southfield‘s mayoral race. Voters in Novi will decide a $120 million public-safety bond question.

Oakland Township voters will be asked to renew the 4-year, 0.1134 millage that expires this year and add a 5-year, 0.14 millage. The township’s library millage supports the Rochester Hills Public Library. If the existing millage is renewed, it would provide an estimated $235,000 and the new millage would add an estimated $289,000.

Northville Public Schools will ask voters to renew a 10-year, 0.9357 millage for its building and site sinking fund. The district serves communities in Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. If approved the district would receive an estimated $4.1 million starting in 2026. The money is meant for building construction or repair, security improvements, buying or upgrading technology and other items as allowed by law.

Learn more at https://www.oakgov.com/government/clerk-register-of-deeds/elections-voting.

A thief was caught on camera stealing items intended for veterans from a Roseville nonprofit and thrift store Sunday.

Watch the report in the video player below: 'Its sickening': Thief steals from Roseville nonprofit helping homeless veterans

Vets Returning Home is a nonprofit that was established by Sandy Bower in 2018. The organization helps veterans reclaim their independence by helping them find jobs and giving them a place to live. Their shelter has seen 4,000 people come through since their inception.

Veterans Thrift Store near 12 Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue was born out of the establishment of the nonprofit.

So instead of having all the donations flood into one spot, (Sandy) decided to open up the thrift store to make it available to the public," the general manager of Veterans Thrift Store Anthony Mancino said. "Our overall goal is obviously to help the veterans.

Some veterans who stay at the shelter also work at the thrift store including Raymond Hendrickson, who served in the Navy from 2007 to 2012.

Theres several people I know down at the house that if it wasnt for this organization, for the house, then they would not be with us today," Hendrickson said.

The thrift store is a place people can donate to and veterans can shop at for a discounted rate. However last Sunday, the organization experienced a brazen round of thefts.

Surveillance video shows a woman walking into the store, perusing around. She then made her way to the public back room where the restroom is. While there, she found an employee's purse that she took with a smile.

That purse contained the employee's social security card, money for her six children and more.

You can watch the suspect through surveillance video below: Surveillance videos show thief steal from Roseville nonprofit helping homeless veterans

Why would somebody want to hurt an organization that literally does nothing but help?" Hendrickson asked.

The thief then changed her clothing and made her way down to the nonprofit's shelter, where she got into the main office undetected.

She took the veterans' Bridge Cards, the bus passes, their... cash and the keys to our offices and to our building actually and all the trucks outside of this building," Mancino said. "Its sickening really. We do nothing but try to help these vets and just to try to take from them is bad.

The organization says if the individual fell on hard times and just needed a little help, they would've assisted her. But now, they're dealing with the theft and loss of goods.

Its food out of the veterans' mouths and thats irreplaceable," Mancino added.

Roseville police are investigating. If you recognize the individual, give police a call.

Meanwhile, if you'd like to help the nonprofit, you can visit and shop at their thrift store located at 29523 Gratiot Avenue. All of the profits from the thrift store go back to the shelter.

A peacock that escaped from a Milford farm has become a local sensation, appearing in backyards and farms across the area.

Watch the report in the video player below: Escaped peacock 'Bob' becomes local celebrity in Milford after leaving farm

Debbie Foster, owner of D&D Farms, has owned peacocks for 16 years and currently has about 35 peacocks and peahens on her property.

Last month, Foster took one of her peacocks out of its pen to treat a sinus problem when the unexpected happened.

"He jumped up and hit me in the face so when he did that, I jumped back and he went off into the woods," Foster said.

In the three weeks since the escape, dozens of people across Milford have spotted the peacock, sharing photos and videos on Facebook. The community even gave him a nickname.

"There was a guy on Facebook who kept calling him Bob, so my husband goes 'that sounds like a good name. His name is Bob,'" Foster said. "So that's how he got his name."

