Charges were suddenly dropped against a Tennessee man who had been jailed for more than a month for posting a meme featuring President Donald Trump.

Larry Bushart, 61, of Lexington, had been locked up since Sept. 21 for posting a meme that quoted President Trump, saying "We have to get over it" in response to a shooting in Perry, Iowa. Bushart was arrested for threatening mass violence at a school because some interpreted the meme as a threat to shoot up Perry County High School.

Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems texted the Scripps News Group station in Nashville just before 2 p.m. Wednesday, "Charges were nolled about 15 minutes ago."

Nolle prosequi is a Latin term for charges being dismissed.

That sudden move came a day after the Scripps News Group station in Nashville aired an exclusive interview with Weems and investigative reporter Phil Williams. During the interview, Weems admitted that investigators knew that the meme was not about Perry County High School, but investigators were responding to the fears of people in the community who misinterpreted it.

RELATED STORY | Tennessee sheriff defends jailing liberal activist for posting Trump meme about school shooting

The station also obtained new video that raised questions about the sheriff's explanation.

Weems initially said Bushart was arrested after officers in his hometown went to his house to let him know that his meme was being interpreted as a threat to shoot up Perry County High School in Linden and Bushart refused to take it down.

'What kind of person does that?" Weems asked. "What kind of person just says he don't care?"

But video from that initial encounter on Sept. 21 shows the Lexington officer appeared to be unsure about why a Perry County investigator wanted him to visit Bushart.

"So, I'm just going to be completely honest with you. I have really no idea what they are talking about. He had just called me and said there was some concerning posts that were made...."

"On Facebook," Bushart interjected.

"On Facebook, yes, sir," the officer agreed.

"And they sent you guys?" Bushart asked with a laugh.

"They did," the Lexington cop continued. "They wanted me to come make contact with you and let you know that they may be in contact with you and see if you still live here. I don't know exactly what they are referring to you."

Bushart replied, "Oh, I do Charlie Kirk."

The officer said he had no idea of what had caused police to be interested. "They said that something was insinuating violence," he continued.

"No, it wasn't," Bushart scoffed, adding: "I'm not going to take it down. Go look!"

"I don't care," the Lexington officer answered. "This ain't got nothing to do with me."

Sheriff Weems told the Scripps News Group that, while some in the community worried about the post, investigators knew it was a reference to Perry, Iowa. The sheriff said his agency would not have charged Bushart if he had simply agreed to take the post down.

"We try to de-escalate the situation or try to find an easier solution," Weems insisted, explaining that was why his investigator asked Lexington police to "go out and have a conversation with the guy, tell him, 'This is what it is causing in our community.'"

"And he admitted to making the post and advised that he was not taking it down," Weems continued. "So, therefore, he was showing the intent."

The sheriff continued, "At that point, the investigator conversed with the district attorney and myself, and charges were brought on Mr. Bushart for the threat of mass violence because of the fear that he had created in our community."

In fact, the video shows the Lexington officer never mentioned anything about the post possibly being interpreted as a threat to shoot up Perry County High School.

Reached Wednesday by text, Sheriff Weems said he was simply reflecting what his investigator wrote in his report.

"I've not seen the Lexington bodycam footage," Weems said. "My investigator has requested it and their report."

Bushart had been in jail for more than a month, unable to post a $2 million bond set by a Perry County judge. As a result, sources tell the Scripps News Group that Bushart had lost his job doing medical transport.

The post Detroit Evening Report: Mass layoffs at General Motors EV plants appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Buckingham Palace said Thursday that King Charles III has begun the formal process of stripping Prince Andrew of his royal titles and honors.

In a statement, the palace said, His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.

The announcement also confirmed that Andrew has been ordered to surrender his lease on the Royal Lodge, the residence on the Windsor estate where he has lived for years.

Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation, the palace said.

While the statement did not specifically say the decision was tied to Andrews past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, it appeared to allude to it.

RELATED STORY | Prince Andrew says he's giving up the royal title of Duke of York after Epstein allegations resurface

These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him, the palace said, adding that Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.

RELATED STORY | Virginia Giuffre's memoir alleges abuse at the hands of Epstein and others

Earlier this month, a posthumous memoir by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre was released and named Prince Andrew. Giuffre wrote that he abused her on multiple occasions and that he acted as though having sex with me was his birthright.

Prince Andrew has long denied Giuffres allegations that he sexually abused her when she was 17.

By MARC LEVY, Associated Press

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — Democrats and their allied groups are pouring in more money, cutting a fresh television ad with Gov. Josh Shapiro and sending in the national party chairman in the final week of campaigning for a Pennsylvania Supreme Court election, possible signs of concern for a race that could reshape the highest court in the largest presidential battleground.

Spending in the race is on track to exceed $15 million — far surpassing previous spending in what’s called a retention election — as Democrats try to blunt a late-emerging Republican campaign to oust three Democratic justices.

The outcome will have consequences for next year’s midterm election, the 2028 presidential race and the next decade’s congressional redistricting. The nation’s most populous swing state has a politically divided government that has left disputes over election laws and other major issues to the courts in recent years.

At issue in Tuesday’s election is whether the three justices will each serve another term, up to 10 years. They don’t face opponents and are not listed by party affiliation. The ballot merely asks voters to cast a yes-or-no vote.

Retention elections are supposed to be nonpartisan, but Christine Donohue, one of the justices running to remain the bench, said she’s “shocked at the partisan nature” of the election.

“This is extraordinarily unusual,” Donohue said in an interview on Wednesday. “I suppose that’s a sign of the times, though.”

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has a 5-2 Democratic majority, so an across-the-board loss for Democrats in Tuesday’s election could produce a 2-2 ideological split for two years. Political stalemate could likely prevent their seats from being filled until the next judicial election in 2027, potentially leaving the court unable to decide voting or election-related cases through next year’s midterm elections.

“It could lead to chaos,” Donohue said.

While the spending is far below the more than $100 million spent on a state Supreme Court election in Wisconsin earlier this year, it highlights how important these races have become for both parties because of the role state courts play in deciding redistricting disputes, lawsuits over voting and elections, and setting policy on hot-button issues such as abortion.

Donohue and the other justices up for retention, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht, were spending their final days of the campaign attending Democratic Party rallies and get-out-the-vote efforts. Ken Martin, the Democratic National Committee chairman, traveled across Pennsylvania to headline events on Wednesday and Thursday.

