Before the end of February at least 454 people working in Oakland County will lose their jobs.

That’s according to notices filed with the state by three companies that sent Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notifications last month. The WARN Act requires employers planning mass layoffs to give workers a 60-day notice.

“Not every employer has to file WARN letters – there are a couple different criteria and smaller companies don’t always have to file these letters,” said Jennifer Llewellyn, Oakland County’s manager for workforce development and the county’s Michigan Works! Offices.

The 454 people facing job losses are at:

•  Webasto Roof Systems at 2700 Product Drive in Rochester Hills. The plant will close and 244 employees will be let go on Feb. 21 through July. Webasto makes flexible soft- and hard-top roof systems for vehicles. The company’s announcement said the 50-year-old Rochester Hills plant is closing because it would cost too much to modernize it.

•  Samsung SDI America EV plants at 4121 North Atlantic Blvd. and 50 Continental Drive, both in Auburn Hills will lay off 179 people between Feb. 24 and Feb. 28. When Samsung asked Auburn Hills officials for a 5-year, 50% tax break worth more than $140,000 in 2019. At that time, company officials promised they would lease the Continental Drive building for 10 years and the deal would lead to 400 new jobs.

•  Hyzone Motors USA Inc., 1208 E. Maple Road in Troy, where 32 people will lose their jobs over two weeks starting Feb. 18. The company makes hydrogen fuel cells and announced the layoffs in December, citing an “inability to raise funding and the future uncertainty relating to the availability of government subsidies.”

Last year 11 WARN notices affected Oakland County businesses, totaling 1,173 workers. In 2023, the state received 10 WARN notices were filed affecting 1,903 Oakland County workers, which includes 945 GM workers in Lake Orion, part of the planned shutdown and retooling for electric vehicles. The 945 GM employees represent about 50% of the total for the entire year and many of those workers were reassigned.

Last year’s complete unemployment figures for the county won’t be released until next month. As of November, it was 3.9%, up just over 1% from November, 2023. In 2023, the state’s unemployment rate was under 4%, a 20-year low.

The unemployment rate in Oakland County in November was 3.9%, up slightly from 3.8% in October and up by 1.2 pts year-over-year from November 2023 when the rate was 2.7% All those figures remain below the overall metro Detroit total, 5.1% in November.

The WARN Act exists to give employees time to prepare for a job loss by updating their resumes and either finding a new job or learning a new skill to enter a related or different field of work.

“This addresses the ebbs and lows of workforce development,” she said. “Layoffs happen when companies shift priorities or lose accounts or face difficult times for other reasons.”

Her office works with state and regional officials to attract new businesses and help unemployed workers find new jobs quickly or retrain with skills in fields that have opportunities.

“The exciting part is helping people either find new jobs or getting them retrained,” Llewellyn said. “We also support refreshing that resume and boosting their interview skills.”

Oakland County’s economy is growing in four main sectors, she said:

•  Advanced manufacturing: Robotics, automation, aerospace, 3D printing and support for the electric-vehicle industry and battery production.

“There’s so much research and development talent in the county as well as engineers and production professionals,” she said.

•  Construction: From General Motors’ Orion plant renovations to new homes being built, infused by federal infrastructure money. “We need skilled construction workers, engineers, plumbers and electricians,” she said.

•  Technology: Cybersecurity, intelligence software development and more. “Everyone has a smart phone, so when I say ‘technology,” that’s not necessarily an industry. It’s technology across the board for all areas – advanced manufacturing, construction, government, education, health care, all industries,” Llewellyn said.

• Health care and health science.

“It’s not that we don’t support industries outside those four quadrants,” she said. “It’s where we’re spending time and investing money. We support other industries and occupations. Transportation is another area that is an across-the-board opportunity, for example. But we’re prioritizing four areas where we see demand and growth.”

Because the business climate is fluid and depends on lots of factors, Llewellyn can’t cite a specific number of jobs the county will definitely see added in 2025.

“We get regional projections and are always gathering workforce intelligence,” she said. “We look at the state’s 50 ‘hot jobs’ outlook, and University of Michigan projections. We’re constantly looking at jobs data but the most important thing we do is working with employers that have jobs open now.”

She said that’s how the county tailors retraining programs via Michigan Works!.

“We don’t use the train-and-pray model, hoping people will find jobs with the new skills they obtain,” she said. “I want them to make a smooth transition, so they get retained and have five companies willing to hire them.”

People looking for new jobs don’t have to wait until a layoff starts and they are competing with others for openings, she said.

She cites research that shows Oakland County produces more than 20% of the entire state’s gross domestic product. It’s the reason she and others say Oakland County is Michigan’s economic driver.

“Despite that, we still have residents working two and three jobs to make ends meet. These are the folks who need retraining along with those being laid off,” she said. “We have many people doing extremely well in the county, but we never lose sight of the ones who need more opportunity.”

That is why the county applied for workforce grants recently announced by Pontiac. The city is using $800,000 in American Rescue Plan Act money for the grants.

“If we get this grant, the money will support an initiative to expand the summer internship program we have for 16-to-24-year-olds. We place them in jobs and we pay their wages,” she said, adding that it’s a way for young people to explore career paths that doesn’t add to a businesses daily cost.

The county has a partnership with Oakland Community College to offer healthcare courses for such career tracks as sterile processing technician course, certified nurse aide and patient care technician. These jobs pay $15 an hour or more, she said, and “are a great pathway for getting more medical certifications if they feel further inspired to earn associates or bachelors degrees.”

The county’s Michigan Works! office also offers virtual career workshops so people can determine which field to pursue.

“And we help people fill out FAFSA forms for college tuition and financial fitness classes – what to do with your 401k if you get laid off, for example,” she said.

She said anyone facing a layoff should take advantage of the early notice and contact Michigan Works!.

