Good news for 4th of July road trippers: A gallon of regular gas will cost 34 cents less than it did last year.
GasBuddy says the nationwide average price will be $3.15 per gallon, the cheapest since 2021.
Southern states offer the best fuel prices right now, according to AAA, with prices ringing in at less than $3. Gas is currently most expensive on the West Coast, where a gallon of regular in Washington State will cost more than $4.
The relatively low prices are expected to contribute to a glut of on-road travel for the long holiday weekend: some 62 million Americans are forecasted to make a road trip this July 4th.
David Bennett, senior automotive manager at AAA, spoke to Scripps News about preparing for a busier-than-usual road trip season.
Bennett recommends that drivers take their vehicles in for routine maintenance before hitting the road. For those short on time or money, he suggests at least checking tire tread and topping off essential fluids.
Once on the road, Bennett advises travelers to pack water and nonperishable food in case of an emergency. He also recommends carrying a first aid kit and basic tools.
President Trump on Tuesday threatened New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani with arrest, should he be elected and follow through with a campaign promise to "stop masked ICE agents from deporting our neighbors."
Speaking on Tuesday during a visit to a new migrant detention facility just opened in Florida, President Trump said the Justice Department would react swiftly to any such obstruction to ICE's operations.
"Well then, we'll have to arrest him," President Trump said.
"Look, we don't need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I'm going to be watching over him very carefully on behalf of the nation," he said.
The comments are President Trump's latest attack on Mamdani, who he called a "total nut job" earlier on Tuesday.
"A lot of people are saying he's here illegally," Trump said, without evidence, on Tuesday.
On Sunday, President Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from New York if, should Mamdani be elected mayor, he didn't "behave himself."
"If he does get in, Im going to be president, and hes going to have to do the right thing, or theyre not getting any money. Hes got to do the right thing or theyre not getting any money," President Trump said in an interview with Fox News.
Mamdani, who formally clinched a win over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the state's Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday, has called President Trump's latest comments "intimidation."
"His statements don't just represent an attack on our democracy but an attempt to send a message to every New Yorker who refuses to hide in the shadows: if you speak up, they will come for you," Mamdani said. "We will not accept this intimidation."
A human-sized robot casually walking down 7 Mile Road in Detroit has captured viral attention online and stopped pedestrians in their tracks.
The robot, named Zion, is part of a promotion for an upcoming robot battle event in the city.
Watch Carli Petrus' video report below: Robot seen walking down the road in Detroit
Eddie Abro, who works on 7 Mile, couldn't believe what he was seeing when he encountered the robot.
"I couldn't believe it. I've seen it on TV. I've never seen it in live motion the way it's walking and all that. It's beautiful," Abro said.
The unusual sight also caused Michelle Pryor to pull over and investigate.
"Reminds me of the movie 'RoboCop'," Pryor said.
Art Cartwright, the robot's owner and founder of Interactive Combat League, explained that the robot is harmless and part of his mission to bring robot technology to Detroit.
"This is really the only place that I can think of in America where you can actually see robots live, in person, real robots, right here at robowars.com," Cartwright said.
The robot seen on 7 Mile was promoting the upcoming RoboWar event scheduled for July 19.
"It's amazing. It's for the family. Anyone can come," Cartwright said.
Watch video of robot Zion in action below: Web extra: Robot Zion walks down 7 Mile Road in Detroit ahead of battle event
But Cartwright's mission extends beyond robot battles. He's giving Detroit youth the opportunity to learn advanced technology including 16-year-old Jacobi Wilson, who is learning to operate a robot named Quantum.
"It's amazing, but they're picking up on it fast. I mean, you can just give them the remote, tell them how to do it and they're learning robotics, they're learning the entire spectrum of it. But I think they're more trusting of the new technology than some of the older people are," Cartwright said.
Watch our extended interview with Art Cartwright in the video player below: Extended interview: Art Cartwright talks about RoboWar event in Detroit
Initially hesitant, Pryor now says she'll definitely attend the next RoboWar event.
"Yes, yes, this is just amazing," Pryor said.
Those interested in attending the July 19 event can find ticket information at robowar.com.
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.
An argument lead to a deadly punch at a Detroit gas station at the intersection of McNichols Road and Guston Street on Friday.
Sam Spruill Jr., 44, was the man who died in the incident. 7 News Detroit spoke with his father, Sam Spruill Sr.
Watch Darren Cunningham's video report below: Father speaks after son killed in gas station assault
Ever since he was a little kid, we always end the conversation (with) Dad, I love you. And I say it to him," Sam Spruill Sr. explained.
He told 7 News Detroit that little did he know, Thursday night would be the last time hed hear his son's voice.
The next day, two detectives knocked on his door.
To hear that my son had been murdered, it was a shock," Sam Spruill Sr. recalled.
According to the Wayne County Prosecutors Office, Sam Spruill Jr. and another man got into an argument at the gas station on Detroits east side.
Police arrested Rayshawn Barber. The 26-year-old was arraigned on Monday.
Prosecutors said Barber started to walk away and then allegedly sucker-punched Sam Spruill Jr. The victim fell and hit his head on the ground.
Sadly, he died from his injuries.
After the defendant had hit the complainant, he said, 'I told you to shut up talking to me,'" attorney Lisa Coyle with the city of Detroit Law Department told the judge.
"And I also noted... he returned to the gas station and saw the complainant not moving, but he did nothing to aid the complainant."
Sam Spruill Sr. said, I think about why would someone take someones life? What could he have done? What could my son had possibly done to him to want my son losing his life?
The prosecutor said Barber has a history of assault and also home invasion. Hes now charged with involuntary manslaughter and if convicted, Barber could spend 15 years in prison.
"He has to deal with the consequences, whatever the law says," Sam Spruill Sr. told 7 News Detroit.
It just so happens Sam Spruill Sr. has dedicated decades of his life to prison ministry.
And I thought, 'Man, how could this happen to me? Im a giver. I want to help guys get ready to come back to our communities and be productive citizens once again. Why would someone want to take my sons life? My only one.'
Sam Spruill Jr., his only son and his namesake, was a founding partner of Queens Bar in downtown Detroit.
He always had this attitude of just want to help somebody. He want to give. He never knew how to say no. If you needed something, hed give it to you, Sam Spruill Sr. said.
As the family prepares to say their final goodbyes, Sam Spruill Sr. said he finds himself daydreaming and reminiscing about the good times.
I was thinking about the time I even changed his diapers, ya know, when he first started doing karate and started playing the trombone in school, ya know, those moments. I was just in disbelief," he explained.
The U.S. will temporarily halt shipments of certain weapons systems to Ukraine, according to White House officials.
Scripps News confirmed the development with the White House on Tuesday.
"This decision was made to put Americas interests first following a DOD review of our nations military support and assistance to other countries across the globe," White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told Scripps News in a statement. "The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned just ask Iran."
According to reporting from multiple outlets, weapons being halted include munitions for Patriot air defense batteries, artillery rounds and Stinger, Hellfire and AIM-7 missiles. According to the reporting, the Pentagon has paused shipments while it reviews stockpiles of munitions, and may keep shipments paused if levels are found to be too low or if munitions are needed elsewhere.
Have you ever dreamed of living the lavish life of a celebrity? Well, now you can.
A Chicago-area mansion once owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan can now be rented on Airbnb. According to the listing, the 7.39-acre estate called Champions Point is located in Highland Park, Illinois, and boasts 12 bedrooms, 17.5 bathrooms, and can accommodate up to 12 guests.
Airbnb describes the estate as a "private oasis," featuring a movie theater, commercial gym, cigar lounge, wine cellar, pool tables, bars, and salt water aquariums. The property also comes with a professional grade golf putting green, a private pond stocked with fish, a zero-entry infinity pool, and of course a full basketball court.
The gated property, which is now owned by real estate investor John Cooper, was purchased for $9.5 million in 2024 after it spent years on the market and saw numerous price reductions.
"Champions Point has always been a legendary estate," Cooper said in a statement. "Now, we're making it possible for more people to experience that magic firsthand through our partnership with Airbnb Luxe. Whether it's a family retreat, milestone celebration, or unforgettable getaway with friends, this estate offers an unparalleled experience in luxury living."
The massive property is available to rent through Airbnb Luxe the company's ultra-premium service or it can be reserved directly at championspointe.com. However, if you're hoping to stay in a house where a six-time NBA champion once lived, it's going cost you.
The listing not only requires a minimum seven-night stay, but a weeklong vacation over Labor Day weekend, for example, would reportedly cost just over $120,000 about $17,000 per night.
A 14-year-old boy from Gaza is making remarkable progress in his recovery after surviving a bombing that killed his family and left him severely injured.
Watch Christiana Ford's video report: Teen from Gaza getting treatment in Dearborn Heights
Mohammed Eid is one of four children from Gaza, through Dubai, who were brought to Michigan in April through the nonprofit Heal Palestine's Global Healing Program. While two of the children have since moved to other states for continued treatment, Mohammed remains in metro Detroit, where he continues his rehabilitation.
"He needed help standing, he needed help walking, I still had to hold his hand," said his therapist, Abdullah Mrech, describing his condition upon arrival.
Now, just two months later, Mohammed is not only walking but kicking a soccer ball with Mrech at Max Pro Rehabilitation.
"Playing soccer and being able to walk and do these things is something that all kids should be able to do without any trouble," Mrech said.
There are still things Mrech is working with Mohammed on, like walking up and down stairs quickly, hip mobility, and agility. Mohammed wants to be able to run and play soccer again.
"It was like the biggest blessing I could have asked for, like to be, I'm so grateful to have been able to watch him through the process, and I just wish that I'm able to see throughout the whole thing and see him be as functional as possible," said Mrech.
Despite his progress, Mohammed carries deep emotional and physical scars. When his home in Gaza was bombed, he lost nearly everything, including his parents, siblings, and childhood.
"He's the sweetest kid. He's a very normal 14-year-old kid with an injury, with a trauma, with a lot of loss," said Wisal Samaha, Mohammed's host mom.
Samaha revealed that Mohammed was once an active child before the bombing.
"He was playing soccer every day in the neighborhood with his friend, I mean a typical kid, full of life and full of energy, said Samaha.
FULL INTERVIEW: Wisal Samaha talks about caring for Mohammad Eid FULL INTERVIEW: Wisal Samaha talks about caring for Mohammad Eid
Now, she says, Mohammed won't wear shorts.
"He has to deal with this with so much resilience, with so much positivity, with so much strength," Samaha said. She added that his faith has inspired hers.
Mohammed is receiving both medical care and counseling.
Max Pro Rehabilitation, which has provided physical therapy services free of charge in partnership with Heal Palestine, says he is the third child from Gaza that the center has helped.
"We are indebted to them for life, seeing their resilience, their fight. Just them being a kid. It just inspires us to do more," said Mohammed Elhassan, occupational therapist and president of Max Pro Rehab.
His foot still being mangled and his family thousands of miles away, but Mohammed has a simple message for those hearing his story. He doesn't want what happened to him to happen to any more children.
"His message is for the war to end," said Samaha.
Steve Sosebee, Founder and Executive Director of Heal Palestine, says they are still looking for help with medical care for his foot so that he can move forward with his care.
"We unfortunately were not able to find anyone in the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Detroit area who are able to offer him the orthopedic surgery he needed on a charitable basis. So we're looking for treatment facilities for him in other areas of the country that would uh provide him the care he needs. Um, so hopefully, um we'll be able to arrange that in the coming weeks and get him to the next phase of treatment," said Steve Sosebee.
Sosebee says the three other children are progressing as well.
11-year-old Lana went to Florida, got a prosthetic limb, and is back in Egypt with her mother, waiting for the border to reopen to return to family in Gaza. 7-year-old Saher went to Cleveland, where he had to have his other leg amputated. He battled a severe bone infection and is expected to be released from care next week, receive prosthetic limbs, and then begin to learn to walk again. 12-year-old Whaheed, who lost a leg, arm, and eye, received care in Flint, Michigan, and is walking again.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 teenager is in critical condition after he was shot in the head Tuesday evening in Detroit, police said.
The shooting happened shortly after 4 p.m. in the area of Saint Aubin and Lafayette streets.
Police said the victim is a 17-year-old boy. What led up to the shooting is unknown at this time.
Watch Detroit Police Cmdr. Jevon Johnson provide details about the shooting in the video player below: Detroit police provide details after teen shot in the head
"Unfortunately right now, he's critical, fighting for his life, and so it's very unfortunate," Detroit Police Cmdr. Jevon Johnson said.
Suspect information wasn't immediately available. Police said the shooting happened in a green light location, where cameras are installed. They're looking at video taken at the location.
Police were searching for witnesses and anyone who may have saw anything in the area at the time.
"No. 1, our messaging is conflict resolution, not using gun violence, talk things out. Don't let people goad you into any type of violence, much less gun violence. And as well, call the police early," Johnson said. "But additionally, if you're in a situation, unfortunately, a lot of times, bystanders, innocent bystanders end up really being the true victims. So what you want do is if you see a a situation developing, you want leave just leave, so that you won't become a victim."
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Detroit Police Department's 7th Precinct Detective Division at 313-596-5740. Tips can be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP or detroitrewards.tv.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Israel has agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and warned Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen.
Trump announced the development as he prepares to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House on Monday. The U.S. leader has been increasing pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war in Gaza.
My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War, Trump wrote, saying the Qataris and Egyptians would deliver the final proposal.
I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE, he said.
Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer was in Washington on Tuesday for talks with senior administration officials to discuss a potential Gaza ceasefire, Iran and other matters. Dermer was expected to meet with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
The development came as over 150 international charities and humanitarian groups called Tuesday for disbanding a controversial Israeli- and U.S.-backed system to distribute aid in Gaza because of chaos and deadly violence against Palestinians seeking food at its sites.
The joint statement by groups including Oxfam, Save the Children and Amnesty International followed the killings of at least 10 Palestinians who were seeking desperately needed food, witnesses and health officials said. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 37 in southern Gazas Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital.
Tents, tents they are hitting with two missiles? asked Um Seif Abu Leda, whose son was killed in the strikes. Mourners threw flowers on the body bags.
Before Trump's announcement, Israels defense minister, Israel Katz, had warned that his country would respond forcefully to the firing of a missile the military said originated from Yemen. Sirens sounded across parts of Israel, alerting residents to the attack and the launch of two projectiles from Gaza. All were intercepted by Israeli defense systems.
The missile launch marked the first attack by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels since the end of the 12-day war initiated by Israel with Iran. Katz said Yemen could face the same fate as Tehran.
Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, vowed on social media that Yemen will not stop its support for Gaza ... unless the aggression stops and the siege on Gaza is lifted.
Speaking to his Cabinet, Netanyahu did not elaborate on plans for his visit to Washington next week, except to say he will discuss a trade deal. Iran is also expected to be a main topic of discussion in Washington after Trump brokered a ceasefire between it and Israel.
Drivers in Macomb Township can expect a few major road improvement projects heading their way by next year.
Watch Whitney Burney's video report: Macomb Twp. set to make historic investment in road improvement
The township approved $14 million in its most recent budget to repave, extend, or widen several roadways, including Romeo Plank Rd. and Broughton Rd. near the municipal complex.
The money accounts for the largest investment in road improvements in the township's history, and township leaders say it's long overdue. Some of the funding comes from federal dollars that were in the previous years' budget that the township was unable to spend due to regulatory hurdles.
"They definitely need to start doing some repavements because those potholes are getting worse by the day," said driver Steven Bloom of roads in the township.
The project on Romeo Plank Rd is set to include repaving from 22 mile Rd. to 23 mile Rd, which is riddled with potholes and crumbling asphalt. It will also mean widening the two-lane road to five lanes to ease traffic congestion.
"Romeo Plank is actually pretty rough. So, if thats what theyre working on, thatd be perfect," said Thomas Vukpalaj.
Vukpalaj owns a Lettuce, a fresh food restaurant at 23 Mile and Romeo Plank Rd. He says he's definitely seen his fair share of potholes and congestion in the area.
"Mornings, its pretty congested, backs up. We get customers saying its hard to pull into the plaza. Usually, the turn lane is backed up," said Vukpalaj.
"We have 95,000 people who live in Macomb Township, and when youre traveling on all two-lane roads everywhere, its hard to get anywhere," said Township Supervisor Frank Viviano. "I can literally tell you, since I travel Romeo Plank to go home, that on busy days its backed up a mile heading south."
Viviano says it's the reason the road improvements are more important now than they've ever been.
"One of the things about Macomb Township is it has grown faster than any community in the state of Michigan over the last 30 years. We have literally tripled in size, and one of the things that has lagged behind is our roads," said Viviano. "Its not easy to come up with funding to build or expand these major roadways, and over the course of the past 5 years, weve put an increasing amount of focus on it."
Viviano says another large portion of that $14 million will be spent on Broughton road where the township is looking to fulfill a decades long wish of building a downtown/city center.
"I think the downtown area has been in talks for a long time," said Rick Roeske who lives in the township. "I think everyones building it. You look at new Baltimore or Partridge Creek: thats what that was supposed to be, but now its mostly restaurants, and so I dont know if we need a downtown. Well see if its supported by businesses."
The road would be a boulevard and include street parking, roundabouts, and aesthetic improvements. The township says they're currently in talks with the private land owner about acquiring the land needed to extend Broughton Rd through to 24 Mile Rd. They've also spoken to several developers about potentially bringing in residential and commercial spaces once completed.
Township Supervisor Frank Viviano says he's hopeful that once finished, the projects will mean improved travel for all and economic growth.
"Once weve made these road improvements, I expect there will be great demand for both commercial and residential portions," said Viviano. "Its going to be something that people havent really seen before, and thats whats going to make it unique. We think its going to be an anchor, not just for Macomb Township but for this region of Macomb County."
The township hopes to start work on Romeo Plank by spring of 2026 and then, in summer or fall of the same year, begin work on Broughton Rd. Both projects are expected to take up to two construction seasons.
An ugly confrontation caught on video between a group of women downtown and a candidate for Detroit mayor is now going viral.
See Simon Shaykhet's video report: Video of confrontation between Detroit mayoral candidate, women going viral
The early morning incident is now under police investigation with allegations of assault and more.
I talked with people on both sides of the escalating situation to find out what they say really happened and where police stand with their investigation.
Captured on cell phone video and now shared numerous times on social media, the altercation was between several women whove asked not to be identified and Detroit mayoral candidate Jonathan Barlow.
In the video shared with me by the woman holding the phone, Barlow is seen approaching, and then she says this followed.
Web extra: TikTok video shows Barlow's interaction
Hes walking toward me. Im screaming. He slaps my phone out of my hand. Hits me in the face. Cuts my lip, she says.
It was just before 2 a.m. on June 28th when the scene played out near Fort Street in the Rivertown area.
The woman, whom Ive confirmed filed a police report, claims Barlow exchanged words after initially trying to socialize, then slapped her phone out of her hand.
Hes harassing us. You see him following us while theyre screaming, she says.
Its a claim Barlow adamantly denies.
It was actually her friend that knocked the phone out of her hand, Barlow says. I was trying to protect both of us. We both got knocked at the same time.
Barlow goes on to say that he was leaving a fraternity party, where he helped park cars, when he got into conversation with the group.
He says he did not escalate with violence and was himself victimized.
Assuming I wanted to engage her friends was not the case. I was simply campaigning and moving cars around, he says.
Barlow says footage from his own phone proves he did not act in a hostile manner, and hes willing to share that with police.
As a candidate for mayor, he tells us its not the first time hes faced a false claim.
Police confirm allegations of assault and destruction of property are being looked into.
Barlow says he still has not been contacted by Detroit police, but is willing to answer any questions.
Flower bouquets and stuffed animals now mark the Merriman Road and Lyndon Street intersection in Livonia where a driver struck a family of three, killing 3-year-old Khalil Robinson. His mother Tia and twin sister Khloe remain hospitalized following the Sunday night crash.
The Robinson family was walking back to their car from the Livonia Spree festival fireworks when they were hit while crossing Merriman around 10:45 p.m.
Watch Randy Wimbley's video report below: Residents call for safety changes after fatal hit-and-run at Livonia festival
Livonia residents say the intersection has long been problematic, particularly during large events like the festival.
"If there's some way during the festival they can change the operation of the light if just for a 24-hour period or something that would be something," said Kathy Henderson, a Livonia resident.
The traffic signals at the intersection shift from cycling through green, yellow and red lights to a flashing yellow on Merriman and a flashing red on Lyndon starting at 10 p.m.
Watch our original report on the incident below when we first spoke with the victims' family: Family speaks after 3-year-old killed in Livonia hit-and-run, mom and sister injured
"I just think that yes during busy events, during where neighborhoods are hosting hundreds, thousands of people, we need to be more alert, to be more aware to keep everybody safe. And have those traffic lights a straight red or green as opposed to a flashing red or yellow," said Kelly Jaghab, a Livonia resident.
Residents point to both the flashing yellow light and driver behavior as factors making the intersection dangerous for pedestrians.
"A lot of times, they don't stop. Like, I would pull up, they're not paying attention sometimes, they're just going. You've gotta really pay attention when it's at night and the lights are blinking," said Thaddeus Lee, a Livonia resident.
"It's just irresponsibility on people's driving," Henderson said.
Livonia would need to petition Wayne County to change the Merriman-Lyndon intersection to cycle green, yellow and red 24/7 instead of switching to flashing lights at night. A spokesman says there's been no talk of making that request yet, but that could change.
Michael Robinson, whose daughter and grandchildren were victims in the hit-and-run Sunday night, expressed his concerns about the intersection.
Hear more from the victims' family in the video player below: Extended interview: Family of Livonia hit-and-run victims provides update, calls for change
"Maybe they need to add some lights over there or make it a regular stop-and-go situation. But right now, it's like a freeway," Robinson said.
The Robinson family shared that while Tia is undergoing emergency surgery to reduce brain swelling, 3-year-old Khloe is showing signs of recovery.
"Khloe, she's awake. She's watching 'Frozen' and she was calling for her nana, so she's doing good," said Regina Robinson, whose daughter and grandchildren were victims in the hit-and-run.
A 47-year-old woman from Mount Morris is in police custody and is expected to be arraigned either Wednesday or Thursday in connection with the hit-and-run.
The Detroit Red Wings have announced that legendary player Alex Delvecchio has died at the age of 93.
In a statement posted to social media and attributed to the Delvecchio family, the team said:
To our Red Wings Fans, Friends and Hockey Community, It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Alex Delvecchio, who left us peacefully on July 1, 2025, surrounded by his family at the age of 93 years old. Alex was more than a Hockey icon, he was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, cherished friend, and respected teammate to so many. While the world knew him as an incredible hockey player with numerous accomplishments on the ice, we knew him as someone someone whose humility, strength, competitiveness, kindness, and heart were even greater than his professional achievements. For decades, your love and support meant everything to Alex and to all of us. We are deeply grateful and thankful to everyone. - The Delvecchio Family -
Alex Delvecchio played with the Red Wings for one game in the 1950-51 season and 65 games in the 1951-52 season, before rejoining the team for the 1952-53 season and remaining there through the 1973-74 season.
He is third all-time in games played for the team, behind only teammate and fellow Production Line member Gordie Howe and Nicklas Lidstrm, as well as the last surviving member of the Red Wings' 1952, 1954, and 1955 Stanley Cup teams.
Delvecchio was also a two-time Red Wings head coach and a one-time general manager. He was enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977.
The University of Pennsylvania has agreed to ban transgender women from its womens sports teams to resolve a federal civil rights case that found the school violated the rights of female athletes.
The U.S. Education Department announced the voluntary agreement Tuesday. The case focused on Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer who last competed for the Ivy League school in Philadelphia in 2022, when she became the first openly transgender athlete to win a Division I title.
Its part of the Trump administrations broader attempt to remove transgender athletes from girls and womens sports.
Under the agreement, Penn agreed to restore all individual Division I swimming records and titles to female athletes who lost out to Thomas, the Education Department said. Penn also agreed to send a personalized apology letter to each of those swimmers.
It wasnt immediately clear whether Thomas would be stripped of her awards and honors at Penn.
The university must also announce that it will not allow males to compete in female athletic programs and it must adopt biology-based definitions of male and female, the department said.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon called it a victory for women and girls.
The Department commends UPenn for rectifying its past harms against women and girls, and we will continue to fight relentlessly to restore Title IXs proper application and enforce it to the fullest extent of the law, McMahon said in a statement.
The Education Department opened its investigation in February and concluded in April that Penn had violated Title IX, a 1972 law forbidding sex discrimination in education. Such findings have almost always been resolved through voluntary agreements. If Penn had fought the finding, the department could have moved to refer the case to the Justice Department or pursued a separate process to cut the schools federal funding.
In February, the Education Department asked the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations, or NFSHSA, to restore titles, awards and records it says have been misappropriated by biological males competing in female categories.
The most obvious target at the college level was in womens swimming, where Thomas won the national title in the 500-yard freestyle in 2022.
The NCAA has updated its record books when recruiting and other violations have stripped titles from certain schools, but the organization, like the NFSHSA, has not responded to the federal government's request. Determining which events had a transgender athlete participating years later would be challenging.
A 20-year-old mans life appeared to have begun to unravel in the months before authorities say he fatally shot two firefighters and severely wounded a third as they responded to a wildfire near Coeur dAlene, Idaho.
Wess Roley was living out of his vehicle and his former roommate, T.J. Franks Jr., said he shaved off his long hair and started to "kind of go downhill. The two lived together for about six months in Sandpoint, Idaho, until Roley moved out in January, Franks said Monday.
Roley, who authorities say took his own life after Sunday's shootings, is suspected of killing two battalion chiefs whose firefighting careers in Idaho spanned nearly half a century combined. The deaths of Frank Harwood, 42, with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, and John Morrison, 52, with the Coeur dAlene Fire Department, have left their colleagues reeling, resulting in their departments adding law enforcement to every call, no matter how routine.
I dont know that were ever going to be able to guarantee peoples peace of mind, at least for a while after an incident like this, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way said. But we are taking every measure we can to ensure safety of our responders.
Roley had set a fire using flint at Canfield Mountain, a popular recreation area, according to authorities. The firefighters who rushed to the scene found themselves under fire and took cover behind fire trucks.
There was an interaction with the firefighters, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said. It has something to do with his vehicle being parked where it was.
Two helicopters converged on the area, armed with snipers ready to take out the suspect if needed, while the FBI used his cellphone data to track him and the sheriff ordered residents to shelter in place. They eventually found Roley's body in the mountains, his firearm beside him. He had killed himself, the sheriff said.
Roley had once aspired to be a firefighter and had only a handful of minor contacts with area police, Norris said. A motive was still unknown, he said.
He had ties to California and Arizona and was living in Idaho for the better part of 2024, although it was unclear why he was there, Norris said.
When Roley was living with Franks, his apartment cameras caught Roley throwing gang signs at them, which worried Franks to the point that he called police.
The landlord also called Franks one morning because neighbors reported that Roleys vehicle had been left running for about 12 hours. Franks said Roley was asleep in his room and said he forgot about the vehicle.
Hours after Sunday's shooting, people gathered along Interstate 90 holding American flags to pay their respects as the two fallen firefighters bodies were taken to the medical examiners office in Spokane, Washington, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) from Coeur dAlene.
On Tuesday, a procession of police and fire vehicles accompanied a hearse as onlookers along a quiet street held flags and in some cases saluted as the vehicles got underway. People dotted an overpass, where a fire truck bearing a large U.S. flag stood, as the procession passed on the interstate below.
Gov. Brad Little ordered U.S. and Idaho state flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor the firefighters until the day after their memorial service.
All our public safety officers, especially our firefighters, bravely confront danger on a daily basis but we have never seen a heinous act of violence like this on our firefighters before, he said in a statement.
Harwood, one of the victims of the shooting, had been with the county fire department for 17 years, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way said during a news conference Monday. Harwood was married and had two children, and he also was a veteran of the Army National Guard.
Morrison, who was also killed, started his career with the Coeur dAlene Fire Department in 1996 and had also worked as a paramedic.
Coeur dAlene Fire Department Fire Engineer David Tysdal, 47, sustained gunshot wounds and was in critical condition. Authorities said he had two successful surgeries.
We still are in shock and are struggling to understand why someone would target unarmed, selfless public servants, Coeur dAlene Mayor Woody McEvers said.
By Monday afternoon, the fire was reasonably contained, and responders had stopped significant forward progress," Way said. The Idaho Department of Lands said it had burned about 26 acres.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell defended the central bank's decision to not cut interest rates so far this year and said it would have already cut rates if not for tariffs.
At a forum put on by the European Central Bank on Tuesday in Sintra, Portugal, Powell was asked if the Federal Reserve would have cut rates if not for President Donald Trump's tariffs.
"I think that's right," Powell said. "In effect we went on hold when we saw the size of the tariffs, and essentially all inflation forecasts for the United States went up materially as a consequence of the tariffs. So, we didn't overreact. In fact, we didn't react at all. We're simply taking some time."
Powell also repeated his wait-and-see approach when it comes to interest rate cuts and how tariffs could impact the economy.
"As long as the U.S. economy is in solid shape, we think the prudent thing to do is to wait and learn more and see what those effects might be," he said.
Powell's latest comments come as President Trump has intensified his attacks on the Fed chair and continued to push for a rate cut.
On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president sent a note to Powell criticizing his decision not to lower the interest rate.
"Jerome, you are as usual too late," it said. "You have cost the USA a fortune and continue to do so. You should lower the rate by a lot."
The Fed cut interest rates in each of its final three meetings last year, but it has maintained rates between 4.25% and 4.5% through its first four meetings of this year.
The central bank meets again at the end of July, but Powell has not committed to what the bank will do.
"It's going to depend on the data," Powell said Tuesday. "We are going meeting by meeting."
At its June meeting, the bank's Federal Open Market Committee projected two rate cuts later this year.
If the Fed decides to maintain rates again in July, it will mean the cost of borrowing money will remain high for consumers.
In making the decision, Powell has to consider the "trade-offs", says Thomas Stockwell, an assistant professor of economics at the University of Tampa.
"If you lower interest rates, that's going to increase economic growth, but it will also put upward pressure on prices," Stockwell said. "If you raise interest rates or keep them level, that's going to either keep growth the same or maybe lower growth, but it will keep inflation under control. So, we're in kind of a pick-your-poison mode here."
The Federal Reserve has a dual mandate to keep unemployment low and prices stable. It targets 2% inflation. In May, core inflation was at 2.7%.
After a little over 13 hours of deliberation, a jury reached a partial verdict in the federal criminal trial for Sean "Diddy" Combs in New York City, but will continue deliberating one of the charges in question on Wednesday.
The 55-year-old music mogul had been accused of two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering conspiracy. He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.
The jury told the court it had reached a verdict on four of the five charges, but that they were unable to reach a decision on the racketeering count.
The jury note said, in part, "We have jurors with unpersuadable opinions on both sides."
If the jury were to find Combs guilty of racketeering conspiracy, they would also have to distinguish which predicate acts under the charge he was guilty of. Those acts, per the jury's verdict form, include kidnapping, arson, bribery, witness tampering and forced labor.
He could face life in prison if the jury finds him guilty on the most serious charge.
Throughout the months-long trial, 34 witnesses were called to stand by the prosecution to paint a picture of a man they said "used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted."
The multiple counts Combs faced for sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution were on behalf of both women.
Prosecutors insisted during the trial that Combs used violence and threats to coerce the women into these sex acts, as well as control their daily lives.
Over the last several weeks, youve learned a lot about Sean Combs. Hes the leader of a criminal enterprise. He doesnt take no for an answer. And now you know about many crimes the defendant committed with members of his enterprise: Kidnapping of one of the defendants employees; arson by trying to blow up a car; forced labor, including of an employee the defendant repeatedly sexually assaulted; bribery of a security officer to keep damning evidence against the defendant buried; and of course, the brutal crimes at the heart of this case sex trafficking, she said.
Although no charges were filed, the prosecution accused Combs of setting fire to rapper Scott Mescudi's, known as Kid Cudi, car in retaliation for his relationship with Cassie at the time.
In addition to testimony, jurors saw photos inside Combs' homes in Miami and Los Angeles following law enforcement raids, as well as videos of his sexual encounters and the notorious security camera video of him beating Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel as she tried to leave.
The defense acknowledged that Combs had a violent side, but they insisted all of the sex acts were consensual.
Combs' attorneys did not call any witnesses, and he did not take the stand to defend himself.
They go into the mans bedroom. They go into the mans most private life. Where is the crime scene? The crime scene is your private sex life. Thats the crime scene, Agnifilo said.
If you're of a certain age, the name Chuck E. Cheese conjures up childhood memories of video games, animatronic shows, and pizza.
The company is now launching a new concept aimed squarely at those who grew up visiting the classic Chuck E. Cheese restaurants, combining both classic and the hottest new games, as well as iconic characters.
Called Chuck's Arcade, the company is billing it as "a new destination where nostalgia meets the future, bringing together gamers of all ages and inviting everyone to experience whats next" and "a modern-day love letter to the games and people who made Chuck E. Cheese great."
Chuck E. Cheese has spent decades mastering the arcade experience its in our DNA, said David McKillips, CEO of Chuck E. Cheese, in a news release. Thanks to the expertise of our talented technicians and the successful transformation of almost 500 fun centers worldwide, weve built the operational and creative foundation to take our brand beyond our traditional four walls. Chucks Arcade is a natural evolution an opportunity to extend our arcade legacy into new formats that engage both lifelong fans and a new generation through a curated mix of retro classics and cutting-edge experiences.
The company has launched in a number of malls across the country, including in St. Petersburg, Florida; Trumbull, Connecticut; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma; Victor, New York; Buford, Georgia; El Paso, Texas; Nashua and Salem, New Hampshire; and St. Louis, and says they are planning more locations in the future. However, there are currently no announcements about a possible Michigan location.
The company also promises that no two locations are exactly alike.
The launch comes as Chuck E. Cheese is approaching its 50th anniversary. You can get more information and a complete list of locations at www.chucksarcade.fun.
Coco Gauff couldnt escape the wave of upsets sweeping through Wimbledon this year.
The French Open champion was eliminated in the first round Tuesday, falling in straight sets to Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine, 7-6 (3), 6-1.
Yastremska proved the steadier player, particularly after winning a tiebreak in the opening set. She cruised through the second to complete the upset.
Gauff, ranked No. 2 in the world, struggled throughout the match, finishing with 29 unforced errors and just nine winners. Yastremska tallied 16 winners and 25 unforced errors.
Gauff has never advanced past the fourth round at Wimbledon, making it her least successful Grand Slam. She also lost her only other match on grass this season in Berlin.
Gauff wasnt the only top American to exit early. Jessica Pegula, ranked No. 3, also lost in the first round Tuesday.
Other notable upsets included 2024 Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng and, on the mens side, world No. 3 Alexander Zverev.
Many state legislators pass new laws that go into effect on July 1. The significance of the date varies state-by-state, but for some, it is as simple as it coincides with the start of a new fiscal year. Other states opt for Jan. 1 to implement newly passed laws.
Nevertheless, there are many interesting new laws that will now be enforced in states across the country. Whether you live in these states, are planning to travel to them or thinking about your next move, it's good to know what laws may impact you along the way.
This list only highlights some of the new laws passed in these individual states and should not be considered a comprehensive list.
California
The Golden State is raising the minimum wage across multiple cities and counties.
In an effort to eliminate junk fees, the state will now require short-term rental services like AirBnB to disclose any additional charges up front. The state is also requiring companies that offer online subscriptions to make it easier for subscribers to cancel.
California Assembly Bill 2375 requires bars to provide a lid for drinks when a customer requests one, aimed at preventing spiking.
The state will require employers with 100 or more employees to offer health insurance that covers infertility diagnosis and fertility treatments.
Colorado
The state will now require eight hours of in-person training, including live fire training, and education on things like safe storage and handling of weapons in order to obtain a concealed carry permit, thanks to Colorado House Bill 24-1174.
Florida
The "Tristan Murphy Act" focuses on helping counties and municipalities in Florida establish mental health diversion programs to prevent people who are mentally ill from being put in prison.
Florida Senate Bill 150, known as "Trooper's Law," states that anyone who abandons any animal during a natural disaster without providing care is guilty of a first-degree misdemeanor, resulting in a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment or both. It states that those who restrain a dog outside during a natural disaster and then abandon the dog are guilty of a third-degree felony, which can result in a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment or both. The new law was inspired by a dog who was found tied up and abandoned in belly-high water on Interstate 75 during the chaos of Hurricane Milton evacuations in Tampa.
Senate Bill 612 will allow minors who distribute narcotics that cause a fatal overdose to be prosecuted for murder.
Florida House Bill 549 states that instructional materials and library media center collection materials in schools must reflect the name change from the "Gulf of Mexico" to the "Gulf of America."
The state has banned cellphones in classrooms, added more recess time for elementary-aged students, and increased penalties for threats of mass violence to schools and other buildings or events.
Another new law allows a judge to revoke the license of a child who is found guilty of bullying or cyberbullying. If the child hasn't obtained a license yet, the judge could ban them from getting one for up to a year.
The state has now made it possible for wrongful death claims to be filed if someone has an abortion induced by abortion pills.
There's also a new ban in Tennessee on laser pointers.
Cocktails to-go, something made possible during the pandemic, are here to stay in Virginia.
Thanks to Virginia Senate Bill 998, parents or guardians who are making money off content online that involves kids will have to set earnings aside for those children in a trust account.
Virginia House Bill 2783 increases the penalty for defacing property with a Nazi symbol.
When starting a new job, many new hires often overlook important documents, including retirement plan paperwork. But as retirement plans grow increasingly complex, it's easy to miss essential details particularly the fees that could impact your savings.
A recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that nearly half 41% of American workers are unaware that 401(k)s carry fees. While most of these fees are administrative or service-related and relatively low, those who leave behind a 401(k) from a previous employer may find themselves facing additional maintenance fees.
"If your old employer was paying your retirement account fees for you while you were employed, they might stop when you move on from that job," said Romi Savova, CEO of PensionBee, a retirement consolidation and management platform. "And that can leave your old retirement account exposed to fees that you might not be aware of at all."
Research by PensionBee shows that a modest monthly fee of $4.55 can lead to nearly $18,000 in lost retirement funds over time due to the compounded growth you wont see on your principal.
"Unless you know exactly where to go looking for this information, just because it's disclosed somewhere doesn't mean that you are likely to know it," Savova cautioned.
A report from Vanguard last year highlighted that nearly half of employees leave money in their old plans when changing jobs, often without realizing the implications.
So, what can you do if you find yourself in this situation? You may have a few options.
You can roll your funds into a new employer-sponsored plan or transfer them into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). While IRAs may have higher investment fees, being aware of your plan's details is crucial.
Cashing out is another option, but it's generally not recommended due to hefty tax penalties and the loss of potential long-term gains.
"While the lure of money today might seem appetizing, you should think about future you," Savova advised.
Understanding your retirement options can empower you to make informed financial decisions that benefit you in the long run.
This story was initially 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.
More than 140,000 pounds of ready-to-eat bologna have been recalled because the products were mislabeled, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The bologna, made by Gaisers European Style Provisions Inc., contains meat or poultry ingredients that are not declared on the packaging.
The recall includes products sold under various brand names, including:
Vacuum-packed Family Tree Bologna Veal, which contains undeclared pork Plastic-wrapped Babushkas Recipe Chicken Bologna, which contains undeclared pork Plastic-wrapped Fancy Bologna, labeled as containing pork but also containing undeclared beef and chicken Vacuum-packed Gaisers Russian Brand Doktorskaya Bologna, which contains undeclared beef Plastic-wrapped Gaisers Bologna Veal, which contains undeclared chicken and pork Plastic-wrapped Gaisers Turkey Bologna, which contains undeclared chicken and pork Plastic-wrapped Chicken Bologna Kypoyka Paba, which contains undeclared pork
The USDA said the products were shipped to both retail and wholesale outlets across the country.
Although no illnesses have been reported, officials advise consumers not to eat the recalled bologna. The products may still be in refrigerators or freezers, and should be thrown away or returned to the store.
About 150 members of the National Guard who were deployed to address protests in California will be released to return to wildland firefighting duties in the state, Department of Defense officials said Tuesday.
Scripps News has confirmed that NORTHCOM commander Gen. Gregory Guillot - who's overseeing the deployment of the National Guard and the U.S. Marines to California - requested 200 troops be reassigned from their current task of immigration protection duties.
On Tuesday NORTHCOM confirmed "approximately 150" members of the National Guard would be released from federal protection duties, where more than 4,000 members of the National Guard have been guarding federal buildings and providing security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents while they perform immigration raids.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has for weeks criticized President Donald Trump's federalization of National Guard forces, particularly because of how it has depleted firefighting crews in the state. Newsom says President Trump's orders retasked eight of 14 National Guard firefighting crews at a time when wildfire risks in the state are near their highest.
In a statement on Monday, Gov. Newsom welcomed the change.
"Were glad to see the top military commander overseeing Trump's illegal militarization of Los Angeles agree: its time to pull back National Guard troops and get them back to their critical firefighting duties. President Trump: listen to your military leaders, and stop the political theater.
The Michigan Attorney General's Office has announced it is investigating Twin Flames Universe (TFU), operated by Jeff and Shaleia Divine in Northern Michigan.
According to Attorney General Dana Nessel, her office executed multiple search warrants on people who are part of the TFU organization and its properties.
Watch below: Michigan AG Dana Nessel speaks on investigation into Twin Flames Universe
Watch: Michigan AG opens investigation into Twin Flames Universe
"Anyone with information about potential criminal conduct regarding Twin Flames Universe, or their members, are encouraged to contact my office, and may do so anonymously," Nessel said in a statement.
The agents from the AG's office were joined by investigators from the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General, as well as law enforcement officers from Michigan State Police, the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office and Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office.
Jeff and Shaleia Divine lead TFU and according to the website, TFU will "help you manifest Harmonious Twin Flame Union." A "Twin Flame," according to the website, is "your ultimate lover and eternal spiritual complement, your perfect person."
On the TFU website, there is a media statement where the Twin Flames Universe responds to recent media articles and productions.
The statement reads in part, "We take seriously recent allegations implying we wield inappropriate control over our community members. After a careful review of both media coverage and recent productions, we are saddened that so much effort has gone into taking swipes at an organization and community founded on love and mutual respect. The allegations levied against Twin Flames Universe not only distort our true aims, methods, and curriculums but also misrepresent the autonomy of our community members, who are free to engage with our resources as they see fit. We are committed to confronting these allegations in an open and accountable manner."
We were flooded with messages from people who left high-control groups after releasing our series about the NXIVM cult, and the stories of the survivors and families impacted by Twin Flames Universe emerged as the most urgent to expose, the filmmakers told Netflix.
Escaping Twin Flames
is the result of a three-year investigation into the sophisticated recruitment and indoctrination techniques employed by the leaders of this online group. We are grateful to those who courageously entrusted us with their firsthand accounts and evidence. We made this series for them and for everyone who has been manipulated or coerced without knowing it."
The rapid growth of Sheetz gas station and convenience shops is a hot topic across metro Detroit.
Heated meetings on numerous occasions left some communities split on whether to welcome the massive chain.
Watch Simon Shaykhet's full report in the video player below: Inside Sheetz: Gas station chain's expansion continues to draw mixed feelings
Sheetz allowed us inside their Romulus location to see their business up close. They say theyre excited to keep expanding across metro Detroit, as some opponents continue to push back.
Inside a Sheetz location where customers come to buy gas, drinks, food and more, owners told me theres a system to how things are done and meticulously executed to serve the community.
The chain has numerous locations either open or in the works in cities like Warren, Taylor, Ypsilanti, Eastpointe, Roseville, Royal Oak and more.
Outside, I asked some customers what brought them to Sheetz.
Today, its cigarettes. They have good prices with their rewards card, one customer said.
Another customer said, I like their subs here and their cold brews.
A third customer told me, Its a great place, overall place. You can grab food and get gas. All of that.
But their answers are in contrast to community stakeholders in some other cities, where a zoning board or commission heard from critics of the chain. Weve covered several meetings that have at times been emotional, with citizens voicing opposition to the 24-hour shops.
In Wixom, where Sheetz was voted down, Gerald Newby stopped to fill up at locally owned Wixom Quick Stop & Go.
Ive come here 34 years. Its more convenient, right around the corner, Newby said. Hes (owner) based in Michigan. I like to give my money to Michigan companies.
Another customer at the local business owns a towing company.
Big corporations like that are going to demolish the little guys that are trying to make a living, he said.
I come here for the service you dont get anywhere else. Prices are very competitive. Look at this store: they have everything here. Everything is nice, neat and organized, customer Charlie Alam said.
Business owner Eddie Osman gave me a tour of his station, where he says 15 employees have worked for more than 15 years, and community ties are strong.
Wixom Stop & Go has everything. Ive been at this location 33 years, Osman said.
Osman says Sheetz wasnt a good fit nearby for reasons including an existing range of options.
This area has 17 gas stations in a 3.9-mile radius, he said. The people had spoken we are not against competition. Its beautiful. Fair to the consumer, but it has to be fair and healthy competition.
I asked Sheetz for an interview to talk about their growing footprint and goals for expansion, including 2,000 more store-level jobs. The Pennsylvania-based company has roughly 780 stores in seven states, with a history of 73 years in business.
As we daydream about what our presence could look like over the next six years, we could open 60 new stores. We are that optimistic, said Ryan Sheetz, executive vice president of marketing and supply chain
There are a lot of characteristics about these communities that resonate with us. We see a lot of people who are on the go, convenient solutions and willing to get gas and food at great places.
I also asked for their response to Osman and others in opposition.
Pushback to retail growth is not uncommon. What we see is and focus on is lets engage in appropriate and respectful ways, because we are committed to being a part of that community, Ryan Sheetz said.
I asked Ryan what his biggest message to opponents and other business owners who say they wont be able to survive.
We embrace competition and have a lot of empathy for people who are competing. This is a tough business every day. Competition is ultimately a really great thing, Ryan Sheetz said.
But Osman told me theres more to consider each time another gas station closes. He and other owners have been a vocal presence at meetings.
Do you know who ends up paying in the end? The taxpayers. The city, state, and county in five to seven years after they shut down, will have to do the cleanup for it in the millions of dollars, Osman said. If they are looking to invest and care about the state of Michigan and their community, they will buy and own and take care of that property. Like me 33 years.
Ryan Sheetz says most of their locations are leased instead of owned.
Related Story: Royal Oak approves Sheetz gas station at 14 Mile and Coolidge Royal Oak approves controversial Sheetz gas station at 14 Mile and Coolidge
My preference would be to own as many locations as we can, but thats not the reality, Ryan Sheetz said. We lease more sites than we own. Thats the nature of the business.
One community yet to make a final decision is Sterling Heights.
Related Story: Plan to build Sheetz in Shelby Township draws mixed reaction from residents Plan to build Sheetz in Shelby Township draws mixed reaction from residents
Sheetz has expressed interest in locating in the southeast corner of Metro Parkway and Mound, Sterling Heights City Manager Mark Vanderpool said.
I also asked Vanderpool why he believes some communities have fewer hurdles to clear.
Theres some due diligence, but in our case, unlike other Sheetz locations, theres not a building to demolish or close to residential property, Vanderpool said.
Sheetz maintains its an ultimate one-stop shop, offering top-level convenience, quality food and drinks, with fuel at great prices, smiling faces and great service.
And while views can differ, they insist areas where theyve opened are enjoying what they have to offer.
We are continuously rated as one of the top employers in the country, means a lot as a family-owned and operated business, Ryan Sheetz said. We have a wonderful philanthropic effort. We lead with our values and put them into action.
Starting today, expect to see more commercials before movies at AMC theaters nationwide.
This idea was announced in early June. AMC will run ads in the "platinum spot"immediately ahead of a movie's startand says the pre-show material, which includes trailers and other promotions, can last up to 30 minutes.
The theater chain hopes this will boost its bottom line after experiencing its worst first quarter since 1996, excluding the pandemic.
AMC also recently extended its partnership with National CineMedia through 2042 to continue advertising in theater lobbies.
At a time when the movie industry is beginning to hit its stride, we believe AMC is doing the same, backed by an increasingly stronger balance sheet, and the confidence of our financial partners. We are laser-focused on taking bold steps which in our view will work to drive long-term shareholder value," Adam Aron, AMC CEO, said.
AMC said that its AMC Stubs members will get a price reduction of 50% off adult-evening base ticket prices all day long on Wednesdays.
"Realistically, we could not afford to have made this change to our ticket pricing strategy until the box office showed true signs of sustained recovery. But in April and now in May, the box office has been booming, and the remainder of 2025 appears poised to continue that upward box office trend," Aron said.
New research published in the journal The Lancet warns that cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development could result in 14 million deaths over the next five years.
USAID funding has played a crucial role in reducing preventable deaths among both children and adults across low and middle-income countries.
Researchers analyzed two decades of the organization's successes to determine what would be lost due to these cuts.
The USAID-funded programs prevented more than 91 million deaths globally, including 30 million children under five years old, according to the study.
The various programs were associated with a reduction in mortality from HIV and AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, nutritional deficiencies and neglected tropical diseases, the study said.
For the past 20 years, the United States has been the leading government donor to humanitarian response plans, development aid and multilateral development banks particularly in African countries.
The Trump administration has cut more than 80% of USAID programs since January.
"To our knowledge, this study is the first comprehensive analysis to assess the impact of total USAID fundingincluding support for health care, nutrition, humanitarian aid, development, education, and related sectors," the researchers wrote.
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.
Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has signed more than 100 executive orders, including one that aims to block transgender people from serving in the military, because the administration believes anyone who lives as a gender other than the one assigned at birth is not living "an honorable" lifestyle.
If the administration is successful in implementing this policy, as many as 4,200 transgender people could be forced to leave the U.S. military. But one active-duty military member an Army reservist Lt. Nic Talbott decided to challenge the president in court.
For Talbott, being a soldier had been a goal for a long time.
"If you'd asked me when I was a little kid what I wanted to be when I grew up, this is it," Talbott told Scripps News. "I wanted to be an American soldier."
But achieving that childhood dream became harder than any child could've imagined. That's because Talbott who grew up on a farm in Ohio was actually born a girl.
"It took me almost nine years to be able to enlist in the United States military," he said.
Reality started to sink in after high school graduation. As a transgender man, Talbott was caught in the middle of ever-changing political policies that first blocked transgender people from serving, then allowed, and then threatened to shut the doors once again.
"I would start to make progress with one recruiter, and something would happen with the policy, and I would have to stop pursuing that path and look for another door that might have been open for me," said Talbott.
"When you finally got that call, take us in the room. What was it like," legal affairs correspondent, Ava-joye Burnett asked.
Talbott, who conducted a virtual interview with Burnett, became visibly emotional.
"Sorry, I'm still a little emotional when I talk about it, because it was, you know, such a pivotal moment," said Talbott. "Nine years of build-up for him to tell me that he was not calling with bad news. I mean, it was just so overwhelming."
Once back in the White House, President Trump signed an executive order directed at banning transgender people from serving in the military.
The order read in part, "...adoption of a gender identity inconsistent with an individual's sex conflicts with a soldier's commitment to an honorable, truthful and disciplined lifestyle, even in one's personal life..."
"What was your reaction when you read that particular line?" Burnett asked.
"I was certainly surprised by some of the language used in the executive order this time around," said Talbott. "When we put on that uniform and we show up to do our job as soldiers, all that matters is that we can meet the standards and do our jobs. And those of us who are in the service have already proven that we can."
Research organizations, such as the UCLA School of Law Williams Institute, say there are about 15,000 transgender people in the military. But the Department of Defense says that number is closer to 4,200.
A recent AP-NORC poll says about 26% of Americans oppose allowing transgender people to serve in the military. But 37% favor allowing transgender people to serve.
Andrew Flores is a political scientist who's an assistant professor at American University, as well as a visiting scholar at UCLA School of Law Williams Institute. Flores studies transgender issues and believes most Americans are in favor of on-the-job protection for transgender people in the military.
"Why is it that we see that overarching support that hasn't really dwindled over a decade or so?" Burnett asked.
"Part of the American fabric is to have to embrace equality, right? And equality, in terms of jobs and access is kind of one of the more paramount same values that individuals have, right, and so this broad - this support has been pretty broad, and has been pretty broad for, like you said, like a decade, if not longer," said Flores.
"You mentioned that people start to bristle when you home-in on specific categories," said Burnett. "What are some of those categories? And why is it that we start to see that breakdown?"
"If you even look at today's debates around transgender rights, a lot of it is centering on youth and kids right, youth in sports, but also transgender youth and their ability to access, say, gender affirming care," said Flores. "So, there's all this stuff that's really entangled with, say, children as one component that makes people kind of have a second thought."
In January, just 10 days before President Trump was inaugurated for the second time, Lt. Talbott was commissioned from officer candidate school. But those celebrations were short-lived because Talbott has sued President Trump in an attempt to block the administration from banning transgender people from serving.
A decision in that case is now pending in a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C.
"What will it feel like if you lose something that you've worked so long and hard for?" Burnett asked Talbott.
"The battles recently have not been going favorably, or, you know, not been going the way we would like them to. But looking at the big picture, I still have a lot of hope, and I still have a lot of faith that even if I am separated from the military in the short term, eventually, we will be successful," said Talbott.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Trump administration in a separate case Shilling v. United States as the administration moved to ban transgender people from serving in the military. But the case involving Talbott continues to work its way through the federal court system.
The Department of Defense is currently allowing transgender members to go through voluntary or involuntary separation from the military. Lt. Talbott has decided to take the involuntary route, which means he will not leave willingly.
That will force his higher-ups to make a determination that Talbott is unfit to serve despite his military achievements and that's when he could ultimately be separated from the military.
The man who is charged in the sexual assault and murder of 13-year-old Na'Ziyah Harris is now facing charges for another alleged sexual assault of a young girl.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Jarvis Butts, 42, with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (person under 13) and third-degree criminal sexual conduct (person 13 through 15).
It's alleged that Butts sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl in the spring of 2013 at a home in Allen Park.
Last year, Butts was arrested and charged in connection to the sexual assault and murder of Na'Ziyah. He was bound over for trial after a multi-day preliminary hearing. Butts is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with Na'Ziyah. Butts was dating a relative of Na'Ziyah.
Watch below: Years before Na'Ziyah Harris murder case, CPS warned repeatedly about alleged killer
Years before Na'Ziyah Harris murder case, CPS warned repeatedly about alleged killer
Butts' trial in the Na'Ziyah case is set to begin next month.
Watch below: Years before Na'Ziyah Harris murder case, CPS warned repeatedly about alleged killer
Years before Na'Ziyah Harris murder case, CPS warned repeatedly about alleged killer
Prosecutors have also charged Butts in other cases. He's charged for the alleged sexual assault of a now-20-year-old woman when she was 8 years old and 10 years old. Butts had just been released from prison after serving nearly 10 years for sexually assaulting another child.
Watch below: Suspect in Na'Ziyah Harris case attends three preliminary hearings, bound over for trial on two
MSP's entry features their 2024 Dodge Durango patrol vehicle photographed in front of the iconic Mackinac Bridge and the Straits of Mackinac.
The top 13 photographs, as voted on by the public, will be featured in the 2026 Americas Best Looking Trooper Cruisers wall calendar. The first-place winner earns the cover spot.
Calendars will be available for purchase beginning in October at StateTroopers.org. Net proceeds from sales benefit the AAST Foundation, which provides educational scholarships to dependents of member troopers.
Lululemon has filed a lawsuit against Costco that accuses the wholesale club operator of selling lower-priced duplicates of some of its popular athleisure clothing.
Lululemon Athletica claims in its lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California that Costco has unlawfully traded on its reputation, goodwill and sweat equity by selling unauthorized and unlicensed apparel that uses knockoff, infringing versions of its patents.
Lululemon alleges that Costco is known to use manufacturers of popular branded products for its private label Kirkland brand, but that the company and the manufacturers don't tell consumers of the connection between them for many of the Kirkland-branded products. Because of this, Lululemon claims this leads at least some shoppers to believe that Kirkland-branded products are made by the authentic supplier of the original products. Lululemon claims Costco doesn't try to dispel the ambiguity.
As an innovation-led company that invests significantly in the research, development, and design of our products, we take the responsibility of protecting and enforcing our intellectual property rights very seriously and pursue the appropriate legal action when necessary," a Lululemon company spokesperson said in a statement.
Some of the products Lululemon says Costco is making duplicates of include its popular Scuba hoodies, Define jackets, and ABC pants.
Lululemon claims one of the duplicates that Costco sells is the Hi-Tec Men's Scuba Full Zip, with the lawsuit showing a screenshot image of Costco's website showing the item priced at $19.97. Lululemon sells several men's jackets that cost more than $100 each.
Costco, based in Issaquah, Washington, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
Lululemon is requesting a jury trial and wants Costco to stop selling the products that it considers to be duplicates. It is also seeking an unspecified amount in monetary damages.
Lulemon was in a similar legal dispute with Peloton in 2021. Two years later the companies announced a five-year partnership that included Lululemon becoming the primary athletic apparel partner to Peloton.
Zohran Mamdani has won New York Citys Democratic mayoral primary, a new vote count confirmed Tuesday, cementing his stunning upset of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and sending him to the general election.
The Associated Press called the race after the results of the citys ranked choice voting tabulation were released and showed Mamdani beating Cuomo by 12 percentage points.
Mamdanis win had been widely expected since he took a commanding lead after the polls closed a week ago, falling just short of the 50% of the vote needed to avoid another count under the citys ranked choice voting model. The system allows voters other preferences to be counted if their top candidate falls out of the running.
Mamdani, who declared victory the night of the June 24 primary, will face a general election field that includes incumbent Mayor Eric Adams as well as independent candidate Jim Walden and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Cuomo conceded defeat on the night of the June 24 primary but is contemplating whether to run in the general election on an independent ballot line.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and member of the state Assembly, was virtually unknown when he launched his candidacy centered on a bold slate of populist ideas. But he built an energetic campaign that ran circles around Cuomo as the older, more moderate Democrat tried to come back from the sexual harassment scandal that led to his resignation four years ago.
The results, even before they were finalized, sent a shockwave through the political world.
Mamdanis campaign, which was focused on lowering the cost of living, claims it has found a new blueprint for Democrats who have at times appeared rudderless during President Donald Trump's climb back to power.
The Democratic establishment has approached Mamdani with caution. Many of its big players applauded his campaign but don't seem ready to throw their full support behind the young progressive, whose past criticisms of law enforcement, use of the word genocide to describe the Israeli governments actions in Gaza and democratic socialist label amount to landmines for some in the party.
If elected, Mamdani would be the city's first Muslim mayor and its first of Indian American decent. He would also be one of its youngest.
For Republicans, Mamdani has already provided a new angle for attack. Trump and others in the GOP have begun to launch broadsides at him, moving to cast Mamdani as the epitome of leftist excess ahead of consequential elections elsewhere this year and next.
If Im a Republican, I want this guy to win, said Grant Reeher, a political science professor at Syracuse University. Because I want to be able to compare and contrast my campaign as a Republican, in a national election, to the idea of, This is where the Democratic party is.
New York City's ranked choice voting model allows voters to list up to five candidates on their ballots in order of preference. If a single candidate is the first choice of more than 50% of voters, then that person wins the race outright. Since no candidate cleared that bar on the night of the primary, the ranked choice voting process kicked in. The board is scheduled to certify the election on July 15.
Mamdani has been a member of the state Assembly since 2021, and has characterized his inexperience as a potential asset. His campaign promised free city buses, free child care, a rent freeze for people living in rent-stabilized apartment, government-run grocery stores and more, all paid for with taxes on the wealthy. Critics have slammed his agenda as politically unrealistic.
Cuomo ran a campaign centered on his extensive experience, casting himself as the only candidate capable of saving a city he said had spun out of control. During the campaign, he focused heavily on combating antisemitism and leaned on his name recognition and juggernaut fundraising operation rather than mingling with voters.
Confronted with the sexual harassment allegations that ended his tenure as governor, he denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the scandal was driven by politics and that voters were ready to move on.
Cuomo did not remove his name from the November ballot last week, ahead of a procedural deadline to do so, and has said he is still considering whether to mount an actual campaign for the office.
Adams, while still a Democrat, is running in the November election as an independent. He dropped out of the Democratic primary in April after he was severely wounded by his now-dismissed federal bribery case. Though he had done little in the way of campaigning since then, he reignited his reelection operation in the days after Mamdani declared victory, calling it a choice between a candidate with a blue collar and one with a silver spoon.
Just over a month after announcing it would be making temporary changes and taking an interlude, Sister Pie released its summer schedule.
Last month, Sister Pie owner Lisa Ludwinski posted to the bakery's Instagram page on that the "temporary, necessary" changes came in the midst of "challenge and chaos."
"Although the spirit of Sister Pie is alive and well, Ive arrived at the conclusion that the business isnt working in its current state. There are multiple, intersecting factors that contribute to this, and most urgently in the form of a financial crisis," Ludwinski wrote in the post.
Watch below: Sister Pie in Detroit making 'temporary, necessary' changes amid challenging times
Sister Pie making 'temporary, necessary' changes in June amid challenging times
She said the COVID-19 pandemic hit hard and they have been struggling to recover ever since.
"At the beginning of 2025, it became clear that something really radical had to happen in order for us to kind of climb back," Ludwinski said.
Instead, the business will enter a period of "rest and radical reconfiguration, of exploration and experimentation, and of occasional pop-ups and events to keep the roof over our heads."
Watch below: Ludwinski talks about the Sister Pie interlude
Sister Pie Owner Lisa Ludwinski talks about the business taking a break
She did say that people will still be able to satisfy their Sister Pie cravings periodically.
"We are selling at Eastern Market over the summer, there's going to be new classes that we'll add that are going to be available for people to take," she said.
On Tuesday, July 1, Sister Pie posted its summer schedule. They also said this month, they'll work on envisioning the future and share a final draft with anyone interested in reading it.
The schedule includes pop-ups, plus different lunches and breakfasts at Sister Pie during the summer.
Check out the schedule below.
Wednesday, July 2 - Breakfast at Sister Pie - 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday, July 3 - Florian East in Hamtramck - 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 12 - Eastern Market in Detroit Tuesday, July 22 - Breakfast at Sister Pie - 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday, July 25 - Lunch at Sister Pie - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 26 - Eastern Market in Detroit Tuesday, Aug. 5 - Breakfast at Sister Pie - 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8 - Lunch at Sister Pie - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 - Eastern Market in Detroit Tuesday, Aug. 19 - Breakfast at Sister Pie - 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22 - Lunch at Sister Pie - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23 - Eastern Market in Detroit Tuesday, Sept. 2 - Breakfast at Sister Pie - 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5 - Lunch at Sister Pie - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 - Eastern Market in Detroit
Russia launched its biggest aerial attack against Ukraine overnight, a Ukrainian official said Sunday, part of an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the 3-year-old war.
Russia fired a total of 537 aerial weapons at Ukraine, including 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, Ukraines air force said. Of these, 249 were shot down and 226 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.
The onslaught was the most massive airstrike on the country since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, taking into account both drones and various types of missiles, Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for Ukraines air force, told The Associated Press. The attack targeted several regions, including western Ukraine, far from the front line.
Poland and allied countries scrambled aircraft to ensure the safety of Polish airspace, the country's air force said.
One person died in a drone strike in the Kherson region, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said, while another was killed when a drone hit a car in the Kharkiv region, according to its Gov. Oleh Syniehubov. Six people were wounded in Cherkasy, including a child, according to regional Gov. Ihor Taburets.
In the far-western Lviv region, a large fire broke out at an industrial facility in the city of Drohobych following a drone attack that also cut electricity to parts of the city.
Ukraines air force said one of its F-16 warplanes supplied by its Western partners crashed after sustaining damage while shooting down air targets. The pilot died.
Attacks continued during the day. Dnipropetrovsk Gov. Serhii Lysak said a 72-year-old man was killed when a drone hit his car.
Russian troops reportedly advance in Donetsk
Russia's Defense Ministry said it had shot down three Ukrainian drones overnight.
Two people were wounded in another Ukrainian drone attack on the city of Bryansk in western Russia, regional Gov. Alexander Bogomaz said Sunday morning, adding that seven more Ukrainian drones had been shot down over the region.
Meanwhile, Russia claimed Sunday that it had taken control of the village of Novoukrainka in the partially Russian-occupied Donetsk region.
Russian forces have been slowly grinding forward at some points on the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, though their incremental gains have been costly in terms of troop casualties and damaged armor.
In other developments, Russias foreign intelligence chief, Sergei Naryshkin, said he had spoken on the phone with his U.S. counterpart, CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
I had a phone call with my American counterpart and we reserved for each other the possibility to call at any time and discuss issues of interest to us, Naryshkin said in remarks to state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin, who posted them on his Telegram channel on Sunday.
Sunday's attacks follow Russian President Vladimir Putins comments two days ago that Moscow is ready for a fresh round of direct peace talks in Istanbul. Two recent rounds of talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul were brief and yielded no progress on reaching a settlement.
Zelenskyy withdraws Ukraine from an anti-land mine pact
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree to withdraw Ukraine from the Ottawa Convention banning antipersonnel land mines, a Ukrainian lawmaker said Sunday. The move follows similar recent steps by the Baltic states and Poland.
The 1997 treaty prohibits the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of antipersonnel land mines in an effort to protect civilians from explosives that can maim or kill long after fighting ends.
This is a step that the reality of war has long demanded, said Roman Kostenko, secretary of the Ukrainian parliamentary committee on national security, defense and intelligence. He noted that Russia is not a party to the convention "and is massively using mines against our military and civilians.
Two families are mourning after a shooting at Skinner Playfield near Denby High School in Detroit left a 4-year-old boy and an 18-year-old dead.
Samir Grubbs, 4, was shot and killed on Friday while at the park with his mother.
"Please, please put the guns down, it's so senseless, it doesn't make any sense," said Jasmine Grubbs, Samir's mother.
"It's so senseless, you took my baby from me," Grubbs said.
Grubbs says her son was full of life and was getting ready to start pre-K.
"Samir's smile lights up the room no matter where we went, everybody gravitating toward him," Grubbs said.
"He loved to go to church, loved to go to the park, that's his thing, he wanted to go to church," she added.
Two other people at the park were also shot a 17-year-old and 18-year-old Daviyon Shelmonson-Bey, who died from his injuries.
"He loved photography, he loved working on mini bikes, he self taught, he was just a very helpful little guy that's all I knew him for," said Joseph Shelmonson-Bey, Daviyon's father.
Joseph was told his son jumped in front of a bullet to save someone from being shot at the park.
"He reacted to protect somebody, something I probably would have did," Joseph said.
Both Joseph and Jasmine are calling for justice for their sons as police continue to look for the shooter.
"We need to speak up in our community to make it better... so we don't have to worry about our kids going through even more of this bloodshed in the community," Joseph said.
"You're taking children away from loving families, families that treat then right, families that care for them," Grubbs said.
Anyone with information that will help police find the person responsible for the shooting is asked to call Detroit Police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
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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.
Democratic former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman was honored for her legislative accomplishments and her humanity during a funeral Saturday, where former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris joined the over 1,000 mourners.
Hortman was shot to death in a pair of attacks two weeks earlier by a man posing as a police officer that Minnesota's chief federal prosecutor has called an assassination. The shootings also left her husband, Mark, dead and a state senator and his wife seriously wounded.
Melissa Hortman will be remembered as the most consequential speaker in Minnesota history. I get to remember her as a close friend, a mentor, and the most talented legislator I have ever known, Gov. Tim Walz said in his eulogy. For seven years, I have had the privilege of signing her agenda into law. I know millions of Minnesotans get to live their lives better because she and Mark chose public service and politics.
The service
Neither Biden nor Harris spoke, but they sat in the front row with the governor, who was Harris' running mate in 2024. Biden was also one of more than 7,500 people who paid their respects Friday as Hortman, her husband, Mark, and their golden retriever, Gilbert, lay in state in the Minnesota Capitol rotunda in St. Paul. Gilbert was seriously wounded in the attack and had to be euthanized. Biden also visited the wounded senator in a hospital.
Dozens of current and former state legislators from both parties and other elected officials who worked with Hortman also attended.
Hortman, who was first elected in 2004, helped pass an expansive agenda of liberal initiatives like free lunches for public school students during the momentous 2023 session as the chambers speaker, along with expanded protections for abortion and trans rights. With the House split 67-67 between Democrats and Republicans this year, she yielded the gavel to a Republican under a power-sharing deal, took the title speaker emerita, and helped break a budget impasse that threatened to shut down state government.
The governor's eulogy
Walz said Hortman saw her mission as to get as much good done for as many people as possible. And he said her focus on people was what made her so effective.
She certainly knew how to get her way. No doubt about that, Walz said. But she never made anyone feel that theyd gotten rolled at a negotiating table. That wasnt part of it for her, or a part of who she was. She didnt need somebody else to lose to win for her.
The governor said the best way to honor the Hortmans would be by following their example.
Maybe it is this moment where each of us can examine the way we work together, the way we talk about each other, the way we fight for things we care about," Walz said. "A moment when each of us can recommit to engaging in politics and life the way Mark and Melissa did -- fiercely, enthusiastically, heartily, but without ever losing sight of our common humanity.
The homily
The Rev. Daniel Griffith, pastor and rector of the Basilica, who led the service, said the country is in need of deep healing. He said it seems as if the U.S. is living in the dystopian reality described at the beginning of William Butler Yeats' poem, The Second Coming.
Here in Minnesota, we have been the ground zero place, sadly, for racial injustice," Griffith said. "The killing of George Floyd just miles from our church today. And now we are the ground zero place for political violence and extremism. Both of these must be decried in the strongest possible terms, as they are, respectively, a threat to human dignity and indeed, our democracy.
But the priest also said Minnesota could also be a ground zero place for restoration and justice and healing. He added that the presence of so many people was a sign that the work could succeed.
Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Saint Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese offered his condolences to the Hortman family.
A private burial will be held at a later date.
The Hortman family
The Hortmans were proud of their adult children, Sophie and Colin Hortman, and the lawmaker often spoke of them.
In a voice choked with emotion, Colin said his parents embodied the Golden Rule, and he read the Prayer of St. Francis, which his mother always kept in her wallet. He said it captures her essence. It starts, Lord make me an instrument of your peace.
After the service, Walz presented the children with U.S. and Minnesota flags that flew over the Capitol on the day their parents were killed.
The suspect
The man accused of killing the Hortmans at their home in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park on June 14, and wounding Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette, at their home in nearby Champlin, made a brief court appearance Friday. He's due back in court Thursday.
Vance Boelter, 57, of Green Isle, surrendered near his home the night of June 15 after what authorities called the largest search in Minnesota history.
Boelter remains jailed and has not entered a plea. Prosecutors need to secure a grand jury indictment first. His lawyers have declined to comment on the charges, which could carry the federal death penalty.
Friends have described Boelter as an evangelical Christian with politically conservative views. But prosecutors have declined so far to speculate on a motive.
The Rocket Classic is in full swing and hundreds of dedicated volunteers are helping ensure the event runs smoothly.
With a four-day tournament and week's worth of events, it takes a lot of people to put on the Rocket Classic.
"It takes the 1,400 volunteers that we have on the site. The fact that they give up their time to do this so that our community can benefit from a tournament such as this, it's magnificent," Katrina Kelly-Winker, the volunteer chair at Rocket Classic, said.
The event started in 2019, and for Detroit Golf Club member Allen Lewis, watching the tournament come to life was eye-opening.
"To see all the build-out of the stands and what's going on there. It takes some time," Lewis said.
Lewis is one of the volunteers who have helped with the Rocket Classic since its inception. His current role involves helping guide standard bearersthe people who carry signs alongside golfers with their scores.
"So I schedule them all. I pray they come in on time," Lewis said. "Some days I work harder now than I did when I worked."
But as someone who plays the course, he finds it worth the effort.
There are also first-time volunteers like Saisha Dhawan, an avid golfer from Rochester Hills.
"I've been playing for a while. I play like every week, sometimes I have a tournament every week," Dhawan said.
She hopes that by giving her time to the Rocket Classic, she might pick up some pointers from the pros.
"I want to experience watching other players play and maybe even learn from them and affect my own game," Dhawan said.
Volunteers say that each time they come out, it's like joining a big family.
"We come out here because we enjoy it. We know there's a benefit for the community and we just want to be a part of it," Kelly-Winker said.
Volunteer roles range from gallery management to tracking golf balls throughout the four-day tournament.
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.
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