People will be able to get their beloved items returned after a Berkley art and artifact restoration business shuttered its storefront location without notifying customers.
Earlier this week, 7 News Detroit went to House of Renew on Woodward Avenue and found a sign on the door saying all projects had been relocated to the owners home studio to be finished. However, customers say they weren't notified about the move, could not reach the business owner and their valuable possessions were missing.
When calling the business phone number, customers heard a voicemail message stating: "Thank you for calling House of Renew. Please leave your name, your phone number, and your claim number only, and we'll get back to you. The voicemail box is full. Please try again later.
Watch our video report from earlier this week below: Art restoration shop closes, customers' valuables missing
7 News Detroit attempted to contact owner Ruth Peppiatt at her personal number with no answer. We also visited her home, where no one answered the door. A note from Berkley police was posted on her door, indicating they also wanted to speak with her.
The Berkley Department of Public Safety said they received multiple complaints from frustrated customers seeking their items.
On Thursday, Berkley police said after reporting by 7 News Detroit, officers spoke with the owner. They say customers can request their items be returned instead of finished. Customers can make those requests by emailing houseofrenew@sbcglobal.net and including their name, phone number and claim number if thats available.
Items that arent requested to be returned will still be worked on, the owner told police.
Police will update customers who made reports to them.
A jury found a Wisconsin judge accused of helping a Mexican immigrant dodge federal authorities guilty of obstruction Thursday, marking a victory for President Donald Trump as he continues his sweeping immigration crackdown across the country.
Federal prosecutors charged Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan with obstruction, a felony, and concealing an individual to prevent arrest, a misdemeanor, in April. The jury acquitted her on the concealment count, but she still faces up to five years in prison on the obstruction count.
The jury returned the verdicts after deliberating for six hours.
Dugan and her attorneys left the courtroom, ducked into a side conference room and closed the door without speaking to reporters.
According to a court filings that include an FBI affidavit and a federal grand jury indictment, immigration authorities traveled to the Milwaukee County courthouse on April 18 after learning 31-year-old Eduardo Flores-Ruiz had reentered the country illegally and was scheduled to appear before Dugan for a hearing in a state battery case.
Dugan learned that agents were in the corridor outside her courtroom waiting for Flores-Ruiz. She left the courtroom to confront them, falsely telling them their administrative warrant for Flores-Ruiz wasnt sufficient grounds to arrest him and directing them to go to the chief judges office.
While the agents were gone, she addressed Flores-Ruizs case off the record, told his attorney that he could attend his next hearing via Zoom and led Flores-Ruiz and the attorney out a private jury door. Agents spotted Flores-Ruiz in the corridor, followed him outside and arrested him after a foot chase. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced in November he had been deported.
The case inflamed tensions over Trumps immigration crackdown, with his administration branding Dugan an activist judge and Democrats countering that the administration was trying to make an example of Dugan to blunt judicial opposition to the operation.
Prosecutors worked during Dugans trial to show that she directed agents to the chief judges office to create an opening for Flores-Ruiz to escape.
An FBI agent who led the investigation testified that after agents left the corridor, she immediately moved Flores-Ruizs case to the top of her docket, told him that he could appear for his next hearing via Zoom and led him out the private door.
Prosecutors also played audio recordings from her courtroom in which she can be heard telling her court reporter that shed take the heat for leading Flores-Ruiz out the back.
Her attorneys countered that she was trying to follow courthouse protocols that called for court employees to report any immigration agents to their supervisors and she didnt intentionally try to obstruct the arrest team.
A man who was working as a Salvation Army bell ringer was shot and killed at a Kroger store in Westland Thursday evening, according to a source.
Police said the shooting happened around 6:20 p.m. at the store on Ford Road near Central City Parkway.
Watch Brett Kast's video report below: Source: Salvation Army bell ringer fatally shot at Kroger store in Westland
It's unclear at this time what led up to the shooting.
The suspect is a teenage boy, Westland Mayor Kevin Coleman confirmed. Additional information about the suspect was not immediately available, including if he is in custody.
The Salvation Army released the following statement:
The Salvation Army is profoundly heartbroken by the tragic incident that took place tonight at the Kroger in Westland. We lift up in prayer all who are affected, especially the individual involved, their loved ones and the Westland community. We are working closely with the Westland Police Department as they investigate the situation. - Lt. Col. Steve Merritt, divisional commander for The Salvation Army Great Lakes Division
Police are investigating.
Kroger released a statement that reads:
We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred outside of our Westland Kroger located at 36430 Ford Road. We are cooperating with local law enforcement, and will continue to follow their guidance while the police investigation continues. To protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, we are deferring all questions to Westland Police Department.
President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a new athletic competition for high school students called the "Patriot Games."
The competition will bring together a male and female competitor from each U.S. state and territory for an athletic contest.
"In the fall we will host the first ever Patriot Games, an unprecedented four-day athletic event featuring the greatest high school athletes, one young man and one young woman from each state and territory," the president said in a video announcement on social media.
"But I promise there will be no men paying in women's sports. You're not going to see that. You'll see everything but that," the president said, alluding to recent administration efforts to prevent transgender athletes from competing in school sports.
Specific details about the planned competition, such as the disciplines involved, were not immediately available.
The event comes as part of the White House's plans to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. Also planned for the year is a "Great American State Fair" on the National Mall, incorporating pavilions and displays from each state. That event is expected to run from June 25 to July 10, according to President Trump.
As a New Year inches closer, its time to share our last Community Comment for 2025. The opening of the new Hudsons Tower and Nick Gilberts Way public space sparked these social media reactions. Beverly Pierson wrote:
It is absolutely a beautiful building! It makes Detroit even better!
Jennifer Wagner and several other people wanted to know:
Is there anyway I can order the (new edition Hudsons) Santa Bear?
The decorated Christmas tree, the huge bear, coffee and hot chocolate stands, what a wonderful Hudsons store memory throwback.
Our editorial on giving and volunteering during the holiday season holiday triggered some interesting comments. Marcella S. Fox said:
Driving a fancy car doesnt mean youre rich. You dont know what people are experiencing in their private lives. I was raised to mind my own business and pray for others.
Another viewer wrote:
"Im not a church going person, but I do have empathy and kindness in my heart. Grateful for the community that helped.
- Terri Varady
Richard Johnson said:
Jesus commanded all of us to feed the poor! That means we all have a responsibility to create wealth.
Darlene Tyree said:
Nice to see community leaders out doing for their community, not just a photo opportunity.
Cathy Rice wrote:
It is comforting there is food, but so very, very, sad our economy has come to this.
Thats it for 2025. Thanks for writing and watching. Happy Holidays to all. See you next year.
Mario Greens murder case was bound over to circuit court. On Thursday, that decision was made after three hours of testimony in Judge Shawn Jacque's 36th District courtroom.
The 53-year-old is accused of killing his ex-wife Latricia Brown, 40, at her job at Henry Ford Hospital on Aug. 22.
Watch Darren Cunningham's video report below: Mario Green to stand trial in ex-wife's death
Browns cousins, Deonda and Dia Easley, told 7 News Detroit they left court feeling overwhelmed after learning new details.
"It's the beginning of justice for us. It's the beginning of a long battle of acceptance, processing what happened to her, Deonda Easley said.
Brown divorced Green in 2018.
On the stand, one of her co-workers recalled Green's interaction with the victim seconds before the shooting.
He was just asking her questions like, Oh, I need help with a bill. Can you come out to the hall? And she was working and answering his questions, the witness said.
When asked by the prosecutor what happened next, the witness replied, I heard a gunshot."
The prosecution played a clip they say shows Green walking toward Brown's office in the basement before the shooting.
Then, eight minutes later, the man is seen running away with a gun in his right hand.
Brown's co-worker, who said they didn't see where the shot came from, called 911.
The prosecutor asked, Where was Trish?
In the room with me on the floor dead, the witness replied.
Coincidentally, the officer in charge of the case, Eisaac Llamas, testified that he happened to be at the hospital already.
"I was investigating a homicide that happened a couple hours prior and I was in the ambulance bay getting ready to leave the location when the shooting occurred, he explained.
Llamas said he started searching the building for the suspect. But by then, Green had already left.
Green shouldn't have been there in the first place. The 40-year-old victim had filed multiple personal protection orders against him for stalking and vandalism.
Previous coverage: Last month, hospital shooting victim sought protection from ex 'before this goes too far' Last month, hospital victim sought protection from ex 'before this goes too far'
Officer-worn body camera footage played in court showed Green at her job in April.
What's going on with you? I'm talking to you, an officer is heard asking Green.
He replied, She called you. Don't talk to me because I didn't call you. She called you.
The officer stated, So, what you doing over here?
Green replied, I come see her if I choose to come see her. Why are you bothering me?
The officer called for backup and then followed Green upstairs out the exit.
Green shouted at a group of officers, That's my wife!"
An officer stated, You can't come up here and threaten her.
I didn't threaten her though, Green replied.
A judge denied Browns PPO request in June, but a PPO was approved in July. However, it was never served.
Previous coverage: Save other women': Family of slain hospital worker pleads to change Michigan's PPO law Family of murdered hospital worker urges Senate to change PPO law
After Brown's murder, Green was on the run. That sparked a large-scale manhunt. His car was spotted in Northwest Detroit hours after the shooting, however, he was arrested early the next morning on the city's east side.
Green's defense attorney, Brian Berry, maintains his client's innocence and called the police investigation "shoddy".
"I don't see how we get to Mr. Green as being the shooter or that he was stalking or that he was there without consent, Berry told the judge.
Previous coverage: Ex-husband, another man charged in deadly shooting at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit Ex-husband, another man charged in deadly shooting at Henry Ford Hospital
Deonda Easley told 7 News Detroit, Latricia didn't deserve what happened to her at all, and our prayer is that no one else, no other family has to go through what we went through and that Latricia's words will be received and heard and justice will be served."
Dia Easley said, "We're still seeing cases like this. So, people need to know that the justice system is going to work in the victim's favor. So, we are grateful for what they're doing, and we just asked that they do the same amount of work as if it's their family."
Hes a highly paid Oakland County Deputy County Executive who works for the taxpayers. So why does an outside company that he owns have lucrative contracts with other local governments?
Watch Heather Catallo's video report: Advantage or conflict? Oakland Co. senior leaders private business in question
Financial disclosure has been a hot topic for months in Oakland County government. County officials have come under fire recently over outside jobs and outside business interests, prompting some to call for major ethics reforms.
So are these private business deals an advantage when it comes to experience, or are they conflicts of interest?
WEB EXTRA: Extended interview with Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter WEB EXTRA: Extended interview with Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter
Oakland County Deputy County Executive Sean Carlson knows procurement. Not only has he overseen Oakland Countys purchasing department, Carlson owns a procurement company. Its a staffing business that helps governments source goods and services.
Even though Carlson earns $224,487 a year as a Deputy County Executive, records obtained by the 7 Investigators show he also owns Procurement Consulting Group.
Its a private company that has provided purchasing staff to local governments, including Livingston County, the Washtenaw Intermediate School District and with neighboring Wayne County.
Carlson was hired by Oakland County in 2019. Records show Carlsons Procurement Consulting Group, or PCG, has been providing Wayne County with procurement staff since 2016. In 2023, PCG landed a Wayne County contract valued at up to $8,467,961.24 for 3 years and can be extended for 7 years for up to $14,522,783.14.
Related story: Oakland County commission asks lawmakers to create financial disclosure rules amid controversy Oakland County commission asks lawmakers to create financial disclosure rules amid controversy
In PCGs Wayne County contract, Carlson is listed as both a principal of the company and the owner.
Is that a conflict? asked 7 Investigator Heather Catallo.
A thousand percent, a thousand percent, said Oakland County Commissioner Charlie Cavell (D-Ferndale).
Lines have become very blurry in Oakland County in regard to serving the public or serving our private interests, said Oakland County Commissioner Kristen Nelson (D-Waterford).
Nelson and Cavell have been calling for financial disclosure and ethics reforms in Oakland County since May.
Sean'sbusiness wins that contract. And that's really bad, in my opinion, because he'sanOaklandCounty deputy executive making over $200,000 a year.His day job is to run IT, airports, economic development, andpurchasing, and the Pontiac redevelopment project.Purchasing is a core function of his job, said Cavell.
Carlson has been leading Oakland Countys redevelopment that will move county employees to downtown Pontiac, a project county officials say is expected to cost taxpayers between $370 - $390 million.
And thats not Carlsons only connection to the city. A few months after Oakland County closed on the land for the redevelopment deal on August 16, 2023, Pontiac city records show Carlsons Procurement Consulting Group landed a deal of their own with the city on January 31, 2024.
PCGs first invoice was paid on April 26, 2024, just days after Carlson appeared at the Pontiac city council meeting on April 16, 2024 with an update on the countys massive investment in their downtown.
And at the same meeting where Carlson updated the Pontiac City Council again in early 2025, the council voted to extend the PCG contract until July.
In total, city invoices show Pontiac has paid PCG $355,780.
Related Story: Oakland County leaders call for criminal investigation into controversial IT contract Oakland County leaders call for criminal investigation into controversial IT contract
That feels all too convenient, said Cavell. It'stheperceptionofbad behavior, because we need, as people in government, to have people trust us becausewe'reusing your money So, if youdon'ttrust us, then this whole thing falls apart.
City spokesman Jacob Jefferson told the 7 Investigators, The City of Pontiac was unaware of Mr. Carlsons connection with Procurement Consulting Group when we entered into a contract with the Company. The standard procurement process of the City was followed, and PCG was engaged using the consortium option.
Sean Carlson told the 7 Investigators he is not involved in the day-to-day operations with his company and said he had no idea PCG had gotten that contract with Pontiac until after it was approved.
Carlson said he told the Pontiac mayor he was the owner after he learned about the deal.
If you have disclosure, then you can stand up and look at the facts, said Jim Townsend.
Townsend is a former state representative and is now the director of the Carl Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy at Wayne State University. He says while not every outside job or source of income is inherently bad, Oakland County does need financial disclosure and ethics rules so taxpayers know who else is paying our public officials.
I would say in the absence of disclosure, thenI think residentshave a lot ofreasonto doubt that their interests are being well served, said Townsend.
The 7 Investigators asked several times to interview Sean Carlson on camera, and county officials told us no. So, we caught up with his boss County Executive David Coulter to ask about Carlsons company.
Isn't that a contract of interest? asked Catallo.
My understanding is he's taken no votes and made no decisions on the business that they pursue. He has put that into, not a trust per se, but treats it as if it's a separate entity, that hes not involved in, said Coulter.
How can you be sure he's not enriching himself with the relationships he's building with the county? asked Catallo.
I've seen no evidence of it, said Coulter. I've not seen a single bit of evidence that says that he has enriched himself or done something inappropriately.
Late on Wednesday, Sean Carlson answered questions by phone. He was transparent and even answered questions about his outside income, saying when asked that he earns between $250,000 and $500,000 dollars from PCG, depending on the year.
Carlson says PCG has saved Wayne County about $30 million. He also says his vast experience in procurement actually helps Oakland County in his role overseeing Economic Development.
Meanwhile, Executive Coulters top appointees will all be publicly disclosing their outside income and jobs starting in January 2026.
Carlson says he disclosed his finances to his bosses last summer, and will also have to continue to do that since hes now running for state senate.
If you have a story for Heather Catallo, please email her at hcatallo@wxyz.com
Scammers are capitalizing on cryptocurrencys record-breaking year, luring victims with fake investment opportunities that promise huge returns. Victims watch their balances soar, until they try to cash out.
Losses tied to these schemes have grown so severe that the FBI launched Operation Level Up in January 2024, a proactive effort to identify and warn victims before they realize they are being scammed.
Karen and Michael, who asked to be identified by their first names only, both started small. Their investments appeared to multiply almost immediately. But the profits only looked real on screen. The platforms showing those gains were controlled by scammers, and the money was never invested.
I started out with about $2,000, Karen said.
I decided, why not 500 bucks if it doesn't work? And lo and behold, I made money, Michael said.
That early success convinced Karen to keep investing.
It seemed so easy to make that much money, you know, in that short period of time, and my greed just went into full bloom, Karen said. I pretty much invested a lot, I would say like, maybe over $3 million.
But when both tried to withdraw their money, they were stopped. Scammers demanded additional payments, often framed as taxes, before allowing access to the funds.
You have to pay some sort of tax in order to pull it out. But in order to do that, you have to pay like, 20%, 30% of what you made, Karen said.
Neither recovered their money. Michael lost $50,000. Karen lost everything.
Once you fall into that initial trap, it's kind of hard to get out, Karen said.
So hard that when the FBI reached out to warn her, Karen did not believe it was real.
I got an email from the FBI saying, you know, we're seeing a lot of activity with your account, and we think you might be, you might be being scammed. And when I first saw the email, I thought it was a scam, she said.
Keith Custer, supervisory special agent with FBI Baltimore, explained the bureau's new approach.
Operation Level Up. So this is an initiative that the FBI started in January of 2024 where we proactively identify victims who are in the midst of being scammed, Custer said.
The goal is to stop catastrophic losses before they happen. Custer said the average loss in these cases is about $140,000.
In 2024, which is the last year that we have full year records for IC3, the Internet Crime Complaint Center received reports totaling $5.8 billion in losses and over 41,000 individuals reported complaints, he said.
Many of these scams begin with a simple message, sometimes an accidental text, sometimes through social media or dating apps.
There's no initial ask. The scammer will attempt to build a relationship based on kind of an accidental meeting. And they'll take whatever amount of time is required to develop a level of trust, Custer said.
That relationship-building phase can last months. After victims lose their money, scammers often return, this time posing as recovery services.
They will then contact the victim with what we would call a recovery scheme and purport to be a law firm or another firm that can assist them in unlocking these millions of dollars that don't really exist, Custer said. It's hard psychologically for a victim to come to grips with I've just lost everything, and hold on to that little hope that maybe one more transaction can unlock everything and get them back.
WATCH | How fake online retailers use social media platforms like TikTok to scam consumers
The FBI says Operation Level Up is working. In less than two years, Custer said the effort has prevented more than $400 million in losses.
For anyone considering an investment, the FBI urges people to slow down, talk it over with someone they trust, research the company, look for complaints, and confirm the business and promoters are properly licensed or registered.
Custer also warns that artificial intelligence is making these scams more convincing, and that in the near future, much of the process could be fully automated using chatbots.
For more information on investing and avoiding fraud, visit Investor.gov, a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission website. Scams can also be reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center IC3.
TikTok has signed a deal to sell its U.S. business to three American investors Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX ensuring the popular social video platform can continue operating in the United States.
The deal is expected to close on Jan. 22, according to an internal memo seen by The Associated Press. CEO Shou Zi Chew told employees in the memo that ByteDance and TikTok have signed binding agreements with the three investors.
Half of the new TikTok U.S. joint venture will be owned by a consortium of investors among them Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX will each hold a 15% share. Another 30.1% will be held by affiliates of existing ByteDance investors and 19.9% will be retained by the China-based ByteDance, according to the memo.
The U.S. venture will have a new, seven-member majority-American board of directors, the memo said. It will also be subject to terms that protect Americans data and U.S. national security.
U.S. user data will be stored locally in a system run by Oracle.
TikToks algorithm the secret sauce that powers its addictive video feed will be retrained on U.S. user data to ensure the content feed is free from outside manipulation, the memo said. The U.S. venture will also oversee content moderation and policies within the country.
The deal marks the end of years of uncertainty about the fate of the popular video-sharing platform in the United States. After wide bipartisan majorities in Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed a law that would ban TikTok in the U.S. if it did not find a new owner in the place of Chinas ByteDance, the platform was set to go dark on the laws January 2025 deadline. For a several hours, it did. But on his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to keep it running while his administration tries to reach an agreement for the sale of the company.
Three more executive orders followed, as Trump, without a clear legal basis, continued to extend the deadline for a TikTok deal. The second was in April, when White House officials believed they were nearing a deal to spin off TikTok into a new company with U.S. ownership that fell apart after China backed out following Trumps tariff announcement. The third came in June, then another in September, which Trump said would allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States in a way that meets national security concerns.
WATCH | TikTok Has Been Hiring Former CIA, FBI And NSA Officers
A water main replacement project in a Warren subdivision has stretched far beyond its original Dec. 1 completion date, leaving residents frustrated with ongoing construction delays and property damage concerns.
Watch Evan Sery's video report: Warren subdivision construction project causes months of disruption for residents
Jess Thompson, who has lived in the subdivision on Arsenal Avenue between 12 Mile Road and Linda Road since 2009, said the project that began in August has become "an absolute nightmare."
"I had to park behind the oil change place, so I had to bring it all the way down here, load it up, unload it," Thompson said.
For two months this fall, Thompson used a wagon to haul groceries and supplies to her home because construction blocked normal access to her driveway.
Thompson said she recently discovered her driveway appears to be sloping inward from the road, and water has begun seeping into her house.
"Normally, your driveway slopes toward the street, so that water from your house comes down. As you can see, this driveway is going to be poured this way," Thompson said. "They said the sidewalk is going to be ripped out and they're going to change 3 feet into my driveway to level it out somehow and unfortunately, not happening until next spring."
City Engineer Tina Gapshes said in a statement that delays were caused by unforeseen circumstances common in older neighborhoods.
"The Arsenal/Stanley project experienced delays due to unforeseen underground conditions common in older neighborhoods, including aging underground infrastructure. Once unearthed, a portion of the storm sewer system was found to be deteriorated," Gapshes said.
Watch our November 2025 coverage about the project delays below: Warren residents frustrated as water main replacement project drags on past deadline
She added that Warren was dependent on a local utility provider to relocate gas main infrastructure, which was outside the city's control. The contractor is concluding work in the winter season and will return in the spring.
However, Gapshes said any flooding inside Thompson's home is due to poor gutter infrastructure and has nothing to do with city construction. She added that Thompson was notified her driveway will eventually be level with the rest of the sidewalk and street.
Thompson remains frustrated with the city's response to residents' concerns.
"I'm a resident of the city of Warren. I pay taxes. The fact I have to deal with this and get no support," Thompson said.
Thompson also pointed to construction debris left on her property, including signs and tarps that were not properly removed.
"They ripped this sign out and left it, and all the tarps they put over the concrete were left on my property," Thompson 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.
An immigrant father from Colombia who took his two boys to see a FIFA soccer match this summer is talking exclusively to Scripps News about how the family outing ended with ICE agents arresting him.
Cesar, who Scripps News agreed to identify by first name only to protect the anonymity of his family, says he parked his car in a lot outside MetLife Stadium. in New Jersey. He wanted first to take video of the crowd using a small drone, a common sight at big soccer games.
"I saw that people were bringing their drones and I was carrying my drone," Cesar told Scripps News. "My drone is small, it's not powerful, it's not dangerous."
Cesar did not realize the area was a no-fly zone, with heightened security the night he was there, July 13, because President Donald Trump was attending the game.
As soon as he launched the drone, police approached and arrested him, bringing him into an office in the stadium where they cited him with violating the city's drone ordinance, a minor infraction
"After that, they were going to release me," Cesar said. "But they told me no, you have a problem. An immigration problem."
He had crossed into the country as an asylum seeker in 2022 at the Mexican border, following rules at that time that allowed migrants to declare a fear of persecution in their home countries.
But the Trump administration canceled his application in June after tightening rules for asylum. This happened one month before the soccer game, clearing the way for ICE to detain him.
Agents booked him into the Delaney Hall immigrant detention center in Newark, a lockup run by the private GEO Group.
Since opening in March, Delaney Hall has quickly grown in population to 855 detainees.
Cesar says it was overcrowded, with guards working long hours and staff unable to provide adequate medical care.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson refuted those claims in a statement.
"Any allegations that Delaney Hall is not properly staffed are false," the statement said, while also saying there is a need to hire more medical professionals.
"ICE is actively recruiting healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, pharmacists, and health administrators, to support the expanded detention capacity enabled by the historic funding provided under President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill," the statement said.
Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., visited Delaney Hall on Sunday and told the Jersey Vindicator that detainees are not getting adequate clothing, food, or health care.
Cesar says it was common to have to wait days to see medical staff.
"People would request an appointment and would be seen in about 20 days after requesting the appointment, when they're already cured," Cesar said. "The entire illness had already passed."
Scripps News obtained 911 records for Delaney Hall through a public records request that show 12 emergency calls for sick or injured people in an eight-week period this fall.
"They are completely overwhelmed," said Alexander Pramer, Cesar's attorney. "From the officers I speak to, it just seems that they have too many detainees, not enough officers, not enough resources."
Conditions in the area just outside Delaney Hall have also caused alarm.
Democratic members of Congress say visitors are "routinely subjected to inhumane and unsafe conditions while waiting for entry into the facility." They have urged Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to take immediate action.
The DHS spokesperson disputed claims that it takes hours to get into Delaney Hall.
During a recent visit to Delaney Hall on a frigid night, Scripps News spoke to family and friends of detainees waiting over an hour to get into the center.
"I was told to be here early because if you don't get a ticket on time, you might not get in," said one woman who declined to share her name. She was waiting two and a half hours to visit her detained boyfriend.
"It's a terrible situation," she said. "I can't imagine him and all the other people in there suffering."
Volunteer groups bring hot coffee and donated winter-wear during visiting hours.
Some visitors wear foil blankets to stay warm.
Kathy O'Leary, New Jersey region coordinator for Pax Christi USA, has been helping visitors outside Delaney Hall for months. She says ICE and the GEO Group, owner and operator of Delaney Hall, should be doing more to care for those who wait in the cold.
"If they're willing to do this in full public view, what are they willing to do to the people inside?" O'Leary said.
Scripps News asked The GEO Group to respond to a list of claims, including those about understaffing, a guard falling asleep on the job and detainees waiting too long for medical care.
A company spokesman responded with a statement that said, "GEO strongly rejects these allegations ... part of a politically motivated effort to interfere with federal immigration enforcement."
The statement said the GEO Group complies with detention standards and contract requirements.
Cesar chose to voluntarily depart the U.S. and return to Colombia, leaving his family behind, after spending 11 weeks at Delaney Hall.
"He was very stressed, not sleeping well, and generally just not in a good condition during his time there," Pramer said. "It's just horrible that he's going to be stuck in his country while his wife and his kids seek adjudication of their asylum claim in the United States. "
Delaney Hall is set to house detainees well beyond President Trump's time in office. The GEO Group's contract to operate the detention center is for 15 years.
A high-speed chase through Warren ended with a dramatic crash Tuesday night after the driver seemingly used his 9-year-old son as a human shield during his arrest, according to police.
Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: Man used son as shield after police chase in Warren, cops say
Otez Coil, 31, of Detroit, crashed his SUV into a guardrail at 11 Mile and Van Dyke around 9:30 p.m. after leading police on a pursuit that reached speeds of 80 mph, Warren police said.
Body camera footage shows Coil holding his young son in front of him as he exited the crashed vehicle.
"He's holding his child as almost like a barrier or shield to prevent officers from interacting with him," Lt. John Gajewski said. "Yeah, I know it had to surprise the officers. It surprised everybody who's watched the video, myself included."
The chase began as a routine traffic stop at Civic Center and Van Dyke when an officer spotted Coil racing down Van Dyke and making several abrupt lane changes without using his turn signal. When officers attempted to pull him over, he fled.
Dash camera video captured the pursuit as Coil sped down Van Dyke before losing control of his Jeep and crashing.
See dash-cam video of the chase and the aftermath below
Dash cam of Warren chase with boy in the car
"This is a driver who was behind the wheel of a weapon. He was behind the wheel of a weapon that was driving southbound on Van Dyke towards the community with his own child in the car," Gajewski said.
See bodycam video of the aftermath below
Bodycam shows aftermath of Warren police chase
Police said Coil's SUV reeked of alcohol, and officers spotted an open liquor bottle inside the vehicle.
Marvin Yousef, who works at a gas station near the crash site, expressed concern after viewing the footage.
"I feel like it's dangerous ... too dangerous for the kid. You're putting your kid's life at risk," Yousef said.
Atari McCollins, a customer at the gas station, reacted with shock when shown the video.
"What?! That is wild. I would never expect something like that in the city," McCollins said.
Gajewski condemned Coil's actions during the incident.
"So the fact that, you know, we had a father who knowingly gets behind the wheel intoxicated, knowingly runs from the police with their kid in the car, it's just something that's completely unacceptable," Gajewski said.
Coil's 9-year-old son is now staying with his paternal grandmother, who said the boy is doing well considering the circumstances, though he remains shaken up.
The grandmother described Coil as a good father but said he has been struggling with grief after losing his brother to murder four years ago and his father six months later.
"You don't know what's in his mind. Again, we're just thankful that our officers were able to use their tactics and their training to get the child separated and safe, get the father into custody," Gajewski said.
Coil faces one felony charge of fleeing and eluding police and three misdemeanor charges: fourth-degree child abuse, operating while intoxicated, and driving with a suspended license.
He is being held at the Macomb County Jail on a $50,000 bond and could face additional charges once police receive his blood alcohol test results.
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.
For many seniors, the holidays can feel quiet or even lonely. This holiday season, volunteers are changing that by delivering Christmas gift bags and a message of care to more than 170 residents at Clinton Place Apartments in Mount Clemens.
Watch Meghan Daniels' video report: Volunteers deliver holiday gift bags in Mount Clemens to bring cheer to seniors
Inside the community room, music, games and smiling faces filled the space. But it's the gift bags packed with essentials, gift cards and handwritten notes from local students that are making the biggest impact.
"Everybody meets and greets ... the camaraderie around here is wonderful," Nina Zak said.
"Some people don't have anything, you know, and a lot of people could use this," Sharon Sears said.
The Holiday Hope Initiative is a partnership between the Baldwin Society and Next Steps for Seniors, focused on reaching seniors who may be facing loneliness or financial hardship.
"They are one of our most vulnerable populations. They helped us create who we are today," Erica Ancel said.
For Ancel, director of operations for Next Steps for Seniors, the mission is deeply personal.
"I was really lucky growing up. I grew up with 18 great aunts and great uncles, grandparents and great grandparents, and they are the reason why I do what I do today and I work with seniors," Ancel said.
Volunteers like Kimm Kincer say it's the connection not just the gifts that makes this day special.
"Oftentimes they're very lonely and they don't realize how many people really do care about them, and we get to give them a little piece of that goodness during the holiday season," Kincer said.
A small bag filled with big meaning, reminding seniors they're seen, valued and cared for.
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 massive tunnel boring machine has arrived in southwest Detroit as part of an $87 million infrastructure project aimed at protecting neighborhoods from flooding during heavy rain events.
Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: GLWA launches $87 million tunnel project in southwest Detroit to reduce flooding
The Great Lakes Water Authority is launching the ambitious project to carve a tunnel 35 feet below the streets of southwest Detroit. The tunnel will stretch two-thirds of a mile and serve as part of an updated wastewater system designed to redirect excess water during storms.
"We're anticipating 12 to 18 months of tunnel boring," said Chris Nastally, director of engineering at GLWA.
The tunnel will help redirect excess wastewater during heavy rains and lower the risks of overflows into the Rouge River. This will help protect water quality and nearby neighborhoods from destructive flooding that has plagued the region.
"We can move flow around to keep as much flow in the pipes, out of basements, out of the river. It's just going to give us that type of flexibility," said Susan Coffey, CEO of GLWA.
Southwest Detroit resident Thomas Myers supports the project despite some concerns.
"I feel like it's a good project. That way, we don't have flooding out here like we had in southwest Detroit," Myers said.
However, Myers and other neighbors worry about vibrations from the massive tunnel boring machine affecting older homes in the area.
"You're going to feel the vibrations from that. And these are older homes. It's going to cause a lot of cracks in the walls," Myers said.
Despite the concerns, Myers remains supportive of the project's goals.
"But if it stops them from getting flood damage and houses falling in, then do what you're doing," Myers said.
GLWA officials say they will monitor the vibration situation during construction. Tunnel construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026.
Another southwest Detroit resident, Tim Boettger, expressed cautious optimism about the project: "I hope it works."
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.
Colorado just completed the largest wildlife overpass in North America.
Officials say the overpass connects 39,000 acres of habitat on both sides of I-25 between Larkspur and Monument, which is about an hour south of Denver.
The I-25 Greenland wildlife overpass is a momentous feat, in our continued work to expand safe transportation options for both humans and wildlife, protecting critical habitat, and our amazing outdoor spaces for generations to come, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement.
Prior to the overpass being completed, officials said there was, on average, one crash involving a vehicle and wildlife a day in the fall and spring movement seasons.
The overpass is an essential component of the wildlife crossing system in this area, which is expected to reduce wildlife-vehicle crashes by 90%," said Shoshana Lew, executive director of the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Wildlife experts expect the overpass to be used by various animals, including elk, pronghorn, mule deer, black bears and mountain lions.
Wildlife crossings are not new. In California, officials are building a major crossing in the Los Angeles area.
Construction of the project gained momentum after P-22, a well-known mountain lion that lived in the Hollywood Hills, was struck by a vehicle and later died in 2022. The crossing is expected to be complete in 2026.
The man authorities say carried out a mass shooting at Brown University and who was later linked to the killing of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor has been found dead in New Hampshire.
The shooter was identified as Claudio Neves-Valente, 48, a former Brown University physics student, who was living in Miami.
Authorities said they were able to track Neves-Valente after speaking with a person who encountered him in Providence. They gave authorities a description of a vehicle, which was tracked to a Massachusetts rental car facility.
He blew this case right open," Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said during a Thursday night press conference.
Information from the rental car company led police to a storage unit in Salem, where Neves-Valente was found dead from what's believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It's unclear how long he had been dead. However, authorities revealed he was found with a satchel and two firearms in an otherwise empty storage unit.
Police say a 9 mm firearm was used to shoot and kill two people at Brown and injure nine others.
Two days later, it's believed Neves-Valente shot MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro at his apartment in Brookline, Massachusetts. Authorities said surveillance video showed Neves-Valente entering and exiting the building. Loureiro was pronounced dead at a hospital on Tuesday.
While investigators are still investigating their connection, they have confirmed that the two went to the same university in Portugal.
Members of the House of Representatives are heading home for the holidays after passing a bill that does not extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies. As a result, premium payments for millions of Americans are expected to spike in January.
Members returning to their home districts will not be back in Washington, D.C., until early 2026.
Lawmakers, largely Republicans, were not able to come together around a counterproposal to Democratic plans for a three-year extension to ACA subsidies.
There were a handful of moderate Republicans who did want some sort of extension settled in 2025, so that Americans wouldn't be stuck with higher costs ahead of the 2026 midterms. Four Republicans ultimately voted with Democrats to force a vote in early 2026 on whether to make a proposed three-year extension.
Even now, with no deal done, some are hopeful a resolution will be quick.
"I'm a perpetual optimist. In this particular case, what makes me optimistic is that we do have strong bipartisan support for a compromise," Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) told Scripps News. "I think that any of these compromises that combines a short-term extension with reforms can command a majority in the House and that would then pass the Senate. So we just need to break the logjam that unfortunately has been created by leadership on both sides."
Americans can still sign up for health coverage through the ACA marketplace until Jan. 15, but coverage will not start until February which means a policy holder will be uninsured for the first month of the year.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson is now required to bring the measure on an ACA extension to the floor within the next seven legislative days, meaning a vote will occur in early January.
A recent Vanity Fair article is drawing attention for candid remarks from White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles about members of the Trump administration.
Wiles told the magazine she believes President Donald Trump has an alcoholics personality despite the fact that he does not drink.
She also described Vice President JD Vance as a conspiracy theorist for a decade and said Attorney General Pam Bondi ultimately dropped the ball in the Justice Departments handling of files tied to the investigation into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving minors.
The articles author, Chris Whipple, told Scripps News that the White House has not disputed anything in his reporting.
Not a single fact, Whipple said. ... And when you hear words like context coming from the White House, you know youve done your job because if they had a challenge of any fact or any quotation, theyd be doing just that. But no, not a single thing has been challenged.
Whipple said almost everything from his nearly year-long interview process was recorded, and that he was surprised by Wiles frank discussion of prominent Trump administration officials.
WATCH | Trump, Clinton appear in newly released Epstein photos: What do they tell us?
Everything was on the record except when explicitly agreed otherwise, Whipple said. And she was just remarkably candid and freewheeling and her conversations with me describing Donald Trump, again, as having an alcoholics personality.
By the way, Donald Trump has confirmed that, as you know, just the other day saying that yeah, in fact he does, Whipple continued. And JD Vance, moreover, conceded that he is a conspiracy theorist. As he put it, he just believes in conspiracies that are true.
Watch Scripps News' full interview with journalist Chris Whipple in the video player above, or click the following links to read
In todays Health Alert, the holidays can be a stressful time, and that can put undue strain on your heart. Doctors are warning of Holiday Heart Syndrome, which is caused by several factors surrounding the season.
Ask Dr. Nandi: What to know about 'Holiday Heart Syndrome'
The winter holidays are a festive time filled with family, friends, food and fun. But its also prime time for cardiac-related complications.
Im talking about Holiday Heart Syndrome. Thats a term for the dangerous heart problems that take place at this time of the year. It includes conditions such as atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heartbeat that can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness and possibly a stroke.
Other potential health complications during the winter holidays include heart failure and heart attacks.
There are several factors that lead to these cardiac conditions. The leading causes are the cold weather, excessive alcohol consumption, and just holiday stress in general.
The sad fact is that more people die from heart-related conditions between Christmas and New Years Day than at any other time of the year, according to the American Heart Association.
What can we do to prevent Holiday Heart Syndrome?
Well, there are several things you can do to reduce your risk of experiencing heart-related complications over the holidays.
First, make sure to take your medication. Some people may accidentally skip a day or two or forget to refill their prescriptions because theyre so busy with holiday preparations.
Next, dont ignore warning signs. If youre feeling pressure in the chest or any other discomfort, seek medical treatment.
Also, dont abandon your healthy habits and routines during the holidays. Continue to exercise. You may even want to increase your physical activity to offset those tempting holiday treats. Take a walk with your family or take part in some fun activity that gets you moving.
And finally, dont skimp on sleep and mindfulness during this busy time. Its needed more than ever.
So, I want you to enjoy the holidays. Just listen to your body and dont overdo it!
This Week on the Dr. Nandi Show
You either love them or hate them, but the fact is they come around once a year the holidays. For many people, the excitement and celebrations arent always joyful. In this episode, Dr. Partha Nandi, MD talks with a guest who struggles during the holidays because of past negative experiences. Also, a therapist shares simple ways to ease holiday stress and take the pressure off. Plus, Dr. Nandi and his experts demonstrate fun exercises and tasty food ideas to help you stay on track despite all the seasonal treats. Tune in this Sunday, December 21st at 2 PM.
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