united states news

Detroit's incoming Mayor Mary Sheffield is conducting an unusually comprehensive transition process that includes extensive public input sessions to shape her first 100 days in office. At a community meeting held at the Marygrove Conservancy campus, approximately 50 residents discussed Sheffield's key policy priorities including public safety, affordable housing, transportation, and economic empowerment. Sheffield has received 1,200 job applications for 21 key positions and plans to create several new city departments focused on issues like gun violence prevention and senior services. Her transition team, which includes nearly 230 members across 18 committees, is expected to continue advising her beyond the inauguration, representing a departure from previous mayoral transitions. Sheffield, who served 12 years on City Council, aims to conduct what she calls the most inclusive and community-driven transition in Detroit's history.

President Trump made disparaging remarks about Somali immigrants during a cabinet meeting, stating he doesn't want them in the United States and describing Somalia as barely functioning. His comments coincided with reports that immigration authorities are planning a major enforcement operation targeting undocumented Somali immigrants in Minnesota's Twin Cities, home to the largest Somali community in America. Local officials have criticized the planned operation, noting that the vast majority of the approximately 80,000 Somali residents in the area are American citizens who could be swept up unfairly. The administration has also moved to end Temporary Protected Status for some Somali residents and launched an investigation into alleged diversion of state funds to militant groups, while simultaneously expanding immigration enforcement following a recent shooting by an Afghan immigrant in Washington DC. # Key Takeaways

Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina has published "The First Eight," a book honoring eight Black congressmen from his state who served in the U.S. House of Representatives between 1870 and 1897, during and after Reconstruction. The work profiles these pioneering legislators who faced segregation, KKK threats, and Jim Crow laws while fighting to establish African American rights. Clyburn, who became South Carolina's ninth Black congressman in 1992, views the book as both a tribute to these trailblazers and a cautionary tale for modern times. The book has been well-received, with historians and attendees at Clyburn's promotional events praising his extensive research into this overlooked chapter of American history. # Key Takeaways

Hundreds of thousands of residents across Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia face dramatically higher health insurance costs if Congress fails to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies before they expire at the end of the month. The potential premium increases are particularly severe for older enrollees, with 60-year-old couples earning $85,000 potentially facing monthly increases ranging from $1,100 to $1,900 depending on their location. While the Senate has committed to holding a vote in early December, House Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to guarantee consideration of an extension, calling the subsidies a "boondoggle." House Democrats are attempting to force a vote through a discharge petition, but the outcome remains uncertain as President Trump has expressed reluctance to extend the subsidies, creating a political standoff with immediate consequences for local families. # Key Takeaways

The United States has suspended processing of all immigration applications from 19 countries currently under a travel ban, while the Trump administration considers expanding restrictions to 30 nations. Immigration officials have been directed to halt final decisions on applications and pause naturalization ceremonies for individuals about to become citizens, affecting people from countries mainly in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. This action follows a recent shooting in Washington DC that killed a National Guard soldier, with the suspect being an Afghan national residing in the US. The administration justifies these measures by claiming they ensure only the most qualified individuals receive citizenship, while immigration attorneys report clients from Venezuela, Iran, and Afghanistan have had their citizenship ceremonies cancelled.

Pennsylvania police officer Joseph Detwiler testified in court about responding to a tip that Luigi Mangione, the suspected shooter of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was at an Altoona McDonald's. Despite initially being skeptical and joking with his supervisor about the tip's legitimacy, Detwiler discovered the man at the restaurant matched the description and was wearing a mask while eating. After requesting identification that proved fake and asking the suspect to remove his mask, Detwiler recognized him as Mangione and detained him. Mangione's defense attorneys are now attempting to suppress evidence from the arrest, including a gun and notebook, arguing their client wasn't properly informed of his rights during the apprehension. # Key Takeaways

