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Today — 10 November 2025News - Detroit

1,500 pounds of marijuana, $380K, 5 guns & more seized after raids in Shelby Township

10 November 2025 at 20:11

The Macomb County Sheriff's Office said it seized more than 1,500 pounds of marijuana, $380,000 and more in raids in Shelby Township.

According to the Macomb County Sheriff's Office, the Sheriff's Enforcement Team along with the DEA FANTOM Group 10 and others conducted the search warrants at three homes and a business in the township.

During the raids, they seized:

During the searches, investigators seized: Approximately 1,500 pounds of marijuana Small amount of crack cocaine Hundreds of THC vape pens, gummies, and other edibles 16 grams of mushrooms and ketamine Three handguns and two AR-style rifles Approximately $380,000 in U.S. currency Five vehicles: Two Lincoln Navigators, Cadillac Escalade, Kia SUV, Jeep Cherokee, and Dodge Ram van.

Deputies say that the people were operating outside of the state's regulated marijuana market and distributing large quantities of untested product through the black market.

Three suspects were taken into custody: Mark Gojcaj, 21, Fabio Asmar, 30, and Martino Abed, 35, all from Shelby Township.

This was a sophisticated, multi-state trafficking network with bulk quantities being sold, sometimes between 6 and 150 pounds at a time, almost exclusively to out-of-state buyers, Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said in a statement. Illegal drug activity threatens and endangers public safety, frequently leading to violent crimes such as armed robberies and home invasions. We will continue to work to eliminate these large-scale drug trafficking operations from our communities.

The three suspects were charged with one count each of Controlled substance deliver/manufacture 45 kilograms of marijuana, Conspiracy to commit controlled substance delivery/manufacture 45 kilograms of marijuana and Controlled substance maintaining a drug house, and given a $100,000 cash-surety bond.

Detroit Evening Report: Michigan’s U.S. Senators stand firm on government shutdown, Supreme Court blocks SNAP payments

10 November 2025 at 20:02

Both of Michigan’s U.S. Senators voted against a procedural move to end the federal government shutdown.

Seven Democrats and one independent joined Republicans last night, taking the first step toward funding the government. GOP Senators agreed to hold a vote next month on extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits. The deal does not guarantee they’ll be renewed. Democratic senators Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters say promising to hold a vote on the issue isn’t good enough.

The compromise would reverse the mass firings that took place when the shutdown began and ensure federal workers get back pay.  

-Reporting by Pat Batcheller  

Additional headlines from Monday, November 10, 2025

Supreme Court order blocks SNAP payments

On Saturday the U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency stay blocking the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition from issuing full payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. This pauses benefits for 42 million Americans, including many children and the elderly.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services director, Elizabeth Hertel, says she is disappointed by the move. MDHHS began sending out full payments on Thursday, however the new order prevents the department from finalizing payments for Michigan residents who have not yet received their payments for November.

To fill the gap, Governor Whitmer announced an additional $4.5 million to the Food Bank Council of Michigan to feed families including food delivery services for families who are unable to visit a food bank. Dial 2-1-1 or visit mi211.org to find assistance. 

Last week, the city of Detroit launched a network of food pantries map with 85 certified food pantries. Mayor Mike Duggan says the city authorized $1.75 million for the project. People can visit detroitmi.gov to find a location near them.  

Catholic Charities provide hunger relief

Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan is providing emergency relief while SNAP benefits are in limbo for 1.4 million families in Michigan.   

People can drop into the Center for the Works of Mercy on 10301 Woodward Ave in Detroit on Thursdays between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays beginning Nov. 22nd through Dec. 6th between 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.  

According to DetroitCatholic.com, the city of Detroit donated food from Forgotten Harvest to support the center.

The Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan are also asking people to donate unexpired AND nonperishable food on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. or provide monetary donations. The group is matching donations up to $20,000 thanks to an anonymous donor. The center is also looking for volunteers.  

MSU study brings solar panels and farming together 

Michigan State University researchers are building an outdoor laboratory to see if solar panels can improve crop production for farmers.

Anthony Kendall is an Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at MSU. He says the project involves researchers from different fields who can offer a variety of perspectives. 

“There’s a real asymmetry of solar installation information that exists right now. And we hope by doing open science with a lot of community feedback, to really just provide better information to everyone.”

He says they’ll also use the project to teach farmers how to use solar panels in under-producing areas of farm fields. The project is funded by a $3.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation.  

MDOT regulations

The Michigan Department of Transportation is still collecting public comment on a set of proposed regulations that could put parameters on how people can protest on MDOT owned roads.

The new rules would require protestors to get a permit before occupying an area such as an overpass or rest stop. MDOT’s Engineer Greg Losch said on the podcast “Talking Michigan Transportation” that the rules are a response to complaints from the public.  

“We’ll be responding to the public complaint, like, ‘hey, I stopped at whatever rest area and someone asked me to sign a petition and I don’t really want to be solicited for that. Why why are you allowing this, MDOT?’” 

Losch said the regulations intend to ensure public safety. Activists argue that this is an infringement of First Amendment rights. MDOT will be accepting public comments on its website through November 20th.  

If there is something happening in your neighborhood that you think we should know about, drop us a line at DetroitEveningReport@wdet.org. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. 

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At 101, WWII veteran Irving Locker has become a songwriter

10 November 2025 at 19:59

By GLENN GAMBOA, Associated Press Business Writer

NASHVILLE (AP) — In a life filled with milestones, Irving Locker celebrated a new, unexpected one last week: He became a published songwriter.

One day before his 101st birthday, “If Freedom Was Free” was released by Big Machine Label Group and CreatiVets, the Nashville-based nonprofit that helps veterans work through their traumas by building something new through the arts.

CreatiVets teamed Locker, a World War II veteran who landed at Utah Beach on D-Day, with Texas singer-songwriter Bart Crow and duo Johnny and Heidi Bulford, who also sing on the track. The chorus – “If freedom was free, there wouldn’t be a mountain of metal and men under Normandy” – includes the message Locker has used in lectures from classrooms to the White House. Freedom, he says, is not free. People should be thankful for it and for those who make it possible.

“I have to talk about things like that,” he says. “I got nothing to gain. But people have to know and appreciate the fact that they’re living because of men who died. It comes from the heart, not the lips.”

Locker, who now lives in The Villages, Florida, said the chance to write a song was an “unbelievable” thrill, one that he never dreamed possible. It means even more to him because music is such an important part of his life.

He said he and his wife of 77 years, Bernice, still go out dancing often – still doing the jitterbug and the cha-cha as they have for decades.

“You should see me on the floor even now,” said Locker, adding that he knows how lucky he is to be alive and active when so many other veterans are not.

“To be very honest with you, I was never conscious of God until the war,” he said. “But I came so close to dying that I learned how to thank God and use the simple phrase ‘But for the grace of God go I.’”


Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.

Irving Locker, a 101-year-old veteran of World War II, D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, listens as Jesse Wayne Taylor, left, records a song based on Locker’s military experience on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

A look at prominent people pardoned by Trump after they tried to overturn his 2020 election loss

10 November 2025 at 19:55

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The pardons of dozens of Republicans accused of participating in efforts to overturn the 2020 election are a continuation of President Donald Trump’s attempts to rewrite the history about his election loss.

They come months after Trump’s sweeping grant of clemency to all 1,500-plus people charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, which was the culmination of the campaign to reverse Trump’s loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

Unlike the Jan. 6 pardons, the newer ones will have little legal effect. None of the people on the new pardon list had faced federal prosecution for their actions in 2020. The presidential pardon has no impact on state or civil cases.

But they send a signal to those thinking of denying future elections in Trump’s favor.

Here’s a look at some of the more prominent names who were pardoned:

Rudy Giuliani

FILE - Rudy Giuliani speaks to the media outside Manhattan federal court in New York, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
FILE – Rudy Giuliani speaks to the media outside Manhattan federal court in New York, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

The former New York City mayor, who was celebrated as “America’s mayor” after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, played a pivotal role in pushing Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud as the Republican’s personal lawyer in 2020. He has faced a slew of legal woes and financial setbacks for his advocacy of Trump’s false claims, including losing his law license in Washington and New York. He was criminally charged in cases brought by state prosecutors in Georgia and Arizona and pleaded not guilty. Those cases have hit roadblocks but remain unresolved and are not impacted by Trump’s pardon. Giuliani was ordered in 2023 to pay $148 million to two Georgia election workers who sued him over lies he spread about them and a reached a deal in January to resolve the debt and retain some of his property. The amount the women were set to receive was not disclosed. Giuliani has denied wrongdoing and said he was right to challenge an election he believed was tainted by fraud.

Mark Meadows

FILE - White House chief of staff Mark Meadows speaks with reporters at the White House, Oct. 21, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
FILE – White House chief of staff Mark Meadows speaks with reporters at the White House, Oct. 21, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Trump’s chief of staff during the 2020 election and its aftermath, Meadows was charged in Arizona and Georgia cases and pleaded not guilty in both states. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his effort to move his case in Georgia to federal court, where a pardon would nullify his jeopardy. Meadows has contended his post-election actions were taken in his official capacity as White House chief of staff, though prosecutors and judges have disagreed. Meadows was on the phone when Trump asked Georgia’s secretary of state, Republican Brad Raffensperger, to “find” him enough votes to be declared the winner of the state.

Kenneth Chesebro

FILE - Kenneth Chesebro speaks to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee during a hearing where Chesebro accepted a plea deal from the Fulton County district attorney at the Fulton County Courthouse, Oct. 20, 2023, in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP, File)
FILE – Kenneth Chesebro speaks to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee during a hearing where Chesebro accepted a plea deal from the Fulton County district attorney at the Fulton County Courthouse, Oct. 20, 2023, in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia, alleged that Chesebro, an attorney, worked with Georgia Republicans at the direction of Trump’s campaign to organize 16 people to sign a certificate falsely claiming that Trump won the state and that they were his “duly elected and qualified” electors. Chesebro pleaded guilty to a conspiracy count in the state case but unsuccessfully tried to withdraw his plea as the massive case against him and 17 others, including Trump, collapsed due to legal issues. Chesebro’s law license in New York state was suspended after his plea.

Jenna Ellis

FILE - Jenna Ellis, a member of President Donald Trump's legal team, speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters, Nov. 19, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
FILE – Jenna Ellis, a member of President Donald Trump’s legal team, speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters, Nov. 19, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

A prominent conservative media figure and an attorney, Ellis also pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings in the Georgia case. She apologized in court for advising the Trump campaign on how to overturn its loss and was censured and barred from practicing law for three years in her native Colorado for her conduct in 2020.

John Eastman

FILE - John Eastman, a California law professor, speaks to reporters after the Supreme Court hearing on Birthright Citizenship outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
FILE – John Eastman, a California law professor, speaks to reporters after the Supreme Court hearing on Birthright Citizenship outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

A prominent conservative law professor, Eastman wrote a key memo outlining the Trump strategy of trying to reverse the president’s election loss by presenting a slate of alternate electors to Congress. Eastman faces charges in a state case filed by Arizona’s Democratic attorney general over that scheme. He was also charged in Fulton County, and the disciplinary board of the California State Bar has recommended he lose his California law license. Eastman has pleaded not guilty in the criminal cases and appealed his license suspension to California’s Supreme Court. He argues he is being punished for simply giving legal advice.

Jeffrey Clark

FILE - Former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, in Oxon Hill, Md., Feb. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
FILE – Former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, in Oxon Hill, Md., Feb. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Clark, as a Justice Department official in the first Trump administration, drafted a letter that said the department was investigating “various irregularities” and had identified “significant concerns” that may have impacted the election in Georgia and other states. Clark wanted the letter sent to Georgia lawmakers, but Justice Department superiors refused. A Washington attorney disciplinary panel in July recommended that he be stripped of his law license, finding he made “intentionally false statements” when he continued to push for the Justice Department to issue the letter after being told by superiors that it contained falsehoods. Clark, who is now overseeing a federal regulatory office in the second Trump administration, said in a post on X on Monday: “I did nothing wrong when I questioned the 2020 election in Georgia.”

Sidney Powell

FILE - Attorney Sidney Powell, an attorney for Donald Trump, speaks during in Alpharetta, Ga., Dec. 2, 2020. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)
FILE – Attorney Sidney Powell, an attorney for Donald Trump, speaks during in Alpharetta, Ga., Dec. 2, 2020. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)

A lawyer and staunch Trump ally, Powell filed in battleground states a series of lawsuits that were rejected by courts and played a pivotal role in pushing unsubstantiated claims of fraud. Emails and documents obtained through subpoenas in one lawsuit showed Powell was involved in arranging for a computer forensics team to travel to rural Coffee County, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southeast of Atlanta, to copy data and software from elections equipment there in January 2021. She pleaded guilty in 2023 to reduced charges in the Georgia case, becoming the second defendant to reach a deal with prosecutors. She was initially charged with racketeering and six other counts but ultimately received probation after pleading guilty to six misdemeanors accusing her of conspiring to intentionally interfere with the performance of election duties.

FILE – Rudy Giuliani speaks to the media outside Manhattan federal court in New York, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

In Orlando theme parks, animatronics increase in number — and in realism

10 November 2025 at 19:45

Mechanical birds, bears and princesses have chirped, growled and sung in Orlando’s theme parks for more than 50 years. The animatronic trend shows no signs of fading, as new figures arrive in new places at Walt Disney World, and Epic Universe introduces batches of lifelike characters.

The additions range from a planned electronic version of Walt Disney at Magic Kingdom to a lumbering Frankenstein’s monster figure that debuted with Epic in May.

“People still enjoy seeing lifelike figures of their heroes, villains and others come alive,” said Dennis Speigel, CEO of International Theme Park Services. “I think this is one area that continues to evolve, and I don’t think we’ve seen anything yet.”

Technological advances are enabling the improved illusion of the figures, said Brian Orr, show systems studio executive with Walt Disney Imagineering.

“The way that we can now simulate, the way that we now design, the way that we now can generate content for these and in style — like it is moving like the character that everybody sees and recognizes from the film … I think that’s really the appeal of like, ‘Wow, not only did I see Elsa on the ride, but I felt like it was Elsa. It moved, it performed, it looked at me,’” Orr said.

In Zootopia: Better Zoogether!, the Tree of Life Theater at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park is the epicenter of a citywide celebration with a livestream watch party of the Zoogether Day festivities. Among the audience of mammals big and small is an all-new Audio-Animatronics figure of off-duty ZPD officer, Benjamin Clawhauser. Guests can see Clawhauser in his new look - sporting glow-in-the-dark necklaces and his favorite Gazelle tee shirt - when the "4D" show opens Nov. 7, 2025. (Walt Disney Co.)
In Zootopia: Better Zoogether!, the Tree of Life Theater at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is the epicenter of a citywide celebration with a livestream watch party of the Zoogether Day festivities. Among the audience of mammals big and small is an all-new Audio-Animatronics figure of off-duty ZPD officer, Benjamin Clawhauser. Guests can see Clawhauser in his new look – sporting glow-in-the-dark necklaces and his favorite Gazelle tee shirt – when the “4D” show opens Nov. 7, 2025. (Walt Disney Co.)

