Developers and nonprofits are transforming vacant historic buildings and empty lots in Pontiac into new apartments to address a growing need for housing in the city.

See the full story in the video below

Historic Pontiac buildings are being transformed into new apartments

One project is breathing new life into the former Pontiac State Bank, a 15-story building dating back to the late 1920s. The structure in the heart of downtown Pontiac is now a high-end apartment complex called 28 North.

"One thing everybody thinks is downtown Pontiac is going to be difficult to do business in," Blackacre Management CEO Dalen Hanna said.

Be sure to join us at our latest Let's Talk in Pontiac. It's at Dogwood's Kitchen & Bar from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

But Hanna had a vision for the historic structure. The building was converted into 110 apartments starting at $1,200 a month, along with four penthouses, a gym, a lounge, and common areas. It also features a champagne room, with a ballroom and coffee shop coming soon.

"The demand has been phenomenal. We have over 110 doors and over 300 people on the waitlist, and were starting to open the doors for move ins," Hanna said.

Pontiac Mayor Mike McGuinness, who took office in January, said expanding access to housing is one of his top priorities.

"Not only is it breathing new life into a historic structure and breathing renewed investment into our downtown, but its also addressing a strong need that we have for people that live here, for people who want to come home here, and people who want to choose Pontiac as their home for the first time," McGuinness said.

Another apartment complex is set to open this summer. Developers Ronita Coleman and her husband are transforming Casa Del Ray on 111 Oneida Street, a nationally registered historic building from 1929, into 54 apartments.

"The major part is we have a shortage of housing, not just in the city of Pontiac but all over the country. So anything that can be restored and put people back in the position to have home should be first and foremost," Coleman said.

Beyond historic sites, new construction is underway on the city's northeast side. A five-story building known as Auburn Place will bring over 50 units to Pontiac next year. The project is led by Lighthouse, a nonprofit dedicated to alleviating poverty throughout the region.

"The entire building is actually permanent supportive housing to help those who have a chronic health condition, who are disabled, or who have faced chronic homelessness," Lighthouse Chief Philanthropy Officer Mary Riegle said.

City leaders hope these combined efforts will continue to bring new energy and investment to Pontiac.

"As Mayor, I want to keep trying to deliver those wins on housing for our downtown, for the neighborhoods, for all sectors. I want to keep moving forward and picking up the pace," McGuinness said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is starting a two-year, $10 million project to install sound barriers along Interstate 75 in Troy to bring relief to noisy neighborhoods.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: MDOT to being I-75 soundwall installation project

Starting Saturday, crews will install two sound walls along the northbound lanes of I-75. One wall will stretch from Wattles Road to Long Lake, and the other from Crooks Road to Coolidge Highway, covering a total of 2.7 miles.

Drivers can expect multiple lane closures this weekend as crews place temporary concrete barriers and implement a traffic shift.

"Really, the impact to drivers is going to be most felt in the initial steps, which begins tomorrow and probably will continue through the week, and maybe even next week, depending on weather and progress," MDOT spokesperson Rob Morosi said.

After those steps, drivers will have three lanes open during peak travel periods while crews set the foundation and build the noise barriers.

FULL INTERVIEW: MDOT's Rob Morosi talks about Troy soundwall project FULL INTERVIEW: MDOT's Rob Morosi talks about Troy soundwall project

For residents living near the highway, the hum and buzz of traffic fills the air.

"Im really excited. I think my house is one of the closest houses to the highway," Leon Zhou said. "In the backyard, even just regular conversation will be disturbed by the noise."

Zhou's next door neighbor has tried taking matters into their own hands, setting up green tarps in the backyard to absorb some of the noise.

"My dad came up with this temporary solution, which now turned out to be permanent," Apoorva Akalankam said.

Akalankam says her family came up with this idea three years ago when they were hosting her graduation party and wanted to find a way to address some of the highway noise.

"Theres our backyard, theres the road, and theres the highway, so theres two sets of traffic that were really dealing with," Akalankam said.

"Im glad that this project is finally coming up, and Im just hoping that other kids in the neighborhood that are affected by this arent growing up with highway noise around them," Akalankam said.

Troy Mayor Ethan Baker is advocating for residents who want sound walls but live in neighborhoods that do not meet the density requirements needed to install them.

"I have lobbied our federal representatives to look and see if theres something they can do at the legislative level to change the guidelines, but there hasnt been much action on that... But the bulk of people who needed one are getting one, and its a wonderful thing," Baker said.

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Spring is the perfect time to reset your home, whether that means switching out winter clothes for lighter wear or making bikes and sports equipment more accessible in the garage.

Andrea Wolf, founder of Organize Detroit, shared her top tips for keeping spaces sparkling clean all season long. Wolf, whose business has more than 500,000 followers across social media platforms, said when it comes to the closet, the first step is to declutter and donate what you no longer wear or need.

See the full story in the video below

Learn expert spring cleaning tips to declutter your closet, kitchen and mudroom

"The closet is where you start your day and where you end your day," Wolf said. "So to me, there's also a money aspect to it. If somebody's space in their closet is organized, you save money because you know what you have."

To maximize space, she recommends using drawer dividers to create separation for multiple categories. For a cohesive look, clothes should always face the direction you are looking at them.

"And when you have a double hanging, the easiest, most reachable space should be whats in season and is being worn the most," Wolf said.

She also noted that matching hangers keep clothing at the same level, making it easier to see options and put items away.

In the kitchen and pantry, Wolf said the first step is to throw away any stale or expired food.

"One of the areas is so prone to getting disorganized is the kitchen and the pantry," Wolf said. "Everybody has their hands in there, right?"

Taking individually wrapped items out of their bulky packaging helps you know exactly what you have.

"If youre not taking an inventory, youre overbuying, which creates disorganization and clutter," Wolf said.

For the mudroom, Wolf suggests moving bulky winter gear out of prime real estate and replacing it with items used most often during the spring.

"This is where youre rushing out the door," Wolf said. "This is where youre coming in and throwing stuff. So, this is an area where spring cleaning is so important. That means, decluttering, changing out all the winter stuff, really opening up that space.

Melissa Schiller, a client from Bloomfield Hills, said Wolf's tips have changed her family's life for the better.

"These have become habits over the years, and it makes it easy to not only find things but put things back," Schiller said. "And I feel like Ive been able to teach the kids how to create systems in their own bedrooms."

Organize Detroit is launching an 11-day spring organizing challenge featuring quick, bite-sized videos to help people get started. More information can be found here.

This story was reported onair by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

At Baldwin House Senior Living in Pontiac, seniors are the ones helping seniors. The community is home to more than a 100 residents, and 90% of the staff are older adults themselves.

One of those staff members is 75-year-old Sara MacAdam. She has been a server at the facility since 2017 and is also a nun.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: A woman's heart of gold to help others

"God put us on this earth to help each other, and without that, we don't survive, so Baldwin House is all about that. I'm just so grateful to have recovered and to be able to serve others," MacAdam said.

MacAdam, an avid cyclist, was hit by a car while riding her bike in 1995. A couple of years later, she suffered a bad fall.

"I actually couldn't walk for quite a while. My doctor said you're going to wind up in a nursing home. I was in a wheelchair, crawling on the floor," MacAdam said.

As she recovered and was searching for a job, her church connected her to Baldwin House Senior Living, and MacAdam got back on her feet. Because of her health, she does not like to drive, so she walks 1 mile to work and 1 mile back home every day.

"I'll admit, I'm a little hesitant to jump outside in the ice and snow, but once you get going it's fun, and the more exercise you do, the better you feel and the better your attitude," MacAdam said.

Belinda Tate Smith is the executive director of Baldwin Senior Living.

"Her positivity has rubbed off on all of us. Her strength, her determination is something for us to achieve, and it's something for us to aspire to," Smith said.

Tate says a majority of her staff, including her directors, are in their 60s and 70s, allowing them to connect with their residents on a deeper level.

"So it's easier for us to relate to our current population. It's much easier for them to relate to us," Smith said.

MacAdam works Monday through Friday, serving residents breakfast and her signature oatmeal. She says working has given her friends, family and purpose.

"It just took a lot of patience and a lot of prayer, and a lot of working and retraining," MacAdam said.

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More retirees are returning to the workforce to keep up with rising costs, stay busy, and give back to their communities.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report Detroit retirees are returning to the workforce to combat rising costs and give back to the community

After retiring from Ford in 2019, Bill Greer found himself wanting to do more. He connected with the Detroit Area Agency on Aging to figure out his next steps.

Yeah, after Covid, Im looking at people going to work and coming home, and I didn't have that... I knew there was something inside me, something left, something new that I wanted to explore, Greer said.

Greer previously worked in local television in Detroit for 15 years, doing camera and audio work before his career at Ford.

I knew I had a lot left in the tank, so to speak, so thats one of the reasons I pursued it, Greer said.

Greer now works part-time as a digital navigator at Saint Patricks Senior Center in Detroit, where he helps seniors improve their technology skills.

Lonnie Lacey of Detroit is one of the seniors learning from Greer.

I tell everyone Im a real-life Flintstone, but I want to become a Jetson, Lacey said.

Gwendolyn Taylor, a registered nurse from Macomb Township, attended this digital course as well.

Im 75 years old, so they didnt have computers, they didnt have cell phones. So, learning this makes it better for me because Im not good at the computers, Taylor said.

Rashonda Dawson works with the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) at the Detroit Area Agency on Aging. The program helps adults 55 and older gain training and employment.

We know employers now are looking for persons who have computer skills, just the basic computer skills, Dawson said. "We know the market is competitive because you have your younger generation that's out there as well. However, the one thing that I admire about the seniors is their dedication."

Dawson noted that many seniors are re-entering the workforce for financial reasons. But she says others "un-retire" for mental stimulation and social connections.

Supplemental income is No. 1, with the increase of groceries, and just day-to-day living, you know things have gone up, Dawson said.

The program has a 75-80 percent placement rate and partners with host sites across Detroit, including Saint Patrick's Senior Center. The program helped Greer find his current path, and he is now training to become a health worker thanks to the partnership between St. Pat's and Wayne State University.

I didnt know which way to go until I ran into the SCSEP program, and kind of helped me find my direction, Greer said.

For more information, individuals can contact the Detroit Area Agency on Aging directly at this link.

