There’s no word yet on what charges — if any — will be filed against a driver who struck a pedestrian in Rochester Hills last month. The pedestrian died five days after being hit, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said Monday.

Soon after the Nov. 3 crash, the sheriff’s office described the driver as a 28-year-old Colombian who is in the United States illegally.

The victim, Stephen Singleton, was hospitalized in “grave condition” after being hit, and died Nov. 8, the sheriff’s office said. He was 72.

Singleton was wearing a reflective vest and walking westbound on Avon Road when he was struck while crossing Rochester Road. It’s believed he was hit while in a marked crosswalk, the sheriff’s office said.

The driver was in a 2013 Ford Focus when he reportedly hit the pedestrian at around 6:45 a.m. The sheriff’s office said alcohol, drugs and/or excessive speed don’t appear to have been factors in the crash.

The case is under review by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

The driver is expected to have a hearing in federal court regarding his illegal immigration status, as determined by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the sheriff’s office added.

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An Independence Township man died Friday at his home from injuries he suffered in a traffic crash two weeks ago, officials said.

Gerald Allen Gorsline, 51, was driving a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado on Clarkston Road at around 5 a.m. on Nov. 15 when he crossed the centerline near Clintonville Road, left the roadway and crashed into a tree, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

While the crash is still under investigation, it’s been determined that excessive speed was a factor, the sheriff’s office said. It hasn’t yet been determined why the vehicle left the roadway, the sheriff’s office said.

Gorsline was extricated from the vehicle by a rescue crew from Independence Township Fire Department and transported to a hospital.

There were no signs of alcohol intoxication, the sheriff’s office said, though results of toxicology reports are pending. Gorsline was not wearing a seatbelt, the sheriff’s office said.

Clinton Township continues to pay costs associated with the deadly explosion at a former smoke and vape shop.

Federal contractors are in the final stages of a cleanup of the Goo Smoke Shop and Select Distributors, near the corner of 15 Mile Road and Groesbeck Highway.

Police Chief Dina Caringi recently asked township officials to cover $350,000 in overtime costs, which included a large portion of the police response to the Goo explosion.

“We were on that scene 24/7 for several weeks,” Caringi told the Board of Trustees. “(Manpower costs) was a big expense we didn’t anticipate.”

A police presence was required to keep trespassers from entering the debris-filled property. Once a fence was erected, those duties were turned over to a security firm.

Police administrators asked for a budget amendment to cover the department’s overtime costs projected for the quarter of the fiscal year.

Other circumstances driving the OT include:

• Shift overtime, due to a decrease in overall staffing
• Special event overtime, including ceremonies, community events such as the summer fireworks, high profile events, and Partridge Creek Mall details
• Multi-jurisdictional task force overtime
• Additional police coverage of school board meetings/school events
• Traffic grant details.

The expenses will come from the police fund, according to the township’s Finance Department.

Much of the overtime for special events, multi-jurisdictional task force work, state traffic grant details, and school events does get reimbursed back to the township. So the actual cost is less than the $350,000 originally requested, the police chief said.

However, Caringi did not provide a breakdown of what was eligible to be reimbursed. Most of the shift OT requests are not likely to be reimbursed, she said.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is nearing the end of a cleanup of the former Goo Smoke Shop. The building exploded on March 4, officials theorize, because of thousands of nitrous oxide and butane cans that officials say were illegally stored inside.

The explosion and resulting fire rocked central Macomb County and sent debris up flying for miles. One of an estimated 1,000 metal canisters at the scene fatally struck a 19-year-man and another injured a township firefighter.

Clinton Township officials have praised the EPA’s response, noting that federal officials had a staff onsite the day after the explosion as crews worked to pick up the debris in a 1-mile radius. By the end of October, the agency reported its efforts has resulted in more than 1 million pounds of debris from the burned-out structure being removed.

The estimated cost is $2.7 million.

The shop’s owner, Noor Kestou, 32, of Commerce Township, is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Turner Salter, 19, who was hit in the head by flying debris. He was arrested while trying to board a flight to China, according to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.

Kestou’s attorney, James Thomas, has said a criminal investigation by the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is still ongoing, preventing him from access records from the incident.

Last month, a hearing for Kestou was adjourned until Dec. 3 in 41B District Court.

