Former President Barack Obama will be in Detroit later this month to campaign with Democrats on the November ballot. 
   
The former president is scheduled to appear on October 24 with U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El Sayed, gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson, and other Democrats.

Obama is just the latest high profile national figure to campaign for local candidates in Michigan ahead of the midterm election. Michigan has multiple races that have drawn national attention, as well as nationally recognized political leaders.

President Donald Trump held a rally with the Republican candidates he endorsed before the August primary.

Trump told reporters outside the White House Monday that he will return to Michigan in "about a week and a half."

Meanwhile, more than 125,000 Michiganders have already cast their ballots in the November election, according to the Secretary of State's office.

Senate Republicans top campaign spending organization is pulling back in North Carolina and pouring money into Kansas, a striking shift that shows how the partys plan to keep its majority has turned into an increasingly defensive fight ahead of November's midterms.

The decision by the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with top Senate Republicans, was disclosed Friday by four people with direct knowledge of the situation who insisted on anonymity to discuss internal strategy.

The shifting resources signal a lack of confidence that Michael Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chairman who was President Donald Trumps choice to run for Senate in North Carolina, can beat Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper.

I am worried about him, Trump told reporters Friday as he was departing for a campaign rally in Alabama. I hope he wins.

The moves offer a stark sign of how dramatically the Senate map has shifted just a month before midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. Republicans entered the cycle believing they had more opportunities to flip Democratic-held seats than they had incumbents at serious risk. Now they are dumping money into states where Trump won comfortably two years ago.

Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, a Republican seeking a second term, is facing a challenge from Democratic nominee Adam Hamilton, the leader of the nations largest United Methodist Church. The Senate Leadership Fund has reserved nearly $8.2 million in advertising to support Marshall over the next month, according to AdImpact, a significant investment in a state Trump won by nearly 16 percentage points in the last presidential election.

Marshall has reserved another $2.3 million and is supported by another $500,000 from other groups. By comparison, Hamilton has reserved just $590,000 in advertising, and he's receiving only a little more than $556,000 in outside help.

RELATED STORY | Trump takes midterm push to Nebraska amid economic concerns among farmers

Warning signs for Republican incumbent in Kansas

Marshall won his first Senate race by more than 11 percentage points in 2020, the year Democrat Joe Biden defeated Trump for president. However, higher fuel costs and other economic concerns have made the state more competitive than Republicans had expected.

Kansas farmers including Republicans are devastated by the war in Iran driving up diesel prices, said Jeanna Repass, chair of the Kansas Democratic Party.

Former Kansas Gov. Mike Hayden, a Republican, announced Friday that he was endorsing Hamilton. He is the second Republican former governor of Kansas to back the Democrat, after Bill Graves endorsed Hamilton on Sept. 23.

Lauren French, a spokesperson for the Senate Majority PAC, the Democrats' spending arm, said in a statement that Republicans are scrambling because they know Hamilton can win.

Marshall's campaign did not provide comment directly responding to the new spending on his behalf.

Sen. Tim Scott, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, acknowledged Wednesday that Kansas is a very competitive state." He said he expects Marshall to win but it will be closer than I want it to be.

Hamilton is giving Democrats hope

A Democrat hasnt won a Senate race in Kansas since 1932 and hasnt come within 10 points since 1974.

Last week in Topeka, scores of people packed into a coffee shop to see Hamilton. Dozens more waited outside on the sidewalk.

Ryan Verthein, a 40-year-old Topeka resident who repairs guitars and vintage electronics, plans to support Hamilton and considers himself a Democrat after years as an unaffiliated voter.

He's concerned that Republicans could drag Hamilton down with political attacks.

The negativity in Republican campaigning has done really well for them the past many years, he said.

Ellen Johnson, 42, the lead organizer for Indivisible Topeka, a group involved in anti-Trump rallies, tends to like more progressive candidates than Hamilton, but he won her over.

I have high hopes for him, she said.

Democratic state Rep. Alexis Simmons of Topeka said she believes that Hamilton can win, saying "my skepticism is gone. She was energized by what she saw as a strong performance during Hamilton's debate with Marshall on Sept. 12 at the Kansas State Fair.

Hes responsive to the public and has done a good job of reflecting Kansas values of hard work, humility and kindness in his policies," she said.

RELATED STORY | Is it legal? Trump promises Medicare and ACA checks without Congress ahead of midterm elections

Senate Republicans lose faith in North Carolina

The Senate Leadership Fund had planned to spend $18 million in North Carolina over the next month, according to reservations tracked by AdImpact. The group has already spent about $32 million there.

Trump campaigned with Whatley last month, saying higher fuel prices were a very inexpensive price to pay for preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Though gas prices are near historic highs, they remain below the nationwide record set in 2022.

Trump won North Carolina by just over 3 percentage points in 2024. Republicans have held both of the states Senate seats since 2015, even as Cooper won two terms as governor and served from 2017 to 2025.

Jeff Allen, campaign manager for Cooper, said in a statement that they remain focused on building a campaign to earn every vote.

Whatley's team defended his chances.

