Coming off a uniquely discouraging loss to High Point in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 64, Greg Gard and the Wisconsin Badgers don’t have time to lick their wounds, as the transfer portal madness will be upon us before you can say “Still No Sweet 16 Since 2017.”
Midwest
He's not running again in 2028, but Trump's returning to this crucial presidential nominating state
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President Donald Trump returns to Iowa Thursday evening.
But his stop in the state that for half a century has held the lead-off contest in the race for the Republican presidential nomination is about 2026 rather than 2028.
Trump will headline a Fourth of July eve event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines to kick off America250, a series of yearlong celebrations surrounding the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Longtime Iowa GOP chair Jeff Kaufmann told Fox News it’s no surprise that the president picked Iowa to kick off celebrations of America’s independence.
TRUMP ANNOUNCES HE’LL KICK OFF INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND WITH ‘VERY SPECIAL’ PATRIOTIC EVENT
Then-former President Donald Trump waves to supporters at the Iowa Pork Producers tent during a visit to the Iowa State Fair, Aug. 12, 2023, in Des Moines. (Charlie Neibergall/The Associated Press)
“We’ve always had a special relationship with the president,” Kaufmann told Fox News Digital, as he noted that Trump carried the one-time general election battleground turned red state in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 presidential elections.
Kaurfmann said Trump’s stop in Iowa “is very symbolic, but it’s also very telling of what is important to him and I really believe he’s starting here because not only does he love Iowa, but he believes in the heartland. I think this is a huge message that he’s sending to everyone that he hasn’t forgotten who brought him to the dance.”
TRUMP WHITE HOUSE RELEASES VIDEO SERIES LEADING UP TO AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY: ‘ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE’
Veteran Iowa-based Republican consultant Nicole Schlinger said “it’s no surprise” that the president has “chosen to kick off America 250 at the best state fairgrounds in the country.”
“From the day his helicopter first landed here in 2015, Trump has had a special connection with Iowa. He’s straight-talking, hardworking and unapologetically proud of our country – just like Iowans,” Schlinger added. “Starting America’s 250th in Iowa is a reminder that the road to our future runs through the heartland.”
Former President Donald Trump greets supporters as he arrives at the Iowa State Fair, on Aug. 12, 2023, in Des Moines. (Paul Steinhauser – Fox News )
Trump is no stranger to the fairgrounds.
Presidential candidate Trump walked through the crowds at the famed state fair in 2015 and 2023, and he held large rallies at the fairgrounds just ahead of the 2016 Iowa caucuses and again in October 2021.
Trump’s trip will also spark speculation about 2028.
“Trump 2028” hats are available for $50 and T-shirts that read “Trump 2028 (Re-write the Rules),” sell for $36 on the Trump Organization’s website.
But the rules are quite clear: The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution restricts presidents to two terms in office.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THESE SIX REPUBLICANS AS 2028 TALK STARTS TO HEAT UP
And after months of flirting with running for a third term in the White House, Trump appears to be ruling out another campaign.
Despite touting strong support in the MAGA world for a 2028 run for re-election, the president in a May interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” said, “I’m not looking at that.”
“I’ll be an eight-year president,” Trump added. “I’ll be a two-term president. I always thought that was very important.”
“I’ll be an eight-year president,” President Donald Trump said. “I’ll be a two-term president. I always thought that was very important.” (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
But Trump’s 2028 flirtations, which he said weren’t a joke, and his sweeping moves since the start of his second tour of duty in the White House are keeping the spotlight firmly on him, averting any lame-duck talk and putting a damper on any early moves by those in the Republican Party hoping to succeed the president.
The race for the next GOP presidential nomination won’t get underway until Trump’s ready to share the spotlight, and he recently said it’s “far too early” to begin holding those discussions.
But Trump also added, “I’m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally a great Republican, a great Republican, to carry it forward.”
Vice President JD Vance is presumed to be the extremely early frontrunner in the race to be the next GOP standard-bearer.
