Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover new water rates, upcoming road closures and more.

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

City shares emergency response improvements

The City of Detroit is improving the city’s emergency response to Detroiters living on the streets. This improvement comes on the heels of the tragic deaths of 9-year-old Darnell Currie Jr. and 2-year-old Millah Williams Currie. The two died on Feb. 10 after being exposed to freezing cold temperatures while sleeping in a van. The children’s two other siblings, mother and grandmother were in the van as well. The car turned off in the middle of the night while they were sleeping. The family slept in this van for months waiting on the city’s homelessness response team.

This improved response is a 7-point plan aiming to do everything possible to reach every unsheltered person in need of emergency:

1. Require site visits for all families with minor children
2. Give special attention to finding families in vehicles
3. Expand helpline to 24 hours
4. Double number of drop-in beds
5. Expand night outreach teams
6. Continue successful use of police precincts as havens for safety and referrals
7. Expand street outreach and education

To check out this plan and discover resources the city provides, visit detroitmi.gov.

99th Dearborn Memorial Day Parade announced

Dearborn will be hosting the 99th year of Michigan’s oldest Memorial Day Parade this year. The parade will return to its original route in East Dearborn. The event starts at 9:30 a.m. on May 26, 2025.

The city is inviting military and veteran groups, marching bands, and community and school groups from Dearborn and neighboring communities to apply to be a part of the parade. Go to dearborn.gov/memorialday to sign up and get more information. All forms are due April 18.

Interfaith Day of Unity

The Interfaith Day of Unity is going down on Sunday, March 2 from 4-6 p.m. at the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit. Organizers say this event will be a chance to experience the power of connection, peace and shared purpose.

There will be deep reflection from people of diverse faiths, vibrant culture with music, dancing and traditions, and a call for unity. For more information, visit detroitinterfaithcouncil.com.

Detroit Film Theatre celebrates Oscar Sunday

And finally, this Sunday is 97th Oscar Sunday. To celebrate, the Detroit Film Theatre is hosting their annual program showcasing the year’s nominees in both the short animation and short live action categories in a single ten-film presentation. There will be an intermission separating the categories. Watch the nominated films and make your own decisions as to which film should take home the coveted Oscar trophy. For tickets and more information, visit dia.org.

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

Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her second-to-last State of the State address and she urged Michiganders toward unity and togetherness. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben discuss the major elements of her speech and what stood out the most. Plus, Denise Donohue from the Michigan County Road Association joins the show to discuss potential road funding measures.

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

In this episode:

• Gov. Whitmer’s penultimate State of the State Address
• How critical is road funding?

Whitmer’s speech was filled with calls for unity and bipartisanship. Will these calls be answered by the Democratic-controlled Senate and the Republican-controlled House in Lansing?

“We saw the Legislature strike a deal last week — a significant deal on minimum wage and paid sick time,” said Kasben. “So at this point, I would say anything is possible.”  

Other elements of Whitmer’s State of the State dealt with lowering costs, especially when it comes to housing, getting more men to sign up for post-high school education, and more.

In regard to road funding, Donohue told MichMash that this is the year that road funding should be substantially planned because there is a lot of focus on it.

“We talk about a rising tide of funding lifts all boats; [for] municipalities, counties and the state department of transportation. So for us, it’s been critical that we find new road funding for a while,” she said.

Donohue added that according to Senate Fiscal Agency figures, fewer gallons of gas were sold in Michigan than any time in the last 25 years (with an exception for COVID periods). With a portion of taxes from gas being given to road funding, that decrease hurts road funding as well.  

More from WDET:

• Whitmer asks for bipartisan cooperation, positivity in State of the State speech
• Federal money coming to three Michigan cities for safer, greener roads
• MichMash: Breaking down Governor Whitmer’s $83.5 billion budget proposal

After some compromise, the Michigan Legislature passes a revised version of the minimum wage/sick leave laws late Thursday. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the bills into law early Friday afternoon. As part of the weekly series MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben discuss the reactions. 

