The 47th annual Detroit Free Press Marathon wrapped up on October 20th, with 19,000 runners registered for the scheduled Sunday races. But it's the Ferndale couple, Andrew Bowman and Sydney Devore-Bowan, who will look back at winning the 2024 Detroit marathon as a milestone event.

"This is our community, and for us to be a part of it, in this light, is amazing," said Andrew.

"You know you guys are putting this message out in the universe, saying that if you want to win a marathon, you must be married," said Faraz Javed, 7 News Detroit reporter.

"Of course! Get married and win," said Andrew.

Their passion for running brought the two together; they tied the knot last November. A story we featured the day before the race, and since they were the top contenders this year, Faraz also caught up with the duo as they warmed up near the start line.

"At this point I'm just really trying to relax and keep it bottled up. But I'm also visualizing what's it going to feel like the finish line," said Sydney.

"She said has it dawned on you that we are running a marathon? I said I think that's the most intense part of this whole thing, that this is a marathon, and anything can happen even when you are fully prepared," said Andrew.

Last year, Andrew was devastated for not being able to finish the Olympic Trials, while Sydney's passion for running nearly ended after she had to sit out for two years due to injuries. That's when they became each other's support system, making Detroit their first marathon running as husband and wife.

"What are the final words of encouragement or wisdom you are sharing with each other?" asked Faraz.

"No mater what I know you are going to do your best. I think you know I'm going to do my best, we don't know what that's going to look like out there," said Sydney.

"My mind is always, I love you no matter how this goes," said Andrew.

And it's fair to say it went well for both. 33 year old Sydney finished in the women's field in 2:42.46, while 30 year old Andrew won the men's race and the overall with a time of 2:17.47.

"That last 4 miles, I was like he is waiting for you; he is waiting for you. And then I was going to start crying when I turned the corner and I was like I better get in his arms in case I cry, because this is going to be embarrassing," said Sydney.

Sydney also won the 2018 Pittsburgh Marathon and the 2022 Glass City Marathon. While trying to keep pace with his wife, Andrew also bagged this year's Pittsburgh Marathon.

"Did you guys learn anything different this time around?" asked Faraz.

"It doesn't have to go the way you think it's going to go... And if you can just stay positive and believe in yourself," said Sydney.

"If you don't stick to your game plan. It's going to be tough," said Andrew.

For Sydney and Andrew, the historic moment at the finish line will always be close to their heart, and they plan to take part in more races as a couple and hopefully win more medals and share special moments along the way.

The Detroit Free Press Marathon weekend events kicked off Saturday with a 5K run and other events in Downtown Detroit.

But all eyes will be on the start line on Sunday, Oct. 20 when the runners will lace up for the Marathon at 7 a.m.

For a metro Detroit couple, it's extra special because they are top contenders, and it will be their first marathon running together as husband and wife.

Andrew Bowman, 30, and Sydney Devore, 33, are preparing for the main event.

The 26.2-mile international course features Detroit's iconic neighborhoods like the historic Woodbridge, Eastern Market, the Dequindre Cut, and a finish line at Campus Martius, but not before taking the runners across the border along Windsor's Riverfront.

"That's the chef's kiss of the race, when you are going across and you see the sunrise, and you look to your left, and you see thousands and thousands of coming up Fort street, it so cool," said Sydney.

"So you guys are holding your bibs for tomorrow, says 21 Andrew, 2 Sydney. You guys are the top contenders for the marathon; it's also your first marathon as a couple; does that put additional pressure?" I asked.

"If you are familiar with that song, Billy Idol, 'Dancing with Myself,' I use those lyrics. There is nothing to lose, nothing to prove. My worst fear would be, my wife is coming through the finish line, if she doesn't I don't know where she is? How she is doing?" said Andrew.

Sydney and Andrew got married in November of last year. They say the love for running brought them together a few years ago.

"She encouraged me to do the half-harathon," said Andrew.

"We always say if he hadn't gotten the second place at the Detroit half marathon, we probably wouldn't have started dating," said Sydney.

Their relationship is also built on being each others' support system.

In 2018, Sydney moved to Michigan from Florida to participate in the Olympic trials, but life had other plans for her.

"I think I had seven stress fractures in a row before I had that wake-up moment of what you are doing isn't working. And that was devasting for me because I worked so hard, to get there, I left my job, I moved up here, all because I could make it on the Olympic team," said Sydney.

Andrew, too, had his fair share of struggles. Despite being in top form, the 2023 Olympic trials still haunt the Marlette native.

"It's the only time in my life I've DNF'ed, which stands for did not finish; I think I got to mile 17, and all bets were off," said Andrew.

Fast forward to now, and both Sydney and Andrew have grown together as athletes and as a couple who are optimistic about representing Michigan tomorrow.

"Any time you arrive at the starting line healthy, you remember that very dark time, where you couldn't do your sport, you weren't sure when you would be to do it again," said Sydney.

"Often for me, even when I'm talking with my wife, let's try to focus on what can be controlled and create a scenario where we've checked as many boxes as we can and set ourselves up for the most success," said Andrew.

Andrew's fastest marathon time is 2:15:52, and Sydney's is 2:31:07. That's the record they will be looking to break tomorrow at the Detroit Marathon and hopefully win the race. We will be waiting for them at the finish line for the results.

This year alone, Oakland County has experienced several home invasion incidents. Sheriff Michael Bouchard believes it's the doing of transnational gangs targeting high-end homes.

The most recent incident happened on Friday at Orchard Ridge, which is a gated community.

See the suspects in the most recent incident before they enter the home in the video below: Surveillance video: Suspects seen before breaking into Oakland County home

"We've seen multiple gated communities attacked this way. They come in from the back. They like homes that back up to woods, or a park, or to water, or to a golf course, something that gives them a stealth approach," Bouchard said.

Security footage from the recent burglary shows at 7:35 p.m., the thieves all covered up entering the home. And in less than 10 minutes, they were away with the loot.

