A former top official charged with overseeing employment disputes in the federal workforce tells Scripps News there is "strong evidence" President Donald Trump's efforts to shrink the government agencies broke the law.

Since early 2022, Raymond Limon served on the Merit Systems Protection Board, an independent, quasi-judicial body designed to protect career federal workers from partisan politics by allowing employees to appeal actions like suspensions and terminations. After working in public service for nearly three decades across multiple federal offices and agencies, Limon retired on Friday and spoke exclusively with Scripps News on Tuesday about his government work and what he sees as the unprecedented challenges facing the workforce under Trump.

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So far, this feels like somewhat of a power grab, Limon said of Trumps mass employee firings. "This kind of overreach is trying to see how far he can get away with... The legal argument that Department of Justice is trying to make, if you take it to its fullest conclusion, is that every single federal employee reports to the President and can be removed by the President. And again, I don't believe that's what the statutes say. I don't believe that's what Supreme Court decisions have said.

The MSPB: One of fired workers only avenues to get their jobs back

One of Limons last official actions while still serving on the Board was to grant an immediate stay of Trumps firing of six probationary employees across different agencies of the government, reinstating their positions for at least 45 days while an investigation into their cases continues. Fridays MSPB order represented the first such reinstatement of nonpolitical federal workers dismissed by Trump during his new term, and Limon told Scripps News he sees it as instructive for how the Board may respond to the tens of thousands of other workers fired in a similar manner.

It does look like, from media reports that I've read, that with those six employees, [their] record seems to track pretty closely to the 1000s of other probationaries who were treated similarly Limon said. We will see what happens next.

Indeed, late Tuesday afternoon, the government revealed that the MSPB has formally requested the names of nearly 6,000 workers recently fired by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of an investigation into whether they, too, were illegally dismissed, and Wednesday morning issued a similar 45-day stay reinstating them in their positions.

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Federal officials have thus far refused to say exactly how many probationary workers have been fired since Trumps inauguration, though government data says the number of employees in that group who could face termination is over 200,000.

For fired federal workers, the MSPB stands as one of just a few bodies with jurisdiction to consider whether their terminations were lawful. In at least two recent federal lawsuits concerning workers fired by Trump and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency, judges noted that workers had to bring their cases before the MSBP and other similar bodies and not traditional Article III courts.

Trumps unlawful firing of MSPB chairwoman

Perhaps due to the Boards ability to adjudicate such matters, Trump tried to remove the chair of the MSPB earlier this year as well as the head of the Office of Special Counsel that investigates such cases, but was rebuffed by federal judges in both maters.

According to court records, on February 10th, MSPB chairwoman Cathy Harris received an email from a White House official informing her that on behalf of President Donald J. Trump that her position had been terminated, effective immediately. Shortly thereafter, she sued, alleging that her termination was unlawful. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., agreed, and on Tuesday issued a permanent injunction barring Trump from firing Harris absent just cause.

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[T]he Presidents attempt to terminate Harris was unlawful, U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras wrote in his March 4 opinion. [T]he MSPBs mission and purpose require independence.... Denying independence to the Board would undermine these constitutionally sound limitations on the removal of civil servants.

Trump similarly tried to fire Hampton Dellinger, Special Counsel in the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, a government body designed to investigate allegations of illegal employee firings and retaliation against whistleblowers. And in a March 1 opinion, a separate federal judge, Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, ruled his firing was also illegal and ordered Dellinger reinstated.

Already, the Department of Justice has appealed both judges orders. Limon predicted the cases would likely make their way up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Importantly, the MSPB requires a minimum of two members to form a quorum and remain operational. Given Limons retirement, should the Supreme Court rule in favor of Trump and allow Harris firing, the board would effectively be frozen unable to hear appeals or adjudicate cases.

That would be nothing new for Trump, however; the MSPB lacked a quorum for the entirety of Trumps first White House term, in part due to the Senates refusal to consider Trumps nominees to fill vacancies on it. As a result, a backlog of nearly 4,000 piled up, something the board only neared clearing in January.

Those cases stood and remained in a box, if you will, for over five years, Limon noted. That definitely had kind of an impact for employees to bring cases before the board.

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Meanwhile, upwards of 4,000 complaints before the board were filed within the last two weeks, Limon said, with many more expected as Trumps firings continue. Another vacancy could be catastrophic for the Boards ability to adjudicate those matters.

And according to a new report from the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, an alliance of more than 200 watchdog and public interest groups, several similar federal bodies are already unable to function due to a lack of a quorum, imperiling oversight capabilities for important issues like discrimination and privacy complaints.

The Golden Rule

Limon told Scripps News that the president has legal pathways to fire workers, including MSPB members, but said the White House has thus far declined to take them instead opting for more of a slash-and-burn approach that runs afoul of worker protection laws.

If the President believes that one of these board members are inefficient, are neglectful, or has evidence of malfeasance, he can then use his authority to remove them for cause, Limon said. It's not like as if the President doesn't have authority to do that. He chooses not to use that authority, and rather just use, you know, some theory that he is above the law and doesn't need to follow that.

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Limon also offered a full-throated defense of federal workers and the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within the federal government that have come under fire by Trump and Republicans.

The core in which I think we do share as federal employees is this fundamental belief in public service and that we all take an oath of office on day one to uphold the Constitution, to defend it against all enemies, foreign and domestic, he said. We believe we do have a higher calling, a vocation, if you will. And that permeated everything, from every employee I worked with, whether they were from the mail room to the boardroom.

Limon himself was targeted by the Trump administration, demoted from his vice chair position around the time the White House tried to remove Harris. Pressed on whether he was concerned about further retaliation for speaking publicly about his thoughts on these issues, he told Scripps News thats not something I really think about.