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

In this episode:

• Whitmer signs minimum wage/sick leave bills
• Fallout from the compromised bills
• House Oversight Committee lays out policy plans

Roth shared how even though these compromised bills were the result of bipartisan efforts, some Democratic supporters aren’t too happy with the result. 

“Union and advocacy groups are traditionally democratic allies, and they are not happy with the outcome,” she said. “So there could be some fallout with democratic lawmakers who pushed for these changes and voted for them.”

We also covered how the Republican-led Michigan House is focused on its Oversight Committee and creating policy priorities. Kasben spoke with state Rep. Jay DeBoyer, the Republican chair of the Michigan House Oversight Committee, who laid out his plans for creating more transparency in the legislature.

DeBoyer said that this new structure of oversight is one that he believes should continue as is because it allows residents to become more comfortable with government. When asked whether Democrats claim that this is an attempt on the Republican-led House to play “gotcha” politics, he said:

“Only the guilty need to feel guilty, right? Only the guilty need to worry. I’m going to put this message out there right now. If anybody listens to this, if you’re behaving in a manner that you shouldn’t be behaving and you work in state government, you need to consider changing your ways.” 

More from WDET:

• New rules give Michigan House Oversight Committee greater subpoena power
• Detroit Evening Report: Gov. Whitmer signs new minimum wage, sick leave policies
• Michigan House passes minimum wage bill

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover significant cuts the Trump administration has made at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 5 office in Chicago; a Valentine’s Day concert at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and more.

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

EPA Region 5 office faces cuts

The Environment Protection Agency’s regional office in Chicago is facing significant cuts that could affect Michigan’s ability to respond to environmental threats, Planet Detroit reports. That includes pollution from hazardous waste facilities owned by U.S. Ecology, and leaking from their underground storage tanks. This news comes after about $81 million in environmental justice funding for projects in Michigan was delayed by President Donald Trump’s plan to freeze federal grants.

There are also concerns the agency will be affected by staffing shortages due to the deferred resignation offer by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — a nongovernmental task force led by Elon Musk. Union leaders are fearful that these changes may affect an EPA that is still recovering from losing staff during Trump’s first term as president.

Whitmer reports Operation Safe Neighborhoods successes

Michigan Go. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist announced Thursday that more than 800 illegal guns have been taken off the streets due to the Operation Safe Neighborhoods initiative. Since the operation began, law enforcement officials have conducted nearly 8,000 check-ins with felony offenders. During these sweeps law enforcement also recovered illegal drugs and ammunition. This statewide crackdown on guns is aimed at reducing gun violence by getting illegal firearms off the streets. The initiative is run under the Michigan Department of Corrections.

Project Clean Slate

The city of Detroit’s Project Clean Slate initiative is aimed at getting criminal records expunged for free. The goal is to help Detroiters with criminal records get beyond their past mistakes and the stigma associated with them. Legal services will be provided to assess a criminal record and determine how to expunge each record. For more information about this initiative go to detroitmi.gov.

Enjoy ‘Broadway Love Songs’ at the DSO

Today is Valentine’s Day and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra will present “Broadway Love Songs,” featuring classic show tunes from “The King and I,” “Cinderella,” “South Pacific,” “West Side Story” and more this weekend, Feb. 14-16. For more information about showtimes or to purchase tickets, visit dso.org.

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, the city of Dearborn is pairing health and the arts. Plus, Verizon is celebrating the Super Bowl in the Motor City.

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

Dearborn receives arts and public health grant

The Dearborn Department of Public Health has been awarded a $12,000 grant from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council to support arts and culture programs that enhance public health. This grant allows the city to support programs that promote wellbeing through the arts and creative expression. The goal is to foster an environment that sustains connections and opportunities.

DPH will have events that weave public health education and fun creative activities for the city to engage with. For more information about this grant and the opportunities, go to dearborn.gov.

