Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover the aftermath of a massive water main break, warming centers open around the city and more.

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Water main break floods southwest Detroit

The City of Detroit is providing hotel rooms for people affected by a massive water main break.

The 54-inch pipeline burst early Monday morning in southwest Detroit, flooding many streets and basements, and trapping people in their homes. Detroit Police and Fire rescued 76 people and 12 pets. In some areas, water rose nearly to the tops of cars.

Great Lakes Water Authority CEO Sue Coffey says it took about five hours to isolate the break and shut off the water.

“It’s a tragic situation. We understand that our heart goes out to the people who’ve been impacted by this, and we are committed to partnering with the city as we go through the restoration process.”

Mayor Mike Duggan says the city and the water authority will cover any damage or loss that’s not covered by insurance. Water department employees planned to visit homeowners today to ask if they want to file a claim. Duggan says the city is also offering rides to work for people whose cars were iced in or damaged.

Warming centers available around the city

The City of Detroit is extending access to overnight shelter for homeless people who need to get out of the cold.

The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries will offer overnight respite through 9 a.m. Friday morning. So will the Pope Francis Center, but it can only accept single adults. Detroit’s recreation centers and public library branches will serve as warming centers during the daytime.

Anyone who needs help finding longer-term housing can contact the city’s help line, 866-313-2520.

Michigan prison accused of forced labor, sexism

The Michigan Department of Corrections is facing a class action lawsuit for alleged forced labor and gender discrimination.

The lawsuit claims inmates housed at Michigan’s only prison for women were forced to work cleaning common areas for free after getting off from their paid prison jobs. The plaintiffs live in the units that also house participants in the prison’s “Vocational Village” but don’t take part in that program.

The complaint alleges prison staff told the women they’d still have to work as unpaid porters one week a month or risk losing their paid gigs and education opportunities. But the women suing claim that goes against department policies, and that men in a similar housing situation in another prison don’t face the same requirements.

Reporters have reached out to the Michigan Department of Corrections for comment.

Authentic Eastern Market receives $1.5 million grant

A 3-year grant for Eastern Market will focus on increasing the number for Detroit Farmers who participate in the market. The Authentic Eastern Market Campaign will also focus on improving infrastructure and sustainability.

The Gilbert Family Foundation’s $1.5 million investment will support the Shed 7 Regional Wholesale Distribution Center project to bring more entrepreneurs of color to the Eastern Market District. The money will also help with stormwater management and branding projects.  

WDET’s Bre’Anna Tinsley, WDET’s Pat Batcheller and MPRN’s Colin Jackson contributed to this report.

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

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover the rise of Michigan influenza infections, efforts to improve the city’s homeless services and upcoming community events.

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Michigan flu levels hit 15-year high

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday that two children in Michigan have died from the flu.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s been 15 years since influenza infections were this high in the state. Joe Coyle, the state’s epidemiologist, says it’s not clear why flu rates are so high this year.

“The flu virus is slightly different every year. The flu vaccine is slightly different every year. And the pattern and severity of influenza, in terms of how it impacts the population, is a little bit different from year to year,” Coyle said.

Coyle says vaccine effectiveness data from the CDC will provide more insight, but has not yet been released. There’ve been nearly 10,000 flu-related hospitalizations in Michigan since Nov. 30, 2024.

Duggan calls for review of city’s homeless services

Funeral services are set for two children who appear to have frozen to death in a Detroit parking structure last week. The tragic incident has shone a light on the city’s ability to help homeless families during extremely cold weather.

Officials say two-year-old A’millah Currie and nine-year-old Darnell Currie Jr. were staying with their mother in a van parked in the Hollywood Casino garage. The van lost heat and the mother took the children to a hospital after one stopped breathing.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says the mother had reached out to homeless advocates months before, but officials did not follow up. Duggan has ordered a full review of Detroit’s homeless services, and wants the city to better publicize what shelters are available and have workers conduct on-site visits when minors are involved.

The city is helping coordinate the Currie children’s funerals, which are being paid for by donations.

NAACP publishes pro-DEI spending guide

The NAACP wants Black Americans to steer their buying power toward corporations that have not pulled back from diversity programs. The Associated Press reports that the nation’s oldest civil rights organization is listing which brands have stood by or reversed their DEI commitments. The list can be found in the NAACP’s Black Consumer Advisory.

Wayne State to hold event highlighting migration stories

Wayne State’s MENA employees are hosting an event to highlight the contributions made by Middle Eastern North African immigrants. The Employee Engagement Group event is called “Migration Stories: MENA Immigration to America, Past and Present.”

Panelists will discuss the trials, tribulations and achievements of MENA immigrants with a specific focus on their experiences and impact on Metro Detroit. Featured speakers represent the Center for Arab Narratives, the Arab American National Museum and the Center for Arab American Studies at U-M Dearborn.

The panel will be held on Thursday, Feb. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Hilberry AB in the Student Center Building at 5221 Gullen Mall. The event is free and open to the public. Those interested can RSVP online at getinvolved.wayne.edu.

Ramadan Market to return this weekend

The Muslim Community of Western Suburbs (MCWS) in Canton will have its Ramadan Market this weekend. The market will include multiple vendors selling clothes, foods and other goods traditionally used during the month of Ramadan. Offerings include abayas, groceries imported from the Middle East, Ramadan decor, Islamic jewelry, Islamic books and more.

The event will also offer creative workshops throughout the day, including Ramadan storytime for children, cookie decorating, lantern building and designing your own iftar plate.

The Ramadan Market will be held on Feb. 22 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the MCWS Gymnasium at 40440 Palmer Rd. in Canton. Admission is free, but those interested are encouraged to RSVP on Eventbrite.

Skilled Trades Task Force to meet

The City of Detroit’s Skilled Trades Task Force will meet Wednesday, Feb. 19. Attendees can learn how to apply for tuition-free skilled trades apprenticeships in construction industries.

The event is from 4-6 p.m. at the Union Carpenters & Millwrights Skilled Training Center at 11687 American Street in Detroit. For more information, call 313-628-2363. 

WDET’s Bre’Anna Tinsley, Quinn Klinefelter, Pat Batcheller and Zahra Hassan contributed to this report.

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

On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump promised to make the federal government more efficient. So far that effort has led to attempts to shut down diversity programs.

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Now, the president is reportedly weighing an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.

State Superintendent Michael Rice says the president’s actions are attempts to marginalize certain segments of the population.

“The president isn’t trying to return control of schools to states and local districts, which have always been in charge of education. He’s trying to exercise control over who is served and how what gets taught and what does not,” Rice said.

Michigan schools get over $2 billion from the federal government per year. Most of Trump’s efforts to shut down federal agencies have been stopped by lawsuits.  

Other headlines for Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025:

• The Detroit Public Library is inviting patrons to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a Bridgerton-style afternoon ball from 2-4 p.m. this Sunday at the Main Library. 
• The Michigan Science Center’s planetarium is getting an upgrade thanks to a $2.5 million grant from the Ballmer Group. 
• The Center for Success Network and the Oak Park Public Library are partnering to host a party celebrating the life and work of Langston Hughes. The event, also celebrating the start of Black Children’s Book Week, is set for 6:30-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, and will take place at the Oak Park Library.
• The Station at Michigan Central is hosting “Great Migrations at the Station” this Black History Month. The series explores the stories of Black Americans who arrived in Detroit between 1910 and 1970 and helped shape the city. 

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

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover immigration updates under the Trump Administration, overdose prevention training, free community events and more.

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Immigration raids stunt Detroit nonprofit

The Trump Administration’s promise to deport immigrants is indirectly affecting attempts to feed people in Detroit. An organization called Hey Y’all Detroit has stopped delivering fresh produce to its nearly 300 families after a farm in Texas was shut down due to immigration raids.

Charmane Neal is the nonprofit’s founder. She says she was informed the farm will have to stop production.

“I think when they initially told me, I kind of was in shock, because it’s not just that we’re not going to be getting the supply,” Neal said. “It kind of dawned on me, and it put me into a reality check of what’s going on with this current administration.”

Since the farm shut down, Hey Y’all will only be able to help up to 100 families.

Immigrant legal services restored

The Justice Department has restored funding for nonprofit programs that provide legal services to immigrants. The agency ordered four groups to stop work immediately after President Trump signed executive orders targeting migrants. The nonprofits sued, saying the decree would prevent them from educating people about immigration court, detention centers and the legal system. The edict temporarily shut down a help desk at the immigration court in Detroit.

Overdose prevention training

ACCESS and the ASAP Community Coalition are hosting a Community Opioid Overdose Prevention Naloxone Training next Tuesday, Feb. 11 at Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn. Attendees will learn about a variety of overdose prevention strategies and learn how to administer Naloxone (also known as NARCAN). Free Naloxone kits will be provided to those who complete the training. To learn more, visit bit.ly/narcancommunity.

Sphinx summer program registration opens

The Sphinx Organization has opened registration for its full-scholarship summer program. The Detroit-based nonprofit works to support Black and Latino classical musicians with training, mentorship and financial assistance.

The Sphinx Performance Academy is for string players between the ages of 11 and 17 years old. Students will attend programs in one of three locations: Boston Conservatory, Colorado University Boulder or Juilliard. Applications are due Sunday, Feb. 16.

The organization is also accepting applications for its MPower Artist Grant up until Feb. 16. These grants provide up to $15,000 for musicians to use toward career advancement or professional development. For information about either opportunity, visit sphinxmusic.org or email info@sphinxmusic.org.

Free sit-and-stitch gathering

Parker Avenue Knits is hosting a full day of free community sit-and-stitch next week on Wednesday, Feb. 12. The store will open early at 11 a.m. to welcome the community for crafting and fellowship. Parker Avenue Knits is located at 1578 Franklin Street. For more information, visit parkeravenueknits.com.

Free Family Day at MOCAD

The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit is hosting a free Family Day on Saturday, Feb. 8. Exhibits geared toward all ages and hands-on art making will be open to the public from 11 a.m. through 3 p.m. MOCAD is at 4454 Woodward Avenue. For more information, visit mocadetroit.org.

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

On his last day in office, President Joe Biden posthumously pardoned Black nationalist Marcus Garvey, who was convicted of mail fraud in the 1920s.

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Congressional leaders had pushed for Biden to pardon Garvey, with supporters arguing that Garvey’s conviction was politically motivated and an effort to silence the increasingly popular leader who spoke of racial pride. After Garvey was convicted, he was deported to Jamaica, where he was born. He died in 1940.

He was an influential figure to other civil rights leaders, including Malcolm X and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who said of Garvey: “He was the first man, on a mass scale and level” to give millions of Black people “a sense of dignity and destiny.”

Biden has set the presidential record for most individual pardons and commutations issued, announcing Friday that he was commuting the sentences of almost 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.

He also gave a broad pardon for his son Hunter, who was prosecuted for gun and tax crimes, and issued pardons for a top Virginia lawmaker and advocates for immigrant rights, criminal justice reform and gun violence prevention.

Reporting by Colleen Long, Associated Press

Other headlines for Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2024:

• Law enforcement across the state say they struggle to find beds for people in need of mental health care. A bill in the state House aims to repurpose the Standish Max Correctional Facility near Bay City to offer those services.
• Detroit’s Historic Boston-Edison Association says it will replace light poles and fixtures in the neighborhood with a more “appropriate” historic design that will improve safety and visibility. The neighborhood association says license plate readers will also be installed throughout the area, beginning at the intersection of Rosa Parks and Chicago Boulevard. 
• Detroit Pastor Lorenzo Sewell spoke at President Trump’s inauguration on Monday. Trump visited Sewell’s 180 Church during the 2024 campaign and promised the pastor time at the podium on inauguration day if elected. 
• Detroit Councilmember Fred Durhal has announced he will make a special announcement next week about his intention to run for mayor. He will hold an event at the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan on Wednesday, Jan. 29.  

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

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson — an early favorite to enter the race to become Michigan’s next governor — says she is considering a run for the state’s top position but right now is spending time talking with voters. 

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Fellow Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer must step down in two years because of term limits. Benson says she’s held more than a dozen community conversations in towns scattered across the state.

“I’m really enjoying these conversations. I’m learning so much about where people are and what they want from their next governor,” she said. “And as those conversations conclude, then I’ll be making an announcement about my next steps.”

Many people in Michigan remain concerned about housing issues and the high price of goods and services, Benson said, adding that she remains a proud Democrat.

A potential rival gubernatorial candidate, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, is a long-time Democrat but recently announced he would run for governor as an independent.

-Reporting by Quinn Klinefelter, WDET

Other headlines for Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2024:

• The Centers for Disease Control says flu activity is high in Michigan, but less than 25% of state residents have gotten the flu vaccine.
• New laws signed by Gov. Whitmer Monday are aimed at boosting business in the state.
• The Scarab Club’s 112th Annual Gilda Snowden Memorial Exhibition is accepting submissions. Work on any theme and in any medium is welcome. Email callforentry@scarabclub.org with questions.
• Detroit Councilmember Fred Durhal’s office is hosting a “policy session” at the Edison Branch Library on Monday, Jan. 27, to offer residents a chance to take a comprehensive look at the Detroit Charter. 
• Gov. Whitmer is inviting Michiganders of all ages to submit their best drawing of the Detroit Lions logo to gear up for the NFL playoffs.

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

Editor’s note: The above audio incorrectly refers to Detroit Police Officer Cameron Richardson as Cameron Richards.

Detroit police have arrested a man suspected of causing a hit-and-run crash that killed an off-duty officer on Sunday.

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Interim Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison says they took the 28-year-old driver into custody the following day.

Officer Cameron Richardson had just finished his shift Sunday morning and was on his way home when the suspect made an illegal turn and collided with his vehicle. The driver is accused of leaving the scene.

DPD and Richardson’s family have set up an online fund to support his two daughters. 

“Officer Richardson served DPD with distinction, he served his country as an Army Ranger, and he will be truly missed,” a statement from DPD read Sunday afternoon.

Other headlines for Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2024:

• The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled the state health department did not follow the law when it separated a mother from her child. 
• Hart Plaza’s grand staircase is under construction with the help of $2.4 million in funding from the Biden Administration’s American Rescue Plan Act.
• Dearborn Parks & Recreation is offering a variety of programs for those interested in new habits this new year. 
• A new class of the Adult Hockey School will also be offered at the Dearborn Ice Skating Center this month. Adults can learn to play hockey during a 16-week program that consists of 8 weeks of on-ice training followed by 8 weeks of actual games. 
• The Detroit Fire Department will continue its Safety series with “chats” on the second Wednesday of every month starting Wednesday, Jan. 8. Wednesday’s chat will focus on Lithium-ion battery safety and fire prevention with Damon Robinson from the Fire Marshall Division. Join at detroitmi.gov/safetyseries at 6 p.m. 

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

This week on the Detroit Evening Report, we’re reflecting on some of the stories we’ve reported on at WDET this year that show how special the people and places in our community truly are.

We also share some news about what’s happening in the community over the holidays. 

Today, we hear some of WDET reporter Bre’Anna Tinsley’s conversation with Mama Shu — the founder and CEO of Avalon Village — about a summer program she started called “Hood Camp.”  

Other headlines for Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024:

• While many New Year’s Eve revelers may spend the first day of the year resting and recovering, others may get out into Michigan’s natural spaces for a “First Day Hike.” The national initiative aims to get people outdoors by offering guided hikes to start the year. Maybury State Park is offering 1.5-, 2- and 3-mile hikes on Jan. 1, all starting at the trailhead near the 8 Mile entrance to the park at 10 a.m. All ages are welcome as are dogs on a 6-foot leash. Hot chocolate will be provided. A recreation passport is required for vehicles entering the park. 
• Several holiday spectacles will spill into the new year — at least for a few days. Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo continues through Jan. 5 — as does the Winter Wonderland at Columbia Street in downtown Detroit.  
• The now annual Fire and Ice Festival at Valade Park returns next week. Attendees can warm up at the park’s giant fireplace. There will also be axe throwing this year and an “Iron Throne” made of ice. The festival is free and runs Friday through Sunday, Jan. 10-12.

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

The UAW strike has gotten much bigger. Plus, several family-friendly activities are available around Detroit this weekend. Those stories and more on today’s Detroit Evening Report.

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Marathon Petroleum’s Detroit refinery workers, represented by the Teamsters, have ratified a seven-year collective bargaining agreement, concluding a three-month strike that began on Sept. 4. 

The strike was initiated over pay and safety concerns following the expiration of their previous contract in January, reintegrating the striking employees into refinery operations. 

The Detroit refinery has a capacity of 140,000 barrels per day and is one of Marathon’s 13 refineries nationwide.  

Other headlines for Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024:

• The Environmental Protection Agency has allocated $20 million to over 15 Detroit churches and other religious organizations. The funding aims to help environmental projects focused on reducing pollution and preparing for extreme weather emergencies in local neighborhoods. The projects are part of the churches’ initiatives of environmental stewardship in the city.
• The Dearborn Ice Skating Center is offering a Skate with Santa event this weekend. Attendees can skate to Christmas music and take selfies with the big guy and other holiday characters. Tickets are $10 and available at the center’s website.  
• The Detroit Public Library is offering a free Kids Wrapping Station at its Lincoln Branch on Thursday, Dec. 19. Kids can bring gifts they’d like to wrap and use the library’s wrapping paper, tags, tape and scissors to wrap them in style. The Kids Wrapping Station will be open from 4-5:40 p.m. The Lincoln Branch is located at 1221 East Seven Mile Road. 
• The DPL Knapp Branch is hosting a “Repair Café” on Saturday, Dec. 21. People can bring items in need of repair and get help fixing them and even learn how to make repairs themselves. The event is volunteer-dependent. Anyone with skills they’d like to donate to the cause is invited to join the event. Volunteers are also welcome to bring in items they would like someone to repair. The Repair Café is open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is held on the third Saturday of each month. Those who register on Eventbrite will be notified if plans change. The Knapp Branch is located at 13330 Conant.

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

Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield is expected to announce her political future at a union hall in Corktown Tuesday night.

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She has formed an exploratory committee — the first step most candidates take before declaring their intentions to run for mayor. It allows them to raise money and hire staff.

Four other potential candidates are exploring a run for mayor, including former Detroit City Council President Saunteel Jenkins, Detroit Councilman Fred Durhal III, State House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit), and businessman Joel Hashiim.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced his plans to run for governor as an independent last week — just a few weeks after his announcement that he won’t be seeking reelection as mayor of Detroit.

The Detroit mayoral election will take place Nov. 4, 2025.

Other headlines for Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024:

• Some Detroit homeowners should expect an updated winter tax bill in the mail this week, after more than 100,000 property tax bills sent to homes with a Principal Residence Exemption were incorrect because they didn’t reflect the exemption from a recent voter approved school operating millage. 
• After two years of closure for renovations, the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle has reopened to the public. 
• The Accounting Aid Society is looking for volunteers for the 2025 tax season. No experience required. 
• Kemeny Recreation Center is hosting a training session on Saturday, Dec. 14, for those interested in learning about autism. The training will take place from 11 a.m.-noon at Kemeny,  2260 S Fort St., Detroit. For more information, call 313-628-2819.

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

State House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) has formed an exploratory committee to run for mayor of Detroit next year.

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He joins a growing list of declared or potential candidates that also includes City Council President Mary Sheffield, Councilman Fred Durhal III, and former councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins.

Tate was reelected to the House last month, but will turn the speaker’s gavel over to Republican Matt Hall in January. Mayor Mike Duggan announced last month that he will not seek a fourth term. An announcement on his possible political future is expected in the near future. 

“We are going to see [other] talent emerge, and I don’t have a favorite candidate. I don’t have somebody that I picked out. I’m going to be like the other Detroiters,” Duggan said in a live streamed announcement last month. “I’m going to watch these candidates emerge and see who the right leader is. Somebody who will continue to bring us together.”

Detroit’s mayoral election is scheduled for November 2025.

Other headlines for Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024:

• Some Michigan lawmakers are trying to get a bill package aimed at water affordability passed before the end of the year.
• State lawmakers have just a few weeks if they want to stop or change a law that will increase the minimum wage for tipped workers.
• The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) released a comprehensive plan to reduce new HIV infections in the state by 90% by 2030, and advance health equity.

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

Sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday aims to divert some of the attention away from Amazon and large chain stores.

The annual national campaign focuses on encouraging shoppers to support local businesses during the holiday shopping season, and businesses in metro Detroit are ready for the love.

The Detroit LGBT Chamber of Commerce distributes a list of its retail and service members the Wednesday before Small Business Saturday each year.

“To let them know that these organizations are LGBTQ owned, operated and or friendly, and they are open for business on Saturday,” said LGBT Chamber Founder and President Kevin Heard.

Heard says customers will see some new businesses on the list like the Twisted Soap Bar — which sells out of Eastern Market — and the Filipino bakery JP Makes and Bakes, which opened on Woodward earlier this month.

Many small businesses around metro Detroit are offering special events and/or discounted pricing for Small Business Saturday. Fantazma Market & Cafe on Trumbull Street is hosting a Small Business Saturday celebration from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 30.

Held in partnership with the Southwest Detroit Business Association and Corktown Business Association, the event will feature giveaways and exclusive shopping, live entertainment, special performances, and a chance to take family photos with Santa Claus. Admission is free and shuttle transportation will be available to and from the event, located at 1211 Trumbell St., that will connect the shopping districts in Southwest Detroit and Corktown.

The nonprofit Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation will also host a free Small Business Saturday celebration, Holidays on Grand River.

The holiday pop-up will feature shopping from at least a dozen local businesses and food truck rally; live music performances by Maraj Virtuoso & Kevin Christian: The Better Things Collective; a poetry and Christmas book reading presented by InsideOut Literary Arts; a Santa’s workshop featuring activities from Arts & Scraps; photos with Santa Claus; Christmas tree lightning and more. The event will take place from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday at the Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation, 19800 Grand River Ave., Detroit.

In Dearborn, the American Arab Chamber of Commerce is kicking off the holiday shopping season with a Women Only Winter Bazaar  from 4-10 p.m. next Friday, Dec. 13, at the Saline Intermediate School. The event was created in collaboration with United Humanitarian Foundation and the Saline Intermediate School Student Council.

American Arab Chamber Executive Director Bilal Hammoud says its members offer unique cultural gifts for the holidays.

“If you want some of the best Yemeni coffee or tea, get a gift card from one of
the many Chamber members that we have that are coffee shops — Haraz,  Qawah House, Shibam, they are phenomenal places to send people,” Hammoud said.

He says the American Arab Chamber plans to release its own holiday shopping guide soon.

Democratic state senators introduced two bills on Tuesday that would require Michigan schools to teach more inclusive history lessons.

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Under Senate Bills 1145 and 1147, all Michigan school districts would incorporate curriculum on the histories and contributions of communities of color within their classrooms. The “Teach MI History” legislation, introduced by Sens. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), and Erika Geiss (D-Taylor), would also require cultural competency training for teachers and create a “cultural advisory board” within the Michigan Department of Education.

State Reps. Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton) and Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield) are expected to introduce companion bills in the House next month.

“This is not just about teaching history — we are fostering empathy, cultural awareness, and the critical thinking skills our students need to thrive in an interconnected world,” said Puri. “This curriculum is about ensuring that every student sees themselves in the story of our country and is equipped to build a more inclusive future.”

With Republicans taking control of the state House in January, Democratic lawmakers don’t have much time to pass legislation and have it signed into law before the end of the year. This legislation aims to build upon last year’s efforts, when state legislators included funding in the 2024 state budget for inclusive history curriculum pilot programs and a toolkit for MDE to assist school districts in those efforts.

Other headlines for Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024:

• Seven affordable housing programs in Detroit are receiving funding from a nearly $18 million grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis — the most grant money the bank has ever invested in the state.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Detroit District and the Great Lakes Water Authority are holding a public meeting from 3-7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2 at East Lake Baptist Church, to discuss the Southeast Michigan Flood Risk Management Study. Sessions will also be held on Dec. 4 in Dearborn, Dec. 9 in Waterford, Dec. 10 in Sterling Heights and Dec. 16 in Grosse Pointe.
• The Detroit Fire Department is planning to install 5,000 smoke alarms in city homes over the next year. To request information or to request fire alarm installation for your home, email communityrelations@detroitmi.gov. 
• The Propitious Spot is looking for vendors for its Dec. 21 holiday event, Santa’s Spot: A Warm Winter Gathering. Confirmed offerings for attendees include photos with Santa, S’mores, a hot chocolate bar and holiday music. Interested vendors can email info@kmproseries.com for more information.

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

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover Michigan State Police’s new campaign to encourage residents to sign up for emergency alerts; Detroit PAL’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive and more.

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MSP launches ‘Know Your Plan. Be Alert’ campaign

The Michigan State Police has launched the “Know Your Plan. Be Alert.” campaign, encouraging residents to sign up for alerts to stay informed during emergencies. Alerts would send information during severe weather, active shooter incidents, missing or endangered individuals and more. For more information or to sign up for alerts visit michigan.gov/miready and click on local alerts. 

State holds hearing on child care licensing rule changes

The state is updating its child care licensing requirements and wants to hear from residents. The proposed rules would tighten regulations on drinking water and add standards for outdoor nature-based childcare centers. They would also make it easier for teachers to qualify for a job at a childcare center. The state held a public hearing on the changes in Lansing on Tuesday. People can submit questions or comments on the changes by mail or email until 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22.

Cycling at the Velodrome

The Lexus Velodrome and Detroit Parks and Recreation are teaming up to offer an indoor cycling program for youth ages 13-17. The six-week program will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays starting on Jan. 7 and running through Feb. 11. Youth will learn the fundamentals of indoor track cycling from experienced competitors and coaches. Registration is open now and costs $10. For more information about this and other Parks and Recreation sports programs, visit dprdathletics.com. 

Detroit PAL hosting Thanksgiving Food Drive

Detroit PAL is partnering with APEX Leadership Academy and the Detroit NFL Former Players Chapter to offer thanksgiving meals to 500 families next week. Turkeys, dressing, cornbread, cranberry sauce and more will be distributed from 10 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at Detroit PAL’s headquarters, 1680 Michigan Ave., Detroit.

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