President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” is expected to cost Michigan more than $1 billion, forcing steep cuts to safety net programs like Medicaid and food assistance that support millions of lower-income residents. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law on July 4, reduces taxes to corporations and wealthy Americans and increases funding to the military and immigration enforcement. But to pay for it, the Republican-led bill slashes federal spending on Medicaid and the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), shifting those costs onto cash-strapped states.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry had dinner together in Montreal this week.

A communications consultant for the restaurant Le Violon confirmed Tuesday that the former prime minister and the singer spent about two hours at the fine-dining spot Monday evening. Photos of the meetup published by TMZ sparked speculation of a budding romance.

Samantha Jin said the pair kept to themselves and neither the staff nor other patrons approached them for a photo. We kind of got the vibe that they were a little more chill, she said.

Jin added that there was no indication of romance in the air, noting: No visual signs of PDA or anything.

The report about the dinner first appeared on TMZ, which posted video of Trudeau and Perry in animated conversation at the eatery.

RELATED STORY | Katy Perry, Gayle King return to Earth in successful all-female Blue Origin spaceflight

Perry recently split from longtime partner Orlando Bloom and is on tour with stops including Ottawa on Tuesday, Montreal on Wednesday, Quebec City on Friday, and two dates in Toronto next week.

Trudeau and his ex-wife Sophie Grgoire separated in 2023.

During the meal, Jin said security watched from the bar as the pair noshed on a chefs menu featuring a range of appetizers including tuna, beef tartare, lobster and asparagus, with lamb as their main course.

Jin said Chef Danny Smiles stopped by their table to say hello, and before heading out, they came into the kitchen to thank the team.

RELATED STORY | Trudeau caught on hot mic: Trump serious about annexing Canada as the 51st state

A spokeswoman for Trudeau didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokeswoman for Perry wasn't immediately available for comment.

Trudeau announced his resignation earlier this year after nearly a decade in power. His father, late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, was a bachelor when he became prime minister. He dated actresses Barbra Streisand and Kim Cattrall and married a 22-year-old woman while in office at age 51.

Born and raised in California, Perry is a 13-time Grammy Award nominee. She helped usher in the sound of 00s pop, quickly becoming one of the bestselling artists of all time for her campy, big, belting anthems. She has released seven studio albums, most notably 2010s sugar-sweet Teenage Dream. The album produced five No. 1s that tied a record set by Michael Jacksons 1987 album Bad.

The case against a Detroiter accused of fatally stabbing a man who was reportedly his friend has been bound over to Oakland County Circuit Court for possible trial.

At the conclusion of a preliminary exam Tuesday in 46th District Court, Judge Cynthia Arvant ruled there was probable cause to advance the case against Gregory Clark, 66.

Clark is charged with second-degree homicide for the death of 64-year-old Eddie Fisher Clora, who was stabbed in the chest on April 12 in Southfield. Clark had been charged with manslaughter, but the prosecution subsequently amended the charge.

Clora was fatally stabbed during a fight with Clark outside a BP gas station at Eight Mile and Lahser roads, police said. He died at Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital.Clora’s family identified Clark as the assailant based on video evidence, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office — and described the two men as friends. Clark turned himself in four days after the stabbing, the prosecutor’s office said.

Clark is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 6 before Oakland County Circuit Judge Nanci Grant. If convicted, he could face life in prison. For now, he’s in the Oakland County Jail with bond set at $500,000, requiring him to post 10% to be released.

Sheriff: 12-year-old car thief strikes again; mom of alleged accomplice notified detectives after seeing crime posted on Facebook

Accused of sex crimes against young kids, 70-year-old pleads to charges

By MATTHEW PERRONE, AP Health Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration’s polarizing vaccine chief is leaving the agency after a brief tenure that drew the ire of biotech executives, patient groups and conservative allies of President Donald Trump.

Dr. Vinay Prasad “did not want to be a distraction” and was stepping down from his role as the FDA’s top vaccine regulator “to spend more time with his family,” a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement late Tuesday.

Two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that Prasad was ousted following several recent controversies. The people spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal personnel matters. Prasad did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday morning.

Prasad joined the FDA in May after years as an academic researcher at the University of California San Francisco, where he frequently criticized the FDA’s approach to drug approvals and COVID-19 vaccines.

His contrarian approach appeared to match FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, who repeatedly praised Prasad’s work and intellect.

But in recent weeks Prasad became a target of right-wing activists, including Laura Loomer, who flagged Prasad’s past statements criticizing Trump and praising liberal independent Senator Bernie Sanders.

“How did this Trump-hating Bernie Bro get into the Trump admin???” Loomer posted on X last week.

Trump previously fired several national security officials a day after Loomer raised concerns about their loyalty.

Prasad also attracted scrutiny for his handling of a recent safety issue surrounding the only approved gene therapy for Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy.

Under his direction, shipments of the therapy were briefly halted after a series of patient deaths, then resumed late Monday following vocal pushback from families of boys with the fatal muscle-wasting disorder.

Prasad has long been skeptical of the therapy and other muscular dystrophy drugs sold by the drugmaker, Sarepta Therapeutics. As an academic, Prasad gained prominence by attacking the FDA for being too lenient in its standards for approving cancer drugs and other new therapies.

That approach is at odds with Trump’s Republican supporters, who generally favor speedier approvals and unfettered access to experimental treatments. During Trump’s first term he signed the “ Right to Try ” law, a largely symbolic piece of legislation that won popular support from conservatives seeking to give dying patients expanded access to unproven drugs.

Prasad’s decision to pause Sarepta’s therapy was criticized last week by a columnist and the editorial board of The Wall Street Journal.

Separately, Prasad’s division issued rejection letters this month to three small biotech firms seeking approval for new gene therapies.

Those therapies have been vigorously embraced many of the anti-abortion groups in Trump’s base for their potential to address intractable diseases that sometimes lead parents to terminate pregnancies.

Prasad’s predecessor in the role, Dr. Peter Marks, oversaw a dramatic rise in approvals for new gene therapies, which aim to treat or prevent disease by replacing or modifying a portion of patients’ genetic code.

Prasad has been an outspoken critic of Marks’ leadership at FDA, which included overseeing the approval of the first COVID vaccines and therapies.

---

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

As the pads slap and the crowd roars, the Colts' football season comes alive at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana, where young athletes are eager to learn the ropes.

On a scorching summer day, tips for success in the heat resonate: Be great at things that take no talent. For these youngsters, staying active and healthy is a priority, especially in high temperatures.

"It's hot out there," noted parent Brandon Wills as he watched his son participate in drills. He emphasized the importance of sportsmanship while ensuring the kids remain active. You have to hydrate, he added, a sentiment echoed by all involved.

As youth sports ramp up with the return to school, it is vital to prioritize health and safety measures, ensuring young athletes can enjoy their games no matter the heat.

Dr. Tyler Stepsis with Eskenazi Health warned that high heat indices can pose significant safety risks.

"With high temps and high humidity, its real dangerous for people who arent acclimated to outdoor activities, Dr. Stepsis said.

Dr. Stepsis stresses that hydration is crucial, not only at the clinic but for all youth sports as school reopens.

Dr. Stepsis highlights that heat-related illnesses can occur even when temperatures arent excessively high.

Two warning signs of heat stroke include a child who feels nauseous or stops sweating. Those are indicators for a trip to the emergency room, he added.

As Maxwell and his peers strive for greatness on the field, Dr. Stepsis' advice rings clear: stay hydrated today to prepare for tomorrow.

This article was written by Adam Schumes for the Scripps News Group in Indianapolis.

A 12-year-old Pontiac boy was arrested and charged after police say he stole vehicles from a business for the second time in the past month.

The boy is accused of stealing three Chevrolet Silverado trucks and two trailers from a Waterford Township lawn care business over the weekend. The stolen vehicles and trailers, valued at $90,000, have been recovered.

The boy was arrested at his home on Wednesday by the Oakland County Auto Theft Task Force. During a hearing Wednesday, he was charged with unlawfully driving away an automobile and malicious destruction of property under $200.

We're told he will remain at Children's Village until his next court appearance in mid-August.

Police say that a month ago, the boy was arrested for stealing seven cars from a Pontiac business. Investigators say the boy sold at least one of the vehicles for $30.

A 13-year-old, believed to be an accomplice in the Waterford thefts, was also arrested. He was taken into custody after his mom saw a video of the break-in on Facebook and notified detectives.

A 12-year-old boy died from a brain-eating amoeba two weeks after a holiday weekend on a popular South Carolina lake.

The brain-eating amoeba enters the body when water is forced up the nose, like when someone jumps or dives in the water.

It causes an infection that swells the brain and destroys tissue. Fewer than 10 cases are reported each year in the U.S., but almost all are fatal.

Here are some things to know about the amoeba, its latest victim and other dangers on freshwater lakes:

What is the brain-eating amoeba?

The amoeba's scientific name is Naegleria fowleri, and it is most dangerous in water that stays for a while over 77 degrees Fahrenheit, including in lakes and rivers in the U.S. and other places with hot, sometimes dry summers like Pakistan and Australia. Infections have been reported in 26 U.S. states as far north as Minnesota.

The amoeba enters the brain through the olfactory nerve in the nose. Once inside, it causes an infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis.

Symptoms start as a fairly standard headache and nausea. By the time the pain becomes severe, it is almost always too late to save the infected person. Of the 167 cases reported in the U.S. between 1962 and 2024, only four people have survived, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of the deaths happened within five days of getting sick, according to the CDC.

One infection in a body of water doesn't increase the chances of another infection in the same body of water, the agency said. The amoeba cannot move from one person to another.

It was the first death from the amoeba in South Carolina since 2016, the CDC said.

What happened?

Jaysen Carr went swimming at Lake Murray about 15 miles west of Columbia over the July Fourth weekend.

He got sick several days later and died on July 18.

His father and mother had never heard of the amoeba before a doctor in tears told them what tests of his spinal fluid had found.

Clarence Carr said he was shocked to learn South Carolina, like most other U.S. states, has no law requiring public reporting of deaths or infections from the amoeba. The lake wasn't closed and no water testing was performed.

"My son was a very smart individual. If he had one warning, he would have thought swimming in the lake was a bad idea," Carr said.

The amoeba is common but infections are rare

The amoeba is fairly common and is most dangerous when the water is warm.

There is no science-based threshold for what level of the organism in the water would be safe or unsafe, and it would be difficult to test water regularly, the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services said in a statement.

Researchers are trying to figure out why the infections are so rare. Some people have been found to have had antibodies, signaling they may have survived exposure. Others may die from brain swelling and other problems without the amoeba ever being detected.

"My son lost his life swimming. We assumed it was safe," Carr said.

Last year, the CDC started a pilot program of giving infected patients an antibiotic approved for use in Europe that has killed the amoeba in lab studies

The amoeba can show up in hot springs, rivers and, on rare occasions, in tap water. That's why doctors recommend using sterile water for cleaning nasal passages with a neti pot.

The only way to be completely safe is to not swim in lakes or rivers and, if you do, keep your head above water. Pinching your nose or using nose clips when diving or swimming can keep water out of your nose.

Other dangers lurking in lakes and rivers

There are other dangers in swimming in lakes and rivers instead of pools, where chemicals can kill off dangerous bacteria and other organisms.

A mouthful of water could contain E.coli bacteria. And while the bacteria normally live in the intestines of healthy people and animals, some strains can cause a range of conditions, including urinary tract infection, cystitis, intestinal infection and vomiting, with the worst cases leading to life-threatening blood poisoning, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Algae can also cause illnesses. Cyanobacteria also referred to as blue-green algae are plant-like organisms that live in water.

The algae can look like foam, scum, mats, or paint on the surface of the water and can grow underneath it.

The organisms can quickly grow out of control, or "bloom," in warm weather, helped along by excessive nutrients in fertilizers and pet waste carried along by stormwater.

Some of the algae produce toxins that can cause symptoms including skin irritation, stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle and joint pain, mouth blisters, seizures, and acute liver damage, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Virgin Voyages is hopping on the pop-culture bandwagon of popular podcasts by presenting its first true crime voyage in partnership with iHeartMedia.

Departing Oct. 10 from Miami on the Valiant Lady, the one-time five-night itinerary sails to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and Virgin’s Beach Club at Bimini in the Bahamas. The cruise focuses on popular titles including “Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know,” “Betrayal ” and “Buried Bones.”

During the special voyage, guests can experience live podcast recordings of their favorite shows, attend “how to podcast” workshops, find meet-and-greets with top hosts, participate in giveaways and enjoy themed cocktails and bites.

The adults-only cruise line is packaging this as a “culture-driven sales opportunity” for its travel advisors, known as First Mates. Virgin is billing the experience as one that’s ripe for group bookings and people who are new to cruising.

“We designed the True Crime Voyage to tap into something people are already passionate about,” said Nathan Rosenberg, Virgin Voyages’ chief marketing officer and head of sales. “But we built it to make selling simple, profitable and fun because that’s what First Mates deserve.”

Guests can also book this cruise directly through the Virgin Voyages website, where prices start at $1,702 per cabin, double occupancy. The cruise line’s all-inclusive pricing model covers wifi, tips and gratuities, dining at more than 20 eateries, non-alcoholic beverages, fitness classes and entertainment.

The Valiant Lady is one of four Virgin ships, which share the same yacht-inspired design and a similar capacity of approximately 2,700 passengers each.

Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com. Stay up to date with our latest travel, arts and events coverage by subscribing to our newsletters at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.

During its 20 years of performing and 12 years of releasing music, the AJR has taken pride in not repeating itself often. So it was fitting that the 13,000 or so fans at the Pine Knob Music Theatre saw the sibling trio in a new way on Tuesday night, July 29.

The basic difference; it was not a trio. Eldest brother Adam Met (nee Metzger) busy promoting a new book, leaving Jack and Ryan — along with accompanists Arnetta Johnson on trumpet and keyboards and Chris Berry on drums — to carry the AJR mantle for the summer’s Somewhere in the Sky Tour. The pair did not mention reference Adam’s absence — which was announced prior to the tour — but did deliver the kind of exuberant, joyful performance that’s become the band’s stock in trade, belying the angst of some of its lyrics and elevating the group from street busking to arenas and amphitheaters over the course of its five studio albums.

And that ascent has been made without radio play and other conventional measures of success. Rather, AJR is emblematic of music, and especially pop’s, new world order of building audience through social media, streaming and direct methods of contact. Shared by the other four acts on Tuesday’s bill — all of whom paid degrees of deference to the headliner — it’s created a deeply personal, boy band/alt.rock connection between AJR and its fans that was on full display throughout the 85-minute show that touched on 19 songs from the group’s catalog, including the new single “Betty” from the upcoming “What No One’s Thinking” EP (out Aug. 29).

Youngest brother Jack, sporting his trademark fur trapper’s cap, and Ryan were as energetic and wired as ever, perhaps moreso to fill any perceived gaps without Adam. The music drove the night, but aided by some clever visuals — such as Jack interacting with three images of himself on the floor-to-ceiling video screening, using high fives to create the beat into “Yes I’m a Mess.” And a step-by-step explanation of how the group wrote “100 Bad Days” was genuinely illuminating, and entertaining.

At the end of the show, meanwhile, the quartet yielded the stage to a video percussion duel on the screen, which in turn ushered the Walled Lake marching band down the pavilion aisles to join AJR for an encore rendition of “Weak.”

Sometimes the schtick was done to a fault, however. Orchestrating a pre-crowd singalong to a-ha’s “Take on Me” or John Denver’s “Country Roads” or Chappell Roan’s “Hot to Go” or Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” would have been fine; all four, in their entireties, was overkill. Similarly, a mid-set comic pause would have been fine if it was only Ryan taking a squid-shaped hat from a fan OR Jack having a Pi-reciting contest with another, named Skylar; both, back-to-back, felt labored and not nearly as intriguing as another song would have been.

But there was no shortage of musical highlights, which included favorites such as the opening “Way Less Sad,” “Karma,” “The Good Part,” a “Burn the House Down” that lived up to its name and “Bang!” Ryan’s solo rendition of “Inertia” gave his bandmates time to slip into the back of the pavilion for “World’s Smallest Violin” and “Wow, I’m Not Crazy,” and a six-minute medley featured five seldom-played songs, including “I’m Ready” for the first time in eight years, according to Jack.

AJR has, in many ways, reached the “best years” the group pines for in “The Good Part,” but with a sense that things may get even better. On Tuesday, however, they were just fine in the present.

One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck Russia’s Far East early Wednesday, causing tsunami waves to wash ashore in Japan and Alaska and calls for people around the Pacific to be on alert or move to higher ground.

The 8.8 magnitude temblor set off warnings in Hawaii, North and Central America and Pacific islands south toward New Zealand, with officials warning that the potential tsunami danger may last for more than a day.

Here’s a glance at some of the most powerful earthquakes recorded previously, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

1. Biobío, Chile

A 9.5 magnitude earthquake struck in a central region of Chile in 1960. Known as the Valdivia earthquake or Great Chilean earthquake, the largest ever recorded temblor resulted in more than 1,600 deaths in the country and beyond, most of which were caused by resulting large tsunami. Thousands of people were injured.

