The Romeo Theater will shut its doors in mid-September, ending four decades of movies in the small Michigan community.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's report below Romeo Theater to close after 40 years, citing pandemic impact and declining attendance

The Romeo Theater announced on Facebook it will close in mid-September after 40 years in business, citing the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, changing viewing habits, and declining attendance.

The family-run theater said a mixture of today's economic realities and a nationwide decline in movie viewership have made it impossible to keep the business afloat. In its farewell post, the theater said it was never able to weather the storm the pandemic brought to movie theaters, with turnout declining in the years that followed as more people turned to streaming movies at home.

The announcement drew hundreds of reactions on Facebook, with community members calling the theater "a little gem," expressing sadness, and thanking the theater for the memories.

Otis Freeman, who has brought his family to the Romeo Theater for years and works at an Enterprise location nearby, said the news hit hard.

"To be honest with you, I'm hurt," Freeman said.

Freeman commended the theater for keeping ticket prices affordable and for regularly bringing leftover popcorn to his team on Fridays.

"He tried to keep everything the same as before COVID. I like the vibe. You don't have to be around a whole bunch of people." We hate to see him go. You know, he need a rental or he need us, we got him."

Christine Taylor, who is also saddened to see the theater go, reflected on what the closure means for the community.

"Sad. We don't have much around here," Taylor said. "Us older people like to go and get away, not have to be in the house."

Another community member shared a personal memory tied to the theater.

"We will miss them. We have lived in town for 31 years. It's been here since I've lived here. In fact, I think my son saw Lion King here. It was his first movie."

Lyne Parziale said she hopes the area does not lose more than just the theater.

"It's an up and coming area, so I hate to see this area lose anything."

The theater said in its post that the property owner plans to bring something new to the community, though no details have been announced. The space will no longer operate as a theater.

The Romeo Theater is currently showing "Young Washington" and the new Spider-Man movie, which could be among the last films it screens. Despite closing its doors, the theater hinted that its well-liked popcorn may still make appearances around town.

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

A now-former employee of Action Impact Firearms in Southfield is facing criminal charges after investigators say he lied to police and concealed evidence following a robbery at the store.

Watch Carli Petrus' report below Gun store employee charged with tampering with evidence after Southfield robbery at Action Impact

Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren announced Monday that Thomas Beck fired shots at the robbery suspect as he fled the store, then hid his gun in a desk drawer and replaced it with a firearm from the store's inventory before officers arrived.

Beck is charged with tampering with evidence and lying to a peace officer.

The robbery happened July 19, when 33-year-old Marquise Massey of Detroit entered Action Impact on 8 Mile posing as a customer before running out with two guns. Massey was arrested the same day after police located the stolen blue Ford Escape he was seen driving. He faces charges related to the theft of firearms and related weapons offenses.

Watch our previous coverage Gun store robbery suspect in custody after shots fired outside Southfield store

Barren said the investigation expanded after detectives reviewed surveillance footage and gathered additional evidence.

"As detectives continued to investigate the incident, they uncovered evidence establishing that an Action Impact employee provided false information to responding officers and took deliberate steps to conceal critical evidence," Barren said.

"Based on the evidence developed through surveillance video, witness statements, search warrants, and forensic analysis, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office has authorized criminal charges for the Action Impact employee as well," Barren said.

During Monday's briefing, I asked Barren about a conversation I had with Action Impact owner William Kucyk on July 20, in which Kucyk told me his employee had fired shots information that did not appear to be known to detectives at the time.

"I think the detectives primarily focused on Mr. Beck and so, just like you, when I watched the news, maybe it was your story, my antennas went up when I heard the owner mention his employee probably had fired a gun," Barren said.

Kucyk also responded to the charges against his former employee.

"The whole thing is unfortunate but I just want to remind people what started this. It wasn't that my employee decided to get up that morning and commit a crime, that's not what happened," Kucyk said.

Southfield police say they still do not know why Beck allegedly lied to investigators or concealed his weapon. Investigators say additional charges could be coming.

Massey remains in custody. Beck was released on a personal bond. His next court date is Aug. 20.

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

The two main companies with government contracts to operate ICE detention centers are seeing significant revenue growth they expect will last all year. Both CoreCivic and the GEO Group released second quarter earnings reports last week.

Last year was the most successful period of business wins in our companys history and we expect 2026 to continue to be very active as well, said George Zoley, chairman and CEO of the GEO Group, during a call with investors.

The GEO Group reported a 15 percent increase in revenue in the second quarter, largely attributed to contracts with ICE to house immigrants at detention centers across the country.

