Metro Detroit is experiencing a surge in flu, COVID-19, and RSV cases just as students prepare to return to school after winter break.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report: Triple threat hits Metro Detroit as schools prepare to reopen

Henry Ford Health reports seeing an increase in positive cases for all three illnesses throughout their system. According to the CDC, Michigan jumped from high to very high flu activity level in just one week, highlighting the rapid spread of respiratory viruses in the region.

"We saw a lot of COVID in the fall, and it kind of went away for a little bit, but it's coming back. But we're seeing much more flu than anything else," said Dr. Jason Vieder, an emergency medicine physician with Henry Ford Health.

Watch our entire interview with Dr. Vieder: Flu infection rate surges

The timing coincides with students returning to classrooms after winter break, creating concern among parents about keeping their children healthy in school environments.

Alexandra Stavnic, a Farmington Hills resident, said she's being proactive about her family's health during this surge.

"I try to give them as much vitamins and do my part as a mom," Stavnic said.

She's also avoiding crowded indoor spaces, opting for outdoor activities like sledding at Shiawassee Sledding Hill in Farmington.

"This was kind of like the best option to try not to be so close to people but also have fun," Stavnic said.

Other parents are taking additional precautions as children return to school. Andrea Iagar, also from Farmington Hills, has implemented strict hygiene routines.

"I make sure I wash their clothes every day after school, I make sure they wash their hands after they come home from school," Iagar said.

Iagar also focuses on nutrition to boost her children's immune systems.

"I make sure their snacks are relatively healthy, always include a fruit in there for vitamin C and probiotics through yogurt," Iagar said.

Dr. Vieder recommends several strategies to minimize the risk of illness, starting with keeping sick children home from school despite childcare challenges.

"I know it's difficult with childcare and things like that and missing school, but if your child's not feeling well, you should have him or her stay home," Vieder said.

Hand washing remains the most critical prevention method, according to Vieder.

"The most important thing for everyone is to hand-wash. Make sure you're really doing a good job with that after you cough or sneeze, after you touch your face. There are certain surfaces, like phones or doorknobs. Those are really good vectors to get ill or to transmit disease," Vieder said.

Additional prevention measures include getting adequate sleep and maintaining a healthy diet. Medical experts emphasize that the flu vaccine remains the best prevention against influenza.

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 75-year-old Wixom veteran remains unconscious in the hospital after allegedly being punched by a DoorDash driver who he asked to slow down in his neighborhood.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report: DoorDash driver's punch allegedly leaves 75-year-old veteran clinging to life

Family members say Lloyd Poole walked out of his driveway near Windingway Circle and Barberry Drive to tell a driver he believed he was going too fast. What happened next has left them devastated.

"Punched him in the side of the head. My dad fell. Never got up. Never moved. And the DoorDash driver got back in his vehicle and drove away," said Jen Shaw, Poole's daughter.

Poole has been hospitalized for five days with a black eye and has undergone emergency brain surgery, where doctors removed part of his skull. Shaw said her father has never fully regained consciousness since the attack.

"He's not responding. He can't talk. He's not awake," Shaw said. "We don't know when he's going to get out of his hospital bed. It may never happen."

Police say 40-year-old Ryan Turner, a DoorDash driver, admitted to hitting and leaving Poole on the street. Turner maintained he felt threatened when he found himself face-to-face with Poole after stepping out of his car to confront him.

Turner acknowledged the misdemeanor aggravated assault charge in court, saying "I do" when asked if he understood the charges.

Court records show Turner has prior appearances for assault and battery in 2022, which was pled down to a lesser charge. He also has multiple offenses related to driving, including driving with a suspended or invalid license. Turner now faces up to one year in prison and posted bond on Thursday.

"You know, going about his life as normal as can be, and we're definitely not over here," Shaw said.

In a statement, DoorDash called the incident "appalling," saying they removed Turner from their platform and are working with local law enforcement to ensure justice.

Shaw describes her father as a strong man who volunteers regularly in the community. She said he never expected to be hit, hospitalized, and hanging onto his life.

"You just don't know with the brain. We're really concerned. Yeah, very worried," Shaw said. "He's out. He's wandering around, and I think you just need to be careful, because people are unpredictable."

The family is taking shifts at the hospital day and night, hoping Poole regains consciousness soon.

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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.

Sprinkles Cupcakes, a company famous for selling sweet treats in vending machines known as "cupcake ATMs," has shut down after 20 years of operation around the United States, according to its former owner.

"Even though I sold the company over a decade ago, I still have such a personal connection to it, and this isn't how I thought the story would go," said Candace Nelson, who started the company after she lost her job in 2005. The closure was announced Dec. 30.

Nelson started Sprinkles Cupcakes in her own kitchen, and the first location was in a small Beverly Hills storefront that had previously been a sandwich shop. The brand would go on to ascend to national fame, and fans took to social media following the company's announcement to lament the closure.

The company's cupcake-dispensing machines in malls and airports briefly went viral on TikTok for the not-so-subtle "I love Sprinkles" jingle that played repeatedly while a mechanical arm delivered the dessert.

The company no longer has any products for sale on its website, which also has removed all operational locations across the country.

Nelson sold her business to private equity firm KarpReilly LLC in 2012 after the company had expanded to 10 locations across the country. The firm owns dozens of other companies for products including a health food home delivery service, kombucha and protein wellness shakes.

KarpReilly did not respond to an emailed request for comment Friday evening. Neither the firm nor Nelson provided a reason for the cupcake company's closure.

Private equity has dramatically expanded its influence in restaurants over the last decade, investing $94.5 billion between 2014 and 2024, according to data from capital market company PitchBook.

Some outraged Sprinkles Cupcakes fans said on social media that the closures were part of a larger trend where private equity firms purchase restaurants and retail brands like Red Lobster or TGI Fridays that later file for bankruptcy or close altogether.

The Professional Women's Hockey League is making its return to Little Caesars Arena this Saturday for the Takeover Tour game between the Boston Fleet and Vancouver Goldeneyes, bringing special meaning to local players and young fans alike.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: PWHL returns to Little Caesars Arena

With only eight teams in the PWHL and hopes that Detroit will one day have its own franchise, the league's visits to the Motor City have become particularly significant events.

The last two years have seen record attendance at Little Caesars Arena, with more than 14,000 fans packing the venue in March 2025.

"My favorite team in the NHL is the Detroit Red Wings, so I would want there to be a Detroit women's team," said Kimber Burnis from Manistique.

For families like the Burnis family, who traveled over six hours from the Upper Peninsula to watch practice ahead of Saturday's matchup, the PWHL represents new opportunities for young female athletes.

"So now with the PWHL, it's giving, you know, girls her age, above and below, something to work for and look forward to, so for me, that's really what it's all about, and it's exciting to see," Steve Burnis said.

The game holds special significance for several players returning to their home state. Megan Keller, a Farmington Hills native and captain of the Boston Fleet, was recently named to the 2026 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team for what will be her third Olympics.

"Excited to be back home in front of friends and family, and we got the opportunity to play here a couple years ago. It was an amazing crowd, families packed, and you look up in the stands, and you see all these young girls in the crowd, so it's a super special game to be a part of," Keller said.

"It's a huge honor, and it's something that's always been a dream of mine, so looking forward to getting over to Italy," she said about her Olympic selection.

Vancouver's Mellissa Channell-Watkins, who grew up in Plymouth and Canton, echoed the sentiment about inspiring the next generation of female hockey players.

"It's super cool to see people wearing the jersey that you used to wear growing up in the stands, and now those girls have something to look forward to, something to dream for, strive for," Channell-Watkins said.

Young fans like Piper Kincher from Clinton Township are taking notice of the role models these professional athletes provide.

"I feel like we can grow from them. What they do can help us improve skating for us," Kincher said.

The PWHL Takeover Tour game is scheduled for Saturday at Little Caesars Arena at 7 p.m. You can watch the PWHL Takeover Tour in Detroit at 7 p.m. Saturday on TV20 Detroit.

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.

It's been eight months since a fire destroyed Fork n' Pint restaurant in Waterford Township. Now, 7 News Detroit is learning some good news is finally in sight for the dilapidated site and nearby residents.

Watch Darren Cunningham's video report: Waterford's fire-ravaged Fork 'n Pint restaurant to be demolished

7 News Detroit held its inaugural Let's Talk event at Fork 'n Pint on Cass Elizabeth Road in March. Weeks later, the establishment caught fire.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 'We are heartbroken.' Fire devastates popular Fork n' Pint restaurant in Waterford Township Fire devastates popular Fork n' Pint restaurant in Waterford Township

Since then, there's been growing concerns from residents who are upset as the blighted site continues to sit untouched.

Resident Shane Larson told 7 News Detroit, "This is a hot topic in the neighborhood big time, still."

The restaurant's charred remains sit directly between his home and his job. So, the view from his front porch and the smell are also a part of his daily walk to work.

Ed Huebner, another Waterford township resident, said, "When it burned down, we were kinda like, I wonder how long this is gonna take to clean up. And ya know, you expect maybe 3, 4 months."

But it's now been eight months since the total loss. Waterford Township fire investigators said they were unable to determine a cause, and the building has remained as-is because the owners are going back and forth with their insurance company.

But as residents go back and forth on Cass Elizabeth Road, Huebner said that insurance fight shouldn't be everyone else's problem.

"Why is the whole community having to look at this?" he says. "And then there's safety concerns and whatnot for rats and kids climbing the fence and whatnot. But really for me it's more about, hey let's get it cleaned up,"

Waterford Township Supervisor Anthony Bartolotta said he empathizes with residents' frustrations. He wants it gone, too.

However, he said there's only so much the township can do.

"The smell and everything this past summer, the hot days we had, there's still food in there [and] garbage. I feel bad for the residents back there. I feel real bad for them. We couldn't even step on the property until insurance got done with their investigation," Bartolotta explained.

As of Tuesday, he said the insurance company concluded it could not determine a cause, but he said the good news is the building's owners have finally received permission from the insurance company to demolish the structure.

He said the demolition contractor will first need to receive clearance from DTE, Consumers Energy and the Department of Public Works to shutoff the utilities. Once all of that happens, the township can then approve a demolition permit.

"So, you should start seeing things within the next week to two, you'll see equipment out here, and they'll start tearing down," Bartolotta estimated.

In response to the update, Huebner said, "Well, it's encouraging. We just want it to be cleaned up now. Ya know, it would be better to have nothing there than what we're looking at now."

Larson said, "To hear that is very exciting."

"It's about time," he added.

7 News Detroit wanted to find out what's next for this site, but the co-owner and general manager have not returned our calls for comment.

A federal judge in Kentucky has dismissed Louisville's proposed settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over police reforms after the department withdrew its support of the plan earlier this year.

The Justice Department announced in May it was canceling proposed consent decrees with Louisville and Minneapolis that sought to curb police racial bias and abuses after the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor that spurred nationwide protests in the summer of 2020.

U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton wrote in a Dec. 31 ruling that "the responsibility to lead the Louisville Metro Police Department in compliance with federal law must remain with the city's elected representatives and the people they serve."

A judge in May dismissed Minneapolis' proposed consent decree, which places a federal officer in charge of tracking the progress of reforms laid out in the agreement.

RELATED STORY | Judge sentences ex-officer in Breonna Taylor raid to nearly 3 years in prison

Justice Department officials under President Joe Biden's administration conducted a multiyear investigation in Louisville, prompted by the fatal shooting of Taylor and police responses to public protests in 2020. A draft of the investigation was released in early 2023, alleging the Louisville Police Department "discriminates against Black people in its enforcement activities," uses excessive force and conducts searches based on invalid warrants.

New DOJ leadership accused the Biden Justice Department of using flawed legal theories to judge police departments and pursuing costly and burdensome consent decrees.

The consent decrees with Louisville and Minneapolis were approved by the Justice Department in the final weeks of the Biden administration, but the settlements had to be approved by a judge.

Beaton wrote that his ruling "doesn't prevent the parties from undertaking the hard work of reform themselves."

RAW VIDEO: Troopers pull over Kilmar Abrego Garcia in 2022 Traffic Stop

The city has initiated some reforms since Taylor's death in March 2020, including a city law banning the use of "no-knock" warrants. The warrants were typically used in surprise drug raids. The city also started a pilot program that sends behavioral health professionals to some 911 calls.

The city also paid a $12 million wrongful death settlement to Taylor's family.

Earlier this year, former Louisville Police Detective Brett Hankison became the first officer involved in the Taylor raid to go to prison. A judge sentenced Hankison to nearly three years in prison on an excessive force conviction despite the Justice Department's efforts to reduce his sentence to one day of time served.

Hankison shot 10 rounds after police were fired on by Taylor's boyfriend from inside her apartment. Hankison shot blindly into Taylor's windows but didn't strike anyone inside or in a neighboring apartment.

Healthcare costs are surging for many Americans as Affordable Care Act subsidies have expired, leaving patients struggling to afford coverage and forcing difficult choices between medical care and basic necessities.

Watch Simon Shaykhet's video report: ACA subsidy expiration drives up healthcare costs for patients

Dr. Ali Shuayto, owner of The Heights Urgent Care in Dearborn Heights, is witnessing firsthand how the expiration of federal subsidies is impacting patient care decisions across metro Detroit.

"We try to really feel for what our patients are going through," Shuayto said.

With millions potentially unable to afford health insurance, Shuayto expects more people to rely heavily on emergency room visits and urgent care facilities. At his clinic, cash payment options have become a lifeline for uninsured patients.

"10-15% are cash pay. No health insurance. We have our cash pay program. It's less than all co-pays on most plans," Shuayto said.

Patient Bridget Fields has noticed the increasing financial pressure on healthcare decisions as costs continue to climb.

"It's going up. Health insurance. Food." Fields said. When asked if she sees more people using emergency rooms instead of doctors, she added, "Yes, or urgent care like myself."

At Shuayto's clinic on Telegraph Road, patients receive the same level of expert care while avoiding steep premium costs. However, the doctor says many patients face an impossible choice between healthcare and survival.

"A lot of people aren't employed. Can't afford. Don't qualify for Medicaid. They say Do I need to put food on my table or get health insurance?" Shuayto said.

Fields points to practicality as another factor driving patients toward urgent care facilities over emergency rooms, even while prioritizing health needs.

"Urgent care is not as busy as emergency," Fields said.

Shuayto emphasizes that patients should never ignore their health needs, regardless of financial constraints. Federal lawmakers from both parties plan to address these healthcare affordability issues when the congressional session resumes next week.

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.

U.S. stocks eked out small gains on Wall Street Friday in a wobbly day of trading to kick off the new year.

Markets were mostly quiet on the first trading day of 2026, with the influential technology sector driving much of the up-and-down action. The mostly minor moves also cap off a tepid and holiday-shortened week. Markets were closed on Thursday for New Year's day.

The S&P 500 rose 12.97 points, or 0.2%, to 6,858.47. The benchmark index is coming off a gain of more than 16% in 2025.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 319.10 points, or 0.7%, to 48,382.39.

The Nasdaq composite fell 6.36 points, or less than 0.1%, to 23,235.63. The index was weighed down by losses for Microsoft and Tesla.

Foreign markets fared better and benchmarks in Britain and South Korea hit records.

Technology stocks steered the market, especially companies with a focus on artificial intelligence, continuing the trend that pushed the broader market to records in 2025.

Nvidia jumped 1.3% and was the biggest force trying to push the market higher. But a 2.2% fall for Microsoft helped to check those gains.

Tesla also weighed on markets with a 2.6% drop after reporting falling sales for a second year in a row.

Nvidia, Microsoft and Tesla are among the most valuable companies in the world and their outsized valuations give them more influence on the stock market's direction. That includes sometimes pushing the market up and down from hour to hour.

Technology companies have been a major focus because of advancements in artificial intelligence technology and the potential for growth within the sector. Wall Street has been betting that demand for computer chips and other items needed for data centers will help justify the big investments from technology companies and their pricey stock values.

Furniture companies gained ground following President Donald Trump's move to delay increased tariffs on upholstered furniture. RH rose 8% and Wayfair rose 6.1%.

E-commerce giant Alibaba climbed 4.3% and Baidu, maker of the Ernie chatbot, jumped 9.4% in Hong Kong after it said it plans to spin off its AI computer chip unit Kunlunxin, which would list shares in Hong Kong early in 2027. The plan is subject to regulatory approvals.

Crude oil prices were mostly stable. Prices for U.S. crude oil fell 0.2% to $57.32 per barrel. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, fell 0.2% to $60.75 per barrel.

The price of gold fell 0.3%.

Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.19% from 4.17% late Wednesday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which moves more closely with expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do, held at 3.48% from late Wednesday.

Wall Street will move past the mostly quiet holiday season starting Monday. The first full week of the new year will include several closely watched economic updates. They will also be some of the last big updates the Fed sees before its next meeting at the end of January.

Next week will feature private reports on the status of the services sector, which is the largest part of the U.S. economy, along with consumer sentiment. Government reports on the job market will also be released. The hope is they'll help paint a clearer picture of how various parts of the U.S. economy closed out 2025 and where it might be headed in 2026.

The Fed has had a more difficult task because of the complex shifts within the economy. It cut interest rates three times toward the end of 2025, partly to help counter a weakening jobs market. But inflation remains above its target rate of 2% and cutting interest rates could add more fuel to rising prices. Consumers have already expressed more caution amid the squeeze from stubborn inflation and the U.S. trade war with much of the world has added more uncertainty.

The Fed has already signaled concern and caution. Wall Street is betting that the central bank will hold its benchmark interest rate steady at its January meeting.

On Sunday, January 4, Spotlight on the News look at the future of healthcare and U.S.-China relations. What impact might these two important topics have on Michigan, including its global automotive manufacturing industry? Join us for an in-depth conversation with Tom Watkins, President & CEO of TDW & Associates, and a longtime healthcare and U.S.-China business advisor.

Spotlight on the News, now in its 60th 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.

A yellow Labrador out for a walk with his owner in Rhode Island had to be rescued by firefighters on New Year's Day after he wandered onto a thin layer of ice covering a pond and fell through the center.

According to the Misquamicut Fire Department, volunteer firefighters and other emergency officials were dispatched early Thursday morning for a water rescue. Once on scene, firefighters saw a dog named Phoenix struggling and unable to move to shore in the slushy, icy water.

Members from both the Misquamicut and Watch Hill fire departments donned ice rescue suits, which help protect the body from frigid temperatures, to enter the pond and successfully rescue Phoenix. The National Weather Service reported it was 26 degrees Fahrenheit around 9 a.m. on Thursday, with the wind chill dropping the temperature to 14 degrees.

"It was the chillest dog I've ever seen in my life," said Steve Howard, deputy chief of the Misquamicut Fire Department, in a phone interview on Friday. "The dog never made a sound. He was pretty chill."

ICYMI | Hiker rescued after getting trapped in quicksand at Arches National Park

While the firefighters were evaluated for possible hypothermia, they did not require treatment. The fire departments described the incident as "a successful first call of 2026," in a statement posted on Facebook.

Phoenix was also declared free of injuries, but Howard made sure to check in with his owner later Thursday.

"He got a little bit of extra food last night," Howard said. "And he took a little nap."

The incident served as a reminder to treat all ice as potentially dangerous, particularly over bodies of water, the fire department warned.

"No ice is ever safe. Our firefighters train extensively for cold water and ice rescues, but these situations are extremely dangerous," the fire department said.

We're in for a celestial treat to start the new year. This weekend will be the first full moon and first supermoon of 2026.

The so-called Wolf Moon will reach peak illumination at 5:03 a.m. ET on Jan. 3, according to Space.com.

Being a supermoon means it will appear bigger and brighter than a regular full moon because it is closer to Earth.

RELATED STORY | The new Space Race: Satellites that track wildfires from orbit

The Wolf Moon got its name because of the howling of wolves often heard this time of year. According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, other names for the January full moon include Center Moon (Assiniboine), Cold Moon and Frost Exploding Moon (Cree), Freeze Up Moon (Algonquin) and Severe Moon or Hard Moon (Dakota).

Because of the bold brightness of the Wolf Moon, it will be harder to see the second special celestial event: the Quadrantid meteor shower.

The meteor shower will reach peak activity Saturday evening. Don't fret, though, astronomers say the shower will be active through Jan.16.

A woman was killed in a suspected mountain lion attack while she was hiking alone in the mountains of northern Colorado on Thursday, in what would be the first fatal attack by one of the predators in the state in more than 25 years, authorities said.

Wildlife officers later in the day located two mountain lions in the area and fatally shot the animals, said Kara Van Hoose with Colorado Parks and Wildlife

The attack occurred in the mountains south of the small community of Glen Haven, about 7 miles northeast of Estes Park and considered the gateway to the eastern entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Shortly before noon, two hikers encountered a mountain lion near the woman's body along a remote section of the Crosier Mountain trail, which is on a national forest.

The hikers threw rocks at the animal to scare it from the immediate area so they could try to help the woman, Van Hoose said. One of the hikers was a physician who attended to the victim and did not find a pulse, she said.

RELATED STORY | Triathlete killed in Northern California shark attack while wearing shark-deterrent device

Details on the woman's injuries and cause of death were not immediately released.

Van Hoose said the search for other mountain lions in the area was ongoing. She said circumstances would dictate whether any additional lions that are found are killed.

Sightings of mountain lions are common in the forested area where the suspected attack occurred, but there have not been any recent documented attacks on humans, Van Hoose said.

"This is a very common time of year to take mountain lion sightings and reports and especially in Larimer County, where this is very good mountain lion habitat," she said. "Trails in this area are in pretty remote land, so it's wooded, it's rocky, there's elevation gains and dips."

Mountain lion attacks are rare and Colorado's last suspected fatal attack was in 1999, when a 3-year-old was killed. Two years before that, a 10-year-old boy was killed by a lion and dragged away while hiking with family members in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Last year in Northern California two brothers were stalked and then attacked by a lion that they tried to fight off. One of the brothers was killed.

The animals, also known as cougars, catamounts and other names, can weigh 130 pounds (60 kilograms) and grow to more than six feet long. They eat primarily deer.

Colorado has an estimated 3,800-4,400 of the animals, which are classified as a big game species in the state and can be hunted.

Tesla lost its crown as the worlds bestselling electric vehicle maker on Friday as a customer revolt over Elon Musks right-wing politics, expiring U.S. tax breaks for buyers and stiff overseas competition pushed sales down for a second year in a row.

Tesla said that it delivered 1.64 million vehicles in 2025, down 9% from a year earlier.

Chinese rival BYD, which sold 2.26 million vehicles last year, is now the biggest EV maker.

It's a stunning reversal for a car company whose rise once seemed unstoppable as it overtook traditional automakers with far more resources and helped make Musk the world's richest man.

For the fourth quarter, sales totaled 418,227, falling short of even the much-reduced 440,000 target that analysts recently polled by FactSet had expected. Sales were hit hard by the expiration of a $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicle purchases that was phased out by the Trump administration at the end of September.

Tesla stock was down nearly 2% at $441.15 in early afternoon trading Friday.

RELATED STORY | Musk could become history's first trillionaire as Tesla shareholders approve giant pay package

Even with multiple issues buffeting the company, investors are betting that Tesla CEO Musk can deliver on his ambitions to make Tesla a leader in robotaxi services and get consumers to embrace humanoid robots that can perform basic tasks in homes and offices. Reflecting that optimism, the stock finished 2025 with a gain of approximately 11%.

The latest quarter was the first with sales of stripped-down versions of the Model Y and Model 3 that Musk unveiled in early October as part of an effort to revive sales. The new Model Y costs just under $40,000 while customers can buy the cheaper Model 3 for under $37,000. Those versions are expected to help Tesla compete with Chinese models in Europe and Asia.

For fourth-quarter earnings coming out in late January, analysts are expecting the company to post a 3% drop in sales and a nearly 40% drop in earnings per share, according to FactSet. Analysts expect the downward trend in sales and profits to eventually reverse itself as 2026 rolls along.

Investors have largely shrugged off the falling numbers, choosing to focus on Musk's pivot to different parts of business. He has been saying the future of the company lies with its driverless robotaxis service, its energy storage business and building robots for the home and factory and much less with car sales.

Tesla started rolling out its robotaxi service in Austin earlier this year, first with safety monitors in the cars to take over in case of trouble, then testing without them. The company hopes to roll out the service in several cities this year.

RELATED STORY | Jury awards $329 million in case that blamed Tesla's Autopilot for deadly crash

To do that successfully, it needs to take on rival Waymo, which has been operating autonomous taxis for years and has far more customers. It also will also have to contend with regulatory challenges. The company is under several federal safety investigations and other probes. In California, Tesla is at risk of temporarily losing its license to sell cars in the state after a judge there ruled it had misled customers about their safety.

Regulatory is going to be a big issue, said Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives, a well-known bull on the stock. We're dealing with people's lives.

Still, Ives said he expects Tesla's autonomous offerings will soon overcome any setbacks.

Musk has said he hopes software updates to his cars will enable hundreds of thousands of Tesla vehicles to operate autonomously with zero human intervention by the end of this year. The company is also planning to begin production of its AI-powered Cybercab with no steering wheel or pedals in 2026.

To keep Musk focused on the company, Teslas directors awarded Musk a potentially enormous new pay package that shareholders backed at the annual meeting in November.

Musk scored another huge windfall two weeks ago when the Delaware Supreme Court reversed a decision that deprived him of a $55 billion pay package that Tesla doled out in 2018.

Musk could become the world's first trillionaire later this year when he sells shares of his rocket company SpaceX to the public for the first time in what analysts expect would be a blockbuster initial public offering.

A quiet Milford community is reeling after a 26-year-old man was found murdered inside his apartment on Wednesday afternoon, with police saying this was no random crime.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: Milford man killed in 'violent attack' on New Year's Eve; suspect in custody

Milford Police Chief Scott Tarasiewicz said the attack was targeted, not random violence that has shaken the typically peaceful neighborhood.

"One thing I wanted to get out is this was not random. This was more something of a targeted attack," Tarasiewicz said.

The investigation began when the victim's girlfriend called police requesting a welfare check. She hadn't heard from her boyfriend in quite some time and grew concerned when she couldn't reach him at his apartment.

"The girlfriend hadn't heard from her boyfriend in quite a long time, and she was concerned. She went out to the apartment and couldn't get a hold of him. Called us to come and do a welfare check. We noticed that his phone was still in the residence based on it ringing," Tarasiewicz said.

Milford police, with help from the fire department, forced entry into the man's apartment and discovered his body with clear signs of foul play.

"It was obvious, obviously a quite violent attack, and it was readily apparent that this was not self-inflicted, this was not natural, this was a homicide," Tarasiewicz said.

The news struck neighbors hard in what they describe as a very quiet community.

"It's unbelievable, really. Surprising. We live in a very quiet place here. And to hear something that my neighbor is gone, that he was killed. Unbelievable," said Kirk Calvin, a neighbor.

Working with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, Milford police were able to identify a suspect within hours of finding the victim's body. They apprehended the suspect about 30 miles away in Royal Oak.

"The individual that was apprehended was in Royal Oak at a bar," Tarasiewicz said.

The suspect, a 29-year-old man from Sterling Heights, is being held in the Oakland County Jail. His name has not been released because he has not yet been charged, which is expected to happen in the coming days.

Police say they believe the victim knew his attacker, making this a targeted crime rather than random violence.

"We completely feel for the family. We understand that they are devastated. I think this is awful. I couldn't imagine being in their shoes right now, and we're trying to support them in any way we can," Tarasiewicz said.

The victim's family was too shaken to speak about the tragedy.

Police continue investigating and ask anyone with information about what happened to call Milford police.

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.

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, threatening U.S. military intervention if the country kills peaceful protesters amid ongoing demonstrations over economic concerns.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that "if Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go."

The threat comes as protesters in Iran have demonstrated over economic concerns in their country. It also follows Trump's suggestion earlier this week that the U.S. could strike Iran if it rebuilt its missile or nuclear programs and could offer backing to Israel, as he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago before New Year's.

Iranian officials responded swiftly to Trump's comments with their own verbal warnings.

RELATED STORY | Trump, Netanyahu meet on Gaza war, warn Iran over nuclear ambitions

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, called Trump's comments "reckless and dangerous" and said they would reject any interference.

Ali Larijani, the secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council stated that "Trump must realize that U.S. intervention in this internal matter will lead to destabilizing the entire region and destroying American interests."

Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that "all American centers and forces across the entire region will be legitimate targets for us in response to any potential adventurism."

The exchange marks a significant escalation in rhetoric between the two nations as Trump has increased his warnings toward Iran this week, particularly regarding protests.

RELATED STORY | Afghanistan, Iran among nations facing new Trump immigration pause

Trump is scheduled to receive his regular intelligence briefing later this evening.

The DOJ and FBI said they foiled an alleged plot to attack a grocery store and fast food restaurant on New Year's Eve, arresting 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant.

Sturdivant allegedly planned to use knives and hammers in a deadly, ISIS-inspired attack at a fast food restaurant and grocery store. Officials said Sturdivant is a resident of Mint Hill, North Carolina.

FBI and DOJ officials claim that Sturdivant began consuming ISIS propaganda videos on social media and pledged his allegiance to ISIS, detailing his plans to undercover officers.

RELATED STORY | 4 charged with plotting New Year's Eve attacks in Southern California, prosecutors say

Officials said that he planned the attack for about a year in support of ISIS.

After serving a search warrant on his residence, officials said that investigators also found handwritten notes plotting the attacks. The notes had a goal of stabbing as many people as possible, the FBI said.

Christian Sturdivant allegedly swore allegiance to an international terrorist organization and plotted deadly attacks in its name, said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. But the New York City Police Department has a long reach, and our undercover cybersecurity investigators once again identified threats of extremist behavior and thwarted them before they could be carried out. Public safety knows no borders, and we will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorneys Office to pursue and hold accountable anyone who seeks to spread fear and violence.

He has been charged with producing material support to a terrorist organization.

Swiss investigators said Friday that they believe sparkling flares atop Champagne bottles ignited the fatal fire at a ski resort when they came too close to a crowded bars ceiling.

Forty people were killed and another 119 injured in the blaze as it ripped through the busy Le Constellation bar at the ski resort of Crans-Montana while revelers were celebrating New Year's Eve, authorities said.

Among the crowd was Axel Clavier, a 16-year-old from Paris, who said he felt as if he was suffocating inside the Swiss Alpine bar where moments before he had been ringing in the new year with friends and dozens of other people.

The teenager escaped the inferno, which broke out early Thursday, by forcing a window open with a table. But about 40 other partygoers died, including one of Clavier's friends, falling victim to one of the worst tragedies in Switzerland's history.

Many of the wounded were in their teens to mid-20s, police said.

Clavier told The Associated Press that two or three of his friends remained missing hours after the disaster.

RELATED STORY | About 40 people dead and 115 injured in fire at Swiss Alpine bar during New Year's celebration

Late Thursday, mourners left candles and flowers in an impromptu memorial near the bar. Hundreds of others prayed for the victims at the nearby Church of Montana-Station.

Pope Leo sent a telegram Friday to the bishop of Sion to express condolences and pray that "the Lord will welcome the deceased into His abode of peace and light, and will sustain the courage of those who suffer in their hearts or in their bodies.

On Instagram, an account filled up with photos of people who remained unaccounted for, with their friends and relatives begging for tips about the whereabouts of the missing.

Fire's cause remains under investigation

We have numerous accounts of heroic actions, one could say, of very strong solidarity in the moment, Valais regional government head Mathias Reynard told RTS radio Friday. He lauded the work of emergency officials on the day after the fire but added "in the first minutes it was citizens and in large part young people who saved lives with their courage.

An evening of celebration turns tragic

Clavier, the Parisian teenager, said he didnt see the fire start, but did see waitresses arrive with Champagne bottles with burning sparklers.

Two women told French broadcaster BFMTV they were inside when they saw a male bartender lifting a female bartender on his shoulders as she held a lit candle in a bottle. The flames spread, collapsing the wooden ceiling, they told the broadcaster.

One of the women described a crowd surge as people frantically tried to escape from a basement nightclub up a flight of stairs and through a narrow door.

Another witness speaking to BFMTV described people smashing windows to escape the blaze, some gravely injured, and panicked parents rushing to the scene in cars to see whether their children were trapped inside.

Gianni Campolo, a Swiss 19-year-old who was in Crans-Montana on vacation, rushed to the bar to help first responders after receiving a call from a friend who escaped the inferno. He described a scene of people trapped on the ground, severely injured and burned.

I have seen horror and I dont know what else would be worse than this, Campolo told TF1.

The severity of the burns has made it very difficult to identify bodies, bringing fresh agony for families who now must hand over DNA samples to authorities. In some cases, wallets and any ID documents inside turned to ash in the flames.

Emanuele Galeppini, a promising 17-year-old Italian golfer who competed internationally, is officially listed as one of Italys missing nationals. His uncle Sebastiano Galeppini told Italian news agency ANSA that their family is awaiting the DNA checks, though the Italian Golf Federation on its website announced that he had died.

