Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s office is asking the Michigan Supreme Court to reverse a ruling that struck down the state’s terroristic threats law. The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled last week that the law is unconstitutional.

A three-judge panel unanimously ruled the law does not specifically require prosecutors to prove a statement or communication was intentionally threatening or reckless.

Special Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Baughman wrote the Court of Appeals decision missed the mark because even if that were the case, there are remedies that are not so broad as throwing out the entire law.

Baughman wrote “the Court ignores completely its obligation to construe the statute as constitutional unless the attacking party shows that no set of circumstances exists under which the act would be valid.”

Defendant Michael Kvasnicka was charged with making a threat of terrorism and using a computer to commit a crime based on a social media message to a girl that mentioned shooting up her school. The appeals court opinion said the law was vague enough to allow jokes or hyperbole to be swept into its net.

The prosecutor not only asked the Supreme Court to take the case, but to put a hold on the appeals court ruling and to put the case on a fast track because a decision could affect criminal prosecutions across Michigan that are underway right now.

The Trump administration is issuing a “stop work” order to agencies who provide legal help for unaccompanied immigrant children.

That affects about 26,000 kids nationwide, roughly 800 of them in Michigan.

Some critics say the government-funded legal representation makes it more appealing for children to enter the U.S. illegally.

But the nonprofit Michigan Immigrant Rights Center counters that some of the kids were relocated from Afghanistan or simply fled from dangerous situations in other countries.

The center’s Elinor Jordan says these children often have few options when they face an immigration judge. Jordan spoke with WDET about the stop work order and the ripple effect it will have.

Listen: Michigan group says Trump’s ‘Stop all work’ order puts migrant children at risk

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Elinor Jordan, Michigan Immigrant Rights Center: The bottom line is that this will mean children will be forced to represent themselves in court. This program helps these children reunite with caregivers, helps them access legal protection, helps them seek out protections that are available to trafficking survivors and abuse survivors. And because we’re so specialized, we’re able to provide advocates who are not only legal experts in some of these very complex areas of law but also have the ability to provide the services in a child-centered way. Sometimes that means helping a child understand the concept of a country and a border in the first place. Sometimes that means working with them to identify a stuffed animal that might help them remain calm while they’re being cross-examined. Sometimes that means helping them understand different processes by using cartoon characters to help them see what it looks like. These children shouldn’t be left alone to do this for themselves.

Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: In your view, is that even possible for children to represent themselves? Especially if they are at a very young age?

EJ: Absolutely not. And unlike in criminal court, in immigration court you’re not provided a lawyer if you can’t afford one. This means individuals must represent themselves, even in what the Supreme Court has identified as some of the most complicated areas of law. It’s challenging enough for adults, let alone children.

QK: Are these children being held somewhere? Are they incarcerated, typically, or are they with families?

EJ: There’s a mix of those. The legal protections that are in the Trafficking Victims Protection and Reauthorization Act require that children be held in the least restrictive setting possible. Sometimes part of our advocacy is ensuring that is the case. And there have been times when part of our advocacy is to ensure that children who have been victimized while being held by the government are able to access the protections they need to heal from sexual abuse while in custody. Part of our role is also to help them reunify with the people that make them feel safest. Maybe it’s a parent, maybe it’s a family member or a community member. But the numbers really bear out that children who are represented by an attorney are able to stay engaged in the legal process and pursue the relief that they’re lawfully eligible for. About 94% of represented children attend their immigration court hearings. So this really supports the process going more smoothly.

QK: Are these typically children that have been in the U.S. for a while or people that have come in more recently?

EJ: At times there are children who have been in the United States and experienced abuse, neglect or something similar. The majority of the children have been encountered near a U.S. border and have been unaccompanied, without any parent or legal guardian, and are placed in the care and custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Some of our work has really been instrumental in reuniting separated families. For example, during the child separation crisis in 2018 we were able to reunify all children who were moved into Michigan after being separated from their parents. That includes a child who was only 10 months old, who was actually the youngest child known to be separated from their parents. Being able to reunite them and stand in that breach is such an honor and something that really must continue to prevent some of the cruelest outcomes in this system.

QK: Your group and all the nonprofits involved were ordered to “stop all work.” But this basically means that they’re freezing the federal funding, right? Are you able to continue on with private funding?

“[The stop all work order puts] us in a very challenging position. It could impact about 80% of our total funding.”

–Elinor Jordan, attorney, Michigan Immigrant Rights Center

EJ: At the moment we are dipping into small reserves of private funding. We are doing our best because we not only have legal obligations but also ethical obligations as attorneys to continue representing our clients. Once we’ve filed paperwork with the court, we can’t simply say, “Oh, I’m not getting paid any longer. I won’t be able to do this.” We will do everything that we possibly can to see that ethical obligation through and uphold the best possible services for our clients. But it does put us in a very challenging position. It could impact about 80% of our total funding.

QK: The Trump administration had charged that the previous Biden administration did not track or protect undocumented children in the U.S, so big changes were necessary to protect migrant children. What’s your view of how this “stop all work” order is going to affect that situation?

EJ: Well, many experts agree that a lawyer is one of the most important protections to avoid children falling through the cracks of the system. We have often intervened to help children who experience abuses while in custody come forward to law enforcement when that occurs. We have often helped address housing needs that come up if they are in a dangerous situation. A lawyer is one of the most critical things to really connect the dots between the various systems that want to prevent abuse of children. Taking away their attorney takes away their voice and allows them to be trafficked, harmed and really intimidated by threats that may or may not have any legal bearing. One of the most common ways that traffickers exert power over their targets is by using fear about the immigration system to intimidate them into silence and prevent them from coming forward to officials. So, taking away a child’s lawyer strengthens the hand of a trafficker.

As WDET celebrated the end of its 75th year last Thursday, News Director Jerome Vaughn unveiled an audio history project that commemorates the station’s history and longstanding dedication to public news that serves Detroit.

“Having worked at WDET for more than half my life, I thought it was an amazing opportunity to dig into the history of the station and tell the rest of the world about how this amazing radio station got started,” said Vaughn, who narrates the audio history.

WDET was first created to share news and updates on the labor movement as one of several broadcasting stations managed by the United Auto Workers union. It aired its first broadcast on Feb. 13, 1949. The station strived to diversify its programming from the start, covering news relevant to working people, sharing music, and even broadcasting in other languages to better serve various populations in the area.

But running a nonprofit station demanded more resources than the UAW saw fit to spend. In 1952, the UAW transferred ownership of the station to Wayne State University at the cost of $1, with the condition that the station would continue to use its broadcasting license to serve the public.

Watch the presentation below and take a journey through the first years of WDET’s existence, featuring historical photographs, logos, and newspaper clippings provided by Walter P. Reuther Library Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs.

Special thanks to the Walter and May Reuther Memorial Fund for funding this project.

This week, we’ve got live performances from some incredible musicians spanning across genres. Plus, unique art showcases, cultural celebrations and Great Lakes Comic-Con. Read on to learn more.

Live music

This year, the Concert of Colors is expanding its programs to grassroots neighborhoods citywide, bringing more free music to the residents of Detroit. On Saturday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m., Duane Stephenson, global ambassador of Reggae, will play live at the historic Redford Theatre in Detroit presented in partnership with the Caribbean Cultural & Carnival Organization. This special event will celebrate Black History Month with music, culture and community at one of Detroit’s most beloved venues. This event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event goes until 10 p.m. For more information, visit our events page.

The Hawk Theatre in Farmington Hills is continuing its celebration of Black artists during Black History Month with a performance by Urban Art Orchestra on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. — fresh off their Australian tour. Led by GRAMMY-nominated De’Sean Jones, Urban Art Orchestra blends the richness of a traditional orchestra with the infectious energy of urban beats. UAO is known for pushing the boundaries of musical genres to a captivating fusion that defies expectations. Tickets for this all-ages performance are $25 online or $30 at the door. For more information, visit thehawktheatre.com.

Listen: Urban Art Orchestra performs on Sam’s Jams Live

On Saturday, Feb. 22, Miss Eva’s Detroit continues their Saturday Night Unplugged series with a stripped-down performance from Detroit’s own Apropos. A soulful powerhouse singer-songwriter, Apropos pours his heart into every note — a vulnerability that’s sure to lend itself well to the intimate nature of the series. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show goes from 8-10 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door, no advance purchase necessary. For more information, visit @missevasdetroit on Instagram.

Listen: Apropos performs Live on WDET

Local art

On Saturday, Feb. 22, Kalamazoo is hosting its 27th annual Garage Sale Art Fair at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center. This fun and unique art fair gives local and national artists a chance to sell their overstock, discontinued items and seconds for discounted prices. The event promises great deals on great work, and hopefully some fun experimental pieces as well. Entry is $5 cash and food will be available for purchase on-site. For more information, visit garagesaleartfair.com.

On Sunday, Feb. 23, Umoja Fine Arts Gallery in Southfield is hosting a Black History Month Youth Artist Showcase and Award Reception to celebrate young talent and creativity. This free event highlights works by artists between 11 and 21 years old, featured alongside works by professional artists. Doors open at 3 p.m. For more information, visit umojafinearts.com.

Listen: Umoja Fine Arts Curator Ian Grant joins The Metro to talk about the gallery’s efforts to support young artists

Cultural celebrations

On Saturday, Feb. 22, the Muslim Community of Western Suburbs in Canton is hosting their 4th annual Ramadan Market from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Local vendors will be selling abayas, groceries imported from the Middle East and other goods traditionally used during the month of Ramadan like, Ramadan decor, Islamic jewelry, Islamic books and more. The event will also offer creative workshops throughout the day, including a children’s Ramadan story time, cookie decorating, lantern building and designing your own iftar plate. Admission is free, but those interested are encouraged to RSVP online. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page. 

For the fans

Great Lakes Comic-Con returns to the Macomb Expo Center in Warren this weekend from Friday, Feb. 21 through Sunday, Feb. 23. GLCC is the ultimate gathering for comic lovers, toy collectors and cosplay enthusiasts to share in the fandom. There will be guest appearances, attractions, cosplay contests for all ages, fan panels and gaming. Tickets range from $20 to $25, children 10 and under get in free, and a limited amount of free tickets are available to active military, veterans and their families as well. To see the full lineup of attractions and learn more, visit greatlakescomicconvention.com.

Detroit Water and Sewerage will begin repairing damage caused by the massive water main break in Southwest Detroit next week.

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

The department will clean out and sanitize basements, as well as perform hot water heater, furnace and electrical repairs.

DWSD Director Gary Brown says residents whose water has been restored will still be under a water boil advisory.

“When we put a service line back in service, we must test the water for bacteria twice, 24 hours apart,” he said. “So it will take 48 hours for the testing to take place.”

Southwest Detroit residents who were affected by the water main break on Monday can now file a claim for losses on the city’s website. DWSD will work to cover deductibles and any losses outside of what insurance will cover, Brown said.

The city hopes to get all homes repaired and families moved back in within six weeks, he said.

Residents who need assistance to make a claim can call the city at 313-774-5261.

Other headlines for Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025:

• Reverend Solomon Kinloch Jr of Detroit-based Triumph Church launched his campaign for Detroit’s mayor Wednesday night.
• The Islamic Center of Detroit is hosting a deep dive into Malcolm X’s Wayne State speech and how his commitment to Islam shaped his activism at an event titled “100 years of Malcolm X: A Legacy Unfinished,” taking place at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at the Islamic Center of Detroit.
• Detroit Parks and Recreation will continue its Winter Fest festivities this weekend with events planned at Rouge Park from noon to 4 p.m. and at the Butzel Family Center from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22.
• Detroit is looking for talent to perform at Detroit Parks and Recreation events. The city is looking for DJs, poets, singers and rappers, bands, dancers, and artists. Auditions for performers will take place from 1-5 p.m. on March 8 at the Northwest Activities Center.

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

With tensions rising between the U.S. and Canada, WDET is bringing back our cross-border collaboration with Jeremy Hobson of NPR’s The Middle and CBC’s Ian Hanomansing.

WDET will preempt its regular programming from 4-6 p.m. this Sunday, Feb. 23, to present an open conversation with listeners from both nations.

Recording live from Vancouver, Hobson and Hanomansing  — co-host of CBC’s The National and host of Cross Country Checkup — will dive into key issues like tariffs, trade, and the Trump administration’s bold proposal to make Canada the 51st state.

The question being posed to listeners will be:

What’s next for the U.S.-Canada relationship?

Want to join the discussion? Tune in live by visiting 101.9 FM on your radio dial, or stream the show via wdet.org or the WDET mobile app. You can also share your feedback using the Google Form below.

A bill to change Michigan’s minimum wage law ahead of it taking effect passed the state Legislature Wednesday. The law is scheduled to take effect Friday.

If left unchanged, the law would gradually raise the minimum wage for both tipped and non-tipped workers until both are making the same amount by 2030.

The bill would speed up raises for non-tipped workers so they get to $15 an hour by 2027 instead of just coming close in 2028 with a planned $14.97 minimum wage.

But the bill would also slow down gradual raises for people who get tips. It would cap that minimum wage for tipped workers, like bartenders and servers, at half of what everyone else makes.

Employers would still be responsible for covering the gap if tips don’t make up the difference.

Rep. Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland) said that’s a necessary compromise to protect businesses.

“It’s not perfect, but it is an action, an immediate action that’s going to help preserve our tip credit and the tip wage system. And I think that’s vital in here to the restaurant industry,” Schuette said after the House vote Wednesday.

The bill is now cleared to head to the governor to receive her signature. But, for it to go into place by Friday’s deadline, it would need the Senate to vote for it to take effect immediately. That would require a supermajority in the Democratic-controlled chamber.

Republicans and hospitality industry groups say restaurants and bars could go out of business if they become responsible for covering a server’s entire base pay. Some Democrats in both the House and Senate also voted in favor of the bill.

But other Democrats say lawmakers shouldn’t touch the petition-initiated minimum WAGE law before it takes effect Friday.

That’s especially after lawmakers, in 2018, adopted the initiative before it could go to the ballot and watered it down, in a move known as “adopt and amend.” It led to a court challenge that eventually set the Feb. 21 deadline to begin with.

One Fair Wage, the group behind the petition, sent out a press release Tuesday that argued passing the bill would be illegal under the court ruling. It included an open letter from University of Michigan law professor Samuel Bagenstos.

“The Legislature’s original adopt-and-amend constitutional violation has meant that the Wage Act and Earned Sick Leave Act have been in suspended animation for years and have still not gone into effect. For the Legislature to amend these initiatives now, before letting them take effect, would be to once again ‘sidestep the people’s reserved power,’ Bagenstos wrote, referencing another law also planned to take effect Friday.

That law guarantees all non-federal workers in Michigan the right to at least some paid time off. How much that would be depends on how many hours they work and the size of their employer.

Business groups say wording in the law would create too much new paperwork for companies and not include enough accountability to make sure people don’t skip work without any warning.

House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp) said any compromise with Democrats needs to include exceptions for small businesses and seasonal workers, limit who can sue an employer, and include more accountability.

Hall also wants it to be more clear that businesses can offer the required sick time up front and not have to worry about doing the math to see how much sick time someone earns based on hours worked.

“I think we’re laying out things that we need to protect in order to do a deal here,” Hall told reporters during a press conference Wednesday.

Like with the minimum wage bill, however, some Democrats are promising opposition, saying people should be able to stay home if they’re sick, regardless of how many coworkers they have.

When asked what he’s hoping to get out of any compromise legislation, House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton) said he’s just trying to watch out for Michigan workers.

“There’s been a very false choice presented where we have to pick between business and workers. And I don’t think that that is the reality of the situation here,” Puri told reporters.

The main sick leave policy bill is currently before the state Senate, which is expected to take up a vote on the measure Thursday in what could end up being a long session day.

The House would likely still need to agree to whatever compromise changes the Senate could introduce before the sick leave bill goes to the governor as well.

Both the sick leave and minimum wage bills are tie-barred together, meaning neither can take effect unless both become law.

A backyard poultry farm in Monroe County is the latest Michigan flock hit by the highly pathogenic Avian influenza. 

Hundreds of thousands of turkeys at a commercial farm in Ottawa County had to be euthanized at the end of last year because of the bird flu outbreak. 

But the disease isn’t only affecting turkeys and chickens. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources estimates the virus has killed more than 300 wild birds in five counties since Jan. 1, 2025.

Mitch Marcus, a wildlife health supervisor at the DNR, says the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is also affecting waterfowl and birds of prey.

“Think ducks, geese, swans,” he said. “Also scavenging birds and raptors, so think eagles and owls.”

People who found dead birds in the wild alerted the DNR. Marcus says scientists at Michigan State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Lab test tissue samples for the virus.

“If HPAI is suspect from those results, the samples get sent on to the national vet services laboratory for confirmation,” he said.

The DNR encourages people who find at least six dead birds in one area to report the discovery through its “eyes in the field” tool.

Marcus says it’s best to avoid direct contact with a dead bird in the wild. If someone finds one on their property, he recommends caution.

“If they’re in a situation where they have to get that carcass removed, I would suggest that they utilize some personal protective equipment,” he said.

Read more: Avian flu outbreak forces major layoffs at Michigan’s largest poultry farm

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development also offers advice for pet owners concerned about bird flu.

“A good general precaution is just keep your pets away from any sick or dead wild animals,” Marcus said.

The DNR says HPAI has infected some feral and domestic cats in the U.S., but so far, it has not affected dogs.

The state has detected the virus at large commercial poultry farms in western Michigan as well as backyard flocks in Wayne, Oakland, and Monroe counties.

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

While you might look amazing in your latest clothing purchase from Temu or Shein, its journey will most likely end in a landfill. 

The 7th annual Rags $2 Riches fashion show wants to highlight thrifted clothes, give them a high-end twist and show you can still look fly in second hand apparel. This is a celebration of sustainability, style and the long lasting impacts of buying used clothes. 

Stephanie Bedell founded the Rags $2 Riches Fashion show and she is also a wardrobe consultant, specializing in plus-size fashion. She joins the show to talk about thrifting and the runway styled garments from Salvation Army Stores that will be featured at the event. 

Hear more stories from The Metro on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.

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

It’s been 60 years since a pivotal moment in the fight for equality in America. 

In March 1965, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led protestors on a three-day, 54-mile march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Marchers were met with violence by Alabama State Troopers. The appalling scene was broadcast on live television on what is now called “Bloody Sunday.” 

Images of Alabama state troopers using whips, batons, and tear gas to beat back the peaceful protestors shocked Americans. It was a watershed moment that eventually led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. 

Since then, as years become decades, the struggle for equal rights and freedoms for all Americans has taken many turns. The fight for equal rights today looks very different in some ways. In other ways, it feels the same as it ever was. 

To reflect on what’s changed and what stayed the same, we’re joined by Vice President of the Brennan Center for Justice Kareem Crayton. 

Hear more stories from The Metro on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.

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

This week on MI Local, we had a fun mix of new and old tracks, from indie-pop to hip-hop and even a zesty hybrid of punk and metal coming out of Ann Arbor.

We kicked things off with a brand new song from a brand new project (sort of), with Kelsey., otherwise known as Kelsey Detering, an Ann Arbor based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and music educator; having previously recorded and performed around the scene, Detering unveiled her new moniker with the single titled “Throw The Stone.”

We also heard a new song from veteran songwriter Tom Alter with “I Need a Ghost,” from his new album “Under the Firmament.” But, on MI Local, you get every genre under the sun, so we also checked in with local hip-hop artists like Brizzle and Illingsworth, who both just released new EPs on Bandcamp. Oh, and then there’s Mazinga, coming out of Ann Arbor — the four-piece metal/rock group just released a new album and you can see them live on Saturday at Ziggy’s in Ypsilanti.

Check-in with MI Local each week, heard Tuesdays from 9-10 pm here on WDET, and I’ll always provide you with a comprehensive round-up of local artists you can catch performing at venues around the region.

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 Feb. 18, 2025

• “Throw The Stone” – Kelsey.
• “Let Me Down” – Lucas Powell
• “Knuckle Man” – Illingsworth
• “High on Life” – Brizzl
• “Just Like Heaven (Cure)” – Pancho Villa’s Skull
• “I Need a Ghost” – Tom Alter
• “The Process” – Sunil Sawani
• “Super Karate Monkey Death Car” – Mazinga
• “Brought Me Here” – Macho
• “Didn’t I Try” – Elisabeth Pixley-Fink
• “Northern Lights” – Mountain Babies
• “Dancer Road” – Judy Banker
• “Doorway” – Tunde Olaniran & Yo-Yo Ma
• “Semester in Japan” – Tommy Fleece
• “‘Ssippi Sludge” – Sonic Smut

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover Detroit City Council’s appointment of Todd Bettison as the city’s top cop; the passing of former Detroit Police Chief Stanley Knox and more.

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

Bettison approved as new police chief

Detroit City Council on Tuesday approved Todd Bettison as Detroit’s new chief of police. Bettison had served as interim chief over the past few months as a search took place for a permanent leader of the department. He was named Detroit’s Deputy Mayor in 2022.  Prior to that, Bettison had a 27- year career with the DPD — retiring as assistant chief of police. Former Detroit Police Chief James White left in October to become the new head of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. 

Funeral planned for former Detroit police chief

Former Detroit Police Chief Stanley Knox, who served as the city’s top cop from 1991 until 1994, died on Friday at the age of 85. Knox was named chief in the wake of a scandal, after then-Chief William Hart was indicted for embezzlement in 1991. Knox had a 28–year long career with the Detroit Police Department. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church at 11359 Dexter in Detroit.

Flood clean up continues in Southwest Detroit

Clean up efforts continue in Southwest Detroit, where a large water main break on Monday caused flooding that damaged homes and vehicles and displaced around 80 families. The Great Lakes Water Authority says it has removed the water at the source of the break, where a 12-foot section of the pipe will need to be replaced. The timeline for completing repairs and returning the main to service is expected to be about two weeks. The city of Detroit is offering hotels for those who were displaced. Residents impacted by the water main break can call 313-774-5261 to get connected to emergency resources. 

Detroit Auto Show announces 2026 dates

The Detroit Auto Show has just released the 2026 dates for the event, Jan. 14-25. The auto show returned to its traditional January time slot this year — after a pause for the pandemic — and then trying some summer dates. Organizers say attendance was much lower this year than in 2019 — the last January show. Approximately 275,000 people came to the show this year, according to organizers. That’s about a third of pre-pandemic numbers. The event generated $370 million in economic impact for the city.   Next year’s charity preview is scheduled to take place on Friday, Jan. 16.

Gas prices hold steady

Gas prices in metro Detroit are essentially remaining steady this week. The average price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded is $3.13 per gallon. That’s two cents less expensive than a week ago, and five cents cheaper than last month at this time.  

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

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

This has been one of the coldest weeks of winter, but it’s warm inside the LOVE building. 

Tomorrow night is the final instalment of the Love@Nite:The Sun Inside series. The evening is sponsored by local non-profit Arts and Scraps and audiences can expect live soulful performances from three local artists. 

The evening will also feature warm charcuterie provided by Yum Village and non-alcoholic drinks to wash it all down. The event is free and open to the public with an RSVP. 

Executive Director Kwaku Osei joins the show to talk about the LOVE Building and Love@Nite:The Sun Inside. 

Hear more stories from The Metro on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.

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

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

It’s Black History Month, and we want to recognize that Detroit is one of few cities in the country with a majority Black population, and with Black people in powerful positions. 

Black Americans today still face major systemic obstacles. In the face of that adversity, Black leaders and thinkers are still finding ways to uplift the community and envision a future where Black people can thrive. 

Today on The Metro, we’re looking at what Black history means to the city of Detroit. 

Guests: 

Roy E. Finkenbine: History professor and department co-chair at University of Detroit Mercy. He’s also the director of the Black Abolitionist Archive.

Lauren Hood: Professor of practice in urban planning at the University of Michigan. She is also the founder of the Institute for AfroUrbanism, an action lab working at the intersection of Black aspiration and community transformation. 

More headlines from The Metro on Feb. 19, 2025:

• It’s been 60 years since a pivotal moment in the fight for equality in America. In March 1965, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led protestors on a three-day, 54-mile march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Marchers were met with violence by Alabama State Troopers. The appalling scene was broadcast on live television on what is now called “Bloody Sunday.” To reflect on this historical moment, we’re joined by Vice President of the Brennan Center for Justice Kareem Crayton. 

• Tomorrow night is the final instalment of the Love@Nite:The Sun Inside series. The evening is sponsored by local non-profit Arts and Scraps and audiences can expect live soulful performances from three local artists. Executive Director Kwaku Osei joins the show to talk about the event. 

• The 7th annual Rags $2 Riches fashion show wants to highlight thrifted clothes, give them a high-end twist and show you can still look fly in second hand apparel. Founder of the show Stephanie Bedell joins the show. 

• One WDET listener is desperate to know if Gen Z knows about one of the greats of Detroit rock music. In this episode of CuriosID, WDET’s Madison Ganzak takes some old records off the shelf to find out if the under-40 crowd remembers the one and only Bob Seger.

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

One year from now, Mike Duggan won’t be Detroit’s mayor and there is no shortage of folks vying for the job.

Whoever gets elected will see the city in its next phase of recovery post-bankruptcy. The city’s population is growing and home values are rising, but what’s next?

City Councilman Fred Durhal and current City Council President Mary Sheffield are in the running. Former City Council President — and longtime CEO of The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW) — Saunteel Jenkins is also in the mix.

She sat down with WDET to discuss her vision for the city.

Listen: Saunteel Jenkins shares priorities for addressing poverty, promoting neighborhood growth

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Saunteel Jenkins: Our next mayor has to be someone who will invest in Detroiters from cradle to career and beyond. They need experience in nonprofit, for profit, government and executive experience. The mayor is the CEO of the city of Detroit. I’ve been a CEO for the last 10 years, I know how to deliver, and I’ve been delivering for Detroiters my entire adult life. I want to invest in Detroiters from cradle to career and beyond, and what that means is a Detroit where our children have high-quality early childhood education and daycare centers. We’re making sure that our neighborhoods are safe places and spaces for kids, for families, for seniors. We’re creating businesses and business opportunities and jobs for Detroiters throughout the city, not just downtown. I think we need to have a master plan for each of our seven districts. And the reason that’s important is because it gives Detroiters an opportunity to participate in what the future of their neighborhood should look like. So if the master plan says this district, one needs another movie theater or another grocery store, and you’re opening a grocery store, we’re providing you with incentives to do so, and it provides transparency.

Russ McNamara, WDET News: Where is the next main area for growth in the city?

SJ: I think the next main area of growth has to be in the neighborhoods, not a neighborhood. I think we can walk and chew gum at the same time. It doesn’t have to be that we pick winners and losers. And that’s part of why that master planning process is so important. Because we can do a little bit everywhere, and if we continue to do a little bit everywhere each year, we will start to see the progress spread throughout the city.

RM: The city was still in turmoil when you left city council for THAW. Do you regret that decision at all?

SJ: No, I do not. So I would say the city was still in the process of completing the bankruptcy. I would say the city was in turmoil when I started as city council and we were trying to figure out how not to go into bankruptcy. You know, we were working with the state on a consent agreement and trying to figure out how to actually pay city employees and not miss a payday or not lay off police officers. When I left city council, we were exiting the bankruptcy, the plan of adjustment, the 10 year plan of adjustment, by the way, was in place. So we were actually coming out of the turmoil and setting the stage for, you know, the growth that we’re now seeing.

RM: So why come back now?

SJ: Because the next mayor is going to determine the trajectory of this city for generations to come. And having been there, having done the hard work to set the stage for the successes that we’re all celebrating, I want to make sure that we don’t go back, and that’s why it’s so important that our next mayor is somebody who was here during the tough times, who knows how we got out of it, and understands how to make sure we don’t go back there.

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

Inmates in Michigan’s only prison for women are suing the state Department of Corrections for alleged forced labor and gender discrimination.

The lawsuit claims the plaintiffs at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility were forced to work as unpaid porters, cleaning common areas like showers and hallways, despite having chronic medical conditions. It’s asking the Michigan Court of Claims to certify its class action status.

Each of the women in the complaint live in the units that house the prison’s Vocational Village Curriculum but don’t participate in it. Instead, they work other paid prison jobs like for the Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund, or as tutors.

Still, women say prison staff told them if they don’t work at least one week a month as an unpaid porter, they could potentially face discipline and risk their paid jobs and educational opportunities.

That goes against department policy, according to the complaint.

“Prisoners in Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) correctional facilities who are assigned to work and/or school shall be paid and/or receive stipends for the assignments as set forth in this policy except if in the Special Alternative Incarceration Program,” MDOC’s directive on prison work reads.

The lawsuit claims the warden at Huron Valley told the women the unpaid work requirement was department wide, though the plaintiffs argue men in a similar situation didn’t have to work for free.

According to the complaint, attempts to resolve the issue within the prison system were unsuccessful, with a friend of one plaintiff reaching out personally to Kyle Kaminski, the MDOC legislative liaison.

In purported correspondence included in the complaint, Kaminski said the village model at the prison is supposed to have a different feel from the rest of the prison, leading to the need for more internal porters.

“At both male villages, having some responsibility for the unit is perceived as part of being in the Village community, but it seemed like the approach at WHV could have focused on that more,” the email reads.

The women, who are representing themselves in the lawsuit, are seeking damages from MDOC and an end to the unpaid labor policy. They’re also asking for court appointed attorneys.

MDOC did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover the aftermath of a massive water main break, warming centers open around the city and more.

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Water main break floods southwest Detroit

The City of Detroit is providing hotel rooms for people affected by a massive water main break.

The 54-inch pipeline burst early Monday morning in southwest Detroit, flooding many streets and basements, and trapping people in their homes. Detroit Police and Fire rescued 76 people and 12 pets. In some areas, water rose nearly to the tops of cars.

Great Lakes Water Authority CEO Sue Coffey says it took about five hours to isolate the break and shut off the water.

“It’s a tragic situation. We understand that our heart goes out to the people who’ve been impacted by this, and we are committed to partnering with the city as we go through the restoration process.”

Mayor Mike Duggan says the city and the water authority will cover any damage or loss that’s not covered by insurance. Water department employees planned to visit homeowners today to ask if they want to file a claim. Duggan says the city is also offering rides to work for people whose cars were iced in or damaged.

Warming centers available around the city

The City of Detroit is extending access to overnight shelter for homeless people who need to get out of the cold.

The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries will offer overnight respite through 9 a.m. Friday morning. So will the Pope Francis Center, but it can only accept single adults. Detroit’s recreation centers and public library branches will serve as warming centers during the daytime.

Anyone who needs help finding longer-term housing can contact the city’s help line, 866-313-2520.

Michigan prison accused of forced labor, sexism

The Michigan Department of Corrections is facing a class action lawsuit for alleged forced labor and gender discrimination.

The lawsuit claims inmates housed at Michigan’s only prison for women were forced to work cleaning common areas for free after getting off from their paid prison jobs. The plaintiffs live in the units that also house participants in the prison’s “Vocational Village” but don’t take part in that program.

The complaint alleges prison staff told the women they’d still have to work as unpaid porters one week a month or risk losing their paid gigs and education opportunities. But the women suing claim that goes against department policies, and that men in a similar housing situation in another prison don’t face the same requirements.

Reporters have reached out to the Michigan Department of Corrections for comment.

Authentic Eastern Market receives $1.5 million grant

A 3-year grant for Eastern Market will focus on increasing the number for Detroit Farmers who participate in the market. The Authentic Eastern Market Campaign will also focus on improving infrastructure and sustainability.

The Gilbert Family Foundation’s $1.5 million investment will support the Shed 7 Regional Wholesale Distribution Center project to bring more entrepreneurs of color to the Eastern Market District. The money will also help with stormwater management and branding projects.  

WDET’s Bre’Anna Tinsley, WDET’s Pat Batcheller and MPRN’s Colin Jackson contributed to this report.

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

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Detroit is one of the most important music cities in America. 

We’re finally getting some credit for being the birthplace of techno music, sounds that came out of Motown can still be heard on rotation, and we often talk about jazz and its influence on Motown. 

There’s a common thread that weaves all this music together — the Black church.

Aretha Franklin began at church like so many other musicians. The sound coupled with jazz and blues gave way to modern-day R&B. 

Deborah Smith Pollard is a professor emeritus of English literature at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She is also the long-time host of Sunday Morning Inspiration. Pollard joined The Metro to talk about the state of gospel music and why Detroit is so influential to the genre.

Use the media player above to hear the conversation.

Hear more stories from The Metro on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.

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

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

ShotStoppers is Detroit’s most prized crime reduction program. For a little over a year, the community-based intervention project has helped stop violence before it happens.

The numbers speak loudly. Detroit had 203 homicides by the end of 2024, its lowest number recorded since 1965. Last October, the city also had a 45 percent drop in homicides in areas where ShotStoppers was implemented — that’s compared to an 18 percent drop in places without it.

But ShotStoppers may not continue beyond 2025. The program rests on federal American Rescue Plan Act money, which will soon reach an end. State Democrats missed an opportunity to fund ShotStoppers programs in Detroit and in other Michigan cities during their lame duck session.

Many Detroiters are concerned about the program ending, along with the Detroit Police Department. Producer Sam Corey sat down with interim Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison to learn more about the program and how he’s advocating for sustained funding. Bettison was selected by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to be the city’s next police chief and is awaiting confirmation by city council. 

Use the media player above to hear the conversation.

Hear more stories from The Metro on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025.

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