One suspect was wearing a mask while the other was hiding in the background as they rang the doorbell of the Murray family home in Rochester Hills. However, their attempt to conceal identities didnt stop them both from being caught in a matter of days.

Now, 37-year-old Carlos Hernandez and 39-year-old Joshua Zuazo, both from Dearborn, are facing charges for murder and unlawful imprisonment. They allegedly pretended to be DTE utility workers looking for gas leaks to gain access to the home in a planned robbery attempt.

Watch our previous report when Hernandez was charged in the video below: Man charged with murder after allegedly killing Rochester Hills man while posing as DTE worker

Austin Rogers' parents live near the home in the house he grew up in.

Definitely a relief for the street and also for the city and the entire area, Rogers said of the arrests, which he noted happened quicker than he expected. I was very surprised and very happy they were off the streets and very happy they were charged with what theyre charged with.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Video shows fake DTE workers accused of killing man, hurting wife in Rochester Hills Video shows fake DTE workers accused of killing man, hurting wife in Rochester Hills

In the attempted robbery, the two men are accused of killing the 72-year-old homeowner Hussein Murray. According to the prosecutor, Murrays wrists and legs were found duck taped. His 72-year-old wife was also duck taped upstairs as the suspects demanded she tell them where they kept the jewelry and cash. At one point, Hernandez allegedly hit her when she screamed.

Investigators believe the family was targeted because they owned a pawn shop and jewelry store in Hamtramck. They say there's no indication the Murray's knew the two suspects.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 'Its been like hell.' Family of Slain Rochester Hills man speaks out as suspects are arrested 'Its been like hell.' Family of Slain Rochester Hills Man speaks out

We believe it was not random, it was focused on this family, this house. For what reason? We think at this point, without different information, it was because they were small business owners," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. "We've seen that kind of targeting on jewelry stores and cash-driven businesses in the past, so that's our working thought at this point.

While Hernandez was arrested in Louisiana, Zuazo was arrested in Plymouth Township. Bouchard says getting the Ring doorbell video out to the public was crucial in tracking down the suspects.

WATCH: Scene video of man arrested in Louisiana after alleged murder in Rochester Hills (courtesy KTBS in Shreveport) WATCH: Scene video of man arrested in Louisiana after alleged murder in Rochester Hills (courtesy KTBS)

Those images really started bringing tips in because he was very recognizable even with the mask, Bouchard said. "We got some information and the breadcrumbs kind of led us to different addresses or houses or potential cars, and one thing led to another on both these folks.

Zuazo will appear in Rochester Hills court on Friday for his arraignment, which is scheduled for 1:15 pm.

Vice President Kamala Harris continued her focus on Great Lakes battleground states she hopes will deliver her the White House.

Today the focus was in Wisconsin. She made two stops there with a message the centered on the economy and her rival Donald Trump.

At a rally in LaCrosse, Harris blasted Trump for comments he made about January 6.

"He called it a 'day of love,'" Harris said.

Earlier, Harris addressed the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel.

"Justice has been served," Harris said. "And the United States, Israel and the entire world are better off as a result."

RELATED STORY | Harris, Trump court suburban Pennsylvania voters in path to White House

Former President Donald Trump gave remarks Thursday Night at the Alfred E. Smith dinner in New York City. The white-tie dinner raises money for Catholic Charities.

Harris did not appear in person, but spoke virtually.

Historically, opposing candidates have appeared at the dinner together, often making lighthearted jabs at each other.

Also on Thursday, in a pre-taped episode of the conservative PMD podcast, Trump blamed Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Russia's invasion. He said if he wins on November 5, he would settle the war in Ukraine before his inauguration.

"I think the world's going to behave, and I think I will settle Russia-Ukraine while I'm president-elect," Trump said.

Both candidates will stump in Michigan on Friday. Trump is scheduled to be in Detroit, while Harris has multiple stops statewide.

The unemployment rate in the U.S. changed little this month, holding at 4.1%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But some experts are concerned about the future as job openings outpace the workforce and older generations retire.

The latest report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce shows there are 8 million job openings in the U.S. and 6.8 million people unemployed a gap that is expected to increase as older Americans retire in waves described by some as a "silver tsunami."

Lightcast, a company that focuses on providing labor market data to help empower communities, reported in September that U.S. employers will soon face the largest labor shortage the country has ever seen. The latest report, titled The Rising Storm: Building a Future-Ready Workforce to Withstand the Looming Labor Shortage lays out a deficit of six million workers by 2032. According to findings, foreign born workers are helping keep the economy afloat by filling roles in construction, hospitality, and other sectors.

A new labor report released this year by Mercer, a consulting firm, predicts over the next five years the medical work will experience a shortage of more than 100,000 health care workers. The states expected to be hit the hardest include Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, New Jersey and New York.

RELATED STORY | Robust hiring highlights surprising September US jobs report

This October the National Association of Home Builders also reported that thousands of construction workers will be needed to reduce the nations housing deficit. NAHB is estimating a shortfall of 1.5 million homes.

According to the Home Builders Institute report, immigrant workers now account for 24.7% of the construction workforce, a historic new high. In construction trades, the share of immigrants surpassed 31%.

The data clearly shows that we're very, very dependent on foreign labor to get that work done, Hetrick said. We didn't have children for several decades the younger population overwhelmingly goes to college so that leaves us with, 'well, then who builds homes?' You know, 'who fixes highways?'

