STERLING HEIGHTS – The City of Sterling Heights celebrated the opening of its brand-new community garden at James C It marks a significant addition to the city’s expanding collection of green spaces and a major milestone in its long-term sustainability efforts Nelson Park sits on 15 Mile between Ryan and Dequindre Road The garden includes more than 115 garden beds and over 32,000 sq and educational signage enhance accessibility and learning opportunities throughout the site “These enhancements reflect our long-term commitment to building a more sustainable Sterling Heights,” said Mayor Michael C and encouraging residents to grow their own food we’re creating an environment that not only benefits our community today but also protects and strengthens it for future generations.” The garden and surrounding amenities will support future programming such as gardening workshops The project was made possible in part through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and supports several key goals outlined in the City’s Sustainability Plan These include strengthening local food systems and encouraging more active and connected lifestyles The community can reserve garden beds, participate in programs and explore the amenities at James C. Nelson Park on the city’s website. Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WDIV Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group (WXYZ) — Some residents in Sterling Heights are hoping to save a centuries-old tree from being chopped down in favor of housing On Van Dyke Avenue just south of Canal Road in Sterling Heights you can find a field with several towering trees One tree that especially catches the eye of residents like Emily Young is an 88-foot-tall chinquapin oak that's estimated to be somewhere around 250 years old according to leaders with the Michigan Big Tree Program We had Native Americans still living in this area," Young said "And it is the seventh-largest chinquapin in the state of Michigan." According to the Chaldean Community Foundation's website they are planning to build an 82-unit apartment complex along with retail space The project could put the tree's future in jeopardy "It breaks my heart because we are a society that values our heritage and it is disappearing at an alarming rate There's also concerns about how cutting the oak down could disrupt other forms of nature "Oaks support more life as a tree species than any other tree species in North America," Mark Graf In response, Young has created an online petition to show support for preserving the tree and petitioners hope it sends city leaders a message The city of Sterling Heights responded to the concerns in a statement: residents believe the oak is irreplaceable "It might be replaced by a lot of little saplings they're not helping the environment like this oak is doing today for 20 president of the Chaldean Community Foundation also responded to worries about the trees at the property (WXYZ) — Stellantis has temporarily laid off 900 workers in the U.S. including employees at the Warren and Sterling Heights stamping plants The automaker announced the news in an email sent to all employees earlier this morning They say that they'll be pausing production at the Windsor Assembly Plant in Canada for the next two weeks with operations starting up again on April 21 "With the new automotive sector tariffs now in effect it will take our collective resilience and discipline to push through this challenging time," said Antonio Filosa in the email "But we will quickly adapt to these policy changes and will protect our company maintain our competitive edge and continue delivering great products to our customers." 7 News Detroit inquired about how many employees were laid off at the Michigan plant but a rep from the automaker did not disclose those details Stellantis says they will provide updates as the situation progresses A Sterling Heights electrical contracting company has paid $1.46 million to settle allegations involving the federal Paycheck Protection Program which offered emergency financial assistance to businesses during the pandemic Attorney Julie Beck announced in a news release on April 28 Slifco Electric obtained its first PPP loan for $2.6 million and later certified its eligibility for full forgiveness of that loan eligible small businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the U.S Borrowers were required to certify the truthfulness and accuracy of information provided to the SBA when applying for PPP loan forgiveness including disclosing whether the borrower had paid any dividends or other capital distributions to its owner during the loan forgiveness covered period government contends that Slifco Electric failed to disclose that from March 13 through the end of the loan forgiveness covered period it paid $730,000 in capital distributions to its only owner Slifco Electric countered that it had legitimate payroll expenses during the relevant loan forgiveness covered period that were more than the loan amount Voicemails and emails left with John Slifco and his attorneys seeking comment were not immediately returned April 28 The Sterling Heights company is one of several Michigan companies that have faced scrutiny over its use of PPP loans. The owners of The Detroit Club agreed to pay $357,699 to settle fraud allegations in a settlement reached earlier this year More on The Detroit Club's settlement: Detroit Club owners pay $358K settlement to resolve PPP