At a Lancaster County Democratic Party meeting Wednesday evening, Martin told a couple hundred people that Republicans were trying to steal power by buying court seats so they can enact right-wing policy through the courts.

“This isn’t just about Pennsylvania,” Martin told the crowd. “Because if they win here, you can bet your bottom dollar they bring this in every single state around the country. … This is about our democracy.”

Democrats and their allies were on course to outspend Republicans by a ratio of as much as 4-to-1 after a blitz of TV ads in the final weeks to counter a wave of Republican flyers and commercials.

The TV ads supporting the justices portray them as defenders of abortion rights, union rights and voting rights. Backing them are labor unions, trial lawyers and Planned Parenthood’s political arm.

While not all spending or financial sources have been disclosed publicly, groups linked to a network that typically spends campaign contributions from Pennsylvania’s richest man, securities billionaire Jeffrey Yass, so far has spent about $2 million, according to figures from AdImpact, which tracks advertising.

Democrats and their allies reported spending more than $7 million in October. The ACLU and Planned Parenthood are among left-leaning groups that have increased their spending late in the race as Democrats seek to counter a wave of Republican-aligned TV ads and flyers that launched in September, just before voters began casting mail ballots.

The blitz concerned Democrats. Lancaster County Democratic Party Chairman Tom O’Brien said party members were in “panic mode” as they worried about how the party would respond.

Particularly worrisome to Democrats was Republican messaging urging Democratic voters to “term limit” the justices by voting no. It was packaged with wording meant to convey sentiments typically expressed by Democrats, including “no kings” and “defend democracy.”

Democrats also realized that a major task was educating voters about what a retention election is. O’Brien and others said they are feeling better as canvassers have helped educate voters, and Democratic-aligned flyers and TV ads have flooded the state.

In an October TV ad running in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Shapiro told viewers that the justices “have proven that we can count on them to protect a woman’s access to abortion and birth control, and stand up for all our freedoms.”

Democrats say they are satisfied with their voting-by-mail turnout in the weeks leading up to the final day of voting, but they are continuing their campaign push. On Saturday, Philadelphia labor leaders and Mayor Cherelle Parker will lead a half-day motorcade through the city to promote the justices’ campaigns.

Republicans’ most potent voice, President Donald Trump, has not waded into the election, although his name has occasionally been invoked. A Republican-aligned TV ad says, “On Nov. 4, you can help President Trump to term limit three woke Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices.”

State Republican Party Chairman Greg Rothman suggested that a “no” campaign is only natural.

“Retention shouldn’t be automatic,” he said. “Otherwise, why even have it?”

Rothman said he didn’t know whether the Republican effort would succeed but said voters already cynical about government could be motivated to vote “no.” A state government budget stalemate approaching its fifth month and the federal government shutdown could put voters in a mood to vote against any incumbent.

“Based on the Democratic Party response, and Shapiro cutting ads and all the money that trial lawyers and the national DNC is bringing in, that they must think we’re onto something,” Rothman said.

Follow Marc Levy on X at https://x.com/timelywriter

By STEPHEN GROVES, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed a resolution Thursday that would undo many of President Donald Trump’s tariffs around the globe, the latest note of displeasure at his trade tactics in Washington that came just as the president celebrated his negotiations with China as a success.

After a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea, Trump said he would cut tariffs on the Asian economic giant and China would, in turn, purchase 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans annually for the next three years. The Republican president claimed his trade negotiations would secure “prosperity and security to millions of Americans.”

But back in Washington, senators — several from Trump’s Republican Party — have demonstrated their dissent with Trump’s tariff tactics by passing a series of resolutions this week that would nullify the national emergencies that Trump has declared to justify the import taxes. Already this week, the Senate approved resolutions to end tariffs imposed on Brazil and Canada. While the legislative efforts are ultimately doomed, they exposed fault lines in the GOP.

The latest resolution, which would effectively end most of Trump’s tariff policies, passed on a 51-47 vote, with four Republicans joining with all Democrats.

Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who backed Democrats on the resolutions, credited Trump for decreasing the tariffs on China, but said the result is “still much higher than we’ve had.”

“It still will lead to increased prices,” he said.

The votes were orchestrated by Democrats using a decades-old law that allows Congress to nullify a presidential emergency. But House Republicans have instituted a new rule that allows the leadership to prevent such resolutions from coming up for a vote. Plus, Trump would surely veto legislation that inhibits his power over trade policy, meaning the legislation won’t ultimately take effect.

Democrats can force a vote but not a result

But Democrats have still been able to force the Senate to take up an uncomfortable topic for their Republican colleagues.

“American families are being squeezed by prices going up and up and up,” said Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, in a floor speech. He added that “in many ways, red states in rural areas are being hit the hardest,” and pointed to economic strain being put on farmers and manufacturers.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said that Americans shouldn’t be fooled by Trump’s announcement.

“Donald Trump has folded, leaving American families and farmers and small businesses to deal with the wreckage from his blunders, from his erratic on again off again tariff policies,” said the New York Democrat.

How Republicans see Trump’s trade policy

Overall, there has been little movement among Republicans to oppose Trump’s import taxes publicly. A nearly identical resolution failed in April on a tied vote after Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was absent. On Thursday, McConnell and Paul, as well as Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, voted along with all Democrats to pass the resolution.

Those four Republicans helped advance similar resolutions this week to end the tariffs on Brazil and Canada. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, also voted in favor of the resolution applying to Brazil, but otherwise, GOP senators have held the line this week behind the president.

“I agree with my colleagues that tariffs should be more targeted to avoid harm to Americans,” said Sen. Mike Crapo, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, in a floor speech. Yet, he added that Trump’s negotiations “are bearing fruit” and praised his announcement that Beijing would allow the export of rare earth elements and start buying American soybeans again.

Republicans representing farm states were especially enthused by the announcement that China would be purchasing 25 million metric tons of soybeans annually, starting with 10 million metric tons for the rest of this year.

Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, said the deal with China “absolutely” justifies Trump’s use of tariff threats to negotiate trade policy with other nations. He called the announcement “huge news” for Kansas farmers, but also acknowledged that they would still probably need financial help as they deal with the strain of losing their biggest customer for soybeans and sorghum.

“It’s not like you can snap your finger and send over $15 billion worth of sorghum and soybeans together overnight,” he said.

China had been the largest purchaser of U.S. soybeans until this year. It purchased almost 27 million metric tons in 2024, so Trump’s negotiated deal only guarantees to return soybean exports to China to less than their previous level.

Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, called the purchase agreement a “start.”

Asked whether he agreed with Trump’s assessment that his meeting with Xi had been a runaway success, Cramer smiled and said the president “is nothing if not optimistic.”

As Volkswagen continues its efforts to grow market share in the SUV segment, it has made some updates to the 2025 edition of the smallest member of the family — the Volkswagen Taos.

This little SUV isn’t going to sit idly by while others in the segment make upgrades. WIth the 2025 Taos, Volkswagen has decided to add additional horsepower to the engine, as well as some style updates to both the exterior and interior of the vehicle, plus a larger infotainment screen.

I recently tested a 2025 Volkswagen Taos SE Black model, and I’m back with a full report on how the vehicle holds up vs. other compact SUVs — including offerings from Chevy (Trax), Mazda (CX-30), Buick (Envista) and Subaru (Crosstrek).

LOOKS

Starting on the exterior, the 2025 Volkswagen Taos gets a solid redesign, include some unique color options such at the Cornflower Blue paint on my test vehicle, or the Bright Moss Green Metallic option.

My test vehicle’s trim level featured black exterior elements, including rear spoiler, roof rails and side mirror caps.

A new lighting design is in place with integrated LED light bar designs in front and back. If you’re familiar with the look of VW’s larger Atlas SUV, much of that style is replicated here at a smaller size. It’s an attractive overall look, one of the best in the segment.

Small but not too tiny, the Taos is a strong option for city dwellers and commuters who also want to be able to transport their family and friends around in comfort. You can also move up one size level to VW’s Tiguan SUV if you need more space.

My test vehicle featured 18-inch black painted alloy wheels with all-season tires. Wheel size options range from 17 to 19 inches on the Taos.

The adaptive front lighting system also features dynamic cornering lights, which swivel for better illumination while turning.

Other exterior features include:

• Heated, foldable, power adjustable side mirrors

• Rain-sensing, variable intermittent front wipers with heated washer nozzles

• Power tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof

Moving inside the Taos, you’ll find a respectable amount of cargo space, strong leg room for back seat passengers, and leatherette or leather seating materials offered. It’s one of the biggest and most comfortable little SUVs you can find.

The cargo capacity maxes out at 66 cubic feet with the back row down, and 28 cubic feet with those seats upright — solid numbers for the compact SUV segment.

Updates were also made to the dashboard and tech setup, and features like ambient lighting, multi-zone climate control, and heated/ventilated seats are also included.

While not the most upscale vehicle in the segment, nothing in the vehicle feels cheap.

Other interior features include:

• Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel

• Center armrest in 2nd row

• USB ports in both rows

• Illuminated and carpeted cargo area

HOW’S THE RIDE?

There is one engine offered on the 2025 Volkswagen Taos — a 1.5-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder power plant that is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and delivers 174 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The horsepower number sees a solid boost from the previous version of the Taos.

The Taos comes standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available as an option.

The overall driving experience in the Taos is smooth and handles corners well, but not noticeably fast. That being said, it’s delivering enough oomph to make it a memorable experience for most families, just don’t go in expecting a speed demon.

Looking at the 0-to-60 times on the Taos, it comes in at the mid 7-second range, which is solid for the segment. Drive modes offered include Normal, Eco, Sport and a custom option.

As long as you recognize you’re driving a family hauler and not a hot rod, you should be able to enjoy your time behind the wheel.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

Tech is somewhat of a mixed bag on the 2025 Taos.

On the positive side, an 8-inch touch screen in the center console responds well to touch-screen controls and has controls that are easy to master. It’s worth noting though that some rival SUVs offer larger screen sizes.

But on the weaker side, the voice commands on the Taos are not as reliable as rival systems. Beyond that, the slider-style controls for climate (which VW seems to have embraced across the lineup) will prove divisive. I got used to them quickly, but some people prefer physical buttons.

Overall the system is not flashy but is quite functional, and is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Navigation is offered, along with Bluetooth, wireless phone charging and satellite radio, and several charging ports.

Moving on to safety, the Taos delivers nearly perfect government ratings.

The backup camera is very helpful, as are the sensors all around the vehicle. And the Travel Assist feature (offering semi-autonomous driving assistance) can come in handy on longer trips.

Other safety features include six airbags, Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, LATCH system for child seats, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking.

Other safety features on the Taos include::

• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go

• Lane Assist (Lane Keeping System)

• Emergency Assist (semi-automated vehicle assistance in a medical emergency)

• Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring

• Active Blind Spot Monitor

• Rear Traffic Alert

MPG

The FWD Taos that I tested had official fuel mileage numbers listed at 28 city/36 highway/31 combined. The AWD version is listed at 25 city/33 highway/28 combined.

During my time in the Toas, I averaged 25 mpg, which was pretty low compared to the numbers listed, even accounting for mostly driving in the city. I’m sure I could have improved that number some if I had focused on maximizing fuel economy, but fuel mileage is one area that may give pause to some potential buyers.

PRICE

The 2025 Taos that I tested was priced just over $32K, and its base price starts about $26K.

Trim levels include the base S model, SE, SE Black and SEL.

If you want to upgrade from the base, you can opt for the SE trim, you can stay under the $30K mark, and still get a solid vehicle with lots of solid features.

In terms of pricing, the Taos falls around the middle of the pack among compact SUVs. Some rivals come in much lower in the $20K range, while others start out even higher and push close to the $30K mark even on base models. All in all, the Taos offers a happy medium.

You’re paying a bit more than some rivals, but you’ll get more room plus better design and more features.

Warranties are solid on the Taos, including:

• New Vehicle Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles

• Powertrain Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles

• Scheduled maintenance covered at 1 year/10,000 miles and 2 years/20,000 miles

• 24-hour roadside assistance for 3 years/36,000 miles

BOTTOM LINE

Small but stylish, roomy inside for the segment, and offering decent power, the 2025 Volkswagen Taos is a solid overall compact SUV offering that competes well in this very busy segment.

It’s a vehicle you’ll want to include on your list of test drives if a mini-ute is what you want to bring home.

Matt Myftiu’s past reviews can all be seen online at autotechreviews.com. Follow AutoTechReviews on Instagram at @Autotechreviews or on TikTok at @AutoTechReviews.

