A chance encounter at Detroit's tree lighting ceremony led to an unexpected act of kindness that brought three strangers together on Friday.
Dave Hillyard lost his wallet during the crowded downtown Detroit tree lighting event attended by thousands. What happened next restored his faith in humanity.
Watch Christiana Ford's video report below: Couple meets woman who returned lost wallet to their home after Detroit tree lighting
Sierra Williams, a Detroit resident working at a pop-up bar during the tree lighting, was given Hillyard's wallet by a coworker and couldn't locate a lost and found. Instead of leaving it behind, she made a decision that would surprise everyone involved.
"I'm like I want them to have their stuff because I know how it is on the weekend when you need your ID or even if you want to go out that night, so I'm like I'm just gonna take it to them when I get off. No worries," Williams said.
After her shift that same night, Williams drove from downtown Detroit to Farmington Hills to return the wallet to Hillyard's front door. Their security camera captured her dropping off the wallet with all cards and cash still inside.
"I mean, it was delivered back to the house that's just wild," Hillyard said.
What Williams didn't realize was that she had been caught on camera, and the couple was trying to find her to say thank you. Their social media post went viral.
"I was like who's looking for me because it never crossed my mind that I was on camera. Like I pressed the doorbell hoping that somebody gonna catch it," Williams said.
On Friday, Hillyard and his girlfriend Shelby Lukas met Williams at a Coffee and Bark in Berkley to express their gratitude in person.
"I greatly appreciate it," Hillyard told Williams during the meeting. "You saved a lot of heartache, that's for sure."
For Williams, the gesture came naturally.
"I just wanted them to get their stuff back. I did the right thing because that's what I was taught to do," Williams said.
Previous report: 'We owe her a lot': Stranger returns lost wallet to Farmington Hills couple's doorstep 'We owe her a lot': Stranger returns lost wallet to Farmington Hills couple's doorstep
The experience reinforced her belief in helping others.
"It feels good to be able to help someone. I feel like we're always on the go or we're always busy and it just feels good to really help somebody, actually have a community," Williams said.
Hillyard hopes their story inspires others.
"I just hope this is a good message for everybody that good people are out there still. We are surrounded by good people still. It's not all negativity," Hillyard said.
The reunion proved that sometimes, small acts of kindness can create lasting connections between strangers.
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 met with both Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum as well as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday, while on the sidelines of the 2025 FIFA World Cup draw.
The meeting comes at a time when the countries are not only focused on their hosting responsibilities for the World Cup next year, but also on trade and immigration measures.
President Trump has enacted tougher reciprocal trade measures at times against each nation and has taken steps to cut down on illegal border crossings.
"Are you going to be meeting with the president of Mexico today?" A reporter asked on Friday.
I might, yeah. I might do that," President Trump said.
"Will you be discussing immigration?" the reporter asked.
The White House has not yet shared specific details about the topics of the meeting.
This week was also the first public hearing over the USMCA, the landmark trade agreement between the 3 nations brokered under President Trump's first term.
That trade deal is set for another significant review next summer.
Downtown Lake Orion is gearing up to glow like never before as the community prepares to celebrate the 30th anniversary of what organizers say is Michigan's biggest lighted Christmas parade.
Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report below: 30th Orion Lighted Holiday Parade happening this weekend.
The milestone celebration takes place Saturday, marking three decades of holiday tradition that began in 1995. This year's parade will feature 75 entries showcasing lights, Christmas-themed cars, floats and costume characters.
"You see the emotions of the kids getting excited and it just gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling, and that's what the parade is," said Bill Kokenos, president of the Orion Lighted Christmas Parade.
Behind the scenes, the Golling Buick GMC Dealership is hosting the "Holly Jolly Folly," a fundraiser that foots most of the bill for the parade. The dealership transforms into what Executive Manager John Cooper calls a "Christmas carnival."
"We raise money for the parade group, so they can raise money for the community, and it's just a big fun night here at the dealership," Cooper said.
The dealership's fundraiser has supported the parade for 20 years, representing the biggest fundraising event for the annual celebration.
"My employees are all in. They jump in, they help. It's really incredible what they do," Cooper said.
Organizers expect crowds of up to 10,000 people despite cold weather conditions. The parade promises special visitors from the North Pole, adding to the festive atmosphere that kicks off the Christmas season for many families.
"I think we're all kids at heart. So this, for me, kicks off Christmas," Cooper said.