allegations Contact Adrienne Roberts: amroberts@freepress.com A Michigan police department has launched a new program that's getting people talking online The Sterling Heights Police Department shared on social media they have a new Special Needs Registry They describe it as "a voluntary and confidential tool to help officers respond to people with disabilities 👇BELOW: IS IT LEGAL? ANSWERING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MICHIGAN LAWS 👇 the goal is to help officers be better prepared when interacting with individuals who may have conditions such as autism The department says the registry will also support stronger collaboration with local schools and the Fire Department READ MORE: Get Reduced Pet Adoption Fees at 30+ Michigan Shelters Right Now Residents are able to register a loved one online here Online reactions to the program in Sterling Heights have been mixed Many people applauded the move as a compassionate and needed step expressed concern over what it means to have personal information tied to a police database I’m hesitant to register on anything like this due to the current attitudes about autism from HHS I’m concerned databases like this could be weaponized READ MORE: What to Expect on Upcoming Episodes of TV Show Following Grand Rapids, Mich., Police Department some residents suggest alternative options to aid police and first responders in general Something that could prove incredibly valuable to first responders is for each agency to obtain an AAC device/ iPad A lot of non speaking autistics communicate with them How would you feel about a Special Needs Registry in your town Would you feel comfortable signing a family member up Gallery Credit: Wendy Reed Learn about a Michigan police department's new program they say will help them police better assist individuals with unique needs. Is this something you'd want in your town?\nRead More A Michigan police department has launched a new program that's getting people talking online The Sterling Heights Police Department shared on social media they have a new Special Needs Registry READ MORE: Get Reduced Pet Adoption Fees at 30+ Michigan Shelters Right Now Residents are able to register a loved one online here Online reactions to the program in Sterling Heights have been mixed READ MORE: What to Expect on Upcoming Episodes of TV Show Following Grand Rapids, Mich., Police Department Buoyed by a millage approved by voters last year, Sterling Heights officials are weighing a proposed $318 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year a 26.2% increase over last year's adopted budget which includes funding for a new police training facility and sidewalk upgrades Sterling Heights City Council will discuss the proposed spending plan at a budget hearing at 6:30 p.m Sterling Heights City Councilman Michael Radtke said the budget increase is due to several reasons One is that the city is “front-loading” projects for the city's "Pathway to Play and Preservation" millage but the city has a goal of finishing all the major projects associated with it within three years Cities also make amendments to their budget during the fiscal year which can impact the final amount of the budget The proposed 2025-2026 budget is only a 9% year-over-year increase over the current fiscal year budget City Manager Mark Vanderpool said the city is going to "hit the ground running" on the projects included in the "Pathway to Play and Preservation" millage including plans to purchase some land to preserve open space; repair and replace sidewalks; plant 1,600 trees; and break ground on a new pickleball complex in FY 2025-2026 The plan also includes over $12 million in major road work, including the reconstruction of 15 Mile Road from Mound Road to Maple Lane, the resurfacing of Dobry Drive and the revamping of Clinton River Road from Hayes Road to Canal Road The proposed budget includes a general fund of over $132 million Sterling Heights is proposing a millage rate of 17.5323 mills which is an increase over the current year's 16.5823 mills The Police & Fire Retirement millage will also increase by 0.1368 mill while three other millage rates will each see small decreases Millage funds park and preservation projectsThe Pathway millage will help pay for improvements to Rotary Park the creation of Red Run Park in the southeast area of the city and a new trail in Sterling Heights Nature Preserve Vanderpool said the city will be working on the design of these projects during the upcoming fiscal year Sterling Heights also is planning to build a year-round pickleball complex Varney said the city hopes to begin ― and possibly complete ― construction on the project in the next fiscal year The city also plans to plant 1,600 trees in the 2025-2026 year part of a larger plan to plant about 15,000 trees in the coming years making up for devastation of the emerald ash borer "When you lose a third of your tree canopy to an invasive beetle and they all get cut down you don't really realize what a scar that creates on the community," said Radtke Sterling Heights plans to renovate its unused jail facility into a training facility for the police department It also plans to start renovating Fire Station No Vanderpool said the city is also adding two peak-demand ambulances Sterling Heights is hiring four emergency medical technicians who will respond to calls during peak demand And three positions will also be added to the police department - A Macomb County man