City officials say relief is coming to a stretch of road that has been plagued by potholes for more than two years, but businesses along the route say the damage has already been done.

The nearly one-mile stretch of Mount Elliott, which turns into Conant on Detroit's east side near I-94, is riddled with potholes that appear every few feet, creating a traffic nightmare for drivers and businesses alike.

"It's a big mess. Yes, there's huge potholes, don't even have barricades for the potholes," said Sam Saleh, owner and operator of Hawk Auto Sales.

Saleh says the road has been in this condition for more than two years, causing significant harm to his business.

"We're losing a lot of business, no one is coming through to buy cars," Saleh said.

His auto sales shop sits right on Conant, and he says customers are avoiding the area because of the road conditions.

One driver I spoke with said they've had to repair their car three times this month alone due to the road conditions.

"It's pretty bumpy, especially for low cars," another driver said.

A viewer even emailed us saying, "If this were anywhere else, it would not be allowed to be left in this condition."

City officials acknowledge the problems and say they're working on a solution.

"Once we get done reconstructing this road, they're gonna have something that's gonna last for the next 50 years," said Richard Doherty, city engineer for the city of Detroit.

Doherty explained that the road is in poor condition because of a major project to replace water mains.

"They're doing all this because we're investing $10 to $11 million to replace the road out. The road has been in rough shape for quite a few years now," Doherty said.

Gary Brown, director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, admitted the project has taken too long.

"They haven't been forgotten, and we're one of those businesses. Our offices, we have hundreds of employees who drive this road. We want it fixed, also," Brown said.

When asked about the timeline for repairs, Doherty said they're waiting for the final approval from the city council.

"Still waiting for the last step to get in on the council agenda. Once that's done, we'll be able to cut them loose, start end of July, first of August, should be done before the snow flies this fall," Doherty said.

Meanwhile, Saleh and other businesses continue to suffer.

"One day it's piping, one day it's different lines. We're waiting for this to come, for that. As you can see, the road here, it's not as busy as it used to be. People are taking other roads," Saleh said.

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

A Marine Corps veteran who started cutting hair in 1960 continues to serve his community and clients with the same dedication he's shown for more than six decades.

See Evan Sery's full story in the video below

At 90 years old, Sterling Heights barber Roger Bandes is not slowing down

Roger Bandes, a 90-year-old barber in Sterling Heights, has been cutting hair for 65 years and has no plans to retire anytime soon.

"Some people, they can't wait to retire. I'm not one of those people, I don't want to retire. I wanna be in the stream of life, I want to be with people," Bandes said.

The veteran barber started as an apprentice, learning the craft under close supervision.

"And he watched everything you did for two years, and then you had to go down to the state board and take your test to get your journeyman's card, and it was hard," Bandes said.

That hard work has paid off with a career spanning over six decades, most of them in Sterling Heights. His scissors have seen everything from 1967 Lions quarterback Karl Sweetan to children getting their first haircuts.

Jerry, a long-time customer who has been getting cuts from Bandes for nearly 35 years, speaks highly of his barber, despite a minor mishap years ago.

"Should I tell him? He cut my sideburns off once," Jerry said.

Even that hasn't deterred Jerry's loyalty to Bandes.

"When they made Roger, they broke the mold," Jerry said.

Bandes admits to occasional shoulder pain from decades of holding clippers but doesn't let it slow him down.

"A little bit of shoulder pain now and then, cause I lift a lot, been lifting the clipper for a long time. But I work my way through it," Bandes said.

When asked what might happen if he retired, Bandes didn't hesitate.

"I'd probably fade away," Bandes said. "I wouldn't be with the people anymore, all my friends. I've accumulated a lot of friends in this business."

I asked Bandes about the rarity of someone his age still working in the profession.

"Well, I've been blessed," Bandes replied.

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.

Michigan's longest-running Fourth of July parade celebrated nearly 100 years in Ypsilanti on this Independence Day.

Watch Evan Sery's full report in the video player below Michigan's longest-running Fourth of July parade celebrates nearly 100 years in Ypsilanti

The unmistakable sounds of Fourth of July celebrations echoed through Ypsilanti as the state's longest-running Independence Day parade made its way down Cross Street.

"It's exciting. The whole city turns out," said Lynne, a parade watcher.

For some residents like Miquel Powell, the parade is a lifelong tradition.

"Been coming here forever, ever since I was a child," Powell said.

Others, like the Commazi siblings, are just learning about the holiday's significance.

"A letter like the Declaration of Independence," one of the Commazi siblings said.

Their grandparents explained the historical importance of the day: "Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and Ben Franklin all gathered and wrote a letter," said 9-year-old Joe Commazi.

The parade featured 100-year-old World War II Rosie the Riveter Delphine Klaput as the honorary parade marshal, receiving well-deserved recognition from the community.

"It's heartwarming, very heartwarming. I just feel so blessed," Klaput said.

When asked what the Fourth means to her, Klaput reflected on her family's military service.

"Just a big day, cause you know I come from a family of veterans, my dad, my uncles. It's tremendous deal for me, just tremendous," she said.

Arthur Thomas, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office outreach specialist, served as the unofficial parade host, engaging with the crowd throughout the event.

"What we do is try to engage everyone with some things to pass out to make the parade a little bit better for 'em," Thomas said.

Web Extras: Full interviews with Lynne and the Commazzi siblings Web Extra: Lynn enjoys Independence Day parade in Ypsilanti Web Extra: Commazzi siblings enjoy Ypsilanti Independence Day paradeThis 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.

Health officials are urging families to take preventative measures after West Nile virus was detected in a small sample of mosquitoes in Macomb County, though no human cases have been reported.

Watch Evan Sery's video report: Families warned to take mosquito precautions amid West Nile detection

The recent detection comes as rising temperatures have led to an increase in the mosquito population throughout the area.

"Most people that get affected are asymptomatic and might not even know they're infected; some people might get serious outcomes like encephalitis," said Joe Eisenberg, University of Michigan Professor of Epidemiology.

Julie Grey-Czerny, owner of Mosquito Joe in Harrison Township, has seen a surge in service calls in recent days.

"The cooler temperatures we had in the spring, everything's been kinda pushed back," Grey-Czerny said.

With the recent heat wave, conditions have changed dramatically.

"High high temperatures, so now we're starting to see an increase in the mosquito population," Grey-Czerny said.

The pest control service has been busy fielding calls and treating properties throughout the county.

"It does take a couple treatments, but you'll see a huge decrease in the adult mosquito population after the first treatment on the property," Grey-Czerny said.

County health officials recommend using insect repellent containing DEET and limiting outdoor activities from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active. They also advise residents to eliminate standing water around their homes, which serves as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

The risk of developing symptoms after a mosquito bite increases for certain vulnerable populations.

Ask Dr. Nandi: Getting mosquitoes to bug off Ask Dr. Nandi: Getting mosquitoes to bug off

"If you're more in a sensitive population, that could be elderly or having co-morbidity, that could be the time to be in an air-conditioned house, where that's actually proven to be the most effective way to protect yourself," Eisenberg said.

Symptoms of West Nile virus can include headache and fever, while more serious cases may develop a stiff neck, muscle weakness, and paralysis.

"They're more than just a pest. It's important for people to realize the seasonality of these diseases in the US, like West Nile Virus, and that's the time you want to pay more attention to protecting yourself," Eisenberg 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.