At just 20 years old, Miss Kentucky Ariana Rodriguez made history at this year's Miss America pageant, becoming the first former foster youth to earn a spot in the top 11.

"I left everything out there on the stage, and I was really proud of myself for even making it that far, honestly," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez grew up in the foster care system and was homeless by age 16, living out of her car. Despite these hardships, she found her voice and purpose during her senior year of high school when she founded the Lucky Ones Foundation, dedicated to amplifying the voices of youth who have experienced the foster care system and educating the public about the challenges they face.

"So I was really thankful to have represented foster youth in the state of Kentucky in that way, because I just truly never thought that it would be possible," Rodriguez said.

Her favorite memory from the competition came right after her name was called for the top 11.

"I remember going up to Miss Mississippi, who was also in the foster care system, and just hugging her after we won. We'd both been in foster care, and so it was really interesting to see that two girls who statistically were not supposed to be in the room, were in the room together," Rodriguez said.

Between the intense competition schedule, Rodriguez recalls the much-needed rest breaks.

"So, we really napped as much as we could, got in that sleep whenever we could, but I remember a whole bunch of the girls were like under our big vanity mirrors, getting ready, like just napping," she said.

Rodriguez also formed lasting friendships during the competition.

"I met two other girls who have experience within the foster care system. So, overall, even though I didn't walk away with a crown, it was an incredible experience, and I walked away with truly the best friends that a girl could ask for," she said.

Rodriguez plans to continue her reign as Miss Kentucky and will also serve as a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture. She hopes to continue inspiring anyone who wants to accomplish their dreams.

"I just kept telling myself, you know, you will not be another statistic. Just take it one day at a time, and eventually you'll look back on your life and be so happy that you took that chance," Rodriguez said.

This story was originally published by Lauren Minor with the Scripps News Group in Lexington, Kentucky.

At just 20 years old, Miss Kentucky Ariana Rodriguez made history at this year's Miss America pageant, becoming the first former foster youth to earn a spot in the top 11.

"I left everything out there on the stage, and I was really proud of myself for even making it that far, honestly," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez grew up in the foster care system and was homeless by age 16, living out of her car. Despite these hardships, she found her voice and purpose during her senior year of high school when she founded the Lucky Ones Foundation, dedicated to amplifying the voices of youth who have experienced the foster care system and educating the public about the challenges they face.

"So I was really thankful to have represented foster youth in the state of Kentucky in that way, because I just truly never thought that it would be possible," Rodriguez said.

Her favorite memory from the competition came right after her name was called for the top 11.

"I remember going up to Miss Mississippi, who was also in the foster care system, and just hugging her after we won. We'd both been in foster care, and so it was really interesting to see that two girls who statistically were not supposed to be in the room, were in the room together," Rodriguez said.

Between the intense competition schedule, Rodriguez recalls the much-needed rest breaks.

"So, we really napped as much as we could, got in that sleep whenever we could, but I remember a whole bunch of the girls were like under our big vanity mirrors, getting ready, like just napping," she said.

Rodriguez also formed lasting friendships during the competition.

"I met two other girls who have experience within the foster care system. So, overall, even though I didn't walk away with a crown, it was an incredible experience, and I walked away with truly the best friends that a girl could ask for," she said.

Rodriguez plans to continue her reign as Miss Kentucky and will also serve as a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture. She hopes to continue inspiring anyone who wants to accomplish their dreams.

"I just kept telling myself, you know, you will not be another statistic. Just take it one day at a time, and eventually you'll look back on your life and be so happy that you took that chance," Rodriguez said.

This story was originally published by Lauren Minor with the Scripps News Group in Lexington, Kentucky.

Taylor Swift has reportedly agreed to provide a deposition in the ongoing civil case between actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, according to multiple sources who cited court filings.

Lively filed a lawsuit in December, accusing her "It Ends With Us" director and co-star Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of the movie and a subsequent effort to "destroy" her reputation in a legal complaint.

According to CNN and other outlets citing a filing from Baldoni's legal team, Swift agreed to be deposed in the case but is unable to do so before Oct. 20, due to prior professional commitments.

RELATED STORY | Here's what we know about Taylor Swift's new album, 'The Life of a Showgirl'

Baldoni and production company Wayfarer Studios countersued in January for $400 million, accusing Lively and her husband, Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and extortion, but it was later dismissed in June.

Swift, who is a longtime friend of Lively, first came up in Baldoni's now-dismissed countersuit. The singer was reportedly subpoenaed in the case in May.

Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release, and was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024, a spokesperson for Swift said to CNN at the time.