Foster has received about 50 calls about Bob, who has mostly been visiting farms or finding bird feeders in residential areas. One of those visits was to Diana Ellis' backyard, approximately 5 miles from D&D Farms.

"I look up, here it is, giant peacock right on the railing," Ellis said.

Ellis' encounter with Bob happened just over a week ago when her cat alerted her to the unusual visitor. She quickly snapped photos of the peacock on her back porch.

"It's definitely the most interesting thing that's happened around here in a while," Ellis said.

While Foster appreciates the community's excitement about Bob's adventures, she's hoping to bring him home soon.

"He's greeted all these people. A lot of people haven't seen peacocks before. Guess what? It's their first encounter and they've loved it," Foster said. "It's kind of cool that everybody gets to see him, but we're ready for him to come home."

If you spot Bob the peacock, Foster asks that you do not try to catch him yourself. Instead, call her at 248-249-3657.

This story was reported 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.

President Donald Trump declared the week of Monday, May 5 National Hurricane Preparedness Week, calling on Americans to plan and prepare for the risk of major coastal storms before hurricane season begins.

"As hurricane season approaches, I urge every household to recognize the dangers of severe weather, assess their risk, and develop a comprehensive plan to ensure disaster preparedness," read a proclamation from President Trump marking the event. "I call upon Americans living in hurricane-prone areas to safeguard their families, homes, and businesses from the dangers of hurricanes."

Hurricane season officially begins on June 1 every year, though it is possible for hurricane-strength storms to form before that date.

U.S. forecasters say 2025 is expected to be an above-average year for Atlantic storm activity. They forecast 17 named storms, with nine becoming hurricanes and four becoming major hurricanes. The report indicates there is a better than 50% chance of a major hurricane striking the U.S. coastline this year.

RELATED STORY | Forecasters predict another active hurricane season for the Atlantic basin in 2025

This comes as President Trump has since the beginning of his term made deep staffing cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which includes the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service.

Weather experts and U.S. lawmakers have warned of potentially "devastating" consequences for the American public, who often owe their lives to minute-by-minute forecasting and guidance during extreme weather like hurricanes.

"People nationwide depend on NOAA for free, accurate forecasts, severe weather alerts, and emergency information," warned U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman. "Purging the government of scientists, experts, and career civil servants and slashing fundamental programs will cost lives."

"I remain steadfastly committed to supporting hurricane recovery efforts and ensuring that Federal resources and tax dollars are allocated to American citizens in need," President Trump wrote in Tuesday's proclamation, saying that his executive orders have given state and local authorities more leeway to prepare and respond to weather disasters. "Local officials have the insight to make risk-informed decisions, deploy resources, manage operations, and eliminate ineffective bureaucracy so we can better serve affected communities."

By HALLIE GOLDEN, Associated Press

The vice chair of the National Transportation Safety Board has been abruptly removed from his position, the White House confirmed Tuesday, a rare move that comes as the agency investigates more than 1,000 cases.

The Trump administration removed ​​Alvin Brown a little more than a year after he was sworn in. The White House didn’t say why he was removed.

The decision comes as NTSB investigates nearly 1,250 active cases across the U.S., while supporting more than 160 foreign investigations, according to March testimony by NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy.

The investigations include the deadly midair collision between a passenger jet and Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people in January and the medical transport plane that plummeted into a Philadelphia neighborhood in January, killing eight people.

Jeff Guzzetti, a former National Transportation Safety Board and FAA accident investigator, said he has never seen an administration remove a member of the board.

Board members have been known to stay on after their term is over if the administration hasn’t appointed anyone yet and then they leave once the next administration selects someone, he said.

“That happens a lot over the years, but that’s normal and expected because you served your term and now it’s time for someone else to serve in there,” he said. “But this wasn’t that. This was just more abrupt and directly from the administration,n and I don’t know what the impetus is.”

By Tuesday evening, Brown’s photo and biography had already been removed from NTSB’s website.