CoreCivic, which also runs ICE detention centers, saw a 27 percent jump in revenue.

ICE Inc. | Inside the companies making money off immigration policy

The companies are notching up their forecasted earnings for the year, attributing the gains to ICE detaining more immigrants and the agency bringing more idle private detention centers online.

The GEO Group is also making money from ICE to track immigrants who are not locked up by offering ankle monitoring bracelets and other tracking technology.

Haitians who recently lost temporary protected status likely will increase demand for ankle monitoring, Zoley said.

Most of them, we believe, would be placed under the ankle monitoring supervision technique, Zoley told investors.

Another major source of revenue is the recent sales of detention centers to ICE.

CoreCivic expects to make $1.6 billion dollars after selling four detention centers to ICE, equaling $307,000 dollars in revenue per bed, CoreCivic CEO Patrick Swindle said during an earnings call with investors.

"We believe that demand for additional capacity has increased, Swindle said. We believe we are well positioned with already existing turnkey capacity to the extent if theres more.

The companies are still able to make money from sold detention centers by continuing to operate them under government contract.

RELATED STORY | Scripps News' 'ICE Inc.' investigation tracks tax dollars flowing to companies running immigration lockups

The growth in these companies bottom lines is happening as deaths of detainees reach record levels and amid persistent reports of inadequate medical care. CoreCivic and the GEO Group have repeatedly said all of their facilities meet strict national detention guidelines.

A former Detroit firefighter is accused of terrorizing a west side neighborhood with a string of suspected arsons and robberies, targeting garages, homes, and even stealing personal items from firefighters battling one of the blazes.

Watch Randy Wimbley's report below Former Detroit firefighter accused of arsons, robberies targeting west side neighborhood

Investigators believe Eric Anderson committed the crimes between July and August. No one was hurt.

Derrick Atkins grew up in a home on Central Street on Detroit's west side and moved in April. He says Anderson his childhood friend is suspected of setting his garage on fire.

"My grandpa built that garage, so this house go back, 55 years old," Atkins said.

The betrayal hit especially hard for Atkins, who described a close bond with Anderson.

"He hugged my mother. He came over here and ate food when we barbecued for the 4th. It, it's just a lot of memories," Atkins said.

Yosef Hajaji says his garage was torched about a week after Atkins'. He purchased the home through the Detroit Land Bank.

"I got this house from Land Bank. So I tried to fix it, so I live, me and my family in it," Hajaji said.

Hajaji described his reaction to finding his garage destroyed.

"Pissed off, mad, and I don't know what to do, especially if I didn't have no insurance, no help," Hajaji said.

Prosecutors say Anderson stole personal items from firefighters as they worked to extinguish one of the blazes. Anderson exploded in a series of outbursts in court Monday, and a judge doubled his bond to $1 million. Investigators confirm Anderson is suspected in additional arsons in the area, and more charges are possible.

Anderson's history with the Detroit Fire Department and with law enforcement stretches back years. The department placed him on unpaid leave following an arrest in June 2022, and he never returned to active duty. Detroit police say in that 2022 incident, Anderson threw a brick through a neighbor's window and opened fire. That neighbor was Atkins.

Anderson pleaded guilty to felony firearm in that case and served over a year in prison.

Current and former firefighters say Anderson began spiraling after his mother passed away about 15 years ago something Atkins confirms.

"His mother died and he was going through some dark times and he just wasn't the same person I grew up with," Atkins said.

Atkins says he still struggles to make sense of what happened.

"You can't really say what a person going through in their life. We grew up together, so it's a lot of stuff that he been through in his life, I thought me and him was friends," Atkins said.

"I don't know what would make him do something so heinous. Mental health is real, man," Atkins said.

Anderson is set to appear in court for another hearing on August 25.

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.

2 teens riding an Electric Bike (E-Bike) were hospitalized after being hit by the driver of a Black Dodge Journey in Redford Township on Saturday night, the township's police department tells us.

The crash happened just before 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of Inkster and Clarita.

Investigators say that the teens were trying to cross the street going west to east at Clarita when they were struck by the driver, who was neading north on Inkster.

One of the teens, 13, broke his right arm and suffered what police call a serious head injury. The other teen, a 15-year-old girl, was injured as well. Both teens were treated by first responders before being taken to the hospital.

The driver of the Dodge Journey is cooperating with police, who say that alcohol and speed are not factors in the crash.

Anyone with more information on this incident is asked to contact Officer Jacob Vance at jvance@redfordpd.org or 313-387-2561 in the Redford Police Traffic Bureau.

A report suggests the LIV Golf team championship scheduled at St. John's Resort's The Cardinal Golf Course in Plymouth, Michigan, is not happening.

Watch Christiana Ford's report below LIV Golf team championship in Michigan may be canceled, locals left in the dark

Following the LIV Golf Bedminster event in New York on Sunday, TNT Sports' Craig Doyle said the event in Indianapolis would be the final event of the season, where the team championship will be decided. The video was posted by Flushing It Golf on X.

As of Monday, fans can still buy tickets online, but at St. John's there is no sign that LIV Golf is coming. There is no infrastructure on site, just two weeks before the tournament was scheduled to begin.

The silence has people talking.

Mark Newman, a volunteer and Plymouth Township resident who participated last year and registered again this year, said he has no information about whether the event will move forward.

"The organization themselves are withholding any information regarding whether this event is going to move forward or not," Newman said. "We are feeling very uninformed and left in the dark by everything."

Newman said he is disappointed by the uncertainty.

"I'm basically upset by it because I was really looking forward to it again. It was an awesome event last year. We had a lot of fun," Newman said.

St. John's Resort and its official event management partner, Outlyr, both declined to comment, saying they will only address LIV Golf's event if or when LIV makes an announcement.

LIV has not responded to our request for information.

Aiden Newman, a college golfer, said the experience of watching players inside the ropes close to home was memorable.

I hope we have it at the end of the day. Last year it was a little different format. I understand some people arent the biggest fan of LIV. However to have Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, all those guys here was a little bit of a different experience and for it being literally right down the road and being able to see em inside the ropes was a really good experience and I hope it comes back this year, Aiden Newman said.

Ron Henry, who attended last year with his wife and plans to buy tickets again this year, said he remains hopeful.

"I'm hopeful that it'll still be on. I think it's good for the area. We need more global events in Michigan. And it was certainly ranked up there. I've been to the Ryder Cup, I've been to the, several different Oakland Hills events and the Rocket Mortgage Classic. It's too bad that we're losing both in the same year," Henry said.

Plymouth Downtown Development Authority Director Sam Plymale said last year's tournament produced only a 3 to 4 percent increase in visitors to the area.

"We were looking forward to LIV coming back and maybe growing the impact from last year but we'll see what happens and if it doesn't, if the tournament doesn't happen, I don't think it'll have a huge impact on our businesses down here," Plymale said.

The tournament is still listed online as scheduled for The Cardinal from Aug. 27-30.

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

A 21-year-old man is recovering after being stabbed in the back during Raft Off, a popular boat gathering on Lake St. Clair, on Saturday. The suspect, 26-year-old Salem Asmar, was arraigned Monday the same day he was due in court for a separate felony case in Oakland County.

Watch Brett Kast's report below Suspect appears in court after stabbing at raft off Harsens Island

The stabbing happened in Muscamoot Bay near Harsens Island, where the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office said a record crowd had gathered for the annual event. Deputies said the large turnout brought with it a number of altercations, including the alleged stabbing.

Witness Allen Cherri was in the water nearby when the confrontation unfolded. He said Asmar wrongfully accused his friend of throwing a beer can at him.

"He confronted him thinking it was him because it's a big crowd, he didn't see who did it but (victim) was the closest to him, and that's when the altercation happened. Called him a bunch of racial stuff, they got into an argument, that's when he pulled (a knife) out of his swimming trunks in the water and stabbed him in the back," Cherri said.

Cherri said Asmar had a 4-inch switchblade. After the stabbing, the victim was brought onto a nearby boat, where bystanders helped cover the wound while first responders arrived.

"A bunch of guys did surround him (suspect) so Salem couldn't get away, and then the police pulled up on their jet skis and got him in custody pretty quick, so they did a good job doing that," Cherri said.

Asmar has a lengthy criminal history that includes multiple assault charges, including one involving a firearm. Most recently, in January, he was arrested in connection with a break-in at a marijuana dispensary in Hazel Park. While fleeing police during a high-speed chase, he allegedly crashed into a police vehicle. The following day, he posted a $100,000 bond. He was due back in court for that case at the same time as Monday's arraignment.

72nd District Court Magistrate Dennis J. Rickert addressed those concerns during the arraignment.

"I see a couple things that are concerning to me, one is that he's currently on bond in Oakland County for a fleeing and eluding, I'm concerned the fact that he's on bond and he picks up another major felony charge," Rickert said.

