12 people have been hospitalized, including four police officers, after a fire destroyed a home in Farmington Hills.
The fire broke out at a home on 10 Mile near Middlebelt overnight.
WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE FROM FARMINGTON HILLS FIRE CHIEF JON UNRUH WATCH: Farmington Hills Fire chief speaks after 12 hospitalized in house fire
Farmington Hills police officers were the first to the scene just after 5 a.m., rescuing the eight family members trapped in bedrooms of the home. We're told that at least two of the people in the home were unconscious upon arrival.
The ages of the family members range from five months old to 27-year-old. Four of the injuries, three adults in the home and one of the police officers, are considered to be in serious condition.
Everyone hospitalized is believed to have suffered from smoke inhalation, officials say.
All of the kids are in good condition, according to first responders, who also rescued two cats from the home.n
We're told the home is a total loss, with a cause of the fire still to be determined. Officials believe the fire started in a bedroom, and say that upon initial investigation, it doesn't appear that the home had working smoke detectors.
As millions of people take trips for spring break, some are now using artificial intelligence to ease the stress of travel planning. 7 News Detroit spoke with travel and technology experts about the good and bad of using the technology for trips.
When it comes to booking a flight or hotel, travelers at Detroit Metro Airport have their go-to methods.
"This time, we went to Kayak just to make sure because it was a last-minute trip," said Emily Larson, a traveler at DTW.
"We go to Google flights and then just usually go to the Delta website but for lodging, I really like to be strategic," said Cheryl Summers, a traveler at DTW.
Now, another tool is entering the conversation: AI travel planning.
"You do a Google search now and you get results based on AI input. So, it's being integrated with everything we do," said Garrett Sexton, a traveler at DTW.
Tijuana Smith-Brown is a travel consultant and owner of Ascend Beyond Travel in Redford. She says websites like Trip Advisor or Booking.com have incorporated elements of AI, which can be beneficial.
"You pretty much put in your dates, where you want to go, where you're traveling from and it quickly gives you an itinerary," Smith-Brown said.
While the technology can be helpful, Smith-Brown said it's still capable of making mistakes.
"They don't know the nuance as far as complexity when you're doing a stop-off. Or you have two or three locations that you're trying to visit in one shot, they can't do that," Smith-Brown said.
There's also an element of human emotion that AI can't replicate.
"Something may be happening and it's very stressful. AI is not going to provide them that emotional support," Smith-Brown said.
Joe Tavares, an AI expert with Resolute Building Intelligence in Troy, says search engines and websites that use AI help can help find deals.
"It's not necessarily like ChatGPT, but they do analytics and they're able to get the best pricing based on different time periods and they're able to do quick and competitive analysis to see what the other airlines are charging," Tavares said.
We also sat down with Tavares to see if ChatGPT could help plan a trip to Fiji when prompted and he was pretty satisfied with the results but said there's still room for improvement.
"It's got seasonal pricing... these are some of the same things I'd expect a travel agent to do, but again, it doesn't have that nuance," Tavares said.
Travelers 7 News Detroit spoke to said although they aren't using AI for trips now, they're open to using the tech in the future.
"I might've had some reservations about it in the past but sometimes, you can't fight it and have to learn how to use it," Sexton said.
After an apartment building exploded on Detroit's west side Monday morning, residents had to watch as their building with all their belongings was demolished due to safety concerns. Families are displaced, traumatized and searching for answers.
Charlene Jackson has lived at the apartment located on Schoolcraft Road and Littlefield Street for over a decade. She remembers the happy memories but is now only left with grief.
Its very devastating. I have to start all over again. Thats something I didnt want to do," she said.
Just before 4 a.m. Monday, she felt an explosion she couldnt explain.
"The pressure of the impact was so strong I thought we was in a tornado. It just shook the whole building," she said.
Related video: Detroit dad injured while shielding his kids in apartment explosion Detroit dad injured while shielding his kids in apartment explosion shares story
City officials say they do not have a cause of the explosion yet. However, inspectors and the Detroit Fire Department made their way into the building to investigate Monday morning.
Detroit City Councilman Fred Durhal says he's devastated by what happened in his district. He says he was made aware of the investigation and the reasoning of the quick demolition of the building.
"Its important to get it down quick, because we dont want it to be a hazard to the public. That building, in the shape that it was in, if it was left standing, it could cause a hazard and be very dangerous to the other residents in the surrounding community," Durhal said. We understand personal belongings mean something to a family, but safety is first and art is paramount.
Families had to watch the demolition of the building with their personal belongings inside.
Related video: Residents share stories after Detroit apartment explosion injures 13 Residents share stories after Detroit apartment explosion injures 13
Thirteen people were hospitalized due to the explosion, including five children. Three adults remain hospitalized as of Monday evening as well as a 3-year-old girl. Jackson now says she's going to temporarily stay with her father, Charles Jackson, in Livonia.
"My house is open to them, whatever I have. Im just glad theyre living," Charles Jackson said.
While the American Red Cross is not offering housing, they are offering families financial and mental health assistance. Many families have decided to temporarily stay with friends or family.
Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield also released a statement saying the city will offer assistance to those who need it.
Meanwhile residents are still left with questions as to how this explosion was caused and if there is any foul play.
I want know what happened. I want know was it something that caused it cause of something in the house or was it something that somebody did," Charles asked.
We had the opportunity to reach out to multiple families. One family thus far has requested assistance for temporary housing and well try to get them into permanent housing," he said. It was really heartbreaking to see that building, but kind of felt a little but heartwarming that at least we were able to get everyone out.
Javon Houston said he's thankful to be alive after a vehicle hit him and kept going. He was riding his motorcycle.
The incident happened March 18 at the intersection of Tireman and Faust avenues on Detroit's west side.
"I just was over here just visiting," Houston told 7 News Detroit.
A visit to his mom's home almost ended with him losing his life. Houston said he took his motorcycle for a test ride down Tireman. That's when another driver ran the stop sign on Faust.
"When I see him, he was trying to shoot across. It was already too late. Next thing you know, I woke up, everybody was surrounding me asking me questions, was I OK," he recalled.
A video taken by a good Samaritan shows Houston laying in the street and the vehicle in question backing up with clear damage to the front left front tire well and taking off.
"You seen me laying there on the ground. You didn't get out to check on me, like no humanity. Just no nothin'. It's just like was real cold. I was hurt off that," he said.
See the video taken by the good Samaritan below: Video captures driver after hit-and-run in Detroit
There's emotional hurt beneath the physical pain. Houston said his cheek bone is broken. His left hand has road rash and nerve damage. He has gashes to the back of the head, among other injuries.
Despite all of that, he said "I'm alive and I got my mobility. I'm grateful."
He's grateful for his life and for those who came to his aid. We stopped Christy Winston who recalled the afternoon vividly.
"I was screaming 'Don't get up!' I was calling 911," she said.
Winston said she told others not to touch Houston to protect him from further injury.
Now, the father of two wants the driver to be held accountable. Because of the video, Houston said a lot of people on social media were helpful. They helped decipher the license plate and within a day, he said the vehicle was spotted in the area.
"(The at-fault driver) was trying to get it fixed. It was at the local mechanic house that's in the neighborhood," he said.
However, Houston said he has a problem. Having filed an crash report with Detroit police and after going to the 6th Precinct several times, he said he hoped for an arrest by now.
"They won't tell me if a detective is working on my case. They won't tell me nothin," he said.
"I just want justice."
Detroit police told 7 News Detroit the department is working to provide any information it has about the case to our team.
Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey began a speech on the Senate floor Monday night, saying he planned to speak through the night and into Tuesday to protest what he called a "crisis" instigated by President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans in the Legislative Branch.
Booker spoke "because Donald Trump and Elon Musk have shown a complete disregard for the rule of law, the Constitution, and the needs of the American people."
"Tonight I rise with the intention of getting in some good trouble I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able," Booker said.
"In just 71 days, the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans safety; financial stability; the core foundations of our democracy; and even our aspirations as a people from our highest offices for a sense of common decency," Sen. Booker said. These are not normal times in America. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate.
Sen. Booker began speaking around 7p.m. Eastern Time. He brought with him a binder full of reference material. Other Democratic lawmakers are expected to speak during his appearance.
While Sen. Booker's speech may run long enough to overlap with Senate business on Tuesday, it is not a formal filibuster because it will not delay any outstanding vote on nominations or legislation.
Sen. Booker spoke for a 15-hour stretch in 2016 to draw attention to gun violence in the country.
The record for the longest Senate speech is 24 hours and 18 minute, set by then- South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond in 1957.
A federal judge on Monday paused plans by the Trump administration to end temporary legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, a week before they were scheduled to expire.
The order by U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco is a relief for 350,000 Venezuelans whose Temporary Protected Status was scheduled to expire April 7. The lawsuit was filed by lawyers for the National TPS Alliance and TPS holders across the country.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has also announced the end of TPS for an estimated 250,000 additional Venezuelans in September.
Chen said in his ruling that the action by Noem threatens to: inflict irreparable harm on hundreds of thousands of persons whose lives, families, and livelihoods will be severely disrupted, cost the United States billions in economic activity, and injure public health and safety in communities throughout the United States.
He said the government had failed to identify any real countervailing harm in continuing TPS for Venezuelan beneficiaries and said plaintiffs will likely succeed in showing that Noems actions are unauthorized by law, arbitrary and capricious, and motivated by unconstitutional animus.
Chen, who was appointed to the bench by President Barack Obama, a Democrat, said his order applies nationally.
He gave the government one week to file notice of an appeal and the plaintiffs one week to file to pause for 500,000 Haitians whose TPS protections are set to expire in August. Alejandro Mayorkas, the previous secretary, had extended protections for all three cohorts into 2026.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Congress created TPS, as the law is known, in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries suffering from natural disasters or civil strife, giving people authorization to live and work in the U.S. in increments of up to 18 months if the Homeland Security secretary deems conditions in their home countries are unsafe for return.
The reversals are a major about-face from immigration policies under former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and come as Republican President Donald Trump and his top aides have ratcheted up attacks on judges who rule against them, with immigration being at the forefront of many disagreements.
At a hearing last Monday, lawyers for TPS holders said that Noem has no authority to cancel the protections and that her actions were motivated in part by racism. They asked the judge to pause Noems orders, citing the irreparable harm to TPS holders struggling with fear of deportation and potential separation from family members.
Government lawyers for Noem said that Congress gave the secretary clear and broad authority to make determinations related to the TPS program and that the decisions were not subject to judicial review. Plaintiffs have no right to thwart the secretarys orders from being carried out, they said.
But Chen found the government's arguments unpersuasive and found that numerous derogatory and false comments by Noem and by Trump against Venezuelans as criminals show that racial animus was a motivator in ending protections.
Acting on the basis of a negative group stereotype and generalizing such stereotype to the entire group is the classic example of racism, he wrote.
Biden sharply expanded use of TPS and other temporary forms of protection in a strategy to create and expand legal pathways to live in the United States while suspending asylum for those who enter illegally.
Trump has questioned the the impartiality of a federal judge who blocked his plans to deport Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador, levelling his criticism only hours before his administration asked an appeals court to lift the judges order.
The administration has also said it was revoking temporary protections for more than 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who have come to the U.S. since October 2022 through another legal avenue called humanitarian parole, which Biden used more than any other president. Their two-year work permits will expire April 24.
A metro Detroit family is sharing gratitude after track coaches at Allen Park High School helped save a young life.
On March 12, freshman Alyssa Atkinson was doing a normal warm-up during track practice at Allen Park High School when things took a quick turn for the worst.
"I just remember doing two warm-up laps and then doing our regular warm-up in lines, but that's all I remember from that day," Atkinson said.
Her next memory was waking up in a hospital with family by her side. The 14-year-old later learned she went into sudden cardiac arrest.
"I was, like, very grateful to be even awake at the moment, but it was scary to know that happened to me," Atkinson said.
FULL INTERVIEW: Alyssa Atkinson talks about what she experienced FULL INTERVIEW: Alyssa Atkinson talks about what she experienced
It was a surreal moment, especially as Alyssa had never shown any signs of a heart problem previously.
"And she does her sports physical every year for sports activities in high school and middle school. So, this was sprung upon us and we had no idea," said Kelly Dolan, Alyssa's mother.
As Alyssa recovers at home, two Allen Park track coaches are being called heroes. We're told that after Alyssa went unresponsive at practice, they quickly performed CPR and used an AED.
"It got her heart rhythm back in place before the EMS arrived. Those critical seconds changed my life, my daughter's life, and it saved her life," Dolan said.
Being ready to respond during a medical emergency is something Allen Park High School's Athletic Director, James Victor, said they take very seriously.
"To know that all the emergency action plans, all of the drills that our athletic trainer and I work with all the teams on, was put to use and executed the right way, and it helped potentially save a life, it means a lot," Victor said.
Jennifer Shea, Corewell Health Children's Student Heart Check manager, says in the United States, 1 student athlete dies every 3 days due to cardiac arrest. That statistic makes knowing how to identify and respond to it crucial.
"The more time that's wasted trying to figure out if there's an emergency or what that emergency is, the less likely someone is to survive," she said.
That's why Corewell Health works with schools to help them prepare.
"What that entails is having CPR-certified staff, having a team in place that responds when there's a cardiac arrest, and practicing with that team on what to do. Along with the right equipment like AEDs that we're able to donate to schools who need them," Shea said.
Dolan said it's still unknown what caused Alyssa's cardiac arrest, but she's thankful for the coaches who didn't hesitate to help her daughter.
"How do you thank a person who saved your daughter's life?" Dolan said.
On May 3, Corewell Health is offering a student heart check event at Rochester High School from 9 AM - 1 PM.
Teens 13-18 are eligible to be screened, and registration is expected to open in a couple of weeks.
A popular gathering spot in Troy could look a little different in the near future. City leaders are discussing plans to build a new public library.
If approved, the new library would be built near the Troy Community Center, just across the way from the current library, and staff members envision it being double the size.
"I come here about three times a week," said James Green of Troy, who was meticulously working on a 500-piece puzzle Monday afternoon.
"I'm a stay-at-home mom, so this is a great place to come," Brooks Hart of Troy said as her children played together in the kid's section. "At least once a month we come here. We have our library bag. We drop it all off and then get a whole fresh set of books."
Library Director Emily Dumas says there are many issues with the decades-old building including not enough space for students, families and programs.
"The problem with this library building is the original building is from 1971 and the addition was from 1984. Theres been no major renovations and no expansions since then," Dumas said.
In 2023, the library conducted a survey to understand the communitys needs.
What we found is people want more study space, more study rooms, they want a better play area and a better kid section for the children," Dumas said.
But she says there's simply no room for it. The building is about half the size they need it to be and it's also breaking down.
In the last few years, weve had to put a new roof on and there was a mold issue in the HVAC system," Dumas said.
Families we spoke to say while theyve grown to love the current building, some would be open to a new library.
I actually really like this library. Theres something about it, just feels really cozy," Brooks Heart of Troy said.
I would love to see a beautiful new building with expanded services, expanded options for kids and families," said Tara Lindsay, who works in Troy.
Troy Mayor Ethan Baker also says its time for a change.
"Though it may not look as bad as it is the average patron, it is a failing building in many, many ways," Baker said.
He says the city is looking at putting together a bond proposal that would not only address major improvements like the library but also other capital needs throughout the city, which would go on the ballot this November.
We would of course give the voters all of the facts and make the ultimate decision as to how they want to pay for the city and what kind of city they want to live," Baker said.
Next month, the library plans to host a joint city council and planning commission meeting to introduce the concept and design. That's scheduled for April 28 at 6 p.m. and all are welcome to attend.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday meant to address ticket scalping and entertainment event prices.
With Kid Rock appearing beside him in the Oval Office, President Trump signed an order that will task Attorney General Pam Bondi and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with making sure IRS rules apply to ticket resales. It also directs the Federal Trade Commission to enforce price transparency for ticket sales, and "take enforcement action to prevent unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive conduct in the secondary ticketing market."
Americas live concert and entertainment industry has a total nationwide economic impact of $132.6 billion and supports 913,000 jobs, a White House fact sheet on the order read. But it has become blighted by unscrupulous middle-men who impose egregious fees on fans with no benefit to artists.
"I want the fans to have fair ticket prices, Kid Rock said during the signing. Theres plenty of money to go around. Nobodys going to lose here."
Agencies have six months to take their initial steps and to recommend any other legislation or policy to protect consumers in the event ticket market.
President Joe Biden's administration took similar aim at the entertainment ticket industry. The Justice Department under Biden sued Ticketmaster and Live Nation Entertainment, alleging the companies ran a virtual monopoly over ticket sales, and caused customers to pay unfair prices.
Fans of Taylor Swift also recently brought suit against the companies, alleging violation of antitrust laws.
Highland Park residents woke up this weekend to a boil water advisory. Due to the low water pressure, residents are being urged to boil the water and let it cool before any form of usage.
But this is not the first time a similar advisory was issued earlier this month.
7 News Detroit reporter Faraz Javed is raising the voice of residents who are trying to mitigate the challenges and trying to understand the reason behind the problem.
It's the first day back from spring break at the George Washington Carver Academy in Highland Park. Superintendent Sylvia Brown was alerted Sunday about the city's boil water advisory that came into effect Saturday afternoon.
"Our team came in at 5 am, began boiling water. We decided to do pizza today, so that we would have a limited amount of items that we need to wash. In addition to that, we purchased bottled water. So that we can give it to every classroom. We had it in the kitchen," said Brown.
The pre-K to 8th-grade school serves around 415 students. Brown says that because of the current situation, any water usage within the city limits must be boiled and cooled, including water for classroom hand-washing stations.
"This, again, is not a sustainable long-term plan. And this is if they need to rinse, so we are using hand sanitizers," said Brown.
"Now all this will increase your cost, wouldn't it?" asked Faraz.
"Absolutely, none of these are refundable, none of these are being sponsored," said Brown.
Brown says canceling school at the last minute would have burdened the parents.
"How many days can you actually continue like this?" asked Faraz.
"3 is comfortable. If we have to do a long term, we will have to go virtual school," said Brown.
However, outside of the school, residents like Sonia are also struggling.
"Some people have memberships, so they can go to the gym and take a shower. What about the ones that don't have membership? The seniors. I mean, they are not able to get out, a lot of them. So, I have they have a plan," said Sonia.
That's why the city's Mayor, Glenda McDonald, and Water Director, Damon Garrett, held a press conference to help understand the problem.
VIDEO: Highland Park mayor & water director speak on boil water advisories Highland Park mayor & water director speak on boil water advisories
"It's the south of Davison, west and east quadrants is where we are experiencing the lowest water pressure. And right now, we believe, it's mainly because this valve is being closed. And that may also have caused some leaks and breaks in this area," said Garrett.
Garrett says the city's 115-year-old water main infrastructure is being upgraded, and since this problem couldn't be anticipated, the solution will roll out in phases that could take up to 4 days.
"So, as this project continues, is there a chance there could be another boil water advisory?" asked Faraz.
"There could be," said Garrett.
"I know it's very inconvenient. We've had to close City Hall. Again, I live in the same area, we never expected that we would have 4 water alerts back-to-back," said Mayor McDonald.
Garrett also urges residents to contact the water department's customer service center if they have an issue with their water bill. Meanwhile, Mayor McDonald says the City Hall will open on Tuesday. Also, a water distribution station will be set up Tuesday morning at the Highland Park Police Department in Hamilton.
Long-teased tariffs are set to go into effect this week.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump says reciprocal tariffs are on the table for all countries.
And on Thursday, 25 percent tariffs on foreign-made cars and auto parts are set to kick in.
The White House says the tariffs will raise hundreds of billions of dollars and spark more companies to produce their goods domestically.
But many economists say consumers will pay the price including economics professor Keith Maskus.
"In the end, it is pretty much always the domestic consumers that pay almost the full share these tariffs. And again, it's just the way tariffs work," Maskus said.
That could mean higher prices for cars, groceries, housing and other goods impacted by the tariffs.
And those who can afford them the least may feel the pinch the most.
"The share of consumption that low-income households pay for tariffs is much, much higher than it is for middle-income or higher wealthier consumers," Maskus said.
Tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China alone could cost the average household up to 2,000 dollars annually, according to an analysis from Yale University earlier this month.
President Trump is referring to Wednesday as "Liberation Day," but many American consumers are not optimistic about the impact tariffs will have on them.
According to a new CBS News/YouGov poll, 72 percent of Americans think the tariffs will increase prices in the short term and less than a third believe it will drive prices down in the long term.
This story was initially reported 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.
Improper facilities for women, carcinogen contamination and garages too small for engines are only a few of the issues on the ever-growing list of needed updates to Livonias five firehouses.
A ballot proposal is looking to change this.
A lot of these issues are factors that were never considered in the 1960s when the fire houses were built. Now, Chief Robert Jennison is hoping to change that.
First order of business: the garages. The garages were an appropriate size for trucks back in the 60s, but thanks to technology, the trucks are barely squeezing in.
Second order of business: cancer-causing fumes. Currently, there is no proper place to store turnout gear with a small garage.
"Having our gear stored out here in the bay, while it's the best that we can do right now, having it exposed to UV lighting, light from the outside, sunlight degrades the material faster," the chief explained.
Material degradation isn't the only concern. Improper ventilation in the space where the uniforms are stored is also top-of-mind. This is because when the equipment is off-gassing meaning releasing cancer-causing fumes collected in the gear during calls the fumes linger in the garage and further expose crews to those carcinogens they picked up while putting out fires.
A close third: the showers and locker rooms.
"They get back from a fire or they get back from a medical call and that could be blood-born pathogens, that could be carcinogens from a fire and they have to undress out here. And then, they're going to walk in to get to their showers and their lockers and contaminate the hallways and the bedrooms and even the eating areas as they're getting there," the chief said.
Web extra: Livonia fire department employee talks about outdated fire stations Web extra: Livonia fire department employee talks about outdated fire stations
Their final concern on their list of most important issues to address: no women's spaces. Women firefighters were certainly a thing of the future in the 60s, meaning there are no women's locker rooms, showers or bathrooms in any of the fire houses.
Administration has been able to put a band-aid on this issue by installing unisex bathrooms in each fire house but, it can only be used by one woman at a time, meaning they have to wait in line while contaminated with blood-born pathogens or carcinogens in order to shower.
Related video: Novi residents to vote on $120M proposal that includes new headquarters for police and fire Novi residents to vote on $120M proposal that includes new police, fire headquarters
Major upgrades to all five Livonia fire houses are going before city council for approval on April 2. These upgrades are expected to be apart of a proposed millage also dedicated to the construction of the new civic center campus.
In the words of Dr. Frankenstein, "It's alive!" And it looks like Top Thrill 2 is getting ready to roll on the opening day of Cedar Point in May.
While the park hasn't commented on the status of the revamped roller coaster, which was shut down for repairs shortly after opening in 2024, they have posted a video to their various social media accounts that shows trains running on the tracks.
The 34-second video is entitled and captioned "Get Ready to Go."
Cedar Point is set to open for the season in just over a month on Saturday, May 3. They are also in the process of constructing a tilt coaster called Siren's Curse. While the park has posted several updates on construction of that ride, they have only said it will open in early summer.
Lawmakers are weighing in after President Donald Trump repeated suggestions over the weekend that he would seek a third term in office, an act which would be unconstitutional under current law.
Trump made the comments to NBC News Kristen Welker in an exclusive phone interview with the network over the weekend. Trump told Welker, There are not plans. There are, there are methods which you could do it, according to the network.
When asked again later if he was planning to leave office at the end of his term, Trump did not answer.
There is no constitutional basis for a president to serve a third term. The 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution forbids a person from being elected to serve as president more than twice.
In the past, Republicans on Capitol Hill have repeatedly affirmed those limits. And so far their comments on President Trump's intent to seek a third term are similar.
"We all know you would have to change the Constitution, and that would be highly unlikely," Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio said on CNBC.
"Read the Constitution," Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley told reporters, when he was asked about President Trump's comments.
NASAs celebrity astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams said Monday that they hold themselves partly responsible for what went wrong on their space sprint-turned-marathon and would fly on Boeing's Starliner again.
SpaceX recently ferried the duo home after more than nine months at the International Space Station, filling in for Boeing that returned to Earth without them last year.
In their first news conference since coming home, the pair said they were taken aback by all the interest and insisted they were only doing their job and putting the mission ahead of themselves and even their families.
Wilmore didn't shy from accepting some of the blame for Boeing's bungled test flight.
Ill start and point the finger and Ill blame me. I could have asked some questions and the answers to those questions could have turned the tide, he told reporters. All the way up and down the chain. We all are responsible. We all own this.
Both astronauts said they would strap into Starliner again. Because we're going to rectify all the issues that we encountered. We're going to fix them. We're going to make it work, Wilmore said, adding he'd go back up in a heartbeat.
Williams noted that Starliner has a lot of capability and she wants to see it succeed. The two will meet with Boeing leadership on Wednesday to provide a rundown on the flight and its problems.
The longtime astronauts and retired Navy captains ended up spending 286 days in space 278 days more than planned when they blasted off on Boeings first astronaut flight on June 5. The test pilots had to intervene in order for the Starliner capsule to reach the space station, as thrusters failed and helium leaked.
Their space station stay kept getting extended as engineers debated how to proceed. NASA finally judged Starliner too dangerous to bring Wilmore and Williams back and transferred them to SpaceX. But the launch of their replacements got stalled, stretching their mission beyond nine months.
President Donald Trump urged SpaceXs Elon Musk to hurry things up, adding politics to the stuck astronauts ordeal. The dragged-out drama finally ended March 18 with a flawless splashdown by SpaceX off the Florida Panhandle.
NASA said engineers still do not understand why Starliners thrusters malfunctioned; more tests are planned through the summer. If engineers can figure out the thruster and leak issues, Starliner is ready to go," Wilmore said.
The space agency may require another test flight with cargo before allowing astronauts to climb aboard. That redo could come by year's end.
Despite Starliners rocky road, NASA officials said they stand behind the decision made years ago to have two competing U.S. companies providing taxi service to and from the space station. But time is running out: The space station is set to be abandoned in five years and replaced in orbit by privately operated labs.
Coffins, tombstones and a spooky eye peering through a ripped book. They're all hiding something, but probably not what you're expecting.
Its a color correcting palette. But it was built off, like, embalming fluids," Cat Erwin, said while holding up a small package with color palettes.
It's makeup. Each item is shipped in a tombstone box that reads 'Here Lies Your Face.' So don't think death is knocking at your door. It's just the delivery guy.
Cat Erwin is the owner of LunatiCK Cosmetic Labs. Its a makeup brand based in Milwaukee, but she ships worldwide.
She started the company back in 2012. Much of her makeup has an alternative aesthetic, with products that feature ghoulish eyes and brains. The color shades have names like Redrum Red, Widow Maker, or Dead Time Story.
LunatiCK Cosmetic Labs was started when Erwin saw a gap in the makeup market. She is a cosmetologist by trade and worked as a special effects makeup artist for small-budget films.
"I used to have to make the makeup back then because they didn't have the right colors. They didn't have shades for people of color. They didn't have shades for really pale people," Erwin said.
So Erwin began to create her own makeup with the shades she wanted. She would mix ingredients together to get the right consistency and shades.
"I chemisted it up and started make it that way, and the actors wanted it because they're like this doesn't give me a ghost face," Erwin said.
She sells her makeup online at lunaticklabs.com or at tattoo and oddity expos.
Gradually, her products became more popular. Despite being in a saturated makeup field, Erwin has built a successful alternative makeup brand over the last 13 years.
When I started alternative makeup, what is this? You can get it at Halloween time, maybe. Hot Topic once a year. Now, this is almost normal. There are a billion brands like this now, but they come and go.
Erwin is here to stay, just like her love for all things alternative.
Thats just my make and model since I was a tween. Its not a phase, mom.
The brand just keeps growing. She licenses her packaging, like her coffin design or bullet casings for lipstick, to other companies. Various businesses have even tried to buy her out, but she always refuses.
Stubborn, prideful, Im not sure which one it is, but it is what it is," she said.
Or maybe its because of her commitment to her mission. Everything is ethically sourced, designed for sensitive skin, and made in the U.S.
"They would either 86 all my stuff, and I would just be no competition. Or they would take it and disregard my ethics, and then everything would be made from overseas where I would no longer be cruelty-free, vegan, talc-free, all that."
Because of her stubbornness, pride, or commitment, she's had to change manufacturers to maintain her mission. But for Erwin, that's okay. She's not giving that up.
"I continue to just reinvest for years and years and years, and I won't go away."
Plus, it wouldn't have that same flair. After all, ghoulish glam isn't a phase. It's a lifestyle.
Watch Cat Erwin's story to see more of her macabre and ghoulish designs...
Ghoulish Glam: The Milwaukee woman who created a worldwide alternative makeup brand
School officials said Monday federal agents arrested a student near the Minnesota State University campus in Mankato, south of Minneapolis.
"Last Friday, at an off-campus residence, one of our students was detained by officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. No reason was given. The university has received no information from ICE, and they have not requested any information from us," the university said in a message to students and staff.
The incident is the second such arrest in Minnesota in several days and the latest in a string of ICE arrests of students across the nation.
Officials at the University of Minnesota said on Saturday that ICE arrested an international student the preceding week at an off-campus residence near the school's Twin Cities campus. The cause for their arrest was not known.
And Last week at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, a Turkish graduate student was detained by federal authorities.
A witness recorded video on Tuesday of authorities detaining Rumeysa ztrk on a sidewalk in a Boston suburb. The officers were wearing masks when they appeared to put her in handcuffs and walk her to a black vehicle.
U.S. authorities determined she had engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans, according to reporting by The Associated Press.
Officials have not provided evidence showing ztrk engaging in such activities.
Several other students have been arrested on national security concerns, many of them after they participated in pro-Palestinian protests.
Elon Musk said Tuesday's election in Wisconsin isn't just about a state Supreme Court race but what he called a chance to protect President Donald Trump's agenda and his DOGE efforts.
"It's a super big deal," Musk said. "I'm not phoning it in. It's why I'm here."
Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel wasn't at the event, but he had Musk's endorsement.
Musk worries a liberal-leaning court will take up congressional redistricting in Wisconsin and potentially change Republicans' thin margins in the House impacting Trump's agenda.
"It's obviously important to the state, but also to the country and the world," Musk said at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay.
Some in the audience, estimated at about 2,000, pushed back when he mentioned DOGE prompting Musk to bring up Democratic billionaire supporter George Soros.
Watch: Elon Musk on why he's putting millions into the Wisconsin Supreme Court race
Voters attend Elon Musk town hall
"Give my regards to George," Musk said. "Say hi to George."
The crowd chanted, "U.S.A."
Musk then gave out $1 million checks to two selected people who signed his petition against activist judges.
The main draw of the night was the million-dollar giveaway and his support for Schimel, but Musk spent most of his time answering questions about DOGE's dive into Social Security benefits and his role on Trump's team.
Outside, MAGA and Musk supporters showed love as a Tesla Cybertruck waited at a light.
Becca Sinclair traveled to Green Bay from the Milwaukee area for one reason support for Musk.
When asked about Musk's involvement in the race, she said what he is doing is not unorthodox.
"I don't think it's unorthodox at all, Sinclair said. "I think if you look at large donors on the Democratic side, yeah, it's not unorthodox. This is America, and I think what he's doing is really going to save our country."
With the surge in early voting numbers and a battle between billionairesthis has already become the most expensive state Supreme Court race in American politics and perhaps the biggest turnout in Wisconsin for an April election.
Protesters across from the town hall held signs adorned with anti-Musk, Schimel and Trump rhetoric.
The United States military appears to be issuing a stark warning to Iran as tensions rise in the region.
Satellite imagery reveals a notable increase in military activity at a key air base in the Indian Ocean. Several B-2 stealth bombers have recently been spotted on the runway of the U.S. military installation located on the island of Diego Garcia.
Images captured by Planet Labs show at least three B-2 bombers parked prominently on the tarmac. This marks a significant development, as the base had not seen these advanced aircraft stationed there for several years, indicating a potential shift in the U.S. military's readiness posture.
The presence of these bombers could signal preparations for potential engagement with Iran or serve as a strategic deterrent.
Diego Garcia is a strategically vital location, operated jointly by the United States and the United Kingdom, which could facilitate military operations in the region.
The B-2 stealth bomber is among the most advanced aircraft in the U.S. arsenal, capable of evading radar detection and delivering both thermonuclear and conventional bombs. With fewer than 20 of these planes, their positioning at this key base sends a powerful message to U.S. adversaries.
This heightened military readiness comes at a time when President Donald Trump has intensified actions against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The terrorist organization has been engaged in a prolonged campaign targeting Navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, raising concerns over maritime security.
Additionally, Iran has reportedly dismissed attempts at direct negotiations with the United States regarding its nuclear program.
On a recent flight aboard Air Force One, President Trump commented, "A lot of things are happening with respect to Iran and we'll see if we can get something done. And if not, it's going to be a bad situation."
He indicated that the U.S. government would monitor the situation closely over the next few weeks and hinted at the possibility of imposing further tariffs on Iran if negotiations do not progress.
This story was initially reported 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.
Login
