An Eastpointe business owner got an unexpected surprise when a crew dumped massive pieces of a cut-up maple tree in his store's parking lot on 9 Mile and the whole thing was caught on his security cameras.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Eastpointe business owner finds massive maple tree dumped in his parking lot

Adam Steiner said he watched the footage in disbelief as the crew casually pulled up, unloaded the logs, left, and then returned to dump even more.

SURVEILLANCE VIDEO: Logs dumped on video SURVEILLANCE VIDEO: Logs dumped on video

"These guys dropped it here like it was supposed to go here," Steiner said. "On video, they just casually drove up, dumped the wood left, and then came back and dumped a bunch more."

The incident happened late Friday afternoon. Security video shows a truck backing up and a trailer unloading massive pieces of a cut-up maple tree. The crew left and returned a second time to drop off the rest.

Steiner spent several days trying to track down where the tree came from while the logs sat in his parking lot.

"I seriously probably spent 50 bucks on gas driving around Eastpointe looking for people cutting down trees. It was like my life's passion to find out where this came from," Steiner said.

Part of the answer turned out to be right across the street.

John Spanguolo, who lives directly across from Steiner's business, said a tree company had stopped by his home the week before.

"I am retired, and I hustle wood," Spanguolo said. "He goes, you want some wood, and I said, yeah, drop it off right here by my house there. A couple of days went by, and I thought, what the hell, man? He never dropped off the wood. I really could use the wood."

Spanguolo said he realized a few days later that the wood had been dropped at the wrong address when he looked across the street.

"When I seen the wood pile that was delivered, I was like, 'Oh no, I don't want that big bulk wood," Spanguolo said.

Spanguolo has been clearing the wood piece by piece with a chainsaw.

Steiner said there is no bad blood between the two neighbors just a lot of confusion and a pile of maple tree logs sitting where they do not belong. He hopes the tree company responsible for the mix-up returns to remove what remains.

"Hopefully, the wood is out of here in the next few days, and we can just maintain business," Steiner said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Eastpointe residents are demanding answers after a Priority Waste garbage truck was caught on video dumping puddles of foul-smelling liquid, known as "garbage juice," onto their street.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Priority Waste truck caught on video dumping 'garbage juice' in Eastpointe

Homeowners Ryan Margerison and Micaela Preston found the mess outside their home on Piper Street. Preston first noticed the liquid when she went to grab her trash cans.

"I noticed all of this water in the road. So I originally came out in socks. Didn't think anything of it. Until I noticed used feminine products in my street along with broken liquor bottles and plastic liquor bottles," Preston said.

Watch the video of the truck dumping the "garbage juice" below: Video captures garbage truck dumping liquid in Eastpointe

The couple checked their doorbell camera and saw a Priority Waste driver throw the truck into reverse before spilling the liquid.

"They backed up the truck, slammed on their brakes and just let all of the liquid waste just spill out. They did it one time there, a second time there, and a third time right here," Margerison said.

The spill left stains on the road and a strong stench of garbage lingering in the air.

"It's a horrible smell, and I mean when you come out the house, as soon as you get out of the car, you can smell it," Margerison said.

"That is disgusting and just gross," Preston said.

"We still have all the stains here. There's a bunch of garbage and trash as well," Margerison said.

Neighbors are also worried about the contents of the liquid left behind in the street.

"There's all kinds of stuff in there. You have no Idea what could be in there," Dale Rocke said.

I reached out to Priority Waste for answers. The company provided a statement explaining that leachate, or "garbage juice," is a natural by-product of the industry.

"We were made aware of the spill and immediately deployed a street sweeping crew to Eastpointe to remediate the area. After reviewing the situation internally, the driver has been formally reprimanded and will complete corrective action training to help ensure this does not happen again. Leachate, aka garbage juice, is a natural by-product of our industry, and while it can occur from time to time, we work hard to minimize and prevent it through proper maintenance, operating discipline, and rapid response when issues arise," Priority Waste said.

While I was reporting on this story Thursday, Priority Waste sent a street sweeping crew to clear the stains and smell from the street.

The City of Eastpointe is aware of the video and is investigating the incident. Additionally, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has an open investigation and said Priority Waste is cooperating.

"I just don't want this to be done to someone else or repeated again as well," Margerison said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A Roseville family is seeking answers after dealing with overgrown vegetation, hazardous trees and poison ivy that they say is spreading into their yard from an adjacent city-owned property.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Roseville family battles city over overgrown brush and poison ivy

Katelyn and Rick Alexander moved to their home in 2020. For nearly five years, they have complained to the city about the city-owned property next door.

"All I am asking is for them to take care of the problem that they started," Katelyn Alexander said.

The couple said the thick brush and poison ivy have been creeping into their yard for the last three years.

"Two of my family members got poison ivy just last summer because of all of this creeping over," Katelyn Alexander said.

"I've gotten it myself three years in a row," Rick Alexander said.

The Alexanders said city officials have previously visited the property and promised to resolve the issue.

"Multiple people from the city told me it was theirs," Rick Alexander said.

"I've had city workers come out saying, 'Yeah, that's our side, we'll take care of it,'" Katelyn Alexander said.

"They've come out here themselves, different people from the city, and looked at it and said, 'Oh yeah, we're going to take care of this, you're on the list. We'll come and take care of it,' and they never have," Rick Alexander said.

Feeling like their concerns fell through the cracks, Rick Alexander installed a sign in his front yard on Sunday to get the city's attention. The family also posted photos on social media from the previous summer showing the overgrown vegetation.

"The sign's obnoxious, and I hate to put it in my front yard, but I didn't have any other way to get their attention," Rick Alexander said.

To get answers and a hopeful resolution, I took the family's concerns to City Hall and spoke with Roseville Assistant City Manager Glenn Sexton. I learned that a property line dispute may be the reason for the delay.

"It's a little more complicated than the post on social media or the sign on the street. The property line does come at an odd angle where I can see there would be some confusion as to exactly where that property line is," Sexton said.

Sexton said the city will be taking a closer look at the property line to determine who is responsible for the overgrown brush.

"Our department of public services director has been communicating with them and has committed to working with them in clearing up this issue, and we will absolutely take care of anything that is on our property," Sexton said.

Rick Alexander said if the brush is on his property, he will take care of it, but he wishes he had known earlier, so it would not have been an issue.

"Now it's a property line dispute, which it never was. I would have taken it down if they said it was my responsibility," Rick Alexander said.

"I just wish that the city of Roseville would hold themselves to the same standard that they hold their residents," Katelyn Alexander said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Brian Bulgarelli has been waiting for a kidney transplant for three years, and his perfect match is his wife, Catherine Bulgarelli.

On April 27, the couple will undergo major surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Catherine Bulgarelli is donating her kidney to her husband to save his life.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report below: Michigan wife donates kidney to save her husband

"I should be scared probably, but I am not," Brian Bulgarelli said.

"I just want to see him back to his normal self," Catherine Bulgarelli said.

For the last 10 years, Brian Bulgarelli has battled chronic kidney disease caused by membranous nephropathy. He is now on the verge of kidney failure, requiring nightly at-home dialysis just to keep going.

"I don't feel good. There's toxins in my body, I am tired, my breath stinks and it's a challenge. When I come home from work, I am ready for bed," Brian Bulgarelli said. "As we've equated it before, it starts to feel like a piano hanging over your head and the strings are popping, but you never know when that piano is going to fall."

Brian Bulgarelli has been on a living organ donor transplant list for three years. The couple took to social media to find a match.

"It's been a real challenge. I have B positive blood type which, is semi-rare. So the average wait time is for a B positive recipient is about six years," Brian Bulgarelli said.

Catherine Bulgarelli stepped up to take the donation survey. She discovered she is a universal donor and a perfect match for her husband.

"Obviously, I was very excited and nervous and then we had to decide what should we do? Should I do it? Or should we wait to see if somebody else is a match," Catherine Bulgarelli said.

The couple decided not to wait.

"How could I not do it? He's my best friend, my partner in life, the father of my child," Catherine Bulgarelli said.

The road ahead will involve both of them facing recovery at the same time.

"We're going to need somebody here every day, not all day, but every day for sure," Catherine Bulgarelli said.

According to Gift of Life Michigan, 2,000 people in the state are in need of a kidney transplant, and finding a perfect match can be challenging. I spoke with the organization about the couple's situation.

"It's very rare for that spouse to be a match," Patrick Wells-O'Brien said.

As the couple prepares for their journey, they hope their story raises awareness about organ donation.

"You can save somebody's life," Catherine Bulgarelli said.

The Bulgarelli family has set up a GoFundMe page. If you wish to donate, visit the page.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A $3.8 million streetscape project is set to dramatically transform Charlevoix Avenue in Grosse Pointe Park, bringing wider sidewalks, new lighting, landscaping and a more pedestrian-friendly design to the area.

Construction will begin in May and is expected to last until November. The project, which spans from Beaconsfield to Alter Road, will be completed in phases and will result in some road closures.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report below: Charlevoix Avenue streetscape project to transform Grosse Pointe Park

The city received a $1.8 million grant from the state to help fund the makeover. The goal is to bring more people to the Grosse Pointe Park social district and boost local businesses.

An informational meeting is scheduled for Tuesday night at city hall, giving residents an opportunity to voice concerns directly to the city before work starts.

Web extra: Drive with us down Charlevoix Avenue in Grosse Pointe Park ahead of streetscape project Drive with us down Charlevoix Avenue in Grosse Pointe Park ahead of streetscape project

"The purpose of tonight's meeting is for residents to be able to meet with the contractor, meet with the engineers and meet with city staff here, ask any concerns or questions they may have like what's their daily commute or impact is going to be like, how do we meet with the businesses, how can we help or be supportive," Grosse Pointe Park City Manager Nick Sizeland said.

"This has been an ongoing idea that started with our tax increment finance authority about three years ago."

Residents and business owners are expressing a mix of excitement for the finished project and concern about the upcoming construction.

"It might make it a little difficult to navigate the area or walking-wise in the interim while they're working on it. It might be tough, but in the end, I think it's a worthwhile," Grosse Pointe Park resident Benjamin Huber said.

"It's something we're excited about," Huber said.

Local businesses are worried that construction could impact the number of customers they attract. David Strouse, manager of Growlers and Howlers, noted the potential challenges.

"Short term having it impact parking and some of our customers' willingness to come is going to be a little tough to get through, but we've been a community bar and restaurant for eight years and we've been through tough things and we'll get through this," Strouse said.

Tony Vassallo opened his barber shop, Park Barbers, on Charlevoix Avenue in November.

"I am happy that it is going to get a little bit of love. It's going to be tough while we're going through it, but I am happy it's getting done," Vassallo said.

Other residents remain optimistic about the overhaul.

"I think it's great that we are having other opportunities to showcase the community," Grosse Pointe Park resident David Chudy said.

"I am glad they're moving forward with it," Chudy said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

High school senior "water wars" are prompting serious warnings from police and school districts across Southeast Michigan after a game led to a police response in Grosse Pointe Farms.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Police warn high school seniors about the dangers of 'water wars' after a close call

The popular springtime showdown involves high school seniors chasing each other with water guns to win a cash prize. However, local school districts and law enforcement agencies are urging students to think twice about safety and trespassing.

I spoke with Warren Police Lt. John Gajewski about the potential dangers of the game.

"Water wars are fun until somebody gets hurt or gets a ticket," Gajewski said. "It's one of those situations where you're on private property, you're in somebody's yard, it's late at night it's dark those are the elements that a lot of times get the police called."

On Tuesday, that exact situation played out in Grosse Pointe Farms. According to dispatch audio, a caller reported a man crouching in a backyard by a shed with a possible weapon.

"Caller states that there's a man crouching down in his backyard by the shed. He believes he possibly has a weapon in his hand unaware of exactly what it is but it is an object. He states that he could be hiding from somebody," a dispatcher said.

An officer responded, noting the situation sounded like the senior water game.

"It sounds like it's going to be that senior water park game, where they shoot each other with squirt guns and such," an officer said to the dispatcher.

I spoke with Steve Fedirko, whose daughter is a senior at Grosse Pointe South High School. He walked me through what happened during the game that day.

"The plan was she was going to come back from school and as she was walking out to go to our side door the boy who was the assassin to target my daughter was hiding between the fence and the house, but what made it even worse, he was in their backyard behind their shed," Fedirko said. "Worked out to be OK, but it could have been much, much worse."

Grosse Pointe South High School reminded parents and seniors in an email to stay off private property, warning that trespassing could carry ramifications.

Fedirko said he is all for this type of fun but wants the teenagers participating to be safe and for other parents to be aware.

"From a parent's standpoint, I wish there was a more vocal understanding, a better message, so people knew what was going on," Fedirko said.

Police say the message is simple: have fun, but do not put yourself or others at risk.

"If you're out there using a squirt gun and doing these water wars, make sure it is abundantly clear this is a squirt gun," Gajewski said.

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The city of Grosse Pointe is putting homeowners on notice as inspectors prepare to check who is maintaining their property and who is not.

If you live in the city, you may have received a letter letting you know an exterior inspection of your home is coming soon. The city says it is a routine process, but it is one that has a lot of people talking.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report below: Grosse Pointe notifies homeowners of exterior property inspections

"I understand both sides both as a city and as a homeowner," Anne Leo said.

As the weather warms up, homeowners can expect a visit from code enforcement if they receive a letter notifying them of an exterior housing inspection. The inspections are aimed at making sure homeowners are keeping their property up to snuff.

"For those who it is aimed at, I can understand their concern. But I don't think their concerns are well-founded," resident Larry Sailor said.

Grosse Pointe City Manager Joe Valentine told me this program has been in place since 1974.

"The city inspects a third of all properties every year," Valentine said.

He said code enforcement does not go onto your property and only views your house from the sidewalk.

"It's been a long instituted program in the community and I think it's been well received by the community. A lot of people are appreciative that the program exists," Valentine said.

Valentine says these are not surprise code crackdowns. Instead, he says this program is designed to spot maintenance concerns early.

"Gutter issues, roofing, windows, some of the mullions, painting, brick, mortar, just to keep everything looking good as it should," Valentine said.

Valentine says the city wants to work with its residents if something needs to be addressed.

"If something's broken, we'd like to see it fixed. If it takes time or has a cost to it, we'll work with them on a time frame that's acceptable to them," Valentine said.

Some residents say this program is a good thing.

"As a community member, we certainly always want to keep our spaces lovely and safe and upkept," Leo said.

"I think it's targeted at some folks who don't adequately maintain their property," Sailor said.

But not everyone is on board. Some homeowners say the inspections are unnecessary.

"I am not too fond of it. I think it's a little bit of micromanaging. People here in Grosse Pointe typically keep their houses pretty spiffy, so I think it's a little micromanaging," Samuel Rodriguez said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Homeowners across metro Detroit are gearing up for the spring season, which means making sure homes are ready after a rough winter. From roofs and gutters to doors and windows, a few quick checks could save homeowners a lot of money in future repairs.

Every spring, homeowners discover winter damage they did not even know was there. A simple home tune-up can catch those problems before they get worse.

See the full story in the video below

Your spring home maintenance checklist after a 'rough, rough winter'

As the weather starts to warm up and the area shakes off winter, people are stepping outside and taking a closer look at the damage left behind, from missing shingles to broken gutters.

St. Clair Shores resident Adam Gardner knew he needed a new roof. This past winter, snow and wind tore off enough shingles that the damage was impossible to ignore.

"I know a lot of people would rather spend the money on a kitchen, bathroom, all that fun stuff. But this is the most important piece," Gardner said.

When Florian Lushaj and his team at J & J Roofing started tearing apart Gardner's roof and replacing it with a new one on Monday, they noticed a lot of damage under the shingles, including black mold caused by moisture.

"Look and see if something sticks out," Lushaj said. "We've had a rough, rough winter. Where the cold really hampered the shingles,"

Lushaj walked me around Gardner's property to show what else homeowners should be looking for this spring, especially around windows and doors.

"All of this stuff that opens the wound for the air to get in. You lose a lot of air. Moisture can get in," Lushaj said. "Water will get into that. You lose heat. In the summer, you get a lot of hot air. Basically, you want to make sure it's airtight."

As we head further into spring, now is the perfect time to tackle a spring tune-up checklist that can prevent costly repairs later:

Check your roof for loose or missing shingles. Inspect gutters and downspouts for damage or debris. Check caulking around doors and windows for damage or wear. Check for damaged or rotten siding. Inspect your wooden deck, railings, and steps for rot.

Gardner has an ongoing list of repairs that he is checking off one by one.

"Whatever takes priority. Obviously, the roof was the biggest priority," Gardner said.

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St. Clair Shores police are asking for information after a driver's vehicle was struck by a chunk of concrete thrown from the Frazho Road overpass on westbound I-94 Sunday night.

Sean Kokenos of St. Clair Shores was driving home from work in the right lane and was about to go under the overpass when a loud noise startled him.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report below: th 110. Driver's Jeep struck by concrete thrown from an I-94 overpass in St. Clair Shores

"I heard a big pop and thought it was a gunshot. Then I noticed my windshield and noticed that someone threw a piece of concrete," Kokenos said.

Kokenos got off at 10 Mile Road and called 911. While inspecting his Jeep for more damage, he noticed not only had his windshield been hit, but a large chunk of concrete was wedged in the front of his SUV.

"I am fortunate that I am still here," Kokenos said.

When St. Clair Shores police arrived and started taking pictures, Kokenos said another driver pulled up.

"As they're taking the last picture, a Dodge Ram shows up and says someone is throwing rocks off on the freeway off the bridge and he seen a group of kids, and that's when they started investigating," Kokenos said.

Roseville resident Theresa Anderson lives just two blocks from the overpass. She said around the same time, three young men were caught on her home's surveillance camera kicking in her screen door.

"They were coming from the east on Frazho and they kicked in my door," Anderson said.

Anderson said she believes the three people who kicked in her screen door are the same people who were allegedly throwing chunks of concrete at vehicles from the overpass.

"Why are they going around causing all of this destruction and why would they do that to someone on the freeway," Anderson said.

St. Clair Shores police told me the case has been closed at this time, citing a lack of evidence, but it could be reopened. Police are asking anyone with information to give them a call.

Kokenos has a message for whoever is responsible: "Sometimes, you're just thinking it's fun and games, but you could kill somebody," Kokenos said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Clawson police are issuing a warning tonight after residents reported a man possibly impersonating a DTE Energy worker going door to door on Hendrickson Boulevard.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Clawson police warn residents of possible DTE Energy impersonator

Investigators say the man claimed to be checking utility issues, but homeowners became suspicious after he showed up unannounced with no appointment. Police are now trying to figure out if the man was legitimate or trying to deceive homeowners, and they are asking him to come forward.

I obtained home security camera footage of the man from a homeowner who declined to go on camera. She said she did not have an appointment with DTE and found the unannounced visit suspicious. At this point, investigators asked that we blur his face in the footage in case he actually does work for a utility company.

SURVEILLANCE VIDEO: Possible utility worker imposter in Clawson SURVEILLANCE VIDEO: Possible utility worker imposter in Clawson

Police said another homeowner contacted them, reporting the same thing.

Susan Stempky lives in the neighborhood and expressed concern over the unannounced visits.

"It's right on our sidewalks, so yeah, I am concerned," Stempky said.

Dennis Shulski lives a few houses down and said you can never be too sure who is knocking on your door these days or who they could be trying to impersonate.

"It is kind of scary. Clawson is a safe community. You don't want something out of the ordinary happening," Shulski said. "Like I say, that's one house too many, so, and who knows, he might not have gotten away with it too easily."

Paul Stanton lives nearby and said the neighborhood is quiet, noting that residents pay attention when something does not seem right.

"I heard about it. Saw it on film and it can be very worrisome," Stanton said. "Everybody looks out for each other, like I said, but when something does happen, we try to let each other know."

I reached out to DTE, and they said they are aware of the situation in Clawson and that police are looking into it.

Clawson police are asking homeowners to check their home surveillance systems to see if this man knocked on any more doors and to contact them if they have any information.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A 38-year-old woman was shot and killed by her boyfriend on Tuesday night, authorities say.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Center Line woman shot and killed by her boyfriend, police say Watch Carli Petrus' video report below: Center Line woman shot and killed by her boyfriend, police say

The shooting happened around 5:30 p.m. at a home on Sterling Street near Van Dyke Avenue.

The victim has been identified as Erica Sanders. We're told her four children were home at the time.

Zachary Fuqua, 39, was charged on Friday in connection with the murder of Erica. He's charged with second-degree murder, three counts of felony firearm and others.

Officers arrived and saw that the woman had been shot. Center Line Public Safety Director Paul Myszenski said officers tried desperately to save her. She was pronounced dead at the scene by ambulance personnel.

"Officers arrived. They found our victim laying on the floor. Officers attempted to revive her trying to do life-saving techniques," Myszenski said.

Watch our full interview with Director Paul Myszenski below: FULL INTERVIEW: Center Line public safety director Paul Myszenski on woman shot and killed

Investigators say that her live-in boyfriend, 39, fled the scene on foot. After a description of them went over police radio, the suspect was arrested by Center Line and Warren officers at the corner of 10 Mile Road and Wainwright Street.

Darryl Adams, Sanders' brother, said the family is in unimaginable pain.

"We're hurt. You can never be prepared for nothing like this. You know what I am saying? We feel even more hurtful for our niece and our nephews," Adams said.

Amiyah Price, Sanders' niece, is devastated.

"As my godfather, you promised me you were going to take care of my auntie, and you take her away from me, us, her kids," Price said.

Adams said they heard the shooting followed an argument.

"We don't know for sure what exactly led up to it. All we heard is that it was an argument. There wasn't any domestic violence in the past that led up to it," Adams said.

The family said there were red flags on the boyfriend's social media pages over the last month.

"Seeing some of the notifications and people had sent to me where he been battling something for maybe a month, and it led up into this, and he pretty much said something was going to happen this day," Adams said.

Adams said he wishes the boyfriend would have come to him about the turmoil he was experiencing.

"I wish I had the opportunity to talk to him before it led to this point," Adams said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Two weeks ago, a decades-old, 5-foot piece of pipe began leaking inside the Warren wastewater treatment plant. The leak flooded the plant's dry well, an underground chamber that houses critical pumping equipment. This put the city at risk of raw sewage backing up into homes and businesses.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Warren approves $4 million to fix leaking wastewater plant pipes

Crews at the plant worked around the clock for 72 hours to contain the leak.

"This plant was built 70 years ago. We have aging infrastructure," Warren Public Service Director David Muzzarelli said.

Muzzarelli said crews patched the section of pipe with an industrial patch, but it is only temporary.

"It will not be a permanent fix. We are still able to operate the plant," Muzzarelli said.

Wednesday night, the Warren City Council held a special meeting to address the need for $4 million in emergency funding to properly fix the broken pipe.

"Disaster is probably too light of a word to describe it," Warren City Councilman Jonathan Lafferty said. "The first phase will be a 4 million dollar expenditure that is going to come from our reserve funds."

Lafferty said the $4 million is just phase one. A 10-year plan could cost taxpayers $50 million. The City Council is looking at how this could impact Warren taxpayers, including potential water rate increases, but no final plan has been set.

"At the end of the day, we are going to have to come up with the money to pay for this," Lafferty said.

"Any time it hits your pocketbook, it's going to catch your attention," Warren resident Carl Foster said. "This is probably something that should have been done over the years and not all at once, and now we're going to have to pay for it."

"I really hope that it doesn't," another resident, Faris Gerbrvic, said.

"We really don't have a choice, and stuff is expensive already," Foster said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Residents in Saline say their usually quiet downtown strip has been overrun by heavy gravel trucks hauling materials for what is expected to become Michigan's largest data center, and they are demanding relief from what they describe as nonstop noise, dust and safety concerns.

Hundreds of trucks a day are rolling through downtown Saline along Michigan Avenue, hauling materials to a construction site in Saline Township just a few miles away, where Oracle and OpenAI are building the massive data center.

Saline resident Anita Rochefort said the speed of the trucks is what concerns her most.

"They're so fast. I mean again, I am not wimpy, but it's almost kind of scary," Rochefort said.

Fellow resident Bruce Demaine said he is worried about the damage the heavy haulers could do to recently repaved roads.

"Saline... spent the last couple of years spent thousands probably hundreds of thousands of dollars redoing Route 12 through the city and on each end, and with these extra weighted trucks, it's going to tear that stuff up," Demaine said.

Not everyone along Michigan Avenue shares the same level of alarm. Steve Babiack, owner of Benny's Bakery in downtown Saline, said he is accepting the disruption as part of doing business.

"Hopefully, the roads will hold up. Right now, I think they're doing good and let's let commerce go. It's going to be loud, but it's always loud," Babiack said.

Previous coverage: Judge rules against Saline Township resident's motion to intervene in data center agreement Judge rules against motion to intervene in Saline Township data center agreement

While reporting at the corner of Ann Arbor Street and Michigan Avenue, I captured video of one of the trucks running a red light. I contacted Saline Mayor Brian Marl, who said the city is already taking steps to address the problem.

"Just last week, the city manager, police chief and I met with Walbridge, who is overseeing construction activity at the data center site, to talk about a number of these issues. Most specifically, the increased amount of truck traffic. Trucks not respecting our speed limits and the potential having trucks potentially over the weight limit," Marl said.

Marl said there will be additional traffic enforcement, and the city plans to take action at the next city council meeting this coming Monday.

A spokesperson for Oracle and OpenAI offered a timeline for when conditions may improve.

"By early spring, much of the interior roads on our site will be paved and therefore, the gravel deliveries will be finished. That will greatly alleviate some of what the community feels right now, in terms of the volume of trucks," the spokesperson said.

Previous coverage: MPSC approves DTE contract for Saline Township data center project MPSC approves DTE contract for Saline Township data center project

For residents like Rochefort, that timeline cannot come soon enough.

"I'd love to know the time frame on when they're going to finish that data center," Rochefort said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Some travelers heading out for spring break are waiting in security screening lines for hours at airports across the country as a partial government shutdown over funding for the Department of Homeland Security continues to impact TSA staffing.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: TSA staffing shortage causes spring break airport delays

TSA workers have been working without a paycheck since the partial government shutdown began on February 14th, 2026.

The Transportation Security Administration says its agents are about to miss paychecks, and some are not showing up for work. The TSA told me travelers at some major U.S. airports are waiting in security lines of up to nearly 3 hours, causing missed flights and significant delays during peak travel times.

At Detroit Metro Airport, however, a spokesperson says TSA operations are currently running normally.

I checked in at Detroit Metro Airport to see how security lines were moving and what travelers are up against.

Kristin Whitfield, who is traveling to Orlando with her mother and her son Hunter, said she had seen warnings online before heading to the airport.

"I saw some posts online where they're like warning watch out for you know all these three-hour waits," Whitfield said.

Whitfield said she did her homework before leaving for the airport.

"I tried to do some research on it and was like, we're fine, we can come at our normal time," Whitfield said.

Justin Cessante and his family are headed to Florida. They arrived much earlier than usual after seeing reports of long security lines at other airports across the country. Despite their concerns, they were relieved to find the lines short.

"I was surprised to see the lines so short," Cessante said.

Cessante said the extra time he built into his trip turned out to be a precaution worth taking.

"A little early, probably a half hour to 45 minutes earlier than we typically do," Cessante said.

He added that the experience at Detroit Metro went smoothly from start to finish.

"We will see how it is getting back, but getting here today was pretty smooth, even driving to the airport, and now getting here to security, it seems pretty efficient," Cessante said.

Travel expert Lauren Gumport with Faye Travel recommends getting to the airport earlier than normal and considering travel insurance.

"Travel insurance can help cover many unexpected events that cause delays, cancellations, and missed flights," Gumport said.

Whitfield said she is hoping for a smooth return trip as well.

"We have a 6 am flight, so hopefully, nobody wants to get up that early, but yeah, it could be bad, but we will be prepared either way," Whitfield said.

Another traveler, Johnny Shecker, who is headed to West Palm Beach, said he also expected worse conditions at the airport.

"I honestly thought it was going to be a lot busier," Shecker said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Checker Bar, a longtime staple in the heart of Detroit, reopened Wednesday after being closed for 14 months following an underground fire that forced owner Timothy Tharpe to shut down the historic establishment.

Watch Peter's story in the video player above: Checker Bar reopens in downtown Detroit after 14-month closure following underground fire

Crews spent months tearing out damaged walls, replacing wiring, scrubbing the floors and restoring everything from the 130-year-old tin ceiling to the iconic booths.

Tharpe said the restoration was about preserving what made the bar special.

"We couldn't take the character out of the Checker Bar we knew it had to remain the Checker Bar," Tharpe said.

Previous Story: Fire forces Detroit's beloved Checker Bar to close Fire forces Detroit's beloved Checker Bar to close ahead of NFC playoffs

For Tharpe, reopening was about more than business. He said it was a promise to the community.

"The community support for the last 14 months you know, 14 months has been really what drove us forward and kept us going," Tharpe said.

On Wednesday, the bar was buzzing with familiar faces. The kitchen was turning out burgers and pizza, giving off the same energy that made Checker Bar a go-to hangout for generations.

Jeanette Pierce was one of the first customers through the door Wednesday, coming in for a burger.

"We were so excited for Checker Bar to reopen," Pierce said.

Pierce said Tharpe's commitment to the city made the reopening mean even more.

"Owners like Tim who really care it's easy to like take a check and walk away, but he rebuilt because he believes in Detroit and we've got to support businesses like that," Pierce said.

Other customers echoed the excitement.

"So excited to see them rise from the ashes, which is actually the motto for the City of Detroit," Pierce said.

Matthew Reece brought his wife and two sons downtown for lunch on Wednesday, saying he had been looking forward to the return.

"As soon as I saw they were rebuilding, I was ready for it, and the kids happen to have the day off, so brought everybody in," Reece said.

Reece did not hold back when asked about the food.

"Honestly, it's the best burger in all of downtown," Reece said.

Customer Row summed up what the reopening means for the area.

"I think it's great for the atmosphere and just down here period," Row said.

Customer Max Moross kept it simple. "I am glad it's back open," Moross said.

Tharpe closed with a message to the loyal customers who stuck by Checker Bar through the long closure.

"Thank you all for your love and support of the Checker Bar," Tharpe said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

The City of Warren is using a first-of-its-kind drone program to get eyes on emergencies before first responders arrive on scene.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Warren's drone program gives police, firefighters eyes in the sky

From high-priority 911 calls to search and rescue missions, Warren Police Commissioner Eric Hawkins says the drone first responder program is already changing how the city responds to emergencies.

"This is just another tool that allows us to leverage technology," Hawkins said.

Under a special waiver from the FAA, the drones are flown by remote licensed pilots who provide live updates from fire and police scenes. According to Warren officials, the drones can travel up to 6 miles from base at 45 miles per hour, slashing response times. The drones are strategically based at six fire stations throughout the city and at Warren Police Headquarters.

WEB EXTRA: Warren police demonstrate new drone technology Warren police demonstrate new drone technology

Commissioner Hawkins says the program is the first of its kind in the state by combining police and fire response.

"It's allowing us both to operate much more impactful and to serve this community in a way that no other communities in terms of public safety are being served in this country," Hawkins said.

For Warren police officers, the drones are a vital asset in the field.

"It's really hard to send an officer back behind a dumpster enclosure; it's really hard to send an officer in a big open wooded area where you don't know what you're walking into. These drones can take part of that risk off of an officer and can provide them real-time intelligence on the ground, and can lead to better outcomes," Lt. Brandon Roy said.

For firefighters, the technology opens up an entirely new layer of safety during dangerous operations.

"Having an overview of the scene can help guide us to deploy our assets effectively," Warren Fire Department Commissioner Wilbert McAdams said.

Warren Mayor Lori Stone says the investment is worth it.

"This investment helps us be more efficient, be more effective, and have better outcomes for Warren residents," Stone said.

The reaction from residents I spoke with is overwhelmingly positive especially Christina Wright, who has witnessed the drones in action firsthand.

"I've seen them in the sky. We call them eyes in the sky. Everyone in Warren has seen them," Wright said.

Wright says she recently saw the drones respond to an emergency at her own home.

"I just had an emergency situation at my house yesterday morning and seen the drones there. My husband had a bad asthma attack. The fire department came, and the police came. They were there within seconds and saw the drones there too," Wright said.

Fellow Warren resident Gary Drescher says the program is a step in the right direction.

"I think anything that gets us a faster police response or emergency response is a good thing," Drescher said. "Faster the response, the better. I think lives will be saved and get the bad guys off the streets."

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A statewide program is helping protect Michigan families from deadly house fires by providing and installing free smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in homes across the state.

The MI Prevention program supplies fire departments statewide with free smoke detectors to install in homes at no cost to homeowners. On Friday, the Roseville Fire Department visited 30 homes as part of the effort.

Watch the video report below: Roseville firefighters install free smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms

Roseville Fire Marshal Bill Schneider said many homes in the community are missing detectors where they are needed most.

"We are an older community here and what we see in Roseville is that they're lacking smoke detectors, they only have them like old school where they're on the first floor and then if they have a basement, in the basement," Schneider said.

Michigan State Fire Marshal Tom Hughes said the devices are critical to giving families a chance to survive a fire.

"These devices here can absolutely save lives. They can give people time to escape a house fire," Hughes said.

Since the program launched in 2017, fire departments across Michigan have installed more than 175,000 alarms statewide.

The initiative focuses on education, fire safety checks and ensuring every family has working alarms on every level of their home. Roseville Fire Department Fire Prevention Officer Capt. Michelle Cattaneo offered an additional safety tip for residents.

"Sleep with your doors closed. It gives us time to get here, and it gives you time to get out of your window or another way out of the house," Cattaneo said.

Among those who received new alarms Friday was Barbara McGuire, who lives with her 95-year-old mother, Elizabeth. While the home already had working smoke detectors in the basement and other rooms, the Roseville Fire Department installed several new ones in the bedrooms.

"We do not have one in my mother's room and she would be the last person to hear anything, so I am very happy one will be put into her room," McGuire said.

After the installation, McGuire said the new alarms brought her peace of mind.

"We're very happy to have them in our bedrooms on top of other places," McGuire said. "It will be a big relief to know that they're in here, that they're close enough that we hear them immediately if we need to get out of here."

Homeowner Sylvia Jacobs also welcomed the program's presence in the community.

"I think it's a good feature making people aware that these products are available in Roseville," Jacobs said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Detroit's Autorama is back for its 73rd year, and Huntington Place has been transformed into what can only be described as horsepower heaven from candy-colored custom rides to fire-breathing hot rods around every corner.

This year, over 650 custom and classic cars are on display, along with several guest appearances.

See the full story in the video below

Detroit's 73rd annual Autorama car show brings over 650 custom cars to Huntington Place

Autorama Chairman Ken Douglass said the event is built for everyone.

"This is just a terrific family fun event for everyone to come and see," Douglass said.

Douglass has been coming to Autorama for 20 years, showing off a classic hot rod that carries deep personal meaning.

"It originally belonged to my father-in-law and got passed down to my wife and I, and we've been having fun in it ever since," Douglass said.

For Douglass, the show is about more than just the cars it's about the experience.

"This is a place where the Hot Wheels come to life, so to speak," Douglass said.

And the best part? You don't need a collector's budget to enjoy it just a sense of adventure.

One of this year's standout moments is the President's Award, won by Len Palmeri for a car he and his father custom-built together.

"The project was a father and son project, my father built many custom cars and hand-built cars," Palmeri said.

The award-winning build is a one-of-a-kind creation decades in the making.

"It's basically a reproduction of what we thought a 1929 Mercedes would look like. It was done 57 years ago, my father and I built it," Palmeri said.

Palmeri encouraged everyone to make the trip to Huntington Place.

"Come down to the Autorama and see the cars, have fun and talk to the guys that own them," Palmeri said.

Of course, no Autorama would be complete without the legendary Ridler Award the show's most prestigious honor, given to hand-crafted, meticulously engineered custom builds that are widely considered works of art on wheels.

I spoke with 2025 Ridler Award winner Tom Bresnahan about his custom 1955 Chevy Nomad, a build that started from almost nothing.

"This is a complete hand-built car we started basically with an abandoned car, just a body and a chassis, there was no engine, no transmission," Bresnahan said.

But the road to completing the Nomad was far from easy. Six years into the build, Bresnahan and his wife both received life-changing health news.

"We were about 6 years into the build and then I got diagnosed with cancer, so we stopped because 6 weeks later my wife got diagnosed with cancer, so we stopped and we didn't know what was going to happen," Bresnahan said.

After both beat cancer, they returned to the build and saw it through to the finish.

"After ten years and 20,000 hours later, this is what we came up with," Bresnahan said.

Every detail on the Nomad from the interior and tail lights to the wheels and engine is custom-made.

"Everything on this is custom-made and it takes hours and hours to do that," Bresnahan said.

For Bresnahan, the recognition at Autorama is a reflection of what the show means to the custom car world.

"It's true what they say it's the world's greatest car show and that's the truth," Bresnahan said.

Whether you're there for inspiration, nostalgia, or just to snap a photo next to the wildest custom car you've ever seen, Autorama delivers.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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Buying a new car isn't cheap, especially with today's interest rates. But for the first time, a new federal tax break could give some buyers real relief.

Watch Peter's report below

New federal tax break can help save drivers when buying a new car

It's tax season, and this year, some new car buyers could be getting a break when they sit down to file their returns.

Robin Hartnett just bought a brand new Ford Bronco, and because it was assembled in the United States, she would be eligible to deduct the interest on her auto loan when she files her taxes.

"Every little bit helps...finding out this information that buying a new car I can write off the interest on the new car that's amazing. That's the best news I've heard all day," Hartnett said. "I am really excited that I can write off a little bit of the cost of this."

Under a new Federal law, new car buyers could see tax deductions of up to $10,000 in interest on auto loans that were used to purchase a new American-made vehicle purchased in 2025. The provision is meant to offer some relief as car payments and loan costs have hit record highs.

I spoke with Michael Giusti, a senior analyst for InsuranceQuotes.com, who told me eligible borrowers need to look at the fine print.

"It's going to be a really good deal for a lot of people. But the devil is really in the details," Giusti said.

According to the Internal Revenue Service, the deduction is capped at $10,000, but higher earners get less. Single filers start losing the deduction if they make over $100,000. The deduction is lost entirely if they make over $150,000. For joint filers, the deduction diminishes for couples who earn over $200,000. There are no deductions for couples earning over $250,000.

"It's really exciting for me, you know, a couple hundred bucks, $300, $400, I don't know how much I am paying in interest every month, I am definitely going to be looking that up."

Unfortunately, Robin's is going to be in for some disappointment because her Ford Bronco Sport was made in Mexico, so it doesn't qualify.

Here's what you need to know to qualify:

The vehicle must be new, not leased or used It must have been purchased after December 31, 2024. It must be for personal use only It must have undergone final assembly in the United States

"It really comes down to where the manufacturing plant was located," Giusti said.

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