Although our nation is not in a financial storm, experts are struggling to formulate an economic forecast. In fact, they can’t even come up with a consensus on where the economy stands today. There are just too many crosscurrents creating a variety conflicting views.

Have tariffs led to higher inflation? Which way are interest rates headed? Is the economy growing as fast as the numbers indicate?

Something we do know is that our national debt surpassed $37 trillion earlier this month. That means we now spend more on loan interest than we do on both national defense and Medicare.

The bottom line is that all the uncertainty adds up to more questions than answers. But despite all that, the American consumer appears to keep rolling along, albeit with a bit more caution.

Take a certain large restaurant conglomerate, for example. The traffic at their upscale steak house has slowed a bit, but their mid-scale steak house chain is maintaining heavy traffic. That seems to be an indication that consumers are trading down somewhat.

And it’s in the same vein as grocery store brand sales increasing while national brand sales are falling. In other words, consumers are being more selective with their spending.

From an investor’s perspective, it may be tempting to reach for some of the exotic and flashy investments that are dominating the financial headlines. But I seriously question if now is the time to be chasing returns.

Regular readers know that I’m a big believer in diversification, which means having a variety of quality positions in a variety of asset classes. It may not be the flashiest or most glamorous approach, but historically, it has stood the test of time. I’m aware that what happened in the investment world in the past is not guaranteed to repeat. Nonetheless, long-term diversification has proven to be an effective strategy.*

There have recently been some subtle changes in the investment world. One is significant. Private equity has been given the green light to be among the investment choices for retirement programs. Private equity tends to be higher risk and can be illiquid. I’m speculating that the firms that administer these retirement programs are scrambling to upgrade their investment choices to include a menu of private equity offerings. As a financial advisor, I’m a bit concerned about the decision to make riskier investments more readily available to almost everyone.

SA few years ago, an investment firm advertised that, if you wanted to invest like the wealthy, they were your firm. They offered choices beyond traditional stocks, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs. Unfortunately, many of those who thought they were investing like the wealthy have lost significant money.

Such losses could mean working beyond their intended retirement date for many investors. What’s just another day in the market for the ultra-wealthy is often a catastrophic loss for everyday investors. And in many instances these significant losses came about when investors were swinging for the fences. But they played the game without a scouting report, commonly known as research.

With economic forecasts and projections all over the map and private equity firms now trying hard to get a slice of the retirement pot, it’s time for investors to be levelheaded. Be wary of overreaching by taking on unnecessary risk.

*A diversified portfolio does not assure a gain or prevent a loss in a declining market. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful or will achieve their stated investment objective.

Email your questions to kenmorris@lifetimeplanning.com

Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. Society for Lifetime Planning is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS. https://kestrafinancial.com/disclosures

The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regard to your individual situation. Comments concerning the past performance are not intended to be forward looking and should not be viewed as an indication of future results.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will direct federal law enforcement intervention to Chicago and Baltimore, despite local officials in both places opposing such moves.

Asked by reporters in the Oval Office if he had decided to send National Guard troops to Chicago, Trump said, “We’re going in,” but added. “I didn’t say when.”

Trump has already sent National Guard troops into Washington and federalized the nation’s capital’s police force. More recently, he’s said he’s planning similar moves in other cities, particularly those run by Democratic officials.

Trump said he’d like Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to call him and say “send in the troops.” Pritzker has opposed the move.

“If the governor of Illinois would call up, call me up, I would love to do it.” Trump said. “Now, we’re going to do it anyway. We have the right to do it.”

He added that he has an “obligation to protect this country, and that includes Baltimore.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug-carrying vessel that departed from Venezuela.

The president offered scant details on the operation.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the vessel was being operated by a “designated narco-terrorist organization.”

The press office of Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the announcement.

CAVA, a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant, is set to open its location in Downtown Detroit later this month.

According to a spokesperson for the restaurant, the location in Downtown Detroit will tentatively open on Friday, Sept. 26.

Watch below: See inside the CAVA restaurant in Detroit ahead of its opening

Inside the CAVA location in Downtown Detroit

The location was originally announced earlier this year in Bedrock's building at 636 Woodward Ave.  near Shake Shack and Chipotle.

The addition of CAVA to downtown Detroit will bring a fresh, modern concept to the city, Bedrocks Senior Vice President of Leasing Naumann Idrees said. Their commitment to bold, healthy food and vibrant community experiences aligns perfectly with the energy that defines Detroit. Were delighted to introduce high-quality brands like CAVA to the heart of the city.

In July, CAVA opened its first Michigan location in Canton, with people lining up outside and around the building.

Watch below: Crowds line up around CAVA in Canton for grand opening

People line up outside of first CAVA in metro Detroit

A preliminary examination is scheduled for the case against a Pontiac woman accused in an alleged road rage incident that led to a Clarkston man being hit by a car outside a Meijer store and suffering a broken leg last month.

Samantha Jaynes, 25, is charged with felonious assault and a misdemeanor charge of failure to stop at the scene of an accident for the alleged Aug. 20 incident in Auburn Hills. The exam will be held before 52-3 District Judge Laura Polizzi who will be presented with evidence and then determine if probable cause exists for the case to be bound over to Oakland County Circuit Court for possible trial.

