Israeli forces killed four aid seekers traveling on Sunday through a military zone south of Gaza City an area regularly used by Palestinians trying to reach a food distribution point, a hospital and witnesses said.

The deaths add to the growing toll of Palestinians killed while seeking food, as parts of the Gaza Strip plunge into famine and Israels military ramps up activity in northern Gaza ahead of a planned offensive to seize its largest city.

Al-Awda Hospital and two eyewitnesses told The Associated Press that the four Palestinians were killed when troops opened fire on a crowd heading to a site run by the Israeli-backed American contractor Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, or GHF, in the Netzarim corridor area. It occurred hundreds of meters (yards) away from the site, the eyewitnesses said.

The gunfire was indiscriminate, Mohamed Abed, a father of two from the Bureij refugee camp, said, adding that while many fled some people fell to the ground after being shot.

RELATED STORY | Famine declared in Gaza City as Israel escalates fighting

Abed and Aymed Sayyad, another aid seeker among the crowd, said troops opened fire when a group near the front of the crowd pushed forward toward a distribution site before its scheduled opening.

Sayyad said he and others helped two people who were wounded by gunshots, one in his shoulder and the leg in his leg.

The Israeli military and GHF did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Malnutrition-related deaths

The four deaths are the latest in areas where U.N. convoys have been overwhelmed by looters and desperate crowds, and where people have been shot and killed while heading to sites run by the GHF.

More than 2,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 13,500 wounded while seeking aid at distribution points or along convoy routes used by the United Nations and other aid groups, according to Gazas Health Ministry.

The ministry said on Sunday that at least 62,686 Palestinians have been killed in the war, including missing people now confirmed dead by a special ministry judicial committee.

It said the number of malnutrition-related deaths rose by eight to 289 on Sunday. The deaths include a child, bringing the death toll among children to 115 since the war between Israel and Hamas began in 2023.

The health ministry does not say how many of those killed have been fighters or civilians but says around half have been women and children. It is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. The U.N. and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on war casualties. Israel disputes its figures but has not provided its own.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification the worlds leading authority on food crises said Friday that famine is happening in Gaza City, home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, and could spread south to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of next month.

Aid groups have long warned that the war and months of Israeli restrictions on food and medical supplies entering Gaza are causing starvation. Israel has denied the existence of widespread hunger in Gaza, calling reports of starvation lies promoted by Hamas.

Non-stop explosions

In Jabaliya, the densely populated refugee camp just north of Gaza City, residents said they endured heavy explosions overnight. Days after Israels military announced it was intensifying its operations in the area and mobilizing tens of thousands of reservists to take the city, they said they were living in constant fear.

In the part of Gaza City where he and his family have sheltered since being displaced from a neighborhood on the citys southern edge, Ossama Matter said he had seen houses reduced to rubble and neighborhoods razed beyond recognition.

They want it like Rafah, he said, referring to a town in southern Gaza destroyed earlier in the war. There have been non-stop explosions and strikes in the past days.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Israel calls up 60,000 reserve troops, prepares for expanded Gaza City assault

While fleeing westward from Jabaliya, schoolteacher Salim Dhaher said he saw weaponized robots planting explosives as troops advanced from the opposite direction. As they set the stage for Israels push to seize the city, Dhaher said he feared it was part of a larger effort to forcibly remove Palestinians from the north.

The aim is clear, he said: To destroy everything above the ground, and force the transfer.

There has been little sign of the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians evacuating south ahead of Israels invasion of Gaza City, which Israel says is still a Hamas stronghold. Many are exhausted by repeated displacements and unconvinced that any area including so-called humanitarian zones offers safety.

The military operation could begin within days in a region that threatens the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians, who are sheltering above an area Israel has invaded multiple times but still believes harbors a network of militant tunnels underground.

Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people and killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals but 50 remain inside Gaza, around 20 of them believed by Israel to be alive.

Russia accused Ukraine Sunday of launching drone attacks that sparked a fire at a nuclear power plant in its western Kursk region overnight, as Ukraine celebrated 34 years since its independence.

Russian officials said several power and energy facilities were targeted in the overnight strikes. The fire at the nuclear facility was quickly extinguished with no injuries reported, according to the plants press service on Telegram. While the attack damaged a transformer, radiation levels remained within normal ranges.

The United Nations nuclear watchdog said it was aware of media reports that a transformer at the plants had caught fire due to military activity, but hadnt received independent confirmation. It said its director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said that every nuclear facility must be protected at all times.

Ukraine did not immediately comment on the alleged attack.

RELATED STORY | American company in Ukraine hit as Russia escalates attacks

Firefighters also responded to a blaze at the port of Ust-Luga in Russias Leningrad region, home to a major fuel export terminal. The regional governor said approximately 10 Ukrainian drones were shot down, with debris igniting the fire.

Russias Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted 95 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight into Sunday.