"We feel confident we have the resources to highlight Career Politician Roy Coopers 40 Years of Failures and win in November, campaign spokesman DJ Griffin said in a statement.

There's more trouble for the party further south in Georgia. Although Republicans were eager to dislodge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff this year, they're despairing about the chances of their nominee in the race, U.S. Rep. Mike Collins.

I dont think hes got much of a shot, Tim Waters, Peach County Republican Party chair, previously said.

It won't be easy for Democrats

Winning the Senate majority could still prove difficult for Democrats. They would need to defeat multiple Republican incumbents in states like Ohio, Maine and Alaska, and there are some concerns that Democrats could fall short in New Hampshire.

The party is also facing a tidal wave of Republican cash, much of it connected to Trump's deep-pocketed political organization.

Semafor was first to report the shift in spending from North Carolina and Kansas.

A 9-year-old girl was hit by a high-powered e-moto while getting off her school bus in Farmington Hills, raising questions about what police can enforce as e-bikes, e-motos and similar electric vehicles continue to evolve.

Farmington Hills police say the investigation is still ongoing, and current state law can make it difficult to determine how some of these vehicles should be classified.

You can watch Ruta Ulcinaite's full report below:

Police say the incident occurred Sept. 30 around 4 p.m. at the intersection of Orchard Lake and Hull. Madison Ichtertz was the first to step off her bus when the crash occurred. Her mother, Rachel Potter, was watching, waiting to pick her up.

"I'm watching her, she's coming towards me, and out of nowhere an adult e-bike rider just smashes right into her," Potter said. It was extremely scary and just shocking.

Madison was getting off her school bus on the sidewalk when a motorized bike hit her head-on. The school bus was flashing its yellow lights, meaning per Michigan law, any vehicle or bike should proceed with caution, no matter where on the road or sidewalk the driver is.

"Slow down. You could at least wait for the kids to get out and maybe that situation wouldn't ever had happened," Ichtertz said.

Miraculously, Madison sustained only minor scrapes and bruises. The driver stopped and cooperated with police.

Farmington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kelly Coffin issued the following statement:

Our Transportation Department reviewed the incident and has been in close communication with the students family and local law enforcement. The school bus was stopped and operating with its required safety signals activated at the time of the incident.

While the bus and driver followed the appropriate safety procedures, as an added precaution, the FPS Transportation Department is adjusting the students bus stop location to an area with less traffic.

The safety of students is always the top priority for our district, and our drivers take their responsibility for safely transporting students very seriously. This incident is also an important reminder that everyone traveling our roads must use caution around school buses and obey the safety signals designed to protect students as they enter and exit a bus.

However, for Potter and other parents, the incident is calling into question the safety and regulations surrounding e-bikes and e-motos.

Michigan State Rep. Phil Skaggs (D-80th District) introduced legislation in July to update licensing, age requirements and safety requirements when it comes to these ever-evolving motorized modes of transportation, House Bill 6166.

"Our current laws are extremely outdated," Skaggs said. "There really is a lot of gray area."

Some local municipalities have implemented ordinances of their own to help regulate electric modes of transport. The bill is hoping to work in conjunction with local laws.

"This is about making sure that Michigan law as other states are doing is keeping up with these new technologies, cause they are catching on," Skaggs said. "It's probably a good time to at least put some of the micro mobility and e-bike rules of the road into written policy."

Farmington Hills Police Chief John Piggott says while the city doesn't have specific ordinances in place, it doesn't mean it's out of the question.

"I think our council and our city are always looking if there are gaps that have to be closed with the creation of an ordinance, we're open to doing that like other cities, but so far we have been able to manage most of our cases within the confines of state laws," Chief Piggott said.

When asked if it would make it easier to handle these modes of transport if there were more strict and clear laws at the state level, Chief Piggott said the following,

I think it would be helpful to have clear definition of what things are, and I also think that helps the public.

The Farmington Hills Police Department has been actively investigating the incident and is looking into potential charges, which could include careless driving resulting in a crash.

"Implement some rules, definitely some laws and regulations for these things," Potter said. "We walked away from that, and it could've been way worse," Potter said.

Rep. Skaggs is hoping the legislation picks up steam during the lame duck session, which follows the upcoming general election.

___________

Cornell students thronged a campus plaza to protest the university's response to allegations of sexual assault at a fraternity house, and the school's main administration building was splashed with graffiti and damaged overnight.

At a demonstration that overflowed the large space in front of the school's student center, students, faculty members and others wore purple ribbons and held signs with such messages as support survivors, expel rapists and Justice 4 every Jane Doe" the name by which the woman who reported the assault is known in court papers. Others watched from pathways, windows, and a nearby hill.

Too often, we are met with silence, we are met with statements, we are met with procedures, but not enough support, student Athena Holloway told the crowd. How much does it take for our university to stand with survivors?

Hispanic studies professor Julia Chang added to applause: Rape should not be inevitable.

Speakers faulted fraternities, the university trustees and Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff, saying he and his administration have prioritized protecting the university's reputation over students' safety.