“Don’t wait until you’re two weeks away from losing your unemployment check,” she said. “Take time now to get help getting your resume online, building a network and starting your job search. We have coaches who can help navigate all that with them.”

Companies considering expanding or even hiring one or two new employees can contact the county to see if the roles will work as apprenticeships, she said. The county can also help businesses with employee-retention efforts, she said.

There are still many job opportunities in the county – and retraining for people affected by a layoff. Learn more by contacting the county’s Michigan Works! office online at https://www.oakgov.com/business/business-development/workforce-development or call (248) 858-5520. People can get in-person or virtual appointments.

The Farmington Hills City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, Jan. 13, on a request by Sheetz to open a 24-hour gas station, convenience store and drive-through restaurant at 12 Mile and Middlebelt roads.

The council meets at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 31555 W. 11 Mile Road.

The Planning Commission voted 4-1 in November to recommend approval of the proposal.

Opponents packed the commission meeting, raising concerns about the possibility of increased crime and traffic or driving other area gas stations out of business.

The Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce and other business groups also expressed opposition, fearing over-saturation of gas stations in the area.

Sheetz is proposing six pumps, creating 12 fueling stations and a 6,100-square-foot convenience store and restaurant. It would occupy the site of the former Ginopolis restaurant, which closed five years ago.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WORKS 

The commission voted unanimously last month to approve Sheetz’ site plan for a location on Grand River Avenue at Middlebelt Road. It would also operate 24 hours but its restaurant would not have a drive-through lane. The company plans to demolish a vacant auto repair shop and build a new facility.

Sheetz does not need the council’s approval for the Grand River-Middlebelt proposal. The company may need a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals for a proposed dumpster location.

The Grand River-Middlebelt proposal did not draw widespread opposition from the community.

Just outside of Farmington Hills, Sheetz is also proposing a location at the southeast corner of Eight Mile and Newburgh roads in Livonia.

The Livonia City Council is expected to vote this month on whether to approve a zoning change to allow the store, which would be on the site of a closed Rite Aid store.

A Sheetz spokesman said at a previous meeting that all of its locations are open 24 hours.

The Sheetz family owns all locations; they do not have franchisees.

Sheetz opened its first Michigan location in late August near Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus.

The company plans to open 50-60 stores in the Detroit area in the next five to six years, including approved sites in Fraser, Warren, Ypsilanti, Eastpointe, Taylor and Macomb and Chesterfield townships.

Sheetz officials have said each store will employ 30 to 35 workers, the majority of them full-time. The company touted competitive pay, benefits packages for all employees, quarterly bonuses, paid time off and more.

Sheetz ranked second in the latest Best Workplaces in Retail in America by Fortune and in the top 10 of the “Companies that Care” list from People magazine.

The company, based in Pennsylvania, operates more than 700 stores in several states.

The Detroit News contributed to this report.

It’s befitting the Sparkle Network’s Comedy Night on Feb. 8 at the Emerald Theater is held annually around Valentine’s Day, since it conjures up feelings that are both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

“We have four charities that will benefit this year,” said Moe Lietz of Rochester Hills, founder of the Sparkle Network and one of four comedians including Chris Young, Justin Divozzo and Diego Attanasio performing.

Every year since Lietz and her troupe of comedians started doing the event a variety of charities throughout Macomb and Oakland counties have benefited from the fundraiser.

One such charity is the Great Lakes Burn Camp.

While it’s heartbreaking the incidents that bring a child to attend the camp, it’s a joy to see how the summer experience, supported by a corps of volunteers including firefighters and other first responders, fosters healing, self-esteem, confidence and general well-being for burn-injured children.

It’s also heartwarming to know proceeds from Comedy Night will help to support this mission to provide unconditional love and acceptance for the campers.

“Last year we raised $6,500,” said Lietz, who started the Sparkle Network as a way of supporting local causes and to support signature events and programs for young people including its Dream, Believe and Do Scholarship, which will also receive a portion of the proceeds from Comedy Night.

The scholarship is given to high school seniors in Macomb and Oakland counties who have completed 40 hours of community service and have a dream they believe in.

The other two charities benefiting from #Heartbreakers Comedy Night include:

Susie Q’s Kids: Comfort Bags for Kids — The nonprofit works to support the mental health and well-being of children in the community through a variety of services that include creating comfort bags that feature panda bears, blankets, socks and other essential items for children in hospitals, hospice, shelters, foster care, grief centers, schools, camps or wherever there might be a need. The group also serves as an advocate for suicide awareness and prevention and individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Meadowbrook Center for Learning — Based in Rochester Hills, Meadowbrook Center is a nonprofit dedicated to removing barriers to learning, fostering life success for all individuals and promoting community awareness and understanding of learning challenges such as ADHD, dyslexia and autism.

Besides being a great fundraiser it’s a hoot-of-an-opportunity to treat your Valentine to a fun night out.

Tickets for are $30 each.

This includes the show and a brown bag of snacks, plus the infamous Comedy Night swag bag.

However, Lietz encourages buying them as a couple ($50 pair) or a group of 8 ($300 dinner and table on main floor), unless you’re the outgoing kind who enjoys meeting new people.

“We seat everyone by tables,” she said. “So, I have to play matchmaker every year to those who buy only one ticket.”

Tickets can be purchased online at sparklenetwork.org/heartbreakers-2024-comedy-event/. Once you purchase a ticket you will be asked to designate what participating charity your ticket money will go to.

The Emerald Theatre is at 31 North Walnut St., Mount Clemens. For more information visit sparklenetwork.org/.

Today is Monday, Jan. 13, the 13th day of 2025. There are 352 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Jan. 13, 2021, President Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. House over the violent Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol, becoming the only president to be twice impeached; ten Republicans joined Democrats in voting to impeach Trump on a charge of “incitement of insurrection.” (Trump would again be acquitted by the Senate in a vote after his term was over.)

Also on this date:

In 1733, James Oglethorpe and some 120 English colonists arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, while en route to settle in present-day Georgia.

In 1794, President George Washington approved a measure adding two stars and two stripes to the American flag, following the admission of Vermont and Kentucky to the Union. (The number of stripes was later reduced to the original 13.)

In 1941, a new law went into effect granting Puerto Ricans U.S. birthright citizenship.

In 1979, singer Donny Hathaway died in a fall from a hotel window in New York. He was 34. Hathaway was known for his duets with Roberta Flack and the holiday song “This Christmas.”

In 1982, an Air Florida 737 crashed into Washington, D.C.’s 14th Street Bridge and fell into the Potomac River while trying to take off during a snowstorm, killing a total of 78 people, including four motorists on the bridge; four passengers and a flight attendant survived.

In 1990, L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia became the nation’s first elected Black governor as he took the oath of office in Richmond.

In 1992, Japan apologized for forcing tens of thousands of Korean women to serve as sex slaves for its soldiers during World War II, citing newly uncovered documents that showed the Japanese army had a role in abducting the so-called “comfort women.”

Today’s birthdays:

• Golf Hall of Famer Mark O’Meara is 68.
• Actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus is 64.
• Country singer Trace Adkins is 63.
• Actor Patrick Dempsey is 59.
• TV producer-writer Shonda Rhimes is 55.
• Actor Orlando Bloom is 48.
• Actor Liam Hemsworth is 35.
• Actor Natalia Dyer is 30.
• NHL center Connor McDavid is 28.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Jayden Daniels ran for a critical first down to set up Zane Gonzalez’s 37-yard field goal that clanged off the right upright and went through as time expired, and the Washington Commanders beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 in an NFC wild-card game Sunday night for the franchise’s first playoff win in 6,945 days.

Daniels, playing with a bandage beneath his right eye after his face was bloodied, became the third rookie quarterback in three years to win a playoff game.

The Commanders (13-5) will face the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions (15-2) in the divisional round. The game will be Saturday at 8 p.m. (FOX) at Ford Field.

Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers (10-8) missed several opportunities and the veteran quarterback committed a critical turnover in the fourth quarter. The Bucs couldn’t get 1 yard on two tries from the Commanders 12 and settled for a field goal to tie the game before Washington’s winning drive.

Daniels threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns, joining C.J. Stroud and Brock Purdy as rookie QBs to win playoff games in the past three seasons.

Washington hadn’t won in the postseason since beating the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay 17-10 in a wild-card game on Jan. 7, 2006.

— By ROB MAADDI, The Associated Press

The California wildfires hit very close to home for a Ferndale man whose brother and nephew lived in the Pacific Palisades neighborhoods in L.A.

Pacific Palisades is one of the hardest hit areas.

He was awoken Tuesday morning to basically sirens, said Cole Clark of Ferndale.

Cole Clarks brother, Spencer Clark, has lived in California for the past 15 years.

Earlier this week, Spencer and his 7-year-old son Canyon lost their home and most of their belongings after a fire destroyed their apartment.

He had about 30 minutes to grab everything he could and evacuate, said Cole Clark.

Spencer and his son have since been staying with friends as he looks for other places to live.

Thats when Cole says he wanted to help his brother out so he started a GoFundMe for him.

He was hesitant at first for me to start it, hes not one to step into the spotlight and he definitely knows their probably many more people that definitely need help more than he does, said Cole. But I know my brother being as humble as he is was going to be hesitant to take any quote on quote charity but so I took it upon myself to start a GoFundMe for him.

Spencer wasnt available on Sunday to speak with us on camera but he did tell me over the phone that hes grateful to everyone who has and will donate.

Cole says he brother has also been encouraging people to support the L.A. firefighters.

 He would say as much as I would love to get the donations there are still people who are fighting the fires and people who are still in harms way, said Cole.

Cole added that his main goal is just making sure his brother and nephew have what they need to find a new home and hopefully get back to normal.

Anytime something like this happens, you love your family, you just want to do everything you can to try and help them out, said Cole.

If you would like to donate to Spencers GoFundMe, you can find the link here.

DETROIT — The Red Wings have won in different ways during this, what is now, a seven-game winning streak.

On Sunday, they did it relatively quick and easy fashion.

The Wings breezed to a 6-2 victory over Seattle at Little Caesars Arena, exploding for four first-period goals and coasting the final 40 minutes.

The last time the Wings won seven consecutive games was Jan. 12-23, 2012. The Wings (20-18-4) conclude a four-game homestand Tuesday against San Jose, and then head out for a rugged four-game road trip.

“You don’t want to take your foot off the gas and we’ve struggled with leads,” said captain Dylan Larkin of the explosive start. “Today was a great challenge. That first period, we score four early and we have to play, there’s a lot of hockey left and we answered it. Our details were good.

“That’s how you play with the lead and we stuck together when we needed to and it’s good to close that one out.”

The Wings are 7-1-0 under coach Todd McLellan, who took over Dec. 26, including the seven straight wins. It has been a different-looking Wings team, one playing with confidence and many players who weren’t succeeding with the previous staff now playing better.

“You’re either, in my opinion, moving forward or repairing and right now we’ve been able to have some success,” McLellan said. “The nuggets we’ve tried to give the players, because they’ve had success, they’re waiting for more and what else do you have for us? What more can we add to it? Because it’s been working for us, but also players buying in and applying it.”

Six different Wings scored goals against Seattle. Marco Kasper, J.T. Compher, Alex DeBrincat (power play), Patrick Kane, Erik Gustafsson (power play) and Dylan Larkin (power play) had goals, while Lucas Raymond, Mortiz Seider, and Vladimir Tarasenko each had two assists.

“(It builds) individual confidence but (also) team confidence,” McLellan said of the balanced scoring. “The offensive players are excited for those guys to score. The bench is excited, and that’s a real positive for us. You can’t have just Patrick Kane and Dylan Larkin and Razor (Raymond) doing all the scoring. It has to be balanced.”

While going 3-for-4 on the power play, the Wings extended their streak of scoring a power-play goal to eight consecutive games, matching an eight-game streak from March 19-April 2, 2016.

Goaltender Cam Talbot stopped 31 shots, earning the victory.

Oliver Bjorkstrand (power play) and Matty Beniers (Michigan) had goals for Seattle (18-23-3).

The Wings jumped Seattle early. Kasper (his fourth goal), deflected Raymond’s shot at 3:22 and 11 seconds later, Compher won a face-off and redirected Tarasenko’s shot for Compher’s sixth goal.

The Wings added two more goals 1:37 apart a short time later. DeBrincat made it 3-0 with his 19th goal, on the power play at 6:16, and Kane made it 4-0 with his 10th goal, on an easy tap-in of Gustafsson’s pass at 7:53.

Gustafsson reached the goal-scoring column at 4:17, his second goal, with a drive from the high slot, making the score 5-0. Larkin scored his 18th, and the Wings’ third power-play tally, converting a nice feed from Kane at 15:21.

“We knew they played (Saturday afternoon), but it’s a lot about us,” Kasper said. “How we prepare for a game, and we had a good practice (Saturday) and coming in with a six-game win streak, just our confidence is high. We skated our first two minutes and that set us up for good second and third periods.”

The good, fast starts were also something that were inconsistent earlier in the season for the Wings. But they’ve become gradually more of a staple of the Wings’ lately, and they checked off pretty much everything they wanted to do against the Kraken.

“We got on the forecheck, and we had a good shot mentality,” Larkin said. “We knew they would be hard to play against and they battle in the defensive zone. We got pucks to the net and they went in early, and after we got to one and two (goals) we kept the foot on the gas.

“It was a great start for us.”

ANN ARBOR — Michigan coach Dusty May and the Wolverines have made it a goal to fill up Crisler Center.

That mission, it’s safe to say, is being accomplished.

Off to its best start in Big Ten play in four seasons, No. 24 Michigan gave fans more reason to keep packing the stands by extending its win streak and taking down Washington, 91-75, on Sunday.

Vlad Goldin had 19 points to lead another balanced scoring attack. Nimari Burnett scored 16 on 6-for-6 shooting and made four of Michigan’s 11 3-pointers to highlight another offensive performance where the Wolverines shot better than 50% from the field.

It all resulted in a fifth straight victory by a double-digit margin for Michigan (13-3, 5-0 Big Ten).

“Everybody contributed in this game. It wasn’t a single effort,” said Goldin, who finished 6-for-7 from the field and added seven rebounds. “So many people stepped up when we needed it the most, when the game didn’t go the way we wanted it to go.

“It’s helpful when everybody plays the right way. It makes it feel amazing.”

Even though the Wolverines had to deal with foul trouble with the frontcourt trio of Danny Wolf, Will Tschetter and Goldin much of the game, it didn’t prove detrimental. Instead, they built on a 10-point halftime lead and widened the margin to 55-42 early in the second half on a three-point play from Roddy Gayle Jr.

And even when Michigan waded through a stagnant stretch where it had a four-minute scoring drought and Wolf headed to the bench with his third foul, Washington couldn’t put a serious dent in the deficit. Instead, the Huskies (10-7, 1-5) could only muster two free throws in a span of six minutes.

Once Wolf checked back in, the Wolverines blew the game open. He whipped a pass to Sam Walters for a corner 3-pointer. Two possessions later, Wolf knocked down a deep ball during a 7-0 burst. Michigan pulled ahead 79-60 with 7:45 to go.

The Wolverines led by at least 13 points the rest of the way as they continued their best start to conference play since the 2020-21 campaign, when Michigan began 6-0 in league and won the Big Ten regular-season title.

Great Osobor had 23 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out late for Washington. The Huskies shot 41.3% from the field (26-for-63) against Michigan, which mixed in zone and man-to-man defenses, lost the turnover battle (12-11) and led for a meager 18 seconds during the first two minutes of the game.

Gayle finished with 15 points in his return to the lineup after missing last game with knee soreness. Walters chipped in 12 points off the bench. Wolf added 11 points and eight rebounds.

The Wolverines missed 10 free throws but shot 52.7% from the field (29-for-55), marking the 10th time this season they’ve made at least half of their shots in a game.

“I think the style of play that we play, the pace that we play, the ball movement, finding open cutters and open shooters attributes to that,” Burnett said. “I think the everyday process — the shots that we get off and on the court, the film we watch every single day — helps with the style of play we play.

“The Cleveland Cavaliers have said they play an ethical style of basketball, and I feel like we have a lot of those traits.”

Michigan, once again, showed that from the jump. And just like they did during their West Coast sweep of USC and UCLA, the Wolverines got off to a strong offensive start against a new Big Ten member.

Goldin capped a string of seven unanswered points by draining a 3-pointer on an out-of-bounds play. Wolf scored on a driving layup and backed down a defender for a finish at the rim. The Wolverines set the tone by making six of their first nine shots and grabbing a 15-7 lead with 15:01 left in the first half.

Osobor kept Washington close and gave Michigan fits after Goldin picked up his second foul at the 13:44 mark. With Goldin on the bench, Osobor took advantage of mismatches, made four consecutive shots and scored 10 straight points for the Huskies.

The Wolverines shrugged off Osobor’s hot stretch and created separation, even after Wolf joined Goldin with two fouls at the 8:23 mark. Gayle pulled down a rebound and went coast-to-coast for a layup to cap a string of six unanswered points. Burnett canned three 3-pointers over the final six minutes of the half.

