A man has been arrested and charged with attempted kidnapping and stalking the mayor of Memphis, Tennessee.

When police arrested 25-year-old Trenton Abston this week, they recovered a Taser, gloves, rope and duct tape from his vehicle.

Police said Abston scaled a wall at the mayors residence on Sunday.

"He knocked on the door with gloves on, a full pocket, and a nervous demeanor," Mayor Paul Young said in a post on X.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by The New York Times, Young did not open the door, and Abston fled.

The incident occurred amid heightened concerns for elected officials safety. On Saturday, two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses were shot at their homes.

State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband died from their injuries, while state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife survived what authorities described as targeted and politically motivated attacks.

In response to the current political climate, Young called for a shift in how people engage with those they disagree with.

"The angry rhetoric, the hateful speech, and the heated threats create a culture where violence feels like a next step instead of a red line. We cannot allow that line to be crossed. Political violence and intimidation whether threatened or enacted simply cannot become our norm," he said.

A new COVID variant is bringing a painful side effect to Americans.

The variant is officially called NB.1.8.1, or Nimbus. Some patients say it's causing them such a severe sore throat that they feel like they're swallowing razor blades.

"Your throat is so dry, so cracked, it's so painful, it's even hard to drink sometimes," said Dr. Muhammad Azam, a physician with Sharp Community Medical Group. "This particular variant, even though it's relatively mild, except for the razor throat, is very infectious compared to other strains."

Right now, California Health Data Tracker CalCAT says Nimbus is the second most prevalent strain of COVID in the state, but also the fastest growing. The CDC says Nimbus accounts for 37% of all COVID infections in the US. It's projected to become the dominant strain by the end of the month.

RELATED STORY | CDC eliminates COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children, pregnant women

Azam said people who are at high risk or have underlying health factors should be cautious as we get closer to the fall, when COVID typically peaks.

"COVID has now become just like the common flu or other respiratory viruses," he said.

"It's part of life, and there will be peaks. And just like the flu, there'll be some times we breathe nasty strains and sometimes it's mild," he added. "Unfortunately, there's no magical medication you take to help resolve this (strain), but warm fluids and small sips help. Also, ibuprofen helps take some of the pain away and the inflammation."

He also said the current COVID vaccine is effective against the Nimbus strain, so people should look into getting a booster shot this summer.

This article was written by

Jared Aarons for the Scripps News Group in San Diego.

With the extreme heat coming to metro Detroit, DTE is urging customers to take certain steps to conserve energy over the next couple of days to ease strain on the electrical grid.

Heat indices will be over 100 degrees starting Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, but even in the days before and after, heat indices will be above 90.

When there's a heat wave, increased use of air conditioning can lead to a surge in overall energy consumption, right when power plants and power lines are pushed to the limits due to heat.

So, to prevent outages or rolling blackouts while also keeping your energy bills from spiking, there are steps you can take. I asked DTE's director of energy efficiency for advice.

"What is the number one action people can take right now to reduce the strain on the electrical grid?" I asked Carmen Welch.

"We want customers to maintain their comfort, but if possible, it's excellent for them to raise the thermostat a couple degrees. It helps use less energy and lower their bills," Welch said.

Here are some more energy-saving tips during extreme heat.

Raise the temperature on your thermostat a few degrees when you're away from home Pre-cool your home before 3 p.m. or after 7 p.m. to take advantage of lower, off-peak rates Grill food outside instead of using your oven or stove to keep heat from building up in your kitchen and using energy Use your appliances in the evening Close curtains and shades on sun-facing windows to keep the heat out Seal air leaks and add insulation as needed to prevent the hot air from coming in and the cool air from leaking out

If you're thinking more long-term, you can also schedule your air conditioning unit for a tune-up, which could qualify you for DTE's rebates.

If you upgrade to a high-efficiency model, you can get a rebate of up to $300.

Irans foreign minister was holding talks with top European diplomats in Geneva on Friday about the crisis that centers on concerns about his countrys nuclear program, a week after the long-simmering dispute erupted into war between Israel and Iran.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived at a hotel in the Swiss city for a meeting with his counterparts from France, Germany and the U.K. and the European Unions foreign policy chief. It is the first face-to-face meeting between Western and Iranian officials since the start of the conflict.

Ahead of the meeting, Araghchi said his country has nothing to discuss with the United States as long as Israel continues its strikes on Iran, but is open to dialogue with others, though not negotiations. The war has seen Israeli airstrikes target Iranian nuclear and military sites and Tehran firing back.

RELATED STORY | Israel and Iran launch new strikes even as diplomatic effort gets underway

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that a window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution. He traveled to Geneva after meeting in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trumps Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Trump has been weighing whether to attack Iran by striking its well-defended Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which is buried under a mountain and widely considered to be out of reach of all but Americas bunker-buster bombs. He said Wednesday that hell decide within two weeks whether the U.S. military will get directly involved in the war given the substantial chance for renewed negotiations over Tehrans nuclear program.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the European diplomats would make a comprehensive, diplomatic and technical offer of negotiation to Iran.

Israel says it launched its airstrike campaign to stop Iran from getting closer to being able to build a nuclear weapon. Iran and the United States had been negotiating over the possibility of a new diplomatic deal over Tehrans program, though Trump has said Israels campaign came after a 60-day window he set for the talks.

Iran says no negotiations while Israeli attacks continue

Irans supreme leader rejected U.S. calls for surrender Wednesday and warned that any military involvement by the Americans would cause irreparable damage to them.

In an interview aired Friday by Iranian state television, Araghchi said that in the current situation, as the Zionist regimes attacks continue, we are not seeking negotiations with anyone.

He said that we have nothing to discuss with the United States, which is a partner in these crimes, and Tehran rejected negotiations with the Americans.

As for others, if they seek dialogue, not negotiations, which dont make sense right now, we have no problem with that," he added. But he said that Friday's discussion would focus solely on the nuclear issue and regional matters and Iran won't hold talks on its missiles with anyone.

Just before meeting the European diplomats, Araghchi made a brief appearance before the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. He said that Israels attacks on nuclear facilities are grave war crimes, and insisted that we are entitled and determined to defend our territorial integrity, national sovereignty and security with all force.

