The nations top public health agency was left reeling Thursday as the White House worked to expel the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director and replace her with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 's current deputy.

The turmoil triggered rare bipartisan alarm as Kennedy tries to advance anti-vaccine policies that are contradicted by decades of scientific research.

Two administration officials said Jim O'Neill, the second-in-command at the Department of Health and Human Services, would supplant Susan Monarez, a longtime government scientist. O'Neill, a former investment executive who also served at the federal health department under President George W. Bush, does not have a medical background. The officials, who confirmed the change, requested anonymity to discuss personnel decisions before a public announcement.

RELATED STORY | Susan Monarez ousted as director of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

A flashpoint is expected in the coming weeks as a key advisory committee, which Kennedy has reshaped with vaccine skeptics, is expected to issue new recommendations on immunizations. The panel is scheduled to review standard childhood shots for measles, hepatitis and other diseases.

Two Republican senators called for congressional oversight and some Democrats said Kennedy should be fired. He is scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill on Sept. 4.

No explanation given for CDC director's ouster

Kennedy has not explained the decision to oust Monarez less than a month after she was sworn in, but he warned that more turnover may be ahead.

Theres a lot of trouble at the CDC and its going to require getting rid of some people over the long term, in order for us to change the institutional culture, Kennedy said at a news conference in Texas.

The White House has only said that Monarez was not aligned with President Donald Trump's agenda.

Monarezs lawyers said she refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts. She is fighting her dismissal, saying the decision must come directly from Trump, who nominated her in March. The president has not said anything publicly about the matter.

It's unclear if O'Neill, who was just sworn in as HHS' deputy secretary, will remain in both roles as acting CDC director.

Monarez tried to block political interference, departing CDC officials say

The saga began Wednesday night with the administration's announcement that Monarez would no longer lead the CDC. In response, three officials Dr. Debra Houry, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis and Dr. Daniel Jernigan resigned from senior roles at the agency.

RELATED STORY | Who is Susan Monarez? Senate confirms Trump's new CDC leader

The officials returned to the office Thursday to collect their belongings, and hundreds of supporters gathered to applaud them as they left the Atlanta campus. There were bouquets of flowers, cheers and chants of USA not RFK.

Daskalakis, who resigned as head of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said, I fear that children will be hurt by poor decision making around vaccines.

You cannot dismantle public health and expect it to still work," he said.

Jernigan stepped down as director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases and Houry quit her post as the agency's deputy director and chief medical officer.

Houry told The Associated Press that Monarez had tried to guard against political meddling in scientific research and health recommendations.

We were going to see if she was able to weather the storm. And when she was not, we were done, Houry said.

Dr. Richard Besser, a former CDC acting director, said Monarez told him that she had refused orders to fire her management team. He also said she refused to automatically sign off on any recommendations from Kennedys handpicked vaccine advisers.

Dr. Monarez was one of the last lines of defense against this administrations dangerous agenda, said Besser, now president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which helps support The Associated Press Health and Science Department.

Health agencies have faced turmoil since Trump took office

The CDC has long been the target of controversy, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the agency struggled to balance politics and public health.

The strife only increased this year with Kennedy elevating unscientific ideas at the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC, while pushing waves of layoffs.

Earlier this month, a police officer was killed when a man opened fire at the agencys headquarters because of anger over COVID-19 vaccines, which have been the subject of falsehoods and conspiracy theories. A memorial to the officer remains outside the building, close to where staff members gathered Thursday.

Monarez stands to become the shortest-serving director since the CDC was founded in 1946, exacerbating a leadership vacuum that has persisted since Trump took office. He initially chose David Weldon, a former Florida congressman who is a doctor and vaccine skeptic, but yanked the nomination in March.

Monarez was tapped next to lead the $9.2 billion agency while serving as its interim director. However, questions immediately emerged within Kennedys circle about her loyalty to the Make America Healthy Again movement, especially given her previous support of the COVID-19 vaccines that Kennedy has routinely criticized.

Vaccine panel changes prompt demands for new oversight

Kennedy rarely mentioned Monarez by name in the way he did other health agency leaders such as Mehmet Oz of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or Marty Makary of the Food and Drug Administration.

One issue has been Kennedy's handling of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a group of outside experts who make recommendations to the CDC director on how to use vaccines. The recommendations are then adopted by doctors, school systems, health insurers and others.

The panel is expected to meet next month, and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said any recommendations issued then will be lacking legitimacy.

Serious allegations have been made about the meeting agenda, membership, and lack of scientific process being followed," said Cassidy, who heads the Senate committee overseeing Kennedy's department. He added that "these decisions directly impact childrens health and the meeting should not occur until significant oversight has been conducted.

Cassidy, a doctor, provided crucial support for Kennedy's nomination after saying Kennedy had assured him that he would not topple the nations childhood vaccination program.

And yet, according to a government notice, the committee on Sept. 18 will take up votes on vaccines that have been settled fixtures for children, including shots to protect against hepatitis B and a combination shot against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.

Kennedy is a longtime leader in the anti-vaccine movement, and in June, he abruptly dismissed the entire panel, accusing members of being too closely aligned with manufacturers. He replaced them with a group that included several vaccine skeptics and then he shut the door to several doctors organizations that had long helped form vaccine recommendations.

Departing CDC officials worry science will be compromised

Houry and Daskalakis said Monarez had tried to make sure scientific safeguards were in place.

For example, she tried to replace the official who coordinated the panels meetings with someone who had more policy experience. Monarez also pushed to have slides and evidence reviews posted weeks before the committees meetings and have the sessions open to public comment, Houry said.

HHS officials nixed that and called Monarez to a meeting in Washington on Monday, Houry said.

Daskalakis described the situation as untenable.

I came to the point personally where I think our science will be compromised, and thats my line in the sand, he said.

Medical and public health organizations said they worried about the future without Monarez in charge.

The scientific community is beginning to draw a line in the sand and say, No way,' said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association.

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: Fall-like feel for Friday, dry for holiday weekend

It's going to be a Fall-like feel, and we're close to a record-low high temperature on Friday. There will be a warming trend through the weekend and including Labor Day.

Friday: It will be partly sunny with highs in the mid to upper 60s. Winds: N 5 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny with highs in the low 70s. Winds: NE 5 mph.

The top stories to know about Paying a price: Michigan abuse survivors charged to have PPOs served by police Paying a price: Michigan abuse survivors charged to have PPOs served by police

The recent shooting death of Latricia Green, a Detroit nurse allegedly killed by her ex-husband after obtaining a personal protection order against him, illustrates a serious gap in how Michigan protects those living in fear, advocates for domestic abuse survivors say.

As 7 News Detroit first reported last week, despite a judge granting a PPO against Mario Green on July 21, the Detroit Police Department says Green was never served with the order.

Under Michigan law, it is the responsibility of an alleged victim to make sure that a PPO is served on the person theyre seeking protection from. Often, they have to dig into their own pockets.

Each one of these barriers thats erected for people seeking help and seeking safety is another avenue for a perpetrator to potentially cause harm," said Johanna Kononen, the director of law and policy for the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence.

"Theres no cost to calling 911, right?" Kononen asked. "This is an extension of that. This is that type of safety that we should be offering to victims of crime."

Escalating behavior

In the months before she would be killed, Latricia Green lived in fear.

According to court records, she had called Detroit Police over a dispute with her ex-husband Mario Green back in March. By April, she said hed shown up to her job, trying to enter her office.

In June, Green had called her job and threatened her colleagues, she wrote. By July, she told a judge that her ex-husband had broken into her car, cutting up her clothes and shoes

Her July application for a PPOher second in two monthswas only approved after she told a judge that Mario Green followed her, trying to turn his car into mineI feel that the system has now let me down each time that I have tried to make reports on this man, she wrote.

I am asking for help before this goes too far, and things are too late.

If you're seeking help in filing a PPO, Michigan Legal Help offers resources online. Click here to access the State of Michigan VOICEDV hotline for 24-hour phone, text and chat features To find providers in your area who specialize in resources for sexual abuse and domestic assault survivors, click here.

Once a PPO is granted, petitioners in Michigan have three options to have it served.

At no charge, they can choose an adultoften a family member or friendto serve the order, but that comes with risks.

Theyve asked for protection from that person for a reason, Kononen said. They know that theyre dangerous and they know what theyre capable of.

A petitioner can try to serve the person through a certified letter, but that relies on the accused agreeing to sign a piece of paper proving they were served.

The third option, which advocates say is best, is having law enforcement or a process server serve the accused. But in Michiganunlike most statesdoing so comes at a cost.

In the case of Latricia Green, it is unclear why the PPO was never served.

'Access to justice'

How much you pay depends on how far police have to travel. The Wayne County Sheriffs Office has a fee schedule, which prices as $28 and as high as $99.50.

In Macomb County, prices start at $60 and can reach as much as $79, according to sheriffs officials.

In Oakland County, PPO service ranges from $26 to about $82.

Experts with the Battered Womens Justice Project, which keeps track of how protective orders are served nationwide, say that by charging for PPOs to be served, abuse victims are forced to clear yet another hurdle.

Its an access to justice issue, said Monica Player, the director of the National Center on Protection Orders for the BWJP. We dont want victims who have fled their home to be forced to bear the costs related to accessing protective relief.

State Senator Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) says its clear the law needs to change.

In an interview Thursday with 7 News Detroit, she says shes preparing legislation that would bring Michigan in line with most other states so that those living in fear dont have to pay to have a PPO served.

The fact is we know people are struggling right now. Some people may absolutely have the financial means to be able to pay $28 to $100, but there are certainly some people who most likely cannot, Chang said.

Road worker returns home after losing leg in work zone crash that killed colleague Road worker returns home after losing leg in work zone crash that killed colleague

A road worker who lost his leg in a devastating work zone crash that killed his colleague returned home from the hospital Thursday.

Robert Dinkins was working on Orchard Lake Road near 10 Mile Road on July 23 when an SUV barreled into the work site where he and two other Oakland County Road Commission workers were repairing a drainage basin.

"I had my left leg amputated from below the knee, I had four breaks in my arm," Dinkins said.

The crash badly injured Dinkins and another worker. The third man, 43-year-old Cedric Jones, died from his injuries.

"Not at all, not at all," Dinkins said when asked if he ever thought something like this would happen.

Family members greeted Dinkins when he arrived home Thursday after his hospital stay.

Clark, who previously worked for the Oakland County Road Commission before retiring, expressed his grief over the incident.

"I am really hurt that a fellow road commission worker lost his life, as well as the other road commission worker who lost, I think, a part of his leg also," Clark said.

Craig Bryson, a spokesperson with the Oakland County Road Commission, shared a message of support for the victims and their families.

"We know this is a challenging journey that they're on right now. We're doing everything we can to support them, and we just want them to know we're thinking of them," Bryson said.

VIDEO: Man charged with multiple felonies after violent attack at Planet Fitness, police chase VIDEO: Man charged with multiple felonies after violent attack at Planet Fitness, police chase

A 58-year-old man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly attacking Planet Fitness employees and attempting to run over a police officer during his escape in West Bloomfield.

Wesley Joh is accused of entering the Planet Fitness on Orchard Lake Road and punching the front desk manager without warning last week. According to police, he then used a steel workout bar as a weapon, waving it around and throwing it at gym employees before attempting to flee.