nearly fainted when he won $6 million playing the Michigan Lottery’s $6,000,000 Wealth instant game “I play scratch off tickets all the time and have been playing for more than 40 years,” said the lucky 60-year-old player “When I scratched the ticket and saw I won $6 million I had to scan it on the Lottery app to double check it because I didn’t believe what I was seeing “The $50 instant games have been a favorite among players since the Lottery launched its first $50 ticket in July 2022,” said Lottery Commissioner Suzanna Shkreli “Congratulations to the lucky winner who claimed the first $6 million top prize on our newest $50 game - $6,000,000 Wealth!” The player bought his winning ticket at Najors Liquor & Deli located at 43903 Van Dyke Avenue in Sterling Heights He recently visited Lottery headquarters to claim the big prize He chose to receive his prize as a one-time lump sum payment of about $4.1 million rather than annuity payments for the full amount he plans to take a vacation and then save the remainder (WXYZ) — The Sterling Heights Police Department has become one of the first agencies in the area to implement a special needs registry providing emergency crews with critical information about some of the community's most vulnerable residents The online registry allows families to confidentially share important details about loved ones with special needs helping first responders approach situations with appropriate awareness and techniques finally," James Dziendziel said when he first saw the announcement from Sterling Heights police about the new initiative to assist those with special needs believes the registry will significantly benefit his family "You won't have to worry as much about where's my child at this given moment and am I going to get my child back," Dziendziel said The registry allows families to provide first responders with vital information about their loved ones including behavior triggers and de-escalation techniques but he has eccentric behaviors that can be kind of confusing to the uninitiated out in public," Dziendziel said When asked if the registry makes him feel safer who spearheaded the database and related training says creating a more compassionate response is exactly the goal "We want to respond with empathy and compassion and we want families to know there's a human being behind this badge," Cole said so it is watching or listening to the fear of my sister It really struck a cord with me that we can do more in law enforcement," Cole said The registration process is straightforward and confidential the information is reviewed and then shared with emergency dispatch how it happens is that once they register through the online site I go over and approve it and then we send that information our dispatch Dziendziel said the form took him about 10 minutes to complete and allowed him to include critical information about his son special things that he likes to talk about special things that he likes to do in order to calm him down," Dziendziel said He appreciates the department's efforts to better serve the community compassionate people within our public safety departments that are willing to go that extra step to do something to help the families and to help the needy," Dziendziel said More information on the special needs registry can be found on the city's website This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy (WXYZ) — If you've driven through Sterling Heights "I think it’s always shocking when you tell people that we have over 4,000 crashes a year 6 to 7 people die due to traffic crashes in the city "30 to 40 people are involved in serious injury accidents every single year in Sterling Heights but also for all of our residents that live in neighborhoods and communities around Sterling Heights." It's because of this that the City of Sterling Heights said they are taking action Using traffic data from the last five years and community input they are rolling out a Comprehensive Transportation Safety Action Plan there is a whole traffic calming task force behind it; "The task force is made up of all different parts of city government The Safety Action Plan is part of a global movement aimed at eliminating all traffic fatalities and severe injuries by 2050 Sterling Heights said that they have already implemented several traffic calming initiatives to enhance roadway safety "There’s so many different things that you can do Residents are encouraged to participate in the plan by filling out this traffic calming request form 7 News Detroit spoke to multiple residents about the Safety Action Plan Resident Susan Binno told us she's noticed lots of speeding in the city and is encouraged to hear about the plan Resident Tom Szatkowski said speeding is especially bad on the road his house sits on "Sometimes I sit on my porch in the summertime and watch these guys go by 35 Szatkowski said that he took his concerns to the city council and the city then painted a speed limit warning in front of his house "All of this together will make our roadways safer over the next decades." (WXYZ) — The impact of tariffs is making it to Southeast Michigan with Stellantis factory workers in Warren and Sterling Heights learning of temporary layoffs coming soon FULL INTERVIEW: Paul Fenner with Tamma Capital talks about the tariff impacts Outside the Stellantis Sterling Stamping Plant on Mound Road in Warren where auto workers proudly help make the Jeep Wagoneer, I talked to several