Theres kind of two questions we have to ask ourselves, and it kind of goes to as fundamental as the golden rule, Limon said. Number one, do you want to treat others the way that you would like to be treated? Or two, do the people with the gold make the rules?

That kind of simple proposition, I think, challenges us. And for me, it's the former.

The two children who died in a car at a Detroit casino parking garage last month died from carbon monoxide poisoning, the medical examiner confirmed to 7 News Detroit.

According to the examiner, 2-year-old AMillah Currie and 9-year-old Darnell Currie, Jr.'s death was carbon monoxide toxicity and the cause of death was ruled accidental.

Watch below: Mother talks after 2 kids died in Detroit casino parking garage Mother talks after 2 kids died of apparent hypothermia in Detroit casino parking garage

On Feb. 10, their mother, Tateona Williams says she tried waking them up on Monday. Police said Williams, her mother and five children were sleeping at the parking garage at Hollywood Casino Hotel at Greektown.

The family, who is homeless, parked their van in the garage around 1 a.m. and said the van ran out of gas. Around noon, she realized her 9-year-old was not breathing.

"I lost the one who made me a mother (and) I lost a 2-year-old. I'm dying inside. It hurts," Williams told 7 News Detroit reporter Darren Cunningham. "I feel like my heart is breaking, and I have two more kids to live for."

Their father, Darnell Currie Sr., also talked to Darren about his children. He recalls the distressing phone call he says he took from their mother.

Watch below: You didnt say nothing. Father of kids who died in parking garage shares story You didnt say nothing. Father of kids who died in parking garage shares story

"I went to the gym. As soon as I got on a treadmill, she called saying 'can I make it to the hospital right now. They gone,'" said Darnell. "I was hoping it was a sick joke, but it wasn't."

Tateona told us she had been living in her car for three months, along with her four kids, her mother and two teenage siblings.

She says she reached out to Darnell, who's the father of three of her children.

"I asked him, I said 'can you get your kids from me?' I said, 'I need help. You know I'm homeless. I done kept a room this long. I couldn't keep it no more,'" she said.

"All she said was 'can I get 'em?' Can I get 'em, just to get 'em, and can I get 'em because ya'll homeless? That's two different things," said Darnell.

Darnell said he didn't know Tateona was homeless.

"She ain't ever said nothing to me. Nothing. So, all them sob other stories, they can cut all that. No, she did not," he said.

After their deaths, the City of Detroit set out to investigate its homeless response system. Deputy Mayor Melia Howard was tasked with investigating what happened in the tragedy.

Howard said during a news conference, Ive had more than 50 phone calls of people offering support for the Williams-Curry family with their homes and making sure that, again, that this never happens.

At the news conference, Mayor Mike Duggan laid out a timeline of Williams' contact with the city's homeless services.

He said Williams first reached out to CAM, the citys homeless helpline, in December of 2023 to ask for help. Duggan said Williams let CAM know that she and her children were about to lose housing.

Watch below: Detroit mayor & other officials outline steps to address homelessness Detroit mayor & other officials outline steps to address homelessness

The mayor said the family was offered temporary shelter, but Williams ended up finding other housing. He said the citys homeless team then reached out to Williams in March, April, and May but got no response from her. In the summer, Williams reached out for help again. She ended up staying with a friend.

On November 25th, as Duggan explains, Williams made her last contact with the city, and the city didn't follow up with her.

Ms. Williams called the CAM hotline and said, 'Where I have been staying in the summer and the fall, I dont believe is going to be available. I dont know where Im going to go do,'" Duggan explained.

The mayor asked the question the first time, why this wasnt classified as an emergency."

"But as you look at the records, the time of the call, the 'call take' worker put them in a class of somebody who was still housed but did indicate they expected to be unhoused within 14 days and did not send one of our outreach workers out to assess the situation," Duggan said.

Duggan said the city had setup an emergency shelter on December 16th, however that was never communicated to Williams.

To better respond to peoples needs, the citys 7-point plan is as follows. A detailed explanation of the plan can be found at the city's website.

1. Require Site Visits for All Families with Minor Children.2. Give Special Attention to Finding Families in Vehicles.3. Expand HelpLine to 24 Hours.4. Double Number of Drop-In Beds.5. Expand Night Outreach Teams.6. Continue Successful Use of Police Precincts as Havens for Safety & Referrals.7. Expand Street Outreach & Education.

Howard said, If you need assistance, we are really imploring you to reach out so that we can make these connections and ensure that no family ever has to go through this again.

The U.S. has paused the flow of intelligence data to Ukraine as President Trump evaluates whether the country is "committed" to a lasting peace deal, administration officials said Wednesday.

"Trump had a real question about whether President Zelensky was committed to the peace process, and he said lets pause," CIA Director John Ratcliffe said in an interview with Fox Business.

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The intelligence pause comes after high-profile talks between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and the White House collapsed last week, during a tense meeting in which President Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelenskyy of being ungrateful for U.S. assistance and uncommitted to ending the war against Russia.

President Trump this week also paused military aid to Ukraine over the issue.

But officials on Wednesday said cooperation was likely to resume once both countries had time to analyze their relationship.

National Security Advisor Mike Waltz characterized the pause as a "step back" in the U.S. relationship with Ukraine. He added that he had conversed with his Ukrainian counterpart and was in the first stages of setting up new meetings for both countries to resume negotiations.

"I think on the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen, I think will go away," Ratcliffe said.

President Trump said Tuesday he had received a letter from Zelenskyy indicating Ukraine wanted to return to negotiations.

Officials with the Great Lake Water Authority say a major milestone has been reached in southwest Detroit as they have completed repairs to the 54-inch water transmission main that broke last month.

ORIGINAL REPORT FROM FEBRUARY 17: Neighborhood in Southwest Detroit flooded after water main break Neighborhood in Southwest Detroit flooded after water main break

Along with this milestone, GLWA also says the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has completed repairs to a six-inch water main, and sewer cleaning to remove debris in the impacted area has also been completed.

Yet to be completed are repairs to a gas main by DTE Energy, which are scheduled for the week of March 10, and the completion of steps to ready the 54-inch main to resume service. Teams are currently evaluating the next steps for that now.

The transmission link, which is located at Beard and Rowan in southwest Detroit, ruptured in the early morning hours of February 17, flooding a large section of southwestern Detroit.

Dozens of people have been displaced while the city completes cleanup of their homes, including the installation of new water heaters and furnaces.

REPORT: Detroit replacing water heaters and furnaces in SW Detroit Detroit replacing water heaters and furnaces in SW Detroit

Residents impacted by the water main break can call (313) 774-5261 to be connected to emergency resources through the City of Detroit.

President Donald Trump is doubling down on his decision to slap 25% tariffs on goods imported from Canada, and says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's border policies are to blame.

The president said he spoke with Trudeau by phone Wednesday and told him the tariffs will remain in place until more is done by Canada to secure its border with the U.S.

"Justin Trudeau, of Canada, called me to ask what could be done about Tariffs," President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "I told him that many people have died from Fentanyl that came through the Borders of Canada and Mexico, and nothing has convinced me that it has stopped. He said that it's gotten better, but I said, 'That's not good enough.'"

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President Trump added that the call ended in a "somewhat" friendly manner, but then accused the prime minister who announced his resignation in January of refusing to hold elections because he is "trying to use this issue to stay in power." President Trump then continued to blame Trudeau's border policies for the U.S.-imposed tariffs.

"I also told Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada that he largely caused the problems we have with them because of his Weak Border Policies, which allowed tremendous amounts of Fentanyl, and Illegal Aliens, to pour into the United States," he stated. "These policies are responsible for the death of many people!"

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President Trump's comments come a day after his administration imposed 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico its two top trade partners including an addition 10% tariff on energy imports. The move prompted a hasty response from Canada's Trudeua, who then issued a retaliatory 25% tariff on $155 billion of U.S. goods being sent from the U.S. to Canada.

"Today, the United States launched a trade war against Canada: their closest partner and ally their closest friend," Trudeau said Tuesday in a statement. "Canadians are reasonable, but we will not back down from a fight. Not when our country is at stake."

RELATED STORY | Trump urges farmers to 'bear with' tariffs as long-term gains expected

According to recent findings published in the "Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management," researchers at Georgia State University, Arizona State University, and Colorado State University said tariffs may not only cause an increase in prices for consumers, but could also disrupt global supply chains.

In his Tuesday night address to a joint session of Congress, President Trump defended the tariffs, claiming countries have long charged the U.S. steeper tariffs than those the U.S. levies on their exports.

"This system is not fair to the United States and never was," he said. "April 2nd, reciprocal tariffs kick in. Whatever they tariff us, we will tariff them. Whatever they tax us, we will tax them."

In todays Health Alert, this Sunday, we spring forward at 2 a.m., moving the clocks forward by one hour.  While many love the extra evening sunlight, daylight saving time can throw off your sleep and impact your health. 

Losing an hour of sleep might not seem like a big deal, but the darker mornings and later sunsets can knock your sleep-wake cycle out of sync. And adjusting to these changes takes time.

Now, morning sunlight plays a role in resetting your internal rhythm. You see, as daylight increases, melatonin, the hormone that makes you sleepy, shuts down. Your body temperature rises, helping you wake up. Then, in the evening, melatonin starts to kick in, triggering drowsiness. But with the time change, that process gets delayed because of the extra hour of daylight. On top of that, losing an hour of sleep can make it even harder on your body.

And lets be honestmany of us dont get enough sleep as it is. I know I can struggle with it! As a result, you might feel cranky, moody, or just plain exhausted. But sleep deprivation isnt just about feeling tired. Its linked to heart disease, obesity, and cognitive decline. In addition, fatigue can be dangerous behind the wheel studies show fatal car crashes spike in the days after the time change.

But thats not all. Research suggests that heart attacks increase on the Monday after we spring forward, and strokes also rise in the first couple of days.

Do we know why strokes and heart attacks rise on that Monday?  And how can people adjust to the time change?

Were not exactly sure why this happens. But your circadian clock also affects heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones. Its possible that a sudden disruption to your body clock could worsen issues like high blood pressure in people, especially those already at risk. Heart attacks also tend to be more common on Monday mornings, when blood is more prone to clotting.

So, how can you make the transition easier?

Try going to bed 1530 minutes earlier a few nights before the time change. Shift your daily routineslike dinner or evening activitiesa little earlier to help your body adjust. Avoid heavy exercise before bedtime, as it can be too stimulating. Get plenty of morning sunlight to help reset your internal clock. Use caffeine wisely - stick to the morning, not later in the day. Avoid naps, alcohol, and screens before bed to improve sleep quality. Keep a steady bedtime routine

These small adjustments can make a big difference. Most people adjust to the change within a week. But if youre still struggling after several weeks, its a good idea to check in with your doctor.

As President Donald Trump's tariffs already begin to affect the stock market and weigh on consumer sentiment, the White House says U.S. automakers will get a one-month grace period on imported cars before they have to start paying new duties.

President Trump said Wednesday he had spoken with U.S.-based auto manufacturers Ford, General Motors and Stellantis.