Newly released body camera footage shows the dramatic confrontation between Joh and West Bloomfield police officers.

"No, stop. Open the door. Stop. Radio, he just tried to run me over. He's taking off," an officer can be heard saying in the bodycam video.

Police say Joh hit multiple police vehicles during the ensuing chase, which ended in a residential area near W. Maple Road and Orchard Lake Road on Tamerlane Drive.

"That's crazy just the thought of that happening and the thought that some innocent person could've been riding through the parking lot or riding down the street could've been in the middle of all that," said Kevin Campbell, who lives near where the chase ended.

The confrontation didn't end with the chase. Officers had to use a Taser to remove Joh from his vehicle after he allegedly refused to exit.

"He drove on our lawn, through our driveway and he almost hit our mailbox and car," said Nathan Sandiha, who works out at the Planet Fitness and lives in the neighborhood where the chase occurred.

"He better go to the gym in the jail he can work out there for free," Campbell added.

Joh faces nine charges including assault with a dangerous weapon and fleeing and eluding a police officer. He is due back in court Sept. 4 at 48th District Court and could face decades behind bars if convicted.

The Detroit Football Classic is taking place this weekend, bringing an HBCU football game and experience to the city after more than two decades.

According to organizers, the game will take place at Ford Field on Saturday, Aug. 30, between Kentucky State and Central State

The original Detroit Football Classic was held from 2003 to 2007, and this year it will also include tailgating, an outdoor fan experience and an after party.

The tailgating and fan experience will take place at Paradise Valley/Harmony Park at 1468 Randolph on Friday and Saturday, just a few minutes from the game.

You can learn more and purchase tickets at the Detroit Football Classic website.

As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to change, fall festivities are already taking shape. Local cider mills and orchards are gearing up for the season, with fresh-baked donuts and apple picking.

I spent the day visiting a couple of orchards and cider mills across Southeast Michigan, and while the apples are just about ready for picking, owners tell me they're excited to welcome families back for one of Michigan's most beloved fall traditions.

"September, October, super apple season, it's going to have a load of them, no doubt about it," Mike Mitchell, the manager at Erie Orchards, said.

Related: Here are 2025 opening dates for metro Detroit cider mills

Mitchell said this summer's warm nights and heavy rains have paid off.

"You know, the past couple of years it's been a little bit where you, you know, we didn't have the warmth that we had this year, so we didn't quite have the crop, but like, beautiful crop this year," he said.

It isn't just about picking apples. Many say fall wouldn't be complete without a little sweet treat.

"There's nothing better than a warm doughnut and cider in the fall," he said.

Emma Smith and her husband are the owners of Obstbaum Orchard in Northville. She tells me for them, it's about more than just fruit.

"Our kids and our nieces and nephews have always loved coming here and we just thought it was a great opportunity to introduce them to different," Smith said.

Smith said it's really a family affair with generations pitching in to bring the cider mill to life each weekend.

"My mother-in-law that works here, my mom, my dad, my father-in-law, our nieces and nephews, a couple people that live down the street, so it's extremely family-oriented and we continue to keep it that way," she said.

When it comes to cider production, they say it takes a whole lot of apples to keep up with demand.

"When we make a full tank, we usually try to do between three to four bins, which is approximately 1,000 pounds per bin of apples," Smith said.

Where Your Voice Matters

Overnight, it may have just gotten a lot more expensive to shop online, and it's likely going to take even longer to actually get what you ordered. A shipping loophole, known as the "De Minimis Exemption," ended just after midnight.

It was an exemption that allowed packages worth less than $800 to enter the United States duty-free.

This is going to affect millions of international packages, especially on orders from places like Shein, Temu and Amazon.

We talked to several people on Friday morning, and the reaction was split. Some said it would affect them, while others said it wouldn't.

The Trump administration ended the nearly century-old exemption.

This is actually an exemption from tariffs that has existed since the 1930s. So, its been in place for a long time," Michael Greiner, an Oakland University professor, said. "Essentially, what it says is that under a certain value, now its $800 of value, that its not worth the trouble for the Customs and Border Protection authorities to try to assess how much tariff is on a package.

The administration said the change, which took effect overnight, will reduce the amount of drugs and counterfeit goods coming into the U.S.

Literally every single package coming into the United State, no matter how small the value that it represents, is going to have to be checked to determine how much tariff is associated with it. And, as a result of that, its both going to slow down how long it takes for things to ship from pretty much everywhere into the United States," Greiner said.

Additionally, the Trump administration said the move will also help small businesses. According to one estimate, ending the loophole will bring in nearly $10 billion per year.

Critics warn the tariffs could slow spending and cost the average American household an estimated $1,300 annually.

Metro Detroiters reacted to the news overnight, and Plymouth resident Mason Barraco said he does a lot of online shopping.

It would affect me a little bit because, I mean, if youre working only one job making the same amount and trying to buy that one item, and now its up, you cant afford it if you make the same," he said.

Others, like Ashley Parson, said the changes won't impact her much.

I dont really like to shop. But, if I need something, or if I have some extra free time, Ill go. I think its a little bit more sustainable for waste reduction to be able to shop even if it is something like Shein or Amazon to be able to like shop that in a thrift second-hand," she said.

A 58-year-old man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly attacking Planet Fitness employees and attempting to run over a police officer during his escape in West Bloomfield.

Wesley Joh is accused of entering the Planet Fitness on Orchard Lake Road and punching the front desk manager without warning last week. According to police, he then used a steel workout bar as a weapon, waving it around and throwing it at gym employees before attempting to flee.

