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Michigan House Democrats introduce police reform bills

21 November 2024 at 16:28
Michigan House Democrats have introduced a series of police reform bills to set uniform standards for law enforcement across the state when it comes to things like use of force.
Under one of the bills, departments would have to come up with their own use-of-force policies that cover items like standards for when to use physical or deadly force instead of a verbal warning.
Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Director Robert Stevenson said he doesn’t see a major need for the bill. But he says his group could back it anyway.
“Before, it was policy, and it wasn’t in law. But if you’re going to put something into law, that needs to be very clear exactly what it is that you expect from the departments. So, we just have some minor suggestions. And if they’ll make those changes, then we would support the bill,” Stevenson said.
He said he would like to see the bill amended to clarify that chokeholds would be considered lethal force.
Other bills introduced as part of the package would require officers to intervene if they witness another officer using excessive force and set more rules for search warrants.
A bill would allow so-called “no-knock” warrants if a life is in danger, there’s evidence that a person is aware law enforcement is there, or if announcing police presence would hurt an investigation.
Stevenson said that would be a shift from current policy.
“The way the search warrant statute is written right now in Michigan, it says police must knock and announce. There are no exceptions. So actually, this legislation that they’re proposing allows no-knocks. It just defines when you can use them. So, it’s actually an expansion for us,” he said.
Again, Stevenson said his group would support the bill with some wording changes, like clarifying the difference between refusing entry and not granting entry.
The legislation has a tough journey ahead. It would need to get through the committee process and both chambers of the Legislature in fewer than 10 session days to make it to the governor and become law.

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Donate today »

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After decades, lake trout restored to sustainable levels in Lake Superior

21 November 2024 at 15:51

Lake Superior’s top predator fish is at a sustainable population. The lake trout population has recovered to the point it no longer has to be stocked. The fish had dropped to extremely low levels.

Ever since European settlement, overfishing took a vast toll on lake trout in Lake Superior. Then the invasive sea lamprey, a parasite, nearly wiped out the population by the 1990s. It took the states, tribes, Ontario, and the two nations decades to come to an agreement that would eventually restore the lake trout.

A parasitic sea lamprey attached to a lake trout. Untold numbers of lake trout were killed until the Great Lake Fishery Commission was established to control the sea lamprey.
A parasitic sea lamprey attached to a lake trout. Untold numbers of lake trout were killed until the Great Lake Fishery Commission was established to control the sea lamprey.

“We have the largest freshwater lake in the world, the top species in that freshwater lake that was driven down 95 percent because of overfishing and lamprey predation, today declared restored,” said Marc Gaden, executive secretary of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. That organization is primarily known for controlling the invasive sea lamprey population.

The Lake Superior Committee made the announcement about the milestone. That committee, coordinated under the auspices of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, consists of fishery managers from three of the Great Lakes states that border Lake Superior (Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota), the Province of Ontario, and the U.S. Tribes represented by the 1854 Treaty Authority, Chippewa-Ottawa Resource Authority, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, and the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, according to a news release by the committee.

The lake trout has increased in overall numbers, but subspecies are also sustainable.
The lake trout has increased in overall numbers, but subspecies are also sustainable.

Not just number, but diversity

Gaden said the sustainability milestone is not just about the increased number of lake trout; it’s also about diversity. He said the different subspecies — lean trout, humper trout, and siscowet — have all recovered to sustainable levels.

Between 1920 and 1950, an annual commercial harvest of 4 million pounds was taken, according to the fishery commission. By 1964, the harvest was down to 210,000 pounds.

The Lake Superior Committee estimates the current abundance of naturally reproduced lake trout is at or above the estimates prior to the sea lamprey invasion that reached Lake Superior in 1938.

The post After decades, lake trout restored to sustainable levels in Lake Superior appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Oakland prosecutor asks court to refuse Oxford shooter’s request to withdraw guilty plea

21 November 2024 at 15:16

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald is asking a judge to refuse the Oxford High School shooter’s request to withdraw his guilty pleas to murder and other charges.

In filings with the court, the prosecution argues the shooter was fully aware of the consequences of his pleas, which resulted in a sentence of life with no possibility of parole.

Prosecutors argue the teenager acknowledged the shootings were premeditated, willful and deliberate and the sentences fit the crimes.

Related: State and county officials not on same page as Oxford shooting victims look for answers

“There was no defect in the plea-taking process; thus, defendant cannot withdraw his plea,” said the prosecution. “Further, defendant testified under oath that he intended to kill; that he acted knowingly; and that his murders were done with premeditation, were willful, and were deliberate…”

Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 years old at the time of the shootings, pleaded guilty two years ago to murdering four students and injuring seven other people. His defense attorneys argue life without parole is too harsh a sentence, citing a troubled home life and the possibility that fetal alcohol syndrome could be a mitigating factor.

Oakland County Circuit Judge Kwame Rowe is now considering the request. There is no specific timeline for a ruling.

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Donate today »

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Detroit Evening Report: Detroit officials assure residents water is safe after letter raises concerns

20 November 2024 at 23:34

Detroit officials are reassuring residents about the safety of the city’s water system.   

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

The statement comes after the city sent federally mandated letters to thousands of residents about the materials used for water service lines.  Many Detroiters were concerned that the letters served as some sort of warning.

Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Director Gary Brown held a news conference on Tuesday to let residents know there’s no reason to worry. 

“Our water is safe and some of the best water in the world. We’re a leader in the United States in delivering quality water,” he said. “We’re below the actionable level for lead at 12 parts per billion in the most recent testing results.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires municipalities with lead service lines to send out the letters. Brown says the city uses a special coating to prevent old service lines from leeching lead into the water. He says concerned residents can run water for three to five minutes in the morning to flush standing water out of the system. 

Detroit has 10 years to replace all of its lead service lines. Brown says the city has spent $100 million this year in its efforts to replace those lines. 

