State health officials warn air quality could reach unhealthy levels as early as Wednesday, with haze likely visible in the sky. It is the first statewide wildfire smoke alert of the summer, and officials warn it could last for multiple days.

7 First Alert Chief Meteorologist Dave Rexroth is tracking the path of the smoke and says conditions will worsen throughout the day Wednesday. He says a shifting weather pattern not just the fires themselves is responsible for directing the smoke toward Southeast Michigan.

Watch Brett Kast's video report below: Canadian wildfire smoke returns to Michigan, prompting statewide air quality alert Watch Kiara Hay's video report below: Canadian wildfire smoke returns to Michigan, prompting statewide air quality alert

"That heat bubble that's been protecting us from the flow, that's why we've been dry and haven't had storms. That starts to break down a little bit, so the flow starts coming from Minnesota," Rexroth said.

Rexroth also warned that the worst air quality may come later in the day.

"By the time the sun goes down, people might be excited about a pretty sunset, but the quality is going to get worse and worse at that time," Rexroth said.

While the poor air quality can sometimes be seen with the naked eye, a local Detroit startup company called JustAir tracks it through data collected from roughly 130 air quality monitors throughout Southeast Michigan.

JustAir's data maps use a network of monitors that can pinpoint air quality down to individual neighborhoods. The Detroit-based startup works with local governments including Detroit and Dearborn and is now operating in 13 states. JustAir's Founder Darren Riley says the company's core mission is keeping the public informed.

"You know better, you do better," Riley said. "If we have more information, we equip more people and spread more awareness. When events happen like this, people will be better prepared."

Health officials warn that thick wildfire smoke contains particulates that can be unhealthy for everyone but especially for those with conditions like asthma. Riley, who has asthma himself, says having advance information is critical to staying prepared.

"It's a good opportunity to make sure my rescue inhaler is filled... that's why forecasting is so important, to make sure you have what you need," Riley said.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, whose state is also dealing with the effects of the fires, says the situation is likely to grow.

"I think it's inevitable that we're going to see quite a few more and I think we're going to see some spread on this. We will do our best to do what we can to contain," Walz said.

Walz added that the region may be at the beginning of a prolonged stretch of fire activity.

"I just kind of think we're on the front end of what's going to be a long summer on the wildfire front," Walz said.

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As cyclosporiasis cases continue to grow, many consumers are apprehensive about buying and eating produce.

Planted Detroit, an indoor vertical farm on the east side of Detroit, grows fresh produce 365 days a year from kale to broccoli to bok choy. The company grows ingredients for salad kits and sells produce at stores like Plum Market and Meijer. It is an industry now feeling the impact of a cyclosporiasis outbreak.

Watch Brett Kast's video report below: Michigan cyclosporiasis outbreak likely largest in US history, health officials say Watch Ryan Marshall's video report below Cyclosporiasis cases surge past 2,600 in Michigan

"Cyclosporiasis is a little bit trickier because it's not something we normally test for," Dorian Ahler, chief operating officer of Planted Detroit, said.

With consumers apprehensive about fresh produce, Ahler says the company is doubling down on already existing safety standards. Before entering the indoor farm, visitors put on shoe covers, sanitize their feet and hands, and wear hair nets measures the company always takes and wants customers to know about.

"Our risk isn't zero because we still get city water, however a lot of the standards we maintain and practices we have operating this farm, those risks are dramatically mitigated," Ahler said. While we get our water from the City main like everyone else does for drinking water, it does go through an extra filtration process.

As investigaiton into the source continues, the Great Lakes Water Authority issued a statement saying their water remains safe.

"There is no current evidence indicating that the drinking water supplied by the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) is the source or contributes to the outbreak," the company said in a statement. "GLWA's multi-layered water treatment process is specifically designed to remove this type of contaminant from the drinking water it provides to its member communities."

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, has identified lettuce and salad greens as the potential culprit, but they have not ruled out other sources and the exact product or products remain unknown. Instead of buying bagged salads, officials suggest buying whole heads of lettuce, discarding the outer leaves and thoroughly washing the remaining greens. Cooking greens when possible offers the best protection against the parasite.

"If it's an item you can peel, peel it. If it's an item you can cook, cook it," said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state's chief medical executive.