The agency includes five board members who serve five year terms, according to the NTSB website. They are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The chairman and vice chairman are both designated by the president and serve for three years. By Tuesday evening, the website only showed four members of the board.

Brown was sworn in as a member of the board in April 2024 after being nominated by then-President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate to fill one of two vacancies. His term was expected to run through 2026, according to an NTSB press release at the time. He was the only Black member of the board.

He was the mayor of Jacksonville, Florida, from 2011 to 2015 and joined the board after serving as senior adviser for community infrastructure opportunities for the U.S. Department of Transportation, according to the release.

NTSB typically works on about 2,200 domestic and 450 foreign cases each year, according to Homendy. She said she expects “the number of cases annually to remain high and continue to increase in complexity.”

Associated Press writer Josh Funk contributed to this report.

Federal officials filed charges Tuesday against five people in connection to a boat carrying migrants that capsized a day earlier off San Diego's Pacific coast, killing three people, including a 14-year-old boy from India.

The boy's 10-year-old sister is still missing at sea and is presumed dead, the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Diego said in a statement. Their parents were among the four people who were injured and taken to the hospital, including the father, who is in a coma.

Nine people were initially reported missing. All but the 10-year-old girl were found late Monday by Border Patrol agents conducting operations in the San Diego area, officials said.

Two Mexican citizens were arrested at the beach near where the boat overturned. They were charged with human smuggling resulting in death, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of death or life in prison.

Border Patrol agents found eight migrants who managed to make it to shore. The agents also identified vehicles with drivers who were waiting to pick up the migrants as part of the smuggling scheme, according to court documents.

U.S. authorities also arrested three Mexican citizens and charged them with unlawfully transporting migrants. One had been deported in 2023 from the U.S.

It was unclear if any of the defendants had defense attorneys, and they could not be reached for comment.

RELATED STORY | 3 dead, 9 missing after boat overturns off California beach

The drowning deaths of these children are a heartbreaking reminder of how little human traffickers care about the costs of their deadly business, said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. We are committed to seeking justice for these vulnerable victims, and to holding accountable any traffickers responsible for their deaths.

The search efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard stopped late Monday. Crews combed the area via helicopter and a cutter for hours after the boat flipped shortly after sunrise about 35 miles (56 kilometers) north of the Mexico border. Officials described the skiff as a panga, a small wooden open-air boat used to fish but also commonly used by smugglers to bring people into the U.S. from Mexico.

Migrants are increasingly turning to the risky alternative offered by smugglers to travel by sea to avoid heavily guarded land borders, including off Californias coast. Pangas leave the Mexican coast in the dead of night.

In 2023, eight people were killed when two migrant smuggling boats approached a San Diego beach in heavy fog. One capsized in the surf. It was one of the deadliest maritime smuggling cases in waters off the U.S. coast.

A federal judge sentenced a San Diego man to 18 years in prison in 2022 for piloting a small vessel overloaded with 32 migrants that smashed apart in powerful surf off San Diegos coast, killing three people and injuring more than two dozen others.

A Michigan lawmaker is proposing legislation that would allow courts to require speed-limit devices for drivers with repeated speeding violations, aiming to reduce reckless driving incidents.

Watch the report in the video player below: New proposal to stop reckless driving

State Rep. Alabas Farhat from Dearborn is behind the proposal, which has gained support from local residents and law enforcement.

"I'm all for it because they're driving too crazy as it is. A lot of times, when I pass certain areas, I see memorials on street corners. I see too much of it and it's because of people like that," Dearborn Resident Daniel Howell said.

Howell believes more needs to be done to prevent reckless driving.

"This is what happens when somebody comes speeding out of a driveway or down a street this is the result of that," Howell said pointing to the damage on his pickup truck.

The proposal comes as Dearborn police report record numbers of traffic citations, with the overwhelming majority being speeding violations.

"Last year, we wrote 25,000 tickets, which is more than ever before in the history of the Dearborn Police Department," Police Chief Issa Shahin said.

