It's tennis season in Southeast Michigan. And Canton High School squad of 50 strong-willed young Cobras are getting ready.

"We have matches set up; we are doing practice every day," said Caitlyn Laidlaw.

17-year-old Caityln Laidlaw and 18-year-old Saee Pawar are captains of the women's team.

"You know we both are seniors, and we've had a lot of fun over the past few years, like a lot of team bonding, our team is very close-knit. So, it was pretty sad," said Saee Pawar.

That's because the Cobras were faced with heartbreaking news a month before the season that they may be unable to compete.

"So our two coaches, one of them retired from coaching and the other one moved to a different school district. And so we lost both our coaches. And we didn't know really who to ask if we are having a season, and so kind of just got told, we don't have any coaches, and no courts, so we don't know if it's going to happen," Caitlyn said.

While the school's courts were being refurbished, one of the player's father, Jeff Walters, couldn't see his daughter upset.

"I'm an engineer, so I have a problem-solving mindset, and I realized our neighbor across the street plays men's league tennis. And so, I reached out to him, and basically, after 3 hours, he said I have coaches lined up," Jeff said.

That's where 65-year-old Vijay George and 73-year-old Charlie Siracusa make an entry as the new coaches for the Cobras.

"We coached together JV tennis, junior varsity tennis at Catholic Central," said Charlie.

"Why was it important for both of you to step up?" I asked.

"It's the commitment to tennis and the camaraderie that these young women have put together in a very short period of time. Faraz I can feel them, gelling with each and every practice. And having them dream big and why not us," Charlie said.

"What are some of the challenges you guys have faced in terms of coaching this team right here?" I asked.

"The biggest challenge is we don't have home courts. These girls have to be bused in," Vijay saud.

John Glenn High School in Westland chipped in their courts.

"We also have parents riding the bus with us to our matches that are far away, picking up snacks for us," Saee said.

"It's a community effort to make sure that these young ladies are able to play tennis this season," I pointed out.

"No question about it," Charlie replied.

"You know a couple a months ago I had a daughter in tears, no I have who is beaming," Jeff said.

"What's that one thing that you arew always going to remember about this moment?" I asked.

"The things we had to overcome to get here," Caitlyn said.

"You should appreciate the things that you have going on for you," Saee said.

The Canton Cobra's tennis season wraps up in mid-May, and now they only ask that the community comes out and support their matches.

You can find the team's schedule at this link.

A 20-year-old man has been charged in the brutal attack on a local business owner inside his own restaurant.

The attack happened Saturday evening at Amigo Street Tacos in St. Clair Shores. The horrific video went viral on social media and left community members shocked.

Watch our report when we spoke with Jose Perez in the video player below: Caught on Camera: Owner of Amigos Street Tacos in St. Clair Shores brutally attacked

Daveon Jahmel Godbold of Eastpointe was arrested after the attack during a traffic stop near the restaurant and was taken to the Macomb County Jail.

He was charged with robbery unarmed, resisting and obstructing, malicious destruction of property, aggravated assault and delivery and manufacture of marijuana.

Godbold was arraigned Tuesday and will have to wear a GPS tether if he posts a $25,000 personal bond.

Authorities say Godbold was picking up a DoorDash order.

We spoke with the victim on Monday. Forty-five-year-old Jose Perez told us it all stemmed from a dispute over an out-of-order restroom.

"The toilet wasn't connected to the water," Perez previously told us. He said the suspect still used the restroom.

"He came to the counter, and I told him whatever you did in the bathroom, it's not right, so the order you came to pick up, I'm not going to give it to you. I took it from here and put it over there," Perez said.

That's when the suspect still grabbed the order, resulting in a scuffle.

"So he grabbed the food and threw it on the ground. And he started to act so violent. That's when I picked up the phone to call 911," Perez said.

Watch surveillance video of the incident in the video player below: SURVEILLANCE VIDEO: Owner of Amigos Street Tacos in St. Clair Shores brutally attacked

Just before the suspect took off, Perez says he kicked one of the windows. That's when Perez also decided to report the incident to DoorDash.

Video then shows the suspect returns with an accomplice, and both men can be seen attacking Perez.

Perez said this is what was going on in his mind at the time: "Just to protect myself, to save myself."

Perez said he suffered some injuries.

"Saturday was really bad. My head was all swollen, my back, my knee," Perez said.

Police are still searching for the accomplice.

The St. Clair Shores community came together to support the local business after the assault. Perez owns five other locations across metro Detroit.

If you have any information about this case and the suspects, you are urged to call the St. Clair Shores Police Department at 586-445-5305.

It's Tuesday afternoon and the streets of Melvindale are busy. A resident, Kyra Smith, says speeding is a huge concern for the community.

"That's all they really do here. They fly, they go fast and they will go right in front of you," Smith said.

She said in the past two years, the problem has worsened.

"And we got a lot of kids here," Smith said.

That's why the Melvindale Police Department is rolling out extra measures including a zero-tolerance chase policy and adding five new high-performance patrol vehicles just in time for the summer when speeding statistically gets worse.

Extended interview: Melvindale Police Cpl. Mohamed Hacham talks about speeding drivers in the city 'We will chase you': Police Cpl. Mohamed Hacham talks about speeding in Melvindale

"We got two schools down the street and the crossing lady almost gets hit every single day," Melvindale Police Cpl. Mohamed Hacham said.

Hacham says so far this year, around 200 speeding tickets have been issued by the department.

Since Oakwood Boulevard is where drivers often speed, Hacham had his speed gun ready to go.

"It gives you the feet away and the exact speed the vehicle is going at, and that little dot is pin-pointed at each vehicle... and we just got 44 mph on a 30," Hacham said.

"She was doing 44 in a 30. It's always 80% of the people that live in the city. She does live in the city. But she does have a clean driving record and she just picked up her daughter from the dentist, so I do take that into consideration. Again, we are not looking to give everybody a ticket, and I kind of just warned her."

But Hacham says currently, the youth is the department's concern.

"I was watching this group of kids and he pulled out of the parking lot and he picked up some speed. And he was like I'm going home because my grandma fell. So I followed him home and so just in case if his grandma fell and she needed help. Turned out it was a lie and his dad was the one who actually told me to give him a ticket," Hacham said.

Web extra: We ride along with Melvindale Police Cpl. Mohamed Hacham Web extra: We ride along with Melvindale police as they crack down on speeding

But an 18-year-old's story left Hacham and me shocked after his modified vehicle caught Hacham's attention.

"That's one of the tickets... $250," Abdul Salam said.

Salam, a Melvindale resident, showed me some of the many speeding tickets he has been slapped with over a few months.

"Do you ever think what your parents would go through if something happened to you? Does that not prevent you from speeding?" I asked Salam.

"No," Abdul said.

Hear more from driver Abdul Salam and Cpl. Mohamed Hacham in the video player below: Extended interview: Driver Abdul Salam talks to us about his speeding tickets

"Usually, the kids I encounter, I take them under my wing and I tell them like an older brother some knowledge and sense into them. I've never ran across him. That crazy," Hacham said.

"Ok, he is here right now; what can you tell him that speeding is dangerous?" I asked.

"That I never really want to see him end up on the news with his car wrapped around a tree or wrapped around something and him not being with us," Hacham said.

Moving forward, Hacham says he will be checking in with Salam. Hacham has a message for drivers in the city.

"We will impound cars, and don't run away from us because we will chase you," Hacham said.

Highland Park residents woke up this weekend to a boil water advisory. Due to the low water pressure, residents are being urged to boil the water and let it cool before any form of usage.

But this is not the first time a similar advisory was issued earlier this month.

7 News Detroit reporter Faraz Javed is raising the voice of residents who are trying to mitigate the challenges and trying to understand the reason behind the problem.

It's the first day back from spring break at the George Washington Carver Academy in Highland Park. Superintendent Sylvia Brown was alerted Sunday about the city's boil water advisory that came into effect Saturday afternoon.

"Our team came in at 5 am, began boiling water. We decided to do pizza today, so that we would have a limited amount of items that we need to wash. In addition to that, we purchased bottled water. So that we can give it to every classroom. We had it in the kitchen," said Brown.

The pre-K to 8th-grade school serves around 415 students. Brown says that because of the current situation, any water usage within the city limits must be boiled and cooled, including water for classroom hand-washing stations.

"This, again, is not a sustainable long-term plan. And this is if they need to rinse, so we are using hand sanitizers," said Brown.

"Now all this will increase your cost, wouldn't it?" asked Faraz.

"Absolutely, none of these are refundable, none of these are being sponsored," said Brown.

Brown says canceling school at the last minute would have burdened the parents.

"How many days can you actually continue like this?" asked Faraz.

"3 is comfortable. If we have to do a long term, we will have to go virtual school," said Brown.

However, outside of the school, residents like Sonia are also struggling.

"Some people have memberships, so they can go to the gym and take a shower. What about the ones that don't have membership? The seniors. I mean, they are not able to get out, a lot of them. So, I have they have a plan," said Sonia.

That's why the city's Mayor, Glenda McDonald, and Water Director, Damon Garrett, held a press conference to help understand the problem.

VIDEO: Highland Park mayor & water director speak on boil water advisories Highland Park mayor & water director speak on boil water advisories

"It's the south of Davison, west and east quadrants is where we are experiencing the lowest water pressure. And right now, we believe, it's mainly because this valve is being closed. And that may also have caused some leaks and breaks in this area," said Garrett.

Garrett says the city's 115-year-old water main infrastructure is being upgraded, and since this problem couldn't be anticipated, the solution will roll out in phases that could take up to 4 days.

"So, as this project continues, is there a chance there could be another boil water advisory?" asked Faraz.

"There could be," said Garrett.

"I know it's very inconvenient. We've had to close City Hall. Again, I live in the same area, we never expected that we would have 4 water alerts back-to-back," said Mayor McDonald.

Garrett also urges residents to contact the water department's customer service center if they have an issue with their water bill. Meanwhile, Mayor McDonald says the City Hall will open on Tuesday. Also, a water distribution station will be set up Tuesday morning at the Highland Park Police Department in Hamilton.

Where Your Voice Matters

Fans are sounding off about the changes above the scoreboard at Comerica Park ahead of the team's 2025 season.

The script "Tigers" video board that was above the main scoreboard has been replaced with "Comerica Park." Hundreds of people sounded off on our Facebook page, and you can see some of the comments below.

"I do feel like (it) doesn't matter. The Tigers are still gonna win," Kyli told us.

"I don't like it. Put the Tigers sign back," Gigi said while she was with her group of friends.

"I thought they were adding something new or changing and improving, you know, giving a new touch," Nihada said.

"But overall, I think it's great. I don't see any big change in it. I think we can embrace it, get to know it and get to love it like we do everything else. Detroit is known for that," Kyli said.

"Why don't you like it?" I asked Gigi.

"Like I'm gonna be equipped for change, but the Tigers symbol was just like, it just reminded you of like a nostalgia feeling when you go into the park. So to take the sign away and put Comerica Park, yeah, that's fine, but it just takes that feeling of when you went to the baseball park as a kid, you know, just like I said, the nostalgia feeling that you had going to the baseball park," Gigi said.

"There's so many different great things that come out of Comerica Park as well, and yes, our Tigers are awesome. It is still their stadium. It is still going to be the Tiger's stadium, but Comerica represents the Tigers," Kyli said.

"I just feel like it doesn't represent who the Tigers are. The Tigers aren't Comerica," Aryanna said.

"Detroit isn't really fazed by a lot, you know, this is our city regardless, we keep the power, you know, a sign change isn't gonna mean anything. We definitely keep our spirits too strong," Jamarah said.

Where Your Voice Matters

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli American Yifat Clein has been praying for peace. But Tuesday morning, she woke up to the news that the two-month-old ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has been broken.

"What's the first thing that went through your mind?" 7 News Detroit reporter Faraz Javed asked.

"Oh no!" Clein said.

"Why is that?" Javed asked.

"Because it just takes away hope that things are going to change. It takes away hope for the hostages to return. It takes away hope that there is going to be any kind of negotiations for peace. It also means more people in Gaza are being killed, innocent people," Clein said.

Monday night, Israel launched airstrikes across Gaza, killing more than 400 Palestinians, as per the Gaza health ministry. The ceasefire deal was in place since January, putting a pause on a 17-month-old war.

Related video: Israel resumes attacks on Gaza Israel resumes attacks on Gaza

Israel blames Hamas for not agreeing to release additional Israeli hostages. While Hamas and other Arab nations accuse Israel of not following through.

"Every day, we wake up in the morning and it's like our heart is just a little heavy," Laila Balboul said.

For nearly two years, Balboul, a Palestinian American, has been taking part in several protests across metro Detroit calling for a ceasefire.

"What do you say when you hear the Israeli government say it's all being done to target Hamas?" Javed asked.

"We all know this is not the case. This is a humanitarian issue. This is apartheid. It comes down to the Israeli government does not want to give the Palestinians the same basic human rights that the Israelis do, and that's all they are asking for," Balboul said.

Since the war, Israel says Hamas has killed more than 1,200 Israelis. While the Palestinian Health Ministry says, the Israel Defense Forces has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians in the name of targeting Hamas.

Related video: Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at last 413 Palestinians and shatter ceasefire wit Hamas Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 413 Palestinians and shatter ceasefire with Hamas

Meanwhile, Jewish American Allan Gale doesn't see the situation in the same light.

"Are you concerned about the death toll on both sides?" Faraz asked.

"Every life is valuable. Although, these are terrorists that Israel is attacking because they were attacked," Gale said.

"But isn't there a concern that in the process, thousands of civilians are already dead and more can be killed again?" Faraz asked.

"It's a terrible situation. You have brutal terrorist entrenched in civilian areas. Israel has very tough choices. It has tried to be moral and humanitarian as it can be, but it's persecuting a war against, I would use the word monster," Gale said.

Israel believes of the 250 hostages, 59 are still being held captive. Hamas is demanding the release of thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons even before the Oct. 7 attack. However, for Balboul, nothing justifies the death toll in Gaza.

"Families losing their lives. Seeing kids being hungry or not getting medical care. Seeing mothers losing their children. And just thinking about those mothers and fathers of hostages and how they are so worried about what's going on. They don't know anything about their children and what they're going through," Clein said.

Balboul and Clein want a permanent ceasefire and to see hostages on both sides to be released.

"When you talk to your family and friends now, what is the biggest concern?" Javed asked.

"I think we've turned the concern into being hopeful, you know, for a brighter future," Balboul said.

"Is it hard to hold on to that hope now?" Javed asked.

"Some days are harder than others. But I think as a community, we do a good job of coming together and holding each other up," Balboul said.

A Hamtramck driving school on Conant Street is under scrutiny for not meeting requirements set by the Michigan Department of State.

Al Baraka Driving School's operations were suspended on Friday after inspectors found the registered place of business closed during working hours with boards on the windows and doors.

It's also alleged that the business failed to maintain records, among other violations.

"We had a fire damage, so they couldn't access the building and records. That's why they suspended it," Shaker Sadeak, the building owner, said.

According to the city, the building caught fire back in April 2023. Sadeak, who is also the former owner of the driving school, says he sold the business to his partner around 11 years ago.

"He is not in town right now," Sadeak said.

As per the complaint documents shared by Sadeak, seven violations of the Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act have been listed, which include the failure to provide records during the inspection and the business location not being accessible.

"It's in there. Everything is up to date," Sadeak said.

Other violations listed as part of imminent danger to the public allege that the instructors are not certified and the training vehicles are not properly insured.

"That is totally wrong. Our vehicles are fully insured for the instructor and the students. Both our instructors are certified in the state of Michigan," Sadeak said.

The complaint also accuses the school of teaching teen drivers without proper certification.

"It's an adult driving school only," Sadeak said.

"So you don't teach teen drivers?" 7 News Detroit reporter Faraz Javed asked.

"No, sir. We do not," Sadeak said.

However, on the school's website, "driving lessons for teens" is listed under the services section.

"So, you believe the complaint is wrong?" Javed asked.

"Out of the seven counts, five of them are wrong," Sadeak said.

But it seems the 16-year-old school may have a reputation for something else.

"That's the place to go where you will for sure pass. They will give you your license," Katie Simmons said.

A former student, Simmons says Al Baraka is the only driving school she attended before getting her driver's license 10 years ago. When she heard about the school's suspension, like others on social media, she wasn't surprised.

"A lot of the segments I did not pass. Like my parallel parking, I didn't pass. I do remember I ran two stop signs. And I watched him check everything off like I did everything right," Simmons said.

"We don't provide the test. We just provide the training in the vehicle," Sadeak said.

Now, Sadeak says a meeting has been set up next month with the Department of State to iron things out. Until then, the school will remain closed. 

Arab American Amer Zahr is big on stand-up comedy, but he's even more passionate when it comes to standing up for his Palestinian roots.

