The National Coffee Association found that 66% of Americans drink coffee daily. But where in the country can you get the best brew? Many may first think of Seattle, home to one of the most popular chains, Starbucks. Wallet Hub ranked Portland as the city with the best cup in its ranking last month.
But the city of Dearborn is challenging those opinions and fighting for the title “Coffee Capital of America”. In Dearborn, drinking the beverage is a huge part of the culture.
Take it from Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, who had this to say in the documentary short called “Dearborn: The Coffee Capital”: “We gather around coffee, we laugh around coffee, we share stories, pass down memories and build community.”
Dearborn is home to more than 45 coffee shops in its 24 square miles and could be considered the birthplace of a Yemeni coffee shop revolution. Brands like Qahwah House, Qamaria, and Haraz have been popping up across the country—and they all started in Dearborn.
With over 80 locations combined nationwide and more than 50 planned expansions within the next 6 months, Yemeni coffee shops are quickly expanding. The popularity has grown in a space that lacked a late-night, alcohol-free third space for people to gather.
What defines Yemeni coffee?
Yemeni coffee has an earthy flavor profile with notes of chocolate and dried fruit. Cardamom is often added to the coffee grounds to create blends such as ‘sana’ani’, Yemeni’s version of black coffee. Add milk or cream and you get ‘mufawar’.
Yemen is also where we get the term ‘mocha.’ While today the term refers to coffee and chocolate syrup, Mokha is a port city in Yemen which once served as a major hub for coffee exports.
With each new outlet opening shop owners are taking back the culture of coffee.
“Our slogan is: ‘discover coffee’s origin.’ And it’s almost like taking a road trip through Yemen,” said Qamaria founder Sanad Mashgri.
Dearborn has the largest Arab American community in the country. Yemeni residents are the second largest Middle Eastern population in the city, according to the 2020 census.
Yemeni history, global economy
Yemeni coffee shop owners are hoping to educate java enthusiasts about the region’s history with the bean. They say Yemeni monks were the first to brew coffee.
“At one point, 100 years ago, Yemeni coffee was the backbone of Yemen’s economy, and they exported coffee all over the world,” said Hamza Nasser, CEO and founder of Haraz.
“And since we started exploding with all these coffee shops, whether it’s Haraz, Qahwah house, you know Qamaria, you know Jabal, everyone, hand in hand, you know, we’re all working together to revive this economy in Yemen, bringing it back,” Nasser said.
Many cafes in Dearborn import their coffee directly from Yemen. Nasser says he does this to help end the cycle of poverty in his family’s home country. He says his company alone imports nearly three million dollar’s worth of raw beans each year.
“That $3 million you have over 500 families living out of it,” Nasser said. “I now big corporations here buy coffee for $1 a pound, you know, I wish that was the case for us, but we knew we had to pay a fair price to our farmers so they can have a better life, and not just, you know, surviving.”
Coffee culture
Shop owners are not only working to educate Metro Detroiters about the history of coffee. They are also sharing their culture around coffee.
In Dearborn, a cup of joe is more than just a drink to start your day. Coffee shops can stay open as late as midnight and have become a third space for residents. And for many in the area, coffee and community are synonymous.
“We don’t really have a lot of bars or places you know to drink alcohol in the city anymore, so I think coffee shops have really taken over,” said Ali Bakri. He is the owner of Bakri Coffee, a shop that serves Yemeni coffee among other blends.
“We are a very diverse Muslim community, and I think for us, it’s kind of a good way to get out and mingle and talk and without, you know, committing what we say haram, in the sense of, you know, drinking alcohol or something like that,” Bakri said.
Hamza Nasser says coffee shops in Dearborn are new hotspots.
“A lot of women in our community, they didn’t have much options to go and hang out, you know. It was a lot of hookah shops and many people didn’t feel comfortable caught in in hookah shops,” Nasser said.
And Nasser says that the coffee shops have even become the perfect place to find love.
“There’s nothing much better than meeting your future spouse at a coffee shop. Because there’s a 100% chance of you meeting somebody that’s either they’re working or educated. You’re not going to meet somebody drunk, you’re taking home like at a bar. So, we call coffee shops now ‘the halal bar,’” Nasser joked.
But, many Dearborn residents agree.
“They just come to sit and have a good time. And this is what coffee shops are offering for people just to come,” said resident Neda Albuabsi. She said she would sometimes come to a coffee shop and not even order a drink, but to meet up with friends.
Resident Ali Komeiha frequents Qahwah House during his workday, but he also enjoys being able to meet people from all walks of life at the shop.
“To meet new people and different cultures. This is good. This is healthy for this community,” Komeiha said.
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Detroit Youth Assembly encourages civic engagement among Detroit’s youth
The Detroit Youth Assembly is next month. The City is inviting young people from across Detroit to connect with city leadership, share their voices, and take action on the issues that are important to them.
The Detroit Youth Assembly will be on Thursday, November 6, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Northwest Activity Center Theater.
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park opens on Detroit’s west riverfront
Detroit’s newest park opens this weekend. The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park sits along the west riverfront between downtown and the Ambassador Bridge. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy broke ground on the 22-acre project three years ago. The park features playgrounds, a water garden, and two indoor basketball courts. Tomorrow’s grand opening is part of this year’s Detroit Harvest Fest.
Inmates appeal dismissal of lawsuit over recorded strip searches
Lawyers for hundreds of inmates at the Huron Valley Correctional Facility say they’ll appeal a judge’s dismissal of their lawsuit. The women sued the prison after corrections officers recorded strip searches with body cameras. The judge ruled Michigan law only allows inmate lawsuits that allege physical harm.
But attorney Todd Flood says the recordings did cause harm, including flashbacks, insomnia, and panic attacks.
“It’s unconscionable to me. At least 80% of the women who are incarcerated have been subject to domestic violence, sexual assault, or some sort of battery,” Flood said.
The Michigan Department of Corrections stopped most strip-search recordings in March. The department agreed with the judge who threw out the lawsuit.
Sports roundup
Rivalry returns: Michigan vs. Michigan State
Tomorrow is the big game that divides our great state — the Michigan Wolverines face off against the Michigan State Spartans. The Wolverines’ record is 5–2 and the Spartans’ record is 3–4.
The head-to-head matchup takes place at Spartan Stadium and will be covered by NBC. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m.
Pistons look to bounce back
The NBA is back and the Detroit Pistons play tonight against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.
They lost their opening game to the Chicago Bulls but hope to bounce back this weekend. Tipoff for tonight’s game is at 8 p.m. EST.
Then, Cade Cunningham and the crew return home to play the Boston Celtics on Sunday at Little Caesars Arena.
Love Peace and Light Foundation hosts Youth Empowerment Day
Detroit’s Love Peace and Light Foundation is hosting Youth Empowerment Day on November 8.
The group is collecting hygiene products, canned goods, and winter clothing for youth and families. They’re also collecting monetary donations to reach a goal of $5,000.
The event will be held November 8 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Coleman A. Young Recreation Center.
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Ryan Merkley, director of research advocacy at the Washington D.C.-based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine told the House Regulatory Reform Committee that experimenting on dogs is becoming a rarity at research labs across the country.
“You can see the trend and you can also clearly see that human health research can be done without causing dogs to suffer,” he said.
Former research veterinarian Sally Christopher said using live dogs for medical experiments is outdated and cruel.
