Russia attacked Ukraine's capital with missiles and drones on Saturday, killing at least one person and wounding 27, a day before talks between Ukraine and the U.S., authorities said.

Explosions boomed across Kyiv as ballistic missiles and drones hit the city. The attack began in the early morning and continued for hours.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday for further talks on ending the nearly four-year war. Zelenskyy told reporters he was on a plane en route to the United States on Saturday afternoon, and would make a stopover in Canada to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Zelenskyy said that he and Trump plan to discuss several issues, including security guarantees and territorial issues in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Tit-for-tat strikes

The Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday that it carried out a massive strike overnight, using long-range precision-guided weapons from land, air and sea, including Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles and drones. It said it targeted energy infrastructure facilities used by Ukraine's forces and military-industrial enterprises.

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But several residential buildings were struck in Moscow's attack.

The ministry said that the strike came in response to Ukraines attacks on civilian objects in Russia.

Earlier on Saturday, the ministry said that its air defenses shot down seven Ukrainian drones over the Russian regions of Krasnodar and Adygeya overnight. On Saturday afternoon, the ministry reported that 147 more drones were shot down over a number of Russian regions.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that air defenses intercepted more than 20 drones flying towards the Russian capital on Saturday. He didn't report any damage or casualties. It wasn't immediately clear whether those were included in the Defense Ministry's count.

Poland on alert

Poland scrambled fighter jets and closed airports in Lublin and Rzeszow near the border with Ukraine for several hours during the Russian attacks, the countrys armed forces command said on X. There was no violation of Polish airspace, it said.

Civil aviation authority Pansa said the two airports had since resumed operations. It was unclear what caused the alert in Poland when the Russian attacks were focused on Kyiv, which is far from the border.

Russia targeted Ukraine with 519 drones and 40 missiles, Ukraine's air force said. The main target was energy and civilian infrastructure in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said. In some districts of the region there is no electricity or heating because of the attacks, he said.

Today Russia demonstrated how it responds to peace talks between Ukraine and the United States on ending Russias war against Ukraine. They carried out massive attacks on Ukraine precisely as we move toward peace negotiations, Zelenskyy told reporters by audio note while traveling. That is Russias response.

Screams as man burns to death

More than 10 residential buildings were damaged, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said in a post on Telegram. People were being evacuated from under the rubble of collapsed buildings.

Olena Karpenko, 52, heard a man as he burned to death in the attack. His scream is still in my ears. I cant believe it, she said, weeping.

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Karpenko said they heard a sudden explosion at the nearby thermal power plant, followed by a stronger blast that shook the windows of her home. Then came the strike on her building.

I saw how the apartment was burning, there was a fire and we heard a mans screams, begging for help," she said.

Two children were among those wounded in the attack, which hit seven locations across the capital, the head of the Kyiv Military Administration, Tymur Tkachenko, in a statement on Telegram. A body was found under the rubble of one damaged building, he said.

In fact, the entire center of Kyiv was under attack by drones," he said, adding that Russia was sending a message that it is raising the stakes in this war.

It wasnt immediately clear if the person found under the rubble was the man who burned to death.

A fire broke out in an 18-story residential building in the Dnipro district of the city, and emergency crews rushed to the scene to contain the flames. A 24-story residential building in the Darnytsia district was also hit, Tkachenko said, and more fires broke out in the Obolonskyi and Holosiivsky districts.

In the wider Kyiv region, the strikes hit industrial and residential buildings, according to Ukraine's Emergency Service. In the Vyshhorod area, emergency crews rescued one person found under the rubble of a destroyed house.

Security guarantees prioritized

Zelenskyy told reporters he would aim to ensure there were as few unresolved issues as possible in talks with Trump while respecting Ukraine's red lines.

I am confident there are compromise proposals we know the Americans and, obviously, our enemy also always has its own goals, which we know well, he said, speaking by audio note in a WhatsApp chat with journalists.

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Zelenskyy said he would prioritize discussing security guarantees for Ukraine. He has said that in the draft peace plan, the U.S. has committed to providing guarantees that mirror the NATO alliance's Article 5, which means an attack on Ukraine would trigger a collective military response from the U.S. and its allies. But key details must be worked out in a bilateral agreement.

Territorial concessions are the most sensitive of issues the two leaders will discuss, including the Donetsk region and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine would never recognize any territory as Russian under any circumstances."

But the most important issue I want to stress today is security guarantees. Beyond territorial issues and the ZNPP (nuclear plant), security guarantees are critically important for us, he said.

Zelenskyy also will speak to European leaders online to brief them on the discussions.

By Anne Snabes

asnabes@detroitnews.com

The Michigan Department of Transportation has awarded $133 million in grants to upgrade transit vehicles and facilities across the state, including $59.8 million for the Detroit Department of Transportation.

MDOT said the funds, which will go to more than 20 transit agencies in Michigan, will help modernize the state’s bus infrastructure, reduce traffic congestion and “help people travel more efficiently and affordably.”

The Detroit Department of Transportation is receiving the largest grant, receiving $9 million in state match funds and $50.9 million in federal funds. The agency announced last month that it would use the federal money to purchase 53 new buses.

The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation, which serves Metro Detroit’s suburban communities, meanwhile, will get $1.56 million, which includes $312,375 in state match funds and $1.25 million in federal funds.

“These competitive grants strengthen Michigan’s thriving intermodal transportation network connecting our communities,” said Jean Ruestman, administrator of the MDOT Office of Passenger Transportation, in a press release about the grants across the state. “Both grant programs have innumerable positive social and economic impacts ranging from improving mobility to advancing green innovation in public transit.”

The federal funding comes from the Federal Transit Administration’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program and Low or No Emission Grant Program, the latter of which is funding the 53 new Detroit buses. Those buses will be in addition to 76 buses awarded over the last two years in Biden administration grants, bringing Detroit’s total new bus purchases to 129 ― or 44% of the entire fleet, according to the city of Detroit.

One-third of the Detroit Department of Transportation’s buses were routinely in disrepair as of 2024. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan attributed part of the issue to the city getting behind on purchasing new buses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bus operators, passengers and some mechanics who work on buses said last year that the shortage of working vehicles affects the entire system’s ability to operate. Some said part of the problem is hiring mechanics without enough experience. At least one expert said the pandemic upended public transportation in many big cities.

SMART Chief Marketing Officer Bernard Parker said the agency is receiving grant funds to purchase new vehicles for three of its community partners: the North Oakland Transportation Authority, the OPC Social and Activity Center, and the Pointe Area Assisted Transportation Services.

“These grant funds allow SMART to put resources directly into the hands of our community partners,” he said in a statement. “By supporting local agencies with reliable vehicles, we’re helping them extend their reach and better connect people to services and opportunities.”

Some of the grant recipients are transit agencies in rural areas, including the Cadillac/Wexford Transit Authority. It is receiving over $6 million for various projects, including expanding its bus garage and offices, constructing a bus wash facility and purchasing 14 new vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Capital Area Transportation Authority, which serves Greater Lansing, is receiving $8.7 million to buy new hybrid buses to replace older buses that have reached their useful life. Jackson Area Transportation Authority is receiving $2.37 million for hybrid buses.

LOS ANGELES — The Detroit Pistons have had a successful start to their five-game West Coast road trip. They are currently 2-1 following Friday’s 131-129 loss to the Utah Jazz.

The Pistons held an 11-point lead with six minutes left in the second quarter. At the time, they appeared to be on the verge of a blowout inside Delta Center; however, the Jazz picked up their production on both ends in the second half, outscoring Detroit 64-61. The Jazz dominated the third quarter by scoring 44 points.

“We were not aggressive coming out of the half at halftime, and I think that was unacceptable for us,” Ron Holland II said. “We know what kind of team we are trying to be. We had two days off and had a team conversation, knowing we are trying to make that huge step this year. We were just being lackadaisical on defense.”

The Pistons’ second-half performance against the Jazz illustrates a recurring issue that has affected the team’s play over the past week. They have built a handful of double-digit leads but have watched as the opposing team rallies in several comeback attempts.

The Pistons have established themselves as championship contenders through 31 games. They are still in first place in the Eastern Conference with a 24-7 record, boasting the league’s second-best defense and eighth-best offense. Over the past three games, however, the Pistons’ second-half play has become a detriment.

Detroit has posted an offensive rating of 109.6, ranking 21st in the league, while averaging 57.0 points during the second half. On defense, the Pistons have been far from the prominent defensive team they established themselves to be since the start of their resurgence. They have a defensive rating of 119.5, ranking 19th in the league, and have allowed opponents to score 61.3 points per game over the final 24 minutes.

“I give our guys a ton of credit for being where we are now, but also understanding that we are not a finished product,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We have been able to carry things through and make things work out for us, but we are still aiming to put together 48-minute games.”

Bickerstaff continued, “That is going to be the maturation of this team. We have to get 48 minutes of Pistons’ basketball. There have been times when we have played 42 minutes, or whatever it might be, but we are still aiming to put together complete games.”

If it weren’t for Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson keeping the Pistons afloat after Cade Cunningham’s premature exit due to foul trouble, Detroit’s West Coast swing would have started poorly.

Although the Pistons secured a 110-102 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center, they almost squandered a 21-point lead. Despite winning, the Pistons expressed dissatisfaction after the game. Learning and maturing are the only two intangibles that have become a silver lining amid the Pistons’ subpar play in the second half, as they continue to improve as they inch closer to the halfway point of the season.

“We have a lot of young guys who have never been in this position before, and it just takes time,” Bickerstaff said. “But, that is why we are so committed to the process and not just the results. It’s an 82-game season, and we are still trying to be our best at the end of the year, and this is great for us. It shows that we have room to improve. We have to take the opportunity.”

Players in the ECHL, the third tier of professional hockey in North America, went on strike Friday after their union failed to reach an agreement with the league.

Five games scheduled for Friday were postponed, and dozens more set for Saturday and Sunday were scrapped. The league has not said whether the games will be made up after the strike ends.

Unfortunately, union leaders deprived players of the opportunity to vote on our last, best and final offer an offer that would dramatically raise player salaries by 20% in the first year, boost the per diem rate, guarantee more off days and expand the top-of-the-line equipment available to players, the ECHL said in a statement. We did everything possible to avoid this outcome and hope the union leadership will drop its unworkable scheduling demands, let the players vote on our offer and make it possible for players to return to work.

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The Professional Hockey Players Association, which represents ECHL and AHL players, has called for eliminating back-to-back travel days, maintaining uninterrupted health insurance and guaranteeing pay.

The union requested a weekly salary cap of $19,500, which it said would average out to about $975 per player per week. It also accused the league of failing to negotiate in good faith.

We recognize how important ECHL hockey is to fans, families and local communities. Our members are simply seeking reasonable improvements that allow them to work safely and earn a sustainable living while continuing to perform at a high level, PHPA Executive Director Brian Ramsay said. We remain ready to continue discussions with the league to reach a fair agreement.

The ECHL drew 5.3 million fans last season, averaging about 5,000 per game, and has produced 776 future NHL players.

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The holiday season will soon come to a close, but the busiest time of the year for product returns is just beginning.

The National Retail Federation estimates 17% of holiday purchases will be sent back this year. More retailers are reporting extended return windows and increased holiday staff to handle the rush this year.

A major driver for returns is uncertainty. When we buy for other people, finding what they want is a bit of a guessing game. Online purchases have higher return rates because finding the right size and color is tough when you’re just staring at images on screens.

“Clothing and footwear, as you can imagine, because fit is such an important criteria, they have higher rates of returns,” said Saskia van Gendt, chief sustainability officer at Blue Yonder, which sells software designed to improve companies’ supply chain management.

Returns come with an environmental cost, but there’s a lot consumers and companies are doing to minimize it.

The impact of returns

If a company sells a thing, it’s probably packaged in plastic. Plastic is made from oil, and oil production releases emissions that warm the planet. If that thing is bought online, it’s put on a plane or a train or a truck that usually uses oil-based fuel.

If you buy a thing and return it, it goes through most or all of that all over again.

And once those products are back with the retailer, they may be sent along to a refurbisher, liquidator, recycler or landfill. All these steps require more travel, packaging and energy, ultimately translating to more emissions. Joseph Sarkis, who teaches supply chain management at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, estimates that returning an item increases its impact on the planet by 25% to 30%.

Roughly a third of the time, those returns don’t make their way to another consumer. Because frequently, it’s not worth reselling.

If, for example, you get a phone, but you send it back because you don’t like the color, the seller has to pay for the fuel and equipment to get the phone back, and then has to pay for the labor to assess whether it has been damaged since leaving the facility.

“It can be quite expensive,” said Sarkis. “And if you send it out to a new customer and the phone is bad, imagine the reputational hit you’ll get. You’ll get another return and you’ll lose a customer who’s unhappy with the product or material. So the companies are hesitant to take that chance.”

Something as expensive as a phone might get sold to a secondary or refurbishment market. But that $6 silicone spatula you got off Amazon? Probably not worth it. Plus, some stuff — think a bathing suit or a bra — is less attractive to customers if there’s a chance it’s been resold. The companies know that.

And that’s where the costs of returns are more than just environmental — and consumers wind up paying. Even free returns aren’t really free.

“Refurbishment, inspection, repackaging, all of these things get factored into the retail price,” said Christopher Faires, assistant professor of logistics and supply chain management at Georgia Southern University.

What consumers can do about it

If you want to reduce the impact of your returns, the first move is to increase their chances of resale. Be careful not to damage it, and reuse the packaging to send it back, said Cardiff University logistics and operations management lecturer Danni Zhang.

If you have to return something, do it quickly. That ugly Christmas sweater you got at the white elephant office party has a much better chance of selling on Dec. 20 than it does on Jan. 5. Zhang said it’s not worth the cost to the company to store that sweater once it’s gone out of season.

Another tip: in-person shopping is better than online because purchases get returned less often, and in-person returns are better, too — because those items get resold more often. Zhang said it reduces landfill waste. Sarkis said it reduces emissions because companies with brick-and-mortar locations spread out across the country and closer to consumers thus move restocked goods shorter distances.

“If I can return in-store, then I definitely will,” Zhang said. “The managers can put that stuff back to the market as soon as possible.”

Obviously the best thing consumers can do is minimize returns. Many shoppers engage in “bracketing behavior,” or buying multiple sizes of the same item, keeping what fits, and returning the rest.

“This behavior of bringing the dressing room to our homes is not sustainable,” said Faires.

If you’re buying for someone else, you can also consider taking the guesswork out of the equation and going for a gift card.

“I know we do really want to pick up something really nice to express our love for our friends or our family. But if we are more sustainable, probably the gift card will be much better than just purchasing the product,” Zhang said.

What businesses can do about it

Sarkis wants to see companies provide more information in product descriptions about the environmental impact of returning an item, or how much of the purchase price factors in return costs.

“But I don’t know if they want to send a negative message,” he said. “If you’re telling someone to stop something because of negative results, that’s not going to sell.”

Sarkis and Zhang both say charging for returns would help. Already Amazon is requiring customers pay in certain situations.

On the tech side, Blue Yonder’s recent acquisition of Optoro, a company that provides a return management system for retailers and brands, uses a software to quickly assess the condition of returned products and route them to stores that are most likely to resell them.

“Having that process be more digitized, you can quickly assess the condition and put it back into inventory,” said van Gendt. “So that’s a big way to just avoid landfill and also all of the carbon emissions that are associated with that.”

Clothing is returned most often. Many sizes do not reflect specific measurements, like women’s dresses, so they vary a lot between brands. Zhang said better sizing could help reduce the need for returns. On top of that, Sarkis said more 3D imaging and virtual reality programs could help customers be more accurate with their purchases, saving some returns.

A skier died on Aspen Mountain in an accident, the resort confirmed to the Scripps News Group in Denver.

The skier, who was wearing a helmet, died on Friday, December 19 after colliding with a tree. The skier was taken to Aspen Valley Hospital, according to Aspen resort.

Our deepest condolences are with the guests family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. We are truly sorry for their loss. Wed also like to thank our highly trained Ski Patrol for their swift and professional response.

This article was written by Jeff Anastasio for the Scripps News Group in Cincinnati.

After a quiet start to the weekend, the Midwest and Northeast will have to endure another powerful storm bringing a plethora of weather hazards to post-holiday travel. The same system that brought flooding rain to California on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will jet across the country, grab Gulf moisture and strengthen as it moves our way.

The storm will begin Sunday morning with rain moving across most of Michigan as late-day temperatures climb into the 50s here in Metro Detroit. Rainfall totals could exceed one inch by Sunday night across much of Metro Detroit. However, this unusual December warm-up wont last long with a dramatic change arriving Sunday night. A powerful Arctic front will sweep through, causing temperatures to plummet and rain to transition to snow. Travel impacts can be expected across Michigan and the Great Lakes from Sunday night through Monday.We will be watching the possibility of dense fog and wet roads turning icy with the rapid drop in temperatures over a short period of time Sunday night into Monday morning.

Powerful Post-Holiday Storm

The rapidly deepening low-pressure system will track across Lake Huron generating strong winds with gusts of 40 to 50 mph or higher across Lower Michigan on Monday. These wicked winds could bring whiteout conditions to start the week. While snowfall totals should fall between a dusting to two inches across Metro Detroit, the Upper Peninsula could experience blizzard conditions with totals closer to a foot by Monday evening. This powerful storm may wreak havoc on air travel across the Midwest and Great Lakes.Watch for delays at airports and stay alert for big impacts on local travel across Michigan.

Strong Winds Monday

As Arctic air settles in behind this storm on Monday, temperatures will only rise in the 20s with single digit wind chills to ring in the new year. Lake-effect snow and below-average temperatures can be expected across the Great Lakes through most of next week.

Residents near the largest Dunkin facility in the United States in Haverhill, Massachusetts, are raising concerns about air quality, saying the odor of doughnuts from the bakery has become overwhelming.

Sean Wilson, who lives about a quarter-mile from the facility, voiced his concerns during a recent City Council meeting. Council members were considering a proposal to allow the plant to install tanks that would store thousands of pounds of shortening.

My house has smelled like doughnuts all the time for the last two months. Its distracting, and its heavy, Wilson told councilors. Youre just overwhelmed by the smell of doughnuts.

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Wilson said the odor has him worried about air quality near the facility. He told councilors he was not sure whether he opposed the installation of the tanks but wanted reassurance that the air is safe to breathe.

J.T. Couch, who represents Creek Brook CML, the owner of the facility that produces Dunkin doughnuts, said the bakery makes 1 million doughnuts per day. That number could increase if the tanks are installed, he said.

The facility, which opened earlier this year, currently supplies about 300 stores; with the tanks, that could rise to about 800.

With the size of the facility, we do take extreme measures to limit our air effluents. Each of the fryers has a dedicated hood system that you would find in a normal kitchen, Couch said.

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Councilor Shaun Toohey said he has also heard concerns from residents about the smell. He suggested postponing the vote on the tanks until January to allow time for an air quality assessment.

By Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — Even with inflation, endless air travel complaints and the recent flight cancellations caused by the government shutdown, millions of Americans, including me, will begin their holiday celebrations on a plane. And while some are already making their packing lists, I am more concerned about what I should watch. In addition to getting you where you want to go, those hours spent in uncomfortable seats — first at the gate and then on board — are a guilt-free opportunity to catch up on or revisit great shows and films.

In-flight viewing is a specific, and sometimes unintentionally communal, viewing experience; not everything works. Choose tearjerkers and musicals with care. Ugly crying over “The Notebook” or singing along with “Wicked” might feel great, but it can cause your fellow passengers unnecessary consternation and/or annoyance.

If you are traveling with or seated near children, you should avoid hard-R-rated fare — as I discovered while briefly attempting to watch “Game of Thrones” while seated beside my then-young son, nudity and beheadings don’t need the sound on to be inappropriate.

Likewise, avoid anything that involves tragic or problematic air travel — catch up on the “Final Destination” franchise another time — and you also might want to skip full-attention-demanding subtitles. The perfect airplane watch allows you to immerse yourself while also remaining aware of what’s happening around you. (Including and especially requests from flight attendants.)

With all these considerations in mind, here are some suggestions.

Watch at the gate

Comedy series are best, for obvious mood-sweetening reasons (should delays occur), but also because the episodes are short and tend not to have dramatic moments that might keep you watching even after your group number has been called.

“Schitt’s Creek” (Amazon)

Each episode of this perfectly addictive series about a once-rich (and very dysfunctional) family that finds itself forced to start anew in a small town will make you laugh no matter how many times you’ve seen it.

“Derry Girls” (Netflix)

Those unfamiliar with the Northern Ireland accent may find it necessary to use subtitles, which I just cautioned against. But this show is worth breaking the rules for. Living through the Troubles in 1990s Derry, five Catholic school friends and their families cope hilariously with everyday issues, including school life under the redoubtable eye of Sister Michael (Siobhán McSweeney).

“New Girl” (Hulu)

The shenanigans of friends/roomies Jess (Zooey Deschanel), Nick (Jake Johnson), Schmidt (Max Greenfield), Winston (Lamorne Morris) and Cece (Hannah Simone) are always a delight.

“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Netflix)

Any time’s a good time to watch the greatest police comedy series since “Barney Miller.” Andy Samberg’s Jake Peralta heads a misfit but inevitably successful team of New York detectives, headed by the driest, wisest chief in TV history — Captain Holt, played by the late, great Andre Braugher.

“Abbott Elementary” (Hulu)

Celebrate the holidays with this quick-witted, revelatory and very sweet teacher-centric mockumentary-comedy created by and starring Quinta Brunson. Compared with classroom chaos, even the airport will seem like an oasis of tranquility.

“What We Do in the Shadows” (Hulu)

If you somehow missed this hilariously unique comedy-horror mockumentary about a group of vampires living in modern-day Staten Island, now is the time to rectify that.

Watch on domestic flights

All of the above comedy series work here as well — but movies are best, especially if you can time it so the film begins when altitude is achieved and ends as you’re returning your seat backs and tray tables to their full upright positions.

FILMS:

“The Da Vinci Code” (AMC+)

The perfect in-flight film, “The Da Vinci Code” offers something like cultural edification (the Louvre! The Knights Templar! Biblical history!) while not forcing you to think too much. A tour of Paris, great action sequences, the always endearing Tom Hanks and a literally beatific conclusion.

“Spy” (Amazon)

Melissa McCarthy is an everywoman intelligence agent who chooses to go into the field for the first time in this strangely unsung hero of modern comedy. Guaranteed to make you laugh even if you’re stuck in the middle seat. (Also set in Paris, it’s a perfect double feature with “The Da Vinci Code” for those five-hour flights.)

“Crazy Rich Asians” (Netflix)

Jon M. Chu’s glorious romantic comedy will transport you into a world far beyond the dreary confines of contemporary air travel and make you feel, if only for a moment, that you too are flying in a first-class compartment that contains an actual double bed.

“Iron Man” (Disney+)

Travel back in time to the moment when Robert Downey Jr. jump-started the Marvel Cinematic Universe and remind yourself why. It really is that good.

“Sense and Sensibility” (Amazon)

The exquisite nature of the performances, writing, direction, cinematography and score has made one of the best Jane Austen adaptations a go-to comfort film for when you’re feeling ill. Which is why it’s perfect while flying.

“Paddington” and/or “Paddington 2” (Netflix)

Come for the adorable bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw), stay for the adventure and sweet hijinks (and, in “Paddington 2,” Hugh Grant!). You will reach your destination feeling more kindly to your fellow travelers, which can only improve any trip.

“Edge of Tomorrow” (Netflix)

Tom Cruise teams up with Emily Blunt to battle an alien invasion, with some help from time travel. Classic dystopian thriller with several clever twists. If you’re feeling hot and cramped, just think of Cruise and Blunt in those super suits.