Kotlikoff, resign! demonstrators chanted, among other slogans, as they marched to the damaged administration building to present a list of demands. They included changes to how the student code of conduct defines sexual consent, an overhaul of the student discipline system and expulsions or degree revocations for all students involved in the alleged 2024 assault of the woman known as Jane Doe, among other things.

Standing in front of the administration hall, students held a banner reading Burn Down the Patriarchy.

The Ivy League school has been trying to quell a firestorm on campus and beyond over its handling of the alleged 2024 gang rape. Early Monday, the university found signs of the anger on the very walls of its administrative headquarters.

Holes were knocked into one of the building's glass doors, and the walls beside them were marked with red-painted messages condemning patriarchy and the Ivy League schools handling of sexual assaults, news media photos showed. Later Monday, the graffiti was removed and the door was boarded up.

Cornell spokesperson Kyle Kimball said in a statement that the university was investigating and that damaging property is not the answer to Cornellians' frustration and strong emotions. Campus police referred questions to his office, which declined to provide more detail on the incident.

The woman known as Jane Doe alleges that she was sexually assaulted by multiple Chi Phi fraternity members in October 2024 after being pressured into drinking and taking drugs. She was a Cornell student at the time.

The woman recently sued the university, seven former students, the fraternity and others. Her lawsuit said that she became fully incapacitated as fraternity members assaulted her, and that one man sent others a message inviting them to participate.

I felt like bait. I felt like lions around me. It just was a totally debilitating place to be in, she told Cornell investigators last year, according to records reviewed by The Associated Press.

Lawyers for two of the former students denied they participated in a sexual assault. Attempts by The Associated Press to reach the other men or their representatives have been unsuccessful. Court records show that some of the accused students, when interviewed by Cornell investigators, described the sexual activity as consensual.

RELATED STORY | Prosecutor 'investigating' report of police interview transcript in Cornell sexual assault case

ABC: Jane Doe recorded a phone call with one of the men

Shortly before she went to Cornell police in November 2024, Jane Doe recorded a phone call with one of the men she says raped her, ABC News reported Monday, saying it had obtained the recording. The network played portions, containing only what it said was his voice, and recounted other parts of the conversation in writing.

According to ABC, the man told her that after dancing with her for five minutes or less, he suggested a three-person encounter. He maintained that she agreed to it, and that he then fetched the second Chi Phi member from the dance floor.

Her lawsuit says she was too intoxicated to give consent.

On the call, she tried to pinpoint who else later came into the room, ABC said. The man suggested both he and she might be misremembering something that's not true, but she countered that she recalled looking up and seeing too many people there.

What yall did would be classified as gang rape, she told him at one point, according to the network, which said she had provided the recording to the university.

RELATED STORY | Hochul says Cornell rape accuser was failed, names special prosecutor

Students are demanding transparency, accountability

The suit has drawn national attention to what Cornell, its police force and the local district attorney did after she told the campus police in November 2024 she can say with 100% confidence I was raped.

No criminal charges have been filed. The Chi Phi chapter at Cornell was shut down, and the Ivy League university has said it expelled some students and suspended others. In a statement last week, the administration bristled about the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case.

Students, however, have demanded more accountability and transparency, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has said Jane Doe was failed by people and institutions" including the Cornell police and local District Attorney Matthew Van Houten.

Hochul appointed the state attorney general last week to take over a criminal investigation that Van Houten had reopened days earlier, and the governor called for an independent review of Cornells handling of the matter.

After the week's developments, Kotlikoff released an apologetic video Saturday, saying that Jane Doe's account raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanization and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug use.

Kotlikoff reaffirmed his support for an independent review of the university's actions and vowed more transparency and a commitment to "finding the answers our community deserves.

Public health scholar and Holocaust survivor Irene Hasenberg Butter has died. She was 95 years old.

A survivor of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, Butter immigrated to the United States after the war.

She attended Queens College in New York and went on to earn a Ph.D. in economics from Duke University. Beginning in 1962, Butter taught at the University of Michigan, researching healthcare and the health care workforce with a focus on women's health. She became Professor Emeritus of Public Health in 1996.

Butter cofounded the Raoul Wallenberg Medal and Lecture series at U of M. The program honors the Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Jews during the Holocaust.

During her long career at the University of Michigan, Butter spent time educating younger generations about the Holocaust.

In a 2020 interview with Michigan Public’s Stateside, Butter lamented how many politicians strive to divide us by our differences.

“What we need to work for is unity and unification, and understanding, and overcoming the divide and overcoming the hatred,” said Butter.

In her 2018 memoir Shores Beyond Shores: from Holocaust to Hope, Butter emphasized the power of one person to make a difference.

In 2024, Butter received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany — that nation’s highest civilian honor.

In 2025, she received the Anne Frank Award for Human Dignity and Tolerance, recognizing her lifelong commitment to Holocaust education, peace activism, and human rights.

Five unhoused men have died following separate incidents along Lansing's River Trail over the past year, and investigators are examining whether the deaths could be connected to a serial killer.

The Lansing Police Department has not confirmed a serial killer, but Police Chief Rob Backus laid out a timeline of five deaths at a Friday news conference. Investigators have identified several similarities between the cases.

"One question that we are being asked is do we have a serial killer in Lansing?" Backus said.

The timeline begins in October 2025, when 54-year-old Gino Chouinard was found injured near the 300 block of East Oakland Avenue and later died. Then, 268 days later, in July, 70-year-old Denis Dunnebacke was found unresponsive beneath the Kalamazoo Street Bridge.

Four days later, 57-year-old Robert Smith was found bleeding from the head near East Oakland Avenue and later died. Smith's death was ultimately ruled a homicide.

In August, 22-year-old Daniel Lusk was found stabbed to death beneath the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Ten days later, 57-year-old Louis Woodruff was found critically injured beneath a bridge near East Cesar Chavez Avenue and later died.

Police say all 5 victims were white unhoused men. Investigators also believe the incidents happened overnight, and that some of the victims may have been sleeping.

"And we are looking at the idea or the possibility that these may be related cases." Backus said.

"Based on how we found our victims and their surroundings, it would lead us to believe that this could be a pattern." Backus said.

A 23-year-old man has been charged in Lusk's death.

"One of these incidents is different than the others. Our charged case involves a victim who's been stabbed. Our other four incidents involve what appear to be blunt force trauma, traumatic injuries to the facial area." Backus said.

A lack of witnesses and surveillance footage has complicated the investigation.

"I'll tell you the difference between the solved case is camera surveillance. And it's lacking in the other cases." Backus said.

Backus said he hopes more cameras can be added along the trail. Bob Ford, one of the people who helped design the River Trail, said while he has noticed unhoused people during his frequent visits, he has not noticed violence.

"Every other day I'm on the River Trail doing something and I've noticed homeless people. But I haven't noticed violence." Ford said.

I asked Ford about the possibility of adding more cameras along the trail.

"I am concerned about personal property and personal rights, you know, privacy rights. But at the same time, when these types of things happen, it's appropriate." Ford said.

Lansing police say they have increased patrols, deployed camera trailers and are working with outreach groups to move unhoused people to safer locations. All five investigations remain active.

Anyone with information about any of these incidents is urged to contact the Lansing Police Department.

_____

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

Four juveniles are in custody after deputies say they crashed a stolen car into a home in Ypsilanti Township.

The crash happened at overnight at Clark and Ridge Roads.

Resident Millie Cole told 7 News Detroit, I heard sirens coming down Clark, and then I heard tires screeching and the next thing I knew I thought I was going to (expletive) die.

7 News Detroit reporter Darren Cunningham has the story in the video below:

They had to have hit this so hard to move this," resident Connor Shelley said.

Washtenaw County sheriff's deputies said it started at 11:58 p.m., on Sunday. A blue Chevy Cruze was reported stolen from the 1700 block of Dover Court in Superior Township.

Deputies said the car was soon spotted speeding east on Clark Road. The sheriff's office said their deputies tried to catch up. But before they could, the Cruze crashed about 2 miles away into this home. It sits where the road ends at Clark and Ridge Roads.

The impact was so powerful, Cole and Shelley, said the entire house shook.

The whole house, when it got hit, felt like it went back and forth," Cole said.

Shelley said, It was really just a shock of the moment. It was almost like a bomb went off in front of the house.

For Cole, the car came terrifyingly close.

I would be dead right now, if that porch wasnt there. I was sitting six feet from the impact," she recalled.

The township condemned the home. Shelley said theyre waiting to see if the home, which is owned by a relative, is salvageable.

The front wall of the basement in this house is fully collapsed. With the collapse brought a crack down the entire front of the house, on the inside at least," he described.

Investigators said all four juveniles in the stolen car were detained at the scene, and then turned over to their parents. Miraculously, none of them were injured.

Shelley said, I understand theres only so much a parent couldve done intros situation but you have to understand that theres major repercussions for your actions.

The couple said this is not the first time a vehicle barged onto the property, and theyd like to see the county or the township install a guardrail to prevent something like this from happening again.

Cole said, Im just thankful that Im okay and every else is okay. No fatalities.

Investigators said the incident remains under investigation and will then be sent to the juvenile division of the Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office for review.

Longtime Detroit sports announcer Bobb Vergiels, known for his work with the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions and Michigan Wolverines, is preparing to return to the microphone after receiving a life-saving kidney transplant.

Vergiels, 74, underwent transplant surgery in July at Henry Ford Health after being diagnosed with stage four kidney failure.

The veteran announcer said he was initially hesitant about receiving a donor kidney because of his age.

"I kind of resisted having a kidney transplant," Vergiels said. "My thing was, look, I'm in my 70s. If you have a kidney for somebody, why don't you give it to some guy in his 50s? Because he's got a whole lot more time to go. I may not. But they said, 'No, you're healthy.'"

For years, Vergiels was a familiar voice at some of Michigan's biggest sporting events, serving as an in-game announcer for the Tigers, Lions and Wolverines. He also announced every Detroit start by former Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander during his tenure with the club.

