Detroit’s North End will soon be getting some special funds for summer events in the area. 

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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced more than $130,000 in grants on Wednesday for nine Michigan communities, including Grand Haven, Saline, and Blissfield. 

The grants of up to $15,000 are part of the Michigan Main Street Vibrancy program, with money going toward community enhancement efforts and improvement projects. 

Funding can be used for a wide range of purposes, including physical improvements such as signage, advertising or pop-up events. 

Other headlines for Wednesday, June 25, 2025:

• Former Judge and state legislator Virgil C. Smith has died at 77 years old. Smith served for more than a decade as a Wayne County Circuit Court judge. He was working as Chief of Staff in the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office when he was appointed as a judge in 2004. Before that, Smith served in the state House for 11 years, and another dozen years in the state Senate. He was Michigan’s first Black Senate minority floor leader.
• The city of Detroit will hold a mayoral candidates forum Wednesday evening to give residents a chance to interact with candidates running in the August mayoral primary.  The event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. at the 3Fifty Rooftop terrace above Music Hall, 350 Madison St., Detroit.
• The Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee is hosting a meeting Thursday to get feedback from the public about potential redesign plans on the island. Belle Isle Conservancy CEO Meagan Elliot says the organization has been attending block club meetings and encouraging residents to make their thoughts heard. The meeting will be held at 9 a.m. at the Flynn Pavilion on Belle Isle. It will also be livestreamed.
• The Detroit Golf Club is getting ready to host another national event.  The Rocket Classic kicks off Wednesday, with more than 150 athletes taking part in the tournament — including a dozen of the world’s top ranked golfers. The tournament will be televised on CBS Saturday and Sunday afternoons. 

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The Motown Museum announced this week that it will pause tours of the Detroit institution for one year so that it can finish a multi-million dollar expansion project. 

The museum will temporarily stop public tours on Oct. 1. Other operations at the site — such as the retail store — will remain open, and Rocket Plaza will continue to hold performances and other activities. 

The final stage of the $75 million dollar project includes the construction of a new building and installation of exhibits. 

The museum — located at the site of the original Motown studios — opened in 1985. 

Other headlines for Wednesday, June 18, 2025:

• Detroit’s Greater Grace Temple is holding an event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday to prepare residents for jobs using artificial intelligence. The Juneteenth National Digital Opportunity Bible Study is part of an effort to train Black communities for the emerging uses of AI in the workforce.  The event will provide workshops on digital literacy and workforce tool kits, which include info on data privacy and cybersecurity.
• Another Republican has jumped into the race to become the next governor of Michigan. Former state legislator Tom Leonard announced his candidacy on Tuesday.  He served as Michigan’s Speaker of the House in 2017 and 2018.
• Gas prices in metro Detroit are expected to rise in the coming days, according to AAA Michigan. Right now, the average price of gas in the area is $3.26 per gallon — up from $3.15 last week. Prices are expected to rise because of the conflict in the Middle East.
• Detroiters face a risk of possible severe storms this afternoon and tonight.  The National Weather Service says a front moving into the area will mix with hot, humid air, creating the conditions for strong storms.  Forecasters have given Metro Detroit a slight risk of severe weather.
• The Detroit Tigers continue to set the pace for the rest of MLB with the best record in baseball, 47 wins and 27 losses, with a month to go until the All-Star Break. The Tigers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park Tuesday night 7 to 3.  The two teams are scheduled to play again Wednesday night. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m.

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

Michigan lawmakers aim to finalize state budget by July 1

The Michigan Legislature is working to finish next year’s budget by July 1. Both parties are addressing key issues such as economic development, education, and infrastructure.

Senator Roger Victory discusses road funding solutions

Roger Victory, the state senator for Michigan’s 31st District, spoke with WDET’s Jerome Vaughn at the Mackinac Policy Conference. The Hudsonville Republican says he’s been having conversations with colleagues in the House about potential solutions to Michigan’s road funding challenges. Victory, who has served on the Transportation Committee, says he’s well-versed in the issue.

A key part of the discussion, he says, is how local entities can partner with the state by making direct investments in roads.

“If you study some of the places where the local roads are at, you see those counties or townships, or municipalities — they, themselves, are putting investments into those roads. And they’ve been moving the needle.”

Victory believes this local investment can help create a statewide framework to improve roads.

“If we could come up with half a billion dollars at the state level, incentivizing our locals with half a billion dollars, that’s a billion-dollar-a-year investment.”

He says this approach could significantly improve local roads over the next decade. When asked whether that’s enough funding, he replied that it’s “$10 billion more than is being spent now.”

Victory also emphasized the importance of following best practices and modeling road improvements after communities that are already succeeding. He supports using current funding mechanisms to make smarter infrastructure investments.

Education and workforce development a priority

Victory says another key to attracting businesses to Michigan is building an educated workforce. He cited an example from his own district:

“We have a career-line tech center. Fabulous. Know the problem? It’s so good that there’s a waiting line for students. There should be no waiting list for those students who want to enter that career-line tech center.”

He also says more effort is needed to recruit and support instructors, noting that many skilled professionals face a choice between teaching or pursuing more lucrative jobs in the private sector.

