The lake-effect snow storms that hit much of Michigan over the weekend brought more than three feet of snow in some areas, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The NWS Marquette office posted on Monday night that they crunched numbers and were able to get a four-day observed snowfall map, that highlights the northwesterly lake effect snow belts.

According to the NWS, about seven miles north of McMillan in Luce County, 40 inches of snow fell, according to an 8 a.m. total from Monday.

In Munising, 35.3 inches of snow fell, as of 6:30 a.m. on Monday, and in Painesdale in Houghton County, 29.1 inches of snow fell.

Check out the full list below.

Oil and Water Don’t Mix, a nonprofit group opposing Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline, is leading student efforts across the Upper Great Lakes to advocate for its shutdown. The campaign includes eight Michigan universities, with schools in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Canada. Opponents argued the aging pipeline, running through the Straits of Mackinac, poses a catastrophic environmental risk if a spill occurs.

The Food and Drug Administration announced dog food distributed in seven states has been recalled after testing positive for salmonella.

According to the FDA, 2-pound logs of Blue Ridge Beef Puppy Mix distributed between August 6 and August 23 tested positive for salmonella last week. The recalled units have the UPC 854298001696. 

The company learned of the problem when a customer's litter of puppies became ill and reported the issue. The seven states the products were distributed to include Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.

RELATED STORY | Fresh cucumbers sold in 26 states recalled over salmonella risks

Pets with salmonella poisoning can be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Pets who have these symptoms and have consumed the recalled food should be seen by a veterinarian, the FDA said. 

The FDA also said there is a risk to humans who may have contacted recalled products and did not properly wash their hands or sanitize surfaces. The FDA says salmonella causes diarrhea, fever and cramps in humans. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Those who are infected usually do not require any treatment.

The FDA encourages people to wash all bowls and utensils that may have come in contact with the recalled food. Unused products should be destroyed.

RELATED STORY | Kirkland-brand eggs sold at Costco recalled over salmonella concerns

Scout Vester, a new bar that opened this summer in Ferndale in the former home of M-Brew, has closed.

The bar, which was located at 177 Vester St. in a former home, opened at the end of July.

In a post on Facebook on Monday night, owner Matthew Buskard said they were hopeful they could see a bump in visitors over the weekend, but because of the economy and the weather, that didn't happen.

Buskard wrote that it's been a long-term passion project and they started the process of getting it back in late 2021 and early 2022.

"Over the next year plus all the legal stuff between the former owners was settled, and we got keys roughly end of 2023. This was also a time when sales for restaurants looked different- our stores were coming off an amazing 2022 and had seen some dip in 2023 but nothing like we are seeing in 2024 (and dipping even more the last 3 months or so...) Had Scout opened in 2022 or 2023 it would have had enough established to sale through what has been one of the roughest sales years weve seen," he wrote.

"We made the difficult choice that we just couldnt keep putting money into something that was not working- especially as sales at every small business continue to be down," the post continued.

You can read the entire post below.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is holding another meeting over the future of I-375 in Downtown Detroit on Tuesday evening.

This will be MDOT's seventh public meeting to discuss the I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project. It will take place at 5:30 p.m. at The Eastern at 3434 Russell St.

For years, MDOT and other partners have discussed plans to convert I-375 back into a boulevard and reconnect it to neighborhoods that were divided decades ago.

Before the I-375 highway was built in the early 1960s, it was home to two thriving African American communities, Black Bottom and Paradise Valley. Hastings Street was the main commercial avenue. It was paved over to build the highway.

MDOT held a meeting in June where hundreds of people attended. Picketers were also outside of the meeting holding signs like "Quit Talking, Start Listening." ReThink I-375 Community Coalition has been opposed to the project, saying there's no set vision for what will happen to the area if I-375 is diminished.

Watch below: MDOT holds meeting about huge I-375 project, picketers demand more information MDOT holds meeting about huge I-375 project, picketers demand more information

The planned boulevard with intersections would run from Gratiot Ave. to Atwater Street, and construction is set to start in 2025.

Its removing the freeway, putting in a boulevard, replacing the freeway with a boulevard that will free up 30-plus acres of development property," MDOT spokesperson Rob Morosi said back in June. It's looking at really what does the community want with that property? Do they want green space? Do they want tributes to Black Bottom and Paradise Valley that were decimated by policy decisions 70 years ago?"

Some city leaders like Detroit Planning and Development director Antoine Bryant say while the project is fluid and things still need to be worked out, it will be a positive for the community in the long run.

"We'll have a roadway that is safer for resident to traverse, we'll have slower speeds for vehicular traffic and will also result in new real estate," Bryant said.

Earlier this month, the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) released its I-375 Peer Review Report, which included design evaluation and collaboration, construction mitigation and assessment sections.

According to the DDP, community feedback and the peer review process led to significant improvements to the design since 2023 including a better design for pedestrians, a restoration of the street grid and more.

The DDP said recommendations to continue to improve the project include:

Ensuring the design of the interchange is right by decreasing the size of its footprint to create more direct connections to destination, future developments and provide safe, walkable and bikeable connections between neighborhoods; Incorporating Reconnective, Reparative and Restorative (R3) outcomes in design, construction, future land use, development, and economic participation; Utilizing effective construction mitigation by building out a robust suite of economic mitigation strategies prior to construction; Designing the boulevard for people and vibrant street life.

The report is broken down into three parts: Opportunity, Evaluation and Mitigation. You can read each

part by clicking the link on its name.

By ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kash Patel has been well-known for years within Donald Trump’s orbit as a loyal supporter who shares the president-elect’s skepticism of the FBI and intelligence community. But he’s receiving fresh attention, from the public and from Congress, now that Trump has picked him to lead the FBI.

As he braces for a bruising and likely protracted Senate confirmation fight, Patel can expect scrutiny not only over his professed fealty to Trump but also for his belief — revealed over the last year in interviews and his own book — that the century-old FBI should be radically overhauled.

Here’s a look at some of what he’s proposed for the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency. How much of it he’d actually follow through on is a separate question.

He’s mused about shutting down the FBI’s Washington headquarters

The first FBI employees moved into the current Pennsylvania Avenue headquarters 50 years ago. The building since then has housed the supervisors and leaders who make decisions affecting offices around the country and overseas.

But if Patel has his way, the J. Edgar Hoover Building could be shut down, with its employees dispersed.

“I’d shut down the FBI Hoover Building on day one and reopen it the next day as a museum of the ‘deep state,’” Patel said in a September interview on the “Shawn Kelly Show.” “Then, I’d take the 7,000 employees that work in that building and send them across America to chase down criminals. Go be cops. You’re cops — go be cops.”

Such a plan would undoubtedly require legal, logistical and bureaucratic hurdles and it may reflect more of a rhetorical flourish than a practical ambition.

In a book last year titled, “Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth and the Battle for Our Democracy,” he proposed a more modest reform of having the headquarters moved out of Washington “to prevent institutional capture and curb FBI leadership from engaging in political gamesmanship.”

As it happens, the long-term fate of the building is in flux regardless of the leadership transition. The General Services Administration last year selected Greenbelt, Maryland, as the site for a new headquarters, but current FBI Director Christopher Wray has raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest in the site selection process.

He’s talked about finding ‘conspirators’ in the government and media

In an interview last year with conservative strategist Steve Bannon, Patel repeated falsehoods about President Joe Biden and a stolen election.

“We’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections,” Patel said. The same applies for supposed “conspirators” inside the federal government, he said.

It’s not entirely clear what he envisions, but to the extent Patel wants to make it easier for the government to crack down on officials who disclose sensitive information and the reporters who receive it, it sounds like he’d back a reversal of current Justice Department policy that generally prohibits prosecutors from seizing the records of journalists in leak investigations.

That policy was implemented in 2021 by Attorney General Merrick Garland following an uproar over the revelation that the Justice Department during the Trump administration had obtained phone records of reporters as part of investigations into who had disclosed government secrets.

Patel himself has said that it’s yet to be determined whether such a crackdown would be done civilly or criminally. His book includes several pages of former officials from the FBI, Justice Department and other federal agencies he’s identified as being part of the “Executive Branch Deep State.”

Under the FBI’s own guidelines, criminal investigations can’t be rooted in arbitrary or groundless speculation but instead must have an authorized purpose to detect or interrupt criminal activity.

And while the FBI conducts investigations, the responsibility of filing federal charges, or bringing a lawsuit on behalf of the federal government, falls to the Justice Department. Trump intends to nominate former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi as attorney general.

He wants ‘major, major’ surveillance reform

Patel has been a fierce critic of the FBI’s use of its surveillance authorities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and in his “Shawn Kelly Show” interview, called for “major, major reform. Tons.”

That position aligns him with both left-leaning civil libertarians who have long been skeptical of government power and Trump supporters outraged by well-documented surveillance missteps during the FBI’s investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 campaign.

But it sets him far apart from FBI leadership, which has stressed the need for the bureau to retain its ability to spy on suspected spies and terrorists even while also implementing corrective steps meant to correct past abuses.

If confirmed, Patel would take over the FBI amid continued debate over a particularly contentious provision of FISA known as Section 702, which permits the U.S. to collect without a warrant the communications of non-Americans located outside the country for the purpose of gathering foreign intelligence.

Biden in April signed a two-year extension of the authority following a fierce congressional dispute centered on whether the FBI should be restricted from using the program to search for Americans’ data. Though the FBI boasts a high compliance rate, analysts have been blamed for a series of abuses and mistakes, including improperly querying the intelligence repository for information about Americans or others in the U.S., including a member of Congress and participants in the racial justice protests of 2020 and the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Patel has made clear his disdain for the reauthorization vote.

“Because the budget of FISA was up this cycle, we demanded Congress fix it. And do you know what the majority in the House, where the Republicans did? They bent the knee. They (reauthorized) it,” Patel said.

In his book, Patel said a federal defender should be present to argue for the rights of the accused at all FISA court proceedings, a departure from the status quo.

He has called for reducing the size of the intelligence community

Patel has advocated cutting the federal government’s intelligence community, including the CIA and National Security Agency.

When it comes to the FBI, he said last year that he would support breaking off the bureau’s “intel shops” from the rest of its crime-fighting activities.

It’s not clear exactly how he would intend to do that given that the FBI’s intelligence-gathering operations form a core part of the bureau’s mandate and budget. Wray, who’s been in the job for seven years, has also recently warned of a heightened threat environment related to international and domestic terrorism.

After the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, then-FBI Director Robert Mueller faced down calls from some in Congress who thought the FBI should be split up, with a new domestic intelligence agency created in its wake.

The idea died, and Mueller committed new resources into transforming what for decades had been primarily a domestic law enforcement agency into an intelligence-gathering institution equally focused on combating terrorism, spies and foreign threats.

Frank Montoya Jr., a retired senior FBI official who served as the U.S. government’s national counterintelligence executive, said he disagreed with the idea of breaking out the FBI’s “intel shops” and viewed it as a way to defang the bureau.

Doing so, he said, “makes the bureau less effective at what it does, and quite frankly, it will make the intelligence community less effective at what it does.”

The United Nations is being presented with a new trove of evidence to support charges that Russia has stolen Ukrainian children and forced them to take Russian identities after a team at Yale University managed to hack into Russian adoption databases.

Yale's researchers secretly found within them what they say are 148 Ukrainian children. It's part of the most detailed and extensive evidence presented to date of alleged Russian war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The new report uses open-source intelligence and satellite images to identify Russian government aircraft allegedly used to take away Ukrainian orphans from Russian-occupied areas of Eastern Ukraine.

The evidence collected by Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab builds upon methods and discoveries shown previously to Scripps News by its executive director, Nathaniel Raymond.

RELATED STORY | Scripps News Investigates: A race to rescue Ukraine's abducted orphans

The report alleges that Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, ordered this program; it traces how it was carried out by officials at the highest levels of Russia's federal government.

Once children are adopted by Russians, they become far more difficult to track.

The report tracks 314 Ukrainian children at least 67 of them now naturalized as Russian citizens. But it's believed that there could be thousands more.

With the release of this report, Kyiv is calling for Russia to provide a register of all Ukrainian children currently being held in its custody.

"Ukraine will not rest until our children are returned home and those responsible are held accountable," said Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, in a statement.

On Wednesday, representatives from Ukraine's government, along with Yale's investigators, will appear before a special meeting of the united nations security council of which Russia is a veto-holding member.

A defense lawyer asked jurors to put themselves in frightened subway riders' shoes Monday at the trial of a Marine veteran charged with choking an irate, homeless man to death after an outburst on a New York underground train.

Prosecutors countered that Daniel Penny was way too forceful and reckless in responding to Jordan Neely.

Both sides gave closing arguments Monday at Penny's trial on manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges. Penny, who gripped Neelys neck for about six minutes, claims he was defending fellow passengers. He has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors say Penny was justified in using some physical force after Neely shouted in a crowded train about being willing to die, willing to go jail or as Penny and some other passengers recalled willing to kill. But prosecutors argue that Penny recklessly went way too far in dealing with an unarmed man.

"You obviously cannot kill someone because they are crazy and ranting and looking menacing, no matter what it is that they are saying, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Dafna Yoran told jurors Monday.

RELATED STORY | Deadly NYC subway chokehold case jury selection begins

Defense attorney Steven Raiser asked jurors to imagine they were on that train when Neely got on, filled with rage and not afraid of any consequences.

Youre sitting much as you are now, in this tightly confined space. You have very little room to move and none to run," Raiser told jurors, saying his client put his life on the line for strangers.

Who would you want on the next train with you? he asked.

Penny's reaction to Neely touched raw nerves and fueled debate about race relations, public safety, urban life and different approaches to crime, homelessness and mental illness.

Some in New York and around the country see Penny, a 26-year-old Marine veteran turned architecture student, as a valiant protector of fellow subway riders who feared the erratic Neely was on the verge of violence. Others view Penny as a White vigilante who summarily killed a Black man who was in need of help.

The case sparked demonstrations that lambasted Penny and rallies that lauded him. In the defense argument Monday, Raiser sought to undercut some prosecution witnesses' credibility by saying they were testifying in the shadow of protesters who gathered outside the courthouse to demand justice for Neely.

Neely, 30, once was among the city's corps of subway and street performers and was known for his Michael Jackson impersonations. But after his mother was violently killed when he was a teenager, Neely was diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia, was repeatedly hospitalized, struggled with drug abuse and had a criminal record that included assault convictions.

RELATED STORY | Prosecutor says veteran's subway chokehold 'went too far.' Defense says his 'courage' helped others

During the monthlong trial, the anonymous jury heard testimony from subway passengers who witnessed Penny's roughly six-minute restraint of Neely, as well as police who responded to it, pathologists, a psychiatric expert, a Marine Corps instructor who taught Penny chokehold techniques and Penny's relatives, friends and fellow Marines. Penny chose not to testify.

Jurors watched videos recorded by bystanders and by police body cameras and saw how Penny explained his actions to officers on the scene and later in a stationhouse interview room.

I just wanted to keep him from getting to people, he told detectives, demonstrating the chokehold and describing Neely as a crackhead who was acting like a lunatic.

I'm not trying to kill the guy, he insisted.

Multiple witnesses said Neely shouted about needing food and something to drink, whipped his jacket to the floor and started screaming. They differed in descriptions of his movements and whether they were threatening. Several passengers said they were alarmed, and some were thankful when Penny subdued Neely.

City medical examiners ruled the chokehold killed Neely. A pathologist hired by Pennys defense contradicted that finding, saying Neely was killed by a variety of other factors.

Prosecutors noted that the veteran continued to grip Neely's neck after the train stopped and anyone who wanted to get out could do so, after bystanders urged Penny to let go, and even after Neely had been still for nearly a minute.

Penny said he wanted to protect people, but he just didnt realize that Jordan Neely, too, was a person whose life needed to be preserved, Yoran said. She encouraged jurors to state with your verdict that no persons life can be so unjustifiably snuffed out."

The defense says Penny held on because Neely tried to break loose at points and the pressure on the man's neck wasn't consistent enough to kill him.

Penny wanted only to hold Neely for police, and so used a simple civilian restraint instead of a textbook chokehold that would be applied to render someone unconscious, Raiser told jurors.

The police werent there when the people on that train needed help. Danny was, the attorney said.

Yoran is due to finish her summation on Tuesday. Jury instructions and deliberations will follow.

Two people have been hospitalized after a crash on Detroit's west side that closed the eastbound lanes of I-96 and Schaefer.

VIDEO FROM CHOPPER 7: Eastbound lanes of I-96 and Schaefer shut down after crash Eastbound lanes of I-96 and Schaefer shut down after crash

7 News Detroit witnessed this crash when it happened live on the MDOT cam. We won't show you video of the crash out of respect for the people involved, but we did see a disabled car in the middle of the roadway get rear-ended.

A spokesperson for the Detroit Fire Department tells us that two people were transported to the hospitalized in this crash. They say one person is in critical condition and the other suffered non-life threatening injuries.

All four lanes on this portion of the highway were closed for about two hours so officials could survey the damage, starting around 6 a.m., but have since been re-opened.

This is a developing story. 7 News Detroit has a crew at the scene, and we will update this story as we learn more.

As families gather to celebrate the holidays, many are also taking the time to give back to those who are less fortunate. And on this giving Tuesday, I wanted to find out how people determine where they place their hard-earned dollars.

"To make sure it gets to the people in need that's the main thing," said Daniel Woods.

"Anything to do with supporting the community," said Gavin Doucette.

Charitable giving increases during this time of year and many choose non-profits that align with their values and make the most impact, but they also like to know where their hard-earned dollars go.

I spoke with Daniel Woods about what factors determine where he donates his money.

"Normally its the Salvation Army, because they've always given to the community to the people in need more than anybody else not saying anyone hasn't given as much but their out reach to the community we see it more," Daniel said.

One of the most common themes I found when I was speaking with people is transparency on where their donations go.

"It's paying it forward and it's helping a child or a mother or a family be able to enjoy a special time," said Pamela Burke.

Burke is the project manager at the Lennon Center in Dearborn Heights, a pregnancy resource center that helps women and families. All the funds raised, she says, for this non-profit stay directly with the communities in Metro Detroit.

"They go straight to our families. We just help our moms with just basic needs diapers, wipes," Pamela said.

"Donations are critically important for the work that we do," said Courtney Smith.

Smith is the CEO of the Detroit Phoenix Center, a 501(c)(3) high-impact non-profit organization that provides housing, academic, youth leadership and other wrap-around services helping Detroit youth in need. She says this time of year is critical for donations.

"We know people are the most charitable around the holiday season which is the winter season. But we see the most year-round. But with it getting cold outside we see the most need around this time," Courtney said.

All of the donations they receive also stay right here in the community.

"It goes right towards the people who need it the most to meet their most basic needs," Courtney said.

And when it comes to selecting non-profits, many donors also consider the organization's reputation and accountability.

"We just don't want to see it getting spread out and being told its going here and not seeing it reach out to them. The people actually getting the product and whatever they need to receive," Daniel said.

"Having money that builds this community up it pretty important," Gavin said.

Where Your Voice Matters

Here at 7 News Detroit, we want to make sure you start your day off on the right foot, informed about weather, traffic, the latest news and more. That's why we have the 7 Morning Digest, where we'll get you out the door informed and ready to go.

What's the weather for today? Metro Detroit Weather: It stays cold with snow chances

The 7 First Alert Weather Team said temperatures will stay cold this week with highs only getting into the upper 20s and mid 30s, while lows will be in the upper teens and mid 20s.

Snow chances also continue, especially Wednesday and Thursday as we're expected to get hit with a clipper system.

Snowfall totals are only expected to be around 1" across metro Detroit, but highs it will also bring a blast of arctic air that will ramp up lake-effect snow showers and gusty winds.

Any traffic issues?

No major traffic issues to tell you about as of 8 a.m. The eastbound I-96 crash that closed local lanes at Schaefer has been cleared. Be sure to check our live traffic map before you head out!

The top stories to know about Burglars target over 20 Macomb, Oakland county businesses around Thanksgiving holiday Burglars target over 20 Macomb & Oakland county businesses around Thanksgiving

A string of break-ins at businesses across metro Detroit have police investigating. Law enforcement agencies believe it's the work of a single crew who did the crimes on Thanksgiving.

Sterling Heights police pursed a black Dodge Durango without a license plate on Friday. The crew behind break-ins reportedly used the same vehicle.

"It's estimated that throughout Oakland and Macomb counties, there have been over 25," Troy Police Department Sgt. Ben Hancock said.

Eight restaurants were hit in Troy, including The Maple Leaf Restaurant, the Chipotle Mexican Grill on Crooks Road, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill and the Kona Grill, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews.

In Sterling Heights, the Arby's and a gas station on Van Dyke Avenue near Plumbrook Road were targeted.

"The same crew, the same suspect vehicle on the same night already did B&Es earlier already in Shelby Township and Troy," Sterling Heights Police Capt. Mario Bastianelli said.

'A very serious problem.' How officials are working to combat Michigan's firefighter shortage 'A very serious problem.' Officials work to combat MI's firefighter shortage

A major battle is underway to bring awareness to a shortage of firefighters in Michigan compared to many other states.

From cities to suburbs, the lack of staffing is being called a threat to public safety, but a new proposal is aimed at finding a solution to the problem.

According to the union, Michigan is lagging far behind other states with much stronger staffing levels. Michigan has about 50 full-time firefighters per 100,000 people, compared to Indiana and Ohio, which have 101 and 111 per 100,000.

Warren is working on one of the solutions. The city has a program to pay cadets to attend the fire, EMS and paramedic academy, and offer competitive pay during and after the program.

Our starting salary is low 60s, and over a four-year period they become full pay. Top out at $96,000 per year," Warren Fire Commissioner Skip McAdams said.

State Rep. Jim Haadsma has introduced a bill that would ensure staffing levels would be discussed at all negotiations between unions and fire departments across Michigan, something that currently doesn't happen.

Weve had a number of bills that have sat a while in this session," Haadsma said. "Its a really important issue. A cost-benefit analysis of what is a life worth.

On a state level, its a very serious problem. We just have to realize the days of 700 applicants are a bygone era. We have to show young people there is a path in the fire service," McAdams said.

Downriver man with disability gifted new furnace from local company Giving the gift of warmth

A Downriver man received a life-changing gift just in time for the holidays. 67-year-old Ronnie Cooksey's decades-old furnace is getting an upgrade from Dynamic Energy Solutions.

I can just say I feel really blessed," Cooksey said.

Co-owners of Dynamic Energy Solutions Jason Thorpe and Randy Calhoun said a furnace is expensive and that is why they give someone a new one every year.

A typical furnace is anywhere form $4,500 to $7,000," Thorpe said. Were a family-owned business and we just want to give back to the community, so were glad we can help.

Thorpe and Calhoun told us this year, they found Cooksey through the Facebook page Downriver and Friends.

Essentially, a Facebook page recommended somebody through them, and here we are," Calhoun said.

Cooksey's niece, Lisa Kuberacki, was a big part of putting this together. She said she was contacted by the nonprofit RAINA, or Reaching All in Need of Assistance, about her uncle.

"And my uncle, the kind-hearted person that he is, he said 'Lisa, there might be more people out there that need it more than me,'" Kuberacki said.

After years of fighting, father convicted of child abuse in 'Baby Naomi' case now exonerated After years of fighting, father convicted of child abuse in 'Baby Naomi' case now exonerated

Finally, our 7 Investigator Heather Catallo has a story airing on 7 News Detroit at 6 p.m. Tuesday about the father who was convicted of child abuse in the "Baby Naomi" case being exonerated.

Back in 2015, the 7 Investigators led the way exposing what many in our community called a serious injustice that threatened to tear one family apart. Now the Burns family finally has an ending to their story.

You can watch more of her investigation tonight on 7 News Detroit.

Registration opens on Jan. 1, 2025 for the Detroit Free Press Marathon weekend, and people are encouraged to sign up early after the first sell-outs last year.

Marathon weekend takes place Oct. 17-19, 2025, starting with the Health & Fitness Expo on Friday, Oct. 17.

Saturday, Oct. 18 brings the one-mile run, the 5K, the kids Marathon, the Little Detroit Dash and other events.

Sunday, Oct. 19 is when the marathon, international half-marathon, Motor City Half Marathon and other events take place.

WATCH BELOW: Runner in Detroit Free Press marathon survives heart attack during the race Runner in Detroit Free Press marathon survives heart attack during the race

Last year, due to an increase in popularity of long races across the country, the marathon sold out in late July, about three months before the race.

To sell out really a couple of months before our international deadline is just unprecedented, Race Director Aaron Velthoven said in July. "We're the only race in the world that crosses international borders, so we get people from all over the world descending into Detroit to run our race. We're very much a bucket-list race.

Shortly after that, the international half-marathon sold out. Both races go across the Ambassador Bridge into Windsor and then come back into the U.S. through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.

WATCH BELOW: Ferndale couple crowned Detroit Free Press Marathon Champions Ferndale couple crowned Detroit Free Press Marathon Champions

Giving Tuesday is the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and if you're interested in making a donation to charity, be wary of scammers.

