As if there weren’t already plenty of reasons to support WDET, we are offering up a host of new gifts to entice listeners to become sustaining members during our 2024 Fall Fundraiser.

This year, we expanded our local music and news programming by 40%. With half of our operating budget funded by donors like you, it is imperative that each and every listener who values the important work we do step up, and make a gift to help sustain what has been a cultural staple in Detroit for the past 75 years.

Check out some of our premium gifts for sustaining members below to showcase your Detroit Public Radio fandom while helping to support this vital resource for Detroiters!

The landscape of voting in Michigan has evolved significantly, with expanded early in-person voting, enhanced absentee ballot tracking, and permanent absentee ballot registration now available.

As voters prepare to head to the polls again in November, a new monument in Detroit commemorates the long journey toward voting rights for all.

The dedication ceremony for the Civil Rights Monument took place at Viola Liuzzo Playground, located at the corner of Winthrop and Trojan on Detroit’s west side. The monument honors Viola Liuzzo, a Detroit woman inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who traveled to Alabama to participate in the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965. Tragically, Liuzzo was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in Lowndes County. Before her departure, she asked her friend, Sarah Evans, to care for her five children if anything happened to her—a promise that Evans kept.

The monument features images of Liuzzo and Evans with the inscription “Sisters in life…Sisters in struggle,” and on the opposite side, it lists the names of Detroiters who answered Dr. King’s call to support the Selma marches, including notable figures like Rosa Parks and John Lewis.

Dorothy Dewberry Aldridge, a civil rights activist and historian, described the monument as a “teaching monument,” intended to educate the public about the events of 1965.

Collette Mezza, also a member of the Viola Liuzzo Park Association, emphasized the significance of each name on the monument.

“They each have their own remarkable story, and what inspired them to go down to Selma in 1965, and many of them are still alive and many of them continue their activism like Dorothy,” Mezza said.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who attended the ceremony, said everyone today has an opportunity to continue the fight for voting rights.

“Let us all recommit to continuing on that legacy as a new generation of foot soldiers who are marching forward for democracy teaching about the past and being clear-eyed about the present challenges and the work we must do to preserve that sacred promise of democracy for everyone.”

The event concluded with a ceremonial march around the park, echoing the marches of 1965 and honoring those who fought for voting rights.

The Sept. 9 debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump took place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. It’s not far from Independence Hall, where the first Constitutional Convention delegates signed the document on Sept. 17, 1787.

The United States observes Constitution Day every Sept. 17. To mark the occasion, WDET hosts and reporters read two key parts of the Constitution — the Preamble and the Bill of Rights. Some also shared what certain amendments mean to them.

As the 2024 election approaches, we hope this will spark your interest in American history and the democratic process.

Preamble

Read by Pat Batcheller, host of Morning Edition; senior news editor

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Amendment I

Read by Tristan McFolley, WDET intern

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

What Tristan said about it:

“The First Amendment is a cornerstone of democracy. The right to freely express oneself is how diverse societies are nurtured. Progressive ideas develop more rapidly when people may publicly represent their beliefs and cultures. The First Amendment —and ideas similar to it — are all crucial principles in moving the world forward.”

Amendment II

Read by Alex McLenon, reporter

A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.

What Alex said about it:

“Possibly the most talked about amendment in popular culture, the Second Amendment grants U.S. citizens the constitutional right to purchase and own firearms. It justifies private gun ownership by stating that a “well-regulated militia” is a necessary part of protecting the fundamental freedoms granted in the First Amendment.  The wording stems from the days of the Revolutionary War, when citizen armies – known as “militias” – were formed to fight the British. Those militia groups were the basis for what would eventually become the organized United States Armed Forces that we know today. Therefore, legal experts say the amendment does not allow for modern-day militant groups — with rules against the formation of such outfits now baked into most state constitutions. Nevertheless, the amendment continues to function today on the weight of the latter part of its text — ‘the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.’ Modern day debates over gun control center around how far that protection should go.”

Amendment III

Read by Nargis Rahman, civic reporter

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

Read by Annelle Scott, WDET intern

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

Read by Cary Junior II, producer of Created Equal

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

Read by Karen Brundidge, WDET intern

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

What Karen said about it:

“It is imperative that we have due process, including the right to counsel, an impartial jury, and so forth. There should be checks on the power of the government and a fair procedure for handling criminal cases in this country. In times where some — especially African Americans or low-income people — have had issues with their rights being violated or have had to contend with inequities in the criminal justice system, adhering to the stated terms of the sixth amendment is crucial to uphold the liberty and future of all people.”

Amendment VII

Read by Amanda LeClaire, reporter and CuriosiD producer

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Read by Sydney Waelchli, WDET intern

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted.

What Sydney said about it:

“While the United States criminal justice system still needs a lot of improvements, the Eighth Amendment keeps me hopeful that fair and equal punishments are enacted. To me, the Eighth Amendment brings me peace of mind that individuals who have acted wrongfully or made unlawful mistakes are treated with a degree of respect in the system.”

Amendment IX

Read by Jack Filbrandt, assistant producer of The Metro

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

Read by Bre’Anna Tinsley, reporter

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Use the featured media player above to hear the full Preamble and Bill of Rights read together.

Read more:

• The right to vote wasn’t included in the Constitution. Why not?
• The man who lived according to the constitution — literally
• Our immigration system is broken. What does the Constitution say about it? 
• Two new Americans reflect on immigration stories on Constitution Day 

Frontier International Academy is hosting a safety training session for parents this week, following ongoing concerns from community members about road safety.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Guest speakers will be Hamtramck Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri and Wayne County Undersheriff Mike Jaafar. Many residents have expressed anxiety after multiple incidents of children being hit by cars in Hamtramck.

In July, a 3-year-old girl died after being hit by a Hamtramck school bus. That same day, another child was struck by a car in a separate incident, CBS Detroit reports. A third child was struck in August, suffering only minor injuries.

The training will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, at Frontier International Academy, 13200 Conant St., Detroit. 

Other headlines for Monday, Sept. 16, 2024:

• Hamtramck residents will vote on a $2.75 million millage renewal this November. The funds go toward a 10-year plan for operating costs for the Hamtramck Public School District.
• The Kalasho Education & Youth Services held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new MIND Garden on Friday in Warren. The organization has served the Chaldean community — specifically immigrant and refugee communities — in mental health, education, and legal services for the past 23 years.
• Anthropologist and Legacy Keepers Movement Founder Zarinah El-Amin is hosting a free masterclass for older adults and their family members who want to learn how to write their life story.
• The Detroit + Dearborn Community Block Party is set to take place on Miller Road and Tireman Avenue from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, featuring free food, activities, games and vendor resource tables.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

DETROIT (AP) — A second person has died from a shooting at an Eastern Market  tailgate event after a Detroit Lions game, police said Monday.

A fight broke out around 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Eastern Market, an open-air gathering spot, police Chief James White said. Tampa Bay had just defeated the Lions nearby at Ford Field, 20-16.

“I don’t know all the details to it, but anytime that somebody loses their life, that’s a tragic thing,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday.

The fight escalated when one person pulled out a gun and fired at least two rounds. Police officers in the area responded to the shooting, arrested the suspected shooter and recovered two handguns, White said.

“Tailgating, drinking and guns — they don’t mix,” White told reporters Sunday.

The victims were described as Detroit men, one in his 40s and another in his 20s. A suspect from Oak Park was in custody.

White said the confrontation began with a larger fight that broke up after a few minutes.

“They reconvened a few feet away from where the initial fight started,” the chief said. “The two fighters put up their hands like they were about to fight each other. … One of the people in the fight, a male from Oak Park, pulls out a gun and fires at least twice.”

Henry Ford Health has broken ground on its $2.2 billion hospital expansion — the largest health care investment in Detroit’s history.

The new hospital facility will span over one million square feet on West Grand Boulevard and include more than 400 private patient rooms. The expansion will also feature a 75,000-square-foot emergency room — more than double the size of the current ER, along with 28 state-of-the-art operating rooms.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan hailed the project as a rebirth of health care in the city.

“For most of my life, the hospital systems have bailed on Detroit and put their investments in the suburbs,” said Duggan. “Today, we are seeing one of the finest hospitals anywhere in America being built here in the city of Detroit.”

The 20-story patient tower will house Shirley Ryan AbilityLab on the top three floors, providing neurorehabilitation services. This partnership, funded in part by Dan Gilbert, founder and chairman of Rocket Companies, is a personal endeavor for Gilbert, who credited the Chicago-based facility with aiding his recovery after a stroke in 2019.

“When I had a stroke back in 2019, my life changed dramatically, but thanks to the support of family, doctors, therapists and staff at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, I began my rehab journey with strength, confidence and optimism,” Gilbert said.

To further support the community, the Gilbert Family Foundation has pledged $10 million to assist Detroit residents with limited or no insurance coverage for rehabilitation services.

Henry Ford Health’s President and CEO, Bob Riney, emphasized the expansion’s significance, stating, “We are setting the stage for Detroit to become the national, academic, medical headquarters.”

The hospital campus expansion will also include an 185,000-square-foot shared services building, a 1,500-space parking structure, and a 46,000-square-foot Central Energy Hub. The new development will eliminate the need for natural gas, reducing pollution and promoting a healthier environment.

The expansion is part of a broader community-driven initiative to transform the New Center neighborhood into a vibrant, walkable district. In partnership with Michigan State University and the Detroit Pistons, the development will include mixed-use residential buildings, green spaces and recreational areas.

The project is expected to open in 2029.

This has been a pivotal year for WDET.

Not only have we heeded the calls from our members and listeners for more local music programming, we have doubled down on our investment in robust, local journalism — expanding our local music and news shows by a whopping 40%.

Read more: WDET announces new programming in 2024 with more local shows 

This investment in more local programming has come with a financial cost. But what has cost us financially, we have gained in the many connections we continue to build by reflecting the stories, music, art, and culture that makes Detroit and the people who live here so special.

There are plenty of great reasons to support WDET, from helping to fund fair and accurate political coverage during a critically important election year, to helping us bolster the rich music history of our city and region — allowing us to lift new artists and reflect the evolution of Detroit music.

WDET has been a legacy cultural asset of Detroit for 75 years, and now, we need your support to help us keep that momentum going.

The fall on-air fundraiser is the perfect time to become a WDET sustaining member or a first-time giver — not only because 50% of our operating budget is funded by donors, but also because our team has come up with some awesome incentives for listeners who choose to donate during fundraiser.

Win a trip for two to Morocco

Now through Sept. 22, listeners who donate will automatically be entered into a drawing for two tickets to WDET’s 15-day Colors of Morocco trip, taking place Sept. 4-18, 2025.

A more than $13,000 value, this once in a lifetime trip will feature a visit to the ancient markets and medinas in Fes — one of the holiest cities in the world — as well as an unforgettable visit to a luxury desert camp in the Sahara Desert and a taste of Moroccan culture with a cooking class in Marrakech.

The winner will be selected on Sept. 24. Visit wdet.org/event/wdet-travel-morocco-2025 for more trip details.

Have lunch with the WDET News team

Listeners who make a gift during Morning Edition from 5-9 a.m. weekdays or Weekend Edition from 8-10 a.m. on weekends throughout the Fall Fundraiser will be entered into a drawing for a catered lunch and conversation about current affairs with WDET’s news team at the studio.

Five winners will be selected.

Win a year of shows, events at Spot Lite

Listeners who donates to WDET during In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper from 12-4 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday this week will be entered into a drawing for two tickets to all events or performances at Spot Lite Detroit for a full year. 

Enjoy charcuterie and conversation with WDET reporters

Listen to All Things Considered with host Russ McNamara this week from 4-6 p.m. for your chance to have dinner with Russ and WDET news reporter Quinn Klinefelter on Oct. 1 at The Rind in Berkley! All you need to do is donate to the 2024 WDET Fall Fundraiser during the show.

Earn a tour of Detroit history, books from Source Booksellers

Listeners who make a gift during Created Equal with Stephen Henderson from 9-10 a.m. weekdays before Sept. 20 will be entered into a drawing for a special historical tour of the city with Jamon Jordan, a long-time friend of the show and Detroit’s first official historian.

The winner will also receive six books from Source Booksellers, curated by Stephen Henderson himself.

Earn tickets to Dearborn’s Yalla Eat! food tour

Listeners who donate to WDET during The Metro can win two tickets to the Arab American National Museum, as well as two tickets to the museum’s Yalla Eat! Culinary Walking Tour, which takes guests along a curated food tour in East Dearborn. They will also take a home a book of poetry signed by Michigan Poet Laureate Nandi Comer.

Win a family membership to MOCAD

Listeners who donate to WDET during The Metro from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. can win a family membership to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Detroit for two adults and up to four minors, providing free admission to galleries, most programming at the museum and members-only events.

Earn a Dearborn Music Stones package

Tune in to The Detroit Move with Mike Latulippe Tuesday from 8-9 p.m. and make a gift of any amount for a chance to win a limited edition Rolling Stones “More Hot Rocks” 2LP Glow in the Dark Vinyl ($70 value); a $40 gift certificate to Dearborn Music and a WDET tote bag zip up.

Win a gift certificate to Ripe Records

Listeners who donate to WDET during MI Local with Jeff Milo from 9-10 p.m. on Tuesday can win a $50 gift card to Ripe Records in Grosse Pointe Park. 

Check back for updates on incentives planned for WDET’s fall on-air fundraiser. Or, tune in to WDET at 101.9 FM to hear the latest incentives being offered before our Fall Fundraiser ends Sept. 24.

Tito Jackson, one of the brothers who made up the beloved pop group the Jackson 5, has died. He was 70.

Jackson was the third of nine children, including global superstars Michael and Janet, and was part of a music-making family whose songs have sold hundreds of millions of copies.

“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson is no longer with us. We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being,” his sons TJ, Taj and Taryll Jackson said in a statement posted on Instagram late Sunday.

The Jackson 5, among the last of the major groups launched through Berry Gordy’s Motown empire, included teenage and pre-teen brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and lead singer Michael. Gordy signed them up in the late 1960s, when Motown’s power was slipping and tastes were shifting from the slick pop-soul of Motown’s prime to the funkier sounds of Sly and the Family Stone.

“I Want You Back,” the group’s breakthrough hit, was openly modeled on Sly and the Family Stone and topped the charts in 1969. The Jacksons followed with three more No. 1 songs, “ABC,” “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There,” and also hit the top 5 with “Mama’s Pearl” and “Never Can Say Goodbye.”

Some called their music “bubblegum soul.”

By mid-decade, the Jackson 5’s appeal was fading and the group, except Jermaine, moved to Epic and renamed themselves the Jacksons. Their latter hits included “Enjoy Yourself,” “Lovely One” and “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground).” Michael Jackson became a multi-platinum solo artist in the 1980s and his collaborations with his brothers became rare after the 1984 album “Victory.”

The Jackson 5 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, introduced at the ceremony by longtime friend Diana Ross.

Raised in Gary, Indiana, the Jackson 5 had been formed under the guidance of their father, Joe Jackson, a steelworker and guitar player. Michael and sibling La Toya would accuse him of abusive behavior. Toriano Adaryll “Tito” Jackson was the least-heard member of the group, working as a background singer who played guitar.

Michael Jackson died at age 50 on June 25, 2009. Speaking to The Associated Press in December 2009, Tito Jackson said that his younger brother’s death pulled the family closer together.

“I would say definitely it brought us a step closer to each other. To recognize that the love we have for each other when one of us is not here, what a great loss,” he said, adding he would personally never “be at peace with it.”

“There’s still moments when I just can’t believe it. So I think that’s never going to go away,” he said.

In 2014, Jackson said that he and his brothers still felt Michael Jackson’s absence in their shows, which continued with international tours.

“I don’t think we will ever get used to performing without him. He’s dearly missed,” Jackson said, noting that his brother’s spirit “is with us when we are performing. It gives us a lot of positive energy and puts a lot of smiles on our faces.”

Days before his death, Jackson posted a message on his Facebook page from Germany on Sept. 11, where he visited a memorial to Michael Jackson with his brothers.

“Before our show in Munich, my brothers Jackie, Marlon, and I, visited the beautiful memorial dedicated to our beloved brother, Michael Jackson. We’re deeply grateful for this special place that honors not only his memory but also our shared legacy. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive,” Jackson wrote.

Jackson was the last of the nine siblings to release a solo project with his 2016 debut, “Tito Time.” He released a song in 2017, “One Way Street,” and told the AP in 2019 that he was working on a sophomore album.

Jackson said he purposely held back from pursuing a solo career because he wanted to focus on raising his three sons, who formed their own music group, 3T. Jackson’s website offers a link to a single featuring 3T and Stevie Wonder titled, “Love One Another.”

Jackson also is survived by his brothers Jermaine, Randy, Marlon and Jackie, his sisters Janet, Rebbie and La Toya, and their mother, Katherine. Their father died in 2018.

Jackson’s death was first reported by Entertainment Tonight.

NEW YORK (AP) — Monday marks 50 days until the 2024 presidential election in a campaign that was already among the most turbulent in American history even before Donald Trump faced an apparent assassination attempt for the second time.

The potential attempt on Trump’s life came nine weeks after the Republican former president was grazed by a bullet at a rally in Pennsylvania. It cast a pall over a presidential race that was already marked by upheaval. And it comes as early voting begins in some states.

On Monday, President Joe Biden said the Secret Service “needs more help” and called on Congress to provide more resources to the agency.

Rice University historian Douglas Brinkley said the “deeply troublesome” event coming on top of an already dramatic year with an election looming has created “a kind of uncertainty across the land.”

Said Brinkley, “2024 has just unspooled in a chaotic and frightful fashion. It’s impossible for anybody to get footing in their daily lives with a news cycle that is so constantly grim and absurd.”

Trump had already been scheduled to spend Monday at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, according to a person familiar with his schedule. That now includes a briefing in person from Ronald Rowe, acting director of the Secret Service, according to the person who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Rowe arrived in West Palm Beach on Monday morning.

On Monday night, Trump is expected to speak about cryptocurrency live on the social media site X for the launch of his sons’ crypto platform, followed by an expected return to the campaign trail on Tuesday for a town hall in Flint, Michigan. He has appearances later in the week in New York, Washington and North Carolina.

Vice President Kamala Harris, meanwhile, was set to meet with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters at the 1.3 million-member group’s headquarters in Washington on Monday as the Democratic presidential nominee hopes to lock yet another labor union’s endorsement. She was scheduled on Tuesday to campaign in swing-state Pennsylvania and planned later in the week to speak in Washington, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Their returns to the campaign trail are likely to be overshadowed by questions about the armed man engaged by Secret Service agents at the former president’s Florida golf course. The FBI was leading the investigation and working to determine any motive.

Beyond the first attempt on Trump’s life when he was grazed by a bullet at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, the campaign was whipsawed over the past six months by Trump’s historic criminal trial and conviction; the crisis and eventual end of Democratic President Joe Biden’s campaign after his floundering debate performance; and Harris taking his place, fundamentally shifting the race.

In August, Trump’s campaign disclosed it had been hacked and said Iranian actors had stolen and distributed sensitive internal documents. The Justice Department is preparing criminal charges in connection with the hack.

Some of Trump’s allies on Sunday blamed Democrats for saying Trump was a threat to American democracy and sought to link those arguments to Sunday’s detention of a suspect. Investigators have not commented on the suspect’s potential motives.

Trump himself has drawn repeated outcry for his rhetoric. The former president during the debate and in the days after amplified false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Ohio are abducting and eating pets. The community days later evacuated schools and government buildings after receiving bomb threats, adding to the sense of an especially unstable and tense moment in America even before Sunday’s stunning development.

Republican strategist David Urban, a Trump ally, said it was too soon to know how that might affect the days and weeks ahead in the campaign, but in his conversations with those in Trump’s orbit, he was picking up a deep sense of shock and uncertainty.

“We’ve said unprecedented so many times this year,” Urban said. “I don’t know if we can even say the word anymore.”

Associated Press writer Steve Peoples in New York and Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this report.

The Abandon Harris Campaign launched on Thursday in Dearborn as a continuation of the Abandon Biden Campaign.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

The campaign aims to change the policies of Vice President Kamala Harris regarding Israel’s ongoing military action in Gaza — seeking a permanent ceasefire and an arms embargo.

Michigan Co-chair Farah Khan says the Abandon Harris campaign is looking for actual policies, not just words and inaction.

“We will hold the Harris Biden administration accountable for their role in this atrocity,” Khan said at a press event outside the Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn on Thursday. “Accountability means more than words. It means actions. We must be clear — they have had their chance, and they have failed us.”

Listen: Interview with Farah Khan, co-chair of Abandon Harris for Michigan

The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 41,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed and more than 95,000 injured during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza since Oct. 7 — the day Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people in Israel, taking 250 hostages.

Campaign leaders say the Abandon Harris movement is active in at least nine states — including swing states like Michigan. Dr. Hassan Abdel Salam, national co-chair of the campaign, says they are asking voters not to vote for either party’s candidate.

“Our vote is magnanimous,” Salam said. “It’s a moment for democracy to triumph, for us to change the political landscape.”

The campaign plans to endorse a third party candidate soon.

Reporting by Nargis Rahman, WDET

Other headlines for Friday, Sept. 13, 2024:

• Henry Ford Hospital held a groundbreaking on Thursday for its $2.2 billion Detroit campus expansion, anchored by a new 1.2 million-square-foot hospital facility on the south side of West Grand Boulevard
• The city of Detroit’s Youth Affairs Team and Detroit ACE are hosting an artist showcase on Friday, Sept. 20, called “Young, Gifted and Woke.”
• Usher’s Past Present and Future Tour is continuing its run through the Motor City Friday at Little Caesars Arena. On his way there he stopped by the Boys and Girls Club of Detroit to help highlight the lack of access some youth have across the country to quality after-school programs.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

An increase in Michigan’s minimum wage and required sick leave is set to take effect in February. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow sit down with Chris White, Michigan director of the Restaurant Opportunities Center; and Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association; to share their positions on the new law.

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• How the new minimum wage law will affect employees and businesses
• How 9/11 influenced the Restaurant Opportunities Center
• Concerns the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association has with the rate of increase

Following the recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling connected to the state’s new minimum wage and sick leave laws, the legislation is slated to take effect early next year.

Michigan’s $10.33 minimum wage will climb above $12 by February 2025 — and to $15 an hour by 2029. Additionally, the law will require all Michigan employers to offer up to 72 hours of paid sick leave per year to their employees, and end the tip credit system.

White says the law changes are necessary for progress.

“They don’t make enough money. They are essential workers. The cost of living is going up, so wages should go up with that cost of living,” he said.

However, not all Michigan residents and business owners agree that the changes will be beneficial to the state, and especially for small businesses.

“I think the rate and the speed by which we increase the minimum wage is important to the industry, like it would be any small business operator,” Winslow said. “But for the restaurant industry specifically, the tip credit really means life or death for a lot of folks; service, restaurants, dine-in restaurants.”  

Stakeholders are now urging the Legislature to amend the laws set to take effect in February.

More from WDET:

• How Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling on minimum wage, sick leave will affect workers and businesses
• 2024 bringing boost in state minimum wage to $10.35
• Michigan appeals court ruling reverses minimum wage increase, paid sick leave revision

More from Gongwer:

• Groups push to preserve tipped wage; Singh hopeful for deal

Over the last 20 years, education experts have increasingly questioned whether standardized tests are the best way to measure how students perform.

Subscribe to Created Equal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of institutions let high school students decide whether to submit their standardized test scores with their admission applications, and many colleges and universities continue to have “test-optional policies” today.

So how much weight do these tests actually carry, and what do they fail to tell us about student achievement? This week on Created Equal, we were joined by Elaine Allensworth — a researcher who has studied testing and other measures of achievement for 20 years — to discuss America’s affinity for test culture and the shortcomings that come with it.

Allensworth says standardized tests can often be overused and over interpreted to the point of causing adverse effects on students and classroom instruction.

“There’s so much in school that is not captured on standardized tests and can’t be captured on standardized tests,” she said. “…beyond that, how students perform in the test is also affected by a lot of factors other than those specific academic skills that we intend to test.”

Guests:

• Elaine Allensworth, Lewis-Sebring Executive Director of the University of Chicago Consortium

Listen to Created Equal with host Stephen Henderson weekdays from 9-10 a.m. ET on 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand.

It’s a busy week for new releases when it comes to the Michigan music scene, particularly around the metro Detroit area!

Let’s start with the incomparable Flint-based musician/artist Tunde Olaniran, releasing their latest album, Chaotic Good, celebrated by a performance next Saturday, at the Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids!

Too Bad by Tunde Olaniran

Meanwhile, Detroit-based electronic art-pop auteur My Brightest Diamond, aka Shara Nova, have released three new singles from her forthcoming album, Fight the Real Terror, which is out today!

We heard this song, “Safe House,” last week on MI Local.

Fight The Real Terror by My Brightest Diamond

Next, let’s bend our ears towards Kalamazoo to listen to an interesting new album featuring the versatile instrumental hip-hop producer known as The Lasso (aka Andy Catlin), paired up with the boundary-pushing indie-rock quartet known as The Go Rounds.

Catlin is a former member of The Go Rounds, which made this a natural collaboration. This new album by The Lasso (& The Go Rounds), released just yesterday, is titled Pedal Steel, and our favorite track from it is “Goldwine.”

PETAL STEEL by The Lasso, The Go Rounds

Back here in Detroit, a ’90s-vibed indie-rock quartet known as The Microplastics have released a catchy and dreamy little ballad that has just the right amount of spookiness to help us settle into some autumnal vibes; it’s called “Undead.”

Undead – Single by The Microplastics

Listen to “MI Local” with Jeff Milo every Tuesday from 9-10 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET.

Two former top state House Republican staffers will go to trial on allegations they embezzled from political funds for their personal use.

Together and separately, Robert and Anne Minard face more than a dozen felony charges, several with maximum sentences of 20 years in prison. They pleaded not guilty to the charges at a preliminary hearing last month.

East Lansing District Court Judge Molly Hennessey Greenwalt denied a defense motion to exclude evidence seized from the couples’ home under a search warrant. The judge held the warrant sufficiently explained what law enforcement was looking for in seized documents. She then determined the state has enough evidence to send the case to trial in the Ingham County Circuit Court.

The charges allege they embezzled from two political funds and a political action committee that was under their control to cover expenses after they had been separately reimbursed for them.

“The Minards engaged in a vast, complex scheme of fraud, and through this deception, stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from nonprofits and political action committees,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement released by her office. “My department is pleased to see this case progress and remains committed to pursuing political operatives who violate the law for their own personal gain.” 

The Minards were top aides to then-House Speaker Lee Chatfield, the Republican leader during the 2019-2020 session. Chatfield also faces corruption-related charges in a separate case.    

This week, we’re highlighting local makers and spaces, from Friday the 13th concerts to exclusive dining experiences. 

But we’re also highlighting something else — community. 

We know how to bring you the news that matters, the music you love and the events that you’ll add to your calendar because here at WDET, we’re in this community right alongside you. We’re out there in the heat of Movement and in the chill of the tree lighting. We’re tailgating at Eastern Market and perusing the DIA. We’re always out there with you, and now we’re asking you to be there for us.

As we begin our fall fundraiser, we need your support to keep the station strong. Consider how many concerts you’ve found out about from WDET, how many driveway moments you had when you just couldn’t turn off the radio yet, how many new things you learned from us that you had to share with someone else. What is that worth to you?

We know that not everyone is in a position to donate, but if you are, we ask that you pay it forward. WDET only exists with financial support from people like you. Invest in our community at wdet.org/give.

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Hear local musicians 

On Friday, Sep. 13, four iconic acts from Michigan’s noise and punk scene are coming together for Beautiful Noise at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse. This immersive concert takes guests on a journey through the past, present and future, featuring live projections and music by Monster Island, Infinite River, Dr. Pete Larson and WDET’s own Liz Warner (host of Alternate Take, Thursdays at 8 p.m.). Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. All ages are welcome and tickets are pay-what-you-wish starting at $5. For more information, visit ums.org.

Then, head over to Ziggy’s for a Friday the 13th concert featuring music by Wolf Eyes and Twig Harper, and an inner critic hierarchy purge led by Sara Tea. The show starts at 9 p.m., tickets are available exclusively online for $20 and the event is 18+. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

Peruse local excellence

The Black Food & Wine Experience makes its Detroit debut on Thursday, Sep. 12 through Saturday, Sep. 14. This stop on the multi-city tour features three ticketed downtown events that showcase and celebrate Black excellence and the rich heritage featured in food, wine and cocktails inspired by African Diaspora. To see the full lineup and learn more, visit blackfoodwineexperience.com.

Also this weekend is E. Warrenfest, which returns to the community on Saturday, Sep. 14. This annual event features over 50 vendors, food trucks, a beer garden, an Eastside bike ride, a kids zone and live music from Alice King, Mic Phelps, Cye Pie and Sounds Like Detroit Winner Drey Skokie & The kLOUDs. Festivities go from 4-9 p.m. on E. Warren between 3 Mile and Grayton. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

Eastern Market After Dark returns for its 12th year on Thursday, Sep. 19 from 6-11 p.m. As a signature event of the Detroit Month of Design, this highly-anticipated festival showcases a wide range of talented artists, businesses, organizations and musicians. Visitors will be treated to a district-wide night market and open studios featuring galleries, retailers, brand activations and live music. This event is free and open to the public, but VIP Experience packs are available for purchase starting at $50. For more information, visit easternmarketafterdark.com.

Explore local spaces

In celebration of two years in the community, The Hawk Makerspace in Farmington Hills is hosting a free open house on Friday, Sep. 13 from 3-7 p.m. Creative community members from across metro Detroit are invited to check out this immersive shared technical and creative studio, which features professional-grade equipment like an embroidery machine, a 3D printer, laser engravers and more. There will also be giveaways, refreshments and discounts on Passholder subscriptions. For more information, visit fhgov.com.

Then, the University District Historic Neighborhood in Detroit is hosting its bi-annual home tour on Saturday, Sep. 14. Design enthusiasts are invited to tour six of Detroit’s most well-kept historic homes with unique decor and touches, many from the Art Deco era. Common features include stained glass windows, Pewabic and Flint Faience tile, grand foyers, crystal chandeliers and more. General admission is $30 in advance or $35 day-of for adults, and tickets are $5 for children 3-13. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

A new study from the University of Michigan shows that Black stroke patients arrive at the hospital significantly later than their white counterparts.

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Published Sept. 5 in collaboration with Brown University, the research included data from more than 600,000 patients in the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines Stroke Registry from mid-2015 through 2019.

The study revealed that it took on average 28 minutes longer for Black patients with stroke symptoms to receive emergency care. Researchers also found that EMS workers were roughly 20% less likely to notify emergency departments ahead of a Black patient’s arrival compared to a white patient.

The disparity was most prevalent in areas with a high poverty rate. 

Regina Royan, one of the lead researchers on the study, says getting a stroke patient to the hospital quickly is crucial for positive health outcomes. 

“The therapies that we have for stroke are really effective, but they are only available within a short time frame from the time that symptoms start,” Royan said.

Royan says there has been significant effort to making health care inside hospitals equitable, and it’s time to bring those efforts outside the hospital as well.  

“This is a disparity that must be addressed, as Black Americans have a higher prevalence of stroke, get strokes younger and die at greater numbers from the condition,” said Royan in a news release.

Other headlines for Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024:

•  Michigan Attorney Dana Nessel announced charges this week against 11 people stemming from pro-Palestinian protests on the University of Michigan’s campus in May.
• Detroit Police Chief James White confirmed to BridgeDetroit on Wednesday that he is one of eight finalists in the running for CEO of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network.
• The American Arab Chamber of Commerce is hosting its “East & West Mezza Fest,” a culinary tour of Dearborn, from 5 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Detroit’s Palmer Park has seen many improvements over the years, from renovated tennis and pickleball courts and a new dog park to a variety of habitat restoration projects.

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Home to the largest old-growth forest in the Tri-County area — and one of only seven forests in the city of Detroit — the protection of the park’s 70-acre Witherell Woods has been a key focus for community groups working to restore and maintain the park.

People for Palmer Park President Stacy Varner, and Bobbi Westerby — whose company Environmental Consulting & Technology is leading the park’s latest restoration efforts — joined The Metro on Thursday to discuss their goals and the importance of this public space.

Varner described the scenery in Palmer Park as “magical,” noting that there is work underway to make improvements to both the park’s trail system and natural areas. 

“Just like with any living thing, [the park] needs maintenance, it needs nurturing, it needs preserving,” Varner said. “That’s part of this effort, of the habitat restoration project that is going on in Palmer Park.”

Westerby says part of their restoration work will include removal of invasive species, like buckthorn, from Witherell Woods to help promote native growth.

“We don’t want to do a lot,” said Westerby of the forest restoration efforts. “We want to remove the stuff that’s not supposed to be there and let the things that are supposed to be there thrive.”

Use the media player above to hear the full interview with Varner and Westerby.

WDET’s Jenny Sherman contributed to this report.

Related: CuriosiD: Are the woods in Palmer Park a virgin forest?

More headlines from The Metro on Sept. 12, 2024:

• The city of Detroit and its fire department want to train all city employees in hands-only CPR. It’s already trained 100,000 residents on CPR and AED use – giving the city a “HeartSafe city” designation by a national preparedness program dedicated to improving outcomes from sudden cardiac arrest. To discuss their efforts and the importance of CPR/AED training, Detroit Fire Department Commissioner Chuck Simms and Medical Director Dr. Robert Dunne joined the show.
• Two University of Michigan professors have teamed up for an initiative aimed at increasing college-age voting called the Creative Campus Voting Project. They joined The Metro to discuss their efforts. 
• The Detroit Documenters recently attended a hearing by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy about possible changes to a permit for the Detroit Assembly Complex on Mack Avenue run by Stellantis. Residents are asking for the permit to be denied. To discuss what happened at the hearing, we were joined by Detroit Documenter Anna Harris and Coordinator Noah Kincade.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has approved new air permits for Marathon Petroleum’s Detroit refinery after a public comment period earlier this year.

The permit changes will allow Marathon to operate the refinery — located at 1001 South Oakwood — at “full capacity,” and set new pollutant emission caps for the facility. Previously, the refinery was limited to producing an average of 140,000 barrels a day.

Andy Drury, an environmental engineer with EGLE, says the department will require Marathon to continue air quality monitoring through at least 2030.

“One of the bigger things is Marathon has been doing ambient air monitoring at their facility, and they have agreed based on the comments to continue for at least six more years,” Drury said.

Key updates to the permit include the removal of outdated regulatory references, an extension of the air monitoring program, and increasing the height of a refinery stack to 35 feet.

More: Union workers strike at Detroit Marathon refinery

Jeff Tricoff, a relief operator at Marathon’s Detroit refinery and a member of  Teamsters Local 283, was among several residents who expressed concerns about increased capacity at the facility at a public hearing hosted by EGLE in May.

“As workers, we know that operating everything at 100% has to be done effectively and efficiently and done by experienced people,” Tricoff said at the meeting. “Right now we are in a labor dispute with our current contract having expired on Feb. 1, and Marathon is preparing to bring in temporary workers to take our position.”

Just last week, refinery workers represented by the union voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. The new permits were approved on Sept. 10.

Marathon also operates an asphalt terminal at 301 S. Fort St., and a light products terminal at 12700 Toronto St., both in Southwest Detroit.

WDET’s Jenny Sherman contributed to this report.