Federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis have sparked intense confrontations between protesters and ICE agents, with a second shooting incident occurring last night that has further escalated tensions in the Twin Cities.

READ ALSO | Do ICE agents truly have absolute immunity?

The Department of Homeland Security said an ICE officer shot a Venezuelan immigrant in the leg during what they described as a resisting arrest situation. According to DHS, two people joined the struggle, and an officer was struck with either a broom or a shovel before firing in what they claim was self-defense.

The shooting comes just one week after an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, an incident that initially sparked the wave of protests now gripping Minneapolis.

About 100 protesters gathered outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, which serves as the epicenter of ICE enforcement in the Twin Cities. The demonstrations have intensified as federal immigration operations have ramped up over the past two weeks.

"It's just rational that we feel threatened, even before, there were people gunned down in our streets, but now this outside force has invaded our area, and we cannot just sit back and relax," said Carol, a protester who has been demonstrating for several days. "We have to speak up and use our constitutional freedoms, exactly what our forefathers meant for us to do. We can't sit back and be complacent. We have to let our voices be heard."

Watch: Second ICE shooting in Minneapolis escalates tensions as protesters demand federal withdrawal

Second ICE shooting in Minneapolis escalates tensions as protesters demand federal withdrawal

Protesters maintain their demonstrations have remained peaceful, claiming ICE agents are the ones escalating tensions through their enforcement tactics. Many demonstrators are calling on Governor Tim Walz to deploy the National Guard to protect protesters and ensure their right to peaceful assembly.

President Trump responded to the situation this morning by threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, which would allow him to deploy federal troops to Minneapolis to "stop the protesters and attacks on ICE."

The federal building has become a focal point where protesters regularly confront ICE vehicles leaving the facility, with demonstrators demanding the agency leave their city.

It's almost time for the public days to kick off at the Detroit Auto Show, but first, the annual Charity Preview will take place on Friday night.

WXYZ is proud to be the official broadcast partner of the Detroit Auto Show's Charity Preview, and you can watch our Red Carpet Charity Preview Special on Friday at 7 p.m.

This black-tie community event has raised more than $125 million for metro Detroit children's non-profits since it began in 1976. The beneficiaries for this year's Charity Preview are:

The Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital The Children's Foundation Detroit Auto Dealers Association Charitable Foundation Fund Detroit PAL The Children's Center

I talked with the president of Mott Children's Hospital, who said each dollar they receive goes toward making their young patients smile.

"So if there's something that we can do to just let them smile, let them just be a kid again, we know that that's important to the healing process as well," Luanne Thomas Ewald, the president, said.

Ewald said the funds go towards things like medical research, innovation and clinical care. They also go toward making kids feel like kids.

"So, for example, we will buy iPads for the kid so the kids can stay in contact with their friends, with their schoolwork," Ewald said.,"We have teachers on staff that actually help the kids, so they don't get far behind."

The Charity Preview also has quite a night slated with performances by five-time Grammy nominee Robin Thicke and Detroit rapper Trick Trick.

Tickets are $400 for one or $700 for the pair, and a good portion of that ticket price can be deducted come tax time.

Ford Racing is officially back in Formula 1 in 2026, nearly three years after announcing a partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing.

On Thursday, as part of a massive Ford Racing event at Michigan Central Station, Ford and Red Bull officially revealed the livery for the Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 car for 2026.

This year will be the team's first in the Red Bull Ford Powertrain era, and it comes as new regulations take effect for the 2026 F1 season. The cars this year will be shorter, narrower, lighter and nimbler, according to Formula 1.

"As the Ford Racing powertrain chief engineer, my challenge is to merge Fords 125-year winning culture with Red Bulls relentless agility and 20-year history of winning," Ford Racing Powertrain Chief Engineer Christian Hertrich said in a post. Led by Red Bull, Ford Racing is supporting the build of an F1 power unit from the ground up for the 2026 season, and the pressure is daunting."

According to an article from Hertrich, engineers with Ford Racing have been working with Red Bull engineers to cut down on fabricating time, run models and much more.

"The road to March 2026 is a massive undertaking, but seeing our embedded engineers working seamlessly in Milton Keynes proves what is possible when two world-class teams unite. We are working night and day to be ready," Hertrich wrote.

