He’s part newsman, part sportscaster and a complete family man.

At Local 4, when someone retires, we can’t just say goodbye. We have to celebrate.

Longtime WDIV anchor and reporter Steve Garagiola has announced his retirement after 27 years with the station.

This year for “Rod the Builder,” Rod will face our Local 4 “master chef” Grant Hermes in a cook off.

When Rod Meloni becomes “Rod the Builder” this Friday, he will be summoned to the kitchen in a new cook off. This time, it will be against Local 4′s Grant Hermes.

We have a wonderful piece from August 2001 to share.

WDIV-Local 4, in keeping with the station’s initiative of “Celebrating Black History” throughout February, aired a primetime special called “History 4 All” on Wednesday, Feb. 24. You can watch the full special in the video above. From what should be taught in our schools’ history classes to why we still need Black History Month, Local 4′s anchors and reporters highlight topics impacting on our local communities and beyond. “Our hope is that these in-depth stories will spark conversations about how we all benefit from a diverse community like we have here in Metro Detroit,” said Vice President and General Manager Marla Drutz. This hour-long special was hosted by Devin Scillian and Kimberly Gill, and featured stories from them, as well as Rhonda Walker, Evrod Cassimy, Paula Tutman, Steve Garagiola, Larry Spruill, Victor Williams and Jamie Edmonds.

WDIV-Local 4, in keeping with the station’s initiative of “Celebrating Black History” throughout February, will air a primetime special called “History 4 All” on Wednesday, February 24 at 8 p.m.Watch it on Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit -- it will stream here:From what should be taught in our schools’ history classes to why we still need Black History Month, Local 4′s anchors and reporters highlight topics impacting on our local communities and beyond. “Our hope is that these in-depth stories will spark conversations about how we all benefit from a diverse community like we have here in Metro Detroit,” said Vice President and General Manager Marla Drutz. This hour-long special is hosted by Devin Scillian and Kimberly Gill, and features stories from them, as well as Rhonda Walker, Evrod Cassimy, Paula Tutman, Steve Garagiola, Larry Spruill, Victor Williams and Jamie Edmonds. Stories include:AdChanges in the corporate world in response to 2020′s civil unrestLesser known Underground Railroad sites in Metro DetroitDiversity in the front office of sport teams and why the Lions and Pistons are leading the wayMotown’s programs for young musicians and singersWDIV’s “History 4 All” special airs Wednesday, February 24 at 8 p.m. on Local 4.

Here’s what you missed on Local 4 News at 5:Wayne and Oakland counties work to ramp up COVID testingAs coronavirus cases continue to rise, county officials are expanding drive-up testing in Metro Detroit to give residents more access to free testing sites.

Here’s what you missed on Local 4 News at 4:Rod the Builder vs. Steve Garagiola in classic Italian cook-off (with recipes)Rod Meloni is turning in his reporter notepad for a Rod the Builder apron and challenging our own Steve Garagiola to an Italian cook-off!

Rod Meloni is turning in his reporter notepad for a Rod the Builder apron and challenging our own Steve Garagiola to an Italian cook-off! ½ cup Parmesan cheeseCroutonsDirections :In a mixing bowl, dice anchovy fillets into nearly a paste. Toasted ravioli :Toasted ravioli (WDIV)If you ever visit St. Louis, go The Hill for Italian food. Mickey said, “Hey, with a little parmesan cheese and sauce, these would be great!”A tradition was born. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese before serving.

DETROIT – We hope you’re craving Italian food this Friday -- and you likely will be with this year’s Rod the Builder challenge. It’s a tradition everyone in the Local 4 newsroom looks forward to on the day after Thanksgiving, as business editor Rod Meloni turns in his reporter notepad for his Rod the Builder apron. This year, Rod the Builder has his work cut out for him as he heads into the kitchen to compete against Steve Garagiola. I don’t know how much Rod cooks but he is Italian. You can watch the Rod the Builder challenge Friday on Local 4 News at Noon, 4, 5 and 6, and on ClickOnDetroit.com.

