Federal prosecutors will begin trying to prove Monday that Sean "Diddy" Combs turned his hip-hop conglomerate into a racketeering enterprise that forced women to satisfy his sexual desires for two decades. Testimony in Combs' New York trial could begin as soon as the afternoon, after a final phase of jury selection and opening statements from the lawyers.

Combs, wearing a white sweater and with his formerly jet-black hair now almost completely gray, entered the courtroom shortly before 9 a.m., hugging lawyers and giving a thumbs up to supporters seated in wooden court benches behind him. Earlier in the morning, a line to get into the courthouse stretched all the way down the block. Combs' mother and some of his children were escorted past the crowd and brought straight into the building.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges including one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Presiding is U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey is the lead prosecutor. New York lawyer Marc Agnifilo is leading the defense.

Combs is a cultural icon and a criminal, prosecutor says

Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson pointed at Combs as she stood before the jury.

"To the public he was Puff Daddy or Diddy. A cultural icon. A businessman. Larger than life," Johnson said. "But there was another side to him. A side that ran a criminal enterprise."

"During this trial you are going to hear about 20 years of the defendant's crimes. But he didn't do it alone. He had an inner circle of bodyguards and high-ranking employees who helped him commit crimes and cover them up."

Those crimes, she said, included: Kidnapping, arson, drugs, sex crimes, bribery and obstruction.

The hip-hop icon leaned back in his chair as she spoke.

Standard instructions take added weight in this celebrity trial

The jury and alternates 12 men and 6 women are now seated in the courtroom. Openings will start after the judge finishes explaining the law as it relates to this trial, along with incidentals such as that a light breakfast will be provided to them in addition to lunch.

The jury is essentially anonymous, meaning their identities are known to the court and the prosecution and defense, but won't be made public.

"We will keep your names and identities in confidence," Subramanian told jurors.

It's a common practice in federal cases to keep juries anonymous, particularly in sensitive, high-profile matters where juror safety can be a concern. Juror names also were kept from the public in Donald Trump's criminal trial last year in state court in New York.

Subramanian tells jurors to judge the case only based on the evidence presented in court. It's a standard instruction, but carries added significance in this high-profile case, which has been the subject of intense media coverage.

"Anything you've seen or heard outside the courtroom is not evidence," the judge said. "It must be disregarded."

Judge rejects claim of discriminatory jury strikes

The judge rejected the defense's claim that the prosecution's strikes of potential jurors were discriminatory because seven Black individuals were struck from the jury.

The judge said Comey had given "race-neutral reasons" to explain each strike and that the defense had failed to show purposeful discrimination.

Some of the reasons why prosecutors said they excluded some potential jurors

Comey said one juror seemed favorably inclined toward 17 people she learned about by watching Combs' TV show "Making the Band," which Comey said will come up during the trial.

She said another claimed he would lose 30 percent of his income by sitting on the jury, but didn't seem bothered, which "made us worried that he had an agenda and was trying to get on the jury."

Another potential juror, she said, had difficulty speaking English, expressed doubts he could be fair and had a nephew who'd been jailed for shooting at a police officer.

Supreme Court ruled against excluding jurors solely because of their race

In the 1986 Batson v. Kentucky ruling, a Black man was convicted of robbery by an all-white jury after the prosecutor used what are known as peremptory challenges to strike all four prospective Black jurors.

During jury selection, each side is given a limited number of peremptory challenges that allows them to eliminate people from the jury pool without stating a reason.

Since the decision and subsequent rulings that have expanded its scope, the term "Batson challenge" has taken hold to describe an objection raised by one side when it appears the other could be excluding potential jurors based on demographic characteristics, such as race, gender, national origin, religion or sexual orientation.

A jury has been selected in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial

The defense announced its 10 strikes and prosecutors announced their six strikes for the creation of the main panel. Then, they struck jurors from the pool of alternates.

A defense lawyer claimed that prosecutors struck seven Black people from the jury, which he said amounts to a pattern. As a result, Comey gave reasons to explain why prosecutors struck each of the prospective jurors from the jury. She noted that at least one text message to be unveiled during the trial will describe Combs' behavior as "bi-polar or manic."

The witnesses and the evidence:

Without identifying them publicly, prosecutors have said four of Combs' accusers will testify at the trial. The prosecution will be allowed to show the jury security video of Combs beating and kicking one of his accusers, the R&B singer Cassie, in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016. Diddy's attorneys are expected to argue at trial that the government is demonizing and distorting the sexual activity of consenting adults.

About the defense

Combs' team of seven defense attorneys is sitting in two rows, with others behind them. They're led by New York lawyer Marc Agnifilo, who along with his wife Karen Friedman Agnifilo is also defending Luigi Mangione, the man accused of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

About the prosecution

The team has consisted of eight assistant U.S. attorneys, seven of them women.

The prosecutor who will deliver an opening statement is Emily Johnson. Leading the team is Maurene Ryan Comey, daughter of former FBI Director James Comey. She was among the prosecutors in the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein.

The judge warned a Mark Geragos, a lawyer for the music mogul, to tame his public comments last week, saying it was "outrageous" that he referred to prosecutors during a podcast as a "six-pack of white women."

About the judge

Subramanian is a Columbia Law School graduate and former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and was appointed a federal judge by President Joe Biden in 2022.

Proceedings beginning with final stage of jury selection

This is when lawyers on both sides can strike several jurors from the panel.

For this trial, defense lawyers are allowed to eliminate 10 individuals and prosecutors can dismiss six to create a panel of 12 jurors. Each side is allowed to eliminate another three jurors from the group of six alternates. They don't have to explain their reasons unless the opposing lawyers claim they were striking jurors from the panel for inappropriate reasons, such as race.

This phase of jury selection usually takes less than an hour. One of Combs' lawyers claimed on Friday that it could be finished in 10 to 15 minutes. The lawyers are working from a panel of about 45 prospective jurors.

Combs gives a thumbs up

Sean "Diddy" Combs entered the courtroom shortly before 9 a.m., hugging his lawyers and giving a thumbs up to spectators who will sit on benches behind the well of the courtroom. The audience includes his mother and at least four of his children.

About the courthouse

Subramanian is presiding over the trial at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in lower Manhattan, blocks from City Hall and overlooking the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge.

The courthouse, opened in the mid-1990s, is next to the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse, which was built in the 1930s.

Most of the federal judges work out of the newer courthouse. The older one, which was refurbished in the early 2000s, houses the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals and several district court judges have their chambers and courtrooms there as well.

The courtroom only seats about 100 people

And journalists probably get two to three dozen. So most of the people in line will end up in overflow rooms.

This courtroom is one of the larger venues in the courthouse that are used for the biggest trials, including when Donald Trump came early last year for E. Jean Carroll defamation trial. The line to get in stretched all the way down the block. One line-sitter was trying to sell his spot for $300 after holding his place overnight.

After a final phase of jury selection in the morning, federal prosecutors will begin trying to prove that Combs turned his hip-hop conglomerate into a racketeering enterprise that forced women to satisfy his sexual desires. Combs has pleaded not guilty.

For the sixth year, DG Realty Group and the Oakland County Sheriff's Office are teaming up to collect new and used bikes, helmets and accessories for locals kids in need.

This bike drive is park of the Sheriff's Re-CYCLE for Kids program. It will be held on Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Since we launched the Sheriffs Re-CYCLE for Kids program in 2006, the generosity of individuals and businesses in our community has allowed us to collect, refurbish and donate thousands of bikes to people in need, said Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard. But there are still countless children without bikes, and were asking the community to help us change that.

The programs works to refurbish donated bikes, with help from the Sheriff PAL program team and volunteers.

Donations will be accepted at the following locations:

Collection Truck in Downtown Birmingham - 10 a.m. 4 p.m.

Haynes & S. Old Woodward, Birmingham

City of Birmingham Department of Public Services Open House 10 a.m. 2 p.m.

851 S. Eton Street, Birmingham

At least 10 people in the U.S. have been sickened in a listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat food products, and a producer is voluntarily recalling several products, federal officials said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Saturday that federal, state and local officials are investigating the outbreak linked to foods produced by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC of San Fernando, California. The FDA says the 10 people who fell ill were in California and Nevada, and required hospitalization.

The agency said the products were sold in Arizona, California, Nevada and Washington at locations including retailers and food service points of sale, including hospitals, hotels, convenience stores, airports and by airlines.

RELATED STORY | FDA plans to increase surprise inspections at companies outside of the US

Listeria symptoms usually start within two weeks of eating contaminated food. Mild cases can include fever, muscle aches, nausea, tiredness, vomiting and diarrhea, while more severe symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.

Federal officials said they started investigating the recent outbreak last year but didn't have enough evidence to identify a source of the infections. They said the investigation was reopened in April when FDA investigators found listeria in samples collected from Fresh & Ready Foods that matched the strain from the outbreak.

Fresh & Ready Foods said in a news release that it took immediate corrective actions, including removing equipment to address the issue.

The FDA found that six of the 10 people who got sick had been hospitalized before becoming ill with listeria. The FDA found that items made by Fresh & Ready Foods had been served in at least three of the health care facilities where the patients had been previously treated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the test samples from sick patients were collected from December 2023 to September 2024.

Fresh & Ready voluntarily recalled several products, which can be identified by "use by" dates ranging from April 22 to May 19 of this year under the brand names Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go and Fresh Take Crave Away.

The Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles will kick off the 2025 NFL season against their division rivals, the Dallas Cowboys.

The game is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 4, and will air on NBC.

Expectations are high for the Eagles heading into the season, with stars Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley returning. The team also bolstered its defense by selecting Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell in the first round of the NFL Draft.

RELATED STORY | 2025 NFL Draft: Cam Ward goes No. 1 to Titans

The Cowboys will begin the season with a new head coach. Brian Schottenheimer takes over after Mike McCarthy was released following a 7-10 season. Quarterback Dak Prescott returns, and he will have standout wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.

The NFL is set to unveil the full 2025 schedule on Wednesday. It will feature seven international games, with matchups taking place in So Paulo, Berlin, Madrid, Dublin and London.

RELATED STORY | Cleveland Browns pick quarterback Shedeur Sanders in round 5 of NFL Draft

Dundee Community Schools said it has paused all school-based wrestling activities amid an investigation into hazing within the team.

In a letter dated Friday, Dundee Superintendent Scott Leach said the investigation began last month after he received an anonymous complaint about alleged hazing involving wrestling team members.

According to the letter, the high school administration and the school resource officer began investigating. That investigatio included interviews with wrestlers, coaches and parents.

"During the investigation, it was brought to our attention that videotaped evidence existed of additional incidents of hazing, fights and even physical assaults by wrestling team members against other wrestling team members," Leach wrote in the letter.

He said the district has initiated a Title IX investigation that will be conducted by Thrun Law Firm. Leach also said the district will work closely with law enforcement as they conduct their own investigation.

