Plymouth Township is moving toward a total ban on kratom products after the Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to advance a new ordinance amendment that would prohibit the sale of the substance.

Kratom products are currently sold at locations throughout Plymouth Township. If the ordinance passes at a later meeting, those caught selling or distributing the products could face civil fines ranging from $1,000 to $7,500, depending on the offense. An aggravated violation carries a fine of up to $25,000. Repeat violations carry misdemeanor penalties.

Plymouth Township Police Chief James Knittel Jr. has been pushing to prohibit kratom sales in the community, including "7-OH" citing concerns about the substance's impact on young people.

Watch 7 News Detroit reporter Christiana Ford's story in the video below:

Plymouth Township moves to ban kratom sales

"This community, we look out for our kids and this is concerning for us," James Knittel Jr. said.

Knittel said kratom's effects on the central nervous system are particularly concerning for young people.

"Kratom, the nickname for kratom is gas station heroin, and it's very concerning how it impacts the central nervous system, changes mood swings, things like that, particularly with our youth," Knittel said.

He said Plymouth Township is working to follow the lead of other nearby communities that have already moved to regulate the substance.

"We're trying to stay ahead of this very similar to what Canton did, Clinton Township, some other communities in the area, because we are seeing increases in this sale and increases in folks having substance abuse issues with this product mixed with others," Knittel said.

Knittel said enforcement of the potential ban would begin with education before escalating to civil or criminal action.

"We're not going to take quick action. We're going to educate them first. We're going to advise them what the ordinance is, give them opportunity to comply, and then you know from there on forward, we will continue to monitor that. And if we need to take action, we can certainly take civil action in this ordinance. And then if that doesn't work, then we can take criminal action," Knittel said.

The concern about kratom's impact on young people is shared by nonprofit organization Growth Works, which has been encouraging communities to take action and educate themselves. Growth Works is a local nonprofit that works with at-risk youth and families, including those dealing with substance use and involvement in the juvenile justice system.

"Even if we're not seeing the volume and the numbers of kids specifically coming to Growth Works that are already struggling with kratom, the fact is it's out there, it's accessible, and we want to change that and making sure, particularly for young people and their families and anybody who's in their lives, that they know the very serious risks associated with this," Laura Reiners, Director of Government Relations and Communications at Growth Works, said.

7 News Detroit has reported on how Sterling Heights addressed the sale of kratom in the video below:

Sterling Heights bans kratom sales, sparking debate over public safety and personal use

Growth Works has been hearing increased interest from local governments and regional partners, including communities involved with the Conference of Western Wayne, as the issue gains attention at both the state and federal levels. Reiners said educating communities on the issue aligns with the organization's mission.

"Growth Works mission is to serve kids and families and any time, particularly when it comes to substances, things that can be dangerous to young people, we feel that is a part of our mission to speak out," Reiners said.

Communities including Canton, Sterling Heights and Clinton Township have already taken steps to regulate kratom. Statewide legislation on the substance remains on hold in the Senate.

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Bus manufacturing is making a comeback in Michigan.

Pareto Mobility, operating out of a Plymouth Township warehouse, is producing what its owner says is the first fully flat-floor commercial bus available in North America and creating jobs in the community along the way.

Watch Christiana's story in the video player below: Plymouth Township is home to a first-of-its-kind bus maker

AJ Kumar, Founder and Chief Executive of Pareto Mobility, said the company started as a solution to a problem he identified in the transportation industry.

"It was not a dream right in the beginning. When I saw the problem in the industry and I saw that I can solve this problem, then it became a dream and that dream became a passion, and every dream is just a dream until more people start dreaming, " Kumar said.

He eventually got a team to buy into the dream and they moved forward.

The bus features a fully flat low-floor design, meant to make it easier for people using wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility devices to board without a wheelchair lift.

"Normally the low-floor buses either have a step in it or they have a slope. This is the first bus in North America that is totally flat from front to back, which people can buy right now," Kumar said.

The first bus built at the new plant is getting its final touches before being sent to a dealer.

"You can come right in the front and then because there are no steps, you can sit anywhere in the vehicle that you like," Kumar said.

The plant is also creating jobs in Plymouth Township, particularly for young graduates entering the workforce for the first time.

Roland Hill, from Farmington Hills, said this is his first job and described how the opportunity came at a critical time.

"I'm very grateful for it because I graduated in 2023 and I've been struggling to find something," Hill said.

Ferdinando Tijerina, also in his first job, moved to Michigan from Texas for the opportunity.

"Getting this hands-on experience that only people with, I don't know, 10 years of experience can get, I'm getting it with one year," Tijerina said.

Wes Graff, president of the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce, said Pareto Mobility is a welcome addition to the area and a sign of growth for the once-vacant Burroughs Corporation manufacturing plant. The company occupied the local plant for decades, serving as a 5,000 employer specializing in engineering for banking equipment.

"There's a lot of different companies within the building itself. It's been rehabbed and they're a great addition. We're really happy to have them," Graff said.

Plymouth Township Supervisor Chuck Curmi echoed those sentiments.

"Pareto is the perfect example of the kind of new business we want moving to Plymouth Township. They have technology, research and light manufacturing all under one roof. And ironically, the Burroughs Corporation did the same thing who occupied that building from 1936. They had product engineering, research and manufacturing all in the same location for the products that they produced in Plymouth Township at the Plymouth Road plant," said Curmi.

Kumar said the goal is to make this kind of accessibility the standard and to accomplish that locally.

"There are a lot of great engineers, there are a lot of good technicians, there's space, there's everything. So why not Michigan? And then why not Plymouth?" Kumar said.

This story was reported on-air 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.

Northville Township firefighters joined military aviators and University of Michigan Survival Flight crews for a critical care training exercise, as a Black Hawk helicopter touched down at a local park to prepare for large-scale emergencies.