Last year, Amer was heavily involved in the "Abandon Biden" campaign. While Joshua Feinstein, a former Zionist, and Mikal Goodman played key roles in the "uncommitted" movement, none of them voted for Donald Trump.

"As an American, was Gaza the only important topic for you?" I asked.

"Absolutely not," said Joshua.

Amer said, "Gaza was the biggest issue in the election. It is what made Biden drop out; don't let anyone tell you anything different. And it's the reason Harris lost."

"You are not Arab, you are not Muslim ... why was this important for you? I asked Mikal.

Mikal said, "For me the boundary of I'm only helping them because they look like me is something that I've never done. It's a collective struggle. MLK has said that, Malcom X has said that."

In January, Donald Trump was sworn in for a second term.

Mikal says the policies rolled out by Trump are "absolutely horrendous."

Related video from earlier report: Interview with activists in the uncommitted vote movement Extended interview with activists about uncommitted vote movement

"It's confirming everything that many of us believe to be true. We knew once he got in office, he would start attacking marginalized groups through the dismantling of DEI programs, we are seeing mass firing. Mass firing at the FAA. Local and state governments are threatened for supporting Black and brown working-class people," he said.

"Based on some of the things President Trump has said about Gaza, about Palestine, about the Middle East, does that sit well with you?" I asked.

Amer said, "No. I'm not worried about Trump ethnically cleansing 2 million people from Gaza. What we have seen is that for instance, two major recipients of U.S. aid, Egypt and Jordan, have stood up and said, this is not going to happen. Even Saudi Arabia who is very cozy with the US, was talking about normalizing relationship with Israel has gotten up and said, this is not going to happen. So again, in a weird way, he kind of brings people together to talk about justice in Palestine. So there may be a silver lining to all of this."

Joshua said, "Him being a wild card and having a knock-on effect on stopping the bombing, I realize it's a temporary relief."

Many uncommitted voters believe that the current ceasefire deal came to fruition with Trump winning back the White House.

"I also realize, Trump being in office will create a spike of ... uncertainty," said Joshua. "What was not OK with me, is ... seeing, my friends and family being bombed every day, seeing innocent people being killed. And I think if you look at the community here in Michigan, we rather see someone come at us and stab us in the chest, rather than tell us they are our friend and keep stabbing us in the back."

Amer said he wants elected officials to listen to his community.

"We understand there is really no place for Arabs, Muslims, brown people, immigrants, but the Democratic party has to listen to us," he said.

"How do you respond, when people say it is the uncommitted movement that helped Trump get back in the office?" I asked.

"Statistically, it was not the uncommitted that moved the needle. Our idea for the uncommitted was to vote for peace, vote for your conscience," said Joshua.

Mikal said overall people wanted to see change happen.

Joshua said while he does feel they have the Democratic party's attention, there are still questions.

"So we have the attention, but do we have the ear? Do we have the openness to actually say let's figure this out instead of pointing fingers ... that's the question," he said.

Where Your Voice Matters

Vara Juice in Ypsilanti nearly became the victim of an armed robbery this past Friday. Caught on camera, the suspect had no clue that his attempt to make quick cash would come to a hard stop, all thanks to a hero who was next door.

Thirty-five-year-old Ali Hadma owns a hookah place called Cups On A Mission, located next to Vara Juice on Washtenaw Ave.

"3 years," said Ali when asked how long he's owned the shop.

Ali moved to Michigan in 1997 from Iraq with his parents and seven siblings.

"Family. From the owners to the employees, even the customers," said Ali, describing his relationship with Vara Juice.

Ali also steps frequently as a helper.

"That is true," said Ali, specifically referring to his actions on Friday.

Around 7:30 pm, Ali got a call from 20-year-old Mariam at Vara Juice asking him to come immediately.

"So you had no idea what you were walking into?" I asked.

"No," said Ali.

Ali was walking into an attempted armed robbery. Seconds before, you can see the suspect pointing a gun at Mariam at the cash register. Mariam can be heard asking Ali to come in Arabic.

RELATED VIDEO: Surveillance video shows Good Samaritan take down armed robbery suspect Surveillance video shows Good Samaritan take down armed robbery suspect

Scared for her life, Mariam starts handing the cash to the suspect, but he decides to go after it himself. That's when Ali enters.

"Everything in my head was blocked out. It was just grab the gun, put the money back, and just save our lives," said Ali.

"But you didn't know he had a gun?" I asked.

"The closer I got to him, he said I had a gun," said Ali.

In the next 60 seconds, the security footage reveals it all. Ali pins the suspect against the counter. A struggle to control the firearm begins. Ali disarms the suspect. And eventually takes him down.

"Have you got any tactical or self-defense training?" I asked.

"No. I just go to the gym 6 days a week," said Ali.

Once Ali got the cash back, he let go of the suspect, who can be seen walking away in the security footage.

"Had you known he had a gun, would you have done what you did?" I asked.

"Yes," said Ali.

The suspect, Barrage Lamar Scott, was charged Sunday with armed robbery. The 37-year-old's bond was also denied as he faces up to life in prison. Meanwhile, sources tell me the firearm was a BB gun.

"Everybody in Ypisi loves Ali. It's Ramadan right now; we break the fast together. All the girls he treats like his sisters," said Sadam Badani, the owner of the Vara Juice location.

Badani tells me Mariam is doing okay, but her parents will only allow Mariam to resume work if her hero, Ali, is around.

"I don't care about the money, about anything else. As long as nobody got hurt," said Sadam.

"You know a lot of people on social media, they are like hey you are crazy, why would you risk your life for a couple of dollars. It wasn't about that. If people need help. Help them," said Ali.