There are many legends that go along with it, including that you can balance an egg on its end at the exact moment of the equinox. Steve Garagiola found a myth that because of a unique gravitational influence of the sun, it’s possible to balance an egg on its end at the exact moment of the equinox. That exact moment was Tuesday at 9:31 a.m. Eastern Time. Mike Narlock, of the Cranbrook Institute of Science, said there’s nothing unique about the equinox in regard to balancing an egg. You can watch Steve Garagiola’s full experiment in the video posted above.

DETROIT Tonight Michael Fulmer gets the start. Its Opening Day or evening here in Detroit. This Opening Day is a lot different due to the coronavirus pandemic. The biggest difference is that around Comerica Park Monday, its a lot quieter than a typical Opening Day. There is very little in the way of festivities around the ballpark on this Opening Day.

DETROIT Have you ever wanted to go behind the scenes here at Local 4 to find out what its like? Nows your chance, and you dont even have to go anywhere to do it. Our Steve Garagiola demonstrated how being a WDIV insider will bring you a lot closer to the action. You can watch Steves full breakdown in the video posted above.

Local 4 brought you another Spirit of Detroit" special on Wednesday night, highlighting the positive stories happening in our community during the virus pandemic. Devin Scillian and Kimberly Gill host the special, Wednesday at 8 p.m., on Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit. See how your neighbors are showing up for each other with acts of kindness, generosity and bravery. Well also have a special tribute to the Class of 2020. Watch the special above.

DETROIT The coronavirus lockdown has produced the whole spectrum of problems from devastating illness and financial hardship to what amounts to minor inconveniences like being unable to go to salons and barbershops. In the Do It Yourself Hair Challenge, we really are in this together. So Local 4s Steve Garagiola decided to survey the WDIV family to see how theyre managing the hair issue -- including his own. You can watch Steve Garagiolas full story above.

True-crime lovers won’t want to miss Local 4′s one-hour special, “Hoffa,” hosted by veteran WDIV journalist Steve Garagiola. It chronicles the rise and fall of the iconic labor leader, Jimmy Hoffa. The first episode of the “Shattered: Hoffa” podcast premiered Tuesday, Dec. 3, and a new episode will be released every Tuesday for the next month. The “Hoffa” primetime special airs tonight at 10 p.m. on Local 4. Listen to the trailer for “Shattered: Hoffa” here.

WDIV-Local 4 (NBC Detroit) and Graham Media Group announce the new, five-episode season of “Shattered” that will chronicle the rise and fall of the iconic labor leader, Jimmy Hoffa. Also see: Would you like to be invited to a ’Shattered: Hoffa’ Podcast Party? “Shattered: Hoffa” premieres on December 3, 2019. Listen to the trailer for “Shattered: Hoffa” here. 1 newscast at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. in Nielsen ratings for the Detroit television market.

Shattered Podcast Season 4 trailer: HoffaPublished: November 14, 2019, 9:36 amWDIV-Local 4 (NBC Detroit) and Graham Media Group announce the new, five-episode season of “Shattered” that will chronicle the rise and fall of the iconic labor leader, Jimmy Hoffa. Season 4 of this original true-crime podcast series will be hosted by veteran WDIV-Local 4 journalist Steve Garagiola. “Once you start looking into Hoffa, you find yourself down a rabbit hole of dark tunnels. He lived most of his life in Detroit and was last seen 20 miles north of the city. Interest in what happened to Hoffa has never waned, and the mystery only deepens as the decades pass.

Are you familiar with the mysterious orange man on top of a hill? You might have seen him if you've driven along I-96 near South Lyon. Or, maybe, you've seen one of the several orange men on rooftops all over Detroit. John Sauve created the sculpture along the freeway as part of a larger project called Man in the City. On the first day the man on the hill was installed an angry mother called the South Lyon city manager to complain.

DETROIT – Former big league catcher and legendary broadcaster Joe Garagiola was laid to rest on Wednesday. Garagiola was the father of longtime Local 4 reporter and anchor Steve Garagiola (@SteveGaragiola). Here is a statement from Steve:"If you’re a longtime sports fan, you probably know the name Joe Garagiola. Joe Garagiola thrived in his post-retirement career as a glib baseball broadcaster and fixture on the "Today" show. We are deeply saddened by the loss of baseball legend and former #Dbacks broadcaster Joe Garagiola.