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Today — 13 June 2026Main stream

Clinton Township teens get prom they thought was lost after threat canceled original dance

13 June 2026 at 02:58

Clinton Township teens got their prom night after a gun threat forced the cancellation of the original dance just one hour before it was set to begin.

Last Tuesday night, the junior-senior prom at Clintondale High School was canceled after Michigan State Police received a tip that a student might be bringing a firearm. With spirits low, the community came together at the steps of Anton Art Center to give students the night they had been waiting for.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report below: Clinton Township teens get prom they thought was lost after threat canceled original dance

"Kids creating memories that they will never forget," DJ Britt said.

Kimberly Koltvedt's daughter Brianna, a junior, was among the students who lost their original prom night.

"I want to walk away feeling good," Brianna said. "We just thought it was a joke at first."

Senior Shamer Riser-Pressley was already dressed for the occasion when the original event was called off.

"I kind of felt like it was a slap in the face," Riser-Pressley said.

Watch our previous report when the community was organizing the event below: Community organizes replacement prom for Clintondale students after cancellation

Still, he said the rescheduled night carried the same weight.

"Cause it's something we've been waiting for our entire life basically," Riser-Pressley said.

Clinton Township Trustee Shannon King, whose daughter attends Clintondale high as a junior, said she was devastated by the cancellation.

"You just want her to be a kid," King said.

King said he refused to let the threat define the night.

"I wasn't going to let us be held victim to a threat of gun violence," King said.

Watch our previous report when prom was canceled below: Clintondale High School prom canceled after tip warns of possible firearm at event

He began making calls shortly after the cancellation and connected with Anton Art Center's executive director, Matt Matthews, who moved quickly to make the event happen.

"I talked to Shannon Thursday of last week, and it's Friday night and there's a prom behind me," the executive director said.

Youth advocate Marlan Collier said the community donated their time and even chocolates to pull the event together. Collier described prom as one of three moments that define a teenager's life.

"Homecoming, prom, graduation," Collier said. "We are building unity in our community."

Additional security and on-site law enforcement were in place to ensure there were no disruptions to the night.

"And to have the community come together and make it happen is just a blessing," Kimberly Koltvedt said.

Moe's Mobile Sports Lounge was also on hand for the celebration.

"Everyone have a good time. Let's party," Moe said.

Matthews said the goal for the night was simple.

"I just want kids to dance and have a good time," Matthews 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.

Trump says US military strike killed leader of Tren de Aragua gang with help from Venezuela

13 June 2026 at 02:16

President Donald Trump said Friday that a swift and lethal kinetic U.S. strike has killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, whom he called the infamous leader of the Tren de Aragua gang.

Tren de Aragua has been labeled by the United States as a terrorist organization. Guerrero Flores was charged in a New York federal court with racketeering conspiracy and other crimes, including lending support to terrorists in crimes that stretched more than a decade, authorities announced in December.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X that the strike occurred earlier in the week on a Tren de Aragua compound in Venezuela.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said at the time that the gang is responsible for countless acts of violence, extortion and drug trafficking in North America, South America and Europe. Trump nominated Clayton on Thursday to be director of national intelligence.

The U.S. State Department had offered rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to Guerrero Flores arrest

RELATED STORY | US, Nigerian forces kill top Islamic State leader in joint operation, Trump said

In a post on his social media site, Trump wrote, Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else and, under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drug lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong. Trump's post referred to Guerrero Flores by his alias, Nio Guerrero.

Hegseth said, The operation underscores the shared U.S. and Venezuelan commitment to take the fight to narco-terrorists and deny them any safe haven in our hemisphere.

Venezuelas ministry of communications did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the operation.

Trump has taken a series of extraordinary actions against the gang, including a series of strikes on small boats his administration has accused of smuggling drugs to America. At least 207 people have been killed in boat strikes by the U.S. military in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea since the Trump administration began targeting those it calls narcoterrorists in early September.

Trump and administration officials have consistently blamed Tren de Aragua for being at the root of the violence and illicit drug dealing that plague some U.S. cities. The president spent months repeating the claim contradicted by a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment that Tren de Aragua had operated under Venezuelan President Nicols Maduros control. The U.S. whisked Maduro out of Venezuela to face U.S. drug charges in January.

Tren de Aragua originated more than a decade ago at an infamously lawless prison with hardened criminals in Venezuelas central state of Aragua. The gang has expanded in recent years as millions of Venezuelans migrated to other Latin American countries or the U.S. in search of better living conditions.

Guerrero Flores returned to the prison in Aragua for murder and other convictions in 2013, when Venezuelas crisis began as corruption, mismanagement and a drop in crude prices wrecked the oil-dependent economy. Guerrero Flores and a few other inmates saw a profitable opportunity as the government neglected prisons.

They assumed control and administration of the prison, establishing a system that controlled the entire inmate population through force and extortion. Over time, they transformed the facility into a sort of city that included a zoo, baseball field, casino and restaurants. Guerrero Flores had his own lavish suite.

The size of the gang is unclear. Countries with large populations of Venezuelan migrants, including Peru and Colombia, have accused the group of being behind a spree of violence in the region. Still, unlike other criminal organizations from Colombia, Central America and Brazil, Tren de Aragua has no large-scale involvement in smuggling cocaine across international borders, according to InSight Crime, a think tank that tracks crime across Latin America.

RELATED STORY | US strike on an alleged drug boat kills 3 in the eastern Pacific Ocean

In Venezuela, gang leaders have long been known to participate in various illegal activities, including gold mining.

Trump campaigned for a second term promising to crack down on immigration and crime. While polls show his favorability ratings have sagged on his handling of the economy, immigration remains Trumps strongest issue, according to the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Windsor mayor and Canadian citizens weigh in on Gordie Howe Bridge delay

13 June 2026 at 00:28

Instead of a ribbon-cutting Friday on the new Gordie Howe International Bridge, the bridge sat empty.

The $4.7 billion mega-project connecting Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, promises to ease border congestion, boost the local economy and drive down travel costs.

Watch Darren Cunningham's video report below: Gordie Howe International Bridge in political limbo

At the moment, the bridge is in political limbo. 7 News Detroit drove to Windsor to speak with the mayor and Canadian citizens about it.

Debbie and Iain Smith walked Windsors waterfront Friday afternoon.

They are dual citizens who travel between Grand Rapids and Toronto every couple of months to vacation and visit family. By now, they expected to have a new way to cross the border.

Were not happy. Were not happy with whats going on over there (in the U.S.), Debbie Smith said.

Iain Smith said, We came in, and the toll to go through the tunnel is nine bucks. And I thought, 'man, they need that bridge to get there and get a little competition to drive the prices down.'

But that competition is on hold. The Trump administration delayed Fridays ribbon-cutting of the bridge over ongoing trade disputes, according to Windsor's mayor.

