A small Mexican Navy plane transporting a young medical patient and seven others crashed Monday near Galveston, killing at least five people and setting off a search in waters along the Texas coast, officials said.

Four of the people aboard were Navy officers and four were civilians, including a child, Mexicos Navy said in a statement to The Associated Press. Two of the passengers were from a nonprofit that provides aid to Mexican children with severe burns, including transports to a Galveston hospital.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Luke Baker said at least five aboard had died but did not identify which passengers.

RELATED STORY | NTSB begins investigating plane crash that killed former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Mexicos Marines said in a statement that it is sending its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident.

The crash took place Monday afternoon in Galveston Bay near the base of the causeway that connects Galveston Island to the mainland. Emergency responders and search teams rushed to the scene near the popular beach destination along the Texas coast that is about 50 miles (80.5 kilometers) southeast of Houston.

RELATED STORY | U.S. admits Army, FAA failures contributed to deadly D.C. mid-air collision

Sky Decker, a professional yacht captain who lives about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the crash site, said he jumped in his boat to see if he could help. He said he picked up two police officers who directed him through thick fog to a nearly completely submerged plane. Decker jumped in the water and found a badly injured woman trapped beneath chairs and other debris.

I couldnt believe. She had maybe 3 inches of air gap to breathe in," he said. "And there was jet fuel in there mixed with the water, fumes real bad. She was really fighting for her life.

He said he also pulled out a man sitting in front of her who had already died. He described both of them as dressed in civilian clothes.

Mexico's Navy said the plane was helping with a medical mission in coordination with the Michou and Mau Foundation, which provides emergency transports to children with life-threatening burns to Shriners Children's hospital in Galveston, according to the nonprofit's website.

The foundation said in a post on social media, We express our deepest solidarity with the families in light of these events. We share their grief with respect and compassion, honoring their memory and reaffirming our commitment to providing humane, sensitive, and dignified care to children with burns.

The statement from Mexicos Navy said the plane had an accident during its approach to Galveston but did not elaborate.

Teams from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have arrived at the scene of the crash, the Texas Department of Public Safety said on the social platform X.

A spokesperson from NTSB said they are aware of this accident and are gathering information about it. The Galveston County Sheriffs Office said officials from its dive team, crime scene unit, drone unit and patrol were responding to the crash.

Its not immediately clear if weather was a factor. The area has been experiencing foggy conditions over the past few days, according to Cameron Batiste, a National Weather Service meteorologist. He said that at about 2:30 p.m. Monday a fog came in that had about a half-mile visibility.

Less than 10 days before the end of his administration, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is set to speak later this afternoon on the city's budget surplus.

This is Duggan's last scheduled press conference as Detroit's Mayor. He's running as an Independent candidate in the 2026 gubernatorial race.

Duggan will be recapping the 2024-25 Fiscal Year and speak on the city's budget surplus. Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield will decide what to do with that money.

We plan to stream Duggan's press conference live, on both our website and our social media pages. You can watch later this afternoon (1 p.m.) at the link below.

WATCH LIVE

Watch our previous coverage from Duggan's last few months

Spotlight on the News One-on-one with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan as he prepares to leave office Mayor Mike Duggan proposing Detroit Reserve Fund Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan speaks at food bank

The U.S. Department of Justice has released thousands more documents related to its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after missing the deadline on Friday to release its entire cache of records as required by law.

The latest trove of documents can be found on the Justice Department's website under "Data Set 8 Files."

The Justice Department says some of the documents include "untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump."

"To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already," the department said.

Scripps News is going through the files and will update this story with significant developments.

RELATED STORY | Limited Epstein files release includes extensive redactions, images of notable figures

All of the files were supposed to be released on Friday under the law. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has said that the delay is due to the department's review of documents to ensure victims are protected.

"The same individuals that are out there complaining about the lack of documents that were produced on Friday are the same individuals who apparently dont want us to protect victims," Blanche told NBC's Meet the Press.

RELATED STORY | Epstein survivors demand accountability from DOJ, Congress over release of files

However, a group of his survivors on Monday accused the agency of legal violations and demanded accountability. The group said that the partial release on Friday made it nearly impossible for any of them to find documents that were relevant to their particular cases or their search for accountability. They also claim the DOJ didn't communicate to them or their representatives what documents were withheld in the release and why.

RELATED STORY | Lawmakers threaten legal action over delayed Epstein files release

Some lawmakers are threatening to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt for failing to meet a congressional deadline to release all the files.

The Powerball jackpot has jumped to an eye-popping $1.7 billion, after the 46th drawing passed without a big winner.

The numbers drawn Monday night were 3, 18, 36, 41, 54 and the Powerball 7.

Since Sept. 6, there have been 46 straight drawings without a big winner.

The next drawing will be on Christmas Eve, with the prize expected to be the 4th-largest in U.S. lottery history.

RELATED STORY | Slimmer odds and costlier tickets: What's driving the lottery's sky-high jackpot?

Powerballs odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes growing as they roll over when no one wins. Lottery officials note that the odds are far better for the games many smaller prizes. There are three drawings each week.

The estimated $1.6 billion jackpot goes to a winner who opts to receive 30 payments over 29 years through an annuity. Winners almost always choose the games cash option, which for Monday nights drawing would be an estimated $735.3 million.

Powerball tickets cost $2, and the game is offered in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Flu cases are rising, not only here in Michigan, but also across the country, which is bad news as people travel through airports to gather with family this holiday season.

Right now, Michigan is experiencing a high level of flu activity, up from a moderate level from just the week before. According to the Center for Disease Control's most recent flu map, Massachusetts, Connecticut, South Carolina, and Idaho are seeing high activity levels, and a few stats are already in the 'very high' activity range. The latest stats from the CDC show that there have been at least 4.6 million fly cases reported across the country. More than 49,000 people have been hospitalized, and 1900 have died.

So, what can you do to protect yourself as you head through the airport over the next few weeks? We asked a doctor.

Watch Ryan's report in the video player below

What to do to protect yourself from the flu as you travel for the holidays

There is a lot of concern from health experts as people travel here through DTW with those flu cases on the rise.

Im super sick right now, and I definitely dont wanna give it to anyone else," said Windsor resident Ethan Brett.

Brett is flying to Bermuda Springs, Florida, with his entire family for the holidays. They all planned it months in advance, but Ethan said he almost didn't make it.

Had to bear down on this family trip," he said. "And, I was thinking about staying home. I didnt sleep last night before the flight. I was just coughing all night. But, you know, I decided just to tough it out for the flight, drug myself up with some cough medicine.

Ethan did get a diagnosis from his doctor.

(They) said it was bronchitis," Ethan said. "But, I definitely dont think, I dont think its bronchitis.

Many passengers traveling out of Detroit Metro Airport are trying to stay safe as flu cases continue rising nationally.\

When I get in the plane, I wipe everything down, the arms, the table, you know, even the head rests they said. Really? Yep, yep. Just wipe away," said Windsor resident Debbie Piece.

The CDC believes the dominant strain causing the surge is Subclade K, a mutation of Influenza A.

Infectious Disease Doctor Jarod Fox with Orland Health says that staying up-to-date with vaccines is critical for those groups.

"Influenza vaccine, our COVID-19 vaccine, getting our boosters, especially for the immuno-compromised and the elderly. The RSV vaccine as well for the older population, our pneumococcal vaccine as well," Dr. Fox said.

And for the millions traveling for the holidays, Dr. Fox said to avoid touching your face. He also recommended wearing a mask and washing hands frequently to help decrease risk.

So, did Debbie ever consider not going on the flight?

Nope. [Laughter] You have to live your life. Right? You cant be afraid," she responded.

If you do have flu symptoms, health experts say you should stay home until you feel better overall and have not had a fever for at least 24 hours.

The holidays are considered one of the most joyful times of the year. But between shopping, cooking, and family dynamics, it can also become a big cause of stress.

According to the American Psychological Association, around 40 percent of adults in the U.S. say their stress increases during the holiday season. But experts I spoke to say there are things you can do to make this time of the year feel less hectic.

Watch Demetrios' report in the video player below

Therapist, nutritionist speak on managing emotions and diets during the holiday season

As holiday celebrations kick into full gear, there's a lot to look forward to. But for some, it doesn't come without added pressure.

"I think it's the expectation of getting gifts for everyone and trying to find a way to make everyone happy," said Royal Oak resident Antonio Dixon.

The stress around the holidays leaves people with different ways to manage it.

"It would be nice to have a little bit of time off to spend more time with your family and friends, but I think you should just worry about the time you can spend with them, not stress about everything else, because that's really what matters," said Diana Evans, who was visiting Royal Oak on Monday.

Heather Rae is the President and CEO of Common Ground in Pontiac, which provides mental health services. She said one of the biggest holiday stressors is overcommitment. This makes it critical to have a plan.

"When you know you're going to be going to some events where it's going to be stressful, think about not necessarily staying the whole time," Rae said. "But have that plan, and it's ok to set boundaries."

She also said limiting comparisons is a big help.

"Those soundbites that we see on social media are just that, they're soundbites," Rae said. "They're often not representations of real life, so be gentle with yourself."

