A pilot jumped out of the door of a moving plane to his death, leaving the student he was teaching to fly to land the aircraft by herself.

Flight instructor Leandro Andrs Bertazzo, 42, was found dead following the incident, which took place in Toledo, central Argentina, on Saturday, according to a statement from the countrys public prosecutor, published Tuesday.

RELATED STORY | Bystanders rush to rescue passengers after small plane crashes on Texas highway, killing 1

Bertazzo was on board the Cessna 150 aircraft with a 22-year-old student named Rosario, CNN affiliate TN reported.

The student said Bertazzo told her, You know what you have to do, carry on, before taking off his headset and seatbelt, opening the door and jumping out of the plane, TN reported.

Eduardo lvarez, director of the Flying Parrot Crdoba flying school where Bertazzo worked, told TN that there were no signs that the pilot was planning to throw himself from the plane.

Bertazzo had gone on a flight with another student earlier that day, lvarez said.

He made this tragic decision on board an aircraft with another person by his side, he said. Its impossible to think about it or understand it, but the human mind is so complex.

RELATED STORY | Plane and truck avoid collision in a close call at a North Carolina airport

Bertazzo was a beautiful person with a great smile, said lvarez. We are surprised that this has happened.

Opening the door of a plane in mid-air is extremely difficult, explained lvarez, who compared it to trying to open the door of a car traveling at 200 kilometers an hour (124 miles per hour).

Rosario, the student, managed to land the plane safely despite being in complete shock, he added. The plane was undamaged, lvarez said.

Bertazzo was highly experienced and had also worked as a flight instructor in neighboring Chile, TN reported.

Prosecutors will now investigate the exact details of the incident that led to Bertazzos death.

A U.S. citizen working for a humanitarian organization in Congo has tested positive for the Ebola virus, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday, as the Central African country struggles to contain the swelling outbreak.

The CDC said it was working with the persons employer, U.S. agencies, the public health authorities and Congolese partners to prevent further transmission and identify close contacts. It did not provide any further details.

RELATED STORY | Confirmed Ebola cases in Congo outbreak top 1,000 with 254 deaths, authorities say

Earlier this week, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said that the outbreak is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded on the continent, with 1,830 confirmed cases in Congo, including 648 deaths. Cases have also been confirmed in neighboring Uganda.

In the first week of the outbreak, an American doctor working in Congo tested positive for the virus and was transferred to Germany for treatment.

Initially, Trump administration officials had said that the United States was planning to send Americans who are exposed to Ebola while abroad to a new facility in Kenya instead of flying them home. But the project has been suspended after an order from a Kenyan court.

The Congolese authorities declared a fresh Ebola outbreak on May 15, after the disease had been transmitting for weeks without official detection, according to the World Health Organization

RELATED STORY | Kenya's health minister orders suspension of construction on a US-backed Ebola facility

The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved vaccine or treatment.

Efforts to contain the virus have also been hampered by a funding gap, attacks on health centers and an ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, the epicenter of the outbreak.

Last week, clinical trials for treatment began after researchers launched a highly anticipated study in the hope of fighting the virus.

Linda Noskova is the latest in a long line of Czech women to win Wimbledon.

The 21-year-old Noskova recovered from a second-set meltdown in which she wasted five match points to overcome Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in an all-Czech final on Saturday for her first Grand Slam trophy.

Noskova became the third Czech woman in four years to win the grass-court major, after Marketa Vondrousova in 2023 and Barbora Krejcikova in 2024.

Petra Kvitova, who won Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014, was in attendance, as was the greatest Czech-born player of them all, Martina Navratilova who won a record nine singles titles at the All England Club.

Navratilova looked on from the Royal Box, where she was seated next to Kate, the Princess of Wales, who was due to present the Venus Rosewater Dish trophy to Noskova.

Muchova and Noskova played doubles together at the 2024 Paris Olympics and finished fourth.

In the mens final on Sunday, top-ranked Jannik Sinner will attempt to defend his title against French Open champion Alexander Zverev.

South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams, who played at the World Cup, has died. He was 25.

His death was confirmed by Gayton McKenzie, South Africas minister of sport, arts and culture, in a statement on Saturday.

RELATED STORY | World Cup melting pot: How migration is rewriting soccers national storylines

It is with profound shock and a heavy heart that I have learnt of the passing of Jayden Adams, midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana, at the age of 25," McKenzie posted on X.

"South African football has lost one of its brightest young talents, and our nation mourns alongside his family, his team-mates and the millions of supporters.