Watch Ruta Ulcinaite's video report below: VIDEO: Man charged with multiple felonies after violent attack at Planet Fitness, police chase

Newly released body camera footage shows the dramatic confrontation between Joh and West Bloomfield police officers.

"No, stop. Open the door. Stop. Radio, he just tried to run me over. He's taking off," an officer can be heard saying in the bodycam video.

You can see the dramatic video below: Bodycam video shows police encounter after attack at Planet Fitness in West Bloomfield

Police say Joh hit multiple police vehicles during the ensuing chase, which ended in a residential area near W. Maple Road and Orchard Lake Road on Tamerlane Drive.

"That's crazy just the thought of that happening and the thought that some innocent person could've been riding through the parking lot or riding down the street could've been in the middle of all that," said Kevin Campbell, who lives near where the chase ended.

The confrontation didn't end with the chase. Officers had to use a Taser to remove Joh from his vehicle after he allegedly refused to exit.

"He drove on our lawn, through our driveway and he almost hit our mailbox and car," said Nathan Sandiha, who works out at the Planet Fitness and lives in the neighborhood where the chase occurred.

"He better go to the gym in the jail he can work out there for free," Campbell added.

Joh faces nine charges including assault with a dangerous weapon and fleeing and eluding a police officer. He is due back in court Sept. 4 at 48th District Court and could face decades behind bars if convicted.

__________________

This story was reported on-air 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.

The parents of the two schoolchildren fatally shot in a Minneapolis church spoke out for the first time on Thursday afternoon, with some imploring the shaken community to address the root causes of shootings that target schools.

Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, were killed on Wednesday morning when a shooter opened fire at a Mass that hundreds of students at Annunciation Catholic School attended.

City officials increased to 15 the number of injured children, who are ages 6 to 15. Three parishioners in their 80s also were injured. Only one person a child was in critical condition.

A call to action

In a statement released Thursday, Moyski's parents described Harper as a bright, joyful, and deeply loved 10-year-old" who was adored by her younger sister.

As a family, we are shattered, and words cannot capture the depth of our pain, the statement read.

The 10-year-old's parents said that they were focused on healing in the wake of the shooting, but added that they hoped Harpers memory would fuel action that might prevent shootings going forward.

No family should ever have to endure this kind of pain, Harpers parents wrote. We urge our leaders and communities to take meaningful steps to address gun violence and the mental health crisis in this country.

RELATED STORY | Minneapolis Catholic school shooter sought to 'terrorize' children, authorities say

Remembered by his life, not death

Fletcher Merkel's his father, Jesse Merkel tearfully read a statement on Thursday outside of the church where his son was killed, saying the eight-year-old loved his family and friends and enjoyed fishing, cooking and playing any sport.

Because of the shooter's actions, Merkel said, we will never be allowed to hold him, talk to him, play with him and watch him grow into the wonderful young man he was on the path to becoming.

Please remember Fletcher for the person he was and not the act that ended his life, Merkel said.

Even as Merkel mourned the loss of his son, he said he was thankful for the swift and heroic actions of adults and students inside the church without whom this could have been a tragedy of many magnitudes more.

Acts of heroism

Minneapolis doctors and law enforcement echoed Merkel's sentiment throughout the day on Thursday, describing the grueling escape children and teachers endured, as well as the heroic rescue efforts that saved countless lives.

When one of the students who was injured during the shooting went in for a CT scan on Wednesday, she was visibly distressed.

Without hesitation, a nurse at the hospital who was not assigned to respond to the mass casualty event sat with the young girl throughout the procedure even though safety protocols stipulate that medical staff should clear the room to prevent radiation exposure.

The nurse put a little lead on, stayed there and held her hand and held her hair while she went through scanners so she didnt have to go through alone, Dr. Jon Gayken, one of the head trauma surgeons at Hennepin County Medical Center, said.

Several medical first responders many of whom were stationed just blocks away from the church have children enrolled at the Catholic school, officials announced on Thursday.

Those are the types of things we witnessed yesterday, Gayken said.

Despite the unimaginable tragedy of the day, Gayken said, there were far less casualties than there could have been.

Children follow active shooter training

Marty Scheerer, the chief of Hennepin County Emergency Medical Services, credited unrecognized heroes, like the children and teachers in the church who followed their active shooter safety trainings, despite the chaotic and incessant hail of gunfire.

Children protecting other children often laid on the floor and covered each other up while teachers ushered kids to safety.

That was key, Scheerer said.

The first police officer entered the church without hesitation just minutes after the 911 call reported the shooting, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian OHara said.

Parishioners told O'Hara that it was the first time that the children and others there had any sense that they might be safe and survive.

When officers entered the church, they encountered children that had blood on them from not because they were injured, but because of blood pressure from other kids, OHara said at a separate news conference later in the day.

There's going to be countless lessons of bravery, from young children all the way up to elders, OHara said.

Unadilla Township police say a 22-year-old Ohio man suffered "significant" injuries in a plane crash Thursday afternoon.

The single-engine aircraft crash happened shortly before 4:00 p.m. at the southern end of Richmond Field. Police say they received a crash detection notification from an iPhone, followed by calls from nearby residents.

The 22-year-old pilot was found outside the aircraft and taken by ambulance to the University of Michigan Hospital. His exact condition hasn't been released. Police say he was flying from Charlevoix to Toledo.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information is being asked to contact the Unadilla Township Police Department at 734-498-2325.

A wide range of small imports to the U.S. will lose duty-free status starting on Friday, as the Trump administration ends de minimis exemptions on imported goods valued at less than $800.

Starting on Friday, all commercial shipments that were formerly eligible for de minimis exception will be subject to full U.S. duties and inspection by customs officers.

