NEWSPAPERS n o i t i d E l a i c e Sp
JANUARY 7, 2026 candgnews.com
Macomb County and Grosse Pointe papers
City Council looking at cryptocurrency protection ordinance BY BRIAN WELLS bwells@candgnews.com
Intersections in Sterling Heights, Warren top ‘most dangerous’ list BY BRIAN WELLS bwells@candgnews.com
MACOMB COUNTY — Intersections in Sterling Heights and Warren top an annual list of the most dangerous intersections in Macomb County in 2024. The list, published in November by Michigan Auto Law, used accident reports from the Michigan State Police to determine the 10 most dangerous intersections for the year. “Our list of Macomb County’s most dangerous intersections reflects the latest car accident data available from 2024 on the top 10 interchanges with the highest number of reported car crashes,” the firm said in a statement. Founded in 1969, Michigan Auto Law is a Michigan-based personal injury law firm specializing in auto and truck accident cases. According to the statement published by the firm, the list is provided to help keep Michigan drivers safe by telling them where they need to use extra caution. Topping the list is the intersection of 11 Mile See INTERSECTIONS on page 10A
Photos by Patricia O’Blenes
ABOVE: Topping the list of the most-dangerous intersections is 11 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue in Warren. According to a report published in November by Michigan Auto Law, the intersection saw 185 total crashes with 26 injuries reported in 2024. TOP: The second-most-dangerous intersection on the list, with 162 crashes and 12 injuries, is the intersection at 18 1/2 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue in Sterling Heights.The intersection is a roundabout serving as on and off ramps between Van Dyke Avenue, 18 1/2 Mile Road and the Van Dyke freeway, or M-53.
STERLING HEIGHTS — The Sterling Heights City Council is taking steps to make sure consumers are protected against virtual currency scams — a move the city said is happening just in time for the holidays. At its Dec. 2 meeting, council members heard the introduction of a new ordinance aimed at adding new licensing and operational regulations for virtual currency machines, including cryptocurrency kiosks and bitcoin ATMs. Though the machines offer users an easy and often anonymous way to convert cash into digital assets, they have also become a fast-growing target for scam artists posing as government officials, tech support or distressed family members, a press release from the city states. “These scams typically begin with an unsolicited message or call designed to create panic, pressuring victims into withdrawing cash and depositing it into a cryptocurrency ATM. Once converted, the funds are often irretrievable,” the press release states. According to the release, the city currently has 27 machines operating within its borders. The Sterling Heights Police Department has investigated 23 fraud cases tied directly to the machines, with losses totaling more than $542,000. Sterling Heights Police Capt. Colleen Hopper, who introduced the ordinance at the meeting, said she was told this is the highest number of machines in any of the surrounding areas. “The FBI notified me that this is the highest amount in any community in this area, Macomb County or Oakland County, and because of that we have more scams than any other city or county around us,” she said. This led to the department forming a crypto task force to combat the issue. Additionally, through a collaboration between city administration, the Police Department and the city attorney’s office, a new ordiSee CRYPTOCURRENCY on page 5A