“The pain and suffering by dogs at Wayne State is plain to see in the university’s own records,” she said. “What’s equally concerning is the fruitless nature of these experiments, which have not yielded benefits for human patients.”
A Wayne State University veterinary researcher told the committee that experimenting on dogs is, indeed, rare and is handled humanely.
Dr. Michael Bradley said his laboratory uses dogs in experiments on congestive heart failure and hypertension. He told the House Committee on Regulatory Reform that the National Institutes of Health funds the research because it helps save lives.
“Over the 30-plus-year history of this research at Wayne State, there have been numerous scientific advancements that have been added to the body of knowledge of cardiovascular physiology,” he said. “Contrary to recent claims, our research has produced meaningful, peer-reviewed results.”
The regulatory reform committee is chaired by Representative Joe Aragona (R-Clinton Township), who sponsored the bill. It already has wide bipartisan support, but the committee did not vote on the bill Thursday.
Even though Michigan’s 2026 state budget was already passed and signed into law, the drama continues as the Senate and House disagree about a bill calling for more transparency with enhancement grants known as “earmarks.” This week on MichMash, WDET’s Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow explain what earmarks are and what role they play in the recently-passed budget.
Then, they sit down with Budget Director Jen Flood to dig into the details of what was included in the state budget.
There’s a long history of earmarks being used as a way for lawmakers to bring new projects and resources to their districts. Some have gone to organizations to carry out a specific function, and some have been the center of controversy.
The purpose of these new transparency bills is to establish earmark guidelines before the next budget season. This past season, earmark guidelines were being established at the same time as lawmakers were working on the budget.
Unpacking the state budget
Flood shared that there were a lot of obstacles to overcome when making the 2026 state budget.
“We had a lot of things working against us,” she said. “We had a divided legislature for the first time in 15 years, we were facing a road funding shortfall, and last summer, Congress blew a $1 billion hole in our state budget with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. And so we had our work cut out for us.”
Flood added that the budget includes $2 billion in road funding, which she says will protect jobs in the construction industry.
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NEW YORK (AP) — The head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and a player for the Miami Heat were arrested Thursday along with more than 30 other people in a takedown of two sprawling gambling operations that authorities said leaked inside information about NBA athletes and rigged poker games backed by Mafia families.
Portland coach Chauncey Billups was charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games tied to La Cosa Nostra organized crime families that cheated unsuspecting gamblers out of at least $7 million. Heat guard Terry Rozier was accused in a separate scheme of exploiting private information about players to win bets on NBA games.
The two indictments unsealed in New York create a massive cloud for the NBA — which opened its season this week — and show how certain types of wagers are vulnerable to massive fraud in the growing, multibillion-dollar legal sports-betting industry. Joseph Nocella, the top federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of New York, called it “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.”
“My message to the defendants who’ve been rounded up today is this: Your winning streak has ended,” Nocella said. “Your luck has run out.”
Here’s how indictment says Terry Rozier shared information that paid off for bettor
Who are Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier and Damon Jones?
The NBA hoped to begin its season on a strong note. A scandal arrived instead
Both men face money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy charges. Also charged was former NBA assistant coach and player Damon Jones, who stands accused of participating in both schemes.
“The fraud is mind boggling,” FBI Director Kash Patel told reporters. “We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars in fraud and theft and robbery across a multiyear investigation.”
The alleged fraud, however, paled in comparison to the riches the athletes earned on the court. Billups, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year, had about $106 million in earnings over his 17-year career. Rozier made about $160 million in his stops in Boston, Miami and Charlotte.
Billups and Rozier have been placed on leave from their teams, according to the NBA, which said it is cooperating with authorities.
“We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority,” the NBA said in a statement.
Hours after his arrest, Rozier appeared in a federal court in Orlando, Florida, wearing a Charlotte Hornets sweatshirt, handcuffs and shackles. Billups appeared before a judge in Portland, Oregon. Both men were ordered released from custody on certain conditions.
Billups’ attorney, Chris Heywood, issued a statement Thursday evening denying the allegations, calling his client a “man of integrity.” “To believe that Chauncey Billups did what the federal government is accusing him of is to believe that he would risk his Hall-of-Fame legacy, his reputation and his freedom. He would not jeopardize those things for anything, let alone a card game,” Heywood said.
Rozier’s lawyer, Jim Trusty, said in a statement that his client is “not a gambler” and “looks forward to winning this fight.” Trusty criticized authorities for not allowing his client to surrender on his own and accused officials of wanting “the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk.”
Messages were left Thursday at a phone number and email address listed in public records for Jones.
Roughly 20 other defendants appeared in federal court in Brooklyn, where most of them pleaded not guilty. Many of those charged with violent crimes or with lengthy criminal records and ties to organized crime were detained.
Mafia families profited off gambling scheme, officials say
The poker scheme lured unwitting players into rigged games with the chance to compete against former professional basketball players like Billups and Jones. The games were fixed using sophisticated cheating technology, such as altered card-shuffling machines, hidden cameras in poker chip trays, special sunglasses and even X-ray equipment built into the table to read cards, authorities allege.
The scheme often made use of illegal poker games run by New York crime families that required them to share a portion of their proceeds with the Gambino, Genovese and Bonnano crime families, according to court papers. Members of those families, in turn, also helped commit violent acts, including assault, extortion and robbery, to ensure repayment of debts and the continued success of the operation, officials said in court documents.
Athletes accused of leaving games early
In the sports betting scheme, Rozier and other defendants are accused of accessing private information from NBA players or coaches that could affect a player’s performance and giving that information to others so they could place wagers. Players sometimes altered their performance or took themselves out of games early to rig prop bets — a type of wager that allows gamblers to bet on whether a player will exceed a certain statistic, such as a total number of points, rebounds or assists, according to the indictment.
In one instance, Rozier, while playing for the Charlotte Hornets in 2023, told people he was planning to leave the game early with a supposed injury, allowing gamblers to place wagers earning them tens of thousands of dollars, authorities said. That game against the New Orleans Pelicans raised eyebrows at the time. Rozier played the first 9 minutes and 36 seconds of the game before leaving, citing a foot issue. He did not play again that season.
Posts still online from March 23, 2023, show that some bettors were furious with sportsbooks that evening when it became evident that Rozier was not going to return to the game after the first quarter, with many turning to social media to say that something “shady” had happened regarding the prop bets involving his stats for that night.
The indictments contain the descriptions of several unnamed NBA players whose injury status and availability for certain games were the source of betting activity. Those players are not accused of any wrongdoing, and there is no indication that they would have even known what was being said about their status for those games.
Those players include LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard. Their identities are clear based on a review of corresponding injury reports surrounding games mentioned in the indictment. The indictments show that certain defendants shared information about the availability of those players in a game on March 24, 2023, involving the Portland Trail Blazers, and two games in 2023 and 2024 involving the Los Angeles Lakers.
The NBA had investigated Rozier previously. He was in uniform as the Heat played the Magic on Wednesday in Orlando, Florida, in the season opener for both teams, though he did not play in the game.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced he’s ending “all trade negotiations” with Canada because of a television ad opposing U.S. tariffs that he said misstated the facts and called “egregious behavior” aimed at influencing U.S. court decisions.
