5K fun run and 1-mile walk through Olson Park Proceeds support this 65-year-old nonprofit that involves kids from southeast Ypsilanti and northeast Ann Arbor in baseball and softball $25 (1-mile) entry fee (includes T-shirt) in advance at givebutter.com/c/ynllrun © 2025 Ann Arbor Observer. Michigan web development by Boxcar Studio Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Thanks for visiting A federal immigration agent searched a Washtenaw County courthouse Thursday morning before arresting a person about a mile from the building said Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer in a press release Thursday afternoon The sheriff said her office was not involved in the operation and was not notified in advance of U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement's plans Dyer said one federal agent was in the courthouse for about five minutes in search of an individual on the court docket The agent then left and waited outside before arresting one person about a mile away from the court building The sheriff said her office was only made aware of ICE's presence at the courthouse after community members reported it "The unannounced presence of any immigration agent at a courthouse in anywhere in our county carries a serious risk of causing fear and panic — especially right now given the national landscape," she said in an email to The Detroit News An ICE spokesperson did not immediately respond to an email seeking information and comment Immigration agents also conducted "enforcement activity" at another location in Ypsilanti That activity was separate from the courthouse search and Dyer sad ICE had previously notified Metro dispatch about those operations "The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office is not involved in any immigration enforcement activities and was not involved in any of the incidents described above," she said in the release we have no additional confirmed reports of immigration activity occurring in Washtenaw County." In January, Dyer said her office would not assist ICE, according to an MLive report She told the news site that "federal immigration matters are federal immigration matters Dyers said her office contacted ICE officials following the arrest and the agencies plan to "have a conversation in the future." did not immediately return a call seeking information @max_detroitnews The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office confirms ICE agents have arrested a person in Ypsilanti Agents also stopped at locations in Pittsfield and Ypsilanti Townships Sheriff Alyshia Dyer says ICE officers came to the 14A-2 District Court in Ypsilanti Thursday morning They entered the lobby and asked to see the court proceedings Dyer says they instead waited for the person outside and wound up arresting them about a mile away She says her office was not given notice that ICE was operating in the county or looking for anybody Rumors were posted on social media that numerous arrests were made by ICE at the County Government Complex Dyer says she spoke with security at the complex and says ICE agents were never there Non-commercial, fact based reporting is made possible by your financial support.  Make your donation to WEMU today to keep your community NPR station thriving Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on X (Twitter) Contact WEMU News at 734.487.3363 or email us at studio@wemu.org Dr. Dilanjan Miller, 38, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and was sentenced to six months in federal prison. Miller was sentenced after pleading guilty on Tuesday (April 29) and was ordered to pay restitution to the union. According to the facts alleged in the information and further developed at the plea hearing, USW Local 2513 represented machine operators, inspectors, stock chasers, and rackers at Marsh Plating in Ypsilanti. Miller was elected President of Local 2513 in April 2018. Miller also assumed all financial duties of Local 2513 as acting Financial Secretary and Treasurer. While president, acting financial secretary, and acting treasurer of the union, Miller embezzled approximately $47,347 of union funds in the custody and control of the bank of Ann Arbor by issuing approximately 38 unauthorized checks to himself and forging the signature of the second signatory on 20 of those checks; issuing approximately four unauthorized checks made payable to a family member; and making approximately two unauthorized cash withdrawals from the union’s bank account. The 38-year-old also used the union’s Bank of Ann Arbor debit card as his own personal debit card. He made at least 184 unauthorized personal purchases, totaling approximately $11,259. His purchases with the union’s debit card included flights, hotel rooms, rental cars, and retail purchases. For example, Miller used the debit card to pay for five flights to Florida, Las Vegas, and Atlanta, as well as for rental cars in Florida and Atlanta. Miller also used the debit card at a jewelry store and several footwear shops. Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service. 