workers sharing thoughts on tariffs and 900 U.S. employees being laid off temporarily as a result of idling plants in Canada and Mexico including workers at Warren and Sterling Heights plants Everybody is struggling now,” worker Sam Belt said Always want to come to work and make money,” worker Kyle Chapman said Stellantis confirmed workers in Sterling Heights and Warren will be impacted with the temporary layoffs but they will be temporary,” retired worker Brian Pannebecker said Pannebecker also told me that a day after speaking at the White House he is confident the short-term pain will result in long-term gain of jobs coming back “You’re hearing a lot of that bluster from the companies because they don’t want to have to move back here and produce at higher labor costs,” Pannebecker said president and CEO of the Michigan Manufacturers Association says tariffs play a critical role in bringing jobs back we still have some uncertainty in front of us to be sure We’re looking at a bit of a tough road,” Walsh said so we don’t work as many hours as we used to auto workers told me they remain concerned over the long run with factory jobs in the U.S 2025 - The Ram brand put another notch in its belt when Stellantis’ Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP) assembled its two millionth Ram 1500 on April 16 The truck is a Flame Red 2025 Ram 1500 RHO the Ram 1500 RHO expands the brand’s off-road sport truck lineup that already consists of Warlock and Rebel — all three are assembled at SHAP.  “The Sterling Heights Assembly Plant is a core facility in our manufacturing footprint tasked with the difficult responsibility of assembling the Ram 1500 a nameplate with ten trim levels and thousands of configurations,” said Tim Kuniskis “Handing keys to nearly 2 million Ram 1500 customers takes a strong team as we start an aggressive product cadence for Ram brand.”  The two millionth milestone comes approximately 6 months after the plant celebrated its 40th anniversary as a Stellantis-owned facility the Company announced that SHAP would be converted from a car assembly plant to a truck assembly plant to produce the Ram 1500 the first Ram 1500 rolled off the production line as a 2019 model the facility reached the 2 million milestone.  SHAP’s future was in doubt so this is a remarkable accomplishment and I am so proud of this workforce for their resilience and dedication,” said Chuck Padden “We have a lot to look forward to as we start building the Ram 1500 with a range of powertrain options providing freedom of choice for our customers.”   As the primary home for Ram 1500 production the Company recently invested $235.5 million at the suburban Detroit facility to produce the all-new range-extended Ram 1500 Ramcharger as well as the Company’s first-ever battery electric light-duty truck Stellantis began transitioning to its next generation of products built on its multi-energy platforms engineered to offer a variety of powertrain options The 2025 Ram 1500 earned the prestigious Motor Trend Truck of the Year award the seventh time Ram has achieved this recognition (WXYZ) — Westbound I-94 near Nine Mile in Macomb County was shut down early Monday morning for a crash that followed a Sterling Heights police chase The driver being chased was ejected from their vehicle after crashing while attempting to flee Sterling Heights police in a chase. The driver was seriously injured, according to Michigan State Police Authorities tell us the chase started around 4:30 a.m. near Metro Parkway between Ryan and Dequindre The driver eventually onto the freeway on-ramp when they lost control We're working to learn more about why the chase started in the first place the highway is closed as police clean up the wreckage and investigate the incident This crash may affect your morning commute: traffic reporter Ali Hoxie suggests exiting on WB I-696 and southbound Gratiot to Eastbound 8 Mile and Verner The Sterling Heights Police Department launched a "special needs registry" earlier this month which police say will help them better respond to individuals with disabilities and medical conditions during an emergency The online registry allows family members and caregivers to share medical information de-escalation techniques and other details about an individual with the police according to Sterling Heights Police Department "It helps us respond more appropriately and safely to that specific individual's needs," said Lt The department launched the tool on April 16 making it the second police agency in Macomb County to implement such a registry Over 30 families have filled out the form so far which Cole said is "exciting." The department said the information is securely stored and accessible to officers and dispatchers during emergencies the executive director of The Arc of Macomb County a nonprofit that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities gave an example of a situation in which it would be helpful for a police officer to have more information about an individual She said an officer interacts with someone and "it's a negative experience." So the next time an officer comes to the individual's house he refuses to come out of the home when directed to do so "He's not necessarily refusing to come out because he's being naughty He's refusing to come out because he's afraid," she said adding that perhaps he was tased during his last interaction with the police nonverbal teenager was shot repeatedly by Idaho police from