The change expands the new application of customs fees, which previously only applied to parcels from China and Hong Kong since May. Under the new rules Friday, all countries trading with the U.S. will be subject to new customs inspection and taxes on qualifying parcels.

Personal items & letters will not be affected by the changes. There will also be exemptions for personal travel and gifts, a senior administration official said.

RELATED STORY | Trump increases tariffs on steel and aluminum, which will likely increase consumer prices

But the Trump administration has focused on de minimis shipping as a health and safety hazard, particularly concerning the shipment of fentanyl and other drugs and drug materials.

Most customs seizures in 2024 involved de minimis shipments, a senior administration official said. Such stoppages accounted for 97% of intellectual property seizures and 77% of health and safety seizures. Weapons parts and drug components were frequently seized, the official said, with more than 800 fentanyl cases.

"President Trump's ending of the deadly de minimus loophole will save thousands of American lives by restricting the flow of narcotics and other dangerous and prohibited items, add up to $10 billion a year in tariff revenues to our Treasury, create thousands of jobs and defend against billions of dollars more lost to counterfeiting, piracy and intellectual property theft," said White House trade and manufacturing senior counselor Peter Navarro.

Labor Day 2025 will officially take place on Monday, September 1st. This federal holiday will continue to celebrate a national tradition that began in 1894. Labor Day recognizes and honors the contributions of American workers from all professions.U.S. productivity and innovation are a direct result of these hardworking men and women.

Labor Day also signals summer is about to end and the back-to-school season has begun for most schools. Traditionally, the three-day holiday weekend will be commemorated with parades, barbecues, picnics, fireworks, and music festivals. Throughout Southeast Michigan, there will be lots of events to choose from for families and friends.

In Oakland County, the Michigan Lottery Arts, Beats, and Eats will be spread out over 10 stages. The Suburban Showplace in Novi will host the annual Michigan State Fair.

In Macomb County, the Romeo Peach Festival will draw families from near and far for the 94th year. In Clinton Township, summer concerts will be featured at the Mall at Partridge Creek.

Over in Wayne County, the international Detroit Jazz Festival will take centerstage downtown while the Hamtramck Labor Day Festival will offer up a different city vibe.

For a more complete list of events, go to our website at wxyz.com. Weve posted links of things to do in metro Detroit, as well as other areas of Michigan if youre traveling out of town.

Whether youre attending a specific event or just taking advantage of holiday sales at your favorite store, keep in mind the original spirit behind Labor Day. It was established as a special day to salute Americas creative and dedicated workforce.

Be safe and we hope you make the most of Labor Day 2025!

Im Mike Murri, Regional V.P. & General Manager

Broadcast: August 28 - 31, 2025

A Detroit resident shared a heartfelt thank you on Thursday for a life-saving home upgrade.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report: Woman says City of Detroit helped save her family

It happened through Detroit's Solar Neighborhoods Program, which is turning previously blighted land into solar energy farms while providing home improvements to nearby residents.

Dorothy Gladney has lived in Detroit's Van Dyke-Lynch neighborhood for more than 40 years and chose to stay in the area she loves.

"I like it over here. So I decided to stay. I didn't want to move," Gladney said.

Near her home, the city of Detroit is building one of three solar farms that will help power 127 city buildings. As part of the initiative, residents like Gladney receive improvements to their homes.

"I got a hot water tank, I got insulation in my attic, I got electricity in my basement. My lights were out, but they fixed that," Gladney said.

But the most important improvement was a carbon monoxide detector installed on her wall.

WEB EXTRA: Dorothy Gladney talks about Detroit solar program and carbon monoxide incident WEB EXTRA: Dorothy Gladney talks about Detroit solar program and carbon monoxide incident

About a week after the city installed the device, it went off while she was cooking. After firefighters responded, Gladney learned the issue was caused by her stove. Without the detector, she, her husband, and two great-grandchildren could have died.

"I can look at the fireman's face and I knew we wouldn't have been here," Gladney said.

On Thursday, Gladney invited Mayor Mike Duggan to her home to show him around and thank the city for the program that saved her life.

"God was watching out for you," Duggan told her.

"All the time, all the time," Gladney responded.

City leaders say the solar initiative is designed to highlight the needs of households like Gladney's.

"They did a thorough walk-through to assess what her needs were, and they noticed that's something she could add, and she agreed, and that's what led to saving her life," said Kayana Sessoms, District 3 Department of Neighborhoods manager.

Gladney is grateful she's around to tell her story.

"It's a blessing and it's still a blessing," Gladney said.

This story was reported on-air 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.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved new COVID-19 shots for this fall, but only for a limited number of Americans.

Under the FDA's new guidance, the vaccine is approved for all adults 65 and older, but only for younger adults and kids with at least one medical condition that puts them at risk for severe illness from COVID.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., said on social media the new vaccines "are available for all patients who choose them after consulting with their doctors."

But many health experts say the change is in line with Kennedy's history of vaccine skepticism and will make it harder for some people to get a COVID shot.

"The FDA guidance will limit accessibility of the vaccine to individuals because it puts additional hurdles in place for otherwise healthy individuals to get the vaccine," said virologist Andy Pekosz.

Pekosz says the move could mean fewer people get the vaccine.

"This makes things much more complicated and when things get complicated, we see vaccine uptake go down."

RELATED STORY | OB-GYN association breaks from CDC, recommends COVID shot for pregnant women

A CDC advisory panel that will meet in September still needs to vote to recommend the vaccine.

Kennedy fired all of the panel's members and appointed new ones earlier this year.

The panel's decision could determine if insurers will cover the COVID-19 vaccine for people outside of the recommended groups, according to Dr. Evan Nadler.

"If you're outside those age groups right now, it's unclear whether your insurance company will pay for that shot," Nadler said.

