UTICA

Metro Detroit’s United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL) is kicking off their season Friday at Jimmy John’s Field, and JJ the Field General is ready to show off his skills.

Shelby Township police shut down Schoenherr Road after a car crashed into an electrical police.

A soldier from Metro Detroit has returned home from Europe for the first time in two years, and decided to surprise her siblings while they were at school.

It’s one of only three recreational dispensaries in the city

Here are this morning's top stories.

That video has gone viral and has been seen more than 50 thousand times since it was posted Wednesday (Feb. 9) night.

Here’s what is coming up on Local 4 News at 11:

When planning his proposal to his girlfriend, the boyfriend of a Macomb County teacher solicited some helping hands -- several little helping hands.

Utica police are searching for a man accused of stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of electronics, they said.

Most scores are reported through the Associated Press and the MHSAA. To add your missing score, email japurcell@mlive.com with the results. BOYS BASKETBALL SCORESBloomfield Hills Brother Rice 78, Detroit Renaissance 73Ferndale 65, Rochester Adams 44Oak Park 66, West Bloomfield 53Rochester Hills Stoney Creek 52, Utica Ford 27Saginaw 61, Romulus 53Salem 57, Walled Lake Central 51POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONSBloomfield Hills vs. Utica, ccd. Gabriel Richard Catholic vs. Detroit Osborn, ccd. GIRLS BASKETBALL SCORESNo reported scores.

A 48-year-old Utica school bus driver is facing several charges after police say her bus crashed with dozens of students onboard.

A Utica school bus driver was arraigned on drunk driving charges Monday after her bus crashed with dozens of students onboard.

Police said a Utica Community Schools bus driver was arrested on Tuesday after her bus was found off the road where it struck a street sign.

A Utica Community Schools bus driver was arrested Tuesday after her bus was found off the road where it struck a street sign in Sterling Heights.

The big winner of 4Frenzy Marching Band 2021 is Utica High School’s marching band! What drives their success and passion?

Local 4′s Nick Monacelli teamed up with Utica Community Schools (UCS) to test drive one of their buses -- and he found that it wasn’t too difficult.

A federal jury in Utica, New York, convicted a New York couple and their son today for conspiring to defraud the United States and for tax evasion. John, Helen and Dimitrios Zourdos were each convicted of one count conspiracy to defraud the United States, seven counts of tax evasion, and seven counts of aiding and assisting in the filing of false corporate tax returns. All face a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count of conspiracy and tax evasion, and three years in prison on each count of assisting the filing of false tax returns. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman of the Northern District of New York made the announcement. Assistant Chief John N. Kane of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.

The following scores are collected from either the Michigan High School Athletic Association or the Associated Press. These are score from Friday, Oct. 15, or Week 8 of the football season. Adrian Madison 60, Dearborn Advanced Tech Academy 0Allen Park 38, Trenton 0Allen Park Cabrini 34, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes 13Brownstown Woodhaven 43, Southgate Anderson 7Clarkston 33, Birmingham Groves 8Clarkston Everest Collegiate 27, Royal Oak Shrine Catholic 13Clinton 43, Onsted 6Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 49, Utica 21Clinton Township Clintondale 34, Detroit University Prep Science & Math 0Dearborn 13, Dearborn Fordson 10Dearborn Heights Crestwood 27, Garden City 14Detroit U-D Jesuit 29, Pinckney 13Detroit Voyageur College Prep 1, Harper Woods Chandler Park 0Ferndale 14, Pontiac 6Fraser 29, Grosse Pointe North 12Gibraltar Carlson 35, White Lake Lakeland 28Grosse Pointe South 42, Warren Mott 0Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse 27, Warren Woods Tower 6Haslett 16, Dearborn Divine Child 3Lake Orion 35, Birmingham Seaholm 6Lutheran Westland 29, Burton Bendle 6Macomb Lutheran North 42, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard 0Marine City 63, Warren Lincoln 0Milford 31, South Lyon East 7New Baltimore Anchor Bay 21, Utica Eisenhower 17Novi 31, Northville 9Oxford 33, Rochester 14Plymouth 7, Salem 0Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 54, Flint Beecher 0Redford Union 34, Melvindale 14Riverview 52, Grosse Ile 14Rochester Adams 40, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek 20Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest 12, Burton Bentley 0Romeo 54, Port Huron Northern 7South Lyon 28, Waterford Mott 6St Clair Shores Lake Shore 36, Eastpointe 0St Clair Shores South Lake 14, Hazel Park 6Sterling Heights 1, Warren Cousino 0Sterling Heights Stevenson 42, Utica Ford 7Taylor 18, Lincoln Park 0Traverse City Central 56, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 13Troy 10, Berkley 7Troy Athens 41, Detroit Renaissance 6Walled Lake Western 42, Waterford Kettering 13Warren De La Salle Collegiate 47, Harper Woods 26Warren Michigan Collegiate 22, Romulus Summit Academy North 0West Bloomfield 30, North Farmington 16Wyandotte Roosevelt 19, Dearborn Edsel Ford 7

After getting a win over crosstown rivals Grosse Pointe North earlier in the week, the Blue Devils volleyball team was looking to stay undefeated in MAC White

With the cost of used vehicles at an all time high, and with production of new vehicles nearly halted, people are investing in their current car amid the pandemic.

Two people were shot and injured during a shooting at the Spring Hill Apartment Complex in Shelby Township that happened at 6:50 p.m. on Saturday.

Sources tell Local 4 two people were shot Saturday night inside Spring Hill Apartments in Shelby Township, near Utica.

Police are looking for anyone who may have seen a man who is accused of using a cell phone to look into a teenager’s fitting room at a clothing store.

A man is facing charges after he allegedly slid a cellphone underneath the door of the changing room, taking a photo of a teenage girl trying on clothes at Plato’s Closet on Hall Road in Utica.

Here are this morning's top stories.

An elected official is on the wrong side of the law once again.

A national barbecue chain that bills itself as "The Masters of Meat" is heading to the Detroit area. Smokey Bones plans to open a location...

“We’re hoping this is going to be a short-term thing,” said Utica Police Department chief Sean Coady. “Maybe a week or so.”

Emergency work begins Friday morning at one of the busiest intersections in Metro Detroit.

Enjoy all of the best parts of summer in one special camp out night.

The USPBL, which started spring training Tuesday, will open its sixth season May 28 with about 1,000 fans in the stands. The league hopes to see sellouts again by season's end.

And this year in Michigan, that meant being tricked into believing spring had arrived because several cities in southeast Michigan saw a decent amount of snow overnight. According to the National Weather Service, some communities saw snowfall including in Lapeer where 2.5 inches of snow accumulated. Other notable snowfall totals include Troy (1.5 inches), Utica (1.4 inches), Cass City (1 inch) and Grosse Pointe Farms (1 inch). West Michigan should expect isolated snow flurries throughout the day. “These brief bursts of snow will end by this afternoon, and most areas will not see any accumulation on ground.”

Utica man charged with animal torture after video shows him throwing French bulldogDETROIT – A Utica man has been charged with animal torture after he was shown on video throwing an 11-month-old French bulldog through the air twice. 4 Fast FactsBe InformedNew mandate calls for increased COVID testing of Michigan student athletesThe Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is mandating COVID-19 testing for student athletes. The health department believes the latest spike in coronavirus cases might be related to the reopening of high school sports. AdMDHHS raises stadium capacity to 20% ahead of MLB Opening DayThe Michigan Department of Health and Human Services raised stadium capacity Friday. There was already a lot of anticipation for the April 1 Opening Day game.

UTICA, Mich. – A Utica man has been charged with animal torture after he was shown on video throwing an 11-month-old French bulldog through the air twice. Police said once they found the dog they realized that she had been abused for much longer than they originally thought. The dog, Nugget, is expected to be OK.“Obviously it’s shocking once you see it. It’s shocking emotionally,” Sean Coady with the Utica Police Department said. Then it shows her owner storm after her, he comes into view and then he throws her again.