Former President Trump addresses a large crowd of supporters at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Oct. 9, 2021. (Paul Steinhauser – Fox News )
But other Republican politicians, with a likely eye to 2028, already have made stops in Iowa.
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who ran unsuccessfully for the 2016 GOP nomination, and Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, already have visited Iowa in 2025.
And Govs. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia and Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas stopped in the Hawkeye State in July.
Kaufmann, pointing to Vance, noted, “I’ve said on multiple occasions that the vice president certainly has a standing invitation.”
And Kaufmann, addressing the early 2028 trips to Iowa, highlighted that “it’s 24-7 here, 365 days a year. It’s exactly how we want it and I think our folks are ready for the challenge yet again.”
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With this in mind, here are my very early best guesses for the chances of the Badgers retaining their guys. Part 2, which will cover rotational players, will drop soon.
Let’s dive right in here with the Badgers’ trickiest retention target. I want to be up front with the fact that I have zero insider information on this, but I’ve talked to enough folks who cover the program to have a distinct vibe that he’s quite possibly gone. Illinois, Michigan, and Michigan State have been the most frequently linked suitors for a player who grew up in Detroit and whose father played for the Illini.
Coming off a season with many highs, but a few obvious regressions, especially on defense—along with admitted “struggles” off the court—it’s natural to wonder if Blackwell might be looking for a fresh start (and bigger paycheck).
The fact that there will be more money on the table elsewhere (I don’t think it will be the NBA) doesn’t help the Badgers’ chances. But my vibe is that Gard, the coach who believed in Blackwell when none from other Big Ten programs did, will give Blackwell a very fair offer with a raise and let the chips fall where they may.
High-scoring wings with middling defense are easier to find in the portal than top-quality point guards or bigs with the diverse skills of the player in my next evaluation. Chances of Retention 50%.
Given his premium skill set and room for growth, there’s a good argument that Winter should be the Badgers No. 1 priority for retention. It’s also a fact that he likely has more to prove before an NBA squad will use a pick on him, although I suspect workouts and testing would only help his cause.
Winter has always struck me as Minnesota Nice and profiles as a quintessential Badger. But I felt similarly about Chucky Hepburn before he surprisingly bolted for Louisville before his senior year, so nothing can be taken for granted.
Winter declining to commit to a fourth season in Madison 20 minutes after losing to High Point has been overblown. He was distraught and coming to grips with a cruel and premature end to what was looking like a special March run.
So, I will cut him some slack here. My vibe is that we’ll see Winter back with the Badgers in ‘26-27. Chances of Retention: 70%.
Rapp’s progression on both offense and defense as the season progressed was incredibly encouraging, and his commitment to another year in Madison immediately after Wisconsin’s loss to High Point was music to fans ears.
For the same reasons why we shouldn’t put too much of our hopes and dreams into what Winter said or didn’t say postgame on Thursday, I’d caution you to take Rapp’s Badgers pledge as written in pencil.
While I think he’ll be back, there will be suitors for Rapp’s skill set, and he will be getting a sizable raise. Gard will need to work a bit to lock him down. Chances of Retention: 80%.
Like Rapp, the sturdy Lithuanian big who appears older than his actual age made impressive strides as the season went along, ending up as a solid 5/5 guy with a few notable high points, including torching an elite Michigan squad from deep on the way to college basketball’s most impressive victory of the season.
But his defense has a lot of room for growth, and his offense can also improve, so my guess is that both aspects of his game will be nurtured in Madison, where he was a valuable starter as a true freshman, a rarity.
While he’ll surely have a market in the portal given his age and inside/outside talents, it won’t be nearly as robust as for other Badgers. Being from Europe makes it a bit murkier, but I feel uniquely confident he’ll be back in Madison. Chances of Retention: 85%.
Julie Thomas had been searching since January for a house that would give her more space for herself and her two dogs while moving her closer to work. After seeing several homes quickly snapped up, she recently went under contract for a home in Shelby Township.
“I’m very happy that we are at least working on one and that the offer was accepted,” she said. “I was definitely getting discouraged continuing to look. I’m obviously relieved from that aspect of it.”
Thomas, 25, is among Metro Detroit homebuyers experiencing a housing market in a transitional moment on multiple fronts. As the peak spring buying season begins, more listings are coming online and activity is picking up after a slower winter, even as mortgage rates have climbed back above 6%. At the same time, the average homebuyer is older than in past years, highlighting how affordability is shaping who is able to enter the market.
The median first-time homebuyer in 2025 was 40 years old, up from 30 in 2010, according to the National Association of Realtors, while Redfin reports a median age of 35. And older buyers aren’t slowing down. When including repeat buyers, those upgrading, downsizing or buying vacation homes, the median age of all U.S. homebuyers jumps to 59, up from 39 in 2010, according to Apollo chief economist Torsten Slok, who analyzed the NAR data.
Redfin puts the median age of repeat buyers at about 47. That means people aren’t just buying their first homes later. Older Americans are buying multiple times later in life instead of staying put.
Market has more showings, more buyers
The upcoming spring market is expected to bring increased activity after a winter of slower sales and moderated price increases. There were fewer homes sold in February in Metro Detroit, with year-over-year sales down and prices rising modestly.
“I would say it does feel that we are entering the very early stages of our spring market,” said Jeanette Schneider, president of RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan. “We’re seeing more activity. There’s more showings being scheduled. There are more buyers out there. They’re looking, which is good. It’s something that we want to see at this time of the year.”
Home sale activity across Metro Detroit, including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Livingston counties, was down year-over-year with 2,660 transactions, down from 2,864 last year, according to the latest RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan housing report. The median sales price was relatively stable, slipping to $297,500 from $300,000 in January, but up from $293,375 last year. Inventory levels remained between three and four months of supply, while homes continued to sell at a steady pace of about 40 days on market, according to the report.
Across a broader area covering 18 Michigan counties, new listings in February rose year-over-year, increasing 3.6% to 8,516 from 8,224, according to the latest Realcomp report. The report includes Genesee, Hillsdale, Huron, Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Montcalm, Oakland, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Tuscola, Washington and Wayne counties.
“I know that sales are down, but I do think that it’s positive to have the homes on the market increase for those that are searching for a home, to give them more opportunity to find what they’re looking for,” said Karen Kage, CEO of Realcomp II Ltd. “That’s been seriously missing, like last year and this year or the year before. And so it’s nice to have, nice to see that improving so that again, they have more to choose from, especially first-time homebuyers, it’s really nice that they have more options.”
The Realcomp report also notes that pending sales fell 7.5% to 6,327 from 6,842, and closed sales decreased 10.1% to 5,794 from 6,443. The median sale price increased 2.9% to $262,000 from $254,500, and homes spent an average of 52 days on the market, up slightly from 50 days a year ago. The report also found that about 26% of new listings and 34.9% of pending sales were both listed and pending in the same month.
“To see that many homes listed and sold, or at least under contract, in the same month is very encouraging,” Kage said.
Rates influence buyers
Mortgage interest rates have ticked back above 6% after briefly dipping below that level in late February for the first time since 2022, according to Freddie Mac, coinciding with the increase in the 10‑year Treasury yield.
“Despite the modest uptick, buyers are responding to rates in this range, with existing-home sales increasing 1.7% in February,” Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in a statement. “Purchase applications also increased this week, a welcome sign as buyers enter spring homebuying season with rates down more than half a percentage point compared to the same time last year.”
The mortgage rate environment has had an impact on buyer behavior. “And while interest rates have kind of gone back to right about 6%, they’ve been pretty stable,” Schneider said. “That also helps buyers feel confident in moving forward.”
Kristie Lohmann, a Realtor associate with RE/MAX First in Shelby Township, said seeing rates just under 6% has been encouraging, though they’re higher than the record lows of recent years.
“People that bought a home during COVID got the 3% interest, and they’re not going anywhere because they don’t want to pay more now,” she said. “If you want to do something and you can afford the higher payment, do it and hope the rates come down. But it’s still a factor buyers have to consider.”
Affordability is impacting who enters the housing market and when. Angie Sierra, a Southfield-based agent with RE/MAX City Centre, said the typical first-time buyer she sees is 35 to 40.
“I do see quite a bit of young homeowners as well,” she said. “I have a few college students that have purchased a home, but overall, the average is in the upper 30s to early 40s.”
Among those buyers is Erica Johnson, 35, and her fiancé, Stephaun Patterson-Lovelace Sr., 36, who recently purchased their first home in Garden City for $237,900 through a land contract. It’s a three-bedroom, one-bath house with a two-car garage, fenced backyard and space for their blended family of four children, ages 9 to 18. Johnson said the process was challenging but rewarding.
Given the average age of first-time homebuyers, Johnson, a pharmacy technician, said she was told that she and Patterson-Lovelace, an Xfinity technician, were “right where they needed to be” in terms of buying a house.
“So it feels really good to not have to worry about rent, to not have to worry about somebody else’s rules and all this other stuff,” she said. “We get our own, and we can stay pretty much as long as we want to. But then we also have equity in the house moving forward.”
First-timers face high prices for lots of work
The condition of homes is another challenge for buyers, particularly first-time buyers.
Lohmann noted that many properties come on the market in less-than-ideal shape, sometimes prompting buyers to pay high prices for homes that require significant work.
“I walk in some houses and say, ‘What are they asking for this house?’” Lohmann said. “They weren’t in the best condition, and I was kind of shocked what the seller was asking.”
A move-in-ready home can make all the difference for first-time buyers. That was the case for Thomas, the first-time homebuyer from Chesterfield Township, who began her search focusing on Sterling Heights, Shelby Township and Clinton Township to be closer to her job as a registered dietitian in Pontiac.
She said her search was challenging, with homes selling quickly and prices high relative to their condition.
“Being in it makes you realize just how expensive everything is for not much, whatever you’re going to get,” she said. “It can be discouraging for sure, thinking about the market and the economy and everything.”
Thomas found a home in Shelby Township that fit her budget, making an offer of $275,500. The three-bedroom, one-bath home includes a two-car garage, a fenced backyard, a shed, a fireplace and brand-new appliances.
The home is largely move-in ready, with the recent inspection helping her identify typical maintenance needs, she said: “It’s just too (great to) pass up.”
Buyers have to maintain realistic expectations, said Marcy Soufrine, an agent with Keller Williams, especially amid tight inventory and rising prices. That often means adjusting priorities.
“They’re willing to look at slightly smaller homes, different locations, or just wait for the right opportunity,” she said, adding that sellers are starting to prepare their homes for the spring market, which could add more options for buyers.
“I’ve been talking to more people who are thinking about putting their homes on the market in the next few months. They want to get an idea of what they need to do to get their homes ready and where we can price them,” she said. “Anyone that wants to list should do it before May, June, July, because when more homes hit the market at the same time, you have more competition.”
As for Johnson, she and her fiancé worked out a deal for seller financing to make their first home purchase possible. They plan to move in and gradually make improvements, including adding a bathroom in the basement.
“We basically can move in and just fix it up over time,” she said. “But it’s our house, and it’s something we have, and we can build on that.”
cwilliams@detroitnews.com
Milwaukee police chief negotiated big salary bump. Is fire chief next?
How an overlooked footnote impacts pay negotiations for Milwaukee’s fire chief.
A 25-year-old Milwaukee man has been identified as the fatal victim following a shooting that injured five people on the city’s north side.
Simeon I. Calvert was shot on March 21 a little after 11 a.m. at the intersection of North Darien and North 37th streets, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Calvert was transported to a hospital where he died in the operating room, the medical examiner said.
Four other people were injured in the shooting, ranging in age from 20 to 29 years old.
Police said March 23 that they have “persons of interest” in custody but continue to seek additional information.
The investigation is ongoing, police added, but it is believed that the incident was the result of an argument.
Anyone with any information about the incident is being asked to contact the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-935-7360. To remain anonymous while providing information, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS.
This story was updated to add new information.
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