A new art museum in Detroit's Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood is fueling creativity in young people.
Organizers say the space, known as The RED, is the first museum in the city entirely dedicated to children's visual arts. For as long as she can remember, art has been a part of founder Yvette Rock's life.
Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report below: First children's visual arts museum opens in Detroit to fuel creativity, inspire young people
"As a little girl, art has always been a hobby of mine, an interest of mine and my parents really fostered that creativity," Rock said.
Her passion eventually led her to create Live Coal, a nonprofit in Detroit designed to improve lives and neighborhoods through art and education.
"Everybody really has some form of creativity in them and so for me, teaching it to children is just the way to draw that out from them," Rock said.
Now she is taking her mission to the next level. Rock recently opened The RED, a children's art museum and gallery on Grand River Avenue near West Outer Drive.
"When we go to a museum, we see artwork made by these amazing renowned artists. I thought, they were all once children too," Rock said.
Inside the museum, visitors can find artwork created by local youth, hands-on stations where young people can make their own pieces and an open art making studio.
"I hope people come out being like, I can come in and be creative and make art. Two, I can support youth in this city," Rock said.
Asa Smith is a 10th grader in Detroit who recently got into fashion design and says he has had a longtime love for art.
"A lot of emotions you can't really formulate when you're younger or a kid, so drawing and stuff like that and the different colors kind of helped me," Smith said.
He plans to use The Red as a hub for some of his work and knows it will be a valuable resource for others like himself.
"When you see someone your age or might go to the same school as you doing stuff like that, it's really inspirational," Smith said.
The RED is open to the public Thursdays through Saturdays. Wednesdays are available for school groups and tours.
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.
For months, the 7 Investigators have been looking into how your tax dollars are being spent in Michigans wealthiest county: Oakland County.
Weve exposed everything from highly paid public officials with lucrative side jobs to allegations of ethical violations.
Watch Heather Catallo's video report below: Official says Oakland County leaders refuse to meet on new sheriff contracts
Oakland County has consistently delayed getting us public records and now, one elected leader says the same thing is happening to him.
Orion Township supervisor says he, too, has had to file his own public records requests.
After the 7 Investigators asked Chris Barnett to sit down for an interview, he told 7 Investigator Heather Catallo how he was threatened to withdraw his public records request or else lose his chance to meet with Oakland County Executive Dave Coulters financial team.
Barnett says his fight for transparency started in 2024.
We are a customer no one has called us, no one has met with us, Barnett said during an Oakland County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee meeting in November 2024.
Barnett says he and other elected officials have been forced to communicate with county leadership by going to public comment during county meetings.
Ive been asking for this information for months and months, Barnett said during another finance committee meeting on March 25, 2026.
Barnett says hes had to visit public comment at least eight times recently to get answers from Coulter and County Commission Chair Dave Woodward.
If we could fire the county completely, we would do it. And I will tell you, to a point, there are probably at least 30 of the 62 municipalities that would do the same, if they could, Barnett told 7 Investigator Heather Catallo.
Barnett is not alone. In late 2024, other local leaders told commissioners and Coulters financial team that their lack of notice and transparency about a huge cost increase to their new sheriffs contracts was imploding their budgets.
Just like the assessing contract, just like the fire dispatch contract we got 35 days to make a decision. Were partners here. Were your customer here. We really feel youre doing us disfavor by cramming this down our throat, said Commerce Township Supervisor Larry Gray in 2024.
To suddenly come back and say there is no other option, seems tyrannical, Independence Township Supervisor Chuck Phule said back in 2024 as well.
This is one example in the last year and a half. There are five different times that the county has treated us unfairly and poorly. And the last thing I want to do no disrespect is to sit down with the news and do a story like this. I want them to be responsive to our needs, Barnett said.
Barnett says the 12 communities that contract with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office love the service the deputies provide. But Barnett says cities, villages and townships were promised new numbers about the actual sheriffs contract costs by the end of 2025 numbers Barnett says he needs in order to pass a new millage to pay for policing.
We just want the information. So what that means here in my community is my police millage has expired. I have to pass a new police millage. That's how we pay for our police services. And we have no idea, frankly, what we are asking our residents, Barnett said.
Barnett says a key point of contention is how much on top of the Consumer Price Index the county would charge townships like his. Coulters team recommended 2% on top of CPI.
Two percent. Thats the recommendation, said Oakland County Chief Financial Officer Brian Lefler during his teams presentation on the sheriffs contracts in 2024.
So our recommendation was CPI plus 2%, said Oakland County Deputy CFO Sheryl Johnson during the same meeting.
Woodward, D-Royal Oak, echoed Coulters team: In the future, CPI plus 2%.
But at the last minute, commissioners changed that 2%, instead voting to make it a CPI plus 6% increase.
Oakland County Commissioner Charlie Cavell, D-Ferndale, suggested the CPI plus 6% to cover rising health care costs. But that 6% jump shocked supervisors like Barnett.
Barnett says that could be a difference of $1 million for his community for Orions next police millage.
He also says local governments were promised an analysis of the actual 2025 costs to see if the county really needed that full 6% on top of CPI increase.
Frankly, they have kept us out of this process and they have not done, again, what they said they would do, Barnett said. They promised us they would have information to us in November with a true-up, what these costs actually were, because they cannot charge us more for the service than it cost them. So they're supposed to go through and say, did we guess right or did we guessed wrong? They did not do that in November, December, January I asked for an update. They promised me it'd be early February. Then the CFO from the county said February 23rd, we'll have that information to you, Barnett said.