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GM to invest $4B in U.S. manufacturing, reshuffle SUV and EV production

General Motors has announced plans to invest four billion dollars in U.S. manufacturing facilities over the next two years. The Detroit automaker says the investment at several factories around the country will allow it to build more than two million vehicles per year in the U.S. Such a move would help GM avoid certain tariff penalties.

The company’s Orion Township assembly plant will begin making gas-powered, full-sized SUVs and light pickup trucks. That change will shift the manufacturing of several electric SUV and pickup models to Factory Zero on the Detroit-Hamtramck border.

GM CEO Mary Barra says the moves demonstrate the company’s commitment to building vehicles and creating jobs in the U.S.

Detroit casinos see slight revenue boost in May

Detroit’s casinos are reporting slightly improved revenues for the month of May. The three casinos say revenues rose to $114 million last month—up 1.2% from May 2024.

MGM Grand held the largest share of the market at 47%, followed by MotorCity Casino at 30%, and Hollywood Casino at Greektown with 23%.

The three casinos provided $13.4 million in taxes and wagering agreement payments to the City of Detroit last month. They also paid an additional $9.1 million in taxes to the State of Michigan.

Downtown Detroit Partnership rolls out summer fun at Campus Martius

The Downtown Detroit Partnership is working to spread the word about several of its summer events. The organization will once again bring 20,000 tons of sand to downtown Detroit to create “The Beach at Campus Martius,” giving kids a chance to play—and adults a chance to relax.

Other DDP events planned for the summer include trivia nights, a beach party, Thursday markets in Cadillac Square, and live music. Campus Martius Park will also host Movie Night in the D, where attendees can enjoy films under the stars.

Heidelberg Project launches summer series with ‘Second Saturdays’

The Heidelberg Project is kicking off a series of events beginning this weekend. The organization, known for its internationally acclaimed art installation, will once again host Second Saturdays throughout the summer.

Organizers say the goal is to activate the space where the Heidelberg Project is located and bring the community together.

This weekend’s event will feature Puppet Karaoke Detroit, scheduled to run from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Tigers hold MLB’s best record after win over Orioles

The Detroit Tigers continue to set the pace for the rest of Major League Baseball. They currently hold the best record in the league, with 44 wins and 24 losses.

Detroit beat the Orioles in Baltimore last night, 5–3. The two teams face off again tonight (Wednesday), with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

John McElroy is a thought leader in the auto industry. He currently broadcasts three radio segments on WWJ, writes a blog for Auto Blog and a monthly column for Wards Auto.

Speaking with WDET News Director Jerome Vaughn at the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference on Mackinac Island, McElroy warned that the industry is at “a near breaking point, particularly in Michigan.”

“There is a host of things that is hitting the industry all at once, and unprecedented in history,” he said. “So it’s something where I think we need much greater leadership than what we’re seeing right now within the industry itself — from our elected leaders as well — because we’ve seen the U.S. auto industry shrink tremendously over the last couple of decades, and without the proper policies and procedures coming in place, we’re in danger of losing a whole lot more.”

McElroy says the price of cars is too high, tariffs are hurting the market, and the electric vehicle transition has stalled. 

–WDET’s Jenny Sherman contributed to this report.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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Politicians converge on Mackinac Island

The Detroit Regional Chamber’s Mackinac Policy Conference is underway on Mackinac Island. Hundreds of politicians, business executives and non-profit leaders are spending the week talking to one another…strategizing for the future of the region and networking. Key topics include panel discussions on economic development and education. U-S Senate candidates will introduce themselves and their ideas for next year’s election. Three Democrats are taking part in that panel. They include former Detroit Health Director Abdul El-Sayed, State Senator Mallory McMorrow and Congresswoman Haley Stevens.

For Detroiters, one of the highlights of the Mackinac Policy Conference will be a forum that will include the city’s mayoral candidates. Stephen Henderson and Nolan Finley will moderate the panel. Five candidates will take part in the event:

• City Council President Mary Sheffield
• Council Member Fred Durhal
• Former City Council President Saunteel Jenkins
• Pastor Soloman Kinlock
• Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig

Turmoil in Hamtramck

The Hamtramck city council has put city manager Max Garbarino on paid administrative leave. Mayor Amer Ghalib and others criticized Garbarino’s decision to suspend Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri last week.

Garbarino told the Detroit News that an officer accused the chief of working with an associate of President Donald Trump to bribe the president in exchange for pardoning a federal prisoner. Altaheri denies the allegations. The officer has also been suspended. The mayor who is Trump’s pick to be ambassador to Kuwait, also referenced secretly-recorded audio of the chief arguing with his wife.

The council has temporarily appointed financial officer Aamir Ahsan as city manager.

Stellantis names Antonio Filosa as next CEO

Stellantis has found its next leader in-house. The automaker is promoting its chief quality officer Antonio Filosa to chief executive officer. He’ll replace Carlos Tavares, who resigned last year. Filosa is also the company’s chief operating officer for the Americas. He’ll take over as CEO next month when he’ll announce his leadership team.

Tigers stay hot with league-leading record

The Detroit Tigers remain atop Major League Baseball’s American League. The team had a record of 37 wins and 20 losses at the beginning of the day. The Tigers are on a four game winning streak. They’re playing the final game in a three-game homestand series against the San Francisco Giants. The Tigers have the day off before starting a weekend series against the Royals in Kansas City.