The city of Detroit held its annual 9/11 memorial ceremony Wednesday morning.

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The event honored those killed in the terrorist attacks in New York City, Arlington, Virginia and Shanksville, Pennsylvania on Sep. 11, 2001. 

Detroit Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison says ceremonies like the one this morning are important, because not everyone knows what happened 23 years ago. 

“Last night, my son — he’s in the eighth grade — he asked: “Dad I need some help with my homework assignment for history.” I had no clue about what I was about to help him with, but it was a 9/11 assignment,” Bettison said. “He had really no clue, no memory.”

Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Two hijacked jets flew into New York’s World Trade Center. Another jet crashed into the Pentagon.  A fourth hijacked jet crashed into a Pennsylvania field when passengers struggled with the terrorists to prevent the jet from hitting a major target in Washington D.C. 

Other headlines for Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024:

• A new report finds Detroit is one of the hardest cities in the nation to live in for people who suffer from asthma.
• Detroit’s three casinos are reporting $112.5 million in revenue for last month — up nearly 6% from August 2023.
• The Michigan Gaming Control Board has won an Emmy Award for its series of commercials touting responsible gambling.
• The state’s first Klezmer music festival will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15, in Detroit’s Cultural Center at the International Institute. Klezmer is a type of traditional Yiddish folk music originally created centuries ago.

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Some Detroiters are without power and others still cleaning up after severe thunderstorms hit the region both on Tuesday and Wednesday night. 

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The National Weather Service reported wind gusts of more than 75 miles per hour at Detroit Metro Airport Wednesday night, with high winds bringing down tree branches and causing power outages around the region. 

DTE Energy reported more than 200,000 power outages Wednesday morning. Weather on Thursday is expected to be mostly dry and humid, with a high of 81 degrees. Thunderstorms are likely to return on Friday with heat indices ranging
from the upper 80s to mid 90s.

Other headlines for Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024:

• Outages on the Dearborn-Allen Park border caused problems for motorists trying to get to Detroit Metro Airport Wednesday morning.
• Detroit has set up cooling centers to keep residents safe during the high temperatures that blanketed Detroit this week.
• Former Detroit City Council President Saunteel Jenkins is considering a run for Detroit mayor.
• Wayne State University is holding a special grand opening reception on Thursday for its newest music venue, the Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center.
• The Detroit Lions have made a number of roster changes to get ready for the NFL regular season.

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

If you’ve been smelling smoke on the west side of the city, you’re not alone. A large mulch fire started Tuesday evening at Detroit Mulch Co. that continued to burn on Wednesday near Lyndon and Prairie streets. 

Firefighters are still working to extinguish the mulch, which covers a lot that is hundreds of yards long. Some piles of mulch are 20 feet high. 

The smoke is affecting air quality in areas around the region, and residents in nearby neighborhoods are urged to keep their windows closed. 

Crews are pouring water on the fire, but officials say they don’t know how long it will take to completely put out the blaze. No injuries or damages to nearby structures have been reported. 

Other headlines for Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024:

• United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain warned of a potential strike against Stellantis during his speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week.
• Ford Motor Company announced Wednesday that it’s changing its plans for producing electric vehicles.
• AAA Michigan is reminding drivers to watch out for students as they head back to school. The first day of classes for the Detroit Public Schools Community District will be Monday, Aug. 26.
• Gas prices in metro Detroit are falling headed into the Labor Day holiday weekend, averaging around $3.50 per gallon — 10 cents per gallon less than last week.

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

Ford Motor Company has issued a rare “do-not-drive” advisory for several models. The affected vehicles have officially been recalled — but some owners have yet to have repairs made.

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The older vehicles have Takata airbag inflators, which could spew shrapnel if the airbags are deployed, posing a risk of serious injury or death for drivers and passengers.

The recall affects about 374,000 Ford cars and trucks in the U.S. that have not been repaired yet. Affected vehicles include:

• 2004-2006 Ford Ranger pickups
• 2005-2014 Ford Mustangs
• 2005-2006 Ford GTs
• 2006-2012 Ford Fusions, Mercury Milans and Lincoln MKZs
• 2007-2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles
• 2007-2011 Ford Rangers

The recall also affects another 82,000 Mazdas.

Ford says customers should not drive the vehicles anywhere to get repairs. Dealers can tow vehicles directly to their facilities. They will also offer a free loaner vehicle to customers if needed.

More stories for Aug. 14, 2024:

• Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will be a featured speaker at next week’s Lincoln Day Dinner in Novi. The event is a major fundraiser for the Oakland County Republican Party.
• Dearborn is holding its first-ever community health survey. The city’s health department is starting the initiative to get a better understanding of residents’ health status and access to health care assets.
• The Michigan Gaming Control Board has voted to renew the licenses of Detroit’s three casinos. The one-year renewal affects the MGM Grand Casino, Motor City Casino and Hollywood Casino at Greektown.
• The city of Detroit announced that it’s now offering free wi-fi in five parks. Residents can use the service in Bradby, Chandler, Clark, McDuffy and Palmer Parks.

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

Detroit residents had a chance to vote in Tuesday’s primary election to select candidates that will appear on the November general election ballot. 

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In the 13th Congressional District, which includes most of Detroit and several Downriver communities, incumbent Democrat Shri Thanedar held off a challenge from City Councilmember Mary Waters.

Thanedar won the primary with 54% of the vote.  He had a large advantage in campaign finances and used part of that money to run a flurry of television ads in the days leading up to the election. Thanedar will face Republican Martell Bivings in November, who was unopposed in the GOP primary. 

James Hooper won the Republican primary in the 12th Congressional District, which represents about a third of Detroit.  He defeated Linda Sawyer 60% to 40%  Hooper will go on to face incumbent Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib in November. Tlaib was uncontested in the Democratic primary for Michigan’s 12th District.   

Michigan voters also narrowed the list of candidates running for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat. Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin won the Democratic primary, defeating actor and entrepreneur Hill Harper by a 3-1 statewide margin. Former Congressman Mike Rogers prevailed in the GOP contest for Senate, outpacing former Congressman Justin Amash. Rogers and Slotkin will appear on the November ballot. 

In the Wayne County Sheriff race, incumbent Democrat Raphael Washington won the nomination for his party, defeating Joan Merriweather by a 2-1 margin. He’ll face Republican challenger T.P. Nykoriak, who defeated Republican Articia Bomer, in November.

Additionally Wayne County voters passed two ballot initiatives. Proposal P, a measure renewing a millage to help fund county parks for five years, passed by a large margin. Voters also approved Proposition A, which removes language in the Wayne County Charter requiring it find a new auditor every eight years.

Voters in Detroit overwhelmingly passed Proposal L, which renews the city’s Library Operating Millage for another 10 years, with 85% of residents supporting the measure.

For more primary election results, visit wdet.org/series/michigan-election-results.

Other headlines for Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024:

• The Jackson House will be honored during a ceremony at Greenfield Village in Dearborn Thursday night.
• The Detroit Police Department is holding annual National Night Out events this week, with some events planned for Wednesday night.

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

Many Bangladeshi Americans in Michigan are celebrating on Monday amid news that the country’s prime minister resigned and fled the country.

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Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s decision to flee comes after weeks of protests against a quota system for government jobs descended into violence and grew into a broader challenge to her 15-year rule.

Student protestors have been asking the government to end the quota system, which allocated one-third of all government jobs to the descendants of those who fought in the Independence War of 1971. That left a small number of jobs for others in a country with more than 170 million people.

The government met protestors with force — killing hundreds and wounding and arresting thousands.  More than 200 people have been killed by government forces in the last few days as people demanded answers about the deaths of student protestors. 

Thousands of protestors celebrated the news of her resignation in the capital Dhaka.  But the celebrations soon turned violent in places, with protesters attacking symbols of her government and party, ransacking and setting fires in several buildings.

A community gathering is scheduled for 6 p.m. today at Jayne Field in Detroit. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Other headlines for Monday, Aug. 5, 2024:

•  The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says it is providing more than $118 million in food benefits to 983,531 students through its new Michigan Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program.
• The Michigan Department of Transportation is inviting the public to give online feedback about its five-year transportation program.
• The Hamtramck Police Department is seeking youth applicants ages 12-15 for the first Hamtramck Police Youth Academy.
• Central City Health is offering free dental exams and x-rays this month in Midtown Detroit.

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

A recent survey by the University of Michigan and Outlier Media shows many Detroiters won’t vote this year because they don’t trust the political system. 

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The survey, conducted by U-M’s Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS) and supported by U-M Poverty Solutions, showed Latino Detroiters were more likely to stay away from the polls on Election Day, with 24% of respondents saying they’re not likely to vote. That compares to 8% of white residents and 11% of Black Detroiters. 

Voters under 35 were about twice as likely as voters 35 and over to suggest they were unlikely to vote in the general elections in November, the survey showed.

However, DMACS data manager Yucheng Fan says we shouldn’t be viewing those who say they’re unlikely to vote as disengaged.

“The survey shows many of these Detroit residents are involved in other nonelectoral civic activities and following the news,” she said. “But for a variety of reasons, voting in November is not a priority for them.”

The survey was administered from April 1 to April 12, 2024, and captures the views of a representative sample of 1,100 Detroit residents.

“We have a survey in the field now asking Detroiters again about their intention to vote, and it will be interesting to see if a different Democratic presidential candidate mobilizes more voters,” said Mara Ostfeld, a faculty lead for the Detroit Metro Area Communities Study in a statement.

Other headlines for Wednesday, July 31, 2024: 

• Detroit City Council has approved Phase One of a its neighborhood solar initiative, despite objections by Council President Mary Sheffield that the arrays could be placed in better locations than residential areas.
• Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Detroit next week, marking her first campaign stop in Michigan since President Biden ended his reelection bid.
• The family of Duke Fakir is providing an opportunity for Detroit music fans to honor his life at a viewing set for noon to 8 p.m. Thursday at Hitsville; followed by a celebration of life service from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in northwest Detroit.
• Tigers fans will once again be able to watch the team play on Comcast cable systems following the resolution of a contract dispute between Comcast and Diamond Sports.
• Pre-season injuries continue to hurt the Detroit Lions, as defensive end John Cominsky suffered a knee injury on Tuesday during a padded practice. Kicker Michael Badgley received a season-ending injury last week while getting ready for practice. ESPN reports that he suffered a torn hamstring.   
• Don’t forget that early voting is underway throughout Michigan. You can cast your ballot at any of the 14 early voting centers in Detroit through Sunday.  Primary Election Day is next Tuesday, August 6.

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