The community celebration highlights the collaborative spirit that makes the event possible year after year.
"And the community is fantastic," Kokenos 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.
On Sunday, December 7, Spotlight on the News will interview Omi Bell, Founder & CEO of Black Girl Ventures (BGV), from Los Angeles. What's her connection to Detroit and how is BGV helping communities by creating access to capital for aspiring entrepreneurs? We'll also talk to Alexandra Bahou, WXYZ Digital Director, about our station's big social media milestone. What does it mean for you and Southeastern Michigan?
Spotlight on the News, now in its 60th 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.
Hundreds of volunteers gathered at Oakland County International Airport to sort and pack nearly 19,000 personalized gifts for children in foster care across Michigan as part of Operation Good Cheer, a massive holiday effort that ensures every child feels remembered this season.
Watch Meghan Daniels' video report: Volunteers pack gifts for Michigan foster children at Oakland County airport
About 800 volunteers showed up for the event, packing, sorting and loading gifts that will be flown to 32 airports and driven by truck to another 17 locations throughout the state. The operation relies on hundreds of volunteers and dozens of pilots to deliver Christmas joy to thousands of Michigan children.
"Growing up, one of my favorite memories was having presents under the Christmas tree, opening them with my parents, and I personally can't imagine what it would be like waking up on Christmas morning and not having anything to open up," said Ethan Samuel, flight coordinator for Operation Good Cheer 2025.
For many volunteers like Patrick Young, the event has become an annual tradition and a chance to give back in a hands-on way.
"My team does it every year and it's something that I look forward to every year," Young said. "It's really fun to actually just be with them doing the stuff, go to lunch after and doing community help in the process."
"We're just a small part of what all of this is and we don't even see the impact, but it's really cool to know that you're contributing to something like this."
For others like volunteer Zachary Cumper, the effort is about making sure every child feels the joy they once experienced themselves.
"This is just a small thing to do to really give back to people who maybe didn't get the opportunity that I did growing up," Cumper said.
While volunteers may never see the reactions on the other end, the impact still resonates with those involved.
"There's so many people volunteering their time, effort and support to make this happen," Samuel said.
"It makes me excited knowing that people are going to get that on Christmas Day where they maybe wouldn't have before," Cumper said.
The statewide network comes together each year to make Christmas morning a little brighter for thousands of Michigan children in foster care.
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.
For some teachers across metro Detroit, resources can be hard to come by, but a massive book giveaway is helping change that, with more than 20,000 books being donated to support students who need them most.
Watch Carli Petrus's video report: Detroit teachers receive more than 20,000 free books to support students
Tens of thousands of books for middle schoolers all the way to young adults are going directly to teachers in Detroit, thanks to the nonprofit "Making Spirits Bright."
"This is something that we thrive on, is just putting together the pieces so the community has access to books," said Maria Dismondy, Executive Director of Making Spirits Bright.
The nonprofit gave away more than 20,000 new and gently used books Friday. The donation came from Store House of Community Resources in Grand Rapids, with Two Men and a Truck stepping up to transport everything to the Wayne State Field House for the giveaway.
"We're just finding ways to get books into the community, and we're 100% volunteer-run," Dismondy said.
Volunteers like Carrane Dillard say this work is personal.
"I am a current resident of the city of Detroit, I grew up in Detroit, I went to Detroit Public Schools, and so does my son, so being able to provide resources such as free books can not only help him but also his peers," Dillard said.
All of these books are going straight to local teachers. Kelly Watson, a special education teacher at Pershing High School, says she's hoping to find stories she can share with her students.
"Some of the things I'm getting for my classroom, some I'm getting for my church," Watson said.
"Any time I'm able to try to spark interest in kids, things that they might not have access to, then I like to be able to do that."
Madison Heights teacher Laura Shultz says she's looking for books to help rebuild a school library.
"Our library had been closed for about 8 years, so, prior to COVID, and it was just kind of a dark, sad space, and we've taken it upon ourselves to refresh it," Shultz said.
Both teachers emphasize the importance of these donations.
"They can't get better and more knowledgeable if they don't have access to the materials, so we want them to have them at home, to keep, to be theirs to put their hands on them, to revisit and all that good stuff," Watson said.
Shultz says Making Spirits Bright is doing just that.
"I just really appreciate organizations like this that realize there's a need and reaches out to communities that need the books, and I'm just really happy to be here. They're such a good group, and I'm happy I found them," Shultz 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.
