High gas prices are impacting local landscaping businesses as spring begins, with many having to make adjustments to plans to keep costs of doing business under control.

Watch Simon Shaykhet's video report: 'Hoping for the best.' Local landscape businesses navigating rising gas prices

Weve got a contract with the city of Plymouth and we do Livonia schools, so we stay relatively busy," said Arturo Guzman, owner of Art's Residential Tree Service.

As a proud business owner for more than 50 years, Arturo Guzman says hes been looking forward to starting spring cleanup jobs this week. He invited me to come see his crew hard at work in Canton as countless families reach out for help keeping yards in good shape.

"We've got quite a few trucks, and they're all diesels and that. The equipment and all that runs on diesel and gas, so it's like we don't want to raise the prices on anybody ... especially now," he said.

But he admits rising gas prices have left him with a sinking feeling about making ends meet with gas prices around $4 a gallon. He says the price of fuel, including diesel fuel, is cutting into his profits at a time when many companies are struggling.

I'm hoping for the best. I really am. I need a good year this year," said Guzman.

Neighbor Robert Slebodnick, who was doing his own landscaping, is remaining hopeful.

[Once] they get the Strait of Hormuz open and tankers going through, I expect things to come down real soon," said Slebodnick.

Guzman says keeping his crew of eight workers employed also means finding more jobs after a tough couple of economic years, yet he worries about customers who may also be scaling back on tree trimming and other work.

While the war in Iran plays out, putting pressure on oil prices, he tells me other landscapers are also closely following the situation and adjusting plans accordingly.

Economics professor Michael Greiner with Oakland University is also weighing in.

"They're probably gonna have to raise their prices ... in fact, we're already seeing, for example, with the airlines that ... they've said they're going to be increasing their prices based on the fuel prices going up. And ... the reality is, I know that people want this to be done quickly and want this to be over quickly, but the odds are that's not gonna be the case," said Greiner.

Professor Greiner points out that even though the U.S. is a huge producer of oil, the global market is still largely affected by the war, keeping prices higher longer.

A new school is set to open in Wixom in 2027, and some residents say the city's roads aren't ready for the traffic that will come with it.

Watch Simon Shaykhet's video report: New Wixom elementary school raises traffic concerns

Construction is already underway on the new Wixom Elementary School, which will sit along a two-lane stretch of Maple Road. Some neighbors and parents say the road is already prone to backups near schools in the area, and worry the situation will worsen once the new building opens.

Thomas St. Louis, a neighbor and parent whose son will attend the new school, said he wants more done to address traffic flow before the school opens.

"I mean, I'd be concerned about parking down here. Not exactly the widest of streets. So, if they make it wider on Maple," St. Louis said.

Wixom City Manager Steven Brown said he has raised concerns about the location during several meetings with Walled Lake Public Schools. He said that despite an outpouring of community comments online, those concerns have not led to significant changes in the district's plans for the school or the anticipated traffic it would bring.

"The city doesn't have the opportunity to oversee construction of the school because Public Act 451 puts that under the state superintendent's jurisdiction. There's historical problems with schools in Wixom. They've all created a lot of traffic problems," Brown said.

Brown pointed to Loon Lake Elementary and Sarah Banks Middle School both in Wixom as examples of schools that were not equipped for the traffic they generated.

I asked to interview Walled Lake Public Schools Superintendent, but the district declined and sent a statement instead. Part of it reads:

"Walled Lake Schools has a long tradition of working collaboratively and successfully with each of the nine communities we serve. We look forward to continued dialogue and partnership with the City of Wixom."

Not everyone in the neighborhood shares the same level of concern. Valerie Johnson, who lives near the future school site, said she is not worried.

"I don't think it'll be as big a deal as people think it is. We've dealt with it for 30 years across from Walled Lake Western," Johnson said.

St. Louis said he hopes specific safety improvements are made before the school opens.

"I think if they are able to make the crosswalk safer for kids and maybe a light there," St. Louis said.

A public meeting is scheduled for tonight at 7 p.m. at Wixom City Hall. The Walled Lake Schools superintendent is expected to attend to hear community concerns.

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.

Cementing her legacy, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer opened up in a one-on-one interview with me about her final State of the State address.

She told me Michigans future is bright but that education, our roads and many other areas are at risk of not improving further without ongoing support from both sides.

Watch Simon Shaykhet's video report below: One-on-one with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer following her final State of the State address

After delivering her final State of the State speech, where she emphasized what she considers to be key achievements in various areas, Whitmer told me a lot of work on education remains.

First of all, we've got a literacy problem all across the country. We had over 400 different methods of teaching reading happening across the state of Michigan thats crazy. So what we've done is adopted science of reading, which is out phonics-based strategy. But it doesnt happen overnight. It doesn't happen in a couple of years. This was a part of my message last night: enhanced training for our teachers... and making sure our students have tutoring after school, before school, the governor said.

Watch the full interview with Whitmer below: 7 News Detroit's interview with Governor Whitmer following her State of the State address

On roads, she says progress doesnt mean the work is over.

We have made the biggest investment in our road infrastructure in decades and we did it in a bipartisan way. There will be a lot more orange barrels out there, lots of people hard at work, Whitmer said.

Related video: Have we 'fixed the damn roads'? Experts, Michiganders weigh in on progress Has the governor fixed the roads?

I asked the governor where are people being let down on health care and what can the state do.

I cant stop the cuts coming out of D.C., but what we can do to try to help people in Michigan is working together like we did in last years budget. We got to do it again, she said.

Watch Whitmer's final State of the State address below: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address in 2026

She told me our economy is stronger seven years later and she stands behind thanking President Donald Trump for supporting Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township.

Im grateful that the president got us that fighter mission. We've grown our defense sector in Michigan. A lot of people dont really realize that, but Michigan has airspace that we control. Weve got water that is great for training as well. So I think it's a great extension of our manufacturing prowess and mobility, Whitmer said.

Watch our coverage after Whitmer's address below: 'Big Gretch out': Gov. Whitmer delivers her final State of the State address

Hitting the streets to hear from people on both sides, I also talked to voters about whats important to them.

Good public education is important to the state and will also drive economy and people wanting to live here, one voter told me.

Another voter is concerned about literacy rates.

Whitmer says she is extremely proud of the work to uphold womens rights, the passage safe storage gun laws and she believes a strong budget will pass by the June 30 deadline.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's proposed tobacco tax increase is sparking mixed reactions across metro Detroit, as business owners and consumers weigh the potential impact on their wallets and livelihoods.

Watch Simon Shaykhet's video report: Gov. Whitmer's tobacco tax hike proposal sparks debate across metro Detroit

I traveled from Oakland County to Wayne County to gauge public opinion on the governor's budget proposal, which calls for significant increases to taxes on tobacco products. The plan aims to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for health care and quality of life improvements.

"This is something that someone chooses to do," said customer Kisha Lahaie, defending the proposed tax increase.

However, not everyone agrees. One smoker I spoke with expressed skepticism about the plan's effectiveness.

"Raising state money, I don't think that's going to help," the person said.

Related coverage: Whitmer's 2027 proposed budget continues tax exemptions on tips, overtime pay for Michigan workers Whitmer's 2027 proposed budget continues tax exemptions on tips, overtime pay

The proposed "sin tax" has business owners particularly concerned about their bottom line. Danny, a manager at Park Place Wine Shop in Southfield, worries about the impact on sales. He's concerned people will stop buying products.

Michigan currently has a $2 per pack cigarette tax, which ranks as the second lowest in the Great Lakes region, according to the State Budget Office. Retailers told me customers are already shifting away from cigarettes and toward vape products.

The cigar industry is also on alert. At Did It My Way in downtown Detroit, where loyal customers enjoy cigars and spirits daily, partners are hoping for minimal disruption to their business.

"It gets very busy. We are hoping it doesn't cause too much of a drastic change," one partner said.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are weighing in on whether the revenue would be put to best use. Some question funding priorities while others worry about border business impacts.

"I'd like to see it go toward health care, but we have so many needs that didn't get met. Forgotten Harvest. 10 million. Focus Hope 1.5," Rep. Karen Whitsett, D-Detroit, said.

FULL VIDEO: Governor Whitmer's budget recommendations presented to Michigan legislature FULL VIDEO: Governor Whitmer's budget recommendations presented to Michigan legislature

Sen. Joe Bellino, R-Monroe, referenced historical precedent, noting the impact of previous tax increases.

"When they raised cigarette taxes in the early 2000s, people on the border here were decimated. My store was 15 miles from the border. I lost 25% of business overnight," Joe said.

WEB EXTRA: Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall talks about the budget deal Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall talks about the budget deal

Whitmer's proposal also includes boosting taxes on pipe tobacco, dip and snuff to 57%. The governor has said this would help discourage nicotine addiction while generating revenue for health care costs.

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.

After we first heard from deed fraud victims in Wayne County earlier this week, Im now hearing from leaders in Washtenaw, Oakland and Macomb counties who are all working to address the problem.

Our parents passed away and we were putting the house in our name, Peggy Webster said.

Watch Simon Shaykhet's video report below: Local leaders working to find solutions to protect homeowners from deed fraud

For Webster, concerns over deed fraud targeting hundreds of victims in metro Detroit led to a decision to sign up for monitoring alerts in Oakland County earlier this week.

I also got to hear about similar programs up and running in Wayne County and Washtenaw County, given the damage being done by fraudsters.

I just saw the program where you can sign up for free for protection, free email alerts, Webster said.

Oakland County Clerk and Register of Deeds Lisa Brown says her community has also been targeted by crime rings and in some cases, people cheating loved ones.

You're taking away somebodys home that they worked hard for. It's the roof over their head, Brown said.

She agrees better laws and funding could re-shape a system thats currently requiring a register of deeds to file documents without verifying whether or not they are fraudulent.

In Oakland County, we see family members that are taking advantage of a sibling or a grandma or an uncle, Brown said.

Previous report: Deed fraud crisis has homeowners finding 'their property is gone' when it's too late Deed fraud crisis has homeowners finding 'their property is gone' when it's too late

Setting up alerts can be done in just a few seconds. For instance in Oakland County, all you have to do is go to ocmideeds.com and type the address, and within seconds, you see recent results on your laptop or phone.

Over in Washtenaw County, Register of Deeds Larry Kestenbaum is also speaking out. He finds it troubling that deed fraud is leading to people's locks being changed, moving trucks showing up randomly and mail coming to a different name.

"Thats awful. stuff when it happens. There are organized fraudsters who do those kinds of things, Kestenbaum said.

Digging deeper, I talked with Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido, who is cautioning against scams that involve cash deals or sales without a realtor.

He says make sure the party selling a home is proven to be the owner. Hes also going after those committing forgery and more.

(We'll) prosecute to the fullest extent because Youve taken away the most expensive asset that somebody buys in their lifetime, Luicido said.

In Websters case, its a matter of peace of mind and ensuring shes notified if something happens before its too late.

You just never know. We just happened to be here today and I saw that and said we are going to sign up for that too, Webster said.

Resources

You can learn more online about the free alert system Fraud Guard in Washtenaw County and similar services in Macomb County and Oakland County.

Here are instructions to sign up for alerts in Wayne County:

Visit waynecountylandrecords.com Click the Property Alerts tab Choose a method to create an alert keyword or document Follow the instructions You will be sent a confirmation email from vanguardsupport@govos.com once you confirm the alert Submit a fraud complaint at waynecountymi.gov/register or call 313-224-5869.

The city of Detroit is hosting a town hall about deed fraud protection on Feb. 12.

You can also learn more about property fraud by reaching out to the MSU College of Law Housing Justice Clinic at housingclinic@law.msu.edu or 517-432-6967.

All across metro Detroit, the shortage of rock salt is driving up demand and leaving businesses and homeowners frustrated.

Some communities say theyve been forced to explore other options like sand. With this deep freeze still underway, I talked with those making changes to stay a step ahead of an ongoing shortage.

Watch Simon Shaykhet's video report below: The Rock Salt Shortage Scramble

The pet-friendly stuff is used more commonly, one worker at Hamburg True Value Hardware said.

Moving salt is a major task, and I helped workers at the hardware store replace stock.

Jessie Krug told me keeping up with a major wave of demand has required thinking outside the box and consistent effort due to harsh conditions all season. She says the store uses different suppliers.

We try to reach out to wherever we can get it. So yeah, they think fast on their feet and theyre always calling and asking questions, hey, do you have salt? Do you have it ahead? Krug said.

In downtown Brighton, I also met up with coffee shop owner Amy McEwen, who says this winter, shes had to get creative when salt has been sold out. From her shop to her home, she says with less or no availability, shes tried out other products to provide some sort of traction.