Another place that can create worries during the holidays is the dinner table.

Ashlee Carnahan is the Manager of Nutrition and Education Services at Henry Ford Health. She says there are ways to enjoy your favorite meals without feeling guilty.

"We all go into the holidays setting ourselves up to fail, and we don't want to do that," Carnahan said. "Make half of your plate fruits and vegetables. That way, you can stuill eat the really healthy stuff and feel good but also treat yourself.

Carnahan emphasized the importance of making longer-term lifestyle changes.

"That's going to make you feel overall successful, especially around the holidays, and eliminate that anxiety of eating this and not that."

River Rouge police pulled over dozens of drivers Monday night, but instead of issuing citations, officers handed out holiday gifts that left motorists shocked and grateful.

The city launched "Operation Give Back" for the first time, with Mayor William Campbell partnering with the public safety department to distribute 30 $25 gas gift cards just before the holidays.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: River Rouge police surprise drivers with $25 gas gift cards instead of tickets

"They'll feel like they're getting a ticket and instead of giving them a ticket, we'll give them a gas card in our community," Campbell said. "(It's) just a small token of our appreciation to them."

Body camera footage captured the surprise encounters, showing officers approaching vehicles with flashing lights before revealing the true purpose of the traffic stops.

"You did nothing wrong. Today, we're giving cards away for $25 gift cards," Detective Joshua Smith told a driver who appeared visibly relieved.

Sotirios Arapakis, interim director of public safety, said the initiative holds personal meaning for him.

"It's important to me because I grew up here in the city of River Rouge. I do believe you should give back to the community you work for, let alone having the privilege to serve the community I grew up in," Arapakis said.

Driver reactions ranged from confusion to overwhelming gratitude.

"I'm a little surprised right now. I was like dang, what could I have done? I don't know what I did," Maurice Cooper-Johnson of River Rouge said.

Marquetta Copland, an Uber driver from Detroit who was completing a ride, initially feared the worst.

"My heart was beating because I was taken aback a little bit because I said, that's not for me because I did nothing wrong," Copland said.

For some recipients, the gift cards came at a particularly meaningful time. Jeanie Jaggers said the gas card would help her visit family during the holidays.

"This helps me a lot because I'm on disability, so I'm going to use this for my gas that I really need to go see my grand kids this weekend," Jaggers said.

Several officers and the mayor contributed their own money to fund the holiday giveaway. City officials said they hope to repeat the program next year.

"Just a small token of our appreciation to them of putting us in a place to take care of them," Campbell said.

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.

Four Southfield families have been displaced after a fire caused significant damage at an apartment complex Monday afternoon.

The fire broke out around 3:35 p.m. at Sutton Place apartments near 9 Mile Road and Lahser Road, officials say.

Fire officials say they found flames billowing from the second floor when they arrived, spreading to four apartments.

Everyone got out safely, including cats rescued by firefighters, officials say.

One person is being treated for smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported.

Fire investigators are looking into the cause.

The Salvation Army is helping the families who are now without homes during the holidays.

Police in Dearborn Heights are investigating a crash involving seven vehicles, where they say a driver was drunk.

The crash happened on westbound Warren Avenue near Centralia Street and Beech Daly.

Additional details including information on injuries was not available Monday night.

7 News Detroit will provide more information as it becomes available.

U.S. regulators on Monday gave the green light to a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, the first daily oral medication to treat obesity.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administrations approval handed drugmaker Novo Nordisk an edge over rival Eli Lilly in the race to market an obesity pill. Lillys oral drug, orforglipron, is still under review.

Both pills are GLP-1 drugs that work like widely used injectables to mimic a natural hormone that controls appetite and feelings of fullness.

In recent years, Novo Nordisks injectable Wegovy and Lillys Zepbound have revolutionized obesity treatment globally and in the U.S., where 100 million people have the chronic disease.

The Wegovy pills are expected to be available within weeks, company officials said. Availability of oral pills to treat obesity could expand the booming market for obesity treatments by broadening access and reducing costs, experts said.

RELATED STORY | Medicare Part D recipients to see lower prices on Ozempic, Wegovy and more

About 1 in 8 Americans have used injectable GLP-1 drugs, according to a survey from KFF, a nonprofit health policy research group. But many more have trouble affording the costly shots.

Theres an entire demographic that can benefit from the pills, said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, a Massachusetts General Hospital obesity expert. For me, its not just about who gets it across the finish line first. Its about having these options available to patients.

The Novo Nordisk obesity pill contains 25 milligrams of semaglutide. That's the same ingredient in injectables Wegovy and Ozempic and in Rybelsus, a lower-dose pill approved to treat diabetes in 2019.

