DETROIT — Tim Hardaway Jr. intends to sign a one-year deal with the Denver Nuggets, a source confirmed to The Detroit News on Tuesday, following ESPN’s initial report. His departure marked the end of his one-year stint with the Detroit Pistons.

Hardaway joined the Pistons in July 2024 after being traded from the Dallas Mavericks. During his time with the team, he appeared in 77 games and averaged 11.0 points per game, shooting 40.6% from the field.

He played a significant role in improving the Pistons’ lackluster 3-point shooting from the previous year. Hardaway made the second-most 3-pointers on the team — trailing only Malik Beasley — hitting 168 shots on 36.8% shooting from behind the arc.

His best game of the season came during the Pistons’ 133-122 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 28. He scored a season-high 32 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the field, 7-of-11 from behind the arc. Although he played a crucial role in the Pistons’ on-court success, Hardaway was equally instrumental in transforming the team’s subpar culture through his veteran leadership.

Prior to Hardaway’s departure, Dennis Schröder and the Sacramento Kings had agreed to a deal, which ended Schröder’s brief tenure in Detroit. The deal was reported by multiple national writers, including ESPN’s Shams Charania and Yahoo! Sports’ Vincent Goodwill.

Though Schröder’s time with the Pistons was brief, the veteran point guard was one of the most important figures in the team’s success. After landing in Detroit at the trade deadline, Schröder became everything the Pistons envisioned.

In need of a secondary ball-handler and scorer, Schröder became a trade target after the Pistons lost Jaden Ivey for the season due to a leg injury in January. He was acquired as part of the five-team trade that landed the Golden State Warriors Jimmy Butler III. In addition to Schröder, Detroit also obtained Lindy Waters III in the deal.

“When J.I. went out, we felt like we needed another guy who we could put the ball in his hands and he could go out and make reads and make plays,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said in April. “He has been tremendous for us.”

Schröder became a productive role player as soon as he stepped onto the court, averaging 10.8 points and 5.3 assists across 28 games. During the Pistons’ six-game first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, he maintained his production amid averages of 12.5 points, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals.

Sacramento will be Schröder’s 10th NBA team.

DETROIT — The Red Wings didn’t land any big names Tuesday, but they improved their depth during the start of unrestricted free agency.

Fans were hopeful that players such as Mitch Marner (Vegas), Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand or Aaron Ekblad (all re-signed in Florida) would find their way to Detroit.

But many free agents decided to stay with their present teams, while others went to championship contenders. The Wings, meanwhile, solidified their depth, signing forwards James van Riemsdyk and John Leonard and defensemen Jacob Bernard-Docker and Ian Mitchell to one-year contracts.

The Wings’ biggest free-agent splash occurred Monday night when general manager Steve Yzerman re-signed prospective UFA forward Patrick Kane to a one-year contract worth $3 million.

Kane, 36, can earn another $4 million in bonuses. He can earn $2.5 million for 10 games played, $250,000 for 30 games played, $250,000 for 50 games played, another $500,000 if the Wings make the playoffs, $250,000 for a first-round victory and $250,000 for a third-round victory.

Kane’s season turned around once Todd McLellan replaced Derek Lalonde in late December. Kane scored 16 of his 21 goals and 45 of his 59 points after McLellan was named coach.

“I didn’t have the best start to the season. Felt a little bit unlucky at the start of the year, but still just didn’t feel good about my game and where I was at,” Kane said after the season ended. “The coaching change, maybe just the style, we started playing a little bit more aggressive, a little bit more connected, all five guys up the ice, that really helped me.”

Kane, who was drafted first overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by Chicago, will be joined next season by the No. 2 overall pick that year — van Riemsdyk (by Philadelphia).

Often viewed as a potential trade target by the Wings, Yzerman signed van Riemsdyk, 36, to a one-year contract worth $1 million, plus bonuses that could earn him another $750,000.

Van Riemsdyk played in 71 games with Columbus last season, scoring 16 goals with 20 assists and a minus-4 rating. One of the best net-front players in the NHL, van Riemsdyk has 327 goals and 665 points in 1,082 games played in his career.

The Wings are hoping to catch a spark with Leonard, who is coming off a professional career-best season in the minor leagues.

Leonard, 26, signed a one-year contract for $775,000. He spent last season with Charlotte (AHL), where he scored a career-high 36 goals.

Leonard (5-foot-11, 196 pounds) has played 70 NHL games in his career, with six goals and 17 points. His last NHL stop was 2023-24 in Arizona, where he played six games with the Coyotes.

Bernard-Docker, 25, signed a one-year deal worth $850,000.

A former first-round pick in 2018 (26th overall) by Ottawa, Bernard-Docker (6-1, 198) split last season between Ottawa and Buffalo, playing 25 games with the Senators and 15 with the Sabres. He had one goal and three assists with each team, as well as a plus-2 rating in Ottawa and plus-3 rating in Buffalo.

A defensive defenseman who is a prolific shot blocker, Bernard-Docker is likely to battle for time on the third pairing.

The Wings also added depth to their defense by signing Mitchell to a one-year contract worth $775,000.

Mitchell, 26, was a former 2017 second-round pick (57th overall) in Chicago. Mitchell (6-feet, 192) split last season with the Boston Bruins and their minor-league team. In 15 games with the Bruins, he had one assist with minus-2 rating.

With the free agent market pretty much picked over, Yzerman might look at possible trades to improve the roster any further.

The Wings’ own unrestricted free agents found homes elsewhere.

Goaltender Alex Lyon found a two-year contract with $1.5 million annual average value in Buffalo, where Lyon will compete for playing time rather than a possible third-string job with the Wings, and defenseman Jeff Petry signed a one-year contract worth $800,000 with two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida.

Gordie Howe was one of the greatest players ever in the NHL, but Howe didn’t reach greatness by himself.

Howe needed talent around him, and having Alex Delvecchio as his center was a major reason Howe reached such incredible heights.

“I can thank Alex for a lot of good years,” Howe said. “We read each other very well. I played with some great hockey players, but none came to his order.”

Delvecchio, a quiet magician who played in Howe’s shadow in the opinion of many but was immensely talented in his own right, died Tuesday at the age of 93.

The Delvecchio family, through the Red Wings, posted a message Tuesday afternoon on social media:

“To our Red Wings Fans, Friends and Hockey Community,

“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Alex Delvecchio, who left us peacefully on July 1, 2025, surrounded by his family at the age of 93 years old.

“Alex was more than a Hockey icon, he was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, cherished friend, and respected teammate to so many. While the world knew him as an incredible hockey player with numerous accomplishments on the ice, we knew him as someone whose humility, strength, competitiveness, kindness and heart were even greater than his professional achievements. For decades, your love and support meant everything to Alex and to all of us. We are deeply grateful and thankful to everyone.”

The line of Howe, Delvecchio and Ted Lindsay was known as “The Production Line” and formed one of the most prolific scoring units in NHL history.

Delvecchio played in 1,550 games with 456 goals, 825 assists and 1,281 points. When Delvecchio retired in 1974, he ranked second to Howe in all three categories. The Red Wings retired his No. 10 jersey in 1991.

Delvecchio finished among the NHL’s top 10 scorers 10 times in 14 seasons from 1955-56 to 1968-69. He scored 20 or more goals in 13 of his 22 full Red Wings seasons (two seasons with 19) and had 30 or more assists 17 seasons.

Delvecchio assisted on 210 of Howe’s goals, more than any other Howe teammate.

“A great artist, that’s what he was,” Howe said. “I had no idea how much of one until I played with him. Ted Lindsay and I would sit on the bench when Alex was just a rookie and talk about what a good player he could become.”

With Howe and Frank Mahovlich as his wings, Delvecchio had his best season in 1968-69, with 58 assists. Howe had a career-best 103 points.

“Alex was one of those players who made people around him better,” said Mickey Redmond, a former Wings player and now the team’s TV analyst. “He was an extremely unselfish player. The game slowed down for him. He was a top-notch, excellent passer.

“A real gentleman on and off the ice. Maybe some can say he was underrated because he was so unassuming. Maybe he fell under the radar just a bit because of that. But you look at the numbers and you say, ‘Wow.’ The stuff Alex accomplished, it’s a great tribute to how good a hockey player he really was.”

Delvecchio didn’t mind staying in the background while others attracted the headlines. He preferred it that way.

“I never did play the game to have them hang my jersey in the Joe Louis Arena or anyplace, or be a Hall of Famer or whatever,” Delvecchio once said. “I just wanted to play the game, play it as best as I could, contribute to your hockey team, and I feel that any of those other honors are like bonuses.”

Delvecchio was born on Dec. 4, 1931, in Fort William, Ontario. He played minor hockey in his hometown before beginning his professional hockey career with the Oshawa Generals, with whom he suited up for during the 1950-51 season.

After making his NHL debut with the Wings on March 25, 1951, Delvecchio embarked on an impressive 24-year NHL playing career, all with the Red Wings, helping them capture three Stanley Cup championships (1952, 1954, 1955).

Delvecchio followed his playing career, going on to coach the Red Wings for four seasons (1973-77) and was named general manager in 1974, serving in both roles until 1977. That same year, Delvecchio was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and entered the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

Delvecchio possesses some of the biggest moments in Wings’ history, including a two-goal performance in Game 7 of the 1955 Stanley Cup Finals and scoring seven goals during the Wings’ 1956 Stanley Cup run.

Delvecchio was named one of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players as part of the league’s centennial celebration and has his No. 10 jersey hanging in the rafters and a bronze statue on the concourse of Little Caesars Arena.

“Not bad company,” said Delvecchio the night of his statue ceremony at Joe Louis Arena in October 2008, the statue alongside his linemates Howe and Lindsay, the only other Wings with statues. “This wouldn’t have happened had I not played with some great players. Like that guy over there (Howe, who was at the ceremony). Playing with guys like that helps your career immensely.

“With guys like Teddy and Gordie, with the horses we had and I played with over the years, my job was to get the puck to them. Get the puck to them and they’d get the job done. I learned that quick. They helped me become a better passer, shall we say.”

Red Wings owner Marian Ilitch issued this statement on Tuesday:

“I am honored to have known our dear friend and Red Wings legend, Alex Delvecchio. Alex was a cherished part of the Red Wings family, and I’m grateful for the years my husband Mike and I shared with him, as well as the remarkable legacy he leaves behind — both in the rafters of the arena and in the hearts of Red Wings fans everywhere. My heartfelt condolences go out to the Delvecchio family during this time of loss.”

Chris Ilitch, Red Wings governor and chief executive officer, said this in a statement:

“The Detroit Red Wings organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Alex Delvecchio – a true Red Wings great whose contributions to our team, our city, and the game of hockey will never be forgotten. Alex embodied what it means to be a Red Wing: loyalty, humility, and excellence on and off the ice. For over two decades, including 12 as captain of the Red Wings, Alex earned the reputation as one of the best two-way forwards in NHL history. Following his Hall of Fame career, he continued to represent the Red Wings with class and distinction as both an executive and ambassador. Our thoughts are with the Delvecchio family and all those who were fortunate enough to know and admire Alex. His legacy will forever be remembered as part of Red Wings history and Hockeytown.”

Delvecchio is survived by his wife Judy and their five children, 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

DETROIT — Goaltender John Gibson was in Cabo for a charity event Saturday when he heard the news he was traded to the Red Wings.

It was interesting timing, for sure, but news that Gibson welcomed after being part of the Anaheim Ducks for over a decade.

“Very exciting,” Gibson said during a Zoom call Tuesday with Detroit media. “Being in one place for a long time, there’s a lot of close friendships inside and outside the organization, but we’re really excited for the next chapter. I still feel like I have a lot left to prove and I’m excited to get the season going and playing, and hopefully we can get Detroit in the playoffs.”

Since returning from Cabo, and settling into his offseason home in his native Pittsburgh, the trade has settled in for Gibson.

“Being away and all that and being in a whirlwind and kind of coming home and explaining it to our kids, it’s now more exciting,” he said. “It’s starting to soak in than when it originally happened.”

Gibson was acquired for goaltender Petr Mrazek and two future draft picks (a 2026 second-rounder and a 2027 fourth-rounder).

Gibson spoke with general manager Steve Yzerman on Tuesday morning after playing phone tag the last several days. He also talked with captain Dylan Larkin, forward Andrew Copp and goaltender Cam Talbot, among others.

Having been part of the USA National Team Development Program, based in Plymouth Township, early in his career gave Gibson a good handle on the Metro Detroit area. He’s been coached by Wings coach Todd McLellan during the World Cup of Hockey, and assistant coach Trent Yawney was an assistant in Anaheim for years when Gibson was there, so there’s familiarity.

“He (McLellan) has been around and coached for a while in the Pacific Division. Playing against him, any time we were going against one of his teams, they were well coached and structured, disciplined. He kind of holds his standards and principles and you just go,” Gibson said. “I had a lot of experience with Trent Yawney. I’ve kind of grew up with him. He was my first coach in Norfolk (AHL) and had him a few years in Anaheim. Some familiar faces, which definitely helps the transition.

“I kind of played under Todd for a little bit. I know Trent Yawney and how the defensive structure is. I don’t know if it’ll be a ton (of adjustment). It’s all kind of fresh and new but hopefully not too much.”

The emergence of Lukas Dostal in Anaheim the past couple seasons made Gibson’s name a regular appearance on trade boards. With injuries and illness also hampering Gibson, 31, last season, he was limited to 29 games with an 11-11-2 record, a 2.77 goals-against average and .911 save percentage.

Gibson — who has two more years on his contract, with a $6.4 million annual average value — is looking forward to showing the NHL he’s still a premier goaltender.

“It’s a new chapter, a fresh start,” Gibson said. “I’m excited to prove myself. It’s an exciting opportunity, a team and organization that really wants to get back to playoff hockey. They’ve been so close for a couple years, and for me coming in and being part of it, it’s a historic franchise. It’s a privilege and honor to be part of it all.

“They’re right there.”

General manager Steve Yzerman was pleased Saturday to add Gibson and upgrade the Wings’ goaltending.

“John has historically, throughout his career, been a good goaltender,” Yzerman said. “Anaheim went through a rebuilding process and they are coming out of that. We’re sitting here today, banking on John has battled through that and will be able to maintain a high level. We like to think we’re a reasonably solid team that is moving forward, and that he’ll be fine in this role.

“We just think he’s a good goaltender and the best option for us right now. We’re hopeful and expecting him to perform at a high level next year.”

Gibson has been a goaltender who regularly plays at least 40 games per season and is optimistic he can do that in Detroit.

“Everybody’s body is different throughout the season. You’re going to have unforeseen challenges and bumps and bruises here and there, but I’m just trying to put myself in the best position possible with training and conditioning to be ready for the season, and be healthy as I can be,” he said.

Being from Pittsburgh, Gibson was a teenager when the Wings and Penguins met in consecutive years in 2008-09 in the Stanley Cup Final, both winning one, and relishes the memories.

“I remember those battles. Obviously remember growing up in Pittsburgh and (goaltender Marc-Andre) Fleury’s (game-saving) save, so I remember the good and bad from both of them,” Gibson said.

By MEGAN JANETSKY

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Three Mexican financial institutions sanctioned by the Trump administration last week have felt a cascade of economic consequences following the allegations that they helped launder millions of dollars for drug cartels.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced that it was blocking transactions between U.S. banks and Mexican branches of CIBanco and Intercam Banco, as well as the brokering firm Vector Casa de Bolsa. All three have fiercely rejected the claims.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum accused U.S. officials of providing no evidence to back their allegations, though the sanctions announcement made specific accusations on how money was transferred through the companies. It detailed how “mules” moved money through accounts in the U.S., as well as transactions carried out with Chinese companies that U.S. officials said provided materials to produce fentanyl.

Mexico’s banking authority has announced that it is temporarily taking over management of CIBanco and Intercam Banco to protect creditors.

Sheinbaum said Tuesday that the Mexican government is doing everything within its power to ensure that creditors aren’t affected, and said they were well “within their right” to pull their money from the banks.

The U.S. Treasury Department said that the sanctions would go into effect 21 days after the announcement.

Fitch Ratings has downgraded the three institutions and other affiliates, citing “anti-money laundering concerns” and saying the drop “reflects the imminent negative impact” that the sanctions could have.

“The new ratings reflect the significantly more vulnerable credit profile of these entities in response to the aforementioned warnings, given the potential impact on their ability to meet their financial obligations,” the credit rating agency wrote in a statement.

On Monday, CIBanco announced that Visa Inc. had announced to them with little warning that it had “unilaterally decided to disconnect its platform for all international transactions” through CIBanco. The bank accused Visa of not complying with the 21-day grace period laid out by the sanctions.

“We would like to reiterate that your funds are safe and can be reimbursed through our branch network,” the bank wrote. “We reiterate to our customers that this was a decision beyond CIBanco’s control.”

S&P Ratings also withdrew CIBanco from its ratings index, saying that it was because it had terminated its contracts with the bank following the U.S. Treasury announcement.

By WILL WEISSERT and MATTHEW LEE

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is halting some shipments of weapons to Ukraine amid concerns that its own stockpiles have declined too much, officials said Tuesday.

The munitions were previously promised to Ukraine for use during its ongoing war with Russia under the Biden administration. But the pause reflects a new set of priorities under President Donald Trump.

“This decision was made to put America’s interests first following a (Defense Department) review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement. “The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran.”

That was a reference to Trump recently ordering U.S. missile strikes against nuclear sites in Iran.

The Pentagon review determined that stocks were too low on some items previously pledged, so pending shipments of some items won’t be sent, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide information that has not yet been made public.

To date, the U.S. has provided Ukraine more than $66 billion worth of weapons and military assistance since Russia invaded in February 2022.

Over the course of the war, the U.S. has routinely pressed for allies to provide air defense systems to Ukraine. But many are reluctant to give up the high-tech systems, particularly countries in Eastern Europe that also feel threatened by Russia.

The halt of some weapons comes after Russia launched its biggest combined aerial attack against Ukraine over the weekend, Ukrainian officials said, in an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in peace efforts championed by Trump.

The U.S. stoppage was first reported by Politico.

Trump met with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit last week and had left open the possibility of sending Kyiv more U.S.-made Patriot air defense missile systems, acknowledging they would help the Ukrainian cause.

“They do want to have the antimissile missiles, OK, as they call them, the Patriots,” Trump said then. “And we’re going to see if we can make some available. We need them, too. We’re supplying them to Israel, and they’re very effective, 100% effective. Hard to believe how effective. They do want that more than any other thing.”

Those comments reflect a change of thinking about providing weapons to Ukraine across the administration in recent months.

In opening remarks at a Senate defense appropriations subcommittee hearing in June, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he has moved quickly to quash wasteful programs and redirect funding to Trump’s top objectives.

Hegseth said a negotiated peace between Russia and Ukraine, which has been promoted for months by Trump, makes America look strong, even though Moscow is the aggressor in the conflict. He also said the budget includes hard choices and “reflects the reality that Europe needs to step up more for the defense of its own continent. And President Trump deserves the credit for that.”

The defense secretary said during that testimony that some U.S. security spending for Ukraine is still in the pipeline, but provided no details. Hegseth also acknowledged that funding for Ukraine military assistance — which has been robust for the past two years — would be reduced.

“This administration takes a very different view of that conflict,” Hegseth said. “We believe that a negotiated peaceful settlement is in the best interest of both parties and our nation’s interests.”

Last month, Hegseth skipped a meeting of an international group to coordinate military aid to Ukraine that the U.S. created three years ago. Hegseth’s predecessor, Lloyd Austin, formed the group after Russia attacked Ukraine, and Hegseth’s absence was the first time the U.S. defense secretary wasn’t in attendance.

Under Austin’s leadership, the U.S. served as chair of the group, and he and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff attended monthly meetings, which were both in person and by video. Hegseth had previously stepped away from a leadership role of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group — turning that over to Germany and the United Kingdom — before abandoning the gathering altogether.

By ERIC TUCKER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI announced Tuesday that it planned to move its Washington headquarters several blocks away from its current five-decade-old home.

The bureau and the General Services Administration said the Ronald Reagan Building complex had been selected as the new location, the latest development in a yearslong back-and-forth over where the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency should have its headquarters.

It was not immediately clear when such a move might take place or what sort of logistical hurdles might need to be cleared in order to accomplish it.

FBI Director Kash Patel, who in his first months on the job has presided over a dramatic restructuring of the bureau that has included moving to relocate significant numbers of employees from Washington to Alabama, called the announcement “a historic moment for the FBI.”

The decision represents a turnabout from plans announced during the Biden administration to move the FBI to a site in Greenbelt, Maryland. The suburban Washington location was selected over nearby Virginia following a sharp competition between the two states.

The FBI’s current Pennsylvania Avenue headquarters, the J. Edgar Hoover Building, was dedicated in 1975. Proponents of moving the headquarters have said the Brutalist-style building, where nets surround the facility to protect pedestrians from falling debris, has fallen into disrepair. Discussions have been underway for years to relocate it.

The FBI and GSA said in a joint statement that moving the headquarters just a few blocks away to an existing property would avert the need to construct a brand-new building in suburban Washington, which they said would have taken years and been costly for taxpayers.

“FBI’s existing headquarters at the Hoover building is a great example of a government building that has accumulated years of deferred maintenance, suffering from an aging water system to concrete falling off the structure,” GSA Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian said in a statement.

The Reagan Building houses, among other tenants, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It also had been home to the U.S. Agency for International Development, which on Monday marked its last day as an independent agency.

There is a deep and sacred legacy of storytelling within African American history. It is not simply a cultural expression, it is a form of preservation. Through oral traditions; history, education, resistance, and empowerment have been passed down for generations.

Long before written words were accessible to all, storytelling broke barriers. It gave voice and identity to the unheard. It nurtured the soul and solidified the resilience of a people who have endured much, but never surrendered their truth.

In West African tradition, “the griot,” serves as the living archive of culture. A griot is not only a storyteller but also could be a historian, poet, and musician. Through music, spoken word, and poetry, they preserve the essence of a people. In many ways, our modern storytellers, activists, artists, social workers ministers, therapists, and community leaders, carry on this sacred role. They ensure that the truth doesn’t fade, that our pain is not ignored, and that our strength is not erased.

This year’s 2025 theme for Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, “In Every Story, There’s Strength” resonates deeply. It reminds us that our stories, both painful and powerful, are also instruments of healing. They are declarations of survival, resistance, and connection. To tell one’s story is to say, “I am still here. And I matter.”

As a psychologist, a faith-based individual, and an African American woman, I reflect on this theme with deep personal conviction. Our communities face unique and often invisible mental health challenges. The stories matter. The burdens of these challenges are compounded by historical trauma, systemic inequities, cultural stigma, and a society that often requires our productivity before it acknowledges our humanity.

To truly honor this month, we must do more than raise awareness, we must take action. That means prioritizing the mental well-being of underrepresented groups. That means advocating for access, representation, and safe spaces. And that means listening, truly listening to the stories of those who have been marginalized, silenced, or mislabeled.

We live in a time when basic truths are being challenged and progress is being rolled back. Initiatives meant to uplift underrepresented voices are under attack. The stories of BIPOC individuals are being politicized, sanitized, or even ignored. And yet, the stories persist and they thrive.

We must also name a painful truth: People of color are often only valued when we are productive. This external standard of worth has caused many to suffer in silence when mental health issues arise. Depression, anxiety, trauma—these are not signs of weakness. They are signs of humanity. And survival, particularly in a system that devalues your existence, is not weakness. It is resilience.

Let us be clear: Mental health, mental wellness is not a one-month issue. It is a daily necessity. It is not a luxury or an afterthought. It is an act of resistance, a sacred right, and a pathway to liberation.

So how do we protect our mental health in a world that sometimes feels like it is attacking our very existence? We return to what has always sustained us: our stories. Our rhythm. Our spiritual practices. Our community. Our truth.

In doing so we remember the statistics that demand our attention:

• Black and African American adults are more likely to receive misdiagnoses such as schizophrenia over mood disorders, compared to others with the same symptoms.

– National Library of Medicine

• Between 2001 and 2020, suicide rates among Black youth ages 10 to 19 increased by 144% for boys and up to 300% for girls.

– Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2022

These numbers are more than statistics. They are stories—unfinished stories that demand our voice, our presence, and our effort. Each number is a person, connected to families, neighbors, friends, colleagues and much more! Mental health is a necessary for all. In the words of the World Health Organization: “There is no health without mental health.”

This July, and every month that follows, may we honor our stories. May we create spaces where the stories can be shared safely and received with care. And may we never forget: In every story, there’s strength. May we be the griot in our communities. Because storytelling is healing. And in telling it—we heal, we rise, we promote wellness and we keep our legacy alive.

Andrea Rodgers works for Minority Mental Health Awareness.

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is ramping up its plans to revoke the citizenship of immigrants who’ve committed crimes or pose a national security risk, according to a recent memo underscoring the Trump administration’s hardline immigration agenda.

Efforts to identity and go after those suspected of cheating to get their citizenship are not new to this administration.

But the public push is raising concerns from advocates, who have accused the administration of trying to use immigration enforcement for political purposes. It’s receiving increased scrutiny after a Republican member of Congress suggested that Zohran Mamdani, the New York City Democratic mayoral candidate, should be subject to denaturalization proceedings.

Here’s a look at the denaturalization process and what the Justice Department’s memo means:

Denaturalization cases are rare

The U.S. government can strip a naturalized immigrant of their citizenship if they are criminally convicted of naturalization fraud or if the government proves through civil proceedings that they illegally obtained their citizenship through fraud or misrepresented or concealed facts on their application.

For years, the government’s denaturalization efforts focused largely on suspected war criminals who lied on their immigration paperwork, most notably former Nazis. The Justice Department filed just more than 300 total cases between 1990 and 2017.

An initiative that began under the Obama administration called Operation Janus expanded those efforts by seeking to identify people who had used different identities to get green cards and citizenship after they were previously issued deportation orders.

In 2016, an internal watchdog reported that 315,000 old fingerprint records for immigrants who had been deported or had criminal convictions had not been uploaded to a Department of Homeland Security database that is used to check immigrants’ identities. The same report found more than 800 immigrants had been ordered deported under one identity but became U.S. citizens under another.

The first Trump administration made such investigations a bigger priority, creating a Justice Department section focused on denaturalization cases.

But even then, the number of denaturalization cases remained small, as the administration didn’t have the resources to bring many amid an onslaught of legal challenges to immigration policies it had to defend against, said Matthew Hoppock, an attorney in Kansas who represents people in denaturalization cases.

Justice Department says it will prioritize certain cases

The push was announced in a memo from the recently confirmed head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate. Shumate said the cases the department will prioritize include people who “pose a potential danger to national security,” people who commit violent crimes, members of gangs and drug cartels and people who commit Medicaid fraud and other types of fraud.

The benefits of the denaturalization process, Shumate wrote, “include the government’s ability to revoke the citizenship of individuals who engaged in the commission of war crimes, extrajudicial killings, or other serious human rights abuses; to remove naturalized criminals, gang members, or, indeed, any individuals convicted of crimes who pose an ongoing threat to the United States; and to prevent convicted terrorists from returning to U.S. soil or traveling internationally on a U.S. passport.”

Hoppock said the memo sort of “blows the doors open” for the administration to file as many as many denaturalization cases as it has the resources to file.

Lawyers raise alarm about the potential impact

The broad language in the memo raises the prospect “that any offense, at any time, may be used to justify denaturalization,” said Christopher Wellborn, president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

“It is not difficult to imagine a scenario where the government invokes unsubstantiated claims of gang affiliation or uses an individual’s criminal record to claim that citizenship was illegally procured,” Wellborn said in a statement.

Others worry the administration’s public push will stoke fear among naturalized immigrants.

“The more you talk about it, the more you frame it as ‘we’re coming after your naturalization, we’re coming after you,’ the more of a chilling effect we see on people applying for naturalization,” said Elizabeth Taufa, senior policy attorney and strategist at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. “Even those folks that really are eligible for naturalization.”

Critics have accused the Trump administration using immigration enforcement to go after people because of their speech — most notably in the case of Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil, whom it has sought to deport over his role in pro-Palestinian protests.

“One of our ongoing concerns is will they target these politically, will they start combing through people’s immigration files if they don’t like you or if they think you don’t agree with the government,” Hoppock said.

“I think most Americans would support the idea of stripping someone of citizenship if they got it through fraud and they are also a dangerous person,” he said, but the concern is if they start going through “regular folks’ immigration files to find a T that is not crossed or an I that is not dotted so they can use it as a weapon.”

Justice Department recently secured denaturalization in one case

The department last month announced that it had successfully secured the denaturalization of a man who was convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material.

The British man had become a U.S. citizen after enlisting in the U.S. Army under a provision that provides a pathway to citizenship for U.S. service members, officials said. He only listed a speeding ticket when asked on his naturalization application if he had “ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested,” and he became a U.S. citizen in 2013.

Months later, he was arrested in Louisiana on child sexual abuse material charges and convicted, according to the department.

“The laws intended to facilitate citizenship for brave men and women who join our nation’s armed forces will not shield individuals who have fraudulently obtained U.S. citizenship by concealing their crimes,” Shumate said in a statement at the time. “If you commit serious crimes before you become a U.S. citizen and then lie about them during your naturalization process, the Justice Department will discover the truth and come after you.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Detroit Tigers and Washington Nationals game was postponed Tuesday because of rain and rescheduled as a doubleheader on Wednesday.

The games are scheduled for 1:05 p.m. and previously scheduled 6:45 p.m.

 

By Jariel Arvin, KFF Health News

On Fridays, Stephanie Johnson has a busy schedule, driving her navy-blue Jeep from one patient’s home to the next, seeing eight in all. Pregnant with her second child, she schleps a backpack instead of a traditional black bag to carry a laptop and essential medical supplies — stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and pulse oximeter.

Forget a lunch break; she often eats a sandwich or some nuts as she heads to her next patient visit.

On a gloomy Friday in January, Johnson, a nurse practitioner who treats older adults, had a hospice consult with Ellen, a patient in her 90s in declining health. To protect Ellen’s identity, KFF Health News is not using her last name.

“Hello. How are you feeling?” Johnson asked as she entered Ellen’s bedroom and inquired about her pain. The blinds were drawn. Ellen was in a wheelchair, wearing a white sweater, gray sweatpants, and fuzzy socks. A headband was tied around her white hair. As usual, the TV was playing loudly in the background.

“It’s fine, except this cough I’ve had since junior high,” Ellen said.

Ellen had been diagnosed with vascular dementia, peripheral vascular disease, and Type 2 diabetes. Last fall, doctors made the difficult decision to operate on her foot. Before the surgery, Ellen was always colorful, wearing purple, yellow, blue, pink, and chunky necklaces. She enjoyed talking with the half dozen other residents at her adult family home in Washington state. She had a hearty appetite that brought her to the breakfast table early. But lately, her enthusiasm for meals and socializing had waned.

Johnson got down to eye level with Ellen to examine her, assessing her joints and range of motion, checking her blood pressure, and listening to her heart and lungs.

Carefully, Johnson removed the bandage to examine Ellen’s toes. Her lower legs were red but cold to the touch, which indicated her condition wasn’t improving. Ellen’s two younger sisters had power of attorney for her and made it clear that, above all, they wanted her to be comfortable. Now, Johnson thought it was time to have that difficult conversation with them about Ellen’s prognosis, recommending her for hospice.

“Our patient isn’t just the older adult,” Johnson said. “It’s also often the family member or the person helping to manage them.”

Nurse practitioners are having those conversations more and more as their patient base trends older. They are increasingly filling a gap that is expected to widen as the senior population explodes and the number of geriatricians declines. The Health Resources and Services Administration projects a 50% increase in demand for geriatricians from 2018 to 2030, when the entire baby boom generation will be older than 65. By then, hundreds of geriatricians are expected to retire or leave the specialty, reducing their number to fewer than 7,600, with relatively few young doctors joining the field.

That means many older adults will be relying on other primary care physicians, who already can’t keep up with demand, and nurse practitioners, whose ranks are booming. The number of nurse practitioners specializing in geriatrics has more than tripled since 2010, increasing the availability of care to the current population of seniors, a recent study in JAMA Network Open found.

According to a 2024 survey, of the roughly 431,000 licensed nurse practitioners, 15% are, like Johnson, certified to treat older adults.

Johnson and her husband, Dustin, operate an NP-led private practice in greater Seattle, Washington, a state where she can practice independently. She and her team, which includes five additional nurse practitioners, each try to see about 10 patients a day, visiting each one every five to six weeks. Visits typically last 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the case.

“There are so many housebound older adults, and we’re barely reaching them,” Johnson said. “For those still in their private homes, there’s such a huge need.”

Laura Wagner, a professor of nursing and community health systems at the University of California-San Francisco, stressed that nurse practitioners are not trying to replace doctors; they’re trying to meet patients’ needs, wherever they may be.

“One of the things I’m most proud of is the role of nurse practitioners,” she said. “We step into places where other providers may not, and geriatrics is a prime example of that.”

Practice limits

Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced training that enables them to diagnose diseases, analyze diagnostic tests, and prescribe medicine. Their growth has bolstered primary care, and, like doctors, they can specialize in particular branches of medicine. Johnson, for example, has advanced training in gerontology.

“If we have a geriatrician shortage, then hiring more nurse practitioners trained in geriatrics is an ideal solution,” Wagner said, “but there are a lot of barriers in place.”

In 27 states and Washington, D.C., nurse practitioners can practice independently. But in the rest of the country, they need to have a collaborative agreement with or be under the supervision of another health care provider to provide care to older adults. Medicare generally reimburses for nurse practitioner services at 85% of the amount it pays physicians.

Last year, in more than 40 states, the American Medical Association and its partners lobbied against what they see as “scope creep” in the expanded roles of nurse practitioners and other health workers. The AMA points out that doctors must have more schooling and significantly more clinical experience than nurse practitioners. While the AMA says physician-led teams keep costs lower, a study published in 2020 in Health Services Research found similar patient outcomes and lower costs for nurse practitioner patients. Other studies, including one published in 2023 in the journal Medical Care Research and Review, have found health care models including nurse practitioners had better outcomes for patients with multiple chronic conditions than teams without an NP.

Five states have granted NPs full practice authority since 2021, with Utah the most recent state to remove physician supervision requirements, in 2023. In March, however, Mississippi House Bill 849, which would have increased NP independence, failed. Meanwhile, 30 Texas physicians rallied to tamp down full-scope efforts in Austin.

“I would fully disagree that we’re invading their scope of practice and shouldn’t have full scope of our own,” Johnson said.

She has worked under the supervision of physicians in Pennsylvania and Washington state but started seeing patients at her own practice in 2021. Like many nurse practitioners, she sees her patients in their homes. The first thing she does when she gets a new patient is manage their prescriptions, getting rid of unnecessary medications, especially those with harsh side effects.

She works with the patient and a family member who often has power of attorney. She keeps them informed of subtle changes, such as whether a person was verbal and eating and whether their medical conditions have changed.

While there is some overlap in expertise between geriatricians and nurse practitioners, there are areas where nurses typically excel, said Elizabeth White, an assistant professor of health services, policy, and practice at Brown University.

“We tend to be a little stronger in care coordination, family and patient education, and integrating care and social and medical needs. That’s very much in the nursing domain,” she said.

That care coordination will become even more critical as the U.S. ages. Today, about 18% of the U.S. population is 65 or over. In the next 30 years, the share of seniors is expected to reach 23%, as medical and technological advances enable people to live longer.

Patient and family

In an office next to Ellen’s bedroom, Johnson called Ellen’s younger sister Margaret Watt to recommend that Ellen enter hospice care. Johnson told her that Ellen had developed pneumonia and her body wasn’t coping.

Watt appreciated that Johnson had kept the family apprised of Ellen’s condition for several years, saying she was a good communicator.

“She was accurate,” Watt said. “What she said would happen, happened.”

A month after the consult, Ellen died peacefully in her sleep.

“I do feel sadness,” Johnson said, “but there’s also a sense of relief that I’ve been with her through her suffering to try to alleviate it, and I’ve helped her meet her and her family’s priorities in that time.”

Jariel Arvin is a reporter with the Investigative Reporting Program at the University of California-Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. He reported this article through a grant from The SCAN Foundation .

©2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By CATHY BUSSEWITZ, Staff Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Jeremy Didier had taken her son to a psychologist for a possible ADHD evaluation when she spotted an article about women with the condition. As she read it in the waiting room, she thought to herself: They’re describing me.

“Lots of risk-taking, lots of very impulsive behavior growing up,” Didier said. As the magazine described, she’d excelled in school but gotten in trouble for talking too much. She’d amassed too many speeding tickets as an adult. She turned to her husband and said, “I think I might have ADHD.”

Didier is now the board president of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, a nonprofit advocacy and support organization. Her realization mirrors the experiences of other adults who wonder if they have ADHD after a child’s diagnosis.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity or a combination of the two. Common symptoms such as trouble concentrating or sitting still can create challenges at work.

People with ADHD are often passed over for promotions, said Andrew Sylvester, a psychiatrist at UCHealth, a hospital in Longmont, Colorado. Difficulties with attention may lead the mind to drift during meetings, and cause someone to miss important discussion nuances. The disorder may interfere with organization, planning and remembering details.

Yet some adults think of having ADHD as a source of personality strengths and ways of thinking that benefit employers. Diagnostic manuals may call it a disorder, but it also can be a superpower, they said.

“Our brains work differently and so we’re more likely to be able to think outside the box and come up with different things, and sometimes that’s because we’ve had to do that in order to to survive,” Didier said.

Here are some ways to cope with and channel ADHD in the workplace.

Finding community

Getting diagnosed with ADHD doesn’t always lead to a quick fix. While doctors often recommend medication and therapy, not everyone can take medication, and those routes don’t necessarily eliminate all symptoms.

Didier floundered with a messy house and lots of yelling as she and four of her five children were diagnosed with ADHD. She experimented with medicine, diets and reward charts, and discovered what helped her the most: a community of parents who had children with ADHD.

“There’s nothing like talking to other people who are going through what you’re going through to help you feel … that you’re not alone,” she said.

Didier eventually became a social worker and now runs support groups for adults with ADHD, teaching skills they can use at work.

Some organizations have employee resource groups organized around neurodiversity to provide camaraderie and support to adults with ADHD, autism, dyslexia and other conditions.

GPS of the brain

People with ADHD often struggle with executive function, which Didier describes as “your brain’s GPS” for navigating your day. Executive function is a set of mental skills that includes making plans, managing time and flexible thinking. It also includes working memory, which helps us keep track of what we’re doing.

To keep from getting derailed, experts recommend breaking large tasks into chunks, writing detailed to-do lists and taking breaks.

Personal chef Bill Collins, 66, who was diagnosed with ADHD two years ago, writes structured lists when he’s making a meal for a client. He creates categories for kitchen areas — counter, stove and oven — and then lists tasks such as “chop carrots, boil water for pasta” underneath each category. Then he numbers each task so he knows exactly what to do, where and when.

“That’s how I got around my unknown ADHD early on, just making lists,” Collins said. “If it’s something I don’t want to do, I put it at the top of the list so I can be done with it.”

Another technique is called “body doubling,” which involves a pair of work colleagues meeting over Zoom or in-person to focus on completing projects. The two may choose to perform separate tasks — one might build a presentation deck while the other files tax reports — but help each other stay accountable.

“You’re just sitting there during that dedicated time, getting things done,” Didier said.

Insurance company Liberty Mutual provides an AI tool that helps break down large projects into manageable tasks and provides reminders about deadlines, to help employees with ADHD stay focused and organized, said Head of Benefits Verlinda DiMarino.

Getting through meetings

Meetings can be difficult for people with ADHD if their minds drift or they feel an urge to get up out of a chair. They also may struggle with impulse control and find it hard to wait their turn to speak.

Nicole Clark, CEO of the Adult and Pediatric Institute, a mental health practice in Stuart, Florida, suggests asking for meeting topics in advance and writing up talking points. If you think of questions during the meeting, write them down.

Some employers use a voice-to-text service, projecting what a speaker is saying on a screen, which helps people with attention difficulties stay focused, Clark said.

Sylvester, the psychiatrist, recommends practicing active listening by repeating in your head what someone just said, or taking a brief time-out from a meeting to reset.

Tell them, “’I need five minutes. I’ll be right back.’ Get up and walk out. Do what you need to do,” he said.

Mariel Paralitici-Morales, chief medical officer of the Adult and Pediatric Institute, who has ADHD, sits close to whoever will be speaking to help sustain attention.

“Having something in my hand helps,” said Paralitici-Morales, who sometimes holds a fidget spinner. “If we have to talk, I found it’s easier for me to be the first one and break the ice” to keep herself from second-guessing what she planned to say.

Seek accommodations

People with an ADHD diagnosis can request accommodations at work through the Americans with Disabilities Act. Noise-canceling headphones may help. Consider asking for the ability to take a break every 20 minutes, Sylvester said.

“Set a timer for five to 10 minutes. Get up and walk around. Make some coffee. Go play with the dog,” he said. “When that timer goes off, go back to a 15 to 20 minute hard productivity cycle.”

Employees can also request a flexible schedule or ability to work from home, which can enable time for therapy or self-care.

Antoinette Damico, 23, who coordinates events at an executive search firm in San Francisco, said she practices meditation, writes daily goals in a journal and stays off short-form media to improve her concentration.

Celebrate your strengths

Having ADHD can be an asset in the workplace, and many CEOs and entrepreneurs are neurodiverse, Didier said.

“We bring all kinds of unique talents to our workplaces. Hyper-focus, lots of energy, resilience, the ability to multitask,” she added. “There’s something about people with ADHD that seems to unmask or give us a greater capacity for creativity and innovation.”

Damico also thinks her ADHD provides some advantages. When she’s interested in a topic, she can be extremely focused, reading extensively and talking about the topic nonstop, a trait others with ADHD report.

“It can generate a real passion in you that is a bit unique,” she said. “It really creates this grit in me in terms of when I really want to accomplish something, there’s this boost of energy.”

Share your stories and questions about workplace wellness at cbussewitz@ap.org. Follow AP’s Be Well coverage, focusing on wellness, fitness, diet and mental health at https://apnews.com/hub/be-well

DETROIT ― The last time the Tigers played on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” was Aug. 18, 2024. By that point, they already had been sellers at the trade deadline, and they entered the “Little League Classic” game against the New York Yankees in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with a 60-64 record and still buried in the playoff chase.

Before that game, ESPN’s longtime baseball insider, Buster Olney, talked to The Detroit News about the need for the team to build for the future.

Like everyone else, he didn’t expect a bright future to come so quickly.

“You can run back my quotes, and I told you they would go on to to be the best team in baseball. You don’t have those at the ready? I can refresh your memory on how I predicted everything like this,” Olney said with a laugh this week.

“Really, it’s amazing. It’s just astonishing.”

The Tigers won that game last August against the Yankees, 3-2 on a walk-off, and went on to make a stunning trip to the postseason, beating the Houston Astros in the wild-card round before falling to the Cleveland Guardians in five games in the American League Division Series.

Starting with that win, the Tigers a major-league best 78-44 (after Saturday’s 10-5 win over the Minnesota Twins), including 52-32 this season, as they lead the AL Central by a whopping 10.5 games.

Olney spoke to The News again this week, about what’s transpired and about the road ahead for the Tigers, who are among the World Series favorites just past the halfway point of the season. Here are the highlights of our conversation, ahead of the Tigers’ first appearance on “Sunday Night Baseball” since that thriller of a game last August, with some light editing for clarity and brevity:

Question: How did the Tigers get here?

Answer: It’s neat to see, and you start with (Tarik) Skubal, and he’s become this aircraft carrier that every team would love to have at the front of the rotation. The surprising thing is the offense. Earlier in the year, I was texting with AJ (Hinch, Tigers manager) and I just mentioned to him, I kind of wondered if they would have trouble scoring runs, and he said, ‘No, we’re going to hit.’ … (That was even) after they had some injuries in spring training, especially with their outfielders, it’s impressive what they’ve built.

Q: So you didn’t see this coming in 2025, even after how 2024 finished?

A: I think when they we went into spring training and they asked for our picks, I think … I might’ve picked Kansas City to win. (ESPN’s baseball-writing staff went with Kansas City, by a slim margin over Detroit.) I definitely did not think of the Tigers as a juggernaut, especially following those injuries in spring training. … I was wrong about the Tigers last August, and I was wrong about the Tigers before the year started. They just keep on surprising.

Q: What do you make of the Javier Báez resurgence? He could start the All-Star Game?

A: I thought for sure at the time they called up the guys (in August 2024) … I thought for sure he was going to get released. It only made sense at the time that they would just say, ‘You know what, it hasn’t worked out. We’ll eat the money and move on and focus on developing younger players,’ because it was so bad. … It makes me happy that you have stories like this in baseball, because he goes from where he was last August (placed on the injured list shortly after the Yankees series, and done for the year with a hip injury), and now he’s one of the top vote-getters (among AL outfielders). Who would’ve guessed that? Isn’t that crazy? Who knows what Aaron Boone (Yankees manager, and the AL manager) is gonna do … but can you imagine if we get to the All-Star Game and there are four Tigers starters (Skubal, Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene and Báez)? That would be a stunner.

Q: The big talk here is, what do the Tigers do at the trade deadline next month?

A: On the face, because I think they’re sitting in such a great position, there’s nothing that Scott (Harris, Tigers’ president) has to do. They’ll run away with the division. I think if you were to draw up a spectrum of which teams are run through gut feel, Scott probably leans more toward the analytics side, which would suggest that they would be less likely to do something, because they don’t have to. However, in some respects, I think the answer to your question was the winter time, when they pursued Alex Bregman. You do wonder if in some form and fashion, with the Red Sox so absolutely going in the tank (since trading Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants), if that all of a sudden it becomes more of a reality (that they’d trade Bregman, too). … And why not go to the team with the best record in the American League and play for your former manager (Hinch, who managed Bregman in Houston).

Q: Bregman signed a three-year contract for $120 million with the Red Sox, and he can opt out after 2025. Hard to believe the Tigers would give up a ton for a guy who can opt-out, unless there are assurances he’ll stay in Detroit beyond the end of 2025.

A: Everyone would have to understand … that he was going to opt out at the end of the year. And that would be tough (to make a trade), but I think the Tigers are so good and it’s been so long since they won a World Series, maybe that’s one of the deals they make. … Remember the Cubs in 2016 when they were run by an analytically driven front office and they’re the team that made the choice, ‘You know what, we need a finishing piece. (Closer) Aroldis Chapman. Let’s go get him.’ They wouldn’t have won the World Series that year without Chapman.

Q: And, interestingly, the Red Sox have Chapman, too, and the Tigers need relief help.

A: Maybe you do a two-for one.

Q: If there’s one team that could run down the Tigers in the AL Central, who is it?

A: It’s funny; I’m ready to put the pin in the division race, because Cleveland has struggled so badly offensively, and Kansas City’s offense is a mess. Kansas City, there’s a chance they follow the model of the Tigers last year and they trade a Seth Lugo, and the way (Jack) Flaherty was moved, and they begin to spin it forward a little bit. And the Twins … they kind of go as those big three go, with (Royce) Lewis, (Carlos) Correa and (Byron) Buxton. … If I’m going to choose one of those three teams, it’s Cleveland, but I don’t think they’re close.

Q: How do the Tigers stack up in the American League?

A: Tampa Bay, they are the freight train that’s coming in the American League. … They looked good against (the Tigers, taking two of three recently). … They look like they’re going to be the toughest out for the Tigers.

Q: Let’s look toward the World Series. The National League seems so much better than the AL this season. Is the champion coming from the NL?

A: It’s significantly better and it has a lot more depth, but I would say if your rotation starts with Skubal and you have Flaherty with his experience in the postseason at No. 2, that’s pretty good. I don’t think there’s any question the (NL) is better, but in an individual series, I can’t rule out either Tampa Bay or the Tigers. … I think the Yankees would have a really tough time in a (seven-game) series. … That’s the advantage (the Tigers have) when you have the best pitcher on the planet.

Q: Skubal (who starts Sunday night, as he did or the Tigers-Yankees Sunday-night game last August), that’s the elephant in the room. He’s under contract through the end of 2026, and nobody believes the Tigers can pay the suggested $400 million it might cost to keep him.

A: I would agree with you. … Enjoy the time you have left together.

The Detroit Red Wings made eight selections in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Here’s a breakdown of each of players selected:

 

Carter Bear

Pick: No. 13 overall (Round 1)

Position: Left wing

Height/weight: 6-foot, 179-pounds

Last season: Everett (WHL), 56 games, 40 goals, 42 assists, 82 points

Fact:  An Achilles injury ended his season in March, but he’ll be ready for training camp.

Scouting report: Bear can score in many different ways but mostly isn’t shy about getting to the net and plays a complete game at both ends of the ice. Has an elite shot and can score from the perimeter as well. Bear brings a lot of energy to the lineup.

Eddie Genborg

Pick: No. 44 overall (Round 2)

Position: Right wing

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 196-pounds

Last season: Linkoping (Sweden), 28 games, 19 goals, 15 assists, 34 points.

Fact:  Switched positions, from goaltender, as a teenager.

Scouting report:  Maybe a little bit of Tomas Holmstrom in his game, but Genborg has a lot more skill.

He loves to hit, lives in front of the net, and plays with a bit of a physical edge. But Genborg has good offensive instincts and has shown ability to score at the junior level.

Michal Pradel

Pick: No. 75 overall (Round 3)

Position: Goaltender

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 198 pounds

Last season: Tri-City (USHL), 14 games, 9-4-0, 2.41 GAA, .899 SVS.

Fact: Came over from Slovakia to further his hockey career in the USHL.

Scouting report: Scouts love Pradel’s size and athleticism. He has the ability to see over opponents and always seems to be in position. Rebound control is an area he needs to work on.

Brent Solomon

Pick: No. 109 overall (Round 4)

Position: Right wing

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 165 pounds

Last season: Champlin Park H.S. (Minnesota), 28 games, 38 goals, 18 assists, 56 points.

Fact:  Went directly to USHL hockey after high school career ended and scored four goals in six games for Sioux Falls.

Scouting report: A natural goal scorer with an elite, quick release. Has shown the ability to score goals, a pure goal scorer, at every level. Needs to grow physically but has the offensive skills to intrigue.

Michal Svrcek

Pick: No. 119 overall (Round 4)

Position: Left wing

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 178 pounds

Last season: Brynas (Sweden), 30 games, 14 goals, 16 assists, 30 points.

Fact: One of the few Slovaks playing in the Swedish Elite League.

Scouting report: Don’t let the size fool you — Svrcek plays much bigger than his size. He loves to hit, plays hard every second, and can disrupt opponents with his ability to get on top of skaters. He complements that all-out style with an ability to put the puck in the net.

Nikita Tyurin

Pick: No. 140 overall (Round 5)

Position: Defenseman

Height/weight: 6-foot, 174 pounds

Last season: Spartak Moskva (Russia), 50 games, 4 goals, 16 assists

Fact: One of only 21 Russian players drafted by NHL teams last weekend.

Scouting report: A dangerous offensive defenseman, who can skate with the puck, fires a good outlet pass and jump into the play. Coming off a strong playoff performance.

Will Murphy

Pick: No. 172 overall (Round 6)

Position: Defenseman

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 205 pounds

Last season: Cape Brenton (QMJHL), 54 games, 2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points.

Fact: Maritimes junior defenseman of the year in 2024.

Scouting report: Murphy is a classic, old school, defensive defenseman who will protect teammates, clear out bodies in front of the net, and is a team leader. The Wings could use the physicality Murphy brings to the organization.

Grayden Robertson-Palmer

Pick: No. 204 overall (Round 7)

Position: Center

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 181 pounds

Last season: Phillips Andover Academy H.S. (Mass.), 30 games, 16 goals, 23 assists, 39 points.

Fact: Headed to play for QMJHL powerhouse Moncton.

Scouting report: Dominated in the New England high school level and is headed to a strong junior program. Robertson-Palmer has a strong, pro body, gets off a hard shot, and has leadership qualities. The step upward in competition should help drive his game.

Downtown Royal Oak has always had a tasty food scene, and from July 3 to July 6, it will be highlighted by the Royal Oak Taco Festival.

This celebration includes plenty of family fun with music, Lucha Libre wrestling, special guests and, of course, Tacos. The deliciously fun-filled street festival will feature Mucho show-stopping entertainment, including live local music, DJs and street performers, taco eating contests, a variety of free activities and plenty of tantalizing tacos and tequila.

This year’s festival will showcase a delicious mix of over 50 taco vendors and food trucks serving everything from classic tacos to creative culinary mashups. Guests can look forward to a variety of mouthwatering options, including steak and fish, as well as vegetarian fare, along with summer favorites like BBQ, deep-fried treats, and shaved ice.

Newcomers and fan favorites, including The Taco Cartel, Dos Locos Burritos, Mezcal, Real Taco Express, Galindo’s, Azteca, Xav’s Jammin Caribbean, and Cousins Maine Lobster, are part of the lineup.

Jon Witz has led the event’s planning and is looking forward to a downtown packed with taco lovers.

“We have a new layout for this year, featuring a stage now in Centennial Commons, where DJs and top bands will perform,” Witz said. “We’re expecting 40 to 50 restaurants.”

A new addition to the entertainment lineup will be mechanical bull riding south of City Hall, along with Lucha Libre wrestling inside the Farmer’s Market.

“We’ve rearranged everything with a fresh layout, an array of great foods, new activities, and mechanical bull riding, taco eating contests, sales, and cannabis consumption. We’ll be here for the second year in a row, and we’ve got a lot of stuff brewing, so we’re pumped,” Witz said. “Tame the bull and tame your appetite should definitely be the theme.”

The event has averaged more than 50,000 attendees over the past three years, and Witz expects the same turnout for this year’s event. Pre-purchased tickets are $8 each, but a family pack of four is available at $6 per ticket. During the week of the event, individual tickets will be $10. At the gate, the cost will be $12.

“It’s definitely an incentive to save half off your ticket if you buy now versus during the show. The ticket gets you in, and the tacos and tequila are extra. But there’s a lot of entertainment value built in, and we have many reasonably priced tacos and taco trucks. I think everybody’s fine. It’s a good competitive marketplace with amazing food. And, you know, we have most of our great restaurants returning for another go-around this year.”

The ticket/wristband also includes the wrestling event and all activities and entertainment.

“Those wristbands are coded for each day, allowing you to go in and out. You can enjoy yourself, and many people will appreciate sitting in a cafe in Royal Oak or getting an ice cream somewhere after enjoying the music.”

Witz noted that “old school comedian Tommy Chong” is set to appear as part of the festival entertainment. The iconic actor, best-selling author, Grammy Award-winning comedian, activist and cannabis advocate will be on hand for a special appearance on July 5 and 6 for meet and greet and photos.

Several stages will be set up with entertainment for everyone. The Soaring Eagle Stage will feature Kalysta, Nique Love Rhodes & The NLR Experience, Detroit Fury, McKayla Prew, Shotgun Soul, Julian Joel, New Relatives and Ryan Jay.

The Michigan Lottery Stage will spotlight Turner Porter, The Bores, Alise King, Delaney Morgan, RJ Redline, Stonelore, The Warped Tourists, Glencoe, The Twisted Lemon Blues Band, The Ruiners, Thunderbuck, SHÜ, Carley Lusk’s, Kayfabe: thepplsband, and the Martin Chaparro Trio.

The JARS Stage will feature Reeds & Steel, Metawav, Good Folk, The Outfit, DJ Dirty White, Dru Ruiz, Ernesto Villarreal and Friends, Esshaki, TWIZT, Rebecca Cameron and DJ Cisco.

The Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority Kids Stage, where laughter, learning and live entertainment come together all weekend long. Juggler Tim Salisbury, Zippity 2 Guys & A Guitar and experience the mind-blowing vocal talents of Beatbox Jake. Cool Tricks & Funny Stuff, interactive hula hoop fun with Nat Spinz, and a special appearance by the Michigan Science Center, whose “Amazing Astronomy” show launches kids on an out-of-this-world adventure through the stars. With hands-on experiences and crowd-engaging acts throughout the day, the Kids Stage is the ultimate destination for curious minds, big imaginations and endless smiles.

The Royal Oak DDA Kids’ Zone, located in a lot by the district courthouse, will feature a variety of free, family-friendly fun. Enjoy bounce houses featuring a giant slide, while older kids can test their skills at basketball double-shot and quarterback blitz challenges. Budding artists will appreciate the creative stations that include face painting and hands-on crafts like DIY luchador masks, maracas, walking paper tacos, and colorful sombreros. With even more surprises ahead, the Kids’ Zone promises an unforgettable adventure for families at Royal Oak Taco Fest.

The JARS Cannabis Lounge returns as one of Michigan’s few festival-based cannabis retail and consumption experiences. Dubbed “The Trap,” this 21+ space offers a relaxed, curated environment for adult guests, set apart from the festival buzz, main family and food areas but very much a part of the vibe.

Participants who believe they can eat three tacos as quickly as possible without drinking water are invited to join the taco eating contest presented by Condado Tacos Royal Oak. Contestants who manage to eat all three tacos completely, leaving no scraps of lettuce or cheese behind, will receive vouchers for food trucks at the festival and two VIP tickets to Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats 2025 concerts for the night of their choice.

The vibrant sounds of Mariachi Jalisco, one of Detroit’s most celebrated mariachi ensembles, will bring the heart of Mexico to the festival streets. With rich harmonies of trumpets, guitars and violins, these strolling performers will serenade guests throughout the festival footprint, creating an authentic and joyful atmosphere steeped in tradition, culture and spirited celebration.

The Motley Misfits, Michigan’s premier troupe of circus-style performance artists, return with an electrifying lineup designed to dazzle audiences of all ages.

Advance tickets for the Royal Oak Taco Fest are now available. The event’s hours are 4-11 p.m. Thursday, July 3; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5; and 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Sunday, July 6. For more information and to purchase tickets in advance, visit RoyalOakTacoFest.com or call 248-541-7550.

The American Red Cross recently honored three Farmington Hills lifeguards who helped save the life of a co-worker who collapsed at work last year.

Fana Rombou, Amy Gunn-Gill and Vanessa Hersey-Tartt received the Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders at a ceremony held Thursday, June 26, at The Hawk, the city’s recreation and arts center.

When their co-worker showed signs of cardiac arrest, the lifeguards used CPR and an AED to help her regain consciousness before paramedics arrived, according to a release from the city.

The award, which includes a citation and lapel pin, is bestowed on professional responders like lifeguards, police, firefighters and health care workers.

The lifeguards came to the aid of Janet Dabish, a senior transportation dispatcher for the city, who collapsed at the city-run Costick Activities Center.

Dabish was at her desk last September, enjoying a few minutes of solitude, when she lost consciousness. Her colleagues in transportation services called 911 and went to get help from the lifeguards.

Rombou, who was nearby, rushed over to help. She helped move Dabish from her chair to the floor. Rombou found a pulse and noticed Dabish was extremely warm.

The co-worker who called 911 placed the phone next to Rombou, who then began performing

CPR using chest compressions and rescue breaths under the direction of the 911 dispatcher.

Her teammates, Gunn-Gill and Hersey-Tartt, then arrived with an AED. Dabish was shocked once, then Rombou and a Farmington Hills police officer who had arrived on scene rotated performing CPR.

Rombou and the police officer continued to perform CPR and gave Dabish a second shock from the AED. Dabish then regained consciousness and Farmington Hills paramedics transported her to a hospital.

“Fana, Amy and Vanessa, your lifesaving action exemplifies the mission of the Red Cross to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. Thank you for your willingness to help Janet, who was in distress,” said Kelly King, regional chief executive officer of the Red Cross Michigan Region.

Rombou said every second counts in an emergency.

“This experience reminded me that in a crisis, being calm, prepared, and responsive can truly make the difference between life and loss. As a lifeguard and lifeguard instructor, I know the difference we make doesn’t stop at the water’s edge,” she said.

Dabish, who had a defibrillator and pacemaker implanted as a result of the incident and is doing well, praised the three lifeguards for their heroic actions. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them,” she said.

The Red Cross has been creating courses and training people in first aid and CPR for more than 100 years. For more information, visit redcross.org/TakeAClass.

‘American’ foods are changing, but July 4 still revolves around the grill

Tesla vehicles removed from Farmington Hills parking lot after court order

 

On the eve of the NBA draft, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paraded through the streets of Oklahoma City, shirtless and with a Canadian flag wrapped around his waist. Joy finally infiltrated his cool and quiet demeanor. He swaggered about, embracing being The Man, leaning into his full superstar identity: champion, deadly scorer, regular season and Finals MVP, the latest player born outside the United States to stake a claim as the best hooper in the world.

Consider the scene a prologue to the NBA story of Cooper Flagg, the 18-year-old with sky-born ability who enters the league as the new great American hope in an era ruled by international stars.

It shouldn’t matter, yet it does. The NBA is still an American league, regardless of whether its alpha star hails from New York City or French Lick, Indiana; Athens, Greece, or Sombor, Serbia. Basketball globalization has helped make the sport more lucrative, epitomized by the news last week that a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers will be sold at a record-setting $10 billion valuation. Nevertheless, this nation’s roundball ego won’t allow the game to diversify without concern that our players are losing their edge.

It’s never simply amazing that the game has grown across so many borders that Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo have driven the bus for three of the past five champions. The discourse always includes criticism that America doesn’t have sufficient representation among the best of the best.

The depth of U.S. talent remains untouchable, which is why Team USA has won five straight Olympic gold medals. But the hierarchy is changing. It’s most noticeable at the MVP level, where the award has gone to foreign-born players the past seven years. An American hasn’t finished in the top three of MVP voting since Stephen Curry placed third in 2021.

On Wednesday night, when the Dallas Mavericks made the no-brainer decision to draft Flagg No. 1 overall, he stepped into the spotlight wearing a dark blue three-piece suit and a black tie. A goatee in training decorated his face. The hairy effort only added to his boyish charm.

Flagg, who won’t turn 19 until December, has experienced hype for the past four years. He keeps proving worthy of the attention. His reputation rose to a preposterous level last summer after he impressed during scrimmages with Team USA as it prepared for the Paris Olympics. Then he went to Duke, won national player of the year as a freshman and led the Blue Devils to the Final Four.

Now in the NBA, his development will mean much to the perception of American pro ballers. It’s an unfair burden, but there’s hope that he can offset the dearth of 25-and-under American players capable of dominating the league. Anthony Edwards has MVP talent. But the other candidates, including Zion Williamson and Ja Morant, have struggled with injuries and off-court troubles.

In every generation, there are only a handful of stars who can define an era. Because the Williamson generation has yet to step forward, aging stars such as LeBron James, Curry and Kevin Durant have lingered as the standard for too long. As a result, the 35-year-old James Harden is the youngest former American MVP in the league. Jaylen Brown, 28, is the only active American Finals MVP under 30. But despite being a four-time all-star and the first NBA player to sign a $300 million contract, Brown is not a top-shelf star.

Does Flagg have the game and magnetism to be the alpha star? He might, but he’s not the once-every-two-decades prospect that James and Victor Wembanyama were. His skill set is a notch below, but with his drive and competitiveness, Flagg still might rule the league.

During a media session after Dallas selected him, a reporter asked Flagg if he will try to win a championship as a rookie. It’s a feat that a No. 1 pick hasn’t accomplished since Magic Johnson did it 45 years ago. Yet Flagg refused to admit the thought was unrealistic.

“Of course,” he said. “Of course, yeah. My mindset has always been to be a winner. So I’m going to try to win as hard as I can everywhere I go. I’m looking forward to being successful and winning a lot of games, for sure.”

As a public figure, Flagg can be robotic and a little shy. But even in those moments, you notice hints of charisma. On the court, his personality shines. He has an intensity that complements his athleticism. He’s a highlight dunk or blocked shot waiting to happen. His game defies racial stereotypes, which will enhance his marketability.

The question about the kid from Newport, Maine, has never been whether he would be a significant player. The debate centers on how big a star can be. For the sake of basketball discourse in this country, he needs to be more than the safe pick.

After Gilgeous-Alexander won the MVP, ESPN led a chorus of “What’s wrong with American basketball?” Most of the conversation veered into tropes about the soft and spoiled athletes.

“Most of these successful international guys either are influenced heavily by American basketball culture, played high school ball in America, some even went to college here,” Durant wrote on X in May. “This whole convo is trash, basketball is a universal language, some people have different dialect. Some states teach the game different than other states, who says there’s a perfect way to teach the game?’”

The basketball culture has its problems. But some of the criticism lacks depth. It’s irresponsible to scream crisis when 12 of the 15 players named to the 2025 all-NBA teams were Americans. But the three others – Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic and Antetokounmpo – are the best players in the league.

And Luka Doncic probably has a couple of MVP seasons in him.

And Wembanyama is something we’ve never seen.

That’s just five international superstars, but they’re enough to take every spot-on the all-NBA first team.

When the 2024-25 season began, a record-tying 125 players from other countries made the opening night rosters. That’s about a quarter of the league. But there’s so much talent among those players that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is formulating a USA-vs.-World format at the 2026 All-Star Game.

The U.S. could use some of Flagg’s fearlessness. When Edwards was asked last season about being the face of the NBA, he declared, “That’s what they got Wemby for.” If his honesty was refreshing, his resignation was shocking. Edwards wants to hoop without responsibility. But the NBA was built on legends who welcomed the task of carrying the league.

America needs to replenish its talent at the highest tier of NBA stardom. Flagg doesn’t back down from any challenge. An entire nation now hopes his game matches his mentality.

Community activities

• KD2 presents The Talent Show for local teenagers, ages 13-19, with the opportunity to win prizes, (grand prize is $1,000). Call 248-269-3276 in advance to enter. The talent show is July 2, at Flagstar Strand Theatre, 12 N. Saginaw, Pontiac, doors at 5:30 p.m., show starts at 6 p.m., $10 admission, presented by A Father’s Presence, an organization to help fathers become better fathers and engage youth. For more information, call 248-269-3276.

• United Community Family Services-Chaldean American Ladies of Charity announced the completion of its new outdoor green space, the UC Oasis, located behind its building in Troy. Among other community programs, the UC Oasis will offer Summer Study Camp, aimed at ensuring academic momentum for local students. For more information, call 248-528-0130, https://ucfamilyservices.org.

• The Rochester Garden Club is hosting “Steeped in Beauty: Teas and Flower Arranging”, 1-3:30 p.m. July 15, in the Calf Barn at the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm. The event includes a presentation by Maryanne Munroe, owner of the Spice and Tea Exchange in downtown Rochester and a demonstration of flower arranging. The event includes tea and treats, and each participant will receive a vintage teacup to take home. Tickets are $50, and can be purchased through the Rochester Garden Club website at RochesterGardenClub.org.

• The City of Southfield to host Dangers of Synthetic Drugs Community Forum, 5:30-8:30 p.m. July 23 at the Southfield Pavilion, 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield. Four local law enforcement leaders will participate in a forum to address the dangers of Synthetic Drugs and human trafficking. The community is invited to participate in this roundtable discussion. For more information, contact the Southfield Police Department at 248-796-5582, or visit www.cityofsouthfield.com.

Festivals

• Annual Cars Under the Stars Fireworks Spectacular is June 29 at M1 Concourse Arena and Trackside, 1 Concourse Drive, along Woodward Ave. Pontiac. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. activities include a DJ, food trucks and craft beer, interactive kids games, sponsor displays and fireworks at dusk. Ticket options start at $20 per person for general admission walk-in passes (parking not included) Arena or trackside vehicle spots with onsite parking start at $50 per vehicle, m1concourse.com/cars-under-the-stars-fireworks-spectacular, www.facebook.com/M1Concourse.

• Clawson 4th of July carnival is 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. July 3 and July 4, at Clawson City Park, 935 N Custer Ave, Clawson, $3 gate entrance, ride ticket prices vary, rides close at 9:45 p.m. July 4. Arts & Crafts Fair is 3-8 p.m. July 3 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 4; live music is 3-8 p.m. July 3 and 2- 10 p.m. July 4, Firecracker Mile race and parade at 9 a.m. July 4, fireworks at 10 p.m. July 4 at Clawson City Park. Register for the race at https://clawson4thofjuly.com, www.facebook.com/cityofclawson.

• Royal Oak Taco Fest is July 3-6, (4-11 p.m. July 3; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. July 4-July 5; and 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. July 6) on the east side of Main Street between 11 Mile Road and 4th Street, centered around Centennial Commons and Royal Oak City Complex parking lots. Features taquerias, taco trucks, comedy icon Tommy Chong, more than 100 musical and entertainment acts across four stages, taco-eating contests, mechanical bull riding, lucha libre wrestling, mariachi, margaritas, tequila tastings and Kids’ Zone, RoyalOakTacoFest.com, 248-541-7550. Advance tickets are $10 or $12 at the gate.

• Oakland County Fair is July 11-20, carnival and fair, at Springfield Oaks County Park, 12451 Andersonville Road, Davisburg, 248-634-8830, oakfair.org, admission and ticket prices vary. Fireworks show is at 9:50 p.m. July 11, (following concert featuring Grant Reiff band at 8 p.m.) Fair parking, which includes admission, is $15/vehicle and $10/motorcycle or walk-in. Presenting sponsor Oakland County Parks offers free admission July 11 to the first 250 people who register and all military personnel who present a valid military ID, www.oakfair.org/events/2025/opening-dayarmed-forces-day. Free admission will also be provided for individuals with disabilities who register for the July 17 adaptive recreation day before July 10, online, oakfair.org. The fair opens at 9 a.m. daily, admission gate closes at 9 p.m. fair closes at 10 p.m. weekdays, 11 p.m. weekends.

Fundraisers/Volunteer opportunities

• Leader Dogs for the Blind seeks volunteer puppy raisers, able to spend a year helping a future Leader Dog learn the basics they’ll need before entering formal guide dog training. Puppies will begin arriving in early August, and new raisers must be approved and prepared in advance. This volunteer opportunity is open to individuals, couples, and families who can pick up a puppy from Leader Dog’s campus in Rochester Hills. Visit LeaderDog.org/Volunteer or call 888-777-5332 to learn more and apply.

• 8th Annual “Salute Our Warriors” benefit is 6-10 p.m. July 11, at the Danny Kassab Estate in Rochester Hills. The event is set to honor local military heroes, and raise critical funds for fallen and wounded soldiers. Entertainment includes a performance by “Slight Return”, with musical guest Derek St. Holmes, Ted Nugent’s guitar player and singer. Tickets and sponsorships are available at https://saluteourwarriors.us. Tickets for veterans are $50 each and $100/couple. General admission tickets are $150 each and $250/couple. Event parking is at Rochester Adams High School, 3200 W. Tienken Road in Rochester Hills, with shuttle service to the Danny Kassab estate.

• Corks & Caps fundraiser is 6 p.m. July 12, hosted by Metamora Golf & Country Club to benefit Seven Ponds Nature Center in Dryden. Event includes plated dinner with wine and craft beer included, cash bar, live auction, raffles, tickets are $125 per person, sponsorships available. Deadline to register is July 2, at sevenponds.org/corks-caps, or call Seven Ponds Nature Center at 810-796-3200, provide name, address, phone number, and names of guests for name tags, choice of entrée per guest (Filet of Beef & Shrimp, Honey Pecan Glazed Salmon or Wild Mushroom & Spinach Wellington-vegetarian) and credit card info.

• Menards home improvement stores are hosting charitable food drives, serving as drop sites for non-perishable food donations to benefit local food pantries. Donations can be dropped off in the large collection boxes near the exit doors at Menards locations, through the months of June and July. Oakland County locations include Bloomfield Hills, Orion Twp. and Wixom, menards.com.

• Kajy Law Firm, PLLC, in Southfield is collecting non-perishable food and monetary donations for Gleaners through July 18. Collection bins have been set up in the firm’s main lobby at 18000 W. Nine Mile Road in Southfield, https://877kajycares.com.

Golf outings

• Golf for Hope golf outing is July 12, at Hartland Glen Golf Course, 12400 Highland Road, Hartland, 8 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. shotgun start, 18 holes of golf with cart, buffet lunch, https://fivepointsofhope.com, $140 per golfer, $35 for lunch only, proceeds go to the Five Points of Hope Cancer Care Fund.

Library

• Rochester Hills Public Library presents “The Enchanted Season: The Detroit Tigers and the World Series” at 7 p.m. July 8, at the library. This event is open to the public. Registration is required, at calendar.rhpl.org or call 248-656-2900.

Parks/Outdoor activities

• The Community Sailing School hosts weekly sailing camps until Aug. 22, for ages 6-18 at Dodge Park No. 4, Cass Lake, Keego Harbor. For information, and to register, call Eric at 586-291-4802, https://communitysailingschool.org.

• Saturday Morning Yoga lesson is 9:30-10:15 a.m. July 5, at the Oakland County Farmers Market, 2350 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford. The program is sponsored by Studio 8 Fitness, Healthy Oakland Partnership and the Oakland County Farmers Market, and will be held the first Saturday of the month through September. Tai Chi is also offered following Saturday morning yoga from 10:30-11:15 a.m.

• WhoaZone inflatable on-water play structure and other lake activities at Heron Beach at Holly Recreation Area state park, 5005 McGinnis Road, Holly. Ticket prices vary for WhoaZone and must be at least 45″ tall, https://whoa.zone/holly. A state park recreation passport is required for entry to the park, https://whoa.zone/holly/#zone.

• Oakland County Parks and Recreation offers free admission. General park entry fees and vehicle permits have been eliminated for all parks operated by Oakland County Parks, www.oakgov.com/community/oakland-county-parks.

• The Metroparks Trail Challenge is open through Oct. 31. Registration is $35, includes a custom tumbler and trail passport. Visit designated Challenge Trails across all 13 Metroparks. Take a selfie at each trail’s Challenge Kiosk and upload it to the leaderboard to collect your badge, and you’ll get a 2026 Annual Vehicle Pass. Register your dog for $10 and receive a custom Trail Challenge dog tag. www.metroparks.com/trailchallenge.

• Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas, michigan.gov/dnr. Park entrance fees apply.

Support resources

• For access to local community services, dial 211 (844-875-9211) or text zip code to 898211, for information and referrals to physical and mental health resources; housing, utility, food, and employment assistance; and suicide and crisis interventions, United Way, https://unitedwaysem.org/get-help.

• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 confidential support for people who are suicidal or in emotional distress, or who know someone who is. Calls and text messages to 988 route to a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center, www.fcc.gov/988Lifeline.

• National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-7233, available 24/7.

• Common Ground’s Resource & Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 – call or text 800-231-1127.

• Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 and then press 1 to connect to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. For texts, veterans should text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.

To submit a community event, email the information to Kathy Blake at kblake@medianewsgroup.com.

Nancy Forster-Holt

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Nancy Forster-Holt, University of Rhode Island

(THE CONVERSATION) Americans love small businesses. We dedicate a week each year to applauding them, and spend Small Business Saturday shopping locally. Yet hiding in plain sight is an enormous challenge facing small business owners as they age: retiring with dignity and foresight. The current economic climate is making this even more difficult.

As a professor who studies aging and business, I’ve long viewed small business owners’ retirement challenges as a looming crisis. The issue is now front and center for millions of entrepreneurs approaching retirement. Small enterprises make up more than half of all privately held U.S. companies, and for many of their owners, the business is their retirement plan.

But while owners often hope to finance their golden years by selling their companies, only 20% of small businesses are ready for sale even in good times, according to the Exit Planning Institute. And right now, conditions are far from ideal. An economic stew of inflation, supply chain instability and high borrowing costs means that interest from potential buyers is cooling.

For many business owners, retirement isn’t a distant concern. In the U.S., baby boomers – who are currently 61 to 79 years old – own about 2.3 million businesses. Altogether, they generate about US$5 billion in revenue and employ almost 25 million people. These entrepreneurs have spent decades building businesses that often are deeply rooted in their communities. They don’t have time to ride out economic chaos, and their optimism is at a 50-year low.

New policies, new challenges

You can’t blame them for being gloomy. Recent policy shifts have only made life harder for business owners nearing retirement. Trade instability, whipsawing tariff announcements and disrupted supply chains have eroded already thin margins. Some businesses – generally larger ones with more negotiating power – are absorbing extra costs rather than passing them on to shoppers. Others have no choice but to raise prices, to customers’ dismay. Inflation has further squeezed profits.

At the same time, with a few notableexceptions, buyers and capital have grown scarce. Acquirers and liquidity have dried up across many sectors. The secondary market – a barometer of broader investor appetite – now sees more sellers than buyers. These are textbook symptoms of a “flight to safety,” a market shift that drags out sale timelines and depresses valuations – all while Main Street business owners age out. These entrepreneurs typically have one shot at retirement – if any.

Adding to these woes, many small businesses are part of what economists call regional “clusters,” providing services to nearby universities, hospitals and local governments. When those anchor institutions face budget cuts – as is happening now – small business vendors are often the first to feel the impact.

Research shows that many aging owners actually double down in weak economic times, sinking increasing amounts of time and money in a psychological pattern known as “escalating commitment.” The result is a troubling phenomenon scholars refer to as “benign entrapment.” Aging entrepreneurs can remain attached to their businesses not because they want to, but because they see no viable exit.

This growing crisis isn’t about bad personal planning — it’s a systemic failure.

Rewriting the playbook on small business policy

A key mistake that policymakers make is to lump all small business owners together into one group. That causes them to overlook important differences. After all, a 68-year-old carpenter trying to retire doesn’t have much in common with a 28-year-old tech founder pitching a startup. Policymakers may cheer for high-growth “unicorns,” but they often overlook the “cows and horses” that keep local economies running.

Even among older business owners, circumstances vary based on local conditions. Two retiring carpenters in different towns may face vastly different prospects based on the strength of their local economies. No business, and no business owner, exists in a vacuum.

Relatedly, when small businesses fail to transition, it can have consequences for the local economy. Without a buyer, many enterprises will simply shut down. And while closures can be long-planned and thoughtful, when a business closes suddenly, it’s not just the owner who loses. Employees are left scrambling for work. Suppliers lose contracts. Communities lose essential services.

Four ways to help aging entrepreneurs

That’s why I think policymakers should reimagine how they support small businesses, especially owners nearing the end of their careers.

First, small business policy should be tailored to age. A retirement-ready business shouldn’t be judged solely by its growth potential. Rather, policies should recognize stability and community value as markers of success. The U.S. Small Business Administration and regional agencies can provide resources specifically for retirement planning that starts early in a business’s life, to include how to increase the value of the business and a plan to attract acquirers in later stages.

Second, exit infrastructure should be built into local entrepreneurial ecosystems. Entrepreneurial ecosystems are built to support business entry – think incubators and accelerators – but not for exit. In other words, just like there are accelerators for launching businesses, there should be programs to support winding them down. These could include confidential peer forums, retirement-readiness clinics, succession matchmaking platforms and flexible financing options for acquisition.

Third, chaos isn’t good for anybody. Fluctuations in capital gains taxes, estate tax thresholds and tariffs make planning difficult and reduce business value in the eyes of potential buyers. Stability encourages confidence on both sides of a transaction.

And finally, policymakers should include ripple-effect analysis in budget decisions. When universities, hospitals or governments cut spending, small business vendors often absorb much of the shock. Policymakers should account for these downstream impacts when shaping local and federal budgets.

If we want to truly support small businesses and their owners, it’s important to honor the lifetime arc of entrepreneurship – not just the launch and growth, but the retirement, too.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/no-country-for-old-business-owners-economic-shifts-create-a-growing-challenge-for-americas-aging-entrepreneurs-254537.