What does accountability look like for Michigan’s utilities after over half a million residents lost power earlier this month? 

Last week, the state opened an investigation into DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, and Indiana Michigan Power Co. for their response to the outages, which stretched on for multiple days for some residents in 90 degree heat.

In Farmington Hills, at a senior living home, where some residents rely on oxygen machines, staff were dressing people in the dark. 

The Michigan Public Service Commission is demanding that utilities explain by August how they deployed crews, how they guarded downed wires, and why their restoration estimates kept moving.

Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich joined Robyn Vincent on The Metro to discuss how her residents were affected by the outages and how she believes the utilities should be held accountable. 

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have thoughts? Email the show at metro@wdet.org.

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The Detroit Youth Choir has had an inspiring rise from the city of Detroit to some of the largest stages in the entertainment industry. Yet that hasn’t taken away from the mission of the organization: youth development. 

The young performers have lit up stages from America’s Got Talent to Carnegie Hall.

The Color Purple, a novel by Alice Walker, has been adapted for the screen and live performances.

The tale spans 40 years of life for Celie, a Black woman living in the south, beginning in the early 1900’s. After her abusive father marries her off to Mister, Albert Johnson, life does not improve. Celie finds love and connection where she can, including with supporting character Shug Avery. Throughout the novel, it’s Celie’s goal to find her sister.

The Color Purple performed by Detroit Youth Choir has four shows with two casts. They’re performing at The Hawk Theatre in Farmington Hills. Performances are set for June 26- 28.

Jala Jackson is director of theater production for Detroit Youth Choir. DJ Whitfield is a recent graduate of Taylor Preparatory Academy. He’s playing the lead role of Mister. Sydney Thomas will be a Junior at Novi Highschool. She is playing the lead role of Shug Avery.

They joined The Metro to chat more about the upcoming performances and why The Color Purple was chosen.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and stream on-demand.

Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro