Reno 911 came to Detroit and brought a ton of humor with them. Thomas Lennon and Cedric Yarbrough are at Motor City Comic Con this weekend. They stayed in character for their interview with Brad Galli

INTERVIEW: Star Wars actor Ahmed Best is feeling a warm reception at Motor City Comic Con.

The man who played Jar Jar Binks, and wielded a lightsaber in The Mandalorian called Star Wars fans family. He talked with Brad Galli in Novi.

INTERVIEW: Temuera Morrison loves seeing so many Star Wars fans dressed like Jango Fett and Boba Fett at Motor City Comic Con.

Morrison talked with Brad Galli about his first meeting with Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, and why a series of head nods sealed the deal for him to return as Fett.

Actress Malin Akerman is spending the weekend with fans at Motor City Comic Con.

She held a Watchmen Q&A Friday night. Ackerman talked with Brad Galli about Couples Retreat, and why the cast (and location!) would have her immediately signing up for a sequel

An explosion tore through a fertility clinic in the upscale California city of Palm Springs late Saturday morning, leaving one person believed to be the suspect dead in an attack the FBI characterized as terrorism.

A burned-out vehicle was seen in the parking lot behind the clinic after the blast, which caved in the building's roof, sprayed debris across a five-lane road and shattered windows in businesses blocks away. The clinic was closed for the weekend, and the doctor who leads it told The Associated Press its staffers were safe.

Make no mistake: This is an intentional act of terrorism, Akil Davis, the head of the FBIs Los Angeles field office, told an evening news conference. He declined to say how authorities reached that conclusion.

A law enforcement official said investigators recovered an AK-47-style rifle from the scene. The official was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Authorities were still working to confirm the identity of the person killed, Davis said. Four people were hurt, but authorities provided no details on the severity of those injuries, how they occurred or where. Davis said law enforcement was also looking into the possibility that the explosion was livestreamed.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Pakistani man faces new terrorism charge in plot to assassinate a US politician

The act was being investigated as a possible car explosion, according to two other law enforcement officials briefed on the matter who insisted on anonymity to discuss preliminary information from an ongoing investigation.

One of the officials told AP that investigators believe the person who died was likely the person who set off the explosion, but they cautioned that the investigation was still in its early stages.

The blast gutted the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic, in a single-story building along a five-lane street lined with palm trees. Dr. Maher Abdallah, who leads the clinic, told AP in a phone interview that the explosion damaged the practices office space, where it conducts consultations with patients. The clinic's IVF lab and stored embryos are offsite and were not damaged.

Thank God today happened to be a day that we have no patients," Abdallah said.

Palm Springs Mayor Pro Tem Naomi Soto called the clinic a place of hope.

This is a building that people go to to start or expand their families, she said. We acknowledge their pain and concern across the community for the patients and staff."

Rhino Williams, 47, said he was chatting with customers at a hotel restaurant he helps manage just over a block away when he heard a huge boom. Everything rattled, Williams said, and he sprinted to the scene to see if anyone needed help.

Williams covered his nose with his shirt as he smelled burning plastic and rubber. He said he saw a building had blown out into the street, with bricks and debris scattered everywhere, and he spotted a cars front axle on fire in the parking lot.

He said it was the only car in the lot. He ran into the building, calling out and peering behind the counter to see if anyone was inside. He did not hear a response and did not see anyone behind the counter.

Williams then ran around to check on other buildings. Multiple windows of the neighboring liquor store were also blown out, he said. Once he saw authorities arrive, he headed back to the hotel.

Steven Michael Chacon was in his car preparing to turn into a hospital across the street from the clinic when felt and heard a massive boom as the building was torn apart, sending a massive plume of black smoke into the air. Not knowing what happened, he exited his car to flee the scene. Glass was all over the ground.

I got out of my car and then people started screaming, there were people bloody, there was glass everywhere, he said.

Palm Springs, about a two-hour drive east of Los Angeles, is known for upscale resorts, golf courses and a history of celebrity residents.

Among those investigating were investigators, bomb technicians and an evidence response team from the FBI as well as investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Trump administration condemned the attack.

The Trump administration understands that women and mothers are the heartbeat of America, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. Violence against a fertility clinic is unforgivable.

A Mexican navy ship hit the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday during a promotional tour in New York City, the top of its mast brushing the iconic span as it sailed through the East River.

Eyewitness video of the collision that was posted online showed the mast of the ship, which was flying a giant green, white and red Mexican flag, scraping the underneath of the bridge. The vessel then drifted toward the edge of the river as onlookers scrambled away from shore.

The Mexican navy said in a post on the social platform X that the Cuauhtemoc, an academy training vessel, was damaged in an accident with the Brooklyn Bridge that prevented it from continuing its voyage.

It added that the status of personnel and material was under review by naval and local authorities, which were providing assistance.

RELATED STORY | One year after Baltimore disaster, bridges are only getting worse

The Secretary of the Navy renews its commitment to the safety of personnel, transparency in its operations and excellent training for future officers of the Mexican Armada, it said in Spanish.

The Cuauhtemoc is a vessel that sails at the end of classes at the Mexican naval military school to finish cadets' training.

This year it left the Mexican port of Acapulco, on the Pacific coast, on April 6 with 277 people onboard, the Navy said then.

The ship was scheduled to visit 22 ports in 15 nations, including Kingston, Jamaica; Havana, Cuba; Cozumel, Mexico; and New York.

It had also planned to go to Reykjavik, Iceland; Bordeaux, Saint Malo and Dunkirk, France; and Aberdeen, Scotland, among others, for a total of 254 days 170 at sea and 84 in port.

Sean Astin is spending time at Motor City Comic Con, meeting fans of the Goonies, Stranger Things, Rudy, Lord of the Rings, and so many of his great roles. He talked with Brad Galli at the show.

Metro Detroit drivers received welcome news as I-696 westbound from I-75 to the Lodge reopened Saturday, two days earlier than expected.

The highway portion had been closed for a week to allow crews to safely demolish the Church Street Plaza Bridge.

"Thank God they did it in the time they said they would, it's always pretty good when they can meet their time tables," said Dillon Samona.

Samona, who owns a convenience store on 10 Mile near I-696, expressed relief at the early reopening.

"I don't got to take the lodge and M-10, I can just hop on 696 and get home," Samona said.

The closure was originally scheduled to last until Monday, May 19, but crews completed the work ahead of schedule, allowing the highway to reopen Saturday afternoon.

Oak Park resident Robert Charleston said dealing with the detours had been challenging.

"Well, I'm glad they're ahead of schedule that makes it easy. I'll let my granddaughter know who I take to school to Pepper at 8:30 and won't have to detour," Charleston said.

"It's just a headache, traffic jam first thing in the morning," he said.

Diane Cross from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) explained they were able to reopen the highway earlier because the bridge demolition proceeded smoothly.

"We've been very fortunate. All of our safety set ups. Everything worked in place to make sure nobody got hurt. There was no debris, no one was injured. There was no real problems," Cross said.

While I-696 westbound has reopened, portions of I-696 eastbound remain closed for construction and will stay closed for two years.

Cross noted this is part of a multi-million dollar project to restore I-696.

"In the last few years, we've been working on the West end of it from 275 out to Lahser so in the course of 10 years, we will have rebuilt all of 696 and that really is quite an investment to southeast Michigan, to Oakland County for the rebuilding of that roadway," Cross said.

According to MDOT, there may be other closures involving I-696 westbound in the future, but they won't be as lengthy as this recent closure.

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.

Yellowstone National Park officials trapped and euthanized an 11-year-old male grizzly bear on Wednesday after it consistently sought out human food in developed areas of the park.

The bear, weighing approximately 400 pounds, had overturned multiple large, bear-resistant dumpsters and accessed human food and trash at popular locations, including Old Faithful, the Nez Perce Picnic Area, and the Midway Geyser Basin parking lot.

The bear developed a strategy to flip over 800-pound dumpsters and uproot smaller bear-resistant trash cans from their concrete bases to obtain human food and garbage, the National Park Service said.. Due to these actions, the bear became increasingly food-conditioned and posed a safety risk to visitors in one of Yellowstone's busiest areas. The decision to kill the bear was made in the interest of public safety and to prevent other bears from becoming habituated to human food, officials said.

The last instance of a grizzly bear being euthanized as part of a management action in Yellowstone occurred in September 2017, when a bear was killed for damaging tents and accessing food at backcountry campsites near Heart Lake.

Its unfortunate that this bear began regularly seeking out garbage and was able to defeat the parks bear-resistant infrastructure, said Kerry Gunther, a bear management biologist at Yellowstone. We go to great lengths to protect bears and prevent them from becoming conditioned to human food. But occasionally, a bear outsmarts us or overcomes our defenses. When that happens, we sometimes have to remove the bear from the population to protect visitors and property.

Yellowstone's bear management plan includes the installation of bear-resistant food storage lockers in all campgrounds, food storage devices in backcountry campsites, and bear-resistant garbage cans and dumpsters. Park officials remind visitors that utilizing these bear safety measures is crucial for ensuring public safety and preventing wildlife from developing dangerous habits.

This article was written by the

Scripps News Group in Montana.

Parts of this story were converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

The Trump administration will allow the sale of forced-reset triggers, which make semiautomatic rifles fire more rapidly, with the federal government ending a ban as part of a settlement that also requires it to return seized devices.

The agreement announced Friday by the Justice Department resolves a series of cases over the aftermarket trigger that the government had previously argued qualify as machine guns under federal law. The settlement is a dramatic shift in Second Amendment policy under the Republican administration, which has signaled it may undo many of the regulations that the previous administration of Democratic President Joe Biden had fought to keep in place in an effort to curb gun violence.

This Department of Justice believes that the 2nd Amendment is not a second-class right, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.

Gun control advocates said the settlement would worsen gun violence.

RELATED STORY | Father of Parkland shooting victim believes every school should have threat assessments

The Trump administration has just effectively legalized machine guns. Lives will be lost because of his actions, said Vanessa Gonzalez, vice president of government and political affairs at GIFFORDS, a gun control group.

There had been several legal battles over forced-reset triggers, which replace the typical trigger on an AR-15-style rifle. The government for years had argued they are essentially illegal machine gun conversion devices because constant finger pressure on the triggers will keep a rifle firing essentially like an automatic.

The deal announced Friday was between the Justice Department and Rare Breed Triggers, which was previously represented by David Warrington, Trumps current White House counsel. Rare Breed Triggers argued that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was wrong in its classification and ignored demands to stop selling the triggers before being sued by the Biden administration.

This victory is a landmark moment in the fight against unchecked government overreach, Lawrence DeMonico, the group's president, said in a statement. The ATF and DOJ tried to silence and bury us not because we broke the law, but because I refused to bend to the will of a tyrannical administration.

Under the settlement, Rare Breed Triggers has agreed not to develop such devices to be used on handguns, according to the Justice Department. The settlement requires the ATF to return triggers that it had seized or that owners had voluntarily surrendered to the government.

RELATED STORY | Supreme Court upholds rule requiring more regulations for 'ghost guns'

Days after Walmart announced price hikes would be coming later this month due to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, Trump said that Walmart should "eat" the costs.

In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said, "Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain. Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected. Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, 'EAT THE TARIFFS,' and not charge valued customers ANYTHING. Ill be watching, and so will your customers!!!"

Trump's comments came a day after he stated that the U.S. was unable to secure trade agreements with numerous countries.

"We'll be telling people what they'll be paying to do business in the United States," he said.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told investors on Thursday that his company is preparing to raise prices, saying it cannot absorb all of the costs associated with tariffs implemented by Trump. McMillon indicated that Walmart began experiencing increased costs in late April due to tariffs, with those costs substantially rising in the first two weeks of May. He said customers could notice price increases on a broad range of items, even after Trump reduced the tariff rate he imposed on China from 145% to 30%.

RELATED STORY | Walmart to adjust prices due to tariff-related costs, CEO says

Currently, the U.S. has imposed a 10% tariff on most imported goods and a 25% duty on aluminum and steel products, in addition to the 30% tax on Chinese goods. These tariffs are charged to companies importing the items.

Trump had implemented tariffs on goods from dozens of nations but later opted to pause them for 90 days to facilitate negotiations. When the 90-day pause ends in July, it remains unclear how much importers will have to pay.

Many companies, including Walmart, have stated that some of these costs will be passed on to consumers.

"We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible, but given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren't able to absorb all the pressure, given the reality of narrow retail margins."

Trump has insisted that tariffs would help facilitate the return of manufacturing jobs to the U.S. Walmart has said that in recent years it has been purchasing more from U.S. suppliers, but many items must still be imported.

RELATED STORY | Trump tariffs aimed at reviving US jobs, but experts warn of complex challenges

President Donald Trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday that he intends to speak separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week to foster a peace agreement between the two warring nations.

President Trump stated he will be speaking with Putin at 10 a.m. on Monday.

"THE SUBJECTS OF THE CALL WILL BE, STOPPING THE 'BLOODBATH' THAT IS KILLING, ON AVERAGE, MORE THAN 5000 RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS A WEEK, AND TRADE," Trump wrote in all caps.

In addition to speaking with Zelenskyy, President Trump said he will also discuss the war with NATO leaders.

"HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A PRODUCTIVE DAY, A CEASEFIRE WILL TAKE PLACE, AND THIS VERY VIOLENT WAR, A WAR THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED, WILL END," Trump added.

RELATED STORY | Trump plans meeting with Putin to broker peace in Ukraine-Russia conflict

President Trump's announcement came after Putin decided not to accept Zelenskyy's invitation for a face-to-face meeting. However, delegations involving officials from Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey met on Friday. The talks in Istanbul represented the first time government officials from Russia and Ukraine have met face-to-face since 2022.

The Associated Press reported that the two sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each. They also agreed to provide each other with detailed ceasefire proposals and to arrange a meeting by their heads of state, the AP reported.

President Trump indicated that Putin would not meet with Zelenskyy unless the American leader was present.

"They all said Putin was going and Zelenskyy was going. And I said, If I don't go, I guarantee Putin is not going, and he didn't go. And I understand that, but we're going to get it done," President Trump said on Friday.

On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The State Department stated that Rubio presented Lavrov with a "comprehensive peace plan proposed by the United States."

RELATED STORY | As eyes turn toward Turkey, here's what to know about Russia-Ukraine peace talks

Some Amazon customers say their refunds are disappearing weeks after their returns.

The online marketplace is facing a lawsuit over the issue, with plaintiffs claiming the company reversed their refunds after they returned the products. Amazon asserts that in those cases, items were either not received or returned in damaged condition.

The case involves Amazon's advanced refund policy, which provides consumers with a refund before the company receives an item. With this policy, a customer can initiate a return online and receive a refund before returning the item. If the customer fails to return the item in a timely manner or if the item is damaged, Amazon can charge the customer.

Although the case was filed in 2023, it has been circulating in federal court. Recently, a federal judge decided not to dismiss the case and ordered both sides to provide an updated status report.

RELATED STORY | Amazon denies plan to list tariff costs; White House called idea 'hostile'

"Plaintiffs have adequately alleged that Amazon stole money directly from their bank accounts and continues to possess it unlawfully. These allegations state a plausible claim for conversion that exists independently of the parties' contractual relationship," U.S. District Court Judge Jamal N. Whitehead wrote in a recent motion.

Consumer experts recommend obtaining a receipt when dropping off a return and holding on to it for several months in case the refund is later disputed.

Amazon says it can take up to 30 days for the company to receive and process a return, and in certain circumstances, refund time frames may be longer.

The company advises customers to only initiate refunds if the items are in their original condition. It also reminds customers to use the correct mailing label and drop off items at eligible locations.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning the public to beware of messages claiming to be from senior U.S. officials. In a new public advisory, the FBI says hackers have been using AI-generated voice messages to impersonate individuals.

These investigations have targeted current or former senior U.S. federal and state government officials as well as their contacts. The incidents began last month, the FBI said.

RELATED STORY | The top scams targeting you as we head into 2025

The agency warns that hackers will first try to establish rapport before gaining access to personal accounts. If you receive a message like this, the FBI advises you to proceed with caution.

To verify the identity of the caller, look for subtle imperfections in images and videos, and carefully examine contact information. The agency also advises against sharing sensitive information with anyone you have only met online or over the phone.

Additional tips are available on the FBI's website.

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 May 12.

Take a tour of what lies underneath the Belle Isle fountain; see why it's being renovated Take a tour of what lies underneath the Belle Isle fountain, see why it's being renovated

The iconic fountain that sits on Detroits Belle Isle will close to the public Monday and remain closed until May 2027 to undergo some major renovations.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources gave 7 News Detroit a tour of what lies underneath the fountain to show us why building new concrete beams and replacing the aging plumbing and infrastructure is necessary to keep the 100-year-old landmark running.

The fountain was built in 1925 and the infrastructure that lies underneath it is starting to crumble.

Over here, it leaks on the electrical and over here, it leaks on the electrical," Michigan DNR Urban District Supervisor Tom Bissett said. "When the bowl is leaking, its creating mud underneath us and its just not very stable.

Bissett says the Michigan DNR received another round of funding through the American Rescue Plan that they have to use up soon. Some of those dollars will go toward finishing up the new trail or tearing down old structures like the zoo, but $6 million of it will be going to fix up the fountain.

When that bowl is structurally unsound, it could collapse and if it collapses, youre not just talking about danger for anybody thats down in this room but you could potentially lose the entire fountain," Bissett said.

A few years ago, maintenance work was done to the outside of the fountain, but there will still be some marble replacement and new LED lighting. For example, the lights that used to shine in the fountain were run-of-the-mill light bulbs submerged in water, so they were not very safe or sustainable.

However, the majority of the work will focus underneath the fountain where structural work will be done to make sure the fountain can last another 100 years, and 100 more years of memories can be made.

Woman-owned business in Ferndale helps new mothers navigate postpartum challenges Woman-owned business in Ferndale helps new mothers navigate postpartum challenges

A unique business in Ferndale is working to make the transition into motherhood easier and less isolating for women by providing comprehensive postpartum support services.

The Fourth Tri Sanctuary on Woodward Avenue offers a space where mothers can go with their babies to get the care and support they need after giving birth.

"We created something that doesn't exist in our country," co-founder Kacee Must said. "It is a postpartum space that brings all of the things that you could possibly need during the postpartum period, which is 0 to 12 months, to you all under one roof."

Must, a yoga instructor and owner of Citizen Yoga, started the business with her hair stylist of 10 years. The pair noticed a significant gap in support for families and women after childbirth, and they opened their doors in February 2024.

At the facility, trained staff and doulas teach mothers essential skills like bathing and feeding their babies. The space also allows mothers to relax, nap, eat, exercise and connect with other moms.

The sanctuary has helped more than 900 mothers since opening, with plans to expand to seven more facilities in the next three years.

Oxford High School seniors reflect on journeys from freshman year shooting to graduation Oxford seniors reflect on journeys from freshman year shooting to graduation

Seniors from Oxford High School will attend their graduation ceremony Thursday night at Pine Knob. This group is the final class of students to leave school after surviving the deadly mass shooting in November 2021 that claimed the lives of four classmates Tate Myre, Madisyn Baldwin, Justin Shilling and Hana St. Juliana.

For those seniors, the shooting forever changed their four years at high school. I sat down with three families I've kept in touch with to discuss the complex range of emotions they've faced as they close one chapter and start another.

For Aiden Watson, healing is a word that carries a deep meaning on many levels. He and his mother, Linda, talked about the struggles he's had to overcome as a result of the shooting when he was a freshman.

Aiden was among the seven others who were wounded in the shooting.

"I missed, if not all of my 9th grade. Barely went in for 10th grade. Half a day for 11th. Senior year, didnt go in at all," Aiden said.

Emotions are also powerful for another graduating senior, Luke Johnson, who lost a dear friend and role model in Tate Myre.

"I decided Im going to take some time, and realize what Ive been through and how I can move forward. Then, I started to reach out to other people," Luke said.

"Just adversity, whether personal in my family or what the community has been through. The things that happened Nov. 30, and how I represent myself," he said.

Luke is now a champion wrestler and is also committed to playing football at Wayne State University this fall.

"Me and Tate were pretty close. I always looked up to him, during wrestling season especially," he said. "He always took me under his wing during football season. He was always there for me when I needed him.

More hugs were shared during our interviews between the families of Aiden Watson and senior Phoebe Arthur. Both Aiden and Phoebe overcame serious physical wounds, but emotional scars exist to this day.

"Its not what we thought it would be. When she started freshman year, what she thought graduation would look like. Nothing like what we thought before and its sad," Sandra Cunningham, Phoebe's mother, said.

Michigan film industry pushes for incentives to bring productions back to state Michigan film industry pushes for incentives to bring productions back to state

Members of Detroit's film industry are rallying to bring more production back to Michigan through a renewed push for state incentives.

Inside Cadieux Sound Studios on Detroit's east side, industry professionals gathered to prepare for another legislative effort in Lansing.

"It's just a great place to shoot and people are hungry for it," said Mike Young, a writer, director and comedian.

Young, a Southfield native who moved to Los Angeles, has filmed two movies in Michigan and wants to bring more productions to the state.

Industry members say the lack of film incentives, which dozens of other states offer, is the main obstacle to attracting productions.

The group met with lawmakers in Lansing, pushing to restore film incentives that ended in 2015, this time with what they describe as a sustainable long-term plan.

"We're looking to get a 10-year program that builds gradually over time that will have between 6 and 8 billion dollars of direct spend in the state," said Alexander Page, legislative chair of the Michigan Film Industry Association.

However, some organizations oppose the initiative. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy argues that previous incentive programs didn't deliver sufficient economic benefits.

"From our perspective, and most economists, it's just not a good use of state tax dollars," said Jarrett Skorup of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

Detroit's population increased for the 2nd straight year, data shows Detroit's population increased for the 2nd straight year, data shows

The City of Detroit's population has increased for the second straight year, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and other city leaders celebrated the news in a press conference on Thursday morning.

According to U.S. Census data, Detroit gained 6,791 residents in 2024, bringing the total population estimate to 645,705.

At the same time, the mayor said that the Census Bureau added 5,969 Detroiters that had been undercounted from 2021 to 2023.

Detroit now moves one spot to the 26th largest city in the U.S., behind Boston and ahead of Portland, Oregon.

This record growth would not have been possible without the hard work of longtime Detroiters, our business community and city employees over the past 12 years, Duggan said in a statement.

Last year, the Census Bureau reported a population increase of 1,852, the first increase since 1957. The city said that the new report "acknowledges a significant undercount in last years report."

In May 2024, the Census Bureau reported a Detroit population increase of 1,852, the first increase since 1957. The new report released today acknowledges a significant undercount in last years report.

'Wasn't expecting it': Wyandotte police gift wheelchair to woman with mobility issues 'Wasn't expecting it': Wyandotte police gift wheelchair to woman with mobility issues

A 66-year-old Downriver woman is getting around a little easier after an encounter with police turned into a life-changing gift.

Mary Ann Rodriguez, who suffers from neuropathy, was found sitting on the ground near a church on Ford Avenue near 2nd Street when Wyandotte Councilman and former Police Chief Bob Alderman stopped to help.

Rodriguez was attempting to walk from Ford Hospital in Wyandotte to visit her mother in Southgate despite her medical condition that makes walking difficult.

"She doesn't drive and I don't drive, so I walked as best as I can," Rodriguez said.

Neuropathy causes Rodriguez to have limited mobility, a condition she acknowledges won't improve.

Wyandotte Police Officer Cade Barwig initially responded to the call and drove Rodriguez home that evening.

"At first, she just wanted a ride to the nearest bus stop but I mean, I'm here to help people," Barwig said.

The assistance didn't end there.

"I called Deputy Chief Groat and I said there's got to be something we can do for Mary. She can't walk. Why is she walking from Wyandotte Hospital to Southgate," Alderman said.

The Wyandotte Police Department and Alderman secured a brand-new wheelchair for Rodriguez and provided her with $200 in Kroger gift cards, courtesy of the American Legion.

"It was kind of amazing. She definitely wasn't expecting it. She was very grateful. She teared up a little bit," Barwig said.

Rochester schools implements new safety system with wearable badges for staff Rochester schools implements new safety system with wearable badges for staff

The challenges schools face these days are very different from what they were just a couple of decades ago. As safety increasingly takes priority, local districts are adapting to the reality.