Hetrick says Americans need to brace for the silver tsunami of older workers leaving the workforce. According to Lightcast, of the 5 million workers who left the workforce in 2021, 80% were over the age of 55, and with the average retirement age now dropping to 61 its further shrinking the labor market.

This massive group of people, very driven, you know, 2 income households, they have a lot of money and they're all retiring and so they're all going from producers to consumers, Hetrick said.

As older generations retire the demand for goods will increase, adding a strain to a job market struggling to find workers during a time when there is historically low participation in the labor force.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also examined the labor shortage and cited several factors leading to more job openings, including people living on savings or whats left of pandemic aid, low legal migration,and women leaving the workforce to become homemakers.

Hetrick says the solution to the issues at hand is promoting trade specialties, cross-training new generations, incorporating Artificial Intelligence, and employing migrants to help fill positions.

At the end of the day, you need a body in the job, Hetrick said. If you don't get the body and the job, then you provide less service.You are a restaurant that doesn't open all their tables.You're a hospital that doesn't fill all of their beds.You're a construction company that doesn't build all of the homes that you were hoping to build.

In fall of 2022, more than 15 million students were enrolled in college for an undergraduate degree, according to the Education Data Initiative.

Hetrick says the job market is saturated with college graduates with similar degrees and the job openings are for service level jobs like hospitality and construction. He predicts companies will have to increase their wages to lure new employees that could in return lead to consumers paying higher prices.

The Small Business Administration received nearly 50,000 applications for disaster relief after hurricanes Helene and Milton struck just days apart.

The SBA is now running out of money for its disaster assistance loan program and will have to put it on pause.

The agency's loans are meant to provide help to small businesses, renters and home owners but now the SBA is now asking people to turn to other agencies like FEMA for relief, if they can find it.

RELATED | Mayorkas to Scripps News: Some hurricane survivors reluctant to accept FEMA assistance due to disinformation

Rob Schroeder, a Washington Bureau Chief at Marketwatch said the SBA received "overwhelming demand" after the multiple hurricanes and said "the money went fast."

That lead the agency to suspend the disaster program, and many were asked to look at state and county options for help.

Other federal programs have also dealt with unique struggles following the hurricanes.

In a Scripps News investigation, Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas said some hurricane survivors had been reluctant to accept certain types of help from FEMA, citing rampant misinformation.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, will be returning to Michigan this weekend.

The Harris-Walz campaign announced that he'll be in Saginaw for a church service at Victorious Believers Ministries that's set for 10:45 a.m on Sunday. He's scheduled to arrive at the airport in Freeland at 9 p.m. on Saturday.

Additional details about the visit have not been announced including if he's expected to speak.

In addition to his Michigan visit, Walz is scheduled to visit Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York between Saturday and Monday.

Earlier this week, Walz spoke with 7 News Detroit during a one-one-one interview where he tackled several topics including Detroit growth, the Middle East conflict and the economy.

You can watch the full interview in the video player below: WATCH: Tim Walz one-on-one interview with 7 News Detroit

Walz visited Macomb County last week. He spoke with United Auto Workers in Warren and met with a group of Black men voters in Utica.

Related: JD Vance tackles economy, autos, 'childless cat ladies' & more topics in WXYZ 1-on-1 interview

Vice President Kamala Harris will be visiting Oakland County on Friday. She made two stops in Detroit on Tuesday, which included hosting a radio town hall with Charlamagne tha God.

Watch our coverage of Harris' Detroit visit in the video player below: Kamala Harris focuses on Black voters during Detroit campaign stops

Former President Donald Trump will be campaigning in Detroit on Friday at Huntington Place.

Both presidential campaigns have made many stops in battleground state Michigan as the election nears.

Video: Detroit Free Press Marathon, presidential candidate visits making for a busy weekend Detroit Free Press Marathon, presidential candidate visits making for a busy weekend

The keys to the White House may be decided on the ground in Pennsylvania, where campaigns are blanketing the commonwealth, and the pivotal suburbs.

Both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris visited the Philadelphia suburbs this week as they vie for Pennsylvanias 19 electoral votes, and the suburban residents who could prove crucial to their effort.

We just want to make sure that Kamala wins, said Rosemary Moller. Because the alternative is very frightening.

She and her husband, Jeffrey, added to the more than one million door knocks the campaign has completed in the state as volunteers canvass out of 50 campaign offices. They hit the pavement in Montgomery County, a region they too call home.

If you've judged by lawn signs, you'd have to say that, like, 99% of the lawns don't have a sign out at all, so you don't really know what's what's going on, said Jeffrey Moller.

In our neighborhood, Rosemary Moller added, It's a little bit more Kamala than Trump.

The Harris-Walz campaign approaches Pennsylvania with go-everywhere tactics, but a senior advisor for Pennsylvania notes the suburbs are a significant target. Theyre full throttle with organizing, phone calls and paid media, recognizing the need for significant margins in the suburbs to win Pennsylvania.

In 2016, Hillary Clinton received 742,226 votes in the four counties surrounding Philadelphia. Trump ultimately won the state. But in 2020, President Joe Biden got 170,792 more, when he ultimately turned the state blue that year.

RELATED STORY | Pennsylvania GOP group comes out with support for Harris-Walz ticket

But the campaign sees the suburbs as their own blue wall, and believes they are seeing enthusiasm in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia that will match 2020 levels.