Shahin noted that citations are on pace to be even more this year.

"So far year to date, we're 21% higher than last year. We'll probably write even more tickets," Shahin said.

Ashley Gilbert from Westland, who was getting her car repaired after colliding with a speeding driver, shared her frightening experience.

"I was actually really scared because I was starting to spin out a little bit, and I've never been through that. It's really bad out there. People are always speeding. You know, they'll just cut up in front of you all the time," Gilbert said.

Shahin mentioned that a 15-year-old girl is still recovering in the hospital months after being hit by a driver who was speeding and ran through a red light in Dearborn.

The police chief supports the implementation of speed-limit devices, saying they address the problem in a practical way.

"So instead of suspending people's licenses, there might be people that have to go to doctors appointments, or dialysis appointments, or work, and so it's a way to allow people to still have access to their vehicle, but obviously put a regulator on, so it can't go over a certain speed," Shahin said.

Howell emphasized the urgency of implementing such measures.

"It should go into effect as soon as humanly possible. The longer it waits and the more resistance it meets, the more we're going to see the same thing," Howell said.

7 News Detroit tried speaking to Farhat Tuesday about his proposal and where it currently stands but didnt hear back.

This story was reported 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.

LOS ANGELES (AP MODIFIED) Four former housekeepers of Smokey Robinson allege in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that the Motown music luminary repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped them while they worked for him.

The suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court seeks at least $50 million in damages over the alleged assaults, which the women say took place between 2007 and 2024, and labor violations including a hostile work environment, illegally long hours and lack of pay.

The lawsuit can be read below:

Smokey Robinson sexual assault lawsuit by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd

A message seeking comment from a representative for the 85-year-old Robinson was not immediately answered.

The four women each say that Robinson would wait until he was alone with them in his Los Angeles house then sexually assault and rape them over their objections.

We believe that Mr. Robinson is a serial and sick rapist, and must be stopped, the women's attorney John Harris said at a news conference.

All said they eventually quit over the assaults, though in some cases it took several years. And all said they feared coming forward over fears of retaliation, public shame and possible effects on their immigration status.

Having to tell their husband and children of these despicable actions left them filled with shame and embarrassment," Harris said. So throughout their dreadful experiences with Mr. Robinson, all four women remained silent.

He said as low-wage earners, they also all feared missing a payday, and not being able to afford rent or buy food for their families.

All four women withheld their legal names citing privacy concerns and are identified as Jane Does in court documents. They appeared at the news conference with their attorneys, but did not speak, and covered their faces with masks.

The lawsuit also names Robinson's wife Frances Robinson as a defendant, alleging that she enabled his behavior despite knowing about past sexual misconduct. It also blames her for the hostile work environment, saying she berated them with language that included ethnic slurs.

One woman said she worked for the Robinsons from 2012 until 2024, and was assaulted at least 20 times in that span. Another said she worked for them from 2014 until 2020, and was assaulted at least 23 times. Another said she worked for them for a year before quitting in 2024 and was assaulted at least seven times. The fourth woman, who said she also acted as Frances Robinson's personal assistant, hairdresser and cook, worked for them for 18 years before resigning in 2024. She cited similar experiences to the other women, but did not say how often she was assaulted.

The women, some of whom worked for the Robinsons at the same time as each other, also kept stories of the assaults from one another, but are now bonding over their experience, the attorneys said. They declined to give details at the news conference about how they came forward and learned there were others.

The suit seeks damages based on sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence and other allegations.

Obviously, no amount of money can compensate these women for what Mr. Robinson put them through, Harris said. But he said the $50 million was warranted based on the gravity of Mr. Robinson's despicable and reprehensible misconduct.

Plaintiffs' attorney Herbert Hayden said that while they felt the assaults are worthy of criminal investigation, the women have not filed police reports, based on the same fears that kept them from coming forward.