Other headlines for Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024:

  • The city of Detroit broke ground Tuesday on a project that will turn a historic school into affordable housing.
  • AAA Michigan says you should pack your patience if you’re planning to take a trip over Thanksgiving, as 2.6 million Michiganders will be traveling over the holiday weekend.
  • Gas prices continue to trend lower in metro Detroit, according to AAA Michigan, with the average price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded now at $3.10 — down five cents from a week ago.

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

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.

Donate today »

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WDET refreshes programming schedule

20 November 2024 at 21:30

Earlier this year, WDET made a significant commitment to serving metro Detroit with updates to its programming designed to bring more local coverage and locally curated music to the airwaves as we celebrate our 75th anniversary year. The response to these changes was very positive, as measured by listener ratings data, membership feedback, fundraising metrics, and via WDET’s annual listener survey results.  

On Monday, Nov. 25, WDET will refresh its programming schedule again with changes informed by additional input from our community. Sixty percent of the new schedule will feature local programming — up from 51% previously. We’ll include more daily local coverage of news, arts and culture, with more input and call-in dialogue from our listeners on an expanded The Metro, more local and national reporting on Morning Edition, and more opportunities for listeners to hear our one-of-a-kind music programming every weekday evening with an expanded weeknight music schedule 

Other changes include more music overnights with rebroadcasts of In the Groove Monday-Friday starting at midnight; Jeremy Hobson’s The Middle joins WDET’s roster of national current affairs programming; Fresh Air adds a Friday episode; and On Point, Latino USA, Fresh Air Weekend, The Treatment and Sound Opinions will occupy new time slots.  

After almost a decade of service to WDET listeners, Stephen Henderson will wind up his tenure as a daily host with the conclusion of the program Created Equal. The nationally syndicated show On the Media will also be discontinued.  

“We want to thank and acknowledge Stephen Henderson for his important contributions to our city and our station. Although Created Equal will no longer be a part of our schedule, WDET remains committed to pursuing stories that highlight the challenges of inequality and the promise of opportunity in our communities, throughout our programming and journalism,” said WDET Program Director, Adam Fox. “We are extremely proud and grateful for Stephen’s tenure at WDET, and we know Stephen’s commitment to our community will continue.” 

General Manager Mary Zatina noted that, valuing transparency, WDET leadership made the choice to implement these changes now, before our Holiday On-Air Fundraiser, which begins on Dec. 3 and runs through Noel Night on Dec. 7.

“Growing listener and member bases and delivering the exceptional programming expected from WDET Public Radio is important as we improve our financial stability for the next 75 years serving Detroit,” Zatina said. “WDET ended Fiscal 2024 in a deficit, and we are working hard to improve our financial position.”     

Listeners can view the updated program schedule here or by going to wdet.org/schedule on Monday.

View a summary of the programming changes below.

Program Change New Time 
Morning Edition  Expanded Monday-Friday 5-10 a.m.  
The Metro Expanded to two hours, Rebroadcast overnights Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-noon/ Rebroadcast Monday-Friday 3-5 a.m. 
In the Groove  Rebroadcast overnights  Monday-Friday midnight-3 a.m.  
PRX Remix  New times Saturday-Sunday 2-6 a.m.  
Created Equal  Discontinued  N/A 
Fresh Air  Added Friday episode  Monday-Friday 3-4 p.m.  
On Point  Moves to weeknights  Monday-Friday 7-8 p.m.  
Acoustic Café  Rebroadcast Monday evening  Monday 10 p.m.-midnight 
Modern Music  Rebroadcast Tuesday evening  Tuesday 10 p.m.-midnight 
The New Music Show  Rebroadcast Wednesday evening  Wednesday 10 p.m.-midnight 
Destination Jazz   Rebroadcast Thursday evening  Thursday 10 p.m.-midnight 
This Island Earth  Rebroadcast Friday evening  Friday 10 p.m.-midnight 
On the Media  Discontinued  N/A  
The Treatment  New time  Saturday 6 a.m.  
The Middle  New program  Saturday 7 a.m.  
Fresh Air Weekend  New time  Sunday 6 a.m.  
Latino USA  New time  Sunday 7 a.m.  
The Don Was Motor City Playlist  Rebroadcast new time  Sunday 9-11 p.m.  
Sound Opinions  New time  Sunday 10-11 a.m. and 11 p.m.-midnight  

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.

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MI Local: Debuting new tracks from Bluhm, Mother Night, Audra Kubat, Prude Boys + more

By: Jeff Milo
20 November 2024 at 16:58

What if a radio show could almost feel as frenetically fresh as your Instagram feed? Welcome to MI Local: your one-stop shop for literally the latest in local music, particularly when a cavalcade of new releases comes tumbling into my inbox just in time for the show!

Pictured above, we have Mother Night, a new cinematic-sounding indie-rock quintet coming out of Ypsilanti; they have their debut full-length album, “Hungry Ghost,” out on Nov. 30, and we were able to premiere their lead single, “Looking Skyward,” before it even appeared on Bandcamp or iTunes (or elsewhere). Mother Night will perform an album release party next Saturday at the Dreamland Theatre in Ypsilanti.

One of my favorite new artists in town, Bluhm, recently released a full-length album, “Midnight Hill.” They were previously in-studio guests, earlier in the summer, where I interviewed vocalist and guitarist Claire Bluhm and multi-instrumentalist and producer Cameron John Marion. Bluhm will be releasing a new single, “Double Dream,” this Friday, but you can hear it — exclusively — on MI Local this week!

Singer-songwriter and music educator Audra Kubat will lead an impressive lineup of songwriters at this weekend’s “Friday Night Live,” at the DIA. Kubat is working on a follow-up to her 2019 album, “The Sliver and the Salve,” and (surprise) we were able to hear an unreleased track from this as-of-yet-untitled-follow-up, with a beautiful ballad titled “Hand and Leaf.”