The next new animatronic at Disney World will be Benjamin Clawhauser, a cheetah character that’s part of the “Zootopia: Better Zoogether” show launching at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park on Nov. 7.

“You will see something new and unique from that figure,” Orr said.

Tiki birds, Big Al and beyond: A tour of 10 Disney World animatronics

Other planned figures include Buddy, a support-bot, in the ongoing update for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Rangers Spin at Magic Kingdom; Scooter and other Muppets in the retheming of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios; facelifts for Frozen Ever After figures at Epcot; and the addition of Walt Disney himself at the beginning of Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom.

These come on the heels of the first animatronic to represent Walt Disney, which debuted at Disneyland in California this summer.

“I think that has breathed a lot of life back into the animatronics and from the highest level,” Speigel said.

Figures frightening, formidable

Universal Orlando installed animatronics inside Epic Universe’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment ride and elsewhere.

“Everyone has their normal lives that they’re going through, and that comes with people wanting to be transported,” said Gregory Hall, assistant director, creative design for Universal Creative. “We have the opportunity to bring new technology and use it for good and use it to entertain and inspire people.”

The Monsters Unchained ride is peppered with figures in action, including Dracula, Mummy and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Frankenstein and Dr. Victoria Frankenstein are focal points of the pre-show leading up to Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment during a preview day for Universal Epic Universe on April 5, 2025. Orlando's first new theme park in a generation is set to open to the public on May 22. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Frankenstein's monster and Dr. Victoria Frankenstein are focal points of the preshow leading up to Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment at Epic Universe. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

A crowd-pleasing scene happens in the Unchained preshow with new character Victoria Frankenstein and Frankenstein’s monster, who strides into the room. It’s a moment that prompts applause from Epic visitors, Hall said.

“That was the first time we made a figure on that scale walk,” Hall said. “And then he’s right next to Victoria, and they’re using extremely different technology.”

Another big animatronic project was the “erumpent,” a charging beast in the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride.

“We’re really all about, how do we get the fastest, smoothest motion moving this giant thing?” said Anisha Vyas, director of projects for Universal Creative. “It needs to be really visceral. It needs to move really fast. It needs to be moving really fluid,” she said. “Getting it to move and stop is not hard. Getting it to look pretty and gorgeous and realistic? That’s hard.”

And the motion must be repeated for each load of passengers.

“We ensure every guest has the same experience,” Vyas said.

It all started with a bird?

The seed for Disney’s animatronics — the company trademarked the term Audio-Animatronics in the 1960s — goes back to Walt and Lillian Disney’s purchase of a miniature caged-bird decoration that tweeted. That eventually led to Enchanted Tiki Room attractions such as the one at Magic Kingdom, which opened with the park in 1971.

Animatronics got a major boost from “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln,” developed by Disney for the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. Guests watched the faux former president give a speech, and Speigel witnessed this on a high-school trip to the event.

“When he put his arms on that chair and he stood up and talked, the whole audience, I remember, just gasped,” he said.

The 1960s technology propelled the show’s status, said Bob Rogers, chairman of BRC Imagination Arts. Otherwise, it might have been forgotten quickly, he said.

“The fact that it was just a robot, not a human, was the charm,” Rogers said.

Waiting for Walt

Fast forward to 2025 and the installation of the Walt Disney animatronic at Disneyland. “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” is temporarily taking the place of the Lincoln animatronic presentation there. Some fans have criticized the look of the new figure.

“It looks fine to me from a distance,” said Jeremiah Good, the Florida correspondent for LaughingPlace.com, “But people that were there for the opening that were in the front row filming every bit of it were going that doesn’t look a thing like Walt.”

Critics are more forgiving about animatronic looks for animated beings as opposed to actual humans, Good said. He awaits the Walt Disney figure slated to join Carousel of Progress next year.

“That is supposed to be a little bit older of a Walt, so that’ll be interesting to see,” Good said.

“I think there are some opportunities there for the point in Walt’s life,” said Imagineering’s Orr, who noted that Florida’s animatronic would be seen in shorter but more frequent bursts at Magic Kingdom than its counterpart in California. “I also think there are things just logistically about the run time of shows — if you just look at the run time of the Disneyland, the frequency of that show, versus something like Carousel of Progress that is cycling through.”

Louis the Alligator, Tiana and critters perform inside Tiana's Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. The attraction reimagined from the park's original Splash Mountain and based on the Disney film "The Princess and The Frog" officially opened to Disney guests on June 28. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Louis the Alligator, Tiana and critters perform inside Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Tech talk

After pneumatic and hydraulic phases, animatronics are now settling into an all-electric era with computerized programming.

Last year, Walt Disney Imagineering gave a public peek into the process with an episode of “We Call It Imagineering” on YouTube. This preceded the debut of figures for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the retheming of Splash Mountain at both Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.

A big challenge was the development of Louis, the trumpet-toting alligator, considered one of WDI’s largest and most dynamic figures.

“There’s a lot of moving parts. “So you have all of these layers, you’ve got fabric and it all has to be in sync,” said Sonny Chapman, principal illusion maker, in the episode. Louis’ big belly, upper torso and arms must work together with the costuming, all while he’s bouncing, looking happy and blinking.

Imagineering has expanded into “stuntronics,” creating figures that can perform elaborate aerial acrobatic feats, including one dressed as Spider-Man at Disney California Adventure theme park. The company has also developed knee-high DBX droids, which made appearances at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this summer.

“They’re wonderful not just because they’re robots, but because they are animated and they are written with stories.” Rogers said. “They express emotions. They’re doing things. They get frustrated when they can’t do what they’re trying to do. … That’s just wonderful.”

Animatronics have proven, multigenerational staying power.

“A lot of our engineers went to school just to work on animated figures. … That’s their thing,” Hall said. “They’re studying their whole lives, and they make their entire lives, and it’s time for their generation to show the next generation how to pass the baton. This is one of those moments that’s even bigger than just [theme] parks.”

Vyas points to their entertainment value.

“I just think they bring so much life to the environment,” she said. “I absolutely love that at Epic Universe we’ve doubled down on that. I really think that it just takes it to the next level.”

dbevil@orlandosentinel.com

“Walt Disney — A Magical Life,” featuring an Audio-Animatronic representation of the visionary Disneyland founder, opened May 16, 2025, as part of the park’s 70th anniversary celebration. (Brady MacDonald/Orange County Register/TNS)

One Tech Tip: Modern cars are spying on you. Here’s what you can do about it

10 November 2025 at 19:43

By KELVIN CHAN, AP Business Writer

While driving to a new restaurant, your car’s satellite navigation system tracks your location and guides you to the destination. Onboard cameras constantly track your face and eye movements. When another car veers into your path, forcing you to slam on the brakes, sensors are assisting and recording. Waiting at a stoplight, the car notices when you unbuckle your seat belt to grab your sunglasses in the backseat.

Modern cars are computers on wheels that are becoming increasingly connected, enabling innovative new features that make driving safer and more convenient. But these systems are also collecting reams of data on our driving habits and other personal information, raising concerns about data privacy.

Here is what to know about how your car spies on you and how you can minimize it:

How cars collect data

It’s hard to figure out exactly how much data a modern car is collecting on you, according to the Mozilla Foundation, which analyzed privacy practices at 25 auto brands in 2023. It declared that cars were the worst product category that the group had ever reviewed for privacy.

The data points include all your normal interactions with the car — such as turning the steering wheel or unlocking doors — but also data from connected onboard services, like satellite radio, GPS navigation systems, connected devices, telematics systems as well as data from sensors or cameras.

