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TSA provides tips with Holiday travel rush underway at DTW

There's no place like home for the holidays, but getting there may be a challenge. The holiday travel rush is officially underway in Michigan, and this year, it's expected to set new records.

This holiday season, AAA projects almost 4 million Michiganders will travel at least 50 miles from home. 3.5 million will be hitting the road, and almost 220,000 will fly. And things have gotten off to a frustrating start at Detroit Metro Airport; between Friday and Sunday, there were over 700 delays.

Watch Ryan's report in the video player below

Holiday travel rush underway at DTW

On Monday morning, there's a steady flow of people here inside of McNamara Terminal, making their way to check in bags or go through security.

The weather doesn't seem like it'll be quite as frightful for Christmas, but holiday travel over the next week or so may sure feel like it for some people. Travel is getting busier as Christmas quickly approaches; AAA projects that over 122 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home this holiday season, which is over two percent more than last year's record of just under 120 million travelers.

Cadillac Travel Group's David Fishman offered some advice for travelers.

Christmas is probably the second busiest time after Thanksgiving. So, you really need to be ready. And, cross your Ts and dot your Is," Fishman said. Get there early. Early, early, early, okay? Maybe even earlier than you normally would. If its two hours, maybe get there two-and-a-half, three hours early. Always check and see if your flights on time. Go on those apps that will alert you. Load them onto your phone.

TSA also provided some travel tips:

Don't bring a snow globe on board, because the amount of water inside likely exceeds the 3.4-ounce liquid rule Put gifts inside bags so agents can easily screen them Don't wrap presents

Anything that is fully wrapped, our officers who screen the checked baggage may need to unwrap this in the checked bagged screening as well," said Carter Langston, a TSA regional spokesperson.

Advice like that is much appreciated for Detroiter Morgan Starosciak, who's traveling to New Hampshire with her boyfriend, Bryan, to meet his family.

If you're gonna meet family for the first time, please let their not be any hiccups or delays or anything like that. Right?" I asked Morgan.

Yes, thats for sure. We wanted to get here early to make sure we were good to go," she replied.

Its a very beautiful part of the country," Bryan said. "Theres a lot of snow there, great weather, mountains. I know Michigans got a lot of landfills. But, we got some real mountains back home. So, shes very excited to see those.

AAA said average holiday tickets are nearly $900, but flying on a holiday itself either Christmas Day or New Years Day may be cheaper.

Vote won't happen Monday for proposed AI data center in Howell Township

A vote on the proposed data center in Howell Township scheduled for Monday night will not happen anymore.

That's after the rezoning request for the controversial plan was withdrawn, 7 News Detroit has learned.

The Howell data center would be built on farmland near Marr and Fleming roads. Community members have been telling us for weeks that they are worried about the strain it could put on existing utilities.

Watch Faraz's story in the video player below Happening Today: Vote on proposed AI data center rezoning in Howell Township

An undisclosed developer wants to build a brand-new, $1 billion Howell Township AI data center for an unnamed Fortune 100 company on 1,000 acres of farmland.

Howell Township resident Richie Kamenski, like many others, is against the data center's construction. He's lived there for 17 years and said it'll disturb the peace.

I moved out here quiet, ya know, got out of the city to move here. Just retired and now I got me a data center," Kamenski said. Ya know, we dont want it. Bottom line, we dont want it.

Township residents have attended multiple public meetings about the data center over the past few months. They've voiced concerns about potential noise, pollution, and an excessive water and electricity strain.

I wasnt sure of what to expect," said Howell resident Aaron Currie. "But, as answers started to be developed, it just didnt look like a good fit for the Howell community.

Mike Vogt is an attorney who represents the undisclosed developer.

This thing is being designed and developed in a way to minimize any potential impacts," Vogt said. "But if there was an issue, we're the funds upfront so the township will never have to come out of pocket to enforce its regulations or to enforce its conditions that we're proposing.

Vogt said the developer thoroughly addressed the top three concerns for residents:

The data center's water will run on a closed-loop system, and won't strain other property owners They'll initiate a property value protection plan. Homeowners living within 1,000 feet can sell their home to the developers for the appraised value, plus one percent. There's also a provision for residents living within 2,500 feet. A developer-funded escrow account will pay the township and residents legal or other fees if issues arise.

The board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Rod Bushey Performing Arts Center.

Watch our previous coverage Howell Township data center informational meeting held Howell Township Planning Commission recommends to deny rezoning land for controversial data center Breaking Update: Howell Township Planning Commissionn denies re-zoning land for controversial data center Howell Township board votes to approve moratorium on data centers for 6 months

Adam Alharbi elected mayor of Hamtramck after winning by just 11 votes, per unofficial results

Per unofficial results, Voters in Hamtramck have elected a new mayor, with engineer Adam Alharbi, a political newcomer, receiving 2,009 votes, beating city councilman Muhith Mahmood by just 11 votes.

This was a mayoral race so many people were watching after one of the most controversial years in the city's history, which has included recent residency fraud allegations and absentee ballot fraud charges on the city council, as well as departures of the Police Chief and City Manager.

Watch our coverage from Ryan Marshall & Demetrios Sanders Adam Alharbi elected mayor of Hamtramck after winning by just 11 votes Hamtramck voters electing a new mayor

Alharbi declared victory on his official Facebook page last night. However, because these are the unofficial results, we can't say for sure what the city clerk will do next with such a tight margin.

Both candidates are vying for the open mayor's seat, vacated by outgoing mayor Amer Ghalib, who was recently nominated by President Donald Trump to be the U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait.

Alharbi is a political newcomer who was previously Ghalib's campaign manager. We talked to voters about the issues most important to them, regardless of who the next mayor is.

I think we need some qualified people, who have the qualifications, who deserves those qualifications," one voter said.

There are many problems in Hamtramck," another voter said. "If it rains too much, it floods in houses. And too much high taxes on houses."

I just want it to be a fair election. If its fair, you cant go wrong," another voter said.

Whoever officially becomes the next mayor will have a lot of things to clean up in a city that's seen several controversies over the last few years. You have to believe that restoring credibility and moving forward in a positive direction will be the new mayor's top priority.

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