Swift's team had also provided licensing for one of her songs to be used in the film, but CNN reported her spokesperson stated, "this document subpoena is designed to use Taylor Swifts name to draw public interest by creating tabloid clickbait instead of focusing on the facts of the case."

The trial for the case is set for March 2026.

RELATED STORY | Travis Kelce's father Ed Kelce details Travis and Taylor Swift's engagement

Bad Bunny fans in the U.S. will have to travel if they want to see the musician live in his upcoming tour.

The Puerto Rican performer said in a recent interview that he didn't include cities in the United States for tour stops out of fear that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could target the venues.

People from the U.S. could come here to see the show. Latinos and Puerto Ricans of the United States could also travel here, or to any part of the world, he told i-D magazine. But there was the issue that ICE could be outside [my concert venue]. And its something that we were talking about and very concerned about.

Bad Bunny has been critical of ICE operations that have intensified under the Trump administration.

The concert tour kicked off with a two-month residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Titled "I Don't Want to Leave Here," the residency includes 30 international concerts, ending on Sept.14.

His world tour will start in November in the Dominican Republic, touring Latin America, Europe, Asia and Oceania, and ending in Brussels.

The performer had urged fans in the U.S. to come to Puerto Rico during his residency.

As an "unincorporated territory" of the United States, ICE can and does operate in Puerto Rico. Citizens of Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens and have U.S. passports, but cannot vote in presidential elections.

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 professor at Texas A&M University was fired and others were removed from their positions after a video surfaced in which a student confronted the instructor over her teaching of issues related to gender identity in a class on children's literature.

The firing of Melissa McCoul, a senior lecturer in the English department with over a decade of teaching experience, came after political pressure from Republican lawmakers, including Gov. Greg Abbott, who had called for her termination.

The incident prompted Glenn Hegar, the chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, to order an audit of courses at all 12 schools in the system.

"It is unacceptable for A&M System faculty to push a personal political agenda," Hegar said in a statement on Monday. "We have been tasked with training the next generation of teachers and childcare professionals. That responsibility should prioritize protecting children not engaging in indoctrination."

In an email, McCoul referred all questions to her attorney, Amanda Reichek. Reichek said in a statement that McCoul has appealed her termination and "is exploring further legal action."

"Dr. McCoul was fired in derogation of her constitutional rights and the academic freedom that was once the hallmark of higher education in Texas," Reichek said.

Texas A&M University President Mark A. Welsh III said in a statement Tuesday he directed the campus provost to fire McCoul after learning the instructor had continued teaching content in a children's literature course "that did not align with any reasonable expectation of standard curriculum for the course."

Welsh said the issue had been raised earlier this summer and he had "made it clear to our academic leadership that course content must match catalog descriptions for each and every one of our course sections." Welsh said he learned on Monday that this was not taking place.

"This isn't about academic freedom; it's about academic responsibility," Welsh said.

In her statement, Reichek pushed back on Welsh's claims that McCoul's teaching did not match the course description.

"Professor McCoul's course content was entirely consistent with the catalog and course description, and she was never instructed to change her course content in any way, shape, or form," Reichek said. "In fact, Dr. McCoul taught this course and others like it for many years, successfully and without challenge."

Welsh also ordered the removal of the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the head of the English Department from their administrative positions.

The actions by Texas A&M were criticized by faculty and writers' groups.

"We are witnessing the death of academic freedom in Texas, the remaking of universities as tools of authoritarianism that suppress free thought," Jonathan Friedman, Sy Syms Managing Director of U.S. Free Expression Programs at PEN America, said in a statement.

The Texas chapter of the American Association of University Professors said what happened at Texas A&M University should concern every Texan.

"Not only has the integrity of academic freedom come under fire, but the due process rights of a faculty member have been trampled at the urging of state politicians + the governor himself," the group said in a statement.

The controversy began on Monday after Republican state Rep. Brian Harrison posted a video, audio recordings and other materials on a thread on the social media site X. Harrison called for the professor and Welsh to be fired for "DEI and LGBTQ indoctrination."

In one video, a female student and the professor can be heard arguing over gender identity being taught in a children's literature class. The student and professor are not shown and it's unclear when the video was taken.

"This also very much goes against not only myself but a lot of people's religious beliefs. And so I am not going to participate in this because it's not legal and I don't want to promote something that is against our president's laws as well as against my religious beliefs," the student could be heard saying in the video.

"If you are uncomfortable in this class you do have the right to leave. What we are doing is not illegal," the professor said.

In her back-and-forth with the professor, the student mentioned an executive order that President Donald Trump signed earlier this year in which he said "it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female."