Police said the incident unfolded at around 7 p.m. on Aug. 20 during a road rage altercation on I-75. Jaynes reportedly followed the man to the Meijer’s drive-through pharmacy; he exited his car and an argument ensued. Jaynes allegedly pepper-sprayed the man and then hit him with her car as she backed up. Jaynes fled the scene but was later arrested and charged.

Jaynes was let out of jail on Aug. 22 on a personal bond, which requires no cash or surety to be posted.

If convicted of the felonious assault charge, Jaynes faces up to four years in prison and/or a $2,000 fine. The misdemeanor is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $100 fine.

Michigan saw uptick in traffic crashes, related fatalities in 2024

Motorcyclist suffers severe injuries in collision with car in Pontiac

‘Absurd and unacceptable’: Sheriff calls out magistrate for setting man free after he allegedly shot at woman, toddler

 

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday the decision to move the headquarters of U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama.

"I am thrilled to report that the U.S. Space Command headquarters will move to the beautiful locale of a place called Huntsville, Alabama forever to be known from this point forward as Rocket City," President Trump said at a press conference.

"This will result in more than 30,000 Alabama jobs and probably much more than that and hundreds of billions of dollars of investment," he added. "... Most importantly, this decision will help America defend and dominate the high frontier as they call it."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | US Space Force looks ahead to future after celebrating 4 years

It's a move that has been a contentious issue for years. At the end of Trumps first term, the Air Force named Huntsville as the planned site pending an environmental review.

After President Joe Biden took office, however, construction of the base did not begin. In 2023, Biden announced he would keep U.S. Space Commands headquarters at its temporary location in Colorado Springs, saying differing opinions within the Defense Department made it best to leave the command in place because relocating operations could impair the nations ability to respond to security situations.

Republicans criticized Bidens decision and called for investigations. A Department of Defense inspector general report released earlier this year said investigators "could not determine why the (former) SECAF did not make an announcement decision for the transition of USSPACECOM HQ" from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama.

The report noted that several senior Biden administration officials refused interviews without their lawyers, which hampered the inquiry.

IN RELATED NEWS | Trump unveils plan to construct 'Golden Dome' missile defense system

The new move, however, is expected to be met with legal challenges. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser told Scripps News in a statement that President Trump is "playing political games with our nation's military readiness and military families," adding that he may pursue legal action if the relocation moves forward.

A new school year is upon us, and so is the use of new technology and that raises the question: Should teachers and students be utilizing artificial intelligence in their classrooms?

CEO of Teach for America Aneesh Sohoni joined Scripps News to talk about the way educators are measuring the pros and cons of AI.

Sohoni said their organization trains all incoming teachers on how to properly use artificial intelligence as a classroom tool.

"We've seen that the early research is showing that educators are able to save upwards of six hours a week and able to focus their time and their energy on doing what they're uniquely positioned to do, which is build deep and meaningful relationships with their students and really help students feel like they're engaged and part of a learning environment that works for them," said Sohoni.

RELATED STORY | This school will use artificial intelligence to teach students in 2-hour models

He added that AI can be a great companion tool, but it doesn't replace the need for an educator.

Sohoni said when it comes to using artificial intelligence in the classroom, it's all about balance.

"What our students are telling us is that that human engagement the ability to build a meaningful relationship with another adult is also important to their learning as well and so we think it's a matter of doing both," Sohoni said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges, according to a memo reviewed by The Associated Press.

The military will begin sending groups of 150 attorneys both military and civilians to the Justice Department as soon as practicable and the military services should have the first round of people identified by next week, according to the memo, dated Aug. 27.

The effort comes as the Trump administration cracks down on immigration across the country, ramping up arrests and deportations. Immigration courts are already dealing with a massive backlog of roughly 3.5 million cases that has ballooned in recent years.

However, numerous immigration judges have been fired or left voluntarily after taking deferred resignations offered by the administration, according to their union. The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers said in July that at least 17 immigration judges had been fired without cause in courts across the country.

That has left about 600 immigration judges, union figures show, meaning the Pentagon move will double their ranks.

The move is being done at the request of the Justice Department, and the memo noted that the details will initially last no more than 179 days but can be renewable.

When asked about the move, a DOJ spokesperson referred questions about the plan to the Department of Defense. Pentagon officials directed questions to the White House.

A White House official said Tuesday that the administration is looking at a variety of options to help resolve the significant backlog of immigration cases, including hiring additional immigration judges. The official said the matter should be a priority that everyone including those waiting for adjudication can rally around.

By SAFIYAH RIDDLE, Associated Press/Report For America

The Posse Comitatus Act is a nearly 150-year-old federal law that limits the U.S. military’s role in enforcing domestic laws. At its core, experts say the law reflects America’s long-standing belief that law enforcement should remain in civilian hands, separate from military power.

President Donald Trump has tested the law’s limits in the first few months of his second term, as he expands the footprint of the U.S. military on domestic soil.

Here’s what to know about the law.

Posse Comitatus Act stops military from enforcing US law

The criminal statute prohibits military enforcement of domestic law. It also prevents the military from investigating local crimes, overriding local law enforcement or compelling certain behavior.

There are key exceptions. Congress can vote to suspend the act, or the president can order it suspended in defense of the Constitution. The Insurrection Act of 1807 allows the president to deploy troops during invasions, rebellions or when local authorities can’t maintain order.

National Guard members are under state authority and commanded by governors, so they’re generally exempt. However, the Posse Comitatus Act applies to National Guard forces when they’re “federalized,” meaning the president puts them under his control. That’s what Trump did in California over the governor’s objections.

The military is allowed to share intelligence and certain resources if there’s an overlap with civilian law enforcement jurisdiction, according to the Library of Congress. There’s also an exception for the U.S. Coast Guard, which has some law enforcement responsibilities.

Law was enacted after the Reconstruction era

The law was enacted in 1878 following the post-Civil War era known as Reconstruction. At that time, segregationist lawmakers didn’t want the U.S. military from blocking Jim Crow laws that imposed racial segregation.

But the spirit of the law has roots going all the way back to the Revolutionary War, when the nation’s founders were scarred by the British monarchy’s absolute military control, said William C. Banks, a professor at the Syracuse University College of Law.

“We have a tradition in the United States — which is more a norm than a law — that we want law enforcement to be conducted by civilians, not the military,” Banks said.

Courts have rarely interpreted the Posse Comitatus Act, leaving much of its scope shaped by executive branch policy and military regulations rather than judicial precedent.

Steve Vladeck, a law professor at Georgetown University, notes that this lack of legal rulings makes the law unusual.

“There is no authoritative precedent on exactly where these lines are, and so that’s why over the years the military’s own interpretation has been so important,” Vladeck said.

New tests for the law

A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration violated federal law by sending troops to accompany federal agents on immigration raids in Los Angeles this summer. The ruling does not require the remaining troops to withdraw.

Trump administration attorneys argued the law doesn’t apply because the troops were protecting federal officers, not enforcing laws.

Trump also sent 800 troops to Washington D.C., saying without substantiation that they were needed to reduce crime in the “lawless” city.

In Washington, a federal district, the president is already in charge of the National Guard and can legally deploy troops for 30 days without congressional approval.

Trump has since discussed sending the National Guard to other Democratic-led cities like Chicago, Baltimore and New York.

---

Riddle is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges, according to a memo reviewed by The Associated Press.

The military will begin sending groups of 150 attorneys — both military and civilians — to the Justice Department “as soon as practicable,” and the military services should have the first round of people identified by next week, according to the Aug. 27 memo.

The effort comes as the Trump administration is cracking down on illegal immigration by ramping up arrests and deportations. And immigration courts already are dealing with a massive backlog of roughly 3.5 million cases that has ballooned in recent years.

At the same time, more than 100 immigration judges have been fired or left voluntarily after taking deferred resignations offered by the Trump administration, their union says. In the most recent round of terminations, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers said in July that at least 17 immigration judges had been fired “without cause” in courts across the country.

That has left about 600 immigration judges, union figures show, meaning the Pentagon move would double their ranks.

The Justice Department, which oversees the immigration courts, requested the assistance from the Defense Department, according to the memo sent by the Pentagon’s executive secretary to his DOJ counterpart. The military lawyers’ duties as immigration judges will initially last no more than 179 days but can be renewed, it said.

A DOJ spokesperson referred questions about the plan to the Defense Department, where officials directed questions to the White House.

A White House official said Tuesday that the administration is looking at a variety of options to help resolve the significant backlog of immigration cases, including hiring additional immigration judges. The official said the matter should be “a priority that everyone — including those waiting for adjudication — can rally around.”

The memo stressed that the additional attorneys are contingent on availability and that mobilizing reserve officers may be necessary. Plus, the document said DOJ would be responsible for ensuring that anyone sent from the Pentagon does not violate the federal prohibition on using the military as domestic law enforcement, known as the Posse Comitatus Act.

The administration faced a setback on its efforts to use the military in unique ways to combat illegal immigration and crime, with a court ruling Tuesday that it “willfully” violated federal law by sending National Guard troops to Los Angeles in early June.

Cases in immigration court can take years to weave their way to a final determination, with judges and lawyers frequently scheduling final hearings on the merits of a case over a year out.

Associated Press writers Will Weissert, Rebecca Santana and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.

The post Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music: An interview and performance from Jazz Fest artist Keyon Harrold, new music from Brad Mehldau, Trombone Shorty + more appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Nine former leaders of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s views on public health are dangerous, warning they could undermine the nations safety.

In an essay published in the New York Times titled We Ran the C.D.C.: Kennedy Is Endangering Every Americans Health, the former leaders said they are worried about the wide-ranging impact Kennedys decisions will have on public health.

The essay was authored by former CDC directors William Foege, William Roper, David Satcher, Jeffrey Koplan, Richard Besser, Tom Frieden, Anne Schuchat, Rochelle P. Walensky and Mandy K. Cohen.

Schuchat served as deputy director of the CDC throughout President Donald Trumps first term and was interim CDC director at several points during his presidency.

Notably, the essay was not signed by two other former CDC directors under President Trump: Brenda Fitzgerald and Robert Redfield.

The essay comes less than a month after Kennedy fired Susan Monarez, who was appointed by President Trump and confirmed by the Senate to serve as CDC director.

What the health and human services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has done to the C.D.C. and to our nations public health system over the past several months culminating in his decision to fire Susan Monarez as C.D.C. director days ago is unlike anything we had ever seen at the agency and unlike anything our country had ever experienced, the nine former directors wrote.

The leaders criticized Kennedys stance on vaccines. While Kennedy has not said he is against vaccines, they say he has made unfounded claims about their safety and efficacy.

RELATED STORY | RFK Jr. in interview with Scripps News: Trusting the experts is not science

In recent weeks, HHS has rolled back the availability of COVID-19 vaccines. Boosters that were once widely available to the public are now limited to a narrower percentage of Americans.

They also faulted Kennedy for rejecting the upcoming recommendations of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee for the release of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The former leaders expressed concern about Kennedys approach to an ongoing uptick in measles cases, saying he is downplaying the effectiveness of the measles vaccine.

In the past, Kennedy has said he believes people should get measles vaccines, but that the government should not require them.

The essays release coincides with Kennedys scheduled appearance before lawmakers on Capitol Hill this week.

Bulgaria will not investigate suspected Russian electronic interference with a top European official's plane, officials said Monday because this kind of GPS jamming is now so common.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was flying to Plovdiv, Bulgaria on Sunday when her plane was hit by GPS jamming. It landed safely but the disruption was the latest in a string of almost 80 incidents tracked by The Associated Press and blamed on Russia by Western officials since Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022.

This year, Nordic and Baltic nations including Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have repeatedly warned about greater electronic interference from Russia disrupting communications with planes, ships and drones.

While Russian authorities suggest the jamming is defensive to protect key cities and military infrastructure from Ukrainian drone attacks Baltic officials say the depth of electronic interference has increased, causing navigation failures far from Russia's borders.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Russia's largest drone strike since July targets Ukraine hours after Trump/Zelenskyy meeting

In 2024, a plane carrying the British defense secretary had its satellite signal jammed as it flew near Russian territory, while a Finnish airline temporarily suspended flights to the Estonian city of Tartu.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the interference experienced by von der Leyen's plane was part of a complex campaign by Russia against Europe which could have potentially disastrous effects.

How jamming works

Satellite communications systems known collectively as the Global Navigation Satellite System or GNSS receive precise time signals from satellites around 12,400 miles away in space. A smartphone, car, marine or aircraft navigation system compares how long it takes to receive signals from several different satellites to calculate an exact location.

But the signals can be interfered with commonly known as jamming or spoofing.

Jamming means a receiver is overwhelmed by a strong radio signal transmitted in the same range where GNSS and other satellite navigation signals operate, leaving the receiver unable to fix a location or time. Spoofing involves transmitting fake signals which imitate a real GNSS satellite signal commonly known as GPS to mislead a phone, ship or aircraft into thinking it is in a different place.

In a military context, jamming could be used to stop an incoming missile or drone attack, whereas the idea behind spoofing is to create deception, said Thomas Withington, an expert in electronic warfare at the Royal United Services Institute in London.

It's possible that Israel used spoofing technology to fly into Iranian airspace in June, when it killed top generals and struck nuclear sites, Withington suggested. Spoofing, he said, could have helped Israel deceive Iranian radar.

Long before the invasion of Ukraine, Russian authorities deployed spoofing technology around the Kremlin in Moscow, causing chaos for taxi drivers or other motorists using GPS.

Russia does not mind if its own infrastructure is affected, as long as enemy activity is deterred, said Withington.

Flying without satellite navigation

In August, Latvias Electronic Communications Office said it had identified at least three hot spots for electronic interference along borders with Russia in the Kaliningrad, Leningrad and Pskov regions. All three regions host important Russian military bases.

In April 2024, Finland's national carrier Finnair temporarily suspended flights to Tartu, Estonia after it said two of its planes were prevented from landing because of GPS disruptions. At that time, Tartu airport required approaching planes to use GPS to land, although planes have and use other forms of navigation.

These include radio navigation and Inertial Navigation Systems, which determine where an aircraft or submarine is located by measuring its position in the air or water without relying on GPS.

Jamming and spoofing are common across the world and shouldn't be a problem for pilots to deal with, said Withington. But they could impair decision-making at a time when other things are going wrong, he suggested.

IN RELATED NEWS | A Russia-Ukraine peace deal may include land ceded to Russia, according to new reports

In December, Azerbaijan Airlines blamed a plane crash which killed 38 people on unspecified physical and technical interference."

Azerbaijan said the aircraft was hit by fire from the ground over southern Russia and rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare.

Russian officials said that at the time the aircraft was preparing to land in Grozny, Ukrainian drones were targeting the area around the airport.

Expanded operations

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said von der Leyen's plane was not specifically targeted and called the jamming a side effect of the war in Ukraine.

Latvias Electronic Communications Office said it recorded 820 cases of interference with satellite signals in 2024, compared to 26 in 2022, and warned that the areas affected have recently expanded significantly."

In response, Baltic nations have banned drone flights in some areas near their borders with Russia and warned civilian drone pilots to assess signal stability before flying.

Sweden's Maritime Administration said it received multiple reports of signal interference with ships in the Baltic Sea this year and in June officially warned sailors to use radar or landmarks for navigation.

In July, Lithuanian media reported that two German tourists accidentally flew a light aircraft into Russia and had to be guided back to Lithuania by experienced pilots.

Several states have complained about the electronic interference to the International Civil Aviation Organization but Russian officials dismissed the complaints and suggested they were politically motivated.

Potential for disaster

While jamming and spoofing were initially aimed at protecting Russian infrastructure, authorities have realized the tactics have a useful second order of effect, which is that it creates disruption and disquiet among the nations President (Vladimir) Putin perceives as being his enemy, said Withington.

While countries along Russia's border appear to have largely mitigated the impact of Russian jamming in the air, there is potential for a serious incident at sea.

While sailors should rely on radar and charts, as well as GPS, to navigate, anecdotal evidence suggests some crews are lazy, and just rely on GPS, said Withington.

In that case, he said, if a large cargo ship crashes, potentially you could have a disaster on your hands.

The post Acoustic Café: Old Crow’s frontman goes solo, new Sarah McLachlan, classic Ben Harper, in-studio stuff from Beck, Jensen McRae + more appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Students in Michigan have returned to school and with that comes a need for drivers to stay on alert and aware of school buses cruising through communities picking up children and dropping them off.

“Traffic tends to spike during the first days of school as many parents opt to drive their children,” Adrienne Woodland, a spokesperson for AAA-The Auto Club Group said in a news release. “We advise adding 30 minutes to your morning commute. Drivers running late are more prone to speeding, which endangers lives.”

Motorists also need to be aware of Michigan’s laws requiring motorists to stop when approaching a school bus pulled over with its red lights flashing and STOP arm extended.

The only exception is on a divided highway with a raised divider, yet 20% of Michigan respondents in a survey by AAA admitted to driving around a school bus while its red lights were flashing, which could result in fines and fatalities. A similar survey by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) estimated nationwide there were more than 43.5 million illegal school bus passings during the 2022-2023 school year.

AAA provided this explanation of the laws in Michigan: “When it comes to a two lane street all drivers moving in either direction on a two-way street must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children and the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.

“In the case of a multi-lane paved median all drivers moving in either direction must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children AND the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.

“Traffic approaching an oncoming school bus on a divided highway do not need to stop if there is a raised barrier such as a concrete divider or at least five feet of unpaved space separating the lanes of traffic. However, these motorists should slow down and watch for students loading or unloading from the bus.”

AAA offers drivers these tips for school zone safety:• Avoid distractions• Remain focused on the road. No texting, eating or multitasking while driving.• Brake for safety• Slow down and stay alert. School zones are unpredictable, so be ready to stop at a moment’s notice.• Keep a watchful eye on pedestrians and bicyclists• Be aware of school zone signs, crossing guards, AAA School Safety Patrollers, and anyone walking or biking. Always yield and drive cautiously.

Other survey stats:• 46% admitted to speeding in an active school zone.• 33% admitted to using their hand-held cell phone while driving in active school zones.

Nationwide, nearly one out of every five children (age 14 and under) killed in traffic crashes are pedestrians, however, safety experts say distracted walking can be just as dangerous as distracted driving.

“Now is the time to talk to your children about traffic safety,” Woodland said. “Discourage students from wearing earbuds or looking down at digital devices while standing at the bus stop or walking near traffic. Otherwise, they may not hear an approaching vehicle.”

As part of its School’s Open Drive Carefully campaign, AAA has put together a guide for  parents of young pedestrians and offers the following tips:

For student pedestrians

• Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings and avoid using headphones or looking down at your phone when near traffic.• Use sidewalks where available. If not, walk against the direction of traffic so you can see oncoming vehicles.• Make yourself easier to be seen by wearing reflective, bright colored clothing.• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street to make sure the vehicle is stopping.

For bicyclists and those using scooters

• Always wear a helmet.• Ride with traffic and use bike lanes when you can.• Do not wear headphones so you can detect approaching traffic.• Cross streets at intersections- not from between parked cars.

For students riding the bus

• Arrive at least 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.• Stand five steps away from the curb.• Wait for the bus to stop completely and for the bus driver’s signal before boarding.

By Charlie Hunt and Gary Graff

With splendid weather and some operational changes, the 46th Annual Detroit Jazz Festival had both downtown and midtown bopping and grooving throughout Labor Day Weekend, with more than four dozen acts playing at stages in Hart Plaza and Cadillac Square and in the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center on the Wayne State University campus.

It was also livestreamed globally via the festival web site and social media.

Festival organizers surprised fans with new security protocols and checkpoints for entering and leaving Hart Plaza, as well as a repositioned Absopure Waterfront Stage, which now faced east rather than towards the Detroit River. The JPMorgan Chase Main Stage at Cadillac Square, meanwhile, was repositioned in the same direction, which allowed the Campus Martius Park fountains to provide a playful backdrop to the performances (although the setting sun was brutal for about a half-hour or so each evening).

This year’s festival also included an aggressive Keep It Free fundraising campaign to help the event maintain its status as the world’s largest free-admission jazz festival. On Sunday, festival chief Chris Collins announced that $78,500 of the $100,000 goal had been reached so far; further updates are expected in the near future.

The music, meanwhile, remained spectacular throughout the four days — which started Friday, Aug. 29 with Artist-In-Residence Jason Moran’s exciting collaboration with electronic pioneer Jeff Mills and Detroit poet laureate Jessica Care Moore. It was hard to catch everything, but these were 10 of the best things we caught during the weekend (all reviews by Charlie Hunt unless otherwise noted)…

* Chris Potter Trio, Carhartt Amphitheater Stage, Saturday, Aug. 30

Dressed in black jeans and solid color shirts, tenor saxophonist Chris Potter’s trio looked understated and plainspoken — but its set was anything but. The trio played without pretension and burst right into a turbulent, heady and purposeful jazz opening with “7-11,” named after its complex rhythmic cycle. On the next composition, “Kudu,” Potter, who breathes fire through his reed, improvised a succinct and delirious sequence of buzzing notes that built to mountainous heights but still left space for bassist Matt Brewer to pound out a robust solo. Potter said he couldn’t imagine coming to Detroit without playing a Stevie Wonder tune, and he picked “Send One Your Love.” Potter switched to a low-register bass clarinet for the new composition “Voices Remembered,” then jumped to “Good Hope,” a song he recorded with bassist Dave Holland and the late tabla-master Zakir Hussain as the Crosscurrents Trio. Potter and drummer Kendrick Scott energized each other’s solos into another sonic realm. The trio closed with the Jerome Kern standard “Pick Yourself Up,” imbued with unparalleled improvisation sequences across many octaves and registers.

* Maria Schneider Orchestra, JPMorgan Chase Stage, Saturday

In a rare opportunity to hear a much-heralded maestro, multiple Grammy Award winner Maria Schneider led her 18-piece big band comprised of veterans and newcomers with joy, style, grace and panache. Opening with “Bluebird,” from her 2023 album “Data Lords,” the extraordinary and enterprising composer/arranger featured Brazilian Vitor Goncalves on accordion, a rarely used instrument in big band jazz but a signature component of her exquisite and visionary artistry. Charismatic, gracious and charming, Schneider plucked compositions from throughout her 30-year career, including “Wyrgly” and the title track from her 1994 debut album “Evanescence,” and “Walking by Flashlight” from her 2012 classical album “Winter Mornings Walk.”

Stylistically, Schneider’s music emanates from the influential jazz bandleader Gil Evans; each of her compositions followed a path, with featured soloists supported by exquisite and carefully layered overtures by the large ensemble, enabling her to conjure any sound scheme she designs. “The thing about jazz that is so amazing is it’s all about listening,” she said as the introduced “American Crow,” a new composition that she described as music for our tense and tension-filled times; it featured trumpeter Mike Rodriguez and electric guitarist Jeff Miles, among other soloists. Always stylish, the strawberry blonde bandleader wore a black dress and enthusiastically led the band with fluid hand motions and moved ballet-like across the stage. She smiled throughout the evening sit as she obviously enjoyed the experience.

* James Carter Organ Trio, Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center at Wayne State University, Saturday

Detroit’s own James Carter reigns supreme among jazz saxophonists. Few can match his otherworldly power, intensity, passion and showmanship. After-hours on n Saturday he hosted a Carter family all-star party that was enthralling and exhilarating receiving, multiple standing ovations from the standing-room-only crowd. Carter saluted his 99-year-old mother and spoke about his Detroit jazz upbringing before fearlessly leading his trio of Gerard Gibbs on Hammond B-3 organ and drummer Alex White through a wildly-varied set, starting with the jazz standard “Tenderly.” The repertoire included Billy Strayhorn’s “A Flower is a Lovesome Thing” and a pair of gypsy jazz numbers — “La Valse Des Niglos,” aka “The Hedge Hog Waltz,” and Django Reinhart’s “Impromptu,” the latter featuring a knock-out drum solo by White. Carter choreographed astonishing body movements synced to each breath note, blurt, blast, screech and phrase as he performed on a matched set of three gleaming red-and-gold saxophones — tenor alto and soprano. He brought out his brothers, and they tore up the joint. Vocalist Robert Carter crooned Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” and the Isley Brothers’ “For the Love of You,” while guitarist Kevin Carter played Carlos Santana-like stylings on Jimi Hendrix’s “Red House” and Chick Corea’s “Spain,” which featured lead vocals by cousin Stuart Scaggs.

* Lakesia Benjamin, Carhartt Amphitheater Stage, Sunday, Aug. 31

Also saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, a rising star, unleashed her relentless firepower in what she said was her first-ever Detroit appearance. “We’re going to be celebrating jazz tonight! We’re going to be celebrating life tonight! We’re going to be celebrating music tonight!” she practically screamed from center stage, jolting a spellbound crowd to full attention before she played her first sassy and spunky notes. Dressed in a shiny gold jumpsuit, with gold-rimmed glasses and gold-polished fingernails, Benjamin hoisted a matching gold alto saxophone to her lips and converted her energized breath into staggering, high-energy streams of rapid-fire improvisation. “We’re going to be celebrating women in jazz next,” she announced, setting up her rendition of “My Favorite Things,” dedicated to the late Detroit harpist Alice Coltrane. Subsequently declaring “it’s about to get a little wilder up here,” Benjamin was her own best cheerleader all night, and as promised the former student of Detroit saxophonists Kenny Garrett and James Carter roused the amphitheater audience with her band’s scintillating performance.

* Detroit Jazz Queens, Absopure Waterfront Stage, Sunday

In memory of the recently passed, Detroit-born vocalist Sheila Jordan — whose photo sat on stage, Joan Belgrave rallied some of her Detroit-based singing friends to pay homage to all the great and glorious jazz songstresses of the past. Her team of Detroit Jazz Queens included: Diane Mathis, who belted out two classics popularized by Nancy Wilson (“(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am” and “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”); Tanya Hood, who took on a Sarah Vaughn favorite “September in the Rain” and Betty Carter’s “Tight;” and Joan Crawford who checked the Ella Fitzgerald box by singing Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Lady.” Exquisitely dressed in a flowing red dress, Belgrave sang “Come to Me” and “Caravan” with trumpet accompaniment from John Douglas. The resplendent women regrouped to sing a rousing and bluesy round-robin blues medley of “Rock Me Baby,” “Stormy Monday” and “Going to Chicago.”

