FEMA has awarded a total of $15.8 million dollars in reimbursements to several Michigan entities as part of the recovery stemming from the March 2025 winter storms in northern Michigan. 

The money goes toward repairing critical public safety communications infrastructure, debris removal and power restoration efforts. The funding comes from FEMA’s Public Assistance program. 

The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget was awarded $383,000. 

Laura Wotruba is the Director of Communications for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. She says the money will be used to reimburse the state for costs to repair damaged communication towers and clean storm debris around the towers. 

The Office of Michigan’s Public Safety Communications System is housed in the department. It maintains the second largest trunked communication system in the world, connecting local, state, federal and tribal communications with first responders. The network includes more than 2,600 agencies and 165,000 radios to aid emergency response in all Michigan counties. The system also includes some parts of Ohio and Indiana. 

During the March 2025 storm, some of the 356 radio towers in northern lower Michigan were damaged or became inaccessible due ot debris and downed power lines. 

The remaining funds include $14.7 million reimbursed Presque Isle Electric & Gas for power restoration and $642,000 to Charlevoix County Road Commission for labor and equipment. 

Additional headlines for Monday, July 27, 2027

Gordie Howe opens          

The Gordie Howe International Bridge opened for car and truck traffic today after 8 years of construction and recent political tension. 

That came to a head when President Trump imposed new tariffs against Canada, which responded by disinviting American officials to last Friday’s ribbon cutting ceremony in Windsor. 

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the Gordie Howe Bridge highlights the bond between the two countries despite tension with the White House. 

“We’ll not back down… and we’ll negotiate from a position of strength as a top trading partner… because I know that both Canadians and Americans are better off when we work together instead of standing apart.” 

Canada will use toll revenue to pay the bridge’s operating expenses. 

If there’s any profit left over, it will split that money with the U.S., which will put its half into an economic development fund. The 15 year agreement also gives the U.S. some control over toll changes. 

-Reporting by Alex McLenon

Election board allows money-out-of-politics initiative to move forward 

Voters could decide this fall whether to ban political action committees from making donations on behalf of utilities and some public contractors.

The Board of State Canvassers says organizers gathered enough valid petition signatures to send the proposal to the Legislature. If lawmakers don’t approve it, the measure will appear on the November ballot.

Attorney Gary Gordon represents a business group that opposes the ban. He claims the campaign did a sloppy job of signature gathering and didn’t give the state enough time to check their work. 

“The staff review of these petitions was truncated by the petitioners gaming the system. They gamed the system by filing way more than the number of signatures they required, thereby increasing the burden on the staff, and they waited until the last minute.”

Canvassers rejected that argument. The group could go to court to keep the measure off the November ballot. 

– Reporting by Rick Pluta 

Zaman International ED 

Zaman International is a Michigan-based nonprofit that works to break cycles of poverty for women and children. Zaman announced their first Executive Director, Mariam Jalloul will be added to the team this year during the organization’s 30th anniversary. 

Jalloul will lead the strategic direction to expand Zaman’s work. 

She previously served as the Chief Strategy Officer for the City of Dearborn and held leadership positions in the U.S. Congress. 

Najah Bazzy is the founder and CEO of Zaman. She will focus on guiding Zaman’s vision, philanthropy and serve as an ambassador for the nonprofit. 

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Eight years after ground broke, the Gordie Howe International Bridge is now open to vehicle traffic crossing between Detroit and Windsor. It comes amid political tension between Canada and the U.S.

American officials were disinvited to a ribbon cutting ceremony for the span held in Ontario, after Donald Trump placed 50% tariffs on Canada. Still, Canadian leaders are highlighting the Gordie Howe Bridge as a testament to the relationship between the two countries.

Mark Wiseman is Canada’s ambassador to the U.S.

“Where we stand today is truly one region,” says Wiseman. “It is a place of two nations with a shared community.”

The new span will give truck drivers crossing the Detroit River an alternative to the existing Ambassador Bridge, which has been the corridor’s only option for commercial truck drivers for nearly a century.

Nearly $70 billion of trade goods moved between Detroit and Windsor last year, according to the Detroit Regional Chambers.

The U.S. and Canada will split Gordie Howe net toll revenue 50/50 for the next 15 years. That represents a change from the original agreement, which would have seen Canada collect all toll revenue until it paid itself back for footing the entire cost of the bridge deck – splitting revenue with Michigan after that.

