By MICHELLE L. PRICE and GARY FIELDS

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has renamed the U.S. Institute of Peace after President Donald Trump and has planted the president’s name on the organization’s headquarters despite an ongoing fight over the institute’s control.

It’s the latest twist in a seesaw court battle over who controls the U.S. Institute of Peace, a nonprofit think tank that focuses on peace initiatives. It was an early target of the Department of Government Efficiency this year.

On Wednesday, the State Department said it renamed the organization to the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace to “reflect the greatest dealmaker in our nation’s history.” The new name could be seen on its building, which is near the State Department.

Trump has spent months openly lobbying for a Nobel Peace Prize even though he was passed over for this year’s installment — arguing he had a hand in easing a series of conflicts around the world. But Trump has also ordered strikes on suspected drug vessels off the coast of Venezuela and repeatedly threatened that attacks on land could be coming, which would be an act of war against that country.

The takeover of the Peace Institute was also anything but peaceful, with his administration seizing the independent entity and ousting its board before actually affixing his name to the building.

Anna Kelly, a White House spokesperson, said: “The United States Institute of Peace was once a bloated, useless entity that blew $50 million per year while delivering no peace. Now, the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, which is both beautifully and aptly named after a President who ended eight wars in less than a year, will stand as a powerful reminder of what strong leadership can accomplish for global stability.”

She added, “Congratulations, world!”

George Foote, a lawyer for the former Institute leadership and staff, said the renaming “adds insult to injury.”

“A federal judge has already ruled that the government’s armed takeover was illegal. That judgment is stayed while the government appeals, which is the only reason the government continues to control the building,” Foote said.

Since March, the headquarters has switched hands multiple times in court actions related to the DOGE takeover. A final decision on its fate is pending in federal appeals court.

USIP has maintained the organization is an independent creation of Congress and outside the president’s executive authority. The administration argues it is an executive branch organization.

After Trump fired the institute’s board in the the spring, the staff was fired as well and the building was turned over to the General Services Administration.

A federal district court overturned the action in May, putting the headquarters back into the hands of USIP leadership. But that action was reversed weeks later by a federal appeals court.

Employees at this juncture have been fired twice and the building is in GSA’s possession.

The building is expected to be the backdrop for the signing of a peace agreement Thursday between Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame. High-ranking officials from the African Union, Angola, Burundi, Kenya, Togo, Qatar, Uganda and the United Arab Emirates are also expected to attend the signing, according to Yolande Makolo, a senior adviser to Kagame.

The USIP website remained unchanged Wednesday night, but its lead item was headlined, “President Donald J. Trump to Sign Historic Peace Agreement at USIP Headquarters,” followed by a write-up of the deal between Congo and Rwanda that Trump was overseeing at the institute on Thursday.

The Institute of Peace was created by Congress in the 1980s. President Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law in 1985. Described as an independent, nonprofit think tank funded by Congress, its mission has been to work to promote peace and prevent and end conflicts while working outside normal channels such as the State Department. It was operating in 26 conflict zones, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Mali and Burkina Faso, when DOGE shut the operation down.

There is also broad speculation that Trump will be awarded a new peace prize from FIFA on the sidelines of the World Cup draw, happening in Washington on Friday.

Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Will Weissert contributed to this report.

By MATT BROWN

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang met separately with President Donald Trump and Republican senators Wednesday as tech executives work to secure favorable federal policies for the artificial intelligence industry, including the limited sale of Nvidia’s highly valued computer chips to U.S. rivals like China.

Huang’s closed-door meeting with Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee came at a moment of intensifying lobbying, soaring investments and audacious forecasts by major tech companies about AI’s potential transformative effects.

Huang is among the Silicon Valley executives who warn that any restrictions on the technology will halt its advancement despite mounting concerns among policymakers and the public about AI’s potential pitfalls or the ways foreign rivals like China may use American hardware.

“I’ve said repeatedly that we support export control, that we should ensure that American companies have the best and the most and first,” Huang told reporters before his meeting at the Capitol.

He added that he shared concerns about selling AI chips to China but believed that restrictions haven’t slowed Chinese advancement in the AI race.

“We need to be able to compete around the world. The one thing we can’t do is we can’t degrade the chips that we sell to China. They won’t accept that. There’s a reason why they wouldn’t accept that, and so we should offer the most competitive chips we can to the Chinese market,” Huang said.

Huang also said he’d met with Trump earlier Wednesday and discussed export controls for Nvidia’s chips. Huang added that he wished the president “a happy holidays.”

The Trump administration in May reversed Biden-era restrictions that had prevented Nvidia and other chipmakers from exporting their chips to a wide range of countries. The White House in August also announced an unusual deal that would allow Nvidia and another U.S. chipmaker, Advanced Micro Devices, to sell their chips in the Chinese market but would require the U.S. government to take a 15% cut of the sales.

The deal divided lawmakers on Capitol Hill, where there is broad support for controls on AI exports.

A growing battle in Congress

Members of Congress have generally considered the sale of high-end AI chips to China to be a national security risk. China is the main competitor to the U.S. in the race to develop artificial superintelligence. Lawmakers have also proposed a flurry of bills this year to regulate AI’s impact on dozens of industries, though none have become law.

Most Republican senators who attended the meeting with Huang declined to discuss their conversations. But a handful described the meeting as positive and productive.

“For me, this is a very healthy discussion to have,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican. Rounds said lawmakers had a “general discussion” with Huang about the state of AI and said senators were still open to a wide range of policies.

Asked whether he believed Nvidia’s interests and goals were fully aligned with U.S. national security, Rounds replied: “They currently do not sell chips in China. And they understand that they’re an American company. They want to be able to compete around the rest of the world. They’d love to some time be able to compete in China again, but they recognize that export controls are important as well for our own national security.”

Other Republicans were more skeptical of Huang’s message.

Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican who sits on the upper chamber’s Banking Committee, said he skipped the meeting entirely.

“I don’t consider him to be an objective, credible source about whether we should be selling chips to China,” Kennedy told reporters. “He’s got more money than the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and he wants even more. I don’t blame you for that, but if I’m looking for someone to give me objective advice about whether we should make our technology available to China, he’s not it.”

Some Democrats, shut out from the meeting altogether, expressed frustration at Huang’s presence on Capitol Hill.

“Evidently, he wants to go lobby Republicans in secret rather than explain himself,” said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee.

Warren added that she wanted Huang to testify in a public congressional hearing and answer “questions about why his company wants to favor Chinese manufacturers over American companies that need access to those high-quality chips.”

By STELLA MARTANY

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — The United States inaugurated a massive new consulate compound Wednesday in Irbil, the capital of northern Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdish region.

The move highlighted Washington’s diplomatic and strategic engagement in the Kurdish region, particularly as the U.S. moves troops that had been stationed elsewhere in Iraq as part of a mission against the Islamic State group, under an agreement with the central government in Baghdad.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas joined Kurdish leaders for the inauguration of the sprawling complex — planned as the largest U.S. consulate in the world — built on a 206,000-square-meter (50-acre) site along the Irbil–Shaqlawa highway at a cost of $796 million.

“America’s investment in this new consulate provides a secure platform to advance the interests of the United States,” Rigas said. “It demonstrates the value that a sovereign, secure and prosperous Iraq, in mutually beneficial partnership with the United States can deliver for its own people and for America.”

The opening comes amid ongoing challenges in Iraq, including regional tensions and attacks on energy infrastructure. A drone strike last week on the Kormor natural gas field caused widespread power outages.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Rigas appeared to cast blame on Iraq’s politically powerful Iran-backed militias.

He urged both Baghdad and Irbil to “disempower and dismantle Iran-aligned militias that continue to engage in violent and destabilizing activities and only serve to harm Iraqi sovereignty.”

Kurdish regional President Nechirvan Barzani referred to the consulate as a “clear political message regarding the importance of Irbil and the Kurdistan region.”

He said the facility underscores the deep partnership between the U.S. and the Kurdish authorities and will serve as a hub for diplomatic, economic and security cooperation.

Follow AP’s Middle East coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/middle-east

A Westland landlord is accused of sexually harassing female tenants. The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit alleging William Asper of Canton propositioned the women for sexual favors.

The eight-page federal complaint lists nearly two dozen properties owned and managed by Asper in Westland.

Watch Darren Cunningham's video report below: Westland landlord faces sexual harassment lawsuit from Department of Justice

The complaint states Asper would refuse "to make necessary repairs" or he'd result to threatening and/or filing evictions against his female tenants when they refused to give into his demands for sex.

Tricia Ray credits a Facebook page she created, along with Jessica Grevenstuk, as the catalyst for the lawsuit.

Today feels like victory... for single moms everywhere who need some place affordable for rent, and they dont deserve to be taken advantage of like that," she told 7 News Detroit.

Trading rent for sexual favors is just not it.

She and Grevenstuk werent tenants. However, they said they had bad encounters online with Asper that led them to speak out on social media years ago.

And I found out he was convicted stalker, and we just started digging and searching and then we created the Facebook page Women against William Asper for Mayor because he, at the time, he was trying to run for mayor (of Westland)," Ray recalled.

"Woman just started coming out of the woodwork with stories."

7 News Detroit spoke with Asper over the phone for his side of the story. He said asking tenants for sexual favors doesnt pay his bills.

As far as the allegations, sexual stuff, none of thats true. No. No way," Asper said.

He declined an on-camera interview, but he said hes the one being harassed.

Some of these people may have been actual tenants, and when I do evictions, its part of the game. Its part of the business. I had to evict and usually its for non-payment," Asper said.

"People dont like to admit hey, I couldnt afford the rent, I got evicted from a low-income place because I couldnt afford the rent. So, what they will do is they will save face. They will save the embarrassment and theyll make attacks on the landlord," he said.

Ray and Grevenstuck said they aren't surprised by Asper's denials, but they're pleased the DOJ believed them enough to gather enough evidence to make a case against him.

"You think youre God, and thats exactly what this man thought. He thought he was God, Ggrevenstuk told 7 News Detroit. I want him to be found guilty and held responsible."

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for people who were harmed, civil penalties and a court order barring future discrimination.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD and LAURA UNGAR

WASHINGTON (AP) — A dozen prior leaders of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — appointed by Republicans and Democrats alike — issued a scathing denunciation of new FDA assertions casting doubt on vaccine safety.

The former officials say the agency’s plans to revamp how life-saving vaccines for flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases are handled — outlined in an internal FDA memo last week — would “disadvantage the people the FDA exists to protect, including millions of Americans at high risk from serious infections.”

