Minister Malik Shabazz, a longtime Detroit activist, who has spent decades fighting for his community is now fighting a life-threatening illness.
Shabazz is currently dealing with multiple infections, more than two years after suffering three heart attacks. Despite his health challenges, the community organizer remains optimistic and determined to continue his work.
"It lifts me up, it gives me hope, it gives me the energy to go on and it lets me know that I am loved and my work is not in vain," Shabazz said.
The activist was hospitalized on Sunday as doctors monitored the infections, including one that could potentially damage his LVAD heart pump device.
"We got the news from the doctors about these infections and the one over here might burst and mess up my LVAD and my heart pump," Shabazz said.
When asked how he was feeling, Shabazz responded with characteristic resilience.
"Hopeful, optimistic," he said.
"God brought me through each time, each time to finish this work and that's what I am going to do."
Even while battling his health issues, Shabazz says he is not done fighting for justice and wants to continue sharing his message of peace.
"Stop the killing, stop the violence, we don't have to do that," Shabazz said.
Shabazz is one of the original founders of Detroit 300, a community organization aimed at combating crime and violence in the city. His dedication to protecting Detroit's residents has made him a respected figure in the community.
"Anytime, anything is going on that was endangering our children, these gas stations, these shootings, Minister Shabazz was there, he was one of the first ones on site," said Arthur Edge, a member of Detroit 300.
Edge is among many community members wishing Shabazz a speedy recovery.
"To my brother, I thank you for everything you have done. You are one of the great heroes of the city of Detroit," Edge said.
Despite his current limitations, Shabazz remains eager to return to his community work.
"I feel better and I'm ready to go out there I'm ready to get out there in the streets, but I can't right now but soon. I got to do some more healing," Shabazz said.
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.
DETROIT (AP) — Dylan Larkin and rookie Emmitt Finne each scored twice to help the surging Detroit Red Wings beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 on Sunday.
Detroit has won five straight since opening with a 5-1 loss to Montreal.
Edmonton has a losing record after dropping a third straight game as superstar Connor McDavid extended his career-long, season-opening, goal drought to six games.
Detroit’s John Gibson stopped 16 shots, including one that denied McDavid midway through the third period. On the same shift, Larkin poked the puck away from the three-time MVP to take away another potential scoring opportunity.
Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner had 21 saves.
Leon Draisaitl was all alone with a chance to pull the Oilers into a tie late in the game, but lost control of the puck.
Shortly thereafter, Finne scored an empty-net goal to seal it.
Finne, a 2023 seventh-round pick, had the first goal of midway through the second period to put Detroit ahead 2-0 after Larkin broke a scoreless tie a few minutes earlier in the period.
Larkin, who has a point in all six games this season, resored the Red Wings’ two-goal lead late in the third period after Edmonton’s Noah Philp scored.
Detroit’s captain is the third Red Wing to have multiple season-opening point streaks of six or more games, joining Hall of Famers Gordie Howe and Steve Yzerman.
The Red Wings are off to a desperately needed strong start after extending their franchise-record postseason drought to nine years last spring.
The Oilers, coming off back-to-back losses in the Stanley Cup Final, didn’t earn a point for the first time against Detroit in eight games to end their longest active streak against an opponent.
Up next
Oilers: At Ottawa on Tuesday night.
Devils: At Buffalo on Wednesday night.
Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during overtime in an NHL hockey game Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
All three men who lost their lives in a plane crash near Lansing this past week have been identified, with Bath Township Police releasing more details from it's investigation at a press conference on Sunday.
Watch the full press conference in the video player below Victims of fatal plane crash near Lansing identified by officials
The small jet went down around 5 p.m. on Thursday, in the Rose Lake State Wildlife Area. The crash started a fire, killing all three men on board.
Watch viewer video from the crash Viewer video shows smoke from small plane crash new Lansing
First responders struggled to access the site, a secluded, wooded area with no road access.
"We actually had to use saws and manpower to blaze a trail, follow it back, to even the site itself," said Chief Mark Koonter with the Bath Township Fire Department.
"Our superintendent and I went out to the scene the night of," said township supervisor Ryan Fewins-Bliss. "The professionalism, the dedication, the sweat and blood and tears.. it was an incredible sight."
The Mexican Consulate in Detroit has identified the three victims as:
Rodolfo Pimentel Zamora, a pilot Francisco Del Moral Jimenez, a pilot Alvaro Espejo Javier Rodriguez, a mechanic
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are still on site as they investigate. Clean-up is expected to wrap up in the next few days.
A Toledo man is fighting for his life at the hospital after being shot by a bow & arrow in Bedford Township on Saturday morning, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office tells us.
Police were called to the Bedford Inn Motel in Erie (Bedford Township) around 11:30 a.m. yesterday.
Investigators confirmed that the man was shot with a crossbow by someone who knows him. The 42-year-old was taken to the hospital, where he is in critical condition.
Police have not yet found the suspect in this case, but they did locate the crossbow at the motel.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Detective Bureau at (734)240-7530 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SpeakUp.
One year after suffering a heart attack mid-race, a Kalamazoo runner finished the last few miles in the 2025 Detroit Free Press marathon, with Patrick Banderbush completing the marathon one year later.
Watch Patrick finish this year's race WATCH: Runner who survived heart attack at 2024 Detroit Free Press marathon finishes final miles
"I don't want to leave anything unfinished," Patrick told us before today's race. "Today is not about me, today is about all those folks that were involved with me being here today."
Patrick's heart attack last year happened at Mile 24. He was rushed to DMC Heart Hospital in Detroit where a team of medical professionals immediately sprang into action working to save him.
"We're just really thankful with Patrick that we were able to get him in time," said Dr. Anthony Tam, the Henry Ford doctor who helped save Patrick's life last year.
"I was looking at my watch and just comforting myself saying Im right where I want to be, I have an easy two miles left, and in less than an hour Ill be celebrating my 60th birthday with the family,'" he said last year.
Dr. Tam didn't witness Patrick cross the finish line since he was working a booth, but it was an emotional day for the doctor.
"I wanted to cry initially," Dr. Tam said. "They gave him his medal and now he gets to finish with his family, all the way to the finish line."
Patrick wants to run all 26.2 miles of the marathon again soon, once he gets clearance from doctors.
"Either in the spring or next year, I'll be running the full marathon again," Patrick said. "First one in my second life."
Web Extras: Watch our pre-race and post-race interviews with Patrick, and our full interview with Dr. Tam Web Extra: Watch our pre-race interview with Patrick Web Extra: Watch our post-race interview with Patrick Web Extra: Speaking with the doctor that helped saved Patrick's life Watch our previous coverage Man who survived heart attack at Free Press Marathon speaks about incident Runner in Detroit Free Press marathon survives heart attack during the race Watch our related marathon coverage Metro Detroit runner Andrew Bowman wins Detroit Free Press Marathon for second straight year Detroit businesses prepare for economic boost from Free Press Marathon Sunday Where Your Voice Matters
This year, Food Bank of the Rockies and others across the U.S. are bringing in less but need to feed more.