Russia fired 72 drones and decoys, along with a cruise missile, into Ukraine overnight into Sunday, Ukraines air force said. Of these, 48 drones were shot down or jammed.

The incidents occurred as Ukraine marked independence day, commemorating its 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered remarks in a video address from Kyivs Independence Square, emphasizing the nations resolve.

We are building a Ukraine that will have enough strength and power to live in security and peace, Zelenskyy said, calling for a just peace.

What our future will be is up to us alone, he said, in a nod to the U.S.Russia summit in Alaska earlier in August, which many feared would leave Ukrainian and European interests sidelined.

And the world knows this. And the world respects this. It respects Ukraine. It perceives Ukraine as an equal, he said.

U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg was in attendance at independence day celebrations in Kyiv, during which Zelenskyy awarded him the Ukrainian Order of Merit, of the 1st degree.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Kyiv on Sunday morning for meetings with Zelenskyy.

On this special day Ukraines Independence Day it is especially important for us to feel the support of our friends. And Canada has always stood by our side, wrote Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyys chief of staff.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Russia's largest drone strike since July targets Ukraine hours after Trump/Zelenskyy meeting

Norway announced significant new military aid Sunday, pledging about 7 billion kroner ($695 million) for air defense systems. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Norway and Germany are jointly funding two Patriot systems, including missiles, with Norway also helping procure air defense radar.

Pope Leo XIV prayed Sunday for peace in Ukraine as he marked the countrys independence day with a special appeal during his weekly noon blessing. He said the faithful were joining Ukrainians asking that the Lord give peace to their martyred country.

Leo also sent a telegram to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to mark independence day, which the Ukrainian leader posted on X along with similar notes from other world leaders.

In the letter, Leo assured his prayers for all Ukrainians who are suffering, and wrote: I implore the Lord to move the hearts of people of good will, that the clamor of arms may fall silent and give way to dialogue, opening the path to peace for the good of all.

Meanwhile, fighting continued on the front line in eastern Ukraine, where Russia claimed Saturday that its forces had seized two villages in the Donetsk region.

Friendship Circle of Michigans Walk4Friendship is an annual 5K family walk that raises crucial funds and awareness for Friendship Circle and its community of individuals with special needs, as well as those experiencing isolation.

This year's walk to promote an inclusive community that welcomes and nurtures all individuals with all types of abilities will take place on Sunday, August 24th, outside the Friendship Circles Farber Center (5586 Drake Road) in West Bloomfield Township. At the finish line, participants can enjoy a post-walk carnival complete with games, rides, and Kosher food.

To learn more or to donate, visit Event Information|Friendship Circle Walk4Friendship.

Two Detroit police officers and another driver were injured in a crash on the city's east side on Saturday.

Were hearing the two officers and the other person are stable.

I heard the crash, it was a really loud impact, said Vanessa Bostic of Detroit.

Watch the video in the player below: 2 Detroit officers, 1 man injured in crash on east side

After hearing the crash that happened on Gratiot and Lappin around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Vanessa Bostic and her niece ran out of the store to see what was going on.

She says they pulled one of the officers out of the wrecked cruiser.

We shouldered him out, my niece helped shoulder him out, said Bostic.

Bostic says they also checked on the other officer and the driver in the black truck that was involved in the crash.

Police say there was a passenger in the truck who declined medical treatment.

Everyone involved in the crash has non-life-threatening injuries.

Most people would just call for help. What made you run over there? 7 News Detroit reporter Tiarra Braddock asked.

Its the police officers of Detroit, its my duty as a citizen to help our officers as well, said Bostic.

Police say the driver of the black truck ran the red light.

Bostic says speeding on Gratiot is a huge problem.

Its very busy, very busy, they like to drag race on this road, said Bostic.

Slow down, peoples lives are at stake. We just had another accident here on 7 Mile and Gratiot, we lost a little kid to that, so slow down.

Its unclear at this point if the driver in the black truck will face any charges.

A bus carrying a junior high football team to a game crashed Saturday north of Pittsburgh, sending 21 of the 28 people on board to the hospital, officials said.

Twenty-five Aliquippa Junior High students and three adults were headed to a game in nearby Gibsonia. The crash occurred in Economy Borough, about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Economy Borough Police Chief Michael OBrien said he didnt have information on the medical status of those taken to hospitals.

OBrien said he understood the bus turned on its side during the crash but came back upright as the students were evacuating the vehicle.

The police chief said the crash occurred in a tough spot in the road. Its on a bad bend, OBrien said. Its being investigated now to determine what happened.

A Facebook page for the Aliquippa Junior High football team said each player was being evaluated and asked for a thought or prayer for each player or coach that was traveling this morning.

The end of an exemption on tariff duties for low-value packages coming into the United States is causing multiple international postal services to pause shipping as they await more clarity on the rule.