More recently, Vergiels continued calling games for the Toledo Mud Hens and Toledo Walleye. He said he worked his final Mud Hens game just three days before undergoing surgery.

The transplant became possible after a fan approached Vergiels at a Toledo Walleye game in January and offered to donate a kidney after learning about his condition.

According to Dr. Atsushi Yoshida, division head of transplant surgery at Henry Ford Health, the fan was ultimately a better match for another recipient. Through a kidney paired exchange, Vergiels received a compatible donor kidney from another participant in the exchange network.

"When you start getting kidney disease, you start feeling a little bit crummier over time," Yoshida said. "Once you get a transplant, it's like a fountain of youth a little bit. You feel stronger, healthier and you kind of bounce back."

Vergiels said the fan's generosity played a major role in helping him pursue the transplant.

"I've got two grandkids who will be graduating from college soon. I've got one grandkid who's going to be graduating from law school. I want to live to see that," Vergiels said. "And now I've got a pretty good shot at doing that."

The woman who offered to donate her kidney has chosen to remain anonymous.

Vergiels is expected to return to announcing at the Toledo Walleye's home opener on Nov. 7.

Detroit city leaders on Monday highlighted what they called a safer summer, citing significant reductions in violent and property crime compared with the same period last year, including a sharp decline in the number of children killed by violence.

During an afternoon press conference, city officials said violent and property crime both decreased compared with this time last year. Among the most notable trends was an 89% drop in juvenile homicides during the summer months.

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said the city entered the year after reaching historic homicide lows in 2025, but officials remained focused on addressing violence affecting young people.

"Even though we closed the year out in 2025 with historic homicide lows, we had far too many of our young people who had a violent summer," Bettison said.

The chief reflected on several high-profile cases from last summer, when nine young people were killed in Detroit.

"We saw little Samir at a park, shot at a park. Gang violence, individuals couldn't solve their beefs," Bettison said. "Little Rylee Love was in his home watching television, shot and killed with a stray bullet from a conflict with adults down the street."

According to city officials, juvenile homicides fell from nine victims last summer to one this year between June and August. Nonfatal shooting victims also declined by 22%.

Mayor Mary Sheffield said the improvements represent more than statistics.

"These are more than numbers. These are actual lives of our residents, young people who were able to make it home, neighborhoods that felt a safer summer," Sheffield said.

The mayor credited the city's Occupy the Summer initiative as one factor behind the decline. The program provided 10 weeks of activities for young people during the summer and drew participation from more than 15,000 youth.

"It is our way of saying we cannot police our way out of crime, but we invest in and support and provide opportunity for our young people," Sheffield said.

City leaders also pointed to community violence intervention groups, which they said help reduce conflicts before they escalate into crimes.

Teferi Brent, chief of the mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, said those organizations focus on prevention efforts before violence occurs.

"Before a disagreement becomes a shooting, before a young person becomes involved in violence, and before a neighborhood crisis becomes a police call," Brent said.

While officials celebrated the decline in violence, Sheffield emphasized that more work remains.

"We know that one life lost is far too many," she said.

The mayor said she plans to build on the success of Occupy the Summer and continue expanding the initiative in future years.

"We know at bare minimum we will have at least what we had this year and continue to find ways to expand this project year-round as well," Sheffield said.

The Supreme Court's new term begins Monday with cases on climate change, religious rights and President Donald Trumps crackdown on immigration high on the agenda.

Heres a look at what's in store:

Climate change

The high court is starting its term with a major climate change case. The justices will hear an appeal from energy companies trying to block dozens of lawsuits seeking to hold them liable in court for damage related to climate change.

Billions of dollars are potentially at stake in a case out of Boulder, Colorado, where local officials say the industry should help shoulder the escalating costs of disasters linked to climate change.

The companies, Suncor and ExxonMobil, say lawsuits aren't the way to deal with the global issue. They have the backing of the Trump administration, which argues the litigation is a power grab intended to impose regulations on emissions.

Assault weapons bans

About a dozen states have banned semiautomatic rifles like AR-15s, which are often called assault weapons. They say the guns are disproportionately used in mass shootings, and banning them helps reduce gun violence.

Challengers say those laws violate the Second Amendment. They argue that AR-15s and other similar weapons are among the most popular and commonly owned guns in the country.

The conservative-majority court has expanded gun rights in recent years, and four justices had signaled that it was only a matter of time before the court took up the issue. The case will be considered in December.

Immigration

The court will hear two significant immigration cases with potentially big implications for Trump's wide-reaching crackdown.

One is about deportations of migrants who can't be quickly sent back to their home countries. The Trump administration has been sending thousands to other countries where they have no ties, under a series of often-secret agreements.

The Supreme Court will consider overturning lower court orders allowing them a chance to object. The justices have allowed the flights to continue in the meantime.

The other case is over the administration's mandatory detention policy for immigrants who have been living in the U.S. illegally, even if they've been in the country for years.

The administration argues it can hold people without a bond hearing, but most appeals courts that have considered the issue disagree.