In the letter, Leach said the district is encouraging anyone with information to contact them, and information can be shared anonymously using the form here, through OK2SAY by calling (855) 565-2729 or texting 652729 (OK2SAY). Tips can also be shared by emailing ok2say@mi.gov, online at ok2say.com and through the OK2SAY mobile app

"At Dundee Community Schools, we expect our student-athletes to adhere to the highest standards of conduct. This situation does not represent the vast majority of our outstanding student-athletes who compete with honor, grit and integrity," Leach said.

He also said they will be providing updates as they learn more information.

"Working together, I am confident we can emerge from this matter a stronger Viking community," Leach wrote.

U.S. stocks are leaping Monday after China and the United States announced a 90-day truce in their trade war. They agreed to take down most of their tariffs that economists warned could start a recession and create shortages on U.S. store shelves.

The S&P 500 was 2.6% higher in early trading and back within 5.5% of its all-time high set in February. Since falling nearly 20% below that mark last month, the index has been roaring higher on hopes that President Donald Trump will lower his tariffs after reaching trade deals with other countries. The index, which sits at the heart of many 401(k) accounts, is back above where it was on April 2, Trump's "Liberation Day," when he announced stiff worldwide tariffs that caused worries to spike about a potentially self-inflicted recession.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 957 points, or 2.3%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 3.6% higher.

It wasn't just stocks surging following what one analyst called a "best case scenario" for US-China tariff talks. Crude oil prices jumped more than 3% because a global economy less weakened by tariffs would be hungrier for fuel. The value of the dollar climbed against everything from the euro to the Japanese yen to the Swiss franc. And Treasury yields jumped on expectations that the Federal Reserve won't have to cut interest rates so deeply this year in order to protect the economy from the damage of tariffs.

RELATED STORY | US and China step back from sky-high tariffs, agree to 90-day pause

Of course, conditions could change quickly again, as Wall Street has seen all too often in Trump's on-again-off-again rollout of tariffs. Plus, the reduction in U.S. and China tariffs will last only 90 days. That's to give the world's two largest economies time for more talks, followed last weekend's negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, that the U.S. side said had made " substantial progress."

Until then, a joint statement said the United States will cut tariffs on Chinese goods to 30% from as high as 145%. China said its tariffs on U.S. goods will fall to 10% from 125%. That follows a deal the United States announced last week with the United Kingdom that will bring down tariffs on many U.K. imports to 10%.

Big challenges remain in the negotiations between China and the United States, but the mood nevertheless was ebullient across Wall Street on Monday, and gains were widespread.

Apparel companies jumped to some of the biggest gains because much of their production is often in China and elsewhere in Asia. Lululemon leaped 10%, and Nike rose 7.3%.

Travel companies jumped on hopes that lower tariffs would encourage more customers to fly and feel comfortable enough to spend on trips. Carnival rose 8.9% and Norwegian Cruise Line rose 8%.

Retailers like Best Buy and Amazon jumped because they won't have to pass on high costs caused by tariffs to their own customers. Both rose at least 7%.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across most of Europe and Asia, though often by less than the U.S. market.

India's Sensex shot up 3.7% after India and Pakistan agreed to a truce after talks to defuse their most serious military confrontation in decades. The two armies have exchanged gunfire, artillery strikes, missiles and drones that killed dozens of people.

Pakistan's KSE 100 surged more than 9% and trading was halted for one hour following a spike driven by the ceasefire and an International Monetary Fund decision Friday to disburse about $1 billion of a bailout package for its battered economy.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury jumped to 4.45% from 4.37% late Friday. The two-year yield, which more closely tracks expectations for what the Fed will do with interest rates, jumped even more. It rose to 3.99% from 3.88% as traders ratchet back expectations for how many cuts to rates the Fed may deliver this year. Many now see just two cuts this year, according to data from CME Group.

Gigantic bounce houses are returning to metro Detroit this month with the Big Bounce America Tour in Fraser.

See drone video from the bounce house in the video below

World's Largest Bounce House returning to Fraser the next 2 weekends

According to The Big Bounce America, there will be massive inflatable attractions coming to Steffens Park in Fraser starting on Saturday, May 17.

The different bounce houses coming to the event are:

The World's Largest Bounce House - 24,000 square feet and 32 feet tall, with giant slides, ball pits, climbing towers, basketball hoops and more. Plus, a custom stage with a DJ playing music. The Giant - A 900-foot-long obstacle course with 50 different obstacles Sport Slam - A customized sports arena with goals, nets, hoops and balls of every size airSPACE - A space-themed bounce house with a five-lane slide and 25-foot-tall inflatable alien OctoBlast - Part bouncer, part foam party that's also a deep sea world with ocean creatures, fam cannons and more

Tickets for the event start at $22 and organizers say it's expected to sell out. There are all-access tickets available. It runs Saturday, May 17, Sunday, May 18 and then Friday, May 23 through Sunday, May 25 at Steffens Park on Garfield Rd. in Fraser.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday aimed at lowering the cost of certain prescription medications.

According to the Associated Press, a White House official said the order directs the Department of Health, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to negotiate reduced drug prices with pharmaceutical companies.

Kennedy praised the move, calling it a long-overdue step that Congress had failed to take.

Some estimates show the pharmaceutical industry spends three times more on lobbying than the next largest industry, Kennedy said.

If negotiations fail, the administration plans to implement a new rule that would tie U.S. drug prices to the lower costs paid by other countries.

The United States will no longer subsidize the healthcare of foreign countries, President Trump said.

RELATED STORY | FDA approves painkiller designed to eliminate the risk of addiction associated with opioids

While the executive order is broad and not limited to a specific class of medication, officials said Americans can expect the price of GLP-1 drugs, which are in high demand for weight loss, to be impacted.

There will be a particular focus on drugs where there are the largest disparities and highest expenditures, a White House official said. It would be fair to expect that GLP-1s, given they fall into both categories, will be a focus. If their prices dont come down, well explore other policy levers to bring them down.

The order is expected to face legal and political challenges from the pharmaceutical industry.

RELATED STORY | FTC sues pharmaceutical middlemen, claiming practices inflated insulin cost

U.S. and Chinese officials said Monday they had reached a deal to roll back most of their recent tariffs and call a 90-day truce in their trade war for more talks on resolving their trade disputes.

Stock markets rose sharply as the globe's two major economic powers took a step back from a clash that has unsettled the global economy.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the U.S. agreed to drop its 145% tariff rate on Chinese goods by 115 percentage points to 30%, while China agreed to lower its rate on U.S. goods by the same amount to 10%.

Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the tariff reductions at a news conference in Geneva.

The two officials struck a positive tone as they said the two sides had set up consultations to continue discussing their trade issues. Bessent said at the news briefing after two days of talks that the high tariff levels would have amounted to a complete blockage of each side's goods, an outcome neither side wants.

RELATED STORY | Chinese manufacturers entice Americans to buy directly amid the trade war. But it's not that simple

The consensus from both delegations this weekend is neither side wants a decoupling, Bessent said. And what had occurred with these very high tariff ... was an embargo, the equivalent of an embargo. And neither side wants that. We do want trade."

We want more balanced trade, he said. "And I think that both sides are committed to achieving that."

The delegations, escorted around town and guarded by scores of Swiss police, met for at least a dozen hours on both days of the weekend at a sunbaked 17th-century villa that serves as the official residence of the Swiss ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva.

At times, the delegation leaders broke away from their staffs and settled into sofas on the villas patios overlooking Lake Geneva, helping deepen personal ties in the effort to reach a much-sought deal.

Chinas Commerce Ministry said the two sides agreed to cancel 91% in tariffs on each others goods and suspend another 24% in tariffs for 90 days, bringing the total reduction to 115 percentage points.

RELATED STORY | Trump exempts smartphones, computers from China tariffs

The ministry called the agreement an important step for the resolution of the two countries differences and said it lays the foundation for further cooperation.

This initiative aligns with the expectations of producers and consumers in both countries and serves the interests of both nations as well as the common interests of the world, a ministry statement said.

China hopes the U.S will stop the erroneous practice of unilateral tariff hikes and work with China to safeguard the development of their economic and trade relations, injecting more certainty and stability into the global economy, the ministry said.

The joint statement issued by the two countries said China also agreed to suspend or remove other measures it has taken since April 2 in response to the U.S. tariffs.

China has increased export controls on rare earths including some critical to the defense industry and added more American companies to its export control and unreliable entity lists, restricting their business with and in China.

The full impact on the complicated tariffs and other trade penalties enacted by Washington and Beijing remains unclear. And much depends on whether they will find ways to bridge longstanding differences during the 90-day suspension. Bessent said in an interview with CNBC that U.S. and Chinese officials will meet again in a few weeks.

But investors rejoiced as trade envoys from the worlds two biggest economies blinked, finding ways to pull back from potentially massive disruptions to world trade and their own markets.

Futures for the S&P 500 jumped 2.6% and for the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 2%. Oil prices surged more than $1.60 a barrel and the U.S. dollar gained against the euro and the Japanese yen.

This is a substantial de-escalation, said Mark Williams, chief Asia economist at Capital Economics. But he warned there is no guarantee that the 90-day truce will give way to a lasting ceasefire.

Jens Eskelund, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, welcomed the news but expressed caution. The tariffs only were suspended for 90 days and there is great uncertainty over what lies ahead, he said in a statement.

Businesses need predictability to maintain normal operations and make investment decisions. The chamber therefore hopes to see both sides continue to engage in dialogue to resolve differences, and avoid taking measures that will disrupt global trade and result in collateral damage for those caught in the cross-fire," Eskelund said.

Trump last month raised U.S. tariffs on China to a combined 145%, and China retaliated by hitting American imports with a 125% levy. Tariffs that high essentially amount to the two countries boycotting each others products, disrupting trade that last year topped $660 billion.

The announcement by the U.S. and China sent shares surging, with U.S. futures jumping more than 2%. Hong Kongs Hang Seng index surged nearly 3% and benchmarks in Germany and France were both up 0.7%.

The Trump administration has imposed tariffs on countries worldwide, but its fight with China has been the most intense. Trumps import taxes on goods from China include a 20% charge meant to pressure Beijing into doing more to stop the flow of the synthetic opioid fentanyl into the United States.

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: Summer-like temps with rain on the way

Today will start out with some sunshine before clouds build in during the afternoon. Late tonight into Tuesday brings the next chance for rain, and periods of rain stick around throughout most of the week. The best chance at thunderstorms on Thursday. Temperatures will be seasonably warm all week long, with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s.

Today: Clouds will increase with a chance of rain late into the night before 2am. Highs near 80. Winds: SE 5-10 mph.

Tonight: Rain chances increase with temps near 60. Winds: SE 5-10 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with chances for rain, highs near 76. Winds: ESE 5-10 mph.

Any traffic issues?

So far, no major traffic issues this morning. Be sure to check our live traffic map here.

The top stories to know about Family and friends honor London Thomas on what would have been her 18th birthday Family and friends honor London Thomas on what would have been her 18th birthday

Friends and family of London Thomas gathered to honor her life on what would have been her 18th birthday. It comes after her body was found weeks after she went missing.