RELATED STORY | Trump says US decision on Iran-Israel conflict coming within 2 weeks

Iran has long insisted its nuclear program is peaceful, though it was the only non-nuclear-armed state to enrich uranium up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

The three European countries played an important role in the negotiations over the original 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. But they have repeatedly threatened to reinstate sanctions that were lifted under the deal if Iran does not improve its cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Europeans stand ready to negotiate

Germany's foreign minister acknowledged that years of efforts to relieve concerns about the possibility of Iran developing a nuclear weapon haven't succeeded, but said it's worth talking now.

If there is serious and transparent readiness by Iran to refrain from this, then there is a real chance of preventing a further escalation of this conflict, and for that every conversation makes sense, Johann Wadephul said in a podcast released by broadcaster MDR on Friday.

Wadephul said U.S. officials not only know that we are conducting these talks but are very much in agreement with us doing so so I think Iran should now know that it should conduct these talks with a new seriousness and reliability.

Before traveling to Geneva on Friday, Wadephul stressed that it's Iran's move now.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Nol Barrot spoke by phone with Rubio on Thursday evening.

A French diplomatic official, who was not allowed to speak publicly on the issue, said Barrot detailed the purposes of the Geneva meeting and Rubio stressed that the U.S. was ready for direct contact with the Iranians at any time.

The Trump administration is dedicating $10 million to research and address the long-term health impacts from the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

After the train derailed, Norfolk Southern made the decision to burn off chemicals, including vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylene glycol, and benzene residue, from derailed train cars. The burning plume caused widespread health concerns and triggered an extensive environmental cleanup in East Palestine.

The effects of exposure to vinyl chloride are still poorly understood and rarely researched. Current findings indicate that long-term exposure through oral contact or inhalation may cause liver issues and instances of cancer.

RELATED STORY | Chemical burn in East Palestine derailment could have been avoided

NIH is working to ensure that the people of East Palestine and the surrounding communities are listened to, cared for, and get the answers they deserve, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya said. This multi-disciplinary research program will focus on public health tracking and surveillance of the communitys health conditions to support health care decisions and preventive measures.

Vice President JD Vance, who was a senator from Ohio at the time of the derailment, was an outspoken critic of the Biden administration's response to the incident.

According to an announcement from the National Institutes of Health, Vance played a pivotal role in launching this 5-year study.

As a senator, it was incredibly frustrating watching the Biden administration refuse to examine the potentially dangerous health impacts on the people of East Palestine following the train derailment, Vice President Vance said. Im proud that we finally have a new president that takes the concerns of everyday, working-class people seriously. This historic research initiative will finally result in answers that this community deserves."

Israel and Iran exchanged strikes a week into their war Friday as President Donald Trump weighed U.S. military involvement and new diplomatic efforts got underway.

Trump has been weighing whether to attack Iran by striking its well-defended Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which is buried under a mountain and widely considered to be out of reach of all but Americas bunker-buster bombs. He said he'll decide within two weeks whether the U.S. military will get directly involved in the war given the substantial chance for renewed negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program.

Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appeared to be en route to Geneva for meetings with the European Unions top diplomat and counterparts from the United Kingdom, France and Germany. A plane with his usual call sign took off from the Turkish city of Van, near the Iranian border, flight-tracking data from FlightRadar24 showed. Iran typically acknowledges his departure hours afterward.

Britains foreign secretary said he met at the White House with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss the potential for a deal that could cool the conflict.

RELATED STORY | Americans urged to leave Israel as conflict with Iran intensifies

Before his flight, Araghchi said on Iranian state television that his country was not seeking negotiations with anyone as long as Israel's attacks continued, underscoring the diplomatic challenges ahead. He also accused the U.S. of collaborating with Israel, noting that Trump regularly used we in social media posts and interviews talking about the attacks on Iran.

It is the Americans who want talks," he said in comments Thursday that were broadcast Friday. "Theyve sent messages several times very serious ones but we made it explicitly clear to them that as long as this aggression and invasion continue, there is absolutely no room for talk or diplomacy. We are engaged in legitimate self-defense, and this defense will not stop under any circumstances.

He added that he expected the Switzerland talks to focus only on Iran's nuclear program, and that Iran's missile capabilities were for defending the country and not up for discussion.

French President Emmanuel Macron said top European diplomats in Geneva will make a comprehensive, diplomatic and technical offer of negotiation to Iran, as a key response to the threat represented by Irans nuclear program.

No one can seriously believe that this threat can be met with (Israels) current operations alone," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Paris Air Show, saying some plants are heavily fortified and nobody knows exactly where all uranium enrichment is taking place.

"We need to regain control on (Irans nuclear) program through technical expertise and negotiation.

Iran had previously agreed to limit its uranium enrichment and allow international inspectors in to its nuclear sites under a 2015 deal with the U.S., France, China, Russia, Britain and Germany in exchange for sanctions relief and other provisions.

After Trump pulled the U.S. unilaterally out of the deal during his last term, however, Iran began enriching uranium to higher levels and limiting access to its facilities.

Israel says air campaign will target more sites

Israel said it conducted airstrikes into Friday morning in Iran with more than 60 aircraft hitting what it said were industrial sites to manufacture missiles. It did not elaborate on the locations. It also said it hit the headquarters of Irans Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, known by its acronym in Farsi, SPND. The U.S. in the past has linked that agency to alleged Iranian research and testing tied to the possible development of nuclear explosive devices.

RELATED STORY | Israel threatens Iran's top leader; missiles damage hospital and wound dozens

It also carried out airstrikes targeting the areas around Kermanshah and Tabriz in western Iran, where the military said 25 fighter jets struck missile storage and launch infrastructure components Friday morning. There had been reports of anti-aircraft fire in the areas.

Iran did not immediately acknowledge the losses, and has not discussed the damage done so far to its military in the weeklong war.

We are strengthening our air control in the region and advancing our air offensive," Israeli military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin told reporters.

"We have more sites to strike in Tehran, western Iran and other places.