See the suspects in the most recent incident after they enter the home in the video below: Surveillance video: Suspects seen after breaking into Oakland County home

Bouchard says that in the past 12 months, the tri-county area has been hit hard, with over 40 incidents of home invasions recorded in Oakland County alone.

I asked Bouchard about the similarities they're seeing in the way the criminals are operating.

"They are clearly trained, and they adapt. So they are very much like a special ops team. Typically, we are seeing four to six would approach a house and in some of them most recent ones, we are seeing two approach. They typically have a backup car somewhere. They do pre-ops surveillance on the home. They also do electronic activity on the home, maybe jamming the alarm systems and communications," Bouchard said.

Jennifer Van-Zelst lives in Oakland Township with her daughter. That's why she has been keeping a close eye on such incidents in the area.

"I know that they target certain houses. My house happens to fit one of the profiles. Some gangs allegedly won't enter if you are at home or have a dog. I have heard that another gang will come in, so that's a concern for me," Van-Zelst said.

She said she's made changes to security at her home.

"I'm not using WiFi-connected security. I'm using wired security," Van-Zelst said.

Van-Zelst said leaving to go on vacation has been a concern of hers.

"To me, the pause in the invasions was probably due to the fact that it was just light late. But now with more hours of darkness earlier, I am concerned that it's going to start up again," she said.

Meanwhile, Bouchard says once the thieves enter the homes, they typically go for cash, jewelry, high-end purses and watches.

See previous coverage of the break-ins in the video below: Police warn burglars who targeted upscale homes in metro Detroit are back

Bouchard has messages for the community and the criminals.

"Be vigilant, notice things and don't be afraid to call. If you have an alarm system, use it. If you haven't checked it or updated, do it if you can," Bouchard said. "Message for the criminal, we sent clearly. I think we dropped some of the heaviest charges in the country on two of the crews already. We created a task force in Southeast Michigan. We are partnering with our federal partners. If you come here, we are going to do everything to track you down and hold you accountable."

Law enforcement is still looking for the suspects. You are urged to contact the Oakland County Sheriff's Office if you have any information about this or other related incidents.

Officials are investigating after one person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting on Monday afternoon, police confirmed to 7 News Detroit.

The shooting happened on Haverhill and Outer Drive on Detroit's east side around 2:30 p.m.

Police said it stemmed from an altercation between a group of people.

The person killed was a male, police said. Two victims were hospitalized in critical condition and another was stable.

A witness told 7 News Detroit they heard a group of 15 men or individuals having an argument. Within seconds, she heard gunshots. She believes there were around 30.

Now, looking at the evidence markers, it fits right in that equation. We counted at least 20 evidence markers.

The witness said she ducked for cover and she called 911.

Another person in the neighborhood told me that just two blocks away, there's Ronald Brown Academy and the kids had just wrapped up school around that time. So safety measures were put in place, and parents were asked to come and collect the kids in person.

Michigan State Police and Detroit Police Department vehicles were at the scene.

This is an active investigation. 7 News Detroit is working to learn more.

When friends Caleb Lowe and Sam Bahnke are not at school, they're busy being entrepreneurs. The 17-year-olds from Dexter run a mobile vehicle cleaning business called Diamond Detailing. They say it's a great example of two like-minded people coming together.

"Cause I always wanted to start my own business, I wanted to be an entrepreneur. And then he previously had an online business so I really I just wanted to become friends with him, so I could get to know what he was doing," Sam said.

At 15, after cleaning his mom and dad's cars for a few years, Caleb decided to expand his clientele.

"Back then, I was charging about $70 per SUV with a full interior. Not the best. It would take me four or five hours cause they were all soccer moms that 5 kids, goldfish, and gum all over the place," Caleb said.

Caleb tested the business for a few years before Sam rolled up his sleeves and bought into the business for $150.

"How do you guys complement each other?" I asked..

"We always try to stay positive; we always try to lift each other up. There will be those days that we are frustrated at each other. But at the end of the day, we both have similar interests, and we both have similar interests, and we both want the best for each other," Sam said.

But there is also a bigger reason why both are working hard.

"Right now, I'm paying my mom's medical expenses. I pay for my dad's gas when I can," Caleb added.

Caleb's mom and dad are deaf, and helping them achieve financial stability is one of his biggest goals.

"That must make you feel really good and proud?" I aske.

"I want to make more, I'm always trying to get more," Caleb said.

Meanwhile, this is also one way for Sam to help pay for his education, putting less burden on his parents.

"One big dream I want to achieve is retiring my parents, all my close family so they won't have to worry about finances again in their life," Sam said.

"How are you guy' juggling school and business?" I asked.

"On top of our other jobs, on top of schoolwork, it doesn't leave much time, but we try to get it done on weekends for the most part," Sam said.

"Teens your age are other things, such as playing sports, camping, and having fun. Are you missing out on anything?" I asked.

"It kind of makes me sad a bit I'm kind of getting older," Caleb said.

"The way I see it, if I put in the work now, it would be less work later. Whereas all the people having fun now will put in the work later," Sam added.

Diamond Detailing is looking for more clients, and Caleb and Sam say the booking process is simple. To learn more, visit www.diamondetailingmi.com.

Republican Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance spoke to voters on Wednesday at a campaign event in Auburn Hills. This was the Ohio Senator's first public appearance since Tuesday's Vice Presidential Debate with Governor Tim Walz.

JD Vance campaigns in Auburn Hills one day after the vice presidential debate

7 News Detroit attended the event at aerospace technology company Visioneering, speaking to voters both at the venue and outside the venue who said it certainly was civil and policy-focused on both sides. The attendees were also happy to see JD Vance focus more on the economy and the state of the nation.

"You have hard-working people who are doing everything that they can to provide for their families and falling further behind. But because they're not doing their jobs, because Kamala Harris isn't doing hers," said Senator Vance.