In a clinical trial, participants who took oral Wegovy lost 13.6% of their total body weight on average over about 15 months, compared with a 2.2% loss if they took a placebo, or dummy pill. Thats nearly the same as injectable Wegovy, with an average weight loss of about 15%.

Chris Mertens, 35, a pediatric lung doctor in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, joined the Novo Nordisk trial in 2022 and lost about 40 pounds using the Wegovy pill. The daily medication worked to decrease his appetite and invasive thoughts of food, he said.

If there were days where I missed a meal, I almost didnt realize it, Mertens said.

Participants in a clinical trial who took the highest dose of Lillys orforglipron lost 11.2% of their total body weight on average over nearly 17 months, compared with a 2.1% loss in those who took a placebo.

Both pills resulted in less weight loss than the average achieved with Lillys Zepbound, or tirzepatide, which targets two gut hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, and led to a 21% average weight loss.

All the GLP-1 drugs, oral or injectable, have similar side effects, including nausea and diarrhea.

Both daily pills promise convenience, but the Wegovy pill must be taken with a sip of water in the morning on an empty stomach, with a 30-minute break before eating or drinking.

Thats because Novo Nordisk had to design the pill in a way that prevented the drug from being broken down in the stomach before it could be absorbed by the bloodstream. The drugmaker added an ingredient that protects the medication for about 30 minutes in the gut and makes it easier to take effect.

RELATED STORY | White House announces more deals to bring down prescription drug prices

By contrast, Lillys orforglipron has no dosing restrictions. That drug is being considered under the FDAs new priority voucher program aimed at cutting drug approval times. A decision is expected by spring.

Producing pills is generally cheaper than making drugs delivered via injections, so the cost for the new oral medications could be lower. The Trump administration earlier this year said officials had worked with drugmakers to negotiate lower prices for the GLP-1 drugs, which can cost upwards of $1,000 a month.

The company said the starting dose would be available for $149 per month from some providers. Additional information on cost will be available in January.

Its not clear whether daily pills or weekly injections will be preferred by patients. Although some patients dislike needles, others don't seem to mind the weekly injections, obesity experts said. Mertens turned to injectable Zepbound when he regained weight after the end of the Wegovy pill clinical trial.

He said he liked the discipline of the daily pill.

It was a little bit of an intentional routine and a reminder of today Im taking this so that I know my choices are going to be affected for the day, he said.

Dr. Angela Fitch, an obesity expert and chief medical officer of knownwell, a health care company, said whatever the format, the biggest benefit will be in making weight-loss medications more widely accessible and affordable.

Its all about the price, she said. Just give me a drug at $100 a month that is relatively effective.

A person has died after being hit by a garbage truck in Westland on Monday.

The incident happened on Akron Street near Venoy and Glenwood Road and involved a Priority Waste truck.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's and Brittany Toolis' video reports below: Person killed after being hit by garbage truck in Westland, police investigating Person killed after being hit by garbage truck in Westland, police investigating

Additional details werent available Monday night.

The Westland Police Department Traffic Bureau is investigating.

Its sad, really sad, said Hank Jenkins, who lives nearby.

Jenkins lives across the street from the home the tragedy unfolded in front of, which he calls a group home, a place generally known for housing people needing extra help.

Police have been at that house for the last two or three weeks, I can say that, Jenkins said.

D.J. Boone, another neighbor, says hed just seen the person who he believes was the victim dangerously running through the streets and in front of cars, experiencing what he thinks may have been mental health problems.

Ive been seeing the person who was hit run out in front of the cars and stuff like that like he had a problem or something, Boone said. He is a new member at that house.

Its unclear at this time what services this home may or may not provide and to who. But neighbors agree watching an investigation into the death of someone hit and killed by a day-to-day service like picking up the trash is tragic.

So much death around this time of year is just scary man, Jenkins said.

Boone said, "I hope everyone in his family is OK and keep their heads up.

Priority Waste released the following statement Monday night:

Regarding the Westland pedestrian fatal accident Our thoughts and prayers are with the pedestrian's family, and our crew member at this time. Our truck is at the Westland scene and the crew is cooperating with investigators and emergency services.

Major tech companies are warning some of their employees to not leave the U.S. amid mounting delays and cancellations in visa appointments.

Tighter restrictions for visa holders and applicants are wreaking havoc in the tech industry, stranding some workers abroad as the State Department implements new vetting rules for the H-1B visa program and U.S. consulates and embassies work to adjust. The program, which was designed to temporarily bring high skilled workers into the U.S., is primarily used by tech companies like Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and Google. Many of them, through legal counsel, sent out memos to staffers cautioning against international travel if they require a new stamp to re-enter the country.