If insurers don't cover the vaccines, some patients could end up paying more than $140 out of pocket.

A centuries-old sacred music tradition will come to life in metro Detroit next week when members of the world-renowned Sistine Chapel Choir travel from Rome to perform at St. John's Resort in Plymouth on Sept. 4.

The Sistine Chapel Choir, known as the pope's choir and recognized as the oldest active choir in history, will present a rare concert alongside acclaimed art historian and private Vatican guide Elizabeth Lev.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report below: Sistine Chapel Choir to perform rare concert at Saint John's Resort in Plymouth

"We really wanted to give a 360-degree experience of the Sistine Chapel, so the visual, the spiritual and the sounds of that chapel and to bring them here to people who are unable go to Rome," John Hale, president of Corporate Travel said.

Corporate Travel, started by his father-in-law 60 years ago, has taken thousands of people to Rome. Now, they're bringing the sacred experience to Michigan.

"It's definitely transformative," Hale said.

The event will take place in the newly renovated Monarch Ballroom at St. John's Resort, a venue that was once a historic seminary and can accommodate 1,000 people.

Jack Krasula with Anything is Possible Cultural Speaker Series explained the venue setup and ticketing options.

"Fifty dollar seats, $100 seats and then a VIP package. The VIP package is you come at 4:30 (p.m.), you have mass in the chapel, the choir sings during the mass, then you go upstairs, have a special dinner and you get a best seat for the concert," Krasula said.

First soloist Cezary Stoch, born in Poland, expressed his honor at returning to the state and pride in what the visit represents.

"It's not a job. It's something more like a job, our profession, our mission. I think we are mission," Stoch said.

Lev will provide historical context during the performance, offering what organizers describe as not just facts and figures but "the narrative, the reason, the purpose for the existence of this chapel."

The event promises to unite art and music in a powerful celebration of faith and tradition, bringing the sounds of St. Peter's Basilica to Plymouth.

More information about the event can be found online.

This story was reported on-air 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.

A road worker who lost his leg in a devastating work zone crash that killed his colleague returned home from the hospital Thursday.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report: Road worker returns home after losing leg in work zone crash that killed colleague

Robert Dinkins was working on Orchard Lake Road near 10 Mile Road on July 23 when an SUV barreled into the work site where he and two other Oakland County Road Commission workers were repairing a drainage basin.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Oakland County road commission worker killed, 2 more injured in crash Oakland County road commission worker killed, 2 more injured in crash

"I had my left leg amputated from below the knee, I had four breaks in my arm," Dinkins said.

The crash badly injured Dinkins and another worker. The third man, 43-year-old Cedric Jones, died from his injuries.

"Not at all, not at all," Dinkins said when asked if he ever thought something like this would happen.

Family members greeted Dinkins when he arrived home Thursday after his hospital stay.

"For him to be home, it's a great, great feeling," said Melvin Clark, Dinkins' cousin.

Clark, who previously worked for the Oakland County Road Commission before retiring, expressed his grief over the incident.

"I am really hurt that a fellow road commission worker lost his life, as well as the other road commission worker who lost, I think, a part of his leg also," Clark said.

Craig Bryson, a spokesperson with the Oakland County Road Commission, shared a message of support for the victims and their families.

"We know this is a challenging journey that they're on right now. We're doing everything we can to support them, and we just want them to know we're thinking of them," Bryson said.

As Dinkins faces his recovery, he has an important message for drivers who travel through work zones.

"Construction workers are only out there to make the roads better for everybody, so just slow down and give them a chance to get the roads fixed," Dinkins said.

The cause of the crash remains unclear. Farmington Hills police say the investigation is ongoing.

This story was reported on-air 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.

The Michigan State Fair is back in Novi for Labor Day weekend, expecting more than 200,000 visitors over four days of family fun, food, and entertainment.

Watch Carli Petrus's video report: Michigan State Fair returns with new attractions and enhanced security

For many Michigan families, the fair represents a cherished Labor Day tradition.

Latavia Widmayer has been attending since childhood, when it was held in Detroit, and now she's sharing the experience with her own children.

"It is heartwarming and fun, and I get to experience being a child with them," Widmayer said.

The fair features classic attractions, including rides, games, and traditional fair food.

Renee Bain-Keene, owner of the Great American Grill, has been serving fair favorites for decades. Her family's stand has been a Michigan State Fair staple since the 1960s.

"We do fresh-squeezed lemonade, which has been around forever, and we also do the fresh hand-dipped corn dogs," Bain-Keene said. "Well, we make memories is what we make, which is such a nice thing about what I do."

Organizer Craig Bender says the fair offers activities for all ages, from the midway to the agricultural barns.

"This is a family event that's going to remain so, and I think people really appreciate this version," Bender said.

While visitors can enjoy returning favorites like pig races and the butter cow, this year brings new attractions, including the Dialed Action Big Air Stunt Show and sea lions.

The fair has also implemented enhanced security measures, according to Fair Manager Blair Bowman. Changes include earlier closing times and a new policy requiring minors to be accompanied by adults.

"We'll have all types of surveillance protections in place, cameras, everything that we can do on our part to have people come and enjoy a safe and good fair this year," Bowman said.

For Bain-Keene, the fair marks the beginning of her favorite weekend of the year.

"There's nothing like going to the fair. To see the animals, ride the rides, eat the food, there's so many wonderful things to do at the fair, and I enjoy being part of it," Bain-Keene said.

The Michigan State Fair runs Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission costs $10.

This story was reported on-air 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.

Russia launched a major air attack early Thursday on Kyiv that included a rare strike on the city center, killing at least 21 people, wounding 48 and damaging European Union diplomatic offices, authorities said.