“The Martian” (Netflix)

Feel bad that your flight got delayed and you might not make your connection? A little time spent with Matt Damon’s astronaut, stranded for years on Mars, will put everything in perspective. At least you don’t have to figure out how to grow potatoes in hostile soil.

“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” (Amazon)

The ultimate full-immersion movie sees four teenagers sucked into a survival adventure game in which their avatars are played by Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan.

“Skyfall” (Amazon)

Honestly, most Bond films are a good choice but Daniel Craig is my favorite Bond and “Skyfall” features a more-than-usual presence of M (Judi Dench). Also, the song.

“Knives Out” (Amazon)

A classic manor house mystery, which revived the genre when it became a hit in 2019, “Knives Out” is the ideal blend of mystery and wit, with a cast of characters to keep you company.

SHOWS:

“Hawkeye” (Disney+)

If you’re looking for a five-hour (or so) miniseries with plenty of Marvel action and a holiday theme, look no further. A year after the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” Hawkeye super fan Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) teams up with her reluctant hero, Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), to face down enemies new and old. Oh, and celebrate Christmas in New York.

“Black Mirror” (Netflix)

This sci-fi anthology series is perfect plane viewing because a.) It’s so very good and b.) Each episode is its own story, so you can construct however many hours you need (and, perhaps, catch up on a show so many people continue to talk about).

“Sherlock” (PBS)

Same principle — each episode is essentially a short film and you get to wallow in the wonder of Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock), Martin Freeman (Watson), Mark Gatiss (Mycroft) and all the rest as they solve crimes in modern twists on the classic tales.

Watch on international flights

For flights six hours and longer, you can hunker down and make your way through a film franchise or an entire season or seasons of a television series.

FILMS:

“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy (HBO Max)

Pick the director’s cut of all three and your journey through Middle-earth will take you almost 12 hours, which is about as long as it takes to fly from L.A. to New Zealand, where it was filmed.

“Hunger Games” (HBO Max)

The four films in which Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and friends attempt to wrest a shattered land from the tyranny of President Snow (Donald Sutherland) clock in at about nine hours total, which, with bathroom and meal breaks, should get you from L.A. to London or Paris.

“Mission Impossible” films (Amazon and other platforms)

Although they often include mishaps in the air, the fantastic (in both senses of the word) nature of “Mission: Impossible” makes these films an ideal high-altitude binge. From first to last, they run more than 18 hours, which is, quite frankly, far too many hours of consecutive movie viewing. But with plenty of installments to choose from, you can accept whichever assignments (and Cruise stunts) appeal to you.

“Harry Potter” (HBO Max)

However one feels about J.K. Rowling’s politics, this is a delightful film franchise that’s even longer than “Mission; Impossible” — about 20 hours. But you can start, and stop, the series wherever you want (though I would urge you not to skip the underrated “Order of the Phoenix”).

SHOWS:

“Black Doves” (Netflix)

Keira Knightley and Whishaw play highly unlikely but ruthlessly skilled mercenary spies who work for an ice-cold Sarah Lancashire. The six-hour-long series tells a complete tale (though Season 2 is in the works) and as the events take place in London as Christmas approaches, makes a fine holiday thriller.

“House”

Pick a season, any season (there are eight of them, with an average of 22 episodes each) and the wit, wisdom and scathing insanity of Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) and his team will carry you through to any destination. And unlike other medical shows, most of the ailments are so bizarre that you won’t have to worry if that cough or twinge is a sign that you’re getting one of them.

“The Durrells in Corfu” (PBS)

It’s 1935 and young widow Louisa Durrell (Keeley Hawes) decides that the answer to her financial straits is to move herself and her four children to the island of Corfu. Sweet and scenic hilarity ensues, and includes the young Josh O’Connor (“The Crown”) and Callum Woodhouse (“All Creatures Great and Small”) as two of Louisa’s sons. Four seasons, 26 episodes. You’re welcome.

“Call the Midwife” (Netflix)

Seasonal purists could just download the dozen or so Christmas episodes of this long-running and still-exceptional drama about a group of midwives working out of a convent in London’s East End. (Between the nuns and the babies, the specials are always wonderful.) But if you haven’t seen the series, best to start with Season 1 and keep going.

“Mare of Easttown” (HBO Max)

If you somehow missed Kate Winslet’s turn as a small-town Pennsylvania cop (with a great Delco accent) who is trying to solve a brutal murder, then this is your chance. If you didn’t, well, it’s time for an eight-hour rewatch in which you can use the time you spent wondering who dunit to admire all the terrific acting.

“Slow Horses” (Apple TV)

The butt-numbing hours will fly by like minutes when you immerse yourself in the TV adaptation of the first five of Mick Herron’s Slough House novels. Gary Oldman is having a blast as Jackson Lamb, the greasy, rumpled, sharp-tongued and strategically flatulent keeper of a den of MI5 misfits. Who somehow manage to save the day.

“The Crown” (Netflix)

Think your flight is long? Consider the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth, played over the course of six seasons by Claire Foy, Olivia Colman and Imelda Staunton. For a full immersive experience, it’s tough to beat the royal settings, period clothes and changing times. And with 60 hours at your fingertips, you can move through history without ever leaving your seat.

“30 Rock” (Hulu)

Tina Fey’s send-up of a fictional “Saturday Night Live”-type show, and satirical look at the television business in general, is just as biting and gimlet-eyed as it was when it premiered almost 20 years ago. It got better as it aged, so for purposes of downloading, look to Seasons 4 and 5.

“Parks and Recreation” (Peacock/Amazon)

Life is always better when you spend some time with Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza) and the many fine public servants in Pawnee, Indiana’s city government. The mockumentary series found its feet in Season 2, so you might want to start there.

“The Wire” (HBO Max)

David Simon’s five-season Baltimore-based crime drama is definitely R-rated (thus breaking one of our earlier stated rules) but it is the show that is consistently listed as one of the best — if not the best — TV dramas ever. So if a long-haul flight demands that you binge, why not binge big?

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©2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Peter WhoriskeyThe Washington Post

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. – Like millions of other Americans, Stacy Newton turns to Healthcare.gov to shop for health insurance for her family. The Affordable Care Act website, according to the government, is where consumers are supposed to find “a menu of health insurance plans.”

But for the Newtons and many others in the country, next year’s menu is severely limited: There is only one company offering ACA plans here – and costs have risen steeply.

To continue health coverage for themselves and their two teenage children, the Newtons would have to pay an annual premium of $43,000 – about a third of their gross income. It is the price of the cheapest plan available to the family from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, the only ACA insurer left in Teton County.

This year, millions of American families that have relied on ACA, popularly known as Obamacare, are being squeezed on multiple sides: Premiums are rising, the covid-era subsidies that helped pay for those policies are shrinking, and there are fewer choices with insurers pulling out of some markets.

The squeeze here is a symptom of broader trouble in American health care. In western Wyoming and other regions, the expected rollback of enhanced subsidies has destabilized the economics of Obamacare, pushing some insurers to retreat from the government-supported market because it won’t be profitable.

That is leaving consumers such as the Newtons with little choice but to buy a pricey, unsubsidized policy from a local monopoly.

Next year, the number of counties with only one company providing Obamacare will jump from 72 to 146, according the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. That number is expected to rise further if, as appears likely, Congress fails to renew the enhanced subsidies.

Newton and her husband, Derek, each run a small business – she is an independent sales representative, and he outfits vans – and like many entrepreneurs, they have relied on the ACA for health insurance. But this year, the price of their policy rose 34 percent, and the federal subsidy that helped them pay for it is due to go away. At the same time, they know they will need medical care: Last year, Newton, 51, was diagnosed with chronic leukemia.

“It’s terrifying,” she said. “We’re not rich, we’re not poor. We’re a standard, middle-class family, and somehow now I can’t afford health insurance.”

This year, the enhanced subsidies that helped middle-income people afford Obamacare plans have been stuck in partisan congressional deadlock. The subsidies expire Dec. 31, and Republicans, who hold the majority, have opposed extending them.

