Senior citizens living in the 21-story Washington Boulevard Apartments are struggling to navigate their daily lives after elevators broke down following a water main break on Friday.

Watch Tiarra's report below

Detroit apartment elevators down after water main break, seniors struggle with stairs

"Basically, everyone is stranded in their apartments," said Ronda Peete, a resident at Washington Boulevard Apartments.

Peete says she was in one of the elevators when the water main pipe broke.

"I went to the 21st floor to wash, and when I put my clothes in and got back on the elevator, the elevator started going like this. So finally it went down to the first floor, so when it got to the first floor, it opened up and water just gushed in," Peete said.

The building has two stairwells, but one remains closed after it was flooded with water, leaving residents with only one way to reach their apartments.

Barbara Williamson, another resident, expressed concern about the health risks the situation poses for elderly tenants.

"I have a heart condition all kinds of issue,s and those elevators are very important to us," Williamson said.

Robert Barry, who lives on the 15th floor, worries about emergency situations and how first responders would reach residents in need.

"If I pass out there and I call 911 and then I call Ronda, Ronda might make it up the stairs, but when that paramedic guy, he's got to get buzzed in, he's got to find a stairway to get, and I may not make it," Barry said.

Jim Harrigan, executive vice president of Independent Management Services, which helps manage the building, said repairs are underway.

We hope to get the elevators up and running by early next week, potentially as early as Monday," Harrigan said.

While residents wait for the elevators to be restored, Detroit city officials are working with building management to provide assistance. The city is helping deliver food and other essential services to residents who cannot navigate the stairs.

"What we found out is they have some concerns regarding the heat, they had some concerns about not having food because they weren't able to go back and forth down the stairs, so I contacted our resources, and we're able to provide them with food and other services," said Anquenetta Jones, senior advocate for the City of Detroit.

Peete emphasized the urgent need for help as residents continue to face these challenging conditions.

"We all need some type of help," Peete said.

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Some metro Detroit businesses chose to remain open during Friday's anti-ICE protests, offering what they described as safe spaces for their communities while others closed their doors in solidarity with the demonstrations.

Organizers of the protests called for people to skip work and school, and for businesses to shut down for the day.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report below: Metro Detroit businesses split on staying open during anti-ICE protest

Mark Maynard, co-owner of Bellflower restaurant in Ypsilanti, decided to keep his doors open.

"We struggled with it. Our first impulse was to close because a lot of other people we respected were closing and then we thought about it and thought what we do is cook and we take care of people," Maynard said.

The Pearl Street restaurant offered a "pay what you can" model for the day to encourage community participation.

"We thought people might need a place to come, so we though let's do it differently. We have pay what you can today, so we try to get as many people from the community to come in," Maynard said.

In Ann Arbor, the Michigan Theater remained open, screening "Resurgo," a documentary about Detroit's resilience that touches on the 1960s riots in the city.

Stephen McGee, the documentary's filmmaker, explained his decision to continue the screening.

"We were aware that the businesses were going to shut down and we wanted to respect that. At the same time, my film is what I think America needs right now. What I've seen in the past 20 years in Detroit makes me still believe in our country," McGee said.

Molly Rowan, the CEO of the Michigan and State Theaters, emphasized the venue's role as a community gathering place.

"I think the arts provided a safe space for multiple factions of the community and this is a beautiful 100-year-old building it's a cultural landmark, people know it and we're more than just a movie theater, we are a place of connection," Rowan said.

Michigan Republican Party Co-chair Sunny Reddy weighed in on the protests, expressing support for peaceful demonstration while defending ICE operations.

"So I strongly support peaceful protest. There's no question about it. But at the same time, let the ICE do their job. They're not targeting. I don't see they're targeting any individual or any individual race," Reddy said.

Meanwhile, Mark Maynard emphasized his restaurant's mission to bring the community together during challenging times.

"It's good to have a place in the community where people can meet and talk," Maynard said.