The training focused on patient transfer, communications, and coordination, the kind of skills organizers said should never be practiced for the first time during a real event.

William Caruso, EMS Coordinator for Northville Township helped put the training together.

7 News Detroit reporter Christiana Ford was there and has the following report:

Black Hawk helicopter lands in Northville Township for firefighter training

"We're hoping to get some practice in interacting with helicopter EMS," Caruso said. "Our opportunities to work with helicopters are fairly limited because we have short transport times," Caruso said.

Robert Casamatta, a Northville Township firefighter medic and National Guard medevac pilot, said it is only a matter of time before a real event demands this kind of coordination.

"It's not if it's going to happen, it's usually when, and it might not be a Black Hawk that gets landed here because of the separation of the military and the civilian world, but it's almost a guarantee that Northville Township before the end of my time that we will land Survival Flight here," Casamatta said.

The exercise gave Casamatta a chance to bridge both of his worlds.

"I was in an ambulance in a fire engine on Monday. I had yesterday off and then today I'm flying a helicopter and then, you know, in a couple days I'll be back on the fire engine right here," Casamatta said.

The training was open to the public. Among those who turned out was 4-year-old Dash, dressed as Darth Vader, who got a rare close-up look at the Black Hawk.

"It's cool," Dash said.

Northville Township residents said they were glad to see the training happening in their community.

Allison Callahan, a Northville Township resident, said a family connection brought her out.

"My son is in West Point right now so when I heard about a Black Hawk coming right down the street from our house I had to come check it out," Callahan said.

Ron Atzinger, also a Northville Township resident and Air Force Veteran, said he appreciated the effort.

"I never thought it'd be right in my community but it's nice that they're here to support the community and I give em credit for all the work they're doing," Atzinger said.

This story was reported on-air 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.

Vandals have hit the little free library at McHattie Park in South Lyon twice this year, breaking the handmade doors that hold free books for children. South Lyon police are investigating, and there are cameras in the park.

The first attack came last week Tuesday, when vandals broke the red door on the library. Then on Sunday, vandals struck again.

Watch Christiana Ford's video report below: South Lyon little free library vandalized twice

Rachael Showerman, the steward of the little free library at McHattie Park, said the damage was hard to take.

"I guess when I saw it for the first time, that was kinda tough because it's a handmade door and it was ripped off and we actually just replaced it this past year," Showerman said.

Volunteers are already working on repairs and say they are not abandoning their mission.

"We're still doing the things that we've always wanted to do, which is get books in the hands of kids," Showerman said.

The library has become a resource for community members like 11-year-old Liam Ross, who said he loves visiting.

"I've only come here a couple times but already, I'm in love with it," Liam said.

Liam said he noticed something was wrong right away when he arrived to find the door missing. The books' illustrations are a personal draw for him.

"At the beginning, it has the pictures of dragons and I like to draw those, do all the details, make it look really nice," Liam said of the book he picked.

Showerman said the library started 10 years ago when a group of families got together with the idea.

"It was really generated by the excitement that the kids had for books and sharing, books and literacy and the parents all got to together and were like let's do this, let's make it happen," Showerman said.

South Lyon resident Nancy Grudzien said the library is a special place for the community.

"Every time that we're up here, which is somewhat frequently, we see a lot of the kids using the library and checking things, so it's a very special place for the community," Grudzien said.

Showerman said she hopes the vandals come to understand what the library means to the people who use it.

"I just think that maybe the people responsible for the damage must not know that there are so many people who care deeply about this little thing and that it makes a difference in people's lives," Showerman said.

She said the outpouring of community support has been touching.

"Just to hear how many people really care about it, it's touching and we are so grateful. We really appreciate that," Showerman said.

This story was reported on-air 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.

A Livonia family says scammers have made their nearly three-week search for a missing dog even harder, sending AI-generated photos and making fake phone calls demanding money.

Sofia, a 6-year-old terrier mix, went missing from the Bonkowski family's yard, and her favorite toys are still right where she left them.

"She's a member of the family," Christine Bonkowski said.

Christine says the family put up flyers and made countless posts online. But instead of getting helpful tips, they became victims of a different type of cruelty, scammers preying on their desperation.

Scammers target missing pet owners

"It's really hard because you hope. You hope," Christine said.

The first incident happened when the family was told to meet at a church parking lot near their home. Scammers said they would be able to see Sofia, but only after receiving money first.

"We were going to meet him. We were over there. It was the first night and we weren't thinking," Christine said.

Then the AI-generated photos started, including one that appeared to show Sofia in a cage.

"The guy did not crop out the ChatGPT link and his suggestion of what he wanted AI to do," Lauren Bonkowski said.

They later figured out the person that text was from Nigeria and even said they would show up at their home.

Another photo appeared to show their dog lying on the floor.

"To me it was very obviously AI because there was a part like by her ear that was like puffed out. Almost looked like a lump on her head that looked very strange," Lauren said.

Scammers targeted each member of the family, demanding money.

"My dad is getting group FaceTime calls as well," Lauren said. "People calling in the middle of the night saying they're chasing our dog right now."

The Bonkowskis have not paid anyone.

Experts say criminals are using AI and social media to take advantage of distraught pet owners. The Federal Trade Commission posted a consumer alert earlier this year.

"You're vulnerable, you're desperate you're not thinking straight really," Christine said.

The family is sharing their story hoping to protect other pet owners who might find themselves in the same position before it's too late.

"People need to know because I don't want someone falling victim," Christine said.

They are not giving up hope, leaving the fence open no matter how long it takes.

To better protect your self AARP says to watch out for these red flags:

Requests for money. Off-platform conversations. A false sense of urgency. Lack of proof.

This story was reported on-air 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.