"Whenever Ali need me, I'll be there," said Sadam.

Since the social media video has gone viral, 'Put it back' has become Ali's catchphrase and he has created hoodies and t-shirts, which he says are now in high demand. You can reach Ali on Instagram @Cuponamission

From fighting inside the ring to making a difference outside... a local wrestling group says they are achieving many goals through their organization.

Pure Pro Wrestling is based out of a Goodrich, Michigan barn.

"Whose barn is this?" I asked.

"This is mine, this is the family farm that I grew up on," said Joe Byrd.

The founder and head coach, Joe Byrd, started the company 15 years ago as a side hustle, primarily to help raise funds for charities.

"Around recession time in 07, I had lost my job, and I was sitting around and collecting unemployment checks and I thought to myself, I really don't want to go back into the sales world. So, what if I took a shot at this wrestling company and I started investing all my unemployment checks into wrestling shows and I never looked back," Joe said.

What started with 6 wrestlers... is now 50 strong.

"How is business?" I asked.

"We are the largest professional wrestling company in the state of Michigan. We are the only one that tours and offers family-friendly pro wrestling," Joe said.

The company supports many charities including Xceptional Heroes, and Toys 4 Tots among others. But there is more goodness to this place than meets the eye.

"Aint no time like father time," said Father Time, a wrestler at Pure Pro Wrestling.

"How old are you?" I asked.

"If I tell you that I will have to kill you. Im younger than 80, older than 70," said Father Time.

Father Time joined the company 4 years ago. A passion from his twenties that kept fading away.

"Things kept happening. Ive had 3 strokes, two bouts with cancer. I can see nothing but light in my left eye. And I can barely see you with my right eye," said Father Time.

"What motivated you to say, you know what? Im not going to let this stop me," asked Faraz.

"Anybody with a disability, we have an edge on anybody we call normal. Because when they get up they just do. But when we get up, we have to fight. And thats what Father Time does.. He gets up in the morning, and he is looking for something to overcome." said Father Time.

Penny P, the Knockout Nerd, is another unstoppable force in the ring.

"And John Cena has been your inspiration?" I asked.

"Yes, his thing of never giving up, that phrase itself kept me going," Penny said.

The 22-year-old is a sexual assault survivor.

"It started really young; I was probably 5 or 6. And I have talked about this since the court case. That court case ended in August of last year. When all that was going on, I was here. I was training, using wrestling as a therapy," Penny said.

"Words cant describe your bravery and how courageous you are. It also shows me no matter how strong a person is from the outside, you just dont know what they are going through inside," I said.

No, not a lot of people know Im a SA survivor and i got this really pretty tattoo," Penny said

But more than that, she has finally found her family here.

"Do you secretly wish at some point you can say you can't see me?" I asked.

"Oh Absolutely, but that's John Cenas trademark and I'm not going to steal it from him," Penny said.

"Going into this, did you ever think you would end up changing lives?" I asked.

"I think when you go out and do something like performance art, which is what pro wrestling is, it's so therapeutic in nature," Joe said.

To learn more about Pure Pro Wrestling and their upcoming events, as well as to join their wrestling program, head to www.pureprowrestling.net

The Paczki Day Party kicked off today with Polish treats and feasts at Eastern Market.

Thousands of people attended the one-day event, which traditionally paves the way for Fat Tuesday.

45-year-old Rodney Srodek moved to Michigan from Poland in 1985.

"I love my Polish heritage," said Rodney.

"What do you love about it?" I asked

"The family aspect, Polish music, and Polish food," Rodney replied.

Rodney is the proud owner of Srodek's, an establishment that dates back to 1981.

"My grandparents started this shop. We have two bricks and mortars... Food truck, I started probably around 11 years ago," said Rodney.

"What is your specialty?" I asked.

"Pierogi and Kiszka," Rodney said.

"What makes your food authentic?" I asked.

"My great grandmother's recipe... it's passed down," Rodney said.

And that's why hundreds of people were in Detroit's Eastern Market to dive into Polish heritage as part of the annual Paczki Day Party.

"What's the one aspect of this event that you love?" I asked an attendee.

"I believe it's the Polish Vodka, their Paczki vodka and Paczki itself." Mike said.

Husband and Wife, Mike and Anne Wyszczelski attend the event yearly to pay tribute to their Polish roots.

"What's the secret recipe for being married for 35 years?" I asked.

"Lots of Polish Vodka," said Anne.

"Polish food," said Mike.

It turns out the party's host, Detroit City Distillery's top-selling item, is derived from something Polish.

"7 years ago, Steve, the boss of the distillery, went to Hamtramck and got 6 dozen Paczki. Through that, we create Paczki Day Vodka. That started super niche. A couple of hundred bottles, and now it's expanded to thousands of bottles across the state," Ryan said.

Even though this event wrapped up today, The Distillery's Ryan Klosowski says thousands of people attend the one-day event, and every year, it gets bigger and better.

"It's just something we really look forward to every year," said Ryan.

This year, Fat Tuesday falls on March 4th, and the city of Hamtramck is all set once again to celebrate the Polish culture.

Francine Williams is the proud owner of the Williams Healthcare Training Center in Southfield.

"But you go by the name of Nurse Fran?" I asked.

"That is correct," said Fran.

A Black-owned business that trains Home Health Aides and teaches CPR, but the biggest thing that Fran takes pride in is the Center's Certified Nursing Assistant program.

"They are so essential because they are at the bedside," said Fran.

"You've been a CNA for 4 years and a registered nurse for 12 years; how did you even come to this point?" I asked.

"Working on the floor, I've seen so many adequacies with some of the CNAs. And it was due to lack of skills and lack of training," Fran said.

"Is there a shortage right now for CNAs?" I asked.

