Melissa Nann Burke, Max Reinhart, Anne Snabes and Ben Warren, MediaNews Group
About 1.4 million Michigan residents eligible to receive federal assistance to pay for food should get 65% of their monthly benefits for November, federal officials clarified Thursday morning.
But hours later, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled late Thursday that the Trump administration must fully cover November benefits, reportedly saying the government had acted “arbitrarily and capriciously” when it moved earlier this week to only partially fund the program.
The competing orders added another day of confusion for Michigan residents who receive government assistance to pay for groceries through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as the ongoing federal government shutdown passed its record-setting 37th day.
“These benefits are a vital lifeline for many Michigan families, especially with the rising cost of food.”
Hertel’s agency said Michigan recipients who normally get their benefits on the third, fifth, or seventh day of the month will receive their partial SNAP allotment on Saturday. All other SNAP recipients would get their partial benefits on their normally scheduled date.
“I would say that that’s wonderful that they will be getting something,” said Christopher Ivey, a spokesperson for Metro Detroit food rescue organization Forgotten Harvest, of the SNAP news. “It’s unfortunate that that won’t be the full amount.”
The update came as local food pantries are tracking a 30% to 50% increase in the number of individuals seeking aid, according to the Food Bank Council of Michigan. Hertel noted that families can find local food pantries as needed by calling 2-1-1.
The USDA had planned to suspend payments starting Nov. 1 amid the federal government shutdown, but federal officials said Monday the program would be partially funded after two judges required the government to keep SNAP benefits flowing.
The reduction in food aid, while a partial restoration, is “diabolical,” said Natasha Bell, a downtown Detroit resident.
“What they give us is not enough already, and then for them to give us partial … it’s just not right, you know,” Bell said Thursday. “It’s just not right.”
Bell said she has cancer, so she can’t work. Amid the delay in SNAP benefits, she said she has been making more side items to accompany the meat in a meal, which allows her to stretch the meat out over more days.
Bell is also relying on food pantries and preparing meals that last more than one day, such as spaghetti or soup, she said.
“Something is better than nothing,” said Bell of the partial November SNAP benefits.
Brother Gary Wegner, executive director of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, said he thinks the USDA announcement is “good news.” Sixty-five percent is “certainly better” than 0%, he said.
“One hundred percent would be even better, but for now, at least, it’s going to give the people we serve who depend upon the SNAP benefits a better chance to fulfill what they need,” Wegner said.
Who is affected?
SNAP serves about 1 in 8 Americans, including about 1.4 million Michiganians. In the state, the average household assisted by the program receives about $335 in benefits a month, or about $5.68 per person a day. SNAP benefits support more than 492,000 Michigan children.
In Wayne County, 22.3% of households received food stamps last year, a figure amplified by the nearly 100,000 households in Detroit that benefit from the SNAP program.
A smaller share of the households in Macomb (11.9%) and Oakland (7.6%) received SNAP benefits, according to the Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey, which is the most recent year when full county-level data is available.
Outside of Metro Detroit, Genesee and Saginaw counties outstripped the state average for SNAP participation, with just under 20% of households. On the other end of the spectrum were Leelanau and Livingston counties, which each had 5% or fewer of their households enrolled in the program.
Across nearly every part of Michigan, households with children were far more likely to receive SNAP benefits than households overall. In almost every county, at least a quarter of households with children participated in SNAP, including more than half of those households in counties like Ottawa, Clinton and Gratiot.
About 78% of SNAP households in Michigan are working households, half of households have someone with a disability and 36% of households have seniors, according to state data.
Kate Bauer, a University of Michigan public health professor, said partial funding is better than nothing when it comes to SNAP benefits. It would “ward off, hopefully, the physical experience of hunger,” but leave families already stretched thin to fill the gap, she said.
“Under the current circumstances, what we need to know is that SNAP is critical to our families having enough food, and even the full benefit amounts are not enough,” Bauer said.
“I’m super glad our families are going to get something, but that is not the end of the story,” she added.
SNAP benefits are crucial for families with children, according to Bauer, “because they have more mouths to feed, and mouths that don’t earn an income.” With less money to buy food this month, she said, parents will likely make additional sacrifices, foregoing meals so their kids can eat.
One saving grace for families with children, she said, was free school meals.
“Many families are breathing a sigh of relief that their kid is getting, potentially, up to 10 meals a week.”
Joyce Bowens, a Detroit resident who uses SNAP, said Thursday that she’s “not too happy” with the government’s decision because 65% of benefits is “not enough.” She said some women have seven to 10 children.
Bowens, who went grocery shopping at the Capuchin Services Center in Detroit on Thursday, said the past week has been “stressful.” The pause in benefits has affected how she plans meals. She said, “Everything changed just that fast.”
“OK, you would normally cook a meal, don’t worry about making it stretch,” she said. “Now, we have to think about making it stretch to the T.”
Eartha Harris, 45, who is friends with Bowens, said she thinks the government needs to give people their “full amounts when it comes to food.”
“But at least you could give somebody food, so no one go hungry, regardless of what’s going on,” said Harris, a Detroit resident.
The state Department of Health and Human Services said new applications for SNAP benefits filed in October and November still will be processed, but it is unclear whether those applicants will receive any benefits for November.
State aid to last 2 weeks
To help feed families amid the government shutdown, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last week said the state would provide $4.5 million to the Food Bank Council of Michigan.
Phil Knight, executive director for the Food Bank Council, said Thursday he expects that $4.5 million released by the state to last about two weeks. The $4.5 million allotment represents roughly 6 million meals, Knight said.
Local pantries have seen between a 30% and 50% jump in individuals seeking aid, he said.
“One of the things I think we kind of miss about this population that’s struggling … is that they’re very resilient,” Knight said. “They’re trying to resolve the problem on their own first. They’re turning inward to themselves, their family, whatever, and then they turn out to find resources.”
Gleaners Community Food Bank reported Thursday that its drive-up mobiles and partner network of 350 local pantries in five counties are seeing an increase of up to 50% in requests for help.
A partial restoration of SNAP support is a “positive development,” Gleaners spokeswoman Kristin Sokul said, “but we expect to continue seeing heightened community need while partial benefits catch up and full benefits remain unavailable, as well as while workers’ incomes are impacted by the prolonged government shutdown.”
Ivey, the Forgotten Harvey spokesman, said the last week has been “very difficult” for his organization. He said Detroit alone gets $58 million a month in SNAP benefits.
“Forgotten Harvest is doing everything they can do to fill that gigantic void that’s out there,” he said. “I mean, we’re never going to be able to be the complete supplement for all of that. It’s just too large for any organization to take on.”
He said Forgotten Harvest is receiving around 600 to 1,000 phone calls a day. Some are from people asking where they can find food. Others are from organizations that partner with Forgotten Harvest or are interested in partnering with it.
Knight of the Food Bank Council said he intends to submit a report next week to the governor and House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, on how the money was used and what might still be needed.
Hall said Thursday he and Whitmer will review that report and the federal situation to determine whether to release additional funding to the Food Bank Council for distribution to local pantries.
“We’re going to take this from week to week, working with the governor to assess the need,” Hall said.
The Democratic-controlled Senate last week approved a stopgap proposal that would target $50 million to aid low-income individuals and households in buying food and $21 million to food banks and other assistance programs that are expecting an onslaught of food requests.
The Republican-controlled House has not acted on the legislation.
Hall told reporters last week that the Senate bill was “political” since there was no way to act on the legislation before the Nov. 1 cutoff because of a rule requiring a five-day waiting period between chambers. There is not enough state funding to patch every hole that will develop as the federal shutdown continues, the speaker said.
“There’s a time for disagreements in politics,” Hall said then. “It’s not right now when literally people are about to lose their ability to feed their families.”
Beth LeBlanc contributed to this report.
Ertha Harris of Detroit carts food to her car that she received Thursday at the Capuchin Services Center in Detroit. About 1.4 million Michigan residents are eligible to receive federal assistance to pay for food. But competing orders have added confusion as the ongoing federal government shutdown passed a record 37th day on Thursday. David Guralnick/MediaNews Group)
DETROIT (AP) — City Council President Mary Sheffield will be Detroit’s newest mayor and the first woman to lead the city.
Sheffield defeated popular megachurch pastor the Rev. Solomon Kinloch in Tuesday’s general election.
She will take office in January and succeed three-term Mayor Mike Duggan who announced last year that he would not seek reelection. Duggan is running for Michigan governor as an independent to replace term-limited Democrat Gretchen Whitmer.
Sheffield thanked voters in her victory speech Tuesday night, addressing those who voted for her and those who didn’t.
“I am here to listen to you, to fight for you and to serve you,” she said. “Because, at the end of the day, we all want the same thing, a Detroit that works for everyone.”
Sheffield will inherit a city that continues to improve following Detroit’s 2014 exit from the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Duggan was elected in 2013 and took office in January 2014. Under his watch, Detroit has dramatically improved city services, including shorter police response times, public lighting and blight elimination.
Its population also has grown following decades of losses. Earlier this year, the U.S. Census estimated Detroit’s population at 645,705 — a gain of 12,487 residents since a May 2024 estimate, according to the city.
Detroit’s population reached 1.8 million people in the 1950s.
Sheffield, 38, first was elected to the City Council in 2013 at age 26 and has been council president since 2022.
Sheffieldhas said that focusing on educating Detroit’s children, and continuing to improve public safety and life in the neighborhoods will be among her priorities if elected mayor.
“My commitment, Detroit, is to build on the foundation that has been laid working with Mayor Duggan and our council … by expanding opportunities, strengthening our neighborhoods and making sure that Detroit’s progress reaches every block and every family of this city,” Sheffield said alongside Duggan at a September campaign event.
Duggan endorsed Sheffield.
“Our city’s progress is in very good hands and I know she and her team will make sure it not only continues, but expands,” he said in a statement following her victory.
Kinloch conceded the election in a short speech to his supporters Tuesday night. He reiterated what he said throughout the campaign that all of Detroit has to share in the city’s revival.
“You can’t make all of the investments downtown,” Kinloch said. “It has to reach the whole town.”
Kinloch also said he hopes the campaign shows people they need to stay involved in their city government and repeated his campaign themes of pushing for more action on affordable housing, crime and support for neighborhoods across Detroit.
“This city’s in trouble and we need you to stand up and step up more now than ever before,” he urged supporters.
A photo of Detroit mayoral candidate Solomon Kinloch is displayed during an election night watch party on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Fire broke out Monday at the Corewell Health Care Center on Rochester Road in Rochester Hills requiring evacuation of the building.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, no injuries were reported and the fire was out before 2 p.m. It’s believed the roof caught on fire while contractors were working on the HVAC unit on the roof.
As of 1:45 p.m. Monday, firefighters were still on scene. No other information was immediately available.
The Oakland Press will update this story as details become available.
Here are a few a things to know as voters head to the polls Tuesday:
ON THE BALLOT
Oakland County voters will see ballots full of local candidates for mayor, council and other public-board seats as well as ballot proposals from charter amendments to millage requests.
TURNOUT
Turnout is hard to predict because there are too many variables, according to a county clerk spokeswoman.
To learn more, visit the Oakland County clerk’s elections page: https://www.oakgov.com/government/clerk-register-of-deeds/elections-voting.
WEATHER The National Weather Service’s White Lake Township office predicts mostly sunny skies with a high near 57 and occasional wind gusts as high as 18 mph.
POLL HOURS
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in every jurisdiction.
WHO CAN VOTE
You can vote at your polling place until 8 p.m. Tuesday – anyone already in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot. You have the right to register to vote and vote up to 8 p.m. Tuesday.I
NEED TO REGISTER?
If you’re not registered to vote or need to change the address for your voter registration, visit your city or township clerk’s office as soon as possible Tuesday to avoid lines. You can vote at your clerk’s office. You cannot register to vote after 8 p.m. Tuesday.
HOW TO VOTE
Check out the front and back of your ballot to review your choices. Be sure to vote for nonpartisan candidates and on any ballot issues. The non-partisan group MichiganVoting.org has a tutorial on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n483tnkddoE.
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If you’re at a polling place and make a mistake, election workers can spoil that ballot and issue a new one.
WHAT DO I NEED TO VOTE
Voters must be at least 18 years old and U.S. citizens. People currently in jail or prison cannot cast a ballot. Voters must show proof of being a Michigan resident and living in their city or township for at least 30 days before Tuesday. Proof must be either: a Michigan driver’s license or state ID; or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government check that shows your name and address or another document issued by a federal, state or local government agency. Michigan residents attending college can register to vote based on their school or home address. Out-of-state residents who are U.S. citizens attending Michigan schools can register to vote based on their school address. Michigan residents attending out-of-state schools can register to vote at their Michigan address. It is illegal to cast ballots in two different states for the same election.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS:
These must be returned by 8 p.m. Tuesday to your municipal clerk’s office. If you filled out an absentee ballot but haven’t returned it and want to make changes, visit your municipal clerk’s office to spoil the ballot and get a new one.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER TUESDAY
Unofficial results will start to be posted shortly after 8 p.m. on the county clerk’s website: https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/MI/Oakland/124349/web.345435/#/summary.
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At 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, the County Election Certification Board, which includes two Democrats and two Republicans, meets to validate results in the county canvassers training room in the west wing extension of the first floor of the county courthouse at 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac. This meeting is open to the public.
Voter casts a ballot at Pontiac High School. on Aug. 5, 2025. (Peg McNichol / MediaNews Group)
Two Dearborn men and a group of alleged co-conspirators hatched a plan to commit a terrorist attack in support of the Islamic State, according to a federal criminal case filed Monday that described reconnaissance, firearms and fears the group was targeting an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Ferndale.
The case against Dearborn residents Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud was filed three days after high-profile raids by members of an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in Dearborn and Inkster and comments from FBI Director Kash Patel that investigators had thwarted a violent plot tied to international terrorism that was planned over the Halloween weekend.
A view of west Nine Mile Road in downtown Ferndale earlier this year. (CLARENCE TABB, Jr. — The Detroit News)
The criminal complaint describes a group of five co-conspirators, including a juvenile, training with and stockpiling weapons and scouting potential attack locations in downtown Ferndale. The popular downtown is filled with restaurants, bars, clubs and shops and is known as a haven for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“Based on my investigation in this case, this information is consistent with (the juvenile), Ali and Mahmoud scouting possible LGBTQ+-friendly attack locations in Ferndale,” FBI Special Agent Nicholas Czech wrote in the complaint.
The men, whose ages were not immediately available, were charged with receiving and transferring, and attempting and conspiring to transfer firearms and ammunition while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the weapons would be used to commit an act of terrorism. The felony carries a maximum 15-year federal prison sentence.
Investigators say Mohmed Ali was spotted handling firearms at at Downriver Guns on Sept. 24, 2025. (U.S. Attorney’s Office)
The charge was filed three days after FBI agents raided two homes in Dearborn and an Inkster storage facility and arrested five people ages 16-20.
Mahmoud’s lawyer Bill Swor declined to comment until he had a chance to read the criminal complaint.
Attorney Amir Makled, who represents a 20-year-old Dearborn man, has denied the men were involved in terrorism.
“One thing is for sure, they didn’t have a plan to attack and are not part of a terror cell,” Makled told The News.
Ali, Mahmoud and others are accused of using online encrypted communications and social media apps to share extremist and ISIS-related material that encouraged terror attacks.
Based on the chats, an attack appeared scheduled for Halloween, according to the government, and Ali and the juvenile “sought guidance from the father of a local Islamic extremist ideologue…on this question,” the FBI agent wrote.
The ideologue is not identified by name but “has publicly proclaimed his support for the Islamic extremist ideology espoused by ISIS,” the agent wrote.
Since the raids, provocative statements from FBI Director Kash Patel and other Trump administration officials, a lack of criminal charges or details about alleged wrongdoing, or names of the accused, led criminal defense lawyers in Metro Detroit to question the legitimacy of the investigation and deny there was a terrorist plot.
The court filing describes talk of a terror attack, firearms and training.
The investigation dates to July, when investigators discovered encrypted chats in which Ali and a juvenile were said to be planning a terrorist attack in the U.S. on behalf of the Islamic State, according to the 73-page criminal complaint.
FBI agents alleged Mahmoud and others conspired to commit the attack.
Amid those chats, Ali purchased an AR-15-style rifle and accessories in August and September, according to the government.
“Then in October 2025, Mahmoud purchased over 1,600 rounds of ammunition that could be used in the AR-15 style rifles he and Ali had purchased,” the complaint reads.
Investigators allege Ali, Mahmoud, the juvenile and two others practiced shooting firearms at gun ranges, a stop investigators believe was to develop the skills to aid in the attack.
The investigation is the latest in Metro Detroit, a region where several residents in recent years have been accused of providing or trying to provide support to the Islamic State or launching failed attempts to kill people.
“Through swift action and close coordination with our local partners, a potential act of terror was stopped before it could unfold,” Patel said in a social media post. “The vigilance of this FBI prevented what could have been a tragic attack — and thanks to their dedication, Michigan will have a safe and happy Halloween.”
In the wake of the raid, Makled faulted Patel for making “premature” comments about the investigation. The five people arrested by the FBI ― all U.S. citizens ― were not planning an attack, he said.
“There was never any planned mass-casualty event or terrorism plot of any kind that I’m aware of,” Makled said. “They might have been on some websites or online chat groups that they shouldn’t have been, but nothing that is illegal.”
Authorities are pictured outside of a home on Horger Street on Oct. 31. (CLARENCE TABB, Jr. — The Detroit News)
Waymo LLC, a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet, said Monday that its self-driving fleet is headed to the Motor City. The electric autonomous ride-hailing service has become a fixture in cities like Phoenix and San Francisco, where hundreds of vehicles — instantly recognized by their rooftop Lidar arrays — service hundreds of thousands of customers with no driver behind the robotaxis’ spinning steering wheel.
Recently, the service expanded to Los Angeles, Atlanta and Austin — and now it is expanding again with service in Detroit, plus San Diego and Las Vegas. Detroit is significant because it’s Waymo’s first northern market. Waymo said the service is targeted to operate 365 days a year through rain, sleet and snow.
The service is also notable because it uses Zeekr minivans, the first Chinese electric auto brand on U.S. streets. At its inception in Phoenix, Waymo used Chrysler Pacifica minivans, which have been phased out over time.
“Starting next week, you’ll see us manually driving around the city as we familiarize ourselves with Detroit’s historic streets before moving to autonomous operations,” Waymo said in a press release. “We’ll arrive with a mixed fleet of all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles with the 5th-gen Waymo Driver and Zeekr RT vehicles equipped with our 6th-gen Waymo Driver, which will be key to driving in winter weather.”
Waymos are hailed by an app similar to Uber and Lyft. Waymo is the most-used robot service in the United States and is in fierce competition with Amazon’s Zoox and Tesla Inc. robotaxis to bring driver-free ride-hailing services to U.S. customers. The latter service, which recently started testing in Austin, Texas, with human monitors on board, aims to be more affordable than Waymo by eschewing expensive Lidar arrays and navigating solely by cameras.
Waymo said that it is coordinating closely with local officials, including the Michigan Department of Transportation and the city of Detroit, as it begins its step-by-step testing approach in the Motor City. Neither MDOT nor the city offered comments ahead of the Monday announcement.
“We’re proud of our roots in Metro Detroit, including in Novi, where we’ve had an engineering team for many years,” the company statement said. Waymo’s Novi office employs several dozen engineers, technicians and test drivers.
The company has prepared for its Detroit rollout through launches in other cities, closed-track testing and forays into areas like the Upper Peninsula with snowy winter conditions. A recent Waymo blog post discussed efforts to create an “all-weather Driver.”
The first phase of the Detroit rollout will feature human drivers manually operating the vehicles to collect a highly detailed, high-definition map of the city, Waymo technical program manager Jake Tretter said in an interview.
Once that phase is complete, the vehicles will roam the streets — supervised — using their autonomous technology while a human operator sits in the driver’s seat to make sure performance is safe and smooth.
The company did not provide a timetable for when testing phases would end and the public would be able to hail self-driving rides from the Waymo app.
“Our goal is to do it as soon as possible,” Tretter said. But he also stressed the importance of building “trust and understanding” so Detroiters are ready for an eventual full launch in the city.
“It’s harder to lose the trust and try to regain that than it is to slowly build that trust and make sure that we’re working in unison with the community and policy and legislators,” he added.
The Detroit expansion will “first and foremost” focus on the city’s urban core near Comerica Park, Ford Field and Little Caesars Arena before expanding out slowly from there.
Waymo began operating as a service open to the public in Phoenix in October 2020. Since its introduction in San Francisco in 2023, it has become a tourist sensation as well as ferrying locals on their daily rounds. Waymo has been validated over 100 million fully autonomous miles and 10 million-plus trips.
In May of this year, Waymo released a study saying that over 56.7 million miles, its vehicles had 92% fewer crashes with injuries to pedestrians and 82% fewer crashes with injuries to cyclists compared to human drivers. The company’s latest data show similar rates across 96 million miles.
Still, its robotaxis have faced scrutiny from safety regulators, including a 14-month probe by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into more than a dozen minor crashes in which Waymo vehicles ran into parked cars and other stationary objects. Waymo recalled 1,200 vehicles, leading NHTSA to close the inquiry, Reuters reported.
In addition to eventually opening its service to the public in Detroit, Waymo is partnering with organizations like the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan.
“For many people living with epilepsy, transportation is a significant barrier. The Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan celebrates organizations like Waymo, which are leading the way in providing accessible and safe transportation solutions,” said Andrea Schotthoefer, the foundation’s president. “Their efforts show what’s possible and inspire collective action toward a future where transportation barriers no longer stand in the way of opportunity and inclusion.”
A Waymo autonomous self-driving Jaguar taxi drives along a street on March 14, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Social service agencies in Oakland County are ready to help people receiving food aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. They just don’t know what will happen next.
“Organizations like ours shouldn’t scramble to meet emergency needs,” said Ryan Hertz, president and CEO for Lighthouse of Oakland County,. “We should have public policy that meets the needs on an ongoing basis.”
Lighthouse already serves an estimated 111,000 people – half of whom are children – in 40,000 households in Oakland County. He said 60% of the people who receive SNAP benefits find the money isn’t enough to feed their families. The federal shutdown is having a destabilizing effect on people who use SNAP for groceries and who get vouchers or other financial aid for housing, he said.
Hertz said he was glad Michigan had joined an effort to sue the federal government to fund SNAP. He’s frustrated that it has to happen.
Late Friday, two federal judges ordered the administration to continue payments using emergency reserve funds during the shutdown. In Michigan, SNAP money is distributed via Bridge cards. But it can take days for the cards to be loaded with funds, so people will go hungry while they wait..
It’s also unclear whether the administration will appeal the decisions, which would add to the delay.
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture initially planned to continue providing SNAP benefits by using nearly $6 billion in contingency funds, but reversed the decision and announced benefits would be paused on Nov. 1 because of the shutdown.
SNAP serves an estimated one in eight Americans and is considered an important part of the nation’s social safety net. It costs an estimated $8 billion a month.
SNAP’s 2025 poverty threshold for a family of four is a net income of $31,000 after certain expenses. Last year, SNAP provided assistance to 41 million people, nearly two-thirds of whom were families with children, according to an Associated Press report.
In Michigan, 1.4 million residents benefit from SNAP, including approximately 492,225 children and 38,513 veterans.
More than 102,000 Oakland County residents live below the poverty line, according U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Nearly 255,000 of the county’s 1.2 million residents are under age 18. Of those children, an estimated one in seven, or nearly 36,000 don’t have adequate food on a daily basis.
But Hertz said that doesn’t include people who are barely above poverty level and juggling bills.
“We’re talking about low- to middle-income folks who are employed but not making enough to make ends meet,” he said, adding that low-income families have faced an exhausting and prolonged series of threats to support services that are affecting their wellbeing.
Lighthouse estimates it reaches 74% of impoverished people scattered among the county’s 62 municipalities.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer calls the pause on payments unacceptable. She ordered $4.5 million sent to the Food Bank Council of Michigan, which supports outlets in all 83 counties.
FBCM officials declined an interview request from The Oakland Press because, a spokeswoman said, “circumstances remain highly fluid, and we want to avoid contributing to speculation while we continue gathering updates from our network and state partners.”
She said FBCM is monitoring conditions and prepared for an increase in need. The focus, she said, “is on maintaining access to food for the people we serve, even as no new resources are currently available to meet higher demand.”
Whitmer also ordered an expansion of the state’s Double Up Food Bucks program, which gives Michigan families money to purchase groceries, including fresh fruits and vegetables.
She promoted Hunters Feeding Families, a program that provides venison or other fresh game to feed families and said the state’s 1.4 million public school students would continue receiving free breakfast and lunch. The school meals save families an estimated $1,000 a year.
Gleaners Community Food Bank is another southeast Michigan nonprofit monitoring requests for support with partners and community mobile distributions, according to spokeswoman Kristin Sokul.
She said Gleaners has experienced a rise in requests for information about receiving food aid.
“We remain focused on increasing food purchases where necessary, increasing volunteer shifts to support more box builds, and looking at where hot spots may be to respond with mobiles,” she said.
People can help in three ways, according to Sokul:
• Use your voice to advocate for SNAP funding.
• Volunteer at a food pantry or food bank to help stock and deliver groceries.
• Consider donating money instead of food. Gleaners has agreements with retailers for discounted groceries. Donated money “will help us support our partners in the charitable food network and flexibly resource our drive-up distributions while we continue to hope for a resolution at the federal level,” she said.
Hertz said Lighthouse assumed a leadership role during the COVID-19 pandemic by leveraging its network of volunteers and agreements with suppliers.
“It was a joint effort for our staff, volunteers, local, state and federal governments,” he said. But it took three months to organize.
There’s no mechanism to increase resources in the space of a few days, he said, adding that families are facing more than food insecurity. People who receive housing benefits are also at risk during the shutdown.
“There’s a degree of fatigue happening with how heavily our community has been hit,” he said. “It’s hard on our staff, donors and volunteers” who can’t provide immediate support or quick resolutions.
“It’s not something you can turn on or off. We can’t just say ‘We’ll meet this massive additional need,’” he said. “We’d have to dramatically ramp up capacity.”
Nonprofit food banks and pantries exist to reduce or prevent hunger. They need supplies, staff, volunteers and warehouse space, all of which costs money, he said.
“That’s a very expensive way to get food to people, instead of just giving them adequate SNAP benefits and letting those people go shopping,” he said. “In an ideal universe, we‘d be funding SNAP at an appropriate level – which would also help grocery businesses.
“Give people the dignity and resources to go grocery shopping because they’re human beings like the rest of us,” he said.
Pontiac resident Eisha Branner spent the week creating lists of resources for the people she works with through her nonprofit, E-Community Outreach Services. She helps families with case management, community and other resources. The organization has few barriers when people need help, she said.
She said most of her clients are from Pontiac and some are from Detroit, but the SNAP crisis has caused a surge of inquiries.
“It’s alarming to me,” she said. “These are not just people who are not working. These are people who are the true working class. I’m seeing people in higher income brackets looking for help. They’re always struggling to pay bills but with SNAP they knew they at least had food coming.”
She recently expanded from a 2,500 sq. ft. building to a 5,000 sq. ft. space at 180 N. Saginaw in Pontiac, which officially opens on Nov. 12.
To find food resources or other support, call 211 or visit https://mi211.org.
The delay in SNAP benefits will prevent families living in poverty from buying groceries. (Peg McNichol/MediaNews Group)
The following is a list of in-person and online worship services and events happening at churches and synagogues in the Oakland County area. Visit websites or call for service times and events.
• Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, 1550 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills, 248-651-6550, abidingpresence.org. Sunday worship services are at 9:30 a.m., also virtual services are available on the website.
• Adat Shalom Synagogue, 29901 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills, in-person and online services via Zoom. To view daily Minyan video conferences; email Executive Director Michael Wolf at mwolf@adatshalom.org or visit adatshalom.org, 248-851-5100.
• All Saints’ Episcopal, 171 W. Pike St., Pontiac, allsaintspontiac.org, 248-334-4571, rector@allsaintspontiac.org.
• The Apostolic Church of Christ, 3655 N. Squirrel Road, Auburn Hills, theapostolicchurch.com, 248-373-4500, Sunday worship services at 11 a.m.
• Archdiocese of Detroit, livestream Mass times, aod.org/livemasses.
• Auburn Hills Christian Center, 2592 Walton Blvd., Auburn Hills, Sunday worship services at 10:30 a.m., Servicio Evangelistico services (in Spanish) at 2-4 p.m. Sundays, 248-373-7139, www.myahcc.org.
• Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Troy, in-person and online services at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, beaconcongregation.org, admin@beaconcongregation.org.
• Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 5631 N. Adams Road, Bloomfield Hills, livestream services at 9 a.m. Sundays, and in person at 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. at bslcmi.org, facebook/bslcmi, 248-646-5041.
• Berea Family Tabernacle of Faith, Pontiac, Sunday worship services are at 11 a.m., experienceberea.org, 248-338-4748.
• Berkley First United Methodist Church, 2820 12 Mile Road, Berkley, worship services are 10 a.m. Sundays in person and online at www.berkleyfirst.org.
• Bharatiya Temple, 6850 N Adams Road, Troy, www.bharatiya-temple.org, 248-879-2552.
• Big Beaver United Methodist Church, 3753 John R Road, Troy, worship services at 10 a.m. Sundays, http://bbumchurch.org.
• Birmingham First United Methodist Church, 1589 W Maple Road, Birmingham, www.fumcbirmingham.org, 248-646-1200. Sunday worship services are in person and online at 9:30 a.m., and in-person only services at 11 a.m. (Summer worship services are at 10 a.m. between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day.)
• Birmingham Unitarian Church, 38651 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, in-person and online worship services, 10:30 a.m. Sundays, bucmi.org, 248-647-2380.
• Bridge Community Church, 5700 Rochester Road, Troy, in-person and online worship services, 10 a.m. Sundays, bridgecommunitychurch.com/live, 248-879-9500.
• Bridgewood Church, 6765 Rattalee Lake Road, Clarkston, 248-625-1344, www.bridgewoodchurch.com. Sunday worship services are 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., also online services, and locations in Goodrich.
• Brightmoor Christian Church, 40800 W. 13 Mile Road, Novi, www.brightmoorchurch.org. Sunday worship services at 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
• Calvary Chapel Oakland County, 1975 E. Long Lake Road, Troy, 248-457-9673, ccoaklandcounty.com. Worship 7 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m. Sundays.
• Calvary Church, 1361 Giddings Road, Pontiac, Sunday worship services are at 10 a.m., https://ccpontiac.org, 248-373-0311.
• Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, 6805 Bluegrass Drive, Clarkston, calvary-lutheran.org. Sunday worship services are Traditional Worship at 7:55 a.m.; Modern Worship at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.; and livestream at 9:30 a.m. Food pantry (drive-up or curbside pickup) is 9-11 a.m. Wednesdays.
• Central Church, 1529 Twelve Mile Road, Madison Heights, www.centralchurch.cc. Sunday worship services at 10 a.m.
• Central Oaks Community Church, 2005 Rochester Road, Royal Oak, www.centraloaks.com, 248-547-7755. Sunday worship services at 11 a.m.
• Central United Methodist Church, 3882 Highland Road, Waterford Twp., 248-681-0040, WaterfordCUMC.org. In-person worship at 8:45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sundays and online at 10:30 a.m. at Live.WaterfordCUMC.org.
• Central Woodward Christian Church Disciples of Christ, 3955 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, 248-644-0512, centralwoodwardchristian.com. Sunday worship services are at 10:30 a.m., in person and online at centralwoodwardchristian.com and Facebook at www.facebook.com/CentralWoodward.
• Chapel of Our Lady of Orchard Lake, 3535 Commerce Road, West Bloomfield Twp., www.sscms.edu, 248-683-0310.
• Christian Science Church, 355 E Maple Road, Birmingham, worship services are 10:15 a.m. Sundays, https://christiansciencebirminghammi.com, 248-644-7935.
• Christian Tabernacle Church, Southfield, ctabchurch.com, 248-213-4770.
• Christ Church Cranbrook, 470 Church Road, Bloomfield Hills, in-person and online worship services, 10 a.m. Sundays, ccc-info.org.
• Christ Lutheran Church and School, 620 General Motors Road, Milford, www.christlutheranmilford.org. Sunday worship services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
• Christ, Our Light! Catholic Church, 3077 Glouchester, Troy. Mass times are: Saturday at 4 p.m.; Sunday at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.; weekday Masses (followed by Rosary recitation) are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 9 a.m., and Friday at 12:05 p.m., www.coltroy.org, 248-649-5510.
• Christ the Good Shepherd Progressive Catholic Church, 3947 Twelve Mile Road Berkley, church services: Saturday Mass at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m., 248-439-0470, www.cgs-occ.org.
• Christ the Redeemer Parish, 2700 Waldon Road Orion Township, 248-391-1621, www.ctredeemer.org. Weekend Masses are 5 p.m. Saturdays, and 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays.
• Crown of Life Lutheran Church, 2975 Dutton Road Rochester Hills, www.crownoflifechurch.org, 248-652-7720. Sunday worship services are 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• Church of the Holy Spirit, 3700 Harvey Lake Road, Highland Twp., www.holyspirithighland.com.
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregations in Oakland County include: Bloomfield Hills, Clarkston, Commerce Twp., Farmington Hills, Lake Orion, Pontiac (Spanish), Rochester, Troy and White Lake Twp. The congregations host worship services on Sundays. For worship times and locations, visit churchofjesuschrist.org.
• Church of the Resurrection, 6490 Clarkston Road, Village of Clarkston, https://clarkstonepiscopal.com, 248-625-2325. Sunday worship services at 10 a.m.
• Clarkston Community Church, 6300 Clarkston Road, Clarkston, in-person and online services at 9:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays, clarkstoncchurch.com, 248-625-1323.
• Clarkston United Methodist Church, 6600 Waldon Road, Clarkston, in-person and online faith services, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays, clarkstonumc.org, 248-625-1611.
• Commerce United Methodist Church, 1155 N. Commerce Road, Commerce Twp., commerceumc.org/media.
• Community Bible Church, 1888 Crescent Lake Road, Waterford Twp., https://cbcmi.com, 248-674-4871. Sunday worship services at 11 a.m.
• Community Fellowship Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 27800 Southfield Road, Lathrup Village, church services at 11 a.m. Saturdays, http://communityfellowship22.adventistchurchconnect.org, 248-469-8539.
• Community Presbyterian Church, 4301 Monroe Ave., Waterford Twp. In-person worship is 10 a.m., Sundays, cpcwaterford.org, 248-673-7805.
• Congregation Beth Ahm, 5075 West Maple Road, West Bloomfield Twp., 248-851-6880, cbahm.org.
• Congregational Church of Birmingham, UCC, 1000 Cranbrook Road, Bloomfield Hills. Worship services are 10 a.m. Sundays, ccbucc.org, 248-646-4511.
• Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield, Jewish religious services including daily morning and evening Minyan services, Shabbat morning services and Youth Shabbat activities, shaareyzedek.org, 248-357-5544. Daily minyan services are hybrid services, meeting both in person in the Lee and Gerson Bernstein Chapel (morning services are followed by breakfast), and on Zoom. Shabbat musical services meet on the first Friday evening of each month, in person and on Zoom.
• Cornerstone Baptist Church, Ortonville, in-person worship services, Sundays at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Also online at Facebook at Cornerstone Baptist Church Ortonville, cbcortonville.com, 248 627-4700.
• Cornerstone Church, 4995 N Hickory Ridge Road, Highland, cornerstonehighland.com, 248-887-1600. Worship services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays, 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Also, livestream at 11 a.m. Sundays on YouTube, Facebook, and website.
• Crossroads Free Will Baptist Church, 4804 White Lake Road, White Lake Twp., https://crossroadswl.org, Sunday worship services at 11 a.m. The church has a Blessing Box that is stocked with non-perishable food items, books and other household items for those in need. Donations welcome.
• Destiny Faith Church, 501 University Drive, Pontiac, Destinyfaith.org, 248-322-2200. Worship services at 10 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Wednesdays, in person and online.
• Divine Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3000 S. Lapeer Road, Orion Twp., divinegrace.net, Sunday worship services at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• Door of Faith Christian Church, Pontiac, online services, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays, mydooroffaith.org.
• Empowerment Church of Southfield, worship services are 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sundays at new worship center location, Shriner’s Silver Garden Events Center, 24350 Southfield Road, Southfield, 248-569-2299, empowerment.mi.org. Also virtual worship services, 10:30 a.m. Sundays at empowermentmi.org/stream and on Facebook Live.
• Encounter Church, 600 North Campbell Road, Royal Oak, in-person and online services, 11 a.m. Sundays; also services at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, www.encounter360.org.
• Faith Church, 160 W Hamlin Road, Rochester Hills, Sunday services at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., www.faithrh.com, 248-651-3535.
• Faith Covenant Church, 35415 W. 14 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, worship services at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., Sundays, 248-661-9191, www.4fcc.org.
• First Baptist Church, 2601 John R Road, Troy, worship services at 10 a.m., Sundays, fbctroy.org.
• First Baptist Church, 255 E. Scripps Road, Lake Orion, worship services at 10:30 a.m., Sundays, fbclo.org, 248-693-6203, info@fbclo.org.
• First Congregational Church, 5449 Clarkston Road, Clarkston, (just east of Sashabaw Road), 248-394-0200, www.fcclarkston.com, worship services at 10 a.m. Sundays.
• First Congregational Church of Rochester UCC, 1315 N. Pine, Rochester, worship services at 10 a.m. Sundays, fccrochester.org, 248-651-6225.
• First Congregational Church of Royal Oak, 1314 Northwood Blvd., Royal Oak. Worship services at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, www.fccro.org.
• First General Baptist of Waterford, 2933 Frembes Road, Waterford, wgbchurch.com, 248-673-6481, Sunday school at 10 a.m., worship services at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• First Missionary Church, 4832 Clintonville Road, Independence Twp., www.fmcclarkston.org, 248-674-3186. Sunday worship services at 11 a.m.
• First Presbyterian Church Birmingham, 1669 W. Maple, Birmingham, worship services are Sundays, 8:30 a.m. in person, and 10 a.m. in person and livestream, fpcbirmingham.org, 248-644-2040.
• First Presbyterian Church of Pontiac, 99 Wayne Street, Pontiac, fpcpontiac.info.
• First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak, 529 Hendrie Blvd., 248-541-0108. Sunday worship services are at 10:30 a.m., online services available anytime at fpcro.org, 248-541-0108.
• First United Methodist Church of Troy, 6363 Livernois, Troy. Church services are 10 a.m. Sundays in person and livestream on YouTube and Facebook, www.FUMCTROY.org, 248-879-6363.
• Five Points Community Church, 3411 E Walton Blvd, Auburn Hills. Sunday worship services are at 10 a.m., https://5pointscc.org, 248-373-1381.
• Four Towns United Methodist, 6451 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford Twp. Sunday worship services are at 10 a.m., www.fourtowns.org, 248-766-8868. Sunday worship services are at 10 a.m.
• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1950 S. Baldwin Road, Lake Orion. Sunday worship services are at 10 a.m., 248-391-1170, goodshepherdlakeorion.net.
• Grace Gospel Fellowship, 65 East Huron Street, Pontiac; in-person and livestream services are 11 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Livestream services are at www.facebook.com/GraceGospelFellowshipPontiac, 248-334-2187.
• Greenfield Presbyterian Church, 2312 Greenfield Road, Berkley, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, Sunday worship services are at 10 a.m. only, youtube.com/user/GreenfieldChurch, greenfieldchurch.com, 248-544-1800. (After Labor Day, in-person and online worship services are at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays.)
• Grace Church, 220 Bogie Lake Road, White Lake Twp. Sunday services are 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., Gracechurchinfo.net, 248-887-3700.
• Hazel Park First United Methodist Church, 313 E. Nine Mile Road, Hazel Park, 248-546-5955, hpfirst.org. Sunday worship services at 11:15 a.m.
• Heart of the Hills Christian Church, 5085 Orion Road, Rochester, https://heartofthehills.com, 248-841-1679. Sunday worship services at 10:30 a.m.
• Hillside Bible Church, 73 N Church St, Ortonville, 248-627-2513, hillsidebible.org, Sunday worship services at 10:30 a.m.
• Hilltop Church of the Nazarene, 21260 Haggerty Road, Northville, hilltopnaz.org, Sunday worship services at 10:30 a.m.
• Holly Calvary Church, 15010 N Holly Road, Holly, hollycalvary.org, Sunday worship services at 10 a.m. in person and online, Wednesday worship is at 6:30 p.m.
• Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, 4800 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Twp. In-person worship services at 10 a.m. Sundays, livestream on YouTube youtube.com/@spiritdrivenchurch, 248-682-5441, spiritdrivenchurch.com.
• Immanuel Congregational Church of Christ, Oxford, 248-628-1610, icucc.org, in-person worship services at 11 a.m. Sundays, and online at facebook.com/oxfordimmanuelucc.
• International Christian Church, 1630 Joslyn Ave, Pontiac, worship services at 11:30 a.m. Sundays, 248-494-8757, globalicc.org, facebook.com/icchurch/live.
• Islamic Association of Greater Detroit, 879 West Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, www.childrenofabrahamday.org.
• Jewel Heart Tibetan Buddhist Learning Center, 27745 Woodward Ave., Berkley, www.jewelheart.org.
• Journey Lutheran Church, (joined with Holy Cross Church) 136 S. Washington St., Oxford, in-person and online worship services, 8:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays, education hour is at 10 a.m., journeylutheran.church, 248-628-2011.
• Kensington Church with locations in Birmingham, Clarkston, Clinton Twp., Orion Twp. and Troy, in-person Sunday worship times, and online services offered streaming on YouTube, Facebook, and website, kensingtonchurch.org.
• King of Kings Lutheran Church, 1715 S. Lapeer Road, Lake Orion, www.kingofkingslakeorion.org. Sunday worship services are at 9:30 a.m. Sundays, online streaming at www.facebook.com/kingofkingslakeorion.
• Kirk in the Hills, 1340 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills. Sunday worship services are at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., kirkinthehills.org, 248 626 2515.
• Lakecrest Baptist Church, 35 Airport Rd, Waterford Twp., www.lakecrestbaptist.com, 248-681-3214. Sunday worship services are at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Spanish service at 1 p.m.
• Lake Orion Church of Christ, 1080 Hemingway Road, Lake Orion, www.lococ.org, 248-693-7242. Sunday worship services at 10:30 a.m.
• Lake Orion Methodist Church, Lake Orion, www.lakeorionumc.org. Sunday worship services at 10 a.m., in person and online.
• LakePoint Community Church, 1550 W. Drahner Road, Oxford, https://lakepointcc.org, 248-628-0038.
• The Lakes Church, 1450 S Hospital Road, Waterford Twp., www.thelakes.cc, 248-254-7833, Sunday worship services are 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. The 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services are livestreamed.
• Liberty General Baptist Church, 3545 Joslyn Rd, Auburn Hills, https://libertygeneralbaptistchurch.org, 248-431-3498. Sunday worship services at 11 a.m.
• Lifepoint Church, 5601 Scott Lake Road, Waterford Twp., lifepointchristian.com.
• Life Renewal Church, 28312 Grand River, Farmington Hills, https://liferenewalchurch.org, worship is 11 a.m. Sundays.
• Madison Heights Church of the Nazarene, 555 E 13 Mile Road, Madison Heights, mhnaz.org, 248-585-5551.
• Maranatha Baptist Church, 5790 Flemings Lake Road, Clarkston, Sunday worship services at 10:30 a.m., www.mbcclarkston.org.
• Marimont Community Church, 424 W Walton Blvd., Pontiac, Sunday worship services are at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., https://marimontcommunitychurch.com.
• Masjid Mahmood, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Center, 1730 W. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, ahmadiyyamosque.blogspot.com.
• Metro Detroit Christian Church, 33360 W. 13 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, https://metrodetroit.org, 248-562-7998. Sunday worship services at 10:30 a.m.
• Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church, 25585 Berg Road, Southfield, https://mogccc.com, 248-356-0565.
• Motor City Church, 3668 Livernois Road, Troy, www.motorcitychurch.org, 248-524-2400. Sunday worship services are at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
• Mt. Zion Church, 4900 Maybee Road, Clarkston, mtzion.org. Sunday worship services at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• Muslim Unity Center of Bloomfield Hills, 1830 W. Square Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, Muslimunitycenter.org.
• Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, 248-476-8860, nardinpark.org, www.facebook.com/NPUMC.
• New Heights Baptist Church, Grand Blanc, 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays, newheightsbc.com. For information, email pastornewheights@gmail.com or call 810-866-4563.
• New Hope Christian Fellowship, 6020 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Twp., https://newhopemi.org, 248-886-1500, Sunday worship services at 10 a.m.
• New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 23455 W Nine Mile Road, Southfield, www.newhope-mbc.org, 248-353-0675. Sunday worship services at 11 a.m., in person and livestream.
• New Hudson United Methodist Church, 56730 Grand River Ave., New Hudson, newhudsonumc.org. Worship services, 10:30 a.m. Sundays.
• Northminster Presbyterian Church, 3633 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, 248-644-5920. Worship service at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, in person and livestream, www.facebook.com/TroyNorthminster.
• Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 23925 Northwestern Hwy, Southfield, www.northwestuu.org, 248-281-4902. Worship service at 10:30 a.m. Sundays in person and virtual.
• North Congregational Church, 36520 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, northcongregationalchurch.org.
• North Hills Christian Reformed Church, 3150 North Adams Road, Troy, worship services, 9:30 a.m. Sundays, 248-645-1990, northhillscrc.org.
• North Oaks Church, 9600 Ortonville Road, City of the Village of Clarkston, worship services are 10:30 a.m., Sundays, northoakschurch.org, office@northoakschurch.org, 248-922-3515.
• Oakland Church, 5100 North Adams Road, Rochester, worship services, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays, www.oaklandchurch.me.
• Oakland Church of Christ, 23333 West 10 Mile Road Southfield, in-person and online worship services are at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, TheOaklandChurchofchrist.org, 248-355-9225.
• Oakland Hills Community Church, Farmington Hills, ohcc.net, 313-686-4578.
• Oakland Woods Baptist Church 5628 Maybee Rd, Village of Clarkston, www.facebook.com/OWBCClarkston, 248-625-7557. Sunday worship services are at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
• Oak Pointe Church,1250 South Hill, Milford, in-person or online worship services are 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays, opcmilford.org.
• Oak Pointe Church, 50200 W. 10 Mile Road, Novi, in-person or online worship services are 9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. oakpointe.org, 248-912-0043.
• Oak Pointe Church, 6343 Farmington Road, West Bloomfield, in-person or online worship services are 10:15 a.m. Sundays, oakpointe.org/westbloomfield.
• Oakwood Community Church, 5791 Oakwood Rd, Ortonville, www.oakwoodcc.org, 248-628-6388.
• Orchard Grove Community Church, 850 Ladd Rd; Bldg. C, Walled Lake, Sunday worship services are at 10:10 a.m., www.orchardgrove.org.
• Orchard Lake Community Church, Presbyterian, 5171 Commerce Road, Orchard Lake, worship services are at 9 a.m., and 10:30 a.m. Sundays, olccp.com, 248-682-0730.
• Orchard United Methodist Church, 30450 Farmington Road, Farmington Hills, Sunday worship services are 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. (Summer worship services are at 10 a.m., mid June to September). Livestream at youtube.com/c/OrchardUMC and facebook.com/OrchardUMC/live_videos, 248-626-3620, orchardumc.org.
• Our Lady of La Salette, 2600 Harvard Road, Berkley, 248-541-3762, par8551@gmail.com, lasalette-church.org, Mass is at 4:30 p.m. Saturdays, and 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sundays.
• Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in-person Mass, Saturday at 5 p.m., Sunday at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., weekdays at 8:15 a.m., 5481 Dixie Hwy., Waterford Twp. Livestream Mass at 5 p.m. Saturdays and 9:30 a.m. Sunday, ollonline.org/live.
• Our Lady of Refuge Church, 3700 Commerce Road, Orchard Lake, olorcc.org, 248-682-4099, Mass is 5 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. Sundays.
• Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 23815 Power Road, Farmington, church.olsorrows.com.
• Our Mother of Perpetual Help, 13500 Oak Park Blvd, Oak Park, www.omoph.org. Saturday mass is at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday mass is at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
• Oxbow Lake Baptist Church, 10730 Elizabeth Lake Rd, White Lake Charter Township, www.oxbowbc.com, 248-698-3034. Sunday worship services at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Oxford United Methodist Church, 21 E. Burdick St. Oxford, 248 628-1289, oxfordunitedmc.org. People Feeding People (PFP) free breakfast is 9:30-10:30 a.m. Saturdays. In-person worship services and online at youtube.com/channel/UCN2R96oWdXzxDqwdz8YBlrQ.
• Paint Creek United Methodist Church, 4420 Collins Road, Rochester, www.paintcreekumc.org, 248-373-2360, Sunday worship services are at 11 a.m.
• The River Church of Auburn Hills, 315 S. Squirrel Road, Auburn Hills, http://riverchurch.faith, 248-853-1524. Worship services are 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Sundays.
• The River Church, Holly, Lake Orion, Waterford and more locations, livestream and videos of sermons, theriverchurch.cc, 248-328-0490.
• River North Church, 67 N Lynn Ave, Waterford Twp., Sunday School is 10 a.m. Sundays, worship services at 11:15 a.m. Sundays and 7:15 p.m. Wednesdays. Also view sermons online at www.youtube.com/@rivernorthchurch2023, nondenominational family church, 248-724-6559, www.facebook.com/Rivernorthchurch.
• River Of Life Christian Church, 5482 Winell St., Independence Twp., 248-599-3074.
• Rochester Christian Church, 4435 Rochester Rd, Rochester Hills, https://rcc4me.com, 248-652-3353, Sunday worship services at 10 a.m.
• Rochester Church of Christ, 250 W. Avon Road, Rochester Hills, www.rochestercoc.org, 248-651-1933, Sunday worship services at 10 a.m.
• Royal Oak First United Methodist Church, 320 W. 7th Street, Royal Oak, www.rofum.org, 248-541-4100. Worship services are 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays, in person and online, www.rofum.org/live.
• Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 3400 S. Adams Road, Auburn Hills. Mass times are at 4 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday. Weekday Mass services are 9 a.m. Monday through Friday, www.esacredheart.org, 248-852-4170.
• St. Anastasia Roman Catholic Church, 4571 John R Road, Troy, www.stanastasia.org, 248-689-8380.
• St. Anne Catholic Church of Ortonville, 825 South Ortonville Road, Ortonville. Mass times are Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; Saturday at 5 p.m.; Monday at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 a.m., 248-627-3965, churchofstanne.org.
• St. Augustine Lutheran Troy (SALT) Church, 5475 Livernois in Troy, www.saltchurch.net, communications@saltchurch.net, 248-879-6400.
• St. Benedict Catholic Church, 60 South Lynn Street, Waterford Twp., 248-681-1534. Sunday Mass times are 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., streaming at stbencc.org/live-stream.
• St. David’s Episcopal Church, 16200 W. Twelve Mile Road, Southfield, www.stdavidssf.org. Sunday worship services are at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. both in person and via zoom. Food pantry is 9 a.m.-noon Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
• St. George’s Episcopal Church, 801 E Commerce, Milford, 248-684-0495. Sunday worship services 8:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., in person and online, www.stgeorgesmilford.org.
• St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 43816 Woodward Ave, Bloomfield Hills, 248-335-8869, www.stgeorgebloomfield.org.
• St. George Orthodox Church, 2160 E Maple Road, Troy, 248-589-0480, www.stgeorgeoftroy.org, www.facebook.com/stgeorgeoftroymi.
• St. James Church, 46325 Ten Mile Road, Novi, Mass times are 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Sundays, and 4 p.m. Saturdays. Livestream services, 4 p.m. Saturdays, 248-347-7778, stjamesnovi.org.
• St. John Lutheran Church & School, 1011 University Drive, Rochester. Traditional praise worship services are Sundays at 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Modern praise services are Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 10:45 p.m. The 8 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Sunday worship services are livestreamed and posted on the website at stjohnrochester.org.
• St. John Lutheran Church, 23225 Gill Road, Farmington Hills, www.stjohn-elca.org.
• St. John’s Episcopal Church Royal Oak, 26998 Woodward Ave. Royal Oak. Services are 8 a.m. Sundays, in person and 10:15 a.m. Sundays, in-person and online worship, stjohnsroyaloak.org, 248-546-1255.
• St. Joseph Catholic Church, Lake Orion, view Mass services on the church’s Youtube channel, youtube.com/user/stjosephmassarchive, or at Facebook page, facebook.com/StJoeLo, stjoelo.org, 248-693-0440.
• St. Joseph Chapel and Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 400 South Blvd. West, Pontiac, https://terrasanctaministries.net.
• St. Mark and St. Mary & St. Philopater Coptic Orthodox Church, 3603 Livernois Road, Troy, www.stmarkmi.org. Divine liturgy services are at 7 a.m. (Arabic) and 8:15 a.m. (English), Sundays.
• St. Mary Catholic Church, 730 S Lafayette Ave., Royal Oak, www.stmaryroyaloak.com, 248-547-1818. Mass at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday.
• St. Mary of the Hills Roman Catholic Church, 2675 John R. Road, Rochester Hills. In-person Mass is 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. Sunday, 248-853-5390, smoth.org. Live online Mass is 4 p.m. Saturday, on Facebook and YouTube.
• St. Mary’s In-the-Hills Episcopal Church, 2512 Joslyn Court, Lake Orion, 248-391-0663, www.stmarysinthehills.org. Sunday Services are at 8:30 a.m.-Simple service of Holy Eucharist and at 10 a.m.-Service of Holy Eucharist with choir and Children’s Church School-Service, livestream on YouTube or Facebook or www.stmarysinthehills.org. Adult Bible Study is held Tuesdays at 10 a.m.
• St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 2040 S. Commerce Road, Walled Lake, 248-624-7676, st-matthew.org. Blended Worship services are 8:45 a.m. Sundays (also livestream on YouTube); Prayer & Praise Worship services are 11 a.m. Sundays; Monday Blended Worship services are 7 p.m.
• St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 48380 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 248-624-9525, st-matthew.org. Sunday worship services are 10 a.m.
• St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. Sundays, 760 W Wattles Road, Troy, 248-362-9575, stnicholastroy.org.
• St. Owen Catholic Church, 6869 Franklin Road Bloomfield Hills, stowen.org.
• St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, 1413 E. Thirteen Mile Road, Madison Heights, 248-585-9591, in-person Sunday worship services are at 10 a.m., or online at stpatsmh.org.
• St. Paul Community Lutheran Church, 1133 Joslyn Ave., Pontiac, www.stpaulpontiac.com. 248-758-9019. Sunday worship services at 11 a.m.
• St. Paul Lutheran Church, 202 E. Fifth St, Royal Oak, worship services are 8:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays. Livestream also at 8:15 a.m. service, stpaulroyaloak.org, 248-930-3100.
• St. Paul United Methodist Church, 165 E. Square Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 248-338-8233, services are at 9:45 a.m. Sundays, SPUMC.net, facebook.com/spumcbloomfieldhills, 248-216-1657.
• St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 620 Romeo Street, Rochester. Open door worship services are at 9:30 a.m. Sundays and sanctuary worship services are at 11 a.m., Sundays, livestream available, facebook.com/stpaulsrochester, stpaulsrochester.org.
• St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 100 Romeo Road, Rochester, stpfeeds.org.
• St. Rita Catholic Church, 309 E Maple, Holly, 248-634-4841, stritaholly.org. Weekend services are 4 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday.
• St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 5500 N Adams Road, Troy, www.ststephenstroy.org, 248-641-8080, In-person Sunday worship services are at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Online service at 10 a.m.
• St. Stephens Missionary Baptist Church, 69 S. Astor St., Pontiac, 248-335-5873, www.saintstephenmbc.com. Sunday worship services are at 11 a.m.
• St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church, 6900 West Maple Road, West Bloomfield Twp., www.stccc.org.
• St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. Sundays, 29150 W. 10 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, 248-471-1059, stthomasalbanianorthodoxchurch.org.
• St. William Parish, 531 Common St., Walled Lake, stwilliam.com, 248-624-1421.
• Sashabaw Presbyterian Church, Clarkston, worship services via Zoom, services at 11 a.m. on 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays of the month, and at 6 p.m. on 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. Email sashabawpresbyterianchurch@gmail.com for a link to services, sashabawpresbyterianchurch.org, 248-310-0792.
• Scott Lake Baptist Church, 811 Scott Lake Road, Waterford Twp., Sunday worship services at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., also livestream, https://hisscottlake.org.
• Seymour Lake United Methodist Church, 3050 S. Sashabaw Road, Oxford, in-person or online services at 10 a.m. Sundays, 248-572-4200, email- office@seymourlakeumc.org, seymourlakeumc.org.
• Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church, 2905 S. Commerce Road, Walled Lake, worship services are 10 a.m. Sundays, and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. during Lent and Advent, www.shepherdlakes.org, 248-624-4238.
• Shrine Catholic Church, 12 Mile and Woodward, 248-541-4122, https://shrinechurch.com.
• Silver Lake Church Of The Nazarene, 20 W Walton Blvd., Pontiac, https://slcpontiac.org, 248-977-4698.
• Spirit of Grace Church, 2399 Figa Ave., West Bloomfield Twp., 248-682-0270, Sunday worship at 10 a.m., spiritofgrace.church, facebook.com/spiritograce/videos. The church has a diabetic food pantry for those in need with dietary restrictions. The church seeks donations of non-perishable food items for diabetics including: proteins, nuts, grains and beans, sugar-free foods, low carb and high fiber foods as well as shopping bags and unused boxes. Drive-up diabetic food pantry hours are 10 a.m.-noon, 3rd Saturdays of the month.
• Spiritual Life Center, Troy, www.slctroy.com, 248-925-6214. A Message of Hope is 10 a.m. Sundays at www.youtube.com/c/SLCTroy.
• Temple Beth El Synagogue, 7400 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, www.tbeonline.org. In person services are Friday at 7 p.m. Online services are Saturdays at 10 a.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. on Zoom, www.tbelive.org and facebook.com/tbeonline/live, 248-851-1100.
• Temple Israel, West Bloomfield Twp., streaming video at temple-israel.org.
• Temple Kol Ami, 5085 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield Twp., tkolami.org, 248-661-0040.
• Temple Shir Shalom, 3999 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield Twp., www.shirshalom.org, 248-737-8700. Rabbi Michael Moskowitz is being honored as Rabbi and Spiritual Leader at Temple Shir Shalom on his 30th anniversary. Services are at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 and on Nov. 15, a celebratory bourbon- themed dinner along with live music and dancing will be featured at the Temple.
• Thrive Church, a Global Methodist Church, 680 W. Livingston Road, Highland Twp., www.thrive-church.us, 248-887-1311.
• Troy Church of the Nazarene, 6840 Crooks Road, Troy, troynaz.org, 248-802-7650. Worship Services and Bible Study, 11 a.m. Sundays and 6 p.m. Wednesdays.
• Unity of Farmington Hills worship service in person and online at 10 a.m. Sundays, youtube.com/channel/UCi90mgzXUDpw0k21_3JXlTg, Unityfh.com.
• Unity of Lake Orion, 3070 S. Baldwin Road, Orion Twp., unitylakeorion.org, 248-391-9211. Sunday worship services are 10 a.m. Sundays, in person and livestream on Facebook.
• Unity of Royal Oak, 2500 Crooks Road, Royal Oak, unityofroyaloak.org, 248-288-3550. In-person Sunday worship services at 10 a.m., livestream on YouTube and Facebook.
• Universalist Unitarian Church of Farmington, 25301 Halsted Road, Farmington Hills, uufarmington.org. Sunday worship services at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, in person and livestream.
• University Presbyterian Church, 1385 S. Adams, Rochester Hills, universitypres.org, 248-375-0400.
• The Village Church of Ortonville, 93 N Church St. Ortonville, www.facebook.com/oumvillagechurch, 248 627-3125.
• Walled Lake United Methodist Church, 313 E Northport St., Walled Lake. Sunday worship services at 9:30 a.m. in person, or at Facebook Live, facebook.com/walledlakeumc and YouTube, youtube.com/channel/UCjOTQmG5DAGUdd_ghKdp2FQ, walledlakeumc.org, 248-624-2405.
• Warren’s Amazing Grace Lutheran Church, 29860 Dequindre, Warren. Sunday worship services are at 10 a.m. in person and livestream at www.aglc-warren.org, 586-751-7750.
• Waterford Seventh-day Adventist Church, 5725 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Twp., www.waterfordadventist.org, 248-681-3334. Worship services in person and livestream, 11 a.m. Saturdays.
• Welcome Missionary Baptist Church, 143 Oneida St, Pontiac, www.welcomemissionarybaptistchurch.com, 248-335-8740. Sunday worship services are at 8:30 a.m. in person and livestream on Facebook at www.facebook.com/welcomemissionary.church.
• Wellspring Bible Church, 485 Farnsworth, White Lake Twp., worship services are at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, wellspringbiblechurch.org, 248-682-0319.
• West Bloomfield United Methodist Church, 4100 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield Twp., worship services are at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, westbloomfieldumc.org, 248-851-2330.
• White Lake Presbyterian Church, 4805 Highland Road, White Lake Twp., 248-887-4654, www.whitelakepc.org.
• Williams Lake Church, 2840 Airport Road, Waterford Twp., www.facebook.com/williamslakechurch, 248-673-5911, www.williamslakechurch.com.
• Woodside Bible Church, with 14 locations in Southeast Michigan, in-person service times vary by location, online services at 8:15 a.m.10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Sundays, live.woodsidebible.org, 248-879-8533.
• Zion Lutheran Church, 143 Albany St., Ferndale, in-person and online worship services at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, www.zionlutheranmi.org.
To add a church to this list, visit https://bit.ly/40a2iAm.
— MediaNews Group
(Photo courtesy of Central United Methodist Church)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Multiple people who had been allegedly plotting a violent attack over the Halloween weekend were arrested Friday morning in Michigan, FBI Director Kash Patel said in a social media post.
Patel didn’t release further information about the arrests, but said more information would be coming.
Dearborn Police said in a social media post that the department was made aware that the FBI conducted operations in the city on Friday and assured residents that there is no threat to the community.
FBI director Kash Patel speaks during a roundtable on criminal cartels with President Donald Trump in the State Dining Room of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Ford Motor Co. is opening the doors of its new world headquarters to the public on Nov. 16.
Attendees must register online for free to enjoy the festivities that include self-guided tours, a car show, live entertainment, food trucks and other activities for families from 11 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
The Dearborn automaker last month announced it was moving its headquarters across town to the new, enormous, glassy product development center known as “The Hub” off Oakwood Boulevard across from the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. It’ll serve as the home for the company that first made vehicles accessible to the masses as it pursues a future toward greater electrification, autonomous driving and other advanced technologies.
The new headquarters will get the 1 American Road address that has marked the location of the Glass House at Michigan Avenue and Southfield Road that has served as Ford’s headquarters since 1956. That building will be demolished and is expected to be turned into a park-like community space in partnership with the city.
On Nov. 16, a grand opening ceremony will occur at noon and a closing ceremony at 4 p.m. Guests can make reservations to see the inside of the building, including workspaces and employee wellness areas. The walking, self-guided look likely will take 15 to 30 minutes, according to Ford.
Guests still can register to attend, even if tour reservations become fully booked. The Ford Community Car Show will show privately owned Ford classics from custom designs and sports models to heavy-duty trucks.
For now, The Hub is listed at 2100 Carroll Shelby Way on Google Maps. Ford’s invitation encourages guests to enter at Village Road and South Pond. Parking is at Deck 300 at 21324 S. Military St. and the PDC lot at 21000 S. Military.
Ford Motor Co. will welcome registered members of the public to its new headquarters on Nov. 16. (Daniel Mears, The Detroit News/The Detroit News/TNS)
The widow of a man killed in 2010 in Farmington Hills and her attorney say the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office is neglecting its duties in the retrial of the man convicted of killing her husband.
Genniver Jameel, the widow of Saif Jameel, said she is frustrated about what she sees as corruption in the prosecutor’s office and courtroom maneuvers strip away the justice her family got in 2011 when Hayes Bacall was sentenced to life in prison for the first-degree murder of her husband. Bacall is in the process of being retried for Saif Jameel’s murder after the Court of Appeals vacated his conviction in April.
“We are living through hell every single day — grieving Saif while fighting a system that seems determined to silence us,” Jameel told The Detroit News in a statement. “Instead of finding support and accountability through the court system, we have faced betrayal and corruption that has only deepened our suffering.”
Hayes Bacall was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2011 for the July 2010 murder of his nephew Saif Jameel. Prosecutors say Bacall walked into the gas station Jameel owned and shot him 12 times, then later told police he killed Jameel because Jameel owed him $400,000.
The Oakland County Conviction Integrity Unit reviewed the case in 2022 and determined that prosecutorial misconduct related to lies the prosecutor told during closing arguments, as well as witnesses recanting their testimony, resulted in a weak conviction.
Prosecutors and Bacall’s attorneys agreed to move forward with a second-degree murder charge instead of the original first-degree murder charge in 2023, but new evidence has again come up, pausing justice for Saif Jameel again.
Prosecutors obtained recordings in May and July of two phone calls that one of the recanting witnesses, Samir Bacall, Saif’s younger brother, had with his aunt. In the calls, Samir implies he lied during his recantation and was truthful in his original testimony. He expresses a desire for revenge on Genniver Jameel because she allegedly owes him money.
Though prosecutors transcribed translations of the calls in time to include them in their response to Hayes Bacall’s motion to dismiss the first-degree murder charge, prosecutors did not mention them in public court filings until days after Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Mary Ellen Brennan granted Hayes Bacall’s motion Oct. 15 and dismissed the first-degree murder charge. Assistant Prosecutor David Williams said Brennan knew about the filings from off-the-record conversations, but they were not introduced to influence her decision on the first-degree murder charge.
The first mention of Samir’s statements came in a motion for reconsideration of Brennan’s decision filed after 5 p.m. Oct. 20, the day before Bacall was set to plead guilty to second-degree murder. The recordings call into question the validity of Samir’s recantation and his motives for his original trial testimony, Assistant Prosecutor Shelbee Sanborn wrote in the motion for reconsideration.
Brennan said the late filing was “stunning” and said “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Sanborn during a hearing Oct. 21 told Brennan she had to work “very quickly” to get this motion filed and did it as soon as she could, but did not say why the information was not included in her response to Bacall’s motion to dismiss the first-degree murder charge. Prosecutors filed the motion after The News inquired Oct. 16 about the recordings and why they weren’t brought up.
Sanborn wrote in her motion that she did not have a chance to tell Brennan about the new evidence, including the recordings and another witness who could testify to premeditation, on Oct. 15 when Brennan ruled on the motion. Sanborn is asking Brennan to reconsider her ruling dismissing the first-degree murder charge for Bacall.
“The existence of the phone calls was never a secret. They were disclosed to the defense and we made the court aware of their existence,” said Chief Assistant Prosecutor David Williams. “We didn’t believe that the phone calls were relevant to the motion to dismiss, which is why we didn’t attach them to our response.”
Genniver Jameel’s attorney, Pam Szydlak, said the prosecutor’s office’s conduct is “nothing short of alarming.”
Jameel and Szydlak said Sanborn told them she would be fighting for the first-degree charge to remain in place, and would be mentioning the recordings in her response and at the hearing on Bacall’s motion to dismiss the first-degree murder charge. Sanborn did not mention it, however, and argued only that prosecutors were not barred from proceeding with the first-degree case in her written response.
“The People were given a full and fair opportunity to defend against this motion, yet they failed to do so in any meaningful or competent way — all the while pretending they were fighting it,” Szydlak said. “Rather than engage with real legal issues and the transcripts of Samir Bacall saying he lied in his recantation, they instead offered vague assertions, unsupported rhetoric, and outright neglect of its duty to the court and the interests of justice.”
Williams said no one has denied Hayes Bacall shot and killed Saif Jameel, and the prosecutor’s office has continued to fight to hold him accountable for his actions. Prosecutors are now seeking to have Bacall tried again for first-degree murder.
“Those recordings are attached to our motion for reconsideration, and the Judge has agreed to consider them,” Williams said in a statement. “The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office has fully pursued a transparent and thorough review of the case against Hayes Bacall for the death of Saif Jameel.”
Samir Bacall, Saif’s younger brother, originally testified that Hayes Bacall had called him multiple times in the months before the shooting, saying he was going to kill Saif because of the money he owed him. Samir and Jameel’s close friend Slieman Bashi said in 2022 that they lied during the trial about these statements, which was part of why prosecutors decided to reopen the case and seek to overturn Bacall’s conviction.
In the recorded conversation, Samir told his aunt “she harmed me,” speaking of Genniver.
“Yes, but you don’t go to seek your revenge on her by going and changing your testimony,” the aunt said, according to a translated transcript of the phone call.
Samir talks mostly about seeking revenge on Genniver, because he says she sought revenge on him and took his money, but also said “I did not testify falsely, no, I didn’t lie … Geniver Geniver (sic) is the one who testified falsely, not I.”
Bacall’s attorney, Mark Krieger, said during a hearing Oct. 21 that he didn’t think the recording changes anything and that Brennan should not change her ruling about the first-degree murder charge. He said Bacall was prepared that day to plead guilty to second-degree murder. Krieger did not respond for comment.
Brennan will issue a written ruling on Sanborn’s motion for reconsideration. Bacall’s next court date is Dec. 4.
Hayes Bacall sits during a hearing in front of Oakland County Circuit Judge Mary Ellen Brennan in Pontiac on May 24, 2023. On Monday, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that he may deserve a new trial. (David Guralnick/MediaNews Group)
Aircraft owners at the Oakland County International Airport will get a smoother ride thanks to a $6 million grant from the state.
Work to replace nearly 8,000 feet of pavement will begin next spring, said airport manager Cheryl Bush.
A $6 million grant managed by Michigan’s Department of Transportation will help renovate Oakland County International Airport. This grant money comes from the Federal Aviation Agency but is managed by MDOT. It will pay to reconstruct and improve lighting for Taxilanes D, F and Y and renovate the airport apron.
The county will add just over $151,000 to the state Department of Transportation’s funds.
Bush told commissioners on the county commission’s Economic Development and Infrastructure committee that the work is a year overdue.
“The pavement has been pretty rough. We’ve had some complaints about it,” she told the committee last week, adding that the work couldn’t happen without the support of federal grants.
The work will begin next spring on the airport’s north side and will be done in phases over four months so the nearly 400 airplanes kept at the airport will remain accessible to their owners, Bush told commissioners.
The committee also advised the commission to approve a separate, nearly $2.2 million MDOT grant to reimburse the airport for purchased snow-removal equipment and land to add to a protection zone for Runway 27L and renovate the pavement for Taxilane M.
The airport is in Waterford Township and is the second-busiest in Michigan.
Oakland ISD administrator Dwight Levens Jr. has been awarded the 2025 Exemplary Service and Innovation for Technological Advancement Award.
This national award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation in advancing educational technology.
Levens, Jr. is the chief technology and information officer for Oakland Schools, which serves over 175,000 students and 40,000 educators across 28 public school districts.
Levens’ team is responsible for instructional technology coaching and infrastructure modernization to cybersecurity and statewide application support.
The department’s initiatives include the AI Collective, which explores artificial intelligence applications in education in all 28 districts.
“Dwight’s leadership has fostered a culture where operational excellence meets educational innovation,” said Oakland Schools Superintendent Kenneth Gutman. “Oakland Schools Technology Services exemplifies the very mission of an educational service agency: to deliver visionary leadership and equitable access to high-quality services that improve outcomes for all learners.”
Levens' department oversees a cybersecurity ecosystem and manages large-scale consortia like MISTAR and MIPEER.
Photo courtesy Oakland ISD
Culver’s restaurant recently opened a new location on Southfield Road north of 12 Mile Road in Southfield and plans to begin construction next spring on another store on Telegraph Road in that city.
The second Southfield Culver’s will be on Telegraph north of 12 Mile.
Culver’s will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Southfield Road store at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 30.
Culver’s, a national chain, is known for its burgers and frozen custard.
In Oakland County, Culver’s has locations in Novi, White Lake Township, Commerce Township, Wixom, Waterford Township, Madison Heights, Clawson, Rochester Hills, South Lyon and two in Orion Township.
In 1984, Craig and Lea Culver, along with Craig’s parents, George and Ruth, opened the first Culver’s in Sauk City, Wis., according to Culver’s website.
A Novi man is facing multiple charges after he allegedly carjacked an ambulance, ran a red light and crashed into another vehicle, fled on foot and resisted police.
Changlin Li, 33, is held in the Oakland County Jail on a $5 million bond.
Li was involved in a rollover crash with another vehicle at 10 Mile and Novi roads at about 3:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. A paramedic and patient were in the rear of a Medstar ambulance when Li entered it and drove south on Novi Road with emergency lights flashing, said Commander Bob Manar of the Novi Police Department.
Officers pursued the ambulance as it traveled two miles on Novi Road to Eight Mile Road, where it headed west.
The ambulance ran a red light at Beck Road and crashed into a vehicle traveling south on Beck.
The ambulance caught fire; Li attempted to flee on foot, but officers immediately apprehended him.
Li, the paramedic and patient in the ambulance and the driver of the second vehicle in the Eight Mile-Beck crash were hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries.
Manar said Li attempted to grab firearms from an officer at the scene of the second crash and at the hospital.
He had a knife in his possession at the time of his arrest, Manar said.
He is charged with second-degree fleeing and eluding, two counts of resisting/obstructing a police officer, two counts of peace officer-disarming firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and carjacking. All are felonies.
Manar said police do not know what prompted Manar to allegedly steal the ambulance and flee.
There was no indication that alcohol or drugs were involved, he said.
Manar did not know whether Li has a criminal background or a history of mental illness.
In this photo, lights flash atop a police vehicle. (ArtOlympic/Shutterstock)
While Royal Oak police haven’t yet provided an update for the slaying of an 83-year-old man on Oct. 24, his identity has been confirmed as David Ong of Bloomfield Hills.
A volunteer at St. Hugo of the Hills Catholic Church’s parish office told The Oakland Press on Monday that Ong, who died last Friday at a home in Royal Oak, was a member of St. Hugo’s.
The Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Ong on Monday and ruled the death a homicide. The cause of death was “multiple sharp force injuries to the head and hands, and complications thereof.”
Royal Oak police arrested the suspected killer, a 35-year-old woman — described as an acquaintance of the family — on Friday evening after responding to a report of a man calling for help in the 4300 block of Sheridan Drive in Royal Oak. The suspect had blood on her hands, police said, and was taken into custody following a brief foot chase.
Ong was found unresponsive in the home’s basement with multiple stab wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
The suspect’s name has not yet been released. Arraignment is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, police said.
According to Ong’s obituary, he was “the most loving husband to Jacqueline” — his wife of more than 60 years — devoted father of four, and “Grandpa Dave” to 11.
The obituary further states, in part: “David’s life was defined by faith, humility and a gentle spirit. He was deeply caring, a true friend and a steady source of encouragement and support. He took joy in understanding everything about his children and grandchildren. He loved sports and rarely missed a chance to cheer for his Wolverines, Lions and Tigers. He enjoyed rides in his convertible, loved music and served as a mentor to his family and to many colleagues and employees.”
Ong founded the commercial real estate consulting and development firm, Acquest Realty Advisors, which he led for 45 years, the obituary states.
Visitation is planned for Oct. 31 at Desmond Funeral Home, 2600 Crooks Road in Troy from 1 to 5 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Hugo of the Hills Catholic Church, 2215 Opdyke Road in Bloomfield Hills on Nov. 1, with visitation at 9:30 a.m. and Mass at 10 a.m.
Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office (file photo by Aileen Wingblad/MediaNews Group)
A Republican is the only city clerk candidate on the ballot in Democratic-dominated Southfield, a prospect that worries Democrats and has GOP leaders arguing that the Democrats are in disarray.
Republican Gavriel “Gabi” Grossbard is running for the Southfield clerk’s seat after losing his 2023 bid to current city Clerk Janet Jackson, a Democrat who was disqualified from running for reelection. Democrats are hoping either City Council member Coretta Hogue or city clerk’s office worker Wynett Guy can prevail as write-in candidates, but political experts said write-in campaigns are often uphill battles.
The clerk oversees local elections and public records in the predominantly Black city of more than 75,000 residents. This would include overseeing the local results of the 2026 midterm election, when Republicans are seeking to win an open U.S. Senate seat as well as take back the governor’s office and state Senate.
The Michigan Democratic Party has highlighted this race in part due to a November 2020 federal lawsuit that Grossbard filed with three other voters that sought to decertify the presidential ballot counts in the Democratic strongholds of Wayne, Washtenaw and Ingham counties. Grossbard and his co-plaintiffs accused election officials of clerical errors, fraud and counting illegal votes.
The lawsuit in the Western District of Michigan sought to invalidate more than 1.2 million votes — more than 848,500 votes for Democrat Joe Biden and more than 368,400 votes for President Donald Trump, a Republican — after Biden defeated Trump by 154,000 votes. But Grossbard and his co-defendants withdrew the lawsuit five days later.
“There’s good reason that, in a majority-Democratic city, we wouldn’t want somebody like that to be clerk,” said Michigan Democratic Party President Curtis Hertel, adding that “it’s incredibly important that those people’s votes are counted in a free and fair election in 2026 and beyond.”
Southfield Mayor Ken Siver said he’s known Grossbard to be “a reasonable, nice guy” and would be ethical in the clerk’s office if elected. Siver also said he doesn’t believe Grossbard is “MAGA” or a Make America Great Again diehard, although the mayor is not supporting his bid for clerk.
Grossbard didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment, and campaign manager Pea Gee did not arrange an interview with the candidate despite multiple requests.
Jackson, a former Oakland County commissioner who beat Grossbard 75%-25% for the clerk’s office in 2023, was taken off this year’s ballot due to an unresolved campaign finance fee.
Michigan Republican Party Chairman Jim Runestad called Jackson a “Keystone cop” for getting disqualified from an election she’s charged with overseeing.
“How catastrophic for the city, one of the biggest in Oakland County, to have this level of incompetence,” Runestad said. “So then, they’re now stuck with trying to plug in whoever they can as opposed to a gentleman who went about it the right way, filed in time, filed his paperwork correctly and is on the ballot.”
State Democrats have thrown their support behind Guy at the request of local Democratic chapters, Hertel said.
“She doesn’t come in with a learning curve,” said Southfield / Lathrup Village Democratic Club President Joseph Person, referencing Guy’s position in the clerk’s office. “(Grossbard and Hogue) come in with a learning curve.”
Expert: Write-in efforts ‘extremely difficult’
But the Democrats have unique challenges to win the Southfield clerk’s race, a political analyst said.
Write-in candidacies usually are “extremely difficult” because of the huge educational effort required by campaigns to ensure voters remember a candidate’s name and write it on the ballot, said Southfield-based consultant Mario Morrow Sr.
The Southfield situation complicates the situation further because of the dueling write-in candidacies, he said.
“Just off the bat, the write-in candidates might end up splitting votes if they get people to support them, which leaves the person who, love him or hate him, is a legitimate candidate, on the ballot, and very well could end up in this spot,” Morrow said.
Guy originally sought to be placed on the election ballot, but said her name was removed because Grossbard pointed out disqualifying aspects in her campaign. Grossbard’s campaign manager, Gee, rejected the claim, arguing that Guy failed on her own to ensure she complied with state election law.
As a result, Guy mounted a write-in campaign.
Guy said she would make sure the clerk’s office flows more efficiently if elected. She also said she would better educate its employees about the office’s functions.
Hogue said she put her name down before she knew Guy was going to launch a write-in campaign.
The City Council member said she is concerned about the prospect of split votes, but said she was the only write-in candidate before Guy threw her hat in the ring. Hogue also said she has experience running a voting precinct.
Asked about the possibility of a weakened write-in vote due to the two candidates, Person said he’s not concerned about “hypotheticals” and is instead focused on helping Guy win the election.
2020 lawsuit becomes focal point
Grossbard’s supporters said he was within his rights to try to decertify a portion of Michigan’s votes in the 2020 presidential election if he believed there were irregularities.
Grossbard and three other plaintiffs said in the lawsuit they were worried their votes were “unconstitutionally diluted” by fraudulent ballots, including some of the absentee ballots counted at what was then the TCF Center in Detroit.
“There exists sufficient evidence to place in doubt the November 3 presidential-election results in identified key counties, including issues with transparency, fraudulent changing of dates, a software glitch, clerical errors, illegal votes, and many other issues and irregularities,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit cited other lawsuits and conservative blogs in its reasoning and claimed the plaintiffs would analyze poll books and other records to create “expert reports” to provide proof of fraud. None of the other lawsuits seeking to overturn Michigan’s election results succeeded. Grossbard and his allies withdrew the lawsuit without explanation on Nov. 16, 2020.
The lawsuit would have invalidated more than 20% of Michigan’s 5.5 million votes if successful.
“This case was clearly designed to spread misinformation about the security and integrity of Michigan elections,” state Attorney General Dana Nessel said of the lawsuit.
Gee said Grossbard “had some concerns, didn’t break the law, put their name on a lawsuit.” Runestad agreed.
“It’s perfectly legal to be able to do this. It happens all the time that people feel that there were things that were not kosher in the election process,” Runestad said.
Gee said Grossbard would be “more cognizant” of election integrity than other candidates since he’s sued over them before.
Guy said she wouldn’t care about Grossbard’s politics if he hadn’t challenged the 2020 election.
“I was concerned about the city, so they needed to be told, and not just blindly vote for someone who’s the only person on the ballot without knowing their track record,” Guy said.
Noting prior clerk’s misconduct
Gee accused the Democratic Party of hypocrisy because it supported former Southfield Clerk Sherikia Hawkins in 2019. Hawkins was convicted in 2022 of misconduct in office for ending the city’s 2018 election without counting nearly 200 absentee ballots. She was forced to resign from office, leading eventually to the Jackson-Grossbard race in 2023. She was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.
Gee also accused the Democrats of making the campaign “about a Jewish man running against one African American write-in candidate,” and pointed out that both Guy and Hogue are Black.
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Hertel called Gee’s claim “ridiculous.”
“The only thing that we have talked about in this campaign is his lack of credibility in county elections when he himself has been part of denying them,” Hertel said.
Grossbard said he will “defend and preserve the individual right to vote, secure the voting process, and will fight voter suppression,” according to his campaign literature. The campaign materials also said Grossbard will expand services to include passport applications and process birth and death certificates in a timely manner.
Grossbard would bring council minutes up to date if he were elected, Gee said. She claimed these records have fallen out of compliance with Michigan’s Open Meeting Act under Jackson.
“I’m surprised that the Democratic Party is worried about the candidate as opposed to the people getting their accurate information,” Gee said.
Jackson did not respond to a request for comment regarding Gee’s claim.
Democrats mount ‘huge undertaking’
While the Democrats have thrown their support behind Guy in their efforts to keep Grossbard from office, the dynamic of dueling write-in candidates persists.
Volunteers have knocked on more than 7,000 doors in support of Guy, Southfield Democratic Club’s Person said. The Michigan Democratic Party has also invested in mailers and digital campaign materials for her election, Hertel said.
Mayor Siver claimed the local Democratic Club initially said it would support Hogue, but then switched to Guy a few days later.
“I said, ‘Well, I’m sorry. I’m not going to go back on my word to Coretta Hogue. I wish Wynett Guy every success, but I am backing Coretta,'” Siver said.
Person said Hogue “didn’t have any money” and wanted the club to “do the heavy lifting for her,” which contributed to the club’s decision.
Hogue said she believes “people have personal gains that they’re seeking” in their decision to support Guy but did not elaborate when asked what those were. She also pointed out that she was the only person running against Grossbard who wasn’t kicked off the ballot.
“It’s been a dirty campaign,” Hogue said. “I think that it’s really shown in how people are choosing to support and endorse and are overlooking qualifications.”
Like Grossbard, Hogue said she would get the City Council meeting minutes up to date. She also claimed integrity needs to be brought back to the office.
Grossbard’s Gee called Hogue a “valid and viable candidate.”
The result is that defeating Grossbard is “a huge undertaking” for the Democrats, Morrow said.
“It would have probably been beneficial if everybody was on the same page and wanted to go after Gabi, that one of the two write-in candidates would have pulled out,” Morrow said. “That would have been an easier task to take on.”
Gabi Grossbard of Southfield, right, and Sheldon Freilich of Bloomfield Hills, center, pose together as Aaron Tobin of Oak Park, left, snaps a photo before a panel discussion hosted by the Republican Jewish Coalition on Oct. 28, 2024 in Bloomfield Township. Grossbard is the only candidate on the NOv. 4 ballot running for Southfield clerk. (Katy Kildee/MediaNews Group)
Bloomfield Township police are investigating several incidents of malicious destruction of property where similar graffiti was spray painted on school facilities and two homes under construction.
The word “LOV3” was spray painted in red at the Booth Center and Wing Lake Developmental Center on Wing Lake Road — on the exterior walls, shed and a dumpster — and the words “LOV3” and “LOV3 Liv3” were spray painted in black and white at homes under construction in the 7000 block of Franklin Road, police said.
Graffiti found at a home under construction in Bloomfield Township (Bloomfield Township Police Dept.)
The MDOPs were reported on Oct. 22 and Oct. 23.
Graffiti found at the Wing Lake Developmental Center (Bloomfield Township Police Dept.)Graffiti at a home under construction in Bloomfield Township (Bloomfield Township Police Dept.)
A can of red spray paint was collected from the school facilities, police said, and is being processed for evidence.
Anyone with further information on the incidents is asked to call the Bloomfield Township Police Department at 248-433-7755.
After a few easy prompts to get them started, Michele Malesyzk warns her daughter: This next one’s going to be tough.
“ANG,” says Maleszyk, emphasizing the three sounds in the one blended sound found in words like “pang” or “angry.”
Sitting atop a barstool at their kitchen countertop, 8-year-old Grace Zinczuk sticks her left index finger into a tray of sand in front of her and traces out the letters that make the sound. “A-N-G,” she writes.
Having properly matched the letters to the sound, Grace gives the tray a shake, and the black and green grains of sand fall flat again, ready for her next set of letters.
