Although our nation is not in a financial storm, experts are struggling to formulate an economic forecast. In fact, they can’t even come up with a consensus on where the economy stands today. There are just too many crosscurrents creating a variety conflicting views.

Have tariffs led to higher inflation? Which way are interest rates headed? Is the economy growing as fast as the numbers indicate?

Something we do know is that our national debt surpassed $37 trillion earlier this month. That means we now spend more on loan interest than we do on both national defense and Medicare.

The bottom line is that all the uncertainty adds up to more questions than answers. But despite all that, the American consumer appears to keep rolling along, albeit with a bit more caution.

Take a certain large restaurant conglomerate, for example. The traffic at their upscale steak house has slowed a bit, but their mid-scale steak house chain is maintaining heavy traffic. That seems to be an indication that consumers are trading down somewhat.

And it’s in the same vein as grocery store brand sales increasing while national brand sales are falling. In other words, consumers are being more selective with their spending.

From an investor’s perspective, it may be tempting to reach for some of the exotic and flashy investments that are dominating the financial headlines. But I seriously question if now is the time to be chasing returns.

Regular readers know that I’m a big believer in diversification, which means having a variety of quality positions in a variety of asset classes. It may not be the flashiest or most glamorous approach, but historically, it has stood the test of time. I’m aware that what happened in the investment world in the past is not guaranteed to repeat. Nonetheless, long-term diversification has proven to be an effective strategy.*

There have recently been some subtle changes in the investment world. One is significant. Private equity has been given the green light to be among the investment choices for retirement programs. Private equity tends to be higher risk and can be illiquid. I’m speculating that the firms that administer these retirement programs are scrambling to upgrade their investment choices to include a menu of private equity offerings. As a financial advisor, I’m a bit concerned about the decision to make riskier investments more readily available to almost everyone.

SA few years ago, an investment firm advertised that, if you wanted to invest like the wealthy, they were your firm. They offered choices beyond traditional stocks, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs. Unfortunately, many of those who thought they were investing like the wealthy have lost significant money.

Such losses could mean working beyond their intended retirement date for many investors. What’s just another day in the market for the ultra-wealthy is often a catastrophic loss for everyday investors. And in many instances these significant losses came about when investors were swinging for the fences. But they played the game without a scouting report, commonly known as research.

With economic forecasts and projections all over the map and private equity firms now trying hard to get a slice of the retirement pot, it’s time for investors to be levelheaded. Be wary of overreaching by taking on unnecessary risk.

*A diversified portfolio does not assure a gain or prevent a loss in a declining market. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful or will achieve their stated investment objective.

Email your questions to kenmorris@lifetimeplanning.com

Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. Society for Lifetime Planning is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS. https://kestrafinancial.com/disclosures

The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regard to your individual situation. Comments concerning the past performance are not intended to be forward looking and should not be viewed as an indication of future results.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will direct federal law enforcement intervention to Chicago and Baltimore, despite local officials in both places opposing such moves.

Asked by reporters in the Oval Office if he had decided to send National Guard troops to Chicago, Trump said, “We’re going in,” but added. “I didn’t say when.”

Trump has already sent National Guard troops into Washington and federalized the nation’s capital’s police force. More recently, he’s said he’s planning similar moves in other cities, particularly those run by Democratic officials.

Trump said he’d like Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to call him and say “send in the troops.” Pritzker has opposed the move.

“If the governor of Illinois would call up, call me up, I would love to do it.” Trump said. “Now, we’re going to do it anyway. We have the right to do it.”

He added that he has an “obligation to protect this country, and that includes Baltimore.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug-carrying vessel that departed from Venezuela.

The president offered scant details on the operation.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the vessel was being operated by a “designated narco-terrorist organization.”

The press office of Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the announcement.

A preliminary examination is scheduled for the case against a Pontiac woman accused in an alleged road rage incident that led to a Clarkston man being hit by a car outside a Meijer store and suffering a broken leg last month.

Samantha Jaynes, 25, is charged with felonious assault and a misdemeanor charge of failure to stop at the scene of an accident for the alleged Aug. 20 incident in Auburn Hills. The exam will be held before 52-3 District Judge Laura Polizzi who will be presented with evidence and then determine if probable cause exists for the case to be bound over to Oakland County Circuit Court for possible trial.

Police said the incident unfolded at around 7 p.m. on Aug. 20 during a road rage altercation on I-75. Jaynes reportedly followed the man to the Meijer’s drive-through pharmacy; he exited his car and an argument ensued. Jaynes allegedly pepper-sprayed the man and then hit him with her car as she backed up. Jaynes fled the scene but was later arrested and charged.

Jaynes was let out of jail on Aug. 22 on a personal bond, which requires no cash or surety to be posted.

If convicted of the felonious assault charge, Jaynes faces up to four years in prison and/or a $2,000 fine. The misdemeanor is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $100 fine.

Michigan saw uptick in traffic crashes, related fatalities in 2024

Motorcyclist suffers severe injuries in collision with car in Pontiac

‘Absurd and unacceptable’: Sheriff calls out magistrate for setting man free after he allegedly shot at woman, toddler

 

By SAFIYAH RIDDLE, Associated Press/Report For America

The Posse Comitatus Act is a nearly 150-year-old federal law that limits the U.S. military’s role in enforcing domestic laws. At its core, experts say the law reflects America’s long-standing belief that law enforcement should remain in civilian hands, separate from military power.

President Donald Trump has tested the law’s limits in the first few months of his second term, as he expands the footprint of the U.S. military on domestic soil.

Here’s what to know about the law.

Posse Comitatus Act stops military from enforcing US law

The criminal statute prohibits military enforcement of domestic law. It also prevents the military from investigating local crimes, overriding local law enforcement or compelling certain behavior.

There are key exceptions. Congress can vote to suspend the act, or the president can order it suspended in defense of the Constitution. The Insurrection Act of 1807 allows the president to deploy troops during invasions, rebellions or when local authorities can’t maintain order.

National Guard members are under state authority and commanded by governors, so they’re generally exempt. However, the Posse Comitatus Act applies to National Guard forces when they’re “federalized,” meaning the president puts them under his control. That’s what Trump did in California over the governor’s objections.

The military is allowed to share intelligence and certain resources if there’s an overlap with civilian law enforcement jurisdiction, according to the Library of Congress. There’s also an exception for the U.S. Coast Guard, which has some law enforcement responsibilities.

Law was enacted after the Reconstruction era

The law was enacted in 1878 following the post-Civil War era known as Reconstruction. At that time, segregationist lawmakers didn’t want the U.S. military from blocking Jim Crow laws that imposed racial segregation.

But the spirit of the law has roots going all the way back to the Revolutionary War, when the nation’s founders were scarred by the British monarchy’s absolute military control, said William C. Banks, a professor at the Syracuse University College of Law.

“We have a tradition in the United States — which is more a norm than a law — that we want law enforcement to be conducted by civilians, not the military,” Banks said.

Courts have rarely interpreted the Posse Comitatus Act, leaving much of its scope shaped by executive branch policy and military regulations rather than judicial precedent.

Steve Vladeck, a law professor at Georgetown University, notes that this lack of legal rulings makes the law unusual.

“There is no authoritative precedent on exactly where these lines are, and so that’s why over the years the military’s own interpretation has been so important,” Vladeck said.

New tests for the law

A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration violated federal law by sending troops to accompany federal agents on immigration raids in Los Angeles this summer. The ruling does not require the remaining troops to withdraw.

Trump administration attorneys argued the law doesn’t apply because the troops were protecting federal officers, not enforcing laws.

Trump also sent 800 troops to Washington D.C., saying without substantiation that they were needed to reduce crime in the “lawless” city.

In Washington, a federal district, the president is already in charge of the National Guard and can legally deploy troops for 30 days without congressional approval.

Trump has since discussed sending the National Guard to other Democratic-led cities like Chicago, Baltimore and New York.

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Riddle is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges, according to a memo reviewed by The Associated Press.

The military will begin sending groups of 150 attorneys — both military and civilians — to the Justice Department “as soon as practicable,” and the military services should have the first round of people identified by next week, according to the Aug. 27 memo.

The effort comes as the Trump administration is cracking down on illegal immigration by ramping up arrests and deportations. And immigration courts already are dealing with a massive backlog of roughly 3.5 million cases that has ballooned in recent years.

At the same time, more than 100 immigration judges have been fired or left voluntarily after taking deferred resignations offered by the Trump administration, their union says. In the most recent round of terminations, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers said in July that at least 17 immigration judges had been fired “without cause” in courts across the country.

That has left about 600 immigration judges, union figures show, meaning the Pentagon move would double their ranks.

The Justice Department, which oversees the immigration courts, requested the assistance from the Defense Department, according to the memo sent by the Pentagon’s executive secretary to his DOJ counterpart. The military lawyers’ duties as immigration judges will initially last no more than 179 days but can be renewed, it said.

A DOJ spokesperson referred questions about the plan to the Defense Department, where officials directed questions to the White House.

A White House official said Tuesday that the administration is looking at a variety of options to help resolve the significant backlog of immigration cases, including hiring additional immigration judges. The official said the matter should be “a priority that everyone — including those waiting for adjudication — can rally around.”

The memo stressed that the additional attorneys are contingent on availability and that mobilizing reserve officers may be necessary. Plus, the document said DOJ would be responsible for ensuring that anyone sent from the Pentagon does not violate the federal prohibition on using the military as domestic law enforcement, known as the Posse Comitatus Act.

The administration faced a setback on its efforts to use the military in unique ways to combat illegal immigration and crime, with a court ruling Tuesday that it “willfully” violated federal law by sending National Guard troops to Los Angeles in early June.

Cases in immigration court can take years to weave their way to a final determination, with judges and lawyers frequently scheduling final hearings on the merits of a case over a year out.

Associated Press writers Will Weissert, Rebecca Santana and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.

Students in Michigan have returned to school and with that comes a need for drivers to stay on alert and aware of school buses cruising through communities picking up children and dropping them off.

“Traffic tends to spike during the first days of school as many parents opt to drive their children,” Adrienne Woodland, a spokesperson for AAA-The Auto Club Group said in a news release. “We advise adding 30 minutes to your morning commute. Drivers running late are more prone to speeding, which endangers lives.”

Motorists also need to be aware of Michigan’s laws requiring motorists to stop when approaching a school bus pulled over with its red lights flashing and STOP arm extended.

The only exception is on a divided highway with a raised divider, yet 20% of Michigan respondents in a survey by AAA admitted to driving around a school bus while its red lights were flashing, which could result in fines and fatalities. A similar survey by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) estimated nationwide there were more than 43.5 million illegal school bus passings during the 2022-2023 school year.

AAA provided this explanation of the laws in Michigan: “When it comes to a two lane street all drivers moving in either direction on a two-way street must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children and the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.

“In the case of a multi-lane paved median all drivers moving in either direction must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children AND the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.

“Traffic approaching an oncoming school bus on a divided highway do not need to stop if there is a raised barrier such as a concrete divider or at least five feet of unpaved space separating the lanes of traffic. However, these motorists should slow down and watch for students loading or unloading from the bus.”

AAA offers drivers these tips for school zone safety:• Avoid distractions• Remain focused on the road. No texting, eating or multitasking while driving.• Brake for safety• Slow down and stay alert. School zones are unpredictable, so be ready to stop at a moment’s notice.• Keep a watchful eye on pedestrians and bicyclists• Be aware of school zone signs, crossing guards, AAA School Safety Patrollers, and anyone walking or biking. Always yield and drive cautiously.

Other survey stats:• 46% admitted to speeding in an active school zone.• 33% admitted to using their hand-held cell phone while driving in active school zones.

Nationwide, nearly one out of every five children (age 14 and under) killed in traffic crashes are pedestrians, however, safety experts say distracted walking can be just as dangerous as distracted driving.

“Now is the time to talk to your children about traffic safety,” Woodland said. “Discourage students from wearing earbuds or looking down at digital devices while standing at the bus stop or walking near traffic. Otherwise, they may not hear an approaching vehicle.”

As part of its School’s Open Drive Carefully campaign, AAA has put together a guide for  parents of young pedestrians and offers the following tips:

For student pedestrians

• Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings and avoid using headphones or looking down at your phone when near traffic.• Use sidewalks where available. If not, walk against the direction of traffic so you can see oncoming vehicles.• Make yourself easier to be seen by wearing reflective, bright colored clothing.• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street to make sure the vehicle is stopping.

For bicyclists and those using scooters

• Always wear a helmet.• Ride with traffic and use bike lanes when you can.• Do not wear headphones so you can detect approaching traffic.• Cross streets at intersections- not from between parked cars.

For students riding the bus

• Arrive at least 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.• Stand five steps away from the curb.• Wait for the bus to stop completely and for the bus driver’s signal before boarding.

By Charlie Hunt and Gary Graff

With splendid weather and some operational changes, the 46th Annual Detroit Jazz Festival had both downtown and midtown bopping and grooving throughout Labor Day Weekend, with more than four dozen acts playing at stages in Hart Plaza and Cadillac Square and in the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center on the Wayne State University campus.

It was also livestreamed globally via the festival web site and social media.

Festival organizers surprised fans with new security protocols and checkpoints for entering and leaving Hart Plaza, as well as a repositioned Absopure Waterfront Stage, which now faced east rather than towards the Detroit River. The JPMorgan Chase Main Stage at Cadillac Square, meanwhile, was repositioned in the same direction, which allowed the Campus Martius Park fountains to provide a playful backdrop to the performances (although the setting sun was brutal for about a half-hour or so each evening).

This year’s festival also included an aggressive Keep It Free fundraising campaign to help the event maintain its status as the world’s largest free-admission jazz festival. On Sunday, festival chief Chris Collins announced that $78,500 of the $100,000 goal had been reached so far; further updates are expected in the near future.

The music, meanwhile, remained spectacular throughout the four days — which started Friday, Aug. 29 with Artist-In-Residence Jason Moran’s exciting collaboration with electronic pioneer Jeff Mills and Detroit poet laureate Jessica Care Moore. It was hard to catch everything, but these were 10 of the best things we caught during the weekend (all reviews by Charlie Hunt unless otherwise noted)…

* Chris Potter Trio, Carhartt Amphitheater Stage, Saturday, Aug. 30

Dressed in black jeans and solid color shirts, tenor saxophonist Chris Potter’s trio looked understated and plainspoken — but its set was anything but. The trio played without pretension and burst right into a turbulent, heady and purposeful jazz opening with “7-11,” named after its complex rhythmic cycle. On the next composition, “Kudu,” Potter, who breathes fire through his reed, improvised a succinct and delirious sequence of buzzing notes that built to mountainous heights but still left space for bassist Matt Brewer to pound out a robust solo. Potter said he couldn’t imagine coming to Detroit without playing a Stevie Wonder tune, and he picked “Send One Your Love.” Potter switched to a low-register bass clarinet for the new composition “Voices Remembered,” then jumped to “Good Hope,” a song he recorded with bassist Dave Holland and the late tabla-master Zakir Hussain as the Crosscurrents Trio. Potter and drummer Kendrick Scott energized each other’s solos into another sonic realm. The trio closed with the Jerome Kern standard “Pick Yourself Up,” imbued with unparalleled improvisation sequences across many octaves and registers.

* Maria Schneider Orchestra, JPMorgan Chase Stage, Saturday

In a rare opportunity to hear a much-heralded maestro, multiple Grammy Award winner Maria Schneider led her 18-piece big band comprised of veterans and newcomers with joy, style, grace and panache. Opening with “Bluebird,” from her 2023 album “Data Lords,” the extraordinary and enterprising composer/arranger featured Brazilian Vitor Goncalves on accordion, a rarely used instrument in big band jazz but a signature component of her exquisite and visionary artistry. Charismatic, gracious and charming, Schneider plucked compositions from throughout her 30-year career, including “Wyrgly” and the title track from her 1994 debut album “Evanescence,” and “Walking by Flashlight” from her 2012 classical album “Winter Mornings Walk.”

Stylistically, Schneider’s music emanates from the influential jazz bandleader Gil Evans; each of her compositions followed a path, with featured soloists supported by exquisite and carefully layered overtures by the large ensemble, enabling her to conjure any sound scheme she designs. “The thing about jazz that is so amazing is it’s all about listening,” she said as the introduced “American Crow,” a new composition that she described as music for our tense and tension-filled times; it featured trumpeter Mike Rodriguez and electric guitarist Jeff Miles, among other soloists. Always stylish, the strawberry blonde bandleader wore a black dress and enthusiastically led the band with fluid hand motions and moved ballet-like across the stage. She smiled throughout the evening sit as she obviously enjoyed the experience.

* James Carter Organ Trio, Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center at Wayne State University, Saturday

Detroit’s own James Carter reigns supreme among jazz saxophonists. Few can match his otherworldly power, intensity, passion and showmanship. After-hours on n Saturday he hosted a Carter family all-star party that was enthralling and exhilarating receiving, multiple standing ovations from the standing-room-only crowd. Carter saluted his 99-year-old mother and spoke about his Detroit jazz upbringing before fearlessly leading his trio of Gerard Gibbs on Hammond B-3 organ and drummer Alex White through a wildly-varied set, starting with the jazz standard “Tenderly.” The repertoire included Billy Strayhorn’s “A Flower is a Lovesome Thing” and a pair of gypsy jazz numbers — “La Valse Des Niglos,” aka “The Hedge Hog Waltz,” and Django Reinhart’s “Impromptu,” the latter featuring a knock-out drum solo by White. Carter choreographed astonishing body movements synced to each breath note, blurt, blast, screech and phrase as he performed on a matched set of three gleaming red-and-gold saxophones — tenor alto and soprano. He brought out his brothers, and they tore up the joint. Vocalist Robert Carter crooned Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” and the Isley Brothers’ “For the Love of You,” while guitarist Kevin Carter played Carlos Santana-like stylings on Jimi Hendrix’s “Red House” and Chick Corea’s “Spain,” which featured lead vocals by cousin Stuart Scaggs.

* Lakesia Benjamin, Carhartt Amphitheater Stage, Sunday, Aug. 31

Also saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, a rising star, unleashed her relentless firepower in what she said was her first-ever Detroit appearance. “We’re going to be celebrating jazz tonight! We’re going to be celebrating life tonight! We’re going to be celebrating music tonight!” she practically screamed from center stage, jolting a spellbound crowd to full attention before she played her first sassy and spunky notes. Dressed in a shiny gold jumpsuit, with gold-rimmed glasses and gold-polished fingernails, Benjamin hoisted a matching gold alto saxophone to her lips and converted her energized breath into staggering, high-energy streams of rapid-fire improvisation. “We’re going to be celebrating women in jazz next,” she announced, setting up her rendition of “My Favorite Things,” dedicated to the late Detroit harpist Alice Coltrane. Subsequently declaring “it’s about to get a little wilder up here,” Benjamin was her own best cheerleader all night, and as promised the former student of Detroit saxophonists Kenny Garrett and James Carter roused the amphitheater audience with her band’s scintillating performance.

* Detroit Jazz Queens, Absopure Waterfront Stage, Sunday

In memory of the recently passed, Detroit-born vocalist Sheila Jordan — whose photo sat on stage, Joan Belgrave rallied some of her Detroit-based singing friends to pay homage to all the great and glorious jazz songstresses of the past. Her team of Detroit Jazz Queens included: Diane Mathis, who belted out two classics popularized by Nancy Wilson (“(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am” and “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”); Tanya Hood, who took on a Sarah Vaughn favorite “September in the Rain” and Betty Carter’s “Tight;” and Joan Crawford who checked the Ella Fitzgerald box by singing Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Lady.” Exquisitely dressed in a flowing red dress, Belgrave sang “Come to Me” and “Caravan” with trumpet accompaniment from John Douglas. The resplendent women regrouped to sing a rousing and bluesy round-robin blues medley of “Rock Me Baby,” “Stormy Monday” and “Going to Chicago.”

* Jason Moran presents the music of Duke Ellington with the Detroit Jazz Festival Collegiate Jazz Orchestra, Sunday on the JPMorgan Chase Main Stage:

Two days after his galvanizing opening night collaboration, Artist-In-Residence Jason Moran was back on duty, guiding the Detroit Jazz Festival Collegiate Jazz Orchestra through a 75-minute program of Duke Ellington music. “This is y’all’s people!” the white-clad pianist told the crowd as he gestured to the horn-dominated 15-member ensemble, crediting the students’ parents for their support as well. Though Moran said he’d only met the musicians three days prior, they troupe was clearly well-prepared as it rolled through 10 songs from the Ellington songbook — including “Kinda Dukish,” “Such Sweet Surrender,” “Braggin’ in Brass” (so hot Moran had the group play it twice) and “Jeep’s Blues,” as well as a segue from Billy Strayhorn’s “Northern Lights” into “East St. Louis Toodle-Oo.” The students deftly executed their paces through a succession of solos, while vocalist Tiffany Gridiron — who performed Monday on the Absopure Waterfront Stage — joined for three songs. The set’s highlight came as “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If You Ain’t Got That Swing)” transitioned into “Mood Indigo,” fronted by a clarinet and muted trumpet and trombone players. — Gary Graff

* Branford Marsalis Quartet, Carhartt Amphitheater Stage, Sunday

Of the many saxophone headliners powering this year’s festival, Branford Marsalis stood out as the eminent elder. He called out eight tunes over his quartet’s 75-minute set, typically taking on the first melodic lead on tenor or soprano saxophone, then stepping behind his bandmates — pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Justin Faulkner — to jam magnificently with extended improvisational finesse, starting out with Calderazzo’s “The Mighty Sword.” The quartet next reinvented pianist Keith Jarrett’s 1974 composition “Long as You Know You’re Living Yours” from Jarrett’s famed European quartet album, “Belonging,” which Marsalis replicated in its entirety and released in March as his first recording on Blue Note Records. Faulkner rose to the forefront on that piece, emphasizing the melody with captivating, rock-imbued passages. The drummer stood out again on Revis’ sneaky ballad “Nilaste,” keeping pace with Marsalis’ fast-paced, serpentine passages with his full-throttled drum work. Nodding to the next generation of saxophonists, Marsalis surprised everyone by inviting two guest saxophonists to the stage — Lakecia Benjamin and Chris Lewis — who delivered their own charged-up solos on “Teo,” a Thelonious Monk tribute.

* Sonder, Absopure Waterfront Stage, Monday, Sept. 1

Out of seemingly nowhere, the astonishing young jazz quintet Sonder, from the Manhattan College of Music, made its first-ever Detroit Jazz Festival appearance and grabbed listeners’ ears with a set of inspired modern jazz — quite the formidable debut by the winner of the festival’s Collegiate Combo Competition. Led by guitarist Noah Myers, the captivating performers – pianist Eric Stern, double bassist August Bish, drummer Adam Wacks, and saxophonist Ian Weidmann — presented intricately interlaced jazz instrumentation. Myers composed all the tunes in the set except for a rousing cover version of Wayne Shorter’s “Joyrider.”

 

* James Francies Trio, JPMorgan Chase Main Stage, Monday

Keyboardist Francies, who gained notoriety with drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts and in guitarist Pat Metheny’s Side Eye trio, worked through a set of mesmerizing original compositions bolstered by his pulse keepers — bassist Luca Alemanno and drummer Jeremy Dutton. His sweeping approach melded complex, low-register chord phrasings with agile, bright melodic lines. The trio performed a title-less new tune, though Francies said he likes to call it “Garlic Parmesan” because, “I like chicken wings, and who doesn’t?” The trio played “Sway” from Francies’ 2018 album on Blue Note Records and finished the set with a vibrant take on “The Sound of Music” standard “My Favorite Things.” Throughout, Francies’ fingers zipped across the keyboards, sometimes with complex, single-note flurries, then countering with cascading chordal runs.

* Marion Hayden & Legacy with Kamau Kenyatta, Absopure Waterfront Stage, Monday

Bassist Hayden, one of the founders of the celebrated all-female jazz quintet Straight Ahead, furthered her role among Detroit’s lineage of jazz musicians by taking her intergenerational band, Legacy, through an afternoon set of hand-selected compositions. Deepening the Detroit roots of her music, she invited Grammy Award-winning pianist, producer and arranger Kamau Kenyatta, who she referred to as her brother, “my mentor, my peer,” recollecting that they started playing jazz together when they were nine. years old. “That must have been pretty funny,” she noted. Legacy drew from what Hayden called “a deep bench of wonderful musicians” in Detroit, introducing Steve Wood on tenor saxophone and flute, Tim Blackman on trumpet, her son Tariq Gardner on drums and high-schooler Kahlil Childs on alto saxophone. The inspired set included: “Isis,” composed by Detroit piano legend Ken Cox; two Herbie Hancock compositions — “Oliloqui Valley” and “Speak Like a Child,” that put Kenyatta in the spotlight, as did “Peter Bobia.” Hayden also played her own composition, “Gateway to Black Eden,” proudly and elegantly.

Inventive performances get Detroit Jazz Festival off to an exciting start

Jason Moran is ready for role as Detroit Jazz Festival’s artist-in-residence

By MICHAEL PHILLIS, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration was handed a win by a federal appeals court on Tuesday in its effort to freeze billions of dollars and terminate contracts for nonprofits to run a “green bank” aimed at financing climate-friendly projects.

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency had blasted the Biden-era program as a waste of taxpayer money, tried to claw back funding that had already been distributed and accused the nonprofits of mismanagement.

A lower court said the EPA couldn’t support Administrator Lee Zeldin’s accusations and that the agency was wrong to try and end contracts with the nonprofits without substantiating allegations against them. On Tuesday, a divided federal appeals court ruled 2-1 in the agency’s favor, saying the EPA should not have been blocked from terminating the grants and that the arguments by the climate groups have no place in federal district court.

Instead, the case should be heard in a federal claims court that hears contract disputes, the appeals court ruled in a decision written by U.S. Appeals Court Judge Neomi Rao, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in his first term. The decision was a major loss for the groups who said they can only seek monetary damages in district court. The groups in this case were seeking an order allowing them immediate access to their funds, which total about $16 billion.

“In sum, district courts have no jurisdiction to hear claims that the federal government terminated a grant agreement arbitrarily or with impunity. Claims of arbitrary grant termination are essentially contractual,” Rao wrote in a decision supported by Judge Gregory Katsas, also a Trump appointee.

The appeals court ruling said the nonprofits’ arguments belong in federal claims court because they dealt chiefly with the underlying contracts the groups held with the federal government, not matters of law or the Constitution.

Climate United Fund and other groups sued the EPA, Zeldin and Citibank, which held the grant money on behalf of the agency, saying they had illegally denied the groups access to funds awarded last year. They wanted access to those funds again, saying the freeze had paralyzed their work and jeopardized their basic operations.

In order to provide the parties with an opportunity to appeal, the decision won’t go into effect immediately.

Climate United CEO Beth Bafford said in a statement, “This is not the end of our road.”

“While we are disappointed by the panel’s decision, we stand firm on the merits of our case: EPA unlawfully froze and terminated funds that were legally obligated and disbursed,” Bafford said.

Judge Cornelia Pillard, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, said in her dissent that the groups provided evidence that the EPA disagreed with the program’s goals and tried to end it, while throwing around allegations against the groups that it couldn’t substantiate.

The EPA has damaged the green bank program “without presenting to any court any credible evidence or coherent reason that could justify its interference with plaintiffs’ money and its sabotage of Congress’s law,” Pillard wrote.

Associated Press writer Matthew Daly contributed reporting.

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The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment

By MATTHEW LEE, AP Diplomatic Writer

President Donald Trump’s administration is piling new restrictions on Palestinian visa applicants, making it nearly impossible for anyone holding a Palestinian Authority passport from receiving travel documents to visit the U.S. for business, work, pleasure or educational purposes.

Palestinian applicants who hold non-Palestinian Authority passports may also face difficulties should they need a U.S. visa.

Since early August, the State Department has tightened what it says are temporary policies to boost its vetting procedures for Palestinians seeking to travel to the United States, meaning that virtually all applications will either be denied or not accepted for processing.

The moves targeting the Palestinians are part of the administration’s global effort to reform how U.S. visas are issued and crack down on illegal immigration — it has already resulted in several thousand student visas revoked, many of them for pro-Palestinian or anti-Israeli activity. As part of that effort, the State Department said last week that it is reviewing all of the more than 55 million current U.S. visa holders to ensure they are properly vetted.

However, the steps taken against Palestinians appear more far-reaching than those directed at other nationalities, many of which include exemptions for official travel to the U.S.

On Aug. 1, the department instructed consular officers to deny visa applications from anyone suspected of having past or present employment or ties to the Palestine Liberation Organization or the Palestinian Authority regardless of their position or purpose of travel.

On Aug. 16, the department suspended a program that had allowed war-wounded Palestinian children from Gaza to come to the U.S. for medical treatment, following an outcry from conservative pundits.

Two days later, on Aug. 18, the department sent a worldwide cable to all U.S. diplomatic posts instructing them to reject all non-immigrant visa request from Palestinian Authority passport holders.

“This action is to ensure that such applications have undergone necessary, vetting, and screening protocols to ensure the applicants’ identity and eligibility for a visa under US law,” according to the cable, obtained by The Associated Press and reported earlier by The New York Times.

The suspension does not apply to Palestinians who hold non-Palestinian Authority passports, but they could still be refused if they are suspected of having PA or PLO ties, according to the Aug. 1 instructions.

Although the suspension does not apply to Palestinians seeking immigrant visas, the cable said that Palestinian officials applying to visit the United States for official purposes are not exempt from the restrictions.

Then, on Friday, in keeping with the guidance issued a week earlier, the department announced that it had denied visa applications from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and about 80 other Palestinian officials who were planning to participate in the high-level meeting at U.N. General Assembly in New York later this month.

“It is in our national security interests to hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments, and for undermining the prospects for peace,” the department said in a statement.

It said that to be considered partners for peace, the groups “must consistently repudiate terrorism, and end incitement to terrorism in education, as required by U.S. law and as promised by the PLO.”

The Palestinian Authority denounced the visa withdrawals as a violation of U.S. commitments as the host country of the United Nations and urged the State Department to reverse its decision. There was no immediate comment from the Palestinian Authority on the broader visa restrictions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge has ruled the Trump administration’s use of National Guard troops during Southern California immigration enforcements protests is illegal.

Judge Charles Breyer ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s administration violated federal law by sending troops to accompany federal agents on immigration raids. The judge in Washington did not require the remaining troops withdrawn, however.

California sued, saying the troops sent to Los Angeles over the summer were violating a law that prohibits military enforcement of domestic laws. Lawyers for the Republican administration have argued the Posse Comitatus Act doesn’t apply because the troops were protecting federal officers not enforcing laws. They say the troops were mobilized under an authority that allows the president to deploy them.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that U.S President Donald Trump’s administration is listening to the Kremlin’s justifications for its invasion of neighboring Ukraine and claimed that Moscow and Washington have come to a “mutual understanding” about the conflict.

Putin said during a visit to China that “the (Trump) administration is listening to us,” as he complained that former President Joe Biden paid Moscow’s arguments no heed.

“Now we see this mutual understanding, it’s noticeable,” Putin said at a bilateral meeting with Slovakian President Robert Fico after talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. “We are very happy about this and hope this constructive dialogue will continue.”

But Russia faces possible punitive actions by Trump, who has expressed frustration at Putin’s lack of engagement in U.S.-led peace efforts and threatened unspecified “severe consequences.” The American president has made ending the three-year war one of his diplomatic priorities and hosted Putin at a summit in Alaska last month.

Putin attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in the Chinese city of Tianjin with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who are also facing pressure from Trump. The SCO started out as a security forum viewed as a foil to U.S. influence in Central Asia but it has grown in influence over the years.

After the summit, the Russian leader held talks with Xi in Beijing, and on Wednesday he was to attend a massive military parade there commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

In Beijing, Putin struck an apparently amenable tone about possible progress in some aspects of the discussions to stop the fighting, although his comments reflected no substantial change in Russia’s position. Western leaders have accused Putin of marking time in peace efforts while Russia’s bigger army seeks to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses.

On the key issue of possible postwar security guarantees for Ukraine to deter another Russian invasion, Putin said “it seems to me that there is an opportunity to find consensus.” He didn’t elaborate.

While Putin reiterated that Moscow will not accept NATO membership for Ukraine, he also noted that he had never objected to Ukraine joining the European Union.

He also said Russia “can work with our American partners” at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest and one of the 10 biggest atomic power plants in the world. Its fate has been a central concern of the war due to fears of a nuclear accident.

Putin said Russia could also work with Ukraine on the Zaporizhzhia question — “if favorable conditions arise.”

By Candice Williams, MediaNews Group

One person is dead and at least one other was injured after a “chaotic incident” Monday that began as a fight in the parking lot of the Fairfield Inn in Rochester Hills and ended in a traffic crash near Rochester Road and South Boulevard, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

In a social media post Monday night, officials said at least three people were involved in the altercation in the hotel parking lot, and two were shot. Oakland County Sheriff’s officials did not make clear who did the shooting.

“While no one sustained serious injuries in the vehicle collision, two of the at least three individuals involved in the parking lot altercation were shot, and one has died,” the Facebook post read. “Three people connected to this incident have now been identified, and we are investigating to see if others were involved.”

There is not an ongoing threat to the public, officials said, adding that more details will be released as the investigation continues.©2025 The Detroit News. Visit detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By REGINA GARCIA CANO and JUAN ARRAEZ, Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday said his country was at “maximum preparedness” and ready to respond if attacked by forces that the United States government has deployed to the Caribbean.

His comments during a news conference come as the U.S. government this week is set to boost its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels. The U.S. has not signaled any planned land incursion by the thousands of personnel being deployed. Still, Maduro’s government has responded by deploying troops along its coast and border with neighboring Colombia, as well as by urging Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia.

“In the face of this maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum preparedness for the defense of Venezuela,” Maduro said of the deployment, which he characterized as “an extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat.”

He said he would constitutionally declare a “republic in arms” if the U.S. attacked Venezuela. He did not elaborate.

The U.S. Navy now has two Aegis guided-missile destroyers — the USS Gravely and the USS Jason Dunham — in the Caribbean, as well as the destroyer USS Sampson and the cruiser USS Lake Erie in the waters off Latin America. That military presence is set to expand.

Three amphibious assault ships — a force that encompasses more than 4,000 sailors and Marines — would be entering the region this week, a defense official told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to describe ongoing operations.

The deployment comes as President Donald Trump has pushed for using the military to thwart cartels he blames for the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into U.S. communities and for perpetuating violence in some U.S. cities.

On Monday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil, citing a United Nations report, told his counterparts in various Latin American countries that the deployment of U.S. maritime forces is built on a “false narrative” as 87% of cocaine produced in Colombia departs through the Pacific and traffickers attempt to move only 5% of their product through Venezuela. Landlocked Bolivia and Colombia, with access to the Pacific and Caribbean, are the world’s top cocaine producers.

Gil added that the narrative “threatens the entire region” and an attack on Venezuela “would really mean a complete destabilization of the region.”

“Let us immediately demand an end to this deployment, which has no other reason than to threaten a sovereign people,” he added during a virtual meeting of members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States regional group.

Maduro also used his news conference to insist that he was the legitimate winner of last year’s presidential election. But ample and credible evidence has shown the contrary, prompting several countries, including the U.S., to not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s president.

Maduro, sworn in to a third six-year term in January, added that his government maintains two lines of communication with the Trump administration, one with the State Department and another with Trump’s envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell. He called Secretary of State Marco Rubio a “warlord” pushing for action in the Caribbean to topple Venezuela’s government.

Since the July 2024 presidential election, Venezuela’s political opposition has been urging the U.S. and other countries to pressure Maduro into leaving office. Its leader, María Corina Machado, last month thanked Trump and Rubio for the deployment of the vessels, describing the move as “the right approach” toward Venezuela’s government, which she described as a “criminal enterprise.”

Maduro on Monday, however, warned that U.S. military action against Venezuela would “stain” Trump’s “hands with blood.”

“President Donald Trump, the pursuit of regime change is exhausted; it has failed as a policy worldwide,” Maduro said. “You cannot pretend to impose a situation in Venezuela.”

Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City. Associated Press writer Konstantin Toropin in Washington contributed to this report.

DETROIT ― Parker Meadows could be getting close to returning to the Tigers. Matt Vierling, well, time will tell.

Meadows was in the Tigers’ clubhouse before Monday’s game against the New York Mets, continuing his rehab work while the Toledo Mud Hens had a day off. Meadows, out with a right quad strain, played consecutive games in center field on his rehab assignment for Toledo on Saturday and Sunday, a positive sign in his progress toward rejoining the Tigers, manager AJ Hinch said Monday.

Meadows was hitless with three strikeouts Sunday, but just getting through a second game in a row on defense was what the Tigers wanted to see.

“Parker’s been pretty good. He said this is the best his body’s felt,” Hinch said before the opener of a three-game series with the New York Mets at Comerica Park. Meadows, arguably the biggest key to the Tigers’ magical run to the playoffs a year ago, has been out since late July. “He’s played back-to-back days. He got up to eight innings (Sunday). We’ve got to get his timing back.

“We’re going series by series, but he’s playing with freedom. I talked to Gabe Alvarez (Toledo manager) this morning, and he says he’s getting after it on defense, which is really the telltale (sign) that he’s feeling good.”

Meadows, who’s had two stints on the injured list this season, will play for Toledo on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Tigers have an off-day Thursday. There’s at least a chance he could return to the Tigers for this weekend’s series at home against the Chicago White Sox.

On his latest rehab assignment, Meadows, 25, is 3-for-16 with a triple and an RBI, but also eight strikeouts. He did draw a walk Sunday against a left-handed pitcher.

As for Vierling, who’s out with a left oblique strain, Hinch described his progress Monday as “slow but surely.” He was continuing to work out in Detroit on Monday, and he’s been taking swings on the indoor batting cage. The Tigers are using a very cautious approach with his rehab work.

“Given the time of year and the nature of the injury, where a setback would likely end his season, we have to be very careful,” Hinch said of Vierling, who’s been out since Aug. 10, just two days after he hit a late-game home run (his only homer of the season) to lead the Tigers to a key comeback win over the Los Angeles Angels. “He’s just not full-go yet.”

The Tigers on Monday recalled Justyn-Henry Malloy, who gives them some more depth, at least in the corner outfield spots, while Meadows and Vierling continue to work their way back.

Also in the clubhouse Monday was veteran starter Jose Urquidy, whose rehab with Toledo has been extended as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery. Hinch said Urquidy, a right-hander who pitched for him in Houston, is flashing some good stuff with Toledo, but that the command is a little off, as he’s allowed seven earned runs in his last 8.2 innings with Toledo.

Hinch also said veteran reliever Paul Sewald (right shoulder strain), acquired from the Cleveland Guardians at the trade deadline and eligible to come off the IL next week, has been throwing live batting practice in Lakeland, a positive sign that he could pitch for the team before the postseason.

Right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long also was in Detroit on Monday, and will be activated to start Tuesday’s game. Fellow right-hander Chase Lee was promoted before Monday’s game, giving the Tigers extra help in the bullpen for the series opener, which saw Detroit use five pitchers (but not Lee) in a 10-8 loss.

“A lot of moving parts,” Hinch said.

By VALERIE GONZALEZ, Associated Press

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration has started requiring parents looking to reunite with their children who crossed into the U.S. alone to show up for interviews where immigration officers may question them, according to a policy memo obtained by The Associated Press.

Legal advocacy groups say the shift has led to the arrest of some parents, while their children remain in U.S. custody. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not confirm that or answer questions about the July 9 directive, instead referring in a statement to the Biden administration’s struggles to properly vet and monitor homes where children were placed.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement, which is part of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department and which takes custody of children who cross the border without a parent or legal guardian, issued the directive. The agency said the goal is to ensure that sponsors — usually a parent or guardian — are properly vetted.

The memo said sponsors must now appear in person for identification verification. Previously, sponsors could submit identity documents online. The directive also says “federal law enforcement agencies may be present to meet their own mission objectives, which may include interviewing sponsors.”

Neha Desai, managing director of human rights at the National Center for Youth Law, said the change provides U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement a “built-in opportunity” to arrest parents — something she said has already happened.

Mary Miller Flowers, director of policy and legislative affairs for the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, said she knew of a case in which immigration officers arrested the father of a child under the age of 12 who had shown up for an identification check. “As a result, mom is terrified of coming forward. And so, this child is stuck,” Miller Flowers said.

Desai also said the interviews are unlikely to produce information authorities don’t already have. Vetting already included home studies and background checks done by Office of Refugee Resettlement staff, not immigration enforcement.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement said it communicates “clearly and proactively” with parents, telling them they may be interviewed by ICE or other law enforcement officials. It said parents can decline to be interviewed by ICE and that refusal won’t influence decisions about whether their children will be released to them.

“The goal is to ensure that every child is released to a stable and safe environment and fully vetted sponsors by ensuring the potential sponsor is the same individual submitting supporting documentation, including valid ID,” it said in a statement.

However, Desai is aware of a situation in which a sponsor was not notified and only able to decline after pushing back.

“We know of sponsors who are deeply, deeply fearful because of this interview, but some are still willing to go forward given their determination to get their children out of custody,” she said.

Trump administration points to Biden

Tricia McLaughlin, a Homeland Security spokesperson, issued a statement that did not address any arrests or mention the specific changes. Instead, she said the department is looking to protect children who were released under President Joe Biden’s administration.

A federal watchdog report released last year addressed the Biden’s administration struggles during an increase in migrant children arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2021. The Trump administration has dispatched Homeland Security and FBI agents to visit the children.

Another recent change allows ICE to interview children while they are at government-run shelters. That took effect July 2, according to a separate directive that the Office of Refugee Resettlement sent to shelters, also obtained by the AP.

The agency said it provides legal counsel to children and that its staff does not participate in interviews with law enforcement. Child legal advocates say they get as little as one-hour notice of the interviews, and that the children often don’t understand the purpose of the interview or are misled by officers.

“If we don’t understand what the interview is for or where the information is going, are we really consenting to this process?” said Miller Flowers, with the Young Center.

Jennifer Podkul, chief of global policy at Kids in Need of Defense, said some officers lack language skills, trauma-informed interviewing techniques and knowledge of the reunification process.

“It seems like it’s designed just to cast the net wider on immigration enforcement against adults,” she said.

String of policy changes adding hurdles to reunification process

The July changes are among a series of steps the Trump administration has taken to ramp up vetting of parents seeking to reunite with children.

The administration has required fingerprinting from sponsors and any adults living in the home where children are released. It has also required identification or proof of income that only those legally present in the U.S. could acquire, as well as introducing DNA testing and home visits by immigration officers.

Children have been spending more time in government-run shelters under increased vetting. The average length of stay for those released was 171 days in July, down from a peak of 217 days in April but well above 37 days in January, when Trump took office.

About 2,000 unaccompanied children were in government custody in July.

Shaina Aber, an executive director of the Acacia Center for Justice analyzing child custody data, attributes the longer custody times to the policy changes.

“The agency’s mission has been conflated and entangled,” she added. “It seems ORR’s mission has been somewhat compromised in that they are now doing more on the immigration enforcement side, and they’re not an immigration enforcement entity.”

What can we expect from the Pistons this season? Coty Davis of The Detroit News provides a player-by-player analysis leading into the start of training camp. First in a series: Jaden Ivey.

Last season

Jaden Ivey was on the verge of having his best game of the season on Jan. 1. In the closing seconds of the third quarter, Ivey took former Michigan guard Caleb Houstan off the dribble and scored on a contested layup to give the Pistons an 84-75 lead over the Orlando Magic.

The basket gave Ivey his 22nd point of the night, which featured the third-year guard shooting 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. He was on track for his first 30-point performance of the season. But less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, Ivey suffered a broken left fibula when Cole Anthony drove into his leg at Little Caesars Arena.

The injury ended Ivey’s season. He finished the year playing 29 games and averaged a career-best 17.6 points on 46% shooting, 41% 3-point shooting, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

Prior to the injury, Ivey had taken the helm as Detroit’s second-best player and was playing at a near All-Star level. But instead of helping the Pistons embark on one of the league’s most remarkable one-year turnarounds, he spent the rest of the season rehabbing his injured leg.

After Ivey was sidelined, the Pistons rallied and finished the season with a 29-20 record. However, his absence was strongly felt during Detroit’s six-game playoff series, where they ultimately fell to the New York Knicks.

Ivey had a look of dismay each time he joined his teammates on the sidelines dressed in street clothes, but his anticipated comeback will be one of the top headlines surrounding the Pistons next season.

2025-26 outlook

Provided there are no setbacks, Ivey should be ready to rejoin the Pistons by the start of training camp in October. It will take some time for him to regain the rhythm he had before the injury. But once Ivey returns to his previous form, he is likely to reclaim his position as the Pistons’ second-best player.

He will provide Detroit with a reliable second scoring option alongside Cade Cunningham. With the ball in his hands, Ivey is a proven scorer who can create opportunities for himself. His improved 3-point shooting gives the Pistons an additional player who can space the floor. However, Ivey’s most significant contributions will come from his playmaking and ball-handling.

Not having a secondary ball-handler was detrimental to the Pistons in the aftermath of Ivey’s injury. His absence led the team to make a deal for Dennis Schröder at the NBA trade deadline in February. Although he did a solid job filling in Ivey’s vacancy, Detroit decided to allow Schröder to walk in free agency in July.

The Pistons chose not to sign a point guard after Schröder’s departure. However, Detroit’s management believes that Ivey’s guard-oriented skills will be enough to help the Pistons take an additional leap in their rebuild next season.

It is also worth noting that Ivey is one of two players who are eligible for a contract extension, making the 2025-26 campaign a prove-it year for the fourth-year guard. It will take some time for Ivey to shake off the rust that comes from his long layoff. However, the Pistons anticipate that Ivey’s return will result in the addition of an impact player for next season.

EAST LANSING — With 5:40 on the clock in Michigan State’s 23-6 win over Western Michigan, running back Brandon Tullis lined up in the backfield in pass protection. As quarterback Aidan Chiles snapped the ball, he scanned ahead of him. He turned to his right.

Too late.

By the time Tullis reacted to the play, Western Michigan linebacker James Camden had crunched Chiles with a big hit — one that took Chiles out of the game, though he said he just had the wind knocked out of him later. The ball rolled out of Chiles’ hand and the Broncos recovered.

That’s a scene that Michigan State (1-0) doesn’t want to repeat itself this season, the kind that can lead to losses.

“We gotta be better in protection as a whole,” Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith said Monday. “Whether it’s identification, where you’re going at — and once we identify it, the communication of how.”

Give Western Michigan some credit for totaling four sacks against Michigan State, especially defensive end Nadame Tucker, who had two himself and looked like a Power Four player. But that many sacks against an overmatched opponent isn’t the kind of performance you want to see out of any offensive line.

Smith pointed to one play in which the offensive line saw and reacted to something completely different than the running back. Those are miscommunications that tend to happen in Week 1. The key is not to let them last into Week 2, Week 3 or deeper.

Other teams are watching that film and salivating. Boston College (1-0), who comes to Spartan Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. tilt Saturday (NBC) poses a tricky defense with experienced cornerbacks. Against Fordham in a 66-10 blowout, the Eagles showed a number of tricky blitzes with the secondary — and those are looks that coach Bill O’Brien is comfortable using up in a meaningless Week 1 warmup against an FCS school that had two wins last season.

“What we put on tape, that’s going to try to get exposed again, right?” Smith said. “So we’ve got to shore up some of the protection, identification, communication, then — yeah, ultimately — the technique and winning in protection.”

There’s more trickery coming, and so it’s imperative that the pass protection gets better going forward. From Tullis to the offensive line (one that’s still under extensive tryouts), the Spartans are focused on getting that part of the offense right.

Milivojevic falters in late snaps

All of fall camp, teammates and coaches of Michigan State backup quarterback Alessio Milivojevic sang his praises. From year one to year two, the redshirt freshman from Naperville, Ill., had taken supposedly big strides. And though his only career pass attempt had been picked off in a season-ending loss to Rutgers, the Spartans had confidence in their guy.

Then he did it again. With his only passing attempt on third-and-4, Milivojevic threw a pick-six to Western Michigan safety Tate Hallock.

Two passes. Two picks. Needless to say, that’s not a stat anyone wants on their resume.

Smith leaned away from criticizing his young prospect, the heir apparent to Chiles, in his Monday press conference. He cautioned that it’s a lot harder to sit on the bench and check into a game late, throwing on a third down after not establishing the run.

“Alessio’s competitive,” Smith said. “He’s practiced so well. We even talked about it on the team side. His time is coming, and if the situation arises (where) we’d want to put him back in the game, we’re going to do it.”

Milivojevic will be eager to prove himself when that opportunity arises — eye next week’s game against Youngstown State for a proper drive or two. But in the event that Chiles is injured or otherwise can’t play, the early looks at Milivojevic aren’t all that inspiring. Then again, those reps came at the tail end of a Week 1 opener. That deserves some proper grace.

Velling still catching up

An injury put Jack Velling on the sidelines for much of Michigan State’s fall camp. He showed that rust against the Broncos, making just one catch for three yards and a first down in the first quarter. But he actually ended the day a net-negative in yardage, having taken a false start penalty in the third quarter that helped stall out a drive.

Such a performance was exceptionally tame from the senior, compared to his 36 catches for 411 yards last season. There’s more to his position than just production, but the lack thereof evidenced his continued climb back to full speed.

“In fairness, Jack, he missed a decent amount of camp,” Smith said. “So he’s working his way back into it, but we do feel like he moved around. Just watching him on the tape, he moved around well.”

Smith praised some of Velling’s contributions in the run game, an area that both he and Michael Masunas played a strong part in. This Michigan State team went heavy on personnel all game, running 12 personnel and fullback sets often and establishing the run early with the contributions of young running backs Makhi Frazier and Brandon Tullis.

Masunas himself caught two passes for 22 yards, rumbling for a 14-yard gain in the fourth quarter, showing he can provide some measure of offense at his position even if Velling is still gearing back to full speed. But as a consistent threat in last year’s offense, look for Velling to bounce back over the next few weeks.

Injury report

Unlike a year ago, Michigan State didn’t lose any starters to injury after the first game of the season. It’s also getting closer to full strength.

Smith said he was “optimistic” about the health of safety Nikai Martinez and offensive guard Luka Vincic, two players who will be reevaluated at the end of the week. Kicker Martin Connington has “a chance” to return this week, the same as Tarik Ahmetbasic.

Martinez was a starter at safety last season, and his return would bode well for a secondary that had some missteps against Western Michigan. Vincic, held out of last game with a foot injury, figures to rotate into the continued tryouts for different offensive linemen.

Smith will take a look at the health of Connington and Ahmetbasic, as well as how third-stringer Blake Sislo is performing, at the end of the week. If everything holds, Sislo will kick extra points and short- to mid-range field goals, while punter Ryan Eckley will kick long field goals and kickoffs.

Sislo hit 3-for-3 PATs in Friday’s win, while Eckley missed a 46-yard field goal wide left.

“He put a good swing on it,” Smith said. “It had the distance. It was just left.”

Crystal Hickerson sees ghosts.

She’s not scared.

She’s inspired.

The Pontiac author of four books has found a way to weave ghosts into her writing, in a style she describes as a mix of “supernatural, thriller and paranormal” genres.

“I have seen ghosts,” she said. “I saw two while awake and experienced others while in a dream state. There always are ghosts in my stories.”

Hickerson traces her passion for writing to her childhood, when she and friends would think up ideas to write about. Time and again, Hickerson’s stories were more elaborate and more evolved.

“I started putting pen to paper when I was little, maybe 12 years old or so,” she said. “Me and a best friend would write down stories and share it the next day and do make believe. My stories were so long. I wanted to keep going.”

Born in Queens, New York, and raised in Manhattan and Tennessee, Hickerson, 57, packed her love of writing with her as she grew, traveled and lived in such far-flung places as Las Vegas, Tacoma and Italy.

She settled in Michigan some three decades ago, arriving on the recommendation of a friend who promised that Flint was an “up and coming city.”

Hickerson said she “fell in love with southeast Michigan and Michigan itself.

“That was 30 years ago,” she said. “I just stayed.”

A mother of two grown children, Hickerson made a career as a hospice care professional and grief counselor. There, too, she found reasons for writing.

“Hospice is one of those areas where you either like it or you just can’t do it,” she said.

Over time, Hickerson said, the “end of life” environment in hospice — and learning about “the other side of life” — proved “very inspirational” and influenced her writing. Ideas, she said, can come from observations, comments and overheard phrases that stick in her memory.

A hospice was the setting for one of her novels — “The Volunteer” — telling the emotional journey of a woman who volunteers to work at a local hospice after the death of her mother on hospice care.

“This novel will take you behind the scenes and give you an inside peek into the real world of hospice volunteering,” promises promotional material for the novel.

Like many authors, Hickerson is a voracious reader. Among her favorites, she said, are Stephen King — the so-called “King of Horror” — and James Patterson, although she said her writing style does not mimic theirs.

“My writing comes from me,” Hickerson said. “I am not trying to get inside Stephen King’s head — thank goodness.”

But in King, she said, she found some useful wisdom about writing, citing his advice that “stories are inside you. They are begging to come out.”

Adds Hickerson: “A lot of times when you write, something takes over.”

Such was the case, she said, with her novel, “The Magician.” The book examines the “evolution of man” and the “dawn of a new age.”

The novel, she said, “completely spiraled into something else” once she started writing.

“A lot of times, I let my muse go where it wants,” she said. “A lot of times it takes a while, but sometimes it kind of takes off.”

The process, she said, can help “cleanse my palate from dark things.”

In her novel “Wanted”, Hickerson tracks the life of a woman who survived a brutal attack that murdered her daughter and left the woman in a coma.

“With nothing left, she searched for a reason to live,” according to an overview of the book. “She found it: vengeance. When your soul is empty, darkness finds a great place to live.”

Crystal Hickerson’s books can be found at Amazon and at lulu.com/spotlight/crystalhickerson.