Leaders from across Michigan are speaking out after the United States and Israel launched major strikes against Iran on Saturday.

Watch our coverage on the strikes against Iran below:

WSU professor discusses U.S. & Israel strikes against Iran

Related: What we know about the 'major combat operations' in Iran

President Donald Trump announcing that major combat operations were underway and warning the Iranian regime it would face overwhelming force.

Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime," Trump said in a statement early Saturday.

Explosions were reported in Tehran following weeks of U.S. military buildup in the region, including additional aircraft carrier strike groups and cargo and tanker flights. Tensions had escalated amid nuclear talks that Trump suggested had stalled.

Leaders from Michigan are releasing statements about the attacks. You can find the latest statements below.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D)

"Americans woke up this morning to news that the U.S. and Israel have started major military action against Iran.

Unlike the U.S. strike on Iran back in June, this operation doesnt appear to be a one-and-done, so were thinking about the safety of our servicemembers and their families. Likewise, many Michiganders have family in the Middle East who are at risk right now as Iran is striking a number of countries. We pray for their safety as well.

As a former CIA officer who served three tours in Iraq, I have no love lost for the Iranian government. Theyre a state sponsor of terror, responsible for the deaths of Americans. I saw it up close in Iraq and elsewhere.

But issues of war and peace should be treated with the utmost consequence. And President Trump hasnt made his case to the American people. He hasnt laid out the goals or the imminent threat posed by Iran that justifies risking a wider regional war. And he hasnt followed the Constitution and brought this issue before Congress before committing our nation to war.

Most elected leaders including President Trump himself have condemned the rush to war without clear goals in the past. He owes the American people the same thing he was demanding of previous presidents if hes going to put lives at risk. And Congress should come back to Washington to debate these issues."

Sen. Gary Peters (D)

"The President just acknowledged he is risking American lives by dragging us into another war in the Middle East, without Congress approval. Our Constitution requires this check for a reason. The American people dont want to send their sons and daughters to another unjustified forever war across the world.

Iran is a bad actor and we must ensure they never produce nuclear weapons. We had a diplomatic agreement with Iran on nuclear proliferation and President Trump withdrew during his first term without a plan for what comes next because he was playing petty politics. Now, hes sending American servicemembers back to the Middle East to attempt to fix the problems he created.

The Administration must immediately brief Congress on these strikes and its next steps, end goal, and strategy to ensure this protects, not weakens, our homeland security."

Rep. Lisa McClain (R)

"President Trump has taken decisive action against the worlds number one state sponsor of terror - a regime that has targeted American troops and called for death to America. May God bless our Commander in Chief and military leaders with wisdom through this operation and may He keep our troops in His care."

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D)

The American people do not want a war with Iran. Trump is acting on the violent fantasies of the American political elite and the Israeli apartheid government, ignoring the vast majority of Americans who say loud and clear: No More Wars. The Trump Administration and Israeli regimes illegal war of aggression on Iran has already killed dozens of children, and more horrific death and destruction will come. These acts of war threaten to ignite a catastrophic regional war that will make no one safer while unleashing unconscionable suffering.

President Trump will pretend this is about democracy and the rights of the Iranian people. Dont be fooled, Trump does not care about the Iranian people. The Iranian people are not pawns for the interests of foreign powers. Our government has imposed brutal sanctions that have destroyed the Iranian economy and the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. You cannot free people by killing them and destroying their country.

Congress must stop the bloodshed by immediately reconvening to exert its war powers and stop this deranged president. But lets be clear: warmongering politicians from both parties support this illegal war, and it will take a mass anti-war movement to stop it.

Rep. Tim Walberg (R)

"President Trump sought repeatedly to make a deal with the Iranian regime, which has continued to be a destabilizing force in the Middle East. The regime has murdered tens of thousands of innocent civilians in their own streets, supported terrorist groups that have killed thousands of Americans, harmed our servicemembers, and threatened our national security through their pursuit of attaining a nuclear weapon.

Today, the President announced a decisive and strategic operation to restore peace through strength. May God bless the brave men and women of our military who are conducting this critical operation."

Rep, Haley Steven's (D)

President Trump has once again put Americans in harms way without consulting Congressthe latest in a series of grave violations of our Constitution by this Administration. I am praying for the safety of our troops and all the innocent people who have spent today taking refuge in bomb shelters across the region.

For decades, Irans state sponsorship of terror across the globe has led to chaos and unchecked violence. We cannot ignore that an armed and nuclear Iran would bring even more violence and chaos to the Middle East and the entire world. We also cannot ignore the imperative to achieve freedom for the people of Iran, who have bravely spoken out through protest in recent weeks.

At Trumps direction, Speaker Johnson has blocked multiple opportunities to reassert Congress war power authority. Congress and the White House must work together with our allies to achieve peace in the Middle East, stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, end Irans support for terrorist proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah, and keep Americans safe at home and abroad.

Michiganders have been clear they do not want more endless wars. Congress must be convened, we must be briefed, and we must follow the Constitution.

As congressional Republicans applauded President Donald Trump for taking decisive action against Iran early Saturday, Democrats said Trump lacks the authority to order broad strikes without Congress approval.

The sharply divided reactions came hours after U.S. and Israeli forces launched airstrikes on Iran. In response, Iran fired missiles at U.S. military bases in the region.

The strikes came a day after the U.S. and Iran held indirect peace talks in Geneva, moderated by Oman. Trump has warned Iran for months of possible military action over concerns the country is developing nuclear weapons.

While many congressional Democrats agreed Iran is a bad actor, they said the situation did not warrant an attack.

RELATED STORY | Trump announces 'major combat operations' in Iran, multiple casualties reported

By the presidents own words, American heroes may be lost, said Sen. Mark Warner, co-chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. That alone should have demanded the highest level of scrutiny, deliberation and accountability, yet the president moved forward without seeking congressional authorization. The Constitution is clear: The decision to take this nation to war rests with Congress, and launching large-scale military operations particularly in the absence of an imminent threat to the United States raises serious legal and constitutional concerns.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said, Iran is a bad actor and must be aggressively confronted for its human rights violations, nuclear ambitions, support of terrorism and the threat it poses to our allies like Israel and Jordan in the region. Still, Jeffries criticized Trump for not seeking congressional approval, warning that troops are being put in harms way.

Republicans largely defended Trumps actions.

Today, our commander in chief took decisive action against the threat posed by the worlds leading proliferator of terrorism, the Iranian regime, said Sen. Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. This is a pivotal and necessary operation to protect Americans and American interests. The president has stated the operations goals clearly: thwart permanently the ayatollahs desire to create a nuclear weapon, degrade their ballistic missile force and production capacity, and destroy their naval and terrorism capabilities.

RELATED STORY | Iran retaliates with missile barrage following strikes by US, Israel

The War Powers Act requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of launching military action. The act allows the president to commit troops to battle for 60 days before needing congressional approval. A U.S. source told Scripps News that the "Gang of Eight" members of Congress were briefed on Tuesday by Pentagon officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reached seven of these members prior to Saturday's attack, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed.

A source also said the Pentagon provided notifications to Armed Services Committees early this morning after strikes had commenced.

One Republican who opposed Trumps actions was Rep. Thomas Massie, who, along with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, introduced a bill requiring Trump to seek authorization from Congress. However, because the bill would need a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override a presidential veto, it is unlikely to become law.

I am opposed to this war. This is not America First, Massie said.

Hours after its competitor was punished, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced on Friday night that his company struck a deal with the Pentagon to supply its AI to classified military networks, potentially filling a gap created by Anthropics ouster.

The Trump administration on Friday ordered all U.S. agencies to stop using Anthropics artificial intelligence technology and imposed other major penalties, escalating an unusually public clash between the government and the company over AI safety.

President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials took to social media to chastise Anthropic for failing to allow the military unrestricted use of its AI technology by a Friday deadline, accusing it of endangering national security after CEO Dario Amodei refused to back down over concerns the company's products could be used in ways that would violate its safeguards.

RELATED STORY | Trump directs all government agencies to stop using Anthropic's AI tools

But Altman said that the same red lines that were the sticking point in Anthropics dispute with the Pentagon are now enshrined in OpenAIs new partnership.

Two of our most important safety principles are prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and human responsibility for the use of force, including for autonomous weapon systems, Altman wrote, adding that the Defense Department agrees with these principles, reflects them in law and policy, and we put them into our agreement.

Altman also said he hopes the Pentagon will offer these same terms to all AI companies as a way to de-escalate away from legal and governmental actions and toward reasonable agreements.

Anthropic had said it sought narrow assurances from the Pentagon that its AI chatbot Claude would not be used for mass surveillance of Americans or in fully autonomous weapons. The Pentagon said it was not interested in such uses and would only deploy the technology in legal ways, but it also insisted on access without any limitations.

RELATED STORY | Hegseth reportedly gives Anthropic deadline to allow unrestricted AI military use

No amount of intimidation or punishment from the Department of War will change our position on mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons, the company said. We will challenge any supply chain risk designation in court.

The governments effort to assert dominance over the internal decision-making of the company comes amid a wider clash over AIs role in national security and concerns about how increasingly capable machines could be used in high-stakes situations involving lethal force, sensitive information or government surveillance.

Hours after the U.S. and Israel conducted strikes on Iran, Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it launched a first wave of drones and missiles targeting Israel, where a nationwide warning was issued as the military said it was working to intercept incoming Iranian missiles. There was no immediate word on any damage or casualties from the ongoing attack.

U.S. Central Command said there have been no reports of U.S. casualties or combat-related injuries. Damage to U.S. installations was minimal and has not impacted operations, it said.

Israeli police and emergency services said several people were lightly wounded in missile strikes, while the military intercepted many of the incoming missiles.

Israel issued a nationwide warning and put the country on high alert, canceling school and most gatherings across the country.

Qatars Defense Ministry says the military has successfully repelled the second wave of Iranian attacks that targeted several parts of the nation.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks, calling them a flagrant violation of its sovereignty. It added that Qatar has been always among the sides calling for a dialogue with Iran.

The Foreign Ministry said that the targeting of Qatar by a neighbor cannot be accepted under any justification or pretext as the gas-rich Gulf nation has always distanced itself from regional conflicts.

Meanwhile, Bahrain said that a missile attack targeted the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom. Witnesses heard sirens and explosions in Kuwait, home to U.S. Army Central. Explosions could be also be heard in Qatar.

Iraq and the United Arab Emirates closed their airspace, and sirens sounded in Jordan.

RELATED STORY | Trump announces 'major combat operations' in Iran, multiple casualties reported

Iraqi officials also reported a drone strike hit a headquarters of the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia in Iraq, killing two people and wounding three Saturday. The group had earlier threatened to enter the fray should Iran come under attack. An Israeli military official said Israel was not aware of any Israeli strikes on Kataib Hezbollah headquarters in Iraq.

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, meanwhile, vowed to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel, according to two senior Houthi officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement from the Houthi leadership.

U.S. embassies or consulates in Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Israel posted on social media that they told staffers to shelter in place and recommended all Americans do the same until further notice.

Earlier on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that major combat operations were underway Iran and warned the Iranian regime it would face overwhelming force.

Explosions were reported in Tehran following weeks of U.S. military buildup in the region, including additional aircraft carrier strike groups and cargo and tanker flights. Tensions had escalated amid nuclear talks that Trump suggested had stalled.

The United States and Israel launched major strikes against Iran on Saturday, with President Donald Trump announcing that major combat operations were underway and warning the Iranian regime it would face overwhelming force.

Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime," Trump said in a statement early Saturday morning.

Irans Red Crescent reported on state television that over 200 people were killed as a result of the strikes.

U.S. Central Command said there have been no reports of U.S. casualties or combat-related injuries. Damage to U.S. installations was minimal and has not impacted operations, it said.

pic.twitter.com/BZuJDudLej Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 28, 2026

Explosions were reported in Tehran following weeks of U.S. military buildup in the region, including additional aircraft carrier strike groups and cargo and tanker flights. Tensions had escalated amid nuclear talks that Trump suggested had stalled.

Irans state-run IRNA news agency reported 40 students were killed at a girls school in southern Iran in the strike.

RELATED STORY | Iran retaliates with missile barrage following strikes by US, Israel

After a reprieve during the daylight hours, the Israeli Air Force said it resumed attacking missile launch sites and defense systems in central Iran Saturday evening.

Trump said the operation aims to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to dismantle its missile and naval capabilities.

We are going to destroy their missiles and raise their missile industry to the ground, he said. We are going to annihilate their navy They will never have a nuclear weapon.

It appears the U.S. has already faced retaliation as the Associated Press reported smoke billowing from a U.S. base near the airport in Irbil, Iraq. Kuwait's state-run news agency also reported that the nation repelled an attack by Iran.

The president described Iran as the worlds number one state sponsor of terror and cited decades of hostility toward the United States, including the 1979 hostage crisis, the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut and more recent proxy attacks in the Middle East.

Trump acknowledged the risks of military action, warning Americans that casualties are possible.

The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties, he said. That often happens in war. But were doing this not for now were doing this for the future.

In his address, Trump also issued a direct warning to members of Irans military and security forces, calling on them to lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or face certain death.

He went further, urging Iranian citizens to seize control of their government once the fighting subsides.

When we are finished, take over your government," Trump said. "It will be yours to take.

Trump also advised civilians to remain indoors, saying, Stay sheltered. Dont leave your home. Its very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere.

This is the second strike on Iran in less than a year. In June 2025, the U.S. struck Iranian nuclear facilities.

Federal prosecutors said Friday they won't appeal a judges ruling that bars them from seeking the death penalty against Luigi Mangione in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

In a letter, Deputy U.S. Attorney Sean Buckley told Judge Margaret Garnett that the government will not ask the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse her decision, clearing the way for a trial beginning in September. His state murder trial is set to start in June.

Garnett last month dismissed a federal murder charge murder through use of a firearm that had enabled prosecutors to seek capital punishment, finding it legally flawed.

She wrote that she did so to foreclose the death penalty as an available punishment to be considered by the jury when it weighs whether to convict Mangione in the December 2024 killing in Manhattan.

The judge, a former Manhattan federal prosecutor appointed to the bench by President Joe Biden, also threw out a gun charge but left in place stalking charges that carry a maximum punishment of life in prison.

RELATED STORY | A man impersonating an FBI agent tried to get Luigi Mangione out of jail, authorities say

To seek the death penalty, prosecutors needed to show that Mangione killed Thompson while committing another crime of violence. Stalking doesnt fit that definition, Garnett wrote in a 39-page opinion, citing case law and legal precedents.

The ruling disrupted the Trump administrations bid to see Mangione executed for what U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi called a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America. It was the first capital case brought by the Justice Department in President Donald Trumps second term.

Mangione, 27, has pleaded not guilty in the federal and state cases. The state charges also carry the possibility of life in prison. At a recent court hearing, he spoke out against the prospect of back-to-back trials, telling a judge: Its the same trial twice. One plus one is two. Double jeopardy by any commonsense definition.

Thompson, 50, was killed on Dec. 4, 2024, as he walked to a midtown Manhattan hotel for UnitedHealth Groups annual investor conference. Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting him from behind. Police say delay, deny and depose were written on the ammunition, mimicking a phrase used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims.

Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania graduate from a wealthy Maryland family, was arrested five days later after he was spotted eating breakfast at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 230 miles west of Manhattan.

His lawyers have argued that authorities prejudiced his case by turning his arrest into a Marvel movie spectacle, including by having armed officers parade him up Manhattan pier after he was flown to New York, and by publicly declaring their desire to see him executed even before he was formally indicted.

RELATED NEWS | Luigi Mangione's court outburst: 'Double jeopardy by any commonsense definition'

Jury selection in Mangiones federal case is scheduled for Sept. 8, followed by opening statements and testimony on Oct. 13. His state trial is scheduled to begin June 8, but the judge in that case, Gregory Carro, said it could have been pushed back until Sept. 8 if federal prosecutors appealed the death penalty ruling.

In her ruling, Garnett acknowledged that the decision may strike the average person and indeed many lawyers and judges as tortured and strange, and the result may seem contrary to our intuitions about the criminal law.

But, she said, it reflected her committed effort to faithfully apply the dictates of the Supreme Court to the charges in this case. The law must be the Courts only concern.

Two people were killed and two others were injured after a shooting at a funeral repast on Detroits east side Friday evening, according to police.

The shooting happened just before 8 p.m. in a parking lot near J5 Legacy Event Center on Sherwood Street near Lantz Street.

Watch police provide details in the video player below: Police provide details after fatal shooting on Detroit's east side

Police say a repast was happening at the event center when an argument occurred. One person pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots in the parking lot.

A woman in her 20s and a man in his 30s died, police say. Two other people were injured. Police are not releasing additional details about the victims at this time as they notify families.

"The families remain in our prayers right now as we can imagine what they're going through. But the Detroit Police Department will be here for them throughout their grieving process," said Capt. Marcus Thirkill with the department's homicide division.

Thirkill said the victims were attending the repast.

It's unclear at this time what led up to the altercation. Police are working to learn the motive.

"This was a tragic event for those who were attending this event, and unfortunately, someone chose to choose gun violence to resolve a situation," Thirkill said.

Suspect information has not yet been released.

Police say about 100 people attended the event and are asking the public to come forward with information.

"We are aware that other individuals may have information that may help us to help us come to a resolution on the case," Thirkill said.

The Detroit police homicide division is investigating along with Michigan State Police, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Community Violence Intervention groups were out in the area to support police and the community.

"Our city has to realize you've got to watch this impulse violence, getting mad and settling your beef with a gun at a repast. This is too much," said Pastor Maurice Hardwick with the Live in Peace Movement.

Anyone with information is asked to contact DPD's homicide division, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP or Detroit Rewards TV and can remain anonymous.

Americans who watched the State Of The Union say President Donald Trump focused largely on the priorities most important to them, but did little to inspire widespread confidence in his agenda going forward, according to a Scripps News/Talker Research poll.

Sixty-seven percent of respondents say the president spent time talking about their top issues during the longest State Of The Union speech in history. While 56% say they had a very or somewhat positive impression of the address.

But the survey also found the president fell short when it comes to inspiring confidence on those issues especially among those outside his political base.

Less than half of respondents (48%) said they were somewhat or much more confident in Trumps plans to address affordability, compared to 32% who said it made them less confident, and 18% who said it had no impact.

The results were similar for the presidents message on nearly all the major issues of the day, including the broader economy, immigration and health care.

Elections and voting was the only issue polled in which more than half of respondents (51%) said they had more faith in Trump after Tuesday.

The results are more warning signs that the presidents message struggles to resonate outside his Republican supporters, even when presented to the large audience the annual speech draws. Each issue polled had high approval among GOP respondents, strong disapproval among Democrats, and support from about four-in-ten independents.

A Scripps News/Talker Research survey going into the joint session found inflation, jobs and immigration the top topics of interest going into the address, with high interest among voters of all parties in hearing the presidents message.

On tariffs, just 44% of speech watchers said they had more confidence. Days before the primetime address, the Supreme Court upended the presidents trade agenda by ruling his sweeping use of tariffs exceeded his legal authority. A majority of speech watchers (54%) said they agreed with that ruling.

Historically, members of the presidents own party are more likely to tune in to the yearly address. And in this survey, Republican respondents (44%) outpaced Democrats (33%) and independents (19%).

Optimistic was the most common word associated with the speech, driven by a near majority (49%) of Republicans who associated it with the speech. Rambling was the top choice for Democrats (46%) and independents (28%).

Survey Methodology

This random double-opt-in online survey of 1,000 Americans who watched the State Of The Union. It was commissioned by Scripps News and conducted by market research company Talker Research, in accordance with the Market Research Societys code of conduct. Data was collected from Feb. 25 to Feb. 27, 2026. The margin of error is +/- 3.10 points with 95% confidence.

Residents in Huron Township are raising concerns about pothole-covered dirt roads, with some demanding more permanent solutions.

The speed limit on South Huron Road is 45 miles per hour, but drivers say the conditions make that impossible.

Watch the video report below: Huron Township residents demand fixes for pothole-covered dirt roads

"You're trying to get from A to B and while you're on A, you're creeping," Michael Lassic, a Huron Township resident, said.

Drivers on Friday were navigating potholes lining the dirt road between Waltz and Clark. For some residents, the conditions are having serious consequences.

"I have a really bad back and just going to my doctor's appointments, like some days I can't even go out because the road is too bad, I can't get in the car," LaTonya Lassic, a Huron Township resident, said.

Gloria Brown, a mother of four and Huron Township resident, said she worries about emergency vehicles and her children's safety because of the bumpy roads.

"Watching these school buses try to go down these roads, it's terrifying knowing my kids are on there," Brown said. "It's not safe for anyone to go down."

Brown also works as a DoorDash driver and said driving on both South Huron and Clark roads has taken its toll on her vehicle.

"It's constant wear and tear our brakes, the list just goes on," Brown said.

The road conditions led Brown to create an online petition urging officials to find a solution.

"Like at least pave some of this, if not all of it," Brown said.

In a statement, the Wayne County Department of Public Services, which maintains those roadways, said:

"Wayne County continues to work collaboratively with the two townships that share this roadway regarding long-term paving and maintenance considerations. South Huron Road was most recently evaluated for paving in 2024, and following stakeholder input, the project was not advanced at that time."

The department also said freeze-thaw cycles and long periods of rain can cause gravel roads to deteriorate. Officials said they have serviced South Huron and Clark roads six times since mid-January.

Residents say those temporary fixes aren't holding up.

"Even when they do fill in the holes with the dirt, if it rains the next day, it's literally exactly the same," LaTonya Lassic said.

One resident said that while she opposes paving because of the area's farming community, something still needs to change.

"Wayne County needs to step up their job. They need to start doing what's right and get out here more often," Theresa Grant, a Huron Township resident, 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.

President Trump says he is not happy with negotiations but has not made a decision as he weighs his options with Iran.

Id rather do it the peaceful way but theyre very difficult people, Trump said during a visit to Corpus Christi Friday.

Trump told reporters the Iranians don't want to quite go far enough, and it's too bad, after indirect talks between the US and Iran, hosted by Oman, ended in Geneva Thursday without an apparent deal, as the US has amassed military assets in the region.

Trump has suggested diplomacy is his preference, but also issued warnings of potential military action without a deal reached over the past months.

We haven't made a final decision. We're not exactly happy with the way they negotiated. Again, they cannot have nuclear weapons. We're not thrilled with the way they're negotiating, Trump said. So we'll see how it all works."

The comments reflect a different tone from the more positive picture other Middle Eastern nations have sought to cast.

Oman foreign minister Badr Albusaidi said he talks ended significant progress, while Irans foreign minister called the round of talks the most intense so far with an understanding to engage in a more detailed manner on matter that are essential to any deal- including sanctions termination and nuclear-related steps.

Vice President JD Vance met with Oman foreign minister Badr Albusaidi Friday, according to a source familiar.

The officials discussed the negotiations, according to Albusaidi and according to the foreign ministry, the diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a just and sustainable agreement on the nuclear file and ensuring the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear energy generation program, where His Excellency the Minister clarified that the negotiations have so far achieved major, significant, and unprecedented progress that could form the basic pillar of the desired agreement.

Iran has denied seeking to create a nuclear weapon, but sought to maintain enrichment for civil purposes. However, President Trump Friday maintained a call for no nuclear weapons, and no nuclear material enrichment from Iran.

They don't want to say the key words, 'we're not going to have a nuclear weapon.' They have to say, 'we're not going to have a nuclear weapon.' And they just can't quite get there, Trump said. They want to enrich a little bit. You don't have to enrich when you have that much oil. So I'm not happy with the negotiation. I say no enrichment, not 20%, 30%, they always want 20%, 30%, they wanted for civilian, you know, for civil, civil, I think it's uncivil, so I'm not happy with it.

RELATED STORY | Operation Midnight Hammer: What we know about US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites

The U.S. struck Iranian nuclear sites last spring after the IAEA reported Iran was producing uranium enriched up to 60%. Officials have suggested Iran is seeking to rebuild.

First and foremost, after their nuclear program was obliterated, they were told not to try to restart it, and here they are. You can see them always trying to rebuild elements of it. Theyre not enriching right now, but theyre trying to get to the point where they ultimately can, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday, adding that Iran refuses, refuses, to talk about ballistic missiles to us or to anyone, and thats a big problem.

The Iranians are intent to proceed in the direction of rebuilding if they have the opportunity, according to Dr. Jacob Olidort, Chief Research Officer & Director for American Security at the America First Policy Institute.

But the question is diplomatically and military How do you know, again, respond to that, but while also in one action or series of actions, also address the most of other threats that it presents. And so that, I think, is where, kind of, again, the overall objective, which, again, is still opaque to the public. I think it's clear to the President and his team, that's, I think, where that comes to head here, Olidort said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi stated of diplomacy that success on this path requires seriousness and realism from the other side, as well as avoiding any miscalculation and excessive demands, during a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart according to Irans foreign ministry. Egypt foreign minister Badr Abdelatty also spoke with Trumps special envoy and negotiator Steve Witkoff.

Amidst the ongoing military build up in the region, Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, briefed President Trump on Iran and the regional situation Thursday, according to a source familiar.

Its not clear what potential military option President Trump would pursue. However, Trump said theres always a risk that strikes could turn into a longer conflict in the Middle East when pressed by reporters.

You know, when there's war, there's a risk in anything, both good and bad. We've had tremendous luck with myself. Soleimani Al Baghdadi, everything's worked out, and then we do the midnight hammer and so many others, everything's worked out, and we want to keep it that way, but we're going to see, Trump said.

Trump said his team has not told there would be regime change right away if the military was used now, but said nobody knows.

There might be and there might not be. It'd be nice if we could do it without but sometimes you have to do it with we. When you looked at what look we have the greatest military anywhere in the world. There's nothing close. I'd love not to use it. But sometimes you have to be clear, Trump said.

MORE ON IRAN | US Embassy warns staff: Leave Israel now as risk of Iran clash grows

Meanwhile, the administration continued to pressure Iran. The State Department designated Iran as a state s sponsor of wrongful detention and issued sanctions against those involved Iranians weapons development and shadow fleet vessels.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to travel to Israel next week to discuss Iran among other issues, according to the State Department, despite the departments authorization of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members to leave Israel Friday.

Whats it like to be forever introduced as Danny Moses from The Big Short? In this episode, Danny reflects on how being portrayed in the film The Big Short shaped him personally and professionally, and he answers the questions he gets asked constantly: Is there another Big Short? Are we seeing the same warning signs today? And what really happened behind the scenes during the financial crisis?

Danny explains why financial history doesnt repeat but often rhymes, and why todays enthusiasm around AI and the rapid growth of private credit deserve careful scrutiny. He shares how living through the Great Financial Crisis gave him what he calls financial PTSD always looking first at what can go wrong before what can go right.

Then bestselling investigative journalist Bethany McLean, co-author of The Smartest Guys in the Room, joins the show to discuss lessons from Enron, the risks forming in private credit, the widening gap in todays economy, and the massive uncertainty surrounding AI. Is it the start of a golden age, or something far more destabilizing? The market cant seem to decide.

Finally, Danny breaks down his Koshi Pick of the Week, examining whether U.S. national debt could reach $50 trillion by 2028 and what would have to happen for that scenario to unfold.

On Sunday, March 1, Spotlight on the News will interview Richard Bierschbach, J.D., the new president of Wayne State University. What's his vision for one of Michigan's top reserach institutions of higher education? We'll ask him. We'll also talk to Aaron Kall, the Lee H. Hess Director of Debate at the University of Michigan for his analysis of the recent

State of the Union

and

State of the State

speeches.

Spotlight on the News, now in its 61st season, is Michigan's longest-running weekly news and public affairs television program. It airs every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. on WXYZ-TV/Channel 7 in Detroit, is streamed live on wxyz.com and broadcast at 11:30 a.m. on 23.1 WKAR-HD in East Lansing.

Neil Sedaka, the hit-making singer-songwriter whose boyish soprano and bright melodies made him a top act in the early years of rock n' roll and led to a second run of success in the 1970s, has died.

Sedaka, whose hits included Breaking Up Is Hard to Do and Laughter in the Rain, died Friday at age 86.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Robert Carradine, star of Revenge of the Nerds and Lizzie McGuire, dies at 71

Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka, his family said in a statement. A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed.

No other details of his death were immediately available.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Eric Dane, star of 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Euphoria,' has died at 53

A key member of the Brill Building songwriting factory, Sedaka teamed with lyricist and boyhood neighbor Howard Greenfield on songs that reflected the teen innocence of the post-Elvis/pre-Beatles era of the late 1950s-early 1960s, including Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen, Calendar Girl and Oh! Carol, a lament for his high school sweetheart, Carole King.

After a long dry spell, he reemerged with such smashes as Laughter in the Rain and Bad Blood. The Captain & Tennille's cover of his Love Will Keep Us Together was a chart-topper in 1975.

A mobile food pantry is pulling up to a Dearborn neighborhood twice a month and for the families who rely on it, it's about more than just groceries.

Watch the video report below: Forgotten Harvest mobile market brings culturally familiar food to Dearborn families twice a month

Forgotten Harvest's Mobile Market Food Pantry visits the site in front of LAHC twice a month, bringing food that reflects the diverse backgrounds of the community it serves.

"From Lebanon, from Yemen, from Iraq American too," client Sadih Natour said.

LAHC Food Pantry Coordinator Katelyn Ososki said the partnership with Forgotten Harvest's Mobile Market, which began 8 months ago, has significantly expanded the pantry's reach.

"We served 60 clients typically on a mobile market we're serving over 100 now," Ososki said.

Ososki said the demand remains high.

"Twice a month is not enough to serve the need," Ososki said.

The goal of the mobile market, according to Forgotten Harvest Driver/Coordinator Monique Byrne, is to make sure families can count on consistent support.

"The schedule is booked," Byrne said. "They always can depend on us."

Byrne said the need in the community is significant.

"It's very dire. Very, very dire," Byrne said.

The food stocked inside the truck is chosen with the community in mind nutritious and familiar to the families picking it up.

"Giving food that is not only nutritious, but their families will actually use and enjoy," Ososki said.

For Natour, who has called Dearborn home for 30 years, the experience goes beyond receiving food assistance.

"You don't feel like charity you feel like home," Natour said. "It's like family to tell you the truth."

With grocery prices continuing to climb, Natour said the support makes a real difference for her family.

"With everything really high. It really does help," Natour said.

Salwa Khatib, who was picking up food for families in need, pointed to another layer of pressure on the community.

"And especially with some of the food stamps being cut off," Khatib said.

Client Lojen summed up the sentiment shared by many who came out.

"God bless to all. Thank you," Lojen said.

The Mobile Market travels throughout the community, making its Dearborn stop twice per 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.

A Taylor woman is facing multiple felony charges after a series of high-speed police pursuits involving four departments, nearly 40 calls to 911 over 12 hours and concerning statements made against officers.

Stacy Sears, 54, was given a $100,000 bond in court. The magistrate said she is a danger to the community.

Watch the video report below: Taylor woman held on $100K bond after police chases, flooding 911 with calls

The incidents began late Monday night in Trenton, where Sears fled during a traffic stop. Taylor police picked up the pursuit early Tuesday morning, but officers called it off to avoid endangering the public.

Detective Lt. Josh Schneider said Sears then called police herself before fleeing again.

"About an hour later, we actually received a call from her. She was calling wanting officers to respond to her location. Officers went back out and again, she fled from our officers a second time," Schneider said.

Investigators say that is when Sears began flooding 911 with calls, making disturbing statements that were revealed in court.

Schneider said the calls raised immediate alarm.

"She again continued calling our 911 system. She's affecting our dispatch and ability to answer other 911 calls that are coming in," Schneider said.

Watch our previous report about the chase below: Dashcam video shows chase that ended at Wayne County landfill; suspect had 9 guns in the car

The threats made in those calls were serious, according to investigators.

"Threatening to shoot them, to kill them if anybody were to come to her house. She was more than willing to kill the Taylor police officers if they were to respond," Magistrate Britney Carmona of 23rd District Court said.

That prompted Taylor police to launch an operation to take her into custody. The pursuit ended in a landfill in Huron Township, where the chase startled nearby residents.

"There were like 10 Huron cops in the driveway with their guns drawn, and he (my son) seen someone go by about 80 miles an hour. He was kinda scared," neighbor Holli Eramo previously told us.

Police found nine firearms in Sears' SUV, making the 911 threats even more alarming to the court.

"In one of her complaints, she indicated she had a shotgun, she had a scope. And lo and behold, one of the things recovered was a scope and that shotgun. So I don't think these were mere threats. I think she was very much able to carry out those threats," Carmona said.

Watch dashcam video of the chase below: Dash cam video shows chase that ended at Wayne County landfill; suspect had 9 guns in the car

Carmona also ordered a mental health assessment for Sears.

Schneider said mental health is a concern shared by Sears' own family.

"Definitely a concern for mental health. We did speak to some family. They also had concerns, confirming our suspicions. Hopefully, she can get the help that she needs," Schneider said.

Sears is charged with fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, carrying a concealed weapon and misuse of 911.

She could face additional charges related to the threatening statements made during those calls. Investigators are reviewing the recordings and will turn them over to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office for a charging decision.

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.

Despite more than a million dollars in reward funds being offered for clues leading to the return of Nancy Guthrie, the search for the missing 84-year-old grandmother is still ongoing nearly a month after she disappeared.

Friday morning, Guthries daughter, Savannah, posted a clip from the Today Show on her Instagram

page, explaining how tipsters can be anonymous and possibly qualify for a cash reward if they provide reliable information that leads investigators to Nancy Guthrie.

In a post earlier this week, Savannah conceded that it is possible her mother is no longer alive.

We also know that she may be lost. She may already be gone, she said in a social media posting.We need to know where she is. We need her to come home.

Detectives, meanwhile, continue to accept and sort through videos and tips provided by members of the public.

They told Scripps News they are aware of one doorbell camera video, taken miles from the Guthries home, that appeared to capture some vehicles around a similar time to Guthries disappearance.

We are aware of the video, said Kevin Adger, a Pima County Sheriffs Department spokesperson. Im told the property appears to be a bit further from the Guthrie home. We asked homeowners in the area to summit (sic) video and encourage anyone who hasnt to please do so via this link.

People can also submit tips here:1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).

MORE ON GUTHRIE'S DISAPPEARANCE | Moms' volunteer group from Mexico joins search for Nancy Guthrie

A Friday update from the Sheriffs Department indicates the investigation is still active even though PCSD is refocusing resources to detectives specifically assigned to this case.

Thursday, a man was arrested for a misdemeanor DUI charge in front of Guthries home. Authorities said the arrest is not related to the Guthrie investigation.

A former Wayne County official has pleaded guilty to felonious assault after pulling a gun during a gas station brawl over a can of soda in early 2025.

As the 7 investigators were first to reveal, then-Wayne County Parks Director Alicia Bradford and her husband were seen on gas station surveillance video just after midnight on New Year's Day in 2025.

Related Story: Wayne County official charged after pulling gun during husband's brawl over soda Wayne Co. official charged after pulling gun during husband's brawl over soda

After an argument with a customer over a ten-cent bottle deposit fee, Bradford's husband was seen pulling a gun on the man. After a fight ensued, Alicia Bradford then entered the store, pointing a gun of her own.

Both she and her husband were charged by Oakland County's prosecutor with assault with a dangerous weapon and felony firearm.

At a pre-trial hearing this week, Alicia Bradford entered a guilty plea to one count of felonious assault in the case. The charge of felony firearm has been dismissed.

Previous coverage:

Wayne County official who pulled gun over can of soda resigns Wayne Co. official charged after pulling gun during husband's brawl over soda

Alicia Bradford's sentencing is scheduled for March 31 in Oakland Circuit Court.

Bradford had resigned last March from her $146,000 a year county job following the charges.

The family of two young Ponitac boys who doctors say were starved will stand trial on abuse and torture charges.

Arturo Bazan is accused of starving and abusing his two sons, Jonathan and Ethan, along with wife, Dulce Bazan, and older son Carlos. The two parents waived their right to a preliminary exam today, while Carlos did not.

Watch the video report below: 'He was near death:' Family of two Pontiac boys sent to trial over torture, abuse charges

Dr. Peter Gerrits, a pediatric endocrinologist, testified Friday that 9-year-old Jonathan was near death when he arrived at the emergency room in November. He weighed only 33 lbs and had lost a third of his body weight in the prior seven months.

Unbelievable, Gerrits said. It was quite striking that a person could lose that much weight.

Related Story: Parents charged in starving and torture case Parents charged with starving and torturing two kids in Pontiac

Dr. Allison Ball, a pediatrician at Corewell Hospital in Royal Oak, saw Jonathan within a day of his arrival. She had treated malnourished children in Rwanda and said Jonathans emaciation stood out.

I never saw a child this malnourished, Ball said. I never saw a child who looked as sick and emaciated and near death as Jonathan.

Ball said she saw evidence of more than just a few missed meals.

There was strong medical evidence that he was the victim of severe, prolonged maltreatment that was physical and psychological and to me constitutes torture, she said.

At the hospital, Dr. Ball said she saw marks and lacerations on Jonathans body as well. She said she spoke to Jonathans older brother Carlos, who drove him to the hospital.

Carlos said he provided military discipline, she said. Military discipline is the words he would share with me. He described that he would have Jonathan or his brother do jumping jacks or push-ups for discipline.

Also taking the stand Friday was Dr. Letha Powell, the principal of the boys school. She said both Jonathan and Ethan often seemed hungry, with one sometimes eating directly from the trash at school.

At other times, she said the boys showed signs of possible physical abuse. When Jonathan and Ethan didnt show up to school one day, Powell made a home visit herself.

A young lady came to the door and I said to her, Where are my babies? And all she said was 'not here,' Powell said.

Perhaps the most disturbing detail of all in Fridays testimony was that this case did not come out of nowhere.

When an Oakland County Sheriffs Detective took the stand, she said that repeated warnings had been made to CPS over the last 3 years.

"There were eight reports since 2022, said Detective Allison Michaels of the Oakland County Sheriffs Office.

There were a lot of allegations of physical abuse and neglect, specifically injuries to the children and allegations that they were not getting enough food.

In announcing her decision to send the criminal case to trial, Judge Ronda Fowlkes Gross said: You had three adults. Nobody rescued these kids.

Contact 7 Investigator Ross Jones at ross.jones@wxyz.com or at (248) 827-9466.

A statewide program is helping protect Michigan families from deadly house fires by providing and installing free smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in homes across the state.

The MI Prevention program supplies fire departments statewide with free smoke detectors to install in homes at no cost to homeowners. On Friday, the Roseville Fire Department visited 30 homes as part of the effort.

Watch the video report below: Roseville firefighters install free smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms

Roseville Fire Marshal Bill Schneider said many homes in the community are missing detectors where they are needed most.

"We are an older community here and what we see in Roseville is that they're lacking smoke detectors, they only have them like old school where they're on the first floor and then if they have a basement, in the basement," Schneider said.

Michigan State Fire Marshal Tom Hughes said the devices are critical to giving families a chance to survive a fire.

"These devices here can absolutely save lives. They can give people time to escape a house fire," Hughes said.

Since the program launched in 2017, fire departments across Michigan have installed more than 175,000 alarms statewide.

The initiative focuses on education, fire safety checks and ensuring every family has working alarms on every level of their home. Roseville Fire Department Fire Prevention Officer Capt. Michelle Cattaneo offered an additional safety tip for residents.

"Sleep with your doors closed. It gives us time to get here, and it gives you time to get out of your window or another way out of the house," Cattaneo said.

Among those who received new alarms Friday was Barbara McGuire, who lives with her 95-year-old mother, Elizabeth. While the home already had working smoke detectors in the basement and other rooms, the Roseville Fire Department installed several new ones in the bedrooms.

"We do not have one in my mother's room and she would be the last person to hear anything, so I am very happy one will be put into her room," McGuire said.

After the installation, McGuire said the new alarms brought her peace of mind.

"We're very happy to have them in our bedrooms on top of other places," McGuire said. "It will be a big relief to know that they're in here, that they're close enough that we hear them immediately if we need to get out of here."

Homeowner Sylvia Jacobs also welcomed the program's presence in the community.

"I think it's a good feature making people aware that these products are available in Roseville," Jacobs 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.