the other side of a chain-link fence while holding a knife and later died Officers opened fire soon after getting out of their patrol cars and made no apparent effort to de-escalate the situation "Obviously that is a tragedy that we at the Sterling Heights Police Department want to most certainly prevent and never encounter," Cole said "I can't speak on behalf of those officers or who was on scene but the loss of life is an absolute tragedy and not having the knowledge and the training to respond to those in crisis is tragic." He said he was already working on the registry before this incident because other tragedies have occurred previously involving people with special needs He said individuals of any age with physical cognitive or developmental disabilities can be registered The registry allows their caregivers and family members to input de-escalation techniques behavior triggers and critical information about the individual such as communication needs He said some individuals with disabilities don't respond well to loud noises or flashing police lights officers can shut off their sirens and make sure their lights aren't on before arriving to the scene of an emergency the registry can let police know what triggers or comforts them Cole said he is an instructor for Macomb County's Crisis Intervention Team program which is a program that trains law enforcement officers on how to respond to individuals in a mental health crisis or other crisis he learned from The Arc of Macomb County about special needs registries "This is something that is extremely important The idea was first implemented in Macomb County by Clinton Township Police Department. Madison Heights Police Department and Auburn Hills Police Department, both in Oakland County, also have special needs registries, and the Michigan State Police has a Vulnerable or Impaired Person program Cole said he started working on a registry for Sterling Heights Police Department in February special education and the SpArc Program at The Arc of Macomb County said her organization is "so in support" of the special needs registry because of the Crisis Intervention Team training that is occurring in Macomb County She said police officers are being trained on how to interact with people with disabilities and the special needs registry is "another tool for them to use through their dispatch services." Lind said the registry gives the police officer more information so they don't make assumptions that could end up leading to a violent situation "It protects the law enforcement," she said "It protects the person with a disability." A 27-year-old man is in critical condition after leading Sterling Heights police on a car chase and crashing on Interstate 94 early Monday Police said the Detroit resident was ejected from a Dodge Charger after he lost control of the vehicle in the area of Metropolitan Parkway and Dequindre Road Police said they were called by a car owner who reported his vehicle was being stolen from his home's driveway Officers arrived and license plate readers notified them that the vehicle was still in the area police saw a suspicious black Dodge Charger but the Charger's driver tried to elude them The officers tried to conduct a traffic stop Police twice deployed devices designed to slow a vehicle down by puncturing its tires Officers continued to chase the Charger through the neighboring city of Warren Investigators said the driver lost control of the car as he neared Nine Mile Authorities said the investigation into the incident is ongoing They also said the Michigan State Police is investigating the crash on I-94 Anyone with information about the incident should call the Sterling Heights Police Investigation Division at (586) 446-2825 The incident is the latest involving a police pursuit on Metro Detroit roadways In late March, a man allegedly robbed a Warren marijuana business and led police on a car chase into Detroit that ended when he crashed into an unoccupied home The same week, a Carleton man allegedly led Monroe County Sheriff's deputies on a chase after he threatened staff at a credit union and demanded money Earlier last month, a 19-year-old Southfield man allegedly led Berkley police on a car chase after they tried to pull him over near 12 Mile Road and Coolidge Highway (WXYZ) — A Sterling Heights man says he was riding his bike at James C Nelson Park Tuesday evening when two individuals let their dogs attack him with 20 stitches and out of work for the time being Both dogs and bike riders are welcome at James C Nelson Park but Craig Rybarz says a man and woman who both looked to be around 60 years old became frustrated as Rybarz attempted to pass the two He says he whistled to let them know he was on their left side The man and woman had two large dogs with them and allegedly did not want to let Rybarz through so I pulled my arm back and kept going and he bit me pretty good," Rybarz said the owners even slightly let go of the leashes The guy kind of laughed at it and I said 'man "She says that’s what you get and if you come back you’ll get bit again.” Rybarz rode off to get medical attention and called police His family says this could have been a lot worse “He’s got brain issues and stuff like that If he would’ve bled out on the trail and they would’ve just left I would be right now without a dad," Rybarz's son Dominic said Both Craig and Dominic Rybarz work at their concrete company and Craig has been out of work due to the pain associated with his injury he's just happy it was him that was bitten and not the many children at the park and on the trail it makes me not want to bring my kids here to be honest with you 'Cause if somebody’s gonna do that to my dad what are they gonna do to some kid that’s just riding their bike," Dominic Rybarz said Sterling Heights police say they are investigating and detectives are currently trying to get any video that could help identify the two individuals The presses will stop humming in metro Detroit this summer as the printing facility on Mound Road that publishes Michigan’s largest newspapers closes The shuttering of the Sterling Heights Operations Facility will shed 115 jobs and transfer the production of 32 newspapers to other facilities The facility will print its last copies of the Detroit Free Press on Sunday local media reported the sale of the sprawling printing plant — which also publishes The Detroit News — from Gannett to an Ohio developer Gannett at the time said it had entered into a lease to continue printing newspapers at the plant Tuesday’s announcement stated that the lease is expiring and a new deal could not be reached “Where our newspaper is printed does not impact our ability to provide continued outstanding service to the community,” the company said in a statement “As our business becomes increasingly digital we are making strategic decisions to ensure the future of local journalism The Detroit Free Press will continue to provide readers with quality local journalism that matters most to them and to connect our valued advertising partners with the customers they want to reach.” The company thanked the employees at the printing facility who will feel the impact most “We deeply appreciate the many years of service our valued colleagues have dedicated to our Detroit facility and the local community,” the statement said The printing plant closure will not affect the newsrooms at the Free Press or the News which operate under a Joint Operating Agreement that expires at the end of 2025 which allows for separate newsrooms but combined business operations; the News has a separate owner The newspapers have not announced whether the JOA will extend beyond 2025 the Detroit News and the other titles will be printed elsewhere in Michigan and in Ohio Beside the Detroit dailies and several Michigan papers the Sterling Heights plant also prints USA TODAY The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal The Sterling Heights Operation Facility opened in 1972 The site sits on 40 acres of land and is roughly 700,000 square feet in size Gannett invested $180 million installing six new state-of-the-art Manroland presses The facility runs 250 press jobs on a weekly basis and prints Gannett newspapers that stretch from Sault Ste as well as commercial jobs such as the Oakland Press The city of Sterling Heights is planning to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through a variety of steps ranging from increasing the efficiency of buildings to installing more electric vehicle charging stations to promoting composting Sterling Heights City Council approved the city's first-ever Climate Action Plan earlier this month The plan serves as a roadmap to get the city to net zero emissions a planner for the city of Sterling Heights Net zero emissions means that the Sterling Heights community would offset the same amount of greenhouse gasses as it produces Sterling Heights said its goal aligns with the MI Healthy Climate Plan which is the state's plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 Richards said Sterling Heights' Climate Action Plan looks at ways to mitigate the city's greenhouse gas emissions and strategies that would increase the community's resiliency to climate change The plan focuses on five key areas: buildings Richards said Sterling Heights city staff and City Council members recognize "the important role" that local government plays in addressing climate change The plan also takes into account residents' safety "If you're not planning for climate change and the impact of climate change you're not taking into account the future well-being of your citizens," she said Richards said the city worked with consultant Fresh Coast Climate Solutions on the creation of the plan She said the city spent $195,000 on a rewrite of its Master Land Use Plan and $65,000 of that sum was allocated to the making of the Climate Action Plan The city received $40,000 in grants to offset the total cost She said that five years into the plan's implementation the city will evaluate the progress it has made and make any necessary adjustments a nonprofit that works with local organizations on climate change solutions Several cities also plan to become carbon neutral community-wide by 2050 or sooner Areas of focusOne area Sterling Heights will focus on is buildings Richards said buildings account for approximately 70% of the community's emissions She said the city plans to reduce the amount of energy required to operate buildings and source energy from renewable sources The city also will focus on transportation which accounts for about 26% of Sterling Heights' community-wide emissions She said the city wants to increase options for other modes of transportation than cars It also wants to transition the city away from internal combustion vehicles She said that Sterling Heights doesn't "have a lot of EV chargers," which is one of the barriers to people adopting EVs She said people fear that they're going to get "kind of stranded somewhere." "So the fact that we can kind of aid in helping reduce that fear is helpful," she said Richards said there are no "strict mandates" in the Climate Action Plan it identifies way to support residents in responding to climate change the city wants to help support energy audits for homes which will save residents' money on their energy bills "It's important we act now to ensure a cleaner healthier and more resilient community for future generations," said Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor said in a press release Sterling Heights is looking at implementing measures to make roads safer with the goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities and serious injuries in the city by 2050 Sterling Heights City Council passed the city's first Comprehensive Transportation Safety Action Plan at its meeting March 17 The plan outlines steps the city can take to improve safety "The comprehensive traffic safety plan is really just a gigantic toolbox of different things you can do to make roadways safer," said Assistant City Manager Dale Dwojakowski reforesting a street and narrowing the roadway are some steps Cities that have gone through the safety planning process get priority when applying for federal grants for traffic calming measures The city started developing the plan last year with funds from a $400,000 federal Safe Streets for All grant there were 20,942 crashes in Sterling Heights resulting in 33 fatalities and 172 serious injuries producing 6.6 fatalities and 34.4 serious injuries a year on average Crashes in Sterling Heights occur at an annual rate of 31.2 crashes per 1,000 people which is higher than Macomb County's rate (23) and Michigan's rate (28.3) though crashes in Sterling Heights are less likely to result in a fatality or serious injury than crashes in county or state Sterling Heights wants to achieve "Vision Zero" ― zero fatalities and serious injuries on city roads ― by 2050 "This plan is going to be the vehicle by which we secure further grant funding which reduces the cost to our residents to make our residents safer," said Councilman Michael Radtke He said he and his colleagues get calls from residents about people driving unsafely in their neighborhoods The plan will push forward Sterling Heights' Traffic Calming Program which is designed to address vehicle speeding and traffic safety concerns a group of city administrators and consultants will collaborate with residents to identify concerns conduct studies and implement solutions to reduce speeds cut down on distracted driving and otherwise improve traffic safety which the city acknowledges is "one of the highest crash corridors in Sterling Heights." Dwojakowski said the city will be applying for federal grants for Ryan this year “The reimagination of Ryan Road is one of our top priorities,” said city engineer Brent Bashaw in a news release “By taking a proactive approach and seeking federal funding that can help make important safety measures a reality we are ensuring that Sterling Heights remains at the forefront of traffic safety innovation.” The city has already implemented some traffic calming measures in a pilot program which are raised areas of the roadway meant to slow down vehicles and "mini roundabouts" were placed along Amsterdam Drive Medians were also installed on Pond View Drive Dwojakowski said resident feedback has been "very positive" to the measures in the pilot everything we've done appears to be working so we're going to keep going in that direction Tom Szatkowski said he brought concerns about reckless driving past his home on Viceroy Street to the City Council in 2023 "I said I'd like to have a few more speed limits put on, maybe a few stop signs in the street because Viceroy goes from 14 to 15 Mile without any stop signs," he said in a video posted on the city's SHTV1 YouTube channel the city installed "Slow - 25 MPH" markings directly to the roadway along Viceroy The city is encouraging other residents to participate by reporting concerns about speeding bicycle or pedestrian safety and other roadway hazards via a "Traffic Calming Request Form." Submitted requests are analyzed and incorporated into the online Traffic Calming Program’s Progress Report which provides real-time updates on locations under review the status of ongoing projects and future implementation plans based on community input and traffic studies Residents can submit the form, view the progress report and learn more about the program at sterlingheights.gov/trafficcalming @max_detroitnews Stellantis has announced it would idle plants and begin layoffs President Donald Trump’s 25% tariff on imported vehicles was put into action at midnight The White House has also said it plans to place tariffs on key auto parts and components Stellantis’ North American COO Antonio Filosa said that despite seeing market growth since January the company would idle its Windsor Assembly Plant for two weeks and its Toluca Assembly Plant for April and temporarily lay off 900 workers "With the new automotive sector tariffs now in effect it will take our collective resilience and discipline to push through this challenging time,“ Filosa wrote ”But we will quickly adapt to these policy changes and will protect our company and continue delivering great products to our customers." The layoffs will impact workers at the Warren and Sterling Heights stamping plants as well as