Israeli airstrikes also reached into the city of Rasht on the Caspian Sea early Friday, Iranian media reported. The Israeli military had warned the public to flee the area around Rashts Industrial City, southwest of the citys downtown. But with Irans internet shut off to the outside world, its unclear just how many people could see the message.

Damage from missiles in southern Israel

In Israel, the paramedic service Magen David Adom said Iranian missiles struck a residential area in southern Israel, causing damage to buildings, including a six-story building. They have provided medical treatment to five people with minor injuries such as bruises, smoke inhalation, and anxiety, it said.

Later Friday, as Araghchi's plane approached Geneva, Israel's military warned of more incoming Iranian missiles and air raid sirens blared in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

On Thursday, at least 80 patients and medical workers were wounded in a strike on the Soroka Medical Center in the southern city of Beersheba.

After that attack, Israel's defense minister threatened Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after the Iranian missile crashed into the hospital. Israel's military has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist," Defense Minister Israel Katz said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he trusted that Trump would do what's best for America. Speaking from the rubble and shattered glass around the hospital, he added: I can tell you that theyre already helping a lot."

The war between Israel and Iran erupted June 13, with Israeli airstrikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. At least 657 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 2,000 wounded, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group.

Iran has retaliated by firing 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli army estimates. Most have been shot down by Israels multitiered air defenses, but at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded.

Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. But it is the only non-nuclear-weapon state to enrich uranium up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

Israel is widely believed to be the only Middle Eastern country with a nuclear weapons program but has never acknowledged it.

The Israeli air campaign has targeted Irans enrichment site at Natanz, centrifuge workshops around Tehran, a nuclear site in Isfahan and what the army assesses to be most of Irans ballistic missile launchers. The destruction of those launchers has contributed to the steady decline in Iranian attacks since the start of the conflict.

Amid the wreckage of war in Ukraine, one pattern stands out: schools, struck again and again, in what Ukraine says is a systematic targeting of the country's children.

Using satellite images, maps, photos and Ukrainian data, a Scripps News visual investigation found that since February 2022, nearly 4,000 of Ukraine's 13,000 educational institutions have been damaged by Russian bombs and shells. The Ministry of Education says nearly 400 have been completely destroyed.

The toll spans the entire system, from kindergartens and vocational schools to colleges and universities. More than 1,400 kindergartens, around 1,900 schools, and over 500 other facilities were damaged or destroyed.

The data shows no region has suffered more damage to its schools than Kharkiv. Since the war began, more than 800 educational institutions in the region have been damaged, including over 300 kindergartens and nearly 400 schools.

14-year-old Yeva Yatsyk's school is one of them. In July 2022, her school was destroyed in a Russian missile attack. No one was inside when the missile hit, as students had already been forced to study from home because of the war.

RELATED STORY | Robot War: Inside Ukraine's battlefront of steel and circuits

"It is a horrible situation, I think, because, like, thousands of students don't have an opportunity to keep learning," Yatsyk said. "It was like losing a part of myself because it was a place where I grew up, where I like, make memories and where I plan my future."

First with the pandemic, and then Russia's invasion, for the better part of four years, there was no going to school for Yatsyk. And then, last fall in Kharkiv, in-person education resumed, but not in the way students were used to. Classrooms now exist in underground bunkers and the subway.

Scripps News joined Yatsyk on her first day back to something resembling a real school.

"It was amazing," Yatsyk said of her first day back. "I met my classmates, and we were so happy. I miss the most, like, the communication with my classmates because it is important, especially as a teenager, to have friends your age to talk with."

When asked if it felt normal to go to school in the subway, Yatsyk said yes.

"I think it's more normal than on computer," she said.

Online learning is not completely done away with, however. Yatsyk told Scripps News she only gets to attend school in person twice a week. The rest is on a computer.

RELATED STORY | Last Stand of Moses: A video chronicle of Ukraines frontline

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov acknowledged that this setup is not sustainable.

"You know, this is not enough. We understand that," Terekhov said. "But compared to the fact that they studied online, this is something at least."

Returning to school as it once was before February 2022 is still not an option.

"We can't have real schools, because the S-300 missile is flying to Kharkiv from the territory of the Russian Federation in less than a minute, 50 seconds," Terekhov said.

Students only have one minute of warning before deadly explosives can turn Kharkiv's schools into part of the battlefield.

Among those hit, Scripps News identified Kharkiv School No. 17 with a gaping hole in its wall after Russian shelling in March 2022. This school was one of three hit during that attack, which targeted numerous civilian areas across Kharkiv city.

Also in Kharkiv, School No. 35 was also destroyed by Russian shelling. The principal inside during the attack miraculously survived.

In February 2022, Russian troops occupied Kharkiv school No. 134, a German-language specialty school, and made a last stand there. In an intense battle, the building was engulfed in flames.

But Ukraine's students are resilient. In the shadows of the ruins and rubble of School No. 134, a group of students performed the traditional graduation dance with a video posted online for all to see.

It was an act of resistance in the face of war.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday he will impose new tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum imports on July 21 depending the progress of trade talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Carney, who met with Trump at the Group of Seven meetings in Alberta this week, reiterated Thursday that Canada and the U.S. "agreed to pursue negotiations toward a deal within the coming 30 days."

We will review our response as the negotiations progress, Carney said.

He added: "In parallel, we must reinforce our strength at home and safeguard Canadian workers and businesses from the unjust U.S. tariffs. Thats why today we are announcing Canada will be introducing a series of countermeasures to protect Canadian steel and aluminum workers and producers.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | US and China step back from sky-high tariffs, agree to 90-day pause

"First, Canada will adjust its existing counter-tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum products on July 21 to levels consistent with progress made in the broader trading agreement with the United States.

Carney said Trump's trade war is running the risk of a global recession.

The world is in the middle of a trade war and several wars, actual wars, including wars that can have quite significant implications for commodity prices and global growth, said Carney, who led the central banks of both Canada and the United Kingdom.

Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum as well as 25% tariffs on autos. Trump is also charging a 10% tax on imports from most countries, though he could raise rates on July 9, after the 90-day negotiating period set by him would expire.

Canada and Mexico face separate tariffs of as much as 25% that Trump put into place under the auspices of stopping fentanyl smuggling, through some products are still protected under the 2020 U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement signed during Trumps first term.