Our township isn't the well to do area that you might find elsewhere in Montgomery County, people trying to raise their kids and put their kids through school and so forth. So I think money is a big issue, said Jeffrey Moller, adding he doesnt believe it makes sense to connect higher prices to the Biden administration.

The campaign is homing in on messages including Harris plan to combat price gouging, her healthcare policy, reproductive rights and around the issue of democracy.

It believes theyre making progress in their suburban margins, according to a senior advisor for Pennsylvania, in part contending Trumps extremism is driving voters to them as they also focus on swaying Republicans, and make efforts in more historically red areas.

During the Republican primary, more than 19% of voters supported Nikki Haley over Trump in Bucks County, and nearly 25% of voters supported Nikki Haley over Trump in Montgomery County.

The coalition we have built has room for everyone who is ready to turn the page on the chaos and instability of Donald Trump, Harris said during a rally alongside Republicans who have endorsed her at Washington Crossing.

But former president Donald Trumps team has dismissed concerns over former Haley supporters backing Harris, as they zero in on issues like inflation, the economy and the border.

We win this great commonwealth, we are going to win the whole ball game, Trump said during a town hall in Oaks, PA earlier this week, his first visit to the collar counties since the Republican National Convention.

A campaign official described it as a battle of ideas, noting they are quadrupling down on the message are you better off now than you were four years ago? in the counties surrounding Philadelphia.

The official said they are feeling good about the counties, pointing to their ground game investments, the campaign having more than two dozen offices across the state, and Bucks County where slightly more Republicans than Democrats have registered to vote.

Thats where Caroline Devenuto is volunteering, one of thousands across the state.

Definitely feeling confident because there's so much more visibility this election, she said, who is volunteering as a Trump Force 47 team captain this election.

I've never gotten money from anybody in my entire life, much less from the President of the United States. So during COVID, when, like, all of us single mothers were out here scrapping for money, like, you know, trying to make ends meet, that was the I was like, you know, he sees us. He cares about us. she said.

For each campaign, reaching women in the suburbs is a particular focus.

Well, I've always supported Trump. My biggest issue, as I mentioned, was immigration. I'm a first generation American. My parents immigrated to America legally and that's how it should be done, the way my parents came to this country, said Vicky Wagner.

She was part of a group of women that came together to see Trump at the town hall. For some, it was their first time seeing the former president, pointing to immigration, safety, affordability and foreign affairs as top concerns.

I know people that voted for him first and then the second election they did not in this election they're back. Women. So hopefully, you know, we're going to see a big change in that. I hope more women do come out, said Colleen Rossi, noting she did consider other candidates but believes hes the only one that can get the job done and plans to vote for him again.

But polling has shown a historic gender divide, with women breaking for Harris in record numbers. Her campaign believes it has grown support among them, and on the trail has heavily focused on reproductive rights.

Im a nurse, so you know, it might not be my choice, but even though I'm 68 years old, I still have a vote, and I can vote for my, you know, my nieces and other women I know, said Rosemary Moller.

With a race in battlegrounds thats sure to be close, there are still challenges. Former Democratic Congresswoman Marjorie Margolies, the first woman to represent her suburban Philadelphia district in Congress, now teaches about women in politics at the University of Pennsylvania.

I still think that many, many, many people are more comfortable walking into the voting booth and voting for a White male. And that's what I said when on the when I went to Congress the first year of the woman, we knew that we were pushing the rock up the hill, Margolies said.

Now comes a push into the home stretch outside Philadelphia for each campaign, in the collar counties that could decide the presidency.

RELATED STORY | Harris' interview with Fox News is marked by testy exchanges over immigration and more

Kamala Harris is widely expected to win traditionally blue Maryland, but its a tougher race for the state's open U.S. Senate seat. The Democratic candidate, Angela Alsobrooks, is a longtime protege of the vice president, and is largely running her campaign on the same issues.

"A lot of her values align, I think, with Maryland's values," Alsobrooks told Scripps News Thursday in Baltimore.

Like Harris, protecting abortion rights has been a key part of her campaign, and Alsobrooks has indicated her support to eliminate the filibuster to codify Roe V. Wade. But, in a state most analysts believe will go for Harris by a wide margin, Alsobrooks is significantly underperforming compared to the Vice President in the latest statewide polling.

According to a late September poll from the University of Maryland Baltimore County's Insitute of Politics, Harris appears to be winning Maryland over former President Donald Trump by over 20 points.

Alsobrooks is leading former Republican Governor Larry Hogan, but only by single digits.

Alsobrooks attributes this to her challenger's high name ID, after he served as one of the nations most popular governors for eight years.

"What we consistently see is that as people hear more about my own record and about my message, they are supporting me," Alsobrooks told Scripps News.

RELATED STORY | Scripps News exclusive: US Capitol Police chief confident agency is prepared for potential election violence

In the closing days of the 2024 campaign, polls show a growing chance that Republicans will retake control of the Senate, and Democrats are in an all-out sprint to shore up support.

Senator Chris Murphy, of Connecticut, is the third Democratic senator to stump with Alsobrooks this week.

There are a number of different pathways with which Democrats can hold, and potentially expand, their majority," Murphy told Scripps News. "Listen, people counted us out, as Democrats in the Senate, in 2020 [and] 2022."