Attendees Jeffry Smith and Burt Williams were all about how Vance made an impression last night.

"I liked the friendly nature of the debate too," said Williams, an attendee from Rochester Hills.

"Where did Vance shine the most?" asked Faraz.

"When he backed down the moderators," said Burt.

"When you looked at him and listened to him speak, he wasn't hiding anything," said Jeffry, an attendee from Waterford.

Meanwhile, patrons at Stuff Bun restaurant in Pontiac also had a lot to say about Tuesday's debate.

"He talked the different talk than Trump did," said Robert Kato, from Pontiac.

"The abortion thing, he never really answered the question directly," said Keith Croskey, from Pontiac.

"We all just need to know what we are getting ourselves into," said Nevalyn Kaiser, from Pontiac.

"Foreign policy, I'm going to go on Kamala on that, because Trump stands firm on those things," said Kato.

Even though Robert did not attend the event, I did take his questions to the senator.

"With issues where Americans are divided, if elected as the next VP, how will you bring folks together? And if there is an issue you disagree with Donald Trump, how will you make your voice heard?" asked Faraz.

"So my message to Robert on the first question is look, I think the reason this country feels so divided, is because of failed leadership. open up the dialog, open up the debate, and that's how you bring the American citizens together in these divided times. On the 2nd question, if I disagree with the President it's my responsibility to talk to him about it, offer honest counsel in private, and one of the things I love about the Donald Trump, is that he takes advice and feedback from everybody," said Senator Vance.

Former President Trump will be in Saginaw on Thursday, October 3rd, and Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Flint on Friday, October 4th.

Where Your Voice Matters

Family and friends of two men gathered for a vigil after a fully marked Warren Police Department vehicle collided with their SUV, killing them and critically injuring two officers.

Best friends DeJuan Pettis and Cedric Hayden died Monday after the crash around 5 a.m. on Prospect Avenue and Schoenherr Road in Warren. Loved ones gathered at the location on Tuesday to pay their respects.

"I had a phone call from the hospital and as I sat down on the couch, turned the TV on and I saw a white Durango, I said God, that's not my son's truck, that's not my son's truck," Pettis' mom Charisse Brown said.

Watch our report after the crash happened below: Two dead, two officers hospitalized in early morning Warren crash

Hayden, 34 was pronounced dead at the scene. Brown's oldest son Pettis was rushed to the hospital, but doctors were not able to revive the 33-year-old.

"I'm not doing good," Brown said.

"None of us are doing good. He was a good young man," Pettis' aunt Valonda Green said.

"I had a good son. He has two kids," Brown said.

Pettis leaves behind 7- and 9-year-old sons along with his mom, aunt and cousins.

"Everybody loved him. We were cousins, but that was my brother. We grew up together," said Khandia Evans, Pettis' cousin, said.

"He was like a son to me. I would keep him with me while she (mom) was at work," Green said.

Hayden and Pettis had been friends since middle school. Hayden worked at Stellantis, while Pettis worked at General Motors.

"If you didn't see them together, you would be like, what?!" Evans said.

Pettis was spending the day off with his friend on the fateful day, heading to Hayden's home in the white Dodge Durango, which Pettis had bought a few months ago.

"DeJuan is our family, but Cedric was too. He was a brother to me; he was a son to her. They were friends since 12 years old," Evans said.

Now, both families want to know how the crash happened.

"What's bothering me is that I'm looking at the car and I'm just looking at how the cars look," said Maurice Perkins, Pettis' cousin.

"Obviously, this was a car accident," Lt. John Gajewski with the Warren Police Department said.

Gajewski says while traveling on Schoenherr near Prospect, the officers struck the white Dodge Durango, which was attempting to turn westbound onto Prospect from Schoenherr. Police also say that the officers were not engaged in a pursuit of the white Dodge Durango or any other vehicle when the crash occurred.

"We want to know lots of things, and one of the things we have done to ensure impartiality for transparency is call the Macomb County Sheriff's Department to do an independent investigation. We owe that to everybody here to make sure that the right information is obtained," Gajewski said.

"If DeJuan was here right now, what would you tell him?" I asked Brown.

"I would hug my son," Brown responded.

"He wasn't the type of person who would wait for you to embrace him. When he sees you, he's going to show love," Evans said.

"He always whispered in my ear, 'Mama, I'm going to take care of you,'" Brown said.

In the crash, the officer in the passenger seat was freed from the vehicle and underwent extensive surgery. Police say as of Tuesday morning, both officers remain hospitalized in stable condition.

Meanwhile, the Macomb County Sheriff's Office will share the investigation results in two to three weeks.

After surviving a bomb blast, a Michigan-based motivational speaker has a simple yet powerful message for all: no matter what life throws at you, never give up.

Dr. Malvika Iyer moved to Michigan in 2018 from India. The 35-year-old has a PhD in Social Work. And besides being a passionate artist and dancer, she also takes pride in being a daughter, sister, and wife.

"I love taking care of my home, I like doing the dishes, the laundry, taking care of my cats, making my husband's coffee first thing in the morning, I love doing all that," Dr. Iyer said.

However, Dr. Iyer's biggest strength comes from being a motivational speaker and a disability rights advocate.

"I like to use person first language, so I'm a person with disability and not a disabled person because when you see a person with a disability you see the person first. You see what they are, what they like," Dr. Iyer said.

Dr. Iyer was 13 when she lost both her hands in a tragic accident in Rajasthan, India.

"I would have died that day definitely," said Dr. Iyer.

"What happened that day?" I asked her.

"26th May 2002 is the date, even the time of the accident I know 1:10pm, because the accident happened in my room and the clock stopped," said Dr. Iyer.

Dr. Iyer remembers looking for a hammer to complete her art piece. The search took her outside, where she came across a rock-looking object.

"It looked heavy, it looked fine, and I thought this would do, so I came, and I hit it, and it exploded," said Dr. Iyer.

Dr. Iyer was told the object was a partially exploded hand grenade that came from a nearby ammunition depot.

"As soon as it exploded, I lost my hands, nothing could be saved. The worst happened to my legs, multiple fractures, nerve paralysis, loss of sensation, And I spent the next two years bedridden. In a fraction of a second, I lost all of it," Dr. Iyer said.

And that was just the beginning of her pain and suffering.

"I still remember, the first time, I cried bitterly after my accident was not because of losing my hands or the pain I was undergoing, it was because my very close neighbor was telling my mother that now your daughter has become a liability to you," said Dr. Iyer

It was at that point she had to make a choice.

"Not everyone gets a 2nd shot at life," Dr. Iyer said.

Since then, Dr. Iyer has been on a mission to share her story of courage and determination, inspiring millions of people to forget their limitations and take on the world with confidence and hope.

"I got the award from the president of India, I got to speak at the UN, I got to speak at the World Economic Forum, I got to do a PHD, I got to walk the ramp as a showstopper," Dr. Iyer said.

"When you hear people coming up to you and saying thank you for sharing your story, you've changed our lives. Does it change your life?" I asked.

"It's very hard to live in this body. When someone comes and tells me I've changed because of you, or I've decided not to give up because of you, I take this as my life's purpose, and that's what keeps me going," Dr. Iyer said.

Today, two class action lawsuits were filed against DMC Sinai Grace and Henry Ford Macomb, that granted privileges to Dr. Oumair Aejaz, a Rochester Hills-based physician charged with multiple sex crimes, including filming nude pictures of women and children.

RELATED: Physician accused of preying on women and children appears in court

"These multi-billion dollar medical institutions failed to place patient safety first, resulting in hundreds, if not thousands of patients being sexually abused or sexually exploited," said attorney Parker Stinar.

Steiner says that one class action has been filed in Macomb County, and the other in Wayne County. As for the complaint, both Jane Does were treated by Dr. Aejaz in 2023.

"These class action lawsuits are on behalf of all patients, whether they know yet if they were recorded or not, who were treated at either Henry Ford Macomb or DMC Sinai Grace, from 2018-2024" Steiner said.

RELATED: Physician accused of preying on women and children appears in court

Physician accused of preying on women and children appears in court

Last month, the 40-year-old internal medicine doctor was arrested and charged with 10 felony counts. According to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, the victims range from children as young as two years old to adults. Investigators say the criminal activity took place over six years.

"These facilities provided these patients with a sexual predator," Stinar said. "For at least six years, Dr. Aejaz was able to take videos and photos of many patients. Probably hundreds, if not thousands, who were disrobing, naked, or using the restrooms."

Dr. Aejaz was a contract physician who went to different locations. The police also identified victims from a local swim club in Rochester Hills. Investigators so far have seized six computers, four phones and 16 external storage devices. One of those hard drives reportedly has over 1300 videos on it.

"We do not yet know yet what Dr. Aejaz did with these photographs and recordings, and we understand that individuals that are treated with anesthesia are particularly susecitble to having being treated by the doctor," said Symone Shinton, a partner with the firm working on the case.

A few dozen women so far have reached out to the law firm that may be potential victims. Shinton says victims should not delay in coming forward, as Michigan has a statue of limitations.

"These institutions that will sit patiently and wait for the criminal process to run it's course will turn right around and say that they took too long to come forward, and blame victims when they get to the civil courthouse" Shinton said. "This is the playbook for how medical institutions escape accountability."

"So far what has been the health system's response," I asked Stinar in a media scrum after today's press conference.

"That essentially, 'yes he worked here but he wasn't one of our employees,'" Stinar replied. "It's denying responsibility, it's probably trying to dodge civil lawsuits like this, denying justice for survivors."

Meanwhile Sheriff Bouchard says that since the arrest, 127 potential victims have reached out via the dedicated email set up by the Sheriff's Office.

"We believe we are on a path to have more charges added, but since he's in jail on a $2 million bond and his next court appearance has been pushed off to next month, we're taking time to make sure we put together all the information that's necessary for prosecutors to make any additional charges," said Sheriff Bouchard.

Now I have reached out to Henry Ford Health System and DMC for comments so far they haven't gotten back to me. The next court hearing for Dr. Aejaz is on October 14th, and we will be bringing you all the updates as they develop.

30-year-old Lebanese American Mike Hashim has been glued to social media ever since the Israel-Hamas war escalated into Lebanon.

"Waking up to the news of an 8-year-old dying while she is sleeping, and it breaks my heart to see a whole family being taken out; when does this stop?" said Hashim.

Mike's extended family lives east of Beirut, in the Beqaa Valley, closer to the Syrian border. Up until yesterday, the area was deemed safe.

"But one of the IDF spokespersons this morning went up and said you need to leave the Beqaa valley," said Hashim.

Since then, Mike has been calling his cousin, desperately to hear his voice.

"No answer. Cuts off right away," said Hashim as he showed 7 News Detroit reporter Faraz Javed his phone.

Mike has been hearing of network disruptions due to cellphone towers being taken out in the area.

"When you see that, do you fear the worst?" asked Faraz.

"Absolutely. Is he under a rumble? Is he dead in a street somewhere? Because, at this moment, Israel is not sparing anyone," said Hashim.

Over 1,100 Israelis were killed on October 7th. Since then, Israel has carried out various operations against Hamas in Gaza and limited missions against Hezbollah in South Lebanon, but in the past few weeks, the war has escalated, covering the West Bank and now across Lebanon.

As per Lebanon's health ministry, over 490 people have been killed and more than 1,000 injured as Israeli strikes continue across Lebanon.

According to the health ministry, among the dead are women, children, and medics. While the Israeli military says they've struck more than 800 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.

"I was just on the phone this morning with someone who lost their first cousin and her three children in the bombing in the south of Lebanon with no notice, no warning," said State Representative Farhat.

This is just one of many calls State Representative Alabas Farhat has received in the past few days from constituents as the destruction continues in Lebanon.