This move targeting legal immigration comes as part of the Trump administration's ongoing aim to root out what it says is widespread fraud and tighten standards for who is allowed into the country.

In September, the White house said the program has strayed from its original purpose, and is being "deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labor."

"The program is rigged to be anti-worker," Howard University Professor Ron Hira told Scripps News. "It's bad for both the H-1B workers who don't have the same rights as an American worker would have. It's that for the American workers who are being forced to compete with those guest workers, the H1B, workers."

"In reality, employers are using it indiscriminately and because the rules are written so poorly, employers logically from a business point of view prefer H-1B workers over American workers because they're controllable," Hira added. so the employer holds their work permit and therefore their legal status in the U.S. And secondly, H- 1B workers can be paid lower wages than American workers," he added. "So if they ask the worker to jump, the worker is going to say, how high? Because if the worker gets laid off, they're going to have to leave the country."

While companies issued travel warnings to workers still in the country, those who already have gone home to renew their visa during the holiday season are now left in the lurch. For millions of visa applicants, holders and their families, the expanded vetting process means delays that could extend up to a year.

Under a "continuous vetting" process, visa applicants and holders' online presence will face increasing scrutiny. They are being asked to make all of their social media profiles public as the State Department said they are looking for language suggesting "hostile attitudes" toward the U.S., hate speech, and links to or endorsement of terrorist groups.

RELATED NEWS | DHS pauses visa program tied to Brown University shooter

While the new rules for H1-B visas are being hailed by supporters as a way to look out for U.S. workers, some policy experts argue it could hurt recruitment for high-skilled talent as well as innovation in the U.S.

"When companies go and try to recruit on college campuses, they find over 70 percent of the full-time graduate students in key fields like electrical engineering are international Students So it's not really individuals being hired instead of Americans, they're being hired in addition," Stuart Anderson, executive director of the National Foundation for American Policy, told Scripps News.

"If you look at something like artificial intelligence, America wants to be a leader and our companies wanna be leaders. Why not get the best talent? The same way sports teams do. I mean the Dodgers would not have won the World Series without having about four or five of the top immigrant baseball players in the world on their team," Anderson said.

MORE ON IMMIGRATION | US proposes requiring 5 years of social media history from international visitors

In this exclusive edition of In the Shadows, Scripps News correspondent Jason Bellini travels halfway around the world for unprecedented access to Americas most secretive warriors the U.S. Special Forces as they prepare for a conflict no one wants, but everyone is training for: a potential showdown in the Pacific.

We embed with U.S. Special Forces in Australia during Talisman Sabre, the massive 19-nation war game testing how quickly allies could respond if China moved on Taiwan or its neighbors. Then, aboard the AC-130J Ghostrider, the flying gunship that protects elite teams below, we witness a rare night mission precision, power, and restraint fused at 10,000 feet.

Back in the United States, Bellini is granted exclusive access to the Armys new unmanned warfare course, where Rangers and Green Berets are learning to fight with drones lessons drawn directly from Ukraines tech-driven battlefield.

U.S. Special Operations Command, a 70,000-person force built for the shadows, is shifting from counter-terrorism to great-power competition. In a region where Chinas military expansion and drone dominance are reshaping the balance of power, Americas quietest warriors are racing to adapt from the skies above Sydney to the forests of North Carolina.

From midnight boat raids to thermal imagery and the thrum of the Ghostriders guns, this episode captures a military in metamorphosis evolving to out-think and out-fight in a world where wars begin with signals, sensors, and seconds.

A social media post promoting a high school basketball game between Livonia Stevenson and Dearborn's Fordson has sparked controversy in the community, with Arab and Muslim families saying the image was culturally insensitive while the district maintains it was a misunderstood movie reference.

Watch Faraz Javed's video report: Fordson community calls for action after controversial social media post

The controversy centers around a now-deleted Instagram post that promoted the boys' basketball game.

Livonia Public Schools says the image was inspired by Bruce Willis' Die Hard movie franchise and was created by a Stevenson student on a non-official account. But in an apology letter sent to Rhonda Mohammad, a Fordson alumna whose two children, ages 17 and 15, played in the game, the account is referred to as associated with the Stevenson boys' basketball team.

"I just want people to understand how it feels to be a Middle Eastern. And until you have walked in our shoes, don't ask me to validate the way that I feel," said Mohammad.

Mohammad questioned why the post was deleted if it wasn't school-related, noting that student-athletes typically need approval for school-related social media posts.

"If it wasn't a school account, then why was it deleted? If it was not related to the school, which we all know, I'm an athlete, I have athletes. Anytime you post anything that's involved with your school, it has to be cleared," Mohammad said.