Michigan navigated the foul trouble with its big men down the stretch — and produced a highlight along the way, with an alley-oop slam by Goldin off a half-court pass from Tre Donaldson — en route to a 48-38 lead at the break.

“I thought we did some nice things overall for a choppy Sunday afternoon game,” May said. “I don’t think either team would have been pleased with the flow of the game, but we both contributed to it. We were changing defenses. We were both in foul trouble.

“Just an odd game. But over the course of a 20-game Big Ten season, you have to be able to play a lot of different styles, a lot of different ways, and we definitely got something done today. … We need to continue to stay strong, healthy, and figure out different ways to win.”

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Reserve Grace VanSlooten scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds —her third double-double this season — and Julia Ayrault also scored 19 points with eight rebounds to help No. 20 Michigan State beat Washington 80-68 on Sunday.

Theryn Hallock and Ines Sotelo each scored 11 points for Michigan State (13-3, 3-2 Big Ten).

Elle Ladine hit two free throws, Sayvia Sellers scored in the paint and Ladine added a 3-pointer in a 7-2 spurt that gave the Huskies a one-point lead a little more than 2 minutes into the second half. Michigan State scored seven consecutive points to take a 48-42 lead with 4:58 left in the third quarter and the Spartans led the rest of the way.

Sellers led the Huskies with 21 points, Ladine added 17 and Hannah Stines scored 11. Dalayah Daniels grabbed 11 rebounds to go with six points, three steals and two blocks.

Washington (13-5, 3-2) had its five-game win streak snapped.

Hallock scored seven points in a 9-4 spurt to open the fourth quarter that gave Michigan State a 12-point lead three minutes into the period and the Huskies trailed by at least seven points the rest of the way.

The Spartans scored 22 points off 20 Washington turnovers and Michigan State outscored the Huskies 31-13 in bench points.

Washington plays at No. 25 Michigan and the Spartans hit the road to take on Rutgers, both on Wednesday.

With such a wide range of bourbon options in Kentucky, how cold weather affects production could be front of mind for some.

"On the aging side, the cold's a big part of it," said Cody Giles, head distiller at James E. Pepper. Giles particularly refers to temperature gradients.

"You're pushing the whiskey into the wood and then during the cold weather, that would contract, and it sort of pushes its way back into the interior of the barrel," he explained.

RELATED STORY | From monks to mixologists: A history of whiskey for World Whiskey Day

After being closed early last week, James E. Pepper is back up and running, with distilling and fermentation not taking too much of a hit.

However, Giles said, "If we got really, really cold, maybe sub-zero for extended periods of time, it would probably hurt us a little more."

For now, the head distiller says they're on schedule. From the stillhouse to the fermenter room, with frigid temperatures outside, Pepper Distillery works to keep the aging process consistent and quality the same.

"My philosophy on the fermentation and distilling side for flavor is a clean fermentation is going to be most important," Giles noted.

Moving barrels to their storage facility, Giles cannot overstate the importance of the next few days.

"Extreme, extreme cold. Always run the risk of pipes freezing, pipes bursting," Giles said.

Giles and six full-time distillers are watching the forecast closely as operations continue.

RELATED STORY | Bourbon scams leaving buyers out hundreds of dollars

Operations assistant Katherine Foley told Scripps News Lexington that Pepper Distillery does not temperature control their warehouses or pump heat into them.

"Our warehouses are built to experience natural temperature fluctuations throughout the year," Foley said. "When it's cold outside, like it is now, the aging process does naturally slow down, but this is not detrimental to the quality of our bourbon. These seasonal changes allow each barrel to develop its own distinct profile based on its placement in the warehouse and exposure to varying temperatures over time. Hopefully this cold weather pattern will result in some unique single barrels in a few years."

Pepper Distillery has about 7,000 barrels at its storage facility in Midway.

This story was originally published by Drew Amman at

Scripps News Lexington.

The 2025 preseason baseball coaches poll from the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association has been released.

Here are the preseason top 20 teams in each division:

 

DIVISION 1

1 Birmingham Brother Rice

2 Bay City Western

3 Novi

4 Jenison

5 West Bloomfield

6 South Lyon

7 Hudsonville

8 Detroit Catholic Central

9 Anchor Bay

10 Lake Orion

11 Grand Blanc

12 Saline

13 Sterling Heights Stevenson

14 Portage Northern

15 Midland

16 Mattawan

17 Hartland

18 Northville

19 Rochester

20 Dexter

DIVISION 2

1 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

2 Ada Forest Hills Eastern

3 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep

4 Standish-Sterling

5 New Boston Huron

6 Trenton

7 Flint Powers Catholic

8 Spring Lake

9 St. Clair

10 Flat Rock

11 Dearborn Divine Child

12 Coopersville

13 Grand Rapids Christian

14 Richland Gull Lake

15 Macomb Lutheran North

16 Richmond

17 North Branch

18 Williamston

19 Grand Rapids West Catholic

20 Detroit Country Day

 

DIVISION 3

1 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett

2 Jackson Lumen Christi

3 Detroit Edison

4 North Muskegon

5 Traverse City St. Francis

6 Algonac

7 Hemlock

8 Ottawa Lake Whiteford

9 Ann Arbor Greenhills

10 Hanover Horton

11 Blissfield

12 Lansing Catholic Central

13 Schoolcraft

14 Kalamazoo Christian

15 Watervliet

16 Negaunee

17 Elk Rapids

18 Onsted

19 Ecorse

20 Brooklyn Columbia Central

 

DIVISION 4

1 Beal City

2 Portland St. Patrick

3 Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart

4 Marine City Cardinal Mooney

5 Kalamazoo Hackett

6 Fowler

7 Merrill

8 Vermontville Maple Valley

9 Marcellus

10 Norway

11 Plymouth Christian

12 Riverview Gabriel Richard

13 Muskegon Catholic Central

14 Decatur

15 Rudyard

16 Indian River Inland Lakes

17 Rogers City

18 Ubly

19 East Jordan

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Vice President-elect JD Vance like President-elect Donald Trump is taking aim at California leadership as wildfires continue to rage in the southern part of the state.

Appearing Sunday on Fox News, Vance criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom for "very bad decisions" leading up to the wildfires, which have claimed the lives of at least 16 people and destroyed thousands of structures and landmarks in the Los Angeles area.

RELATED STORY | Los Angeles wildfires death toll rises as crews fight heavy winds to save homes and landmarks

"We have to do a better job. We need competent, good governance," Vance said. "Now that doesn't mean you can't criticize the governor of California for I think some very bad decisions over a very long period of time. I mean, some of these reservoirs have been dry for 15, 20 years. The fire hydrants are being reported as going dry while the firefighters are tying to put out these fires. There is a serious lack of competent governance in California and I think it's part of the reason why these fires have gotten so bad."

"President Trump is committed to doing a better job when it comes to disaster relief," Vance added. "That's true for the hurricane victims and flood victims in North Carolina. Its true for the fire victims in California. We just, we have to do a better job."

RELATED STORY | Why did fire hydrants run dry amid Los Angeles fires? It's a familiar problem in disasters

California Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump on Friday, inviting him to come see the effects of the wildfires after Trump criticized Newsom's handling of the disaster and propagated misinformation about response efforts.

"In the spirit of this great country, we must not politicize human tragedy or spread disinformation from the sidelines," Newsom wrote. "Hundreds of thousands of Americans displaced from their homes and fearful for the future deserve to see all of us working in their best interests to ensure a fast recovery and rebuild."

RELATED STORY | Officials apologize for erroneous evacuation alerts sent to residents during California wildfires

The massive Palisades Fire, the largest in Los Angeles County history, is continuing to grow after officials ordered additional evacuations late Friday. It was the largest of several active fires burning in Los Angeles County.

While Hurricane-force wind gusts fueled the flames last week, those winds have since subsided in the Los Angeles area, perhaps giving firefighters an opportunity to better contain the fires.

However, areas north and east of Los Angeles remain under a red flag warning, meaning conditions are favorable for wildfire development. The National Weather Service says winds could gust up to 65 mph in inland Orange County.

Fire status as of Sunday afternoon:

Palisades Fire, Pacific Palisades: 23,713 acres, 11% contained Eaton Fire, North Pasadena and Altadena: 14,117 acres, 27% contained Hurst Fire, Sylmar area: 799 acres. 89% contained

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Jaden Akins scored 14 points and No. 16 Michigan State extended its winning streak to nine games with a 78-68 win over Northwestern on Sunday.

The Spartans (14-2, 5-0 Big Ten) closed the first half on a 33-12 run and led 47-28 at intermission after all 10 players chipped in at least a field goal. The Wildcats (10-6, 1-4) finally got their deficit under 10 points in the game’s final minute.

Jase Richardson scored 13 points and Jeremy Fears Jr. had 12 points and eight assists for the Spartans, whose six dunks in the first half drew plenty of roars from visiting fans who seemed to make up half of the sellout crowd.

Nick Martinelli scored 27 points and Jalen Leach had 17 to lead Northwestern, which lost for the first time at home and dropped its third straight overall.

Takeaways

Michigan State has one of the nation’s most productive benches, and the reserves delivered again. The Spartans’ subs (24 points) nearly outscored the Wildcats in the opening half.

Northwestern had beaten five straight top-25 opponents at Welsh-Ryan Arena, but compounded the decisive first-half run with four turnovers while going 3 for 18 from the floor.

Key moment

Richardson got fouled on a putback and added the free throw to give the Spartans a 17-16 lead with a little more than 13 minutes to play in the first half. It started a 14-point run that gave his team control of the game.

Key stat

Northwestern’s Brooks Barnhizer started the day averaging 19.3 points, but missed his first seven shots and finished with four points on 2-for-13 shooting.

Up next

Michigan State hosts Penn State on Wednesday, and Northwestern hosts Maryland on Thursday.

The annual Detroit auto show is now open to the public now this event has been going on since 1907 and its only after the last three additions the event has gone back to its roots by having a January event. So Im asking people what they think about it also, what are some of the most fond memories of the event.

"Im 60 years old, I probably come down since I was 12," said Kevin Socha.

"Oh Ive coming here pretty much since it started," said Sue Vernier.

"I'm 28," said Andrew Poore. "(I've been coming with my Dad) since I was a little kid, since they made automobiles."

"My uncle worked for Dodge way back and I came with him one year and I just loved it," Sue said. "I mean it was the concepts were just excellent back then. They had a lot of concept cars, more than they do now back then."

"Coming through here with all the people, with all the cars been able to get in them," said Vernita Scott. "To look at the real high price tags on them... but I just love coming downtown."

"I remember there used to be a GM club. He got in because he was a GM employee, and they used to have cookies of the cars. That was one of my favorite memories," Andrew said.

"We used to have cookie shaped like cars, because I was a GM employee, they would always give me the cookies," said James Poore. "I dont know... going with him to the car show he loves cars just like I do."

"Well, what I did like was more exhibit now were down to the tracks and theres just not a lot of cars I think that used to put on exhibits here you know used to have Volkswagen had their own show. Its just more variety to look you know like you come down here you look at a Genesis, they got an electric Genesis thats it," Kevin said.

After a few years, its finally returned back to its roots by having the event in January. What did people think about that?

"I like it," said Scott Duncan. "We used to come down here every January, gives us something to do wintertime when you cant get outside."

"I like this better," Vernita said. "Because its tradition to me, Im used to it being in January, used to all the snow and cold whenever you come down here."