Anticipating that sticker shock will induce healthy people to drop out of insurance and saddle health plans with a higher proportion of the sickest, costliest patients, insurers say they must dramatically raise ACA prices or pull out of Obamacare marketplaces altogether.

Without the enhanced subsidies, “I would expect more insurers to retreat, to exit,” said Katherine Hempstead, a senior policy officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “People will see less choice and higher prices.”

According to economic studies conducted in 2017 and 2018, another turbulent period when Obamacare insurers faced losses and political uncertainty, prices rose between 30 and 50 percent when an area was reduced to only one ACA insurer.

The problem here in Teton County began in August when the only other insurer providing ACA coverage, Mountain Health Co-op, announced it was pulling out, citing the looming expiration of the enhanced subsidies. Of the roughly 46,000 people on Obamacare in Wyoming, about 11,000 are expected to drop coverage, according to insurers.

“The basic problem with reducing the subsidies is that healthier people say ‘we can’t afford insurance’ and drop out, while the sicker population are, like, ‘Oh, my God, I still need it,’” said Alexander Muromcew, a board member of the Mountain Health Co-op. “As an insurer, you end up with a smaller and higher-risk membership, which is not sustainable.”

Muromcew said competition had been good for consumers, noting that when Mountain Health entered the market here a few years ago, Blue Cross Blue Shield dropped its prices. Now, as a monopoly, he said, Blue Cross Blue Shield has more power to dictate prices.

“Without competition, I worry that it’ll be easier for Blue Cross Blue Shield to raise rates even further,” Muromcew said.

Diane Gore, president and chief executive of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, said she understands the frustration of people getting hit with rising premiums and lowered subsidies.

“I get it, I completely get it,” Gore said.

The company says its prices are the same across most of Wyoming, regardless of whether there is a competitor. Gore attributed this year’s price hikes, which she said were 25 percent on average, to the expectation that the remaining Obamacare customers will be sicker, and to the rising cost of medical care in rural areas, where health care providers are scarce and competition is often limited. Of every premium dollar the company collected last year, she said, 95 cents went to direct medical care.

Insurance companies don’t always find Obamacare markets profitable. Aetna, one of the largest insurance companies, announced earlier this year that it was dropping ACA coverage in 11 of 15 states. The move affected about a million Obamacare customers.

“I understand that there is rhetoric from the Beltway that the insurance companies are getting rich off of Obamacare,” Gore said. “But that’s not this insurer in Wyoming.”

‘Clearly, the system is broken’

Many people in this resort town are seasonal workers, self-employed or small-business entrepreneurs. Lacking employer insurance plans, they have come to rely on Obamacare. Among them, the anxiety is widespread.

“Clearly, the system is broken,” said Heather Huhn, an insurance broker in Jackson.

On her desk, she has a stack of files with the applications for about 30 families that she calls the “Hold Tight” pile. They are mainly people who have ongoing medical needs, such as chronic conditions or expensive prescriptions, and can’t afford to pay for health insurance at the current costs. For weeks, she said, they have been desperately waiting to see whether the government will extend the enhanced subsidies that began during the pandemic.

“They sit across from my desk and say, ‘I just don’t know what to do,’” Huhn said. “I tell them not to have a mental breakdown just yet. People are having to suffer because the government can’t figure out how to fix it.”

Sophia Schwartz, a professional skier and health care administrator here, senses similar apprehension. For years, she has been inviting groups of “ski friends,” many of whom have irregular jobs, over for dinner to counsel them on how to get health insurance.

“This was the scariest year I’ve ever done it,” said Schwartz, a former member of the U.S. ski team and now a big-mountain skier. “People came to me in pure panic.”

Considering ‘BearCare’ and other options

In desperation, many are turning to stopgap measures.

Some, especially skiers, were looking at policies at a company called Spot Insurance that cover reimbursement of medical bills incurred after accidents on the slopes. Others were looking at “healthshare” groups in which members contribute monthly to cover each other’s eligible medical bills; among the drawbacks of these programs is that elective surgeries and nonemergency treatments might not be covered.

And some were considering “short-term” insurance policies. Those are closer to conventional health insurance, but those insurers might reject applicants with medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or cancer.

With so many in Wyoming searching for answers, even the state is jumping in. State officials have proposed “a major medical plan” they have called “BearCare.” The policies would, at “a significantly lower price,” cover emergency situations such as “being attacked by a bear” and other more common medical catastrophes. It would not cover ongoing or chronic medical needs.

Some of those looking for conventional health insurance say the state proposal is woefully inadequate.

“I don’t worry about being bitten by a bear, I worry about getting cancer,” said Margie Lynch, 58, an energy efficiency consultant based here. For the cheapest Obamacare plan, she would have to pay $1,585 a month. Its benefits would not kick in until she paid a deductible of $10,600.

“The cost of the premium is almost as much as my mortgage,” Lynch said. “I’m lucky enough to be able to pay for it if I have to. But there are so many people out there who won’t be able to.”

Newton, Lynch and others here have shared their concerns with Wyoming’s representatives in Congress: Sen. John Barrasso, Sen. Cynthia Lummis and Rep. Harriet Hageman. All three Republican lawmakers have opposed Obamacare and criticized Democrats, who have pushed to extend the enhanced subsidies.

“Stacy’s story and experience is one of the many heartbreaking examples of how Obamacare has failed families across Wyoming,” a statement from Barrasso said. “Instead of working with Republicans to make health care more affordable for all Americans, Democrats would rather use more taxpayer dollars to bail out Obamacare and hide its failures.”

A spokesman for Lummis said, “The health care problem Americans are facing is a direct result of the Democrats’ failed Affordable Care Act – Sen. Lummis had the foresight to oppose this misguided legislation from day one.”

A spokesperson for Hageman said in a statement that “Rep. Hageman knows there are many people struggling with the weight of medical expenses, and the catastrophic failure of Obamacare is making it far worse.”

The squeeze

For years, Obamacare had worked well for the Newtons.

In 2017, when the couple were starting their businesses, their income was low – about $56,000. The price of their policy was $1,585 a month, but the standard ACA subsidy covered most of that, and the couple had to come up with only $332 monthly.

Since then, however, the prices of the premiums have risen steadily, and now, because of the expected subsidy reductions, they would no longer qualify for government help. They would have to pay full price – $3,573 monthly for the cheapest option. Even at $43,000 a year, the plan carries a $21,200 deductible, according to the paperwork Stacy Newton showed The Washington Post.

This month, the couple struggled with whether to pay that to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, go without health insurance or find some other stopgap option. Newton was getting notices that said, in bold red lettering: “Important – You’re about to end (terminate) this coverage. If any of the people above get health care services or supplies after 12/31/2025, they’ll have to pay full cost.”

Eventually, Newton knows, she will need leukemia treatment. She’s just not sure when.

“If my leukemia acts up, I’m up a creek,” she said this month. “I just don’t have a solution yet.”

On Monday, she sent a text.

“I just officially canceled my ACA marketplace insurance for 2026,” she wrote. “How on Earth is this going to unfold for millions of people in America?

A suspect accused of shooting up a home in a Shelby Township mobile home park was arrested Friday as he walked to his vehicle miles away.

According to a news release from Shelby Township police, officers responded about 6:30 a.m. Dec. 26 to Dequindre Estate Mobile Home Park, located off Dequindre Road near Hamlin.

“A resident had called 911 after their home was struck by gunfire originating from the street in front of the residence,” police said in the release.

When police arrived, they confirmed the home had been hit multiple times.

The news release made no mention of anyone inside the house being injured.

The scene was secured as the investigation continued throughout the day.

In an update Friday afternoon, police said investigators had developed information on the shooting suspect and vehicle information.

Detectives located the vehicle unoccupied in a parking lot in St. Clair Shores. They waited and watched the vehicle until the suspected shooter returned to the car and was taken into custody without incident, authorities said.

The investigation is ongoing, according to the release.

Shelby Township police said they were sharing the information with the public to let the community know that an arrest has been made and there is no threat to the public.

