Defending champion Andrew Bowman of Ferndale crossed the finish line first in the men's division of the Detroit Free Press Marathon on Sunday, completing the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 16 minutes and 10 seconds.

Watch Faraz's report in the video player below Metro Detroit runner Andrew Bowman wins Detroit Free Press Marathon for second straight year

The 31-year-old runner improved his time by more than a minute from last year's victory, despite challenging weather conditions that included wind and rain throughout the race.

"As hard as this course was, sometimes the battle is just finishing. So even just to get to the finish line is relief and to get to my wife and my baby," Bowman said.

This year's race held special significance for Bowman, whose wife Sydney won the women's division in 2024. Sydney cheered him on from the sidelines while holding their 3-week-old son Liam.

"I was just so relieved to see him turn that corner. And I mean, I knew he was, I knew he was going to win," Sydney Devore-Bowman said.

The Detroit Free Press Marathon, now in its 48th year, drew more than 26,000 runners from all 50 states and 40 countries. The international course takes participants over the Ambassador Bridge into Canada, through Windsor's redeveloped neighborhoods, and back into the United States via the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.

"Any time we were coming south, that wind was like stand-up wind," Bowman said about the weather challenges.

Despite his victory, Bowman narrowly missed the 2:16 qualifying mark for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. However, he remains optimistic about future opportunities.

"He's definitely getting less sleep, but he jokes that he has dad strength now, and so that's trumping the lack of sleep, I guess," Sydney said about how becoming a father has affected her husband's training.

In the women's division, Christina Welsh of St. Petersburg, Florida, won with a time of 2 hours, 46 minutes and 59 seconds.

Sydney, who cannot compete this year due to recently giving birth, is already looking ahead to next year's race.

"Oh, yeah. I feel like I want that course record just as much as Andy wants the course record. Now I feel like the fire is growing because I'm watching, you know, watching everybody this year," she said.

Both Andrew and Sydney work as coaches in the Detroit area and are committed to building up the local running community.

"This is an amazing event, and with my wife and I, we're coaches in this area, and we just want to build up the local community. This is our city, and we want to raise it up as best we can," Bowman said.

When asked what people should take away from his journey, Bowman emphasized the importance of enjoying the sport.

"The sport's not worth doing if you don't enjoy it. So always got to find the silver lining," he 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.

Thousands gathered at Roosevelt Park in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood Saturday for one of more than 100 "No Kings" demonstrations taking place across Michigan. The protesters delivered a unified message: no president is above the law.

Watch Faraz's report in the video player below Thousands gather for 'No Kings' protests across Michigan opposing Trump policies

The demonstrations, organized by groups like Macomb Defenders Rising, drew participants from across Metro Detroit to 23 locations in the region alone. Protesters voiced opposition to what they called President Trump's "political intimidation and authoritarian outreach," while Trump supporters countered that the administration's actions focus on security and stability.

"People united will never be defeated," chanted the crowd at Roosevelt Park, holding signs reading "You work for us" and "History has its eyes on you."

Rain and Shannon Jacob traveled from St. Clair Shores to attend their first No Kings rally.

"Donald Trump has fashioned himself as a king, and I had the whole party of the Republican Party bows down to him, and that's not what America is about," Shannon Jacob said.

Rain Jacob emphasized the importance of speaking out for future generations.

"I want to prove a point that we're not going to stay silent. We want no kings in America," Rain Jacob said.

Katrina Manetta from Macomb Defenders Rising outlined specific demands for Detroit.

"Here in Detroit specifically, we are making an ask. And the ask is no troops, no ICE, no genocide, and no profiling in our streets," Manetta said.

Oakland County Republican Party's Brian Szmytke disputed the protesters' claims during a Zoom interview, defending Trump's mandate from both the popular vote and electoral college.

"The fact is that in this country, we don't have a king. Donald Trump was elected with a mandate, both popular vote and the electoral college. He's doing exactly what he ran on," Szmytke said.

