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Port Huron community honors siblings allegedly shot by father, raises funds for recovery

15 September 2025 at 11:03

The Port Huron community gathered Sunday evening to honor three siblings who were shot earlier this week, allegedly by their own father.

Watch Tiarra's report in the video player below Port Huron community honors siblings allegedly shot by father, raises funds for recovery

Seventeen-year-old Kayleb Smerer died from his injuries, while his two younger siblings remain hospitalized with serious injuries.

"We want to thank the whole community that's our biggest thing," said Karrie Green, the children's aunt.

The kids who were shot are Kayleb, Bentley and Kinzley Smerer.

"Kayleb, he loved to be on his own, loved playing his games, he loved hot wheels, classic cars, legos," Green said.

Sunday's vigil aimed to honor Kayleb's memory and show support for his siblings, whose lives have been forever changed by the shooting.

According to family members, 13-year-old Bentley suffered facial fractures, while 12-year-old Kinzley has a bullet lodged in her spine and is expected to be paralyzed from the neck down.

"Kinzley is having some breathing problems, she's working hard though, she's a strong girl. She really is," Green said.

Jennifer Goddard, the Smerer family's neighbor, organized the vigil. She said she wanted to raise money so the family can afford a wheelchair-accessible house and car for Kinzley's future needs.

"Everybody needs the support, especially of their community so I just want them to know that they have that support and if they want to reach out to anybody, we'll be able to help them," Goddard said.

The children's father, who is suspected of shooting them, is expected to be arraigned Tuesday. Questions remain about why the shooting occurred.

As the family faces an uncertain future, Green and her family are focused on ensuring Kinzley and Bentley receive the care they need.

"It's going to be a big change and we are here, we see the community is here they really did," Green said.

A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help the Smerer children with their recovery.

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.

Pontiac intersection sees another crash as sheriff deputies increase traffic patrols

14 September 2025 at 13:23

A crash at the intersection of Auburn Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Pontiac is the latest in many crashes the city has seen in the past few months.

Watch Tiarra's report below. Pontiac intersection sees another crash as sheriff deputies increase traffic patrols

"I've seen a lot of accidents happen here over the years," said Jesse Johnson, a Pontiac resident.

Johnson has lived in Pontiac for most of his life and says most of the crashes he knows about have been due to people speeding or not paying attention.

"I'd hate to get off work and know my wife and my kid died at an intersection or at a stop light because somebody didn't hit their brakes or was just trying to hurry up and get to Joe's house, but it don't take nothing but 10 more minutes to save a life," Johnson said.

Melissa Orlando, another Pontiac resident who lives near the intersection, shared similar concerns.

"They just speed down here really fast," Orlando said.

Recent crashes highlight ongoing safety concerns

There was a crash at MLK Boulevard and Auburn Avenue on Friday. According to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, police tried to stop a stolen vehicle in downtown Pontiac, which led to a chase. The suspect ran a red light at the intersection of MLK and Auburn and crashed into another vehicle.

The suspect suffered a head injury and the other driver was treated for minor injuries.

In late August, a mother and her two children were killed after being hit by another car suspected of speeding. That crash happened at the intersection of Joslyn and Montcalm.

"That's because somebody was speeding again, trying to hurry up and get somewhere and you killed somebody," Johnson said.

Sheriff's office increases patrols

In an effort to reduce crashes on Pontiac roads, Oakland County Sheriff deputies are stepping up patrols in hot spots for crashes, including at MLK Blvd. and Auburn, Huron and Saginaw, Baldwin and Montcalm, and Walton and Perry.

"We're definitely saturating the areas that are problems," said Deputy Evan Rothe of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

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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.

Warren mosque vandalized during construction expansion, $1,000 reward offered

10 September 2025 at 22:49

The Islamic Organization of North America mosque on Ryan Road in Warren was allegedly targeted by vandals who broke into the construction site where the facility is undergoing expansion.

"They destroyed the mirrors, which were in the bathroom before," said Imam Steve Elturk, who serves as president of IONA.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report below: Warren mosque vandalized during construction expansion, $1,000 reward offered

Elturk walked through the construction site, showing the damage he says was caused by the vandals. The incident appears to have occurred over the weekend.

"First of all, who would do this? And second, why?" Elturk said.

Despite the vandalism, Elturk emphasized unity and understanding.

"We're all one people regardless of our skin color, regardless of what language we speak, we all belong to one human family, why not live as one human family," he said.

Warren police are investigating the incident. The Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan Chapter is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the people or person behind the vandalism.

Elturk believes the vandalism could be the result of youth acting out.

"Is it hate filled or is it just childish? Some kids randomly, devilishly wanna have fun," he said.

Elturk had this message for the vandals.

"We would love to find who the perpetrator or perpetrators are, not to punish them but to have a talk with them. If they are indeed kids, we'd like to invite them to our youth group and integrate and be part of this community," Elturk said.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to contact Warren police at 586-574-4810.

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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.

1 dead, 1 injured after car crashes into Detroit restaurant

7 September 2025 at 01:34

A crash on Detroit's east side early Saturday morning left one person dead and another critically injured.

The crash happened around 2:30 a.m. on Gratiot Ave near St. Aubin Street, sending one car careening into Avenue Grill while patrons were dining.

See the full story in the video below

1 dead, 1 injured after car crashes into Detroit restaurant

Nyann Edwards was inside the restaurant when the collision occurred. Surveillance video from the restaurant owner shows Edwards covering her head as the vehicle crashed through the building.

"We heard the boom of the cars coming together, we turned and looked back, and as soon as we turn and look back, the end of the car, I'm assuming, had swooped in and took a chunk of the restaurant," Edwards said.

See surveillance video from inside the restaurant below

Surveillance video inside Avenue Grill during car crash

Edwards was with two other people inside the restaurant.

"Everyone started to run, but I was on the inner part of the booth, so I was like I had to shelter in place," Edwards said.

Edwards and her friends sustained only minor cuts from flying glass and were able to walk away from the scene. However, one person in the vehicles died and another remains in critical condition.

Surveillance footage shows a white car and a red car approaching each other before the devastating impact.

"A lot of people from the restaurant or just passing by, they went to the car, pulled out of the victim in the white car a couple of friends from my group had ran over there too," Edwards said.

Edwards offered her condolences to the family of the person who died in the crash.

"I know that it is definitely hard and my heart goes out to them, we are keeping them in our prayers. I know that losing someone is very, very difficult and I just hope that they can push through," Edwards said.

The restaurant has been boarded up following the crash. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.

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"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 residents, US Senate candidates weigh in on proposal of National Guard in the city

5 September 2025 at 21:50

A U.S. Senate candidate's call for National Guard troops in Detroit has sparked debate among residents and city officials about whether military intervention is needed to address crime in the Motor City.

Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers claimed Detroit was the second most violent city in the country and urged Mayor Mike Duggan to call in the National Guard during a recent video statement.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report: Mike Rogers says Detroit mayor should reach out to Trump to deploy National Guard

"The mayor of Detroit outta be calling the president right now," Rogers said.

Rogers defended his proposal, describing the potential deployment as assistance rather than occupation.

Watch the recent video statement below: Web extra: Mike Rogers says Mike Duggan should call on Trump to bring National Guard in

"It's more like the cavalry. This isn't taking over, this is the cavalry coming in saying let's really stomp out robberies and rapes and aggravated assault that we're leading the nation in," Rogers said.

One of Rogers' Democratic opponents, Rep. Haley Stevens, rejected the idea of deploying troops to Detroit.

"It's clear Mike Rogers has been out of touch with Michigan and the people of Detroit for a very long time," Stevens said.

Hear more from Haley Stevens below: Web extra: Haley Stevens shares why National Guard should not be called in to Detroit

A spokesperson for the city of Detroit also fired back at Rogers' claims in a statement, saying Rogers is "proving himself just another uninformed, grandstanding politician."

The city highlighted significant crime reductions, noting that Detroit had more than 750 carjackings in 2013 compared to 57 as of this week in 2025, representing a 90% reduction.

"Our strong partnership with U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon has just added several more federal prosecutors to drive the violence down even further," said John Roach, director of media relations for the city of Detroit.

Hear more from Mike Rogers below: Web extra: Mike Rogers shares why National Guard should be called in to Detroit

7 News Detroit also spoke to Detroit residents about the proposal to bring troops to the city.

Gene West, a Detroit resident, supported the idea of military assistance.

"To be honest with you, I think they probably should, 'cause it's a lot of crime in Detroit," West said.

However, Alante Griffin, another Detroit resident, opposed outside intervention.

"We don't need nobody to come here We actually, as a people, if we have more groups that get together, we can control it ourselves; we don't need them to come in," Griffin 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.

Federal grant for flooding relief in Detroit's Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood in jeopardy

3 September 2025 at 21:34

Millions of dollars set to help Detroit's Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood combat chronic flooding is now uncertain as the Trump administration considers cuts to FEMA programs.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report: Federal grant for flooding relief in Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood in jeopardy

The $11.3 million federal grant, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was designated to enlarge sewers in the Jefferson Chalmers area. The funding is now in limbo as the new administration reviews FEMA spending.

Residents in Jefferson Chalmers have battled flooding issues for decades, with many losing personal belongings and facing repeated basement damage from sewage backups.

"My basement last had sewage and water, and it came through the windows," Jocelyn Fitzpatrick-Harris said.

Fitzpatrick-Harris has lived in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood since 1971.

In 2021, she lost everything in her basement when flooding hit the area after the nearby Connor Creek pump station became overwhelmed during heavy rainfall.

FEMA awarded the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood the $11.3 million grant in 2023 to expand sewer capacity in the flood-prone area.

"Finally, we get some money to address a major issue that we as residents do not have the ability to address," Fitzpatrick-Harris said when she first learned about the funding.

The grant money now sits in uncertainty as the Trump administration evaluates cuts to the FEMA program that was providing the funds.

"With the situation as it exists, we have no guarantees, we have no peace about whether our basements will be full of sewage and flooding again or now," Fitzpatrick-Harris said.

Anthony Adams, a former deputy mayor who moved to the neighborhood eight years ago, believes this is an opportunity for local and federal lawmakers to collaborate on resolving the flooding crisis.

"This is about housing preservation, this is about neighborhood growth and development," Adams said.

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department provided a statement regarding the uncertain funding status: "We remain cautiously optimistic the funds will be released, and we are committed to enhancing flood mitigation in our city with projects such as this improvement."

For longtime residents like Fitzpatrick-Harris, the wait continues.

"I pray that in my lifetime, I will see these major issues addressed," Fitzpatrick-Harris said.

Residents must now wait to learn the fate of the critical infrastructure funding as federal budget decisions unfold.

"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."

Vigil held for 20-year-old woman killed in murder-suicide in Westland

1 September 2025 at 02:13

Family, friends and community members gathered to remember Sarah Carroll, a 20-year-old woman who was shot and killed in what police say was an apparent murder-suicide.

"She was brilliant, amazing, when she smiled, she lit up a room, she was going to school, working two jobs, about to have a third," said Jennifer Carroll, Sarah's mother.

Jennifer and James Carroll are grappling with the loss of their daughter. According to police, Sarah was killed Saturday night outside of Woodland Villa Apartments in Westland.

"You see this happening on the news and you never think it's going to happen to you it just doesn't even seem real you know," said James Carroll, Sarah's father.

"I never thought I would look at my daughter's picture in the newspaper saying that she was murdered," Jennifer Carroll said.

Jennifer Carroll said the man who shot her daughter had been stalking her for a couple of months. They had been dating but had broken up.

"Came, shot her, called 911, said he'd shot his girlfriend and went into his car and shot himself," Jennifer Carroll said.

"He was suffering from mental illness and we just want to get the message out that if anybody that if their children is suffering mental illness, get them some help, get them the help that they need before something like this happens," James Carroll said.

On Sunday night, James and Jennifer Carroll and many others gathered near where Sarah was killed to honor her.

"It's wonderful, I'm glad we have all this support, Sarah touched a lot of people," Jennifer Carroll said.

"It's a lot of support, we thank everybody for coming out," James Carroll said.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help with Sarah's funeral costs.

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"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."

Community mourns loss of mother, 2 kids killed in Pontiac

31 August 2025 at 14:12

Saturday was a very emotional day in Pontiac, where people were visiting the site where a mother and her two kids died in a crash on Friday night. People were paying their respects with balloons, teddy bears, and more.

Watch Tiarra's video report below Community mourns loss of mother and two kids killed in Pontiac crash

When something like this happens in the city of Pontiac, it just doesnt affect one person; it affects us as a whole," said councilwoman Melanie Rutherford (District 1).

The Pontiac councilwoman knows the 37-year-old mother who lost her life in the crash. Family and friends have identified her as Deniquah Reed.

She is beautiful, she was kind, she worked at Brilliant Detroit, she was an amazing mother," Rutherford said.

Reed's sons, ages 6 and 4, also died in the crash. Her daughter is in the hospital fighting for her life.

Im so sad, as a mom, this is personal for me, like this is personal," Rutherford said.

According to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, around 8:20 p.m., a 21-year-old driver of a red Honda Civic was heading south on Joslyn Road and ended up crossing through oncoming traffic, then left the roadway and struck multiple signs and poles before colliding with Reed's car, which was stopped at a red light on Montcalm Road.

Police believe speeding was a factor in the crash, with the possible involvement of drugs or alcohol being under investigation.

Im angry, Im hurt, because this family, they shouldnt have to be going through this today, and this community shouldnt have to be going through this today," Rutherford said.

Rutherford has this message for drivers in the wake of the tragedy.

This was preventable, at the end of the day, we have to use wisdom when we're driving, we have to use wisdom when we are not paying attention, and unfortunately, this tragedy has happened where three people have lost their lives," Rutherford said.

Police tell us the driver of the red Honda is in stable condition at the hospital. It's unclear at the time if the driver will face any charges.

If you would like to help the family affected by the crash, you can do so at this link.

Royal Oak giving away gift cards to local businesses during Arts, Beats and Eats festival

29 August 2025 at 22:15

As the 28th annual Arts, Beats and Eats festival takes place in Royal Oak, the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority is distributing $80,000 worth of gift cards through its Downtown Dollars program to encourage visitors to shop at local businesses.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report: Royal Oak giving away gift cards to local businesses during Arts, Beats and Eats

The $20 gift cards can be used at participating downtown businesses throughout September, providing festival-goers with an incentive to explore Royal Oak's retail and dining scene beyond the weekend event.

Local restaurant owner Mario Cutraro, who runs Trattoria da Luigi with his family, has participated in Arts, Beats and Eats since its inception. He appreciates the city's Downtown Dollars initiative.

"Whenever we see the Royal Oak dollars, it's usually familiar faces, but it's nice the city does for those people," Cutraro said.

When asked about his favorite part of the festival, Cutraro highlighted the community atmosphere.

"Favorite parts, hands down, is seeing everybody grilling sausages, staying out, walking the streets. It's the best," Cutraro said.

Susan Barkman, interim executive director of the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority, said the festival serves as an introduction to the city for newcomers.

"It helps people get familiar if you're not familiar with Royal Oak; it's a good opportunity to come down and check it out," Barkman said.`

For business owners, the festival creates lasting connections with customers who return throughout the year.

Festival attendees interested in receiving Downtown Dollars can sign up with employees at the festival entrance ways.

The Arts, Beats and Eats festival runs from Friday through Monday.

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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.

Road worker returns home after losing leg in work zone crash that killed colleague

28 August 2025 at 22:05

A road worker who lost his leg in a devastating work zone crash that killed his colleague returned home from the hospital Thursday.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report: Road worker returns home after losing leg in work zone crash that killed colleague

Robert Dinkins was working on Orchard Lake Road near 10 Mile Road on July 23 when an SUV barreled into the work site where he and two other Oakland County Road Commission workers were repairing a drainage basin.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Oakland County road commission worker killed, 2 more injured in crash Oakland County road commission worker killed, 2 more injured in crash

"I had my left leg amputated from below the knee, I had four breaks in my arm," Dinkins said.

The crash badly injured Dinkins and another worker. The third man, 43-year-old Cedric Jones, died from his injuries.

"Not at all, not at all," Dinkins said when asked if he ever thought something like this would happen.

Family members greeted Dinkins when he arrived home Thursday after his hospital stay.

"For him to be home, it's a great, great feeling," said Melvin Clark, Dinkins' cousin.

Clark, who previously worked for the Oakland County Road Commission before retiring, expressed his grief over the incident.

"I am really hurt that a fellow road commission worker lost his life, as well as the other road commission worker who lost, I think, a part of his leg also," Clark said.

Craig Bryson, a spokesperson with the Oakland County Road Commission, shared a message of support for the victims and their families.

"We know this is a challenging journey that they're on right now. We're doing everything we can to support them, and we just want them to know we're thinking of them," Bryson said.

As Dinkins faces his recovery, he has an important message for drivers who travel through work zones.

"Construction workers are only out there to make the roads better for everybody, so just slow down and give them a chance to get the roads fixed," Dinkins said.

The cause of the crash remains unclear. Farmington Hills police say the investigation is ongoing.

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.

Governor Whitmer visits Wyandotte elementary school as budget battle continues

27 August 2025 at 21:20

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer visited Thomas Jefferson Elementary School to discuss the importance of free school meals with teachers while the state budget remains in limbo.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report: Governor Whitmer visits Wyandotte elementary school as budget battle continues

The governor's visit comes as free school lunch programs across the state hang in the balance if a budget agreement isn't reached soon.

"Hungry children is not a good thing, so feeding kids is a good thing, but what doesn't it mean for school?" Whitmer said.

Web Extra: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer reacts to House budget proposal

Michelle Johnson, a 5th-grade teacher at Thomas Jefferson Elementary, emphasized the critical connection between nutrition and learning.

"They can't learn if you're hungry, you can't sleep, it's just such a basic need," Johnson said.

During Wednesday's visit, Whitmer sat down with Johnson and State Senator Darrin Camilleri to discuss how vital free meals are for student success.

"Let's say they haven't eaten yet, and they didn't make it for breakfast. Once they get something to eat, they perk up and they're engaged," Johnson said.

Parents in the community also expressed hope that the free meal programs will continue.

"And I also know there were free lunches in summertime that schools handed out. We don't do that, but I know kids who do," said Tracey Yarborough, a Wyandotte resident.

In February, the governor proposed a budget exceeding $83 billion that included funding for free school meals and free pre-K programs.

On Tuesday, the Republican-controlled state House approved a different budget proposal of approximately $79 billion, which focuses more on cutting state spending.

PREVIOUS STORY: State school budgets still in limbo as classes begin State school budgets still in limbo as classes begin

"It's not a budget that is going to get signed into law, but they did their part, and now it's time for us to have serious and fast negotiations but also making sure we are continuing to feed our kids in school so kids don't go hungry," Whitmer said.

House Speaker Matt Hall defended the House's budget, saying it provides adequate funding to schools while giving districts autonomy over meal programs.

"They're not restricted on just doing free lunch, they could do free snacks, free dinner they could do all kinds of things," Hall said.

For educators like Johnson, the focus remains on meeting students' basic needs regardless of political decisions.

"In this district, we've done such a great job as districts do across the state, but if those things are taken, we figure it out because their needs have to be met," Johnson said.

The Governor, House, and Senate must approve a budget by October 1 to avoid a government shutdown.

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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.

2 Detroit police officers, 1 driver injured in crash on city's east side

24 August 2025 at 01:48

Two Detroit police officers and another driver were injured in a crash on the city's east side on Saturday.

Were hearing the two officers and the other person are stable.

I heard the crash, it was a really loud impact, said Vanessa Bostic of Detroit.

Watch the video in the player below: 2 Detroit officers, 1 man injured in crash on east side

After hearing the crash that happened on Gratiot and Lappin around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Vanessa Bostic and her niece ran out of the store to see what was going on.

She says they pulled one of the officers out of the wrecked cruiser.

We shouldered him out, my niece helped shoulder him out, said Bostic.

Bostic says they also checked on the other officer and the driver in the black truck that was involved in the crash.

Police say there was a passenger in the truck who declined medical treatment.

Everyone involved in the crash has non-life-threatening injuries.

Most people would just call for help. What made you run over there? 7 News Detroit reporter Tiarra Braddock asked.

Its the police officers of Detroit, its my duty as a citizen to help our officers as well, said Bostic.

Police say the driver of the black truck ran the red light.

Bostic says speeding on Gratiot is a huge problem.

Its very busy, very busy, they like to drag race on this road, said Bostic.

Slow down, peoples lives are at stake. We just had another accident here on 7 Mile and Gratiot, we lost a little kid to that, so slow down.

Its unclear at this point if the driver in the black truck will face any charges.

Residents in three Wayne County communities express concern over recent tax assessment

21 August 2025 at 22:14

Residents who live in Huron, Sumpter, and Van Buren Townships are fired up about a special tax assessment they say was sprung on them.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report: Residents in three Wayne County communities concerned over recent tax assessment

Even if I wanted to, I couldnt pay it right now, said Stephanie Moesby of Sumpter Township.

Moseby and her family have lived in Sumpter Township for 13 years.

She says on August 13th, she received a letter saying she had to pay more than $2,200 for a special tax assessment involving the North Branch Big Swan Creek Inter-county Drain.

The drain system primarily serves Wayne, Washtenaw, and Monroe counties, and it collects storm and wastewater to prevent flooding.

I feel like we have no choice, and we are already paying pretty high taxes around here. In our case, its five thousand dollars a year, said Moseby.

Residents can prepay the money, or the assessment will be spread over 20 years and added to a residents winter taxes with an unknown amount of interest.

For the residents being charged for the Swan Creek drain, I do not agree with that, said Katrina Burnham of Huron Township.

Burnham was sent an assessment of more than $900.

She says she wishes the county would have given residents at least six months' notice that the assessment would be coming.

That is a big, big problem, especially for our seniors in the community that are on a fixed income, said Burnham.

7 News Detroit reporter Tiarra Braddock reached out to Wayne County to learn about why they decided to send out the letters two weeks before the initial due date, and a spokesperson for the county told me the letters went out after several public hearings dating back to early July.

She was sent a statement also saying:

The North Branch Big Swan Creek Intercounty Drain is a multi-county maintenance and improvement project through Wayne, Washtenaw, and Monroe counties. It is managed by the Drainage Board, consisting of those counties and chaired by the Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development. There is a legally required process of communication for this type of drain improvement project, which has been followed and managed by the Drainage Board. The request for work was initiated by a petition from multiple landowners, which was followed by several public hearings. Then a public day of review of apportionment was hosted on July 10, 2025, presenting assessment information for landowners. Notifications with assessment and prepayment details were sent after this meeting on August 13, 2025. Transparency in communication and the legal process are of the utmost concern to the Wayne County Drain Commissioner and continue to be a high priority for this intercounty project.

Were told there is no finalized start day for the drain project, but it could start as early as fall of this year.

Metro Detroit Ukrainian community anxiously awaits Trump-Zelenskyy meeting

18 August 2025 at 10:09

The Metro Detroit Ukrainian community will be closely watching Monday's meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, hoping for progress toward ending the war in Ukraine.

"This war needs to end," said Andriy Pereklita, assistant principal of the Ukrainian School of Language and Culture.

Pereklita, an Ann Arbor resident, says many of his Ukrainian friends and family are anxiously waiting to see what happens at the Washington meeting.

"What's going to happen tomorrow in Washington is going to be very tense, so I don't know what to think," Pereklita said.

The last time President Trump and President Zelenskyy met was in February; that meeting ended abruptly without a clear resolution after tensions ran high.

Various European leaders will join Monday's meeting with Zelenskyy and Trump, which Pereklita views as a positive development.

"That's a big step forward. Hopefully they will be able to placate President Trump a little bit and avoid the attack that happened in February," Pereklita said.

On Friday, President Trump held a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Before that meeting, Trump had vowed to push Putin for an immediate ceasefire and warned of severe economic consequences if the Russian leader did not cooperate.

"Ukrainians have been apprehensive and then frustrated as of Friday at you know, President Trump shaking hands with a known war criminal and an indicted war criminal," Pereklita said.

When asked about the best-case scenario for Monday's meeting, Pereklita was clear about what he hopes to see.

"The best case scenario is that Mr. Trump actually agrees that this war needs to end and needs to end on terms that are necessary for Putin to stop the war, which means no land concessions sitting down after a ceasefire and actually hammering out what happens next, which means security guarantees for Ukraine that are iron clad," Pereklita 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.

Storm damage in Livingston County, historic Howell opera house window destroyed

17 August 2025 at 01:46

Some residents in Howell spent the day cleaning up debris after Saturday afternoon's storm left a trail of destruction.

Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.

"The storm came through and I heard this big, cracking sound and it sound like the tree hit the house," Mark Smet, a Howell resident, said.

While Smet's house was spared a direct hit, large branches were scattered across his front lawn.

"Went right across the front yard, had this one, one in the street here one across the street there," Smet said.

The historic Howell Opera House on West Grand River Avenue suffered damage when a window was blown out during the storm.

"I was really shocked because that window has been here for 100 years and it was shocking," Gayle Down, board member of the Livingston Art Council, said.

The Livingston Art Council is now accepting donations to repair the window.

"It was built in 1881, it's the one of the oldest buildings in town and it was originally the eagle it was used for high school graduations, dances and entertainment," Down said.

The storm also forced the cancellation the Howell Melon Festival, disappointing both attendees and local businesses.

"I feel kind of bad because all of these businesses prepared to have a huge turnout and now it's canceled so that's upsetting a little bit," Christy Wolschleger said.

In Brighton, a home reportedly caught fire after the storm. The Brighton Fire Department is investigating the cause of the blaze.

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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