SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WXYZ) — AAA said the average price of a gallon of regular gas hit $4.58 on Thursday, setting a new record high in the U.S. Could prices be headed even higher to more than $6 a gallon? JP Morgan analysts think so.

JP Morgan analysts are warning as global demand for oil surges due to the war in Ukraine, oil companies in the U.S. are selling more gas to other countries.

“Typically, refiners produce more gasoline ahead of the summer road-trip season, building up inventories. But this year, since mid-April, U.S. gasoline inventories have fallen counter seasonally and today sit at the lowest seasonal levels since 2019,” said the JP Morgan Global Commodities Oil Flashnote, published this week.

“If exports persist at this elevated pace and refinery runs — already near the top of the range for reasonable utilization rates — fall within our expectations, gasoline inventories could continue to draw to levels well below 2008 lows and retail gasoline prices could climb to $6/gal or even higher,” the report warned.

Three economics experts weighed in on the report and offered varied opinions.

University of Michigan Economic Forecaster Gabriel Ehrlich is optimistic that prices will not go that high.

“That kind of prediction gets a lot of attention. My prediction is we won’t get that high this summer,” said Ehrlich.

University of Central Florida Economic forecaster Sean Snaith is less optimistic.

“I think $5 is likely and $6 is not out of the question,” said Snaith.

“It is tough to know what to expect,” said Nicholas Juhle, Greenleaf Trust Chief Investment Officer. “It is important to understand that crude oil prices account for about 60% of the cost of a gallon of gas you buy at the pump.”

So what drives crude oil prices? Economists say it is about global supply and demand. There are many unknowns that could impact supply and demand in the coming months.

One of those unknowns is war. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine took a lot of supply out of the market.

“We don’t know how the war is going to unfold. Is it going to be prolonged? Will it end soon? Will Russia escalate the war? Certainly, the risks surrounding that are a big part of why prices are so high right now and why there is a risk they could go even higher,” said Ehrlich.

The International Energy Agency says Russia is the world’s third-largest oil producer behind the United States and Saudi Arabia. Before the invasion, it was the second-largest crude oil exporter in the world, behind Saudi Arabia.

“If we find ourselves not only in a war but in World War III, with additional participants, additional sanctions go on, the entire European Union bans energy from Russia. You kind of go down a list of how bad it could get,” said Juhle.

Another unknown is just how much an increase in gas prices will decrease demand and increase supply. So far domestic oil companies and OPEC have not ramped up production.

“Two of the swing producers we would typically expect to make up that supply are not responding in a big way right now. OPEC has been very reluctant to increase supply quickly. And normally we would look to them to increase oil supply. And then in the United States shale oil producers have been reluctant to expand drilling activity,” said Ehrlich. “So, one of the reasons it is tough to predict what is going to happen with prices is we haven’t seen the suppliers react to the high prices we already have.”

Ehrlich says the reason is that oil producers have been recently “burned” by a roller coaster of pricing levels. Oil prices plummeted during the pandemic. The higher prices right now are resulting in high profits. Expanding drilling would require investment.

Snaith says the U.S. and other nations have sent a message that fossil fuel is not a long-term solution, given the concerns about climate change. He says this affects confidence in the oil market’s value as companies consider investing to increase supply.

“The harsh rhetoric and some of these policy actions of the Biden administration have some of these drillers hesitant,” said Snaith.

Another unknown is the weather. Will hurricane season be bad?

“If we were to have a massive hurricane down on the gulf coast, which could take our oil platforms and refineries offline, both of those things would have an upward effect on gas prices at the pumps,” said Juhle.

This article was written by Kim Russell for WXYZ.

DETROIT  — A Michigan woman was charged with the death of her 3-year-old son after police found the boy’s decomposing body in a freezer inside a Detroit home.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Azuradee France, 31, with first-degree murder, child abuse, torture, and concealing the death of an individual.

WXYZ has learned the mother charged with killing her 3-year-old son has a history of abusing children, according to the family.

Officers were dispatched to the home for a wellness check on a child on June 24, just after midnight.

Police discovered the remains of a deceased child in the freezer.

An investigation identified France as the mother of the deceased 3-year-old child.

The medical examiner has determined that his death was a homicide.

The case remains under investigation.

All facts and evidence will be placed on the record at the preliminary examination, Worthy says.

“The alleged facts in this case have astounded even the seriously jaded. Our children continue to be at risk, not just from gun violence but also from the alleged murderer that lives in the house with them,” said Prosecutor Kym Worthy.

France has been charged with felony murder, first degree child abuse, torture and concealing the death of an individual.

She was arraigned and remanded to jail.

Frances' next court appearance is on July 8.

Alisha Dixon at WXYZ first reported this story.

DETROIT  — Detroit police say reckless gun ownership resulted in two kids being shot in two separate incidents over the weekend.

According to police, a 14-year-old girl died Sunday when she was accidentally shot inside an apartment building along Detroit's riverfront.

A group of teens were inside one of the apartment buildings when one of the teenage boys had a gun and it went off accidentally, police said.

Officers said the teens fled the scene.

The second shooting incident also happened Sunday when police say a 12-year-old was accidentally shot by his brother.