"Come on down, see all the new stuff, its good time," Andrew said. "With your dad, with your wife or anybody you want."

The events runs until Monday, Jan. 20.

Where Your Voice Matters

One of the top offensive linemen in the transfer portal committed to the Michigan State football team Saturday. All it took was a little visit to Breslin Center.

Just two days after visiting East Lansing, former Montana State offensive tackle Conner Moore committed to Michigan State. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound rising redshirt junior announced his decision via social media.

Moore just finished a run to the Football Championship Subdivision national championship game, where he and Montana State fell to powerhouse North Dakota State. Moore earned FCS second team All-American honors last season.

Michigan State has extensively targeted both sides of the line in the transfer portal, having already picked up commitments from center Luka Vincic (Oregon State), guard Matt Gulbin (Wake Forest) and tackle Caleb Carter (Western Carolina). But Moore might be the most important pickup yet. Across 904 offensive snaps with Montana State, he stood out as a threat in the run game while also making a difference in pass protection.

Pro Football Focus, a football analytics company that grades players on a scale of 0 to 100, gave Moore an overall grade of 76.7, which ranked 59th among all offensive tackles in both subdivisions of Division I football. Moore stood out with a 77.1 grade in run blocking, which ranked 39th in the country. While those ratings come from film against lower level competition than what he will face in the Big Ten, he was one of the top offensive linemen left in the transfer portal.

To put these figures into context, Michigan State left tackle Ramil Stanton ranked 482nd with an overall grade of 55.4. Run blocking, he rated 57.9. Right tackle Ashton Lepo checked in at 45.3 and 51.4, respectively.

The help is much needed for the Spartans, whose line struggled to make a difference in both the running and passing game. Michigan State picked up an average of 115.3 yards rushing, which ranked in the bottom 25 of the Football Bowl Subdivision. Thirty times last season, quarterback Aidan Chiles found himself sacked, and that number should’ve been higher had the sophomore not frequently escaped the pocket to avoid danger. Moore should be an upgrade to improve those figures, as are the three other linemen Michigan State already picked up.

It’s clear that Michigan State knew how much Moore could bring to the team next season, as shown by Moore’s recruiting visit. As the Michigan State men’s basketball team ran Washington off the court in an 88-54 blowout, Moore took in the game with head coach Jonathan Smith and offensive line coach Jim Michalczik. And whatever pitch the two coaches laid out was clearly convincing enough to earn Moore’s pledge.

Moore is the 15th transfer to join the Spartans since the portal opened on Dec. 9.

Michigan State’s transfer additions include: offensive linemen Luka Vincic (Oregon State), Caleb Carter (Western Carolina), Matt Gulbin (Wake Forest) and Conner Moore (Montana State); wide receivers Evan Boyd (Central Michigan), Chrishon McCray (Kent State), Omari Kelly (Middle Tennessee) and Rodney Bullard (Valdosta State); running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver (Sacramento State); defensive tackle Grady Kelly (Florida State); defensive backs NiJhay Burt (Eastern Illinois), Joshua Eaton (Texas State) and Malcolm Bell (Connecticut); and edge rushers/outside linebackers David Santiago (Air Force), Anelu Lafaele (Wisconsin) and Aisea Moa (Brigham Young).

It's a comment from president-elect Donald Trump that caught many people off guard.

"We're going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America," he said.

Trump linked his decision to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to immigration.

"Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country," he said.

RELATED STORY | Can Trump rename the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America?'

Mexico's president has her own idea.

"Obviously, the name Gulf of Mexico is recognized by the United Nations by a United Nations agency. Why don't we call it [North America] "Amrica Mexicana"? That sounds nice, no?" Claudia Sheinbaum said sarcastically during her daily press briefing.

The Gulf of Mexico is 930 miles wide and bordered by the United States and Mexico. Both countries have roughly equal the same share of shoreline.

Nicole Anslover is an associate professor of history at Florida Atlantic University. She said the body of water has carried that name "Gulf of Mexico" for roughly 400 years.

"It's not because of the modern nation state Mexico that we know. It's actually when the Spanish were over here conquering and settling part of the area, they named it Mexico after a city that they found nearby," she said. "So, it doesn't even refer to the country of Mexico even though that's the general impression."

RELATED STORY | Traces of fentanyl and other drugs found in bottlenose dolphins in Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is used by both countries and Cuba for commerce.

"Lots of shipping and a lot of energy purposes. So, we not only get petroleum from there but wind energy and things like that," Anslover said.

So, is it possible for the president-elect to change the name? Yes. But Anslover said no other countries would have to recognize the change. She said Trump can work with the U.S. Board of Geographic Name or Congress. She said things can get confusing.

"Especially with weather reporting, things like that," she said. "If all other agencies in the world were calling it the Gulf of Mexico and our country was to call it the Gulf of America, that would cause some confusion with things like any future treaties, any shipping."

This story was originally published by Todd Wilson at

Scripps News West Palm Beach.

Three people were hospitalized after being shot inside a Detroit bar overnight.

A spokesperson for the Detroit Police Department tells us that the shooting happened around 1 a.m. Sunday morning in the 5500 block of Michigan Avenue.

Police tell us that two men and one woman were struck. They were all taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police are still looking for the suspect from this incident. If you have information regarding this incident, you can call the Detroit Police Departments 4th Precinct at 313-596-5440 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up.

In the new year, people often make goals for their bodies, but not their cars. There are some things you can do to make sure your car is ready for 2025 and for winter.

It saves on gas," said Eddie Douglas. "Make sure the maintenance is up on it to keep it running efficiently and make it last long."

RELATED STORY | Do's and don'ts of car maintenance to avoid big repair bills

Scripps News correspondent Ali Hoxi went to Interstate Auto Care in Detroit and spoke with President Bill Nalu about ways to keep up on your car.