Red Bull finished third in the Constructors' Championship during the 2025 F1 season. In 2026, the team will be led by multi-time world champion Max Verstappen, alongside rookie Isack Hadjar.

Will Ford, the GM of Ford Racing, also posted about how important it is for Ford to be back at the top tier of global racing, saying that at Ford, "we weren't just inspired by racing. We were born from it."

"When I first saw the new liveries for Oracle Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, I didnt see a marketing asset. I saw my familys name back on a global stage where we have unfinished business," Will Ford wrote. "Seeing the Blue Oval integrated into those designs was a reminder of the weight we carry. Its a testament to dedication of our engineers in Dearborn and Milton Keynes have already spent in the trenches."

The cold is certainly here, but icy January temperatures are actually perfect for the Tecumseh Ice Sculpture Festival, which has been running for 17 years now.

See the full story in the video below

Tecumseh's annual Ice Sculpture Festival kicks off Friday, bringing a boom to businesses

Starting Friday night and continuing through this weekend, ice artists will chisel their way through Downtown Tecumseh, just when the city needs it most.

Well be doing live demonstrations of ice sculpting," Rhonda Nowak, the marketing and event coordinator for the City of Tecumseh, told me. "In january, in the winter, it's usually slow for businesses, so we tried to find something that would be exciting."

Nowak said the 17th annual Ice Sculpture Festival will be the city's biggest yet.

Started out with 15 to 20 sculptures. This year well have 49. About 6,000 to 8,000 people will show up this weekend," Nowak said.

What a sight it will be with sculptures all along Downtown Tecumseh. There will be a sculpture in front of every storefront, including Patina Jewelry.

Every year's different. Sometimes we do snacks, sometimes we do giveaways, this year just keeping the doors open," Cheynne Good, the co-owner of Patina Jewelry, said.

Good said that those thousands of visitors help put Tecumseh in the spotlight.

And its just a nice experience for them to get to shop and see what we have to offer as a town," Good said.

This is a great weekend that will set us up for the next two months," Edward Gerten, the operations manager of Pentamere Winery, added.

Pentamere has had a front row seat to the festival each and every year. Gerten said the crowded streets during the annual festival help keep the wine flowing during the winter months.

The first quarter is always the slowest. With this festival, it helps give us that extra padding," Gerten said.

The festival kicks off Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and runs the same time on Saturday and Sunday. You can learn more on the city's website.

"A lot of activities going on. We'll have a bird exhibit that will be here, a barred owl people can come and get up close to, we have a scavenger hunt going on all weekend," Nowak said.

Anticipation is building among businesses and locals for what many consider one of the city's biggest events of the year.

The excitement is palpable as the Detroit Auto Show prepares to open its doors to the public Saturday at 10 a.m. For many attendees like Kimberly Phenix, the event holds special significance beyond just seeing the latest vehicles.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report below: Detroit Auto Show brings excitement and business to downtown

"It means a lot to me because my parents always took me for my birthday. Because today is actually my birthday," Phenix said.

The auto show serves as more than just a showcase for automobiles. It's also a spotlight for downtown Detroit's growing restaurant and entertainment scene.

"It's getting bigger and better. Detroit is really building up different restaurants and the auto show is bringing in a lot of people," Phenix said.

Local businesses are preparing for the influx of visitors. At Mootz Pizzeria downtown, manager Barbara Cangialosi says they're gearing up for one of their busiest weekends, with Saturday reservations nearly full.

"It is a really good pizzeria. He mentioned the garlic knots. It's one of our famous appetizers. The garlic knots are huge and you get six to an order and we probably sell hundreds," Cangialosi said.

The restaurant expects to see a significant increase in families attending the auto show and looking for dining options afterward.

"We're always bumping on the weekends. We're always busy, but we can expect more with lots of families coming in with kids and just families coming to the auto show and looking for food afterward," Cangialosi said.

Related video: 2026 Detroit Auto Show: What are some of the auto trends we'll see this year? 2026 Detroit Auto Show: What are some of the auto trends we'll see this year?

For many Detroit residents, the auto show has become a cherished winter tradition that brings the community together during the colder months.