Township officials say they will try to have the EPA reimburse some of their costs.

American retailers are gearing up for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales but so are the scam artists.

“What we’re really trying to do now is educate people,” said Brian Dowgiallo, vice-president of risk management for Genisys Credit Union and its branches serving Macomb and Oakland counties.

“We see a lot of people getting information off of Facebook and other social media sites about sales that are fake and once they enter their credit card information there’s not a whole lot that can be done to stop the scam. If it sounds too good to be true, that’s probably the case,” Dowgiallo said.

As scams and financial fraud continue to rise, Genisys Credit Union and other financial institutions are working to provide consumers with knowledge and tools to identify and prevent fraud.

And supporting law enforcement efforts to catch the perpetrators is part of that effort.

“We recently saw fraud that affected over a hundred members and their debit cards. The counterfeit debit cards were being fraudulently used at a grocery store chain,” Dowgiallo said. “The credit union worked with local law enforcement to prosecute the ring who was involved in the fraud.”

Local law enforcement did not disclose how the ring obtained the debit card information, but Dowgiallo suspects a scanner device may have been involved.

That’s just one trick amongst the tricksters.

Financial fraud can take various forms including: identity theft, phishing scams, phone call/text scams, fraudulent investment schemes, and more. What’s most important for the general public to remember is to stay vigilant and scrutinize unsolicited emails, phone calls, or text messages requesting personal or financial information.

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“Scammers love to spoof our phone number,” Dowgiallo said, noting that the best way to combat this behavior is to just hang up.

However, since consumers don’t always do this it’s good to know, Genisys or their card security services like many other financial institutions will never ask members to verify the following information over the phone:

• Personal information including: member number, date of birth, and social security number

• Full or partial debit, credit card or PIN numbers

• Online/Mobile banking credentials

• A one-time verification code or link that was sent

• “Test” transactions that you did not complete as legitimate.

To help even further the Credit Union recommends all consumers:

Verify sources

Before you provide any information or financial transaction, verify the legitimacy of the organization/individuals contacting you. Use official contact information obtained from reliable sources such as the website of the financial institution or a visit to their local branch location.

Remember, just because the Caller ID looks accurate, it could still be a scammer. If you are not expecting a call from your financial institution, hang up and call them back at a verified number you have

Protect personal information

Safeguard personal information such as a birthdate or social security number and financial information by using secure passwords. Another tip, never reuse the passwords or the same one for multiple accounts/sites. It’s also smart to avoid sharing sensitive details on public platforms, and shred documents containing confidential data.

Monitor accounts regularly

Check and review your bank accounts regularly including statements, credit reports, and online accounts for any unauthorized transactions or suspicious activity. If you do see something off, promptly report the discrepancy to your financial institution.

Set up and monitor eAlerts

Many banks offer a service that monitors your account via eAlerts to receive email or text alerts for account balances, cleared checks, debit/credit card authorizations, debit/credit card postings, deposits to your account, pending withdrawals, ACH withdrawals, and many more

Over the holiday season there’s a good chance new scams will pop up, as thefts work to find new ways to take advantage of giving consumers. A few of the scams that have been reported recently include:

• Police in Shelby Township were warning residents of a recent scam involving emails to residents claiming to be from the Shelby Charter Township Revenue Department attempting to collect unresolved balances associated with their property. It’s a scam. The Shelby Township treasurer’s office does not send out emails to collect past due balances, and there is no “revenue department” in Shelby Township.

• Another scam is a text message posing as the credit union stating there has been an unrecognized attempt on a member’s debit and/or credit card.

• Phone scams posing as the credit union stating there has been fraudulent activity on a member’s credit card or that a credit union representative will be stopping by to pick up a debit card that was closed due to fraudulent activity.

Dawn Fraylick, the communications director at the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, shared three recent scams they have encountered.

Spoofing Scam:

A new scam targeting Macomb County residents, where calls come in with the sheriff’s office caller ID. The caller claims a warrant is out for your arrest and demands payment over the phone to avoid jail time.

Important Reminder: The sheriff’s office or any police department will never call you to pay for dropping a warrant or request money over the phone for any reason.

Title Company Scam (Home Purchase):

When purchasing a new home, scammers may pose as title companies and call to ask you to wire a deposit before your closing appointment. When you arrive at closing, the title company expects the deposit, and there has been no prior contact with them.

