Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison has been named interim Detroit police chief on Friday to replace Chief James White who is stepping down.

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

Bettison spent 27 years with the police department and had been second in command to White — overseeing police-community relations and administrative functions — before moving to City Hall.

“I hate to lose him as deputy mayor, but this job is so critical that I’m just so pleased we had somebody ready to step in,” Mayor Mike Duggan said of the police chief’s position.

Duggan appointed Bettison deputy mayor.

A national search will be held to fill the chief’s job permanently.

“I expect interim Chief Bettison to compete in a process against the best in the country and we will see what comes out of that process,” Duggan said.

Bettison said that’s his plan.

“I’m definitely here to compete,” he told reporters during Friday’s announcement. “I truly believe that I am the best individual for the role of permanent chief with having been here.”

White earlier announced he was stepping down to take over as chief executive of Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. White has been an advocate for programs addressing mental health.

The mayor named White chief in 2021, replacing James Craig who retired after seven years. White had been chair of Michigan’s Civil Rights Commission. He joined the police department in 1996 and left in 2020 to take the Civil Rights Commission post.

Bettison was hired by the police department in 1994. He rose from patrol officer to sergeant and then lieutenant in a few short years. He later was promoted to inspector, captain, commander and, in 2017, deputy chief.

Reporting by Corey Williams, Associated Press

Other headlines for Friday, Oct. 25, 2024:

• The “Rolling to the Polls” early voting festival is coming to Detroit from noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at Heilmann Recreation Center. Attendees of the event, hosted by Action Network, will have opportunities to learn more about what’s on the ballot, learn more about the importance of voting, cast their vote early.
• The home of civil rights leader Malcolm X will be opened as a museum and a vocational technical center next year. The house, located on 4336 Williams St. in Inkster, was built in the 1950s and has sat vacant and dilapidated in more recent years.
• The Shadow Gallery Detroit will host Halloween Freaknik starting at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, featuring spooky entertainment, a costume contest with a $1,000 grand prize and more.

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

Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump have been making frequent trips to the battleground state of Michigan in efforts to increase their voter outreach. There has been a hyper focus on the Black vote in both Detroit (one of the Blackest cities in America) and in the country as a whole. But why is the Black vote so focused on?

This week on MichMash, Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben and Zach Gorchow sit done with renowned journalist and Detroit native, Jemele Hill to discuss the dynamics of the Black vote. 

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

In this episode:

• Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump making frequent trips to Michigan
• Why there is a hyper focus on the Black vote and not as much of a focus on the white vote
• How Michigan is viewed on a national scale

Hill brought up the hyper focus on the Black vote in media and how it appears unfair because no other voting group is treated the same.

“Nikole Hannah Jones, dynamite writer for the New York Times who brought the 1619 project, said, ‘Why are Black people the only group expected to have 100% loyalty to one party?’ Why don’t we ever have the conversation about how 50% of white voters haven’t voted for a Democratic presidential nominee since Lyndon B Johnson,” Hill pointed out.  

She also highlighted how Governor Gretchen Whitmer has grown in popularity on a national scale because of her productivity. Hill, a Detroit native currently living in California, says that people aren’t aware of the trifecta in Michigan that has helped her be so impactful. She also said, from the outside looking in, that the Republican party appears fractured now in a surprising fashion.

Lastly, Hill pointed to the importance of the Senate race that she feels isn’t being focused on as much.

“The Senate races are probably 1A in terms of the importance in this national election,” she said.

Jemele Hill will continue to share her takes on politics and sports on her new political podcast, Spolitics.  

More from WDET:

• MichMash: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shares key points from her State of the State address
• Are Black voters in Detroit embracing Trump?
• Jemele Hill shares her journalistic journey in new memoir, ‘Uphill’

How do candidates feel as they get closer to election day? In this bonus episode from our Live in Lansing MichMash recording, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben talk with former speaker Jase Bolger and former minority leader Christine Greig. They discuss how each party is looking ahead of the election and the best way to connect with voters. 

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

In this episode

• Candidates sticking to their plan as they work towards election day.
• The best form of advertising to reach out to candidates.
• The outlook of the Democrats and Republicans on election day.

During this tail end of a race, Greig said the best bet for candidates is to stick to their original plan as much as possible and to deviate only when necessary.

“You have to stick to the plan. And it has to be data driven. You’re getting polling reports. You’re seeing ad spends… And so that’s driving a lot of your decisions. It’s constant data coming in and trying to adjust from that,” she said.  

When it comes to advertisements, Bolger said the best form of advertisement is going door to door.

“I think a lot of people are making a decision on the State or House level because they know somebody, they like somebody or they met somebody, far more than they can quote their position on any single issue,” he said.

Greig added that digital marketing is having a lasting impact as well.

The general election takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. For the latest election information, visit WDET’s Voter Guide at wdet.org/voterguide.

More from WDET:

• MichMash: Live from Lansing
• Metro Detroiters lay out the issues and candidates shaping their vote
• As Michiganders vote for president, many are guided by their concerns about the economy

Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are campaigning in metro Detroit today.

The visits come before in-person voting begins in Detroit this weekend.

Harris joined a national radio show broadcast from Detroit earlier this week. The Democratic nominee will be stumping in Grand Rapids and Lansing on Friday, before finishing with an event in Oakland County.

She’s expected to be in Detroit on Saturday for the start of early in-person voting.

Harris needs a strong turnout from the typically Democratic stronghold, where Trump has tried to make inroads.

He’ll be in Oakland County as well on Friday for a roundtable discussion, before heading to a rally at Detroit’s Huntington Place — a convention center Trump falsely claimed was the site of massive voter fraud in 2020.

The general election is taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. For the latest election information, visit WDET’s Voter Guide at wdet.org/voterguide.

Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter, WDET

More headlines for Friday, Oct. 18, 2024:

• Million Muslim Votes, Black Muslim Leadership Council and Dream of Detroit are hosting Muslim Vote Fest 2024, a get out to vote rally, from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Jam Handy in Detroit.
• The Black Political Power Tour, hosted by Capital B, is taking place at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at Spot Lite Detroit, featuring vital discussions about the political landscape of Black Detroit, networking opportunities and more.
• Monster’s Ball, Detroit’s largest annual Halloween event, is coming to the Russell Industrial Center in Detroit on Saturday, Oct. 19, featuring live music, food trucks, and a variety of unique costumes.

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

As the election season comes to an end, both Democrats and Republicans are ramping up their messaging to reach out to voters. In a special LIVE edition of our weekly series, MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discussed these matters at Urban Beat in Lansing. They sat down with Andrea Bitely, founder of Bitely Communications, and Josh Hovey, partner at Martin Waymire, to discuss the strategy from both parties.

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

In this episode:

• Political messaging in the last month before the general election
• Republican and Democratic strategies for voter outreach
• Which way voters are leaning coming Election Day

Bitely shared how she has personally been getting inundated with waves of messaging from both sides on the hot topics that take over the national headlines, like the topic of abortion. She expressed her fatigue over the amount of messaging about how the election would affect abortion rights.

“To be frank, I want to know more about what these candidates are saying. I have a uterus and she is lovely but I also have a brain and a pocketbook and I drive a car on our roads. I want to know what else the candidates have to say about the world around us.” Bitely said. 

Hovey explained how that type of political messaging is aimed at trying to sway voters — especially those that are still undecided.

“It is about segmenting that small portion of the electorate that can be motivated. This year margins are expected to be razor thin,” said Hovey. “Every little bit has to count and has to be well targeted.”

The general election is taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. For the latest election information, visit WDET’s Voter Guide at wdet.org/voterguide.

• Worker groups say minimum wage proposal could drive voter turnout
• MichMash: Is the Michigan Democratic Party doing enough to attract Black voters?
• Slotkin, Rogers debate EVs, abortion in first faceoff

Tonight on the Detroit Evening Report, we cover the backlash former President Donald Trump is getting for insulting Detroit during his speech to the Detroit Economic Club Thursday; a chance to see WDET’s MichMash podcast live next week and more.

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

Trump insults Detroit

Michigan officials and leaders are reacting to comments former President Donald Trump made about the city of Detroit during a campaign speech to the Detroit Economic Club on Thursday. During the event at MotorCity Casino & Hotel, Trump said that if Kamala Harris becomes president, the whole country will end up like Detroit.

“Our whole country will end up being like Detroit if she’s your president. You’re going to have a mess on your hands,” the Republican presidential nominee said.

Many officials and community members took offense to the comments and responded accordingly. Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield in an Instagram post said she found it “deeply disappointing to hear these uniformed remarks. Detroit is a city of strength….of perseverance…of progress…of grit…and our community has worked so extremely hard to overcome challenges and we’ve seen incredible growth.”

Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Detroit officials are encouraging individuals and businesses to stay safe online. Cybersecurity highlights the growth of individuals and businesses to take important cybersecurity steps every day to secure your information. The city is encouraging all individuals to take the following steps to increase their protection: Use strong passwords, turn on multi-factor authentication, update software, and recognize and report fraudulent activity online.

Cider in the City 

Starting this Saturday, Oct.12 — and for the next two weekends — Cider in the City is back in Detroit’s Beacon Park. There will be fresh hot cider, pumpkins, caramel apples and other fall staples provided by Blake Farms. Visit ciderinthecity.com for more information.

MichMash Live!

Fans of WDET’s MichMash podcast will have the opportunity to see MichMash LIVE on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at Urban Beat in Lansing. The live taping, held in partnership with Gongwer News Service, is also part of WDET’s Smart Politics discussion series about the 2024 election. Come and listen to Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben from Gongwer and Cheyna Roth from WDET share their insights and interview guests about all things politics as the November election nears. Reserve your spot today at wdet.org/events.

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

There have been some longstanding issues with staffing at the Michigan Department of Corrections that have been boiling over the last few months — with some calling on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to bring in the National Guard to help serve as a stopgap. MichMash host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben sit down with State Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit) to discuss the state of the department and what needs to be done to make things better. They also discuss voter turnout as we head into the general election.

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

In this episode:

• Staffing issues at the Michigan Department of Corrections
• Criminal justice reform in Michigan
• Voter outreach this election cycle

Earlier this year, Michigan’s corrections officers’ union asked Gov. Whitmer to enlist the National Guard to help staff prisons. Sen. Santana disagreed with the notion that the National Guard is necessary, adding that what the state really needs is “innovation.”

“When you think about corrections officers across the country, this career isn’t as attractive as it once was before,” Santana said. “So we have to become innovative with the way we structure our corrections facility in the state.”

The Michigan Department of Corrections acknowledged it has faced staffing challenges in some of its communities, requiring staff to work high levels of both voluntary and mandated overtime.

The Department said it has responded to the situation with an increased focus on advertising positions, holding hiring events, improving working environments, and negotiating raises totaling 18% since October 2020.

Regarding the Nov. 5 general election, Santana said that elections are also not the same as they were before and that both Democrats and Republicans need to do more in order to reach out to voters.

“Nowadays each voter is unique — even to the household itself. You may have someone who’s more conservative leaning in a household, and maybe you have a younger person who’s a new voter who is more liberal leaning,” she said. “I think that each individual voter has to have that attentiveness as we continue to move forward.”

More from WDET:

• State corrections officers union calls for National Guard deployment amid prison staffing shortages
• Metro Detroiters lay out the issues and candidates shaping their vote
• Does Michigan’s new budget unfairly tip the criminal justice scale?

Michigan Democrats currently have a trifecta in state government — with control of the state House of Representatives, Senate and governor’s office. But as November approaches, questions about whether Democrats can maintain their two-seat Majority in the House loom. On this episode of MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben and Zach Gorchow analyze which state House races could potentially tip the scale.

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

In this episode:

• Different strategies for winning votes
• Michigan Democrat’s trifecta in state government
• Top House races likely to flip

As Michigan House Democrats work to maintain their 56-54 majority, campaign ads are working overtime to help Republicans win back enough seats to gain control.

While TV and radio ads are effective, they can also be costly, and Gorchow and Kasben shared how one of the strategies to win votes could be good ole door-to-door petitioning.

“If you are a really aggressive door-to-door candidate, you can go to every registered voter’s house two to three times during the course of an election cycle. That’s free. You don’t have to spend a million dollars on television for that,” said Gorchow. “You just need a good pair of shoes. And it’s really effective.”

When the legislature and the governor are controlled by the same party we’ve seen large changes to gun laws, abortion rights, etc. Some Democrats are sharing fears that if they lose the trifecta in state government, all the legislative work they’ve done will go to waste. However, many Republicans criticize that agenda as steamrolling rather than working for bipartisan solutions in legislation.

Whoever wins control, Kasben says, it “completely changes the landscape for the next two years.”

The general election is Nov. 5, 2024.

More from WDET:

• What’s shaping Michigan’s Latino electorate ahead of the elections
• State leaders fight election misinformation with new Democracy Defense Project branch
• How do we navigate the modern political climate peacefully?

More from Gongwer:

• Some stability, some movement in top 10 House races likely to flip

The Detroit Fire Department is hosting three community events this month in honor of National Fire Prevention Week.

The theme of this year’s National Fire Prevention Week — which runs Oct. 6-12 — is “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!”

Smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a house fire by more than 50%, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Roughly three out of five fire deaths nationwide happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or non-working smoke alarms.

While the Detroit Fire Department has installed smoke alarms for residents at no charge for years, the department is taking fire prevention a step further this year by launching a large-scale smoke alarm initiative. Detroiters attending the Fire Prevention Week events will be able to sign up to have DFD come to their home and install three to five smoke alarms, depending on size and need. The first 30 residents who sign up for installation at each event will also receive a free fire extinguisher, according to the city.

The goal is to equip between 1,000-1,600 homes in the city of Detroit with working smoke alarms.

The first event will take place from noon-3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6, at Patton Recreation Center, 2301 Woodmere, followed by events later in the week on Detroit’s west and east sides, respectively.

Detroit residents unable to attend the Fire Prevention Week events can request smoke alarm installation at their home by calling DFD’s Community Relations Division at 313-596-2900 or sending an email to communityrelations@detroitmi.gov.

Other headlines for Friday, Oct. 4, 2024:

• The general election is about a month away and early in-person voting in Michigan begins this month. Visit wdet.org/voterguide for the most up-to-date voting and election information.
• Detroit’s Mexican Irish Festival is coming back after years on hiatus. The free event will be held Oct. 13 at El Mercado, 2826 Bagley St.
• The Detroit Harvest Fest & Food Truck Rally is taking place this weekend at the Dequindre Cut Greenway.

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

Friday on the Detroit Evening Report, we cover the remnants of Hurricane Helene bringing strong winds and rain to the Midwest; Detroit’s new funding boost to improve the Gratiot corridor and more.

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

Rain headed to metro Detroit

Hurricane Helene left an enormous path of destruction across Florida and the entire southeastern U.S. on Friday, killing at least 40 people in four states, The Associated Press reports. The Category 4 storm has since weakened into a post-tropical cyclone, with its remnants expected to bring winds and rain to the metro Detroit area starting around 6 p.m. Rainy weather is likely to stick around through the weekend, with highs  in the 70s on Saturday and Sunday

HOPE application deadline move up

The deadline to apply for Detroit’s Homeowners Property Exemption (HOPE) program has been moved up from early December to Nov. 1. City officials say the change gives the Property Assessment Board of Review more time to evaluate applications and allows applicants extra time to submit complete forms before the end of the year.

The number of applications received by the Board of Review has grown a lot, according to program staff, so the earlier deadline will give them more time to manage the high volume of applications. The HOPE program gives Detroit homeowners a 10-100% exemption from their current year’s property tax. The eligibility is based on if the resident owns or occupies their primary residence. For more information about the HOPE program, including eligibility, required documents and how to apply, visit Detroitmi.gov/HOPE or call the Housing Resource Helpline at 866-313-2520.

Detroit gets funding boost to improve Gratiot 

The city of Detroit received over $12 million to make the Gratiot corridor safer for all users. The funding is part of the Safe Streets for All grant from the U.S Department of Transportation and the State of Michigan Infrastructure office. The city is focusing on the entire corridor of Gratiot within Detroit city limits, with the goal of making a lasting and meaningful impact on safety and reducing crashes.
Between 2019 and 2023, there have been over 2,000 crashes, 1,000 injured and 38 fatalities along the corridor, according to the city. More information about the project can be found on the city’s website.

Sound bath at Peace & Pilates

Peace & Pilates in Detroit is hosting a Stretch and Sound Bath event at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29, at the studio. The event is meant for those who are seeking to relax and reset for the week ahead. Attendees with have the opportunity to stretch and take part in empowering affirmations followed by a calming sound bath and a hot herbal tea selection. More information at peaceandpilatesstudio.com.

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

Election integrity has the spotlight as the presidential election takes center stage in these last five weeks of the campaign. MichMash host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben sit down with former Gov. John Engler and former Lt. Gov. John Cherry to discuss the launch of the Democracy Defense Project in Michigan and how they aim to rebuild confidence in our nation’s electoral process. 

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

In this episode:

• First Michigan House voting session since the end of June
• The Democracy Defense Project plan to combat election misinformation
• Election integrity and the need to bolster voter confidence

Engler and Cherry have joined a broader effort to combat misinformation and attacks related to election security and ballot-counting in swing states ahead of November’s general election.

If the 2024 election is like the 2020 election, the results most likely won’t be delivered the night of Election Day. Cherry says part of the goal of the new Democracy Defense Project branch is to calm Michigan voters who may be upset about that and to encourage their trust in the process.

“In Michigan, the counting is straight forward. We’re a reactive organization. So I mean, part of our job is to look at what kind of comments are being put in front of Michigan citizens and, and say, ‘Hey, look, that’s just not accurate,’ or, you know, it doesn’t deserve that kind of response,” he said. “You know, it’s not just a matter of being critical or being disappointed.”

In regard to building confidence in the electoral contest all together, Engler said the best solution is to communicate with the public.

“We’re talking to folks like you. You’ve got audiences that are out there. And when you’re hearing from us through your — more importantly, your listeners are hearing from us. I mean, we’re people who’ve been through collectively, a lot of elections.” said Engler.

He said that communication from trusted folks with credible histories can combat against the misinformation we are seeing on social media.  

More from WDET:

• Shortage of local clerk candidates in Michigan raising concerns about election integrity
• May 12, 2022: Trump supporters holding “election integrity” summit
• Democratic org announces $500K investment in Michigan House races

More from Gongwer News Service:

• Legislature moves $125M more to school mental health, safety; makes retirement changes permanent

The Abandon Harris Campaign launched on Thursday in Dearborn as a continuation of the Abandon Biden Campaign.

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

The campaign aims to change the policies of Vice President Kamala Harris regarding Israel’s ongoing military action in Gaza — seeking a permanent ceasefire and an arms embargo.

Michigan Co-chair Farah Khan says the Abandon Harris campaign is looking for actual policies, not just words and inaction.

“We will hold the Harris Biden administration accountable for their role in this atrocity,” Khan said at a press event outside the Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn on Thursday. “Accountability means more than words. It means actions. We must be clear — they have had their chance, and they have failed us.”

Listen: Interview with Farah Khan, co-chair of Abandon Harris for Michigan

The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 41,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed and more than 95,000 injured during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza since Oct. 7 — the day Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people in Israel, taking 250 hostages.

Campaign leaders say the Abandon Harris movement is active in at least nine states — including swing states like Michigan. Dr. Hassan Abdel Salam, national co-chair of the campaign, says they are asking voters not to vote for either party’s candidate.

“Our vote is magnanimous,” Salam said. “It’s a moment for democracy to triumph, for us to change the political landscape.”

The campaign plans to endorse a third party candidate soon.

Reporting by Nargis Rahman, WDET

Other headlines for Friday, Sept. 13, 2024:

• Henry Ford Hospital held a groundbreaking on Thursday for its $2.2 billion Detroit campus expansion, anchored by a new 1.2 million-square-foot hospital facility on the south side of West Grand Boulevard
• The city of Detroit’s Youth Affairs Team and Detroit ACE are hosting an artist showcase on Friday, Sept. 20, called “Young, Gifted and Woke.”
• Usher’s Past Present and Future Tour is continuing its run through the Motor City Friday at Little Caesars Arena. On his way there he stopped by the Boys and Girls Club of Detroit to help highlight the lack of access some youth have across the country to quality after-school programs.

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

An increase in Michigan’s minimum wage and required sick leave is set to take effect in February. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow sit down with Chris White, Michigan director of the Restaurant Opportunities Center; and Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association; to share their positions on the new law.

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

In this episode:

• How the new minimum wage law will affect employees and businesses
• How 9/11 influenced the Restaurant Opportunities Center
• Concerns the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association has with the rate of increase

Following the recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling connected to the state’s new minimum wage and sick leave laws, the legislation is slated to take effect early next year.

Michigan’s $10.33 minimum wage will climb above $12 by February 2025 — and to $15 an hour by 2029. Additionally, the law will require all Michigan employers to offer up to 72 hours of paid sick leave per year to their employees, and end the tip credit system.

White says the law changes are necessary for progress.

“They don’t make enough money. They are essential workers. The cost of living is going up, so wages should go up with that cost of living,” he said.

However, not all Michigan residents and business owners agree that the changes will be beneficial to the state, and especially for small businesses.

“I think the rate and the speed by which we increase the minimum wage is important to the industry, like it would be any small business operator,” Winslow said. “But for the restaurant industry specifically, the tip credit really means life or death for a lot of folks; service, restaurants, dine-in restaurants.”  

Stakeholders are now urging the Legislature to amend the laws set to take effect in February.

More from WDET:

• How Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling on minimum wage, sick leave will affect workers and businesses
• 2024 bringing boost in state minimum wage to $10.35
• Michigan appeals court ruling reverses minimum wage increase, paid sick leave revision

More from Gongwer:

• Groups push to preserve tipped wage; Singh hopeful for deal

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan public school reading scores have been taking a hit. MichMash host, Cheyna Roth, and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow find out why with Peter Spadafore who’s with the Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity. 

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

In this episode:

• The latest Michigan public school reading scores and why they are are so low
• The lasting effects of the pandemic on students
• Policy interventions to help students improve their education

Results from this year’s Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) were released this week, showing that 39.6% of third graders across Michigan passed the state’s English language arts (ELA) test, compared to 40.9% in 2023.

Spadafore, who serves as executive director for the Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity, said the results were concerning but not surprising.  

“I think like every observer around Lansing and across the state, we were disappointed in the numbers, but also not entirely surprised to see the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Spadafore. “The state superintendent talks a lot about the impact of virtual instruction. When we were not able to be in classrooms having an impact on those early learners when we’re trying to get at them, soon and quickly to grasp those early reading skills.”

Lansing is hard at work to pass laws to remedy this issue. But Spadafore said they need to make sure they pass the correct laws to intervene with the reading levels.   

“It’s important that they move the bills when they’re right now. They’re overly prescriptive and change a whole lot of state law when really what we’re seeing is if we would have a better screening tool to identify students reading disabilities and characteristics of dyslexia, I think that’s when, we could be supportive of legislation.” 

Spadafore says it will take collaboration between educators, lawmakers, the union, parents and more to help reading levels improve.

More from WDET:

• Rep. James tries to drum support for federal education tax credit legislation
• Detroit Evening Report: Detroit Education Narrative Collective offering up to $5,000 in grants to craft education stories
• Detroit Evening Report: Gov. Whitmer launches new education-focused department MiLEAP

More from Gongwer News Service:

• M-STEP Scores Show Student Economic Advantage Gap Still Prevalent

On the latest episode of the Detroit Evening Report, we cover this week’s extreme heat and severe storms that have enveloped southeast Michigan; Labor Day festivities to look forward to this weekend and more.

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

Hydrate, keep cool in extreme heat

Fall is right around the corner, but summer isn’t in the rear-view quite yet. Temperatures reached the mid-90s earlier this week and there may be more days like that ahead, as Detroit has recorded 90-plus degree temperatures in September before.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends staying hydrated and limiting time spent outdoors during extreme heat events to prevent the risk of heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion, heat rash and heat stroke. Health officials in Detroit are also reminding residents to check on their family, friends and neighbors during extreme heat events — especially the elderly, those with medical problems or those who live alone — and be on the lookout for signs of heat-related illness such as nausea, confusion and rapid or slow heart rate.

The CDC offers a “HeatRisk” calculator on its website to help individuals determine their risk of extreme heat exposure. Visit cdc.gov for more information about heat-related illness.

Read more: ‘Heat island effect’ contributing to warmer temperatures in Detroit, research shows

More severe storms ahead

Strong storms are expected to return this afternoon and evening, with clear skies returning on Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures and humidity will remain high this weekend, with highs in the mid- to low-80s expected.

Approximately 10,000 metro Detroit households were still without power as of 4 p.m. on Friday, according to outage maps from DTE Energy and Consumers Energy. Customers who experienced extended outages this week may be entitled to credits from their utility provider.

Hamtramck Labor Day Festival kicks off

The 44th annual Hamtramck Labor Day Festival is taking place from noon to 10 p.m. all weekend, Aug. 31 through Sept. 2, featuring live music, carnival rides, food vendors and more. The festival will close out on Monday with a performance by Jack White accompanied by Detroit garage rockers The Hentchmen — featuring WDET’s own Mike Latulippe, host of The Detroit Move.

For a full schedule of events, visit hamtownfest.com/schedule.

Celebrate the new Lunar New Year at metro Detroit’s Water Lantern Festival

Metro Detroit’s annual Water Lantern Festival is taking place next Saturday, Sept. 7, at Lake St. Clair Metro Park in Harrison Township. The family-friendly event, inspired by Chinese tradition, marks the first full moon of the new lunar year and the end of the Chinese New Year.

Tickets, starting at $28 for adults, will get you a wristband for entry, a floating lantern kit, lantern retrieval, water cleanup and more. Those who purchase tickets over Labor Day weekend can get 15% off using the code LABORDAY15. For more information about the festival, visit waterlanternfestival.com.

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

Supporters of increasing the state’s minimum wage and earned sick leave received a ruling from the Michigan Supreme Court on Wednesday that’s in their favor. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben sat down with Crain’s Detroit Business senior reporter Dave Eggert to discuss the ramifications of the ruling on the state’s businesses. 

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

In this episode:

• The origins of the adopt and amend legislative tactic
• The future of minimum wages in Michigan
• Michigan businesses’ reaction to the increase in minimum wage and earned sick leave

The Michigan Legislature’s controversial “adopt and amend” tactic refers to the legislature adopting a ballot measure before allowing it to go to voters and then amending it significantly during the legislative session.

The Michigan Supreme Court’s 4-3 ruling on Wednesday found that the legislative tactic — used by the Legislature in 2018 to gut a voter-approved ballot initiative to increase the state’s minimum wage — was “unconstitutional” because it circumvented the petition initiative process.

“It was very controversial in the moment. The legislature at the time was controlled by Republicans,” Eggert said. “Ballot initiatives generally are thought to generate extra turnout, particularly on those issues, probably for Democrats; for Republicans and business groups, they feel like the laws were unwieldy.”

The ruling, which will allow for an increase to the state’s minimum wage and tipped minimum wage — as well as an expansion of the state’s earned sick time laws — will have a big impact on local businesses.

Some critics of those changes suggest exemptions for small businesses.

“Do they go and try to go back to exempting all businesses with 50 or fewer employees? That could be a pretty tough lift in the Democratic-led legislature” Eggers said.

The new minimum wage law will take effect in February 2025. 

More from WDET:

• How Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling on minimum wage, sick leave will affect workers and businesses
• Michigan Supreme Court sets stage for minimum wage boost
• Karamo forcibly removed from Michigan GOP convention; party chooses Fink, O’Grady for state Supreme Court

More from Gongwer:

• Impossible Or Inevitable? Adopt-And-Amend Fallout Continues

Community stakeholders, dignitaries and residents held a ribbon cutting ceremony this week to celebrate the opening of the new McClellan Early Childhood Center on Detroit’s east side.

Located on the site where Detroit Public Schools’ Pingree Elementary once operated, the 15,000-square-foot facility features eight classrooms that are providing 96 new seats for early learners in the community, helping to close a 521-seat gap in the surrounding neighborhoods, according to the city.

The Center, which will welcome its first students in October 2024, will also offer Head Start and Early Head Start programs and feature a community room and meeting spaces for use by local organizations and residents.

Funding for the project came from a variety of public and private entities, according to lender and developer IFF, which was tasked with sourcing the capital to make the Center possible.

The nonprofit early childhood educator and social services organization Matrix Human Services will operate the McClellan ECC.

“The McClellan Early Childhood Center is a milestone in our mission to transform Head Start early childhood education in Detroit,” said Matrix CEO Brad Coulter in a statement. “By providing a new state of the art facility right in the heart of Gratiot Woods, we are setting a foundation for our children’s future success. This facility is not just a school; it’s a commitment to our community.”

For more information about the McClellan Early Childhood Center, visit iff.org/mcclellan.

Other headlines for Friday, Aug. 23, 2024:

• A new report from the Citizens Research Council of Michigan examines the value in using public policy to drive economic innovation in Michigan.
• The Detroit Lions will play against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Aug. 25, in their last pre-season game before the start of the 2024 2025 NFL season.
• The Detroit Bourbon & Blues festival is taking place from 12 to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday in Eastern Market’s Shed 5.

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