Rochester Community Schools is implementing a new platform of technologies. It's part of an effort to streamline resources and cut down on emergency response times.

Staff will be wearing badges that have a button on them, and simply pressing that button will engage an entire system of mapping and emergency responses.

The system is called the Centegix Safety Platform. Centegix is headquartered in Atlanta, and they say they were founded on the idea that technology can create safer, more secure environments.

"Lets just say a student were to hurt themselves, what would happen at that point and time?" we asked.

A staff member would press this three times, I need help. (A) response team comes and services the staff and student and see what the needs are," Superintendent Nicholas Russo said.

"Now let's just say, heaven forbid, something more dire happened, what would happen then?" we asked.

So a staff member would hit this eight times or more and it triggers a lockdown on the school. We would have the strobe lights going off, we would have the PA system taken over, initiate a lockdown. That indicates to everybody at the same time what is happening, and simultaneously sends a signal to our 911 responders," he said.

It also creates a digital map that all those first responders can reference to know exactly where theres a problem.

So they will see not only the location where this is being triggered or multiple locations where this is being activated, but theyll also see where all the assets are in the building, and AED, a fire extinguisher," Russo said.

The annual Flower Day celebration returns to Detroit's Eastern Market on Sunday, May 18.

The tradition features Metro Detroit Flower Growers Association vendors from all over the Midwest and will have include festivities for all ages. To learn more,

visit https://easternmarket.org/events/flower-day-2025/

Two of Americas largest cable companies are merging. Cox Communications and Charter Communications, which operates under the Spectrum name, announced the merger on Friday. The deal, valued at $34.5 billion, will create a major TV and internet provider.

The new company will be called Cox Communications, while Spectrum will remain the consumer-facing name. The deal is contingent on regulatory approval.

The companies say customers should expect a seamless transition. They stated that Cox customers will have the choice to pay less for new Spectrum bundled services or to keep their current plans. Cox estimates that 6 million existing customers will switch to Spectrum service.

RELATED STORY | Charter says it lost 154,000 customers after US ends affordable internet program

"This combination will augment our ability to innovate and provide high-quality, competitively priced products, delivered with outstanding customer service, to millions of homes and businesses," said Chris Winfrey, president and CEO of Charter. "We will continue to deliver high-value products that save American families money, and well onshore jobs from overseas to create new, good-paying careers for U.S. employees that come with great benefits, career training and advancement, and retirement and ownership opportunities.

The merger means that Spectrum service will be available in major markets such as Las Vegas, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Norfolk, San Diego, and Phoenix. Charter states it has over 30 million Spectrum internet customers and 12.7 million video customers.

Join the Hamtramck Drug Free Community Coalition (HDFCC), a program of the Piast Institute, for its 16th Annual Hamtramck Health Hike. The fun-filled community event promoting health and wellness, is taking place on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. until noon.

Hosted by the Hamtramck Drug Free Community Coalition (HDFCC) in partnership with local organizations, the Hamtramck Health Hike invites residents of all ages to join together for a morning of outdoor activity and enjoyment. Rain or shine, participants will embark on the 5K course winding through city streets, starting and ending at Zussman Park, in front of Hamtramck City Hall, at 3401 Evaline. As an added incentive, the first 400 people to register and attend will receive free giveaways, so be sure to sign up early and secure your spot.

Registration is free and can be completed online at: tinyurl.com/HealthHike. Participants will be given a free T-Shirt, free lunch and ice cream, and free entry for raffle prizes.

The Big Bounce America 2025 tour is bringing the bounciest, most action-packed experience of the year to Detroit, MI for two weekends beginning Saturday, May 17th, through Sunday, May 25th, at Steffens Park. It's located at 33000 Garfield Road in Fraser.

Featuring The Worlds Largest Bounce House, The Big Bounce America is the biggest touring inflatable event in the world and includes seven massive inflatable attractions including a newly expanded 24,000 sq. ft. Worlds Largest Bounce House; the incredible 900+ ft. long obstacle course The Giant; the customized sports arena Sport Slam; the unique, three-piece, space-themed wonderland airSPACE; and the newly added deep sea foam party inflatable OctoBlast.

To learn more or to buy tickets, visit link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com