Community members gathered with local leaders this week to celebrate the grand opening of Campbell Street Apartments, a new $18 million affordable housing development in Southwest Detroit’s East Chadsey-Condon neighborhood.

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

The apartment complex is providing 40 units of affordable housing in its first phase of construction, with an additional 32 units planned in an adjacent complex.

Apartments are reserved for households earning 30% or less of the area median income. Also, due to project-based housing vouchers from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), the city says no resident will have to pay more than 30% of their income on rent.

The mixed use development will offer a range of 1-3 bedroom units. The additional 32 units, called Wesson Avenue Apartments, will be a four-story mixed-use building consisting of 45,000 square feet and is expected to open in about 19 months.

Other headlines for Friday, April 18, 2025:

• The Detroit Land Bank Authority announced the completion of more than 12,000 vacant home restorations in the past decade. 
  
• The Detroit Pistons return to the playoffs on Saturday in their first round match up against the New York Knicks.
• Qasim Basir, director of locally-produced “To Live and Die and Live,” told The Detroit News that the film will hold a local premiere event at Michigan Central Station on May 6, ahead of its arrival at AMC Theatres nationwide on May 16.

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

The deer population has increased significantly in southeast Michigan, and as a result, so has the number of deer-related car crashes.

The high population has other negative impacts as well, such as crop damage and forest regeneration issues, leading some local communities to seek options for culling deer populations.

Chad Fedewa, a deer expert with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, said the absence of natural predators in the area creates the perfect conditions for deer to repopulate quickly.

“Fifty to sixty years ago there weren’t many deer in southeast Michigan,” he said. “But over the decades, we’ve done a pretty good job of restoring deer populations in the state, and they have become very accustomed to living in and around people.”

Some people have suggested trapping and moving deer or sterilization, but Fedewa says those methods are more timely, costly, and not effective. Instead, he says, professional shooters are the most effective, practical and humane option for culling deer in urban areas.

“Sharp shooting methods [are] very effective, you can remove a pretty significant number of deer in a small amount of time,” Fedewa said. “And often these programs are done in conjunction with process where those deer do get donated to food banks.”

Regulated hunting and some archery programs have been used in the past to manage deer populations, but aren’t ideal for suburban and urban areas. Fedewa says professional sharp shooters would be optimally suited as they use specialized equipment that minimizes public disturbance.

The cities of East Lansing, Farmington Hills and Ann Arbor are all considering multiple strategies for managing deer population, including sharp shooting.

As Earth Day approaches, we ask the question: do we recycle correctly? As part of the weekly series MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben sat down with Conan Smith from the Michigan Environmental Council. They discuss how we could recycle better. 

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

In this episode:

• Proposals to expand Michigan’s bottle bill
• What is “wish-cycling?”
• How vape pens are affecting recycling goals

Michigan’s waste stream shows the state annually sends to landfills at least $130 million in cans and bottles with a 10-cent returnable deposit, according to the Michigan Sustainable Business Forum.

Smith says this is one of the reasons why an expansion of Michigan’s bottle bill is needed. The expansion would allow for easier ways for people to return and deposit bottles instead of just recycling them in their bins. 

“On average, if you take your tin can and you put it in the recycling, that tin can is probably going to be some other type of aluminum product,” Smith said. “If you take that same can and you return it for your ten cents, it’s going to become a tin can six times every year.”

Smith said although it’s not bad to recycle by simply using your recycling bin, it is more efficient to deposit for ten cents for better usage.  

More from WDET:

• Why Gen Z is gravitating toward vaping and e-cigarettes
• Why it’s time to reform or repeal Michigan’s bottle return law
• Changes could be coming to the way Michigan recycles

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive directive Thursday calling on the state health department to create a report on how big proposed cuts to the federal Medicaid program would affect Michigan.

The executive directive instructs the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to create a report within 30 days detailing the effects of a congressional Republican proposal that could cut $880 billion from Medicaid over 10 years. Whitmer wants data and personal stories to help congressional Democrats shut down a Republican budget resolution if it includes Medicaid cuts. But she said it is already clear the impact in Michigan would be huge.

“Statewide, Medicaid covers 2.6 million people,” she said. “That’s over a quarter of our population. “That number includes a million children, nearly 170,000 seniors and 300,000 people with disabilities.”

Whitmer was flanked by health care workers as she signed the directive at a hospital in Royal Oak. She said hospitals, clinics and other providers would have to reduce services and find other ways to make up for lost funding if Medicaid is slashed.

Whitmer said rural hospitals, which are also large local employers, would likely be the hardest hit. She said using Medicaid cuts to extend tax cuts and reduce the federal budget is a bad deal for taxpayers.

“This won’t make government more efficient,” she said. “It’ll just raise your costs, eliminate local jobs and put lives in danger.”