FYI

• Vehicle: 2025 Volkswagen Taos

• Price as tested: $32,025 (starts around $26K)

• Best feature: Roomy for a compact SUV

• Rating: 4 out of five stars

• Who will want this vehicle?: Drivers seeking a compact SUV that’s big enough for a family, offers a respectable drive quality, and solid cargo space

The post The Metro: Halloween special returns to WDET airwaves in time for trick-or-treating appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The post The Metro: Federal government shutdown ripples through Detroit’s food systems appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

More than half a million bottles of blood pressure medication have been recalled for containing higher levels of a carcinogenic substance than allowed.

Teva Pharmaceuticals USA of New Jersey originally issued the recall earlier this month for capsules of prazosin hydrochloride that it distributed.

Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has classified the recall as a Class II risk level, meaning consuming it may cause "temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences."

RELATED STORY | 140,000 bottles of cholesterol medication recalled because it may not dissolve properly

The recall applies to 1-milligram, 2-milligram and 5-milligram capsules of the medication that was distributed in 100-capsule, 250-capsule, 500-capsule and 1000-capsule bottles with expiration dates ranging from Oct. 2025 through Feb. 2027.

Testing found levels of the impurity N-nitroso Prazosin impurity C that were higher than the safety limit established by the Carcinogenic Potency Categorization Approach (CPCA), according to the FDA enforcement report.

Specific instructions on what to do with the medication if you have it were not given.

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — Mike Tirico, Maria Taylor, Ahmed Fareed and Noah Eagle will work multiple events in February as NBC broadcasts the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Super Bowl 60 and the NBA All-Star Game.

On Feb. 8, Tirico will handle play-by-play in a Super Bowl for the first time after being the pregame host in 2022. After the Super Bowl postgame, he will host “Primetime in Milan” from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Tirico, who will be hosting NBC’s primetime Olympic coverage for the fifth time, will begin hosting from Italy on Feb. 10 until the conclusion of the games on Feb. 22.

Tirico will also be part of NBC’s debut of “Sunday Night Basketball” on Feb. 1 when he calls the Los Angeles Lakers-New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden.

Taylor will be the lead host of the Super Bowl pregame for the first time. On Feb. 7, she will be the primetime host of Olympics coverage and then will be the late-night host from Italy beginning on Feb. 10. This will be the fourth Olympics assignment for Taylor, who joined NBC in 2021.

Taylor will also host the debut of “Basketball Night in America” on Feb. 1.

Fareed will anchor the NBA All-Star Weekend coverage from Inglewood, California, Feb. 13-15 as well as being the daytime host of Olympics coverage on Feb. 7.

Eagle will call his first NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 15 as well as All-Star Saturday. He will also be part of the Super Bowl pregame and has NBA games on Feb. 1 (Oklahoma City at Denver) and Feb. 22 (Boston at Los Angeles Lakers).

Today show co-anchors Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin will also be part of Olympics coverage. Guthrie will host the Opening Ceremony with Terry Gannon Feb. 6 and then “Primetime in Milan” on Feb. 9. Melvin has the Late Night show from Feb. 7-9.

“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” alum Floyd Rogers Myers Jr., who appeared on the hit show as a child, has died. He was 42.

The “Jacksons: An American Dream” actor suffered a heart attack at his Maryland home early Wednesday, his mother, Renee Trice, confirmed to TMZ.

This was the fourth in a string of heart attacks over the past three years, according to Trice.

Myers’ screen career was short but notable, as the younger version of Will Smith in a 1992 “Fresh Prince” episode, “Will Gets Committed.”

The Daily News has reached out to Smith for comment.

Later that year, Myers appeared as Marlon Jackson, ages 7 to 9, in Parts I and II of “The Jacksons: An American Dream.” The Emmy-winning miniseries about the Jackson family also starred Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as patriarch Joe Jackson, Angela Bassett as matriarch Katherine Jackson as well as Holly Robinson Peete, Terrence Howard, Billy Dee Williams and Vanessa Williams.

Myers’ last screen appearance was in 2000, when he was credited as a student in “Young Americans,” which aired for one season and starred Kate Bosworth and Ian Somerhalder.

By Kara Berg, MediaNews Group

The widow of a man killed in 2010 in Farmington Hills and her attorney say the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office is neglecting its duties in the retrial of the man convicted of killing her husband.

Genniver Jameel, the widow of Saif Jameel, said she is frustrated about what she sees as corruption in the prosecutor’s office and courtroom maneuvers strip away the justice her family got in 2011 when Hayes Bacall was sentenced to life in prison for the first-degree murder of her husband. Bacall is in the process of being retried for Saif Jameel’s murder after the Court of Appeals vacated his conviction in April.

“We are living through hell every single day — grieving Saif while fighting a system that seems determined to silence us,” Jameel told The Detroit News in a statement. “Instead of finding support and accountability through the court system, we have faced betrayal and corruption that has only deepened our suffering.”

Hayes Bacall was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2011 for the July 2010 murder of his nephew Saif Jameel. Prosecutors say Bacall walked into the gas station Jameel owned and shot him 12 times, then later told police he killed Jameel because Jameel owed him $400,000.

The Oakland County Conviction Integrity Unit reviewed the case in 2022 and determined that prosecutorial misconduct related to lies the prosecutor told during closing arguments, as well as witnesses recanting their testimony, resulted in a weak conviction.

Prosecutors and Bacall’s attorneys agreed to move forward with a second-degree murder charge instead of the original first-degree murder charge in 2023, but new evidence has again come up, pausing justice for Saif Jameel again.

Prosecutors obtained recordings in May and July of two phone calls that one of the recanting witnesses, Samir Bacall, Saif’s younger brother, had with his aunt. In the calls, Samir implies he lied during his recantation and was truthful in his original testimony. He expresses a desire for revenge on Genniver Jameel because she allegedly owes him money.

Though prosecutors transcribed translations of the calls in time to include them in their response to Hayes Bacall’s motion to dismiss the first-degree murder charge, prosecutors did not mention them in public court filings until days after Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Mary Ellen Brennan granted Hayes Bacall’s motion Oct. 15 and dismissed the first-degree murder charge. Assistant Prosecutor David Williams said Brennan knew about the filings from off-the-record conversations, but they were not introduced to influence her decision on the first-degree murder charge.

The first mention of Samir’s statements came in a motion for reconsideration of Brennan’s decision filed after 5 p.m. Oct. 20, the day before Bacall was set to plead guilty to second-degree murder. The recordings call into question the validity of Samir’s recantation and his motives for his original trial testimony, Assistant Prosecutor Shelbee Sanborn wrote in the motion for reconsideration.

