A judge has ordered two suspects to stand trial on upgraded charges in the murder of 17-year-old London Thomas, who went missing in April 2025 and was found dead weeks later.

Jalen Pendergrass, 24, and his mother Charla Pendergrass, 49, now face first-degree murder charges after originally being charged with second-degree murder in October. Judge Sabrina Johnson also approved the prosecution's request to add charges of unlawful imprisonment and evidence tampering following more than four hours of testimony during Thursday's preliminary hearing in Inkster.

Watch Brett Kast's video report below: Mother and son will go to trial in murder of Detroit teen London Thomas

Thomas went missing on April 5, 2024, and her body was discovered on April 26. Jalen Pendergrass was Thomas' former boyfriend.

Key testimony reveals alleged confession

During the hearing, Lanyja Wilkerson, another former girlfriend of Jalen Pendergrass, testified that he sent her specific song lyrics from a song by rapper NBA Youngboy after Thomas went missing.

"Put the b**** up in the trunk, her family will never see her again," Wilkerson said, recounting the lyrics she alleges Jalen Pendergrass wanted her to hear.

Wilkerson also testified that Jalen Pendergrass later confessed to her about the night of April 5. She said he told her two different stories, and in the first story he said Thomas and his mother got into a physical fight at his home, after which he beat Thomas and tied her up.

Wilkerson then says that Jalen Pendergrass said he was told by his mother to "get angry."

"Did he tell you she (Charla Pendergrass) told him to do anything else?" the prosecuting attorney asked Wilkerson.

"To kill her," Wilkerson replied, then added "He told me that he pulled her out the bed, he stood her up, grabbed a belt and choked her until she fell."

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report when the suspects were arraigned below: Mom and son arraigned in murder of Detroit teen London Thomas

Wilkerson didn't come forward with the alleged confessions until October, which is when both Charla and Jalen Pendergrass were charged with second-degree murder.

Body found in plastic tote

Another witness, a friend of Charla Pendergrass, testified that Charla gave him a large plastic tote containing Thomas' body and asked him to hold it for him, before later asking him to dispose of it.

He says he never asked what was in the bin and he never opened it.

"She told me to get rid of it, to burn it," the witness said.

Suspecting it may be evidence in the case, he contacted police through a lawyer about the tote's location, which was in the trunk of his SUV that he left parked outside a friend's house in Southfield. When police arrived, they found Thomas' body inside the bin tied up and bruised. It had been several weeks since she was reported missing. Prosecutors said evidence shows Jalen Pendergrass' DNA was likely on the handles.

Defense questions witness credibility

Defense attorney Terry L. Johnson challenged Wilkerson's credibility, noting she testified that both she and Jalen Pendergrass were under the influence during the alleged confession.

Johnson also argued the autopsy did not support her story.

"What he (prosecutor) is asking you to do, your honor, is go off what this young lady said, who again was high when she did this," Johnson argued.

Watch our previous coverage when Jalen and Charla Pendergrass were charged: Mother and son facing murder charges in death of 17-year-old London Thomas

The prosecution defended Wilkerson's testimony, arguing the specific details she alleged Jalen Pendergrass told her could only come from someone present during the incident.

Family seeks justice

Thomas' family members attended the hearing, including her mother Jasma Bennett, who called the upgraded charges "one small step toward justice for London and our family."

For just justice to be served peacefully, and I want that to be noted, peacefully its done, Bennett said.

Thomas' sister Jaila Hatcher also testified that she dropped Thomas off at Jalen Pendergrass' home in the early morning hours on April 5. The last time she heard from Thomas, she was at Jalen Pendergrass' house. Hatcher became concerned when she couldn't reach Thomas on the phone.

This isn't like her, why isn't she answering her phone, she doesn't let her phone go dead, Hatcher said on the stand.

"Everything shocked me how the story unfolded, what they did to her," said Darnell Johnson, Thomas' stepfather. "It's crazy how can you do that to a child when youre a mother yourself... Its sickening to believe somebodys parent can be that evil.

Watch our previous coverage when London Thomas' body was found: Family says body of missing teen London Thomas has been found

Thomas' grandmother Jestina Martin expressed satisfaction with the upgraded charges.

