In the wake of last night's powerful storms that caused damage in parts of Ann Arbor, the city has announced it will retain and invest in its outdoor warning siren system.

In February, the city had announced that they were asking for community input about possibly retiring the system after it had been used twice in the last five years. At the time, the city said the system needs repairs and maintenance, with $60,000 expected for repairs over the next three years and roughly $17,000 annually for maintenance. The city noted that decommissioning the sirens would not eliminate warnings and that they would expand communication on how people could receive alerts in various ways.

Watch our February report from Darren Cunningham: Ann Arbor considers retiring outdoor warning sirens, asks for community feedback

The city says they will review all submitted comments and will use them in a report that will inform future maintenance and operations.

Ann Arbor also released the following information on their emergency alert systems, as a reminder to residents.

Stay Informed, Stay Safe Ann Arbor Alerts ExplainedA2 Emergency Alerts (Opt-In)

Sign up to receive informational and lower-threat alerts, such as snow emergency parking bans.

Delivered by text, email, or phone Can be targeted to specific areas of the city Sign up: a2gov.org/alertsWireless Emergency Alerts (Automatic)

Sent to all compatible cell phones in an affected area no sign-up required.

Used for urgent, life-threatening emergencies Examples: tornado warnings, severe storms, hazardous material incidents Issued by the National Weather Service and Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office Include clear instructions with distinctive tones and vibrationsOutdoor Warning Sirens

Sirens are designed to get your attention when youre outside. They are brief. They do not sound for the duration of the threat.

When you hear a siren, go indoors immediately Then check radio, TV, or other news sources for more information From March through October, the sirens are tested the second Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. with a one-minute wail.

British runner Clarke Reynolds completed the Brighton Marathon on Sunday using special glasses that helped the blind marathoner stay on course

Using Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and with assistance from volunteers who guided him via the Be My Eyes app Reynolds finished the race in 6 hours, 19 minutes, 41 seconds. Typically, blind runners rely on another runner to serve as a guide, which requires the guide to maintain the same pace.

The new technology allowed Reynolds to run at his own pace.

Reynolds told RNIB Connect Radio that volunteers rotated every 30 minutes to provide guidance through the app while he ran. In Sundays race, he also had a guide nearby in case the technology failed.

RELATED STORY | What a warming climate could mean for the future of your favorite marathons

But he didnt need the guide.

It was just a way of, how can I do this and push the boundaries of what the technology is out there, Reynolds said. And, you know, its not too far off that we could do daily-life, crazy stuff with technology.

Reynolds trained for 10 months to prepare for the race.

I want to blow away peoples expectations of what sight loss means and be a role model for people of all ages with a visual impairment, he said before Sundays event.

Reynolds also used the marathon to raise funds for the Richard Whitehead Foundation, which supports visually impaired runners.

RELATED STORY | Mom runner wins 100K ultramarathon, breastfeeding along the way

His experience with the Be My Eyes app is one of many ways the technology can be used. In March, the app reached 1 million users, along with a network of more than 10 million volunteers. The app advertises that it can assist visually impaired people by reading labels, troubleshooting devices and offering other types of help.

Reaching 1 million blind and low-vision users and 10 million volunteers is far beyond what I imagined when I first had the idea for Be My Eyes, said Hans Jrgen Wiberg, the apps founder. This community shows the incredible willingness of people around the world to help one another. Every day, millions of small acts of kindness happen through the app, and together they make the world more accessible.

A new poll of likely Democratic primary voters in Michigan shows the race for U.S. Senate remains wide open, with Abdul El-Sayed, Haley Stevens, and Mallory McMorrow effectively tied and a large share of voters still undecided.

The post New poll shows dead heat in Michigan Democratic Senate race as voters lean left of party establishment appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.

A grand jury indicted a Florida doctor on a manslaughter charge for allegedly removing a patient's liver instead of his spleen during a 2024 surgery.

The prosecutor for the First Judicial Circuit on Monday announced the charge of second-degree manslaughter against Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky.

Prosecutors said that during an Aug. 21, 2024, surgery, which was scheduled to be a laparoscopic splenectomy, Shaknovsky removed the victim's liver instead of his spleen. That resulted in "catastrophic blood loss and the patient's death on the operating table," law enforcement officials wrote in a press release. The patient was a 70-year-old man from Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

ICYMI | Doctors warn patients are delaying care over costs even with insurance

"Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor," Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said in a statement.

Available court records did not name an attorney for Shaknovsky.