“The proposed new directives are not small adjustments or coherent policy updates. They represent a major shift in the FDA’s understanding of its job,” the officials, former FDA commissioners and acting commissioners, wrote Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The internal memo by FDA vaccine chief Dr. Vinay Prasad hasn’t been publicly released but a source familiar with the document confirmed its authenticity. The document claimed — without providing evidence — that COVID-19 vaccines caused 10 children’s deaths. It went on to outline planned agency changes in handling those and certain other vaccines, and said that FDA staff who disagreed should resign.

Among Prasad’s plans were revising how yearly flu shot updates are handled and focusing more on “the benefits and harms of giving multiple vaccines at the same time.” A common message of vaccine skeptics is that too many shots may overwhelm kids’ immune systems or that ingredients may build up to cause harm — although scientists say repeated research into those claims has turned up no concerns.

On Wednesday, the former FDA leaders wrote that Prasad’s claim about child deaths related to COVID-19 vaccines had been reported to a surveillance system that doesn’t contain medical records or other information sufficient to prove a link — and that government scientists had carefully combed through those reports in previous years, reaching different conclusions. They also noted that “substantial evidence” shows COVID-19 vaccines reduce children’s risk of severe disease and hospitalization.

But the bigger picture, the former FDA leaders argued, is that the new proposals would reject long-standing science about how to evaluate vaccines being updated to better match virus strains, slow innovation to replace older vaccines with newer, potentially better ones, and make the process less transparent to the public.

An administration spokesman didn’t immediately comment.

Many doctors and public health experts also have expressed alarm about the memo.

“Vaccines save lives, period,” Dr. Ronald Nahass, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said in a statement. “It is a sad day when FDA creates confusion and mistrust without supplying evidence, spreading propaganda that makes lifesaving vaccines harder to access and that creates additional confusion and mistrust for the public.”

The FDA’s planned vaccine changes come at a time when Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — who helped lead the anti-vaccine movement for years — is seeking to broadly remake federal policies on vaccines.

Kennedy already ousted a committee that advised the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine recommendation and replaced it with handpicked members. And in August, he fired Susan Monarez 29 days into her tenure as CDC chief over vaccine policy disagreements. The CDC’s vaccine advisory committee will meet Thursday and Friday to discuss h epatitis B vaccinations in newborns and other vaccine topics.

Ungar reported from Louisville, Kentucky. Associated Press writer Ali Swenson contributed to this report.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER

NEW YORK (AP) — One of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell ‘s most vocal accusers urged judges on Wednesday to grant the Justice Department’s request to unseal records from their federal sex trafficking cases, saying “only transparency is likely to lead to justice.”

Annie Farmer weighed in through her lawyer, Sigrid S. McCawley, after the judges asked for input from victims before ruling on whether the records should be made public under a new law requiring the government to open its files on the late financier and his longtime confidante, who sexually abused young women and girls for decades.

Farmer and other victims fought for the passage of the law, known as the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Signed last month by President Donald Trump, it compels the Justice Department, FBI and federal prosecutors to release by Dec. 19 the vast troves of material they’ve amassed during investigations into Epstein.

The Justice Department last week asked Manhattan federal Judges Richard M. Berman and Paul A. Engelmayer to lift secrecy orders on grand jury transcripts and other material from Epstein’s 2019 sex trafficking case and a wide range of records from Maxwell’s 2021 case, including search warrants, financial records and notes from interviews with victims.

“Nothing in these proceedings should stand in the way of their victory or provide a backdoor avenue to continue to cover up history’s most notorious sex-trafficking operation,” McCawley wrote in a letter to the judges.

The attorney was critical of the government for failing to prosecute anyone else in Epstein and Maxwell’s orbit.

She asked the judges to ensure that the orders they issue do not preclude the Justice Department from releasing other Epstein-related materials, adding that Farmer “is wary” that any denial could be used “as a pretext or excuse” to withhold information.

Epstein, a millionaire money manager known for socializing with celebrities, politicians, billionaires and the academic elite, killed himself in jail a month after his 2019 arrest.

Maxwell was convicted in 2021 by a federal jury of sex trafficking for helping recruit some of Epstein’s underage victims and participating in some of the abuse. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence.

In a court filing Wednesday, Maxwell’s lawyer again said that she is preparing a habeas petition in a bid to overturn her conviction. The lawyer, David Markus, first mentioned the habeas petition in court papers in August as she fought the Justice Department’s initial bid to have her case records unsealed. The Supreme Court in October declined to hear Maxwell’s appeal.

Markus said in Wednesday’s filing that while Maxwell now “does not take a position” in the wake of the transparency act’s passage, doing so “would create undue prejudice so severe that it would foreclose the possibility of a fair retrial” if her habeas petition succeeds.

The records, Markus said, “contain untested and unproven allegations.”

Engelmayer, who’s weighing whether to release records from Maxwell’s case, gave her and victims until Wednesday to respond to the Justice Department’s unsealing request. The government must respond to their filings by Dec. 10. The judge said he will rule “promptly thereafter.”

Berman, who presided over the Epstein case, ordered victims and Epstein’s estate to respond by Wednesday and gave the government until Dec. 8 to reply to those submissions. Berman said he would make his “best efforts to resolve this motion promptly.”

Lawyers for Epstein’s estate said in a letter to Berman on Wednesday that the estate takes no position on the Justice Department’s unsealing request. The lawyers noted that the government had committed to making appropriate redactions of personal identifying information for victims.