"These are innocent civilians, they aren't military combatants, these schools, hospitals, residential homes that are being leveled," said State Representative Farhat.

"So, as of now, there is no way out of Lebanon?" asked Faraz.

"The embassy hasn't been giving any responses. I'm working closely with our federal partners, US Senator Gary Peters's office and others, to get a response to get the US to the right thing, and get their citizens out of there and also to get a ceasefire, let's be very clear, a ceasefire will save lives, across the board, it saves lives in Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine," said State Representative Farhat.

According to Senator Peters's Office, the senator led a group of his colleagues in urging the Administration to provide protection for the estimated 12,000 Lebanese individuals currently living in the United States.

In the letter sent to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Senator Peters requested that the United States designate Temporary Protected Status for Lebanon. This initial designation allows eligible individuals to remain safely in the United States for 18 months and give them the ability to work legally to support themselves. 

Following Peters push, the White House announced on July 26, 2024, that it would authorize Deferred Enforced Departure, a similar type of protection, for Lebanese nationals in the United States.

Peters office is continuing to monitor the situation in Lebanon and assess what other assistance is needed to support his constituents. Any Michigan residents in need of assistance related to this issue can reach out to Senator Peters Detroit office at (313) 226-6020.

Meanwhile, as the war unfolds in Lebanon, the US State Department has posted a travel advisory urging American citizens to depart Lebanon as soon as possible.

Representative Farhat is also calling for the Biden Administration to immediately sanction evacuation flights as well as grant asylum to Lebanese who have family ties to the US and are directly impacted by the war.

"We can see from Israel's current aggressions in the West Bank and Gaza, there is nowhere safe for families to go, and in Lebanon, the situation is similar. If you go from the South to Beirut, well, Beirut is being bombed. So where are you left to go?" said State Representative Farhat.

I also contacted the White House to see what more is being done to de-escalate the current situation and the steps that are being taken to reunite American families. So far, I have yet to hear back.

Picture this: You are having a great out on a lake or a river, and then suddenly, you drop something valuable in the water and are left wondering how you will get it back?

That's where recovery diver Lisa Eick saves the day.

"Are you originally from Michigan?" I asked.

"Yeah I'm from the Clinton Township area. I do guided backpacking trips, I teach sea kayaking, but mostly, I do recovery scuba diving," said Eick.

"What does that entail?" I asked.

"Mostly, people lose things, and then they call me, I come out, and I find it. Sometimes it will be things like jewelry. A lot of times, it's cell phones. That's actually 40% of my business dropped cellphones. Then keys, glasses, wallets," said Eick.

Rings are also another common item that Lisa recovers. In fact, James Pause is one of Lisa's success stories. It happened at the Beacon Cove Marina on Lake St. Clair.

"A lot of boats going in and out, it's like how can you see down there? So I thought I would probably never find it. But let's try anyway. Then she arrives, gets her gear on, and literally she goes down, and in 30 seconds.. she comes back up," said Pause.

James marked his sixth wedding anniversary this year. The ring is a reminder of how the 41-year-old fought for his love.

"My wife, I chased her for a while. She would never give me the time of day," said Pause.

As for how the ring fell in the marina...

"It was time to clean the boat, I took my ring off, I set it on the seat, and I bring the hose in, spraying it down, and I go to yank the hose, the hose hits the ring, and the ring started rolling," said Pause.

"It must be really fulfilling," I said.

"Yeah, it's a lot of fun just to start with, but it's also so gratifying and rewarding; people are so happy to get their stuff back," said Eick.

This summer was Lisa's 4th season as a recovery diver, and she had some interesting calls for help.

"Pulled out a golf cart, somebody's dental bridge, a 3-foot propeller," said Eick,

So there you go when you are in need; Lisa Eick is a friend indeed, helping all the butterfingers out there. To get in touch, head to https://www.maidenvoyageadventures.com/

At the annual Susan G Komen Race for The Cure, participants were once again excited to take part in the 5k run or the 1-mile walk. But the event, which has been going on for over 30 years, holds many meanings.

"It's for the women who survived breast cancer; it's for the ones who did not survive breast cancer. It's for the ones fighting right now ... and it's for the young ladies that have yet to come to have breast cancer," said Catherine Banks.

Catherine Banks is a secod year survivor. The 62-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 after taking a mammogram.

"When you found out about your diagnosis, what went through your mind?" asked Faraz Javed, 7 News Detroit reporter.

"Because my mom survived breast cancer, I said if she can do it, I can do it," said Banks.

And that's why being part of this sea of pink means a lot to Catherine and her daughters, Jazz Banks and Orlesha Dean.

"My mom is a fighter, she don't give up," said Jazz.

"And we learned how strong she is," said Orleasha.

"What's the one thing that will always stay close to your heart?" asked Javed.

"The day we found out she was cancer-free," said Jazz.

With nearly 3,000 survivors, supporters, and advocates taking part in this year's event, stories of resilience and empowerment filled the air.

At the finish line, 18-year-old Cameron Sindlinger was seen hugging his mom, Shirley, who is celebrating her 1st year as a breast cancer survivor.

"What's the one thing you've learned from this journey?" asked Javed.

"Don't quit," said Cameron.

After going through 16 rounds of chemo and a double mastectomy, another survivor, Nita Boyles, says she couldn't have done it without her friends.

"How does it feel to have such a strong support system?" asked Javed.

"It feels great, it brings tears to my eyes. I was always able to call on them, it was just a great feeling. And I appreciate them being here today," said Nita.

There were also folks like Natalie Kuerbitz, Stephanie Koreck, and Jennifer Thomas, who were in attendance to honor the memories of their high school best friend, Alissa.

"She passed away in 2009 when she was 34 from triple-negative breast cancer. And we formed Alissa's Angels and we've raised over $120,000 since her passing," said Natalie.

"What does it mean for you guys to keep doing this yearly for her?" asked Javed.

"When Alissa passed away, she had a daughter; she was five months old. So we continue to walk to make sure there are more survivors, and so we can try and put an end to breast cancer," said Natalie.

The message is simple: keep fighting; early detection is one way to win the fight against cancer. Meanwhile, even though this event wrapped up today, the fundraising aspect hasn't. To learn more about how you can contribute to this great cause, just head to www.komen.org

People are continuing to react to Tuesday nights showdown between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

It was their first and potentially only presidential debate.

Many people have their minds made up over who they're voting for, but some are still undecided.

Yesterday, I spoke to an undecided voter about some of the key issues that matter to her the most and what she would like candidates to focus on during the debate.

So on Wednesday, I met with her again as well as another undecided voter.

After watching last night's debate, Peg Perun had much to share.

Nothing really changed, convinced me that I really like one over the other one, Perun said. So, I'm still undecided.

 Watch our previous report with Peg Perun in the video below: Undecided voter lays out issues that matter to her before the presidential debate

The economy was one of the topics of concern for Perun, so we asked what she thought of the candidates responses to that question.

Well, he talked about his record, basically. I'll give him a B, Perun said. She didn't seem to agree with a lot of the record, the Biden-Harris economy, so I'm gonna give her a C.

For foreign affairs and the two wars, Perun gave Trump a C.

Because he claims he's going to stop the wars right away on day one, and I didn't hear how he's going to do it, she said.

She graded Harris a D.

She doesn't have any experience. She's been there for three and a half years, Perun said. Were supporting a certain side.

On the topic of the border, Perun put down a B for Trump and a C for Harris. We asked her why.

The past performance and the way they answered it, too, she said.

For gun control, Trump ended up with a C, while Harris got a B.

I don't understand why they don't outlaw assault rifles. And then, of course, you move down to mental health, and unfortunately, the guns are getting in the hands of people with mental issues, Perun said.

Video: Wayne State University students gather on campus to watch the presidential debate Wayne State University students gather on campus to watch the presidential debate

We also asked Perun to grade the candidates on what they've been championing for the past few years.

I'll give them both a C, she said. The debate didn't really make that much of an impact for me. I'm not sure about others.

Speaking of others, I also met with another Michigan voter, Rochelle Kowalski, who shared her ballot choice after watching the debate.

If I had to vote today, I wouldn't be voting, Kowalski said.

Her grades for each candidate pretty much echoed similar sentiments.

I think they've both done an OK job, but I don't think they've done enough, Kowalski said.

But she did want to add one more issue.

It's abortion rights. I firmly believe that men need to stay out of women's bodies, she said.

That's why Kowalski gave Trump a hard F and Harris a solid A.

Overall, Kowalski wasnt impressed by either candidate during the debate.

They both did horrible, she said. Because neither one of them came in with a plan.

It was the last day for the Michigan State Fair, which since Sunday has seen an increased police presence and shortened hours, among other restrictions.

This is all in response to the shooting that happened Saturday night that resulted in a 14-year-old dead and another 14-year-old injured.

Related Video: Michigan State Fair continues after shooting with more security, new rules Michigan State Fair continues after shooting with more security, new rules

As the search for the suspect continues, the community is asking what more can be done to protect events from senseless acts of violence.

On Monday, the fair ended at 7 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. It was one of the many newly added restrictions since Saturday's shooting.

Even though nearly 48 hours later, the event seemed to be going well, the incident has not been forgotten.

"Hearing about the shooting initially, 'cause like I was like what if something like this happens again?" said Josh McNeal, Michigan State Fair attendee. "I looked on the website, they say they were upping police presence and I said 'OK, that's cool.'"

Josh, 25, has been attending the state fair for 20 years. That's why he did not want to miss this year's festival.

"When I came in today, I felt a little safer... they were doing pat downs... I should say wand downs.. And I see a whole bunch of cops here... so I was like nothing should happen today," he said.

As the search for the suspect continues, Novi police say the shooting was a targeted and isolated incident that stemmed from an ongoing argument outside the venue.

Fighting teens causing chaos have Berkley Days organizers evaluating its future

But this is not the first time fights have disrupted events. In May, brawls among the youth caused the closure of the Berkley Days weekend carnival for the second straight year. Police also closed Marysville Summerfest early this year due to fights, and a similar situation also happened in Center Line.

A season events producer, Jon Witz, is currently organizing Arts Beats and Eats in Royal Oak, and he says such acts impact the overall events industry.

"It starts with all level of planning with law enforcement, I don't know how many officers exactly, but we have a private security bill of $200,000 that's stationed at all the entrances and placed throughout the festival to support the operation," said Jon.

Meanwhile, retired assistant Chief of Detroit police, Steve Dolunt, says events are about having a good time and, in theory, they should never be about heavy police presences enforcing restrictions.

"Too many kids are going to these things without parents, without parental control and these kind of things happen. Parents need to monitor their kids social media, better, parents need to teach their kids respect, their elders, their friends, respect themselves. They don't respect themselves ... something like this happens," he said.

I reached out to the state fair organizers for comments today, but they did not want to talk about the incident, nor did they let us talk to any of the vendors and participants about how they felt. In the meantime, Steve says always to stay vigilant. If you see something, say something.

Where Your Voice Matters

Homeland Security Investigations recently held its annual Citizens Academy to help the community understand how a federal law enforcement agency functions in the field and the background.

I went behind the scenes where HSI's Special Response Team is an an important mission. Leading the team is special agent Donald Raymo.

"HSI is the 2nd largest group of investigators of special agents. FBI has the largest amount. We are twice as big as the DEA and times as big as the ATF. So, the width of stuff we can investigate is pretty impressive," Raymo said.

A branch of the Department of Homeland Security, the federal law enforcement agency tackles various crimes, including human and child trafficking, contraband, as well as money laundering along and illegal weapons, among others, both in and around the country. But today, Don and his team are on a mission to educate.

It's all being done for the HSI's Citizens Academy.

"It's a great opportunity for us to allow people behind the scenes a little bit," said Special Agent Raymo.

The 7-week program brought 18 community leaders together, including Halima Mohiuddin, an educator, and Father Patrick Dorsey, helping them understand HSI's tactical strategy to victim support.

"It has completely changed my perception of law enforcement," Mohiuddin said.

"The things that they encounter those are eyes that I take for granted," Father Dorsey said.

"In the last session they were telling us about a human trafficking case. The intensity that which they think about the person they are trying to rescue even they might have made bad choices, and the lengths to which they go to, to make sure they become product parts of society, that's commendable," Mohiuddin said.

"What's been the most memorable memories for you here at the academy?" I asked.

"Getting to know the officers, the agents," said Father Dorsey.

"I'm a family guy, a regular guy, I grew up in the Midwest, I grew up playing baseball," said Special Agent Raymo.

The 48-year-old from Sanilac County is married with three daughters.

"My two older daughters are in college going into the medical field, and my youngest is still in high school," said Special Agent Raymo.

"No one wants to go into law enforcement?" I asked.

"I tried," said Special Agent Raymo.

Raymo says he worked his way from a city cop to a county deputy and a state trooper before joining US customs and finally clocking in 18 years at HSI.

"When you are on operations, do you ever catch yourself what a dad goes through?" I asked.

"For sure, they feel personal. I had a couple of cases when I was in cybercrimes. I was able to identify and locate two minor children that were being horrifically abused and videotaped and that were being disseminated around the world. Being able to rescue them, that was something I'm most proud of," Special Agent Raymo said.

Now, HSI held its first Citizens Academy since the pandemic. They plan to schedule more of the invitation-only sessions. To learn more about the nomination process, click here.

The annual Michigan State Fair is ready to help people ring in the Labor Day weekend.

The fair that's been a staple since 1849 has something for everyone at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.

The butter cow is one of the most iconic items on display at the entrance. As the name suggests, it's a cow called Mel made of butter, along with Margie the dog, punchy the goat, and Jojo the calf.

"There's a quarter of a ton of butter, over 500 pounds total for all of these sculptors; it takes 4 sculptors 5 days and about 250 actual man-hours to make this," said Dean Angott, president of CF Burger Creamery.

CF Burger Creamery is the company behind the butter cow sculptures, a tradition that dates back to the early 20th century.

"Michigan State's fair butter cow started about 1940, and the butter cow became symbolic of the state fair. And it really started capturing people's attention right after World War II, because America had just come off of butter rationing, amongst so many other things. And now this was a symbol of dairy is back. Butter is back," said Angott.

"Why keep up with the tradition of having butter cows at the Michigan State Fair?" asked Faraz Javed, 7 News Detroit reporter.

"Because it is the absolute welcoming center representing the Michigan State Fair. This is where people come and take pictures right away as their souvenir and their experience of the Michigan State Fair," said Angott.

Angott says it also is a tribute to the Michigan dairy industry. According to milkmeansmore.org, Michigan ranks 6th in milk production in the country, producing over 11 billion pounds of milk.

"I did the dog. I put the butter on for the goat and the calf," said Rachel Wolski, one of the sculptors.

Wolski worked on 15 of these butter cows over the years.

"What was the hardest part of putting them all together?" asked Javed.

"It's just working in here, can't stand here for too long; you gotta get out and warm up, because the sculptures are in a refrigerated case of 40 degrees," said Wolski.

As for maintenance, Wolski still has the leftover butter.

"It comes in a box and 55 pound blocks, I cut the box in half, and I let it warm up for 2 days. And then it gets soft, and this consistency, like this ... and then we can mold it on, you know, it's like clay, basically," said Wolski.

But there is much more at the State Fair, including watching pig races to logging demos, and even jamming to tunes with singer-songwriter Mckayla Prew.

Related Video: The Michigan State Fair returns this weekend: Michigan State Fair returns this weekend

Angott says the butter used for the butter cow will not go to waste at all. Most of it gets used by farmers as feed for their animals. In the meantime, the Michigan State Fair wraps up this Monday. To learn more, click here: https://www.michiganstatefairllc.com/

At the 52nd District Court in Oakland County, a probable cause hearing was held today for Rochester Hills-based physician Dr. Oumair Aejaz, who has been accused of preying on women and children, filming them using hidden cameras. The 40-year-old appeared over Zoom with his attorney, who raised issues with how the case has been handled so far.

"Quite frankly, the Sheriff stated that Dr. Aejaz is guilty," said Mariell Lehman, defense attorney.

Lehman referred to the statements made by Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard during last week's press conference, calling the internal medicine doctor one of the worst sex offenders he has ever seen.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Local doc accused of filming kids, adults at swim school, hospitals & more Local doc accused of filming kids, adults at swim school, hospitals & more

"A woman is, basically, unconscious in a hospital bed, and he is violating her, to a two-year-old, thinking they are out for a great swim day, and they are being captured naked," said Sheriff Bouchard.

"Your honor, the statements made by the prosecution and the sheriff's office essentially eroded Dr. Aejaz's constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt," said Lehman.

Lehman asked the court to prevent the prosecution and the sheriff's office from making further statements regarding the case. Lehman also flagged that not enough time was given to her to review the partial evidence sent by the prosecution this morning, including 141 pages of documents.

"There is quite a lot of material here," said the prosecution team.

Last week, Sheriff Bouchard said during the arrest, 6 computers, 4 cellular phones, and 15 external storage devices were confiscated.

"Just one of the hard drives has 13,000 videos, and the other potential there also might be cloud storage," said Sheriff Bouchard.

Bouchard also says without the doctor's wife coming forward with evidence, the crime would not have come to light that may have been going on for over six years.

Court documents show that Aejaz's wife filed for divorce back in June. After Aejaz was charged, his wife was granted sole custody of their two minor children and sole possession of their home.

"This level of education, and has everything, why are they doing this to people?" said Rochester Hills resident Linda Sadek.

Sadik's home is on the same street as Aejaz's house in Rochester Hills. The mother of two was in disbelief when she read about what happened.

"What were some of the questions going through your mind?" asked Faraz Javed, 7 News Detroit reporter.

"Is he sick or not? Is he okay? All this street is filled with kids," said Sadik.

Aejaz was arraigned on Aug. 13 and charged with ten felony counts:

One count of child sexually abusive activity. One count of using a computer to create and or reproduce child sexually abusive material. Two counts of capturing/recording children under the age of 18 while nude. Two counts of capturing/recording two women over the age of 18 while nude. Four counts of using a computer to commit a crime.

Aejaz moved to Michigan in 2011 for his internship. He completed his residency at Detroit Sinai Grace Hospital and then moved to Dawson, Ala. Aejaz returned to Oakland County to continue his practice in internal medicine in 2018.

Bouchard believed the geographic scope of the investigation to increase beyond Genesee and Macomb counties, where the hospitals are located, and may include other states or countries, depending on where Aejaz worked. That's why the Sheriff's office has set up a dedicated email for victims and anyone with information to come forward: OCSOSIU@oakgov.com.

Meanwhile, the next court date is scheduled for September 16, and Aejaz's 2-million-dollar bond and its conditions stay in place.

The Wayne Disposal facility, just off I-94 in Van Buren Township, is a hazardous landfill run by Republic Services, who confirmed over the phone to 7 News Detroit reporter Faraz Javed that they will be processing radioactive waste, which will be making its way from New York next month until January 2025.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE PROJECT FOR YOURSELF

"I don't like that. I got my kids living next door, grandkids, and our neighbors," said Bonnie Coughlin, a Van Buren Township resident.

Coughlin has lived in Van Buren Township for decades. Her home is a mile away from the landfill.

"It's always been scary what they dump there," said Coughlin.

"It's also a federally approved facility, so does that give you any assurance?" asked Javed.

"Not really. How can you guarantee something is not gonna harm us?!" said Coughlin.

A recent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers presentation talks about 25 semi-trucks arriving here per week. It also shows that every truck will be decontaminated, and the radioactive waste will be secured in lined trucks.

The waste is all set to come from the Niagra Falls Storage site that dates back to the 1940s, where the Lewiston, New York facility became a primary storage location for byproducts associated with uranium ore refining for atomic bombs as part of the Manhattan Project.

"I just want to know how harmful this is? And how are they going to put that over there?" said Coughlin.

In a statement to 7 News Detroit, Both Wayne County Executive Warren Evans and State Representative Reggie Miller describe the size of the contaminated waste as 6,000 cubic yards of soil and concrete and 4,000 gallons of groundwater with elevated radiation.

"I have to shut my windows at night, it's so terrible, you can smell the smell," said Anthony Pauldebias.

Another resident, Pauldebias, has been living here for 36 years. Pauldebias says this is not the first time the landfill has processed hazardous waste.

"I'm just worried about my health, the health of others, and the value of our houses," said Pauldebias.

Back in 2018, Channel 7 covered the news about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dumping up to 124,000 tons of low-level radioactive soil and materials from a former military supplier in Luckey, Ohio.

124,000 tons of low grade radioactive soil being dumped at Wayne County landfill

Then, last year, after a train derailment in Palestine, Ohio, more than 218,000 gallons of toxic liquid waste was brought to Wayne County, which blindsided state and local officials.

Wayne Co. officials 'blindsided' by arrival of toxic waste from Ohio train derailment

Meanwhile, in a statement to 7 News Detroit, Republic Services writes in part, "Wayne Disposal is a Subtitle C landfill that is highly engineered with multiple safety measures in place and frequent inspections and systems tests to ensure everything is operating as it should. The material that will be accepted from the Niagara Falls Storage Site falls within the permit guidelines and will be managed safely, responsibly, and in compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations."

"Why don't they drive it somewhere else?" asked Coughlin.

"Would you want to move?" asked Javed.

"I ain't moving, this my home, I've been here for 71 years, I ain't going nowhere. But we do need to try and stop it," said Coughlin.

Now, Wayne County Executive Evans says that while he understands that the waste has to go somewhere, the county can't always be the way out, and that's why he will look for solutions through new policies or legislation.

Where Your Voice Matters

Downtown Milford is hosting its annual summer festival. With over 100,000 people expected to attend, Milford Memories features over 300 artists, food options, sand volleyball, a Sunday 5K and more.

Joan Spiroff, 83, has been an ambassador for the Milford Memories Festival since its inception 32 years ago.

"How has the festival changed over the years?" I asked.

"It's gotten bigger and bigger. And with a park renovation, that's why we had to move things around. So how are people going to find us? And they said, we need Waldo, so guess what I am now Waldo," Spiroff said.

From greeting everyone at the festival to helping people find booths, Joan also has your back with a QR code that takes you to the festival map.

"It started at a house in the subdivision where I live, and we had the first two years; it was a Civil War play, and then we progressed by getting the Civil War reenactment; I just built the whole thing up to its unbelievable festival," she said.

Organizers Raychel Rork and Joell Beether say this year, there is something for everyone.

"It goes all the way from Huron Street to Summit, we've got art booths all up and down the street, and then we have in Central Park, a kid's activity ten, we have a rock wall, we actually have kids artists, and then we have an amazing beer tent that's open till midnight," Beether said.

"We have artists that have come here from all over the country. Right from glass jewelry, woodworking, art wear, clothes, bags, as Joell said, there is something for everyone," Rork added.

"What's the one thing you will always cherish about this festival?" I asked Joan.

"Talking to everyone," she said.

"What keeps you going?" I asked.

"Life itself, I have a purpose every day to get up. I just want to be happy, and I just want to keep going," she said.

As for what's next for Joan and Waldo? They'll be at the Woodward Dream Cruise next week.