A Texas law took effect on Sept. 1 that forbids Texas K-12 schools from teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity. The law does not apply to universities and other institutions of higher education.

Texas A&M is located in College Station, about 95 miles (153 kilometers) northwest of Houston.

Black lawmakers are calling for an investigation into a series of threats made against historically Black colleges and universities across the country.

The Congressional Black Caucus asked the Department of Justice and FBI to "swiftly" investigate the threats that disrupted campuses nationwide.

At least six HBCUs, including Alabama State University, Hampton University and Virginia State University, canceled classes and locked down campuses after receiving threats Thursday.

Rep. Yvette Clarke of New York, chair of the caucus, called the threats "vile" and a "chilling reminder" of racism and extremism that continues to target Black communities.

The FBI called the threats "hoaxes" but added that it takes the threats "very seriously."

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.

Hip-hop icon Jeezy is in Detroit with a full day of events on Friday.

He started his morning at Cass Tech High School. 7 News Detroit anchor Carolyn Clifford was on hand as he joined Henry Ford Health to talk about health care in the community and support on-site screening tests. He gave an exclusive interview to Carolyn.

"It feels a lot like family and always has. It's .. real, because ... I've been to a lot of cities, but I don't think I have a connection with any other cities that I know of that's as strong as Detroit. It's like we're like a distant family. Every time we come together ... it's a real love," Jeezy said about his love for Detroit.

Check out the full interview in the video player below:

Interview: 'It's real.' Hip-hop icon Jeezy talks about his love for Detroit

Later in the night, Jeezy is making history with the finale of his sold-out TM:101LIVE tour. After selling out nationwide, hell take the stage at Detroits Fox Theatre with a full symphony orchestra.

For fans around the world, Jeezy will live stream the entire performance on YouTube bringing his groundbreaking blend of hip-hop and orchestral music to a global audience.

Since Wednesday, social media feeds have been full of reactions to the shooting death of Charlie Kirk, with opinions ranging from forceful condemnation to glee.

Some of those posts have cost people their livelihoods.

There have been numerous examples of public officials losing their jobs or being placed on leave. In other cases, businesses have become the subject of boycotts or lost partnerships.

In Massachusetts, a teacher was placed on administrative leave for a post on her personal social media page about the incident.

"Today, our school community is responding to yet another act of violence in our country with the killing of Charlie Kirk at a college campus in Utah. As many are aware, a teacher has been accused of making inappropriate comments in response to this event on her own personal social media page. As a result, that teacher has been placed on administrative leave for the foreseeable future and is not allowed on school property while we investigate this matter," James Reilly, superintendent of the Wachusett Regional School District Committee, said.

RELATED STORY | What we know about Tyler Robinson, the suspect in killing of Charlie Kirk

In Toledo, Ohio, the citys fire department said it is investigating a viral social media post allegedly made by one of its members that read in part, Kirk offers nothing but hate and division to society. No one would miss him and discourse would be better without him.

In Cincinnati, TQL Stadium, home of Major League Soccers FC Cincinnati, said it was cutting ties with a barbecue restaurant after its owner was caught on social media saying, Good riddance! What a piece of s.

"We were founded on the idea that soccer unites, and we remain committed to ensuring that FCC is for all and that we provide a safe and welcoming environment for our patrons," the stadium's statement reads in part. "Toward that end, we have terminated our relationship with Lucius Q."

These posts serve as a reminder that employers and others are watching social media activity.

President Donald Trump said Friday he'll send the National Guard to address crime concerns in Memphis with support from the mayor and Tennessee's governor, making it his latest expansion of military forces into American cities that has tested the limits of presidential power and drawn sharp criticism from local leaders.

Speaking on Fox News, Trump said "the mayor is happy" and "the governor is happy" about the pending deployment. The city is "deeply troubled," he said, adding, "we're going to fix that just like we did Washington," where he's sent the National Guard and surged federal law enforcement.

Memphis is a majority-Black city and has a Democratic mayor, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Republican Gov. Bill Lee confirmed Friday that he was working with the Trump administration to deploy National Guard troops to Memphis as part of a new crime-fighting mission.

The governor said he planned to speak with the president on Friday to work out details of the mission and was working with Trump's team to determine the most effective roles for the Tennessee National Guard, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Memphis Police Department and other law enforcement agencies.

Trump on Friday said he decided to send troops into Memphis after Union Pacific's CEO Jim Vena, who used to regularly visit the city when he served on the board of FedEx, urged him earlier this week to address crime in the city.

