By TARA COPP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot was asked to resign this week, a senior defense official told The Associated Press on Thursday, in the latest shakeup for the Defense Department following firings and other changes under President Donald Trump.

Ullyot was one of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s initial hires for the communications office and oversaw some of its most highly visible but controversial moves, including a broad edict to the military services to strip away online images and other content considered a promotion of diversity, equity or inclusion.

That directive, given under a wide-ranging Trump administration effort to purge so-called DEI content from federal agencies, led to public outcry when images of national heroes like Jackie Robinson were briefly removed.

Ullyot’s departure is the fourth this week among Hegseth’s former inner circle. Three other senior officials were escorted from the building this week after being implicated in an ongoing investigation into information leaks: Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg; Darin Selnick, Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff; and Dan Caldwell, an aide to Hegseth.

It was not immediately clear what leaks led to the departures. Caldwell and Selnick had worked with the defense secretary during his time leading the nonprofit Concerned Veterans for America.

Under Hegseth, the communications office has made significant changes to how it works with Pentagon reporters, including removing many news outlets from their longtime workspaces and not yet holding weekly briefings.

Ullyot was transferred out of the communications office in late March following the blowback from the Pentagon’s purge of Robinson and a bungled public affairs response. Also, in his emailed responses to journalists, Ullyot referred to himself as the Pentagon press secretary. But Hegseth had hired Sean Parnell to speak for him from the Pentagon’s podium.

In an emailed response to the AP on Thursday, Ullyot said he told Hegseth when he was hired he “was not interested in being number two to anyone in public affairs” and that the understanding was always that he would stay only for about two months to help get the communications office up and running. When no other suitable position was found for him, Ullyot said he decided to resign.

But a senior defense official familiar with the decision said that wasn’t the case and that Hegseth’s office had requested that Ullyot resign.

Ullyot, who shared his resignation letter with AP, disputed the official’s account, calling it “flat out false and laughable.”

Ullyot’s resignation Wednesday was not tied to the inquiry into the unauthorized disclosures. Two other U.S. officials said Carroll, Selnick and Caldwell were placed on leave in that investigation.

All three officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not been made public.

The departures follow a purge of senior military officers, including Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown; Chief of Naval Operations Lisa Franchetti; National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command director Gen. Tim Haugh; and Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, the U.S. military representative to the NATO Military Committee.

A Canton intersection has long been a bane to drivers in that area. It's the spot where Michigan Avenue and Sheldon Road intersect near Geddes Road.

A viewer tipped us off to problems there after 7 News Detroits Randy Wimbley spent the day there connecting with community members and stakeholders.

Standing here at the light, I had to pull out because the grass was so high and I was hard to see, I was in a low vehicle, and a pickup truck just ran me right over, Marta Gervais said.

It's one story after another.

Yes, it's a lot of accidents. I've actually lost a classmate - driver coming the wrong way hit her head on, Jazmine Williams said.

Canton Township records show there's been 157 crashes in this area since 2020. The causes range from careless driving to failing to yield, improper lane use, to being unable to stop in an assured clear distance (tailgating).

The causes for those crashes we see that everywhere all the time, and all of that is driver behavior. People going too fast, they're speeding, they're not using their turn signal, MDOT Spokeswoman Diane Cross said.

Gervais says it's not just about drivers but also the layout of the roads. At the intersection, you have Michigan Avenue, which is a state road, Sheldon, which is a county road, and Geddes, which cuts through both. All of it can be confusing for some drivers.

I think it's a bad design. Nobody pays attention, Gervais said.

Canton Township Supervisor Anne Marie Graham Hudak says they are working with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) to make the intersection more efficient.

Roundabout, four-way stop, or maybe just not allowing on Geddes right there at all, make them go down to Canton Center to turn onto Geddes, Graham-Hudak said. We're waiting for experts to tell us the best way to do this.

Until then, Graham-Hudak is urging drivers to be attentive, alert, and take care.

Interview: Canton Township supervisor shares more on problematic intersection Interview: Canton Township supervisor shares more on problematic intersection

Were trying to promote driver safety all over Canton, but definitely thats a tricky intersection, she said. At the intersection, people have to be careful; they have to pay attention.

Where Your Voice Matters

By RODRIQUE NGOWI and BEN FINLEY

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — University professors and students led protests on campuses across the U.S. on Thursday against what they say are broad attacks on higher education, including massive cuts to funding, the expulsion of international students and the stifling of free speech about the war in Gaza.

Demonstrations were held at schools including Harvard, where President Donald Trump’s administration says it will freeze $2.2 billion in grants and contracts and is threatening to revoke the university’s ability to host international students.

Rochelle Sun, a graduate student at Harvard’s Department of Government, said she came to stick up for international students because they’re integral to the school’s mission of pushing “the boundaries of human knowledge.”

“The whole point of me having this education here and for pursuing research at Harvard is to be among the best scholars that exist in the world,” Sun said after the protest in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “And so if they’re not going to be around me, then I’m not going to be able to achieve my goals of being here, either.”

Sun held a sign that read: “I should be writing my dissertation, but I keep having to fight this stupid fascism.”

Nancy Krieger, a professor of social epidemiology in Harvard’s School of Public Health, spoke to the crowd about cuts to programs that are crucial to medical discoveries and monitoring the health of the population.

“We are doing our work to make a better world in which all living on this planet can equitably thrive,” she said.

Krieger said her grant from the National Institutes of Health was terminated in late February because it studied discrimination in health, the kind of research that likely won’t be funded by companies or philanthropies.

“We need to have that money going towards research and academic work and the training and teaching of the next generation that can protect the public’s health,” Krieger said to cheers.

Federal funding targeted

A growing list of higher education institutions have had federal funding targeted by the government in order to comply with the Trump administration’s political agenda. The series of threats — and subsequent pauses in funding — to some of the top U.S. universities have become an unprecedented tool for the administration to exert influence on college campuses.

Trump vowed to pursue these federal cuts on the campaign trail last year, saying he would focus on schools that push “critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content.”

Republican officials have also heavily scrutinized universities where Palestinian protests erupted on campus amid the war in Gaza last year, while several Ivy League presidents testified before Congress to discuss antisemitism allegations.

Trump and other officials have accused protesters and others of being “pro-Hamas,” referring to the Palestinian militant group that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Many protesters have said they were speaking out against Israel’s actions in the war.

