Michigan Miss Amazing is empowering girls and women with disabilities by giving them a stage to build confidence, advocate for themselves and celebrate their abilities.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report: Michigan Miss Amazing empowers women with disabilities

The organization has been building community for participants in Michigan since 2020. Started by Novi residents Rachel Dooley and her mother, Rachel Hunter, the program has grown from about 10 participants to 37.

The annual Amplify event takes place Saturday, March 21 at 2:30 p.m. at the Novi Civic Center, featuring hair, makeup and passionate presentations.

"We are here to empower them. We wanna give them a platform and build a community around them and focus on their abilities," Tiffany LaFontaine, director of Michigan Miss Amazing, said.

"All too often, you hear the word disability, but you don't really pay attention to the ability and what these girls are truly capable of and what they bring to the table, and that's the most important part building a table that everybody has a seat at, so they all feel welcomed and included," LaFontaine said.

For 28-year-old Allie Hayes, the 2025 Miss Queen, the crown is more than just an accessory. She says her journey participating in the event has made her more confident in advocating for vulnerable adults.

"It definitely does open doors for self-esteem," Hayes said. "It makes me feel more confident with myself and I like feeling included."

Emmalynn Ringrose, the 13-year-old 2025 Preteen Queen, loves being on the stage because it reminder her of her theater passion.

"Feels like Im on Broadway," Ringrose said.

Alyssa Patrias, 29, is the 2025 Sr. Miss Queen and one of the original queens. She has a passion for bringing smiles to everyone with her "happy cards."

"It makes me feel so happy and proud," Patrias said.

LaFontaine says the competition is ultimately a celebration of all that makes its contestants special.

"Its about giving these girls the stage and allowing them to talk about the things that mean the most to them," LaFontaine said.

While participation in Michigan Miss Amazing is completely free, the organization encourages each participant to give back by supporting a nonprofit. This year, they are supporting Making Spirits Bright, Metro Detroit's Book Bank, which is dedicated to providing equitable access to books that enhance youth literacy.

The Amplify event is just the beginning for many participants. Queens crowned in seven of the eight age categories will go on to the national Advocate event in Chicago in July.

Girls and women ages 5 and older who have an IEP, IPP, SSI, 504 plan or a physician's document providing proof of disability are eligible to participate. Miss Amazing is currently operating in over 30 states.

The organization has several upcoming events, including a bottle drive on April 19 to raise funds for the 2026 National Queens. On May 16, they will host the LaFontaine Automotive Performance Cars and Coffee for Michigan Miss Amazing at LaFontaine Chevrolet Plymouth. The second annual Fundraiser Ball Gala is scheduled for Oct. 3 at the Novi Civic Center.

"You should come see it. Its a great experience," Ringrose 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.

Northville Township's Essential Services Complex is delivering on its promise of faster emergency response and a safer community, nearly one year after opening its doors.

The $44.5 million complex brought police and fire services together under one roof, adding a second fire station, an expanded dispatch center, and shared spaces including a training and fitness room. It also includes the Department of Public Works. Township officials say the investment was made without raising taxes.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report below: Northville Township's new essential services complex cuts fire response times

Deputy Fire Chief Jesse Marcotte said the complex's location was a deliberate decision driven by data, as the township faced increased traffic from construction and population growth.

"In emergency services, specifically on the fire and EMS side, a big part of what we do is getting there as fast as we can. That was a driving force behind the decision not just to build a second station, but to put the second station here," Marcotte said.

The results have been significant. The township can now reach 96.5% of its area in under six minutes, up from 51.6%. Over the past year, Marcotte says the days show an overall reduction in response time of roughly two minutes since 2024.

"It is literally life-saving," Marcotte said.

The shared facility has also strengthened coordination between departments.

"It really creates an excellent tiered system where we're all reading from the same sheet of music, if you will," Marcotte said.

Township officials also reported a 15% drop in crime rates in 2025 compared to the year before, following a similar trend of a 20% drop in 2024.

For residents, the impact has been felt directly. Sandra Stonik, who lives in Northville Township, said the fact that no new taxes were needed to fund the project was a welcome surprise.

"It really didn't matter at all. I would've paid more for it, but it's nice not to," Stonik said.

Fellow resident Carol Poenisch said she is proud of what the complex represents for the community.

"Now we have more access to the police and fire and we just love the facility," Poenisch said.

Township officials say their goal is to continue using the space to find new ways to improve services.

"If theres something we can do to be faster on an incident scene or more effective whether its the first hose line applied or the time to begin chest compressions its about maximizing skill sets and being prepared for whatever the next incident is going to be," said Marcotte.

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 new Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace has opened on the campus of Schoolcraft College in Livonia, the brand's first location in Wayne County, as part of a unique partnership designed to connect students with real-world experience.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report: Nino Salvaggio opens first Wayne County store in Livonia

The store will feature a wide array of gourmet goods, including produce, meats, and flowers. Unlike the brand's other four locations, this one will also serve as an educational hub, with classes held inside the store.

Schoolcraft College President Dr. Glenn Cerny said the college brought the idea to Nino Salvaggio leadership.

"We've been working on this for eighteen months. The whole idea is about transformational experiences, getting our students outside the classroom into real-world experiences where they can learn," Cerny said.

Founded by the late Nino Salvaggio in 1979, the company will expand its footprint in the tri-county area with the opening of the Livonia store. Ninos children, Leo Salvaggio, and Andrea and Frank Nicolella, embraced the opportunity to expand upon Ninos legacy.

"We're just ecstatic that we have this opportunity with a college campus to educate the youth of tomorrow to have an opportunity to have the youth of tomorrow work with us," Leo Savaggio said.

When the store officially opens on Wednesday, nearly every area of study at the college, including culinary arts, business, and music, is expected to be represented in the space.

Schoolcraft College student David Grant got an early look at the store and said the partnership opens doors for students like him.

"It's been amazing, the opportunities that's been coming my way," Grant said.

Grant, who is currently enrolled in a nutrition class, said the location could soon become part of his coursework.

"I'm currently taking a nutrition class, so that's a strong possibility that my teacher might bring us here," Grant said. "I think it's always great to get out of the classroom. I think it's always good to stretch your legs instead of being in a lecture for two hours, really kind of being involved in the environment."

Several students have already visited the space during the build-out and have had the opportunity to learn from staff. Guests will be able to observe students learning in a variety of disciplines.

The new location has also attracted local residents like Logan Stempeck, a Livonia resident who applied for a job at the store.

"It's family-owned. I prefer working for family-owned companies. It usually feels more like a community than corporate," Stempeck said.

A mural depicting the college's history is displayed on the wall inside the store, serving as a visual representation of the partnership between Schoolcraft College and Nino Salvaggio.

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.

Novi's new robotics hub gives students a dedicated space to build, test and compete, and district leaders say more STEM expansion is on the way.

Novi Public Schools cut the ribbon on a new state-of-the-art robotics center, a 24,000-square-foot facility featuring a kitchen, cafeteria, multiple build-and-test labs and a competition arena.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report below: Novi Public Schools cuts ribbon on new 24,000-square-foot robotics center

Its a stand-alone place outside taking the space previously occupied by Meadows Elementary.

The center was funded in part by the $185 million 2019 school bond approved by voters.

For 10th grade students Sanvi Chintamaneni and Pavithra Venkatesh, the new space is a dramatic upgrade.

"Last year, it was a very congested space having multiple groups in the same workspace," Chintamaneni said.

Venkatesh said the resources available in the new building immediately stood out.

"As soon as I walked into this building, it was just fascinating because I had never had this many resources open to me," Venkatesh said.

Students no longer have to wait for open classrooms or borrow space. The new facility gives them a dedicated place to work.

Banu Arslan, a parent of high school senior twins, said the change has been significant for students.

"This a huge transformation for our students. We now can come in here whenever we like," Arslan said.

Superintendent Ben Mainka said the district is planning to build on its STEM offerings using the 2025 bond approved by voters last November.

"That's going to be able to help us bring in a whole new STEM addition to our middle school, which will continue from our fifth grade all through 12th grade having high quality, some of the top STEM and robotics education facilities during the day as a part of our curriculum, so we're just very, very grateful for the community support," Mainka said.

The robotics program was started more than 25 years ago by Jennifer Harvey, a former art teacher after she attended a competition at Eastern Michigan University.

"I saw that and I thought I want Novi to have that. And look, look what we have now we have it," Harvey said.

The program has grown from 25 students to more than 150 annually and now includes two high school teams.

"This is something they won't be able to find until they are out of college," Harvey said.

Her son, a graduate of the program, went to college for computer science.

Both Chintamaneni and Venkatesh have their sights set on careers in engineering. Chintananeni said she hopes to combine her two passions.

"I'm really fascinated with robotics and also animals, so I hope to combine that field," Chintananeni 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 and visitors in downtown Plymouth are speaking out about parking challenges, with some calling the situation a headache while others say they haven't experienced significant issues.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report: Plymouth residents debate downtown parking challenges

"I love downtown Plymouth, but finding a parking place can be very challenging," said Tom Green, a Plymouth resident.

It's a conversation heard repeatedly on the streets of Plymouth from residents and visitors alike.

"It gets very crowded on the weekends. Weekends in the summertime, it's impossible to park here," said Mike Guzowski, a downtown visitor.

Green noted that having a handicap sticker can help somewhat, but as Plymouth becomes more popular, finding parking becomes increasingly difficult.

However, not everyone sees it as a major problem.

"Between the parking structure and the lots behind the building, it's never been much of an issue as long as you have a little bit of patience; people are moving in and out," said Sarah Wolfe, a Plymouth resident.

On a Monday, traffic was lighter, and spaces were plentiful.

"I love the way I can just pull in, park in front of the store I want to shop at," said Kathi Rocheleau, a downtown visitor.

Donna Parks, owner of Wild Rose Boutique, says loyal customers find their way in even if they have to walk a block or two.

"During Friday, Saturday, when it gets busier for dinner and stuff, I feel like people do have to drive around a little bit to find a spot," Parks said.

City leaders report there are around 925 public spaces in and around the downtown area, including streets and lots. But some residents believe more are needed.

"They could use another parking structure," Guzowski said.

As city leaders map out priorities for the year, parking is one of dozens of topics open for discussion. Out of 54 potential one-year task items tied to the city's five-year strategic plan, two focus on parking. One would review current parking policy, and the other would explore possible public-private partnerships.

What that could look like is still up in the air.

"I would prefer it remain free and where it's at than start charging for parking anywhere," Wolfe said.

The city will begin discussing its 2026 plans during a commission meeting on Tuesday.

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. Where Your Voice Matters

A big repair project in Novi starts today and it could impact your drive for weeks to come.

Watch Christiana's report below

Crews shutting down portion of Novi Road at 14 Mile for water main repair

Crews will be shutting down the northbound side of Novi Road at 14 Mile, to support the replacement and renewal of the 14-inch water main break that failed in that area in September.

Watch our previous coverage

Local businesses adapt operations after massive water main break in Novi

That closure is expected to last the next few weeks, while the overall project is expected to last until June.

Drivers we spoke to aren't thrilled to be inconveince; for people who live in Novi, Commerce Township, or Walled Lake, patience will be needed for the near future.

Eastbound 14 Mile is already closed, and now, northbound Novi Road is closed here as well, starting today. This is all to complete work on replacing and renewing segments of the 42-inch water transmission main that broke last year.

Officials say it's something that needed to be done, but still, people in the area tel me the changes are coming with a little frustration as they adjust.

It can be a little irritating, but everybody knows that its going to help with the water and the situation that everybody has over here," said Ken F., who lives nearby the road being partially closed.

But as we make the repairs to our transmission main here,we know that these impact sdo take place and we appreciate everyone's patience as we work through this," said Pete Fromm, the Director of Water Transmission with Great Lakes Water Authority.

Great Lakes Water Authority tells me they are about 33 percent of the way through the replacement of the main. They expect the closure will last 3-4 weeks.

Downtown Northville is preparing for a major transformation as the city launches a $3.3 million multi-year project to preserve the area's historic charm while preparing it for future growth.

The comprehensive revitalization effort, dubbed the "Town Square Refresh," will begin construction this spring and aims to improve safety, accessibility and create a year-round gathering space that connects to the Downs development.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report below: Downtown Roseville undergoing a $3.3 million refresh Christiana Ford is 7 News Detroit's Northville beat reporter. If you have a story idea for her, email her at Christiana.Ford@wxyz.com

The project comes as downtown Northville continues to attract visitors and new businesses to its walkable, historic district.

"During the summer, there's people everywhere. It's a very walkable city," said Rob Stevens, a Northville resident.

The downtown area has maintained its vintage appeal over the decades, though it has evolved.

"When I first came here, it was very Victorian. That's what everybody was like, Northville's Victorian, and you can only use certain colors to paint the buildings and on your sign and everything. And now, it's kind of come full circle," said Theresa Schierloh, owner of Dancing Eye Gallery, which has operated downtown for over 30 years.

Schierloh said the mix of old and new elements will benefit the area.

"It'll hopefully promote the downtown just by the newness of it all," Schierloh said.

City leaders say the timing is right for major improvements, given increased traffic, new businesses and ongoing development in the area.

"The time is now and the best way to handle it was with a large project that handles it all at once," said Kate Knight, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority.

The Town Square Refresh will include several key components:

Improvements to the fountain including fire features, bandshell and gathering space Resurfacing Main Street from Center to Griswold Street Creating an ADA-accessible walkway connection via the Cady Street stairs linking Town Square and the Downs Enhancements to the clock tower New lighting, audio-visual upgrades and landscape replanting.

"The biggest feature that we're improving is that it will be a table top Plaza. So at Town Square, it will extend at grade through Main Street," Knight said. "It's essentially a big speed bump, so it calms and slows traffic and emphasized that we have a really vibrant pedestrian crossing right in the heart of downtown."

The Main Street resurfacing addresses current infrastructure problems. Knight says the improvements are needed to handle the area's popularity, which brings significant foot traffic throughout the year.

"We host almost half a million people in Town Square every year, so the wear and tear is real. It's a great problem to have, so this is really maintenance and building on some of the great designs we already have," Knight said.

Local business owners are optimistic about the project's potential impact on foot traffic and customer flow.

Kathy Isgrow, owner of Peace, Love and Little Donuts on Cady Street, expects the improvements to benefit her business and others in the area.

"Any of those improvements bring more foot traffic for us, for our business, more people coming by the store. We've got tons of walkers already that walk by the store daily and stop in, but as there's connections between the downtown area and the Downs, that will just improve foot traffic for us. More people will be introduced to us and the other small businesses that are in downtown Northville," Isgrow said.

Business owners are preparing for the changes as project details continue to emerge.

"I think I'm excited for them to add the fire pit with the fountain," said Stephanie Holmes, co-owner of The Hair Foundation. "I think it's going to be a wonderful thing for the downtown development of Northville. We have so many exciting things that are coming and bringing new energy and new light into our city," Holmes said.

Residents like Stevens believe the improvements will enhance the area's accessibility and appeal.

"I think what they do is make it more accessible to people, which is great," Stevens said.

Construction will begin as soon as weather allows in spring.

While construction details are still being finalized, the DDA has committed to working closely with local businesses to maintain access during the project. The DDA will distribute print materials and renderings to keep businesses and community members informed.

An FAQ session is planned for downtown stakeholders later this month.

The Cady Street connection is paid for in part by an SEMCOG federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant. It will integrate into the larger regional pathway network connecting downtown Northville with the Detroit River and other destinations across the state.

The DDA is working on securing funding for longer-range streetscape projects such as Hutton to Griswold 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.

An Amazon delivery driver's expletive-filled rant caught on a doorbell camera in Redford Township has gone viral, drawing tens of thousands of views and sparking community debate about delivery service expectations.

The incident occurred when a driver was delivering packages to a home in Redford on what appeared to be a cold day. Unaware that a Nest security camera was recording, the driver vented his frustrations about making multiple deliveries.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report below: Amazon driver's viral rant sparks debate about delivery expectation

"I got a million multi-stops because these people out here in Dearborn Heights, they can't go anywhere and get their own (expletive). So now, I'm sitting out here delivering a million packages to a million and (expletive) one houses," the driver said in the video.

The homeowner, who wished to remain anonymous, shared the footage online. She told 7 News Detroit she was annoyed by the driver's comments, explaining that as a single mother working three jobs while attending school, she pays for the convenience of delivery services.

Watch the surveillance video below: Video shows Amazon driver's viral rant in Redford

Community reactions to the viral video were mixed. Some residents expressed understanding for the driver's frustration with cold weather conditions, while others criticized his unprofessional behavior.

"It did shock me," said Daniel Christenson, who lives nearby. "I mean, if he doesn't want the job, he shouldn't keep the job if he's gonna be complaining about it."

Fitz Mac, another local resident, offered a more sympathetic perspective.

"It's kinda unprofessional, but I can understand his frustration. It's cold and people don't want to go out," Mac said.

Dwan Hannah, a Redford resident, emphasized the professional expectations that come with the job.

"If you sign up for Amazon, you got to deliver packages. They don't tell you you don't got to deliver when it's a certain type of weather. They tell you that's your job," Hannah said.

Hannah also expressed interest in the employment opportunity.

"I feel like he should be more appreciative. People like me, I'm a felon, I can't get no job," Hannah said. "I'd love to be an Amazon worker to be honest with you. Tell 'em they can fire him and hire me, how 'bout that."

Amazon responded to the incident with a statement indicating they are investigating the matter.

"We're actively looking into this and will take appropriate action following our review. Based on the actions depicted in the video, this behavior does not reflect the standards we hold for drivers delivering to Amazon customers," the company said.

Amazon also noted that they "contract with small, local businesses and independent contractors to deliver to Amazon customers."

The video continues to circulate online, generating discussion about workplace professionalism and the challenges faced by delivery drivers during harsh weather conditions.

"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 Plymouth Ice Festival returns this weekend, and it's the coldest weather they've had in years for this festival. We're told that is a good thing for the sculptures and there are so many to check out if you want to get out the house and do something this weekend

"It's one of the original ice festivals in the United States especially in this weekend," Top Shelf Ice Owner and Operator Benjamin Goebel said.

Watch the full story in the video below

Plymouth Ice Festival returns this weekend with ice bar, sculptures and more

Below-freezing temperatures are fantastic for those working on the ice masterpieces.

"I started here actually 20 years ago and it's all kinda wrapped back around. This is like my biggest thing I do every year," Goebel said.

He's one of many whose ice sculpures will be featured in the annual Plymouth Ice Festival, where people turn 350 pounds blocks of ice into pieces of art.

"The carvers take those ideas back and they design something and they come up with things that we wouldn't even is possible in a median like ice," Plymouth Ice Festival Organizer Jason Gietzen said. "It really all just comes alive. You can interact with different ice carvings whether you're siting on them. We're got checkers boards we've got different things that you can take pictures with we'll have live ice carving going on all weekend and vendors "

In all, there will be more than 150 sculptures on display throughout Downtown Plymouthl.

"Every year we get about 60,000-80,000 visitors that come from outside Plymouth to downtown Plymouth . It really has a huge economic impact to our businesses down here," Plymouth Downtown Development Authority Director Sam Plymale said.

Coming here is a chance to step inside an ice arena, from an ice bar and party tent, to ice golf and new this year  zip-lining.

There are opportunities to heat back up with warming stations and hot cocoa, or participate in the DDA's game of Bingo, where 24 businesses are participating.

"We have 24 participating businesses so you can grab a bingo card from any of those participating businesses they will also be scattered around the festival itself. Get stickers from the businesses and you can win prizes from the Plymouth DDA," Plymale said.

Where Your Voice Matters

We've been tracking flight disruptions because of the winter storm; as of 6 a.m. Monday morning, there has already been 30 flight delays and 88 cancellations. This is going to be the second day of major disruptions, as yesterday, there were 370 delays and 290 cancellations due to the winter storm sweeping across the country.

Watch Christiana's report below

Sunday's snow causes hundreds of DTW flights to be cancelled or delayed

It's a huge headache for busy travelers this morning, as lines have been consistent since we got in before 5 a.m. Looking at the departures board, most flights are on time, with a few cancellations for Delta Airlines.

But there's going to be a lot of juggling and moving things around as a result of those cancellations you mentioned. we're looking at 86 cancellations, and that call was made before any flights took off this morning.

We talked to travelers keeping their fingers crossed for a smooth day today. One man was visiting for a wedding and heading back to New York, and a woman was heading to warmer winter in Florida with a seven-minute delay.

"We're going to (Washington) D.C., and then we're going to New York," said Ryan Shea. "But the one from DC to New York has already been a little delayed, so we'll see. Hopefully this one gets out on time."

"We're dealing with it," said Lorie Berlan. "You can't do nothing about it, you know?"

Today, travel delays and cancellations will really depend on where you're going and when; we will continue tracking any additional delays for you.