The magistrate set a $100,000 cash surety bond. As a habitual 3rd offender, Asmar could face up to 20 years in prison.

The St. Clair County Sheriff's Office also reported that 50 people were left at Raft Off without a boat ride home, and that 5 people were found so intoxicated that they could have drowned.

"It's a messed up world we live in where you can't even go have fun with your friends without somebody doing that, I mean you're in the water it's not like somewhere you need to be carrying a knife anyways," Cherri said.

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

Rep. Max Miller is staying in the race for reelection despite facing abuse allegations, setting up a potentially vulnerable race for Republicans in Ohio's 7th Congressional District.

The deadline for Miller to withdraw from the race was 4:30 p.m. Monday, meaning he will remain on the November ballot.

Miller represents a district that President Donald Trump won by about 10 percentage points in 2024. But a co/efficient poll from early August shows Miller trailing his Democratic challenger, Brian Poindexter, 47% to 33% among likely voters.

RELATED STORY | Rep. Max Miller faces House ethics investigation amid domestic abuse allegations

A Democratic victory would represent a significant pickup for the party as it fights for control of the narrowly divided House.

Miller has faced allegations that he abused his ex-wife, their child and former girlfriends. He has denied all of the allegations.

RELATED STORY | Sen. Bernie Moreno says Rep. Max Miller should not serve in Congress over abuse allegations

The controversy has also drawn criticism from within Miller's own party, including from his former father-in-law, Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio, who has previously said Miller should not remain in Congress.

On Monday, Moreno told Scripps News he had said all he was going to say about Miller. He declined to say whether he would urge voters in Ohio's 7th Congressional District to write in another candidate or leave that race blank on their ballots.

A West Bloomfield Township man is dead after being found unresponsive while diving in Marathon, Florida, on Monday morning, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office in Florida Keys.

We're told this happened off Marathon, Florida, with police officials and the U.S. Coast Guard responding to help the man.

Police say that Stephen Matheny was pulled from the water around 11:20 a.m. First responders attempted CPR, but attempts were unsuccessful.

Matheny was taken to the Fisherman's Hospital in Marathon, where he was pronounced dead.

A cause of death is being investigated, but officials say that foul play is not believed to be a factor.

A wedding reception turned into a crime scene after gunfire erupted outside Athena Hall on Gratiot in Roseville late Saturday night.

Watch Peter Maxwell's report below Wedding reception shooting leaves 3 shot, 2 injured outside Roseville banquet hall

Roseville police say three people were shot and two others were injured after a fight broke out at around 11 p.m. Saturday. Everyone is expected to survive.

The groom, who wishes to remain anonymous, says the night started without incident.

"The whole night everybody was happy. We didn't see any problems," he said.

He and his bride were preparing to leave when the situation escalated.

"When we were packing up and getting ready to leave and putting everything into the car that's when we saw the chaos and everybody was running everywhere," he said.

The fight started inside Athena Hall before spilling into the parking lot. Witnesses say the altercation began over the number of people the groom had standing in the wedding party compared to the bride. One person on the groom's side allegedly pulled out a gun, and two others on the bride's side allegedly pulled out firearms of their own and began shooting. Investigators say at least three handguns were displayed before shots were fired.

Bouquets of flowers, personal belongings, shoes and a slice of untouched wedding cake were left behind in the parking lot.

Three people were shot, including one woman who was struck in the chest. Two others were injured. The groom says one of those injured was his father, who was struck by a car and broke his hip.

The groom described the moment his bride broke down in tears.

"I just see her all over the parking lot ground screaming why!? Why!? Why!?" he said.

Crime tape could be seen inside the banquet hall's reception area where the wedding had been held.

Youhil Ishmail, who has owned Athena Banquet Hall for more than 20 years, says he was shaken by what happened.

"People are just shouting and running into the hall to take cover," Ishmail said.

"It was sad. I feel sad for the people who had the wedding the bride and groom. I feel very bad for the kids who were in the wedding," Ishmail said.

The groom says he and his bride are still in shock.

"It was like a nightmare," he said.

"If you knew you weren't going to support us or be there for us then why did you come," he said.

"We get to pray and see another day to heal," he said.

Roseville police say no one is in custody, but the investigation remains active.

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.

Jackie, Big Bear's famous bald eagle matriarch, has died after spending weeks in intensive care following a fight with rival eagles, according to Ojai Raptor Center.

"Over the past several days, her condition continued to deteriorate despite intensive treatment and the combined efforts of our veterinary team and consulting specialists," the center said. "She remained critically ill, receiving oxygen therapy, supportive treatment, and around-the-clock monitoring in our intensive care unit."