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Essential tremor is the most common movement disorder in America, but many people have never heard of it. For Mark Honeyman, the neurological condition made simple tasks like eating, drinking, and writing his own name daunting.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: Former English teacher finds new hope after brain surgery for essential tremor.

"I was 61 or so, and I was sitting at the kitchen counter, and I was trying to eat a bowl of cereal, and I couldnt get the spoon into my mouth," Honeyman said.

Honeyman first felt the symptoms of Essential tremor, which causes shaking of the hands, head, and voice, when he was 12 or 13 years old. Despite being on medication, his symptoms worsened over the years.

"I hope to make it to 90, 100 maybe, and I want to live, I dont just want to exist," Honeyman said.

Honeyman could not control the shaking until 2022, when he underwent Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery. The procedure took 6 to 7 hours and was followed by a battery placement in his chest and activating the device.

Dr. Danika Paulo, a functional neurosurgeon at Henry Ford Health, has performed many of these procedures and recently replaced the 3-year-old device in Honeymans chest.

"The reason I went into neurosurgery is, really, because the central nervous system is really so innate to our human functioning and how we interact with the world, and when that system is disordered, it can be really debilitating," Paulo said.

Paulo says ET is 6 to 7 times more prevalent than Parkinson's disease, affecting millions of people nationwide.

"I think what stood out to me about Mark is his infectious, positive energy and his enthusiasm about helping other people with this condition," Paulo said.

Before his surgery, Honeyman was an English teacher for 35 years. He retired from the Bloomfield Hills School District in 2019 after teaching more than 4,000 students, and I was one of them. He kept every yearbook and every note a student wrote him during his entire career.

As Essential Tremor Awareness Month comes to a close in March, Honeyman has become a voice for the essential tremor community. His story was picked up by a film crew and turned into a documentary called "Still Honeyman", which follows his journey and life-changing decision to undergo DBS.

"It has not only given my body back, but it has given the world back to me, where whatever it is that Im interested in doing, its available to me, and there are no limitations anymore," Honeyman said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Bloomfield Township leaders have placed a one-year moratorium on new backyard sports courts, hitting pause on permit applications as the popularity of pickleball brings noise and drainage concerns to residential neighborhoods.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: Bloomfield Township pauses new backyard sports courts over noise concerns

The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the moratorium 7-0 on Jan. 26. The pause does not affect residents who already have sports courts installed on their property.

Andrea Bibby, the townships planning, building, and ordinance director, said the township receives an average of two applications a month for the zoning board.

"We feel we could have better ordinances in place that better address some of the concerns. Some of the concerns have to do with the size of the courts, which means adding impervious surface to a property, which could increase some drainage concerns," Bibby said. "That's one aspect of it. Noise is another concern. Obviously, people are more aware now of the sound impacts of pickleball."

Previously, all sports courts had to go to the Zoning Board of Appeals for approval, which placed restrictions on location, size, lighting, fencing, and limited play to daytime hours.

Bloomfield Township Trustee Chris Kolinski spoke about the issue during the January meeting.

"The balancing of property rights as well as the impact of neighbors is kind of really important, right? I want our neighbors in our community to be able to invest in their properties. This is important to them, but how do we do that with minimal impact on our neighbors?" Kolinski said.

Bloomfield Township resident Wendy Kippleman turned her tennis court into a pickleball court about six years ago.

"They just lowered the net a little bit and put the yellow lines, and that was the extent of it, and we did that probably 6 years ago, I would say," Kippleman said.

Kippleman said she is mindful of her neighbors when hitting the courts.

"I'm pretty much aware of the noise concerns. So, we don't play very early in the morning. We don't play very late at night, so I've never had any complaints whatsoever," Kipplman said.

Other locals recognize the potential nuisance. Tim Manley of White Lake noted the loud pop of the pickleball.

"I dont know the solution, but I dont know, but I wouldn't be happy if my neighbor put a court right next to me," Manley said.

Gus Ploss of Clarkston highlighted the investment involved in building a court.

"With the growth of the sport, I know a lot of people that are doing it. Its expensive; its not a cheap process. And I think if you use natural colors, the greens, the blues representing grass or the sky, I mean, it really blends beautifully into our yard," Ploss said.

Township leaders plan to hold a study session with board members to gain feedback, survey residents, and hold a public hearing on draft language later this year.

"So this is just a pause, an opportunity to kind of take a look at the issues as well as look at other communities across the country and see how they are managing this common thing that's occurring within the township," Bibby said.

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Neighbors in Northville came face to face with state leaders Friday night to discuss the surge of data center proposals in Michigan.

From Southfield to Lyon Township, data center proposals are popping up all across Southeast Michigan. The goal of the town hall meeting, held at Northville High School, was to give the community a voice before any ground is broken on the massive facilities.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: State leaders discuss the surge of data center proposals in Southeast Michigan

The meeting was a chance for residents from all over metro Detroit to learn more about these hyper-scale centers, the resources they require and the impact they might have on consumers.

"Im a consulting engineer and I have many ideas on how data centers dont have to use as much electricity, as much gas or as much water as a lot of them are doing," Jim Newman said.

Newman was one of dozens of people to participate in the town hall hosted by Sen. Rosemary Bayer, who was joined by Attorney General Dana Nessel and state environmental leaders.