Iain Smith said, There just seems to be a little bit of political leverage or theater around the negotiations, the tariffs and so on.

Previous coverage: Gordie Howe Bridge opening delayed one day before planned ribbon cutting Gordie Howe Bridge opening delayed one day before planned ribbon cutting

His wife added, Its kind of turned into a pay-to-play, which is Trumps thing, and Im not happy about it. Canada, I believe, paid for the new bridge. Did they not?"

"So, that bridge should be opening," she reasoned.

Debbie Smith's right. Canada fully financed the $4.7 billion bridge and plans to recoup that money through tolls over the next 30 years. After that, the U.S. and Canada will split toll revenue.

7 News Detroit spoke with Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens to find out exactly what is stalling the project.

God only knows. Or I should I say Donald Trump only knows, he said.

Dilkens said a comprehensive trade agreement is already in place, but Washington is pushing for re-negotiations.

He said, Donald Trump has cherry-picked steel and aluminum and autos and dairy and soft wood lumber and the list goes on and on and he wants to deal with each of those items independently, even though we have a comprehensive agreement. So, I have no idea what of those particular issues is sort of holding the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge up.

Related video: Gordie Howe's son reflects on new bridge adding to Mr. Hockey's legacy Gordie Howe's son reflects on new bridge adding to Mr. Hockey's legacy

The mega-project was designed to ease major border congestion for truckers and logistics companies. Yoven Noyadoo transports supplies for the auto industry.

He said, Its really critical to have infrastructure that reduces downtime.

Watch below: 2025 report visiting the site of the Gordie Howe International Bridge As the Gordie Howe International Bridge nears completion, we visited the site to see the progress

Dilkens said, Despite one man and his posture and the continued closure of the Gordie Howe bridge, nothing is going to divide Americans and Canadians. Were gonna continue to work with each other. Were going to continue to support one another and we will get this bridge open one day."

US and Iran approach a ceasefire agreement, but they're not 'at the finish line yet'

12 June 2026 at 23:43

After a months-long conflict, the United States and Iran are nearing an agreement officials say would open the Strait of Hormuz and deny Iran a nuclear weapon, but officials say they are not at the finish line yet.

President Trump said final points had been in both concept and great detail approved. He canceled a third night of bombings against Iran Thursday.

We're not quite at the finish line yet, but we are very close, said a senior administration official, who noted they feel good about where we are.

While the administration expects to sign an agreement over the next few days, a senior administration official said the confidence level is around 80-85 percent. They acknowledged some Iranian hardliners want to kill the deal but that they believe dissent is quite minimal.

Their system is very complicated. Most of the people that we've been speaking to, and most of the people who have authority within their system, want to sign this deal, but not everybody, and those internal fractures are sort of working themselves out as they continue to try to get to the point where they can say yes to the deal, the official said.

But it appears there is more confidence that Irans supreme leader approves.

All we can take is the people, both on the civilian and military side, both of whom have attested that the leader is comfortable with where we are in the negotiations, the official said.

RELATED NEWS | Trump cancels planned Iran strikes, claims 'settlement of the war'

Other Iranian leaders also indicated progress towards finalizing a deal.

The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer. Pending its finalization, the media should refrain from entering speculation about its content, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X.

"The agreement would ultimately dismantle Irans nuclear program, end Iranian funding of proxy groups, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and provide economic benefits based on Iranian performance, according to a senior administration official.

What we've accomplished through some combination of leverage and diplomacy is a commitment to get rid of their highly enriched material and a commitment to not build or buy a nuclear weapon indefinitely, they said.

A memorandum of understanding specifies the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, lifting of the blockade, and destruction and removal of enriched material, according to the official. A technical negotiation is envisioned for 60 days, where details on the nuclear issue are ironed out.

The technical details need to be figured out, but I think there's a commitment to do that. There's also a commitment to dismantling the nuclear weapons program. There's a commitment to decommissioning the nuclear sites, and of course we're going to figure out how to do that in the technical negotiations that will follow, but we think that this is the first and most important step to really ensuring that the Iranians do not build a nuclear weapon, the senior administration official said.

The terms laid out largely reflect the redlines in negotiations that officials held earlier on.

Thats both promising but also a reminder that this thing could fall apart at any time, according to Michael OHanlon, the Philip H. Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy at the Brookings Institution.

I don't know that Iran's really going to be capitulating. They haven't wanted to so far. If they have just wanted to capitulate, they could have done that four months ago, before this war began, and they haven't shown any signs of being more inclined to capitulate, just because a lot of their friends and family have been killed off by the air campaign. If anything, it seems to have made them harder and, and more dug in, OHanlon said.

But OHanlon highlighted the 60 day period, the kind of number you would come up with if you were serious, and all sorts of creative middle grounds you could find on most of these issues as points of hope.

They're not going to go into negotiations with the idea of just fooling us and having no interest in a deal whatsoever, and just sort of playing along, but they could go into the deal with very high expectations of what terms they'll be able to negotiate and a willingness to go back to hostilities if they, if they fail in the first instance, especially while we're still in the prelude to the midterms of 2026 where they think that Trump is particularly vulnerable politically, and therefore you know where they may have in fact the upper hand, he said of Irans potential positioning.

The White House has teased being close to a deal before, only for it to not come to fruition.

Over the past several weeks, Iranians have launched strikes against US forces in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain; Israel and Iran have traded fired over Israels operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon; and the US carried out strikes against military targets in response to the Iranian downing of a US Apache helicopter. Trump had warned of a third straight night of strikes, and potentially eyeing Irans oil hub, Kharg Island, just hours before the sudden reversal.

The preceding 24 hours were an all hands on deck operation, according to the senior administration official.

The entire team has been involved in passing messages and using back channels in order to get messages across, and you know, it's kind of how the administration operates, the official said.

The administration received an answer through intermediaries Thursday in which Iran indicated they were ready to sign, according to another senior administration official. The President spoke to Gulf leaders as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

They want it every bit as much as everybody else wants and I think a lot of good relationships can ensue from this, President Trump said Thursday of Iran.

RELATED STORY | Iran is accused of downing a US Apache. A robot boat pulled the crew to safety

Over the past couple of weeks, a senior administration official points to weakened control of the Iranian straight, and specificity on the destruction and removal of enriched material.

Where it was a couple of weeks ago was a lot of proposals from the Americans that we sort of had verbal commitments that the Iranians thought that they could work with us on, but they had to work it inside their system. Now we've seen substantial progress where they've actually gotten the buy-in, and where we actually have a text of an MOU that I think both sides feel good about, the official said.

An official said little changes here and there were hashed out the past days, pointing to details on financial relief and enrichment pursuits.

It is a performance based deal, that does not provide financial relief on the signing of the memorandum of understanding or negotiation, according to a senior administration official, they get rewarded economically for complying with their obligations under the deal. Benefits could include unfreezing of assets and sanctions relief.

The administration's approach of military pressure and economic pressure has worked, and it is because of that, that Iran has realized it has to get to the table, said Jacob Olidort, Dr. Jacob Olidort, Chief Research Officer & Director for American Security at the America First Policy Institute, also pointing to Lebanon. The Iranian regime is now faced with a fork on the road, it has, on the one hand, its nuclear ambitions, and on the other, its survival.

Washington had worked to mediate a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, that still saw strikes between Israel and Hezbollah, before Trump demanded a stop to the shooting amidst efforts to reach a deal with Iran, but before the downing of the US helicopter.

We don't expect any country, whether the Gulf Coast or Israel, to give up their right of self-defense. What we do expect is that if we're able to have everyone participate in the peace process, that everyone else will do the same, said a senior administration official.

There appears to still be mistrust, though.

President Trump accused Iran of leaking terms that have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing, Trump wrote on Truth Social, warning Iran to get their act together, and FAST!

Friday afternoon, the US, Iran and Pakistan warned of false information amid speculation about the deal specifics and Iranian response.

I'm seeing a lot of fake information about a potential deal to reopen the Strait and end Iran's nuclear weapons program. First, the Iranians are not receiving any cash, and no funds are being released for simply signing a deal or attending a meeting. The deal is structured to ensure that the US and its allies concerns are prioritized, and that if the Islamic Republic of Iran meets its obligations, then economic benefits will flow to them and to the entire region, Vice President JD Vance wrote on X.

Amid ongoing intense mediation efforts by Pakistan, we are fully aware of incessant misinformation campaign being waged by those who want to sabotage the peace deal. Setting aside the noise, we can confirm that a final, agreed upon text of the peace deal has been reached and Pakistan is now working closely with both sides to finalize the next steps. Peace has never been this close as it is now, Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X.

A signing location is not yet known, but the official said we want to make sure that it's a place for both the Qataris, the Pakistanis, and of course the Iranians can get to, and are happy with, the countries having helped mediate.

Southgate senior receives replacement birthday letter from Obama after losing it in fire

12 June 2026 at 22:52

A 92-year-old Southgate woman lost nearly everything in a devastating apartment fire last October including a treasured letter from former President Barack Obama sent on her 80th birthday. Now, thanks to a state lawmaker, she has it back.

Carrie Turner was among the dozens of seniors displaced when the American House in Southgate was engulfed in flames. Officials say the cause of the fire remains unknown.

Watch Carli Petrus' video report below: Southgate senior gets replacement Obama letter after fire

"They rushed us out of the building and we were outside. It was really cold that night," Turner said.

Turner escaped with only the clothes on her back.

"I lost everything but thankfully, I didn't lose my life," Turner said.

Among the irreplaceable items lost were photo albums, a Bible that belonged to her late son and the letter from Obama.

"I didn't think I could get it back," Turner said.

Watch our previous coverage after the fire below: Southgate senior complex fire under investigation, residents recount the rescue

State Sen. Darrin Camilleri and his staff learned about the letter while helping residents in the aftermath of the fire. Camilleri decided to reach out to the former president's office.

"I wanted to see if we could do anything about it and so, I've never met President Obama, but we figured it might not hurt to have a letter from a state senator requesting a copy," Camilleri said.

Turner's daughter, Jacquelyn Williams, described just how meaningful the original letter had been to her mother.

"Just getting that correspondence from the White House, from both the former president and first lady, both signed it, pictures of them both, it was special," Williams said.

Months after Camilleri's staff contacted Obama's office, a package arrived. Inside was a replacement of the original letter, along with a new message celebrating Turner's 90th birthday.

For Turner and Williams, the letters cannot replace everything lost in the fire. But they represent something the family has been rebuilding ever since hope.

"Being able to get something that has been destroyed, that you think is irreplaceable, is just amazing," Williams said.

Turner moved into a new apartment last week and says she is excited to hang the letters on the wall. She did notice one small detail, however the letters address her as "Ms." rather than "Mrs."

"It's really nice. The only thing I don't like about it, they have Ms. I'm Mrs.," Turner said.

When asked about the distinction, Turner was clear.

"Uh huh. I was married," Turner said.

Despite that minor detail, Turner says the letters are still a gift she never expected to receive a piece of her past, returned at a time when she is finally looking toward the future.

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.

Pontiac Transportation Museum celebrates city's role in shaping American history

12 June 2026 at 22:16

The Pontiac Transportation Museum opened just two years ago, but inside, visitors will find a history that stretches from the carriage era to the vehicles that helped move America.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: Pontiac museum shows America's transportation history

Terry Connolly, board chair of the Pontiac Transportation Museum, said the city's legacy in transportation is unmatched.

"In the teens and 20s, Pontiac was arguably the Silicon Valley of the whole United States. The manufacturing technology and the manufacturing progress that was happening here was unbelievable," Connolly said.

Connolly said Pontiac and nearby Flint together produced a quarter of all carriages built in the United States and when the internal combustion engine arrived, the transition to automobiles was a natural one.

"All of a sudden, the first cars looked a lot like carriages," Connolly said.

Pontiac also played a significant role during World War II. While men were on the battlefield, many women some working their first jobs were building large military vehicles, including the truck on display at the museum known as the "Deuce and a Half."

"GMC built 526,000 of these for the US Army, and General Patton actually called it the true hero of World War II because he had a reliable truck and really high volume. Yeah, if you look at the pictures, women built these trucks," Connolly said.

The city's manufacturing reach extended well beyond military vehicles.

"They built about 80% of the transit buses in the whole United States for about 40 years," Connolly said.

That production included the famous Rosa Parks bus. The museum also features classic Muscle Cars, among them a legendary 1969 GTO Judge.

Ed Palazzo, who has owned dozens of Pontiac cars throughout his life, volunteers at the museum and said the experience of driving one is hard to describe.

"It's like an old friend," Palazzo said. "It fits like an old shoe. It's.. you just feel like you know it. It's fun because it's fast."

GM's Pontiac brand received its name as a tribute to the cars being made at the Oakland Motor Car Company in Pontiac. The name also honors the city's legacy and 18th-century Odawa leader Chief Pontiac.

For Connolly, watching visitors connect with that history is what makes the museum meaningful.

"It's really rewarding as people come in here and say my grandfather worked the line in 1935, and here's what did associate with that car, and they're very proud of it, and we just see this pride re-instilled in Pontiac for all the wonderful stuff that they did," Connolly said.

This year marks 100 years since the Pontiac brand was introduced. Enthusiasts from around the world will gather at the museum later this month for the 54th Annual International Pontiac Car Convention.

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.

Trump's name poised to be removed from Kennedy Center after judge denies last-minute move to keep it

12 June 2026 at 22:06

A judge cleared the way for President Donald Trump's name to be removed from the Kennedy Center's exterior on Friday, denying a last-minute request from the institution's board that would have kept the name in place.