Robinson, a member of both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, was among the biggest hitmakers of the 1960s both with his group the Miracles and as a solo artist, with songs including Tears of a Clown" and The Tracks of My Tears."

He was a central part of the Motown Records music machine in his hometown of Detroit as an artist, producer and songwriter for other artists.

Senators questioned officials from Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League on Tuesday about the state of sports broadcasting and the future of streaming live games.

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hosted the hearing titled, "Field of Streams: The New Channel Guide for Sports Fans."

The witnesses included Kenny Gersh, Executive Vice President of Media and Business Development for MLB, William Koenig, President of Global Content and Media Distribution for the NBA, and David Proper, Senior Executive Vice President of Media and International Strategy for the NHL.

Committee chair Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) opened the hearing expressing frustration with the new reality of watching live sports.

"Sports viewing has become more splintered, requiring multiple apps and subscriptions just to watch a single franchise's entire season," Cruz said. "Streaming may well be the future, but it shouldn't sideline the fans."

Lawmakers questioned some sports broadcasting practices including game "blackouts" in which a game isn't available in a certain market due to broadcasting agreements and the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act.

That law gave sports leagues antitrust exemptions to sell teams' broadcasting rights together as a consortium. Without it, NFL teams for example, could sell their own individual broadcast rights.

"That would create an even bigger fragmentation," said Ryan Glasspiegel, a media and entertainment reporter for Front Office Sports. "Some of these smaller streaming networks that aren't in the game right now could conceivably get in with a one-team package."

He says given the current sports broadcasting climate, the law is outdated.

"This law was drawn up when there were three channels: ABC, NBC, and CBS, and now obviously we have all these cable channels and all of these streaming services."

RELATED STORY | Trump announces DC will host 2027 NFL Draft on National Mall

The major U.S. sports leagues now air some games exclusively on platforms including Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Max and Netflix. That means fans who want to watch every game can end up paying extra for multiple streaming subscriptions.

"You're basically clobbering the consumer, making everything more expensive," Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) told the league officials in attendance.

Lawmakers didn't lay out exactly what they wanted to see from the leagues.

While speaking with reporters after the hearing, Cruz noted the committee wasn't necessarily looking for an immediate answer.

"This hearing was meant to be informational, was meant to be a fact-finding exercise," Cruz said, according to Awful Announcing. "As for the specific remedy, I don't know right now."

Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) did tout one example of a league and broadcaster reaching more fans.

"Thanks to an agreement between the (Vegas) Golden Knights and Scripps, fans across Nevada are able to watch the Knights free of charge over-the-air on local broadcast television," Rosen said.

Scripps Sports broadcasts games over-the-air for free to fans in places like Las Vegas and has limited rights for broadcasting games from the Women's National Basketball Association and National Women's Soccer League.

(Note: Scripps Sports and the Scripps News Group are owned by the same parent company, the E.W. Scripps Company).

The NFL was notably not represented at the hearing. The Senate committee said it asked NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to testify but said the league refused to attend. Goodwell was in Washington, D.C. on Monday for an announcement about bringing the 2027 NFL Draft to the nation's capitol.

Florida resident Deb Bostock-Kelley has been closely reading food labels for years. It started when she noticed strange symptoms in her daughter.

She would have welts all over her body, said Bostock-Kelley.

She couldnt figure out what was causing them until she took her daughter to get tested for allergies.

When she had to go through that and have all the little pin things put on a child to find out that it was Red Dye 40 that was causing her all these incidences, it was just, it broke my heart that she had to go through this, said Bostock-Kelley.

After she got answers, she started paying attention to food labels so she wouldnt buy anything with Red No. 40 in it.

You do not realize how many things that this is in, said Bostock-Kelley.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | FDA rolls out plan to remove artificial dyes from US foods

That was several years ago, and to this day, she still avoids artificial food dyes. So when she heard the federal government is making an effort to remove them from our food supply, she was thrilled.

I think its phenomenal, said Bostock-Kelley.

In January, the FDA announced it was banning the use of Red No. 3 in food and drugs. Now, the U.S. Department of Health along with the FDA are looking to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings, Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B within the coming months.

Theyre also working with the food industry to eliminate six other synthetic dyes FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2 from the food supply by the end of next year. The dyes are used in things like cereal, candy, and yogurt.

Dr. David Berger, a pediatrician at Wholistic Pediatrics & Family Care, told the Scripps News Group that hes very supportive of this.

These are synthetic," he said. "Theyre made from petroleum, and theres absolutely no nutritional benefit to them whatsoever."

Health experts said theres growing evidence that certain dyes could be linked to potential health risks, particularly in children.

The concern is the research thats come out that there may be some relationship to neurodevelopmental disorders, said Berger.

IN RELATED HEALTH NEWS | HHS, EPA to revisit their recommendations for fluoride in drinking water

The Scripps News Group spoke about these potential risks with Lauri Wright, associate professor and director of nutrition programs for the University of South Florida College of Public Health.

These include hyperactivity or behavioral symptoms, some allergic reactions, and in the case of Red 3, some links between cancer in animal studies, said Wright.

While this is important, experts believe many of these side effects arent widespread, so people shouldnt panic.

The health effects of food dyes tend to occur over time and really more in sensitive individuals, said Wright.

As part of this new effort, the FDA is also working to authorize four natural food colorings. In the meantime, doctors encourage people to read grocery store labels and avoid ultra-processed foods.

Its always going to be a benefit to move to more whole, minimally processed, and colored foods like fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Thats going to help reduce your health risks for many, many different diseases, said Wright.

This story was originally published by Larissa Scott with the

Scripps News Group

in Tampa Bay.

A local dermatology office is sounding the alarm after a brazen attempt at a con job targeting medical professionals. A man called their office impersonating a DEA agent, which is an increasingly common scam targeting medical offices.

Watch our report in the video player below: DEA impersonators targeting medical offices and everyday citizens with fake fines

The scammer claimed to be a DEA agent named Daniel Patel and demanded to speak with doctors about an urgent matter, but an experienced office administrator recognized the red flags.

Part of it was when he hung up, he said God bless America, said Gladys Moore, a practice administrator at Affiliated Troy Dermatologists.

"The first one was in the morning asking for one provider and then after lunch time, I got another call from the exact same guy asking about one of my other doctors."

Moore, who has more than 30 years of experience, says this was the first scam call of this nature in her career. Her vigilance protected the practice from what could have been a costly fraud.

Moore described the caller as "very firm, very pushy." Instead of connecting him to the doctors, she took the man's information and alerted the DEA.

"So, I might get a call maybe twice a month from people all over the country about these DEA scams. And sometimes, they get cash from people Target, iTunes, Amazon gift cards. They're just so rattled, they're willing to do whatever it takes to, quote on quote, get the feds off their back," DEA spokesperson Brian McNeal said.

McNeal explained that what makes these scams believable is that the culprits sometimes dig up a doctor's DEA registration number which the agency provides to medical practitioners allowing them to prescribe drugs and the scammers sometimes use the names of actual DEA employees to seem more credible.

"So usually, the way the scam works is they will say that registration number has been involved in some type of illegal activity and that you must pay a fine or you'll face arrest," McNeal said.

Watch our full interview with Brian McNeal in the video player below: Full interview: Brian McNeal explains scammers impersonating DEA agents with fake fines

These so-called "fines" range anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000.

McNeal says these DEA impersonators don't just target doctors and people who prescribe drugs, they also go after regular everyday citizens.

"Where they get a call from someone saying they're with the DEA and that a rental car has been found on the border that was written in your name and it contains a ton of drugs and if you don't pay this fine, we're going to come after you and lock you up," McNeal said.

If you get a call from someone claiming to be from the DEA, know that if the agency wanted to contact you, they would show up at your door or send an official letter. So don't give any information over the phone. Instead, hang up and report the call to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

This story was reported 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.