Detroit distributes essential supplies to unhoused residents

Last week, the Detroit Office of Cannabis Affairs joined forces with location organiztions to distribute essential supplies during the annual Detroit Unsheltered Homeless Survey.

Included in this distribution was 107 sleeping bag coats to individuals experiencing homeslessnes. Other resources that they gave out were hygiene kits, warm clothing, and general information about food banks and healthcare services.

The survey also includes a census that provides crucial data about the needs of the homeless population. The City of Detroit is aiming to improve the lives of those experiencing homelessness and work toward a more equitable and inclusive city. For more information on this program, go to detroitmi.gov.

New exhibit to open in Southfield

Next Thursday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m., Southfield’s Public Arts Commission is opening its first exhibit of 2025. ‘Convergence: Where Mastery Meets Vision’ will feature nine Michigan artists. The Art Commission also plans to hold a silent auction, community engagement events and install a 98-foot tall piece called “Nine Mile Crossing” that will stand at the corner of Nine Mile Road and Southfield Freeway. This all goes down at Southfield City Hall at 26000 Evergreen Road. The exhibit will close April 30.

Super Bowl FanFest comes to Detroit

To all the Super Bowl fans who are looking forward to the Chiefs and Eagles matchup on Sunday, Verizon is bringing the first-ever Super Bowl FanFest to 30 NFL cities across the country, and Detroit is on that list.

The experience will take place at Ford Field. According to the wireless carrier company, there will be food from local restaurants, meet and greets with local football legends, live music, games, and more to complete this unique football fan experience. Verizon customers can get tickets on a first-come-first-serve basis at verizonfanfest.com. The fandom starts at 4 p.m. on Feb. 9, followed by kickoff at 6:30 p.m.

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

Budget season is here, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has put forth a $83.5 billion proposal that targets environmental measures, mental health, a tax on vapes and more. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth welcomes the return of Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben as they sit down with Bridge Michigan’s deputy editor Jonathan Oosting to discuss what is likely to pass as the budget goes through subcommittees. 

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

In this episode:

• Gov. Whitmer’s $83.5 billion budget proposal
• The new proposed tax on vapes
• Gov. Whitmer set to release plan for road funding next week

The legislature needs to pass and present the budget for the upcoming fiscal year to the governor by July 1, 2025. Budget director Jen Flood presented the administration’s spending plan.

“This is not a huge change from previous spending years,” Kasben noted. “The governor wants to boost funding for financial aid, continue funding for preschool for four-year-olds, free breakfast and lunch for schools…” among many other things.

The budget also is making news for what isn’t in it — anything new about road funding. The governor is planning to present that next week.  

Whitmer proposed a new tax on vapes and nicotine pouches. Oosting shared how the budget isn’t receiving strong opposition, but the general sentiment is to spend less than last year.  

“The House Appropriations Chair [State Rep. Ann Bollin] said she is concerned about youth vaping but isn’t sure a tax is something she can support,” he said. “A lot of lawmakers in the Republican House, they’ve signed pledges to not raise taxes at all.” 

This budget was released before the Whitmer’s State of the State Address, which is slated for Feb. 26, 2025. 

More from WDET:

• Michigan supplemental budget proposal includes money for Oxford High School investigation
• Efforts to end flavored tobacco product sales in Detroit get a boost from the CDC
• MichMash: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shares key points from her State of the State address

Good news for Detroit homeowners. Home values in the city increased an average of 19% in 2024, with 99% of neighborhoods seeing an increase compared to the previous year, according to the mayor’s office.

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

Detroit homeowners gained $1.4 billion in new wealth last year from the appreciation in the value of their homes. This is the second largest gain in the city’s history.
This rise in value will be reflected in the city’s annual proposed property tax changes for 2025.

Even though the values increased, taxes won’t see a large increase due to the tax cap protections in the Michigan Constitution. Any home purchased prior to 2024 that gained value would see a property tax increase of 3.1% or less compared to last year’s rate. Only when the home changes ownership will the cap be lifted — and the new amount for the new owner will be based on the State Equalized Value the year following the transfer — and that new tax is protected by the cap.

For more information on how these changes affect you go to detroitmi.gov.

Other headlines for Friday, Jan. 31, 2025:

• The Detroit Police Athletic League will host a workshop for girls ages 11-17 on Saturday, Feb. 15, designed to help them learn how to construct a self-care routine and set goals through team building activities.
• The 67th annual Detroit Boat Show will open at Huntington Place on Saturday, Feb. 1 and run through Feb. 8.
• The Detroit Symphony Orchestra will present Prokofiev & Price featuring American Concert Violinist Randall Goosby and Conductor Christein Reif at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2. For tickets go to dso.org.

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

Many in Washington and across the state of Michigan were shocked by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters’ announcement this week that he will retire from Congress when his term ends in January 2027. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow discuss who could possibly fill the vacant seat. Plus, Detroit Mayor and Michigan gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan joins the show to share more about his decision to run for governor as an independent. 

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

In this episode:

• Sen. Gary Peters announcing his retirement from the U.S. Senate
• Who could potentially take Peter’s seat in 2027
• Mayor Mike Duggan shares why he chose to run as an independent

The aftermath of Peters’ announcement is potentially creating shifts into prospective candidates vying for Michigan political leadership. Roth expressed how the news give Democrats another hurdle to overcome.

“Democrats must be fuming,” she said. “Not to mention we might see some spill over effects on the governor’s race.” 

Speculation might influence potential gubernatorial candidates such as Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and State Sen. Mallory McMorrow to change their minds and consider the soon-to-be open Senate seat.

Later on in the show, Mayor Duggan shared what inspired his decision to run for governor as an independent, saying it was more of a logical assessment than a risky maneuver.  

“Look at the Gallup poll that they did for the last 40 years on party preference. Last year when they said, ‘What party are you associated with?’ [The polls showed] that 27% were Democrats and [those numbers] were dropping; 27% were Republicans and [those numbers] were dropping; 43% were independents and rising.” 

Duggan said he feels confident that he will be able to work with both parties better as an independent candidate. 

The Michigan gubernatorial race and U.S. Senate election will be on Nov. 3, 2026.

More from WDET:

• Detroit Evening Report: Activists, leaders share resources for immigrants; Gary Peters won’t seek reelection + more
• Democratic US Sen. Gary Peters says he’s already working with former campaign foes
• Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan will run for Michigan governor in 2026 as independent

The GOP-led Michigan House passed two bills this week to curb some of the changes to the state’s minimum wage and paid sick leave laws set to take effect next month following a Supreme Court ruling. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow talk to Danielle Atkinson of Mothering Justice and state Rep. Bill Schuette (R-Midland) about the general support and opposition towards the change. They also discuss Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s entry into the 2026 gubernatorial race.

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

In this episode:

• Jocelyn Benson’s bid for Michigan governor
• Pros and cons of Michigan’s new minimum wage, paid sick leave laws
• Michigan House passing bills to scale back new minimum wage/sick leave laws

Last summer, the Michigan Supreme Court struck down the controversial “adopt and amend” tactic used by the Legislature in 2018 to gut a voter-approved initiative to increase the state’s minimum wage and expand paid sick time. As a result, the state’s minimum wage is set to increase to $12.48 per hour beginning next month, and all Michigan companies will be required to provide their workers at least 40 hours of earned paid sick time annually.

But the ruling has created contention at the state capitol, and bills passed in the Michigan House on Thursday aim to scale back the paid sick leave and minimum wage laws before they take effect.

Atkinson says she opposes the changes House Republicans have presented, stressing the importance of paid sick time for all workers — especially the state’s most vulnerable populations.

“People who work in small businesses that often are exempt from policies. Individuals that are working to survive the effects of domestic violence,” she said. “We wanted to make sure this law covered ‘safe days,’” or paid days off for those facing unforeseen circumstances.