The president of the Kennedy Center on Friday fiercely criticized a musician's sudden decision to cancel a Christmas Eve performance at the venue days after the White House announced that President Donald Trump's name would be added to the facility.

Your decision to withdraw at the last moment explicitly in response to the Center's recent renaming, which honors President Trump's extraordinary efforts to save this national treasure is classic intolerance and very costly to a non-profit Arts institution, the venue's president, Richard Grenell, wrote in a letter to musician Chuck Redd that was shared with The Associated Press.

RELATED STORY | Kennedy Center renamed to include Trumps name after board vote

In the letter, Grenell said he would seek $1 million in damages for this political stunt.

Redd did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A drummer and vibraphone player, Redd has presided over holiday Jazz Jams at the Kennedy Center since 2006, succeeding bassist William Keter Betts. In an email Wednesday to The Associated Press, Redd said he pulled out of the concert in the wake of the renaming.

When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel our concert, Redd said. He added Wednesday that the event has been a very popular holiday tradition and that he often featured at least one student musician.

One of the many reasons that it was very sad to have had to cancel, he told the AP.

RELATED STORY | House panel votes to rename Kennedy Center opera house after Melania Trump

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, and Congress passed a law the following year naming the center as a living memorial to him.

Grenell is a Trump ally whom the president chose to head the Kennedy Center after he forced out the previous leadership. According to the White House, Trump's handpicked board approved the renaming, which scholars have said violates the law. Kennedy's niece Kerry Kennedy has vowed to remove Trumps name from the building once he leaves office, and former House historian Ray Smock is among those who say any changes would have to be approved by Congress.

The law explicitly prohibits the board of trustees from making the center into a memorial to anyone else, and from putting another persons name on the buildings exterior.

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — The shopping rush leading up to Christmas is over and in its place, like every year, another has begun as millions of people hunt for post-holiday deals and get in line to return gifts that didn’t fit, or didn’t hit quite right.

Holiday spending using cash or cards through Sunday has topped last year’s haul, according to data released this week by Visa’s Consulting & Analytics division and Mastercard SpendingPulse.

But growing unease over the U.S. economy and higher prices in part due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs have altered the behavior of some Americans. More are hitting thrift stores or other discounters in place of malls, according to data from Placer.ai. The firm tracks people’s movements based on cellphone usage.

And they’re sticking more closely to shopping lists and doing more research before buying. That may explain why returns so far are down compared with last year, according to data from Adobe Analytics.

Here are three trends that defined the holiday shopping season so far:

A weaker holiday season for traditional gift giving

Americans are still spending on gifts, yet increasingly that shopping is taking place at thrift and discount stores, according to data from Placer.ai.

That’s likely forcing traditional retailers such as department stores to fight harder for customers, Placer.ai said.

Clothing and electronics that traditionally dominate holiday sales did have a surge but struggled to grow, according to Placer.ai. Both goods are dominated by imports and thus, vulnerable to tariffs.

For example, traffic doubled in department stores during the week before Christmas, from Dec. 15 through Sunday, compared with the average shopping week this year. But traffic in the week before Christmas this year fell 13.2% compared with 2024.

Traffic surged 61% at traditional sellers of only clothing in the week before the holiday compared with the rest of the year. But again, compared with the runup to Christmas last year, sales slid 9%.

Some of that lost traffic may have migrated to the so-called off-price stores— chains like TJ Maxx. That sector had a sharp seasonal traffic bump of 85.1% and a gain of 1.2% in the week before the holiday.

But it was thrift stores that were red hot, with traffic jumping nearly 11% in the week before Christmas compared with last year.

“Whether hunting for a designer deal or uncovering a one-of-a-kind vintage piece, consumers increasingly favored discovery-driven experiences over the standardized assortments of traditional retail,” Shira Petrack, head of content at Placer.ai, said in a blog post Friday.

Thrift stores broaden their appeal

In the past it may have seemed gauche to gift your mother a gently used sweater or a pair of pants from a local thrift store, but seemingly not so amid all of the economic uncertainty and rising prices, according to Placer.ai.

Through the second half of 2025, thrift stores have seen at least a 10% increases in traffic compared with last year. That suggests that environmental concerns as well as economic issues are luring more Americans to second-hand stores, Placer.ai said. Visits to thrift stores generally do not take off during the holidays, yet in the most recent Black Friday weekend, sales jumped 5.5%, Placer.ai. reported.

In November, as customer traffic in traditional apparel stores fell more than 3%, traffic in thrift stores soared 12.7%, according to Placer.ai.

The thrift migration has altered the demographics of second-hand stores. The average household income of thrift customers hit $75,000 during October and November of this year, a slight uptick from $74,900 last year, $74,600 in 2023 well above the average income of 74,100 in 2022, based on demographic data from STI:PopStats combined with Placer.ai data.

U.S. sales at thrift chain Savers Value Village’s rose 10.5% in the three months ended Sept. 27 and the momentum continued through October, store executives said in late October.

“High household income cohort continues to become a larger portion of our consumer mix,” CEO Mark Walsh told analysts. “It’s trade down for sure, and our younger cohort also continues to grow in numbers. ”

Fewer returns, so far

For the first six weeks of the holiday season, return rates have dipped from the same period a year ago, according to Adobe Analytics.

That suggests that shoppers are doing more research before adding something to their shopping list, and they’re being more disciplined in sticking to the lists they create, according to Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights.

“I think it’s very indicative of consumers and how conscientiously they’ve purchased,” Pandya said. “Many of them are being very specific with how they spend their budget.”

From Nov. 1 to Dec. 12, returns fell 2.5% compared with last year, Adobe reported. In the seven days following Cyber Week — the five shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, returns fell 0.1%.

From the Nov. 1 through Dec. 12, online sales rose 6% to $187.3 billion, on track to surpass its outlook for the season, Adobe reported.

Between Dec. 26 to Dec. 31, returns are expected to rise by 25% to 35% compared with returns between Nov. 1 through Dec. 12, Adobe said, and it expects returns to remain elevated through the first two weeks of January, up 8% to 15%.

This is the first year that Adobe has tracked returns.

Still, the last week of December sees the greatest concentration of returns: one out of every eight returns in the 2024 holiday season took place between Dec. 26 and Dec 31, a trend expected to persist this year, Adobe said.

By Ben Warren, Max Reinhart, MediaNews Group

Freezing rain and ice created hazardous conditions Friday in southeast Michigan, causing flight cancellations and vehicle accidents across the region.

The National Weather Service had issued a winter weather advisory for Metro Detroit north through the M-59 and Interstate 69 corridors, including St. Clair, Washtenaw, Genesee, Saginaw, Tuscola and Sanilac counties.

According to the weather service’s storm report map, Saginaw recorded the most freezing rain on Friday, with just over a quarter-inch. Detroit got about 0.14 inches.

The agency received reports of downed tree branches in areas including Bay City and Port Huron.

The ice accumulation caused several accidents, including multiple crashes on I-75 near Saginaw. The Michigan Department of Transportation’s Bay Region, which covers the Mt. Pleasant, Saginaw, Flint and the Thumb areas of the state, reported at least six crashes that temporarily closed lanes along the freeway on Friday.

Among them were collisions on the Zilwaukee Bridge, which was closed in both directions, according to MDOT. WNEM Saginaw reported that multiple semi-trucks jackknifed on the Saginaw River span due to slippery conditions.

By 11:30 a.m., both directions of the bridge had reopened to traffic, MDOT reported.

On Facebook, Saginaw County 911 Central Dispatch wrote that I-75 was “completely shut down” in both directions due to the crashes. The agency warned drivers to avoid the area if possible and drive carefully.

Traffic on the Mackinac Bridge slowed to 20 miles per hour due to ice on the bridge deck, according to the Mackinac Bridge Authority website.

As the rain arrived early Friday, more than 40 flights scheduled to depart from Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus have been cancelled, according to its flight status website. The cancellations may impact travelers returning home from the Christmas holiday.

“Currently, we’re not experiencing icy conditions at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Flight delays or cancellations are determined by the airlines,” Cortez Strickland, a DTW spokesperson, wrote in an email.