Republican leaders have said they are not targeting Medicaid, but it is not clear how they would hit their rollback goals without big cuts to Medicaid and other entitlement programs.

“There’s simply no way to do it without drastic cuts to Medicaid,” said U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor), who serves on the GOP-led congressional committee that is supposed to come up with health care cuts and savings. “And let me make this very clear, we will make sure every Republican is on record on what they are cutting.”

An independent study by the International Association of Assessing Officers has found that claims of systemic overassessments in Detroit are false, the city reported on Wednesday.

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

City Assessment Director Alvin Horhn says the latest study proves those claims to be false.

“The [International Association of Assessing Officers] study shows Detroit residential property assessments at the level (50% of market value) required by State law — a fact which has been annually confirmed by the Wayne County Equalization Department,” he said. “This puts the issue to rest once and for all.” 

Over a two-year period the Coalition of Property Tax Justice has appealed hundreds of properties. But Horhn says most of those appeals were denied.

“I think that’s as telling as anything else,” he said. “They’re making these claims of overassessments, but even the ones that they appeal themselves, they overwhelmingly lose.”

The report will soon be presented to city council.

Other headlines for Thursday, April 17, 2025:

• The Michigan Department of Transportation is reminding drivers that the department does not operate toll roads after a recent text scam regarding unpaid tolls to MDOT.
• The Detroit Institute of Arts is bringing back its Inside|Out  program for its 16th year. The program brings reproductions of the DIA’s collection to outdoor spaces across Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.
• The DIA is also presenting the 88th Annual Detroit Public Schools Community District Student Art Exhibition April 18 through May 25. The exhibition will feature a diverse array of artwork from paintings to drawings, photography, ceramics, and more.
• The Home Depot Foundation is expanding a former nursery nunnery on Detroit’s west side into a transitional housing facility for women and veterans in need. Updates were made to All Things Women Inc.’s facility on Thursday, with 100 volunteers participating.

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

This week, we’ve got tons of opportunities for you to get outside and get your hands dirty in celebration of Earth Day. Plus, concerts of all genres, from punk to gospel to shoe gaze. Read on to learn more.

Earth Day celebrations

On Saturday, April 19, the Detroit Parks Coalition is hosting a Chandler Park Planting & Clean Up event. They’re looking for volunteers to help plant flowers and vegetables as well as clean up areas around the park to help beautify and support the Chandler Park Community Garden. Volunteers should bring comfortable clothes, sturdy shoes, gardening gloves and drinking water. Light refreshments will be served. The event goes from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and volunteers are encouraged to sign up in advance. For more information, visit detroitparkscoalition.com.

On Tuesday, April 22, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is partnering with TEAD One Memorial Artist in Residence to host an Earth Day “en plein air” painting workshop where participants can create their own work of art inspired by the nature around them. French for “in the open air,” “en plein air” refers to the practice of painting outdoors, directly from nature, capturing the essence of a landscape or subject by incorporating natural light, color and movement. TEAD One teaching artists will be available for guidance, and canvases and tables will be provided, though participants are welcome to bring their own blankets, chairs and/or painting materials. The event goes from 6–8 p.m. at Gabriel Richard Park and Christopher Stroh Plaza. For more information, visit detroitriverfront.org.

On Tuesday, April 22, the Farmington Hills Nature Center is hosting a Party for the Planet from 4–7 p.m. This family-friendly event aims to promote environmental awareness and sustainability through interactive activities and informational booths. There will also be live music, face painting, food trucks and giveaways. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit fhgov.com.

On Thursday, April 24, the Detroit Parks Coalition is hosting a clothing swap at Veterans Park in Hamtramck. Participants can bring lightly used, clean clothing items to the park between 6–8 p.m. to update their wardrobes in an eco-friendly fashion. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit detroitparkscoalition.com.

Cross-genre concerts

Friday, April 18 is the third annual Spring Stunr Fest at the Lager House in Detroit. This DIY femme punk festival features crafty vendors and live music from Wild Shape, 3 the Hard Way, Rot Knot, Sea Hag, Meek, Pillow Princess and more. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $15 online. Attendees must be 18+ with valid ID or have a parent/legal guardian present. For more information, visit thelagerhouse.com.

Keep the punk energy going on Saturday, April 19 with Punk Rock Prom at The Congregation in Detroit. Detroit band Hayley and the Crushers are celebrating their new vinyl release, and they’ll be playing a live set with special guests Duende and Antibuddies. There will also be a burlesque performance by Amie Burke, a DIY corsage station, spiked punch, non-traditional best-dressed competitions and a photo booth. Doors open at 8 p.m., the party ends at midnight and tickets are $15 online or $20 at the door. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

For something a little more reserved, check out the debut of “Fridays at The Station” on Friday, April 18. This new monthly series takes place at Michigan Central, and celebrates Detroit’s vibrant music, food and cultural scenes. This month’s event features legendary jazz bassist Marion Hayden alongside local DJ ameera, known for her eclectic, vinyl-based sets. The event goes from 5-10 p.m. and admission is $15 with RSVP. For more information, visit michigancentral.com.

On Sunday, April 20, we’ll be at Harpos Concert Theatre in Detroit to celebrate Gospel and Blues music as part of the Concert of Colors’ “In the Neighborhood” series. This free event is open to all, and will feature live performances from Thornetta Davis, Rev. Robert Jones and the Jones Family, and Nikki D. and Sisters of Thunder. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and music starts at 6 p.m. For more information, visit wdet.org/events.

On Thursday, April 24, Ann Arbor singer-songwriter Lauren Blackford is playing an anniversary show to celebrate her debut EP, ‘One Too Many Times’ at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. Special guests include alt-Americana singer-songwriter Ani Mari and shoe gaze/dream-pop musician Marty Gray. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $10 for guests 21+ or $15 for guests ages 18–20. For more information, visit blindpigmusic.com.

The Corktown Music Festival returns on Thursday, April 24 featuring three nights of music at nine local venues from over 150 bands. Covering a wide spectrum of styles, this festival showcases Michigan’s outstanding music scene, including everything from punk to folk with a splash of country and a big helping of rock. Tickets are $15 per day or $25 for the weekend. To see the full lineup and learn more, visit corktownmusicfestival.net.

Community connections

On Saturday, April 19, join us at the historic Garden Theater in Detroit to celebrate the life and legacy of Judy Adams, a remarkable musician, radio host and educator. This free event is open to all, and will feature live music, original artwork and light refreshments. Please RSVP on Facebook if you plan to attend. For more information, visit wdet.org/events.

Cultural conversations

On Saturday, April 19, Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Maraniss will join journalist Orlando Bailey for an intimate discussion about “Once in a Great City,” Maraniss’ acclaimed portrait of Detroit during a transformative era. This conversation marks the opening of The Study, a new gathering space within Michigan Central dedicated to ideas, storytelling and community connection. Books will be available through Source Booksellers, with a signing following the discussion. The event goes from noon to 1 p.m. and is free to attend with RSVP. For more information, visit michigancentral.com.

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

The race for the U.S. Senate in Michigan is heating up. 

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed declared Thursday morning he is running for the state’s open Senate seat next year.

El-Sayed, who is running as a Democrat, previously served as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services for Wayne County. Before that, he ran for governor in 2018 and lost in the primary to now-Governor Gretchen Whitmer. 

Democratic state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and Republican Mike Rogers are also in the running to replace Sen. Gary Peters, who vacates his seat next year.

Read more: Mallory McMorrow wants to bring a new generation to the US Senate

El-Sayed joined The Metro on Thursday to discuss why he is running, how his experience as a doctor and scientist inform his vision as a political leader, and what he sees as the most pressing issues facing Michiganders.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Thursday, April 17:

• Bookstock, Detroit’s largest used-book sale, supporting literacy initiatives across the state
• Auto industry taking an economic turn due to tariffs
• Flint program providing financial support to new moms expands to Wayne County

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

WDET’s CuriosiD series answers your questions about everything Detroit. Subscribe to CuriosiD on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of CuriosiD, we answer the question:

“What happens to old fire trucks in Detroit?”

Fire trucks are among the most recognizable vehicles on the road. They’re big, red, loud, and built to respond when lives are on the line. But what happens when these machines are retired from service?

WDET listener and Detroit Fire Department cadet Kevin Snook reached out to CuriosiD to find out.

“I have family that are first responders,” Snook told WDET. “My dad was a cop for many years, but I decided to take a different route right out of high school, and that led me to the fire service. I’ve been seeing a lot of different trucks at the stations and started wondering — where do they all go when they’re retired?”

The short answer

There’s no single answer, but the journey of a fire truck after its last alarm can take a few surprising turns.

Fire trucks have deep roots in Michigan’s automotive past

Detroit has long been home to some of the most well-known fire truck brands in the country. That includes Spartan Motors, based in Charlotte, Michigan, and Seagrave Fire Apparatus, which started in Rochester in the 1800s.

“Fredrick Seagrave originally made ladders for apple picking,” said David Egeler, director of operations at the Michigan Firehouse Museum in Ypsilanti. “His equipment became popular, and his business grew so much that he moved into the city in 1881.”

Seagrave later moved to Columbus, Ohio, and now operates out of Wisconsin. It’s the oldest continuously operating fire apparatus manufacturer in the country, and many older rigs in metro Detroit still bear the Seagrave name.

The Michigan Firehouse Museum maintains 15 vintage fire trucks, all in running condition. Some of them still roll out for local parades and events.

“When Michigan won the national football championship and had their parade in Ann Arbor, we took three of our fire trucks,” Egeler says. “Coach Harbaugh, team captains, and staff rode on them.”

Some end up in collections, others are scrapped

There’s a collector’s market for fire trucks, much like classic cars. Egeler says some retired firefighters buy trucks they once worked with, while others look for specific models or brands.

A second life in service of remembrance

One notable exception is a restored 1937 Seagrave safety sedan used by the Detroit Firemen’s Fund Association.

“Traditionally, we’d place a firefighter’s casket on top of a fire engine during funeral processions,” says John Bozich, a trustee with the association. “But modern trucks are too large for that.”

To honor fallen firefighters in a more fitting way, the group restored the 1937 sedan. It looks original from the outside, but inside, it’s a complete rebuild —new engine, wheels, transmission, and frame.

“There were less than 100 made and Detroit bought 93 of them,” says Arnie Nowicki — a retired Detroit fire chief who helped lead the restoration project. “Those apparatus became known world-wide as the Detroit safety sedan.”

The $300,000 restoration, funded through donations and volunteer work, now allows the vehicle to be used for funerals throughout the region.

“Where the hoses used to go in the back, that’s where the casket is placed,” Bozich said. “There’s also room for pallbearers inside.”

Mark Bilancetti, a machinist with the Detroit Fire Department, was one of the first volunteers to help with the restoration and has maintained the vehicle ever since.

“It’s been a labor of love,” Bilancetti said. “We let the firefighter’s children or grandchildren ride up front, ring the bell, step on the siren. It means a lot to families.”

So where do fire trucks go when they retire?

Most are scrapped or sold off, but some live on for decades as museum pieces, collector items, or tools of remembrance.

“It’s easier to celebrate a firefighter’s life when you can take them to their final resting place in something that meant so much,” Bilancetti said.

We want to hear from you! 

Have a question about southeast Michigan’s history or culture?
Send it our way at wdet.org/curiosid, or fill out the form below. You ask, we answer.

More from CuriosiD:

• How did Ann Arbor get its name?
• Does Gen Z know who Bob Seger is?
• What is the oldest bar in Detroit?

Want more stories like this? Sign up for WDET’s weekly newsletter and never miss a curiosity uncovered.

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

Last month, the U.S. government deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a native of El Salvador who has lived in Maryland for the past 15 years — ignoring a federal court order forbidding his removal. 

Garcia, who was detained for alleged association with the MS-13 gang, is now being detained at the Center for Terrorism Confinement in El Salvador. And the Trump administration insists it’s not required to engage El Salvador’s government to bring him back. 

Trump’s defiance of court orders at the national level, is also having a local impact. 

In February, the Trump administration eliminated a legal aid program serving about 26,000 migrant children. The legal aid program was stopped in defiance of a federal judge’s orders. Already, the move has led to the Michigan Immigration Rights Center laying off half of its staff.

University of Michigan law professor, legal analyst and former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Barbara McQuade, returned to The Metro to discuss this defiance to court orders by the Trump administration.

Editor’s note: The Metro reached out to Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall and Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt. We have yet to hear back from them. 

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Wednesday, April 16:

• Labor professor says Trump tariffs’ impact on autoworkers ‘will be very painful’ to watch
• Legendary hip-hop producer J Dilla’s music still beating in Detroit
• Nonprofit aims to conserve bird habitats in metro Detroit

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.

Detroit’s musical legacy has left an undeniable mark on the industry. The city gave the world Motown and icons like Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin — artists who reshaped modern music. And we can’t forget Detroit’s role in the rise of techno, born from the basements of Belleville and stretched across the globe.

But no one flipped the game quite like producer and artist James Dewitt Yancey — best known as J Dilla.

Dilla wasn’t just a producer, he was a visionary whose beat-making style redefined hip-hop and R&B. With his MPC3000, he crafted soulful, off-kilter rhythms that broke the rules — and built new ones. 

His touch can be felt in the music of Common, The Roots, Erykah Badu, A Tribe Called Quest, and Detroit’s own Slum Village, the group he helped form. Tracks like “The Light” by Common and “Runnin’” by The Pharcyde showcase his genius. And even now, nearly two decades after his passing, artists and producers still study his sound.

J Dilla died from lupus in 2006 at just 32 years old. Still, his sound lives on. From Detroit to Tokyo, Dilla’s music continues to inspire. 

Feb. 7 — Yancey’s birthday — was recently designated “Dilla Day” by the city of Detroit. The city also renamed a street in his honor at the corner of Nevada and Charest. And this Thursday, Pershing High School — his alma mater — is hosting an event to celebrate his life and raise awareness about lupus.