Monica Buhlig, chief impact officer with Food Bank of the Rockies, said they lost about 25% of their food supplied by the federal government earlier this year when the Trump administration made changes to USDA food programs, creating a gap of roughly 14,000 meals a day.
That comes as demand has grown this year.
With the increased cost of housing, with the increased cost of food, we have seen more and more neighbors over the past year, said Buhlig. Prior to the government shutdown, we were seeing the highest levels of hunger that we have seen in 10 years.
The shutdown could drive up that demand even more if it drags on.
We know that there will be federal workers who have been living paycheck to paycheck, and now don't have a paycheck, said Buhlig. And their expenses remain.
There are now concerns about the shutdowns impact on the future of crucial federal funding to address food insecurity.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps feed more than 40 million Americans, was already facing stricter eligibility standards starting next month, meaning many will lose coverage. If the shutdown stretches into November, the entire program would face insufficient funds, the USDA warned in a letter obtained by ABC News.
For every meal that Food Bank of the Rockies provides, SNAP provides nine, Buhlig said. We could see that [need] increase ninefold among some of these neighbors.
Chad Molter, executive director of Harvest Hope Pantry in Boulder, said his food bank is concerned about funds from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) going dry. He told the Scripps News Group in Denver food ordered through the program before the shutdown is still being delivered, but new orders cannot be placed. He said the food bank relies on the program for about 15% of its donations.
If something happens to that program, we would certainly miss that food, he told Denver7.
There has also been concern over funding for food aid through the Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC), though the program did receive $300 million from the Trump administration last week. Last month, Colorado's Joint Budget Committee approved $7.5 million in funding to keep SNAP and WIC afloat.
Sen. Michael Bennet held a virtual town hall Wednesday to hear concerns from Buhlig and other Colorado food bank leaders. Politicians on Capitol Hill continue to dig in and blame the other party, with no end to the shutdown in sight.
Behind all of these discussions are families and veterans and people who are aging in our communities, who are looking to our elected officials for solutions, Buhlig told the Scripps News Group in Denver before the town hall. We need that right now more than ever before People are concerned, and they need to know where their next meal is coming from.
In search of short-term solutions, the food bank leaders said during the call that they will consider giving less food during distributions to stretch supplies, while calling on local partners and community members for donations. They say they have no choice but to make things work.
This story was originally published by Ryan Fish with the
For the first time ever, the city of Detroit is hosting Diwali in the D this coming week (Oct. 20-25), a weeklong celebration of the Festival of Lights.
The festivities will be hosted at multiple venues, including Momo Cha and Detroit Shipping Company. Supported by the Shanti Foundation, Diwali in the D aims to raise cultural awareness while creating a new Detroit tradition.
Diwali is a time of new beginnings and unity, and were excited to share those traditions with the entire Detroit community, said Surab Deb, Shanti Foundation. This festival is not just for South Asiansits a celebration for everyone to experience the joy, colors, and culture of Diwali.
The family-friendly event will feature:
Live cultural performances showcasing dance, music, and theater Traditional food & drink specials with a modern Detroit twist Community art activations and family-friendly activities Workshops and demonstrations introducing Diwali traditions to new audiences
For more information on the foundation and Diwali in the D, click here.
Defending champion Andrew Bowman of Ferndale crossed the finish line first in the men's division of the Detroit Free Press Marathon on Sunday, completing the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 16 minutes and 10 seconds.
Watch Faraz's report in the video player below Metro Detroit runner Andrew Bowman wins Detroit Free Press Marathon for second straight year
The 31-year-old runner improved his time by more than a minute from last year's victory, despite challenging weather conditions that included wind and rain throughout the race.
"As hard as this course was, sometimes the battle is just finishing. So even just to get to the finish line is relief and to get to my wife and my baby," Bowman said.
This year's race held special significance for Bowman, whose wife Sydney won the women's division in 2024. Sydney cheered him on from the sidelines while holding their 3-week-old son Liam.
"I was just so relieved to see him turn that corner. And I mean, I knew he was, I knew he was going to win," Sydney Devore-Bowman said.
The Detroit Free Press Marathon, now in its 48th year, drew more than 26,000 runners from all 50 states and 40 countries. The international course takes participants over the Ambassador Bridge into Canada, through Windsor's redeveloped neighborhoods, and back into the United States via the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.
"Any time we were coming south, that wind was like stand-up wind," Bowman said about the weather challenges.
Despite his victory, Bowman narrowly missed the 2:16 qualifying mark for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. However, he remains optimistic about future opportunities.
"He's definitely getting less sleep, but he jokes that he has dad strength now, and so that's trumping the lack of sleep, I guess," Sydney said about how becoming a father has affected her husband's training.
In the women's division, Christina Welsh of St. Petersburg, Florida, won with a time of 2 hours, 46 minutes and 59 seconds.
Sydney, who cannot compete this year due to recently giving birth, is already looking ahead to next year's race.
"Oh, yeah. I feel like I want that course record just as much as Andy wants the course record. Now I feel like the fire is growing because I'm watching, you know, watching everybody this year," she said.
Both Andrew and Sydney work as coaches in the Detroit area and are committed to building up the local running community.
"This is an amazing event, and with my wife and I, we're coaches in this area, and we just want to build up the local community. This is our city, and we want to raise it up as best we can," Bowman said.
When asked what people should take away from his journey, Bowman emphasized the importance of enjoying the sport.
"The sport's not worth doing if you don't enjoy it. So always got to find the silver lining," he said.
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.
After beating Washington at home over the weekend, Michigan is back in the AP Top 25, with media members ranking the Wolverines at No. 25.
Vanderbilt is a top-10 team in college football for the first time since 1947 in an Associated Press poll that got a nearly complete makeover Sunday after a weekend when nine Top 25 teams lost.
Beyond the Buckeyes, significant revision was required with four top-10 teams losing in the same week for a third time this season. Nine Top 25 losing teams were the most since Week 5 in 2022, when 10 went down, according to Sportradar. Four of the losses this week were to unranked opponents.
The Buckeyes received 60 first-place votes, 10 more than a week ago. No. 2 Indiana pulled away from Michigan State, improved its program-record ranking by one spot and got the other six first-place votes.
Texas A&M's one-rung promotion to No. 3 gives the Aggies their highest ranking since 1995. No. 4 Alabama has its highest ranking of the season and No. 5 Georgia returned to the top five after a three-week absence.