Thousands became fans of Jackie and her partner, Shadow, as they watched the bald eagle couple on a live camera pointed at their nest in Southern California, which is run by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley,

The bald eagle pair has had their fair share of tragedy, as many egg clutches have failed to hatch or their eaglets have died. Earlier this year, another successful pair of eaglets was born and are still in the nest today.

"We know this news will be deeply felt by the many thousands of people around the world who have followed her journey, hoped alongside us, prayed for her, and supported the people caring for her," Ojai Raptor Center said. "Our team is heartbroken. It has been an extraordinary privilege to care for her."

Jackie was rescued a few weeks ago following an apparent "altercation" with two subadult eagles. Her condition has been described as mostly critical ever since the incident.

Meanwhile, Shadow and their offspring, Sandy and Luna, have kept guard of their nest.

"Shadow continues to care for, feed and protect Sandy and Luna. He has also been protecting the nest area from the other subadult eagles in the area. A couple days ago, Luna appeared to get in on the action, chasing an intruder away from the nest before he came to hang out with Shadow and Sandy!" the Friends of Big Bear Valley said on Facebook at the end of July.

Many asked the nonprofit what her mate Shadow will do without her.

Friends of Big Bear Valley said "due to the incredible bond Jackie and Shadow have, it would be unlikely for him to move on now and "he wont likely be looking for a mate until his hormones kick in" later this year.

A former U.S. Marine being held in Russia is reportedly on the brink of death, according to his family and advocates.

32-year-old Robert Gilman was detained in Russia in 2022. Gilmans representative tells Scripps News theyre concerned for his life after hes been in in what they call a dissociative stupor for 50 days as a result of abuse in prison. They say Gilman was moved from a prison hospital to a civilian one and is unable to interact, eat or drink. Hes currently being tube fed and has a high fever and blood pressure.

Gilmans mother flew to Russia to see him but was denied entry by hospital officials.

RELATED STORY | Senate approves Russia sanctions package backed by late Sen. Graham

Gilman was sentenced first to 4.5 years in prison for allegedly kicking an officer and has had his sentence extended twice first to more than 8 years and then again to 10 years.

His sister said in a statement I am more afraid for my brother than I have been since this horrible nightmare started.

Former FBI Assistant Director Kieran Ramsey is working on Gilmans case.

"It's not hyperbolic to say this family is living hour by hour, wondering if they're ever gonna see Robert again," Ramsey said. "So there's a big opportunity right now for the Russian government. They can either do the right thing, this will cost them nothing from a geopolitical perspective, this is not a concession in any way, this is simply a life-saving medical evacuation for this former Marine."

The State Department says it is deeply concerned about Gilmans health and has raised his case repeatedly with the Russian government and has requested his release on humanitarian grounds.

Gilman is not currently classified as wrongfully detained, which affects how negotiations with Russia proceed. There are currently eight Americans in Russian custody, only one of them considered wrongly detained.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday calling for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to eventually be split into three separate shots and for childhood vaccines to be given at separate medical visits.

The order does not immediately eliminate the combined MMR vaccine. Instead, the administration says it wants single-disease alternatives developed while guaranteeing that the combination vaccines remain available.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | FDA approves new flu vaccine that uses same technology as COVID-19 shots

The changes are part of the Trump administration's broader overhaul of federal childhood vaccine recommendations, which divides vaccines into three categories:

Immunizations recommended for all children: measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus, and varicella Immunizations recommended for certain high-risk groups or populations: respiratory syncytial virus monoclonal antibodies, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal B, meningococcal ACWY, and dengue Immunizations based on shared clinical decision-making: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, meningococcal disease, influenza, and COVID-19

For parents, the changes could eventually mean more trips to the doctor's office if vaccines that are currently administered together are instead spread across separate appointments.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Judge blocks Trump administrations revised childhood vaccine schedule

The order does not change state vaccination requirements for children attending school. Those requirements are set by individual states. Trump is instead advising states to review their requirements and consider changes based on the federal government's new recommendations.

Dr. Richard Besser, a former acting director of the CDC and longtime pediatrician, sharply criticized the changes in an interview with Scripps News, saying the administration is injecting politics into decisions that should be based on health and science.

"We have to get back to a state where parents can trust the information that's coming from our government, where physicians who are making recommendations to their patients can trust the information coming down," Besser said.

"At this point, I recommend that you do not look at the CDC for vaccine recommendations. Look at the American Academy of Pediatrics," he added. "I'm a member of that organization, and their focus is on children's health, and the vaccine schedule that they put forward makes a lot of sense."

Former CDC chief tells parents not to follow CDC vaccine guidance

Wildfires burning across the western U.S. and Canada on Sunday left some residents keeping a wary eye out for possible evacuation orders while others already forced to flee their homes waited to see what would be left on their return.

In western Canada, over 20,000 people were forced to flee communities along Okanagan Lake in British Columbia over the weekend as a fast-moving wildfire destroyed homes and dozens had to be rescued by aircraft. In the U.S., crews in Washington that have been fighting three wildfires that began burning in the Spokane area for over a week continued cleanup near containment lines.

RELATED STORY | Tips on how to stay safe from hazardous wildfire smoke

Laurie Allen left her home in Nine Mile Falls, a community north of Spokane, last weekend, fleeing with her husband, dog and two kittens as a wildfire burned a short distance away. The roads into her neighborhood were still closed Sunday but she said she'd learned from a friend that while covered in ashes, her house and others nearby were intact.

Ive been here 65 years. Its never happened, Allen said. We didnt think about anything but grabbing our animals and leaving. But now its affected so many of our friends and family around. So its pretty dang devastating.

Over 20,000 flee Canadian wildfires

In Canada, Anette Boulet was among residents who fled Summerland, home to about 12,000 people along Okanagan Lake in British Columbia. As she and her family left around 4:30 a.m. Saturday, their home was shrouded in smoke.

You couldnt see barely. It was, it was just dark, and the ridge, the ridge of fire just coming towards you, said Boulet, who evacuated to a center in Penticton.

Theres no words to express it," she said. "The fear.

Later Sunday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said an 80-year-old woman died while trying to escape the wildfire that forced evacuations in the Okanagan Lake region.

Besides the evacuations in Summerland, the Bald Range fire, first reported Friday evening, has also led to the evacuation of about 8,000 people in and around nearby Peachland. British Columbia declared a state of emergency Saturday.

Eleanor Olszewski, Canadas minister of emergency management and community resilience, said Sunday on social media that shed approved a request for federal assistance from British Columbia to provide shelter and accommodations for those forced to flee.

Spokane-area fires leave residents on edge

Crews fighting three wildfires in the Spokane area continued mop-up operations on Sunday near containment lines, and none of the fires were growing, according to a news release from the team managing those wildfires. The fires, which have burned over the last week, have damaged or destroyed about 920 structures.

Earlier in the week, a man was arrested and charged with intentionally setting the biggest of the three Spokane-area blazes.

Residents in the tiny rural town of Malden, located about 35 miles (55 kilometers) south of Spokane, had been urged Saturday to evacuate immediately. By Sunday, however, their evacuation level was downgraded to be ready to quickly leave if necessary.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | French wildfire created a monster cloud, unleashing lightning that ignited more fires

The wind is fairly calm. The fire is not progressing, said John Goyke, whose company operates Maldens water under contract, but were using social media and Facebook to keep in contact with everyone.

Goyke, who is the mayor of nearby Rosalia, said Maldens residents have been told to conserve water so it can be saved for fire trucks if needed, and Maldens fire department has been trucking water from Rosalia.

In 2020, Malden was mostly destroyed by a wildfire, losing its fire station, post office, city hall and library.

Two killed fighting wildfire when helicopter crashes

In Utah, two helicopter pilots were killed when their aircraft crashed while they were fighting a wildfire Friday morning in the Fishlake National Forest. Crews were finally able to get to the site Saturday to confirm the deaths.

Officials said Sunday that fire activity had prevented them from quickly reaching the area amid steep, rough terrain.

When we first got there we could see two different plumes of smoke, one from the crash site, one from an active fire coming towards us, Sevier County Sheriff Nathan Curtis said.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.

A new FTC consumer alert is warning about "refund and recovery" scams.

These scams target those who were already impacted by scams and claim they can help you get your money back.

According to the FTC, they may pretend to be from a government agency, a law firm, or a consumer group and then ask for an upfront fee or your financial information.

The way this works is scammers buy lists of people who have previously paid scammers. These lists have information like your name, address, phone number and even the kind of scam you were tricked with, as well as how much money you paid.

RELATED STORY | AI is giving hackers an edge. Heres how to protect yourself from online scams

The scammer will often reach out to you repeatedly, claiming theyll get back the money you lost or recover the prize or merchandise you never got.

