Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover new water rates, upcoming road closures and more.

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

City shares emergency response improvements

The City of Detroit is improving the city’s emergency response to Detroiters living on the streets. This improvement comes on the heels of the tragic deaths of 9-year-old Darnell Currie Jr. and 2-year-old Millah Williams Currie. The two died on Feb. 10 after being exposed to freezing cold temperatures while sleeping in a van. The children’s two other siblings, mother and grandmother were in the van as well. The car turned off in the middle of the night while they were sleeping. The family slept in this van for months waiting on the city’s homelessness response team.

This improved response is a 7-point plan aiming to do everything possible to reach every unsheltered person in need of emergency:

1. Require site visits for all families with minor children
2. Give special attention to finding families in vehicles
3. Expand helpline to 24 hours
4. Double number of drop-in beds
5. Expand night outreach teams
6. Continue successful use of police precincts as havens for safety and referrals
7. Expand street outreach and education

To check out this plan and discover resources the city provides, visit detroitmi.gov.

99th Dearborn Memorial Day Parade announced

Dearborn will be hosting the 99th year of Michigan’s oldest Memorial Day Parade this year. The parade will return to its original route in East Dearborn. The event starts at 9:30 a.m. on May 26, 2025.

The city is inviting military and veteran groups, marching bands, and community and school groups from Dearborn and neighboring communities to apply to be a part of the parade. Go to dearborn.gov/memorialday to sign up and get more information. All forms are due April 18.

Interfaith Day of Unity

The Interfaith Day of Unity is going down on Sunday, March 2 from 4-6 p.m. at the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit. Organizers say this event will be a chance to experience the power of connection, peace and shared purpose.

There will be deep reflection from people of diverse faiths, vibrant culture with music, dancing and traditions, and a call for unity. For more information, visit detroitinterfaithcouncil.com.

Detroit Film Theatre celebrates Oscar Sunday

And finally, this Sunday is 97th Oscar Sunday. To celebrate, the Detroit Film Theatre is hosting their annual program showcasing the year’s nominees in both the short animation and short live action categories in a single ten-film presentation. There will be an intermission separating the categories. Watch the nominated films and make your own decisions as to which film should take home the coveted Oscar trophy. For tickets and more information, visit dia.org.

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

Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her second-to-last State of the State address and she urged Michiganders toward unity and togetherness. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben discuss the major elements of her speech and what stood out the most. Plus, Denise Donohue from the Michigan County Road Association joins the show to discuss potential road funding measures.

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

In this episode:

• Gov. Whitmer’s penultimate State of the State Address
• How critical is road funding?

Whitmer’s speech was filled with calls for unity and bipartisanship. Will these calls be answered by the Democratic-controlled Senate and the Republican-controlled House in Lansing?

“We saw the Legislature strike a deal last week — a significant deal on minimum wage and paid sick time,” said Kasben. “So at this point, I would say anything is possible.”  

Other elements of Whitmer’s State of the State dealt with lowering costs, especially when it comes to housing, getting more men to sign up for post-high school education, and more.

In regard to road funding, Donohue told MichMash that this is the year that road funding should be substantially planned because there is a lot of focus on it.

“We talk about a rising tide of funding lifts all boats; [for] municipalities, counties and the state department of transportation. So for us, it’s been critical that we find new road funding for a while,” she said.

Donohue added that according to Senate Fiscal Agency figures, fewer gallons of gas were sold in Michigan than any time in the last 25 years (with an exception for COVID periods). With a portion of taxes from gas being given to road funding, that decrease hurts road funding as well.  

More from WDET:

• Whitmer asks for bipartisan cooperation, positivity in State of the State speech
• Federal money coming to three Michigan cities for safer, greener roads
• MichMash: Breaking down Governor Whitmer’s $83.5 billion budget proposal

The two major political parties held their conventions last weekend. On the Democratic side, former state Senator Curtis Hertel will lead the Michigan Democratic Party. He ran unopposed.

The Republican side was a bit more contentious. Former Michigan GOP Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock had gotten the coveted Donald Trump endorsement, but after a couple rounds of voting, it was current state Senator Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) that got the nod for chair.

Runestad has been in the Michigan Legislature since 2015. Before that, the White Lake resident was on the Oakland County Commission.

He tells WDET there’s still some work to be done building bridges between the various factions of the GOP.

“This internal fighting is not helpful to the ultimate goal that we’re all here, and that is winning elections for Republicans,” Runestad says.

2024 started with Kristina Karamo the MIGOP chair, but her abrasive style saw donors bail. An insurrection within the party followed and former Congressman Peter Hoekstra took over. Last year’s elections saw Republicans win back the state House, pick up a Congressional seat and Donald Trump win Michigan.

For that, Hoesktra was rewarded with an Ambassadorship to Canada by Trump.

With 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods set to go into effect on Tuesday, relations between the two countries are at a low point. Trump has complained that Canada isn’t doing enough to stop Fentanyl from coming into the U.S.

Runestad believes the potential economic havoc on the state’s economy is worth it.

“What we’re asking [Canadian Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau is simply stop bringing over Fentanyl, stop bringing over criminal cartels, stop bringing over people that should not be here to obey our laws,” Runestad says. “Why would you not do that?”

Last year, U.S. Customs agents seized 43 pounds of Fentanyl at the Canadian border. Most drugs are brought across the border by Americans at lawful ports of entry.

2026 is going to be a wide open election cycle — with Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State and the state Legislature all up for grabs. That’s on top of a federal midterm election and an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan.

Typically, the party in power in Washington D.C. loses control of the U.S. House during midterms.

In Michigan, Runestad is hoping to buck that trend by following a different pattern.

“It is almost completely consistent that after eight years of one party, they want a different party in the Governor’s Mansion,” Runestad says. “I mean, it almost every time goes eight years Democrat, eight years Republican.”

Like Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Sen. Runestad is term limited. Big wins for Republicans in 2026 means Runestad likely won’t have to worry about leading his side gig of leading the MIGOP.

Hear the full conversation with Sen. Runestad using the audio player above.

February is Black History Month and WDET’s Detroit Evening Report is collecting Black History stories from listeners.

Iola Corbett, also known as Sister Ameedah, is the author of the book “Growing Up Muslim and the Journey Continues,” a story about being born and raised in Detroit.

Corbett’s family was a part of the Nation of Islam when she was a child.

“That was unbelievable, because I remember it like my first time going with [my father] to the temple. At that time, because it was we had a restaurant, the temple was right around the corner,” she shared.

Over the years she met Malcolm X, who visited her family’s restaurant in Detroit often.

“My mother was an excellent cook, so he had dinner with my dad every day, so I got to hear him, and I would serve him. He was a big influence in my family’s life,” she said.

As part of growing up in the Nation of Islam, Corbett said she was a part of something bigger.

“It still gave me a purpose of who I was, who I wanted to be close with my community,” she explained.

There were many businesses, an apartment building and a bookstore that were part of the network.

“We were about African American people, because back in the day, and I’m sure when my dad come up here, I was amazed that he came here and drove, you know, because I remember going down south with him, and it was you couldn’t go in the bathroom. You couldn’t drink out of the faucet. So when we got around people that looked like us and were happy to and treated us royally, you couldn’t have anything but love for that,” she said.

“When we got around people that looked like us and were happy to and treated us royally, you couldn’t have anything but love for that.” — Iola Corbett

Her family converted to Sunni Islam as part of a mass conversion under the guidance of Imam Warith Deen Mohammed in the 1970s.

Corbett worked in Detroit in several roles, including as a factory worker and machine operator for the Detroit Oil Company. She also became first Black female president of Local Lodge 82 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW).

“I conduct the meetings and all that. But I also went on a tour of some of the unions around the city. I got to go to Halifax, Nova Scotia, you know, you travel to see what other unions or other of your union members were doing,” she explained.

The larger union 698 took over local union 82.

She says she wrote “Growing Up Muslim” as a way to preserve her family’s legacy.

“We need to know things about our history, and I wanted the community to know children and my grandchildren, and now I have lots of great grandchildren. I got to really expound about how I grew up, so they would know. Because, you know, my mom is gone, my dad is gone, so they never met him. I want them to know what great people that they were.”

Corbett said she’s working on a new book expanding on her life in Detroit.

Hear our full conversation with Corbett using the audio player above.

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

Governor Gretchen Whitmer held her seventh State of the State Speech last night. The speech detailed the policies Whitmer hopes to pass and set the tone for her leadership style. 

In her second-to-last speech, the governor focused on funding the roads, spending on education and limiting cell phone use in schools. 

To discuss what Democrats and Republicans made of the speech, Russ McNamara, host of WDET’s All Things Considered, joined the show. 

Use the media player above to hear the conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Thursday, Feb. 27, 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.

A major opera star is under the spotlight at the Detroit Opera this weekend. 

Anthony Roth Costanzo is a decorated counter-tenor singer who will play the lead in “Rinaldo.” The 18th century opera by Handel is getting a contemporary update, told through the lens of a child’s fantasy in a contemporary pediatric ward. 

It follows a trend at Detroit Opera to find new ways to present old operas. The last two shows of “Rinaldo” are on Friday and Sunday. 

WDET’s Ryan Patrick Hooper (host of In The Groove weekdays noon to 3 p.m.) spoke with Costanzo about the story behind “Rinaldo” and the power of opera in 2025. 

Use the media player above to hear the conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Thursday, Feb. 27, 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.

For many Arab Americans in Southeast Michigan, Dearborn is a point of pride. For decades, immigrants from across the Arab world have left an imprint on the suburb bordering Detroit that continues to widen and deepen.

Today, the city, which has an Arab majority, reflects the rich historical, cultural and ethnic diversity of the Arab world.

It is also home to the Arab American National Museum.

A new exhibit at the museum gives us a window into Dearborn’s Southend neighborhood. It is an area that Arab Americans fought to protect amid a zoning battle that lasted from the 1950s to the 70s. They fought against a city plan that would have turned the area into a major industrial hub. 

“Seeing the Southend” includes photographs by Tony Maine depicting Yemeni and Lebanese people living ordinary lives in the Southend neighborhood during the 1960s and 70s. In this way, there is beauty in the mundane, said Rasha Almulaiki, who will moderate a discussion during the show’s opening on March 6. The photos, she said, show Arab American life that is seldom seen but vital to unraveling persistent stereotypes.

Exhibit curator Dean Nessredine and Almulaiki joined the show to discuss what we can learn from these photos of thriving, everyday Arab immigrants and why the exhibit is important to view now.

Use the media player above to hear the conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Thursday, Feb. 27, 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.

Loneliness in America is bad and getting worse. In recent decades, participation in associations and clubs has gone down while the percentage of people living alone has increased. The negative health consequences can quite literally be life and death. 

When COVID-19 hit Michigan in 2020, we were forced to isolate ourselves for survival. But the consequences of isolation pose a continued risk to our health and well-being. In 2023, former surgeon general Vivek Murthy issued an advisory warning that isolation poses a health risk equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Today on The Metro, we’re looking at the treatment for isolation: connecting with people. And while it seems like a no-brainer, society and our built environment has changed in ways that make seeing our neighbors, friends, family and even meeting strangers more difficult. 

Guests:

• Anita Zavala: Director of Entrepreneurship and Wealth Building at the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation. The organization and many in the community are connecting with their neighbors and providing help to those affected by the water main break and flooding in Southwest Detroit. 
• Eric Klinenberg: The Helen Gould Shepard Professor in the Social Sciences and Director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University. He also led a widely-cited study on the 1995 Chicago heat wave, revealing how crucial our social connections really are. His most recent book is “2020: One city, seven people, and the year everything changed.”

We also asked listeners:

“Where do you go to connect with your neighbors and community?”

Use the media player above to hear the conversation.

More headlines from The Metro on Feb. 27, 2025: 

• A new exhibit at the Arab American National Museum gives us a window into Dearborn’s Southend neighborhood. It’s an area that Arab Americans fought to keep amid a zoning battle that lasted from the 1950s to the 70s. The exhibit features photographs of Yemeni and Lebanese people in the Southend neighborhood taken by Tony Maine during the 1960s and 70s. Exhibit Curator Dean Nessredine and Rasha Almulaiki of Adala PR Agency joined the show. On March 6, Almulaiki is also moderating a conversation about the exhibit at the museum.

• Black History Month is almost over. But at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, everyday is a good day to celebrate Black History. Manager of Community Engagement Yolanda Jack joined the show to talk about the significance of the museum for Detroit.

• WDET’s Ryan Patrick Hooper spoke with Anthony Roth Costanzo about the story behind “Rinaldo” and the power of opera in 2025. It follows a trend at Detroit Opera to find new ways to present old operas. The last two shows of “Rinaldo” are on Friday and Sunday. 

• In her second-to-last State of the State speech, Governor Gretchen Whitmer focused on funding the roads, spending on education and limiting cell phone use in schools. To discuss what Democrats and Republicans made of the speech, Russ McNamara of WDET’s All Things Considered joined the show.

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

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover new water rates, upcoming road closures and more.

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

Lower water rate hike approved

The Great Lakes Water Authority has voted to approve a water rate hike that is lower than it originally proposed. After listening to dozens of public comments, the authority lowered the proposed rate hike from nearly 8 percent down to 5.9 percent.

GLWA Board Member and Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Director Gary Brown thanked the board for working with Detroit’s finance team to decrease the hike.

“We could recognize in our rates in Detroit, it is not as low as most people will want. Certainly, we feel this will fit the needs of affordability in the city of Detroit. So again, thank you for working closely with us to get these numbers down.”

The decision comes a week after an authority-owned water transmission main broke and affected 400 homes in Southwest Detroit.

Legislation proposed to better track students

A new bill that would improve the tracking of students from one school district to another is expected to be introduced in the Michigan legislature.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard helped draft the bill. He says the goal is to ensure that confirmation of a student’s transfer doesn’t end at the request for transcripts. The new legislation is a response to an abuse and neglect case in Pontiac.

“That one school doesn’t presume the other school now has the kids, because what happened was they never actually moved to the new school, and the prior school district just dropped them from their enrollment.”

In the Pontiac case, three children never attended school after allegedly being left alone in their home by their mother for several years.

WSU raises free tuition threshold

Wayne State University is raising the income threshold for a free tuition program. The university is now offering free tuition to Michigan families that make $80,000 or less. The offer is renewable for up to four years.

Incoming freshmen must be applying to the university for the first time and be Michigan residents. Residents must be eligible for the Pell grant in 2025. They must be enrolled full time and have submitted their FAFSA by April 1, 2025.

Dearborn air pollution lawsuit settled

Pro-V Enterprises, an industrial waste processing company in Dearborn, has settled a lawsuit against the city for air pollution. The company has agreed to invest up to $4 million in improvements to its operations to mitigate air pollution by June 30.

The city claimed “fugitive” dust that the company’s trucking vehicles carried was a danger to residents’ health. The company is required to make improvements including planting trees, replacing stormwater systems and annual inspections.

Dearborn to provide free iftar meals

For the first time ever, Dearborn Public Schools will provide free iftar meals for students to take home during Ramadan. Middle and high school students can pick up the to-go meal during school hours, but cannot eat the meal at school. Ramadan starts Friday night.

I-696 closure starts Saturday

As a reminder for drivers, eastbound I-696 will be closing between M-10 (The Lodge) and I-75 freeways for two years starting Saturday, March 1. It’s the final phase of the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Restore the Reuther project.

Westbound traffic will be maintained while both sides of the freeway will be rebuilt between Lahser Road and I-75. The project work includes rebuilding the roadway, bridge work and drainage structures.

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

Michigan averages more than 200 wildfires per year. The Department of Natural Resources says fires burned almost 1,500 acres statewide in 2024.

Most happen in the spring. Trees, grass, brush and leaves that dried out over the winter can catch fire easily. Warm temperatures, high winds and low humidity can turn small fires into big ones.

The DNR has more than 60 full-time firefighters and lots of heavy equipment to contain the flames.

Jeff Vasher is the department’s resource protection manager for the Lower Peninsula. He says training starts before the snow melts.

“Last year, we were fighting fires in late February,” he says. “We’re always doing something to prepare for the wildfire season, because, once it starts, it’s a long two or three months until it greens up.”

Fighting fire with fire

One method the state uses to prevent and control wildfires is “prescribed burning.” Vasher says the DNR selects a certain number of acres to burn each year.

“Last year, we did over 100 burns and over 10,000 acres,” he says.

Vasher says prescribed burns help control invasive species and improve wildlife habitats. They also minimize the risk of major wildfires like the ones that ravaged the Los Angeles area.

“You’re cutting down on fuel so it can’t burn like you see with the big fires out west,” he says.

Related: DNR warns ice storms can damage trees

Partnerships are critical

The DNR doesn’t work alone. It gets help from local fire departments as well as the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Michigan is also part of the Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact.

The Trump administration has been slashing jobs and funding throughout the federal government. Vasher says he’s not a “budget guy,” but adds that the DNR still has a job to do regardless of how much support it gets from Washington.

“When COVID happened, we still had fires, and we still put them out,” he says.

Only you?

DNR statistics show that humans cause most wildfires, usually due to carelessness while burning debris. Vasher says knowing how to burn safely can reduce the danger.

“If you’re going to burn, make sure you’ve got a hose with you and burn small piles,” he says. “Don’t burn on windy days.”

The DNR says campers should be careful, too. Vasher says they need to use plenty of water and be sure their campfires are completely out before they leave.

“We’ve had lots of fires start up where they thought the fire was out and then the wind picks up, there’s an ember still burning, and it takes off,” he says. “We always tell them to make it a muddy mess, like soup.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says divided government in Lansing should not stop Democrats and Republicans from finding ways to get things done. The governor delivered her seventh State of the State address on Wednesday.

This was Whitmer’s first State of the State address to the Legislature since Republicans took control of the state House this year and ended the Democrats’ trifecta control over the Capitol. Democrats remain in control of the Senate, but much of Whitmer’s 52-minute speech seemed aimed at winning over the opposition.

“Our people are not as divided as our politics,” Whitmer said. “I truly believe that.”

Whitmer’s policy priorities — many carried over from earlier addresses — include affordable housing, closing a higher education gap where young men in Michigan are less likely than women to pursue advanced degrees or training, and, of course, finalizing a still-elusive deal on long-term funding for roads. But her overall message was Michigan needs a surge of confidence and kindness.

“And now, in a divisive national moment, where America needs a new way forward, Michigan can lead. Because at our best, we are strong and kind, and kindness is strength,” she said.

She said Michigan has made a lot of progress in the past six years, but an image makeover is in order.

“Because if we’re being honest, our brand has taken a beating over the past few decades,” Whitmer said. “After the Great Recession, the Flint water crisis, and disinvestment in roads and schools and health care, people on the margins were suffering in Michigan.”

Whitmer did not mention her proposal to use a tax on marijuana products to help fund roads, but she did renew her call for a tax on vaping products to both raise revenue and make vaping less attractive to younger consumers. She told Republicans that the options for adequate road funding must include new revenue if the state is going to avoid cuts to schools, public safety or other critical programs.

But Republicans rejected any discussion of revenue other than redirecting existing funds. Whitmer and GOP leaders appear to agree that all taxes collected at the gas pump should go only to roads. But Republican House Speaker Matt Hall says he does not see a need for any new taxes. He’s also called for ending business-attraction subsidies, which he says would free up funds for roads and infrastructure.

“You know, I want to show her the numbers, to show her we can do this without raising taxes and my hope is just because Governor Whitmer is a Democrat doesn’t mean she has to raise taxes,” said Hall.

But Hall’s Democratic counterpart, House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri, said he heard a lot that people could agree would be good for the state.

“Lowering costs, improving our economy to get jobs going, you know, just delivering results, child care, housing, paying off debt. I think these are all great things that we should, that should be above party lines,” Puri said.

Whitmer treaded lightly on criticizing President Donald Trump in her speech, and said she is looking to work with the Republican administration to keep military installations in Michigan. But she also warned that increasing tariffs and a trade war with Canada would hit Michigan’s manufacturing economy hard.

This week, some station favorites are playing live in-concert. Plus, dance parties, costume contests and opportunities for local artists. Read on to learn more.

Hear local music

Starting on Thursday, Feb. 27, Miss Eva’s speakeasy is welcoming The kLOUDs Band as their first Artists in Residence. The Motown-style R&B group will be performing live every Thursday night now through April 24 from 8-10 p.m. We speak from experience when we say they know how to put on a show — The kLOUDs and frontman Drey Skonie performed at our Sounds Like Detroit concert last summer after being fan favorites in Detroit’s Tiny Desk Contest! Doors for this week’s show open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $15, no advance purchase necessary. For more information, visit missevasdetroit.com.

Staying at Miss Eva’s, Detroit singer-songwriter Ideeyah is kicking off Women’s History Month with a Saturday Night Unplugged performance on Saturday, March 1. Her music blends electronic with soul, and we got to witness her raw talents up close when she performed at WDET’s studios back in 2023. Doors for this intimate concert open at 7 p.m., the show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $20. The Lobster Pitstop food truck will also be on-site all night long. For more information, visit missevasdetroit.com.

Heading downtown, Detroit pianist and educator Michael Malis is performing a rare solo show at the historic Fort Street Presbyterian Church in Detroit on Wednesday, March 5. Malis recently joined In The Groove to give us a preview of what he’ll be playing and chat about why this venue is so special to him. Doors open at 7 p.m., music starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $25 online. For more information, visit michaelmalis.com. 

Go dancing

On Thursday, Feb. 27, Drag Night returns to Bowlero in Royal Oak. This free monthly drag show and dance party takes place every last Thursday in the Bowlero’s lounge. Hosted by Auntie Chanel, this month’s performers are Drag Chef Kokayne, Valentina Rosé, Doubleho Sevyn and Remy Lafontain. Social hour starts at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. This event is 18+. For more information, visit bowlerodetroit.com.

Then on Sunday, March 2, kick off your Mardi Gras celebrations with Domingo: Carnival Edition at Spkrbox in Detroit. From 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., DJ Iza and DJ Yak will be bumping reggaeton, baile funk, latin house, dembow and afro house. For more information, visit @sprkbox.detroit on Instagram.

Strut your stuff

On Wednesday, March 5, UFO Bar is throwing a Detroit Talent Show where fun is the only skill necessary. Hosted by Auntie Ely, entry is $5 and winner takes the pot.  The show starts at 10 p.m. followed by an afterparty DJ set by Ashton Swinton. Limited spots are available, so email ely@spotlitedetroit.com to sign up in advance. For more information, visit @ufobardetroit on Instagram.

Then on Thursday, March 6, Bowlero is celebrating Day of the Dude with live music, $9 White Russians and a Big Lebowski costume contest. Detroit rock bands The Beggars and Dirty Copper will be playing in the lounge, and WDET’s own Ryan Patrick Hooper (host of In The Groove weekdays noon to 2 p.m.) will be DJing. Music starts at 8 p.m. and the costume contest starts at 9 p.m. This event is 18+ and admission is free. For more information, visit bowlerodetroit.com.

Get involved

On Saturday, March 1, the Detroit Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship is hosting their first city-wide Performing Arts Summit at The Detroit School of Arts. The summit will highlight how our creative workforce can drive a healthy economy and thriving communities, featuring presentations and discussions about resources the city has to offer and opportunities the city has to further support artists. Admission is free and broken up into theatre, dance, music and film sections. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will deliver her seventh State of the State address at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Feb. 26.

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

She’s expected to outline her administration’s plans for the next year in the address, covering key topics like her plans for job growth, lowering costs and improving the state’s roads. 

Whitmer initially campaigned on the theme “Fix The Damn Roads,” but critics complain that there’s been only marginal improvements in recent years. 

The address will be held in the Michigan House Chambers in front of a joint session of the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate, and will be broadcast live throughout the state.

“Michigan is a state on the move as we continue working together to create good-paying jobs, fix our roads, and invest in our students and schools,” Whitmer said in a statement. “I look forward to delivering my 2025 State of the State Address where I will lay out my plan to build on our years of strong, bipartisan progress and strategic, fiscally responsible leadership.”

Tune in to WDET 101.9 FM or stream the address live at wdet.org to hear Whitmer’s full remarks and the Republican response, or watch the livestream below.

More headlines for Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025:

• Motorists throughout metro Detroit are preparing for the closure of eastbound I-696 in the city’s northern suburbs. The freeway will be closed between I-75 and Lahser Road starting on Saturday. This phase of the reconstruction project is expected to last two years.
• The Great Lakes Water Authority is seeking a rate increase for water and sewer service. The agency is holding a public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday, on Zoom and in person at the Water Board Building, 735, Randolph St., Detroit, to discuss the rate increase request.
• The city of Detroit has announced the grand opening of 86 new affordable housing units in the area near Woodward between downtown and Midtown.
• Officials from the Detroit Lions are in Indianapolis this week for the NFL Combine, an event that gives the league’s 32 teams a chance to review hundreds of college players in advance of the April draft.

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.

NASA scientists determined that Asteroid 2024 YR4 had little to no chance of hitting Earth, but the moon should watch out. 

President and CEO of the Michigan Science Center Dr. Christian Greer is no stranger to asking questions about the mechanics of the world we live in. He’s a graduate of Morehouse College with a degree in Physics and a Doctorate of Education in learning technologies from Pepperdine University.

Greer wants to share his love of science with people across the board, but especially the next generation of curious thinkers. 

Many of those young, curious thinkers spend a lot of time on social media and Youtube. Recently, the news of a possible asteroid impact on Earth in 2032 sent folks into a frenzy. Greer joins the show to let us know what’s up with asteroids and our solar system.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Feb. 26, 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.

Court-ordered minimum wage and sick leave laws were set to take effect Friday, but Michigan lawmakers struck a deal changing the laws again.

The minimum wage did rise and it’s expected to reach 15 dollars an hour in 2027. Tips earned by some wage workers will stay intact under this court order, which would have phased out over time. There were also changes to paid sick leave laws.

The result is a win for people who argue that eliminating the tipped wage would hurt businesses and discourage tipping. 

The President of One Fair Wage Saru Jayaraman joins the show to discuss how supporters of the court-ordered laws are feeling. The organization is advocating for a 15 dollar minimum wage for workers nationally. 

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Feb. 26, 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.

President Donald Trump has put Elon Musk in charge of getting government workers to leave their posts and jobs. Already, the Office of Personnel Management has said that 75,000 federal employees accepted a deferred resignation proposal. 

There are pending freezes for funding to government agencies, including money that funds critical research and money that would otherwise fund programs and services related to food, housing, healthcare and infrastructure. 

Today on The Metro, we’re looking at whether Trump’s actions are good-old fashioned conservative values in action or if there’s something fundamentally different and dangerous. 

Guests: 

• Denise Elias:The executive director of the Oakland County Republican Party. 
• Tom Wraight: A lecturer in Political Economy at Queen Mary University of London.
• Lucan Way: A distinguished professor of Democracy at the University of Toronto.

Hear the conversation using the media player above.

More headlines from The Metro on Feb. 26:

• Under the leadership of Elon Musk, the Department of Government Efficiency is slashing jobs across more than a dozen agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs. Ten year Marine Corps veteran Andrew Lennox joins the show. He was working as an administrative officer in the primary care department in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Ann Arbor, and is now without a job due to DOGE cuts. 

• Court-ordered minimum wage and sick leave laws were set to take effect Friday, but Michigan lawmakers struck a deal changing the laws again. The President of One Fair Wage Saru Jayaraman joins the show to discuss how supporters of the court-ordered laws are feeling. The organization is advocating for a 15 dollar minimum wage for workers nationally. 

• NASA scientists determined that Asteroid 2024 YR4 had little to no chance of hitting Earth, but the moon should watch out. Recently, the news of a possible asteroid impact on Earth in 2032 sent folks into a frenzy. Michigan Science Center CEO Dr. Christian Greer joins the show to let us know what’s up with asteroids and our solar system. 

Tomorrow’s question: What’s your neighborhood connection spot? 

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

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

When we talk about the architects of soul— the visionaries who sculpted the very essence of R&B, funk, and quiet storm— the conversation too often recycles the same revered names. Marvin. Stevie. Prince. But let’s be clear: If we are to have an honest discussion about the bedrock of modern soul music, then we must carve out space and demand a seat at that hallowed table for the late, great Chris Jasper.

The keyboard wizard. The sonic visionary. The man whose fingers danced across the keys and, in the process, laid the foundation for some of the most enduring music at the height of the soul music era of the 1970s. Jasper, who passed away Monday at the age of 72, was the musical heartbeat of the Isley Brothers during the most celebrated run of their era-defining sound.

From Cincinnati to Juilliard: The making of a maestro

Born Christopher H. Jasper on December 30, 1951 in Cincinnati, Ohio, he was a prodigy from the start. Raised in a musically rich household, Jasper found his calling early, mastering classical piano and absorbing the intricacies of jazz and gospel. That foundation set him apart, giving him a depth of harmonic and compositional knowledge that would later revolutionize the sound of the Isley Brothers.

Jasper’s path was intertwined with the Isley family from a young age. He grew up playing music with Ernie and Marvin Isley, bonding over their shared passion for rhythm, blues, and experimentation. Their chemistry was undeniable, and as they came of age, it was only a matter of time before they’d become part of something much bigger than themselves.

Before he would change the course of R&B history, Jasper sharpened his skills at two of the world’s most prestigious institutions: the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and Juilliard School in New York. That formal training, combined with the soul of the church and the grit of the streets, gave him a sound that was equal parts refined and raw— sophisticated, yet deeply funky.

The genius behind the groove

In 1973, the Isley Brothers expanded from a trio to a full-fledged band, bringing in the younger generation—Ernie Isley on lead guitar, Marvin Isley on bass, and Chris Jasper on keyboards. This shift didn’t just add players; it transformed their entire musical identity.

On keys, Jasper orchestrated a new sonic era, bringing in jazz-inspired chord progressions, classically influenced arrangements, and a futuristic approach to synthesizers that would define the Isley Brothers’ golden years.

Listen to “For the Love of You”, and you’ll hear Jasper’s celestial keyboard washes turning a simple love song into a spiritual experience. “Between the Sheets”? That’s his synth-laden magic, his mastery of atmosphere and sensuality defining what a slow jam could be. And don’t even get me started on “Footsteps in the Dark”—a record so hauntingly beautiful that hip-hop had no choice but to immortalize it when Ice Cube flipped it into “It Was a Good Day”.

Jasper was a composer, a songwriter, an arranger and the driving force behind classics like “Harvest for the World”, “Groove with You”, “Let’s Fall in Love”, and “The Highways of My Life”. These tunes were more than just songs. They were statements, blending social consciousness with lush musicality, making the Isley Brothers one of the most versatile groups of their time.

Beyond the Isleys: A legacy of excellence

When Jasper, along with Ernie and Marvin Isley, parted ways with the original trio in 1984, they formed Isley-Jasper-Isley. The result? “Caravan of Love”—a song that became a generational anthem, later covered by the Housemartins and used as a rallying cry for unity and hope.

Jasper’s solo career was just as prolific. His commitment to real musicianship never wavered, and he continued to produce and release music under his own name for decades. His albums carried the same meticulous craftsmanship and deep spirituality that defined his work with the Isleys.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Jasper never chased trends nor was he concerned about grabbing any mainstream spotlight. He stayed true to the essence of what made his music resonate: sophisticated compositions, rich harmonies, and a relentless pursuit of sonic excellence.

The sound that will never die

Greatness is measured by impact, and Chris Jasper’s impact on music is beyond dispute. His contributions are embedded in the DNA of R&B, in the samples that fuel hip-hop classics, and in the textures that still define contemporary neo-soul.

And when you listen to an Isley Brothers record from the Jasper era—it lingers in your spirit and reminds you of a time when music wasn’t just about selling records, but about elevating consciousness. About moving people. About crafting something that would outlive the moment.

That was Chris Jasper’s gift. As long as love needs a melody and groove still demands a heartbeat, then the spirit of Chris Jasper will never fade. Rest easy, maestro.

A group of seven conservative GOP legislators put their names on a non-binding resolution Tuesday calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the landmark decision that struck down same-sex marriage bans — including Michigan’s dormant amendment.

Because the 2004 voter-approved amendment remains in the Constitution, it could be revived if the U.S. Supreme Court were to revisit and reverse the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, that included the Michigan case filed by plaintiffs April DeBoer and Jane Rowse, two nurses who wanted to jointly adopt special needs children.

In response to advance word of the resolution, protesters demonstrated in front of the Capitol and crowded the halls of the Anderson House Office Building, where Rep. Josh Schriver (R-Oxford) was the lead (and, as it turned out only) speaker. Other lawmakers either dropped their names from the resolutions or were no-shows at the press conference.

Schriver’s words took an apocalyptic turn as he decried the reversal of Michigan’s same-sex marriage ban.

“Ten years ago, the United States Supreme Court redefined the sacred institution of marriage,” he said. “This blunder compromised the mother-father-child family unit.”

Conservative members of the court have signaled interest in another hearing on same-sex marriage in a similar fashion to its reconsideration of the Roe v. Wade ruling that determined abortion rights were constitutionally protected.

Justice Samuel Alito last year renewed his criticism of the same-sex marriage decision. Alito along with Justices John Roberts and Clarence Thomas dissented in the decision to legalize same-sex marriage.

State Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), a gay man who sponsored the bill to add LGBTQ protections to Michigan’s main civil rights law, crashed the news conference to offer a rebuttal.

“This was just as buffoonish as I expected it to be,” he said. “I think that this has fallen flat with people in the State of Michigan. I think that people respect their LGBTQ neighbors, their LGBTQ family members. These marriages have been the law of the land for 10 years. They contribute to family security. They contribute to economic security.”

Schriver didn’t get much support from his own caucus either. Not only did his co-sponsors drop out, House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township), on short notice, convened his own news conference to compete with Schriver’s event. Hall assigned the bill to the House Government Operations Committee, which often serves as a graveyard for disfavored legislation, and messaged that it would remain parked there.

Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor) said he would eventually like to see the question settled by formally repealing dormant same-sex marriage ban in Michigan, which would require voter approval to amend the Michigan Constitution.

“I’m not sure if the moment’s here yet or not,” he told the Michigan Public Radio Network, “but I think we’re getting to that moment where we’re ready, where we have to, as we inch closer and closer to the potential of the Supreme Court rolling back our right to marriage equality.”