Vehicle telematics systems started to become commonplace about a decade ago, and the practice of automotive data collection took off about five years ago.

The problem is not just that data is being collected but who it’s provided to, including insurers, marketing companies and shadowy data brokers. The issue surfaced earlier this year when General Motors was banned for five years from disclosing data collected from drivers to consumer reporting agencies.

The Federal Trade Commission accused GM of not getting consent before sharing the data, which included every instance when a driver was speeding or driving late at night. It was ultimately provided to insurance companies that used it to set their rates.

Be aware

The first thing drivers should do is be aware of what data their car is collecting, said Andrea Amico, founder of Privacy4Cars, an automotive privacy company.

In an ideal world, drivers would read through the instruction manuals and documentation that comes with their cars, and quiz the dealership about what’s being collected.

A custom made Chevrolet Corvette C8 is seen with other show cars on a carpet during a carwalk at a preview of the Essen Motor Show in Essen, Germany, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A custom made Chevrolet Corvette C8 is seen with other show cars on a carpet during a carwalk at a preview of the Essen Motor Show in Essen, Germany, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

But it’s not always practical to do this, and manufacturers don’t always make it easy to find out, while dealership staff aren’t always the best informed, Amico said.

Privacy4Cars offers a free auto privacy labeling service at vehicleprivacyreport.com that can summarize what your car could be tracking.

Owners can punch in their car’s Vehicle Identification Number, which then pulls up the automaker’s data privacy practices, such as whether the car collects location data and whether it’s given to insurers, data brokers or law enforcement.

Tweak your settings

Data collection and tracking start as soon as you drive a new car off the dealership lot, with drivers unwittingly consenting when they’re confronted with warning menus on dashboard touch screens.

Experts say that some of the data collection is baked into the system, you can revoke your consent by going back into the menus.

“There are permissions in your settings that you can make choices about,” said Lauren Hendry Parsons of Mozilla. “Go through on a granular level and look at those settings where you can.”

For example, Toyota says on its website that drivers can decline what it calls “Master Data Consent” through the Toyota app. Ford says owners can opt to stop sharing vehicle data with the company by going through the dashboard settings menu or on the FordPass app.

BMW says privacy settings can be adjusted through the infotainment system, “on a spectrum between” allowing all services including analysis data and none at all.

You can opt out…

Drivers in the U.S. can ask carmakers to restrict what they do with their data.

Under state privacy laws, some carmakers allow owners across the United States to submit requests to limit the use of their personal data, opt out of sharing it, or delete it, Consumer Reports says. Other auto companies limit the requests to people in states with applicable privacy laws, the publication says.

You can file a request either through an online form or the carmaker’s mobile app.

You can also go through Privacy4Cars, which provides a free online service that streamlines the process. It can either point car owners to their automaker’s request portal or file a submission on behalf of owners in the U.S., Canada, the European Union, Britain and Australia.

… but there will be trade-offs

Experts warn that there’s usually a trade-off if you decide to switch off data collection.

Most people, for example, have switched to satellite navigation systems over paper maps because it’s “worth the convenience of being able to get from point A to point B really easily,” said Hendry Parsons.

Members of the media and guests look at Toyota's Corolla concept during the press day of the Japan Mobility Show, in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Members of the media and guests look at Toyota’s Corolla concept during the press day of the Japan Mobility Show, in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Turning off location tracking could also halt features like roadside assistance or disable smartphone app features like remote door locking, Consumer Reports says.

BMW advises that if an owner opts to have no data shared at all, “their vehicle will behave like a smartphone in flight mode and will not transmit any data to the BMW back end.”

When selling your car

When the time comes to sell your car or trade it in for a newer model, it’s no longer as simple as handing over the keys and signing over some paperwork.

If you’ve got a newer car, experts say you should always do a factory reset to wipe all the data, which will also include removing any smartphone connections.

And don’t forget to notify the manufacturer about the change of ownership.

Amico said that’s important because if you trade in your vehicle, you don’t want insurers to associate it with your profile if the dealer is letting customers take it for test drives.

“Now your record may be affected by somebody else’s driving — a complete stranger that you have no relationship with.”

Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip.

This story has been corrected to show that the Mozilla representative’s first name is Lauren, not Laura.

This photo provided by BMW shows the 2025 BMW X3. It offers sporty driving dynamics, advanced tech, and ample space for passengers and cargo. (Courtesy of BMW of North America via AP)

One good recipe: Fig and Peach Tart

10 November 2025 at 19:41

By Gretchen McKay, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

This seasonal dessert marries two Mediterranean flavors: fresh, ripe figs and sweet peaches.

The pastry crust is very forgiving and comes together in just a few minutes (though it has to be chilled for an hour).

If you have really sweet fruit, you can cut back on the amount of sugar in the filling; if it’s on the under-ripe side, increase it.

The recipe calls for demerara sugar (a partially refined raw cane sugar characterized by its large, light-brown crystals) but you can substitute another large-crystal sugar like turbinado.

Equally delicious warm or at room temperature, the tart can be served with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for a touch of pizzazz. Also great with your morning coffee!

Fig and Peach Tart

PG tested

Figs are in season from late summer to early fall. You usually can find them at specialty groceries like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.

For pastry

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more to dust

1/4 cup demerara sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter

1 extra-large egg yolk (reserve white for glazing)

1 tablespoon cold water

For filling

2 ripe and sweet small peaches

5 ripe figs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 cup demerara sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

For glaze

1 extra-large egg white, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons demerara sugar

Make pastry: Place flour, sugar, salt and butter in a large bowl and rub together with your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs.

Lightly beat egg yolk and cold water, then add to the bowl, using your hands to lightly knead everything together into a soft ball of dough.

Wrap in plastic wrap and transfer to the fridge for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Slice peaches into 3/4 -inch-thick slices, removing the pits, and quarter the figs. Place the fruit in a bowl and toss with the vanilla, cinnamon, lemon juice, demarara sugar and cornstarch.

Place a sheet of parchment paper on a work surface and put the ball of pastry on it. Lightly flour a rolling pin and use it to roll out the pastry into a circle around 1/4 -inch thick and 14 inches in diameter. Don’t worry if edges are rough. If pastry starts coming apart, just squish it back together with your fingers.

Place parchment paper with the dough on baking sheet, and arrange peach and fig slices in the center of the circle, leaving a 2-inch border. (Either pile all in the middle or make a pattern with circles.)

Fold the edges of the pastry over the fruit. Use your finger to bring the pasty together where you have gaps.

Use a pastry brush to lightly coat the top of the pasty with beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake for around 40 minutes, until the top of the pastry is an even dark golden-brown color. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Makes 1 tart.

— “Ripe Figs: Recipes and Stories from Turkey, Greece and Cyprus” by Yasmin Khan

©2025 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Fresh figs are paired with peaches in this easy to make seasonal tart. (Gretchen McKay/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS)

At The Hollow in Florida, the ‘medical freedom’ movement finds its base camp

10 November 2025 at 19:40

Arthur Allen, KFF Health News

VENICE, Fla. — MAGA and MAHA are happily married in Florida, and nowhere more at home than in Sarasota County, where on a humid October night a crowd of several hundred gathered to honor state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, his wife, and an unlicensed Canadian radiologist who treats cancer with horse paste.

The event, titled “The 3 Big C’s: Courage, Censorship & Cancer,” was sponsored by the We the People Health and Wellness Center, a clinic, funded by a Jan. 6 marcher, where patients can bask in red light, sit in ozone-infused steam baths, or get their children treated for autism with an experimental blood concentrate.