With storms gathering near Washington before a court-ordered deadline to remove references to Trump, workers were seen building scaffolding around a section of the building that includes the president's name. A crowd gathered nearby and cheered their work as Trump's name moved closer to being taken down.

Yet the Kennedy Center's leadership didn't abandon its legal efforts to keep Trump's name in place. The institution appealed the ruling denying it request for a stay and requested action by the court by 7 pm ET.

This appeal raises serious questions about Article III standing and about the powers of the Centers Board," the filing read. "Major physical changes to the Center should await this Courts resolution of those issues; as an equitable matter, it does not make sense to alter the Centers name and signage now, only to potentially revert the name again after what should be a successful appeal.

RELATED STORY | Judge says Kennedy Center board broke law putting Trump's name on building, blocks closure

Last month, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled Trumps name was illegally added to the iconic Washington performing arts facility and ordered it removed by Friday. Late Thursday, Trumps handpicked board at the center mounted a last-minute effort to keep his name on the facade of the iconic performing arts facility, a request that Cooper denied.

A June 4 memo to staff from the Kennedy Centers Office of General Counsel said email signatures, letterhead and other documents must reflect the name as The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts or Kennedy Center.

The Kennedy Centers website has dropped Trump's name. And an earlier email sent to members offering ticket packages for the June 28 Mark Twain Award for American Humor ceremony came from the Kennedy Center without including Trumps name.

After ignoring the Kennedy Center for much of his first term, Trump has wielded tremendous influence over the venue during his return to office. Just a month into his second term, he ousted the centers previous leadership and replaced it with a board of trustees that named him chairman.

In his earlier ruling, Cooper also blocked the administration from closing the cultural and arts venue for major renovations that had been planned to start in July and last for two years.

Historic Jackson Home opens at Greenfield Village, bringing civil rights history to metro Detroit

12 June 2026 at 21:38

The Henry Ford has officially unveiled the Jackson Home at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, bringing a pivotal piece of American civil rights history to metro Detroit.

The home, relocated piece by piece from Selma, Alabama, and meticulously reassembled at Greenfield Village, served as a gathering place for leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., during the mid-1960s.

Watch Tony Geftos' video report below: Jackson Home opens at Greenfield Village in Dearborn

Juwana Jackson, daughter of Dr. Sullivan Jackson and Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson, served as keynote speaker at the ribbon-cutting ceremony that officially opened her childhood home to the public.

"Greenfield Village was created by Henry Ford in 1929 to tell the story of America. This, the Jackson Home, is part of that story," Juwana Jackson said.

Watch Juwana Jackson speak and the ribbon-cutting below: Juwana Jackson speaks at opening of Jackson House at Greenfield Village

The home is now connected to a modern interpretive center that tells the larger story of the Civil Rights Movement before visitors tour the home itself. Michael Goler, a museum interpreter at The Henry Ford, described the significance of what took place inside the home.

"Dr. King and others hammered out aspects of the 1965 Voting Rights Act at that very table, so when you come here, you are literally walking through history," Goler said.

Amber Mitchell, curator of Black history at The Henry Ford, reflected on the home's enduring meaning.

"This house stands tall as a constant beacon for friends and all who come through its doors," Mitchell said.

The opening drew visitors from near and far, including Tamara Hanning, who grew up in Selma, Alabama.

"We love Juwana. Juwana is a good steward of it, and she has brought it to the place it needs to be," Hanning said.

Connie Weaver, who also grew up in Selma, Alabama, shared her reaction to seeing the home in its new setting.

"Amazing is all I can say. So happy and so happy that so many people are going to hear this," Weaver said.

The home's reach extended to international visitors as well. Tim Hall, a Canadian visitor, said the exhibit filled in gaps in his knowledge of American history.

"As Canadians, we're not really taught this portion. We know the Underground Railroad, but not so much what went on down here, so it's nice to be able to put a little bit of the history to the people," Hall said.

Related video: How The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation helps country's story come alive How The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation helps history come alive

Detroit residents Ketra Lewis and Kim Jones described the experience of seeing the home in Michigan.

"This was a remarkable experience to have this moment in history brought to Michigan for the world to see," Jones said.

Patricia Mooradian, president and CEO of The Henry Ford, connected the exhibit to the organization's broader purpose.

"This directly connects to the mission of our organization of inspiring people to make a better future," Mooradian said.

Opening weekend for the Jackson Home includes timed entries for tours. The experience is included with admission to Greenfield Village.

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.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield launches 'Occupy the Summer' program aimed at engaging teens in the city

12 June 2026 at 21:35

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield launched her "Occupy the Summer" program Friday at the Andrew Butzel Recreation Center on the city's west side.

The kickoff comes weeks after multiple teen takeovers occurred downtown and on the city's west side, some of which turned violent, in stories 7 News Detroit has been following.

Watch Megan Lee's video report from the event below: Detroit leaders launch 'Occupy the Summer' program

"I think it's about playing a role in ensuring that young people have productive, safe, and enhancing places to keep themselves occupied," Sheffield said.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report from the event below: Mayor Sheffield launches Detroit's 'Occupy the Summer' program

Sheffield said she spoke directly with teens who participated in the takeovers before launching the program.

"We had the opportunity to engage with the teens who participated in the teen takeover, and what they expressed was a desire to have fun and engaging activities for them to be a part of the city's resurgence," Sheffield said.

Over the next 10 weeks, nine recreation centers will stay open late with events including late-night basketball and other activities.

7 News Detroit interview: Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield speaks ahead of Occupy the Summer kick off
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield speaks ahead of Occupy the Summer kick off

Extended recreation center hours are at Crowell, Adams Butzel, Kemeny, Farwell, Heilmann, Butzel Family, Coleman Young, Helen Moore and Northwest Activities Center on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. All nine locations will remain open until 11 p.m. throughout the summer.

Weekly Friday Activations in neighborhoods across each city council district, similar to the Occupy the Corner series, featuring community activities, city resources, local vendors and cultural programming.

RELATED STORY: Another so-called 'teen takeover' happened in downtown Detroit Another so-called 'teen takeover' happened in downtown Detroit

The summer Friday lineup will run Fridays at 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.:

June 19 - Juneteenth Celebration / Crowell Recreation Center July 10 - Skate Night with Royal Skateland / Corrigan Park July 17 - Sports Night / Lasky Recreation Center July 19 (Sunday) - HOOPFEST in Partnership w/NW Goldberg Cares/Curtis Jones Park July 24 - Small Business and Sheff Tank Pitch Competition / TBD July 31 - Arts & Culture Night / TBD August 7 - Bike Night / Joe Louis Greenway Pavillion August 14 - Finale in Partnership with Metro Detroit Youth Day / Diehl Club Watch 7 News Detroit reporter Megan Lee's report on the bike giveaway: Bike giveaway kicks off Mayor Sheffield's 'Occupy the Summer' program

Not all residents are convinced the program will be enough. Detroit resident Darryl Taylor questioned whether teens would show up.

"How many young folks are going to play basketball at that time of night. I think we have to come up with a better plan," Taylor said.

Detroit resident Kim Bell said change needs to come from at home first.

"A lot of people don't understand when it comes to children and the troubles they're having, it starts at home," Bell said.

Other residents are more optimistic.

"I like her plans for it, gives them something to do. Keep them off the streets and keeps them occupied with something that's positive," Pamela Richardson of Detroit said.

Sheffield said the program extends beyond activities, offering support resources for parents as well.

"We have wrap-around services on site, so whether it's job information, housing information, utility assistance information, and several city apartments that will be on-site," Sheffield 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.

Gage Pierce arraigned in Livonia quadruple homicide; community fundraiser set for Saturday

12 June 2026 at 21:34

Gage Pierce, 25, appeared before a Livonia judge Friday for the first time since being charged in connection with a quadruple homicide that shook the community this week.

Watch Ruta Ulcinaite's video report: Gage Pierce arraigned in Livonia quadruple homicide

Pierce faces four counts of first-degree murder and four counts of felony firearm. His bond was denied.

Watch the full arraignment below: Livonia man on murder charges in deadly quadruple shooting of mom, dad, brother & brother's girlfriend

During the arraignment, Pierce attempted to speak on his own behalf.

"Will I stand up and speak?"

His attorney quickly shut that down. Aside from that, Pierce stood mute as his charges were read aloud.

Prosecutors say Pierce used a semiautomatic rifle to shoot and kill his mother, Holly Kimball; his father, Sterling Pierce; his brother, Tanner Pierce; and Tanner's girlfriend, Nevaeh Finch, at the family home Tuesday.

Related story below: Family of Livonia shooting victim Nevaeh Finch describe her as selfless 'The kindest soul': Family of Livonia shooting victim Nevaeh Finch describe her as selfless

The home has since become a memorial. Family members gathered there Friday to observe what would have been Tanner's 23rd birthday.

Tanner's uncle made sure to wish his beloved nephew a happy birthday Friday at the family home.

"You'll never be forgotten. You achieved so much at such a young age...you were perfect. Love you, man. Happy birthday," he said through tears.

We spoke with Nevaeh's mother, Shelly, over the phone. She watched the arraignment in heartbreak while making funeral arrangements for her daughter. Nevaeh's birthday would have been July 9.

"She's just a she's a good kid. Right now I have to try to, you know, pick her last outfit she's ever gonna wear," Shelly said over the phone.

At Mulligan's Pub & Grub in Farmington Hills, owner Robert Mckiddie is preparing for a fundraiser for the family this Saturday at 2 p.m. Mckiddie was a friend of Sterling's for nearly two decades and says Sterling used to frequent the pub.

"He's always called me his brother every time we parted ways...and I loved him like a brother," Mckiddie said.

The event is open to the public. A $20 donation at the door will go directly toward funeral costs for Sterling, Holly, and Tanner. The event will also serve as a place for the community to gather, grieve, and share stories.

"My heart goes out to them. It really does. The community is hurting over this. All the money in the world will not make a difference to anybody. But it might help them get through what they have to get through. That's a lot they have to deal with," Mckiddie added.

Mulligan's Pub & Grub is located at 27406 W. 8 Mile Road in Farmington Hills. Those unable to attend can donate items or gift cards for raffle and auction baskets or make an additional monetary donation in person.

Pierce is expected back in court June 25.

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.

Once beset by power outages, Puerto Ricans also hit with severe water shortages

12 June 2026 at 20:46

Thousands of Puerto Ricans are struggling with water shortages so severe that the governor of the U.S. territory has activated the National Guard and emergency responders are fielding calls every day.

Officials have not publicly pinpointed the cause, with shortages largely affecting some areas in the island's most populated cities, including the capital San Juan. The island's utilities company extracts water from rivers, reservoirs and underground aquifers that have in the past provided sufficient supply for the island's 3.2 million people.

RELATED STORY | Power blackout hits all of Puerto Rico as residents prepare for Easter weekend

Residents are being forced to buy potable water, spend money at laundromats and haul heavy buckets up several flights of stairs to wash dishes, flush toilets and take showers. The elderly and disabled struggle the most, with community leaders noting that some have been hospitalized as water shortages persist.

Jorge Figueroa, a community leader for several impoverished San Juan neighborhoods, stood by his car one recent morning fielding questions from residents wondering when the next water truck would swing by.

"They are playing with people's health and lives," Figueroa said.

Some customers in San Juan began reporting intermittent service more than a year ago, with the governor acknowledging the infrastructure has lacked investment and maintenance for decades.

The water outages have grown so severe that Mayor Miguel Romero sued Puerto Rico's Water and Sewer Authority in late May.

People like Jeannette Mercado Rodrguez have spent up to two weeks without water as Puerto Rico's searing summer starts and meteorologists are already issuing heat advisories.

"This is really exhausting; it's maddening," she said.

The 52-year-old is among the lucky ones: a water truck is stationed near her public housing complex, Las Margaritas. But she still has to haul five buckets and 10 2-liter (half-gallon) bottles up to her third-floor apartment every day. She recently injured her shoulder doing so.

RELATED STORY | Record snow drought in Western US raises concern for a spring of water shortages and wildfires

"We can't take it sometimes," Mercado said, confiding that she has broken down and cried. "There are older people here, bedridden people."

Nearly 40,000 customers were hit with water outages on the first weekend of June. That prompted Gov. Jenniffer Gonzlez to activate the National Guard, which began distributing water via four trucks with a capacity of 2,000 gallons (7,570 liters) each.

Puerto Rico's Tourism Company brought in additional water trucks with a capacity of 12,800 gallons (48,453 liters) to help serve hotels and short-term rentals.

The need for water is so great that even Puerto Rico's Department of Agriculture sanitized two large trucks that transport milk and instead used them to deliver potable water.

Despite those measures, water remains scarce for many in San Juan and beyond. At least one stationary tanker in an impoverished community sat empty for a couple of days, with residents cheering the water truck when it arrived, calling municipal workers "heroes." Other residents also complain that the government doesn't inform them when a water truck will stop by, with those at work missing out.

"This has been a disaster," said Luz Laborde, president of a neighborhood association in Santurce, a working-class community in San Juan. "This is inhuman It's destroying the emotional state of a people."

Dozens of Puerto Ricans young and old crowded into a courtroom on a recent morning, eager to hear a ruling on the lawsuit that San Juan's mayor filed against the island's water and sewer company as they questioned when their water would return.