"Aside from there being a national shortage, there is a huge shortage in Michigan. It's projected that nearly 20,000 positions will open within the next few years. And that's simply due to the aging population. And the CNAs currently in the field are leaving to pursue other careers such as nursing," Fran said.

That's why Fran is on a mission: to help aspiring CNAs.

Newly enrolled in the program, 37-year-old Brittni Johnson has always wanted to be a caregiver.

"What was holding you back?" I asked.

"Being able to pay for it was a lot of it," Brittni said.

After working in the restaurant industry for 15 years, the mom of five can finally turn her dream into reality.

"How do you think this is going to change your life?" I asked.

"I think it's going to open up doors for my family to see that it's never too late to learn more about things that you are passionate about," Brittni said.

"Your family must be really proud of you," I mentioned.

"Absolutely! Cheerleading all the way," said Brittni.

"Who is your biggest fan?" I followed up with.

"My friend Jackie Spencer. Cause she came through this program, she believed in me. And I'm grateful to her for opening up this chance," Brittni said.

Brittni's friend Jackie, who also became a CNA at the Center, shared Brittni's hardship with Fran.

"I can relate with that because that's life. Not everyone is born with the funds and opportunities for what they want to do," Fran said.

Fran encouraged Brittni to apply for the Center's scholarship. As a result, the program is 100% covered by the Center.

"You know the bills don't stop... there have obviously been times in my personal life where I'm like, where do I go career-wise?" Brittni said.

As the Center continues giving back to the community, Fran says over the 2 years, the program has produced over 150 CNAs.

"My next goal is to create a licensed Licensed Practical Nurse program, which would be the next step for CNAs," said Fran.

Meanwhile, Fran and Brittni's message is simple: it's never too late to accomplish your dreams. Plus, Fran says she is willing to work with anyone who steps through the Center's door to kick start their caregiving journey.

To learn more, head to this website.

The water is 34 degrees, and it's frigid in Grosse Ile. But that didn't stop people from taking a polar plunge. Around 20 law enforcement officers and their family members took part in the annual event organized by the LUCAS Foundation.

"It signifies something that's extremely difficult that you can still come out on the other side of it," said Brian Sizemore, the foundation's co-founder.

Brian says it's all being done to raise awareness for an important cause.

"Actually, more officers are dying by suicide than they are in the line of duty," Brian said.

This hit closer to home for Brian and his family when they lost their 24-year-old son Lucas Henry Sizemore.

"He took his own life on January 9, 2024," said Brian.

A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Officer Sizemore had just completed a year at the Atlanta Police Department.

"We were shocked. We were devastated. It's, it's still painful. I mean, we, we cry every day and you know people people say that it'll get easier and it don't. And then as a parent there's guilt involved with it because we didn't know there was no indication that there was anything," Brian said.

"What was his personality like?" I asked.

"A little bit of a clown like to play. Pranks on people and Joker's grandmother, she was constantly the butt of his pranks," Brian said.

"Sounds like he was larger than life," I said.

"Yes, he was when he walked in the room, the whole room lit up, you know, it was a perfect son, his sense of humor, his smile...you know, everything that you want a son to be," said Brian.

Since Officer Sizemore's death, his parents started the Lucas Foundation. "Lucas" is short for Law Enforcement's United Crusade Against Suicide.

"It's a difficult line of work to begin with. There's a lot of stress. There's stress that officers take home. There's a lot of secondary trauma. Officers see and do things that regular people don't," said Jared Murphy, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Michigan and Ohio.

Murphy recalls when Officer Sizemore interned at HSI 3 years ago.

"Outstanding young man, bright, energetic, motivated, team player," Murphy said.

That's why the Acting special agent in charge, Murphy, is planning the foundation's next event, the 1000-mile relay run.

"The transition points from one runner handing off the baton to the next, the majority of those are going to be at police stations, at sheriff's office, at state police, and federal law enforcement agencies. And something that could draw the entire nation's attention towards this really critical issue," Murphy said.

While law enforcement officers are encouraged to take part, the September event, which covers six states, is also open to the public.

"Just to see all these people come out. Not only for the foundation but in honor of Lucas. Take part in something so challenging, something so difficult. How does that make you feel?" I asked..

"It's hard to not get emotional," Brian said.

Now, to learn more about the Lucas Foundation and the upcoming 1000-mile relay race, just head to https://www.lucascrusade.org/ or https://www.lawenforcementsunitedcrusadeagainstsuicide.com/

First responders from various law enforcement agencies carried out multiple rescue missions throughout Monday in southwest Detroit, helping over 200 people after their homes were flooded during the early morning hours due to a water main break.

VIDEO: The latest on a 54-inch water main break in SW Detroit that flooded neighborhood The latest on a 54-inch water main break in SW Detroit that flooded neighborhood

"It was one in the morning. There was water coming in through the basement, and then when we looked outside, well, the street was already flooded; it was probably waist high," said Leonardo Adame, a southwest Detroit resident.

Leonardo Adame, his sister, and his mom were some of the hundreds of people stranded in the neighborhood, with some areas flooded with freezing cold water as high as 5 feet.

"Power went out, the heat went off, you know, so we're in there it was pretty cold. We were basically just waiting for help to come and get us," said Adame.

And help did arrive. Anayelli Adame says the US Coast Guard rescued the family around 3 pm.

"Earlier we had said that we didn't need rescue. We were being stubborn, but later on, they came, and we decided that it was time for us to go," said Anayelli.

Sgt. Michael Roehrig from Wayne County Sheriff's Office tells me that 13 strike teams have been deployed from Southeast Michigan Dive Group, comprising over 65 divers assisting with rescue missions.

"This is pretty huge. It goes for several blocks in each direction, 8 blocks total, I believe is what I was told," said Sgt. Roehrig.