"It's winter there's not much to do for families and I think people our age make it a tradition," Cangialosi said.

Related video: 7 family-friendly attractions at the Detroit Auto Show beyond the cars 7 family-friendly attractions at the Detroit Auto Show beyond the cars

Phenix agrees, expressing her enthusiasm for returning to the event after a brief hiatus.

"I'm excited to go this year. I haven't been a couple years, but this year especially I was excited. I was gonna go to the auto show, me and my husband," Phenix 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.

Metro Detroit cities are cleaning up after Wednesday evening's snowstorm, but whether snowplows will clear residential streets depends on how much snow accumulated on the roads themselves.

Watch Brett Kast's video report below: Some metro Detroit communities aren't plowing residential streets just yet; here's why

In Troy, residents like Kris Picano are scraping ice and clearing snow off their sidewalks and driveways.

"It's been a little bit of a nightmare around here, but we do what we can, still got to get to work," Picano said of metro Detroit road conditions.

While Troy requires residents to clear sidewalks when more than 2 inches of snow falls, the city won't deploy plows to residential streets unless there's at least 4 inches of accumulation on the roadway.

"We are just salting the local roads at this point. We do have a snow policy and part of that policy says it needs to have a 4-inch accumulation or greater to plow local roads," said Kurt Bovensiep, Troy's Public Works director. "I know there's a difference between (sidewalks and) our local road policy, but there is a significant difference between a drivable surface and a pedestrian walkable surface.

Bovensiep explained that crews measure snow accumulation on the actual roadway in the morning, not on porches, driveways or grass. They also consider road passability, noting that in this case, the snow is packed down.

"Even if we were on the local roads plowing, we wouldn't make much impact because our goal is not to get down to bare pavement in local roads, it's just to make it passable. And currently, in my belief, it is passable," Bovensiep said.

Many residents weren't aware of the 4-inch policy, and many Facebook comments questioned the measurement.

"Regardless of how deep the snow is, it's been pretty unsafe conditions. I've seen accidents and things like that," Picano said.

"It seems a bit high. I think more like they would do it after 2 or 3 inches. Four seems a bit high to me," Paul Baeten said.

However, Baeten also noted that road conditions haven't been too problematic.

"Honestly they haven't been bad. I haven't noticed anything too bad," Baeten said. "They were passable. No issues.

Related video: Winter storms are driving up salt prices and creating supply concerns across Metro Detroit High price of salt impacting small businesses

While many other metro Detroit cities declared snow emergencies, nearby communities including Madison Heights and Royal Oak joined Troy in not declaring one. The city of Royal Oak reported in a Facebook post that their roadways measured 2 inches to 2.5 inches of snow, while commenters pointed out the National Weather Service reported 4 inches of snowfall in the city.

"I know theres been some debate whether we actually received 4 inches or greater, Bovensiep said. We measure the road surface, which can be very different than accumulation to someone measuring their deck, their lawn or even their driveway.

Related video: Making the most of a snow day Making the most of a snow day

Bovensiep said they also consider future forecasts when making plowing decisions. With more snow expected Friday, Bovensiep says Troy will likely then surpass the 4-inch threshold, putting plows onto neighborhood streets before the weekend.

"We take it all into consideration. It is a significant expense to go into local roads," Bovensiep said. "I have family (and) friends who live in the city of Troy and their safety is of the utmost importance to me, but also there has to be a balance of being fiduciary responsible and making sure we have the funds to fix the roads in the summertime.

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 ACLU of Minnesota filed a new class action lawsuit against the federal government Thursday, seeking to stop federal immigration agencies from making indiscriminate arrests that target certain populations in the state.

The suit is against the Department of Homeland Security and its agencies, including ICE, for its alleged targeting of Somali and Latino immigrants. The ACLU claims the practice has led to the arrest of U.S. citizens.

Federal agents "have indiscriminately arrested without warrants or probable cause Minnesotans solely because the agents perceived them to be Somali or Latino," the suit reads.

The suit seeks an emergency order "to stop ICE, CBP, and other federal agents from continuing to violate Minnesotans rights."

RELATED NEWS | Minnesota leaders push back on federal presence as tensions rise over latest DHS shooting

State and city leaders have pushed back on federal presence.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said federal agents' presence was "causing chaos," and Minnesota's governor Tim Walz on Wednesday accused federal agencies of traumatizing the community.