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) — Vara Juice in Ypsilanti nearly became the victim of an armed robbery this past Friday the suspect had no clue that his attempt to make quick cash would come to a hard stop Thirty-five-year-old Ali Hadma owns a hookah place called Cups On A Mission located next to Vara Juice on Washtenaw Ave "3 years," said Ali when asked how long he's owned the shop Ali moved to Michigan in 1997 from Iraq with his parents and seven siblings describing his relationship with Vara Juice specifically referring to his actions on Friday Ali got a call from 20-year-old Mariam at Vara Juice asking him to come immediately "So you had no idea what you were walking into?" I asked Ali was walking into an attempted armed robbery you can see the suspect pointing a gun at Mariam at the cash register Mariam can be heard asking Ali to come in Arabic RELATED VIDEO: Surveillance video shows Good Samaritan take down armed robbery suspect Mariam starts handing the cash to the suspect "But you didn't know he had a gun?" I asked "Have you got any tactical or self-defense training?" I asked I just go to the gym 6 days a week," said Ali who can be seen walking away in the security footage would you have done what you did?" I asked The 37-year-old's bond was also denied as he faces up to life in prison It's Ramadan right now; we break the fast together All the girls he treats like his sisters," said Sadam Badani but her parents will only allow Mariam to resume work if her hero why would you risk your life for a couple of dollars Since the social media video has gone viral, 'Put it back' has become Ali's catchphrase and he has created hoodies and t-shirts, which he says are now in high demand. You can reach Ali on Instagram @Cuponamission The Ypsilanti Engagement Center a short-term crisis intervention facility run by Home of New Vision has suddenly shut its doors due to a major funding loss Addiction recovery nonprofit Home of New Vision received a stop-work order from the state after losing all federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act That funding comprised 91% of the Engagement Center’s budget forcing the facility to close and lay off its staff police departments and hospitals have referred people in crisis to the center She says the shutdown will leave a major gap in addiction recovery care in Ypsilanti Williams says their other facilities will continue being operational unless future policy changes from the Trump administration affect their funding Los Alamos National Laboratory chooses Ypsilanti Township for high-performance computing facility; Detroit Diesel Corporation secures state support to expand Mich.  – Governor Gretchen Whitmer today applauded Michigan Strategic Fund Board (MSF) action to support two projects utilizing the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund led by the University of Michigan and Detroit Diesel Corporation the projects will create at least 636 new jobs and secure capital investments of roughly $1.53 billion.  “Today’s investments into the University of Michigan and Detroit Diesel Corporation will create more than 600 good-paying jobs and continue growing our cutting-edge manufacturing economy,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer “To lead the future of technology and the auto industry we must continue competing to win projects that create in-demand Let’s continue using and expanding our bipartisan economic development toolkit to ensure that everyone can ‘make it’ in Michigan.”  “Michigan is proud to earn these significant investments from We are especially proud to know these projects and others before the Michigan Strategic Fund Board chose Michigan because of our access to strong skilled Michiganders and the business environment we’re building to create opportunities,” said Quentin L CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Chair of the MSF Board the ‘Make It In Michigan’ economic development strategy focused on People As Team Michigan continues to help companies of all sizes make their supply chains more efficient I look forward to greater growth and innovation continuing in 2025.”  The MSF Board today approved a $100 million Strategic Site Readiness Program (SSRP) performance-based grant for the University of Michigan (U-M) to begin readying land in Ypsilanti Township (Washtenaw County) for a high-performance computing facility The facility will house two computing centers One will be for federally funded research related to national security smaller center will be used for research and development by university faculty and students and other collaborating universities.  High-performance computing involves extremely intelligent and accurate scientific computation.   The project anticipates creating at least 200 knowledge-economy jobs paying nearly $200,000 plus benefits for a full-time employee The project also represents a $1.25 billion investment with support coming from Los Alamos National Laboratory ($300 million) U-M ($850 million) and the state of Michigan ($100 million).   