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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other customers echoed the excitement.

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

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

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

Reece did not hold back when asked about the food.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Warren Mayor Lori Stone says the investment is worth it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See the full story in the video below

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Palmeri encouraged everyone to make the trip to Huntington Place.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where Your Voice Matters

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

Watch Peter's report below

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here's what you need to know to qualify:

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

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

Where Your Voice Matters

Two suspects caught on security cameras broke into cash boxes at Sawmill Creek Farms in Macomb County, stealing about $80 and damaging equipment worth $200. The farm has operated on an honor system for 10 years, allowing customers to take hay or straw and leave payment in mounted cash boxes.

"My father-in-law went to go get a bale of hay for the goats and noticed that the boxes were broken into," said Sarah Knust, owner of Sawmill Creek Farms.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report below: Farm thieves caught on camera stealing from honor system cash boxes

Security footage shows a dark blue Dodge pickup truck with a light-colored tailgate arriving Monday morning. Two men exited the vehicle and went directly to the cash boxes mounted on the wall, ignoring the hay completely.

"They knew what they were coming for. They didn't even look at the hay, nothing. They went right to the safe and tried to break into it," Knust said.

Watch surveillance video below: Video shows theft at Sawmill Creek Farms in Macomb County that uses honor system

The farm has relied on customer honesty for 13 years, providing a convenient way for people to purchase hay and straw while generating extra income for the family operation.

"We think about $80 and then we're out two cash boxes that are going to cost $100 apiece to replace," Knust said.

Another farm in Macomb Township was also targeted in what investigators believe may be part of a larger crime spree.

"Unfortunately, two individuals that we are looking for today. Two suspects violated that honor system," said Cmdr. Jason Abro of the Macomb County Sheriff's Office.

Abro believes the suspects are responsible for additional thefts targeting farms that use honor systems.

"We do believe that there is more thefts that possibly did occur and we are asking for any local businesses or farms to contact us," Abro said.

The impact extends beyond the financial loss for small farming operations that serve their communities through trust-based sales.

"We're just... honest people making a living and it kind of hurts when somebody takes that away from you that you feel like you can't trust people anymore," Knust said.

Knust hopes the suspects are caught and held accountable to prevent future crimes.

"I think they need to have something done to them where they don't do it again because I feel like they're just going to keep doing it to other people," Knust said.

The Macomb County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information about the thefts or similar crimes to contact them.

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.

Water main breaks have become an almost daily occurrence across metro Detroit's east side communities this winter, with cities reporting dramatically higher numbers compared to previous years.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Aging pipes cause surge in metro Detroit water main breaks

Harper Woods has experienced 14 water main breaks since the beginning of 2026, nearly half of the 38 breaks the city saw in all of 2025. Since January 1st, Roseville has dealt with 40 breaks, while Eastpointe has recorded 25.

The latest break occurred Thursday on Hollywood Street in Harper Woods, leaving residents without running water for several hours. For Ashley Manuel, it marked the second water main issue on her block in less than a week.

"Very inconvenient. Very much so," Manuel said.

The first break happened across the street from her home, creating water quality concerns that worried her 4-year-old daughter.

"My daughter, my four-year-old, the first water main break, she was like, ' The water's coming out yellow, the water's coming out yellow. So every day I'm like, well, did you wash your hands? She's like the water's coming out yellow, and I am like, oh Jesus," Manuel said.

Neighbor Kim Kozakowski believes the frequency of breaks signals a larger problem.

"They should be doing something about it. This is not normal," Kozakowski said. "The infrastructure needs to be, you know, kept up."

Harper Woods City Manager John Szymanski attributes the surge to aging infrastructure combined with prolonged cold temperatures.

"Because of the aging infrastructure and the temperature, and especially the long temperature that we've experienced recently, yes, we are experiencing a lot of water main breaks," Szymanski said.

The city is working proactively to address the problem by using cameras to inspect underground pipes and repair them before they fail.

"We've spent millions of dollars on the infrastructure, and that will save us tens of millions of dollars the next ten years moving forward," Szymanski said.

The problem extends beyond Harper Woods. Crews in Eastpointe raced Wednesday to repair a break that flooded streets, while Roseville workers fixed their 40th break of the year the same day. City managers across the region point to aging infrastructure as the common culprit.

Despite the inconvenience, Manuel expressed appreciation for the repair crews working to restore service.

