The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Wednesday as advocates for transgender youth try to overturn a Tennessee law banning puberty blockers and hormones in some instances.
In 2023, a federal appeals court allowed Tennessee to enforce the law that bans certain types of medical care for transgender minors with diagnosed gender dysphoria. The state of Tennessee says the law, which passed by a 77-16 margin in the House and 26-6 in the Senate, bans hormone treatment for gender dysphoric or gender incongruent prepubertal minors.
The implications of this case reach far beyond Tennessee. According to the Human Rights Campaign, 26 states have laws stopping doctors from providing some types of gender-affirming care. If the Tennessee law is overturned, similar laws in other states would likely be impacted.
The people of Tennessee, through their elected representatives, took measured action with Senate Bill 1 to protect kids from irreversible, unproven medical procedures, said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. Lawmakers recognized that there is little to no credible evidence to justify the serious risks these procedures present to youth and joined a growing number of European countries in restricting their use on minors with gender-identity issues.
But the ACLU and Biden's Department of Justice disagreed. The Department of Justice said that "by denying only transgender youth access to these forms of medically necessary care while allowing non-transgender minors access to the same or similar procedures, SB 1 discriminates against transgender youth."
The Tennessee law allows doctors to provide such treatment in cases of congenital defects, a minor's disease or physical injury. The Biden Justice Department says this exception means that transgender youth are being unlawfully discriminated against based on their sex and transgender status. The Justice Department and ACLU say Senate Bill 1 violates the 14th Amendments Equal Protection Clause.
No person should be denied access to necessary medical care just because of their transgender status, said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. The right to consider your health and medically-approved treatment options with your family and doctors is a right that everyone should have, including transgender children, who are especially vulnerable to serious risks of depression, anxiety and suicide."
Although the court has a clear conservative lean, in 2020, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Neil Gorsuch ruled with the court's then-four liberal justices on an employment discrimination case. In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that a business that dismisses a worker based on gender identity or sexual orientation violates the equal employment opportunity provision in the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Their ruling essentially expanded the group of classes the law protects to include people who are gay or transgender.
A ruling in the case being heard on Wednesday is not expected for several months.
The last thing you want after buying or receiving a gift is not being able to return what you really don't need. That's why it's important to check a retailer's return policy before you make that purchase because some are not as loose as they were a few years ago.
Julie Sons, looking for toys at Walmart, wasn't thinking too much about returns.
"I usually don't worry about it," she said. "It's usually pretty easy to return anything."
But Marshalls and TJ Maxx shopper Briana Green still takes precautions, just in case.
"I do keep all my receipts," she said while leaving the stores with a nice haul. "That's because my mom taught me to do that."
Extended return windows... in some cases
Consumer Reports Deals editor Samantha Gordon says one nice thing around the holidays is that many retailers extend their return windows for purchases made during the holiday shopping season.
"They know that shoppers are buying things in October and November," she said, "and that they're not giving to their recipients until late December."
But every policy is different including start and end dates.
Retailers that have extended returns until January 31, for most holiday items, include:
Amazon Bed Bath and Beyond (after its recent acquisition by Overstock) Macys Walmart
But other stores have earlier return deadlines this year, including:
Old Navy: January 15. Best Buy: January 14.
Best Buy's Tyler Curtice reminds shoppers they have just two weeks into the new year, so don't delay.
"Starting November 1, our return policy runs through January 14," he said. "You can return items or request a price match."
In the meantime, Target's extended holiday return window this year only applies to electronics and entertainment items. Most electronics can be returned until January 24. But Target says Apple and Beats products must be returned by January 8, if they were bought between November 7 and December 24.
Be sure to save your receipt or get gift receipts for people you're shopping for to ensure easy returns later.
"Some retailers will honor a return without a receipt," Gordon said. "But if you have it, the odds of getting that full return or exchange, whatever the case may be, is definitely gonna be better if you have that receipt."
Other tips to make for smoother returns:
Dont open boxes or remove tags if you think you won't want the item Check a stores return policy before you buy
Some stores will let you keep returns
Nowadays, you may even run into rare situations where a store lets you keep returns. A recent ReturnPro survey found that 59% of stores implemented "keep it" policies last year. They typically apply to goods less than $20, and only when a store thinks it costs more to restock an item than to let you keep it.
Shopper Rob Raby says he makes sure he is well prepared for the inevitable return.
"I save all receipts for everything," he said.
That way you should have many happy returns, and you don't waste your money.
_________________________________
"Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps").
Here at 7 News Detroit, we want to make sure you start your day off on the right foot, informed about weather, traffic, the latest news and more. That's why we have the 7 Morning Digest, where we'll get you out the door informed and ready to go.
What's the weather for today? Metro Detroit Weather: Snow around Wednesday afternoon and night
Snow showers increase later tonight through Thursday morning. Most areas could get 1"- 2" of snow with very strong winds making bringing the wind chills near zero.
We'll end the week dry on Friday with highs near 30 with brighter skies as temperatures gradually climb near 40 by Sunday.
The top stories to know aboutMan helps Warren family who had their Christmas decorations stolen Man helps Warren family who had their Christmas decorations stolen
We're following up on a story we first shared with you Monday. The Milner family's newly-purchased Christmas decorations were stolen by a real-life Grinch. They spent nearly $200 during a touch financial season for the family to bring some joy to 2-year-old Isabella.
After seeing our story, one man in Howell wanted to do something special to help. After Mike Roseman from Howell saw the story, he knew he wanted to do something to help. He gifted the family with a $250 check.
"Anytime you can reach out and help somebody that needs help, you gotta do it," Roseman said. "Take the rest of it and buy a gift for your daughter.
The family was completely overwhelmed by the kind gesture and said they're happy that Isabella will now understand there is much more good in the world than a couple of Grinches.
It shows that kindness is still out there, it shows the Christmas spirit and like I said, it makes me want to pay it forward too," dad Jason Milner said.
MDOT hosts seventh community meeting to gather input on I-375 project MDOT hosts seventh community meeting to gather input on I-375 project
Inside an event space in Eastern Market, the Michigan Department of Transportation held its seventh community meeting on the project to remove I-375 and put in place a street-level road with traffic lights from Gratiot Avenue to Atwater Street.
The project likely wouldn't be completed for a few years, but it's been in the works for a long time. However, there's still a lot MDOT is working to figure out.
We're committed to building the boulevard and we're committed to the project," MDOT spokesperson Rob Morosi said. "But in terms of final design, were not close. In terms of how the property will be developed, we're not there. We're not close yet.
Beverly Kindle-Walker went to the meeting to giver her input. She lives near I-375 and says she relies on the freeway, which is a major route into downtown Detroit.
"It's going to be a major inconvenience for years to come, and it's not necessary, Kindle-Walker said of the project. "This is the Motor City, right? So to change that into a boulevard for whose benefit? It's not ours.
US Special Counsel: Metro Airport landing approach may create 'danger for landing aircraft and flying public' Federal watchdog questions safety at DTW
The U.S. Special Counsel is taking issue with the actions of Federal Aviation Administration managers at Metro Airport yet again.
The 7 Investigators were the first to expose a risky landing practice at the airport back in 2020.
On Tuesday, for the second time, the U.S. Special Counsel sent a report to the President and to Congress about the issues with this landing approach at Detroit Metro Airport.
In a press release, Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger said, The approach at issue may create a danger for landing aircraft and the flying public.
The 7 Investigators have obtained multiple radar recordings of pilots reporting problems with the landing system:
Were going around, were unstable, said one pilot.
SkyWest 3650, you say youre going missed? asked an air traffic controller.
Going missed, confirmed the pilot.
Air Traffic Controllers say the landing system on one of the Metro Airport runways sometimes causes pilots to have to abort their landings. And that can be risky.
Bottom line, the planes could collide? asked 7 Investigator Heather Catallo.
Absolutely. Yes, said now-retired Air Traffic Controllers. They could drift into each other.
The planes on the westernmost runway must approach at an angle, using something called the Instrument Landing System (ILS) Yankee Off Set Localizer. Its an antenna system, but Air Traffic Controllers say its placement at Metro results in the signal getting interrupted, especially when other planes taxi right in front of it.
You guys need to get off of Yankee and go to Zulu, said one pilot to the tower during a snowstorm.
Trust me, thats a constant discussion, said an Air Traffic Controller.
No, its not a discussion. Its a safety issue coming from the pilots, said the pilot.
Since 2020, the 7 Investigators have exposed how three different whistleblowers have questioned the use of the landing system.
Why are we using it again after the Special Counsel asked us not to, said one Air Traffic Controller in 2021 who could only speak on condition of anonymity for fear of losing their job.
These are all complaints from the larger mainline airline pilots. Theyre saying, 'Why are we using this?' said another Controller, who asked that we hide their identity as well due to fear of retaliation.
Is this approach safe? asked Catallo.
No, said Sugent. I have literally hundreds of documents with engineers and all these people saying don't use it. We can't guarantee the safety of this.
Because hes now retired, Sugent can speak publicly about the issue.
Sugent is the one who originally filed a whistleblower complaint in 2018 with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. That federal watchdog sided with Sugent, and in a letter in 2020 to then-President Trump, the Special Counsel urged the FAA to further review the safety issues associated with the ILS Y approach procedure and take the steps necessary to resolve them.
But the 7 Investigators have documented several times in the last four years where FAA leadership at Metro Airport continued to use the approach. Radar playback obtained through the Freedom of Information Act reveals multiple examples of pilots reporting signal interference with the ILS Y and having to go around or abort their landings.
Do you know if the localizer Yankee seems to have been off has it been giving trouble to some other folks? asked on pilot. It was quite a bit off.
We had an issue with the localizer too. It overshot it wasnt tracking it, said another pilot that same day.
So Sugent, even though hes no longer on the job, filed a new whistleblower complaint.
Why have you been so relentless on this? asked Catallo.
I'm a public servant. Bottom line, that's all we are. Whether you're the head of the FAA or you're a controller working our airplanes, we are public servants. And we have to make sure that the public gets from point A to point B in the safest, quickest way they can, said Sugent. We have a responsibility to make sure those airplanes are safe as possible.
In a letter to the President on Tuesday, the special counsel said, it appears the previous safety concerns surrounding the ILS-Y approach at DTW remain.
According to the Special Counsel report, the FAA did not substantiate Sugents allegations that the system is unsafe. They said they temporarily stopped using the system and implemented an education campaign for controllers and pilots.
Although the [FAA] has not substantiated Mr. Sugents allegations, all the agency reports regarding this matter confirm that the FAA has continued the use of the ILS-Y approach procedure at DTW, with the full knowledge the offset localizers are located in areas where aircraft taxi through the ILS critical area and could cause interference with the ILS signal, said Dellinger. Further, I am concerned that the agency has discontinued the weather restriction, one of the two mitigations that the agency previously deemed necessary for the safe operation of the ILS-Y approach.
Why put airplanes in that situation? said Sugent.
Its now up to Congress to decide whether to hold the FAA accountable. Sugent says he continues to urge Congress to have the antenna system moved to a different location where it does not get interference from other aircraft.
The 7 Investigators reached out to the FAA for comment on this. They said they are aware of this and reviewing the ruling.
If you have a story for Heather Catallo, please email her at hcatallo@wxyz.com.
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that the officer who was charged was drunk. He was not. It was the driver of the vehicle involved. This story has been updated to reflect the information. WXYZ regrets the error
Nearly two months after the Warren car crash that killed 34-year-old Cedric Hayden Jr. and 33-year-old DeJuan Pettis, the Warren police officer driving the police cruiser has been charged.