But there’s more! Two local garage-pop trios, Zem and Prude Boys, are putting out a split EP, featuring three songs by each band. A digital release should be available on the internet any day now, but you can hear Zem’s “Finger,” and Prude Boys’ “Insane” on this week’s MI Local.

Plus, we heard the latest hip-hop track from happytree, the latest punk shredder from The Antibuddies, and a danceable electro-pop track from the project known as Haunted House!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

MI Local Playlist for Nov. 19, 2024

  • “Back N Forth” – happytree
  • “EXT266” – Haunted House
  • “Looking Skyward” – Mother Night
  • “Imagine My Eyes” – Ronny Tibbs
  • “Veterans Park Ice Arena” / “Arbor Oaks Park” – Timothy Monger
  • “Double Dream” – Bluhm
  • “New Forgetting” – Fred Thomas
  • “First Place” – pia the band
  • “Calloway” – Laurel Premo
  • “Leaf and Hand” – Audra Kubat
  • “Finger” – Zem
  • “Insane” – Prude Boys
  • “Verde” – Mooses
  • “Mothman Live(s)” – The Antibuddies

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 »

The post MI Local: Debuting new tracks from Bluhm, Mother Night, Audra Kubat, Prude Boys + more appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Detroit Evening Report: MSP reminds residents to sign up for emergency alerts; Detroit PAL’s Thanksgiving drive + more

19 November 2024 at 22:36

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover Michigan State Police’s new campaign to encourage residents to sign up for emergency alerts; Detroit PAL’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive and more.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple PodcastsSpotifyNPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

MSP launches ‘Know Your Plan. Be Alert’ campaign

The Michigan State Police has launched the “Know Your Plan. Be Alert.” campaign, encouraging residents to sign up for alerts to stay informed during emergencies. Alerts would send information during severe weather, active shooter incidents, missing or endangered individuals and more. For more information or to sign up for alerts visit michigan.gov/miready and click on local alerts. 

State holds hearing on child care licensing rule changes

The state is updating its child care licensing requirements and wants to hear from residents. The proposed rules would tighten regulations on drinking water and add standards for outdoor nature-based childcare centers. They would also make it easier for teachers to qualify for a job at a childcare center. The state held a public hearing on the changes in Lansing on Tuesday. People can submit questions or comments on the changes by mail or email until 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22.

Cycling at the Velodrome

The Lexus Velodrome and Detroit Parks and Recreation are teaming up to offer an indoor cycling program for youth ages 13-17. The six-week program will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays starting on Jan. 7 and running through Feb. 11. Youth will learn the fundamentals of indoor track cycling from experienced competitors and coaches. Registration is open now and costs $10. For more information about this and other Parks and Recreation sports programs, visit dprdathletics.com. 

Detroit PAL hosting Thanksgiving Food Drive

Detroit PAL is partnering with APEX Leadership Academy and the Detroit NFL Former Players Chapter to offer thanksgiving meals to 500 families next week. Turkeys, dressing, cornbread, cranberry sauce and more will be distributed from 10 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at Detroit PAL’s headquarters, 1680 Michigan Ave., Detroit.

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

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.

Donate today »

The post Detroit Evening Report: MSP reminds residents to sign up for emergency alerts; Detroit PAL’s Thanksgiving drive + more appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

In The Groove: Kim Deal goes solo, Lola Young delivers painful love on ‘Charlie’ + more

19 November 2024 at 21:59

I wanted the first hour of the show to feel like being wrapped in your favorite flannel around a bonfire because it is that time in Michigan… and man, did we nail it… as a team! Because your song selections for music you’re currently obsessed with DID NOT MISS.

Thank you for dropping those on the Groove hotline… PLUS! New music from Kim Deal, who is finally going solo after decades of being part of Pixies and Breeders and basically my musical upbringing. The new record is lovely. It’s called “Nobody Loves You More” and is out this Friday. This New York Times profile about her is lovely, too.

Also, new music from MJ Lenderman, Lola Young, Tyler The Creator 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 Nov. 19, 2024

  • “Winterlong” – Pixies
  • “Invisible Man” – Breeders
  • “Nobody Loves You More” – Kim Deal
  • “Are You Mine?” – Kim Deal
  • “Gigantic” – Pixies
  • “Into The White” – Pixies
  • “Angels With Dirty Faces” – Los Lobos (Groove Hotline)
  • “Keep On Keepin’ On” – Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio (Groove Hotline)
  • “Green Arrow” – Yo La Tengo (Groove Hotline)
  • “Wristwatch” – MJ Lenderman
  • “Not” – Big Thief
  • “Charlie (feat. Lil Yachty)” – Lola Young
  • “Os Ancestrais (feat. Dom Salvador)” – Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad
  • “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” – Stevie Wonder
  • “Ghost Town” – The Specials
  • “Stompin & Motorik’n” – Penza Penza
  • “20th Century Boy” – T. Rex
  • “Noid” – Tyler The Creator (In The Groove Pick of the Week)
  • “Paranoid (feat. Mr Hudson)” – Kanye West
  • “Still Life” – ALASKALASKA
  • “Is It It or Is It I?” – Astrel K
  • “Football” – Youth Lagoon
  • “100 Years of Bill & Lil” – Joe Webb
  • “What You’re Missing” – Shannon & the Clams
  • “This Time Tomorrow” – The Kinks
  • “Can’t Hardly Wait (Cello Version)” – Replacements
  • “Hot Sun” – Wilco
  • “Hive Mind (Speakers Corner Quartet Remix)” – Tirzah
  • “Burn The Witch” – Radiohead
  • “Canopy” – Charlotte Day Wilson
  • “Cantar Das Kandakinhas” – Pedro Ricardo
  • “Estación Esperanza (feat. Manu Chao)” – Sofia Kourtesis
  • “Tjomme (DJ Koze Remix)” – José González
  • “Second Wind” – Kadhja Bonet
  • “Les Fleurs” – Minnie Riperton
  • “Darkness, Darkness” – Kieran Hebden & William Tyler

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 »

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State and county officials not on same page as Oxford shooting victims look for answers

19 November 2024 at 21:45

Nearly three years after a teenager killed four of his classmates in a shooting at Oxford High School, victims’ families are still looking for answers.

They want a review of how school officials acted leading up to the shooting, calling on Michigan’s Attorney General, Dana Nessel, to do so this week.

Steve St. Juliana’s daughter, Hana, was among those killed in the Oxford High School attack. He says further action is needed to prevent future school shootings.

“This is about getting the truth out there,” says St. Juliana, “to create the counter measures to save our kids. This is not about identifying people to prosecute.”

The families are frustrated that a state review of procedures around the 2021 shooting has not taken place. They say they’ve had a hard time getting answers from the Oakland County prosecutor and state attorney general — accusing Nessel of retracting an offer to investigate over lack of probable cause.

Oxford High School shooting victim's families call for action
Buck Myre (lower left) and Steve St. Juliana (lower right) speak to the media, calling for a state investigation into the 2021 Oxford High School Shooting.

Speaking to the media, Nessel countered that her offer to review has always been on the table.

“Now these offers were made to the school board and to the criminal investigation and prosecutions being handled by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and prosecutor. Our involvement on both fronts was soundly rejected,” she said.

While Nessel says she remains willing to help, she isn’t sure why Oakland County officials are now pointing the case at her.

“My authorities are not expansive beyond those that are already held by the county prosecutor and sheriff, who currently have the investigation, and have investigated this matter thoroughly for years and years now,” she said.

Nessel says her office can’t investigate without a referral from local authorities. She says she’s confused by Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard appearing in support of the Oxford family’s call to action, arguing that she’d need information from him to move forward.

In a statement, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said she’s unaware of any action needed by her office to involve the attorney general.

Oxford families say they’re tired of the finger pointing.

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.

Donate today »

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The Metro: Windsor mayor on how Trump’s policies could impact Canada 

19 November 2024 at 21:32

President-elect Donald Trump doesn’t have many concrete plans for what he wants to do when he gets into office. His policy list is thin, but there are two things he’s talked about a lot: deportations and tariffs. 

Trump has said he plans to deport millions of people in the U.S. who don’t have legal status. Yesterday, he said he would use the military to carry out this plan. He also wants to use tariffs to develop industry here.

But how will these policy changes affect neighboring countries like Canada and Mexico? Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens joined The Metro on Tuesday to talk about the potential impact in Canada.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple PodcastsSpotifyNPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Dilkens says Canada has long been impacted by U.S. immigration policy at the Mexico-U.S. border.

“The millions of people who have crossed [the U.S.-Mexico border] in the last four years, many of them have made their way up to Canada, crossed illegally into the country,” he said. “And so in my city today, I’ve got two hotels who overlook the Detroit River and stare at Detroit, full of people who have crossed into our country, waiting for their cases to be adjudicated by our immigration and refugee group in Canada.”

In 2004, the U.S. and Canada entered into a Safe Third Country Agreement, a treaty between the two governments with the goal of better managing the flow of refugees better manage the flow of refugees seeking asylum at the border.

As part of the agreement, individuals seeking asylum in Canada are required to request refugee protection in the first safe country they arrive in, unless they qualify for an exception, Dilkens said.

“If you’re entering Canada to claim refugee status from the United States, you’re now required to wait in the United States to have your case adjudicated,” he said. “We’re no longer going to put you up in hotels and have you hang out here.”

Use the media player above to listen to the full conversation.

More headlines from The Metro Nov. 19, 2024: 

  • What is today known as the Knights of Columbus Hall in Clawson, used to be a raucous concert venue called The Hideout from 1966 to 1969. It was the third location in a series of teen clubs in southeast Michigan, where legendary musicians like The MC5, many of Bob Seger’s early groups, and The Subterraneans once played. Martin Hirchak, a Detroit cartoonist and graphic designer, joined the show to talk about the former venue, and an upcoming event at Knights of Columbus, “Tales from the Clawson Comic Book and Toy Show.”
  • Educators at the College of Creative Studies (CCS) have made it their mission to stoke the flame of creativity already inside the students they teach. Fiber Flux, a new exhibition on view through Dec. 14 at the Valade Family Gallery on CSS’ campus, pays homage to arts educators across the Midwest through fiber art. Wayne State Associate Professor of Fashion and Fibers Heather Macali and Professor and Section Lead of Fiber and Textiles at CCS, Jeremy Noonan, joined the show to discuss the exhibition.
  • Last week, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced he won’t run for another term. WDET’s Senior News Editor Quinn Kleinfelter joined the show to discuss the mayor’s legacy and what the future might hold for both the city of Detroit and Duggan’s political future.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 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. Donate today »

The post The Metro: Windsor mayor on how Trump’s policies could impact Canada  appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Progressive Underground: A tribute to The Foreign Exchange

19 November 2024 at 20:48

This week was a special The Foreign Exchange (TFE) tribute edition of The Progressive Underground as we celebrated the group founded by Phonte Coleman and Nicolay Rook back in 2004. We chronicled their rise from a groundbreaking duo to a game-changing music ensemble with a burgeoning record label and music movement redefining the sound of progressive soul and conscious hip-hop while providing a multifaceted platform for independent artists.

We played tunes from the TFE catalog as well as individual works of its members such as Phonte, Matthijs Nicolay Rook, Zo! aka Lorenzo Ferguson, Carmen Rodgers and Tamisha Waden, while also mining cuts from artists on the TFE record label like Sy Smith, Bemyfiasco and YahZarah St. James. Plus, some TFE-adjacent artists like Eric Roberson (the king of independent soul), Maurice Pirahnahead Herd & Tee Diviniti Smith, Tall Black Guy Productions and many more! We give TFE and their family tree their flowers and celebrate them for the musical movement that they are.

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

The Progressive Underground Playlist for Nov. 16, 2024:

  • “Milk & Honey” – The Foreign Exchange
  • “Brave New World” – The Foreign Exchange
  • “Take Off The Blues (feat. Darien Brockington)” – The Foreign Exchange
  • “Make Me Fool (feat. Jesse Boykins)” – The Foreign Exchange
  • “Right After Midnight (feat. Sy Smith)” – The Foreign Exchange
  • “So What If It Is” – The Foreign Exchange
  • “We Are On The Move (feat. Eric Roberson)” – Zo!
  • “Role Play (feat Bilal)” – Leron Thomas
  • “We Can Fly” – Nicolay
  • “Sweet Love (feat. Jeanne Jolly)” – The Foreign Exchange
  • “The Answer” – The Foreign Exchange
  • “If This Is Love (feat. YaZarah)” – The Foreign Exchange
  • “Flight of the Blackbyrd (4Hero Remix) [feat. Phonte]” – Zo!
  • “Love Come Save The Day” – YaZarah
  • “Flowers” – Sy Smith
  • “Close To You” – Art Nap
  • “Pretty Little Love (feat. Lola Violet)” – BeMyFiasco
  • “Saturday Night (feat. Carlitta Durand)” – Nicolay
  • “Wonderluv” – Darien Brockington
  • “Lifetime” – Bain
  • “Follow (feat. Carlitta Durand)” – Phonte
  • “The Beauty of Life (feat. Carmen Rodgers)” – Pirahnahead & Diviniti
  • “Lifelines (feat. Dornik)” – Zo!
  • “Body” – The Foreign Exchange
  • “The Brightest Star (feat. Phonte & Carmen Rodgers)” – Nicolay
  • “Why Do You Keep Calling Me?” – Sy Smith
  • “Don’t Wanna Be Your Lover” – BeMyFiasco
  • “Hold My Hand (feat. Phonte/Muhsinah & Darien Brockington)” – Zo! & Tall Black Guy
  • “Funk in the Hole (Nicolay Remix)” – Roy Ayers
  • “No More Waiting (feat. Creative Theory)” – Nicolay
  • “Better” – The Foreign Exchange
  • “Something” – Phonte & Eric Roberson
  • “Count to Five” – Zo!
  • “Asking for a Friend” – The Foreign Exchange
  • “Sun Rings/Uprising” – Nicolay
  • “All The Kisses (feat. Paris & Amber Strother of KING)” – The Foreign Exchange

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Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far

19 November 2024 at 19:16

President-elect Donald Trump is filling key posts in his second administration, and it’s shaping up much differently than his first. He’s prioritizing loyalists for top jobs.

Trump was bruised and hampered by internal squabbles during his initial term in office. Now he appears focused on remaking the federal government in his own image. Some of his choices could face difficult confirmation battles even with Republicans in control of the U.S. Senate.

Here’s a look at whom he has selected so far.

Cabinet nominees:

SECRETARY OF STATE: Marco Rubio

Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making the critic-turned-ally his choice for top diplomat.

Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump’s running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement.

The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator once called a “con man” during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump’s plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations.

ATTORNEY GENERAL: Matt Gaetz

Trump said Wednesday he will nominate Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz to serve as his attorney general, naming a loyalist in the role of the nation’s top prosecutor.

In selecting Gaetz, 42, Trump passed over some of the more established lawyers whose names had been mentioned as being contenders for the job.

“Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and Restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department,” Trump said in a statement.

Gaetz resigned from Congress Wednesday night. The House Ethics Committee has been investigating an allegation that Gaetz paid for sex with a 17-year-old, though that probe effectively ended when he resigned. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.

DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: Tulsi Gabbard

Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, another example of Trump prizing loyalty over experience.

Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party’s 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall, and she’s been accused of echoing Russian propaganda.

“I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement.

Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions.

DEFENSE SECRETARY: Pete Hegseth

Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014. He developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show.

Hegseth served in the Army National Guard from 2002 to 2021, deploying to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011. He has two Bronze Stars. However, Hegseth lacks senior military and national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea.

Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year.

HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Kristi Noem

Noem is a well-known conservative who used her two terms leading South Dakota to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic.

More recently, Noem faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting and killing her dog.

She is set to lead a department crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda as well as other missions. Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports.

CIA DIRECTOR: John Ratcliffe

Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump’s first term, leading the U.S. government’s spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation’s highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kennedy ran for president as a Democrat, then as an independent, and then endorsed Trump. He’s the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign.

The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines. For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism.

TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: Sean Duffy

Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump’s most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business.

Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children.

VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY: Doug Collins

Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate.

Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command.

“We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need,” Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.

INTERIOR SECRETARY: Doug Burgum

The governor of North Dakota, once little-known outside his state, is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump and then spent months traveling to drum up support for Trump after dropping out of the race.

Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs.

Trump initially announced his choice of Burgum while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida on Thursday night. The president-elect’s formal announcement on Friday said he wanted Burgum to be Interior secretary and chairman of a new National Energy Council “that will oversee the path to U.S. ENERGY DOMINANCE.” As chairman of the council, Trump said Burgum will also have a seat on the National Security Council, which would be a first for the Interior secretary.

ENERGY SECRETARY: Chris Wright

A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market.

Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States.

Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ADMINISTRATOR: Lee Zeldin

Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X, “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.”

“We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added.

During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration’s promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referred to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign that his administration would “drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration.

In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.”

White House staff:

CHIEF OF STAFF: Susie Wiles

Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager.

She has a background in Florida politics, helping Ron DeSantis win his first race for Florida governor. Six years later, she was key to Trump’s defeat of him in the 2024 Republican primary.

Wiles’ hire was Trump’s first major decision as president-elect and one that could be a defining test of his incoming administration considering her close relationship with him. Wiles is said to have earned Trump’s trust in part by guiding what was the most disciplined of Trump’s three presidential campaigns.

Wiles was able to help keep Trump on track as few others have, not by criticizing his impulses, but by winning his respect by demonstrating his success after taking her advice.

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Mike Waltz

Waltz is a three-term Republican congressman from east-central Florida. A former Army Green Beret, he served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs.

He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population.

BORDER CZAR: Tom Homan

Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history.

He served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and he was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border once Trump won the election. Homan said at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to “run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.”

Democrats have criticized Homan for defending Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border.

DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR POLICY: Stephen Miller

Miller, an immigration hardliner, was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump’s priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump’s first administration.

Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump’s policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation’s economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally.

Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security.

DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF: Dan Scavino

Scavino was an adviser to all three of the president-elect’s campaigns, and the transition team referred to him as one of “Trump’s longest serving and most trusted aides.” He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president.

He previously ran Trump’s social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF: James Blair

Blair was political director for Trump’s 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president.

Blair was key to Trump’s economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate’s “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago.

DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF: Taylor Budowich

Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump’s 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president.

Budowich had also served as a spokesman for Trump after his first presidency.

WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Karoline Leavitt

Leavitt, 27, was Trump’s campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history.

The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps.

Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas.

Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump’s first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: William McGinley

McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump’s first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee’s election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign.

In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.”

Ambassadors and envoys

SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST: Steven Witkoff

The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect’s golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump’s club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination.

Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud.”

Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee.

AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: Mike Huckabee

Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel’s interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah.

“He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.”

Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland.

Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Huckabee has rejected a Palestinian homeland in territory occupied by Israel, calling for a so-called “one-state solution.”

AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: Elise Stefanik

Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump’s staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment.

Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership.

Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile.

If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine that began in 2022.

Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri, Lolita C. Baldor, Jill Colvin, Matthew Daly, Edith M. Lederer, Adriana Gomez Licon, Lisa Mascaro, Chris Megerian, Zeke Miller, Michelle L. Price and Will Weissert contributed to this report.

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Sleeping Bear pauses controversial Segment 9 trail extension indefinitely

19 November 2024 at 18:39

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will pause work on Segment 9, the final extension of a paved, multi-use trail through the park.

The decision comes after growing opposition to the four-and-a-half mile trail extension, including from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

Sleeping Bear Superintendent Scott Tucker said conversations with the tribe ultimately influenced the park’s decision to pause the project.

“The Grand Traverse Band, through all of our consultation conversations, were opposed to the route through this section of the National Lakeshore,” Tucker said at a news conference on Wednesday.

In August, Grand Traverse Band tribal Chairwoman Sandra Witherspoon penned a letter of opposition to the proposed route.

“Our opposition is grounded in serious concerns regarding the potential impacts on wetlands, tree removal, and the treaty gathering rights of our Tribal members,” she wrote in the letter addressed to U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), U.S. Secretary of the Interior Debra Haaland and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Superintendent Scott Tucker.

Tucker said the tribe’s concerns are the reason the park is putting the brakes on Segment 9.

“Out of respect to the [tribe’s] ancestral homelands, we are pausing that project,” Tucker said.

Flags mark the proposed route of Segment 9 of the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.Tucker said the pause is indefinite and the park will prioritize other projects.

“We look forward to continuing the consultation process with the National Park Service and appreciate their willingness to work with us,” the Grand Traverse Band’s Witherspoon told IPR in an email.

TART Trails, a Traverse City nonprofit focused on non-motorized transit, was leading fundraising for Segment 9.

TART CEO Julie Clark said roughly $2.6 million has been raised and that those donations are restricted for use on the project. Clark said the nonprofit will talk with donors on what “possibilities may be” for the money.

Clark said TART respects the decision to pause the project but is disappointed that the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail might remain uncompleted.

“We lose safe access, right?” Clark said. “It is not a safe place to bike or run along M-22 and that section of the park, it is not comfortable. We know that the community wanted [a] separated trail, so we lose this opportunity to build a facility that provided safe, responsible, managed access to the Lakeshore.”

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore had contracted with a construction firm through the Michigan Department of Transportation for an initial design.

Tucker said that the design draft is still expected this winter but the park won’t act on it.

He said it will serve as a foundation for future conversations with the tribe if the park chooses to revisit the project one day.

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Michigan Supreme Court refuses association’s COVID case

19 November 2024 at 17:15

The Michigan Supreme Court has refused to hear a case filed by a business group that wants the state to compensate its members for losses due to state-ordered COVID-19 restrictions early in the pandemic.

The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case leaves in place a lower court decision that the Macomb County Restaurant, Bar and Banquet Association, unlike its members, was not directly affected by COVID orders and, therefore, does not have standing to sue.

The order from the Michigan Supreme Court was unsigned, but Republican-nominated Justice David Viviano wrote a dissent. He said the question of “associational standing” in the case is worth considering. He also wrote a decision from the court could provide guidance on the limits of state powers in future health emergencies.

Viviano wrote there could be some situations where an association can represent members’ interests without requiring individual businesses to file lawsuits.

“Plaintiff has made a persuasive argument that its interest as an association is sufficient for that purpose,” he wrote. “This is a jurisprudentially significant issue that I believe warrants our careful consideration.”

It is more typical for individual plaintiffs to file lawsuits while organizations representing specific interests can file “amicus” briefs with a court.

Sam Backos is a restaurant owner and a board member of the Macomb County Restaurant, Bar and Banquet Association. He told the Michigan Public Radio Network that a legal technicality should not keep the case from being heard.

“We look at it as, what’s the difference?” he said. “We’re filing a collective argument here to seek some relief. Nobody is discussing the merits of our case. They’re saying, no, you don’t have standing, which we disagree with.”

The Supreme Court order effectively upholds a Michigan Court of Appeals decision from October of 2022, which held a lower court “correctly concluded that plaintiff was not the real party in interest and was not the proper party to bring monetary claims on behalf of its members. Plaintiff made no assertion that the executive orders restricting the food-service industry affected the legal rights of plaintiff itself. That is, it failed to identify any actual controversy between itself and defendants.”

Backos said the Michigan Supreme Court order may have wrapped up the case in state courts, but is not the final word. He said his organization plans to take the case next to the U.S. Supreme and will file early next year.

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Detroit Evening Report: Dearborn launches ‘Business Bootcamp’ for women; Detroit gets $1.3M for lead hazard control + more

18 November 2024 at 22:31

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover a new “bootcamp” for women entrepreneurs in Dearborn; the death of Michigan State University’s first Black president; local halal food drives for Thanksgiving and more.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple PodcastsSpotifyNPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Dearborn launches ‘Business Bootcamp’ for women 

Applications are now open for a new eight-week boot camp for female
entrepreneurs in Dearborn. The City of Dearborn’s Dearborn WORKS
and the Arab American Women’s Business Council (AAWBC) created the program, which offers professional development, financial literacy courses, and networking opportunities. Participants will also receive $3,500 in seed funding upon completion. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Labor. People can register and find out more at Dearborn.gov/BusinessResources by Dec. 1.

MSU’s first Black president dies

Former Michigan State University President Clifton Wharton Jr. has died. Wharton Jr., the university’s first Black president, led MSU for most of the 1970s. As president, he oversaw the creation of the MSU Foundation and established an anti-discrimination judicial board. He was also the first Black CEO of a Fortune 500 company, leading the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund from 1986 to 1993. Wharton was 98.

Dearborn adding full-time therapist to police department

The Dearborn Police Department and the Arab Community Center for
Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) are teaming up to add a
full-time therapist to the police department for mental health calls.
The therapist will provide psychological evaluations during crisis
interventions and connect people with resources. More information about the position can be found on ACCESS’ website.

Detroit awarded $1.3M to expand lead hazard control

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services awarded $7
million in community grants to communities around the state for lead control services for Medicaid recipients. The city of Detroit received nearly $1.3 million as part of the funding, which will go toward lead inspections, risk assessment, and permanent removal of lead from eligible homes. The money can also be used to remove soil lead hazards, abatement work and pre-2014 faucets and fixtures that contribute to lead hazard 

DDOT hiring drivers and mechanics

The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) is hiring drivers and
mechanics. Pay begins at $15/hour with transportation equipment operators making over $18/hour after 12 months on the job. General auto mechanics will make $24.92 an hour. To apply, visit detroitmi.gov/ddot 

Islamic Center hosting turkey drive

The Islamic Center of Detroit is hosting a Food & Turkey
Distribution event offering halal turkeys from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23. ID is required, and it will be based on a first come first serve policy. ICD is located at 14350 Tireman St., Detroit.

Detroit Friendship House offering Thanksgiving meal kit

The Detroit Friendship House in Hamtramck is also offering halal turkeys in its Thanksgiving Meal Kit food drive from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Nov. 26, until supplies last. The in-person event takes place at 9450 Conant St., Hamtramck.

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

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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.

Donate today »

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The Progressive Underground Pick of the Week: ‘Go’ by Mahogany Jones feat. Monica Blaire

18 November 2024 at 21:51

I have a track for you that is steeped in soul, grit and the tenacity of hip-hop royalty. This week’s Pick of the Week comes from none other than Charyse Marshall, aka Mahogany Jones, a name that reverberates with authenticity, power and the kind of lyrical mastery that makes you sit up and take notice. She doesn’t just step onto the track; she commands it. And if you’ve been following her story, you know she’s been a force since her days on BET’s 106 & Park “Freestyle Fridays,” where she didn’t just compete — she became the first four-time undefeated champion, setting a high bar for freestyle.

From her early days in New York to her reign in Detroit, Jones has sculpted a career that transcends borders. As a cultural ambassador for American Music Abroad and the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, she’s made hip-hop a global language, representing not just a genre but a movement. And now, Jones is back with her latest single, “Go,” featuring the sultry, soulful vocals of Detroit’s own Monica Blaire.

This track is whole a vibe, a layered experience that dips into the underground while embracing house and techno with a remix from Roberto “Ma$terPeace” Peace. The synergy between Jones and Blaire is electrifying, their voices effortlessly weaving through rhythm and melody. Jones’ lyrics are fierce, thoughtful and uplifting, a reminder of the resilience and beauty of Black womanhood, while Blaire’s hook is pure Detroit, grounding the track in a sonic landscape that’s as innovative as it is soulful. Check it out:

If deep grooves and underground energy move you, tune in every Saturday at 6 p.m., when The Progressive Underground takes you on a musical journey through future soul, techno, deep house, nu-jazz and those rare grooves that keep the spirit alive. See you next time, peace.

Stay up-to-date with Mahogany Jones at mahoganyjones.com.

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The Metro: Abu Ghraib detainees awarded $42M, military contractor held liable for abuse

18 November 2024 at 21:41

Editor’s note: This conversation discusses some disturbing subject matter, including torture.

A U.S. jury last week awarded $42 million to three former detainees of Iraq’s notorious Abu Ghraib prison, holding a Virginia-based military contractor responsible for contributing to their torture and mistreatment two decades ago.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple PodcastsSpotifyNPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

The decision from the eight-person jury came after a different jury earlier this year couldn’t agree on whether Reston, Virginia-based CACI should be held liable for the work of its civilian interrogators who worked alongside the U.S. Army at Abu Ghraib in 2003 and 2004.

The jury awarded plaintiffs Suhail Al Shimari, Salah Al-Ejaili and Asa’ad Al-Zubae $3 million each in compensatory damages and $11 million each in punitive damages.

The three testified that they were subjected to beatings, sexual abuse, forced nudity and other cruel treatment at the prison.

Al-Ejaili joined The Metro on Monday along with Troy attorney Shereef Akeel — who represented the plaintiffs in the case — and local interpreter and attorney Mohammed Alomari, to discuss the case.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

-Reporting by Matthew Barakat, Associated Press

More headlines from The Metro on Nov. 18, 2024: 

    • The Kresge Foundation’s Artist Fellowships program has been supporting metro Detroit artists since 2008. Starting in 2025, the Foundation will increase the fellowship awards to $50,000 per artist. Katie McGowan, deputy director for Kresge Arts in Detroit, joined The Metro to talk more about the fellowship program.
    • A lot of people are struggling to purchase homes right now. A limited supply of affordable housing options is a part of that problem, propelled by labor shortages, supply shortages and regulatory issues at the city level that make it harder to build. Houm, an architectural design firm in Detroit, is working to change that by building cheaper, more efficent homes. Co-founder Breck Crandell joined the show to talk more about Houm’s efforts to build more affordable homes.

    Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 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. Donate today »

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    Created Equal: Defining Mike Duggan’s legacy in Detroit

    18 November 2024 at 20:29

    Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced last week that he will not seek reelection in 2025, ending a 12-year run that saw Detroit exit bankruptcy and begin the climb back to stability.

    Anika Goss, CEO of Detroit Future City, joins Created Equal along with journalists John Gallagher and Darren Nichols to discuss what has happened over the last decade of Duggan’s leadership and what awaits the city’s next leader. 

    Subscribe to Created Equal on Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsNPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

    Goss discussed how Detroit’s rate of Black homeownership has increased to its highest level since the housing crisis and the percentage of vacant land in the city has decreased over Duggan’s mayorship. However, she says there are still large income gaps within Detroit’s middle class, rates of educational attainment continue to decrease, and the city is facing the loss of the Black middle class to the suburbs.   

    Gallagher pointed out that although Duggan’s leadership has correlated with an improvement in the city’s economy, there were many local grassroots efforts in place to promote economic recovery prior to Duggan’s first term. Gallagher also discussed how the economic improvements were often focused on Detroit’s downtown and Midtown areas rather than Detroit’s neighborhoods.

    Nichols discussed how last year’s NFL Draft in Detroit was a culmination of the good press and excitement Duggan had built around the city. Nichols suggested that some of Duggan’s success could be attributed to his skills as a campaigner who spoke directly to city residents and presented himself as a fresh voice for change. He believes that the next mayor will have to similarly humble themselves and address the whole city. 

    Nichols also said he believes housing and poverty rates will be the most pressing issues for the city’s next leader to address.  

    “We can build affordable housing, but do those people have the finances to be able to do that? Do they have the credit to be able to do that? We have to keep in mind our realism as to what Detroit’s poverty rate means for affordable housing,” he said. 

    Use the media player above to listen to the full conversation. 

    Guests: 

    • Anika Goss is the CEO at Detroit Future City.
    • John Gallagher is a journalist, senior business columnist for the Detroit Free Press, and author of the book, “Reimagining Detroit: Opportunities for Redefining an American City.”
    • Darren Nichols is a journalist and contributing columnist at the Detroit Free Press 

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

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    The post Created Equal: Defining Mike Duggan’s legacy in Detroit appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

    Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music: Timely music from The Decemberists, Flint’s Tunde Olaniran + more

    18 November 2024 at 19:47

    On this episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, The Decemberists capture our current political moment, plus classic Marvin Gaye, the late Laura Nyro‘s upcoming box set (with another Motown classic), and poetry from Lawrence Ferlenghetti + Ray Charles for an interesting mix!

    See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

    Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for Nov. 16, 2024

    • “One And The Same” – Thee Sacred Souls
    • “Magnetic” – Tunde Adebimpe
    • “Whipped Cream Daydream” – Tunde Olaniran
    • “Nowhere To Run” – Laura Nyro
    • “She’s Got What It Takes” – The Tragically Hip
    • “America Made Me” – The Decemberists
    • “Severed” – The Decemberists
    • “Everything Is Awful” – The Decemberists
    • “The Rest Of Me” – Michael Kiwanuka
    • “In The City” – Lady Blackbird
    • “Spirits” – The Devil Makes 3
    • “Debra” – Beck (Midnight Vultures released this week, 1999)
    HOUR TWO:
    • “Smoky Mountain DNA” – Dolly Parton
    • “Dolly P/Jolene” – Beyonce
    • “Ninety Three ‘Til Infinity And Beyonce” – Andre 3000
    • “I’m Ready” – Nick Piunti & the Complicated Men
    • “Never Alone” – Amythyst Kiah
    • “My Kind Of Town” – Marvin Gaye (Hello Broadway released this week, 1964)
    • “Sea Of Love” – The Honeydrippers (Vol. 1 released this week, 1984)
    • “I’ll Go Anywhere” – Mustafa
    • “Empty Trainload Of Sky” – Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings
    • “Tear My Stillhouse Down” – Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings (Acoustic Cafe, 1996)
    • “Sunshine Life For Me” – George Harrison & The Band
    • “Milonga accidental” – Alisa Amador
    • “Just My Luck” – Obongjayar
    • “Pity The Nation” – Lawrence Ferlenghetti
    • “America The Beautiful” – Ray Charles

    Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming 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.

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    The post Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music: Timely music from The Decemberists, Flint’s Tunde Olaniran + more appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

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