The U.S. military is deploying three more warships and roughly 2,500 more Marines to the Middle East, an official said. One U.S. official confirmed Friday that the USS Boxer and two other amphibious assault ships, along with roughly 2,500 Marines of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, have deployed from their home port of San Diego and are bound for the Middle East.

Two other U.S. officials confirmed that the ships were deploying, without saying where they were headed. All three officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.

RELATED STORY | Defiant Iran warns parks and tourist attractions worldwide could be targets

With little information coming out of Iran, it was not clear how much damage its arms, nuclear or energy facilities have sustained since the war began Feb. 28 or even who was truly in charge of the country. But Iran has showed it is still capable of attacks that are choking off oil supplies and denting the global economy, raising food and fuel prices far beyond the Middle East.

The U.S. and Israel have offered shifting rationales for the war, from hoping to foment an uprising that topples Irans leadership to eliminating its nuclear and missile programs. There have been no public signs of any such uprising and no end in sight to the war.

Chuck Norris, a martial artist and actor best known for his role in the long-running television series Walker, Texas Ranger, has died at the age of 86, his family announced.

"It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning. While we would like to keep the circumstances private, please know that he was surrounded by his family and was at peace," Norris' family said in a statement.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Legendary college football coach Lou Holtz dies at age 89

Norris rose to fame as a martial artist before becoming a Hollywood action star. He portrayed Cordell Walker in Walker, Texas Ranger, which aired for eight seasons.

To the world, he was a martial artist, actor, and a symbol of strength, the family said. To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Neil Sedaka, the singer-songwriter behind dozens of hits, dies at age 86

The family said Norris had recently been hospitalized and thanked fans for their support.

We know many of you had heard about his recent hospitalization, and we are truly grateful for the prayers and support you sent his way, the statement said.

Norris served in the U.S. Air Force and began studying martial arts while stationed in South Korea. He is survived by his wife, Gena OKelley, and five children.

Protestant and Catholic clergy are asking a federal judge to order that they be allowed to minister to immigrants in a holding facility at the headquarters of the Trump administration's enforcement surge in Minnesota.

U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell will hear Friday from attorneys for Minnesota branches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the United Church of Christ, and a Catholic priest. They're suing for an injunction requiring Department of Homeland Security officials to allow prompt in-person pastoral visits to all detainees at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, the site of frequent protests over roughly the 3,000 federal officers who had surged into the state at the height of the crackdown.

RELATED STORY | ICE in America: Examining immigration enforcement in Minnesota and its impact

The Minnesota lawsuit alleges the Whipple building, named for Minnesotas first Episcopal bishop, a 19th-century advocate for human rights, now stands in stark contrast to its namesakes legacy. It says the building has become the epicenter of systematic deprivation of fundamental constitutional and legal rights by the federal government.

Government attorneys plan to argue the request is at least partly moot because Operation Metro Surge officially ended on Feb. 12. They also say the number of new detentions has since subsided, so temporary restrictions on visitors have been eased, and clergy visits have been allowed for over two weeks. In a recent filing, they said staff members weren't in a good position previously to allow visitation because the Whipple building had been both a hub of heightened ICE operations and the symbolic center of community unrest.

Catholic and Episcopal bishops in Minnesota, other Christian and Jewish clergy, and the Minnesota Council of Churches are also supporting the request.

Clergy across the country have been pushing for more access to immigration detention facilities, especially during the holy seasons of Lent and Ramadan. Its a longstanding practice for faith leaders to minister to detainees. but it has become far more contentious amid the current immigration crackdown.

RELATED STORY | Bystander videos highlight Trump administration's pattern of deception in Minneapolis

It took a similar lawsuit for two Catholic priests and a nun to gain entry into an ICE facility in the Chicago suburb of Broadview on Ash Wednesday last month. And Muslim and Christian clergy in Texas have struggled to get into large Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities there.

The Minnesota lawsuit alleges that ICE unconstitutionally obstructed faith leaders from offering prayer, pastoral guidance, sacramental ministry, and spiritual comfort to detainees in moments of profound fear, isolation, and despair.

Case filings list several instances in which clergy went to Whipple to minister to detainees but were refused access, including on Ash Wednesday, a solemn day in many Christian traditions in which clergy place ashes on worshippers' foreheads in the sign of the cross.

The lawsuit called the restrictions in place at Whipple a violation of both the constitutional freedom of religion of clergy who feel compelled by their faith to serve detainees and the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

ICE's stated policy is that facilities that hold detainees for more than 72 hours are required to have a chaplain or religious services coordinator, as well as dedicated spaces for services. ICE says its policy also requires advance notice and background checks for clergy and faith volunteers.

But government attorneys and ICE officials contend the Whipple building is just a short-term holding facility, and that most held there are moved to other ICE facilities within 24 hours.

Tauria Rich, a senior local ICE official who oversees the facility, said in a filing this week that visitors are rare, and that any clergy requests would be back to being handled on a case-by-case basis. She said one clergy member had attempted to visit in early March, but left because no detainees were present. The visit would have been allowed if any detainees had been there, she said.

Its not just clergy whove struggled to get in. Three members of Congress from Minnesota were turned away when they tried to inspect the facility. Once they did get in, they reported poor conditions.

Access has also been an issue for attorneys. Homeland Security was ordered by a different federal judge last month to give new detainees at Whipple immediate access to counsel before they're taken elsewhere.

Iran threatened to target recreational and tourist sites worldwide and insisted it was still building missiles. Friday's show of defiance came nearly three weeks into U.S.-Israeli strikes that have killed a slew of Tehrans top leaders and hammered its weapons and energy industries.

Iran fired on Israel and energy sites in neighboring Gulf Arab states as many in the region marked one of the holiest days on the Muslim calendar. Iranians were also marking the Persian New Year, known as Nowruz, a normally festive holiday that is more subdued this year.

RELATED STORY | Netanyahu says Iran can no longer enrich uranium, as conflict continues through Gulf

With little information coming out of Iran, it was not clear how much damage its arms, nuclear or energy facilities have sustained since the war began Feb. 28 or even who was truly in charge of the country. But Iran has showed it is still capable of attacks that are choking off oil supplies and denting the global economy, raising food and fuel prices far beyond the Middle East.

The U.S. and Israel have offered shifting rationales for the war, from hoping to foment an uprising that topples Irans leadership to eliminating its nuclear and missile programs. There have been no public signs of any such uprising, and its not clear what capabilities Iran retains or how the war might end.

Iran remains defiant despite weeks of attacks

Irans top military spokesman warned Friday that parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations worldwide wont be safe for Tehrans enemies.

Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi made the threat as Iran continues to be hit by American and Israeli airstrikes. It renewed concerns that Iran may revert to using militant attacks beyond the Middle East as a pressure tactic in the war.

U.S. and Israeli leaders have said that weeks of strikes have decimated Irans military. Airstrikes have also killed its supreme leader, the head of its Supreme National Security Council and a raft of other top-ranking military and political leaders.

RELATED STORY | Pentagon asks for $200 billion to continue to fund Iran war

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Irans navy was sunk and its air force in tatters, while adding that its ability to produce ballistic missiles had been taken out. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard disputed the missile claim on Friday.

We are producing missiles even during war conditions, which is amazing, and there is no particular problem in stockpiling, spokesman Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini was quoted as saying in Irans state-run IRAN newspaper.

Naeini added that Iran had no intention of seeking a quick end to the war. These people expect the war to continue until the enemy is completely exhausted, he said.

A short time after the statement was released, Iranian state television said Naeini was killed in an airstrike.

The countrys new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei also released a rare statement, saying Irans enemies need to have their security taken away.

Khamenei hasnt been seen since he succeeded his father, the 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the first day of the war.

Less than a week after the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump's global tariffs, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul listened as one of the plaintiffs in the case recounted the financial toll of the levies on his wine importing business.

This is a heavy tax and you have to pay it up front, Victor Schwartz, the owner of VOS Selections, told Hochul as they walked alongside bottles of wine he imports from 16 countries.

As Hochul seeks reelection this year, she says the impact of Trump's tariffs is a centerpiece of her message. She has pressed the administration to issue a $13.5 billion tariff refund to New Yorkers following the Supreme Court decision. And she released an ad this week criticizing her Republican challenger, Bruce Blakeman, for supporting the levies and attending the White House event where Trump unveiled them with a massive board listing the rate for each country.

RELATED STORY | How Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs impact prices one year later

This is a lethal issue for Republicans this November, Hochul said in an interview. You can be sure we're going to make sure people know who did this to them.