Canada is the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for.

Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian dollars ($2.6 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states.

RELATED STORY | Another appeals court pauses ruling that blocked Trump's tariffs

We need to stabilize the trading relationship with the United States. We need to have ready access to U.S. markets, Carney said.

Trump announced with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that they had signed a trade framework Monday that was previously announced in May. The trade framework included quotas to protect against some tariffs, but the 10% baseline would largely remain as the Trump administration is banking on tariff revenues to help cover the cost of its income tax cuts.

Carney didn't say if he would sign a deal with the U.S. if any tariffs remain in place on Canada.

This is a negotiation, and it is better for the Americans, and of course for Canada, to have true free trade between our countries, particularly in the steel, aluminum and auto sectors, he said.

A federal appeals court is allowing President Donald Trump to retain control of National Guard troops he deployed to Los Angeles following protests over immigration raids.

The decision halts a ruling from a lower court judge who found President Trump acted illegally by activating the soldiers. The deployment was the first by a president of a state National Guard without the governors permission since 1965. President Trump argued the troops were necessary to restore order, but Gov. Gavin Newsom said the move inflamed tensions and usurped local authority.

The Ninth Circuit of Appeals said that President Trump "lawfully exercised his statutory authority" under a law that authorizes the federalization of the National Guard.

RELATED STORY | Texas deploys 5,000 National Guard members amid planned protests against Trump

President Trump has called up 2,100 National Guard members and 700 Marines.

Military members are unable to conduct law enforcement missions but can be used to provide support for officers. The court also concluded that President Trump's use of the National Guard does not violate the Posse Comitatus Act as members have been used to protect federal property and personnel.

Twenty-one Democratic attorneys general signed an amicus brief supporting California's efforts to stop President Trump from sending members of the National Guard to confront protesters. They claim state governors must agree to the deployment of the National Guard.

Earlier this week, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass lifted a curfew for a small section of downtown Los Angeles as demonstrations have eased.

The curfew, coupled with ongoing crime prevention efforts, have been largely successful in protecting stores, restaurants, businesses and residential communities from bad actors who do not care about the immigrant community, Bass said.

Here at 7 News Detroit, we want to make sure you start your day off on the right foot, informed about weather, traffic, the latest news and more. That's why we have the 7 Morning Digest, where we'll get you out the door informed and ready to go.

What's the weather for today? Metro Detroit weather: Extreme heat watch begins Saturday for several days

Extreme Heat Watch issued for all of Southeast Michigan from Saturday morning through Tuesday night. Heat index values up to 104 degrees are possible. Check a full list of cooling centers in metro Detroit here.

Today: Partly sunny with highs in the mid 80s. There will be a slight shower or storm chance as well. Winds: W 5-15 mph.

Saturday: Storms are possible to start the morning, especially north of Detroit. Otherwise it will be partly cloudy with highs eventually reaching the low 90s. Winds: SW 15-25 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, hot, and humid with highs in the mid 90s. The heat index will be around 100.

The top stories to know about Suspect in shooting of Southgate police officers taken into custody Suspect in shooting of Southgate police officers taken into custody

Two Southgate police officers are expected to be OK after being shot on Friday night. The shooting prompted a manhunt for the suspect and a shelter-in-place for the city for hours until the suspect was eventually caught.

The suspect was identified as a 20-year-old man from the area. While police released his name as part of the search, 7 News Detroit has removed it from our coverage since he has not yet been charged.

Officials say they responded to a weapons call around 4:10 p.m. It happened at the Village on the Park and The Reserve at Southgate apartments on Northline, east of I-75.

Police say officers responded to a call about an individual waiving a weapon around at the apartment complex. They arrived on the scene, and began looking for the suspect. They encountered him quickly near a second-floor laundry room. When they made contact, he pulled out a gun and began shooting. Both officers, two men, were struck once in their legs and did not fire back.

Officials said both officers are in stable condition and with family at a local hospital. The officers are a five-year veteran and a 10-year veteran with the department.

Clinton Township animal rescue seeks community support after flooding damages shelter, displaces 50 animals Clinton Township animal rescue seeks help after flooding damages shelter

A Clinton Township animal rescue is urgently seeking community support after severe flooding damaged their facility and displaced dozens of animals.

Rejoyceful Animal Rescue experienced significant flooding Wednesday when an afternoon storm sent water rushing into one of the main housing areas, reaching approximately 2 inches deep at its worst point.

"The panic in that moment. I can't tell you how helpless it feels," said Chelsea Murphy, a volunteer at the rescue.

The flooding began when a pipe inside the shelter burst. Murphy believes it was due to pressure from the storm.

"It sounds like the water outside filled the storm drain and filled up everything so rapidly that it backs up into the building, and it backed up with enough pressure that there's a little cap here, and this cap popped right off," Murphy said.

Staff members quickly moved to protect the animals as water spread throughout the facility.

All 50 animals are now temporarily safe with foster families, but Director Michelle Heyza says this is only a short-term solution.

"Some of the fosters can only hold them until tomorrow, so then we're likely going to be faced with moving animals over to a boarding facility, and that's going to be an exorbitant expense. Some boarding facilities charge upwards of $50 a day," Heyza said.

'Absurd.' Man says he feels betrayed by insurance company after Northfield Twp. house explosion

'Absurd.' Man outraged at insurance company response after nearby home explosion

David Fauls didnt think twice about running toward the flames to help when his neighbors house exploded in December of 2023. Now its Fauls who says he needs help getting the damage to his own home repaired in the wake of that blast, and he says he feels betrayed by his insurance company.

From Orion Township to Detroit to Southgate, Southeast Michigan has experienced several home explosions recently.

These explosions can kill, and they can turn peaceful neighborhoods into chaos.

Everybody screamed, everybody ducked, said Fauls.

On December 30, 2023, David Fauls and his wife, Marie, were hosting a birthday party for their youngest daughter at their home in Northfield Township.

I happened to be in the basement with some of the kids playing pool, said Fauls. I just heard this unexplainably massive sound.

Fauls says the blast was so powerful he felt his whole house shake.

