Monday marks exactly five years since the first case of COVID-19 broke out in Michigan. Since then, Michigans restaurant industry has faced challenges, with some restaurants closing their doors forever.

Tara Young is the proud owner of 44 Burrito in Lathrup Village, specializing in Mexican food with her own special soul food twist. Young works long hours and helps out with every job behind the scenes, because she has to.

"Finding employees is very, very difficult," she said.

Like many restaurants, Young struggled during the pandemic. She opened up 44 Burrito about 12 years ago out of her love and passion for cooking. She says the last five have been the most difficult.

"A lot of nights, I think about throwing in the towel," she said.

Not finding workers and the rising costs of food are just a few of the reasons why Young is thinking of closing her doors for good. And shes not the only one.

"COVID's had a long tail. It's five years later and we are still seeing restaurant closures that tie themselves to the challenges post-COVID," Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association President and CEO Justin Winslow said.

According to the MRLA, over 2,000 restaurants closed down in Michigan directly related to the difficulties during and after the pandemic. But being able to adapt has helped. That includes having outdoor dining options.

One day, my owner came up to me and said 'hey, I got a great idea for next year. Lets have igloos.' And it kind of snowballed from there," the manager of Deadwood Bar and Grill in Northville, Lee Opalewski, said.

Deadwood Bar and Grill came up with their igloo idea in 2018 but continue it to this day after seeing how helpful and successful they were during the pandemic. They also continue carry-out alcohol, something stemming from COVID-19 restrictions in 2020.

Many restaurants across metro Detroit have continued outdoor dining and igloos well after the pandemic. Many social districts have also remained.

"No matter what, were gonna adapt, were gonna try to figure out something else to do. People want to be together and have these experiences where they can dine and enjoy each other's company," Opalewski added.

Now the hope is that despite all the hurdles, the restaurant industry bounces back by getting younger generations excited about the craft. Winslow says this year's Michigan ProStart Competition in Battle Creek, where high school students participate in a culinary arts competition, is a good indicator.

"We have a record number of students right now from across Michigan: 700 students. That is almost twice as many as we had just a couple of years ago competing. That means that there's passion and desire to be in this industry, because these are the future leaders," Winslow said.

Local churches and organizations have been preparing for Fish Fry Fridays for weeks, and the funds raised from these meals typically go to help area nonprofits, schools and other groups.

St. Andrew's Society of Detroit kicked off their annual fish fry event at the Kilgour Scottish Centre in Troy and saw record amounts of people.

We open at 4:30 (p.m.) and weve had a line out the door the whole time," St. Andrew's Society of Detroit President Chris Mackenzie said. "We ran out of fish very early.

For the local Christian and Catholic communities, its the start of Lent. However, its also a time for anyone in the community to enjoy spending time with family and friends at the dozens of locations in our area offering fish dinners.

All the money raised from the fish dinners at the Kilgour Scottish Centre goes to local charities. All the staff filling bellies are unpaid volunteers. They say they wouldnt have it any other way.

Over at St. Anne Catholic Grade School and Church in Warren, parent and teacher volunteers run a well-oiled machine, offering both your typical sit-down dinners and drive-thru dinners as well.

Tonight has been very busy. We have not stopped since we got here. Four oclock (in the afternoon) we start getting everything ready and orders came in at 4:30 (p.m.), and it has been steady," St. Anne Catholic Grade School and Church parent volunteer Brandy Rokicki said.

With students helping and the St. Anne Mens Club spearheading the event, the church and school sold over 1,000 dinners on Friday alone, with the funds going right back to the school.

"It goes back to the Mens Club, which helps fund projects for the school, making the school the best as it can possibly be for our kids," Rokicki said.

Fish Fry Fridays will continue until Good Friday, which is right before Easter.

Over two months after teenage student Alla Alammari was hit by a car while walking to Fordson High School in Dearborn, her family is speaking out, updating us on her condition and their fight for justice.

Alammari celebrated her 16th birthday just days ago in a hospital bed at Detroit Medical Center and has remained in a coma since she was hit around 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 20, 2025.

Watch our original story from Dec. 20 on the incident in the video below: Fordson High School freshman injured after being struck by vehicle in Dearborn

Wadha Alammari is Alla's father. He moved his family from Yemen five months ago, seeking better opportunities for his six children, including Alla, whose face we have blurred out, per the familys request for privacy.

We spoke to the father through Alla Alammaris cousin, Hisham Magrag, who helped translate.

On the morning of December 20th, her and her sister were walking to Fordson High School and this guy was speeding. All her sisters stepped back, but Alla, she was hit head-on," the father said through Magrag.

The suspect, 19-year-old Mahdi Bitar, has been charged with one felony count of reckless driving causing serious impairment. The family believes its not enough.

He hit her in a school zone thats what really hurts," Magrag said. Her condition is not getting any better; its getting worse.

Bitar is now out on bond. 7 News Detroit looked into his record and found that throughout the years, he's received multiple civil infractions specifically dealing with driving including violating a graduated license permit and disregarding a stop sign.

The family says they hope justice is served and that drivers slow down along Ford Road.

Watch our story from Dec. 23 about the investigation in the video below: Investigation continues as teen remains critical after being hit by car

"She has a broken hip, leg, brain injury, shes going on seven surgeries so far," the father said through Magrag. Her older sister that was with her... cant talk, cant move, she has PTSD. The mom can barely go to the hospital to see her daughter. She doesnt want to see her daughter in that condition, always fainting.

Bitar is back in Wayne County Third Circuit Court Friday for a disposition conference.

The 2-year closure of part of eastbound I-696 from I-75 to the Lodge has been delayed by 2 days. MDOT announced Thursday it will now begin on Monday, March 3.

The change is being made due to the weather forecast.

Temporary closures already began for the massive I-696 project in Oakland County.

As the Michigan Department of Transportation prepared for the two-year project, they closed the westbound lanes of I-696 from Lahser Road to I-75 last weekend to complete electrical work and inspections.

7 Traffic anchor Ali Hoxie explains more about the project in the video below: Stretch of I-696 closing this weekend

Portable message boards will detour traffic via southbound I-75 to westbound M-8 (Davison Highway), then northbound M-10 (Lodge Freeway) to westbound I-696.

MDOT is fixing both sides of I-696 from Lahser Road to I-75 and repairing 60 bridges. During the two-year construction period, westbound drivers will always be able to get through. Eastbound drivers are going to have to find detours wherever they can, including the official detour that goes down to Highland Park and along the mile roads.

Will McCann lives right off of 9 Mile Road near Southfield Road. Hes heard about the massive project and knows instead of the official detour, people are going to be using the mile roads to get around Oakland County.

Trying to get to any of those Oakland County communities in that part of town is going to be more difficult. Now, its just gonna take longer," he said.

Jan Barnes lives near I-696 just off 10 Mile Road in Oak Park. Shes noticed the MDOT crews already setting up around her area and says this project is all her neighborhood can talk about.

Its mixed. Some people are like 'oh, its gonna be great' and others like 'oh, its gonna be a headache,'" she said.

Shes aware of this weekends overnight closures and is also aware that in just one week, shell be one of the hundreds of thousands looking for a detour. But she says shes ready.

"I think its good for them to fix the problems that were having with our infrastructure and itll cut down on a lot of the problems that people are having with motor vehicle issues and things of that nature," Barnes said.

A bail bond scam is going around, leaving families looking to get loved ones out of jail out of hundreds of dollars. A bail bond company in Wayne County says their name is being attached to the scam and are now warning families on what to look out for.

Erica Grimes says her fiance, Joseph Jackson, was booked into the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center last Saturday for not paying child support. His bond? 10 percent of $20,000 dollars. She needed to find $2,000 to get him out. On Monday, her mother-in-law got a call from a bail bondsman, offering a deal - only $200 dollars to get her loved one out.

When youre frantic like trying to get your people, youre under distress, youre willing to do whatever it takes," Grimes said. "I'm like, okay, let me call this guy.

Grimes called the man who went by Alex, who assured her he could get her fiance out through the company he was associated with, Wayne County Bail Bonds. However, he would need another $200. Grimes was told to go to a Bitcoin ATM inside a vape shop and even got a receipt after she sent over the funds.

He tells me, 'Ill have him out in an hour and a half I'm at the jail now'. I hear him talking like it sounds like theres jail people in the background, like hes here," she said.

When Grimes went to pick up her fiance from the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center, she was told no bondsman ever stopped by, and her fiance is still in custody.

The real owner of Wayne County Bail Bonds, Glen Gay, explains that this has been happening to multiple families, and his company name has been attached to the fake receipts and fake bondsman.

Its been absolutely awful because at the end of the day were a reputable company weve been doing this for a long time and never, never had an issue with anybody," Gay said. Theyre thinking theyre getting a deal when really theyre showing up and nobodys really walking out.

Gay believes there's a few different ways the scammer is getting the information: Either through live-streamed arraignments on YouTube where defendants' names are read aloud or through the Wayne County Inmate Lookup. The scammer wouldn't even need a name; they could simply put a date, get some names, and go through social media to find family.

Gay says there are red flags to look out for. Firstly, its very rare that a bail bondsman will call you; you typically need to reach out to them and Google their reputation. There's also no such thing as a discounted rate.

If its too good to be true, it probably is," Gay added.

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office Director of Communications and Community Engagement Mara MacDonald released the following statement:

We urge anyone with a loved in the Wayne County Jail to look at the defined bail process on sheriffconnect.com. While weve not received any complaints of fake bail bondsmen, please be very skeptical of anybody calling you out of the blue offering those services.

An uncle-nephew small business duo is putting out a call to help find their stolen construction equipment. On surveillance video, you can see individuals attach the equipment to their own vehicle and take off in broad daylight on Jan. 16.