Last week, a lawyer for some victims complained that the House Oversight Committee had failed to redact, or black out, some of their names from tens of thousands pages of Epstein-related documents it has released in recent months.

Transparency “CANNOT come at the expense of the privacy, safety, and protection of sexual abuse and sex trafficking victims, especially these survivors who have already suffered repeatedly,” lawyer Brad Edwards wrote.

As temperatures are expected to drop over the next couple of days, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries is reminding the public they don't turn anyone away when the weather becomes dangerous.

"We don't want anyone to be outside dying because of the cold," said Chad Audi, president and CEO of Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report below: Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries prepares for dangerous cold with emergency shelter services

Audi has led the organization for 29 years. He said their beds shelter 2,500 people nightly.

"We cater to everybody regardless of their race, their gender whoever they are," Audi said.

Dekoven Johnson is grateful to have a bed inside the shelter at 3535 3rd Avenue instead of facing the brutal cold on the streets.

"I probably wouldn't survive out here in the cold. I'm cold now," Johnson said. "It'd be hell. Even though hell's probably hot. It'd be hell."

When temperatures reach dangerously low levels, the city enters what's called a Code Blue, which prevents shelters from turning anyone away and opens additional emergency beds at locations like 13220 Woodward Avenue in Highland Park.

"Even if we have to put a chair, we would put a chair. We will put a cot on the floor," Audi said.

Emmanuel Davis, waiting at a nearby bus stop with his three children, emphasized the critical need for these services.

"We need something like this. Like I said, we're out here right now and we're freezing," Davis said.

Devincent Daryl Williams knows firsthand the struggle of sleeping in dangerous cold after spending countless nights on the streets.

"You have to wake up, bones aching," Williams said. "I understand the hurt. I understand the pain. But as a grown man, you just have to deal with it."

Williams is grateful a Code Blue was called, giving him a bed for the night. During darker times, he said he turned to drug use to cope with the bitter cold, but he's committed to never going down that path again and hopes others follow his lead.

"Don't give up. Don't let the weather beat you down. Don't hurt yourself trying to help yourself," Williams said.

Johnson encouraged anyone in need to seek help immediately.

"Don't got nowhere to stay? Come to DRMM or call CAM," Johnson said.

As winter approaches, Audi and Williams offered final advice for staying safe.

"Stay out of the cold weather because that's dangerous for your health and your life," Audi said.

"Bundle up," Williams added.

If you find yourself in a dangerous situation and need immediate help or know someone who does, contact Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries at 313-993-6703. The organization emphasizes they will not turn people away who show up at their doors.

CAM can be reached at 313-305-0311 for those who are experiencing homelessness and looking for help.

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 Detroit-area mother who spent two years homeless while working to support her nine children received an unexpected gift that will help transform her family's life.

Watch Carolyn Clifford's video report: Once homeless, mother of nine surprised with car donation from Detroit nonprofit

Vanessa Rodriguez, a mother of nine children ranging from 4 to 22 years old, has been cleaning hotel rooms while struggling with homelessness for the past two and a half years. After losing her job, Rodriguez fell behind on rent and found herself moving between hotels and couch surfing with her family.

"I lost my job and ended up falling behind in rent," Rodriguez said.

Her husband, Donald Williams, is disabled after being hit by a drunk driver in 2007, leaving one of his legs severely injured. The family's situation made finding stable housing nearly impossible.

"I've been on the journey with Vanessa for a while to find a house, but with nine kids, it's almost impossible," said Kimber Bishop-Yanke, who runs the nonprofit Kids Empowered On The Move.

Five days ago, Rodriguez finally secured a home with help from Bishop-Yanke's organization, which provided the deposit and first month's rent. Despite working at an Auburn Hills hotel where her boss praises her dedication, Rodriguez still faced challenges getting back on her feet.

"She is hard working, dedicated she comes to the job and takes responsibility as if it's her own hotel," said Matt Odish, Rodriguez's supervisor.

The family was starting over with almost nothing.

"We're starting with really nothing we have our clothes, that's it," Rodriguez said.

Transportation remained a significant obstacle for the family until a surprise meeting with the president and CEO of the Detroit Rescue Mission.

"I have somebody who I want you to meet," Bishop-Yanke told Rodriguez. "He's from the Detroit Rescue Mission, and sometimes he is a miracle worker."

The surprise was a donated car for Rodriguez and her family.

"So we have a car for you," Dr. Chad Audi, President and CEO of Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, told her.

"Oh my gosh thank you so much," Rodriguez responded, embracing the donor.

When shown the vehicle, Rodriguez was overwhelmed with emotion.

"What do you think?" she was asked.

"I love it. I can't wait to show my kids. I'm so happy," Rodriguez said.

The car represents more than transportation for Rodriguez it's a symbol of hope and stability for a mother who has spent years fighting to keep her family together.

"I appreciate them so much, honestly, I really do," Rodriguez 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.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agreed during a Senate hearing Wednesday that something has to change to make health care affordable. But time is rapidly dwindling to reach a bipartisan fix.

"We've got to have a solution for three weeks from now," said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA).

At the end of the year, Biden-era subsidies are set to expire for millions of Americans who receive their health care through the Affordable Care Act.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, without those subsidies 4.2 million more Americans will go without health insurance over the next decade.

Democrats largely want to extend those subsidies.

