Our Grant Me Hope child this week is 16-year-old Jordan, who loves using his imagination and building things with LEGOs.

According to the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange, his dream is to one day play professional basketball, but he loves playing all sports.

MARE said that friends occupy a great place in Jordan's dream, as he likes spending time with them biking and hiking

Jordan wants others to know, I am kind, and I have a great sense of humor.

One of his close adults adds, Jordan is a fun-loving, energetic, affectionate and silly boy who loves animals. Jordan is a unique, happy and energetic boy. Jordan is good with people, likes to share stories and is very funny. Jordan is very respectful to everyone, has a good attitude toward them and will help with anything you need to have done.

Jordans new forever family must make sure he receives the services that will help him function at his best. His new parent or parents should be experienced and trauma-informed. Jordan would do best in a structured home in which he receives appropriate attention. Jordan also would benefit from being the youngest child in his new family.

For more information on Jordan, visit the MARE website and view a list of waiting children here. You can also see more stories on our Grant Me Hope page.

Dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets from Great Value have been recalled due to a possible lead contamination, The U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced earlier this week.

These products are no longer available for purchase, but FSIS is worried they may still be in consumers' freezers. The possible contamination was discovered during routine surveillance sampling, conducted by a state partner.

The chicken nuggets in question were produced on Monday, Feb. 10, 2026. The specific items in question are

"29-oz. plastic bags containing approx. 36 GREAT VALUE FULLY COOKED DINO SHAPED CHICKEN BREAST NUGGETS with BEST IF USED BY date FEB 10 2027, lot code 0416DPO1215, and establishment number P44164 printed on the back of the bag."

These items were shipped to Walmart locations nationwide.

If you bought these nuggets, do not consume them, as health officials are asking that you either throw them out or return them.

If you have any food safety questions, you can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. You can also report a problem with a meat, poultry or egg product at this link.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office in South Florida on Thursday released body camera video showing the moments after golfing legend Tiger Woods crashed his Range Rover on Jupiter Island last week, prompting his arrest on suspicion of DUI.

WATCH BELOW: Tiger Woods DUI arrest captured on body cam video

Tiger Woods DUI arrest captured on body cam video

The incident occurred Friday at about 2 p.m., when Woods was driving behind a truck with a trailer. When the trailer slowed, Woods attempted to pass, crossing over a double solid line into oncoming traffic. The front-right of his SUV collided with the trailer's left rear fender, flipping onto the driver's side.

The arrest affidavit stated that Woods told the responding deputy that he had looked down at his cellphone and did not realize the trailer had slowed. The truck driver confirmed he was slowing to make a right turn into a driveway with his turn signal on, and said Woods' SUV must not have seen him.

According to the report, after the crash, the truck driver helped Woods out of his vehicle. Woods appeared lethargic and moved slowly but was "extremely alert" during the investigation.

The deputy observed "several signs of impairment", including profuse sweating and difficulty performing coordination tests. Woods reportedly had hiccups throughout the investigation.

Video released Thursday showed a law enforcement officer who responded to the scene asking Woods if he was in any type of pain after the crash.

"Nope," Woods replied.

The arrest report said Woods, wearing a compression sock on his right knee, appeared to limp and stumble during a field sobriety test. He told the deputy he's had seven back surgeries and over 20 operations on his leg, and his ankle seizes while walking.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Tiger Woods undergoes seventh back surgery in 11 years to replace collapsed disk

When asked to remove his sunglasses, the deputy noted that Woods' eyes were "bloodshot and glassy" with dilated pupils.

Woods stated he had not consumed alcohol, but when asked if he had consumed any prescription medication, he stated: "I take a few."

During a search, deputies found two pills of hydrocodone in Woods' pocket, and Woods refused to provide a urine sample. The deputy concluded that Woods normal faculties were impaired, making him unable to operate a vehicle safely.

RELATED STORY | Tiger Woods says he'll seek treatment after rollover crash and DUI arrest

Woods faces charges of DUI with property damage and refusal to submit a breath test. He posted $1,150 bail and left custody at about 11 p.m. Friday.

According to court records filed Tuesday, Woods submitted a written plea of not guilty and a waiver of arraignment. A Martin County judge on Wednesday granted a motion for Woods to travel out of the country to seek treatment.

An arraignment hearing was scheduled for Woods on April 23. A docket sounding is set for May 5.

This story was originally published by Scott Sutton with the

Scripps News Group in West Palm Beach.

Many businesses will close Sunday for Easter, a holiday celebrated by about 80% of Americans, according to the National Retail Federation.

Because Easter falls on a Sunday, many government offices including post offices and other nonessential services will be closed.

RELATED STORY | These pink deviled eggs are a twist on an Easter classic

Retailers and restaurant chains have mixed plans, with some open and others shuttered for the holiday. Hours may vary at locations that remain open, so check with individual stores before heading out.

Open on Easter

CVS Dollar General Dollar Tree Food Lion Giant Food Home Depot Kroger and its family of stores, including Bakers, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foods Co, Fred Meyer, Frys, Gerbes, Jay C Food Store, King Soopers, Kroger Marketplace, Marianos, Metro Market, Pay-Less Super Markets, Pick n Save, QFC, Ralphs, Ruler, and Smiths Food and Drug McDonalds Pizza Hut Raleys and Bel Air Safeway and its family of stores, including Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Vons, and Tom Thumb Sprouts Farmers Market Starbucks Trader Joes Walgreens Walmart Wegmans Whole Foods WinCo

RELATED STORY | Transform your Easter brunch with a spiral quiche

Closed on Easter

Aldi Apple Costco Lowes Macys Publix Sams Club Target TJ Maxx

As the war in Iran continues, and with President Donald Trump suggesting strikes could continue for weeks, gas prices hit another recent high Thursday.

According to AAA, a gallon of regular gas now averages $4.08 in the U.S., the highest in four years. Gas prices surged above $4 a gallon in the months following the start of the Ukraine-Russia conflict in 2022.

During that conflict, prices briefly hit $5.02 a gallon the only time in U.S. history the national average has topped $5. Patrick De Haan of GasBuddy said prices will likely range between 4.25 and $4.45 a gallon, but he could not rule out a further jump into record territory.

RELATED STORY | Gas prices near $4 a gallon as the ongoing war in Iran limits oil movement in the Strait of Hormuz

Consumers have only seen the $4-a-gallon average reached nationally for 157 days, going back to 2009. So, this is starting to get into a consumer mindset an uncomfortable level, he said. And while many Americans have increased median incomes compared to what they did in 2009 and 2022, it still is uncomfortable for many consumers seeing the dollar amounts on those gas pumps going up much faster than gallons.

He also expects diesel prices to hit $6.05 a gallon, which would set a record. High diesel costs could trickle down into higher prices for consumers.

Crude oil prices surged Thursday morning as Iran continues to limit shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, where nearly 20% of the worlds oil supply passes.

Although the U.S. produces more oil than it consumes, oil is traded globally, and tighter global supply is driving prices higher.

RELATED STORY | How long could gas prices stay high? Forecasting the Iran war

Trump addressed rising gas prices during his prime-time address from the White House on Wednesday.

Many Americans have been concerned to see the recent rise in gasoline prices here at home. This short-term increase has been entirely the result of the Iranian regime launching deranged terror attacks against commercial oil tankers in neighboring countries that have nothing to do with the conflict, he said.

Would you like your poetry, fiction, or art to be published in the Detroit Metro Times in print and online to over 700,000 readers? Would you like one of 20 opportunities to win a $100 VISA gift card? Are you a Metro-Detroit youth with something to say? Detroit Lit is seeking art, poetry, and fiction […]

The post Metro Times seeks Detroit-area youth to feature in our 2026 Fiction Issue appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.

President Donald Trump said he will soon sign an order to ensure all Department of Homeland Security employees are paid, as the partial government shutdown continues.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said DHS workers and their families have suffered far too long and pledged that help is on the way for employees who have continued working without pay.

RELATED STORY | Trump directs DHS to 'immediately pay' TSA agents impacted by government shutdown

Trump did not give specifics about the order or when it would go into effect. Last week, he signed an executive order directing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to pay Transportation Security Administration agents, who had been working without pay since Feb. 14. While most TSA employees have since received at least one paycheck, workers at other DHS agencies including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Secret Service remain unpaid.

RELATED STORY | Republican leaders in Congress say they'll pursue a path to ending the Homeland Security shutdown

Meanwhile, congressional Republicans are working on a plan to restore funding for DHS. Republican leaders say they will fully fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, excluding ICE and Border Patrol, while moving quickly on separate legislation to provide longer-term funding for those agencies.

However, efforts to advance funding stalled Thursday, as the Senate passed a DHS funding bill without immigration enforcement funding, while the House took no action.

Democrats have blocked funding for DHS for more than a month, citing concerns over policies involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They have called for agents to operate without masks, display identification and avoid enforcement actions near sensitive locations such as hospitals and schools.

Two-year-old Bain Brandon has Type 1 diabetes and needs insulin to live. But even with health insurance, the price tag isnt cheap.

A one-month supply of insulin vials and a three-month supply of backup pens for the Mississippi toddler cost his parents $194 last week, according to his mom, 29-year-old Marlee Brandon. They can afford it right now but she worries about the future.

Related: Diabetes Awareness Month: How Breakthrough T1D is working to get people screened & find a cure

One day, Bain will be an adult, and he wont be able to be on our insurance anymore, she said. I feel like a lot of people dont realize how much and how expensive it is.

A bipartisan group of senators is aiming to relieve that cost burden with the INSULIN Act, a bill to cap the cost of the lifesaving drug at $35 per month for Americans with private insurance plans. The bill, introduced last week by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-Maine, Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and John Kennedy, R-La., would also start a pilot program to provide more affordable insulin to uninsured Americans in 10 states. A somewhat similar bill passed in 2022, as part of the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act, a sweeping package from Democrats that successfully capped the drug at $35 per month for older adults on Medicare.

Related: 3 a.m. alarms & daily concerns: My experience as a caregiver for my wife living with type 1 diabetes

The legislation, the latest in a long effort by some lawmakers of both parties to rein in the price of insulin, faces many hurdles, including concerns about the cost and other competing congressional priorities. Still, with Trump in the White House and Congress now controlled by his Republican Party, it creates an opportunity for a rare bipartisan victory on health affordability in a year when rising health care costs are a concern for voters of both parties.

Out-of-pocket costs for insulin, a vital drug for millions, vary widely

About 8.1 million people in the U.S. use insulin, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That includes more than 2 million who have Type 1 diabetes and will die without regular access to insulin. The drug also helps control glucose levels for people with other types of diabetes.

But the price of insulin can vary widely. While some people with private insurance pay zero or very little, others pay hundreds of dollars each month on top of other costs for their diabetes, like pumps, blood glucose sensors and other supplies.

In addition to the 2022 law lowering out-of-pocket costs on insulin for Medicare beneficiaries, more than half of states in recent years have passed their own insulin co-pay caps, ranging between $25 and $100 per month for patients with state-regulated insurance plans.

Major insulin makers Eli Lilly, Sanofi and Novo Nordisk also have moved to cut the cost of insulin, with different combinations of cutting list prices, capping out-of-pocket costs and expanding affordability.

Still, not all patients are accessing lower prices. About 57% of Americans with private health insurance have self-insured plans that states cant regulate, according to Matthew Fiedler, a senior fellow with the Center on Health Policy at the Brookings Institution. That means they are left out of state cost-cap bills. Some patients are also uninsured, or have difficulty with manufacturers cost savings programs.

It puts the onus on the patient, I think, to try to navigate and get the cost down, said Dr. Leslie Eiland, an adult endocrinologist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, who is advocating with the Endocrine Society for the latest bill.

Oliver Bogillot, Sanofis head of general medicines for North America, said in a statement that no one should struggle to afford their insulin and touted the companys savings program that includes people without health insurance. Flavia Brakling, a spokesperson for Novo Nordisk, said expanding affordable access to medicine is a priority and noted the company hasnt raised list prices for its insulin products for 2026.

Chanse Jones, a spokesperson for the leading trade association for pharmaceutical companies, PhRMA, said pharmacy benefit managers and insurers are creating access and affordability barriers for patients even as manufacturers try to expand access.

We look forward to working with policymakers to ensure middlemen dont stand between patients and their medicines, he said.

Efforts to pass similar bills havent succeeded

While the new INSULIN Act has bipartisan support, it would not be the first time such legislation seemed to have momentum, only to fail.

In 2022, the House passed a $35 monthly insulin cap that would have applied to Americans with private insurance, but it didnt pass the Senate.

A similar attempt to include it in the Democrats Inflation Reduction Act that year ultimately failed after Republicans opposed it, saying it was attempted in a way that violated Senate rules.

Diabetes patients and advocates hold on to hope

Breana Glover, a 23-year-old restaurant server in Houston, moved to Texas from California because she needed cheaper living expenses to cover the high health costs associated with her Type 1 diabetes.

Paying for her insulin and other supplies is a balancing act. To afford her $50 co-pay for four vials of insulin, she limits her carbohydrate intake. That way, she can use less insulin each day and make it last longer.

Glover said a $35 per month cap would be a small step towards everything becoming even more accessible, in addition to helping her cover items like groceries and gas.

Advocates expect the young adult population to especially benefit from the bill, since many struggle to get high-quality health insurance plans or any insurance at all if they arent able to access plans through parents, said Manny Hernandez, CEO of The Diabetes Link, a national nonprofit for young adults with diabetes.

Hernandez said he was encouraged by recent meetings with Republican members of Congress from his home state, Florida, but worries other priorities will drown out the bill, as has happened in the past.

Theres many distractions and theres many important things going on, he said. But I dont lose hope.

The launch of Artemis II Wednesday evening, marking humanitys return to the moon, was largely a success, but there was one stinky problem inside the Orion spacecraft.

As astronauts performed a burn to adjust the spacecrafts altitude while orbiting Earth, the crew noticed a blinking fault light on the toilet. NASA officials said the toilet appeared to be jammed after liftoff.

The crew and ground teams resolved the issue within several hours.

RELATED STORY | Artemis II astronauts lift off for historic mission around the moon

It was among several problems NASA addressed after liftoff.

We had a controller issue with the toilet when they spun it up, so we've got to work through that, NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya said.

He also noted communications were briefly intermittent and that a water tank was temporarily closed due to the shaking of the spacecraft.

The new toilet system, officially named the Universal Waste Management System, is far different from the one Apollo astronauts used on their journeys to the moon. Apollo astronauts urinated into diapers and bags, and stored solid waste in bags mixed with bactericide to bring back to Earth.

Orions toilet uses airflow to pull fluid and solid waste away from the body and into the proper containers. NASA says the toilet also has an automatic airflow feature that helps control odor.

Pretreated urine, which prevents the generation of ammonia from the breakdown of the urine, is stored in a urine tank and then vented overboard each day by the crew, much like the space shuttle, NASA said. Solid waste is collected in fecal canisters, which the crew replaces every few days, and stored in Orion for the 21-day mission. The canisters have filtered caps to control odor and gas buildup generated within the cans.

RELATED STORY | Artemis II to take 4 astronauts farther from Earth than ever before

The four-person crew is spending most of Thursday in low-Earth orbit. Thursday evening, the astronauts will perform a burn to leave low-Earth orbit and head toward the moon.

The astronauts are expected to reach the far side of the moon Monday before using a slingshot maneuver to return to Earth.

A quadruple amputee professional cornhole player acted in self-defense when he shot and killed a passenger in his Tesla during a heated argument, his attorney said Wednesday.

Dayton James Webber, 27, appeared in Charles County District Court via videoconference for the bail review Wednesday, where Judge Patrick Devine noted that he left Maryland after the March 22 shooting of 27-year-old Bradrick Michael Wells and ordered Webber to remain jailed without bail.

Webber, who was extradited from Virginia and is charged with first- and second-degree murder, hasn't entered a plea yet and is due in court for a May 6 preliminary hearing. He also faces assault and firearm charges.

Defense attorney Andrew Jezic told the court that Webber acted in self-defense and that he anticipates "a lengthy trial" to prove it.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Quadruple amputee athlete accused of fatally shooting man during argument

After the hearing, Jezic told reporters that his client was "terrified."

"The truth here is that he would have been a murder victim if he had not acted immediately in defense of his life," Jezic said.

Family members of Webber declined to comment after the hearing.

Webber, whose arms and legs were amputated when he was 10 months old to save his life after he contracted a serious blood infection, is accused of shooting Wells, of Waldorf, twice in the head during an argument, according to police charging documents.

Karen Piper Mitchell, a deputy state's attorney, said witnesses in the car told authorities the argument was over a gun that a friend of Wells had stolen from Webber, and that Webber was upset Wells was still friends with the thief.

She said Webber and Wells had a history of arguing, including a 2024 incident in which Webber ordered Wells to leave his home. While Wells was leaving, Mitchell said Webber fired a shot from a second floor window. Jezic said Webber fired into the air.

In arguing that Webber should remain in custody, Mitchell noted that he drove to Virginia after the shooting and owns firearms.

ICYMI | Utah investigators confirm woman found dead in 1974 was a victim of serial killer Ted Bundy

Authorities haven't publicly addressed whether the vehicle's cameras captured any of what happened or whether self-driving functionality was in use in the Tesla when the shooting occurred.

According to the charging documents, Webber pulled over after the shooting in La Plata, Maryland, and asked two backseat passengers to help pull the victim out, but they refused, got out of the car and flagged down police officers.

Webber fled with the victim still in the car, the Charles County sheriff's office said. Two hours later, a resident in Charlotte Hall, about 10 miles (16-kilometer) away, found Wells' body in a yard along a road and notified officers.

Detectives tracked down Webber's car in Charlottesville, Virginia, and found Webber at a hospital where he was "seeking treatment for a medical issue," the sheriff's office said.

ICYMI | Kentucky man who won Powerball last year arrested for allegedly stealing cash from a home

Webber was featured by ESPN in 2023 in a story of inspiration, noting he rode dirt bikes, wrestled and played football before becoming a professional cornhole player. The same year, he wrote an essay for the "Today" show about how he became a professional competitor. He said he learned to grab the bean bag by the corners and throw it using his amputated arms.

A YouTube video posted two years ago shows Webber loading and firing a handgun.

Major League Soccer is making its return to Keyworth Stadium as the Chicago Fire FC will face Detroit City FC in the Round of 32 for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

It's the latest matchup between Detroit City FC, which is in the USL Championship league, and the top-tier MLS. In 2024, Detroit knocked out U.S. Open Cup defending champs Houston Dynamo in the Round of 32 before losing to Indy Eleven in the Round of 16.

DCFC faced Chicago last year in the round of 32 for the U.S. Open Cup but lost 4-0, and also lost 3-1 to Minnesota United FC of the MLS in the Third Round in 2023.

In 2022, Le Rouge upset the Columbus Crew at Keyworth Stadium 2-1 in what was the first time the top-tier league came to Hamtramck.

The game will be played either Tuesday, April 14 or Wednesday, April 15, and tickets go on sale Monday at 2 p.m.

The post Metro Events Guide: Envelop yourself in the elegant and strange this week in Metro Detroit. appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The first-ever two-day hot sauce festival is coming to Detroit this summer, presented by the Masonic Temple and 2 Dogs Hot Sauce.

The festival will take place at the Masonic Temple on Aug. 1 and 2, and people attending can sample a variety of hot sauces, plus enjoy spicy challenges, games, live music and hands-on classes.

According to the 2 Dogs Hot Sauce website, the company was created in Ferndale by Brian Jones and his collaborator, Todd Larson. The company is gluten-free and vegan-friendly.

General admission ticket start at $20 and include admission and all the free samples of hot sauce. You can upgrade to a silver ticket for $40 which includes a GA ticket and a tote bag with goodies. There's also a gold VIP ticket for $80 that includes the silver ticket plus a t-shirt.

For more information, visit the festival's website.

A woman who vanished as a 13-year-old in Arizona more than 30 years ago has been found alive. Christina Maria Plante disappeared in 1994 after leaving her home to visit her horse at a nearby stable.

The sheriff's office said the search came to an end after exhausting numerous resources in trying to find her.

"Christina was reported missing after she vanished without a trace from her community. At the time of her disappearance, extensive search efforts were conducted involving local law enforcement, volunteers, and regional resources. Despite exhaustive ground searches, interviews, and investigative follow-up, no viable leads were developed," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

RELATED STORY | Missing US students body found in Barcelona

The Gila County Sheriffs Office cold case unit recently located her but is not releasing details to protect her privacy.

The sheriff's office said it periodically reviews cold cases, and now considers this one resolved after confirming her identity.

"This case underscores the importance of cold case review initiatives and the impact of evolving technology in bringing long-awaited answers to families and communities. The Sheriff's Office extends its gratitude to the investigators, analysts, partner agencies, and community members who contributed to keeping this case active over the decades," the office said.

RELATED STORY | Savannah Guthrie rejoining Today amid search for missing mother

Democrats sued Wednesday to block President Donald Trump's latest executive order restricting mail voting, arguing that the U.S. Constitution empowers states and Congress, not the president, to determine who is eligible to vote by mail.

The lawsuit marks the second round of battles over the president's power to control elections. Trump's opponents handily won the first round last year, blocking his initial executive order intended to reshape election procedures by convincing multiple federal judges that it was likely unconstitutional.

Trump on Tuesday announced that his administration would compile lists of who is eligible to vote in states and that the U.S. Postal Service would only mail ballots to those who met that criteria. Critics note that there's little time to comb through voter rolls before ballots start going out for this fall's elections, in some places as soon as September, and question whether the administration's list would be reliable.

RELATED STORY | Trump signs executive order tightening mail-in voting rules

The lawsuit was filed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic National Committee and other party organizations working on campaigns for the House, Senate and governor offices around the country. Trump is one of the defendants, along with top administration officials.

"We will see him in court and we will beat him again," Schumer said in a statement.

Democrats said Trump was attempting to strike at the heart of America's democratic machinery.

President Trump has tried again and again to rewrite election rules for his own perceived partisan advantage, their lawsuit said. It adds that our Constitutions Framers anticipated this kind of desire for absolute power, dispersing the power to control elections to individual states and Congress.

Mail voting has existed for more than a century and had steadily been increasing in popularity in both Democratic and Republican states until 2020. Then Trump decided to target the method, levying baseless claims of mass fraud. As a result, it's become less popular among Republicans and more among Democrats, giving Trump additional incentive to throttle it before midterm elections that will determine whether his party continues to control Congress.

Trump himself often votes by mail, as recently as in a special election in Florida last month.

Since he returned to office, Trump has tried to interfere in state-run elections, citing often-disproven falsehoods about how fraud cost him the presidency in 2020. Repeated investigations, including ones by Republicans, showed no significant fraud in the 2020 vote.

RELATED STORY | 'Because I'm president': Trump defends casting mailin ballot ahead of election

Nonetheless, Trump has called for his administration to take over voting in Democratic areas, launched a probe of the 2020 vote fueled by election conspiracy theories and unsuccessfully pushed Congress to pass a law that would create new hurdles on voting, including a requirement that people provide in-person, documentary proof of citizenship when registering. That bill has stalled in the U.S. Senate over Democratic opposition.

More American consumers are taking on personal loans, with one in three or 38 percent now holding one and the average balance topping $19,000, according to new data from Experian.

The data shows a growing trend over the past decade. While the number of people taking out personal loans has jumped, the delinquency rate for these loans has stayed steady over the past two years at just around four percent.

RELATED STORY | Six in 10 parents in debt just to support their kids, survey finds

Higher prices for everyday expenses are pushing people to borrow more, and many consumers feel their wages are not keeping up. Four in 10 consumers say they are more likely to get a personal loan this year due to economic conditions over the last 12 months.

Many Americans are borrowing just to keep up, according to economics professor Michael Snipe.

"Whenever you see a spike in loans, that's an indication that consumers are struggling," Snipe said.

"That's an indication that there's a gap between their wages and their income and their spending," Snipe said.

"If wages aren't going up, that's gonna have to get made up in taking on debt," Snipe said.

Despite the economic circumstances, personal loans can often be a smart financial tool, according to personal finance expert Erica Sandberg.

"Personal loans are very positive under certain circumstances. They're a great strategy to get out of debt, but also to pay for things in an installment type of arrangement," Sandberg said.

RELATED STORY | Auto loan delinquencies on the rise: Here's what that means for the economy

One of the most common uses is consolidating debt, which includes paying off credit cards. Credit card interest rates can top 20 percent.

Miranda Valencia is a mother of six who has struggled with credit card debt in the past and consolidated her debt to pay it off.

"Such high interest rates, youre never able to get on top of payments, because youre just making the minimum payment," Valencia said.

"It's often much higher than 20 percent, 24 percent, 26 percent higher. Whereas a personal loan tends to be much, you know, a much lower rate. So you're having a big difference right there. So it's a lot less expensive," Sandberg said.

The lower rate paired with fixed monthly payments can make it easier for borrowers to dig out of debt. But there are risks, too.

"These are not something that you would take on lightly. It needs to be part of an overall personal finance strategy," Sandberg said.

A man was investigated by authorities after allegedly threatening to shoot and stab students at Adrian College on Wednesday night, the Adrian Police Department tells us, before the man was ultimately released.

Police responded to the campus just after 7 p.m. yesterday (April 1) to a report of a man in ski mask making threats. Campus Safety called for a general lockdown of the campus as this was happening.

With the help of Michigan State Police, the Adrian Township Police and Lenawee County Sheriff's Office, a perimeter was set up near Pellowe Hall and Arrington Ice Arena.

Once investigators determined the man's identity, they expanded the search and found the man. He was interviewed and consented to be searched, with no weapons being found.

The suspect was released by police, pending a charging decision by the Lenawee County Prosecutor's Office. Police say there is no ongoing threat to public safety, and Adrian College is back to operating as normal.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the Adrian Police Department at (517)264-4808, or email info to APDTips@adrianmi.gov.

More retirees are returning to the workforce to keep up with rising costs, stay busy, and give back to their communities.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report Detroit retirees are returning to the workforce to combat rising costs and give back to the community

After retiring from Ford in 2019, Bill Greer found himself wanting to do more. He connected with the Detroit Area Agency on Aging to figure out his next steps.

Yeah, after Covid, Im looking at people going to work and coming home, and I didn't have that... I knew there was something inside me, something left, something new that I wanted to explore, Greer said.

Greer previously worked in local television in Detroit for 15 years, doing camera and audio work before his career at Ford.

I knew I had a lot left in the tank, so to speak, so thats one of the reasons I pursued it, Greer said.

Greer now works part-time as a digital navigator at Saint Patricks Senior Center in Detroit, where he helps seniors improve their technology skills.

Lonnie Lacey of Detroit is one of the seniors learning from Greer.

I tell everyone Im a real-life Flintstone, but I want to become a Jetson, Lacey said.

Gwendolyn Taylor, a registered nurse from Macomb Township, attended this digital course as well.

Im 75 years old, so they didnt have computers, they didnt have cell phones. So, learning this makes it better for me because Im not good at the computers, Taylor said.

Rashonda Dawson works with the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) at the Detroit Area Agency on Aging. The program helps adults 55 and older gain training and employment.

We know employers now are looking for persons who have computer skills, just the basic computer skills, Dawson said. "We know the market is competitive because you have your younger generation that's out there as well. However, the one thing that I admire about the seniors is their dedication."

Dawson noted that many seniors are re-entering the workforce for financial reasons. But she says others "un-retire" for mental stimulation and social connections.

Supplemental income is No. 1, with the increase of groceries, and just day-to-day living, you know things have gone up, Dawson said.

The program has a 75-80 percent placement rate and partners with host sites across Detroit, including Saint Patrick's Senior Center. The program helped Greer find his current path, and he is now training to become a health worker thanks to the partnership between St. Pat's and Wayne State University.

I didnt know which way to go until I ran into the SCSEP program, and kind of helped me find my direction, Greer said.

For more information, individuals can contact the Detroit Area Agency on Aging directly at this link.

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.

President Trump says he won't intervene at the Strait of Hormuz, which sent the energy market reeling. In the minutes after his speech on Wednesday night ended, Brent Crude spiked to more than $105/barrel; that's more than a four percent hike.

We're been monitoring national gas prices since the conflict began, and prices are once again on the rise. The average cost for a gallon of unleaded has surged above $4, and it's sitting at $4.08 right now. Drivers here in Michigan are seeing some relief, as the statewide average is back below $4. It's sitting at $3.89, only a penny difference from yesterday, with metro Detroit drivers paying $3.88.

We've been searching for the cheapest gas prices, and we've spoken to drivers to see if they've seen any good deals.

Watch Ryan's report in the video player below Finding the cheapest gas prices in metro Detroit

We have been able to find some decent deals. At the SNK Gas Station on the corner of Michigan Avenue and South Merriman Road in Inkster, it's $3.29 for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel. That's the lowest that we could see when we checked the Gas Buddy app on our phones, and many drivers are actively trying to cut their gas bills to keep more money in their pockets.

Driving is an essential part of the job for Detroiters Kyle Lucas and Keiran Respress.

I work for myself. And, I go in clubs and take pictures. I do it like that so I can print them out for you," Lucas said.

For me, I primarily drive for work. So, I really cant cut no corners. I gotta drive. Im, you know, doing deliveries, things like that," Respress said.

Both entrepreneurs say higher gas prices cut into their bottom line. The average price for gallon of regular unleaded in Michigan had soared to over $4 last week. But according to AAA, gas prices have relaxed a bit. That statewide average ($3.89) is down 16 cents from a week ago, but still nearly a dollar higher than last month at $2.99/gallon.

I dont really see the prices dropping too much. Im actually seeing them the more I get closer to the suburbs," Respress said.

For me, I probably run through like 60 bucks every two or three days on gas. So, Im spending like roughly $400 or $500 a month on gas, which is a lot. Thats like half an apartment, half a bill," Lucas said.

That's a reality many local motorists are facing. And for those like Keiran and Kyle, the search for the cheapest gas in town has become priority number one.

Fortunately, I know this is usually the cheapest in the area," Respress said, referring to the BP at Telegraph and Fenkell in Detroit. "So, you know, I constantly come back here. Where I work at, its a lot higher. So, I make the commute to make sure I get the cheaper prices.

I would drive a little distance if it was cheaper, not likelike if its an hour drive, of course, Ill just pay the full price," Lucas said. "But, if its something like quick, Ill drive the distance for cheaper gas for sure.

While those two will travel for the cheapest gas, some people we talked to said "why burn extra gas to get gas?" They'd rather grin and bear it from where they're at, as everybody's strategy is certainly different.