In Venice, in Sarasota County, a “medical freedom” movement forged in opposition to COVID lockdowns blends wellness advocates, vaccine-haters, right-wing Republicans, and angry parents in a stew of anti-government absolutism and mystical belief.

Ladapo’s wife, Brianna, a self-proclaimed “spiritual healer” who says she speaks with angels and has prophetic visions, chaired a panel at the event at the Venice Community Center. The keynote speech was by William Makis, a litigious COVID conspiracist who, after losing his medical license in 2019, has made a living treating cancer patients with antiparasitic drugs including ivermectin, which was also championed in some circles as a COVID treatment during the pandemic.

Clinical trials showed that ivermectin didn’t work, but COVID skeptics viewed medicine’s rejection of it as part of a conspiracy by Big Pharma against a cheap, off-patent drug. Some of the patients in his care have what he calls “turbo cancers,” Makis says, blaming alleged impurities in mRNA vaccines that he says have killed millions of people.

For Makis, it’s all one big conspiracy — the virus, the vaccine, and the suppression of his therapies.

Brianna Ladapo has her own take on medicine, based on the idea of good and bad spiritual energy. She wrote in a memoir that as the pandemic began she intuited that it had been planned by “sinister forces” to “frighten the masses to surrender their sovereignty to a small group of tyrannical elites.” She has written that the government hides vaccination’s risks.

She sees “dark forces” all over the place, including, she said in a podcast interview earlier this year, in “chemtrails” shaped like a pentagram. “They’ve been plastering it in the sky right outside our house for the last few weeks,” Ladapo said. The chemtrails “they are dumping on us,” she said, had sickened her and her three sons. “The dark side are no fans of ours.”

(“Chemtrails” are a favorite topic of conspiracy theorists who say they think that contrails, the condensation formed around commercial airplane exhaust, contain toxic substances poisoning people and the terrain. Although there is zero evidence of that, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to look into whether they are part of a clandestine effort to use toxic chemicals to change the weather.)

Ladapo’s husband hasn’t publicly endorsed all her beliefs, but as surgeon general he’s reversing decades of accepted public health practice in Florida and embracing untested therapies. “We’re done with fear,” Joseph Ladapo said after being named surgeon general in 2021. He wants to ban mRNA vaccines in Florida, and on Sept. 3 he announced plans to end childhood vaccination mandates in the state.

A few days after the Venice event, Ladapo said he hoped to support Makis’ work — though his treatments are unproven and potentially dangerous — through a new $60 million cancer research fund created by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife, Casey.

Vic Mellor, CEO of a local concrete business, founded and owns We the People. He’s an associate of retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who was briefly President Donald Trump’s national security adviser in 2017 before being dismissed for lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russians. Trump later pardoned him, and Flynn since has become a leader of the Christian nationalist movement.

We the People provides vitamin shots but no vaccines. In fact, many of its offerings are treatments for supposed vaccine injuries. Part of the We the People building is a broadcasting studio, where conservatives hold forth on what they see as the villainy of liberals and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Mellor was at the U.S. Capitol during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021 — he said he “just knocked on front doors,” according to a Facebook post described by The Washington Post. He returned home and started building a 10-acre complex that hosts weddings and right-wing assemblies, with playgrounds, a butterfly garden, a zip line over a pond visited by alligators, and an attached, separately owned gun range.

Visitors who travel down a dirt road to The Hollow — named for the hollow-core concrete that made Mellor wealthy — can enter the compound through a dark, cavernous passage lined with neon signs illuminating maxims from the likes of Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and Flynn.

The Hollow has hosted clinics for unvaccinated kids and events for Ladapo, anti-vaccine activist Sherri Tenpenny (who in 2021 told legislators at an Ohio House hearing that COVID vaccine made people magnetic), and other “medical freedom” advocates. Mellor created a medical home for such ideas by opening We the People in 2023.

The year before, three “medical freedom” candidates had won seats on the board overseeing Sarasota’s public hospital and health care system, after protests over the hospital’s refusal to treat COVID patients with ivermectin and other drugs of choice for COVID contrarians.

On a recent afternoon at The Hollow, manager Dan Welch was clearing brush when approached by KFF Health News. As a foe of vaccinations, he welcomed Ladapo’s move to end vaccine mandates. “Maybe in their inception, vaccines were created to prevent what they were supposed to prevent,” Welch said. “But now there’s so much more in there, the metals, aluminum, mercury. Since they started vaccination, the autism rate went through the roof, and I believe these vaccines are part of it.”

The theory that vaccines cause autism has been debunked, and manufacturers removed mercury from childhood vaccines 24 years ago, although Welch said he doesn’t believe it.

Vaccination faces additional challenges in a century-old Sarasota County neighborhood of low-slung bungalows called Pinecraft, home to about 3,000 Mennonites — and double that number when Amish snowbirds arrive in the winter. Pastor Timothy Miller said that while Sarasota’s Mennonites are less culturally isolated than the Mennonite community in West Texas, site of a measles outbreak in January, many in his community also shun vaccination.

His cousin Kristi Miller, 26, won’t vaccinate her 9-month-old daughter or any of the other children she hopes to have, she said, because she thinks vaccines probably cause autism and other harms.

As for vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, she doesn’t worry about them. Like the Ladapos, “I don’t live in fear,” she said. “I have a God who’s bigger than everything.”

(KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.)

©2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Gov. Ron DeSantis at a news conference in West Palm Beach, Florida on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. (Joe Cavaretta/Sun Sentinel/TNS)

Felon charged in Troy gas station armed robbery

10 November 2025 at 19:37

A 38-year-old felon is facing charges for a recent armed robbery at a Troy gas station.

Joseph Louis Carter was arraigned Nov. 10 in 52-4 District Court 10  for armed robbery, felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of felony firearm in connection with the Oct. 30 incident at the Shell gas station, located at 6951 Rochester Road. He’s held in the Oakland County Jail, denied bond.

According to the Troy Police Department, a masked man armed with a rifle — allegedly Carter — entered the gas station, pointed a weapon at the store clerk and demanded money from the cash register. The clerk handed over an undisclosed amount of cash to the robber, who then fled on foot.

No injuries were reported.

Police said video surveillance showed the robber with what appeared to be an AK-47 style rifle. He remained near the counter during the interaction before fleeing south behind the building, police said.

Police said Carter’s arrest was “made possible through the exceptional teamwork and dedication of our patrol officers, evidence technicians, detectives, Tactical Support Team, Directed Patrol Unit, and Special Investigations Unit.”

The police department also credited the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Detroit police, Ann Arbor police, assistant U.S. Attorney’s Office and the public for information and assistance in moving the case forward.

Carter’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 20 for a probable cause conference.

Joseph Carter booking photo

How a personal finance expert leverages holiday sales for household necessities

10 November 2025 at 19:35

This fall, multiple appliances in my home announced they were done: A water line inside my washer broke, my dryer began requiring multiple cycles to dry a load, and my hair straightener stopped getting hot enough to do its job.

The only silver lining? Solid holiday sales start in October and get really good in November.

As a personal finance expert, I came up with a shopping strategy: I would select the appliances I wanted to buy before the October sales began, track the prices through Black Friday and buy as soon as those prices dipped to their lowest point.

I estimate leveraging holiday sales to buy my household necessities could save me several hundred dollars.

Samantha Gordon, the deals editor at Consumer Reports, confirmed the logic of my strategy.

“My biggest piece of advice for anybody is to never buy anything not on sale,” she says. And in November, she adds, “Everything goes on sale.”

With some planning, you can leverage the season’s discounts for your own needs.

Make your list early

Research exactly which products you want before the sales start so you can make an informed decision when the discounts begin, Gordon says.