UTICA, MI – Two men bumped into each other inside a Dave & Buster’s on Wednesday, leading to a fistfight and an attack with a pickup truck, WXYZ Detroit reports. The men were asked to leave the restaurant after punches were thrown, the TV station reports. The dispute continued outside when one of the men drove a white pickup truck at a group of men walking next to the building. The vehicle pinned two men against the wall. There may be rust over the wheel well on the front passenger side of the suspect white pickup truck, which may be a GMC, police said.

UTICA, Mich. – Police are searching for a driver who nearly killed a person after a fight at a Dave & Buster’s in Utica Wednesday night. Witnesses in the parking lot of the Dave & Buster’s captured a man behind the wheel of a white pickup slam into another man along the side of the building. Police said the hit-and-run started inside when the driver and the victim got into an argument after bumping into one another. AdOne of the images Utica police released of the driver has him with a woman, two children and an infant in a stroller. And hopefully I can solve this case and bring this guy justice.”Police said Dave & Buster’s is cooperating with them and that the event center’s management originally asked to two men to leave after the argument.

UTICA, Mich. – Investigators in Utica are searching for a driver who nearly killed a person after a fight at Dave & Buster’s. One of the men told the other he would be waiting for him in the parking lot. Once outside, the suspect got into a pickup truck and drove straight at the other man, crashing and pinning him up against the restaurant’s brick wall. You can clearly see the driver accelerate and make a hard left turn, intentionally hitting and pinning the person against the wall. The woman who recorded the video can be heard screaming, “He hit them, he hit them!

UTICA, Mich. – A garage in Utica burned to the ground shortly after a man broke into the garage and stole bags filled with items. The incident was caught on surveillance video. The surveillance video isn’t completely clear, but it does show that the fire likely wasn’t an accident. Investigators said a man parked his car, walked down the road and broke into the garage on Feb. 18. Later the garage caught fire and burned down.

UTICA, Mich. – The Utica Community Schools (UCS) district said it is “leveraging partnerships” to increase the availability of vaccines to its staff while it moves toward more in-person instruction amid the coronavirus pandemic. Partnerships with the Sterling Heights Fire Department and Henry Ford Medical Center allow district staff additional opportunities to register to receive the vaccine, the district said in a news release Thursday. The district is also working with local pharmacies including Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Meijer and Kroger to increase availability of vaccines for staff. The remaining K-12 students are scheduled for an increase of in-person learning the week of March 15. Eligibility for district staff to receive COVID-19 vaccinations was opened on Jan. 11.

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – High school students within the Utica Community Schools district returned to in-person classes this week amid the COVID pandemic. We spoke to some of them in Sterling Heights to learn how the return is going -- watch the report above. Michigan high schools were allowed to resume in-person learning on Monday, Jan. 4 as a part of Michigan’s revised COVID-19 order issued before the holiday break in December. On Dec. 18, 2020, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued a revised version of the order, which will be in effect until Jan. 15. More: Return To School newsGetting vaccine in MacombFor Macomb County residents make a vaccination appointment, call 586-463-8777, Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.Online appointments can also be made at Macombgov.org/covidvaccine.

UTICA, Mich. – Here’s a look at what students and teachers should expect when returning to in-person learning at high schools within the Utica Community Schools district. Watch the video above. Michigan high schools were allowed to resume in-person learning on Monday, Jan. 4 as a part of Michigan’s revised COVID-19 order issued before the holiday break in December. On Dec. 18, 2020, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued a revised version of the order, which will be in effect until Jan. 15. More: Return To School newsGetting vaccine in MacombFor Macomb County residents make a vaccination appointment, call 586-463-8777, Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.Online appointments can also be made at Macombgov.org/covidvaccine.