He says he still does not have the information.
How long have you been asking for a meeting with Executive Coulter? Catallo asked.
Since November of 2024, when this first happened, said Barnett, who provided multiple text messages with Coulter to back that up.
Barnett says hes asked Coulter at least eight times for a meeting to get the actual costs for policing.
They have not performed. They point fingers at each other. Woodward says it's fiscal services who reports to the county executive. The county executive's team, Fiscal Services, says Dave Woodward, the chair the board, has to bless the rates, Barnett said. I've been threatened and I frankly am concerned about some of the opportunities and funding sources that come from the county if they will be harmed by me speaking out. But that said, I've had dozens of local leaders on both sides of the political aisle reach out to me and thank me for standing up. Because that's the way I was raised.
Barnett says now hes been forced to file a Freedom of Information Act request with Coulters staff to get access to the public records that show the actual cost for his sheriffs services.
The township supervisor says being forced to file a FOIA does not match Coulters recent announcements that the county will be more transparent following several 7 Investigations about county spending and top leaders having side jobs.
There is rising frustration. Someone is not doing their job. And at the end of the day, there are two people that are leading the county: A county executive, Dave Coulter, and a county board of commissioners, Dave Woodward, Barnett said. And at end of day, if their directors and their direct reports are mired with controversy and other jobs and other things, it's their responsibility to resolve those issues and hold people accountable. And I don't see that happening.
Late last week, Barnett says Coulter told him he could either have his meeting with Coulter and his team to go over the actual sheriffs contract costs, but only if Barnett withdrew his FOIA request.
Saying that crossed a line, Barnett said he wanted the public records request fulfilled. Shortly after that, Coulter canceled a previously scheduled meeting that had been set for Tuesday morning.
Executive Coulters Communications Director released this statement to us:
Oakland County values its relationship with Orion Township, including its longstanding contractual arrangement for the Oakland County Sheriffs Office to provide law enforcement services to keep the townships residents safe. "After a thorough review of prior contracts between the county and communities for law enforcement services provided by the Oakland County Sheriffs Office, the county determined that the rates that had been paid by those communities were lower than the countys costs for providing the services. This meant that in effect, communities with their own police departments were subsidizing costs for those which contract with the county those services. In 2024, the county Board of Commissioners adopted new rates to more closely align with anticipated costs."The County Executive never threatened Supervisor Barnett. He offered to provide the contractual rate information in either a meeting or a FOIA request and the supervisor chose FOIA, as is his right. Either way, the county has offered him the opportunity to discuss the information provided once he has reviewed it. While the supervisor continues to make baseless accusations, the county stands ready to provide him with all the financial information used to help set the rates."
The 7 Investigators asked Recinto why the county is saying its ready to provide the information but instead canceled the Tuesday meeting, where the information was supposed to be provided. We have not received an answer to that question.
If you have a story for Heather Catallo please email her at hcatallo@wxyz.com
After weeks of war-driven pressure on fuel prices and supply chains, some businesses are starting to pass those higher costs along to consumers via new fees or through other, less obvious changes.
Companies tend to look for ways to get more out of what they already have first, like packing more into each shipment or combining orders into a single delivery, said Rahul Shahani, a partner at McKinsey leading the companys North American supply chain practice. Over time, those higher costs still show up in subtle ways like higher free shipping minimums, fewer discounts, smaller package sizes, or slower delivery.
Jet fuel is one of the biggest inputs for airlines, accounting for around 25% of costs. In the United States, it has spiked by 95% since the war began, according to the Argus US Jet Fuel Index, published by Airlines for America. Additionally, due to closures at some Middle East airports, some airlines are having to take longer routes, requiring more fuel.
The reality is, jet fuel prices have more than doubled in the last three weeks. If prices stayed at this level, it would mean an extra $11 billion in annual expense just for jet fuel, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said in a March 20 memo to employees. For perspective, in Uniteds best year ever, we made less than $5 billion, he added.
For now, heres where customers are seeing breakout fuel surcharges.
Amazon
Amazon announced a temporary 3.5% fuel- and logistics-related surcharge for third-party sellers that use their shipping and return services, going into effect later this month. Amazon said last year that these sellers have shipped more than 80 billion products using its fulfillment services.
A company spokesperson did not specify what criteria would need to be met before the surcharge could be removed, but said it would be in place for the foreseeable future.
In order to offset that surcharge, some sellers may opt to raise prices. But shoppers on the site arent currently being hit directly with a fuel surcharge.
Delta
Following the lead of other airlines, Delta announced on Tuesday a $10 increase for the cost of checking a first and second bag, bringing the price to $45 and $55, respectively.
These updates are part of Deltas ongoing review of pricing across its business and reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics, a Delta spokesperson said in a statement to CNN.
JetBlue
The airline announced last week it would be raising its fees for checked baggage.
Fees have increased by between $4 and $9, depending on flight times, according to its website. For example, the cost of one checked bag has increased from $35 to $39 during off-peak times and $40 to $49 for flights during peak times, which is typically around holidays and the entirety of summer.
A JetBlue spokesperson tied the charge directly to rising operating costs. Adding the fee for an optional service prevents the airline from raising overall fares, a spokesperson told CNN in a statement. The spokesperson did not indicate if the fee was temporary.
Like JetBlue, United Airlines announced it would be increasing the cost of checked baggage. As of April 3, the airline started charging $10 extra for the first and second pieces of luggage, raising the price to $45 for the first and $55 for the second if purchased online 24 hours before the flight.
USPS
The US Postal Service on March 25 said it is implementing its first-ever fuel surcharge on packages, citing increased transportation costs.
The 8% surcharge is temporary and will only apply to packages, not letter mail, according to a press release from USPS. Consumers and businesses will start seeing the fee on April 26.
The USPS said the surcharge will remain in place until at least January 17, 2027, at which time the Postal Service can determine if a different long-term approach is needed, according to its website.
UPS, FedEx and other shippers
Long before the war with Iran, UPS, FedEx and other major shipping companies have had automatic fuel charges that kick in when fuel prices hit a certain threshold.
For instance, a fuel surcharge of 21.5% kicks in for FedEx Ground and home deliveries when diesel prices hit at least $3.55 a gallon. As of April 6, FedEx charged a 26.5% surcharge, which is based on the national average for a gallon of diesel for the week prior as posted by the US Energy Information Administration.
Shippers like Maersk have also tacked on additional fees not only to offset oil prices themselves but the higher costs involved with sourcing them and covering longer routes, especially throughout parts of the Middle East.
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Republican Clay Fuller will try to close the deal with Georgia voters on Tuesday to succeed Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress, while Democrat Shawn Harris seeks an upset.
Harris led a first round of voting on March 10 with 37% in the district that stretches across 10 counties from suburban Atlanta to Tennessee. While Fuller came in second in the 17-candidate all-party special election with 35%, the Republican candidates combined won nearly 60% of the vote. The 14th District is rated as the most Republican-leaning district in Georgia by the Cook Political Report.
President Donald Trump in February endorsed Fuller, a district attorney who prosecuted crimes in four counties, to succeed Greene in Georgias 14th Congressional District. Greene, once among Trumps most ardent supporters, resigned in January after falling out with the president.
Fuller has backed Trump to the hilt, finding no issue on which he disagreed with the president when asked in a March 23 debate.
We need an America First fighter to stand strong for northwest Georgia," Fuller said March 23. He was a White House fellow in the first Trump administration and is a lieutenant colonel in the Georgia Air National Guard.
Trump reiterated his support for Fuller on Monday night.
"I am asking all Republicans, America First Patriots, and MAGA Warriors, to please GET OUT AND VOTE for a fantastic Candidate, Clay Fuller, who has my Complete and Total Endorsement!" the president wrote on social media.
Harris, a cattle farmer and retired general who lost to Greene in 2024, has contrasted himself with Greenes bomb-throwing style. He said he's a dirt-road Democrat" with common sense, and practical-minded Republicans should vote for him because he will focus on the district's interest.
He has sold his soul to Donald Trump," Harris said of Fuller on March 23. "The reality of it is he cannot fight for you because he cannot go against the president.
The winner will serve out the remaining months of Greenes term. A Republican win would bolster the partys slim majority in the House, where Republicans control 217 seats to Democrats 214, with one independent.
But if the winner wants to remain in Congress beyond January, he will have to run again. Republicans seeking a full two-year term are set for a May 19 party primary, and possibly a June 16 party runoff, before advancing to the general election in November. Harris is the only Democrat running, meaning he faces no primary election.
Greene was one of the most well-known members of Congress until she left in January. She remained loyal to Trump after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, promoting Trumps falsehoods about a stolen election. When Trump ran again in 2024, she toured the country with him and spoke at his rallies while wearing a red Make America Great Again hat.
But Greene began clashing with Trump last year after he and other Republicans pushed back against her running for U.S. Senate or governor. Greene criticized Trumps foreign policy and his reluctance to release documents involving the Jeffrey Epstein case. The president eventually had enough, saying he would support a primary challenge against her. Greene announced a week later that she would resign.
Bahamian police are searching for a 56-year-old Lenawee County woman who went missing at sea after falling overboard from a small boat near Elbow Cay.
Lynette Hooker was on an 8.5-foot dinghy boat with her husband, Brian, heading back to their yacht Saturday evening when they hit bad weather. Brian told police his wife fell into the ocean with the key to the boat, shutting off the engine.
Watch Whitney Burney's video report below: Daughter of Lenawee County woman missing in the Bahamas speaks out
Brian reported Hooker missing at 4 a.m. Easter Sunday after paddling back to land.
"The story is that she fell off with the key and he threw her a life jacket or something and she was swimming towards shore, but I dont understand why she was swimming away from the boat with the key," Karli Aylesworth said.
Related Story: Lenawee County woman missing in Bahamas after going overboard Lenawee County woman missing in Bahamas after going overboard
Aylesworth is Hooker's daughter and lives on the west side of the state. She said boating was a lifelong dream for her mother and stepfather, who have been together 25 years and sailing for the last decade. The couple documented their travels on Instagram as recently as April 3.
Watch our extended interview with Karli Aylesworth below: Extended interview: Hear from daughter of Lenawee County woman who went missing in the Bahamas
The search is now in its third day. Police have found some of Hooker's belongings in the water.
"I guess today they did find the flotation device. I dont know what that means now," Aylesworth said. "The longer it goes, the more doubt I have that theyll find her. I think that theyll find her at the bottom of the ocean cause I dont think you can tread water for that long. But Im just hoping they find her so I can know what happened and get some closure," Aylesworth said.
Aylesworth says the last few days have been incredibly challenging. She says she's speaking to as many media outlets as possible in hopes of putting pressure on police and other officials to do all they can to locate Hooker.
"I feel pretty numb right now. The shock is starting to wear off, and the sadness hits me in waves right now, but Im surviving," Aylesworth said. "I hope they dont stop looking until they find her."
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. Where Your Voice Matters
As the war in Iran continues to limit shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, humanitarian groups say things like fertilizer for farmers, aid supplies and food has also been cut off slowing response efforts to crises around the globe.
"What we now have to face with is not just a spike in humanitarian need in the Middle East in Iran and Lebanon, in particular, where civilians are bearing the hardest brunt of the conflict," said Ciaran Donnelly, senior vice president of crisis response, recovery, and development at the International Rescue Committee (IRC). "But also a knock-on effect in crisis zones around the world."
Donnelly says those crisis zones include Sudan, Yemen and Ukraine, as well as many others. As the work continues with no end in sight, groups like the IRC struggle to distribute aid as they're faced with costly alternative routes or supplies stuck in limbo.
"In Dubai we have supplies ... to provide health care for about 20,000 people in Sudan," Donnelly said. "Those supplies are stuck in Dubai. We're not able to get them shipped. We have food supplies in India that are destined for Somalia enough to save lives of over 1,000 malnourished children. We're not able to get those shipped."
The IRC says these constraints caused by the Iran war are creating a "ticking food security timebomb." If the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened soon, the group estimates there could be a "sharp rise" in world hunger by June.
Sam Vigersky is an international affairs fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and he said the blockade is impacting people already on the brink of starvation.
"If the conflict escalates or continues into June, that would be an all-time record of people just on the food security side and that's the global level," Vigersky said.
"The longer this crisis goes on, the deeper and wider the impact is going to be," Donnelly added.
More than 300 million people around the globe currently face a hunger crisis, according to the World Food Programme. That number could balloon by an estimated 45 million people if the conflict in the Middle East continues.
Detroit police are searching for auto thieves that recently targeted Chevy Blazers on the city's east side. Sources told 7 News Detroit the vehicles are sought after for their high-value parts.
Surveillance video captured the moment suspects smashed their way into a 2025 Chevy Blazer. Kenyonia Leveston said a couple of thieves broke into her SUV and drove off with it Easter morning.
"I was like, wow. He got his Crocs in sports mode and he's taking my car, like what the heck. He doesn't even care he don't even care to put on gym shoes. He can't even steal it with class," Leveston said.
Leveston said her year-old vehicle was stolen from her driveway early Sunday. Officers told her the Blazer is currently a top target.
"Not this particular year car. It's just the Blazer entirely. So he (police) was just saying that they're targeting this car and the Grand Cherokee," Leveston said.
Watch the surveillance video below: Video shows car stolen from Detroit driveway
The very next day, thieves targeted another Blazer about a mile from Leveston's home. The owner said it was only in the driveway for 15 minutes before a man smashed the window. Once inside, an accomplice helped push the SUV before it and a getaway vehicle sped off.
"Same guy with the same Crocs on back in sports mode stealing again," Leveston said. "Yes, these are the same people. They're all connected."
Detroit police have not confirmed a connection, but auto theft sources told me Blazers are targeted because their parts are often worth more than the vehicle itself.
Retired Detroit Police Department Assistant Chief Steve Dolunt explained the black-market demand.
"If you own a collision shop and you're legit, you're getting legit parts from dealers. But if you're not legit, you buy them from me or from you, whoever off the street at a fraction of the cost, charge the consumer the full price, and they don't know," Dolunt said.
Anyone with information about the SUV thefts or who recognizes the people in the video is asked to call the Detroit Police Department Commercial Auto Theft Unit at 313-596-2555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
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.
Michigan does not currently participate in a federal program that gives tax breaks to people for donating money to nonprofits that award scholarships for tutoring and private school tuition. Governor Whitmer is weighing whether to opt into the federal initiative.
If adopted, taxpayers in Michigan would receive a $1,700 tax break parents could use for private school tuition, tutors or after school programs.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon recently stopped in Hamtramck to promote the program.
Detroit Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti says the program might help kids on an individual basis,“But I would just continue to say, you know, as a nation, we have to think about at scale investments. How do we improve institutions that benefit the majority of our children, not isolated improvement?”
Teachers unions and Democratic lawmakers have expressed concern that the program would funnel money into private schools, and away from public schools and their students.
Vitti says funding public schools should be the priority. “I’d rather see us use taxpayer dollars and not decrease taxpayer dollars in investing in large scale systems that benefit the majority of American children, not individual children or families.”
Right now, people in Michigan can still make the donation and get the tax break; however, students in the state would not be eligible for the scholarships. Using public money for private schools is prohibited by the state constitution.
Gasoline prices surged overnight. AAA said Michigan drivers paid an average of $4.01 for a gallon of regular unleaded this morning. That’s 15 cents higher than it was yesterday. The national average is $4.14 a gallon, the highest in almost 4 years.
GasBuddy petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan says escalations between the U.S. and Iran have intensified concerns about disruptions in oil shipments. He adds prices will likely remain high until Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an order last week allowing Michigan gas stations to sell cheaper winter fuel blends through the end of June.
