Despite facing pressure from the Trump administration, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced that interest rates will remain unchanged as concerns remain over inflation and the job market.

After increasing interest rates to their highest levels in decades in 2023, the Federal Reserve started easing interest rates in September 2024 as annual inflation rates began stabilizing below 3%. The Federal Reserve implemented two additional rate drops in late 2024.

But lately, the annual consumer inflation rate has crept slightly higher, causing the Federal Reserve to pause any additional rate cuts. The Federal Reserve noted that the job market remains strong, another key determining factor in whether to adjust interest rates.

Powell has said the Federal Reserve is trying to balance the need to reduce inflation while preventing the labor market from being stifled. In recent cases when interest rates increased, like they did in 2000 and 2007, a recession followed.

RELATED STORY | Potential homebuyers could face steep mortgages due to interest rates staying put

"The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run. The Committee judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are roughly in balance. The economic outlook is uncertain, and the Committee is attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate," the Federal Reserve said.

During last week's World Economic Forum, President Trump said, "Ill demand that interest rates drop immediately, and likewise, they should be dropping all over the world.

The consumer price index, the top measure for consumer inflation in the U.S., increased in December to 2.9% in the 12-month period ending last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which released the updated consumer price index earlier this month.

December marked the third consecutive month the consumer price index rose, after dipping to an annualized rate of 2.4% in September.

Experts have said that the federal interest rate has the largest effect on car loans and similar large purchases.

Mortgage rates, although not directly tied to the federal interest rate, also reached a 23-year high in 2023 and any future drop in interest rates would likely trickle down to Americans looking to buy a home.

Human-caused climate change increased the likelihood and intensity of the hot, dry and windy conditions that fanned the flames of the recent devastating Southern California wildfires, a scientific study found.

But the myriad of causes that go into the still smoldering fires are complex, so the level of global warming's fingerprints on weeks of burning appears relatively small compared to previous studies of killer heat waves, floods and droughts by the international team at World Weather Attribution. Tuesday's report, too rapid for peer review yet, found global warming boosted the likelihood of high fire weather conditions in this month's fires by 35% and its intensity by 6%.

Once-in-a-decade super strong Santa Ana winds, a dry autumn that followed two very wet years that caused rapid growth in flammable chaparral and grass, hot weather, dry air and vulnerable houses in fire-prone areas all were factors in the fast-moving fires that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 29 people, study authors said. But the climate attribution team was only able to quantify issues that dealt with the fire weather index, which are the meteorological conditions that add up to fire danger.

RELATED STORY | California will spend $2.5 billion to help the Los Angeles area recover from wildfires

The fire weather index which includes measurements of past rainfall, humidity and wind speed is where the team looked and found markers of climate change that they could quantify.

The team used observations of past weather and computer simulations that compared what happened this month to a what-if world without the 1.3 degrees Celsius of human-caused climate change that Earth has had since industrial times. That allowed them to come up with a calculation for warming's contribution to the disaster. It's a method that the National Academy of Sciences says is valid. Even though these rapid studies aren't yet peer-reviewed, nearly all of them are published later in peer-reviewed journals without significant changes, said World Weather Attribution co-lead scientist Friederike Otto.

"The number (35%) doesn't sound like much" because, unlike dozens of its past studies, the team looked at a small area and a complex meteorological measurement in the fire weather index that would generally mean there would be large uncertainties, said Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London. But in this case the climate change fingerprint is big enough that it stands out, she said.

Those conditions are part of what makes California attractive to 25 million residents, said study co-author John Abatzoglou, a climate and fire scientist at the University of California Merced.

RELATED STORY | It's not really the right time for nasty California fires. What are the factors that changed that?

Southern California has "some of the best climate, best weather on the planet except when you get a combination of conditions that occurred here," Abatzoglou said. "You get the trifecta of dry windy and warm conditions. Those three things, in combination with dry fuels and ignitions, are the perfect recipe for fire disasters."

Abatzoglou said it's like a bunch of switches dryness, fuels, high temperatures, wind and ignition that all need to be turned on "for conditions to really take off." Think of it as switches for a light bulb to illuminate "and so you can think about the artificial warming due to human-caused climate change making the light brighter," added co-author Park Williams, a UCLA fire and climate scientist.

The study also found California's dry season has increased by 23 days and the lack of rain in October, November and December was more than twice as likely now than in pre-industrial times, but because of limitations on the data, researchers couldn't statistically pinpoint these to both climate change and the specific fires this month, Otto said. But she said "the rains are decreasing that is because of human-induced climate change."

Then add in strong winds to whip and spread flames.

RELATED STORY | World on pace for significantly more warming without immediate climate action, report warns

Mike Flannigan, a Canadian fire scientist who wasn't part of the research, said one key to him is the fire season extending longer and "increasing the chance a fire will start during peak Santa Ana winds."

The research couldn't specifically quantify how much, if any, climate change affected the Santa Ana winds.

Craig Clements, a climate scientist and director of wildfire study at San Jose State University, said the rapid study makes sense and fits with past research about other fires.

"It's hard to attribute climate change to every fire event as many do," said Clements, who wasn't part of the research. "If we can state with confidence that the drought is caused by climate change then that is the fingerprint."

If the world warms another 1.3 degrees Celsius from now, the study said people should expect the type of weather conditions that led to these fires to happen another 35% more often.

Otto said this is not an issue of politics, but science.

"It's not something where you can say that this was because California did something very wrong. They did a lot of things right. They did some things that they could do better," Otto said. "But what makes these ever more dangerous, these fires, and what is something that the government of California alone can definitely not do anything about is human-induced climate change. And drill, baby drill will make this much, much worse."

A controversial Melvindale police lieutenant was accused in a civil lawsuit Tuesday of assault and battery and false arrest.

The allegations stem from a July 2024 traffic stop where the suspect, Drakkar Williams, recently saw most of the criminal charges against him dismissed.

Williams was stopped by Melvindale Lieutenant Matthew Furman on July 20

th

after driving around traffic barricades. Williams, it would later be determined, was driving on a revoked drivers license.

RELATED: Controversial Melvindale Lt. fends off claim of excessive force involving Taser

After being asked multiple times to step out of his vehicle, Williams would be repeatedly drive stunned by Furman and, later, alleged that the lieutenant grabbed his hair while he was handcuffed and struck his head into the back of a fire truck.

Last week, charges of resisting arrest, interfering with police, providing false information to a police officer and others lodged against Williams were dismissed.

Williams entered a plea of guilty to driving without insurance and on a revoked license and was found responsible for driving with tinted windows.

Tuesday in Wayne County Circuit Court, Williams filed a lawsuit against Furman, another lieutenant on the scene that day and the Melvindale Police Department, alleging gross negligence, assault and battery, false arrest and more.

Last week, a 7 News Detroit investigation revealed the litany of allegations made against Furman throughout his career by citizens and fellow officers.

Furman denied wrongdoing in each case, saying his proactive policing strategy makes him an easy target.

For the last several months, Furmans actions during the Williams arrest have been the subject of a Michigan State Police investigation that remains ongoing.

Furman did not respond to a request for comment for this story.

Contact 7 Investigator Ross Jones at ross.jones@wxyz.com or at (248) 827-9466.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to meet with him at the White House.

An Israeli official confirmed Wednesday that Netanyahu is expected to arrive in Washington, D.C., early next week and does not have any other meetings scheduled with any other U.S. officials at this time.

RELATED STORY | Israel frees 90 Palestinian prisoners as ceasefire takes hold

"I look forward to discussing how we can bring peace to Israel and its neighbors, and efforts to counter our shared adversaries," a letter from Netanyahu's office said, according to The Associated Press.

It comes as Netanyahu was meeting earlier Wednesday in Jerusalem with Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy to the Middle East.

Witkoff worked closely alongside former President Biden's special envoy to the region to help negotiate the ceasefire and hostage release deal earlier this month between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

RELATED STORY | Trump calls for a US 'Iron Dome' missile defense system

This is expected to be the first time President Trump and Netanyahu will meet in-person since July, when Netanyahu took a trip to Florida to meet with then-presidential candidate Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

At the time, Trump pressed the Israeli prime minister on the importance of ending his country's war against Hamas and bringing peace to the Middle East.

Following widespread confusion, lawsuits and backlash, the Trump administration rescinded a memo that attempted to pause federal funding for grants and loan programs.

A memo to heads of executive government departments says, "OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded. If you have questions about implementing the Presidents Executive Orders, please contact your agency General Counsel."

The original memo stated the order was set to go into effect on Tuesday, but was halted after a federal judge granted a "brief administrative stay."

The order stemmed from a lawsuit brought by Democracy First on behalf of the National Council of Nonprofits, American Public Health Association, Main Street Alliance and SAGE.

Facing legal pressure from our clients and in the wake of a federal judge ruling in our case last evening, the Trump-Vance administration has abandoned OMBs ordered federal funding freeze. We are proud of our courageous clients -- who represent communities across the nation -- for going to court to stop the administration's unlawful actions," said Skye Perryman, CEO of Democracy Forward.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attempted to clarify why the Trump administration rescinded the memo.

"In light of the injunction, OMB has rescinded the memo to end any confusion on federal policy created by the court ruling and the dishonest media coverage," she stated. "The Executive Orders issued by the President on funding reviews remain in full force and effect and will be rigorously implemented by all agencies and departments. This action should effectively end the court case and allow the government to focus on enforcing the Presidents orders on controlling federal spending. In the coming weeks and months, more executive action will continue to end the egregious waste of federal funding."

About two dozen states, including New York and California, also sued to fight against the funding freeze, which could have impacted federal infrastructure projects, foreign aid commitments and grants for nonprofit organizations and services.

https://x.com/NewYorkStateAG/status/1884675329496649832

The proposed pause was not meant to be permanent and was intended to give federal agencies time to ensure their grants, loans and programs comply with Trump administration policies and goals, officials said.

Starbucks announced plans to cut out 30% of its menu items by later this year on its most recent investor call, according to multiple outlets.

It's part of the coffee shop giant's broader brand re-focus that it's calling "Back to Starbucks" in efforts to bring back customers after posting another loss in the most recent quarter.

New CEO Brian Niccol did not specify which menu items are being axed, but the company has already removed its olive oil drink line less than a year after it launched the brainchild of former CEO Howard Schultz.

RELATED STORY | Hanging out at Starbucks will cost you as company reverses its open-door policy

Starbucks recently announced it was bringing back its condiment bar and free refills and it will no longer charge extra for nondairy milk in its beverages.

It's also reversing its open-door policy, where things like its restrooms are only available to customers.

While were only one quarter into our turnaround, were moving quickly to act on the 'Back to Starbucks' efforts and weve seen a positive response, said Brian Niccol in a press release. We believe this is the fundamental change in strategy needed to solve our underlying issues, restore confidence in our brand and return the business to sustainable, long-term growth."

President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to halt what he calls radical indoctrination in K-12 schools, specifically targeting "critical race theory" and "gender ideology."

The order prohibits federal funding for schools that incorporate critical race theory and other teachings Trumps administration deems inappropriate.

It also directs the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Defense, who oversees Department of Defense-run schools, to develop a strategy within 90 days to halt such teachings from classrooms.

The order fulfills a promise President Trump made while campaigning.

On day one, I will sign a new executive order to cut federal funding for any school pushing Critical Race Theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children, Trump previously said.

RELATED STORY | Trump order aims to end federal support for gender transitions for those under 19

The executive order reinstates a previous Trump-era policy, which reintroduces the 1776 Commission. It's an initiative aimed at promoting patriotic education.

"Unfortunately, some versions of American history offer a misconstrued and one-sided account of our founding in an effort to paint America as a systemically racist country," the original policy stated.

The wide-ranging impact of Trump's latest executive order remains to be seen as most education decisions are made a the local level.

What is critical race theory?

Critical race theory is an academic concept that was originally taught at the college level. It involves analyzing how race and racism intersect with social structures and institutions.

The extent to which critical race theory is taught in K-12 schools. While it may not be taught in its original form, critical race theory has taken on a new meaning for some. Some conservatives argue discussions around diversity, equity and inclusion amount to critical race theory.

President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law on Wednesday, marking the first law enacted during his second term.

The act requires members of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain any illegal immigrant who is arrested, charged or convicted with burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. In passing the bill, the Senate also added two acts to the list of offenses that force ICE to act: assault of a law enforcement officer and acts causing death or injury.

RELATED STORY | President Trump pardons about 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants, commutes sentences for 14 others

The act is named for Laken Riley, a University of Georgia student who was killed by Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan immigrant who entered the country illegally in 2022. Ibarra was sentenced in November of 2024 to life in prison for the murder.

The bill passed by a vote of 263-156 in the House. All GOP members of the House who voted were in favor of passing the bill, while 156 Democrats voted against it. Before that, the bill passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 64-35, where the yes votes included 12 Democratic senators.

The act was signed as President Trump has touted stepped-up deportations of migrants in the U.S. illegally.

RELATED STORY | Nearly two dozen states sue over Trump's order to end birthright citizenship

Metro Detroit dog lovers will soon have another place to take their pups. A new dog park is set to open in Southfield this summer.

Barkside, a Detroit dog park and bar, announced its opening another location at 15640 West Eleven Mile Road.

Related Video: Barkside opens on Detroit's east side Dog bar opens on Detroit's east side

Barkside Southfield will feature 6,000 square feet of indoor play space and 7,000 square feet of outdoor space, offering an experience for dogs and their humans, blending community, craft beverages, and safe, year-round fun.

Our vision for Barkside has always been about more than just a bar or a dog park. Its about creating a place where dog lovers and dogs can safely socialize, unwind, and have fun, said founders Cody Williams and David Oh in a press release. Southfields central location makes it the perfect spot to bring Barksides unique concept and strong sense of community to even more Metro Detroit dog lovers.

Courtesy: Stucky Vitale Architects

Barkside said the outdoor space will be fully fenced with dog-friendly mulch and drainage in the event of rain. There will also reportedly be dedicated indoor and outdoor play areas specially designed for small dogs.

The bars menu will reportedly include Michigan-made beer, craft cocktails, wine, mocktails, and coffee.

Courtesy: Stucky Vitale Architects

For more information on Barkside, click here.

The Justice Department on Wednesday abandoned all criminal proceedings against the two co-defendants of President Donald Trump in the Florida classified documents case, wiping out any legal peril the pair could have faced.

Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira were charged with conspiring with Trump to obstruct an FBI investigation into the hoarding of classified documents that the Republican took with him when he left the White House after his first term.

RELATED STORY | Trump's personal assistant Walt Nauta pleads not guilty at arraignment

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case, in July, saying that the prosecutor who brought it, special counsel Jack Smith, had been illegally appointed by the Justice Department. Smiths team ended its case against Trump after his November election win, citing longstanding department policy that says sitting presidents cannot be indicted.

But its appeal of the dismissal of charges against Nauta and De Olivera remained pending. On Wednesday, prosecutors informed the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that it had withdrawn the appeal, formally ending the case.

RELATED STORY | Trump sentenced to unconditional discharge in NY hush money case, avoids jail time

The United States of America moves to voluntarily dismiss its appeal with prejudice, prosecutors wrote. The government has conferred with counsel for Appellees Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, who do not object to the voluntary dismissal.

The Justice Department had previously committed to not making public Smiths report on the classified documents investigation as long as proceedings remained ongoing against Nauta and De Oliveira. But the Trump administration Justice Department is widely expected to keep the report permanently under wraps.

Stephen Rogison, the owner of Batch Brewing Company in Detroit, posted a warning on social media this week about what he said will be a "brutal" 2025, and shared what people can do to help restaurants and bars.

"It's never been harder out here. We hope youre in a place where you can get out and support your local haunts," the brewery wrote on the post. "Every single brewery, restaurant, and bar needs your patronage right now. Were all relying on you. No pressure."

In the video, Rogison read a list of the restaurants and bars that closed in metro Detroit for about a minute and a half, adding that it doesn't include all of them.

He said that January is not high season for restaurants and bars in metro Detroit or anywhere in the Midwest.

Rogison gave a suggestion for people to help keep their favorite spots open throughout the year.

"Go out and spend money twice a week at an independently-owned restaurant, brewery or bar from now until the end of March," he said in the video.

"It's more or less in your hands who's still going to be operating in 2026, so hopefully you know what to do," he added.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rogison built a large pavilion in Batch's parking lot a permanent beer garden  that he used to help other restaurants that did not have outdoor dining host pop-ups at the brewery. He also partnered with Detroit BBQ company for a "pay-what-you-can" pig and veggie roast for those in the industry who were struggling during the pandemic.