Outside of the local and regional benefits this project presents an immense opportunity to expand Michigan’s R&D and innovation ecosystems by growing existing businesses and welcoming new ones with federal funding from the U.S it delivers on all three Make It in Michigan components: Attracts and retains people for the lab’s workforce The project leverages existing assets – including U-M’s Michigan Institute for Computational Discovery & Engineering (MICDE) and computer architecture group – and boosts Michigan’s appeal as a place for entrepreneurs innovation across multiple disciplines by offering high-paying and opportunities for students and career professionals alike.   The build-up will also provide numerous construction jobs and the opportunity for materials purchasing from Michigan businesses The facility expects to be fully operational by 2030 with vertical construction starting in 2026.  “The data-intensive work we do at Los Alamos National Laboratory requires sophisticated and powerful computing resources Our partnership with the University of Michigan will combine the capabilities of our two great institutions to further R&D for critical national security programs that utilize high-performance computing and AI such as advanced materials research and manufacturing,” said Thom Mason Director of Los Alamos National Laboratory “We’re looking forward to working with the University to advance this work to benefit the nation.”  "We are deeply grateful to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Michigan Strategic Fund Board for their visionary investment in the future of Michigan,” said University of Michigan President Santa J “This generous grant helps to position Michigan as a leader in national security The partnership between the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory represents a transformative opportunity to drive innovation and create high-paying jobs right here in Michigan We are honored to collaborate on this impactful initiative and look forward to the profound benefits it will bring to our state and beyond."  a leader in North American engine technology for commercial vehicles and a part of Daimler Truck North America LLC (DTNA) will expand its existing facility in Redford Township (Wayne County) with the support of a $27.7 million performance-based Critical Industry Program grant The company also received MSF support for a State Essential Services Assessment (SESA) abatement with an estimated value of up to $3.29 million.   the project anticipates a capital investment of up to $285 million to expand and diversify production of internal combustion engine (ICE) and zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) components for medium- and heavy-duty trucks creating up to 436 new jobs to the site and retaining 2,000.  Detroit Diesel Corporation has existed since 1938 The performance-based incentive for this project ensures further stability for Michigan residents employed by the company which has been a longstanding partner with the United Auto Workers to provide competitive wages and comprehensive benefits Supporting the company helps create hundreds of new jobs while bolstering Michigan as an international leader in the automotive industry for both manufacturers and the associated supply chain.  Aerial view of the Detroit Diesel Corporation facility in Redford Township as the technology for ZEVs continues to evolve such an investment invites the opportunity to diversify the state’s supply chain beyond light vehicles to meet a growing demand for cleaner more fuel-efficient engines and components Commercial trucks face especially unique challenges in the transition to cleaner more efficient technologies – including infrastructure and more – so such an investment also helps to foster an environment for expanded R&D in this sector.  with its legacy of over 85 years in Michigan stands as a testament to innovation and progress This expansion is about more than just innovation; it’s about creating job opportunities and upskilling our workforce to meet the demands of tomorrow’s technology while helping to stabilize the heavy-duty supply chain,” said Matt Pfaffenbach “This transformative project will propel us into a new era of manufacturing excellence while strengthening our role in the industry and bringing significant growth to the community we call home It would not be possible without the support of the MEDC and we are proud to support both our community and our employees through this initiative.”    "The transition to electric vehicles is the next step in motorized transportation and it makes sense from a historical perspective that Wayne County be positioned at the center of this progress I am extremely pleased by the decision of Detroit Diesel Corporation to expand its footprint in Redford Township by investing in the production of electric axles and battery modules/pack assembly and other measures,” said Wayne County Executive Warren C “This company’s expansion will create 436 new jobs and retain hundreds more core communities as we continue to take Wayne County's economic development to the next level.”  “Redford Township is proud to be partnering with Detroit Diesel Corporation and MEDC on this project,” said Redford Township Supervisor Pat McRae “It will bring innovation and continued growth of their business here in Redford Township as we continue to move Redford Township forward.”   About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained their first undocumented immigrant in Ypsilanti Residents are concerned about increasing ICE activity and migrant safety after agents detained a man shopping at Dos Hermanos Market in downtown Ypsilanti City Manager Andrew Hellenga says local government will continue to welcome and support the city’s undocumented He says while the city does not know when ICE will reappear Ypsilanti authorities will not or ever report people based on their immigrant status Hellenga says the city understands that it is a trying time for many residents and they will help the city’s immigrants in a way that is within legal boundaries (WXYZ) — 7 News Detroit first visited the Arbor One Apartments back in mid-January after residents reached out to us concerned about the horrible living conditions inside their apartments PREVIOUS REPORT: Ypsilanti apartment complex tenants speak out about horrible living conditions and they said I have 21 violations in my apartment alone,” said Edwina Harris Harris and her family have been living at the Arbor One Apartments for two years She says she’s dealt with so many issues in the apartment so it wasn’t healthy for the kids to stay there; they were always sick,” said Harris “Then I had sewage backing up into my sink that my kids use the Washtenaw County Prosecutors office and the city of Ypsilanti filed a lawsuit against the New Jersey-based real estate operators that own Arbor One due to the number of housing and health code violations “To be standing here knowing what’s still behind this door is sickening,” said Leslie Acklin of Ypsilanti While she did have some underlying health issues but she always tried to make her apartment better for her and her son Acklin says her sister’s apartment was condemned by the city “Nobody should have been here; my nephew shouldn’t have been in here,” said Acklin during a court hearing held about Arbor One a judge checked in to see what progress was being made to get the apartments up to code “We’ve completed 500 of the 7,000 problems that we’ve identified at the property thus far,” said Stewart Beal of Beal Properties Beal took over as the property manager for Arbor One Apartments on February 1st He says he has met with the property owners and they came up with an 18-month timeline to get the apartments completely fixed up “We definitely will be addressing the deplorable conditions much more rapidly than 18 months I’m not saying that someone needs to live in their apartment with mold and cockroaches for 18 months,” said Beal Edwina Harris and her family have been put into a renovated apartment due to the issues with her old one and she hopes other residents at Arbor One get to live in better conditions “We all still deserve to live someplace that is clean and healthy and an environment that is thriving,” said Harris Through the collaborative efforts of Ypsilanti Township a new community center will soon be coming to Southeast Michigan Eastern Washtenaw Community and Recreation Center will be built on the current site of the vacant Cheney Elementary School hasn’t been in use since 2012 after a reconsolidation with Willow Run School Board the space will be revitalized as a multifaceted center for community members of all ages.  that is affordable for all different levels of the community the Public Information Officer for Washtenaw County “We’re really planning for a state of the art recreation and community center.” Demolition of the elementary school is underway and will continue through the end of the year It is not known when construction on the facility will begin The plans for the recreation center have changed over the years First it was proposed to be built near the Water Street area in Ypsilanti then there were discussions of it becoming a YMCA But this iteration of the center has been finalized with a $600,000 purchase of the elementary school from Washtenaw County and a 9-0 ratifying vote from the Board of Commissioners nearly $30 million in funding has been secured from different local We are committed to seeing this project through to fruition and making sure that it is sustainable that we really develop a community hub on that side of Washtenaw County,” Campbell said While specific amenities of the center are not known Campbell says that many resources will reflect the needs of the community learned through their extensive community engagement work This was done through surveys and focus groups that included those living near the center they will be very much a duplication of some community engagement so we can make sure what the community needs and wants aligns with what we’ve designed,” Campbell said surveyors discovered that the most urgent needs included daycare facilities Amenities such as a pool and workout equipment have also been proposed Campbell believes that this facility could be life-changing for Washtenaw County residents “In addition to the [Ypsilanti Public] library that’s there we’re anticipating a community hub that will have an impact on everyone—from young people to the elderly to working folks," Campbell said "And it really is in response to what we’ve heard from community members all across that region of Washtenaw County." Residents can follow the progress of the center when the new Washtenaw County website launches on Dec 17 A page on the site will be dedicated to showing timelines If community members have further questions Campbell encourages them to email ewcrc@washtenaw.org (WXYZ) — The list of grieving families looking for answers is growing in Ypsilanti Alongside the loved ones of slain Eastern Michigan University student Julia Niswender who was raped and murdered inside her off-campus apartment Mayleben was shot and killed in the passenger seat of a car parked outside of a local store in Ypsilanti His murder has been unsolved for almost three years Related video: Family of Julia Niswender says nobody is investigating the Eastern Michigan University student's murder told me she was under the impression that her son’s murder was being investigated by the Ypsilanti Police Department She told me she was unable to get a call back from anyone at the department regarding her son’s murder so she went to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office to try and get some answers a member of the sheriff’s office called over to the Ypsilanti police who suggested she come down to the department she was greeted by a lieutenant who told her plainly that nobody was investigating her son’s murder “He told us that nobody was working Jason’s case I feel Jason has been forgotten,” she said felt abandoned by the only people who can get justice for her son it begged the question: what happened to the department I reached out to the union representative for the Ypsilanti Police Department the department had enough personnel to fully function But there was a mass exodus from the department when former Chief Kirk Moore brought a lieutenant back to the department who was previously on paid administrative leave for three years “They informed the chief that if they brought him back that the morale would be done in the department and that would be something that they figure is untrustworthy and told him if he came back that they would leave," Ronewicz said I think there might have been seven officers total that were still left in the department that were just handling road patrol duties they didn't have enough people to do that either.” Watch our August 2023 story about Ypsilanti police calling on the Washtenaw County sheriff for help with low staffing The departures left the remaining officers feeling burnt out and overwhelmed with the weight of the work from various units inside the department on their shoulders I reached out to City Manager Andrew Hellenga to ask him what’s been going on with the department While he would not comment on the mass exodus of the department the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office is handling Ypsilanti’s day-to-day felony cases as they rebuild “The interim chief has placed two officers in training for the role of detectives so they'll kind of be a dual role as both road patrol as well as detective until we solidify our ranks a little bit more,” Hellenga said the grieving families of these murder victims told me they are hoping to see justice for their loved ones but are losing faith that will happen with the Ypsilanti Police Department Where Your Voice Matters Tomorrow’s election will bring changes to the Ypsilanti Community School Board There is only one incumbent in the race with four candidates seeking three seats Ypsilanti Community School Board president Dr. Celeste Hawkins has been on the board since 2012 She says she's very happy with what the district has been able to accomplish in recent years One of the things she's most proud of is acquiring the state funding that allowed the district to pay off the massive debt it incurred after merging with the Willow Run District in 2013 it frees up dollars for many other things the district can now do Dawn Espy is a nonprofit and educational consultant She says she has always had a passion for education as both her parents and her grandmother were teachers Espy says she makes a good candidate for the school board thanks to her experience working in nearly every system that touches young people Talisha Sutton-Kennedy works for an education based nonprofit and as a part-time educator and tutor "An education is a foundational right of every student and a major need of community success all of us should be doing what we can to help the schools in the Ypsilanti area." Allie Suffety is a retired teacher with over 40 years of public education experience mostly in the Plymouth-Canton Community District He says he decided to run for the Ypsilanti board after seeing how well the members worked together when he brought them a gun safety resolution a few years ago Test scores have long been a concern in the Ypsilanti Community Schools But Celeste Hawkins says there is a good reason to be optimistic particularly since they're now clear of that debt that was stifling growth Dawn Espy wants to address the disproportionate number of suspensions of students of color and invest more in restorative practices There are many factors outside of schools that affects how students do in the classroom Espy has worked with the district and the plight of homeless students She says it hits home to address their needs Sutton-Kennedy says a student achievement continues to be a major concern in the district The achievement gap has been an issue for generations and continues to be a difficult task to address Allie Suffety considers himself to be an anti-racism educator He says he did a lot of work on equity in the classroom and with the administration while he was at Plymouth-Canton Suffety says he has a lot of concerns regarding the future of African American males in the Ypsilanti Community Schools There is one other name on the ballot for the Ypsilanti Community School Board. That's Alex Pontois he decided to drop out of the race and has thrown his support behind the trio of Hawkins The polls are open tomorrow from 7 AM to 8 PM Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter Cole Caruso (Michigan Photography)U-M Set for Rematch with EMU This Time in Ypsilanti3/31/2025 1:06:00 PM | Baseball -- The University of Michigan baseball team (15-12) will head down the road to Ypsilanti for a rematch against Eastern Michigan (13-11) on Tuesday (April 1) at 4 p.m • Over the past 10 games, Colby Turner has found his swing and is hitting .395 with 15 hits and a team-leading 15 RBIs he tallied five hits with three doubles and scored three runs Turner is up to a .313 season average with 11 runs and 22 RBIs • After a home run in the series finale, Cole Caruso now leads the team with seven this season He totaled seven home runs in his previous three collegiate seasons and has matched it through 27 games this season He has also improved his batting average compared to last season hitting .270 and adding 18 runs and 24 RBIs • Mitch Voit leads the team in most offensive categories and ranks among the conference's top 10 in many as well He holds a .706 slugging percentage and a .504 on-base percentage -- which are both top 10 in the Big Ten He leads U-M in hits and is seventh in the conference with 40 this season • Jefferis tallied five hits over the series against Penn State with three runs and two RBIs and drew two starts in center field He had a four-hit day on Saturday (March 29) and accounted for half of the team's runs in the 8-7 win He is just one of four freshmen to earn starts this season • Leading the team in batting average, Benny Casillas has tallied 36 hits this season He holds a .404 average and a .509 on-base percentage Casillas has reached base in all 26 starts this season and is second on U-M with 24 runs scored • Two-way player Will Rogers has contributed on both sides this year he leads the team in ERA with a 3.54 and is fourth among all pitchers Rogers has pitched 28 innings with 22 strikeouts scattering 24 hits and 12 runs in 11 appearances Rogers is hitting .279 with 12 hits and two home runs • Eastern Michigan is 13-11 and is coming off a series win over Ohio EMU lost a midweek contest to Ohio State and won a series against Western Michigan U-M holds a 125-65-2 record over the Eagles (WXYZ) — The Arbor One apartments on Green Road in Ypsilanti are under close watch after city officials say many units aren’t up to code it says mold… water damage,” said Leslie Acklin of Ypsilanti used to live in the apartment that has that red notice on the door wanting to highlight what was going on in her sister’s apartment “There’s no reason to why she had to live in these horrid conditions,” said Acklin Cole’s apartment was condemned about a week before she died Pictures show some of the inside of the unit You can see a broken toilet and exposed installation in the bathroom “The bathroom in our house was really messed up because it was water leaking from the second floor,” said Izaiah Herrell As 7 News Detroit reporter Tiarra Braddock was talking to Acklin and her nephew another Arbor One tenant approached me wanting to share his concerns with his apartment Parker says many things need to be fixed in his apartment our whole door knob fell off,” said Parker but this thing is so messed up that you have to use pliers to turn it on I went to the Arbor One management office to speak with someone I was able to speak with Washtenaw County Commissioner Annie Sommerville about the issues the tenants were facing She was at the apartment complex on Wednesday “We’re trying to get tenants at Arbor One information about their legal rights: how