Safety Tip: Verify wire information before sending wires to the title company or any other business.

Bank Fraud / Spoofing Scam:

You may receive a text asking to verify or deny a charge on your card and then receive a follow-up call from someone claiming to be your bank stating that your card has been compromised. They may then state they sent you a code and ask you to read the code sent to your phone to them. The scammer is attempting to gain access to your account through two-factor authentication.

Warning: Do not share the code. Banks will never ask you to verify a code over the phone. If you receive a notice about your card being canceled and a new one being issued, it will not be followed by a request for additional verification by phone. Always verify any communication in person at your bank branch.

If you become a victim of fraud it’s important to take immediate action to reduce the impact and protect your finances. Some of the first steps that can be taken include:

• Contacting your financial institution — notify your financial institution immediately to report the fraudulent activity and request assistance in securing your accounts.

• File a report — depending on the nature of the scam, the incident will need to be reported to relevant authorities including: the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), local law enforcement agencies, and credit bureaus to document the fraud and initiate any needed investigations.

• Manage card access in card controls — these allow you to manage when and how your cards are used. If you suspect fraud on your cards, turning them off in card controls will protect your account from additional transactions coming through until you can contact your financial institution.

• Update security measures — enhance security measures by updating passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication if it is already not being utilized, and continue to monitor accounts for any additional unauthorized activity.

Consumers can also reach out to a government agency that specializes in fraud. A full list of these agencies and what kind of fraud they cover can be found through the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) at: justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/report-fraud; cases of fraud can also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at: http://reportfraud.ftc.gov or by phone at: 1-877-FTC-HELP or 1-877-ID-THEFT. To report fraud in Michigan visit michigan.gov/sos/report-fraud.

“It’s really frustrating and we feel for our members,” Dowgiallo said, but the more knowledge people have about what’s going on, the more power they’ll have to protect themselves against it.

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Nearly six years after Rana Abbas Taylor’s world was destroyed in an instant by a drunken driver, she is urging the federal government to make good on its so-far unfulfilled promise to require lifesaving technology in all new vehicles.

“It’s been six years, and it doesn’t get any easier,” said the Northville resident at a candlelight vigil recently on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for drunken driving victims. “Our roads are extremely violent, and we can fix that.”

A drunken driver killed Taylor’s sister, brother-in-law and the couple’s three children on the morning of Jan. 6, 2019. The Abbas family was traveling home from a vacation in Florida when they were struck head-on by a wrong-way driver on Interstate 75 in Kentucky at 2:30 a.m. — a fatal crash that sent shockwaves through their hometown of Northville.

The crash killed Rima, 38, Issam Abbas, 42, and their children: Ali, 13, Isabelle, 12, and Giselle, 7. The driver, Joey Lee Bailey of Georgetown, Kentucky, who also died in the crash, had a blood alcohol level nearly four times the legal limit, police said.

The vigil led by Mothers Against Drunk Driving — in addition to honoring the lives of the Abbas family and the more than 10,000 people killed in the U.S. annually by drunken drivers — was meant to push the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to adopt a rule mandating anti-drunken driving technology be equipped in all new vehicles.

Congress passed a law requiring such a rule three years ago and set a Nov. 15, 2024, deadline for the agency. That deadline came and went without action.

Taylor said she blames all parties involved for the persistence of drunken driving as a major killer on America’s roads. Of the roughly 40,000 traffic fatalities in the U.S. each year, drunken driving is responsible for about one-third of them.

“We don’t need to wait for NHTSA,” Taylor said. “The automakers can do this today. If they wanted, they could.”

Progress inches forward

After the Abbas family was killed, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell quickly became an advocate in Congress to prevent similar horrors.

She retold the story of attending a memorial service for the Abbas family five years ago, recalling that young friends and classmates of the slain children ask how something like that could happen with so much technology inside modern-day cars and trucks.

“If kids can say this to me,” the Democrat said, whose 6th District includes Northville, “as adults, we’ve got to do something. So we do, and we did. I came back and I called Ford Motor Co. — because they were in Dearborn — and I said, ‘This is our family. This is our community. We got to get this done.'”

Dingell sponsored the HALT Act, which required the Department of Transportation to prescribe a motor vehicle safety standard for mandatory, in-vehicle technology capable of passively detecting and stopping drunken or impaired driving. The measure was designed to be technology-neutral, meaning it would not require one particular type of vehicle addition to meet new safety standards.

The bill’s full title was the Honoring Abbas Family Legacy to Terminate Drunk Driving Act, which Taylor said in 2021 was a meaningful symbol that made sure her family’s “legacy gets to live on forever.”

Congress passed the act as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law enacted in November 2021 under President Joe Biden. NHSTA, which operates within the Department of Transportation, made a preliminary regulatory filing in January 2024 seeking feedback from the public about the eventual standard it will set.

The filing received more than 18,000 public comments but has not yet resulted in a standard that automakers will have to follow.

In response to an inquiry, NHTSA said it does not expect to issue a final rule this year. If necessary, it can extend the time period for the final rule for three years but must provide annual status reports to Congress in the meantime.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation — the top automotive lobbying group in Washington — announced Monday it would establish a new consortium of automakers and other businesses to pool resources and fund studies related to questions raised by public comments earlier in the year.

“Automakers are making major investments in research, development and testing of drunk and impaired driving technology using sensors, cameras and warning systems. But anytime the government requires vehicle technology, important questions should be asked. Like how does this technology work in the real world?” said John Bozzella, president and CEO of the alliance.

“Answering those questions is essential. Otherwise, the technology may be rejected by drivers,” Bozzella added. “That’s a result nobody wants. Our research consortium will help NHTSA fill those knowledge gaps.”

Stephanie Manning, the head of government affairs for MADD, said her organization was aware of the consortium and would have further discussions with the alliance.

“We want the same amount of resources and conviction dedicated to drunk driving that the auto industry dedicated to increasing seat belt use and making sure the kids weren’t being killed by airbags in the front seat,” Manning said in an interview. “The auto industry solved those problems. They came together. They put a lot of resources toward those issues, and they got it done. That’s what we’re asking for.”

Rana Abbas Taylor was more skeptical of the auto industry taking major action on its own.

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” she said.

‘Less lonely in Northville’

Taylor still lives in Northville, where she and her sister used to live four blocks apart.

“My sister Rima and I grew up in Northville. My uncle always had a home in Northville, so we spent every Sunday in that area,” she said.

“There’s a park at the end of our block with a memorial bench, which is where we used to go,” added Taylor, holding back tears. “There are a lot of memories. There’s a lot of pain. But there is a sense of community that this loss was for all of us, and so it’s definitely less lonely in Northville.”

Still, she said this time of year is particularly difficult with the holidays — Thanksgiving being a longtime family favorite — and a string of birthdays. Her nephew, Ali, would have turned 19 years old a month ago, she said. Her niece, Isabelle, would have turned 18 on Nov. 21, and Giselle would have turned 13 in early 2025.

Shortly after Rima and her family were killed, thousands paid respects at the funeral at Dearborn’s Islamic Center of America, which was founded by Rima Abbas’ grandfather. Hundreds also attended a candlelight vigil for the family in Northville.

Some six years later, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, spoke during the National Mall event about her friendship with Rima.

“I was there when Rima and Issam were falling in love,” Tlaib recalled fondly. “It took a little while for Rima. … Issam didn’t let up, and they fell in love, got married and had three beautiful children.”

Tlaib spoke of how beloved the family was in their community, how much their loss still resonates in Northville and Dearborn, and the need for further action on preventing drunken driving. Tlaib was a co-sponsor of the HALT Act.

“We know how crucial legislation like this is for survivors sharing their stories again today,” the congresswoman said. “And we must act now to prevent these deaths and devastating injuries that continue to tear our families apart.”

A Madison Heights couple charged with a felony after the woman’s son child accidentally shot himself are working on a plea agreement, court records show.

Jessie Gean and Jacob Gean are accused of violating Michigan’s safe storage law, which resulted in the charge because the shooting involved a minor and resulted in injury. They face prison time and hefty fines if convicted.

The boy shot himself in the hand in August while at home on Palmer Street in Madison Heights, police said.

Michigan’s safe storage law went into effect last February. It requires people to keep firearms unloaded when unattended and either locked with a locking device or stored in a locked container if it’s reasonably known someone under 18 is or is likely to be present.

The next court appearance for the Geans is scheduled for Dec. 9 before Oakland County Circuit Judge David Cohen. For now, the Geans are out of custody on $50,000 personal bonds — which require no cash or surety to be posted.

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Every first responder knows that life can change in an instant.

Warren police officer Nick Kott was off duty, hunting with his dad on their property in Gladwin on the afternoon of Nov. 16 when he slipped and fell out of a tree blind. When he did not return to his cabin at the expected time, his father walked to the area his son said he would be and found him conscious and motionless on the ground where he had been for more than an hour.

He was rushed to Midland Hospital, then airlifted to University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor where he is currently in critical condition in Neuro-ICU.

According to his wife, Holli, who spoke to the media during a press conference Thursday, Kott suffered a serious neck injury and is on a ventilator and has no feeling from his neck down. The doctors have told her it is too early to determine if he will regain movement of his limbs.

“He was able to mouth some words to me today which is the first time we’ve been able to communicate,” Holli said. “I’m asking for prayers and I’m asking specifically for prayers for Nick to regain use of his hands and arms so he can play with his son who is his best friend.

“I know this is going to be a very, very, very long road.”

Holli said she and her husband met when they were neighbors and their dogs took a liking to each other and liked to play together. They still live in that same Waterford Township neighborhood in a two-story house Holli said will need major renovations in order for her husband to be able to come home.

“My number one thing I want Nick to be able to do,” Holli said through tears, “is to tuck his best friend in at night and we have a two-story house.

“If we could just get Jack up the stairs to tuck in his baby boy, our 7-year-old son Jack, I need your help and support to do that.”

Holli praised the Gladwin firefighters and police who transported her husband to Midland Hospital, doctors and nurses at both Midland and University of Michigan hospitals, and Warren police for their help during this time of crisis.

“This has been an absolute nightmare that I can’t wake up out of,” said Holli. “I’m only getting through this because of the love and support from the Warren Police Department and the surrounding police departments.”

Holli said one police officer came and fixed a broken backyard swing for Jack while others are coming to clean gutters and do the fall cleanup tasks that Nick usually handles.

Kott joined the Warren Police Department in 2011.

“This department has been his life; they are his brothers and his sisters and they have proved that this week,” Holli said.

Kott’s family will need help paying for medical bills and making home renovations to accommodate Nick when he gets home. A GoFundMe has raised $29,585 toward a $40,000 goal. Donations can be made at gofund.me/6fa96708.

“As police officers, we are good at responding to other people’s emergencies, but it’s a gut check when it is one of your own,” said Warren Lt. John Gajewski.

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Officials confirmed no one was killed in an explosion at a condominium complex Tuesday night in Lake Orion, and the two people injured remain hospitalized but their conditions were improving as of late Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s an absolute miracle, an absolute miracle — if you’ve seen this scene — (that) currently we’re talking about no fatalities,” Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett said during a news conference Wednesday afternoon from Orion Township Hall.

Fire Chief Ryan Allen said an investigation continues into the cause and origin of the explosion at the Keatington New Town Association and is expected to take “a little over a week.” The explosion destroyed 18 units, displacing multiple residents, and caused damage to about a dozen more, Allen said.

First responders were dispatched to the two-story building on Pine Ridge Court between Joslyn and Baldwin roads after the explosion occurred around 6:30 p.m., officials said.

Little information has been released yet on the two people injured, but Allen said one was in non-critical, stable condition and the other in guarded condition which “is between serious and stable condition.”

According to Consumers Energy Vice President Christopher Fultz, crews found no abnormalities in the system from the gas main to the meter which is the extent of the utility company’s responsibility. Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said a resident reported she had detected the smell of gas just before the explosion and is part of the investigation.

Allen reminds residents that if they ever have concerns about a possible gas leak to exit the home and contact the fire department by calling either the emergency or non-emergency number.

Barnett noted that there’s been “an incredible show of support” from the community in response to what he described as “a horrific incident.” And it’s what can be expected, he said.

“I’d put our community against any community when it comes to things like this. We step up,” he said. “It’s horrible what happened, but if ever (something like this) happens, you’re lucky if it happens in Orion Township.”

Victims in need of immediate support are encouraged to call the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or Orion Township offices at 248-391-0304 ext. 2009.

