Bloomfield Township police and fire are asking voters to approve a public safety bond to expand into larger stations, saying they are running out of space.

On the November ballot, a bond dedicated solely to public safety would cost approximately $128 a year for a $295,000 home. The proposed $50 million bond would fund new facilities for both the police department and fire stations.

Battalion Chief Kevin Bailey showed the cramped conditions inside the fire station on 15 Mile Road, just west of Telegraph a building close to a century old. He said there is no place to properly sanitize equipment, and women's changing areas and bathrooms are not up to today's standards.

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"3 am you get a fire, or any other call; everybody is getting up at the same time. They are running into each other. Nowhere else to go," Bailey said.

A similar situation is a daily reality at police headquarters on Telegraph, where dispatchers work out of limited space, 9-1-1 equipment is crammed into the attic, and facilities for female staff to change are far too small.

Police Chief James Gallagher said the building has been remodeled twice but is now unfit for expansion.

"We are policing in 2026, in a building from 1938, added to in the 60's and again in 1998," Gallagher said.

Gallagher also pointed out that crime victims currently have no private space to make reports.

"If a victim comes in for something there are in our lobby. We have no private rooms. No conference rooms we can take a victim to," Gallagher said.

Voters contacted about the proposal expressed mixed views.

"Women do need their own private locker rooms, men don't care how they look at each other but it's different for women," one voter said.

"Especially with how the economy is going and prices going up it's hard to ask for more money," another voter said.

The township said it can use up to $25 million in Capital Improvement funding to cover additional costs if the bond proposal passes.

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.

Rising fuel costs are forcing small business owners and their customers to adapt, with some restaurants already closing their doors.

Watch Simon's story in the video player below: Small businesses feel the squeeze as gas and diesel prices surge in Michigan

Gas prices in Michigan are averaging nearly $4.50 per gallon, above the national average of $4.33, according to AAA. Diesel fuel has climbed above $6 per gallon, driving up the cost of supplier shipments for restaurants and other small businesses that depend on deliveries.

At Ellen's Bakery and Cafe in Sylvan Lake, owner and chef George Kalergis said higher fuel costs are hitting his business from multiple directions raising the price he pays for ingredients and pushing customers to change how they order.

"We use honest goodness great ingredients," Kalergis said.

Kalergis said he has watched four nearby restaurants close in the past year. To keep his own business afloat, he is taking steps to manage rising costs, including adapting to a shift in customer behavior as more people opt to pick up their own orders rather than pay delivery fees.

"Easier for a customer to call in the order and pick up themselves. Understand the delivery fee is a convenience but" Kalergis said.

Customers ordering through popular delivery apps say they are feeling the pressure too.

"How often are you noticing the increase in prices when you order food? Every day," customer Alesha said.

Regina Henderson, a customer who recently moved to the area, said she welcomes the comfort food at family-owned restaurants like Ellen's as a break from the economic stress of tariffs and rising fuel costs. But she acknowledged that businesses are struggling too.

"When the owner of a restaurant says, ' If we don't increase some of our prices, we'll go out of business, what do you think?"

"As horrible as that is, I don't see no other way to do it," Henderson said.

Henderson said she believes the longer-term solution lies in resolving international conflicts she says are driving economic stress at home.

"If we can get that going to end, that would be a start," Henderson said.

Fuel analyst Patrick DeHaan has also posted to social media about a regional surge in prices tied to a power outage at a refinery plant in Joliet, Illinois.

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 chilling and terrifying attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, are being remembered once again on the 25th anniversary on Friday.

Among the survivors from Michigan is a prominent economist who escaped after being inside one of the towers before it was destroyed at the World Trade Center complex.

Patrick Anderson of the Anderson Economic Group was just a young economist attending a professional conference in New York City on Sept. 11.

See the full story in the video below Michigan economist shares harrowing escape from World Trade Center on 9/11

It was a beautiful morning. Just a gorgeous skyline. World Trade Center Building 3, the Marriott, was where we were," he said.

Anderson recalled just how close he and other survivors came to losing their lives on the same that that nearly 3,000 victims were killed.

On that Tuesday, he said the feeling of the first plane hitting an nearby tower at the World Trade Center complex was surreal and terrifying. Moments later, an announcement came to stay in place.

This was throughout these buildings, announcements to just stay where you are, stay in your room and dont go out. But, I had a feeling of doom that this was terrible," he said.

At what point did you decide Im going to leave and how did you get out? I asked.

I remember looking around the room thinking what here is worth taking, I bought Christmas presents. I had laptops and all this stuff out. I said nothing here is worth risking my life to take," he said. Left with my wallet, cell phone and pocket knife. I didnt even have both my shoes on.

Anderson said racing down the stairs with countless others, he soon found himself in a chaotic seen. In the lobby of World Trade Center 3, people were scrambling to get outside as it became increasingly apparently that more than another plane had hit the second tower.

We were helped by some extremely brave firefighters, who helped us, got everybody corralled and telling us a certain direction to run," Anderson said.

Second plane comes at 9:02 and flew right over my head," he added. There was debris falling, it was terrible. By that time you knew something very bad was happening. It was your turn and you had to run south. Put your hands above your head and they kept telling us dont look up.

The father and husband from Michigan revealed how fear continued to spread, including a sinking feeling he may never see his family again. He was unable to reach them for hours as phone service was disabled.

Fortunately, I found a garbage truck to get under. When the debris from that plane hit," he said. And then, I got a little further out and finally ended up at Stuyvesant High School around the time the second building fell.

The loss of life at the hands of pure evil impacted victims that day who were inside multiple towers, and the brave heroes who rushed inside to save them.

The world is just falling apart around you. At that time we started to hear news about the Pentagon," he said.

Anderson said the pain was amplified as the realization came that the Pentagon was truck and another plane crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, following a revolt against the hijackers.

He tells me to this day, each anniversary of 9/11 has tied him closer and closer to so many others who were at the Twin Towers. Memorials like one in Lansing have honored the 42 people from Michigan who died in the attack.

Anderson himself says he's felt a calling to live with purpose, as founder of the Michigan Remembers 9/11 Fund. Part of the effort maintains a list of bios, striving to keep personal memories alive.

I feel you survived, now go do something with your life," he said.

On a recent trip back to the 9/11 Museum, he said there were overwhelming emotions, and over the years, he's also shared his powerful story to ensure the world never forgets what unfolded.

There was a shock the whole country went thru but there was a great surge of patriotism. When I explain it to people, people werent panicked. They were very determined," he said. "They did not surrender. They didnt give up.

In the 25 years that have followed, with so many succumbing to 9/11-related illnesses, Anderson said he's found it even more critical to hold onto notes he took, to raise awareness about what our nation went through, unity that followed, and sacrifices that were made to save lives.

You werent sitting there thinking about I might eventually get an illness. You were trying to survive," he said.

We ended up taking a train out of grand central station to Ryan, NY. Driving out nobody said a thing for 45 minutes," he added.