She suggests tracking prices now so you know what constitutes an actual discount versus simply an advertised sale.

“You want to know what the price is on an average day,” Gordon says, adding that price-tracking tools, such as Keepa, CamelCamelCamel.com and PayPal Honey, can help you.

Andrea Woroch, a money-saving expert who shares budgeting tips on her website, has been doing just that. Like me, she has a list of household products — including a vacuum and new fridge — that she hopes to buy during the holiday sales.

“Set a sale alert for an item you want to track so you don’t miss a limited-time, early deal,” she suggests. Shopping apps like Karma and CamelCamelCamel will send a price drop alert right to your inbox.

If you plan to shop at a specific store, Woroch says to sign up for free loyalty programs. That may get you free shipping, rewards for purchases and extra coupons.

Consider everyday household items

Big-ticket items aren’t the only things marked down this time of year. Everyday essentials, such as paper products and makeup, also go on sale.

Trae Bodge, a shopping expert at TrueTrae.com who is based in the New York area, takes advantage of those discounts. During the October sales, she bought brow gel, pretzels, a new fireplace screen and an inflatable travel mattress.

Bodge estimates she saved between 10% to 30% on each item, and stacked that savings with cash back through a browser extension.

Avoid frenzied buying

Of course, all these discounts can also translate into wayward buys.

While it can be a good idea to buy a discounted item for next year now, Woroch cautions against overspending.

“Just make sure you can afford the purchase when you buy it. You don’t want to add to your spending load so much that you can’t pay off your card,” she says, because that can lead to interest charges.

In some cases, 0% financing deals may also be available during sales events, allowing you to spread out payments without interest accruing, she adds.

The washer and dryer set will be my biggest purchase, which is why I’ve taken time to plan for it.

Lock in seasonal savings

October was good, but I’m holding out for Black Friday sales: The hair appliance I plan to purchase — a Beachwaver rotating curling iron — normally retails for $99, but dipped to just under $70 right before the October sales hit.

I was tempted to hit “buy” until I checked the price history on CamelCamelCamel.com. I saw that last Black Friday, the price went all the way down to $49. So I’m waiting, hoping the low price repeats itself again this year. If it does, I’ll save about $50.

For our washer and dryer combo, I selected the LG ThinQ model after combing through online reviews. While it’s currently marked down about $500, I expect an even better deal during the Black Friday sales.

Research shows that appliance prices typically dip during Black Friday, with deals announced ahead of time. So I’m keeping my eye out and will make my purchase when I see sales roll out. It’s a bit of a gamble — because I could save $500 now — but I’m hopeful.

The bottom line? Using seasonal sales to buy necessities can save you cash, which we can all use right now.

Kimberly Palmer writes for NerdWallet. Email: kpalmer@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @kimberlypalmer.

The article How a Personal Finance Expert Leverages Holiday Sales for Household Necessities originally appeared on NerdWallet.

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – MAY 05: Bill Laughlin, owner of the Christmas Etc. store, works on a Santa Claus figure on the sales floor on May 05, 2025, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Laughlin says that he thinks the Trump administration will make a deal with China on tariffs, which would avert his having to raise prices since most of the Christmas decorations he sells are made in China. He feels that he would have to raise prices by as much as 30% if no deal is made. The family started the store 36 years ago, selling everything Christmas-related from tree decorations, nut crackers, train sets, toys, and life-size Christmas figures. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Ghislaine Maxwell seeks commutation of 20-year sentence from Trump, whistleblower says

10 November 2025 at 19:29

Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's co-conspirator, is preparing to request a commutation of her 20-year prison sentence from President Donald Trump, according to a whistleblower who contacted House Democrats.

The whistleblower told House Democrats that Maxwell is preparing the request through a series of emails with the subject line "Commutation Application."

The same whistleblower also alleges Maxwell is receiving preferential treatment while incarcerated. The alleged special treatment includes customized meals, after-hours exercise time and playing with a puppy.

RELATED STORY | Supreme Court rejects Ghislaine Maxwell's appeal of sex trafficking conviction

Rep. Jamie Raskin sent a letter to President Trump, demanding he reject Maxwell's request for commutation.

Raskin is the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. He's also requested that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche be made available for a public hearing to discuss the situation.

The White House says President Trump has not thought about pardoning Maxwell.

Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on federal charges related to her role in Epstein's sex trafficking operation. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022.

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.

The Metro: A Detroit doctor offers a remedy for America’s health care headache

10 November 2025 at 19:15

Seeing a doctor in America comes with numerous costs—the wait for an appointment, the hours on hold with insurance, the pit-in-your-stomach feeling when the bill finally lands and it is a lot more than you expected. 

Now, millions of Americans are bracing for another cost they did not see coming. 

The federal subsidies that have lowered health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act are set to expire next year and if they do, premium costs could rise by hundreds of dollars a month. 

Healthcare subsidies have been a key point of contention during the government shutdown. Last night, seven Democrats and one independent joined Republicans in a Senate vote that paves the way for an end to the shutdown—but not an end to the debate on healthcare subsidies. 

Senate Majority Leader John Thune agreed to allow a vote in December on the expiring tax credits. 

Meanwhile, here in Michigan, the uncertainty comes on top of another shakeup: some insurers are leaving the state’s individual marketplace, and thousands of people are suddenly searching for new coverage.

But some doctors are rejecting the traditional insurance model altogether. Their alternative is called direct primary care, a type of subscription-based service where patients pay a flat monthly fee and receive care when needed — no billing codes, no middlemen. 

Dr. Paul Thomas brought this model to Detroit a decade ago with Plum Health. His clinics promise same-day visits, transparent pricing, and time to actually talk with your doctor.

Thomas joined Robyn Vincent to discuss how he believes this model could help heal America’s broken healthcare system.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

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How Trump’s support for a white minority group in South Africa led to a US boycott of the G20 summit

10 November 2025 at 19:13

By GERALD IMRAY, Associated Press

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump says that his government will boycott the Group of 20 summit this month in South Africa over his claims that a white minority group there is being violently persecuted. Those claims have been widely rejected.

Trump announced Friday on social media that no U.S. government official will attend the Nov. 22-23 summit in Johannesburg “as long as these Human Rights abuses continue.” South Africa’s Black-led government has been a regular target for Trump since he returned to office.

In February, Trump issued an executive order stopping U.S. financial assistance to South Africa, citing its treatment of the Afrikaner white minority. His administration has also prioritized Afrikaners for refugee status in the U.S. and says they will be given most of the 7,500 places available this fiscal year.

The South African government — and some Afrikaners themselves — say Trump’s claims of persecution are baseless.

Descendants of European settlers

Afrikaners are South Africans who are descended mainly from Dutch but also French and German colonial settlers who first came to the country in the 17th century.

Afrikaners were at the heart of the apartheid system of white minority rule from 1948-1994, leading to decades of hostility between them and South Africa’s Black majority. But Afrikaners are not a homogenous group, and some fought against apartheid. There are an estimated 2.7 million Afrikaners in South Africa’s population of 62 million.

Afrikaners are divided over Trump’s claims. Some say they face discrimination, but a group of leading Afrikaner business figures and academics said in an open letter last month that “the narrative that casts Afrikaners as victims of racial persecution in post-apartheid South Africa” is misleading.

Afrikaners’ Dutch-derived language is widely spoken in South Africa and is one of the country’s 12 official languages. Afrikaners are represented in every aspect of society. Afrikaners are some of South Africa’s richest entrepreneurs and some of its most successful sports stars, and also serve in government. Most are largely committed to South Africa’s multiracial democracy.