The U.S. government has used its immigration enforcement powers to crack down on international students and scholars who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations or criticized Israel over its military action in Gaza. Some have been taken into custody or deported. Others fled the U.S. after learning their visas had been revoked.

‘You cannot appease a tyrant’

Thursday’s protest at Harvard comes just a few days after it became the first university to openly defy the Trump administration as it demands sweeping changes to limit activism on campus. The university frames the government’s demands as a threat not only to the Ivy League school but to the autonomy that the Supreme Court has long granted American universities.

Meanwhile, roughly 450 people showed up for a protest at the University of California-Berkeley, where emeritus professor and former Labor Secretary Robert Reich spoke out against placating Trump.

“You cannot appease a tyrant,” said Reich, who served in President Bill Clinton’s cabinet. “Columbia University tried to appease a tyrant. It didn’t work.”

Columbia University in New York initially agreed to several demands from the Trump administration. But its acting president took a more defiant tone in a campus message Monday, saying some of the demands “are not subject to negotiation.”

About 150 protesters rallied at Columbia, which had been the scene of huge pro-Palestinian protests last year. They gathered on a plaza outside a building that houses federal offices, holding signs emblazoned with slogans including “stop the war on universities” and “censorship is the weapon of fascists.”

The protests were organized by the Coalition for Action in Higher Education, which includes groups such as Higher Education Labor United and the American Federation of Teachers.

Kelly Benjamin, a spokesperson for American Association of University Professors, said in a phone call that the Trump administration’s goal of eviscerating academia is fundamentally anti-American.

“College campuses have historically been the places where these kind of conversations, these kind of robust debates and dissent take place in the United States,” Benjamin said. “It’s healthy for democracy. And they’re trying to destroy all of that in order to enact their vision and agenda.”

Finley reported from Norfolk, Virginia. Associated Press journalists Noah Berger in Berkeley, California, and Joseph B. Frederick in New York contributed to this report.

By GABRIELA AOUN ANGUEIRA and THALIA BEATY

For more than a century, the majority of colleges and universities have not paid most taxes. The Revenue Act of 1909 excused nonprofits operating “exclusively for religious, charitable, or educational purposes” in order to continue acting in the public interest.

President Donald Trump is looking to challenge that designation, complaining that colleges and universities are “indoctrinating” their students with “radical left” ideas, rather than educating them. And he has decided to start with the 388-year-old Harvard University, one of the world’s most prestigious institutions of learning and the first college founded in the American colonies.

On Tuesday, he targeted Harvard University in a post on his social media site, questioning whether it should remain tax-exempt “if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting “Sickness?” Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!”

Tax-exempt status, which is decided by the Internal Revenue Service, means that these institutions do not pay certain kinds of taxes and that their donors receive a tax deduction when they make gifts. The rules they have to follow to maintain that status are set out in the tax code. We spoke with attorneys who specialize in nonprofit law and freedom of speech to try to answer questions about this challenge.

Does a university’s curriculum affect its charitable status?

In general, no. Colleges and universities have broad leeway to design the education they provide.

Genevieve Lakier, a First Amendment scholar at the University of Chicago Law School, said the U.S. Supreme Court has laid out four essential freedoms for colleges and universities — what to teach, how to teach it, who their students are and who their professors are.

“That’s the irreducible core of academic freedom and it is constitutionally protected in this country,” she said, adding the government cannot threaten funding cuts or revoking a school’s tax status as punishment for its views or what the school teaches.

The First Amendment also protects the rights of other nonprofits to pursue their charitable missions under freedom of assembly, Lakier said, even if those missions are odious or the government does not like them.

Can the president ask the IRS to revoke a nonprofit’s tax-exempt status?

No, he is not supposed to, according to two nonprofit tax attorneys who wrote about a previous call from Trump to revoke the nonprofit status of colleges and universities.

In 1998, Congress passed a law that forbade federal officials from telling the IRS to investigate any taxpayer in an effort to increase trust in tax enforcement.

The attorneys, Ellen Aprill and Samuel Brunson, also pointed to legislation that forbade the IRS “from targeting individuals and organizations for ideological reasons,” after a controversy over how it treated Tea Party groups in 2013.

How does a nonprofit get and keep its tax-exempt status?

The IRS recognizes multiple reasons for a nonprofit to to be exempt from paying many kinds of taxes, including pursuing charitable, religious or educational missions among many other examples. The statute specifically names sports competitions, preventing cruelty to children or animals and defending human or civil rights as exempt purposes.

Nonprofits can lose their tax-exempt status for things like improperly paying its directors, endorsing a political candidate or operating a business unrelated to its charitable mission.

In short, tax attorneys say nonprofits must operate “exclusively for charitable purposes,” which is a different standard than what the president referred to as, “acting in the public interest.”

Phil Hackney, a law professor at the University of Pittsburgh, said, “Long history and precedent suggest that Harvard and institutions of higher education are operating for educational purposes, which are considered charitable,” under the tax code.

He said it would be exceedingly difficult to make a case that a college or university was not operating for charitable purposes under current law. However, Edward McCaffery, who teaches tax policy at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, warned there is precedent for the IRS revoking the tax-exempt status of colleges that the government could lean on.

“I think to dismiss it out of hand as over-the-top bluster and that the administration has no power to unilaterally pursue it, I think that’s naive,” McCaffery said. “This could happen.”

Has the IRS ever stripped a college of its tax-exempt status before?

Yes. In 1983, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision that the IRS could deny tax-exempt status to Bob Jones University, a private Christian university that banned interracial dating and marriage on campus, and Goldsboro Christian Schools, which employed racially discriminatory admissions policies.

The court found the IRS had some discretion to determine whether an organization seeking tax-exempt status met standards of “charity,” meaning that it “must serve a public purpose and not be contrary to established public policy.”

Nonetheless, McCaffery said, “The ability of the IRS just to come in and deny tax exemption, it better be a very clear, long-standing, deeply held public policy, and not political preferences for certain kinds of positions, attitudes and voting patterns.”

How can the IRS revoke a nonprofit’s tax-exempt status?

Usually, the IRS would open an audit, where it gathers evidence that a nonprofit is not operating exclusively for charitable purposes.

“The IRS would have to send to Harvard a proposed revocation of its status,” Hackney said. “At that point, Harvard would have many different means to talk with the IRS about why they believed they were within the law,” including suing.

However, Hackney said the U.S. Department of Treasury could implement new regulations, for example, stating that operating a diversity, equity and inclusion program is not consistent with charitable purposes. Such a change would usually take years to make and would run counter to decades of precedent, Hackney said.

“I am skeptical this effort will be successful,” he said. “If it were, this would be the most dramatic change of charitable law in my lifetime and I would say in the history of our charitable law.”

This story has been updated to reflect that Harvard University is 388 years old. A previous version stated it is 488 years old.

Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.

Pontiac schools are moving ahead with plans to  reshape the district for the future.

At an April 14 special meeting, Interim Superintendent Kimberly Leverette walked the board through a plan for how students and programs will be relocated as part of Phase I.

“This plan is about what we can provide for the whole child,” Leverette told the board. “The rigor and academic outcomes that we want for all kids is absolutely possible. The way we have been doing it is not working. We must do something different.”

An earlier proposal to shift all International Technology Academy students grades 7-12 into Pontiac Middle School and High School was changed.

According to the district, the technology academy is “a specialized school program within the district that emphasizes STEM education and diverse learning experiences, and preparing students to become global citizens.” It serves K-12 students.

Students from the technology academy will now merge with students from International Language Academy and all classes will be located in the Whitmer Human Resource Center.

The language academy is a dual-language K-5 elementary program within the district.

According to the presentation, the combined program, to be called the “ITA at WHRC”, will have 438 students, including 50 kindergarteners. The number could be  expanded in the future based on space in the Whitmer building.

The PEACE Academy, which offers pre-school and before/after school care programs, will relocate to the Whitmer building from Frost Elementary.

PEACE will have 20 classrooms in the south wing of the building and their own secure entrance.

Six classrooms will relocate to Herrington Elementary and four special education classrooms will move from Whitmer to Rogers Elementary and Herrington.

The PEACE would also shift from four days a week of instruction to five days and expand classroom sizes from 16 to 18 students.

The estimated cost of moving the PEACE program, located at 723 Cottage, to the Whitmer building is $788,555.

The current PEACE building would be emptied  and its future use to be determined. The district would save $172,000 annually by closing the building.

The plan, which takes effect this fall, could be voted on at the board’s April 28 meeting.

There will be a public forum on the Phase I plan from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on April 24 at the Pontiac High School auditorium.

An American military veteran was fatally shot after he hijacked a small passenger plane in Belize on Thursday, officials in Belize and the United States confirmed.

After the Tripoc Air plane carrying 14 passengers and two crew members landed safely, police in Belize identified the hijacker as Akinyela Taylor.

Chester Williams, Belize police commissioner, said that Taylor wielded a knife and stabbed two passengers and a pilot on the plane. The three were later taken to the hospital to treat their injuries.

Williams said that Taylor was shot by a passenger who was licensed to carry a firearm, which he later turned over to police. The passenger was among those stabbed and remains in critical condition as he was stabbed in the back and lungs, according to the police commissioner.

We are praying for him, Williams told reporters. Hes our hero.

Williams said that Taylor was demanding that he be flown out of the country and at one point wanted the plane to land to add fuel. U.S. Embassy spokesperson Luke Martin in Belize said Taylor insisted he be taken to the U.S.

U.S. officials did not know the cause or motive but were working with Belizean authorities to determine what happened, Martin said.

RELATED STORY | 3 killed after small plane crashes near Boca Raton Airport in Florida

The plane was traveling from Corozal to San Pedro and Belize authorities declared a full emergency after the hijacking, which took place at around 8:30 a.m. local time, according to a statement by the Belize Airport Concession Company.

The plane circled in random directions for hours until landing safely in an airport in the coastal town of Ladyville. All passengers were accounted for, according to the BACC, and those injured were flown to a hospital for treatment.

Williams said Taylor had attempted to enter Belize through the northern border over the northern border through Mexico, but that he was refused entry. It was unclear to law enforcement how he had entered.

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Pistons hit rock bottom not long ago, suffering from the embarrassment of the longest single-season losing streak in league history and slumping to the NBA’s worst record for a second straight year.

Tom Gores had seen enough.

The team owner responded with a series of moves less than a year ago, including one that cost him $65 million to fire coach Monty Williams, to spark an unprecedented turnaround.

The Cade Cunningham-led Pistons were 44-38 this season — one year after winning a league-low 14 games — and the 30-game improvement was the best by a team in the league that earned fewer than 20 victories the previous season.

Detroit is also the first NBA franchise to triple its total number of victories from the previous year in an 82-game season.

“I haven’t seen anything like it,” former NBA coach Dwane Casey said in an interview with The Associated Press, drawing on his three-three plus decades in the league.

There’s a reason for that. It had never happened.

After pulling off a feat no one saw coming, the Pistons will tip off their first appearance in the NBA playoffs since 2019 on Saturday night on the road against the New York Knicks.

“It’s surreal that we’re here when you look back at what this team had been through when we took the job,” general manager Trajan Langdon told the AP. “It’s incredibly gratifying and I’m so happy for the players who made it happen.”

Gores purchased the Pistons in 2011, when a three-time championship franchise was trying to rebuild, and failed to find the right combination of management, coaching and players to win until last year’s retooling.

Detroit had only one winning record before this season under Gores, who also owns 27% of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. The Pistons were swept in the first round six years ago and in the 2016 playoffs, extending the NBA’s longest playoff losing streak to 14 games dating to May 26, 2008.

Casey endured some of the misery in the Motor City.

He was fired by the Toronto Raptors in 2018, days after winning the NBA Coach of the Year award, and led the Pistons to a .500 record and playoff appearance the next season.

Casey averaged just 20 wins over the next four years. He resigned to became a senior advisor for the team as it hired Williams and went from 17 victories to just 14 under another former NBA Coach of the Year in one of the worst two-year stretches in league history.

Gores refused to let his franchise idle and hope for the best, triggering pivotal decisions that have panned out for the Pistons.

He fired general manager Troy Weaver following four futile years, a decision that surprised no one, then shocked many by firing Williams after only one season.

“Everybody thought it was crazy to let the coach go,” said Casey, a senior advisor for the team. “It took a lot of guts to do that.”

It also took a lot of money.

Gores paid Williams $65 million to leave last May after hiring Langdon, who put J.B. Bickerstaff on the bench shortly after the Cleveland Cavaliers fired a coach who won 99 games the previous two seasons.

“Tom Gores’ decision to move on from Monty created a domino effect, and it’s a move most owners would not have made because of his contract,” said former NBA player and TV analyst Jalen Rose, who often roots for his hometown team while standing up in front of a courtside seat at Little Caesars Arena. “The fact that he was willing to blow it all up sent a message to everyone, including media and fans, and then he hired one of the hottest GM prospects when he got Trajan.

“It also helped that the No. 1 pick took a leap like SGA (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) did in Oklahoma City and Anthony Edwards did in Minnesota.”

The Pistons gave Cunningham, drafted first overall in 2021, a five-year contract extension worth at least $224 million last summer and the point guard has made that deal look like a bargain.

Cunningham became an All-Star for the first time this season, averaging 26.1 points, 9.1 assists and 6.1 rebounds, and went from being a good player with some injury issues to a durable, All-NBA caliber candidate.

“It means everything,” said shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr., one of the key veterans acquired last summer along with Tobias Harris and Malik Beasley. “A lot of this would not be possible without him.”

The turnaround, though, may not have happened if Gores gave Williams another shot this season and yet he was quick to deflect credit to the men making shots and stops on the court and those calling the shots from the bench and front office.

“It means a lot, but we’re not done,” Gores said. “The story has just started.”

A new pill is helping people with Type 2 diabetes lose weight and lower blood sugar in a phase-three clinical trial. The once-a-day GLP-1 pill could be a simpler option than injections, which many people stop taking because of side effects.

The study looked at Eli Lillys experimental GLP-1 pill called orforglipron. More than 550 people with Type 2 diabetes took part, and heres what researchers found:

Participants taking the highest dose lost an average of 16 pounds over 40 weeks. That number is likely to change as participants were still losing weight when the study ended.

Also, A1C levels dropped by 1.3 to 1.6%. A1C is a blood test that shows your average blood sugar over the past three months. Why this matters is because people with diabetes cant make enough insulin, and the body needs insulin to manage blood sugar. Whats significant is that more than 65% of participants got their A1C down to 6.5% or lower. Thats the target for managing diabetes.

Small-molecule drugs like this one can sometimes carry a risk of liver issues. But Eli Lilly says they didnt see any signs of liver injury in the trial, unlike what happened with Pfizers pill.

As for the only GLP-1 pill on the market, its called Rybelsus. It does have diet restrictions and must be taken on an empty stomach. But with orforglipron, you can take it with food. Other benefits include no needles, no refrigeration and no injections to deal with.

However, there are some side effects to consider. The most common one was an upset stomach. Overall, side effects were mild to moderate, and that may explain why more than 90% of participants stayed on the pill.

Now, while GLP-1 injections work well despite their downsides, theyre pricey and out of reach for many people. And while we don't yet know the price for orforglipron, pills are usually cheaper to make. That said, the company still needs approval first.

Eli Lilly says it plans to apply for approval for weight management by the end of this year, and for type 2 diabetes in 2026. If approved, it could be a game-changer for people who need a simpler, more affordable option.

THIS WEEK ON THE DR. NANDI SHOW

If you feel life is passing you by, then join Dr. Nandi, MD, as he discusses how you can live life with passion and purpose. Thought-leader Mastin Kipp shares his powerful secrets for grabbing your life back. Ben Nemtin, star of The Buried Life, reveals two essential ingredients needed for living with purpose. And life coach Helene Stelian explains why women are afraid to make changes and provides tips on how to live a more satisfying life. Tune in this Monday, April 21 at 2:30 a.m. to watch "Grab Your Life Back."

A 17-year-old Mount Clemens juvenile who allegedly broke into a house and threw an explosive device because a girl living there spurned his advances was arraigned Thursday on four felony charges.

Jonathan Brady is being held in the Macomb County Juvenile Justice Center in Mount Clemens on a $500,000 bond set by 41B District Court Magistrate Ryan Zemke.

During the arraignment proceedings, Assistant Prosecutor Maria Panchenko said the defendant confessed to committing the crimes.

“The victims in this matter are now homeless and the home that was destroyed by the explosive mortar device is no longer inhabitable,” Panchenko said. “He knew that at least two infants under the age of 1 were present, and there were people in total in the home at the time.”

Brady was arraigned on charges of:

• First-degree home invasion
• Second degree arson
• Explosives – placing near property causing property damage
• Explosives – possession of bombs with unlawful intent – causing property damage

Each of the four counts carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

Brady has two prior adjudications in juvenile court and has a “history of not complying” with authorities when placed on bond or probation in the past, she added. She expressed concern that Brady may threaten the safety of the girlfriend and her family should he be released.

Public defender Dana Freers said Brady, who turns 18 on May 1, last got into trouble three years ago. He was living with a family friend at the time of fire according to Freers.

The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office said someone broke into the victim’s rental home on Eldredge Street about 3 a.m. April 10 and threw an explosive device — believed to be an M80 — which ignited a fire that consumed the entire house.

Mount Clemens firefighters were able to contain the blaze, but the damage was extensive, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Fire Investigation Unit was called to the scene to investigate as well.

No injuries among the seven occupants were reported.

Brady was arrested later that day.

Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said he decided to charge Brady as an adult due to the circumstances of the case.

“I did not reach the decision to charge Mr. Brady as an adult lightly. The gravity of this crime plus the need to seek justice for the victims and protect the public required this solemn action,” he said in a statement.

Lucido said that while serving in the Michigan Senate, he authored legislation that ended the prosecutorial practice of automatically charging 17 year-olds as adults to provide more discretion and fairness in the justice system. The legislation was signed into law.

“Mr. Brady is accused of committing extremely serious crimes that endangered the lives of seven people and caused a family to lose their home. I am especially outraged that the lives of multiple infants were put at risk,” Lucido said.

During the court proceedings today, the magistrate ordered Brady not to have contact with any of the victims. If he posts bond, Brady must wear a GPS tether, and he is prohibited from using drugs and alcohol. In addition, he cannot be in possession of a firearm, ammunition or any other weapons.

Unless he posts bond, Brady will remain in custody at the Macomb Juvenile Justice Center (JJC) until at least May 1, 2025, when he turns age 18. After that date, the JJC will have the discretion to continue to incarcerate Brady or transfer him to the Macomb County Jail.

Brady will have his probable cause conference and preliminary examination hearing within 21 days before 41-B District Court Judge Sabastian Lucido.

Delvon Lee, who was renting the house with Michelle Lee, have started a GoFundMe campaign to raise a goal amount of $10,000 for essential items, because they literally have nothing left. Flames and smoke badly damaged the interior and all of the family’s belongings.

For anyone who would like to make a donation to the GoFundMe effort, visit gofundme.com/f/huy5r9-fire-leaves-family-without-essentials.

Deputies arrest juvenile suspected of tossing explosive in Macomb County home

 

The widening field in the race for Michigan governor now includes a familiar name in Lansing.

Our Lieutenant Governor, Democrat Garlin Gilchrist II, is hoping to lead our state after the upcoming election in 2026.

As with several interviews Ive done with various candidates, I asked him about his vision for our state and why he says hes uniquely qualified for the job.

I am excited to be in this race to be the next Governor of Michigan, Gilchrist said.

FULL INTERVIEW: Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist talks about Michigan gubernatorial run FULL INTERVIEW: Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist talks about Michigan gubernatorial run

Joining me for a one-on-one sit-down inside our studio, Lt. Governor Gilchrist is a name familiar to Michiganders. He tells us hes proud to have delivered for our communities.

Among his top priorities is attracting business and supporting manufacturing jobs.

Im a problem solver who likes to build solutions, and Ive seen too many people who create problems and not enough who solve them, he says.

He tells me working with both political parties is something hes done for years, and a skill the states top executive must bring to the table.

What Ive heard from people is that they are frustrated with not getting results fast enough, or progress in their community. Issues like housing, health care. Making sure our economy has a place for them today, and tomorrow, Gilchrist says. Ive delivered on 60,000 new housing units in Michigan in the last 3 years, expanding access to affordable health care across Michigan.

I also asked him about other crucial topics. He says our schools need more support, and he opposes federal cuts to the Department of Education. He wants more funding for police, fire, and infrastructure.

Governor Whitmer ran on fixing roads. To this day, people are frustrated hitting potholes. Whats your take? Weve fixed more than 20,000 miles and 1,600 bridges. Construction season just started, and every week, we are announcing a new project. Now, were looking for a long-term sustainable plan, Gilchrist says.

He says hes proud of common-sense gun laws, like requiring the safe storage of guns in the home. As a parent of 3, he says nothing is more important than keeping kids safe.

Weve seen mass shootings at MSU, Oxford, and in Rochester Hills. We need to make sure people recognize gun violence isnt acceptable. For far too long, we have accepted too much death in our communities and inner cities, Gilchrist says. We need to make sure there are background checks on every gun sale or transfer. That if a person is a danger to themselves, or others, we put an extreme risk protection order in place, or domestic abusers now its not legal for them to have firearms.

In addition, the Lt. Governor wants voters to know serving alongside Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been an important part of his preparation for whats next.

Its given me tremendous opportunity to connect with people all over Michigan. We have the biggest state east of the Mississippi River. Ive been to all 83 counties 3 or more times. Ive gotten to know the people of Michigan, he says.

Gilchrist tells me hes also deeply concerned about the impact of tariffs on all Michigan businesses and in particular the auto industry. He says ultimately, protecting jobs is a top priority for him, and he can deliver a stable environment for business.

You can watch all our candidate interviews on our website WXYZ.com.

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to the White House on Thursday, highlighting his ongoing stance on tariffs amidst a desire to foster stronger trade relations.

Meloni, who is the first European leader to meet with Trump since his administration unveiled a reciprocal trade agenda, is perceived as a vital conduit to the European Union. During their discussions, she expressed her ambition to "make the West great again," echoing Trumps signature slogan while emphasizing Italys need for increased liquefied natural gas imports.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING | Read the full list of countries facing Trump's reciprocal tariffs

Although Meloni previously voiced opposition to Trumps tariffs, she reiterated her goal of fostering dialogue and collaboration during their meeting. She extended an invitation for Trump to visit Italy and offered to facilitate a meeting with European officials to bolster their discussions further.

In a notable development, Trump announced plans for a trade deal with the European Union, stating, Oh, there will be a trade deal... very much. Meloni supported this vision, asserting confidence in reaching an agreement, saying, Im sure we can make a deal and Im here to help on that.

WATCH | Trump and Meloni meet in Oval Office

Trump and Italy's Meloni meet at White House

IN RELATED NEWS | Trump's first 100 days: Record number of executive orders but few new laws

During a cabinet meeting earlier, Trump indicated his expectation for Italy and the EU to emerge as loyal trade partners. He has been vocal about navigating tariffs and non-tariff barriers as part of his administrations trade strategies.

Both leaders' remarks reflect a keen awareness of the geopolitical and economic landscape, particularly in light of past tensions with the EU over trade issues and tariffs, which Trump has often criticized.

Recently, Meloni was in contact with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, hinting at collaborative efforts between the U.S. and Europe. As a sign of a potential thaw in relations, the EU has paused countermeasures in response to Trumps enacted 90-day halt on reciprocal tariffs.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | President Trumps tariff pause prompts EU to hold back on countermeasures

However, as Trump seeks to solidify trade deals with various nations, including Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has raised alarms about potential economic impacts, warning of rising prices and slower growth due to the existing tariffs.

Addressing these concerns directly, Trump expressed frustration with Powell, stating, If I want him out, hell be out, signaling tension regarding the Federal Reserves independent operations.

As eyes turn toward the implications of this meeting, both Trump and Meloni's willingness to negotiate suggests a determined effort to enhance transatlantic trade partnerships.

This story was initially reported 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.

Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen says he was denied entry into an El Savador prison on Thursday while he was trying to check on the well-being of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was sent there by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation.

Van Hollen is in El Salvador to push for Abrego Garcia's release. The Democratic senator said at a news conference in San Salvador that his car was stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint about 3 kilometers from the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, even as they let other cars go on.

"They stopped us because they are under orders not to allow us to proceed," Van Hollen said.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said this week that they have no basis to send him back, even as the Trump administration has called his deportation a mistake and the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to facilitate his return. Trump officials have said that Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland, has ties to the MS-13 gang, but his attorneys say the government has provided no evidence of that and Abrego Garcia has never been charged with any crime related to such activity.

RELATED STORY | Protective order against Kilmar Abrego Garcia complicates narrative amid deportation

Van Hollen's trip has become a partisan flashpoint in the U.S. as Democrats have siezed on Abrego Garcia's deportation as what they say is a cruel consequence of Trump's disregard for the courts. Republicans have criticized Democrats for defending him and argued that his deportation is part of a larger effort to reduce crime. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt held a news conference on Wednesday with the mother of a Maryland woman who was killed by a fugitive from El Salvador in 2023.

The Maryland senator told reporters Wednesday that he met with Salvadoran Vice President Flix Ulloa who said his government could not return Abrego Garcia to the United States.

"So today, I tried again to make contact with Mr. Abrego Garcia by driving to the CECOT prison," Van Hollen said, and was stopped.

Van Hollen said Abrego Garcia has not had any contact with his family or his lawyers. "There has been no ability to find out anything about his health and well being," Van Hollen said. He said Abrego Garcia should be able to have contact with his lawyers under international law.

"We won't give up until Kilmar has his due process rights respected," Van Hollen said. He said there would be "many more" lawmakers coming to El Salvador.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., is also considering a trip to El Salvador, as are some House Democrats.

While Van Hollen was denied entry, several House Republicans have visited the notorious gang prison in support of the Trump administration's efforts. Rep. Riley Moore, a West Virginia Republican, posted Tuesday evening that he'd visited the prison where Abrego Garcia is being held. He did not mention Abrego Garcia but said the facility "houses the country's most brutal criminals."

"I leave now even more determined to support President Trump's efforts to secure our homeland," Moore wrote on social media.

Missouri Republican Rep. Jason Smith, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, also visited the prison. He posted on X that "thanks to President Trump" the facility "now includes illegal immigrants who broke into our country and committed violent acts against Americans."

The fight over Abrego Garcia has also played out in contentious court filings, with repeated refusals from the government to tell a judge what it plans to do, if anything, to repatriate him.

RELATED STORY | Federal judge to hold Trump administration in criminal contempt for ignoring order on deportations

Since March, El Salvador has accepted from the U.S. more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants whom Trump administration officials have accused of gang activity and violent crimes and placed them inside the country's maximum-security gang prison just outside of San Salvador. That prison is part of Bukele's broader effort to crack down on the country's powerful street gangs, which has put 84,000 people behind bars and made Bukele extremely popular at home.

Human rights groups have previously accused Bukele's government of subjecting those jailed to "systematic use of torture and other mistreatment." Officials there deny wrongdoing.

DETROIT — The joyous sensation that comes with April sunshine is typically overshadowed by despair for Cade Cunningham. For the first three years of his career with the Pistons, walking into the Henry Ford Performance Center in mid-April is usually reserved for locker cleanout day, as he tries to find words to summarize another disappointing season.

But when Cunningham entered the Pistons’ practice facility on Tuesday, the atmosphere was different. Instead of reflecting on another losing campaign, he spent the first of a four-day practice session preparing for a playoff series against the New York Knicks.

“It feels like it’s been a two, three-year thing, but for us to have done it so quickly, I think it’s just a testament to the group of people that we brought into the building,” Cunningham said.

“The chip that last year put on our shoulder, I think everybody understands that and wants to come in and make a change. We feel great for the city to have put ourselves in the position we’re in now. And now it’s about working our way and trying to find ways to win the championship.”

Cunningham had an All-NBA-caliber season, leading the Pistons to their most successful campaign in nine years. They finished with a 44-38 record and secured the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. As a result, Detroit will begin its best-of-seven series against the Knicks on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

The idea of making a playoff debut under the bright lights of New York could be nerve-racking for any young player. However, for the first-time All-Star, Cunningham will make his postseason debut in a place where he has had a handful of successful moments in his young career.

“I’ve played in the Garden, I know what it feels like,” Cunningham said. “I am going in there with an open mind. I am not shying away from anything. I am not blocking out any possibilities. I’ve played games there before. I think I have what it takes to do everything I like to do on the court. I am ready to go.”

Since his rookie season in 2021, Cunningham has played six career games at the Garden, averaging 25 points on 45% shooting from the floor with 8.5 assists and six rebounds.

During Detroit’s renaissance this season, the former No. 1 pick led the Pistons to a 2-0 record on the Knicks’ home floor. He notched the 11th-highest scoring average at Madison Square Garden this season, recording 32.5 points on 52.3% shooting from the field and 56.3% on 3-pointers, along with 9.5 assists and six rebounds.

His performances against the Knicks illustrate how he has led Detroit’s resurgence, contributing to a 3-1 regular-season record against New York.

“What Cade has shown this year is that he impacts winning in a high way,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He is an All-NBA player in my mind. I know what Cade wants to be and what he aims to be. Those players who are at that level win. That’s why I believe he deserves everything he has received. I know how hungry he is, and he is pushing for more.”

Similar to his teammates’ mindset, Cunningham is not relying upon the success of the regular season to prepare for the playoffs. Under the guidance of coach Tom Thibodeau, he anticipates the Knicks will employ a new defensive strategy to slow down his nifty play.

“I have an idea of how they are going to game plan and switch things up,” Cunningham said. “But once we get to the moment, we will see and make adjustments from there. Just making sure that we are as ready as possible for anything that might come.”

Cunningham’s breakout year has been marked by several standout moments throughout the regular season. One of his best performances took place during the Pistons’ 120-111 road win over the Knicks on Dec. 7, when he recorded a triple-double with 29 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds.

Pistons fans at the Garden were in a frenzy, while Knicks supporters departed the arena feeling stunned by the loss. Although it was a significant moment for Cunningham, he understands that the intense atmosphere in New York on a cold night in early December pales in comparison to what’s at stake during the postseason.

However, Cunningham will be entering hostile territory with confidence.

Playing in the playoffs has been a dream since Cunningham, a Dallas-area native, watched Dirk Nowitzki lead the Mavericks to an NBA championship in 2011. The experience sparked a desire to one day lead an NBA franchise to a title within his respective career. Fourteen years later, Cunningham will get his first opportunity as his postseason journey begins in the mecca of basketball.

“It’s exciting,” Cunningham said. “Watching the play-in games and knowing that we still have games to come, it is just exciting. I am looking forward to playoff basketball. It is something I always dreamt of. Just trying to stay rested and ready to go.”

E-commerce platforms are finding themselves in the crosshairs of President Trump's new trade war.

China-founded online marketplaces Shein and Temu announced that beginning April 25 they'll bump up some prices "due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs."

The two e-commerce rivals released nearly identical statements announcing their decisions.

The move follows an executive order signed by President Trump to eliminate the "de minimis provision" which allowed shipments of less than $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free.

In 2023, over $1 billion worth of goods came into the U.S. under that exemption, according to the Congressional Research Service. The average shipment was valued at just $54.

Companies like Shein and Temu have depended on the exemption to transform e-commerce by delivering inexpensive goods quickly to American consumers.

"This was really helpful for goods that are very low priced so that they can get a lot of shipments out," said Dana Olsen, the director of the Center for Education and Research in Retail at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.

RELATED STORY | Trump exempts smartphones, computers from China tariffs

Without the exemption, consumers can expect to pay more, according to Ashley Hetrick, a principal and sourcing and supply chain segment leader at accounting firm BDO.

"We absolutely expect to see price increases across the board," Hetrick said. "The extent of these tariffs, at least for those who are heavily reliant on manufacturing operations or raw materials coming out of China, are simply too high for most companies' margins to accept for a lot of your fashion-based retailers."

The price hikes from Shein and Temu could set the table for other online retailers to follow.

"We should expect to see other retailers follow suit and follow in Shein and Temu's, footsteps of bumping prices up within weeks or months," Olsen said.

New ramp and lane closures are coming as I-696 is rebuilt in southeastern Oakland County.

The northbound I-75 ramp to 12 Mile Road will have one lane open from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, April 18, for pavement repair, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The southbound I-75 ramp to eastbound I-696 will be closed from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 19, for bridge work.

Only two lanes will be open on westbound I-696 from Southfield Road to Lahser Road from 7 a.m. Monday, April 21, to late July for bridge work.

Weather can affect schedules and may result in delays or cancellations.

This is the final phase of the Restore the Reuther project. It involves rebuilding I-696 between Lahser and Dequindre in 2025-2026.

For more information, visit https://DrivingOakland.com/I696-East/.

Crews recently completed a reconstruction of I-696 between Lahser and I-275. The Macomb County portion was renovated several years ago.

Consumers Energy starts work on $182M pipeline for south Macomb, Oakland counties

Vacant Oakland County bank building to be redeveloped for residential, retail, use

 

Waterford Township hired two companies to complete its $33 million community center.

In back-to-back votes Monday evening, township trustees voted unanimously for the architecture-engineering firm Neumann/Smith of Southfield and construction manager Frank Rewold & Sons of Rochester.

The two other finalists, IDS of Troy and Clark Construction of Auburn Hills, could be reconsidered should contract negotiations with Rewold and Neumann/Smith fall through.

Voters approved a $36.4 million bond for the project in November.

The township purchased 51 acres of land on OCC’s Highland Lakes campus at 7350 Cooley Lake Road. The community center outdoor space will include accessible restrooms, a playground, softball field, shuffleboard and bocce ball courts, a dog park and trails connecting to Hess-Hathaway Park.

Most classes continue at OCC’s Highland campus through the end of the fall semester. Health science classes continue through the end of 2027. Work starts in 2026 to convert the existing building to a community center.

Waterford Twp. trustees to sign community center contracts

Its one of Detroits most popular and historic business districts. Greektown is a Motor City landmark and everyone who visits comes away with a favorite memory of their time there. Were excited to see the area is getting a well needed $20 million makeover.

Once the renovation is completed, Monroe Street promises to be much more attractive and pedestrian-friendly. It will also be a major boost for Detroit tourism and Southeast Michigans regional economy. Greektown businesses will remain open throughout the entire construction process which is expected to wrap up in the summer of 2026.

Its an ambitious undertaking. Sidewalks will be widened to help create more outdoor patio seating for restaurants. Lighting, street signage, and brick paving will be improved. Nearly 50 trees will be planted, and outside streetscape furniture will be increased throughout the area. On the new and improved Monroe Street, youll want to park and enjoy walking up and down Greektowns scenic blocks.

This major transformation supports the core goals of the Greektown Neighborhood Partnership. First, to enhance the area, so it draws more visitors and revenue. And second, to expand opportunities for cultural, artistic, and creative event programming. This should make the district a more vibrant community for decades to come.

The partnership is receiving support from the City of Detroit, the Michigan Department of Transportation, Greektown businesses and major community stakeholders. Working together, they have created a common vision for the future of Greektown and the neighborhoods surrounding it. A revamped Greektown will draw visitors from near and far and serve as a gateway to other downtown attractions. All of this is regional economic development worth celebrating.

Im Mike Murri, Regional V.P. & General Manager

Broadcast: April 17 - 20, 2025

 

 

For the last year, the 7 Investigators have been exposing allegations of civil rights abuses and other serious problems inside a local psychiatric hospital.

The feds announced late last year that they were terminating their Medicaid contract with Pontiac General Hospital, but the 7 Investigators have now learned that the hospital is trying to stay open despite that major funding loss.

And that has some former employees upset.

Related Video: Medicare terminates funding to Pontiac General, hospital announces layoffs Medicare terminates funding to Pontiac General, hospital announces layoffs

Recipient rights officers are the people inside a psychiatric hospital who are there to protect patients rights by investigating abuse and neglect. And now two of the former recipient rights officials from Pontiac General Hospital have come forward to us with allegations of serious problems inside the hospital.

A patient allegedly assaulted by a mental health worker inside his room, another patient tied down in restraints while being given a shot, bruises on patients, staff sitting on developmentally disabled patients, and staff sleeping on the job those are just some of the allegations two of the people who were once in charge of investigating patient complaints say have been serious problems for years inside Pontiac General Hospital.

"Out of a five-star hospital. I wouldn't even give them a one star ... it was sad and disgusting," said Valerie Linteau, a former recipient rights officer.

The 7 Investigators have been investigating Michigans psychiatric commitment process as well as Pontiac General Hospital since 2022. Patients allege their civil rights were violated inside the privately owned psychiatric hospital.

Related Video: Michigan doc pre-signed blank forms that can rob you of your freedom Michigan doc pre-signed blank forms that can rob you of your freedom

"It was a nightmare for me. It was a nightmare for my family," said Bri Jackson, a former patient who says she was hospitalized against her will.

In November, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) told Pontiac General they were terminating their contract due to noncompliance with several things, including patient rights and medical staff. That means the hospital can no longer bill Medicare or Medicaid.

"I'm happy that the spotlight is on them and there are going to be consequences and they can stop doing what they're doing to people," said Jackson.

But records obtained by the 7 Investigators show that Pontiac Generals leadership believed their CMS termination would be temporary. And mental health watchdogs say they were told the psychiatric facility is also attempting to get accreditation from The Joint Commission, a nonprofit that evaluates hospitals for safety and cleanliness.

"I've heard patients say that they were more suicidal leaving the hospital than they were even going into the hospital to begin with, and that their symptoms were much worse leaving the hospital," said Linteau.

Hospital records show Valerie Linteau was Pontiac Generals Recipient Rights Officer from June of 2023 until January 2024.

Hospital emails say Linteau was fired for using her personal phone to conduct work and she was accused of deleting files but she alleges she was actually terminated for alerting the state about the conditions inside the psychiatric facility.

"I liked feeling like I was someone's hope, or trying to be that person who they felt that they were heard and they were listened to," said Linteau.

Photos taken in 2023

As Recipient Rights Officer, Linteau says she often had to investigate allegations of staff assaulting the psychiatric patients.

In a video from December of 2023, a staff member appears to draw his arm back as if to punch a patient lying on a bed.

"What was your reaction when you saw that video?" I asked Linteau.

"I had a stomach-sinking experience. I thought I was going to vomit. I got chills and goosebumps and I physically cried because it is devastating seeing that," she said.

Linteau said the patients records reveal that an X-ray showed a small skull fracture, and police reports show sheriffs deputies interviewed the patient who said the employee hit and punched him. The employee denied that in the police report, but Linteau says the patient was badly injured.

LISTEN: 911 call from Pontiac General Hospital LISTEN: 911 call out of Pontiac General Hospital

"So when CMS came for the patient with the reported skull fracture, I had informed them that we had over 150 investigations from the months of April to June," said Linteau.

Linteau also said she substantiated another patients allegations of abuse after discovering he had been shoved into an isolation room. She said thats the same patient that was given a shot while in 4-point restraints something mental health advocates do not condone.

Youre supposed to use the least amount of force necessary," said Simon Zagata, the Director of the Community and Institutional Rights Team with Disability Rights Michigan, a federally designated rights agency.

Zagata said many shots are considered chemical restraints and should be used rarely.

Once the restraint happens, under the law, its supposed to end as soon as the conditions or the behavior leading to the restraint are gone," he said.

Darius Hardrick said he too was drowning in patient complaints at Pontiac General Hospital, when he was the Recipient Rights Officer from January to July of 2023.

"Actual physical abuse. I've seen patients getting beat on," said Hardrick.

He said the number of complaints was too much for one person.

"They would just ignore me, ignore me, ignore me," said Hardrick. "Seven or more complaints per floor ... per day"

Hardrick said he left because he met so many obstacles from hospital management.

"They would just railroad me and try to take over the investigation," he said.

According to the most recent available state data, in 2023 Pontiac General had 235 allegations of abuse and neglect. Of those allegations, 148 recipient rights cases were investigated, and 57 were substantiated.

CMS reports show investigators found more examples of abuse and neglect when they started inspecting the hospital last spring, uncovering the death of patient Ryan White, and other serious violations of patient safety.

"The complaints we got before we went in were, we are not getting real therapy. Theyre not helping address the issues I came in here for ... a lot of facility issues, like a broken window ... holes in the walls," said Zagata.

Disability Rights Michigan has visited the hospital several times recently. After CMS terminated Pontiac Generals contracts, Zagatas team was onsite, where they noticed the hospitals physical environment had improved, but there were only four patients still inside. Zagata said thats when his team learned the hospital is seeking accreditation through The Joint Commission.

"Showing that you can adequately care for four patients is a completely different ball game than showing that you can take care of 100+ patients at a time in an inpatient setting ... we have just not seen a history of an ability to treat patients well," he said.

Both Linteau and Hardrick say theyre extremely concerned the hospital will be granted accreditation, and both say they do not think the facility should get its Medicaid contracts reinstated.

"I am very surprised to see its still operating," said Hardrick.

"It was atrocious and it was very disheartening to see everything that was going on in the hospital," said Linteau.

The 7 Investigators have reached out several times to the owners of Pontiac General Hospital. So far, they have not responded to our mulitple requests for comment.

As for the Joint Commission, they issued the following statement:

"Pontiac General Hospital is not a Joint Commission-accredited facility.We do not comment on whether a healthcare organization is or is not seeking Joint Commission accreditation, as that information is confidential.Any healthcare organization that seeks Joint Commission accreditation must first meet compliance with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation (CoPs) and provide care, treatment and services in accordance with licensure requirements, laws, rules and regulations. They must also meet additional Joint Commission standards, which focus on important processes and organization functions essential to providing safe and quality care.To find a Joint Commission-accredited organization, visit our

website. [jointcommission.org]"

If you have a story for Heather Catallo, please email her at hcatallo@wxyz.com

Nearly two weeks after 17-year-old London Thomas was reported missing, her family and friends gathered at Hines Park in Westland on Thursday to continue the search for the teen.

Thomas was last seen on April 5 with her boyfriend on Carlyle Street in Inkster, according to Detroit police. Her cellphone was last pinged in the area of Cooper Upper Elementary School on Ann Arbor Trail in Westland.

Related Video: Search continues for missing 17-year-old London Thomas Search continues for missing 17-year-old London Thomas

Her mother, Jasma Bennett, said the disappearance is entirely out of character.

She was very connected to her sisters, Bennett said. They didnt go a day without talking to each other, no matter where they were or what they did. So all of this is strange, we havent talked to her, we havent seen her, we know nothing.

Bennett said the man Thomas was dating is 23 years old.

Watch our full interview with London Thomas' mom in the video player below: Full interview: Mom of London Thomas talks about daughter's disappearance

Detroit police say they are investigating the possibility of foul play and have identified two persons of interest. Multiple search warrants have been executed as the investigation continues.

We are looking into possible foul play, said Detroit Major Crimes Commander Rebecca McKay. We do have two persons of interest right now that we are investigating.

Thursday's search marked the second time the family has organized efforts to find Thomas.

Shell be 18 on May 10, and that makes it even worse, Bennett said.

Thomas stepfather, Darnell Johnson, said the family is doing everything they can to stay hopeful.

At this point, Im trying not to lose hope. Im trying not to lose faith, he said.

Bennett described her daughter as an outspoken teen with a soft heart, a love for music and hair, and a butterfly tattoo on her neck.

Please, just come home, she pleaded. I dont care what reason, just come home.

She asked the community for their prayers, "Please, for us and our family, please, 'cause this is all we have."

Anyone with information about London Thomas whereabouts is asked to call 1-800-SPEAK-UP or Detroit Rewards TV.

This story was reported 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.