"We are exhausted," said Marcia Soler Pars, a 61-year-old community leader. "We shouldn't be living this way. We don't deserve this."

Every day at dawn, phones ping as people in San Juan and elsewhere share whether they have water, just a trickle or nothing at all.

Soler calls the emergency management office every other day to request a water truck for her and her neighbors. She lives with her daughter, who has three boys ages 13, 10 and 4, and they play soccer every day. Like many, they don't have a cistern.

"I don't know what it is to see a stream of water," said Soler, who recently spent $40 at a laundromat and was forced to buy plastic cups and plates for her family.

The extra costs are straining the budgets of many on the island of 3.2 million people where more than 40% live below the poverty line.

Soler said some of her neighbors bedridden and caregivers are forced to use towels and wet wipes to clean them. Another neighbor is blind, so people ferry water up to her apartment.

For years, chronic power outages have been a big frustration for many Puerto Ricans. Water woes also are at the top of the list now.

At Villa Kennedy, a nearby public housing complex, Elizabeth Snchez, 79, explained how she injured her waist carrying buckets of water. Her husband can no longer help because he injured his back for the same reason.

"What we are going through is horrible," she said as she began to cry.

In February 2025, Puerto Rico's governor appointed Luis Gonzlez Delgado as executive president of the island's Water and Sewer Authority.

Months later, former regional director Roberto Martnez Toledo was replaced. But Martnez was recently appointed to a new committee ordered by a judge to work with the agency to investigate and solve the chronic water shortages.

The mayor of San Juan, who is a member of the governor's party, said that if Martnez hadn't been removed from his position, "we wouldn't be here talking about this issue."

The new head of the water and sewer agency blamed Martnez for some of the problems.

"(The crisis) could have been avoided if Roberto Martnez had answered the phone the first day I called him," Gonzlez told reporters this week, adding that he is willing to work with him.

Some Puerto Ricans are demanding Gonzlez resign as they clamor for Martnez to return to his old job, while a growing number are blaming the governor for the situation. On Wednesday night, the governor announced that all projects aimed at fixing water-related infrastructure have started with an investment of $217 million.

Those without water say they are still being billed for it.

"That's another outrage," said Laborde, the community leader. "You lose no matter what."

Wayne County crews begin work on ditch drainage after Northville Township resident complaints

12 June 2026 at 20:36

Wayne County contractors are working to fix long-standing drainage problems on Fry Street in Northville Township, clearing overgrown vegetation and sediment from the Sly Drain to give excess water somewhere to go.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report: Crews begin work on ditch drainage after Northville Township resident complaints

Residents on Fry Street say they have been dealing with ditches that won't drain for years, causing major headaches, and have been struggling to get a solution. Just days after residents raised their concerns, Wayne County's Division of Environmental Services had contractors on the ground.

Jennifer DePaulis, Environmental Services Manager for Wayne County, said the work is focused on clearing the drain so water can move through properly.

Related Story: Northville Township residents say ditches won't drain, push for solution to fix flooding issues Frustration grows over flooding ditches

"They're really meticulous about what they're doing, and we're hoping that once they get the sediment and the vegetation out of the drain, then our roads division can come through and clear the ditches along the street here and then there will be a place for that water to go through to the drain," DePaulis said.

Once the drain work is complete, the roads division will clear the roadside ditches and jet the culverts underneath driveways so water can reach the drain.

"The combination effort of both of those things should really make things better for the residents here on Fry Street," DePaulis said.

Resident Adam Harrison said he was relieved to see crews on site.

"I'm glad to see that there's people here," Harrison said.

DePaulis walked Harrison through the plan for the work ahead.

"I guess the best way to start is the creek and then go from there, see if in a couple weeks or so they can have this one straightened out," Harrison said.

When asked if he felt his voice was being heard, Harrison said, "I feel it's being heard."

Sandy Uroda, who has lived on Fry Street for more than 20 years, described the flooding she has experienced firsthand.

"When the rain comes down heavily in a short amount of time, the ditches fill up. We've had water halfway up our lawn to the house before," Uroda said.

Uroda said the work has been a long time coming.

"It's a long waiting relief I think. I think it's gonna be a great solution to the problem and I'm happy they're doing it," Uroda said.

The Fry Street project is part of Wayne County's broader $23 million stormwater management program, which includes ditch clean-outs, catch basin cleaning, and work on detention basins and pump stations across six focus areas. The county executive allocated the funding for ditching projects. DePaulis said crews have already cleaned approximately 15,000 catch basins.

"That's a huge positive effort and we think that a lot of people are going to see relief from that once that gets done," Depaulis said.

For the Fry Street project specifically, after a complaint was made to the drainage division, engineering inspections began last year, contractors were hired in March, and notices were sent to residents in April. The work is expected to finish within days.

Drain maintenance is largely complaint-driven. Residents with drainage issues can contact the drains office or the environmental services hotline. For roadside ditch problems, residents can call 1-888-ROAD-CREW.

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.

Lawyers for man accused of killing Charlie Kirk try to block prosecutors from seeking death penalty

12 June 2026 at 20:31

Attorneys for the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk asked a judge Friday to block prosecutors from seeking the death penalty as punishment for comments they made in the media about a bullet fragment recovered from Kirks body.

The comments were made in response to speculation that the bullet fragment could exonerate defendant Tyler Robinson. Conjecture over the evidence in Kirks killing has fueled unsubstantiated conspiracy theories that there might have been a second shooter or that his death was staged.

Prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted. The 23-year-old from southwestern Utah is charged with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 killing of Kirk, a conservative activist who was shot in the neck while addressing a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University. Robinson has not yet entered a plea.

Robinsons attorneys accused prosecutors of going on a media tour to discuss expert reports about the bullet fragment, violating the judge's restrictions against speaking about the case outside court.

RELATED STORY | Man jailed for 37 days over post on Charlie Kirk's death wins $835K settlement

Prosecutors countered that they had a right to speak to the press to correct misinformation about a preliminary finding by ballistics experts. Those experts' initial tests did not match the bullet fragment with a gun that investigators believe was used to kill Kirk.

In court filings, defense attorneys made public a federal agency's failure to conclusively link the bullet fragment with the rifle. They said it appeared to be exculpatory evidence information that tends to absolve a defendant of guilt without noting that the finding was preliminary and that further testing was planned.

That spurred stories by some publications raising questions about the prosecution's case: A March 30 headline in the U.K.-based Daily Mail reported that the bullet that killed Kirk did NOT match the rifle investigators say was used to kill Kirk.

Authorities have said DNA consistent with Robinsons was found on the trigger of the rifle, the fired cartridge casing, two unfired cartridges and a towel used to wrap the rifle.

The rules expressly allow lawyers to set the record straight, Deputy Utah County Attorney Christopher Ballard wrote in a court filing.