"Shout out to the crews. I appreciate their service," Manuel 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 woman's body was discovered wrapped in a garbage bag and stuffed into a cardboard box on Detroit's east side Sunday night, leaving neighbors concerned for their safety as police search for a suspect.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Woman's body found wrapped in garbage bag on Detroit's east side

Detroit police officers made the horrifying discovery while patrolling Hershey Street near 7 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue. The body was found dumped in the street, according to police.

"This is the first time something like this has ever happened over here," said a resident who lives nearby.

The shocking case has rocked the east side neighborhood. One mother, who asked not to show her face, said the homicide happened just steps from her home, where she lives with her 2-year-old son.

"He's two years old, so you know that would be crazy if he just happened to come outside, you know, walk past it, or seen it, because literally it was left in the street," she said.

Multiple residents expressed the same concerns about the unsettling crime, with a suspect still unaccounted for and neighbors left with unanswered questions.

"I feel like it was left in the street for people to see," another nearby resident said. "Yes, yes, I am concerned for safety."

On Monday, Detroit police were actively circling the street where the body was found as the investigation continues.

Police say they are not releasing much information because the investigation is still in its early stages.

Detroit police are asking anyone with information to contact them.

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 elementary school in Clarkston turned compassion into action Friday, hosting a blood drive to support one of their students a 9-year-old girl whose life depends on blood transfusions every three weeks.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Clarkston school hosts blood drive for student with rare bone marrow disease

Independence Elementary organized the drive for Liv O'Connell, a fourth-grader born with Diamond Blackfan Anemia, a rare bone marrow disease that prevents her body from making red blood cells properly.

"The easiest way to describe it, because most people have not heard of it, is that she does not make red blood cells properly, so she's anemic, and without blood, she would not be able to live," said Megan O'Connell, Liv's mother.

Despite her condition, Liv remains active and positive about her situation.

"It doesn't affect me that much. I mean, it might do something to me, like make me tired, I might not feel great, like my stomach hurts, but like I don't really feel anything, and when I get blood, I am definitely more hyper," Liv said.

To support their classmate, students at Independence Elementary helped make bracelets and signs to decorate the school for Friday's blood drive. The American Red Cross helped organize the event.

"It means a lot to see her laugh and strive through life. She's not really scared of anything. She loves to be here, have fun laughing with her friends," said Ava Duffy, Liv's friend.

According to the Diamond Blackfan Anemia Foundation, the disease affects 25 to 35 children born each year in the United States. Every case is different Liv's brother Miles also has the disease, but doesn't need transfusions.

For Liv, the transfusions are critical to her survival, but they don't slow her down.

"She's thriving. I have no idea how she does everything she does. She's a skier, a cheerleader, a dancer, a gymnast," Megan O'Connell said.

Community members like Matthew Johnson stepped up to donate blood for the cause.

"Anything that I can do to support, you know, Liv and this cause is something I am happy to do," Johnson said.

For Liv, seeing her community rally around her means everything.

"They help me make bracelets, we make thank you cards, and they really help me with support and everything like that," Liv said.

The young student hopes the blood drive will help other children facing similar challenges.

"We're doing this to help kids like me because they need blood to live," Liv said.

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

Detroit homeowners are facing a double-edged sword as property values in the Motor City have surged by $500 million in just one year, according to city officials. While the dramatic increase signals the city's continued recovery, it also means many residents will see higher property tax bills.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Detroit home values surge $500 million in one year, raising property tax concerns

The city examined thousands of home sales over two years to determine new property values, with some neighborhoods experiencing increases of 30% to 40%, according to city officials.

"They've been steadily going up since I moved over here," said Karen Schultz, a Detroit resident who lives in the Rosedale neighborhood.

Schultz purchased her home in 2015 for $137,000, and it's now valued at $280,000. She said she bought at the right time due to rising rental costs.

"For what I mortgaged, I am paying here - I was paying for a 1 bedroom apartment over at Riverplace," Schultz said.

On Friday, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield signed an executive order requiring the assessor's office to adopt national standards for greater transparency in the assessment process.

"While the assessed values of homes has increased. This year, homeowners are protected under the Michigan constitution from large tax increases," Sheffield said.

Many homeowners won't see dramatic tax increases because Michigan's Proposal A limits taxable-value increases to inflation, about 2.7% this year. However, that cap is lifted when a home is sold.

"I look at my tax bill, it was only a 38 dollar increase, so I feel good about that," said George Preston, a Detroit resident.

"This cap helps us alleviate some of those costs that Detroiters are paying currently," said Brodrick Woods, another Detroit resident.

The challenge now is ensuring longtime residents can stay in the neighborhoods they helped rebuild as property values continue to rise.

Homeowners can appeal their assessment by contacting the assessor's office at AsktheAssessor@detroitmi.gov.

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

Two people are recovering after an early morning fire ripped through an apartment building in Southfield, forcing dozens of residents from their homes.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Southfield apartment fire displaces 27 residents, injures two people

The fire happened at the Oxley Apartment Complex off of 9 Mile and Providence. I spoke with residents who said they woke up to police and firefighters banging on their doors.

Southfield firefighters said several people had to be rescued early Thursday morning after flames tore through multiple units in the apartment complex. It's the third fire in just 48 hours that they've had to battle.

"Glad that everybody is alright. No lives lost. Everything is materialistic, and it can all be replaced," Anthony Powell said.

"We just rushed out. Me and my friends," Dora Pope said.

It was just before 3 o'clock Thursday morning when Southfield firefighters were called out to the four-story apartment complex. When firefighters arrived, smoke could be seen coming from several apartments, and a number of area fire departments had to be called in to assist.

A couple of residents were trapped and had to be rescued by firefighters.

"Our aerial did remove somebody from the fourth floor, and then in other areas of the structure two ground ladder rescues. One on the second floor and one on the third," Chief Joey Thorington said.

Two people were taken to a local hospital for smoke inhalation but are expected to recover.

Thorington said this is the third fire they've responded to in just 48 hours.

"Yesterday morning, actually, around two o'clock, we had a rescue house fire. We rescued a patient out of the second story. Yesterday we had the fatal fire, and then today this morning we had the apartment complex fire, so it's been a busy couple of days," Thorington said.

Nearly a dozen units were damaged, displacing 27 people and two dogs. The Red Cross is now working with them to find temporary housing.

"Most of us are affected by smoke damage. It's pretty horrendous," Powell said.

Powell and his children are some of those residents affected. He said firefighters woke them up by banging on his door - they were just a couple of doors away from where the fire started.

"First time they've ever experienced something like this, so when daddy grab their hand, and he is running, you got to run," Powell said.

Loraine Lee is just happy that everyone is okay and was able to make it out safely.

"I am just glad that we got out and it's not as bad as it could have been," Lee said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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

Detroit residents woke up to a pleasant surprise Monday morning as city crews cleared residential streets following Sunday's snowfall, even though the storm didn't meet the typical 6-inch threshold for full city plowing.

Watch Peter Maxwell's video report: Detroit plowing residential streets after latest snowfall

The city of Detroit expanded its snow removal efforts after several inches of snow blanketed the area, deploying private contractors to clear many residential side streets. Typically, at least 6 inches of snow must fall in a single storm before a full city plow is activated, but with freezing temperatures and continuing snowfall, the city decided it was time to act.

"It's a little bit loose. Part of what we look at is what snow have we had before today. So last night we measured pretty close to 5 inches in Detroit, and because we've had snow over the last couple of weeks and the forecast over the next two weeks is supposed to continue to be cold, we thought this would be a nice service to provide the residents," Sam Krassenstein, Deputy Director of Detroit Public Works, said.

Tradina Waller was clearing her driveway after Sunday's storm and said she was happy to see plow trucks come down her street.

"It's getting better," Waller said.

The city has over 1,800 miles of residential streets to plow and typically only does so when a single snowfall event reaches 6 inches or more. When that threshold is met, the Department of Public Works sends out private contractors to plow neighborhood streets.

Those contractors began clearing Detroit's residential streets early Monday morning. While some side streets on the east side weren't plowed at all, Krassenstein said they're making progress.

"We're about 75 to 80 percent through the residential streets," Krassenstein said.

However, not all residents were satisfied with the snow removal efforts. Dennis Phelps, a cab driver who got stuck at the intersection of Grady and East Willis, said the city needs to plow more often.

"My first time stuck down here on a residential street," Phelps said. "I believe they should come out much, much sooner."

Delano Benson, another Detroit resident, echoed similar concerns about the need for more frequent plowing.

"We need the salt trucks to do the side streets, too," Benson said. "They need more trucks out here."

While some streets had been plowed, residents like Benson wished crews would make a second pass. The city says they're planning to do just that and encourages residents to report any streets that haven't been adequately cleared.

"If they find by tomorrow morning that a street hasn't been touched or not done to a satisfactory condition, they can go online to improve Detroit dot online or on the phone and report that we will investigate that and make sure it's taken care of," Krassenstein 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.