The unusually cold temperatures sweeping through Michigan may not be welcome news for everyone, but there's at least one industry banking on them ski resorts.
Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Cold weather brings relief to Michigan ski resorts after difficult years
The past few years have been difficult for area ski slopes, and this weather is exactly what they need. Alpine Valley, Mount Holly, Mount Brighton, and Pine Knob are all open now, giving winter sports enthusiasts reason to celebrate.
At Pine Knob Ski and Snowboard Resort in Independence Township, the sound of snow guns has been the soundtrack of the week as crews work around the clock to give skiers and snowboarders a reason to smile.
"It's just fantastic to be here. My wife's and mine 11-year anniversary that we are celebrating, so the kids are at school and we snuck out," David Fudge said.
The colder temperatures are helping crews get a solid base for the start of the ski and snowboard season.
"We got a little bit of a late start this year with Mother Nature not cooperating, but once they were here, they were here," said Andy Brown, Assistant Snow Sports Director at Pine Knob.
Brown said the snow-making crew has been working around the clock since Thanksgiving, trying their best to cover more ski runs in snow so they can open them.
"We've been pumping 5,000 gallons a minute, so about 300,000 gallons of water onto the hill. We're almost 100 percent open on the sixth day of the season for us, so it's going good," Brown said.
With the chairlifts running and skiers and snowboarders carving out turns on the hill, many had smiles on their faces and were excited to buckle in for the day.
"There's not too much wind right now, the sun's out it's absolutely gorgeous for anybody," said Michael Hooper of Clarkston.
Charlotte Oliver from Detroit was making the most of her time off.
"If I don't use my PTO, I lose it, so tick tock on the clock," Oliver said. "We only get to ski one or two days per year, so the more snow, the more odds are we can get out on the hills."
Hooper, who has been skiing for 55 years, was excited to get some runs in at the start of the season.
"You know it's manageable if you've got some edges you can work with it," Hooper said.
David and Jennifer Fudge were impressed by how much work the crew at Pine Knob put in to get most of the hill open.
"I mean, the crew here is to blame for how great it looks and that it's open," Fudge said.
Pine Knob is hoping to have all of their runs, including the terrain park with all of its jumps and rails, open soon.
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 DHS immigration enforcement operation dubbed "Operation Catahoula Crunch" began earlier this week in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a goal of 5,000 arrests over two months.
Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, who is leading the operation, arrived in the city earlier in the week.
CBP has posted videos on social media showing arrests. One video shows agents pulling roofers from a job in Kenner, Louisiana, west of New Orleans.
This focus on New Orleans comes after similar high-profile operations in cities like Chicago and LA, as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.
Target are largely in Democrat-led states and cities identified as sanctuary jurisdictions.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who is from Louisiana, said Thursday he supported the operation.
"Democrats' sanctuary city policies have failed making our American communities dangerous. The people of our GREAT city deserve better, and help is now on the ground," Johnson wrote.
On the ground, communities are on edge. Streets and businesses are empty in cities with high concentrations of Hispanic residents and Vietnamese communities.
Many of those Vietnamese residents in particular endured waves of displacement to the U.S. at the end of the Vietnam war, after the fall of Saigon in 1975.
Some have spent the past half century building lives and deep roots in New Orleans.
Thi Bui, a resident who was born at the end of the war, came to the U.S. as a refugee at age 3 and lives in New Orleans. She told Scripps News this DHS operation feels like a betrayal for the community that has sought refuge here and has had a significant cultural impact on cities like New Orleans.
"The folks who came here in the 70s were allies of the U.S. in a proxy war that the U.S. got involved in, you know, probably shouldn't have gotten involved in, but because the U.S. was there, now the refugees of that war have to come here," she said. "And they rebuilt their lives from scratch, and now this is their home. It's been over 50 years that the Vietnamese have been in the U.S. and in New Orleans. They've raised families, opened businesses, become part of the culture, the fabric of this country. And now they're getting ripped apart. Their families are getting torn apart. They are in a constant state of dread. And it's really hard to live like that."
An 88-year-old Army veteran working as a cashier at Meijer in Brighton became a millionaire this week thanks to the kindness of complete strangers from around the world.
Ed Bambas' story began to spread after a social media influencer from Australia shared his story and started an online fundraiser to help him retire. In less than a week, that fundraiser far exceeded its goal and everyone's wildest dreams.