Trump claims they’re being ‘killed and slaughtered’

Trump asserted that Afrikaners “are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated.” The president’s comments are in reference to a relatively small number of attacks on Afrikaner farmers that he and others claim are racially motivated.

Trump has also pointed to a highly contentious law introduced by the South African government that allows land to be appropriated from private owners without compensation. Some Afrikaners fear that law is aimed at removing them from their land in favor of South Africa’s poor Black majority. Many South Africans, including opposition parties, have criticized the law, but it hasn’t led to land confiscations.

Trump first made baseless claims of widespread killing of white South African farmers and land seizures during his first term in response to allegations aired on conservative media personality Tucker Carlson’s former show on Fox News. Trump ordered then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to look into the allegations, but nothing came of any investigation.

South Africa rejects the claims

The South African government said in response to Trump’s social media post that his claims were “not substantiated by fact.” It has said that Trump’s criticism of South Africa over Afrikaners is a result of misinformation because it misses the context that Black farmers and farmworkers are also killed in rural attacks, which make up a tiny percentage of the country’s high violent crime rate.

There were more than 26,000 homicides in South Africa in 2024. Of those, 37 were farm murders, according to an Afrikaner lobby group that tracks them. Experts on rural attacks in South Africa have said the overriding motive for the violent farm invasions is robbery and not race.

Other pressure on South Africa

Trump said it is a “total disgrace” that the G20 summit — a meeting of the leaders of the 19 top rich and developing economies, the European Union and the African Union — is being held in South Africa. He had already said he wouldn’t attend, and Vice President JD Vance was due to go in his place. The U.S. will take on the rotating presidency of the G20 after South Africa.

Trump also said in a speech last week that South Africa should be thrown out of the G20.

Trump’s criticism of Africa’s most developed economy has gone beyond the issue of Afrikaners. His executive order in February said South Africa had taken “aggressive positions towards the United States and its allies,” specifically with its decision to accuse Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza at the United Nations’ top court.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio boycotted a G20 foreign ministers meeting in South Africa in February after deriding the host country’s G20 slogan of “solidarity, equality and sustainability” as “DEI and climate change.”

AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa

FILE – White South Africans demonstrate in support of U.S. President Donald Trump in front of the U.S. embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

In Michigan basketball’s quest to be the best, don’t overlook the returning cast

10 November 2025 at 19:00

Heading into the season, much of the buzz and attention surrounding Michigan basketball had to do with all the new pieces.

Coach Dusty May’s portal haul was rated among the best in the nation, with three transfers — guard Elliot Cadeau, forward Yaxel Lendeborg and center Aday Mara — being named to preseason watch lists for the top players at their respective positions.

The fourth and final transfer, forward Morez Johnson Jr., and the top-ranked freshman, former Orchard Lake St. Mary’s star Trey McKenney, each shined in their regular-season debuts with 20-point performances.

Yet, May doesn’t want people to forget about returning players Nimari Burnett, L.J. Cason, Roddy Gayle Jr. and Will Tschetter and their importance to the team. He said as much when he brought up the foursome unprompted when speaking about this season’s roster at the midway point of summer workouts.

“We’ve sat here and Tschetter’s name has come up one time and Nimari Burnett’s name hasn’t come up yet,” May said in July. “The continuity they bring, the character that they bring, the work capacity, the unselfishness where they’re trying to help the younger guys 24/7. They’re spending their time and energy trying to help guys that could potentially chip into their minutes because they want to win and they want to be great teammates.

“Then you throw in Roddy Gayle and L.J., when the prognosticators are talking about we went to the portal and signed this guy and that guy and we brought in this five-star recruit and this four-star, those guys get lost in the shuffle. But if we win this year at the level we’re capable of, if we max out as a group, those returners are going to be a big reason why.”

May’s praise didn’t stop there. During Michigan’s media day on Sept. 30, he called the quartet the “biggest, most pleasant surprise” in the preseason.

“I will say our returners have improved drastically. All four of the guys that were in the rotation last year are much better basketball players,” he said. “Roddy Gayle (in practice) probably had as good of a two-week period as anyone in our program. You guys know how I feel about Nimari. His level of consistency, his routine, his mentorship to the young guys, he just brings so much to the table.

“Then you factor in Will Tschetter, who’s becoming a real shooter, someone who’s able to shoot on the move, get it off quick, not just be a spot-up guy, and he’s able to defend the ball. … Prior to (an ankle injury), L.J. was playing at a significantly higher level than he played at last season.”

May called Burnett a consummate pro and a culture builder with the way he approaches everything. On the floor, he doesn’t care if the ball is in his hands and he doesn’t try to do too much. He simply finds his shots in the flow of the game. Off the floor, May said Burnett attacks his player development plan at an “A-plus level” and acts as another assistant coach with recruits.

As for all the roster additions, Gayle described Burnett as the “perfect leader” for the newcomers.

“If you are confused on what to do, just follow Nimari,” Gayle said at Michigan’s media day. “He always has a steady incline where he’s always getting better just by the basics. I think that’s one thing Nimari does well. He does the basics well, probably the best I’ve ever seen, as far as like stretching, taking care of his body, lifting. You know what you’re getting out of Nimari every day; same with Will.”

Given Burnett’s, Gayle’s and Tschetter’s background of experiences and veteran status, they are the three May turns to any time he doesn’t have “a great pulse” on something with the team or needs help figuring things out that he hasn’t yet.

There’s also an added level of familiarity between the coaching staff — which remained intact — and the returners. Everyone knows what’s expected, even if some roles are different than a year ago, with Cason and Gayle taking on more playmaking responsibilities and Tschetter playing more at small forward.

Gayle, for example, was trying too hard to fit in and “please” his teammates and coaches at times after transferring in from rival Ohio State, May said. Now, Gayle looks much more comfortable.

While Gayle’s midseason struggles last season might lead some to underrate what he can bring to this team, assistant coach Mike Boynton Jr. believes a “life-changing year” could be in store if Gayle commits himself to being one of the best Big Ten wing defenders in a league that has a bunch of talented perimeter players.

“If he can make a mark for himself (on defense), he can do well individually, but obviously that’s going to be a big part of us being successful,” Boynton said. “Then on the offensive side, I think there’s a little bit less pressure. All the noise about him coming from Ohio State has dissipated … and now he can just be him as a Michigan returner and be able to play with more freedom and less focus on trying to prove something about who he is. Just be a good player on a really good team.”

Out of the returning cast, Cason has the most natural room for growth and potential to make a greater impact than he did as a freshman, when he turned in several strong postseason performances.

The highs and lows Cason experienced shaped him and should help him become a more consistent contributor, even though he’s been banged up in the fall.

“I think he took all of it in and committed himself to just maturing, being more organized, taking the off-the-court preparation seriously,” Boynton said.

Just as vital as Cason’s ability to get into the lane, collapse the defense and make plays is Tschetter’s ability to connect the defense with his communication and connect the offense with his spacing.

May said it’s noticeable when Tschetter is and isn’t on the floor at practice due to his effort, energy and enthusiasm. In the exhibition against St. John’s, May felt the Wolverines looked like a different team down the stretch when Tschetter was in the game compared to when he wasn’t.

“I’m excited for all of them,” Boynton said of the core four. “Roddy had a good offseason and preseason. Nimari has been as solid as they come. Will is probably as consistent as they (come). He is who he is whether he plays eight minutes or 28 minutes. … They’re all going to play a big role if we do the things we would like to do.”

That’s not lost on May and the rest of the staff. None of them overlook or underestimate the value of Burnett, Cason, Gayle and Tschetter and how the returning pieces will factor into this season’s roster puzzle as it takes shape.

“If we’re ever going to be at a championship level — and time will tell if we’re going to be at a championship level this season — a big part of it is going to be because of the leadership and continuity of those guys,” May said.

Michigan guard Trey McKenney (1) is guarded by Oakland forward Tuburu Naivalurua (12) in the first half. (ROBIN BUCKSON — MediaNews Group)

The Metro: The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a Detroit story

10 November 2025 at 18:49

The sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a tragedy that is remembered with reverence and intrigue across the Great Lakes every year.

Twenty-nine sailors lost their lives on November 10, 1975, and the exact cause of the sinking remains a mystery. Gordon Lightfoot’s epic retelling, “The Wreckage of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” firmly placed the story of the Fitz’s in the national public consciousness.

But, the Edmund Fitzgerald—the largest freighter on the Great Lakes at the time— was always part of Detroit history. It was built, christened, and launched in the Detroit River. It carried record-breaking loads of iron ore and was known as a workhorse in Great Lakes shipping. It’s intended stop before sinking was Zug Island.

This year marks 50 years since the Edmund Fitzgerald sank, and the ship’s Detroit connection took center stage at several events over the weekend.

Victoria Stewart is Assistant Director of the Humanities Center at Wayne State University.

She created a pop-up exhibition “The Gales of November, Remembered: Detroit and the Edmund Fitzgerald.” It was on display at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and Mariners’ Church in Downtown Detroit to commemorate 50 years since the ship sank in Lake Superior on November 10, 1975.

Stewart spoke to The Metro about the ship’s Detroit connections and the timelessness of it’s story.

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ByHeart recalls two infant formula batches amid nationwide botulism investigation

10 November 2025 at 18:43

ByHeart is voluntarily recalling two batches of its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula amid a recent outbreak of infant botulism, the company announced.

The recall follows notification from the FDA of an ongoing investigation into approximately 83 cases of infant botulism reported nationwide since August. Thirteen of those infants had consumed ByHeart formula at some point, the company said.

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California health officials said they had "tested a can of powdered infant formula that was fed to an infant with infant botulism. Preliminary results suggest the presence of the bacteria that produce botulinum toxin, consistent with the same toxin reported in the confirmed infant cases."

Infant botulism is a rare but potentially serious illness. Symptoms can include constipation, feeding difficulties, weak muscle tone, drooping eyelids, trouble breathing and, in severe cases, respiratory failure.

The recall affects batch codes 251261P2 and 251131P2, both with a use by date of Dec. 1, 2026. They were sold by national retailers including Amazon, Kroger, Walmart, Whole Foods and Target.

A brief history of the US Marine Corps as branch marks its 250th birthday

10 November 2025 at 18:06

Monday marks a major milestone in American military history as the U.S. Marine Corps celebrates its 250th birthday and events honoring Marines past and present are planned across several states.

Birth of the Corps

The branch traces its origins to Nov. 10, 1775, when John Adams drafted a resolution creating the Continental Marines to serve alongside the Continental Navy in the Revolutionary War. Recruitment began at a brewery in Philadelphia, which is now recognized as the Corps' birthplace.

First Missions

The Marines' first assault came in the Bahamas in 1776, when they seized gunpowder and munitions from British soldiers. Throughout the Revolutionary War, Marines fought both at sea and on land, with historic clashes that helped secure American independence. The Continental Marines were then disbanded in 1783 after the war ended.

Re-establishment and 19th-century conflicts

The Marine Corps was eventually revived 15 years later to safeguard U.S. operations during a quasi-war against France, which landed them in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The branch later took part in the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, as well as various smaller wars defending U.S. interests around the world.

World War I "Devil Dogs"

During World War I, the Marine Corps deployed to battlefields in France, where heroic actions by the 4th Marine Brigade earned it the title of "Devil Dogs." Aviation also played a large role in the war effort, as Marine pilots flew bomber missions over Belgium and France.

World War II Mastering amphibious warfare

Between 1941 and 1945, the Marine Corps carried out various large-scale amphibious assaults across the Pacific Ocean, including historic battles in Guam, Okinawa, and Iwo Jima, which birthed the historic flag-raising photograph. By the end of the war, the branch had grown to six divisions, including five air wings, as well as its supporting troops.

Cold War era Korea and Vietnam

During the Korean War, U.S. Marines proved amphibious assault was still viable as they distinguished themselves in battles through harsh winter conditions, including at the Chosin Reservoir, where forces were able to hold against Chinese Communists in sub-zero temperatures.

Marine involvement in Vietnam expanded significantly in the mid-1960s. After the Tet Offensive in 1968, the Marine presence grew to a peak of about 85,000 troops. The drawdown began the following year, as South Vietnamese forces assumed a greater share of the fighting. Most Marine ground units had withdrawn by 1971, though Marines later returned to assist in the evacuation of U.S. personnel and civilians in Vietnam and neighboring Cambodia.

Post-Vietnam to modernization

In the years following, the Marine Corps shifted its focus to modernizing equipment and transforming readiness, while also providing support for various non-combative and humanitarian operations. It was during this period that Marines conducted peacekeeping and combat operations in places like Beirut, Lebanon. Marines also took part in a short but successful intervention in Granada.

Additionally, as the 1980s came to a close, Marines were summoned to respond to instability in Central America, where Operation Just Cause was launched in Panama to protect Americans and restore democracy. Then, in 1990, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait prompted what is deemed the largest deployment of Marine Corps forces since World War II. More than 90,000 troops were deployed to the Persian Gulf ahead of Operation Desert Storm the air campaign that began in 1991.

Post-9/11 Operations

Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the U.S., Marines were rapidly deployed to Afghanistan, where they helped launch Operation Enduring Freedom then-President George W. Bush's global war on terror. Marines were also sent into Iraq, which led to high-stakes urban fighting in places like Fallujah, which is widely considered home to the most intense Marine battles since Vietnam.

The Corps has since carried out counterinsurgency operations, helped to train allied forces in the region, and supported humanitarian relief efforts. Marines also assisted in search and rescue efforts in Louisiana and Mississippi following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Traditions and today's Corps

It was in 1921 that Major General Commandant John A. Lejeune officially proclaimed Nov. 10 as the official annual celebration of the founding of the U.S. Marine Corps. Each year, celebrations are held across the U.S. to honor all former and current Marines. Today's Marine Corps stands by its long and proud history of service to the nation, while maintaining readiness to respond to any potential challenges. The Corps' official motto is "Semper Fidelis," which is Latin for "Always Faithful."

Detroit to host 2 PWHL games as part of takeover tour

10 November 2025 at 17:44

The Professional Women's Hockey League is coming to Detroit for the third straight season as part of the PWHL Takeover Tour.

According to the league, the tour is expanding to 16 games, with eight in the U.S. and eight in Canada.

Watch below: Detroit shows up big for PWHL Takeover Tour

Detroit shows up big for PWHL takeover weekend

Detroit will actually host two games during the takeover tour. The first will be between Vancouver and Boston on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. Then, New York will take on Montreal on Saturday, March 28 at 1 p.m.

Detroit has set a PWHL U.S. attendance record for the past two seasons, including 14,288 fans last year and the one millionth fan in PWHL history.

Season Twos PWHL Takeover Tou was the first of its kind, giving fans across North America the chance to experience the excitement of a regular-season game in their home venues, said Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President of Business Operations. The passion and support from fans, and the enthusiasm from cities eager to engage with our league, have fueled our ambition to grow the Tour for Season Three.

In 2024, Detroit drew 13,736 fans for the PWHL takeover game between the Boston Fleet and Ottawa Charge, but earlier this year, a game in Denver drew 14,018 fans, breaking the record.

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