Brennan said the late filing was “stunning” and said “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Sanborn during a hearing Oct. 21 told Brennan she had to work “very quickly” to get this motion filed and did it as soon as she could, but did not say why the information was not included in her response to Bacall’s motion to dismiss the first-degree murder charge. Prosecutors filed the motion after The News inquired Oct. 16 about the recordings and why they weren’t brought up.

Sanborn wrote in her motion that she did not have a chance to tell Brennan about the new evidence, including the recordings and another witness who could testify to premeditation, on Oct. 15 when Brennan ruled on the motion. Sanborn is asking Brennan to reconsider her ruling dismissing the first-degree murder charge for Bacall.

“The existence of the phone calls was never a secret. They were disclosed to the defense and we made the court aware of their existence,” said Chief Assistant Prosecutor David Williams. “We didn’t believe that the phone calls were relevant to the motion to dismiss, which is why we didn’t attach them to our response.”

Genniver Jameel’s attorney, Pam Szydlak, said the prosecutor’s office’s conduct is “nothing short of alarming.”

Jameel and Szydlak said Sanborn told them she would be fighting for the first-degree charge to remain in place, and would be mentioning the recordings in her response and at the hearing on Bacall’s motion to dismiss the first-degree murder charge. Sanborn did not mention it, however, and argued only that prosecutors were not barred from proceeding with the first-degree case in her written response.

“The People were given a full and fair opportunity to defend against this motion, yet they failed to do so in any meaningful or competent way — all the while pretending they were fighting it,” Szydlak said. “Rather than engage with real legal issues and the transcripts of Samir Bacall saying he lied in his recantation, they instead offered vague assertions, unsupported rhetoric, and outright neglect of its duty to the court and the interests of justice.”

Williams said no one has denied Hayes Bacall shot and killed Saif Jameel, and the prosecutor’s office has continued to fight to hold him accountable for his actions. Prosecutors are now seeking to have Bacall tried again for first-degree murder.

“Those recordings are attached to our motion for reconsideration, and the Judge has agreed to consider them,” Williams said in a statement. “The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office has fully pursued a transparent and thorough review of the case against Hayes Bacall for the death of Saif Jameel.”

Samir Bacall, Saif’s younger brother, originally testified that Hayes Bacall had called him multiple times in the months before the shooting, saying he was going to kill Saif because of the money he owed him. Samir and Jameel’s close friend Slieman Bashi said in 2022 that they lied during the trial about these statements, which was part of why prosecutors decided to reopen the case and seek to overturn Bacall’s conviction.

In the recorded conversation, Samir told his aunt “she harmed me,” speaking of Genniver.

“Yes, but you don’t go to seek your revenge on her by going and changing your testimony,” the aunt said, according to a translated transcript of the phone call.

Samir talks mostly about seeking revenge on Genniver, because he says she sought revenge on him and took his money, but also said “I did not testify falsely, no, I didn’t lie … Geniver Geniver (sic) is the one who testified falsely, not I.”

Bacall’s attorney, Mark Krieger, said during a hearing Oct. 21 that he didn’t think the recording changes anything and that Brennan should not change her ruling about the first-degree murder charge. He said Bacall was prepared that day to plead guilty to second-degree murder. Krieger did not respond for comment.

Brennan will issue a written ruling on Sanborn’s motion for reconsideration. Bacall’s next court date is Dec. 4.

The post Dearborn voters to choose between incumbent Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, challenger Nagi Almudhegi for mayor appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Airbnb said it will use its anti-party technology to block certain bookings over the upcoming Halloween weekend.

The system uses automation to detect potential party risks based on factors such as the length of a reservation and last-minute booking requests.

Last year, Airbnb deterred about 38,000 bookings in the United States and about 6,300 in Canada using the technology. This is the sixth year Airbnb has used the system, and the company said party-related reports have declined.

Higher-risk bookings may be blocked, and guests will have the option of reserving alternative accommodations, such as a private room where a host is present.

RELATED STORY | Airbnb rolling out new 'Reserve Now, Pay Later' feature for US travelers

Airbnb requires all users to be at least 18 years old, and minors must be accompanied by a registered adult. Parents, grandparents and others should not book for anyone else, as third-party bookings are prohibited.

If anyone breaks these rules, their account could be suspended or banned, the company said in a statement. This means we may cancel their upcoming trips, and they wont be able to use the platform to make future bookings, potentially putting winter holiday or summer vacation plans at risk. Importantly, they could also be held financially responsible for any property damage that occurs during the stay. We urge users to be vigilant: Do not share access to your account, monitor for unexpected bookings or payments, and reach out to Airbnbs customer support team in the event of any concerns.

By Michael Smith, Alicia A. Caldwell, Myles Miller, Bloomberg News

The federal government is supercharging its use of local cops to hunt down immigrants suspected of being in the U.S. illegally as part of an unprecedented effort to fulfill President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to deport millions of people.

Some 10,500 local police, county sheriffs, state troopers, university law enforcement and even lottery investigators have been signed up to stop, arrest and detain undocumented immigrants. Nationwide data reviewed by Bloomberg show these officers, across 40 states, nabbed almost 3,000 people since Trump took office through the end of July. Florida keeps its own tally under the same program, and its deputized cops have arrested another 2,500 people since then.

Combined, that’s a small fraction of the total number of immigration arrests this year, but almost double the amount that deputized cops made in 2024 under President Joe Biden’s watch.

Local law enforcement usually doesn’t have the authority to enforce immigration rules, but a nearly 30-year-old program called 287(g) allows the federal government to grant immigration arrest power to agencies that sign on. Trump has overseen a dramatic expansion at the start of his second term, with the number of accords surging seven-fold to almost 1,100 by September.

It’s “a force multiplier,” Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director Madison Sheahan said in an interview.

But among the local law-enforcement agencies, some have been much more enthusiastic participants than others. About three-fourths of the 330 participating police forces in Florida, by far the largest ICE partner after Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed through a law requiring them to sign up, have made zero arrests months into their partnerships, the state’s data show. Officials frequently say that it isn’t a priority for officers focused on fighting violent crime, thwarting robberies and improving community relations.

In greater Miami, which has one of the largest concentrations of Latino immigrants in America, police and sheriff’s departments have made about two dozen immigration arrests since August.

“We have other priorities in this community that I’m focused on, and immigration is not one of them,” Gregory Tony, the Democratic sheriff of Broward County, north of Miami, said at a county budget committee meeting in June. “It’s not within our purview, it’s not within our responsibility, and I won’t participate in it.”

