Dozens of volunteers with DTE and the Detroit Area Agency of Aging packed up 5500 meals for seniors and vulnerable adults across metro Detroit.

Watch our live interview from 7 News Detroit at 6 a.m.

Live interview: Meals on Wheels providing meals for seniors

400 volunteers made it happen, delivering meals to adults with disabilities. But food isn't the only thing being provided."

"They don't get a lot of Interaction, so not only is it providing nutrition to them, but its providing that moment of warm conversation and engagement for them," said Kayla Perry with the DAAA.

Once out the door, the deliveries go to seniors in Detroit, Hamtramck, Harper Woods, Highland Park and Grosse Pointe.

"We still have to give back to the ones who paved the way for us," said volunteer Latawn Crocker. "So if its a matter of getting up early to make sure were preparing these meals that we know someone is eating today, so thats what its about.

One person in Arkansas is having a very Merry Christmas, as Powerball finally ended its streak of 46 drawings without a winner on Wednesday, awarding the second-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history.

Wednesdays jackpot was worth $1.817 billion the largest offered by any U.S. lottery since 2022. The only larger jackpot came in November 2022, when a $2.04 billion Powerball ticket was sold in California.

For those checking their numbers, the winning combination was: white balls 4, 25, 31, 52, 59 and red Powerball 19.

The jackpot winner can choose between the full $1.817 billion paid in annual installments over 29 years or a one-time lump sum of $834.9 million.

RELATED STORY | Powerballs $1.7B jackpot could make Christmas Eve unforgettable for a lucky winner

Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner! This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize, said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and CEO of the Iowa Lottery. We also want to thank all the players who joined in this jackpot streak every ticket purchased helps support public programs and services across the country.This is the first time in 15 years that someone in Arkansas has claimed a Powerball jackpot.

With the win, Saturdays Powerball drawing will reset to $20 million.

Eight other players won at least $1 million each by matching all five white balls.

For perspective, the odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 292 million. Powerball also offers smaller prizes ranging from $4 to $2 million, with the odds of winning any prize at about 1 in 25.

RELATED STORY | Slimmer odds and costlier tickets: What's driving the lottery's sky-high jackpot?

Powerball is played in 45 states, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since the game lengthened the odds in 2015, Powerball has averaged six to nine jackpot winners annually and all 10 of its largest jackpots have occurred since that change. The record $2.04 billion jackpot was won on Nov. 7, 2022.

A Canton family has transformed their home into a spectacular Christmas wonderland that's drawing visitors from across metro Detroit, creating a magical experience that goes far beyond typical holiday decorations.

For four years, Katharine Pacheco and her husband have been turning their house into an elaborate light show, collecting decorations from Facebook Marketplace and traveling to states like Chicago, Kentucky and Tennessee to make their holiday display come to life.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: Canton family turns home into elaborate light display for the holidays

"This turned into a small hobby that I probably got a little extreme with, but I'm OK with it," Pacheco said.

The display features everything from garden gnomes on the ground to Santa's sleigh on the roof, creating an impressive spectacle that captivates visitors of all ages.

"We like to look at the lights and of course, kids have so much fun looking at all the decorations and stuff," said Pawankumar Chauvhari, who brought his family to see the display.

Children visiting the display are particularly enchanted by the variety of characters and decorations scattered throughout the property.

"I saw Mickey Mouse and minions, like a lot," one young visitor observed.

"I saw many Santas, even though there's one Santa," another child noted.

The interactive nature of the display sets it apart from other holiday decorations. Santa has been visiting the house all month long, taking pictures with families every weekend and listening to Christmas wishes.

"This one is really cool, and Santa is here, so we had to see Santa!" said Judy Meador, who traveled from Dearborn Heights to visit.

For Pacheco, the elaborate display fulfills a childhood dream inspired by a neighbor's decorations.

"It's fun, it's fun. That's all I can say. When I was a kid, we lived across the street from a neighbor who decorated really big and I would walk up and down the sidewalk and say 'one day, I want that,'" Pacheco said.

The family's efforts have created more than just a visual spectacle they've built a community gathering place that brings joy during the holiday season.

"I can't describe the feeling of everyone just coming out and enjoying this. We get a lot of compliments. We get a lot of people telling us they had a bad day and we brighten their day," Pacheco said.

The Christmas display will continue running until at least the first of the year, giving families more opportunities to experience the holiday magic.

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.

Jam-packed parking lots and shopping carts stacked high tell the story of Christmas Eve 2025 the clock is ticking for shoppers trying to snag that one last gift or grab ingredients for a holiday feast.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report below: Holiday hustle: The last-minute shopping rush

"Last minute, waited till the last minute," shopper Laura said. "Should have been here yesterday, should have been here this morning."

