DETROIT (AP) — Cade Cunningham led an unprecedented turnaround in NBA history, lifting the Detroit Pistons to relevance after the three-time championship franchise lost its luster.

Cunningham had an All-NBA caliber season, joining elite company with Oscar Robertson, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and LeBron James.

Detroit’s point guard and those all-time greats are the seven players in NBA history to average at least 25 points, nine assists and six rebounds in a season.

Cunningham’s breakout season helped Detroit become the league’s first team to triple its number of wins from the previous full season.

He didn’t do it alone.

Jalen Duren’s third season was his best and a trio of newly acquired veterans made an impact on and off the court for a team that had the NBA’s worst record the previous two seasons.

When the sixth-seeded and inconsistent Pistons host third-seeded New York on Sunday in Game 4, they need Cunningham to shine and his supporting cast to make shots and stops.

Cunningham is learning a lot in his NBA playoffs debut and his team is, too, in its first postseason appearance since 2019 because every possession matters and little mistakes lead to losing.

“All these things are making us a better team and I think it’s going to make us better to go win this series,” Cunningham said.

Detroit has dropped eight home playoff games in a row since 2008, pulling within one of an NBA record set by Philadelphia from 1968 to 1971.

If the Pistons lose a second straight matchup, they will tie a league mark and be on the brink of elimination going into Game 5 in New York on Tuesday night

The Knicks are expecting Detroit’s best punch.

“They’re going to come out with physicality and aggression,” Knicks guard Josh Hart told reporters Saturday.

In the only game Detroit won against New York, Cunningham was a star with 33 points on 11-of-21 shooting and 12 assists.

In Games 1 and 3, both won by the Knicks, Cunningham was not at his best and his inconsistent teammates didn’t pick up the slack.

Cunningham had 21 points, missing 13 of 21 attempts, and 12 rebounds in the opener.

In Game 3, he joined James, Westbrook and Rick Barry as the four players in NBA playoffs history to have at least 24 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks in a game.

Cunningham, though, also missed 15 of 25 shots and had six turnovers in the potentially, pivotal game.

OG Anunoby had something to do with that.

The 6-foot-7, 232-pound Anunoby, in his eighth NBA season and first full years with the Knicks, used his strength and quickness to challenge Cunningham.

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff is confident Cunningham will find a way to make winning plays in Game 4.

“We’ve seen Cade be able to get where he wants to get to and do what he needs to do,” Bickerstaff said said. “Give (Anunoby) respect because he’s earned it, but I still like Cade’s chances.”

To improve Detroit’s shot to even the series, Cunningham’s teammates have to take advantage of the space he creates by making open shots.

While veteran guard Tim Hardaway Jr. made a career-playoff high seven 3-pointers and matched a Pistons record, a usually dependable teammate struggled in Game 3.

Malik Beasley connected on six 3-pointers in the opener and made a franchise-record 319 3-pointers during the regular season, ranking second in the league, but was 2 of 10 beyond the arc Thursday night.

Tobias Harris scored a total of 40 points in the two games at Madison Square Garden, then was held to just five points at Little Caesars Arena.

The Knicks, meanwhile, had one of their most balanced offensive postseason performances in more than a half-century.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 31 points, Jalen Brunson had 30 points, Anunoby scored 22 and Mikal Bridges had 20 points.

The last time New York had four players score 20-plus points in a playoff game, Hall of Famers Walt Frazier, Jerry Lucas, Dave DeBusschere and Bill Bradley pulled off the feat in 1972.

“What hurt us in this last game was more our defense than anything we did offensively,” Bickerstaff said.

DETROIT – You’ve heard him say it a lot. Everything matters. And if manager AJ Hinch ever needs an abject reference point, he can use the Tigers’ 4-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles in the front end of a doubleheader Saturday.

Spencer Torkelson’s opposite-field home run in the seventh inning provided the margin of victory. Casey Mize held a lineup of dangerous left-handed hitters at bay for 5.1 innings with relievers Brenan Hanifee, Tyler Holton and Will Vest locking it down — Vest earning a four-out save punching out Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg to end it.

Those were the headline moments. But the headline would be different without a handful of other smaller moments throughout the game.

“Knowing we had a second game makes it even more rewarding to win the first one,” Hinch said. “I thought in equal parts we were going to break the game open and in equal parts it was like, ‘Oh (crap), they’ve created some leverage for themselves.’

“Winning the first game of a series is always important. But to win it the way we did was good to see.”

To Hinch’s point about blowing the game open: They worked five walks in the first two innings off Orioles’ starter Brandon Young and came out of it with just two runs. They left the bases loaded twice. But with Mize grinding through the Orioles’ lefty-heavy lineup, allowing only a solo homer to Ryan O’Hearn, they were able to weather some trouble.

“I feel like if I can keep the ball on the ground, good things will happen more times than not,” said Mize, who improved to 4-1, lowering his ERA to 2.12. “We made an error on the first batter of the game and then immediately got a double-play. That’s a huge moment for our team.”

Catcher Dillon Dingler got Mize out of that first inning by throwing out Westburg trying to steal second base. Dingler’s pop time to second base was a season-best 1.86 seconds. It was one of a few small ways that Dingler impacted this win.

He kept the Tigers’ two-run second inning alive, first legging out a ground ball and preventing a double-play. Then he avoided getting back-picked off first base on a strong throw by catcher Gary Sanchez, making a deft slide to avoid the tag.

Dingler played a big role in a pivotal defensive play in the sixth inning.

The Orioles, down 3-1 in the sixth, put runners at the corners with back-to-back singles off Mize. The Tigers pulled their infield in and Mize got Heston Kjerstad to hit a ground ball to the right of Torkelson at first base.

Torkelson fielded the ball on the grass and fired home without hesitation. Dingler not only applied a firm tag as the runner Westburg was sliding into him, he also took the throw in textbook position to avoid getting called for blocking the plate.

“It was a good day for Tork on both sides of the ball and that’s so good to see,” Hinch said. “That is an instinctual defensive play where he’s got to read it. We know we’re in a little bit of trouble there. He may go to second, he may just take the out at first. But he read the play, got the hop and goes home to get a pretty good runner.

“That instinctive play is an indication of he’s playing with freedom and the right balance of know-how and execution.”

Hanifee replaced Mize at that point and retired Ramon Urias and Jackson Holliday to escape the inning.

“Tork saves the run where, if he doesn’t, we’d still be playing,” Mize said. “Huge play. We played good defense all around.”

Riley Greene, as he has so often, gave up his body to make a couple of pivotal plays in left field, too. With two on in the second inning, he raced back to the wall to take extra bases away from Jackson Holliday. He hit the wall awkwardly and came off the wall shaking out his left shoulder.

In the seventh, he took a home run away from Ramon Laureano. Again he tracked the ball to the wall. This time he had to leap and extend as he was crashing into the wall. He caught it and caromed hard to the ground.

“I guess we have to put him in center so he can avoid the fence,” Hinch said, half-joking. “The ball finds him and he finds a way to get big outs. I’ll play him in center in Game 2 and it might be a breather for him because there’s not a fence anywhere near him.

“But I love the way he stays in the play.”

Later in the inning, he nearly stole a single from Henderson with a diving attempt in short left.

“That was a good attempt,” Hinch said. “One of the reasons I love Riley in left, it’s not just because it’s not as much to cover as in center, but he’s actually really good in left. He’s got a good feel for where he is and he can get up over the fence.

“He seems to make great plays when it doesn’t seem like a play is possible. And that’s because he sells out from the jump.”

One big blast by Torkelson and a bunch of lower-key clutch plays — including a two-out RBI single by Jace Jung, his first hit since being called up from Toledo — added to another win for the 16-10 Tigers.