In a statement, he said "We are going to give a one month exemption on any autos coming through USMCA, or the free trade agreement covering North America that he negotiated during his first term as president.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump told the CEOs of the "Big Three" automakers that they should move operations to the U.S. to avoid long-term expenses from the new tariffs.

RELATED STORY | Trump urges farmers to 'bear with' tariffs as long-term gains expected

In an address to Congress Tuesday night, President Trump said he would implement "reciprocal" tariffs against countries that have now responded to the initial U.S. tariffs, raising the prospect of intensifying the trade war that began this week.

On Tuesday, the president enacted promised 25% tariffs on nearly all goods from Canada and Mexico, and 10% tariffs on energy-related imports from Canada, including oil, natural gas and electricity.

The trade war has already eliminated all gains made in the S&P 500 benchmark index since President Trump took office in January, and trade experts and retail CEOs have warned that U.S. consumers will now pay higher prices, potentially in a matter of days.

"There'll be a little disturbance, but we'll be okay with that," President Trump told Congress.

President Trump is open to the possibility of exemptions from tariff arrangements, Leavitt said Wednesday.

But Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will keep retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. in place as long as the U.S. has any active tariffs against Canada. Officials in Canada have warned auto manufacturing in the country would last just days before the effects of the tariffs forced plant closures.

President Donald Trump is granting a one-month exemption on his stiff new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada for U.S. automakers, amid fears that the trade war could harm U.S. manufacturers.

The announcement comes after Trump spoke with leaders of the big 3 automakers, Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis on Wednesday. Trump also said he told the automaker chief executives that they should move production to the U.S from Canada and Mexico, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

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We spoke with the big three auto dealers, Trump said in a statement read by his spokesperson. We are going to give a one month exemption on any autos coming through USMCA, referencing the North American free trade agreement he renegotiated in his first term."

Trump's press secretary said the president is open to hearing about additional exemptions but Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not willing to lift Canadas retaliatory tariffs if Trump leaves any tariffs on Canada, a senior government official told The Associated Press. The official confirmed the stance on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Both countries will continue to be in contact today, Trudeaus office said.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford earlier told The Associated Press the auto sector in the U.S. and Canada would last approximately 10 days before they start shutting down the assembly lines in the U.S. and in Ontario.

People are going to lose their jobs, he said.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick earlier said there might be carveouts coming to the 25% tariffs placed on Canada and Mexico.

But, Trump's tariffs have stirred up bad blood among allies who see his aggression on trade as misguided, with Canada suggesting it will reject any offer to water down the day-old tariffs. The trade war is not necessarily a brief skirmish as the White House maintains that even harsher taxes on imports are coming in April, even as businesses and consumers worry that rising costs will crush economic growth, worsen inflation and result in layoffs.

Still, the administration is grappling with the fallout of tariff that could create serious blowback for his political mandate to lower prices. Trump has acknowledged that his tariffs could cause some financial pain, yet he has repeatedly said the tariffs will lead to more domestic investment and factory work.

In a Wednesday interview with Bloomberg Television, Lutnick said that Trump would update his tariff plans with an afternoon announcement, possibly sparing sectors such as autos from the import taxes.

On April 2, Trump plans to announce what he calls reciprocal tariffs to match the tariffs, taxes and subsidies provided by other countries. That could dramatically increase the tariff rates charged globally while maintaining the risk of a broader tariff.

Lutnick said he would talk on Wednesday morning with Trump about the possible options regarding Canada and Mexico, saying that both countries are working to address the U.S. president's concerns about drug trafficking. Lutnick said to expect Trump to announce his decision Wednesday afternoon.

On Tuesday, Trump put 25% taxes on imports from Mexico and Canada, taxing Canadian energy products such as oil and electricity at a lower 10% rate. The president also doubled the 10% tariff he placed on China to 20%. The administration has said the tariffs are about stopping the smuggling of drugs such as fentanyl, but Trump also suggested that the tariffs are about getting rid of persistent U.S. trade deficits.

The taxes almost immediately triggered retaliatory measures by Canada and China, with Mexico planning to announce its response on Sunday. The U.S. stock market has given up all of the gains since Trump's victory in last year's presidential election and consumers are already exhausted by inflation and worried the costs of the tax hike would lead to higher prices. Those concerns may have prompted Lutnick to signal a possible retreat in a Tuesday afternoon interview with the Fox Business Network.

The U.S. president tried to play down the possible economic harm as a little disturbance, as the administration has suggested that the estimates of higher inflation and slower growth in most outside economic forecasts are overblown.

It may be a little bit of an adjustment period, he said after claiming that farmers would benefit from reciprocal tariffs on countries that have tariffs on U.S. exports. You have to bear with me again and this will be even better.

Trump also said in his speech that he spoke on Tuesday with all three, the top people at the major U.S. automakers and they're so excited. The big three automakers are General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler and Jeep. The domestic auto sector would be especially vulnerable to tariffs as it depends on Mexico and Canada as part of its supply chains.

Trudeau said on Tuesday that his country would plaster tariffs on over $100 billion (U.S. dollars) of American goods over the course of 21 days, stressing that the United States had abandoned a long-standing friendship.

Today, the United States launched a trade war against Canada, their closest partner and ally, their closest friend. At the same time, they are talking about working positively with Russia, appeasing Vladimir Putin, a lying, murderous dictator. Make that make sense, Trudeau said on Tuesday.

Mexico indicated it would announce its own countermeasures on Sunday.

Beijing responded with tariffs of up to 15% on a wide array of U.S. farm exports. It also expanded the number of U.S. companies subject to export controls and other restrictions by about two dozen.

If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, were ready to fight till the end, Chinas embassy to the United States posted on X on Tuesday night.

In response to China, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News Channels Fox & Friends that the United States is prepared for war against the world's second largest economy.

Those who long for peace must prepare for war, Hegseth said Wednesday morning. "If we want to deter war with the Chinese or others, we have to be strong."

Leavitt is one of three administration officials who face a lawsuit from The Associated Press on First- and Fifth-amendment grounds. The AP says the three are punishing the news agency for editorial decisions they oppose. The White House says the AP is not following an executive order to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

___

Gillies reported from Toronto.

During Tuesday's joint session of Congress, President Donald Trump indicated that there would be long-term benefits for farmers as he implements numerous tariffs.

President Trump has already imposed 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico and up to 20% tariffs on goods from China. The president has also said that he will impose 25% tariffs on food products imported into the U.S. starting April 2.

But in the near term, President Trump seemed to indicate that farmers might not benefit from the tariffs in the short term.

"The tariffs will go on agricultural product coming into America and our farmers starting on April 2nd, it may be a little bit of an adjustment period, we had that before when I made the deal with China, $50 billion in purchases and I said, just bear with me. And they did, they did. You have to bear with me again and this will be even better," President Trump said on Tuesday.

RELATED STORY | Upcoming Trump tariffs could make things more expensive for American farme

But the National Farmers Union thinks there will be long-term ramifications from tariffs.

We are already facing significant economic uncertainty, and these actions only add to the strain. Trade policies must come with real, tangible protections for the farmers directly affected," National Farmers Union President Rob Larew said. "Weve heard theres a strategy in placenow we need to see it. Promises alone wont pay the bills or keep farms afloat.

Without a clear plan, family farmers will once again be left to bear the burden of decisions beyond their control, and eventually, so will consumers. We urge the administration to work with our trading partners to prevent further harm to rural communities. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, imports are making up a growing share of the United States' fruits and vegetables supply. As of 2021, nearly 60% of fruit and 40% of vegetables consumed in the U.S. are imported.

The U.S. is also increasing the amount of meat it imports every year, with the nation importing more than it exports yearly.

While economists and business leaders say tariffs will result in higher prices for consumer goods, the Trump administration says tariffs will promote domestic job growth while raising government revenue without directly raising taxes.

"Theyre about protecting the soul of our country," President Trump said. "Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again. And its happening. And it will happen rather quickly. Therell be a little disturbance, but were okay with that. It wont be much."

RELATED STORY | Stocks skid as Trump's tariffs are poised to take effect Tuesday

Ten Chinese hackers have been charged alongside two Chinese law enforcement officers in a global hacking campaign that targeted dissidents, news organizations and U.S. agencies, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.

RELATED STORY | Norwegian student arrested on charges of spying on the US for Russia

The hacking by workers of I-Soon was done in some cases at the direction of China's Ministry of Public Security, which received the stolen information and selected targets for the intrusions as part of what U.S. officials say was a massive intelligence-gathering operation.

Among the targets of the hacking was the U.S. Treasury Department, which disclosed a breach by Chinese actors late last year.

I-Soon is part of a sprawling industry in China, documented in an Associated Press investigation last year, of private hacking contractors are companies that steal data from other countries to sell to the Chinese authorities.

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Over the past two decades, Chinese state securitys demand for overseas intelligence has soared, giving rise to a vast network of these private hackers-for-hire companies that have infiltrated hundreds of systems outside China.

For the second time in three seasons, the Michigan State football season will conclude it's regular season with a game at Ford Field, the venue announced on Wednesday.

This comes after Michigan State faced off against Penn State at Ford Field to end its 2023 regular season. This is the third time Michigan State will play at Ford Field, with the Spartans facing off against Florida Atlantic in 2010. Michigan State lost that Penn State game, 42-0, and beat Florida Atlantic 13 years earlier, 30-17.

Playing at Ford Field is an exciting opportunity for Spartan football, said MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller via statement on the upcoming game. The 2023 game proved that this can be a successful and enjoyable venture. I heard from fans, donors, students, and media, all of whom universally raved about their experience at Ford Field. We witnessed what the Detroit Lions experience every game, that Ford Field can be a tremendous home field advantage. Our student-athletes dream of playing in the NFL and to have the opportunity to play in that stadium is a thrill for them as well."

At this time, it is unclear what day the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) will move state championship games usually set for that Thanksgiving weekend but based on the release on this venue change, Haller implies that the state championships will still take place that weekend. The dates of those games are to be determined.

We are very thankful for Ford Field and the Detroit Lions, and all their work to host this game. Beyond that, were grateful for our ongoing partnership with the MHSAA and their accommodations in shifting their weekend schedule. Together, were able to provide a great four-day weekend of football in a terrific setting.

Michigan State season ticket holders will get priority order of tickets, and a section will be set aside for Michigan State students. Haller

"We are excited to welcome Michigan State Football back into Ford Field for another Spartan season finale," said Detroit Lions President and CEO, Rod Wood. "Thanksgiving and football have been a staple in Detroit for the past 91 years and this year will be a true celebration of the game at every level. It is an honor to connect all levels of the game by kicking off the weekend with the Lions and featuring the Big Ten and MHSAA State Championships throughout an amazing four days of football.

Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill are taking aim at the leaders of four so-called sanctuary cities in the U.S. over their policies on the topics of immigration and crime.

The Democratic mayors of New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Denver are appearing Wednesday before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, fielding questions over why they aren't doing more to help detain and deport migrants.

RELATED STORY | New lawsuit against Trump administration over 'illegal targeting' of sanctuary cities

In his opening statement, committee Chairman James Comer blamed the Biden administration for the "border crisis," and questioned why the mayors are allegedly hindering President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.