"We've won a majority, we expanded our majority, and I think we'll do the same thing again in this election day," Murphy said.

At the start of 2024, Gallup found that independent voters make up the largest political bloc in the U.S. An Average of 43% of U.S. adults identified as independent in 2023, tying a record set nearly a decade ago. Identification with either party is tied at 27%, a slow decline for both since 2008.

As the countdown to the 2024 presidential election begins, correspondent Gianna Toboni travels to the crucial swing state of Arizona to meet with independent Americans from all walks of life. From ranchers to lawyers to church leaders and more, this diverse, multi-generational panel comes together for a straight-to-the-point discussion about the biggest issues.

Watch this episode of "In Real Life: Independent America" in the video player.

Google security expert Kimberly Samra told Scripps News that people need to learn how to spot scams whenever possible.

Online scams have increased markedly in recently years.

According to the FBI, Americans reported losses to the tune of $12.5 billion from online scams last year. It was a record number, up over 20% from the year before.

Samra previously worked in external relations for IBM Security and says these online scams "run the gamut whether it's phone calls, text messages, emails even online scams in some of those resources you see in your search results," on platforms like Google.

RELATED | Google illegally maintains monopoly over internet search, judge rules

Samra says to look out for red flags, like area codes on phone calls from places in other countries or states where you don't have ties. She says to try and avoid clicking on links in suspect text messages or emails.

You can hover over links with your computer's cursor to see if the URL is one that looks legitimate.

Scams are becoming very sophisticated, and that can lead people to becoming a victim of a cyberscam even when they are trying to be aware. Take advantage of features like two-factor authentication and passkeys instead of passwords, which help resist phishing.

A new study out of the University of Colorado found that homeless encampments aren't linked to rises in crime.

The study looked at data between 2019 and 2023 and focused on crime in one-quarter to three-quarters of a mile radius around sweep sites. And as time went on, those minimal decreases in crimes like auto theft and public disorder became even smaller.

RELATED STORY | In Real Life: Overcoming Homelessness

Researchers also found that, in some cases, rates of violent crime went up after encampments were removed.

According to the Commonsense Institute, the number of unsheltered homeless in the metro area grew 247% in the last six years. The number of newly homeless grew 240% in the same time, and the number of chronically homeless grew 305%.

Denver has the fifth largest homeless population in the country per capita, according to U.S. News and World Report higher than San Francisco.

RELATED STORY | Governor Newsom starts legal fight with city that banned homeless shelters

An important takeaway is researchers say they believe the lessons learned from this study can be applied to other cities around the country that are struggling with what to do with encampments as well.

With the recent Supreme Court decision Grants Pass vs. Johnson that allows cities to make the decision to displace people, researchers say this analysis should make city leaders think if sweeping is the best use of resources as encampment sweeps do not help those who are homeless, and according to this studys results, are also not making the rest of us any safer.

The Texas Supreme Court late on Thursday night delayed the execution of Robert Roberson, who was originally scheduled to be put to death earlier in the day after being convicted of murder in a case related to shaken baby syndrome.

A Texas House committee had requested the stay so that Roberson could testify at a hearing in his case next week.

Wednesday the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles denied a request for clemency for Roberson.

On Thursday the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals had rejected an appeal to halt the execution.

Also on Thursday the U.S. Supreme Court declined to halt the execution. Justice Sonya Sotomayor wrote urging Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to issue a 30-day delay in Roberson's case. Gov. Abbott has so far not commented on the case.

Roberson was convicted and sentenced to death for the 2002 killing of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis.

RELATED STORY | Texas intends to execute Robert Roberson, whose attorneys claim he was wrongly convicted

Prosecutors allege Roberson abused his daughter and violently shook her to death, leading to the "shaken baby syndrome" diagnosis.

Roberson's attorneys claim he was wrongly convicted. His defense now points to undiagnosed pneumonia as his daughter's cause of death claiming Nikki stopped breathing in her sleep.

According to the Department of Natural Resources, the owners of the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Colorado were sent a cease and desist letter following an inspection by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety.

This inspection was conducted after last week's deadly malfunction that killed one and trapped more than 20 people.

The letter prohibits the mine from reopening until DRMS' ongoing review of the mine's operation has been completed. You can read the letter for yourself below.

The Department of Natural Resources also says that Colorado tourist mine safety is regulated by the Mine Safety and Training Program within DRMS.

Active mines are regulated through the Federal Mine Safety & Health Administration.

RELATED | Elevator malfunction at Colorado gold mine under investigation after deadly tragedy

According to the Department of Natural Resources, before last week's incident, DRMS Mine and Safety Training Program reports had found the Mollie Kathleen Mine satisfactory with no observed hazards or violations.

The mine was last inspected on August 29, 2024.

The Mollie Kathleen Mine is the only Colorado tourist mine with a personnel elevator.

According to the Department of Natural Resources, in addition to yearly inspections, mine operators of tourist mines are required to conduct daily inspections.

A record of these inspections is required to be maintained and made available to inspectors upon request.

DRMS provides the log books for these records however, the records are stored by the individual mine operators.

According to the Department of Natural Resources, Colorado tourist mines overall have an excellent safety record.

The Teller County Sheriff's Department as well as the U.S. Occupational and Safety Health Administration are continuing to investigate this incident.