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Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti highlighted student attendance as the district's greatest challenge during his State of the Schools address Thursday, citing recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity as a factor deterring some students from attending classes.

"If I had to start to list some of our greatest challenges, it would be student attendance," Vitti said.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report below: Detroit schools superintendent addresses chronic absenteeism amid ICE activity concerns

The superintendent emphasized the critical connection between attendance and academic success, noting that students who miss 18 or fewer days are significantly more likely to perform well academically.

"When our students miss 18 or fewer days, they are three to five times more likely to be at or above grade level at MSTEP and to be college ready on the SAT," Vitti said.

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

Recent immigration enforcement activity in Detroit has created additional barriers to school attendance, according to Vitti. Families are becoming increasingly cautious about their daily routines, including walking children to school.

"I know that families are second guessing walking their children to school, thinking about when they leave, monitoring the neighborhoods absolutely, it is impacting student attendance," Vitti said.

The concerns are resonating with parents throughout the district. Aliya Moore, whose daughter attends Detroit public schools and who grew up in southwest Detroit, expressed heartbreak over the current situation affecting students.

"I just can't possibly imagine one of my classmates being scared or being fearful for their family and themselves," Moore said.

To address chronic absenteeism, the district has established resource centers to support families. Parent Melinda Mo'Nae Rawls praised these efforts as beneficial for both parents and students.

"Since he is providing a lot of resources to help these parents, that also helps engage the children and also encourage them to come to school and be the best that they can be," Rawls said.

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Despite bitter cold temperatures forcing event cancellations across metro Detroit, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy's Fire and Ice Festival continued in full force at Robert C. Valade Park on Saturday.

Watch Tiarra's story in the video player below

Detroit's Fire and Ice Festival draws crowds despite freezing temperatures

Bundled-up visitors braved the freezing weather to enjoy ice sculptures, sledding, and warming stations at the riverfront festival. The combination of fire and ice elements motivated people to venture out despite the harsh conditions.

"It's like very, very cold," said Ava, one of the festival attendees.

Jared Hocker, another visitor, advised future attendees to come prepared. "It's definitely cold, layer up if you come out here, hat, gloves, everything," Hocker said.

Personal Wilson described the cold as "like a knife cutting through you," but that didn't stop her from bringing her grandchildren to see the ice sculptures and go sledding.

"It's very cold but we love it, I've been born and raised in Michigan so I'm use to it," Wilson said.

William Walker echoed similar sentiments about embracing Michigan winters. "I was also born and raised in Michigan, also have a winter birthday so I'm use to the cold and I really like it out here," Walker said.

The festival even attracted visitors from warmer climates. Paola Martinez and Christian Lugo traveled from Miami to attend the event as part of a birthday celebration that included the Ford factory tour and auto show.

"We're here for my son's 21st birthday, we came for the Ford factory tour and also to the auto show," Martinez said.

Lugo appreciated the dramatic change of scenery. "It's a great change of scenery, you know we never get to see snow, so it's good to have a change in life," Lugo said.

While many events across the metro Detroit area were canceled due to the extreme cold, Rachel Frierson, CEO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, said her team was determined to keep the festival running.

"We wanted to make sure we had an opportunity for people to both stay warm and enjoy, Frierson said. "This is a really lonely time a year so we wanted to kind of have these exciting moments."

For many attendees, the harsh weather was simply part of the authentic winter experience.

"It's really kind of what winter is all about, it's a good thing about living in the area like this, you get to experience all four seasons," Hocker said.

The Fire and Ice Festival continues through Sunday until 6 p.m. at Robert C. Valade Park on Detroit's riverfront.

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A former nurse at DMC Sinai Grace Hospital is facing additional sexual assault allegations as 14 new alleged victims have filed a civil lawsuit against both Wilfredo Figueroa-Berrios and the Detroit hospital.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report: Former Sinai Grace nurse faces 14 new sexual assault allegations in civil lawsuit

The lawsuit, filed by Chicago-based law firm Gould, Grieco and Hensley, represents 14 women who claim they were patients at the hospital when they were allegedly assaulted by Figueroa-Berrios.