The exemption, known as the de minimis" exemption, allows packages worth less than $800 to come into the U.S. duty free. A total of 1.36 billion packages were sent in 2024 under this exemption, for goods worth $64.6 billion, according to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agency.

It is set to expire Friday. On Saturday, postal services around Europe announced that they are suspending the shipment of many packages to the United States amid confusion over new import duties.

Postal services in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Italy said they will stop shipping most merchandise to the U.S. effective immediately. France and Austria will follow Monday.

The U.K.'s Royal Mail said it would halt shipments to the U.S. on Tuesday to allow time for those packages to arrive before duties kick in. Items originating in the U.K. worth over $100 including gifts to friends and family will incur a 10% duty, it said.

Key questions remain unresolved, particularly regarding how and by whom customs duties will be collected in the future, what additional data will be required, and how the data transmission to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be carried out, DHL, the largest shipping provider in Europe, said in a statement.

The company said starting Saturday it will no longer be able to accept and transport parcels and postal items containing goods from business customers destined for the US.

A trade framework agreed on by the U.S. and the European Union last month set a 15% tariff on the vast majority of products shipped from the EU. Packages under $800 will now also be subject to the tariff.

The U.S. duty-free exemption for goods originating from China ended in May as part of the Trump administration's efforts to curb American shoppers from ordering low-value Chinese goods. The exemption is being extended to shipments from around the world.

Many European postal services say they are pausing deliveries now because they cannot guarantee the goods will enter the U.S. before Aug. 29. They cite ambiguity about what kind of goods are covered by the new rules, and the lack of time to process their implications.

RELATED STORY | US and EU lock in tariff rates on autos, industrial goods

Postnord, the Nordic logistics company, and Italy's postal service announced similar suspensions effective Saturday.

In the absence of different instructions from US authorities ... Poste Italiane will be forced, like other European postal operators, to temporarily suspend acceptance of all shipments containing goods destined for the United States, starting August 23. Mail shipments not containing merchandise will continue to be accepted, Poste Italiane said Friday.

Shipping by services such as DHL Express remains possible, it added.

Bjrn Bergman, head of PostNords Group Brand and Communication, said the pause was unfortunate but necessary to ensure full compliance of the newly implemented rules.

In the Netherlands, PostNL spokesperson Wout Witteveen said the Trump administration is pressing ahead with the new duties despite U.S. authorities lacking a system to collect them. He said that PostNL is working closely with its U.S. counterparts to find a solution.

"If you have something to send to America, you should do it today, Witteveen told The Associated Press.

Austrian Post, Austrias leading logistics and postal service provider, stated that the last acceptance of commercial shipments to the U.S., including Puerto Rico, will take place Tuesday.

France's national postal service, La Poste, said the U.S. did not provide full details or allow enough time for the French postal service to prepare for new customs procedures.

Despite discussions with U.S. customs services, no time was provided to postal operators to re-organize and assure the necessary computer updates to conform to the new rules, it said in a statement.

PostEurop, an association of 51 European public postal operators, said that if no solution can be found by Aug. 29 all its members will likely follow suit.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre's family released a statement on Saturday saying they are "outraged" one day after the Department of Justice released transcripts of the Deputy Attorney General's interview with Ghislaine Maxwell.

Jeffrey Epstein's associate, Maxwell, said the convicted sex offender did not keep a client list. Maxwell was convicted in 2022 on federal sex trafficking charges and is serving a 20-year prison sentence. The release of the interview materials comes as the Trump administration faces increased scrutiny over transparency related to the so-called Epstein files.

"During DAG Todd Blanches bizarre interview, she is never challenged about her court-proven lies, providing her a platform to rewrite history," Giuffre's family said. "This travesty of justice entirely invalidates the experiences of the many brave survivors who put their safety, security, and lives on the line to ensure her conviction, including our sister."

RELATED STORY | 'There is no list': Transcripts from Maxwell's interview with DOJ released

Giuffre died by suicide earlier this year, several years after giving detailed testimony on Epstein, Maxwell and others' involvement in a sex trafficking ring. Giuffre was a former attendant at Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump's private Florida resort.

In the transcript released by the DOJ, Maxwell said President Donald Trump was always very cordial and kind to her when they interacted in social circles in the 1990s.

Describing Trumps relationship with Epstein, Maxwell said, "I think they were friendly like people are in social settings. I don't -- I don't think they were close friends or I certainly never witnessed the President in any of -- I don't recall ever seeing him in his house, for instance," Maxwell said. "I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting. I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. The President was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects."

Giuffre's family said the Trump administration's decision to move Maxwell to a minimum security prison "sends a disturbing message that child sex trafficking is acceptable and will be rewarded."

"The Department of Justice serves the people of the United States. We continue to call upon the DOJ to do its job by investigating and holding accountable the many rich and powerful people who enabled Ghislaine Maxwells and Jeffrey Epsteins crimes," the family wrote.

The lawyers for Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia said that government officials tried to coerce him into pleading guilty to criminal charges or face deportation to Uganda.