Tony’s comments led Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to threaten to remove the sheriff from office, citing the state law that requires police to use “best efforts to support” federal immigration agents. As of Oct. 27, Tony’s deputies had made zero immigration arrests. Uthmeier declined to comment.

Over the decades, just a handful of local law-enforcement agencies cut 287(g) deals with ICE, according to the American Immigration Council. But Trump has hugely expanded these agreements to supplement roughly 65,000 ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents with additional forces.

St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick, who polices a 40-mile stretch of I-95 around St. Augustine, Florida, says his officers now routinely question people’s immigration status when they get pulled over someone for speeding or other infraction. He already has 66 of his sheriff’s officers trained and deputized by ICE, and is adding another 45.

This year his deputies have arrested about 700 people on immigration charges, mainly during vehicle stops, expanding a years-long practice of running a check for federal immigration violations when they suspected someone may be undocumented, he said.

“So to take this enforcement on as a sheriff when our new president took office was easy because we were kind of already doing it, holding people accountable,” Hardwick said in an interview. But now, he says, there’s much more support from the federal government.

It’s part of the president’s growing toolkit for his immigration crackdown. Even amid court challenges, Trump has deployed thousands of active duty military troops, along with combat vehicles and more than 100 Coast Guard boats, to the border, where crossings have plummeted. He’s also sought to deploy National Guard troops in major cities — including Los Angeles — though many of those efforts have been legally blocked or scaled back.

In the interior of the country, ICE recorded more than 196,000 arrests between Jan. 20 and Sept. 20, according to data posted by the agency. During that same time, ICE has deported about 180,000 people.

Police chiefs and sheriffs who have criticized the 287(g) agreements often point to the complexities of immigration law, limited training for their officers and the legal liabilities they could create.

Allegations of racial profiling have dogged previous iterations of the program. A Justice Department report in 2011 concluded sheriff’s officials in Maricopa County, Arizona, which includes Phoenix, had engaged in profiling to target and arrest Latino residents.

Florida’s push for immigration arrests may have led to mistakes, according to court records and interviews with immigration lawyers.

Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a 21-year-old U.S. citizen, was headed from his home in Georgia to a carpet installation job in Tallahassee with two co-workers on April 16. Soon after crossing into Florida, a state trooper pulled over their vehicle for speeding and questioned their immigration status.

“I told him I was born here, showed them my license, my Social Security card, but he didn’t believe me,” Lopez-Gomez said in an interview in Spanish. The trooper handcuffed and arrested Lopez-Gomez for allegedly violating a Florida law against entering the state as an illegal alien, records show. It was the same law a federal judge had blocked as unconstitutional two weeks before.

A county judge threw out the case after Lopez-Gomez’s mother showed up with his birth certificate, but said only ICE could get him out of jail, Lopez-Gomez said. He spent 38 hours locked up before an ICE agent reviewed his documents and let him go. He says he is considering filing a lawsuit for unlawful arrest.

“I still don’t understand why they did that to me,” Lopez-Gomez said from his home in Cairo, Georgia. “Every day I leave the house scared they will try to deport me again – the anxiety gets the best of me.”

The Florida Highway Patrol declined to comment.

DeSantis has aggressively gone after towns and sheriffs perceived as resisting working with ICE.

Fort Myers, a town on the Gulf Coast, backed down from refusing to sign a deal with ICE after Uthmeier threatened to remove city commissioners from office for violating state law.

A few miles west of downtown Miami in Doral, a heavily Latino city where Trump owns a golf course, Police Chief Edwin Lopez has no plans to order his officers to hunt for undocumented immigrants even though the department plans to sign a 287(g) agreement.

“I do a lot of educating the community and let them know that the police department is here to protect and serve,” Lopez, the son of Cuban immigrants, said in an interview. “We’re not necessarily arbitrarily requesting or asking questions in terms of immigration status.”

Among the state agencies that has made immigration arrests is the Florida Lottery’s security division. The force of roughly a dozen officers is charged with securing lottery drawings, investigating fake tickets and running background checks on retailers. But on April 24, it signed a 287(g) agreement, and it has since made 10 immigration arrests. A spokesperson for the agency declined to comment.

One major incentive for law-enforcement agencies to sign the 287(g) agreements is the promise of a cash infusion. ICE is now offering to fully reimburse salary and benefits and part of the overtime for each trained 287(g) officer, and to pay quarterly bonuses of as much as $1,000 if certain arrest targets are met.

The money hasn’t always worked.

Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux turned down a request from ICE to join the 287(g) program that came with a promise of $25 million in reimbursements for salaries and operational costs.

“Our officers are focused on serving our city by answering 911 calls and aggressively fighting violent crime,” Comeaux said in a statement. “Federal authorities have a different mission with the same importance.”

In Loudoun County, Virginia, one of the nation’s wealthiest suburbs, Sheriff Mike Chapman has an agreement to hold inmates flagged by ICE until federal officers can take custody.

But he isn’t going to order his deputies to become immigration agents. He wants them to focus on local safety and community engagement.

“People may not like what we’re doing, but they trust us,” he said in an interview. “They realize it’s important to keep them safe, and that’s what we’re about.”

Some cops just don’t know what to do with their partnership with ICE, like Sheriff K. Zane Hopkins in Nebraska’s Banner County. His desolate 745-square-mile rectangle in the southwest part of the state has fewer than 700 residents, making it home to “more cows than people.”

Hopkins, a Republican elected in 2023, signed a 287(g) agreement in part because Banner somehow ended up on the Department of Homeland Security’s list of so-called “sanctuary” counties, which restrict local police from assisting federal immigration agents. Signing up with ICE was an effort to help clear up any misconceptions. But a traffic stop that involves an immigration issue, he said, can keep him or his sole deputy occupied for an hour or more.

Hopkins recalls two traffic stops since 2023 that involved a driver suspected of being in violation of federal immigration laws, and both times ICE agents opted not to respond. The county is a nearly seven-hour drive from Nebraska’s lone ICE office in Omaha.

“We are not actively going out and looking for people.” Hopkins said of immigration enforcement. “If we do it, we do it as part of our daily duties. I’m not super worried about trying to enforce it and I’m not going to chase reimbursement.”

—With assistance from Fabiola Zerpa and Phil Kuntz.

