For the past decade, COTS Detroit has been working to help families move beyond homelessness not just into housing, but toward lasting stability with their program Passport to Self-Sufficiency.

To date, nearly 1000 adults have successfully completed the program. We are lifting the voice of one Detroit mother who tells me the program changed the path of her entire family.

She and her five children used to squat in homes just to survive, but now they are on the road to self-sufficiency and not looking back.

I was in a bad place. It was me and my son, my oldest son. I just knocked on the door. I was like, here I am, said Chantelle Jones.

For Chantelle Jones, that door opened during a time when she and her children had nowhere stable to live.

Years later, she found herself facing homelessness again determined to keep her family together and build a different future.

They helped me to get my high school completion. They helped me with housing, financially, and just my life to keep me stable, said Jones.

That long-term support is at the heart of COTS' Passport to Self-Sufficiency program.

CEO Cheryl Johnson says the organization realized getting families into housing wasn't enough.

We placed people in housing, but we didn't break the cycle of poverty, said Cheryl Johnson.

The program pairs families with mobility coaches who work with them over several years helping them set goals around education, employment, finances, and family stability.

Mobility for us is about movement. That person is really tied to you for almost up to five years, addressing the particular goals that parent has decided, said Johnson.

For Chantelle, that relationship helped her stay on track long enough to graduate from the program and earn her high school diploma.

Rachel Minion, who was once homeless with her eight children, has watched that transformation from the beginning.

She has unlearned so many bad habits, and she's adopted those good habits, and those good habits have impacted her life in a very positive way. She got out of her own way, said Rachel Minion.

Chantelle says the biggest measure of success isn't just what changed for her it's what changed for her children.

My oldest son said, Ma, we're not homeless. They used to ask where we wanna sleep at. They can go climb in that bed without no problems now, said Jones.

Ten years after COTS launched Passport to Self-Sufficiency, Johnson says the lesson is that lasting change takes time.

For Chantelle, with time, her family NOW has something she once feared they might never have stability.

Chantelle says she knows without COTS she would likely still be homeless, and possibly without her children.

Children who are now excelling in track, boxing, cheerleading, soccer and most importantly, school.

Now, she's looking ahead.

The CEO of COTS says the goal over the next decade is to help even more Detroit families do what Chantelle did move from surviving a crisis to building a future.

A recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling has led to the removal of more than 20,000 people from the state's sex offender registry.

In September, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled the state could not retroactively apply newer sex offender registration requirements to people who committed crimes before July 1, 2011.

As a result, approximately 20,000 names were removed from Michigan's Sex Offender Registry.

Watch Tiarra Braddock's story in the video player below:

For some Michigan residents, the decision raises questions about accountability and access to information.

"I used to subscribe to the list and I paid attention to the addresses," said Lucendia Halliday, a parent visiting her daughter in Ann Arbor.

Halliday said she was shocked to learn thousands of names had been removed from the registry.

"It's really sad," she said.

The ruling has also drawn criticism from survivors of sexual assault.

Swartz Creek resident Krystle Steele, who survived a sexual assault in 1998 when she was 10 years old, said the decision feels like a setback for victims.

"It feels like a kick in the chest for victims and it's just a huge safety hazard. I can't even believe this is happening," Steele said.

Steele recalled the attack that occurred when she was a child.

"This guy pulled up in his vehicle, he ripped me off my bike, took me to his Swartz Creek home, which is just a few minutes from the home I live in now. He sexually assaulted me multiple times," she said.

Steele said the man convicted in her case was released from prison six years ago. Because the crime occurred before 2011, she said his name, address and employment information were removed from the registry following the court's decision.

"The people who are supposed to protect us, the people who are supposed to have our back, the people who are supposed to believe us, here they are taking away our safety net," Steele said.

She added that the removal of information from the registry makes it more difficult for people researching neighborhoods and communities.

"If someone is buying a home, they can't check to see who's living in their backyard," she said.

Adam Wright, a former federal prosecutor and professor at Wayne State University Law School, said those whose names were removed from the registry remain convicted offenders.