Abrego Garcia, a Maryland construction worker who was deported to El Salvador and then returned to the U.S. to face smuggling charges, was released from prison in Tennessee on Friday. His release comes under a judge's order that set the terms of release pending a trial date currently scheduled for January 2026.

Attorneys indicated earlier this month that they would arrange private security to accompany Abrego Garcia from Tennessee, where he was held, to Maryland, where he lives with his wife and child. But federal authorities have signaled that, even though they brought Abrego Garcia back to the U.S., they may seek to have him deported again this time potentially to an unspecified third country if he is released from prison. It was not clear if such a deportation would occur before Abrego Garcia's trial for smuggling.

RELATED STORY | Kilmar Abrego Garcia released from prison in Tennessee, his attorney says

"The government immediately responded to Mr. Abregos release with outrage," Abrego Garcia's lawyers wrote in their court filing. "Despite having requested and received assurances from the government of Costa Rica that Mr. Abrego would be accepted there, within minutes of his release from pretrial custody, an ICE representative informed Mr. Abregos counsel that the government intended to deport Mr. Abrego to Uganda and ordered him to report to ICEs Baltimore Field Office Monday morning."

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem released a statement condemning U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis for releasing Abrego Garcia.

Activist liberal judges have attempted to obstruct our law enforcement every step of the way in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our country," she said on Friday. "Today, we reached a new low with this publicity hungry Maryland judge mandating this illegal alien who is a MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator be allowed free."

His attorneys added that Abrego Garcia's case was part of the government's larger strategy to retaliate against him for fighting his deportation to El Salvador.

"On Friday evening, the government informed Mr. Abrego that he has until first thing Monday morningprecisely when he must report to ICEs Baltimore Field Officeto accept a plea in exchange for deportation to Costa Rica, or else that offer will be off the table forever. There can be only one interpretation of these events: the DOJ, DHS, and ICE are using their collective powers to force Mr. Abrego to choose between a guilty plea followed by relative safety, or rendition to Uganda, where his safety and liberty would be under threat," his attorneys wrote.

Homeland Security officials say that Abrego Garcia is subject to immediate deportation as a migrant not lawfully present in the U.S. He was among more than 200 undocumented migrants who were deported to El Salvador in March. However, his circumstances were extraordinary because he had a standing court order that prohibited his return to El Salvador after he had proven in court that he feared for his safety if he returned to his country of birth.

Once Abrego Garcia was returned to the U.S., federal officials accused him of being involved in human trafficking, allegations that stemmed from a 2022 traffic stop. Even though he was not arrested or charged then, officials brought charges earlier this year.

The Mississippi State Department of Health has declared a public health emergency in response to a sharp rise in infant mortality across the state.

Newly released data show that Mississippis infant mortality rate in 2024 reached its highest level in more than a decade, with 9.7 infant deaths for every 1,000 live births. The increase was especially pronounced among newborns less than 28 days old, with 5.9 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Officials said the leading causes of infant mortality include congenital malformations, preterm birth, low birth weight, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Too many Mississippi families are losing their babies before their first birthday, said State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney. This is deeply personal to me not just as a physician, but as a father and grandfather. Every single infant loss represents a family devastated, a community impacted, and a future cut short. We cannot and will not accept these numbers as our reality. Declaring this a public health emergency is more than a policy decision; it is an urgent commitment to save lives.

The emergency declaration serves as a call to action, with the health department planning to implement several measures aimed at reducing infant mortality. These include expanding access to obstetric care, strengthening community health programs, and educating families on safe sleep practices.

According to 2023 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mississippi had the highest infant mortality rate in the U.S., followed by Arkansas, Alabama, and Alaska. New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts recorded the lowest rates that year.

Nationally, the 2024 infant mortality rate was 5.1 deaths per 1,000 live births. Rates tended to be higher in rural areas compared with suburban and urban regions.

RELATED STORY | After Roe was overturned, US had infant mortality spike, researchers say

Researchers at Ohio State University, in a study published in late 2024, found that infant mortality rates increased after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The study cited a 7% nationwide increase in infant mortality and a 10% rise in infants born with genetic and chromosomal disorders in the 7 to 14 months following the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health decision.

Im not sure that people expected infant mortality rates to increase following Dobbs. Its not necessarily what people were thinking about. But when you restrict access to health care it can cause a broader impact on public health than can be foreseen, said Maria Gallo, an OSU professor of epidemiology.

Following Dobbs, most abortions became illegal in Mississippi.

The NFL joined the WNBA in having a sex toy thrown onto the field when someone tossed one during the Tennessee Titans' preseason finale on Friday night.

The neon green sex toy landed near the 6-yard line with about five minutes left in the Titans' win over the Minnesota Vikings. The teams were on the field with the Titans on offense near midfield when the object hit the field close to the Tennessee sideline.

It was picked up and given to a security guard.