Delta expands flights to Europe
Delta Air Lines is expanding flights from Metro Airport to Europe. The Detroit Free Press reports Delta will offer daily service to Rome in November and March, allowing passengers to take advantage of off-peak travel.
Public Health Week
It’s Public Health Week in Detroit. The city’s health department is offering free services including health screenings, immunizations, lead testing, and overdose prevention resources.
Chief Public Health Officer Ali Abazeed says health department staff will host free events through Saturday at various community centers. The goal is to make it easier for residents to get health care by bringing it to them.
Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
Support local journalism.
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Delta Air Lines announced Tuesday it will raise its fees for checked baggage, joining several other domestic airlines that have raised prices as oil and jet fuel costs climb due to the war in Iran.
Starting on Wednesday, fees for first and second checked bags on most flights will increase by $10. The fee to check a third bag will increase by $50. The total cost for first, second and third checked bags will be $45, $55 and $200.
These updates are part of Deltas ongoing review of pricing across its business and reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics, Delta said in a statement.
Airlines have felt immediate pressure from the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East, where one fifth of global oil traffic has been largely cut off. Several carriers have now announced steeper bag fees.
United Airlines said it will increase fees for first and second checked bags by $10 for tickets purchased starting Friday, April 3. The higher prices apply to travel within the U.S., as well as routes to Mexico, Canada and Latin America.
Meanwhile, JetBlue has also raised its checked bag fees, with changes taking effect earlier this week. For most domestic economy passengers, the first checked bag now costs $39, up from $35. During peak travel periods, that fee increases to $49.
One of Oakland County Executive David Coulters top deputies has stepped down following several 7 News Detroit investigations.
Deputy County Executive Sean Carlson says hes leaving to run for state Senate in the 13th District.
Watch Heather Catallo's video report below: Oakland County top leader, subject of 7 investigations, steps down for campaign
The 7 Investigators have recently exposed questions about Carlsons expenses charged to Oakland County taxpayers, and his role with his outside company in addition to his highly paid county job.
Related Story: Oakland County senior leader under fire for global trips, mileage at taxpayers' expense Oakland County senior leader under fire for global trips, mileage at taxpayers' expense
In December, the 7 Investigators revealed how Carlson owns Procurement Consulting Group LLC. PCG has multi-million-dollar contracts with neighboring Wayne County, as well as deals with other cities like Pontiac where Carlson has been overseeing the countys massive redevelopment plan.
Carlson earned $230,099.22 a year as a Deputy Oakland County Executive. He told the 7 Investigators he disclosed his company to County Executive Coulter when he was hired. Carlson said owning PCG was not a conflict of interest, even though he oversaw Oakland Countys procurement division.
When the 7 Investigators received tips about how Carlson spends county money, we filed public records requests for his expense reports.
Those reports show the Deputy County Executive was a frequent flyer, traveling to Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, Qatar, Oman, UAE, as well as Las Vegas, Denver, Tampa, Boston, Milwaukee, Washington, DC, and San Jose.
Related Story: Advantage or conflict? Oakland County senior leader's private business deals in question Advantage or conflict? Oakland Co. senior leaders private business in question
We reviewed county records from May 2022 until August 2025. During that time, Carlson charged the taxpayers $46,394.82 for travel, mileage, and meals.
In November of 2022, Carlson and Executive Coulter traveled to Sweden and Germany on a trade mission. Their expense reports show a total $4,855.26.
The taxpayers later spent $4788.50 to send Carlson to London for a trade show that he says brought international companies to Michigan. While in London, public records show he stayed in a 5-star hotel, St. Jamess Hotel and Club in Mayfair.
Carlson says as the head of Economic Development for the county, the travel was a key part of bringing in new jobs.
We have 76 of the top 100 Tier 1 suppliers located, in regards to global OEM parts right here in Oakland County So that really speaks to the R&D and the mobility. And so, we try to be very strategic and targeted. It's important for the taxpayers to understand that we have a budget of $170,000 for business recruitment and our return on investment is $217 to $1, said Carlson.
When hes not flying, records show Carlson racked up the miles across Michigan, getting reimbursed $7502.12 for the miles he drove in his personal car during the 39 months of records reviewed.
Internal county memos show that Oakland County employees are encouraged to save money by using a county vehicle, especially for trips in excess of 42 miles.
Knowing that we have county vehicles that are readily availablethat is a very clear and clean-cut example of wasteful spending, said Oakland County Commissioner Kristen Nelson (D-Waterford).
Even though county reimbursement regulations state, no mileage will be reimbursed for travel between an employees domicile and his/her workstation," Carlsons records routinely show mileage reimbursement from his home in Commerce Township to work meetings around Michigan.
The deputy county executive billed mileage for travel from his home to sites in Detroit, Wyandotte, and even Mackinaw City, when mileage from the county offices in Waterford would have cost taxpayers less.
Carlson said he did not know his assistants were billing his mileage from home, even though his signature is on expense reports the 7 Investigators reviewed.
I thought we were doing it the correct way, said Carlson.
Carlson said all the mileage was for county business, but his reports lack detail about what type of business was conducted.
Our meetings were taken on behalf of Oakland County, but I understand what you're saying. It looks as if, okay, well, what meeting are you having? What meeting is this? said Carlson.