Fordson High School has a predominantly Arab and Muslim American student body.

In an official statement, a Livonia Public Schools spokesperson said the district investigated and found that "the student who created the post was referencing a Die Hard movie, thus the movie poster theme of the graphic, and never intended to allude to the tragic 9/11 attacks. Our school and district administration has addressed the situation directly with all appropriate individuals."

The district also sent a letter to parents apologizing for the incident, but Mohammad said that response isn't sufficient.

"No, absolutely not. This pattern of behavior that falls on not only Fordson students, but Dearborn Public School students," Mohammad said.

Both Mohammad and Mike Ayoub, another Fordson alumnus, say incidents involving profanity and racial slurs toward Fordson athletes are common occurrences.

"(Expletive) you Arabs, you Muslims, references to Palestine, references to blowing up the school here in Dearborn. It's just like, okay, what's going on here? Where's all this coming from? You know, and that's what alarms us really," Ayoub said.

Ayoub, a former Fordson athlete, said he experienced similar treatment in the 1980s.

"It hurts that in 2025 that our kids are still going through this," Ayoub said.

FULL INTERVIEW: Mike Ayoub talks about social media post FULL INTERVIEW: Mike Ayoub talks about social media post

Mohammad believes there would be different consequences if the situation were reversed.

"If the roles were reversed, our team would probably be suspended," Mohammad said.

Rather than seeking punishment, Ayoub said the community wants understanding and education.

"We're not looking for punishment. We're looking for understanding. We're looking for this to be a teaching moment," Ayoub said.

Mohammad called for action from school administrators and athletic associations.

"The adults need to step up. The schools, the ADs, and the MHSAA need to step up," Mohammad said.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association says they are ready to connect with both schools to assist in addressing these concerns. Stevenson's head basketball coach and athletic director have not responded to requests for comment.

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

A Detroit man is charged with several animal abuse-related charges after two of his three emaciated dogs froze to death, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Watch Darren Cunningham's video report: Man charged after dogs freeze to death, advocates stress bringing pets indoors

When temperatures drop, animal advocates stress bringing dogs inside for their health and safety.

Chantal Rzewnicki, founder of the KARENS, or K9 Animal Rescue Emergency Networking System, made her rounds around the city of Detroit to check on dogs left out in the cold. 7 News Detroit met up with her at a home on Lesure Street.

"This dog does live outside. Sadly, even though it's against the law, to get that enforced in Detroit is extremely tough," she said.

Rzewnicki said someone concerned about the pooch contacted her organization, and she talked with the owner who agreed to let her bring over a proper dog house to replace a makeshift shelter.

"They were very receptive. Most people are. We give away whatever's needed to make the life better for the dogs," she explained.

But sadly, for three dogs living outside of a home on the 18700 block of Kennebec Street, it was too late.

On the Dec. 18, Detroit police said they arrested Martell George after two of the three emaciated dogs froze to death.

7 News Detroit paid him a visit after his release from jail. He declined to comment.

The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office charged the 39-year-old with three counts of killing and torturing an animal, which carries a maximum seven-year penalty.

He's also charged with two counts of abandoning and cruelty resulting in death and one count of animal abandoning and cruelty.

We're told the surviving dog received medical attention and remains in the care of animal control.

"It's heartbreaking. We came across a lot of cases this year. I would say this year has been the worst yet. Last weekend, in the cold spell, we took 12 dogs off properties that were, nobody was there, dogs were outside in crates with no nothing, 7 degrees out, bloody paws," Rzewnicki said.

Tim Beasley and his dogs are beneficiaries of the KARENS. He said the organization has been helping him with care and supplies for three years.

"If I don't bring 'em in, then she's calling me up to make sure I bring 'em in. And then I even send her a picture," he chuckled.

Rzewnicki said for most breeds, if an owner is cold, that owner can assume their dog is too.

"Depending on the temperature, technically your dog cannot be tied out in the city of Detroit for longer than three hours. I will tell you, there are a lot of animals that live outside 24/7," she said.

To report potential animal neglect in Detroit, call the Detroit Animal Care and Control (DACC) hotline at 313-922-DOGS (3647). If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact the Karens at their Facebook page.

A $1 million Powerball ticket was sold at Mr. A's Party Shoppe on Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe Farms, marking the second million-dollar winner on the east side in just months.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Million-dollar Powerball ticket sold at Grosse Pointe Farms party store

The winning ticket has left customers and the store owner wondering who the lucky winner might be.

"I am happy for my customers," said Vince DiLorenzo, who has owned Mr. A's for over 30 years.

DiLorenzo said he's excited for whoever won the prize, especially since many of his customers are regulars.

