A 16-year-old student was kidnapped from a bus stop in Hamtramck at gunpoint this morning. Classmates tracked the student through their social media and cell phone.

Hamtramck Police located the student and made an arrest. Hamtramck Police Chief Hussein Farhat said that the incident happened at 7:08 a.m. He said a weapon was recovered.

Hamtramck School Board President Abdulmalik Algahaim says there will be additional measures for safety and security during pick-up and drop-off. The police department will also increase security measures. 

The kidnapper was caught within 30 minutes of the incident. 

Additional headlines for Monday, April 13, 2026

Joe Louis Greenway community meetings

Community meetings are being held regarding expansion of the Woodmere part of the Joe Louis Greenway. The next virtual meetings are April 21 and April 29.

The General Services Department is holding the meetings to discuss the designs and construction on Woodmere Street for a bike and walking connection between Fort Street and Vernor Highway.

The project has been funded through a $10 million grant and is expected to be completed in 2027. 

Outlier Earth Day event

The Outlier Media collective is hosting an Earth Day seed packing social this month. The hands-on volunteer event is in partnership with Keep Growing Detroit’s Garden Resource Program.

There will be free non-alcoholic beverages by the Gardenside Brewery and refreshments by Vámonos. The seed packing event takes place April 22nd from noon-2 p.m at Vámonos. 

Healthy Homes

The City of Detroit is hosting another Healthy Homes resource event. The next one takes place Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Services will include HOPE application assistance, health screenings and more.

People can schedule a Lyft service to attend by calling 866-313-2520. 

Black & Arab Solidarity Lab

The Black and Arab Solidarity Lab + Political Discussion is an event co-hosted by Arab Americans for Progress, Dream of Detroit, Detroit Action and MI Working Family Party.

Guest speakers include Abraham Aiyash, former MI State Representative and House Majority Leader and Tomena Rawls, the Statutory Vice chair of the 12th Congressional District Democrats. 

The discussion will be held on April 25 at 11 a.m. 

Arab and Chaldean American Panel at WSU

The Arab American Women’s Business Council is hosting a panel this week. The networking mixer will host women leaders who will share insights on navigating the professional world as Arab and Chaldean women.

The event takes place on April 15 at Wayne State University Student Center, Room 775 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Milwaukee Public Schools plans to add about 150 teachers and paraprofessionals to classrooms next school year. 

The positions were announced Monday, one month after MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said she planned to cut about 200 non-classroom staff positions. 

Cassellius said external audits of the district and meetings last summer with parents both highlighted heavy staffing at central office and less resources going into classrooms. 

“I can see with my own eyes how hard it is with so many students in the classroom,” Cassellius said.  “So obviously, with 91 percent of our students not reading on grade level at fourth grade, it is essential that we give our kids a fighting chance where teachers have a reasonable amount of students to teach to read.”

MPS is planning to add 89 licensed classroom teachers, bringing the total number of teaching staff from 3,903 to 3,992, and 63 paraprofessionals to its schools. They will also add five school psychologists. 

The plan is estimated to cost $24.6 million and will be included in the 2026-27 draft budget. 

“Lowering class size is a very strategic move in order to rebalance the district and be responsible with our finances,” Cassellius said. “But it’s also a very important academic decision for us as we meet the needs and listen to teachers and try to make sure that they have what they need so they can be successful in teaching our children to read.”

The investment in staffing comes as MPS works to close a $46 million deficit identified in the district’s 2024–25 budget by external auditors. 

To address the budget deficit and rising costs, MPS is identifying savings wherever possible.

Some of the savings include $30 million from reductions in Central Services and non-classroom positions; $11 million in increased state special education reimbursement funding and $40 million in savings from fewer charter schools. The district also has $47 million in new referendum revenue.

At the same time, MPS anticipates approximately $154 million to $171 million in new expenses, including covering increases in healthcare benefit costs and raises for employees.

Of the 200 positions being eliminated by MPS, 59 are assistant principal positions and 62 “implementer positions,” or educators who have a teaching license but who are not assigned to one classroom. 

Cassellius said all of the people who received “excess letters” can reapply for teaching positions.

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The FBI is investigating a physical confrontation that occurred during an anti-ICE protest at the Whipple Federal Building in Minnesota over the weekend. Several protesters were arrested, with three facing assault charges and one charged with obstruction. A video posted on social media showed a protester, Savannah Hernandez, being knocked down during the incident.

Why it matters

The Whipple Federal Building has been a site of ongoing protests against ICE operations in Minnesota, and this latest incident highlights the tensions and potential for violence at these demonstrations. The FBI’s involvement suggests the incident is being taken seriously as a potential violation of civil rights or other federal laws.

The details

The confrontation occurred during a protest called ‘Bye Bye Bondi,’ referring to former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. The Whipple Building has been the headquarters for ICE operations in the area, and protests have continued at the site since federal officials increased their presence in Minnesota in December. Savannah Hernandez, a contributor for Turning Point USA, posted a video showing her being knocked down by protesters, some of whom were chanting that they were ‘ANTIFA.’

• The incident occurred on Saturday, April 12, 2026 during an anti-ICE protest.
• Four people were arrested at the end of the demonstration.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The FBI investigation is ongoing, and authorities will determine if any federal charges will be filed related to the incident.