Grace, a third grader, practices these lessons with her mother most days after school in addition to her usual homework in a bid to fill a hole in Grace’s foundational literacy skills. Grace has dyslexia, a learning disability that makes reading and writing difficult, especially without explicit, direct instruction on the mechanics of reading. The hole in Grace’s literary skills exists, Malesyzk said, because of the reading curriculum used by Troy Public Schools, where Grace attended kindergarten through second grade.
Troy’s curriculum has received years of criticism, locally, across the state and the country, for its gaps in how it teaches students — especially ones with dyslexia — to learn to read. The Troy district defended its approach by noting its third graders have high reading scores on the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, with 67.9% proficiency compared with the state’s overall third grade English language arts proficiency of 38.9%.
But districts with the same or similar programs across Michigan are soon going to be forced to adopt new ways — at least in part.
The state of Michigan last year approved two new literacy laws aimed at districts like Troy that have been using programs that are not aligned with what’s known as the “science of reading.” Many districts across Michigan have already moved in that direction, focusing on equipping students with skills to “decode” words they don’t know.
School districts will have to screen children for signs of dyslexia, address lagging students’ needs with intervention methods approved by the state, and involve parents in the process of catching up students who are behind. They will also have to provide training to teachers in the science of reading.
The literacy laws’ supporters said the new requirements are a significant step toward moving Michigan’s stubbornly low literacy rates, while still balancing the state’s tradition of local control, especially in schools. But some are worried the law doesn’t go far enough.
‘I would have tried to guess the word’
While her parents have read to her regularly since she was a baby, Grace struggled to learn to read. She particularly didn’t love chapter books.
“Sometimes I didn’t really read a page,” Grace said. If she got stuck on a word she couldn’t figure out? “I would have tried to guess the word.”
Maleszyk grew up in Troy and attended Troy schools. When her family moved back to the area, she said, they chose Troy for the community and the schools.
Maleszyk, a former teacher in older elementary school grades, said she didn’t research the school’s reading curriculum when deciding where to move. She wishes she had.
Troy uses a reading curriculum called Units of Study, authored by Lucy Calkins, from the Teacher’s College at Columbia University. In the past few years, Columbia has distanced itself from the program, dissolving its professional development support efforts for the curriculum. The program, once beloved for its literature-rich materials and goal of building a love of reading in young children, has faced intense scrutiny for its gaps in explicit instruction, especially around phonics.
Some of the curriculum has been updated to include a stronger phonics piece, but multiple states with mandates to use the science of reading have not approved Calkins’ program for use, including Ohio and Tennessee.
The Troy district said in an email that it will comply with all Michigan laws, but did not commit to moving away from Calkins’ program. The district touted its high overall reading rates in third grade and noted that a review of the English language arts curriculum will begin next year.
“As part of this process, we will evaluate a variety of evidence-based resources,” director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives Kendra Montante said. “While committed to continuous improvement, the district’s literacy program is comprehensive with instruction and intervention systems fully aligned to Michigan standards.”
In June, the school board approved the purchase of Calkins’ Units of Study writing program.
Two board members dissented, saying they were aware of the criticism of Units of Study. Board member Stephanie Zendler said then the district “must begin to align all literacy instruction with the science of reading.”
“Recent revisions to the program have attempted to incorporate some of these things, but these changes still fall short of what is required for a comprehensive, research-aligned literacy framework that works for all of our students, in particular, our most at-risk learners,” Zendler said. “Adopting a curriculum that does not fully reflect this work would be a step backward at a time when we need to accelerate learning recovery and close achievement gaps.”
Last year’s test scores showed a significant achievement gap between students who are economically disadvantaged and those with disabilities. The district also had a significant racial disparity in third-grade reading proficiency. About 38% of Black students tested proficient, compared with 70% of White students and 73% of Asian students. White and Asian students make up 83% of the school’s third graders.
Board member Vital Anne, who voted for the adoption, said at the meeting she heard the concerns and was aware of the upcoming literacy laws, but that she was comfortable with the curriculum updates and that they had support from Troy’s teachers.
“No curriculum ever is perfect or complete,” Anne said.
Maleszyk said she could see the curriculum was not working for Grace.
“She would sometimes cry in the morning, not want to go to school,” Maleszyk said.
After spending over $10,000 on tutoring, buying materials to help tutor her at home and hiring an advocate to push for additional services through the Troy schools, she pulled Grace out of the district this fall. Three months in at her private Catholic school, Grace is receiving three 30-minute sessions a week to rebuild the foundational skills she missed, Maleszyk said. She loves chapter books now, especially ones about ponies and magic.
“I’m thinking like, wow, this is so much better,” Grace said.
Maleszyk said she worries that districts like Troy will continue to do a “workaround” of the law. She reached out to the Michigan Department of Education to ask how its officials would enforce the law.
“They told me that they’re going to rely on parents like me,” she said.
DeNesha Rawls-Smith, literacy unit manager at the Michigan Department of Education, emphasized that the new literacy laws are just that — laws.
“If you have a child that is not performing, then they are entitled to intervention, no matter how well your school is doing,” Rawls-Smith said. “So I would encourage them to sit down with parents and make the changes needed for that child, because that’s what the law requires. If I can’t appeal to your humanity, I’m going to appeal to what the law says.”
Eight-year-old Grace Zinczuk uses a tray of sand to help her write out letters while doing her homework in her Troy home on Oct. 16, 2025. Grace's parents moved her out of the Troy school district and to a Catholic school, where they said her literacy skills are improving. (David Guralnick/MediaNews Group)
Even successful districts, she said, are “only as successful as your most challenging student, or your student that is having the most challenges, or your teacher that is having the most challenges.”
“I think if one child is not reading, that’s a cause for us to pause and look at what we’re doing,” Rawls-Smith said. “And we don’t have any districts … that have 100% proficiency.”
Michigan avoids full mandates
About a decade ago, when state Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, was a member of the state House, a mother told him about having to fight her son’s public school to get him the help he needed after being diagnosed with dyslexia.
“Her message to me was, ‘You know, not every kid’s gonna have the resources and the parent with the time and the ability to fight this fight,'” Irwin said. “‘And this is wrong. And you know, do you know anything about the science of reading, and do you know anything about dyslexia? Maybe you should.'”
The science of reading includes five main components: phonemic awareness (sounds), phonics (the connection between letters and sounds), fluency (reading text accurately), vocabulary (knowing the meaning of words), and comprehension (understanding what’s been read). It teaches students skills to figure out words they don’t know by attacking the word directly, sounding it out or using their fingers to tap out the sounds as they say them.
Previous methods of teaching, known as “whole language” or “balanced literacy,” have focused less on the explicit teaching of reading, and more on the exposure to books, and encouraging other ways of figuring out words, like looking at the pictures or other words around the one a student doesn’t know. Critics have said balanced literacy often leads more to memorization than actual reading.
Irwin and a group of literacy advocates tried over a period of years to pass legislation that would require schools to do more not just for students with dyslexia, but also those who may just need more support to learn to read.
“We tried to make this a bill that would promote literacy broadly, not just a bill that was focused on how to help kids who have characteristics of dyslexia,” he said.
In October 2024, the Michigan Legislature passed two new literacy laws, aimed at spurring growth just as new test scores showed the state ranking 44th in the nation in fourth grade reading. The laws updated what was formerly known as the Read by Grade Three Law.
The first law, Public Act 146, requires the Michigan Department of Education to create a list of high-quality instructional materials aligned with the science of reading. It also requires school districts to screen students three times a year for signs of dyslexia or any struggle to read. Districts must use a state-approved program to do the screening and support the student through intervention. Both must align with the science of reading.
The law also requires training for all teachers that hits on seven aspects of teaching reading, although no specific program or a set number of hours was required. Districts must also notify parents if a student is showing signs of struggling to read, including challenges with spelling or letter and sound recognition. The majority of the law does not take effect until fall 2027.
The second law, Public Act 147, addresses teacher training programs, requiring that future teachers receive training in the science of reading.
In the last three years, 26 states have passed laws around the science of reading, according to APM Reports. They have used a series of tools to help either strongly encourage or require districts to move away from balanced literacy programs.
Some states have opted for more stick than carrot, legislating a mandate that districts must use a curriculum vetted by their departments of education and rooted in the science of reading.
Michigan steered away from such mandates — more carrot, less stick. The state offered funding for new programs, and to use the funding, districts had to adopt from an approved list. But there is no law fully stopping districts from using a balanced literacy program, even alongside, for example, an early literacy phonics program.
Troy received state grant money to adopt UFLI, a phonics program for students in grades K-2.
rwin said Michigan could have tried to go the way of a full curriculum mandate, but a commitment to being a local-control state made that untenable.
“We need to win this battle on literacy through changing culture, through demonstrating that the right methods work,” Irwin said. “And I think that’s always going to be more important than the statutory hammer.”
But even those who strongly support the new law are worried it won’t be enough.
“It’s a problem,” Ann Arbor Public Schools board member Susan Wald-Schmidt said. “There are no teeth in this bill to say they have to do it.”
Wald-Schmidt, who worked closely with Irwin and others on the bill, said she heard from a teacher in another state — one that does have a mandate — that their district still was finding ways around the law. Even in states with “mandates,” she said, if there isn’t a penalty, there will be those unmotivated to change.
LETRS training eye-opening
David Pelc, a Romulus School District reading interventionist, created a network to support teachers. Pelc is the founder and administrator of a Facebook group called “Michigan’s Science of Reading-What I Should Have Learned in College.” It has over 4,300 members.
Teachers, parents and administrators across the state post questions, resources, strategies and trainings, providing the support that, in some cases, districts have not provided.
Pelc said before the COVID pandemic, he knew the reading strategies, especially for struggling readers, weren’t working. He looked for a new way and found people online talking about the science of reading.
“People were kind of grabbing little parts and pieces,” he said.
Once he saw the difference it made in his own students, he wanted to help pull all those pieces together and help teachers learn the baseline knowledge they need to know to teach reading.
“I’m always looking at like, ‘Why don’t they know this?’ you know?” Pelc said. “But then I’m like, I didn’t know that. How did I find out? And it’s a lot of just kind of discovering, which takes a long time, and wastes a lot of time.”
Pelc said he was encouraged to see the new literacy laws. But without proper training, not just on the science of reading but any new curriculum a district adopts, it won’t be successful, he said.
Pelc said as more districts begin to support teachers through the transition, more are looking to go deeper still. Michigan is recommending, but not requiring, all teachers who work with young students or who teach English at any age to take an intensive, 60-hour course called LETRS as a way to meet the state training requirement.
Some districts, like Detroit Public Schools Community District, have found ways to incentivize teachers to take it, paying them a $5,000 bonus. (“Don’t tell me that,” Pelc said, noting he took the training for free.)
Pelc said it was eye-opening, but he knows of some teachers who started the training and dropped out because it was difficult and time-consuming.
“I really don’t know what the answer is,” he said. “I feel like there’s got to be a way to teach this in an easier, more structured way, like to roll it out so everyone is sold on it and believes in it, you know?”
Jeff Cobb, director of government affairs for EdTrust Midwest, said the training for teachers is the key to the science of reading reaching all students, even without a mandate.
“Understand that science of reading is based in science, and it’s actually evidenced, proven, and it’s not just opinion,” Cobb said. “It’s curriculum, and it’s interventions that are that are based on things that work.”
The science of reading has been credited with what’s known in education circles as the “Southern surge,” as traditionally red states such as Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi — which has its own “Mississippi Miracle” slogan — find success in turning around stubbornly low reading rates. Cobb noted that in Michigan, efforts to pass the legislation were bipartisan.
“It seemed to bring people from both sides of the aisle together,” Cobb said. “And let’s face it, that’s very unusual in this political climate.”
One former Troy parent moved her family to the South, in part because of the literacy laws.
Tracy Owens said she fought for her son, who had dyslexia, to receive more services at his school in Troy. She, too, initially moved to Troy for the schools, believing they were the best.
“I realized a lot of kids were getting tutoring, and I was like, you know, we can’t afford a couple thousand dollars a month to send our kids in for tutoring,” Owens said.
When they moved to Georgia, testing showed that her daughter, a third grader who had gone to school in Troy up to that point, was reading at a level between kindergarten and first grade. Owens said she sent the results to the Troy school board.
“It’s hard for me because I’m like — I knew something was wrong,” Owens said. “… I maybe would have caught it when it was earlier, if I would have pushed a little harder.”
Michelle Maleszyk helps her 8-year-old daughter, Grace Zinczuk, with her reading in their Troy home on Oct. 16, 2025. Maleszyk said Grace struggled with the Troy school district's reading curriculum, so she spent $10,000 to address her daughter's dyslexia through tutoring and other methods. (David Guralnick/MedaiNews Group)
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