The hot and smoky weather recently invading metro Detroit takes a toll on more than just residents.

It also stresses machinery, including the massive public buses used by Detroit’s Department of Transportation, or DDOT, and the regional SMART bus system.

SMART also faces an upcoming vote on a ballot proposal to renew its existing millage for another decade.

It would also extend that tax to Wayne County communities that so far have opted out of the system.

SMART’s general manager and CEO, Tiffany Gunter, says the bus service provides both independence for riders and, in these current weather conditions, a way to beat the heat.

Interview edited for length and clarity.

Tiffany Gunter: We started these cooling buses when the temperatures top 90 degrees because we recognize our shelters are limited in amenities. So being able to get away from the heat while you’re waiting on public transportation to come pick you up is just sort of our responsibility to provide shelter for our passengers.

And we opened it to everyone. You don’t have to have a fare to use the cooling buses. You can just simply get on. They were out there from July 13-17 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. We even extended the weekend hours.

Even though the temperatures dropped below ninety, we still have this issue with air quality and we don’t want to expose our passengers to this current particulate matter. Because providing shelter is part of being a community partner and providing the public transportation.  

Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: The hot weather in particular is not only taking a toll on people out and about, it’s stressing some equipment and vehicles in the region. And that’s what you guys rely on. Is that having an effect on the SMART bus system?

TG: It is happening. It happens naturally in the summer months with the air conditioning units. But before we even worry about that, we first are most concerned with our operators, our mechanics, and our passengers. We passed out masks to everyone when we started having the air quality issue last week, making sure our operators have sufficient PPE. We onloaded passengers through the backdoor of the bus and didn’t charge a fare, so that people can just get on the bus and we didn’t have that front door opening and slamming our operators with that air quality immediately. We keep the windows closed on the bus. When the HVAC fails on the bus, the bus could still run, but we choose to pull it out of service. And that’s a deliberate safety choice, not a failure on the bus’s part. We’d rather absorb a schedule impact than to put our drivers or our passengers on a sweltering bus. I think that’s worse than having the bus not come.

And we encourage everyone to use the free transit app. It’s a real-time tracking tool. We’ll let you know when the bus is coming. That way, you know if you need to stay inside of a grocery store or shopping mall for a little bit longer. That real-time tool is how we work in partnership with our passengers, so they can see when that bus is actually coming, if in fact we’ve had an accident or there is a traffic or construction delay. Those things happen as well as mechanical failures with our vehicles.

QK: I’ve talked to a number of people in auto racing over the years. They’ll tell me, “Our vehicles, our cars, they don’t just run on fuel, they run on money. That’s what keeps them going.” One would assume SMART has the same thing. But as far as I can tell, you guys have not raised the cost for fares for a while. Are you bringing in enough revenue to really properly monetize the system?

TG: The fares bring in a base amount. But our local contribution comes from the property tax millage that’s levied for SMART. That base fare allows us to provide rides for seniors for 50 cents and offer discounted student fare rides. Our fares remain the same because oftentimes if you do $2 a day for a month, it can add up to close to 70 bucks. And that can be a hindrance for a lot of people to use the system.

QK: When we’re talking about money, there is a 10-year transit millage proposal that is on the upcoming ballot which could raise some extra revenue for SMART. As general manager of the system, you’re probably for that ballot proposal. Why would you argue to voters that they should approve that mileage?

TG: My job is not to tell anyone how to vote. As a public entity we only are allowed to educate, so I don’t have a view on how people should vote. But when we talk about what’s at stake here, we know that that the measure is going to replace an expiring millage in Wayne County. It will represent a new millage for the 17 current opt-out communities. This ballot initiative will fund our fixed route service, our on-demand Smart Flex service, which is that microtransit curb-to-curb service that you can use with the app, our paratransit service, which serves people with disabilities and our most vulnerable populations, plus 46 community transit providers.