©2025 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By STEVE PEOPLES, AP National Political Writer

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Democrat Abigail Spanberger is more eager to talk about struggling soybean farmers than President Donald Trump’s attack on American institutions. She plays down the historic nature of her campaign for Virginia governor and avoids making big, bold promises about what she will accomplish if elected.

Yet some believe the moderate approach — others call it boring — that the former congresswoman and CIA case officer has taken heading into Tuesday’s election holds the key to the Democratic Party’s national revival.

“Don’t promise things you know you can’t deliver,” Spanberger said aboard her bus campaigning this week to be the state’s first female governor. It was a sober warning to Democratic leaders across the country — New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and former President Joe Biden among them.

It may be an underwhelming message for the millions of angry voters who have flocked to anti-Donald Trump protests in recent weeks demanding that Democratic leaders take bold action to fight the Republican’s norm-busting presidency. But as the Democratic Party searches for an effective message and messengers in the wake of last fall’s Election Day drubbing, Spanberger is offering a pragmatic focus on economic concerns and a toned-down pledge to address Trump’s most damaging policies, when possible.

That tack is in line with a growing group of Democratic governors, top party operatives and Mikie Sherrill, the New Jersey congresswoman and former Navy helicopter pilot who is the only other Democratic gubernatorial hopeful on the ballot next week. They are betting big that a centrist message aimed at voters’ economic concerns will deliver victory where an intense focus on stopping Trump from unraveling American democracy failed in 2024.

The Republican nominees in Virginia and New Jersey, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Trump-endorsed former business owner and state legislator Jack Ciattarelli, have tried to paint their Democratic opponents as out-of-touch liberals more concerned about transgender rights and immigrants who are in the United States illegally than they are about the safety of school children.

That playbook worked for Trump in the last presidential election. But given the national security backgrounds of Spanberger and Sherrill, it is unclear whether that will work Tuesday.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who has campaigned alongside Spanberger and Sherrill over the past week, noted that both candidates have focused on rising costs while offering a clear contrast to the chaos that has consumed Trump’s Washington. It’s largely the same approach that Shapiro has taken as he gears up for a 2026 reelection campaign in the swing state before a possible 2028 presidential bid.

“The lesson is winning,” Shapiro said when asked about whether the approach reflects lessons learned from Democrats’ struggles in 2024.

Democratic divisions loom

The Democratic Party is far from united on how to move forward.

Just as Spanberger and Sherrill embrace moderation, progressive leaders such as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have lined up behind Mamdani, who is also on the ballot Tuesday. The self-described democratic socialist has called for government-run grocery stores, free public transit and rent freezes, among other policies that may be difficult to enact if he wins.

Mamdani is in an increasingly caustic race with former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani.

“The socialists want to take over the Democratic Party,” Cuomo said in a weekend radio interview. “He wins, book airline tickets for Florida now.”

But some Democratic voters, even some who came out to hear Spanberger’s message in Virginia this week, say they are excited about Mamdani.

Mikal Blount, a 31-year-old commercial window cleaner, joined dozens of voters at a Norfolk restaurant on Sunday to see Spanberger. He said he is impressed by her bipartisan approach and experience in law enforcement, but he also hopes Mamdani wins and emerges as a national star.

“It’s OK to have moderates create common ground and progressives who are down to fight,” he said, expressing frustration with his party’s leaders in Washington. “I’m like what are we doing? We’re not hitting back. MAGA Republicans aren’t holding back, so why are we?” — referring to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.

Spanberger was less enthusiastic about Mamdani’s emergence.

In an interview, Spanberger said she fears his approach could push people away from the party, but not necessarily because of his most controversial policies, even those she disagrees with. She sees it as a matter of telling the truth.

“We should always, always, always, dream big. It’s not a focus on, just do little things,” she said. “But if he’s making promises that he can’t keep to people who are struggling to put food on the table for their kids or to pay their bus fare to get to their second job of the day, then what’s the long term impact on the people who put their faith in somebody?”

Spanberger offered a similar criticism of Biden’s campaign promises to cancel student debt.

“We wonder why people are like, ‘Oh, I’m tired of voting for the Democrats.’” she said. “If you were to talk to people about canceling debt, a number of people will express some level of, ‘He didn’t do what he said he was going to do.’ Well, he was never going to be able to do that, right?”

A move to the middle

A collection of Democratic operatives released a report this week, “Deciding to Win: Toward a Common Sense Renewal of the Democratic Party,” that effectively endorses Spanberger’s approach.

The report features input from top advisers to Biden, former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris. It calls on Democratic candidates to reject progressive purity tests and talk less about democracy, climate change and far-left cultural priorities and more about health care, the cost of living and public safety.

Veteran Democratic operative Jesse Ferguson, who provided input, said Spanberger is doing well because she’s “able to connect the pain from Washington to the pockets in Virginia.”

“Trump’s authoritarianism will fail — not because we convince people it’s authoritarian, but because we show them it’s expensive,” Ferguson said.

Spanberger has not attended any of the “No Kings” protests that have featured millions of anti-Trump voters concerned with the threat he poses to U.S. democracy. She rarely said his name on a statewide bus tour this week that took her from Virginia’s affluent suburbs in the north to its military base communities on the Eastern Shore and the Appalachian hills in the rural southwest.

“I feel like if I say it too much, it’s like Beetlejuice. He’s gonna show up,” Spanberger joked.

This election, she said, is more about the struggles of everyday voters than Trump’s attack on democracy.

“When we win, it’s repudiation of the policies that are harming Virginia, whether it’s the shutdown, DOGE, or tariffs,” Spanberger said. “Like one guy like is single-handedly crushing Virginia soybean farmers, like one guy is single-handedly raising input costs for fertilizer and for farm equipment.”

Another topic Spanberger does not mention much: the possibility of becoming the first woman elected governor in Virginia.

“I’m delighted that we will have a woman governor. I’m delighted by the fact that when the next generation of candidates step forward, it’s not, ‘Oh, do you think a woman can win?’” she said. “It’s very significant to other people. But I don’t want to ever make the race about me.”

The post The Metro: Michigan braces for a SNAP gap as shutdown drags on appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Abby Zwerner, a former school teacher in Virginia, testified on Thursday that she thought she had died when she was shot in her classroom by her 6-year-old student in 2023.

"I thought I was dying. I thought I had died. I thought I was either on my way to heaven or in heaven, but then it all got black. And so, I then thought I wasnt going there. And then my next memory is, I see two coworkers around me and I process that Im hurt and theyre putting pressure on where Im hurt," Zwerner said, recalling the day a bullet pierced through her hand and chest where it remains lodged to this day.