According to police, the two brothers – ages 12 and 14 – were pushing a go-kart down the sidewalk with an Uzi-style gun.

The 14-year-old told police a dog came out of the bushes, and to protect themselves, he shot at the dog.

However, the 14-year-old missed hitting the dog and struck his 12-year-old brother in the ankle.

Police said the 12-year-old was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

In 2021 alone, Detroit reported 85 minors shot. This year, the number is already in the double digits.

"I've lost count. The citizens of this city should just be outraged. It's horrible that I've lost count. We're talking July of 2022," Assistant chief Charles Fitzgerald said.

He says he's sick of seeing kids get hurt by guns they shouldn't have.

"Not sure why a 12 and 14-year-old have an uzi-style gun in their possession for any reason," Fitzgerald said.

He says the older boy told police they were startled by a dog. He shot the gun to protect his brother but instead shot him.

Carol Orr, who lives close by, says parents need to pay more attention.

"If it happened to my son, my children, my grandkids, I would be devastated," she said.

Fitzgerald's message to parents: lock up your guns and keep an eye on your kids.

Authorities are sounding the alarm about yet another scam. Scammers are pretending to be law enforcement and are threatening arrest for past violations unless victims pay money.

Macomb County Sheriff public information officer Sergeant Renee Yax knows all too well what is going on.

“I would say the scams are becoming a more prominent report that we’re taking lately. And the scam artists are getting much more proficient in what they do,” said Sergeant Renee Yax, a Michigan sheriff's public information officer.

She says they have a number of tricks up their sleeve.

“We find that the scam artists are able to spoof our phone number. So therefore when the numbers comes up on the victim’s caller ID, it shows Macomb County Sheriff’s Office,” Yax said. “They’re good too. They’re doing their research before they’re calling these people. I mean most people don’t know that information is easily available online.”

Zach didn’t. And he was nearly a victim.

“I didn’t answer the call. And then they left me a voicemail. And there was a detailed message with callback numbers in the voicemail,” Zach explained.

He called back. The woman on the other end said she was with pretrial claims services. Then the threats came flying at him.

“They’re going to send police to my house, and I’m going to have a warrant for my arrest, and they’re going to garnish my wages. I mean, everything,” said Zach detailing the threats.

What did they want? Money, of course.

“They actually told me they wanted $1,100,” explained Zach.

He said he almost gave his credit card information over the phone. However, some details the woman on the other end gave didn’t add up. Still, she knew lots about him, like previous addresses. She even called his dad and stepmom.

“That information, however they obtained that information, is very unsettling,” said Zach.

Sergeant Yax said it is easy to find public information on people. She explained one group being targeted by the scammers are sex offenders.

“You can give an address and it will search a certain radius to show you where any registered sex offenders are,” said Yax, showing how the names then pop up on screen.

She explained the scammer can google those names for even more personal information.

Alan Castel, a Professor of psychology at UCLA, started studying how older people could fall for scams. However, he quickly realized anyone can be victimized.

“We all have our insecurities and that’s what makes us kind of prone to being targeted for scams and fraud,” said Castel.

He detailed the core of the scammers’ techniques.

“They really try and take advantage of your emotions. So really trying to put you in stressful situations, making you rush to make decisions,” Castel explained.

He said people who have had prior run-ins with the law are more not necessarily more at risk of being scammed.

“Just because you’ve had some prior criminal history or any history doesn’t make you any more or less susceptible. It’s just that this information is being used against you to try and target your money or your time,” said Castel.

He said the best thing people can do is speak up.

“You shouldn’t feel ashamed because other people are in the same boat. And in fact you might be helping them by telling them about this scam that’s out there. So you might actually be helping other people so they don’t fall for the same scam in the future,” said Castel.

That’s why Zach is sharing his story.

“It’s hard to trick me. You know I’m very perspicacious so it’s very hard. They almost got me. And if they almost got me, odds are they’ve gotten, who knows, maybe millions of people,” said Zach.

This story was originally published by WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan.

If you're one of many that enjoy watching the classic Peanuts holiday specials, you're only going to find them on Apple TV+ this year.

However, you won't have to pay for the service to watch "It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving," or "A Charlie Brown Christmas." But there is a catch for non-subscribers - you will have to catch the three specials during a short window surrounding the holiday they celebrate.

According to Apple, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” will be available Oct. 28-31; “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” will be available Nov. 23-27; and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be available Dec. 22-25.

The traditional holiday specials have been part of the Apple TV+ lineup since 2020. However, they were aired on PBS last year.

But last month, the PBS Kids Twitter account stated they did not have the rights to broadcast the specials this year.

Apple TV+ is the streaming home of the Peanuts, offering several Snoopy shows to subscribers, including many classic episodes as well as new content.

The streamer also announced they would be two other classic Peanuts specials on their service, "I Want a Dog for Christmas” and “Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales,” for the first time starting Dec. 2.

DETROIT (WXYZ) — Ethan Crumbley will plead guilty in the Oxford High School shooting that killed four students and injured seven others, prosecutors say.

The announcement comes days before a pre-trial hearing was set to be held. He will not plead guilty on Monday, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.

“We can confirm that the shooter is expected to plead guilty to all 24 charges, including terrorism and the prosecutor has notified the victims,” said David Williams, chief assistant prosecutor in Oakland County.

Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, is charged with one count of terrorism causing death, four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of assault with intent to murder and 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana, Madisyn Baldwin and Justin Shilling lost their lives in the shooting on Nov. 30.

The trial was originally set to begin in September, but a judge set a new trial date for Jan. 17, 2023.

Crumbley's parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, are also facing charges of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting. They reportedly bought the gun Crumbley used in the shooting.

This story was originally reported on wxyz.com.

DETROIT, Mich. (WXYZ) — Aniel Mendez got to take a break from the worries of having brain cancer to be Detroit's top cop.

“Every moment, every minute means the world right now," said the 4-year-old's father, Jorge.

Aniel rode in a SWAT vehicle, sat on a mounted unit's horse, greeted officers and checked out a fire truck.

Odessa Mitchell, an 11th Precinct neighborhood police officer, is Mendez's neighbor. That’s how the department learned about Aniel's situation.

“I’m excited. I think I’m more excited than they are," Mitchell said.

Patti Kukula, head of the Detroit Public Safety Foundation, said the initial idea for Aniel to serve as Detroit's police chief became a reality in less than 24 hours.

“I have two healthy children, and you know, you just never know what comes the next day and so we are grateful to provide this excitement for this family and a memory that they’ll cherish forever," Kukula said.

“It’s absolutely amazing what they just did for this little man. We never expected something like that and for the city to do something like that and actually care. It means a lot,” Jorge added.

Aniel started radiation therapy this week. They are holding onto their faith for the best outcome possible.

"All the prayers that anyone can do for us, (we'd) be grateful,” Aniel's mom, Abby, said.

This story was originally reported on wxyz.com.

DETROIT, Mich. — We all know words can hurt. Until recently, a 7th-grade student said he was skipping class and avoiding friends because of bullying over his hair.

It was impacting his grades and attitude until his principal, and a barber stepped in, and a simple haircut transformed his year.

Jerome Andrews goes to Fisher Magnet Upper Academy. Until recently, he was being bullied for having an afro with an irregular spot that just wouldn't grow

"It was a lot of times where they would just dog out on me. I can't do nothing because, you know, look at my hair, what can I say?" Jerome said.

He told us the insults from his classmates caused him to talk less at school and skip class, so teachers couldn't ask him to take his hat off.

"I really wanted to get my haircut, but usually, I didn't find the money to get my hair cut," Jerome said.

His principal, Dr. Shekitra Green, said she'd ask him to take off his durag dozens of times.

"Dr. Green would be right there, she would say, 'take off that hat, Jerome,' but I'd be scared to take off the hat in front of kids because I look stupid, I think I just look stupid," Jerome said.

"This one particular day, I had enough, and I said, 'That's it, Jerome, you're going home!' and he took his durag and hat off, and he looked at me," Green said. "That moment he looked at me sparked something from his eyes and told me, 'You have to do something, there's something going on.'"

Green called her barber, Khari Clipperz. He dropped what he was doing to come to help Jerome out.

"Once she explained the situation to me, I just felt like I needed to do something," Khari said.

Jerome said he was so surprised. Khari is a Detroit barber who also grew up struggling with his hair. He transformed Jerome's look, instilling confidence in every cut.

"That's why I came to cut your hair as well, because I need you back in school, I need you back in class," he said. "The whole point of this process here is to make you feel better about yourself and build that confidence up in you."

"What I really feel was like a new me," Jerome said.

Weeks later, because of the care in the chair, the seventh grader has gone up two grades in math and isn't skipping class.

I used to skip class to avoid showing my hair," Jerome said. "Now I don't do that, I run to my class to make sure I don't be late because I know Dr. Green is now playing with me."

Sarah Grimmer at WXYZ first reported this story.

NEW YORK (AP) — Detroit guard Killian Hayes and Orlando's Moritz Wagner were each given multi-game suspensions for their roles in a scuffle. At the same time, the NBA suspended eight Magic players one game apiece Thursday for leaving the bench area during an altercation.

Hayes, who struck Wagner in the back of the head, was given a three-game suspension without pay. Wagner was banned for two games, and the Pistons' Hamidou Diallo was suspended one game by NBA executive vice president Joe Dumars — the former Pistons star player and executive.

The fallout from the game in Detroit on Wednesday night was so large that the suspensions of the Magic players would be staggered, so they have enough available players to play their next game.

Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton, Gary Harris, Kevon Harris, Admiral Schofield, Franz Wagner, Mo Bamba, and Wendell Carter Jr. were all suspended for one game.

Wagner hip-checked Hayes into the Detroit bench to begin the altercation. Hayes got up and hit him in the back, and Wagner appeared to be knocked out briefly. Magic players then rushed off their bench area in concern for their teammates.

Anthony, Bamba, Carter Hampton, and Gary Harris will serve their suspensions Friday against Washington. Kevon Harris, Schofield, and Franz Wagner will be suspended for Orlando’s following game on Jan. 4 in Oklahoma City.

The 11 suspensions will result in just over $500,000 in forfeited salary. Hayes will lose the most, about $121,000.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WXYZ) — It was a busy Wednesday night for Ann Arbor, Michigan, police as they responded to more than 100 calls. Most of them were for damage caused by the ice storm, which DTE called "historic."

“For the most part of the night, we were just answering calls for downed branches, downed limbs, power lines coming down,” Ann Arbor Police officer Howard Cooper said.

Cooper had just started his 12-hour shift when he responded to a tree blocking a road. When he arrived, a driver pulled up and got out.

"A van pulled up behind me, and I was kind of turning around, waving at the van saying, 'Hey you got to turn around, sir. You got to turn around,'" Cooper recalled. "He got out and he said, ‘Why don't we try to move this tree together?' And as he kind of started walking toward me, I realized it was coach Harbaugh.”

Cooper gave Harbaugh a pair of work gloves, and the two went at it, moving the heavy branch inch by inch. They eventually were able to clear a lane for traffic.

“He started talking about football during it with the gloves and was like, 'Yeah, we got to take on a zone approach to this side of the limb,'” Cooper said.

Along with trees, the storm took down power lines across Ann Arbor. The fire department says it responded to over 300 incidents.

“It was pretty scary," Ann Arbor resident Carole Darr said after a power line came down and caught fire near her home. "I'm glad the fire department came and blocked this area off.”

The storm continued east, leaving a layer of ice throughout Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties, knocking out power to thousands more.

“It's rough — it’s rough," Karalea Williams in Waterford said. "We’re boiling water to stay warm.”

In Centerline and Warren, crews were out Thursday clearing debris. The thick ice caused damage there too.

“Broke my trampoline, there’s trees all over the road. It’s horrible over there,” said Jamie Wilmoth, who suffered damage in her yard.

With roughly 24 hours of cleanup, contractors and fire responders have been busy. Cooper was glad to have the help, and along with it is a story he’s been happy to tell.

“I just told him he was a good man for that," Cooper said of his conversation with Harbaugh. "It’s not every day you have someone so willing to hop out and help you out, so that was awesome.”

This article was written by Scripps News Detroit.

Six Giant African Snails were recently seized at Detroit Metro Airport.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the live snails were brought by a traveler who arrived in the United States from Ghana.

The snails were reportedly packed in the traveler’s suitcase.

According to CBP, the snails were meant for consumption, but pose “significant health risks to humans and the environment.”

“Our CBP officers and agriculture specialists work diligently to target, detect, and intercept potential threats before they have a chance to do harm to U.S. interests,” said Port Director Robert Larkin in a press release. “The discovery of this highly invasive pest truly benefits the health and well-being of the American people.”

Giant African Snails reportedly have an appetite that includes 500 different types of plants along with plaster and stucco. They also carry a parasitic nematode that can lead to meningitis in humans.

CBP reports that they are prohibited in the U.S.

They encourage travelers to check current regulations before trying to bring food items into the United States.

This story was originally reported by Scripps News Detroit.

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Authorities in Michigan say the fire that swept through the Oakland Hills Country Club outside Detroit on Thursday has caused "extensive" damage.

Officials say the fire started around 10 a.m., with the roof of the clubhouse collapsing around 11 a.m.

Multiple fire departments responded to the scene, including Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Southfield, Madison Heights, Waterford, Bloomfield Township and Franklin.

Officials say there are still active fires that they are working to put out, which are being made difficult by the weather conditions.

PHOTO GALLERY: FIRE AT OAKLAND HILLS

Officials say no there were no injuries in the fire.

Firefighters worked to save some items.

"They pulled that memorabilia out and handed it off to the club members at the front door," Bloomfield Township Fire Chief John LeRoy said.

7 Action News saw two women embracing and sobbing on the sidewalk.

They worked at the Oakland Hills Country Club since 1977. Through tears, one of the women said: “That is my home burning. Everyone who works there is family. That is our home.”

“My first thought is the history of the club. Buildings can be rebuilt but you can’t rebuild the memorabilia that they might have lost. That building is a huge part of our golf history with the displays of the champions and the championships they’ve had. They will rebuild a great new clubhouse, but they can’t rebuild all those things they’ve lost. It’s unbelievable,” said Andy North in a statement.

North won the 1985 U.S. Open at Oakland Hills.

Thursday afternoon, the United States Golf Association tweeted out their support:

"Our thoughts are with our friends at @oaklandhillscc. Most importantly, we are relieved to hear that no one was injured. Along with so many others in the golf community, we have special memories at this storied venue and look forward to making more with them in the coming years."

The club is among the most historic in Michigan and is more than 100 years old.

It opened in 1916 and had hosted more than a dozen major championships in that time on its South Course.

Recently, the South Course underwent a massive restoration project and just reopened to the members in the summer 2021.

Gil Hanse led the restoration with the hopes of bringing major championships back to the club.

It last hosted a major when Padraig Harrington won the 2008 PGA Championship.

It also hosted the 2004 Ryder Cup.

Recently, the United States Golf Association announced Oakland Hills would host the U.S. Women’s Open in 2031 and 2042.

Staff writers at WXYZ first reported this story.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WXYZ) — Tucked away in the basement of the University of Michigan’s Michigan Union building sits a vending machine with hair care products for people of color.

"We have durags, bonnets, hair glue, wild growth oil,” said Rico Harrison, a co-founder of the beauty supply machine.

The one-of-a-kind machine was installed to fulfill a real need on campus.

“My hair plays a pretty big part in my overall appearance," co-founder Mia Wilson said. "I really take pride in my hair and the only thing that near campus is like CVS, Walgreens. And it's a limited selection for people of color.”

The lack of hair care products for people of color forced them to travel to places like Detroit or Chicago to find what they needed. It's a commute that is not often doable for a college student on a budget.

“You don’t wanna take a bus, or an uber 20 minutes away and then 20 minutes back,” Rico said.

Harrison and Wilson said the university welcomed the vending machine idea when they presented it.

"I kinda got a feeling that they felt a bit of guilt that students didn't feel represented here and that this has been a problem for so long,” Harrison said.

Thanks to a grant from optiMize, a University of Michigan organization that helps to fund social innovation projects on campus, the students were able to receive enough money, and advice to get their business off the ground.

“We just got those products in there two weeks ago and ever since then people have been really, really happy," Wilson said.

The founders of the Innovending Machine hope to one day have other machines in dorm rooms, the library, and maybe even other college campuses.

This story was originally reported by Jeddy Johnson on wxyz.com.

DETROIT, Mich. (WXYZ) — The attorneys for the parents of the Michigan 15-year-old accused of a mass shooting at his high school say they will turn themselves in.

"The Crumbleys left town on the night of the tragic shooting for their own safety," a statement from the attorneys says. "They are returning to the area to be arraigned. They are not fleeing from law enforcement despite recent comments in media reports."

Earlier in the day, authorities in Michigan announced they were actively searching for James Crumbley and Jennifer Crumbley.

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office said the couple's attorney contacted detectives to say repeated attempts to contact them had gone unanswered.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced charges against the parents on Friday. They are each facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter and were scheduled to be arraigned Friday afternoon. Investigators say the suspect's father purchased the gun that was used in the deadly school shooting.

On Nov. 30, officials say the suspect, Ethan Crumbley, opened fire in the south end of the school shortly before 1 p.m., killing four people and injuring seven. Tate Myre, 16, Madisyn Baldwin, 17, Hana St. Juliana, 14, and Justin Shilling, 17, lost their lives in the shooting.

McDonald revealed Friday what investigators say happened in the days leading up to the deadly Oxford High School shooting.

McDonald said that the day prior to the shooting, the suspect was reportedly searching for ammunition on his phone in class – when a teacher noticed. A call and email reportedly went out to Jennifer about the incident, which were unanswered, according to the prosecutor.

The following day, the day of the shooting on Nov. 30, the prosecutor says the suspect was discovered drawing a disturbing note in class. The drawings reportedly worried the teacher. McDonald said the suspect had drawn a gun pointing at the words, “the thoughts won’t stop, help me” along with a drawing of a bullet with the words, “blood everywhere” and a drawing of a person who appeared to be shot twice near a laughing emoji and the words “my life is useless.”

It was then the prosecutor said the suspect was called into a meeting with his parents at the school. At that time, McDonald said the suspect had already altered parts of the drawing. The parents were reportedly advised to get counseling for their son within 48 hours.

It was after that meeting that the suspect returned to class. The prosecutor said the parents failed to ask the suspect if he had the gun with him and failed to check his backpack.

The prosecutor said around 1:22 p.m. that day, Jennifer texted her son, “Ethan, don’t do it.”

About 10 minutes later, James reportedly called 911 to report a gun missing from their home. It was stored in an unlocked drawer in their bedroom, McDonald said.

This story was first reported by wxyz.com.

DETROIT — A mass school shooting on Tuesday in Oxford, Michigan, has sparked a disturbing trend across Metro-Detroit.

School districts in the area say they're dealing with copycat threats of violence, and more than a dozen districts have canceled class Thursday to remain cautious.

These threats are popping up on social media. It's already making uneasy students scared to go to school. In Troy, district leaders say they canceled classes over a rumored threat they found on Snapchat.

Troy police say they are investigating.

Holly area schools will be closed Thursday and Friday as the Holly Police Department investigates another threat circulating on social media.

According to police, the threat does not look credible, but officials say they will be beefing up on-campus security as a precaution.

According to Superintendent Pat Watson, Bloomfield Hills Schools will also be closed Thursday.

He sent a memo to parents Wednesday night saying: "Over the past hour, BHS and other communities across the region have received numerous reports of threats of violence circulating on social media. Out of an abundance of caution, all BHS schools will be closed on Thursday, December 2, 2021.

On Wednesday, a threat of violence also caused a shutdown at Avondale High School in Auburn Hills. The school's website indicated police were investigating a social media threat made against high schools in the county.

List of other schools closed Thursday, December 2:

• Avondale School District
• Bloomfield Hills School District
• Cedar Crest Acdmy/Early Child Ctr
• Clarenceville School District
• Clarkston Community Schools
• Clawson Public Schools
• Clintondale Community Schools
• DeLaSalle Collegiate High
• Detroit Catholic Central High
• Everest Academy
• Everest Collegiate High
• Farmington Central High
• Farmington High
• Four Corners Montessori Academy
• Harbor High
• Hazel Park Community Schools
• Holy Family Regional North
• Holy Family Regional South
• Keys Grace Academy
• Lakeland High
• Lake Orion Community Schools
• Lamphere Public Schools
• Milford High
• Momentum Academy
• North Farmington High
• Notre Dame Lower Division
• Notre Dame Prep
• Oakland Tech-NE Campus
• Oakland Tech-NW Campus
• Oakland Tech-SE Campus
• Oakland Tech-SW Campus
• Oakside Scholars Charter Academy
• Oak Valley Middle
• Ortonville Montessori Center
• Rochester Community Schools
• Saint Catherine of Siena Academy
• St. Joseph Catholic-Lake Orion
• St. Mary's Preparatory
• St. Patrick Catholic -White Lake
• South Lyon Community Schools
• Troy School District
• Walled Lake School District
• Walton Charter Academy
• Warren Consolidated Schools
• Waterford Schools
• West Bloomfield School District
• White Lake Middle

Over in Southfield, regional officials say someone brought a weapon to school, but they did not cancel classes Thursday. They will have more police officers on campus.

We're told no one was hurt, and the suspect was taken into custody.

Birmingham Schools will also be in session on Thursday.

Alex Bozarjian at WXYZ first reported this story.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — In the wake of the death of a Michigan State University student last weekend, the school and the Pi Alpha Phi national organization have suspended the school’s chapter of the fraternity.

The student, identified as Phat Nguyen, died early Saturday at a residence off campus. An autopsy was conducted but the Office of the Medical Examiner at Sparrow Hospital said the cause of death would not be determined until toxicology results are completed in six to eight weeks. Authorities have said alcohol consumption may have been a factor and shortly after the incident the East Lansing Police Department said its officers had responded to the scene where four people were “passed out,” including one who was not breathing.

According to the Lansing State Journal, Nguyen’s death came one day after the fraternity posted on its Facebook page that he was one of four students who had just joined the chapter.

University spokesman Dan Olsen would only say that the student’s death “had a relation to the fraternity” as an explanation as to why the school had suspended the fraternity’s registered student organization status. And in an email, Pi Alpha Phi confirmed that the chapter had been “placed under interim suspension pending investigation upon the death of a student member last weekend.”

As a result, Olsen said the fraternity will not be allowed to host any events on campus, access any of its university funds or accounts, take part in campus events representing the chapter or recruit students on campus to join the fraternity.

“We are heartbroken by this loss to our Spartan community and our thoughts and prayers are with the student’s family and friends,” Olsen said.

A Michigan artist and lawyer is bringing joy to his nearly 700,000 followers on TikTok with his ambidextrous art.

"Drawing’s always been a passion of mine," said Colin Darke.

The Grosse Pointe Farms resident honed his creative spirit starting at a young age, growing up in a big family.

"I’m the youngest of five, we’re artists and lawyers," he said.

A house divided, but also not, because Colin is both an artist and a lawyer, which actually matches another unique aspect of his life.

"Some people become ambidextrous because they break one arm and then they work on the other one a lot. This was just something that came naturally," he said.

His mother is also ambidextrous, and switching from his left to his right hand and back to his left was just what he did.

After getting a bachelor of fine arts degree in watercolor, Colin went to law school. It was there that he made a commitment to honor his passion for art more often, not wanting to lose a part of him he loved so much.

"I do the, you know, 'What would my 80-year-old self tell myself right now?' Like, 'You gave up on this passion just to focus on a career or focus on this other aspect.' So, then I just committed to myself that, 'OK, just to make my 80-year-old self happy, I'll draw every day at a bare minimum,'" he said.

Once a self-described art snob who heavily edited his own work, Colin said it was when his ambidextrous art took off on TikTok that he realized his ability to freely create didn’t just bring him joy, but others, too.

"I would get DMs and comments saying how people watch the, you know, the mirror drawings and the single line drawings, in particular, how they can watch those over and over again and it provides them ease and provides them comfort and, and joy and wonder. Getting that feedback is even more of a, 'Alright, this is providing value and joy to others. Like, I should lean into it and get over any insecurity that I have,’” said Darke.

Now with nearly 700,000 followers on the platform, Colin continues to foster community through his work.

"Creating a dialog and trying to create wonder is just a big part of why I create," he said.

His next adventure: finishing up a book he’s been working on.

"It's focused on just fostering creativity, really grabbing lessons from what we consider creative geniuses, the artists that can apply to your work life," he said.

Colin has also created an art club for anyone to join, where he helps them unleash their own creativity.

And he aims to uplift Detroit Arts and Scraps with proceeds from some of his work.

"I'm a big fan of Arts & Scraps, so I've been trying to sell work and then give some of the profits to them, because they're doing great, great work with fostering STEAM education, STEM education in kids and youth, Detroit youth in particular," said Colin.

To learn more about Colin and his artwork, click here.

This story was originally published by Alexandra Bahou at WXYZ.

The Michigan Court of Appeals

overruled

the Shiawassee County Circuit Court judge's decision regarding a barbershop in Owosso.

RELATED:

Judge rejects state request to shut down Owosso barbershop

Karl Manke made national headlines after he decided to reopen his barbershop, violating Governor Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home order.

Last week, Shiawassee County Judge Matthew Stewart said the state health department failed to show that Karl Manke’s shop was a specific threat to public health and rejected the state's request to shut down the barbershop.

Manke, 77, reopened his shop in Owosso on May 4, drawing customers from across the state who were inspired by his plea for freedom from a government shutdown. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said barber shops and hair salons are risky places because of the contagious virus.

Manke has received at least two tickets for violating Whitmer’s orders, and his barber license was suspended.

“As public servants, we take no pleasure in prohibiting residents from being able to earn a living, but we are bound by our obligation to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of all Michiganders,” Attorney General Dana Nessel said. “This pandemic has demanded we take appropriate measures to mitigate actions that pose a threat to the public. Protecting lives must now, and always, be the state's first priority. We are pleased the Court of Appeals and Administrative Law Judge appreciate this concern.”

View the full order from the Court of Appeals below:

353607-Manke (1)

by

WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit

on Scribd

A police chief in

Michigan

is on paid administrative leave while officials investigate whether he authored tweets that promoted police brutality.

Before the Twitter account @sheepdawg711 was deleted, it featured Shelby Township Chief Robert J. Shelide’s name and likeness.

The charged tweets that are now being investigated targeted those who’ve taken to the streets across America, protesting police brutality following the brutal death of George Floyd caught on video.

“Trump threatening to deploy the military,” read one tweet. “I have a better idea: unleash the real cops and let them take care of these barbarians. I promise it will be over in 24 hours.”

In another tweet about looters in New York City, @sheepdawg711 wrote: “Wild savages. I wish to God I would have been there. Body bags for these vicious subhumans. Oh, on another note, I dare you to try and drag me out of my vehicle.”

The township said they learned of the tweets this morning.

“Shelby Township is aware of allegations made against Police Chief Robert Shelide,” said Community Relations Director Brad Bates. “Shelby Township follows our country’s principles of equal protection under the law, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, due process and the presumption of innocence.”

Repeated voicemails and text messages left on Shelide’s cell phone have not been returned.

Just before 5 p.m. Thursday, the township board voted unanimously to place Shelide on administrative leave pending an investigation.

“Has anyone asked the chief, did you send these tweets,” asked Channel 7’s Ross Jones.

“I don’t know what stage the investigation or the information gathering process is at,” Bates replied.

As recently as May 7, Shelby Township’s own police department Twitter account referred to the @sheepdawg711 as “Boss” in a tweet about wearing masks.

Reached by phone today, Trustee John Vermeulen said he was skeptical that Shelide wrote the tweets.

“I don’t think he would say anything like that,” Vermeulen said.

“Chief Shelide is pretty reserved and I would be very surprised and I doubt he would say something like that," he said. "I think someone is spoofing it to try and deny him his reputation. He is very well liked by the citizens, and I don’t think he would say anything like that."

If Shelide did write the tweets, Vermeulen would not comment on whether he should keep his job.

He later voted in favor of placing Shelide on administrative leave.

CLARE, Mich. — Authorities in Michigan say they have arrested the woman they believe is responsible for the deaths of four people.

According to the Clare County Sheriff's Department, the suspect, 54-year-old Judy Boyer, was taken into custody Wednesday night without incident.

Police said two men, ages 39 and 36, were found wounded around 4 p.m. Wednesday in Clare after officers responded to a shooting call. Officials said both men later died.

According to the Associated Press, investigators later found two bodies of an 85-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman elsewhere on the same property.

It's not clear if any victims are related, and officials did not release the possible motive behind the killings nor how the victims died.

Staff at WXYZ first reported this story.

The burned remains of a Michigan woman have been identified by authorities as Susie Zhao, 33. Zhao played poker on the national competitive circuit.

Zhao's body was discovered near a park in a Detroit suburb on July 13 around 8 a.m.

"The female subject was badly burned," according to a press release from White Lake Township Police.

"Surprised, confused, and saddened," said her former roommate Yuval Bronshtein. "It's hard to picture her having enemies."

Bronshtein said Zhao bounced between cities including Los Angeles and Vegas and recently moved back to Michigan to be with family to be with her parents and to confront challenges in her personal life.

She was an avid poker player and a national talent on the competitive circuit.

"She really was a excellent player," said Bart Hanson, a friend and poker rival. "One of the best in L.A. at the level we played at the Commerce Casino and it's the biggest poker room in the world."

Authorities said a motive is unclear. The FBI is also assisting in the investigation.

"I never would have thought anyone would of wanted to do anything to her," Hanson said.

This story originally reported by Rudy Harper on wxyz.com.

Schooling at home is now reshaping the way we think about back-to-school shopping. You may not need the hand sanitizer and masks but what you will need are electronics galore.

"Find a place in your home where each child has their own personal learning space," said Lisa Estabrook.

You may have the personal learning space ready to go but what about the supplies to help your child thrive?

Novi Teacher Lisa Estabrook and shopping trends expert Sara Skirboll is breaking down five of the best buys that could prove to be a game-changer.

"If you don’t have a laptop where kids can Zoom and email you might consider picking up something that’s durable something that’s not super expensive."

#1: Something like a Chromebook. lightweight, user friendly, and at $200 bucks, a fraction of a standard laptop’s price!

#2 Virtual accessories

"Built-in microphones aren’t that great and if your child is spending a lot of time speaking to their teachers and peers on Zoom, you might consider investing in an additional piece like a microphone," said Retail Me Not expert Sara Skirboll.

In the meantime, if you have a tablet, grab your student a keyboard.

Do you have an older model laptop? Don’t forget a web-cam.

#3 A good pair of headphones

It takes away that background noise so the student can really focus on what they’re supposed to be learning. Skirboll recommends an affordable brand called ear-fun.

"They’re waterproof, they have 30 hours of battery life, built-in microphone," said Skirboll.

"Then make sure your WiFi connection is high tech," said Skirboll.

They know exactly where they need to be for a certain amount of hours to get their schoolwork done but your internet might not extend there. That’s definitely something you need to consider.

#4 A WiFi extender which extends the coverage area of your internet.

The one thing that parents probably aren't thinking about is a printer at home," said Estabrook. "However, some students might learn best if you print out the work and work at a table."

#5 Add on your list of best buys is a printer, ink, and paper.

So here’s the Rebound Rundown:

A good laptop or Chromebook is vital to virtual instruction

Earphones can help kids focus and block outside distractions

A printer can help more visual learners excel.

If you do get a printer, make sure it has a scanning option, that way you can take your child’s work and scan right to the teacher.

Otherwise, you can buy a scanning app on your smartphone and do it directly from the phone instead.

This story was originally reported by Ameera David at WXYZ.

OXFORD, Mich. - Upland Hills School in Oxford, Michigan, doesn't look like your traditional classroom setting; that's because it's not. But it is where around 90 students will be learning come fall, including Alicia Stewart's two sons.

The independent tuition-based school has always used a very "nature forward" approach to learning, and this year, due to COVID-19, will rely on that model even more.

“I did venture out to Target just recently and I saw all the back-to-school supplies and I don’t really have to get any of that," Stewart said.

What is on her back-to-school list, is bug spray, camping pads, and hats with mosquito netting.

"What I’m doing now is I’m searching REI, I’m searching Patagonia, I’m going to my local camping stores," she said.

Upland Hills has been around for 48 years providing a non-traditional approach to learning for kids as young as four, and now, through high school age.

The school has a ropes course and a CSA farm on its property, so kids are also provided with true "farm-to-table" meals.

“We have a long history of being a nature-based school and we’re in this beautiful setting, 30 acres in the woods here. So to be outside for 2-3 hours a day is really typical for our students," said Director of School Rob Himburg.

Because of COVID, outdoor learning will be central this fall. However, the school does also offers online learning.

“This is going to be my new classroom for the coming year," said teacher Robert Crowe, walking around one of the school's former gardens.

Social distancing should be easy outdoors and class sizes are always pretty small, given that Upland Hills only has around 70 families.

Crowe said he wants to make sure students can get their work done outside too.

“To be able to focus outdoors is not easy. So the solution I hit on was for every child to have their own individual tent," he said. Crowe said being able to learn in the outdoors gives students a unique sense of agency, something that traditional classrooms don't always provide.

Students may also learn in larger, four-season tents, which can be heated in the winter.

The school also has an indoor space, in the event teachers and students would need to go inside.

Lessons will usually circle back to nature in some way, so that students are learning basic skills like mathematics in a hands-on way, like building a greenhouse Himburg said.

Tuition for Upland Hills is a little more than $11,000 annually, making this out of reach for some families.

For Stewart, whose kids started at Upland Hills last year, this approach to learning has been really special and offered her sons an education she doesn't think they could get elsewhere.

Classes at Upland Hills begin Aug. 17.

Statewide, many districts are still in the process of deciding what approach is best for teachers and students: online learning, face-to-face, or a combination of the two. Gov. Whitmer is leaving the decision up to individual districts as long as Michigan remains in phase 4 of re-opening.

This story was originally reported by Jenn Schanz at WXYZ.

ADRIAN, Mich. -- Police are investigating after an 85-year-old man was stabbed to death at a Meijer store in Michigan Wednesday afternoon.

The suspect was arrested after a person with a concealed pistol license (CPL) intervened and held him at gunpoint until police arrived.

The deadly incident happened around 12:30 p.m. Much of the details surrounding the incident are still being investigated.

However, police say the victim was stabbed multiple times in the head and neck, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim was a resident of Lenawee County. The suspect, who is in police custody, is a 29-year-old resident of Adrian.

If you have information on what happened, contact Det. Sgt. LaMar Rufner at 517-264-4808.

This story was originally published by Cara Ball at WXYZ.