I looked out and I could see the mushroom cloud. I could see the debris everywhere. I didn't know what to do, so my instinct just kicked in, Fauls told 7 Investigator Heather Catallo.

Fauls and his other neighbors ran to help Richard Pruden, whose house had just exploded. The blast injured Pruden and his grandson, Stephen, and sadly killed Prudens daughter, her husband and their two other children.

I remember audibly saying out loud to everybody, where's the house, said Fauls. And we're in such shock and I remember out loud just going, there's no house. And at that point we could hear [Pruden] and I still hear the sound of his voice from that day, said Fauls.

Fauls says his heart still breaks for Pruden and his family. After trying to process the trauma after that terrible day, Fauls says he also started to notice some damage that his own home sustained because of the blast.

Ive got to get past the emotion and trauma of this thing and then try to deal with this, said Fauls. Every single day we just found something else, and we just kept seeing more and more [damage].

The power of the explosion sent debris flying and was felt by families all over the area.

Debris was flying over my house, here a mile away, said neighbor Scott McMillan at the time of the explosion. It was scary. By the time I decided to get up and I was reasonably safe, I watched a wave go across that lake.

The Sheriffs are here, they were at Jackson and Zeeb roadthey heard the explosion there, 9 miles away, said Northfield Township Police Lt. David Powell the day of the blast.

Fauls lives just 600 feet away and he says in the weeks after the tragedy, he found everything from split moldings to cracks in his foundation walls.

The entire door flexed in, the entire wall probably, but the entire door, said Fauls about the door wall in his lower level. Fauls says at least 10 of his windows now have significant damage and fog up repeatedly.

You can already see how hard it is to see out of this, said Fauls as he showed the 7 Investigators the damaged windows.

Repair estimates for Fauls foundation totaled $23,745 and the estimate for the windows totaled $44,256. So Fauls says he decided to contact his homeowner's insurance for help. But he says AAAs Auto Club Insurance Association claim representative never came to his house to check out the damage.

He refused. He just would never step on site. He would not get involved. He would not try and see the damages, said Fauls.

Instead, Fauls said Auto Club Insurance sent a forensic engineer from Nederveld.

He was very dismissive when he first came in, said Fauls.

In the Nederveld report, the engineer said the cracks in Fauls foundation and the damage to his windows were age-related and not the result of the massive explosion.

According to records from Auto Club Group, they only covered $20,223 in damages for the cracked paint and drywall throughout the house. Records show they would not cover the foundation or window repairs.

I see a report that's telling me the plastic broken in between my windowpanes is age-related deterioration. When a concussive force rocked this house and I watched that, and now theres discoloring and you can't see out these windows. I'm like, OK, this is craziness. This is not just unprofessional, it's absurd, said Fauls.

Despite pleas to his insurance company to cover the remaining $68,000 in damages, Fauls says his requests for them to cover the damages were denied.

We're paying the premiums, we're making sure we're covered, and this is how they're playing it, said Fauls.

Fauls even filed a complaint with Michigans Department of Insurance and Financial Services... along with 61 other customers across Michigan in 2024 who complained to the state about AAAs homeowners insurance products. The Auto Club Group and Auto Club Insurance Association had the 5th highest number of homeowners insurance complaints state-wide last year.

In a statement about the Fauls claim, a spokesman for Auto Club Group said, ACIA takes all homeowner claims seriously and as a matter of common practice given the nature of the reported damage, [we] engaged an independent, licensed engineering firm for expert evaluation.

The spokesman says they use forensic engineers on a case-by-case basis.

They do it all the time, said attorney Ven Johnson. Johnson says insurance companies are relying on these outside engineering reports more and more frequently.

That's why it's really important that as soon as possible after the explosion, you get experts, more than one, on both sides or all sides depending on how many different folks are involved, to look at this and analyze what happened, said Johnson.

The Auto Club Group spokesman says they stand by the integrity of their process, but David Fauls says this process has jeopardized his familys financial future.

No family should have to go into debt or break the bank to get the coverage that they're paying for insurance to cover, said Fauls.

The 7 Investigators have called and emailed Nederveld repeatedly, but no one has responded to comment on this.

Here is the full statement from the Auto Club Group (AAA):

STATEMENT FROM THE AUTO CLUB INSURANCE ASSOCIATION

"The Auto Club Insurance Association (ACIA), as subsidiary of the Auto Club Group, takes all homeowner claims seriously, thoroughly investigating each to ensure fair and fact-based outcomes. In the case of Mr. Fauls, ACIA promptly assigned a staff claim specialist and, as a matter of common practice given the nature of the reported damage, engaged an independent, licensed engineering firmNederveld, Inc.for expert evaluation.While we regret that an in-person inspection by the ACIA claims specialist could not be scheduled immediately due to availability conflicts, we ensured the property was professionally assessed by an independent structural engineer again as commonly practiced.ACIA partially approved Mr. Faulss claim and issued payment for damages determined to be related to a nearby home explosion that occurred in 2023. However, there was a portion of the claim in which coverage could not be afforded based on the expert engineering findings, which concluded that the damages in question were not attributable to that same incident but were consistent with normal age-related wear and tear.We stand by the integrity of the process and appreciate the opportunity to clarify the facts."

Additional questions from the 7 Investigators for AAA:

How often is AAA using outside forensic engineering firms on claims?

As is industry practice, ACIA engages independent engineering firms when additional expert analysis is needed to accurately assess complex or specialized damage as in this case. These firms are used on a case-by-case basis to ensure were making fair, thorough, and informed decisions for our policyholders. In this case, the firm found damage in multiple rooms in the home related to the explosion and we provided coverage.

Do you only use Nederveld?

No, ACIA uses a variety of independent firms.

Does Nederveld ever agree with the homeowner or do they typically recommend you deny claims?Online reviews suggest they rarely agree with the homeowner and the homeowner's experts regarding damage.

The engineering firms ACIA engages are independent, third-party experts who conduct their own assessments based on the facts and evidence relative to each claim. Their role is to provide objective analysis to help ensure that claim decisions are accurate and fair.