"The mayors here today each lead a so-called 'Sanctuary City'. And let's be clear: these policies only create sanctuaries for criminals," Congressman Comer said in his prepared remarks. "Sanctuary policies violate federal immigration law by protecting criminal aliens at the expense of the American people."

WATCH | Reps. Comer and Pressley engage in shouting match during House hearing

Shouting match erupts at House hearing over sanctuary city immigration policies

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams rejected Comer's claims, stating that his "top priority" has been to bring crime down in his city. He also noted that New York City has seen three consecutive months of declines in "major crimes."

"To be clear: A 'sanctuary city' classification does not mean our city will ever be a safe haven for violent criminals," Adams said. "It also does not give New York City the authority to violate federal immigration laws."

"As mayor, I do not control who enters or remains in our country, but I do have to manage the population that is within our city," Adams added. "In order to carry out this function without having long-term negative ramifications, I must create an atmosphere that allows every law-abiding resident, documented or not, to access vital services without fear of being turned over to federal authorities."

RELATED STORY | As border crossings plummet, White House wants more money for apprehensions

The hearing comes as President Trump has touted his crackdown on illegal immigration. During his Tuesday night address before a joint session of Congress, he claimed "murderers, human traffickers and gang members" had entered the U.S. thanks to lax border policies under the Biden administration.

"We quickly achieved the lowest number of illegal border crossings ever recorded," he said of his administration's policies so far.

In an executive order signed on the day he took office, President Trump designated several cartels as foreign terror organizations, to facilitate the removal or imprisonment of their members in the U.S. The president has also asked Congress for more funding to expand deportation operations, promising to sign legislation as quickly as it's delivered to his desk.

"The cartels are waging war on America, and it's time for America to wage war on the cartels," he said.

In his first joint address of a second term before Congress, President Donald Trump spoke for nearly an hour and 40 minutes Wednesday night, marking the longest address of its kind in modern American history. Trump celebrated what he considers significant early accomplishments and aspirations for his administration, earning multiple standing ovations from Republican lawmakers.

"We are entering our greatest era," President Trump declared. "With God's help over the next four years, we are going to lead this nation even higher and forge the freest, most advanced, most dynamic, and most dominant civilization ever to exist on the face of this Earth."

He expressed ambition to enhance the quality of life for Americans and to build "the safest, wealthiest, healthiest, and most vital communities anywhere in the world."

The president emphasized a commitment to advancing science and space exploration, vowing to lead humanity toward Mars and beyond.

RELATED STORY | Supreme Court rules against Trump administration in foreign aid case

One major economic theme addressed was tariffs, a topic of considerable discussion heading into the speech. President Trump reaffirmed his support for tariffs as a means to bring jobs back to the United States and bolster domestic manufacturing. He announced that reciprocal tariffs would take effect on April 2 for countries that impose tariffs on American goods.

"We will tariff them back. Whatever they tax us, we will tax them," President Trump stated, reiterating his belief that such measures will protect American interests.

The presidents tone shifted regarding Ukraine, as he aimed to ease tensions following a recent contentious meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. President Trump hinted at a willingness to pursue diplomatic solutions to the ongoing conflict.

"We've had serious discussions with Russia and received strong signals that they are ready for peace," he said, framing the conflict as "senseless."

Although Trump appeared to extend an olive branch to Ukraine, a report from the Financial Times indicated that the U.S. may be halting intelligence sharing with the nation.

Democrats in attendance reacted variably to Trump's address. Some boycotted the speech, while others donned colors to show solidarity with different causes. Texas Congressman Al Green was forcibly removed after disrupting the address to proclaim that President Trump lacked a mandate to lead.

The official Democratic response was provided by Sen. Alyssa Slotkin of Michigan, who criticized the president's approach to foreign relations.

"Trump believes in cozying up to dictators like Vladimir Putin and kicking our friends like the Canadians in the teeth," Slotkin said. "He sees American leadership as merely a series of real estate transactions."

As Trumps administration faces challenges ahead regarding tariffs, Ukraine, and proposed tax legislation, political analysts expect these issues to dominate the narrative in the coming months. Despite Republican control of both the House and Senate, the path forward for the presidents tax bill appears fraught with difficulty.

The trial for Marshella Chidester, the woman charged in the Swan Boat Club crash that killed 2 kids last year, resumed on Wednesday with several more people taking the stand for the prosecution.

Just before 11 a.m., the prosecution rested its case.

The defense began presenting its case on Wednesday afternoon before court was adjourned for the day around 1:40 p.m.

The defense will call a few more witnesses to the stand on Thursday morning, with closing arguments and final jury instructions expected that same day.

It's alleged that Marshella Chidester was drunk at the time of the deadly crash. She claims she has a history of seizures and does not remember anything.

Watch below: Coverage from the first day of the trial Jury seated in trial of woman charged in Swan Boat Club crash that killed 2 kids

On Tuesday afternoon, the second day of the trial, Mariah Dodds, the mother of the two children who were killed in the crash, took the stand.

VIDEO: Hear her testimony in the video below Mom of victims in Swan Boat Club crash takes stand

She said she was also hit and remembers waking up in the hospital.

"And then I freaked out because it hit me wheres my kids at and then thats when she told me that Jayden was life flighted and Zayn and Alanah were no longer here," she testified.

On Tuesday morning, several law enforcement officials took the stand, including Monroe County sheriff's deputies and others.

During the afternoon portion, other victims took the stand and talked about the injuries they sustained in the crash.

Court will resume on Wednesday morning.

What happened during day one?

On Monday, a jury was seated in the trial and eight witnesses took the stand in Monroe County Circuit Court.

One of those witnesses, Kristyn Sigler, threw the birthday party at the club when the crash happened. Her two Godchildren, 8-year-old Alanah Phillips and 4-year-old Zayn Phillips, were killed when Chidester's car came barreling through the wall.

There was a very loud, sounded like a bomb," Sigler said.

Sigler said that Chidester's car pinned Alanah's body against a door frame. She pulled Zayne out from under the car.

"I said, 'Do you know who you are?' He said, 'Yes Zayn.' I said, 'Do you know who I am?' He said, 'Yes god mama,'" she said.

Video brought forth by the second witness shows the chaos inside the boat house minutes after the crash. You can hear a woman screaming and crying asking, "who is it? who is under the car?"

The fourth and fifth witnesses said that amid the chaos, Chidester appeared drunk and kept repeating that she passed out.

Chidester faces two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of operating while intoxicated causing death and four counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury.

Outside the court, Chidester's attorney, Bill Colovos, said he believes the biggest hurdle will be proving that Chidester was not drunk.

However, the prosecution says Chidester was, and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office said Chidester's blood-alcohol content was .18, more than twice the legal limit.

Near the end of the day on Monday, body camera video was played of Chidester being escorted out of the boat house.

In the video from the Monroe County Sheriff's office, Chidester said she passed out and has had seizures. She also admitted to drinking a little bit.

Watch bodycam videos below: 'I passed out.' Body cam video shows driver after Swan Boat Club crash Marshella Chidester said she wouldn't let herself drive in new bodycam video

Chidester sat down with 7 News Detroit last May to share what happened from her point of view.

I just want people to know how very, very disturbed I am by the situation. I dont remember what happened. I can only say that Ive been praying for everyone thats been injured, Chidester told us at her home, which is just feet from the boat club.

She claims she doesnt remember anything that led to the crash due to her neuropathy and heart problems. She also says she has a history of seizures and her memory goes out during her episodes, which is what she says believes happened that day. She hadn't driven after her latest seizure in October. After six months seizure-free she felt comfortable getting behind the wheel when she believes it happened again April 20.

Previous coverage: 'Its horrific': Driver in deadly Swan Boat Club crash breaks her silence 'Its horrific': Driver in deadly Swan Boat Club crash breaks her silence

The U.S. Supreme Court has instructed a federal district court enforce a temporary restraining order that prevented the Trump administration from blocking the payment of approximately $2 billion in foreign aid. This effectively means the White House must followed a court-ordered process in releasing the funds.

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of dismissing the Trump administration's sovereign immunity argument. The Trump administration had tried to block the payment of grants funded by Congress for U.S. Agency for International Development programs.

The Trump administration was sued by the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, which said it had funding promised by the government frozen by the White House. The AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition said it provides effective HIV prevention options to countries around the world.

RELATED STORY | The Trump administration is putting USAID staffers on leave worldwide and firing at least 1,600

USAID is at the forefront of global development and humanitarian assistance, working in over 100 countries to promote economic growth, health, education, and democratic governance. However, the Trump administration claims it is rife with wasteful spending and fraud.

The Trump administration claimed that the plaintiffs could not file a suit against the government without its consent. Previously, a district court rejected this argument and said the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition is allowed to claim their payment rights.

Justice Samuel Alito authored a dissenting opinion, questioning the district court's authority to compel a $2 billion payment.

"Today, the Court makes a most unfortunate misstep that rewards an act of judicial hubris and imposes a $2 billion penalty on American taxpayers. The District Court has made plain its frustration with the Government, and respondents raise serious concerns about nonpayment for completed work. But the relief ordered is, quite simply, too extreme a response," Alito wrote.

The American Civil Liberties Union welcomed the Supreme Court's decision in the case.

President Trumps attempt to halt foreign aid funding was a reckless, cruel, and unprecedented abuse of executive power. The lower court rightly held that President Trump exceeded his authority when he unilaterally declared he was freezing funding for programs Congress had already authorized, stiffing federal contractors who had already done work," said Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union. "Were pleased to see the Supreme Court uphold the Constitution and act as an essential check on the executive branch in this case brought by Public Citizen."

Powerful storms that killed two people in Mississippi and ripped roofs from buildings in a small Oklahoma town charged across the nation, threatening more communities Wednesday in the central to eastern United States with wide-ranging weather.

Meanwhile, forecasters warned that a Pacific storm was expected to bring widespread rain and mountain snow across California and other parts of the West from Wednesday into Friday.

A tornado watch was issued Wednesday morning for parts of North and South Carolina until early afternoon. Tornado warnings were issued in Florida and South Carolina on Wednesday morning.

RELATED STORY | Powerful storms threaten Mardi Gras finale celebrations in New Orleans

On Tuesday, high winds forced some changes to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, which moved up and shortened the two biggest parades to wrap them up ahead of the bad weather. Tornadoes touched down Tuesday in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, according to preliminary information from the National Weather Service.

In Mississippi, two people died due to the severe weather, Gov. Tate Reeves said Tuesday in a social media post without going into detail. WAPT-TV reported that one person died from a falling power line in Madison County, while a driver in the same county was killed by a tree falling on his car.

On Wednesday morning, Nebraska officials warned that travel was not advised in the eastern part of the state, where high winds were limiting visibility. A 130-mile stretch of Interstate 80 was closed from Greenwood to Grand Island, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

Blizzard conditions in parts of southern Minnesota made travel there dangerous Wednesday morning, the weather service office in the Twin Cities warned on social media. Heavy snow and strong northerly winds slowed travel across much of the Twin Cities, southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin, the weather service said.

RELATED STORY | Yes, you actually can be allergic to the cold

The storms have left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity service on Wednesday morning across the central and southeastern United States, including more than 111,000 customers in Texas, about 54,000 in Tennessee and about 53,000 in Alabama, according to PowerOutage.us.