Italys Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said 13 Italian citizens were injured and six remained missing by midday Friday. Galeppinis name was on the missing persons list.

Resort town sits in the heart of the Alps

In a region busy with tourists skiing on the slopes, the authorities have called on the local population to show caution in the coming days to avoid accidents that could further strain the area's already overwhelmed medical resources.

With high-altitude ski runs rising around 3,000 meters (nearly 9,850 feet) in the heart of the Valais region's snowy peaks and pine forests, Crans-Montana is one of the top venues on the World Cup circuit. The resort will host the best mens and womens downhill racers, including Lindsey Vonn, for their final events before the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February. The town's Crans-sur-Sierre golf club stages the European Masters each August on a picturesque course.

President Donald Trump defended his energy and health in an interview with The Wall Street Journal and disclosed that he had a CT scan, not an MRI scan, during an October examination about which he and the White House delayed offering details.

Trump, in the interview published Thursday, said he regretted undergoing the advanced imaging on his heart and abdomen during an October visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center because it raised public questions about his health. His physician said in a memo the White House released in December that he had advanced imaging as a preventative screening for a man his age.

RELATED STORY | Doctor explains why Trump underwent MRI during annual physical

Trump had initially described it as an MRI but said he didn't know what part of his body he had scanned. A CT scan is a quicker form of diagnostic imaging than an MRI but offers less detail about differences in tissue.

The president's doctor, Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella, said in a statement released Thursday by the White House that Trump underwent the exam in October because he planned to be at Walter Reed to meet people working there. Trump had already undergone an annual physical in April.

President Trump agreed to meet with the staff and soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Hospital in October. In order to make the most of the Presidents time at the hospital, we recommended he undergo another routine physical evaluation to ensure continued optimal health, Barbabella said.

Barbabella said he asked the president to undergo either a CT scan or MRI to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues and the results were "perfectly normal and revealed absolutely no abnormalities."

RELATED STORY | Trump says he'll release MRI results but doesn't know what part of his body was scanned

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Thursday that the presidents doctors and the White House have always maintained the President received advanced imaging but said that additional details on the imaging have been disclosed by the President himself because he has nothing to hide.

In retrospect, its too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition, Trump said in the interview with The Wall Street Journal. I would have been a lot better off if they didnt, because the fact that I took it said, Oh gee, is something wrong? Well, nothings wrong.

The 79-year-old became the oldest person to take the oath of office when he was sworn in as president last year and has been sensitive to questions about his health, particularly as he has repeatedly questioned his predecessor Joe Biden's fitness for office.

Biden, who turned 82 in the last year of his presidency, was dogged by scrutiny of his age and mental acuity at the end of his tenure and during his abandoned attempt to seek reelection.

But questions have also swirled around Trump's health this year as he's been seen with bruising on the back of his right hand that has been conspicuous despite a slathering of makeup on top, along with noticeable swelling at his ankles.

The White House this summer said the president had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition among older adults. The condition happens when veins in the legs cant properly carry blood back to the heart and it pools in the lower legs.

In the interview, Trump said he briefly tried wearing compression socks to address the swelling but stopped because he didn't like them.

The bruising on Trump's hand, according to Leavitt, is from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which Trump takes regularly to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

He said he takes more aspirin than his doctors recommend but said he has resisted taking less because hes been taking it for 25 years and said he is a little superstitious. Trump takes 325 milligrams of aspirin daily, according to Barbabella.

They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I dont want thick blood pouring through my heart, Trump said. I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?

Trump, in the interview, denied he has fallen asleep during White House meetings when cameras have caught him with his eyes closed, instead insisting he was resting his eyes or blinking.

Ill just close. Its very relaxing to me, he said. Sometimes theyll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and theyll catch me with the blink.

He said that he's never slept much at night, a habit he also described during his first term, and said he starts his day early in the White House residence before moving to the Oval Office around 10 a.m. and working until 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.

The president dismissed questions about his hearing, saying he only struggled to hear when theres a lot of people talking," and said he has plenty of energy, which he credited to his genes.

Genetics are very important, he said. And I have very good genetics.

While we may be deep in the heart of winter and early in 2026, the days are getting longer, which means more sunlight and less dark and gray.

When the calendar flipped to Jan. 1, our sunrise in Detroit was at 8:01 a.m. and the sunset was at 5:10 p.m. We had just over 9 hours and 9 minutes of daylight.

By the end of January, however, our sunrise will be at 7:46 a.m. and sunset at 5:45 p.m. That totals nearly 10 hours of daylight.

In all, we gain 49 minutes and 24 seconds of daylight in January.

By February, we're gaining even more daylight, and throughout the month, we'll gain 1 hour and 11 minutes of daylight.

In March, we also spring forward on March 8, and by the end of the month, we'll have gained nearly 1 hour and 26 minutes of daylight.