Engineers have to abide by a code of ethics; if AAA is the customer of the forensic engineer, how is this ethical situation explained to policy holders/homeowners?

ACIA maintains that the engineering firms it works with provide independent, fair, and accurate assessments based upon their expertise and the facts and evidence relative to each claim.

If you have a story for Heather Catallo, please email her at hcatallo@wxyz.com

AAA expects a record number of Michiganders to travel for the Fourth of July week. The new forecast released by the agency projects 2.6 million Michiganders will travel.

According to AAA, that number is up 71,000  nearly 3% from last year.

Breaking it down, AAA projects 2.4 million people to hit the roads, 96,000 people to fly and 160,000 others to take some other form of transportation.

"Independence Day is one of the most popular times for travel, with Americans eager to take advantage of summer vacation opportunities," said Debbie Haas, Vice President of AAA Travel. "This year, we're seeing strong demand for road trips, flights, and cruises, especially with the holiday falling on a Friday. This is allowing travelers to extend their getaways and make lasting memories with loved ones."

Here are the best and worst times to drive, according to AAA:

Date Worst Travel Times Best Travel Times Saturday, June 28 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Before 10 a.m. Sunday, June 29 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Before 11 a.m. Monday, June 30 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Before 12 p.m. Tuesday, July 1 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Before 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 2 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Before 12 p.m. Thursday, July 3 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Before 12 p.m. Friday, July 4 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Before 12 p.m. Saturday, July 5 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Before 11 a.m. Sunday, July 6 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Before 11 a.m.

For years now, I've been keeping an eye out for any scams bubbling up in metro Detroit, and one that was quite pesky during the pandemic is back with a vengeance.

See Alicia Smith's full story on the warning in the video below

Why a federal agency is issuing a fresh warning on remote job offer scamsioio

I'm talking about the 'Remote Job Scam', those text messages trying to recruit you for a phony job opportunity. I even posted about it on our WXYZ Facebook page, and received nearly a hundred comments from people all over metro Detroit.

The commenters included Chandler Gimson, who said he gets texts like this on a daily basis, sometimes multiple times a day. Dina Berry wrote, "They got me. Even had Fed-Ex overnight a $1,700 check to me and wanted to cash it. I knew better, these scammers are ridiculous."

So I wanted to follow up with these two people and take a deeper dive to raise awareness about one of the most common text scams out there. This is a scam that is prompting a fresh warning from a federal agency.

"I get a few every week at least. There seems to be like patches where I get one every other day for like three or four days in a row," Chandler told me over Zoom recently.

Chandler, who lives in Belleville, is tired of getting these remote job texts.

It's always something like, 'Hey, we can give you $800 a week, only one to two hours a day to work.' And I'm like, that's cool. Sounds really sketchy," Chandler said.

I've received several of these lately; so have my colleagues and many of you. One fake job was helping TikTok or YouTube creators.

Another phony opportunity was for a remote Data Marketing position taking up only 1-2 hours a day.

Sound too good to be true? Yep! It is.

About a year ago, Eastpointe resident Dina Berry received a text for a remote job with a pharmaceutical healthcare company.

"And unfortunately, I fell for it," Dina told me.

So, what was appealing about this offer that she received over text? And how good was the pay?

It was the fact that you could work remote and also in regards to the hours were very flexible and the pay," Dina replied.

It was I want to say like $25 or more per hour.

They sent her a contract, asked for her banking and personal information, then overnighted a $1,700 check to pay for her expenses. But the check was from a construction company. That's when she knew it was a scam.

Earlier this month, the Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration even released a Scam Alert, saying, "Watch out for remote job scams claiming to be from SSA."

There are scammers out there who are pretending they are with the Social Security Administration?

"

I asked Mary Miller, a Senior Advisor with OIG Social Security Administration.

"Yes, and unfortunately, this is pretty common in a Social Security or any government imposter scam," Mary replied.

Has the Social Security Administration sent out information via text about job opportunities ever?" I followed up.

"Not that we're aware of," Mary clarified. "If Social Security has job opportunities in the future, you'll find them on USA Jobs."

The OIG for the Social Security Administration is now sharing these key warning signs of remote job scams:

Unsolicited texts, calls, emails or social media messages Unofficial email domains Requests for personal information or payment Pressure to act quickly or threats of missing out on an opportunity.

Bottom line: if you did not sign up for job alerts from that source, consider it a scam. Do not respond, click on any links, or call any phone numbers about these remote job opportunities. And please report these texts to the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker.

An Extreme Heat Watch goes into effect on Saturday morning and will last for several days across metro Detroit.

It's expected that heat indices will reach the upper 90s on Saturday and then go above 100 degrees on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Because of that, we wanted to get a list of cooling centers across metro Detroit. Check it out below.

Oakland County - For a full list and map, click here and see when ones are open and closed

Macomb County - For a full list, click here

Washtenaw County - For a full list, click here

City of Detroit

Extended Hours Saturday through Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Patton Recreation Center at 2301 Woodmere Street Heilmann Recreation Center at 19601 Brock Avenue Northwest Activities Center at 18100 Meyers Road

Regular hours

Adams Butzel Complex (10500 Lyndon, Detroit, MI 48328)Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Butzel Family Center (7737 Kercheval, Detroit, MI 48214)Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Clemente (2631 Bagley, Detroit MI 48216)Monday-Friday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Coleman A. Young (2751 Robert Bradby, Detroit, MI 48207)Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Community Center at A.B Ford (100 Lenox St., Detroit MI 48215)Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Crowell (16630 Lahser, Detroit, MI 48219)Monday-Friday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Farwell (2781 E. Outer Drive, Detroit, MI 48234)Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kemeny (2260 Fort St., Detroit, MI 48217)Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lasky (13200 Fenelon, Detroit, MI 48212)Monday-Friday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Williams (8431 Rosa Parks, Detroit, MI 48206)Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Wayne County

Canton Public Library Summit on the Parkway Grosse Ile Public Safety Building Flat Rock Community Center Sumpter Township Community Center The Helm Caroline Kennedy Library Eton Senior Center Richard A. Young Recreation Center Berwyn Senior Center John F. Kennedy Library William Ford Senior Activities Center Garden City Police Department Booker Dozier Recreation Center Allen Park Community Center Garden City Public Library Jefferson Barns Community Vitality Center River Rouge Police Department Taylor Recreation Center Kennedy Memorial Building Ethel Stevenson Senior Center Radcliff Center Westland Fire Station 3 Taylor Sportsplex Southgate Senior Center Southgate Veterans Library Westland Fire Station 1 Westland City Hall Westland Police Department Kirksey Recreation Center Copeland Center Robert and Janet Bennett Civic Center Library Carl Sandburg Library Romulus Public Library Senior Plaza Westfield Activities Center

Greenwood Cemetery in Fowlerville is peaceful but over the weekend, someone disturbed that peace by driving recklessly from the roadway and plowing through more than a dozen headstones.