workers at the Indiana Transmission Plant and the Kokomo Transmission and Casting plants In March, Stellantis offered buyouts to workers. Filosa said the automaker is working with stakeholders, including government leaders, unions, suppliers and dealers across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico as they work to adapt to the new tariffs. Dane Kelly is an Oreo enthusiast and producer who has spent the last seven years covering Michigan news and stories. A Sterling Heights man convicted of sexually assaulting a girl in 2023 has been sentenced to prison was sentenced Thursday in Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens to 25-75 years in prison Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido and court records said His sentence comes about two months after a jury found him guilty of two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13 years old; one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13 years old; one count of criminal sexual conduct-assault with intent to commit sexual penetration; and one count of indecent exposure Lucido said Middleton will serve his sentences on the lesser charges concurrently with the criminal sexual conduct conviction Middleton will be required to register as a sex offender and be electronically monitored for life if he is released from prison "This sentence reflects the severity of these crimes and ensures that this man will no longer be able to harm innocent children," Lucido said "My office remains dedicated to seeking justice for victims and holding offenders accountable I commend the bravery of the young survivor and the dedication of our prosecutors and law enforcement in securing this conviction." Middleton's attorney was not immediately available for comment on Tuesday Authorities alleged Middleton sexually assaulted the victim on multiple occasions in 2023 A jury found Middleton guilty after a four-day trial He faced life in prison for each of the first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges up to 15 years for the second-degree charge up to 10 years for the assault charge and one year for indecent exposure Last week, a Metro Detroit urologist and team doctor for several area hockey teams pleaded no contest to 28 felonies for allegedly sexually assaulting patients Last month, a Shelby Township man with an active immigration hold from the Department of Homeland Security was ordered to stand trial for the alleged repeated sexual assault of a child under 13 MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – A Sterling Heights man was arrested in connection to a suspected drug operation bust on Wednesday. Multiple units from the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office were executing narcotics search warrants at three addresses in Metro Detroit: The 1400 block of Maisano Drive in Sterling Heights, the 20000 East 9 Mile in St. Clair Shores and the 2400 block of Murray Street in Harrison Township. John Gramlich, 39, was arrested during the searches and taken to the Macomb County Jail. Gramlich was arraigned Friday morning at the 41-A District Court on multiple charges relating to maintaining a drug house, possessing drugs with intent to deliver or manufacture and concealing firearms. Samantha Sayles is an Oakland University alumna who’s been writing Michigan news since 2022. Before joining the ClickOnDetroit team, she wrote stories for WILX in Lansing and WEYI in Flint. A Macomb County man accused of fatally shooting another man and holding police at bay for hours is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday is expected to attend a probable cause hearing in 41-A District Court in Sterling Heights via videoconference The Center Line resident was charged Tuesday with first-degree premeditated murder using a firearm during the commission of a felony as well as resisting and obstructing a police officer A magistrate ordered Svacha held without bond He also scheduled a preliminary examination of the case against him for Feb Court records did not list an attorney for Svacha on Monday His charges stem from a barricaded gunman situation in Center Line and a man's fatal shooting at a Sterling Heights motel on Feb Police said Svacha allegedly shot and killed Jajuan Marls at the Extended Stay America motel on Van Dyke Avenue near 14 Mile Road in Sterling Heights Svacha allegedly fled from the motel to his Center Line home Officials said he refused to exit the home in the 8400 block of State Park Street near Van Dyke and Stephens Road when police arrived Authorities said Svacha dropped his firearm exited the house and was arrested after hours of negotiation "This was a senseless and tragic act of violence that took the life of an individual," Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in a statement "Our office is committed to ensuring that justice is served We will pursue this case to hold the defendant accountable for his actions Our thoughts remain with the victim’s loved ones as they navigate this devastating loss." Svacha's alleged standoff with police is the latest incident involving a barricaded gunman in Metro Detroit Last week, a gunman who kept police at bay took his own life in Farmington after he allegedly assaulted a woman In December, a Farmington Hills barricaded gunman was arrested after he assaulted his wife while drunk In September another Farmington Hills man was shot and wounded by police after he barricaded himself in his home and fired at officers