This is not just a game it is an opportunity to make connections with some kids who could use some encouragement.

Eighteen boys in a foster care program in Redford spent quality time with community leaders, including firefighters and the chief of police. They played a kickball game organized to build trust and connection between first responders and children who have dealt with significant trauma.

Redford Township Police Chief Jennifer Mansfield said the event gives everyone a chance to see one another differently.

"We all get to see each other in a different light than sometimes we do when we're working, and I personally love seeing the smiles, you know, hearing the laughter, and I also like watching the adults. You know, the adults are having just as much fun as the kids." Mansfield said.

Nicholas Lavin, a firefighter and paramedic with Redford Township Fire, said the relationships built at events like this extend beyond the field.

"And we see them in the community, too, you know? We're driving by and we see them waving down the street." Lavin said. "When we run into them, it's usually a medical emergency, and that's no way to create a relationship. Whereas this, a little friendly competition, is fantastic."

MCHS Family of Services has been around since 1917. Through those years, its goal has remained the same: caring for children. The nonprofit has a campus off 6 Mile Road near Telegraph Road, where boys ages 5 to 18 can live and learn life skills.

That includes Xavier Bowles, who is graduating from Redford Union High School this month. Bowles said the program has helped him develop important skills.

"My good choices, my boundaries and my coping skills." Bowles said. "My grades, fantastic." Bowles said.

"I also volunteer with the Redford Union wrestling team and they're just like every other high school, middle school kid. They just want to have fun," said Carly Bacigalupo, president of the Redford Jaycees. She was also at the event to participate and show support.

Raquel Sulaiman, chief development officer at MCHS, said outside community involvement makes a meaningful difference for the youth in their care.

"Oh, it's so important. Our staff do an incredible job coaching, taking care of our youth, looking after them, but we know when there's outside adults in the community who look after our youth, mentor them and just have positive relationships, that goes such a long way," Sulaiman said.

Allie Snage, executive director of the Redford Chamber of Commerce, said the event was a success and hinted at more to come.

"It was great. Sounds like we're looking to do something again towards the end of the summer, so hopefully we can make this a recurring thing." Snage said.

Both sides declared victory at the end of the game but the real winners were the young men on the field.

A national redistricting battle over U.S. House seats swung toward Republicans on Friday, as a Virginia court invalidated a Democratic gerrymandering effort and Republicans in Alabama approved plans for new primary elections if courts allow GOP-drawn House districts to be used in the November midterm elections.

The Alabama legislation, which was signed quickly into law by Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, is part of an effort by Republicans in Southern states to capitalize on a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that significantly weakened Voting Rights Act protections for minorities.

At the Alabama Statehouse, a chaotic scene erupted as one protester was dragged from the packed House gallery by security officers. Republican lawmakers in Louisiana and South Carolina also faced staunch opposition from civil rights activists and Democrats as they presented plans Friday to redraw their congressional districts.

The action came just a day after Tennessee enacted new congressional districts that carve up a Democratic-held, Black-majority district in Memphis. The state Democratic Party sued on Friday, seeking to prevent the districts from being used until after this year's elections because of the tight time frame

Even before last week's Supreme Court ruling in a Louisiana case, Republicans and Democrats already were engaged in a fierce redistricting battle, each seeking an edge in the midterm elections that will determine control of the closely divided House. That battle tilted further toward Republicans when the Virginia Supreme Court ruled Friday that Democratic lawmakers had violated constitutional requirements when placing a redistricting amendment on the ballot.

Since President Donald Trump prodded Texas to redraw its congressional districts last summer, Republicans think they could gain as many as 14 seats from new districts in several states while Democrats think they could gain up to six seats. But the parties may not get everything they sought, because the gerrymandering could backfire in some highly competitive districts.

RELATED NEWS | NAACP sues after Tennessee lawmakers pass new electoral map for Memphis

Alabama primaries could be in flux

Demonstrators outside the Alabama Statehouse on Friday shouted fight for democracy and down with white supremacy.

I was out there in 1965 marching for the right to vote, and now we are back here in 2026 doing the same thing, Betty White Boynton said.

During debate inside the statehouse, Black lawmakers said the Republican legislation harks back to the states shameful Jim Crow history. The new law would ignore the May 19 primary results for some congressional seats and direct the governor to schedule a new primary under revised districts, if a court allows it. Lawmakers also approved a similar bill related to state Senate districts.

What happened here today is that we were set back as a people to the days of Reconstruction, Democratic state Sen. Rodger Smitherman said after the vote.

Senate Democrats shouted hell no and stop the steal as senators voted.

The special primary would happen only if the courts agree to lift an injunction that put a court-selected map in place until after the 2030 census. That order required a second district where Black voters are the majority or close to it, resulting in the 2024 election of Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures, who is Black. If a court lifts the injunction, Republican officials want to put in place a map lawmakers drew in 2023 which was rejected by a federal court that could allow them to reclaim Figures district.

With this special session successfully behind us, Alabama now stands ready to quickly act, should the courts issue favorable rulings in our ongoing redistricting cases," Ivey said in a statement.

Virginia ruling centered on timing of election

Democrats had hoped to gain as many as four additional U.S. House seats under new districts narrowly approved by voters in April. But the state Supreme Court invalidated the measure because it said the Democratic-led legislature violated procedural requirements.

To place a constitutional amendment before voters, the Virginia Constitution requires lawmakers to approve it in two separate legislative sessions, with a state election sandwiched in between. The legislatures initial approval of the redistricting amendment occurred last October while early voting was underway but before it concluded for the general election. The legislatures second vote on the amendment occurred after a new legislative session began in January.

The state Supreme Court said the initial legislative approval came too late, noting that more than 1.3 million ballots already had been cast, about 40% of the total votes ultimately cast.

Louisiana lawmakers look at map options

A Louisiana Senate committee considered several redistricting options Friday from Republican state Sen. John Jay Morris that would eliminate either both or one of the current Black-majority U.S. House districts.

Every one of these maps reduces Black voting power in every one of the districts. And I think thats a problem, Democratic state Sen. Sam Jenkins told Morris.

Morris denied that the proposed redistricting maps were racially discriminatory. He said his goal was to be respectful of the traditional boundaries of the states six congressional districts.

I dont think we should care that much about race, Morris said.

The only four Black congressmen who have represented Louisiana since the end of the Reconstruction era appealed to state senators to keep two majority-Black districts in a state where one-third of voters are Black.

Leona Tate said she was escorted as a 6-year-old girl by federal marshals through a racist white mob trying to prevent her from desegregating a New Orleans elementary school. She told lawmakers she felt they were taking a step backward in time by reducing Black political power.

You have a choice in front of you: You can draw a map that reflects what Louisiana actually is -- a state where Black voices belong in the halls of Congress," said Tate, 71. "Or you can draw a map that tells my grandchildren that their votes dont count, that their faces dont matter and that the progress I helped build with my own two feet as a 6-year-old can be erased at will.

South Carolina considers a House map

South Carolina lawmakers held a rare Friday meeting to discuss a proposed new congressional map intended to allow Republicans a clean sweep of the states seven U.S. House seats.

The House hearing was the first step in redistricting. But its future remains murky. The state Senate has yet to agree to consider new districts later this month, an action that requires a two-thirds vote.

The new map has some Republicans nervous. Breaking up the 6th District, represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, makes the other six districts less Republican.

At Fridays subcommittee meeting, lawmakers heard hours of testimony, almost all against the new map. The hearing included a consultant who reviewed the map, saying it appeared to be legal under the Supreme Court's decision in the Louisiana case.

I agree if the law allows us to do it, then we can do It, Democratic state Rep. Justin Bamberg said. But I can slap somebodys mama and its not the right thing to do.

Some absentee ballots already have been returned for the state's June 9 primary elections. The legislative subcommittee advanced a plan to delay the congressional primary to August and reopen a candidate filing period, if a new map is approved.

A flower shop in Pontiac is considered the longest-running business in the city and with Mother's Day approaching, it's one of the busiest times of year at Goldner Walsh.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: Pontiac flower shop has been blooming for the community since 1890

Andrew Brackins, the owner of Goldner Walsh, said the shop traces its roots back more than a century.

"Mother's Day is hands down the busiest day of the year. They are going to push out 100 bouquets out of that flower shop. It's a very busy time around here, but a fun time," Brackins said.

The business started as Pierce Flower Co. in 1890, founded by William Pierce. In the early 1950s, Al Goldner transformed it into Goldner Walsh, keeping the flower shop alive and growing.

Landscape designer Tim Travis took over the business in the 1980s, renovating the greenhouses that had sat empty for nearly 15 years.

"The main thing is we've never lost that touch with the customer," Travis said.

The property is also home to two of the oldest greenhouses in the state. Back in the day, they were used to grow cut flowers for the shop.

Travis said the business has built lasting relationships across generations.

"...and now those customers have kids, and those kids have kids, and they all become our customers, ultimately," Travis said.

Lorri Delaney, a mother of seven from Bloomfield Township, said she has been coming to Goldner Walsh for almost 30 years.

"This nursery and floral shop has been a part of so many aspects of my life weddings, birthdays, Mother's Day, Goldner Walsh is always my go-to call - parties, I've had parties in here," Delaney said.

Delaney was at the shop Friday picking up an order. The shop also draws younger customers. Owen VanHorn, of Pontiac, stopped in to prepare for prom.

"I came in for a pocket boutonniere and a corsage for my girlfriend," VanHorn said.

Goldner Walsh sits on 12 acres and is more than just a place to buy bouquets. The property also serves as a garden center and an event space for nearly any occasion.

Gardner Walsh will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 10.

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.

Farmington Hills police are stepping up patrols at city parks as detectives continue to investigate the beating death of a 64-year-old man whose body was found at Woodland Hills Park on Sunday.

Now neighbors are demanding answers about their own safety.

Watch Darren Cunningham's video report below: Search for answers in Farmington Hills murder mystery

Its a quiet sanctuary filled with wildlife and the occasional hiker, but some who frequent the park see it differently these days as questions about Sundays homicide linger.

