Morning 4 is a quick roundup of stories we think you should know about to start your day. So, let’s get to the news.
Window of historic Howell Opera House damaged in storms
Storms tore through downtown Howell Saturday night, prompting organizers of Howell’s annual Melon Festival to cancel part of the night’s activities.
The storms sent festival attendees and vendors ducking for cover inside local businesses.
“Everybody was running for cover,” said Michael Qualls, a manager of Howell’s Mainstreet Winery. “A lot of people came into the winery and we just welcomed them in and just waited until it blew through.”
The wind gusts blew out a front window of the historic Howell Opera House. Built in 1881, the opera house is a three-story historic landmark and one of the area’s oldest buildings.
Passengers stuck on Amtrak train from Chicago to Dearborn for hours with no AC
Passengers were trapped on an Amtrak train for hours after the train broke down due to mechanical issues near Battle Creek Friday night.
In a statement, Amtrak confirmed the train encountered a mechanical issue near the Battle Creek station around 7:15 p.m. After troubleshooting and not resolving the issue, the company said substitute buses were secured and arrived around 11:45 p.m. to take customers to their destinations.
Diandria Bell of Westland had traveled to Chicago for the Tigers game against the Chicago White Sox earlier in the week. She was taking the Amtrak train from Chicago to the Dearborn station when it broke down.
‘Inherently dangerous’: Why Coast Guard is warning against Port Huron Float Down
The annual Port Huron Float Down is happening on Sunday, and U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards are warning the risks for those participating in the event.
On the third Sunday in August of each year, people come together from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. to swim or sit on floats along the St. Clair River.
The Port Huron Float Down is expected to happen on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025.
Family mourns woman killed while refueling car in I-696 hit-and-run
A Warren woman has confessed to a hit-and-run crash that killed 28-year-old Nateria Smith of Madison Heights, who was stopped on the shoulder of I-696 to refuel her car, after police said they had to hunt her down.
Smith’s mother, Neferteri Smith, said her daughter was “a beautiful angel inside and out” and that she wants the driver “prosecuted to the fullest.”
Police said Meaghan Hamilton, 36, hit and killed Smith around 1:15 a.m. Sunday on I-696 near Hoover Road. Smith’s vehicle had run out of gas, and she was adding fuel when she was hit. She was pronounced dead at Ascension Macomb Oakland Hospital in Warren.
Weather: Chances for showers & storms; cooler temperatures move into Metro Detroit for Sunday
After a dry start to the day on Saturday, there were a few scattered showers and thunderstorms in some areas of Metro Detroit. A few of those thunderstorms were strong to severe, leaving behind some wind damage, hail, and heavy rainfall in portions of Livingston and Washtenaw counties. Chances of showers and thunderstorms remain in the forecast for the end of the weekend on Sunday, but we are not looking for any severe weather throughout the day.