PARIS (AP) — Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is advising the world “not to waste a lot of time” on what President-elect Donald Trump has been saying about Greenland.
Trump made clear again this week that he’d like the semiautonomous territory of Denmark to come under U.S. control and said he would not rule out the use of military force to make that happen.
“We need Greenland for national security purposes,” Trump said.
But Blinken said Wednesday that the incoming president’s ambitions are unlikely to amount to anything more than talk.
“The idea expressed about Greenland is obviously not a good one,” the senior U.S. diplomat said during a stop in Paris for meetings.
“Maybe more important, it’s obviously one that’s not going to happen. So we probably shouldn’t waste a lot of time talking about it,” he said.
France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, also played down any possibility of U.S. forces being deployed against Denmark, a U.S. ally in the NATO military alliance.
But Barrot warned nevertheless that Europe must brace for turbulence ahead – as other powers throw their weight around.
“Do we think the United States will invade Greenland? The answer is, ‘No,’” the French minister said. “But do we think that we’re entering into a period that sees the return of the law of the strongest, the answer is, ‘Yes.’”
Europe must become stronger militarily and more economically and commercially competitive in response, Barrot said.
“We have to go a lot further to affirm who we are, what we want,” he said.
The Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, has said she does not believe the United States will use military or economic power to secure control over Greenland and has appealed for U.S. behavior “that is respectful of the Greenlandic people.”
In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Wednesday that the principle of inviolability of borders applies to every country no matter how powerful, in a reaction to Trump’s remarks that did not mention the president-elect by name. “Borders must not be moved by force,” Scholz said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, addresses the media during a joint press conference with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, right, after their meeting at the Quai d’Orsay in Paris, France, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
Jahmyr Gibbs ended his second NFL season with a bang.
The Detroit Lions running back was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring four touchdowns in the team’s 31-9 division-clinching win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night.
Gibbs had 139 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries and caught five passes for 31 yards and a touchdown, setting the single-season franchise record for touchdowns (20) in the process. The Lions earned the NFC’s No. 1 seed with the victory.
Gibbs, the No. 12 pick in the 2023 draft, broke the record of 17 total touchdowns shared by running backs Jamaal Williams and Barry Sanders. Gibbs had 16 rushing touchdowns and four receiving and finished the season with 1,929 yards from scrimmage with 1,412 rushing yards.
Gibbs is the sixth Lions player this season to win an NFC Player of the Week award. Punter Jack Fox (Week 3), quarterback Jared Goff (Week 4), defensive back Brian Branch (Week 6), kicker Jake Bates (Weeks 7 and 10) and wide receiver Kalif Raymond (Week 8) all earned the honor this season.
Gibbs was named to the Pro Bowl last week for a second straight season. He earned Pro Bowl honors in his rookie season after putting up 1,261 yards from scrimmage and finished fourth in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.
Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs finished the season with 16 rushing touchdowns and four receiving scores, and he totaled 1,929 yards from scrimmage, including 1,412 rushing yards. (ROBIN BUCKSON — The Detroit News)
TORONTO (AP) — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s comments that Canada should become the 51st state are no longer a joke and are meant to undermine America’s closest ally, Canada’s finance minister said Wednesday.
Dominic LeBlanc, the country’s point person for U.S-Canada relations, said Trump was smiling when he first made the comment during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in late November.
“The joke is over,” said LeBlanc. “It’s a way for him, I think, to sow confusion, to agitate people, to create chaos knowing this will never happen.”
Trump keeps floating the idea that Canada should join the United States as the 51st state, saying Tuesday he would not use military force to invade the country, which is home to more than 40 million people and is a founding NATO partner.
Instead, Trump said he would rely on “economic force” as he erroneously cast the U.S. trade deficit with Canada — a natural resource-rich nation that provides the U.S. with commodities like oil — as a subsidy.
“It’s becoming very counterproductive,” LeBlanc said, referring to Trump’s rhetoric about Canada.
LeBlanc has been talking to incoming Trump administration officials about increasing border security in an effort to avoid a sweeping 25% tariff that Trump has threatened to impose on all Canadian products.
LeBlanc, recently appointed to the role after the abrupt resignation of the previous finance minister, also announced he won’t run to replace Trudeau so he can focus on the tariff threat. Trudeau announced Monday he will resign as prime minister and will stay on until a new Liberal leader is chosen.
“The timing is awful for sure,” said Liberal lawmaker Judy Sgro of the leadership change. “But we will do what we have to do to ensure that Canada stands strong.”
Asked about Trump’s comments, Sgro said “He should focus on his own issues in his own country, because he’s got lots of them.”
Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller also fired back, dismissing Trump’s comments as “ridiculous.”
“There is no chance of us becoming the 51st state. I think that this is beneath a president of the United States,” Miller said. “I said a few weeks ago that this whole thing was like a South Park episode.”
Trump refused to rule out acquiring Greenland and the Panama Canal by military force and has said the U.S doesn’t need anything from Canada, including automobiles, lumber and dairy products.
“I don’t know who is misinforming him,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said. “Right now we ship 4.3 million barrels of crude oil into the U.S. 60 percent of their energy imports are coming from Canada.”
The U.S. imports approximately 60% of its crude oil from Canada, with Alberta alone supplying 4.3 million barrels per day. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. consumes about 20 million barrels a day, while domestically producing about 13.2 million barrels a day. This means about quarter of the oil the U.S. consumes every day is from Canada.
Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day.
Ford said Canada will retaliate if Trump imposes tariffs, saying that a wide range of U.S. products shipped to Canada will be targeted, but he declined to specify which ones.
Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security.
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said she never takes Trump’s threats lightly.
“At the same time we can’t take the bait,” Joly said. “We have to show we have a strong economy and we are strong and we are not going to be annexed.”
Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon, left to right, Innovation, Science and Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc arrive for a Liberal caucus meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
On Wednesday’s episode of his podcast, Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown announced he would be reciprocating the love shown to him by a Rochester bakery over the weekend.
Heather Tocco and her team at Rochester’s Home Bakery crafted a life-size edible replica of St. Brown doing a headstand in the end zone after scoring a touchdown against the Packers earlier this season. It has drawn crowds and national media attention to the Main street business. Now, the athlete is encouraging fans to make a purchase there for a chance to win a special prize.
St. Brown said he will make an appearance at the bakery next week, and hopes to taste the jaw-dropping confection.
“I need a slice or something,” he said, adding that in honor of Home Bakery, he will be giving away two home playoff tickets to the divisional round game next week. “All you will need to do is purchase any item at Home Bakery, a cake shop in Rochester, Michigan, between Jan. 13 and Jan. 16 to enter the contest. The winner will be announced Jan. 17.”
He said the winner will be selected at random for the a pair of tickets.
“Everything you see is edible,” Tocco told The Detroit News about the cake, which St. Brown described as “lit” and “nuts.”
“The amount of people who were stopping as we were setting the window …. was pretty cool to see,” she said. “It’ll definitely be up after we win the Super Bowl.”
“When I first saw it I was like, ‘no way,’” St. Brown said on his show. “The attention to detail is ridiculous. People were sending me on Instagram, DMing me, my friends were texting me … I’m like this is crazy.”
Home Bakery — which sells cookies, cakes, cannoli, muffins, dog treats, cronuts and more, including Detroit Lions-themed confections — is at 300 S. Main in Rochester. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri. and 9 a.m.-2 a.m. Sat., closed Sundays.
Passersby and customers alike check out a life-size cake made in the image of Detroit Lions’ wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown standing on his head, displayed in the front window at Home Bakery in Rochester on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (KATY KILDEE — The Detroit News)
Michigan tight end/fullback Max Bredeson, voted a captain for the 2024 season, is returning to the Wolverines.
Bredeson announced his decision on Instagram with video clips of his highlights and this caption: “Team 146 let’s do it,” referring to the 2025 Wolverines. He is an important piece for the culture of the team and was credited by head coach Sherrone Moore for helping the Wolverines refocus after a loss to Indiana and rebound with a win against Northwestern to earn bowl eligibility.
The Wolverines finished with a three-game winning streak, including a 13-10 upset at Ohio State and a 19-13 upset of Alabama in the bowl game, to end the season 8-5.
“He’s the ultimate competitor, the ultimate leader, everything you want in a captain, and a guy you want on your team,” Moore said of Bredeson on the eve of the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Eve. “As physical as any player in college football, I would say. He’s everything you want from a leader on your team. He impacts our team not just on the field, but off the field in huge ways, making sure the locker room is aligned in every single way. I just can’t speak highly enough about that young man.”
Bredeson has played in 40 games and made seven starts. He was a Burlsworth Trophy nominee, awarded to an FBS player who began his career as a walk-on, in 2024.
Michigan tight end/fullback Max Bredeson announced Tuesday that he plans to return to the Wolverines next season. (DAVID GURALNICK — Detroit News file)
With advances in insulation technology, puffer vests have become warmer than ever. They can be used in winter or breezy days in the spring. They have also become more stylish, are available in a variety of colors, and the best ones come with water-resistant and windproof fabric.
Fill power is an indicator of the quality of the down. Puffer vests with higher fill power provide better insulation from cold. Fill power is more important than fill weight, as certain lightweight materials, such as goose or duck down, can offer excellent insulation. A vest with 400-500 fill power offers decent insulation. The vests that offer the best insulation are around 800-900 fill power, but they might not be easily compressed for storage as higher fill power can make the vest thicker.
Size
The vest needs to be the right fit to provide adequate warmth. If it’s too loose, it won’t properly retain heat. It should also not be too tight or your movement will be restricted. You should leave some extra room in case you need to wear layers underneath it. The armholes should be large enough for comfortable wear and a full range of motion for your arms.
Weight
Fill power might be more important for the insulation but the weight of the vest is still an important factor to consider. A lightweight jacket will let you be more comfortable and active. Most puffer vests are designed to be lightweight, but if they are too lightweight they might not provide adequate warmth.
A vest that uses down for the insulation offers an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. If you don’t want materials sourced from animals, you can get a vest made from synthetic down.
What to look for in a quality puffer vest
Water-resistant
If you plan on using the vest for activities such as camping or hiking, consider getting one that’s water-resistant. These types of vests are typically made from nylon or strong polyester. The best water-resistant vests have moisture-wicking properties to keep the interior dry.
Windproof
Windproof vests are typically made from a high-density fabric that minimizes airflow. Micro-polyester, tricot and high-density nylon are the most commonly used windproof fabrics. Keep in mind that nylon can make a lot of noise in the wind.
Extra features
High-quality puffer vests often come with extra features, such as zipper pockets on the sides and chest, a large interior pocket for secure storage, or a detachable hood and elastic cuffs. Some high-end vests also offer a tapered design for slim-fit look.
How much you can expect to spend on a puffer vest
Inexpensive vests can be bought for less than $40, while high-end versions will be around $200.
Puffer vest FAQ
When should you wear a puffer vest?
A. One of the advantages of puffer vests is that they are extremely versatile. They can be worn on a mild day in spring or a cold day in winter. They won’t provide the same level of protection from the cold as a winter coat or full-sleeve puffer jacket but are ideal when you are active in cold temperatures.
Are there variations in design for a puffer vest?
A. There are a few. There is a V-neck version that’s less common but does not provide the same level of protection from cold. Most puffer vests come with a zipper but some versions offer buttons instead. The addition of a hood is another design variation.
What you need to know: For a durable, warm and fashionable puffer vest, this is the best choice.
What you’ll love: Its OmniHeat reflective lining and 100% polyester exterior help keep warmth in without sacrificing breathability. It’s water-resistant and has zippered pockets.
What you should consider: The sizing is sometimes inconsistent.
What you need to know: This vest offers excellent warmth at a fraction of the cost of other brands.
What you’ll love: The lightweight design makes the vest packable for easy storage or travel. It features a stand-up collar, zipper hand pockets and elasticized armholes. The outer shell is water-resistant and windproof.
What you should consider: There is no drawstring. The package design means this vest might be too light for winter use.
What you need to know: Made from patented Heat Reflective materials, this jacket is designed for optimum heat retention.
What you’ll love: The water-resistant fabric is breathable to help get rid of moisture for extra warmth. The interior has an extra-large pocket for storage and also features an adjustable hem.
What you should consider: Some users have reported the vests are oversized, so consider getting a smaller size for a snug fit.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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There’s no quick fix for soaring egg prices and their limited supply.
The bird flu is ravaging the nation’s egg-laying flock in yet another seasonal upswing for the disease, says Brian Moscogiuri, an analyst who tracks the industry for Irvine-based distributor Eggs Unlimited. Destroying infected birds is slashing the nation’s ability to keep up with demand. It’s a shortfall that will take months to repair.
As a result, the average price of a dozen eggs in California on Tuesday, Jan. 7, was $8.97, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s more than double the $4.06 price at last year’s start. In 2023, amid another bird flu outbreak, the price of eggs began the year at $7.37, compared with $2.35 at the beginning of 2022 or $1.34 in 2021.
“The virus has returned nearly every spring and fall, mainly through wild migratory birds,” Moscogiuri says. “However, the scope seems to be getting broader, with more types of animals being impacted and potentially aiding the spread.”
The key is the loss of egg makers. Moscogiuri says the industry is down 20 million hens to flu in the past three months out of the nation’s typical 312 million flock. California farmers culled 9 million egg layers in 2024’s last two months alone.
The drop was poor timing, just as holiday demand was percolating.
Daniel Sumner, an agriculture professor at UC Davis, says California prices have surged sharply because state law requires “cage free” living for hens. The current version of this flu has been especially rough on this type of chicken.
Nationally, consumers are paying $4.81 a dozen to start the year, according to the Urner Barry Egg Index. That’s up $3.20 — or triple – late September’s most recent low. A previous bird flu outbreak pushed U.S. egg prices to $3.07 in March 2023.
Across Southern California, egg prices vary wildly among merchants, assuming they even have any eggs to sell. Egg shelves are empty on various days everywhere, from small grocers to giants like Trader Joe’s and Costco. And some retailers lucky to have eggs are placing limits on how many a customer can buy.
Moscogiuri hopes that economics will help, noting that “elevated retail prices should help to slow demand, and ultimately allow the market to retreat, but we continue to have a real risk of avian flu into the middle of January.”
His price outlook is not encouraging, as he recalled how slowly 2023’s price bump took to ease.
“The country is going to need to avoid major production setbacks for four to six months for the market to normalize,” he says.
The professor notes that food price spikes are common, but the recent flu-driven egg inflation seems different.
“Unlike all outbreaks before 2022, and there were several, this time (the flu) keeps coming back,” Sumner says. “The veterinarians do not seem to know why.”
Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com
Many people take pre-workouts before they hit the gym to help increase their energy and motivation. This can lead to better results and, potentially, help you reach your conditioning goals more quickly.
Anytime you are taking a supplement, it is always best to stick with reputable brands because they are not only proven to be effective but can also be relied on to use high-quality ingredients.
For example, the company behind Cellucor C4 Original pre-workout has sold over 3 billion servings worldwide. It has been making supplements for 15 years, so there is little chance of it containing unsafe ingredients.
What to know before you buy a pre-workout
What is a pre-workout?
Pre-workouts are supplements designed to be taken before you exercise to help you get the most out of your workout. They generally include three main ingredient categories: stimulants, pump enhancers and nootropics.
Stimulants help increase your energy by blocking receptors in your brain for the chemicals that make you feel tired. This allows you to exercise harder and for longer than you might otherwise.
Pump enhancers can work via several mechanisms depending on the ingredient in question. Most increase the amount of nitric oxide in your bloodstream, which in turn increases the blood flow to your muscles. Others aid in the production of ATP, which is your body’s energy source. Both can help improve performance and decrease delayed onset muscle soreness after a workout.
Nootropics are generally associated with improved cognitive performance, and they are said to do this by increasing the blood and oxygen flow to the brain. When used in a pre-workout, they help improve motivation and mental focus.
Should you take a pre-workout?
Whether or not you should take a pre-workout is a personal choice that no one can answer for you. Many athletes achieve optimal conditioning without the use of any supplements at all. However, many others struggle to work up the energy or motivation to head to the gym every day or simply don’t see the results they would like. If you fall into this latter group, a pre-workout might be the solution you desire. For even better results, you may want to consider also using a post-workout protein powder to give your muscles the building blocks they need.
Pills vs. powder
Pre-workouts come in both pill and powder form, each of which has its own benefits. Without a doubt, pills are more convenient. They are easier to transport and don’t require any messy mixing before use. However, they can take longer for the body to absorb, so you’ll need to plan accordingly. Another issue is achieving the proper doses in pills since they are limited in size, and it is difficult to get enough grams of the various active ingredients into them.
Powders are easier for the body to absorb quickly and don’t require you to swallow several large pills, which is a struggle for some people. Also, you can easily tweak the dosage to suit your personal needs.
Features to look for in a quality pre-workout
Amino acids
Amino acids play a significant role in building muscle. They are produced naturally in your body, but you can increase your levels through foods and supplements. Your body uses 21 types of amino acids, but nine are considered the most essential. Many pre-workouts include essential amino acids, most commonly branch-chain amino acids like leucine and arginine.
Creatine
Many gym-goers take creatine separately to help them improve their athletic performance and build more muscle mass. However, you can also find pre-workouts that contain creatine, so there is one less supplement you have to buy.
Caffeine
Caffeine is the most commonly used stimulant in pre-workouts because it is highly effective and well-tolerated by most people. The caffeine in pre-workouts may come from green tea, coffee or other sources.
Proprietary blends
Along with the above ingredients, most pre-workouts include proprietary blends that may contain vitamins, extracts, herbs and other ingredients to make them more effective. You should always read the ingredient label carefully of any pre-workout you are considering to ensure it doesn’t contain any ingredients to which you may be sensitive.
Flavor
Pre-workouts come in flavored and unflavored options. If you will be mixing your pre-workout with water, a flavored option is usually the best choice. However, if mixing your pre-workout into juice, a protein shake or other beverage, an unflavored option will be more suitable.
How much you can expect to spend on a pre-workout
Most pre-workouts cost $15-$40 for 30 servings.
Pre-workout FAQ
Are pre-workouts safe?
A. Pre-workouts are generally considered safe. However, they may be unsuitable for people with certain heart conditions or who are sensitive to stimulants. However, the FDA does not regulate them, so it is best to stick with reputable brands and read the ingredient labels carefully.
How long before a workout should I take a pre-workout?
A. It is generally recommended to take your pre-workout 20-30 minutes before exercising, so it has time to start working.
What you need to know: Touted many gym-goers for its efficacy, C4 Original pre-workout should give you that extra boost you need before hitting the gym.
What you’ll love: It’s available in a wide range of flavors and dissolves quickly in water without leaving any grittiness behind.
What you should consider: It produces a tingling feeling in some people that may be uncomfortable.
What you need to know: If you want energy without a lot of caffeine, Essential Amin. O is the way to go.
What you’ll love: It contains a blend of vital amino acids to help you get maximum results from your workouts. Many people find it provides not just energy but also mental focus.
What you should consider: It’s not calorie- and carbohydrate-free.
What you need to know: In addition to 100 milligrams of caffeine, it also contains electrolytes to keep you hydrated. It is suitable for vegans, gluten-free and non-GMO Project certified.
What you’ll love: It’s easy to mix as you only need one scoop in ice-cold water.
What you should consider: Vega Sport used a new formula, so previous users might find the taste somewhat different.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum responded sarcastically on Wednesday to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
Standing before a global map in her daily press briefing, Sheinbaum proposed dryly that North America should be renamed “América Mexicana,” or “Mexican America,” because a founding document dating from 1814 that preceded Mexico’s constitution referred to it that way.
“That sounds nice, no?” she added with a sarcastic tone. She also noted that the Gulf of Mexico had been named that way since 1607.
The exchange has started to answer a larger question lingering over the bilateral relationship between the two regional powers: How would newly elected Sheinbaum handle Trump’s strong-handed diplomatic approach, and promises of mass-deportations and crippling taxes on trading partners like Mexico?
Sheinbaum’s predecessor and political mentor Andrés Manuel López Obrador – who hailed from a similar strain of class populism as Trump, even though he leaned left – was able to build a relationship with Trump as an ally, and his government began to block migrants from going north under U.S. pressure, a boon to Trump.
But it was unclear if Mexico’s first woman president, a scientist and leftist lacking the folksy populism that rocketed López Obrador into power, would be able to build the same relationship.
While Wednesday’s joke quickly ricocheted across social media feeds, it also set the tone for what a Sheinbaum-Trump relationship could look like in the coming years.
“Humor can be a good tactic, it projects strength, which is what Trump responds to. It was probably the right choice on this issue,” said Brian Winter, vice president of the New York-based Council of the Americas. “Although President Sheinbaum knows it won’t work on everything — Trump and his administration will demand serious engagement from Mexico on the big issues of immigration, drugs and trade.”
It comes after other stern but collaborative responses by Sheinbaum regarding Trump’s proposals.
On Trump’s pitch to slap 25% tariffs on Mexican imports, Sheinbaum warned that if the new U.S. administration imposes tariffs on Mexico, her administration would respond with similar measures. She said any sort of tax was “not acceptable and would cause inflation and job losses for the United States and Mexico.”
After originally saying her government would push the Trump administration to deport migrants directly back to their own countries, in January she said Mexico would be open to accepting deportees from other countries, but Mexico could limit it to certain nationalities or request compensation.
Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced charges against four more people — Detroiters — allegedly connected to an auto theft operating in southeast Michigan.
The criminal organization is accused of stealing hundreds of vehicles from the region, targeting car dealerships and storage lots, parking lots and residences — then selling them on the black market at prices significantly below market value to buyers seeking unregistered vehicles, the AG’s Office stated in a news release. The stolen vehicles have reportedly been linked to other criminal activity.
The most recent arrests of the four Detroiters stem from an ongoing investigation by the Troy Police Department in partnership with FORCE (Focused Organized Retail Crime Enforcement). FORCE, established two years ago, includes multiple local law enforcement groups, special agents with the AG’s office, Michigan State Police, the FBI, Postal Inspection Service and retailers.
The AG’s office announced the FORCE Team investigation into an alleged auto theft ring in May 2024. Troy police have reportedly been investigating the crime ring since August 2023.
The four Detroiters, charged with conducting a criminal enterprise:
• Davonta Jones, 31 — also charged with eight counts of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle
• Donovan Tucker, 22 — also charged with eight counts of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle
• Davion Tucker, 21 — also charged with seven counts of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle
• Timothy Bell, 23 — also charged with 10 counts of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle
The four defendants are allegedly responsible for auto thefts on more than a dozen occasions in 2024, according to the AG’s Office. The crime ring “is suspected of using countersurveillance to steal vehicles quickly and efficiently, allegedly using violence and ramming security vehicles if confronted,” the AG’s Office stated.
Troy police, Detroit police and Michigan State Police executed four arrest warrants on Jan. 2, resulting in the arrests. A “large quantity of electronic key fobs and cash” were seized, according to the AG’s Office.
Jones, Donovan Tucker and Davion Tucker were arraigned Jan. 3 in Dearbor’s 19th District Court, where bond was set at $500,000 cash/surety. They’re scheduled for a probable cause conference Jan. 17. Bell was arraigned Jan. 3 in Monroe’s 1st District Court where bond was set at $500,000 cash/surety. He’s scheduled for a probable cause conference Jan.14.
NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump tried again Tuesday to delay this week’s sentencing in his hush money case, asking a New York appeals court to intervene as he fights to avoid the finality of his conviction before he returns to the White House.
Trump turned to the Appellate Division of the state’s trial court a day after the trial judge, Judge Juan M. Merchan, rebuffed his bid to indefinitely postpone sentencing and ordered it to go ahead as scheduled on Friday.
Trump is seeking an immediate stay that would spare him from being sentenced while he appeals Merchan’s decision last week to uphold the historic verdict. Oral arguments were expected before a single judge later Tuesday, with a decision likely soon thereafter.
The scheduling drama is playing out less than two weeks before his inauguration. Trump is poised to be the first president to take office convicted of crimes. If Trump’s sentencing doesn’t happen before his second term starts Jan. 20, it may have to wait until he leaves office in 2029 because of the widely held belief, endorsed by Merchan, that a sitting president is immune from criminal proceedings.
Merchan has signaled that he is not likely to punish Trump for his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and will accommodate his transition by allowing him to appear at sentencing by video, rather than in person at a Manhattan courthouse.
Still, the Republican and his lawyers contend that his sentencing should not go forward because the conviction and indictment should be dismissed. They have previously suggested taking the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Merchan “is without authority under the law to proceed to sentencing while President Trump exercises his federal constitutional right to challenge these rulings,” Trump’s lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove wrote in a filing with the Appellate Division.
Last Friday, Merchan denied Trump’s bid to throw out his conviction and dismiss the case because of his impending return to the White House. He previously refused to toss the case on presidential immunity grounds. Trump’s lawyers are challenging both rulings.
Merchan wrote that the interests of justice would only be served by “bringing finality to this matter” through sentencing. He said giving Trump what’s known as an unconditional discharge — closing the case without jail time, a fine or probation — “appears to be the most viable solution.”
Manhattan prosecutors have pushed for sentencing to proceed as scheduled, “given the strong public interest in prompt prosecution and the finality of criminal proceedings.”
The charges involved an alleged scheme to hide a hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels in the last weeks of Trump’s 2016 campaign to keep her from publicizing claims she’d had sex with him years earlier. He says that her story is false and that he did nothing wrong.
The case centered on how Trump accounted for reimbursing his then-personal lawyer Michael Cohen, who had made the payment to Daniels. The conviction carried the possibility of punishment ranging from a fine or probation to up to four years in prison.
Trump’s sentencing initially was set for last July 11, then postponed twice at the defense’s request. After Trump’s Nov. 5 election, Merchan delayed the sentencing again so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case.
FILE – Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court during jury deliberations in his criminal hush money trial in New York, May 30, 2024. (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool, File)
Three vehicles caught fire Tuesday morning following a multi-car collision in Farmington Hills.
No injuries were reported.
No injuries were reported in the Tuesday morning crash. (Photo courtesy of City of Farmington Hills)
Officials say Farmington Hills Fire Department personnel responded to the scene along eastbound I-696 at around 7:30 a.m. to find a three-vehicle crash. All the cars were on fire.
MSP troopers also responded to the scene.
The Oakland Press is working to obtain more information on the cause of the crash and drivers involved.
A firefighter helps extinguish the fires after the multi-vehicle crash. (Photo courtesy of City of Farmington Hills)
The roadway was shut down while fire department personnel extinguished the flames.
Cleanup continued as of 8:45 a.m., with one lane open. The freeway is expected to reopen fully as soon as possible.
Eastbound I-696 was completely shut down for awhile after the crash, but one lane was open approximately an hour later with all lanes expected to be open when clean-up was complete.(Photo courtesy of City of Farmington Hills)
Officials remind drivers to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles working on the roadway.
The Oakland Press will update this story if more information becomes available.
The disclosure came in response to a request by defense lawyers, filed in court and in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, to preemptively block the report from being made public.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks at AmericaFest, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Trump was charged alongside two codefendants in the classified documents case, which was dismissed in July by a Trump-appointed judge who concluded that Smith’s appointment was illegal. Trump was also charged in an election interference case that was significantly narrowed by a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.
Smith’s team abandoned both cases in November after Trump’s presidential victory, citing Justice Department policy that prohibits the federal prosecutions of sitting presidents.
Lawyers for Trump, including Todd Blanche, who was picked by Trump to serve as his deputy attorney general, urged Garland in a letter made public late Monday to block the release of the report and to remove Smith from his position “promptly” — or else defer the release of the report to the incoming attorney general.
Using language that mimicked Trump’s own attacks on Smith and his work, Blanche told Garland that the “release of any confidential report prepared by this out-of-control private citizen unconstitutionally posing as a prosecutor would be nothing more than a lawless political stunt, designed to politically harm President Trump and justify the huge sums of taxpayer money Smith unconstitutionally spent on his failed and dismissed cases.”
The letter was attached in an exhibit to an emergency request filed late Monday in federal court by lawyers for Trump’s codefendants in the documents case, Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira. They asked U.S District Judge Aileen Cannon to block the report’s release, noting that Smith’s appeal of her dismissal of charges against the men is still pending and that the disclosure of pejorative information about them will be prejudicial.
In response to that request, Smith’s team said in a two-page filing early Tuesday that it intended to submit its report to Garland by the afternoon and that the volume pertaining to the classified documents investigation would not be made public before 10 a.m. Friday. It is presumed that both volumes of Smith’s report would be released simultaneously.
Justice Department regulations call for special counsels appointed by the attorney general to submit a confidential report at the conclusion of their investigations.
Garland has so far made public in their entirety the reports produced by special counsels who operated under his watch, including Robert Hur’s report on President Joe Biden’s handling of classified information and John Durham’s report on the FBI’s Russian election interference investigation.
It’s not exactly inviting travel weather here in the Midwest, but that’s not stopping a hearty group of top-name comedians from braving the elements to travel to bring some laughs to the metro area this weekend.
Among those on the docket are …
• Kevin Hart brings his latest stand-up show, “Acting My Age,” to town for three shows at the Fox Theatre — 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10-11, and 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12. 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
Kevin Hart (Photo courtesy of 313 Presents)
• Veteran comic Geoff Tate is on the mic through Saturday, Jan. 11 at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, 310 S. Troy St., Royal Oak. 248-542-9900 or comedycastle.com.
• Cam Rowe, who stands an imposing 6 feet 9 inches, headlines at 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10 at The Roxy, 401 Walnut Blvd., Rochester. 248-453-5285 or theroxyrochester.com.
• Charlie Berens, a veteran of MTV’s “Choose or Lose” and creator of the “Manitowoc Minute,” performs twice on Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Doors at 5 and 8 p.m. 248-399-2980 or royaloakmusictheatre.com.
• Cedric The Entertainer makes one of his regular metro area appearances at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11 at Sound Board in the MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit. 800-745-3000 or soundboarddetroit.com.
• Not for the faint of heart, Quinn Dale brings his unapologetically coarse and politically incorrect act to the Crofoot ballroom at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-858-9333 or thecrofoot.com.
Quinn Dale (Photo courtesy of Crofoot Ballroom)
Cedric the Entertainer (Photo courtesy of Jeff Katz)
By LINLEY SANDERS, HUMERA LODHI and JONATHAN J. COOPER, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans say immigration should be a top focus for the U.S. government in 2025, as the country heads toward a new Republican administration in which President-elect Donald Trump has promised the mass deportations of migrants and an end to birthright citizenship.
The issue of immigration has risen in salience across the board — among Democrats and Republicans, men and women, and adults both young and old. But Republicans, in particular, have converged around this issue in recent years. About 7 in 10 Republicans say immigration or a U.S.-Mexico border wall should be a top focus, up from 45% just two years ago.
This means that Trump will return to the White House with his base, and much of the country, interested in his signature issue. That’s a marked contrast to when he left Washington four years ago with his successor, Democrat Joe Biden, offering a more welcoming posture toward migrants.
But even with the widespread uptick in concern about immigration, that issue is still overshadowed by economic worries. About three-quarters of Americans want the government to focus on addressing broad economic concerns, similar to the past few years. There’s a range of economic issues Americans want addressed — about 3 in 10 referenced general economic issues, a similar share pointed to inflation, and roughly 1 in 10 mentioned either unemployment or taxes.
About one-third of Americans identify foreign policy as an important issue, with health care issues and politics — both identified broadly — close behind.
Republicans are especially likely to want government action on immigration
Some of his immigration reforms are likely to face legal challenges as Trump seeks to sharply limit the number of immigrants welcome in the U.S. But addressing those issues remains paramount for Americans as he prepares to take office.
About 8 in 10 Republicans want the government to prioritize economic issues, while about 7 in 10 Republicans say immigration or the border wall should be a top priority.
Most Democrats, meanwhile, are focused on the economy, but they don’t have a clear second priority. Instead, about 4 in 10 name health care and health issues, a small uptick from a year earlier. About one-third of Democrats mention political issues, the environment or climate change, or immigration.
But even Democrats are more likely to want the government to make progress on immigration than they were the year before, when only about 2 in 10 Democrats considered it something that should be a primary focus for the federal government.
That doesn’t mean, though, that they align with Trump’s hard-line approach. One Democrat said the government should focus on “border control, not mass deportation,” while another said “better pathways to citizenship” should be the goal. In their responses to the poll, Republicans tended to mention “illegal immigration” and “a stronger border” as an important focus. One Republican supported “closing the border, deporting illegal immigrants, starting with criminals first.”
The focus among Republicans on immigration and the economy dovetails with two of the biggest challenges Biden confronted during his tenure, which saw both high inflation and sharp growth in migration.
Illegal border crossings reached a record level in 2023, adding fuel to Trump’s relentless focus on border security and his promise to deport migrants en masse. The numbers fell during 2024 after Biden announced a crackdown on asylum claims, but Trump argued those moves were too little, too late.
Americans under 30 really want the government to prioritize inflation
The youngest adults are particularly likely to want the government to work on economic issues.
Americans under 30 are significantly more likely than older adults to mention economic issues, inflation and personal financial topics as a vital focus for government in 2025. About 4 in 10 young adults name inflation, compared with roughly one-quarter of older adults. And about one-quarter of young adults say they want the government focused on housing costs, whereas only about 1 in 10 adults ages 60 or older say the same.
Trump made gains among young adults in 2024 compared with his performance four years earlier, but his youngest voters were much more motivated by the economy than by immigration, according to AP VoteCast, a sweeping survey of more than 120,000 voters.
The same sentiment prevails as Trump prepares to take office. Compared with 2023, the December poll found, Americans under 30 are more likely to highlight general economic issues and immigration as things they want government to focus on — but they are much less focused on immigration than older adults. Only about one-third of adults under 30 said immigration should be a focus, compared with about 6 in 10 adults 60 or older.
Older Americans are also broadly focused on the economy, but their priorities are a little different — for instance, about 1 in 10 Americans over 60 want the government focused on Social Security in the coming year. Very few Americans under 30 mentioned Social Security as a concern.
Lodhi reported from New York, and Cooper reported from Phoenix.
The AP-NORC poll of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.
Q: We’re getting our house ready to sell. One concern we have is the furnace. It’s about 17 years old, but still working fine. Is its age going to be an issue when selling? We don’t want to spend $8,000 to $10,000 for a new furnace just to sell our house. What should we do?
A: What I recommend to my sellers when I am listing their homes that have older furnaces is to have a licensed heating contractor come in to clean and check the furnace before listing it for sale. If the furnace passes inspection, you will receive an invoice with inspection results that include showing that the CO2 level (carbon monoxide) was good. I then get a copy of that report. After an offer has been accepted but before the home inspection is done by the buyer, I provide a copy of the inspection report to the buyer’s agent so the furnace does not become an inspection issue. If your furnace does not pass inspection, then it should be repaired or replaced prior to listing it for sale. Like any other home appliance, your furnace could last a week or another 10 years. Even if you are reading this column and not thinking about selling your home, it’s still a good idea to have your furnace checked out for your own safety and health.
Q: Can you tell me how to calculate the acreage of my lot? I cannot remember how to do it.
A: This is a question that comes up occasionally. One acre equals 43,560 square feet. To find out the square footage of your lot, multiply width by depth. Let’s say your lot is a rectangle and is 70 feet wide by 130 feet deep. Multiply 70 X 130 = 9,100. Next, divide 9,100 square feet by 43,560 square feet and you get 0.2089072 or approximately 0.21 acres. Your lot is relatively easy to figure out because the front and back and both sides are equal lengths. If you have an irregularly shaped lot, then the calculation gets a little more difficult. I hope this helps you and anyone else who was wondering how to calculate acreage.
Market update
November’s market update for Macomb County and Oakland County’s housing market (house and condo sales) is as follows: In Macomb County, the average sales price was up by almost 8% and Oakland County’s average sales price was up by more than 7%. Macomb County’s on-market inventory was down by 3% and Oakland County’s on-market inventory was down by almost 14%. Macomb County’s average days on market was 34 days and Oakland County’s average days on market was 30 days. Closed sales in Macomb County were down by more than 11% and closed sales in Oakland County were down by almost 1%. The closed sales continue to be down as a direct result of the continued low inventory. Demand remains high. (All comparisons are month to month, year to year.)
By the long-standing historical definition from the National Association of Realtors, which has been in existence since 1908, a buyer’s market is when there is a seven-month supply or more of inventory on the market. A balanced market between buyers and sellers is when there is a six-month supply of inventory. A seller’s market is when there is a five-month or less supply of inventory. Inventory has continued to stay low. In November, the state of Michigan’s inventory was at 2.4 months of supply. Macomb County’s inventory was at 2.1 months of supply and Oakland County’s inventory was at 2 months of supply. By definition, it’s still not close to a buyer’s market.
Steve Meyers is a real estate agent/Realtor at RE/MAX First with seven offices serving Southeast Michigan and is a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame. He can be contacted with questions at 586-997-5480 or Steve@MeyersRealtor.com You also can visit his website at AnswersToRealEstateQuestions.com.
Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan K. Barnett is cautiously optimistic when he talks about plans for 2025.
He said city officials will continue to focus on finding best ways to manage traffic and how to optimize community amenities for the city’s 80,000 residents. They’ll also be watching the cash flow.
Last month, the council approved updated contracts with Oakland County, the Avondale School District, and for Rochester Community Schools. The update is for a $1-per-student fee that goes into the county’s Safer Communities fund.
The fund, established by the county commission in 2023, helps pay for gun buyback programs and gun safety programs, improves schools’ access to resource officers, and supports sheriff’s office training and other programs to reduce and prevent violence.
Councilwoman Teresa Mungioli objected to the requirement that the city pay an additional $960 for Avondale and $5,000 for Rochester for the contract. The fees are new and not in the city’s budget. The city will ask to be reimbursed by each district.
Mungioli said the county is consistently asking for money in new ways and that is “government at its worst.”
Others on the city council also criticized the fee but unanimously approved both requests. Barnett told the council he researched the issue and found that school districts bear more of the costs for school resource officers in other municipalities. He expects to make a presentation later this year about the costs.
That isn’t the only concerning cost of policing. Rochester Hills is patrolled by 65 Oakland County sheriff’s deputies and the sheriff’s substation has two administrators. Plans to add two deputies to the roster were stalled, according to Joe Snyder, the city’s chief financial officer, after the deputies’ union contract was renewed for three years.
The city’s budget anticipated increases over the contract of 10% in the first year, followed by 5% and 4% for each succeeding year.
But the contract requires a 17% increase in 2025 – a cost $520,000 over the city’s approved budget. The 9% increases in each of the next two years will cost the city $1.1 million and $1.9 million respectively, Snyder said.
He said the police fund balance at the end of 2024 would support this year’s increase but there won’t be enough for 2026 or 2027.
“This is an extremely significant and pressing matter,” he told the council, adding that he wants to resolve the issue with the city’s administration and council before they start budget discussions in late spring. He said he’s talked with the county’s chief financial official, Brian Lefler, about the city’s options for what he called extreme increases along with the late notice the city received about them.
Voters overwhelmingly approved renewing a 10-year millage of 3.4864 mills but the Headlee Amendment caps what the city can collect at just over 2.4.
Barnett said the contract increases were higher than expected. He said the city had little notice in advance of the changes.
The impact over the three years of the contract is over $4.5 million to the City of Rochester Hills alone. We will be forced to explore all of the options available to cover these additional costs and will be working to present our data and research to the city council in the first or early second quarters of 2025.
Among the city’s other options, he said, are changing policing service levels and redeploying resources.
“These are all things the council will need to consider,” he said.
The city recently purchased nearly 10 acres of land at 694 S. Rochester Road for $2.7 million, with help from a $1.3 million state Department of Natural Resources grant. The land is next to nearly 13 acres of city green space along the Clinton River. The new property will be developed into a high-visibility trail hub, according to city records.
While the purchase was not part of last year’s budget, city officials had been saving money for more park land. The city paid its share of nearly $1.4 million from the capital improvement fund.
City officials are looking for ways to balance green space with commercial and industrial development. Most of the large tracts for housing have already been developed, Barnett said.
“If you have a home, it has never been worth more, but that makes it tough for people who want to buy a home,” he said. “We continue to grapple with ways people are looking to invest in our community.”
He said the city’s priority is “thoughtful redevelopment to support the existing investment values.”
“I have nothing but positive feelings for what 2025 will bring,” he said.
A Pontiac woman accused of animal abandonment faces a court hearing in Macomb County this week.
Karmen Schooly has a pretrial conference at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9 before Macomb County circuit court before Judge Julie Gatti.
She faces two felonies and a misdemeanor over the care of a litter of seven puppies being fostered by Alicia Coleman of Lenox Township in 2023. If convicted, Schooly could face fines up to $2,000, up to two years in prison and 300 hours of community service.
Coleman sought help from Macomb County Animal Control for two of the seven puppies that had become ill. The county ultimately took the litter and cared for the dogs until they were adopted.
Macomb County filed felony charges for animal abandonment/cruelty and unauthorized health profession practice, and a misdemeanor count of owning an unauthorized animal shelter. A fourth charge, for practicing veterinary medicine without a license as added later. Schooly has entered a not-guilty plea to each count.
Oakland County’s animal shelter and adoption center ticketed Schooly in November, after removing 29 dogs and eight cats from her Argyle Street home in Pontiac. One of the cats had to be euthanized, according to county officials.
Schooly faces a felony charge in Oakland County for failing to provide adequate care to 25 or more animals and a misdemeanor charge of operating an unregistered animal shelter.
She does not have a scheduled hearing in Oakland County’s 50th District Court on that case, according to court records. If convicted in Oakland County, she could face up to even years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines and or with a minimum post-prison requirement for five years of probation and up to 500 hours of community service, as well as psychological counseling.
She may also face repaying the cost to the county for the cost of caring for the 36 surviving animals and possibly losing the right to own animals in the future.
As of early November, Schooly was still offering dogs to prospective new owners through TriCounty Animal Rescue, which she founded in 2018. But as of late last year, the adoptions did not carry associated costs. She did not respond to a message from The Oakland Press.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct information about Schooly’s Oakland County case. She was arraigned at the district court before the case advanced to circuit court, where there are no upcoming hearings on the docket as of Monday, Jan. 6.
Images from security cameras at the Pontiac home used for TriCounty Dog Rescue. (courtesy, Karmen Schooly)
Berkley has been recognized for its efforts to promote entrepreneurial growth and economic development.
Researchers at the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Office of Engagement and Impact, recognized Berkley as a five-star community in its annual eCities study.
“Berkley’s staff members pride themselves on excellent customer service and a willingness to work with existing and potential businesses to find solutions that help them achieve their goals,” the city said in a release.
“The city’s robust Downtown Development Authority supports businesses with grants for façade improvements and to expand its successful mural program. This commitment to supporting a diverse business community has helped create a vibrant city where residents can find everything they need close to home.”
The eCities study analyzed publicly available data from 277 communities from 54 counties in Michigan. Researchers focused on five-year changes in property values, community assets and tax rates, which can demonstrate the growth, investments, and cost of doing business within the community.
Over the five-year period of 2019-2023, these communities increased their capital assets, such as new buildings, roads, bike paths and library renovations, by an average of 3.7% per year.
Although accounting for less than 20 percent of the state’s cities and townships, the 277 communities analyzed are home to 71% of Michigan’s population and 87% of the state’s commercial property.
Communities that have seen the strongest growth in business development over the past five years, while controlling the costs of doing business, received five- and four-star honors.
Almost 100 communities statewide received the five-star designation.
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