Oregon, Georgia Tech, Mississippi, Miami and Vanderbilt round out the top 10.
Georgia Tech, which won at Duke, hadn't been in the top 10 since 2014 or ranked as high since 2009. Mississippi's loss to Georgia caused it to slip three spots, and Miami fell seven after losing to unranked Louisville.
Vanderbilt rallied from its loss at Alabama two weeks ago with a 31-24 win over then-No. 10 LSU. The Commodores earned a seven-spot promotion for their first win over the Tigers since 1990. At 6-1, Vandy is off to its best start since 1950 with two wins over ranked opponents.
LSU took the biggest fall, plunging 10 spots to No. 20 for its lowest ranking of the season.
In and out
No. 19 Louisville makes its season debut in the Top 25. The Cardinals, whose only loss was by three points to Virginia on Oct. 4, were 0-18 all-time against top 10 teams in true road games before knocking off the Hurricanes.
No. 23 Illinois returned despite being idle. The Illini had dropped out for the first time this season after a home loss to Ohio State.
No. 24 Arizona State, which fell out of the poll after a 32-point loss at Utah, returned following its first win over a top-10 opponent since 2019.
Southern California (20), Memphis (22), Utah (23) and Nebraska (25) dropped out.
Poll points
Ohio State's 10 straight appearances in the top five is the longest active streak.
Georgia's 140th consecutive week in the poll is the second-longest active streak to Alabamas 287.
Vanderbilt's top-10 ranking is its fifth in program history. The others were in 1937 (1), 1941 (1) and 1947 (2).
No. 16 Virginia's ranking is its highest since 2007.
Conference call
SEC (10) Nos. 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22.
Big Ten (5) Nos. 1, 2, 6, 23, 25.
Big 12 (4) Nos. 11, 14, 21, 24.
ACC (4) Nos. 7, 9, 16, 19.
American (1) No. 18.
Independent (1) No. 12.
Ranked vs. ranked
No. 3 Texas A&M (7-0) at No. 20 LSU (5-2): The home team has won the last eight meetings. LSU's Garrett Nussmeier threw three second-half interceptions and Marcel Reed came off the bench to run for three TDs in Aggies' 38-23 win last year.
No. 8 Mississippi (6-1) at No. 13 Oklahoma (6-1): Only their third all-time meeting. Rebels recorded nine sacks in 26-14 win last year.
No. 15 Missouri (6-1) at No. 10 Vanderbilt (6-1): Vandy kicker Brock Taylor has made 17 consecutive field goals since missing 31-yarder that gave the Tigers a 30-27 double-overtime win last year.
The fragile ceasefire in Gaza faced its first major test Sunday as an Israeli security official said the transfer of aid into the territory was halted until further notice after a Hamas ceasefire violation, and Israeli forces launched a wave of strikes.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement on the halt in aid, a little over a week since the start of the U.S.-proposed ceasefire aimed at ending two years of war.
Israels military earlier Sunday said its troops came under fire from Hamas militants in southern Gaza, and later said two soldiers were killed there.
Israels military said then it struck dozens of what it called Hamas targets. Health officials said at least 29 Palestinians were killed across Gaza, including children.
A senior Egyptian official involved in the ceasefire negotiations said round-the-clock contacts were underway to deescalate the situation. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorized to speak to reporters.
There was no immediate U.S. comment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed the military to take strong action against any ceasefire violations but didn't threaten to return to war.
Israel's military said militants had fired at troops in areas of Rafah city that are Israeli-controlled according to agreed-upon ceasefire lines.
Hamas, which continued to accuse Israel of multiple ceasefire violations, said communication with its remaining units in Rafah had been cut off for months and we are not responsible for any incidents occurring in those areas.
Strikes in Gaza
Palestinians quickly feared the return of war.
It will be a nightmare, said Mahmoud Hashim, a father of five from Gaza City, who appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump and other mediators to prevent the ceasefire's collapse.
An Israeli airstrike on a makeshift coffeehouse in Zawaida town in central Gaza killed at least six Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government.
Another strike killed at least two people near the Al-Ahly soccer club in the Nuseirat refugee camp, the ministry said. The strike hit a tent and wounded eight others, said Al-Awda Hospital, which received the casualties.
The hospital said it also received the bodies of four people killed in a strike on a school sheltering displaced families in Nuseirat. Six others were killed in a tent in Nuseirat, one killed at a charging point west of Nuseirat and four killed at a house in Bureij camp.
Another strike hit a tent in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis in the south, killing at least four people, including a woman and two children, according to Nasser Hospital.
A strike in Beit Lahiya in the north killed two men, according to Shifa hospital.
More bodies of hostages identified
Israel identified the remains of two hostages released by Hamas overnight.
Netanyahu's office said the bodies belonged to Ronen Engel, a father from Kibbutz Nir Oz, and Sonthaya Oakkharasri, a Thai agricultural worker from Kibbutz Be'eri.
Both were believed to have been killed during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which sparked the war. Engel's wife, Karina, and two of his three children were kidnapped and released in a ceasefire in November 2023.
Hamas in the past week has handed over the remains of 12 hostages.
Hamas' armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said that it found the body of a hostage and would return it on Sunday if circumstances in the field allowed. It warned that any escalation by Israel would hamper search efforts.
Israel on Saturday pressed Hamas to fulfill its ceasefire role of returning the remains of all 28 deceased hostages, saying the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt would stay closed until further notice."
Hamas says the war's devastation and Israeli military control of certain areas of Gaza have slowed the handover. Israel believes Hamas has access to more bodies than it has returned.
Israel has released 150 bodies of Palestinians back to Gaza, including 15 on Sunday, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Israel has neither identified the bodies nor said how they died. The ministry posts photos of bodies on its website to help families attempting to locate loved ones. Some are decomposed and blackened. Some are missing limbs and teeth.
Only 25 bodies have been identified, the Health Ministry said.
Israel and Hamas earlier exchanged 20 living hostages for more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Ceasefire's second phase
A Hamas delegation led by chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo to follow up the implementation of the ceasefire deal with mediators and other Palestinian groups, Hamas said in a statement.
The next stages are expected to focus on disarming Hamas, Israeli withdrawal from additional areas it controls in Gaza, and future governance of the devastated territory.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Kassem said late Saturday that the second phase of negotiations requires national consensus. He said Hamas has begun discussions to solidify its positions.
The U.S. plan proposes the establishment of an internationally backed authority to run Gaza.
Kassem reiterated that Hamas wont be part of the ruling authority in a postwar Gaza. He called for the prompt establishment of a body of Palestinian technocrats to run day-to-day affairs.
For now, government agencies in Gaza continue to perform their duties, as the (power) vacuum is very dangerous, he said.
Rafah border crossing
The Rafah crossing was the only one not controlled by Israel before the war. It has been closed since May 2024, when Israel took control of the Gaza side.
A fully reopened crossing would make it easier for Palestinians to seek medical treatment, travel or visit family in Egypt, home to tens of thousands of Palestinians.
On Sunday, the Palestinian Authoritys Interior Ministry in Ramallah announced procedures for Palestinians wishing to leave or enter Gaza through the Rafah crossing. For those who want to leave, Palestinian Embassy staff from Cairo will be at the crossing to issue temporary travel documents for entry into Egypt. Palestinians who wish to enter Gaza will need to apply at the embassy.
The Israel-Hamas war has killed more than 68,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesnt distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. The ministry maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. Israel has disputed them without providing its own toll.
Thousands more people are missing, according to the Red Cross.
Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 people in the attack that sparked the war.
A 27-year-old man has died after drowning in Lake St. Clair early Sunday morning, police tell us.
New Baltimore police and fire responded just before 3 a.m. after receiving a report of a man who fell off a dock and went underwater.
Officers could not locate the man initially, but his body was found by New Baltimore officers in a patrol boat. Harrison Township Fire Department, Macomb County Sheriffs Office, and United States Coast Guard vessels assisted in the search.
Police are currently investigating what led up to this drowning.
After more than a month of renovations, the Royal Oak Senior Center reopened earlier this month with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of the rejuvenated facility.
With $500,000 invested in improvements both inside and outside, including some infrastructure repairs, Director Yolanda Botello-McClain has seen an influx of residents and non-residents fill the building.
“We have all new flooring throughout the entire Senior Center, except for the three tiled floors. We have new paint, a state-of-the-art coffee bar, and all-new bathrooms, which are now ADA compliant,” she said after the facility re-opened Friday, Oct. 3. “We now have all new LED lighting throughout the entire senior center and all new ceiling tiles, along with a new reception area.”
Paid for by a grant from Oakland County and matching ARPA funds from the city, the half-million-dollar project didn’t cost Royal Oak taxpayers a dime. The updates include a new generator – key in keeping the kitchen up and running and keeping food safe during power outages. The center had undergone some previous updates, including the workout area, back in February 2025.
Plenty of people on hand to celebrate the reopening of the Royal Oak Senior Center, ready to cut the ribbon. (JUDY DAVIDS SUBMITTED PHOTOS)
“I applied for a grant through Oakland County for senior centers, and we received it. Then, the city matched that amount with ARPA dollars, which paid for all of these things,” Botello-McClain said. “Also, last year, we upgraded our commercial kitchen with all new appliances. The grant also covered new laptops.”
She noted the center is “so much brighter and it just gives it a totally different look without the dark carpeting and the lighting was very dim in here. It’s definitely a breath of fresh air when you walk in now.”
The Senior Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. However, evening activities and classes often extend the center’s hours until 8 or 9 p.m., depending on the schedule.
“We have everything from card groups, massage therapy, art classes, fitness classes, dancing classes, French classes and we have congregate meals every day with lunch at 11:40 a.m. for only $5. You can choose dine-in or carry-out,” she said.
The center features two billiard tables and offers support groups for grief, aphasia, Alzheimer’s, caregivers, and various veteran support groups. With the renovation finished, residents and non-residents are filling the center and getting back into their routines.
“While we were out, we were actually stationed at the library. And we did hold some of our classes in the Farmer’s market. Some of our support groups were held at a builder’s club and the Presbyterian Church,” Botello-McClain said. “And then there were some of our groups that chose to go to either Clawson or Madison Heights for a space there. But they’ve all returned.”
Outside the Senior Center, landscaping was added and the drainage system was fixed as it had caused damage to some of the walls.
“They discovered that some of the downspouts where the water wasn’t going out into the drain system, so water was sitting and we had to have some of our walls fixed,” Botello-McClain explained. “They remedied all of that on both sides of the building.”
Touchscreen computers have been installed for residents to find their classes and groups and the technology helps the staff keep up with how many are using the facility.
“We can now handle our transportation scheduling with the new software. It really fits our senior center well. They were previously using recreation software, which required many workarounds,” Botello-McClain said. “We’re working smarter, not harder. It benefits the seniors because we can see which classes have high enrollment and which have low, helping us better utilize our space. We also have new technology throughout the senior center. Every room has TV monitors, allowing instructors and leaders to bring in their PowerPoints or for rentals to play videos during celebrations. At the main entrance, there’s a 75-inch monitor that shows our daily schedule and upcoming programs.”
Renovated and rejuvenated for the use of Royal Oak residents and non-residents (who can participate for a small fee), the Leo Mahany/Harold Meininger Senior Community Center is now open for business at 3500 Marais Ave., just off 13 Mile Road near Royal Oak High School.
Seniors gathered for the opening of renovated senior center in Royal Oak. (SUBMITTED PHOTOS — JUDY DAVIDS)
Three people have been hospitalized, including a Michigan State Police trooper, after a crash on Interstate 96 in Detroit this morning.
MSP tells us the crash happened around 11 a.m. at I-96 Fwy at Fullerton Ave.
Authorities say that a trooper pulled over to investigate an unrelated crash when the driver of a Jeep Cherokee lost control, crashing into the back of the police vehicle.
The trooper and two passengers in the Jeep Cherokee were hospitalized in the crash, with all three people expected to make a full recovery. The freeway was closed for this incident,
It is important for drivers to remember to slow down in wet weather, said F/Lt. Mike Shaw. This particular driver was not only driving too fast for road conditions, he also had three of his four tires worn below the wear bars which also led him to lose control and crash.
Large crowds of protesters marched and rallied in cities across the U.S. Saturday for No Kings demonstrations decrying what participants see as the government's swift drift into authoritarianism under President Donald Trump.
People carrying signs with slogans such as Nothing is more patriotic than protesting or Resist Fascism" packed into New York Citys Times Square and rallied by the thousands in parks in Boston, Atlanta and Chicago. Demonstrators marched through Washington and downtown Los Angeles and picketed outside capitols in several Republican-led states, a courthouse in Billings, Montana, and at hundreds of smaller public spaces.
Trump's Republican Party disparaged the demonstrations as Hate America rallies, but in many places the events looked more like a street party. There were marching bands, huge banners with the U.S. Constitutions We The People preamble that people could sign, and demonstrators wearing inflatable costumes, particularly frogs, which have emerged as a sign of resistance in Portland, Oregon.
It was the third mass mobilization since Trump's return to the White House and came against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services but is testing the core balance of power, as an aggressive executive confronts Congress and the courts in ways that protest organizers warn are a slide toward authoritarianism.
In Washington, Iraq War Marine veteran Shawn Howard said he had never participated in a protest before but was motivated to show up because of what he sees as the Trump administrations disregard for the law. He said immigration detentions without due process and deployments of troops in U.S. cities are un-American and alarming signs of eroding democracy.
I fought for freedom and against this kind of extremism abroad, said Howard, who added that he also worked at the CIA for 20 years on counter-extremism operations. And now I see a moment in America where we have extremists everywhere who are, in my opinion, pushing us to some kind of civil conflict.
Trump, meanwhile, was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.
They say theyre referring to me as a king. Im not a king, the president said in a Fox News interview that aired early Friday, before he departed for a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. fundraiser at his club.
A Trump campaign social media account mocked the protests by posting a computer-generated video of the president clothed like a monarch, wearing a crown and waving from a balcony.
Nationwide demonstrations
In San Francisco hundreds of people spelled out No King! and other phrases with their bodies on Ocean Beach. Hayley Wingard, who was dressed as the Statue of Liberty, said she too had never been to a protest before. Only recently she began to view Trump as a dictator.
I was actually OK with everything until I found that the military invasion in Los Angeles and Chicago and Portland Portland bothered me the most, because I'm from Portland, and I don't want the military in my cities. That's scary, Wingard said.
Tens of thousands of people gathered in Portland for a peaceful demonstration downtown. Later in the day, tensions grew as a few hundred protesters and counterprotesters showed up at a U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement building, with federal agents at times firing tear gas to disperse the crowd and city police threatening to make arrests if demonstrators blocked streets.
The building has been the site of mostly small nightly protests since June the reason the Trump administration has cited for trying to deploy National Guard troops in Portland, which a federal judge has at least temporarily blocked.
About 3,500 people gathered in Salt Lake City outside the Utah State Capitol to share messages of hope and healing after a protester was fatally shot during the citys first No Kings march in June.
And more than 1,500 people gathered in Birmingham, Alabama, evoking and the citys history of protests and the critical role it played in the Civil Rights Movement two generations ago.
It just feels like were living in an America that I dont recognize, said Jessica Yother, a mother of four. She and other protesters said they felt camaraderie by gathering in a state where Trump won nearly 65% of the vote last November.
It was so encouraging, Yother said. I walked in and thought, Here are my people.
Organizers hope to build opposition movement
Big rallies like this give confidence to people who have been sitting on the sidelines but are ready to speak up, Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy said in an interview with The Associated Press.
While protests earlier this year against Elon Musk's cuts and Trumps military parade drew crowds, organizers say this one is uniting the opposition. Top Democrats such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders are joining what organizers view as an antidote to Trump's actions, from the administration's clampdown on free speech to its military-style immigration raids.
More than 2,600 rallies were planned Saturday, organizers said. The national march against Trump and Musk this spring had 1,300 registered locations, while the first No Kings day in June registered 2,100.
Were here because we love America, Sanders said, addressing the crowd from a stage in Washington. He said the American experiment is in danger under Trump but insisted, We the people will rule.
Republican critics denounce the demonstrations
Republicans sought to portray protesters as far outside the mainstream and a prime reason for the government shutdown, now in its 18th day.
From the White House to Capitol Hill, GOP leaders called them communists and Marxists. They said Democratic leaders including Schumer are beholden to the far-left flank and willing to keep the government shut to appease those liberal forces.
I encourage you to watch we call it the Hate America rally that will happen Saturday, said House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana.
Lets see who shows up for that," Johnson said, listing groups including antifa types, people who hate capitalism and Marxists in full display.
Many demonstrators, in response, said they were meeting such hyperbole with humor, noting that Trump often leans heavily on theatrics such as claiming that cities he sends troops to are war zones.
So much of what weve seen from this administration has been so unserious and silly that we have to respond with the same energy, said Glen Kalbaugh, a Washington protester who wore a wizard hat and held a sign with a frog on it.
New York police reported no arrests during the protests.
Democrats try to regain their footing amid shutdown
Democrats have refused to vote on legislation that would reopen the government as they demand funding for health care. Republicans say they are willing to discuss the issue later, only after the government reopens.
The situation is a potential turnaround from just six months ago, when Democrats and their allies were divided and despondent. Schumer in particular was berated by his party for allowing an earlier government funding bill to sail through the Senate without using it to challenge Trump.
What we are seeing from the Democrats is some spine, said Ezra Levin, a co-founder of Indivisible, a key organizing group. The worst thing the Democrats could do right now is surrender.
Respiratory virus season is officially here again and doctors are already seeing some early flu cases in their offices.
Small numbers, but definitely the flu season is getting started, said Dr. Timothy Hendrix, Chief Medical Officer, AdventHealth Centra Care.
Symptoms include a cough, runny nose, body aches, fatigue, and fever. Its estimated that between 20,000 and 50,000 people die from the flu each year.
Influenza is different than your typical cough and cold, upper respiratory virus. It is more severe and it lasts longer. So it could be a week before you start feeling better, said Hendrix.
To avoid severe symptoms, hospitalizations, and to increase your odds of not getting sick at all, many doctors recommend people get the flu vaccine.
Its going to reduce the chances of you ending up in the hospital with complications because youre building up that immunity, said Hendrix.
Theres no reason to suffer. If youve had bad flu, its bad, said Dr. Jill Roberts, professor at the USF College of Public Health.
Generally, October is a really good time to get the flu vaccine, said Dr. Laura Arline, Chief Quality Officer at BayCare.
They each told the Scripps News Group in Tampa They that getting the vaccine now will help ensure you have good coverage throughout the flu season. Getting vaccinated by the end of October is ideal. Although anytime youre able to get the shot will give you protection.
Do it now while youre thinking about it, while its convenient, said Hendrix.
Anyone 6 months and older is eligible for the shot. As a reminder, its normal to experience mild symptoms after a flu shot.
As you know, the flu shots sometimes can make you feel little crummy. Theyre supposed to. Your immune system is actually acknowledging the presence of the flu shot, and you can feel a little bit crummy, said Roberts.
Other ways to avoid getting sick include frequent hand washing and avoiding being around people who are sick.
But also, getting plenty of sleep, right? People who dont get that 7 hours of sleep a night are at increased risk of upper respiratory viruses, including the flu," said Hendrix. "People who dont have a nice, balanced diet. So all these different aspects of healthy living, regular exercise, these things can all keep you healthy and help prevent you from getting the flu when youre exposed to those viruses."
This story was originally published by Larissa Scott with the
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Michigan State’s best defense Saturday came when its defense wasn’t even on the field.
In a 38-13 blowout loss to No. 3 Indiana, Michigan State’s defense gave up touchdowns on its first five drives and got pushed into its red zone on the next two. But a whopping 19:12 of first half possession time kept Indiana’s offense off the field and made Saturday’s game competitive for at least a little while.