Ballard argued Friday that he didn't speak to the media about case specifics and only spoke generally about how ballistics testing can be inconclusive. He said his goal was to respond to the substantial undue prejudicial effect of the media stories.

Defense attorney Richard Novak disagreed, saying Ballard did not speak to the media using general terms and tried to influence public perception of the case.

What was going on here was an attempt to influence the jury pool, Novak argued.

RELATED STORY | Arizona governor vetoes bill to name highway after Charlie Kirk

State District Judge Tony Graf said he will issue his decision about the contempt allegation on June 22.

Earlier Friday, Graf declined a defense request to halt the proceedings while they appeal a June 1 order in which the judge declined to bar cameras from the courtroom.

The ruling comes ahead of a key hearing scheduled to begin July 6, when prosecutors must show they have enough evidence to warrant a trial. That would mark the most significant presentation of evidence to date in the case, which has so far focused on matters of media access.

Before Friday's hearing, the defense team pointed to another criminal case in which prosecutors were accused of contempt and suggested that one potential remedy would be to bar the state from seeking the death penalty.

While the judge in that earlier case disagreed that an order barring the death penalty was merited, Robinsons attorneys noted that the court did not conclude that such a remedy was beyond its authority where the facts support it.

Seattle Seahawks' Super Bowl championship rings are the largest ever made

12 June 2026 at 20:25

The Seattle Seahawks team and staff received their Super Bowl rings Thursday night, the largest Super Bowl championship rings ever made.

The design is inspired by the Seahawks' home stadium, the franchise and the team's fans. The ring features Lumen Field arches that pop out to reveal the words "World Champions."

The top displays the Seahawks logo and two Lombardi Trophies, a nod to the franchise's two championships, set in blue sapphires. The top of the ring can be fully removed from the base to be worn as a pendant, while the ring's interior features an authentic piece of football from the season.

RELATED STORY | Mexico kicks off the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 win over South Africa

The ring is surrounded by 50 diamonds to commemorate the franchise's 50th season and the Super LX logo on both sides.

One side of the ring has the player's last name, number and the letters "MOB," which is short for the "Mission Over Bulls**t" mantra the team adopted in 2025. The other side of the ring reads "12 AS ONE" above a Seattle skyline.

"17 WINS" is engraved on the inside of the ring to represent the win total for the season, postseason included, while the bottom of the ring features 12 feathers to honor the 12s.

The rings were designed by Jason of Beverly Hills.

The Seahawks beat the Patriots 29 to 13 in February during Super Bowl LX, hosted in San Francisco.

Inside an exhibit that gathers all the released Epstein files to date

12 June 2026 at 20:13

Its a short walk from the White House to the Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Reading Room, but its still a long way for the accountability survivors are seeking.

"In this room you have 17,000 pounds of evidence of one of the worst crimes in American history," said David Garrett, organizer for the Institute for Primary Facts.

The curated exhibit is hoping to close that gap. It includes a printed copy of every single document released by the Department of Justice as part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

"What is 3.5 million files? You know, it's hard to really know what that means until you print them all out," Garrett said.

There are nearly 3,500 volumes totaling 800 pages each. Shelf after shelf is packed with information.

"There's something about seeing it tactile, right?" Garrett said. "Any one of these books, has something horrible in it, and some of them have lots of horrible stuff."

The gravity is the goal.

"You see a cat video and a birthday party and evidence of one of the worst crimes in history, and they all kind of seem the same, and you spend six seconds on each one, and then you move on to the next thing," Garrett says. "When you come in here, you put the phone away, right? This, this room will stop the scroll, and you have to sit with it for a minute, and you have to sit with how much evidence there is."

RELATED STORY | Bill Gates tells House panel Epstein used extramarital affair to blackmail him

Garrett is not a curator, or a historian, or an artist, or even a political activst. Hes a dad, troubled by the pace in which some are trying to move past this issue.

"It's the corruption. There will always be monsters.There will always be terrible people and terrible crimes. It's the corruption that destroys democracies," he said.

Steps from the bookcases, there's a floor-to-ceiling timeline of Epstein, of Donald Trump, and of their friendship. While the President has not been interviewed by the DOJ or the House Oversight Committee, Garrett says he put Trumps name on the exhibit because of his personal connection to the case.

"Donald Trump's name is mentioned 38,000 times," Garrett said. "There are people on his cabinet that that are mentioned in the Epstein files. It's incredibly corrupt for him to be in charge of the investigation."

The president has denied a real friendship with Epstein.

RELATED STORY | Former New Mexico AG says he was told to stand down in Epstein ranch probe

Up the stairs is art by survivor Maria Farmer, depicting the pain and horror she endured as well as a place to honor the survivors.

"All I can think of is these women who lived with the stigma of their abuse for decades, and then stood up to the most powerful, richest people in the world," Garrett said. "They stood up and said we're not going to take it anymore, and we want answers, and we want accountability."

Hes hoping this exhibit leads to just that.

I think coming here and standing and looking at this, it's very hard to imagine that there isn't more investigation and more accountability to be had," he said.

The public is not able to read the files because not all names are redacted. However, survivors, journalists, members of Congress and law enforcement officials can all make appointments to read the files themselves. Garretts team created a database to help them review specific material.

Man accused of slapping Delta flight attendant's buttocks during flight

12 June 2026 at 19:57

A passenger on a Delta flight is facing charges of assault after he reportedly slapped a flight attendant on her backside while she was conducting in-flight food and beverage service.

According to court documents filed in the U.S. Court for the Northern District of Georgia, 32-year-old Cody James Maluck was indicted by a federal grand jury in Atlanta for interference with flight crew members or attendants which is considered a federal crime that carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The alleged incident happened on a Delta flight from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles on May 9.

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The court documents stated the flight attendant, who is not identified, was walking down the aisle of the aircraft performing food and beverage service to passengers when she initially passed by Maluck's seat, thinking he was asleep.

As the flight attendant stopped at a nearby seat, she allegedly felt a slap to her "buttocks area" that caused her body to move forward. The court documents stated she turned around and saw Maluck with his hands up, and he stated, "I didn't do anything."

The flight attendant left the aisle and informed the lead flight attendant on duty of the incident, who then notified the pilot in command. It was decided that the flight would be diverted to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for the safety of the flight.

Law enforcement met the aircraft at the gate and were notified that an alleged assault had occurred on the plane. Maluck was detained and the FBI was notified.

Maluck told law enforcement that he had on headphones and didn't hear the flight attendant ask if he wanted a beverage. He reportedly admitted to touching the flight attendant in her buttocks area to get her attention, but claimed he did not slap her and it was "not his intention to harm or disrespect" her.

Detroit Evening Report: The Library Network funds Southgate Pride vendor after city backs out

12 June 2026 at 19:43

Southgate’s Pride celebration is back on thanks to The Library Network, a library cooperative based in Novi. The celebration was canceled after Southgate city officials decided not to pay for a vendor at the event, stating the city should not be used to pay for social or political advocacy activities.  So, the Library Network offered to pay the vendor instead. 

