Two stepbrothers, both 13 years old, were shot in Detroit Friday night. One of them was killed and the other was hospitalized, police said.

The shooting happened just after 9 p.m. in the area of E. Lantz and Mitchell streets.

Watch Detroit Police Deputy Chief Franklin Hayes provide details about the shooting below: Police provide details after two 13-year-olds shot, 1 of them fatally in Detroit

Police said three teens were walking when a dark colored vehicle pulled up by them and rolled the window down. Words were exchanged and shots were fired from the vehicle.

"This is not OK. This is not acceptable. We will not tolerate it," Deputy Chief Franklin Hayes told reporters at the scene.

One teen was fatally shot and another suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being wounded in the arm. Police confirmed the two teens shot were stepbrothers.

"This family will never be the same," Hayes said. "Certainly, our hearts go out to them the Detroit Police Department, our city, our hearts go out to this family. We need someone to help us. Please call in, please let us know anything that you have. We're gonna find these people that were responsible for this thing."

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call DPD's homicide unit at 313-596-2260 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

"The Detroit Police Department has been activated. Our homicide task force, every bit of technology that we have we are scurrying and looking through it in this area, querying it just to make sure that we do every single thing we can to find the people responsible for hurting our children here in this community," Hayes said.

Several minors have died or been injured to gun violence this summer. Earlier in the day, a rally was held at the Spirit of Detroit downtown with community leaders demanding an end to violence against children.

Earlier this week, Detroit City Council voted to amend an ordinance that regulates curfew violations. Under the updated ordinance, parental fines increased, however, theyve been decriminalized.

President Donald Trump unveiled new tariff rates for dozens of countries after a flurry of negotiations ahead of the self-imposed Aug. 1 deadline.

The administration set rates for dozens of countries starting Aug. 7th, ranging from 10% to 41%. President Trump indicated he was open to conversations still, but did not guarantee new deals while leaving the White House Friday afternoon.

For many of the nation's top trading partners, preliminary steps had already been announced in the lead-up to Thursdays executive order, though the full text of some agreements has yet to be made public.

President Donald Trump previously announced a 20% tariff rate for Vietnam, 15% for the European Union and South Korea, and 10% for the United Kingdom. The rate for Taiwan was set at 20%, down from the original Liberation Day rate of 32%.

China was not affected, as discussions continue amid a pause on higher rates. Following a conversation with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, President Donald Trump announced a 90-day delay while talks move forward.

President Trump previously announced a rate of 25% for India.

I understand India no longer is going to be buying oil from Russia. That's what I heard. I don't know if that's right or not, but that's a good step. We'll see what happens, Trump said Friday.

However, Canadas tariff rate increased by 10 points to 35% for goods not covered by existing trade agreements. The change, effective immediately, was tied to the flow of drugs across the northern border and came after President Donald Trump criticized Canadas recognition of a Palestinian state. Prime Minister Mark Carney responded by saying, Canada accounts for only 1% of U.S. fentanyl imports and has been working intensively to further reduce these volumes.

Something that is critically important about what's going on with these tariffs and Canada and Mexico is that everything that is currently protected under the North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is exempted from the tariffs, which represents about 85% of all imports coming from Canada and Mexico. And so this is important when we want to start talking about things like impacts and what consumers are likely to feel versus what they might not feel, said Abby Hall, associate professor of economics at the University of Tampa.

The administration already announced action to increase Brazils rates as high as 50% in total, citing political factors.

He can talk to me any time he wants, Trump said of Brazils leader.

Switzerland saw a rate of 39%, up from its original reciprocal rate, while Syria and South Africa maintained among the higher rates.

We have a $40 billion deficit with Switzerland, and I spoke yesterday to Switzerland, but we have a $40 billion deficit with Switzerland, Trump said.

I think what I see from these announcements is it's really a starting point for further negotiations, for continued conversations about what are the tariffs that are at issue on the EU side. What are the non-tariff barriers? How will it be implementing these commitments? For many countries, even something that seems simple, like changing a tariff rate, reducing tariffs in U.S. products that may take a legislative process, it may be a regulatory process, Greta Peisch, partner at Wiley Rein and former general counsel at USTR under the Biden administration, said of the announcements unveiled ahead of Thursdays executive order.

Still, President Trump remained open to conversations with countries during the seven days before rates take effect, according to a senior administration official.

The official also noted the administration is fine where everything is, pointing to a significant amount of revenue.

While the administration has pointed to tariffs as a way to generate revenue and balance trade, others contend that tariffs will increase costs for families.

A Wyandotte police officer went above and beyond the call of duty when he saw an elderly resident struggling to mow her lawn, returning after his shift to completely transform her yard.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: 'In awe': Woman praises Wyandotte officer for mowing her lawn, showing kindness

Officer Jonathan Cox was on patrol when he spotted Dory Oliver attempting to push a lawn mower with one hand while balancing on her walker with the other.

"She looked like she needed help that day and when I stopped to ask her, she allowed me to help her," Cox said.

Oliver, who has mobility issues, explained that yard work has become extremely difficult for her.

"You know, when you've worked all your life and suddenly you can't, it's not a good feeling," Oliver said.

The Wyandotte resident shared that she had reached out to several companies for assistance, but no one followed through.

"Three different times somebody said, 'yeah, I'll be there,' and no one ever came," Oliver said.

When Cox saw her struggling, he immediately told her to stop and offered his help. After completing his 12-hour shift, he returned to Oliver's home and spent two days cutting the grass, clearing gutters and improving her yard.

"It was overgrown. Unfortunately, there was a storm that took a bunch of branches down and it needed to be cleaned up," Cox said.

Oliver was so moved by the officer's kindness that she called the Wyandotte Police Department to express her gratitude.

"I'm just still in awe of what he did for me. He doesn't even know me. He just took care of what was impossible for me because I can't walk without the walker. I just have to commend him, and I just thank him so much," Oliver said in her voicemail to the police chief.

Cox, who has served the department for eight years, remains humble about his actions, seeing it as part of his commitment to the community.

"I'm very blessed in the position where I'm at, whether it's personally or professionally to help others," Cox said.

For Oliver, the officer's kindness has created a lasting bond.

"I have no words. I didn't know this man at the time and now, he's my adopted grandson," Oliver said.

Cox plans to continue helping Oliver with her yard maintenance and remains dedicated to both protecting and supporting his community.

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.

Police are looking for a stolen vehicle that they say is tied to a drive-by shooing that left two young children injured on Detroits east side.

The shooting happened Thursday around 6:20 a.m. on Arcola Avenue near Eldon Street, which is near Lynch Road and Van Dyke Avenue.

Investigators said two people got out of two stolen vehicles, fired shots into a home and injured a 7-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy who were asleep. Their injuries were not life threatening.

Detroit police released video and a photo of a stolen truck wanted in connection to the shooting. Its a black 2021 Ram.

Watch video police shared below: Video: Detroit police searching for stolen vehicle connected to shooting that hurt 2 kids

A second truck tied to the shooting, a grey 2022 Ram TRX, has been recovered, police said.

Police are searching for two suspects.

"Just really, really tragic, senseless act happened in this block," Detroit Police Assistance Chief Eric Ewing said Thursday. "We need to come together in this city... any time any child or any person gets shot in the city of Detroit, it's one too many individuals."

Watch our coverage from the day of the shooting below: 'Just really, really tragic.' 2 kids injured in drive-by shooting on Detroit's east side

Anyone with information is asked to call the 11th Precinct at 313-596-1100 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP if you would like to remain anonymous.

A $1,000 reward is being offered for information that helps the case.

The pilots of a U.S. Army helicopter that collided with a passenger jet over Washington in January would've had difficulty spotting the plane while wearing night vision goggles, experts told the National Transportation Safety Board on Friday.

The Army goggles would have made it difficult to see the plane's colored lights, which might have helped the Black Hawk determine the plane's direction. The goggles also limited the pilots' peripheral vision as they flew near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The challenges posed by night-vision goggles were among the topics discussed at the NTSB's third and final day of public testimony over the fatal midair crash, which killed all 67 people aboard both aircrafts.

Experts said another challenge that evening was distinguishing the plane from lights on the ground while the two aircraft were on a collision course. Plus, the helicopter pilots may not have known where to look for a plane that was landing on a secondary runway that most planes didn't use.

"Knowing where to look. That's key," said Stephen Casner, an expert in human factors who used to work at NASA.

RELATED STORY | NTSB holds hearings on January's deadly mid-air collision near Reagan National Airport

Two previous days of testimony underscored a number of factors that likely contributed to the collision, sparking Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy to urge the Federal Aviation Administration to "do better" as she pointed to warnings the agency had ignored years earlier.

Some of the major issues that have emerged so far include the Black Hawk helicopter flying above prescribed levels near the airport as well as the warnings to FAA officials for years about the hazards related to the heavy chopper traffic there.

It's too early for the board to identify what exactly caused the crash. A final report from the board won't come until next year.

But it became clear this week how small a margin of error there was for helicopters flying the route the Black Hawk took the night of the nation's deadliest plane crash since November 2001.

The American Airlines jet arrived from Wichita, Kansas, carrying, among others, a group of elite young figure skaters, their parents and coaches, and four union steamfitters from the Washington area.

The collision was the first in a string of crashes and near misses this year that have alarmed officials and the traveling public, despite statistics that still show flying remains the safest form of transportation.

'Significant frustration'

NTSB members scolded FAA officials during Friday's hearing, accusing them of saying the right things about safety in public while failing to cooperate in private. They said the FAA has repeatedly refused to provide information requested by investigators.

Board member Todd Inman said there was "significant frustration between what's actually occurring" and "what's being said for public consumption."

Frank McIntosh, the head of the FAA's air traffic control organization, said he would start working immediately to remove those barriers. McIntosh also acknowledged problems with the culture in the tower at Reagan National, despite past efforts to improve compliance with safety standards.

"I think there were some things that we missed, to be quite honest with you, not intentionally, but I was talking about how certain facilities can drift," McIntosh said.

Questions over lack of alcohol testing

Tim Lilley, an aviation expert whose son Sam was a pilot on the passenger jet, said he's optimistic the tragic accident will ultimately lead to some positive changes.

"But we've got a long way to go," he told The Associated Press.

Lilley said he was particularly struck by the FAA's lack of alcohol testing for air traffic controllers after the crash.

"And they made a bunch of excuses why they didn't do it," Lilley said. "None of them were valid. It goes back to a whole system that was complacent and was normalizing deviation."

Homendy said during Thursday's hearings that alcohol testing is most effective within two hours of a crash and can be administered within eight hours.

Nick Fuller, the FAA's acting deputy chief operating officer of operations, testified that the controllers weren't tested because the agency did not immediately believe the crash was fatal. The FAA then decided to forgo it because the optimum two-hour window had passed.

Controller didn't warn the jet

FAA officials testified this week that an air traffic controller should have warned the passenger jet of the Army helicopter's presence.

The controller had asked the Black Hawk pilots to confirm they had the airplane in sight because an alarm sounded in the tower about their proximity. The controller could see from a window that the helicopter was too close, but the controller did not alert the jetliner.

In a transcript released this week, the unidentified controller said in a post-crash interview they weren't sure that would have changed the outcome.

Additionally, the pilots of the helicopter did not fully hear the controller's instructions before the collision. When the controller told the helicopter's pilots to "pass behind" the jet, the crew didn't hear it because the Black Hawk's microphone key was pressed at that moment.

'Layer after layer of deficiencies'

Jeff Guzzetti, a former NTSB and FAA crash investigator, told the AP that a combination of factors produced this tragedy, like "holes that line up in the Swiss cheese."

Any number of things, had they been different, could have prevented the collision, he said. They include the Black Hawks having more accurate altimeters, as well as a key piece of locating equipment, known as ADS-B Out, turned on or working. In turn, air traffic control could have seen the problem earlier.

Just a few feet could have made a difference, Guzzetti said.

"It just goes to show you that an accident isn't caused by one single thing," Guzzetti said. "It isn't caused by 'pilot error' or 'controller staffing.' This accident was caused by layer after layer of deficiencies that piled up at just the right moment."

Ex-official: FAA and Army share blame

Mary Schiavo, a former U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General, told the AP that both the Army and the FAA appear to share significant blame.

The Black Hawks' altimeters could be off by as much as 100 feet and were still considered acceptable, she said. The crew was flying an outdated model that struggled to maintain altitude, while the helicopter pilots' flying was "loose" and under "loose" supervision.

"It's on the individuals, God rest their souls, but it's also on the military," Schiavo said. "I mean, they just seem to have no urgency of anything."

Schiavo was also struck by the air traffic controllers' lack of maps of the military helicopter routes on their display screens, which forced them to look out the window.

"And so everything about the military helicopter operation was not up to the standards of commercial aviation ... it's a shocking lack of attention to precision all the way around," she said.

Schiavo also faulted the FAA for not coming off as terribly responsive to problems.

"I called the Federal Aviation Administration, the Tombstone Agency, because they would only make change after people die," Schiavo said. "And sadly, 30 years later, that seems to still be the case."

Jeannie Seely, the soulful country music singer behind such standards like "Don't Touch Me," has died. She was 85.

Her publicist, Don Murry Grubbs, said she died Friday after succumbing to complications from an intestinal infection.

Known as "Miss Country Soul" for her unique vocal style, Seely was a trailblazer for women in country music, celebrated for her spirited nonconformity and for a string of undeniable hits in the '60s and '70s.

Her second husband, Gene Ward, died in December. In May, Seely revealed that she was in recovery after undergoing multiple back surgeries, two emergency procedures and spending 11 days in the ICU. She also suffered a bout of pneumonia.

"Rehab is pretty tough, but each day is looking brighter and last night, I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. And it was neon, so I knew it was mine!" she said in a statement at the time. "The unsinkable Seely is working her way back."

Seely was born in July 1940, in Titusville, Pennsylvania, about two hours north of Pittsburgh and raised in nearby Townville. Her love of country music was instant; her mother sang, and her father played the banjo. When she was a child, she sang on local radio programs and performed on local television. In her early 20s, she moved to Los Angeles to kick-start a career, taking a job at Liberty and Imperial Records in Hollywood.

She kept writing and recording. Nashville was next: She sang on Porter Wagoner's show; she got a deal with Monument Records. Her greatest hit would arrive soon afterward: "Don't Touch Me," the crossover ballad written by Hank Cochran. The song earned Seely her first and only Grammy Award, for best country & western vocal performance in the female category.

Cochran and Seely were married in 1969 and divorced in 1979.

Seely broke boundaries in her career at a time when country music expected a kind of subservience from its women performers, Seely was a bit of a rebel, known for wearing a miniskirt on the Grand Ole Opry stage when it was still taboo.

And she had a number of country hits in the '60s and '70s, including three Top 10 hits on what is now known as Billboard's hot country songs chart: "Don't Touch Me," 1967's "I'll Love You More (Than You Need)" and 1973's "Can I Sleep In Your Arms?", adapted from the folk song "Can I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister?"

In the years since, Seely continued to release albums, perform, and host, regularly appearing on country music programming. Her songs are considered classics, and have been recorded by everyone from Merle Haggard, Ray Price and Connie Smith to Ernest Tubb, Grandpa Jones, and Little Jimmy Dickens.

And Seely never stopped working in country music. Since 2018, she's hosted the weekly "Sunday's with Seely" on Willie Nelson's Willie's Roadhouse SiriusXM channel. That same year, she was inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame.

She appeared nearly 5,400 times at the Grand Ole Opry, which she has been a member of since 1967. Grubbs said Saturday's Grand Ole Opry show would be dedicated to Seely.

She released her latest song in July 2024, a cover of Dottie West's "Suffertime," recorded at the world-renowned RCA Studio B. She performed it at the Opry the year before.

A death that was reported to police as a suicide in Wayne County in late June is now being investigated as a murder.

Sumpter township police said David McPherson called 911 on June 29 reporting his girlfriend, Haleigh Pace, shot herself in the head and was dying in their bedroom. But now, McPherson is facing charges.

Watch the video report below: Man charged with murder in what was a reported suicide

"This was really out of character. Anybody who knows her knows she wouldn't have done this to herself," Paces brother Evan said.

Haleigh Paces brothers Evan and Peyton told me she also wouldn't do that to her son.

"My nephew Damien is, was her entire world and she worked two jobs busting her butt to try to support him, to try to make a better life for herself," Evan Pace said.

Family says 3-year-old Damien doesnt understand that his mother isnt coming home.

They say Haleigh Pace graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2023 with a degree in fashion and marketing.

Despite the positives, they say her relationship with McPherson was toxic. Some details hadn't come to light until it was too late.

"From the start, there was a big red flag. Not just because of the age gap so my sister was just freshly 18 and he was 33 years old. And not even just that, it was the way that she was always more of the provider," Evan Pace said.

"I know in the past, she did want to leave him. He threatened taken away the baby. He threatened hurting us. So, it really was a tough situation my sister was in."

In the days following her death, McPherson posted quotes about grief.

"To me, it kind of makes me feel sick to like just know that while he was at her funeral and stood up and spoke for her and would post all these things after the fact, just the fact that he would do such a thing," Peyton Pace said.

However, police weren't convinced she died by suicide.

Investigators honed in on McPherson, and while they haven't shared what convinced them he pulled the trigger, McPherson was charged and arraigned for Haliegh Pace's murder on Thursday.

Her family created the hashtag #justiceforhaliegh. They've also created a GoFundMe page to support young Damien.

"I want my sister to be remembered by the way she made people feel, by the memories people had with her, not just about what happened to her," Evan Pace said.

McPherson is being held on a million-dollar bond. His next court date Aug. 13.

The demolition of the Phoenix Center Amphitheater is reshaping downtown Pontiac, giving local businesses a clear view of the city's future for the first time in nearly 40 years.

Watch Carli Petrus's video report: Phoenix Center demolition progress brings new hope to downtown Pontiac businesses

Crews are making steady progress on the demolition project, which will ultimately reconnect downtown Pontiac.

"It is mostly down, and they have continued to clear away very efficiently," said Pontiac City Council President Mike McGuinness.

The project is moving faster than expected, with completion potentially coming before the original December target date.

"The original schedule was for them to be done by December, and the way it's looking, they are very much ahead of projections. Just have to see if we can keep that positive pace," McGuinness said.

For local businesses anchored on Saginaw Street, the transformation is already making an impact. For the first time in nearly 40 years, there's a clear line of sight through downtown.

"It is crazy," said Shannon Woolman, manager of Fillmore 13 Brewery. "I can't even explain driving home, and you can see at night and see all the way through - down Auburn. We've been holding on for eight years, and I really think that this is going to push it that much further."

The revitalization project promises a central park and a new parking garage, bringing renewed energy to the area.

Shelby Berger, owner of Main Street Pawn Shop, says they're already seeing more foot traffic since the project began this spring.

"A lot more people seeing what's going down, down here, and it's definitely creating a positive vibe," Berger said.

The demolition is part of a larger plan to bring hundreds of Oakland County employees back to Pontiac.

"It's a big deal that Oakland County is recommitting to Pontiac, which has been the county seat for centuries," McGuinness said.

McGuinness says the entire project is set to be complete by 2027.

"Pontiac is safe, fun, welcoming, and is open for business, and that's the truth, and we just need to keep building more support and progress in that direction," he said.

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

Many business owners said new tariffs revealed by the Trump administration will force them to raise prices.

The White House announced new tariffs against more than 60 countries set to go into effect Aug. 7, with rates ranging from 10% to 41%.

President Donald Trump has said tariffs will force U.S. companies to reshore supply chains and increase domestic manufacturing. Many economists and supply chain experts have said that it could take years and cause prices to go up in the meantime.

Consumers likely to see higher prices

The new tariffs will be paid by importers, but economists said many businesses will pass those prices onto consumers.

"If they are going into effect, then I'll have to raise my prices within the next 90 days, because that will affect my next order," said Katrina Golden, founder and CEO of Lil Mamas Sweets and Treats, a coffee and dessert shop in Augusta, Georgia.

Doug Scheffel is the owner of ETM Manufacturing in Littleton, Massachusetts, and said new tariffs could hit his business even sooner within 30 to 60 days in some cases.

New federal data released this week appears to show that previously announced tariffs are already impacting consumers.

Prices rose 2.6% in June compared to a year ago, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Uncertainty is causing chaos

A panel of small business owners who spoke with Scripps News about the tariffs said the uncertainty was the most challenging factor.

President Trump initially announced tariffs on dozens of countries in April, but since then, country-specific tariffs have been delayed and changed multiple times.

RELATED STORY | Trump extends Mexico trade deal deadline by 90 days

"My message to President Trump would be just make a decision," Scheffel said. Stop waffling. ... Continuing to be uncertain and not clear is causing chaos.

Not knowing what the exact tariff rates against countries would be and when they would take effect made it difficult to rethink supply chains, according to Ron Kurnik, the CEO of Superior Coffee Roasting Company in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan.

"If we just knew what the hell was going on here, we could maybe shift our supply chain from Colombia or Brazil to Honduras or Nicaragua or something that would work a little bit better for us going forward."

Companies differ on passing on costs

Procter & Gamble announced this week that it will raise prices on some goods in part due to tariffs. Company leadership said price increases will be in the mid-single digit percentages.

Other companies like General Motors have acknowledged tariffs are taking a bite out of their bottom line, but the carmaker has insisted it wont pass those costs onto consumers shopping for a new car.

RELATED STORY | Procter & Gamble projects $1 billion hit from Trump's tariffs

That strategy will only work for so long, according to Sina Golara, an assistant professor of supply chain management at Georgia State University.

"They can eat the prices to some extent just to do good with their market, but your financial resources and inventory cushion, they all run out over time, and you'd have to think about passing that on, he said.

Golden, whose coffee shop is located inside of a hospital, worries that if tariffs go up more, she might need to go out of business.

She says shes done everything she can to not pass higher costs onto customers, including shrinking her margins, but she says she still needs to make a living.

"We're going to do the best we can to keep our prices where they are, she said. However, if prices go up, then we also have to raise our prices accordingly in order to make money. We're in this to make some money, to make a living, to support our families. ... So, we have to do what we have to do."

Interest on federal student loans is beginning to accrue again this month, creating additional financial strain for millions of borrowers still navigating repayment challenges.

Watch Meghan Daniels' video report: Student loan interest returns, adding pressure to borrowers

Over 7 million borrowers had their student loan interest paused in 2024 due to the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan. While monthly payments remain paused until December of this year, interest will begin collecting again starting this month.

"The added stress of loan repayment will definitely have a huge impact on students, on families just being able to exist," Kevin Towns, Director of Financial Aid at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, said.

The SAVE Plan was designed to make monthly student loan payments more affordable based on income and family size, but the return of interest complicates the path to loan forgiveness.

One borrower, who requested anonymity due to concerns about employment repercussions, expressed frustration with the timing of interest resumption amid rising living costs.

"It's just this is just, it's not equity. It is not equality. It is, I know I keep saying predatory, but it just," they said. "I got that it's a loan. But why is the government making money off of it?"

Towns warns that adding interest to already substantial student loan balances could push financially vulnerable borrowers into deeper trouble.

"The immediate thing I think about is the fact that if students aren't able to pay on their student loans, how they could experience garnish, wage garnishments, they could see impacts to their credit, which then will impact their ability to purchase homes, purchase vehicles, it could impact small things like car insurance," Towns said.

Despite these challenges, Towns recommends several strategies for borrowers facing the return of interest.

"First thing, contact your servicer, understand what your current loan debt is, what your options are, what are the current, because there's been changes to repayment plans," Towns said.

He also encourages borrowers to utilize resources available through their universities.

"There's a lot of colleges that are also invested in making sure that students have the resources they need in order to make informed decisions about loan repayment," Towns said.

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

Scripps News has prevailed in court after fighting for nearly two years to obtain body camera footage from a 2023 shooting in which police killed a teen robbery suspect in Lakewood, Colorado.

"That ruling/precedent sends a strong message that under the 2020 Act (Colorados Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity Act), police departments and sheriffs' offices are not permitted to withhold body worn camera footage merely because a minor is depicted or because the surviving family members of a suspected criminal do not want it released," said Steve Zansberg, the attorney who represented Scripps News in court.

The ruling is one of the first appellate court decisions enforcing a state statute enacted in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd that compels police to release footage of such incidents.

On behalf of Scripps News, Zansberg filed a lawsuit against Lakewoods records manager in early 2024 after the city denied an open records request filed by Lori Jane Gliha, a national investigative reporter.

This case proves that Scripps News journalists stand as true public watchdogs, fighting to enforce the publics right to see what its officials are doing, said Sadie Craig, senior counsel for Scripps.

How the case progressed

Gliha filed a formal request for body camera footage in September 2023. She expected it would show what transpired before, during, and after a March 2023 incident in which police shot and killed Mariana Martinez, 17, who was suspected of robbing a postal worker with a gun.

Alexis King, the district attorney for the jurisdiction where the shooting occurred, found the shooting to be justified. In September 2023, she wrote, "each agent had objectively reasonable grounds to believe that they, their teammate, and the community was in imminent danger of being killed or suffering serious bodily injury.

A Lakewood police officer also suffered an injury in the shooting that was not life-threatening.

Lakewood police initially told reporters that the teen girl had fired her weapon at officers but later said the suspect had only pointed her gun at police before she was shot multiple times.

What caught my attention was Marianas young age and the fact that the police reports in the press kept changing, said Anita Springsteen, a former Lakewood city councilor who had reached out to Gliha about her concerns.

"The reason I wanted to see the footage is that I felt the city and the Lakewood Police Department were hiding something. Something felt off, and I wanted to stand up for my constituents and for justice and for transparency and figure out if they had done something wrong, said Springsteen.

I was concerned that perhaps the story was untrue, and that Mariana had not pointed a gun or had not even had a gun. But even if the story were true, I was concerned that perhaps the police had not handled it appropriately and that it could have been de-escalated, she said.

Through an attorney, Martinezs family also filed a formal notice with the city, initially alleging that various state and/or federal laws (had) been violated.

Under the Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity Act, police officers must wear and activate body-worn cameras when responding to calls for service, and upon request, all recordings of an incident shall be released to the public within 21 days after a law enforcement agency receives a complaint of misconduct.

However, the city of Lakewood declined to release the footage, citing privacy concerns under the Colorado Childrens Code.

In a legal answer to Scripps News complaint, the city of Lakewood argued that it was required to protect the substantial privacy interests of the deceased juvenile. The city said members of Martinezs family requested that the footage not be released.

In July, the Colorado Court of Appeals sided with Scripps News.

The victory we obtained is bittersweet, said Zansberg. The correct result was reached the Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity Act is unambiguous and clear. So, it is gratifying that both the trial court and the Court of Appeals properly construed the law and applied it. What is tremendously disappointing though, is that the Court of Appeals allowed for months of delay by granting a stay without any finding that (Lakewood Police Department) was likely to prevail on its appeal. The case should have ended in October of last year with that courts denial of the citys requested stay.

Scripps News received footage from police in late July. Below is a brief excerpt of a key portion of the footage.

Scripps News prevails in nearly two-year fight over body camera footageNote: the first 30 seconds of this police body camera footage is silent, as is typical for these recordings. Scripps News edited this video to pause it before the teen is shot, added captions, and highlighted the weapon she held.

An initial examination shows that Martinez, armed with a gun, pointed her weapon in the direction of police immediately prior to being shot and killed.

The video also shows police assisting their colleague, who suffered injuries to his face during the shooting. The recordings show one of the officers who fired shots expressing concern minutes after the gunfire that he may have inadvertently hit the injured officer due to crossfire. (The district attorneys decision letter said the specific origin of the injury cannot be confirmed.)

I was pleased that we were able to successfully challenge the publics right to access body camera footage under the Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity Act; and also provide clarity on what happened surrounding the tragic shooting death of a 17-year-old girl, said Rachael Johnson, an attorney for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press who represented Scripps alongside Zansberg.

While Lakewood did release video from the cameras worn by each of the three officers who fired shots at Martinez, the city has yet to release video recorded by other officers who responded to the scene after the shooting. The city required Scripps News to file a new request for the remaining footage from the incident, and that request is still pending.

Regardless of what the video reveals, the public has the right to see it, under the law, said Gliha. As journalists, we shine light on many things to make sure citizens have a complete picture of what is going on in their community and how things are transpiring. Its important to have access to the whole story, especially when someone has been injured or killed. Citizens should be able to make informed decisions about their communities based on all the facts.

Scripps News will have further reporting on this incident and the fight for public records in the weeks and months ahead.

A 54-year-old woman was criminally charged in connection with the death of a young boy in Alabama after he was left unattended in a hot car for hours, according to police.

The Birmingham Police Department said Kela Stanford has been charged with leaving a child or an incapacitated person unattended in a motor vehicle in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm, as part of the Amiyah White Act.

The Jefferson County District Attorney's Office said the charge is a class B felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

3-year-old Ketorrius Starkes Jr, known as KJ, was reportedly trapped inside a vehicle on Tuesday after a supervised visit with his father while in the custody of a contractor working for the Alabama Department of Human Resources.

RELATED STORY | Police warn against hot car dangers after rescuing baby in California

According to information provided by the family's attorney to The New York Times and CNN, the boy was picked up from daycare at 9 a.m. by a woman who was contracted through Covenant Services, Inc. for the supervised visitation.

Instead of immediately returning him to daycare afterward, the worker reportedly made several personal errands with Starkes buckled in the backseat before returning to her home in a suburb of Birmingham.

The child was then left in the backseat at the worker's residence for more than five hours before they called 911.

The Alabama Department of Human Resources said the employee was terminated by the contract provider.

Authorities are searching for a gunman after multiple people were shot at a bar in Anaconda, a town in southwestern Montana, on Friday.

Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Law Enforcement identified the suspect in the shootings as 45-year-old Michael Paul Brown, who lived next door to the bar.

He was last seen driving a 2007 white Ford F-150 pickup with Montana license plates DTY493 in the area west of Anaconda near Stumptown Road and Anderson Ranch Loop Road.

The Granite County Sheriff's Office said he is believed to be wearing a tie-dye shirt, blue jeans and an orange bandana.

Brown is believed to be armed and dangerous.

Authorities said the suspect's home was searched by a SWAT team, but he was not located.

The shooting left at least four people dead at The Owl Bar around 10:30 a.m. local time, according to the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). All of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials did not identify the victims, but, according to The Associated Press, the bar's owner said a bartender and three patrons were killed.

"I'm closely monitoring the situation involving an active shooter in Anaconda," said Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte. "Please join Susan and me in praying for the victims, their loved ones, and the brave law enforcement officers responding to this tragedy."

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.

On Sunday, August 3, Spotlight on the News will host a Primary Election round-table discussion on the key candidates, races, and issues on the August 5th ballot. Our guests will include Jeremy Allen, Executive Editor, Michigan Chronicle; Kaitlyn Buss, Deputy Editorial Page Editor, The Detroit News; Lloyd Jackson, WJR Radio Morning Show Co-Host; Nancy Kaffer, Editorial Page Editor, Detroit Free Press, and Ed Sarpolus, Executive Director of Lansing-based Target-Insyght Consulting and Research Firm. Tune in for their insightful analysis.

Spotlight on the News, now in its 60th season, is Michigan's longest-running weekly news and public affairs television program. It airs every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. on WXYZ-TV/Channel 7 in Detroit, is streamed live on wxyz.com and broadcast at 11:30 a.m. on 23.1 WKAR-HD in East Lansing.

 

In a warning to Russia, President Donald Trump said Friday he's ordering the repositioning of two U.S. nuclear submarines "based on the highly provocative statements" of the country's former president Dmitry Medvedev.

Trump posted on his social media site that, based on the "highly provocative statements" from Medvedev, he had "ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that."

The president added, "Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances."

It wasn't immediately clear what impact Trump's order would have on U.S. nuclear subs, which are routinely on patrol in the world's hotspots, but it comes at a delicate moment in the Trump administration's relations with Moscow.

Trump has said that special envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Russia to push Moscow to agree to a ceasefire in its war with Ukraine and has threatened new economic sanctions if progress is not made. He cut his 50-day deadline for action to 10 days, with that window set to expire next week.

The post about the sub repositioning came after Trump, in the wee hours of Thursday morning, had posted that Medvedev was a "failed former President of Russia" and warned him to "watch his words." Medvedev responded hours later by writing, "Russia is right on everything and will continue to go its own way."

Medvedev was president from 2008 to 2012 while Putin was barred from seeking a second consecutive term but stepped aside to let him run again. Now deputy chairman of Russia's National Security Council, which Putin chairs, Medvedev has been known for his provocative and inflammatory statements since the start of the war in 2022, a U-turn from his presidency, when he was seen as liberal and progressive.

He has frequently wielded nuclear threats and lobbed insults at Western leaders on social media. Some observers have argued that with his extravagant rhetoric, Medvedev is seeking to score political points with Putin and Russian military hawks.

Trump and Medvedev have gotten into online spats before.

On July 15, after Trump announced plans to supply Ukraine with more weapons via its NATO allies and threatened additional tariffs against Moscow, Medvedev posted, "Trump issued a theatrical ultimatum to the Kremlin. The world shuddered, expecting the consequences. Belligerent Europe was disappointed. Russia didn't care."

Earlier this week, he wrote, "Trump's playing the ultimatum game with Russia: 50 days or 10" and added, "He should remember 2 things: 1. Russia isn't Israel or even Iran. 2. Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country."

A Plymouth Township police officer who helped rescue an elderly couple from a house fire last year is now facing his own life-threatening battle with brain cancer.

Watch Christiana's story in the video player below: Plymouth Twp. officer who helped rescue elderly couple now fighting brain cancer

Tyler Cannon, 35, a husband and father of three young children, was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was rushed to the emergency room after suffering from severe headaches.

Despite the serious prognosis, he's approaching his diagnosis with remarkable courage.

"He has an astrocytoma grade 4, but it's kind of an interchangeable diagnosis basically I think more known as the glioblastoma, which is the worst type of brain cancer that you can get," said Kristi McCann, Cannon's wife's cousin.

Cannon was part of a team of four Plymouth Township police officers who were named Officers of the Year after bravely rescuing a couple in their 70s from a house fire in November. Now, the community is rallying around him as he faces this personal challenge.

Related Story: Bodycam footage shows officers rescuing couple from fire in Plymouth Township Bodycam footage shows officers rescuing couple from fire in Plymouth Township

"He is just saying there is no other option. I'm gonna fight this. I'm gonna beat it. That's the option. I'm gonna see my kids grow. I'm gonna see them get married, have their own children. That's his mentality, extremely positive," McCann said.

Cannon recently underwent an awake craniotomy to remove part of the tumor in his brain.

"All went well with the surgery. They got out as much as they could," McCann said.

Plymouth Township Police Chief James Knittel said Cannon has told him he wants to be back on the job.

"He's a warrior defending our citizens. This battle with brain cancer, he's taken on the same attitude, the same philosophy," Knittel said.

The community has already raised over $47,000 through a GoFundMe campaign, and plans are underway for a golf fundraiser on September 21 at Lakes of Taylor Golf Course.

McCann says the family has gone through a lot, and their hope is to alleviate as much financial burden as possible.

"Because they need to focus on him getting well and fighting this," McCann said.

The police department is creating "Cannon Strong" t-shirts and providing support in various ways.

Thin Blue Line of Michigan has also started a donation drive.

"In their time of need, our family here at the police department is gonna step up and we're gonna do everything we can for him," Knittel said. "The township of Plymouth is behind him. The board of trustees here at the township of Plymouth have all reached out to me and asked how they can help, so we're gonna tackle this as a family, and Tyler is gonna fight this, and we're gonna be in his corner. We're gonna have his back."

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.

President Donald Trump lashed out after the U.S. Labor Department reported that just 73,000 jobs were added in July, pushing the unemployment rate from 4.1% to 4.2%.

The department also issued a sharp correction, revising its May and June estimates downward by 258,000 jobs.

President Trump, without providing evidence, claimed the jobs data was inaccurate and blamed Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the Biden-appointed commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

RELATED STORY | US employers added just 73,000 jobs in July as labor market weakens

We need accurate Jobs Numbers, he said. I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY. She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified.

In a post on X, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said she shared the presidents concerns.

"I support the Presidents decision to replace Bidens Commissioner and ensure the American People can trust the important and influential data coming from BLS," she said. "During the search for a replacement, Deputy Commissioner William Wiatrowski will serve as Acting Commissioner."

The stock market fell Friday following the release of the jobs report and President Trump's latest announcement on tariffs. He is imposing a new rate on countries that missed his Aug. 1 deadline to reach trade deals. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down about 500 points in midday trading.

Despite the negative indicators, President Trump insisted the economy is "booming," while also criticizing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for not cutting interest rates.

Jerome Too Late Powell should also be put out to pasture, President Trump said.

A jury in Florida awarded plaintiffs $329 million in damages on Friday in a case that blamed Teslas Autopilot driver assistance feature for a 2019 crash that killed a young woman and gravely injured her boyfriend.

Tesla has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the case and said it plans to appeal the decision.

The company released the following statement after the jury's decision:

"Todays verdict is wrong and only works to set back automotive safety and jeopardize Teslas and the entire industrys efforts to develop and implement life-saving technology. We plan to appeal given the substantial errors of law and irregularities at trial. Even though this jury found that the driver was overwhelmingly responsible for this tragic accident in 2019, the evidence has always shown that this driver was solely at fault because he was speeding, with his foot on the accelerator which overrode Autopilot as he rummaged for his dropped phone without his eyes on the road. To be clear, no car in 2019, and none today, would have prevented this crash. This was never about Autopilot; it was a fiction concocted by plaintiffs lawyers blaming the car when the driver from day one admitted and accepted responsibility."

The crash involved a Tesla Model S whose driver had been using the car's Autopilot technology in the moments before he smashed into an SUV in Key Largo, Florida. The driver of the Model S said he reached down to pick up his cellphone, taking his eyes off the road and colliding with the parked SUV.

RELATED STORY | Lawsuit against Tesla includes claim the automaker hid data after fatal crash

The collision killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and critically injured her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo. Both were standing next to the SUV when it was hit by the Tesla.

The plaintiffs had claimed that the company deliberately hid information about the crash, and accused Tesla of encouraging drivers to over-rely on Autopilot.

"This car was not safe and destroyed our lives," Angulo said in an exclusive interview with Scripps News before the trial. "We all need to do what we have to do to hold Elon Musk and Tesla accountable."

Angulo's attorneys believe Tesla "engaged in a scheme to hide" data produced by the Tesla Model S during the crash. An expert witness for the plaintiffs discovered the existence of the data after Tesla had testified it had turned over all information from the car.

Tesla has since testified it did not realize there was missing data.

FROM THE ARCHIVES | Tesla settles lawsuit over fatal crash involving self-driving software

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting will shut down after Republicans pulled federal funding from the organization.

For 60 years, the nonprofit has distributed federal money to public media stations and producers, supporting educational programming, local journalism, and emergency communications across the country.

Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations, said CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison.

The closure will result in job losses. CPB said most staff positions will end on Sept. 30, the close of the fiscal year. The organization said it would maintain a small transition team through January 2026 to handle final responsibilities.

RELATED STORY | House passes $9.4 billion in cuts to public broadcasting and international aid

President Donald Trump urged Republicans to rescind CPBs funding, arguing that government support of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence. They passed legislation to do that in July.

In addition to CPBs closure, the funding cuts are expected to significantly affect rural public radio and television stations that carry National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service programming.

PBS President Paula Kerger told Scripps News that some rural public television stations could be forced to shut down.