Livonia Sheetz drama • Marshella Chidester due in court • Economic impact of Saturday's Lions game

Sheetz wants to open a 24/7 convenience store in Livonia, but not everyone is happy with the plan.

The gas station known for its made-to-order food and customized drinks opened its first Michigan location last year, and has been looking to expand to other areas of Metro Detroit, including Eight Mile and Newburgh.

Neighbors say the business will bring noise and bright lights to their quiet neighborhood.

"The very gas pumps that they propose to put are literally going to be 50-60 yards away from the front of my driveway," David Hall said. "This place is going to be lit up and this is what I’m going to have to deal with for who knows how long - the rest of my life, apparently."

Hall and other residents are pushing back against the development. They brought their concerns to city officials, who will have the final say.

"This is a quiet neighborhood," said Greg Ralko. "This is a residential area. What they’re proposing really belongs on the highway - a service drive."

The Livona pushback comes just after the Farmington Hills City Council rejected a plan to build a Sheetz at 12 Mile and Middlebelt.

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Proposed Sheetz Livonia location gets pushback from residents

A proposed 24-hour Sheetz gas station and restaurant would replace an old Rite Aid space at Eight Mile and Newburgh in Livonia.

Swan Boat Club suspect due in court

Marshella Chidester, the woman charged with crashing into the Swan Boat Club and killing two children, is scheduled to appear for a motion hearing Friday.

A judge is expected to review several motions filed by Chidester's attorney, including a request to change the trial venue and another to delay the trial until a case involving Chidester's doctor concludes.

Chidester, 67, was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of operating while intoxicated causing death, and four counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury after slamming her vehicle into the Monroe County boat club last year, killing Alanah Phillips and Zayn Phillips.

The crash also injured more than a dozen people.

After the April 20, 2024 crash, Chidester told Monroe County Sheriff's deputies that she had drunk some wine earlier in the day. She also said that she has seizures and takes medication for the condition.

Her attorney, BIll Colovos, has argued that Chidester's seizures contributed to the crash, he filed a motion to delay the trial since her doctor is facing unrelated criminal charges.

Dr. Ram Garg is currently facing charges stemming from a pill-mill he was allegedly running out of his Taylor office. According to the motion, Garg cannot testify in Chidester's trial because he has invoked his Fifth Amendment rights during his own case.

In that same motion, Colovos also argued that Garg, who was treating Chidester for neurological issues, was "grossly negligent." 

Court is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday.

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Swan Boat Club crash suspect Marshella Chidester due in court for hearing ahead of trial

Marshella Chidester is due in court Friday morning for a motion hearing as her trial for the deadly Swan Boat Club crash approaches.

The economic impact of Saturday's Lions game

Saturday's Lions vs. Commanders playoff game in Detroit is expected to bring tens of millions of dollars into the city's economy.

"Restaurants, hotels, parking, souvenirs, those are the main drivers of attendee spending," said Tyler Theile, with Anderson Ecomonic Group.

Theile estimates the game will have a $64 million impact.

"Our estimates are based on capacity attendance of 67,000 people," she said. "Then we look at ticket prices and we include a small margin for those loyal season-ticket holders who are able to get a playoff ticket a little bit earlier than the general public and now maybe selling it for anywhere from $300 to $6,000."

That's all considered the direct impact, she said, estimated to be $39.3 million - and that number includes police, public safety and other costs.

"Then we think about the power that those dollars have if they're re-spent in the local economy. That’s where we get the indirect economic impact," Thiele said. "And we add those together for the total over $64 million."

The projection also factors in the Pistons game that day at Little Caesars Arena and the Detroit Auto Show at Huntington Place, which means higher foot traffic.

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Lions-Commanders playoff game estimated to make $64M impact for Detroit

The projection also factors in the Pistons game that day at Little Caesars Arena and the Detroit Auto Show at Huntington Place, which means higher foot traffic.

Bus routes to Lions game

Avoid parking and traffic this weekend by catching a bus to Detroit for the Lions vs. Washington Commanders game.

SMART is offering park and ride bus routes from around Metro Detroit to downtown ahead of Saturday's 8 p.m. kickoff at Ford Field. 

Buses headed to Detroit will begin leaving at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18 and continue every half hour. The last bus will depart at 7 p.m.

Return buses start leaving Detroit at 9 p.m. and will run every hour until midnight. 

Fares are $2 one-way, and DART passes will also be accepted.

Routes are available from Downriver, Westland, Dearborn, Southfield, Troy, and more.

See all of the routes here. 

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Lions vs. Commanders game: How to get to Detroit for just $2 this weekend

Headed to the Detroit Lions game vs. the Washington Commanders on Saturday at Ford Field? Catch a bus to avoid the traffic and parking.

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Daily Forecast

Today will be a bit warmer, but bitter cold is on the horizon.

What else we're watching

  1. Almost a year since an explosion left one dead and the Clinton Township community shaken, federal officials say they have finished cleaning up the site that was leveled after thousands of canisters were ignited.
  2. A woman was found shot to death in a vehicle outside VSOP Liquor on Eight Mile in Detroit on Thursday.
  3. Police say they are still confident about the area of the Pine Tree Acres landfill that they have been searching while looking for missing Ashley Elkins.
  4. A Macomb County man is accused of choking his father's dog to death. He is expected to be arraigned today.
  5. The owner of a Farmington Hills Little Caesars was fined more than $26,000 for violating child labor laws.

Biden commutes sentences of nearly 2,500 non-violent drug offenders

In the final days of his presidency, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses – setting the presidential record for most individual pardons and commutations issued.

Biden announced the recent round of clemency actions on Friday, meant to nullify prison terms he deemed too harsh.

The president said he is seeking to undo "disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice." The clemency action provides relief for people "who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes."

Biden also said more could yet be coming, promising to use the time before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated on Monday to "continue to review additional commutations and pardons."

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Biden commutes sentences of nearly 2,500 non-violent drug offenders

Biden has now set the presidential record for most individual pardons and commutations issued. Here's what to know:

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