She's not alone. Democrats running for governor across the country are making tariffs central to their pitch to voters. They're betting that in an election year dominated by issues ranging from immigration to the war in Iran, rising costs connected to the tariffs will be a motivating issue for many voters.

That picture of (Trump) with the tariff board is going to be front and center in every single one of our campaigns, Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, who is leading the Democratic Governors Association this year, said in an interview.

White House spokesman Kush Desai countered that what Democrats are really running against are President Trumps Most-Favored-Nations deals to slash prescription drug prices by up to 90 percent, trillions in investments to bring manufacturing back to America, and new trade deals that level the playing field for American workers.

All of these historic victories were possible because of tariffs.

This is a challenging election year for the GOP

Republicans are entering a challenging election year as they contend with voter anxiety around spiking prices an issue Trump pledged to fix during his 2024 campaign and the record of a president's party losing ground during the midterms.

Much of the focus has been on Congress, where Democrats are just a few seats shy of taking the House majority. But the party is also aiming to regain ground outside Washington as they hope to hold onto governorships in Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin and eye GOP-held seats in Nevada, Georgia and Iowa.

In interviews this week, Democrats running in some of those states said tariffs and the broader issue of affordability will be at the forefront of their agenda.

In Nevada, state Attorney General Aaron Ford sued the administration over its initial round of tariffs and is suing again as Trump seeks to revive them. As he seeks the Democratic nomination to take on Republican incumbent Gov. Joe Lombardo, Ford called the tariffs illegal and blamed them for restaurant closures and fewer visitors to his tourism-dependent state.

RELATED STORY | Trump administration dealt blow as judge orders refunds on illegal tariffs

Tariffs are at the very top of the conversation because Nevadans every single day are feeling the impacts, Ford said.

In Arizona, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is seeking reelection in a state Trump won by more than 5 percentage points in 2024 with a focus on costs. She criticized GOP Reps. Andy Biggs and David Schweikert, who are vying for the nomination to challenge her, for cheering on these reckless tariffs. Both lawmakers voted against a measure last month to end the national emergency Trump declared to impose tariffs on Canada.

Hobbs said the cost concern was about more than tariffs, noting Medicaid cuts, rising health costs and a spike in gas prices in the wake of the war in Iran.

Theyre being hit everywhere, she said.

Republicans try to turn affordability concerns back on Democrats

Republicans largely reject the tariff criticism and are trying to turn the anxiety about affordability back on Democrats, especially in high-cost states where they already govern. Blakeman, for instance, said in a statement that Hochul is solely responsible for the affordability crisis in New York, with crushing electric bills, soaring insurance rates and the highest taxes in America.

In an interview, Schweikert argued that it was only a few years ago in a previous administration that the Democrats actually liked tariffs. So this seems to be if Trump's for it, they're against it.

Trump, for his part, hasnt given up on the tariffs. After calling the Supreme Courts decision unfortunate, his administration is scrambling to find ways to revive the levies. The president has already announced a 10% tariff using a different mechanism, a move thats facing legal challenges, and wants to further raise tariffs to 15%.

But Trumps prediction of a manufacturing renaissance that would result from companies making more products in the U.S. to avoid tariffs has not materialized. During the first year of his second term, 98,000 manufacturing jobs were lost. Revenue from tariffs is doing little to reduce the federal deficit, which is projected to climb over the next decade.

Polling suggests unease about the dramatic way Trump has imposed the levies. In January, before the Supreme Courts ruling, about 6 in 10 U.S. adults said Trump went too far in imposing new tariffs and using presidential power, an AP-NORC poll found.

Somehow, nearly 14,000 people who filled out an NCAA mens basketball tournament bracket picked all 16 games played Thursday correctly.

An estimated 36 million brackets were submitted on major sites including the Mens Bracket Challenge Game, ESPN, CBS, Yahoo, USA Today and Sports Illustrated. Most were busted after the very first game, as more than 20 million picked Ohio State to defeat TCU a prediction that quickly fell flat.

While a No. 9 seed beating a No. 8 is typically more of a toss-up than an upset, Thursday still delivered several stunning results. And yet, 14,000 people nailed them all.

RELATED STORY | NCAA delays rule allowing athletes to bet on pro sports

The biggest upset of the day came when No. 12 High Point beat No. 5 Wisconsin. Somewhat less surprising was No. 11 VCU defeating North Carolina, which was without top player Caleb Wilson.