Dilla is survived by his two daughters, Ja’Mya Yancey and Ty-Monae Whitlow.

Joylette Hunter, Ja’Mya’s mother and public relations developer for the James Dewitt Yancey Estate, and hip-hop educator Quan Neloms joined The Metro on Wednesday to discuss the event and reflect on Dilla’s legacy.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Wednesday, April 16:

• Labor professor says Trump tariffs’ impact on autoworkers ‘will be very painful’ to watch
• Former US Attorney Barb McQuade on Trump’s defiance of court orders
• Nonprofit aims to conserve bird habitats in metro Detroit

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

Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox has announced that he’s running to become governor next year. 

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

He delivered the news Tuesday in a campaign video, saying the state should eliminate the income tax and promote right to work measures. He also says Michigan schools should “teach A-B-C’s not DEI.”

Cox was elected as Attorney General in 2002, serving in the role until 2011. He ran for governor in 2010, but finished in third place in the Republican primary. 

Other Republicans who have declared their candidacy for next year’s gubernatorial race include Congressman John James, state Sen. Aric Nesbitt and former U.S. House candidate Anthony Hudson. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson are seeking the Democratic nomination in the August primary, and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is running as an independent.  

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer can’t run again because of term limits.

Other headlines for Wednesday, April 16, 2025:

• Dearborn mayor Abdullah Hammoud delivered his annual State of the City address Tuesday night at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center.
• Detroit Deputy Mayor Malia Howard joined other city officials and residents Wednesday morning to celebrate the success of the Detroit Land Bank Authority. The agency has helped to rehab more than 12,000 vacant houses in the city since 2014.
• The schedule has just been released for the Detroit Pistons’ first round playoff games. The team will play the New York Knicks on Saturday in Manhattan. Game one starts at 6 p.m. Game two is also in New York at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, with games three and four to be held in Detroit.
• Detroit broadcaster Guy Gordon is no longer on the air at WJR after he was released by the radio station as part of cost reductions.

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

Went hard on Mogwai today and their excellent new album “The Bad Fire” (plus some throwbacks from their catalog) ahead of their tour stop at St. Andrew’s Hall in Detroit.

Twenty years ago, I saw them at the same venue! I was underage, sneaking beers and a buddy got kicked out, but I managed to stay and finish the show. It was one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen and a completely cemented musical memory that I’ll never forget, so I’m really looking forward to that tonight.

Plus a fond farewell to reggae legend Max Romeo, new music from Vegyn (remixing Air), Jadu Heart, Black Country, New Road, The Bug Club, Lily Talmers and more.

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

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for April 16, 2025

• “Boys in the Better Land” – Fontaines D.C.
• “How to Be a Confidante” – The Bug Club
• “Jealous Boy” – The Bug Club
• “Just Like Heaven” – The Cure
• “God Gets You Back” – Mogwai
• “Kelly Watch the Stars (Vegyn Version)” – Vegyn & Air
• “Roygbiv” – Boards of Canada
• “So Easy” – Röyksopp
• “The Divine Chord (feat. MGMT & Johnny Marr)” – The Avalanches
• “Got To Keep On” – Chemical Brothers
• “I Just Can’t Take The Risk” – Saint Saviour, Jadu Heart
• “Besties” – Black Country, New Road
• “Lucifer” – JAY-Z
• “Chase The Devil” – Max Romeo & The Upsetters
• “Sun Is Shining” – Bob Marley & the Wailers
• “False Start Dub” – Kings Of High Speed & JKriv
• “Hello? (feat. aden) [Maurice Fulton Remix]” – musclecars
• “Gone Till November (feat. New York Philharmonic)” – Wyclef Jean
• “Sonny Jr. (Dreams) [feat. Robert Glasper & Dwele]” – Black Milk
• “Feed The Fire” – Geri Allen, Lenny White & Palle Danielsson
• “Côte D’ivoire” – Yoni Mayraz
• “TNT” – Tortoise
• “The Big Idea” – Lily Talmers
• “Hog of the Forsaken (Chris Bathgate / Live On WDET Session)” – Michael Hurley
• “Common Blue” – Warpaint
• “Ritchie Sacramento” – Mogwai
• “A.M. 180” – Grandaddy
• “Hunted By a Freak” – Mogwai
• “ASR (feat. Jeff Parker)” – Meshell Ndegeocello
• “Eja (Dave Okumu Remix)” – Monzanto Sound
• “Under The Pressure” – The War On Drugs
• “They Came in Peace” – Tranquility Bass

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

Tens of thousands of immigrant children — including hundreds in Michigan — came to the U.S. fleeing gangs, human trafficking or trying to re-unite with family members.

Nonprofit groups supplied attorneys to help keep the children here, some so young they need a teddy bear to calm them when they testify in immigration court.

But the Trump administration is halting federal funding for the effort, apparently defying the courts to do so.

That’s hitting the nonprofit Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC) hard.

Christine Sauve, manager of policy and communication for MIRC, told WDET the group has to make severe cuts in key areas.

Listen: Michigan Immigrant Rights group shares repercussions of federal funding cuts

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Christine Sauve, Michigan Immigrant Rights Center:  We did lose federal funding for two of our programs. One is the help desk in immigration court. We had previously received a stop-work order on that program. There was a court order for us to return to services and then just last week, the federal government terminated the contract completely. There is continued litigation on that. However, the funding has been terminated for now. The other program is our unaccompanied children’s program. We provide legal representation and “Know your rights” information to all immigrant children in Michigan in court proceedings. Unfortunately, that program had received a stop-work order. Then it was lifted too. But the contract was terminated at the end of March. There was litigation filed in that case as well. And unfortunately, to date, the Trump administration has not followed the court’s orders. Payment has not been made for those services, and due to the financial pressure from the loss of both of those contracts, we’ve had to lay off 72 staff in our five offices across the state. We will still have our small help desk team, five individuals operating outside of the Detroit immigration court. We have 49 staff remaining distributed in our five offices across the state.

Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: In terms of what the administration is supposed to do according to the courts, have they ordered them to fund you guys and they are simply not?

CS: In the unaccompanied children’s case, the hearings are ongoing. But after the last judge’s order to return to services, the government has not complied with those orders. There has been no payment and no communication with the contractor. We are a subcontractor for the services. There’s been no communication, no follow through, no intention shown to provide payment for the services. So without the federal funding coming in we were left with very difficult pressures to continue our services as best we can. What we do know is that under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, a bipartisan act passed by Congress decades ago, it acknowledged the unique vulnerability of children and actually codified the federal government’s obligation and responsibilities to ensure that unaccompanied children have legal representation so they’re not facing that risk of deportation without due process, without a chance for a fair hearing in court.

“Most unaccompanied children are eligible for permanent status and other forms of relief under current U.S. law. But they can’t access that relief without an attorney to help make their case in court. It’s so heartbreaking because children just cannot meaningfully navigate immigration court alone. We don’t expect children to do that in any other court process in America.”

– Christine Sauve, Michigan Immigrant Rights Center

There was a recognition that it could not be a fair hearing if the child did not have an attorney or representation. Most unaccompanied children are eligible for permanent status and other forms of relief under current U.S. law. But they can’t access that relief without an attorney to help make their case in court. It’s so heartbreaking because children just cannot meaningfully navigate immigration court alone. We don’t expect children to do that in any other court process in America.

QK: At times some unaccompanied kids try to get a sponsor in the U.S., perhaps a family member, after they arrive here. There’s concerns from some sponsors now about doing that going forward, because some of their own personal information could be revealed that didn’t used to have to be. How is that process unfolding?

CS: The Trump administration had authorized information-sharing between agencies. There’s something known as the “foundational rule” for the unaccompanied children’s program. It previously stated that information about sponsors’ immigration status could not be shared with other federal agencies, in particular Immigration, Customs and Enforcement. This administration has changed course to permit sharing of sponsor immigration status with law enforcement, specifically for the purposes of achieving their goals of mass deportation. They are looking at all avenues to do so. And unfortunately, it affects some of the most vulnerable of our community members, the children who are placed in those homes. They’ve been placed with family or relatives that they know and trust. Removing the sponsor would affect the health and outcomes for the child as well. So that is challenging our work right now.

QK: With your current situation, while you still watch what’s going on with the litigation that’s underway, where do you guys go from here? How badly understaffed are you? Is it going to affect your mission tremendously as you go forward?

CS: The capacity will be lowered but we will not stop representing the children that we currently have in our caseload. We currently have 800 cases that are still proceeding. We’ll have a small team focusing on those cases for the next nine months to complete as many of them as we can. But unfortunately, we won’t be able to accept any new children’s cases for the foreseeable future. We have done a fair amount of fundraising. But there’s a reason that public funded services exist and it is because often other entities are unable to provide that level of funding. We have been very busy over the past couple of months reaching out to as many foundations and private donors as possible to raise the funds to have this small team continue over the next nine months. I don’t think with the current funding we have available at the moment we could continue that beyond nine months.

Detroit’s General Service Department is looking to increase the tree canopy across the city to improve citizens’ quality of life. The department is accepting requests from residents for tree plantings in their neighborhoods.

The free program is open to residents and small businesses to plant a tree on the berm in front of their property.

Savion Stephens, tree planting program manager for the city of Detroit, says trees can help improve residents’ quality of life.

“And what that looks like is improving air quality over time, conserving water, reducing soil erosion, filtering runoff, reducing flooding, and even things like lowering energy costs and raising property values,” he said.

Trees are also known to trap pollutants such as dirt, ash, pollen and smoke which can help those with asthma.

Stephens says the city plants over 50 different species of tree throughout the city.

“They’re primarily urban tolerant trees for public and private property, including some native species like oak and elm,” he said.

The planting process involves three phases: utility marking, tree location marking, and tree planting. Eligibility for a tree is assessed based on site conditions, including utility lines and soil quality.

The city has planted up to 14,000 trees annually through this program.

Residents who would like to request a tree must fill out this form.

Detroit’s five reasons to plant a tree

1. Clean air. Trees absorb pollutants and improve air quality, reducing respiratory issues.
2. Cooler summer. A single tree can lower temperatures by up to 10°, providing shade and cutting cooling costs.
3. Stronger neighborhoods. Tree-lined streets increase property values and create a more welcoming community.
4. Flood prevention. Trees absorb excess rainwater, reducing the risk of street flooding.
5. Wildlife Habitat. Trees support birds, bees, and other beneficial wildlife, keeping our ecosystem balanced.

What a loud, fun, gnarly night! Several members from a wide array of local punk bands stopped by the studio during my night shift to talk about the upcoming Spring Stunr Fest, happening this weekend at the Lager House!

This is the third annual Spring Stunr, and now that you’ve seen me write it stylistically twice, you’ll know it’s not a typo. But it’s going to be quite the “stunner” for sure when groups like 3 The Hard Way, Wild Shape and Lansing-based Rot Knot take the stage for this “DIY Femme-Punk Bonanza!”

I was joined, in full, by members of nearly every band on the line-up, including 3 The Hard Way, Meek, Sea Hag, Pillow Princess, and — driving all the way in from Lansing — Rot Knot; Wild Shape didn’t make it in-person but we did play one of their songs to close out the night.

On the show, organizer Jenny Lees described Spring Stunr as “an intersectional femme-punk fest showcasing Michigan femme-punks and anyone who supports them, and everyone is invited! It’s a really great event for anyone who is femme, or punk, or who loves them and who wants to support the scene.”

There will also be vendors, as well as all of these aforementioned bands, nestled into the Lager House, this Friday night, starting at 7 p.m. Find more info here. You can also follow Spring Stunr on Instagram.

Along with all of my special guests, I also looked ahead to the upcoming Corktown Music Festival, which will be hosted next weekend inside of several venues throughout the Corktown neighborhood, and particularly along  Michigan Avenue. This three-day festival showcases a wide spectrum of styles, with everything from punk to folk with a splash of country and a big helping of rock, indie, punk and beyond. Initially founded in 2022 with intent on filling what-was-then a bit of a void in the local music calendar, this ongoing fest has continually donated proceeds to a nonprofit, and this year ticket sales will benefit Passenger Recovery!

Other special tidbits on this week’s MI Local were premieres from local punk groups like Gerber & the Babies, the latest from longtime local rockers Mystery Math, and  new shoegaze and dream-pop from Ann Arbor’s Petalwave.

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 April 15, 2025

• “Attention” – Gerber & the Babies
• “Convenience Over Destiny” – Mystery Math
• “Vagabond” – Vampire Cowgirl
• “Secrets” – Kat Steih
• “Heat Dome” – Doogatron
• “Tightrope” – The Boreouts
• “Nothing to Say” – Fen Fen
• “Decomposer” – The High Strung
• “Wreck Lanes” – The Casper Fight Scene
• “If You Get Lost” – Petalwave
• “blight” – meek
• “Melted Numb” – Rot Knot
• “eventually” – 3 The Hard Way
• “Girlfriend” – Wild Shape

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

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spoke at a Detroit Economic Club event on Monday.

Whitmer also met with President Donald Trump last week in Washington D.C., trying to ensure that Michigan receives federal help to restore power in northern Michigan after severe ice storms in late March. 

But tariffs, and how Michigan is navigating economic uncertainty, were also a focus at the White House and the DEC event. 

Auto suppliers are concerned that Trump’s tariffs will devastate their businesses, driving up the cost of cars and reducing sales. And this is important in Michigan where the auto industry makes up about 20% of our economy. 

WDET reporter Bre’Anna Tinsley attended the DEC event, held at MotorCity Casino’s Sound Board Theater. She joined The Metro on Tuesday to discuss Whitmer’s remarks. 

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Tuesday, April 15:

• Cutting the ribbon on new affordable housing in Southwest Detroit
• A professor’s thoughts on reforming DEI at universities
• WDET celebrating the life and legacy of Judy Adams at Garden Theater this weekend
• Child amputees from Gaza get treatment, hope in Detroit

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.

Crowds at Detroit Metro Airport recently cheered and sang as four children from Gaza arrived in wheelchairs. The children are amputees and are among thousands in Gaza who have lost limbs from Israeli bombardments. 