She wasn't alone. Bag after bag of last-minute gifts filled carts as desperate shoppers made their final push.

"I could tell from the parking," Tina Thompson said.

The scene was consistent across stores. At Meijer, the crowds were relentless.

"It's crazy out there," Wisam Jeberaeel said.

"Definitely a lot of last-minute shoppers," Chelsea Michele said.

"Lines for days," Christopher Taylor said.

Some shoppers were making their second trip of the day.

"Yep. Second time today," Anthony Miller said.

"There's always something that you forget," Michele said.

Related video: Last-minute Christmas Eve shoppers race to finish holiday preparations Last-minute Christmas Eve shoppers race to finish holiday preparations

"It's a holiday," Jeberaeel said with a laugh.

The reasons for last-minute shopping varied widely. Taylor needed cars for his brother. Samone Ford was hunting for a PlayStation 5. Frebory Verriele hadn't gotten anything for his little sister yet.

Colin Campbell was solving a sibling rivalry "so they can't fight about it."

For many, the shopping wasn't just about checking items off a list it was about showing love.

Related video: Christmas Eve reunions fill Detroit Metro Airport as families gather for the holidays Christmas Eve reunions fill Detroit Metro Airport as families gather for the holidays

"I like doing nice stuff for my family. You know, they deserve it," Kolin Ellis said.

"It's not about the gifts, it's about the thought," Taylor said.

"That's really what matters this season," Michele said.

Some shoppers weren't buying gifts at all. Kim Matthews was preparing a homemade holiday meal for her staff.

"I wanted to surprise my staff," Matthews said. "They love my food. At least they say they do."

As evening approached, the shopping continued at Kohl's, where the crowds showed no signs of slowing.

"I kind of procrastinated and here I am, picking up last-minute things," Ladawn Davis said.

"I picked my baby cousin up a teddy bear," Camryn Calloway said.

The Christmas Eve shopping experience could be summed up in one word, according to Davis: "Tiresome."

But shoppers pressed on. Zellia Apacanis was loading her trunk with an armful of purchases.

"It's Christmas so I'm out here shopping," Apacanis said. "Picked up a pair of shoes, a scarf, a hat."

Despite the exhaustion, many found joy in the process.

"It can make you happy just by seeing someone else happy," Calloway said.

The final stop of the evening was Dollar Tree, where the pickings were notably slim.

"Shelves are basically bare," Cory Chavis said.

One shopper delivered the harsh reality: "No one is getting wrapping paper this year for Christmas. So, you know what you got under the tree."

"Merry Christmas!" a mother and daughter called out together.'

After witnessing the Christmas Eve shopping marathon across multiple stores, one thing was clear whether shoppers found what they needed or not, they gave it their all in the final hours before Christmas Day.

For those who completed their shopping, there was one overwhelming feeling.

"Relief," Davis said with a laugh.

A powerful winter storm swept across California on Wednesday, with heavy rains and gusty winds bringing mudslides and debris flows that has led to some water rescues and evacuation orders.

Forecasters said Southern California could see its wettest Christmas in years and warned about flash flooding and mudslides. Areas scorched by Januarys wildfires were under evacuation warnings, and Los Angeles County officials said the previous day that they delivered about 380 evacuation orders to especially vulnerable homes.

San Bernardino County firefighters said they rescued people trapped in their cars when mud and debris rushed down a road leading into Wrightwood, a mountain resort town in the San Gabriel Mountains about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles. It was not immediately clear how many were rescued.

Firefighters also went door to door to check on residents, and the area was under a shelter-in-place order, officials said. Lytle Creek, also in the San Gabriel Mountains, was under evacuation orders in the afternoon as rains continued to pummel the area.

Debris and mud were seen cascading down a road in Wrightwood in a video posted by county fire officials. Another video showed fast-moving water rushing through the front porch of several homes.

The storm stranded Dillan Brown with his wife and 14-month-old daughter at a rented cabin in Wrightwood with almost no food and only enough diapers for about another day. By the morning, roads leading off the mountain and to a grocery store were blocked by rocks and debris, Brown said.

I came across (a road) where there was a car sucked away by the water and realized we were trapped here, he said.

A resident learned of his situation and posted a call for help in a Facebook group, and in less than an hour, neighbors showed up with more than enough supplies to ride out the storm, including bread, vegetables, milk, diapers and wipes.

I think were a little sad and upset that were not going to be home with our families, Brown said, but the kindness shown is definitely an overwhelming feeling.

Janice Quick, president of the Wrightwood Chamber of Commerce and a resident of the mountain town for 45 years, said a wildfire in 2024 left much of the terrain without tree coverage and all this rain is bringing down a lot of debris and a lot of mud from the mountain area.

Residents around the burn scar zones from the Airport Fire in Orange County were also ordered to evacuate.

Areas along the coast including Malibu were under flood warnings until the evening, and much of the Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area were also under wind and flood advisories.

Heavy rain douses Southern California

Several roadways including a part of Interstate 5 near the Burbank Airport were closed due to flooding.

Conditions could worsen with multiple atmospheric rivers during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.

The rain began tapering off in the evening in Los Angeles, but another storm system was on the horizon with showers and possible thunderstorms Christmas Day.

James Dangerfield, an 84-year-old resident of Altadena, said his family and neighbor helped place sandbags in his backyard earlier this week. A flash flood warning was issued for the neighborhood, but he wasn't too worried because his house is on a hill.

He and his wife, Stephanie, planned to remain there and spend Christmas Eve with their two adult daughters and grandchildren.

Were just going to stay put, and everybody will have to come to us, Dangerfield said. Were not going to go anywhere.

Mike Burdick, who takes care of his parents in Altadena near burn scars from the Eaton Fire, ran out to buy more sandbags in the morning when he saw that the pool was overflowing.

I literally woke up to just downpour, he said.

The family was prepared to evacuate with a weeks worth of essentials including for their dog and cat.

Southern California typically gets half an inch to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 centimeters) of rain this time of year, but this week many areas could see between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) with even more in the mountains, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford said.

EARLIER | Flash flooding in northern California leads to soaked roads, water rescues and 1 death

Much of California under weather warnings

Forecasters said heavy snow and gusts were expected to create near white-out conditions in parts of the Sierra Nevada and make travel nearly impossible through mountain passes. There was also a considerable avalanche risk around Lake Tahoe, according to the Sierra Avalanche Center.

The National Weather Service said a winter storm warning would be in effect for the greater Tahoe region until Friday morning.

Power was knocked out to more than 125,000 due to a damaged power pole, according to the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. utility.

The California Highway Patrol was investigating a seemingly weather-related crash south of Sacramento in which Sacramento Sheriff Deputy James Caravallo died. Caravallo was apparently traveling at an unsafe speed, lost control on a wet road and crashed into a power pole, CHP Officer Michael Harper said via email.

Caravallo was with the sheriffs office for 19 years, the agency said in a post on social media.

Our hearts are with Deputy Caravallos family, and we ask the public to keep Deputy Caravallos loved ones and our Sheriffs Office family in their thoughts and prayers, it said.

A flash flood warning was issued for portions of Sacramento in the evening as more severe weather developed offshore and began moving inland.

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in six counties to allow state assistance in storm response.

The state deployed emergency resources and first responders to several coastal and Southern California counties, and the California National Guard was on standby.

Atmospheric rivers transport moisture from the tropics to northern latitudes in long, narrow bands of water vapor that form over an ocean.

After nearly 120 years serving the Ann Arbor community, Downtown Home and Garden welcomed customers for the final time on Christmas Eve before closing its doors permanently.

The beloved store on Ashley Street near Liberty Street first opened in 1906 and has been a cornerstone of downtown Ann Arbor for generations of shoppers who developed deep connections with both the business and its staff.

Watch Demetrios Sanders' video report below: Historic Ann Arbor store closes after more than a century in business

"Great merchandising, always helpful and they brought something tangible to a cookie-cutter world of retail," Mark Doran said.

For many customers like Barbara Leonard, the store was woven into their weekly routines and held special meaning beyond just shopping.

"We came here almost every Saturday after going to the farmers market. Maybe pick up something from Zingerman's bakery out of the case and grab a cup of coffee. It was part of our routine," Leonard said.

Now, she's one of those who are left saddened about the closure.

"Because these people, they weren't just clerks in a store they are friends," Leonard said.

Downtown Home and Garden announced the closure in August, citing Ann Arbor's rising rent prices and changing consumer habits as contributing factors to the decision.

"It doesn't mean that this kind of business can't succeed in other places but right here right now with the way things are, this is the natural course," Kelly Vore said.

Vore, the store's owner, said the community's outpouring of support in the months leading up to the closure exceeded her expectations.

"All of our knowledge of people's affinity for this place and what we do is about a million times greater than we imagined," Vore said.

Staff members also expressed their appreciation for the historic building and its significance to the community. Daryl Strong, a staff member, noted the building's unique features, including original horse stalls in the basement.

"The physical building itself is amazing. It has served so many people for so long," Strong said. "It brings so much to the city and it will be sorely missed."