John Ferguson said he comes to Woodland Hills Park for peace, quiet and fresh air. But now, that isolation is eerie.

Earlier this week, a man was found dead along the very trail where Ferguson came to enjoy nature.

"Its a pretty trail. Its quiet. Theres hardly anybody ever here. Thats what makes it a little concerning to come out here now because you usually maybe see one person on the trail, sometimes nobody," he told 7 News Detroit.

While police arent releasing the victims identity, the medical examiners office said the man died from multiple blunt force trauma.

Ferguson asked, "Was it random? Was the body left here?"

Previous report: Farmington Hills police launch homicide investigation after body found on park trail Farmington Hills police launch homicide investigation after body found in park

The silence from officials is fueling anxiety online. Ferguson raised several of those questions on Channel 7's Facebook page, wondering about the nature of the crime.

"Were they attacked? Were they walking with somebody and they got in an argument? Domestic situation, ya know? Itd help to know some of that stuff, so you can assess your level of concern to come back out here right now by yourself or for kids to come out here," Ferguson expressed.

Police chief John Piggott calls this incident "very rare" for Farmington Hills. To put the community at ease, he is increasing police presence in all city parks. Investigators are now looking for anyone who visited Woodland Hills Park this past Sunday, May 3. Even if you didnt see anything unusual, police say you may have information that could help.

"Thats not going to be many people. Theres not many houses that have visibility to the trail. Theres not many people out here at any given time," Ferguson said.

7 News Detroit reached out to the police department seeking more answers, but officials are remaining tight-lipped.

Why aren't the police answering any questions? Why cant they say anything?" Ferguson asked. I understand yeah, maybe you cant get into super specifics but...."

The Farmington Hills Police Department advise people to be aware of their surroundings, report suspicious activity and it's asking anyone with information to call .

On Sunday, May 10, Spotlight on the News will interview Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt about the state budget negotiations and current issues. Will the Michigan Legislature meet its constitutional deadline? We'll also talk to Mike Stack, Chair of the Michigan Moves Coalition and Bethany Thayer, Director of Henry Ford Health's Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention. Representing more than 60 organizations, they will release on Tuesday what they say is a first-of-its-kind statewide physical activity plan.

Spotlight on the News, now in its 61st 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.

A criminal investigation is underway after tens of thousands of dollars allegedly went missing from the PTO's bank account at Violet Elementary School in St. Clair Shores.

Parents at Violet Elementary School are demanding answers after a criminal investigation was launched involving former PTO members over allegations that tens of thousands of dollars are missing from the group's bank account.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report below: Criminal investigation launched over missing Violet Elementary PTO funds

According to a source close to the investigation, the missing funds left the PTO with no accessible operating funds as of Friday. The PTO helps pay for field trips, classroom supplies, school events and activities for students.

Lake Shore Public Schools Superintendent Joseph DiPonio said while Violet Elementary School's PTO is independent from the district, the district was alerted after other board members found discrepancies in the PTO's accounting.

"If someone did something wrong they need to be held accountable for it," DiPonio said. "There is a certain kind of wrong when you take something that was intended for a child."

Hear more from Superintendent Joseph DiPonio below: Extended interview: Lake Shore Public Schools superintendent talks about allegations around PTO funds

"There has to be very swift and firm accountability, but there has to be the standard of due process."

Parents say the alleged missing money is frustrating, especially after a year of fundraising efforts.

"I was shocked as a parent," Carrie Marcath, a Violet Elementary School parent, said.

Marcath, who has two children at Violet Elementary, said the community deserves to know what happened to the money.

"We are very concerned. We would like to know where the money has gone. We have raised money all year long and now, there's no funds," Marcath said.

Other parents echoed those concerns, calling for transparency and a full review of the PTO's finances.

"For all that money to just be gone, it's very frustrating," Melissa Piaseczny, a Violet Elementary School parent, said. "Hopefully going forward, they'll be more transparent and we'll know where the funds are going."

"It just makes me feel pretty awful, but we do like having our kids at Violet and I hope that they just do a thorough investigation," Nicolai Kowalski, a Violet Elementary School parent, said.

"I feel a little anger and I am angered about this and I want to know more about what's going on," Neil Dodge, a Violet Elementary School parent, 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.

One year ago, Cardinal Robert Prevost from the South Side of Chicago stepped through the velvet curtains framing the Vatican balcony and into history as the first American to lead the world's largest Christian denomination.

His first words as Pope Leo XIV, peace be with you. This message has remained at the core of his first year as leader of the Catholic faith.

Pope Leo embraced his roots from the start, sharing his love for Chicago's deep-dish pizza and the White Sox. His calm, unassuming Midwestern demeanor and message of unity have defined his papacy but so has a willingness to challenge his American homeland.

Following U.S. military actions in Venezuela and Iran, Pope Leo XIV spoke directly to the cost of conflict.

"Too many people are suffering in the world today, too many innocent people are being killed, and I think someone gets to stand up and say, there's a better way to do this," Pope Leo XIV said in early April.

RELATED NEWS | Pope Leo XIV: Not in my interest to engage Trump over Iran war

President Trump has been direct in his response to the pope's criticism.

