Michigan has seen some extreme weather the past few weeks, with temperatures rising recently into the upper 90s and a heat index pushing 100 degrees.

Older adults are more susceptible to heat exhaustion or heat stroke during these periods of extreme heat.

Temperatures are expected to remain high this week in metro Detroit. The National Weather Service is projecting a high of 88 degrees on the Fourth of July, and a high of 94 degrees over the holiday weekend. 

Dr. Pragnesh Patel, chief of the Division of Geriatrics at Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center, says older adults are some of the most vulnerable to becoming ill from extreme heat.

“With aging, there are changes, and they have multiple comorbid conditions that can put them at risk from higher temperature,” he said. “That can lead to some serious consequences if they don’t take precautions.”

Some of these illnesses include heat exhaustion, which can then lead to heat stroke, a dangerous condition where the body can no longer control its temperature’

Heat exhaustion symptoms include headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, cramps and elevated body temperature. Patel says in addition to these symptoms, people with heat stroke can run a high fever of 104 degrees or more and not perspire.

“Despite the excessive high temperatures, you’re not able to dissipate that heat through the sweating mechanism. And they also become very confused, become disoriented, have rapid heartbeat, palpitations and shallow breathing — just a severe form of exhaustion,” he said.

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If left untreated, it can cause permanent disability or death.

Staying hydrated is among the best ways to prevent heat-related illnesses. Patel says older adults should stay hydrated even if they may not feel thirsty. He also suggested that people stay indoors in cool areas, wear lighter, loose-fitting clothing, and reduce caffeine intake.

He says older adults are often hospitalized for dehydration, which is why they should take extra precautions during extreme heat events.

“They come with symptoms of heat stroke, and a lot of older folks are susceptible to this because they also have other conditions, or they may be taking medications that puts them at higher risk,” Patel said.

People can call 2-1-1 or their local health department to find a nearby cooling center.

Each year the Concert of Colors transforms Detroit with sounds from across the globe.

This year the rhythm is beating strongly in Mexicantown, where the festival kicks off on Saturday with a special showcase of Tejano and Latin music. Tejano, or Tex-Mex music, is a soulful blend of borderland storytelling and rhythms rooted in Mexico, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Ray Lozano, executive director of the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation, joined The Metro to talk more about Concert of Colors, Tejano music and the importance of amplifying immigrant voices.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

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In honor of Juneteenth, Wayne State University hosted a series of lectures and a genealogy workshop focused on tracing African American family lineages beyond slavery.

The workshop was led by Dr. Carolyn Carter, a historian and professional genealogist. Carter says genealogy research is an emotional journey.

“You’re going to find things that you didn’t know, you’re going to make discoveries that you didn’t know, that are going to be emotional. And you have to be ready and open and prepared for that,” she said. “But I tell my students, assume all stories are false because you were not there, and so it’s your job to find the truth in that journey.”

On this episode of Detroit Evening Report Weekends, we listen to WDET reporter Bre’Anna Tinsley’s conversation with Carter about the process of tracing one’s ancestry and the difficulties of tracing the histories of African Americans.

Later, Tinsley joins Detroit Evening Report host Sascha Raiyn to discuss their own family histories.

Listen to the episode using the media player above.

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

A judge is set to decide whether low-level radioactive material left over from the creation of the first atomic bomb can find its forever home in a metro Detroit landfill.

The state of New York wants to send about 6,000 cubic yards of tainted soil and 4,000 gallons of contaminated groundwater to a waste disposal site near Belleville, Michigan.

It’s one of a handful in the country licensed to dispose of such waste.

Communities near the site, including Canton Township, filed a lawsuit to stop shipments of the toxic material from New York.

Canton Township Supervisor Anne Marie Graham-Hudak says the suit kept those remnants of the Manhattan Project out of Michigan so far. But not other contaminated material.

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Anne Marie Graham-Hudak: At this time, we still have this kind of waste coming into Michigan, whether it be into the injection well in Romulus or into the Wayne disposal site. But we’re hoping this lawsuit helps us launch some precedents to stop that.

Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: But the specific one from New York has not come yet?