* Jason Moran presents the music of Duke Ellington with the Detroit Jazz Festival Collegiate Jazz Orchestra, Sunday on the JPMorgan Chase Main Stage:

Two days after his galvanizing opening night collaboration, Artist-In-Residence Jason Moran was back on duty, guiding the Detroit Jazz Festival Collegiate Jazz Orchestra through a 75-minute program of Duke Ellington music. “This is y’all’s people!” the white-clad pianist told the crowd as he gestured to the horn-dominated 15-member ensemble, crediting the students’ parents for their support as well. Though Moran said he’d only met the musicians three days prior, they troupe was clearly well-prepared as it rolled through 10 songs from the Ellington songbook — including “Kinda Dukish,” “Such Sweet Surrender,” “Braggin’ in Brass” (so hot Moran had the group play it twice) and “Jeep’s Blues,” as well as a segue from Billy Strayhorn’s “Northern Lights” into “East St. Louis Toodle-Oo.” The students deftly executed their paces through a succession of solos, while vocalist Tiffany Gridiron — who performed Monday on the Absopure Waterfront Stage — joined for three songs. The set’s highlight came as “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If You Ain’t Got That Swing)” transitioned into “Mood Indigo,” fronted by a clarinet and muted trumpet and trombone players. — Gary Graff

* Branford Marsalis Quartet, Carhartt Amphitheater Stage, Sunday

Of the many saxophone headliners powering this year’s festival, Branford Marsalis stood out as the eminent elder. He called out eight tunes over his quartet’s 75-minute set, typically taking on the first melodic lead on tenor or soprano saxophone, then stepping behind his bandmates — pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Justin Faulkner — to jam magnificently with extended improvisational finesse, starting out with Calderazzo’s “The Mighty Sword.” The quartet next reinvented pianist Keith Jarrett’s 1974 composition “Long as You Know You’re Living Yours” from Jarrett’s famed European quartet album, “Belonging,” which Marsalis replicated in its entirety and released in March as his first recording on Blue Note Records. Faulkner rose to the forefront on that piece, emphasizing the melody with captivating, rock-imbued passages. The drummer stood out again on Revis’ sneaky ballad “Nilaste,” keeping pace with Marsalis’ fast-paced, serpentine passages with his full-throttled drum work. Nodding to the next generation of saxophonists, Marsalis surprised everyone by inviting two guest saxophonists to the stage — Lakecia Benjamin and Chris Lewis — who delivered their own charged-up solos on “Teo,” a Thelonious Monk tribute.

* Sonder, Absopure Waterfront Stage, Monday, Sept. 1

Out of seemingly nowhere, the astonishing young jazz quintet Sonder, from the Manhattan College of Music, made its first-ever Detroit Jazz Festival appearance and grabbed listeners’ ears with a set of inspired modern jazz — quite the formidable debut by the winner of the festival’s Collegiate Combo Competition. Led by guitarist Noah Myers, the captivating performers – pianist Eric Stern, double bassist August Bish, drummer Adam Wacks, and saxophonist Ian Weidmann — presented intricately interlaced jazz instrumentation. Myers composed all the tunes in the set except for a rousing cover version of Wayne Shorter’s “Joyrider.”

 

* James Francies Trio, JPMorgan Chase Main Stage, Monday

Keyboardist Francies, who gained notoriety with drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts and in guitarist Pat Metheny’s Side Eye trio, worked through a set of mesmerizing original compositions bolstered by his pulse keepers — bassist Luca Alemanno and drummer Jeremy Dutton. His sweeping approach melded complex, low-register chord phrasings with agile, bright melodic lines. The trio performed a title-less new tune, though Francies said he likes to call it “Garlic Parmesan” because, “I like chicken wings, and who doesn’t?” The trio played “Sway” from Francies’ 2018 album on Blue Note Records and finished the set with a vibrant take on “The Sound of Music” standard “My Favorite Things.” Throughout, Francies’ fingers zipped across the keyboards, sometimes with complex, single-note flurries, then countering with cascading chordal runs.

* Marion Hayden & Legacy with Kamau Kenyatta, Absopure Waterfront Stage, Monday

Bassist Hayden, one of the founders of the celebrated all-female jazz quintet Straight Ahead, furthered her role among Detroit’s lineage of jazz musicians by taking her intergenerational band, Legacy, through an afternoon set of hand-selected compositions. Deepening the Detroit roots of her music, she invited Grammy Award-winning pianist, producer and arranger Kamau Kenyatta, who she referred to as her brother, “my mentor, my peer,” recollecting that they started playing jazz together when they were nine. years old. “That must have been pretty funny,” she noted. Legacy drew from what Hayden called “a deep bench of wonderful musicians” in Detroit, introducing Steve Wood on tenor saxophone and flute, Tim Blackman on trumpet, her son Tariq Gardner on drums and high-schooler Kahlil Childs on alto saxophone. The inspired set included: “Isis,” composed by Detroit piano legend Ken Cox; two Herbie Hancock compositions — “Oliloqui Valley” and “Speak Like a Child,” that put Kenyatta in the spotlight, as did “Peter Bobia.” Hayden also played her own composition, “Gateway to Black Eden,” proudly and elegantly.

