DETROIT, Mich. (WXYZ) Its been a wild ride this year when it comes to temperatures across Metro Detroit. From a bitterly cold start to December, where temperatures remained below the freezing mark for nearly two weeks. To a warm up for the second half of the month, peaking with a high of 61 on December 28. Temperatures fell back below freezing the week of New Years, before warming back up the first full week of January.

The above and below freezing swing in temperatures creates unsafe ice conditions, and its not just when its warm.

The rule of thumb is ice 4 thick is safe to walk on, ice 5-7 is safe to snowmobile on, ice 8-15 is safe to drive on depending on the size of your car. But this isnt always true.

When temperatures warm up the ice partially melts, then usually before it gets cold again, well have snow. The snow creates pockets of air within the ice making it weaker. So ice that is 4 thick, but is cloudy due to the snow, isnt safe to walk on.

The strongest ice is clear with a blue tint.

If the ice is clear and meets the thickness minimums, look around to make sure there are no cracks or tree branches in the ice, which indicate weakness.

Use a spud bar or auger to test the thickness of any ice before you step on it. But no ice is truly safe, so be extremely cautious when stepping, skating, fishing, or driving on the frozen surface this winter.

A crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran has killed at least 538 people and even more are feared dead, activists said Sunday, while Tehran warned that the U.S. military and Israel would be legitimate targets if America uses force to protect demonstrators.

Another over 10,600 people have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous rounds of unrest in Iran in recent years. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said of those killed, 490 were protesters and 48 were members of security forces.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll.

The Iranian government has not offered overall casualty figures for the demonstrations.

RELATED STORY | Protests erupt in Iran's capital after exiled prince's call; internet cuts out soon after

Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Irans security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets in the countrys capital and its second-largest city again Sunday morning.

U.S. President Donald Trump has offered support for the protesters, saying on social media that Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!

Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran including cyberattacks and direct strikes by either U.S. or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The White House, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, has not indicated it has made any decisions. The massive ongoing U.S. military deployment to the Caribbean has created another factor that the Pentagon and Trumps national security planners must consider.

Defiance in Parliament

The threat to strike the U.S. military and Israel came during a parliamentary speech by Mohammad Baagher Qalibaf, the hard-liner speaker of the body who has run for the presidency in the past.

He directly threatened Israel, calling it the occupied territory."

In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centers, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets, Qalibaf said. We do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after the action and will act based on any objective signs of a threat.

Lawmakers rushed the dais in parliament, shouting: Death to America!

It remains unclear how serious Iran is about launching a strike, particularly after its air defenses were destroyed during the 12-day war in June with Israel. Any decision to go to war would rest with Iran's 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Trump, Netanyahu meet on Gaza war, warn Iran over nuclear ambitions

The U.S. military has said in the Mideast it is postured with forces that span the full range of combat capability to defend our forces, our partners and allies and U.S. interests. Iran targeted U.S. forces at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in June, while the U.S. Navy's Mideast-based 5th Fleet is stationed in the island kingdom of Bahrain.

Israel, meanwhile, is watching closely the situation between the U.S. and Iran, said an Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to not being authorized to speak to journalists. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio overnight on topics including Iran, the official added.

The people of Israel, the entire world, are in awe of the tremendous heroism of the citizens of Iran, said Netanyahu, a longtime Iran hawk.

At the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV mentioned Iran as a place where ongoing tensions continue to claim many lives," adding that I hope and pray that dialogue and peace may be patiently nurtured in pursuit of the common good of the whole of society."

Demonstrations were held in some international capitals in support of the protesters. A spokesperson said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was shocked" by reports of violence against protesters resulting in scores of deaths and called on Iranian authorities to use maximum restraint and restore communications.

Protests in Tehran and Mashhad

Online videos sent out of Iran, likely using Starlink satellite transmitters, purportedly showed demonstrators gathering in northern Tehran's Punak neighborhood. There, it appeared authorities shut off streets, with protesters waving their lit mobile phones. Others banged metal while fireworks went off.

The pattern of protests in the capital has largely taken the form of scattered, short-lived, and fluid gatherings, an approach shaped in response to the heavy presence of security forces and increased field pressure, the Human Rights Activists News Agency said. Reports were received of surveillance drones flying overhead and movements by security forces around protest locations, indicating ongoing monitoring and security control.

In Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city some 725 kilometers (450 miles) northeast of Tehran, footage purported to show protesters confronting security forces. Protests also appeared to happen in Kerman, 800 kilometers (500 miles) southeast of Tehran.

FROM THE ARCHIVES | Operation Midnight Hammer: What we know about US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites

Iranian state television on Sunday morning had correspondents appear on the streets in several cities to show calm areas, with a date stamp shown on screen. Tehran and Mashhad were not included.

Government rhetoric ratcheted up. Ali Larijani, a top security official, accused some demonstrators of killing people or burning some people, which is very similar to what ISIS does, referring to the Islamic State group by an acronym.

State TV aired funerals of slain security force members while reporting another six had been killed in Kermanshah. In Fars province, violence killed 13 people, and seven security forces were killed in North Khorasan province, it added. It showed a pickup truck full of bodies in body bags and later a morgue.

Even Iran's reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, who had been trying to ease anger before the demonstrations exploded in recent days, offered a hardening tone in an interview aired Sunday.

People have concerns, we should sit with them and if it is our duty, we should resolve their concerns, Pezeshkian said. But the higher duty is not to allow a group of rioters to come and destroy the entire society.

The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the countrys economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Irans theocracy.

If you have federal student loans, major changes to repayment plans are on the horizon.

Beginning July 1, 2026, new federal rules will reshape how student loans are repaid, and experts say borrowers should start preparing now to avoid surprises.

For many borrowers, student debt already carries a heavy burden. UNLV graduate student Emmett Lovett, who is working toward a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling, says he has nearly six figures in student loans.

About $90,000, Lovett said. He added that if he pursues a doctoral degree, his debt could grow even more: If I go on to get a PhD, thats six more years."

RELATED STORY | Education Department pushes to end SAVE payment program for millions of student loan holders

Chip Lupo, writer and analyst with WalletHub. explained that the new rules will phase out many existing repayment plans for new loans beginning in mid-2026, except for undergraduates.

All new federal student loans will be placed under a new system called the Repayment Assistance Program, which is income-driven and designed to simplify repayment and reduce the risk of overwhelming debt.

Under the new law, graduate students will face new borrowing limits, with a proposed cap of $20,500 per year and a total of $100,000 for their degree.

While undergraduate borrowing limits will remain unchanged, the elimination of the popular Grad PLUS loan for future borrowers could affect students seeking advanced degrees.

For current borrowers with loans taken out before 2026, there is time to adjust. Lupo recommends reviewing existing repayment plans, comparing options, and keeping track of important deadlines to avoid unexpected challenges as the new rules take effect.

RELATED STORY | Number of borrowers with serious delinquencies on student loans expected to rise

Despite the uncertainty, Lovett remains focused on his goals.

Im constantly asking my professors how I can find help to pay for school, he said.

The goal of the new law is to make student loan repayment more manageable for borrowers. But whether youre repaying existing loans or planning to borrow in the future, the advice remains the same: Review your loans early, confirm your repayment plan, and stay informed about upcoming changes.

This story was originally published by Shakeria Hawkins with the

Scripps News Group in Las Vegas.

A new locally produced television series is providing aspiring actors in Metro Detroit with opportunities to showcase their talents while helping to revive Michigan's film industry.

Watch Faraz's report in the video player below

Local TV series gives Metro Detroit actors their big break

"Firing Line," an eight-episode series set to premiere in May, is being filmed at locations throughout the region with a budget of $50,000 per episode. The production has garnered strong support from businesses in Garden City and Westland.

For metro Detroit-based actors Felicia Hage and Taje Brandon, the series represents a dream come true. Hage, 32, moved from Moldova more than a decade ago and is experiencing her first acting role.

"This is my first time actually doing acting," Hage said. "It's a blessing for me because I never thought I'm going to experience this."

Brandon, 31, grew up in Ypsilanti and has long harbored entertainment aspirations.

"I always had dreams of being on TV, being an entertainer, period," Brandon said.

The series is co-directed by Detroit-based filmmaker Young Ra and based on a novel written by his wife, AJ Brown. Brown describes the show as a second-chance romance with relatable characters.

"I wanted it to feel like the girl next door vibe where she finds herself again while finding love at the same time," Brown said.

Young Ra and Brown have worked in filmmaking for over a decade, with one of their primary goals being to revitalize Metro Detroit's film industry. Young Ra pointed to the challenges facing local actors after Michigan lost its film tax incentives.

"Growing up, we never had an industry in Michigan. We finally got that tax break where the major studios were coming, then we lost it," Young Ra said. "So it wasn't really any work out here. I couldn't just go to a cast and call and get a cast for Chicago Fire. So I said, you know what, I'm going to start doing my own thing. If I can't get casted, I'm going to start doing the casting."

The production features both local talent and Hollywood actors, including JD Williams, Keith Robinson, Rama Montakhabi, and Chris Maher. Maher, who has experienced the struggles of pursuing an acting career, offered advice to aspiring local actors.

"Just filming anything and getting those reps in, getting some practice and getting your name known, even locally, is super important," Maher said. "Because you never know when that big production is going to roll into town. Or they say, 'hey, we need people from this area. Who do you have?'"

Maher reflected on his own challenging journey in the entertainment industry.

"Sleeping on the couches for a long time, showering in Planet Fitness. My dinner would sometimes just be like a rotisserie chicken or something for a few days," Maher said. "Those are the days, but at the same time, while I was struggling the most, I made the most monumental decisions."

Young Ra emphasized the importance of expanding one's perspective beyond local boundaries.

"You have to broaden your horizons. If I just stay stuck in Michigan and never travel, I can't tell you about nothing else. I can only tell you the story for me being in Michigan," Young Ra said. "Once I started venturing, went to New York, I went to Cali, and I started seeing different things which was possible and opportunities, it started elevating my thinking."

To learn more about "Firing Line" and get involved with other productions, visit Young Ra's Instagram @young_ra.

"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 Golden Globes bill themselves as Hollywoods booziest bash. This year, is anyone ready to party?

Political tension and industrywide uncertainty are the prevailing moods heading into Sunday night's 83rd Golden Globe Awards. Hollywood is coming off a disappointing box-office year and now anxiously awaits the fate of one of its most storied studios, Warner Bros.

A celebratory mood might be even more elusive given that the wide majority of the performers and filmmakers congregating at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, oppose the policies of President Donald Trump. Likely to be on the minds of many attendees: the recent U.S. involvement in Venezuela and the fatal shooting of 37-year-old mother Renee Good in Minneapolis by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

But through their ups and downs, the Globes have always tried to put pomp over politics. Host Nikki Glaser has vowed as much.

RELATED STORY | Warner Bros rejects Paramount takeover again and tells shareholders to stick with Netflix bid

Youd be surprised that half the room had no clue why I was saying Venezuela, Glaser told The Associated Press earlier in the week, referring to her comedy-club warm-ups. People arent getting the news like we all are.

Glaser, a comic known for her roast appearances, has promised to go after A-listers in her second time hosting.

Were going to hit Leo, Glaser said. The icebergs are coming.

Heres what to look for at this years Globes:

How to watch and stream the Globes and red carpet

The Golden Globes kick off at 8 p.m. EST on CBS while streaming live for Paramount+ premium subscribers. E!s red carpet coverage begins at 6 p.m. EST.

The Associated Press will be have a livestream show beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern with a mix of stars' arrivals, fashion shots and celebrity interviews. It will be available on YouTube and APNews.

Could Warner Bros. own the night if not itself?

The overwhelming Oscar favorite One Battle After Another comes in with a leading nine nominations. Its competing in the Globes musical or comedy category, which means the drama side might be more competitive. There, Ryan Cooglers Sinners, Chlo Zhaos Hamnet and Joachim Triers Sentimental Value are all in the mix.

But thus far, One Battle After Another has cleaned up just about everywhere. Much of Paul Thomas Andersons cast is nominated, including DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, Chase Infiniti and Benicio Del Toro.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Survey reveals America's most hated holiday movies and 2025's top-rated films

If it and Sinners take home the two biggest prizes, it will be a banner night for Warner Bros. even as its future hangs in the balance. The studio has agreed to be acquired by Netflix is a deal worth $82.7 billion. Movie theaters have warned such a result would be a direct and irreversible negative impact on movie theaters around the world.

The merger awaits regulatory approval, while Paramount Skydance is still trying to convince Warner shareholders to accept its rival offer.

How might the top acting awards go?

After an audacious promotional tour for Marty Supreme, Timothe Chalamet is poised to win his first Globe in five nominations. In best actor, comedy or musical, hell have to beat DiCaprio, a three-time Globe winner, and Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon).

In best actress, comedy or musical, Rose Byrne is the favorite for her performance in the not especially funny A24 indie If I Had Legs Id Kick You. One prominent nominee in the category, Cynthia Erivo (Wicked: For Good), wont be attending due to her schedule in the West End production Dracula.

Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) is the clear front-runner in best actress, drama. In the star-studded best actor, drama, category, the Brazilian actor Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent) may win over Michael B. Jordan (Sinners) and Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams).

In the supporting categories, Teyana Taylor and Stellan Skarsgrd come in the favorites.

Who'll give the most memorable speech?

The Globes, formerly presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, have no overlap or direct correlation with the Academy Awards. After being sold in 2023 to Todd Boehlys Eldridge Industries and Dick Clark Productions, a part of Penske Media, the Globes are voted on by around 400 people. The Oscars are voted on by more than 10,500 professionals.

But in the fluctuating undulations of awards season, a good speech at the Globes can really boost an Oscar campaign. Last year, that seemed to be the case for Demi Moore, who won for The Substance and gave the night's most emotional speech. Mikey Madison (Anora), however, scored the upset win at the Oscars.

A few potentially good moments this year went instead in a Golden Eve ceremony earlier this week. There, the Cecil B. DeMille and Carol Burnett honorees, Helen Mirren and Sarah Jessica Parker, accepted their awards.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Wicked: For Good is even more popular than the first, soaring to a $226 million global debut

One to watch, if he wins, will be the Iranian director Jafar Panahi. His revenge drama It Was Just an Accident is up for four awards. Panahi has spent most of his career making films clandestinely, without approval of authorities, and was until recently banned from leaving the country. Last month, he was sentenced to a year in prison, which would be only his latest stint behind bars if Panahi returns home to serve it. This week, protests over Irans ailing economy have spread throughout the country in a new test to Iran's leaders.

What to look for in the TV and podcast categories

For the first time, the Globes are trotting out a new podcast category. The nominees are: Armchair Expert, Call Her Daddy, Good Hang With Amy Poehler, The Mel Robbins Podcast, SmartLess and Up First.

In TV, HBO Maxs The White Lotus another potential big winner for Warner Bros. leads with six nominations. Netflixs Adolescence comes in with five nods.

But the most closely watched nominee might be The Studio. The first season of Seth Rogens Hollywood satire memorably included an episode devoted to drama around a night at the Globes. (Sample line: I remember when the red carpet of the Golden Globes actually stood for something.) The Studio is up for three awards, giving three chances for life to imitate art.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is calling for the federal government to allow state agencies to assist in the investigation into the death of 37-year-old Renee Good, who was fatally shot last week by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.

Speaking Sunday on NBC News' "Meet the Press," Frey pushed back at the narrative that the ICE agent was acting in self defense. He also said there is "deep mistrust" over the federal investigation into the shooting "because so many of the things that we are hearing are not true."

RELATED STORY | Who was Renee Good? Woman killed by ICE agent in Minneapolis mourned in multiple states

"If it was an FBI investigation that was done jointly with an investigation from the [Minnesota] Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, we could have some trust that there were entities and individuals at the table that were properly reviewing the evidence," Frey said.

"The ICE agent was not run over, as Trump stated," he added, urging people to watch bystander video from the incident that has circulated online.

WATCH | Three different angles of the Minneapolis ICE shooting

Three different angles from Minneapolis shooting

Federal authorities have blocked state and local investigators from accessing evidence in the shooting and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said that decision makes it unable to investigate.

The BCAs Force Investigations Unit was initially expected to conduct a joint investigation with the FBI. However, the agency said the U.S. Attorneys Office later reversed course, leaving the investigation solely in federal hands.

"The BCA Force Investigations Unit was designed to ensure consistency, accountability and public confidence, none of which can be achieved without full cooperation and jurisdictional clarity," the agency said in a statement.

The ICE officer shot and killed Good on Wednesday in a residential neighborhood in Minneapolis while she was inside her vehicle. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem later said that local authorities don't have jurisdiction over the investigation, fueling skepticism from state and local leaders.

"I think it's clear to everyone, as they saw this, that it feels now that Minnesota has been taken out of the investigation," said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. "It feels very, very difficult that we will get a fair outcome."

ADDITIONAL REPORTING | Officer's cellphone video captures moments leading up to fatal ICE shooting

Noem and others in the Trump administration have repeatedly defended the ICE agent's actions and pushed the notion that Good was attempting to strike him with her car.

"This vehicle was used to hit this officer," Noem said on Thursday. "It was used as a weapon and the officer feels as though his life was in jeopardy."

Meanwhile, Democrats on the Committee on Homeland Security have requested that Noem testify about the investigation the FBI is conducting.

"Contrary to Secretary Noems press statements, there has been no evidence shared that would justify Ms. Goods killing," Ranking Member Andrew R. Garbarino wrote in a letter to the committee's chair. "The perpetrator must be held accountable, and Secretary Noem must answer for this shooting as well as other recent acts of violence by her officers and agents."

WATCH | Ex-ICE chief reveals what's missing in Minneapolis shooting investigation

A guard at a construction site near a 2026 Winter Olympic venue in the mountain resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo died during a frigid overnight shift, authorities confirmed on Saturday.

Italys Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini called for a full investigation into the circumstances of the 55-year-old workers death.

Italian media reported that the death occurred on Thursday while the worker was on duty at a construction site near Cortinas ice arena. Temperatures that night plunged to minus 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are scheduled for Feb. 6-22.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Utah unveils name and logo for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games

The construction site was not one overseen by Simico, the governmental company responsible for Olympic infrastructure, the company said in a statement expressing its condolences.

Cortina city officials said they were deeply saddened and troubled by the death.

Cortina will host curling, sliding and womens Alpine skiing.

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud was sworn in for his second term Saturday alongside the city's 35th council and city clerk at a packed ceremony at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center.

Watch Faraz's report in the video player below

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud sworn in for second term, focuses on housing and growth

Hammoud, the city's first Arab American and Muslim mayor, who was re-elected in a landslide last November, outlined his administration's accomplishments and future priorities during the inauguration.

"We brought down over $100 million in additional resources for the city of Dearborn. We invested over $30 million in parks and green spaces, over $25 million in flood preparedness and prevention. We are the second safest large city in the state of Michigan," Hammoud said.

The mayor emphasized that his second term will continue focusing on public safety and city services while shifting attention toward housing development. Dearborn is one of the fastest-growing cities in Michigan and the Midwest, creating increased demand for housing stock.

"Looking forward to the second term, I think it's a continuation of the first. It's continuing to invest in green spaces that bring neighbors together to build those bonds. It's a continuation on improving our public safety efforts, our city services. But there's also going to be a shift in focus towards housing, ensuring that we have a greater housing stock," Hammoud said.

First-time Councilmember Devon O'Reilly was also sworn in during the ceremony. O'Reilly plans to focus on supporting local entrepreneurs during her term.

"I want to make sure that the Dearborn that my daughters grow up in is as amazing as the one that I grew up in," O'Reilly said.

O'Reilly addressed misconceptions about the city's diversity, noting that Dearborn has more churches than mosques and serves residents of all backgrounds.

"We've got more churches than mosques. We've got all sorts of bars and restaurants that cater to any number of individuals. We're an incredibly diverse community, and we know that here. In Dearborn, we all get along," O'Reilly said.

Community members attending the inauguration expressed enthusiasm for the new term. Pastor Rachel Kain of the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church said she looks forward to building partnerships across the diverse community.

Her husband Michael Kain praised the city's culture and walkable downtown areas, describing the community atmosphere as "intense in a very, very good way."

Hammoud acknowledged that challenges lie ahead but emphasized the importance of listening to residents and focusing on local priorities rather than outside criticism.

"Challenges will always be there. I think the game plan is to hunker down and listen to our residents, to have honest conversations, to ignore the outside noises, and to focus on the issues that matter most to our residents, and to focus on the work. Dearborn, we know who we are, and that's the way we move forward," Hammoud 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."

A 37-year-old Kenockee man is dead after crashing their vehicle in icy conditions on Saturday night, the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office tells us.

First responders got to the scene around 7:30 p.m., in the area of Kilgore Rd north of Imlay City Rd.

Investigators say that the driver of a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado was heading north on Kilgore when they lost control of the vehicle, veering off the left side of the road and rolling over into a ditch.

Police tell us the man was ejected from the vehicle. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Authorities say that drugs and alcohol do not appear to be factors in this crash.

Bob Weir, the guitarist and singer who as an essential member of the Grateful Dead helped found the sound of the San Francisco counterculture of the 1960s and kept it alive through decades of endless tours and marathon jams, has died. He was 78.

Weirs death was announced Saturday in a statement on his Instagram page.

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Bobby Weir, a statement on his Instagram posted Saturday said. He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could. Unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues.