Another upset: No. 11 Texas over No. 6 BYU.

The day nearly featured the rarest of upsets a No. 16 over a No. 1. Duke trailed Siena for portions of the second half but rallied late for a 71-65 win.

Last year, about 36,000 perfect brackets remained after the first day of a tournament with few major surprises. In 2024, only 2,100 survived Day 1. How many will remain perfect after today? The tournaments overall No. 1 seed, Arizona, faces Long Island University this afternoon.

RELATED STORY | 6 players accused of throwing games, gambling ties lose NCAA eligibility

World Down Syndrome Day is Saturday, March 21, and this year's theme is "Together Against Loneliness."

I recently visited Gigi's Playhouse in Southfield, and had a chance to hear from a young man who's a leader there, his aunt and the executive director on how it's helping participants find friendship, connection and joy.

See the full story in the video below

How Gigi's Playhouse Detroit is helping those with Down syndrome be included & fight loneliness

Trevor Dunn, 15, is a rising star at Gigi's Playhouse, a Down syndrome achievement center in Southfield, which provides free education, therapeutic and career development opportunities for all individuals with Down syndrome.

Trevor is a co-leader of the LMNOP Program, where he helps teach songs, sign language and ore to other kids witH Down syndrome.

Describe to me what your first experience was like at Gigi's Playhouse," I asked Trevor.

Well, I feel, like, happy and accepted," he said.

He also helps make others feel that way. His aunt, Dawn Conn, comes with him one a month to co-lead the sessions.

"How have the programs here at Gigi's Playhouse really helped Trevor not feel lonely?" I asked.

"Honestly, when you speak about loneliness, I can remember a time when Trevor had said to me that he was lonely and that was during COVID and when everybody was, you know, stuck at home. But coming here gives him that opportunity to be with other kids and just really get involved. And he really has shaken that loneliness," Conn said.

She said Trevor's friendships have really blossomed and he's even become more confident and active at school, and this is important.

A study found 39% of people with intellectual disabilities often feel lonely, compared to 14% of people without disabilities.

How do the programs here really help the people who are taking part not feel lonely? I asked Veronica Cruz, the executive director at Gigi's.

"We see families come in day one, and participants come in, you know, shy, just not making eye contact, things like that. And as soon as they get involved in our programs, over the upcoming weeks, they come in and give us high fives, smile, give us hugs," Cruz said.

That's where this year's theme for World Down Syndrome Day comes in. The focus is on "real inclusion" in schools, jobs and community life; not just being there, but taking part. Also, having welcoming spaces, safe from stigma, and enjoying meaningful relationships with friends, family and partners.

"Do you ever feel lonely when you come here?" I asked Trevor.

"No. Because I feel happy when people are around me," he said.

Trevor's leadership shows that inclusion has the power to erase isolation, one smile, one connection, and one interaction at a time.

Volunteers also make a big difference at Gigi's Playhouse. You can learn more about volunteering by visiting their website.

Where Your Voice Matters

Both the Michigan State Spartans and Michigan Wolverines advanced to the round of 32 in March Madness after wins on Thursday.

The No. 3 Spartans took down No. 14 North Dakota State Bison 92-67 in Buffalo, while the Wolverines beat the Howard Bison 101-80.

Now, both teams will play on Saturday once again in Buffalo. First up, the Michigan Wolverines will face No. 9 Sant Louis at 12:10 p.m. Then, Michigan State will face Louisville at 2:45 p.m.

On Thursday, the city of Detroit announced plans to install 3,000 streetlights in an effort to improve safety.

Thomas and Karen Lett have called Rossini Drive home for more than three decades. It goes without saying, theyve seen the neighborhood change, but one thing that has not improved is the view from their front porch after dark.

Watch Darren Cunningham's video report below: Detroit mayor: 3,000 street lights to be installed in the city

Its real dark around here because (theres no light pole) in the middle of the block and these side streets here," Thomas said.

The problem stems back to 2014 and 2015, when the city relighting project removed thousands of secondary poles. On blocks like Lett's, it created "dead zones" where the lights on the corners just dont reach. For Lett, that darkness is an open invitation for trouble.

My concern is people just hiding out when its dark, cause weve had people breaking in and robbing folks at 2, 3 oclock in the morning when they're going to work over the years," he explained.

After sunset on Thursday evening, while gathered in front of a home where a streetlight used to be, Mayor Mary Sheffield signed an executive order directing the Public Lighting Authority to restore that security.

"Tonight, I am proud to announce the "Brighten up the Block" initiative," Sheffield said.

She said it's about improving safety and quality of life for residents.

Its a promise the mayor made on the campaign trail. Sheffield said the plan is to install 3,000 lights and that it'll be funded through a bond secured by the lighting authority.

The Public Lighting Authority said they will begin the installations this summer.

To reach the city about the initiative, you can find a list of contacts on the Department of Neighborhoods page at this link.

A suspect who was armed and barricaded inside a home in Bloomfield Township Thursday evening was taken into custody, police say.

Law enforcement responded to the incident and asked people to avoid Quarton Road between Franklin and Inkster roads. The Oakland County Sheriffs Office and Oakland County SWAT assisted Bloomfield Township police.

South Hills Middle School was used as a staging area for authorities.

Shortly after 10 p.m., police provided an update and said the suspect was taken into custody. There were no injuries reported.

Police say the area has been secured.

Its unclear at this time what led up to the incident.

A reporter for a Spanish-language news outlet in Tennessee who contends she was wrongly held in detention for more than two weeks was released Thursday after paying a bond recently allowed by a judge, her attorneys said.

Estefany Rodrguez Flrez, a reporter for Nashville Noticias who has done stories critical of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, had been in ICE custody after her arrest on March 4 during a traffic stop. She was held in jail in Etowah County, Alabama, then in the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana.

We are grateful that Estefany is able to walk away with her freedom to be with her family as she continues to fight for her right to remain in her community and in the US," Mike Holley, an attorney for Rodrguez, said in a statement.

MORE ABOUT THE CASE | Nashville reporter detained by ICE could soon be released

Rodrguez, a Colombian citizen, entered the U.S. lawfully and has been living in the country for the past five years, according to court records filed by her lawyer. She has a valid work permit, and she has applied for political asylum and legal status through her husband, who is a U.S. citizen. She had no criminal history, a steady employment record, ties to the community, and a 7-year-old daughter at home, her attorneys said.

In a wrongful detention court challenge aided by the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, Rodrguez's attorneys argue she was targeted because her reporting has been critical of ICE's practices under President Donald Trump's administration, saying her First Amendment rights and Fifth Amendment due process rights were violated.

The government has said there was no such violation for what was the agency's discretionary decision to begin removal proceedings and said First Amendment rights may not even be applicable to an illegal alien.

On Monday, an immigration judge in Louisiana set a $10,000 bond for her release.

Holley said they plan to continue with the wrongful detention case and are working for not only her full release, "but an order prohibiting ICE from mistreating her in a similar way in the future.

Rodrguez applied for asylum before her visa expired in September 2021, and she has remained in the country because she faced persecution in Colombia and because leaving the U.S. would mean abandoning her asylum application, her attorneys wrote. Her permit to work while awaiting an asylum interview was granted in February 2022.

Her attorneys say the arrest was an unlawful, warrantless seizure that violated the Fourth Amendment because authorities did not have a reason to think she was likely to escape before a warrant could be obtained. Attorneys representing the federal government say they had an arrest warrant, but her attorneys were skeptical of its validity. It was dated two days before the arrest, handwritten, crumpled, lacked her identification number and left the certificate of service section blank, they wrote. Another warrant was typed up and dated March 4.

Rodrguezs lawyer said in court documents that ICE had twice rescheduled a meeting with Rodrguez on her case, first because the office was closed during a winter storm and the second time because an agent couldnt find her appointment in the system.

A new meeting was then set for March 17.

Rodrguez was with her husband in a marked Nashville Noticias vehicle when it was surrounded by several other vehicles and she was taken to a detention center, the news outlet has said.

One of her attorneys, Joel Coxander, said it was more than 10 days before Rodrguez was allowed to speak with him.

Several press associations have put forth their own legal brief, warning of potential pitfalls from arresting reporters who are not U.S. citizens.

The predictable consequence of the arrest and detention of these individuals is to end that speech and to chill a vast amount of future speech, especially by non-citizen journalists fearful that hard-hitting reporting on sensitive topics could lead to their detention, according to the brief led by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

After her arrest, Rodrguez was moved to a county jail in Etowah in Alabama. Following a day there, before she could be flown to Louisiana an officer asked if she had lice, and she was taken back to the jail. She was held in isolation for about five days, then forced to strip in a shower room where an officer poured a chemical liquid on her head that burned her eyes, the filing says.