According to court documents, on November 22nd, the officer, James Burke, was charged and arraigned at Warren District Court on four counts, including Manslaughter with a motor vehicle, a fifteen-year felony. However, the family members of both victims say that's not acceptable, especially after hearing the 28-year-old officer is out on a 100,000-dollar personal bond.
On Tuesday, Dec. 3, Warren police confirmed to 7 News Detroit that the driver who was killed in the crash was reportedly drunk. According to Warren police, Pettis had a preliminary BAC of .198, more than twice the legal limit of .08.
I feel disgusted. I feel disappointed, said Lakita Blakeney, Dejaun Pettis's girlfriend.
That (officer) killed my brother and Dejaun, and he is at home, said Valencia Glover, Cedrics sister.
The charges were bogus, said Shakearia Maye, Dejaun Pettis's mom.
At least, 80 to life, 40 to life, I need him up there. Because you did take away two lives, said Cedric Hayden Sr., Cedric Juniors dad.
We have to go every single day without the two people that helped us every day. That brought joy. That on our bad days, just seeing their smiles and hearing their voice, and feeling their hugs, would just make everything go away, said Blakeney.
Now we have to grow up with no dad, said Devin Hayes, Dejuan Pettis's son.
The crash that injured two officers and killed two lifelong friends happened on September 30th at Schoenherr near Prospect around 5 am. 34-year-old Cedric Hayden Jr., and 33-year-old DeJuan Pettis were on their way home. Warren Police clarified that they were not part of a pursuit.
Surveillance video shows moments before deadly Warren crash
"Two fathers. Two sons. Uncle, cousins, whatever you want to call it. They are not here. Because you want to play on the street, said Cedric Sr.
Macomb County Sheriff's Office investigated the crash. They shared their findings with me, which show that at the time of the impact, Warren Police Officer James Burke was driving at nearly 94 miles per hour without lights and sirens.
And I don't feel the passenger should not be charged because why can't he reach his hands and turn on the light himself, said Cedric Sr.
Warren Police say since the passenger officer was not charged with a crime. Officer Burke's partner will return to work from administrative leave once he fully recovers from the severe injuries he suffered in the accident.
What was announced on Friday was not good for the family. And what needs to be done is the charges need to be amended to add 2nd degree murder, said James Harrington, Managing Partner, Fieger Law.
The Macomb County Prosecutor's office says they received the warrant request on November 20th, and the charges were filed the next day. However, during the review, the prosecutor's office said the case did not rise to the level of 2nd-degree murder.
Warren police officer charged in crash that killed 2 men
"You are hearing the disappointment that this officer received preferential treatment because he is a white officer, said Harrington.
Through Fieger Law, the families have also filed 2 lawsuits against the City of Warren and the two police officers worth 100 million dollars each.
$100M lawsuit filed against Warren & police officers in crash that killed 2 men
Meanwhile, Warren Police also say Officer Burke, has been with the department for nearly 3 years with an impeccable record and he is to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. A Probable Cause Hearing is scheduled for December 5 at 9:30 am.
There is a new proposal out of Lansing that could help small business owners recoup lost revenue from construction projects by creating a road construction business loss reimbursement program."
Shaina Allen is the owner of Scooter's Coffee in Sterling Heights. Over the summer and into the fall, her business took a hit when Van Dyke Freeway was shut down between 18 Mile and M-59.
RELATED: Months-long M-53 closure in Macomb County causing frustration for drivers Major construction project set to kick off along M-53
In about July we had one of our best months, and then they dropped the cones outside of our store, and just started dropping in businesses about you know 15 to 20 percent each month, Allen said.
This proposed program could help business owners in a similar situation to Allens.
The legislation was put forward by State Sen. Sarah Anthony, who represents Michigans 21st District.
If the program is approved, it would reimburse small business owners upwards of $15,000, if they can prove a significant decline in revenue. MDOT sent us a list of examples that have helped business, which is below:
Anthonys plan would make it the Michigan Department of Transportations responsibility to pay back these businesses.
Ultimately we have to decide how much of a priority road funding is and how we pay for it, so we are in active discussions about those conversations, but this is a very small program that I believe would also make sure that as we are driving around the roads, that we have neighborhood business to support, Sen. Anthony said.
I reached out to MDOT, which sent the following statement.
<i>On every road and bridge project, MDOT officials work to balance the needs and safety of the contractor and traveling public while minimizing the inconvenience for business owners and their customers. All infrastructure needs to be repaired and rebuilt at some point, and MDOT officials appreciate the community leaders and business owners who acknowledge that they prosper from having their business on a heavily traveled commercial corridor. Many of these local officials have invited MDOT engineers and contractors to celebrate with them when a project is complete and a street is reopened, very recently in West Branch, Sandusky and Traverse City, just to name a few cities. Beyond that, when rebuilding a state route through a business district or community, MDOT engineers often work closely with the local municipalities to arrange replacement of their utilities under the road, to ensure working order of those utilities, reducing the need to tear up the street later. Utility replacement is time consuming and often adds to the overall project timeline but saves on future inconvenience. </i>
Anthony says she is trying to get this bill passed before the end of this year. However, she is prepared to reintroduce the bill next year if necessary.
As for Allen, she says she does not know if creating this program is the right move or not.
Its such a tough question, right? Because its not necessarily MDOTs fault, its not necessarily our fault. Yes it absolutely would be beneficial, to have some of that money recouped or given back to us, but I dont know if I can answer that question yes or no, just because it has so many moving pieces, Allen said.
You can view the proposed legislation in full at this link.
On Wednesday morning, Shed 5 at Eastern Market will feel more like Santa's Workshop. That's because Pistons owner Tom Gores is hosting his annual Toys-for-Tots giveaway.
He will help the organization deliver thousands of toys to pre-selected metro Detroit families while spreading holiday cheer.
We love covering the good things happening in our city, and this one means so much to so many people.
Inside the shed there are close to 10,000 toys, and that's not including bikes, scooters and more. It's all waiting to go home with the kids in this year's giveaway.