The overwhelming majority of Greenlanders do not want their island to become a part of the United States, according to a new poll.

Only 6% said they would be in favor of their autonomous Arctic nation joining the U.S. while 85% said they wouldn't and 9% were undecided on the matter.

The poll was conducted by Verian and commissioned by the Danish newspaper Berlingske and Greenlandic daily Sermitsiaq, according to Reuters as President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to acquire the Danish territory.

RELATED STORY | Denmark reportedly requests meeting with Trump about Greenland, US military presence

The survey found that 45% of the Greenlanders viewed President Trump's interest as a threat, while 43% saw it as an opportunity.

However, only 8% of the residents would be willing to adopt U.S. citizenship over Denmark, which is known for its free education and universal healthcare.

This latest poll debunks another poll that Berlingske reported was used as propaganda in Russian media, which claimed the majority of Greenlanders wanted to be a part of the U.S.

RELATED STORY | Trump won't rule out military intervention for Greenland as son visits island

Millions of Americans are seeing AI-integrated tools in their doctors offices and the trend is set to continue.

Tampa General Hospital, a nonprofit health system, utilizes AI tools to monitor operations and track patient vitals. Using a tool to monitor patients for sepsis, the hospital has reportedly saved more than 400 lives since its inception in 2022. Its also cut wait times for MRIs and streamlined operations.

Across the country states like New Jersey, Utah, Connecticut and Pennsylvania lead in AI adoption in hospitals, according to an Oxford University Press study.

However, the growing use of AI in health care settings has some states searching for guardrails. Colorado became the first state to enact a comprehensive law around AI, banning the technology from making consequential decisions in health care.

In Florida, there are no rules or requirements around AI in health care. Tampa General created its own governance board to fill the gap.

There's no playbook, right? Were really trying to figure this out and be as intentional as possible around the work, said Dr. Nishit Patel, chief medical informatics officer at Tampa General.

The board is comprised of technologists, ethicists and health care workers.

"When we deploy tools like this that really have the profound ability to do something amazing, but also to do something terrible at scale, we have to be thinking about how do we evaluate these tools from a holistic framework," Patel said.

RELATED STORY | What to know about DeepSeek, China's new AI chatbot

Patel noted that all medical decisions at Tampa General are made by people, not technology.

The oversight is essential as the portfolio of AI health products explodes.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved more than 1,000 AI tools for use in health care, the majority in imaging or radiology. The rapid development of these tools occurred in the past three years after the release of ChatGPT in 2022.

Despite the benefits, there is significant public concern about AI in health care. A Pew Research Center poll found that 60% of Americans are uncomfortable with their health care provider relying on AI.

For now, there are no set standards. A patchwork of rules and oversight governs the use of AI in health care, at individual institutions, medical groups or at state or local levels.

RELATED STORY | Trump announces up to $500 billion private investment into AI infrastructure

On the federal level, President Donald Trump repealed former President Joe Bidens 2023 executive order that placed guardrails on the fast-developing technology.

In early January, the FDA issued proposed recommendations for developers of AI-enabled medical devices to manage risk throughout a tool's life cycle. If approved, it would be the first at the federal level to try and manage risk in this space.

It's something Patel says will be an ongoing process as technology evolves.

"There's a new technology tool that comes out every day almost," said Dr. Jamie Weber, associate chief informatics officer at Tampa General Hospital. "And its really about how your team can use that tool to do the right thing for the patient."

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib stood alongside other officials on Wednesday morning to speak on immigrant rights, after thousands of immigrants were arrested nationwide over the last few days.

WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE VIDEO PLAYER BELOW WATCH: Rashida Tlaib and other officials speak at Know Your Rights press conference held by ACRL

"We're here to say 'not on our watch'. We're going to protect our neighbors," Tlaib said. "So not on our watch will you come and use racist policies (and) use stereotypes to try to depict our neighbors as criminals, as violent people. They are not. They are some of the hardest-working, most loving community members that you will ever find."

This comes after reports of increased presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Michigan cities such as Ann Arbor and Detroit have been confirmed by officials as President Donald Trump continues his nationwide immigration crackdown.

WATCH OUR PREVIOUS COVERAGE: ICE Activity spotted from Ann Arbor to Detroit ICE activity spotted from Ann Arbor to Detroit RELATED: Arab American Civil Rights League holds Know Your Rights press conference in Dearborn Arab American Civil Rights League holds Know Your Rights press conference in Dearborn

Tlaib was joined at the press conference by:

Detroit City Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero Ruby Robinson, Managing Attorney, Michigan Immigrant Rights Center Adonis Flores, Training Director, Michigan United Action Seydi Sarr, African Bureau for Immigration and Social Affairs (ABISA) Ramis Wadood, Staff Attorney, ACLU of Michigan

"This country is a nation of immigrants," Santiago-Romero said. "And unfortunately immigrants right now, particularly immigrants of color, are being villainized. I'm here to remind folks that undocumented immigrants pay billions of dollars in taxes. We are an important piece ... of the fabric of this country."

More info on knowing your rights is on this website, written in both English and Spanish.

Where Your Voice Matters

President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Wednesday supporting school choice programs, according to a White House document on the action obtained by Scripps News.

The order directs the federal government to prioritize funding to support school choice programs and directs the Secretary of Education to prioritize school choice programs in discretionary grantmaking.

It recognizes that parents, not the government, play a fundamental role in choosing and directing the upbringing and education of their children, the document states.

The new action also requires the department to issue guidance on how states can use federal dollars to support K-12 scholarship programs and direct the Department of Health and Human Services to share guidance on how block grants to states can be used to support alternative education -- including private and faith-based institutions.

The executive order requires the Secretary of Defense to share a plan on how military families can use defense funds for school choice, and the Secretary of the Interior to share a plan on the use of federal funds for students in the Bureau of Indian Education Schools.

RELATED STORY | Oklahoma Board of Education approves plan to require proof of citizenship

Every child deserves the best education available, regardless of their zip code. However, for generations, our government-assigned education system has failed millions of parents, students, and teachers, the document states. This Executive Order begins to rectify that wrong by opening up opportunities for students to attend the school that best fits their needs.

The White House, according to the document, contends school choice programs improve academic performance, are cost-effective and have majority support.

The news of the executive order comes on the same day that new government data was released about student academic progress in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new figures from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, a bi-annual analysis of federal test scores often dubbed the Nations Report Card, show that while American students have made modest improvements in mathematics, their reading scores remain down significantly even lower than pre-pandemic levels.

Overall, student achievement has not returned to pre-pandemic performance, NCES Commissioner Peggy Carr said in a statement. Where there are signs of recovery, they are mostly in math and largely driven by higher-performing students. Lower-performing students are struggling, especially in reading.

In math, fourth-grade students test scores improved by about two percentage points over the past two years, following a 5-point decline from 2019 to 2022. Eighth-grade students math scores showed no significant change.

RELATED STORY | Florida's lieutenant governor no longer supports in-state tuition for undocumented students

In reading, however, student progress was significantly worse. NEAP uses three categories to classify student achievement: basic, proficient and advanced. According to the new data, the proportion of eighth-grade students scoring below the basic category was the largest in the assessments history, while the proportion of fourth graders scoring below basic was the largest in 20 years.

Todays NAEP results reveal a heartbreaking reality for American students and confirm our worst fears: not only did most students not recover from pandemic-related learning loss, but those students who were the most behind and needed the most support have fallen even further behind, the Dept. of Education said in a statement. The Trump Administration is committed to reorienting our education system to fully empower states, to prioritize meaningful learning, and provide universal access to high-quality instruction.

Brandon Cardet-Hernandez, a former New York City schoolteacher, principal and education policy advisor to Mayor Bill de Blasio, who now runs an education technology company, told Scripps News in an interview he thought the new NEAP data was terrifying and could point to issues with the quality of educational instruction throughout the country.

We have to assess if our educators really have the skills to teach phonics-based instruction, and that when we are putting an educator forward into the classroom, that they have the expertise to do it, and that they then have the curriculum and the scope and the sequence of all the things that are needed in order to deliver that, Cardet-Hernandez.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump would also sign executive orders ending funding for public schools that support critical race theory and other divisive measures in their curriculums during an interview with Fox News Wednesday morning.

The latest executive action from Trump reflects the policy he advocated for on the campaign trail. During the election, Trump emphasized universal school choice, parental rights, defunding schools over critical race theory and gender ideology, and returning to a state-led education system.

One day after President Donald Trump proposed offering buyouts to the entire federal workforce, House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed his support for the plan.

President Trump's plan would allow federal workers to resign but remain on the government payroll through September 30. The Trump administration has stated it wants to shrink the size of the government. It also has vowed to end work-from-home practices.

But it's unclear whether President Trump has the power to offer unilateral buyouts of federal employees. When asked by Scripps News about whether he is comfortable with thousands of workers on payroll while not doing any work, Johnson said, "Drastic times call for drastic measures, and they've been doing this for four years under the Biden administration."

Johnson said this is an example of President Trump "thinking outside of the box."

"They had full license apparently to not come to work, and it's a terrible frustration for us and for the American people and because it's civil service laws," he said. "This is not like a private company, it should be that way, but it's not."

Johnson believes the plan would cut billions from the federal budget.

"They estimate that maybe 5 to 10% of the federal workforce will take their golden parachute," he said. "Fantastic, I hope they do. But if the estimate is if 5 to 10% leave, you can save $100 billion for taxpayers."

The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 800,000 federal workers, voiced its opposition to buyouts.

"The number of civil servants hasn't meaningfully changed since 1970, but there are more Americans than ever who rely on government services," said AFGE National President Everett Kelley. "Purging the federal government of dedicated career civil servants will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government. This offer should not be viewed as voluntary. Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administration's goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to.

Firecrackers popped, incense was offered at temples and dancers and drummers paraded Wednesday in Asia and farther afield as millions around the world celebrated the Lunar New Year.

From Beijing to Havana, the holiday known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea is a major festival celebrated in many countries. Wednesday marked the start of the Year of the Snake, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.

Throngs of people in down jackets filled a Beijing park for a "temple fair" on a sunny but chilly day. Some rang bells and tossed coins into containers in the shape of gold bars for good luck, while others ate traditional snacks from food stalls and took photos with a person dressed up as the God of Wealth.

The Lunar New Year is a time to wish for good luck and prosperity in the coming year for oneself and others.

RELATED STORY | This 'bright and fruity' flavor will dominate menus in 2025, McCormick predicts

"The past year was a very busy one for me, because I had to take care of both my kid and my work," said Beijing resident Jiang Hecang. "In the Year of the Snake, I wish my kid will grow healthily and my work can remain stable. Then I can be happy enough."

In Malaysia, the crackling of firecrackers greeted the new year outside Guan Di temple in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, followed by lion dances to the rhythmic beat of drums and small cymbals.

Ethnic Chinese held incense sticks in front of them and bowed several times inside the temple before sticking the incense into elaborate gold-colored pots, the smoke rising from the burning tips.

Hundreds of people lined up on the eve of the Lunar New Year at the Wong Tai Sin Taoist temple in Hong Kong in a bid to be among the first to put incense sticks in the stands in front of the temple's main hall at 11 p.m.

"I wish my family will be blessed. I hope my business will run well. I pray for my country and wish people peace. I hope this coming year is a better year," said Ming So, who visits the temple annually for the late-night ritual.

Many Chinese who work in bigger cities return home during the eight-day national holiday in what is described as the world's biggest annual movement of humanity. The exodus turns Beijing, China's capital, into a bit of a ghost town, with many shops closed and normally crowded roads and subways emptied.

Traditionally, Chinese have a family dinner at home on New Year's Eve. On the Lunar New Year, many visit temples to pray and attend temple fairs to watch performances and buy snacks, toys and other trinkets.

"I bring my children here to experience the atmosphere because the New Year atmosphere ... is fading," Beijing resident Wang Xinxin said at a temple fair at Ditan Park, the former Temple of Earth in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

"Children like mine don't have much idea what New Year was like in Beijing before, but here we can still see some elements of it," Wang said.

The government has curtailed non-official celebrations, with major cities outlawing the noisy firecrackers that once reverberated around Beijing and left some blocks enshrouded in smoke.