Since sending the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., Trump has openly mused about sending troops to some of the nation's most Democratic cities including Chicago and Baltimore even as data shows most violent crime in those places and around the country has declined in recent years.

Trump has also suggested he could send troops to New Orleans, another Democratic-run city in a Republican-leaning state.

Crime is down, but troops may be coming

The president's announcement came just days after Memphis police reported decreases across all major crime categories in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same period in previous years. Overall crime hit a 25-year low, while murder hit a six-year low, police said.

Asked Friday if city and state officials had requested a National Guard deployment -- or had formally signed off on it -- the White House didn't answer. It also didn't offer a possible timeline or say whether federal law enforcement would be surged in connection with a guard deployment to Memphis, as happened when troops were deployed to Washington.

Trump said Friday that he "would have preferred going to Chicago," where local politicians have fiercely resisted his plans, but suggested the city was too "hostile" with "professional agitators."

Officials in Tennessee appear divided

Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor, who backs the Memphis troop deployment, said Friday the National Guard could provide "administrative and logistical support" to law enforcement and allow local officers to focus on policework. Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn also voiced her approval.

The Democratic mayor of Shelby County, which includes the city of Memphis, criticized Trump's proposal. "Mr. President, no one here is 'happy,'" said Mayor Lee Harris. "Not happy at all with occupation, armored vehicles, semi-automatic weapons, and military personnel in fatigues."

Republican Gov. Bill Lee said Wednesday that an ongoing FBI operation alongside state and local law enforcement had already made "hundreds of arrests targeting the most violent offenders." He also said there are record levels of Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers in Shelby County, including a newly announced additional 50 troopers.

"We are actively discussing the next phase of our strategy to accelerate the positive momentum that's already underway, and nothing is off the table," Lee said in the statement.

On Thursday, Memphis Mayor Paul Young said he learned earlier this week that the governor and Trump were considering the deployment in Memphis.

"I am committed to working to ensure any efforts strengthen our community and build on our progress," Young's statement said. What the city needs most, he said, is money for intervention and crime prevention, as well as more officers on patrol and support for bolstering the police department's investigations.

Some Republicans, including Taylor, the state senator, have asked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to audit the Memphis Police Department's crime reporting.

Trump's broader National Guard strategy

Trump first deployed troops to Los Angeles in early June over Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's objections by putting the California National Guard under federal jurisdiction, known as Title 10, to protect federal property from protests over immigration raids. The guard later helped protect officers during immigration arrests.

Alongside 4,000 guard members, 700 active duty Marines were also sent, and California sued over the intervention.

In Washington, D.C., where the president directly commands the National Guard, Trump has used troops for everything from armed patrols to trash cleanup without any legal issues.

RELATED STORY | Trump renews National Guard threat to Chicago, citing weekend killings

Chicago is on edge

Trump's comments underscored his shift away from threats to send troops into Chicago. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, both Democrats, vowed legal action to block any such move.

Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential contender, has said a federal intervention is not justified or wanted in Chicago. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi this week accused state leaders of being uncooperative.

"We want Chicago to ask us for the help and they're not going to do that," she told reporters after an unrelated event near Chicago where federal agents seized vaping products.

Even without National Guard troops, residents in Chicago are expecting more federal immigration enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security launched a new operation this week, with federal officials confirming 13 people with prior criminal arrests had been detained. However, it's still unclear what role that operation would play more broadly.

A 16-year-old boy was killed when he was struck by a vehicle while riding a bike in Armada Township early Friday morning.

Michigan State Police say the teen was struck on Armada Ridge Road near True Road around 5:35 a.m.

Police say a 66-year-old Memphis man, who was reportedly driving a 2018 Jeep Compass, was passing another vehicle when he struck the teen.

The boy was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died from his injuries, police say.

The incident remains under investigation.

Armada Area Schools posted a letter to their website saying the victims school has implemented a crisis response plan to help students and staff impacted by the tragedy.

Read the full letter here.

America's job market is softening. A benchmark survey released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows over 900,000 fewer jobs in the 12 months before March of this year.

"If you're thinking about your own job security, if you are thinking about looking for work, this is a situation that doesn't give you any added confidence and might serve to undermine that, said Mark Hamrick, a senior economic analyst at Bankrate.

A deeper look at the data shows Black Americans are facing those employment headwinds the most.

The unemployment rate for Black Americans is the highest it's been since October 2021, now sitting at 7.5%. That is more than twice the unemployment rate for white Americans, which is currently at 3.7%.

Black unemployment is historically seen as a bellwether when it comes to the U.S. economy.

It is in those marginal groups that you see the kind of shifts in the economy, particularly downward shifts, hitting those communities first, said Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

Black Americans make up 13% of the nation's workforce, but job losses in certain sectors could be having an outsized impact on the unemployment rate for Black Americans.

I  think there is some assumptions or hypotheses around cuts in government deployments, cuts in some of the areas that blacks are disproportionately located in, including manufacturing, some aspects of hospitality, said Asante-Muhammad. I think all of that is making African Americans who are often times some of most employed insecure.

Experts say young Black workers are especially impacted by rising unemployment. That's also reflected in the unemployment rate in general for young people ages 16-24, which is now more than 10%. Thats more than twice the current 4.3% overall unemployment rate.

The Kresge Foundation announced on Friday that it plans to move the foundations headquarters from Troy to Detroit, along with a $180 million investment into city neighborhoods.

The plan, according to the foundation, is to invest that funding over the next five years into housing stabilization, home ownership, commercial corridor revitalization, public space enhancements and financial support to residents and businesses in the Fitzgerald, Bagley, University District and Martin Park neighborhoods.

"The neighborhood is going to be better off for years to come," said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. "This area is booming, and with what Kresge has done today,-- the growth is just going to accelerate."

The announcement builds on more than a decade of investments Kresge has made in improving the quality of neighborhood life in Detroit, said Kresges CEO and President Rip Rapson in a statement. Those investments will continue across the city. But this constellation of commitments focuses on the neighborhoods in the Livernois-McNichols corridor, bringing the foundations total investments in the area to nearly $400 million. The new investments are unprecedented in their magnitude, ambition and long-term potential to leverage support from others.

Kresge also announced, in partnership with Live6 Alliance, the creation of a fund for residents to help with vacant land stewardship, beautification and side lot activation, resources for home maintenance and improvements, property tax relief, and support for renters.

The new Kresge headquarters will be in a newly constructed facility on the Marygrove Conservancy Campus in Northwest Detroit. The foundation has also emphasized its focus on sustainability when it comes to the new building and the area, referencing solar power and electrification in its plans.

Kresge also said it will create a resilience hub that will help support residents year-round during emergencies related to climate change and infrastructure failures.

Read more about the planned neighborhood investments here.

The first-ever online law school in Michigan is being launched by the University of Detroit Mercy in Downtown Detroit.

The official start of the program will be in the fall of 2026, with applications being accepted right now.

We're told a total of 25 students will be accepted to begin with, with plans of more students to come in the future.

Faculty positions are also being added in the first program of its kind in the state.

The program is accredited by the American Bar Association and is made possible by a major donation from alumnus Jonathan D. Rose

We see this as an access opportunity for people who cant physically be in law school. 9-5 typical workday. So, were thinking second career. Stay-home parents, military families and really people who dont have close proximity to a law school in Michigan," Dean of Detroit Mercy Law Nicholas Schroeck said.

The program aims to increase access to higher education and open doors of opportunity for people across the state.

After federal law enforcement officials said they conducted a raid at a Georgia battery plant that they called the "largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of Homeland Security Investigations," over 300 South Korean migrants returned home Friday after being released from U.S. custody.

The migrants, who worked at a plant co-operated by Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, were detained over a week ago after officials said they did not have legal status to remain in the U.S. Immigration officials said some had entered the U.S. illegally, while others had overstayed their visas.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said some of the families of the migrants were demanding an apology from President Donald Trump. They said the detainment of the migrants was not necessary.

"I thought that he would only go through simple questioning but when I saw on TV that they went to a detention center and were shackled, I was taken aback," said Lee-Sang-hee, father of one of the workers detained.

The operation took place at a Hyundai plant in Bryan County, Georgia. Officials said that 475 people mostly South Korean nationals were apprehended. Some of those present had entered the U.S. illegally, overstayed their visas, or did not have proper work permits.

The incident has prompted concerns for South Korean businesses investing in the U.S.

Yonhap News Agency reported that President Lee Jae Myung said the raid could make some South Korean firms "hesitant" about investing in the United States.

It "could be disadvantageous or difficult to set up a factory there, so they can't but agonize over it," Lee said, according to Yonhap.

The release of migrants came one day after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. A readout of the meeting provided by the State Department did not mention any discussion of the Georgia raid.

Yonhap said that South Korean officials are working with the U.S. on creating a smoother visa process to avoid situations like this in the future.

The highly anticipated Apple store in Downtown Detroit is set to open on Friday, Sept. 19, according to the Apple website.

Located at 1430 Woodward Ave., on the same block as the Shinola Hotel, the store will open at 5 p.m. Friday.

"Hello, 313. Our brand-new store in downtown Detroit is opening soon. In the heart of a city pulsing with spirit and innovation, were proud to build a space where creativity thrives and business takes shape. We cant wait to see what drives you," a post on the Apple website reads.

According to the website, the store will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22, through Thursday, Sept. 25.

Watch below: Apple opens first US manufacturing academy in Detroit

Apple opens first US manufacturing academy in Detroit

Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk, was arrested late Thursday night, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox confirmed at a news conference on Friday ending a 33-hour manhunt. Robinson was arrested in St George, Utah, which is about 250 miles from Utah Valley University, the site of Wednesday's assassination.

Cox's announcement came hours after President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News that a suspect was placed in custody.

Later on Friday, Robinson was initially charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice. Final charges could come in the coming days.

According to a statement from Utah State University, Tyler James Robinson attended the school for one semester in 2021.

State records said Robinson was a registered voter but was not affiliated with a political party.

The family of Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah man, told officials that he has become "more political in recent years," Cox said. Cox said that Robinson opposed Kirk's political views.

"A family member referenced a recent incident in which Robinson came to dinner prior to Sept. 10 and, in the conversation with another family member, mentioned that Charlie Kirk was coming to UVU," Cox said. "They talked about why they didn't like him and the viewpoints that he had."

In that same conversation, the other family member reportedly said that they believed Kirk was "full of hate" and "spreading hate," according to Cox.

RELATED STORY | Who was Charlie Kirk? What we know about the conservative political influencer

Cox said that ammunition casings found at the crime scene included messages engraved that said, "Hey Fascist! Catch!" and "If you read this, you are Gay, LMAO."

Cox said Robinson's roommate showed investigators messages that he had reportedly sent on the Discord app discussing the need to retrieve a rifle from a drop point.

Officials said that a member of Robinson's family reached out to a family friend, who then contacted the Washington County Sheriff's Office and said that Robinson had confessed or implied he had killed Kirk.

Law enforcement found surveillance video from the day of the shooting that they said showed Robinson arriving at the Utah Valley University campus in a gray Dodge Challenger around 8:20 a.m., wearing a plain maroon shirt, light-colored shorts, a black hat with a white logo and light-colored shoes.

When investigators encountered Robinson in person in Washington County in the early morning hours of Sept. 12, he was wearing similar clothing to that of the surveillance images from the morning of the shooting.

Cox said he does not anticipate anyone else will be charged, and law enforcement believed that Robinson acted alone.

President Trump said he hopes the shooter gets the death penalty. He indicated in the interview that there was help from a minister who works with law enforcement, who knows a U.S. Marshall, and they took it from there.

"Somebody very close to him said, 'That's him,'" President Trump said. "And essentially went to the father, who went to a U.S. Marshal, who is fantastic and the person was involved with law enforcement, but was a person of faith, a minister. And brought him to a U.S. Marshal, who is fantastic, and the father convinced the son that this is it."

RELATED STORY | Charlie Kirk's casket flown home to Arizona aboard Air Force Two

On Thursday, officials released photos of a "person of interest," depicting a young adult male wearing a hat, sunglasses and a T-shirt with an American Flag and an eagle on it.

Later that night, the FBI released video footage showing what they believed to be the suspect running across the top of a building at the school before jumping to the ground.

As of Thursday evening, the FBI had received over 7,000 tips related to the case. Officials said the volume of tips outnumbered those involving the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013.

Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist closely aligned with President Trump, was killed on Wednesday during a speaking event at Utah Valley University. He is survived by his wife, Erika, and two young children.

Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a right-wing political nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics on high school and college campuses across the U.S. making him a major figure and voice within the young conservative movement, with millions of followers across his various social media platforms.

He was at the university on Wednesday to kick off his "The American Comeback Tour," where he engaged students through political debates under tents branded with phrases like "Prove Me Wrong."

Kirk was about 20 minutes into his speaking event when a single shot hit him in the neck, according to officials. FBI Director Kash Patel said agents were on the scene within 16 minutes.

President Donald Trump said in an interview on Fox and Friends on Friday Morning that a person of interest in the killing of Charlie Kirk has been detained.

Local officials have not confirmed the details and have scheduled a news conference this morning to provide an update.

Watch Live

Officials said late Thursday that they were relying on the publics assistance.

Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was killed Wednesday during an outdoor speaking event at Utah Valley University. Officials said a suspect fired a high-powered rifle from about 200 yards away from where Kirk was speaking.

LATEST UPDATE: Trump: Person of interest in killing of Charlie Kirk in custody

The suspect then fled and left the weapon in a nearby wooded area.