"First-degree murder, that's good enough for me," Martin said.

Previous coverage: Grandmother of London Thomas speaks days after London's body was found Grandmother of London Thomas speaks days after London's body was found

The case now moves forward to trial with the enhanced charges.

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 Macomb County family is demanding answers after 53-year-old Moneque Cook was found dead behind a building in freezing temperatures, with her daughters questioning the circumstances surrounding her death.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: Family has unanswered questions after woman found dead

Cook's body was discovered by a Priority Waste driver behind a building early Tuesday morning. According to her family, Cook had left her sister's Eastpointe home in the middle of the night Monday to visit a friend in Mt. Clemens.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Homeless woman found dead behind Mt. Clemens dumpster sparks urgent calls for action Homeless woman found dead behind Mt. Clemens dumpster sparks urgent calls for action

"No shoes, no coat, laying on her back. She would never lay down and die in the freezing cold; that is not my mother, that is not of her character," Cook's daughter Antonia Cook said.

Antonia Cook says the circumstances surrounding her mother's death don't add up. She noted that her mother's face was swollen and her lip was split when she was found.

"She didn't leave her sister's house like that," Antonia Cook said.

The family went to the scene after Cook was discovered and say some of her belongings were still there, including what they described as pants with blood and drag marks on the knees.

"They need to come get this evidence that my niece and them went up there and got what they left on the scene. My niece had to jump in the dumpster and got my sister's stuff," Cook's Uncle, Darryl Cook said.

The family also questions why Cook's friend hasn't contacted them.

"He hasn't shown his face, reached out to anybody, nothing," Antonia Cook said.

"I believe they were maybe having a drink or something, that's what they did, and something happened in between that time," she said.

The Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office says Cook's autopsy results are still pending, and a toxicology analysis is underway.

RELATED STORY: Nonprofit devastated over homeless woman's death, describes her as kind and grateful Nonprofit devastated over homeless woman's death, describes her as kind and grateful

Cook's death has raised concerns about the plight of the unhoused as temperatures drop to the coldest of the season. However, her family says she was not homeless but rather a woman who fell on hard times and would stay with different family members as they helped her get back on her feet.

"She was just-they put her off as a homeless woman, died behind a dumpster, and that is not Moneque's story," Antonia Cook said.

As the family waits for answers, they hold on to memories of Cook. They have also set up a GoFundMe page to help pay funeral costs.

"My mother is love, love. So sweet. So sweet she would give anybody anything," Antonia Cook said.

The Macomb County Sheriff's Office says this remains an active investigation. Cook's family says until they get answers, they're left waiting for the closure they desperately need.

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 person was taken into custody after a car crashed through Detroit Metro Airport Friday evening.

The crash happened around 7:30 p.m., airport officials said.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report below: Mercedes slams into McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metro Airport

Video from a 7 News Detroit employee who was at the airport shows the vehicle inside the McNamara Terminal. DTW officials say the car hit a ticket counter.

Watch video inside airport below: Video shows damage after car crashes into Detroit Metro Airport

Witnesses say they heard a loud noise as the car slammed through the entrance and into the Delta Air Lines desk as employees were working. A witness says the driver got out of the vehicle with his hands raised and talking, though it's unclear what the driver was saying.

Travelers say police and TSA responded quickly. Officials confirmed the driver was taken into custody.

Watch video from outside the airport below: Video: Car crashes into Detroit Metro Airport, causes damage

"The response was so quick thank God with the cops and TSA and everybody," said Ali Khalifa, who was traveling. "That all happened in seconds."

Six people were treated at the scene, officials say.

Video: Traveler recalls car slamming through Detroit Metro Airport Interview: Traveler recalls car slamming through Detroit Metro Airport

What caused the crash is unknown at this time.

It appeared travel continued as normal inside of the terminal Friday night.

The U.S. military said Friday that it has carried out a deadly strike on a vessel accused of trafficking drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the first known attack since the raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro earlier this month.

U.S. Southern Command said on social media that the boat was engaged in narco-trafficking operations and that the strike killed two people and left one survivor. It said it notified the Coast Guard to launch search and rescue operations for that person.

A video accompanying the post announcing the latest strike shows a boat moving through the water before exploding in flames. The U.S. military has focused lately on seizing sanctioned oil tankers with connections to Venezuela since the Trump administration launched an audacious raid to capture Maduro and bring him to New York to face drug trafficking charges.

With the latest military action, there have been 36 known strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in South American waters since early September that killed at least 117 people, according to announcements from the U.S. military and Trump. The majority of those of strikes have occurred in the Caribbean Sea.

The last reported boat strikes occurred in late December, when the military said it struck five alleged drug-smuggling boats over two days, killing a total of eight people while others jumped overboard. Days later, the Coast Guard suspended its search.

The U.S. conducted a large-scale operation in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on Jan. 3 that led to the capture of Maduro and his wife, who were then flown to New York to face federal drug trafficking charges.

RELATED NEWS | Democrats slam Trump for not notifying Congress before Maduro raid

Maduro, before his capture, said the U.S. military operations were a thinly veiled effort to oust him from power.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the U.S. strikes targeting alleged smugglers are having an enormous impact on slowing drug trafficking routes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

Weve stopped virtually stopped almost 100% of all drugs coming in by water, Trump said in remarks on Thursday at the World Economic Forum at Davos.

A big concern with the dangerously cold temperatures in Michigan this week is pets being left out in the extreme elements.

The KARENS, an animal rescue group, have been our rescuing dogs.

Co-founders of The KARENS, Chantal Rzewnicki and Melanie Thomas, have a serious warning for pet owners. For the next 24 hours big or small, bring your animals inside or they won't survive.

Watch our full interview with the co-founders of The Karens below: Full interview: The KARENS animal rescue group says bring pets inside during extreme cold

Were seeing a lot of dogs. Most people have been compliant. We did get one owner surrendered today already, but everybody seems (to know) crates, the crates save lives. So, if we can offer a crate for you to get your dog inside, we give you blankets, we give you anything to keep the dogs inside and warm, Thomas said.

Thomas and Rzewnicki say no matter what, bring those dogs inside or we're going to have dead animals on the street.

If you need free help with your animal whether that's a crate to bring them inside, blankets to keep them warm inside or other supplies, please call The KARENS at 586-484-2597 or 313-802-0093.

Police have arrested a man who barricaded himself in a Roseville home, where neighbors say they witnessed a suspect exchange gunfire with officers on Friday.

We've also learned that the man arrested is a former Detroit police officer who was fired from the force in 2023 for domestic violence.

Watch Darren Cunningham's video report below: Police arrest man barricaded in Roseville home after exchanging shots with officers

The situation began around 5:45 p.m. A law enforcement source told 7 News Detroit that the incident began with a dispute, with a family calling to report the suspect told them if they called police, he'd start shootings.

According to officials, the suspect was barricaded in a home near Frazho Road and Kathy Street. The suspect's name hasn't been released.

Video: Police battering ram slams into home where barricaded gunman is VIDEO UPDATE: Police battering ram slams into home where barricaded gunman is

Neighbors who witnessed the scene say they saw officers take cover and exchange shots with the suspect. Neighbors were also forced to take cover.

I came, looked out the window and I seen officers behind vehicles shooting back. Somebody else was shooting at them, said Mary McCleary, who witnessed the incident.

Chopper 7 captured the tense moment when the SWAT team used a battering ram, demanding the suspect come out.

After an hour and a half in sub-zero temperatures, authorities arrested the man.

RAW VIDEO: Police activity in Roseville RAW VIDEO: Police activity in Roseville

It was scary because you dont know if there was kids in there. You dont know whos in there with him. I mean, you just think about all the other circumstances, said Sarah Love, who witnessed the shooting.

Multiple police agencies responded to the scene, including Michigan State Police.

Additional details were not yet available.

On the inaugural episode of The Danny Moses Show, Danny is joined by fellow Big Short partners Vincent Daniel and Porter Collins.

While history doesnt repeat, it often rhymes. As 2026 begins, they'll ask the same question they often put to each other on the trading desk: What are we doing?

Unprecedented federal spending dating to before the 2020 coronavirus pandemic has pushed the national debt into uncharted territory. It now sits at more than $38 trillion.

Moses breaks down how we got here, what we might do about it.

Also on today's show: President Donald Trump's targeting of the Federal Reserve, and a pending Supreme Court ruling on the president's tariff policies.

Metro Detroit residents are preparing to hunker down at home this weekend as extreme cold temperatures and another round of snow approach the area.

At Mike's Fresh Market on Detroit's east side, customers have been flooding in to stock up on essentials before the storm hits. Store employees say this surge in shoppers is typical ahead of severe weather events.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report below: Metro Detroiters stock up on groceries ahead of weekend winter storm

Barbara Sanders was among those preparing for the weekend weather while thinking about her grandchildren's needs.

"I forgot to get my baby milk for their cereal yesterday, so I had to come get some milk today," Sanders said. "I was thinking about it all night. I was hoping it didn't start this morning before I got up and got to the store."

Sanders plans to stay inside once Saturday arrives because she doesn't like winter weather.

Deandre Ruffin shared similar plans, stopping by the store for breakfast and dinner supplies.

"Because it's supposed to get real bad out, so I wanted to stop in before it gets too cold, too bad out and take care of all the little stuff I need to take care of," Ruffin said.

Related video: What you need to know about the 3 stages of frostbite What you need to know about the 3 stages of frostbite

Donovan Sullivan Jr. had a specific strategy for dealing with icy windshields, purchasing glass cleaner along with fruit and sweet rolls.

"It helps. It has a coating on it. Once you spray it, it leaves a coating on your windshield and so you don't have to do a lot of scraping. Just basically take the brush and brush the snow off," Sullivan said.

Sue, a longtime employee at Mike's Fresh Market, explained that the store always prepares for increased business before bad weather strikes.

"We have the biggest market in the east side," Sue said. "We don't know tomorrow, the weather is going to be really bad, but we stock everything."

Similar scenes played out at a Kroger location in Oak Park, where shoppers like Teri were gathering supplies.

"Got a few munchies, make sure I got business covered if there's no ability to cook or anything like that," Teri said.

Eric Malisow described the current conditions while shopping for both himself and neighborhood cats he cares for.

"It is absolutely ridiculous out here. I'm wearing triple layers," Milosow said. "What I want to do is I want to make sure that I have some warm food for 'em. I'm gonna get a get a nice warm bowl for them as well."

Related video: Water main repaired in Melvindale after break causes icy mess Water main repaired in Melvindale after break causes icy mess

Aaron Perry expressed a common opinion about winter driving conditions that's motivating many to stay home.

"I hate driving in the snow... because sometimes, my car will slip. Nah," Perry said.

Related stories:

Dearborn Heights home flooded after pipe bursts during extreme cold snap How metro Detroit fire crews are preparing to fight fire in the extreme cold See the list of warming centers in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties

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 small cafe in Fowlerville is making a big difference by training adults with disabilities for real-world jobs, giving them the skills, confidence, and experience they need to enter the workforce.

Watch Meghan Daniels' video report: Fowlerville cafe trains adults with disabilities for workforce success

Inside Torch 180 Cafe and Coffee Bar, students are learning much more than how to make coffee or stock shelves. They're practicing customer service, time management, and the soft skills needed to succeed on the job.

"So far, it's just been very amazing. I'm truly blessed to be a part of this opportunity and serve this community," Mikayla Guy said.

Guy is one of several students training at Torch 180, a program designed to help adults with disabilities build confidence before entering the workforce. She's already dreaming big about starting her own retail business.

She's not alone in her entrepreneurial aspirations. Nathan Fessler, another student in the program, wants to start a crocheting business where he can learn to make different items and sell them.

The program was founded by Rhonda Callahan, who says the mission is about much more than job training.

"If they don't have some kind of help with their soft skills and even calming down and gaining self-confidence before they actually go into a real job, another job, then they're way less successful," Callahan said.

Instead of rushing students into the workforce, Torch 180 gives them time to practice, build skills, and believe in themselves.

"The adult world is so different, and it takes time to work through those things, and so that's the equity that we're giving them. We're giving them lots of time to practice and lots of time to develop," Callahan said.

Because the coffee shop is so successful, Callahan is expanding the program to include a retail space in the heart of Fowlerville called Torch 180 Corner Shoppes.

The goal is independence. Callahan hopes to expand their services even further by turning the space into a training area for independent living.

"We would like to turn that into a training area for independent living because when you start making money, and you start to realize, oh my gosh, could I move out sometimes, that's really scary," Callahan said.

Support from community members and partners like Lake Trust Credit Union is helping to make that expansion possible.

"It's inclusive and it also creates a world where everyone thrives, regardless of disadvantages or disabilities," said Rhonda Romsek from Lake Trust Credit Union.

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.

Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was back in a federal courtroom Friday morning fighting the government's efforts to use his backpack and its contents against him.

His lawyers say that Altoona Police Department illegally searched his backpack without a search warrant. Inside, they found a gun, ammunition, silencers, and a journal, amongst other things.

Mangione was once again calm in the courtroom Friday, wearing a tan prison jumpsuit as his attorney Mark Agnifolo argued the Altoona Police Department did not have guidelines for searching property at the time of Mangione's arrest.

The Altoona Police Department's general order, the rulebook for officers, explains in detail, according to Agnifilo, how to search a person once they have been arrested. It details reminders to look through their jacket, their belt, and more, but never mentions how to handle property not on their body, like a backpack.

Chief Nathan Snyder testified in court that if his officers found a gun or ammunition while conducting a search like they did in this case, they would probably immediately stop and obtain a search warrant. He contradicted himself when the government asked if they'd continue to search to make sure the property was safe, and he said yes.

RELATED STORY | Luigi Mangione's federal case proceeds with questions over charges carrying the death penalty

Mangione will be back inside that courtroom next Friday, where they'll discuss a jury questionnaire amongst other things.

The judge has already set jury selection for September 8th. If she throws out the death penalty charge, trial will start in October.If she doesn't, it will start in January 2027.

The Birmingham Family YMCA will permanently close at the end of April after 25 years of serving the community, leaving longtime members searching for alternatives.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: Birmingham Family YMCA losing in April

The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit announced the difficult decision to shutter the Birmingham location, saying it was "shaped by rising building maintenance needs and the lasting financial impacts of COVID-19."

Terry Anthony, a 25-year member of the Birmingham Family YMCA, said the facility means more than just fitness to its community.

"This is more than just a gym for us. The members here care about each other. The friendships extend beyond the workout times. My closest friends go here," Anthony said.

Steve Grant has been coming to the YMCA since the mid-1970s and expressed disappointment about losing a cornerstone of his community.

"It's disappointing because not only did I grow up here, but my business is here, so I've been here all my life," Grant said.

The city of Birmingham purchased the building in 2023. The YMCA could no longer afford stay, but the deal gave the Y three years to remain as a tenant.

Birmingham City Commissioner Brad Host said at the time of the sale, the city also entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with NEXT, a senior nonprofit organization, giving them 75% of the YMCA space.

The YMCA explored developing a new shared facility with the city and NEXT, but could only offer to cover operational costs, not capital improvements.

"Since the YMCA had no money to contribute to the capital improvements necessary, the city would have borne the full burden of capital costs. The commission ultimately decided that we could not afford to do that," Birmingham Mayor Clinton Baller said in a statement.

Programs and services will continue as scheduled through March 31. The pool and wellness center will remain open through April, and the facility will close permanently on April 30. The YMCA will still hold summer day camp this year.

Baller emphasized that the city is not evicting the YMCA, noting that the Y chose to close the location given the financial circumstances.

Claire Dion, a newer member from Southfield, said the closure hits particularly hard for those who recently discovered the community.

"It was really tough news to hear, especially because I'm a new member. I fell in love with the gym and the community really quickly, really fast," Dion said.

For longtime members like Anthony, the closure represents the loss of something irreplaceable.

"We're all heartbroken. It seemed like a long way off, and now that it's coming up, it makes it even worse. We feel a bit powerless, and we don't really have a way forward," Anthony said.

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

A Dearborn Heights homeowner is dealing with extensive water damage after a pipe burst in her home Monday morning, flooding both her basement and main kitchen floors during Michigan's current cold snap.

Watch Evan Sery's video report: Dearborn Heights home flooded after pipe bursts during extreme cold snap

Adela Lungo said she was awakened by a loud noise around dawn.

"Just woke up and I heard a boom," Lungo said.

When she rushed downstairs, water was everywhere. The pipe burst on the first floor, causing significant damage throughout her home.

"Very scary. Never happened in 25 years," Lungo said.

Dan Walsh, owner of H20 Pros Water Damage Restoration Services in Westland, responded to Lungo's emergency within an hour of her call.

"Water ruined the cabinets down here, upper cabinets, the flooring. First thing we did is shut off the main, then we extracted the water, started removing the wet materials, then did the proper drying," Walsh said.

Walsh said freezing and bursting pipes are keeping his emergency services company extremely busy during Michigan's current stretch of extreme cold weather.

"With these extreme Michigan temperatures, this is our busiest time. Pipes freezing is the most common and expensive emergency we see. Luckily, there are preventive tips that can prevent all this," Walsh said.

Prevention tips from experts

Walsh and his team recommend several steps homeowners can take to prevent frozen pipes:

Keep heat on at all times with a minimum temperature of 55 degrees Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls Disconnect outdoor hoses Let faucets drip overnight, especially during extremely cold weather

Richard Barney, general manager of H20 Pros, said the company expects to work non-stop for the next seven days as temperatures remain dangerously low.

Related video: Finding the sweet spot: HVAC experts reveal optimal winter thermostat settings to save money Home heating efficiency in metro Detroit

Barney, who has worked on thousands of insurance claims, suggests calling a service company first before contacting insurance.

"Cause if you call yourself, you don't wanna say the wrong thing. You say the wrong thing, could be under neglect and you don't even know it," Barney said.

What to do if pipes freeze or burst

If your pipe is frozen, H20 Pros suggests applying gentle heat with a hair dryer or space heater. Never use an open flame.

If a pipe bursts, immediately shut off the main water supply and turn off electricity to affected areas.

Related video: Water main repaired in Melvindale after break causes icy mess Water main repaired in Melvindale after break causes icy mess

For Lungo, the damage has disrupted her daily routine significantly.

"I have no words. It's hard to cook, can't do the dishes properly. Miss my kitchen," Lungo said.

Related stories:

How metro Detroit fire crews are preparing to fight fire in the extreme cold What you need to know about the 3 stages of frostbite See the list of warming centers in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties

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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.

Representatives from the U.S., Ukraine and Russia on Friday held the first trilateral negotiations since Russia invaded Ukraine.

A White House official called the new talks "productive" and said they would continue into the weekend.

But officials downplayed the possibility of quickly arriving at any significant breakthroughs.

The nations' leaders are not attending the talks.

Ukraine sent military and intelligence officials, including the secretary of Ukraine's National Security Council.

Russia's delegation is made up entirely of military officials led by their military intelligence chief.

Representing the U.S. is special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump' son-in-law Jared Kushner, as well as several military members from the Pentagon including Army Secretary Gen. Dan Driscoll and Supreme Allied Commander in Europe Gen. Alexus Grynkewich.

RELATED NEWS | Inside daily life in Ukraine as war and brutal winter collide

Steve Witkoff on Thursday before he left for Moscow indicated some optimism about how talks were going, suggesting that they had "got it down to one issue" remaining for negotiation disputes over who controls what territory if and when the conflict ends.

The Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine remains a central concern for Russia. Ukraine continues to fortify and maintain about a quarter of the territory there. Russia says that Ukraine must turn over all of that territory to bring an end to the fighting.

Russian officials have also indicated it will "continue to consistently pursue the objectives of the special military operation on the battlefield where the Russian armed forces hold strategic initiative until an engagement as or an agreement is reached."

MORE FROM UKRAINE | Drone strikes cut power to over 200,000 homes in Russian-occupied Ukraine, local official says

In a recent address, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Ukrainians that he'd monitored the negotiations. He said it's still too early to draw any conclusions from Friday's talks and that it's not just Ukraine who needs to show willingness to end this war, but also Russia.

Journalist Don Lemon says he believes the U.S. Department of Justice will charge him in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church.

Lemon made the assertion Friday during an exclusive interview with Scripps News special events anchor Alisyn Camerota.

RELATED STORY | Veteran journalist Alisyn Camerota joins Scripps News as special events anchor

Don Lemon says he expects to be charged for covering ICE protest in church

Lemon said he was covering the protest as an independent journalist on Sunday when a group entered the church and confronted the pastor, whom they accused of being an immigration enforcement agent and questioned him about his faith. Three protesters were arrested. Lemon was not, despite widespread outcry from prominent conservatives.

"I think it's not over because it doesn't matter if there's no law to fit," Lemon said. "They will try to fit or retrofit something or go around a judge and just do it themselves."

RELATED STORY | Judge rejects prosecutors' bid to charge journalist Don Lemon after Minnesota church protest

Lemon contends he was reporting on the incident in the same manner he has throughout his decades-long career.

"I was not a protester. It's very clear about that," Lemon said. "If you look at all the evidence, I'm not a protester."

During the interview, Lemon, who is openly gay, also addressed his public feud with rapper Nicki Minaj. She uused homophibc remarks to criticize his coverage of the protest and called for authorities to 'Lock him up!"

"I WANT THAT THUG IN JAIL!!!!! HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO ANY OTHER RELIGION," Minaj posted on X.

Lemon responded, suggesting that Minaj was out of her "depth," and homophobic. He doubled down on those comments in the interview with Scripps News.

"So I said, why do African Americans support her, why do gay people support her, members of the LGBTQ community support her? You shouldn't because she's a homophobe and she's a racist. She's racist, I believe, against Black Americans."

A massive pipe that moves millions of gallons of sewage has ruptured and sent wastewater flowing into the Potomac River northwest of Washington D.C., polluting it ahead of a major winter storm that has repair crews scrambling.

DC Water, which operates the sewer system, is hooking up pumps to divert sewage around the rupture and allow crews to make repairs. The rupture happened late Monday and they are cautioning people to stay out of the area.

The spill was caused by a 72-inch (183 centimeters) sewer pipe that collapsed, shooting sewage up out of the ground and flowing into the river. The sewer system is capable of handling 60 million gallons (230 million liters) of water each day, enough to fill about 90 Olympic-size swimming pools.

"Oh my god, the smell is horrific," said Dean Naujoks, the Potomac Riverkeeper and part of an environmental nonprofit. "It's such high concentrations of sewage that just grabbing a sample is a public health risk."

DC Water cautioned people to wash their skin if it was exposed.

The spill occurred in Montgomery County, Maryland, along Clara Barton Parkway, which hugs the northern edge of the Potomac River near the C & O Canal National Historic Park.

Crews are removing lock gates on the C & O Canal. Pumps will be installed upstream to move sewage into the canal and then rerouted downstream of the rupture back into the sewer system, according to DC Water.

The spill does not impact drinking water, which is a separate system, DC Water said. Crews are expected to work through the weekend even with the forecast of bad winter storms.

Naujoks said the spill is happening at time when the river is low. He went out to look at it Wednesday and was "kind of stunned."

"Sewage is just bubbling up like a small geyser, maybe two, three feet into the air," he said. "Sewage water is running in every direction."

The District of Columbia Health Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment, including whether they are testing the river's water.

Nationally, hundreds of billions in infrastructure investment is needed over the next two decades for clean water problems like aging sewer pipes. In other places where sewer breaks are persistent, it can lead to backups into homes and regular flooding.

On Sunday, January 25, Spotlight on the News will broadcast our annual Newsmaker of the Year special honoring Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield and Detroit businessman and philanthropist Dan Gilbert.

Tune in and find out why Channel 7 has selected these two Michigan leaders as our 2025 Newsmakers of the Year. I will profile Sheffield and Gilbert one-on-one from our TV-7 Southfield studios and the new Hudson's Detroit development complex on Woodward Avenue.

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

Veteran journalist Alisyn Camerota has joined Scripps News as a special events anchor.

Camerota is widely known for her work at Fox News and CNN, where she was the longest-serving anchor of the networks morning program, "New Day."

She brings decades of experience to Scripps News and has interviewed a wide range of major newsmakers, including President Donald Trump and the rock band KISS.

Camerota has won two Emmy Awards and an Edward R. Murrow Award for her coverage of Hurricane Marias impact on Puerto Rico.