Watch our full interview with Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian below: FULL INTERVIEW: Michigan's Chief Medical Executive, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, updates the cyclosporiasis situation

Bagdasarian says the usual number of cases in Michigan is 40 to 50 per year. With a current count of over 2,600 cases and growing quickly, the scale is unprecedented.

This is the largest cyclosporiasis outbreak that we've seen here in Michigan, and based on the numbers here in Michigan alone, this may be the largest cyclosporiasis outbreak nationally as well.

Dr. Bagdasarian cautions that the investigation takes time, as symptoms can take more than a week to appear and testing can be delayed.

"The cases that are being reported to us today are likely not folks exposed over the weekend they are likely people who were exposed several weeks ago," Bagdasarian said.

Previous coverage: Early results point to lettuce or salad greens as potential source for cyclosporiasis outbreak MDHHS releases new recommendations for cyclosporiasis amid spike in cases

Dr. Ali Shuayto, owner of The Heights Urgent Care in Dearborn Heights, says he has seen an influx of patients with intestinal issues and is testing more patients for the parasite than ever before, but results can take anywhere from three to seven days.

"We start testing for it immediately, and we're getting a significant number of positives coming back," Shuayto said. We're sending off that stool sample, the labs obviously are backed up now, so usually five to seven days. Sometimes, we get them back in three days. It just depends."

Until now, Shuayto says he had never tested a patient for the parasite. He also works as a doctor in a nearby emergency room, and says as word spreads, he is seeing more and more patients coming in looking for a test.

"They have one bout of diarrhea, so they're like 'oh man I got to get checked out, I definitely have this bug.' And it's definitely not a bad thing go get checked out for sure but there's still normal diarrhea out there as well. It's not always the parasite," Shuayto cautioned.

Shuayto estimates roughly 20% of those who come in for testing have a positive result. Once the results come back, treatment begins.

"What we do at our urgent care here is we offer IV hydration now to make sure those people that do seem dehydrated, we're able to give them that fluid, Shuayto said. A lot of these people we are treating are feeling relief after their course of the antibiotics.

Previous coverage: Patient shares his cyclosporiasis experience Cyclosporiasis outbreak nears 1,000 cases in Michigan; patient shares his experience

As health officials continue to investigate the exact product and source, produce consumers and providers are hoping for answers soon.

"The sooner we are able to trace it back to its origins, the better it's going to be for the entire produce industry," Ahler 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.

A cyclosporiasis outbreak is spreading across 18 states, with Michigan being the hardest hit. Cases in the state this summer are already 20 times higher than normal, with nearly 1,000 reported as of July 8, mostly in Southeast Michigan.

The microscopic parasite causes an intestinal illness that can lead to explosive diarrhea and has resulted in dozens of hospitalizations.

Watch Brett Kast's video report below: Cyclosporiasis outbreak nears 1,000 cases in Michigan; patient shares his experience Watch Kiara Hay's video report below Cyclosporiasis outbreak nears 1,000 cases in Michigan; patient shares his experience

Larry Hall, a Lenawee County resident, first noticed he was sick June 28. By June 30, he had called out of work with a severe stomach illness that quickly took a turn.

"I was getting touches of diarrhea, didn't think much of it," Hall said.

The situation soon became critical.

"Started to throw up and blacked out, hit the floor," Hall said.

His wife called for an ambulance, and doctors quickly suspected Hall was sick with cyclosporiasis, caused by a parasite sometimes found on fresh produce. After three days in the hospital, he recovered with an antibiotic but warns the illness is no joke.

"Electrolyte readings were extremely low. Then I heard the doctor say 'Ive never seen this before.' My magnesium did not even register, Hall said. "The diarrhea, it is absolutely horrible, the nature of how powerful it is with this parasite."

Watch our previous coverage on Cyclosporiasis below: MDHHS: More than 900 cyclosporiasis cases now reported in Michigan

Dr. Teena Chopra, a professor of infectious diseases at Wayne State University, explained how the parasite works in the body.

"It multiplies in the small intestine and causes inflammation, so that's what prevents the water from being absorbed, so there's explosive diarrhea," Chopra said.

Chopra said the constant diarrhea leads to dehydration. No exact cause of the outbreak is known, and tracing it can be very difficult.

"Usually after infection, it can take anywhere from one to two weeks for symptoms to be seen, and by that time, a patient forgets what they ate," Chopra said.

Hall himself is among those who cannot pinpoint the exact source.

"I don't know where I got it from," Hall said. "Just about one of three places is what we can trace it down to."

Health officials say one way to help prevent infection is to thoroughly wash fresh produce. Inside Shed 5 at Eastern Market, the Detroit Food Academy a nonprofit working with youth ages 10 to 24 teaches that skill and more.

Ederique Goudia, a board member for the Detroit Food Academy and a certified food safety instructor, said food safety is the first priority.

"We're getting them right at middle school and showing them culinary, cooking, also entrepreneurship. But of course, food safety is the first thing that we talk about dealing with the kitchen," Goudia said. "We want to make sure whatever we eat and put in our mouth is clean."

Goudia said the key to washing produce is to use running water that is slightly warmer than the produce itself.

"This doesn't have to be hot. We don't want to break down any of that cellular structure of our fruits and vegetables, but we do want it warmer," Goudia said.

Leafy vegetables should be pulled apart and thoroughly rinsed, while firmer vegetables can be scrubbed clean. Water alone is all that is needed, and everything should be washed even items labeled pre-washed.

"I would still recommend washing it even if it does say pre-washed, absolutely. Especially right now," Goudia said.

Health officiacls also suggest buying whole heads of lettuce and say cooking is the safest way to prevent infection.

For more information and tips from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, visit their website.

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 distraught mother stood outside a Dearborn gas station pleading with police after her newborn was accidentally locked inside her car along with her keys on a hot June day.

Body camera footage from the June 8 incident shows officers responding to the scene outside an Amoco gas station, where a clerk says he helped the mother call for help.

Watch Brett Kast's video report below: Baby rescued from locked car in Dearborn, officials warn heat wave can be deadly

"Obviously, there's a baby inside and it's really hot, so we didn't want to waste any time. We called the cops," clerk Abe Nahshal said.

Nahshal said the mother was looking for help. Police and the mother waited for a tow truck to open the door, but responding officers felt time was running out.

Body camera footage captures the moment officers used a tool to shatter the car window, open the door and immediately hear the baby's cries.

"Our officers responded. They quickly assessed the scene. They determined immediately this was a dangerous situation," Dearborn Police Cpl. Dan Bartok said. The officers made some great decisions that day because with the temperature as hot as it was, it could only take minutes for the temperature inside to become deadly."

Watch the body camera video below: Web extra: Bodycam video shows Dearborn officers rescue baby from locked car

Officers on scene reported the baby was just 1 month old.

"Babies can't tolerate that level of heat for very long we're talking minutes," Bartok said.

With temperatures expected to surpass 90 degrees, a car can become dangerously hot inside very quickly once it is turned off.

"It can be devastating within minutes, especially in the car there's no running circulation," Dr. Patricia Paz-Arabo said.

Paz-Arabo is the emergency physician chair at Trinity Health Livonia. She says cases like this are not uncommon.

"We do see it, sadly. We still see it. Sometimes, infants can be forgotten in the back seat, especially when they fall asleep. Sometimes, it's inadvertent," Paz-Arabo said.

According to noheatstroke.org, there were 33 heat stroke deaths from children left in cars last year nationwide, and six so far this year. The most recent happened on June 20 in Florida, when a 3-year-old boy was found dead in a car parked outside his family's home in suburban Tampa.

"Those are really the patients that keep us up at night," Paz-Arabo said. "These dangerous heats with very high humidity poses a very severe risk for our young and our elderly.

Paz-Arabo says young children cannot regulate body temperature the way adults can. Police are urging parents, caregivers and bystanders to stay hydrated and vigilant.

"We have several days of very hot weather, very high humidity coming up and it's important that parents, guardians take time to check their back seats and make sure no children, no pets are left inside the vehicle," Bartok said.

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Fans from across the country packed Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit on Wednesday for the 2026 PWHL Draft, celebrating the league's expansion into Hockeytown.

The Professional Women's Hockey League, which is entering its fourth year, has doubled from six to 12 teams. Detroit is one of the league's newest cities.

Watch Brett Kast's video report below: PWHL Draft brings fans from across the country to downtown Detroit for historic 2026 event

Mike Chau and Trish Golden, superfans of the New York Sirens one of the league's original six franchises made the trip from New York City specifically for the event.

"When I found out the draft was in Detroit, I had to make the trip out here," Chau said.

Mary Smith, a Detroit women's hockey fan and soon-to-be season ticket holder, grew up playing hockey in metro Detroit. She said the draft's arrival in her city moved her emotionally.

"I might have shed a few tears," Smith said. Seeing in my almost 40-year-old age, a professional team just accelerate is really exciting.

Related video: PWHL Detroit GM Manon Rhaume speaks at awards ceremony in Detroit Manon Rhaume, GM of Detroit's PWHL team, talks with us at awards ceremony

Smith said she is most excited about what the league means for young girls playing the sport today.

"The fact they have an opportunity to go pro, I want to cry just thinking about it," Smith said.

Related story: Here's who PWHL Detroit selected in the 2026 draft

Outside the theater, young fans Ella Benson, Emma Van Royen and Mikaela Van Royen, who traveled from South Bend, Indiana, collected autographs from draft picks, including Olympic gold medalist Laila Edwards.

"It just shows that there's something for girls to have to keep wanting to play and prove girls can do anything boys can do," Emma said.

Inside Fox Theatre, Ellie Muscedere and Naomi Tink wore youth jerseys honoring their former teammates Laila Edwards and Casey Borgiel who were among the players being drafted.

"We got a lot of friends that are supposed to get drafted and are from the Detroit area that we grew up playing with, so it's a big deal for us to support our friends," Muscedere said.

Edwards was selected third overall. Borgiel, who is from Port Huron, was picked in the second round by Detroit.

"I'm almost crying watching them get picked. It's so cool to see their hard work paying off," Tink said.

Golden said the moment carries significance beyond the sport itself.

"Woman athletes don't ever get to just be athletes, they don't get to just show up, do good with their talents and go home and get this big paycheck. They have to be their own advocates, own promoter and they're always advocating for the next generation," Golden said.

Related video: Olympic gold medalist Megan Keller partners with NHL Foundation on $100K girls hockey grant Megan Keller and NHL Foundation launch $100K girls hockey grant

After the draft, the next question for Detroit's new franchise is what the team's name will be.

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 manslaughter trial begins Tuesday for a former Warren police officer accused of killing two people when he crashed his police vehicle into an SUV while responding to a call.

Former Warren Police Officer James Burke was on duty in September 2024 when prosecutors say he was driving more than 115 miles per hour without his lights or sirens on while responding to a be-on-the-lookout call. Burke crashed into a white Dodge Durango at Schoenherr Road near Prospect Avenue, killing Cedric Hayden and Dejuan Pettis.

Watch Brett Kast's video report below: Manslaughter trial begins for Warren officer in 2024 crash that killed 2 Watch Faraz Javed's video report below Manslaughter trial begins for Warren officer in 2024 crash that killed two

The case moves forward Tuesday morning with jury selection at Macomb County Circuit Court.

James Harrington, president and CEO of Fieger Law, is representing both families in a civil case. He said the families have been anxiously awaiting the criminal trial.

"Dejuan and Cedric were fathers. They had children. They had two children each. They had family that misses them, who love them, and every day that goes on is another day they don't have answers, they don't have justice," Harrington said.

Both families were in court during pre-trial hearings, where dash camera and surveillance video of the fatal crash was shown.

Harrington said jury selection is a deliberate process.

October 2024 coverage: Vigil held in Warren for 2 best friends who died in crash that also injured 2 officers Vigil held in Warren for friends who died in crash that also injured officers

"Usually, this is a process that takes quite a bit of time where all of the parties are asking questions of jurors to learn about them and whether they can be fair and impartial jurors," Harrington said.

While prosecutors will argue Burke's reckless driving caused the deaths of Hayden and Pettis, Burke's defense team will argue the Durango made an improper left turn and that the occupants were driving under the influence when the crash happened.

June 2025 coverage: Video shows deadly crash involving Warren police; officer appears in court Video showing deadly accident involving Warren police shown

Burke's attorney, Marc Curtis, addressed the question of emergency lights.

"You're driving down the road in your patrol car and you're trying to catch up to a suspect and there's no one between you and that suspect are you going to activate your emergency lights?" Curtis asked a witness.

"No," the witness responded.

Harrington expects the jury to be selected and seated on the first day of trial.

"Whether or not the prosecution will put on witnesses or introduce evidence I don't know, but certainly, jury selection and openings should be completed by tomorrow," Harrington 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.