Those interested in helping can provide monetary donations through Love INC of Northern Oakland County by calling 248-693-4357 or online at https://loveincofnoc.org/.

Clothing and food donations can be dropped off at Woodside Bible Church, located in Canterbury Village, 2500 Joslyn Road. Those in need of food can visit Woodside’s Village Food Pantry, also located in Canterbury Village, at 2325 Joslyn Court. Reach the pantry by calling 248–391-1900.

Bouchard cautions residents that it’s likely there will be scammers attempting to profit through false charities, so only donate to organizations listed above and any others listed on social media pages for Orion Township or the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

Tribune News Service contributed to this report.

A Florida man pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges for threatening an American Muslim organization in Michigan last year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced.

Michael Shapiro, 72, faced one count of transmitting threats in interstate commerce after calling six times and leaving three threatening voicemails to the Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan.

The West Palm Beach resident also admitted to intentionally targeting CAIR-MI with threats because of the actual and perceived religion and national origin of people who work at or are assisted by the organization, officials said in a press release.

Shapiro could serve up to five years’ incarceration for his guilty plea or pay a fine of up to $250,000, according to a plea agreement filed with the court on Tuesday.

He also faces up to three years of supervised release.

“No one should be able to threaten violence and instill fear on an entire community,” U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison said in a statement. “Today’s conviction should send a strong message that those who do so will be investigated, identified, and aggressively prosecuted.”

His attorney, Elizabeth Young, was not immediately available to respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Shapiro first called CAIR-MI’s Canton Township office on Dec. 8 at 6:43 p.m. and left a voicemail laughing maniacally and twice saying “I’m going to kill you bastards,” according to the plea agreement.

He left another threatening voicemail six days later, investigators reported.

“I’m going to kill you mother f******g bastards,” Shapiro said in the 1:02 p.m. voicemail. “Muslims! I’m going to kill you mother f*****s. I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you!”

He also called the next day, on Dec. 15 at 6:24 p.m.

“You’re a violent people,” Shapiro said. “Why do you come to America? Why do you come to Europe? Mother f******s. You’re violent. You’re killers. You’re rapists. I’m going to kill you mother f*****s!”

When prosecutors unsealed the grand jury indictment against Shapiro, CAIR-MI officials said the threat was among others as the war in Gaza escalated.

Shapiro’s case is the third time he has been charged in the last five years with federal crimes and has been accused of threatening U.S. Capitol Police officers, a member of Congress and their child, according to federal court records reviewed by The Detroit News.

Officials with CAIR-MI are pleased with the results of the case, Amy Doukoure, a staff attorney with the organization, told The News.

“What he’s doing is very serious,” Doukoure said. “We had to close our business for several days. He was calling every day — we didn’t know where he was, whether he was serious. It was a very scary and serious incident, and we’re happy that it’s over and he has pled guilty and will be sentenced to jail time.”

Discrimination complaints to CAIR-MI rose by over 340% in the three months after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks compared to the three months leading up to it, officials said in a 2023 CAIR-MI Civil Rights Report.

Reports of anti-Muslim bias incidents, including hate crimes, education and employment discrimination, surged in 2023, according to the report. Officials attributed the increase in complaints to increased anti-Muslim sentiment following media coverage of Israel’s attacks in Gaza.

The past year brought a record number of hate crime complaints to CAIR-MI, paralleled only by reports in 2018, according to the report.

CAIR-MI officials also recently called on the University of Michigan to conduct an independent investigation into the school’s “pattern of disparate treatment” of UM Muslim and Arab students.

In other recently reported hate crime cases, a Michigan man was sentenced in June for defacing a Jewish synagogue with swastikas and white supremacist group images.

A Warren man was also charged in March for spray painting swastikas and other graffiti on a predominantly Black church and in a Warren park’s public bathroom.

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Nearly three years after a teenager killed four of his classmates in a shooting at Oxford High School, victims’ families are still looking for answers.

They want a review of how school officials acted leading up to the shooting, calling on Michigan’s Attorney General, Dana Nessel, to do so this week.

Steve St. Juliana’s daughter, Hana, was among those killed in the Oxford High School attack. He says further action is needed to prevent future school shootings.

“This is about getting the truth out there,” says St. Juliana, “to create the counter measures to save our kids. This is not about identifying people to prosecute.”