"I'm joyful just because I know it's her birthday and this is what she would have wanted. Any 18-year-old would have loved this," said her mother, Jasma Bennett.

Bennett had to bury London on the same day she gave birth to her.

"It's a waking nightmare to have your child that you carried for 10 full months to be ripped away from you," said Bennett.

London went missing in early April and was last seen in Inkster. Her body was found weeks later in Southfield. Right now, there's no word on her cause of death.

London's father, Cedric Salisbury, says this is the hardest thing his family has had to face.

"We thank everybody who gave us the time to try to find London, we hate that everything happen the way it happen but today we just need justice," said Salisbury.

Get ready for a longer commute on I-696 due to massive construction project Get ready for a longer commute on I-696 due to massive construction project

You may get re-routed during rush hour this morning, as drivers who rely on I-696 have a much longer commute thanks to a massive construction project. We're down to one lane from I-75 to Cooliudge Highway. 8 Mile is expected to be quite congested, especially for the morning and evening commutes.

On average, MDOT is advising folks to add 20 minutes to their commute times, so plan accordingly.

We spoke to drivers about this construction, including one who found out about it the hard way this weekend.

"It was rough, we had to get to our parents house over the weekend here and it was a rough way to find out that it was closed. We took the wrong way and found out last second," said Royal Oak resident Jon Granroth.

And that was on a weekend! This is the first day drivers are dealing with this for the morning rush hour.

Community rallies to raise $500,000 for high school radio station expansion Community rallies to raise $500,000 for high school radio station expansion

A massive campaign is underway to help a local high school radio program in the Plymouth-Canton area that has been broadcasting to the community for 53 years.

The campaign aims to raise over $500,000 for 88.1 The Park, with the Rotary Club of Plymouth committing a $200,000 grant to transform the station's space.

Inside Salem High School, students are producing award-winning broadcasts but are quickly outgrowing their current facilities.

"These studios are, I mean, they're great studios for what we can do, but it'll be so nice to have more opportunities to do more interviews to host more in-person interviews," said Sydney Capen, a senior at Canton High School.

Capen grew up listening to the station and says she values her time there.

"I do community focus, and I like to bring people into the community," said Capen.

The current space limitations are affecting their ability to accommodate all interested students.

The expansion project will convert a classroom into multiple new spaces with editing, recording, and interview studios, a staff room, and storage. It will also include upgrading dated equipment.

You can find out more informationhere.

Gas prices are down 15 cents from last week across the state of Michigan, according to the American Automobile Association.

On average, Michigan drivers are paying an average of $3.06 per gallon of regular unleaded gas; that's six cents less than this time last month and 59 cents less than this time last year.

This means that for a full 15-gallon tank of gas, drivers are paying an average of $45, down $12 from last year's highest prices (July 2024).

Two weeks before Memorial Day Weekend, gas prices are also down in metro Detroit. Drivers are paying an average of $3.09/gallon, down eight cents from last week and 51 cents from this time last year.

Here's a look at the cheapest and most expensive prices at the pump:

Most expensive gas price averages:  Ann Arbor ($3.11), Marquette ($3.10), Metro Detroit ($3.09) Least expensive gas price averages: Traverse City ($2.94), Jackson ($2.95), Flint ($2.98)

For more information on gas prices near you, click here.

If you need to reseal or repair your driveway this spring, beware of driveway sealant scams. I'm highlight the voice of a man who was targeted in Oakland County, and talking to the county Sheriff about how to spot these scammers. Here's what you need to know to protect yourselves.

Watch Alicia's story in the video player below Oakland County Sheriff has tips on spotting this new driveway sealant scam

I'm out here and all of a sudden I hear tires screeching. Thought there was an accident, and I turned around and there was a big F-250 truck pulled in my driveway," said Jeff Chapman.

Chapman, who lives in Independence Township, said the two men in that unmarked truck offered him a deal to re-seal and repair his driveway for $59.

"And then once they started, they then started backtracking and said what? I asked.

"$59

a gallon

," he replied.

And how many gallons did they use?

"They said 37, but they only had 30 gallons on the truck, so I don't know how that math works," Jeff said.

So a job that was initially supposed to be only $59 was going to end up being more than $2100! He talked them down a couple hundred bucks and wrote them a check. But he called the bank and put a "stop payment" on it after he saw the driveway.

"Yea, they oversprayed on the house," Jeff said.

Also, they oversprayed on his concrete sidewalk, the edge of his front deck, and even sprayed sealant on top of dirt.

The other thing the guy told me, too, was he said he sprayed it in this crack," Jeff said. "And that would expand and that crack would go away. And the crack is still there."

I asked Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard what the biggest red flag is with cases like these.

The pressure to do it and showing up at your door," he said.

Sheriff Bouchard says the most common transient home repair scams involve sealants and roof repairs. He told me sometimes these cases can spill over into the civil realm, where you've offered to pay for services and don't think you received the services agreed upon.

But obviously, you know, if they are intending to defraud you using false material, intending to mislead you, that begins to trip into the criminal [realm], and we love to catch these kind of folks," Sheriff Bouchard said.

Last June, the Better Business Bureau warned about unscrupulous contractors, citing some who claim they've been doing work in the area and have extra paving supplies and noticed your driveway needs repair, so they're willing to give a discount. But it's all a scam.

So how do you avoid contractor scams? The BBB says:

Be wary of unsolicited offers, especially if the estimate is "discounted" Research companies and contractors before you hire Get everything in writing, including an estimate and material costs Stagger payments, so you can inspect the work along the way Use safe payment methods, like a credit card.

If it sounds too good to be true, as my grandfather or Dad said, it's probably too good be true," Jeff said.