RELATED STORY | Another sex toy gets thrown onto the court during a WNBA game

The Titans said they captured images of those responsible and reported the incident to the Metro Nashville Police Department.

Its the latest in a string of disturbances where similar toys were tossed at WNBA games, resulting in at least three arrests.

Grannies Pound Cake, known for its old-fashioned, buttery homemade taste that brings back memories of grandma's kitchen, has expanded into new retail locations.

You can now find these delicious, in-demand cakes at smaller-format Meijer stores - Rivertown Market downtown on Jefferson, and the Woodward Corner Market in Royal Oak. They can also be purchased by travelers in Detroit Metro Airport, at Motown Greatest Hits Travel Shop in the McNamara Terminal near gate A21, and Detroit Sip.

To get a taste of home from Grannies Pound Cake, visit granniespoundcake.com, socially on Facebook and Instagram at @granniespoundcake, or visit the flagship location, open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m., at 14015 W. Eight Mile, in Detroit.

The Texas Senate gave final approval to a new, Republican-leaning congressional voting map early Saturday, sending it to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature.

President Donald Trump has pushed for the map to help the GOP maintain its slim majority in Congress in the 2026 midterm elections. It has five new districts that would favor Republicans.

Abbott, a Republican, is expected to quickly sign it into law, though Democrats have vowed to challenge it in court.

The effort by Trump and Texas Republican-majority Legislature prompted state Democrats to hold a two-week walkout and kicked off a wave of redistricting efforts across the country.

Democrats had prepared for a final show of resistance, with plans to push the Senate vote into the early morning hours in a last-ditch attempt to delay passage.

State Sen. Carol Alvarado, leader of the Senate Democratic caucus, announced on social media that she planned to filibuster the bill with a long speech and intended to speak for several hours. But just when she expected to start, the Senate broke for a long dinner break.

When members returned, Alvarado never had a chance to filibuster because Republicans accused her of breaking Senate rules by attempting to fundraise off the coming filibuster.

Sen. Charles Perry said it appears to be potentially unlawful, at least unethical, using state resources for a campaign purpose.

A spokesperson for Alvarado did not immediately respond to an email and phone call from The Associated Press.

Shutting down a filibuster over a fundraising email is unprecedented, Democratic Sen. Sarah Eckhardt said in a post on social media platform X. It exposes the hypocrisy of Republicans, who will turn around and raise millions off stealing Texans votes while silencing their voices.

The weekslong showdown has roiled the Texas Legislature, marked by a Democratic walkout and threats of arrest from Republicans. Much of the drama unfolded in the House, where the map ultimately passed on Wednesday.

RELATED STORY | Texas House votes to approve controversial redistricting maps following Democratic standoff

Democrats had already delayed the bill's passage during hours of debate, pressing Republican Sen. Phil King, the measures sponsor, on the proposal's legality, with many alleging that the redrawn districts violate the Voting Rights Act by diluting voters influence based on race.

King vehemently denied that accusation, saying, I had two goals in mind: That all maps would be legal and would be better for Republican congressional candidates in Texas.

There is extreme risk the Republican majority will be lost in the House if the map does not pass, King said.

The showdown has also inflamed a broader, state-by-state redistricting battle, with governors from both parties pledging to redraw congressional maps.

California Democrats approved legislation Thursday calling for a special election in November for residents to vote on a redrawn congressional map designed to help Democrats win five more House seats next year. Gov. Gavin Newsom quickly signed it.

This is not something six weeks ago that I ever imagined that Id be doing, Newsom said. This is a reaction to an assault on our democracy in Texas.

Californias map needs voter approval because, unlike in Texas, a nonpartisan commission normally draws the map to avoid the sort of political battle that is playing out.

On Friday, Abbott called Californias redistricting a joke and asserted that Texas new map is constitutional but Californias would be overturned.

Battle for the House waged via redistricting

On a national level, the partisan makeup of existing districts puts Democrats within three seats of a majority. The incumbent presidents party usually loses seats in the midterms.

The Texas redraw is already reshaping the 2026 race, with Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett, the dean of the state's congressional delegation, announcing Thursday that he will not seek reelection to his Austin-based seat if the new map takes effect. Under the proposed map, Doggett's district would overlap with that of another Democratic incumbent, Rep. Greg Casar.

RELATED STORY | Newsom signs Election Rigging Response Act in retaliation to Texas moves

The president has pushed other Republican-controlled states including Indiana and Missouri, to also revise their maps to add more winnable GOP seats. Ohio Republicans were also already scheduled to revise their maps to make them more partisan.

Republicans are not finished in the United States, Abbott said.

Redistricting typically occurs once a decade, immediately after a census. While some states have their own limitations, there is no national impediment to a state trying to redraw districts in the middle of the decade.

The U.S. Supreme Court has said the Constitution does not outlaw partisan gerrymandering, only using race to redraw district lines.

Fight fire with fire

More Democratic-run states have commission systems like Californias or other redistricting limits than Republican ones do, leaving the GOP with a freer hand to swiftly redraw maps. New York, for example, cannot draw new maps until 2028, and even then only with voter approval.

Republicans and some Democrats championed a 2008 ballot measure that established Californias nonpartisan redistricting commission, along with a 2010 one that extended its role to drawing congressional maps.

Both sides have shown concern over what the redistricting war could lead to.

California Assemblyman James Gallagher, the Republican minority leader, said Trump was wrong to push for new Republican seats elsewhere. But he warned that Newsoms approach, which the governor has dubbed fight fire with fire, is dangerous.

You move forward fighting fire with fire, and what happens? Gallagher asked. You burn it all down.

The Guide of Artists & Artisans (The Guild), producers of the world-renowned Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, have partnered with the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce for the second annual Brighton Street Art Fair.

This event, located in the heart of downtown Brighton will take place August 22-24 and will be free to the public. The fine art fair will showcase 100+ artists, live music, and kids activities, and is within walking distance of convenient parking as well as wonderful restaurants and shops along and near Main Street. To learn more, visit BrightonStreetArtFair.org.

Lyle Menendez received the same recommendation as his brother Erik when he was denied parole Friday after serving decades in prison for the murder of their parents in 1989.

A panel of two commissioners denied Menendez parole for three years, after which he will be eligible again, in a case that continues to fascinate the public.

The brothers were sentenced to life in prison in 1996 for fatally shooting their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion almost exactly 36 years ago on Aug. 20, 1989. While defense attorneys argued that the brothers acted out of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, prosecutors said the brothers sought a multimillion-dollar inheritance.

A judge reduced their sentences in May, and they became immediately eligible for parole. The parole hearings marked the closest they have come to winning freedom since their convictions almost 30 years ago.

Erik Menendez, who is being held at the same prison in San Diego, was denied parole Thursday after commissioners determined his misbehavior in prison made him still a risk to public safety.

A day later, Lyle Menendez told the parole board details about the abuse he suffered under his parents. He cried, face reddened, while delivering his closing statement. He seemed to still want to protect his baby brother, telling commissioners he took sole responsibility for the murders.

I will never be able to make up for the harm and grief I caused everyone in my family," he said. I am so sorry to everyone, and I will be forever sorry.

The state corrections department chose a single reporter to watch the videoconference and share details with the rest of the press.

Lyle Menendez describes abuse

The panel began by asking how abuse impacted decision-making in his life.

The older brother described how his father physically abused him by choking, punching and hurting him using a belt.

I was the special son in my family. My brother was the castaway," he said. "The physical abuse was focused on me because I was more important to him, I felt.

He also said his mother also sexually abused him. He appeared uncomfortable discussing this with the panel, who asked why he didn't disclose his mother's abuse in a risk assessment conducted earlier this year.

Commissioners asked if one death made him more sorrowful than the other.

My mother. Because I loved her and couldnt imagine harming her in any way," he said. I think also I learned a lot after about her life, her childhood, reflecting on how much fear maybe she felt.

Later, he broke down in tears when recounting how they confronted their mother about Jose Menendez's abuse of his younger brother.

I couldnt wrap my mind around the fact that she knew," he said.

RELATED STORY | Board denies parole for Erik Menendez despite reduced sentence for his parents 1989 murders

Hearing focuses on crime, over achievements in prison

Lyle Menendez's parole lawyer, Heidi Rummel, was more outspoken during the hearing than the one for Erik Menendez on Thursday.

She quarreled with the commissioners over several lines of questioning and whether the panel had access to trial evidence in the case.

The panel asked Lyle Menendez whether the murders were planned, and about the brothers buying guns.

There was zero planning. There was no way to know it was going to happen Sunday, he said, referring to buying the guns as the biggest mistake."

I no longer believe that they were going to kill us in that moment, he said. "At the time, I had that honest belief.

Garland asked him about the sophistication of the web of lies and manipulation you demonstrated afterward," referring to having witnesses lie for them in court and attempts to destroy his father's will.

Menendez maintained that there was no plan, only that he was flailing in what was happening and didn't want to go to prison and be separated from his brother.

In closing, Rummel expressed frustration that the hearing spent almost no time on Menendez's achievements in prison or his efforts to build positive relationships with correctional staff. She noted he never touched drugs or alcohol inside.

How many people with an LWOP sentence come in front of this board with zero violence, despite getting attacked, getting bullied, and choose to do something different? she said.

More than a dozen of their relatives attended Fridays hearing via videoconference, but many did not testify citing privacy concerns after learning audio from Erik Menendez's hearing Thursday was published online.

I want my nephew to hear how much I love him, and believe in him," said his aunt, Teresita Menendez-Baralt. :Im very proud of him and I want him to come home."