Fluid maintenance is by far the least expensive way to keep that vehicle up and keep the costs down, said Nalu.

Here are his top three tips:

Stay on top of fluids in your car, especially engine oil. Engine oil is needed to help reduce damaging friction inside the engine, and that reduces your cars performance.    Get your tires checked before any big snow storms or pothole season. If the snow starts to fall, if we get ice on the ground, thats when a lot of time tire stores get inundated with people, said Nalu. I always think to myself why, why would you risk spending thousand of dollars on collision, when you have hundreds of dollars involved in putting in some tires that are going to give you some grip.  Find a mechanic that you trust and build a good relationship with them. You have to have someone you can trust, said driver Linda Gottschalk. 

RELATED STORY | Beware: many newer cars have no spare tire, not even a 'donut'

Remember, the more technology you have in your car, its likely going to cost you more to fix.

This story was originally published by Ali Hoxie at

Scripps News Detroit.

After the initial crush of personnel announcements for President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration, now the nominations process officially begins.

Senate hearings are scheduled this coming week for several of Trump's picks for the Cabinet. Many have met with senators individually. Now, they will go before the committees overseeing the agencies that Trump wants them to run.

Here's a look at the schedule for Senate hearings set so far, in Eastern time:

Tuesday

9 a.m.: Doug Collins, Department of Veterans Affairs

The former Georgia congressman is up first, before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. Collins is a Baptist minister, former U.S. Navy chaplain and Air Force Reserve colonel. The VA provides health care to former members of the U.S. armed forces.

9:30 a.m.: Pete Hegseth, Department of Defense

RELATED STORY | Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth declines to answer questions about assault allegations

The former Fox & Friends weekend host and Army National Guard combat veteran goes before the Senate Armed Services Committee after weeks of meetings during which some senators have questioned his fitness for the role amid allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. The Pentagon chief's authority over the U.S. military is second only to that of the president's.

10 a.m.: Doug Burgum, Interior Department

The former governor of North Dakota and businessman appears before members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, who will consider his nomination as interior secretary, the chief steward of U.S. public lands. Burgum, who endorsed Trump after ending his own 2024 presidential bid and campaigned for Trump, has also been tapped to lead the National Energy Council. Trump has said the council will seek to establish U.S. energy dominance around the world.

Wednesday

9 a.m.: Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Department

The South Dakota governor will appear before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The rancher and former congresswoman is in line to head one of the government's biggest agencies, integral to Trump's pledge to secure the border and carry out a massive deportation operation.

9:30 a.m.: Pam Bondi, Justice Department

RELATED STORY | Trump nominates Pam Bondi to serve as US attorney general after Matt Gaetz withdraws

The former Florida attorney general makes the first of two scheduled appearances before the Senate Judiciary Committee. She was Trump's pick for attorney general hours after his first choice, former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration. Gaetz was facing questions about a federal sex trafficking investigation and a House Ethics Committee inquiry into allegations that he paid for sex, including with a 17-year-old girl.

Bondi is a longtime fixture in Trump's orbit. The attorney general will be one of the most closely watched Cabinet members, given the concern among Democrats that Trump will look to bend the Justice Department to his will.

10 a.m.: Sean Duffy, Transportation Department

The former Wisconsin congressman who was also a co-host on Fox Business will be questioned by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. The department oversees pipelines, railroads, cars, trucks, airlines and mass transit systems, as well as funding for highways.

10 a.m.: John Ratcliffe, CIA

Ratcliffe, director of national intelligence for the final months of Trumps first term, goes before Senate Intelligence Committee. The former Texas congressman is in line to lead the nation's premier spy agency, responsible for foreign covert operations and collecting data on U.S. adversaries.

RELATED STORY | What could a second Trump term look like in the White House?

10 a.m.: Marco Rubio, State Department

The Florida senator has served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which is considering his nomination to be secretary of state. As head of the State Department, job, Rubio would oversee the U.S. foreign service, advise Trump on diplomatic appointments and conduct negotiations with foreign leaders on behalf of the administration.

10 a.m.: Chris Wright, Energy Department

The fossil fuel executive, who has been one of the industrys loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change, appears before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The secretary oversees energy generation and use in the United States as well as the nation's nuclear weapon stockpile. Wright would also join Burgum on the National Energy Council.

1 p.m.: Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget

Vought, OMB director during Trump's first term, goes before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trumps second term that the Republican nominee tried to distance himself from during the campaign. The budget director oversee the building of the presidents budget and review of proposed regulations.

Thursday

10 a.m.: Scott Turner, Housing and Urban Development Department

The former NFL player who ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council in Trump's first term appears at a hearing before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Turner is a professional mentor, pastor and former Texas House member. HUD is charged with addressing the nations housing needs and fair housing laws, and oversees housing for the poorest Americans.

10 a.m.: Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency

The former New York congressman appears before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The agency is tasked with matters pertaining to environmental protection, conducting assessments, research, education and maintaining and enforcing national standards.

RELATED STORY | Trump's cabinet picks targeted with violent threats, transition team says

10:15 a.m.: Bondi, Day 2 before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

10:30 a.m.: Scott Bessent, Treasury Department

The billionaire money manager from South Carolina takes questions from members of the Senate Finance Committee. Bessent would be the first openly LGBTQ Senate-confirmed Cabinet member in a Republican administration. The treasury chief helps formulate financial, economic, and tax policy, and manage the public debt.

Dates not yet confirmed

Hearings are not yet scheduled for all of Trump's choices, including some of the most contentious:

Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Department

Tulsi Gabbard, Office of the Director of National Intelligence

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services Department

RELATED STORY | Nobel Prize winners urge senators to reject RFK Jr. as health services leader

Howard Lutnick, Commerce Department

Linda McMahon, Education Department

Kash Patel, FBI

Brooke Rollins, Agriculture Department

Elise Stefanik, U.N. ambassador