Many Chinese take advantage of the extended holiday to travel in the country and abroad. Ctrip, an online booking agency that operates Trip.com, said the most popular overseas destinations this year are Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, the United States, South Korea, Macao and Vietnam.

In Moscow, Russians cheered, waved and took smartphone photos of drummers, costumed dancers and long dragon and snake figures held aloft in a colorful procession that kicked off a 10-day Lunar New Year festival on Tuesday night.

The Chinese and Russian governments have deepened ties since 2022, in part to push back against what they see as U.S. dominance of the world order.

Visitors shouted "Happy New Year" in Russian and expressed delight at being able to experience Chinese food and culture in Moscow, including folk performances and booths selling snacks and artwork.

Cuba's small Chinese community celebrated the Lunar New Year on Tuesday night with a parade of glowing lanterns and dragons winding their way through the narrow streets of Chinatown.

The island was once home to one of the largest and oldest Chinese communities in the Americas. Now, a much smaller community celebrates major holidays with a Cuban twist, blending rum and cigars with traditional Chinese cuisine.

The annual Macomb County tree and plant sale is returning soon, giving the public a chance to purchase trees, plants, shrubs and more at a discounted price.

The sale is run through Green Macomb and the Blue Water Conservation District. The sale will open Feb. 3 and run through April 4.

Items available for purchase include Douglas fir, Norway spruce, paper birch, redbud, red osier and much more. You can view a full list of plants available at the PDF below. Prices range from $7 to $55. For more information, visit the Green Macomb website.

2025 Tree Shrub Berry Description Booklet Final by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd

Since the sale began eight years ago, weve sold thousands of affordable trees and plants to anyone interested in sprucing up their yard or starting a garden, said Gerard Santoro, the program director for Macomb County Parks and Natural Resources. Not only does this enhance our neighborhoods, it increases our overall green canopy, which is a goal of our Green Macomb program. The benefits of this are wide-ranging, including the reduction of air pollution, decreases in energy costs and improved management when it comes to water runoff.

All items can be picked up in person or shipped to your home. There will be two pick-up locations in Macomb County. They are:

April 21 and 22 - Armada Fairgrounds April 24 and 25 - Clinton Township Civic Center

After Costco shareholders overwhelmingly supported the company's diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, a group of 19 Republican state attorneys general urged the company to eliminate its programs.

Last week, 98% of the company's shares voted against a proposal that would have eliminated certain DEI programs within Costco, according to a preliminary count.

The vote came after the company's board urged its shareholders to vote against a proposal submitted by the National Center for Public Policy Research that called on Costco to eliminate DEI programs. The group claims that DEI programs are discriminatory and put the company at financial risk.

The attorneys general argued that Costco's policies are illegal and run afoul of President Donald Trump's recent executive orders that limit DEI programs in both the private and public sectors.

"Although Costcos motto is 'do the right thing,' it appears that the company is doing the wrong thingclinging to DEI policies that courts and businesses have rejected as illegal," the AGs said in a letter. "Costco should treat every person equally and based on their merit, rather than based on divisive and discriminatory DEI practices. That reflects President Trumps executive order encouraging 'the Private Sector to End Illegal DEI discrimination and Preferences.'"

The attorneys general gave Costco 30 days to respond. The letter did not state any consequences if Costco fails to respond.

Costco's policy states, "All decisions regarding recruiting, hiring, promotion, assignment, training, termination and other terms and conditions of employment will be made without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, pregnancy, disability, work-related injury, covered military or veteran status, political ideology or expression, genetic information, marital status or other protected status."

The National Center for Public Policy Research said the Supreme Court decision reached in 2023 in SFFA v. Harvard indicated that companies' DEI programs could potentially be illegal. The Supreme Court ruled that affirmative action policies by colleges violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

Costco's board countered that the group was incorrect in its belief that the company's DEI policies violate the law.

RELATED STORY | Costco memberships grow despite price increase as profits surge

The vote came as numerous companies have eliminated DEI programs in response to backlash from conservatives and President Trump.

Within hours of taking office, President Trump signed an executive order essentially ridding the federal government of DEI training and positions. The president also eliminated a past executive order that required federal contractors to have non-discriminatory practices in hiring and employment.

RELATED STORY | Presidential Shift: Trump reverses key Biden administration DEI policies