The bombardment of drones and missiles was the first major Russian attack on Kyiv in weeks as U.S.-led peace efforts to end the three-year war struggled to gain traction. Britain said the attack sabotaged peace efforts, while top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas summoned Russias EU envoy to Brussels over the strikes that damaged EU offices.

Ukraine on Thursday requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to discuss the overnight bombardment, while two of Ukraines top envoys were set to meet Friday with the Trump administration regarding mediation.

RELATED STORY | Putin's intentions questioned as Trump, Zelenskyy seek path forward for Ukraine

The Kremlin said Russia remained interested in continuing peace talks despite Thursday's air attack, which was one of the war's biggest since it began in 2022.

Among the dead were four children between 2 and 17, said Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyivs city administration. He said more people could still be under the rubble, and search and rescue efforts continued on Thursday evening.

Rare attack on center of Kyiv

The attack was one of the few times Russian drones and missiles have penetrated the heart of Kyiv since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 598 strike drones and decoys and 31 missiles of different types across the country early Thursday, most of them striking targets in Kyiv.

At least 33 locations across all 10 of the city's districts were directly hit or damaged by debris, Tkachenko said. Thousands of windows shattered as nearly 100 buildings were damaged, including a shopping mall in the city center.

Oleksandr Khilko arrived at the scene after a missile hit the residential building where his sister lives in the capitals Darnytsia district. He heard screams from people who were trapped under the rubble and pulled out three survivors, including a boy.

Its inhuman, striking civilians, Khilko said, his clothes covered in dust and the tips of his fingers black with soot. With every cell of my body I want this war to end as soon as possible. I wait, but every time the air raid alarm sounds, I am afraid.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Reporter shares eyewitness account from front lines of the Russia-Ukraine war

Sophia Akylina said her home in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi district was damaged.

Its never happened before that they attacked so close, the 21-year old said. Negotiations havent yielded anything yet, unfortunately people are suffering.

EU and UK summon Russian envoys after strikes hit their buildings

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said two strikes landed 20 seconds apart about 165 feet from the EU Mission to Ukraine building in Kyiv. She said no staff were injured in the strike.

No diplomatic mission should ever be a target. In response, we are summoning the Russian envoy in Brussels, Kaja Kallas, the European Unions top diplomat, said Thursday in a post on X.

The British Council, which promotes cultural relations and educational opportunities, also said its Kyiv office had been severely damaged in the attack and was closed to visitors until further notice.

The organization posted a photo showing the building with its windows and entrance smashed open and surrounded by glass and debris. A guard was injured and is shaken but stable, council chief executive Scott McDonald posted on X.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Russian President Vladimir Putin was sabotaging hopes of peace following the senseless strikes. The Russian ambassador to London was summoned to the foreign office.

Diplomatic efforts to reach peace have stalled

Thursday's attack is the first major combined Russian mass drone and missile attack to strike Kyiv since U.S. President Donald Trump met with Putin in Alaska earlier this month to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X following the attack. We expect a response from everyone in the world who has called for peace but now more often stays silent rather than taking principled positions.

While a diplomatic push to end the war appeared to gain momentum shortly after that meeting, few details have emerged about the next steps.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING | A Russia-Ukraine peace deal may include land ceded to Russia, according to new reports

Western leaders have accused Putin of dragging his feet in peace efforts and avoiding serious negotiations while Russian troops move deeper into Ukraine. This week, Ukrainian military leaders conceded Russian forces have broken into an eighth region of Ukraine seeking to capture more ground.

Zelenskyy hopes for harsher U.S. sanctions to cripple the Russian economy if Putin does not demonstrate seriousness about ending the war. He reiterated those demands following Thursday's attack.

Trump bristled this week at Putins stalling on an American proposal for direct peace talks with Zelenskyy. Trump said Friday he expects to decide on next steps in two weeks if direct talks arent scheduled.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday said that it was clear that a meeting between President Zelenskyy and President Putin will not take place."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized both Putin and Zelenskyy after the Thursday attack on Kyiv.

She said that Trump was not happy about this news, but he was also not surprised by Russias Thursday air assault on Ukrainian capital.

Leavitt noted that Ukraine has also launched effective assaults on Russias oil industry in recent weeks.

Perhaps both sides of this war are not ready to end it themselves, Leavitt said. The president wants it to end, but the leaders of these two countries must want it to end as well.

Russia says it targeted 'military-industrial complex'

Russias Defense Ministry said it carried out a strike against military air bases and companies within Ukraines military-industrial complex using long-range weapons, including Kinzhal missiles.

All designated objects were hit, the ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine has ramped up domestic arms production to fight Russias invasion. Many weapons factories operate covertly, with some embedded in civilian areas with superior air defenses. Indiscriminate Russian attacks claiming to target Ukraines defense industry have killed many civilians.

The Russian Defense Ministry also said it shot down 102 Ukrainian drones overnight, mostly in the countrys southwest. A drone attack sparked a blaze at the Afipsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, local officials said, while a second fire was reported at the Novokuibyshevsk refinery in the Samara region.

Ukrainian drones have repeatedly struck refineries and other oil infrastructure in recent weeks in an attempt to weaken Russias war economy, causing gas stations in some Russian regions to run dry and prices to spike.

Ukraines national railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, reported damage to its infrastructure in the Vinnytsia and Kyiv regions, causing delays and requiring trains to use alternative routes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a food safety alert Thursday after nearly 100 people fell ill due to a Salmonella outbreak in recalled eggs.

The CDC says 95 people in 14 states have gotten sick, most of them in California and most of them between June and July of 2025. 18 people were hospitalized and none of those who fell ill have died.

The agency has traced an outbreak of Salmonella to a specific run of cage-free eggs sold by Country Eggs, LLC of Lucerne Valley, CA.

The eggs were sold mainly in California and Nevada, to grocery stores for consumers to buy and to food service distributors. They were sold from Jun 16, 2025, through July 9, 2025 in cartons labeled Nagatoshi Produce, Misuho or Nijiya Markets. Cartons are marked with the code CA 7695.

The manufacturer recalled the eggs on Wednesday. Customers are directed to return purchased eggs for a refund, or throw them out.

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Symptoms of Salmonella include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. They may start just hours after eating contaminated foods and typically last as long as 7 days. The young, the old and the immunocompromised are at risk of more severe symptoms, which may require hospitalization. The CDC recommends that you call your doctor if you suspect salmonella contamination and are experiencing symptoms like excessive diarrhea or vomiting or body temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

The recent shooting death of Latricia Green, a Detroit nurse allegedly killed by her ex-husband after obtaining a personal protection order against him, illustrates a serious gap in how Michigan protects those living in fear, advocates for domestic abuse survivors say.

As 7 News Detroit first reported last week, despite a judge granting a PPO against Mario Green on July 21, the Detroit Police Department says Green was never served with the order.

Watch Ross Jones' video report below: Paying a price: Michigan abuse survivors charged to have PPOs served by police

Under Michigan law, it is the responsibility of an alleged victim to make sure that a PPO is served on the person theyre seeking protection from. Often, they have to dig into their own pockets.

RELATED: Last month, hospital shooting victim sought protection from ex 'before this goes too far'

Each one of these barriers thats erected for people seeking help and seeking safety is another avenue for a perpetrator to potentially cause harm," said Johanna Kononen, the director of law and policy for the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence.

"Theres no cost to calling 911, right?" Kononen asked. "This is an extension of that. This is that type of safety that we should be offering to victims of crime."

Escalating behavior

In the months before she would be killed, Latricia Green lived in fear.

According to court records, she had called Detroit Police over a dispute with her ex-husband Mario Green back in March. By April, she said hed shown up to her job, trying to enter her office.

In June, Green had called her job and threatened her colleagues, she wrote. By July, she told a judge that her ex-husband had broken into her car, cutting up her clothes and shoes

Her July application for a PPOher second in two monthswas only approved after she told a judge that Mario Green followed her, trying to turn his car into mineI feel that the system has now let me down each time that I have tried to make reports on this man, she wrote.

I am asking for help before this goes too far, and things are too late.

If you're seeking help in filing a PPO, Michigan Legal Help offers resources online. Click here to access the State of Michigan VOICEDV hotline for 24-hour phone, text and chat features To find providers in your area who specialize in resources for sexual abuse and domestic assault survivors, click here.

Once a PPO is granted, petitioners in Michigan have three options to have it served.

At no charge, they can choose an adultoften a family member or friendto serve the order, but that comes with risks.

Theyve asked for protection from that person for a reason, Kononen said. They know that theyre dangerous and they know what theyre capable of.

A petitioner can try to serve the person through a certified letter, but that relies on the accused agreeing to sign a piece of paper proving they were served.

The third option, which advocates say is best, is having law enforcement or a process server serve the accused. But in Michiganunlike most statesdoing so comes at a cost.

In the case of Latricia Green, it is unclear why the PPO was never served.

'Access to justice'

How much you pay depends on how far police have to travel. The Wayne County Sheriffs Office has a fee schedule, which prices as $28 and as high as $99.50.

In Macomb County, prices start at $60 and can reach as much as $79, according to sheriffs officials.

In Oakland County, PPO service ranges from $26 to about $82.

Experts with the Battered Womens Justice Project, which keeps track of how protective orders are served nationwide, say that by charging for PPOs to be served, abuse victims are forced to clear yet another hurdle.

Its an access to justice issue, said Monica Player, the director of the National Center on Protection Orders for the BWJP. We dont want victims who have fled their home to be forced to bear the costs related to accessing protective relief.

State Senator Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) says its clear the law needs to change.

In an interview Thursday with 7 News Detroit, she says shes preparing legislation that would bring Michigan in line with most other states so that those living in fear dont have to pay to have a PPO served.

The fact is we know people are struggling right now. Some people may absolutely have the financial means to be able to pay $28 to $100, but there are certainly some people who most likely cannot, Chang said.

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

Social media influencer Emilie Kiser spoke out on her platforms Thursday for the first time since her 3-year-old son tragically drowned in the family's backyard pool in May.

Trigg Kiser was found unconscious when authorities first arrived at the scene in Chandler, Arizona, and he later died at the hospital, according to police.

Emilie said she takes full accountability for the incident and "should have done more to protect him."

RELATED STORY | Scripps News investigation finds vacation home deaths involving children

According to court documents, Emilie was out with friends while her two sons were home with her husband and their father, Brady.

Brady told police he was distracted by their newborn while Trigg was playing outside. After losing sight of Trigg, he went to check on him and found him in the pool.

A police report regarding the incident stated surveillance footage showed Trigg was left unsupervised outside the home for at least nine minutes and had been in the water for at least seven minutes before he was found.

NBC News reported, citing police records, that Brady was watching an NBA game at the time and that Trigg did not intentionally go into the pool, but rather fell in accidentally.

Chandler Police initially recommended that Brady be charged with a class 4 felony of child abuse. However, the Maricopa County Attorneys Office said it determined that he would not face charges because there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction.

"One of the hardest lessons I carry is that a permanent pool fence could have saved his life, and it's something I will never overlook again," said Emilie on Thursday.

"I never thought we would experience grief in this way or the pain of losing him so suddenly," Emilie wrote. "It's a pain, heartache, and void that no family should ever have to endure."

She said she will be "establishing more boundaries" with what she shares online moving forward.