Minister King X, a community organizer with California Prison Focus and All of Us or None, is suing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation after being arrested in August 2021 for allegedly violating a law that prohibits formerly incarcerated individuals from being near prisons without permission. Although charges were dismissed, the arrest report labeled him and others as "Black Identity Extremists" and "Black Supremacist Extremists" due to their participation in a protest. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 and represented by Legal Services for Prisoners with Children and the Law Offices of Richard Tan, argues that his arrest violated First Amendment rights and that the statute is unconstitutionally vague and disproportionately targets Black and Brown activists. A court hearing scheduled for December 4, 2025, could advance the case to the discovery phase, potentially exposing government tactics used to suppress free speech and community organizing. # Key Takeaways

On November 29th in Detroit, R&B legends Brandy and Monica brought their co-headlining tour to Little Caesars Arena, performing together for the first time in 25 years since their hit collaboration. Despite snowy weather, enthusiastic fans filled the venue to watch a star-studded lineup that included opening performances from Jamal Roberts, Mya (substituting for an ill Muni Long), and Kelly Rowland. The headliners delivered a creative multi-act show that alternated between competitive "versus" segments, individual solo spotlights, and collaborative performances, featuring multiple costume changes and special guest appearances by Detroit artists including Kash Doll, Skilla Baby, and Icewear Vezzo. The evening concluded with an emotional finale of their iconic duet "The Boy Is Mine," with the 32-city tour produced by Black Promoters Collective set to wrap up on December 14th in Jacksonville, Florida.

A two-year-old's birthday celebration in Stockton, California, turned into a tragedy when gunfire erupted during the party, killing four people including three children aged eight, nine, and fourteen, along with a 21-year-old guest. The attack occurred as approximately 100 guests gathered around a birthday cake in a banquet hall, with the violence beginning inside before spilling onto the street, injuring eleven additional people. Authorities believe multiple perpetrators targeted the gathering with automatic weapons and remain at large, though officials state there is no ongoing community threat. The shooting adds to Stockton's escalating violent crime problem, as the city and broader San Joaquin Valley reported California's highest violent crime rate in 2023.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan refugee who previously worked with the CIA and arrived in the United States in 2021, has been formally charged with first-degree murder and assault with intent to kill after allegedly shooting two National Guard soldiers in Washington DC. The attack resulted in the death of 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and left 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe critically wounded, both of whom were West Virginia Guard members on patrol near the White House. Prosecutors presented evidence that Lakanwal shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the shooting before being wounded and subdued by Guard members and Secret Service officers. Following the incident, the Trump administration halted all asylum decisions and initiated a comprehensive review of Afghan refugees in the country, while Lakanwal pleaded not guilty from his hospital bed and is being held without bond.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has defended a controversial second airstrike on a drug vessel in the Caribbean that killed two survivors from an initial attack on September 2nd. Hegseth claimed he did not witness survivors after watching the first strike live and attributed the incident to "fog of war," while confirming that Admiral Frank Bradley authorized the follow-up attack. The incident has raised concerns from both parties in Congress about potential violations of international laws protecting wounded combatants, prompting the Senate Armed Services Committee to launch an investigation. This strike is part of a broader military campaign that has resulted in over 80 deaths since early September, which the Trump administration justifies as necessary to combat drug trafficking despite questions about its legality under the Geneva Convention.

James L. Wright Jr., a 62-year-old veteran journalist with over thirty years of experience, has passed away from natural causes at his home in Seat Pleasant, Maryland. Wright served as a longtime staff writer for The Washington Informer, covering business and politics while also working for AFRO-American Newspapers and freelancing for The Washington Post throughout his distinguished career. His reporting took him across the globe, where he interviewed prominent international and domestic leaders including Moammar Gadhafi and Thabo Mbeki. Beyond journalism, Wright was an active community member who served on the Seat Pleasant City Council as vice president, belonged to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and was a dedicated member of Asbury United Methodist Church. # Key Takeaways

Sudanese archaeologist Shadia Abdrabo is working in Paris to create a comprehensive digital database of Sudan's archaeological treasures and museum collections following the devastating 2023 civil war between military factions. The conflict has resulted in the looting and destruction of multiple museums, including the ransacking of the National Museum in Khartoum, which housed approximately 100,000 artifacts ranging from prehistoric items to ancient mummies and Kushite royal treasures. Despite receiving support from institutions like the Louvre and British Museum, Abdrabo faces the enormous challenge of cataloging decades of records—many handwritten or in photographs—while working primarily alone with funding only until April 2026. Her urgent mission is to document what existed before the war so that looted items can be tracked and potentially recovered, though she has completed only 20% of the work and fears time is running out as the conflict continues.

The Washington Informer has announced the death of longtime staff writer James L. Wright Jr., who passed away in November 2025 at age 62 from natural causes. Wright had worked with the publication for decades, covering business and politics while also contributing to other major outlets including AFRO-American Newspapers and The Washington Post. Throughout his distinguished 30-year journalism career, he interviewed prominent international and domestic political figures and reported from numerous countries across multiple continents. Beyond journalism, Wright was a Texas native, member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and served on the Seat Pleasant City Council as vice president from 2022 to 2024. # Key Takeaways

UEFA has imposed sanctions on Atletico Madrid following racist incidents by their supporters during a Champions League match against Arsenal in London. The Spanish club's fans were reported making monkey noises and performing Nazi salutes during their team's 4-0 defeat last month. As punishment, UEFA issued a 30,000 euro fine and implemented a one-year probationary period with a suspended one-game away ticket sales ban. This isn't the first time Atletico supporters have engaged in discriminatory behavior, as they previously directed similar racist abuse toward Real Madrid's Black player Vinícius Júnior. # Key Takeaways

A new survey from the American Communities Project reveals diverging outlooks across different American communities, with rural areas experiencing increased optimism about the nation's future while urban residents have become more pessimistic since last year. The data contradicts President Trump's claims about rampant urban crime, showing that big-city residents are actually less concerned about crime and gun violence than they were two years ago, with immigration and healthcare emerging as bigger priorities. Despite supporting Trump in recent elections, residents of heavily Hispanic communities have seen their hopefulness plummet from 78% to 58% amid fears about aggressive immigration enforcement. The one unifying concern across all community types remains economic anxiety, particularly about persistent high costs for groceries and other household expenses. Rural residents express optimism that Trump's policies will eventually bring prices down, even though promised economic improvements haven't yet materialized.

Forty-three years after its release on November 30, 1982, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album continues to dominate global music culture with celebrations spanning from London to Tokyo this past weekend. The album, which originally sold over 100 million copies and produced seven Hot 100 singles, has remarkably maintained its commercial vitality, with "Billie Jean" recently reaching new chart peaks and the album itself appearing across multiple Billboard rankings after 700 weeks. Jackson has achieved the unprecedented distinction of scoring top ten hits across six different decades, with "Thriller" jumping to No. 10 this season during its annual October resurgence. An upcoming biopic titled "Michael," starring Jaafar Jackson and set for spring release, promises to extend the cultural impact of an album that fundamentally transformed pop music and continues generating billions in revenue. # Key Takeaways

Rhonda Smith, Executive Director of the California Black Health Network (CBHN), reflects on her organization's progress in advancing health equity for Black Californians throughout 2025. The network achieved significant milestones including training over 60 advocates through their Health Equity Advocacy Training Program and growing their membership base to more than 800 members statewide within three years. Smith expresses frustration with federal policies that have reversed health equity progress while remaining inspired by the resilience of Black community leaders across California. Looking ahead to 2026, she aims to secure statewide policy victories that will protect healthcare access and counteract the impacts of federal budget cuts on vulnerable communities. # Key Takeaways

Dream Studio Detroit has opened a $1.5 million, 11,000-square-foot community center in the Cody Rouge neighborhood on Detroit's west side, consolidating education, childcare, workforce training, and entrepreneurship resources in one accessible location. Founded by Detroit native Danielle North, who invested $250,000 of her own money and served as general contractor, the facility addresses longstanding gaps in neighborhood-based services for multi-generational families. The center houses Kidz Kingdom childcare facility, college access programming through the Detroit College Access Network, youth entrepreneurship training, and leadership development initiatives targeting women and Black men specifically. Funding partners include Invest Detroit, Motor City Match, IFF, and private investors, reflecting growing support for Black-led community infrastructure projects. The permanent facility represents a significant step toward eliminating barriers that prevent families in underserved Detroit neighborhoods from achieving economic mobility.

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was serving a 45-year sentence for orchestrating a massive drug trafficking operation that smuggled over 400 tonnes of cocaine into the United States, received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. Prosecutors had proven that Hernández spent over 18 years running a criminal enterprise involving police and state institutions, accepting bribes from drug lords including El Chapo, and enabling violent crimes to protect trafficking routes. Trump justified the pardon by claiming Hernández faced political persecution under the Biden administration, while simultaneously endorsing a candidate from Hernández's party in Honduras's current presidential election. The decision has bewildered experts who see it as contradicting Trump's stated commitment to combating drug trafficking, especially given the overwhelming evidence that led to Hernández's conviction and the deaths of more than 80 people in Trump's own recent anti-narcotics operations.

Dave Coulier, the 66-year-old actor famous for portraying Uncle Joey on the sitcom Full House, has revealed he is battling tongue cancer just months after recovering from non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Medical professionals discovered the new malignancy, identified as P16 squamous carcinoma at the base of his tongue, during a routine scan in October and confirmed it is unrelated to his previous blood cancer diagnosis. Doctors believe the tongue cancer may have developed from an HPV virus that could have been dormant in his system for up to three decades. Despite facing his second cancer diagnosis in a short period, Coulier remains optimistic, citing the disease's 90% curability rate and emphasizing how early detection has been crucial to his survival both times. # Key Takeaways

Over 1,600 middle school students from Wayne County schools participated in Literacy for Kids' annual author event at Music Hall Detroit and the Detroit Public Library this week. Students from ten schools across Detroit, Hamtramck, Redford, and Harper Woods met three acclaimed authors—Matt de la Peña, Soman Chainani, and Kelly Baptist—who contributed to the anthology "Flying Lessons and Other Stories" that students had been studying in class. The interactive event featured a moderated panel discussion, author readings, question-and-answer sessions, and concluded with students receiving signed copies of the anthology. The nonprofit organization, founded in 2019 by Jayne M. Rose-Vallee, aims to cultivate literacy and creative expression among young people by connecting them with professional writers and poets. # Key Takeaways

Tech billionaire Michael Dell and his wife Susan have pledged $6.25 billion to provide $250 payments to approximately 25 million American children aged 10 and under. The donation will fund newly created Trump-branded investment accounts that Congress authorized earlier this year to encourage long-term retirement savings for children. These accounts, which must be invested in low-cost index funds, allow children from families in areas with median incomes below $150,000 to receive the Dell contribution, while babies born between 2025-2028 also qualify for a $1,000 government deposit. Critics argue the program primarily benefits wealthier families who can afford to contribute additional funds, and some view it as a potential step toward privatizing Social Security, though supporters see it as providing children with a valuable financial head start. # Key Takeaways

President Trump has significantly escalated pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by doubling the capture reward, deploying massive naval forces near Venezuela, and allegedly issuing an ultimatum for Maduro to leave the country. The Trump administration justifies these actions as part of efforts to combat drug trafficking and reduce Venezuelan migration to the United States, even though experts note Venezuela plays a relatively minor role in the drug trade and most cocaine and fentanyl reach the US through other routes. US military forces have conducted over twenty strikes on suspected drug-carrying boats in international waters since September, killing more than eighty people in operations that legal experts consider unlawful. Despite international recognition of opposition candidate Edmundo González as the legitimate election winner, Maduro maintains control through military and institutional power, while Trump hints at possible further military action including potential ground operations.