Midwest
Biden invited Muslim leader who publicly supported terror group Hezbollah to meet with his top aides
President Biden sent top aides to Michigan on Thursday to meet with Arab American and Muslim community leaders, and one person reportedly invited to the discussion has publicly expressed support for the terror groups Hezbollah and Hamas.
Biden made the move with the leaders as he’s faced criticism from the Muslim community over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. The Associated Press, which first reported the forum, noted the event positions the administration to “mend ties” with a community that will play a critical role in a battleground state for the 2024 elections.
While the list of attendees was not released, one individual the White House reportedly invited to the event was Osama Siblani, the publisher of Arab American News headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan.
“I’m for the dialogue, and I believe we owe it to our country and to our community and the people in Gaza, to listen and be heard,” Siblani said of the gathering. He told the outlet the White House invited him, and he planned to attend.
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Biden reportedly sent top White House aides to Michigan on Thursday to meet with Arab American and Muslim leaders. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Siblani, meanwhile, appears to be a questionable choice as a participant, as he’s openly discussed his support for Hezbollah with mainstream publications in the past.
The Muslim activist came out in support of the organization in 2006 as they fought Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. At the time, the FBI had issued a national alert for law enforcement to investigate and profile Hezbollah sympathizers.
“If the FBI wants to come after those who support the resistance done by Hezbollah, then they better bring a fleet of buses,” Siblani told the Chicago Tribune. “I, for one, would be willing to go to jail.”
That instance, however, was not the first time he had supported the terror organization.
Siblani told the Washington Post in 2004 that Al Manar, Hezbollah’s TV station, had popularity among Arab Americans because of its unwavering support for “resistance against Israeli occupation.”
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One individual reportedly invited was Osama Siblani, who has expressed support for Hezbollah. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Siblani’s show of gratitude toward Al Manar came after the State Department designated the outlet a terror supporter and banned it in the United States. He added that he disagreed with the State Department that Al Manar “incites violence.”
The activist also signaled support for Hamas after Israel launched its counter-offensive at the start of the war in October.
“We are not going to be intimidated,” Siblani said at an Oct. 10 protest in Michigan, according to a local outlet. “Hamas is not a terrorist organization, and we have to say to them the terrorist is Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.”
The White House organized the Thursday discussion between Siblani and the community leaders and senior-level Biden aides such as Samantha Power, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Jon Finer, the principal deputy national security adviser, and Steven Benjamin, the director of the Office of Public Engagement.
The sources who spoke to The Associated Press did so under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly.
Biden sent the aides to Michigan as the community leaders are at odds with his Israel-Hamas war stance.
“Joe Biden is a traitor to America,” Alex Pfeiffer, spokesman for Make America Great Again Inc., told Fox News Digital. “After spending decades enriching himself and his family through corrupt dealings with America’s enemies, he is now selling out America’s closest ally and friend to terrorists.”
“This meeting is an affront to the dozens of Americans and hundreds of Israelis who lost their lives on Oct. 7, and the millions of Israelis who wake up every morning under siege by Islamic terrorism,” Pfeiffer said.
The White House and Siblani did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment by the time of publication.
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Iowa
Crews extinguish small Saturday night fire at the University of Iowa
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – University of Iowa student and staff were asked to avoid the University Capital Centre as a small fire broke out inside the building.
The first Hawk Alert was sent around 9:30 p.m. as the building was evacuated. In about 15 minutes the situation was deemed under control.
The University credits the Iowa City Fire Department for extinguishing the blaze.
There have been no reports of any injuries in this fire.
The Centre is inside the Capital Mall which is home to several businesses.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Kansas
Two more tornadoes confirmed in Kansas City metro from Thursday storms
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The National Weather Service confirmed Saturday that two EF-0 tornadoes struck the Kansas City metro on Thursday night.
Tornado #1: Nashua Neighborhood, Kansas City
The NWS says the first tornado touched down at around 8:55 p.m. Thursday, east of Highway 169 in Kansas City’s Nashua Neighborhood, dissipating just 5 minutes later around 9 p.m.
The EF-0 twister packed peak winds of 85 mph and carved a nearly 2-mile path at about 75 yards wide.
The tornado produced sporadic tree damage near Main St. to Oak Trfwy., then strengthened as it moved east toward Charlotte St., where it caused extensive tree damage between 113th and 115th St.
According to the NWS, the twister continued northeast through Tracy and Virginia Ave., where several trees fell onto vehicles and homes.
The tornado weakened as it tracked northeast toward Cunningham Dr. and Wooldand Ave., finally dissipating after damaging trees at a home north of Cookingham Dr.
Tornado #2: Clay County/Clinton County Border
The NWS adds that the second EF-0 tornado touched down just after 9:10 p.m. Thursday near 200th St. on the Clay County side of the Clinton/Clay County border, ending around 9:15 p.m.
It had peak winds of 75 mph, a 1.5-mile path and a width of about 50 yards.
The twister produced minor tree damage along 200th St. before moving northeast toward 204th St., where several trees were visibly snapped near their tops near Owl Creek, according to the NWS.
It then damaged trees and power poles along 204th St., and metal debris was scattered onto trees and property at a home along the road.
The tornado tracked north of the road, damaging additional trees before dissipating west of Fightmaster Rd.
Note: Investigators observed minor tree and limb damage southeast of the tornado track, but determined it was caused by straight-line winds – not the tornado itself – based on the northeast-facing direction of the damage.
How Do These Compare?
The NWS rates tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita Scale based on estimated peak wind speeds:
| Rating | Peak Winds |
|---|---|
| EF-0 | 65-85 mph |
| EF-1 | 86-100 mph |
| EF-2 | 111-135 mph |
| EF-3 | 136-165 mph |
| EF-4 | 166-200 mph |
| EF-5 | 201+ mph |
Thursday’s Kansas City tornadoes were among the weakest on the scale. For context:
- The tornado that struck Enid, Oklahoma, on Thursday was rated an EF-4
- The 2022 Andover, Kansas, tornado was rated an EF-3
- The devastating 2011 Joplin, Missouri, tornado was rated an EF-5
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
Michigan
2.9-magnitude earthquake in Ontario felt in parts of southeast Michigan
A 2.9 magnitude earthquake near Amherstburg, Ontario, was felt across parts of Downriver and Monroe County Sunday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. (USGS.gov)
DETROIT (FOX 2) – A 2.9-magnitude earthquake near Amherstburg, Ontario, was felt across parts of southeast Michigan Sunday morning.
What we know:
The U.S. Geological Survey reports the earthquake occurred around 10:30 a.m. Sunday at a depth of 2.1 kilometers near Lakewood Beach, across from Rockwood, Michigan.
Big picture view:
The Canadian town, near the mouth of the Detroit River, is about 16 miles south of Detroit, across from communities including Grosse Ile, Gibraltar, Trenton and Wyandotte.
Local perspective:
According to a USGS map, the quake was felt across Downriver and Monroe County, as well as parts of eastern Ontario and near Toledo, Ohio.
Reports show the quake was felt across Downriver, Monroe County, parts of eastern Ontario and as far south as the Toledo, Ohio, area. (USGS.gov)
The Source: Information for this story came from the U.S. Geological Survey
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