Schuette called the new paid sick leave law an “unworkable policy” for most small businesses in Michigan and said it will result in fewer opportunities and fewer jobs.

“I think this is about protecting both employees and small businesses, it’s both sides,” Schuette said. “That’s why you’re seeing a lot of workers saying ‘I like my current structure…I like to be able to bank my leave [of absence]’…It would be better to have small businesses with flexibility in their paid time off policy, than this one size fits all, top-down dogma.” 

The House bills now go to the Democrat-controlled Senate.

More from WDET:

• House committee advances bills to slow minimum wage increases, scale back paid sick leave guarantee
• MichMash: Michigan minimum wage increase to take effect in February
• Detroit Evening Report: Gov. Whitmer advocates for guaranteed paid leave in Michigan

This week on MichMash, Executive Director of The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) Kimberly Bezy sat down with host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow to discuss the intricacies of auto insurance in the state and the organization’s unique relationship to state government.

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

In this episode:

• State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt entering the 2026 Michigan gubernatorial race
• The MCCA’s relationship with the government
• Why the MCCA is in a shortfall

As of June 2024, the MCCA had $22.5 billion in assets and about $24.5 billion in liabilities. Bezy explained the shortfall was due to the recent change in the no fault reform.

“That changed it a little bit about our forecast for how much we would be paying those injured claimants and some investment options, those obviously change which is what resulted in us being in deficit position,” she said.

Roth and Gorchow also spoke about the slowly evolving 2026 race for governor in Michigan.

State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbit was the first Republican candidate to announce his bid for governor. His announcement followed Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s surprise announcement in December that he plans to run for governor as an independent.

Both Roth and Gorchow noted how Nesbitt’s campaign announcement video echoed much of the Republican talking points that brought the party success in the last election, with Gorchow adding that Nesbitt could be a formidable candidate.

“A democrat who shall remain nameless said something about Nesbitt that sums him up pretty well. This democrat said on the one hand Nesbitt is a really good legislator who is good to work with on policy, but on the other hand Nesbitt is such a good political tactician that they feared having to go up against him during campaign battles.” 

The Michigan gubernatorial election is taking place Nov. 3, 2026.

More from WDET:

• MichMash: Sen. Nesbitt on trying to find ‘common ground’ with Michigan Democrats
• MichMash: Efforts to improve auto no-fault insurance stall in Michigan Legislature
• State House Holds First Hearing on Duggan, Leonard Auto No Fault Overhaul

The state’s 103rd Legislative session began on Wednesday, with Republicans taking the majority in the House of Representatives. But Democrats still hold a majority in the state Senate, requiring bipartisan efforts in the Legislature to get bills passed into law.

This week, MichMash host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow discuss the first day back in session and some of the new legislative developments being drafted. Then, Gorchow sits down with Republican state Rep. Joseph Aragona to discuss his goals for this new Legislature and the likelihood for bipartisanship.

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

In this episode:

• House Republicans’ legislative priorities this session
• Likelihood of movement on FOIA expansion bills
• Republicans’ focus on government oversight

Roth noted that a coveted spot for a bill is to be House or Senate Bill No. 1, and this year’s Senate Bill 1 is Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) expansion — something we’ve talked about a lot on this show. 

It’s an issue that was killed during lame duck last year, and one that Gorchow said is hard to be optimistic about this session after multiple terms of inaction and with Republicans in control of the House.

“When a minority party becomes the majority party, they often get cold feet about this idea. See the House Democrats last term,” Gorchow said, adding that there are no firm commitments from House Republicans yet on this issue.

Still, Gorchow said, it’s “a clear message from the Senate that they want this done quickly.”

Aragona, a second term House Republican serving Clinton Township in Macomb County, says while he’d be supportive of FOIA expansion, his priorities this year will revolve around updating Michigan’s tipped wage and sick leave policies, as well as on expanding government oversight via the House Oversight Committee.

