Doctors for Pope Francis say he is responding well to treatment but is not yet out of danger, the Vatican News service reported on Friday.

Francis is recovering from pneumonia and his doctors at Rome's Gemelli Hospital say he is not in danger of death, but hes also not fully out of danger.

Doctors reported that Francis is sitting up and doing work from the hospital and they believe he will be able to leave the hospital at some point. Doctors did not give an exact timetable on when he could be released, but they expected Francis to remain in the hospital through all of next week.

Doctors also cautioned that the pope would likely continue having chronic respiratory issues following his release.

Dr. Sergio Alfieri said that one concern doctors have is that the pope is at risk of sepsis due to germs circulating through the hospital. 

The 88-year-old pope developed pneumonia in both lungs. He has canceled all public appearances over the last week while undergoing treatment.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Hamas will pay the "full price" for returning the body of a person who was not believed to be an Israeli hostage.

Hamas returned the bodies of two child hostages on Thursday, but the third body was not the boys' mother, Shiri Bibas, as expected, the Israeli military said.

Hamas described the situation as a mix-up and an error, pledging to investigate what happened.

The Bibas family was abducted during an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The two boys were 4 years old and 10 months old. Yarden Bibas, the husband of Shiri, was released alive earlier this month.

An Israeli ministry spokesperson said the bodies of the two children were evaluated and determined to have been murdered, not killed in an Israeli airstrike as Hamas claimed.

The bodies were returned as the first phase of the ceasefire was set to wind down. The next steps remain unclear despite Hamas saying remains committed to the Gaza ceasefire agreement with Israel.

Phase two of the ceasefire was supposed to include a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza in exchange for the release of remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Israel was also expected to free Palestinian prisoners.

Meanwhile, Arab nations are meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss alternative plans for Gaza, pushing back against a proposal from President Donald Trump. The guest list is believed to include Egypt, Jordan and Gulf countries. They are set to hold an emergency Arab League summit on March 4 to coordinate a regional response to Trump's plan, which aimed to displace Palestinians from Gaza while redeveloping the enclave.

Hey, you're busy we get it.

We know a lot happens throughout the week, and you may not catch all of our stories here at WXYZ. So we've decided to gather the most talked-about stories from the past week all in one place that you can check out during your free time over the weekend.

Have a story idea or tip? Feel free to let us know using the contact form below.

Here are the big stories from the week beginning Feb. 17.

A vicious cycle. Detroits 'KARENs' rescue dogs from cold, say the city must do more

Detroits 'KARENs' rescue dogs from cold, say the city must to do more

This week once again saw below-zero wind chills in metro Detroit, something that we also saw a few weeks ago.

During that time, we showed you the sad truth, that in freezing temperatures, dogs across the city are tied up with heavy chains and in some cases, dying.

However, the story doesn't end there. Many of you wanted to know how this is legal. It's not.

In January, we went out with KAREN (K9 Animal Rescue Emergency Network System) as they went around Detroit in search of dogs. We went out again with them this month, and they showed us dogs are still being chained up outside.

All year long, there are dogs illegally chained, emaciated, freezing to death. So many of you have asked, "what is going on?" and wondered how it's legal.

"Its a vicious cycle. Here we are two weeks later, nothing has changed," Rzewnicki said.

In Detroit, it is illegal to have a dog on a steel chain, or any tether, other than a coated steel cable. It is illegal to have a dog on a tether that is not at least three times the length of the dog. It is illegal to have a dog tethered for more than three hours per day.

Yet, we were with the KARENS as they visited two dogs one quite pregnant illegally chained weeks after they said they called Detroit Animal Care and Control.

Rzewnicki and Melanie Thomas tell me that Detroit Animal Care and Control (DACC) informed them they did come out a few weeks ago and the owner took the dogs inside. But since then, they have checked in to see the dogs living in the same conditions.

"Theres no reason that these follow-ups are not getting done. You cant tell me you have that many calls," Thomas said.

We took these concerns directly to Crystal Perkins, the director of Detroit's General Services department, which oversees DACC.

"This dog right here as you can see is pretty pregnant," our Sarah Michals showed her.

"Ill have to investigate to see what happened," Perkins said.

"Does the city feel they have adequate staff to respond to these calls?" Sarah asked.

"So we do follow up. We cant go to a house every single day, as you know, we can only go to educate," Perkins said. "We can go to educate, we can go out today, we can go out in three days and theyve made the corrections, but who is to say they didn't revert back to their old ways?"

Not clearing snow off your car could cost you $100 during frigid cold days in metro Detroit

Not clearing snow off your car could cost you $100 during frigid cold days in metro Detroit

As much of our area received several inches of snow these last couple of weeks, there's a troubling trend: many drivers are hitting the road without properly clearing the snow off of their cars. What many drivers may not realize is that this practice can lead to legal repercussions.

A snow brush will be your best friend to help you not only clear snow from your car, but it can also save you from a $100 ticket.

Snow-covered cars seem to be everywhere, especially after a winter storm like the ones we saw over the weekend.

"Clean your car before you do anything. Before you drive it," said Alb Azzal.

"It's a little dangerous. It flies off in huge chunks," said Scott Randall.

According to state law here in Michigan, it's against the law to drive with snow on your car, and if you don't clear it, you could face a $100 fine. That means snow cannot be covering your vehicle's windows or lights. Snow also has to be removed from hood even if you're short and can't reach the roof of your car or you don't have a brush.