“In anticipation of icy conditions, our Airfield Operations and Maintenance teams have pre-treated the runways and taxiways. Crews will continue to monitor the situation.”

Ice continued to fall in some areas into the early afternoon hours, according to NWS data.

“Untreated surfaces will be coated with ice, and we should see more freezing rain throughout the day,” said Kevin Kacan, a meteorologist with the NWS Detroit office.

“The big thing is travel. Any roadway not treated with salt can be slick and dangerous to drive on.”

Temperatures in southeastern Michigan just cracked the freezing point Friday afternoon. In Detroit, which tends to be the warmest point in the region, highs peaked at 34 degrees Fahrenheit around 4 p.m.

On Saturday, temperatures will continue to hover around freezing, up to 35. But it will warm up more on Sunday, with a high of 49, according to the NWS.

Both branches of the West Bloomfield Township library were closed on Friday due to the rain, according to an email from the library system.

Power outages were reported across the area after ice accumulated on tree limbs and other surfaces.

The Consumers Energy power outage map showed that more than 4,000 customers lost power Friday morning along the I-75 corridor near Prescott in Ogemaw County. The map reported the cause of the outage as “storm damage.” By Friday evening, more than 25,000 Consumers customers were still without power, mainly in the central part of the Lower Peninsula. As of Saturday mid-morning, Consumers showed 14,667 customers without power from 303 outages, mostly in central Michigan.

Early Friday afternoon, nearly 30,000 DTE Energy customers were without power across southeast Michigan. By the evening hours, that number was down to about 13,000 with Lake Orion and other parts of northeast Oakland County among the hardest hit in the region.

bwarren@detroitnews.com

mreinhart@detroitnews.com

Albums don’t sell like they used to, but rest assured, they’re still being released.

And they still matter.

The long-player is, in fact, still the most potent and important musical expression, a chance to go on an aural journey that keeps you engaged from start to finish. That flies in the face of conventional wisdom about limited attention spans in the streaming world, but the significant number of albums that continue to come out shows that’s how artists prefer to pursue their craft.

That was certainly the case during the past 12 months, and 2025 welcomed so many good and, yes, great, albums that the annual ritual of picking the best is never easy. But after careful consideration and some (pleasurable) relistening, these were unquestionably our dozen favorites for the year, all works that are rewarding every time you listen to them.

Clipse, “Let God Sort Em Out” (self-released): The rap duo’s long road back — 16 years between albums — reaches a triumphant destination with this 13-track set. The chemistry between Pusha T and Malice is as tight as ever, and reuniting with Pharrell Williams to produce had us partying like it was the 2000s once again — with Kendrick Lamar, Nas, John Legend, Tyler, the Creator and others on the guest list.

Alice Cooper, “The Revenge of Alice Cooper” (earMUSIC): The event tends to be greater than the quality in these kinds of reunions — in this case, the original Cooper band’s first full album since 1973. But periodic recording since 2011 has honed the surviving quartet to this point. The songs and playing stand up to those classic 1970s records, and the magic of technology even allows the late Glen Buxton to be part of a couple of tracks.

De La Soul, “Cabin in the Sky” (AOI/Mass Appeal): Another welcome hip-hop return. Nine years and one death (Trugoy the Dove) later, this is still a special and forward-looking troupe that fills its ninth studio album with high conscience and advanced intent. Sporting sharp production, tough rhymes and a who’s-who list of collaborators, the 20-track set more than lives up to the designation of Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It … series.

Dropkick Murphys, “For the People” (Dummy Luck): After two previous albums of songs set to unused Woody Guthrie lyrics, Boston’s Celtic punk lords stay on target and deliver the right album for the times — ferocious anthems of resistance (and some personal reflections) that feature guest appearances by Billy Bragg, the Mary Wallopers and the scratch. Vocalist Al Barr is back for one track, too.

Florence + the Machine, “Everybody Scream” (Polydor): Florence Welch is no stranger to turning personal turmoil into anthems of resilience and joy, and we get more of the same on album number six. With songs inspired by an ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage, Welch and her crew — including collaborators Aaron Dessner of the National and Mark Bowen of Ides — stir a wealth of emotions and mystical perspectives into life-affirming catharsis that brings everybody out better on the other end.

Lord Huron, “The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1” (Mercury): The Michigan-formed, now Los Angeles-based indie rock group hits a new peak on this semi-conceptual 12-track work, with some of Ben Schneider’s most evocative songwriting (and vocals) and collaborations with actor (and fellow Michigander) Kristen Stewart and Blonde Redhead’s Kauz Makino.

Pulp, “More” (Rough Trade): It’s been 24 years since the British group’s last studio album (sensing a theme for the year here?), but it really sounds like no time has passed. While Oasis was ruling on the road, Jarvis Cocker and company brought another wing of Britpop back with these 11 songs (as well as the group’s on tour), all of which stand alongside the best of Pulp’s previous work.

Addison Rae, “Addison” (As Long As I’m Dancing/Columbia): The actress and TikToker has been dropping musical bon mots since 2021, but her first full album shows a fully developed talent that’s maybe a little bit smarter than her pop peers, but still just as much fun when it needs to be. “Fame Is a Gun,” as she sings, and Rae’s aim is absolutely true.

Ketch Secor, “Story the Crow Told Me” (Equal Housing/Firebird Music): The Old Crow Medicine Show leader goes out on his own for the first time and delivers a winning 12-song effort rooted in tradition, but made modern in its delivery. Secor plays more than a dozen instruments himself, as is his wont, and welcomes contributions from Marty Stuart, Jaren Johnston of the Cadillac Three, Old Crow mates Critter Fuqua and Willie Watson, and Molly Tuttle, returning the favor for her latest album.

Sparks, “Mad!” (Transgressive): The Mael brothers follow “Annette — An Opera by Sparks” with their 26th studio album and 12 songs that, per usual, deftly balance quirk with pathos and melodic sensibilities that are at once classic and idiosyncratic. Fifty-four years in Ron and Russell have their own lane, and they haven’t run out of road yet.

Turnstile, “Never Enough” (Roadrunner): The hardcore quintet from Baltimore takes the format in bold new directions on its fourth studio album, and first with guitarist Meg Mills. It’s daring stuff — flute solos, anybody? — that never ceases to work and yields fresh flavors on every listen.

Molly Tuttle, “So Long Little Miss Sunshine” (Nonesuch): The California-born singer, guitarist, banjoist and songwriter is among those taking bluegrass and Americana in new directions, with abundant songwriting, instrumental and vocal assistance from Ketch Secor throughout her fifth studio album. And be assured, you never heard the Icona Pop/Charli XCX hit “I Love It” quite like this.

12 others that we liked a lot

Bad Bunny, “Debi Tirar Mas Fotos” (Rimas Entertainment); Jon Batiste, “Big Money” (Naht Jona/Verve); The Black Keys, “No Rain, No Flowers” (Easy Eye Sound); David Byrne, “Who Is the Sky?” (Matador); Ethan Daniel Davidson, “Cordelia” (Blue Arrow); Olivia Dean, “The Art of Loving” (Capitol); Don Was & the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, “Groove in the Face of Adversity” (Mack Avenue); Geese, “Getting Killed” (Partisan/Play It Again Sam); Kendall Jane Meade, “Space” (Mother West); Mavis Staples, “Sad and Beautiful World” (Anti-); Jeff Tweedy, “Twilight Override” (dBpm); Wolf Alice, “The Clearing” (RCA/Columbia)

Our 25 favorite concerts of 2025

Guster, Jan. 29, Majestic Theatre

Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve, March 8, Michigan Theatre

Chiodos, March 20, Royal Oak Music Theatre

Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, March 25, Masonic Temple Cathedral Theatre

Kraftwerk, March 28, Masonic Cathedral Theatre

The War and Treaty, March 29, Saint Andrew’s Hall

Jack White, April 12-13, Masonic Temple Theatre

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, April 19, Masonic Temple Theatre

Gang Of Four, May 7, The Magic Bag

Devo, June 28, Fillmore Detroit

Weird Al Yankovic, July 2, Pine Knob Music Theatre

Wu-Tang Clan, July 8, Little Caesars Arena

Vince Gill, July 24, Fox Theatre

Katy Perry, Aug. 3, Little Caesars Arena

Rufus Du Sol, Aug. 5, Pine Knob Music Theatre

Lord Huron, Aug. 9, Meadow Brook Music Festival

Nine Inch Nails, Aug. 22, Little Caesars Arena

Jason Moran, Jeff Mills and Jessica Care Moore, Aug. 29, Detroit Jazz Festival

Pulp, Sept. 17, Masonic Temple Theatre

Tedeschi Trucks Band and Gov’t Mule, Sept. 20, Pine Knob Music Theatre

Don Was & the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, Oct. 11, Majestic Theatre

Jon Batiste, Oct. 24, Fox Theatre

David Byrne, Oct. 25, Fox Theatre

Chris Isaak, Dec.16, Fox Theatre

Design students in LTU’s College of Architecture and Design will exhibit their product design work at Ann Arbor’s pop-up CultureVerse Gallery through Jan. 5, 2026.

The exhibition is titled “Artists & Their Teachers: The Power of Mentorship in the Transfer of Ideas.”

The exhibition is unique for its focus on a variety of professional and emerging artists.

Junior Ashgen Lourdes Davish from Commerce Twp. and senior Sofia Eddy, from Bloomfield Hills are among five LTU students participating in the event.

College of Architecture and Design Interim Dean Lilian Crum said industry-sponsored studios like this one with Design Declassified, a sustainable building materials company, are invaluable to students.

“They provide real-world constraints, professional expectations, and collaborative opportunities that prepare students for the complexities of contemporary design practice,” she said. “This partnership challenged our students to design products while addressing adaptability, resilience, and environmental impact.”

They will be showcased at the May 2026 International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City.

Exhibition hours are Friday and Saturday, from 4 to 7 p.m., and by appointment through Jan. 5, 2026. Appointments may be arranged by contacting A2 Jazz Fest administrative director Anna Gersh.

The CultureVerse Gallery is located at 309 S. Main St., Ann Arbor.

Michigan football fans are expressing cautious optimism about reports that longtime Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is heading to Ann Arbor to lead the Wolverines program.

7 News Detroit visited several popular sports bars near the University of Michigan campus to gauge fan reaction to the news, which broke while most students are away for winter break.

See the full story in the video below

'Known to win.' Michigan fans share optimism over reported Kyle Whittingham hiring

"I have a deep connection to the university and the area, a lot of pride," said Charlie Widmaier, a Michigan alumnus and fan.

Fellow fan Jayden Maxwell echoed that sentiment, describing his lifelong connection to the program.

"Raised with it, came into it and now I'm a fan," Maxwell said.

Both fans described Whittingham as a "safe pick" for the program, citing his extensive experience and proven track record at Utah.

"He's a coach that's known to win and has been at a big program before," Maxwell said.

Widmaier praised the stability Whittingham could bring to the program.

"He brings stability... is a proven coach... has been at Utah for a long time, they've had success. Excited to see what he brings to the program," Widmaier said.

David Karl, who has been a Wolverines fan since childhood, expressed hope for the program's future under new leadership.

"That was a long time ago," Karl said with a laugh when asked about when his fandom began.

Both Karl and Widmaier hope Whittingham will employ similar tactics to those used by former head coach Jim Harbaugh, particularly in assembling strong offensive and defensive coordinator staffs.

"Heard that their offensive coordinator might be coming with them. They've had a good offense. Michigan mentality of ground and pound with some deviation. That would excite me," Widmaier said.

Fans particularly value Whittingham's 21 years of veteran coaching experience and hope he brings professionalism to the program.

"Experience can never be a bad thing," Maxwell said.

Widmaier noted the importance of stability following the departure of previous head coach Sherrone Moore.

"Especially with how our previous coach exited, we needed someone who was stable and proven," Widmaier said.

Maxwell emphasized the importance of having a coach who understands the pressures of leading a major program.

"We wanted someone who knew how to handle a big program, what pressure felt like. We have to put ourselves behind him with a coach that comes in, hankers down, takes care of the team and is committed to improving, growing and being a Michigan man," Maxwell said.

Whittingham is scheduled to play his final game with Utah on Wednesday.

The University of Michigan is declining to comment on his reported move to the program at this time.

"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 man was arrested after stabbing eight people and injuring seven others with what was believed to be bleach at a tire factory in central Japan on Friday, officials said. There was no immediate explanation of his motive.

Eight people were taken to hospitals after being stabbed by the man with a knife at a factory of the tiremaker Yokohama Rubber Co. in the city of Mishima, in the Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo, according to the Fujisan Nanto Fire Department.

The fire department told The Associated Press that five of the people who were stabbed were in serious condition but other details were not available. All were conscious while they were being transported to hospitals, media reports said.

Shizuoka prefectural police said the attacker, a 38-year-old man, was arrested for alleged attempted murder at the factory, but did not give further details.

The attacker is believed to be a former employee at the factory, Kyodo news agency said, quoting investigative sources.

The suspect was carrying a survival knife and wearing what appeared to be a gas mask, the major Japanese newspaper Asahi reported, citing investigators.

Seven others were also injured by the bleach thrown at them during the attack, and taken to hospitals for treatment, the fire department said.

Japan has strict gun control laws and is known for violent crimes being rare, but there have been a number of high-profile knife attacks in recent years.

A Palestinian attacker rammed his car into a man and then stabbed a young woman in northern Israel on Friday afternoon, killing both, police said. The Israeli military swiftly launched an operation in the assailant's hometown in the occupied West Bank.

The attack started in the northern city of Beit Shean when the Palestinian man rammed his vehicle into people, killing one man and injuring a teenage boy. He then drove off onto a highway, where he fatally stabbed the woman, and injured another person near the entrance to the city of Afula.

Authorities say the attacker was shot and injured in Afula. He was then taken to hospital; his condition was not immediately known.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the victims as Aviv Maor, a teenager, and Shimshon Mordechai, 68. Paramedics pronounced both dead at the scene.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that he was shocked by the horrific killing spree. He said that Israel was committed to reinforcing and strengthening this challenging border and, of course, to bolstering the security response in the area for the full safety of the residents.

The military enters attacker's hometown

Israel's military soon began amassing troops near the Palestinian town of Qabatiya, where Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the assailant was from. Later Friday, the military said that it conducted a precise operational search at the residence of the attacker, together with intelligence forces, and was preparing to demolish the residence.

The operation was ongoing in the area, the military said later in the evening.

Israeli forces blocked several roads around the town, where they entered several houses and positioned themselves around the attackers home, said the mayor, Ahmad Zakarneh. He added that residents had stocked up on supplies from bakeries and supermarkets after they were notified of the impending military operation.

Katz said that hed ordered troops to act forcefully and immediately against what he called terrorist infrastructure" in the town.

Anyone who aids or sponsors terrorism will pay the full price," he said.

RELATED NEWS | Israeli Cabinet approves 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank

A history of raids

It's common practice for Israel to launch raids in the West Bank towns that attackers come from or demolish homes belonging to the assailants families. Israel says that it helps to locate militant infrastructure and prevents future attacks. Rights watchdogs describe such actions as collective punishment.

Raids have been conducted in the area of Qabatiya, which is in the northern West Bank near the major city of Jenin, over the last few weeks.

On Dec. 20, Israel's military said that they killed a person in Qabatiya who hurled a block toward the soldiers. It later said that the killing was under review, after Palestinian media aired brief security footage in which the youth appears to emerge from an alley and is shot by troops as he approaches them without throwing anything.

The Israel-Hamas war, which began with the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 that killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza. It has also sparked a surge of violence in Israel and the West Bank, with a rise in attacks by Palestinian militants as well as Israeli settler violence against Palestinians.

In September, Palestinian attackers opened fire at a bus stop during the morning rush hour in Jerusalem, killing six people and wounding another 12, according to Israeli officials.