“We’re trying to bring a higher value for the tax dollars that people give state government throughout Michigan,” Aragona said, referring to House Republicans’ oversight priorities. “These subcommittees are meant to try and encompass the breadth of state government, and [to address] issues we’ve seen in the past where we haven’t gotten answers.”

More from WDET:

• MichMash: Michigan Legislature’s final days cover EVs, charter schools + more
• FOIA expansion, minimum wage, sick leave bills lead off legislative session in Lansing
• MichMash: Looking back on the state’s top political stories of 2024

The city of Detroit is providing convenient parking, free transportation and more for the 2025 Detroit Auto Show, taking place now through Jan. 20.

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

Those attending the show can park at a city parking facility, private garage/lot or street parking meter close to a People Mover station and ride for free to the Huntington Place station.

The People Mover will also be operating earlier on the weekends during the Detroit Auto Show, from 6:30 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday.

Individuals can also park anywhere along the Woodward Corridor between New Center and downtown and ride the QLine for free and get dropped off two blocks from Huntington Place.

The city is also restricting traffic in certain areas around the auto show,  including on Washington Boulevard, Atwater, Shelby, Bates, Congress, Fort, Griswold, Cass and westbound Jefferson.

For more information about traffic and transportation during the Detroit Auto Show, visit the city of Detroit’s website.

Other headlines for Friday, Jan. 10, 2024:

• The Detroit Auto Show’s co-executive director Sam Klemet spoke with WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter about what to look forward to at this year’s event.
• After a stellar performance against the Minnesota Vikings for the final game of the regular season, the Detroit Lions are 15-2, No. 1 in the division, No. 1 in the NFC conference and No. 1 in the hearts of passionate Detroit Lions fans.
• Grammy nominated and Soul Train Award winner Chanté Moore is gracing the stage of Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel on Friday, Jan. 17.

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

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s office released a report today stating that Detroit saw a historic drop in violent crime in 2024.

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

Detroit ended last year with 204 criminal homicides, a 19 percent drop from 2023 and its fewest homicides since 1965. Preliminary numbers show that Detroit ended the year with 606 non-fatal shootings, which is a 25 percent drop from the previous year and 48 percent drop from 2022.

The city is attributing these drops to city, county, state, federal and community partners. Special attention is being focused on the community violence intervention initiative ShotStoppers, and their work in the community.

The six ShotStopper groups are New Era, Detroit 300, Force Detroit, Wayne Metro/Denby Alliance/Camp Restore, Detroit’s People’s Community and Detroit Friends & Family. Together, these community violence intervention groups beat the citywide average of 35 percent of violent crime reduction.

To read more of this report, visit detroitmi.gov. 

Other headlines for Friday, Jan. 3, 2025:

• This Sunday, Jarod Goff and the Detroit Lions go against Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings. The winner of this game will clinch the NFC North and the No. 1 seed in the conference playoffs, meaning they will get a bye week and home field advantage throughout the playoffs — as long as they aren’t eliminated, of course. The loser will be the best team in NFL history by winning percentage to have failed to win a division title. So, in short, a lot is on the line with Sunday night’s prime time matchup. The game will take place at 8:20 p.m. at Ford Field.

• Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Farmington Hills is moving to a new location, and this weekend is your last chance to visit the arcade and museum in its original home. They will be open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is also free! Marvin’s has vintage coin-operated machines and nostalgia-inducing games, as well as the newest video games available too. They are moving because their original shopping center was purchased by a developer and is being demolished and redeveloped. They’ll be moving to Orchard Mall in West Bloomfield and the owner says the new location will be three times larger than the previous location. After this weekend, they plan to reopen in the late spring. For updates, visit their Facebook page. 

• Next weekend, comedic rock star Kevin Hart is coming to the Motor City on for a three-day, back-to-back weekend affair. The Grammy-nominated stand-up comedian will be at the Fox Theatre on Jan. 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 12 at 7:00 p.m. for his “Acting My Age” tour. This is Hart’s ninth tour and although he has sold out arenas before, he is looking to create more of an intimate environment for this comedy hour. For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com. 

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 Nargis Rahman’s interview with fiber artist and educator Fatema Haque, who helped realize the first exhibit of Bengali arts and culture at the Hamtramck Historical Museum. She spoke about some of the community programming created around the exhibit.

Other headlines for Friday, Dec. 27, 2024:

• Premier Pet Supply and Ruff Life Photography are helping pet owners and their fur babies set the tone for 2025 with New Year’s Pet Photos from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 28, at Premier Pet Supply’s downtown location for a $10 donation. All proceeds will be donated to local rescues.
• Detroit History Tours and The Detroit History Club are offering a variety of holiday tours this weekend. The “Detroit Home for the Holidays: Snazzy Brunch’ Bus Tour” starts at the Detroit History Club and includes a visit to the Detroit Yacht Club for brunch, homes in Indian Village, the Downtown Winter Market and the historic Fisher Building. The brunch tour starts at 10:30 a.m. There is also a late lunch tour at 3 p.m. A Christmas Lights Crawl starts at 6 p.m. and takes attendees to the Beacon Park Winter Wonderland, Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo, and Campus Martius — home to Detroit’s official city Christmas tree, Menorah and Kwanzaa Kinara — heated outdoor shopping stalls, a beer garden, and ice-skating.
• The Preservation of Jazz Monday Night Music Series will host a tribute to Nina Simone at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 30, at Aretha’s Jazz Café . Tickets are $35 and doors open at 6 p.m.
• White Feather Holistic Arts is having a New Year’s Eve Bowl Burning Ceremony in Windsor. Attendees will be guided in a ritual focused on releasing old energies and inviting in new ones. The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Pre-register by emailing info@whitefeatherarts.com or calling 519–996–6409.

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

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

• Dysfunction in the state Legislature that bookended 2024
• The Republican comeback in the 2024 election
• Political stories to keep an eye out for in 2025

Gorchow says what played out in the Michigan Republican Party in 2024 is a good subtext for the entire year, in that it captured the arc of the Republican comeback.

A year ago, Kristina Karamo was chair of the Michigan Republican Party, and nothing was going well. She was turning against former allies in the party, donors had closed their wallets and the party was broke and in disarray.

But party members removed her and put former Congressman Pete Hoekstra in charge.

“Pete Hoekstra really saved what was a sinking ship,” Gorchow said. “He reestablished the party as at least an active presence in campaigns; some key groundwork was laid to assure that state House Republicans were no longer totally on their own — which they were until he was in charge.”

Roth reflected on the most recent dysfunction in the Legislature during lame duck, noting that the Democrats’ gameplan of playing it safe until the 2024 election didn’t go as planned.

“It seemed like their thinking was, ‘In 2024, there’s an election year. We don’t want to pass anything that’s going to come back to haunt us during the election. So we’re going to save everything for after that election.’ That seems like such a bad idea, because nobody likes to have these marathon sessions,” she said.

But after 54 Republicans and Democratic Rep. Karen Whitsett refused to participate in last week’s legislative session, the state House was brought to a standstill — leaving all bills on their agenda dead on the floor.

“Presidential election cycles, at least in the Trump Era, has become the good session for the Republicans,” Gorchow said. “For decades it was the opposite.” 

The state House will be back in session in early January, with Republicans at the helm.

More from WDET:

• MichMash: Potential ‘difficult lame duck session’ looms for Democrats
• MichMash: Will Chatfield embezzlement charges push legislature to act on financial disclosures?
• Detroit Evening Report: Mary Sheffield enters 2025 Detroit mayoral race

Democratic control of the Michigan Legislature crashed to a halt on Thursday, Dec. 19, after GOP lawmakers and Democrat Karen Whitsett of Detroit refused to show up to session. MichMash host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow uncover why things went so poorly during these legislative sessions with Gongwer staff writer Elena Durnbaugh.

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

In this episode:

• The Michigan House adjourns without voting on major items.
• What caused the dysfunction in the Michigan House.
• How things are looking for the Democrats come the new legislature in January.

Many state legislators expressed disappointment and shock after lone Democrat Whitsett and 54 Republicans walked out of session on Thursday, leaving everything on the agenda dead on the floor. 

House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) attempted to force the House members back to session by issuing a “call of the House,” but failed to rally the quorum needed to conduct business, resulting in the body adjourning until next year.

Durnbaugh said many lawmakers — including Whitsett — were frustrated by House Democrats’ lack of action on their own legislative priorities.

“Whitsett was told that the [water affordability bill] was something that was going to be voted on,” Durnbaugh said. “She was apparently under the impression that it was going to proceed, but those negotiations fell a part and so [did] Whitsett’s cooperation with the House.”

Gorchow noted how the lack of cooperation in the house also affected bipartisan legislation, including a bill that would have provided greater public funding and assistance for juvenile justice.

“[The bill] was sponsored by a House Republican and it went to Senate, where it passed with bipartisan support,” Gorchow said. “The Senate made one tiny change, they took out an effective date that was outdated — which meant it had to be approved again by the House — but the House couldn’t do it because they didn’t have a quorum and now that bill is dead.”  

Democrats will lose their majority in the House in January when the new legislative session begins.

More from WDET:

• Democrats, Republicans kill lame duck in Michigan House
• Michigan House Republicans stage walk out
• MichMash: Democrat Karen Whitsett facing backlash over abortion stance

Tonight on The Detroit Evening Report, we cover Thursday’s fizzled session in the Michigan House after GOP lawmakers walked out; Detroit’s new executive director of transit and more.

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

Michigan House adjourns early

Democratic leaders in the Michigan House failed to muster a quorum during Thursday’s session, effectively killing legislation left on the agenda before Republicans take over the House in the New Year.

Democratic Floor Leader Abraham Aiyash said he was “disappointed” and “shocked” that 54 Republicans and one rogue Democrat — Karen Whitsett, of Detroit — “refused to show up,” bringing the House to a standstill.

“Goal posts kept moving and the conversations fell apart,” Aiyash told WDET’s Russ McNamara.

Among the dead legislation was a gun control measure to ban bump stocks, as well as a measure to expand the state’s Freedom of Information Act to include the governor’s office and Legislature.

Duggan names new executive director of transit

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan named Detroit People Mover General Manager Robert Cramer as Detroit’s new executive director of transit this week.

Cramer will take over for G. Michael Staley, who announced last week that he is leaving the role. Cramer has served as the general manager of the People Mover for two years, where he oversaw the service and infrastructure improvements. Staley will remain in charge until Cramer takes over on Jan. 6.

Duggan says he aims to bring the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) back to pre-pandemic service levels by expanding the service in 2025. Over the next two years, there will be at least 84 new buses, which represents nearly 30% of the DDOT fleet.

Southfield Christmas Bar Crawl

The 2024 Southfield Christmas Bar Crawl is set for 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Monday. Dec. 23.

Experience Southfield’s holiday spirit with what organizers are saying will be a festive bar crawl featuring exclusive holiday-themed cocktails, live entertainment and more. Participating venues include BLVD, Starter’s Bar & Grille, North Bar & Grille, and Salt + Ko. You can also participate in the ugly sweater contest by posting a photo on social media using the hashtag #southfieldbarcrawl2024. Visit eventbrite for more information.

Motor City Kwanzaa celebration

Witness the largest Kinara lighting in the world right in the heart of the city at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26. Activist, author, professor of Africana studies and the creator Kwanzaa, Dr. Maulana Karenga, will be in attendance via satellite. The event will take place in Cadillac Square between Bates and Woodard in Downtown Detroit.

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