They will also use the information they bought to make up a story that sounds believable. Before you're able to recover that money or item, they will say you need to pay or provide personal financial information, often calling that upfront money a retainer fee, processing fee, administrative charge, tax, shipment and handling charge."

If youve lost money to a refund or recovery scam, or have information about the company or scammer who called you, report it to:

the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov your state attorney general

The FTC says legitimate organizations will never charge you to recover a refund.

A Phoenix man faces armed robbery and kidnapping charges after police say he robbed the Shake Shack location in Scottsdale where he was employed, then returned to work two days later.

Keondre Simmons, 33, was taken into custody on Wednesday, August 5, in the parking lot of the Shake Shack near Scottsdale and Greenway Road, the same location where police say he robbed two coworkers at gunpoint days earlier.

According to court documents, Simmons entered the restaurant through the rear delivery door on Aug. 3 armed with a semi-automatic handgun. He allegedly forced one employee into a walk-in cooler at gunpoint, then directed the on-duty manager to open the store safe and hand over approximately $2,800 in cash.

Simmons is then accused of locking both employees in the cooler before returning to force them to kneel at gunpoint. He also allegedly took their cellphones and a landline phone, destroying all of them by throwing them into a sink filled with water, according to court paperwork.

Investigators say both victims told police the suspect's physical characteristics, voice, and familiarity with the store including knowledge of the walk-in cooler latch, the location of gloves and cleaning wipes, and the layout of employee-only areas were consistent with Simmons, who had called out sick that morning earlier than his typical pattern.

Surveillance video from the Shake Shack and the surrounding property corroborated the victims' accounts, showing the suspect entering and exiting through the rear of the restaurant and leaving the parking lot in a green SUV, according to court records.

A search warrant for Simmons' cellphone records placed his device in the area of the restaurant at the time of the robbery.

On August 5, court records say detectives watched Simmons leave his apartment and drive to the Scottsdale Road Shake Shack location, where he was arrested.

In his initial court appearance, Simmons was seen wearing his Shake Shack uniform.

Simmons allegedly told law enforcement he discarded the clothing he wore during the incident. He also told investigators a firearm was inside his residence.

A search warrant executed at his home turned up a firearm with characteristics similar to the one used in the robbery, along with amounts of money that were consistent with the stolen cash.

Simmons was held on a $100k secured bond.

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.

This story was originally published by Ford Hatchett with the Scripps News Group in Phoenix.

Cybercriminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to target people: Americans lost more than $893 million from AI-related crimes last year, according to the FBI.

Just last week, OpenAI and Anthropic revealed that their AI agents accessed the internet during testing and hacked into other companies systems. Although customer-facing data wasnt breached, the incidents raised fresh concerns over cybersecurity.

AI is growing more accessible, inexpensive and effective for pulling off attacks, said Chris Whyte, a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.

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Heres what experts suggest to protect against cyber scams.

Deepfakes

A deepfake can replicate faces or voices as well as videos or images depicting events that never happened. Roughly 12% of US scam victims last year said the hoax they fell for involved AI or a deepfake, according to a Gallup report.

Some deepfakes can even be used in Teams and Zoom meetings, Whyte said.

Face filters can be advanced, but images may break if a scammer turns their head or is asked to stand and spin around, Whyte said. He recommended asking potential scammers to move on camera if possible.

Its going to be difficult for the filter to maintain 100% of a veil, he said.

Scams may also involve deepfakes of celebrities, CEOs and trusted figures, according to the FBI, which creates fraudulent, high-stakes opportunities. Last year, victims reportedly lost more than $632 million to investment scams involving AI, according to the FBI.

If the person or video recording requests money or account access, experts recommend first verifying the request with the person or organization through a known contact.

Voice cloning

AI-trained voices may be used for distress scams, such as posing as a loved one asking for money or creating real-time pressure, according to Laurel Cook, a marketing professor and digital well-being researcher at West Virginia University. Victims claimed over $5 million in fraud losses due to distress scams last year, according to the FBI.

Our own human abilities to detect issues are ill-fitting, so they often fall behind the sophistication of the tech, Cook said. She suggests establishing ways to verify a relative or friend, such as choosing a safe word.

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Just a few seconds of audio can be used to create as much as an 85% voice match using AI, according to Whyte. And people accurately decipher an automated voice just 60% of the time, he said.

If youre unsure whether a caller is authentic, hang up and call back on a different number or one that is associated with an institution, like a bank, said Sam Gregory, executive director of Witness, a technology and human rights organization.

Password access

Gaining access to your password is more complicated than using AI to decrypt your account details, experts say.