Florida suspended Shaknovsky's medical license after the surgery. Records show he voluntarily surrendered his medical license in Alabama after regulators moved to revoke his license.

Crashes involving about 70 vehicles snarled a section of a snowy Colorado highway and sent eight people to the hospital.

The pileup Tuesday prompted officials to close the eastbound side of Interstate 70 in Clear Creek County, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of Denver, the Colorado State Patrol said in a statement.

RELATED STORY | Viral Waymo crashes put driverless cars in the spotlight

Officials evaluated 19 people for injuries and took eight of them to the hospital, including one person who had sustained serious bodily injuries, according to the state patrol.

Images online show multiple semitrucks involved in the pileup, with debris lining the roadway, fronts of vehicles smashed and at least one vehicle balanced partially off the ground.

It was not immediately clear what caused the pileup.

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A high school principal in Oklahoma was shot in the leg Tuesday after confronting a man who entered the school with a gun, authorities said.

Pauls Valley High School Principal Kirk Moore is in stable condition, and no students were injured in the shooting, according to authorities. The suspect, a 20-year-old former student, was taken into custody, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesman Hunter McKee told reporters outside the school.

Moore and other staff members quickly confronted the former student after they noticed he entered the school with a gun, McKee said.

The subject was able to fire multiple rounds, where the principal was hurt, but no one else was, McKee said. The actions of the staff and the principal stepping in as soon as they saw a subject with a firearm saved lives today.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said Moore acted bravely to protect students lives" and that he and his wife were praying for his quick recovery.

Im thankful for the swift response from law enforcement and school staff, and Im grateful no students were harmed, he said in a post on the social platform X.

Pauls Valley is a community of about 6,000 people 60 miles (96 kilometers) south of Oklahoma City.

The Detroit Tigers are rewarding rookie infielder Kevin McGonigle with a massive contract extension.

The team announced Wednesday that they have agreed to terms with McGonigle on an eight-year, $150 million guaranteed contract extension that will officially start next season.

Running from the 2027-2034 seasons, the deal includes McGonigle's final five seasons of club control plus his first three years of free agency, and includes contract escalators for the final three seasons that could bring the total value to $160 million.

The salary guarantee breakdowns are:

2027 - $1 million 2028 - $7 million 2029 - $16 million 2023 - $21 million 2031 - $22 million 2032-34 - $23 million

The 21-year-old made the Detroit Tigers team coming out of Spring Training and was ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect in all of baseball.

This season, he is batting .311 with a .909 OPS in 61 at-bats. He has 19 hits, one home run, 8 RBIs and 12 runs scored.

Federal prosecutors made an unannounced visit this week to a construction site at Federal Reserve headquarters that is the focus of an investigation into a $2.5 billion renovation project, according to two people familiar with the visit.

Two prosecutors and an investigator from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirros office were turned away on Tuesday by a building contractor and referred to Fed attorneys, one of the people said. The two people familiar with the visit spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation.

RELATED STORY | Prosecutor conceded lack of criminal evidence in Federal Reserve investigation, transcript shows

Last month, during a closed-door hearing before a federal judge, a top deputy from Pirros office conceded that they hadnt found any evidence of a crime in their investigation of the headquarters project.

The investigation has faced bipartisan opposition in Congress. It also has delayed Senate consideration of Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trumps pick to replace Fed chairman Jerome Powell when his term ends May 15.

Trump has again threatened to fire Jerome Powell if the Federal Reserve Chair decides to stay on the central bank's governing board after his term as chair expires next month.

Well then Ill have to fire him, OK? Trump told Fox Business in an interview that aired Wednesday when reminded that Powell has said he wont leave the Fed while the Justice Department investigates a $2.5 billion renovation project at the bank.

Trump has for months wanted to remove Powell as chair of the Fed, saying he has been too slow in orchestrating interest rate cuts that would give the U.S. economy a quick boost. Powell has said the investigation is a pretext to undermine the Fed's independence to set rates. A federal prosecutor last month admitted that the investigation into the renovations had turned up no evidence of a crime.

Powell's term as Fed governor expires May 15, but his term as a Fed board member lasts until January 2028.

RELATED STORY | President Trump names Kevin Warsh as his pick to replace Powell as Fed chair

Trump has nominated former Fed official Kevin Warsh to succeed Powell. Yet Warshs confirmation has been delayed. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, has said he wont vote to confirm any Fed nominees until the investigation is dropped.

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Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla will visit the United States later this month to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

The state visit, scheduled between April 27 and April 30, will include stops in Washington, New York and Virginia. The visit comes at a delicate time for U.S. and U.K. relations.

In Washington, D.C., Charles will address a joint meeting of Congress. He will also have a private meeting and tea party with President Donald Trump, followed by a state banquet at the White House.

RELATED STORY | King Charles III to mark 250 years of American independence on historic US trip

The upcoming visit follows tension between Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the Iran conflict and Trump's criticism of Starmer. Speaking in the House of Commons earlier today, Starmer rejected calls from an opposition politician to cancel the state visit.

Starmer argued the trip is focused on the 250th anniversary and boosting long-term ties between the two nations beyond the point at which he and Trump are still in office.

The royal visit also faces controversy surrounding Prince Andrew. Some groups are urging the king to meet with Epstein survivors. Buckingham Palace confirmed Charles and Camilla will not meet with Epstein survivors during the trip, though Camilla will meet with victims of domestic violence.

"We fully understand and appreciate the survivors position, but we can only reiterate that anything that could potentially impact ongoing police inquiries and assessments and potential legal action would be to the detriment of the survivors themselves in their pursuit of justice," a Buckingham Palace source said.

RELATED STORY | King Charles III will 'support' police review of Andrews ties to Epstein

While in New York, the royal couple will visit the 9-11 Memorial, a community project in Harlem and a literary event marking the 100th anniversary of Winnie the Pooh.

In Virginia, Charles will highlight his environmental focus with a visit to a national park and will meet with indigenous people.

University of Michigan President-elect Kent Syverud is receiving treatment for brain cancer and will no longer serve as the university's president.

In a message to the university on Wednesday morning, Syverud said he wasn't feeling well last week and sought care at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, and traveled to U-M for additional assessment.

Watch below: Coverage from January 2026 as Kent Syverud named U-M president

Syracuse President Kent Syverud named 16th President at University of Michigan

"I want to be straightforward with you: I have been diagnosed with a form of brain cancer," he wrote in the letter. "I am currently undergoing treatment at the University of Michigan. As I shared with the community back in January, I have a deep and personal affiliation with Michigan Medicine. I am where I need to be and I am in excellent hands. I am deeply grateful to the outstanding teams at University of Michigan Medicine and Crouse Hospital and for their extraordinary care."

Board of Regents President Mark Bernstein also said that Syverud will serve as a law professor at the University of Michigan Law School and a special advisor to the board.

In January, the school's board of regents announced that Syverud would serve as the university's 16th president.

Syverud, a University of Michigan alum, had been working as chancellor and president at the University of Syracuse since 2013. In August of last year, he announced his intention to step down from his roles at Syracuse, effective in June 2026. He also currently serves as the chair of the Atlantic Coast Conference Board of Directors.

I believe Michigan has been, is now, and must remain the best public research university anywhere, Syverud said in a press release announcing his appointment. That has been my experience. This university gave me everything I have become...these are challenging times for Michigan, for higher education, and the world. We have a choice in how to respond. We can curl up in a ball or, we can do what Michigan has always done at its best: We can lead. We can lead not by arrogantly lecturing others, but by modeling each day in small ways and in big ones, the values, the ideas, and innovation, and the civil engagement that this world so badly needs. I want to help us do that, always remembering our special obligation to the people of the state of Michigan who created this institution and who merit our priority.

Domenico Grasso will continue to serve as the university president until the next president begins their service. The board of regents will re-engage a search process as soon as possible, they said.

The Detroit Pistons announced plans for the 2026 NBA Playoffs, with activations, new food items and more to debut during the first two games of round one.

According to the Pistons, the festivities tip off with a pregame fan fest outside of Little Caesars Arena starting at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday for game one. There will be sneaker cleaning and customization, airbrush tattoos, a photo booth, free coffee and a half-court basketball court.

Doors for the game open at 5 p.m. and the first 10,000 fans will receive thundersticks and all fans will receive a free t-shirt. For game two, all fans will receive a rally towel.

Fans are encouraged to be in their seats before tip-off to participate in special surprise playoff elements during introductions and throughout the in-game entertainment.

New retail items

The Pistons will have new postseason-inspired retail offerings for fans, including new playoff merchandise.

That merch will feature the Pistons' team roster lineup t-shirt, a Pistons caricature graphic t-shirt, the Nike NBA Playoff Mantra Shirt and a "Detroit Dub" shirt that will only be available after Pistons playoff wins.

New food items

Limited-time food options will be available at Little Caesars Arena during the playoffs, as well as playoff-themed items.

Playoff-themed items are:

All The Time Fry Seasoned fries topped with All The Time Spice Blend, All The Time Sauce and fresh scallions. Available at The Coop (Portals 18 & 19). Full Court Press Sundae Vanilla ice cream topped with red or blue soda, sprinkles and a Pistonsbranded topper, served in a souvenir sneaker cup. Available at The Scoop (Portals 18 & 19). Playoff Running Taco An elevated walking taco featuring an extralarge bag of Flamin Hot Cheetos loaded with your choice of proteins, cheeses and toppingsperfect for sharing. Available at Portal 26. Arena Cantina Pizza Box Nachos Housefried cantinastyle tortilla chips served with protein options including smoked pulled chicken or barbacoa, two queso choices and a full lineup of classic toppings. Available at Portable 42.

New items for playoffs at Detroit Street Lab at Portal 28 are:

Korean Corn Dogs Bad Boy Blue (Pistons Exclusive) Brick cheese, Blue Takis, crispy potato crust, takoyaki sauce and Kewpie mayo Street Lab Coney Allbeef hot dog, chili cheese Fritos, crispy onions and mustard Sandos Assembly Line Steak Sando Grilled tenderloin, rice wine slaw, Kewpie mayo and takoyaki sauce on RSA milk bread Side Street Snacks The Foundry Fried Rice Bacon lardons, kimchi, yum yum sauce and takoyaki drizzle Erics Motor City Crisp Eric Loves Cookings Two Fairway Packing Co. beef patties, melted brick cheese, shredded lettuce, Erics 313 sauce and mild pepperoncini Erics Deli Steak Sandwich Eric Loves Cookings Shaved tritip with Havarti, garlic horseradish sauce, shredded lettuce, tomato, onion and giardinieraNew for the playoffs, fans can visit Detroit Street Lab (Portal 28), a concept inspired by Detroits street food culture and built for speed, flavor and creativity, which will also include a collaboration with influencer Eric Loves Cooking. Menu highlights include:

Limited tickets are available for the first-round playoff games, which begin on April 19 at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 19.

A student opened fire randomly at two classrooms at a middle school in southeast Turkey on Wednesday, killing four people and wounding 20 others, an official said, in the second such shooting in the country in two days.

The student, who was also killed, arrived at the school, armed with guns believed to belong to his father, a retired police officer, Kahramanmaras provincial Gov. Mukerrem Unluer said. The gunman was carrying five firearms and seven magazines.

The victims included a teacher and three students, Unluer said. At least four of the wounded were in serious condition. The motive of the attack wasn't immediately known.

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The attack came just a day after 16 people, mostly students, were wounded when a former student opened fire at a high school in nearby Sanliurfa province. The assailant later killed himself.

Until this week, such school shootings were rare in Turkey.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | School shooting in Austria leaves 9 people and suspected gunman dead

Earlier, media reports said that authorities sent police and ambulances to the school in the Kahramanmaras' Onikisubat district, after gunfire was heard there. Images from the scene showed at least two people being put into ambulances.

Parents rushed to the school after hearing reports of an armed attack, NTV television reported, adding that police took security measures around the school.

If you need more time to file your 2025 tax return, the Internal Revenue Service says there are options, but utilizing those options could be costly. The IRS said filers can seek an extension that gives them until Oct. 15 to file. Extensions must be requested by tax deadline day, which is April 15.

The IRS said penalties and interest will increase until the tax balance is paid in full. The IRS also says it can set up payment plans for those struggling to pay back taxes, but again, penalties and interest will apply in those cases.

RELATED STORY | IRS change means many taxpayers must wait weeks for refunds

Last year, nearly 165 million Americans filed a tax return, but over 25 million of those applications were not received by the IRS by the April deadline.

Millions of Americans to get automatic extension

Although most taxpayers face a deadline today to file their 2025 tax returns, residents in parts of three states have a little longer to submit their returns.

The extensions were granted to residents recently included in regions declared federal disaster areas. The Internal Revenue Service is allowing residents of Montana until May 1 to file. Residents of Mississippi have until June 8 to file, while Hawaiians have until July 8.

Additionally, some Americans serving in combat zones or living outside of the U.S. could be eligible for an extension without penalty.

RELATED STORY | From tips to seniors: What new laws mean for your upcoming tax return

What if I can't pay the full amount?

Even if you're unable to pay your entire tax bill for 2025, the IRS recommends you pay what you can. This will cut the amount of interest and penalties levied down the road. The IRS added that most applicants receive immediate notification of approval or denial, without having to call or write to the IRS.

President Donald Trump is predicting higher gas prices could last through November as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and tensions with Iran continue to impact the American economy.

The International Monetary Fund is predicting slower economic growth this year because of the war. The recent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Trump is raising fresh questions about how the war is impacting the global economy, with ripple effects likely to be felt for months.

The International Energy Agency reports demand for oil is sinking because of higher prices. There are 1.5 million fewer barrels of oil being consumed globally each day than originally forecasted, marking the sharpest decline since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this is not expected to lower gas prices, which are still averaging above $4 a gallon in the U.S.

RELATED STORY | IMF warns global economy could stall as Iran war disrupts oil flows

Trump has long said prices will fall once the war ends, but in an interview with Fox News this week, Trump suggested prices could be around the same in November during the midterm elections.

The economic impact is also reaching housing and interest rates. The National Association of Realtors is reporting a decline in home sales in March, despite the traditionally busy spring real estate season.

"In March the data shows sales have remained sluggish," Lawrence Yun said.

Yun is the chief economist at the National Association of Realtors. Mortgage rates are at their highest levels in seven months, driven in part by interest rates being impacted by rising oil prices.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is still forecasting just one interest rate cut before the end of the year. Powell's term as chairman ends in May, which means interest rate plans may change.

RELATED STORY | Inflation was already high before Iran war drove up gas prices, new report shows

Inflation has surged to its highest levels in nearly two years, with higher diesel and gas prices as the major reason why.

The economic strain has resulted in Americans feeling less confident about the economy. The University of Michigan has been tracking consumer sentiment for over 70 years, and this month reported its lowest levels ever recorded.

Developers and nonprofits are transforming vacant historic buildings and empty lots in Pontiac into new apartments to address a growing need for housing in the city.

See the full story in the video below

Historic Pontiac buildings are being transformed into new apartments

One project is breathing new life into the former Pontiac State Bank, a 15-story building dating back to the late 1920s. The structure in the heart of downtown Pontiac is now a high-end apartment complex called 28 North.

"One thing everybody thinks is downtown Pontiac is going to be difficult to do business in," Blackacre Management CEO Dalen Hanna said.

Be sure to join us at our latest Let's Talk in Pontiac. It's at Dogwood's Kitchen & Bar from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

But Hanna had a vision for the historic structure. The building was converted into 110 apartments starting at $1,200 a month, along with four penthouses, a gym, a lounge, and common areas. It also features a champagne room, with a ballroom and coffee shop coming soon.

"The demand has been phenomenal. We have over 110 doors and over 300 people on the waitlist, and were starting to open the doors for move ins," Hanna said.

Pontiac Mayor Mike McGuinness, who took office in January, said expanding access to housing is one of his top priorities.

"Not only is it breathing new life into a historic structure and breathing renewed investment into our downtown, but its also addressing a strong need that we have for people that live here, for people who want to come home here, and people who want to choose Pontiac as their home for the first time," McGuinness said.

Another apartment complex is set to open this summer. Developers Ronita Coleman and her husband are transforming Casa Del Ray on 111 Oneida Street, a nationally registered historic building from 1929, into 54 apartments.

"The major part is we have a shortage of housing, not just in the city of Pontiac but all over the country. So anything that can be restored and put people back in the position to have home should be first and foremost," Coleman said.

Beyond historic sites, new construction is underway on the city's northeast side. A five-story building known as Auburn Place will bring over 50 units to Pontiac next year. The project is led by Lighthouse, a nonprofit dedicated to alleviating poverty throughout the region.

"The entire building is actually permanent supportive housing to help those who have a chronic health condition, who are disabled, or who have faced chronic homelessness," Lighthouse Chief Philanthropy Officer Mary Riegle said.

City leaders hope these combined efforts will continue to bring new energy and investment to Pontiac.

"As Mayor, I want to keep trying to deliver those wins on housing for our downtown, for the neighborhoods, for all sectors. I want to keep moving forward and picking up the pace," McGuinness said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Severe storms overnight brought a tornado warning to the southern parts of metro Detroit and left damage in its wake.

In the area of Dix Highway and Outer Drive, our Ryan Marshall was at a building that houses a Subway, Family Dollar and more, where part of the top of the building was ripped off.

See the latest update in the video below

Lincoln Park building suffers major damage after strong storms prompt tornado warning

In the aftermath, the top of the building was thrown to the ground and bricks were spread across the parking lot.

While it wasn't confirmed that there was a tornado, the 7 First Alert Weather Team did see rotation on the radar in the area of Lincoln Park.