UTICA, Mich. – A Macomb County high school isn’t letting the COVID-19 pandemic stop them from spreading Christmas cheer. Choir students from Eisenhower High School in Utica managed to perform a Christmas classic together virtually. “I kind of expected it because, you know, we weren’t going into second semester already,” senior Carson Dietz said. “I was pretty bummed because I wanted to sing a specific song this year.”It’s bittersweet for some of the senior choir students who are missing out on their annual Christmas concert. “I wanted to create something that at least kind of makes a memory for these kids,” Holt said.

With far fewer shoppers heading to malls this year, a toy store at Lakeside Mall decided to move their business elsewhere. The Toy Box opened a new store across the street from the mall -- but for the first few weeks it was open, they did not do so well. By adapting with the times and offering more personalized services amid the pandemic, however, the store owners were able to find success. Watch the full story in the video player above.

UTICA, Mich. – Utica Community Schools will continue to have students learn remotely through Jan. 15, 2021. School leaders hope to transition students back to classrooms beginning Jan. 19, 2021. “There are no easy answers, and we respect that the pandemic can be the source of strong opposing views. It is important we continue to work in partnership with respect and a commitment to our students,” Interim Superintendent Robert S. Monroe said. Michigan officials announced Sunday that in-person learning will be shut down for college and high school classes for three weeks due to COVID-19.

The 2020 General Election will be held on November 3. (Note: Due to an increase in mail-in voting, clerks are expecting delayed results, up to multiple days. Live results: Michigan General Election Results for Nov. 3, 2020 Find Race ResultsFind more election results and news on the Decision 2020 page. 🌟 Become an Insider 🌟Introducing WDIV Insider: A new way for loyal Local 4 fans to gain access and customize your ClickOnDetroit news experience. Learn more about WDIV Insider - and sign up here!

Here are a few businesses and organizations that were honorable mentions YOU nominated in our special Vote 4 The Best ‘Editors Pick’ edition. 14 women owned businesses in Metro Detroit:(The above were selected from nominations in Editors Pick, NOT from winners of the main V4TB contest. Editors Pick is different from our main Vote 4 The Best contest. Other Vote 4 The Best picksOur Sponsor -- We’d like to thank Wallside Windows for their longtime sponsorship of Vote 4 the Best and their support of southeast Michigan’s local businesses. Learn more about WDIV Insider - and sign up here!

Utica High School football is the first team in Michigan to forfeit the rest of its season because of coronavirus within the program, according to various sources. A tweet appeared Wednesday night on The Tribe’s twitter page, alluding to the Utica football season being over, thanking the players for their efforts this season. On Thursday, the scheduled game between Utica and Sterling Heights this week was removed from the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s website. Sterling Heights athletic director Steven Schiesel told MLive that it is not taking a forfeit win over Utica, instead accepting a no-contest. Sterling Heights (0-5) has already reached eligibility for the playoffs.

It was a banner weekend for the Romeo cross country program as its boys and girls teams each earned Macomb County team championships on Friday and Saturday, respectively. On Friday, the Romeo boys scored an impressive 27 points, well ahead of the 83 points Utica scored as runner-up. In the girls race, Romeo collected 42 points for the victory, less than half of the 89 points collected by Utica in second place. Sophomore Madison Clor led the way for Romeo with a second-place finish and a 5-kilometer time of 19:23.7. L’Anse...334 9 Steven Breger 32:46.0 Roseville335 10 Ryan Rudd 32:46.4 Warren Cousino336 9 Christian Caldwell 33:08.9 Harrison Twp.

The rollercoaster football season continues for the Macomb L’Anse Creuse North football team as it has confirmed it will be canceling its Week 3 game because one of its players has tested positive for the coronavirus. “We’re shut down,” said L’Anse Creuse North coach Pat Dailey. The night before L’Anse Creuse North was scheduled to play Week 1, it scheduled Oxford and played them a day later. Because Mott was able to reschedule an opponent, L’Anse Creuse North will not be charged with a forfeit this week. L’Anse Creuse North has requested a number of football players to stay in quarantine until at Oct. 8, the day before L’Anse Creuse North’s Week 4 game against Anchor Bay.