Fowlerville police posted about the incident on its Facebook page. At least one of those headstones dates back to the Civil War.

Watch the video report below: Driver plows into headstones, Fowlerville man arrested

I thought it was disgraceful and yeah, it was disheartening. It was hard to see that, that someone would do that to peoples resting spot," Jamie Jasinski said.

His mother's urn is housed at Greenwood Cemetery just feet from where the vehicle crashed through the gate.

On Sunday, Jasinski said he took his father to the cemetery for Fathers Day to visit his mothers urn and grandmothers grave, like he has on other occasions since his mom's death in December 2023. But this time was disturbingly different.

My dad goes, Whats going on here? You see the gates all smashed up. Its like, ya know, we drove around. My dad was worried someone hit my moms resting place, Jasinski recalled.

Fowlerville police officer Dennis Masterman told 7 News Detroit, Definitely a first.

Saturday morning, Masterman said someone flagged him down and alerted him to the damage. He said the crash occurred late Friday night.

Masterman said a man drove his vehicle 262 feet and fled the scene.

Its a little disheartening. Its a little hard on the soul," he said.

In all, he said 13 headstones were damaged. Investigators said thats fewer than originally thought, but many tombstones are historical and irreplaceable.

Thats a large amount, Jasinski said.

There's thousands of dollars in damage.

And veteran headstones. Being a veteran myself, seeing this and seeing this and seeing someone attempting to get away with.. Ya know, causing damage to something that is the last resting place for their loved ones, Masterman said.

The police department posted about the crash on Facebook and said the driver was arrested and appropriate action is being taken. Police did not specify what may have caused the man to leave the roadway, however, they urged people whove had too much to drink, any drug or simply tired to stay off the roadway.

Call an Uber, call a friend or just pull your vehicle over and go to sleep. Throw the keys in the glove box. Theres no excuses in this day and age. Thats how I look at it, Jasinski said.

Fowlerville police said the case is under legal review.

Forecasters say a heat dome is scheduled to settle over parts of the Midwest and eastern U.S. late this week, marking an unmistakable arrival of summertime weather for some places.

Heat is expected to build through the weekend and into next week, staring in states including Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. Places from Denver to Chicago to Washington, D.C. and New York City could see highs in the upper 90s Fahrenheit.

Heat domes settle in when areas of high pressure keep heat and humidity in place. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico may feed into the system, increasing its humidity and making cooling tougher. Often, the persistent heat also prevents overnight low temperatures from offering any real relief to strained bodies or infrastructure.

The National Weather Service's Heat Risk map shows how a mass of unusually warm air could present an extreme heat risk for several continuous days over the Midwest. It is forecast to present elevated risks to anyone who doesn't have effective ways to cool down or stay hydrated, including in the overnight hours.

In some places, overnight temperatures may not dip below the mid 70s.

To minimize the risks of extreme heat, the NWS recommends wearing loose and light clothing, keeping hydrated and staying in air conditioned areas. Staying out of direct sunlight is also beneficial.

RELATED STORY | Earth breaks yearly heat record and pushes past a dangerous warming threshold

Fresh from the G-7 summit, where allied democracies meet to discuss global economic policies, global polling shows an increasing number of people in U.S. allied countries have low confidence in President Trump and his administration.

According to a Pew Research Center survey, more than half of people in key U.S. allied countries have no confidence in President Trump's leadership in world affairs. This includes close allies like France, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Japan, all of which have at least a 60% "no-confidence" level.

"This whole survey is really in some ways about the United States' soft power and where we stand in terms of being able to persuade countries to do the things that we want them to do," explained David Jackson, Professor of Political Science at Bowling Green State University. "So that's why it's relevant."

Canada, Mexico, and Sweden have especially high "no confidence" opinions of the U.S. leadership. And when it comes to economic power, China now outranks the U.S. in the perceptions of survey respondents, compared to 2023.

"The statistics are one thing. We know who the biggest economy is. It's the United States. But in terms of where the future is, there's real competition between the two countries," said Jackson.

Most people surveyed also described President Trump as "arrogant" and "dangerous." However, Jackson noted that "even among people who don't like what Trump is doing and don't like his personality, still perceive of him as being a strong leader. So that's definitely for President Trump, you know, a silver lining in what are generally pretty negative findings."

RELATED STORY | Global skepticism of President Trump's leadership fuels decline in US reputation, survey says

The findings of the global survey mirror President Trump's first term, when a previous Pew Research survey found international confidence in the U.S. plunged.

"Even the most isolationist person has to acknowledge that the United States physically cannot separate itself from the world. The oceans aren't as effective as they used to be keeping us away from what goes on in the rest of the planet that we share," Jackson said.

The declining international perception of the U.S. and its leadership could have significant implications for the country's global influence and ability to achieve its foreign policy goals.

But perceptions, like administrations, change.

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.

A popular bar in Taylor may temporarily close after a man was shot outside the business on Sunday.

Big League Brews on Ecorse Road has received a suspension notice following the shooting of a 27-year-old man around 1 a.m. Sunday.

Watch the video report below: Popular Taylor bar faces temporary closure after shooting incident

Taylor police allege a 17-year-old, accompanied by two others, fired the shots. The suspects were not patrons of the bar, according to authorities.

"They walked in the bar, through the bar a couple times and just were engaging this gentleman in the parking lot. He was robbed of his shoes by them," said Detective Lt. Frank Canning of the Taylor Police Department.

