Recent plane crashes, landing mishaps and a shortage of air traffic controllers may have you gripping the armrests on your next flight a little tighter.

The collision of an Army helicopter and an American Airlines flight near Washington in January left 67 people dead, marking the first death in a U.S. commercial plane crash since 2009.

RELATED STORY | Remains of all 67 victims of the deadly plane-helicopter crash recovered

A few weeks later, a Delta plane slammed into a runway in Toronto, catching fire and flipping passengers upside down before they all managed to escape.

And the federal government has been highlighting a lack of air traffic controllers, using Uncle Sam and social media to urgently try to recruit more eyes to watch the increasingly congested skies.

Uncle Sam WANTS YOU to apply for this exciting, high-tech career manning our nations airport towers! pic.twitter.com/lKv0bDsSZP

Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) March 10, 2025

Although the aviation system may seem riskier these days, flying remains incredibly safe.

"It is literally safer than walking out of your own front door," said Nicholas Calio, president and CEO of Airlines For America, who was addressing lawmakers on Capitol Hill earlier this month.

The number of air crashes did increase slightly last year by 9%, according to the International Air Transport Association. That still equals just one accident out of every 881,554 flights.

The chances are many times greater of dying in a car crash or as a pedestrian.

In the first two months of this year, there were fewer not more aviation accidents compared to the same period last year, according to data compiled by the National Transportation Safety Board.

One reason it may feel like there are more crashes is the number of cameras now monitoring airports and in the pockets of virtually every passenger. Hobbyists train their lenses on runways all over the world to capture takeoffs and landings to post on social media for aviation enthusiasts.

"There's a whole cottage industry of folks that are called plane spotters," said veteran pilot Whiz Buckley. "They sit at the end of the runway in their spare time or whatever. Before all of that stuff, if something happened, you didn't get to see it."

If anything, the high-profile incidents have likely made flying safer, he said.

"This would be the best time to be flying because everyone's hyper vigilant and they don't want anything bad to happen," he said.

U.S. stock markets suffered another day of losses on Thursday after President Donald Trump escalated his tariff threats.

President Trump announced Thursday morning that he would impose a 200% tariff on all alcoholic products from European Union nations after a back-and-forth with the EU.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all fell more than 1% on the day. The Dow dropped more than 500 points to close at 40,849, while the Nasdaq declined 345 points.

RELATED STORY | Countries impose retaliatory tariffs, as tit-for-tat trade war continues

The S&P 500 also saw a significant decline, sliding nearly 1.4% and pushing the index into its first market correction since 2023. That term is reserved for when an index falls 10% or more from a recent high.

Over the past five days, the Dow and Nasdaq have each lost more than 3.5%, as uncertainty over U.S. economic policy continues to weigh on investors. In recent days, President Trump has threatened tariffs on multiple countries at times walking back those threats.

Its basically like a game of chicken that President Trump and America are playing with these other countries, said Aaron Cirksena, founder of MDRN Capital. Whos going to blink first? Whos going to make a concession first?

President Trump has warned of an economic "transition period" but insists that Americans will ultimately benefit from his trade and economic agenda.

However, a new CNN poll shows that 56% of respondents disapprove of his handling of the economy.

Countries impacted by President Trump's tariffs are punching back strategically.

The European Union announced tariffs on $28 billion worth of goods from the U.S., including poultry, bourbon and motorcycles.

"The European Union must act to protect consumers and business," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen explained on Wednesday. "The countermeasures we take today are strong but proportionate."

The EU tariffs will go into effect in two steps, starting on April 1. They'll be fully imposed on April 13.

Some of the items on the list are intentionally aimed at targeting Republican-leaning states, according to Dr. Albert Williams, a professor of finance and economics at Nova Southeastern University.

"They're saying that if you hit us and some of the things coming over, we're going to hit you where it hurts," Williams said. "That's the thinking they have in mind right now."

China also imposed retaliatory tariffs this week, hitting U.S.-produced chicken, pork, beef and soybeans.

The measures take aim at U.S. farmers, a group who overwhelmingly supported President Trump in the last election.

"(Countries) are saying we are going to hit products that come from states where they urgently need to export," Williams said. "For example, beef and even soybeans and corn are produced by our farmers, and the farmers are generally supporters of our president, and therefore, if they hurt, they will cry foul and they will definitely send into their politicians: 'This is not working. We need some changes.'"

RELATED STORY | Trump threatens 200% tariff on European alcohol in response to EU whiskey tax

Right now, the countries involved are digging in. President Trump threatened a 200% tariff on alcohol from Europe after the EU announced its new tariffs.

Williams says the solution isn't continued tit-for-tat tariffs.

"This doesn't lead to a very easy solution," Williams said. "Solutions will only come when countries negotiate at this point in time."

In todays Health Alert, with the clocks springing forward, its nice to have longer days. But the downside is that children can have difficulty adjusting. Some parents are turning to melatonin to help their kids sleep, but how safe is it?

Im a parent, so I get it. Kids are wide awake at bedtime and struggle to get up in the morning. That lost hour of sleep can make them cranky and groggy, so its no surprise that some parents turn to melatonin.

Now, our bodies naturally produce melatonin to regulate sleep, but taking it as a supplement can have unintended effectsespecially in kids. Giving the wrong dose could lead to agitation, grogginess, fatigue, headaches, mood swings, and even vivid dreams or nightmares.

Another big concern? The supplement industry isnt well regulated, so the actual dose in melatonin products may not always match whats on the label. And with melatonin gummies becoming more popular, were seeing a sharp rise in accidental ingestions among young children. One report found that calls to poison control centers jumped more than 530% over the past decade. Unfortunately, more than 4,000 children were hospitalized, five needed ventilators to breathe, and sadly, two died.

Melatonin might seem like a quick fix, but its not a long-term sleep solution. If youre considering melatonin, please know that the American Academy of Pediatrics doesnt recommend using it regularly. And always check with your childs doctor first.

My advice for parents whose kids are having trouble with the time change is this:

First, get them moving. Playing and exercising outside helps kids adjust to the longer daylight hours and leads to better sleep. Also, in the morning, open the blinds and let in sunlight. Natural light signals the body that its time to wake up. And as always, stick to good sleep habits: Keep bedtime consistent. Turn off screens about an hour before bed. Keep the bedroom dark, cool, and quiet. Wind down with a book or soft music.

The good news is that most kids will adjust within a week. But if sleep problems continue, please talk to a pediatrician to rule out other issues, like iron deficiency or sleep apnea.

This Week on the Dr. Nandi ShowMany veterans face injuries while serving, but do they receive the care they deserve upon returning home? Despite promises of support, many are left without the medical attention they need. In this episode, Dr. Partha Nandi examines the critical issue of veteran healthcare, featuring testimonials from veterans and advocates fighting to ensure that those who served are not forgotten. Tune in Monday, March 17th at 2:30 AM.

When Rich Pagano speaks about his son, Nick, the adoration is palpable. Alongside his love, however, is a fierce determination to ensure that other families do not suffer the same fate.

"There was no way that I could have prepared for losing a child," Pagano said.

Nick left behind a legacy as a talented triple-threat performer in theater and as a young man eager to help others in the LGBT community get sober. Tragically, his family watched as he transformed over the course of five years.

"He said to me, 'I get the same feeling from smoking pot as I do from acting,'" Pagano recalled.

By age 15, Nick was consuming marijuana and pills daily.

"With that comes stealing and dealing. By maybe 17 to 18, he discovered heroin," Pagano added.

RELATED STORY | Fentanyl: The Silent Toll

This marked the beginning of a painful cycle involving treatment centers, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and sober living arrangements, drastically affecting their family dynamics and finances.

"Your life becomes not about where is he going to college, or who is his roommate going to be, or what are his interests?" Pagano said. "It was about how can we keep him alive?"

Despite living in a sober house and making progress in 2021, Nick's life was cut short by a fentanyl overdose.

"I asked the coroner, and he said it was less, less than you could fit on the head of a pin," Pagano recalled.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports that just two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one gram can kill up to 500 people. In 2023, 107,000 overdose deaths were attributed to opioids, predominantly fentanyl.

RELATED STORY | How a 5-year-old ingested fentanyl in her kindergarten classroom

David Manheim has operated a podcast solo since 2018, following the sudden death of his co-host and best friend, Chris, who died after relapsing. The two had met during their recovery from heroin addiction.

"It was totally traumatic," Manheim said. "It was brutal. I had been a drug addict for almost 20 years, and I had not lost anybody close to me."

The "Dopey Podcast" has developed a loyal following, serving as a support network for people navigating the challenges of addiction.

"The more stories that are told about real drug addicts, real consequences, real deathI think that helps," Manheim said.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Portland under 90-day state of emergency to tackle fentanyl crisis

Encouragingly, trends show a decrease in drug overdose deaths. All but five states witnessed declines in overdose fatalities last year, with a significant 23.8% drop from September 2023 to September 2024.

Meanwhile, DEA lab testing revealed that in 2024, half of the recovered pills contained potentially lethal doses of fentanyl, a decrease from 70% in 2023.

For years, individuals battling addiction faced a grim choice: get clean or die. Pagano and Manheim now see a third option harm reduction which may include using things like marijuana, methadone, or safe injection sites.

"Four years ago, I would have said, 'No, you use, you don't have you don't get me in your life.' I no longer have him in my life," Pagano said. "The idea of sitting and having a meal with him with the agreement that he stays with injection sites as a parent who lost a child? I take that back in a second.

RELATED STORY | Country singer Jelly Roll testifies at Senate hearing on fentanyl bill

Dr. Ruben Olmedo, an emergency room physician at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, said he sees 1-2 patients each day suffering from complications related to drug use. He views harm reduction as a critical aspect of his role.

"Using it safely with different kinds of syringes, decreasing the amount of drug that they use so that they don't overdose, making sure that they're using it in a safe place make sure that they have Naloxone on hand," Olmedo said.

He advocates for a shift in the understanding of addiction as a disease, emphasizing the need for a change in mindset.

"If you are a drug addict, all you can really do is use or be sick," Manheim said. "If you're not a drug addict, you can do anything you want."

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

Half of Americans are now using artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT and Gemini, according to a new survey from researchers at Elon University.

The school's Imagining the Digital Future Center conducted a national survey in January to see how Americans are using AI large language models, referred to as LLMs.

Researchers said the widespread usage represents one of the fastest adoption rates of a major technology in U.S. history.

RELATED STORY | How small businesses are embracing artificial intelligence

ChatGPT launched at the end of November 2022 is by far the most used model to this day, according to the survey. But overall, the use of LLMs is becoming widespread.

"Younger, well-educated, relatively wealthy, and employed adults are somewhat more likely than others to be using LLMs now. Yet, it is also the case that half of those living in households earning less than $50,000 (53%) use the tools," the researchers said.

The technology is more popular among Hispanic adults (66%) and Black adults (57%) than White adults (47%), the survey found. It's also slightly more popular among women than men.

How often the LLMs are used varies: 34% said they use them at least once a day, 18% said they use them several times a week and 10% said they use the tools almost constantly.

RELATED STORY | Hospitals across the country are using artificial intelligence

Half of those who use LLMs like ChatGPT do so for personal use rather than for work. 11% use the models for school purposes, the survey said.

About two-thirds of the people surveyed said they use the LLMs as a search engine, but half of those users look to the technology to help with brainstorming ideas, summarizing documents and planning trips or social gatherings.

Another 18% of users said they've looked up what the models say about themselves and 65% of users said they have spoken conversations or back-and-forth interactions with LLMS making for an almost human-like relationship.

The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow restrictions on birthright citizenship to partly take effect while legal fights play out.

In emergency applications filed at the high court on Thursday, the administration asked the justices to narrow court orders entered by district judges in Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington that blocked the order President Donald Trump signed shortly after beginning his second term.

Three federal appeals courts have rejected the administration's pleas.

The order would deny citizenship to those born after Feb. 19 whose parents are in the country illegally. It also forbids U.S. agencies from issuing any document or accepting any state document recognizing citizenship for such children.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Recently, Channel 7 launched our new community connection initiative, Lets Talk. Were bringing our journalists to your communities and want to hear whats happening where you live. We kicked off our Lets Talk initiative with the 7 News Detroit team going to the community of Waterford for an open, honest conversation. What we learned was truly helpful. Thank you for coming to Waterford for our first conversation.

Every month, well be in a different area of Southeast Michigan. Our next stop will be in Macomb County, and soon we hope to connect with you in your community. We want to hear the stories you think we should know about. Perhaps theres something in your neighborhood or city youre proud of. Maybe its an issue you want us to investigate. Or maybe you have a question about our station coverage and would just like to meet members of our team. Over the years, some of our best stories started with a casual conversation that developed into a bond of friendship and trust.

The goal of Lets Talk is to simply listen. Theres no formal agenda, no official sign-up, just a casual conversation to share ideas and stories. What are the issues impacting your quality of life? How do you think 7 News Detroit can help? Nothing is off the table. So, Lets Talk!

To find out where well be in future weeks, go to wxyz.com. If you cant attend the event, but have story ideas, email us at tips@wxyz.com.

We want to be there for you, your community, and this entire region. That process begins with 7 News Detroit saying, Lets Talk!

Im Mike Murri, V.P. & General Manager

Broadcast: March 13 - 16, 2025

Scientists are keeping a close watch on Alaska's Mount Spurr as the volcano is showing new signs of activity that could mean an eruption is coming soon.

The volcano is about 75 miles away from Anchorage, the state's largest city.

There have been significantly elevated volcanic gas emissions," the Alaska Volcano Observatory said Wednesday, something that was measured during regular monitoring flights.

RELATED STORY | Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts with sudden new activity

An eruption at the volcano is likely but not certain and it could be weeks or months before it happens. Thankfully, there are no nearby communities so the civilian population is not in danger.

Mount Spurr is just one of 53 volcanoes across Alaska that have been active over the last two centuries. The last known eruption was over 5,000 years ago.

RELATED STORY | Trump orders expanded logging and timber production on federal lands

A group of 20 Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit on Thursday intended to stop President Donald Trump from dismantling the Department of Education.

The suit comes after the Trump administration announced it plans to cut nearly 50% of the department's staff, with the eventual goal of completely shutting down the Education Department.

The attorneys general argue that dismantling the Department of Education would disproportionately affect low-income students and students with disabilities. They say that the Department of Education helps provide states and local school districts with much-needed funding.

This administration may claim to be stopping waste and fraud, but it is clear that their only mission is to take away the necessary services, resources, and funding that students and their families need, said New York Attorney General James. Firing half of the Department of Educations workforce will hurt students throughout New York and the nation, especially low-income students and those with disabilities who rely on federal funding. This outrageous effort to leave students behind and deprive them of a quality education is reckless and illegal. Today, I am taking action to stop the madness and protect our schools and the students who depend on them.

RELATED STORY | Senate confirms billionaire Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education

Earlier this week, the White House said the department will make the following reductions from its more than 4,000 staff:

259 staffers who signed up for deferred resignation 313 staffers who accepted $25,000 voluntary separation incentive payments 1,315 staffers who are now subject to the reduction in force 63 probationary employees who had their roles eliminated in February

The reduction comes shortly after the Senate confirmed billionaire Linda McMahon, President Trump's pick for Education Secretary.

At her confirmation hearing, McMahon said she intended to make the Education Department "operate more efficiently."

But President Trump has promised to eliminate the Department of Education. He has already signed sweeping orders to target diversity programs and transgender accommodations in schools and expand school choice.

RELATED STORY | Department of Education announces plan to eliminate roughly half of its workforce

President Trump has insisted that he wants states, and not the federal government, running education in the U.S. But largely, states oversee local school districts, with the federal government providing funds for certain programs, such as the free and reduced-cost school lunch program. The federal government also provides oversight in terms of ensuring schools are not violating the civil rights of students.

"We want education to be moved back where the states run education where the parents of the children will be running education where governors that are doing a very good job will be running education," President Trump said earlier this week.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is implementing significant changes that will affect millions of people who rely on the agency's telephone services.

Effective March 29, Social Security beneficiaries will no longer be able to update their bank account information over the phone. Officials stated that this change is part of a broader initiative to reduce fraud.

RELATED STORY | Retroactive checks on the horizon: Social Security benefits to increase for public employees

"SSA continuously investigates and analyzes potential threats to strengthen and secure our programs and protect people who receive benefits," the administration said in a statement. "Approximately 40 percent of Social Security direct deposit fraud is associated with someone calling SSA to change direct deposit bank information. SSAs current protocol of simply asking identifying questions by telephone is no longer enough to prevent fraud."

RELATED STORY | Truth Be Told: Millions of dead people aren't getting Social Security benefits, but...

Social Security beneficiaries must now update their banking information through the "my Social Security" online service, which incorporates two-factor authentication for enhanced security. Alternatively, individuals can visit a local Social Security office to make these changes in person.

The SSA said this new method aligns with most major banks. All other SSA telephone services will remain unchanged.

Demonstrators from a Jewish group filled the lobby of Trump Tower on Thursday to denounce the immigration arrest of Mahmoud Khalil. a pro-Palestinian activist who helped lead protests against Israel at Columbia University.

The Jewish Voice for Peace protesters, who carried banners and wore red shirts reading Jews say stop arming Israel, chanted Bring Mahmoud home now!"

After warning the protesters to leave the Fifth Avenue building or face arrest, police put at least 65 of them in zip ties and loaded them into a police van and city bus about an hour into the demonstration.

Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident who is married to an American citizen and who hasn't been charged with breaking any laws, was arrested outside his New York City apartment on Saturday and faces deportation. President Donald Trump has said Khalils arrest was the first of many to come and vowed on social media to deport students who he said engage in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity.

Among the protesters was actor Debra Winger, who has discussed her Jewish faith and upbringing over the years.

Winger accused the Trump administration of having no interest in Jewish safety and co-opting antisemitism.

RELATED STORY | What to know about the arrest of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil

Im just standing up for my rights, and Im standing up for Mahmoud Khalil, who has been abducted illegally and taken to an undisclosed location," she told The Associated Press. "Does that sound like America to you?

Protester Sophie Edelhart, who studies Yiddish at a school in Canada, said she took part in the demonstration because she didn't want to cede ground to Trump and fascism. She said the building, with its golden elescalator that Trump rode before announcing his 2016 presidential run, was a symbolic target.

Khalils supporters say his arrest is an attack on free speech and have staged protests elsewhere in the city and around the country. Hundreds demonstrated Wednesday outside a Manhattan courthouse during a brief hearing on his case.

Trump Tower serves as headquarters for the Trump Organization and is where the president stays when he is in New York. The skyscraper often attracts demonstrations, both against and in support of its namesake, though protests inside are less common. The buildings main entrance opens to a multi-story atrium that is open to the public and connects visitors to stores and eateries such as the Trump Grill.

Khalil, 30, was being detained at an immigration detention center in Louisiana, where he has remained after a brief stop at a New Jersey lockup.

Columbia was a focal point of the pro-Palestinian protest movement that swept across U.S. college campuses last year and led to more than 2,000 arrests.

Khalil, whose wife is pregnant with their first child, finished his requirements for a Columbia masters degree in December. Born in Syria, he is a grandson of Palestinians who were forced to leave their homeland, his lawyers said in a legal filing.

Derrick Brown only learned he had a son after Detroit Police told him he was dead.

9-year-old Zemar King, found buried in a Detroit backyard in January, is alleged to have been murdered by his own mother just months after he warned a Childrens Protective Services employee that she wanted to kill him.

He didnt deserve this, Brown said in his first interview since Zemars murder. He already stated (to CPS) what was going on in the house.

RELATED VIDEO: Detroit boy told CPS his mom wanted 'to kill him' months before prosecutors say she did

Detroit boy warned CPS his mom wanted 'to kill him.' Prosecutors say she did.

As 7 News Detroit first revealed, Zemar told a CPS employee in April 2024 that his mother, Brandee Pierce, beat him with a belt, choked him with her hands and wanted to kill him.

Brown had been in a relationship with Pierce a decade earlier, but said they lost touch.

Then about two years ago, he says Pierce contacted him out of the blue and wanted to meet.

She said, 'I wanted to meet with you so I could tell you: this is your son,' he recalled.

It was during their face-to-face meeting with Zemar, Brown said, that Pierce made him an offer.

She told me that I could take himshe will switch everything to me, he said. I asked her, 'is something wrong?' She said no, she just feels that she took on a lot.

Brown said he agreed to take custody of Zemar, but said he should take a DNA test first.

They scheduled one for the following week, but Brown said Pierce later canceled it, saying she needed to go to California.

Brown said he never saw Zemar again.

RELATED: Years before Na'Ziyah Harris murder case, CPS warned repeatedly about alleged killer

Two years later, a CPS caseworker would be called to a Plymouth hospital after Pierce arrived in the midst of a mental health crisis.

She said she was homeless, questioning whether she should give up custody of one of her boys. Thats when Zemar told CPS the family often had no food, he hadnt been to school in a year and that his mother beat him.

But a CPS caseworker concluded there wasnt enough evidence to substantiate a neglect complaint, according to an internal investigative summary obtained by 7 News Detroit, and the case was closed.

The family was placed in a homeless shelter.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will not say whether that caseworker is under investigation or facing discipline.

State and federal law prohibit MDHHS from providing any information, said department spokesman Erin Stover.

'It looks like the system broke down'

But, a former federal prosecutor says the conduct of that CPS employee warrants further scrutiny, not just from the state, but also from law enforcement.

Not every time a government employee makes a mistake or does something wrong does the government then prosecute them, said Matthew Schneider, the former U.S. Attorney for Michigans Eastern District.

However, there are at certain circumstances at least the issue should be reviewed. And this is one of those cases," he said.

Before his years as a federal prosecutor, Schneider was deputy attorney general for the state.

There is not a doubt in my mind: if I were still the deputy attorney general, I would be looking for the reports in this case, Schneider said. I would want to know what happened and should law enforcement get heavily involved in investigating and looking at this case? And contemplating whether or not charges should be brought.

Schneider says there are two charges a prosecutor would most likely consider: willful neglect of duty, a misdemeanor charge that was brought against former Gov. Rick Snyder and others as part of the Flint Water Crisis, and misconduct in office, a felony charge that carries up to five years in prison.

There is no sign that either Attorney General Dana Nessel or Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy are reviewing how CPS handled Zemar King's case.

The facts are the little boy is telling the CPS worker: Im getting whooped with a belt, I dont have a place to live, I dont get enough food to eat, I dont feel safe all the time, Schneider said, later adding: "And it looks like the system broke down.

Whether criminal charges are brought wont mean much to Brown. Earlier this month, he buried the son he only recently learned was his.

He says he cant shake the thought of the 9-year-olds final cries for help.

I would have took him. With no questions asked, Brown said. If he would have said all that, I would have found ways to take him.

We did reach out to Pierce's attorney for comment but did not hear back.

According to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, Pierce was just referred for a competency evaluation and won't be back in a courtroom until May.

Contact 7 Investigator Ross Jones at ross.jones@wxyz.com or at (248) 827-9466.

The Tampa Bay Rays announced Thursday the team will not proceed with a new stadium and surrounding development project, marking the end of a years-long process that the team, city and county thought had been settled last year.

"After careful deliberation, we have concluded we cannot move forward with the new ballpark and development project at this moment," the Rays said on their official X page. "A series of events beginning in October that no one could have anticipated led to this difficult decision."

Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala, who has been vocal about his concerns with the entire situation, said Sternberg should be ready to pay for the now-defunct deal.

The Rays' move was not completely unexpected.

The team repeatedly questioned how the$1.3 billion stadium deal would proceed after delays in stadium bond votes. Those bonds were eventually approved, but the Rays said it took too long.

St. Pete City Council approves Rays-Hines Stadium proposal

At the time, the Rays said the delayed votes would cause cost overruns that the team would not be able to cover.

The news from the Rays also comes just days after reports emerged that at least two groups were interested in purchasing the Rays from owner Stuart Sternberg.

It coincided with a report that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and other owners were also putting pressure on Sternberg.

2 groups express interest in purchasing Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays' move appears to be the end of a multi-year campaign to get a new stadium and move out of Tropicana Park.

The team, along with St. Petersburg and Pinellas Counties, finally reached a deal on a new stadium deal in 2024, just four years before the team's lease was to expire.

Tampa Bay Rays announce new stadium deal

The announcement, at least for Rays fans, takes everything back to square one. The team now has to answer where it will play.

Tropicana Field's roof was destroyed by Hurricane Milton last year, leaving the Rays without a stadium to call home. The team decided to play regular-season games in 2025 at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the spring training home of the New York Yankees.

For its part, the City of St. Petersburg did agree to move forward with a multi-million dollar plan to repair Tropicana Field.

St. Pete city leaders vote to repair Tropicana Field

However, with the team pulling out of the new stadium deal, the question is whether the city will continue with the repair plan for Tropicana Field.

Rays fans now have to hope there is a Plan B both from the team and the city/county for both Tropicana Field and a new stadium.

This story was originally published by Tim Kephart with the Scripps News Group in Tampa.

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to reinstate probationary workers let go in mass firings across multiple agencies.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup on Thursday found the firings didnt follow federal law and required immediate offers of reinstatement be sent.

The agencies include the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, the Interior and the Treasury.

The order from the San Francisco-based judge came in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labor unions and organizations as the Republican administration moves to dramatically downsize the federal workforce.

A federal judge on Thursday ordered President Donald Trump's administration to reinstate thousands if not tens of thousands of probationary workers let go in mass firings across multiple agencies last month, saying that the terminations were directed by a personnel office that had no authority to do so.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco ordered the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, the Interior and the Treasury to immediately offer reinstatement to employees terminated on or about Feb. 13 and 14 using guidance from the Office of Personnel Management and its acting director, Charles Ezell.

Alsup directed the agencies to report back within seven days with a list of probationary employees and an explanation of how the departments complied with his order as to each person.

RELATED STORY | Trump administration rescinds some CDC layoffs, urges workforce to return

The temporary restraining order came in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labor unions and organizations as the Republican administration moves to dramatically downsize the federal workforce.

The White House and the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Alsup expressed frustration with what he called the government's attempt to sidestep laws and regulations governing a reduction in its workforce which it is allowed to do by firing probationary workers who lack protections. He was appalled that employees were fired for poor performance despite receiving glowing evaluations just months earlier.

"It is sad, a sad day, when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that's a lie," he said. "That should not have been done in our country."

RELATED STORY | US national parks brace for record visitation amid mass federal layoffs

Lawyers for the government maintain the mass firings were lawful because individual agencies reviewed and determined whether employees on probation were fit for continued employment.

But Alsup has found that difficult to believe. He planned to hold an evidentiary hearing Thursday, but Ezell, the OPM acting director, did not appear to testify in court or even sit for a deposition. The judge encouraged the government to appeal.

There are an estimated 200,000 probationary workers across federal agencies. They include entry-level employees but also workers who recently received a promotion.

About 15,000 are employed in California, providing services ranging from fire prevention to veterans' care, according to the lawsuit filed by the coalition of labor unions and nonprofit organizations.

The plaintiffs said in their complaint that numerous agencies informed workers that the personnel office had ordered the terminations, with an order to use a template email informing workers their firing was for performance reasons.

Our Grant Me Hope child this week is 12-year-old Josh, who loves to make others laugh and has a "heart of gold," according to the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange.

MARE said that Josh loves playing with LEGOs and also wants to go to Lego Land one day.

Josh said his favorite after-school activity is relaxing, and on weekends, he loves sleeping in.

When he grows up, Josh said he wants to be a tow truck driver and eventually own a junk yard to resell stuff.

He's also looking for a family who wants to go camping and spend time in nature because he loves the outdoors.

Joshua is a humorous child who loves to laugh and joke around! says one of his close adults. He is an amazing storyteller with a big imagination. He loves giving people gifts and making them feel good. Joshua is a sweet and kind child who is so deserving of a loving family and everything this world has to offer him.

Josh would do best in a home with a single dad or two dads who are experienced. He would thrive as the only or oldest child in the home. His new family needs to be fierce advocates to make sure Josh gets the services that will help him function at his best. Joshs new parent or parents should be understanding and patient with his transition into the home. Josh loves animals especially cats so he prefers a family who has pets. He will need a family that will support him in maintaining his sibling relationships.

To learn more about Josh, visit the MARE website and view a list of waiting children there. You can also see more stories on our Grant Me Hope page.

Wall Street is grappling with its most significant sell-off in months as market strategists struggle to navigate the Trump administration's fluctuating tariff policies.

The S&P 500 recently plummeted to a low of 5,528 points, marking a 10% decline from a record-high reached in February. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and NASDAQ have also experienced notable losses, leading to trillions of dollars in lost market value.

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"It's kind of like a game of chicken basically that Trump and America is playing with these other countries, right?" questioned Aaron Cirksena, founder of MDRN Capital. "And it's kind of like who's going to blink first, who's going to make a concession first?"

Cirksena explained that without any financial concessions from international trading partners, investors will likely continue to face uncertainty as they assess the potential risks to various industries.

The unresolved tariff situation has dampened consumer sentiment, leaving company executives concerned about its potential impact on future earnings. Retailers and airlines have been particularly hard hit; Dick's Sporting Goods, Kohls, Delta Airlines, and American Airlines have all reported disappointing results or adjusted forecasts for 2025.

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"The biggest advantage that we have as America, with our economy being the size it is and being as impactful as it is for other countries' economies, is that we probably have more of an ability to weather these storms than some other countries have," Cirksena said. "I'm sure that's playing into [Trump's] mind a little bit of thinking, look, some of these other countries, if their constituents start to feel a little bit of the pain, they may have to be the ones to blink before we do."

In times like these, Cirksena emphasizes the importance of maintaining a diversified investment portfolio. All 11 major S&P sectors have declined over the past week, although technology and consumer non-essential goods and services the two worst-performing groups this year saw the least severe drops.

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

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he supports a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine, but stressed it should lead to lasting peace in the region.

So the idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it," Putin told a news conference in Moscow, according to The Associated Press. But there are issues that we need to discuss, and I think that we need to discuss it with our American colleagues and partners.

The proposal was developed during discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian representatives in Saudi Arabia this week.

Ukrainian officials said that they would accept the ceasefire if Russia agreed to the same terms.

A delegation of American officials, including President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Moscow on Thursday in an effort to persuade Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine, Scripps News learned.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who participated in the talks, emphasized that the ceasefire would provide an opportunity for all sides to negotiate an end to the war, though he acknowledged the process would be challenging.

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"I think we're going to have to be flexible and nimble and creative and patient and work hard at it and hopefully turn it into something that's concrete," Rubio said.

The war in Ukraine began in February 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion.

Despite the potential ceasefire, fighting has escalated this week.

Russia claims to have recaptured Sudzha, a key Ukrainian operational hub in Kursk, just hours after President Vladimir Putin visited the region.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported Wednesday that Russian missile strikes killed at least five civilians. The attacks came one day after Ukrainian strikes inside Russia.

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