The Grosse Pointe South boys soccer team pulled off a miracle last week, beating visiting Utica 2-1 when senior Ryan Caldwell scored with only three seconds left in the game. With the focus on the one player and the clock ticking down to 0:00, Caldwell was all alone when the ball came his way. He tapped the ball into the back of the goal to win the game. It was 1-0 South for most of the game. It remained a 1-0 game until the Chieftains tied it with only 4:22 left in the second half.

UTICA – The remote start to school has been tough for most parents, even more so for Kristin Rosales who has twin girls in first grade and a son in fifth grade. Rosales learned her district -- Utica Community Schools -- is bringing students back, starting with kindergarten, first grade and special education students. “I was very excited when we got the email today (Friday) that we are going to start with K-1 going back. Tim McAvoy from the school district said the district has a plan and is sticking to it. This phase also includes middle school athletics and starts next week.

UTICA, Mich. – After months of waiting and preparing for the season opener, the Utica High School football team’s first game was canceled after a player was exposed to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outside of school, officials said. Friday was supposed to be the season opener for the Utica Chieftains on their home turf. “We had high hopes this season was a go, and then a player got COVID-19,” quarterback Brett Berg said. It could happen to any player, person.”Since the team couldn’t practice, district officials had to cancel the season opener against L’anse Creuse North. That’s better than canceling the entire season.”Officials with the Michigan High School Athletic Association mandate 12 practices before the first game.

UTICA, Mich. A Metro Detroit Catholic priest got an unwelcome and startling bit of news earlier this month. After emailing the question to one of his seminary instructors about the situation the word came back it was invalid. Because the deacon who did the baptism did not use the properly approved words the rest of the priests spiritual life has been deemed non-existent. But in a couple of weeks time the Archdiocese of Detroit saw to it that he received all the sacraments officially. Anyone concerned about their own personal situation is encouraged to contact the Archdiocese of Detroit.

UTICA, Mich. – Utica Community Schools will be offering a remote classroom with the option to transition to in-person learning and a 100 percent online virtual academy. READ: More return to school coverageThe UCS Virtual Academy is a completely online program taught by UCS teachers. If a student in the virtual academy wants to return to the classroom, they will be assigned to the school in their attendance area. Class days at the virtual academy will follow traditional daily school schedules and calendar. Click here for more information about the virtual academy

UTICA, Mich. Families who want their Utica Community Schools students to return to school completely virtually can now register. The full virtual academy is offered through Utica Community Schools. The academy is completely online and open to families seeking a full virtual option for their children this fall. The UCS Virtual Academy will provide the high standards of quality instruction and support that our community expects and will be delivered by a UCS highly qualified teacher, Superintendent Dr. Christine Johns said. Officials said students who enroll in the academy will get a district-owned device.

UTICA, Mich. A quick-thinking Utica police officer put his safety on the line by cutting off innocent drivers to get in between them and a wrong-way driver. Officer Jack Currie responded to a wrong-way driver early Tuesday morning on Hall Road in Utica. He said he knew he had time to put himself between that driver and the innocent people heading toward him. Youre trying to intervene and come in between them.Dashcam video shows 20-year-old Lauren Kelsch didnt see the wrong-way driver heading toward her. I just wanted to thank the police officer, Kelsch said.

UTICA, Mich. – The superintendent of Utica Community Schools has announced she’s retiring this fall. “I’m 100% confident that we will do as good a job as is humanly possible under these circumstances,” said Utica School Board president Bob Ross. “I think it’s been time for a new leadership, so I’m looking forward to better collaboration with between the Association and the district,” said Utica Education Association president Liza Parkinson. “There was a tremendous amount of friction between the Utica Education Association and the superintendent,” Parkinson said. The school board said they’ll hire an interim superintendent for the upcoming 2020-21 school year while they begin a nationwide search for Johns’ replacement.