Watch Brett Kast's video report: 88-year-old Army veteran receives $1.77 million from strangers after viral TikTok video
The story started when 88-year-old Bambas met social media influencer Sam Weidenhofer in the checkout line at Meijer a week and a half ago. It was a simple question that got Bambas' attention, and his story grabbed the attention of the world.
"My wife died seven years ago and since then, I've been trying to re-establish myself," Bambas said in the viral video.
When asked how many days a week he works, he responded: "I work five days a week, eight hours a day." He said he has to because he doesn't have enough income without it.
See the moment the check is unveiled: RAW VIDEO: 88-year-old veteran who became social media sensation receives $1.7M check to help him retire
Bambas is an Army veteran and a former employee at General Motors. In the original TikTok video, Bambas said that part of his financial struggles came after General Motors' bankruptcy in 2009 and that his pension was taken away from him in 2012. However, General Motors says that is inaccurate, and Bambas later clarified he received a buyout and used the buyout to pay for his ailing wife's medication.
General Motors responded to the story with a statement saying: Mr. Bambas personal story is deeply moving, and its wonderful to see the outpouring of support for him. We are grateful for what he has contributed to GM and to our country. While we don't share details about individuals, in 2012 salaried GM retirees who were receiving monthly pension payments were given several options, including continuation of monthly lifetime payments or a lump sum payout, if they preferred. Additionally, starting in 2008, retirees older than 65 receive a $300 monthly lifetime payment for supplemental Medicare coverage.
In less than a week, the TikTok video was viewed more than 10 million times. A GoFundMe was created for Bambas to help him retire, and in a matter of days, donations poured in from supporters worldwide.
Watch Brett Kast's original video report below: 88-year-old veteran becomes social media sensation as thousands rally to help him retire
During the big reveal at Foguth Financial Group in downtown Brighton, Weidenhofer announced the final total to a room full of supporters.
"With everyone's support in the room, I want to reveal this is one of the largest individual fundraisers in GoFundMe history and if you want, you will be able to retire because we raised you $1.77 million," Weidenhofer said.
Bambas was overwhelmed with emotion, and in a room full of supporters, Bambas was all smiles and tears, especially knowing his biggest supporter was only there in spirit.
"I wish my wife were here, but it's something that dreams are made out of, trust me, from my beginnings to here," Bambas said.
The person who nominated him was Lexi Wallace, a 26-year-old shopper at Meijer, who like everyone else is still in shock at what has happened.
"He deserves it, he earned it, it's all him," Wallace said.
Foguth Financial Group in downtown Brighton hosted the giveaway and is offering Bambas help setting up a trust and a plan for his newfound wealth.
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 U.S. Supreme Court on Friday said it would hear full arguments in a case brought by the Trump administration over birthright citizenship and whether it violates the 14th Amendment.
A federal appeals court ruled in July that an executive order on birthright citizenship in the U.S. is unconstitutional.
The order, which President Donald Trump signed on his first day in office on January 20, 2025, placed sharp limits on eligibility for birthright citizenship. It would no longer automatically grant citizenship at birth to children of immigrants in the U.S. without legal status.
The appeals court wrote that the executive order "contradicts the plain language of the Fourteenth Amendments grant of citizenship to 'all persons born in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.'"
The Trump administration said the phrase subject to the jurisdiction thereof meant the U.S. could deny citizenship to children born from women in the country illegally.
It appealed the case to the Supreme Court in September.
The high court previously ruled on part of the case, but addressed only whether courts had the constitutional ability to issue nationwide injunctions like the one that originally paused the administration's changes to birthright citizenship.
"Universal injunctions likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has given to federal courts," the Supreme Court wrote at the time.
A little dog named Choco is back at home in California after a journey of more than 4 years, and thousands of miles ended in Lincoln Park.
According to Helping Paws and Claws in Loomis, California, Choco was found tied to the fence at the Lincoln Park Animal Shelter on November 24. Officials at the Lincoln Park Animal Shelter confirm they found him tied up and do not know where he was before that.
Choco was originally adopted as a year-and-a-half-old dachshund mix in March of 2016. He lived with his family until he disappeared in May of 2021.
Helping Paws and Claws says his owner never gave up hope because Choco was microchipped. So, when he showed up "1645 days" and "2289 miles" later, he was identified, and both Helping Paws and Claws and the Lincoln Park Animal Shelter began making arrangements to get him back home to Sacramento.
Helping Paws and Claws chronicled Choco's journey home, which included a weather delay that stretched the trip through Chicaoge from December 2 to December 3, on their Facebook page.
Helping Paws and Claws is thanking the Lincoln Park Animal Shelter for their help and says the real message here is to microchip your pets and keep the information up to date, so they can be used to bring your pet home.
Oakland County has now expanded water testing for Legionella bacteria to the Oakland County Circuit Court Building.
The county made the announcement Friday after the Oakland County Sheriff's Office closed its administrative building following an employee of the sheriff's office testing positive for Legionnaires' disease.
Watch Heather Catallo's video report: Oakland County expands water testing for Legionella bacteria to courthouse
According to the county spokesperson, the county did additional testing and obtained water samples from the administration building where he worked, and those samples came back positive for Legionella.
Oakland Countys top priority is the health and safety of our employees, said Health Officer Kate Guzman in a statement. There is no immediate risk to the public and we are taking all necessary steps to address the Legionella found in the building.
Legionella bacteria is usually found in water and can cause a form of pneumonia. Its not clear how long the cleanup will take or when critical sheriffs office employees can return to their headquarters.
"We're trying to put together what that plan looks like, how quickly and obviously given the critical operations there... we need to have a sense of urgency to get this building back up and running," Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. "But we're not gonna do that if it puts anybody at risk."
Watch Ruta Ulcinaite's video report: Oakland County expands water testing for Legionella bacteria to courthouse
This expansion of water testing to the courthouse is for "due diligence" after the county said a person who was not a county employee tested positive for Legionnaires' disease last April and listed the courthouse as one of the places they visited during their exposure period.
"The infection happens when we inhale small water droplets like cooling towers or air conditioners that have not been properly cleaned," Dr. Teena Chopra with the Detroit Medical Center said. "So water systems in the building have not been properly cleaned."
A county spokesperson confirmed to 7 News Detroit that the county plans to test all of the buildings on the campus. This does include the county jail, but officials say at this moment, the jail is not a building of interest in their environmental investigation.
VIDEO: Ask Dr. Nandi: What is Legionnaires' Disease?
The Oakland County Sheriffs Administration Building, known as 38E, is one of the buildings where employees are being told not to come in to work. All personnel in the building should work remotely until it is deemed safe to come back. A custodial employee who works in the building is the person who became sick with the bacteria.
"Our first concern, obviously, is our employees," Bouchard said.
Dr. Jonathan Samuels, an emergency room physician, says hes frequented the building for the past four years for a case before a probate court.
They need to test throughout all the bathrooms and drinking fountains, and really anyone whos in an older building should be concerned about using the drinking fountains, said Samuels, who we spoke with as he left the Oakland County Courthouse on Friday.
Watch Darren Cunningham's video report below: Legionella investigation expands in Oakland County
Samuels wasnt surprised to learn the health department is testing water for Legionella bacteria.
The people who really should be concerned are current or former smokers, people over 50, people with compromised immune systems. Its more common than people probably realize, Samuels said.
It's interesting that the legionella bacteria when it causes an infection without pneumonia, they actually call it Pontiac Fever after an outbreak at a Pontiac county health facility in 1968.
Employees or recent building visitors who are experiencing flu-like or pneumonia-like symptoms are urged to seek medical care and inform their provider of a possible exposure.
"If they have any symptoms of headache, because those are very early on, mild headaches... flu-like symptoms, they should go and get checked out," Chopra said. "Especially under the circumstances with one employee being confirmed, others who have symptoms should get tested right away."
The Sheriff's Office has provided the following guidance to employees:
This message is to inform all Oakland County Sheriffs Office personnel of an important health and safety matter involving Building 38E (the Sheriffs Administration Building). On Thursday evening, the Oakland County Health Department received preliminary Legionella bacteria test results from the State of Michigan for water samples taken from Building 38E. These tests were initiated after a custodial employee who works in the building was diagnosed with Legionnaires Disease. A number of the collected samples have tested positive for the presence of Legionella bacteria. Out of an abundance of caution, Building 38E will be closed on Friday, December 5, and through the weekend. This temporary closure will allow the Health Department and the Facilities Department to implement a mitigation plan in coordination with the operational needs of the Sheriffs Office. <b>Guidance for All Sheriffs Office Personnel</b> While this closure directly impacts employees assigned to 38E, any Sheriffs Office employee who has visited or worked in Building 38E recently should be aware of the situation and monitor their health accordingly. If you experience flu-like or pneumonia-like symptoms, please seek medical treatment immediately and inform your healthcare provider of a potential exposure so they can conduct appropriate testing and treatment. Additionally, please notify your immediate supervisor. Be advised The Oakland County Health Department is not equipped or capable of performing testing at this time. <b>General Information</b> Legionella bacteria are commonly found in natural and man-made water systems. While most individuals exposed do not become ill, people who are immunocompromised may be more susceptible to infection. A fact sheet with additional information is attached for your awareness. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available and as remediation efforts progress. The health and safety of our personnel remain our top priority, and we appreciate your cooperation and attentiveness as we work through this issue.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to 7 News Detroit that they are assisting the Oakland County Health Division in this process:
"MDHHS is supporting the Oakland County Health Division with this investigation by providing epidemiology and industrial hygiene support, such as what information and specimens to collect, where water system testing should be done, review of documents such as water management plans, all in accordance with our established response protocols."
The United Auto Workers Union, which represents many county employees, released the following statement:
"The union is very concerned about its members in light of the recent legionnaires outbreak on campus. Weve begun working with the county administration to ensure that our members are working in a safe environment. The county has agreed to continue testing and remediation, and has recently communicated the situation to our membership."
Anyone with questions can call the county's Oakland Connects Helpline at 800-848-5533.
Im hoping we caught it early and we get on top of it early and they remediate it quickly and we dont have anybody else get sick. Thats best-case scenario, Bouchard said.
Argentina and Lionel Messi will play Algeria to open its World Cup title defense as part of a group that also includes Austria.
The United States was drawn Friday to start against Paraguay at Inglewood, California, on June 12, a day after Mexico hosts the opener against South Africa. The U.S. reached the semifinals at the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and has gotten as far as the quarterfinals only one other time, in 2002.
U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney selected the balls of their own countries from bowls during a ceremony at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The show was almost as long as a soccer match, with the actual draw for the expanded 48-nation tournament starting in the 87th minute.
On a wintry day with snow falling, soccer officials and celebrities filled the hall, 189 days before the expanded 48-nation, 104-game tournament.
There were long lines outside the complex even at 7 a.m. as workers and media filed through with Secret Service agents securing the area.
Earlier in the ceremony, FIFA awarded its first peace prize to Trump, who has campaigned to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino gave Trump a large gold-colored trophy and a gold-colored medal hanging from a blue ribbon, which Trump hung around his neck. Standing next to Trump, Infantino lavished praise.
"This is truly one of the great honors of my life," Trump said.
A red carpet was laid outside the arts center, taken over this year by Trump and his supporters. Retired stars Tom Brady of the NFL, Shaquille O'Neal of the NBA and Wayne Gretzky of the NHL along with three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge were to assist in a ceremony run by former England captain Rio Ferdinand.
All 11 of the highest-ranked teams were in the draw, with No. 12 Italy among 22 nations competing in playoffs for the final six berths to be decided March 31.
All games from the quarterfinals on will be in the U.S., which is using 11 NFL stadiums. Sites for most games and kickoff times are to be announced Saturday.
Argentina and Lionel Messi will play Algeria to open its World Cup title defense as part of a group that also includes Austria.
The United States was drawn Friday to start against Paraguay at Inglewood, California, on June 12, a day after Mexico hosts the opener against South Africa. The U.S. reached the semifinals at the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and has gotten as far as the quarterfinals only one other time, in 2002.
U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney selected the balls of their own countries from bowls during a ceremony at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The show was almost as long as a soccer match, with the actual draw for the expanded 48-nation tournament starting in the 87th minute.
On a wintry day with snow falling, soccer officials and celebrities filled the hall, 189 days before the expanded 48-nation, 104-game tournament.
There were long lines outside the complex even at 7 a.m. as workers and media filed through with Secret Service agents securing the area.
Earlier in the ceremony, FIFA awarded its first peace prize to Trump, who has campaigned to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino gave Trump a large gold-colored trophy and a gold-colored medal hanging from a blue ribbon, which Trump hung around his neck. Standing next to Trump, Infantino lavished praise.
"This is truly one of the great honors of my life," Trump said.
A red carpet was laid outside the arts center, taken over this year by Trump and his supporters. Retired stars Tom Brady of the NFL, Shaquille O'Neal of the NBA and Wayne Gretzky of the NHL along with three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge were to assist in a ceremony run by former England captain Rio Ferdinand.