The Detroit Pistons partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps for the event, and more than 750 families are going to be moving through the doors for the giveaway. Those families are pre-selected and people cannot show up on site for the giveaway.
Hear from Staff Sgt. Larry Bogus in the video below about why the giveaway is so important Gores Family Foundation hosting annual Toys for Toys Giveaway
We got a look inside the shed on Tuesday during set-up, and toys covered tables as crew members kept adding to the pile.
All are separated by age group, with something for everyone, including Hot Wheels, basketballs, Legos, dolls and more.
Its the 18th year the Gores family has had a hand in making Christmas special for families in need here in metro Detroit. They started partnering with Toys for Tots in 2009, helping over 70,000 families during the holidays.
Duncan Murdock, a representative of the family who has helped out with the giveaway for close to the last decade, said watching kids walk into what looks like Santa's Workshop never gets old.
"Little ones - when the little ones come in, 6 and under, they see all the decoration and the toys its something theyre probably never seen before. The excitement, they want to ride their bikes out of here," Murdock said. "We know that those children are going to have a great morning on Christmas day and thats what its all about."
All kids between the ages of 4-7 will get the toys. Bikes and scooters will go home with older kids between 8 and 10, and the 11-13-year-olds get wireless headphones.
Theres been a lot of talk about the Renaissance Center and the possibility of public tax dollars being used to fund the new vision for the building by General Motors and Bedrock.
Both companies are seeking public funding for the proposal, but we wanted to ask who people think should fund the redevelopment of one of Detroit's most iconic buildings.
"I come here all the time. I
ts one of my favorite places in the city," Zen Lopez said about the building.
People are keeping up with the plans for the future of the Renaissance Center that would demolish the two towers closest to the Detroit Riverfront.
WATCH BELOW: New development plan calls for demolition of 2 towers New development plan calls for demolition of 2 towers
"As to public money, I dont agree with that. People are strapped enough with taxes and this is that. Its just why. You want to build something, then build it with your own money," Jim Roznowski said.
I dont know about this. I dont want to step on anyones toes, but I think the company has got enough money," Julia Anthony said. "What about the people? Were struggling. Go in any neighborhood most of us are struggling."
Bedrock and GM said the transformation will depend on getting $250 million in public funding to complete their $1.6 billion vision.
I guess its just the nature of how things work. I dont feel strongly about it one way or another," Lopez said.
Rainy Hamilton Jr., an award-winning architect running a firm in Detroit, said taxpayer money has helped many developments in the city.
Little Casears Arena, Im sure Ford Field, probably Comerica Park; a lot of the major projects have had public participation to make the deal work. I dont think this is any different," he said.
Why the companies don't foot the bill themselves, Hamilton said, "Its how do we cover the cost of construction and in Detroits market, it's still a challenge to cover all those costs."
After seeing our story Monday about a hard-working family in Warren having their Christmas decorations stolen, one man in Howell wanted to do something special to help.
On Monday, we shared with you the surveillance video of a real-life Grinch stealing the Milner family's newly purchased Christmas decorations from Lowe's. They splurged $200 during a tough financial season for the family to bring some joy to their 2-year-old daughter Isabella. One hundred dollars' worth of decorations were stolen.
You can watch our previous report below: VIDEO: Real-life Grinch caught on camera stealing Warren family's Christmas decorations
After Mike Roseman from Howell saw the story, he knew he wanted to do something to help. He gifted the family with a $250 check.
"Anytime you can reach out and help somebody that needs help, you gotta do it," Roseman said. "Take the rest of it and buy a gift for your daughter.
The family was completely overwhelmed by the kind gesture and said they're happy that Isabella will now understand there is much more good in the world than a couple of Grinches.
It shows that kindness is still out there, it shows the Christmas spirit and like I said, it makes me want to pay it forward too," dad Jason Milner said.
Lowe's also reached out and said they wanted to provide the family with a gift as well.
Warren police are still looking for the two suspects involved in the Sunday larceny, one driver and one young boy. If you have any information, call the Warren Police Department.
Watch surveillance of the incident in the video player below: Surveillance video: Real-life Grinch steals Warren family's Christmas decorations
Inside an event space in Eastern Market, the Michigan Department of Transportation held its seventh community meeting on the project to remove I-375 and put in place a street-level road with traffic lights from Gratiot Avenue to Atwater Street.
The project likely wouldn't be completed for a few years, but it's been in the works for a long time. However, there's still a lot MDOT is working to figure out.
We're committed to building the boulevard and we're committed to the project," MDOT spokesperson Rob Morosi said. "But in terms of final design, were not close. In terms of how the property will be developed, we're not there. We're not close yet.
Beverly Kindle-Walker went to the meeting to giver her input. She lives near I-375 and says she relies on the freeway, which is a major route into downtown Detroit.
"It's going to be a major inconvenience for years to come, and it's not necessary, Kindle-Walker said of the project. "This is the Motor City, right? So to change that into a boulevard for whose benefit? It's not ours.
Hear what people had to say ahead of the meeting in the video player below: MDOT holding meeting tonight on the I-375 Reconnecting Communities project
Yanni Dionisopoulos is a business owner in Greektown who also attended the meeting with concerns about the project.
"The majority of people coming to downtown and Greektown use that Lafayette exit off of 375, Dionisopoulos said. "We're all about development, we're all about moving forward, but I don't see the moving forward as a small business right now no matter what MDOT or anyone else says.
There's some people that are concerned about this project, but we're working with them," Morosi said. "We continue to meet with people who have expressed concerns and we feel that we're making progress and that they have a better understanding of what we want to achieve.
MDOT says the boulevard will help connect downtown neighborhoods, making them more accessible. It also would clear roughly 30 acres of land. During the meeting, MDOT wanted to hear from residents about what they want to see in the space.
"That's a big swath of land in a downtown area and that's what removing the freeway and replacing it with a street-level boulevard will do, Morosi said.