"We've got a lot of regular customers, and I am glad for them because it could be one of them. I could know who won," DiLorenzo said.

WEB EXTRA: Lottery players talk about store selling $1 million winner WEB EXTRA: Lottery players talk about store selling $1 million winner

This marks the second time in recent months that a million-dollar Powerball ticket has been sold on the east side. In September, a million-dollar Powerball ticket was sold at a CVS just half a mile away from Mr. A's.

According to the lottery commission, the odds of winning $1 million are one in 11,688,054.

"It doesn't matter where you play. It just matters that you do play. That's what is going to give you a chance to win," said Jake Harris from the Michigan Lottery Commission.

The Powerball jackpot has grown to over $1.6 billion, with the next drawing scheduled for Monday night. The odds of winning the jackpot are one in 292 million, according to the Powerball organization.

"You never know when you might be purchasing that lucky ticket that is going to win you a big prize. It doesn't matter if you play at your local retailer or online, your odds to win the prizes are exactly the same," Harris said.

Regular customers at Mr. A's are hoping for their own lucky break. William Lindsey, who has won at the store before, bought several tickets for the upcoming drawing.

"I am going to try tonight. Tonight's going to be the night," Lindsey said.

Lindsey previously won $10,000 at the store, describing the moment he discovered his prize.

"I had won 10,000, and I kept scanning my ticket here and wondering what's going on, the readers not working, and come to find out it was 10 grand," Lindsey said.

Other customers like Sherry Freeman initially thought they might have won the million-dollar prize.

"I still wish it was me, but congratulations to the winner," Freeman said.

Players are already making plans for what they would do if they won Monday's jackpot.

Dan Riordon said he's "hoping to get a little piece of it," while Paula Riordon said she would share her winnings: "Some for me and some for everybody else."

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.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan delivered his final report on the city's residential blight removal program, marking the near completion of one of his signature campaign promises. The program has dramatically reduced abandoned homes owned by the Detroit Land Bank from 47,000 to fewer than 1,000.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report: Detroit's blight removal program reduces abandoned homes from 47,000 to under 1,000

A recent University of Michigan study shows total home values have increased from $4.2 billion in 2014 to $8.8 billion in 2023.

"It was unbelievable, the conditions the neighborhoods. One out of every five houses in the city of Detroit was vacant. The city had been demolishing houses at the rate of 25 a week," Duggan said.

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When Duggan took office, Detroit faced a massive blight crisis with more than 47,000 abandoned Land Bank-owned homes scattered across the city.

"I ran on a platform that every neighborhood had a future and that we could erase blight," Duggan said.

12 years later, that number has dropped to just 942 homes. The city demolished more than 18,000 homes and sold more than 9,000 during Duggan's tenure.

"Since 2020, we've actually sold more vacant houses in this city than we have knocked down. That was a tipping point for the city," Duggan said.

Of the remaining homes, 240 are scheduled for demolition within the next six months, and more than 700 are expected to be sold by the end of next year.

The mayor recapped the two phases of the successful demolition effort: Phase 1, with $265 million in federal funding under the Hardest Hit Fund program, and Phase 2, with the $250 million Proposal N bond approval.

Hardest Hit Fund Phase (2014-2020)

Funding Demolitions Home Sales/Renovations

$265 Million 18,701 9,043

Proposal N Phase (2021-2025)

Funding Demolitions Home Sales/Renovations

$250 Million 8,277 (8,000 promised) 10,037 (8,000 promised)

Duggan highlighted the Marygrove-Fitzgerald community as one area where transformation has been particularly dramatic.

"That was where we started. Those were beautiful homes. That neighborhood was probably 35-40% vacant when I started. Those houses are now going for $150,000 to $250,000, and if you go talk, go find any neighbor in Marygrove that lived there in 2014 and talk about the transformation of that neighborhood. It is a beautiful neighborhood again, as it was when I was a kid. I remember it when I was a kid," Duggan said.

Cailyb Jordan, who has lived in the Marygrove neighborhood his whole life and now owns a home there, can attest to the changes.

"As a kid, it wasn't your best neighborhood to - I only had corner to corner to ride your bike from, essentially, from like the gardens, the community parks that we have built up, just giving the opportunity more to our neighborhood than we had before, and the upkeep of it has just been top tier," Jordan said.

As Duggan prepares to leave office, he says funding is secured for the work to continue, even as the city investigates and tests potentially contaminated backfill.

To successfully close out Proposal N environmentally, Duggan says the city must remove contaminated soil from every site at which contractors used unacceptable and possibly contaminated backfill.