The post on Trump’s social media site came Thursday night after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he aims to double his country’s exports to countries outside the U.S. because of the threat posed by Trump’s tariffs. Trump’s call for an abrupt end to negotiations could further inflame trade tensions that already have been building between the two neighboring countries for months.
Trump posted, “The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs.”
“The ad was for $75,000. They only did this to interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts,” Trump wrote on his social media site.
“TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A. Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”
Carney’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The prime minister was set to leave Friday morning for a summit in Asia, while Trump is set to do the same Friday evening.
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George Wallace’s observational humor, and masterful storytelling have earned him a place among comedy’s most iconic figures.
As a comic, writer and actor he has been casted in “Seinfeld,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Mr. Deeds” and so many more staple TV shows and films. Wallace is perhaps best known for his iconic “I Be Thinkin’ routines and his signature “Yo Mama” jokes. He currently stars alongside Laverne Cox in the comedy series, “Clean Slate.”
In 2004, Wallace headlined his own show at The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. It was initially only greenlit for 30 days, but the show became so popular it ran for over a decade. That’s how he earned the nickname “The New Mr. Vegas.”
Wallace joined the The Metro to discuss all the things he appreciates most in his life.
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Food stamps will not be available in Michigan next month.
The state Department of Health and Humans Services says it’s been instructed by federal officials to pause the Snap benefits program in November as a result of funding gaps caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown. Around 13% of Michigan households rely on Snap benefits—roughly 1.4 million residents.
In a statement, the State of Michigan said the program will remained be paused until further notice.
Additional headlines from Thursday, October 23, 2025
Hamtramck’s former Chief Altaheri allowed to resign, collect severance pay after lawsuit
Former Police Chief of Hamtramck Jamiel Altaheri has reached an agreement with the city that allows him to resign and receive five months of his salary as severance. His resignations is being back dated to August.
Altaheri was the first Yemeni American and Muslim police chief in the city. Tensions between Altaheri and the former city manager led to an internal investigation. Allegations against Altaheri prompted him to sue the city.
Eventually Altaheri agreed to drop the lawsuit, and resign instead of being fired.
Honorary street sign
Community organization Dream of Detroit is asking for support from residents to get an honorary street sign for Imam Abdullah Bey El-Amin on the corner of Davison Street and Woodrow Wilson Street on Detroit’s west side.
El-Amin was a prominent faith leader in Detroit and co-founder of the Muslim Center of Detroit. He died in March of 2023. Dream of Detroit is asking residents to give messages of support to city council at their next formal session, Tuesday October 28.
Michigan Starters Coalition seeks to remove barriers for new entrepreneurs
An entrepreneurial advocacy group Right to Start is launching the Michigan Starters Coalition. It’s a statewide initiative promoting entrepreneurship as a civic priority.
The group aims to educate lawmakers about removing barriers to starting and growing a business and increasing public awareness about how starting new businesses drives economic growth. To learn more visit righttostart.org/michiganstarters
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Amid reports that federal immigration officials are accelerating the deportation process of Lue Yang, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has pardoned the Hmong refugee. The governor called him “a devoted family man and respected leader in Michigan’s Hmong community.”
Yang, 47, a father of six from St. Johns, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in July. ICE cites a decades-old conviction for attempted second-degree home invasion, a crime committed when he was 19.
Michigan courts have since expunged that record under the state’s Clean Slate law, but federal immigration rules still treat it as grounds for removal.
Since his arrest, Yang has been transferred through multiple ICE facilities, including the federal staging site in Alexandria, Louisiana, which is part of a network used for deportation flights. His case unfolds as the Trump administration has increased removals of Southeast Asian refugees this year.
Refugee to community builder
During the Vietnam War, Yang’s family, like many Hmong in Laos, worked alongside U.S. troops and CIA operatives, a loyalty that later forced them to flee their homeland and begin again in America.
Before his family’s journey to the U.S., Yang was born in a Thai refugee camp. He was brought to America as a young child and has no connection to Laos, the country immigration officials are considering for his deportation.
His wife, Ann Vue, told The Metro he has been a pillar for the state’s Hmong residents.
“He has literally brought our Hmong community out and gave us a voice — that we do exist in the state of Michigan.”
Advocates, including Michigan State Sen. Stephanie Chang and immigration attorney Aisa Villarosa of the Asian Law Caucus, say they’ve received reports that Yang’s deportation is proceeding. They believe he was placed on a plane last night with a leg to Laos.
The Metro has contacted ICE but has not yet received confirmation.
Villarosa says she is encouraged by the governor’s pardon, calling it “a groundbreaking step in the movement to challenge Lue’s detention and deportation, and a message of affirmation to the millions of loved ones and advocates at the front lines of inhumane immigration enforcement policies.”
Still, she says, the effect of Whitmer’s pardon on Yang’s immigration case remains unclear.
Just before Whitmer announced Yang’s pardon, Villarosa joined The Metro’s Robyn Vincent to discuss fighting to keep families like the Yangs together.
Use the audio player above to listen.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
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When it comes to our federal system, we often don’t have a representative, majoritarian democracy. That means the idea of “one person, one vote” often does not hold.
Gerrymandering favors one party to be elected in the House of Representatives. The electoral college overrides the popular vote. Money is considered speech, which means that people with more of it have more influence in our politics.
What would it look like to have a democracy that represents people more than it does geography, and to have a politics that doesn’t favor the rich over those with fewer means?
Osita Nwanevu is a writer at The New Republic and The Guardian and the author of the book, “The Right of the People.” And in it, he argues that if we had a majoritarian democracy, we would collectively be better off.
Producer Sam Corey spoke to Osita about that prospect, and whether some ballot proposals initiated in Michigan would create a more representative democracy in the state.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.
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In the interior arch of Michigan’s “thumb” lays the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy, a group dedicated to protecting and restoring surrounding natural areas.
The conservancy currently owns and manages 9 properties in the region. One property, the Sand Point Nature Preserve, was recently recognized by the Old Growth Forest Network for its potential.
As a well-established woodlot with trees over a hundred years old, Sand Point hosts migratory birds and and diverse species. Its wetlands aid in flood management. The property also has a rare grove of hemlock trees.
Although the Old Growth Forest distinction doesn’t immediately grant the property strong legal protections, it does aid the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy when they work to apply for grants and the like. And any additional support to protect the unique ecosystem right off the shores of Lake Huron is welcome.
More signs at Sand Point showing the coordination to protect and preserve the healthy natural area.
Beyond the ecological, the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy continues to protect the surrounding areas for the community to have access to the green space. Executive Director of Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy, Zachary Branigan emphasizes the importance of preserving nature.
Listen: Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy talks Sand Point, Old Growth Forest recognition
“ Having access to high quality outdoor recreation spaces is important, for any community. You know, that’s one thing that, that the highest quality communities in the nation have in common,” says Branigan. And nature preserves like Sand Point provide a space for hikers and dog-walkers, as well as a glimpse into more heavily wooded past.
Exploring Sand Point
The Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy gained ownership over the 220 acres of undeveloped land through a series of land acquisitions between 2008-2012.
Sand Point is the largest of the properties they oversee, and includes a wide range of features that make it a gem in the region that was hit hard by deforestation in the logging boom. Program Director Trevor Edmonds highlights some of the features on property.
Listen: Program Manager Trevor Edmonds walks us through Sand Point
”There’s some pretty dense mature forests. Like kind of open meadow areas, and then some, various types of wetlands on the property. There’s a lake, there’s kind of like a seasonal pond, on the property as well,”” says Edmonds. He adds that because of the diverse array of habitats, there’s diverse fauna, including reptiles and amphibians.
As a part of their mission to maintain high quality natural areas the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy takes inventory of signs of health and potential threats to the established landscape.
Signs of ecological health at Sand Point include different species of trees—Edmonds points out maple, black cherry, and paper birch in the immediate area. He also looks for indicator species, which foreshadow what kinds of vegetation will thrive in the future.
Understory vegetation is another noted feature. “There’s a very robust canopy throughout much of this preserve’s acreage, which really kind of speaks to the overall health of the forest on this preserve.”
Sand Point Nature Preserve sign near the entrance of the property
Caretaking in nature
Edmonds then got into the weeds of property management at Sand Point.
Since acquiring the property in full, the conservancy has become experts on the wetlands and woods that make up Sand Point, as well as the pests, diseases, and invasives that threaten them.
The most present invasive on the property is phragmites, which Edmonds generally treats with hand-swiping—placing herbicide on a glove and targeting the undesirable plants in order to leave “the lightest touch possible” on the landscape.
A deep knowledge of the environment helps Edmonds monitor for invasive species and disease in the areas they are most likely to appear in, and the places they can do the most harm.
A trail map of Sand Point.
Eastern Hemlocks
One of the key features that garners attention at Sand Point is the Eastern Hemlocks. They aren’t a common tree throughout Michigan, and especially not in the thumb. Part of that is because they need a healthy tree canopy above them to grow.
Branigan describes the hemlock groves as dark and brooding, and Edmonds say that they’re a part of why Sand Point is his favorite property— in addition to its reliable five lined skink sightings.
However, hemlocks face a threat in the hemlock woolly adelgid.
Edmonds shares how the conservancy monitors for the threat. “You’re actually trying to look specifically at like the undersides of the needles. And if you actually see, like at the base of the needles where they connect to the branches, it basically will look…almost like kind of a white cottony mass that starts to like develop at the base of the needles, under the branches.”
Thankfully, Sand Point hasn’t caught any sign of the harmful pest so far. Edmonds says that its more present in the west side of the state.
But, if woolly adelgid does appear, there are ways to treat it if its detected early. “You can do like a treatment around the base where the, the roots will bring it up into the canopy of the tree and basically like eliminate the infestation.”
For now, he and other conservationists in the area maintain a careful watch.
Safeguarding access to a healthy environment
Conserving a large undeveloped land like Sand Point provides space for recreation, mitigating effects and causes of climate change, and a place for wildlife to thrive.
It’s also an education in nature. Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy’s restoration and conservation efforts uplift their preserves as healthy ambassador landscapes, environments that serve as an example of what natural areas should be at their best. “While it does obviously serve an important purpose in and of itself, hopefully the people that come and visit our properties, across all the counties that we work in… take a little something home from that as well,” says Branigan.
Additionally, it provides another place for people to fall in love with the environment.
Edmonds reflected on what it means to him as a new parent to see his daughter’s connection to nature grow. Although it’s more common to fall in love with the outdoors in one’s youth, he notes that it’s never too late for someone to click with nature.
“Nature’s always here, and we want to be an entity that makes it be the case. We want nature to be here for people and then when they’re ready to receive it and you know, be a part of it and do what they can to protect it, then like that’s on them. But we just want to be facilitators for those times when they become receptive and ready for it.”
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In this episode of CuriosiD, we answer the question:
Why isn’t Lake St. Clair considered a Great Lake?
An easy way to remember the names of the five Great Lakes is by thinking of HOMES—Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior. Add St. Clair to the list, re-arrange the first letters, and you get “SCHMOES.” Any schmo knows St. Clair is not considered a Great Lake. But why not?
Bryan Champine of Pittsburgh grew up on the lake in Chesterfield Township. He wants to know why the lake doesn’t get the same recognition as the others that surround Michigan.
“I always call it the ‘not-so-great’ lake,” Champine says. “It’s such a contributor to the overall health of the Great Lakes system, I want to see it get more appreciation.”
So, let’s dive into his question: Why isn’t Lake St Clair one of the Great Lakes?
Size matters
Donna Kashian has thought about this a lot. She’s a professor of biological sciences at Wayne State University. She’s also the president of the International Society for Great Lakes Research. Kashian and her students have studied Lake St. Clair for years. She offers what seems like the obvious answer to the question.
“I do think it’s solely on size,” Kashian says.
Lake St. Clair is tiny relative to the Great Lakes.
One look at a map supports the professor’s hypothesis. Each Great Lake dwarfs Lake St. Clair, which covers 430 square miles. That’s less than a tenth the size of Lake Ontario, the smallest Great Lake in terms of surface area. In terms of depth and volume, Lake St. Clair is shallower and holds 99 percent less water than Lake Erie.
While it may not be great in size, Kashian says Lake St. Clair’s impact on the rest of the lakes is huge.
“I look at it as the heart of the Great Lakes, because it’s even shaped like a heart,” she says.
The fishing is great
That heart pumps billions of dollars a year into Macomb County’s economy alone, providing the lifeblood for recreation, such as sport fishing.
Amateur anglers can charter a fishing boat or find a secluded spot on shore, like Tom Anderson of St. Clair Shores did. He fishes the Clinton River for perch, pike, and walleye, but rarely keeps anything he catches.
“I’m just out here to have fun,” Anderson says. “I really don’t care to have to clean them.”
Boaters love it
Boating is big business on Lake St. Clair, but it’s also a lifestyle. Steve Dobreff calls Harrison Township “Boat Town USA.”
“We have more boats per capita than anywhere else in the world in this little square mile territory,” he says.
Freedom Boat Club owner Steve Dobreff pilots a 24-footer on Lake St. Clair
Dobreff is a lawyer, but his passion is boating. He owns the Freedom Boat Club on South River Road. The club offers members the benefits of using a boat without the hassle of owning one.
“We own the boats, we do all the maintenance, all the work that you don’t want to do as an owner,” Dobreff says. “And our members get to use the boats here on Lake St. Clair.”
It’s a vital shipping route
Pleasure boats share the water with much bigger vessels, namely freighters carrying ore and other cargo. Lake St. Clair connects lakes Erie and Huron, creating a critical link in the multi-billion-dollar Great Lakes shipping industry.
The Lake Carriers Association says ships carry more than 160 million metric tons of commercial cargo across the Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair every year.
Policing the lake is a big job
The Macomb County Marine Division watches over boating and other recreational activities on Lake St. Clair. Its commander is Lt. Gary Wiegand. He says deputies patrol the water to ensure are boating safely.
Lt. Gary Wiegand directs the Macomb County Sheriff’s Department Marine Division.
“Life jackets are a big concern,” Wiegand says. “We’re also available for any kind of search and rescue or recovery operations.”
The marine division employs eight full-time sheriff deputies year-round and 70 reserve officers in the summer. Wiegand says law enforcement is their primary mission, but education is part of the job, too.
“We teach boater safety year-round at no cost to the public,” he says.
The lake is central to the environment
Lake St. Clair features the largest freshwater delta in North America. Much of that water flows through an area called “the flats” on Harsen’s Island. This creates a large habitat for all kinds of animal life, especial waterfowl.
John Darling is a wildlife technician for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. He oversees the managed hunting unit at the Lake St. Clair Flats State Wildlife area on the island. He says this is a vital hub for bird migration.
“We are at the point where the Mississippi Flyway and the Atlantic Flyway for waterfowl come together,” Darling says. “We get crossovers from both flyways with birds heading to the Atlantic Coast birds that are heading down to Mississippi.”
John Darling oversees the DNR’s managed hunting unit at the Lake St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area on Harsen’s Island.
As water flows from the St. Clair River into Lake St. Clair, Darling says the wetland acts as a filter.
“It’s slowing down that water, it’s allowing sediment to drop out,” he says. “It’s absorbing some of the pollution that’s coming downstream.”
Millions get drinking water from the lake
Removing pollutants is critical because Lake St. Clair provides drinking water for more than four million people in southeast Michigan. Candice Miller is the Macomb County Public Works Commissioner. She’s lived her entire life near the lake and says protecting it is a big job.
Candice Miller is Macomb County’s Public Works Commissioner.
“I look out there and I think about how I’m trying to do whatever we can in our department to impact the water quality and the quality of life for people that live around the lake,” she says.
Making a small lake great (again?)
Miller’s previous job was representing Macomb County in Congress. The first resolution she introduced in the House in 2003 called on Washington to preserve and protect Lake St. Clair as a vital part of the Great Lakes System. If she had a vote today, Miller says she’d give the lake a promotion.
“In my mind it is a great lake,” she says. “I don’t care if anybody says anything different, we love it.”
Big Muscamoot Bay sits at the north end of Lake St. Clair.
And there is precedent. In 1998, the federal government designated Lake Champlain between upstate New York and Vermont as the sixth Great Lake. That lasted about two weeks after states bordering the other five lakes objected.
Congressman Shri Thanedar, whose district includes part of Lake St. Clair, says hewould not make it an official Great Lake. But he agrees with Candice Miller it’s worth protecting.
Shri Thanedar in-studio at WDET-FM on Oct. 20, 2022.
“It supports 18,000 jobs, it contributes almost $2 billion in economic activity annually, so it means a lot,” Thanedar says.
The Detroit Democrat says he has sponsored efforts in both the U.S. House and the Michigan Legislature to clean up pollution in Lake St. Clair.
“A lot of the resources have to come from the federal government,” Thanedar says. “We need to make it a priority to clean our water.”
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On this episode of CuriosiD, we answer a question from WDET listener Jennifer Kulczycki about the connection between Detroit’s Big Three and our lack of public transportation.
“What up doe was born out of love and pain from the 70s to the 90s, to be born again as Detroit’s unique and coded greeting for strangers, families and friends.”
Spooky season is here, and we’ve got Halloween celebrations for Detroiters of all ages — including hayrides, canine costume contests and frightning fundraisers. Plus, art showcases, beer tastings, grand openings and more.
A weeklong celebration of the Festival of Lights, featuring cultural performances, traditional foods, community art activations and interactive experiences designed to bring the community together. Participating locations include Momo Cha, Detroit Shipping Company, The Social Brews and Detroit’s Chinatown District.
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit – Mike Kelley’s Mobile Homestead
Opens Friday, Oct. 24
$8–$12 (free for kids 12 and under)
A solo exhibition by Detroit artist Mary-Ann Monforton that reimagines icons of American wealth and ambition through playfully imperfect sculptures. Together, the works establish a dialogue that questions what it means to aspire, acquire and belong. Admission is $12 for the general public, $10 for seniors, veterans and educators, $8 for students, and free for kids 12 and under. MOCAD’s Mobile Homestead is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A free, family-friendly evening of safe trick-or-treating, hands-on games and festive entertainment throughout Green Oak shopping center. Visitors are encouraged to dress up in costume to receive candy and giveaways from retailers while supplies last. The event goes from 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Two days of free, all-ages fun featuring three live music stages, fall activities, 35 local food trucks and more. This year’s Harvest Fest also marks the grand opening of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park, a new 22-acre park on the Detroit Riverfront. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on Saturday at 10 a.m., and the festival is open Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
A beer tasting event highlighting local Michigan breweries. There will also be live music and food available for purchase. Tickets include a sample cup and 15 tasting tokens with additional tokens available for purchase. The festival goes from 1–6 p.m. This event is 21+.
A community Halloween celebration hosted by Belong Lending, a Detroit-based, community-centered mortgage company. Festivities include pumpkin giveaways, candy bags, face painting, donuts and cider, a food truck, music, and coloring books for the kids. This event goes from noon to 3 p.m. and is open to all ages.
A Halloween party for dogs and their humans featuring a costume contest with five categories, themed games, a live DJ, photo opportunities and treats for all attendees. Winners will get prizes from local businesses courtesy of Strategic Staffing Solutions, Michigan Humane and Premier Pet Supply. Festivities go from 2–4 p.m., and the costume contest begins at 2:30 p.m.
A community event celebrating the newly expanded IronBody Studios, a fitness brand led by Detroit-based entrepreneur Hannah Haynes. The grand opening will feature complimentary class demonstrations, free fitness food, an open bar, a vendor market, a professional photo booth and gift bags for the first 50 guests. Festivities go from 2–6:30 p.m. and all ages are welcome.
A Halloween benefit for WDET hosted by Modern Music host Jon Moshier and organized by friends of the station. There will be a costume contest, classic horror films and live rock n roll performances by The 3-D Invisibles, The Amino Acids and the F-Hole Wreckers. Doors open at 6 p.m., music starts at 7 p.m. and the costume contest is at 8:30 p.m. This event is 21+.
A family-friendly outdoor Halloween celebration featuring costumes, hayrides, a trick-or-treat trail, themed crafts, bounce houses and a bonfire. Admission is $15 for Farmington Hills residents and $20 for non-residents, and s’mores kits are available for an extra $2. The event goes from noon to 4 p.m.
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It began at Comerica Park during a summer Tigers game — lights bright against the sky, fans filling the stands, the rhythm of the game unfolding.
For deaf and hard-of-hearing volunteers from Detroit’s DAD Foundation, the energy was palpable, even if the experience of the ballpark was not defined by sound. They relied on sight and movement as they staffed a concession stand to raise money for their nonprofit.
They were trained for the job, but no one provided interpreters or signs to help them communicate with customers. After a confusing encounter with a secret shopper, they were told not to come back.
Now the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice has taken the case to court. They argue that what happened is discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Last month, a federal judge said their lawsuit can move forward. That means their claims under the ADA warrant a complete examination.
Although this happened at a baseball game at a popular stadium in Detroit, the story asks something bigger than baseball. What does access look like in a world built around sound?
Attorney Liz Jacob from the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice joined Robyn Vincent on The Metro to discuss what this ruling could mean for deaf and hard-of-hearing people across the country.
Transcript of the conversation below.
Robyn Vincent, co-host of The Metro: Liz, welcome back to The Metro.
Attorney Liz Jacob: Thanks so much for having me.
Robyn: And a note before we begin: radio is a hearing-based medium, and that’s part of the problem when we talk about access. So a full transcript of this story will be available online, because access starts with how we tell the story itself.
Now. Liz, before we get to the law, can you take us to that night at Comerica Park? What did communication look like for your clients? What was missing, and how did that absence shape everything that followed?
Liz: Absolutely, and let me just start off by talking a little bit about our clients. We have an amazing group of clients here who are all people who, themselves, are deaf and hard of hearing and are a part of an organization, the DAD Foundation, that actually advocates for the rights, needs, and community for deaf and hard of hearing people.
So participation in this program at Comerica Park was so important to our clients, it gave them a chance to get to be a part of game day, to get to volunteer during that excitement down at the stadium, and to be able to support their nonprofit for their volunteer work at the stadium, they were able to get a donation for the DAD Foundation, a community group that they care about that supports their needs and allows them to thrive in the community.
All the volunteers went through a training offered by the vendor services organization at Comerica Park. They understood the role, and they were ready to participate. What was missing, Robyn, was the chance for them to participate equally. The organization knew that they were deaf, they knew that the volunteers were hard of hearing. They knew that they needed accommodations in order to thrive in the role, but they weren’t provided that. They weren’t given even the barest minimum of accommodation required under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which in this case could be signage. It could be having a sign language interpreter on site with the volunteers. It would also include training a secret shopper to know that these individuals volunteering at the concession stand are deaf and hard of hearing, and they should adjust the way they communicate with them accordingly.
They weren’t provided with those accommodations, and that broke down communication.
Robyn: Liz, let’s talk more about what the law actually requires, because the Americans with Disabilities Act does talk about effective communication, and you have just given us some examples of what was missing. Who decides which aids or services are appropriate?
Liz: Great question. So the aids and services required should be centered around the needs of the people who have the disability. So the Americans with Disability Act considers the individualized needs of the folks who have the disability. So in this case, folks who are deaf and hard of hearing, there are really well-understood and accepted accommodations for folks who have this particular disability. In this case, signage, access to an interpreter, are considered reasonable accommodations regularly offered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Robyn: And these were all missing in this situation. Now, Liz, this case is a little unusual, because the people at the center of it weren’t paid workers. They were volunteers. That meant the usual workplace protections under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act didn’t apply. Instead, you’re arguing this falls under Title III, and that’s the part of the law that covers public spaces. So that means restaurants, stores and stadiums, like Comerica Park, and it guarantees equal access for everyone, not just employees. Why does that distinction matter? What does it reveal about how the Americans with Disabilities Act protects people who contribute to public life in ways that, say, aren’t defined as work?
Liz: Great question. So, one of the really important things about the Americans with Disabilities Act is that it underscores a congressional intent to make public life accessible to people with disabilities. Work is one part of public life, that’s why it’s captured under Title I of the act, but Title III was really an important intention from Congress to expand access to the general public, to people with disabilities, it was a recognition that we have built so many inaccessible spaces in our world that do not allow people with disabilities to show up fully and be able to participate. So Title III, and the way that we’re trying to push the court to understand this issue, is that Title III really covers fair and equal access to any place of public accommodation. Those are spaces like Comerica Park that are open to the general public. And we’re pushing the court here to see that when we say public accommodation, we don’t just mean physical access to the stadium. We mean access to all programs offered at the stadium to the general public. That’s what we have here, a program offered generally to any nonprofit in the public in fact, our clients were invited to participate in this program. And when you’re going to offer that kind of public-facing program, you need to make it accessible to everyone. Folks should not be denied the right to participate in these programs just because they have disabilities.
“It was a recognition that we have built so many inaccessible spaces in our world that do not allow people with disabilities to show up fully and be able to participate.”
Liz Jacob, sugar law center for economic and social justice
The Americans with Disabilities Act shifted that responsibility onto these private organizations that are going to host events open to the public, programs and services open to the public. It puts the onus on the private actors then to make those spaces accessible to everyone.
Robyn: So, what I’m hearing from you is that there needs to be a higher threshold of responsibility when it comes to these organizations and how they’re accommodating people with disabilities. I want to zoom out, because we often talk about sound in stadiums, but inclusion is visual and it’s linguistic. Where do you see systemic breakdowns across sports venues when it comes to deaf culture and ASL as a language,
Liz: It’s a great question, Robyn. What we have heard from our clients and other members of the deaf and hard of hearing community is that it’s not just being able to see the game played, it’s also being able to hear and understand that is such a big part of the experience that they’re not able to access, right? We have commentators sharing what’s happening play by play on the field. We have folks talking in their seats. Those are all parts of the experience that could be made more accessible. Having sign language interpreters who are actually breaking down commentary during games is one part of the experience that could be made better. And in this case, we’re talking about the ability to participate in that full game day experience. It’s not just what’s happening on the field. A big part of game day is built around the concession stands, getting to enjoy a hot dog with friends, getting to build camaraderie with fellow volunteers as you serve those concessions. That’s a really important part of access on game day, too.
So, being able to make sure folks can participate fully in the experience on game day, whether that’s as a spectator or as a member of the concession stands, is so important to building a better vision of full inclusion for every person who’s in that stadium on game day.
Robyn: Let’s contextualize this beyond game day, if we could. Liz, because the data show a durable employment gap: roughly half of deaf adults are employed, and that’s compared with about 70% of hearing adults. And I should note, many of the jobs deaf people have are outside the traditional workforce, and those positions may differ a lot when it comes to quality, hours, or stability. Liz, when a public venue fails to provide interpreters or visual communication and then removes deaf volunteers, how would you say that single access failure ripples into the workforce?
Liz: It’s a great question, Robyn. So what we have heard from our clients is that participation in this volunteer program is so important, exactly for the reason that you’re underscoring. It is so hard for members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community to be able to access dignified, meaningful work. And these volunteer roles are actually really important because it gives them work experience, it allows them to build their resume, get experience on the ground when it’s so hard for them to be able to access those jobs.
So participation in these programs are important. It shows that they have the ability to do it. It helps them build their skills and experience, and it allows them to have a leg up the next time they go to apply for a job. That’s also why having an experience that like this, that was so hurtful, so stressful and so distressing during a volunteer experience, also sets our clients back a lot. It makes them feel yet again, like spaces are not built for them, like it’s yet again so difficult for them to find an accessible opportunity that how can they then find a job that’s going to accept them or build the accommodations that they need.
So that’s why it’s so critical that we fight these inaccessible spaces even when they’re in a volunteer context, because for our clients, they matter. They’re the experiences that allow them to build their lives that push them closer to dignified work. And it shows us that building meaningful, dignified employment opportunities for deaf people also has to start with their other experiences in the community, their experiences as a volunteer, their experiences with fellow volunteers, where they’re building community and building skills, are just as important if we’re taking a full person approach, and that’s why we need to push for the civil rights of folks with disabilities at every level. We need to keep up with the fight, whether it’s a full time job or a volunteer employment opportunity, because those are the experiences that define people’s lives. Those are the experiences that set the tone for the spaces that they can access next.
Robyn: Liz, this has me wondering, though, about Comerica Park, about the Detroit Tigers, what responsibilities do teams and venue operators have when contractors are running concessions, where does accountability live in these multi-party arrangements?
Liz: This case, I think, is highlighting the fact that there are so many different actors who control the experience on game day, who run the concession stands and who impact the abilities of the general public to be able to access the space.
So for Comerica Park and for the Detroit Tigers, they have a powerful opportunity now to be in solidarity with our clients, with members of the deaf and hard of hearing community, and actually hold their contractors accountable.
These are not just things that would be nice to do. These are legal requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act that we have here in Michigan. So there’s an opportunity now for the Detroit Tigers in Comerica Park to hold their vendors accountable to the law and to making sure that they are inclusive and accessible to the community.
So we hope the Detroit Tigers and Comerica Park will join us in holding these vendors accountable and set a better standard going forward for all their vendors to make sure that everyone, regardless of their level of ability, is able to enjoy all of the programs offered on game day.
Robyn: Liz, let’s stay on game day. What would meaningful compliance look like next opening day. In other words, how do we measure success beyond a settlement?
Liz: So for our clients and for other people who are deaf and hard of hearing, Compliance would look like starting at the very beginning. When they’re invited into these nonprofit programs at Comerica Park, they receive training that’s accessible. They have sign language interpreters at the trainings. They’re given visual tools and resources to allow them to get correctly trained up and have access to a training that they can fully understand and participate in.
Then when they’re there on game day serving concessions, they have signage that makes it clear that the folks working in the stand that day are deaf and hard of hearing, so that folks who are coming up to the concession stand know how to better communicate, and they have the resources to do it. Maybe there’s a handwritten option or a digital tool that allows them to place their order, or they’re able to point or reference an easily accessible menu to show a deaf or hard of hearing person what they’d like to order.
In addition, there could be sign language interpreters available at the concession stands that have deaf and hard-of-hearing volunteers so they can have full conversations with participants. And if you get to be a part of game day in that way, you know, sharing a reaction to the game, being able to talk about someone’s order, that would look like much fuller inclusion to be able to provide them the same opportunities that any other volunteer at that concession stand is able to have.
Robyn: Liz many workplaces and public programs are what advocates call hearing-led, and this may be the first time that some people listening to this conversation right now have ever even heard that term, which means places where hearing people set the tone, the systems and the language when those organizations want to do better, whether it’s Comerica Park or someplace else. What should that look like from the start? How do you co-design access with deaf communities in mind?
Liz: So, organizations like our client, the dad Foundation, are great examples of partners in doing that work and thinking about what it looks like to actually center and prioritize the needs of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. So there are organizations like the Dad Foundation that are really excited to have those conversations that already have in their membership, tons and tons of Deaf folks who would like to be a part of those conversations, who know what they need and want to help shape spaces.
So, my first invitation to folks who are thinking about, how can you shift a hearing-led space is, one, work in partnership and in solidarity with people who are in the deaf and hard of hearing community, communicate with them, understand their needs, and then take that forward into the design of your workplace, your community or your public space. The other option to think about too, is, as hearing people, we have privilege being able to think about how we experience space, when we can hear sound, hear voices and hear noises in our environment, and then unpack those privileges. What would allow someone to experience that space if they couldn’t hear what would allow someone to participate if they couldn’t understand the words that were being spoken? Whether that’s shifting to sign language to written tools to visual tools, there are changes we can all make when we consider our hearing privileges, and how if someone didn’t have those privileges, they could better access that space.
Robyn: Finally, Liz, I have a question about WDET, and radio more broadly, because radio is, of course, an audio-first medium. What do you want from newsrooms covering deaf stories beyond transcripts, so that coverage itself doesn’t replicate the barriers you’re fighting in court right now?
Liz: Great question. Being able to think about multimedia stories is a way to meet the needs of our Deaf community members. So making sure that we don’t just have audio-first stories, but we’re actually putting together media assets that are kind of whole packages that folks can experience a number of different ways that best meet their needs.
So, in this case, we could have a version of this story, for instance, where we’re able to be on the ground at Comerica Park or in our offices. Folks are able to see us talk and actually have a live sign language interpreter throughout the whole conversation, being able to have a visual story that, instead of using any audio, just communicates through graphics and other kinds of written texts and tools. Being able to think about a multiplicity of ways to tell a single story allows it to be so much more accessible and so much more inclusive to audiences who might not be able to access what we have right now of a radio story, of a story relying entirely on audio.
Robyn: Attorney Liz Jacob with the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice. Liz, thank you so much for joining me on The Metro.
Liz: Thanks for your time today.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
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Special in-studio guest Madison McFerrin drops by to talk about her new album “Scorpio” as well as collaborating with her father Bobby McFerrin ahead of her show tonight at El Club in southwest Detroit—doors at 7 p.m., with Madison performing at 9 p.m.
Plus new music from Gerald Clayton, Say She She, Turbotito, Jeff Tweedy, Chronixx and more.
Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.
In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for October 22, 2025
“Rush” – Gerald Clayton
“Deep in the Woods” – Tennis
“Cut & Rewind” – Say She She
“Nainan Da Pyar De Gaya (feat. Piya Malik)” – Turbotito & Ragz
“Weak In Your Light (Daniel Avery Remix)” – Nation of Language
“Ride Around” – Goat Girl
“Who By Fire” – Skinny Pelembe & Beth Orton
“Three Hours” – John Parish & Aldous Harding
“One Tiny Flower” – Jeff Tweedy
“Under a Rainbow (feat. Elle Músa)” – SFJ
“Survivor” – Chronixx
“Tear It Down” – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
“Bitter Streets” – SAULT
“I & I” – Chronixx
“Fighting For Our Love” – Madison McFerrin
“Ain’t It Nice” – Madison McFerrin
“Insane” – Madison McFerrin
“Run” – Madison McFerrin & Bobby McFerrin
“Spent” – Madison McFerrin
“Don’t You Worry Baby (feat. Madison McFerrin)” – Tyler The Creator
“Love Is Stronger Than Pride (Alexander Nut Remix)” – Sade
“No Others” – Momoko Gill
“Uno Punto Uno” – Women In Jazz & Rosa Brunello
“Rosso Di Sera Bel Tempo Si Spera” – Causi Sui
“Compared To What” – John Legend & The Roots
“People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul (Remix)” – James Brown
“Thrown Around” – James Blake
“Somethin Here” – Terrence Parker
“Rain Can’t Reach Us (feat. Tony Allen)” – Yannis & the Yaw
Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.
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Detroit’s candidates for mayor are in their final weeks of campaigning. And a new poll shows voters are making up their minds.
A Detroit News/WDIV-TV poll shows City Council President Mary Sheffield with a commanding lead in the race over Pastor Solomon Kinloch. The survey…conducted from October 16-18 shows Sheffield supported by about 65% of those surveyed, Kinloch with 14%, and about 20% undecided.
The Glengariff Group conducted the poll of 500 respondents. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.
Just a reminder: a poll is a snapshot in time of the people surveyed. Polls don’t vote – people do. Early voting starts on Saturday. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4.
Additional headlines for Wednesday, October 22, 2025
GM Earns
General Motors reports that it earned $1.3 billion in the third quarter of this year. The Detroit automaker says its adjusted earnings hit $2.80 per share, surpassing Wall Street analysts’ expectations. Third quarter revenue passed $48.5 billion.
The automaker says Cadillac’s North American sales were the best for the first three quarters of the year since 2013 and GMC posted the best year to date sales ever. GM’s stock price jumped 15% after news of the earnings was released.
Diwali celebration
Detroiters will have a chance to learn more about South Asian culture through this week’s Diwali in the D festival. Diwali is the Hindu celebration of lights, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
Diwali in the D offers free events throughout this week and runs through Saturday.
First Responders BBQ
A local veterans’ group is holding a special barbecue in Detroit on Friday.
Chapter 9 of the Vietnam Veterans of America will hold the event to show its appreciation for the city’s first responders. Police officers and firefighters are invited to come to the barbecue from noon-5 p.m. on Friday.
It’s being held at the Chapter 9 headquarters – 2951 Woodward at Temple in Detroit. That’s just north of Little Caesars’ Arena.
Smokeless Ban
Detroit City Council has approved an ordinance banning the use of smokeless tobacco in the city’s sports stadiums.
Smoking of cigarettes and e-cigarettes has been prohibited in the facilities for years. City Councilman Fred Durhal says the new measure will help provide a healthier example to Detroit’s young people.
The new ban applies to Comerica Park, Ford Field and Little Caesars Arena.
Pistons Opener
The Detroit Pistons open their new season on the road tonight against the Chicago Bulls.
Detroit finished last season with 44 wins and 38 losses. Pistons guard Jaden Ivey had knee surgery recently and is expected to miss the next four weeks.
Tip off at the United Center tonight is at 8 p.m. ET.
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Another stacked lineup for MI Local, with two trios, plenty of songwriters and amazing local musicians all around!
Let’s start with some new music! Andrew Dost is the lead singer/songwriter and musician from his evolving solo-project (but also, a band), known as Metal Bubble Trio. We premiered a new single by MBT, “Grey & Black Bee,” and even sampled a atmospheric, Eno-esque instrumental, “Let Me Tell You About My Universe.”
Both of these songs will be on Dost’s next album, “Metal Head Satellite Freakout.” This follows-up the official release of MBT’s debut album, Cucumber, which was when the project was in it’s Bossa Nova era. Now Dost says he’s fusing that intensively with his sincere love for metal!
Dost lives between Detroit and the Traverse City era, and while he’s in our neck of the woods, for about half of each year, he’s got collaborators like Deleano Acevedo and Ryan Clancy, both of whom will be joining Dost next Tuesday, Oct. 28, at the Paris Bar.
“Metal Head Satellite Freakout,” meanwhile, will be out at some point in the next 6 months, likely less. Dost, meanwhile, has been in notable groups, previously including the Mt. Pleasant based Anathallo, and Fun., a NY-based project with Jack Antonoff and Nate Reuss, (you might remember their hit song, “We Are Young”?).
Dost talked about the origins of Metal Bubble Trio, which formed about two years ago, along with the story of his debut album, “Cubumber.” While in-studio, Dost also performed a live, acoustic version of MBT’s song “Universal Themes,” on electric guitar.
Andrew Dost, of Metal Bubble Trio, performs live on MI Local
After Dost, we had The Kate Hinote Trio hang out for an interview about their most recent album, “Stowaways.” This group features, as you might have guessed, Kate Hinote on lead vocals, having previously showcased her powerhouse vocals with groups like The Blueflowers and Ether Aura. Joining Hinote to round out the trio are guitarist David Johnson, also from the Blueflowers and violinist (and singer) Matthew Parmenter from Discipline.)
The Kate Hinote Trio talked about their 2nd full-length album, “Stowaways,” which was released a couple months ago, following up their debut,“Near.” While in-studio, the band treated us to a live acoustic version of their most recent single, “The Last Day I Went Crazy.”
Finally, singer-songwriter Mike Leslie swung by to talk about his upcoming debut solo album, as well as, yes, treating WDET listeners to even more live in-studio music, with the song, “Grand Haven.”
Leslie has been making music his whole life (he started on guitar at age 4), but some of his noteworthy past projects include the Mike Leslie Band, which started around 2012, and his stint touring and recording with Candlebox. He’s also quite a talented painter.
Several years ago, Leslie started developing a solo project, with a few singles released here and there, but now, coming up on Saturday, November 8, Leslie will be performing at an album release party for “Goodbye Forever: An Introduction,” hosted at Ant Hall in Hamtramck, with Emily Rose and Olivia Dear.
Stream the whole show up top for two weeks after it airs, and find details about the songs we featured below!
“Grey and Black Bee” – Metal Bubble Trio
“Let Me Tell You About My Universe” – Metal Bubble Trio
“Universal Themes” – Metal Bubble Trio, live in WDET Studios
“Love Comes a Flower” – The Kate Hinote Trio
“The Last Day I Went Crazy” – The Kate Hinote Trio, live in WDET Studios
“If I Should Go” – The Kate Hinote Trio
“Goodbye Forever” – Mike Leslie
“Grand Haven” – Mike Leslie, live in WDET Studios
“Blue Midnight” – Mike Leslie
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New music from Georgie Sweet, Nightbus, Cut Copy, Hot Chip, Dry Cleaning and a few of my favorite covers from Fiona Apple, Cat Power, and Buddy Miles.
Plus writer and social commentator Fran Lebowitz drops by to chat Motown, Dolly Parton and the New York Dolls ahead of her talk at the Fisher Theatre on Wednesday (tickets available here).
Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.
In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for October 21, 2025
“The Ones We Loved” – Georgie Sweet
“Angles Mortz” – Nightbus
“Belong To You” – Cut Copy & Kate Bollinger
“Bloodlines” – Franc Moody
“Devotion (Short Boys’ Remix)” – Hot Chip
“Coltrane (Crooked Man Remix)” – Cymande
“Spirit Adapter” – Yin Yin
“Mq9” – Automatic
“Hit My Head All Day (Edit)” – Dry Cleaning
“siestas ahí” – Juana Molina
“Banc de poissons” – Vulfmon & Jacob Jeffries
“Dewy” – Resavoir & Matt Gold
“Across The Universe” – Fiona Apple
“Ask Me Anything” – The Strokes
“How It Ends” – DeVotchka
“The Rat” – The Walkmen
“The Smile” – David Axelrod
“100 Years of Bill & Lil” – Joe Webb
“New York” – Cat Power
“Down By The River” – Buddy Miles
“The Wind Cries Mary” – Jimi Hendrix
“Hey Joe” – Jimi Hendrix
“Who Knows (Live At Filmore East, 1970 / 50th Anniversary)” – Band of Gypsys / Jimi Hendrix
“Surfin” – Ernest Ranglin
“Police & Thieves” – The Clash
“Nobody Can Live Forever” – Tim Maia
“(Don’t Worry) If There’s a Hell Below We’re All Going To Go” – Curtis Mayfield
“You’ve Been In Love Too Long (Single Version)” – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
“Come See About Me (Live)” – The Supremes
“9 to 5” – Dolly Parton
“Personality Crisis” – New York Dolls
“Trash” – New York Dolls
“Marquee Moon” – Television
Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.
Support the shows you love.
WDET’s unique music programs are dedicated to exploring the music and culture of our region and the world. Keep the music going. Please make a gift today. Give now »
While the arts and humanities are facing defunding and disinvestment nationally, there’s a brand new space to experience the arts in Detroit’s Live 6 neighborhood.
The Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre opens next month with a production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” It is the university’s first permanent theater on that campus, despite a 150-year history of theatre productions.
Previously, students in the award-winning theatre program had practiced and performed in temporary buildings and spaces, including a space in the YMCA in Downtown Detroit.
Jocelyn Boryczka, Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Science at University of Detroit Mercy, joined Tia Graham to discuss the new Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre and what it means for the future of arts programming in the Live 6 area.
She says the vision for the theatre extends beyond the university walls and invites residents of the Live 6 neighborhoods to be a part of the theatre now and in the future.
The Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre’s first production will be Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” with performances November 7-16. Tickets available online.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.
WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
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