Listed as a 6-foot-4, 245-pound two-star prospect on his high school recruiting profile as a senior at Birmingham Brother Rice, Luke Newman made himself into a pro offensive line prospect.

And now he’s been picked.

Newman was selected in the sixth round by the Chicago Bears, taken with the 196th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-4, 315 pound offensive guard, who played last season at Michigan State after four successful seasons at Holy Cross, will join former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson in the Windy City, part of the crew — along with former Lions guard Jonah Jackson — protecting last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams.

Newman started 49 consecutive games over his final four seasons of college ball, including 37 at left tackle for Holy Cross, and 12 for Michigan State last season, as a grad transfer. He led MSU with 739 offensive snaps, and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten, grading out as the No. 9 offensive guard in the league by PFF during the regular season. Earned FCS All-America honors from different publications each of his final three seasons at Holy Cross.

The Bears have had some experience with Brother Rice players along the line. A fifth-round pick out of Missouri in 2021, Larry Borom played four seasons for the Bears — starting 27 of 47 games — before signing with the Miami Dolphins in March.

Local players who could hear their name called in NFL Draft

Buffalo Bills draft West Bloomfield grad Maxwell Hairston in first round of NFL Draft

The Detroit Lions have been quite active throughout the duration of the 2025 NFL Draft, having pulled off three trades.

Finally, the team addressed the defensive end position. In the sixth round, Detroit targeted Boise State edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein.

Last season at Boise State, Hassanein recorded 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in helping the Broncos reach the College Football Playoff.

According to NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler, “Overall, Hassanein is a try-hard edge rusher with plenty of redeeming qualities that will endear him to coaches. He lacks high-level athletic traits, though, and will be low on an NFL depth chart until he improves his predictability as a pass rusher. Given his meager football experience, NFL teams are intrigued by his untapped upside.”

In the first-round, the Lions selected defensive tackle Tyleik Williams from Ohio State. An anchor for the Buckeyes’ national championship team, he projects as an immediate rotational contributor on the defensive line against the run with pass-rush developmental upside.

Holmes was active in trading up on the second day of the draft. He first traded up three spots with the Denver Broncos to acquire Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge. After Kevin Zeitler’s departure, Ratledge appears to be a potential competitor for a starting spot right away.

In the third round, Holmes traded up 32 spots with the Jacksonville Jaguars to select Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa. A Hudsonville native who wore a custom Lions jersey to his top-30 visit with the team, TeSlaa is a big and fast wideout with the potential to contribute either in the slot or out wide on the perimeter.

Detroit’s first Day 3 selection came in the fifth round, as Holmes swapped two picks to move up 11 spots and select LSU offensive lineman Miles Frazier with the 171st pick of the draft.

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions

By Anne Snabes, The Detroit News

The Rev. Lorn Snow, a Jesuit priest in Detroit, felt a sense of loss for himself and the Catholic Church after hearing the news that Pope Francis had died.

But that sadness later turned to two other feelings, he said.

One was joy, since Francis’ death was amid the Easter season, which is the “highest moment in the life of the church,” said Snow, the pastor of Gesu Catholic Church in Detroit. On Easter, Catholics celebrate the rising of Jesus from the dead after his crucifixion.

“And I just thought it was so beautiful that the Risen Jesus came for Pope Francis in the midst of our Easter season — our resurrection,” he said. “And, you know, he shares in that resurrection now.”

The other feeling was gratitude. Snow said he is thankful for the pope’s years of “shepherding us” and caring for “not only the church, but really in a deep sense, for the world.”

Faith leaders in Metro Detroit are reflecting on Pope Francis’ life and legacy following his death Monday morning from a stroke and heart failure, as well as his Saturday funeral mass. Some Catholic priests remember Francis’ authenticity, his concern for the Earth and the example he set for older adults who are aging.

Some Protestant pastors remarked on his care for the poor and the marginalized, and a local rabbi called him “such a devoted, sincere, humble man.” An imam in Detroit praised Francis’ attention to the Palestinian people in Gaza.

The Rev. Elbert Dulworth, pastor of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Rochester, said he was excited to see a pope who “seemed to kind of bring people together.”

“As someone coming from a Protestant denomination, I felt like he really was a pastoral leader for not just the Catholic Church, but for all of us in the Christian church, kind of calling us together ― a more unifying presence for us,” Dulworth said.

Tens of thousands of people came to St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican to pay their respects to Francis, who lay in state for three days. His funeral Mass was Saturday morning in St. Peter’s Square.

‘In touch with his people to the very end’

The Rev. Terry Kerner, pastor of St. Kateri Catholic Church in Dearborn, noted that on Easter Sunday, Francis ministered to the people in St. Peter’s Square, including blessing babies.

“He was in touch with his people to the very end,” he said.

Francis was “a beautiful example of aging” and how to grow old in “a gracious and faithful way,” Kerner said. His parish has a lot of elderly parishioners, he said.

“I just think his life spoke to them by his example and his writings,” Kerner said.

He said Francis’ message was that the elderly have gifts for the young, and the young have gifts to give to the elderly.

“Nobody is disposable,” Kerner said, adding that seniors are “certainly a gift” to the church and humankind.

He noted that he doesn’t know anyone who disliked Francis.

“They may not have agreed with some of his policies,” Kerner said, “but it was hard to dislike him, because he’s just so authentic and genuine and loving.”

His concern for the environment

In 2015, Pope Francis released an encyclical — which is a letter — on the environment called Laudato Si’. In the letter, Francis called for a global dialogue about how people are influencing the future of the planet through their actions.

Gesu Catholic Church’s Snow said his church is considered a Laudato Si’ parish. Gesu promotes environmental justice and is trying to reduce waste coming from the parish and its grade school.

“It will be his great legacy, I think, as pope — is his care for creation,” Snow said.

At Gesu, students compost in the lunchroom, and the school gives leftover food to local farmers. When the parish provides coffee and donuts to parishioners on Sunday, they don’t use Styrofoam or other plastics.

The parish also has solar panels on its school buildings and electric vehicle charging stations in its parking lots.

“We’re doing everything possible we can,” Snow said. “We don’t use pesticides on our property. … All our landscaping are natural plants that would be here in Michigan, and we don’t utilize any things that would harm the Earth.”

The Rev. Faith Fowler, the lead pastor of Cass Community United Methodist Church and executive director of the nonprofit Cass Community Social Services, said Francis’ stance on the environment resonated with her. She said there should be “a planet for future generations.” Her organization has installed solar panels on its campus, and it harvests rainwater and is replacing grass with native plants.

“I’m a firm believer that although the planet belongs to God, we have the responsibility of being good stewards of what we’ve received, what we’ve been blessed with, and that we should pass it on to future generations as best we can,” Fowler said. “And I think I mirror the pope in that love for the environment and the understanding that we should be good stewards.”

His care for the poor

Fowler said many members of her church are poor, and “they too are feeling diminished” by Francis’ death.

“He was somebody who stood up and stood with and ministered to and was ministered by poor people,” she said. “And that’s not always true in the church ― any church. The higher you climb, the more distant you are from people who are discounted by the larger society. He was a man who stayed connected and stayed caring and reminded the church to be less worried about the things we worry about most of the time.”

She said Cass Community United Methodist Church works with people who need food, shelter and clothing. She said the gestures of Pope Francis’ ministry, including visiting a prison on Holy Thursday last week, were “very inspiring.”

“I really looked up to him,” Fowler said.

Kerner said Francis reminded the Catholic Church of “an incredibly important mission” that it has to the poor and the marginalized.