Cellphones in prison

Similar to his brother's hearing the day before, the panel zeroed in on Menendez's use of cellphones in prison as recent as March 2025.

I had convinced myself that this wasnt a means that was harming anyone but myself in a rule violation," Menendez said.

He said correctional staff were monitoring his communications with his wife and family and selling them to tabloids, so he saw cellphones as a way to protect his privacy. There was a lot of stress in his marriage around the time he transferred to the prison in San Diego, and he wanted to stay in close touch with his wife, he said.

Commissioner Patrick Reardon applauded him for starting a prison beautification project and mentorship programs. However, he questioned if the cellphone violations tainted those accomplishments.

I would never call myself a model incarcerated person," Menendez said. I would say that Im a good person, that I spent my time helping people. ... Im the guy that officers will come to to resolve conflicts.

The panel noted that a psychologist found that Menendez is at very low risk for violence upon release.

According to previous court documents, Menendez has not gotten into any fights in his time in prison. He said nonviolence was a promise he made to his grandmother.

My life has been defined by extreme violence," he said. I wanted to be defined by something else.

The brothers still have a pending habeas corpus petition filed in May 2023 seeking a review of their convictions based on new evidence supporting their claims of sexual abuse by their father.

A Detroit coffee shop owner is expressing frustration after his business was broken into Friday morning. It marks the second time the business has been the target of a break-in within the last year.

Morningside Cafe on East Warren Avenue was broken into around 6:30 a.m.

Watch the video report below: Detroit coffee shop becomes break-in target for the second time in a year

Surveillance video shows a person breaking into the cafe, stealing the business' cash register and kicking in a storage closet, among other damage.

"I was shocked. We had a recent incident not too long ago where a couple guys tried to break in, but for someone to actually be inside and actually cause some damage to our establishment, I was beyond mad. Here we go once again, unfortunately," said Jeffrey Lewis II, the owner of Morningside Cafe.

Lewis expects the incident will cost him more than $15,000.

"All the cables attached to it, the entire system is completely damaged," Lewis said, referring to the point-of-sale system.

Due to not being able to take payments, Morningside Cafe is closed indefinitely. The coffee shop has worked to become a community hub since opening in 2023.

"We've been a community hub for the entire community of Morningside and the surrounding neighborhoods. We see a lot of different people every single day. People look forward to coming here," Lewis said.

However, the repeated targeting of his business has left Lewis with a lot of questions.

"When you try to do a business in your neighborhood and you have situations like this occur, it really makes you second guess if it's all really worth it or not," he said.

Lewis said he doesn't understand why these incidents keep occurring.

"It's mind boggling to me," he said.

But he wants the latest thief to know that the crime affects more than just his business; it also impacts the community.

"Because they don't have a place to congregate, they don't have place to do business, they don't have a place to sit down and have a quality cup of coffee and have those conversations," Lewis said.

The Detroit Police Department is investigating the break-in. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact 313-596-5540 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

An explosion and fire Friday at an automotive supply company in southeast Louisiana sent flames into the air and a tower of thick black smoke billowed above rural communities, forcing nearby residents and an elementary school to evacuate.

Officials said no injuries have been reported in the fire at Smitty's Supply just north of the town of Roseland, but that everyone living within a one-mile radius must evacuate. Roseland, which is home to around 1,100 people, is about 50 miles northeast of Baton Rouge.

Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller said it's godsend that no one has been injured.

We are doing our best to protect people, structures and the environment, Miller told reporters during a news conference Friday afternoon, as crews reached their third hour of trying to extinguish the inferno.

Little information was available about the fire. Miller said that officials weren't yet sure what caused the fire, if there was a significant chemical risk or how long it may take fire crews to get the situation under control.

We are monitoring this situation closely. Please follow the guidance of your local officials, Gov. Jeff Landry posted on X. We are praying for everyones safety.

Video from WBRZ-TV shows vibrant orange flames leaping into the air beneath a cloud of smoke, and engulfing parts of Smittys Supply in Arcola, a small unincorporated community. Firefighters could be seen spraying arcs of water into the blaze.

Per the companys website, Smittys Supply delivers high performance lubricants and automotive parts, including oils, brake fluid, power steering fluid and antifreeze. Miller said approximately 400 people are employed at the property.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

RELATED STORY | Explosion at US Steel plant in Pennsylvania leaves 1 dead, dozens hurt

In addition to fire crews and law enforcement, the Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency were also on the scene. Miller said the federal agencies are monitoring the situation "to determine and guide us on what to do."

The Tangipahoa Parish School System posted on its Facebook page that the Office of Homeland Security recommended the evacuation of a nearby elementary school.

Buses were sent to shuttle students to the school board office in a nearby town.

A Roseville district court judge decided to pause the preliminary hearing in the Ashley Elkins murder case on Friday. Her family anticipated hearing a decision on whether her ex-boyfriend, Deandre Booker, would be sent to trial.

Booker is accused of killing the Warren mother of two in early January and disposing of her body, which has never been found.

Watch the video report below: Judge pauses hearing for suspect in Ashley Elkins' murder

Judge Joseph Boedeker decided to pause the preliminary hearing in order to review court transcripts and the evidence. After going into the judge's chambers to discuss the decision, all parties agreed.

Elkins' uncle, attorney Maurice Morton told 7 News Detroit, "Now, I admit this is highly unusual. You know, the judge could have made a decision today right there from the bench. But he felt it was important to see the transcript, to review all the evidence that came in."

Previous coverage: Lead detective, suspect's adopted niece testify in Ashley Elkins's case preliminary exam Preliminary hearing ongoing in Ashley Elkins murder case

Morton said sitting through four days of disturbing testimony has been challenging. He said that's why Elkins' mother Monica, who testified the first day, wasn't there on day four.

"I think it was the third or second day when they went through that blood evidence in detail. That was very difficult for the family because then you start to visualize what occurred in that apartment," he explained.

Previous coverage: Blood, bullet fragment among evidence presented in Ashley Elkins murder case Preliminary hearing continues for Deandre Booker, man accused of killing Ashley Elkins

Now the court said it could be another two to three months while the court reporter types up the transcripts and then for the attorneys to write their arguments.

The defense council may have made a request to see the transcripts. You know, prosecutor did present almost 200 exhibits, right? And youre talking about hours of video," Morton explained.

"In a case like this thats a circumstantial evidence type case, so you know, you dont have a body... I think the judge is being very careful and the judge wants to review the evidence and wants to take his time before rendering his decision to show that hes thought about this," he said.

Previous coverage: Preliminary hearing starts for Deandre Booker in Ashley Elkins' murder case Journey to justice in Ashley Elkins case

Booker remains in jail on a murder charge, tampering with evidence and mutilating a dead body.

America's immigrant population is declining for the first time in decades.

A new Pew Research Center analysis of census data found about 1.5 million immigrants have left the U.S. this year.

The data doesn't say exactly who is leaving, but the report notes the drop is likely driven by a fall in the number of unauthorized immigrants amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

The White House tells Scripps News the data shows President Trump is "Delivering on his promise" to carry out mass deportation.

"Fewer immigrants means more job opportunities, higher wages, better benefits, better job security," said Kevin Lynn, with the Institute for Sound Public Policy, which opposes increased immigration.

RELATED STORY | Trump administration directs immigration officials to screen for 'anti-Americanism'

But some economists worry a declining immigrant population could have a negative economic impact.

"Immigrants are generally good for the economy," said economics professor Tarek Hassan.

Hassan has researched how immigration impacts the labor market.

"When you deport a large number of people, they essentially take the jobs that they had with them," Hassan said.

Immigrants generated $1.7 trillion in spending in 2023, according to the American Immigration Council, and made up nearly one fifth of the total U.S. workforce.

Hassan also says the administration's posture on foreign-born students could hamper economic growth in the future.

"The best and brightest that we attract to this country are also an engine for growth," Hassan said.

"Losing those people will lose us innovation patents, will lose as research, and will lose us productivity growth in the next five years."

After nearly 60 years of sharing space with schools and other facilities, Detroit's Police Athletic League has finally found a permanent home.

Watch Evan Sery's video report: Detroit PAL opens first permanent headquarters after nearly 60 years

The community program, which launched in 1969, held a grand opening on Friday for its first-ever headquarters following a multi-million dollar renovation project.

"With this new recreation center, it's gonna really be able to expand programming, and it's right in the neighborhood," Chief Todd Bettison said.

David Greenwood, Detroit Director of Engagement and Community Facilities for PAL, helped spearhead the renovation of the building that originally opened in 1949.

"We all put our fingerprints or footprints on things in life, and this is one of the things I can say I helped PAL do this," Greenwood said.

The building needed major updates before it could serve as PAL's new home.

"The heating system was either on 110 degrees or it was completely off. We had significant heat or cold issues, we also had a leaky roof," Greenwood said.

PAL's greatest partner is the Detroit Police Department, which provides mentorship through police officers. The program offers academic, leadership, and athletic activities, including cheerleading.

Elin Ford, a 10th grader at Cass Tech who has participated in PAL for four years, said the new facility is a significant upgrade from previous locations.

"It's amazing, actually. When I used to cheer here for competitions, there were mats on the ground, and we were stunting, but this is like an upgrade," Ford said. "What I've enjoyed about PAL the most is - it's taught me a lot of discipline; my grades improved significantly after I joined PAL."

Greenwood, who was a PAL participant himself in the 1970s, said grants from the state and support from nonprofits like Starfish helped make the permanent home possible.

"We faced the challenge and said Hey, we want to restore this facility and be able to give back to the community so our PAL kids and others can take advantage of safe spaces," Greenwood said.

A few more adjustments are needed before PAL participants can begin using the facility late next month.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.