"What the challenge is helping people understand theyre really big. I mean, a regular data center is about a football field size. These are like 17 to 18 football fields one building. Think about that," Bayer said.

Not only are the facilities massive, but they also require a lot of energy to power and cool down servers. A data center in Saline Township, approved by energy regulators late last year, would require 1.4 gigawatts of energy. State leaders say that is equivalent to adding 1 million homes to the grid overnight.

Related video: Michigan Public Service Commission approves DTE contract for Saline Township data center project MPSC approves DTE contract for Saline Township data center project

"These data centers are probably coming one way or the other, so we might as well have as many guardrails so that we make sure we get this right so that the data centers that come to town, the centers arent going to affect our rates, theyre not going to affect our water and its going to protect Michigan ratepayers and taxpayers in the future," Nessel said.

Nessel said she is working to make sure there is full transparency and clear rules before more deals are approved, and keeping customers from paying for this new infrastructure through higher bills. Meanwhile, Bayer is working on legislation that aims to protect communities.

Related video: Google announces it's behind massive data center proposal in Van Buren Township Google announces it's behind massive data center proposal in Van Buren Township Google announces it's behind massive data center proposal in Van Buren Township

"I came here because its good to see thought leaders in our community and our elected officials trying to put a framework around and make it work for everyone because right now, its not sustainable and its not something that works," Christopher LaDuke said.

In January, the Northville City Council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data centers, halting the review of any data center applications.

Related video: Northville City Council unanimously approves 12-month data center moratorium Northville City Council unanimously approves 12-month data center moratorium

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A Detroit family says the process of getting a new sewage line through a city plumbing grant has been frustrating, leaving them with a messy yard and a separated driveway.

Evelyn Keathley, 76, applied for the city's Private Sewer Repair Program after experiencing several floods in her basement. The project started in July, and while the repairs have not cost the family anything, they quickly ran into issues.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: Detroit family frustrated by delays with city plumbing grant repairs

"Its been frustrating. Im not going to lie. Its been frustrating," Keathley said.

Evelyn's daughter, Tamika Keathley, said the company contracted to do the work left a pile of concrete in front of the home for weeks.

"The trash, it sat there for about over a month she got a ticket about that. Thats first and foremost," Tamika Keathley said.

The family contacted 7 News Detroit on Aug. 25, 2026, and we reached out to the city. The concrete was removed that same day.

"So they came and finally picked that up. Then they came and put the dirt in here and about another month later, they laid the sod. Was it quickly? No. But did it happen? It did," Tamika Keathley said.

In February, the family noticed another problem. The ground underneath their driveway had somehow separated.

"We werent looking because the snow was down, right, so you didnt see it until the snow melted, and we saw the concrete was up above the ground," Tamika Keathley said.

Rico Razo, the chief of Home Repair and Neighborhood Services for the Housing and Revitalization Department, explained the potential cause.

"I imagine it was a combination of the ground settling and the weight of the driveway and having a car on top of that," Razo said.

Tamika Keathley said they had a difficult time getting someone out to fix the driveway, so we called the city again. Crews arrived on Wednesday and filled the hole with sand.

"I don't think the sand is going to do the job," Tamika Keathley said.

We looked it up and found that sand is not a long-term structural solution because it can wash away. However, the city will return in April to do more work.

Razo said the city has serviced 1,200 homes through this grant program and has never had an issue like this.

"Whoever laid the concrete, I just want it laid properly, so she doesn't have to worry about it a year from now, two years from now. Concrete should last about 20 years before you start laying repairs," Tamika Keathley said. "When you come out to someones home to complete a task, you need to do it properly."

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A local rabbi is responding to Thursday's attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield by opening his synagogue's doors to anyone in the community seeking comfort, prayer or a place to gather.

Rabbi Aaron Starr, an 18-year veteran of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, said the synagogue will remain a welcoming space for all members of the Jewish community in the wake of the attack.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: Neighboring synagogue embraces community

Starr said Thursday was a day filled with anxiety, beginning with news that his own son was placed on lockdown at his school.

"This morning, I woke up angry, frustrated that we have to go through this, that our children have to go through this," Starr said.

Despite the fear, Starr said the events at Temple Israel also revealed something hopeful.

"What happened at Temple Israel yesterday shows that there are good people left in this world, that there are heroes, that we can stand up for ourselves, that we can protect ourselves," Starr said.

Congregation Shaarey Zedek has its own history with violence. On Feb. 12, 1966, a gunman opened fire during Saturday morning Shabbat services, killing a beloved rabbi.

"Sixty years and 1 month ago, a member of the synagogue murdered our beloved Rabbi, Rabbi Morris Adler, a blessed memory. So for 60 years, we know what it's like to experience a trauma in our sacred home," Starr said.

Starr said his response to hate has always been the same.

"Fear is a choice and we choose not to be afraid," Starr said. "I'm certainly hopeful. I'm hopeful that all of our security measures are in place."

Related video: Metro Detroit police boost patrols at houses of worship after West Bloomfield Temple Israel attack Metro Detroit police boost patrols at houses of worship after West Bloomfield Temple Israel attack

He said his doors are open to any families who need a space to gather, pray and find support, and that his message extends beyond the Jewish community.

"We respond to these kinds of situations, these sort of moments with prayer and with acts of kindness," Starr said. "I think also there's a message out there for our non-Jewish neighbors and friends that we would love their help to stand up against hate, to say that we will not tolerate violence against any religion, against any faith group and that we stand with each other."

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Jeanne Findlater became vice president and general manager of WXYZ-TV in 1979, making history as the first woman in the U.S. to lead a TV station in the top 10 markets Detroit was No. 7.

Now 97 years old, Findlater is reflecting on a career that spanned decades and left a lasting mark in broadcasting and beyond.

Watch the video report below: Former WXYZ GM Jeanne Findlater elected to Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame

"WXYZ-TV recruited me to come over there to produce their public affairs show. And while there, I just went to executive producer to assistant program director to program director, and finally to general manager," Findlater said.

Before joining WXYZ, Findlater worked at the Detroit Free Press and a PBS station in Detroit. She served as general manager of WXYZ from 1979 to 1987, using her platform to advocate for causes including fair housing, women's health issues and literacy.

"The most important thing of all to me in my career was 'Learn to Read' series," Findlater said.

Her literacy program was distributed to every ABC station in the country that chose to air it and was also used in prison programs to teach adults how to read. Findlater is also credited with launching popular programs including 'Good Afternoon Detroit' and 'Kelly & Company.'

Breaking barriers came with scrutiny, she said.

"I felt like a butterfly pinned to a board. Everything I did was examined, always evaluated, not just, was this a good decision but first, this is a woman who made the decision," Findlater said.

When asked what it was like to lead in a male-dominated industry, she kept her answer simple.

"You're given a job and you work as hard as you can do it," Findlater said. "I sort of operate on nature's principle: there's a vacuum, you fill it. If someone wasn't doing the job, I did it."

Mike Murri, WXYZ's longest-serving vice president and general manager, says Findlater led the station during the first five years of his career.

"And I can remember being in so many different meetings where Jeanne was really leading the way and leading the community, the Detroit community to do the right thing for so many different groups," Murri said.

"So, to be able to learn and see her and see her lead the way was truly an honor, and I feel like it shaped my entire career."

Those who know her say she treated her colleagues like family a sentiment Findlater echoes.

"People in the station liked me. I loved them," Findlater said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFfe8wm5fOE

In 2014, Findlater was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. She received the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Lifetime Achievement Award the following year. She will be inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame next month.

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The Archdiocese of Detroit is in the middle of a major restructuring effort that could result in church closures across southeast Michigan, as leaders grapple with declining attendance and a growing priest shortage.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: Archdiocese of Detroit speaks about restructuring effort

More than 200 priests gathered Tuesday at the Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit for what the Archdiocese is calling "Phase 2" of the restructuring effort.

The Archdiocese of Detroit was once home to more than a million Catholics, but that number is now closer to 900,000.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Restructuring the Archdiocese of Detroit Restructuring the Archdiocese of Detroit

There are currently 209 parishes across Southeast Michigan, but with attendance shrinking and a priest shortage projected to decline by 40% in the next few years, leaders say it is not enough to keep every parish open.

Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said the situation calls for a new approach.

"The way I look at it, it's just my personal analogy. I don't know that it's perfect, but if Detroit had 100 hospitals, but the same amount of doctors, nurses, and technicians, it would be awfully hard for us to keep people well in the medical world," Weisenburger said.

Weisenburger addressed hundreds of priests Tuesday as they met to discuss the future of the Archdiocese.

"When a church gets so small, a parish community is so small, what you don't realize anymore is, you're not experiencing community. So, it's kind of redirecting our energies and our efforts so that we can really go back to that mission of the church as opposed to just kind of maintaining buildings," Weisenburger said.

WEB EXTRA: Detroit Archbishop Edward Weisenburger speaks on restructuring plan for Archdiocese Detroit Archbishop Edward Weisenburger speaks on restructuring plan for Archdiocese

Father Mario Amore, Executive Director of the Department of Parish Renewal, said priests are now reviewing plans for each area of the diocese.

"So much of their time in January was focused on their specific planning area, but now they're going through each area and hearing what the models are for each of the parishes," Amore said.

Amore said the Archdiocese expects to move several priests across the diocese to serve the different pastorates, or groupings of parishes. Meaning a majority of Catholics could have a new priest by 2027.

Mark Justice, a parishioner at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, has served as an usher there for nearly 30 years. He said the uncertainty is weighing on his fellow parishioners.

"I'm feeling just what everybody else is feeling right now," Justice said. "People are nervous, people are scared, they don't know what's going to happen, but I also try and give them the other side as to the whys. Why is it necessary? We have some beautiful churches here in the Archdiocese, but they all cost in order to run."

As a way to keep parishioners informed, the Archdiocese is releasing workbooks online for all 209 parishes containing demographic and financial information. Travis Greer, Director of Pastoral Strategies, called the release a major milestone.

Read part of the workbook released by the Archdiocese:

Arcdiocese of Detroit Workbook_WXYZMarch3 2 by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit

"It's really a historic moment for the archdiocese. We've never shared this level of information publicly before, and it will be information that's available to all parishioners on March 4 on the restructuring.aod.org website," Greer said.

Parishioners will be able to review the information as the process moves forward. Each parish will host two listening sessions between April and June, and registration opens Saturday, March 14.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A globally recognized brand is celebrating a Detroit invention that put the world on wheels. LEGO Group has teamed up with Ford Motor Company to build the Model T.

Its a project that started a year ago, and the LEGO set officially comes out Monday.

Watch Jolie's piece in the video player below: LEGO & Ford create a Model T set honoring 'the car that changed the world'

A Ford archivist and LEGO enthusiast was able to work on this project thats right in his wheelhouse.

We always, always build with the kids. So, I missed the ability to build with the kids, so I just said, 'heck, I'm gonna start getting them myself,'" said Ted Ryan, archives and brand manager for the Ford Motor Company.

Ryan says it was his passion for LEGOs and his passion for Ford that brought this amazing project together.

Ive got the Colosseum and the Eiffel Tower and once you get the bug, it's, you just get it," he said.

LEGO and Ford have done a number of LEGO sets over the years, but he says the replica of a Model T is different.

In this particular case, the questions and the level of details that the designer was looking for it made me know that she was really invested in making the project exactly as perfect as it could be," said Ryan.

And to get it just right, Ryan flew to Billund, Denmark, LEGOs headquarters, where he met with the designers in person and shared original artifacts.

It was a one-of-a-kind, unique experience getting to be in the LEGO campus at LEGO Idea House, seeing a prototype of something that I'd only seen pictures of," he said.

From classic old school tires and rims to a folding cloth top, this 1,000+ piece LEGO set is highly detailed and historically accurate.

"The wheels were white because the tire manufacturers hadn't switched to dyeing or to creating black wheels, so they did that," he said.

Designers also included a gas tank, which was under the main seat back in the day.

The group that actually produced it within the LEGO Group is called the LEGO Icons Team. And so they're the ones that look for things in culture that are significant enough to turn into a LEGO set, and they chose the Model T because it's the car that changed the world," said Ryan.

It's a Detroit invention that's still celebrated in 2026, more than a century later.

It's putting the Model T back up on a pedestal that it rightly belongs to be on," he said.

A Siberian Husky stranded on ice near the Gordie Howe Bridge in Detroit was rescued by first responders after spending at least 24 hours in bitter cold temperatures, showing signs of hypothermia in its paws.

Two fishermen, Cedric Humphrey and his uncle Walter Cross of Detroit, spotted the 2-year-old dog Sunday around 8:30 a.m. while out on the water.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: Stranded dog rescued from Detroit River

The pair, who are part of group known as the Metro Detroit Walleye Stalkers, noticed the husky stuck on a sheet of ice in front of what appeared to be a culvert and immediately tried to help.

"It stood out... being a white dog with a black silhouette of a drainage tube behind it. It stood out like a sore thumb if you were pretty vigilant and you were looking," Humphrey said.

Cross said the discovery was almost accidental.

"We hit the river and we weren't catching anything, so we said let's go to another area and see if there's fish there. We were riding up river, and it was actually Cedric that spotted it," Cross said.

Humphrey said the dog did not appear aggressive, only frightened.

"It just looked more scared than anything. Uncertain of which way to go or what to do," Humphrey said.

The two attempted to reach the dog themselves but were unable to get close enough.

"Thought we were going to be able to pull up in there, but the pillars were too close together," Humphrey said. "and then there was part of a seawall that was under the water... that you couldn't see."

Cross then contacted his wife who called an emergency rescue group known as The Karens. Co-founder Chantal Rzewnicki and her team arrived on scene but could not access the culvert because it was fenced in.

"My guess is it probably jumped down when everything was frozen. Just over the last couple of days, it warmed up and kind of broke and now it's stuck," Rzewnicki said.

Rzewnicki contacted Michigan Humane, and first responders arrived Monday morning. The Detroit Fire Department deployed a ladder and crews attempted to coax the dog out of the tunnel with treats, but the dog was too scared to come out at first.

After a couple of hours, crews successfully got the dog out of the tunnel and up over the wall. Michigan Humane thanked everyone involved, saying the rescue is exactly why they train.

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Michigan Humane puts resources to work for those that need it the most. Thank you to those that were the voice for this dog. Collaboration got the job done. Thank you to Detroit Police Department, Detroit Fire Department, Detroit Animal Care and Control, and our dedicated rescue team, along with supporters who help make this work possible," Matt Pepper, Michigan Humane CEO and president, said in a statement.

It is still not clear how the dog ended up on the ice. For Humphrey and Cross, the experience reinforced a simple but important lesson.

"It could save your life, you could save someone else's life, a dog's life at that it pays off to be aware and vigilant while you're out and about not just on the water, but just in everyday travel" Humphrey said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Tuesday marks one year since a massive water main break devastated neighborhoods in Southwest Detroit, sending a wall of icy water rushing through streets, trapping cars, and flooding homes.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: Detroit's water main mess one year later

The disaster forced families from their homes, some with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

While the city says recovery has been remarkable, with nearly 100% of claims settled, some residents like Mike and Michelle Muzzey are still dealing with the aftermath.

"The container, look on the bottom shelf here. There's still water, there's still water," Mike Muzzey said, showing damage that persists in his home.

The Muzzeys say they're still wringing out water from their belongings one year later.

"I could not believe it was coming through the windows. I mean, my windows were sealed with caulk, and it still came through the windows," Mike Muzzey said.

The water main break damaged 200 homes in Southwest Detroit. For the Muzzey family, the flooding was devastating.

"We lost everything in our basement, I mean, there was nothing we could save in our basement. Nothing," Michelle Muzzey said.

Water rushed into their basement and rose all the way up to the eighth step of their stairs, destroying their furnace, water tank, pictures, and power tools.

PREVIOUS STORY: Streets of Southwest Detroit lined with dead, frozen cars after major flooding Streets of Southwest Detroit lined with dead, frozen cars after major flooding

"When we came outside, you couldn't see nothing out here, all the trash cans were gone. The water was halfway up my car, it was halfway up my husband's truck, so a lot of us lost our vehicles here," Michelle Muzzey said.

Dust and grime still cover many of Mike Muzzey's items from the flood damage.

Gary Brown, director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, said the break wasn't preventable.

"These 54-inch pipes are under pressure, there's water flowing through them, they're not easily accessible...and we expected this particular pipe to have another 50 years of life," Brown said.

Brown said the city has settled almost 100% of their claims, with only 2-3 claims remaining. He said every household affected is back in their home.

"I want to thank all of the residents who were affected. This was a horrible situation to be put through, I thank them for their patience," Brown said.

The city estimates the total cost of recovery and repairs at roughly $12 million, split among the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, the Great Lakes Water Authority, and the City of Detroit. Officials say they're keeping a close eye on aging infrastructure.

The Muzzey family says it's been a long road to recovery, but they're managing.

"We've pretty much gotten to a point where we've done some repairs...and I'm still kind of dealing with some of it," they said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A Livingston County mother has filed a lawsuit against rideshare company Lyft, alleging one of their drivers transported her 14-year-old daughter to a sexual predator who assaulted her.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, claims the incident occurred three years ago on February 13, 2023 when a man allegedly arranged a Lyft to pick up the teenager from her Brighton home and take her to his residence in Dearborn Heights.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: Brighton mother suing Lyft, says teen daughter was driven to sexual predator

The family claims he sexually assaulted her, gave her drugs and forced her to take nude photos.

"It's even hard for me to talk about it. It was surreal," said the mother, who is identified as "M.L" in the lawsuit. For the safety and privacy of her child, she asked to remain anonymous.

The mother says her daughter got into a Lyft to meet a man believed to be in his 20s. The two had met on Wizz, a Tinder-like dating app that was removed from Apple and Google stores in 2024 for safety concerns.

"I start calling her phone, trying to figure out where she is. I can see her moving on her Life 360, and Im like, where is she going? I think she was on the expressway heading towards Novi. At that point, I go into full blown panic mode, and then she shuts her phone off on me," the mother said.

The mother says she reached out to her daughter's friend who told her the teen was meeting a guy in Dearborn Heights. After calling local and state police, the mother says she repeatedly called Lyft to try and stop the ride but wasn't able to.

"The female driver even asked her if she was OK because clearly, she didn't look OK in the Lyft, and the female driver did nothing," the mother said.

She says she found her daughter hours later, after sending an alert to her phone that revealed her location.

The lawsuit claims policies were violated by driving an unaccompanied minor and failing to verify the passenger's age. The family's attorney, along with the mother who briefly drove for Lyft, says drivers can sometimes be punished for canceling rides.

"If a driver cancels a ride even once, they can be prohibited for weeks from doing another drive and potentially have their ability to be a driver terminated. So, what is a driver supposed to do," attorney Elizabeth Abdnour said.

Abdnour says her client is suing Lyft for violations of the TVPRA, or Trafficking Victim Protections Reauthorization Act, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

She adds the man has fled the country and is believed to be in Morocco. She says criminal charges have been filed and there's an active warrant for the man's arrest.

7 News Detroit reached out to Lyft on multiple occasions but haven't heard back. The family believes the assault could have been prevented if the driver had stepped in.

"I don't want this to ever happen again. There should be some sort of alert system or panic button. There's got to be something better," the mother said.

Both Lyft and Uber offer family profiles that allow parents to receive a notification the second a ride starts and track the car's movement in real time. You can also set it up so that a trusted contact, like a parents, must receive a unique pin before the ride can begin.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A Madison Heights family who found a missing 6-year-old boy with autism safe in their home is now receiving community support after their house sustained extensive water damage from the incident.

La'Bron Brinkley and his family discovered Johnathan in their upstairs bathtub filled with water after the boy wandered away from his home for hours on Feb 1. The child, who has autism and is nonverbal, had entered through their side door while the family was away.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: Community rallies to help family whose home was damaged after finding missing boy with autism

"I never experienced the idea of the community all coming together to find Johnathan, but even in this, they stepped in. There were random people that I've never seen, never known, different walks of life directly messaging me like, 'What can we do?'" Brinkley said.

The Brinkley family is now living in a Troy hotel after an inspector detected a concerning smell in their home. The water damage has made their house uninhabitable.

"Right now, we have no access to either bathroom, the ceiling of the basement caved, that and the walls are knocked down. We have blowers trying to dry out what's going on in the home. It's just ongoing and so we can't exactly stay there right now," Brinkley said.

The family initially thought the smell would dissipate after a few days, but it persisted.

"When they came out, they thought that the scent would eventually make us all sick and we should move on it right away," Brinkley said.

Previous coverage: 'He was sitting in this bath.' Neighbor describes finding missing boy inside his home 'He was sitting in the bath.' Neighbor describes finding missing boy in his home

Without access to their kitchen and belongings as well as family members looking after their dog, daily life has become challenging for the family of four.

"Food she (his wife) would normally cook, she can't cook right now. It's a lot of those dynamics that we're trying to fight our way through," Brinkley said.

Community members and strangers have rallied to help, raising nearly $5,000 for the family. Krista Skodak from Royal Oak was among those who contributed.

"The least we could do is try to help them when they need help when they were able to inadvertently help in such a big way," Skodak said.

The family's landlord is providing extra time to pay rent while they navigate their next steps. The total cost of repairs remains unknown as the water needs to dry completely before a full assessment can be made.

Despite the challenges, the Brinkley family remains grateful for the outpouring of support.

"This entire process has been tough, but God has held our hands," Brinkley said. "And I hope that people can see the miraculous works of God."

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Twenty dogs are getting a second chance at life thanks to Bark Nation, a nonprofit dedicated to saving dogs from difficult situations.

The organization recently took in the animals from The Devoted Barn, a rescue that has faced legal troubles. The Devoted Barn's owner, Melissa Borden, is currently serving six months in jail for animal cruelty and abandonment in a case involving other animals including pigs, llamas and goats.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report below: Volunteers help give dogs a second chance

"We had known about these dogs and their situation and all the animals, but didn't know when exactly we'd be able to step in and honestly, the pieces just came together," said Marissa Gregg, operations director at Bark Nation.

The rescue happened after Bark Nation reached out to The Devoted Barn volunteers.

"One day, we were just like 'what if?' We sent an email and the next day, a volunteer called and was thrilled that we had reached out. You know, they were so hopeful, but it's also unlikely that an organization would be able to take all the dogs," said Jenna Hudy, shelter coordinator at Bark Nation.

In just two weeks, Bark Nation has provided the senior dogs with medical and behavioral treatment. The organization has also partnered with training centers like K9 Turbo in Ferndale to prepare the animals for new homes.

"We pretty much uprooted one whole side of our shelter and we just planned for the worst and hoped for the best, and it has honestly exceeded and blown us away at how resilient these dogs have been," said Christina Babcock, a staff member and volunteer.

Previous coverage: Animal sanctuary owner sentenced to 6 months in jail, restitution for cruelty to pigs, llamas, goats Owner of animal sanctuary sentenced to 6 months in jail, restitution for cruelty

The Devoted Barn responded to our request for comment, stating in part:

"Our volunteers decided this was the best decision for everyone involved. Our volunteers partnered with the Bark Nation team to ensure our dogs had everything they needed for a seamless move to their facility. While it was so difficult to see their time with our rescue end, we are excited that our dogs have the chance to meet many new people and potentially find foster homes when they are ready."

Chelsea Murphy of Harrison Township is hoping to adopt one of the rescued dogs.

"It's really like I feel honored to be able to help one of them to become a happy house dog," Murphy said. "I think that it's that moment when they trust. There's a moment where you can tell almost a little switch flips in their head, you know. You're just this person that feeds them and cleans up after them to like there's a bond there."

While none of the dogs have been placed in homes yet, Bark Nation says adoptions will begin as soon as next weekend.

"This piece is just one little step in the next part of their journey, and it's huge to be able play a part in that," Gregg said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Faye Baker is breaking barriers in Warren as the city's only Black female home developer, turning her passion for homeownership into a mission to help families build wealth and create brighter futures.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: Woman developer is breaking barriers by building in Warren

The Detroit native discovered her calling at age 21 when she purchased her first home.

"I had one son at the time. I just so happened to look down the street, and I saw a home for sale, and I thought, " Wow, how does that work?" Baker said.

After going through the homebuying process, Baker realized the transformative power of homeownership.

"Understanding finance and housing, I felt like if it could change my life, it could change everyone's life," Baker said.

Today, Baker serves as the CEO and president of Baker & Associates and leads the Empowerment and Development Housing Resource Center, a nonprofit offering free services including homebuyer education, credit coaching, and financial literacy programs for families.

But Baker's impact extends beyond education she's actively building homes too.

"I acquire raw land and develop it into housing," Baker said.

Currently, Baker is developing 20 modular homes in Warren, with three already completed, and plans to finish the remaining homes by summer.

Her work has transformed lives like that of Tannisha Hurd, who grew up in low-income housing. With Baker's guidance, Hurd and her husband purchased their first home in 2014 for around $80,000, later selling it for nearly four times that amount in 2022 and moving into a $400,000 house in Macomb Township.

"I didn't think it was possible, and when I realized that it was, I was happy, blessed, thankful to be able to do that," Hurd said.

For Baker, homeownership represents more than just property ownership it's about generational change.

"I have a passion for homeownership. So, whatever it takes to get you from A to Z, that's what I do," Baker said. "That is how you change your life, and the life of your kids."

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.