Adams helped South Africa reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time.

Further details of his death were not given.

The cause of Jaydens passing has not yet been confirmed," McKenzie said. I wish to appeal to members of the media and the public to exercise restraint and compassion, and to refrain from speculation.

RELATED STORY | US star Christian Pulisic fractured leg in World Cup loss to Belgium

Adams started South Africa's first Group A game against the Czech Republic and was substituted at halftime. McKenzie said he played that game only hours after learning that his grandmother had died.

Adams played several seasons for Stellenbosch before joining Mamelodi Sundowns last year. He helped the club win the CAF (African) Champions League this year.

Death has cruelly stolen one of our own. It has robbed our nation of a remarkable footballer, the South African Football Players Union posted on X. We will forever remember his humility, his extraordinary talent and the pride with which he represented South Africa. Rest in eternal peace, Jayden. You will never be forgotten.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa and the South African Federation of Trade Unions also expressed their condolences.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelces Madison Square Garden wedding garnered significant attention, requiring a large presence from the New York Police Department and other officials.

According to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the wedding cost $160,000 in city resources, all of which was paid for by the newlyweds.

Taylor Swift has paid already the cost of the permit that was lodged, which was over $160,000 for that event and for the response to that event, and that was a permit that was finalized, I think, in just the days before the event itself, the mayor said.

RELATED STORY | Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are married in Madison Square Garden ceremony

Few other details from inside the venue have emerged since the couple tied the knot July 3. A publicist for Swift said Kelces brother, Jason, served as best man, while Swifts brother, Austin, was the man of honor.

Adam Sandler officiated the wedding, which was attended by a whos who of A-list celebrities.

Mamdanis comments came after some online speculated that the wedding was an expensive use of city resources. The use of the NYPD drew criticism from some lawmakers, including Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y.

RELATED STORY | You belong with me: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announce engagement

Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce should reimburse NYPD for the 130 officers needed per day to keep their multi-million dollar, thousand person wedding at MSG safe. Our officers are already working overtime for 4th of July festivities & NYC taxpayers should NOT be on the hook, she wrote before Mamdani announced that Swift would pay for the NYPDs overtime.

The wedding came during a busy time for the city, which also has hosted World Cup matches over the last month. It also held a special Times Square ball drop July 3-4 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

A new AP-NORC poll found that about 6 in 10 Jewish adults in the U.S. say they feel less safe since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. The poll, released Tuesday, also found that 3 in 10 Jewish adults said they or someone in their household experienced verbal abuse, physical assault or property damage because they are Jewish.

Jewish American respondents also were divided on whether protests related to Israel should be considered anti-Semitic.

Gila Franklin-Segal of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington said anti-Semitic incidents have risen sharply since the Hamas attack.

RELATED STORY | Rep. Dan Goldman addresses Brooklyn coffee shop banning him over his views on Israel

We see that violence, but we also see increasingly graphic, harsh rhetoric, both online and in public discourse. And we are seeing it coming from not only one segment of the political world, but from across the political spectrum, she said, adding that attacks are coming from both liberals and conservatives.

Franklin-Segal said tensions in the Middle East often lead to increased anti-Semitism in the United States, though anti-Semitism predates the modern Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

We need to really be careful about not overstating that fact, because in truth, anti-Semitism is perhaps the oldest hatred, and it well precedes the creation of the state of Israel, she said.

Franklin-Segal said anti-Semitism has become pervasive in daily life, including harassment outside synagogues and schools, as well as online.

RELATED STORY | Authorities track a surge in antisemitic attacks worldwide

I can tell you as a professional who is responsible for monitoring anti-Semitism in my own community and as a mother of Jewish young people, it is pervasive, she said. My own family has had to grapple with anti-Semitic incidents that are directly targeting us as Jewish people only because we are Jewish.

Summer is in full swing.

If your children are looking for a way to let their creative side shine while school's out, we have the perfect place.

From painting to fashion to animation, The Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center is teaching a little bit of everything this summer. To learn more, visit bbartcenter.org.

The Trump administration has subpoenaed several New York Times journalists after their report on security concerns involving the new Air Force One, according to the paper.

The new jet, which President Donald Trump received as a gift from Qatar, entered service last week.

RELATED STORY | Trump switches from Qatari-gifted Air Force One to an older jet amid Iran threats

The subpoenas issued Friday seek to force the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday, the paper said, adding that federal agents delivered some subpoenas to the reporters at their homes.

There was no immediate response from the White House or Department of Justice to requests for comment on Saturday.

