A new cell phone policy in schools takes affect this year.

Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti in a recent letter sent to parents this week announced cell phone use is not allowed from the entry bell to the dismissal bell. Individual schools will communicate their policy for phones, whether it is to collect and return devices daily or instruct students to turn them off and put them away. The letter says parents who want to reach out to their children during the day should call the school directly.  

Governor Gretchen Whitmer earlier this year signed a law banning the use of cell phones during instructional time. The law addresses research that shows phones are the biggest sources of distraction in classrooms and when student put their phones down, their grades improve. 

There are also concerns about the effects of constant phone use on students’ attention spans, mental health, and social relationships. 

Additional headlines for Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026

Survey finds kids eat unhealthy breakfasts 

A survey by the University of Michigan’s C.S Mott Children’s Hospital finds most kids eat breakfast before school. But as it may not be a nutritious meal. The hospital says a healthy breakfast consists of a lean protein, high fiber content and a healthy source of fat.  

Mott’s Poll Co-Director and pediatrician Susan Woolford says parents report three top barriers to healthy eating they face daily.  

“First of all, 44% said that their child is a picky eater, and then just over a third mentioned that their child is a little bit grumpy or slow in the morning, and then about a third said that time was a barrier.” 

Woolford suggests preparing breakfast ahead of time to ensure the meal is nutritious and there is time to eat it.  

She also suggests parents with picky eaters let the children help choose healthy options for their meal.  

Mayor Sheffield announces plan to bring rentable housing into compliance

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield wants to bring thousands more rental units up to code. The goal is to increase the compliance rate for single- and double-family units from 14% to 25% within a year.

Most of Detroit’s rental properties are 1 or 2 family units. Sheffield says the city will help small-scale landlords get their compliance certificates.

Six months ago, the mayor launched an effort to bring 65 senior apartment buildings up to code by now. The city has surpassed that goal, issuing 88 compliance certificates.

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The Detroit Public Schools Community District Board of Education has appointed 25-year-old youth advocate Jeremiah Steen to serve on the board for the rest of the year. 

Steen is filling the vacancy for Board Member Dr. Iris Taylor, who died in July at the age of 74. 

Taylor served in several roles, most recently as the Board Treasurer and former president. 

Steen is the founder of the Steen Foundation, a youth-oriented social group that promotes inquisitive thinking, helping teens advance community through creativity. He was formerly a member of the Skillman Foundation’s inaugural President’s Youth Council. He was the first youth board member. 

School Board President LaTrice McClendon says the board is proud to welcome Steen who will serve until Dec.31.

Additional headlines for Monday, Aug. 24, 2026

Arab American Chamber of Commerce fires executive director

The American Arab Chamber of Commerce has fired its Executive Director Bilal Hammoud on allegations of missing funds according to a statement released Friday. The chamber says it has retained an attorney to investigate.  

The Detroit News reports the investigation is due to $1 million in missing funds. Hammoud also served as the CEO of Tejara, a nonprofit business incubator powered by the American Arab Chamber of Commerce. 

This comes after the previous executive director Fay Beydoun allegedly diverted a $20 million grant by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation intended for the chamber to Global International Link, another company she created. She is now facing 16 felony charges. 

Bilal Hammoud has not yet publicly commented on the incident. 

MDHHS changes baby formula distributed by WIC

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is changing infant formula distributed by the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. Beginning Nov. 1, Michigan will begin carrying Mead Johnson Enfamil products. WIC is ending its contract with Abbott Similac products.

WIC provides supplemental nutrition for pregnant and postpartum women. About 187,000 people participate in WIC each month. 

For more information about baby formula changes, visit michigan.gov/wic.  

Annual block party  

The Detroit Health Department is hosting its fifth annual Block Party.  The event will feature free food and beverages, health screenings and back-to-school vaccinations. There will also be a safe space walk-n-rally at 11 a.m.

The event takes place Sept. 12 from noon to 4 p.m. on 100 Mack Ave., between John R and Mack and Erskine Streets. 

Mural in Eastern Market tells story of healthcare in the U.S.

A new mural at the Eastern Market by artist Oshun Williams depicts the rising cost of healthcare. It’s part of the “One Nation, Overcharged” campaign, a national grassroots movement seeking a healthcare system which puts people over profits. The mural was unveiled over the weekend on Saturday.  

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The Madison Heights City Council voted to cut “Drag Queen Story Time” from their Pride festival days before the event. The story time event would have featured drag queen performer Jadein Black reading books to children during the city’s celebrations.

Council members voted 4-3 to cancel it, due to concerns about the “appropriateness” of a drag queen reading to children.

Black told Fox 2 she was surprised the city canceled the program. Black says instead she will be performing a drag queen story time this weekend at Sidetrack in Ypsilanti. 

Additional headlines from Thursday, June 4, 2026

New hangar opens at Detroit airport

A new 20,000 square foot hangar opened at the Coleman A. Young International Airport on Detroit’s east side Wednesday.  

It’s the first new facility to open at the airport in 60 years.  

Mayor Mary Sheffield says it’s the start of many investments in store for the airport.  “We are continuing major investments into our airport, including runway and taxi upgrades, safety enhancements, the upcoming My Flight helicopter tour facility in the new Benjamin Davis Aerospace Academy that will be opening this fall.” 

The new hangar was planned, designed, and built by Avflight. The company has operated at the city airport since 2011.  

Incentive increases attendance in DPSCD

The Detroit Public Schools Community District says nearly 84% of high schoolers were paid for attendance this year. That’s roughly 12,800 students who received at least one $100 visa gift card for showing up to class everyday between January and May this year.

District officials say absenteeism decreased by 10 percentage points this school year compared to 2023-24 before the incentive program began. The district launched the initiative last year as part of an effort to curb chronic absenteeism. 

Free Dutch Girl Donuts 

Friday is National Donut Day, and Detroit staple Dutch Girl Donuts is celebrating by offering free donuts at its new second location in New Center.

Customers can receive two free donuts while supplies last from 8-10 a.m. at its location on 2820 E. Grand Boulevard.   

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A judge has dismissed a lawsuit targeting a millage proposal on the August primary ballot that would prevent Wayne County communities from opting out of the SMART bus system.  

The group Not SMART Wayne filed the suit, claiming the Wayne County Transit Authority did not follow disclosure and notice requirements before placing the millage on the ballot.  The judge dismissed the case for insufficient evidence.  

Matthew Wilk is an organizer of Not SMART Wayne.  He says the battle is not over. “So we are going to fight this at the ballot box.  We’re going to make sure everybody knows exactly what they’re doing.  I think it is wholly inappropriate to have a tax, a special double tax on Detroiters.  It’s 650,000 Detroiters and we’re going to let the world know about it.”   

Wayne County Executive Warren Evans applauded the judge’s decision.  Evans says expanding the SMART bus system will provide an affordable alternative, especially when Detroiters are dealing with high gas prices.  Voters will see the millage proposal on the August 4 ballot. 

-Reporting by Bre’Anna Tinsley

Additional headlines for Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Dearborn starts aggressive driving unit 

The city of Dearborn has launched a new unit to stop aggressive driving.  The city says the unit will watch for driving behaviors that may cause accidents and threaten the public’s safety.  

The Dearborn police department has acquired three Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles for the special unit.  Those cars will be able to more easily blend in with normal traffic.  

The city says police officers issued more than 33,000 traffic citations last year.   

Gas prices fall

Metro Detroit gas prices are trending downward despite continued hostilities in the Middle East.  

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular in the area is now $4.28.  That’s down 29 cents per gallon from last week at this time.  

Analysts say talk of a possible peace deal has helped push prices lower.  But the U.S. and Iran have both launched strikes in recent days – and there’s no clear word on when the situation might be resolved.  

The vital Strait of Hormuz remains closed to commercial ship traffic.  Twenty percent of the world’s crude oil typically passes through that waterway. 

DPSCD to demolish Cooley High School 

The Detroit Public Schools Community District will demolish Cooley High School this summer.  That’s according to reporting by Bridge Detroit and Historic Detroit.  The high school was originally built in 1928 and closed in 2010.  

There were efforts to save the building.  The non-profit Life Remodeled had offered in 2023 to purchase the site from the district, but that offer was rejected. 

Teacher of the Year nominations open 

And the Michigan Department of Education is looking to recognize teachers for their hard work.  

The Teacher of the Year program was created to acknowledge the achievements of educators in the state.  Anyone can nominate a teacher using the form on the state Department of Education website until September 23.  

The winner of the award will be announced in the spring.  

-Reporting by Helena Najar 

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