This case has been developing since August 2025, when Figueroa-Berrios was first charged with multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct. The new lawsuit adds to the growing number of allegations against the former nurse.

"These 14 women were all patients at Sinai-Grace between 2024, 2025," said Bryce Hensley, an attorney with the law firm representing the alleged victims.

November 2025 coverage: Four new lawsuits filed against Sinai-Grace Hospital in nurse sexual assault case Four new lawsuits filed against Sinai-Grace Hospital in nurse sexual assault case

During a news conference Friday, Hensley claimed the hospital was aware of Figueroa-Berrios' behavior but failed to take action.

"In April 2024, just months into his work there, Sinai Grace was put on notice. They were put on notice that they had a predator working on their staff," Hensley said.

There are currently eight civil lawsuits pending against the hospital involving allegations about Figueroa-Berrios.

A spokesperson for Sinai Grace sent this statement in response to the lawsuit:

<i>Sinai-Grace Hospital prioritizes the safety of our patients. &nbsp; The hospital has rigorous processes in place to screen applicants prior to employment. There was no indication of&nbsp;a concern during that process.&nbsp;We also have processes to identify and address patient safety issues and take appropriate action.&nbsp; &nbsp;Upon becoming aware of allegations against Mr. Berrios, Sinai-Grace proactively initiated contact with and notified law enforcement.&nbsp; The hospital also immediately suspended and ultimately terminated his employment.&nbsp; We do not condone any type of abuse and are cooperating fully with law enforcement.&nbsp;&nbsp;Federal privacy laws restrict us from sharing patient-specific information.</i>

Figueroa-Berrios was charged in three criminal cases in 2025 that are set for jury trials this spring. During a preliminary hearing in October, three alleged victims testified about their experiences.

Court records show three new cases of criminal sexual conduct were filed Friday in 36th District Court against Figueroa-Berrios. Those cases have been placed under seal, meaning they are not part of public record.

October 2025 coverage: Preliminary exam held for Detroit nurse accused in sexual assault of patients Preliminary exam held for Detroit nurse accused in sexual assault of patients

According to the attorney representing the 14 alleged victims in the latest lawsuit, only a small number of them have reported to police, and those reports have resulted in criminal charges.

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Metro Detroit residents woke up Thursday morning to snow blanketing their neighborhoods after a winter storm swept through the region overnight.

The unexpected snowfall caught many residents off guard, including John Woodson of Farmington, who was shoveling his mother's driveway when I spoke with him.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report below: Metro Detroit digs out from 6+ inches of snow as cleanup crews work around the clock

"I had no idea this was coming. Usually because I have two houses to take care of, I salt beforehand. No idea, just woke up and I've been at this since this morning," Woodson said.

Some areas in metro Detroit had 6 inches of snow fall.

Woodson noted the persistent challenge of Michigan winters.

"After 45 years I've lived here and it gets colder every year even though it's the same temperature. I don't know what it is," Woodson said.

In Birmingham, resident Tim Christensen also found himself caught off guard when it came to the winter weather.

"Roads this morning were pretty bad, pretty much snow covered. Traffic was going slow," Christensen said. It was Michigan in January."

The Road Commission for Oakland County has deployed crews throughout the day to address the snow-covered roads. Craig Bryson from the commission said teams are working around the clock to clear the streets.

Additional report: Crews work to clear the roads following snow storm Crews work to clear the roads following snow storm

"We're going to be doing everything to clean up during the day and into the night, potentially around the clock tonight," Bryson said.

Watch our coverage of drivers navigating icy condition the day before below: Drivers experience rush-hour traffic nightmare as snow creates icy conditions

The cleanup effort will continue for several days, especially with more snow expected Friday. Bryson explained the commission's priority system for snow removal.

"It's a long cleanup process, but we will be focusing on the main roads first. Once we get the main road all cleared, we start to focus on the side streets and subdivisions streets, but it may be a couple days before we start getting into the subdivisions," Bryson said.

Bryson urged residents to be patient with plow truck drivers and to drive slowly if they must travel during the ongoing cleanup efforts.

Commerce Township resident James Boerner summed up the unpredictable nature of Michigan winter weather.

"You never know what you're going to get," Boerner said.

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A Detroit City Councilwoman is pushing for legal ways to limit Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the city following the shooting of a Minneapolis woman by an ICE agent.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report: Detroit councilwoman seeks ICE operation limits after Minneapolis shooting

Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago-Romero sent a memo Thursday to Detroit City Council's Legislative Policy Division asking what ways the city could ban or limit ICE operations, particularly on city-owned properties and in sensitive areas.

"For me, this is about me making sure we are protecting everybody in the city of Detroit," Santiago-Romero said.

The councilwoman wants to explore restrictions on ICE operations at certain locations in the city.

"If we can do so at least on city-owned properties and sensitive areas like schools, places of worship," Santiago-Romero said. "Courthouses, hospitals, places that we know people are going to right now and are being picked up by ICE."

Santiago-Romero says she believes ICE is targeting U.S. citizens and creating fear in certain communities.

"I think this is an unfortunate example of what happens when you give an agency this amount of power and money," Santiago-Romero said.

Southwest Detroit residents Jessica Avila and Veronica Rodriguez, who have been helping families whose loved ones have been deported, say some residents are scared to leave their homes.

"People can not go out and work; therefore, we've had families that have no electricity they don't have the funds to continue to pay their rents," Rodriguez said.

"We're allowing ICE just to walk up and to just aggressively because we're seeing this more and more every single day, coming opening up doors and pulling people out. That's not okay," Avila said.

Michigan State Representative Lisa McClain, who recently tweeted her support for ICE, provided a statement defending federal immigration enforcement.

Let me be absolutely clear: The lefts nonstop demonization of law enforcement is dangerous. Whether its ICE, Border Patrol, or the local police that liberals have long called to defund, these men and women are stepping into harms way to remove violent illegal criminals, keep communities safe, and enforce the law. They deserve our respect, not attacks from the radical Democrats.

Meanwhile, Santiago-Romero says her next step is to meet with Mayor Mary Sheffield to discuss potential executive orders.

"There are executive orders that she may or may not be able to do. What are those?" Santiago-Romero said.

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A 36-year-old Lincoln Park man was shot in the arm by police Sunday afternoon after he allegedly charged at officers while holding a box cutter in Allen Park.

Watch Tiarra's report in the video player below

Lincoln Park man shot by police after he allegedly charged at officers with box cutter

No officers were injured.

The shooting occurred Saturday afternoon on Southfield Road near Dix Highway and was captured on cellphone video by witnesses driving by the scene.

According to Allen Park police, officers from both Allen Park and Lincoln Park responded to the Motor Lodge on Southfield Road for a suicidal subject.

Dispatch audio revealed the man was outside a 7 Brew location holding a box cutter to his throat.

"We're outside the 7 Brew, he's holding a box cutter to his throat," first responders said in dispatch audio.

Chloe Mannarino and her husband were driving down Southfield Road when they encountered the scene.

"We're coming up to Dix and we see cop cars straight across the way from one side of Southfield to the other," Mannarino said.

In Mannarino's cellphone video, an officer can be heard yelling "drop the knife" before shots were fired.

Police said officers deployed a taser on the man, but it had no effect. The man allegedly started walking aggressively towards officers and he was shot in the arm.

"It look like they were trying to deescalate the situation but he just kept charging at them and then that was it," Mannarino said.

Mannarino said she had never witnessed anything like the incident before.

"It still doesn't feel real really," Mannarino said.

Michigan State Police are leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.