"It's hard to fathom that you have a teenager engaging in that behavior."

Two suspects have been arrested while police continue searching for the third.

According to police, incidents at Big League Brews have kept them busy. Since the start of 2022, Taylor police have received 163 calls for service at or near the establishment.

"We have responded there a significant amount of times both directly related to the bar and or the property of patrons," Canning said.

In October, one incident turned deadly when a man was stabbed outside the bar.

Taylor Mayor Tim Woolley, who issued the suspension letter, said the decision was difficult but necessary.

"There's a lot of in-betweens. And that's been the biggest problem, we're there a lot," Woolley said.

While the mayor did not specify how long the suspension would last, employees at the bar said it would be two months. Woolley confirmed the business has 10 days to appeal the decision.

Staff at Big League Brews expressed concern about the potential closure's impact on their livelihoods.

"I just had a baby seven weeks ago, and this is only my second day back," said Lexi Lee, who works at the bar.

Lee defended the establishment, noting they take safety measures including having security on hand.

"I don't think a business can be blamed for things that happen outside of the business. The incidents that happened don't represent who we are as people, employees and especially my boss Matt Taylor," Lee said.

Community reaction has been mixed. Some patrons expressed disappointment about the potential temporary closure.

"I've spent a lot of time there at Big League Brews, I've spent a lot of time there at night and I've never personally felt unsafe," said Edward Perdomo, who frequents Big League Brews.

However, some neighbors believe the timeout is warranted.

"We might have a little more safety, a little less stress. I mean, we never know what's going to happen over there," said Nancy Adams, a neighbor.

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.

Hackers with possible links to Israel have drained more than $90 million from Nobitex, Irans largest cryptocurrency exchange, according to blockchain analytics firms.

The group that claimed responsibility for the hack leaked on Thursday what it said was the companys full source code. ASSETS LEFT IN NOBITEX ARE NOW ENTIRELY OUT IN THE OPEN, the group wrote on its Telegram account.

The stolen funds were transferred to addresses bearing messages that criticized Irans Revolutionary Guard, Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic wrote in a blog post. It said the attack likely was not financially motivated as the wallets the hackers had poured the money into effectively burned the funds in order to send Nobitex a political message.

RELATED STORY | Tensions mount worldwide as Trump calls for Iran's 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER'

The hackers group, Gonjeshke Darande Predatory Sparrow in Farsi accused Nobitex of having helped Irans government to evade Western sanctions over the country's rapidly advancing nuclear program and transfer money to militants, in a post on X claiming the attack.

Nobitex appeared to have confirmed the attack. Its app and website were down as it assessed unauthorized access to its systems, it said in a post on X.

The theft spanned a range of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin and more, said head of national security intelligence at Chainalysis Andrew Fierman. The breach is particularly significant given the comparatively modest size of Iran's cryptocurrency market, he added.

The hack appears to be motivated by escalating tensions in the Israel-Iran conflict, which broke out last week when Israel struck Irans nuclear sites and military officials, drawing Tehrans response with barrages of missiles. It came after the group said it had destroyed data in a cyberattack against Irans state-controlled Bank Sepah on Tuesday.

Elliptic said that relatives of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei were linked to the exchange and that sanctioned Revolutionary Guard operatives had used Nobitex. It shared evidence that the exchange had sent and received funds from cryptocurrency wallets controlled by Iranian allies including Yemens Houthis and Hamas.

Gonjeshke Darande has previously claimed responsibility for other high-level cyberattacks against Iran, including a 2021 operation that paralyzed gas stations and a 2022 effort against a steel mill that sparked a large fire.

Israeli media have widely reported that Gonjeshke Darande is linked to Israel but the countrys government has never officially acknowledged ties to the group.

U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Angus King last year raised concerns about Irans use of cryptocurrencies to evade sanctions.

A 73-year-old pastor is on an inspiring mission to complete 50 kilometers in 50 states in 50 days, encouraging seniors across the country to stay active and healthy.

Ron du Preez is already more than halfway through his ambitious journey, which began on May 15, having completed his 35th state, Michigan.

"Age is just a number," du Preez said. "It's a state of mind. Many people say, Oh, I'm old, and the real reason people are struggling many times, not always, is because we've just not moved our muscles."

But this senior athlete is certainly using his muscles, using his cross-country trek to visit senior living communities and promote fitness among older Americans.

"That's my focus of this entire journey, especially people over 65," du Preez said.

FULL INTERVIEW: Ron du Preez talks about his mission to walk 50K in 50 state in 50 days FULL INTERVIEW: Ron du Preez talks about his mission to walk 50K in 50 state in 50 days

His journey began in Hawaii before quickly moving to Alaska with minimal rest between locations.

"We went from Honolulu, finished the 50K walking there, which is 31.07 miles. [Then] flew to Anchorage. Six hours in the plane. That was our night's rest. Hopped out of the plane the next day. I had already dressed ahead of time, knowing that we had minimal time because we had a flight to catch the next afternoon," du Preez said.

During his stop in Michigan, Preez visited Rivergate Health Care Center in Riverview, where he inspired numerous residents with his message of hope and perseverance.

"It just gives me hope that sooner or later, I'll be able to stand or maybe walk," said 65-year-old Brenda Jones from Dearborn Heights.

"Hope is the main thing I'm missing, and it was just nice to hear someone speak to that point," said 83-year-old George Hanoran from Dearborn.

"I will move more. I will continue my therapy at home and I will get stronger," said 81-year-old Betty Milne from Trenton.

While he currently resides in Banning, California, du Preez originally grew up in South Africa and moved to Michigan in 1976 to attend Andrews University. He lived here for 20 years and remembers Detroit as the city where he became a U.S. citizen.

To maintain his ambitious schedule, du Preez incorporates cycling along with walking and uses gym equipment when weather conditions aren't favorable.

He aims to complete his 50-state journey by July 4 and believes his simple message applies to everyone regardless of age.

"Take one small step at a time," du Preez said. "Start from where you are and see what your needs are and what you can do. And then tied in with all of that is attitude. You have to have, of course, a focus, a goal, but I call it an attitude of gratitude."

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.