"Let's be very, very clear. This long ago stopped being of immigration enforcement. Instead, it's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government," Walz said.

President Donald Trump suggested Thursday that he could invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 and allow the U.S. military to be used for law enforcement purposes amid tension in Minnesota.

"If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don't obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the patriots of ICE, who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the Insurrection Act," Trump wrote Thursday on Truth Social.

Hazel Park's food scene is expanding with a new pizza restaurant that has quite the origin story.

Amelia Street Pizza Co owner, Matt Arb, transformed his passion into a pop-up operation and then secured a permanent storefront in less than 12 months, discovering a way to turn his love for pizza into a thriving business venture.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: Amelia Street Pizza Co. to open in Hazel Park following viral pop-ups

"I was doing it for fun, for me, and then I made an Instagram account so I wouldn't annoy my friends with just constant pizza stuff. Some friends asked to try and posted about it, and it turned into this online thing," Arb said.

Arb took to social media this time last year, posting pictures of pepperoni pizza creations. A couple months later, he started getting customers and became busy running a home-based pop-up shop. In June, the banker of seven years quit his job to pursue his pepperoni pizzas full time.

"I guess I believed in what I was doing even before there was really any proof of it, and I just wanted to see where it went. I figured I'm OK with mistakes, but I regret not going for it. And I just wanted to see what happens," Arb said.

Hear more from Matt Arb in the video player below: Web extra: Amelia Street Pizza Co owner talks about his new brick-and-mortar restaurant

Arb isn't doing this alone. He's partnering with James Rigato, acclaimed chef and owner of Mabel Gray, a Hazel Park restaurant that has served customers for more than a decade.

Rigato, Arb's investor and mentor, helped turn Arb's pop-up into a permanent brick-and-mortar location.

He provided a statement saying:

"When I first met Matt, I was impressed by his love of pizza and the process of making it. He has a real dedication to the craft and approaches it with curiosity and discipline. He's not from a culinary background, but he's a natural. I was able to open Mabel Gray because of sweat equity. My business partner, Ed Mamou, took a chance on me. Im inspired to do the same for others."

Local resident David Justice appreciates the entrepreneurial journey.

"It's pretty cool that someone can start from that small it shows dedication. Dedication for sure," Justice said.

Arb plans to open Amelia Street Pizza Co in the spring, located on 951 E. 9 Mile Road in Hazel Park. The restaurant is named after his home street the place where it all started.

"This whole thing has just been a big surprise," Arb 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.

Sam Marino, owner of Marino's Landscaping in Washington Township, said his salt bin is nearly empty when it should be full this time of year. The 20-year snow removal veteran said this winter has been anything but typical.

Watch Carli Petrus's video report: High price of salt impacting small businesses

"That bin's been moving very excessively. Normally, it doesn't move as rapid as it has been," Marino said.

Marino said his business typically salts 25 to 30 times per season, but in December alone, they've already completed 18 saltings at one retail shopping center.

The increased winter weather has driven salt prices from $125 per ton to $182 per ton a significant jump that's forcing businesses to make tough decisions.

"Some customers obviously understand that, other people don't, they're not willing to pay for it, and it creates a problem," Marino said.

For a large truck that holds about 18 tons of salt, that price increase translates to more than $1,000 additional cost per truckload. Small businesses like Marino's are now carefully monitoring their salt usage.

"It's impacting everybody, not just us," Marino said.

The high demand and rising costs are also affecting suppliers. Randy Gauthier with Metropolitan Materials said a shortage is very possible because most salt at the local mine is already allocated.

"Your government, your cities, they're going to get first dibs. They have a large amount of salt down at the mine right now that's paid for that they get first," Gauthier said.

To keep customers supplied, Gauthier said he's had to source salt from Ohio at triple the cost.

"Out of Ohio and we paid triple the cost to bring it into our yard to make sure that our customers stay taken care of," Gauthier said.

Gauthier warned the situation could worsen and advised customers to use salt wisely.

"People are going to have to understand that they need to light salt, not oversalt, right now. If they can plow and scrape, they might want to do that more to try to keep the shortage from going even worse because what happens is when people oversalt, it really affects the whole salt game," Gauthier 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.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance has suggested that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are protected by absolute immunity from prosecution over their actions. However, legal experts say ICE agents can still face criminal charges or civil lawsuits.

The question centers on the balance between federal officers duty to protect lives and civil rights, and their own legal protections when making split-second decisions in dangerous situations. In some circumstances, law enforcement officers could have a degree of immunity.

RELATED STORY | Congress weighs ICE reforms as protests over immigration enforcement continue

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday that ICE agents performing immigration crackdowns nationwide have followed the law. In Minnesota, where Renee Good was recently shot and killed by an ICE agent, some state officials disagree.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has been urging citizens to record ICE operations, saying video footage could help build evidence for potential prosecutions if federal officers commit illegal acts.

Rupa Bhattacharyya, legal director at the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, told Scripps News there is no blanket immunity for federal law enforcement officers.

Whether or not an officer is liable, whether or not an officer is following the law, depends on facts, she said.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Standoff against ICE continues in Minneapolis, as Trump administration promises a new surge

Despite Vances remarks, civil litigation remains a possibility for agents accused of wrongdoing.

Instead of suing the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act, you can sue the officer in their individual capacity, meaning damages would get paid out of the officers own funds, not the United States funds, Bhattacharyya said.

Even if criminal charges are never filed, dropped or dismissed, an officer could still face a lawsuit. In Goods case, her family has hired attorneys who plan to conduct their own civil investigation into her death.

WATCH | Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act amid Minnesota ICE tensions

On Thursday President Trump threatened to institute the Insurrection Act, to potentially deploy the U.S. military or federalize the national guard to quell ongoing anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis.

"We did discuss the Insurrection Act. He certainly has the constitutional authority to utilize that," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said.

The president's threat comes after another shooting involving a federal officer Wednesday night.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara pleaded with protesters in the aftermath of the shooting to leave the area. He said crowds that gathered afterward were breaking the law and throwing fireworks at police officers.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey blamed federal agents' presence for the unrest and violence.

"We have ICE agents throughout our city and throughout our state who, along with border control, are creating chaos," Frey said.

And Minnesota's governor Tim Walz on Wednesday accused them of raining down trauma on the community.

"Let's be very, very clear. This long ago stopped being of immigration enforcement. Instead, it's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government," Walz said.

RELATED NEWS | 'Organized brutality:' Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz condemns ICE's immigration crackdown

Federal officials explained the Wednesday shooting on Thursday. The Department of Homeland Security says officers stopped someone who was in the U.S. illegally from Venezuela, who then fled in his vehicle and crashed into a parked car and fled on foot.

An officer eventually caught up to the subject but was allegedly assaulted by him.

DHS says two other people then attacked the officer with a "snow shovel and broom handle."

Officials say the agent feared for his life and shot the initial subject in the leg.

A woman jumped from an apartment window to escape an alleged assault in Howell Thursday morning, leaving her 2-year-old son behind with a man she claimed was armed and had assaulted her.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: Woman escapes alleged assault by jumping from Howell apartment window

The incident occurred around 11 a.m. at the Pine Hills Apartments on Holly Hills Drive near Isbell Street, prompting a massive police response that included evacuating an entire apartment building.

Neighbor Dave Fordyce called 911 on the woman's behalf after witnessing her escape.

"Come to find out she was claiming that she was raped and the guy had a gun, her two-year-old son was trapped inside the apartment," Fordyce said.

Cell phone video captured the shirtless, barefoot woman screaming after she reportedly jumped from the apartment window to flee her attacker.

Livingston County Sheriff deputies and Howell police officers swarmed the building as neighbors watched the dramatic scene unfold.

"There was like nine cops outside holding guns and shields, and there was a truck over there and two cars over here," one neighbor said.

"They evacuated the building, from what I was told, then they had drones flying through the building looking for him, and also they had a sniper, maybe on this roof, to make sure if he came out-they had all kinds of long guns out," LJ Jackson said.

First responders detected a strong odor of gas from the building, prompting the fire department to shut off the gas supply as a precaution during the evacuation.

Police successfully rescued the 2-year-old boy through an open window of the apartment unit. However, when officers obtained a search warrant and entered the apartment, they found it vacant.

"Come to find out, evidently, the gentleman that allegedly did all this stuff left before the police got here, so he's still out running around," Fordyce said.

The Howell Police Department said there is no threat to the public at this time, but the investigation remains ongoing. Due to the active nature of the case, police are not releasing additional information.

The department thanked displaced residents and the property management team for their cooperation during the incident.

Multiple agencies assisted in the response, including the Livingston County Sheriff's Office, Livingston County Prosecutor's Office, Hamburg Township Department of Public Safety, Green Oak Township Police Department, Michigan State Police, LAWNET, Livingston County EMS, and the Howell Area Fire Department.

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.

Metro Detroit residents woke up Thursday morning to snow blanketing their neighborhoods after a winter storm swept through the region overnight.

The unexpected snowfall caught many residents off guard, including John Woodson of Farmington, who was shoveling his mother's driveway when I spoke with him.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report below: Metro Detroit digs out from 6+ inches of snow as cleanup crews work around the clock

"I had no idea this was coming. Usually because I have two houses to take care of, I salt beforehand. No idea, just woke up and I've been at this since this morning," Woodson said.

Some areas in metro Detroit had 6 inches of snow fall.

Woodson noted the persistent challenge of Michigan winters.

"After 45 years I've lived here and it gets colder every year even though it's the same temperature. I don't know what it is," Woodson said.

In Birmingham, resident Tim Christensen also found himself caught off guard when it came to the winter weather.

"Roads this morning were pretty bad, pretty much snow covered. Traffic was going slow," Christensen said. It was Michigan in January."

The Road Commission for Oakland County has deployed crews throughout the day to address the snow-covered roads. Craig Bryson from the commission said teams are working around the clock to clear the streets.

Additional report: Crews work to clear the roads following snow storm Crews work to clear the roads following snow storm

"We're going to be doing everything to clean up during the day and into the night, potentially around the clock tonight," Bryson said.

Watch our coverage of drivers navigating icy condition the day before below: Drivers experience rush-hour traffic nightmare as snow creates icy conditions

The cleanup effort will continue for several days, especially with more snow expected Friday. Bryson explained the commission's priority system for snow removal.

"It's a long cleanup process, but we will be focusing on the main roads first. Once we get the main road all cleared, we start to focus on the side streets and subdivisions streets, but it may be a couple days before we start getting into the subdivisions," Bryson said.

Bryson urged residents to be patient with plow truck drivers and to drive slowly if they must travel during the ongoing cleanup efforts.

Commerce Township resident James Boerner summed up the unpredictable nature of Michigan winter weather.

"You never know what you're going to get," Boerner 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.

They were at the forefront for two of the most important news events in Michigan last year. The historic election of Detroits new mayor and the opening of a new and iconic downtown real estate development. Both accomplishments attracted widespread attention and were led by the vision of two of this citys most talented leaders.

Because of their dedication, tenacity, and achievements, WXYZ proudly selects Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield and businessman Dan Gilbert as Channel 7s 2025 Newsmakers of the Year. Sheffield, the first woman ever elected CEO of Michigans largest city, won her non-partisan race by a landslide victory. As the previous president of the Detroit City Council, she was the youngest person to ever hold that office. Sheffields selection as the 76th mayor brings a new generation of excitement, ideas, and priorities to local government.

Dan Gilbert, philanthropist, Founder & Chairman of the Rocket Companies, has invested billions in Detroit. In a little more than a decade, his dreams and companies have transformed many urban properties and neighborhoods into sought after destinations. Last year alone, Gilberts team completed the new 12-story building on Woodward Avenue with more to come of the towering mixed-use development. General Motors began moving in as its chief tenet. Also, Nick Gilbert Way, a new public plaza, opened in time for the winter holidays and old J.L. Hudsons traditions.

Youll hear more about Sheffield and Gilbert in a special edition of Spotlight on the News when they are profiled by Chuck Stokes. Because they have made a positive impact on Michigan, we congratulate Mary Sheffield and Dan Gilbert as our Newsmakers of the Year.

Im Mike Murri, Regional V.P. & General Manager

Broadcast: January 15 - 18, 2026

Venezuelan opposition leader Mara Corina Machado said on Thursday that she presented Donald Trump with the Nobel Peace Prize medal she won in 2025.

After meeting with President Trump and congressional lawmakers, Machado told reporters she gifted the medal as a recognition for [President Trump's] unique commitment with our freedom.

Venezuela's Mara Corina Machado says she presented Trump with her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal

What is happening at this moment is historic, not just for the future of Venezuela, but for the future of freedom in the world, Machado said.

She said she sought to build a "new, genuine electoral process" for Venezuela.

Machado also mentioned Edmundo Gonzlez, the acknowledged president-elect of Venezuela.

I have insisted and I will continue to insist that Venezuela has a president-elect, and I am very proud to work alongside him, Machado said.

Machado, a longtime opposition political leader, has been traveling globally to gain support from world leaders, including a recent meeting with Pope Leo. While she has received backing from many international figures and members of Congress who believe she should lead Venezuela, she has yet to receive Trump's full endorsement.

The Nobel Peace Prize is not formally transferrable

Before her meeting with President Trump, Machado had offered to share a Nobel Peace Prize she won in 2025 for promoting democracy in Venezuela.

President Trump has spoken often about his desire to earn the same prize, and said he would be "honored" to accept Machado's prize if she offered it to him.

The Nobel Prize Committee has made clear that formal ownership of an awarded prize cannot be transferred.

President Trump has not yet commented on whether Machado presented the award to him.

RELATED NEWS | Trump backs off new attacks, touts U.S.-Venezuela oil partnership

Venezuela's future following U.S. intervention

Key questions remain about the U.S. military's long-term role in Venezuela, when elections might occur, and who Trump will ultimately support as the country's leader.

The United States conducted a large-scale strike early in January in Venezuela and captured its president, Nicols Maduro, flying him and his wife out of the country.

Hours after the operation, President Trump said that the U.S. would "run the country" until there is a proper transition.

Meanwhile, Venezuelas vice president, Delcy Rodrguez, was sworn in as interim president following the removal of Maduro. White House officials have said she has been cooperative with the administration.

Following threats of consequences from U.S. President Donald Trump, the White House said Thursday that Iran stopped 800 scheduled executions after a violent crackdown on widespread protests.

One of those spared for now is 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, who had been set to be executed Wednesday.

RELATED STORY | Trump: Iran halts execution threat as violent crackdown on protests persists

Scripps News spoke with Somayeh, a cousin of Soltani who only gave her first name because she fears for the safety of relatives still in Iran. She said she was grateful his execution was postponed but remains concerned for his well-being.

"I was happy that the voice of the world reached to temporarily postpone Erfan's execution," Somayeh told Scripps News in a translated interview. "But after that there is no news or movement about Erfan's torture and scheduled execution. At the moment we are all frozen for news about what comes next."

"This situation is still very concerning, as the sentence they gave to a young person for simply seeking basic human rights is a travesty," she added. "There is no true law or justice in the Islamic Republic. They can suddenly take countless lives and just claim it's religiously ordained God's will."

Earlier this week, President Trump rejected the prospect of talks with Iranian officials about the governments protest crackdown. Instead, he told Iranian citizens that "help is on the way" after warning Iran repeatedly with military action if deadly force was used against anti-government protesters.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Iran warns it will target US troops and Israel if the US strikes over protests

For now, Iran appears to have heeded those warnings, halting the executions of Soltani and hundreds of others. Still, Somayeh said Iranians need help from the U.S.

"All planned future killings and executions can be circumvented only by Mr. Trump's decision," she said. "All our hopes are on him."

"From the moment Erfan's name spread across the world and became known everywhere, it coincided exactly with the day news of his execution reached President Trump," she added.

Meanwhile, the possibility of a U.S. military intervention remains as diplomatic ties between Washington and Tehran appear frozen. U.S. military aircraft, including fighter jets and refueling planes, have been deployed to bases in the region amid the heightened tensions.

WATCH | Crisis at a crossroads: Trump mulls military action in Iran

Six major medical organizations sued in federal court to block new childhood vaccine recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and five other groups say the revised guidance sharply reduces the number of vaccines recommended for children and was adopted without a transparent, evidence-based review process.

Childrens health depends on vaccine recommendations based on rigorous, transparent science, said Dr. Andrew D. Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

RELATED STORY | Former CDC director warns vaccine changes will fuel confusion, mistrust

Under the new recommendations, children are advised to be vaccinated against 11 diseases, down from 17. Vaccines no longer recommended for universal childhood use include those for influenza, hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and some forms of meningitis.

The organizations are asking the court to restore the childhood immunization schedule that was in effect as of April 2025, before any changes were made by the Trump administration.

The groups are seeking a preliminary injunction. A hearing on the request is scheduled for Feb. 13.

The American Academy of Pediatrics will continue to champion an evidence-based schedule that protects every child, just like we always have, Racine said. We ask the Department of Health and Human Services to do the same.

In todays Health Alert, states across the country are dealing with what some are calling the super flu, and its driving record hospitalizations. Experts warn the season could get worse before it gets better.

So called 'super flu' driving record hospitalizations and worries it could get worse

This season is really hitting hard. At my practice, nurses and staff have been getting sick, and weve had patients reschedule due to the flu.

Nationwide, twenty-two states were reporting very high flu activity for the week ending January 3rd. Fourteen of those states, including Michigan, are at the most severe level. Some are being hit especially hard. For example, in Colorado, hospitalizations have reached the highest level in over 20 years, and about one in four flu tests come back positive.

Nationwide, weekly flu hospitalizations jumped 53% from the week before, and cumulative hospitalizations, which track the total rate for the season, rose 37%.

Here in Michigan, respiratory illnesses now make up more than 10% of outpatient visits, which is above the national average. We recorded more than 5,900 flu cases for the week ending January 3rd.

The CDC estimates at least 15 million illnesses, more than 180,000 hospitalizations, and over 7,400 deaths nationwide so far this season.

Super flu is not a medical term. We usually hear that phrase in tough flu seasons. This year, we have a new mutated H3N2 strain, called subclade K, and its spreading fast.

Symptoms can look like typical flu - fever, body aches, cough. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea. But, doctors are seeing longer fevers lasting 3 to 5 days, and coughs that make breathing difficult. This can make people feel worse and raise the risk of hospitalization, with children and seniors especially vulnerable.

As for whether this season will get worse, nationwide flu test positivity rates are starting to ease after several weeks of surges. Michigan saw a slight dip in early January after six straight weeks of increases. But the virus is still very active, and flu can be unpredictable.

The good news is its not too late to get a flu shot. Even though subclade K wasnt included in the vaccine because it emerged after production began, research shows that protection against the subclade K strain rises from 11 percent to 39 percent after vaccination. Plus, the flu shot still covers other circulating strains, giving extra protection.

And as always, wash your hands, stay home if youre sick, and seek medical care if symptoms become severe - like dehydration, high fever, extreme fatigue, or trouble breathing.

This Week on the Dr. Nandi Show:

35% of women have experienced intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence, according to the World Health Organization. In this episode, Dr. Nandi discusses sexual violence, focusing on sex trafficking and rape. He speaks with two women who share their experiences of sexual violence to inspire change. Dr. Nandi also explores how to start healing from traumatic sexual assault and what society can do to create change. Tune in this Saturday, January 17th, at 1 pm.

At least 45 people in nearly two dozen states have been sickened with Salmonella food poisoning tied to the Super Greens brand of diet supplement powder, federal health officials said Wednesday.

Superfoods Inc., which makes Live it Up-brand Super Greens powder, recalled products including its original and wild berry flavors with expiration dates of August 2026 to January 2028. Consumers should not eat, sell or serve the products and should throw them away or return to the place of purchase.

lllnesses tied to the supplement were reported from Aug. 22 to Dec. 30, 2025. At least 12 people were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

RELATED STORY | Sam's Club recalls greens powder supplement after salmonella outbreak sickens 11

The products were distributed nationwide.

Case have been reported in 21 states: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

An FDA investigation is continuing and additional products could be contaminated, the agency said.

Symptoms of Salmonella poisoning usually start within hours or days of eating a contaminated food product. They include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.

Most people recover without treatment within a week, but infections can be serious in children younger than 5, adults 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems.