An advocacy group says immigrants in Michigan can take steps to keep themselves from being deported if they plan for the possibility ahead of time.

The Trump administration is conducting a series of raids nationwide, following the president’s campaign pledge to launch a massive effort to deport undocumented immigrants.

That concerns the head of the metro Detroit-based Arab-American Civil Rights League, Nabih Ayad.

He tells WDET that the speed with which federal agents are carrying out the deportations stacks the odds against even immigrants who are in the process of becoming U.S. citizens.

Listen: Nabih Ayad of Arab American Civil Rights League urges immigrants to be proactive, ‘know your rights’

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Nabih Ayad: What protection they have is very little, because the section of the law that the government is using most likely is going to be the expedited removal statute. Basically, they can arrest you, detain you, put you on a plane and get you out of here literally within days. And that’s very dangerous because the officer that’s arresting these individuals does not know the background, does not know the law to a certain degree, does not know if that person has a pending application of some kind of relief. There may be an asylum claim that he or she may be eligible to apply for.

Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: What do you suggest a person in those kinds of situations should try to do?

NA: They should call our hotline, possibly even before something is happening. Just to know what their rights are, to make sure that they understand they have certain protections under our U.S. Constitution. They may have relief, for instance, if they came to this country and like a lot of individuals, they are afraid to return because they’ll be persecuted or tortured because of their political opinion, background, religion. They can have protections there. They can go ahead and stop the expedited removal and send them through normal removal proceedings where they can adjudicate their application.

Another one is maybe they’re married to a United States citizen, or their wife is about to get citizenship, say, next month, maybe she can apply for them. That could protect them. Maybe they have some litigation pending that could actually allow them to stay here under the expedited removal statute. There’s a number of different forms that possibly are available to them.

QK: It sounds as if things would be happening at such a rapid speed. Is it possible for somebody to take some of the steps you’re talking about while, perhaps, an agent is trying to hustle them out of the country?

NA: That’s the thing, once they arrest you, it’s going to be pretty hard for you to exercise those rights if you don’t know where to call, or the family is not aware who to call. Because it happens so fast, that’s the danger of it. If we step into federal court, it’s going to take us as attorneys a couple days to draw up the complaint for an injunction to stop the government from removing this individual. So it’s always better to act proactive as opposed to post-active.

QK: You are also suggesting that people should carry around with them some identification and other documents?

NA: Absolutely, especially in these circumstances. If you’re not a green card holder, a United States citizen, absolutely have every type of documentation you have to show that you have roots in this community for a number of years. I would ask something that shows at least two to three years, the more years, the better.

QK: Why would that matter that they have roots here?

NA: Because the expedite removal statute, technically, is only to be applied for individuals that just recently came in. Now, if I arrest you as an immigration custom enforcement officer and I don’t know you, I just see that you have no documentation, I can just say you came in last week or two weeks ago. And I can arrest you and put you on a plane, get rid of you. But if I see documentation showing that you’ve been here for a number of years, then the laws are different. Then they have to put you through normal removal process with an immigration court in charge. Which allows you to remain here for a number of years while you litigate that process.

English speaking media are not the only news sources fighting the rising tide of misinformation and disinformation infiltrating American politics. Spanish language outlets have also been targets.

Journalist Martina Guzman has reported on news and events affecting Detroit’s Hispanic community for many years. She also directs the Race and Justice Reporting Initiative at the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights. It’s part of Wayne State University’s Law School.

Guzman says a credible source gave her a tip that Russian agents were buying airtime on Spanish language radio stations across the U.S. before the 2024 election.

“I was alarmed that it was happening, and more alarmed at how pervasive it was,” she said.

So, she decided to investigate. She discovered that a small handful of people knew what was happening because they were listening. She was, too, and wanted to make other journalists aware of it.

“I was convinced there was a tool that would allow you to listen, and that would make it easy for journalists to find out what was happening,” Guzman said.

To her surprise, there wasn’t. So, she set out to create one. Working with Public Data Works, Guzman and design engineers built “VERDAD,” which means “truth” in Spanish.

VERDAD “listens” to Spanish language broadcasts and begins recording as soon as it “hears” certain words that Guzman and the designers entered into the system. Then it transcribes the broadcast and translates it into English.

“American journalists who don’t speak Spanish now have an entire way of monitoring disinformation so they can see it in English,” she said.

Guzman added that journalists are monitoring Arabic, French, Creole, and Vietnamese broadcasts for misinformation, as well as Russia’s Sputnik propaganda channel.

“Once the tool is built, it can be applied to multiple languages at the same time,” she said.

The Michigan Public Service Commission has approved a $217 million rate hike for DTE Energy.

One condition of the increase by the MPSC order includes allocating $87 million for the utility’s tree trimming program.

MPSC Chair Dan Scripps says improving service reliability is the commission’s main goal.

“We’re supportive of a number of investments specifically tied to improving reliability performance, including $87 million in additional funding for the tree trim surge program, which brings the five-year total that we’ve approved under this program to just under $500 million.”

DTE Spokesperson Rachel Steudle says the utility trims about a million trees every year.

“We have 31,000 overhead line miles and by the end of this year we will have trimmed every one of those miles to our enhanced specification,” Steudle said. “We’ve been executing this work since about 2019. So this year in particular, we’re touching over 6000 miles.”

Steudle says the utility has amplified its efforts to clear away overgrown trees in the last six years.

The rate hike is offset by a power supply cost adjustment made at DTE in November. Residents should not see an increase in their monthly bill. Steudle says customers experience a 40% increase in service reliability after trees are trimmed in an area.

The utility rate hikes are set to take effect on Feb. 6.

A judge spent nearly four hours Monday listening and sorting through arguments on the future of the state’s effort to shut down a 4.5-mile segment of an Enbridge petroleum pipeline that runs along the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac.

Ingham County Circuit Judge James Jamo’s first decision is whether it is his job to make a decision. If the answer is yes, then Jamo will decide whether the state has the authority to revoke an easement that allows Enbridge to operate Line 5 on the bottom of the Great Lakes.

The case in Ingham County is a jumble of state and federal lawsuits over the continued operation of the pipeline in the environmentally sensitive juncture of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, even as Enbridge moves ahead with plans to encase it in a tunnel under the lakebed.  

“This is about public safety under the common law public trust doctrine,” argued Assistant Attorney General Dan Bock during the online arguments before Ingham County Circuit Judge James Jamo.

This six-year-long challenge is part of the hodgepodge of legal actions surrounding Line 5 and Enbridge’s efforts to allay concerns with a project to encase the line in a concrete tunnel.

Enbridge has been trying to move the arguments to federal courts, where its chances are arguably better than state courts presided over by judges selected by Michigan voters.

“Enbridge has deliberately caused years of delay through procedural tactics, attempting to block Michigan courts from deciding a critical issue that directly impacts its residents,” Nessel said in a statement released by her office following the arguments.

But Enbridge argues the case has national and international implications that are bigger than one state’s parochial interests. Enbridge runs a sweeping network of energy pipelines. Line 5 runs through Michigan and Wisconsin on the U.S. side of an international border and into Ontario and Quebec on the Canadian side. Portions of the pipeline go through tribal lands.

“We believe these are federal issues that take precedence, and this has become really an international controversy at this point,” said Enbridge spokesman Ryan Duffy. Enbridge’s attorney also argued the state has no standing since it is only arguing prospective future harm.

Enbridge’s pipeline network could be part of the solution to resolve moving petroleum products without using a line that in a worst-case scenario would spill hundreds of thousands of gallons of petroleum product into the Great Lakes, said Andrew Buchsbaum, an attorney who filed an amicus brief on behalf of the National Wildlife Federation and the Great Lakes Business Network.

But, he said, first the court would have to agree the state has shown the potential for an environmental catastrophe is enough to establish standing to sue.

“Once a court makes that finding, then procedurally, the next phase of the case is, what’s the remedy?” said Buchsbaum. “That is, is it an immediate shutdown? Is it a shutdown over time to allow Enbridge to try to find some other way of rerouting the oil and gas around the straits or around Michigan?”

Judge Jamo said he will issue a written opinion soon, but did not give a specific timeline. Whatever Jamo decides can be appealed to a higher court.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a push from President Donald Trump to pause federal funding while his administration conducts an across-the-board ideological review to uproot progressive initiatives.

The Trump administration plan plunged the U.S. government into panic and confusion and set the stage for a constitutional clash over control of taxpayer money.

The order from U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan came minutes before the funding freeze was scheduled to go into effect. The administrative stay lasts until Monday afternoon and applies only to existing programs.

Administration officials said the decision to halt loans and grants — a financial lifeline for local governments, schools and nonprofit organizations around the country — was necessary to ensure that spending complies with Trump’s recent blitz of executive orders. The Republican president wants to increase fossil fuel production, remove protections for transgender people and end diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

But a vaguely worded memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget, combined with incomplete answers from the White House throughout the day, left lawmakers, public officials and average Americans struggling to figure out what programs would be affected by the pause. Even temporary interruptions in funding could cause layoffs or delays in public services.

“This sort of came out of the blue,” said David Smith, a spokesperson for the Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas, one of countless districts that receive federal funding. Now they’re trying to figure out what it means “based on zero information.”

AliKhan, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, said in halting the freeze, “It seems like the federal government currently doesn’t actually know the full extent of the programs that are going to be subject to the pause.”

Jessica Morton, an attorney for the National Council of Nonprofits which brought the suit, said the group has tens of thousands of members around the country that could be affected.

“Our client members have reported being extremely concerned about having to shutter if there’s even a brief pause,” Morton said.

Justice Department attorney Daniel Schwei said the plaintiffs hadn’t identified anyone specifically who would lose funding right away if the pause does go into effect.

Trump administration officials said programs that provide direct assistance to Americans would not be affected, such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, student loans and food stamps. They also defended the funding pause, saying Trump was following through on his promise to turn Washington upside down if elected to a second term.

However, the effects were being felt far from the nation’s capital. Organizations like Meals on Wheels, which receives federal money to deliver food to the elderly, were worried about getting cut off.

“The lack of clarity and uncertainty right now is creating chaos,” spokeswoman Jenny Young said. She added that “seniors may panic not knowing where their next meals will come from.”

The National Science Foundation postponed this week’s panels for reviewing grant applications. Officials in Prichard, Alabama, feared they wouldn’t receive infrastructure funding to fix their leaking drinking water system. Republican leaders in Louisiana said they were “seeking clarity” to ensure nothing was “jeopardizing financial stability of the state.”

“Trump’s actions would wreak havoc in red and blue communities everywhere,” said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. “We are talking about our small towns, our cities, our school districts.”

The full scope of the administration’s review was spelled out in a 51-page spreadsheet sent to federal agencies and viewed by The Associated Press. Each line was a different government initiative, from pool safety to tribal workforce development to special education.

Officials were directed to answer a series of yes or no questions for every item on the list, including “does this program promote gender ideology?” or “does this program promote or support in any way abortion?” Responses are due by Feb. 7.

Trillions of dollars are potentially under review. Grants that have been awarded but not spent are also supposed to be halted if they might violate one of Trump’s executive orders.

“The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve,” wrote Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, in a memo distributed Monday.

Vaeth wrote that “each agency must complete a comprehensive analysis of all of their Federal financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities that may be implicated by any of the President’s executive orders.” He also wrote that the pause should be implemented “to the extent permissible under applicable law.”

The pause on grants and loans was scheduled to take effect at 5 p.m. ET, just one day after agencies were informed of the decision.

Democrats described the Trump administration’s decision as capricious and illegal. They argued that the president had no right to unilaterally stop spending money appropriated by Congress.

New York Attorney General Letitia James planned to ask a Manhattan federal court to block the funding pause.

“There is no question this policy is reckless, dangerous, illegal and unconstitutional,” she said.

Separately, a group of nonprofit organizations filed a lawsuit in Washington saying that the funding pause is “devoid of any legal basis or the barest rationale.”

The issue dominated the first briefing held by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She said the administration was trying to be “good stewards” of public money by making sure that there was “no more funding for transgenderism and wokeness.”

She denied that Trump was deliberately challenging Congress to establish his dominance over the federal budget.

“He’s just trying to ensure that the tax money going out the door in this very bankrupt city actually aligns with the will and the priorities of the American people,” she said.

The Environmental Protection Agency confirmed that it would implement the pause to “align federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through President Trump’s priorities.” The Department of Energy also said it was conducting a review of its spending.

The funding pause is the latest example of how Trump is harnessing his power over the federal system to advance his conservative goals. Unlike during his first term, when Trump and many members of his inner circle were unfamiliar with Washington, this time he’s reaching deep into the bureaucracy.

For example, federal employees are being asked to report their colleagues if they try to continue diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

“They are pushing the president’s agenda from the bottom up,” said Paul Light, an expert on the federal government and professor emeritus of public service at New York University.

He also said there are risks in Trump’s approach, especially with so many voters reliant on Washington.

“You can’t just hassle, hassle, hassle,” Light said. “You’ve got to deliver.”

Fears about interruption in government services were exacerbated as states reported problems with the Medicaid funding portal, where officials request reimbursement for providing healthcare to poor residents.

Democrats condemned the Trump administration, connecting the issue to the funding pause.

But Leavitt said the portal would be back online soon.

“We have confirmed no payments have been affected — they are still being processed and sent,” she posted on social media.

Reporting by Chris Megerian, Associated Press. Associated Press writers JoNel Aleccia, Moriah Balingit, Collin Binkley, Matthew Daly, Lisa Mascaro, Adithi Ramakrishnan, Amanda Seitz, Michael Sisak, Lindsay Whitehurst and Tammy Weber contributed to this report.

Each week, MI Local throws together a zesty salad of sounds and a smorgasbord of genres, all coming from musicians and songwriters based here in metro Detroit and all across the state of Michigan. This week, we start off with electro-pop, dip into some lo-fi instrumental hip-hop, get a little folky and orchestral before sampling some bluegrass, and then circle back to end on electronic, again.

This week’s newest tracks came from artists like the Plymouth-based songwriter Mark Jewett, who released a melodic ode to Michigan winters. You can see Jewett performing at the Ferndale Library on April 13. We heard a new sweet yet haunting song from Chloe Drallos (formerly known as Zilched). We also checked in with local electronic music producers like Jay Sound and Dial81, along with Jo Rad Silver, who hosts a monthly showcase at UFO Bar. 

I was also in a bit of a sentimental mood this week, so I spun some “older” tracks by local artists, particularly marking a couple of 10- and 5-year anniversaries: We heard from Kalamazoo-based indie-rockers The Go Rounds and Ypsilanti folk ensemble Matt Jones & the Reconstruction.

Tune in next week when Detroit-based indie-pop quirk-poet Danny VanZandt stops by for an in-studio chat and an exclusive premiere of a new song from his forthcoming album, “Proust in the Kitchen with the Wooden Spoon.”

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 Jan. 28, 2024

• “Shock n Awe” – The Go Rounds
• “Shoreline” – Chloe Moriondo
• “Grass Boulevard” – Jo Rad Silver
• “Bittersweet Memories” – Jay Sound
• “Air Pockets” – Dial81
• “The Good Life” – Matt Jones & the Reconstruction
• “Trade Coyote” – John Salvage
• “Angel Song” – Chloe Drallos
• “What’s Your Name” – Sari Brown
• “Stretcher at 5 a.m.” – MAS
• “Dream of  You” – David Turel
• “Dust to Gold” – The Sad Hour
• “Snow Song” – Mark Jewett
• “I Did Not Win” – Brawny Lad
• “Serene Days” – Automatic Android

It’s been roughly a week since President Donald Trump officially took office.

And a Michigan Congresswoman is outlining how the new administration could affect her constituents.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell delivered her annual address on the state of her 6^th Congressional District, which includes all of Washtenaw County, part of Wayne County and communities in Monroe and Oakland Counties.

Dingell told WDET there are numerous concerns in the area, and she believes she can work across the political aisle to address them.

Listen: Debbie Dingell on reaching across the aisle, priorities for her district

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell: I think there are very important issues that matter to Downriver communities. Trying to lower prices for everyday families, trying to bring jobs back, protect jobs, keep the auto industry and the steel industry strong. We have to do a lot to rebuild the steel industry. We’re working with the Environmental Protection Agency, the state and the county on clean-up projects. I think that Downriver communities are hidden jewels of the state of Michigan. There is no place more beautiful. I’m very proud of the fact that one of the last actions of the Biden administration was to bring $73 million to Trenton for a railroad project. You know that railroads are critical for transporting the supplies and the materials that are used in the plants that provide jobs Downriver. But those trains can block intersections for a very long time. This particular intersection that is going to be fixed with an overpass is a main thoroughfare to hospitals, a main thoroughfare if there is some kind of emergency. (The late former Michigan Congressman) John Dingell started trying to get this fixed.

Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: It’s only been the first week of the new administration. But what effect do you think the Trump administration is going to have on your district or on all of metro Detroit, for that matter?

DD: I have made it very clear when it will help the people of my district and the people of the state of Michigan. I’m going to reach across the aisle. I’m going to work to protect jobs, bring down prices, bring supply chains back home, keep a strong auto industry and diversify our industries, But if he’s going to do something that hurts the people of my district or Michigan, I am prepared to stand up and be strong against it. There were a lot of things happening last week. And I think many people’s heads are spinning as we try to understand all of the executive orders that he signed. What disappointed me the most, though, was the fact that there were people that attacked law enforcement officers, that law enforcement officers died on Jan. 6, that they were tasered, that they were almost shot, they were brutally bashed in the head, and that the men who did this were forgiven. That sets a tone for this country that I don’t think is OK. So I hope that we can all work together to tone it down, that we will not say that violence is OK in any circumstance. And I hope that’s not a message that we’re sending across the country.

QK: You were in the Capitol on Jan. 6, correct?

DD: I was. I remember that day very, very clearly. People came that day to kill the Vice President of the United States. They came to do harm to our Speaker of the House. It was so important that I attend President Trump’s inaugural. It shows people that in a democracy the majority speaks, we elect a new president and there’s a peaceful transfer of power between one administration and the next. It is the backbone of our democracy. We have to protect our democracy. What happened on Jan. 6 is that people came to do harm to our democracy, people that were sentenced and convicted of extreme violence. It bothers me that they were pardoned.

QK: Among the flurry of the executive orders that President Trump enacted are some that would help make good on his vow to deport undocumented immigrants. And Congress has passed the Laken Riley Act now, where undocumented people can be detained or deported if they committed theft, as well as some other offenses. What’s your view of what the president’s been doing in this area, and how do you see it impacting immigrants in the metro region?

DD: First of all, we need comprehensive immigration reform. We’ve needed it through Republican presidents and Democratic presidents. And quite frankly, there was a bill that Republicans and Democrats worked together on in the U.S. Senate last year that got stopped simply because Republicans didn’t want there to be a “win” on immigration. Nobody wants to keep anyone in the U.S. that’s a danger to our national security, someone who’s responsible for criminal activities. But we also need to protect due process, that’s one of the fundamental principles in our U.S. Constitution, too. So as we navigate our way through some of the things that are being done, I’ve had prosecutors call and warn me that people who are actually victims of domestic abuse can have their abuser use these laws against them. I just want due process. One of the fundamental principles of our Constitution is due process and that we protect the rights of people.

QK: There’s been some questions about just how well congressional Democrats could work with the new GOP leadership. You’ve already been involved in a couple of bipartisan pieces of legislation, relaunching the house cancer caucus and reintroducing the Take It Down Act concerning deep fake sexual images. It’s only been a week, but how’s the working relationship been with your Republican colleagues?

DD: I have a lot of friends on the other side of the aisle. We’re going to see where all this goes. The first major test is going to be when the budget expires on March 14. The four corners of the appropriation committees, the chairs and the ranking minorities in the House and Senate, have met to begin to discuss potential numbers and potential solutions. I am not going to give billionaires tax cuts. I will not support it and at the same time cut Medicare, Social Security or Medicaid for so many people, for my seniors, for the disabled, for those that need health care. So we’re going to have to see what the next few weeks bring. But there are a lot of issues where there is common ground. I respect my colleagues in the Michigan Congressional delegation. We have a good working relationship, so we’ll see what the next few weeks bring.

QK: You think Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security truly could be at risk this time?

DD: We have seen the memos with plans to significantly cut these programs.

American politics has long had too many lobbyists and too much money fueling campaigns. But Donald Trump’s administration breaks records. The total net worth of billionaires involved with it amounts to over $382 billion, which is more than the GDP of 172 different countries.

Today on The Metro, we discussed how wealthy individuals are now influencing our politics, and how much of a change that is from past administrations.

Guests:

• Graeme Robertson – Professor of political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and director of the Center for Slavic, Eurasian and East European Studies. His work focuses on political protest and regime support in authoritarian regimes.
• Bilal Baydoun – Director of Democratic Institutions at Roosevelt Forward, an advocacy affiliate of the Roosevelt Institute, a progressive think tank. 

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

We also asked listeners:

“Should the government be run like a business?”

Christian in Grosse Pointe Park said: “I don’t think it’s black and white. I think we need to look at each individual situation and realize if we make it primarily like that we’re going to be opposing each other as opposed to working together to find tenable solutions to issues.”

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Tomorrow’s question: Should the U.S. government get rid of diversity, equity and inclusion? 

Join the conversation by calling 313-577-1019 or leaving us an Open Mic message on the WDET app. 

More stories from The Metro on Jan. 28, 2024:

• Black Bottom Archives is a community archive that’s committed to preserving Black Detroit stories, and the organization is celebrating its 10th year. 

• Being from Detroit has created a strong foundation for Emmy-award winning journalist and Fresh Air co-host Tonya Mosley. She joined the show to talk about her hometown and career.

• Detroit’s Adopt-A-Park program is asking groups like block clubs, churches, and nonprofits to become stewards of a city park. Executive Director of the Detroit Parks Coalition Sigal Hemy joined the show to discuss the magic of Detroit’s parks and what it means to adopt one.

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

Michigan’s top elections official is facing a campaign finance complaint from the state Republican Party.

Republicans argue Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson should be fined for taking questions from reporters about her gubernatorial campaign in a state office building when she first filed to run.

Tyler Henningsen, political director of the Michigan Republican Party, said the complaint merits action.

“We call on the Bureau of Elections to take this complaint seriously and to hold Jocelyn Benson accountable for her flagrant abuses of the public’s trust. We also request that the Bureau of Elections enjoin Secretary Benson and her campaign from future violations and fine them the maximum amount permitted by law,” Henningsen said in a press release. “The integrity of our public office holders must be maintained, and the misuse of taxpayer-funded resources for personal political gain will not be tolerated.”

Michigan election law bans the use of public resources, including state offices, for political causes.

“A public body or a person acting for a public body shall not use or authorize the use of funds, personnel, office space, computer hardware or software, property, stationery, postage, vehicles, equipment, supplies, or other public resources to make a contribution or expenditure or provide volunteer personal services that are excluded from the definition of contribution,” the statute reads.

But the law does make an exception for public facilities, “if any candidate or committee has an equal opportunity to use the public facility.”

When asked earlier this month about why she was speaking inside the Richard H. Austin Building when other candidates typically address reporters outside when filing their paperwork, Benson noted the single digit weather.

Benson said it’s never come to her attention if other candidates have been unable to do the same, replying, “Of course,” when asked if others would have the same opportunity.

On Monday, after the MIGOP complaint had been filed, Benson’s campaign defended the location of her address.

Alyssa Bradley is a campaign spokesperson.

“The lobby space used is a public space where First Amendment activity can occur as long as it doesn’t interfere with the operation of the building,” Bradley said in a written statement.

 A spokesperson with the Michigan Department of State confirmed Monday that the Bureau of Elections had received a complaint from Henningsen and noted that, since the complaint deals with Secretary Benson, who heads that department, it will automatically go to the Michigan Department of Attorney General for consideration, as required by law.

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover a nearly $80 million expansion of funding for small businesses and entrepreneurs in Michigan; upcoming financial literacy workshops in Detroit and Dearborn, and more.

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

Whitmer announces small business credit 2.0

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced an expansion of funding for small businesses via the State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0, a federal program designed to increase the availability of capital for small business owners through lending or investment. The funding will provide over $79 million toward historically underserved communities, and entrepreneurs who need support to pursue their business ideas.  

ACCESS to host financial literacy workshops

The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) is teaming up with JPMorgan Chase to host financial literacy workshops in Detroit and Dearborn. 

The eight-week workshops will provide attendees with lessons and resources for financial success. Topics include an introduction to banking, building credit, budget and saving, managing debt, avoiding scams and an introduction to investing. 

Workshops in both Detroit and Dearborn will be held every Thursday beginning Jan. 30. The Detroit workshop will take place from 1-2 p.m. at West Warren Career Center, 16427 W. Warren Ave. Workshops in Dearborn will be held from 10-11 a.m. at the One-Stop Employment & Human Services Center, 6451 Schaefer Rd. This location will also have Arabic translations available. Space is limited and attendees must register in advance on the ACCESS website.

White House Spanish-language page shut down

The White House took down its Spanish-language website, hours after Trump’s inauguration last week. The site now shows a 404 error message. The Associated Press reports that Hispanic groups say this is a step in the wrong direction. Many Spanish-speaking voters helped reelect Trump. The White House’s Spanish X profile was also taken down.  

The Trump administration took down the Spanish resources from the White House website during his last term. The Census Bureau reports that over 43 million people in the U.S. speak Spanish at home.  

Wayne County seeking nominations for residents to ‘highlight’

Wayne County is looking to highlight residents who have had a positive impact on the community. Residents can nominate people they know through the county’s Instagram page. 

Nominees can be individuals, groups, organizations, or businesses. Submissions can be made via a Google Form in the county’s Instagram bio or by emailing waynecountycommunications@gmail.com. 

Hamtramck vs Dearborn Charity Basketball Game

Hamtramck and Dearborn residents will once again compete against each other for a charity basketball game at 6 p.m. Feb. 7, at Edsel Ford High School in Dearborn. OZ Media is hosting the 4th annual charity game, with donations going toward charities in Lebanon, Palestine and Yemen. Many city leaders will be a part of the game, including Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, Dearborn Superintendent Glen Maleyko, Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin, Hamtramck Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri, Hamtramck influencer Dulla Mulla, and many others. 

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under.  

Bollywood High Tea at Detroit Shipping Co.

Detroit Shipping Company will host a Bollywood-inspired “afternoon and high tea” event from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1. The event will be hosted by food blogger Alina Alam, known by her handle @foodiesnapper, and feature stories from South Asian culture, karak chai, Kashmiri pink tea, cookies and samosas.  

WDET’s Zahra Hassan contributed to this report.

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

President Donald Trump is making good on a campaign promise to take swift action against undocumented immigrants.

With a slew of executive actions and the passage of the bipartisan Laken Riley Act, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are conducting raids in immigrant communities.

Though, some of those raids are subjecting American citizens and documented immigrants to harassment by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials.

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) has been a fierce critic of President Trump’s policies going back to his first term.

“Our immigrant neighbors, no matter their status in the United States are under attack right now and being vilified and seen as violent,” Tlaib said. “It’s incredibly hateful and divisive.”

Legal and illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border has been characterized as an “invasion” by conservatives.

Undocumented immigration is characterized as a drain on the economy — though migrants generate nearly $100 Billion in taxes.

The Laken Riley Act allows for the deportation of non-citizens for low-level crimes like shoplifting.

Tlaib abstained from voting on the bill.

“It sounds like this is, that it’s going to make us safer. It’s not,” Tlaib said. “It literally would target people — merely accuse them of a crime, no conviction. Just accuse them of a crime, and they would be in mandatory detention.”

All of Michigan’s Republican Congressional delegation voted for it — as well as two Democrats in the House (U.S. Reps. Kristen McDonald Rivet and Hillary Scholten) and both U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin.

Tlaib says fearmongering about immigrants while refusing to address income inequality isn’t an accident.

“It’s the corporations, the big tax breaks and all of the things that we see in policy that make it easier for the wealthy to continue to make money off of these broken systems,” Tlaib said.

She says it’s important for her constituents to know their rights.

“Don’t open the door if an immigration agent comes knocking. ICE has no right to enter your home without a valid warrant. Don’t answer any questions from immigration agent if they try to talk to you. You have a right to remain silent. You don’t have to sign anything or hand anything over. You can ask for a lawyer…” she said.

Trump has expressed interest in using the U.S. Department of Justice to go after political opponents. Former President Biden issued blanket pardons to much of his family and political allies because of it.

WDET asked Tlaib if the possibility she might be targeted concerned her at all.

“I don’t think he knew both of my sittys, my grandmothers, if he met them, he’d know I’d be ready for them,” she said.

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, our guest is Amythyst Kiah, who picked up a Grammy nomination on her last album, and now returns with the record Still + Bright. Amythyst is also a member of Our Native Daughters with Rhiannon Giddens, Allison Russell and Leyla McCalla.

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

Acoustic Café Playlist for Jan. 26, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Strawberry Woman” – Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
• “Pawnshop” – Kara Jackson
• “Forbidden Road” – Robbie Williams
• “Coming Home” – Beabadoobee
• “Nobody” – The Doobie Brothers (in-studio performance, 2011)
• “Are You Ready For The Country” – Willie Nelson
• “Empire Of Love” – Amythyst Kiah (in-studio guest, recorded at Leon Loft)
• “Silk & Petals” – Amythyst Kiah (in-studio guest, recorded at Leon Loft)
• “Biggest Fan” – Frances Whitney
• “Old Life” – Mustafa
• “Heart Of The Woods” – Kacey Musgraves
• “Time Stands” – Nathaniel Rateliff (in-studio performance, 2020)
• “One And Only” – Michael Kiwanuka
• “As Good As It Gets” – Katie Gavin
• “They’re Not There” – Mon Rovia
• “That’s Not The Issue” – Wilco
• “Give It To Me” – Peter Wolf (in-studio performance, 1996)
• “All My Tears” – Buddy & Julie Miller  (in-studio performance, 2000)
• “Devil’s Spoke” – Laura Marling
• “Looking Back” – Laura Marling
• “Avalon” – Elmiene
• “Play God…” – Amythyst Kiah (in-studio guest, recorded at Leon Loft)
• “I Will Not Go Down” – Amythyst Kiah (in-studio guest, recorded at Leon Loft)
• “S P A C E” – Amythyst Kiah (in-studio guest, recorded at Leon Loft)

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, K-12 students across the nation have been missing more school.

The percentage of chronically absent students — referring to those who miss more than 10% of school days — nearly doubled from 2018 to 2022, according to The Brookings Institution.

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

Last school year, Michigan recorded one of the highest rates of chronically absent students compared to other states, according to data from the state Department of Education. The rate among Detroit students was more than double that.  

Now through March, Detroit Public Schools Community District is giving high school students $200 gift cards every time they have perfect attendance for 10 school days in a row. That’s just one approach of many that schools are experimenting with to get kids back into the classroom.

We’ve addressed this topic before on the show. Today on The Metro, we took a deeper dive into the different approaches for combating chronic absenteeism with Nat Malkus, senior fellow and deputy director of education policy at the American Enterprise Institute; and Sarah Lenhoff, associate professor of educational leadership and policy studies at Wayne State University.

Malkus noted how being chronically absent from school can cause a ripple effect in a student’s life that can affect them well into adulthood. 

“We know that kids who are chronically absent are less likely to read at the critical grade three, they’re more likely to struggle in middle school academically, they’re really less likely than their peers who attend regularly to graduate from high school, and the effects go into the future in the labor force as well,” he said.  

Lenhoff,  who also serves as the director of the Detroit Partnership for Education Equity & Research, led a study on chronic absenteeism and says solutions to the issue can’t only come from the schools. She suggested that one way to curb it could be creating a stronger school-to-neighborhood social connection in communities. 

“If a parent, you know, has something come up and they can’t get their child to school then they have people to rely on in their neighborhood, they have a neighbor, they have maybe a senior who lives across the street, maybe a friend who’s going to the same school,” Lenhoff said. 

482 Forward Communications Lead Imani Foster also joined the conversation. She is one of the community members who helped in the research project. Monitoring attendance and school engagement is mainly left up to teachers, but she says this wasn’t always the case.

“I think most of the schools fired their attendance agents because they cut a lot of different positions,” Foster said. “And so the teachers are now asked to be attendance agents. Attendance agents were normally the ones that kept up with families, right, that made the calls home, that maybe even made house visits to check on if everything was OK. Now that’s a gap that teachers are trying to fill.”

We also asked our listeners:

“Should we pay students to go to school?”

Nick in St. Clair Shores said: “Personally, I missed a lot of high school my final year, and I skipped a lot to go work at Red Robin. I would pick up a lunch shift instead of going to math class. And I feel like if I was paid to be in school, I wouldn’t have done that.”

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation, and other stories from “The Metro.”

More headlines from The Metro on Jan. 27, 2024: 

• Since 1958, the Jim Dandy Ski Club has been working to lower barriers for Black kids and adults to get involved in skiing, and to bring them deeper into connection with a broader community. This Friday, the club is hosting its annual “Black Out” ski event, which is open to anyone, not just members. Miles Maxey, former president, vice president, and board member of the Jim Dandy Ski Club, joined the show to discuss the event and how the club has made snow sports more accessible.
• “Techno: The Rise of Detroit’s Machine Music” is a new exhibit set to open at the MSU Museum on Feb. 4, that aims to explore Detroit’s role as the birthplace of Techno music and its connection to Afrofuturism.  The exhibition’s curator. Julian Chambliss, joined the show to discuss the project. We also spoke with John Collins, an important figure in Detroit’s techno culture, member of Underground Resistance and exhibition community curator.
• In President Donald Trump’s first term in office he made good on a campaign promise to cut taxes. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was passed by Congress and signed into law in 2017. The Biden administration did not roll back the tax cuts, so they are still intact. But a significant part of those tax cuts are set to expire at the end of this year unless Trump and Congress act to extend them. The Metro producer David Leins spoke with Bharat Ramamurti, senior advisor for economic strategy at the American Economic Liberties Project and former economic communications advisor for the Biden-Harris administration.

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

This week on Liner Notes, we’re journeying into the soulful, seductive and spellbinding world of D’Angelo’s magnum opus, Voodoo.

Released on Jan. 25, 2000, it was a cultural shift, a line drawn in the sand between commercialized R&B and a deeper, more organic expression of Black music. D’Angelo, the neo-soul savant from Richmond, Virginia, took nearly five years to craft this masterpiece, a project birthed from the sweat-drenched sessions at the legendary Electric Lady Studios, under the spiritual guidance of the Soulquarians collective.

At its core, Voodoo is a groove-based exploration of Black musical traditions. D’Angelo reached back to the spirits of Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone and James Brown. It was a nod to the past while firmly planting its flag in the future.

Let’s dive into the opening track, “Playa Playa”.

Track: “Playa Playa”

This song sets the tone for what’s to come — a stripped-down funk groove with layered, church-like harmonies that speak of confidence and swagger, baptizing listeners in a sea of soul. The rhythm section, courtesy of Questlove on drums and Pino Palladino on bass, is tight — yet breathes with a jazz-like freedom. 

Recorded at Electric Lady Studios, “Voodoo“ was created in a unique communal environment. This was the era of the Soulquarians, a collective that included Questlove, Erykah Badu, Common, and J Dilla, among others. It was a Renaissance for Black music, with each artist feeding off the other’s energy. And no track exemplifies that better than “Devil’s Pie.” 

Track: “Devil’s Pie”

Produced by DJ Premier, “Devil’s Pie” was initially slated for the soundtrack of Belly, but D’Angelo saw it as more a fit for his solo work, the perfect vehicle to critique the greed and materialism saturating hip hop at the time. Over a minimalist beat, he spits lines about the cost of selling one’s soul for success over a stripped-down funk canvas with eerie organ hits.

Up next, we have “Left & Right,” featuring Method Man and Redman. This track is pure funk-fueled fun, blending hip-hop’s grit with D’Angelo’s sultry grooves. While the song stirred some controversy for its explicit lyrics, it showcased D’Angelo’s ability to bridge the gap between hip-hop and soul, proving he could seamlessly weave both worlds together. Let’s check it out.

Track: “Left & Right (feat. Method Man & Redman)”

Now, let’s talk about “The Line.” This is where we see D’Angelo the poet, the preacher, the prophet. The song was written after Tupac and Biggie’s deaths and is a plea for survival in an unforgiving world. With lyrics like “I’m gonna put my finger on the trigger,” D’Angelo lays bare the existential dread of Black men in America. Yet, there’s resilience here, a testament to the enduring spirit that refuses to be broken. Here’s D’Angelo with “The Line.”

Track: “The Line”

There is so much texture and nuance in Voodoo as the next track is a beautifully crafted ode to love and faith. Co-written with soul singer Angie Stone, the song blends lush harmonies with jazz-influenced trumpets courtesy of Roy Hargrove. Here, D’Angelo’s falsetto is smooth and velvety, reminding us of the spiritual connection that his music creates. Let’s take a listen to “Send It On.” 

Track: “Send It On”

Our next song gets into some pure, uncut funk and is a nod to the classic grooves of James Brown and Sly Stone. The term “Chicken Grease,” which was borrowed from Prince, refers to a specific guitar technique, making this track a nod to both the past and the future. So, here’s D’Angelo with “Chicken Grease.” 

Track: “Chicken Grease”

Now let’s take it down a notch with “One Mo’gin,” a bittersweet ballad about longing for a lost love. The slow burn of the guitar licks, combined with Questlove’s steady drumming, creates a space where heartbreak feels like a dance. Let’s check it!

Track: “One Mo’ Gin”

The next track is a haunting exploration of betrayal and redemption. It features Charlie Hunter’s masterful work on the eight-string guitar, playing both bass and melody simultaneously. The interplay of instruments here is nothing short of magical. Here’s D’Angelo with “The Root.”

Track: “The Root”

We next shift gears to an energetic, Latin jazz-infused tune that showcases D’Angelo’s range as both a composer and a musician. The rhythms are fast-paced, the horns are fiery and it’s one of the most danceable tracks on the album. Let’s get lost in the sounds of “Spanish Joint.”

Track: “Spanish Joint”

We next slide into a remake and sultry reinterpretation of a Roberta Flack classic. Here, D’Angelo strips the track down to its essence, turning it into an intimate conversation between lovers, where every note feels like a caress. Here’s “Feel Like Makin’ Love.”

Track: Feel Like Makin’ Love

Next up is “Greatdayndamornin’/Booty”, a two-part track that juxtaposes the joy of waking up to a new day with the raw funk of the second half. It’s playful, sensual and embodies the loose, live feel that defines Voodoo. 

Track: “Greatdayndamornin’/Booty”

The beauty of Voodoo lies in its ability to mix the sensual with the spiritual. Nowhere is this more evident than in the album’s crown jewel, “Untitled (How Does It Feel).” Co-written with Raphael Saadiq, this track isn’t just baby-making music. It’s an homage to the Purple One himself, Prince, right down to the guitar licks that scream of the Controversy era. The song became infamous for its video, which turned D’Angelo into an overnight sex symbol, much to his discomfort. Let’s dive into that timeless slow burn.

Track: “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”

Voodoo is a genre-bending masterpiece that speaks to the soul — raw, unfiltered and unapologetically Black. More than two decades later, it remains a towering achievement in modern music. It continues to resonate with audiences for its unparalleled musicianship, emotional depth and cultural relevance. Whether dissected in academic discussions, sampled by today’s artists or revisited by fans who grew up with its grooves, it stands as a testament to the enduring power of music that dares to be honest, vulnerable and visionary. 

We’ll end this segment with a track that is a heartfelt ode to D’Angelo’s roots and to his son, Michael. It’s a meditative piece that reflects on heritage, legacy and spiritual grounding. The song’s shimmering chimes and layered harmonies evoke a deep sense of ancestral pride. The song isn’t just a love letter to his son, but to an entire lineage that came before — a reminder that while we are shaped by our past, we are not bound by it. Here’s D’Angelo bringing a spiritual conclusion to an album that refuses to be boxed into a single category with “Africa.”

Track: “Africa”

If you love exploring the depths of music like this, tune into The Progressive Underground every Saturday evening at 6 p.m. on WDET 101.9 FM, where we journey through the genres of future soul, progressive hip-hop, nu-jazz, deep house and beyond.

For The Progressive Underground, I’m Chris Campbell — stay soulful, stay connected and see you next time.

On this episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, we’ll mark the passing of the last original member of The Band, Garth Hudson.

Plus, songs for this unique moment in history from Mavis Staples to Aretha Franklin, from Pussy Riot to The Clash, Curtis Mayfield to Gregory Porter and more.

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 Jan. 25, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Shufflin’ Back To Memphis” – The Band (in-studio performance,1996)
• “Chest Fever” – The Band
  
• “Sleeves Up” – Crys Matthews
  
• “Stand Up” – The O’Jays
  
• “I Had A Dream” – Loudon Wainwright III
  
• “Evil That Men Do” – Queen Latifah
  
• “All You Fonies” – Dropkick Murphys
  
• “From Red To Blue” – Billy Bragg
  
• “A Change Is Gonna Come” – Aretha Franklin
  
• “Change” – Mavis Staples
  
• “Lives In The Balance” – Richie Havens
  
• “America Made Me” – The Decemberists
  

• “Empire Of Love” – Amythyst Kiah (Acoustic Cafe preview, recorded at Leon Loft)
• “Blk Girl Soldier” – Jamila Woods
  
• “Bomb The World” – Michael Franti & Spearhead
  
• “What Are Their Names” – David Crosby
  
• “Fight For Your Mind” – Ben Harper
  
• “Make America Great Again” – Pussy Riot
  
• “Clampdown” – The Clash
  
• “Evil” – Stevie Wonder
• “Willing To Fight” – Ani Difranco
• “Power To The People” -Curtis Mayfield
• “Take Me To The Alley” – Gregory Porter (in-studio performance,2016)
• “This Land Is Your Land” – Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
  

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.

Bills to address racial disparities in maternal health care are making a comeback in the Michigan Legislature.

The Senate bills would increase data reporting, include pregnant people in protections outlined in state civil rights law, and expand Medicaid coverage for pregnancy-related care.

Similar bills were reintroduced last legislative session. Those bills passed the Michigan Senate but got caught up in other politics during the last weeks of the year.

Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) said she and other package sponsors are hitting the ground running this time.

“An early start provides us an opportunity to not only continuing to collect stories from people across the state who would benefit from these bills, but it also gives us an opportunity to have really strategic conversations with both sides of the aisle,” Anthony said Friday.

State health department numbers show Black women die from pregnancy-related causes more than twice as often as white women.

The first time around, some of the bills in the package received at least a few Republican votes in the Senate.

Unlike then, Republicans now control the Michigan House. That means the package would need bipartisan buy-in to come to a vote, let alone pass the Legislature, should the bills make it out of the Senate.

Anthony said she’s feeling undeterred, saying people expect lawmakers to work on their behalf.

“Part of that is for us to sit down and find common ground on things that are not partisan and quite honestly are not wedge issues, and making sure that women have the resources they need as they are planning their family is something that I think we can find some common ground on,” Anthony said.

The historic restart of a shuttered nuclear power plant is planned for later this year on the shores of Lake Michigan, and a northern Michigan energy cooperative is playing a major role.

Last fall, the Biden administration finalized $1.3 billion in grants to two rural power cooperatives, as part of efforts to reopen the Palisades Nuclear Plant in southwest Michigan’s Covert Township.

Of that, Wolverine Power Cooperative in Cadillac will receive about $650 million and Indiana-based Hoosier Energy will get $675 million as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Empowering Rural America program, which aims to help rural electric cooperatives transition to clean energy.

The state of Michigan is also chipping in, allocating $300 million for the restart, which is expected to bring back 800 megawatts of power — enough for some 800,000 homes.

Wolverine’s agreement with the plant’s owner, Holtec International, means it will buy over half of that power.

Nuclear history

Palisades first opened in 1971 and shut down in May 2022, citing financial reasons. The revival of the plant, which had begun decommissioning, would be a first in United States history. Now Holtec, which bought the plant with plans to decommission it, wants to reopen it later this year.

The plant provided decades of work for those nearby, and the planned restart has garnered support from some, including local officials who say it will help the economy. But there are ongoing concerns from activists and people who live in the region about the environmental and health risks it could pose.

Nuclear power also divides environmental groups and policymakers, though perhaps not presidential administrations. The Biden administration threw its weight behind nuclear and President Donald Trump’s choice for energy secretary signaled support for nuclear in his confirmation hearings.

Nominee Chris Wright, the executive of an oil and gas company, has a background in nuclear energy and has said he supports expanding it, along with geothermal energy and liquefied natural gas, though there may be resistance from others on Trump’s team.

Up North impact

Covert Township, where Palisades is located, is hours south of northern Michigan. But Wolverine Power Cooperative officials in Cadillac say when they heard about the possibility of the plant reopening, they acted quickly.

“We made a cold call to the owner of the power plant to say, ‘We’re here in Michigan. We have rural customers that need long term, stable, affordable, reliable [power], and want decarbonized power,’” Wolverine Chief Operating Officer Zach Anderson said during an interview with IPR in October.

Wolverine is a generation cooperative, so it buys or creates electricity and then transmits that to members like northern Michigan’s Cherryland Electric Cooperative, to sell to customers.

Anderson said the plant’s reopening could allow electric cooperatives to reach the state’s climate goals a decade ahead of time while maintaining steady prices.

Nuclear power is considered clean energy under the state’s 2023 climate legislation, which requires a 100% clean energy standard by 2040. That doesn’t prohibit utilities from operating fossil fuel power sources, but the power they sell to customers must be carbon free.

“Palisades will allow us to meet that target sooner,” Anderson said, helping the co-op provide all clean energy to its members by 2030.

While the cooperative is obligated to help its member utilities meet state requirements, Anderson said Wolverine itself isn’t required to do so, since it’s regulated by the feds, not the state. It also plans to continue operating seven natural gas plants and selling that energy back to the regional grid.

Anderson said Palisades is a “perfect fit” for Wolverine, as a current nuclear contract with a different provider expires in 2028 and more fossil fuels are phased out.

And it has substantial support. Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration has backed the plant for years, and state officials wrote a letter to the Biden administration in support of funding the co-op’s push for nuclear power.

Push for nuclear

Renewed interest in nuclear power comes amid increased demand for electricity from things like data centers and solar facilities and efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

A common argument in its favor is that nuclear is necessary to supplement less reliable renewable energy coming from the sun and wind.

Matthew Memmott, a professor of chemical engineering at Brigham Young University who studies nuclear energy, said states like Michigan need to have what’s called baseload power plants — which are always on — and nuclear power is one way to meet that need and provide carbon-free energy.

And the future of nuclear power could involve smaller reactors. According to the Department of Energy, small modular reactors, or SMRs, are central to developing more nuclear power; they have smaller footprints and can be built in more diverse locations. Holtec wants to build two in Michigan by 2031, adding another 600 megawatts of power.

Pat O’Brien, Holtec’s director of government affairs and communications, said the company has begun preparations for the SMRs, including test borings and some land clearing.

“We feel 2030 is realistic, provided funding is obtained,” he wrote in an email to IPR.

Allison Macfarlane is a professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver who directs its public policy school and chaired the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission from 2012 to 2014. She said the possibility of smaller reactors has generated much excitement.

But ambitious timelines for SMR development seem unrealistic to her. For one, none are currently operating in the United States. And Macfarlane said taking them from design to production is a long and costly process.

“All of this takes time, and so I would imagine to really get anywhere with some of these reactors, certainly to the commercial level, you’re looking at over a decade, probably two decades,” she said.

Still, the potential for such advancements has caught the attention of energy co-ops across the country, according to Memmott with Brigham Young University, because they could provide another option to buy power produced locally or regionally.

“The advantages to that are now you have distributed electricity generation,” Memmott said. “You don’t have to overbuy these massive plants. You don’t have to figure out how to shift electricity all around, which is kind of a complicated process.”

Divisive debate

There are few energy issues more galvanizing than nuclear power.

Palisades faced various problems when it was running. Federal regulators identified safety violations over the years. And it also dealt with shut downs, like in 2013, when it went offline for several weeks after leaking dozens of gallons of diluted radioactive water into Lake Michigan.

Kevin Kamps, a Kalamazoo-based radioactive waste specialist with the group Beyond Nuclear, doesn’t agree with state laws or scientists calling nuclear power clean, and thinks the restart is ill advised.

“This is unprecedented risk taking that they’re talking about now. They’ve never done this before. It’s not needed,” he said. “Renewables are really the way to go, not resurrecting very problematic nuclear power plants.”

Kamps said concerns around reliability can be addressed through investments in energy storage and energy efficiency, “yet we’re going to waste vast amounts of public money on this Palisades restart scheme.” He pointed to other researchers who have argued that nuclear power is a dangerous use of money and time, and that it’s possible for the world to run solely on sun, wind and water.

Beyond Nuclear has been an outspoken critic of Holtec, and was part of a coalition that signed a letter to former U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm opposing the Palisades restart. Among longstanding concerns are radioactive contamination and nuclear waste storage. (At the Palisades site it’s currently stored in steel and concrete casks.)

Along with worries over the plant’s infrastructure, Kamps said accidents at other sites show the risks of running nuclear plants, like the partial meltdown of Fermi I in Monroe County in 1966.

Financial struggles contributed to shutdowns of nuclear plants in the U.S. in recent years, as things like natural gas production and wind expanded. Critics say nuclear is far too expensive to continue investing in. Others, like the public policy nonprofit the Mackinac Center have argued that costs associated with nuclear power are misunderstood and exacerbated by policy decisions.

Some environmental groups, including representatives with Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities in Traverse City and Sierra Club Michigan, hold that the government should focus on things like expanding renewables and developing energy storage instead.

Still, nuclear power made up a quarter of Michigan’s electric generation as of October, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, while renewable energy made up over 13%. Supporters of the restart say the Palisades plant will provide a steady source of carbon-free energy to supplement things like wind and solar.

Macfarlane, the University of British Columbia professor, thinks nuclear will play a major role in the coming decades.

“It’s really important. I mean, it’s a fifth of the nation’s electricity supply. I do understand some of the concerns,” she said, but “I think climate change just poses the bigger threat by far. We need to get off of fossil [fuels].”

What’s next

Before reopening Palisades, Holtec has to get approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which must assess the facility, including its safety and infrastructure. As Michigan Public reported, regulators have called Holtec’s timeline “very, very demanding.”

For instance, inspectors are looking at issues with the plant’s steam generators, which might affect the timeline for the restart.

“We did tube inspections on those to ensure that they’re in good working condition for restart. We found some degradation in some of those tubes — more than we anticipated,” said Holtec’s O’Brien. “So what we had to do there was come up with a repair plan,” which they talked about at a recent public meeting.

If Palisades didn’t restart, Wolverine Cooperative wouldn’t lose any money, but it would take longer to reach the 100% clean energy standard, said Anderson, the COO.

“We have a good head start on what we need to meet those long term objectives toward the members’ obligations, toward that 2040 goal,” he said. Still, “it’ll take a lot more solar to replace something like Palisades.”

Beyond Nuclear, meanwhile, has intervened in the NRC’s licensing process for the restart. Kamps said if necessary, they will take the matter to federal court.

“We’ll fight it as long as we can, till the last opportunity,” Kamps said. “We feel that strongly about it.”

What happens under the Trump administration remains to be seen. But last year saw bipartisan support for legislation supporting nuclear power, according to Barry Rabe, a professor emeritus of environmental policy at the University of Michigan.

Michigan has a long history of nuclear power, Rabe said, and the state government “has become much more receptive in the last few years to sustain or expand nuclear, in large part because it is a non-carbon form of energy, even though it raises other environmental issues and concerns.”

More plants could reopen amid a resurgence of interest. And Rabe said this is one issue where the state could have “substantial latitude and support from the federal government, possibly without major changes from the Biden years to the Trump years.”

President Donald Trump’s first day in office was a flurry of activity. 

It included dozens of executive orders, as well as pardons for 1,500 people convicted or charged in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in 2021 — with a number of those pardoned from Michigan.

Trump signed more executive orders on his first day in office than any president before him, and today on The Metro, we dig into some of these orders and discuss the boundaries of presidential power.

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

Former Republican candidate for Michigan governor Ryan Kelley was among the individuals who received a pardon for their role in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol Riot. Kelley pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to the incident and served two months in prison.

The Metro producer Sam Corey spoke with Kelley about how it felt to be pardoned by the president.

“I have already served 60 days in a federal prison, paid the fine, went through all the stuff they wanted me to,” Kelley said. “So you can’t get any of that back, but it feels good to have received the pardon from the president.” 

Executive orders signed by Trump are already facing challenges in court, Legal expert Barb McQuade said. 

“You can’t change the constitution or a statute with an executive order, and some of these executive orders appear, at least to me, to cross those lines,” McQuade said.

We asked our listeners:

“What do you make of President Trump’s first few days in office?”

Anthony in Westland said: “It’s extremely disheartening, in a sense. [Trump] promised a number of these different things, and sure enough, he is proving to be extremely competent in doing those things, much to the dismay of people like myself and a number of others.”

More headlines from The Metro on Jan. 24, 2024:

• On Thursday, a federal judge in Seattle temporarily struck down Trump’s new order that would end birthright citizenship. It would mean people born in the U.S. to parents who aren’t U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents would no longer have citizenship. It’s now the subject of multiple lawsuits — including one filed by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel — along with attorneys general in 21 other states. Christine Sauve of the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. joined the show to discuss what all this means for local residents.
• Michigan Public Radio Network capitol reporter Colin Jackson joined the show to share the latest news coming out of Lansing.
• The Detroit Land Bank was created in 2008. According to the Land Bank, 90,000 properties went into the bank and about 60,000 are left. Detroit City Council would like to change their contract with the Land Bank, but Detroit Documenter Ben Haddix and Coordinator Lynelle Herndon joined the show to explain.

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

While President Donald Trump took aim at the electric vehicle industry this week, there is still optimism about the industry’s future in Michigan.

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More than $27 billion is being poured into some 60 EV manufacturing and battery projects in the state, edging out even Georgia, with $26.6 billion, according to Atlas Public Policy, indicating that the birthplace of the modern auto industry continues to be central to its present and future.

Michigan is home to hundreds of supply companies in addition to the Big Three automakers, including Factory ZERO, GM’s remade assembly plant for electric Hummers and Silverados; the $1.6 billion battery manufacturing campus in Van Buren Township that’s expected to create more than 2,100 jobs and the equivalent of 200,000 EV battery packs each year once fully running; and many more.

The president signed an executive order on Monday promising to eliminate an EV “mandate,” referring to President Joe Biden’s target for 50% of new vehicles sold in the U.S. by 2030 to be electric and Environmental Protection Agency action to slash greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles over the coming years. The policies never required automakers to sell electric vehicles or consumers to buy them.

President Trump’s order indicates he will roll back those pollution rules, and he already paused billions of dollars in funding allocated for EV charging stations.

Stellantis, the manufacturer of Jeep and Ram, said in a statement it is “well positioned to adapt to the policy changes enacted by the new Administration” and that it looks forward to working with the president. Ford had no comment on the changes, and a GM spokesperson did not comment.

-Reporting by Alexa St. John, Associated Press.

Other headlines for Friday, Jan. 24, 2025:

• If you are looking for an elegant afternoon of tea and song featuring a buffet of sweet and savory selections, look no further than Detroit Opera’s “Tea and Treasures: Arias over Afternoon Tea,” taking place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26. Performances will include works from Mozart, Puccini and more.
• And there are many events celebrating the Lunar New Year across metro Detroit this weekend.

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