AI makes guessing more efficient because it detects patterns from leaked passwords, says Siwei Lyu, director of the University of Buffalos Institute for AI and Data Science. AI can also use someones information to come up with more personalized password guesses.

To protect themselves, people can turn on multifactor authentication and use passwords with at least 12 characters, said Whyte. He also recommended using passkeys and password managers.

Whyte warned against requirements for passwords like one special character, number and capital letter because it provides a checklist for hackers. A phrase, like a line from a poem, can work effectively.

As long as (the password is) long, you really only have to change when theres evidence of some kind of compromise, he said.

Fake authorizations and celebrity scams

Some scammers attempt to trick people using phony authentication methods. For instance, CAPTCHA verifications have prompts to check a box or verify images. A fake version will ask users to type a command, download software or change security settings, Lyu said.

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Scammers may also convince users to authorize malicious apps that provide access to emails, contacts, files or other data, he warned. Lyu recommends using Google and Microsoft to review the apps connected to your accounts. Social media platforms like Instagram may also have security settings to review devices that have access to your account.

While AI detection software has been recommended for spotting scams, experts warn theyre not always foolproof.

Weve got to defend ourselves in simple ways and be more cognizant of the digital footprint that were leaving, said Krolls Burg.

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Southfield police provided an update on the robbery and shots fired at Action Impact Firearms last month, saying an employee is being charged for lying to police officers during the investigation.

The suspect in the case, 33-year-old Marquise Massey of Detroit, was arrested a few hours after the incident on Sunday, July 19.

It's alleged that Massey was looking at two guns that were on the counter inside the store when he grabbed them and ran out the door.

Police say one of the employees, 67-year-old Thomas Beck, chased after the suspect and fired shots at him. Originally, it was reported that Massey fired the shots, but the store's owner told us he believed the employee fired shots.

Watch a previous report in the video below Gun store robbery suspect in custody after shots fired outside Southfield store

"We had an individual posing as a normal and regular customer, and during that sales process, snatched the guns and ran out the door," Action Impact owner William Kucyk said. "You know, my employee didn't just let this happen; they took steps to protect the public, and that was a choice that employee made, and we'll just look at it, that's all."

According to Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren, the investigation took a turn the day after the incident, as officers determined Beck fired shots during the pursuit, which Barren said contradicted the statements he made to officers during an initial interview.

See video of the arrest of Massey and from inside the store where Beck allegedly hid the gun below Surveillance video shows guns being stolen from Action Impact

Police said they reviewed surveillance video, which showed Beck returning to the store, removing a firearm from the wall, and put the gun he allegedly used and fired inside a drawer in the office before officers arrived on scene.

Detectives then conducted another interview with Beck, where he then requested legal counsel, Barren said. He has been charged with one count of tampering with evidence and one count of lying to a peace officer. Shell casings recovered matched the handgun found in the drawer.

Past interview: Action Impact owner Wiliam Kucyk talks about the robbery at his gun store FULL INTERVIEW: Action Impact owner Wiliam Kucyk talks about the robbery at his gun store

President Donald Trump on Monday responded to Iran's demand that the U.S. pay for war damages by calling on Tehran to compensate Americans and others harmed or killed by the country over the last 50 years.

I see that Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran are asking for compensation for the damage done to them during the last five month Military Conflict ... even though it was never mentioned in any of our negotiations or meetings! Trump wrote on social media.

Trump said he is now likewise demanding compensation from Iran for Americans killed or wounded in conflicts involving Iran and Iranian-backed groups. He said the demand should be included in any future negotiations with Tehran.

RELATED STORY | Iran says Strait of Hormuz wont reopen until US meets sweeping demands

The president's comments came after Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, laid out a series of conditions Tehran says must be met for the conflict to end and the Strait of Hormuz to reopen.

Correcting its behavior means that Iran must never again be threatened or humiliated, aggression against Iran and its allies must end permanently, the naval blockade must be lifted, US naval and air forces must withdraw from around Iran, war damages must be compensated, sanctions must be lifted and Irans frozen assets must be released, Zolghadr said.

In outlining his own demand for compensation, Trump specifically cited Americans killed or wounded by roadside bombs and other attacks and invoked Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq in 2020.

Trump also called for compensation for the families of protesters he said have been killed by the Iranian government.

"Compensation should be paid to the families of the hundreds of thousands of innocent protestors that Iran has killed over the last 50 years, not to mention the 52,000 that have been killed in the last five months, Trump said.

The latest dispute comes more than five months after the United States launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran. Trump has said the military campaign was necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.