The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects, David McCraw, a lawyer for the Times, said in a statement.

Trump flew the new Air Force One to a NATO summit in Turkey this week. But he departed Wednesday on one of the older-model Air Force One jets for Mildenhall, a Royal Air Force base in Suffolk, England. The newer plane also flew to Mildenhall. Trump then switched to that plane for the flight home to Joint Base Andrews.

The abrupt plane swap came as a shaky ceasefire with Iran had collapsed, with the U.S. launching airstrikes on Iran and Tehran attacking three Gulf Arab states. Iran and Turkey share a border, sparking speculation that the Qatari-gifted jet, which underwent a $400 million retrofit, lacked certain sophisticated security and countermeasure systems.

The newspaper, citing anonymous sources, reported the switch had come at the urging of the Secret Service and that the newer plane lacked some of the advanced security features of the older aircraft, including antimissile capabilities.

Trump denied any security concerns, posting on social media that the stop in Mildenhall was so that service members there could view the new jet. During the flight, Trump denied to the reporters accompanying him that security concerns involving Iran were a factor in flying two planes home. Asked if he was aware of any credible threats against Air Force One by Iran, Trump brushed off the question.

RELATED STORY | President Donald Trump unveils the new Air Force One, a converted Qatari jet

I have a threat all the time. Im No. 1 on their list, he said

The White House later denied any security shortcomings on the new plane.

The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff, spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal including distraction and misdirection to address those threats.

The Times journalists who received subpoenas included Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt, the paper reported.

Earlier this year, the Justice Department issued subpoenas seeking to compel testimony from reporters at The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. In both cases, the department later withdrew the subpoenas.

President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Saturday after the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saw open calls for the U.S. leader's killing, further underlining the tensions gripping the Middle East as an interim deal to end the war buckles under repeated crossfire in the region.

Trump made the comments on his Truth Social after senior U.S. officials demanded that Iran make a public statement saying the Strait of Hormuz is open and that ships crossing the vital corridor wont be attacked.

RELATED STORY | Trumps approval on Iran stays low despite new deal

So far, Tehran has not done so, instead insisting that the route remain under its control and that it be allowed to charge ships moving through it, upending decades of precedent that considers the strait an international waterway.

There had been multiple days of U.S. airstrikes targeting Iran, as well as Iranian retaliatory fire targeting nations across the Middle East. Those strikes had been sparked by Iran attacking three ships in the strait earlier this week.

On Truth Social on Friday, Trump declared the ceasefire over but said the U.S. would continue negotiations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Oman for more talks on Saturday, a day after Qatari mediators separately traveled to Iran to meet with officials amid the regional strikes.

Trump makes an online threat toward Iran

A thousand missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands more to immediately follow, should the Iranian Government act on its threat, Trump wrote on his website.

The U.S. president said his threat was in response to threats to assassinate, or attempt to assassinate him. During Khamenei's funeral, mourners repeatedly held posters or banners calling for him to be killed along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Iran war's opening moments on Feb. 28 saw an airstrike that killed Khamenei, 86. Iran only buried Khamenei this week following a dayslong funeral ceremony that saw his body taken to cities in both Iran and Iraq.

Trump added in his post that the U.S. military would completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran PRAISE BE TO ALLAH!

Trump, repeatedly during the war and its uneasy ceasefire, has invoked the name of God in Arabic, as well as threatened to destroy Irans very civilization. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a nationwide advocacy group, has in the past criticized Trumps deranged mocking of Islam.

The Strait of Hormuz is a major point of contention

U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe to reporters the state of play with Iran, said the resumption of strikes this week came after what they described as a rogue faction of Iranian hard-liners trying to sabotage the ceasefire between Tehran and Washington.

However, Iran has insisted its theocracy is unified after the war under the country's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

The U.S. officials said Friday that Trump is giving U.S. negotiators limited time to reach a deal with Iran but, in a sign of the challenges ahead, they underscored that the president had a wide range of options if talks fall apart.

RELATED STORY | Trump announces end of Iran ceasefire after attacks in Gulf region

Moments before the U.S. officials spoke, however, Tehrans diplomat at the United Nations told reporters that any activity in the Strait of Hormuz, including its opening or demining operations, rests exclusively with Iran.

Qatari mediators separately traveled to Iran to meet with officials on Friday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said.

Iran has said the strait must now be under its sole control and that vessels should begin paying fees to Tehran even though the world has for decades considered it an international waterway. About a fifth of all traded oil and natural gas passed through the strait before the war began.

Irans grip on the strait during the conflict led to a global energy crisis, though oil prices have sharply dropped since wartime highs of $120 a barrel.

Middle East remains tense after attacks

After the U.S. wrapped up its latest strikes on Thursday, more attacks reportedly hit Iran, leaving questions about who else may be targeting the Islamic Republic. Israel didn't claim them, meaning the Gulf Arab states may have launched them, likely as a means to deter Iran from attacking them again. Iran on Thursday retaliated for U.S. strikes by targeting Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar.

The strikes in Iran over two days killed at least 17 people and wounded 115 others, Iran's Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour said.

Across the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, Araghchi is scheduled to meet with his counterpart in Oman. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told his countrys state broadcaster TRT that he believed a solution can be reached this weekend between Iran and Oman, which lie on opposite sides of the narrow waterway.

However, Araghchi on Saturday accused the U.S. of violating the interim deal by ending waivers allowing Iran to sell crude oil on the open market in U.S. dollars. Washington did that in response to the attacks on ships in the strait.

Reality check: There can only be mutual compliance, Araghchi wrote on X.

The U.S. continues to urge mariners to travel on a southern route through Omans territorial waters to avoid Iranian waters and the commands of its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. That has angered Tehran and sparked the attacks in the strait.

US insists a nuclear deal will require Iran to turn over enriched uranium

The U.S. officials also told journalists that any deal on Irans nuclear program would require Tehran to turn over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. That's something Iran has repeatedly refused.

If the U.S. does not reach a deal with Iran to turn over its nuclear material, it has military options to ensure that it remains buried underground forever, the officials said. They did not detail those options.

The uranium, enriched to near weapons-grade levels, is believed to be at nuclear sites the U.S. bombed in 2025. Iran long has insisted its nuclear program is peaceful, despite the International Atomic Energy Agency saying the Islamic Republic is the only country in the world to enrich uranium so highly without a weapons program.

The officials also insisted that they would never reach a nuclear deal with Iran if it did not first stop its attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

NASCAR driver Ryan Ellis is on a mission, and this one is not about winning on the track. He is steering kids toward a lifelong love of reading.

He spoke with Scripps News about his own memories of childhood reading, and what it means to him to help kids connect with the hobby.

"I was a huge Harry Potter fan," Ellis says of his childhood. "So I remember camping out with my mom to get a few of those books and I don't know how I read them in a 24 hour period. But somehow I managed to. I don't think have the capacity to still do that to this day."

His own 4-year-old daughter doesn't have a single favorite book, he says.

"It is whatever the longest book she can possibly reach, so that takes little bit longer to get through it. Pretty much anything Disney related will be a big hit. Maybe it's just the 8 o'clock hour, but it feels like she does pick the longest she possibly can to keep me or my wife in her room to hang out. I probably read more books in the last 3 to 4 years, just reading to her, than I have the 10 years prior."

Watch the full interview with Ellis in the video above.

Lawyers for the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk tried to sow doubt about the case on Friday, while a prosecutor countered that authorities have overwhelming evidence including DNA tests and apparent confessions by the defendant.

Judge Tony Graf said he will decide if the case against Tyler Robinson should advance to trial after hearing again from the two sides on Sept. 1.

Kirk, a 31-year-old confidant of President Donald Trump, was killed as he spoke to a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. Robinson is charged with aggravated murder and could face the death penalty.

Friday's proceedings capped a week of preliminary testimony and brought an emotional moment for Kirk's family: The court played surveillance video that prosecutors said showed Robinson on the rooftop where he allegedly fired a single bullet that hit Kirk in the neck.

Kirk's widow, Erika, clutched a tissue and watched intently as a person said to be Robinson ran across the roof. When the figure dropped to a crawl near the roof's edge, she turned and embraced Kirk's mother, Kathryn, who was crying. They held each other and kept their heads down until the video was almost over.

Defense questions reliability of evidence

Prosecutors this week presented a recorded interview with Robinson's former roommate, who said the 23-year-old defendant expressed remorse for the shooting before turning himself in. Lawyers from the Utah County Attorney's Office also offered DNA analysis that investigators said linked Robinson to both the suspected murder weapon and a tool he allegedly used to etch messages onto bullet cartridges.

Robinson's team did not offer alternative theories for Kirk's death. But one of his attorneys, Michael Burt, repeatedly questioned the reliability of DNA tests and other evidence from prosecutors.

