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.
Feds: Detroit-area trio tied to $450K pandemic fraud scheme
Three metro Detroit women are accused in a conspiracy that federal investigators said pumped more than $450,000 in suspected fraudulent pandemic benefits out of Michigan’s unemployment system.
In a federal complaint and arrest warrant unsealed April 22, 2026, investigators said it all started with an online “digital footprint:” an internet address tied to a home in Eastpointe.
99-year-old from Metro Detroit nearly fooled by fake IRS letter. Here’s how her daughter spotted the scam
At 99-years-old, Katherine Leaphart says she’s blessed to be here every day. Retired since 1991 after working for the department for corrections, she leads a simple, quiet life at a senior living facility in Allen Park.
“I have a niece who says she wants to be like me,” she said on Wednesday. “She wants to be retired longer than she worked.”
Last week, a letter arrived, seemingly from the IRS, saying that it needed her bank account information to further process a tax refund.
7 Michigan properties listed on National Register of Historic Places so far in 2026
This year, seven properties in Michigan have already been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The National Register of Historic Places is an official list of historic buildings, structures, districts and objects deemed worthy of preservation by the federal government due to their historical significance. It’s a National Park Service program that is administered by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
Grosse Pointe Park attorney pasted family members’ faces onto child porn photos, prosecutor says
A Grosse Pointe Park attorney used photos of family members’ faces and pasted them onto child porn pictures to view and share with others, according to prosecutors.
Nelson Otto Ropke, 41, of Grosse Pointe Park, was arraigned on 26 felony counts on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
Weather: Stretch of sunshine continues in Metro Detroit before showers, thunderstorms arrive Friday
Try to make some time to get outside and enjoy another beautiful day of sunshine and seventies. We will be mostly dry today with an isolated shower or thunderstorm chance west of I-75/US-23.
The stretch of 70s rolls on through Friday. However, widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected to arrive in the afternoon and evening tomorrow. Large hail and damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph will be the main threats. Pockets of heavy rainfall will also lead to the potential of ponding on the roads and minor flooding of low-lying areas.