RELATED STORY | Supreme Court grants review of Trump administration's mandatory detention policy for immigrants

Voting

A Republican push to enforce strict Arizona voting laws will also come before the justices this term.

One measure requires people to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote using a state form, and another calls for regular purges of the voter rolls to remove people if their citizenship could not be confirmed.

It comes as Trump has failed to get legislation requiring documentary proof of citizenship for registering to vote through Congress. Arguments are set for December.

Religious rights

Catholic preschools that can't take part in a taxpayer-funded program in Colorado will come before the court in November. It's the justices' latest case involving religious rights.

St. Mary Catholic Parish says it's been left out of the state's universal preschool program over its faith-based admissions policies, which exclude kids from LGBTQ+ families.

Colorado says religious schools are welcome to participate but have to follow nondiscrimination laws. The program was created by a 2020 ballot measure and provides public funding for preschool at schools selected by parents.

President Donald Trump was in Nebraska Monday evening as he looks to boost Republicans ahead of the midterm election.

The rally is part of Trumps 32-day tour ahead of the election, which has heavily focused on red states thus far, like Alabama, Ohio and Oklahoma. Trump said he is going to Iowa and Nebraska for the farmers, expressing confidence in their support.

Were going to Nebraska for a great governor and a great future senator and its going to be very successful, Trump said as he left the White House on Monday.

Trump gave remarks in Grand Island, Nebraska, an area that he won in 2024. He is campaigning for the Republican ticket, including Sen. Pete Ricketts, who is running against independent Dan Osborn. Republican Gov. Jim Pillen is also facing a challenge from former state senator Lynne Walz.

President Trump is in Nebraska to deliver a simple message: promises made, promises kept. Lower taxes, stronger farms and ranches, new manufacturing, and safer streets are the record because Republicans delivered and Nebraskans cannot afford to hand that progress back, the White House continued, pointing to direct aid to farmers and private sector investments in the state.

RELATED STORY | Trump holds Ohio midterm rally, urging voters to consider him on the ballot during 32-day campaign tour

However, Trumps midterm blitz comes as voters express concerns over the economy, polling shows. The president has generally dismissed those surveys.

A new CBS News/YouGov poll found 70% of respondents felt the presidents policies were increasing the price of food and groceries.

According to a KFF/AP survey of rural voters in September, more than a quarter of Republican voters disapproved of the presidents handling of the economy, though more rural voters preferred the Republican Party to address the cost of living.

In Nebraska, farmers are seeing financial stress and the most severe financial downturn and stress point since the crisis of the 1980s, according to John Hanson, the president of the Nebraska Farmers Union. The union has endorsed Osborn, while the Nebraska Farm Bureau has endorsed Ricketts.

We're seeing the machinery costs and our capital costs going up far in excess of the rate of inflation, and so we're not able to buy new machinery," Hanson said. "The cost of repairs has gone up at a really steep rate, and so even being able to repair equipment is tough. Fertilizer costs are up substantially, about 25 percent. So then, on top of all the other things and sagging commodity prices, then we get hit with the price of diesel."

Over the past year, the Trump administration has contended with the pricing of ground beef, fertilizer and recent record-high costs for diesel.

But Trump expressed confidence in support from farmers and told reporters he would be helping them with diesel.

We are doing a lot for the farmers. The farmers have been with me from day one," Trump said. "Ive made the farmers a lot of money."

During his remarks Monday, the president signed an executive order targeting diesel costs, making so-called red dye diesel fuel temporarily exempt from taxes.

Trump in recent weeks suggested he was considering an export ban, but after European partners announced a release of diesel, he said he wouldnt do so.

We are in the middle of harvest season. The diesel price makes a huge difference in terms of profitability. So this action taken by the president with our allies overseas to make sure that we're getting more into the supply system is coming at a really, really important time, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins told Scripps News last week. I will note as well, though, we have been talking to a lot of the states. I'm sure you've seen this: Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, Nebraska and several others, I think, came online in the last day or two on the dyed diesel question, which also should cut 10 to 20% off of the top of the price per gallon right now.

WATCH: Sec. Rollins expresses optimism about Trump's diesel policies

If you just bought a new iPhone, you may want to hold on to the box.

Forbes reports that some iPhone 18 Pro Max devices are experiencing connectivity issues on the AT&T network.

Apple says the problem can cause affected users to lose cellular service, and some devices may need to be replaced.

RELATED STORY | Interactive: Apple could owe you money. Here's how to find out if you qualify

AT&T says it is reaching out to affected customers. Many have received messages from the carrier indicating that a software update is required.

If your phone is functioning normally, Apple recommends updating to the latest software version to help prevent connectivity issues. If you experience problems with your device, Apple advises contacting your wireless provider first and then Apple Support.

RELATED STORY | Apple begins lease program for phones and other devices

Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 lineup and the new iPhone Duo in early September.

The foldable iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch main display and supports Apple Pencil compatibility. The device starts at $1,999. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, announced alongside it, start at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively.

EASTPOINTE, Mich. Several business owners along Nine Mile Road in Eastpointe say a road reconstruction project intended to improve the corridor is creating new challenges for customers and hurting their bottom line.

The concerns are centered near Petersburg, where some property owners and business operators say parking access has been reduced during construction.

"We don't have anywhere to pull in or to pull out," Alesia Hussey said.

7 News Detroit reporter Peter Maxwell spoke to affected businesses in the video below:

For businesses along the corridor, available parking spaces can make a significant difference in customer traffic.

Ahmed Abdoul Malik, owner of Mediterranean Flames, said customers previously had multiple options to enter, exit and park near his restaurant.

"When we had that little patch of cement right there, people were able to come in and come out and we had another driveway so it was easy to come in and loop out," Abdoul Malik said.

He said a section that is expected to become grass has reduced parking and access options for customers. He estimates the impact on his business has been severe.

"A lot of people say we love your food but we aren't dealing with the traffic, nobody is letting us in or out," Malik said.

He also said vehicles have struggled to maneuver in the remaining parking area.

"You see them get stuck. You see them getting out of the car and have somebody trying to push them out," Malik said.

Hussey, who manages 12 properties in Eastpointe, including the block where Mediterranean Flames is located, said the issue goes beyond convenience.

"They already had limited parking now they only have basically two spots," Hussey said. "The businesses are just losing customers."

Building owner Gary Cooper said he and others have raised their concerns with city officials.

"We need help," Cooper said.

Cooper, 95, said he has owned the property for more than 30 years and wants changes made to restore access.

"All we're asking for is, let's put it back to the way it was and have this dug out," Cooper said.

Malik said he would like to see additional paved space added to improve access.

"If they can turn this grass into cement that would be a lot better," Malik said.

The City of Eastpointe responded in a statement, saying:

"We are working with local businesses as we understand the impact this considerable improvement has on our community."

The Nine Mile Road reconstruction project is designed to improve one of Eastpointe's busiest roads, but some business and property owners say they are concerned about how construction-related changes are affecting customer access in the meantime.

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

A former Ohio music pastor who once appeared on American Idol was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Monday after a jury convicted him of murdering his wife while he was having an affair.

Prosecutors said Caleb Flynn, 40, staged a home invasion in February after shooting Ashley Flynn, a 37-year-old schoolteacher and volleyball coach. Flynn claimed she was killed by a burglar.

With tears rolling down his cheeks, Flynn addressed the courtroom ahead of the sentencing and apologized to his family, starting with his two daughters.

I made vows to Ashley on our wedding day. I failed in those vows, he said. I cannot apologize enough.

Although he admitted to lying about many things, Flynn remained adamant that he was innocent.

As I stand here before God, who is my ultimate judge, I am not lying when I say I did not kill my wife, he said.

Flynn appeared briefly on American Idol in 2013, telling TV viewers about how his wife had encouraged him to chase his dreams on the singing competition. He did not advance to the main competition in Hollywood after singing before judges Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson and Nicki Minaj.

During closing arguments, prosecutors told jurors that Flynn wanted out of his marriage when he shot his wife at their house in Tipp City, a suburb north of Dayton. The couples two daughters were home with their father when police arrived.

He sent a text message to his lover the night before the shooting, saying, I choose you. Im free. Actions will come tomorrow, prosecutors said.

During the trial, Alleigha Botner testified she met Flynn in 2022 while she was a 20-year-old intern at his church and had an affair with him for more than a year. She told jurors that Flynn said he hated his wife and had thoughts of killing her.

Jurors also heard AI-generated love songs that prosecutors said he made for Botner. Flynn didnt testify on his own behalf, nor did anybody else.

The gun used to kill Ashley Flynn was not found at the scene, and his attorney told jurors that investigators found no evidence that Caleb Flynn fired a gun that day. Prosecutors said his fingerprints and DNA were at the scene and that his devices showed him moving around the house, even though he claimed he was asleep at the time of the shooting.

Today on Stateside, a conversation with Michigan Supreme Court candidate Noah Hood. In May of 2025, Hood was appointed to fill a vacancy on the state Supreme Court. That partial term will end at the end of this year.

See more interviews with the candidates for Michigan Supreme Court here.

Also, we heard from voters across Southeast Michigan about why cost of living is still top of mind leading up to the Midterm Elections.

Then, artists with disabilities from across the country will gather in Michigan this week for the Creating Community conference, a national conference focused on fostering creative spaces for artists with developmental disabilities and mental health differences.

The event is being organized by the Progressive Art Studio Collective (PASC), a Detroit-based organization. We spoke with the collective's founder, Anthony Marcellini and PASC artist Angela Rhodes, on what it takes to forge a path in the art world for work created by artists with disabilities.

Plus, in a new episode of the On Hand podcast, a sound-rich summation of the development and influence of techno music in Detroit.

GUESTS ON TODAY'S SHOW:

• Noah Hood, MI Supreme Court Justice
• Etai Smotrich-Barr, Reporting Fellow at Michigan Public
• Anthony Marcellini, founder and program manager of Progressive Art Studio Collective
• Angela Rhodes, Detroit-based artist part of the Progressive Art Studio Collective
• Carl Craig, techno DJ

This could be a pivotal week in both the race for Michigan governor and Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat.

The leading candidates in both races will appear in televised debates.

Republican Congressman John James and Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson are scheduled to face off on Tuesday in Grand Rapids in a gubernatorial debate. 

Benson said she’s prepared.

“I feel really good both in our preparations for the debate, excited to meet John James on the stage, and lay out our very clear visions for what a governor should do and the future of this state,” Benson said last week.

James said he plans to point to Democratic leadership failures.

“The powerful in Lansing want to blame people outside but I’m more concerned with fixing the problems than fixing the blame,” James said last week, “I’m excited to have that conversation with Jocelyn.”

Two days later, on Thursday, Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed will hold their own debate for U.S. Senate in the same Grand Rapids TV studio.

There is less than one month to go before Election Day in November.

According to the Michigan Secretary of state website, as of Monday, October 5, 125,635 Michiganders have already voted, or roughly 1.7% of active registered voters in Michigan

Spirit Halloween has released its annual report on Halloween costume trends, which highlights the looks you might expect to see when trick-or-treaters come knocking.

The company says it keeps its finger on the cultural pulse all year long so it can offer the most recognizable costumes when it comes time for Halloween.

"People often ask how we predict Halloween trends. The reality is we're watching them develop all year long," said Kym Sarkos, Executive Vice President of Spirit Halloween. "From blockbuster entertainment and gaming to social media and nostalgia, our team is constantly tracking what's capturing attention so we can be ready with the looks fans want most."

This year its offerings include costumes from franchises like Toy Story, Kpop Demon Hunters, Spider-Man, the Backrooms and Fortnite and that's on top of Halloween staples like mythological monsters, slasher villains, and knights and dragons.

RELATED STORY | Spirit Halloween set to open roughly 1,500 pop-up stores across North America

Spirit Halloween itself is a touchstone of the holiday season. The company undertook plans this year to open some 1,500 pop-up storefronts and hire more than 52,000 seasonal workers. On top of its many costumes, its stores offer a range of Halloween apparel and decor to meet a growing demand.

According to savings site RetailMeNot, 70% of shoppers plan to buy fall or Halloween items before September, including decorations, candy and costumes. And those who really like to lean into the season may want to move fast: One Home Depot store manager says the company's 12-foot skeleton is now often sold out by Labor Day each year.

Hamtramck’s last mayoral election is still disputed.

A judge has ordered that the 37 absentee ballots found in the former city clerk’s office must be counted, despite a year-long legal battle. The candidates are former Hamtramck city council member Muhith Mahmood and current Hamtramck Mayor Adam Alharbi.

The Wayne County Board of Canvassers originally decided not to count the 37 ballots, which were turned in days after the election.

Alharbi’s attorney says they are ready to challenge the ballots, even if they end up being counted, according to WXYZ.

They also plan to continue challenging Mahmood’s residency, despite a Wayne County judge dismissing a lawsuit over his residency last December.

Additional Headlines for Monday, Oct. 5, 2026

Forgotten Harvest hopes for 1 million pounds of food before year’s end

Forgotten Harvest is hoping to harvest 1 million lbs of food by the end of the year to feed people in need.

Lori Setera is the assistant farm manager at the Forgotten Harvest Farms in Fenton, Michigan. She says a pound of food is equal to a meal.  

“Our food here goes farmers market style, just how you see it here in these crates. A lot of our brick-and-mortar pantry partners don’t have the equipment or the space to store these giant crates. Because of that, a lot of it ends up in mobile pantries.”  

The farm supplements nutritious foods the organization distributes. They grow about 20 different crops such as cabbage, corn, broccoli, and peppers.

Around 3,000 volunteers are needed annually to help plant, weed and harvest food. Forgotten Harvest Farms still needs more volunteers to meet their goal this year. 

Virtual summit addresses race-based medicine

The Collaborative to End Race-Based Medicine-Detroit and Wayne State University’s Office of Inclusive Excellence are hosting a virtual summit about race-based medicine.  

The National Institutes of Health defines race-based medicine as “treating race as a biological or genetic trait rather than a social construct.” This leads to misdiagnoses and poor health care outcomes for minority patients—especially for those in the Black community.  

The collaborative is made up of international clinicians, legislators,  industry leaders and community members working toward ending race-based medicine through education, research and advocacy. 

Panelists at the virtual summit will discuss how bias shapes health care and public health in an age of artificial intelligence.

They will talk about how technology can help identify bias and potentially prevent harm.  

The “Held to the Light: Race, Code & Consequence in the Age of AI” event takes place Oct. 29 from 3 – 5 p.m. Register for the event here.

InterFaith Council 

The InterFaith Council of Metropolitan Detroit is hosting a program highlighting coming-of-age traditions.

The Rites of Passage Coming of Age Across Religions event will feature a bar/bat mitzvah, a confirmation, a Hindu tradition and a Muslim rite of passage.

The program will talk about what it means for family, faith, identity and belonging.

It will be held Thursday, Oct. 8 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the North Congregation Church in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The event is free with registration.

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