Oil and Water Don’t Mix, a nonprofit group opposing Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline, is leading student efforts across the Upper Great Lakes to advocate for its shutdown. The campaign includes eight Michigan universities, with schools in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Canada. Opponents argued the aging pipeline, running through the Straits of Mackinac, poses a catastrophic environmental risk if a spill occurs.

Thousands are expected to gather at Campus Martius in downtown Detroit on Dec. 25 for Menorah in the D, the city’s largest public celebration of Hanukkah. The annual event, which begins at 5 p.m., promises an evening of light, unity, and joy, showcasing the strength and pride of Detroit’s Jewish community.

Once again Detroit will celebrate Black culture with the lighting of a giant Kwanzaa kinara downtown, believed to be the largest in the world. For the third year in a row, the 30-foot-tall monument will join the massive Christmas tree and giant Hanukkah menorah in Campus Martius Park. The city will celebrate the beginning of Kwanzaa with a lighting ceremony starting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, where city historian Jamon Jordan will deliver a keynote address.

Wayne County Circuit Court is considering a motion for a new trial filed on behalf of Dennis Littleton, who has served over two decades in prison for a 2000 murder he insists he did not commit. The motion, filed by attorney Joseph Daly, argues that new evidence undermines the credibility of the case against Littleton, establishes credible alternate suspects, and reveals that key exculpatory evidence was withheld by prosecutors and Detroit police. Littleton was convicted in 2001 of first-degree murder and assault with intent to do great bodily harm in the May 30, 2000 shooting of Robert Johnstone and Saul Rios on Hubbard Street in Detroit.

“The world is yours and everything in it/ It’s out there, get on your grind and get it.” Jeezy’s raspy voice echoes through the 20,000-square-foot warehouse that is home to Detroit’s own Glam-Aholic Lifestyle and the headquarters of its founder and CEO, Mia Ray. As she poses for photos, her lips move imperceptibly along to the lyrics.

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud pledged that his city would arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for both men for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. “Dearborn will arrest Netanyahu & Gallant if they step within Dearborn city limits,” Hammoud said on X. “Other cities should declare the same.

Longtime WDET host and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Henderson announced Wednesday that he’s leaving the public radio station because of what he described as “disinvestment” in his daily show on 101.9 FM. Henderson, who hosts the morning show “Created Equal,” the station’s most popular local program, will end his 10-year run at WDET on Friday.

Holly, MI – Get ready to experience the holiday season like never before, as HollyDazzle returns to the Michigan Renaissance Festival grounds, bringing a winter wonderland filled with sparkling lights, festive cheer, and beloved traditions. Starting November 29th, this enchanting event promises fun for the whole family, with new attractions and memorable experiences that will make this season brighter than ever.

Protesters gathered outside the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office again Wednesday, renewing their calls for an investigation into cases tied to retired Detroit Detective Barbara Simon, who is accused of using unethical and illegal tactics that led to the wrongful convictions of innocent Black men. The demonstration comes nearly three months after a previous protest in August, when families, exonerees, and activists demanded a full review of Simon’s cases and accountability for her alleged misconduct. Protesters on Wednesday expressed frustration, saying that Worthy has not met with exonerees or affected families and has yet to take meaningful action, despite her pledge to do so.

Malik Shabazz, a fearless Detroit activist who has confronted drug dealers, city leaders, and bad businesses for decades, is back in the hospital after he had a massive heart attack in June 2023. Shabazz, the founder of the New Black Panther Party/New Marcus Garvey Movement, was admitted to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit for unknown medical issues on Thursday, a day after he attended Mayor Mike Duggan’s announcement that he wasn’t running for reelection.

Two members of an antiwar protest group called the Detroit Ceasefire Choir have filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Detroit and the organizations managing Campus Martius Park, accusing them of violating their First Amendment rights. The lawsuit, announced Tuesday, alleges that security guards at the park silenced the choir’s pro-ceasefire caroling last holiday season, claiming their message was “too controversial” and falsely asserting that Campus Martius is a private park.

Teso Life, a U.S.-based Japanese department store chain that was founded in 2017 in New York City, plans to open its first Michigan location in the Detroit area.  The 12,000-square-foot store is planned for the mixed-use Asian-themed Sakura Novi development, which broke ground last year. Teso Life is known for selling Japanese snacks, cosmetics, homeware, stationary, toys, and more.

Four years after first proposing significant police reform legislation, Michigan state senators are reintroducing a comprehensive package of bills aimed at increasing accountability, transparency, and public trust in law enforcement. Many of the measures were initially introduced in 2020 following the death of George Floyd, whose murder by a police officer in Minneapolis sparked protests against police brutality across the U.S. The efforts failed to pass in prior sessions but have gained renewed momentum amid ongoing public demand for reform.

The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge has achieved a significant milestone: The Humbug Marsh Unit in Gibraltar has officially joined the Old-Growth Forest Network, a national collection of protected native forests where people can experience biodiversity and the beauty of nature. A celebratory event took place on Oct. 20, marking the induction of the marsh into this prestigious network.

My most profound travel experience came almost 50 years ago at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. Especially jarring was the vibe of claustrophobia. Imagine eight innocent people hiding in eight rooms for two tense years while Nazis hunted them down only because they were Jews.