The statement did not say where or when Weir died, but he lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for most of his life.

IN RELATED NEWS | Isiah Whitlock Jr., actor from 'The Wire,' 'Veep' and Spike Lee films, dies at 71

Weir joined the Grateful Dead originally the Warlocks in 1965 in San Francisco at just 17 years old. He would spend the next 30 years playing on endless tours with the Grateful Dead alongside fellow singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995.

Weir wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Dead classics including Sugar Magnolia, One More Saturday Night and Mexicali Blues.

After Garcias death, he would be the Dead's most recognizable face. In the decades since, he kept playing with other projects that kept alive the band's music and legendary fan base, including Dead & Company.

For over sixty years, Bobby took to the road, the Instagram statement said. "A guitarist, vocalist, storyteller, and founding member of the Grateful Dead. Bobby will forever be a guiding force whose unique artistry reshaped American music.

Weirs death leaves drummer Bill Kreutzmann as the only surviving original member. Founding bassist Phil Lesh died in 2024. The band's other drummer, Mickey Hart, practically an original member since joining in 1967, is also alive at 82. The fifth founding member, Ron Pigpen McKernan, died in 1973.

Dead and Company played a series of concerts for the Grateful Deads 60th anniversary in July at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, drawing some 60,000 fans a day for three days.

Born in San Francisco and raised in nearby Atherton, Weir was the Dead's youngest member and looked like a fresh-faced high-schooler in its early years. He was generally less shaggy than the rest of the band, but he had a long beard like Garcias in later years.

The band would survive long past the hippie moment of its birth, with its ultra-devoted fans known as Deadheads often following them on the road in a virtually non-stop tour that persisted despite decades of music and culture shifting around them.

Longevity was never a major concern of ours, Weir said when the Dead got the Grammys MusiCares Person of the Year honor last year. Spreading joy through the music was all we ever really had in mind, and we got plenty of that done.

Ubiquitous bumper stickers and T-shirts showed the band's skull logo, the dancing, colored bears that served as their other symbol, and signature phrases like ain't no time to hate and not all who wander are lost.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Grateful Dead founding member, bassist Phil Lesh, dead at 84

The Dead won few actual Grammys during their career they were always a little too esoteric getting only a lifetime achievement award in 2007 and the best music film award in 2018.

Just as rare were hit pop singles. Touch of Grey, the 1987 song that brought a big surge in the aging band's popularity, was their only Billboard Top 10 hit.

But in 2024, they set a record for all artists with their 59th album in Billboard's Top 40. Forty-one of those came since 2012, thanks to the popularity of the series of archival albums compiled by David Lemieux.

Their music called acid rock at its inception would pull in blues, jazz, country, folk and psychedelia in long improvisational jams at their concerts.

I venture to say they are the great American band, TV personality and devoted Deadhead Andy Cohen said as host of the MusiCares event. What a wonder they are.

Irans parliament speaker warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be legitimate targets if the U.S. strikes the Islamic Republic over the ongoing protests roiling the country, as threatened by President Donald Trump.

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf made the threat after nationwide protests challenging Irans theocracy saw protesters flood the streets in the countrys capital and its second-largest city into Sunday morning, crossing the two-week mark. At least 116 people have died in violence surrounding the demonstrations, activists said.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. But the death toll in the protests has grown, while 2,600 people have been detained, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

Those abroad fear the information blackout will embolden hard-liners within Iran's security services to launch a bloody crackdown, despite warnings from Trump he's willing to strike Iran to protect peaceful demonstrators.

RELATED STORY | Protests erupt in Iran's capital after exiled prince's call; internet cuts out soon after

Trump offered support for the protesters, saying on social media that Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!! The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous U.S. officials, said on Saturday night that Trump had been given military options for a strike on Iran, but hadnt made a final decision.

The State Department separately warned: Do not play games with President Trump. When he says hell do something, he means it.

Parliament rallies

Iranian state television broadcast the parliament session live. Qalibaf, a hard-liner who has run for the presidency in the past, gave a speech applauding police and Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, particularly its all-volunteer Basij, for having stood firm during the protests.

He went on to directly threaten Israel, the occupied territory as he referred to it, and the U.S. military, possibly with a preemptive strike.

In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centers, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets, Qalibaf said. We do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after the action and will act based on any objective signs of a threat.

Lawmakers rushed the dais in the Iranian parliament, shouting: Death to America!

It remains unclear just how serious Iran is about launching a strike, particularly after seeing its air defenses destroyed during the 12-day war in June with Israel. Any decision to go to war would rest with Iran's 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The U.S. military has said in the Mideast it is postured with forces that span the full range of combat capability to defend our forces, our partners and allies and U.S. interests. Iran targeted U.S. forces at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar back in June, while the U.S. Navy's Mideast-based 5th Fleet is stationed in the island kingdom of Bahrain.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Trump, Netanyahu meet on Gaza war, warn Iran over nuclear ambitions

Israel, meanwhile, is watching closely the situation between the U.S. and Iran, said an Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to not being authorized to speak to journalists. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio overnight on topics including Iran, the official added.

Protests in Tehran and Mashhad

Online videos sent out of Iran, likely using Starlink satellite transmitters, purportedly showed demonstrators gathering in northern Tehran's Punak neighborhood. There, it appeared authorities shut off streets, with protesters waving their lit mobile phones. Others banged metal while fireworks went off.

Other footage purportedly showed demonstrators peacefully marching down a street and others honking their car horns on the street.

The pattern of protests in the capital has largely taken the form of scattered, short-lived, and fluid gatherings, an approach shaped in response to the heavy presence of security forces and increased field pressure, the Human Rights Activists News Agency said. Reports were received of surveillance drones flying overhead and movements by security forces around protest locations, indicating ongoing monitoring and security control.

In Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city some 725 kilometers (450 miles) northeast of Tehran, footage purported to show protesters confronting security forces. Flaming debris and dumpsters could be seen in the street, blocking the road. Mashhad is home to the Imam Reza shrine, the holiest in Shiite Islam.

Protests also appeared to happen in Kerman, 800 kilometers (500 miles) southeast of Tehran.

Iranian state television on Sunday morning had their correspondents appear on the streets in several cities to show calm areas with a date stamp shown on screen. Tehran and Mashhad were not included. They also showed pro-government demonstrations in Qom and Qazvin.

Ali Larijani, a top security official, went on state TV to accuse some demonstrators of killing people or burning some people, which is very similar to what ISIS does, referring to the Islamic State group by an acronym.

State TV aired funerals of slain security force members while reporting another six had been killed in Kermanshah. In Fars province, violence killed 13 people, and seven security forces were killed in North Khorasan province, it added. It also showed a pickup truck full of bodies in body bags and later a morgue.

Even Iran's reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, who had been trying to ease anger before the demonstrations exploded in recent days, offered a hardening tone in an interview aired Sunday.

People have concerns, we should sit with them and if it is our duty, we should resolve their concerns, Pezeshkian said. But the higher duty is not to allow a group of rioters to come and destroy the entire society.

More demonstrations planned Sunday

Irans exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi asked in his latest message for demonstrators to take to the streets Sunday.

Pahlavis support of and from Israel has drawn criticism in the past, particularly after the 12-day war. Demonstrators have shouted in support of the shah in some protests, but it isnt clear whether thats support for Pahlavi himself or a desire to return to a time before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the countrys economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Irans theocracy.

Each month, the Creature Conservancy has a different theme for the presentations during its open hours on the weekends and adult-only events on the first and third Fridays of the month.

Visitors to the conservancy will have the chance to see a mountain lion, opossum, wild turkey, a black rat snake and more while learning about what makes these animals so cool.

To learn more, visit thecreatureconservancy.org.

We're getting a look inside General Motors' new global headquarters in the Hudson's Detroit building.

See inside in the video below

See inside General Motors' all-new headquarters at Hudson's Detroit

The company is taking over four of the building's top floors, with 200,000 square feet of space starting Monday.

The process has been two years in the making, with an incredible approach meant at customizing space for the automaker.

On top of the 11th floor of GM's new world headquarters, you can't help but notice numerous pieces paying tribute to the automaker's illustrious past.

(Photos courtesy of Gensler)

Rebecca Waldmeir is the architecture and experience design manager who started our tour with a stop at the office of CEO Mary Barra.

We really wanted to design a space that threaded the DNA of our architecture and we have such history at our GM technical center design by Aero Seranin," Waldmeir said.

Incorporating mid century design with large open spaces intended for collaboration, Waldmeir tells me her team had a goal of bringing employees together.

Areas to sit, have conversation. To work and be informal or formal. That is what we wanted to bring. That flexibility," she said. But then, its about the details too. You can see some of the finishes; these details came from architectural influence from within GM. Its about natural materials and a lot of wood that we use.

GM tells me that multiple floors will accommodate numerous departments with style brought to each nook and cranny.

"There are traditional ways to work at a desk, but again we wanted that openness for those casual conversations," Waldmeir said. Downstairs by the lobby, there is a space opening shortly, called entrance one. Where we can showcase vehicles and innovative concept cars. Its open to the public."

The pride of being in Downtown Detroit is also central to the new space. There is a state-of-the-art conference room that integrates technology with an amazing view of our city's downtown.

Watch below: See inside The Department at Hudson's Detroit

See inside The Department at Hudson's Detroit

There's also a wall of music with a nod to countless songs that make reference to GM, a chance to get creative in a new way that differs from the prior home at the Renaissance Center.

Representing thousands of songs that mention GM brand or products. Anytime youve heard about a Chevrolet truck in a country song," Waldmeir said. Pink Cadillac. Jerry Lee Lewis.

A video board also allows anyone to scan a QR code to find space for team building and to ensure you don't get lost. On the fifth floor, I also got to meet VP Mike McBride of non-manufacturing facility ops for a hot cup of coffee. Above us was a decades-old sculpture from Harry Bertoia that was feared lost for decades.

Watch below: Iconic sculpture feared lost in demolition gets home with GM in Hudson's Detroit building

Sculpture feared lost in demolition returns to GM in the Hudson's Detroit building

With hundreds of employees officially moving in on Monday, the feel is also about allowing for shared spaces with other Bedrock tenants at Hudson's Detroit. There is also space for pickleball, fitness and even a coffee shop.

The new space is super exciting. To be back in downtown Detroit, where it all began, in 1911, where we started. Its a full circle moment being back on Woodward," McBride said.

Among the things GM is most proud of is representing its heritage, along with its innovative future here.

Bob Weir, guitarist, singer and founding member of the Grateful Dead, has died at age 78. Weirs death was announced Saturday in a statement on his Instagram page.

The statement says said Weir had beaten cancer but succumbed to underlying lung issues. Weir joined the Grateful Dead in 1965 at just 17 years old. Hed spend the next 30 years playing on endless tours alongside fellow singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995.

Weir wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Dead classics including Sugar Magnolia and Mexicali Blues. In the decades since he kept playing with other projects including Dead and Company.

After more than a century serving Detroit, Dittrich Furs announced it is closing this spring as the family has made the decision to retire.

According to the Dittrich website, they were founded on Feb. 21, 1893 by Emil Dittrich, a furrier from London, who opened a small wholesale shop on Witherall near Trapper's Alley.

The business is now in its fifth generation of family retail. It moved to the Fisher Arcade on Woodward Ave. and then in 1928 moved to its third location on Grand River. It moved to its current location on Third Ave. in 1965.

"After much reflection, the Dittrich family has made the decision to retire and focus on the health and well-being of our family. This decision marks the closing of a remarkable era, one filled with relationships, traditions, and memories we will always cherish," the post on Facebook from Dittrich Furs said.

Their commercial is known around Detroit with a woman riding a horse, and also inspired a spoof on the Comedy Central show "Detroiters."

According to the post on social media, the store will close on April 30, and they will be holding a retirement liquidation sale.

"We are profoundly grateful for the loyalty, trust, and friendship you have shown us over these many decades. Serving this community has been our esteemed privilege, and Dittrich Furs will forever remain a part of Detroits history because of you," the post reads.

A 39-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a couple who were found fatally shot inside their Columbus home in late December.

According to Franklin County court documents, Michael David McKee is facing two charges of murder for the deaths of Monique Tepe, 39, and Spencer Tepe, 37.

McKee is Monique Tepe's ex-husband, according to Franklin County records.

McKee's vehicle was identified through neighborhood surveillance cameras, per court documents. The vehicle was then located in Rockford, Illinois, where McKee is currently being held in jail, according to the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office.

Spencer and Monique Tepe were found dead Dec. 30 when police did a welfare check at their home. Spencer did not come into the dental clinic where he works, leading his coworkers to call 911 and request a welfare check.

Investigators said no weapons were found at the home, and there was no sign of forced entry. The couple's two small children were found inside the home, but both were unharmed, according to the incident report.

Rob Misleh, Spencer and Monique's brother-in-law, spoke about the moment he and his wife learned of the tragedy.

"It was her dad on the phone saying that Spencer is dead," Misleh said. "And there was no context yet, you know, ... I think we both just assumed car crash. And then finally, I said, 'Well, where's Monique? Where are the kids?' And he said, 'Well, Monique is dead too.'"

Watch our interview with Spencer and Monique's brother-in-law below:

Family remembers Ohio couple murdered inside Columbus home

"We don't know how to tell a 4-year-old that they're never going to see their mom and your daddy again, and it's, how do you and how do they? How does the 4-year-old understand?" Misleh said.

Misleh also told us he believes the murders were not random.

"It was not a random act where somebody broke in and (was), you know, trying to steal stuff, like, it seems a lot more intentional than that," he said.

When asked if he thought the murders were personal, Misleh said, "Yes."

McKee is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 12, according to the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office.

This article was written by Molly Schramm for the Scripps News Group in Cincinnati.

Reviving a campaign pledge, President Donald Trump wants a one-year, 10% cap on credit card interest rates, a move that could save Americans tens of billions of dollars but drew immediate opposition from an industry that has been in his corner.

Trump was not clear in his social media post Friday night whether a cap might take effect through executive action or legislation, though one Republican senator said he had spoken with the president and would work on a bill with his full support. Trump said he hoped it would be in place Jan. 20, one year after he took office.

Strong opposition is certain from Wall Street in addition to the credit card companies, which donated heavily to his 2024 campaign and have supported Trump's second-term agenda. Banks are making the argument that such a plan would most hurt poor people, at a time of economic concern, by curtailing or eliminating credit lines, driving them to high-cost alternatives like payday loans or pawnshops.

We will no longer let the American Public be ripped off by Credit Card Companies that are charging Interest Rates of 20 to 30%, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Researchers who studied Trumps campaign pledge after it was first announced found that Americans would save roughly $100 billion in interest a year if credit card rates were capped at 10%. The same researchers found that while the credit card industry would take a major hit, it would still be profitable, although credit card rewards and other perks might be scaled back.

About 195 million people in the United States had credit cards in 2024 and were assessed $160 billion in interest charges, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says. Americans are now carrying more credit card debt than ever, to the tune of about $1.23 trillion, according to figures from the New York Federal Reserve for the third quarter last year.

RELATED STORY | Could your holiday generosity wreck your credit score?

Further, Americans are paying, on average, between 19.65% and 21.5% in interest on credit cards according to the Federal Reserve and other industry tracking sources. That has come down in the past year as the central bank lowered benchmark rates, but is near the highs since federal regulators started tracking credit card rates in the mid-1990s. Thats significantly higher than a decade ago, when the average credit card interest rate was roughly 12%.

The Republican administration has proved particularly friendly until now to the credit card industry.

Capital One got little resistance from the White House when it finalized its purchase and merger with Discover Financial in early 2025, a deal that created the nations largest credit card company. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which is largely tasked with going after credit card companies for alleged wrongdoing, has been largely nonfunctional since Trump took office.

In a joint statement, the banking industry was opposed to Trump's proposal.

If enacted, this cap would only drive consumers toward less regulated, more costly alternatives," the American Bankers Association and allied groups said.

Bank lobbyists have long argued that lowering interest rates on their credit card products would require the banks to lend less to high-risk borrowers. When Congress enacted a cap on the fee that stores pay large banks when customers use a debit card, banks responded by removing all rewards and perks from those cards. Debit card rewards only recently have trickled back into consumers' hands. For example, United Airlines now has a debit card that gives miles with purchases.

RELATED STORY | Credit cards could get cheaper, but also more limited, under proposed swipe fee settlement

The U.S. already places interest rate caps on some financial products and for some demographics. The Military Lending Act makes it illegal to charge active-duty service members more than 36% for any financial product. The national regulator for credit unions has capped interest rates on credit union credit cards at 18%.

Credit card companies earn three streams of revenue from their products: fees charged to merchants, fees charged to customers and the interest charged on balances. The argument from some researchers and left-leaning policymakers is that the banks earn enough revenue from merchants to keep them profitable if interest rates were capped.

"A 10% credit card interest cap would save Americans $100 billion a year without causing massive account closures, as banks claim. Thats because the few large banks that dominate the credit card market are making absolutely massive profits on customers at all income levels," said Brian Shearer, director of competition and regulatory policy at the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator, who wrote the research on the industry's impact of Trump's proposal last year.

There are some historic examples that interest rate caps do cut off the less creditworthy to financial products because banks are not able to price risk correctly. Arkansas has a strictly enforced interest rate cap of 17% and evidence points to the poor and less creditworthy being cut out of consumer credit markets in the state. Shearer's research showed that an interest rate cap of 10% would likely result in banks lending less to those with credit scores below 600.

The White House did not respond to questions about how the president seeks to cap the rate or whether he has spoken with credit card companies about the idea.

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., who said he talked with Trump on Friday night, said the effort is meant to lower costs for American families and to reign in greedy credit card companies who have been ripping off hardworking Americans for too long."

Legislation in both the House and the Senate would do what Trump is seeking.

Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., released a plan in February that would immediately cap interest rates at 10% for five years, hoping to use Trumps campaign promise to build momentum for their measure.

Hours before Trump's post, Sanders said that the president, rather than working to cap interest rates, had taken steps to deregulate big banks that allowed them to charge much higher credit card fees.

Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., have proposed similar legislation. Ocasio-Cortez is a frequent political target of Trump, while Luna is a close ally of the president.

President Donald Trump is planning a visit to Detroit next week.

He is scheduled to speak at a Detroit Economic Club event on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

The event will be held at the MotorCity Casino Sound Board theatre in Detroit.

This will mark the third time President Trump has attended a DEC event, organizers say.

With just days left before the January 15 deadline, millions of Americans are scrambling to choose the right health insurance plan amid significant uncertainty over Affordable Care Act subsidies.

ACA premium tax credits expired at the end of last year, causing substantial price hikes for policies and leaving consumers facing difficult decisions about their healthcare coverage.

"People should not just blindly re-enroll in the coverage they had last year, because they might find that that's not affordable at this point," said Katherine Hempstead, senior policy officer with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

RELATED STORY | Millions face higher healthcare costs as ACA subsidies end January 1

Navigating rising costs and plan options

With dozens of plans available, many consumers feel overwhelmed by their choices. However, Hempstead emphasized that all ACA-compliant plans provide the same essential coverage - what differs is how costs are structured across metal levels.

"Higher metal levels mean higher premiums and less cost-sharing. Lower metal levels mean that your premiums are lower, but your deductible is going to be higher," Hempstead said.

She recommended that consumers consider shifting from silver to bronze plans to secure more affordable premiums, despite the trade-off of higher out-of-pocket costs.

"That's an unfortunate trade-off, but I think a lot of people would feel like that's better than having no coverage at all," Hempstead said.

Beyond cost considerations, consumers should examine provider networks and medication formularies when selecting plans - factors that remain important regardless of premium changes.

Where to find help

For Americans seeking personalized guidance, Hempstead recommended starting with healthcare.gov, which directs users to appropriate state resources regardless of location.

"It's really important to make sure you're really there because unfortunately, if you just put in a search term, there's lots of scam websites that try to jump to the top," Hempstead said.

Many consumers also work with insurance brokers for additional guidance between different plans, though Hempstead advised ensuring brokers come with recommendations from trusted sources.

Deadline pressure and potential changes

Missing the January 15 deadline typically requires a qualifying life event for special enrollment, such as moving states, losing employment, or aging out of parental coverage.

However, the situation remains fluid. Some states are exploring extending deadlines to January 30, and potential congressional action on subsidies could trigger new enrollment periods.

RELATED STORY | Don't miss the deadline: Experts urge you to sign up for ACA healthcare to avoid risks

"People should keep watching the news, because this is a fluid situation, and it's possible that there may actually be a fix and that Congress may decide to extend these tax credits in some fashion," Hempstead said.

Congressional action remains uncertain

On Thursday, 17 House Republicans broke ranks with party leadership to support restoring expanded ACA tax credits, joining 213 Democrats in a symbolic vote. However, Senate negotiations for a bipartisan compromise remain stalled over Republican demands to exclude federal funding for reproductive care services.

One potential solution being discussed involves health savings accounts for ACA consumers to manage healthcare costs directly. While Hempstead acknowledged growing interest in giving consumers more agency in healthcare shopping, she questioned the immediate impact.

"Giving a very small number of consumers in the individual market a little bit of money isn't really going to give them any market power," Hempstead said.

Despite the uncertainty, Hempstead urged Americans not to delay their enrollment decisions.

"I wouldn't bank on any of these other things we talked about happening. So I think if you're wondering whether or not you should get coverage and you think you might want to have coverage in the individual market, this is your time to get it," Hempstead said.