Carlson also regularly charges mileage to the taxpayers to attend meetings at his private club, the Detroit Athletic Club. In all, Carlson billed mileage to the DAC at least 45 times, often charging for travel from his home. The DAC is more than 40 miles from Carlsons home, and about 32 miles from county offices.
Should the taxpayers really have to pay for all of your back and forth there? asked Catallo.
Id like to understand and maybe get the report to see how many back and forths there are there. But I certainly have gone there to conduct meetings. There's no doubt about that. But I hear the point that you're making, said Carlson.
Agendas from some of his DAC meetings show, in the fall of 2023, Carlson hosted Oakland County Commission Chair Dave Woodward for Pontiac redevelopment meetings with developers, real estate executives, and even James Esshaki, who was later appointed to the Road Commission of Oakland County. Carlson said the meetings were to encourage people to bid on the Pontiac redevelopment project thats expected to cost taxpayers at least $370 million.
If you feel a need to entertain them in order to get them to bid, why are you doing it at a place that's not in Oakland County? asked Catallo.
Given the importance and the gravitas of this project, I felt it was appropriate, said Carlson.
After the 7 Investigators started asking questions about expenses, the county announced that Carlson would pay about $500 back in mileage expenses.
Carlson also oversaw IT for the county. The IT department came under fire in 2025 when the county approved a $450,000 IT staffing contract for ZaydLogix LLC, which was owned by a current county employee.
After a whistleblower sent an email to county leadership last summer alleging government employees were using their position for personal gain, county officials spent $17,836 on an outside law firm, Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone to investigate.
The contract was cancelled before any money was paid, but Miller Canfield found that awarding the contract to a current county employee broke state law and violated county rules.
County Executive David Coulters legal team has only released a summary of the Miller Canfield report; they have so far refused to release the actual investigation to both the public and to County Commissioners.
If Carlson wins his state senate seat, he will be taking a significant pay cut: state senators earn $71,685.
Im so grateful for Seans leadership and all he has done on behalf of the countys residents, small and emerging businesses, veterans and employees. When Sean shared with me that he was going to run for State Senate, he also made it clear that he was going to leave the county this year to campaign full time. I wish him much success in his next chapter, said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter in a statement sent to the 7 Investigators.
Carlson also issued a statement to the 7 investigators on Tuesday afternoon, saying:
"Today marks my last day with the Coulter Administration. I am running full-time for State Senate, carrying forward the mission of service that has defined my last 6.5 years.I am deeply grateful to County Executive Coulter and the residents of Oakland County for their confidence in my leadership. Im incredibly proud of what my teams and I achieved: supporting 15,000 small businesses during COVID, attracting $1.5 billion in investment, and helping thousands of veterans access the benefits they deserve.I look forward to bringing this results-driven leadership to Lansing."
The primary for the state Senate is August 4, 2026.
If you have a story for Heather Catallo please email her at hcatallo@wxyz.com
After the Michigan Wolverines won the National Championship in men's basketball for the first time in 37 years, fans flocked to get new merchandise to celebrate.
Watch Glenda's video report below Michigan national championship swag hits the shelves
Alumni and freshmen alike were in Rally House Ann Arbor, getting their gear to commemorate the team.
"It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine!" one fan told me. "We waited since 1989 for this, thankfully it happened. The whole town is buzzing, it's phenomenal."
"I was at my sister's house, had a watch party at her place," one freshman student told me, recounting where he was when Michigan won the National Championship. "The second we won, I ran straight to South U and that was just electric."
Rally House has been the home of the Wolverine rally cry on South Street today, as merchandise commemorating this incredible moment flies off the shelves.
"We re-opened last night with two shirts out once the clock hit zero, we opened the doors, a lot of students were running around but we had them getting shirts right away," general store manager DeArron Haygood told me. "We are really having a party in here, Michigan men's basketball national champions, how can you not be excited?"
While we all witnessed Dusty May and his team make history on Monday night on the court, one second-year Master's student and a graduate of the athletic training program, got to see the hard work first-hand behind the scenes.
"This is what we work for as athletic training students," she said. "We go in every day, we see them, we see the ups and the downs, we just pick up the pieces. It has been one of the longest seasons ever, but it has also been so rewarding and so fulfilling, and I was just so thankful to be a part of it.
A few fans we talked to came straight to buy merch after leaving Indianapolis this morning, following the victory.
"We drove back this morning, because it was a pretty good party in Indianapolis, so we didn't want to get on the road last night, so we just got back," one uncle told me.
"This is not going to be a responsible financial day at all," his nephew told me. "But when you wait 37 years, it's a long time coming, lot of heartbreak, you have 1992, 1993, 2013, 2018, 0-4 in final games. Finally, to get one to go, we made the investment to go up there as a family to witness, and it was nip-tuck until the end, and it was well worth it.
Watch more of our National Championship coverage Brad Galli recaps Michigan's win over UConn in the National Championship game Michigan Wolverines celebrate National Championship Michigan fans celebrate NCAA championship win
Detroit’s police department has been collecting wins. Homicides in 2025 hit their lowest point since 1965. Carjackings dropped by nearly half.
But over the past two weeks, another picture has emerged from inside the department’s own forensic operation.
At recent Board of Police Commissioners meetings, former forensic technicians came forward to describe conditions within the Crime Scene Services unit. What they described raises questions about safety, evidence handling, and whether the integrity of criminal cases has been compromised.