When asked about signs stating "immigrants make America great" and claims that Trump is anti-immigrant, Szmytke clarified the administration's position.

"President Trump is not anti-immigration. He is for legal immigration. There is a difference," Szmytke said.

State Senator Mallory McMorrow, a Democrat representing Michigan's 8th district, attended the rally and criticized the administration's approach to security.

"Security is essential, but what we are seeing is nothing but security theater. They are not going after cartels. They are not going after violent criminals. They're going after moms who are trying to stay with their babies. They are going after day laborers. They are going after agriculture workers, and they are invading our communities in a way that actually makes us less safe," McMorrow said.

McMorrow emphasized the power of collective action.

"Protests do make a difference because you get thousands of people coming together who see each other, so you realize you're not alone," McMorrow said.

Szmytke called for unity while dismissing concerns about Democratic opposition.

"We need to lower the temperature in this country. We need to come together. I think President Trump has tried to do that. He's tried to find bipartisan solutions," Szmytke said.

Shannon Jacob remained skeptical of such claims.

"I think it's all gaslighting. I think we just need to get this certain person out of office and try, try to get back to the values that we've had as a country," Jacob said.

Organizers say No Kings demonstrations will continue across Michigan to draw the line on presidential power, while Trump supporters maintain the protests represent free speech in action.

"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."

It's been more than five years since 36-year-old Natalie Ramstrom from Indiana was found murdered in an apartment in River Rouge. Now, the man accused Efrain Medina is facing his third trial, set for Jan. 20 in Wayne County's Third Circuit Court.

I spoke with Ramstrom's aunt, who says the family is clinging to hope while bracing for another emotional courtroom battle.

Watch Faraz Javed's video report below: River Rouge murder case heads to third trial after 5 years

"He didn't have the right to take her life. Justice needs to be served where he is not a free man again," said Tracy Curtis, Ramstrom's aunt.

Curtis will never forget the morning of Oct. 27, 2020, when a welfare check led police to discover Ramstrom's body inside Medina's River Rouge apartment. Investigators say she'd been shot and killed and that Medina fled to Mexico. Nearly a year later, U.S. Border Patrol detained Medina at the border and returned him to Michigan to face first-degree murder and felony firearm charges.

Watch our mistrial coverage from December 2022 below: Mistrial for local man accused of murder

"The truth was that he was not apprehended, he surrendered," said defense attorney Todd Perkins, who is representing Medina for a second time.

Perkins says he plans to challenge the evidence and prove his client's innocence.

When I asked Curtis what justice looks like to her and her family, she expressed frustration with the repeated trials.

"These trials need to stop. It's re-traumatizing the family members. They're in that courtroom and they're seeing pictures. They're hearing about what goes on," Curtis said.

Two previous trials ended in mistrials the last one resulted in a hung jury, while the first had missing video evidence by police and a discrepancy in fingerprint collection procedures. However, the 46-year-old remains in custody at the Wayne County Jail after a judge denied his bond request.

"I'm thoroughly disappointed with the city of River Rouge. I'm thoroughly disappointed with... there are some good officers there, but there are some officers who just don't know what they are doing or they are cheating or lying," Perkins said.

"I've had experts in the field look at her case and they all are just dumbfounded that it's happened," Curtis said.

Ramstrom, a mother of two daughters, worked as a schoolteacher in Indiana. Curtis claims Ramstrom and Medina's nearly four-month-long relationship was abusive.

"We are holding on that maybe this time is the time that he is convicted," Curtis said.

Perkins said, "Doesn't escape me that a life has been lost. But I do have a client who has a family. And I have a client who has lost essentially sive years of his life."

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 Michigan startup is revolutionizing alcohol monitoring with a wearable device no bigger than a smartwatch, aiming to remove the stigma associated with traditional ankle monitors.

WATCH FARAZ'S STORY IN THE VIDEO PLAYER BELOW Ann Arbor startup creates smartwatch-sized alcohol monitor to replace bulky ankle devices

ArborSense, a University of Michigan spinout based in Ann Arbor, has developed G.R.A.D.E graphene-based alcohol detection equipment after nearly eight years of refining sensor-based wearable technology.

"We are working on making noninvasive detection sensors that can be used in a wide variety of industries and fields. Primarily right now we're focusing on criminal justice and rehabilitation, so people that have substance use disorder can wear one of our products. It's very discreet and it removes stigma," CEO Jason Tizedes said.

The transdermal device detects alcohol through the skin and is significantly smaller than existing technology. While current market devices require two drinks per hour before detecting alcohol, ArborSense's technology can detect one drink per hour.

"The technology that exists in the market right now needs to see two drinks per hour before it would be able to detect alcohol. We have been able to kind of isolate the alcohol in the system and really turn down or turn up the sensitivity on our sensor to be able to detect one drink per hour," Tizedes said.

Traditional alcohol monitoring devices have remained largely unchanged for two decades, resembling bulky ankle monitors that Tizedes compared to "1970s headphones." The new device has the same footprint as most smartwatches, making it easier for users to wear and adapt to daily life.

The technology addresses several market gaps. Current devices are approximately 10 years old, don't pair with smartphones, lack autonomous cellular connectivity, and haven't seen price reductions due to limited competition.

"There's really only one player. And because of that, the price hasn't ever come down," Tizedes said.

The cost comparison shows traditional devices range from $10 to $15 per day, while ArborSense's unit costs between $7 and $9 daily.

The device doesn't alert the wearer but instead sends instant notifications to monitoring authorities through text message, email, or automated phone calls. The system detects tampering attempts, including cutting the strap, undoing the buckle, or sliding objects underneath to prevent skin contact.

G.R.A.D.E wearables are available through court-mandated programs, but concerned parents and attorneys can also access them through a volunteer program.

To learn more, head to this link.

"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 days after the deadly shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, we're learning more about those who lost their lives.

One of the four was Billmeier Camera Shop owner Terry Greens father-in-law. Green wasnt available in person to talk but shared a Facebook post, which talks about his wifes family attending the church's Sundays service.

Watch Faraz Javed's video report below: Families Mourn Victims of Grand Blanc Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Shooting

While they survived, Green's fatherinlaw did not. The post also adds that they take comfort knowing hes at peace in heaven and asks for prayers for others who werent as fortunate. Family has not yet released his name.

"It shocks you to the point that you just can't believe it," said Tom Gohsman, a retired teacher.

Gohsman is one of many who came to the shop to pay their respects with flowers and donations.

"The world is small and you got to be there for each other," Gohsman said.

A GoFundMe set up for the family mentions raising money to help support the victims wife of over 50 years get through the bills and living expenses she will now be facing alone.

Related video: Grand Blanc decals and T-shirts raises money for victims Community comes together in wake of the tragedy

The victim is also survived by his four children. One of his daughters wrote a one-page emotional letter thats both heartbreaking and surprising.

In it, the victims daughter, who was also at the church, describes locking eyes with the shooter, Thomas Sanford, a 40-year-old war veteran. The letter describes the shooters eyes as blue but later, they realized they were seeing their own reflection in his.

She wrote in part: "When he came over to me I felt very calm, peaceful even as I kneeled next to my dad, my hands still on dad. It felt like a long time stared into his eyes while answering his question. The only way I can describe it it is I saw into his soul I never took my eyes off his eyes, something happened, I saw pain, he felt lost. I deeply felt it with every fiber of my being. I forgave him, I forgave him right there, not in words, but with my heart."

The letter ends with a plea to all of us: drop the anger and hate because they only fuel more harm. Even small changes in the way we talk to each other can help make the world a better place.

"It's a tragedy in the greatest sense," said Joe Bassil, a Traverse City resident.

Bassils daughter lives 2 miles away from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Watching the massacre unfold on the news, Bassil says he couldnt believe what he was seeing.

"All I can say to these people is God be with them and help them in the hour of need," Bassil said.

Another victim, John Bond, was also shot and killed on Sunday.

A GoFundMe page describes him as a loving husband, father, and grandfather. John was a Navy veteran who served for nine years.

Related video: Man killed in Grand Blanc Township church shooting was 'well known and loved' Man killed in Grand Blanc Township church shooting was 'well known and loved'

Several other people were injured during attack. The Grand Blanc Township Police Department has also established a victim compassion fund through a local credit union.

The GoFundMe for Green's father-in-law can be found here.

The GoFundme for Bond can be found here.

A new $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas has international students and employers grappling with significant changes to a program that has long served as a pathway for foreign workers to build careers in the United States.

Watch Faraz Javed's video report: New $100,000 H-1B visa fee sparks debate among students and employers

President Trump signed the proclamation last Friday, implementing the fee starting this week for new H-1B visa applications. The White House says the measure will protect American jobs, but critics worry about long-term economic consequences.

The fee represents a dramatic increase from the previous cost of approximately $10,000, raising expenses for U.S. companies by more than 11-fold when hiring foreign workers through the H-1B program.

Students react with mixed emotions

At the University of Michigan, international students expressed varying reactions to the policy change.

"It sounds really tough to be in that position," said Will Militzer, an Ann Arbor student.

However, U of M senior Daisy Monroe sees potential benefits for American workers.

"So I feel for them, but I have to put myself first to be like, this kind of helps me with more opportunities," Monroe said.

Militzer emphasized merit-based hiring regardless of nationality.

"People should hire based on who would do the best at the job. So if somebody's more qualified who lives abroad, I think they should get it," Militzer said.

Immigration attorney warns of brain drain

Immigration attorney Marcel Miclea said the new rule doesn't apply to current H-1B holders or renewals, but he predicts broader consequences.

"International students will think twice about coming to the U.S. to study. They will maybe look elsewhere, which effectively would mean a brain drain in the U.S.," Miclea said.

WEB EXTRA: Immigration attorney at Palmer Rey Marcel Miclea explains immigration changes WEB EXTRA: Immigration attorney at Palmer Rey Marcel Miclea explains immigration changes

The Economic Policy Institute reports about 600,000 H-1B workers are employed by 50,000 U.S. companies. USCIS data shows roughly 70% of H-1B workers first came to America as international students.

"A lot of innovation has been done because of these talented workers. So I see, on the long term, the U.S. will be losing," Miclea said.

Supporters cite job creation potential

Michigan Franchise Owners Association president Ali Haider supports President Trump's decision, citing potential job creation.

"There's a debate that it will actually generate 3 million local jobs," Haider said.

U-M international student Suzane Fernandes, who has time before seeking full-time work, believes the change could benefit qualified candidates.

"Because of the changes, probably there'll be less people who are trying to apply for jobs, and there'll be a better chance for people who are actually deserving," Fernandes said.

Monroe agreed that the higher fee could help exceptional candidates stand out.

"I think the $100,000 will make it to where people who actually have the skills that will be considered exceptional, they will stand out even more," Monroe said.

Addressing program abuse

Haider said the change could help curb abuse within the H-1B system. The Economic Policy Institute estimates the H-1B program has cost workers at least $95 million in underpaid wages. In 2022, big tech firms hired 34,000 H-1B workers while laying off over 85,000 Americans.

"We have a lot of American people who don't have a job or a good enough job to make a living," Haider said.

He emphasized the importance of domestic education and training.

"We should educate our own kids here in America so they can have jobs who are more into tech field and for more technical education," Haider said.

Mixed long-term outlook

Miclea acknowledged potential short-term benefits for American workers but expressed concern about long-term consequences.

"So I think, on the short term, the US worker might see an increase, a slight increase in wages because of some fraud that exists in the program. Long term, I think the consequences are vast and it will impact companies, universities," Miclea said.

The new policy includes a national interest exemption at the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security for certain workers or industries. The restriction is set to expire in 12 months unless extended.

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.