Jessica English is breaking barriers and innovating Detroit's People Mover

Jessica English breaking barriers and innovating Detroit's People Mover

Jessica English is breaking barriers one construction project at a time. A native of Detroit, she says the latest People Mover project was not only about her but also about building up her community and the next generation.

These rail cars have been rounding across Metro Detroit since 1987. Now, Detroiter Jessica English is a part of keeping that legacy going.

I am Detroit, born and raised. I went to Cass Tech and my community means a lot to me," English said. "I knew that building something that, like generations can be a part of later on down the road was exactly what I wanted to do."

As Capital Project Manager, English was in charge of the People Mover's latest multi-million dollar track improvement project.

I would not have had a successful project if it was not for my team," English said. We're all like very happy and fulfilled that we were able to turn over such a successful project on time and on budget. It definitely did. This was probably one of the tightest schedules I've ever worked with.

She's representation in an industry dominated by men. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2023, woman made up around 11 percent of the construction workforce, and even less than that were Black women.

"I think we have a little ways to go to become a little more inclusive, but I'm really proud of the progress that everyone is making," English said.

Growing up on construction sites with her Dad, English didn't see a lot of women. That's why she values being visible and highlighting the importance of Diversity and Inclusion.

"We've come a long ways, for sure, having more black women presence on job sites and things like that," English said. I find it extremely important to go to schools. I attend a lot of different panels and things like that, to show little girls that you have it in you.

As she reflects on Black History Month, she's really grateful for her past and where her family came from.

3 people injured on popular Ann Arbor sledding hill; Man who broke arm urges caution

3 people injured on popular Ann Arbor sledding hill; Man who broke arm urges caution

Several Michiganders were ready for some winter fun this week, but instead, they ended up in the hospital. Over about 24 hours, three people, including a child, were reportedly injured while sledding at a popular Ann Arbor hill.

The injuries, which included skull fractures, spinal injuries, concussions, and broken limbs, happened at Veterans Memorial Park, prompting calls to 911.

I turned to the guy next to me and said, 'hey, call 911and my wife, please,' said Noah Harrington.

Harrington said he saw a jump at the bottom of the hill that, at first, didn't look too bad.

Harrington broke his arm and now has to have surgery to begin his healing process.

He said he knew right away that it was broken.

"Thankfully there were a lot of people around," he said.

All of the injuries on the hill were apparently tied to the snow-packed jump built by other sledders.

Harrington tells me he understands the hill is large and can be dangerous, but he believes some signage acknowledging the dangers of jumps could have helped prevent his injury.

And a sign is now up. Parks manager for the City of Ann Arbor, Josh Landefeld, said while everyone sleds at their own risk, they are asking sledders to be conscious and courteous of others trying to enjoy the hills, too.

'Sense of pride.' How Black auto workers drove the industry and UAW to new heights

'Sense of pride.' How Black auto workers drove the industry and UAW to new heights

We know Detroit is the backbone of the auto industry, and many people have been able to provide for their families because of the industry.

This rings especially true for African Americans. According to data, Black workers have historically represented a large portion of the auto industry.

I really have a different sense of pride when I walk into my place of employment, be at the plant or be it at the local hall," Lynda Jackson said.

The job at Chrysler was also special because her parents were both autoworkers.

Her father, David Garner, started working for Chrysler right after he moved to Detroit from Alabama in the 1960s. Her mother, Diane, worked at Ford.

So being in that type of family environment, you know, they're taking me to the Labor Day parades, they're taking me to the union meetings, they're taking me to the picket lines and you know, so I got to see all of this at an early age," Jackson said.

So to see the progression of the UAW seeing their first African American president, continuing to have more African Americans and other minorities on the executive board of the UAW, I think that shows a lot of progress within our organization," she added.

For decades, many Black families in metro Detroit have relied on the auto industry as a source of income.

Meadow Brook kicks off giving initiative to help restore windows damaged in vandalism case

Meadow Brook launches giving initiative to restore windows broken by vandal

After someone purposely broke two of Meadow Brook Halls historic stained glass windows earlier this month, the estate is kicking off a new initiative, asking the community to help get them restored to their original splendor.

Meadow Brook Hall Executive Director Bill Matt said the windows were broken during the early hours of February 4. The suspect reportedly kicked in one window and smashed another with a tool.

"It's kind of a mix of grief and horror, how anybody, an adult, could damage a National Historic Landmark," said Matt.

So, this week, the Meadow Brook team is launching The 1929 Club. This philanthropic monthly giving club, a nod to the year Meadow Brook was founded, aims to have people commit to giving $19.29 a month to support the cultural institution and restore the stained glass windows.

Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett has pledged to be the first member of the club.

"As Mayor of Rochester Hills, I take great pride in the unique gems that make our community special and one of those is certainly Meadow Brook Hall, our nationally recognized historic venue located right down the street," said Barnett in a statement. "After the vandalism, we want to get Meadow Brook Hall looking beautiful and back on its feet as quickly as possible.

According to Meadow Brook, it will cost $35,000 to replace the windows, which depicted scenes of the arts and are at the top of the estates ballroom. While Meadow Brook does have insurance, we're told the deductible was much higher than the cost of the damage. Meadow Brook was also recently approved for a grant to help with window restoration, but Matt says the recent vandalism was not factored into that cost.