"Now, obviously, it is super cold. I mean, I know you and I are both bundled up. What are some of the challenges your team members are facing right now?" asked Javed.

"Well, it's ice-cold conditions, so they're walking through 2 to 4 ft of water right down the middle of the street. A foot and a half on the sidewalks, and that water is leaking into the houses. It's pretty dangerous out there, very dangerous, very slippery," said Sgt. Roehrig.

From small boats to excavators, several options were deployed to bring people to safety.

"So, how many people have you rescued since this morning?" asked Javed.

"I believe they've rescued about 200 people so far, several animals, dogs and cats, and even a chicken," said Sgt. Roehrig.

"It must be an overwhelming feeling to, you know, leave your home and then jump on a boat and then something that you probably would never have dreamt of," asked Faraz.

"Yeah, I do not, especially with my pets at home," said Anayelli.

Now, Sgt. Roehrig says rescue operations will continue for as long as it takes. Meanwhile, people are urged to keep away from the water as it is being reported to be contaminated with sewage water.

During the colder months, the annual Winter at Valade is one of the key attractions in Downtown Detroit, where people can have indoor and outdoor fun.

Melissa Behring is one of the performers set to entertain people at Robert C Valade Park. The life-long musician goes by the name of the Fairy Godmother of Music.

"It's true, I do!" said Behring.

Behring loves performing for the kids, and it turns out she has more than one way of attracting her audience.

"Some kids see my crown, and say they like it, they say that is the lady who knows what's going on, and I don't know if I really know what's going on as much as I love to do music for young people," said Behring.

"Why is this genre of music meaningful to you?" I asked.

"Because I think it's the easiest way to adapt to music like parents and children, right? So instead of a kid listening with headphones to this one thing, they're both engaged in the same experience of the musical event so to speak," Behring said.

"How does this event tie into what you're doing?" I asked.

"It's a really exciting way to look at the entire world, and, and I think music is a piece of that puzzle," Behring said.

This weekend's theme is Winter Around the World, and Detroit Riverfront Conservancy's Marc Pasco says this event helps bring the community together.

"Its cold in the winter and, there's not a great deal of opportunities to go outside and get some fresh air and celebrate as a community. So our Winter at Valade celebrations give people an opportunity to get together, celebrate winter, see each other, you know, have some fun, burn some calories, have some good food, listen to some music. So I think it's a great escape and excuse to get people outdoors," said Pasco, Director of Communications, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.

Pasco says the wholesome family event has something for everyone.

"This year we had two themed weekends with the Winter Blade. We had a fire and ice festival that brought like 10,000 people out to the riverfront. Today is our, our second of the themed weekends. It's a winter around the world, so kids can go sledding. They can go snowshoeing, and we have drinks, food trucks, and things like that for the adults," Pasco said.

Other activities include Mardi Gras and Lunar New Year celebrations, along with kids' activities and, of course, live music.

"When kids surround you, and they're listening to your music, and they're, you know, they're looking at the fairy godmother of music, being inspired. How does that make you feel?" asked Javed.

"Oh, I walk on water then. It is like that's heavenly. So I like the long-term plan, which is just to keep spreading more goodness and joy and happiness," said Behring.

To learn more about Winter at Valade and events on the riverfront... head to https://detroitriverfront.org/

On Michigan Avenue, Unburger is picking up steam for its Un-original food. The co-owner, Christopher Oliver, says everything on the menu is 100% plant-based.

"I want Unburger to be the McDonalds of the vegan world. I want to be all across the nation, all around the globe," Oliver said.

Once a meat lover, Oliver dove into the world of a plant-based diet after a health scare.

"Cancer, diabetes, just in general a wreck," Oliver said.

Now, the 60-year-old says his health is in a good place.

"I feel 20," said Oliver.

While sales from here have helped fatten up his wallet.

"I think I danced a jig every time I went home," Oliver said

The business wasn't always the same, especially during the pandemic.

"I really thought it was over," Oliver said.

The Lapeer native first launched the concept in 2018 as Unbruger Grill.

"Why did people tell you that Dearborn would be a bad choice?" I asked him

"That Dearborn was predominately Muslim, everyone told me that you will just never survive there. You just won't get the support you need. But I found it to be the absolute opposite," Oliver said.

During the struggle days, Oliver says the community rallied behind his business and looked for ways to assist.

"I was talking to a customer. And he said 'if there was anything I could do to help you, what would it be?' And I said, 'find me some investors', joking, I had never imagined that guy was going to reach out to Karl," Oliver said.

Karl Makky, Moe Abdallah, and Tony Duhnai are the ones who came to Chris's rescue.

"Is it important for you guys to showcase that it's more than business?" I asked.

"Here in Dearborn, it's a tight-knit community; people love supporting each other. Any time there is a new business, everybody comes and supports you. And that's the culture that we have around here," Moe said.

"You guys could have easily, bought this place out, why did you decide to keep Chris?" I asked.

"Because Chris was a unique part of it for us, and we felt like Chris' story was so touching to us, we felt we got to build of this," Karl said.

And that's why, for Oliver, this isn't a partnership; it's a fellowship.

"And that's been our motto from the beginning," Oliver said.

"What does that even mean?" I asked.

"It means we are more than partners. We are connected in our heart," Oliver said.

According to Good Food institute, the U.S. retail market for plant-based foods is worth $8.1 billion. Plus, with a fresh new look and fellowship, Unburger is hitting new levels of growth.

"You have to have passion, especially when it comes to food, and sometimes egos get in the way, but one thing about our group is there is no egos," Moe said.