to contact legal aid and just explaining to them what it means to put rent in escrow,” said Sommerville Sommerville added that the county is working with the city of Ypsilanti to make sure Arbor One’s management gets the apartments up to code and we’re noticing issues with heat and sewage backup,'” said Sommerville County Commissioner Somerville and her team will be back at Arbor One Apartments on Friday starting at 11 am its been a circuitous path to downtown Ypsilanti Before Mitchell retired and got into distilling That was why the belt pulley and driveshaft fans hanging over the bar and kitchen area caught his eye through the window "The fans were the only thing we could see Mitchell's interest in distilling led to him owning and operating Distillery Livonia alongside partners Katie Nelson and Mike Nelson when circumstance had them looking for somewhere to relocate Mitchell and his partners looked to Ypsilanti and found Haab's Restaurant "We didn't know until we got more involved how intertwined Haab's is with the community," Mitchell said "And when they were asking us what we were gonna do with it that's when the idea came up- why not save it?" The group decided to reopen for business under the name Haab's Barrel House breathing fresh air into the building that had served the community for 87 years The Barrel House has been working to bring back as much of the 1932 Haab's as possible including some of the booths and other items that were auctioned off Some of the favorites from Haab's original menu are making a comeback in addition to the furniture Former owner Mike Kabat helped the new owners get in contact with some of the old suppliers including the proprietary breading for the fried chicken that had been served for 77 years Mitchell and the kitchen staff are also putting a smoker they acquired from Michigan State University to work as they plan on marrying some of the items from their old restaurant together So far they've tried using their cold smoke and marinating process used for their chicken wings on the classic fried chicken The smoker has also allowed the restaurant to experiment with new items like a brisket pizza and a smoked corned beef sandwich They plan to add those items to the menu in the coming weeks The biggest change to the menu has been the addition of the vegan and vegetarian menu Most of the meal items on the menu are $15 or less Mitchell and his partners are also currently floating the idea of using one of the walls in the bar dining space as a "living gallery" for local artists to display and sell their artwork The Barrel House has also added a karaoke bar and offers a tasting room where they'll have their own spirits under the "Leaky Still" brand Haab's is also still looking to hire staff as they continue to open and expand their business With daytime high temperatures in the 20’s many residents are seeking out shelters as a way to get out of the cold and get some basic necessities WEMU’s John Stockwell visited once such place recently The Ypsilanti Freighthouse began operation in 1878 when goods were shipped around America via train the space is owned by the city where private and community events are held throughout the year But the Freighthouse also serves another purpose It serves as a daytime warming center for residents in need during the cold Michigan winters I stopped by the center to take a look around And while the outside of the building is just basic bricks tables offering various services and volunteers moving about And volunteers of varying skill sets are needed that many of the volunteers are former guests One of the people that likes to give back is Ty He told me he used to come to the rate house for support but now he has a place to live and returns to the center to volunteer And what does he like to do when he volunteers who is stirring a large metal pot of delicious looking meat and sauce who is the executive director of the county's Shelter Association He made the point that daytime help is sometimes overlooked a staff member who told me why she likes it there The Freighthouse is open as a warming center Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 6 PM until March 28th. Those interested in volunteering can go to annarborshelter.org Thanks for visiting Southfield — Two Ypsilanti men were arrested over the weekend for trying to steal a vehicle after leading Southfield police on car chases Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren said Monday were arraigned Friday in 46th District Court Barren announced their arrests and charges against them at a midday news conference Monday at police headquarters He was joined by Southfield Deputy Police Chief Aaron Huguley Southfield Deputy Police Chief Jeffrey Jagielski Pitts is charged with third-degree fleeing and eluding police and receiving and concealing a stolen vehicle A judge set his bond at $50,000 and scheduled his next court hearing for March 28 Court records did not list an attorney for Pitts on Monday Barren said Pitts has prior convictions for assault with a