Sen. Elissa Slotkin's home was targeted with a bomb threat on Friday, according to a spokesperson.

In a post on X, Slotkin's spokesperson released a statement saying that Michigan State Police responded to the home and searched the property, confirming no one was in danger.

Watch below: Trump faces fallout after saying 6 Congress members should face the death penalty

Trump faces fallout after saying 6 Congress members should face the death penalty

Michigan State Police also confirmed the threat.

"Senator Slotkin is deeply grateful for the swift and professional response by Oakland County and Michigan State Police. U.S. Capitol Police will continue to investigate and hopefully hold accountable those responsible," the statement read.

The threat comes one day after President Donald Trump targeted Slotkin and other Democrats who urged service members and intelligence officials to disobey illegal orders.

Trump suggested that the lawmakers should be put to death.

SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH! Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, responding to a video from half a dozen members of Congress who previously served in the military and intelligence community urging people currently in those roles to refuse illegal orders.

Its called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL, Trump wrote. He also reposted several other users posts, including one that read: HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!

Slotkin spoke to MSNOW on Thursday night and said she had 24/7 security after the Trump post.

A Roseville student is speaking out after a terrifying incident at his middle school where a classmate pulled out a knife inside the building on Friday.

See the full story in the video below

Roseville middle schooler recounts terrifying incident when student pulled out knife

The young man said the student in question looked as if he was mad and possibly crying as he held the knife.

Thankfully, no students or staff were hurt, but the incident is reigniting concerns about safety on school grounds and the impact it has on kids.

"He put his hand in the backpack, he gripped onto it, took it out, and he was holding it, and I looked, and I see it, and I ran," 11-year-old Blake Alman told me.

"Yeah, he said he was going to stab someone in the hallway or something like that," he said. "I was panicking, so I just ran.

A spokesperson for Roseville Community Schools said the incident forced the building into a shelter-in-place for about five minutes as administrators disarmed the student.

"The fact that he walked past that kid and he could've gotten hurt is what still shocks me and scares me," Blake said.

Gabriela Resendez, Blake's mom, said her son is shaken.

"Now he's got really bad anxiety, you know? He doesn't want to go back to that school," she said.

The sobering situation at Roseville Middle comes on the heels of a series of scares in Macomb County schools.

Bullets and shell casings were found at Green Elementary and Roseville High School on Tuesday and Wednesday. In Center Line, students were held in their fourth-period classrooms at two high schools after a threat was made early Friday.

Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido said students and parents must understand it's not just schools that have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to weapons and violence. He doest oo.

"We're allowed to prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. Guns and knives do not belong in school, nor will the prosecutor of Macomb County allow you to do this," he said.

School officials are cooperating with Roseville police, which is now handling the investigation.

It's hard not to get into the holiday spirit when you step into downtown Detroit.

Detroit celebrated its 22nd annual tree lighting Friday night, drawing thousands of people to Campus Martius to witness the festive transformation of downtown into a holiday wonderland.

With the flick of a switch, downtown Detroit turned on the holiday cheer as the big Christmas tree lit up for all to see, accompanied by cheers from the excited crowd.

Watch our full "Light Up The Season" special in the video below

Watch the full WXYZ Light Up The Season special from Detroit

"It's beautiful, it's great to see the camaraderie and the families that come together, it is very, very nice," Mills said.

Joseph Mills brought his family down to see the tree lighting, continuing what has become an annual tradition for them.

"It's a family event that we try to do every single year, this and the parade, we try to get both incorporated," Mills said.

While seeing the tree lighting is a family tradition for the Mills family, I caught up with some people who said it was their first time experiencing the event.

"We're so excited to be down here, we watched it on TV like our whole lives and this is the first year we've come down," Meghan Brown of Byron.

"I love it, this is what Detroit is all about, I love it this is my first time actually," Diamond Hogan of Detroit said.

Besides the tree lighting, people came downtown to enjoy other holiday festivities Detroit has to offer, including holiday shops, live music and food trucks.

"The music, the smell, the sound, the people, I love it," Yolanda Russell of Detroit said.

"The thing that I think that keeps making me coming down here is how much fun it is, how much new people you meet and like how much great opportunities you have," Braelynn Hines of Detroit said.

When I asked young attendees about their favorite parts of being downtown, 10-year-old Ryleigh Hendon and 11-year-old Skylar Liddy had simple but enthusiastic responses.

"The tree, and the food.. the food!" they said.

If you're looking for a place to feel some holiday cheer, downtown Detroit offers plenty of festive activities throughout the holiday season.

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.

Orion Township recently unveiled a small greenspace addition to their community. Officials call it a pocket park, and neighbors say it's giving their kids a place to play and safely spend their time.

See the full story in the video below

Orion Township unveils new small greenspace called a 'Pocket Park'

Heritage Pocket Park features all kinds of cool stuff, like native plants, tree birdhouses and local history.

"I think its great, actually, and great for the community. It's been fun to watch it come together," Lori Peters said.

The $25,000 grant-funded project has been underway since late last year, coming to life off the Baldwin corridor.

"We thrive with greenspace, recreation," Aaron Whatley, the Orion Township Parks, Rec and Facilities director, said.

Whatley says the park adds to Orion Township's already existing local, county and state parks, as well as two regional trail systems.

"Were just so blessed to have such a great recreational experience out here," he said.

"Just a way for you to be a part of the community and learn the history," Jacob Liu, a parkgoer, added.

The swingset is made from a repurposed wind turbine, and was painted by local artist and Clarkston art teacher Ryanne Kelley. Kelley said her work feels special, and she's grateful for opportunities to make connections and be an example for her students.

There are also birdhouses, shrubbery and various trees. One birdhouse was built by 12-year-old Mia Malover, who's known for her woodworking skills.

Her father, Mike, said his daughter loves seeing her work so close to home.

"Its one less spot that another business or building isnt going to go to," Peters said.

They call it a bright spot in their community and are looking forward to more greenspaces just like this one popping up around their town.

Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announced Friday she would resign from office effective January 5, 2026.

In a four-page message posted to social media, Rep. Greene criticized the political establishment on both sides of the aisle and said that the effects of politics have weighed too heavily on her, her family and her district.

Rep. Greene, formerly a close supporter of President Donald Trump, gained office by supporting his Make America Great Again platform  but fell out with him over differences surrounding the handling of the Epstein files and foreign policy.

President Trump recently called Rep. Greene a "traitor" and planned to endorse a primary challenger against her in the 2026 midterm elections.

"When the common American people finally realize and understand that the Political Industrial Complex of both parties is ripping this country apart, that not one elected leader like me is able to stop Washington's machine from gradually destroying our country, and instead the reality is that they, the common Americans, The People, possess the real power over Washington, then I'll be here by their side to rebuild it," Rep. Greene wrote in Friday's message.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

The U.S. Supreme Court will allow Texas' newly redrawn congressional maps to stand while an case against them plays out, according to a new order issued on Friday.

Justice Samuel Alito signed an order placing an administrative stay on the order from a lower district court in Texas, which had halted the use of the new maps after finding that state lawmakers likely engaged in unconstitutional racial gerrymandering to create them.

Alito signed the order because he is responsible for addressing emergency appeals from certain states, including Texas.

In a 160-page order earlier this week, a three-judge panel in the Western District of Texas issued a preliminary injunction preventing the state from implementing the map in the 2026 elections. Instead, the court ordered Texas to revert to the congressional map enacted in 2021 while the case proceeds.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called Tuesday's ruling "erroneous" and quickly appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

As of Friday, the Supreme Court's administrative stay will remain in place until the court orders otherwise. The Supreme Court has also required a response to Texas' appeal in the case no later than Monday, November 24.

RELATED STORY | A court's blockade of Texas' new electoral maps is raising the stakes for the 2026 midterms

The maps, pushed by President Donald Trump, were designed to give Republicans an advantage in the 2026 midterm elections and could help the party pick up as many as five seats.

"The Legislature redrew our congressional maps to better reflect Texans' conservative voting preferences and for no other reason," Gov. Abbott said. "Any claim that these maps are discriminatory is absurd and unsupported by the testimony offered during ten days of hearings."

President Trump said Friday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will have to approve a proposed plan for peace between Russia and Ukraine before it could take effect. He gave Zelenskyy a Thanksgiving deadline.

But Zelenskyy says Ukraine risks losing its dignity or the the support of the U.S. as a key international ally if it signs on to the agreement.

A U.S. official tell Scripps News that it was strongly implied that the U.S. expects Ukraine to agree to peace deal and changes will be decided upon "by the president himself."

The White House says it's been quietly working on over the last month or so. Zelenskyy met Friday with Vice President Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to discuss its details.

"We have a plan. It's horrible what's happening. It's a war that should have never happened and would have never happened if I was president. And it's a shame. I thought they should have acted quicker. We have a way of getting peace. We think we have a way of getting peace. [Zelenskky is] going to have to approve it," President Trump said Friday.

RELATED STORY | Zelenskyy says Ukraine faces choice of losing dignity or risking loss of key partner with US plan

Circulated points of the plan, which have not yet been independently confirmed by Scripps News, indicate Ukraine will be called on to give up some eastern territory, including the Donbas, and areas that it currently controls. It would be required to cap its military size and not seek NATO membership, but instead have security guarantees from the United States.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin says the agreement could represent the "basis" for a peace deal, but denied that Russia had substantive talks ongoing.

Other European allies and NATO members are consulting with Ukraine about the development and are expected to meet on the sidelines of the G20 international summit which President Trump will not attend.

More parents are coming forward after a WXYZ report on a Detroit daycare that had its license suspended by the state.

Watch the full story in the video below

License suspended for controversial Detroit daycare

According to state investigators New Beginnings Child Care failed to properly supervise children, resulting in injuries, failed to cooperate with investigators and provided false information.

Now, parents are sharing a letter they've gotten from the daycare, calling this a "clerical error."

A number of parents commented on our initial post on Facebook, sharing their experiences, and so I followed up to hear their stories and dig into what led up to the state investigation.

Friday also marked a new beginning for parents who spent the day looking for a new daycare and telling us about their experiences with the location.

Watch below: State suspends Detroit child care license over supervision, injury concerns

State suspends Detroit child care license over supervision, injury concerns

"On numerous of times, I have asked, why are there so many kids to one teacher?" Lynn Darby said.

Darby spoke to us when she came to pick up her 2-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter from New Beginnings on Thursday.

The director gave her the letter that claimed they are temporarily closing because of a "clerical error" with their state license.

Actually, according to MILeap, the governing agency pulled the daycare's license because of allegations that they failed to provide appropritate care and supervision, failed to provide accurate and truthful information to MILeap during an investigation, and that they didn't have the administrative capability to operate a daycare.

Darby said she started taking her children to the center in August 2024.

"They're not getting enough food," she said. "I have seen kids get injured at this school, and it be major injuries. Bust open heads. Ambulance just came last month."

KD Mann said his son, King Ivan, had been going to the daycare for about seven months and received the same letter on Thursday.

"I really didn't have a bad experience here, like, I can't say I had a super bad experience. He never came home messed up or anything. I think one time they was outside he got a bee sting and that's about it," Mann said. "We didn't get a notification until we picked him up but he was fine. It wasn't like super serious."

Now, he's in the process of finding another daycare for his son.

"That's an inconvenience. That's what we doing today. We trying to find another daycare but, like I said, if this situation wouldn't have happened, I would have continued this daycare. I talked to the director, she was pretty open with me. She never hid nothing or tried to hide anything from me," Mann said.

We did reach out to the owner of the daycare, Pageant Atterberry, but she did not call us back on Friday.

On Thursday, in a statement, she said, "New Beginnings is committed to the health and safety of the children entrusted to it. We deny the allegations and do not feel they deserve the extreme action taken by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential."

As for New Beginnings' other locations, the state said it does not comment on whether there is an open complaint or investigation.

A Garden City family is pushing for the firing of a school paraprofessional after he assaulted their 19-year-old daughter in a fit of road rage.

See the full story in the video below

Family wants school para-pro fired after assault in road rage incident

Police say Jonathan Rutter followed the woman to a red light, got out, banged on her car and stuck his face in her window to curse and spit at her.

Olive Hamilton and her mother are now calling for the Garden City School District to fire Rutter after he was charged and convicted.

Olive said she was stopped at the intersection of Merriman and W. Chicago in Livonia back on June 16 when the incident happened, leaving her shocked and scared

I was not only frightened, it was more of the fact, who else is this happening too?" she said.

Police said Rutter was frustrated with how Olive was driving. He then hopped out of his car at a stopped red light, banged on Olive's window and then.

"He stuck half of his body in my car as he proceeded to yell and spit on me," Olive said.

All while calling Olive "A goofy b****."

"The only thing my mind could go to when he was walking back to his car is, I should probably get out and take picture," she said.

Olive sent that picture to her mother, who posted it on a neighborhood page and asked who the person was.

OLIVE Hamilton SENT THAT PICTURE OF RUTTER TO HER MOTHER, WHO POSTED IT ON A NEIGHBORHOOD PAGE INQUIRING: "WHO IS THIS GUY?"

11:37:21;21

"And sure enough, the messages just started coming in that he worked for Garden City School District he worked with autistic special needs, he's a bus aid, and a respite to where he'll go into people's homes and give parents a break unattended," Olive's mother, Tiffany, said.

Garden City Public Schools confirmed Rutter is still an employee. Both Tiffany and Olive believe that this should change immediately.

"If you can look this man in the face and send him off to a school to work with children, not only children but autistic children, it's just not right. It shouldn't be happening," she said.

On Wednesday, Rutter was convicted of misdemeanor assault and battery. I spoke with him over the phone, but he declined to comment. We reached out to his lawyer for a statement, but she did not respond in time.

The Garden City Public Schools superintendent said the district is handling this as a personnel matter and can offer no further comment.

Thieves are targeting Ram trucks across southeast Michigan in broad daylight, breaking into vehicles to steal their 12-inch infotainment systems, police say.

Grosse Pointe Farms Detective Roger Wierszewski said his department has received six reports of truck break-ins just this month. The thieves are specifically going after the UConnect infotainment systems.

See the full story in the video below

Ram trucks targeted in string of break-ins for 12-inch infotainment systems

"They'll break out a back window, climb inside, I believe it's two or three bolts that holds the infotainment center in and they can remove it and be gone within a matter of moments," Wierszewski said.

He explained that thieves target the back windows because alarm systems aren't typically connected to them.

Nicholas Jones discovered his truck had been broken into last week while parked in a lot on Biddle Avenue in Wyandotte. When he returned to his vehicle, he found the back window smashed and his radio missing.

"Everything else is there. I have two pairs of Oakleys in there, but the radio's gone and the back window is smashed out," Jones said.

Shannon Medved experienced the same crime just days later, also while parked on Biddle Avenue at a different location.

"I got in my truck and I was shocked to see the whole UConnect system was gone," Medved said. "You feel violated, you know. That's my space, you know what I mean."

Wyandotte police have reported three incidents so far, while the break-ins have stretched across multiple cities in the region.

A Stellantis spokesperson, the manufacturer of Ram trucks, addressed the security concerns in a statement: "Stellantis takes the safety and security of our customers very seriously. We design, engineer and develop all our vehicles to meet or exceed all applicable federal standards for safety and security. While such events are rare, they are not exclusive to any make or model of vehicle. Stellantis uses industry-standard vehicle security technology. And as with other vehicle features, we are engaged in continuous product improvement. Notwithstanding, we urge all motorists to take due care in securing their vehicles."

Detective Wierszewski recommends Ram owners consider aftermarket alarms that detect glass breakage, install security cameras, and remain vigilant, though he noted that most thieves cover their faces and wear gloves during the crimes.

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.

November is National Adoption Month and on Friday, the Third Circuit Court celebrated with Wayne County Adoption Day.

See the heartwarming story in the video below

'The missing piece.' Families celebrate adoption day at Wayne County court

There was not a dry eye in the house as local parents grew their families by officially adopting children from all across the area.

I got the opportunity to be inside that emotional courtroom for the day families will never forget.

For Gregory Kelly, it was about taking in young Marcellous, who never officially ad a family of his own.

And I gave him my word at the time, I said I will nurture and protect you with everything I got, for the rest of my life," Kelly said.

Four families grew with their new adoptions, including the Vannatters.

The Vannatters have two biological children, but were told by doctors it wasn't safe for mom, Theresa, to have any more.

That information was not going to stop them. The family adopted two more kids, including little Gabriella, on Friday.43

She was the missing piece to our family and she fits right in and her three older brothers adore her," Theresa said.

According to state data, as of last year, there are over 10,000 children in foster care in Michigan alone. Third Circuit Court Chief Judge Patricia Perez Presard said she hopes events like the adoption day open the hearts and minds of people all across the state to consider adopting.

We hope to improve and increase the number of children nourished," Presard said. "Foster care children that are adopted, and we know that this is the kind of thing that does it.

The joy these families felt cannot be put into words, but they tried their best, as every single parent explained to the judge why they wanted to be moms and dads.

Because I love them. I love them," one parent said.

Since October 17, 2024, shes been our daughter. This is just a formality," another said.

Where Your Voice Matters

A petition calling for Ann Arbor Public Schools to ban cell phones during school hours is gaining momentum, with over 700 parents signing on to support the policy change.

The petition asks the district to implement a "first bell to last bell" policy that would prohibit cell phone use throughout the school day. Ann Arbor School Board members discussed the issue during a meeting on Friday.

Hear from parents in the video below

Ann Arbor parents petition for cell phone ban in schools as debate over safety, focus intensifies

Parents supporting the ban say they want their children to focus in school without screen distractions, while opponents argue it's a matter of safety.

"We all want our kids and students to flourish," said Amiel Handelsman, who started the petition.

Handelsman's children attend Ann Arbor Public Schools, and he says phone use during school hours is spiraling out of control.

"This has an impact in the classroom. It has an impact in the hallways," Handelsman said. "The district has made some efforts. They did a pilot but we are applying a healthy nudge to do more."

Sharon Sorkin, whose children attend Ann Arbor Public Schools, founded a nonprofit called Focus On Education A2 and supports the petition. She says cell phone addiction is impacting both academic performance and mental health.

"I am told you see the kids during lunch all sitting at the table eating their own lunch looking at their phones," Sorkin said. "In education we also know that academic performance goes up, mental health goes up, attention goes up when the kids are not distracted during school hours."

But some parents, like Krystal Kane, fear losing contact with their children during school hours, especially given concerns about school shootings.

"This day and age, you never know what's going to happen," Kane said. "I would feel safer knowing that I could get a hold of my child."

"I would say take the phone. But the fact that these phones have saved children's lives and parents have been able to locate their children. I think it's a must in this day and age," Kane said.

The Ann Arbor School District sent a statement that reads in part: "As the board of education researches and explores this issue, district administrators continue their ongoing work with the existing procedures already in place within our schools to limit phone use during instructional time."

A change in policy likely won't take place this school year.

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.

On Sunday, November 23, Spotlight on the News will broadcast a special edition interview with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. Join us for an in-depth conversation as the city's second longest-serving chief executive officer looks back at his three terms in office and his political legacy. What's his message for the future of Michigan's largest and best known municipality?

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.

We are nearing the moment the Detroit Zoo opens up its light-up seasonal attraction, Wild Lights!

Its an opportunity for a walking experience through animal-themed light-up displays with food and drink in hand.

Watch Jeff Lindblom's full piece in the video player below: 'A memory-making experience.' Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo features more than 1 million lights

Wild Lights features more than a million lights and kicks off on November 22. It's sure to light up your smile and the night.

"We have over 500 sculptures that are covered in lights and then we also wrap trees that youll see throughout the footprint," said Emily Crychton O'Hara, senior director of guest experience at the Detroit Zoo.

The light-up footprint traverses about half the zoos terrain. Planning and prep starts in July, building up to the big moment.

Running roughly a decade, this year, you can expect differing themed spots spanning the space like an African safari and an Australian station.

"We really design wild lights for all ages," said Crychton O'Hara.

That means family and friends, kids and couples or you can walk it alone.

"It is a memory-making experience that is unique to our area. We also want you to build a connection to animals," she said.

Partial proceeds from each ticket tendered will be a helping hand or paw, if you will towards the zoos mission.

"Really supporting the animals who live here as well as around the world," said Crychton O'Hara.

New this year, the zoo is all about an interactive experience, bringing on board a light-bright wall, stepping stones to bob-weave-and-bounce about and a light-up lanyard, shining side-by-side with select sections.

"I find the most happiness and excitement seeing people enjoy themselves here at the zoo," she said.

Wild Lights will run through January 4.

The zoo will also be accepting mitten and glove donations during the second half of December for the Mittens of Detroit organization, helping people in need stay warm during the colder months.

For more information on Wild Lights, go here.

Lights, wonder, and sound have returned to the forest of Glenlore Trails. Its Michigans largest illuminated night walk bringing thousands to Commerce Township for a mile of family fun.

Watch the story from Demetrios Sanders below: How Glenlore Trails in Commerce Township brings the holiday season to life

Glenlore Trails has helped families make memories around the holidays since 2020 becoming quite the tradition for some.

And the phrase here is "when the sun goes down, the fun turns up."

Its an eye-popping experience that many anticipate each fall and winter.

"When we hear people say "Yeah this is part of our holiday experience, we look forward to it every year," it makes all of the hard work totally worth it," said Chanel Schoeneberger, co-founder of Glenlore Trails.

Schoeneberger says the idea was birthed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when her familys business, Bluewater Technologies, searched for new ways to keep themselves busy.

"Everything was shut down, right? So we had to pivot," she said.

Thats when they decided to transform a wooded trail at the Multi-Lakes Conservation Association in Commerce Township into an immersive family experience filled with plenty of sound and all the lights you can imagine.

"Hundreds of thousands. Its a one-mile trail, so everything from LEDs to the light tubes," said Schoeneberger.

It also features animatronics and interactive technologyunlocking more of what the trail has to offer.

"Each activation that you interact with, you can have a magic wand, and that will trigger some additional animation throughout the woods. So, were always trying to create something new for the experience," she said.

There are two different versions of Glenlore Trails you can find throughout the year: the Witching Hour surrounding Halloween, and the current one, Aurora, which runs through the winter holiday season.

"It goes through a little bit of a spooky and fun experience for Halloween to that magical element that we all hope for Christmas," she said.

And when asked what makes Aurora so special, Schoenberger says its the team that brings it to life.

"Our people, they make this what it is," she said.

If you want to check out the holiday night walk for yourself, it continues Thursdays through Sundays through December 28.

To learn more, click here.

We all know Santas journey on Christmas Eve involves a lot of rooftops and a lot of chimneys. But what if your rooftop has 39 chimneys? Thats the case at Meadow Brook Hall.

Watch the full piece in the video player below: How did Santa deal with 39 chimneys at Meadow Brook Hall?

Meadowbrook Hall is the largest historic home in the Midwest. It's the fourth largest in the entire country this is also the finest example in the nation of Tudor revival architecture, said Katie Higgins, marketing manager at Meadow Brook Hall.

Not to mention, the former home of Matilda Dodge Wilson and her second husband, Alfred Wilson, is also a destination for the holiday season.

The Dodge-Wilson family loved the holidays. It was a really big deal for them. So this was a home that had four children growing up in it of different ages and they would celebrate every year in this room, she said.

Year after year, the magic of the holidays comes alive at Meadow Brook Hall on the campus of Oakland University.

From the Holiday Walk and Winter Wonder Lights to special tea experiences, theres something to fill everyones stocking.

And like elves in Santas workshop, volunteers play a major role, helping to deck the halls.

They work pretty tirelessly at this time of year. And in particular, we have one big special day where we have about 75 volunteers coming to Meadow Brook Hall to bring in all of our trees and get them set up with lights and ribbon, said Higgins.

Even the Oakland University track team pitches in for the festive transformation.

While Meadow Brook will glisten with the glow of the season for the events kicking off on Nov. 28, the dcor also pays homage to the magnificent architecture of this estate.

Winter Wonder Lights is completely original and created for Meadow Brook Hall. So many of our installations are tied directly to the house, she said.

One prime example: that quandary with Santa and all those chimneys.

This was the question asked to Matilda by one of her grandchildren, her little granddaughter, Rikki. And she said, grandma, how will Santa find the right chimney? said Higgins. And to that, Matilda had a wonderful answer, which is that every year they will install a beautiful red light that will guide Santa into the right place.

And even today, Meadow Brook Hall follows the tradition, shining a light for all to see on one of the 39 chimneys.

The team at Meadow Brook Hall hopes that fond memories of the past give way to new memories for their visitors.

Our favorite thing is being part of new families' traditions, said Higgins.

Higgins said these special events are also critical in helping with the preservation of this National Historic Landmark.

Now, we cant speak for the big man himself, but that might just give you a couple of points toward the nice list.

For a full list of events for the Holidays at Meadow Brook, click here. The holiday events run through December 30.

Guests for the Holiday Walk and Winter Wonder Lights will also get to shop at Meadow Brook's holiday market.

On select Sunday nights for Family Nights at Winter Wonder Lights, kids 12 and under can get in free with promo code: FAMILY. 

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. personally directed the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update its website to contradict its longtime guidance that vaccines don't cause autism, he told The New York Times in an interview published Friday.

His comments provide clarity into who directed the CDC's website change, after many current and former staffers at the agency were surprised to see new published guidance on Wednesday that defies scientific consensus. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine critic, has upended the public health agencies he oversees and pushed for and enacted changes that have unsettled much of the medical community, which sees his policies as harmful for Americans.

The whole thing about vaccines have been tested and theres been this determination made, is just a lie, Kennedy said in the interview, which was conducted Thursday.

The CDC's vaccine safety page now claims that the statement vaccines do not cause autism is not based on evidence because it doesn't rule out the possibility that infant vaccines are linked to the disorder. The page also has been updated to suggest that health officials have ignored studies showing a potential link.

Public health researchers and advocates strongly refute the updated website, saying it misleads the public by exploiting the fact that the scientific method can't satisfy a demand to prove a negative. They note that scientists have thoroughly explored potential links between vaccines and autism in rigorous research spanning decades, all pointing to the same conclusion that vaccines dont cause autism.

No environmental factor has been better studied as a potential cause of autism than vaccines, the Autism Science Foundation said in a statement Thursday. This includes vaccine ingredients as well as the bodys response to vaccines. All this research has determined that there is no link between autism and vaccines.

Kennedy, a longtime leader in the anti-vaccine movement, acknowledged to The New York Times the existence of studies showing no link to autism from the mercury-based preservative thimerosal or from the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. But he told the newspaper there are still gaps in vaccine safety science and a need for more research.

RELATED STORY | CDC revises language on vaccines and autism, prompting backlash

The move creates another disagreement between the health secretary and Sen. Bill Cassidy, a physician and Louisiana Republican who chairs the Senate health committee. During his confirmation process, Kennedy pledged to Cassidy he would leave the statement that vaccines do not cause autism on the CDC website. The statement remains on the website but with a disclaimer that it was left there because of their agreement.

Kennedy told The New York Times he talked to Cassidy about the updated website and that Cassidy disagreed with the decision.

What parents need to hear right now is vaccines for measles, polio, hepatitis B and other childhood diseases are safe and effective and will not cause autism, Cassidy posted on X on Thursday. Any statement to the contrary is wrong, irresponsible, and actively makes Americans sicker.

The updated website comes as Kennedy has taken other steps as health secretary that sow doubt in immunizations. He has pulled $500 million for their development, ousted and replaced every member of a federal vaccine advisory committee and pledged to overhaul a federal program for compensating Americans injured by shots. He also fired former CDC Director Susan Monarez less than a month into her tenure after they clashed over vaccine policy.

Dr. Sean OLeary, head of the infectious diseases committee at the American Academy of Pediatrics, told reporters in a briefing Thursday that the CDC's website update was perpetuating a lie.

This is madness, he said. Vaccines do not cause autism, and unfortunately, we can no longer trust health-related information coming from our government.

The Department of Health and Human Services, which didn't make Kennedy available for an interview with The Associated Press this week, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued updated guidance about the display of swastikas and other hateful iconography, following reports that it appeared to have eased its rules around hate symbols.

The Washington Post on Thursday reported that Coast Guard policy had been altered to describe such hate symbols as "potentially divisive," changing its definitions from 2019 versions, which noted they were widely identified with oppression or hatred and said their use could be a potential hate incident.

RELATED STORY | Neo-Nazi targeting kids online, teaching them to hate and prepare to kill

Later on Thursday, the Coast Guard amended its policies to clarify.

Divisive or hate symbols and flags are prohibited, the policy now reads. Such symbols include a noose, a swastika, and any symbols or flags co-opted or adopted by hate-based groups.

This is not an updated policy but a new policy to combat any misinformation and double down that the U.S. Coast Guard forbids these symbols, the agency said in a press release.

Coast Guard policy now bans the display of any such symbols in all agency locations, strengthening the language from Thursday's initial policy change that said commanders could remove symbols that were in public view and and said the restrictions did not apply to private spaces.

Display of the Confederate flag remains banned outside of certain educational contexts, according to the latest policy.

Pine Knob Music Theater in Clarkston is trading its usual concerts for Christmas cheer this holiday season with the Magic of Lights drive-through display.

See Jeff's full story in the video below

Magic of Lights transforms Pine Knob Music Theater into holiday wonderland

The festive attraction features more than 2 million lights spread across a mile-long track, offering visitors a dazzling journey through holiday-themed displays.

"We have displays from a 32-foot Christmas Barbie to a Bigfoot Monster Truck," said Elmer Straub, SVP of 313 Presents Entertainment.

The experience takes drivers through tunnels and past dinosaurs, all synchronized to Christmas music played on a dedicated radio station. Visitors are encouraged to turn off their headlights and follow the designated route without stopping.

One of the newest additions this year is the reindeer rest stop, where families can park and take photos with the illuminated displays.

For many families, the Magic of Lights has become an annual tradition. Straub brings his 11 and 7-year-old sons every year, with the boys particularly excited about the tunnels and dinosaur displays.

"So Max and Harry both look forward to coming here every year," he said. "Love Christmas."

The attraction aims to help families get into the holiday spirit together, regardless of group size.

"Getting the Christmas spirit," Straub said about what draws his family back each year. "It's a great spot for it. Great community. And it's a great event to have and bring your family out," he said.

The Magic of Lights runs throughout the holiday season, welcoming approximately 20,000 vehicles annually. Tickets cost $25 per vehicle.

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.