"These individuals are still guilty of the original offense they were convicted of at the time that the jury or the judge heard the claim from the government," Wright said. "The only thing that changes is the registration requirement that was imposed after that conviction."

Meanwhile, Steele is organizing a rally in Lansing to protest the court's decision and push for changes.

"Something's got to change. This is not OK," she said.

The Michigan Department of Transportation says a sinkhole beneath Telegraph Road in Taylor is forcing an emergency road closure that could last weeks, a month, or even longer.

The Michigan Department of Transportation says crews discovered a void roughly 3 to 4 feet deep beneath the pavement on the stretch of Telegraph between Eureka and Pennsylvania. The sinkhole is not visible as you're driving on the road.

WATCH Megan's full report here:

MDOT photos show how the road's base has eroded away.

MDOT will close both NB US-24 and the ramp from NB I-75 to NB-US24.

Diane Cross with MDOT said the situation is considered an emergency and crews will work to investigate the extent of the problem.

"It is considered an emergency because it is something that ultimately could impact driver safety. But at the moment we're okay. But we have got to get traffic off of northbound Telegraph, north of Pennsylvania," Cross said.

MDOT said the void spans all four lanes of traffic.

"The pavement still there, but underneath there, we no longer have the support holding up that pavement and it goes across all four lanes of traffic," Cross said.

According to MDOT, road crews were about to do pavement work in the area when a crew member noticed the crack.

Kim Slessor drives this stretch of road daily and the thought of a sinkhole worries her.

"It's kinda scary. You don't know when it's gonna give out. You don't know when you're going to fall into the sinkhole," Slessor said.

"Thank God he saw it, and caught it before more people got before people got hurt or potentially hurt," Slessor said.

The closure is expected to create headaches for the tens of thousands of drivers who use this main thoroughfare. Some drivers are also wondering how long the problem has been developing.

Valarie Rhinehart of Brownstown said she has questions about the timeline.

"I imagine it's been there for a long time and I don't know if the road has been sinking and they haven't noticed it or not," Rhinehart said.

"I'm gonna have to find a lot of different ways to get places but at least I have lived here all my life but this is the quickest way to get most places," Rhinehart said.

MDOT suggests these detours: NB I-75 traffic can detour to Eureka Road. NB US-24/Telegraph traffic can use other local E/W roads for a detour.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has commissioned a new 66-foot, steel-hulled research vessel to monitor Lake Michigan's fisheries and aquatic ecosystem.

The new boat, called the RV Steelhead, was commissioned on Wednesday in Charlevoix, which will serve as the vessel’s home port. The Steelhead is replacing an older DNR research vessel, which officials say was nearing the end of its usable life.

The Steelhead boasts several new safety and efficiency upgrades, including improved navigation equipment, a gyrostabilizer, a bow thruster and a multi-use stern platform. It also features state-of-the-art sampling equipment and a brand new solar charging system.

“The importance and meaning of this new vessel to Fisheries Division and the DNR cannot be overstated,” DNR Fisheries Division Chief Randy Claramunt said in a news release. “Lake Michigan is one of the largest freshwater lakes on the planet, and the RV Steelhead and crew will serve as the State of Michigan’s primary means to collect data and inform fisheries management decisions on this Great Lake.”

The vessel will primarily be used for the DNR’s regular lake surveys — including their spring gill net survey, lakewide acoustic forage fish survey and bottom trawl survey — and monitoring invasive species.

The DNR’s regular surveys of aquatic life play an important part in monitoring the health of the Great Lakes’ ecosystem and fisheries, vessel captain Pat O’Neill told Michigan Public.

“We want to keep a handle on the health of the fish,” O’Neill said. “So we're going to use those as indicators of what that population is doing. Are they happy? Are they struggling because of something going on? The best way to manage is to have an idea of what direction maybe the ecosystem or the fish [or] a species is experiencing. If there's something we can do as managers to mitigate a potential problem that's coming, we're going to do our best to do that.”