To help find a reputable contractor, visit BBB.org. On there, you can search for a business or service category, read any negative reviews or complaints, and see if they're BBB-accredited.

Bottom line, if something feels off, trust your gut and go with a different contractor.

The Detroit Police Department is investigating two separate deadly shootings that happened overnight.

WATCH OUR BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE DPD investigating two fatal overnight shootings

The first happened on Irvington near East Lantz on the city's east side. We're told the victim is a young man, possibly in his teens, and police don't have anyone in custody. Anyone with information is urged to contact DPD or crime stoppers.

And just hours later, a second fatal shooting happened, this one on Lenore Street on the city's west side. It happened just after 2 a.m., we're told.

Officers found the body of an adult male while responding to a shot spotter alert there. We're asking police about the circumstances of the shooting and if they have any suspects.

You may get re-routed during rush hour this morning, as drivers who rely on I-696 have a much longer commute thanks to a massive construction project. We're down to one lane from I-75 to Cooliudge Highway. 8 Mile is expected to be quite congested, especially for the morning and evening commutes.

On average, MDOT is advising folks to add 20 minutes to their commute times, so plan accordingly.

WATCH OUR COVERAGE FROM LAST NIGHT & THIS MORNING New I696 construction will add about 20 minutes to your morning commute Get ready for a longer commute on I-696 due to massive construction project

We spoke to drivers about this construction, including one who found out about it the hard way this weekend.

"It was rough, we had to get to our parents house over the weekend here and it was a rough way to find out that it was closed. We took the wrong way and found out last second," said Royal Oak resident Jon Granroth.

And that was on a weekend! This is the first day drivers are dealing with this for the morning rush hour.

The detour for the project is southbound on I-75 to westbound on M-8, then northbound on M-10, and finally back to westbound on I-696.

Now again, this is all part of the larger project, Retore the Reuther... $275 million of which around $40 million is being used to revamp the Church Street bridge, which is being torn down over the next few days. Its the west of the bridge first, hence the closure.

MDOT's spokesperson, Diane Cross, says once that portion of 696 westbound opens up, the worst is over when it comes to the closure of that part of the highway.

"The rest of 696 westbound will remain open, we will have a week or two when we're bringing beams in when we have to close traffic but for drivers, close to 100,000 drivers, we will not have to close the freeway for this long of time period again," Cross said.

Westbound traffic on 696 is scheduled to open May 19th 5am.. Eastbound traffic will continue to remain closed till the end of 2026, and that's when major construction work for the Restore the Reuther project is expected to be completed.

A Wyandotte ice cream shop that was on the verge of closing its doors has found new life thanks to social media and community support.

Yogurt Co., an 11-year-old business on Biddle Avenue in downtown Wyandotte, has become a local hotspot with lines stretching out the door. The surge in popularity is largely due to their signature "Dubai Cup" dessert.

"Probably the greatest ice cream I've ever had. So many different tastes and flavors," said Jeff Kerekes, a local resident and founder of the Downriver and Friends Facebook page.

The Dubai Cup, inspired by the viral dessert Dubai Chocolate, features fresh strawberries layered with crunchy knafeh pistachio cream and other secret ingredients. Yogurt Co. launched this creation earlier this year.

But the path to success wasn't always sweet. Owner Ali Mahfouz reveals the business nearly didn't survive.

"It was very tough, man. I had to cut employee hours, I had to work, me and my wife," said Mahfouz.

From rising operational costs to limited customers, Mahfouz and his wife struggled to keep their business afloat.

"We closed for the winter because it was so bad. But yeah, we were on the verge," said Mahfouz.

Even after introducing the Dubai Cup, business remained slow until Mahfouz connected with Kerekes.

That Facebook post brought the community out in support, but it was a 3-year-old social media star who truly made the dessert go viral.

Ace Morris, known online as "It's Ace's World," has over 400,000 followers on Instagram and 1.8 million views on TikTok. His dance post about the Dubai Cup created a sensation.

"Celebrity Ace came, and after it was even busier, and I had to hire more staff," said Mahfouz.

Ace's mother, Melissa Morris, never expected her son's social media presence would have such an impact.

"What a blessing it is that we can share, what platform we have to help businesses in our communities, even if it's just minimally," said Morris.

The young influencer has already made appearances on the Jennifer Hudson Show and visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"If Ace can just continue to be humble and kind, and change lives, or even just remind people of a time they felt so much joy in their life, I would be so happy and proud of him," said Morris.

Now thriving, Mahfouz is focused on giving back to the community that saved his business. He supports local causes including Wyandotte Block Out Cancer to help kids and funding for elementary schools.

Despite economic challenges, Mahfouz has committed to keeping prices stable on his menu items.

"To be patient. To really focus on what you love and the right time will come," said Mahfouz about what the experience has taught him.

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

Hamas says Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage in Gaza, will be released as part of efforts to establish a ceasefire, reopen crossings into the territory and resume the delivery of aid.

The Hamas statement Sunday night does not say when the release will happen.

The announcement comes shortly before U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Middle East this week. Trump is not planning to visit Israel.

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Alexander is an Israeli-American soldier who grew up in the United States. He was abducted from his base during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that ignited the war in Gaza.

Khalil al-Hayyah, a Hamas leader in Gaza, said the group has been in contact with the U.S. administration over the past few days.

He said in a statement Hamas is ready to immediately start intensive negotiations to reach a final deal for a long-term truce which includes an end to the war, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners and hostages in Gaza and the handing over of power in Gaza to an independent body of technocrats.

Alexanders parents did not immediately return requests for comment, and there was no immediate response from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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Trump has frequently mentioned Alexander, now 21, by name in the past few months.

Every time they say Edans name, its like they didnt forget. They didnt forget hes American, and theyre working on it, Edans mother, Yael Alexander, told The Associated Press in February.

With U.S. destinations reporting double-digit drops in Canadian tourists amid political tensions, places like Virginia Beach are hoping to keep its largest group of international travelers from looking elsewhere.

Last week, President Donald Trump and Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney met at the White House to try and simmer down tensions between the neighboring countries related to ongoing trade disputes and "51st state" rhetoric from Trump.

At least on the U.S. side of things, the fallout has been swift in recent months, with double digit percentage drops in Canadian tourism to many American destinations in protest of U.S. politics.

It's been concerning news for Virginia Beach, which counts on those visits once peak tourist season hits later this month.

The Canadian market is our largest sector of that international travel," said Nancy Helman, Executive Director of the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. "About $38 million came into our marketplace in 2023.

RELATED STORY | Decline in Canadian travel over tariff dispute a 'significant concern' to Detroit tourism

It's money she says helps support the local tax base, including more than 38,000 tourism jobs. A significant loss would be a concern.

If they dont come, thats a big chunk," said Debbie Lou Hague, owner of longtime Oceanfront restaurant Ocean Eddie's. "The uncertainty of running a business at the Oceanfront right now is very concerning.

Hague says she typically sees Canadian visitors come in the summer and even into the fall, but tourism experts in the area say it's still too early to determine if there will be a loss.

We are seeing a bit of a dip right now, as far as summer bookings from the Canadian market, but we do feel thats going to come around," said John Zirkle, President of the Virginia Beach Hotel Association. Theres a large portion of Canada that can drive here, which makes us a nice destination to come toand inexpensive.

That's especially for people from Ontario and Quebec. Montreal is home to the JACKALOPE action sports festival, which is returning to Virginia Beach for the third straight year later this month. The Resort City is the first location outside Canada to host the festival.

Its a bit tricky. Thats the honest answer because were caught in the middle," said Micah Desforges, Executive Producer of JACKALOPE Virginia Beach. "Yes, maybe on the short-term, it might be harder to get Canadians to pack their bag and come, but at some point we all hope this thing will be resolved and were here to build bridges.

RELATED STORY | Trump says 'never say never' about US annexing Canada as Carney visits White House

Desforges says he sees the festival continuing to grow in Virginia Beach, adding that its first year injected $8 million into the local economy with 8,000 hotel nights booked.

The city is also counting on that relationship to help continue welcoming Canadians. Other measures include continuing a money saving program called "Loonie Savers" a nod to the nickname for the Canadian dollar coin.

But Helman says she's also preparing to make up for any losses.

Were also being proactive. Were doing additional marketing domestically. In the United States," she said.

Anything to support an industry that does have questions heading into its busiest time of year.

This story was originally published by Anthony Sabella with the

Scripps News Group.

U.S. negotiators said Sunday that substantial progress was made and perhaps the differences weren't so large after two days of negotiations with a high-ranking Chinese delegation on ways to ease a trade war sparked by President Donald Trump's steep tariffs.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who led the U.S. delegation during talks in Geneva, said there was a great deal of productivity.

Im happy to report that weve made substantial progress between the United States and China in the very important trade talks, Bessent said.

He echoed the positive sentiment of Trump himself, who suggested on social media that GREAT PROGRESS was being made toward what he suggested could be a total reset on tariffs that have put the global economy on edge.

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The Chinese delegation did not offer an immediate assessment of what occurred, but Beijing struck a more measured tone about the negotiations' overall direction. China, in an editorial in its state-run news agency, said it would firmly reject any proposal that compromises core principles or undermines the broader cause of global equity.

The discussions were held at a stately villa that serves as the residence of the Swiss ambassador to the United Nations, and little information was available on-site or back in Washington as they unfolded. Besseent offered few details on exactly what was discussed but said he and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer spoke to Trump on Saturday night.

U.S. officials also planned a briefing with more details on Monday morning.

Its important to understand how quickly we were able to come to agreement, which reflects that perhaps the differences were not so large as far as maybe thought, said Greer, who did not say what agreement he was referring to. Speaking to reporters near the villa, Greer and Bessent gave statement but did not take questions.

Greer also stressed that a top Trump priority means closing the U.S. trade deficit with China, which came to a record $263 billion last year.

Were confident that the deal we struck with our Chinese partners will help us to resolve, work towards resolving that national emergency, Greer said.

The discussions could help stabilize world markets roiled by the U.S.-China standoff that has ships in port with goods from China unwilling to unload until they get final word on tariffs.

Trump last month raised U.S. tariffs on China to a combined 145%, and China retaliated by hitting American imports with a 125% levy. Tariffs that high essentially amount to the countries boycotting each others products, disrupting trade that last year topped $660 billion.

RELATED STORY | President Trump announces trade deal between US and UK

In its editorial, Xinhua said, Talks should never be a pretext for continued coercion or extortion, and China will firmly reject any proposal that compromises core principles or undermines the broader cause of global equity.

Still, top members of the Trump administration were following the president's lead in insisting that a reset of U.S.-China trade relations could be in the offing.

Secretary Bessent has made clear that one of his objectives is to de-escalate, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who wasn't in Geneva, said on Fox News Sunday. He added that the U.S. and China have both imposed tariffs that are too high to do business, but thats why they are talking right now."

We are the consumer of the world. Everybody wants to sell their goods here," Lutnick said. So they need to do business with American and were using the power of our economy to open their economy to our exporters."

Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, told Fox News Channels Sunday Morning Futures that whats going to happen in all likelihood is that relationships are going to be rebooted. It looks like the Chinese are very, very eager to play ball and to renormalize things.

Were essentially starting over, starting from scratch with the Chinese. Hassett said "and they seem to think that they really want to rebuild a relationship thats great for both of us.

The talks mark the first time the sides have met face-to-face to discuss the issues. And though prospects for a breakthrough are slight, even a small drop in tariffs, particularly if taken simultaneously, would help restore some confidence.

Negotiations to begin de-escalating the growing USChina trade war are badly needed and its a positive sign that both sides were able to gracefully move beyond their bickering over who had to call first, Jake Werner, director of the East Asia Program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said in an email.

The Trump administration has imposed tariffs on countries worldwide, but its fight with China has been the most intense. Trump's import taxes on goods from China include a 20% charge meant to pressure Beijing into doing more to stop the flow of the synthetic opioid fentanyl into the United States.

The remaining 125% involve a dispute that dates back to Trumps first term and comes atop tariffs he levied on China back then, which means the total tariffs on some Chinese goods can exceed 145%.

President Donald Trump is ready to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a gift from the ruling family of Qatar during his trip to the Middle East this coming week, and U.S. officials say it could be converted into a potential presidential aircraft.

The Qatari government said a final decision hadn't been made. Still, Trump defended the idea what would amount to a president accepting an astonishingly valuable gift from a foreign government as a fiscally smart move for the country.

So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane, Trump posted on his social media site on Sunday night. Anybody can do that!

ABC News reported that Trump will use the aircraft as his presidential plane until shortly before he leaves office in January 2029, when ownership will be transferred to the foundation overseeing his yet-to-be-built presidential library.

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The gift was expected to be announced when Trump visits Qatar, according to ABC's report, as part of a trip that also includes stops in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the first extended foreign travel of his second term.

Before Trump's post trumpeting the idea, Ali Al-Ansari, Qatars media attach, said in a statement that the possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatars Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense."

But the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made, the statement added.

Meanwhile, administration officials, anticipating ethics concerns, have prepared an analysis arguing that accepting the plane would be legal, according to ABC. The Constitutions Emoluments Clause bars anyone holding government office from accepting any present, emolument, office or title from any King, Prince, or foreign State, without congressional consent.

One expert on government ethics, Kathleen Clark of the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, accused Trump of being committed to exploiting the federal governments power, not on behalf of policy goals, but for amassing personal wealth.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer poked fun at Trump's America first political slogan.

Nothing says America First like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar," the New York Democrat said in a statement. "Its not just bribery, its premium foreign influence with extra legroom.

Even some conservatives expressed dismay online, noting that an aircraft being offered by a foreign government could present security risks if used by a U.S. president.

Air Force One is a modified Boeing 747. Two exist, and the president flies on both, which are more than 30 years old. Boeing Inc. has the contract to produce updated versions, but delivery has been delayed while the company has lost billions of dollars on the project.

Trump intends to convert the Qatari aircraft into a plane he can fly on as president, with the Air Force planning to add secure communications and other classified elements to it. But it will still have more limited capabilities than the existing planes that were built to serve as Air Force One, as well as two other aircraft currently under construction, according to a former U.S. official.

The official was briefed about the plane and spoke Sunday on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that have not yet been made public.

The existing planes used as Air Force One are heavily modified with survivability capabilities for the president for a range of contingencies, including radiation shielding and antimissile technology. They also include a variety of communications systems to allow the president to remain in contact with the military and issue orders from anywhere in the world.

The official told The Associated Press that it would be possible to quickly add some countermeasures and communications systems to the Qatari plane, but that it would be less capable than the existing Air Force One aircraft or long-delayed replacements.

Neither the Qatari plane nor the upcoming VC-25B aircraft will have the air-to-air refueling capabilities of the current VC-25A aircraft, which is the one the president currently flies on, the official said.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Trump floats tax increase for the rich to pass 'big, beautiful bill'

Jordan Libowitz, communications director for the advocacy group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, called such a gift unprecedented."

The totality of gifts given to a president over their term doesnt get close to this level, Libowitz said, adding, You have to ask, if he makes foreign policy especially in regards to the Middle East how much is he being influenced by his gifts and his business deals.

ABC said the new plane is similar to a 13-year-old Boeing aircraft Trump toured in February, while it was parked at Palm Beach International Airport and he was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago club.

Trump faced lawsuits for violating the Emoluments Clause during his first term, but those were ended by the Supreme Court in 2021, which found the cases moot because the Republican had left office.

Trump's family business, the Trump Organization, which is now largely run by his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, has vast and growing interests in the Middle East. That includes a new deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar, partnering with Qatari Diar, a real estate company backed by that countrys sovereign wealth fund.

Qatar, which is ruled by the Al Thani family, is home to the state-owned airline Qatar Airways. The country also has worked to have a close relationship to Trump after he apparently backed a boycott of Doha by four Arab nations in his first term. Trump later in his term applauded Qatar.

Administration officials have brushed off concerns about the presidents policy interests blurring with family's business profits. They note that Trump's assets are in a trust managed by his children and that a voluntary ethics agreement released by the Trump Organization in January bars the company from striking deals directly with foreign governments.

But that same agreement allows deals with private companies abroad. That is a departure from Trumps first term, when the organization released an ethics pact prohibiting both foreign government and foreign company deals.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, when asked Friday if the president might meet with people who have ties to his familys business, said it was ridiculous to suggest Trump "is doing anything for his own benefit.