According to the property owner, Mark Hodesh, the space will likely become a bar or restaurant in the future due to the current landscape of downtown Ann Arbor. Hodesh added he has three groups interested in the space.

Despite the sadness surrounding the closure, Vore expressed gratitude for the store's long run and the opportunity to say goodbye properly.

"Nothing lasts forever in life. So to be able to have a long lovely goodbye is great for everyone," Vore said.

Hodesh also says that it is crucial that the next business that comes to the property preserves its history.

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.

The Trump administration authorized this week the deployment of up to 350 National Guard members to New Orleans and other metropolitan areas in Louisiana.

This is something that was expected and supported by the state's Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. He spoke about it yesterday on Fox News.

"We know how to make cities safe, and the National Guard compliments cities that are having high crime problems. Look at what the president's done in Washington, D.C.," Landry said.

The National Guard is expected to be in Louisiana through the end of February to help fight crime there.

But this comes on the heels of a 6-3 Supreme Court ruling against the Trump administration this week, refusing to overturn a lower courts' ruling that prevented the deployment of the National Guard in Chicago to assist in the protection of federal personnel and buildings.

In a rare setback for Trump's anti-crime agenda, the court indicated that the administration had failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute Illinois laws.

RELATED NEWS | Supreme Court blocks Trump's bid to deploy National Guard in Illinois

The ruling now raises questions about what will happen in other cities in which the president has deployed troops or attempted to deploy troops.

A White House spokesperson indicated the administration will continue working to safeguard the American public and says nothing from the ruling detracts from the president's core agenda.

Illinois' Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker posted on social media Tuesday, calling the ruling a big win for Illinois and American democracy.

"The brave men and women of our National Guard should never be used for political theater and deserve to be with their families and communities, especially during the holidays," Pritzker wrote.

Metro Detroit residents and road crews are preparing for a messy winter storm expected to hit the area Friday, bringing widespread freezing rain and sleet that could create hazardous travel conditions.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report below: Metro Detroit prepares for Friday's winter storm with freezing rain and sleet expected

While many people are focused on holiday preparations, local residents are taking precautions ahead of the anticipated winter weather. Royal Oak resident Shawn Knight was among those stocking up on ice melt salt at local hardware stores.

"Just prepping. I just looked at the weather, I was out, I figured I'd grab some while I was out," Knight said.

Some residents are taking additional steps to prepare their properties. Birmingham resident Tim Ward said he creates a brine solution.

"The city likes us to use brine instead of just rock salt or other ingredients that could damage the plants and the grass and we do have a runoff problem and so I'm going to dissolved the rock salt into hot water and then put it into this tank and then spray the sidewalk and the driveway," Ward said.

The Road Commission of Oakland County has all salt truck drivers on standby for the storm. Craig Bryson, communications representative for the commission, said crews are ready to respond when conditions deteriorate.

"What we are anticipating that when it begins in early morning hours on Friday, we'll call in our drivers and get them out salting," Bryson said.

Road crews will use a combination of rock salt and liquid brine to treat roadways during the storm.

"That increases the efficiency of the salt. It makes it work more effectively, more quickly. It also helps it work down at a little lower temperature," Bryson said.

Watch our extended interview with Craig Bryson below: Web extra: Craig Bryson speaks on plan for ice

Officials are urging drivers to exercise extreme caution if they must travel Friday morning, as freezing rain can create deceptively dangerous conditions.

"Because there's likely to be freezing rain, there could be some icy areas that look like they're wet but turn out to be slippery, so please just presume it may be slippery and slow down. Drive appropriate for the conditions, don't tailgate," Bryson said.

For those who must venture out, Bryson recommends keeping emergency supplies in vehicles, including salt or ice melt, a snow shovel, blankets and extra clothing in case of getting stranded.

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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.

The Beaubien and Monroe intersection in Detroit's Greektown reopened to traffic temporarily this week, marking the first major milestone in the district's $20 million transformation project that has disrupted the area since April.

"This is the first day we have Beaubien open for through traffic," said Tasso Teftsis, vice president of Greektown Neighborhood Partnership. "It's great. I love seeing cars driving through and people getting to where they want to be."

Watch Evan Sery's video report below: Greektown's Beaubien intersection reopens as Detroit's $20M renovation reaches milestone

The state-funded renovation project has created significant challenges for local businesses and visitors throughout 2024, forcing pedestrians to navigate construction barriers and detours while shops dealt with reduced foot traffic.

"Some do better than others, some might be down 50%, others maybe 10%," Teftsis said, referring to business losses during construction.

Along with the intersection reopening, new concrete sidewalks have been installed and pedestrian paths have been widened throughout the construction zone.

"This whole portion right here was the only space to walk in up to where the cutoff is. Now this is much wider, gonna be way better for people to come down," said Dillan Butras, manager of Athens Liquor, a business located on the Greektown corner.

Butras said the extended timeline tested patience, but the results are promising.

"I mean, it's nice seeing it so open. Before, it was so condensed. It definitely took a little longer than expected, but seeing it done is showing us the vision of what it's gonna be like when fully open," Butras said.

The construction has surprised some visitors returning to Detroit. Sharyl Chatman Jr., who was visiting family for the holidays, hadn't been back to the area in some time.

"It was a surprise, but also looks like progress in the making," Chatman said.

When shown renderings of the completed project, Chatman expressed enthusiasm about the planned improvements.

"It looks like open air markets, festivals, looks like there's gonna be a lot to do down here," Chatman said.

Teftsis, who also owns Astoria Pastry Shop in Greektown, believes the disruption will ultimately benefit the district.

"We always wanted to be the most beautiful street in Detroit and there's no other way than to just refocus and put money into the street," Teftsis said. "Ultimately, well worth it. Whole street's gonna be beautiful."

The construction project is expected to be complete by summer 2026.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A traffic dispute on a Taylor street Tuesday afternoon escalated into a dangerous confrontation involving gunfire, mace and a woman being dragged by a vehicle all captured on video by a bystander.

The incident occurred around 2 p.m. on Pardee Road near Goddard Road when a silver SUV in the left lane attempted to merge right, but the driver of a gray hatchback wouldn't allow it, according to Taylor Police Detective Phillip Wengrowski.

Watch Faraz Javed's video report below: Road rage in Taylor: Traffic dispute leads to shooting, woman dragged

When the SUV finally moved in front, both vehicles became stuck in traffic. That's when the front seat passenger of the SUV exited his vehicle and approached the hatchback.

"The driver of the second vehicle saw the front seat passenger approaching him. He exited his vehicle with a mace and retreated to the rear of his vehicle," Wengrowski said.

The hatchback driver warned the SUV passenger to back up while spraying mace. The passenger then lifted his shirt to reveal a firearm tucked in his waistband.

"Once the individual who maced saw the gun, he retreated back into his vehicle," Wengrowski said.

The video shows the hatchback attempting to flee, but the SUV's driver a woman in her 30s stepped in front of the vehicle.

The woman "appeared to put a portion of her upper body onto the vehicle," Wengrowski said. "The driver of vehicle two, knowing that the driver of the passenger of the first vehicle had a firearm, he accelerated his vehicle, which caused the female driver of the first vehicle to be dragged for 10 to 20 feet."

The SUV's passenger, a man in his late 70s, then opened fire on the fleeing hatchback driver, a man in his early 30s. The shooter fired three times, with one bullet nearly missing the driver.

"Help her pull in. I can't see, I can't see," the shooter can be heard saying on the video.

Watch more of the road rage incident below: Web extra: Road rage incident in Taylor

Area resident Al Pieczura, who watched the footage, expressed disbelief at the shooter's statement.

"So, what was he shooting at?" Pieczura said.

Flock cameras helped police locate the hatchback the following day. The vehicle had a shattered back windshield and a bullet hole just inches from the gas tank.

"As well as a round that went past the driver's head and shattered the glass in the front visor," Wengrowski said.

All three individuals involved are Taylor residents. No one was seriously injured, but the hatchback driver who fled the scene and the man who opened fire remain in custody pending possible charges.

"Lessons to be learned could just be to be a mindful driver," Wengrowski said. "At the end of the day, everybody's going to get to where they're going. And rushing, it's not worth a criminal charge, let alone worth your life at all."

Police say both men will have to prove their actions fall under Michigan's self-defense laws. The hatchback driver's arrest also stems from fleeing the scene, hitting the driver in the process and failing to report the incident.

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.

Metro Detroit shoppers packed parking lots and stores on Christmas Eve, making final purchases with just hours remaining before Christmas Day.

The holiday hustle was in full swing as people scrambled to pick up last-minute gifts and essential items for their Christmas celebrations.

Watch Carli Petrus' video report below: Last-minute Christmas Eve shoppers race to finish holiday preparations

China Smith found herself among the crowds, shopping not for herself but for her grandmother who couldn't make the trip.

"I don't really like it. Too many people," Smith said. "She couldn't get out here, all the cookies she's doing, so she had me do it."

Beyond gifts, many shoppers were focused on securing desserts for their holiday meals. At Achatz Handmade Pie Co. in Beverly Hills, customers lined up for what has become a Michigan Christmas tradition.

Gus Makris said his family gets a pie from Achatz every year.

"Listen, it tastes good, and it's Christmas you have to get a nice warm pie," Makris said.

Emily Bogart said the Christmas pie tradition has been part of her family for about 15 years.

"I just think it's warm and inviting and I love that it's a Michigan company," Bogart said. "It just tastes so good after a big meal."

Store manager Alex Matthews said the Beverly Hills location alone sold nearly 1,000 pies, with fresh batches being made throughout the day.

"A whole lot of pies fresh every time," Matthews said.

Matthews said while the holiday season brings busy days to the bakery, it's also one of the most rewarding times of year.

"It brings them a piece of joy and it brings me joy knowing that their holiday dinner is going to be a little better and they're happy with what they're getting and they'll smile altogether around the table, laughing, playing a game, having a pie slice together," Matthews said.

As the final purchases were made and last pies picked up, the focus shifted from the holiday rush to spending time with loved ones.

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.

Christmas Eve brought emotional reunions to Detroit Metro Airport as travelers from across the world arrived home to spend the holidays with family.

The McNamara Terminal buzzed with hugs, happy tears and holiday cheer as Michiganders made their way back from destinations ranging from Orlando to Kuwait.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report below: Christmas Eve reunions fill Detroit Metro Airport as families gather for the holidays

"I was really grateful to get the time off and to come back home," said Olivia Skierski, who traveled from Orlando.

Hannah Sheikh and her family waited eagerly for Olivia's arrival, welcoming her with warm embraces. For Skierski, being surrounded by loved ones made the season even more meaningful.

"This time of year, I really love it, so being around family makes it even more special. So I am grateful to get the time to spend even if it's just for a few days," Skierski said.

Michael Heugh experienced an especially poignant homecoming after serving in Kuwait for a year. His father John Heugh greeted him with a big hug at the gate.

"It's honestly a magical moment. Honestly because overseas, it's an entirely different experience," Michael Heugh said.

"Very excited. Very excited," John Heugh said.

The airport scenes captured the essence of long-awaited reunions, with some families seeing each other for the first time in months or even years.

Fred Edmund beamed as he welcomed his son Eric back from Seattle.

"I just love having him here. He's the best," Fred Edmund said.

"It's just really nice to see family and spend time with them and see my friends from high school and all their kids grown up," Eric Edmund said.

For Kristin Nash, the homecoming held extra significance as her first trip back to Michigan since 2019.

"This is my first time home since 2019, so it's really nice," Nash said.

While some travelers enjoyed smooth flights, others faced holiday travel challenges including cancellations and rebookings.

"We still ended up with a canceled flight and rebooking and layovers, but we made it," said Megan Backer, who traveled from California.

Despite the obstacles, every arrival told a story of distance overcome and anticipation fulfilled. For many families, Christmas truly began the moment their loved ones walked through the airport doors.

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.

The U.S. Department of Justice says it has been informed of more than a million additional documents related to its Epstein investigation. The department says it plans to release the files but said Wednesday it could take weeks to screen and redact the documents first.

"The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI have informed the Department of Justice that they have uncovered over a million more documents potentially related to the Jeffrey Epstein case," the DOJ wrote on social media. "We have lawyers working around the clock to review and make the legally required redactions to protect victims, and we will release the documents as soon as possible. Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks."

The department is already in violation of a law requiring the release all of its investigation files on Friday, December 19 under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The measure was passed by all but one member of Congress.

EPSTEIN FILES | Epstein files released with major redactions spark congressional anger

The heavily redacted documents released so far have drawn sharp criticism from both Democrats and Republicans who say the transparency falls short of what Congress demanded.

"We are now examining all legal options in the face of this violation of federal law," Reps. Robert Garcia of California and Jamie Raskin of Maryland said in a statement the day all the files were due. "The survivors of this nightmare deserve justice, the co-conspirators must be held accountable, and the American people deserve complete transparency from DOJ."

Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, said in an interview on CNN that he and Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, are drafting articles of impeachment against Attorney General Pam Bondi, as well as considering whether Bondi should be held in contempt of Congress.

"The Department will continue to fully comply with federal law and President Trumps direction to release the files," the DOJ wrote, regarding the files that were newly announced on Wednesday.

Taylor Swift is spreading some extra holiday cheer this season.

The music superstar donated $1 million each to the American Heart Association and Feeding America, the organizations announced.

The American Heart Association said Swift made the donation in honor of her father, Scott Swift, who underwent bypass surgery earlier this year.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | 'The Life of a Showgirl:' Inside the themes of Taylor Swift's 12th studio album

Taylors contribution enables the advancement of scientific research, stronger prevention and treatment efforts, and expanded access to life-saving care for every community, the organization said.