Relying on the public

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox told reporters late Thursday that tips from the public are essential in finding a person of interest. Earlier Thursday, officials released several images of a person of interest. The photos showed a white man who appeared to be roughly college age, wearing a hat, sunglasses and a T-shirt with an American flag.

"We cannot do our job without the public's help right now," Cox said. "The public has answered our call for action so far. We've received more than 7,000 leads and tips. I would just note that the FBI hasn't received this many digital media tips from the public since the Boston Marathon bombing."

Utah Commissioner of Public Safety Beau Mason said these tips could help lead investigators to the gunman.

"The tips that have been coming in are what are giving us our next leads and enabling us to continue to further this investigation," he said. "We've had great cooperation from the public and we're continued to ask for that as we move forward."

Although images of a person of interest were released Thursday, officials have not made the persons identity public.

The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who shot Kirk.

Video shows suspect climbing from building

In video released by officials late Thursday, a person believed to be the gunman is seen jumping from the roof of a building on campus. Officials said that in the process, he left handprints on the side of the building. The suspect also left footprints linked to Converse-brand shoes on the ground.

FBI releases surveillance video of suspect in Charlie Kirk shooting

Authorities said these are key pieces of evidence in helping them find a suspect.

The video also shows the suspect running toward a wooded area, where investigators found the weapon they believe was used to kill Kirk.

Kirks body now in Arizona

Vice President JD Vance flew to Utah on Thursday and used Air Force Two to transport Kirks body to Arizona.

Details of Kirks funeral and burial have not yet been made public.

President Donald Trump told reporters that he plans to attend Kirks funeral.

"I believe it's in Arizona, and they've asked me to go, and I think I have an obligation to do that," he said.

Trump said late Thursday that progress was being made in the investigation.

"He's an animal, a total animal, and hopefully they'll have him and they'll get him. What he did is disgraceful. Charlie Kirk was a great person, a great man, great in every way, especially with youth, and what he did, what this man did was disgraceful," Trump said.

Here at 7 News Detroit, we want to make sure you start your day off on the right foot, informed about weather, traffic, the latest news and more. That's why we have the 7 Morning Digest, where we'll get you out the door informed and ready to go.

What's the weather for today? Metro Detroit Weather: Dry and warm finish to the week

Our warm summer weather holds on through the weekend and into next week with above-average temperatures in the 80s. The week finishes on a dry and sunny, but the chance for a few scattered showers exists on Saturday.

Friday: Mostly sunny with highs around 80. Winds: S 5 mph.

Saturday: Increasing clouds, the chance for a few late-day showers, isolated thunder is possible. High temps will hover near and just above 80. Winds: SW 5-10 mph.

The top stories to know about Michigan unemployment agency to collect $2.7 billion in pandemic benefit overpayments Michigan unemployment agency to collect $2.7 billion in pandemic benefit overpayments

Hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents are receiving notices that they must repay unemployment benefits they received during the COVID-19 pandemic, with collections set to resume as soon as the end of this month.

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency says approximately 350,000 Michiganders will have to return pandemic-era unemployment benefits beginning Friday. The state is seeking to collect $2.7 billion from families who were overpaid during the pandemic.

"Attention, claimant," David Hotz read from an email he received. "You are receiving this notice because you may have an outstanding balance owed to the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency."

Hotz is among the hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents wishing they didn't have to read such notices.

"At first, you're like is this real? Usually only get letters in the mail from them," Hotz said. "Then you got an idea it's real. It's like why did they wait two years to contact you."

UIA spokesperson Nick Assendelft acknowledged the timing may come as a surprise to many recipients.

"We understand for some, it'll come as a shock. Others are facing hardships," Assendelft said.

The collection efforts had been paused due to legal action. In 2022, a class action lawsuit was filed against UIA, claiming the agency was attempting to recover overpayment benefits unlawfully.

The lawsuit ended in May with a $55 million settlement. Because of a preliminary injunction, there had been a pause on collecting overpayments. That pause is lifted Friday.

"It depends on whether they remember we sent them an original notice or had been paying back that previous money and were told to stop," Assendelft said.

Cristine Wasserman, a Flint attorney who has worked on unemployment cases, said the pandemic created complications that make collection efforts challenging.

"You had federal people involved in the administration of unemployment events, we had an overwhelmed and antiquated unemployment system trying to administer benefits as quickly they could," Wasserman said. "Realistically, I know they're saying $2.7 billion they're not going to recoup that much money."

Wyandotte's Gold Star Bar celebrates more than 100 years as community cornerstone Wyandotte's historic 'Gold Star Bar' is making new buzz

Sitting at the corner of 9th and Vinewood streets is a hidden gem and the oldest bar in Wyandotte: Gold Star Bar, which has been serving the community for more than 100 years.

The historic establishment was a topic of conversation at 7 News Detroit's recent "Let's Talk" event in Wyandotte, but Gold Star Bar is more than just a place to grab a drink. It's a piece of living history where the community keeps old traditions alive.

Current owner Joanne Cristoff, who has owned the bar since 1995, says the atmosphere feels more like a family living room than a local watering hole and that's by design.

"If we don't know you, we're going to know you before you leave," Cristoff said.

One of the last remaining house bars in the area, Gold Star Bar has been serving up the same no-nonsense menu since 1923. And yes, it's still cash-only.

Those are just some of the traditions Cristoff plans on keeping alive for years to come.

Cristoff bought the historic bar in 1995 not to change it but to protect it.

"I just wanted to keep it running and it's a neighborhood bar, which you don't see anymore," Cristoff said.

Michigan Design Center to showcase storybook displays at Sept. 12 open house

Michigan Design Center to showcase storybook displays at Sept. 12 open house

Finally, your childhood storybook favorites will be on display with the world of interior design at the Michigan Design Center this Friday.

On September 12, youll be able to open doors to timeless stories at the Designing the Classics decorating open house, which will help support WXYZ-TV's If You Give A Child A Book campaign.

TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE IF YOU GIVE A CHILD A BOOK CAMPAIGN, CLICK HERE

Donations raised at the event will help provide free books to students across metro Detroit, giving them a chance to build libraries at home and help their love for reading grow.

The Michigan Design Center is also making a generous $10,000 contribution to the book campaign. In addition to their support, the Scripps Howard Fund has matched the donation. This incredible event will help provide thousands of books to kids in metro Detroit.

More than 20 vignettes of childrens books will be displayed at Designing the Classics from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Michigan Design Center in Troy on that day. There, youll be able to meet the designers of the doors inspired by childrens books during an open house.

The designs will bring charm to the playful storybooks like The Rainbow Fish, The Wizard of Oz, The Jungle Book" and Where the Sidewalk Ends.

Guests will receive one raffle ticket upon entry to vote for their favorite design. The votes will be entered into a raffle and the winner will be drawn on Sept. 15 and will be notified by phone. The winner will receive a $100 gift card to Barnes & Noble.

For more information on the event, visit Michigan Design Centers website. We hope to see you there!

Allen Park is welcoming back the Made in Michigan Festival this weekend, celebrating all things Michigan while highlighting local businesses and Michigan-based vendors.

See the full story in the video below

Allen Park celebrates state pride with Made in Michigan Festival this weekend

The festival runs Friday afternoon through Saturday night on Allen Road between Southfield and Roosevelt, featuring live music, family activities and around 120 vendors.

Related: Here are the fall events across metro Detroit

"It is a wonderful street fair-style event that was started back in 2017. Actually to showcase our downtown businesses, bring attention to Allen Park, but also highlight Michigan-based businesses, food trucks, and vendors," Jamie Horn, organizer with Made in Michigan Festival, said.

Among the participating businesses is Michigan-based jeweler Radiant Made for Us, located in downtown Allen Park.

"Everyone is so proud living in Michigan, we're just tough-bred people. Especially with all the sports events going on here locally and everyone's doing so great. We love to be a part of the history of Michigan," Felicia Redondo, general manager at Radiant Made for Us-Allen Park, said.

Redondo says events like Made in Michigan are crucial for bringing visibility to her business and products.

"This used to be an old bank, so we turned it around and made it into a jewelry store. So a lot of time people walk in that used to bank here and they're like 'Oh my God, look at it, it's so beautiful," Redondo said.

This year's festival also coincides with Paint the Park, an initiative bringing eight murals to local Allen Park businesses.

"It has just brought the city to life in ways we didn't expect," Horn said.

Beau Stanton, an artist from Brooklyn, New York participating in Paint the Park, says there's something special about community art projects.

"One of the best things about public art and painting murals in communities is interacting with people who live there. It's a really unique form of art because it's not in a museum or a white walled gallery," Stanton said.

Detroit-based artist Louise "Ouizi" Jones says public murals benefit communities beyond aesthetics.

"All smaller towns outside of these big cities also deserve to have world-class art," Jones said. "I think it really makes people feel proud of their home and it makes people want to stay."

The Made in Michigan Festival is free to attend and begins Friday at 2 PM. It also features live entertainment, food, and fun for kids.

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