Now, they face severe, life-altering injuries. 

The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has made that tiny part of the world — which is roughly the same geographical size as Detroit — home to the highest number of amputee children per capita. 

The World Health Organization says this crisis of child amputees is especially dire because these kids have little access to medical care. Israeli air strikes have decimated what was an already fragile medical system. Many children who have lost their limbs must have surgery without anesthesia, according to the United Nations. 

Steve Sosebee is trying to do something about that. He orchestrates complex plans to evacuate and treat Gazan kids through his organization HEAL Palestine — including the four children who arrived at Detroit Metro Airport on April 13. 

He joined The Metro on Tuesday along with HEAL Palestine volunteer Yasmeen Hamed, a Dearborn Heights mother who has opened her home to multiple young Palestinians who have arrived in the U.S. for treatment after experiencing intense pain and trauma.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Tuesday, April 15:

• Cutting the ribbon on new affordable housing in Southwest Detroit
• A professor’s thoughts on reforming DEI at universities
• WDET celebrating the life and legacy of Judy Adams at Garden Theater this weekend
• Gov. Whitmer talks tariffs at the Detroit Economic Club

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.

WDET will celebrate the life of one of its musical pioneers this Saturday at the Garden Theater. 

Adams, a former program director and host at WDET for more than 30 years, died in December of 2024. During her time at the station, Adams pushed the boundaries of music programming on the radio in Detroit. Her shows Morphogenisis and The Judy Adams Show were known for mixing genres and blending musical styles, curating an eclectic listening experience for her many fans. 

As the station’s program director, she encouraged the music hosts to experiment and many of the music programs on WDET that followed have adopted the “Judy Adams style.” 

Metro Producer Cary Junior II spoke with Adams’ son, Anthony Minnie, and Essential Music host Ann Delisi about Adams’ work and how her legacy will continue at WDET.

Saturday’s event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. and feature music inspired by Adams’ radio shows, DJed by Ismael Ahmed — host of WDET’s This Island Earth.  “Sean Blackman and Friends” will also perform music honoring Adams’ love of global music and rhythms, and artist Jon Strand will share an visual art set to original music composed and performed by Adams.

WDET is also creating the Judy Adams’ Music Internship, helping foster the education and career development of students with a passion for music, education, community service and radio. 

For more information about Saturday’s event or to RSVP, visit wdet.org/events. 

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Tuesday, April 15:

• Cutting the ribbon on new affordable housing in Southwest Detroit
• A professor’s thoughts on reforming DEI at universities
• Child amputees from Gaza get treatment, hope in Detroit
• Gov. Whitmer talks tariffs at the Detroit Economic Club

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

Always a good day when we’ve got a fresh Tall Black Guy flip to explore alongside new music from Cousin Kula, Smerz, Flying Vipers, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, SHOLTO, Clea Vincent & Via Mardot, HAIM, Bon Iver, Durand Jones & the Indications and more.

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

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for April 15, 2025

• “Too High” – Stevie Wonder
• “Never Come Down” – Tall Black Guy x Stevie Wonder
• “Why Why Why Why Why” – Cousin Kula
• “You got time and I got money” – Smerz
• “Bitter Sweet Symphony” – The Verve
• “Move On Up” – Devon Russell
• “War Ina Babylon” – Max Romeo & The Upsetters
• “La Planète Sauvage (feat. Brandee Younger)” – Flying Vipers
• “Baby, This Love I Have” – Minnie Riperton
• “Earth 1” – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
• “Work This Time” – King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
• “Backline” – Butcher Brown
• “Nautilus (Mawtilus)” – Nuyorican Soul
• “Yeah Yeah” – Will Sessions
• “The Sunrise Fool” – SHOLTO
• “Bugs” – Jamila Woods
• “Wish I Didn’t Miss You (Dragutesku Edit)” – Angie Stone
• “Vitamin C” – Can
• “Pali Gap” – Jimi Hendrix
• “O Sapo” – João Gilberto
• “Nuit Magnétique” – Clea Vincent & Via Mardot
• “Another Day” – Los Hermanos & Soul Saver
• “Relationships” – HAIM
• “Day One (feat. Dijon & Flock of Dimes)” – Bon Iver
• “Are You Even Real” – Teddy Swims & GIVĒON
• “The Line” – D’Angelo
• “Black Hole Sun” – bigboihums
• “Run” – Madison McFerrin & Bobby McFerrin
• “She Cleans Up” – Father John Misty
• “My Fun” – Suki Waterhouse
• “18 Cigarettes” – Duck Ltd.
• “Wire” – OMNI
• “Been So Long” – Durand Jones & The Indications & Aaron Frazer
• “The World Is A Ghetto” – War

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.