“We are at our best when we’re serving the poorest and the most vulnerable,” he said.

LGBTQ+ issues

Dulworth, pastor of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, said he was thankful to see Pope Francis take a step in reaching out to the LGBTQ+ community.

Catholic teaching on LGBTQ+ issues didn’t change during Francis’ tenure, including the prohibition on same-sex marriage, but Francis conveyed through his actions and remarks that he wanted the church to be a more welcoming place for LGBTQ+ people.

Fowler said she “sensed the position” that Francis was in, because many churches in Africa are more conservative than churches in the U.S., Germany and other places.

“And yet they were all a part of his church, so how you maintain unity is a tough call,” she said, adding that progressives “probably didn’t get everything they wanted.”

Fowler said she would have loved to have seen Pope Francis allow women to be ordained as priests or deacons. He did, however, appoint women to top Vatican positions, including Sister Simona Brambilla, the prefect of the department responsible for all the Catholic Church’s religious orders.

Muslim and Jewish leaders share their perspectives

Imam Imran Salha of the Islamic Center of Detroit said he offers his condolences to “my Christian brothers and sisters.”

“And I pray that God replaces him with many others to follow in his example of compassion and wisdom and clarity of choice,” he said.

In Pope Francis’ last speech, which Archbishop Diego Ravelli read aloud on Easter Sunday, he called for a ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas militant group in Gaza. He also urged Hamas to release the dozens of Israeli hostages it is holding and condemned growing global antisemitism.

Salha said Francis “always recognized the people of Palestine and their suffering on their occupation.” He said the pope regularly called people in Gaza to check in on them.

Rabbi Asher Lopatin, director of community relations for the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, called Francis “such an incredible man.” He said Francis showed care for immigrants, the weak and the environment, and showed “respect for every human being.”

“These resonated very much with the Jewish community,” he said.

Lopatin, who is the rabbi at Kehillat Etz Chayim in Oak Park, added that the Jewish community appreciated Francis’ denunciation of antisemitism and the love he showed for the hostage families.

“However, I think in the life of the pope, of Pope Francis, all the values that he had could have been reflected in a stronger, more robust support for the Jewish state” and for the struggle that the Jewish state has with “all its enemies,” he said.

He said calls for a ceasefire have to be coupled with a demand for Hamas to release the hostages. Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel and killed around 1,200, mostly civilians. Some hostages have been released, some of whom were dead, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Some hostages were rescued by Israeli military forces. The bodies of more than 40 hostages were retrieved by Israeli forces.

Lopatin said he thinks Jews expected Francis to “be more of a voice” for getting the hostages released.

“But … there’s always more to do, and I hope the Catholic Church takes from his teachings and becomes that voice of support for the one Jewish state,” he said.

asnabes@detroitnews.com

 

The Cleveland Browns picked Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders 144th overall in the NFL Draft Saturday.

The fifth round pick was much later than many draft forecasts predicted. Sanders was considered one of the highest-profile quarterback candidates going into this year's draft, second only to no. 1 pick Cam Ward, who went to the Tennessee Titans.

RELATED STORY | 2025 NFL Draft: Cam Ward goes No. 1 to Titans

Shedeur is the son of NFL Hall of Fame returner Deion Sanders, who played for five NFL teams, also played in Major League Baseball and who now coaches the Colorado Buffaloes.

Shedeur set a record 4,134 passing yards while playing for Colorado last year. He played there alongside cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter, who was picked second overall in this year's draft by the Jaguars.

Sanders will now join the quarterback roster on the Browns, which includes Oregons Dillon Gabriel, who was drafted in the third round.

Browns starting quarterback Deshaun Watson is not expected to play in the upcoming season due to an achilles tendon injury.

DETROIT – Driving to Sarasota back on March 21, it dawned on Tarik Skubal that he hadn’t faced the Orioles in a while.

“Yeah, I was trying to think, like, ‘When was the last time I pitched against those guys?’” he said.

The last time he faced the Orioles in a regular-season game was May 15, 2022, before he had flexor tendon surgery, before he morphed into Cy Skub. He punched out 11 in six scoreless innings that day at Comerica Park.

He will face them again Sunday in the series finale. But that trip to Sarasota in March triggered one of his favorite memories.

“The last time I went to Sarasota before that, I started against Felix Hernandez,” he said.

True story. King Felix was trying to make a comeback with the Orioles in the spring of 2021. His spring start against Skubal was one of the final starts of his career. The long-time Mariners ace never got back to the big leagues after 2019.

“I went to college in Seattle, right, so I was very familiar with him,” Skubal said. “That was one of the coolest things ever, that I was starting against Felix Hernandez.”

Skubal is coming off a grind of a start a week ago. The Royals took an effective approach against him, essentially selling out to an opposite-field approach. They ended up with seven singles, all up the middle or to the opposite side and paper-cut Skubal out of the game after five innings.

Skubal talked at length Saturday about how he deals with situations like that and the balance he has between relying on scouting reports and trusting that he can win most battles with his elite pitch mix.

Just so you know, he relishes the chess match.

“That’s what makes the game fun,” he said. “That back and forth. I think the game would get monotonous, if not boring, if you just went out and did the same thing. There is always the chess match, the back and forth, the counts, the previous at-bat, the game flow — all of that stuff is what makes the game fun.

“And it’s what pushes you to continue to get better.”

Skubal, despite the Cy Young Award last year, despite being one of the games’ dominant lefties the last year and a half, still sees himself as an unfinished product.

“When my career is done, that’s when I will be a finished product,” he said. “I’m always trying to learn, trying to get better, trying to be a better version of myself. Right now the best version of myself is who I am.

“But like two years from now, what am I going to be?”

For sure he will have a counter move should the Orioles try to replicate the Royals’ attack plan. But he’s still coming with his upper-90s four-seam and sinker, elite changeup, slider and knuckle-curve.

He seeks to find that balance between game plan and attacking strength on strength.

“As a pitcher, you always have to pitch to your strengths,” Skubal said. “You also need to know the hitters’ weaknesses if your strengths aren’t your strength that day. But I’m always going to pitch to my strengths.

“If a guy hammers changeups, I’m still going to throw a changeup. Can you hit mine? Then, oh, you can? Then we’ll flip the script.”

Skubal takes the game-planning part seriously. Not necessarily to map out specific pitch sequences for each hitter, but to reinforce his own pitch decisions.

“They help me mentally buy in a little more with every pitch,” he said. “That helps me execute. When I’ve done my homework and I know they can’t handle certain pitches, it helps me execute at a higher clip than just blindly going up there and, here’s a 2-1 slider.

“Why am I throwing that pitch?”

The scouting report helps bolster conviction. The worst feeling for a pitcher, Skubal will tell you, is to get beat on an non-convicted pitch.

“If you get burned on anything, you want a reason why threw that pitch,” he said. “It helps you kind of move on. Was I throwing that curveball just to throw it or was there a reason to throw it?

“If you have a reason for everything you do, it helps you sleep better at night – good or bad – because you bought in to what you were doing.”

More: Breaking down root causes of Colt Keith’s ever-shrinking role with Tigers

There is a reason, too, that game plans aren’t etched in stone, figuratively speaking. Things happen in the game that can quickly alter the course.

“The scouting report might say this guy hammers fastballs,” Skubal said. “And I throw him a fastball in his first at-bat and he’s way behind. Hey, guess what? You are going to get a ton of them.”

It can go the other way, too.

“It’s day to day,” he said. “Some scouting reports are based on year-long data. But what if a guy is in a slump. (Boston slugger) Raffy Devers got thrown 17 fastballs in a game earlier. If I looked at a scouting report, I guarantee it says he hits fastballs.

“But at that moment, he wasn’t hitting fastballs. So you throw them.”

There are nuances to this stuff within at-bats. Skubal was asked about being fearless and throwing challenge fastballs in hitter-friendly counts.

“Just because you are in a hitter’s count doesn’t mean they’re thinking a heater is coming,” he said. “I’ve probably earned the right to throw some 2-0 fastballs because the at-bat prior I might’ve thrown a 2-0 changeup.

“That’s just stuff that goes on in the game. If I just went out there and did the same thing every game, I’d start to feel like a robot. That stuff is the human element in the game and that’s what makes it fun.”

There is a zone pitchers all strive to get to. Skubal has been there many times. Reese Olson got into one Wednesday. It’s the point where the game planning, conviction and execution all come together and you just start imposing your will on hitters.

“I can throw a fastball at 96 mph with 18 inches of carry and two inches of horizontal break and it gets fouled off because I wasn’t bought in,” Skubal said. “I can throw that same heater at 96 and I’m bought in on it and for whatever reason, there is a little more life on it, even though the numbers say it’s the same pitch.

“You can see it. It just comes out and you are going right after guys. It’s overwhelming. When I’m sitting in the dugout watching other guys do it, it’s like, ‘Holy crap.’ It’s so hard to get in that mode.”

Skubal watched Yankees’ lefty Max Fried get in one of those zones against the Tigers when he punched out 11 in seven innings back on April 9.

“That was probably the best I’ve ever watched from a starting pitcher,” Skubal said. “It was unbelievable and it was overwhelming. I was like, we don’t have a chance. At the end of the outing he started ripping 96 and 97 and we’re way late because he’d slowed us down the whole game.

“I’m getting goosebumps right now. That’s pitching.”

Skubal is due for a goosebump outing of his own.

The Detroit Lions began Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft with five draft selections overall. With two picks in the sixth-round and three in the seventh, it could be assumed the scouting department was comfortable with their evaluations and prospect rankings.

After targeting a defensive tackle, offensive lineman and wide receiver, Detroit decided to trade up again to pick No. 171 to select guard Miles Frazier out of LSU.

Detroit dealt with New England and parted ways with picks No. 182 and No. 228 to move up 11 spots.

Frazier was considered to be a top-100 prospect by several pundits, including NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah.

According to NFL draft analyst Lance Zeirlein, “Four-year starter who classifies as a physical short-area guard with satisfactory height, weight and length. Frazier has knock-back pop and is capable of mauling in tight spaces. His short pulls and lead blocks around the end are solid. Difficulties with reach blocks and second-level cut-offs on stretch plays could cause zone teams to scratch him. He possesses adequate range and foot quickness in protection and is fairly clear-eyed to recognize gaming fronts. His hand placement is average and he’s tight in his knees, which could be a concern for his anchor. Frazier has things to clean up but carries pro measurables and a play demeanor that gives him a shot to become a starter.”

The Lions began the draft by selecting Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams with the 28th overall pick. Holmes told reporters that he entertained the possibility of trading back, but ultimately elected to stay in place and make the pick.

Holmes was active on the draft’s second day, completing a pair of trades to move up in the draft. First, he traded up three spots with the Denver Broncos to acquire Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge.

Then, he traded the 102nd overall pick along with a pair of 2026 third-round picks to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 70th overall pick, the 182nd overall pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick. With that pick, the Lions drafted Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have in recent days deported a Cuban-born mother of a 1-year-old girl, separating them indefinitely, and in another case a 2-year-old girl who is a U.S. citizen along with her Honduran-born mother, their lawyers say.

Both cases raise questions about who is being deported, and why, and come amid a battle in federal courts over whether President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown has gone too far and too quickly at the expense of fundamental rights.

Lawyers in the two cases described how their clients were arrested at routine check-ins at ICE offices, given virtually no opportunity to speak with lawyers or their family members and then deported within two or three days.

A federal judge in Louisiana raised questions about the deportation of the 2-year-old girl, saying the government had not proven that it had done so properly.

The American Civil Liberties Union, National Immigration Project and several other allied groups said in a statement that that case and another in New Orleans that involves deporting children who are U.S. citizens are a shocking although increasingly common abuse of power.

Lawyers for the girl's father insisted he wanted the girl to remain with him in the U.S., while ICE contended the mother had wanted the girl to be deported with her to Honduras, claims that weren't fully vetted by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty in Louisiana.

Doughty in a Friday order scheduled a hearing on May 16 in the interest of dispelling our strong suspicion that the Government just deported a U.S. citizen with no meaningful process," he wrote.

The Honduran-born mother was arrested Tuesday along with the 2-year-old girl and her 11-year-old Honduran-born sister during a check-in appointment at an ICE office in New Orleans. Both the mother and 11-year-old girl apparently had outstanding deportation orders. The family lived in Baton Rouge.

Doughty called government lawyers on Friday to speak to the woman while she was in the air on a deportation plane, only to be called back less than an hour later saying a conversation was impossible because she had just been released in Honduras.

In a Thursday court filing, lawyers for the father said ICE indicated that it was holding the 2-year-old girl in a bid to induce the father to turn himself in. His lawyers did not describe his immigration status, but said he has legally delegated the custody of his daughters to his sister-in-law, a U.S. citizen who also lives in Baton Rouge.

RELATED STORY | FBI arrests Milwaukee judge for allegedly helping an immigrant avoid ICE custody

In Florida, meanwhile, a Cuban-born woman who is the mother of a 1-year-old girl and the wife of a U.S. citizen was detained at a scheduled check-in appointment at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Tampa, her lawyer said Saturday.

Heidy Snchez was held without any communication and flown to Cuba two days later. She is still breastfeeding her daughter, who suffers from seizures, her lawyer, Claudia Caizares, said.

Caizares said she tried to file paperwork with ICE to contest the deportation Thursday morning but ICE refused to accept it, saying Snchez was already gone, although Caizares said she doesn't think that was true.

Caizares said she told ICE that she was planning to reopen Snchez' case to help her remain in the U.S. legally, but ICE told her that Snchez can pursue the case while she's in Cuba.

I think theyre following orders that they need to remove a certain amount of people by day and they dont care, honestly, Caizares said.

Snchez is not a criminal and has a strong case on humanitarian grounds for allowing her to stay in the U.S., Caizares said, but ICE isn't taking that into consideration when it has to meet what the lawyer said were deportation benchmarks.

Snchez had an outstanding deportation order stemming from a missed hearing in 2019, for which she was detained for nine months, Caizares said. Cuba apparently refused to accept Sanchez back at the time, so Sanchez was released in 2020 and ordered to maintain a regular schedule of check-ins with ICE, Caizares said.

ALLEN PARK — Tate Ratledge thinks he’s going to fit right in with the Detroit Lions, and it’s not because of his tattoo.

That part is simply a coincidence.

Ratledge, who has a lion inked on his right forearm, sees similarities between the program he’s leaving — Georgia, which has won two of the last four national titles — and the franchise he’s joining. Lions head coach Dan Campbell and Georgia headman Kirby Smart both “believe in physical football players, tough football players (and) smart football players,” and Ratledge, an offensive guard who stood out as a starter for the Bulldogs over the last three seasons, fits that description.

“I’m here to do whatever helps the team win,” Ratledge told reporters through a Zoom meeting Friday evening, shortly after the Lions selected him with the 57th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. “I’m a team player through and through. If they need me to go kick out to tackle, I’ll go kick out to tackle. If they need me to be an X receiver and run go balls, I can do that. … I just want a chance to compete, and a chance to go out there and do my best every day.”

The Lions moved up three spots to secure Ratledge, trading Nos. 60 and 130 to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Nos. 57 and 230. They leapt over the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens in the process. The Raiders and Ravens went on to select TCU receiver Jack Bech and Marshall pass rusher Mike Green, respectively.

It was the first of two trades on Friday for the Lions, who later moved up for Arkansas receiver Isaac TeSlaa.

Ratledge (6-foot-6½, 308 pounds) made 34 starts in his tenure at Georgia, with each coming at right guard. He’s credited with allowing two sacks and 18 total pressures over 1,180 career pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus, and his grade as a run blocker in 2024 (74.7) ranked 32nd among the 315 guards who received at least 150 run-blocking snaps.

The Lions already have veteran Graham Glasgow and 2024 sixth-round pick Christian Mahogany on the roster, but Ratledge figures to compete with them for a starting role. Glasgow, 33 years old in August, appeared in 16 of Detroit’s 17 games last season. Mahogany, meanwhile, got one start in the regular season and another in the playoffs, impressing in the limited sample size.

“I’m in the spot right now where all I can do is ask for a chance to compete,” Ratledge said. “I think I have a lot of those traits to go to a winning program, coming from one, knowing what it takes; knowing what has to be done to win. Right now, I’m in the position where all I can ask for is a shot to compete. Go in there, compete and give it my all every day and try to make that team better.”

Last year, general manager Brad Holmes affectionately said Mahogany has “got some dirtbag in him.” The phrase was meant as an ode to the mean streak and toughness Mahogany plays with, and Ratledge falls in that same bucket.

Ratledge doesn’t think it’s possible for an offensive lineman to play at a high level without having some “dirtbag” to him. That’s music to the ears of Campbell and Holmes.

“Just like Mahogany fit what we were looking for, Tate fits what we’re looking for — whether he’s got his mullet or not,” Holmes said. “He plays the game the right way. He’s tough; he’s physical; he’s a lot more athletic than you may think, and he’s got a lot more versatility than people may realize. That’s really when he really, really rose through the process for us. Those guys fit. They’re smart; they’re tough; they’re gritty, and they play our style of ball.”

Ratledge’s mullet, which has already begun to develop a cult-like following, was born as a joke during the COVID-19 pandemic. His father gave him the haircut in their front lawn, and he decided to keep it after an “eight-month awkward phase.”

A Georgia native who was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2020, Ratledge had been at Georgia for the last five seasons. The Lions never had him in for a visit in Allen Park, but the team met with him while at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. Ratledge remembers speaking with offensive line coach Hank Fraley and having “extensive” conversations about the system and “just knowing football.”

“I’ve always been a fan of Coach Campbell and the way he runs his program, just seeing what he has to say, how he runs his team, the way his offensive line plays,” Ratledge said. “Just everything about the way he runs his team, I feel like, is a great fit.”

If you are looking for a new abode that feels like you are able to be away from home, perhaps this residence should be on your search list.

Located at 26918 Koerber Street, St. Clair Shores, the four bedroom, five bathroom home is available for $1,650,000.

“One of a kind beautiful lake front home on Lake St. Clair! It’s truly a dream home where you can Vacation all year long boating, swimming, fishing, ice fishing, watching freighters going by and seeing the glowing St Clair light…. just dreamy,” says Shelly Mueller, the realtor with RE/MAX Advisors handling the listing.

Each bedroom has its own bathroom, which adds to the customizable feel. There is a wet bar upstairs and a laundry area on each level which adds to the ease of  entertaining and living in the home. The home has 5,200 square feet of living space.

There is also a three and a half car attached garage and a 1,700 square foot detached heated four car garage/barn, which only expands the options available with this property to suit it to fit needs.

For the water fun outside, there is a 200 foot steel dock,10,000 pound electric hoist and  ATV ramp.

Plenty of chance to relax inside and out with views and activities for everyone.

The home is viewable on Zillow here: zillow.com/homedetails/26918-Koerber-St-Saint-Clair-Shores-MI-48081/83625427_zpid

— Macomb Daily staff 

 

 

 

Iran and the United States held in-depth negotiations in Oman over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program on Saturday, ending the discussions with a promise for more talks and perhaps another high-level meeting next weekend.

The talks ran for several hours in Muscat, the mountain-wrapped capital of this sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula.

A person close to Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, acknowledged that the meeting had started and later ended. The source spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door talks. Iranian state television also reported their conclusion.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state television after the talks that the parties exchanged written points throughout the day in discussions that he described as very serious and work-focused.

This time, the negotiations were much more serious than in the past, and we gradually entered into deeper and more detailed discussions," he said. We have moved somewhat away from broader, general discussions though it is not the case that all disagreements have been resolved. Differences still exist both on major issues and on the details.

A senior U.S. administration official said that the talks were positive and productive.

This latest round of direct and indirect discussions lasted over four hours, the official said on condition of anonymity to discuss the talks. There is still much to do, but further progress was made on getting to a deal. We agreed to meet again soon, in Europe, and we thank our Omani partners for facilitating these talks.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has mediated the two previous round of talks in Muscat and Rome, offered a positive note at the end of Saturday's negotiations.

Iran and the U.S. identified a shared aspiration to reach agreement based on mutual respect and enduring commitments, al-Busaidi posted on X. Core principles, objectives and technical concerns were all addressed. Talks will continue next week with a further high level meeting provisionally scheduled for May 3.

Araghchi arrived Friday in Oman on the eve of the talks and visited the Muscat International Book Fair, surrounded by television cameras and photojournalists. Witkoff was in Moscow on Friday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and arrived on Saturday to Oman.

Meanwhile on Saturday, a major explosion rocked a port in southern Iran just after the talks began, killing four people and injuring more than 500 others. Authorities offered no immediate cause for the blast, which appeared to have been caused by a highly combustible material though officials ruled out its oil and gas industry. The private security firm also linked to a shipment of a chemical ingredient used to make missile propellant to the port as well.

RELATED STORY | Trump: U.S. will talk with Iran but says Tehran can't have nuclear weapons

Nuclear talks come after decades of tensions

The talks seek to limit Irans nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic closing in on a half-century of enmity.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Irans program if a deal isnt reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.

Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers did limit Tehran's program. However, Trump unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018, setting in motion years of attacks and tensions. The wider Middle East also remains on edge over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Trump, traveling to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis, again said that he hoped negotiations would lead to a new nuclear deal. However, he still held out the possibility of a military strike if they didn't.

The Iran situation is coming out very well, Trump said on Air Force One. We've had a lot of talks with them and I think we're going to have a deal. I'd much rather have a deal than the other alternative. That would be good for humanity."

He added: There are some people that want to make a different kind of a deal a much nastier deal and I dont want that to happen to Iran if we can avoid it.

Talks turn to experts

From the Iranian side, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-e Ravanchi headed up Tehrans expert team, said Mohammad Golzari, an Iranian government official. Takht-e Ravanchi took part in the 2015 nuclear talks.

The U.S. technical team was led by Michael Anton, the director of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubios policy planning staff. Anton doesn't have the nuclear policy experience of those who led Washingtons efforts in the 2015 talks.

Iran has insisted that keeping its enrichment is key. But Witkoff has muddied the issue by first suggesting in a television interview that Iran could enrich uranium at 3.67%, then later saying that all enrichment must stop. The demand that all enrichment stop also has been repeated by Rubio.

However, Iranians remain hopeful that the talks could be successful, as the Iranian rial has rebounded from historic lows during which it took more than 1 million rials to buy $1.

Its OK to negotiate, to make the nuclear program smaller or bigger, and reach a deal, Tehran resident Farzin Keivan said. Of course we shouldnt give them everything. After all, weve suffered a lot for this program.

RELATED STORY | Iran and US envoys hold 1st negotiation over Tehran's nuclear program, and talk face-to-face

ALLEN PARK — Some people were born to be Detroit Lions. Isaac TeSlaa is one of them.

The Lions traded up twice on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, using their second move to go up 32 spots in Round 3 and grab TeSlaa, a wide receiver from Arkansas who grew up in Hudsonville and has been a fan of the Lions since he was in diapers.

Detroit sent multiple Day 2 picks to get TeSlaa (6-foot-4, 214 pounds) on Friday night, giving up both of next year’s third-round picks and this year’s third-rounder (102 overall). In return, the Lions received pick Nos. 70 and 182 in this year’s draft and a sixth-round pick in next year’s draft.

“I don’t know if I have words … I’m still processing it right now. Obviously, it’s been not only a dream to play in the NFL, but to play for my hometown team, the team I’ve been rooting for since I was a baby, so, it’s just an incredible feeling,” TeSlaa told reporters via Zoom.

TeSlaa, 23, attended Unity Christian in Hudsonville. He began his college career at Hillsdale (Great Midwest Athletic Conference) before transferring to Arkansas in 2023. Over 25 games for the Razorbacks, he caught 62 passes for 896 yards (14.5 average) and five touchdowns.

He first got on the radar of Lions general manager Brad Holmes during the Senior Bowl. Holmes immediately noticed TeSlaa’s blocking, saying he “was just being a pest and he was pissing off the (defensive backs).”

“Obviously, it made me just want to completely watch the tape when you see a guy that’s just big, long, smooth strider, can accelerate, can run, he’s a hands catcher, can play special teams, can block,” Holmes said. “He can do a lot of things.”

He’s an uber-athletic receiver with inside-outside ability and said he models his game after Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua. Based on NFL Combine measurements, TeSlaa ranked No. 1 in athleticism score, per Next Gen Stats. He received a 9.97 Relative Athletic Score, which ranks 11th out of 3,441 receivers from 1987 to 2025.

“He’s gonna need to develop, but he’s got the tools to play outside and win outside. He’s gonna have to learn getting off press (coverage) and all that stuff, just like they all do, but he’s got all the physical tools,” Holmes said. “He’s got the intangible makeup to be able to overcome that.”

The Lions hosted TeSlaa on a top-30 visit — and TeSlaa showed up in a customized Lions jersey (No. 10) with his name on the back. Holmes thought it was a bit “cheesy” until TeSlaa told him he’s owned the gear since eighth grade.

Just how deep does TeSlaa’s fandom go? He was in attendance at Ford Field when Lions Hall-of-Famer Calvin Johnson set the single-season receiving record in 2012.

“I remember growing up watching Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford, all those guys,” TeSlaa said. “It’s cool to be a part of that team now.”

Two of the picks used to move up for TeSlaa were compensatory picks awarded to the Lions after former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn was hired as head coach of the New York Jets. Detroit also moved up three spots in Round 2 to draft Georgia guard Tate Ratledge, sending pick Nos. 60 and 130 to the Denver Broncos for Nos. 57 and 230.

Following the pair of trades, the Lions are set to have four picks on the final day of the draft: Two in Round 6 (Nos. 182; 196, via Tampa Bay) and three in Round 7 (Nos. 228, via Dallas; 230, via Denver; and 244). With still one day remaining, Holmes has now traded up in the draft 11 times since 2021.

Entering Day 3, the Lions have yet to address edge rusher, their biggest position of need entering the weekend and arguably one of the deepest positions of the entire draft.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a disappointment (to not add an edge rusher) because we got all guys that we love,” Holmes said. “Like I told you guys before the draft, we could have drafted an edge rusher that plays that position. We could have done it, and y’all would have been happy, right?”

Holmes continued, “All I hear is ‘Edge rusher, draft an edge rusher.’ So I’m like, ‘Well, are you assuming that the guy’s really good?’ Well, that’s a whole different story. Can you get in a position to get one of those? I don’t need to get into specifics, but there’s times where we made attempts to get one, and (he) just got picked before, we couldn’t get up (in a trade). It takes two to trade. Or we just had another player higher, but we did the same thing that we do every draft. We picked the highest-rated player regardless of position.”

At Hillsdale, TeSlaa was named the 2022 Great Midwest Athletic Conference offensive player of the year and was First Team All-G-MAC after hauling in 68 catches for 1,325 yards (19.5 average) and 13 touchdowns.

TeSlaa joins a receiving room that features two-time All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, Ronnie Bell, Tom Kennedy and Kalif Raymond.

The Department of Government Efficiency is reportedly building a large cross-agency government database of potentially sensitive information, sparking new concerns from lawmakers about the security of Americans' Social Security data and other personal information.

A letter this month from Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly, the ranking member on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, says whistleblower information suggests DOGE is "rapidly, haphazardly, and unlawfully" making changes at the Social Security Administration.

"The DOGE team is reportedly engaged in an unprecedented effort to build a massive database using data from SSA and across the federal government, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and other agencies," Connolly wrote.

"It is my hope that shedding sunlight on the opaque operations of DOGE at SSA will stop further damage to the agency and prevent a potentially calamitous disruption to the benefit payments that serve as a lifeline for more than 70 million Americans."

The letter asks SSA auditors to find out what DOGE accessed, what it may have changed and whether it was compliant with data privacy and cybersecurity laws.

RELATED STORY | No, Elon Musk, millions of immigrants are not committing Social Security fraud

Multiple outlets have since reported that the database could be used for tracking immigrants and and enforcing immigration policies.

Both CNN and Wired cite anonymous sources familiar with the operation, who say the database could be used to identify and monitor immigrants, including those who have violated civil immigration laws.

According to CNN's reporting, DOGE is working with data analytics company Palantir to build the database.

Scripps News has not yet independently verified the reporting.

A massive explosion and fire rocked a port Saturday in southern Iran purportedly linked to a shipment of a chemical ingredient used to make missile propellant, killing eight people and injuring around 750 others.

Helicopters dumped water from the air on the raging fire hours after the initial explosion, which happened at the Shahid Rajaei port just as Iran and the United States met Saturday in Oman for the third round of negotiations over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear program.

No one in Iran outright suggested that the explosion came from an attack. However, even Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led the talks, on Wednesday acknowledged that our security services are on high alert given past instances of attempted sabotage and assassination operations designed to provoke a legitimate response.

Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni gave the casualty figure in an interview on state television. But there were few details on what sparked the blaze just outside of Bandar Abbas, which burned into Saturday night, causing other containers to reportedly explode.

Video shows explosion and fire that rocked a port Saturday in southern Iran

Security firm says port received chemical for missile fuel

The port took in a shipment of sodium perchlorate rocket fuel in March, the private security firm Ambrey said. The fuel is part of a shipment from China by two vessels to Iran first reported in January by the Financial Times. The fuel was going to be used to replenish Iran's missile stocks, which had been depleted by its direct attacks on Israel during the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

"The fire was reportedly the result of improper handling of a shipment of solid fuel intended for use in Iranian ballistic missiles," Ambrey said.

Ship-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press put one of the vessels believed to be carrying the chemical in the vicinity in March, as Ambrey said. Iran hasn't acknowledged taking the shipment. The Iranian mission to the United Nations didn't respond to a request for comment on Saturday.

It's unclear why Iran wouldn't have moved the chemicals from the port, particularly after the Beirut port blast in 2020. That explosion, caused by the ignition of hundreds of tons of highly explosive ammonium nitrate, killed more than 200 people and injured more than 6,000 others. However, Israel did target Iranian missile sites where Tehran uses industrial mixers to create solid fuel.

Social media footage of the explosion on Saturday at Shahid Rajaei saw reddish-hued smoke rising from the fire just before the detonation. That suggests a chemical compound being involved in the blast like in the Beirut explosion.

Get back get back! Tell the gas (truck) to go!" a man in one video shouted just before the blast. "Tell him to go, its going to blow up! Oh God, this is blowing up! Everybody evacuate! Get back! Get back!

On Saturday night, the state-run IRNA news agency said that the Customs Administration of Iran blamed a stockpile of hazardous goods and chemical materials stored in the port area" for the blast, without elaborating.

An aerial shot released by Iranian media after the blast showed fires burning at multiple locations in the port, with authorities later warning about air pollution from chemicals such as ammonia, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide in the air. Schools in Bandar Abbas will be closed Sunday as well.

RELATED STORY | Iran and the US hold hours of expert talks in Oman over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program

Port a major destination for Iranian cargo

Shahid Rajaei has been a target before. A 2020 cyberattack attributed to Israel targeted the port. It came after Israel said that it thwarted a cyberattack targeting its water infrastructure, which it attributed to Iran. Israeli officials didn't respond to requests for comment regarding Saturday's explosion.

Social media videos showed black billowing smoke after the blast. Others showed glass blown out of buildings kilometers, or miles, away from the epicenter of the explosion. State media footage showed the injured crowding into at least one hospital, with ambulances arriving as medics rushed one person by on a stretcher.

Hasanzadeh, the provincial disaster management official, earlier told state television that the blast came from containers at Shahid Rajaei port in the city, without elaborating. State television also reported that there had been a building collapse caused by the explosion, though no further details were offered.

The Interior Ministry said that it launched an investigation into the blast. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also offered his condolences for those affected in the blast.

Shahid Rajaei port in Hormozgan province is about 1,050 kilometers (650 miles) southeast of Iran's capital, Tehran, on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil traded passes.

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met at the Vatican Saturday before attending the funeral of Pope Francis, according to the White House.

An image shared by the White House shows President Trump and Zelenskyy seated face-to-face in chairs in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Major details of the leaders' discussion have not yet been released. The two leaders spoke for about 15 minutes before the funeral.

The White House called the discussion "very productive."

We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered," Zelenskyy posted on social media. "Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you."

Both heads of state were among 12 reigning monarchs and 55 heads of state the Vatican said attended Francis' funeral.

President Trump reportedly returned to the airport immediately after the funeral to prepare for the return flight to the U.S.

RELATED STORY | Pope Francis' funeral draws crowds of the faithful to St. Peter's Square

The meeting comes as President Trump continues to push Russia and Ukraine to meet and work toward a peace deal.

In comments posted on social media Friday, President Trump said he believes a deal between the two countries is close.

"Success seems to be in the future" he wrote, and later in the day: "They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to 'finish it off.' Most of the major points are agreed to. Stop the bloodshed, NOW."

But on Saturday, he expressed more skepticism.

"There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days," President Trump said on social media. "It makes me think that maybe he doesnt want to stop the war, hes just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently."

RELATED STORY | Trump makes new calls for Russia and Ukraine to push forward peace deal

Hey, you're busy we get it.

We know a lot happens throughout the week, and you may not catch all of our stories here at WXYZ. So we've decided to gather the most talked-about stories from the past week all in one place that you can check out during your free time over the weekend.

Have a story idea or tip? Feel free to let us know using the contact form below.

Here are the big stories from the week beginning April 21.

Photographer captures final moments between pets and owners to help with grieving process Last images of man's best friend

For those who have loved and lost a pet, the grief can be overwhelming. When our furry companions are no longer by our side, memories are often all we have left.

At 16 years old, Molly isn't as healthy as she used to be, dealing with seizures and vestibular disease.

"She's on a totally large regime of meds right now," Deborah Montgomery said.

Montgomery is well aware these are the final stages of her beloved pet's life. That's why she's choosing to commemorate their special bond through what's called an "end-of-life photoshoot."

The woman behind the camera is Hannah Rippey of Wandering Tails Photography. As a veterinarian technician by day, it's Rippey's full-time job that got her into end-of-life photography, only charging people what they want to pay.

"Something that broke my heart was just, you know, your dog is sick and here's the goodbye. I wanted to offer something to help people process that outside of the traditional bring your dog to the vet and say goodbye to them," Rippey said.

When asked about witnessing the special moments between pets and their owners during these photoshoots, Rippey finds deep meaning in her work.

"To me, it's a calling for me for sure and it just brings me so much joy, especially because I still am in vet medicine and I can't tell you how many days and how many weeks I go home just feeling broken and heartbroken for people," Rippey said.

Although our pets' time here is short, just like their love, photos like these will last a lifetime.

Sterling Heights police launch special needs registry to improve emergency responses Sterling Heights Police Launch Special Needs Registry To Help Vulnerable Community Members

The Sterling Heights Police Department has become one of the first agencies in the area to implement a special needs registry, providing emergency crews with critical information about some of the community's most vulnerable residents.

The online registry allows families to confidentially share important details about loved ones with special needs, helping first responders approach situations with appropriate awareness and techniques.

"Finally, finally," James Dziendziel said when he first saw the announcement from Sterling Heights police about the new initiative to assist those with special needs.

Dziendziel, whose 14-year-old son has autism, believes the registry will significantly benefit his family.

"You won't have to worry as much about where's my child at this given moment and am I going to get my child back," Dziendziel said.

The registry allows families to provide first responders with vital information about their loved ones including behavior triggers and de-escalation techniques.

Lt. Craig Cole, who spearheaded the database and related training, says creating a more compassionate response is exactly the goal.

"We want to respond with empathy and compassion and we want families to know there's a human being behind this badge," Cole said.

For Cole, the initiative is personal.

"I have two great nieces that have autism, so it is watching or listening to the fear of my sister, her grandchildren. It really struck a cord with me that we can do more in law enforcement," Cole said.

The registration process is straightforward and confidential. Once a family completes the online form, the information is reviewed and then shared with emergency dispatch.

Non-profit leading effort to plant California's sequoia trees in Detroit Non-profit leading effort to plant California's sequoia trees in Detroit

What was once vacant land is transforming into an urban forest on Detroit's east side, as a local non-profit works to plant giant sequoia trees that could stand for thousands of years.

Arboretum Detroit is leading the effort to fill the Poletown neighborhood with giant sequoia trees, which are native to California and known as the world's largest trees.

"They're now threatened in their native habitat, so this is partially an assisted migration," said Co-Director Birch Kemp.

Kemp says massive trees could live over 3,000 years, providing a lasting legacy for the community while addressing environmental concerns.

"There are only 80 thousand left in their native range, so we think they're a good climate solution for a place like Detroit that's heating up and needs more shade," said Kemp.

One tree stood about 10 feet tall, but could eventually reach heights of 300 feet, as tall as Detroit's Coleman A. Young Municipal Center.

Non-profit Archangel Ancient Tree Archive donated the trees for volunteers to plant and for community members to take home.

"It just feels really special. It feels like it's gonna be a really beautiful thing for us to have to be a part of," said Chelsea Piner, who participated with her young family and took a tree home.

Freshman at Cass Tech making waves after earning school's first wrestling state title State champion wrestler Cyrus Woodberry is inspiring others

A young student-athlete is making waves at Cass Tech High School and across Michigan. Inspired by family, wrestling has always been a part of Cyrus Woodberry's life.

"I first started wrestling when I was four. My big brother started wrestling first, and I just wanted to copy him, so I started," Woodberry said.

By the time he finished 8th grade, Cyrus was already able to call himself a national and state champ through tournaments he took part in. What started as a way to look up to his big brother became his passion.

"It's pretty fun. I get to let all my anger out on the mat," Woodberry said.

Now he's a freshman phenom at the high school level. During the most recent wrestling season, Cyrus racked up more than 50 wins on his way to earning the Division 1 state title at 106 pounds.

When his hand was raised, he became the first wrestling state champion at Cass Tech and only the second ever within Detroit public schools.

"It was relieving because of all the days I get up in the morning and work out, practice after school, stay after school, and work out. So it was relieving to know I finally did it," Woodberry said.

While he's making history on the mat, he's also maintained over a 3.6 GPA. Cyrus said there's lessons in wrestling that he applies to the classroom.

"Through wrestling, I've learned discipline, effort, and hard work, which is what I need for anything I do," Woodberry said.

Detroit City Council exploring tax options, including an 'amusement tax' Detroit City Council exploring tax options, including an 'amusement tax'

Is it time for local sales taxes in Detroit? City council is exploring the idea. It recently commissioned a study to determine the viability of a myriad of tax options, including an amusement tax.

It would essentially be a sales tax for admission to sporting events, concerts, and other events that draw tourists.

This report essentially would do a deep dive to let us know the legal barriers we face, the legislative barriers we face, and more importantly, if we overcome them, how much money a hotel tax, an entertainment tax could generate for the city of Detroit, Council President Mary Sheffield said.

Sheffield says the Citizens Research Council of Michigan will conduct that study. Its president says Detroit is one of the rare cities that have four major sports teams playing within its limits.

But without a local sales tax or amusement tax, the city is not benefiting from that in any substantial way, Eric Lupher said.

This is not the first time City leaders have given tax options consideration. Councilwoman Angela Whitfield Calloway commissioned a report on the potential impacts of an amusement tax from the Council's Legislative Policy Division on December 14, 2023.

One Citizens Research Council of Michigan study found that an amusement tax with a flat $3 fee on tickets would raise nearly $8 million from Tigers and Lions games and concerts held at Ford Field or Little Caesars Arena based on 2022 attendance records.

'A little bit too much.' Some in downtown Detroit want change, say food trucks take their business Some in downtown Detroit want change, say food trucks take their business

Taking a stand against the rapid rise in food trucks in downtown Detroit, some brick-and-mortar restaurants say they're struggling to survive.

They claim more must be done to enforce limits on a summer food truck program, as they compete with restaurants for businesses and owners who say it's unfair.

Its becoming a little bit too much. 80 trucks. Food costs are up. Everything is up. Rents are up. People arent coming to the office every day. Even the volume is down," George Antonopulos, the owner of Athens Souvlaki, said.

Antonopulos said the rise in the number of food trucks allowed here is unfairly cutting into his business and others who pay property taxes and more.

Detroit City Councilman Fred Durhal III agreed to talk about the issue we brought to him after hearing from stakeholders. He also said he plans to address it.

My team and I are currently working on an ordinance. Our ordinances now have no regulations on how food trucks operate on private property," he said.

We also questioned Eric Larsen, the CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership, which oversees parts of the food truck program.s

He said while they pay a fee for the summer, further review of how many are allowed is needed.

Its a balance, Simon. We spend a lot of time with our small businesses listening to what their concerns are," Larsen said.

90-year-old gardener shares lifelong passion and tips for growing your own food 90-year-old gardener shares lifelong passion and tips for growing your own food

Willie Smith, a 90-year-old gardener from Ann Arbor, has been cultivating plants his entire life. It's a tradition that began during his childhood in Mississippi.

"It was a thing I've done all my life," Smith said.

Born and raised on a farm, Smith and his family grew their own food and vegetables while raising animals.

"It's a thing we used to say: 'living off the fat of the land,'" Smith said. "And it worked. That wasn't just a saying, but that was just the reality of what people done in those days."

After moving to Michigan in 1959, Smith began working for General Motors and raising his family, but he always made time for his garden.

"I just don't like to sit inside the house all day long. I don't see how people can do it. I have to stick my head out the door or something," Smith said.

Willie Smith focuses primarily on growing tomatoes, cucumbers and greens in his garden, which wraps around his house.

He recommends planting after Memorial Day when the weather is warm, using rich soil and having the proper tools to create neat rows for seeds.

During hot weather, Willie Smith advises watering plants twice daily in the early morning and late afternoon.

Beacon Park is bringing pickleball to the heart of downtown Detroit this month, offering limited-time courts available for leagues and open play.

In partnership with Come Play Detroit [comeplaydetroit.com], visitors can enjoy organized weekday leagues, weekend tournaments and open play throughout the day. Whether you're a seasoned player or picking up a paddle for the first time, everyone is invited to come out and play at Beacon Park. Lumen Detroit, Beacon Parks flagship restaurant, will be open during the restaurants normal hours.

Beacon Park (903 Grand River Ave.) will offer pickleball from April 23 through June 15, 2025 on the following days:

Leagues: Monday Friday, 6 9:30 p.m. Tournaments: Saturdays & Sundays, 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Open Play: Daily during park hours when courts are not reserved Park Hours: 6 a.m. 11 p.m.

Today is Saturday, April 26, the 116th day of 2025. There are 249 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On April 26, 1986, in the worst nuclear disaster in history, an explosion and fire at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine caused radioactive fallout to begin spewing into the atmosphere. Dozens of people were killed in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, while the long-term death toll from radiation poisoning is believed to number in the thousands.

Also on this date:

In 1607, English colonists went ashore at present-day Cape Henry, Virginia, on an expedition to establish the first permanent English settlement in the Western Hemisphere.

In 1865, John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln, was surrounded by federal troops near Port Royal, Virginia, and killed.

In 1913, Mary Phagan, a 13-year-old worker at a Georgia pencil factory, was strangled; Leo Frank, the factory superintendent, was convicted of her murder and sentenced to death. (Frank’s death sentence was commuted, but he was lynched by an antisemitic mob in 1915.)

In 1964, the African nations of Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form what is now known as Tanzania.

In 1977, the legendary nightclub Studio 54 had its opening night in New York.

In 1994, voting began in South Africa’s first all-race elections, which resulted in victory for the African National Congress and the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as president.

In 2000, Vermont Gov. Howard Dean signed the nation’s first bill allowing same-sex couples to form civil unions.

In 2012, former Liberian President Charles Taylor became the first head of state since World War II to be convicted by an international war crimes court as he was found guilty of aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, and the use of child soldiers. (Taylor was sentenced to 50 years in prison.)

In 2018, comedian Bill Cosby was convicted of drugging and molesting Temple University employee Andrea Constand at Cosby’s suburban Philadelphia mansion in 2004. (Cosby was later sentenced to three to 10 years in prison, but Pennsylvania’s highest court threw out the conviction and released him from prison in June 2021, ruling that the prosecutor in the case was bound by his predecessor’s agreement not to charge Cosby.)

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor-comedian Carol Burnett is 92.
• Composer-producer Giorgio Moroder is 85.
• Olympic swimming gold medalist Donna de Varona is 78.
• Actor Giancarlo Esposito is 67.
• Actor Joan Chen is 64.
• Actor Jet Li is 62.
• Actor-comedian Kevin James is 60.
• Former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey is 59.
• Actor Marianne Jean-Baptiste is 58.
• First lady Melania Trump is 55.
• Singer Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins (TLC) is 55.
• Country musician Jay DeMarcus (Rascal Flatts) is 54.
• Actor Tom Welling is 48.
• Actor Pablo Schreiber is 47.
• Actor Jordana Brewster is 45.
• Actor Channing Tatum is 45.
• New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is 33.