Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reaffimed his firm refusal to cede any territory, resisting U.S. pressure for a painful compromise with Russia as he continued to rally European support for Ukraine.

Undoubtedly, Russia insists for us to give up territories. We, clearly, dont want to give up anything. Thats what we are fighting for," Zelenskyy said in a WhatsApp chat late Monday in which he answered reporters' questions.

Do we consider ceding any territories? According to the law we dont have such right. According to Ukraines law, our constitution, international law, and to be frank, we dont have a moral right either."

RELATED STORY | Russia launches massive missile barrage on Ukraine amid U.S.-led peace talks

In an interview with Politico released Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump again pressed Zelenskyy to accept the U.S. proposal that Ukraine cede territory to Putin, arguing that Russia retains the upper hand and that Zelenskyys government must play ball.

Zelenskyy met Tuesday with Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo, a papal residence outside Rome, and is to have talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni later in the day. The Vatican said the pope reiterated the need for the continuation of dialogue and expressed his urgent desire that the current diplomatic initiatives bring about a just and lasting peace.

The Holy See has tried to remain neutral in the war while offering solidarity and assistance to what it calls the martyred people of Ukraine. Leo, who has met three times with Zelenskyy and has spoken by telephone at least once with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has called for a ceasefire and urged Moscow in particular to make gestures to promote peace.

On Monday, Zelenskyy held talks in London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to strengthen Ukraines hand amid mounting impatience from Trump.

Facing pressure from Trump

U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators completed three days of talks on Saturday aimed at trying to narrow differences on the U.S. administrations peace proposal.

A major sticking point in the plan is the suggestion that Kyiv must cede control of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine to Russia, which illegally occupies most but not all of the territory. Ukraine and its European allies have firmly resisted the idea of handing over land.

You know, a lot of people are dying, Trump told Politico, claiming that other unnamed Ukrainian officials agree with the U.S. administration. His people loved the proposal. They really liked it. His lieutenants, his top people, they liked it, but they said he hasnt read it yet.

Russia, Trump reasoned, remains too powerful for Ukraine to continue fighting.

I give the people of Ukraine and the military of Ukraine tremendous credit for the, you know, bravery and for the fighting and all of that, he said. But you know, at some point, size will win, generally.

RELATED STORY | Documentary reveals Ukrainian medics fight to heal amid relentless war

Trump also amplified his calls for Ukraine to hold national elections even though the martial law doesn't allow it. and Zelenskyy, elected in 2019, had his five-year term extended because of the war.

Theyre using war not to hold an election, but, uh, I would think the Ukrainian people would ... should have that choice, Trump said. And maybe Zelenskyy would win. I dont know who would win. But they havent had an election in a long time. You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where its not a democracy anymore.

Trump has had a hot-and-cold relationship with Zelenskyy since winning a second term, insisting the war was a waste of U.S. taxpayers money. Trump has also repeatedly urged the Ukrainians to cede land to Russia to end the nearly four-year conflict.

Zelenskyy said Monday that Trump certainly wants to end the war. ... Surely, he has his own vision. We live here, from within we see details and nuances, we perceive everything much deeper, because this is our motherland.

He said the current U.S. peace plan differs from earlier versions in that it now has 20 points, down from 28, after he said some obvious anti-Ukrainian points were removed.

Europeans back Ukraine

Starmer, Macron and Merz strongly backed Kyiv, with the U.K. leader saying Monday that the push for peace was at a critical stage, and stressed the need for a just and lasting ceasefire.

Merz, meanwhile, said he was skeptical about some details in documents released by the U.S. We have to talk about it. Thats why we are here, he said. The coming days could be a decisive time for all of us.

European leaders are working to ensure that any ceasefire is backed by solid security guarantees both from Europe and the U.S. to deter Russia from attacking again. Trump has not given explicit guarantees in public.

Zelenskyy and his European allies have repeatedly accused Putin of slow-walking the talks to press ahead with the invasion as his forces are making slow buy steady gains while waves of missiles and drones are pummeling Ukrainian infrastructure.

Both sides exchange aerial strikes

Ukraines Air Force said Russia fired 110 drones of various types across the country last night. They said air defenses neutralized 84 drones, 24 more have struck their targets.

Several regions of Ukraine faced emergency blackouts Tuesday due to Russias prior attacks on energy infrastructure, according to Ukraines national energy operator, Ukrenergo.

Ukraine, in its turn, continued its drone attacks on Russia.

Russian air defenses destroyed 121 Ukrainian drones overnight above various Russian regions and occupied Crimea, Russias Ministry of Defense said Tuesday. In Chuvashia, a region about 900 kilometers (about 560 miles) northeast of the border with Ukraine, the attack damaged residential buildings and injured nine people, local governor Oleg Nikolayev said.

Ukraines Security Service carried out a drone attack on an LPG terminal at the port of Temryuk in Russias Krasnodar region on Dec. 5, according to an official with knowledge of the operation who spoke to The Associated Press.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said the strike sparked a large fire at the facility. More than 20 LPG storage tanks were set ablaze and burned for more than three days, he said. The attack also damaged railway tank cars, an intermediate refueling tank, and a loading and unloading rack.

Ford Motor Company announced it has entered into a strategic partnership with Renault Group as part of its next phase of European strategy.

In the announcement, Ford and Renault Group said they will work on passenger and commercial vehicles and expand Ford's electric vehicle offering.

According to Ford, the Detroit-based automaker will design two cars and use Renault's Ampere platform with the goal of bringing new affordable vehicles to Europe. Those new models will use Renault's EV assets and competitiveness on the continent and will be produced by Renault in the North of France.

Ford said that the first of the two vehicles is expected to arrive in showrooms in early 2028.

On top of the collaboration for passenger vehicles, Ford and Renault have signed a letter of intent for a light commercial vehicle collaboration, where the automakers will explore the chance to jointly develop and manufacture Ford and Renault-branded light commercial vehicles.

"Renault Group is proud to announce a new strategic cooperation with Ford, an iconic car manufacturer. This partnership shows the strength of our partnership know-how and competitiveness in Europe. In the long term, combining our strengths with Ford will make us more innovative and more responsive in a fast-changing European automotive market," Renault Group CEO Franois Provost said in a statement.

"The strategic partnership with Renault Group marks an important step for Ford and supports our strategy to build a highly efficient and fit-for-the future business in Europe. We will combine Renault Groups industrial scale and EV assets with Fords iconic design and driving dynamics to create vehicles that are fun, capable, and distinctly Ford in spirit," Ford CEO Jim Farley added in a statement.

The strategic partnership is part of the next phase of the automaker's European transformation, also announced on Tuesday.

That transformation, Ford said, is built on three pillars: Strengthening the Ford Pro commercial division; expanding the Ford passenger car range; and optimizing the industrial system to drive scale and cost efficiencies, all with the goal of building a profitable business.

The Federal Reserve faces an unusually contentious meeting this week that will test Chair Jerome Powell's ability to corral the necessary support from fellow policymakers for a third straight interest rate cut.

The Fed's 19-member rate-setting committee is sharply divided over whether to lower borrowing costs again. The divisions have been exacerbated by the convoluted nature of the economy: Inflation remains elevated, which would typically lead the Fed to keep its key rate unchanged, while hiring is weak and the unemployment rate has risen, which often leads to rate cuts.

Some economists expect three Fed officials could vote against the quarter-point cut that Powell is likely to support at the Dec. 9-10 meeting, which would be the most dissenting votes in six years. Just 12 of the 19 members vote on rate decisions. Several of the non-voting officials have also said they oppose another rate cut.

It's just a really tricky time. Perfectly sensible people can reach different answers, said William English, an economist at the Yale School of Management and a former top Fed staff member. And the committee kind of likes to work by consensus, but this is a situation where that consensus is hard to reach.

The debate, which has also been fueled by a lack of official federal data on employment and inflation during the government shutdown, could be a preview of where the Fed is headed after Powell's term as chair ends in May. His successor will be appointed by President Donald Trump and is widely expected to be Kevin Hassett, the top White House economic adviser. Hassett may push for faster cuts than other officials would be willing to support.

English said the potential for greater disagreement could be seen as a sign of healthy debate between different views. The Feds tradition of reaching unanimous or nearly-unanimous decisions has often been criticized as evidence of groupthink. Yet some Fed officials warn that there are downsides to sharp splits. If the committee votes end up as 8-4 or even 7-5, then financial markets could lose confidence in where the central bank is headed next.

Fed Governor Christopher Waller, for example, has said that in the case of a 7-5 vote, if just one official changed their view, it could bring about a significant shift in Fed policy.

For now, however, most economists expect what's called a hawkish cut the Fed will reduce rates, while also signaling that it may stand pat for some time to assess the economy's health. ("Hawks" refer to officials who generally support higher rates to combat inflation, while doves more often support lower rates to boost hiring).

RELATED STORY | What the federal interest rate cut means for you and the US economy

The president of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, Jeffrey Schmid, is expected to dissent for a second straight meeting in favor of keeping rates unchanged. He may be joined by St. Louis Fed president Alberto Musalem. Fed governor Stephen Miran, who was hurriedly appointed to the Fed's board by Trump in September, will likely dissent for a third straight meeting in favor of a larger, half-point reduction in the Fed's key rate.

After the Fed's last meeting Oct. 28-29, several policymakers said they would prefer to keep rates unchanged at the December meeting, leading Wall Street investors to briefly downgrade the odds of a third rate cut to less than 30%. But then John Williams, president of the New York Fed, said that this year's uptick in inflation appears to be a temporary blip driven by Trump's tariffs that would likely fade by the middle of 2026.

As a result, I still see room for a further adjustment in the Fed's short-term rate, Williams said. As president of the New York Fed and vice chair of the rate-setting committee, Williams gets to vote on every interest rate decision and is close to Powell. Analysts said it was unlikely Williams would have made such a statement without Powell's support. Investors rapidly lifted the odds of a cut, which now are at 89%, according to CME Fedwatch.

You're seeing the power of the chair, said Nathan Sheets, chief global economist at Citi and also a former top Fed staffer. Members of the committee, my instinct is, are wanting to underscore their support for Powell.

Powell has come under relentless attack from Trump, who just last month said he would love to fire his ass and called Powell this clown.

The Fed is required by Congress to seek low inflation and maximum employment, two goals that are potentially in conflict.

IN RELATED NEWS | How higher interest rates can earn you money

For now, Powell and many other Fed officials are more concerned about hiring and unemployment rather than inflation. While the official government jobs reports have been delayed, in September the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4%, the third straight increase and the highest in four years.

Payroll provider ADP, meanwhile, reported that in November, its data showed companies shed 32,000 jobs. And many large firms have announced sweeping layoffs.

Worries that the job market could get worse are a key reason a rate cut in December is likely but not necessarily beyond that. Fed officials will have up to three months of backlogged jobs and inflation data to consider when they meet in late January. Those figures could show inflation remains stubbornly high or that hiring has rebounded, which would suggest further cuts aren't needed.

What they may end up agreeing to do is cut rates now, but give some guidance ... that signals that theyre on pause for a while after that, Kathy Bostjancic, chief economist at Nationwide, said.

It has been since Sept. 6 that anyone has hit all six numbers in the multistate Powerball lottery, causing the jackpot to grow with each drawing.

On Monday, the streak of drawings without a winner grew to 40, as no one matched the five white balls and one Powerball. Without a winner, Wednesday's jackpot will hit $930 million, making it the seventh-largest jackpot in the lottery's history.

If someone wins the jackpot, they have the option of choosing the $930 million payment spread over 29 years, or a lump sum worth about $429 million before tax.

The Sept. 6 drawing, which marked the last time someone hit all six numbers, produced two winners. The winners opted to split that drawing's $1.7 billion jackpot.

Although Monday's drawing did not result in a jackpot winner, one player in Florida won $1 million by matching all five white ball numbers.

RELATED STORY | Jackpot claimed: About the $1.3 billion Powerball win

The numbers for Monday's drawing were 8, 32, 52, 56, 64 and red Powerball 23.

The odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 292 million.

Powerball also offers prizes ranging from $4 to $2 million, and the odds of winning a smaller prize are about 1 in 25.

Powerball is played in 45 states and Washington, D.C.

Since Powerball lengthened the odds of hitting all six numbers in 2015, the multistate lottery has generally had six to nine winners a year. All 10 of its largest jackpots have also occurred since 2015. The largest Powerball jackpot in history was $2.04 billion, won on Nov. 7, 2022.

Americans are heading into this year's holiday season carrying more credit card debt than ever before. Paying off that debt in the New Year could be an even greater challenge due to factors like inflation, high rent, and high interest rates.

Watch Peter's report in the video player below How to keep holiday spending in check as American credit card debt reaches record high

According to the New York Federal Reserve, outstanding credit card balances jumped to a record $1.23 trillion in the third quarter of this year, up six percent from last year.

With Christmas just weeks away, shoppers are flocking to stores to check off their gift lists, and they're hoping to do it in a way that won't break the bank.

"I put away money aside just to make sure i would have it for Christmas and not have to get into that debt this year," said Clinton Township resident Alexander Luckas.

"You don't want to get yourself in too deep," said Andre Harris of Roseville.

As the 2025 Holiday shopping season is underway, so are the shopping sprees. This is not because shoppers are feeling more confident; many are simply relying on credit to keep up.

"There's a budget to start, and usually by mid-December the budget expands to a lot more than you had hoped for," said Katie Batts from Clinton Township.

I caught up with Batts outside of Target. She was out Christmas shopping with her friend, Amy. Katie said while the budget expands, it is still in check, and she said it's not worth going into debt over.

"We give back, so if we cannot give back to other people as much as we are giving to ours, we won't," Batts said.

Megan Wigley calls herself a 'budgetista' when it comes to spending. She plans at least six months ahead for holiday shopping and sets a strict budget to stick to.

"It's so important, especially again in today's economy and climate, to stay on a budget and to refrain from getting into debt," Wigley said. "I don't use credit cards because by the time I buy a 35-dollar item in Target, that interest is going to be 35 dollars plus."

According to a 2025 report by the American Institute of CPA's, 47 percent of Americans plan on taking that risk and going into debt from buying gifts and holiday travel expenses.

I spoke with Jennifer Bloom, financial strategist with Bloom Advisors, on what shoppers should do if they have already overspent this holiday season.

"You need to pick a realistic holiday number, not a wish list," Bloom said. "If you've already overspent this holiday season, make a plan for how you're going to pay off that high-interest credit card debt immediately. Really start to figure out how we're going to siphon money to pay off this high-interest credit card debt to make sure that it goes away before it becomes a bigger and bigger snowball."

Other tips include having a spending and budgeting plan, and sticking to them, as well as using debit or cash to keep your spending in line so you don't overspend.

"100 percent I've gone into debt shopping for Christmas and would never do it again," Luckas said.

Luckas learned the hard way a few years ago and is warning shoppers not to do what he did.

"It took me two to three years to pay off my credit card debt, and now I'm finally paid off all my debt," he said.

Andre Harris said he has gone overboard before and is still working to pay it off.

"I went a little over. I went almost maybe $9,000 over," he said.

A little planning now can help keep your finances bright and merry well into the new year.

Where Your Voice Matters

The Detroit Lions partnered with Meijer to bring Christmas magic to nearly two dozen local children through their annual Shop with a Lion event, giving kids a $250 shopping spree alongside their favorite players and team legends.

The heartwarming event took place at the Meijer store on Grand River Avenue in Detroit, where 20 children from five different youth organizations got to shop with Lions including Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Jahmyr Gibbs, among others.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report below: Detroit Lions and Meijer spread holiday cheer with Shop with a Lion event

"It was awesome, man, to be with the kids, to go shopping with them and the holiday season. For them, this is like their Super Bowl. They get to go out and pick what they want," St. Brown said.

Lorenzo Pearson, who participated through The Yunion, was thrilled with his purchases and the experience.

"So I got the headset for my PS5. I've got a PS5 at home," Lorenzo said. "It was so great. It was so fun with Amon-Ra St. Brown."

The shopping spree brought back childhood memories for the Lions players, who found themselves relating to the kids' excitement and interests.

"I'd come into a store like this, Meijer, and be like where's the electronics? I want to go to the electronics, I want to get a controller," St. Brown said.

For some players, the experience was educational as they learned about current trends in children's entertainment.

"I'm hearing a lot of Roblox, you know, what I'm saying? I ain't ever played Roblox. I don't know what this is. But yeah, it's the same type of stuff, man," Lions player Grant Stuard said.

Jay Wagoner from Meijer's Partnership and Giving Team emphasized that the children's joy made the event special.

"Giving back to the community and seeing the smiles on these kids when they meet their player, heroes just makes it all worth while," Wagoner said.

Brianna Battle, whose daughter participated in the shopping experience, said the day may change her family's Sunday routine.

"I had so much, we had so much fun. Now she's going to be watching football every Sunday," Battle said.

As the children left with their carts full of gifts, Lorenzo summed up the spirit of the day with a simple cheer: "Go Lions."

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 was back in court Monday after being sick Friday, as hearings continued over evidence that may be presented at his trial.

Called to the stand Monday was Officer Chrissy Wasser of the Altoona Police Department, the woman who searched Mangione's backpack at the McDonald's where he was arrested.

Mangione's team says the search was unlawful since it was done without a warrant. The Altoona PD maintains it was part of protocol.

At the time, Mangione had only been arrested for lower level offenses unrelated to the CEO's shooting, but Wasser said she was looking for a bomb inside his backpack.

When Mangione was asked about what was inside the bag, he said he would remain silent. Wasser says there was a heightened concern because of the response.

But Mangione's attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo points out Wasser was already wearing gloves and planning to search the bag.

Wasser found loaded magazines wrapped in underwear, among other items. It was not until she searched the bag again at the police station that she found a gun, a silencer and a red notebook that prosecutors say was a manifesto.

Judge Gregory Caro said the term "manifesto" will not be allowed at trial the way it was used Monday.

RELATED STORY | Witness details Mangione arrest in UnitedHealthcare CEO murder trial hearing

Agnifilo also pointed out Monday afternoon that officers never cleared the restaurant. Wasser said that was because the situation was under control.

Also shown Monday was another of Mangione's handwritten notes where he allegedly noted to himself to look for red eye transit out of Pittsburgh and made a map of other cities and towns nearby.

Testimony in the case will resume Tuesday morning.

A 20-year-old St. Clair Shores man has been charged with plotting a mass shooting at Masonic Heights Elementary School after police investigated threatening TikTok videos that came to the FBI's attention.

Joel Edwards was arraigned Friday before Judge Joseph Craigen Oster in the 40th District Court on charges of intentional threat to commit an act of violence against a school, using a computer to commit a crime and felony firearm. Oster set his bond at $5 million.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report below: St. Clair Shores resident faces felony charges for alleged school threat

The investigation began Sept. 13 when the FBI contacted Michigan State Police about TikTok videos allegedly associated with Edwards that expressed a desire to carry out a mass shooting. State police then contacted St. Clair Shores police, who conducted a cyberthreat investigation and welfare check.

During the welfare check, police found weapons in Edwards' possession and took him into custody for a mental health evaluation. He has been held at the Macomb County Jail since Sept. 25 after being sentenced for violating a term of his probation.

Parents were not made aware of the alleged plan until after Edwards was arraigned Friday, nearly three months after the initial investigation.

"So it being right here in our backyard, it put a sense of fear in me that I've never had in the community before," said Jessica Frye, a local resident who was stunned to learn about the allegations.

Frye expressed additional concerns about Edwards' proximity to the school.

"He lives way too close to the school. So if he does get out and he lives there, he's so close to it. He's close to our house," Frye said.

Edwards' mother, Rebekah, disputes the charges, calling the situation a misunderstanding.

"I don't believe that's true," Rebekah Edwards said.

She explained that her son was attempting to act like fictional characters.

"I think that he was trying to be an actor and he was mimicking characters that were not good role models for him like Patrick Bateman and Walter White. He goes through these episodes where he wants to be like these actors," Rebekah Edwards said.

Rebekah Edwards also expressed frustration about her son's treatment while incarcerated.

"It's just been really hard to deal with all of this because he needs help and he's not getting the help he needs from the place he's at," she said.

Joel Edwards faces three charges: intentional threat to commit an act of violence against a school with specific intent to carry out or overt act toward (a 10-year felony), using a computer to commit a crime (a 10-year felony) and felony firearm (a two-year felony consecutive to the main charge).

If Joel Edwards posts his $5 million bond, he must wear a GPS tether and is subject to home confinement. He cannot have contact with any school building or school student. Oster also referred him for a mental health evaluation.

Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido released a statement addressing community concerns.

"Earlier today, a young man was arraigned following his arrest connected to an alleged plan to carry out an act of violence against a school. This is a deeply disturbing situation, and we understand the fear it may cause within our community. Based on the information received and available to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, there is no ongoing threat to public safety," Lucido said.

Lucido praised the coordinated law enforcement response.

"I extend my sincere gratitude to the law enforcement agencies whose swift, coordinated, and highly professional efforts brought this situation to light and ensured that no one was harmed. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Michigan State Police, and St. Clair Shores Police Departments are to be commended," he said.

Joel Edwards is scheduled for a probable cause conference on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 8:30 a.m. and a preliminary exam on Friday, Dec. 19 at 9:30 a.m. before Oster at the 40th District Court in St. Clair Shores.

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.

Troy residents rejected a $137 million bond proposal last month, with 55% of voters saying no to a comprehensive infrastructure package that would have funded a new library, road improvements, and public safety upgrades.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: What's next in Troy after bond proposal fails?

The defeated proposal included $75 million for a new three-story library, $35 million for street improvements on roads like Coolidge Highway and Wattles Road, $17 million for parks and recreation improvements, and $10 million for upgraded fire trucks and new police body cameras.

"I voted yes. I'm a frequent user of the library. I felt it was time the library needed an upgrade," said Richard Leary, a Troy resident. "And all the services that were part of that bond proposal were pretty necessary for the city."

However, other residents felt the proposal was too broad or expensive.

"I voted no because I thought the proposal was too generalized. I think if they would have eliminated maybe everything except the library, I might have voted differently," said Carol Lebioda.

Mayor Ethan Baker defended the bundled approach, saying the city has multiple capital needs that required attention.

"I stand by my position that the bundling aspect fundamentally was correct from the standpoint that we have a large group of capital needs, and the library was part of those needs," Baker said.

Despite the bond's failure, the city plans to move forward with priority items using existing funds. Police body cameras have already been purchased using tax dollars that could have been allocated to other community projects.

I think the issue really becomes what projects will take priority, how do we piecemeal some of those road projects together, and thats what were faced with. As opposed to doing the entire Wattles Road or entire Coolidge Highway...were going to have to take that band-aid approach, and do a little bit at a time, which is not as efficient, it's going to cost more money, and be more of an inconvenience for residents," Baker said.

For the library, city officials are considering scaling back and investing in renovations instead of new construction.

"The library is something that needs to be addressed. I stand by the fact that we are continuing to put a lot of money into a building that will continue to fail at this point," Baker said.

Some residents who voted against the bond remain hopeful the city will find alternative solutions.

"This was definitely a high price tag, but if you bundle it correctly, it might resonate among people," said Gurminder Singh, a 17-year Troy resident.

City leaders plan to meet in mid-January to discuss the vote results and determine next steps for addressing Troy's infrastructure needs.

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.

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani posted a video to social media on Sunday explaining immigrants' right to refuse to speak to or comply with agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, days after federal agents carried out a raid in Manhattan.

In the video, Mamdani vowed to protect the city's 3 million immigrants, saying, We can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights.

He explained that people in the U.S. can chose not to speak to federal immigration agents, film them without interfering and refuse their requests to enter private spaces. ICE agents cannot enter spaces like a home, school or private area of a workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge, Mamdani said.

ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent. If youre being detained, you may always ask, Am I free to go? repeatedly until they answer you, said Mamdani, who will be sworn in as mayor on Jan 1.

RELATED STORY | Trump calls for ending immigration from failed nations following Guard members death

His comments came a week after demonstrators gathered as ICE attempted to detain people on Canal Street near New York's Chinatown. A similar immigration sweep in the same neighborhood last October was also met with protests.

New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight each and every day to protect, support, and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters, Mamdani said in Sunday's video.

Weeks earlier, Mamdani had a surprisingly cordial Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump, whose administration is carrying out federal immigration enforcement operations in several U.S. cities, most recently in New Orleans.

Bloomfield Township police are putting out a message about stepped-up enforcement against drunk driving and distracted driving.

Watch Simon Shaykhet's video report: Bloomfield Twp. police to step up drunk driving & distracted driving enforcement

As the holidays approach, they tell me the department plans to use additional grant funding to pay for extra police units to be out patrolling.

Chief James Gallagher said this is the time of year when people should be extra careful and celebrate responsibly as they head out to gatherings and holiday parties.

Also, police said it's a time for law enforcement to really emphasize what's important before it's too late.

There always seems to be one or two tragedies this time of year," Gallgher said. Historically the holidays bring more traffic. More impaired driving on the roads. More distracted driving. Well put extra cars on the roads. Specifically, looking for that type of driving behavior.

Police said evenings are often when they see the most cases of impaired driving, and that's when all drivers need to pay extra attention to potential dangers.

A large fire broke out Sunday evening at a commercial building on Middlebelt Road in Garden City, sending flames and smoke dozens of feet into the air as firefighters battled the blaze for hours.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report: Cause of fire at Garden City strip mall under investigation

Garden City Fire officials said the fire started just after 5 p.m., creating a massive plume of smoke visible from blocks away. Spectators gathered to watch as crews worked to contain the flames that eventually consumed the building.

"The flames, you can feel them from there and right to the porch here," said Chris Gruenwald, a neighbor who witnessed the fire from across the street. "The smoke was everywhere, could barely breathe outside."

The building held significant memories for Ghazi Darwiche, who operated a kitchen materials business there for five years before closing two years ago and moving to Westland. He had been using the space for storage since then.

"Oh, my heart, man," Darwiche said when he saw the destruction.

7 News contacted Darwiche Monday morning to inform him about the fire after finding his former business online.

"When you called and told me my building had been burned, I was very shocked," Darwiche said.

He said a friend was also using two of the buildings for business storage, including clothing and other products.

"He's a very good guy. Has all of his stuff in those two warehouses," Darwiche said.

Over the years, the space housed various businesses including a dance studio and most recently a pet training business. Darwiche said the old building had multiple issues, including loose wiring and leaks.

"It's destroyed, man. From the inside it looks gone. It's an old building. It has many issues. Leaking and all of this," he said.

Gruenwald watched from his location on Middlebelt and Balmoral as firefighters arrived after a passerby reported the fire.

"First time seeing ladders going a hundred and some feet in the air," Gruenwald said. "It just got worse and worse. Starting engulfing everything up."

Fire crews said the flames compromised the roof and caused severe damage to the building, along with smoke damage to at least one surrounding business. No injuries were reported.

"I got to give it to them. They did one heck of a job," Gruenwald said.

Garden City Fire officials said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

"I feel sad. I feel miserable," Darwiche said. "You never know what's going to happen tomorrow."

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 beloved holiday tradition in Dearborn Heights nearly fell apart this year after a tree shipment got stuck overseas. But a local businessman and a Michigan tree farmer jumped in, saving the celebration at the last minute.

The 40-foot Norway spruce now stands tall in front of city hall in Dearborn Heights, where it will remain for years to come as the centerpiece of the city's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

Watch Carli Petrus' video report below: Dearborn Heights Christmas tree lighting saved by businessman and Michigan farm

The tradition was almost canceled when the tree ordered by the previous administration ran into serious delays. New Mayor Mo Baydoun said the lower-cost artificial tree shipped from overseas wouldn't arrive in time.

"We ordered a fake tree from China. We actually just got an update that it's on its way. It would be here by Thursday, but it would be too late for us to set this tree up and get it going," Baydoun said.

The city faced two options: cancel the event completely or find a way to pay for a replacement tree.

That's when Huff's Tree Farm in Highland and a local business owner stepped in to help. Part owner Nicholas Huff said city representatives came to the farm looking for a large Christmas tree.

"We were having a normal day selling Christmas trees and then two vehicles went through and they said 'hey, we're from the city of Dearborn Heights and we're looking for a large Christmas tree,'" Huff said.

Huff had the perfect tree in mind.

"So I said that has to be your tree. It's one of the prettiest ones we have at the farm," Huff said.

His company paid for a portion of the approximately $10,000 Norway spruce, while Dearborn Heights businessman Sam Hussein covered the rest.

"I thought it was the right thing to do given the circumstances. They had a tree-lighting ceremony set up for this Friday and they were really on a time crunch and this is our way of giving back," Hussein said.

Huff said he felt proud to help the community during the holiday season.

"I feel a good sense of pride being able to help the community, help our tree farm and kind of bring people together during this special time of year," Huff said.

For Baydoun, the tree represents more than just a holiday tradition. As an immigrant Muslim mayor, he sees it as a symbol of unity and coexistence.

"With a lot of the hate that's kind of going around and not realizing as an immigrant Muslim mayor, we still coexist and we still celebrate the traditions of Christmas, and so we're able to bring that back to light and showing that this is a unified community and we're going to stay unified and we're going to stay working and loving and showing respect to all faiths and religions," Baydoun said.

Community members like Mohammed Jaffer and Debbie Cook expressed excitement about the upcoming ceremony.

"It has a lot of potential," Jaffer said.

"I'm happy," Cook said.

The tree-lighting ceremony will take place Friday at 6:30 p.m. outside Dearborn Heights City Hall.

You can find more information on the city's website.

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.

Sterling Heights has become ground zero for cryptocurrency fraud in metro Detroit, with police reporting nearly two dozen cases totaling more than $500,000 in losses since January.

Watch Evan Sery's and Brittany Toolis' video reports: Sterling Heights tackles crypto fraud after major losses Sterling Heights cracks down on cryptocurrency machine fraud after $500K in losses this year

The city leads Macomb and Oakland counties with 27 cryptocurrency machines the most of any community in the region. But Sterling Heights Police say fraud connected to those machines has increased significantly this year.

"I believe we had a lady in her 70s who was scammed in a romance type scam, she met someone online the person started asking for money they were in need of money," said Chief Andy Satterfield of Sterling Heights Police.

The woman lost more than $70,000 to the scammer.

"She would just send him money, I believe, over 70 thousand dollars worth," Satterfield said.

The chief described the loss as "horrible and not uncommon" in what Sterling Heights Police call predatory virtual currency scams.

From the Federal Trade Commission: What To Know About Cryptocurrency and Scams

Sterling Heights Police Captain Colleen Hopper is part of the department's crypto task force, formed in September to combat the 23 fraud cases. She says the scams begin with an unsolicited message or call designed to create pressure.

The victim typically an elderly person is told to deposit cash into a cryptocurrency ATM.

"Once that money is submitted, it is gone," Hopper said.

Last week, Hopper helped introduce an ordinance in front of city council that would add new licensing and operational regulations for cryptocurrency machines.

"To see the level of scams and theft tied to them in our community, these are long overdue, and I'm happy to support this," said Sterling Heights Councilman Michael Radtke.

The ordinance, which will be voted on next week, would require a photo ID for transactions, display fraud warnings, maintain a customer service hotline, and create a first-time user transaction limit of $1,000.

Satterfield advises residents to be cautious before sending money to unknown individuals.

"If you feel like you may be a victim, call local police before you send a lot of money to someone you may not know, consult with someone, make sure this is legitimate business," Satterfield 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.

The Trump administration on Monday abruptly withdrew a controversial policy aimed at reshaping a multi-billion-dollar anti-homelessness grant program run by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as the proposed changes drew lawsuits from over a dozen states and localities as well as homeless-serving organizations.

In a court filing Monday afternoon, officials wrote they withdrew guidance documents pertaining to the new policy in order to assess the issues raised by Plaintiffs in their suits and to fashion a revised [plan]. A new notice on the programs website says the agency still intends to exercise this discretion and make changes to the program, and that officials expect to share the updated policy well in advance of the deadline for obligation of available Fiscal Year 2025 funds.

As Scripps News reported in November, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner is pushing a significant overhaul of the Continuum of Care program, which provides government grants to localities and aid organizations that combat homelessness via housing support, mental health and job training services.

Among the proposed changes to the nearly $4 billion program was a significantly lowered cap on how much funding could go towards long-term housing support; whereas previous funding years limited spending on long-term housing programs to 90% of grant receipts, Turners changes limited it to just 30%.

Prior to us getting here in the Biden administration, there were no strings attached to almost $4 billion of taxpayer funding, Turner argued in an interview with Scripps News last month. There was no accountability, and so we have to change that.

In a statement to Scripps News Monday evening, a HUD spokesperson said the agency "fully stands by the fundamental reforms" to the program and will "reissue [the guidance document] as quickly as possible with technical corrections."

"The Department remains fully committed to make long overdue reforms to its homelessness assistance programs," the spokesperson added.

EARLIER THIS YEAR | Trump admin announces billion-dollar changes to a program that helps people out of homelessness

Housing advocates and groups that work to address homelessness, meanwhile, have spoken out forcefully against the proposed changes.

The proposed changes represent a reckless and illegal leap backwards for homeless response in the United States, Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, said in a statement. There is no doubt that it will cause homelessness to rise across this nation.

The proposed changes are a destructive departure from decades of homelessness policy and will put an estimated 170,000 people into homelessness, echoed Renee M. Willis, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. These actions will destabilize communities across the country.

Willis and Olivas groups were among the coalition of local governments and nonprofits that sued to try to block the policy in early December, following over a dozen, predominately Democratically-led states that filed a separate lawsuit in late November.

HUD has adopted new policies that threaten to cancel thousands of existing projects, require providers to fundamentally reshape their programs on an impossible timeline, and essentially guarantee that tens of thousands of formerly homeless individuals and families will be evicted back into homelessness, the states allege in their complaint. HUD is now holding these funds and the people they help hostage.

Asked about the organizations criticisms and officials lawsuits at the time, a HUD spokesperson declined to comment, pointing Scripps News to Turners public remarks.

During a previously-scheduled hearing in the states lawsuit on Monday afternoon, attorneys on both sides sparred about the proposed changes, and well as the recent withdrawal of the policy documents.

The plaintiffs contend that withdrawing the policy as the Trump administration did violates the law, similar to their argument that the way they announced it was unlawful. They signaled that they intend to move forward with their challenge to the policy on both substantive and procedural grounds.

Presiding Judge Mary S. McElroy ordered the government to produce information about how and why the policy was rescinded by Dec. 15, overturning the Justice Departments requests for a delay until the new year, and scheduled a follow-up hearing for the 19

th

.

Detroit's Senate Theater, a nearly 100-year-old community landmark powered entirely by volunteers, faces mounting financial pressures as costly repairs threaten its future operations.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report: Nearly 100-year-old Detroit Senate Theater needs community support for repairs

The nonprofit Detroit Theater Organ Society, which owns and operates the Southwest Detroit venue, needs approximately $150,000 for building maintenance despite recent Giving Tuesday fundraising efforts.

"We're maintaining one of the few movie theaters that are left in the city of Detroit," said John Lauter, secretary of the board of directors for the Detroit Theater Organ Society.

The theater's story began with a beloved pipe organ that needed a home after being displaced during Fisher Theatre renovations in 1961. What started as a private club has evolved into a public theater hosting movies, concerts and shows for the community.

"The grand mission is to keep a roof over the head of this instrument, which we really want to preserve. It's a very historical piece. It's a very significant piece to Detroit and to this type of organ," said Lauter. "We also want to keep being a theater for the neighborhood and for the city."

However, the building's age presents increasing challenges for the volunteer-run organization.

"Time is constant. The clock ticks every moment the building gets older," Lauter said. "We're getting to the point where some of the physical demands of the building are becoming pressing."

Current priorities include masonry repairs, stage support improvements and fire safety system upgrades. The organization relies on raising money from programming and on donations to fund these essential projects.

"We need more donors in this. We're getting into six figures in these projects all told," Lauter said.

The theater previously faced a similar challenge when its original attraction sign deteriorated to the point where its structure was declared unsafe. Donors raised over $140,000 to replace it with a new LED sign.

"We were able to raise that money and defray that cost," Lauter said.

The organization hopes end-of-year contributions will help bridge the current funding gap and preserve the theater's unique community role.

"We're keeping alive this building and this tradition of going to the theater to see films together with people, and it's a different experience," Lauter 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.

Busy schedules can lead to less sleep, but a method called sleep banking might help you stay ahead of it.

Ask Dr. Nandi: Sleep banking can help with getting some rest in advance

Sleep banking means saving or banking sleep, so you can use it later.  In the medical world, we call it sleep extension.

Heres how it works: you intentionally get more sleep even just 15 minutes more each night in the days leading up to when you expect to sleep less. And that can really make a difference.

Studies show it can improve cognition and recognition related to vigilant attention.

Vigilant attention is your ability to stay alert and react quickly without mistakes, especially during long or boring tasks like driving or monitoring a screen.

Now, the people who benefit the most are those who have limited control over their schedules. That would include anyone working long shifts like doctors, nurses, firefighters and paramedics. Also, students cramming before big exams or professionals facing a project deadline can benefit from it occasionally. 

There are limits. Sleep banking hasnt been proven to help with more complicated thinking like executive functioning tasks. Executive functioning refers to the brain skills you use to plan, make decisions, multitask and handle complex daily activities. Its different from basic alertness or reaction speed.

That said, sleep banking is much better than getting less sleep. A sleep debt can take a toll on you mentally and physically. Not only can it cause daytime sleepiness and impair mental function, but it can also affect mood, safety, performance and reduce immune function. It may increase the risk of health issues like diabetes, obesity and heart problems.

If you do try sleep banking, its best to avoid making it a long-term habit. For most healthy adults, the goal is still seven to nine hours of sleep every night and going to bed and waking up at the same time.

As for who shouldnt try it, anyone who struggles with insomnia should avoid sleep banking. Going to bed early and lying awake for long periods doesnt help and can make frustration worse. 

So, use sleep banking occasionally if your schedule demands it, but then return to your normal routine as soon as you can. Great sleep hygiene is still the best strategy for your overall health.

A petition demanding the removal of Lee Zeldin from his role as head of Environmental Protection Agency circulated on social media highlights a rift between the conservative health-focused bloc behind the Make America Healthy Again movement, or MAHA, and the mission of the Trump administration when it comes to deregulatory priorities.

The petition, written in the form of a letter to President Trump, criticizes Zeldin for prioritizing the interests of chemical corporations over the well-being of American families and children, warning this approach will inevitably lead to higher rates of chronic disease, greater medical costs, and tremendous strain on our healthcare system.

Organizers of the petition include Alex Clark, a wellness podcast host that partners with Turning Point USA, and Zen Honeycutt, the founder and executive director of Moms Across America, a group that focuses on food safety, pesticides and vaccine standards.

Also on the petition is Moms Clean Air Force, an advocacy group of U.S. mothers seeking to protect children from the effects of air pollution and climate change.

With every proposed deregulation, hes allowing families and children to be exposed to more soot, more mercury, more methane, more toxic chemicals, more tailpipe pollution, and more climate pollution," said MCAF founder and director Dominique Browning. "Lee Zeldin must go.

Zeldins EPA recently rolled out new pesticide approvals, and a rollback of chemical safeguards, directly contradicting MAHAs focus on public health. Policy around PFAS chemicals, known as forever chemicals that are tied to severe health issues, appear to have spurred the call for action online and underscores growing tensions within President Trumps political base over the chemicals in the nations air, water, and food.

An active ingredient in newly approved pesticides, isocycloseram, is slated to be used on agricultural crops, turf, and potentially around homes and commercial sites.

Around the same time, the agency moved to roll back drinking water protections for several PFAS compounds.

The changes come just about a year after then President elect Donald Trump tapped Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his Health and Human Services Secretary. At the time he explained that Kennedy would "play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming health crisis in this country."

RELATED STORY | A new EPA proposal would limit the agencys ability to enforce clean water rules

While HHS and EPA are separate agencies, frustration from the MAHA organizers has lead to the call for an EPA leader who will genuinely defend public health and truly put America First.

An EPA spokesperson wrote in part to Scripps News that every decision under Trump's EPA "is grounded in rigorous, transparent, gold standard science. We are simultaneously protecting human health, safeguarding the environment, and driving economic growth. Those who claim this is impossible are either uninformed or dishonest.

HHS did not respond to Scripps News request for comment.

The petition, and the pushback from the entity it criticizes, highlights a widening fracture within conservative and MAGA-era political alliances, as traditional industry-friendly Republicans who back deregulation and point to economic benefits face the growing popularity of a section of the party who say they prioritize health and chemical safety.

Zeldin appears to still have the support of President Trump.

At a recent White House roundtable discussing the $12 billion aid package for farmers and his plan to roll back environmental regulations on farm equipment, President Trump said Zeldin is doing a fantastic job.

Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett launched a campaign Monday for the U.S. Senate in Texas, bringing a national profile to a race that may be critical to Democrats long-shot hopes of reclaiming a Senate majority in next years midterm elections.

Crockett, one of Congress most outspoken Democrats and a frequent target of GOP attacks, jumped into the race on the final day of qualifying in Texas. She is seeking the Senate seat held by Republican John Cornyn, who is running for reelection in the GOP-dominated state.

Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to wrest control from Republicans next November, when most of the seats up for reelection are in states like Texas that President Donald Trump won last year. Democrats have long hoped to make Texas more competitive after decades of Republican dominance. Cornyn, first elected to the Senate since 2002, is facing the toughest GOP primary of his career against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt.

Crocketts announcement came hours after former Rep. Colin Allred ended his own campaign for the Democratic nomination in favor of attempting a House comeback bid. She faces a March 3 primary against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, a former teacher with a rising national profile fueled by viral social media posts challenging Republican policies such as private school vouchers and requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Scripps News interview: Gene Simmons talks pushing Congress to ensure artists are paid for songs on the radio

Talarico raised almost $6.3 million in the three weeks after he formally organized his primary campaign committee in September, according its first campaign finance report, and he had nearly $5 million in cash on hand at the end of the month. Crockett raised about $2.7 million for her House campaign fund from July through September and ended the month with $4.6 million in cash on hand.

Crockett also could test Democratic voters appetite for a blunt communicator who is eager to take on Republicans as their party sets out again in pursuit of a statewide victory in Texas for the first time since 1994.

Democrats see their best opportunity to pick up the Texas seat if Paxton wins the Republican nomination because he has been shadowed for much of his career by legal and personal issues. Yet Paxton is popular with Trumps most ardent supporters.

Hunt, who has served two terms representing a Houston-area district, defied GOP leaders by entering the GOP race.

Crockett, a civil rights attorney serving her second House term, built her national profile with a candid style and viral moments on Capitol Hill. Among those who have taken notice is Trump, who has called her a low IQ person. In response, Crockett said she would agree to take an IQ test against the president.

She traded insults with Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who announced last month that she would resign in January, and had heated exchanges with Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina.

She also mocked Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott who uses a wheelchair as Gov. Hot Wheels. She later said she was referring to Abbotts policy of using planes, trains and automobiles to send thousands of immigrants in Texas illegally to Democratic-led cities.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Time is running out for Congress to extend healthcare subsidies

Democrats came closest in the past 30 years to winning a statewide contest in 2018, when former U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke came within 3 points of ousting Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. That was during the midterm election of Trumps first administration, and Democrats believe next years race could be similarly favorable to their party.

Allred lost to Cruz by 8.5 points last year. He is running for the House in a newly drawn district in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which he represented in Congress before his Senate bid in 2024.

An internal party battle, Allred said, would prevent the Democratic Party from going into this critical election unified against the danger posed to our communities and our Constitution by Donald Trump and one of his Republican bootlickers.

Allreds new district is part of the new congressional map that Texas lawmakers approved earlier this year as part of Trumps push to redraw House boundaries to Republicans advantage. It includes some areas that Allred represented in Congress from 2019-2025. Most of the district is currently being represented by Rep. Marc Veasey, but he has planned to run in a new, neighboring district.

A former professional football player and civil rights attorney, Allred was among Democrats star recruits for the 2018 midterms. That year, the party gained a net of 40 House seats, including multiple suburban and exurban districts in Texas, and won a House majority that redefined Trumps first presidency.

Besides avoiding a free-for-all Senate primary, Marshall said Allred is helping Democrats cause by becoming a candidate for another office, and he said thats a key for the party to have any shot at flipping the state.

The infrastructure isnt terrible but it clearly needs improvement, he said. Having strong, competitive candidates for every office is part of building that energy and operation. Texas needs strong candidates in House races, for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general every office so that voters are hearing from Democrats everywhere.