The event is scheduled for 2-3 p.m. on Saturday at Southgate’ s Veterans Memorial Library, located at 14680 Dix Toledo Road.

Southgate’s event comes about a week after Madison Heights City Council reversed its decision to cancel its Drag Queen Storytime event during its Pride Week celebrations.  

Additional headlines from Friday, June 12, 2026

Cooling centers open

Cooling Centers are opening across Detroit to give residents a break from the heat.  

High temperatures are known to pose health risks. Chief Public Health Officer and Director Ali Abazeed says these centers are an effective solution to keep at-risk residents healthy. 

“Folks in Detroit, especially our vulnerable populations…. if they don’t have access to some of the critical infrastructure that we know is helpful in keeping and preventing extreme heat related health outcomes, then we want folks to know that these cooling centers are available. They’re open and we want our residents to take advantage of them.” 

Detroit’s cooling centers are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 5p.m. on weekends. They are open to anyone. 

Healthy Home Resource Day

Detroit’s Healthy Home Resource Day – HOPE event is coming earlier this year.

On Saturday, qualified residents can apply for Homeowners Property Exemption program to receive up to 100% property tax exemption. The exemption is given based on the homeowner’s income. 

Those who make an appointment can get a free ride to and from any HOPE event. The next event is Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Samaritan Center on 5555 Connor Ave. 

Infill development conference

The Detroit Land Bank is hosting the first-ever Developers Conference focused on infill development opportunities.

Infill development is the process of building on vacant lots in established neighborhoods. The Detroit Land Bank currently owns 56,000 parcels of vacant land and is working to return them to productive use. 

Attendees will learn about development opportunities, financing resources, permitting processes and more. The event is June 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Occupy the Summer program starts

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield launches a new summer recreation program for kids today. It’s part of her response to recent teen takeovers downtown, and it’s supposed to give them something creative to do.

More than 1,500 young people have registered for the Occupy The Summer activities, which include late night basketball games and longer hours at nine recreation centers. The city will give away 700 bicycles this afternoon. 

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The post Detroit Evening Report: The Library Network funds Southgate Pride vendor after city backs out appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Ford recalls more than 250,000 Focus models because of engine stalling issue

12 June 2026 at 19:30

Ford is recalling more than 250,000 vehicles that were incorrectly repaired under a previous recall meant to fix a problem that caused the engine to stall while driving.

The recall includes 255,404 Ford Focus automobiles, model years 2012-2018. Ford said the canister purge valve may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving, increasing the risk of crash and injury.

RELATED STORY | Honda recalls more than 880,000 cars due to a problem with rear suspension

To fix the problem, dealers will provide a powertrain software update free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Ford's number for this recall is 26S40. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration's number for this recall is 26V369. The original NHTSA recall number for this issue is 18V735.

RELATED STORY | Burkholderia bacteria detected in Target baby wipes leads to recall

Vehicle identification numbers involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6.

Anatomy of an endorsement: Why the UAW chose El-Sayed, Benson

12 June 2026 at 19:06

The United Auto Workers (UAW) endorsed Abdul El-Sayed for Michigan’s open U.S. senate seat and Jocelyn Benson for Governor.  

For UAW Region 1A Director Mark DePaoli, this move puts the union “back at the forefront” in terms of political influence.  

To determine which candidate receives their endorsement, DePaoli said the UAW Community Action Program (CAP) Board schedules meetings with candidates to ask questions and vote on who best reflects their values.  

“They ask a lot of tough questions because they want to be able to hold the candidates accountable for their answers,” DePaoli said.  

UAW rules require a two-thirds majority of CAP board member to agree in order for an endorsement to be made. 

“The best part about it is whether you’re one of the CAP reps from the plant, you’re one of the three Michigan directors, or you’re the president of the UAW, everybody’s vote weighs the same,” DePaoli said.  

Selecting a senate candidate

The CAP representatives came from each plant and facility represented by UAW, DePaoli said, and ended up voting in favor of El-Sayed.

Another way UAW members learn more about the candidates and their beliefs is through a public debate in which the candidates discuss their values.  

“It was live stream for all of our members, and the consensus at the end of that debate amongst everybody that was talking was that Abdul was the clear-cut winner,” DePaoli said. 

UAW Region 1A Director Mark DePaoli

The vote was a surprise in some circles since the other two candidates—Congresswoman Haley Stevens and State Senator Mallory McMorrow—both have some background in the auto industry.

Stevens worked on the 2009 auto bailout in the Obama Administration. McMorrow trained as car designer. In autoworker-heavy Michigan, both candidates have leaned into drawing the interest of organized labor.

DePaoli said he was “dreading” the endorsement decision because each candidate had values that the UAW supported, but he decided that El-Sayed would be best suited to tackle the issue of healthcare, which DePaoli  referred to as “the biggest problem” for the majority of Americans.   

“We seem to be the only country where it’s acceptable for big business to make profit off of our illnesses,” DePaoli said. “Why not a health care expert in the U.S. Senate to help try and fix some of these problems?” 

El-Sayed said he was “deeply honored” to receive the endorsement from UAW. El-Sayed makes it a point that his campaign is built from union members instead of “corporate PAC money, AIPAC and Washington insiders.” 

“Together, we’re going to take on corporate greed, rebuild an economy that works for working people, strengthen collective bargaining and ensure that the future of Michigan manufacturing is built right here by union workers,” El-Sayed said.  

In the past, the UAW has almost exclusively endorsed Democratic candidates. According to DePaoli, UAW leadership invited all candidates for the U.S. Senate seat, and only three Democrats attended. Republican Mike Rogers did not attend.

“It makes it hard to endorse somebody that doesn’t even bother to come out and listen to the questions and hear the concerns of your membership, let alone give an answer,” DePaoli said. “I don’t think they even try to get Labor’s endorsement because they know they’re not going to vote any policies in favor of Labor.” 

Why Jocelyn Benson?

In the race for Michigan Governor, Jocelyn Benson has a financial advantage over Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. She also has a lead in the polls.

According to DePaoli both candidates were worthy of backing and recently discussed their positions for the CAP board at UAW Local 600.

“Two great candidates coming from completely different backgrounds,” DePaoli said. “At the end of the day, we don’t completely trust in polls, but we were comfortable that Jocelyn Benson was the correct decision.”

None of the Republican candidates for governor showed up.

At the time, former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan was in the race and in the forum.

“I think a lot of people were surprised at how well he did,” DePaoli said. “But I think everybody had gotten to a point to say, well, even if we don’t endorse him—if he does win— we’re comfortable that we can work with him and get things done for labor.”

Duggan dropped out citing concerns over money and no path to victory given a recent surge for democrats. 

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