And some Republican lawmakers support extending the subsidies with changes, but the party in power hasn't agreed on a broader health care plan that could replace the Affordable Care Act.

Some, including Sen. Cassidy, are proposing a plan that would offer Americans more flexibility in how they use their health savings accounts.

RELATED STORY | Scripps News/Talker Research poll: Most Americans fear they cant afford health care

With just weeks before the deadline there's some pessimism that a deal can come together.

SCRIPPS NEWS' NATHANIEL REED: is there a bipartisan middle ground that could be reached with Republicans?

SEN. CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO (D-NV): always. But it has to start on both sides, and right now the Republicans are in control.

"I think we'll probably have some vote of some kind on two dueling provisions, but again I'm not very optimistic that the Democrats are willing to reform a broken system," said Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO).

As lawmakers debate a path forward, health care will continue to stay in the spotlight.

A Scripps News/Talker Research poll found one in four Americans say health care is the most important issue facing the country today.

The Pentagon knew there were survivors after a September attack on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea and the U.S. military still carried out a follow-up strike, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The rationale for the second strike was that it was needed to sink the vessel, according to the people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to discuss it publicly. The Trump administration says all 11 people aboard were killed.

What remains unclear was who ordered the strikes and whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was involved, one of the people said. The details are becoming crucial as lawmakers in Congress have launched investigations and are seeking to determine whether the U.S. acted lawfully during its military operations.

The questions are expected to emerge Thursday during a classified congressional briefing with the commander that the Trump administration says ordered the second strike, Adm. Frank Mitch Bradley.

The additional information comes as Hegseth is under growing scrutiny over the departments strikes on alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific, and in particular the early September follow-on strike that reportedly killed survivors. Some legal experts and lawmakers say that strike would have violated peacetime laws and those governing armed conflict.

RELATED STORY | Hegseth defends double boat strike as Trump says operations could extend to land

Hegseth has defended the second strike as emerging in the fog of war, saying during a Cabinet meeting this week at the White House that he didnt see any survivors but also didnt stick around for the rest of the mission.

The defense secretary has also said that Bradley, as the admiral in charge, made the right call in ordering the second hit, which he had complete authority to do.

The Trump administration has said the U.S. is in armed conflict with drug cartels, even though Congress has not approved any authorization for the use of military force in the region.

WATCH: Senators criticize Hegseth over double boat strike

The information about the follow-on strike was not presented to lawmakers during a classified briefing in September, in the days after the incident. It was disclosed later, one of the people said, and the explanation provided by the department has been broadly unsatisfactory to various members of the national security committees in Congress.

In a rare flex of bipartisan oversight, the Armed Services committees in both the House and Senate swiftly announced investigations into the strikes as lawmakers of both parties raise questions.

Bradley is scheduled to appear Thursday in a classified briefing with the panels' two Republican chairmen and two ranking Democratic members.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday released never-before-seen photos and videos of Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous private island, offering what they called a “disturbing look” into the world of the late convicted sex offender.

The newly released material includes dozens of short videos and still photographs of the compound, including one showing a particularly bizarre room filled with an old-fashioned dental chair, Ikea-style metal cabinets and nearly a dozen caricature-like male face masks arranged irregularly on its walls.

Other images show a desktop computer displaying surveillance footage of the property; a bedroom in the compound; a shower room with several pillows; a room with a chalkboard with the words “power” and “deception” written on it; and a desk telephone with four names that appear to have been redacted.

Members of the Oversight Committee received the images in response to a Nov. 18 request to the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Justice for information to aid the ongoing investigation into the disgraced financier, who died by suicide in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

“We are releasing these photos and videos to ensure public transparency in our investigation and to help piece together the full picture of Epstein’s horrific crimes,” said Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat in the committee.

The images offer a “harrowing look behind Epstein’s closed doors,” Oversight Democrats said on social media, inviting the public to “see for yourself.”

The committee also received records from J.P. Morgan and Deutsche Bank, lawmakers said, adding that those files will be reviewed and should be made available to the public “in the days ahead.”

“We won’t stop fighting until we deliver justice for the survivors,” Garcia said. “It’s time for President Trump to release all the files, now.”

Last month, in a stunning show of bipartisanship, Democrats and Republicans in both chambers voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill to force the Justice Department to release all of its unclassified files on Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days.

Trump signed the bill on Nov. 19, but it remains unclear how much of the files will be released to the public, as the Justice Department can withhold or redact certain information under the law’s provisions.

For the first time in almost 50 years, low-income housing is being built in Royal Oak Township as part of the community's long-term plan to create a healthy, family-oriented place to live.

Watch Carli Petrus's video report: Historic affordable housing development brings new hope to Royal Oak Township

Some families like Jacqueline's are already settling into their new homes. She told us they got their keys on Monday.

"This is a dream come true that I didn't know I wanted," Jacqueline said.

Still slowly moving in, she says she can't wait for her kids to settle in.

"I am excited to have a brand-new space to welcome them in and that they can just kind of make their own as well. This is for them," Jacqueline said.

A total of 28 brand-new single-family homes will line Parkside Boulevard in Royal Oak Township. It's all part of a $14.7 million development, Royal Oak Cottages, led by the nonprofit MiSide Community Impact Network.

"It's a part of our mission to build that dignified, affordable, quality home for people in the community," MiSide CEO and President Sean De Four said.

Calling this a historic investment funded through state tax credits and banking partners, De Four says this area was chosen with intention.

"Royal Oak Township is one of those townships that's closest to the border with Detroit, it's a majority African American community and it has a long history of being underinvested in and divested from, and so this was a perfect spot for an investment to be made for the first time in almost 50 years to build affordable housing for families," De Four said.

Celebrating the project with a ribbon cutting Wednesday, Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter says this is only the beginning.

"The goal is to have a phase two and do another 20 some homes here in Royal Oak Township," Coulter said.

When asked about potential negative connotations associated with lower income housing, Coulter emphasized the value these residents bring to the community.

"You know, this used to be a vacant lot. Now, there's going to be a family here. Yeah, they might be lower income, but they're working, they're hard working people, they care about their communities," Coulter said. "People are worth more than just what they make. It's what they contribute to society, to Oakland County, to this community."

Between the brand-new bathrooms, big windows and huge closets, the attention to detail is evident.

"You can tell they really put a lot of work and thought and effort into making sure that these foundations are solid and will be what they need to be for the families," Jacqueline said.

Jacqueline says she's excited to make her new house a home.

"Just a heart of gratitude right now," Jacqueline 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.

Seven student-athletes at Cass Tech High School officially signed with Division I programs on Wednesday during National Early Signing Day, marking the culmination of four years of high school preparation and a lifetime of dedication to their sports.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report: Cass Tech celebrates seven student-athletes signing with Division 1 programs

The celebration in the school's gymnasium highlighted the achievements of six football players and one soccer player, all of whom earned spots at prestigious universities across the country.

Among the standout signings was Corey Sadler Jr., a Michigan Mr. Football finalist who will play for legendary coach Bill Belichick at the University of North Carolina.

"It's like man, it's happening, so you know I just thank God," Sadler said. "Me just doing what I do, being a competitor, I know I'm in great hands at North Carolina."

Another football player, Emory Jones III, made his commitment official with Dartmouth College of the Ivy League, emphasizing both the athletic and academic opportunities.

"Ivy League, Dartmouth is one of the most winning programs out there," Jones said. "And then in the classroom, they preach success there. So I've had great grades all through high school. So being academically sound, that's important."

The day also marked a historic achievement for Detroit Public Schools Community District. MaKayla Galloway became the first female student in district history to earn a full ride to a Division I soccer program when she signed with Abilene Christian University in Texas.

"My dad put me in it, and ever since then, I fell in love with it," Galloway said about her soccer journey.

When she learned about the historic nature of her achievement, Galloway was surprised by its significance.

"It means the world to me. When I found out from my mom, I was like Wow, I didn't know I had that much of a big impact. I didn't think it mattered that much, but now that I know, it's pretty exciting," Galloway said.

The student-athletes credited their time at Cass Tech for preparing them for the next level. Jones highlighted the school's winning culture as crucial preparation.

"Coming from Cass Tech, we just came off a state championship last year, four-time city champion, going to the playoffs every year, just being prepared for that winning kind of program," Jones said.

Sadler emphasized how the school shaped him beyond athletics.

"Cass Tech pushed me academically and just life-wise," Sadler said.

Principal Lisa Phillips expressed pride in watching her students achieve their dreams.

"When people say what's not happening in the city of Detroit with our young people, we're doing it at Detroit Public Schools Community District, we're getting it done with all of our students," Phillips said.

The other student-athletes signed with programs ranging from SEC to MAC schools, representing the diverse opportunities available to Cass Tech's talented athletes.

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 retired U.S. Marine who lost his leg in an IED blast in Afghanistan received the keys to a brand new, mortgage-free smart home in Monroe County today, designed specifically to accommodate his disabilities and restore his independence.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Marine vet gets mortgage-free accessible home

Lance Cpl. Mitchell Underwood and his family were presented with the home by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation during a ceremony in Carleton, surrounded by first responders and community members.

"I really don't know how to put it into words. We're so happy and relieved it doesn't even feel real," Underwood said.

For 14 years, Underwood and his family lived in a multi-story home that created daily challenges for the veteran.

"There's days where I can't do the stairs. I'd be stuck in the bedroom for a couple of days," Underwood said.

In 2011, Underwood deployed to Afghanistan as a SAW gunner. His lead vehicle was hit by an IED that killed two of his fellow Marines and left Underwood in a coma with severe injuries.

"Next thing I know, it's a little over a month later, and I am in a hospital room," Underwood said.

The blast cost Underwood his leg and required more than 50 surgeries as part of his recovery. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his service and sacrifice.

"It's been 14 years, but it definitely doesn't feel like it," Underwood said.

The new home was specifically designed for Underwood's injuries and includes accessibility features throughout. All doors are 36 inches wide to accommodate wheelchair access, and the home includes smart home technology and other upgrades to help restore independence.

"This home is specifically designed for his injuries. Everything is wide, so when he is wheelchair bound, he does walk with a prosthetic, but when he is wheelchair-bound, all of the doors are 36 inches, so he can get through it and total accessibility from all the doors," said Tom O'Connor, retired FDNY lieutenant and Tunnel to Towers board member.

Underwood's wife, Samantha, expressed gratitude for the life-changing gift.

"This home is going to change everything so drastically for our family," Samantha Underwood said.

For the Marine veteran, the home represents a return to the independence he lost after his injuries.

"It's going to give me the ability to live without being hindered by my disabilities," Underwood 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.

A 53-year-old grandmother is undergoing surgery after being shot multiple times in her driveway Tuesday night in Southfield, according to police.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: Grandmother shot multiple times in Southfield driveway, suspect still at large

The shooting happened around 9:09 p.m. in the Evergreen Trail neighborhood near 11 Mile and Evergreen Rd. Police say the victim had just arrived home with her 14-year-old grandson when someone fired into her SUV. The grandson was not injured in the shooting.

Surveillance video captured a man running to a vehicle and speeding away from the scene. Moments later, the woman's grandson can be heard crying out for help.

See Ring doorbell video below

Web extra: Blurred video for web in Southfield shooting

Police say the shooting was not random, but based on their investigation, the woman and her grandson were not the gunman's intended targets. The victim's family members rushed her to a hospital themselves rather than waiting for an ambulance.

Police say she is in stable condition. Her family was too shaken up to speak on camera.

"We heard this pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop," said Henry Adams, a neighbor who witnessed the incident.

"You heard people in the back shouting, 'call 911.' We heard people say, 'all the ambulance,'" the neighbor said. "Less than five minutes later, Southfield Police showed up and it was just chaotic."

The violence has left neighbors like Adams on edge.

"A little unnerving for it to have happened right across the street from me, like I said, this is unusual," Adams said.

Another neighbor, who did not want to be identified fearing retaliation from the gunman, suggested increased security measures.

"I've been here for over 25 years now and nothing like this has ever happened in this area at all. I'm thinking they need to start neighborhood patrols again. Just to be on the safe side," the neighbor said.

A Southfield police officer spotted the suspect vehicle and pursued it to Detroit but ultimately lost sight of the car near 7 Mile and Southfield roads. The gunman is still on the run.

Anyone with information about the shooting or who recognizes the vehicle in the surveillance video is asked to call Southfield police or Crimestoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. Tips can remain anonymous.

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.

By LISA MASCARO

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon knew there were survivors after a September attack on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea and the U.S. military still carried out a follow-up strike, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The rationale for the second strike was that it was needed to sink the vessel, according to the people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss it publicly. The Trump administration says all 11 people aboard were killed.

What remains unclear was who ordered the strikes and whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was involved, one of the people said. That will be part of a classified congressional briefing Thursday with the commander that the Trump administration says ordered the second strike, Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley.

Hegseth has defended the second strike as emerging in the “fog of war,” saying he didn’t see any survivors but also “didn’t stick around” for the rest of the mission.

Hegseth is under growing scrutiny over the military strikes on alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Legal experts and some lawmakers say a strike that killed survivors would have violated the laws of armed conflict.

Could artificial intelligence predict criminal behavior? A company claims its AI tool can flag signs of criminal activity before it takes place.

Telecom company Securus Technologies says it has built an AI model based on years of text, phone and video calls from prison inmates that can detect signs of imminent criminal activity. The tool has been in early use for the last year.

Speaking to MIT Technology Review, Securus president Kevin Elder said the tool can monitor communications in real time and spot "when crimes are being thought about or contemplated."

The company says models could be built for specific state or county applications, such as one that was trained solely on years of calls from inmates in Texas.

The tool is designed to screen communications for suspicious activity and alert human agents who then look more closely at the content.

Securus says it has helped stop human trafficking, smuggling and gang activity, but it did not give specific examples of how AI may have been used in the process and has not said where its AI tools are deployed now.

RELATED STORY | Lawmakers press tech and health experts on AI safety and data privacy, hoping to shape future regulation

While prisoners' calls and other communications are often recorded, rights advocates say inmates have not consented to training AI on the data.

Recent regulation has also shifted some costs of AI development onto inmates. In June of 2025, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr wrote that the agency was pushing back deadlines that would have set new caps on the rates charged for prison communications and allowing more use of AI tools in the space.

"With todays actions, were helping to ensure that communications are more readily available and that important safety and security protocols are maintained. This includes steps that can lead to broader adoption of beneficial public safety tools that include advanced AI and machine learning," Carr wrote.

The Oakland County Sheriffs Office has disciplined one of their part-time employees who also works as an Oakland County road commissioner.

The 7 Investigators first showed you how Road Commissioner James Esshaki was accused of threatening a road commission employee on the job back in June.

Related Story: Oakland County road commissioner accused of making threats, wasting millions Oakland County road commissioner accused of making threats, wasting millions

Esshaki is also a part-time Oakland County Sheriffs marine deputy. After an independent investigation found that Esshaki violated the Road Commission workplace policy about violence in the workplace, the Oakland County Sheriffs Office announced they would investigate Esshakis off-duty conduct.

That investigation is now over. OCSO Public Information Officer Stephen Huber issued this statement to the 7 Investigators:

Even though James Esshaki was off duty during the encounter and was not acting in any capacity as a part-time marine deputy with the Oakland County Sheriffs Office, our investigation found that his conduct fell short of the high standards we require of all Sheriffs Office personnel. As a result, he received a written reprimand and was directed to undergo additional training.

Esshaki previously issued a written apology about his conduct with Road Commission of Oakland County long-time foreman Walter Mersino Jr.