This is the first countywide vote with all 43 communities deciding to go together once the state has repealed that opt out provision. In 2022, Oakland County went all in. They closed out their opt outs and they voted to go in as a county. Since that time we’ve seen increases in ridership with our community providers in the northern Oakland space and that western Oakland space of 125%. That’s when the system really begins to work as a truly regionally connected system with no gaps.

QK: I have read articles where the writers oppose the millage because they claim that only municipalities that have previously opted out of the smart system would have to pay this increased tax. And I’ve heard others argue for years that they should not have to pay for something if they’re in, say, a rural area or some other place where they don’t think they’ll ever use a bus. Or when they do see a bus go through, it looks like it’s got only a couple of people in it. What’s your response to those kinds of comments?

TG: Public transit is investment in infrastructure. It’s access. When we look at what the industry asks us for when they’re considering where to place their businesses, they want to know two things: They want to know about the talent pool. We know we have a talent. And they want to know about access to transportation. So those two things are top of mind as we’re thinking about how a region and community grows. When you talk about the rural areas, it’s not just a fixed route bus. We had some of the same arguments against bus service in Oakland County in 2022. And those same communities are seeing a 125% increase in usage. Because it’s not a fixed route bus. It’s microtransit, it’s community transit. And the people that are using them are those same folks that oftentimes have argued against them.

You can’t look at public transit as if it’s going to be a constantly congested highway. Highways aren’t congested all day. You look at it more like an elevator where people are on-and-off throughout the day. Increased investment means we can increase frequencies, meaning the bus shows up every 20 minutes versus every 30 minutes. When we did that, added Wi-Fi and a couple of other amenities, people started trusting SMART again and came back to the service. That, combined with the transit app that shows real-time information, means we’re starting to look like a real public transit agency out here. And I’m excited about that.

Michigan has seen 22 confirmed tornadoes 2026, including three in Metro Detroit.

The National Weather Service has issued more than 50 tornado warnings statewide this year. Joel Fritsma has tracked every one of them online.

Fritsma is the chief meteorologist for Michigan Storm Chasers. The website launched in 2022 and hired Fritsma straight out of Central Michigan University, where he studied meteorology. He says their goal is to fill communication gaps between NWS and the public so people watching online have time to take shelter. 

“Every time there’s a severe thunderstorm warning or a tornado warning in the state, we’d be covering it live,” he says. “Since 2024, we haven’t missed a single warning.”

It’s “go” time

Fristma says he and his team start live streaming as soon as the weather service issues its first warnings for any severe event. And they don’t stop until the last warning comes out.

“Sometimes, it’s upwards of 10 to 11 hours,” he says. “It just depends on how long the storms want to go.”

And it doesn’t matter what time it is. Fritsma was live streaming when a brief tornado hit Lincoln Park between 2 and 3 a.m. on April 15. He doesn’t mind.

“I kind of like taking the night shift,” he says. “We always have at least one person on call throughout the day.”

Fristma says when the weather is fine, he’s still working full-time.

“We’re looking at the forecast multiple days in advance,” he says. “We host live streams prior to an event so that people can ask questions.”

A lot of people tune in

Fritsma says the website’s staff has grown from a handful of people to about 30 since 2022. And he says its audience has grown, too.

“We have over a million followers between all of our platforms,” he says. 

People can watch and interact with the live streams on Facebook and YouTube. And soon, they’ll be able to download a new mobile app.

Fritsma says the app will allow followers to get live streams on their phones and let them report storm damage.

“We have Messenger, we have Discord, there’s so many options,” he says. “And that information will be very crucial when we send it to the National Weather Service.”

The app is set to launch this summer.

Michigan has restarted its Sun Bucks program.

The goal of the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program is to help ensure school-age children continue to receive healthy meals during the months when they are not in school.

The state says families who enroll will receive $120 for each eligible child during the summer. Some families are automatically eligible, while others will need to apply.

Sun Bucks benefits can be used at any retailer that accepts EBT. For more information, visit Michigan.gov and search for “Sun Bucks.”

Additional headlines for June 17, 2026

Flood watch in effect for Metro Detroit

Much of Metro Detroit is under a flood watch this afternoon through late tonight.

The advisory includes Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Storms are expected tonight, bringing the threat of gusty winds and heavy rainfall.

The National Weather Service says 1 to 2 inches of rain are possible within a three-hour period. That could cause flash flooding in rivers and streams and affect residents living in low-lying areas.

Heavy rains increase risk of beach closures

This week’s heavy rains are making temporary beach closures more likely in some areas.

Stormy weather can lead to high levels of E. coli bacteria in Michigan lakes, creating unsafe swimming conditions. Tom Barnes, environmental health division director at the Macomb County Health Department, says heavy rainfall can wash contaminants into the water.

“If you have a big rainy event and you have lots of goose feces on the beach, that’ll wash it into the water. That will definitely result in a higher E. coli count.”

Barnes says swimming in water with high E. coli levels can cause health problems.

Spot Lite and UFO Bar to close

Detroit’s nightlife scene is about to lose two well-known establishments.

The owners of Spot Lite and UFO Bar announced on Instagram Tuesday that the venues will close later this month.

Spot Lite’s last night of operation will be Saturday, June 28. UFO Bar will open its doors for the final time on Monday, June 30.

Detroit to host PWHL draft

Detroit will host another historic hockey event tonight.

The Fox Theatre will be the site of the Professional Women’s Hockey League draft. The league chose Detroit for the event after strong fan support helped break attendance records in back-to-back seasons.

Jayna Hefford, the league’s executive vice president of hockey operations, says the PWHL has helped grow women’s hockey by giving athletes a professional stage on which to compete.

“My generation would have loved this. We didn’t get a chance to have it, but I’m so happy that they get to have it. And then when we look at the next generation of young girls that are going to watch this and not know a world where there isn’t professional women’s hockey.”

Detroit’s PWHL team is one of four expansion teams signing players before league play begins this fall.

CBC ends ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ era

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, known as CBC, has announced it will no longer broadcast “Hockey Night in Canada.”

The network has aired the Saturday night NHL games since 1952. The change comes after the public broadcaster could not reach a deal with Rogers Sportsnet, which has held the broadcast rights since 2013.

The move may make it more difficult for some Detroit-area viewers to tune in to Saturday night hockey. Generations of Detroiters have watched NHL games on CBC Windsor 9.

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

Severe storms raced through metro Detroit Tuesday, bringing strong winds, heavy rains and even hail.  Streets throughout Detroit were left with large puddles, causing drivers to avoid them. Wind gusts knocked down trees and broke limbs in some places.  

The canopy of a gas station on Detroit’s west side was knocked over by the winds, forcing its closure.  The Mobil station at Plymouth and Hubbell remains out of operation today. 

Additional headlines for Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Mary Waters disqualified 

Detroit City Councilwoman Mary Waters announced last month that she was running for Congress in Michigan’s 13^th District.  She made the announcement just before the filing deadline.  But Waters has now been disqualified from running for failing to gather sufficient petition signatures.   

Waters tried to run for the job in 2024, but came in second to incumbent Shri Thanedar in that year’s Democratic primary.  She was re-elected to Detroit City Council last year.  

Congressman Thanedar is running against State Representative Donovan McKinney in this year’s August primary election. 

Mackinac Policy Conference preview 

Politicians, industry leaders and philanthropists are making last-minute preparations for the Mackinac Policy Conference.  They’ll travel to Mackinac Island next week to network, discuss policy and learn from one another.  

The annual event is held by the Detroit Regional Chamber.  Speakers will include Governor Gretchen Whitmer, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Professor Cornel West.  There will also be a debate between the Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate.  

You can hear coverage of the Mackinac Policy Conference on WDET beginning Tuesday, May 26. 

Gas prices drop slightly, but still hurt 

Metro Detroit gas prices have fallen slightly in the past few days, but are still nearly two dollars per gallon higher than they were at the beginning of this year.  The average price for a gallon of self-serve unleaded in the area is now $4.74.  That’s down eight cents from a week ago.  

Motorists planning to head out on the road for the Memorial Day holiday weekend should still plan for prices that remain near $5 per gallon.  AAA says Michigan is one of the 10 most expensive states when it comes to gas right now. 

NAACP calls for sports boycott 

The NAACP is calling on college athletes to boycott southern schools in response to a Supreme Court decision impacting the Voting Rights Act.  NBC News reports the civil rights organization launched the “Out of Bounds” campaign this week. 

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled recently that using race to create two majority Black Congressional districts in Louisiana was unconstitutional.  

The NAACP is asking Black recruits to withhold their commitments to attend certain colleges, most of which are in the NCAA’s Southeastern Conference.  The boycott could have a financial effect via national sports television deals, ticket sales and alumni gifts. 

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

A 48-year-old Hamtramck man has been arraigned and charged with kidnapping and assaulting a 16-year-old Hamtramck student on Monday. CBS News reports Donald James Joseph Arthur Fields is being held without bond at the Wayne County Jail. 

The student was kidnapped at gunpoint from a bus stop and forced into a white van. Other students were able to track her location through her social media and alert police. The teen also managed to call the police herself.  

The kidnapper took the student to a local gas station, where the student mouthed “help” to the attendant who intervened and walked the kidnapper outside. Police arrested Fields within 30 minutes of the kidnapping. 

Hamtramck Police Chief Hussein Farhat says this was an isolated incident. A probable cause conference is slated for Fields on April 30. 

Additional headlines for Thursday, April 16

Attorney General Dana Nessel files against Consumers Energy

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed testimony against the state’s largest energy provider.

Nessel urged the Michigan Public Service Commission to cut 61% of a $240 million request from Consumers Energy for another rate hike. This comes after the commission already approved a $157 million rate hike for Consumers Energy in December.

Nessel says Consumers Energy allegedly inflated their costs and customers ultimately take a hit. If approved, customers would save $146 million in future costs.  

Consumers Energy provides electricity and natural gas to about 2 million people in Michigan.  

Coalition for Property Tax Justice says overassesments continue in Detroit

The Coalition for Property Tax Justice continues to fight with the City of Detroit over its property assessments. Overassessments by the city have led to thousands of foreclosures. 

Coalition founder Professor Bernadette Atuahene says a recent study shows overassessments of lower-priced homes are still happening. 

“A report released this year shows that 50% of the homes worth 70,000 and under are still being assessed in violation of the Michigan State Constitution, which quite clearly says no property should be assessed at more than 50% of its market value.” 

City Assessor Alvin Hornh tells WDET his office has adjusted its Economic Condition Factors to get a better idea of what is happening in a particular neighborhood. 

A recent report by the International Association of Assessing Officers showed the city complied with state law. 

– Reporting Russ McNamara   

U-M president elect diagnosed with cancer

The University of Michigan Regents announced U of M president-elect Kent Syverud has brain cancer and will not be able to serve as the school’s next president. 

Syverud issued a written statement saying in part that he is “ready to meet this challenge.” 

Syverud was selected as U of M’s next president in January. He was scheduled to start next month. Board Chairman Mark Bernstein says the university will begin a new presidential search soon. He says Domenico Grasso will continue to serve as the university’s interim president as the school searches for a new leader. 

– MPRN   

Flood watch 

A flood watch is in effect for much of southeastern Michigan until midnight.

Kyle Klein is a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s White Lake office. He says the risk of flooding comes after several days of above-average rainfall, leaving the ground heavily saturated. 

“Most of the area in the past 10 days has seen between 1.5 – 4.5 in of rain. And then we’ve picked up anywhere from an inch to basically 2.5 inches in places.”  

Klein says while storms aren’t expected to be as heavy as the round that passed through the region Tuesday night, they may still bring additional inches of rainfall. That could result in water backing up onto roads and into basements. 

– Reporting by Alex McLenon

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