If you had a lot of DNA on your hand, we shook hands and I went to pick up an exhibit, a gun, and I touched the trigger of it, your DNA could be on that trigger, right? Burt asked Caitlin Oliver, a forensic biologist with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a federal law enforcement agency.

It is possible. Yes, Oliver replied.

The defense attorney noted that government policies dont allow analysts to say that DNA evidence is infallible or that it has a zero error rate.

Experts say the science behind DNA testing is sound.

Chief Deputy Utah County Attorney Chad Grunander questioned the relevance of bringing in Oliver as a witness. He suggested prosecutors met the burden of proof needed to advance the case to trial.

Your honor's heard four days of testimony now. The evidence is overwhelming. Its devastating," Grunander said.

Robinson did not testify at the hearing. One of his attorneys told the judge they had advised him not to. He has not entered a plea.

EARLIER | Suspect in Charlie Kirk killing said 'he wishes he hadn't done it,' roommate says in video

Kirk family thanks supporters

Kirks family released a statement Friday expressing gratitude for the support and prayers they've received.

"We pray that truth will continue to be heard through a process that is fair, transparent, and grounded in the facts, the statement said.

The video that prosecutors said showed Robinson running across a roof at Utah Valley University was played for the court gallery at the request of Kirk's family. Portions of the recording were zoomed in to better show the figure on the roof, and red circles were added to some images to direct the viewer's attention.

An unaltered version of that video was shown earlier.

Prosecutors on Thursday aired portions of an April 20 interview with Robinson's roommate, Lance Twiggs, who also was his reported romantic partner. The day after Kirk was shot in the neck, Robinson allegedly cried and told Twiggs he wishes he hadnt done it, a recording played in court revealed.

Later that same day and only about an hour before turning himself in Robinson posted it was me at UVU yesterday, in a chat room on the Discord instant messaging platform, according to investigators and messages shown by prosecutors.

Defense attorneys unsuccessfully fought the public release of Twiggs' statements and the chat room messages. They argued prosecutors would characterize the material as a confession, undermining Robinsons right to a fair trial.

MORE FROM THE CASE | 'It should be made public': Charlie Kirks family pushes for transparency during evidence hearing

Roommate: Robinson never talked about Kirk

Prosecutors contend the shooting endangered others at Kirks campus event an aggravating circumstance that could make the crime punishable by death under Utah law. Robinson also faces possible sentence enhancements based on claims by prosecutors that he targeted Kirk because of his political views.

Twiggs said in the April interview with prosecutors and investigators that Robinson sometimes talked about politics, including Trump. But Twiggs said he never heard Robinson talk about Kirk before the shooting. The defendant also did not talk much about gender issues or LGBTQ rights, Twiggs said.

The weeklong preliminary hearing attracted intense media coverage and spectators who lined up sometimes overnight for one of 14 seats in the courtroom reserved for the public.

Preliminary hearings typically dont last so long. Legal experts said the slow pace reflects a cautious approach by Graf and the large volume of evidence.

Conjecture over that evidence has fueled unsubstantiated conspiracy theories that there might have been a second shooter or that Kirk's death was staged.

I think that the prosecution wanted to dispel those theories by putting out into the public record the overwhelming case that it possesses against Robinson, said Paul Cassell, a law professor at the University of Utah and former federal judge.

According to a news release from the Canadian Government, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will open for business on July 27.

The release says that Canada and Michigan have agreed to open the bridge then, with the support of the United States Government. The bridge was set for a ribbon-cutting in June, but it was later delayed when Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority Interim CEO Chuck Andary said in a statement that "Canada and the United States have agreed to delay the opening of the bridge, taking the necessary time to resolve any outstanding issues."

Watch Tony Geftos' video report below: Canadian government announces agreement to open Gordie Howe International Bridge on July 27

According to today's release:

To support this opening and ensure that benefits are felt on both sides of the border, Canada and the United States have agreed to a series of cooperative measures focused on toll governance and transparency, as well as investments in the region, including through the establishment of a 15-year economic development fund tied to a portion of profits from bridge operations. The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority will also work collaboratively with the Government of the United States on toll-rate adjustments, seeking concurrence for certain non-market related toll changes.

Officials have released the following statements about the opening.

After years of planning, partnership, and construction, the Gordie Howe International Bridge will soon be opening providing a new connection for the region, while strengthening one of the world's most important trade corridors. This nation-building project is a testament to what Canada can accomplish when we come together with a shared vision. Our gratitude goes to all the staff, workers, partners, and community members who were involved. The Gordie Howe International Bridge will create new opportunities, strengthen our economy, and bring economic benefits on both sides of border for generations to come. The Gordie Howe International Bridge has always been a great deal for our state. Thousands of Michigan workers built this critical bridge, which will speed up auto production, lower costs, ease traffic, strengthen agriculture, and give people on both sides of the border better-paying jobs and brighter futures. Im proud to have fought for its opening and congratulate my partners who have worked on this issue alongside me for years. This bridge is a testament to the enduring partnership between Michigan and Canada and what we can get done when we think big and bet on our shared future together. Thank you to our allies in Canada and to the Michiganders who advocated for years to get this done. Let's keep working together to build a bright future for Michigan and Canada.

Glenn Stevens Jr., executive director of MichAuto at the Detroit Regional Chamber, explained the new bridge has state-of-the-art security systems and an exit/entryway that leads directly to I-75, which will help when it comes to shipping supplies across the border.

This new bridge is a six-lane bridge. The current bridge is a four-lane bridge," Stevens said.

 

Because of that new infrastructure, Stevens expects the bridge to speed up manufacturing and reduce delays for Detroit automakers.

 

For the auto industry, which operates J.I.T., Just In Time delivery, everything moves very quickly in a complex supply chain, so this is definitely something that helps that out," he added.

 

Huron Township is taking an unusual approach to clearing overgrown brush and it only cost a fraction of what traditional methods would have run.

Instead of heavy machinery, the township brought in a team of 15 goats to do the job naturally, and residents in New Boston are loving the show.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report below: Huron Twp. uses 15 goats to clear brush in cost-effective 'goatscaping' approach

Huron Township Trustee Renee Ward said the idea came together when the township was looking for a way to have brush removed without breaking the bank.

"It was going to be very expensive," Ward said. "The price was far more attractive."

For a tenth of the price of traditional brush clearing, Ward hired Mike Mourer and 15 members of his team of 70 goats from Twin Willow Ranch.

"It's a non-union job, and it's all they can eat," Mourer said.

Mourer said he started the business 18 years ago when work was slow but that did not last long.

"And then all of a sudden, I was getting calls every day," Mourer said.

The practice is known as goatscaping, and Mourer said there is a real consumer appetite for a goat's appetite.

"Basically, brush clearing. They call it goatscaping as well," Mourer said.

The goats will spend the next three weeks working on a steep slope, clearing out underbrush and invasive plant species all while curious onlookers stop to watch. The animals are capable of eating vegetation up to 6 feet high, working behind an electric fence before landscapers return to finish the rest.

"They just keep eating nonstop," animal lover Sadie Burkey said.

"People enjoy coming out and seeing the goats work," Mourer said.

Ward is encouraging everyone to come take it in.

"Bring a lawn chair. Eat your lunch with the goats," Ward said.

New Boston residents Audra Taylor and Greyson Taylor said the goats fit right in with the character of the community.

"So cool. That represents our town," Audra Taylor said.

"Their colors are kind of cool," Greyson Taylor said.

Burkey summed up the appeal simply.

"Yeah, and they're cute," Burkey said.

Animal lover Evie Ward had her eye on one particularly lean member of the crew.

"I saw one that was really skinny and I'm like, 'you're not going to be skinny in three weeks,'" Ward said.

Curious onlooker Alfred Brock said the approach makes practical sense beyond the novelty.

"I think it's a great idea because otherwise, we'd disturb a lot and break things up," Brock said.

Ward said goatscaping is one of many plans to make the area more appealing, and while all are welcome to come watch, the goats are strictly for viewing. She had some playful advice for the herd in the weeks ahead.

"Don't go right for the dessert table and the buffet," Ward said.

Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith is bringing free music education to hundreds of Detroit kids through a new partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Detroit.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: Rock star drummer Chad Smith inspiring Detroit youth

Smith, who grew up in Bloomfield Hills and credits his access to music in high school with changing the trajectory of his life, announced the After-school Music Program Initiative on Friday at Michigan Central in Detroit.

"We want to come in and inspire kids... to pick up an instrument and play, to expose them to the way I grew up," Smith says.

The program will provide free instruments, teachers, and music education to young people at two Boys and Girls Club locations the Michigan Central campus and the Dick and Sandy Dauch Campus. It is set to launch in September.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer performed at Michigan Central before making the announcement, returning to the city where he got his start.

"I started playing drums when I was seven. Here. And this city is just an important city for music. I'm just so lucky that I grew up here," Smith said. "Right out of high school, I started playing at all the clubs in Detroit, six nights a week, 3 sets a night for 7 years. I put my 10,000 hours in."

Kevin Haynes, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Detroit at Michigan Central, said Smith's story and his ties to Michigan send a powerful message to youth.

"The fact that you get to sit and talk with a Hall of Famer, and he gets to share his experience and his commitment to the program and investment in our youth I think it's incredible," Haynes said.

Members of the club are already expressing enthusiasm. 15-year-old Mahalsama Alduais, a member of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Detroit, said the program has him eager to expand his musical horizons.

"I do piano in school. Freshman year, I took a piano class, and I really enjoyed it. I passed the class with an A, and I'm interested in trying new instruments," Alduais said.

Smith said he hopes the initiative sparks something bigger for the next generation of Detroit musicians.

"I just want kids to have fun and to play with their friends, and who knows, maybe the next Jack White or Eminem will come out of the Boys and Girls Club because Detroit has such a rich music history," Smith said.

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

A Shelby Township family is grieving after police say a 67-year-old man was shot and killed inside his home, and his stepson is now facing charges including first-degree premeditated murder.

Watch Evan Sery's video report: Shelby Township man shot and killed; stepson charged with first-degree murder

Gene Seim was found suffering from an apparent gunshot wound just before 4:30 p.m. Thursday on the 48000 block of Sandifer Court in Shelby Township. Despite lifesaving efforts from paramedics and his daughter, who was on scene, Seim did not survive.

His youngest daughter, Riane Hutchinson, described her father as a loving family man and grandfather to 5.

"He was a goofy guy, he picked on you, he always said if he didn't pick on you, he didn't like you," Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson said the shooting was not the result of a fight.

"It wasn't a fight, he went into my dad's room, he was doing something, and then came out, and it happened," Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson was on scene when her father was shot and attempted to help save his life.

"They had me find a clean towel and try to apply pressure to the wounds as best I could," Hutchinson said.

Police say the suspect, 38-year-old Trevin Beemer, Seim's stepson, was taken into custody at the scene. Beemer was arraigned Friday and faces charges including first-degree premeditated murder and several weapons charges.

Another sister, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she was also injured during the incident.

"I have a laceration on my right eye because my brother pushed me into the wall," she said.

She said her physical injuries are minor compared to the mental toll the tragedy has taken on the family.

Hutchinson said the family had tried to get Beemer psychiatric help.

"He's not well, he's not well, hasn't been for a very long time," Hutchinson said.

Seim's death comes three years after the family lost their mother. Hutchinson said the family is now planning to honor both parents together.

"We working on a celebration of life for my mom already, he loved my mom so much they were together so long, she was his best friend, so it makes sense to put them together," Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson said her own daughter does not yet know the full extent of what happened.

"She's actually still at a friend's house right now; she just knows there was a shooting," Hutchinson said.

When asked how she plans to tell her daughter, Hutchinson said she does not yet know.

"I don't know, I'm just gonna tell her, Pop Pop passed away," Hutchinson said.

Friends and others in the community have started a GoFundMe to help with funeral and farewell costs.

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.

One of metro Detroit's longest-running summer traditions is back, as the Wyandotte Street Art Fair celebrates its 65th year transforming downtown into an outdoor gallery along Biddle Avenue.

More than 300 artists, local restaurants, vendors and live entertainment are spread across several blocks, drawing shoppers, families and art lovers to the annual event.

Watch Carli Petrus' video report below: Wyandotte street art fair underway

Heather Thiede-Champlin, the city's special events coordinator, says the fair is one of the largest of its kind in Michigan and that pulling it off takes months of behind-the-scenes planning.

"We have really something for everyone," Thiede-Champlin said. "We hope that people enjoy it and appreciate what we've done."

For many of the artists setting up booths along Biddle Avenue, the fair is about more than selling their work. Heidi and Joe Kisselburg have been showing off their tie-dye creations at the fair since the 1980s.

"Forty-two years," Joe Kisselburg said.

The couple says the best part is watching generations of families stop by year after year.

"We're selling to grandchildren of some of the original people that bought from us in the 80s. So, it's wonderful for us to see everybody. It's kind of like a get together," Kisselburg said.

For artist Alexa Daluz, showing her work in her hometown is a dream come true.

"It's such a good feeling for the people I grew up with and my community to say such kind things about what I do," Daluz said.

Daluz grew up attending the Wyandotte Street Art Fair and is now sharing the tradition with her two daughters.

