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WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP

School funding fuels hybrid learning debate at West Bloomfield School District

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Two pieces of legislation passed last week offering additional funding for Michigan schools that provide at least 20 hours of in-person learning. Gretchen Whitmer, but one school district is now trying to decide if it’s worth to re-route its current learning plan. The West Bloomfield School District is in hybrid learning and was planning to keep it until next year. READ: What to know as Detroit public schools resume in-person learningBut the potential loss of $1.2 million in additional funding forced the district’s Board of Education to discuss on Monday whether to increase in-person learning to 20 hours a week. We’re living with the reality of the Legislature being the Legislature,” Hill said.

Water main break on Pontiac Trail in West Bloomfield Township creates traffic delays

The repair work and lane closures in West Bloomfield Township are expected to last into Tuesday evening. WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A water main break on Pontiac Trail just east of Haggerty Road in West Bloomfield Township has lanes closed for repair work, the Road Commission for Oakland County announced Tuesday afternoon. Eastbound and westbound traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction causing major traffic delays, the group added. The repair work and lane closures are expected to last into Tuesday evening. Stay with Local 4 News and ClickOnDetroit for the latest traffic updates.

Orchard Lake school responds to lawsuit outlining series of sexual assault allegations

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A lawsuit filed by a father and son alleges that students at one Metro Detroit high school attacked and forced the son to participate in sexualized games during a retreat in 2019. The father, a longtime teacher at St. Mary’s Preparatory High School in Orchard Lake, and his son, a student, filed a lawsuit outlining a series of sexualized games allegedly played by the school’s student athletes. The lawsuit claims that when the son chose not participate in the games, the other students attacked him. And they’re left alone to do that,” said Bob Palmer, attorney for the father and son in the case against St. Mary’s officials. “It’s kind of ironic that the individual who was assaulted is the son of the teacher -- they’re both there,” Palmer said.

Elderly driver rescued from freezing pond in West Bloomfield Township

WEST BLOOMFILED TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A late-night drive could have turned deadly for a 93-year-old man behind the wheel of a Cadillac. “I looked out and there was this poor man screaming for help, that he was dying out there,” said witness Robin Reynolds. So really it’s a miracle that he’s OK,” said West Bloomfield Township Deputy Police Chief Curt Lawson. The officer took all of his gear, waded in the freezing water and carried the man to land. I think he was a little disoriented and that’s how he found himself within that pond,” Lawson said.

West Bloomfield schools to remain remote through Jan. 15, 2021 due to COVID

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The West Bloomfield School District will remain in a totally remote instruction model for all students now through Jan. 15, 2021, the district announced Tuesday. On Nov. 2, the district went remote for all students after health officials moved Oakland County to the highest risk level for spreading COVID-19 through in-person instruction. West Bloomfield High School and Lakers Online will remain totally remote during this time period. New COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise in Michigan. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 142,000 on Sunday, near its highest mark on record.

Friendship Circle of Michigan buys bakery to expand job options for people with special needs

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Friendship Circle of Michigan has done amazing work helping people with special needs find jobs. The mission has grown so much, that they’re expanding in a big way. They have purchased a bakery to expand job options for people with special needs. READ: Michigan camp for individuals with special needs perseveres through COVID-19 pandemicDakota Bread is known for some of the best challah around. The bakery was purchased by the organization, and people in West Bloomfield Township came out to celebrate the new acquisition.

Memorial held for 6-year-old boy killed in grizzly triple-homicide in Warren

DETROIT – Tai’raz Moore and his father’s girlfriend, Isis Rimson, were killed execution-style in the basement of a Warren house Oct. 1. Tai’raz’s family said the 6-year-old had a magnetic personality. It was Tai’raz’s aunt who sought to bring the happiness to this affair as she believed Tai’raz himself would have. Community activist Malik Shabazz of the New Marcus Garvey Movement decried the violence that took Tai’raz’s life. We have to love our way out of the abnormal becoming normal, out of the unthinkable becoming doable," Shabazz told the crowd.

West Bloomfield man charged in execution-style killings has long criminal history

Nicholas Bahri, 37, of West Bloomfield township, was arraigned Tuesday on 15 charges in the execution-style killings of a 6-year-old boy, the boy’s father and his father’s girlfriend. Prior to the recent killings, Bahri had developed an extensive criminal history and was released from prison just months ago. “I don’t think that anyone looking at the (criminal) history could forecast the crimes (Bahri) has been accused of, and possibly committed here,” said Local 4′s legal analyst Neil Rockind. Rockind says there are peculiar clues about Bahri’s criminal history. “(Bahri’s criminal record) shows someone who is sick, demented and who has really forfeited their right to to interact with the rest of us,” Rockind said.

Michigan’s largest cities, townships and counties ranked by 2019 median household income

West Bloomfield, which is located in Oakland County, has a median household income of $114,167, according to the Census Bureau. Meanwhile, Livingston County ranks first in among the 29 counties with 65,000 or more residents, with a median household income of $86,512. Below is a list of the 23 Michigan cities and townships included in the new Census data, ranked by 2019 median household income. Also included in each entry is the 2019 median family income and the community’s estimated 2019 poverty rate. Once inflation is factored in, Michigan remains below pre-recessions levels for median household income: In 2019 dollars, Michigan’s 2005 median household income was about $60,417 -- 1.4% above the 2018 median.

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Metro Detroit woman turns passion for interior design into successful business

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. Regina Donald, with Trans-Style Interiors, LLC, formed her unique style early on. From her childhood bedroom to her first apartment, she turned her passion for interior design into a successful West Bloomfield Township business. She wanted to change that and started networking with other interior designers who were Black women. She works with you to design a workspace that flows with your own sense of style.Donald wants to make sure the next generation of Black interior designers reach new heights. Thats just the best part of my life.More information on Trans-Style Interiors, LLC can be found on its official Facebook page here.

Maple, Middlebelt intersection in West Bloomfield Township reopens with roundabout complete

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) has opened the Maple Road and Middlebelt Road intersection in West Bloomfield Township, which had been closed for the completion of the roundabout at the intersection. The roundabout was opened for the winter, with work resuming in the spring. For the work this year, Maple Road has been closed at Middlebelt Road. The approximately $6.6 million safety-improvement project was funded with a mix of federal and local dollars. Local funding was shared by RCOC, West Bloomfield Township and Oakland County general government through the Tri-Party Program.

1 dead, 1 injured in head-on collision on Middlebelt Road in West Bloomfield Township

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – One driver was killed and another was injured Friday in a head-on collision on Middlebelt Road in West Bloomfield Township, police said. The crash happened around 11 a.m. Friday on Middlebelt Road just north of Long Lake Road, according to authorities. Police said a 73-year-old man was driving south on Middlebelt Road when he crossed the center line and hit another vehicle head-on. The 73-year-old was transported in critical condition and pronounced dead at the hospital. Middlebelt Road was closed between Shore Hill Drive and Long Lake Road, but it has since reopened.

Part of West Bloomfield Township under boil water advisory due to drop in water pressure

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Part of West Bloomfield Township is under a boil water advisory due to a drop in water pressure in the area, officials said. The advisory is in effect for residents and businesses east of Hiller Road and north of Greer Road. Wellington Woods #1 and #2, Wellington Meadows and Woodlands of West Bloomfield are also affected. The boil water advisory is expected to remain in effect for at least three days, officials said. Boil water instructionsHere are some instructions provided by West Bloomfield Township officials.

Pontiac man shoots 3 men who came to pick up woman's belongings, police say

PONTIAC, Mich. – A Pontiac man shot three people who came to pick up a woman's belongings, police said. Police said the woman and the Pontiac man were in a relationship and had broken up. The family maintains that Smith's sister was never in a relationship with the Pontiac man accused in the shooting. The 25-year-old went into the home, came out with a handgun and fired shots at the other men, according to police. When police approached the home, the 25-year-old man came out and identified himself with the same name the caller used, officials said.

Massive lakefront estate lists for $5.5M in Oakland County

A massive lakefront estate has hit the market in Oakland County for a whopping $5.5 million. The "Hamptons" inspired estate is located in West Bloomfield Township on Upper Straits Lake. Here's more info from the listing:This private estate on the sandy side of Upper Straits Lake was thoughtfully designed to maximize the breathtaking views from every room. Easy to live in and easy to love...you'll feel at home the moment you step inside. Dual staircases head up to the loft/playspace and 3 well-appointed suites with huge closets and private baths.