The Steelhead was designed by Boksa Marine Design and constructed by Moran Iron Works in partnership with Superior Boats. It was funded by appropriations in the state budget bills for 2023 and 2025 by the Michigan Legislature, along with grant funding from Great Lakes Fishery Trust.

Merriam-Webster recently added 1,400 new words and definitions to its dictionary, giving us a chance to see which words and phrases have become established enough to make the cut. The announcement is getting attention for some of the more modern additions.

The newer additions include “looksmaxxing,” a slang term for taking sometimes extreme measures to increase your physical attractiveness. There’s also “vibe coding,” the practice of using AI to generate computer code. Both terms have emerged alongside changes in technology and popular culture.

Other additions have been around for years. “Cuffing season,” for example, refers to the colder months of the year, when people who aren’t in relationships may seek out someone to cuddle up with. “Cake pop” and “bao” are also among the new entries, even though English speakers have been using both for years.

And then there’s “whack-a-mole.” The arcade game dates back to 1977, but the term has also taken on a figurative meaning: a situation in which a new problem appears as soon as an existing, similar problem has been addressed.

Some of these words have already made it into other dictionaries, too. The Oxford English Dictionary added “vibe coding,” “cuffing season,” “cake pop,” “bao” and the figurative use of “whack-a-mole” before Merriam-Webster did. To hear more about the latest additions, listen to the audio above.

Sterling Heights police arrested a 38-year-old Pittsfield Township woman who is accused of setting DTE utility poles on fire.

According to DTE, at least eight poles were doused with gasoline and set on fire. ATF also confirms they were involved in the investigation and certified fire investigators responded.

The Sterling Heights Police Department said the arrest was specifically for a power pole fire in Sterling Heights, but the woman is also suspected of involvement in additional incidents.

The Sterling Heights Fire Department received a call Thursday at 7:53 p.m. for a power pole on fire with possible lines down outside a dollar store at 1220 Hall Road.

Police were called because a suspicious person was spotted walking nearby.

When a firefighter tried to approach the woman, she got in her vehicle, allegedly drove at him and took off.

Investigators used Flock License Plate Readers to locate the woman. Lt. Lamar Kashat with Sterling Heights PD said the technology was key in tracking her down.

Multiple other agencies are also involved in the investigation.

No motive is known, and the woman is expected to be arraigned over the weekend.

DTE issued the following statement about the incidents:

The post Detroit Evening Report: ‘Reclaim the Rivers’ initiative budgets $90 million for clean-up and restoration appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

A Halloween display that started as a hobby at a Grosse Pointe Farms home has grown into a community tradition that helps support local schools.

For nearly 20 years, Glenn Williams has transformed his property into The Haunted Garage, a walk-through Halloween attraction featuring actors, animatronics and interactive scares.

I've always have loved Halloween, Williams said.

What began as a personal passion project has expanded over the years into a seasonal attraction that draws families while raising money for local education programs.

Raising money for the local schools was kind of my itch that I wanted to scratch because I knew that there were other fundraisers out there and I kinda thought you kind of have a collection why don't we try to do something here, Williams said.

Building The Haunted Garage is a months-long effort. Williams said preparations begin in July, with volunteers helping build sets, paint scenery and test special effects before opening day.

We have to. I mean I look at the calendar and say when is our opening day. Well it's tonight. We have to start 70 days from there just to hopefully get open, Williams said.

Volunteer Roland Carloni helps operate several of the attractions animated characters.

I operate three different Frankenstein's and a spider, Carloni said.

Each year, the attraction adds new elements while maintaining a classic Halloween feel.

What you're going to see is old school Halloween kind of combined with some of the newer props that the industry is coming out with and we are trying to fit them into what is appropriate for our age group, Williams said.

Behind the witches, monsters and special effects, Williams said the attractions main purpose is supporting local schools. Proceeds from ticket sales go toward helping provide resources for students.

I am happy we are able to help the community and help the schools, Williams said.