After more than 850 flights were canceled nationwide on Tuesday, the storm was beginning to snarl traffic at some of the nations busiest airports on the East Coast, which typically causes ripple effects throughout the nations commercial aviation system. Nearly 500 flights scheduled to fly into or out of U.S. airports on Wednesday have been canceled, according to FlightAware.com, which tracks cancelations and delays nationwide.

A judge declared three Michigan brothers dead Wednesday, more than 14 years after they disappeared at Thanksgiving in a small-town tragedy that remains unsolved despite an explicit belief by investigators that their father is responsible.

Lenawee County Judge Catherine Sala granted a request by Tanya Zuvers, the mother of Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton, and set the date of death as Nov. 26, 2010.

Watch below: Investigators say there's no sign that 3 Skelton brothers are alive years later

Investigators say there's no sign that 3 Skelton brothers are alive years later

This is a case of terrible and longstanding impact on the community of Lenawee, Sala said. No condolences will ever be enough for such loss suffered.

But at the same time, the judge rejected a request to also acknowledge that the boys' father, John Skelton, murdered the children.

To make such a finding, the court would only be joining those voices offering such speculation and theory given the lack of information, Sala said.

Skelton, 53, has not been charged with killing his sons. By November, he is expected to complete a 15-year prison sentence for his failure to return the boys to Zuvers, the only conviction so far.

Zuvers testified Monday that a formal declaration of death would give her closure and provide respect to the boys, who were 9, 7 and 5 in 2010. They disappeared while with their father at Thanksgiving in Morenci, a town along the Ohio border.

Skelton and Zuvers were having problems and living apart in Morenci. The boys were supposed to go back to their mom the next day. Instead, they were gone.

They have not been found, despite countless searches of woods and water in Michigan and Ohio and tips from across the country.

Police said Skelton fed them a long string of lies about the boys' whereabouts, sending investigators to an old schoolhouse in Kunkle, Ohio, and a dumpster in Holiday City, Ohio. Police said claims that the boys were handed to other people for their safety also turned out to be false.

Skelton declined to participate in the hearing to have the brothers declared dead.

Anything I say isnt going to make a difference, he said by video conference from prison.

An attorney for Jennifer Crumbley has filed a motion seeking to remove Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald from the case.

Attorney Michael Dezsi filed the motion in Oakland County Court, saying in the motion that McDonald "cannot be trusted to prosecute this case consistent with the constitutional, legal, and ethical duties imposed upon her office."

Watch below: Judge hears arguments over request for new trial in Jennifer Crumbley case

Judge hears arguments over request for new trial in Jennifer Crumbley case

Dezsi cited two secret agreements called "proffer agreements" and said that the prosecutor's office hired two public relations firms for a "smear campaign" against the Crumbleys.

Earlier this year, Jennifer was back in court fighting to get a new trial with Deszi arguing the proffer agreements were not properly disclosed. A proffer agreement is a legally binding contract between a defendant or witness and a federal prosecutor.

In this case, it would allow the witness to provide information on the stand with the agreement that the government won't use it against them in court.

Hear more from her attorney in the video below

Jennifer Crumbley's attorney speaks on motion to remove Oakland County prosecutor

Jennifer was convicted on four counts of involuntary manslaughter connected to the deadly Oxford High School shooting in November 2021. Her son was the shooter who killed four students Hana St. Juliana, Justin Shilling, Tate Myre and Madisyn Baldwin. Her husband, James, was convicted on the same charges.

The two proffer agreements Dezsi referred to Friday were ones the prosecution made in 2024 with Oxford High School counselor Shawn Hopkins and former Dean of Students Nicholas Ejak.

The prosecution did not tell the defense about the agreements during the 2024 trial, which Desi argues is a violation of the discovery rule.

The discovery rule requires that, upon request, the prosecuting attorney provide any plea agreement, grant of immunity, or other agreement for testimony in connection with the case.

During the hearing in January, The prosecution argued against Dezsi's claims, saying there was no discovery violation, the witnesses were not required to testify, and there was no immunity guaranteed.

"There was no grant of immunity, Judge," said Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast.

"It's not use of immunity?" replied Judge Matthews.

"It is not, Judge. The only way to grant immunity is to petition the court for immunity," said Keast.

Nicholas Ejak and Shawn Hopkins met with the Oxford school shooter and his parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, on the day of the shooting. Each was a witness that Jennifer Crumbley did not search her son's backpack or take him home that day.

A sharply divided Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a Trump administration push to rebuke a federal judge who imposed a quick deadline to release billions of dollars in foreign aid.

By a 5-4 vote, the court told U.S. District Judge Amir Ali to clarify his earlier order that required the Republican administration to release nearly $2 billion in aid for work that had already been done.

Justice Samuel Alito led four conservative justices in dissent, saying Ali lacks the authority to order the payments. Alito wrote that he is stunned the court is rewarding an act of judicial hubris.

The courts action leaves in place Alis temporary restraining order that had paused the spending freeze, Ali is holding a hearing Thursday to consider a more lasting pause.

The majority noted that the administration had not challenged Alis initial order, only the deadline.

The court told Ali to clarify what obligations the government must fulfill to ensure compliance with the temporary restraining order, with due regard for the feasibility of any compliance timelines.

The administration has argued that the situation has changed because it has replaced a blanket spending freeze with individualized determinations that led to the cancellation of 5,800 U.S. Agency for International Development contracts and another 4,100 State Department grants totaling nearly $60 billion in aid.

Ali ordered the funding temporarily restored on Feb. 13, but nearly two weeks later he found the government was giving no sign of complying and set a deadline to release payment for work already completed.The administration appealed, calling Alis order incredibly intrusive and profoundly erroneous and protesting the timeline to release the money.