“Going into the game, especially in the first half, we wanted to put longer drives together,” MSU coach Jonathan Smith said. “Possess the ball, and there was a lot that we were able to execute besides just being able to flat-out match touchdown scores.”
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw for four touchdowns and 332 yards while leading his offense to a 464-367 lead in total yardage. Michigan State’s defense managed just three tackles for loss and no turnovers.
Such a stat line was to be expected against Indiana, who had the nation’s fourth-ranked offense and defense heading into the game. With explosive players all over the field, Indiana exploited talent mismatches against an increasingly banged-up MSU defense (it lost another, safety Malik Spencer, to end the game).
The Spartans’ defense didn’t have an answer for Elijah Sarratt, who scored two touchdowns on four catches, including one on a beautiful ball thrown by Mendoza right behind freshman cornerback Aydan West. In the run game, Indiana had whatever it wanted between the tackles, including Kaelon Black’s 29-yard touchdown through a significant chunk of the MSU defense.
Yet the Michigan State offense at least stayed on the field long enough to keep the game at a reasonable score — not the blowout most expected as the Spartans limped in off three straight losses. Four of eight drives lasted longer than four minutes, with the only touchdown drive going for 8:18 to take a second lead in the second quarter.
But Indiana just proved too much down the stretch for this defense.
“We knew what we were getting into,” VanSumeren said. “This is the Big Ten. This is what we came here to do, is to play these type of games, play these type of teams. It’s not like we were physically outmatched or anything like that. It’s just some things we gotta clean up at different positions, and we’ll get it right.”
Running woes strain Chiles’ limits
Aidan Chiles looked like he could do it all Saturday, throwing for 243 yards and a touchdown. He completed 27 of his 33 throws, including 20 straight at one point. He ran for 91 yards, including a 64-yard keeper in the second half. He even punted, the first MSU quarterback to do so since Rocky Lombardi in 2018.
But Chiles couldn’t do it all, held off the score sheet in the second half. And much of that had to do with the lack of a running game beside him.
Michigan State finished short of 100 yards rushing as a team for the third straight game, managing just 74 yards on 24 carries. It could’ve been even bleaker — Chiles’ 48 yards led the unit, and his total would’ve been a lot lower without that 64-yard call.
Transfer Elijah Tau-Tolliver ran for 13 yards on five carries to lead the running backs, starter Makhi Frazier bottled for a single yard on seven carries. Brandon Tullis, who showed improved pass protection compared to his early season form, finished with 3 yards on two carries.
Smith highlighted Indiana’s defensive front, led by defensive lineman Mikail Kamara (two tackles) and aided by the adept reads of linebacker Aiden Fisher (nine tackles) and Rolijah Hardy (eight tackles).
“We gotta get that solved, because we do — we want to be more effective with that,” Smith said.
Progress is fine, Spartans want results
There are no moral victories in football, even if the early fight Michigan State showed made the result a little easier to stomach.
Smith made it clear that though Michigan State showed progress in the loss, they’re still in the business of winning football games.
“We’re always looking to win the game, 100%,” Smith said, “and so that hasn’t lost our sight in any way. I mean, this is a good football team and all of that, but we want to be able to play winning football and haven’t done it the last few weeks.”
The lack of wins is weighing on Smith’s program. His four-game losing streak is the longest of his 19-game tenure at Michigan State, one that is in question given the way this season has gone. Performances like Saturday’s may have been expected, but those losses still sting.
And though it’s nice to show some progress on film, there’s a lot more work to be done. Improvements in the pass rush, pass coverage, the run game and pass protection need to be made, especially in a highly-charged rivalry setting this week against Michigan.
Michigan State offensive guard Gavin Broscious (74) celebrates with wide receiver Nick Marsh (6) after a touchdown is scored during an NCAA football game against Indiana, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Bloomington, Ind. Indiana won 38-13. (VERA NIEUWENHUIS — AP Photo)
ANN ARBOR — With leading rusher Justice Haynes sidelined, Michigan running back Jordan Marshall stepped in and the Wolverines did not miss a beat in the running game.
Marshall had 133 yards on 25 carries (5.3 per carry) and had a touchdown in the Wolverines’ 24-7 victory over Washington on Saturday at Michigan Stadium. Michigan finished with 187 yards against a run defense that had allowed an average 82.8 yards.
“I just pride myself in running hard,” Marshall said. “That’s how I practice. That’s how I’m going to play. I’m gonna push files, I’m gonna hit people, I’m just going to play hard. That’s what my team asked from me every single play, and I’m going to give them my best. And I think I did that for not only Justice, who’s on the sideline today, but for Coach (Tony) Alford and for our whole room is just to run hard.”
Haynes suffered an unspecified injury to his torso late in the first half at USC the previous week and did not return to the game. He practiced this week and was listed as questionable but did not play. He leads the team with 705 yards and eight rushing touchdowns and entered the game as the nation’s fourth-leading rusher averaging 117.5 yards a game.
While Haynes has distinguished himself with home-run runs — he has two 75-yard touchdowns — Marshall is more of a grind-it-out, tough-yardage runner who will drag defenders much like former Michigan back Blake Corum.
“You hand off the ball, you see him get wrapped up a little bit and like, yeah, couple more yards coming after that,” quarterback Bryce Underwood said. “So just an expectation now for him.”
Marshall, sitting to Underwood’s left at the postgame interview, said that absolutely is the expectation every time he touches the ball.
“I’m a downhill, hit-you-in-the-mouth-type of runner, and I pride myself on that and carrying piles,” Marshall said. “I’ve been doing this since high school (at Cincinnati Moeller), carrying piles, and I don’t plan on stopping.”
Marshall said Haynes didn’t offer much advice before the game, because he didn’t have to. The running backs, he said, trust each other.
“He knows what I can do. I know what he can do,” Marshall said. “He just gave me that look, and he doesn’t need to say anything for me to know what I’m going to go out there and do. And I told the guys before the game, in the running back room, we talk about being the most connected team and most connected program.
“When one of your brothers are down or not playing, you got to play for them. Justice was doing everything he could this week to get out there and play with his team and couldn’t go before the game, and I know I was going to have to carry the load today and help this team win. And again, just putting us in the position to win is all I ever asked for. And playing relentless and with 100% effort every single play is what I’m going to give every single time I step out there.”
Injury updates
Starting left tackle Evan Link suffered an injury to his left leg early in the game, and after being surrounded by his teammates, he was taken off the field on a cart.
“It doesn’t look too good,” Moore said of Link’s injury. “I know it was a lower-body thing, but we’ll see how he does.”
Blake Frazier filled in for Link.
There were several absences from the game on Saturday. Haynes went through some pregame drills but was ruled out. He was listed as “questionable” on the availability list issued two hours before kickoff by the Big Ten.
Safeties Rod Moore and Brandyn Hillman did not appear on the Big Ten list but were considered by Michigan to be “game-time” decisions. They did not play. Also out was tight end Hogan Hansen. A Michigan spokesman said the Big Ten was informed before the game he would not be playing.
“They practiced through the week,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said. “We always err on the side (of caution) even sometimes when they want to go, making sure they’re full strength before we do anything. “They were just game-time decisions. (Moore) practiced these past couple days, but again, you’re always going to do what’s in the best interest of the kid, even if they want to go. He probably could have gone, but we just felt like it wasn’t that time.”
Moore said he watched pregame warm-ups to make sure players were capable of playing.
“Guys that practice leading up to the game, you feel like they’re ready,” Moore said. “You get to the game, they go through warm-ups and you say, OK, that doesn’t look exactly right. Those are the things we make decisions off of.”
Linebacker Ernest Hausmann, the team’s leading tackler who had seven against the Huskies, went down late in game with what looked like a lower left leg injury. He walked off the field unassisted.
“He’ll be fine,” Moore said.
Hanging on to the trophy
Tight end Zack Marshall entered the game against Washington having caught three passes for 29 yards during his career. With tight ends Marlin Klein and Hogan Hansen out, Marshall became an important target for Underwood.
Marshall was targeted seven times and made five catches for a team-best 72 receiving yards including a 10-yard touchdown pass from Underwood. Marshall was asked what he saw on the touchdown reception.
“A lot of grass,” Marshall said. “It was pretty fun. They attached to the back, I got open. I mean, it’s how you draw it up.”
Marshall brought the football he caught for his first touchdown to the postgame interview and was asked what he’s going to do with it.
“I’m gonna put it straight into my backpack, put it right on the wall,” Marshall said. “I’m never touching those gloves again. I mean, I’m excited.”
Michigan running back Jordan Marshall runs the ball during the second quarter against Washington. (DAVID GURALNICK — MediaNews Group)
Jordan Marshall ran for a tiebreaking touchdown late in the third quarter and Bryce Underwood threw his second touchdown pass early in the fourth to help Michigan pull away and beat Washington 24-7 on Saturday.
The Wolverines (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) took control by scoring touchdowns after picking off passes on consecutive possessions and kicking a field goal after the Huskies (5-2, 2-2) turned it over on downs.
It felt like Michigan football and what it should feel like, coach Sherrone Moore said.
Michigan's defense had a much-needed performance after giving up 31 points in last week's lopsided loss at USC.
It was pretty much we need to man up and come together as a defense, said linebacker Cole Sullivan, who had the first interception. We havent been playing the way we wanted to, and it was time to stop the bleeding. I think we took a step forward.
Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. threw two interceptions in a pivotal stretch of four passes in the third quarter and was picked off for a third time on the first snap of the following drive.
Just didnt feel like I did a good enough job getting him ready for the game," said Huskies coach Jedd Fisch, a former Michigan assistant.
Marshall, playing in place of injured running back Justice Haynes, had a career-high 133 yards rushing on 25 carries and his 14-yard touchdown run one snap after Williams' first interception put Michigan ahead 14-7.
Underwood was 21 of 27 for 230 yards and matched a season high with two touchdown passes to fellow freshman Andrew Marsh on a 22-yard throw late in the first quarter and a 10-yard toss to Zach Marshall in the fourth.
Theres a high standard for him, Moore said of Unerwood. Were going to keep pushing him to reach that standard, but this game was as clean as hes played.
The Huskies pulled into a 7-all tie late in the first half on Jonah Coleman's 1-yard run, then didn't score again with an offense that was held to 40 yards rushing including yards lost on sacks.
Coleman had 50 yards rushing on 16 carries and Williams was 20 of 32 for 209 yards.
We did not play well, Fisch said. Did not coach well. Did not put our guys in the best possible position to succeed and then when we had opportunities, we didnt make em.
The takeaway
Washington: Williams, a sophomore, threw one interception in his first 185 passes this season but was picked off three times in a span of five pass attempts.
Michigan: The offense has started slow in most games this season, a troubling trend for a team that fell out of the AP Top 25 after losing by 18 to the Trojans.
Injury report
Washington tight end Quentin Moore was carted off the field. Moore was responsive and moving all extremities when he was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons.
Michigan left tackle Evan Link, who had a lower-body injury, was also carted off the field.
It doesn't look too good, Moore said.
The Wolverines played without Haynes and defensive back Rod Moore along with their top two tight ends, Marlin Klein and Hogan Hansen.
Up next
Michigan plays at rival Michigan State and Washington hosts Illinois on Saturday.
For years, Western leaders have debated the creation of a regional energy market: a coordinated grid to pool solar power in Arizona, wind in Wyoming, hydro in Washington and battery storage in California.
The shared resources would meet the demands of 11 different states, bolstering utilities’ local power plants with surplus energy from across the region.
With the passage of a landmark new law in California, that market is finally on its way to becoming a reality. Proponents say it has the potential to lower energy costs, make the grid more resilient and speed up the deployment of clean energy.
But the market’s success, experts agree, depends heavily on which states and utilities decide to opt in. As energy issues have become increasingly politicized, it’s uncertain whether Western leaders can buy into a common vision for meeting the region’s power needs.
“As we move toward weather-dependent renewables to run our grid, we’ve got to have a grid that is bigger than a weather pattern,” said California Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, a Democrat who sponsored the legislation aimed at establishing the new market. “A Western energy market is critical.”
The California measure earned bipartisan support, and leaders in conservative and liberal states alike have long touted the benefits of a region-wide market.
But some skeptics worry about merging the power systems of states with varying climate goals. And some fear the new market could give federal regulators appointed by President Donald Trump an opening to interfere and mandate more fossil fuel-powered plants that can be turned on regardless of the weather.
A bigger market
Across the 11 Western states that straddle or sit west of the Rocky Mountains, 37 separate private and public utilities operate portions of the grid.
This fragmented structure differs from the grid systems in Eastern and Midwestern states, where regional transmission organizations, or RTOs, coordinate and plan for energy needs across vast swaths of the country.
Backers of a Western market argue that a region-wide approach would be much more efficient.
Under the current system, each utility is required by state public utility commissions to build enough power to meet peak energy demands. That could mean building gas plants that only turn on a few times a year during extreme heat waves.
As part of a West-wide market, utilities could manage those high-demand events by importing power from other parts of the region that are generating surplus electricity. Such agreements could also prevent the periodic shutdowns of wind and solar farms when they produce more energy than local utilities can use.