A state workplace safety agency has already cited the unit. A resident has sent those findings to city councilmembers, police commissioners, and the Wayne County Prosecutor. And a commissioner who tried to visit the facility says she had to wait two weeks — and was still unsatisfied with what she saw.
Noah Kincade coordinates the Detroit Documenters program at Outlier Media. He joined Robyn Vincent to discuss conditions inside the Detroit Police Department’s Crime Scene Services unit and the response from community members and stakeholders.
Editor’s Note: The Detroit Police Department is pursuing accreditation from the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police. The broadcast version of this story said the accreditation was national.
Hear the full conversation using the media player above.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday the U.S. would suspend its attacks against Iran for two weeks if Iran agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz.
"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," Trump wrote on social media.
The message comes less than two hours before President Trumps deadline for Iran to reach an agreement or face widespread destruction.
"We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," President Trump continued. "Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated."
Iran's Supreme National Security Council accepted the terms of the agreement shortly afterward. It said Iran would begin additional negotiations with the U.S. in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday.
"It is emphasized that this does not signify the termination of the war," the body said in its statement. "Our hands remain upon the trigger, and should the slightest error be committed by the enemy, it shall be met with full force."
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said in a further statement:
1. If attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran cease, our powerful armed forces will also cease their defensive attacks. 2. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible in coordination with the Iranian armed forces, taking into account existing technical limitations
As Tuesday's deadline approached, a proposal to pause the fighting between the U.S. and Iran emerged.
Pakistans prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, said negotiations are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully and could produce results soon. Earlier on Tuesday, he urged Trump to extend his 8 p.m. deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to continue.
Sharif also called on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for the same two-week period as a goodwill gesture and urged all sides to observe a temporary ceasefire.
The White House acknowledged the proposal, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying, The president has been made aware of the proposal, and a response will come.
Trump had warned that a whole civilization will die tonight if an agreement is not reached by his deadline. He has not clarified what he meant by that threat, but has previously said the U.S. would target bridges and power plants if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
On Tuesday, the U.S. struck military targets on Iran's Kharg Island, a key export hub for fossil fuels. Israel struck certain railways and bridges elsewhere in Iran. But a major new offensive against the country appears to have been averted.
Iran has accused Trump of threatening war crimes, and vowed to retaliate if the U.S. follows through, saying potential strikes could target not only military sites but also civilian infrastructure in the region.
Any escalation could also be felt at home, as Americans face global uncertainty and the prospect of higher fuel prices. The Energy Information Administration, the statistical and analytical arm of the U.S. Department of Energy, has acknowledged the uncharted territory of a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Just as we had never before seen the strait close, weve never seen it reopen, said Tristan Abbey, administrator of the Energy Information Administration. What exactly that looks like remains to be seen. Full restoration of flows will take months. Our modeling indicates that fuel prices will continue to rise until these variables resolve.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $4.14 as of Tuesday, according to AAA. Thats about 70 cents higher than a month ago.
Details have been released for the parade and rally to celebrate the 2026 University of Michigan Men's Basketball National Championship on the school's campus.
Watch our Darren Cunningham's video report when the team arrived back on campus: National champions return to Michigan's campus
The celebration will kick off on Saturday with a parade across campus beginning at 10:00 a.m. It will start at the President's House, make its way down State Street, and end at Yost Ice Arena. Officials say fans should plan to line South University Drive outside the President's House west to the Student Union and south down State Street to Yost Ice Arena. Streets for the parade route will be closed at 8:00 a.m. Those planning on attending should use the parking structures around campus, including those on Thompson Street, Maynard, Thayer, and Forest Avenue.
The parade will be followed at 1:00 p.m. with a ticketed event at Crisler Center. Eligible students, season ticket holders, and donors with 500 or more priority points will be contacted by the Michigan Athletic Ticket Office via email starting Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Reserved seats are $30 for the upper bowl and $75 for the lower bowl, with all proceeds going to the Champions Circle to directly benefit Michigan's student-athletes. Student tickets are $20, and those attendees will have access to the Maize Rage section within the arena.
Watch Glenda Lewis' video report of fans rushing to get championship merch: Michigan students, alumni and fans rush to get National Championship merch
If any tickets remain available, a general public ticket sale will take place Thursday at 5:00 p.m. through MGoBlue.com/Tickets. Doors at Crisler will open to ticket holders at noon on Saturday.
The championship celebration at Crisler will be televised live on the Big Ten Network. It will also stream on the Fox Sports App.
You can also get full coverage on 7 News Detroit and WXYZ.com.
A decade after he first took a knee during the national anthem, Colin Kaepernick will be publishing his life story.
The activist and former San Francisco 49ers quarterback has completed The Perilous Fight, to come out Sept. 15 through the Hachette Book Group imprint Legacy Lit. His memoir will come out almost exactly 10 years after he knelt before a preseason game, a protest against police violence and racial inequality that was emulated by some players and criticized by politicians, team owners and fans, some of whom booed him and burned his jersey.
Kaepernick, who has not played in the NFL since 2016, said in a statement that he wanted to offer context for what led to his taking a knee. Before that, he had remained seated during the anthem.
People saw the moment. But they didnt see the years that made it possible: the questions about who I was; the injustices I could no longer ignore; the voices of those who came before me that I carried into that stadium, Kaepernick said in a statement released Tuesday. That journey, from a Black kid navigating an identity the world didnt always make space for, to an athlete who realized the game was bigger than football, shaped everything. When I took a knee, it wasnt a sudden act.
