Michigan drivers are facing another hit to their wallets as gas prices surge across the state, leaving some Metro Detroit residents weighing the cost of filling their tanks against other everyday necessities.

Watch Ryan's story in the video player below: Metro Detroiters are feeling extra pain at the pump

The statewide average for a gallon of gas has climbed to $4.82, according to AAA, up 33 cents from a week ago and $1.75 from the same time last year.

Prices are even higher in Metro Detroit, where drivers are paying an average of $4.87 per gallon. That's up 34 cents in a week and $1.87 compared with a year ago.

For some drivers, prices at individual stations have already reached $5 a gallon.

"Lower the gas prices so we can live better," Detroit resident Corey Hana said.

Hana said the rising cost of fuel is especially difficult for families already struggling to afford necessities.

"We got single moms out here, man, that's struggling," Hana said. "I don't think they need to be filling their tank up, putting their whole little check into the tank, when they got kids to feed."

Detroit resident Damarcus Woods said keeping his vehicle fueled can cost him around $100.

"Gas all day, gone," Woods said. "I'm paying a hundred in this."

The latest spike in Michigan gas prices comes amid refining issues in Illinois, according to Patrick De Haan. Tensions in the Middle East are also contributing to concerns about fuel prices, while Brent crude climbed above $100 per barrel.

The impact isn't limited to drivers filling up their personal vehicles.

Mock, the owner of Mock's Towing, said the price of diesel has become a significant burden for his nearly three-year-old towing business. He said diesel is costing more than $7 per gallon.

"Back in the day when I first started, it was around half of this, half the price of diesel right now," Mock said. "Gasoline is crazy. Diesel's crazy. Even the people I deal with on the road, they'd rather leave their cars stranded than pay for a tow. Everything's ridiculous."

Despite the higher operating costs, Mock said he's reluctant to pass those expenses along to customers who are dealing with financial pressures of their own.

"I know people are charging 3, 4, 500 for five, ten mile tows right now," he said. "I'm trying to keep it copacetic and look out for people and what they can afford."

But keeping prices affordable has made it increasingly difficult to make the business work. Mock said that while one tow could once cover his expenses, it can now take four before he begins to make money.

"That's very tough," Mock said. "And I'm barely making it out here. But, what are we gonna do?"

Drivers who spoke with 7 News Detroit overnight said higher fuel prices are forcing them to make concessions elsewhere in their budgets just to keep gas in their tanks.

With prices approaching $5 a gallon across Metro Detroit, those decisions are becoming increasingly difficult for families and businesses already dealing with higher everyday costs.

Editor's note: This story was created with assistance from artificial intelligence using reporting and information gathered by 7 News Detroit. It was reviewed and edited by a 7 News Detroit journalist before publication.

Apple fans lined up in downtown Detroit Friday morning as the company launched its first-ever foldable iPhone around the world.

See the full story in the video below Apple fans line up in Downtown Detroit for global launch of first foldable iPhone

The iPhone Duo officially became available Friday, Oct. 23, following the start of pre-orders on Oct. 16. Apple describes the Duo as its first foldable iPhone, featuring a 7.6-inch inner display and 5.4-inch outer display.

At the Apple Store on Woodward Avenue in Downtown Detroit, more than 100 people were in line as customers waited to get their hands on the new device.

When the doors opened at 8 a.m., Apple employees greeted customers with applause and cheers, turning the product launch into an experience for the people who had waited hours, and in some cases overnight.

Among them was Berkley resident Roy Latham, who was first in line after arriving at the store around 4 p.m. Thursday.

For Latham, the appeal was the larger folding display and the ability to use multiple apps at the same time.

Its mostly the display and what you can do on it, Latham said. I go to Wayne State. Ill go back to school. And like, when you open it up, you get two full-size apps that you can go back and forth to.Latham said the design could make it easier to have a question or assignment open on one side and his textbook on the other instead of constantly switching back and forth.

He wasn't alone in eagerly awaiting Apple's entry into the foldable market.

Ive been thinking about this for years cause theyve been talking about it, Latham said. And Google and Samsung have them. And everyone has just been waiting for Apple.

Apple announced the iPhone Duo in September. The phone starts at $1,999 and is powered by Apple's A20 Pro chip. The foldable design gives users Apple's largest-ever iPhone display when opened.

Latham went well beyond the entry-level model, purchasing a 2TB version for $3,199.

Other customers offered plenty of reasons for opening their wallets.

Whew, its new. I want it. And, Im here for it, Detroit resident Nicole Starr said.

For Josh, another customer waiting to make a purchase, the excitement centered on one simple feature of having a folding phone.

The first thing Imma do is hang up on somebody, though, he joked. Imma close the phone. Thats what Im most excited about.

For others, launch day was as much about tradition as technology.

Brian Mansour of Sterling Heights and Jason Zara of Clinton Township said they've attended Apple product launches for nearly 20 years.

We did Somerset in 2007. The original iPhone came out, Mansour said. We were in line over there inside the mall. It was a 5 p.m. launch, I think it was, not this 8 a.m. stuff where we gotta stay all night.

Zara said the atmosphere surrounding a major Apple release keeps bringing them back.

Its awesome to see. And then, its exciting, Zara said. The news media is here. The press comes. And then, sometimes you get the executives coming like when the Detroit store opened for the first time last year.

Customers at the Detroit store included people who pre-ordered the Duo last week as well as shoppers who pre-registered for Friday's walk-in launch.

Detroit wasn't alone in seeing launch-day enthusiasm. Lines formed at Apple Stores around the world overnight as customers sought the new phone, with reports of limited walk-in inventory at some locations. Apple said the iPhone Duo made its debut at Apple Store locations worldwide Friday

For Apple enthusiasts in downtown Detroit, the wait for the company's first foldable iPhone is finally over.

This story was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence. It was reviewed, edited and approved by a 7 News Detroit journalist before publication.

Two residents and a firefighter were hospitalized after a three-alarm fire tore through part of an apartment building on Detroits west side early Thursday morning.

The Detroit Fire Department responded shortly after 5 a.m. to the Russell Woods Manor Apartments near LaSalle Boulevard and Webb Street, across from the Durfee Innovation Society and Central High School.

See the latest information in the video below 3-alarm fire at Detroit apartment building leaves 2 residents, firefighter hospitalized

Firefighters arrived to find large flames and heavy smoke coming from the roof and second-floor windows of one of the apartment buildings.

Resident DAngelo Rush said he went outside and saw a large fire and cloud of smoke. As residents scrambled to get out of the building, Rush said he raced upstairs to alert his neighbors.

I went upstairs. My neighbor, I know she has a young kid. I knocked and banged on her door, woke her up, got her out, Rush said. I got my mother and her husband out. And, its just been off to the races honestly.

Detroit Fire Department Deputy Chief Lorenzo Robertson said ladder companies responded to windows where residents appeared prepared to jump to safety. Firefighters were able to reach them before they jumped and guide them down using ladders.

Two residents, a man and woman both in their 50s, were transported to Detroit Receiving Hospital in serious condition after suffering minor burns and smoke inhalation, according to DFD.

A firefighter also suffered an ankle injury and was taken to a local hospital.

Officials said four families were displaced by the fire. The Salvation Army, American Red Cross and the City of Detroits Homeland Security and Emergency Management were on the scene providing food, shelter assistance and other resources as displaced residents waited outside in frigid conditions.

Were gonna have a warming bus staged right on LaSalle there staging until we determine whether they can return to their residence, Deputy Director Christopher Dixon with the City of Detroits Homeland Security and Emergency Management said.

Detroit Fire officials said crews arrived within five minutes of the call and were able to contain the fire to roughly one-third of one apartment building, preventing it from spreading farther.

Robertson said the department regularly evaluates its response times and emphasized the importance of firefighters getting to the scene quickly.

Our response times are evaluated weekly through the leadership of our Commissioner, Robertson said. So, we have a great response time at the moment. Were pretty quick, pretty fast when it comes to fires.

Rush said he was grateful first responders arrived when they did.

Thank God DPD and the Detroit Fire came when they did cause like, it really couldve been worse, he said. But like, its a scary time.

The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation, according to the Detroit Fire Department.

This story was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and edited by a 7 News Detroit journalist before publication.

An investigation is underway after an Amtrak passenger train collided with an SUV at a street-level railroad crossing in Dexter Wednesday morning.

The Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office received the call at 7:48 a.m. for a collision near Central and Second streets. Deputies arrived at the scene at 8:03 a.m.

See the full story in the video below Amtrak train en route to Chicago collides with SUV in Dexter

Authorities said the driver of the SUV was evaluated by medical personnel at the scene but was not injured and was later released.

An Amtrak representative said there were also no reported injuries among passengers or crew members aboard the train, which was headed to Chicago.

Port Huron resident Julian Ruck was aboard the train for a business trip when the collision occurred. He described feeling the train come to an abrupt stop before passengers learned what had happened.

It was a real sudden stop. And then, a few moments later, a conductor came running down the aisles. Shouted for people to move their legs. And then, a few moments after that, we were informed that we had hit a car, Ruck said.Ruck said the train had departed the Ann Arbor Amtrak station about 15 minutes before the collision.

Passengers were delayed for about three hours before charter buses arrived to continue their journeys, according to Ruck.

Theyre gonna have two buses thatll take those of us to Chicago, straight to Chicago. And then, other buses thatll take people to the intermediate stops, Ruck said.The cause of the collision was not immediately known. Commander Eugene Rush with the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office confirmed the sheriffs office responded to the scene and said investigators had not determined why the train struck the vehicle.

The Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office is investigating the collision.

This article was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and edited by a journalist before publication.

With less than two weeks until Election Day, Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed are set to meet for their final debate in the race for Michigans open U.S. Senate seat.

The candidates will face off Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at the WXYZ-TV studios as voters continue to weigh their choices ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.

Watch the full story in the video below Undecided voters weigh in on upcoming Senate debate on 7 News Detroit

While many voters have already decided who they plan to support, others say they still need to hear more from Rogers and El-Sayed before casting their ballots.

7 News Detroit spoke with potential voters ahead of the debate and asked what they want to hear from the candidates and which issues matter most to them.

Watch below: WYXZ Editorial Director Chuck Stokes breaks down the rules of the U.S. Senate Debate

WYXZ Editorial Director Chuck Stokes breaks down the rules of the U.S. Senate Debate

For Brian Jaspers of Petoskey, the economy and the cost of everyday necessities are at the top of the list.

For me, it would be more on everything economy-based, Jaspers said. It feels like gas prices and food prices have skyrocketed way too far. And, I prefer everything to be able to drop down lower. All in all, just be able to help with the cost day-to-day.

Fellow Petoskey resident Quentin Stonehouse said gun policy is among the issues he is paying attention to in the race.

I dont wanna see stricter gun control, Stonehouse said, adding that he believes current gun laws are pretty good where it is right now.

Russell Hughes of Ecorse also pointed to the economy and the financial pressure he says families are feeling.

The economy, man. Its getting tight for everybody, Hughes said. I got a pretty decent job. And, look man, you know, you making six figures. You think life is on easy street. Its not like that now.

Macomb County could be an important place to watch as voters make their final decisions. The politically competitive county has long been closely watched during major elections in Metro Detroit and across Michigan.

For undecided voters, Wednesday nights debate offers one of their final opportunities to hear Rogers and El-Sayed make their cases side by side before Election Day.

Detroit Pistons fans are ready for a new season and hoping this could be the year their team makes an even deeper run in the playoffs.

The Pistons will take on the Boston Celtics at Little Caesars Arena Tuesday afternoon as fans across metro Detroit look ahead to another season with high expectations.

Last season ended in disappointment with a playoff loss to Cleveland, but that hasnt stopped fans from dreaming about what Detroit could accomplish this season.

Southfield resident Eli Goran said the teams turnaround in recent years has given him plenty of reason to be excited.

Im extremely excited, Goran said. Two, three years ago, Pistons had one of the longest losing streaks. And then, they came back like three years later and got like 62 wins. So, anything can happen.

Watch Ryan Marshall's video report below: Pistons fans are excited for new season

The Pistons won 60 games last season.

For longtime fan Carolyn Jones, another championship would bring back memories of some of the greatest years in Pistons history.

Im a Piston fan since Im in Detroit, Jones said, adding that she has followed the team since 1975. I liked when the Bad Boys won back-to-back championships for them. So, I would like to see that again.

Southfield resident Vince Ellis is also optimistic about the teams chances.

Im excited for the year. I think that theyre gonna do good this year, Ellis said. I dont think the No. 1 seed last year was a fluke.

Ellis pointed to the Pistons returning core, including Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren, as a reason for his confidence heading into the season.

Fans also have another reason to be excited this year: Pistons games are back on free over-the-air television on The Spot - Detroit 20.

Grosse Pointe resident Steven Clark believes that will allow more people to follow the team.

I think thats a good thing, Clark said. I think its gonna increase... people viewing it and that kind of thing and gonna make the fans happy.

Detroit resident Scnora Hawk agreed, saying she plans to watch as many of the games as she can.

I am, Hawk said when asked if she was happy the Pistons were back on free television. Even though I was able to watch them on other platforms, a lot of people were missing them.

For Pistons fans, the expectations are high, but so is the excitement as another season gets underway in Detroit.

This story was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed, edited and approved by a 7 News Detroit journalist before publication.