RELATED STORY | Don Lemon believes DOJ will try to charge him, calls Nicki Minaj 'racist' in exclusive Scripps News interview

Her first assignment with Scripps News is an interview with her former CNN colleague Don Lemon, who entered a St. Paul church on Sunday that protesters later disrupted because one of the pastors is reportedly an official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to The Associated Press, a magistrate judge rejected federal prosecutors request to charge Lemon with a crime related to the protest. Lemon has said he was not involved in organizing the demonstration and was documenting the incident as a journalist.

Camerota and Lemon also discuss his feud with rapper Nicki Minaj. The feud followed Lemons criticism of Minajs political rhetoric, which he said echoed right-wing talking points.

A federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump's administration must keep federal funds flowing to child care subsidies and other social service programs in five Democratic-controlled states at least for now.

The ruling Friday from U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick extends by two weeks a temporary one issued earlier this month that blocked the federal government from holding back the money from California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York. That expires Friday.

The judge said he'd decide later whether the money is to remain in place while a challenge to cutting it off works its way through the courts.

RELATED STORY | 5 states sue Trump over freeze on aid for low-income families

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said earlier this month that it was pausing the funding because it had "reason to believe" the states were granting benefits to people in the country illegally, though it did not provide evidence or explain why it was targeting those states and not others.

The states say the move was instead intended to damage Trump's political adversaries.

A judge previously gave the states a reprieve to the administration's plan to halt funding for the states unless they provide information on the beneficiaries of some programs, including names and Social Security numbers. The temporary restraining order was set to expire Friday.

Around the same time as the actions aimed at the five states, the administration put up hurdles to Minnesota for even more federal dollars. It also began requesting all states to explain how they're using money in the child care program.

The programs are intended to help low-income families

The programs are the Child Care and Development Fund, which subsidizes child care for 1.3 million children from low-income families nationwide; the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, which provides cash assistance and job training; and the Social Services Block Grant, a smaller fund that provides money for a variety of programs. The states say that they receive a total of more more than $10 billion a year from those programs and that the programs are essential for low-income and vulnerable families.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sent letters to the states on Jan. 5 and 6 telling them they would be placed on "restricted drawdown" of program money until the states provided more information.

For TANF and the Social Service Block Grant, the request required the states to submit the data, including personal information of recipients beginning in 2022, with a deadline of Jan. 20.

RELATED STORY | Trump administration says it's freezing child care funds to Minnesota after series of fraud schemes

States call the action 'unlawful many times over'

In court papers last week, the states say what they describe as a funding freeze does not follow the law.

They say Congress created laws about how the administration can identify noncompliance or fraud by recipients of the money and that the federal government hasn't used that process.

They also say it's improper to freeze funding broadly because of potential fraud and that producing the data the government called for is an "impossible demand on an impossible timeline."

The administration says it's not a freeze

In a court filing this week, the administration objected to the states describing the action as a "funding freeze," even though the headline on the Department of Health and Human Services announcement was: "HHS Freezes Child Care and Family Assistance Grants in Five States for Fraud Concerns."

Federal government lawyers said the states could get the money going forward if they provide the requested information and the federal government finds them to be in compliance with anti-fraud measures.

The administration also notes that it has continued to provide funding to the states, not pointing out that a court ordered it to do so.

Philip Rivers NFL career may not be over after all.

Weeks after coming out of retirement to quarterback the Indianapolis Colts, the 44-year-old is reportedly interviewing for the Buffalo Bills head coaching job.

ESPN reported that Rivers, who is currently the head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama, is expected to make his case to lead a franchise with Super Bowl ambitions and MVP quarterback Josh Allen.

Rivers has no head coaching experience at the NFL level. He retired from professional football in 2021 but returned this season after injuries depleted the Colts quarterback depth. Rivers appeared in three games. Despite some positive performances, Indianapolis lost all three contests and missed the playoffs.

The Bills are in search of a head coach after firing Sean McDermott on Monday, two days after Buffalo lost a dramatic playoff game to the Denver Broncos.

NFL reporter Ian Rapoport has noted that Rivers and Allen have a close relationship. Allen is expected to play a significant role in the teams search for a new head coach.