DRMS's Mine Safety and Training Program will continue to evaluate the facility to make sure it follows the guidelines of the Mine Safety Training Program for Tourist Mines.

The DRMS's Mine Safety and Training Program has agreed to help with any requests for assistance with any of the ongoing investigations.

This story was originally published by Dani Whitaker at

Scripps News Colorado Springs

.

The Book-Cadillac Hotel is turning 100 years old this year.

To celebrate the milestone, the hotel is taking their guests a step back in time with an exhibition to explore the hotel's rich history.

Everybodys got a story about the Westin Book Cadillac, said Scott Stinebaugh, the hotel's director of sales and marketing. I had my senior prom here. It was in the 80s and it looked vastly different as it did when it first opened and as it does today."

We look at some of the artifacts in the video player below: Video extra: A look back at the Book-Cadillac Hotel on 100th anniversary

The Book-Cadillac Hotel first opened its doors in 1924.

It operated as one of the finest luxury hotels in North America for some 50 years, Stinebaugh said. It went through various evolutions of different brands and it ultimately closed in 1984.

According to Stinebaugh, the hotel remained closed for over 20 years and reopened after extensive renovation as the Westin Book Cadillac in 2008.

This is an iconic building, he said. It means a lot to the city of Detroit, and were just excited to celebrate our 100th birthday this December.

The Detroit Historical Society is offering free tours where guides will share the historical significance of artifacts that have been collected over the years.

Judith Fankle, who visited the exhibit Thursday, said she was drawn to the fine china that was used at the hotel.

The director of this exhibit was nice enough to give me his card so I could call and I can find out who the maker of the china is, Fankle said.

Fankle says the china is exquisite, but the most alluring part of the exhibit is learning about the hotels history.

"Ive always heard of the Book-Cadillac, she said. I never had the opportunity to be here or stay here. So, when this opportunity came up and I heard there was going to be an exhibit, I was like, I gotta go.

Stinebaugh agrees, adding that one of the pieces of history that the hotel has is its name.

The little soaps when they originally opened the hotel, teeny-tiny soaps that look like a book and they were in a little sleeve, he said.

Starting on Thursday, the free exhibition will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the hotel lobby.

The U.S. Department of Justice said that RTX Corporation the defense contractor formerly known as Raytheon has agreed to pay over $950 million in a case to resolve allegations that say the company defrauded the government and paid bribes to secure business with the government of Qatar.

The DOJ said in a release that Raytheon Company which is a subsidiary of the Arlington, Va.-based defense contractor formerly known as Raytheon Technologies Corporation, is accused of "a major government fraud scheme involving defective pricing on certain government contracts and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Arms Export Control Act."

The DOJ said the company also had violations in "its implementing regulations" and in "the International Traffic in Arms Regulations."

RELATED | So much polarization: Survivors reflect on the impacts of politically-motivated gunfire

The company entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement in separate cases - those cases played out in federal court in Brooklyn and Boston.

The company agreed to hire independent monitors to oversee compliance with anti-corruption and anti-fraud laws and must show good conduct for three years, the Associated Press reported, citing DOJ information on the cases made public.

The money the company owes includes penalties in the criminal cases, as well as civil fines, restitution and the return of profits it derived from inflated Defense Department billing and business derived from alleged bribes paid to a high-ranking Qatari military official from 2012 to 2016.

Health officials are sounding the alarm as new cases of bird flu are now popping up in humans and commercial dairy farms.

The California Department of Public Health confirmed 11 new bird flu cases in humans Wednesday. State health officials say that those sickened with the virus had direct contact with infected cattle at multiple dairy farms.

There are now 25 confirmed human cases of bird flu in five states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

RELATED STORY | CDC confirms a case of human H5 bird flu that did not appear to involve animals

This comes as 30 dairy herds in Michigan have been infected with avian influenza. The CDC is reporting bird flu cases in more than 300 dairy herds in 14 states. Washington state has also documented its first flock infection of 2024 at a commercial poultry operation.

Doctor Matthew Binniker with the Mayo Clinic says the virus is found globally in wild birds but is now causing outbreaks in other animals as well.

"The concern is that we're seeing not only millions of infections in commercial poultry and backyard bird flocks that humans frequently come into contact with we're also seeing higher rates of infection in mammals," said Binniker.

RELATED STORY | 2 California dairy workers are latest human cases of bird flu in the US

The CDC says the risk to the public remains low and they are working with states to monitor those with direct animal exposure.

However, health officials are urging people to avoid direct contact with infected or possibly infected animals and recommend that those who do come into contact with sick animals wear personal protective equipment.

Binniker says if you think you might be infected, there a several signs to look for.

"It can be a spectrum of symptoms from asymptomatic to mild illness like runny nose, cough, conjunctivitis, or more severe disease ... Lower respiratory tract infection," he said.

An independent panel is now calling for extensive reform of the United States Secret Service.

The panel investigating the July 13 attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, issued a 52-page report Thursday, saying the Secret Service is in need of "fundamental reform" and new leadership.

"The work of the Independent Review Panel uncovered not only numerous mistakes that led to the events of July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, but also deeper, systemic issues that must be addressed with urgency," the report's authors wrote in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

RELATED STORY | Republican lawmakers call for greater Secret Service protection for Trump

"Thousands of men and women have dedicated their lives to the Secret Service, and we remain grateful to them for their bravery, selflessness, and willingness to serve in a vital role," the letter states. "But the Secret Service as an agency requires fundamental reform to carry out its mission. Without that reform, the Independent Review Panel believes another Butler can and will happen again."

The independent review identified key failures the Secret Service experienced the day of the assassination attempt.

Trump, who was wounded in his right ear in the attack, was addressing supporters when a gunman fired several rounds at him from a nearby rooftop. A Secret Service sniper returned fire seconds later, killing the shooter.

At the same time, agents rushed Trump off the stage while he pumped his fist into the sky as a sign to his supporters that he was OK. The shooting left Trump and two of his supporters wounded, and killed retired firefighter Corey Comperatore.

RELATED STORY | Communication failures among top issue in Secret Service report of deadly Trump rally

The incident has placed intense scrutiny on the agency as questions have emerged on how a gunman was able to access the rooftop so close to the rally and get a direct shot at the former president before Secret Service agents engaged.

Last month, Secret Service acting director Ronald Rowe Jr. acknowledged the agency's failures, saying "complacency" among agents also played a role in the day's events.

"This was a failure on the part of the United States Secret Service," Rowe Jr. said at a press conference. "Its important that we hold ourselves to account for the failures of July 13th and that we use the lessons learned to make sure that we do not have another failure like this again."

Drivers in Howell say trains stop on the tracks multiple times a week and cause traffic to back up on Michigan Avenue. They're tired of it.

Steve McCoy owns Spartan Tire which butts up to the south side of the tracks. He said the trains have been stalling at the railroad crossing the last two or three months," and it's been "a little bit longer and longer."

"Before it was 5 minutes, 10 minutes. Now its getting to be a half hour to an hour," McCoy explained.

He said the train usually stops between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. so that train cars can be transferred nearby.

Noelle Inman lives next to the tracks on the north side.

I actually sat at the gas station and talked to the girl at the vegetable stand for like 45 minutes because I couldnt get home, she said. "I will see it sit on the tracks multiple times a day... it will stop. Sometimes its been there for an hour."

She recalled, "Ive heard on the police scanner that theres a train blocking Michigan Avenue. Well, what do they do? People start getting very angry.

McCoy said, And you can see the frustration of the people and every now and then a horn brigade starts.

He said the stalled trains occasionally impact his business.

Some of our techs, when they go for a test drive theyre on the north-hand side of the tracks, and they get stuck over there for a half hour to an hour," McCoy said. "(My techs) obviously cant get their work completely because theyre on the other side of the tracks."

So what is being done?

Congresswoman Elisa Slotkins office said it is helping. Slotkin's District Communications Director Lynsey Mukomel shared the following statement.

Weve heard from constituents and Howell city leaders who are understandably frustrated by the railroad crossing delays, and Congresswoman Slotkin is advocating on their behalf. This includes connecting CSX with the city and sharing the citys concerns directly with the Federal Railroad Administration, which is the federal agency that has oversight on issues like these. Its our understanding some progress is being made to determine what exactly is causing these delays and what can be done to address them. We will stay on top of this issue including with outreach to the Department of Transportation and hope these traffic headaches are resolved quickly.

Slotkin's office also shared a resource for people to report issues at blocked crossings. It can be found

by clicking here

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The city met with CSX railroad to discuss possible solutions, including limiting the use of the siding and transfer tracks.

Also, the railroad may provide shuttle vans for conductors who routinely walk the length of the train to perform inspections after the train cars are transferred. The use of shuttles is reportedly expected to cut delays by 15 minutes.

The railroads also need to follow a federal rule that requires train cars to stop short of blocking crossings if theyre going to be stalled for long periods of time.

Inman said, People are trying to go to work, or they're on lunch hour and theyre trying to get home and they cant.

7 News Detroit reached out to Great Lakes Central (GLC) railroad and CSX.

GLC has not reached us back, but CSX shared the following statement:

CSX strives to be a good neighbor to communities where we operate, and we work hard to minimize the impact of our operations. We understand there are challenges that exist in Howell, and we apologize for the inconvenience that stopped trains may cause the local community. CSX is reviewing our operations in the area to determine any potential improvements that can be made, while also keeping an open line of communication with community leaders and first responders. Where Your Voice Matters

Oakland County voters this November will see a proposal to raise property taxes for parks, recreation, and conservation on their ballots.

The millage asks voters to decide 'Yes' or 'No' to a proposal to replace and extend the duration of the property tax that supports Oakland County Parks, from 35 cents per thousand dollars of a home's tax value to 65 cents.

County Parks Director Chris Ward says it will cost the average homeowner (tax value $133,000) around an additional $40 dollars a year in property tax and generate approximately $24 million a year.

I know a lot of people are struggling with rising costs and concerned about anything that might affect their bottom line. The nice thing about this proposal, since its countywide, a relatively small change that will not have a huge impact on the average taxpayer can bring in quite a bit of money that we can have a big impact with, said Ward.

Those with a higher tax value would pay more, accordingly.

Here's a list of all the planned capital improvements: Capital Improvements Summary

Its incredibly important. Its really, you know, make a big decision for the future of Oakland County in terms of where we go with recreation and conservation of natural resources. This proposal will generate millions of dollars that will help us invest in those things and provide great things for people to do year-round and invest in our parks and update outdated facilities, said Ward 

Some voters are on board, like Jeff Lowry.

While others like Robert, a senior citizen, would prefer to save all he can.

"I dont think Im going to vote for it," said Robert. I am, indeed, a senior, so itll take away my dollars. Few dollars that I do have. Dont have a lot of 'em.

You can calculate the increase in property taxes by multiplying the taxable value by the millage increase.

Some of what officials are promising if the millage is approved includes:

Free entry and enjoyment of Oakland County parks and dog parks (excluding pay-to-play attractions such as golf courses, waterparks, campgrounds, and off-road vehicle parks). The following parks would eliminate vehicle entry fees: Addison Oaks Groveland Oaks Highland Oaks Independence Oaks Lyon Oaks (Park and Dog Park) Orion Oaks (Park and Dog Park) Red Oaks Dog Park Rose Oaks $100 million investment in major capital improvements to improve your enjoyment of our parks, trails, recreational attractions, and the Oakland County Farmers Market New and expanded regional trailways and improved maintenance of existing trails More opportunities for recreational enjoyment of our major rivers Investment in equipment and facilities designed to be accessible for all, regardless of age and ability An expanded park system with additional locations near our population centers through partnerships with local governments Support for greater participation in school field trips to nature and farm education centers and expanded enrichment programs for people of all ages Preservation and protection of sensitive natural habitats, wetlands, and green spaces Opportunities for low-interest financing that will ultimately reduce costs to taxpayers.'

The new millage would support cities with grants for parks, recreation, and conservation and last for 10 years.

Ward says due to the limited duration of Oakland County Parks' current millage, they have to pay for all major capital projects and purchases with cash on hand, making it impossible to do long-term, costly projects and instead relying on quick repairs and patchwork maintenance.

Many large projects were able to take place in recent years like Pontiac Oaks/ Hawthorne Park and the Beech Woods Park Improvement Project because of one-time federal COVID dollars (American Rescue Act funding).

Voters are weighing their personal pros and cons.

"Its a cornerstone of a society to have a place where you can go and just be together. We dont have town squares anymore," said Lowry.

Where Your Voice Matters

More than a decade after a cost-cutting decision in Flint created one of the more shocking public health scandals in the country killing a dozen residents and exposing 100,000 others to poisonous water contaminated with lead the state of Michigan has committed to finally remove the toxic hazards remaining at hundreds of homes there, a lingering threat exposed earlier this year by Scripps News.

For years the city repeated failed promises to finish the work, missing multiple court-ordered deadlines and drawing a stinging rebuke from a federal judge this past spring.

Flint resident Melissa Mays, a mom turned water activist, responded with shock when Scripps News told her of the states new plans.

No wonder it's cold outside. Thats why. Hell froze over, she said.

The latest news comes after the Scripps News investigative teams reporting this year restarted a halted pipe repair project, prompted a city contractor to work for free, and may have even played a role in the mayor abandoning his run for Congress.

The lead and galvanized steel service lines connecting homes to the citys drinking water supply were originally supposed to be eliminated over four years ago. The pipe materials are known to leach lead into drinking water, potentially exposing residents to a neurotoxin that causes an increased risk for cardiac death, pre-term birth, and irreversible damage to childrens developing brains.

This past April, Scripps News exposed serious concerns about the way the city was meeting its obligations to complete the work. City officials repeated claims that just a few dozen homes in Flint needed their pipes inspected. But we revealed officials actually knew about hundreds of dangerous service lines and had no plans to remove them. This number was expected to balloon, as Scripps News also discovered more than 1,000 homes still waiting all these years for an initial inspection.

The state of Michigan now says it is "working with the city to complete the following as requested: replace 345 known lead and galvanized steel service lines at residential properties and 41 known hazardous lines at commercial properties, according to the senior strategic advisor at the states environmental agency, Scott Dean. Dean also told Scripps News that the state has agreed to excavate and identify the materials of 546 residential service lines and about 500 commercial lines and replace whats needed.

We are committed to getting the lead out at every home in Flint, and I am grateful to the State of Michigan for our partnership to make this possible, Mayor Sheldon Neeley told Scripps News in a written statement provided by his office. The statement said they are also considering expanding the program to businesses, though state officials had already confirmed to Scripps News it would.

RELATED STORY | Records missing, phones out: Flint water crisis not over

Scripps News was first to inform City Council Member Tonya Burns of the news. Burns was hopeful residents would finally get the work done they were promised, but said it was inexcusable that its taken this long and that the city couldnt get it done itself.

She said she and her colleagues still get inquiries from residents who are waiting for work on their service lines. At this weeks city council meeting, more than ten years after the crisis began, she said a resident with a known galvanized steel line asked her for help getting the city to replace it.

A decade, a contempt order, and $100M

An ongoing Scripps News investigation into the citys struggle to recover from the crisis found last year that there were thousands of residents who may have still needed their pipes inspected, with work slowing to a crawl under the current mayor, Sheldon Neeley. Citing those reports, a federal judge ordered the city of Flint be held in contempt of court this past March for failing to finish the job of identifying and replacing toxic lead and galvanized service lines that pose a serious health risk to children and adults.

This year, our investigation looked into claims the city administration made about the scope of work that remained, leading the public and even council members into believing work at all but a few homes was complete. As the city was being held in contempt, it told Scripps News only about 30 addresses

under the settlement agreement still needed lead service line excavation. Those numbers were repeated to local and national media outlets by Mayor Neeley during coverage of the 10-year anniversary of the water crisis. At the time, he was also running for U.S. Congress in Michigans 8th District, which represents Flint.

But we found the city had quietly shut down the project after running out of money, with more than 200 known lead service lines still underground and more than a thousand others that still hadnt been checked. Some residents had no idea water at their house had tested positive for lead years earlier and that their pipes had never been replaced, until we told them. When pressed to explain why, the city blamed residents, though we found persistent problems in how the city was managing the project. It finally admitted it had exhausted more than $100 million in state and federal funds for the project.

RELATED STORY | Scripps News Investigation: A decade, a contempt order, and $100M later, 'Flint is not fixed'

Mayor Neeleys office declined multiple interview requests on the subject, and Scripps News reporters were barred from entering a press conference this past spring to try to ask questions, as local media were ushered in.

Our report revealing the citys unfinished work aired in April. The next day, Mayor Neeley withdrew his bid for Congress. Within the week, the once-dormant project was restarted with the citys contractor working for free under an expired contract.

Yet, we learned there was still no plan to handle the hundreds of addresses our investigation had revealed required attention. In May, state officials told Scripps News the city would still be responsible for fixing those lines but indicated that the process could take years. One official pointed out that Michigans lead and copper rule, the most progressive in the country, gave water systems two decades to get rid of their toxic service lines.

The state now says it will do it themselves.

Waiting far too long

Flints water crisis was exposed because a community rallied and never stopped calling attention to its tainted water, even as officials claimed it was safe. The Biden administration has credited Flint residents with waking Americans up to the hidden dangers of lead lurking in underground drinking water pipes.

When the administration announced billions of dollars in funding this May to help replace the countrys estimated 10 million toxic service lines, Scripps News asked federal officials if they were aware that Flint was still struggling to get all of its lead pipes out of the ground and still had no idea how it would pay for that work. An official with the Environmental Protection Agency later told Scripps News the city was eligible to apply for additional funding.

But we found the city had failed to apply.

Responding to our findings, Flints longtime representative in Congress expressed his disappointment in local leaders.

I get frustrated because we try to do our part to make the money available, but I can't just drive a Brink's truck full of money to the city of Flint, U.S. Congressman Dan Kildee told Scripps News.

Michigan state officials then took notice, too, saying the state would take over management of the project. According to the city, the only work left under the settlement agreement was to repair nearly two thousand excavated yards, which had been left with torn up grass and broken sidewalks after city contractors dug them up and moved on.

Every resident deserves confidence in their drinking water and to live in a safe, thriving community, Phil Roos, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy said in a written statement when the state began yard restoration work in July.

At the time, neither the state nor the city had plans in place to identify and remove remaining service lines posing health hazards, including the hundreds identified in our April investigation.

In September, the Scripps News investigative team was recognized by the National Academy of Arts and Sciences for its work in Flint and awarded a national Emmy for its reporting in Flint. 

The following day, the Flint city attorney sent a letter to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer asking for more help to get the job done.

... the City of Flint would like to respectfully request that the State of Michigan consider expanding this partnership to include addresses located within the City of Flint that are not included in the existing partnership, Acting City Attorney Joseph Kuptz wrote.

Thats when the city asked the state to replace hundreds of dangerous service lines and to inspect over a thousand more at residential and commercial properties. Scripps News has not received an updated list of addresses, but the numbers appear to fall in line with the unfinished work we uncovered months earlier.

We learned the state of Michigan plans to start the bulk of the work next spring, though initial work could begin before the end of this year.

Both the state and the city of Flint remain committed to working cooperatively to get every lead service line out of the ground in that city, Scott Dean, the state of Michigans spokesperson, told Scripps News Thursday.

He said the states commitment hasnt wavered and pointed to the $109 million that Michigan has already spent on the project over the years.

I just hope that this is all of them. I hope this is all the homes, said Melissa Mays, one of the Flint residents who still continues to fight for lead-free drinking water not only in Flint, but nationally. She said she had been wishing the state would step in but cant help but feel some skepticism.

Its always that fear that theres more hiding. Isnt that terrible? I should feel excited, she said.

RELATED STORY | Push to hold Flint mayor in contempt cites Scripps News investigation

Mays was one of the lead plaintiffs, joined by the Concerned Pastors for Social Action, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the ACLU of Michigan, who won a historic federal settlement in 2017 when the city and state first agreed to identify and remove the lead and galvanized steel water pipes feeding drinking water into Flint residents homes.

In a statement to Scripps News, NRDC attorney Addie Rolnick said she welcomed the states involvement, but hopes it moves quickly. The people of Flint have waited far too long to see all lead lines removed, she wrote.

Though the state of Michigan was a named defendant in the settlement, up until a few months ago it had only reimbursed Flint for work on this project with available federal and state funds, leaving the projects management to the city.

Mays wondered what took so long for the state to step in and why the city waited so many years before asking for help.

It just seems like they all put far more effort into delaying and trying to wriggle out of their promises than actually doing the work they agreed to back in 2017, she said.

As of last week, the Biden administration is now requiring all water systems across the country to rid themselves of all toxic lines within a decade. Flint may not need to wait another 10 years. The state tells Scripps News it expects to finish the work by the end of next year.

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The Scripps News investigative team has been digging into the aftermath of the water crisis in Flint in 

a series of reports

over the last year and a half.