"I'm not a big fan of Pope Leo, Trump said in April at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. He's a very liberal person and he's a man that doesn't believe in stopping crime. He is a man that doesn't think that we should be toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world. I'm not a fan of Pope Leo.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a devout Catholic, visited the Vatican this week in an effort to ease tensions between Washington and the Holy See. Following that meeting, Pope Leo made clear he would continue to challenge what he views as acts of aggression by the United States.

"Instead of sitting down at the table, solving our problems, and using money to solve our humanitarian issues, hunger in the world, etcetera," Pope Leo XIV said.

RELATED NEWS | Pope Leo says he does not fear Trump, citing Gospel as he pushes back in feud over Iran war

The Vatican has announced Pope Leo will not travel to the United States this year. Some suggest he will wait until tensions ease, with others indicating a visit will only happen after President Trump leaves office.

Across his first year as pontiff, Pope Leo's message has remained consistent a steady call for peace rooted in the values of the Midwest city that shaped him.

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.

Chippewa Valley Schools superintendent Ron Roberts is stepping down at the end of this school year. Assistant Superintendent Adam Blanchard will take over on July 1.

Watch Evan Sery's video report: Chippewa Valley Superintendent to retire after 50 years in education

Ron Roberts is retiring after nearly 50 years with Chippewa Valley Schools, ending a career that began in 1978 when he started as a first-grade teacher in Clinton Township.

Roberts spent decades in various roles within the district before becoming superintendent, a position he has held for 15 years.

"I started as a first-grade teacher, I became a fifth-grade teacher, I became a middle school assistant principal," Roberts said.

As he packed up his office, Roberts reflected on what he will miss most about the job.

"I think my connections with people are extremely important, and I've always felt I had a responsibility towards them and the students, and I'll miss that," Roberts said.

Those connections appear to be mutual. Students and staff alike spoke to his impact on the district.

"Mr. Roberts is one of the best superintendents in the world, in my opinion," Chippewa Valley High School junior Benjamin Piscopink said.

"Everyone's a little sad, he's been my superintendent since kindergarten," Chippewa Valley High School senior Jack Petroske said.

"I've appreciated him, the support he's given me over the years," Chippewa Valley High School Principal Todd Distelrath said.

Dr. Adam Blanchard, currently the district's Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, will take over as superintendent on July 1, following a unanimous school board vote.

Blanchard credited Roberts with setting the district up for a strong future.

"After 48 years of being here, he has taught generations, and that impact is huge," Blanchard said. "The district is poised for that next chapter, the board of education is going through a thoughtful process of strategic planning, and really evaluating our facilities, looking at enrollment, that work doesn't happen by accident, happens by intentional conversations between the board and Superintendent Roberts."

For Roberts, the legacy he leaves behind is rooted in something bigger than any single role he held.

"The one thing I take away from me is a great sense of pride in being a public school employee. I believe strongly in public schools; I believe they are the glue to our society," Roberts said.

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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.

An arrest has been made after a person set fire inside Huntington Place in Detroit last week, officials say.

According to the Detroit Fire Department, the suspect walked into Huntington Place just before 9 a.m. on April 26. He then used water bottles filled with gasoline and doused the carpet with it before setting it on fire.

Previous report: Police release video of arson suspect setting a fire inside Huntington Place Police release video of arson suspect setting a fire inside Huntington Place

The fire did minimal damage and officials responded quickly and extinguished the fire. The fire did not impact guests, staff or any events.

The fire department said a vigilant person who saw the suspect contacted authorities after seeing the story about the incident on the news.

The persons identity is being withheld at this time since there hasnt been an arraignment yet.

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel hosted the annual Macomb 100 Club celebration at the Clinton-Macomb Library on Friday, drawing 26 soon-to-be or current centenarians.

Watch Evan Sery's video report: Macomb County hosts largest gathering of 100-year-olds in Michigan

"This will be the largest gathering of one-hundred-year-olds in any one location at one time in Macomb County, the state of Michigan, not too sure on the national level," Hackel said.

Mike Young will officially join the club next June, when he turns 100.

"It's a big milestone, I'm the only one in the family, reached this old," Young said.

Young has lived his entire life at his home on North Avenue in Macomb Township a house he built with his own hands in 1953. He was born on the same property, in a farmhouse that has since been demolished.

"Lived here all my life, only place I know," Young said.

His family once owned 80 acres of farmland on the property before most of it was sold privately. Young still has fond memories of a quieter time.

"I'd go to work, come home, help milk cows," Young said. "I'd rather have the farms, nice and quiet."

"Put a lot of work in this house, a lot of work," Young said.

His son, Charles Young, was on hand to celebrate.

"He's quite remarkable," Charles said. "A lot of hard work, took a lot to do where he's at right now."

As for the secrets to reaching 100, the centenarians at the celebration had plenty of answers olive oil, making your wife laugh, and staying happy among them.

"Be happy, take what's coming to you, try to make the best," one attendee said.

And perhaps the most honest answer of all came from another member of the club.

"I have no idea, I'm surprised I'm here," one attendee 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.

Back in 2017, we first introduced people to Shana Risby, a young girl whose life story touched metro Detroit.

Watch Carolyn Clifford's video report: Community rallies to help grandparents who raised dozens of foster kids

Risby was born to a drug-addicted mother and given up at birth, then raised by grandparents who opened their hearts and their home to dozens of foster children.

Those grandparents are Stephen and Loretta Rodriguez. They've been married 43 years and have sacrificed their lives to care for at-risk children in foster care. They believe they've taken care of 60 to 70 kids over the years.

"I'm just grateful that I was raised by two people whose main purpose is to pour love," Risby told me about Loretta and Stephen Rodriguez.

Now, she's all grown up and living in California, and is fighting to protect both of them.

"When they told me they were going to be evicted from their home, it was really shocking to me," she said. "It's something they've never experienced before."

Now at 85 and 79, Stephen and Loretta Rodriguez were living in a home they purchased on a land contract, but it was falling apart. Risby realized they were in trouble.

They put $15,000 down, hoping for stability. But instead, it became a nightmare. Risby did some digging on the land contract holder. It was linked to Leonard Bale, a man WXYZ has been covering since the 1990s.

Watch our report on Leonard Bale from 13 years ago:

"That's when I saw all of the previous news stories, all of the victims that were impacted by him," she said. "A lot of the homes that this person sells are not up to city code."

Watch our previous report with Shana Risby below:

In this case, it was a porch crumbling, an upstairs barely accessible, a roof in disrepair and windows that don't open.

"It's very hard to make it liveable," Stephen Rodriguez said.

So, we reached out to Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel. He told us his newly created Senior Justice Alliance could help.

"Part of our task force, the Elder Justice Alliance, is really networking professionals in the community that work with older adults, really experts in abuse, neglect and exploitation," Sheila Cote, the director of the Senior Justice Alliance, said.

Cote says only 1 in 24 cases of elder abuse, neglect or exploitation, gets reported. Seniors are often too embarrassed to report it.

"How difficult was it to unwind an eviction that was already moving forward?" I asked Jennifer Wilczek, the lead case manager with the Office of Senior Services in Macomb County.

"It took all month. We got the entire team from the Senior Justice Alliance involved," she said.

But saving the home was not saving this family. The alliance advised the Rodriguezes to cut their losses and move.

That's when we called on Dr. Chad Audi with Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, who offered them a fresh start.

The organization got the Rodriquezes a fully furnished home, with a living room, dining room, bedrooms, washer and dryer, new flooring and even a refrigerator stocked with groceries.

For the next two years, their home will be rent free.

And while this family now has a new beginning, county leaders say land contract disputes involving seniors are becoming increasingly common and they hope stories like this encourage others to seek help before its too late.

Where Your Voice Matters

Plymouth city leaders are moving forward with plans to create a safer pedestrian and bike connection between the Old Village area and Hines Park, with $160,000 in funding secured to begin the planning and engineering phase.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report: Plymouth plans multimodal path connecting Old Village to Hines Park for safer travel

The funding, secured through an intergovernmental agreement between Plymouth and Wayne County, will cover preliminary design, cost estimating, and related technical analysis to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed connection. Any future construction would require separate approvals and funding commitments.

The study area includes Wilcox Road, Mill Street, and Hines Drive, with the potential to incorporate Northville Road.

John Buzuvis, Economic Development Director for the city of Plymouth, said the project has been a long time coming.

"This type of a connection has been talked about really for years in the community, creating a safe and separated path for pedestrians to reach Hines Park without having to kind of share the road with vehicles and ultimately making it safer for everybody," Buzuvis said.

FULL INTERVIEW: Economic Development Director John Buzuvis talks about the proposed multimodal path FULL INTERVIEW: Economic Development Director John Buzuvis talks about the proposed multimodal path

Buzuvis said the planned path would be more than a standard sidewalk.

"What that would be would be a multimodal pedestrian bike path ADA-compliant from the Old Village area, so Mill Street and Starkweather area in our Old Village area of town to Hines Park," Buzuvis said.

"We anticipate this will be not just like a regular sidewalk. It'll be a little bit of a wider path, with like you said, the you know walk here, bike here kind of separation, at least in paint on the path and maybe some other physical, you know separation," he said.

Buzuvis said the demand for a safer route is clear.

"People want to use Hines Park, but there's not really a super safe way to get there without kind of commingling with traffic," Buzuvis said.

The Old Village Association is backing the project. Jan Waller said the connection will benefit the broader community.

Related story: Plymouth's Old Village sees business boom, plans for improvement district Plymouth's Old Village sees business boom, plans for improvement district

"The prospect of having a safe walkway between Hines Drive and Old Village is fantastic, you know, bike paths as well, all this sort of connectivity that we think is going to really benefit that downtown area," Waller said.

"Even though there's quite a lot of space there, it's just not safe, so this is great. This is a great development for Old Village, for Plymouth, and for the people that use that part of Hines Drive," Waller said.

"Old Village can use the people, and it's expanding and it's a nice way to get around," Waller said.

For residents who walk the area regularly, the project can't come soon enough. Jordan, a Plymouth resident who walks the area with his dog three times a day near Wilcox Lake, said the current conditions are difficult.

"It would be really convenient. It would be nice to have something on Wilcox, it's tough to traverse right now," Jordan said."We wouldn't have to come all the way down here, we could go that way, which would be nice."

Other Plymouth residents also expressed support for the project.

"You do take your life into your own hands coming up and down Wilcox Road, it's a lot of heavy traffic," Scott Ickes said.

"It's a good idea. I think we could use more walking space in the area," Ickes said.

Greg Jamison, who also lives in Plymouth, said he welcomes outside help to make it happen.

"If somebody helps us with money, go for it. It can't hurt to have it go down the hill," Jamison said. "I think it'd be great. It'd be a lot easier for people to walk all the way around the lake, too, which would be nice."

The construction budget is preliminarily estimated at around $850,000. City leaders are hoping state and local grants will cover the cost.

Hines Park is part of a regional trail system that could ultimately connect to the Joe Lewis Trail system.

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. Where Your Voice Matters

A cyberattack on Canvas, the widely used online learning platform, is disrupting classrooms across the country including schools in Michigan, ranging from kindergarten students to graduate students at Wayne State University.

Watch Brett Kast's video report: Canvas cyberattack disrupts Michigan classrooms from kindergarten to college

Canvas, made by parent company Instructure, serves as a central hub for coursework, grades, assignments, and communication for thousands of universities, colleges, and K-12 schools nationwide.

Instructure says the hack began on April 29. The hacking group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility, and data, including names, emails, student ID numbers, and personal messages were stolen. Instructure says the incident is now contained.

For families like Samantha Toler of Melvindale, Canvas is the backbone of her daughter's school day. Her daughter is enrolled at Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan, where a corner of their kitchen doubles as a kindergarten classroom.

"We log in, we get into Canvas, our schedule is in there, everything is in there," Toler said.

Toler said Canvas is used for everything from homework to live classes.

Here we are, almost the end of the year. We have testing, end-of-the-year celebrations, graduations. Of course, its all done over the system, Toler said.

On the night of Thursday, May 7, Toler said a ransom note from ShinyHunters appeared on her daughter's computer, warning that private information would be leaked if a settlement wasn't reached.

"The kids see that stuff first, and of course, then comes trying to explain it in a way that kids understand. They're like, 'What's going on, a hacker?'" Toler said.

Toler said the school instructed families to immediately log out and shut down their computers. The school posted online that classes would be canceled for the day, as thousands of schools across the country ranging from K-12 to Ivy League universities scrambled to get answers.

Scott Bailey, a cybersecurity expert and managing partner at N1 Discovery in Troy, said the volume of data the hackers claim to have (over 6 terabytes) suggests they had been inside the Canvas system for an extended period.

Extended interview: Cybersecurity expert weighs in on ransomware attack Extended interview: Cybersecurity expert weighs in on ransomware attack on Canvas

"The things that make this unique is the scale. It's big, it's a lot of data," Bailey said.

He also said another part that makes it unique is that it's a "hybrid extortion" where the hackers are demanding a ransom from the company as well as from the individual schools.

Related Story: Cyberattack on Canvas disrupts finals for thousands of students worldwide Cyberattack on Canvas disrupts finals for thousands of students worldwide

"They're going after the schools directly, saying 'you need to negotiate with us, reach out to us privately.' So they're trying to get money from both sides, said Bailey.

Bailey warned that even though the platform is back up and running, the type of data that was stolen leaves students more vulnerable to phishing attacks.

"This may not be the bad part. The bad part may be coming when this is used to cause more damage," Bailey said. Very sophisticated phishing scams can now be perpetrated against these kids, and a lot of them aren't trained and may fall for them.

At Wayne State University, students said Canvas is central to their academic lives.

"You can contact the professor with it, you can check your syllabus, your calendar, you access all of your homework, master's student Youna Yasser said. "It's pretty much used for everything."

"All your classes are on Canvas. That's where all your grades are, that's where all your assignments are submitted to. So I mean, there's a lot of personal information on there," said student Quinn Aho. "To have a huge breach like that, that's definitely concerning. "

Toler said her family shares those concerns and is worried about what comes next.

"We're really concerned obviously, with what data is going to be breached, who are they going to give the data to," Toler said. "What's going to come next, are we able to finish the year? All that."

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.

California families welcoming newborns will soon receive hundreds of free diapers before leaving the hospital under a first-in-the-nation program announced Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

During the programs first year, it will be offered at about 65 to 75 hospitals that handle about a quarter of births in the state and largely serve low-income patients, Newsom's office said. The initiative will expand to more hospitals statewide, though the governor's office did not say how many. The state has partnered with nonprofit Baby2Baby to manufacture the diapers under the label Golden State Start.

Newsom said the plan builds on California's effort to make living in the notoriously expensive state a little easier for families. He highlighted policies in recent years to provide students with free meals at school and make preschool free for all.

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Every baby born in California deserves a healthy start in life and that means making sure parents have the basics they need from day one, the Democrat said in a statement.

The state set aside $7.4 million in last year's budget to roll out the initiative, and this year's budget proposal includes an additional $12.5 million to implement the program for the upcoming fiscal year ending in June 2027.

It will allow each family to receive 400 diapers in sizes for newborns and babies up to 14 pounds (6 kilograms) when they are discharged from a hospital after birth. That's a little more than a months worth, since newborns on average require eight to 10 diapers a day.

Baby2Baby provides families in need with essential items. The nonprofit built a manufacturing system that allows them to produce diapers for 80% less than the retail price, co-CEO Kelly Sawyer Patricof said.

California is once again setting the standard of what it means to show up for mothers and babies, added co-CEO Norah Weinstein.

The announcement comes two years after Tennessee and Delaware became the first U.S. states to offer free diapers to families enrolled in their Medicaid programs, which provide healthcare to low-income families. Tennessee families can go to pharmacies to pick up 100 diapers per month for children under two. The Delaware program, which began as a pilot before the state extended it in 2024, provides individuals with up to 80 diapers and up to one pack of baby wipes per week in the first 12 weeks of life.

California's Medicaid system doesn't cover diapers for newborns, but it does cover the items for enrollees ages 5 and older if they have a medical need for them.

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Diapers are a large, ongoing expense for many families. They typically spend about $100 a month on the items per child, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal think tank. The cost burden can lead some parents to leave their child's diapers on for too long or reuse disposable diapers, which can result in rashes and urinary tract infections, the center says.

California officials are touting the new effort as a way to ease that financial strain.

The first days at home with a newborn should be focused on the love, connection, and joy of an expanded family, not stress about affording diapers, said Kim Johnson, the state's health secretary. This program helps ensure families can begin that journey with greater stability and peace of mind.

The two largest for-profit owners of immigration detention centers are reporting the first dip in the number of detained immigrants since President Trump resumed office. 

CoreCivic and the GEO Group have each seen a decline of about 3,000 detainees since reaching peak levels in January, leaders of the companies reported this week during first quarter earnings calls.  

They said the drop in population followed the leadership shakeup at the Department of Homeland Security when President Trump fired DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. 

They also pointed to the long partial government shutdown, when ICE reassigned agents to work in airports to help relieve TSA personnel who had been working without pay for weeks. 

Both companies said they expect the detained immigrant population to bounce back within months. 

We believe this decline is temporary and event specific, said Patrick Swindle, chief executive officer of CoreCivic. While we cannot predict how quickly population growth will resume, the administration continues to indicate a strong emphasis on border security and active ICE enforcement.  

CoreCivic and GEO Group still saw major revenue growth during the first quarter of 2026, largely from ICE contracts. 

CoreCivics revenue is up 25 percent compared to a year ago. GEO Groups earnings rose 17 percent.  

GEO Group announced a new $60 million government contract to help ICE pinpoint the location of suspected undocumented immigrants, a process known as skip tracing. 

ICE has also more than doubled the number of immigrants using GEO Groups ankle monitor tracking technology. 

The earnings calls revealed ICE is in talks to buy 10 turnkey private detention centers, rather than leasing them.  

GEO Group CEO George Zoley told investors it is a move to insulate ICE from oversight in blue states and a growing number of lawsuits filed by detainees.  

"There has been litigation regarding overseeing medical services, food services, general cleanliness, etc and its really unprecedented, Zoley said. 

The Scripps News ICE Inc. yearlong investigation continues to uncover reports of inadequate medical care at private detention centers across the country.  

Deaths of detainees in ICE custody have reached a record high.  

ICE purchased 11 warehouses across the country to convert into detention centers, a project that has stalled.  

The warehouse project has been paused and DHS is evaluating how to proceed to consolidate detention capacity, Zoley said.

Seventeen Americans who are currently on board the Dutch cruise ship enduring a hantavirus outbreak will make their way back to the United States on a repatriation flight arranged by the Department of State.

Were working closely with the CDC, with HHS, to make sure that all of our Americans are safe and come home safely and soundly, Mora Namdar, assistant secretary of state for consular affairs, told Scripps News.

The CDC plans to evacuate U.S. nationals to Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, and transport them to the National Quarantine Center at the University of Nebraska, Omaha.

A CDC team has been sent to the Canary Islands to study and assess the patients and determine how patients should be monitored. Another team will meet the flight at Offutt Air Force Base to continue the assessment.

RELATED STORY | Canary Islands braces for arrival of cruise ship with hantavirus outbreak

The ship is expected to dock Sunday morning at the port of Granadilla in Tenerife, Canary Islands.

The situation on board m/v Hondius remains calm, and guests and crew continue to follow procedures, now under the guidance of the medical team, according to a written statement provided by Oceanwide Expeditions.

At least five state health departments have already been in touch with and are monitoring a group of passengers who returned to the United States from the same ship in late April. So far, authorities have said no one is experiencing symptoms of the rare but deadly Andes strain of the hantavirus.

Im not worried about the passengers coming back. I expect that they will be quarantined until we know for sure that theyre not affected and likely to spread it. Im worried about the people who may have been exposed to others along the way, said Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, a professor of epidemiology and the director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University.

RELATED STORY | Several states monitoring former cruise ship passengers for hantavirus

Health officials confirmed Friday that one Dutch flight attendant who had been ill tested negative for the hantavirus despite having come in brief contact with one of the infected passengers.

Nuzzo spoke during a Wednesday media briefing in which health leaders discussed a new report from Trust for Americas Health examining the United States preparedness for public health emergencies.

The report placed only 20 states in the highest-performance tier for readiness and said there is a wide variation in preparedness among states amid budget cuts and strain on the federal public health system.

I want to make sure that healthcare workers are aware of the threat, (that) healthcare workers know what to do, that they have the right personal protective equipment, that they have the right index of suspicion the right clinical suspicion that someone might have been exposed, she said of health workers who may deal with the hantavirus.

Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, president and CEO of TFAH, said this is a critical moment to focus on the United States public health preparedness, especially given measles outbreaks and a severe flu season in recent months.

The federal public health system remains under strain, and the U.S. is preparing to host large-scale events and mass gatherings such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in the weeks ahead, events that will bring large crowds and international travel and will underscore the importance of strong, coordinated preparedness systems, she said.

The Department of Justice announced Friday that it is seeking to revoke the U.S. citizenship of 12 individuals accused of crimes ranging from supporting terrorism to child sexual abuse.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the individuals should never have been granted citizenship in the first place.

The Trump administration is taking action to correct these egregious violations of our immigration system," he said. "Those who intentionally concealed their criminal histories or misrepresented themselves during the naturalization process will face the fullest extent of the law.

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The cases involve people from Iraq, Colombia, Morocco, Somalia, Gambia, Bolivia, Uzbekistan, Kenya, India, China and Nigeria.

Among those targeted is Ali Yousif Ahmed, an Iraqi national accused by Iraq of murdering two police officers in 2006 while allegedly serving as a leader in al-Qaida. The Justice Department alleges Ahmed lied about his criminal and family history while seeking admission to the United States and later becoming a citizen.

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Another case involves Oscar Alberto Pelaez, a Colombian Roman Catholic priest convicted in 2002 on multiple child sexual assault charges involving a minor. Prosecutors said Pelaez concealed those crimes during the naturalization process.

Other cases announced Friday include allegations involving support for the Somali terrorist group al-Shabaab, participation in executions in Gambia, international firearms trafficking and spying.

Federal prosecutors will likely face a high legal bar in seeking to revoke the individuals citizenship. They will need to prove the defendants obtained citizenship by intentionally misrepresenting or concealing facts.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has a message for walleye anglers - get out on the water this summer, and you can win cash prizes while providing useful information to biologists.

It's part of the Michigan Walleye Challenge, a partnership between the DNR and MyCatch by Anglers Atlas, which will run from May 15 through June 28. All you have to do is report walleye catches and fishing trips in the MyCatch mobile app, which uses anonymous location data. The information, including generalized lake and river catch data, will allow the biologists to assess and manage the state's walleye population.

New this year, the challenge will also use two new features, County Captains and weekly challenges, which are aimed at boosting angler engagement in participating states.

"We're excited to continue to work with our anglers to learn more about Michigan walleye populations during the third year of Midwest Walleye Challenge participation, said Seth Herbst, manager of the DNR Fisheries Divisions Research Section, in a news release. "We have hundreds of inland waters in the state that we manage for walleye, but the combination of those vast waters and limited staffing resources results in an inability to monitor walleye populations as intensively as we would like."

This years challenge includes several states across the Midwest as part of a larger fisheries research project. States participating and promoting the challenge include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

Participants must pay a $25 registration fee, which qualifies them for prizes, including cash payouts. The entry fee also includes a $20 Discount Tackle gift certificate for every angler who reports a valid trip.

All Michigan fishing rules and regulations still apply, and anglers are required to have a valid fishing license (or valid exemption) to participate in the challenge.

For more information on the Midwest Walleye Challenge, email Angler's Atlas at events@anglersatlas.com.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Ukraine and Russia would enter into a three-day ceasefire as Russia commemorates Victory Day.

The president wrote on social media that he directly asked both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy to suspend fighting for the duration.

The ceasefire, set for May 9-11, pauses "all kinetic activity" from both sides and calls for a prisoner swap of 1,000 POWs from each country.

"Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War. Talks are continuing on ending this Major Conflict, the biggest since World War II, and we are getting closer and closer every day," President Trump wrote.

RELATED NEWS | Ukraine hits key Russian oil-loading port and 3 'shadow fleet' tankers

A ceasefire comes as Ukraine makes gains against Russia's now four-year-old invasion. In the last week, Ukraine says it has struck oil ports and transport vessels, as well as Russian naval vessels.

Russia is planning a parade in Moscow's Red Square to commemorate Victory Day. Earlier this week it threatened to retaliate against Ukraine if Ukraine targeted or disrupted the celebration.

On Thursday, Zelenskyy acknowledged the plan for a ceasefire and indicated Ukraine would prioritize the arranged prisoner swap.

"Red Square is less important to us than the lives of Ukrainian prisoners who can be brought home," he wrote.

Russian officials also acknowledged the scheduled ceasefire, saying it would be "acceptable, in order to conduct a 1,000-for-1,000 POW exchange."