Feeding America also thanked Swift for the gift, saying her generosity helps support families during the holidays and beyond by working to ensure people have enough to eat.

Swift also donated to MusiCares, which supports members of the music community in need. The organization did not disclose the amount but said the contribution will help fund its programs, resources and financial assistance.

After a judge dismissed a copyright lawsuit filed against the singer earlier this year, Mariah Carey was recently awarded over $92,000 to go towards her legal fees in the case.

In 2023, Andy Stone of Louisiana and Troy Powers of Tennessee filed the $20 million lawsuit alleging that Careys 1994 song, which has since become a holiday standard and annual streaming sensation, infringed the copyright of their country 1989 song with the same title.

They were seeking $20 million in damages and a trial by jury, but a federal judge in Los Angeles dismissed the case in March, stating it lacked evidence.

RELATED STORY | Mariah Carey didn't steal her hit song 'All I Want for Christmas Is You,' judge rules

Now, Stone and Powers have been ordered to pay Carey and other defendants in the case.

This comes as Carey's hit Christmas song has broken more records, spending more weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 than any song in history, hitting its 20th week atop the chart.

Released in 1993, the song didnt reach No. 1 until 2019, thanks to the rise of music streaming. It has returned to the top spot every year since.

RELATED STORY | Mariah Careys All I Want for Christmas Is You sets new record with 20 weeks at No. 1

Construction crews worked to clear the collapsed walls and roof from a Pennsylvania nursing home Wednesday to help investigators find the cause of an explosion that killed a resident and employee, and set off a dramatic evacuation amid falling debris and shooting flames.

The Tuesday afternoon blast sent 20 others to hospitals, including one person in critical condition. The rest of the employees and 120 residents were accounted for after hours of searching the wreckage, said Police Chief Charles Winik of Bristol Township.

Survivors were transferred to nearby nursing home properties, the police chief and health officials said.

The Bucks County coroner's office said the employee who died was 52-year-old Muthoni Nduthu. Authorities didn't immediately identify the resident who died. Both victims were women.

Officials said they didn't yet know the cause of the blast at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center, even though a utility crew had been on site investigating a reported gas leak when the blast occurred. It was so powerful that it shook nearby houses for blocks in Bristol, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Philadelphia.

A wing of the facility that housed the kitchen and cafeteria was almost entirely destroyed, with the roof caved in, sections of walls completely missing and windows on adjoining walls blown out. Debris littered the grounds.

Winik said the scale of the casualties could have been much worse. Police and firefighters flooded in from the region, as staff from a hospital next door and neighbors rushed to help evacuate the injured. One person was resuscitated at a hospital, officials said.

Firefighters braved a heavy gas odor, flames, collapsing walls and even a second explosion to rescue people trapped in stairways and elevator shafts and under rubble, authorities said.

"I've never seen such heroism," Winik told reporters Wednesday. "They were running into a building that I could from 50 feet away could still smell gas, and walls that looked like they were going to fall down."

Some residents couldn't walk or speak, and some were in wheelchairs, the police chief said.

Nineteen people were still hospitalized Wednesday, Winik said. Federal agencies were set to assist in the investigation as crews removed the wreckage.

"Until we excavate the area and remove the walls and roof that collapsed, we won't have any idea of what may have occurred in there," Winik said.

The blast at the 174-bed nursing home happened shortly after a utility crew responded to reports of a gas odor at the facility, authorities have said. The local gas utility, PECO, said the crew shut off natural gas and electric service to the facility, but didn't know if utility equipment or gas was involved in the explosion.

Willie Tye, who lives about a block away, said he was watching a basketball game when he heard a loud boom.

"I thought an airplane or something came and fell on my house," he said. When he went outside, he saw "fire everywhere" and people fleeing the building.

State records show the facility was cited for multiple violations during its most recent inspection in October by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, including failing to provide accurate floor plans, properly maintain stairways and fire extinguishers on one level. Inspectors also cited the facility for lacking required smoke barrier partitions designed to contain smoke across floors.

Medicare's overall rating of the facility is listed as "much below average," with poor ratings for health inspections in particular.

Musuline Watson, who said she was a certified nursing assistant at the facility, told WPVI-TV that staff smelled gas over the weekend, but did not initially suspect a serious problem because there was no heat in that room.

The nursing home recently became affiliated with Ohio-based Saber Healthcare Group, which called the explosion "devastating" and said in a statement that facility personnel promptly reported the gas odor to the local gas utility before the blast.

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A coalition of 19 states and the District of Columbia on Tuesday sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, its secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and its inspector general over a declaration that could complicate access to gender-affirming care for young people.

The declaration issued last Thursday called treatments like puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries unsafe and ineffective for children and adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria, or the distress when someones gender expression doesnt match their sex assigned at birth. It also warned doctors that they could be excluded from federal health programs like Medicare and Medicaid if they provide those types of care.

The declaration came as HHS also announced proposed rules meant to further curtail gender-affirming care for young people, although the lawsuit doesn't address those as they are not final.

Tuesdays lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Eugene, Oregon, alleges that the declaration is inaccurate and unlawful and asks the court to block its enforcement. It's the latest in a series of clashes between an administration that's cracking down on transgender health care for children, arguing it can be harmful to them, and advocates who say the care is medically necessary and shouldn't be inhibited.

Secretary Kennedy cannot unilaterally change medical standards by posting a document online, and no one should lose access to medically necessary health care because their federal government tried to interfere in decisions that belong in doctors offices, New York Attorney General Letitia James, who led the lawsuit, said in a statement Tuesday.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Court orders restoration of health webpages; Trump administration stands firm against 'gender ideology'

The lawsuit alleges that HHSs declaration seeks to coerce providers to stop providing gender-affirming care and circumvent legal requirements for policy changes. It says federal law requires the public to be given notice and an opportunity to comment before substantively changing health policy neither of which, the suit says, was done before the declaration was issued.

A spokesperson for HHS declined to comment.

HHS's declaration based its conclusions on a peer-reviewed report that the department conducted earlier this year that urged greater reliance on behavioral therapy rather than broad gender-affirming care for youths with gender dysphoria.

The report questioned standards for the treatment of transgender youth issued by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and raised concerns that adolescents may be too young to give consent to life-changing treatments that could result in future infertility.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | FBI wants people to report doctors, hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to minors

Major medical groups and those who treat transgender young people have sharply criticized the report as inaccurate, and most major U.S. medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, continue to oppose restrictions on transgender care and services for young people.

The declaration was announced as part of a multifaceted effort to limit gender-affirming health care for children and teenagers and built on other Trump administration efforts to target the rights of transgender people nationwide.

HHS on Thursday also unveiled two proposed federal rules one to cut off federal Medicaid and Medicare funding from hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to children, and another to prohibit federal Medicaid dollars from being used for such procedures.

The proposals are not yet final or legally binding and must go through a lengthy rulemaking process and public comment before becoming permanent. But they will nonetheless likely further discourage health care providers from offering gender-affirming care to children.

Several major medical providers already have pulled back on gender-affirming care for young patients since Trump returned to office even in states where the care is legal and protected by state law.

Medicaid programs in slightly less than half of states currently cover gender-affirming care. At least 27 states have adopted laws restricting or banning the care. The Supreme Courts recent decision upholding Tennessees ban means most other state laws are likely to remain in place.

Joining James in Tuesday's lawsuit were Democratic attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, Washington and the District of Columbia. Pennsylvania's Democratic governor also joined.

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In todays Health Alert, the holidays often bring more than just celebration. They also bring overeating, weight gain, and digestive issues for many people. From office parties to family dinners, it can feel hard to stay healthy this time of year.

he holidays are meant to be enjoyed, but they dont have to come at the cost of your health. Many people gain weight during this season, not because of one big meal, but because of small habits that add up over several weeks.

So how can you enjoy holiday food and still feel good?

First, dont skip meals to save up for a big dinner. That often backfires and leads to overeating. Eating regular meals helps keep blood sugar steady and portion sizes reasonable.

Second, slow down. It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to register fullness. Eating more slowly and putting your fork down between bites can make a big difference.

Third, be selective. You dont need to eat everything on the table. Choose the foods you truly enjoy and skip the ones you dont care about. Thats not deprivation. Thats being intentional.

Another key tip is portion awareness. You can enjoy holiday favorites, just in smaller amounts. One slice of pie tastes just as good as two.

And dont forget about balance. Fill part of your plate with vegetables, lean protein, and whole foods before reaching for heavier dishes. This helps you feel satisfied without overdoing it.

Many of us are surrounded by food at parties and gatherings. Whats the best way to stay on track without feeling like were missing out?

Thats a great question. The goal isnt perfection. Its consistency.

Start by being mindful of liquid calories. Alcohol, sweetened drinks, and specialty coffees can add a lot of calories without making you feel full. Alternating with water can help.

Also, manage stress and sleep. When were tired or stressed, were more likely to overeat. Even short walks, deep breathing, or getting enough rest can reduce cravings.

And remember, the holidays are about connection. Focus on conversation, laughter, and being present, not just the food.

You can enjoy the holidays, honor traditions, and still protect your health. Small choices, repeated often, make the biggest difference.

Happy holidays, everyone, and stay healthy!