Krispy Kreme is bringing back its three Reeses doughnuts, and youll be the judge to determine which is the best. #KrispyKremeTry Classic, #Outrageous & #OriginalFilled Chocolate lovers now -> Aug 16! The Classic (Reeses Doughnut of the Year in 2017): Filled with Reeses Peanut Butter Kreme, dipped in Hersheys chocolate icing, topped with mini peanut butter chips and a drizzle of chocolate and Reeses peanut butter sauce. The Outrageous (Reeses Doughnut of the Year in 2018): An original glazed chocolate doughnut dipped in Hersheys chocolate icing, topped with Mini Reeses Pieces and a drizzle of salted caramel and Reeses peanut butter sauce. The Original Filled, Chocolate Lovers (Reeses Doughnut of the Year in 2019): A chocolate original glazed doughnut lled with Reeses Peanut Butter Kreme, dipped in Hersheys chocolate icing and topped with Reeses peanut butter sauce.

UTICA, Mich. A suspect has been arrested following an altercation in Macomb County between restaurant staff and a customer after the customer was asked to wear a face covering. A man allegedly assaulted a manager and bartender at Black Rock Bar & Grill in Utica on July 10 after being asked to put on a face mask to comply with their coronavirus (COVID-19) safety protocols. The suspect in question entered the restaurant with a group of eight more people -- none of them complying with social distancing or face covering requirements, officials said. When the group headed to the bar, staff asked the group to return to the lobby and put on face masks. Most of the group complied, but one man became infuriated and began verbally assaulting the female staff members.

UTICA, Mich. Police are investigating after a man assaulted two workers at Black Rock Bar & Grill in Utica on July 10. The group headed to the bar, four of them didnt have masks on and did not socially distance themselves. When they were told they could not be at the bar and asked to return to the lobby and put masks on, most complied. READ: Deputy fatally shoots Michigan man wanted for stabbing customer during mask argumentOne member of the group didnt comply and instead, became belligerent. The man is accused of punching that manager and a bartender when they asked him to leave after he repeatedly refused to put a mask on.

Heres whats coming up on Local 4 News at 11:Man punches workers at restaurant after being asked to put mask onPolice are investigating after a man assaulted two workers at Black Rock Bar & Grill in Utica on July 10. Officials said a group of nine people came into the restaurant that night and ignored all the coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols that it has in place.

UTICA, Mich. Two teenagers and a grandmother were rushed to nearby hospitals after a freak incident in Utica involving a woodworking art project and microwave parts. Utica police said the incident happened on the Fourth of July outside an apartment building near 21 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue. Utica police Chief Sean Coady said an 18-year-old man has extensive electrical burns to his lungs and is in a medically induced coma. In the Utica case, a father, his son and the sons girlfriend were using a transformer taken out of a microwave. His grandmother also ran over to help and was shocked, officials said.

UTICA, Mich. – On Monday a contract agreement was ratified between Utica Community Schools and the Utica Education Association. The new agreement with the 1,450 UCS teachers runs through June 30, 2022. The Director of School and Community Relations Tim McAvoy released the following statement:"Today, a contract agreement was ratified between Utica Community Schools (UCS) and the Utica Education Association (UEA). The new agreement with the 1,450 UCS teachers runs through June 30, 2022 and provides stability for the school district, allowing them to focus on the needs of their students. Across our community, teachers, staff members, and district leaders have embodied leadership and service in the midst of a very difficult time.

Nihad Rosic, 31, of Utica, New York, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and one count of providing material support to terrorists. Also charged in the indictment are: Ramiz Zijad Hodzic, his wife Sedina Unkic Hodzic, and Armin Harcevic, all of St. Louis County, Missouri, and Mediha Medy Salkicevic, of Schiller Park, Illinois. All defendants were charged and convicted of conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists. This case was investigated by the St. Louis FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, St. Louis Metropolitan and St. Louis County Police Departments.