“We could be drawing on the solar resources from the Southwest during the day, and then in the evening the wind resources in Montana and Wyoming are a great benefit,” said Austin Scharff, senior energy policy specialist with the Washington State Department of Commerce. “We have a lot of hydro resources, and we can help make sure the regional grid stays balanced when those are needed.”
Some industry leaders say such trading would allow states to pull in cheap electricity from elsewhere, rather than building expensive new power plants.
“When you have this bigger market, not everybody has to build to their peak in the same way,” said Leah Rubin Shen, managing director with Advanced Energy United, an industry group focused on energy and transportation. “Everybody’s able to share.”
Western states do trade electricity on a bilateral basis between individual utilities. Utilities spanning much of the West also transact through a real-time market that allows them to address pressing short-term demand issues. Some are poised to join a new day-ahead market that will conduct planning based on daily demand and production forecasts.
But some lawmakers and officials believe the region needs a larger vision that goes beyond moment-by-moment needs, a market that can plan interstate transmission lines and energy projects to serve the whole region in the decades to come.
“We’re facing really rapidly growing energy demand,” said Nevada Assemblymember Howard Watts, a Democrat. “The best way for us to meet that is to effectively move energy all across the Western U.S. The only way we can do that is through an RTO.”
Watts sponsored a bill, enacted in 2021, that requires Nevada to join an RTO by 2030. Colorado also passed a law that year with a 2030 deadline for utilities to join an RTO.
“Any future is better than our status quo, which is 37 separate grids in the West,” said Chris Hansen, a former Democratic senator who sponsored the Colorado legislation. “We can lower costs and provide greater reliability if we’re sharing resources.”
Hansen now serves as CEO of La Plata Electric Association, an electric cooperative in southwestern Colorado.
A new market
The push for a West-wide market had always faced one major hurdle: Any market would likely include the massive geographical footprint and energy supply managed by the California Independent System Operator, or CAISO. As the West’s largest grid operator, CAISO manages the flow of electricity across most of the Golden State. It’s governed by a five-member board appointed by California’s governor, and other states were unlikely to sign up for a market in which they have no representation.
The law passed by California legislators last month allows for a new organization with independent governance from across the region to oversee Western energy markets.
“This legislation is a key reset and has been the largest sticking point in building a regional market,” said Amanda Ormond, managing director of the Western Grid Group, which advocates for a more efficient grid. “This is a primary concern of a lot of folks that has now been solved.”
The law sets in motion a yearslong process that will task regional leaders with establishing the organization’s governance and navigating a series of regulatory procedures. The new market could be in place by 2028.
State leaders across the West say the California law is a long-awaited development.
“You get this really good benefit from being able to optimize across a larger footprint than an individual utility can,” said Tim Kowalchik, research director with the Utah Office of Energy Development. “Those resources can play really well together.”
Utah led a study in 2021, collaborating with other Western states, exploring the potential for energy markets in the region. State officials say the research has helped drive the current effort.
“It was fascinating how substantial the benefits were,” said Letha Tawney, chair of the Oregon Public Utility Commission. “The interdependence of the West started to become much more apparent, and it really changed the conversation.”
The study looked at a variety of market options and found that an RTO would have significant benefits, lowering costs for electricity customers and promoting clean energy. Based on the study’s projections, the market would produce roughly $2 billion in gross benefits per year, largely by saving utilities from building extra capacity.
Another study in 2022, conducted by a pair of consulting firms, found that an RTO would create as many as 657,000 permanent jobs and bolster the region’s economy.
While Western leaders say the potential benefits are massive, no states outside of Nevada and Colorado have committed to joining a regional RTO. State leaders say they’ll be watching carefully to see what emerges from the new California law. While the decision on joining the market will largely be left to individual utilities, state regulators can play a major role by directing them to conduct an economic analysis of such a move.
State sovereignty
The push for a regional market has also faced opposition from skeptics who fear it undermines states’ power to set their own energy and climate goals. Some point to Eastern governors’ frustration with PJM Interconnection, the RTO that manages the grid across a swath of the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.
“It’s very dangerous,” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, a California-based nonprofit advocacy group. “We’re giving up control of our sovereignty. Once a state’s in, it’s not the state that has the control.”
Some experts fear that states with significant coal or gas industries may be hesitant to join a market that could incentivize their utilities to import cheap solar power from elsewhere. On the flip side, some climate advocates in California are wary of plugging into a market that could support coal power from out of state.
“Some states are parochial-minded: ‘This is a California thing, and we don’t want anything to do with California,’” said Vijay Satyal, deputy director of markets and transmission with Western Resource Advocates, a nonprofit climate-focused group. “That one state’s government will not decide how a market will be operated, it’s a seismic shift in the industry.”
Backers of an RTO argue that it can incorporate states’ varying energy goals. They point to research showing that the market will support renewable power. But others fear merging fates with coal-heavy states could give federal regulators more leverage to intervene in favor of fossil-fuel power.
Even if Trump is out of office when the market comes online, the regulators he appoints to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will still be serving out their terms. Some believe FERC could set rules that require the new market to favor fossil fuel-powered resources.
“When you have a mixed market with a lot of coal plants, it creates opportunities for the Trump administration to rejigger the rules to favor coal,” said Matthew Freedman, renewables attorney with The Utility Reform Network, a California-based consumer advocacy group. “In another reality, this would have sounded like a hysterical concern, but it’s pretty obvious where [Trump’s appointees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission] want to go.”
Freedman’s group pushed California lawmakers for protections that would have given states more flexibility to withdraw from the market, while also prohibiting “resource adequacy” mandates that could be used by the feds to prop up coal. While those elements were included in a Senate version of the bill, they were stripped from the Assembly bill that ultimately was passed.
Supporters of the bill say such concerns are overblown, and the new market is structured to avoid the pitfalls facing other RTOs.
“The simple economic fact is that right now clean energy resources are the cheapest in the world,” said Petrie-Norris, the law’s sponsor. “We’re going to see solar displacing dirty fuels rather than the reverse.”
Much depends on convincing states and utilities it’s in their best interests to join the market. The strength-in-numbers advantages of an RTO depend on widespread participation. While many Western leaders have long touted a region-wide market, the opportunity is arising at a time where energy has become a partisan issue.
Meanwhile, the long-awaited market emerging from California is facing new competition from the east. The Southwest Power Pool, an Arkansas-based RTO serving the middle of the country, is expanding its footprint in the West, with several utilities poised to join its day-ahead market.
“Anytime you have two neighboring utilities in different markets, you have seams that create a lot of friction and inefficiency,” said Rubin Shen, with the energy industry group. “Whether or not everybody can come together and be all-in on a full West-wide market, it’s too soon to tell.”
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