"Little Alexa who used to ride her bike up here is really excited about this kind of stuff," Daluz said.

That sense of tradition is what many say sets this fair apart. Attendee Donna Pierce-Chambers says she plans her summer schedule around it.

"Every year, as soon as they announce the dates, I put it on my calendar, I schedule a day off work," Pierce-Chambers said. "I just love it. I love Wyandotte."

Visitors can also stop by Matthew Edens' lemonade stand, an iconic fixture at the fair that donates some of its proceeds to local charities.

"You don't want to miss this event it's a Michigan tradition," Edens said.

The Wyandotte Street Art Fair continues through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.

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.

Over ice cream and shared laughs, two South Lyon High School recent graduates are showing what can happen when the social barriers of high school come down.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report: South Lyon students' Best Buddies friendship shows the power of inclusion

Ava Klotz and Joe Balog have been close friends for three years, a bond that began through South Lyon High School's Best Buddies chapter, a program that pairs students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities to build genuine friendships.

"Instantly, when I met him, I thought he was the most fun person to be around. He was so energetic. He was always happy. He was laughing," Klotz said.

Balog, who is on the autism spectrum, described the connection in simple, direct terms.

"She is my friend, and she's kinda like my awesome peer," Balog said.

Since meeting, the two have spent countless hours together inside and outside of school, from the lunch table to escape rooms and even prom.

"Our friendship has just grown, and our relationship has gotten stronger," Klotz said.

Lydia Goff, lead program manager with Best Buddies Michigan, said the pair are a perfect example of what the program is designed to do.

"Our mission is to end the social and economic isolation of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities," Goff said. "Our school-based programs are truly where our Best Buddies organization began. The idea of forming one-to-one friendships between an individual with a disability and one without a disability, just based off of shared interests, common hobbies, and that kind of thing, and ideally those friendships can last a lifetime.

Balog reflected on what the experience has meant to him.

"It's about learning about fun experiences, awesome choices, and being a part of our team," Balog said.

Klotz said the friendship has had a ripple effect beyond just the two of them.

"I think that Best Buddies and our connection and our friendship that people have seen throughout the years, it's kind of made our school more inclusive, positive, and a place where everyone just feels included," Klotz said.

Jen Balog, Joe's mom, said the program's impact on her son will last well beyond his time in high school.

"I think it's helped him a lot with his, of course, socialization, but also making friends, talking with friends, and just giving him the self-confidence to get involved with other people," Jen Balog said.

Now, the two are preparing to go their separate ways. Klotz plans to study special education at Purdue University, while Joe is moving on to the adult transition program. Both have promised to stay in touch.

Goff says they have 1,500 participants in the program statewide. They also have a citizens' program for adults that offers once a month social events.

On Sunday, July 12, Spotlight on the News will look at the case for Wayne Countys multi-million-dollar transit tax request that will appear on the August 4th Primary Election ballot. Why is it needed and what will it cost taxpayers, if approved by county voters? We'll ask Tiffany Gunter, GM & CEO of SMART. Also on Sunday's program, Rev. Dr. V. Lonnie Peek, Jr., discusses a new educational mentoring program called, "Boys Like You." As the Dean of Students, what's his goal for the project?

Spotlight on the News, now in its 61st season, is Michigan's longest-running weekly news and public affairs television program. It airs every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. on WXYZ-TV/Channel 7 in Detroit, is streamed live on wxyz.com and broadcast at 11:30 a.m. on 23.1 WKAR-HD in East Lansing.

Graham Platner on Friday submitted his paperwork to formally withdraw from Maines U.S. Senate race, officially ending an upstart yet troubled campaign whose dissolution threatens Democrats pursuit of chamber control.

Platners paperwork was received Friday by the Maine secretary of state's office.

Maine is considered a key state for control of the narrowly divided Senate, and Democrats were desperate for a candidate capable of defeating Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

RELATED STORY | Graham Platner suspends campaign for Maine Senate seat after rape allegation

The formal withdrawal comes two days after Platner said he would quit the race, facing an allegation of sexual assault that he has denied. Maine Democrats are seeking a new nominee, and several hopefuls have already begun jockeying for position.

State law includes a provision for Democrats to replace Platner before the general election but the replacement must by named by July 27.

Just before Platners Wednesday announcement, more than 100 state Democratic Party committee members signed off on holding a nominating convention, in the event of his withdrawal, to choose the nominee.

MORE ON MAINE'S RACE | Who could replace Platner as Maine Democrats face ballot deadline?