At my house, I have a driveway thats like this (steep). So, I used bath salts, I used table salt when I run out of salt. And then, I just stocked up on softener salt because it works great, McEwen said.

Taking a deeper dive, I also met up with Brighton City Manager Gretchen Gomolka, who say her city is communicating on social media to update folks on whats happening. When I visited their salt barn, I saw firsthand what their shortage looks like.

Related video: Bumpy 10 Mile Road in Southfield frustrates drivers as county plans 2027 reconstruction Bumpy 10 Mile Road in Southfield frustrates drivers, county plans reconstruction

Fortunately, her public works department is carrying out an effective strategy: prioritizing major intersections, school bus routes, hills and high-risk areas.

The biggest challenge is we have an amount that we are set to order from our vendor and we cannot get that salt. We ask for it and theres just delays. Some, smaller loads are coming in to communities, but not the full loads that they need, Gomolka said. So what we are considering is mixing salt and sand together to make more efficient use of salt that we do have.

Back at the hardware store, the idea of spreading out options is also being put to use, along with a dash of patience.

I also checked in with county road commissions in Oakland and Wayne counties. Both told me theyve now used most or all of whats typically put out during an entire season, but they too are being strategic and managing the situation.

Ann Arbor leaders are working to introduce a resolution to keep Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from entering some city property spaces.

Watch Simon Shaykhet's video report: Ann Arbor officials want to restrict ICE from some city property spaces

Mayor Chris Taylor in an exclusive interview with 7 News Detroit said a resolution will be introduced Monday to keep ICE out of non-public spaces on city property. That would include anywhere key card access is needed, certain offices, parts of police and fire stations and city-owned lots that could be used for operational staging.

The resolution is being introduced after people were detained by ICE in nearby Ypsilanti earlier this week.

The sheriff of Washtenaw County is changing course after talking with ICE and confirming reports of people being detained at an Ypsilanti bus stops were false. Sheriff Alyshia Dyer took to social media to clear the air after first making critical comments about ICE activity on Tuesday.

Related coverage: Sheriff clarifies post after talking to ICE regarding Ypsi bus stop reports Sheriff clarifies post after talking to ICE regarding Ypsi bus stop reports

On Thursday, Dyer said she had a conversation with ICE leadership, who told her they did not do any enforcement on school grounds or at school bus stops, nor will they. ICE agreed to better communicate with the sheriff in the future when they have activity in Washtenaw County.

Im glad moving forward that we have an established communication channel when needed with leadership within immigration enforcement because there was so much fear and calls we were getting from the schools. I felt it was really important to make sure the public knew that they were not on any school property and they weren't on school grounds," Dyer said. "And then all of the reports that they were near bus stops or there was enforcement activity happening near communities where kids might be getting dropped off, I felt that it's important to validate that those were concerns.

Watch our full interview with Sheriff Alyshia Dyer below: Full Interview: Sheriff clarifies post after talking to ICE regarding Ypsi bus stop reports

Dyer says she still believes in the importance of communication, which is why she returned to social media to update the public again.

ICE told 7 News Detroit while they did detain several people in Ypsilanti on Tuesday who immigrated illegally, there were no kids present.

Watch our previous report about the ICE activity in Ypsilanti below: Sheriff says ICE 'targeted' parents near bus stop in Ypsilanti

When asked about ICE saying they are removing those who are in the U.S. illegally, the mayor of Ann Arbor responded saying that is not what they are doing. Ann Arbor leaders are aiming to restrict agents in parts of city property spaces.

If a member of the public can come into the space like a lobby for example, we dont have the legal authority to restrict access to that. But backstage and offices in the like, those are areas where the public cannot come because those are non-public areas, Taylor said.

Some are in support of more limitations on ICE.

Yes I do because of the fact that theyre killing people now. Before two people got killed, it was a different story with me, Anthony James said.

But critical of that concept is state Sen. Jim Runestad of White Lake.

The federal government has the right, these federal enforcement officers have the right to go anywhere in order to do their jobs, Runestad said.

Legal expert and former federal Prosecutor Adam Wright shared his take on the planned resolution.

If it is only relating to non-public areas, area that you or I wouldnt be able to get into without some special reason, the court is more likely to find that as the government simply managing its own property, Wright said.

The Washtenaw County sheriff says when addressing issues, she would be more concise in the future before all facts come to light.