All 11 of the highest-ranked teams were in the draw, with No. 12 Italy among 22 nations competing in playoffs for the final six berths to be decided March 31.
All games from the quarterfinals on will be in the U.S., which is using 11 NFL stadiums. Sites for most games and kickoff times are to be announced Saturday.
The White House is expected to submit plans for President Donald Trump's new ballroom to a federal planning commission before the year ends, about three months after construction began.
Will Scharf, who was named by Trump as chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, said at the panel's monthly meeting Thursday that he was told by colleagues at the White House that the long-awaited plans will be filed sometime in December.
Once plans are submitted, thats really when the role of this commission, and its professional staff, will begin, said Scharf, who also is one of the Republican president's top White House aides.
He said the review process would happen at a normal and deliberative pace.
Separately, the White House confirmed Thursday that a second architectural firm has been added to the project.
Spokesperson Davis Ingle said architect Shalom Baranes of Washington, D.C., was needed as construction moves into a new phase. The firm has worked on federal properties across the nation's capital, including the Pentagon and Treasury buildings, according to its website.
As we begin to transition into the next stage of development on the White House Ballroom, the Administration is excited to share that the highly talented Shalom Baranes has joined the team of experts to carry out President Trumps vision on building what will be the greatest addition to the White House since the Oval Office the White House Ballroom," Ingle said in an emailed statement.
Shalom is an accomplished architect whose work has shaped the architectural identity of our nations capital for decades and his experience will be a great asset to the completion of this project, Ingle said.
The initial firm, McCrery Architects, also of Washington, remains as a consultant.
If built as proposed, the 90,000-square-foot ballroom announced over the summer and expected to be ready before Trump's term ends in 2029, would dwarf the White House itself, at nearly double the size, and the president has said it will accommodate 999 people.
The estimated price tag stands at $300 million, up from the White House's initial $200 million.
Trump has said the ballroom will not cost taxpayers a dime because it is being privately funded by individuals he says are patriots, American corporations and himself. He has not said how much of his own money he is contributing.
The White House has released a list of 37 donors that includes crypto billionaires, charitable organizations, sports team owners, powerful financiers, tech and tobacco giants, media companies, supporters of Republican causes and some of the presidents neighbors in Palm Beach, Florida.
Trump has long desired a ballroom at the White House and he complains regularly about the inability of its two largest rooms, the State Dining Room and the East Room, to host large events. He also has panned the use of large tents set up on the South Grounds for hundred-plus-person events, like a state dinner.
Last month, when Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited, Trump said he had upset a lot of people because he had to turn down their requests to attend an East Room dinner in the prince's honor due to the lack of space.
I only wish we had about 2,000 more seats. We would have filled every one of them two times over, Trump said at the dinner, alluding to the proposed ballroom. But very soon youll be having that, and we'll have to do another one in about two years from now.
In September, Trump moved ahead with site preparation work for the ballroom despite the lack of sign-off from the National Capital Planning Commission, the executive branch agency with jurisdiction over construction and major renovations to government buildings in the region.
Scharf has made a distinction between demolition work and above-ground construction, saying the commission only has jurisdiction over the latter. L. Preston Bryant Jr., a former chair of the commission under President Barack Obama, told The Associated Press that the approval process typically involved four stages, including an early consultation when the project was conceptual.
In October, Trump demolished the East Wing, where he has proposed to build the ballroom. Site preparation work has continued daily since then, with the sound of construction audible amid the hustle and bustle at the White House.
The East Wing was the traditional base of operations for the first lady and her staff. Several other White House offices also were housed in that wing. All currently are working out of space elsewhere in the White House or the office building next door.
The Washington Post was first to report on the addition of a new architect.
A federal judge in Florida on Friday ordered the release of grand jury transcripts from the federal sex trafficking cases of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith said a recently passed federal law ordering the release of records related to the cases overrode a federal rule prohibiting the release of matters before a grand jury.
The law known as the Epstein Files Transparency Act was signed last month by President Donald Trump. It compels the Justice Department, FBI and federal prosecutors to release by Dec. 19 the vast troves of material they have amassed during investigations into Epstein.
The Justice Department has requested the unsealing of documents from three Epstein-related separate cases: the 2006-2007 Florida grand jury investigation into Epstein, his 2019 sex trafficking case in New York and Ghislaine Maxwells 2021 sex trafficking case, also in New York. The Florida request was approved Friday. The New York requests are pending, with the Justice Department facing a Monday deadline to make its final filing a response to submissions by victims, Epsteins estate and Maxwells lawyers. The judges in those matters have said they plan to rule expeditiously.
One of the federal prosecutors on the Florida case did not answer a phone call Friday and the other declined to answer questions.
President Donald Trump was awarded the new FIFA peace prize on Friday at the 2026 World Cup draw giving the soccer spectacle to set matchups for the quadrennial tournament even more of a Trumpian flair.
Trump, who has openly campaigned for the Nobel Peace Price, had been heavily favored to win the newly created FIFA prize. He and FIFA president Gianni Infantino are close allies, and Infantino had made clear that he thought Trump should have won the Nobel for his efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.
The certificate that Infantino handed Trump recognizes the U.S. president for his actions to "promote peace and unity around the world."
"This is what we want from a leader a leader that cares about the people," Infantino said about Trump, who wore a gold medal around his neck and was presented with a gold trophy with his name on it that depicts hands holding up the world. The FIFA leader said to Trump "this is your prize, this is your peace prize."
Trump thanked his family, including his wife, first lady Melania Trump, and praised the leaders of the other two host nations Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in his brief remarks.
"This is truly one of the great honors of my life," Trump said.
Infantino has often spoken about soccer as a unifier for the world, but the prize is a departure from the federation's traditional focus on sport.
FIFA has described the prize as one that rewards "individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and by doing so have united people across the world."
It comes during a week where Trump's administration has been under scrutiny for lethal strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and as Trump hardens his rhetoric against immigrants.
The Nobel this year was eventually awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who said shortly after receiving the prize that she was dedicating it in part to Trump for "his decisive support of our cause."
The man accused of planting a pair of pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national parties in Washington on the eve of the U.S. Capitol attack confessed to the act in interviews with investigators, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
Brian Cole Jr. also indicated that he believed the 2020 election was stolen and expressed views supportive of President Donald Trump, said the people, who were not authorized to discuss by name an ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The details add to a still-emerging portrait of the 30-year-old suspect from Woodbridge, Virginia, and it was not immediately clear what other information or perspectives he may have shared while cooperating with law enforcement following his arrest on Thursday.
Federal authorities have not publicly disclosed any information about a possible motive or whether there is any connection to the attack on the Capitol the following day by Trump supporters.
A spokesperson for the federal public defender's office, which will be representing Cole at a Friday court appearance in Washington, declined to comment. Calls to relatives of Cole listed in public records were not immediately returned Thursday.
Cole faces explosives charges in connection with the Jan. 5, 2021 placement of the pipe bombs near the offices of the Democratic and Republican national committees. Nobody was hurt before the bombs were rendered safe, but the FBI has said both devices could have been lethal.
An FBI affidavit made public Thursday indicated that investigators zeroed in on Cole through analysis of credit card charges related to the purchase of pipe bomb components, cellphone towers and a license plate reader.
The arrest marks the first time investigators have publicly identified a suspect in an act that has been an enduring mystery for nearly five years in the shadow of the violent Capitol attack.
WATCH: Press conference: Investigators identify DC pipe bomb suspect as Brian Cole Jr.
Loneliness is increasing among adults 45 and older, with new research from AARP revealing a concerning upward trend that's reshaping how we understand social isolation across age groups.
The study found 40% of adults in this age range now report feeling lonely, marking a significant increase from 35% in previous surveys. This rise represents a notable shift in the landscape of social connection for older Americans.
Perhaps most surprising is the gender reversal in loneliness patterns. Men now report higher levels of loneliness than women, completely flipping earlier research trends that consistently showed women experiencing more social isolation.
Adults in their 40s and 50s emerged as the loneliest age group, challenging assumptions that loneliness primarily affects the elderly. Experts point to midlife stress and shrinking social circles as major contributing factors to this phenomenon.
The research identified several key predictors of loneliness, including smaller social networks, mental health challenges, and having fewer close friends. These factors often compound each other, creating a cycle that can be difficult to break.
Nearly half of lonely adults reported having fewer friendships than they did five years ago, highlighting how social connections have deteriorated over time for many in this demographic.
Technology presents a double-edged solution to the loneliness crisis. Many older adults are turning to digital platforms to stay connected with family and friends, finding new ways to maintain relationships despite physical distance or mobility limitations.
However, for others, technology can actually deepen isolation rather than alleviate it. The digital divide and varying comfort levels with technology mean that what helps some connect may leave others feeling more disconnected than before.
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.
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