Inventive performances get Detroit Jazz Festival off to an exciting start

Jason Moran is ready for role as Detroit Jazz Festival’s artist-in-residence

The cost of eating healthy is climbing as new tariffs on imported fruits and vegetables begin to impact grocery stores and restaurants, pushing prices higher for consumers.

President Donald Trump has defended the move, saying higher tariffs will help boost domestic production and create jobs. But economist Alex Durante with the Tax Foundation said the United States does not have the climate or infrastructure to grow enough fruits and vegetables to meet demand a key reason much of the countrys produce is imported.

"In the U.S., we only grow bananas in Hawaii and Florida, and in a very limited capacity," Durante said. "I mean, more than 90% of all bananas that are consumed in the U.S. are imported from abroad."

ADDITIONAL REPORTING | New economic indicators show the costs of Trump's tariffs are creeping into Americans' budgets

U.S. dependence on imported farm products is increasing. Produce imports totaled more than $33 billion last year, with avocados, bananas and blueberries making up 27% of that market.

Many foods from Mexico and Canada are exempt from tariffs under the U.S.MexicoCanada Agreement, but Durante said that only accounts for about half of imported produce.

"Even with the USMCA exemptions, there's still a lot of agricultural goods that are coming from Southeast Asia, and Central and Latin America and South America, and they're going to be facing these tariffs," he said.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Businesses large and small are now staring down a 'rough and bumpy road' of new tariff increases

While it is unclear how much produce prices may increase, estimates range from 4% to 7%.

"U.S. consumers really don't have much of a choice other than to pay the higher price for that imported good," Durante said.

For now, it will be up to shoppers to decide how much they are willing to spend.

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.

OpenAI announced Tuesday it is implementing new safeguards for teenagers and people in crisis using ChatGPT, as the artificial intelligence company faces a wrongful death lawsuit from a California family.

The company said it is improving its models to better recognize signs of mental and emotional distress. OpenAI added that work is already underway, with some changes moving quickly, while others will take more time.

"You won't need to wait for launches to see where we're headed," the company said in a statement posted to its website.

RELATED STORY | ChatGPT's dark side: New report details alarming responses to teens seeking help

The focus areas will include expanding interventions, making it easier to reach emergency services, and strengthening protections for teens, according to OpenAI.

The changes come as the AI giant faces a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of a California teenager who died by suicide.

The lawsuit alleges the teen was able to bypass the chatbot's current guardrails, with the system occasionally affirming self-destructive thoughts that included suicidal ideation.

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

By MICHAEL PHILLIS, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration was handed a win by a federal appeals court on Tuesday in its effort to freeze billions of dollars and terminate contracts for nonprofits to run a “green bank” aimed at financing climate-friendly projects.

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency had blasted the Biden-era program as a waste of taxpayer money, tried to claw back funding that had already been distributed and accused the nonprofits of mismanagement.

A lower court said the EPA couldn’t support Administrator Lee Zeldin’s accusations and that the agency was wrong to try and end contracts with the nonprofits without substantiating allegations against them. On Tuesday, a divided federal appeals court ruled 2-1 in the agency’s favor, saying the EPA should not have been blocked from terminating the grants and that the arguments by the climate groups have no place in federal district court.

Instead, the case should be heard in a federal claims court that hears contract disputes, the appeals court ruled in a decision written by U.S. Appeals Court Judge Neomi Rao, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in his first term. The decision was a major loss for the groups who said they can only seek monetary damages in district court. The groups in this case were seeking an order allowing them immediate access to their funds, which total about $16 billion.

“In sum, district courts have no jurisdiction to hear claims that the federal government terminated a grant agreement arbitrarily or with impunity. Claims of arbitrary grant termination are essentially contractual,” Rao wrote in a decision supported by Judge Gregory Katsas, also a Trump appointee.

The appeals court ruling said the nonprofits’ arguments belong in federal claims court because they dealt chiefly with the underlying contracts the groups held with the federal government, not matters of law or the Constitution.

Climate United Fund and other groups sued the EPA, Zeldin and Citibank, which held the grant money on behalf of the agency, saying they had illegally denied the groups access to funds awarded last year. They wanted access to those funds again, saying the freeze had paralyzed their work and jeopardized their basic operations.

In order to provide the parties with an opportunity to appeal, the decision won’t go into effect immediately.

Climate United CEO Beth Bafford said in a statement, “This is not the end of our road.”

“While we are disappointed by the panel’s decision, we stand firm on the merits of our case: EPA unlawfully froze and terminated funds that were legally obligated and disbursed,” Bafford said.

Judge Cornelia Pillard, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, said in her dissent that the groups provided evidence that the EPA disagreed with the program’s goals and tried to end it, while throwing around allegations against the groups that it couldn’t substantiate.

The EPA has damaged the green bank program “without presenting to any court any credible evidence or coherent reason that could justify its interference with plaintiffs’ money and its sabotage of Congress’s law,” Pillard wrote.

Associated Press writer Matthew Daly contributed reporting.

---

The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment