Some retailers say they have run out of pennies and cant get more from their banks, forcing them to make changes at the cash register.
At Richardson Farms in White Marsh, Maryland, President Leslie Richardson said his bank stopped delivering pennies late last year.
We were no longer getting pennies delivered to us, he said. The bank told us it would be coming, and sure enough, a couple of weeks later, we havent seen a penny.
While the store still accepts pennies, Richardson said it generally does not have them unless customers bring them in. As a result, he activated a register setting that rounds cash totals to the nearest five cents.
The U.S. Mint stopped producing pennies last summer because the cost to make one nearly four cents exceeded its value. But Jeff Lenard, spokesman for the National Association of Convenience Stores, said billions of coins already in circulation are sitting unused.
When you get change, you stick it in a jar, you stick it in an ashtray, you stick it somewhere else. It doesnt recirculate, Lenard said. When theres not many around, you need constant new pennies. Thats not happening right now, and thats why we have this shortage.
He called the situation the great penny mess and said rounding in favor of customers could cost the convenience store industry roughly $1 million a day.
Lawmakers have introduced the Common Cents Act, which would standardize rounding nationwide. Under the bill, cash totals ending in 1 or 2 cents would round down to the nearest five cents, while totals ending in 3 or 4 cents would round up. Amounts ending in 6 or 7 cents would round down, and 8 or 9 cents would round up.
The Treasury Department is encouraging shoppers to spend the pennies they have and recommends rounding cash transactions to the nearest five cents. However, it says retailers should still accept pennies and provide penny change if they have it.
So far, no vote has been scheduled on the federal measure.
As part of his first tour in nearly a decade, Bruno Mars is set to perform at Ford Field this spring, as part of The Romantic Tour.
The 16-time Grammy winner is set to perform with Anderson .Paak and Leon Thomas for the tour, with the trio playing stadiums across the country.
The concert at Ford Field is set for Saturday, May 9, with tickets going on sale on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 12 p.m. EST.
You can find more info and purchase tickets through Ford Field at this link. If you are a Lions Loyal Member, you will receive more details on Monday, Jan. 12, with additional information about an exclusive presale, which starts on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 10 a.m. EST.
Gov. Tim Walz has put the Minnesota National Guard on notice in the event of unrest following the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.
Walz says he’s issued a warning order to prepare the Minnesota National Guard in the event of civil unrest. It’s a first step that alerts 13,000 guard members that they may need to be called upon in the event of an emergency.
Addressing reporters on the situation during a Wednesday briefing, Walz said he supported the rights of demonstrators but urged them to engage in peaceful protest.
“What we’re seeing is the consequences of governance designed to generate fear, headlines and conflict,” Walz said. “It’s governing by reality TV, and today, that recklessness cost someone their life.”
He added: “We won’t let them tear us apart. We’ll not turn against each other. To Minnesotans, they say this, I feel your anger. I’m angry. They want a show. We can’t give it to them.”
Like a number of other Democrats in Minnesota, Walz called for federal law enforcement authorities to leave the state.
“I have a very simple message, we do not need any further help from the federal government,” he said. “To Donald Trump and Kristi Noem: you have done enough.”
Meanwhile, state Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson urged “safe and lawful” protests and warned that actions like blocking freeways or damaging property could result in fines and arrest.
“We fully expect that the community will want to peacefully demonstrate their anger or frustration. Minnesota residents and visitors have the right to peacefully demonstrate,” Jacobson said. “Our focus is keeping demonstrators, community members, drivers and law enforcement safe, especially during moments of heightened tension or uncertainty.”
Reactions
A number of statements via social media and email from politicians ranged outrage over ICE’s actions and presence in the Twin Cities to support for federal law enforcement.
President Donald Trump, in a social media post, described the victim as a “professional agitator” and said video of the incident shows the ICE agent acting in self-defense.
“Based on the attached clip, it’s hard to believe he’s still alive” Trump said. He went on to blame “The Radical Left” for threatening law enforcement.
State Attorney General Keith Ellison, in a statement, said he was “very angry.”
“Like so many Minnesotans, I’m heartbroken. I’m also angry. Very angry. For weeks, we’ve watched the Trump administration deliberately brutalize our communities, and now an ICE agent has fatally shot one of our neighbors,” Ellison said. “The president is deliberately weaponizing the federal government against the people of Minnesota to inflict pain and instill terror. We must stand up to this horrendous injustice, and in doing so, we must not stoop to Donald Trump’s level. We’re right to be heartbroken and angry, but we cannot give Donald Trump the excuse he wants to continue escalating this violence against Minnesotans.”
Ellison said residents should “protest peacefully, organize your communities, and stand up for one another. I will continue to do everything in my power to oppose this brutality, ensure justice is served, and keep Minnesotans safe. Right now, I think nothing would keep Minnesotans safer than seeing ICE leave our state, and take their chaos, pain, and violence with them.”
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, in a statement, said the incident was “the result of the administration sending federal agents onto our streets against the wishes of local law enforcement, including our respected (Minneapolis) Police Chief Brian O’Hara. We need full transparency and an investigation of what happened, and I am deeply concerned that statements made by (the U.S. Department of Homeland Security) do not appear to reflect video evidence and on-the-ground accounts. While our immigration enforcement should be focused on apprehending and prosecuting violent criminals to make our communities safer, these ICE actions are doing the opposite and making our state less safe.”
U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, a Democrat from St. Paul, called on ICE agents to leave the state.
“ICE must immediately cease and desist their actions in Minnesota to allow state and local law enforcement officials to restore order, prevent further violence, and conduct a full, independent, and transparent investigation into ICE’s actions and conduct which caused this horrific shooting,” McCollum said. “Minnesotans are justified in their anger. As Minnesotans, we demand accountability and justice. We have a fundamental right to express our first amendment freedoms through peaceful protest. We must not fall into Trump’s trap of division and violence. We can show the world the best of Minnesota values – our compassion, our respect for the dignity of each of our neighbors, and our belief in justice for all.”
In a social media post U.S. Tom Emmer, a Sixth District Republican, posted on X his support for federal law enforcement.
“I pray that every federal law enforcement officer on the ground in Minnesota right now remains safe as they carry out their vital mission. Tim Walz and Jacob Frey are cowards who are inciting violence to distract from their own failures. It’s dangerous. Stay safe, @ICEgov.”
St. Paul mayor, others
St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her said in a social media post that she was monitoring the situation in Minneapolis.
“My heart is broken for the victim, their family, and our community as a whole,” Her said. “I join Mayor Frey in demanding that ICE leave our cities immediately before they cause any further harm.”
Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL- St. Paul, in a statement, said she was “devastated and furious.”
“A weak president sent ICE agents to Minnesota to sow chaos without regard for human life, and today’s killing is the predictable outcome,” Murphy said. “This federal government is using violence to force us into fearful silence and compliance, and a woman is dead because of it. ICE should never have been in Minnesota, and they need to leave now.
“I denounce these actions, and I will fight with all I have for our freedom and safety. I urge us all, even as we feel our rage and our grief, to remain calm; more innocent people cannot be hurt. We demand accountability — and the truth — from the President, Secretary Noem, ICE officials, and those involved in the shooting.”
Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, in a statement, said “peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and must be protected, but endangering law enforcement officers is never acceptable.”
Johnson added: “I offer my condolences to the family grieving the loss of a loved one and urge everyone to step back, de-escalate, and let investigators fully examine the facts of what occurred.”
David Titus, Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association’s interim executive director, said the association stands “firmly behind law enforcement officers, accountability under the law, and the safety of every Minnesota community.
“Irresponsible, reckless rhetoric from political leaders attacking law enforcement has real and dangerous consequences for officers on the street,” he said in a statement. “When officers are vilified, demonized, or used as political props, it fuels hostility, emboldens bad actors, and puts lives directly at risk.”
People protest as law enforcement officers attend to the scene of the shooting involving federal law enforcement agents, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Baker)
A motorist fatally shot by an immigration officer in Minneapolis is at least the fifth person to die since the Trump administration launched its aggressive immigration crackdown last year.
The Department of Homeland Security said the woman killed Wednesday was trying to run over officers with a vehicle. But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said video of the incident showed it was reckless and unnecessary.
Last September, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in suburban Chicago shot and killed a Mexican man during a traffic stop.
Two men have died after being struck by vehicles while fleeing immigration authorities — one in California and another in Virginia. In July, a California farmworker fell from a greenhouse roof and broke his neck during an ICE raid.
Minneapolis Public Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday “due to safety concerns related to today’s incidents around the city,” the district announced Wednesday night after a fatal ICE shooting earlier in the day in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Public Radio received a report that armed U.S. Border Patrol officers entered Minneapolis Roosevelt high school property during Wednesday’s dismissal period.
All district programs, activities and athletics were also cancelled. The district won’t move to e-learning, as that is only allowed in cases of severe weather.
The district said it will collaborate with the city on “emergency preparedness and response.”
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday sought to assert its control over Venezuelan oil, seizing a pair of sanctioned tankers transporting petroleum and announcing plans to relax some sanctions so the U.S. can oversee the sale of Venezuela’s petroleum worldwide.
Trump’s administration intends to control the distribution of Venezuela’s oil products globally following its ouster of President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid. Besides the United States enforcing an existing oil embargo, the Energy Department says the “only oil transported in and out of Venezuela” will be through approved channels consistent with U.S. law and national security interests.
That level of control over the world’s largest proven reserves of crude oil could give the Trump administration a broader hold on oil supplies globally in ways that could enable it to influence prices. Both moves reflect the Republican administration’s determination to make good on its effort to control the next steps in Venezuela through its vast oil resources after Trump pledged the U.S. will “run” the country.
Vice President JD Vance said in an interview the U.S. can “control” Venezuela’s “purse strings” by dictating where its oil can be sold.
“We control the energy resources, and we tell the regime, you’re allowed to sell the oil so long as you serve America’s national interest,” Vance said in an interview to air on Fox News Channel’s “Jesse Watters Primetime.”
The vice president added, “And that’s how we exert incredible pressure on that country without wasting a single American life.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that the oil taken from the sanctioned vessels seized in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea would be sold as part of the deal announced by Trump on Tuesday under which Venezuela would provide up to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S.
Venezuela’s interim authorities “want that oil that was seized to be part of this deal,” Rubio told reporters after briefing lawmakers Wednesday about the Maduro operation. “They understand that the only way they can move oil and generate revenue and not have economic collapse is if they cooperate and work with the United States.”
U.S. European Command said on social media that the merchant vessel Bella 1 was seized in the North Atlantic for “violations of U.S. sanctions.” The U.S. had been pursuing the tanker since last month after it tried to evade a blockade on sanctioned oil vessels around Venezuela.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed U.S. forces also took control of the M Sophia in the Caribbean Sea. Noem said on social media that both ships were “either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it.”
The two ships join at least two others that were taken by U.S. forces last month — the Skipper and the Centuries.
The Bella 1 had been cruising across the Atlantic nearing the Caribbean on Dec. 15 when it abruptly turned and headed north, toward Europe. The change in direction came days after the first U.S. tanker seizure of a ship on Dec. 10 after it had left Venezuela carrying oil.
When the U.S. Coast Guard tried to board the Bella 1, it fled. U.S. European Command said a Coast Guard vessel had tracked the ship “pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court.”
As the U.S. pursued it, the Bella 1 was renamed Marinera and flagged to Russia, shipping databases show. A U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations, said the ship’s crew had painted a Russian flag on the side of the hull.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it had information about Russian nationals among the Marinera’s crew and, in a statement carried by Russia’s state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti, demanded that “the American side ensure humane and dignified treatment of them, strictly respect their rights and interests, and not hinder their speedy return to their homeland.”’
Separately, a senior Russian lawmaker, Andrei Klishas, decried the U.S. action as “blatant piracy.”
The Justice Department is investigating crew members of the Bella 1 vessel for failing to obey Coast Guard orders and “criminal charges will be pursued against all culpable actors,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said.
“The Department of Justice is monitoring several other vessels for similar enforcement action — anyone on any vessel who fails to obey instructions of the Coast Guard or other federal officials will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Bondi said on X.
The ship had been sanctioned by the U.S. in 2024 on allegations of smuggling cargo for a company linked to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.
Easing some sanctions to sell Venezuela’s oil
The Trump administration, meanwhile, is “selectively” removing sanctions to enable the shipping and sale of Venezuelan oil to markets worldwide, according to an outline of the policies published Wednesday by the Energy Department.
The sales are slated to begin immediately with 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil. The U.S. government said the sales “will continue indefinitely,” with the proceeds settling in U.S.-controlled accounts at “globally recognized banks.” The money would be disbursed to the U.S. and Venezuelan populations at the “discretion” of Trump’s government.
Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA said it is in negotiations with the U.S. government for the sale of crude oil.
“This process is developed under schemes similar to those in force with international companies, such as Chevron, and is based on a strictly commercial transaction, with criteria of legality, transparency and benefit for both parties,” the company said in the statement.
The U.S. plans to authorize the importation of oil field equipment, parts and services to increase Venezuela’s oil production, which has been roughly 1 million barrels a day.
The Trump administration has indicated it also will invest in the electricity grid to increase production and the quality of life for people in Venezuela, whose economy has been unraveling amid changes to foreign aid and cuts to state subsidies, making necessities, including food, unaffordable to millions.
Meanwhile, Trump abruptly changed his tone about Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Trump said Wednesday that they had exchanged a friendly phone call and he had invited the leader of the South American country to the White House. Trump had said earlier this week that “Colombia is very sick too” and accused Petro of ”making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”
Ships said to be part of a shadow fleet
Noem said both seized ships were part of a shadow fleet of rusting oil tankers that smuggle oil for countries facing sanctions, such as Venezuela, Russia and Iran.
After the seizure of the now-named Marinera, which open-source maritime tracking sites showed was between Scotland and Iceland earlier Wednesday, the U.K. defense ministry said Britain’s military provided support, including surveillance aircraft.
“This ship, with a nefarious history, is part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion which is fueling terrorism, conflict, and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine,” U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said.
The capture of the M Sophia, on the U.S. sanctions list for moving illicit cargos of oil from Russia, in the Caribbean was much less prolonged.
The ship had been “running dark,” not having transmitted location data since July. Tankers involved in smuggling often turn off their transponders or broadcast inaccurate data to hide their locations.
Samir Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers.com, said his organization used satellite imagery and surface-level photos to document that at least 16 tankers had left the Venezuelan coast since Saturday, after the U.S. captured Maduro.
The M Sophia was among them, Madani said, citing a recent photo showing it in the waters near Jose Terminal, Venezuela’s main oil export hub.
Windward, a maritime intelligence firm that tracks such vessels, said in a briefing to reporters the M Sophia loaded at the terminal on Dec. 26 and was carrying about 1.8 million barrels of crude oil — a cargo that would be worth about $108 million at current price of about $60 a barrel.
Lawless reported from London.
A government supporter holds an image of President Nicolas Maduro during a women’s march to demand his return in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, three days after U.S. forces captured him and his wife. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Some 500 people gathered around “The Triumph of the Human Spirit” in Foley Square Wednesday night to protest the Minneapolis shooting of Renee Nicole Good.
Protestors chanted “Say her name: Renee Nicole Good” just hours after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers opened fire at close range on the 37-year-old mother as she attempted to flee in a car.
President Trump claimed that Good, whom he called a “professional agitator,” attempted to run the agents down with her car and that officers fired in self-defense.
“What happened in Minneapolis was unbelievable,” Jordan Harald, 57, a retired film industry worker from Manhattan, told a Daily News reporter at the protest. “It’s critical that we’re here. What our country is doing is abhorrent and untenable. We have to fight and stand strong.”
Some 500 people gathered in Foley Square on Jan. 7, 2026 to protest the Minneapolis shooting of Renee Nicole Good. (Kerry Burke/NYDN)
The crowd chanted “We want ICE off our streets,” “No Justice no peace“ and “ No ICE, no KKK, no fascist USA” as protesters marched around Foley Square and streets surrounding the nearby US Immigration and Customs Enforcement building at 26 Federal Plaza.
“I’m here to support the movement,” said Carlos Bogaert, 34, a bike messenger from Queens. “I’m a proud immigrant from the Dominican Republic and I’m really frustrated about what happened in Minneapolis.
“It didn’t seem like she was endangering the agents. It was an injustice,” Bogaert said.
Some New Yorkers spoke out against U.S. adventurism in Venezuela, where President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were snatched in a military operation. They are currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
“What they did in Venezuela is illegal,” said Mattias Rich, a 32-year-old waiter from Brooklyn. “It was basically a kidnapping. I understand Venezuelans don’t like Maduro. But this is no way to handle it.”
A banner strung across the crowd read: “the fascist Trump regime must go”
“This is a symbol,” said Jessica Bloom, 68, a social worker from Manhattan. “We’re grieving the death of Renee Nicole Good. They were totally out of control. She was just scared.”
Some 500 people gathered in Foley Square on Jan. 7, 2026 to protest the Minneapolis shooting of Renee Nicole Good. (Kerry Burke/NYDN)
Some 500 people gathered around “The Triumph of the Human Spirit” in Foley Square Wednesday night to protest the Minneapolis shooting of Renee Nicole Good.
Protestors chanted “Say her name: Renee Nicole Good” just hours after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers opened fire at close range on the 37-year-old mother as she attempted to flee in a car.
President Trump claimed that Good, whom he called a “professional agitator,” attempted to run the agents down with her car and that officers fired in self-defense.
“What happened in Minneapolis was unbelievable,” Jordan Harald, 57, a retired film industry worker from Manhattan, told a Daily News reporter at the protest. “It’s critical that we’re here. What our country is doing is abhorrent and untenable. We have to fight and stand strong.”
Some 500 people gathered in Foley Square on Jan. 7, 2026 to protest the Minneapolis shooting of Renee Nicole Good. (Kerry Burke/NYDN)
The crowd chanted “We want ICE off our streets,” “No Justice no peace“ and “ No ICE, no KKK, no fascist USA” as protesters marched around Foley Square and streets surrounding the nearby US Immigration and Customs Enforcement building at 26 Federal Plaza.
“I’m here to support the movement,” said Carlos Bogaert, 34, a bike messenger from Queens. “I’m a proud immigrant from the Dominican Republic and I’m really frustrated about what happened in Minneapolis.
“It didn’t seem like she was endangering the agents. It was an injustice,” Bogaert said.
Some New Yorkers spoke out against U.S. adventurism in Venezuela, where President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were snatched in a military operation. They are currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
“What they did in Venezuela is illegal,” said Mattias Rich, a 32-year-old waiter from Brooklyn. “It was basically a kidnapping. I understand Venezuelans don’t like Maduro. But this is no way to handle it.”
A banner strung across the crowd read: “the fascist Trump regime must go”
“This is a symbol,” said Jessica Bloom, 68, a social worker from Manhattan. “We’re grieving the death of Renee Nicole Good. They were totally out of control. She was just scared.”
Some 500 people gathered in Foley Square on Jan. 7, 2026 to protest the Minneapolis shooting of Renee Nicole Good. (Kerry Burke/NYDN)
By MICHAEL BIESECKER and JIM MUSTIAN The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The woman shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday was Renee Nicole Macklin Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who had recently moved to Minnesota.
She was a U.S. citizen born in Colorado and appears to never have been charged with anything involving law enforcement beyond a traffic ticket.
In social media accounts, Macklin Good described herself as a “poet and writer and wife and mom.” She said she was currently “experiencing Minneapolis,” displaying a pride flag emoji on her Instagram account. A profile picture posted to Pinterest shows her smiling and holding a young child against her cheek, along with posts about tattoos, hairstyles and home decorating.
Her ex-husband, who asked not to be named out of concern for the safety of their children, said Macklin Good had just dropped off her 6-year-old son at school Wednesday and was driving home with her current partner when they encountered a group of ICE agents on a snowy street in Minneapolis, where they had moved last year from Kansas City, Missouri.
Video taken by bystanders posted to social media shows an officer approaching her car, demanding she open the door and grabbing the handle. When she begins to pull forward, a different ICE officer standing in front of the vehicle pulls his weapon and immediately fires at least two shots into the vehicle at close range.
In another video taken after the shooting, a distraught woman is seen sitting near the vehicle, wailing, “That’s my wife, I don’t know what to do!”
Calls and messages to Macklin Good’s current partner received no response.
Trump administration officials painted Macklin Good as a domestic terrorist who had attempted to ram federal agents with her car. Her ex-husband said she was no activist and that he had never known her to participate in a protest of any kind.
He described her as a devoted Christian who took part in youth mission trips to Northern Ireland when she was younger. She loved to sing, participating in a chorus in high school and studying vocal performance in college.
She studied creative writing at Old Dominion University in Virginia and won a prize in 2020 for one of her works, according to a post on the school’s English department Facebook page. She also hosted a podcast with her second husband, who died in 2023.
Macklin Good had a daughter and her son from her first marriage, who are now ages 15 and 12. Her 6-year-old son was from her second marriage.
Her ex-husband said she had primarily been a stay-at-home mom in recent years but had previously worked as a dental assistant and at a credit union.
Donna Ganger, her mother, told the Minnesota Star Tribune the family was notified of the death late Wednesday morning.
“Renee was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known,” Ganger told the newspaper. “She was extremely compassionate. She’s taken care of people all her life. She was loving, forgiving and affectionate. She was an amazing human being.”
Ganger did not respond to calls or messages from the AP.
___
Mustian reported from New York.
People gather for a vigil after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a woman earlier in the day, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Renee Nicole Good, 37, was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis on Wednesday. She was a former resident of Kansas City, Missouri, who had recently moved to the Twin Cities.
Renee was one of the kindest people Ive ever known, Ganger told the newspaper. She was extremely compassionate. Shes taken care of people all her life. She was loving, forgiving and affectionate. She was an amazing human being.
Authorities said Good was driving an SUV and pulling away when an ICE agent fired at her. While the Trump administration defended the agents actions, local officials in Minneapolis, including the citys mayor and Minnesotas governor, called the shooting unjustified.
A Kansas City neighbor said Good lived there for about two years. Neighbors told Scripps News Kansas City that they were saddened when she moved about eight months ago. One neighbor, who declined to be identified, said she was an awesome neighbor who was great with her kids.
The Scripps News Group confirmed that Goods vehicle was registered to a Kansas City address. Court records show she had three children and, in October 2023, petitioned to change her name to match her partners.
The Star Tribune also reported that Good was previously married to Timmy Ray Macklin Jr., who died in 2023.
Good was a graduate of Old Dominion University in Virginia, where she earned a degree in English, university President Brian I. Hemphill confirmed.
After the Lions‘ offensive dysfunction (as well as a really bad defense) contributed to missing the playoffs, the stakes for Dan Campbell’s next hire could not be higher. While OC Ben Johnson was a massive hit, Campbell’s other two hires, Morton and Anthony Lynn, were flops.
Let’s take a look at some potential candidates for the Lions’ vacant OC job.
Todd Monken, former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator
Ravens coach John Harbaugh was fired on Tuesday after 18 seasons, likely leaving Monken without a job. The Athletic reported on Tuesday night that part of the reason for Harbaugh’s dismissal was his unwillingness to let Monken go. Monken was the OC for the last three seasons, when Baltimore’s offense was consistently one of the most explosive in the league — albeit with a much different quarterback than Detroit in the speedy, shifty Lamar Jackson.
The Ravens had a top-two rushing offense in all three seasons under Monken and finished No. 1 in total offense in 2024. Monken, 59, has further experience as an OC with the Georgia Bulldogs (2020-22) — with whom he was a two-time national champion — the Cleveland Browns (2019), and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2018).
The one thing Monken’s candidacy lacks is a connection to Campbell, which, in this process, matters a lot. But given the desperation to get things back on track, perhaps his ample play-calling experience will lessen that concern.
Zac Robinson, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator
Robinson’s future is in flux after Atlanta cut ties with general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Raheem Morris on Sunday night. He spent two seasons with the Falcons, overseeing a unit that finished sixth and 14th in total offense while being hampered by a quarterback controversy featuring a late-30s Kirk Cousins coming off a torn Achilles and 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr.
Robinson, 39, doesn’t have a prior working relationship with Campbell, but he does have one with quarterback Jared Goff, which could help bridge that gap. Robinson overlapped with Goff in the Los Angeles Rams organization for two seasons (2019-20), including one as an assistant quarterbacks coach. Robinson spent five total seasons in L.A. under coach Sean McVay, including two as the passing game coordinator and head quarterbacks coach.
During his playing career as a quarterback, Robinson spent half the 2010 season with the Lions but never saw a snap.
Brian Daboll, former New York Giants head coach
Daboll, a former Michigan State grad assistant (1998-99), won five Super Bowls over two stints as an assistant with the New England Patriots (2000-06, 2013-16). He also won a national championship with Nick Saban as Alabama’s OC and quarterbacks coach (2017) before landing a job with the Buffalo Bills (2018-21) as an OC, where he was credited with helping kickstart quarterback Josh Allen’s career.
His candidacy doesn’t suffer from a lack of familiarity. Daboll, 50, interviewed Campbell for his first full-time NFL coaching gig with the Miami Dolphins in 2011, which resulted in a classic Campbell story about the Lions coach slamming chairs and hitting walls in hopes of landing the job. It is, however, hurt by questions about the culture he established during his time as Giants coach (2022-25). He was fired in November after posting a 20-40-1 record.
David Blough, Washington Commanders assistant quarterbacks coach
Blough, a former quarterback, spent two stints with the Lions after going undrafted out of Purdue in 2019 and has had a quick rise in the coaching profession since retiring in 2023. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday night, just hours after Morton was let go, that Blough was on Detroit’s radar.
He’s one of the more inexperienced options on the list, with no play-calling experience on his resume. His only two seasons in coaching have come as an assistant quarterbacks coach for the Commanders, and at just 30 years old, he’s a year younger than Goff. But his first season as a coach was spent working with the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year, quarterback Jayden Daniels, and his one season with Goff in Detroit as a player (2021) likely established a good baseline for their potential working relationship.
Declan Doyle, Chicago Bears offensive coordinator
Doyle, 30, is one of the hottest young names in the coaching profession. After beginning his coaching career as a student assistant at Iowa, he was hired by Payton in 2019 to be an offensive assistant in New Orleans (2019-22), where he overlapped with Campbell for two seasons.
Doyle rejoined Payton as a tight ends coach in Denver for the 2023 and 2024 seasons and got his big break this past offseason when Ben Johnson took a chance on him as the new OC in Chicago. He wasn’t in a play-calling role, so if the Lions intend to have Doyle do that, they’d be able to poach him without issue. But like Blough, calling plays is something he’s never done before, so it’d be a bit of a gamble.
Pete Carmichael, Denver Broncos senior offensive assistant
Given some of Carmichael’s parallels to Morton — both in their mid-50s, both connections from back in the Saints days, both most recently worked in Denver under Sean Payton — I don’t know if Carmichael’s hiring would satisfy the fanbase, but one thing Carmichael has that Morton didn’t is 15 years’ worth of OC experience in New Orleans (2009-2023). Which kind of counts for a whole lot.
For the most part, Carmichael, 54, didn’t call plays in New Orleans until after Payton was gone, so he’s not a flawless candidate. But he’s certainly experienced in the role at large, which could help him get on the same page with Campbell quickly.
Thomas Brown, New England Patriots passing game coordinator and tight ends coach
A few years ago, Brown was thought of as one of the league’s top up-and-coming offensive minds. After three seasons with the Rams as an assistant head coach and position coach (2020-22), one of which overlapped with Goff, he became the Carolina Panthers’ OC in 2023. He was named the league’s No. 2 OC in an NFL Players Association survey, but left during a regime change the following offseason.
He worked with Caleb Williams as the Bears’ passing game coordinator in 2024 and was promoted to OC and interim head coach as Chicago cleaned house midseason. This past season, Brown, 39, worked as the passing game coordinator for a revitalized Patriots offense featuring quarterback Drake Maye playing at an MVP level.
Kliff Kingsbury, former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator
Kingsbury, one of the few candidates on this list with head coaching experience, went through the highest of highs and lowest of lows over his two seasons with the Commanders, who are letting him go after a disappointing 5-12 season. Kingsbury called the offense that led Washington to an NFC Championship appearance and Daniels to the 2024 Rookie of the Year, but the offense fell apart in 2025 as Daniels was plagued by injuries.
Kingsbury, 46, doesn’t really seem like a match for Detroit on the surface. Not only is he missing a connection to Campbell, but he runs an Air Raid offense and most of his notable successes — Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray, and Daniels — have been mobile quarterbacks. Still, he has a ton of play-calling reps under his belt and could be a high-ceiling option.
Internal candidates
Hank Fraley, Lions offensive line coach
Fraley has been with the Lions since 2018, when he joined the staff of then-OC Jim Bob Cooter as an assistant offensive line coach. After he became the head position coach in 2020, the Lions’ offensive line gained a reputation as one of the best in the league, with players like Penei Sewell, Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker reaching All-Pro and Pro Bowl levels.
Fraley, 48, interviewed for the Seattle Seahawks’ vacant OC job last offseason, but wound up returning to Detroit, where he had the title of run game coordinator added to his plate. One could argue his resume was stronger a season ago; following Ragnow’s retirement, the Lions’ offensive line was their most inconsistent unit, and Detroit’s run game took a significant step back. Still, Fraley is a highly respected coach who could soon earn a bigger role.
Scottie Montgomery, Lions wide receivers/assistant head coach
Montgomery has coached running backs and wide receivers for the Lions, and while it certainly helps that each unit is packed with talent, both reached a consistent level of excellence under his tutelage. The rushing tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery was elite in 2023 and 2024; as the wide receivers coach this past season, he led a unit that featured two receivers who finished in the top nine in receiving yards.
Montgomery, 47, has been an offensive coordinator at two of his college jobs, Duke (2013-15) and Maryland (2019-20). In between, he served as the head coach at East Carolina (2013-15). Montgomery is a sharp, detail-oriented coach who could help refine Detroit’s attention to detail, which was sorely lacking in 2025.
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll looks towards New York Giants wide receiver Cole Beasley during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Detroit Lions, Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Now that the season of giving is over, maybe we can gift ourselves a good deal. I got this tip from one of our technical directors here at Channel 7, Zara Maldonado, who said he creates his own deals by taking advantage of gift card promotions.
Watch Kiara's report in the video player below
7 Smart Shopper: How to make your own deals by taking advantage of gift card promotions
For example, if you know you get a coffee every morning. Get a gift card from Kroger or any place that is running a promotion. Right now, Kroger is offering four times the fuel points, meaning the same money you would have spent will now go towards savings at the pump!
"So oftentimes during the week I'll think about, alright on Wednesday nights we have sporting events, or Saturday we're busy all day. So I'll take advantage and buy a gift card at a restaurant I know we will be close to. So again, I'm saving time, I'm saving stress, and I'm getting additional fuel points," said Amy Luna, a Customer Communication Manager at Kroger. "Super easy, scan your plus card, and you're good to go."
Buying a gift card, is also a good way to keep track of what we are spending at certain places! So thank you, Zara, for that tip.
And if you have any money saving tips to share, send me an email at Kiara.Hay@WXYZ.com
Q: We have a third bathroom in our finished basement that has a stall shower. My brother-in-law says it’s only considered a half-bath because it doesn’t have a bathtub. Is he correct?
A: Your brother-in-law is wrong. Bathrooms go by the number of fixtures. A bathroom with a sink and a toilet is a two-fixture bath, which is also referred to as a half-bath or a lav. A full bath has a sink, toilet, and either a bathtub or shower, or both, so it can be either a three- or four-fixture full bath.
Home maintenance tip
Are you losing up to 25% of your heat because you don’t have $40 to $80 worth of insulation in your basement? Having been in literally over a thousand homes over the years, I get to observe a lot of things. One thing I have noticed, especially in homes built before the 1980s, is the lack of insulation around the rim joist in the basement. That is where all the joists rest on top of the basement wall. If you see insulation, you’re good, but if you see bare wood, you’re losing money out of your pocket every minute during the cold weather here in Michigan.
The fix is simple: buy a roll or two of insulation and cut pieces to fit up in all of the cavities. (If you have bay windows or kitchen sinks that are in a bay with plumbing pipes, then consult with a professional on the correct way to insulate the bay.) It’s a good idea to wear gloves, long sleeves, safety glasses and a face mask when handling insulation. You can take it a step further and seal all the joints with a foam sealant first before adding the insulation. I recommend consulting your home improvement store or a contractor/handyman as to the best way to go about it for your home. As long as you do something, you will start saving money right away.
Market update
November’s market update for Macomb County and Oakland County’s housing market (house and condo sales) is as follows: In Macomb County, the average sales price was up by almost 3% and Oakland County’s was up by more than 2%. Macomb County’s on-market inventory was down by almost 2% and Oakland County’s was up by almost 4%. Macomb County’s average days on market was 35 days and Oakland County’s was 32 days. Closed sales in Macomb County were up by almost 3% and were down by almost 9% in Oakland County. (All comparisons are month to month, year to year.)
By the long-standing historical definition from the National Association of Realtors, which has been in existence since 1908, a buyer’s market is when there is a seven-month supply or more of inventory on the market. A balanced market between buyers and sellers is when there is a six-month supply of inventory. A seller’s market is when there is a five-month or less supply of inventory. Inventory has continued to stay low. In November, the state of Michigan’s inventory was at 2.6 months of supply. Macomb County’s inventory was at 2.4 months of supply and Oakland County’s inventory was at 2.3 months of supply. By definition, it’s still not close to a buyer’s market.
Steve Meyers is a real estate agent/Realtor at Realty Executives Home Towne in Shelby Township. He can be contacted with questions at 586-997-5480 or emailed at Steve@MeyersRealtor.com. You can also visit his website at AnswersToRealEstateQuestions.com.
The new year is only a few days old, but Sponge is looking at plowing its way through a busy year ahead.
The Detroit band — whose gold-certified 1994 debut album “Rotting Pinata” launched the hits “Plowed” and “Molly (16 Candles”) — has an abundant schedule of shows already on tap, including the ’90s Cruise later this month with Sugar Ray, Tonic, Smash Mouth and others. Come July, Sponge will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its second album, “Wax Ecstatic,” and sometime this year, it will be releasing a new set, “Enclosing,” that frontman and co-founder Vin Dombroski says will likely be the band’s last.
“We’ve done many records,” explains Dombroski, citing listening habits and marketplace trends as reasons for a re-think. “It’s nice to talk about ‘a record’ … but everybody goes to YouTube and listens online. We sell some records at the shows, but I scratch my head and go, ‘Why am I even putting the effort into making a full-length record?’
“I’ll release songs, sure,” adds Dombroski, who describes “Enclosing” as “really dark.” “Nowadays, if you want content, just release a song. Why wait? But as far as a full-length album, I really have no more motivation to do it.”
Dombroski says Sponge hasn’t started thinking about “Wax Ecstatic’s” anniversary, but anticipates doing something to commemorate the album. Sponge also has its annual Bus Tour in St. Clair Shores set for March 28, and while he did not anticipate the band’s longevity, Dombroski is certainly happy to still be at it all these years later.
“I remember playing ‘Plowed’ the first time at the Ritz in Roseville, before anything was going on, and we got a really good reaction and thought, ‘Right, this one’s a keeper,'” says Dombroski, who recently released a single, “Maggot Wind,” with the Lucid, an all-star band he’s also part of. “Radio still plays it, and ‘Molly’ and sometimes others. We’re fortunate to have songs in movies sometimes, all kinds of stuff.
“It’s really the willingness of the guys in the band to get in the van and keep doing it. A lot of bands won’t do it like that anymore. We pretty much have this all down. Everybody gets along really well. They’re talented guys and decent people. I’m willing to do it, of course, but without the guys being good people and feeling the same way, I couldn’t do it.
Sponge performs at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at The Roxy, 401 Walnut Blvd., Rochester. 248-453-5285 or theroxyrochester.com. Sponge also performs with Everclear on March 18 at District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte. Doors at 7 p.m. district142live.com.
Sponge is due out later this year with "Enclosing," likely the band's last full-length album. (Photo courtesy of Sal Rodriguez)
Other music events of note this weekend (all subject to change) include …
FRIDAY, JAN. 9
• Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah lays down the law at 8 p.m. at Sound Board in the MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit. 800-745-3000 or soundboarddetroit.com.
• Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble comes home to launch its latest tour with four shows — at 7 and 9 p.m. each night — through Saturday. Jan. 10 at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
Pan-Detroit Ensemble (Photo courtesy of Pan-Detroit Ensemble)
• The Detroit Symphony Orchestra plays along with a screening of “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” at 7:30 p.m. at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.
• Eclectic New York singer and songwriter Nellie McKay performs for Friday Night Live! at 7 p.m. at the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-833-7900 or dia.org.
• Vocalist Lexie Blue sings at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
• Trumpeter Trunino Lowe blows his horn through Saturday, Nov. 10 at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, 97 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe. 313-882-5399 or dirtydogjazz.com.
• The Detroit Jazz Project takes over at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• Eastside Elvis & the Motor City Mafia shake it up at 8:30 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• Penarth, the Walk Talkers and the Mansion triple-bill at 7 p.m. at the New Dodge Lounge, 8850 Jos Campau, Hamtramck. 313-638-1508 or thenewdodgelounge.com.
• Adjust the Sails, Dear Cincinnati, Hummus Vacuum and Loudfoxcult pile up at 8 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• Reverend Robert Jones and Todd Albright team up at 7:30 p.m. at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. 734-436-6302 or trinityhousetheatre.org.
• That Arena Rock Show does just that at District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte. And Rush Experience will create its own kind of arena rock experience there on Saturday, Jan. 10. Doors at 7 p.m. both nights. district142live.com.
• Blues guitarist Duke Tumatoe squeezes into The Ark for an 8 p.m. show. 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1800 or theark.org.
• Virtual: Depeche Mode’s concert film “M,” which debuted at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival and had a limited run in theaters in October, premieres on Netflix.
SATURDAY, JAN. 10
• The Detroit Symphony Orchestra Pops plays “Total Eclipse of the Charts: ’80s Chart Toppers” at 8 p.m. and again at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11 at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. A “Total Eclipse of the Chart: Afterdark” dance party takes place at 10 p.m. Saturday in The Cube. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.
• Performance artist Satori Circus presents Lads Insane: A Musical Celebration of David Bowie to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the British music icon’s death at 8 p.m. at the Tangent Gallery/Hastings Street Ballroom, 715 E. Milwaukee St., Detroit. tangentgallery.com.
• Albany punk rockers State Champs visit the Majestic Theatre, 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 6 p.m. Real Friends, Driveways and Summerbruise are also on the bill. 313-833-9700 or majesticdetroit.com.
• Michigan music mainstay Joe Hertler performs a solo acoustic show at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
Joe Hertler (Photo courtesy of Joe Hertler)
• Singer-songwriter and comedian Kristin Key takes the stage at 8 p.m. at the Flagstar Strand Theatre, 12 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac. 248-309-6445 or flagstarstrand.com.
• Never The Crash, The Lion Within, Allen Pond and other bands perform as part of the Rise from the Ashes Benefit concert for those affected by the Sto-Away Self Storage fire in November in Rochester Hills. The show starts at 2 p.m. at the Diesel Concert Lounge, 33151 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township. 586-933-3503 or dieselconcerts.com.
• Detroit’s Lager House hosts Darkness on the Edge of Corktown 3, with more than 30 local artists playing tribute to Bruce Springsteen, at 8 p.m. Proceeds go to the Motor City Mitten Mission. 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• Problems, Deadbeatdad, Origami Phase and Seanni B rock hard at 7 p.m. at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• Bassist Gwenyth Hayes leads her band at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• Singer-songwriters Tom Alter, Bob Sky Young and Mary Hartman get together at 7:30 p.m. at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. 734-436-6302 or trinityhousetheatre.org.
• Popular local cover bands the Mega 80’s and the Square Pegz square off in an 80’s vs. 90’s show at the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-544-1991 or themagicbag.com.
• Hotel California — The Original Eagles Tribute takes it to the limit at the Emerald Theatre, 31 N. Walnut St., Mount Clemens. Doors at 7 p.m. 586-630-0120 or theemeraldtheatre.com.
• The Loving Touch hosts a Broadway Rave. 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.
• Popular local singer-songwriter Jill Jack holds her annual Birthday Bash at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1800 or theark.org.
• Virtual: The Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD series presents “The Stars of I Puritani” in theaters worldwide. metopera.org for theaters and showtimes.
SUNDAY, JAN. 11
• R&B singer Carl Thomas croons at 7:30 p.m. at Sound Board in the MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit. 800-745-3000 or soundboarddetroit.com.
Carl Thomas (Photo courtesy of MotorCity Casino Hotel)
• Dan Devins and the Blues Delegation play at a 3 p.m. matinee at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• Trumpeter Mason Bays closes the weekend at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• Ember & Ash, the duo of the Ragbirds’ Erin Zindle and Native Howl’s Alex Holycross, burns at 7:30 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1800 or theark.org.
• Ann Arbor trio the Triumvirate starts at 6 p.m. at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
Sponge performs Jan. 10 at The Roxy in Rochester and returns for another show on March 18 at District 142 in Wyandotte. (Photo courtesy of Sal Rodriguez)
Protesters gathered outside the ICE field office in Detroit and marched down Michigan Avenue, calling the fatal shooting of a protester by an ICE agent in Minneapolis "unacceptable" and demanding ICE leave Michigan.
Just hours after protests erupted in Minnesota, multiple groups organized a demonstration in downtown Detroit, voicing their anger over the shooting and loudly chanting they want ICE out of Michigan.
Watch Brett Kast's video report below: Protesters march in downtown Detroit following ICE shooting in Minneapolis Watch Ryan Marshall's video report below Protesters march in downtown Detroit following ICE shooting in Minneapolis
Kassandra Rodriguez of the Detroit Community Action Committee planned the protest. Like many marching along, she saw video of the shooting on social media.
"I was disgusted and to be fair, quite angry," Rodriguez said. "This was completely unwarranted and shouldn't have happened.
Steve Conn, a protester, also viewed the video footage.
"I saw the video. It was outrageous, disgusting. It's just murder cold blooded murder," Conn said.
Daanyal Syed, an activist with the Detroit Anti-War Committee, shared similar sentiments.
"I think you can see the video and you can clearly say there's no reason why that ICE officer should've shot that woman at all. It's murder that's what it is," Syed said.
Related video: ICE agent shoots and kills woman during Minneapolis immigration crackdown Woman killed by ICE officer in Minneapolis
Officials on both sides of the isle offered vastly differing responses to the shooting. Michigan Congresswoman Lisa McClain posted on X: "This is what happens when Democrats continue to DEMONIZE LAW ENFORCEMENT."
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, saying the woman who was shot "was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self defense."
Meanwhile, Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan called the shooting horrific and avoidable.
"The Department of Homeland Security's public statements about this incident are not only reckless they appear to be outright falsehoods. If this Administration can label anyone a domestic terrorist to deflect responsibility, then every American is at risk. Video evidence indicates that this was an unacceptable use of deadly force," Peters said.
As protesters in Detroit responded to the shooting, they echoed their calls for ICE to leave Michigan and also called for Detroit to become a sanctuary city.
"It's up to all of us to respond and let people know that this is not something we're going to accept or tolerate or let alone let happen here in Detroit," Rodriguez said.
But Sen. Aric Nesbitt, the Republican Senate leader in Lansing, called for the opposite approach.
"We need to stand with law enforcement, we need to ban sanctuary cities, we need to make sure that local law enforcement is working with state law enforcement is working with federal law enforcement. That's common sense," Nesbitt said. I welcome law enforcement... to do their job, enforce our laws and make sure every criminal illegal alien is deported from this country.
As ICE operations continue, so too do the protests.
"This is a moment in history. You must stand up for yourselves, for your community, the immigrants, all of us together," Conn said.
The group protesting said they plan to show up at a Jan. 13 Detroit City Council meeting, pushing for Detroit to become a sanctuary city.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Authorities in Salt Lake City are searching for the gunman who shot and killed two people and injured six others at a funeral outside of a church on Wednesday night.
Of the six who are injured, three are in critical condition, police said.
The incident occurred in the parking lot of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Police do not have a concrete description of a suspect or their vehicle, although they said they are following leads.
Despite a suspect not being in custody, police said there is no further danger to the public.
Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said the shooting did not appear to be a random act.
"We don't believe this was a targeted attack against a religion or anything like that," said Redd. "We don't believe, at this point, that this was random."
In a statement released after the shooting, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said the church is cooperating with law enforcement, "and is grateful for the efforts of first responders."
"We extend prayers for all who have been impacted by this tragedy and express deep concern that any sacred space intended for worship should be subjected to violence of any kind."
A Kroger store in Orion Township remains closed after a state inspection found mouse droppings on store shelves, prompting officials to temporarily shut down the location.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, or MDARD, received a complaint on Dec. 8 and conducted an inspection the following day. Inspectors discovered mouse droppings in multiple aisles, including the pet food aisle, bread aisle and other sections of the store.
Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: Kroger store in Orion Township closes temporarily after mice droppings found on shelves
The state agency had given the store until Dec. 30 to address the rodent problem, but the store failed to meet that deadline, resulting in the temporary closure this week.
"MDARD is in touch with the store following an inspection that resulted in a voluntary closure by Kroger," the department said in a statement. "We're unable to share anything more at this time due to it being an ongoing investigation."
Signs posted outside the store read: "Sorry for the inconvenience. Our store is temporarily closed until further notice."
Shoppers expressed surprise and concern about the closure.
"Probably not going to be shopping here for a while. It's kind of gross," Gaines said. "This is the first time this has happened, so I'm kind of surprised. I thought they took better care of this establishment."
One customer reported seeing a mouse in the bread and chip aisle and warned other shoppers not to purchase items from those areas. The customer provided photos that appear to show rodent droppings throughout the store.
David Griffin of Auburn Hills took a more understanding approach to the situation.
"I've worked in retail, I've worked in restaurants. Things happen. They're on it. Hopefully, they get it taken care of. Hopefully, nobody got sick," Griffin said.
Kroger responded to the situation in a statement, saying the company took immediate action once aware of the problem. The statement reads:
"We take the health and safety of our customers very seriously. As soon as we were made aware of the incident, we took immediate action to voluntarily close. Our professional pest control company conducted an immediate inspection to ensure any activity is removed from our store. Additionally, we have implemented strict sanitation protocols, initiated a thorough deep cleaning and will maintain ongoing inspections. With these additional steps taken, we anticipate reopening the store as soon as possible."
A state inspector confirmed the store is working with pest control company Eco Lab and has installed equipment to prevent pests from entering the building.
The store hopes to reopen as soon as possible, though no specific timeline has been announced.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
A Michigan family is back on American soil after being stuck in the Caribbean during conflict in Venezuela.
Derrick and Athena Chriss and their two children traveled for a holiday trip and were supposed to return Saturday. But conflict in Venezuela involving the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, halted flights, leaving the Chriss family stuck on St. Kitts with mounting bills and threats to be kicked out of their hotel.
Listen to our phone interview after the family's return to the U.S. below: Phone interview: Family returns to US after being stuck in Caribbean during conflict in Venezuela
The family reached out to Michigan lawmakers and Congresswoman Lisa McClain secured them seats to Miami then Detroit, ending days of stress.
Her and her office did a great job. They really did a lot to help and they really stood their ground in doing what they said they were going to do for us. So we cant thank them enough for what they did, Derrick Chriss said.
Watch our previous report when the family was stranded below: Michigan family stranded in Caribbean as Venezuela conflict disrupts flights
McClain said she was happy to help.
But its our job. I mean, it shouldnt have to be that way that we have to make calls and stuff, but Im glad we could do it, said McClain, who also credits her staff.
A Minneapolis woman shot and killed by a federal agent during the Trump administrations latest immigration crackdown on a major U.S. city Wednesday was originally from Colorado, her family confirmed to Scripps News Group.
The woman, identified by the Minnesota Star Tribune earlier in the day as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, was born in Colorado Springs, according to her uncle, Robert Ganger. He told Scripps News Group via phone late Wednesday afternoon news of her passing were especially difficult for the family since Good's older sister was celebrating her birthday today.
Her killing after 9:30 a.m. was recorded on video by witnesses, and the shooting quickly drew a crowd of hundreds of angry protesters. By evening, hundreds were there for a vigil to mourn the death and urge the public to resist immigration enforcers.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, while visiting Texas, described the incident as an act of domestic terrorism carried out against ICE officers by a woman who attempted to run them over and rammed them with her vehicle. An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively, shot, to protect himself and the people around him.
In a social media post, President Donald Trump made similar accusations against the woman and defended ICEs work.
Hours later, at an evening news conference in Minnesota, Noem didn't back down, claiming the woman was part of a mob of agitators. She said the veteran officer who fired his gun had been rammed and dragged by an anti-ICE motorist in June.
Any loss of life is a tragedy, and I think all of us can agree that in this situation, it was preventable, Noem said, adding that the FBI would investigate.
But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey blasted Noem's version of what happened as garbage and criticized the federal deployment of more than 2,000 officers to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul as part of the immigration crackdown.
Frey accused immigration agents of causing chaos," and said he had a message for ICE: Get the f*** out of Minneapolis.
WATCH: Mayor of Minneapolis to ICE: Get the f*** out of Minneapolis. Minneapolis mayor: This was not self-defense, that's B.S.
What they are doing is not to provide safety in America. What they are doing is causing chaos and distrust, Frey said, calling on the immigration agents to leave. Theyre ripping families apart. Theyre sowing chaos on our streets, and in this case, quite literally killing people.
It was a sentiment echoed by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who said he was "angry" and accused the Trump administration of instigating unrest.
"From here on, I have a very simple message: We do not need any further help from the federal government," he said. "To Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, you've done enough."
"Minnesota will not allow our community to be used as a prop in a national political fight," Walz added. "We will not take the bait."
A shooting caught on video
Videos taken by bystanders with different vantage points and posted to social media show an officer approaching an SUV stopped across the middle of the road, demanding the driver open the door and grabbing the handle. The Honda Pilot begins to pull forward and a different ICE officer standing in front of the vehicle pulls his weapon and immediately fires at least two shots into the vehicle at close range, jumping back as the vehicle moves toward him.
It was not clear from the videos if the vehicle made contact with the officer. The SUV then sped into two cars parked on a curb nearby before crashing to a stop. Witnesses screamed obscenities, expressing shock at what theyd seen. After the shooting, a bystander can be heard imploring with federal agents to let him through to check the woman's pulse, claiming to be a physician. One agent refuses, telling the man "I don't care" as another agent reassures him emergency medical technicians were on their way.
Watch three different angles from the fatal Minneapolis shooting by ICE in the video player below: Three different angles from Minneapolis shooting
She was driving away and they killed her, said resident Lynette Reini-Grandell, who was outdoors recording video on her phone.
The latest immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities called for the deployment of roughly 2,000 federal agents and officers, with a focus on targeting Somali immigrants who are unlawfully living in the country.
The Associated Press and Scripps News Group contributed to this report.This story was
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