A recount in the Hamtramck race for mayor shows that Adam Alharbi has won the election.  Alharbi beat City Councilman Muhith Mahmood by just 11 votes.   Muhith requested a recount because the initial margin of victory was so small.  The Wayne County Board of Canvassers recounted just over 4,000 ballots by hand Tuesday. 

Legal action continues in the case, though.  Mahmood has sued, claiming that 37 ballots found in the City Clerk’s office after the election should be counted. 

Additional headlines from Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Master Plan Meetings 

The City of Detroit is holding a series of meetings this week to give residents more information on its 20-year master plan.

The meetings, held by the Planning and Development Department, will also give Detroiters a chance to provide their input on proposals for land use in parts of the city. 

There’s a meeting for east siders tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Farwell Recreation Center on East Outer Drive.  Another takes place at 6 p.m. Thursday in Southwest Detroit at the Patton Recreation Center on Woodmere.  A virtual Zoom meeting will be held on Monday, December 9th.  Passcode: 900187

Detroit voter suppression sentence 

Two conservative political operatives have been sentenced to probation in a scheme to discourage Black Detroiters from voting by mail in the 2020 presidential election.

This week’s sentencing was the last court hearing for Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman in a multistate effort to generate and distribute thousands of robocalls. The pair were accused of creating robocalls that warned people they could be questioned by police, debt collectors and vaccine advocates if they voted by mail.

Wohl and Burkman pleaded no contest to several crimes after unsuccessfully challenging the charges on free speech grounds.

Ambassador Bridge fee rises 

The price for crossing the Ambassador Bridge will rise next year. 

Tolls for passenger vehicles traveling across the international bridge between Detroit and Windsor will rise to $10 each way starting January first.  That’s up from $9 right now. 

For motorists paying in Canadian funds, the toll jumps from $12 CDN to $14. 

State of Macomb address 

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel will deliver his State of the County address tonight. He’ll speak to an invitation-only crowd at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts in Clinton Township. 

He’s expected to review events of the past year and preview the year to come.  Macomb County’s Black population is now at 12.4%.  That’s up from just around 1% in 1970.  Tonight’s speech is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.  You can watch it live at WDET.org. 

Cold spell coming 

Detroiters should brace for a deep cold spell over the next few days. 

The National Weather Service says the worst of it in the short run will be now through Friday night.  Lows tonight are forecasted to be around 15 degrees.  Highs tomorrow and Friday will only rise into the mid-20s.  Lows Thursday night will drop to around 6 degrees with wind chills of -2.  

If you’re headed outside, dress in layers.  Make sure you have a hat and gloves to keep you warm and avoid frostbite.