The 28-year-old took the stand during the fourth day of a trial for the $40 million lawsuit she filed against the Newport News School Division and former assistant principal at Richneck Elementary School, Ebony Parker.

Zwerner and her attorneys claim negligence led to the events that unfolded on Jan. 6, 2023, and accuse Parker of failing to act after several people voiced concerns hours beforehand that the student may have had a weapon at school.

A judge previously dismissed the districts superintendent and the school principal from the lawsuit, leaving Parker as the only defendant.

Parker's defense team claims the tragedy was unavoidable. She faces a separate criminal trial related to the case in which she is accused of eight counts of felony child neglect, punishable by up to five years in prison if convicted.

The students mother was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for felony child neglect and federal weapons charges. Her son told authorities he got his mothers handgun by climbing onto a drawer to reach the top of a dresser, where the firearm was in his moms purse, The Associated Press said.

The boy had a history of behavior issues, according to court documents, but was not charged in this case.

"The moment went by very fast," said Zwerner when reflecting on the shooting. "The look on the student's face is a large memory that I have. I do remember. It was like a very blank look, but it wasnt a blank look at all on his face."

"Is that why you lifted your hand? Did you know what was about to happen?" Zwerner's legal team asked her, to which she responded, "Yes."

After she was shot, Zwerner spent weeks in the hospital, suffered a collapsed lung and required six surgeries on her hand. The doctor who treated her hand demonstrated during the trial that she still lacks full mobility and strength in her left hand.

The bullet remains in her chest as doctors have said it was more dangerous for them to try and remove it.

Parker's defense team questioned the limited abilities of Zwerner's injured hand, asking how she was able to complete cosmetology school since the shooting took place. She was also asked about concerts she attended following the shooting, despite claiming she found it difficult to be in public.

Before Zwerner testified, the jury heard from forensic psychiatrist Dr. Clarence Watson, who treated her following the shooting. He told the court he had diagnosed Zwerner with post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), anxiety and depression.

Watson testified that Zwerner said she has suffered suicidal thoughts, has nightmares of being killed and ongoing fears of the shooter following her and coming back to "finish the job."

Watson said, based on records from Zwerner's longtime family physician and current therapists, she had a normal, healthy life up until her father passed away unexpectedly in 2020.

First responders describe an unusual school shooting scene

On Wednesday, shocking police bodycam footage from an officer who responded to Zwerner's classroom after the shooting was shown. The footage, which the Scripps News Group station in Norfolk has chosen not to release, depicts a frenzied, bloody scene, with Zwerner lying on the ground while officers perform life-saving measures.

Thomas Blyth, a retired corporal with the Newport News Sheriff's Office, also responded to the shooting. He testified about how long it took for law enforcement to be let into the school.

"We immediately went to the front door of the school, hit the buzzer, knocked on the doors, couldn't get in. Didn't see anybody moving around, not what we expected to be responding to a situation like this," noted Blyth. "It seemed like an eternity for us. It was probably about a minute of banging on the door til, I think, a janitor or a security person opened the door for us."

Watch: Abby Zwerner's twin says her sister's "light has dimmed" since the shooting

Abby Zwerner's twin sister testifies

Another unexpected factor, Blyth stated, was the shooter's age: "We were quite taken aback. We didn't expect to see so young of a suspect."

As Blyth testified that he found the gun on the floor, pictures of Zwerner's classroom and the weapon were shown in the courtroom.

The first day of testimony on Tuesday was an emotional one, with witnesses including Zwerner's mother and colleagues who were at Richneck on the day of the shooting.

Watch: Zwerner's mom Julie takes the stand

Julie Zwerner recalls seeing her daughter in the hospital following Richneck shooting

Amy Kovac, a reading specialist at Richneck, took the stand and described hearing the gunshot coming from Zwerner's classroom, then entering the room and seeing blood on Zwerner's leg.

She said she then walked to the shooter, who was referred to only as "JT" in the court, and attempted to subdue him.

"He was standing there with his legs kind of spread open, arms crossed and cocky, and when I got to him, I didn't say anything," Kovac said. "I took his wrist because I knew he shot with his left hand. I walked to Abby's desk where her phone was. I put him in between my legs, put my arms around him."

The final testimony on Tuesday was delivered by Zwerner's mother, Julie, who told the court her daughter loved teaching and was becoming a great educator before her career was cut short by the bullet that pierced her hand and went into her chest.

Watch: Trauma surgeon describes Zwerner's injuries from the shooting

Trauma surgeon testifies on Zwerner's hospitalization following Richneck shooting

A key moment on Tuesday was when Dr. Nina Farrish, the director of human resources for Newport News Public Schools, took the stand. She testified that Parker admitted to her two or three days after the shooting that it was reported around 12:20 p.m. that the student had a gun in his backpack. That was more than 90 minutes before the shooting.

The trial kicked off this week with jury selection on Monday, with all testimony thus far being provided by witnesses called to the stand by Zwerner's team. The trial is expected to last no more than eight days.

Any verdict against Parker in the civil case is expected to be paid by the Virginia Risk Sharing Association.

This story was originally published by the Scripps News Group in Norfolk.

Even when we're working hard to bring you the news of our communities each and every day, there's really just one thing on our minds: Gardner White's annual Twinkle Town tree decorating competition.

Watch the full piece in the video player below: WXYZ decorating tree to benefit Forgotten Harvest in Gardner White's Twinkle Town competition

That's right, we're back for another year of tree decorating for a good cause.

For years, we have toiled, we have tinsledand yet, we still fell short of victory.

From last year's event: WXYZ decorates tree to benefit Forgotten Harvest in Twinkle Town competition WXYZ decorating tree to benefit Forgotten Harvest in 2024 Twinkle Town campaign

But as they say, we're hoping the third times a charm.

This year, we're pulling out more stops and secret weapons. We teamed up with local designer Jon Gerych of Gerychs in Fenton to make our theme stand out, representing a fondness for yesteryear. Our theme this year: Hudson's Nostalgia.

Gardner Whites annual tree decorating competition pits 24 teams against each other, all in the name of charity.

The winning tree will win $10,000 for their charity of choice, and once again, we picked Forgotten Harvest as our charity for the competition.

Now, we can't show you our tree just yet. A holiday kick-off event will happen on November 6 at Gardner Whites flagship store in Warren, when the voting will open up for best tree.

And all we want for Christmas this year ... is a win for local families.