Inside CARE House, the nonprofit helping the 3 Pontiac kids abandoned in squalor

Going inside CARE House, where the abandoned Pontiac children are being treated

The three children allegedly abandoned for years in Pontiac have been receiving treatment at CARE House of Oakland County, according to the sheriffs office.

The bright, warm building is a stark contrast to the filth and grime the children spent almost five years abandoned in.

Blythe Tyler is the president and CEO. She explained how the organization partners with authorities.

Law enforcement first calls us and sets up the interview, so that that child can come to a safe place and be able to tell their experience," she said.

At CARE House, children are given a safe space to pick out a stuffed animal, play and share their trauma. Its the first step in working through years of abuse.

If you see something, say something. It can take as little as one person speaking up to rescue a child.

If you know a child who is being neglected or abused, you can make a report to the state by calling 855-444-3911 and find more info at this link.

We're continuing to follow a community-led push to preserve green space in the Village of Romeo.

The nonprofit Green Space Romeo said it has raised over $600,000 in donations and pledges to purchase property from Romeo Community Schools.

However, the district will be looking for potential developers and others interested in buying the property.

Preservation is why Susan Kane, who's lived in Romeo for decades, has been supporting the grassroots effort to buy property from the district and turn it into a green space.

Weve lost so much of our open spaces out here. All of our farms and that have been bought up and subdivisions put in them and theres not going to be any open land, so why not preserve what we have for the future?" Kane said.

We first told you about the group's plan in the fall when they were raising money to submit a bid. Their bid of $605,000 was rejected. A for sale sign is now up on the property, making it clear the process is open to anyone else who wants to buy.

Watch below: Major effort under way to transform old Romeo Middle School

Major effort under way to transform old Romeo Middle School

Its a little discouraging of course, but from then weve just pulled ourselves up from our bootstraps and decided to get back to work," Elizabeth Miller said.

The nonprofit has gotten nearly 300 responses on their latest survey about how they should move forward. They have started a petition and are not giving up.

We believe this is still possible but its not without hurdles. We will not be able to compete financially with the developers, but what we do have that they dont have is that we have a community that really believes in this space," Miller said.

Community members not involved in the process are paying attention.

I'm excited to see what they do with the schoo, where the school used to be," James Akers said. "To see about housing or a park or anything really. I think it would good for this place. I just want them to do something good with the space really."

I think there are a lot of buildings around here and it is growing, so I think it should just be a space where people can go hang out in a park. A lot of kids are here. So I just think it should be left how it is," Sophia Romine said.

We reached out to the school board for an interview. They sent us a statement, saying in part, "The School District desires the proposed development to be neighborhood/family friendly and requires all Proposals to include a concept plan."

All bids are due by March 14, and Green Space Romeo is preparing for the next board meeting on Monday.

Where Your Voice Matters

Ford is recalling about 240,000 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs due to a problem with seat belt anchors that were improperly secured.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a loose seat belt or seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Ford said it is not aware of any reports of accident or injury related to the defective seat belt assemblies.

The Explorers and Aviators in question are model years 2020 and 2021. The recall includes about 216,000 Explorers and 24,000 Aviators.

Owners of the vehicles in question are expected to be notified by Ford in late March and will be instructed to take their vehicles into a Ford or Lincoln dealer for inspection. If the anchor bolts are found to be improperly secured, the components will be replaced for free.

Owners can contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332 with a recall number of 25S09.

They can also contact the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 or go online to nhtsa.gov.

The City of Detroit will get more than $3 million in recreational marijuana tax revenue, the State of Michigan announced on Friday.

The Michigan Department of Treasury announced that 108 cities, 36 villages, 80 townships, 74 counties and four tribes will receive payments as part of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act.

The City of Detroit has 54 licenses and will get more than $3.1 million in tax revneue.

"Starting this week, my team will begin to distribute adult-use marijuana payments to Michigans local units of government and tribal partners," State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. "The dollars received from the adult-use marijuana taxes and fees go toward schools, roads and back into Michigans neighborhoods. Local entities and tribes can spend these dollars however they deem fit for their needs."

For last year, there was more than $331 million available for distribution from the state's 10% tax. Nearly $100 million went to municipalities, $116 million went to the School Aid Fund and $116 million to the Michigan Transportation Fund.

Here's the breakdown by county in metro Detroit

Wayne - $5,007,664.76 Oakland - $2,911,433 Macomb - $1,455,716.50 Monroe - $1,164,573 Washtenaw - $2,620,289.70 Lenawee - $1,048,115.88 St. Clair - $349,371.96

You can see the breakdown by municipality below

2024 Adult Use Marijuana Distributions by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd

A Canadian singer who performed "O Canada" prior to the start of Thursday's 4 Nations Face-Off championship game changed one of the lyrics in an apparent protest.

Chantal Kreviazuk modified the line "all of us command" to "that only us command" in an apparent response to President Donald Trump's proposal to turn Canada into the 51st U.S. state. The line "all of us command" had been added to the Canadian national anthem in 2018 to replace the lyric "all thy sons command."

Before Thursday's game, Kreviazuk said she sang "all thy sons command" instead of the amended lyrics.

"During soundcheck I sang the wrong words, 'in all thy sons command,' out of habit, and when I analyzed the new line I thought, wow this could mean something so pertinent to our country in this moment with a change in just two words, three syllables," she said. "I didnt dream that such an effect would be had by deciding to go out there and do it. But it really felt like the right thing to do."