The families are frustrated that a state review of procedures around the 2021 shooting has not taken place. They say they’ve had a hard time getting answers from the Oakland County prosecutor and state attorney general — accusing Nessel of retracting an offer to investigate over lack of probable cause.

Speaking to the media, Nessel countered that her offer to review has always been on the table.

“Now these offers were made to the school board and to the criminal investigation and prosecutions being handled by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and prosecutor. Our involvement on both fronts was soundly rejected,” she said.

While Nessel says she remains willing to help, she isn’t sure why Oakland County officials are now pointing the case at her.

“My authorities are not expansive beyond those that are already held by the county prosecutor and sheriff, who currently have the investigation, and have investigated this matter thoroughly for years and years now,” she said.

Nessel says her office can’t investigate without a referral from local authorities. She says she’s confused by Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard appearing in support of the Oxford family’s call to action, arguing that she’d need information from him to move forward.

In a statement, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said she’s unaware of any action needed by her office to involve the attorney general.

Oxford families say they’re tired of the finger pointing.

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Two Detroit hospitals, both part of the Detroit Medical Center, have received “F” grades on patient safety in a recent report.

Detroit Receiving Hospital and Sinai-Grace Hospital got those grades in the report by the Leapfrog Group, which describes itself as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that serving as a patient watchdog.

The group says its grades reflect the ability of hospitals nationwide to keep patients safe and prevent them from contracting illnesses or conditions they did not have upon admission.

Bret Jackson, president and CEO of the Economic Alliance for Michigan, which collaborated with Leapfrog on the study, said the findings in the Detroit hospitals were concerning.

“There are some areas where they may even be the worst hospital in the country for a specific metric,” Jackson said.

The report rated the two DMC hospitals poorly in several critical areas, including surgical wounds that reopen, deaths from serious yet treatable complications, severe breathing problems, dangerous bedsores, patient falls and injuries, and harmful blood clots.

The Detroit Medical Center said the report’s findings painted an incomplete picture.

“Detroit Medical Center does not submit data or participate in the annual Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Grades are still published even though there is incomplete or dated information,” the medical center said in a statement to Michigan Public.

DMC did not respond to a followup question asking why it does not participate in the survey.

Jackson said DMC’s participation in the Leapfrog survey is not essential to the grading, as most of the metrics the report used come from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Jackson said he believes that ensuring patient safety starts with senior management.

“Leadership has to engage every single person — not just doctors and nurses, but also those who clean the rooms and work security. Everyone in the hospital must be committed to making it the safest and least harmful place for patients,” he said.

Jackson said the hospitals can improve their scores. He said he’s seen hospitals with D and F grades transform into A-grade facilities in a relatively short period and hopes for a similar turnaround at DMC.

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The man slain recently in Waterford Township —- found fatally shot outside the MJR theater complex on M-59 — was a 28-year-old White Lake Township resident identified in court documents as Antonn Cecil Richard Thomas.

According to the filed complaint, the killing allegedly involved a drug deal, occurring “while in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of delivery and/or conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance.”

Waterford Police Chief Scott Underwood has declined to release the name of the victim, telling The Oakland Press in an email last week that it’s “not that unusual” to do so and is done “quite often” — but didn’t specify why for this case.

The accused killers, 24-year-old Mike Vladislav Kruglik of West Bloomfield and 26-year-old Jesse Del Jordan Bradshaw of New Boston, are charged with first-degree felony murder. Felony murder is when someone is killed during the commission of a felony.

Denied bond at their Nov. 12 arraignment before 51st District Judge Richard Kuhn, Kruglik and Bradshaw are held in the Oakland County Jail. They are scheduled to return to court Wednesday for a probable cause conference.

Thomas was found shot outside the MJR Waterford Cinema on Nov. 7. As previously reported, a news release from the Waterford Police Department stated that that a 911 call came in at around 11:30 p.m. about a man “down from an apparent gunshot wound” in the theater parking lot at 7501 Highland Road. Shot in the upper chest, he was treated at the scene by Waterford Regional Fire Department personnel and then transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Kruglik was arrested on Nov. 8 after police executed a search warrant in West Bloomfield Township. Bradshaw was arrested later that day in New Boston, where the vehicle believed to have been used in the homicide was also located, police said.

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