Hear The Metro’s Robyn Vincent and Alex McLenon discuss the Gordie Howe’s opening by using the media player.

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More stories from The Metro

A year after the groundbreaking ceremony, MyFlight Tours is opening up their new headquarters and aviation entertainment in Detroit this weekend. The helicopter tour company is offering sightseeing flights over Detroit’s skyline.  

In a ribbon cutting press conference, Founder Sergio Troiani said this business adds to the growing infrastructure of Detroit. “Detroit is in the middle of an incredible transformation. Everywhere you look, there is new investment, new growth, world class infrastructure being built and today we’re proud to add to one more piece to that story. This is a place where people can enjoy great food, great drinks, incredible company and sit on that balcony that overlooks the airfield where jets take off.” 

The 12,000 square foot facility will be at Coleman A. Young International Airport. This opening adds to their business that’s now at 7 other locations nationwide with the addition of Detroit.  

Additional headlines for Friday, July 24, 2026

Gordie Howe Bridge to open

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is having their inauguration day today to celebrate the opening on Monday. After a 6 month delay thanks to political drama and trade tensions, the bridge is set to create a vital economic link between United States and Canada.  

After eight years of construction this bridge is open and save commuters, truckers and recreational travelers and estimated 420 hours per year according to federal and state projections. 

Before the Gordie Howe Bridge we only had the Ambassador bridge for commercial road crossing. The operators of that bridge recently reduced passenger tolls to become more competitive with its new, publicly-owned competitor. 

Sports

MLB 

Detroit Tigers are fighting an uphill battle in their American League Central division and they hope to keep moving uphill against the Kansas City Royals. They face their fellow division mate yesterday and won, 4-3. Now they have 3 other games this weekend to climb closer to the top. 

First pitch for tonight’s game is at 6:40 p.m. at Comerica Park.  

Soccer 

Detroit City FC face off against Las Vegas Lights tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Keyworth Stadium. 

Celebrating 325 years

And today is someone special’s birthday…I’m talking about our very own Detroit!

Today the once-called Paris of the West is having celebrations all over the city. Here are my top 3:

• Hudsonville Ice Cream will be at Campus Martius selling free ice cream from 6-7 p.m.
• Detroit’s 325th Birthday Bash Garden Party at The Whitney if going down today at 5 p.m.
• and nonprofit Rendez-vous Detroit is hosting a two day celebration this weekend both today and tomorrow with a list full of activities. 

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Enbridge is a step closer to building a new oil tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac for its Line 5 after the state of Michigan approved permits for the project last week.

Line 5 runs 645 miles from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario, carrying crude and natural gas liquids. Most of it transits Michigan to reach Canada.

Enbridge and the state say a concrete tunnel would get the 73-year-old pipeline out of open water, where a rupture could spill into the Straits of Mackinac.

But the permit concedes some of what is at stake. Historic and cultural resources will likely be destroyed — the remains of tribal ancestors among them. Enbridge has to file a plan to lessen the damage. Environmental activists and Michigan tribal communities say that is not enough.

In a statement to The Metro, Enbridge said it respects the cultural and historic significance of the Straits and is committed to protecting cultural resources. The company said its surveys were directed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, that tribal representatives have been consulting parties in that process, and that more cultural survey work is scheduled for 2027.

The Straits are where the Bay Mills Indian creation story begins. They are also among the most productive fishing grounds for tribes exercising rights under an 1836 treaty.

Whitney Gravelle is a federal Indian law attorney and president of the Bay Mills Indian Community, which has vowed to fight back. She joined Robyn Vincent on The Metro to discuss why she calls the state’s decision a betrayal.

This story has been updated with a statement from Enbridge. -Ed

Enbridge is a financial supporter of WDET. The WDET newsroom observes a clear boundary between funders and editorial content, and does not serve the agendas of financial supporters.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have thoughts? Email the show at metro@wdet.org.

More stories from The Metro

Houses of worship may soon be added to the list of sensitive locations where certain advertisements are not allowed within a 1000-foot radius. 

Councilmember Scott Benson says posting ads for things like alcohol and cannabis near a house of worship is inconsiderate. “You have your church, and then 30 feet from your church is a probably a 40 by 20 sign advertising King of Bud, just a level of disrespect and a level of just insensitivity to what we have here.” 

The Public Health and Safety Committee approved the changes to the amendment today. City council will choose whether to enact the changes at the next formal session. 

-Reporting by Bre’Anna Tinsley

Additional headlines for Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Gordie Howe toll deal

We’re learning more about the deal to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge on July 27. CBC News and other media report 50% of toll profits over the bridge’s first 15 years of operation will go into a U.S. development fund. President Trump had said he would not let the bridge open unless Canada agreed to share toll revenue.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens told CBC’s Power and Politics while the deal may look like a win for Trump, the U.S. won’t get much out of it. He said it could take longer than 15 years for Canada to recoup the cost of building the bridge before it would share revenue with Michigan. 

Canada spent almost $6.5 billion to build the bridge. The U.S. paid nothing. 

-Reporting by Pat Batcheller

Freedom Tour Detroit

High school students are invited to apply for the Freedom Tour Detroit 2026. The four-day program explores advocacy, civil rights, justice and Detroit history.

The Michigan Coalition for Human Rights, the City of Detroit’s Office of Veterans Affairs, Wayne State University and the American Civil Liberties Union are working together to offer in-person seminars and guided field trips between July 30 and August 2.

Applications are due by Sunday, July 19.

Summer Games at the Michigan Science Center

The Michigan Science Center’s After Dark series is back with “Summer Games” on July 24. This event offers those 21 and over a chance to explore science, sports and a little friendly competition.

The Penske Planetarium will offer a one-night only show featuring the “Olympians of the Night Sky,” Detroit City FC will be in the house with giveaways and photo ops, former Piston and President of the Motor City Cruise Durand “Speedy” Walker will speak, and adult games—including a 50-foot inflatable obstacle course, Warrior Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em and something called Hippo Chow Down.

National Coney Island is bringing classic and veggie coneys and there will be signature cocktails from the Byrdie Bar.

Michigan Science Center After Dark Summer Games is Friday July 24 from 6-10 p.m. Tickets are $35 for members, $45 for non-members and $30 for designated drivers. Learn more at mi-sci.org. 

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July 1 is Canada Day, and across the river in Windsor, and all across the country, Canadians are celebrating it under the strangest cloud in years. Their closest ally and biggest trading partner has spent the past year hitting them with tariffs. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has floated the idea of making Canada the 51st state more than once.

The friction is intensifying in Detroit. A new bridge to Windsor, the Gordie Howe, is finished and ready — but it is sitting empty, reportedly blocked by the Trump administration.

Here’s what makes today remarkable. The U.S., Canada, and Mexico share a big free-trade deal — it’s what lets cars, food, and almost everything else move across their borders cheaply. When they signed it six years ago, they set a date to revisit it and decide whether to keep it. That date is today — July 1, 2026. So this Canada Day lands on the exact day that the deal comes up for review.

Craig Baird, host of the podcast and radio show Canadian History Ehx, says we have actually been here before. He told host Robyn Vincent that tariffs have historically made Canada stronger.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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Millions of trucks carrying billions of dollars worth of car parts, machinery and a long list of other commodities pass checkpoints along one small stretch of the U.S.-Canada border each year.

It’s known as North America’s busiest land crossing, and it sits between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.

NPR’s Don Gonyea recently visited this crossing to take a look at a brand new bridge that sits completed and unopened.

Construction on the Gordie Howe International Bridge, named for the Hall of Fame Canadian-born hockey legend who played for the Detroit Red Wings, began in 2018. It was set to open early this year. That was before President Trump intervened in a social media post.

Trump demanded that Canada share ownership with the United States before he would allow the bridge to open. Months passed. In June, the bridge authority actually scheduled a grand opening. But at the last minute, it was canceled.

Stephen Laskowski is president of the Canadian Trucking Alliance and head of the Ontario Trucking Association. He was about to make his way to the grand opening when he got the news.

“I was heading out. My wife said, ‘Your phone’s ringing’ … it said, don’t bother going,” Laskowski told NPR.

The Canadian government and Michigan jointly own the bridge. Canada agreed to front the cost of construction and to split the toll fees with the state once the cost has been recouped.

But the president has said that isn’t good enough. Some Canadian politicians have suggested the owners of a rival bridge linking Detroit and Windsor are responsible for Trump’s interest in delaying the opening. The Moroun family, which owns the Ambassador Bridge, has given millions to Republicans in recent years, including a $1 million donation to a Trump-aligned super PAC.

Gonyea spoke with WDET reporter Alex McLenon, Canadian residents and others to understand how the bridge’s closure is rippling across the continent.

Michigan candidate for governor, John James, says Canadian wildfire smoke needs to be better controlled, as part of a deal to open the Gordie Howe Bridge.  James made the comments on a video on Facebook earlier this month.  

“You look at wildfire smoke every summer.  They’re throwing off 500 million vehicles’ worth of carbon emissions into our air each and every year and doing very little to nothing about it.  That’s got to change right now,” said James.  “As a part of any deal we do with Gordie Howe Bridge, we have to work in close cooperation with Ottawa to make sure they’re also managing their business, so we can keep our people healthy and we can keep our relationship strong.”   

Last summer, James wrote a letter to Canadian officials asking them for action to keep wildfire smoke from drifting into Michigan.  

President Donald Trump endorsed James on Monday to become Michigan’s next governor.  Other elected officials around the country quickly followed suit.  James will face businessman Perry Johnson, and former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox in the Aug. 4 Republican primary.   

Additional headlines for Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Detroit police pick up 180 curfew violators during fireworks 

The Detroit Police Department is reporting that it detained 180 juveniles on Monday night for curfew violations before the annual Ford fireworks show over the Detroit River.  A news release says 171 of those detained were city residents.  Nine live elsewhere.  

A special curfew was approved for fireworks night.  It required everyone under 18 to be accompanied by an adult from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m.  The police department says 19 adults were arrested for a variety of infractions, including carrying concealed weapons, aggravated assault, and disorderly conduct.  

One 18-year-old was shot by a police officer after a short chase, several hours before the fireworks began.  

Dearborn schools seek new bond approval 

Dearborn residents will see a new millage proposal on their November general election ballot.  The city’s Board of Education will ask voters to approve a $1.5 billion bond measure.  If passed, the money will fund the construction of six new schools.  

The district says the bond would also be used to remodel every remaining school building over the next 20 years.  The board approved ballot language for the proposal at Monday’s meeting. 

New apartment complex opens on west side   

A west-side Detroit neighborhood is getting a new apartment building.  The city opened the OSI Art Apartments Tuesday afternoon.  The newly constructed four-story complex provides 30 residential units.  About half qualify as “affordable housing”.  

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield says the project will make a difference along the Grand River corridor. “It is an honor as mayor to welcome this project to our city.  A project that combines housing, culture, arts – and to breathe this vibrancy back into our community, which is so needed in our city.  So I thank you all so much for investing in Detroit.”  

The development, which also includes 5,000 square feet of retail space, will be the gateway to the West End Gallery District.  The building located on Grand River near Selden is named for Nigerian-American artist Osi Audu. 

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The opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge has been delayed. That comes despite an initial plan to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at the end of this week.

In a statement to WDET, Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority officials say the U.S. and Canada have agreed to push back the opening of the span. They say that’s being done in order to take the necessary time to resolve outstanding issues.

The statement did not detail what those issues are. President Trump has threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge, saying he wants the international crossing to be a better deal for the U.S.

No American federal dollars were used to construct the span, with the Canadian government footing the entire bill for the bridge deck. Canada and Michigan have planned to split toll revenue after Canada repays itself for construction costs.

It is unclear what a deal to open the Gordie Howe Bridge would look like.

The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority abruptly canceled festivities planned for the Gordie Howe Bridge ribbon cutting tomorrow.

Windsor Detroit Bridge officials said that the US and Canada have agreed to push back the opening of the span in order to take, “the necessary time to resolve outstanding issues”. The statement did not say what those issues are.

President Trump has planned to block the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge saying that he wants the bridge crossing to be a better deal for the US. Bridge officials haven’t clarified whether the construction of the span is complete.  

Additional headlines for Thursday, June 11, 2026

Charity car show

Local nonprofit Healing Choices is hosting a charity event on Sunday June 14 to support domestic violence survivors. It’s the Healing Choices Charity Car Show at Metro Beach featuring classic cars, hotrods, muscle cars and more.

The Detroit Police Department will be at the event to showcase some of their vehicles. And The organization will also provide resources to survivors.  

The event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $10 per ticket and can be purchased at the park entrance.  

Sports updates

FIFA 
Detroit City FC AND the El Paso Locomotive FC tied yesterday 1-1. Before the game the rain was non stop at the Keyworth Stadium but they were still able to have their match. Their next game is Saturday June 13 at 7 p.m. 

Also the Fifa World Cup starts today with co-host Mexico playing the opener in Mexico City against South Africa.

The United States plays their first game against Paraguay tomorrow at 9 p.m. EST at the Los Angeles stadium in Inglewood. 

MLB 
The Tigers lost against the Minnesota Twins yesterday 6-4. We’ll have the results of today’s tie breaker game of this three game series on tomorrow’s DER. 
 
NBA  
Last night, NBA history was made. The New Knicks had the largest finals comeback in history after erasing a 29 point deficit yesterday against the San Antonio Spurs.

Final score was 107-106.  

Henry Ford exhibits to recognize 250 years of the US

And last but not least, to celebrate America’s 250^th year the Henry Ford Museum is showcasing 250 acres of special programming, new exhibitions, exciting events and more to highlight the history of American innovation. 
 
Some of the exhibits will be: 

• Handmade: The Crafting of America  -This exhibit explores how fabrics helped shape American history.
• Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation – This exhibit looks at the important key documents of this nation. The Henry Ford is one of eight institutions across the U.S. where nine original founding-era documents and it will be on display.
• Artemis Adventure with LEGO® Bricks – This exhibit looks at American space exploration to the wonder of legos.  

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Detroit and Windsor sit across a narrow river from each other, close enough to see the lights on the other side. For decades, they existed like one town in two countries. Auto parts crossed the water again and again before a single car was finished. Families, music, and Saturday nights moved back and forth with a constant rhythm.

Then, after 9/11, crossing got harder with longer waits and tougher searches.

Soon, the two cities will cut the ribbon on something new between them: the Gordie Howe International Bridge. That ribbon cutting, scheduled for June 12, has been postponed, and officials aren’t saying exactly why. 

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called the bridge a symbol, but also a fact of cooperation. Yet it comes at a tense moment. President Donald Trump has threatened to block it, wrongly claiming the U.S. would get nothing from a bridge that Michigan actually co-owns.

So what does this bridge, the first publicly-owned one at this border, do for Windsor and Detroit — and for the people who have spent their lives crossing between them? 

On The Metro, host Robyn Vincent spoke with Lee Rodney, a border-culture scholar at the University of Windsor and creator of the Border Bookmobile, about what a new bridge actually does for a region the border has divided.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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The Gordie Howe International Bridge is widely interpreted as strengthening the connection between Canada and the United States, making travel easier and cheaper. It’s seen as a win-win project that Canada paid for and jointly owns with the Michigan.

But President Donald Trump has tried to block the bridge’s opening until Canada meets certain trade-related demands with the U.S. and compensates America for it, even though Canada already paid for the bridge. 

The upcoming opening of the bridge has now been delayed. In an email statement Thursday morning, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said, “Although we would all like the Gordie Howe International Bridge to open, Canada need not fall on bent knee to make it happen.”

Producer Sam Corey spoke with Dilkens yesterday before the ribbon cutting was canceled. He says the bridge is “the ultimate symbol of connection” and friendship.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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Wayne State University has announced the inaugural director of its Detroit Center for Black Studies. Dr. Richard D. Benson comes from the University of Pittsburgh where he was an associate professor. His work has focused on the Black radical tradition in education. The university cites Benson’s work as an examination of the intersections of Black intellectual traditions, education, activism, and social movements.

The Detroit Center for Black Studies, it says, is being established to “create an interdisciplinary… Detroit-rooted center for scholarship, teaching and public engagement that reflects both the richness of Black Studies and the unique intellectual context” of the city. 

Additional headlines for Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Company contracted for Solar Neighborhoods goes under

One of the companies contracted to build arrays for Detroit’s Solar Neighborhoods program has been sold. The city is looking to DTE Energy to take over.  

The company Lightstar was contracted to build 63 acres of solar fields in the Gratiot/Findlay and State Fair Neighborhoods for phase one of the project and 19 acres in the Houston-Whittier/Hayes neighborhood for phase two. 

Detroit Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Trish Stein told city council that tax credits for the project are scheduled to expire by July 4, so a decision needs to be made soon. “You heard it today, the residents came and they talked to you about some have got their energy efficiency upgrades, some have not. Ninety-seven of those 209 homeowners have not had their energy efficiency. They have been waiting for over a year.” 

Stein says DTE is ready now to take over the project. Lightstar was expected to start construction early this year. 

Gordie Howe Bridge opening

Officials will cut the ribbon on the new Gordie Howe International Bridge in southwest Detroit on Friday. The Detroit News and the Free Press cited sources with knowledge of the plans who did not want to be identified.

The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority would not confirm the reports but said it expects to open the bridge for traffic soon.

Trump threatened to block the opening unless Canada agreed to share toll revenue with the United States. Canada paid for construction and co-owns the bridge with the state of Michigan.

Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told a Senate panel that Customs and Border Protection agents are ready to go.

-Reporting by Pat Batcheller

Michigan ranks worst for child wellness

A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranks Michigan worst in the Midwest for overall child wellbeing. The Kids Count Data Book bases its scores on education, health, economic wellbeing and other factors. 

The data come mostly from 2024, meaning the impact of some recent steps the state has taken don’t show up. 

-Reporting Colin Jackson/MPRN

Conversation about media bias and Palestine

Arab Americans for Progress, Pluto Press and Source Booksellers are bringing a conversation about media bias and Palestine to the Arab American National Museum Thursday. Adam Johnson, author of the book “How to Sell a Genocide” will speak with moderator Bilal Baydoun.

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to register on Eventbrite.

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DTE Energy is requesting another large rate increase, just weeks after its last increase was approved.  The Detroit utility is asking for another $474 million to pay for infrastructure improvements.  The Michigan Public Service Commission approved a DTE rate increase of $242 million dollars in February.  

If granted, the new proposed hike would add roughly 10% to the average resident’s utility bills.   DTE filed the new request on Tuesday. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says she will intervene in the case. 

Additional headlines for Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Detroit Regional Chamber releases poll 

The Detroit Regional Chamber has released a new poll showing the current state of primary races in the state.  

The survey, conducted by the Glengariff Group, shows Congressman John James leading all other Republican candidates running for governor in Michigan.  Perry Johnson and Mike Cox are second and third, respectively.  In the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, Congresswoman Haley Stevens leads the race, with Abdul El-Sayed and Mallory McMorrow following.  

And just a reminder: a poll shows a snapshot in time.  It does not indicate future events.  Michigan’s primary elections take place on August 4.  

Highland Park CSO charges examined  

The city of Highland Park says it’s calling for a closer examination of its combined sewage overflow costs.  The city says it’s joining with other suburbs and the Great Lakes Water Authority to form a task force.  The purpose will be to find out why overflow rates are 10 times more than expected.  Highland Park is requesting an adjustment of $1.5 million for this year’s combined sewage overflow charges.  The task force is scheduled to meet in Dearborn on May 8th. 

No word on Gordie opening  

Metro Detroiters are still waiting for the Gordie Howe International Bridge to open – and there’s no word on when that might happen.  

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra tells the Detroit News that there are still issues that need to be worked out in the agreement between the two countries before the new span can begin operations.  

President Trump threatened months ago to stall the opening of the bridge.  Canada paid the full cost of construction.  Michigan is set to get a share of revenue generated by the bridge, once Canada’s costs are covered.   

Gas prices jump (again) 

Gas prices in metro Detroit continue to rise quickly.  The average for a gallon of regular gas is now $4.25.  That’s up 6 cents from Tuesday.  

The price is 45 cents per gallon more than just a week ago.  Analysts say crude oil prices remain high because of the war in Iran, but refinery problems here in the Midwest are adding to the steep price increases.   

Pistons try to stave off playoff elimination 

The Detroit Pistons face playoff elimination if they don’t win tonight.  The team plays the Orlando Magic in game five of a best of seven series tonight.  Orlando leads the series three games to one.  

The Pistons finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, but they’ve failed to carry that dominance into the playoffs.  

Game five takes place tonight at 7 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena.  The game will not be televised.  You can watch it on Prime Video or listen to it on WWJ radio. 

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