Legacy Lit is calling the book equal parts memoir and manifesto, tracing the off-the-field battles that turned a single act of protest into a movement that changed American sports and culture forever. Kaepernick is narrating the audio edition, produced and to be sold exclusively by Audible.
Kaepernick, 38, played six years for the 49ers and helped lead them to an appearance in the Super Bowl in 2013. Baltimore won the game 34-31.
Kaepernick has spoken out often on social issues, launched his own publishing imprint and co-written the picture story We Are Free, You & Me and the graphic novel Change the Game.
When President Donald Trump took office, he promised to crack down on immigration. He’s done that.
Since January of 2025, at least 2,400 immigrants were arrested in Michigan alone. But President Trump and immigration officials are not following an orderly process. Officials are often skirting the law, or violating it.
This was visible months ago in Minneapolis, when masked ICE agents shot and killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti and thousands took to the streets. Here in Michigan, the work of ICE is harder to spot. But due to action in the courts, we’ve been learning more.
Federal judges recently ruled that hundreds of people in Michigan were unconstitutionally detained as they never had a chance of being released on bond.
For its part, the administration says it’s detaining the “worst of the worst.” But in many cases, non-citizens without a criminal record have been detained.
So, what do ICE arrests and detentions look like in metro Detroit? What are the stories of those who’ve been detained? How are local police involved in the work? And, who’s fighting back?
Violet Ikonomova is an investigative reporter for the Detroit Free Press. She spoke with The Metro‘s Robyn Vincent.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
The explosion of a fuel truck at the base of a bridge over the Panama Canal has left one person dead and prompted Panamanian authorities to close the span while firefighters investigate the accident and engineers assess the damage.
The blast on Panamas Bridge of the Americas took place about 4 p.m. on Monday, and security camera footage captured a massive fireball rising toward the top of the bridge that connects Panamas capital with an airport and numerous suburbs to the west. Several cars were on the bridge during the explosion but their drivers were not hurt by the flames.
Authorities said that one fuel truck worker died in the explosion. Two firefighters were injured as they extinguished the flames.
We have no confirmation of any other people injured, said Vctor Ral lvarez, director of Panamas Fire Department. He added that the investigation is in its early stages and that the cause of the explosion has not yet been determined.
Engineers warned the fire may have affected the integrity of the decades-old bridge, a key link between Panama City and the west of the country.
Panamas Public Works Ministry posted a video on social media Tuesday showing engineers surveying the site for structural damage. Meanwhile, Panamas President Jos Ral Mulino took to X to warn that the closing of the bridge would cause disruption and said We hope to return to normal as soon as possible.
The Bridge of the Americas is a structure that is over 60 years old. Due to the effects of the fire, if the metal structure was subjected to excessively high temperatures, it may have sustained damage, said Edwin Lewis, an engineer at the ministry.
Specialized teams were conducting evaluations of concrete and metal components. Officials said the bridge would remain closed until its safety can be confirmed.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will not be far away when World Cup games are played in Canada, the CBC reported.
The report comes amid questions about ICEs involvement in the World Cup after the agency deployed agents to Italy for the Olympics.
According to the CBC, ICE agents will not be permitted to carry weapons or make arrests. Instead, they will work with Canadian authorities on joint investigations involving narcotics, weapons smuggling and human trafficking.
The agents will be from the agencys Homeland Security Investigations branch. HSI has offices in five Canadian cities where the U.S. maintains consulates, including two World Cup host cities: Vancouver and Toronto.
Toronto City Council voted in late March to express opposition to ICEs presence and instructed city staff to avoid supporting ICE actions within Toronto, particularly during the World Cup.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a component of ICE within DHS, operates in close partnership with Canadian law enforcement to combat transnational crime and protect communities on both sides of the border. HSI special agents investigate and enforce laws related to transnational crime, including human trafficking, child exploitation, weapons and drug smuggling, financial fraud, and more, wrote Baxter Hunt, consul general at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto.
Hunt cited several partnerships between U.S. and Canadian authorities that disrupted narcotics and firearm smuggling between the two countries.
Hunt added that there will not be a deployment of additional ICE agents to Canada during the World Cup.
The World Cup will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
An essential part of this cooperation is the extraordinary joint effort of the United States, Canada and Mexico to ensure the safety of the event, Hunt wrote.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha arrived in Hungary on Tuesday to voice support for Prime Minister Viktor Orban's reelection campaign.
Orban, a close ally of President Donald Trump, has been in power since 2010 but is currently trailing in the polls ahead of Sunday's election. He faces a tough campaign from the center-right opposition Tisza party and its candidate, Peter Magyar. And Orban is hoping Vance's appearance will give him a much-needed boost before voters head to the polls.
Before joining Orban at a campaign rally on Tuesday, Vance praised the links between Washington and Budapest when it comes to things like tradition, family and Christianity. Vance also mentioned the war in Iran and the situation in the Middle East, saying he believes there will be a conclusion to the war very soon.
Vance also said the United States does have options open that it hasn't yet used against Iran, without clarifying further. The vice president's comments come as all eyes are on a Tuesday night deadline set by Trump for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or "a whole civilization will die."
The strait typically sees about one-fifth of the worlds oil supply pass through it and has effectively been shut down by Iran since the war broke out causing gas and energy prices to soar.
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