RELATED STORY | Trudeau jabs Trump proposal after Canada's comeback win over Team USA

Thursday's battle between Team USA and Canada was the second time in a week the countries' top hockey players met on the ice. When the two teams squared off in Montreal on Saturday, a smattering of boos could be heard during the U.S. anthem. Likewise, some booing came during the Canadian anthem from American fans.

After the U.S. won on Canadian soil on Saturday, Canada returned the favor on Thursday, toppling Team USA 3-2 in overtime to claim the 4 Nations Face-Off crown.

After Thursday's championship game, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared to take a shot at President Trump in a social media post.

"You cant take our country and you cant take our game," he said.

RELATED STORY | Proposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico paused after countries agree to tougher border security measures

Following the game, Kreviazuk, a native of Winnipeg, said she received love and support for her protest.

"The anthem is not a lawful document; it is an expression of the collective, and it changes from time to time when the moment demands it should. So yes, in this very peculiar and potentially consequential moment, I truly believe that we must stand up, use our voices, and try to protect ourselves," she said.

Social media has been buzzing with the possibility of American taxpayers getting a check from the money Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency claims it's saving the country.

But how much would DOGE actually have to recoup for the 79 million tax-paying households to get the proposed $5,000 checks? Let's do the math! 79 million $5,000 = $395 billion.

RELATED STORY | What do senators think of a potential 'DOGE dividend?

Nearly $400 billion in savings. That's how much DOGE would have to save for each taxpayer to receive the $5,000 checks and that's without any of the savings going to pay down the nation's debt, which many lawmakers have said they want to do with the money.

President Donald Trump appeared open to a plan to send checks to taxpayers, however, he suggested returning 20% of the DOGE savings to Americans. So, under Trump's plan, DOGE would need to save $1.975 trillion for Americans to receive $5,000 checks.

For perspective, that's more than the entire federal discretionary budget, which covers everything from defense to education to transportation, combined.

RELATED STORY | Trump backs direct payments to Americans from savings generated by DOGE

DOGE claims it has already saved Americans $55 billion, but the number has been disputed because errors are consistently spotted in their accounting. For instance, DOGE claimed it saved $8 billion after canceling an Immigration and Customs Enforcement contract. However, the amount of that contract was actually worth $8 million.

Whether Americans should expect to see any check from DOGE savings is still highly speculative, so it's probably not a good idea to plan on spending that money before you have the cash in your hand.

HopCat announced this week it will open a location in Southgate later this year, the 11th location in the state.

Project BarFly, which operates HopCat and Stella's Lounge, said the new location will open at 15231 Trenton Rd. at the intersection of Trenton and Eureka.

We couldnt be more thrilled to open our doors in Southgate, Project barFly CEO Craig Stage said in a statement. Were excited to bring our love for craft beer and comfort food to this amazing community and create a space where everyone feels welcome. We cant wait to meet our neighbors, share great moments, and become a go-to spot in Southgate.

It will open in the former space of Old Chicago. The 6,700 square foot restaurant will accommodate up to 220 guests with an open floor plan, have 40+ craft beers, a full-service bar, an outdoor patio and more.

The company is looking to hire 100 employees at the new location, and they're looking for managers now.

It's expected to open this summer.

A news conference planned to follow talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump's Ukraine envoy has been canceled. The cancellation occurred Thursday as political tensions deepened between the two countries over how to end the nearly three-year war with Russia.

The event was originally supposed to include comments from Zelenskyy and retired U.S. Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, but it was changed at the last minute to a simple photo opportunity where the two leaders posed for journalists. They did not deliver statements or take questions. A Ukrainian presidential spokesman said the U.S. requested the change.

According to a readout from Zelenskyy's office, he thank Kellogg for the United States' "assistance provided and for the bicameral and bipartisan support."

RELATED STORY | US, Russian diplomats meet on future of Ukraine without involving Kyiv in talks

"The President emphasized the importance for Ukraine and the whole world to feel the strength of the United States," Zelenskyy's office said. "Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Keith Kellogg discussed the battlefield situation, the return of all Ukrainian prisoners, and the establishment of effective security guarantees."

Kelloff called the discussions with Zelenskyy "extensive and positive." Kellogg described Zelenskyy as a "courageous leader of a nation at war."

The discussions come as the U.S. has opened communications with Russia since President Trump returned to office. Direct one-on-one communications between the U.S. and Russia has angered Ukraine and many European allies.

RELATED STORY | US, Russian diplomats meet on future of Ukraine without involving Kyiv in talks

This story was first published by Kobin Levin of Outlier Media. WXYZ is a proud media partner of Outlier.

The Wayne County Treasurers Office owes thousands of Detroiters money  in some cases more than $10,000  after profiting from tax foreclosures in violation of the state Constitution.

Many of these former homeowners have no idea that recent court rulings entitle them to this money, and the deadline to claim it is just a few months away.

Outlier Media and other nonprofits in Detroit are working to help residents recover what theyre owed.

Heres what you need to know  and how you can help.

Find out if you could be owed money or get help with a claimIf you or someone you know lost a home to tax foreclosure in Detroit between 2015 and 2020, look up the address online or text it to 67485, our TXT OUTLIER service.*  If the data show that Wayne County could owe you money, youll need to fill out a claim form before the March 31 deadline. Outlier is working with other Detroit nonprofits to help people navigate the process at no cost. Just text REPORTER to 67485 and tell us you need assistance or ask a question.  If youre not on the list but you experienced a tax foreclosure during that period, reach out to us anyway by texting REPORTER to 67485 the data may be incorrect. Appearing on the list also doesnt guarantee a payout. The only way to find out for sure is to submit a claim before the deadline. Note: Submitting the form is just the first step in a longer process. The backstory

Alicia Fernnadze is a mother, a rapper and an entrepreneur who runs her own to-go restaurant. A Detroiter through and through, she grew up in northwest Detroit in a neat, single-family home. Her father, a General Motors line worker, pinched pennies for years to buy it.

When her parents moved to a new place across town in 2013, they offered her the house on Blackstone Street. Wanting to raise her daughter where she grew up, Fernnadze moved in but struggled to keep up with Detroits property taxes, which are among Michigans highest.

In 2017, she and her 3-year-old daughter lost the home over $3,000 in unpaid taxes. They moved in with her parents. To make the arrangement work, she had her beloved pit bull, Red, euthanized.

Two years later, the Wayne County Treasurers Office auctioned off the house for $11,000  an $8,000 profit.

Stories like hers are common in Detroit. Wayne County made $20 million from about 2,400 tax foreclosures citywide between 2015 and 2020, according to an analysis by Alex Alsup, vice president of research and development at Regrid, a property data company. This figure only includes homes believed to be owner-occupied at the time of foreclosure.

Recent Michigan Supreme Court rulings said its unconstitutional for counties to keep money over and above the taxes owed on properties and that former homeowners can claim those profits from previous tax auctions. The court decisions apply to the whole state, but Outlier is focusing only on properties in Detroit.

Since her eviction, Fernnadze has kept an eye on her old house, and she stays in touch with friends from the block. She said the house hasnt been occupied since she left, a fact that leaves her furious with the people who profited from her loss.

You guys come get my home, take it to auction, put me and my toddler daughter out, and the house just sits, she said. It's like, what were you even doing it for?

Who qualifies

Did you lose a home to tax foreclosure in Detroit between 2015 and 2020?

To find out if Wayne County could owe you money, text your address to 67485, our TXT OUTLIER service. You can also look up your former address here.

If youre not on the list but you experienced a tax foreclosure during that period, reach out to us anyway. Errors in county property data may exclude eligible homeowners. 

Appearing on the list also doesnt guarantee a payout. Given the low quality of the data, Alsup said there are a few reasons the homeowner identified in his database could be incorrect.

The only way to find out for sure is to submit this claim form before the March 31 deadline.

How to claim the money Help us help Detroiters get their moneyA group of Detroiters including our team at Outlier is working to help our neighbors reclaim money Wayne Co. owes them from tax foreclosure auctions. If youd like to help, send us an email.

Submitting the form is the first step in a monthslong, complicated process.

Weve heard warnings that unscrupulous lawyers might try to get a share of the money by offering to help people fill out the necessary forms but there are plenty of Detroiters ready to assist at no charge.

Once Outlier reached her, Fernnadze asked for help. We found an old deed online through the countys Register of Deeds that had the information she needed to complete the claim form. She went downtown and paid $25 to notarize it at a UPS Store (free notary services are also available at banks and credit unions, and various nonprofits in the city). From there, she went to the Wayne County Treasurers Office, where she placed it in a designated box. It can also be submitted by certified mail.

Next, the Treasurer is supposed to inform Fernnadze of what shes owed by July 1, 2025. Then, shell need to file a motion in Wayne County Circuit Court by Oct. 1, after which a hearing date would be set.

Click here for a more detailed description of the process, or visit the Wayne County Treasurers website to fill out the form.

Not justice, but better than nothing

An estimated 2,700 Detroiters are owed an average of $8,000 each more than enough to make a real difference in peoples lives. Fernnadze said shed use her payout to cover back taxes on her current house or to try to repurchase her childhood home, which remains tax delinquent under its current owner.

Still, the prospect of recovering money from a past foreclosure is bittersweet for many Detroiters. The Michigan Supreme Court's rulings address only the countys profits from foreclosures, not the deeper injustices of Detroit's foreclosure crisis.

The money wont erase the pain of eviction or losing a family home, and it will rarely come close to covering the financial losses caused by foreclosure in the city.

Fernnadze's case is typical. Her childhood home is worth about $66,800 today more than eight times what she is expected to receive from the county. Alsup estimates that if every eligible person submitted the form and followed through with the claims process, the treasurer could have to return $20 million in profits. Today, those homes are worth about $120 million.

This is not compensation for the injustices of the foreclosure crisis, said Sonja Bonnett, a housing specialist at the Detroit Justice Center whose home was foreclosed in 2014. This is money that has always been owed to these people. But most of us shouldn't have lost our homes in the first place.

This article first appeared on Outlier Media and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Hockey was served over a dish of politics over the last week as Team USA and Team Canada twice competed against each other in the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which also featured national teams from Finland and Sweden.

After the USA toppled Canada in a round-robin match last Saturday in Montreal, Canada came back to defeat the USA in overtime on Thursday in the tournament's championship game. The tournament marked the first time in nine years that the best hockey players from the U.S. competed against the best from Canada.

After Thursday's championship game, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took an apparent shot at President Donald Trump in a social media post.

"You cant take our country and you cant take our game," he said.

The response came as President Trump has said numerous times that he would like the U.S. to annex Canada as a 51st state, a proposal Trudeau has said the U.S. leader is serious about.

RELATED STORY | Trudeau caught on hot mic: Trump serious about annexing Canada as the 51st state

President Trump has also threatened to impose a 25% tariff on most Canadian imports, a move that economists say would devastate the Canadian economy, but could also make items more expensive for Americans.

The response Team USA received in Canada on Saturday was lukewarm, at best. During the U.S. national anthem in Montreal, a smattering of boos could be heard throughout the arena. Typically, when the U.S. anthem has been played in Canadian arenas, Canadians are known for singing along to the "Star-Spangled Banner."

President Trump also involved himself in the tournament. He called the team to wish players and coaches good luck prior to their face-off on Thursday.

Another way politics was involved in the tournament was that Russia was not represented in the tournament due to its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Had the Russians been allowed to field a team, they might have been able to challenge Canada and the USA for a title, with star players Alex Ovechkin, Nikita Kucherov, and Andrei Vasilevskiy leading the way.

RELATED STORY | Proposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico paused after countries agree to tougher border security measures

Battles between the U.S. and Canada are expected to become more frequent on the ice in the coming years. The NHL has agreed to send players to the next Winter Olympics in 2026 and 2030. The NHL has also said it plans to help organize a Hockey World Cup every four years, starting in 2028.

It meant a lot, putting the USA in the forefront of hockey, U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck told NHL.com. We have a great team in here, and it sucks to end like that.

The U.S. has not won a "best-on-best" hockey tournament since the World Cup of Hockey in 1996.

The U.S. Senate approved a budget "blueprint" early Friday by a nearly party-line vote as Republican senators seek to bolster defense and border patrol spending.

The resolution was approved by a 52-48 margin with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, joining all 47 Democrats in opposing the resolution. Friday's vote comes nearly a week after a House committee approved its blueprint that included nearly $2 trillion in cuts over the next decade, including sizable deductions to education, energy and agriculture spending.

The process still has a long way to go before being finalized, especially given the different philosophies between Republican senators and representatives.

The most notable difference is that the Senate proposal would break the budget process into two bills. The first would include funding some of President Donald Trump's initiatives, such as bolstering border security. The second bill would focus on extending tax cuts that are set to expire later this year.

The House's version would roll both proposals into one bill.

RELATED STORY | Could potential DOGE 'dividend' checks fuel inflation?

I hope the House can pass one big bill that meets President Trumps priorities," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who chairs the Senate Budget Committee. "But this approach provides money that we needed yesterday to continue the momentum on securing our border, enforcing our immigration laws, and rebuilding our military. Time is of the essence.

This budget resolution allows the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees to spend up to $175 billion in total to implement President Trumps border security agenda. It instructs the Armed Services Committee to spend up to $150 billion to make our military more lethal. It also allocates up to $20 billion to be spent to modernize the Coast Guard," Graham added. 

The final vote came after Democrats introduced dozens of amendments as part of a "vote-a-rama," which forced the Senate's Thursday session to extend several hours into Friday.

Families lose and billionaires win. Thats the heart of the Republicans' budget resolution," said Sen. Jeff Merkley, the leading Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee. This Republican budget proposes $1 trillion cuts to programs for working families by the end of this fiscal year. The only way to cut $1 trillion by September 30 is to gut entire agencies and all of their services, which families rely on. Trump and Senate Republicans are showing who they truly care about as they slash programs for families to line the pockets of their billionaire friends. Trumps tax plan is the Great Betrayal of working families."

Here at 7 News Detroit, we want to make sure you start your day off on the right foot, informed about weather, traffic, the latest news and more. That's why we have the 7 Morning Digest, where we'll get you out the door informed and ready to go.

What's the weather for today? Metro Detroit Weather: A few snow showers around, temps warm up this weekend

We're finally trending in the right direction and looking to temperatures warming as we move into next week. For Friday, we'll see a few snow showers around with partly sunny skies and highs in the upper 20s.

The disturbance that's bringing the snow will eventually leave us today and that's when the sunshine could sneak in and bring temperatures into the upper 20s. Some of us could even get close to 30 degrees.

On Saturday, we'll have brighter skies and temps will reach the 30s, and on Sunday, temps will be above freezing for the first time in about a week.

Looking ahead to next week, temps will get into the 40s to start the week and through the middle.

Any traffic issues?

No major traffic issues to know about impacting the roads this morning. However, you should know that westbound I-696 will close from Lahser to I-75 from 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21 to 6 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22 and then again at 10 p.m. Saturday through 6 a.m. Sunday. It's for preps for the major construction project that kicks off on March 1 that will close part of the highway for two years.

The top stories to know about

Lawmakers pass compromise bill on Michigan's minimum wage & paid sick leave before midnight deadline

Lawmakers pass compromise bill on Michigan's minimum wage & paid sick leave before midnight deadline

The Michigan State House passed a compromise bill in an 11th-hour vote in Lansing, just before Michigan's new minimum wage and paid sick leave laws were set to take effect.

The bill amended the requirement for most employers to provide paid sick leave, but the law still went into effect when the clock struck midnight because it still needs the governor's approval.

There has been a growing concern for small business owners and tipped-wage workers for months. A lot is up in the air right now for tipped workers.

Minimum wage workers saw a nearly $2 per hour pay increase in line with existing legislation to increase that pay to $15 per hour by 2028, but a bill sitting on the governor's desk could bump up that date and lawmakers say they also listened to those tipped workers while making some changes.

The bill makes some changes to the current earned sick time and minimum wage laws, with earned sick time. The bill allows businesses with 10 or fewer employees to provide 40 hours instead of 72 hours of earned sick time. It also gives small businesses a grace period to implement the benefit.

The bill also changes the minimum wage pay increase timeline.

Right now, without her signature, minimum wage workers are seeing $12.48 an hour with the second pay hike working towards the $15 per hour by 2030 goal. Tipped workers are on track to make full minimum wage by 2030.

Meadow Brook kicks off giving initiative to help restore windows damaged in vandalism case

Meadow Brook launches giving initiative to restore windows broken by vandal

After someone purposely broke two of Meadow Brook Halls historic stained glass windows earlier this month, the estate is kicking off a new initiative, asking the community to help get them restored to their original splendor.

Meadow Brook Hall Executive Director Bill Matt said the windows were broken during the early hours of February 4. The suspect reportedly kicked in one window and smashed another with a tool.

"It's kind of a mix of grief and horror, how anybody, an adult, could damage a National Historic Landmark," said Matt.

So, this week, the Meadow Brook team is launching The 1929 Club. This philanthropic monthly giving club, a nod to the year Meadow Brook was founded, aims to have people commit to giving $19.29 a month to support the cultural institution and restore the stained glass windows.

Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett has pledged to be the first member of the club.

"As Mayor of Rochester Hills, I take great pride in the unique gems that make our community special and one of those is certainly Meadow Brook Hall, our nationally recognized historic venue located right down the street," said Barnett in a statement. "After the vandalism, we want to get Meadow Brook Hall looking beautiful and back on its feet as quickly as possible.

According to Meadow Brook, it will cost $35,000 to replace the windows, which depicted scenes of the arts and are at the top of the estates ballroom. While Meadow Brook does have insurance, we're told the deductible was much higher than the cost of the damage. Meadow Brook was also recently approved for a grant to help with window restoration, but Matt says the recent vandalism was not factored into that cost.

$125K worth of construction equipment stolen from small Detroit business

VIDEO: $125K worth of construction equipment stolen from small Detroit business

An uncle-nephew small business duo is putting out a call to help find their stolen construction equipment. On surveillance video, you can see individuals attach the equipment to their own vehicle and take off in broad daylight on Jan. 16.

The Bobcat skid steer and trailer used to get it around that were taken from the area of Joy Road and Greenfield Avenue are worth around $125,000.

Its heartbreaking to say the least. It just sucks 'cause you work so hard for things and then somebody comes and takes it," owner of Care General Construction Erik Thomas said.

Thomas specializes in kitchen and bathroom remodeling with his company. He and his uncle, Shawn Young, are partners. Young runs Renew Plumbing & Construction, working on projects with the city of Detroit and DTE Energy.

Both Young and Thomas use the Bobcat T66 for jobs and now, theyre both missing out on job opportunities because of the theft.

Detroit police are investigating. If you know anything or recognize the truck, call police or Renew Plumbing & Construction at 313-352-9252 or Care General Construction at 248-702-5906.

Livonia police released new video of an officer helping a deer that was stuck in the backyard of a home last weekend.

According to police, a resident reached out to them after a deer got entangled in a rope hanging from a tree in her yard.

Police say that since animal control is not regularly available on the weekends, the officers took action.

Officers were able to use a pole and free the deer, who eventually ran back into the woods.

Check out the video below.

Livonia officer saves deer entangled in rope behind home

A group has stepped forward to provide a home for surviving family members of two Detroit children who died in a cold van in a casino parking garage, an official said.

A funeral was held Thursday for Darnell Currie Jr., 9, and Amillah Currie, 2, who were among five children and two adults in a van that stopped producing heat as the temperature fell far below freezing on Feb. 10.

WATCH BELOW: 'It hurts': Mom talks after 2 kids died of apparent hypothermia in Detroit casino parking garage

'It hurts': Mom talks after 2 kids died of apparent hypothermia in Detroit casino parking garage

It makes you want to break down because that could have been your child. That could have been anybody elses child, said Jessica Wiggins, who visited the funeral home Wednesday.

Police said the family had been staying in the vehicle for a few months. Mayor Mike Duggan said the children's mother called a housing hotline in November but apparently wasn't served. He has requested a report on the city's contacts with the family.

WATCH BELOW: Father of two kids who died of apparent hypothermia in Detroit casino parking garage shares his story

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

Deputy Mayor Melia Howard said a local group has stepped forward to pay rent for a year to house the family.

Its just important for me to let them know that were not just here for today. Were going to be with them as long as they need us, Howard told The Detroit News, crying as she spoke at the funeral home.

As spring break approaches, many people are planning their getaways to sunny destinations. But this year, travelers are facing a steeper price tag when it comes to airfare.

According to data from AAA, the average roundtrip ticket for a domestic flight is now $820, up 7% from last year. If you're flying internationally, expect to pay an average of $1,440, an increase of 2% from 2023.

I spoke with travelers at Detroit Metro Airport to see how people are coping with the rising cost of travel ahead of spring break and how you can find the lowest airfare prices.

"I think our ticket prices were close to $500 a piece," Catherine Lent told me.

"I believe it was around $800 to $850," Randy Parton said.

"I think it's about $750 to fly," Lenny Brooks said.

AAA said nearly 41% of Michiganders plan on traveling for spring break, with Orlando and Fort Lauderdale being the top destinations.

"If you haven't booked yet, you will start seeing some crazy rates in order to get to Florida, Punta Cana, Cancun," David Fishman with the Cadillac Travel Group said.

Fishman said most spring break flights sell out 330 days before the trip, and the more demand and little supply of seats can cause prices to spike.

"Depending on the destination, that will dictate the availability and pricing," Fishman said.

Travelers like Amanda Betere and her family are headed to Austin, Texas for a soccer tournament, and they're still going on spring break. But, they'll be driving for that trip.

"By the time you pay for gas and stay at a hotel for one night and get food, it's still less than flying," Betere said.

We flew over Christmas and flew to Florida out of Detroit and tickets were expensive back then," Lent said. "About $800 per person."

Fishman said the best way to save money would be to be flexible with days and times to travel in order to find the best deals.

"Be really flexible and you might be able to save money, otherwise the fees are going to be very high this year," he said.

Where Your Voice Matters

The Michigan State House passed a compromise bill in an 11th-hour vote in Lansing, just before Michigan's new minimum wage and paid sick leave laws were set to take effect.

Hours later, Governor Gretchen Whitmer's office announced she had signed the compromise bills into law.

"Michigan workers deserve fair wages and benefits so they can pay the bills and take care of their family, and small businesses needs our support to keep creating good jobs in Michigan, said Governor Whitmer in a news release. Im proud to sign these two bipartisan bills into law that will raise wages, ensure workers can take time off to care for themselves or their loved ones, and continue growing our economy. This commonsense compromise was made possible by the Republicans and Democrats who worked together to forge a fair, bipartisan deal. I hope we can build on this momentum to keep passing commonsense, bipartisan legislation that makes a real difference in peoples lives. Ill keep working with anyone to protect working families and make sure our economy is competitive.

The bill amended the requirement for most employers to provide paid sick leave, but the law still went into effect when the clock struck midnight because it still needed the governor's approval. The new laws override the ones that went into effect at midnight.

There has been a growing concern for small business owners and tipped-wage workers for months, leaving a lot up in the air for tipped workers.

Under the laws that went into effect at midnight, minimum wage workers saw a nearly $2 per hour pay increase in line with existing legislation to increase that pay to $15 per hour by 2028. Now that the governor has signed the bill, that date has been bumped.

Lawmakers say they also listened to those tipped workers while making some changes.

Lawmakers passed HB 4002 late Thursday, less than an hour before the midnight deadline.

The bill makes some changes to the current earned sick time and minimum wage laws, with earned sick time. The bill allows businesses with 10 or fewer employees to provide 40 hours instead of 72 hours of earned sick time. It also gives small businesses a grace period to implement the benefit.

"By having a compromise with Democrats and Republicans, were able to keep many many more restaurants," Sen. Joe Bellino, a Republican from Monroe, said.

The bill also changes the minimum wage pay increase timeline.

Under the measure that went into effect at midnight, minimum wage workers would have seen $12.48 an hour, with the second pay hike working towards the $15 per hour by 2030 goal. Tipped workers are on track to make full minimum wage by 2030.

Lawmakers reached across the aisle and worked down to the wire to change that.

"The giving part of that is the $15/hr minimum wage is going to go up a year earlier," Bellino said.

By 2027, the other change to pay is they want to keep the tipped credit capped at 50% by 2031, meaning they will still make a slightly higher server's wage than now, at $7.50 per hour by 2031, an effort to calm tipped workers' concerns about customers not tipping.

"I could bring home $100 or more now doing this. So when they feel like, 'OK, the pay is going up,' We dont leave that much," Leeza Proveaux said.

Proveaux said she prides herself on giving customers a good restaurant experience.

"Your boss should be paying you more. And I don't agree with that. I dont. Like Im giving you good service, you should be leaving me a nice tip," Proveaux added.

Where Your Voice Matters

An uncle-nephew small business duo is putting out a call to help find their stolen construction equipment. On surveillance video, you can see individuals attach the equipment to their own vehicle and take off in broad daylight on Jan. 16.

The Bobcat skid steer and trailer used to get it around that were taken from the area of Joy Road and Greenfield Avenue are worth to be around $125,000.

Watch the surveillance video below: Video shows $125K worth of construction equipment from small Detroit business

Its heartbreaking to say the least. It just sucks 'cause you work so hard for things and then somebody comes and takes it," owner of Care General Construction Erik Thomas said.

Thomas specializes in kitchen and bathroom remodeling with his company. He and his uncle, Shawn Young, are partners. Young runs Renew Plumbing & Construction, working on projects with the city of Detroit and DTE Energy.

Both Young and Thomas use the Bobcat T66 for jobs and now, theyre both missing out on job opportunities because of the theft.

We have jobs set up already for the equipment to be used, so its critical at this point," Young said.

You can see in the surveillance video a group of individuals pull up to Thomas' grandmother's home when no one was there in the middle of the day. The Bobcat was being stored on its trailer. You can see the group of individuals secure the machinery onto their truck and take off.

When someone takes something like that, its like alright, figure something else out, but it sucks," Young added.

They hope someone recognizes the truck in the surveillance video and calls it in.

Detroit police are investigating. If you know anything or recognize the truck, call police or Renew Plumbing & Construction at 313-352-9252 or Care General Construction at 248-702-5906.