I contacted the Better Business Bureau for advice on how to avoid scams when giving to a non-profit.

"

If somebody stumbles across a social media post encouraging people to donate, what is the red flag there? I asked the BBB.

"Well, first of all, social media right now, sadly, is almost the red flag because there's just so much misinformation on social media. I'm not saying it's all wrong, but as soon as you see something compelling on social media, take it offline. Jot down that full name and then conduct your own research. That's just the safest way to go," Nakia Mills, the director of marketing for the BBB, said.

Mills tells me if you have an organization in mind, go directly to the charity's website. Don't click on a link posted on social media or sent to your phone or email.

Next, confirm the charity's exact name so you don't end up on an imposter site because of a misspelling. Also, resist pressure to give on the spot.

Make sure to use a credit card to make donations because debit cards and checks don't have fraud protection like credit cards do. Also, anyone asking you to pay with a gift card or cryptocurrency is a red flag.

Finally, make sure to only donate on secure websites - the ones with an "S" after "HTTP" in the web address.

"Are scammers a big concern on getting Tuesday specifically?

" I asked.

Well, any time. It's very similar to after, you know, say, a natural disaster. Giving Tuesday - it's one of those days where we have tons of people who are looking to literally give away their money. So, this is a prime time for scammers to dive in and think of what's my best scenario I can put out today when I know people are looking to give money and they might do a little less research today because today is the day of giving," Mills said.

Below you'll find the Better Business Bureau tips for people to use when donating to charity on Giving Tuesday. Some of those tips include information from Give.org. They include:

Get the charity's exact name. With so many charities in existence, mistaken identity is a common problem. Resist pressure to give on the spot, whether from a telemarketer or door-to-door solicitor. Be wary of heart-wrenching appeals. Press for specifics. For example, if the charity said it's helping the homeless, ask how and where it's working. Check websites for basics. They should have the mission, program and finances on the site. Don't assume that every organization is tax-exempt. You can check their tax status on the IRS website.

You can go to the Give.org website and check an alphabetical list of charities

The post WDET kicks off Holiday Fundraiser on Giving Tuesday with exciting new thank you gifts appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

He was accused by a pediatrician of abusing his daughter, but always maintained his innocence.

After years of the Michigan Innocence Clinic fighting for justice for Josh Burns, his conviction has now been vacated.

Back in 2015, the 7 Investigators led the way exposing what many in our community called a serious injustice that threatened to tear one family apart. Now the Burns family finally has an ending to their story.

Extended interview: 'It's changed us forever.' Josh and Brenda Burns speak about their family's journey 'It's changed us forever.' Josh and Brenda Burns speak about their family's journey

Josh and his wife Brenda say they had their world turned upside down back in 2014 when they say they were falsely accused of abusing their infant daughter Naomi at their home in Brighton.

Its the hardest thing Ive been through in my life, Burns told 7 Investigator Heather Catallo.

Devastating, humiliating, terrifying, said Brenda.

Josh said when Naomi was two months old, she slipped off his lap and he caught her by the face to keep her from hitting the floor. Both Josh and Brenda say it was an accident, and Naomi had no obvious injuries other than a small bruise. Later, doctors discovered bleeding between the baby's skull and brain, and they found retinal hemorrhages. Both parents and some medical experts said that Naomi's injuries were largely caused by birth trauma and illness. But a Child Abuse Pediatrician and Livingston County prosecutors said it was abuse.

Did you abuse your daughter? asked Catallo.

Never. I would never hurt my daughter, said Burns.

While Brenda was later cleared of all charges, a jury convicted Josh of 2nd degree child abuse, which is a 10-year felony.

But the community rallied around Josh, signing petitions and holding protests.

Its hard to describe the feelings of going into prison an innocent man. But the blood of my innocence is on their hands, said Burns in 2015.

Citing all the community support, the judge sentenced Josh Burns to a year in the county jail.

I know the media coverage, especially from Channel 7 was huge, said Burns. I know that it had a direct impact on the judge and sentencing. I was facing 10 years in prison. She took a downward departure in my sentence and gave me the minimum sentence possible.

Lawyers from the Michigan Innocence Clinic saw that coverage of Joshs case and wanted to help.

Extended interview: David Moran speaks about shaken baby syndrome cases David Moran, co-founder of the Michigan Innocence Clinic, speaks about shaken baby syndrome cases

Of all of the shaken baby cases we've had, the testimony that was given against Josh Burns may have been the most egregious. So we took this case on direct appeal, which means, unlike the vast majority of our cases where we're revisiting the case years, maybe decades, after the conviction, we decided to take his case right after he was convicted and do the appeal, said David Moran, the former co-director and co-founder of the University of Michigan Innocence Clinic.

Moran recently retired from the UM Innocence Clinic, but hes championed the Burns case for years.

When the appeals did not work, Attorney General Dana Nessels Conviction Integrity Unit took the case and got prosecutors to agree to vacate Joshs conviction and dismiss the child abuse charge. The judge signed the order November 21, 2024.

It's really the greatest feeling in the world professionally I think that a lawyer can have, is winning a case on behalf of a very, very nice, solid person who is so grateful for the help and who deserves to have this outcome, said Moran.

Josh Burns is the 45th person the clinics students and lawyers have helped exonerate, and hes the 6th person accused of something called shaken baby syndrome that theyve helped get cleared.

Moran says studies have shown that the symptoms once labeled shaken baby syndrome can be caused by many things other than abuse including accidentally dropping a child, or illness.

The basic idea came from a few papers that were published in the early 1970s, one by an American physician and one by a British physician, that if you see a baby in the emergency room who has three symptoms: subdural hematoma -- that's bleeding on the outer layer of the brain, retinal hemorrhages, which is bleeding behind the eyes and cerebral edema, which is generalized brain swelling Then the only thing that could cause that was violent and abusive shaking by a parent or caregiver. So that was the hypothesis. The problem is that the hypothesis has never been proven. And we now know that there are lots of other causes that cause those three symptoms, said Moran.

Once Josh was released from jail, the Burns family left Michigan. And after nearly 10 years of work by the U of M lawyers and students, the judge recently signed this order vacating Joshs sentence:

We are so grateful, said Burns.

After the order was signed in late November, Josh and Brenda spoke to 7 Investigator Heather Catallo from their home in Texas where Naomi is now a happy and healthy 10-year-old.

She has a rosy view of the world and is fun and creative, said Brenda Burns.

Just being able to look at my daughter now and someday say, I have a story to tell you, justice was served finally-- its an amazing thing, said Josh Burns.

Both Josh and Brenda say the false conviction had massive consequences in their life.

Its changed us forever, said Brenda.

The conviction cost Josh his job as a Delta Airlines pilot, and Brenda was too terrified to have another baby.

I just could not have another child, said Brenda Burns. I was too traumatized.

Always having to look over your shoulder thinking like, okay, we have to take Naomi to the doctors office today What do we have to share about our past? How is this pediatrician going to perceive our family? said Josh Burns.

Now both Brenda and Josh are grateful for the work of the Michigan Innocence Clinic, the Attorney General, and everyone who supported them.

What this really showed is this can happen to anyone. And its frightening, its a frightening thing for parents to realize you can have an accident or you can have a medical issue going on with your child. And if it presents the wrong way to a Child Abuse Pediatrician or an ER pediatrician, you could quickly find yourself in the crosshairs of a system that is just a wrecking ball for families, said Burns.

The 7 Investigators contacted the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Child Protective Services, which pursued the abuse allegations against the Burns family back in 2014 and 2015. A spokesperson provided this statement:

While we cant discuss specific cases due to state and federal laws, MDHHS remains deeply committed to ensuring the health and safety of all children.

If you have a story for Heather Catallo please email her at hcatallo@wxyz.com

Today is Tuesday, Dec. 3, the 338th day of 2024. There are 28 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Dec. 3, 1984, a cloud of methyl isocyanate gas escaped from a pesticide plant operated by a Union Carbide subsidiary in Bhopal, India, causing an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 deaths and more than 500,000 injuries.

Also on this date:

In 1947, the Tennessee Williams play “A Streetcar Named Desire” opened on Broadway.

In 1967, a surgical team in Cape Town, South Africa, led by Dr. Christiaan Barnard (BAHR’-nard) performed the first human heart transplant on Louis Washkansky, who lived 18 days with the donated organ from Denise Darvall, a 25-year-old bank clerk who had died in a traffic accident.

In 1979, 11 people were killed in a crush of fans at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Coliseum, where the British rock group The Who was performing.

In 1989, U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev concluded two days of positive bilateral discussions in Malta in a symbolic end to the Cold War.

In 2015, Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered the armed services to open all military jobs to women, removing the final barriers that had kept women from serving in combat.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Singer Jaye P. Morgan is 93.
• Rock singer Ozzy Osbourne is 76.
• Rock singer Mickey Thomas is 75.
• Actor Daryl Hannah is 64.
• Actor Julianne Moore is 64.
• Olympic figure skating gold medalist Katarina Witt is 59.
• Actor Brendan Fraser is 56.
• Singer Montell Jordan is 56.
• Actor Holly Marie Combs is 51.
• Actor/comedian Tiffany Haddish is 45.
• Actor Anna Chlumsky (KLUHM’-skee) is 44.
• Actor Amanda Seyfried is 39.
• Rapper Lil Baby is 30.
• Actor Jake T. Austin is 30.

A Warren library is now closing in the middle of the day due to fighting among teenagers.

The Warren Public Library Dorothy Busch branch will be closed for nearly two hours every afternoon on school days, which is a decision prompted by concerns from police and library staff over fights among teens.

Warren police say recently, they have been called to the library nearly every week for disturbances and fights, mostly involving students from Fitzgerald High School across the street.

That's just too bad," nearby resident Marlene Dubiel said. "I hate to see it closed like that.

I think it's terrible," another library patron Christine Grippi said. "Those are prime hours when students who really want to utilize the library should have access to it.

Grippi says she has been coming to the library for years.

This library is very important to me. It's been a staple in my family. I'd like to take my grandson here, but I don't, Grippi said.

The last time she says she brought her 2-year-old grandson, she had to leave after rowdy teenagers took over the kids area.

I've seen fights outside the window at the library where kids are scuffling and pushing each other, getting rowdy outside the library, Grippi said. I don't take my grandson here for that very reason because I'm afraid a fight might break out.

It's for that reason that the library is now closing its doors every school day from 2:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. after a decision by the Warren Library Commission.

What we've been seeing over the last couple weeks is fights of up to 20 kids, and that just puts everyone in a very unsafe situation, said city of Warren Treasurer and Library Commission Trustee Lorie Barnwell. We want to work with students, we want them to feel welcome at the library but not at the expense of other peoples safety.

Barnwell says Warren police have been called to the library more than 100 times this year for high school kids fighting. While mostly outside in the parking lot, they have also happened inside and Barnwell says police are concerned the larger brawls could spill inside the library as weather gets colder.

Both Barnwell and the police department are calling on the Fitzgerald Public Schools district to do more. In part of a statement, the police department said:

"The Warren Police Department has engaged with the Fitzgerald School District to explore comprehensive solutions to this community issue. The Fitzgerald School District was initially cooperative however lately, the Superintendent has been unwilling to sit down with the Police Department and other stakeholders to discuss this issue. It is important for residents and parents to realize that the Fitzgerald School District is the only district in Warren that lacks a door-to-door enforcement policy for student conduct. This means that the district does not impose a school-based disciplinary action for inappropriate behavior that occurs after school hours, even with the behavior takes place right across the street from the school! Despite being made aware of the negative consequences of this policy, the District has thus far been unwilling to reconsider its stance on this policy."

In response, Fitzgerald Public Schools Superintendent Hollie Stange sent 7 News Detroit a statement:

"Fitzgerald Public Schools prides itself in working with the greater community to provide a safe and orderly environment for its students to learn. To that end, we carefully monitor our students actions within school during school hours and at school activities and hold them accountable to a carefully-drafted set of expectations. In circumstances where conduct occurs after school hours or off school property, the School District carefully reviews the facts of the situation. In those instances where there is a connection between the school day and a rule infraction, such a recent off-campus fight involving School District students, the School District carefully examines the facts and applies its rules. The fight in question, for example, was found to have been planned during the school day. Thus the rules were applied due to that connection. However, the School District must respect the due process rights of all involved and cannot impose its handbook absent a legitimate connection. We will continue to engage stakeholders regarding this item. We will continue to monitor each situation, carefully examine the facts, and enforce our rules in light of the requirements of the law."

Of course, everyone wants the libraries to reopen at full capacity. We would like to as well, but the school district is going to have to partner with us and they are going to have to change their policies, Barnwell said.

The new hours are in place Monday through Friday from now until Feb. 28, 2025.

A Warren couple spent $200 on Christmas decorations that were stolen the very next day by a real-life Grinch.

Last Saturday, the hard-working Milner family decided to splurge on fun decorations at Lowe's since their 2-year-old daughter Isabella is finally old enough to understand the holiday.

We dont make a ton of money. We enjoy what we spend and when it gets taken away from you, it kicks you in the gut a little bit," dad Jason Milner said.

Milner set up the decorations Saturday afternoon. By Sunday morning, they were gone.

The family caught on surveillance video what Warren police believe to be a young boy stealing their newly purchased items and taking them back to a parked white SUV with a getaway driver. The boy is seen making multiple trips, leaving behind the items he couldn't remove.

Watch the surveillance video below: Surveillance video: Real-life Grinch steals Warren family's Christmas decorations

In total, the thief stole approximately $100 worth of decor, leaving behind a speaker system playing holiday songs. For the Milner family, every penny counts and they're upset they'll likely never see the decorations again.

I dont get it. I really dont," Milner said in frustration. Financially, you know it hurts, but well get through it.

The family says they want to make sure that everyone in their well-decorated neighborhood is aware of the incident, so the Grinch doesn't strike again.

I think thats the end goal is just to make them aware that it happened here and it can happen anywhere," the father added.

Warren police are looking for the two people involved. If you have any information, call the Warren Police Department at 586-574-4700.

Travel through U.S. airports set a record at the close of the Thanksgiving weekend, officials said Monday.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration said 3.09 million passengers went through U.S. airport screening on Sunday, which is some 74,000 more than the previous single-day record set on July 7.

There were more than 7,000 delayed flights and 163 total cancellations in the U.S. Sunday, which was not an unusually high rate of disruption. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson and Chicago's O'Hare International Airports were most affected.

On Monday, there were 5,130 delays and 111 cancellations.

RELATED STORY | Interstates close as heavy snow blasts Great Lakes region

Lake-effect snow contributed to the air travel snarls and has caused days of treacherous roads in parts of the Great Lakes region.

Heavy snow caused whiteout conditions and shut down parts of Interstate 94 in Michigan Monday. Officials said one driver was critically injured in a crash that involved 14 vehicles and three semi-trucks.

Parts of western New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, where snow had already fallen, saw additional totals on Sunday and Monday.

Places like Buffalo, New York could see up to two more feet of snow yet through Monday. In all, the National Weather Service said, parts of the region got five feet of snow in four days' time.