She was then moved to Louisiana on March 12.

Funding shortages at TSA are leading to long lines and lots of frustration at airports all across the country.

In Atlanta, the TSA line snaked through the airport, with travelers waiting more than an hour on Thursday morning. In Philadelphia, some checkpoints were temporarily closed.

The travel turbulence is the result of approximately 10% of TSA's 50,000 security agents calling out amid a partial government shutdown that's keeping them from getting a paycheck.

RELATED TORY | CEOs of top airlines demand Congress restore funding to Homeland Security and pay airport workers

Some airports, like Houstons and Atlantas, are seeing 38% of TSA workers calling out this week, while travelers elsewhere havent been as impacted.

Lawmakers appear no closer to funding the Department of Homeland Security, which funds the TSA. Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill continue to blame each other for the impasse.

Airlines are pleading with Democrats to please fund the Department of Homeland Security, said Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Republicans have decided to force TSA agents to work without pay, said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

RELATED NEWS | TSA warns some small US airports could close amid shutdown

With no solution in sight, theres concern the lines and wait times will only continue to grow.

"As the weeks continue, our, TSA officers, as long as they dont get paid, they're going to continue to call out, they cant afford to come in. And theyre going to quit altogether," said TSA Acting Deputy Administrator Adam Stahl. "The reality of this situation is this is going to get worse before it gets better if we dont see any sort of action from Congress."

Sen. Markwayne Mullin promised on Capitol Hill this week that if he is confirmed as DHS secretary, he will direct U.S. agents to use judicial warrants, signed by a judge, whenever possible except for in extreme circumstances.

Judicial warrants are legally distinct from administrative warrants, which are generally issued and signed by federal agencies. Judicial warrants are signed by a judge and usually explain specific details about what may be searched and when.

Experts say judicial warrants help ensure proper oversight and protection of rights.

"One of the main reasons for the existence of the 4th Amendment was to have a disinterested objective observer be required to sign off before law enforcement violates really important rights, whether arresting you are searching your home or whatever," said Ronald Allen, a professor at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. "As one Supreme Court opinion said, we don't want the people that are engaged in a competitive process of ferreting out crime to be making these decisions as to whether there's adequate information to violate it may not be a violation, but to ensure some of these important rights."

Experts also said in instances where agents enter someone's home without the proper warrant and then there is a case of damage or death, victims or family members may not have the proper legal recourse in court. Or it could take some time for people to get some sort of remedy against the government or those agents.

RELATED STORY | Mullin clashes with senators at key DHS confirmation hearing

The issue of judicial warrants is in the spotlight following nationwide protests against the Trump administration's immigration policies and the conduct of ICE and other Homeland Security agencies. Images went viral of ICE agents going into communities and homes to arrest people.

Georgetown Law professor Louis Michael Seidman says that did a lot to steer how agents' conduct was received.

"What matters is public opinion and popular opposition," Seidmand said. "So what got DHS to back off of this was not some ruling by some judge. It was very brave and committed people who took to the streets in freezing weather to protest this. That's why they backed off. If there's a remedy, the remedy not legal. It is popular opposition."

There remain certain exceptions to the rules surrounding judicial warrants, such as cases of invitation from residents or emergency circumstances.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Carson Cooper matched his career high with 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Michigan State routed North Dakota State 92-67 on Thursday to reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the 22nd time in 28 consecutive appearances under coach Tom Izzo. Coen Carr added 17 points for the third-seeded Spartans. Freshman forward Cam Ward scored 13 points and Jaxon Kohler had 12 points and nine rebounds. Leading scorer Jeremy Fears Jr. managed only seven points, but had 11 assists, exceeding his season average of 9.2 that ranks first in the country. Michigan State (26-7) advanced to play Louisville (24-10) in the second round Saturday after the No. 6 seed in the Midwest held on to beat South Florida 83-79. It will be the fifth March Madness matchup between the schools and first since 2015, when the Spartans beat the Cardinals in overtime to reach the Final Four. The Spartans bounced back after losing in the first round of the Big Ten tournament against UCLA, and in their regular-season finale at Michigan. When were clicking, I think were really hard to beat, Fears said. And day in and day out, its a grind to keep getting better, and the end goal is to win championships. We want to win games, but championships is the goal. Damari Wheeler-Thomas scored 16 points to lead 14th-seeded North Dakota State (27-8). The Summit League champions qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in 18 seasons and first since the 2020 tournament that was canceled. The Spartans shot 59% against the undersized Bison, scoring 44 points in the paint, with eight dunks. Michigan State shot 10 for 20 from 3-point range, while North Dakota State finished 6 for 25 from long distance. When you start making baskets, I think you get fooled that you can win games different ways, Izzo said. You can win them different ways, but to win consistently, where youve got to come in night in, night out, play in different arenas, domes, this arena, pro arenas, youd better bring your lunch bucket and your defense and your rebounding. The Spartans had a 35-23 advantage on the boards and did not allow any second-chance baskets. North Dakota State opened an early 8-5 lead before going more than six minutes without a field goal. Michigan State took command with an 18-2 run. The Spartans extended their lead with a 10-point run and led 45-25 at halftime. Steady March Michigan State improved to 51-26 in the tournament under Izzo during what is the longest active streak of March Madness appearances. The Spartans have not lost their opening game since playing in the First Four in 2019, and have not lost as the higher seed in a first-round matchup since 2016. Were blessed to have someone whos been through the ringer for 28 years straight in this tournament, Cooper said of Izzo. Its comfortable for us to kind of look up to him and trust what hes telling us because we know hes been there. Passing fancy Michigan State's 26 assists were its most ever in an NCAA Tournament game. Fears had double-digit assists for the 14th time this season. The Spartans scored 15 points in transition, with Fears lobbing a number of alley-oops to Cooper and Carr on the fast break I could care less if we run any plays, Izzo said. Id like to just get our fast break going and make that the biggest part of our offense. Up next Michigan State will try to reach the Sweet 16 for the 17th time under Izzo. ___ AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

A Detroit man is being hailed as a hero after rescuing two of his neighbors from a burning home on the city's west side.

The Detroit Fire Department awarded Jamie White a civilian commendation Thursday for his life-saving actions during an early morning house fire on Jan. 23.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report below: Detroit man honored for pulling neighbors from house fire

Lucille Williams and her roommate lost their home in the blaze. Williams recalled the terrifying moments when smoke filled the house and flames blocked the front door.

"All of a sudden, it was just smoke," Williams said.

With her primary escape route cut off, Williams rushed to her bedroom, shut the door and looked for another way out.

"The firefighters said if I had opened up my door, I would've been dead. So I thank God for letting me know I had to close that door and then I held my head out the window and saw my guardian angel, my hero coming around," Williams said.

That guardian angel was White, who has been her neighbor for more than three years.

"I heard 'help me' and my wife said fire, so she started calling 911 and I ran outside and seen Ms. Williams hanging out the window," White said.

Acting on faith and instinct, White rescued Williams before returning to the burning home a second time to pull her roommate to safety.

"God told me go get them. He said go get them, so that's what I did," White said.

Chuck Simms, executive fire commissioner with the city of Detroit, presented White with the commendation.

"His conduct reflects the highest ideals of courage, compassion and service to others," Simms said. "Mr. White's actions stand as a powerful example of the strength of community and the profile impact of individual bravery."

Since the fire, White's daughter and others in the community have called him a hero.

"I'm just being a human being. I makes me feels good that I'm appreciated for, I guess, the hard work that I've knocked out," White said.

Williams shared her gratitude for her now-former neighbor.

"I love him, I love him. Yes, I do," Williams said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Two weeks ago, a decades-old, 5-foot piece of pipe began leaking inside the Warren wastewater treatment plant. The leak flooded the plant's dry well, an underground chamber that houses critical pumping equipment. This put the city at risk of raw sewage backing up into homes and businesses.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Warren approves $4 million to fix leaking wastewater plant pipes

Crews at the plant worked around the clock for 72 hours to contain the leak.

"This plant was built 70 years ago. We have aging infrastructure," Warren Public Service Director David Muzzarelli said.

Muzzarelli said crews patched the section of pipe with an industrial patch, but it is only temporary.

"It will not be a permanent fix. We are still able to operate the plant," Muzzarelli said.

Wednesday night, the Warren City Council held a special meeting to address the need for $4 million in emergency funding to properly fix the broken pipe.

