Over the weekend, the Detroit Skating Club raised more than $10,000 for families impacted by the January plane crash in Washington D.C.

The crash killed 67 people, and among the victims, nearly half were connected to the U.S. ice skating community.

Watch below: Devastating. Local skaters who knew DC crash victims share memories of friends

Devastating. Local skaters who knew DC crash victims share memories of friends

On Saturday night, local skaters honored their memory with an exhibition showcase.

"It feels surreal. It really doesnt feel real still. Every day Ill be reminded of it in some way, seeing a photo or a post and it still doesnt feel real," John Maravilla said.

"This week is when I finally started feeling better. I was really, really depressed the week of. I couldnt sleep at all and I couldnt get myself to eat much," Juan Calros Maravilla added.

There were 11 skaters and 13 members who were killed when a U.S. Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet, killing 67 people.

Juan Carlos and his brother, John, got to know some of those skaters over the years at competitions.

This after a military helicopter collided with an American Airlines flight back in January killing 67 people.

"We grew up with Eddie and Cory and their entire families and I was friends with another one, Spencer," Juan Carlos said.

John put together the program in honor of his late friend, Corey Hanos, on Saturday.

"He was going to skate to Gladiator. He had landed a triple axle which is a really hard jump in skating. It was supposed to be his breakthrough season," John said.

The exhibition skate was a way to financially support family members left behind in the wake of the tragedy. The team brought in more than $10,000.

"Its been really tough. We have a memorial table here that people, youll see continually them just stop take a moment add flowers to the table," Detroit Skating Club Assistant Skating Director Shelly Meyer said. "Its an ongoing grieving process and its really tough to see the skaters and coaches go through this."

All proceeds from the skate go to the U.S. Figure Skating Family Support Fund or directly to the families of those lost.

Where Your Voice Matters

Concern is growing among some metro Detroiters as the Trump administration and Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continue on a path to what they say will make the federal government smaller and more efficient.

In the weeks since Trump's inauguration, more than 200,000 federal employees have been terminated at more than a dozen agencies, according to ABC News. Another 75,000 federal employees have accepted buyouts.

In the last two weeks, the Department of Veteran Affairs has terminated more than 1,000 workers nationally, including some employed at the Detroit VA.

In a statement , the VA says the cuts should not impact operations and will save the department more than $98 million per year. The VA plans to redirect said savings to health care, benefits, and services for VA beneficiaries.

"When I first got that email, I was shocked, quite frankly shocked," said Elliott Sprehe, who was recently terminated from his position at the Detroit VA.

After 8 years of active duty in the Air Force, Sprehe went on to take roles in the private sector and at the VA in Austin, Texas.

In 2024, the 10-point veteran took a public affairs specialist role at the Detroit VA. He says the termination letter he received Feb. 21st cited his status as a probationary employee as the reason for his firing.

Extended interview: 'I was shocked.' Veteran talks about job termination Extended interview: 'I was shocked.' Veteran talks about job termination

The probationary status is automatically assigned to employees who have not been in their position for at least a year. Feb 25th, 2025 would have been his one year work anniversary.

"I think all Americans should continually question where our taxpayer dollars go and absolutely want to know that the taxpayer dollars are going toward American citizens. However, the way that I was terminated was completely indiscriminate, haphazard, and short-sighted because I was a high performer," said Sprehe.

As the Trump administration presses forward, fear of additional cuts grows. On Tuesday, about one hundred activists and seniors gathered outside of the Social Security Administration office in Livonia. Many seniors who were there say they are concerned about potential cuts to social security and programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

"I dont know how you can exist when your social security is being slashed. As you get older, you have more medical bills and house repairs, and you dont have the income you used to have, and it gets really rough," said Jan Seamonds as she stood among other protesters.

"Im terrified. My life would change drastically without Social Security, and thats our money. We put that in. Nobody gave us that money. We loaned it to the government," said Ellie Altman, who attended the protest Tuesday.

The cuts are also impacting jobs in the private sector that relied on government contracts that have been frozen or terminated.

"Everything that is happening right now is impacting so many people," said Deleah Sharp.

Sharp says she was recently let go from her job after the Department of Education grant she was hired under was terminated.

"We service schools that are failing, and we connect them with professional development to really get that school up to grade," Sharp said of her job. "Not only am I thinking about all of the students but my livelihood. My household was impacted because, effective immediately, that grant was terminated."

GOP lawmakers say the cuts will ultimately result in a net positive.

"The federal budget is bloated beyond belief. The Michigan budget is bloated beyond belief," said State Senator Jim Runestad. "This is one of the most exciting things I have seen any administration do: finally start looking at what are we really spending money on."

Extended interview: Sen. Runestad talks about Trump administration strategy Extended interview: Sen. Runestad talks about Trump administration strategy

Senator Runestad represents voters in Oakland County. He says Republicans are trying to protect programs like Social Security. He went on to say that if the federal government doesn't make cuts like this now, there will be no money left to support the programs seniors depend on.

"They should not be worried. They should be excited," said Runestad. "There is so much waste and fraud and abuse in the federal government, and we are going to bust. We have $2 trillion annually in additional borrowing."

Where Your Voice Matters

The Detroit police and fire departments are saluting one of their own, Chief Chaplain George Aren, as he turns 90 years old.

In lieu of a birthday party, the department surprised Aren Wednesday to celebrate all the things he's contributed to the department and the city since he began in 1987.

"Its just been very rewarding and it doesnt cease to amaze me," Aren said.

Aren has consoled and prayed for Detroit families during some of their worst nightmares for decades: tragedies like fires, barricaded gunman situations and plane crashes.

Just a few days into the job, Aren helped respond to flight 255, a plane that crashed shortly after takeoff from Detroit Metro Airport, killing all but one passenger.

"That was my introduction to disaster services and it's been a wonderful thing. Detroit is always in the media and it gets a bad rep, but Detroiters cant be out-given," Aren said.

On Wednesday, Aren's children and grandchildren were a part of a celebration at Detroit Pubic Safety Headquarters, playing in the band and sitting in the audience.

"Weve always known that dad, grandpa is a pretty big deal, pretty special guy, very humble guy. He probably wouldnt have come if he knew all of this was here," said Jennifer Zahler, who is one of the chaplain's five kids.

"It inspires us. When I think at my age, Im tired, I cant go to school today, I cant deal with whatever Im going to face, I think your father has probably been up earlier, you father's at work right now doing what hes taught you to do."

"Seeing all the support and love in this room, its like wow. Not only has he had such a big impact on me as a grandpa but so many other people as George Aren as well," Sydney Moore said as she spoke of the chaplain.

Aren, to this day, is still working and he says he plans to stick around until at least September.

"You just counted 90 years of life here on this earth. What keeps you working and showing up every day," 7 News Detroit reporter Whitney Burney asked.

"My wifes honey-do list," the Chaplain said jokingly. "No, its people. Meeting people, its nothing like it, nothing like meeting people and helping in a time of need."

Where Your Voice Matters

A neighborhood on Detroit's west side is still digging out after hundreds of gallons of water came rushing onto a street following a water main break.

It's story we first told you about on Tuesday.

Related Video: Water main break turns street into ice Water main break turns streets into ice on Detroit's west side

The water main break happened on Vaughan and Constance turning the road into a river, forcing neighbors to stay inside their homes.

I went out to speak to the city about what they believe may have led to the main break, and neighbors are concerned about how things will shake out as we anticipate colder weather overnight.

"It was at least two or three cars that were stuck in the ice for at least a day," said Drey Skonie of Detroit.

Neighbors on the west side are looking for relief as some are stranded inside with no running water.

"It's too serious, we're talking about children and families. And no running water in the wintertime is cold," he said.

Related Video: Drone video shows major flooding on Detroit street after water main break Drone video shows major flooding on Detroit street after water main break

Vince Palmer says "the mail hasn't ran, cars come down the middle of the street, they get stuck. A lot of neighbors out here pushing and digging, trying to get each other off."

Palmer says it's an issue this neighborhood has dealt with for years, but this is first time it's happened while it's this cold.

"I been here for 10 years and 8 out of the 10, whenever it rains, we get a flood out here. I call it my lakefront property. It's a joke when you can play out here with your boats, but when it's cold like this, it's nothing but an inconvenience," he said.

The city's water and sewerage department says they're dealing with more than 10 water main breaks across Detroit and this one is the worst.

And the cold weather makes cleanup even harder.

"The pumping is very important, so we gotta make sure our pumps work. We would normally have our big vacuum trucks out here. They're called vactors, but the temperature is so low that that equipment would actually freeze in this weather," said Bryan Peckinpaugh, Detroit Water & Sewerage Department .

We asked if aging infrastructure plays a role in any way.

"New piping does help, but more today it's more about the weather. The drastic change in temperature putting pressure on the pipes underground causing them to break," said Peckinpaugh.

DWSD says the pipe that broke here was nearly a century old.

The city is currently working through a $500 million capital improvement plan to replace vulnerable sewer lines and water mains like it fixes neighbors say are needed now.

"A simple rain shouldn't flood up a street, and it's been long enough, so they should be able to have the resources, so we don't have to deal with this in the middle of the winter," said Palmer.