Jazlyn Anderson is with Black Bottom Archives, which shares the history of the once-thriving majority Black neighborhood destroyed in the 1960s to build the freeway.
I hope to see thriving Black businesses, a way that people can work and live in their city," Anderson said. "Instead of people just working downtown or having to go to the outskirts of downtown and vice versa, I want to see a thriving community.
Another goal of the project is to incorporate the history of neighborhoods like Black Bottom that were destroyed to build the freeway.
Kindle-Walker says she herself grew up in Black Bottom. She feels instead of incorporating the history, the project is repeating history.
"There is no reconnection. This is a pipe dream, and its going to disenfranchise a lot of people today, Kindle-Walker said. "You're going to affect the people who live there right now and then they'll go through the same sorrow that my family went through when we had to leave in 1960s.
MDOT says public comments can still be submitted via an online comment form, email or by phone at 855-375-MDOT (6368).
Officials are investigating after a U.S. Secret Service agent fired a service weapon near Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's home in Washington Tuesday.
Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the agent confronted multiple people around 1:30 a.m. who were trying to open car doors along the street.
There was "no evidence to indicate anyone was struck by the gunfire, Guglielmi said in a statement. There was "no threat to any protectees during this incident and no protectees were harmed."
The people involved in the confrontation fled in a sedan, officials said. The Secret Service issued a warning to local police. A search for the suspects is ongoing.
The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office are both now investigating the incident.
President-elect Donald Trump's transition team on Tuesday signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees after a weeks-long delay.
The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration staffers obtain security clearances before Inauguration Day to access classified information about ongoing government programs, an essential step for a smooth transiton of power. It also allows those nominees who are up for Senate confirmation to face the background checks lawmakers want before voting on them.
Teams of investigators have been standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers.
This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day," said Susie Wiles, Trump's designate to be White House chief of staff.
The announcement comes a week after the Trump transition team signed an agreement with the Biden White House to allow transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office on Jan. 20. The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House had issued both public and private appeals for Trumps team to sign on.
Security clearances are required to access classified information, including on ongoing operations and threats to the nation, and the Biden White House and outside experts have emphasized to Trump's team the importance of having cleared personnel before Inauguration Day so they could be fully briefed and ready to run the government.
Republican Senators have also insisted on FBI background checks for Trump's nominees before they face confirmation votes, as has been standard practice for decades. Lawmakers have been particularly interested in seeing the findings of reviews into Trump's designated nominee for defense secretary, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, and for Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence.
Thats why its so important that we have an FBI background check, a committee review of extensive questions and questionnaires, and a public hearing, said. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine on Monday.
John Thune, the incoming Senate Republican leader, said the Trump team understands theres going to have to be a thorough vetting of all these nominees.
Debbie Nelson, the single mother of rapper Eminem whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his hit song lyrics, has died. She was 69.
Eminems longtime representative Dennis Dennehy confirmed Nelsons death in an email on Tuesday. He did not provide a cause of death, although Nelson had battled lung cancer.
Nelson was born in 1955 on a military base in Kansas. Her fraught relationship with her son, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, has been no secret since the Detroit rapper became a star.
Eminem has disparaged his mother in songs such as the 2002 single Cleaning Out My Closet. Eminem sings: Witnessin your mama poppin prescription pills in the kitchen. ... My whole life I was made to believe I was sick when I wasnt.
In lyrics from his Oscar-winning hit Lose Yourself from the movie 8 Mile, his feelings seem to have simmered, referencing his "moms spaghetti. The song went on to win best rap song at the 2004 Grammy Awards.
Nelson brought and settled a pair of defamation lawsuits over Eminems statements about her in magazines and on radio talk shows. In her 2008 book, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, she attempted to set the record straight by providing readers details about the rappers early life, writing that Eminem had forgotten the good times they had.
Marshall and I were so close that friends and relatives commented that it was as if the umbilical cord had never been cut, she wrote.
She also detailed her own childhood, describing a violent home life in which her dads mother, who she spent summers with, was the one woman in my large dysfunctional family to show us kids love.
In 2004, she was dragged from her car on Eight Mile Road, the street in a Detroit suburb made famous by 8 Mile, by a 16-year-old who was later sentenced to more than four years in prison. She suffered bruises and a broken foot.
The highly acclaimed rapper Eminem won for best hip hop act at the 2024 MTV EMAs and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
He announced in October that he was going to be a grandfather, saying his daughter Hailie Jade is pregnant by way of a touching music video that is a tribute to their relationship.
___
The story has been updated to correct that Eminem announced in October that he was going to be a grandfather, not last month.
Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth told Scripps News Tuesday that he appreciate[s] the opportunity to meet with Senators but declined to answer multiple questions about the sexual misconduct allegations facing him.
According to a detailed investigative report made public in November, A woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Pete Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. Hegseth told police the incident was consensual.
The incident is one of several that could introduce scandal to Hegseth's confirmation hearing. Last week the New York Times published a letter to Hegseth from his mother Penelope, in which she accused him of being a longtime and repeated abuser of women.
When contacted by The New York Times, Penelope Hegseth did not deny sending the email but reportedly explained that she wrote it in anger while her son was going through a divorce. She also stated that she later sent her son another email apologizing for her comments, adding, I know my son. He is a good father and husband.
The allegations are concerning not just for Democrats but also for some Republicans on the Hill, who have indicated to Scripps News they still want to hear answers from Hegseth directly and through the FBI background check process that cabinet nominees will undergo.
Earlier Tuesday, Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) told Scripps News she met with Hegseth earlier this week, but hoped to meet with him again, and ask about some of the most recent allegations made against him. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) told Republican senators he plans to begin confirming Donald Trump's cabinet on Inauguration Day, January 20th, 2025.
The U.S. Special Counsel is taking issue with the actions of Federal Aviation Administration managers at Metro Airport yet again.
The 7 Investigators were the first to expose a risky landing practice at the airport back in 2020.
On Tuesday, for the second time, the U.S. Special Counsel sent a report to the President and to Congress about the issues with this landing approach at Detroit Metro Airport.
In a press release, Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger said, The approach at issue may create a danger for landing aircraft and the flying public.
The 7 Investigators have obtained multiple radar recordings of pilots reporting problems with the landing system:
Were going around, were unstable, said one pilot.
SkyWest 3650, you say youre going missed? asked an air traffic controller.
Going missed, confirmed the pilot.
Air Traffic Controllers say the landing system on one of the Metro Airport runways sometimes causes pilots to have to abort their landings. And that can be risky.
Bottom line, the planes could collide? asked 7 Investigator Heather Catallo.
Absolutely. Yes, said now-retired Air Traffic Controllers. They could drift into each other.
RELATED REPORT: Whistleblower speaks out again about unsafe DTW landing system that's still being used Whistleblower speaks out again about unsafe DTW landing system that's still being used
The planes on the westernmost runway must approach at an angle, using something called the Instrument Landing System (ILS) Yankee Off Set Localizer. Its an antenna system, but Air Traffic Controllers say its placement at Metro results in the signal getting interrupted, especially when other planes taxi right in front of it.
You guys need to get off of Yankee and go to Zulu, said one pilot to the tower during a snowstorm.
Trust me, thats a constant discussion, said an Air Traffic Controller.
No, its not a discussion. Its a safety issue coming from the pilots, said the pilot.
Since 2020, the 7 Investigators have exposed how three different whistleblowers have questioned the use of the landing system.
Why are we using it again after the Special Counsel asked us not to, said one Air Traffic Controller in 2021 who could only speak on condition of anonymity for fear of losing their job.
ORIGINAL REPORT: DTW using controversial landing system once again, more air traffic controllers sounding alarm DTW using controversial landing system once again, more air traffic controllers sounding alarm
These are all complaints from the larger mainline airline pilots. Theyre saying, 'Why are we using this?' said another Controller, who asked that we hide their identity as well due to fear of retaliation.
Is this approach safe? asked Catallo.
No, said Sugent. I have literally hundreds of documents with engineers and all these people saying don't use it. We can't guarantee the safety of this.
Because hes now retired, Sugent can speak publicly about the issue.
Sugent is the one who originally filed a whistleblower complaint in 2018 with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. That federal watchdog sided with Sugent, and in a letter in 2020 to then-President Trump, the Special Counsel urged the FAA to further review the safety issues associated with the ILS Y approach procedure and take the steps necessary to resolve them.
RELATED REPORT: Its a safety issue. Questions raised about GPS-based landing systems at US airports following 7 Investigators' report Its a safety issue. Questions raised about GPS-based landing systems at US airports following 7 Investigators' report
But the 7 Investigators have documented several times in the last four years where FAA leadership at Metro Airport continued to use the approach. Radar playback obtained through the Freedom of Information Act reveals multiple examples of pilots reporting signal interference with the ILS Y and having to go around or abort their landings.
ADDITIONAL REPORT: 'Let's cross our fingers.' Air traffic controllers say DTW has faulty approach lighting system
'Let's cross our fingers.' Air traffic controllers say DTW has faulty approach lighting system
Do you know if the localizer Yankee seems to have been off has it been giving trouble to some other folks? asked on pilot. It was quite a bit off.
We had an issue with the localizer too. It overshot it wasnt tracking it, said another pilot that same day.
So Sugent, even though hes no longer on the job, filed a new whistleblower complaint.
Why have you been so relentless on this? asked Catallo.
I'm a public servant. Bottom line, that's all we are. Whether you're the head of the FAA or you're a controller working our airplanes, we are public servants. And we have to make sure that the public gets from point A to point B in the safest, quickest way they can, said Sugent. We have a responsibility to make sure those airplanes are safe as possible.
In a letter to the President on Tuesday, the special counsel said, it appears the previous safety concerns surrounding the ILS-Y approach at DTW remain.
According to the Special Counsel report, the FAA did not substantiate Sugents allegations that the system is unsafe. They said they temporarily stopped using the system and implemented an education campaign for controllers and pilots.
Although the [FAA] has not substantiated Mr. Sugents allegations, all the agency reports regarding this matter confirm that the FAA has continued the use of the ILS-Y approach procedure at DTW, with the full knowledge the offset localizers are located in areas where aircraft taxi through the ILS critical area and could cause interference with the ILS signal, said Dellinger. Further, I am concerned that the agency has discontinued the weather restriction, one of the two mitigations that the agency previously deemed necessary for the safe operation of the ILS-Y approach.
Why put airplanes in that situation? said Sugent.
Its now up to Congress to decide whether to hold the FAA accountable. Sugent says he continues to urge Congress to have the antenna system moved to a different location where it does not get interference from other aircraft.
The 7 Investigators reached out to the FAA for comment on this. They said they are aware of this and reviewing the ruling.
If you have a story for Heather Catallo, please email her at hcatallo@wxyz.com.
The long-running gang and racketeering trial that led Atlanta rapper Young Thug to plead guilty in October ended on Tuesday with the last two defendants found not guilty of racketeering, murder and gang-related charges.
Deamonte Kendrick, who raps as Yak Gotti, was acquitted of all charges and Shannon Stillwell was found guilty only of gun possession. The verdicts came nearly two years after jury selection began and a year after opening statements in a trial plagued with problems.
The original, sweeping indictment used song lyrics and social media posts as evidence and charged 28 people with conspiring to violate Georgias Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Young Thug, a Grammy-winning artist whose real name is Jeffery Williams, was set free on probation after he pleaded guilty in October to gang, drug and gun charges.
Kendrick and Stillwell were charged in a 2015 drive-by shooting outside an Atlanta barbershop that killed Donovan Thomas Jr., also known as Big Nut, who prosecutors said was in a rival gang. Stillwell also was charged with fatally shooting Shymel Drinks at a red light in 2022, allegedly in retaliation for the killings days earlier of two associates in a gang known as YSL, which prosecutors said was co-founded by Young Thug.
Stillwell was sentenced to the 10-year maximum for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon previously convicted of a felony involving a gun, with credit for the two years he already served and the balance to be served on probation.
Nine of the defendants, including the rapper Gunna, accepted plea deals before the trial began, and four more pleaded guilty during the trial, in October. Charges against 12 others remain pending. Prosecutors dropped charges against one defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case. That left Kendrick and Stillwell, both of whom were stabbed while in jail Stillwell last year and Kendrick on Sunday.
Tuesday's verdicts were a major setback for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Critics had criticized her use of the states anti-racketeering law, which she also used to bring charges against President-elect Donald Trump for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election.
We always respect the verdict of a jury, said Jeff DiSantis, a spokesperson for Willis.
Defense attorneys said the state relied on faulty evidence song lyrics, cherry-picked social media posts and unreliable witness testimony to create a misleading narrative about young men who turned to music to escape economic hardship and difficult pasts.
The jury's decision left Tasha Kendrick, Kendrick's mom, in tears.
Im just thankful for a lot of things right now, she said. My emotions are all over the place right now."
Prosecutors said Williams and two others founded Young Slime Life in association with the national Bloods gang in 2012. The 33-year-old artist also has a record label called Young Stoner Life. Kendrick is featured on two of the most popular songs from the labels compilation album Slime Language 2, Take It to Trial and Slatty, as well as Young Thugs Slime Sh-t," which prosecutors presented as evidence.
Williams entered a risky blind plea meaning he pleaded guilty without an agreement on his sentence in October. Williams lawyer said he felt like they were winning, but the rapper complained that sitting in court felt like hell and wanted to go home to his family. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker let him out of jail on probation with tight restrictions, including a 10-year ban from metro Atlanta except for certain occasions.
The trial shook Atlantas rap scene. Williams grew up in a violent Atlanta housing project and became a highly successful artist who added his own melodic twist to the modern Southern trap sound he helped popularize.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville was removed from the case in July after he met with prosecutors and a state witness without defense attorneys present. Kendricks attorney Doug Weinstein said defendants got a fair trial once Whitaker took over. Among other things, she reprimanded the prosecution for being disorganized and not sharing evidence.
During closings, Stillwells defense attorney Max Schardt sought to cast doubts on the gang investigators and other state witnesses. Several alleged YSL members testified they had lied to police to stay out of prison. Schardt said officers had threatened them with long prison sentences if they didnt say the right thing.
Prosecutors said those witnesses were honest with police but lied on the stand, in front of the people they had snitched on. They said their statements were corroborated by other evidence such as songs and social media posts where they said defendants were bragging about murder.
Prosecutors threw together lyrics, social media posts and irrelevant evidence to see what sticks, Weinstein argued, but did not prove they were connected to a criminal enterprise.
While defendants did commit crimes in the past, Schardt said during closings, it was to make money for themselves in communities stripped of economic opportunity not to advance a gang. And music let some of them move on.
As a whole, we know the struggles that these communities have had, Schardt said. A sad, tacit acceptance that its either rap, prison or death.
Both defense attorneys said Kendrick and Stillwell have other pending charges but hope to get them released from jail as soon as possible.
Stillwell is not blind to the fact that he is getting a second chance at life," Schardt said.
Weinstein said Kendrick, who is close friends with Young Thug, was laser-focused on his music career before the state pulled him back into the criminal justice system.
Im so happy that he can kind of draw a line in the sand now, Weinstein said. All of this is behind him. He can get on with his life and not worry about this nonsense.
It's a tragic incident 7 News Detroit reporter Faraz Javed first reported on back in October. A 68-year-old man was physically assaulted by a metal pipe right outside the Galaxy Coney Island.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Surveillance video shows attack outside a Detroit Coney Island restaurant Brutal assault caught on camera in Detroit
Since the attack, the family has chosen to focus on their loved one's recovery. But now, the victim's daughter is breaking her silence in the hope of awareness, justice and some much-needed help.
"That man pretty much ruined my father's life," 48-year-old Teesha Jones said.
As a wife and a mother of five, she knows firsthand the importance of having a dad.
"It's always good to have a great father figure. When you have a father, you are not searching for what other men can do for you," Jones said.
But on Oct. 27, Jones' dad Derrick Gills nearly lost his life.
"You will never forget that date?" Javed asked.
"Never!" Jones said.
Around 6:25 p.m., security footage shows Gills walking out of his favorite Coney Island toward his car, holding a food bag in one hand and a beverage in the other.
POLICE VIDEO: Surveillance video shows attack outside a Detroit Coney Island restaurant Surveillance video shows attack outside a Detroit Coney Island restaurant
The attacker, seen in the video holding what was later identified as a metal pipe, makes his way toward Gills, striking him in an unprovoked assault. As Gills lies motionless, the man walks away. Gills was later rushed to the hospital.
"You are fearing for the worst. Can you tell me, as soon as you stepped into the room, what did you see?" Javed asked.
"His whole face was fractured, broken nose," Jones said.
The attack left Gills with nerve damage along with brain and spinal injuries, resulting in limited mobility in his arms and legs.
"He is total assist. Even a drink of water, someone has to feed him," Jones said.
"Seeing your dad like this, it must have ripped your heart," Javed said.
"Oh, absolutely! He is a 68-year-old vibrant man. I would have never thought something like this would happen, not now," Jones said.
Prior to the attack, Jones says Gills worked as a hairstylist, something her dad has been passionate about for three decades, putting a smile on people's faces with his warm personality and talent.
"He is a great dancer ..." Jones said.
"What are some memorable moments?" Javed asked.
"Walking down the aisle with him. Even with him talking to me when we were dancing at my wedding," Jones said.
Jones told me the attacker, who her dad had never met before, was arrested at a bus stop right across from the Coney Island.
Thirty-five-year-old Jamerson Coates has been charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm and assault with a dangerous weapon. He remains locked up on a $35,000 cash bond.
Coates also has a pending case against him for assaulting a police officer.
"What does justice look for you?" Javed asked.
"Definitely keeping him locked up as long as possible. I feel like he thought he killed my father," Jones said.
With a long road to recovery ahead and not being able to work, Gills faces mounting medical bills and expenses. The family has created a GoFundMe for help.
Lawmakers returned to Lansing on Tuesday for the lame-duck session. Now, state and local leaders are urging the Senate and the governor to pass reforms on revenue sharing.
If it doesn't pass, the legislation dies and will need to be reintroduced next session.
Police, fire and road repair are three services we're all familiar with that benefit from state revenue sharing. That's when the state Legislature gives money to cities, townships and villages to fund those types of services.
But lawmakers are concerned because the amount varies from year to year and that leaves municipalities guessing on how much they're going to receive to pay for those services.
WATCH: News conference with leaders calling for passage of 'revenue sharing trust fund' FULL NEWS CONFERENCE: Advocates Hold News Conference Calling for Passage of Revenue Sharing Trust Fund
"This is imperative that we have predictable and stable funding for our local communities that provide those services that we touch and feel and depend upon every single day," state Rep. Mark Tisdel said at a press conference Tuesday morning in Lansing.
Tisdel and fellow state Rep. Amos O'Neal introduced bi-partisan legislation to establish a "revenue sharing trust fund" to take away some of the uncertainty for municipalities.
The bill calls for a portion of the state's sales tax to go to the trust fund to take some of the politics out of the appropriation process.
7 News Detroit spoke with taxpayers in Oak Park about the proposed legislation.
"It sounds good, but we'll have to wait and see how it progresses over time," Tim Jones said.
Jacquelyn Sneed said, "As long as we don't have to pay more taxes, then I don't see anything wrong with it."
As the bills stand, taxes won't increase.
We also spoke with Oak Park City Manager Erik Tungate.
"Since 2004, this community has lost almost $39 million in revenue sharing, revenue that we would have otherwise received. So, in order to make up for that chunk, we've had to go and raise taxes a few times. Thankfully, our taxable values since the crash of 2008 have recovered to some degree now. But it's been a long road," he explained.
Tungate said the vast majority of the city's revenue is generated from property taxes, while nearly 20% comes from state revenue sharing.
He said the city wrote its own resolution that urges lawmakers to establish a stable revenue sharing funding model.
"The trust fund itself provides a stabilizing force to the revenue picture for communities like ours. So, it's a huge piece of the puzzle for us," Tungate said.
The House passed bills 4274 and 4275.
State and local leaders made the case Tuesday in Lansing for the Senate to do the same before the end of the month, so it doesn't have to be reintroduced next session.
"We're begging the governor to make this a lame-duck priority to get it to the Senate and get the Senate to pass it... to pass it into law," O'Neal said.
7 News Detroit reached out to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office for comment. Press Secretary Stacey Larouche wrote:
"We've increased revenue sharing to a 20-year high. We will review legislation as it makes its way through the process."
Chad Chronister, Donald Trump's pick to run the Drug Enforcement Administration, said Tuesday he was withdrawing his name from consideration, becoming the second person selected by the president-elect to bow out quickly after being nominated for a position.
Chronister, the top law enforcement officer in Hillsborough County, Florida, said in a post on X that he was backing away from the opportunity, which he called the honor of a lifetime.
Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, Ive concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration, Chronister wrote. He did not elaborate, and Trump's transition team did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
Trump's pick of Chronister for the post drew backlash from conservatives, including for past comments he made that his sheriffs office was not focused on enforcing federal immigration laws.
Chronister follows former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz, Trump's first pick to serve as attorney general, in withdrawing his name for a post in the administration. Gaetz withdrew following scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nations chief federal law enforcement officer.
The Michigan Department of Transportation is hosting its seventh public meeting Tuesday night for the I-375 Reconnecting Communities project, a significant initiative aimed at revitalizing the area and enhancing the quality of life for Detroit residents.
Tuesday night's meeting will provide residents with the opportunity to discuss their visions for future land use in small group settings. The I-375 project is not merely a transportation endeavor; M-DOT emphasizes its commitment to improving the living conditions and overall experience for all Detroiters.
Local residents express a strong desire for change.
Devvi Jordan, who lives near I-375, says, It's going to help a lot, while her neighbor Kavin Withrow said, I think it will be an improvement of what it once was.
Historically, the land where I-375 now sits was home to two thriving African American communities: Black Bottom and Paradise Valley. The construction of the freeway in the early 1960s forced residents to relocate, resulting in the loss of businesses, homes, and cultural centers while also creating a division in the community due to its barrier-like effect.
What occurred six decades ago is so unfortunate, and it's so unfair, said MDOT spokesperson Rob Morosi.
Morosi notes that the proposed project is still in the planning stages and that city and MDOT officials are eager to gather input from the community regarding the future of the 30 acres that will be made available.
This is the first time we will really be introducing the framework to the public at large, Morosi explained. It's going to be very, very important to get as much participation as we can.
MDOT's current plan involves replacing the freeway with a modern boulevard featuring signalized intersections from Gratiot Avenue to Atwater Street. The project will also include a new, safe interchange at I-75, significantly improving accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.
However, some residents, like Kavin Withrow, express concerns that the current design does not adequately address public transit needs.
The current design doesn't have a lot in mind for future public transit. Mainly just a roadway for cars, Kavin explained, advocating for a design that better integrates bike lanes and pedestrian pathways.
Benjamin Franklin, a resident living near I-375, highlights the excessive noise from the freeway and looks forward to the proposed changes.
It can help a lot for people that want to get out more, walk more, he says.
MDOT aims to commence construction on the I-375 Reconnecting Communities project in 2026.
Login