"Disaster is probably too light of a word to describe it," Warren City Councilman Jonathan Lafferty said. "The first phase will be a 4 million dollar expenditure that is going to come from our reserve funds."

Lafferty said the $4 million is just phase one. A 10-year plan could cost taxpayers $50 million. The City Council is looking at how this could impact Warren taxpayers, including potential water rate increases, but no final plan has been set.

"At the end of the day, we are going to have to come up with the money to pay for this," Lafferty said.

"Any time it hits your pocketbook, it's going to catch your attention," Warren resident Carl Foster said. "This is probably something that should have been done over the years and not all at once, and now we're going to have to pay for it."

"I really hope that it doesn't," another resident, Faris Gerbrvic, said.

"We really don't have a choice, and stuff is expensive already," Foster said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

7 News Detroit Meteorologist Marisa Woloszyn looks at what you need to know about the dangers of flooding in this Severe Weather Awareness Week report.

Severe Weather Awareness Week: Living with a risk of flooding

We're also looking at what you need to do if you're caught outside in severe weather.

What do you need to do if you're caught outside in severe weather

Other Severe Weather Awareness reports:

How one school prepares 550 students for severe weather in just minutes Severe Weather Awareness Week 2026: Staying safe from tornadoes at home

A woman in her 20s is dead after a shooting in Sumpter Township, and police have a male suspect in custody.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report: Woman dead after a shooting in Sumpter Township, suspect is in custody

The shooting happened Wednesday around 4 p.m. in the Rawsonville Woods mobile home community.

Neighbors told 7 News Detroit the victim and the suspect were in a relationship, describing the suspect as her boyfriend.

Sumpter Township Police have not yet released the suspect's name or age.

The incident turned what neighbors say is usually a quiet community into a crime scene.

"As far as I know, its been years since something like this happened," Ashley Laurence of Sumpter Township said.

Ashley Laurence moved into the community two weeks ago. She said she heard a loud pop sound Wednesday afternoon.

"I thought it was like the muffler, look out my living room window and I see her in the street, so I opened my door, and thats when I heard two people, a woman and a man, screaming oh my God, he shot her, he just shot her," Laurence said.

Laurence said she anxiously watched as paramedics tried to save the young woman's life.

"They worked tirelessly. It was so hard, but they really gave it their all for her," Laurence said. "Theres nothing in this world thats worth taking a life. She was 20, she had her whole world ahead of her."

Laurence has this message for the woman's family.

"I, as a mother, I couldnt imagine, and I just hope they know that they have the most beautiful guardian angel now," Laurence said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Northville Township's Essential Services Complex is delivering on its promise of faster emergency response and a safer community, nearly one year after opening its doors.

The $44.5 million complex brought police and fire services together under one roof, adding a second fire station, an expanded dispatch center, and shared spaces including a training and fitness room. It also includes the Department of Public Works. Township officials say the investment was made without raising taxes.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report below: Northville Township's new essential services complex cuts fire response times

Deputy Fire Chief Jesse Marcotte said the complex's location was a deliberate decision driven by data, as the township faced increased traffic from construction and population growth.

"In emergency services, specifically on the fire and EMS side, a big part of what we do is getting there as fast as we can. That was a driving force behind the decision not just to build a second station, but to put the second station here," Marcotte said.

The results have been significant. The township can now reach 96.5% of its area in under six minutes, up from 51.6%. Over the past year, Marcotte says the days show an overall reduction in response time of roughly two minutes since 2024.

"It is literally life-saving," Marcotte said.

The shared facility has also strengthened coordination between departments.

"It really creates an excellent tiered system where we're all reading from the same sheet of music, if you will," Marcotte said.

Township officials also reported a 15% drop in crime rates in 2025 compared to the year before, following a similar trend of a 20% drop in 2024.

For residents, the impact has been felt directly. Sandra Stonik, who lives in Northville Township, said the fact that no new taxes were needed to fund the project was a welcome surprise.

"It really didn't matter at all. I would've paid more for it, but it's nice not to," Stonik said.

Fellow resident Carol Poenisch said she is proud of what the complex represents for the community.

"Now we have more access to the police and fire and we just love the facility," Poenisch said.

Township officials say their goal is to continue using the space to find new ways to improve services.

"If theres something we can do to be faster on an incident scene or more effective whether its the first hose line applied or the time to begin chest compressions its about maximizing skill sets and being prepared for whatever the next incident is going to be," said Marcotte.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.