2. Alaska

In 1964, a 9.2 magnitude earthquake jolted the Alaska’s Prince William Sound, lasting for almost 5 minutes. More than 130 people were killed in the largest recorded earthquake in the U.S. and subsequent tsunami. There were huge landslides and towering waves that caused severe flooding. The event was followed by thousands of aftershocks for weeks after the initial quake.

3. Sumatra, Indonesia

A 9.1 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami devastated Southeast and South Asia and East Africa in 2004, killing 230,000 people. Indonesia alone recorded more than 167,000 deaths as entire communities were wiped out.

4. Tohoku, Japan

A magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Japan in 2011, triggering a towering tsunami that smashed into the Fukushima nuclear plant. It knocked out power and cooling systems and triggered meltdowns in three reactors. More than 18,000 people were killed in the quake and tsunami, some of whom have never been recovered.

5. Kamchatka, Russia

In 1952, a magnitude 9.0 quake caused significant damage but no reported deaths despite a tsunami that hit Hawaii with 9.1-meter (30-foot) waves.

6. Biobío, Chile

A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit central Chile in 2010, shaking the capital for a minute and half and setting off a tsunami. More than 500 people were killed in the disaster.

7. Esmeraldas, Ecuador

In 1906, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami killed about 1,500 people. Its effects were felt for miles along the Central American coast and as far as San Francisco and Japan.

8. Alaska

In 1965, a magnitude 8.7 quake struck Alaska’s Rat Islands, causing an 11-meter (35-foot) -high tsunami. There was some relatively minor damage, including cracks in buildings and an asphalt runway.

9. Tibet

At least 780 people were killed when a magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck in 1950. Dozens of villages were destroyed, including at least one that slid into a river. There were also major landslides that jammed the Subansiri River in India. When the water eventually broke through, it resulted in a deadly 7-meter (23-foot) wave.

10. Sumatra, Indonesia

In 2012, a powerful 8.6 magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of northern Sumatra in Indonesia. Though the quake caused little damage, it increased pressure on a fault that was the source of the devastating 2004 tsunami.

Tsunami warnings fading after one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded. Here’s what to know

By DANICA KIRKA and AUDREY McAVOY, Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — One of this century’s most powerful earthquakes struck off the coast of Russia and generated tsunami warnings and advisories for a broad section of the Pacific, including Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast and as far south as New Zealand. Warnings are being downgraded in most areas, though advisories remain in place as more aftershocks are possible. Chile upgraded its tsunami warning to the highest level for most of its 4,000-mile Pacific coastline.

The quake registered a magnitude of 8.8 and was centered off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s Far East, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It struck early Wednesday local time, which was still Tuesday in the U.S.

Here’s what to know:

What a tsunami is

Tsunamis are waves triggered by earthquakes, underwater volcanic eruptions and submarine landslides. After an underwater earthquake, the seafloor rises and drops, which lifts water up and down. The energy from this transfers to waves.

Many people think of tsunamis as one wave. But they are typically multiple waves that rush ashore like a fast-rising tide.

“Tsunamis cross the ocean at hundreds of miles an hour — as fast as a jet airplane — in deep water,” said Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator with the National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska. “But when they get close to the shore, they slow down and start to pile up.”

It could take minutes for waves to hit land next to the site of a major quake. It could take hours for tsunamis to cross the Pacific Ocean. The speed of tsunami waves also depends on ocean depth. They travel faster over deep water and slow down in shallow water.

People were urged to stay away from coastlines until any wave surges passed in places as far away as Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Federated States of Micronesia and Solomon Islands.

Some tsunamis are small and don’t cause damage. Others can cause massive destruction. In 2004, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake off Indonesia caused waves that leveled remote villages, ports and tourist resorts along the Indian Ocean across Southeast and South Asia. Some 230,000 people died. A 9.0 magnitude quake and tsunami ravaged parts of Japan’s northeastern coast on March 11, 2011, killing about 20,000 people and triggering a nuclear meltdown.

The power of this quake

The 8.8-magnitude quake was among the four strongest earthquakes this century, according to the USGS.

It was also the sixth-biggest quake ever recorded, said Simon Boxall, a principal teaching fellow at the University of Southampton’s Physical Oceanography Research Center.

The regional branch of Russia’s Emergency Ministry on Kamchatka warned that scientists expect aftershocks at magnitudes of up to 7.5.

The earthquake occurred along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the ring of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where more than 80% of the world’s largest quakes occur. Several tectonic plates meet there. The ring gets its name from the volcanoes that surround it.

While not all earthquakes lead to tsunamis, this one generated a series of them spreading outward from the epicenter off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.

“It’s a bit like throwing a very, very large rock into the sea and then watching the waves propagate away from that rock, that splash,’’ Boxall said. “And so that’s what’s happened in this case. And that’s why this particular one has generated a tsunami. It’s not huge. It’s not one that’s going to cause mass devastation. But it will cause coastal flooding and it will cause damage, and it does put lives at risk if people don’t move to high ground.’’

The effects of this earthquake so far

A tsunami height of 10 to 13 feet was recorded in Kamchatka, while tsunami waves about 2 to 5 feet high reached San Francisco early Wednesday, officials said. Other areas have seen smaller waves.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said initial reports showed there had been no safety impact on nuclear power plants along Japan’s Pacific coast. Damage and evacuations were reported in the Russian regions nearest the quake’s epicenter, and officials declared a state of emergency in several areas. Several people were injured, but none gravely, and no major damage has been reported.

Additional aftershocks are possible, putting the entire Pacific Rim on tsunami watch. A tsunami warning remained in effect for parts of the northern California coast.

Much of the Pacific coast of North America, spanning from British Columbia in Canada to down the U.S. West Coast and into Mexico was under a tsunami advisory.

How tsunami warnings are issued

In Hawaii, emergency authorities blast alerts to people’s cellphones, on TV and radio and sound a network of sirens. In Alaska, some communities have sirens, and information is available on weather radio or public radio broadcasts.

In the U.S., the National Weather Service has different levels of alerts:

• A warning means a tsunami that may cause widespread flooding is expected or occurring. Evacuation is recommended and people should move to high ground or inland.
• An advisory means a tsunami with potential for strong currents or dangerous waves is expected or occurring and people should stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways.
• A watch means that a tsunami is possible and to be prepared.

Kirka reported from London.

Some facts about the strongest earthquakes ever recorded

President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on goods imported from India, citing the country's high tariffs on U.S. products and its purchases of Russian oil. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described India as a friend but criticized its trade policies, asserting that they are "far too high" for American goods.

The president's announcement also included his intention to impose additional penalties due to India's continued military and oil dealings with Russia, which he claimed enable the Kremlin's ongoing war in Ukraine. India's reluctance to support Western sanctions against Moscow stems from its longstanding ties to the Russian government.

The tariff announcement comes as the U.S. faces significant economic developments. India is one of Americas largest trading partners, and trade deals regarding the country were highly anticipated following Trumps recent agreement with the European Union.

Adding to the days economic focus, the Federal Reserve is set to announce its decision on interest rates later today. Economists do not expect the Fed to lower rates, but President Trump used the release of recent GDP datashowing a growth rate of 3% that exceeded expectationsto urge the central bank to reconsider its stance on interest rates. He called for the Fed to ease rates to support home buying and refinancing.

As economic updates unfold, the reactions from both India and Russia remain to be seen in this increasingly complex trade scenario.

This story was initially reported 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.

An Oakland County man went into shock when he realized he’d won a $2 million Michigan lottery prize

The 34-year-old chose to remain anonymous but told state lottery officials his “go-to” game is
Colossal Cashword. He bought his $30 ticket at USA 2 GO Quick Store, 8355 Grand River Road in Brighton.

He chose to receive his prize as a one-time lump sum payment of about $1.3 million instead of annual payments for the full amount. He told lottery officials he plans to pay off student loans and buy a new car.

“I scratched the ticket right after I bought it and was excited when I got nine words,” he told lottery officials. “When I got the 10th word for a $2 million prize, I was in total shock. Winning is such a great feeling!”

Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli congratulated the player and said the scratch-and-win experience is the dream of many lottery players.

More than $21 million in prizes remain in the Colossal Cashword game, including five $10,000 prizes, and 37 $5,000 prizes.

People with gambling addictions and their loved ones can receive free confidential help via the National Problem Gambling Helpline, (800) GAMBLER or (800) 426-2537.

Learn more about the Michigan Lottery online: https://news.michiganlottery.com/media.

How beautiful is your local college campus?

Travel + Leisure shared their list of the “30 Most Beautiful College Campuses in the U.S.”

Which college was ranked the prettiest of them all? The honor went to Stanford University in California, according to Travel + Leisure:

“The entryway to Stanford is arguably the grandest of any beautiful college campus. A mile-long palm-lined drive leads up to the expansive green oval Main Quad, surrounded by red-roofed buildings and the school’s architectural crown jewel, Memorial Church with its striking mosaic façade. Beauty continues at the Cantor Arts Center, which has 170 bronzes by Auguste Rodin, one of the largest collections outside of Paris. Take in the view of the 8,180-acre campus and the surrounding area—including the San Francisco skyline on a clear day—from the Hoover Tower observation platform.”

Other noted locations include New York’s Bard College, Texas’ Rice University, and more.

Ranking 15th overall, Yale University in Connecticut beat out other colleges like Duke, Wellesley College and The College of William & Mary, according to Travel + Leisure.

“While some campuses cling to their past, Yale embraces changing architectural movements,” according to Travel + Leisure. “The buildings span from the Georgian-style red-brick Connecticut Hall (whose construction predates the Revolutionary War) to the postmodern Ingalls Rink by Eero Saarinen.

“There’s also the School of Management’s Edward P. Evans Hall, a Norman Foster project completed in 2014. Duck inside the wondrous Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, which houses volumes in a six-story glass-enclosed tower, set against translucent grained Vermont marble panels. The most impressive items in the collection are an original Gutenberg Bible and a 12th-century book of Buddhist prayers.”

Find the full list of campuses to make the list here, courtesy of Travel + Leisure.

By Fiona Rutherford and Micah Barkley, Bloomberg News

Nonalcoholic beer needs a second act.

The category boomed in recent years as the likes of Anheuser-Busch InBev, Heineken NV and Diageo Plc poured in money. But after those gains made it one of brewing’s few bright spots, it’s still just 2% of the global beer market’s volume, according to IWSR.

And now growth rates are slowing. After a surge late last decade and another jump in 2021, recent increases have settled into the single digits. IWSR now projects annual gains of about 8% through 2029. That would only boost its market share to a little less than 3%.

The push into nonalcoholic beer is a reminder of how much the industry is struggling. Craft beer peaked. The hard seltzer boom fizzled. Younger adults are going out less. Legalized cannabis is replacing six packs. Weight-loss drugs are a threat. Global beer volume has declined the past two years. Meanwhile, stocks of the world’s big brewers haven’t returned to their pre-pandemic levels.

“They have no choice but to get into alcohol free,” said Kenneth Shea, senior analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. It’s one of the few remaining growth levers for large brewers as they adapt to changing consumer habits, he said.

Brewing has consolidated about as far as it can, with the five biggest companies controlling more than half the global market. Investors are looking for organic growth, and that’s why nonalcoholic beer has become the sector’s latest shiny object. But at this point it’s far from a panacea. IWSR projects that global beer volumes will be flat over the next five years, even with the growth in nonalcoholic brews.

The first phase of nonalcoholic beer’s expansion came from startups that focused on it. Firms such as Athletic Brewing Co. pushed the category toward craft brewing with tastier styles like IPA. They marketed around wellness, moderation and active lifestyles.

Breweries are now trying to broaden nonalcoholic beer’s appeal to win over more habitual beer drinkers. There’s been a shift in marketing. Nonalcoholic beer ads used to lean heavily on responsibility and reducing alcohol consumption. Heineken 0.0 ran a spot featuring Formula 1 superstar Max Verstappen promoting designated driving.

Now brands pitch nonalcoholic beer as a casual, anytime drink. Heineken’s newer “0.0 Reasons Needed” campaign encourages people to drink it whenever they want, with no explanation required. The marketing is part of the brewer’s push to reduce the stigma around nonalcoholic beer. One survey Heineken cited showed that about 40% of Gen Z men would only consider such options if their friends did.

Guinness emphasizes how closely its nonalcoholic version matches the original and brought in NFL legend Joe Montana to promote the brand.

AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer, turned Michelob Ultra into its best-selling beer in the US by pitching it as a lower calorie option for sporty types. It announced a nonalcoholic version — Michelob Ultra Zero — in September. A commercial features young adults taking a break from beach volleyball to crack one open and then running back to play as the voiceover states: “Stay in the game.”

Heineken 0.0, which in 2023 became the first nonalcoholic beer to air a Super Bowl ad, is now one of the five most-seen beer or seltzer brands on US television, according to researcher iSpot. It’s offered in more than 100 countries and grew more than 10% last year.

The spending on US advertising has helped grow nonalcoholic beer more than other markets. IWSR expects US nonalcoholic volume to gain 16% a year over the next decade.

Mark Ruf, a longtime beer drinker, has been won over. The 31-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, now drinks a nonalcoholic beer for every regular one — a practice that’s been dubbed zebra striping — to cut back on his booze consumption when he’s at home or out with friends. He got so into the category that he started a blog and nonalcoholic beer subscription service.

“I still hate to put an end to a good time,” Ruf said. “But I start mixing it in with NA beer, so I’m not regretting it the next day.”

Nonalcoholic beer used to be a category dominated by options such as O’Doul’s, owned by AB InBev, and similar legacy brands. These brews often struggled to win fans because the process of getting rid of the alcohol included heating up the beer, which muted flavors.

Brewers have been investing in new techniques to improve taste. At AB InBev’s research center in Belgium, scientists have spent more than a decade refining nonalcoholic brewing. The company now removes the alcohol using low-temperature methods, then adds back key aromas to preserve more of the original flavor and smell.

“It is really an art, and it is also a science,” said David De Schutter, AB InBev’s vice president of global innovation.

AB InBev has also launched alcohol-free versions of Budweiser, Stella Artois and Corona. In May, Chief Executive Officer Michel Doukeris told investors that its nonalcoholic portfolio was growing more than 30%. Corona Cero was the first ever beer sponsor of the Olympics at last year’s games in Paris.

Diageo has invested more than 60 million euros (about $70 million) in Guinness 0 production since the product launched globally in 2021. In the US, Guinness 0 made up more than half of the Guinness brand’s growth last year, the company said. And there’s been little cannibalization, with just 2% consumer overlap between Guinness 0 and the brand’s traditional beers.

All that focus has led to consumers now expecting nonalcoholic beer to taste good, according to Laura Merritt, president of beer and pre-mix at Diageo North America.

“It’s not like 10 years ago, where you just had to take what you got,” Merritt said of NA beer’s lack of choices. “The standards for great nonalcoholic beverages are the same high standard for great alcoholic beverages.”

But meeting standards doesn’t mean more and more people will convert to beer with the alcohol removed. There are many examples of food and beverages that initially do well by offering moderation and less harm. The question is whether nonalcoholic beer will recede the same as plant-based meat or become a sustainable category like diet soda.

---

©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has acknowledged that President Donald Trump now meets with candidates for promotion to the rank of four-star general, in a break with past practice.

A White House spokesperson said the Republican president has the meetings because he wants to make sure the U.S. military retains its superiority and its leaders focus on fighting wars.

“President Trump wants to ensure our military is the greatest and most lethal fighting force in history, which is why he meets with four-star-general nominees directly to ensure they are war fighters first — not bureaucrats,” assistant press secretary Anna Kelly said.

The meetings, however, are a departure from past practice, and knowledge of them has raised concerns about politicization of the military’s top ranks. Trump has not always respected the long-standing tradition of walling off the military from partisan politics.

In June, Trump took the rare step of mobilizing the National Guard and then the Marines, sending hundreds of them into Los Angeles over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat with whom the president has feuded politically.

Trump followed up with a campaign-style rally at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, where uniformed soldiers cheered as he criticized former President Joe Biden, Newsom and other Democrats — raising concerns that Trump was using the military as a political prop.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., an Army veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the meetings “very welcome reform.”

“I’ve long advocated for presidents to meet with 4-star nominees. President Trump’s most important responsibility is commander-in-chief,” Cotton wrote in a post on X. “The military-service chiefs and combatant commanders are hugely consequential jobs” and “I commend President Trump and Secretary Hegseth for treating these jobs with the seriousness they deserve.”

The New York Times, which first reported on the practice, said it had been initiated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Jimmy Hoffa disappeared on July 30, 1975 outside of the Machus Red Fox restaurant in Bloomfield Township. The Teamsters president's body was never found, despite a decades-long investigation that included digs at several locations throughout Michigan.

Related: Author says feds know who killed Jimmy Hoffa but wont reveal suspect

See past coverage from 7 News Detroit in the videos below

Watch below: 2003 report on Bay City dig for Jimmy Hoffa

Web extra: 2003 report on Bay City dig for Jimmy Hoffa

Watch below: On the ground during the search for Jimmy Hoffa

Web extra: On the ground during the search for Jimmy Hoffa

Watch below: Anthony Joseph Zerelli speaks about search for Jimmy Hoffa in Oakland 

Anthony Joseph Zerelli speaks about search for Jimmy Hoffa in Oakland

Watch below: 2013 search for Jimmy Hoffa in Oakland Township

Web extra: 2013 search for Jimmy Hoffa in Oakland Township

Watch below: Report on Roseville search for Hoffa's body

Web extra: Report on Roseville search for Hoffa's body

Watch below: Feds dig in Oakland Township field for Jimmy Hoffa

Feds dig in Oakland Township field for Jimmy Hoffa

Check out a timeline of the Hoffa investigation below.

Here at 7 News Detroit, we want to make sure you start your day off on the right foot, informed about weather, traffic, the latest news and more. That's why we have the 7 Morning Digest, where we'll get you out the door informed and ready to go.

What's the weather for today? Metro Detroit Weather: Storms could flare up Wednesday

Today: Partly to mostly sunny with a chance of showers and storms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. Winds: NNE 5-10 mph.

Tonight: Lingering showers and storms possible. Lows in the mid to upper 60s. Winds: Light.

Thursday: Morning rain with a thunder chance as well. Then there will be gradual clearing from north to south in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70 to low. Winds: N 5-10 mph.

The top stories to know about Parental fines increased, curfew violations decriminalized by city of Detroit Detroit City Council passes new curfew ordinance

Detroit City Council voted to amend an ordinance that regulates curfew violations.

Under the updated ordinance, parental fines increased, however, theyve been decriminalized. It passed 7 to 1.

Detroit City Councilman Coleman Young II sponsored the amended curfew ordinance.

We cannot be a thriving city and have 4-year-olds' blood shed in the street, Young said.

He and Police Chief Todd Bettison emphasized the updated ordinance decriminalizes the violation. That means parents wont have to serve jail time if their kids are caught out after curfew and parents are given a choice.

The chief said they wont have to pay the fine if they choose to take courses instead. Under the new, amended ordinance, the fine is now $250 for a first offense. It was $75. A second offense is $500.

Today, tomorrow, the fees will actually increase and thats for leverage purposes. I was talking to a couple judges and they say the fees are too low that a parent will choose not to take the services. Theyll say, Ill just pay the ticket. But if its $250 its like, Ok, Ill go to that parent responsibility course, Bettison said.

Young said, To go through the classes, get the mental health therapy that they need, get the training they need, get the resources, access that they need to be able to become not only prepared parents but also become better and more productive members of society.

And to get these kids off the street, and were not looking at 4-year-olds being gunned down by 17- and 18-year-olds in the city of Detroit. That cannot stand, he added.

Prior to the vote to approve the changes, a spirited discussion took place amongst council members and other community leaders.

'A duty to protect.' Hear from the armed bystander who confronted Traverse City mass stabbing suspect Hear from armed bystander who confronted Traverse City mass stabbing suspect

The armed bystander who confronted the suspect in a mass stabbing at a Traverse City Walmart over the weekend spoke to Good Morning America.

The stabbing injured 11 people, and video from outside the Walmart showed Derrick Perry holding the suspect at gunpoint with the help of other bystanders.

On Good Morning America, Perry, who is a married father of three, talked about the ordeal.

"I didn't think of anything other than trying to get him away from people and get him isolated and get him to put the knife down and just to kind of focus on me instead of everyone that was yelling and screaming in the background," Perry said to GMA.

The victims in the stabbing ranged in age from 29 to 84, and Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said it appears it was a random act.

Perry told GMA he was checking out at the store when he heard a commotion.

"A lady was screaming for her son, and all the employees and patrons were clamoring, trying to run in different directions," Perry said.

Gille ran outside to the parking lot, where he was later surrounded by Perry and others.

"Unfortunately, it was kind of a mob mentality and some very disturbing things were being said about how to deal with the situation. I had to block all that out and focus on him, because I ultimately wanted him to put the knife down and back away until law enforcement got there," Perry said. "I did not see myself as any judge, jury or executioner. I just wanted everyone to be safe."

GMA asked Perry if the suspect said anything to him.

"I can see in his eyes that he was wild-eyed and he did not look in his right mind. He was saying, 'they told me to do it. They told me to do it. Call 911,'" Perry said.

Oakland County road commissioner accused of making threats, wasting millions Oakland County road commissioner accused of making threats, wasting millions

For more than a decade, the Road Commission for Oakland County has been saving for a new building that would finally bring most of its staff together on one campus.

But after spending millions of dollars to start the project, some road commission employees say county politics put the brakes on their plans and wasted your tax dollars.

The Road Commission for Oakland County is a separate entity from county government except for one thing: the Oakland County Commission appoints the three road commissioners who oversee the agency in charge of county roads.

Road commission employees tell the 7 Investigators one of those recent appointments has caused a lot of political drama, resulting in allegations of threats of violence, money wasted and interference from the highest levels of the county.

Road Commission for Oakland County employees say their sole mission is safety.

We all worked hard to make the roads better, which they are in Oakland County. And to save lives, said former Road Commissioner Ron Fowkes.

The road commission is responsible for maintaining more than 2,700 miles of county roads and about 1500 traffic signals. Fowkes said they pride themselves on Oakland Countys fatality rate being half the state and national average.

The three political appointees in charge of the agency are responsible for the commissions $178 million budget. Fowkes said thats why during his 12 years on the road commission, they carefully set aside millions of dollars for a new headquarters building on the same campus as their main operations center in Waterford.

To bring everybody under one roof, said Fowkes.

Road Commission officials said the new $43 million headquarters would improve efficiency by consolidating about 200 employees spread between three aging buildings across the county. They also said it would cost less than renovating their existing buildings.

We have to buy a lot of property for right-of-way. Well, after a year or two, the utilities are moved and all the work is done, you can sell that property and that's where the majority of it went, said Fowkes.

So you guys pinched your pennies and saved over the years to put money in this building fund? asked 7 Investigator Heather Catallo.

Yes, said Fowkes. The county was aware of it for 12 years.

Last August, commissioners voted to hire a contractor and they broke ground on the new site in the fall.

Road commission records showed the agency did not use gas tax funds or money earmarked for roads for the project. A spokesman said they also secured a $5 million federal grant to upgrade their Traffic Operations Center, but now employees say that grant and the entire project are in jeopardy.

Road Commission officials said the building plans started to hit red lights in January when road commissioner political appointees shuffled.

Last August, commissioners voted to hire a contractor and they broke ground on the new site in the fall.

Road commission records showed the agency did not use gas tax funds or money earmarked for roads for the project. A spokesman said they also secured a $5 million federal grant to upgrade their Traffic Operations Center, but now employees say that grant and the entire project are in jeopardy.

Road Commission officials said the building plans started to hit red lights in January when road commissioner political appointees shuffled.

The next month, meeting minutes showed Woodward told the road commissioners that the county supports a moratorium on the construction currently in progress of the new administration building," and Esshaki made a motion to suspend the work, a delay that records show cost taxpayers more than $2 million.

Meeting minutes show Commissioner Esshaki later suggested the road commission should look at moving to the countys Executive Office Building, which will be vacant when the county offices move to downtown Pontiac in 2027 as part of a $174 million project.

But according to engineering records, renovating that property for the road commissions specialized needs would cost more than the new headquarters building: $55 million.

While not every road commission employee supported the idea of a new headquarters, many employees told us they were furious with what they call the countys interference with a separate agency.

I pray to God the county does not move forward on taking us over, said Mary Gillis during an Oakland County Commission meeting in April.

I just wanted to voice my frustration at the lack of transparency which is going on between this board and the road commission. We experienced an undeniable interference from this board, said Stephen Guerra at the April Oakland County Commission meeting.

In my 35 years, I've never seen anything like this. You guys are taking this like a power trip. Its sad, said Road Commission Foreman Walter Mersino Jr. about the new road commissioner's plans.

Mersino says he has worked at the road commission for 35 years. Hes one of many long-time employees who spoke out during public comment at some of those recent public meetings, questioning Road Commissioner Esshaki about why he supported cancelling the plans for the new building.

You said the road commissions doing things underhandedly, but you guys are doing things underhandedly. You weren't even part of this building. And all of a sudden you come in, and now this building is being suspended? Who's pulling your strings? asked Mersino.

Mersino said when he was on a job site in Bloomfield Township in June, the foreman and a coworker got a surprise visit from Commissioner Esshaki.

He goes 'why don't you talk to me now, it's just me and you. You don't have your crowd behind you now,' said Merisno.

Mersino said he tried not to engage with the road commissioner and tried to back up his work truck to leave.

So then I proceeded to start to back up, and he says, that's right. Leave little girl. So I stopped and said, don't talk to me like that. And that's when he says, this guy [the coworker] can leave, and me and you can go behind those trees and handle this. I said I'm not going do that ... and he just kept picking, picking. So I started to leave again. He said the same thing. 'That's right, leave little girl,'" said Mersino.

Mersino did leave and then filed a police report and an incident report with the road commission.

"I just felt threatened for my job. That's how I felt. I felt threatened. Like this guy is trying to take my 35 years and flush it down the toilet," he said.

Mersino said he believes Esshakis actions violate the Road Commissions Violence in the Workplace Policy, which states the commission will not tolerate any threat, direct or implied which creates an intimidating, offensive or hostile work environment. The road commission is investigating the incident.

The 7 Investigators caught up with the road commissioner at a public meeting to ask him about the allegations that he wanted to fight the road commission employee.

"Id like to know if youd like to respond to that? Why did you call him a little girl?" asked 7 Investigator Heather Catallo.

"Just remember theres two sides to the story ... I have no comment now, thank you," said Esshaki.

Esshaki later told us he did not threaten the employee, but did not comment beyond that. He refused our repeated requests to do an interview. After Commissioner Nancy Quarles resigned in late May, that left just Esshaki and Road Commission Chair Eric McPherson to vote on the building deal. They both voted to cancel it even though millions had already been spent.

McPherson had previously voted in support of the building. He declind to respond to our questions about why he changed his vote.

It was a decision that angered many former and current employees.

"I told them that they were violating their oath of office ... because you get sworn in just like the President of the United States, because you're handling people's money and you're dealing with people's lives... They have no idea what they're doing, they're clueless," said Fowkes.

Meanwhile, County Commission Chair Dave Woodward told the 7 Investigators he questioned the fiscal responsibility of the road commission building a new headquarters with all of the road funding needs the county has, but it's not clear why this is all happening now.

County records showed Woodward and two other commissioners formed a committee to study the road commissions operations back in 2022, and road commission employees say the new building was discussed during Woodward's committee meetings.

The Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady today despite President Donald Trumps calls for cuts. The board finishes a two-day series of meetings on Wednesday.

President Trump wants lower rates to make borrowing more affordable for Americans. However, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has warned that tariffs are already raising inflation concerns.

President Trump plans to impose new tariffs Friday, claiming they generate revenue and boost domestic production.

Federal interest rates reached their highest levels in 2023 and 2024 in over two decades to combat high inflation. Powell has stated the Federal Reserve's goal is to keep inflation to an annualized rate of 2%.

As inflation eased in 2024, the Federal Reserve issued three sets of interest rate cuts, but hasn't made any additional reductions since President Trump took office in January.

According to data released earlier this month, the consumer price index rose 2.7% in the 12-month period ending in June. The inflation rate is 0.3 percentage points higher than May's rate of 2.4%.

"We would be helped if interest rates come down," President Trump said, but acknowledged the Federal Reserve Board would be responsible for any changes.