dangerous weapon receiving and concealing stolen motor vehicles Harris is charged with unlawful driving away of a motor vehicle and receiving and concealing a stolen vehicle A judge set his bond at $1,500 and scheduled his next court hearing for March 28 Court records did not list an attorney for Harris on Monday Barren said Harris does not have a documented criminal history Two other people were arrested in connection with the attempted theft was given a ticket for giving police officers a false name when questioned was processed and turned over to his parents The 17-year-old will be prosecuted in Wayne County Juvenile Court Barren explained juveniles accused of crimes in Michigan are prosecuted in the counties of their residence not where the crimes allegedly happened He also said police continue to investigate and determine if any others may be charged in connection with the crime Authorities said the incident happened at about last Thursday in the 27000 block of Berkshire Drive near West Eleven Mile and Evergreen roads Barren said dispatchers received a 911 call at about 3:30 a.m She reported her home's security camera alerted her to a man trying to get inside her parked 2017 Dodge Charger she told police she saw multiple suspects near her car and gave them a description of them Officers arrived in the area within minutes and saw a suspect run to get into a white 2015 Mazda sedan They then saw the Mazda and a green Ford Fusion that had been reported stolen earlier in the day in Southfield traveling one behind the other through the neighborhood it was apparent that both vehicles were involved and acting in concert with one another," Barren said "Both vehicles were observed leaving the subdivision at the same time Both vehicles turned in unison onto northbound Evergreen Road." The chief said the Ford was in front with the Mazda behind it Officers followed the vehicles as they reached Villa Pointe Condominiums where they drove off in separate directions Officers following the Ford shone their vehicle's spotlight on the car and saw multiple occupants inside wearing masks "The Ford Fusion immediately accelerated away from officers," Barren said Barren said the car turned onto northbound Evergreen Road made an abrupt turn at Kingswood Place Condominiums Police then used a so-called PIT Maneuver — using a police car to strike a fleeing vehicle's rear quarter panel — to disable it "That resulted in the vehicle spinning out and becoming disabled," Barren said He said the occupants remained in the car until officers ordered them out and took them into custody Police later identified the driver as Pitts and his front seat passenger as Harris Southfield police released the 911 call reporting the attempted car theft as well as officers' dash cam video of one of the car chases and body camera footage of the arrest of a couple of suspects Car thefts have become such a growing problem for law enforcement and car owners, that the Michigan Attorney General's Office said last month it was expanding its auto insurance fraud task force to include stolen vehicles as thefts spike in the state "Southeast Michigan is experiencing a crisis when it comes to individuals stealing vehicles," Barren said It's a multi-million dollar industry and that's what keeps individuals committing these crimes." Barren said the city of Southfield is attractive for car thieves because of the three freeways — Interstate 696 the Lodge and the Southfield — that run through it It also has a lot of hotels and apartment complexes "It can become a target for individuals who are planning auto theft crimes because the cars are on display," he said Southfield police officers and the task force have arrested 43 auto theft suspects since October 2024 which resulted in 47 felony charges so far in 2025 The Southfield Police Department houses the Oakland County Auto Theft Task Force which includes officers from Oakland County Sheriff's Office and the Southfield Farmington Hills and Detroit police agencies Pitts and Harris are the latest Michiganians to be accused of auto theft Last week a Warren man was charged with conducting a criminal enterprise after authorities linked him to an alleged auto theft ring that targeted Cadillacs in a carmaker's lot Earlier this month three Detroit men were ordered to stand trial for allegedly being part of a ring that stole hundreds of vehicles in southeast Michigan Last month two Detroit were charged for allegedly being part of an auto theft ring that targeted dealerships in Macomb Plans are underway to install a roundabout at the intersection of Whittaker and Martz Road marking it the fourth roundabout on the Whittaker Road Corridor Assistant Director of Engineering Aaron Berkholz says adding a roundabout at Martz Road will further reduce the likelihood of T-bone crashes especially at intersections near residential areas and Lincoln Consolidated Schools Berkholz says after drafting the roundabout design plans the Road Commission will hold public meetings to gather input on the Whittaker-Martz intersection