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The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has sent shockwaves throughout the world, hitting particularly close to home for Venezuelans living in metro Detroit who are celebrating what they see as a new beginning for their homeland.

Watch Tiarra's report and Brittany Toolis' report in the video player below

Metro Detroit's Venezuela community reacts to President Maduro's capture Metro Detroit's Venezuela community reacts to President Maduro's capture

Jose Gutierrez, who owns El Rey de las Arepas in southwest Detroit, came to the U.S. from Venezuela 30 years ago.

"I say thank you God it's like an Independence Day for us, January 3rd," Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez hopes President Maduro's capture will bring positive change to Venezuela.

"I think step by step, we're going to get the Venezuela everybody wants, peace, harmony, good economic," Gutierrez said.

The news has sparked hope among Venezuelan expatriates who have been separated from their homeland for decades. Yaleni Brown, another Venezuelan living in Detroit, hasn't been back to Venezuela in more than 20 years but now feels more comfortable about returning to her home country.

"We're ready to pack, we're ready to see our family. We ready," Brown said.

"My pure wish come true this morning," Brown said.

Government relations specialist Dr. Frank Richter analyzed the broader implications of the situation, noting that the U.S. could face diplomatic challenges.

"Specifically, Brazil and Cuba and Colombia are not going to be very happy that we did this and they're going to put up a resistance to it diplomatically and the UN may not be happy," Richter said.

Richter emphasized that the success of any transition will depend on the Venezuelan people's response.

"The key is going to be if the people in Venezuela come out on the streets and they welcome the American presence," Richter said.

For Gutierrez, the moment represents the freedom he has long hoped for his homeland.

"Now so happy, we are free, Venezuela is free right now," Gutierrez said.

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Metro Detroit is experiencing a surge in flu, COVID-19, and RSV cases just as students prepare to return to school after winter break.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's video report: Triple threat hits Metro Detroit as schools prepare to reopen

Henry Ford Health reports seeing an increase in positive cases for all three illnesses throughout their system. According to the CDC, Michigan jumped from high to very high flu activity level in just one week, highlighting the rapid spread of respiratory viruses in the region.

"We saw a lot of COVID in the fall, and it kind of went away for a little bit, but it's coming back. But we're seeing much more flu than anything else," said Dr. Jason Vieder, an emergency medicine physician with Henry Ford Health.

Watch our entire interview with Dr. Vieder: Flu infection rate surges

The timing coincides with students returning to classrooms after winter break, creating concern among parents about keeping their children healthy in school environments.

Alexandra Stavnic, a Farmington Hills resident, said she's being proactive about her family's health during this surge.

"I try to give them as much vitamins and do my part as a mom," Stavnic said.

She's also avoiding crowded indoor spaces, opting for outdoor activities like sledding at Shiawassee Sledding Hill in Farmington.

"This was kind of like the best option to try not to be so close to people but also have fun," Stavnic said.

Other parents are taking additional precautions as children return to school. Andrea Iagar, also from Farmington Hills, has implemented strict hygiene routines.

"I make sure I wash their clothes every day after school, I make sure they wash their hands after they come home from school," Iagar said.

Iagar also focuses on nutrition to boost her children's immune systems.

"I make sure their snacks are relatively healthy, always include a fruit in there for vitamin C and probiotics through yogurt," Iagar said.

Dr. Vieder recommends several strategies to minimize the risk of illness, starting with keeping sick children home from school despite childcare challenges.

"I know it's difficult with childcare and things like that and missing school, but if your child's not feeling well, you should have him or her stay home," Vieder said.

Hand washing remains the most critical prevention method, according to Vieder.

"The most important thing for everyone is to hand-wash. Make sure you're really doing a good job with that after you cough or sneeze, after you touch your face. There are certain surfaces, like phones or doorknobs. Those are really good vectors to get ill or to transmit disease," Vieder said.

Additional prevention measures include getting adequate sleep and maintaining a healthy diet. Medical experts emphasize that the flu vaccine remains the best prevention against influenza.

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