Michigan Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed faced off in what was a largely on-topic debate with limited interruptions, covering key issues including the economy, trade, tariffs, gas prices and conflict in the Middle East.

The debate, held inside the 7 News Detroit studios, comes with less than two weeks until Election Day.

Both candidates addressed President Trump's use of tariffs and the impact on Michigan's auto industry.

"I think we need to use tariffs specifically around how we can protect certain automotive opportunities, the opportunities for growth and jobs that we actually need rather than this haphazard approach which he (Rogers) has backed just like he backed NAFTA," El-Sayed said.

Rogers acknowledged some concerns about the administration's approach.

"I have stepped back and said maybe these Canadian tariffs were not well thought through, mainly because of the interaction between our automobile companies in Canada when it comes just in time manufacturing," Rogers said.

Both candidates also discussed lowering costs and improving the auto industry before turning to the question of Iran and U.S. national security.

"There's no doubt that Iran has posed a threat, but here's the problem with it though, is that that threat had been contained back during the Obama administration when he used diplomacy and not war to contain the threat," El-Sayed said.

Rogers pushed back sharply.

"My opponent can't even condemn the IRGC, which is the terrorist enforcement arm of Iran and doesn't believe Iran is any more dangerous than Israel. This is an absolute nonstarter if you're gonna send somebody back to the United States Senate," Rogers said.

Rogers repeatedly attempted to tie El-Sayed to terrorist organizations in the Middle East, which led to the most contentious moment in the debate.

"So being bought off by the Muslim brotherhood, having donors to his campaign from Hamas that support Hezbollah, is not a problem? If you are going to go to the United States Senate, we need to know, are you for America? Or are you for these terrorist groups overseas?" Rogers said.

El-Sayed pushed back forcefully.

"He keeps raising this question about this association with an organization I've never been a part of, because my Mom who is a nurse in Missouri? It doesn't make any sense and it's actually really quite beneath you Mike. It's really quite beneath you. To call into question my loyalty to the constitution," El-Sayed said.

El-Sayed repeatedly tied Rogers to President Trump throughout the debate, accusing him of backing policies that led to rising costs and urging viewers to play a game he called "MAGA Bingo."

"You know we got a real history of Republican Senators standing up to Donald Trump right now. I don't see it happening. So he's gonna talk a good game like he usually does, but he's going to bend to Donald Trump because he's a sock puppet for the man," El-Sayed said.

"He wants to make this about Donald Trump?" Rogers responded. "The bingo game ought a be how many times can he put the word 'Trump' in any answer that he has given in the last 30 minutes," Rogers said.

This was the final debate between the two candidates before Election Day.

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With a 4-3 vote, Sterling Heights City Council voted to approve another 2 year contract with Flock, the controversial license plate readers that police say have been instrumental in helping solve crimes. Meanwhile residents had concerns about misuse and privacy.

The City's current 2 year contract with Flock is set to expire in December. The contract was the only item up for consideration on Tuesday night's agenda, yet the meeting lasted more than 5 and a half hours. The City's police department gave a presentation on Flock and the oversight they have in place currently. Public comment alone lasted over 3 hours.

The City currently has 23 cameras, and the yearly cost is estimated to be $84,100.

DETROIT A Detroit luxury clothing boutique is pleading for answers after security footage captured a masked thief breaking in overnight and stealing what the owner estimates is more than $500,000 worth of high-end inventory.

The break-in happened just after midnight Thursday at Million Dollar Streetwear, an appointment-only boutique located on the second floor of a building near Eastern Market. The store does not publicly advertise its address.

Security footage provided by co-owner Andrew Weiss shows a Chrysler minivan pulling up to the back of the building. A masked, hooded suspect then enters the store, makes three trips carrying bags of merchandise and loads them into the van before fleeing the scene.

"Pretty much put the inventory in about 3 garbage bags, they took about 3 different trips and fled the scene," Weiss said.

Weiss said his brother arrived at the store around 11 a.m. and found the door busted open and nearly all of their inventory gone. Weiss said he was on the phone with his brother when the discovery was made.

"Literally I was on a call with him, he dropped his phone. He had to tell me 7 times that we were robbed. I thought he was joking. We were both in shock at what happened. I mean, the dollar amount at what was stolen was absolutely devastating," Weiss said.

Detroit police say the 7th Precinct is now investigating and received the initial call around 11 a.m.

Weiss says the luxury items sold at the boutique are hard to find and can go for thousands of dollars each. Weiss estimates the total retail value of what was stolen exceeds $500,000.

"They absolutely cleared us out, we are devastated," Weiss said.

With 90% of their sales conducted online, the store's address was never publicly advertised. Weiss said only a few dozen clients have ever visited the location, which the business has occupied for less than a year.

"The goal was one day to build up the clientele so we could afford the security needed to open up a storefront in downtown Detroit," Weiss said.

Weiss said he first started doing retail arbitrage at age 15. Now, after 10 years in business, he says the future of the company is uncertain.

"As a business owner the business is your baby and I've had this business 10 years so my goal was to keep growing it. I'm not sure what the next steps are," Weiss said.

"Our lives have been absolutely uprooted, we are devastated. That was our inventory, we can't keep operating for now," Weiss said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detroit Police Department's 7th Precinct or call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

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.

ROMULUS, Mich. One week after Romulus High School's homecoming game and dance were cancelled due to a credible threat of student violence, homecoming weekend is back on with significantly increased security measures in place.

The district added more private security, extra entrance checkpoints, more uniformed police officers, and even a police drone flying over the crowd for the game against Whitmore Lake.

Romulus Mayor Robert McCraight was among the community leaders on site for the game.

"It's a huge part of the community. This is a long-standing tradition for our community and the things that happened in the past week doesn't really reflect Romulus or our residents," McCraight said.

When asked whether the threats that led to last week's cancellation had been addressed, District Superintendent Dr. Benjamin Edmondson said they were.

"They're taken care of, we'll say that, they're taken care of," Dr. Edmondson said. "I feel very comfortable being in front of you and having this event because the school responds. Particularly if you know who's making the threats.

Dr. Edmondson said after the cancellation, he met with students who wanted homecoming to move forward. He said keeping students safe was his top priority.

"I said hey, listen. I will do everything in my power to get this game to you, and get this dance you deserve it, it's not your fault. My job is to make sure that you're safe. Number 1 is that you're safe and I was able to do that," Edmondson said.

Parents and family members said students were devastated by last week's cancellation, but praised the district's response.

"They were a little disappointed at first, a little scared because they didn't know what was going to happen," said Rosalyn Clark, whose nephew plays on the team.

Clark said the visible security presence made a difference.

"It means a lot and for them to have the police officers out here, the mayors out here, it makes you feel real safe," Clark said.

Danna Passmore, a parent of a player, echoed that sentiment.

"Oh it was a lot, my son was so upset about the whole situation, but Romulus has done a really good job to make us feel safe today," Passmore said.

With the homecoming king and queen crowned and the game complete, students are now looking ahead to the dance, where similar safety measures will be in place.

"When I went in the schools, I asked kids were they coming a lot of them, I won't say most, said they're coming because they're seniors. This day is important, and it's important to all of us," Edmondson said.

The homecoming dance is scheduled for Saturday.

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.