The City has retained the environmental consulting firm Mannik & Smith Group and says it is testing every single site with a suspicion of contaminated backfill. Mayor Duggan outlined the two investigations underway:

<ol start="1"><li>Iron Horse of Michigan, Inc. supplied several City contractors with soil from its sand and gravel pit in Milford Township that it represented was undisturbed, native soil. Soil from Iron Horses Milford facility has been used to backfill 424 demolition sites in Detroit.&nbsp; City testing has shown elevated levels of contaminants in soil at multiple sites supplied by Iron Horse, suggesting the strong probability that Iron Horse supplied contaminated and recycled soil.&nbsp; The City issued an order on November 3 suspending Iron Horse as an approved backfill source and has turned the matter over for investigation to EGLE, the State environmental agency responsible for environmental regulation and enforcement of sand and gravel pits.&nbsp; While the State investigation is ongoing, the City continues to test each one of the Iron Horse sites and is promptly removing any soil found to have contaminants at unacceptable levels. While earlier media reports characterized this issue as attributable to one demolition company Gayanga the investigation has shown that all City contractors using Iron Horse backfill have experienced the same level of elevated contaminants. </li><li>The Detroit Office of Inspector General (OIG) reported this summer that demolition contractor Gayanga Co. LLC may have intentionally used backfill from unapproved sources. In September, Mayor&nbsp;Duggan&nbsp;asked the Detroit Police Department to open a criminal investigation into whether such activity occurred, who was responsible, and whether there was a basis for pursuing potential fraud charges against any individual.&nbsp; So far, 24 Gayanga sites have been found to have unacceptably high contaminant levels (not including sites where Gayanga used soil supplied by Iron Horse).&nbsp; The soil from all of these sites has already been removed by the City.&nbsp; Including sites where Gayanga used soil from Iron Horse, the City has removed soil from 58 sites to date, and the work is ongoing.&nbsp; In addition, in the 3-month investigation to date, DPD has identified 49 other suspect Gayanga sites, all of which are now being tested.</li></ol>

The Mayor indicated that the City has retained $15 million in the Proposal N Closeout fund.

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.

Vince Zampella, one of the creators behind such best-selling video games as Call of Duty, has died. He was 55.

Video game company Electronic Arts said Zampella died Sunday. The company did not disclose a cause of death.

In 2010, Zampella founded Respawn Entertainment, a subsidiary of EA, and he also was the former chief executive of video game developer Infinity Ward, the studio behind the successful Call of Duty franchise.

A spokesperson for Electronic Arts said in a statement on Monday that Zampella's influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching."

A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come, a company spokesperson wrote.

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One of Zampella's crowning achievements was the creation of the "Call of Duty" franchise, which has sold more than half a billion games worldwide,

The first person shooter game debuted in 2003 as a World War II simulation and has sold over 500 million copies globally. Subsequent versions have delved into modern warfare and there is a live-action movie based on the game in production with Paramount Pictures.

In recent years, Zampella has been at the helm of the creation of the action adventure video games "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order" and "Star Wars Jedi: Survivor."

America's obsession with the lottery is growing as jackpots balloon.

Monday's $1.6 billion Powerball drawing is the fifth largest pot in U.S. lottery history.

And it's part of a trend of growing jackpots. The top five largest have all come in the last three years.

"The prize gets bigger, it gets bigger, it gets bigger, and it snowballs. More people start playing, it gets even bigger. More people started playing, it gets even bigger and then lo and behold, a couple of weeks go by and you get to a billion dollars," says Jonathan Cohen, author of "For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America."

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Cohen says bigger jackpots are by design.

"The people who run the lottery have made it harder to win because people, people who buy tickets, care a lot more about the size of the jackpot than they do about their odds of winning."

In 2015, Powerball increased the range of numbers for the first five white balls, giving players slimmer odds of perfectly matching each number and taking home the grand prize.

Higher ticket prices are driving up jackpots, too.

Powerball upped prices in 2012 to two dollars per ticket, and in April Mega Millions increased its ticket price to five dollars.

"A share of every ticket, it depends on sort of over time, it's changed over time. But it's maybe a half or a third of every tick is going to go not just to prizes, but specifically to the top prize," Cohen says.

Another factor in enormous jackpots is the Federal Reserve.

Lotteries advertise the deferred annuity payment a winner would get if they got paid out over about 30 years. Because the Fed's interest rate has been relatively higher over the past few years, lotteries are able to advertise bigger jackpots.

"The most important thing is the size of the prize that can go on a billboard," Cohen says. "Any little trick of financial management they can do to project a slightly higher jackpot if you were to take the multi-year annuity, they're going to do it because that's how they know they get people in the door in the first place."

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