General admission tickets cost $16, while VIP tickets are $25. The Haunted Garage is open throughout October on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sundays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

A 25-year-old Detroit man has been charged with 14 felonies, including murder, after prosecutors say an argument over a missing cell phone escalated to mass gunfire at an after-hours party on the city's west side, leaving 3 people dead and 4 others injured.

Christopher Rafael Gouch is accused in the fatal shooting at a home on Prest Street, which authorities say occurred just before 7:30 Sunday morning during what they describe as an illicit after-hours gathering. Gouch was arrested Wednesday and is being held without bond. If convicted as charged, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy described what led to the shooting.

"Seven people shot, three are dead over a fight between women who couldn't control their emotions because allegedly a cell phone went missing," Worthy said.

The dispute began inside the home before spilling outside. Prosecutors say that is when Gouch entered the confrontation, firearm in hand. Wayne County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Elizabeth Dornik outlined the allegations against Gouch.

"The defendant, killed 3 people, or is alleged to have killed 3 people including a security guard, a DJ, and the owner at the facility, and injured 4 people, including partygoers at this location," Dornik said. "And the fact that he discharged a firearm repeatedly, um, there's 16 rounds or casings left at the scene."

Defense attorney Raed Mourad says Gouch, a concealed pistol license holder with no criminal record, fired those shots for good reason.

"He was preventing someone from getting jumped, and when he did that, he got jumped, um, and that eventually other altercations occurred, and again he was helping somebody who was getting assaulted by multiple people who he believes lives may have been in great bodily harm in danger of potentially dying themselves," Mourad said.

The three people killed were identified as 63-year-old Devin Scott, 45-year-old Ansley Harris Jr., and 36-year-old Donovan Gray. Two other men and two women were also injured in the shooting.

Gouch's ties to the women involved in the initial altercation remain unclear.

Kim Harris, whose son was killed in the shooting, described the impact on her family.

"It's not just my son that got killed - my cousin was shot. Her baby's father was killed," Kim said.

Karondi Hernton lost three friends in the shooting.

"I didn't expect that all three of my friends would be the ones this happened to over here," Hernton said.

"This is what this case comes down to: seven people shot, three dead because of a cell phone," Worthy said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Thousands of motorsports fans are expected to descend on M1 Concourse this weekend for the sixth annual American Speed Festival, the facility's marquee event celebrating racing history, legendary drivers and automotive innovation.

The two-day festival will celebrate automotive history and performance with racing demonstrations, historic and modern vehicles, professional drivers and interactive attractions designed to showcase Detroit's rich motorsports heritage.

"This is the Motor City and this is a celebration of motors," said Paul Zlotoff, owner and CEO of M1 Concourse.

Among the highlights this year is the appearance of racing legend Mario Andretti, who is expected to drive a historic race car dating back to the early 1900s.

Zlotoff said the vehicle is one of the most recognizable race cars in American history.

"Its probably the American race car thats been seen by more Americans than any other," he said. "because it was basically barnstormed around the county by a gentleman named Barney Oldfield, and people who know racing would consider him the first true American race car driver."

For longtime attendees like George Vidu, the festival has become an annual tradition.

"Im a car nut," Vidu said. "I own 11 cars and three motorcycles. I have a lot of fun."

Vidu said he has attended every American Speed Festival since it began and considers it one of the region's premier automotive events.

While classic and exotic vehicles remain a major draw, organizers say the festival offers much more than a traditional car show.

"We have a hot track all weekend long, 'hot' meaning it's active," said Ted Woerner, director of the M1 Experience Center. "You'll be able to see cars that are unique that you don't see very often and here.

The festival will feature multiple on-track competitions and demonstrations, including appearances by some of the nation's top female racers.

"Its a very dynamic atmosphere," Woerner said. "And we have other family activities set up around that so the whole family can enjoy it."

The event also serves as a showcase for the continued expansion of the Pontiac motorsports complex. Over the past several months, M1 Concourse has added several new attractions, including a sky bridge, off-road course and drag strip.

"Weve built quite a few things," Zlotoff said.

A new karting track behind the M1 X Center is complete. The facility, which organizers say will be the first M1 attraction open to the general public, is expected to open later this month.

For motorsports enthusiasts, Woerner says the X Center offers a unique experience.

"If you're a motorsports lover, it is a motorsports heaven," he said.

The American Speed Festival runs Saturday and Sunday at M1 Concourse in Pontiac. Children 12 and younger will be admitted free with a ticketed adult.

"Its just a great car happening and its a wonderful venue," Vidu said.

Temperatures are starting to drop across Michigan and some areas are already reaching their peak fall foliage.

Peak and moderate colors have taken over much of the Upper Peninsula to start off October, with some spots seeing low colors, according to explorefall.com.

In northern lower Michigan, you'll see low to moderate color to kick the month off.

The lower parts of Michigan are seeing low color, with little to no color in the southeast and southwest edges of the state.

Moderate color is expected to take over the Lower Peninsula as the Upper Peninsula reaches and passes peak color. Higher colors move into the lower peninsula mid-October, and some areas will reach peak color.

West Michigan and mid-Michigan will start seeing peak colors toward the end of the month around Oct. 24 and Oct. 25. Southeast Michigan will start seeing peak foliage around Oct. 25.

By the second week of November, color will be past peak across the state.

The Trump administration is expressing optimism that diesel prices will drop after the G7 countries announced they would release 100 million barrels of oil immediately.

The release will be front-loaded with a "substantial diesel release" to address near-record prices.

In an interview with Scripps News, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said this will be welcome relief for farmers and truckers.

RELATED STORY | G7 nations agree to release 100 million barrels of oil, including diesel

"We are in the middle of harvest season," Rollins said. "The diesel price makes a huge difference in terms of profitability. So this action taken by the president with our allies overseas to make sure that we're getting more into the supply system is coming at a really, really important time."

While Rollins admitted this is a short-term solution to lower diesel prices, she insists the president's actions to become more energy independent will be important to addressing long-term issues.

"For the short term, we're going to do everything we can to make sure that this is as painless as possible, but fully understand, especially the cost of diesel, especially right now during harvest season that's why the president is being very aggressive to solve for all of these short-term issues," Rollins said.

As of Friday, the national average for a gallon of diesel was $6.37, according to AAA. At the same time in 2025, the price was $3.70.

Does a shorter shelf life mean your food is more natural? Not necessarily, according to a new study.

Researchers found that shoppers often use shelf life and expiration dates as a shortcut for judging how natural or healthy a product is.

The finding emerged from a series of experiments in which participants were presented with identical foods that had different shelf lives.

In one experiment, participants chose between pasta sauces with one-year and three-year shelf lives.

RELATED STORY | Aldi expands prepared food offerings with new meal line

When researchers emphasized the importance of consuming natural foods, nearly 70% chose the item with the one-year shelf life.

"We provide all the necessary information to make a rational choice. We provide ingredient lists. We provide nutritional facts. But it's a lot to process," explains UBC Sauder associate professor Dr. Yann Cornil, who co-authored the study with Dr. Dan Liu of Jinan University and Dr. Xiaobing Xu of Hainan University.

Researchers believe consumers are using shelf life as a mental shortcut when evaluating food products. As a result, they may choose items that spoil more quickly and are more likely to be wasted.

The study also found that a longer shelf life can result from improved packaging, not necessarily from additional processing or preservatives.

The takeaway: A shorter shelf life doesn't automatically mean a product is healthier or more natural, and choosing shorter-lasting foods could unintentionally contribute to more food waste.

Election Day is still a month away but, as of Friday, more than 93,000 Michiganders have already cast their ballot. 

Michigan has just under two million vote-by-mail voters and absentee ballots started going out last week.

According to the Michigan Secretary of State website, 1.3% of eligible Michiganders have voted (93,154).

What's at stake in Michigan midterm election

There are many local races for elected office and ballot questions on the line in November's general election, not to mention deciding who will be Michigan’s next governor and U.S. Senator. 

Voters looking for more information on the candidates for governor and U.S. Senate can tune in next week to a pair of televised debates.

Michigan's gubernatorial candidates - Republican congressman John James and Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson - are scheduled to take part in a televised debate from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday in Grand Rapids.

Two days later, Michigan's U.S. Senate candidates - Democratic former local public health official Abdul El-Sayed and Republican former congressman Mike Rogers - will appear in a debate from 7-8 p.m. Thursday.

Election Day is November 3.

Today on Stateside, we continued a series of conversations with candidates running for Michigan's Supreme Court. Casandra Morse-Bills is a Republican, and a presiding judge for a state circuit court on the edge of Saginaw Bay.

Then, reporting on how Michigan farmers are faring with high diesel prices during this year's harvest.

Also, photographer Joseph Ferraro talked about his practice of zooming in on insect life. Ferraro's workspace is part of a Detroit building in which artists are hosting open studios this weekend.

Finally, we spoke with advocate Valerie von Frank. The founder of Parents of Sister Survivors Engage (POSSE), von Frank has assisted survivors of sexual assault in legal and personal struggles. We turn to her for perspectives on the Cornell Seven case, in which an unnamed student is suing the university, her sorority, and a Cornell fraternity and seven of its members for an alleged sexual assault.

GUESTS ON TODAY'S SHOW:

• Casandra Morse-Bills, presiding judge in Michigan’s 23rd Judicial Court
• Steve Carmody, Mid-Michigan reporter for Michigan Public.
• Joseph Ferraro, photographer.
• Valerie von Frank, founder of Parents of Sister Survivors Engage (POSSE).

Christa Pike remained in a hospital where she was on a ventilator and unconscious after her failed execution in Tennessee, her attorneys said in a court filing Friday.

Hospital staff were working to save Pikes life and clear the pentobarbital she was administered from her system as of late Thursday, the attorneys said.

RELATED STORY | Christa Pike being treated at hospital after botched execution, attorneys say

Pike was given two doses of the drug in a failed attempt Wednesday to execute her.

In the court filing, Pikes attorneys said they believed problems with the IV lines caused the pentobarbital to flow into her body instead of her bloodstream.

Apparently at no point did any member of the execution team realize that the IV lines were not correctly placed or that the veins had blown and that the pentobarbital was, in whole or in part, entering Ms. Pikes body, they wrote.

They wrote that instead of remedying this failure prepared and administered a backup set of pentobarbital syringes.

Those glowing online reviews may not always be what they seem.

A study from George Mason University suggests that businesses that use fake positive reviews can damage their reputation and lose consumer trust.

The research examined Yelp's practice of placing a prominent "Consumer Alert" banner on the listing pages of businesses suspected of manipulating reviews. The warning typically remains in place for about 90 days.

We dont know every signal Yelp uses to identify fake or paid-for reviews, but from what we know, Yelp relies substantially on reports from consumers and business owners, said Yi Cao, assistant professor of accounting at the Costello College of Business at George Mason University. There are also reports that Yelp uses an algorithm to screen reviews for AI-generated language, which can be a sign of review inflation.

Researchers found that businesses flagged for review manipulation experienced reputational damage and lost customer trust.

The takeaway: Before making a purchase based on ratings on sites like Yelp or Amazon, look beyond the stars.

Consider how established the business or product is, and be cautious of reviews that seem overwhelmingly positive or appear in large numbers over a short period of time.

Dutch Girl Donuts will officially open its second location in Detroit on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

Earlier this year, owner Paddy Lynch, who also owns The Schvitz and Dakota Inn Rathseller, said he purchased the building on E. Grand Blvd. between Oakland Ave. and I-75. It was widely known as the name of Howrani Studios.

In June, it opened for one day on National Donut Day for a preview.

The new location will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will have donuts until they sell out, and coffee until 1 p.m. no matter what.

According to Lynch, the building will continue to house Ara Howrani and his family's photography business in the original space, but will also be the home of Dutch Girl Donuts' second location. Lynch said that Howrani was the person who introduced Lynch to The Schvitz.