The Bobcat skid steer and trailer used to get it around that were taken from the area of Joy Road and Greenfield Avenue are worth to be around $125,000.

Watch the surveillance video below: Video shows $125K worth of construction equipment from small Detroit business

Its heartbreaking to say the least. It just sucks 'cause you work so hard for things and then somebody comes and takes it," owner of Care General Construction Erik Thomas said.

Thomas specializes in kitchen and bathroom remodeling with his company. He and his uncle, Shawn Young, are partners. Young runs Renew Plumbing & Construction, working on projects with the city of Detroit and DTE Energy.

Both Young and Thomas use the Bobcat T66 for jobs and now, theyre both missing out on job opportunities because of the theft.

We have jobs set up already for the equipment to be used, so its critical at this point," Young said.

You can see in the surveillance video a group of individuals pull up to Thomas' grandmother's home when no one was there in the middle of the day. The Bobcat was being stored on its trailer. You can see the group of individuals secure the machinery onto their truck and take off.

When someone takes something like that, its like alright, figure something else out, but it sucks," Young added.

They hope someone recognizes the truck in the surveillance video and calls it in.

Detroit police are investigating. If you know anything or recognize the truck, call police or Renew Plumbing & Construction at 313-352-9252 or Care General Construction at 248-702-5906.

As city crews continue inspecting homes and clearing ice after the major water main break in Southwest Detroit, residents are now dealing with dead vehicles frozen in place.

Resident Michael Muzzey says two thoughts went through his head when he woke up early Monday morning.

"The first thing I thought was holy bleep. The second thing I thought was what am I gonna do about the cars," he said.

His two cars, including a brand-new truck, are totaled. Water has entered the interior, freezing over and damaging them beyond fixing. He hasnt been able to get to work in days and says most of his neighbors are facing a similar problem.

"Theres several cars on this street that are pretty much out of commission," he said.

As residents work to salvage their cars, the city is continuing to work to get Southwest Detroit back in order.

"We have shifted from the rescue phase to the service phase and we are now going house to house," Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said at a Tuesday news conference.

Related video: Officials speak as repair work continues on water main break in SW Detroit Officials speak as repair work continues on water main break in SW Detroit

City officials said filing an insurance claim should be top of mind for residents right now but add that Detroit police will tow any cars and bring them to the 4th Precinct if residents should need that service.

So with that, therell be no charge, no fees, everything will be waived. Youll be able to go to the front lot and retrieve your vehicle," Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said.

Residents say they appreciate the citys help through the difficult times but hope everything is back to normal soon.

The city is reminding impacted residents that they can use Uber for free to get to and from work and the grocery store, but the ride must be ordered through the city by calling the Emergency Hotline at 313-774-5261.

A 22-year-old Hartland Township man was hit and killed as he was riding his bike home from work just days before Christmas.

The Tubbs family adopted Alexander "Sasha" Tubbs in 2020 from Ukraine and says they will continue to honor his memory and fight for justice.

Sasha's mom, Lisa Tubbs, says he was finishing his shift at Arby's around midnight on Dec. 23, when he went across the street to hangout with his friends at a gas station. After a little over an hour, he decided to ride his bike back home a trip that only take minutes down Old US-23 Highway when he was hit by a pickup truck near Bergin Road.

The driver then fled.

"He really was just an exceptional human and for him to die alone like roadkill on a litter-lined highway is just absolutely not what he deserved," Lisa Tubbs said.

She also has an 8-year-old biological son named Teddy, who she says shared a strong bond with Sasha. Their Christmas holiday was full of tears this year instead of laughter.

Lisa Tubbs says she and her husband met Sasha in 2018, and while they say they had no plans of adopting internationally at the time, they felt such a strong connection with the teenager that they felt that they had to.

"It was like this missing piece of the puzzle that we didnt even know wasnt there," she said.

Lisa Tubbs says Sasha wanted to be a chef and was an honest soul. He preferred to ride his bike instead of driving because he said he could never forgive himself if he hurt someone.

Now the family says they are full of rage and anger because the driver is still out there. They say they will continue fighting for justice for their son, and to be the happy, goofy family that Sasha always wanted to be a part of.

"We are the family that he desperately wanted to be a part of and so we want to preserve that and we want to stay wonderful for him, but also how can anything be wonderful right now," Lisa Tubbs asked.

Michigan State Police say they found debris at the scene of the crash. They also found a truck they believe to be involved. A 64-year-old man from Brighton has been identified as a suspect, but no one is in custody as of Feb. 14.

Two years after three students lost their lives in the Michigan State University mass shooting, the Clawson community gathered at Clawson City Park for a remembrance event to honor Alex Verner, spreading some of her ashes at a tree planted in her memory.

Dozens came out in the freezing temperatures to honor Verner's memory Thursday night.

That was the worst night of my life. It was the worst night of our lives and we dont want anyone else to go through something like that again," Verner's dad Ted said.

A moment of silence was held at the exact time the first shots rang out two years ago: 8:18 p.m. It was an emotional night full of love and grief.

The only reason why were doing what were able to do is because of our city and our family and friends," Alex Verner's mom Nancy said through tears.

Alex Verner was the light of Clawson High School, breaking multiple records across multiple sports. She was also a stellar student and a stellar friend.

As a sister, as a teammate, as a friend, as kind and as thoughtful and selfless as it gets," her old Principal and Superintendent of Clawson Public Schools Billy Shellenbarger said.

After her death, her family started the Alex Verner Foundation, or AV24, which provides scholarship opportunities for Clawson High School graduates. It has helped other students fulfill their higher education dreams, one that Alex Verner had herself.

She was passionate about her education and she wanted to go on to graduate school to the University of Oregon," Ted Verner said.

Related video: 'Just take care of yourself': MSU community gathers 2 years after shooting tragedy 'Just take care of yourself': MSU community gathers 2 years after shooting tragedy

At her remembrance event Thursday at a tree planted in her honor, some of Alex Verners ashes were laid to rest. It's the only place now where her family can be with her and feel connected.

"I walk once or twice a day and I go to the tree every day. It's some time that I get to spend with Al," Ted Verner said.

The support is coming from near and far as Buck Myre, who lost his son Tate Myre at the Oxford High School shooting, stopped by to pay his respects as well. These parents lean on each other for support to honor their children and never forget.

"Tomorrows not promised to anyone, so remember: forget about those grudges, give somebody a hug and love them," Ted Verner said.

As the snow came down Wednesday, residents in Macomb County made sure to take care of their neighbors who aren't able to treat their own driveways and sidewalks.

Maurice Edwards founded Roseville Cares in 2023. The Navy veteran helps the elderly and those with disabilities like his neighbor Joann Drake.

You dont find too many people like that," Drake said. I couldnt do it myself because I broke my leg, two femurs and I'm afraid."

Over in Sterling Heights it's a similar story, as resident Larry Vissotsk spent his afternoon treating his neighbors' properties.

Couple neighbors help everybody out here and theres some people that cant quite get out like they want to, so we make sure everybodys shoveled out," he said. We enjoy it! Get a little exercise as well."

All across Macomb County, no matter how bad the snow get, these residents are ready to help one another out, until the next big storm.

A Detroit man says he was working a Michigan Education Association conference last Thursday when he noticed live and dead cockroaches inside the Marriott at the Renaissance Center kitchen that serves a banquet hall.

7 News Detroit brought the claims to the attention of the Detroit Health Department, which is now investigating.

One worker decided to speak out anonymously in fear of losing work. He has found work through Instawork for three years and gets contracted to do all types of jobs at restaurants, plants and hotels wherever hes needed.

Last Thursday morning, he was sent to work the Michigan Education Association Winter Conference at the Marriott downtown. He was in charge of serving coffee and food. Quickly after arriving to work, he noticed the cockroaches.

Watch his video below: Video: Employee records cockroaches in Renaissance Center Marriott kitchen

"When I said something, they were just like continue to work, it's OK and its not," he said. I was ready to just get out of there. I thought it was disgusting."

He claims the roaches were on the counters where food was prepared. He brought it up to people in charge in the kitchen and claims he was told to just kill them.

"Nobody was saying anything. They were just walking by like it was just a normal day. They didnt even really care, and it didnt sit right with me," he said.

The Detroit Health Department investigated the incident and Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair Razo provided the following statement:

"Upon receiving notification of the issue at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, the Detroit Health Departments Environmental Health Inspectors promptly conducted an inspection of the hotels main kitchen. During their visit on Friday, February 7th, they observed that cleaning efforts were underway and that pest control treatments had been recently applied. The inspection revealed only a few dead roaches present at the time, which is an indication the treatments are being effective. We will be conducting a follow up visit in the coming days to check on progress."

The health department added that it's not uncommon for restaurants to have periodic issues with pests, which often can come in with food deliveries.

For them to prepare food with roaches crawling around is so disgusting and with Marriott being a popular chain hotel, they need to do better in their kitchen," Charlinna Williams said.

Williams knows the whistle blower employee personally and is a cook herself. She says she's disappointment to hear of continuous pest issues in the city. Late last month, Lafayette Coney Island experienced a rat problem.

It starts with the management in the building and then whoever runs the kitchen. They all need to be held accountable for that and not just skip over it like its nothing," Williams said.

7 News Detroit reached out to a Marriott manager who said the hotel has no comment.

The Michigan Education Association says they were not aware of the roaches and only found out through 7 News Detroit. They are concerned with the videos and sent an email to their members adding they will be taking this up with hotel management.

On New Year's Day, three intruders broke into Jeffrey Bernhard's home, murdered his wife and father-in-law, and kidnapped his daughter and foster child.

OUR INITIAL REPORT: 2 killed during targeted child abduction at home in Washtenaw County 2 killed during targeted child abduction at home in Washtenaw County

Now, he's opening up about his mental and physical healing journey, saying his faith, his community, and his daughter are helping him get through this difficult time.

Photos of a happy family and a happy home now cover the front of the Brighton Assembly of God Church. Bernhard is preparing for a memorial service for his wife, Jenny Bernhard, and father-in-law, Stevie Smith.

Both of them had a heart for everything in this world that is good," Bernhard said.

Smith lived with the family, and the Bernhards even built their home specifically to accommodate the elder family members. Bernhard married Jenny in 2010 and describes her as kind, selfless, and willing to do anything for anyone.

EXTENDED INTERVIEW: Jeff Bernhard talks about his family, New Year's Day attack Extended interview: Jeff Bernhard talks about his family, New Year's Day attack

Jenny was, she was more than I deserved," he said.

Smith was a minister for the majority of his life and is described as a simple, warm, giving man.

He was one of the kindest and most gentle men that Ive known," Bernhard said.

It was inside their Northfield Township home where the unthinkable happened on New Year's Day.

On the night of January 1, the entire family was home, including Bernhards daughter and the child they were fostering at the time. The family decided to become licensed foster parents two years ago.

It was gonna be just a normal evening for us, get the girls ready for bed, go through the routine, and...it turned out to be a night that changed everything," Bernhard said.

Three people broke through their front door, demanding money. Police later said the main suspect was the foster child's biological mother.

PREVIOUS REPORT: 2 Northfield Twp. suspects face judge on murder, kidnapping charges, 3rd refuses 2 Northfield Twp. suspects face judge on murder, kidnapping charges, 3rd refuses

It was very clear this person was in charge, and she was giving the orders to the others," Bernhard added.

The family was assaulted and remained on the floor of their kitchen for what Bernhard believes was hours until shots rang out. Bernhard was shot in his side and face, losing his vision completely in his right eye, requiring multiple surgeries. His wife and father-in-law were shot and killed.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Surviving Northfield Township victim alert, described as selfless Surviving Northfield Township victim alert, described as selfless

When I sat up, and I sat up on the bench by our garage door. I looked over at my wife and knew, instantly, she was dead, and she was shot in the head; that image will be very, very difficult to process," Bernhard said.

Bernhard passed out, and when he came to, he said it was a higher power that helped guide him to safety. He forced himself to get up and call for help.

"I managed to put my shoes on and find the strength to walk to my neighbor's house and have them call 911," he said.

Only after coming out of surgery did he realize both of the girls were kidnapped, but they were thankfully later safely recovered by police. Bernhard says his mission now is to continue spreading the good work of his wife and father-in-law as he finds the strength to keep pushing on from his faith, his community, and his little girl.

That 10-year-old little girl is my world. Ever since the day that I found out from Jenny that she is pregnant, that girl had my heart," he said.

Bernhard says he has been completely overwhelmed by the community's support, letters, and kind words as he continues his long healing journey.

Meanwhile, the three suspects have been arrested and charged with open murder, kidnapping, and a slew of other charges.

Shuvonne Vinson and Keith Finley are back in court for probable cause conferences on April 16 at 9 a.m. at 14A District Court. Gregory Callhan is back in court for a preliminary examination on February 20 at 9 a.m. at 14A District Court.

If you could say anything to the people that did this, what would you say," 7 News Detroit reporter Ruta Ulcinaite asked.

"I dont know if I really have anything that I'd say. Im not mad. Im heartbroken, obviously, but I'm not gonna give them that satisfaction of taking anything else from me.

The memorial service for both Jenny Bernhard and Stevie Smith is this Saturday at Brighton Assembly of God.

In lieu of flowers, Bernhard is asking that people instead donate to causes that the two were passionate about. Contributions can be made in memory of Steve Smith to Michigan Chi Alpha: https://www.michiganxa.com/donate.html and in memory of Jenny Bernhard to Heart's CRI:

https://brightonag.churchcenter.com/giving.

Where Your Voice Matters

The superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District, Nikolai Vitti, is sounding the alarm saying he is worried about the future of the district in regards to federal funding and immigration operations.

Vitti says he has seen a 5 to 10 percent attendance drop of students attending class in Southwest Detroit and decided to speak at an NAACP meeting at the Northwest Activities Center Thursday night to remind residents where the district stands on the newest initiatives from the current presidential administration.

We asked Vitti if he understood the implications of speaking out so boldly against the current presidential administration. He said his only concerns are the students who attend his schools.

"Most people know that Ive been relatively quiet and really focused on the district and the work inside the district, but there is a point that I think it is important for me to come out, talk directly to the public about where we are and the threats that are about to happen," Vitti said.

In regards to the threats, Vitti says he is referring to the direction he feels the Donald Trump administration is headed in terms of withholding federal funding if school districts don't get rid of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, trans classification for students and teachings of things that fall under the critical race theory umbrella.

He says 32% of the district's funding comes from federal funds and if those were withheld, it would be detrimental to the school district.

There is talk of federal funding likely being tied to some of the things that the president has mentioned," Vitti said at the NAACP meeting.

He also addressed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the blitz of deportations. Just last week, he stated that Detroit schools will not be cooperating with ICE officials.

"ICE has not tried to get into any of our buildings, however, ICE has been seen in our parking lots, at various schools, local gas stations, outside the streets and theres certainly an intimidation factor," Vitti said. Basically, weve said to our employees if ICE calls, if anyone calls about information about our children, we are not to give anything without a parent or guardian's signature.

Related video: Southwest Detroit businesses protest ramped-up ICE activity, political rhetoric Southwest Detroit businesses protest ramped-up ICE activity, political rhetoric

Vitti says without a warrant, ICE will not be allowed inside Detroit public schools.

To see him come out in this public meeting and share what they are doing, what they can do and what they are willing to do to protect our kids is needed for a peace of mind for us adults," DPSCD parent Steele Hughes said.

7 News Detroit reached out to the Michigan Republican Party regarding Vittis comments but have not heard back as of Thursday night.

Berlin Township officials are raising the alarm after a man has been posing as a worker in the area looking to check water lines, only to have a team of suspects waiting and ready to enter and ransack homes.

Its an intricate plan that has officials asking to not let anyone into your home if you don't recognize them and to check on your elderly neighbors.

Its a real quiet neighborhood. Im surprised anything has happened in this neighborhood, but theres people out there that want take advantage of people. Its just terrible," resident David Orosz said.

Berlin Charter Township Supervisor Mary Jo Gedelian says a man in his 50s is knocking on doors claiming hes working on homes in the area and that he accidentally hit a water line, insisting they go to the basement to test the water.

A few weeks ago, one woman on Labo Road did not comply and the man left, but another 97-year-old woman on Swan Creed Road let the man in on Sunday.

After gaining entry, two other men entered and ransacked her home looking for valuables while she was distracted. Nothing of value was taken except a sense of safety for residents.

Its just upsetting generally because the elderly, they cant really defend themselves and a lot of times, theyre either alone or they dont see their family much, so its just a low blow. Its gross," resident Bianca Simunec-Grob said.

Officials posted a warning to the township offices reminding residents to call the water department directly if there are any issues or to call the Monroe County Sheriff's Office if they see something suspicious.

Residents now say they feel a sense of duty to check on the older members in their community, so this doesn't happen again.

My next door neighbor, she is certainly older and I care about her very much and respect her and I would hate for something like that to happen to her," resident Leland Weiss said.

Gedelian says the Berlin Township community is tight-knit and she personally knows the two targeted women. She adds that the women told her the suspects seemed to get away in a gray truck.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office says they are investigating and that when and if additional information is developed regarding suspects, they will put out an update.

The iconic Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual long-distance sled dog race that brings in competitors from all around the world and this year, Royal Oaks very own Dane Baker is participating for the very first time.

Baker graduated from Royal Oak High School in 2018 and with time, found his love of dog mushing in what has now become his passion.

"Dog mushing is taking a group of dogs, whether it be two dogs or in my case, 16 dogs... and you're running on some snow," Baker said. "I just wanted to do something a little different before I went off to college and just kept getting good opportunities and stuck with it. We wound up in Alaska and call it home here now."

Baker now works at Alaska Husky Adventures, where he trains and races with Alaskan Huskies. He credits the company for helping him get the opportunity to race in the world-renowned race.

He had to qualify and has been hard at work training every single day racing and camping.

"We'll head out maybe 40 miles. We'll stop for maybe four hours on, feed the dogs a meal, put them on straw, let them sleep, let them take a little nap, give them a snack and then head out again and do another 40 miles in quick succession," he said. "I will be (racing) about a hundred miles in 24 hours. So, you have to get them used to doing multiple runs in quick succession."

The winning mushers typically finish the race in about nine days, while others finish in 11, 12 or 13 days. Baker is just hoping for a good, safe race his first go around and doesnt have too many expectations. The one thing he is hoping for is to make his hometown of Royal Oak proud.

"When I'm out there and I'm cold and I'm like man, this might not be fun right now, I think of all the support and all the people that are cheering me on back at home and it does mean the world to me," he said. "It does keep me going when I have a moment of doubt or something like that. I definitely don't want to let anyone down."

If you want to follow Baker on his nearly 1,000-mile journey, his sled and all the participating sleds will have GPS trackers on them and you can see his trip in real-time on the Iditarod website come race day on March 2.

A Port Huron father of three was shot and killed in the early hours of Tuesday morning. His family says the act comes as a complete shock and Port Huron police are expected to update the public on this case Thursday.

Thirty-five-year-old Vincent "Vinny" Buckles was shot multiple times in what police are calling an isolated incident. Family says at the time of the attack, his oldest daughter was hiding.

Full story: 'Devastating': Family of Vinny Buckles speaks out after his murder in Port Huron 'Devastating': Family of Vinny Buckles speaks out after his murder in Port Huron

Broke in the house and they shot him. How devastating, 12-year-old girl had to... they said she hid in the closet," Buckles' aunt Karen Mitchell said.

Mitchell described her nephew as a dedicated father of three who was excited about recently getting custody of the daughter who had to hide for her life that night.

Hes just a family man, friendly, hardworking. Theres so many things I could say to describe him, but he is loving," she said. This is devastating to our family.

Port Huron police say just after midnight Tuesday, they responded to a vehicle on fire that they suspect was arson. Then about 20 minutes later just down the block, they were dispatched to Buckles' shooting on Vanness Street.

Police now told 7 News Detroit that they believe the two incidents are connected.

Watch our previous coverage about the two incidents in the video player below: Port Huron police investigating after homicide & car fire happen on same street

Buckles' cousin Rashan spoke to 7 News Detroit from Chicago about just how much his cousin meant to him.

"He was almost like a father figure to me," Rashan said. "For somebody to do that in front of his daughter is crazy."

Family from Chicago to metro Detroit feel like they have more questions than answers and their shock as to who could do something so cold and calculated keeps them up at night.

You can help the family with funeral and burial costs on their fundraiser page.

Meanwhile, police are continuing to investigate and ask anyone with information to call the Port Huron Police Department at 810-984-8415 or the Port Huron Police Department's Major Crimes Unit at 810-984-5383. Anonymous tips can be received by the CAPTURE Hotline 810-987-6688.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's federal funding freeze that was set to take effect at 5 p.m. EDT Tuesday.

With the legal battle ahead and a freeze that is looming, local residents and programs are expressing concern over the potential pause in funds.

I've always said that (veterans) should be taken care of, and the ball has been dropped. And now, its not being dropped, its being kicked," U.S. Army veteran Lawrence Gary said.

Related video: Impact of federal funding freeze on metro Detroiters Impact of federal funding freeze on metro Detroiters

Gary served his country proudly for years. He now works two jobs and to help ease his mind, he also focuses on his art.

He seeks out federally funded art programs designated for veterans. However, he says on Tuesday, he was much more worried about the critical federally funded services that provide health care and shelter to his former colleagues and friends.

Coming from a veterans perspective, theyre depending on these programs, theyre depending on some of those grans and loans. I dont mean they want this I mean they are depending on it," he said. Any little thing can trigger a veteran whose already got those things on her, his mind, so they dont need anything else added to their stress.

Those services and many more would have been frozen Tuesday for the new administration to review its spending, however a federal judge intervened, delaying the move until Monday.

Related video: White House says federal spending freeze is to align agencies with Trump's priorities White House says federal spending freeze is to align agencies with Pres. Trump's priorities

Education research would have been affected as well, like that conducted at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.

In a joint email was sent out to MSU faculty and academic staff Friday afternoon from President Guskiewicz, Interim Provost Thomas Jeitschko and Vice President for Research and Innovation Doug Gage, the message was that students and staff should continue their research projects, but "caution should be exercised in making new commitments or starting new experiments as the situation is evolving."

Meanwhile, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined 22 other states in suing to stop the implementation of withholding the trillions of dollars in funding saying in a statement in part:

While we are continuing to seek clarity on the totality of what is impacted, we know that if a full freeze goes into effect, Michigan families will suffer, children will go hungry, communities will lose safety protections, and schools will struggle."

State Budget Director Jen Flood also expressed concern in a statement Tuesday, saying:

"Federal funding is critical to protecting the health and safety of all Michigandersensuring drinking water is clean and food is safe, keeping people in their homes and the power on, and funding homeland security and emergency management. We are currently working across state government to examine how recent federal action to withhold funds appropriated by Congress will impact vital programs like food assistance, Medicaid and Head Start. Nearly $34 billion of Michigans budget is built on federal dollars which equates to 42% of our total FY25."

The administrative stay pauses the freeze until Monday.

After a school bus full of elementary children crashed due to icy road conditions in Washtenaw County Thursday afternoon, 6-year-old Toni Gardette had to be seen at an urgent care for a possible concussion.

She says the entire ordeal scared her and her friends.

The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. in Augusta Township on Talladay Road near Bunton Road. The bus was bringing students home from Lincoln Consolidated Schools.

About 12 kids and the bus driver suffered minor injuries, officials said.

Some kids were just crying scared to death. Took a pretty good slam and were just so grateful there are no major injuries," Augusta Township Fire Chief David Music said.

Toni attends Bishop Elementary School and was nearly home before the crash happened.

There was a big pile of ice and then (the bus driver) slid and it made me scared 'cause I hit my head on the window super hard," the first grader said. They were screaming and crying."

About 30 kids were on the bus.

According to Music, the school bus slid off the road and rolled into a ditch. The male bus driver suffered lower back injuries and had to be taken to the hospital.

He said 'its gonna be OK, everybody,'" Toni said about the bus driver after the crash.

7 News Detroit reporter Ruta Ulcinaite met the Gardette family outside of Van Buren Urgent Care just hours after the incident. Dad Anthony Gardette says he ran to pick up his daughter from the scene of the crash after he heard what happened and it was an emotional day.

"I literally just started crying. Everything went through my head. I couldnt I just wanted to get to my daughter," Anthony Gardette said.

The family says they're frustrated with how the situation was handled by the Lincoln Consolidated School District because they only learned of the crash from other parents, social media and the news.

I havent gotten a call. Nobody told me my child was in a bus accident, like we had to figure that out ourselves," mom Rilinda Gardette said. "I feel like it's a slap in my face and it's like how do I trust a school system with my child like that?"

In a statement, Lincoln Consolidated Schools Superintendent Robert Jansen said:

"At approximately 4:15 pm this afternoon, we were notified of an accident involving Bus #31. After dropping off a student, the bus was accelerating and hit an ice patch, causing it to slide off the roadway into a ditch and roll onto its side. At the time of the accident, 30 students were on board. Thankfully, only minor injuries have been reported, and all students were promptly assessed by emergency personnel. We are cooperating fully with authorities as they investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident. As this is an ongoing investigation, we will not be commenting further on personnel matters at this time. The safety of our students remains our top priority. We will be reviewing all transportation safety protocols to ensure the well-being of our students and staff moving forward. We want to extend our gratitude to the first responders who assisted at the scene and thank our community for their patience and understanding as we work through this situation. Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available."

The Gardette family says their patience is running thin and their daughter will not be taking the school bus anymore. They say school should have been closed due to road conditions or the roads should have been treated in the rural areas. Music says that's tough to do in cold temperatures and on dirt roads.

In Augusta Township, we only have three or four paved roads. Everything is dirt and with the cold, the salt doesnt really work when it gets to a certain temperature," he said.

Meanwhile, Toni says she will try to remain strong despite the scare.

Im not gonna be scared and dont cry," she said.

The Michigan minimum wage is expected to increase for tipped workers starting Feb. 21.

Some are celebrating the bump while others including some restaurant owners are worried they won't be able to sustain the hike. That includes John Cowley & Sons Irish Pub in Farmington, which recently implemented a 20% service charge to prepare for the change.

Last summer, the Michigan Supreme Court reinstated a 2018 law that state Republicans at the time blocked to increase the tipped wage and amount of sick time leave for workers. With the Supreme Court's decision, the increase of $5.99 per hour for tipped workers is expected to go into effect next month.

This business model cannot support what theyre trying to do," John Cowley & Sons owner Greg Cowley said. It will put a lot of restaurants down.

Previous coverage: New year brings new minimum wage to Michigan, but some don't want the raise New year brings new minimum wage to Michigan, but some don't want the raise

To keep the restaurant open, Cowley says he had to make the decision of letting go staff or implementing some sort of service charge. He says laying off staff was not an option for him.

Ive got about 16 servers... I cant run the building without 16 servers. I need that kind of labor," he said. Pretty easy decision for me to basically say I'm leaving my menu prices where they are at and the margins that I expected, and I'm just taking the money out of the right pocket and putting it in the left where basically the surcharge is flipped over and is now in their salary.

Republican Rep. Bill Schuette is chair of the newly formed select committee Protecting Michigan Employees and Small Businesses. He says he is working around the clock to make sure that raise does not happen.

"Unless the Legislature acts, we're going to see an elimination of the tip credit, which is going to not only put additional costs on your family when you're going out to eat but also will rob restaurant workers of their hard-earned tipped wages, which is a key part of their income," Schuette said. "Our restaurant workers, the restaurant industry, they're facing a freight train that is bearing down on them come Feb. 21. And that's because of a ruling the Supreme Court has made."

However, advocacy groups like One Fair Wage disagree, saying that workers will now have a higher wage as well as their tips.

"The tips aren't going away on Feb. 22. This is about raising the base wage with tips on top, and every restaurant worker across Michigan will earn more money come Feb. 21," former state legislator and One Fair Wage senior adviser Dave Woodward said. "I think what the Republican-controlled statehouse is doing is absolutely shameful. They're doing the exact same thing that their predecessors did six years ago: scheming with the big corporate lobbies to deny workers in Michigan a wage increase and the ability to earn paid sick time."

Warren resident Hannah Gregory says despite the possible surcharges statewide, shell still tip.

"I have family that have worked in service industries and I just know how much their tips mean to them and to their families, so I just think you have to take care of your neighbors," she said.

Scheutte and other House Republicans have two bills that would reinstate the tip credit and address the sick time policy, hoping to get those on the House floor by Thursday.