The Road Commissions clerk was asked to read Esshakis apology into the record at RCOC board meeting this fall:

The entire situation was unfortunate and regrettable. Obviously, tensions were elevated. I extend a sincere public apology to Mr. Mersino. I also apologize to any other person I upset by my actions. Moving forward, it is my goal to set a new standard of civility and professionalism. For my part, I accept responsibility for any words or actions that may have been perceived as offensive or threatening. My intent is to serve the citizens of Oakland County to the best of my ability, always placing the interests of those traversing our roads at the forefront. Sincerely, James Esshaki, Road Commission for Oakland County Vice Chairman.

Even though the Road Commission of Oakland County is separate from county government, the County Board of Commissioners are the ones who appoint the Road Commissioners.

That means theyre the only ones who can remove or discipline those appointees. Under state law, a road commissioner is entitled to a hearing before removal.

Thats why back on October 16th, Oakland County Commissioner Mike Spisz (R-Oxford) introduced a resolution to hold a hearing to determine Esshakis future as a road commissioner.

With any other employee in any other organization or even within the county we'd be having discussions and hearings relative to that individual and any potential disciplinary action. Why would we treat an appointed commissioner any different? said Spisz.

But the Commissions Democratic majority caucus had already agreed to stop Commissioner Spiszs efforts to hold that hearing.

Commissioner Spisz is I think going to introduce -- he might not introduce it. I meanIm told hes going to introduce it, Oakland County Commission Chair Dave Woodward (D-Royal Oak) told his fellow caucus members moments before that October 16th meeting.

So basically, there's a resolution that may come before us to unseat Esshaki. And we're trying to see if we have any interest here of doing that? No, no, no. We're all set, Chairman, said Commissioner Angela Powell (D-Pontiac) as she polled her fellow commissioners during Democratic caucus.

They later voted down that resolution at the full board meeting, which sent the resolution to the LAGO committee where it stalled there for weeks.

Related Story: Road commissioner's alleged workplace threat back in discussion at committee meeting Road commission workers continue to speak out

After the 7 Investigators started asking why nothing had been done to hold that hearing on the road commissioners alleged threat, the resolution was suddenly added to a committee agenda for Tuesday morning, a change some commissioners applauded.

There needs to be some kind of public disclosure from both parties and the report, as to what are the events that actually took place to put, in my opinion, both parties at ease, said Commissioner Karen Joliat (R-Waterford).

On Tuesday, Esshaki told the 7 Investigators he never threatened Mersino.

The incident was witnessed by a second road commission employee. Mersino filed a police report and an incident report with the Road Commission.

All road commission employees are required to report any threats of violence, according to their work policies.

Related Story: Road commissioner facing backlash for 'threat of violence' He should be removed. Road commissioner facing backlash for threat of violence

An outside lawyer was brought in to investigate and recently issued an extensive report. After interviewing nine witnesses, attorney Heidi Hudson determined, Mr. Esshaki engaged in behavior and made comments that constituted a threat of violence, and which constituted intimidation and harassment. Hudson also wrote in her report, Many witnesses expressed concern about retaliation from Mr. Esshaki, indicating they did not know if he had the ability to interfere with their employment.

In the report that was shared with the Road Commission, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, and Oakland Countys Corporation Counsel in early September, Hudson also said, As a Road Commissioner [Esshaki] holds a position of power over Mr. Mersino. Arguably he should be held to a higher standard of behavior, but at a minimum he should follow the applicable workplace conduct policy.

Records show Esshaki declined to be interviewed for that outside investigation, with his lawyer saying he would not dignify the baseless accusations made against him and referred to the investigation into the workplace policy violation as a waste of tax-payer money!

The resolution to hold a hearing into Esshakis actions now sits with the Oakland County Economic Development Infrastructure Committee which is chaired by Commissioner Yolanda Smith Charles (D-Southfield).

I believe he should be removed. I was the one that he threatened on the job site. And where I work its no tolerance [for] violence if that happens, an employee is fired, said Mersino.

If you have a story for Heather Catallo please email her at hcatallo@wxyz.com.

A student brought a firearm to Parks Alternative Education Center, part of Ecorse Public Schools, on Tuesday morning with no security present, according to school officials who called the incident an "unacceptable failure."

Watch Evan Sery's video report: Security failure at Ecorse school prompts concern after student brings gun

Superintendent Josha Talison informed families in a letter Tuesday that an anonymous tip led to responding officers finding a firearm inside a student's backpack. The weapon was never removed from the bag and no one was injured, according to the district.

"It's unsettling, because what about the children. Someone should always be there," said Michelle Thomas, who lives near Ecorse High School.

The school district confirmed a security guard was not present and the security company did not notify them of the absence. The district said a guaranteed, consistent daily security presence will be in place moving forward.

Thomas emphasized the importance of student safety regardless of staffing challenges.

"Whether it's a volunteer or anybody, the kids need safety no matter what," Thomas said.

One parent contacted me expressing frustration about the security situation, writing: "Security at the high school has been lacking. I certainly wish EPS would take this more seriously. Most parents found out about this via Facebook."

Damarion Alford, who graduated from Ecorse High School last year, called the incident concerning.

"It's sad and reckless," Alford said. "I don't understand the point of bringing a gun to school trying to show people leave that at home."

Despite this incident, Alford noted that security is typically present at the school.

"Normally, they have security. Normally, the school is right on their security. They don't try to let anybody do anything like that," Alford said.

An Ecorse police car was positioned in front of the school Wednesday morning. The student who brought the gun was expelled and police are handling the ongoing investigation, according to the superintendent.

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.