To learn more about Unburger, head to the link below.

https://unburgergrill.com/

In honor of Black History Month, the Michigan-based Goldfish Foundation held a swim meet on Saturday at Seaholm High School. The goal of the meet was to promote diversity and raise awareness for parents to enroll children into life-saving swim lessons.

Metro Detroit's first-ever dual swim meet, the MAROON Cup, was held in Birmingham, featuring Seaholm High School versus U-D Jesuit. Among the young athletes, in attendance was also a four-time Olympic medalist and the first African American swimmer to hold a world record, Cullen Jones.

"What I have been able to become for young swimmers ... it's a gift every day," said Jones.

At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Jones set the world record for the freestyle relay team. In total, Jones has 13 U.S. medals, including seven golds at major international competitions, making him a role model for many, including Kaden Patterson.

"I'd be able to learn from his experiences being a Black man in a mostly white sport and from there, I'd be able to take what he learned as he got older and apply them right now," said Kaden.

The 14-year-old is part of the University of Detroit Jesuit High School swim team.

"I mean even in this meet, how many kids of color do you see?" asked Faraz Javed, 7 News Detroit reporter.

"Not many, even on our team right now, it's only about five or six in total, and it's the same with many teams throughout this league YMCA, USA and that's something that just needs to change," said Kaden.

That's why the foundation's ambassador, Jones, aims to promote swimming among the youth.

According to the CDC, Black children are nearly eight times more likely to drown.

"And you could have been part of that statistic," said Faraz.

"Yes..." replied Jones.

Jones was 5 years old when he nearly drowned at a water park.

"I ended up being underwater for more than 30 seconds, they say a child can have brain damage being underwater for more than 30. They had to pull me out, fully resuscitate me, but my parents were like 'OK never again, we're getting in the swim lesson,'" said Jones.

Hearing such horror stories encouraged Natalie Jones-Brown to enroll her son Kaden into a swim program when he was 5.

"Water safety should be the top priority so that your kid is confident in the water and safe, and then like with Kaden, that became his passion, and then we just kept going," said Brown.

Kaden says swimming has made him a better person and grateful for his mom.

"It's made me realize all the things my mom has done for me. 'Cause it's not just me waking up early in the morning at 5 a.m. She's there waking me up, [to] take me to practice," said Kaden.

Meanwhile, the founder of The Goldfish Foundation, Chris McCuiston, aims to introduce swim programs to underserved communities, overcoming any roadblocks.

"Potentially financial, some of it has to do with the location. Some of them may be awareness, probably ... a stigma out there that we just don't learn to swim, I need to change that, because everyone needs to learn regardless," said McCuiston.

To learn more about the foundation, click here.

As technology evolves, more people have access to the internet, and children are potentially at a greater risk than ever of being exploited online.

Dave Alley, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations - Detroit (HSI), and he's working to take down those who are child predators.

Alley is a father of four from St. Clair. He says in 2014, the National Center for Missing Children sent about 1 million leads regarding child sexual abuse. By 2023, that number jumped to approximately 35.9 million.

"The greatest thing I do every day is being a father. I love my job. I love what I do, but being a father is the most important thing to me," Alley told me.

"Has that been the motivation for your current job?" I asked.

"Very much. All kids deserve to grow up happy and healthy with a positive childhood," he said.

Alley joined HSI 17 years ago. For the last 10 years, he has been investigating crimes against children.

"In these 10 years, what has changed?" I asked.

"We are seeing more and more tips coming in, cases coming in. We are inundated with victims, with offenders. There is just so much more access to both the internet and two materials," he said.

The State Department defines child exploitation as victims under the age of 18 used in a sexual act, including pornography, sex trafficking, and sextortion, among others. Alley examines evidence from these heinous crimes as part of his investigation to get to the perpetrators.

"Every time you see it, it's horrific to a degree. But the first time is absolutely a shock. We have a number of programs to help take care of agents who have to work these kinds of cases," he said.

Last year, HSI alone investigated nationally close to 7,000 child exploitation cases, which led to the arrest of nearly 5,000 suspects, of which 121 cases came from Michigan with 64 of those from the metro Detroit area.

"What is the commonality behind these predators?" I asked.

"We see professionals, we see people who are living in moms basement. We see it all across every age, race, and socioeconomic status; the commonality that I would say is a sexual interest in children," he said.

Throughout his career, Alley has arrested over a hundred predators.

"Every time I make an arrest, every time a lead that I sent out results in an arrest, I write the name of my offender on a poker chip and put it in this jar," he said.

There is a color system. Green offenders are from difficult cases, and blue chips are if he has arrested you twice, and the two red chips are for two of the worst offenders Alley said he's ever arrested in Michigan.

"One was a hands-on offender committing a violent act against numerous children he had access to. The other is a sextortionist who had dozens and dozens of victims across the world, threatening them with physical harm if they didnt produce videos that he was interested in," he said.

The first red poker chip is for 60-year-old Michael Pierce from Lake Orion, who was sentenced to 90 years in federal prison. Meanwhile, 34-year-old Colin Martin from Center Line was sentenced to 40 years also in a federal prison. Both pled guilty.

"Does anything shock you now?" I asked.

"Probably every six months I see something and say, 'That its! The worst thing Ill ever see.' And then six months will go by and Ill say, 'OK well thats it. Thats the worst thing I will ever see.' So I dont know if theres an upper limit. I make it a point to when I put a name in the jar right that my wifes around, my kids are around and they can see that the quantification of the good that Im trying to do," he said.

As the investigation continues for numerous other cases, Dave says there is only so much law enforcement can do.

"Where do you think parents are making a mistake?" I asked.

"I think by and large it's the lack of knowing what their kids are doing on their devices. And its not lazy parenting, its not bad parenting, its the lack of knowledge of what a particular app may do, that particular app may be safe or not," he said.