AMH: No. And it was supposed to start coming basically in January. So we’re glad that we were able to stop it. We met with the judge, the hearing was in May and the judge is scheduled to make a ruling on July 2. We hope that happens. We’ve been working also with Michigan state Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton) and state Rep. Reggie Miller (D-Van Buren Twp). They have two bills that are going to increase tipping fees, amongst many other things.

“The EPA were saying that this was safe. Our question was, ‘If this is so safe, why is it being moved? Why don’t you just mitigate it in place?’ And that’s still what we’re questioning.”

– Anne Marie Graham-Hudak, Canton Township supervisor

Our tipping fees are one of the lowest in the nation. We’re at roughly 36 cents a ton, so we’re basically inviting people to come dump into Michigan. In other states you’re looking at $13 a ton — that just exacerbates what we already have. And at some point our landfills will be full and we will be looking for other places. The Canton landfill maybe has five years left. The EPA were saying that this was safe. Our question was, “If this is so safe, why is it being moved? Why don’t you just mitigate it in place?” And that’s still what we’re questioning. Radioactive waste in the body is absorbed and it’s additive, so if you live near where they’re dumping it, that’s a problem.

Also, Michigan has 21% of the world’s fresh water, and we’re putting this in a dense area. They’ve got schools nearby. The groundwater takes it out to the Rouge River, which takes it to the Detroit River, which takes it out to the Great Lakes. So why are we even thinking of putting it there? Also, they’re going to store the waste in what they call “burritos.” They wrap the waste in these plastic burritos and then come here and bury it and put a cap on it. But they could not even guarantee that the plastic they’re going to wrap it in will match the half-life of some of this radioactive dirt. I’m a retired engineer. One of the things that I worked on before I left Ford Motor Company was electromagnetic radiation — that was actually one of my favorite classes in college. And they can’t guarantee how this waste will stay encompassed in this plastic. There’s no test on this plastic that had been done to see that. I think their guidelines are way too narrow. But they’re going to keep dumping it, which makes it additive, and it doesn’t go away. It’s a constant radiation.

QK: So you don’t trust what the agencies or the company are saying about this?

AMH: Correct. I do not trust it. I think some of the guidelines that have been made in Michigan, especially, are leaning more towards favoring companies. We’re an automotive area and we know that we’ve got PFAS. We know that, in the early days, automotive companies would dump (material.) There’s brownfields here for a reason, because companies dumped. And I really believe that some of our land is contaminated. I think our guidelines in Michigan are way too low. They protect companies more than they do our residents. This is a public health issue, it really is.

QK: So what remedy would you seek at this point?

AMH: That we stop this. State Sen. Darrin Camilleri’s bill actually states that we just stop everything from coming in. We do more studies and more testing. We do not allow any more radioactive waste to come into Michigan. We do not allow any more new sites to be established. I know a lot of the businesses are concerned about this, but if you look at it, even hospitals generate radioactive waste. They do X-rays, MRI’s, things like that. So how do we mitigate in place what we have instead of transporting it? I don’t think we should be transporting it. Quit thinking about kicking things down the road and saying, “Oh, hey, we’re just gonna keep doing this. We’re gonna keep making nuclear reactors and we’ll just keep burying it, not really thinking about what’s going to happen in the future.” I think that we’ve done that for too long and too haphazardly. Our limits need to be looked at. I think that they’re more pro-business than they are pro-public health. That is my biggest concern.

QK: So that’s what you would hope to have happen. You’ve been dealing with this issue for a while now. What do you think is within the realms of reality?

AMH: I think if we want it to be more in the business of reality it can be. Look at the concerns raised by the agencies, the mayors and supervisors and the townspeople. That’s why we have this injunction, that’s why we’re trying to push this legislation through. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce needs to take a look at things a little bit more. Let’s just talk about changing tipping fees. They’re saying they don’t agree with that. But we’re just a dumping state based on 36 cents a ton.

QK: If the disposal company comes back and says, “We’re licensed to do this. As you say, hospitals and other places keep making this kind of material. This site is allowed to take it and we’ve got to put it somewhere. So why not here?” How would you answer them back?

AMH: My answer is that we need to study this even more. I can understand that we have to decide what to do with Michigan’s waste, where this is happening. But taking outside waste, it just gives us less space to figure out what to do with our own. And it also is in a densely populated area. There is an interstate commerce clause that does not allow us to stop. There would have to be a constitutional change on the federal level also, because this is considered trading commerce and money.

QK: Have you ever had much reaction back from the federal government on this entire topic, no matter which administration was running it at the time?

AMH: Not really. They keep pointing to the interstate commerce clause. People always say it’s hard to change a constitution and it will never happen. But the U.S. Supreme Court just changed some things that were in the Constitution for 50 years. So I think it’s a possibility. I think the need is there. The want has to make it happen.

More stories from The Metro

The city of Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation has announced the return of its annual Detroit Bike Summit at Chandler Park this weekend.

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

The ride will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, and is free and open to all ages. This year’s theme is “Eastside Bound,” focusing on community, clean transportation and active mobility on Detroit’s east side.

“Detroiters deserve access to safe, fun, and convenient ways to get around their neighborhoods,” said Tim Slusser, chief of the Office of Mobility Innovation, in a press release. “We’re excited to bring the Bike Summit to Chandler Park and highlight the importance of active mobility and community-led solutions.”

In addition to a full day of riding, there will be food trucks on site, music and more. The first 100 people to register will be eligible to receive a prepaid lunch voucher. The actual bike ride begins at noon, leaving from Chandler Park. Riders will bike to Detroit’s Maheras-Gentry Park and back — a seven-mile ride.

Visit detroitmi.gov for more information. 

Other headlines for Friday, June 27, 2025:

• The city of Detroit is one of 50 finalists in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ sixth Mayors Challenge — a competition to encourage innovation in local government that improves life in cities around the world. The city will receive $50,000 to test its idea for improving Detroit’s property information systems.
• Detroit’s Rouge Park is turning 100 years old this year. To celebrate the milestone, the nonprofit Friends of Rouge Park is hosting a free, three-day festival at the park this weekend, June 27-29.
• Since May 31, local nonprofit group Black Leaders Detroit has been participating in the national Ride for Equity — a 1,600-mile bike ride through the midwest aiming to raise money and create awareness around equitable funding practices for entrepreneurs of African descent.
• The Rocket Classic continues this weekend at the Detroit Golf Club, with more than 150 athletes taking part in the 7th annual tournament. It will be televised on CBS Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

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

Two groundbreaking leaders of Detroit’s arts and culture scene will be honored at the GhostLight Arts Initiative’s inaugural GhostLight Gala, taking place this Sunday at the Garden Theater.

Honoree Njia Kai is a celebrated cultural curator, producer and community visionary. Through her company NKSK Events + Production, the lifelong Detroiter has curated some of Detroit’s most iconic cultural celebrations— from the Charles H. Wright Museum’s African World Festival to the Downtown Detroit Tree Lighting.

Dr. George Shirley, who will also be honored on Sunday, is a man of many firsts.

He was the first Black man to teach music at a Detroit High School; the first Black tenor to perform a leading role at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City; and the first Black member of the U.S. Army chorus in Washington D.C. He also received the National Medal of Arts from former President Barack Obama in 2015 for his work mentoring countless Black musicians.

Kai and Shirley both joined The Metro ahead of the gala to discuss their commitment and contributions to Detroit’s art scene.

Proceeds from the event will help support GhostLight programming, including its Obsidian Theatre Festival — which provides a platform for emerging Black voices in theater and film.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

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After decades of steady decline, Detroit’s population is finally growing. Latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows Detroit increased its population by 6,800 residents from 2023 to 2024.

And even more people seem to be moving to Detroit’s neighboring suburbs, with many housing investments being made in recent years in the city’s outer suburban ring and nearby “exurbs” like Lyon, Milford and Commerce townships.

Ro Harvard, a realtor with Island Realty — an affiliate of Keller Williams Realty — joined on The Metro on Thursday to shine some light on the inner workings of Detroit’s housing scene, and what types of amenities and priorities draw buyers to certain communities — from school districts and walkability to affordability and property values.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

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Detroit’s Rouge Park is turning 100 this year.

Friends of Rouge Park is hosting a free, three-day festival at the park this weekend, June 27-29, in celebration of the park’s centennial.

Many improvements have been made at Rouge Park in the last few decades, offering more services and recreational fun to city residents. At 1,200 acres, it’s the city’s largest park, and the biggest urban park in the state. It was so popular at one point, it attracted international crowds. But like the city, the park fell on hard times and went into a period of decline and disinvestment.

Despite those challenges, the park remains a staple in the city today thanks to the stewardship of community organizations like Friends of Rouge Park.

Today on The Metro, we play a conversation WDET Intern Lauren Myers had recently with Friends of Rouge Park Trustee Paul Stark about the park’s history. Also, Metro producer Cary Junior II and Metro Co-host Tia Graham visit Rouge Park to hear directly from residents about their connections to the park and how it’s changed over time.

Later in the show, Friends of Rouge Park’s Executive Director Lindsay Pielack and Land Stewardship Manager Antonio Cosme join the conversation and share more about the centennial celebration this weekend.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

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This week, we’re celebrating lots of different aspects of our community, from the people who make things happen to the places where memories are made.

Plus, where to catch local performers in metro Detroit. Read on to learn more.

Cultural celebrations

This weekend, Detroit’s largest park is celebrating its 100th birthday. The Rouge Park Centennial Celebration will include a family-friendly carnival, live entertainment for all ages and a community resource fair. Admission is free, and the event goes from 5–8 p.m. on Friday, and from 12–5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit rougepark.org.

WDET is partnering with the Concert of Colors to celebrate Michigan’s only historical marker dedicated to the pioneers of Detroit Tejano music on Saturday, June 28. Concert of Colors in Mexicantown will highlight different styles of Latin music, featuring live performances, dancing and food. Admission is free, and the event goes from 1–8 p.m. at the Mexicantown CDC Mercado Plaza. For more information, visit our events page.

The GhostLight Arts Initiative is celebrating five years of arts engagement, production, education and activism in Detroit with an inaugural GhostLight Gala on Sunday, June 29. They’ll be honoring producer Njia Kai and musician Dr. George Shirley for their trailblazing contributions to Black arts, and the evening will feature special remarks, performances, an auction and more. The event goes from 7:30–10 p.m. at the Garden Theatre in Detroit, and tickets range from $40–$150. For more information, visit ghostlight.art.

The Henry Ford and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra are celebrating the 4th of July with their annual Salute to America event at Greenfield Village from Wednesday, July 2 through Saturday, July 5. There will be food trucks, fireworks and a patriotic musical performance by the DSO. Festivities go from 5–10 p.m. each day. Tickets are $36–$42 for the general public or $30–$35 for members, and children under 4 get in for free. For more information, visit thehenryford.org.

Local talent

On Friday, June 27 through Sunday, June 29, The Pleasant Underground is hosting their third annual PUGFEST in Ferndale, highlighting local indie rock, punk, Midwest emo and post-hardcore musicians. This year’s lineup includes performances by Charmer, Origami Button, Eyewash and more. Day passes range from $25–$55, and weekend passes are available for $100. For more information, visit noxp.org.

On Friday, June 27, Michigan Central continues its Fridays at the Station series with a Peoples Records takeover. There will be live performances by the Balance Duo and the Ian Fink Ensemble, with DJ sets curated by Peoples Records in between acts. The event goes from 5–10 p.m. and tickets are $15. For more information, visit their event page.

On Thursday, July 3, Ziggy’s in Ypsilanti is hosting a variety show featuring live music and comedy. Comedians include Who Can Say? Improv and “What’s So Funny About Detroit” alum Brad Wenzel and Sam Rager. There will also be live music from Ralph Manginio and Missing Cats. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit @ziggysypsi on Instagram.

Children experiencing food insecurity this summer will have multiple services available to them to get free, nutritional meals.

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

The Michigan Department of Education’s Summer Food Service Program — known nationally as  known as the SUN Meals To-Go program and known in Michigan as Meet Up and Eat Up,  — provides children in need with nutritious meals at on-site locations all across the state.

Families that can’t visit an on-site service can visit the meals to-go locations to take meals home. To find a location near you, visit Michigan.gov/meetupeatup.

Another option for summer meals is the SUN Bucks Michigan Summer EBT program administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The program provides $120 for groceries per child through an EBT card. However, Health Department officials say because this program is backed by federal dollars, the program is in jeopardy this year due to proposed federal cuts to food assistance benefits and Medicaid.

For now, funding is still in place and families can take advantage. 

Other headlines for Thursday, June 26, 2025:

• The Wayne Mobile Health Unit (WMHU) is hosting a free vision clinic today through Saturday, June 28, at Grace Community Church. 21001 Moross Rd., Detroit. The event, held in partnership with Detroit OneSight Vision Clinic and Hap CareSource, will offer free comprehensive eye exams and prescription glasses, as well as free blood pressure checks, oral screenings, dental exams, hearing tests and more.
• The city of Detroit is hosting a Veterans Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Friday at the Northwest Activities Center. The free event will have career opportunities, veteran support services, community resources, and more.
• It’s national Homeownership Month and Detroit Project REACh is teaming up with Detroit Future City and other community organizations to host the 2025 Homebuyers Fair at Huntington Place this Saturday. There will be two sessions, with the first from 10 a.m. to noon and the second from 1 to 3 p.m.

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

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

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

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. 

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

Since Oct. 7, 2023, the world has felt different for a lot of American Jews.  Antisemitism has risen. More recently, two people were shot dead outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. And a man with a flamethrower in Colorado attacked Israeli hostage advocates. 

At the same time, Israel has expanded its militarism, recently attacking Iran to destroy its nuclear capacity and potentially overturn its regime. Israel has gotten the support of President Donald Trump, as America has now also attacked Iran’s nuclear sites. 

All the while, Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza has continued. There are now at least 57,000 Palestinians who’ve been killed by Israel’s attacks since October 7th, 2023. In conjunction with that, Israel’s months-long food aid blockade has put one-in-five Palestinians on the brink of starvation. 

To find out where this leaves American Jews, and what they’re meant to make of the political moment, Producer Sam Corey spoke with Rabbi Shalom Kantor from Congregation B’nai Moshe, a zionist temple in West Bloomfield. The two spoke prior to Israel’s attacks on Iran, Iran’s retaliations and America’s involvement in the war.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

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Detroit native and “wig engineer” Darnell Davis is making a name for himself in the beauty and entertainment industries.

Designing wigs for major artists like Beyoncé, Niecy Nash-Betts, Mariah Carey and Little Nas X, he has become extremely sought after by celebrities and Detroiters alike for his meticulous hand-sewn and stitched designs.

Darnell joined The Metro on Tuesday to discuss his love for hair and wig-making from an early age, and Detroit’s rich legacy in Black hair innovation.

More stories from The Metro

Wayne State University is offering a genealogy workshop focused on the lineage of enslaved Black Americans as part of its 2025 Juneteenth programming.

At the interactive workshop, “Building Forward with Wisdom,” participants will learn practical genealogy strategies, like how to trace one’s ancestry through digital tools and historical records, under the guidance of professional genealogist, historian and researcher Dr. Carolyn Carter.

Carter says when beginning the search into family history, its important to start with what’s known.

“In genealogy, we do something called tracing from the known to the unknown,” Carter said. “You want to start with your story, or the people who are there with you.”

WDET’s Bre’Anna Tinsley spoke with Carter ahead of the workshop to discuss what attendees can expect and share tips for tracing one’s ancestry.

Carter says collecting oral histories will be the most valuable resources, and often the only resources that people may have. Once the story reaches slavery, researchers may find it more difficult to find information as enslavers did not keep detailed records of slaves.

“Because enslaved people were property, they had no rights. They were listed on the Census just by tick mark in male or female. So those stories, those histories have been lost,” Carter said.

Carter said researching the enslavers themselves can be just as crucial as researching one’s ancestors. She suggested checking wills and deeds of enslavers, as they would often leave slaves to family members after death. Some enslavers would sympathize with their slaves and leave property to them in their death, or emancipate them in their wills, she added.

According to Carter, there are many road bumps along the way when researching ancestors. One main reason she points out is that African Americans, even those who were free, were afraid of the government. They often would not give accurate information during Census counts to protect themselves and their loved ones.

“They put nicknames, they put erroneous occupations. And if you were living or visiting a relative the day that the Census takers came, you were recorded as living in that home,” she said.

Carter says it wasn’t until after emancipation that the U.S. government realized they were getting inaccurate information.

“So genealogy is detective work,” Carter said. “You’ve got to figure out some things. You got to listen and learn and and understand history and understand your family, where they came from, how they migrated, when they migrated, who they are.”

Carter also advises researchers to think outside the box when looking for names. Some people may have names spelled incorrectly, because most black people were illiterate and would spell things by how they sound. They would change their names to distance themselves from the enslaver, such as adding the surname Freeman or adding an “e” to the end of names to signify their emancipation.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

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An extreme heat warning will be in effect for much of southeast Michigan through 8 p.m. Tuesday.

According to the National Weather Service, dangerously hot conditions with a heat index above 100 degrees are expected across Genesee, Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.

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

Detroit’s Health Department is also advising residents to take precautions, with Tuesdays high projected to reach 94 degrees.

Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair Razo says residents should stay indoors during the middle of the day if they can.

“That’s typically between 11 a.m. towards the evening. So if you are outside, just drink plenty of water, wear lightweight, loose fitting clothing and avoid strenuous activity during peak heat hours,” he said.

The Detroit’s Northwest Activities, Patton, and Heilmann recreation centers will be open until 8 p.m. daily as cooling centers throughout the heat wave.

All other recreation centers and Detroit Public Library branches are open during normal hours and will be available as cooling centers as well.

–Reporting by Bre’Anna Tinsley, WDET News

Other headlines for Monday, June 23, 2025:

• Most of Detroit’s riverside parks will close at 8 p.m. on Monday for the Ford Fireworks show, but Belle Isle, Hart Plaza and Spirit Plaza are open for viewing. City officials recommend claiming a spot early. The fireworks are scheduled to start around 10 p.m. and last 24 minutes.
• Michigan’s Board of State Canvassers is scheduled to review petition language for the “Invest in MI Kids” campaign. The proposal is asking voters to approve a 5% state tax that would be assessed on individual high earners’ income over $500,000, and assessed on income over $1 million for joint filers. Organizer Rachelle Crow-Hercher told Michigan Public the state’s poor test scores show the need for more funding.
• The Motor City Doula Association is hosting “A Healthy Start” workshop for expecting moms to share information about how one’s environment can shape their health and pregnancy. The workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June, 25, at the Leaders Advancing & Helping Communities building, 5275 Kenilworth St., Dearborn.

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

In a nation where supermarkets are filled from floor to ceiling, a single missed phone call can empty a family’s pantry and leave children going to bed hungry.

Investigative journalist and author Tracie McMillan knows this firsthand, both from her own experience with SNAP benefits, or food stamps, and her years reporting on America’s working poor. 

In McMillan’s recent piece for The New York Times, we meet Jocelyn Walker, a mother and entrepreneur from metro Detroit who is struggling to make ends meet and is stuck in this bureaucratic maze.  

McMillan joined The Metro to discuss why hunger remains a persistent reality in America today.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

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There are some areas in metro Detroit that experience significant flooding almost every time the region gets heavy rains. One of these floodplains is the Ecorse Creek Watershed.

Located in Wayne County, Ecorse Creek has 15 cities within its boundaries including Westland, Wayne, Romulus, Taylor, Inkster, Dearborn Heights, Dearborn, Allen Park, Southgate, Lincoln Park, Wyandotte, Ecorse, Melvindale, River Rouge and Detroit.

Friends of the Detroit River has been working for many years to help mitigate stormwater flooding, improve water quality and restore ecosystems within the watershed. 

The nonprofit group is one of 17 organizations recently awarded Watershed Council grants from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to address flooding and stormwater runoff problems. Friends of the Detroit River will receive $40,000 of the total $600,000 awarded.

McKenzi Waliczek, stewardship director for Friends of the Detroit River, joined The Metro to talk about how the organization will utilize the funds.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

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Police say the heroic actions of church members and staff at the CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne stopped a mass shooting on the property Sunday.

A livestream during services captured gunfire and panic when a man armed with a handgun and rifle and wearing a tactical vest hopped out of his truck and started shooting outside the church.

Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong says a security guard was shot in the leg by the attacker before a churchgoer and security staff were able to intervene.

“A parishioner struck the gunman with his vehicle as the gunman shot the vehicle repeatedly,” he said. “At least two staff members shot the gunman, causing fatal wounds.”

The suspect — identified as 31-year-old Brian Anthony Browning — never made it inside the church, police say. The guard who was shot was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to be fine. Nobody else was hurt.

The shooting occurred around 11 a.m. in Wayne, a city of about 17,000 people located about 25 miles west of Detroit.

Strong put to rest racist social media speculation about the shooter.

“His motivations are unknown, but at this point, it appears he was suffering from a mental health crisis,” he said. “We are grateful for the heroic actions of the church’s staff members, who undoubtedly saved many lives and prevented a large-scale mass shooting.”

About 150 people were inside the church at the time.

Police executing a search warrant at Browning’s home in Romulus — about 5 miles south of Wayne — found additional rifles, several more handguns and a large amount of ammunition, according to The Associated Press.

Police say Browning had no prior criminal history, but he had attended services at the church a few times in the last year and his mother is a member.

Associated Press writers Paul Sancya and Holly Ramer contributed to this report. 

We’re past Memorial Day and kids are out of school. The summer tourism season is here.

But this year, Canadians are upset with President Donald Trump’s tariffs — and his talk of annexation. For that reason, many of our travel-happy neighbors to the north are staying out of the U.S.

Speaking with WDET, new U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra called Trump’s 51st state rhetoric “a sign of affection.”

“That may be the first time that America has extended an offer to someone else to become part of the country,” he said. “…why they’re offended by such a generous offer, I’m not sure.”

According to Statistics Canada, car trips by Canadians into the U.S. dropped by 35% in April; flights by Canadians into the U.S. are down by 20%; and border crossings between the two countries are now at their lowest levels since the 2020 pandemic.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says that’s not good for Michigan.

“We know that Canadians are our friends, they’re our extended relatives in many cases, in many families,” she said. “Michigan loves Canada. Our economies are intertwined.”

Whitmer says the president is killing the good vibes between the countries.

“The chaos on the Trump tariff talk is palpable,” Whitmer said. “You can you can feel it just talking to people here. You can feel it at home. We can feel it in our tourism.”

Canadians spend more than $360 million every year in Michigan on average — about 10% of the state’s total tourism revenue.

Michigan is consistently in the top six for Canadian tourist destinations, after bigger ones like Florida, California and Las Vegas.

As the CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan, Brian Calley knows the importance of the state’s tourism industry.

“We have year-round tourism, but summer is the time in Michigan where a lot of businesses make their opportunity,” Calley said.

The bigger challenge for resort towns is finding enough workers, he said, downplaying concerns about drops in Canadian tourism.

“Early indications are that that bookings are solid, that people are still booking hotels,” Calley said.

Though he acknowledged that a dip in tourism could possibly be felt more in communities near the border.

“[Places] where Canadians live right across the border and experience, in very short periods, shopping and things,” he said. “I think that’s probably more vulnerable than, say, the week-long family vacation.”

Michel Soucisse manages El Moore, a lodge offering overnight stays in Midtown Detroit. He says he agrees with Calley…to a point.

“We’re a border town, and unfortunately, border towns feel this first, and our businesses are the ones who are absorbing the impact first,” Soucisse said. “None of these small businesses asked for this. You know, we’re just sort of rolling with the punches. Everyone’s seeing a slow down. Everyone’s getting the emails saying ‘we’re sorry, but we’re not spending our money here right now.'”

Emails like those mean a hit to the bottom line.

“I would say it looks right now compared to last year and year over year that we’ve experienced something around a 15% drop in their travel,” he said, adding that he doesn’t think it’s going to change anytime soon.

“We already had so many regular guests, that it was really kind of heart wrenching for some folks to cancel plans that they had already made — sometimes a year in advance. But I don’t necessarily blame them,” Soucisse said. “This is a way that they can show us their displeasure with the current situation, and ‘this is the way we can protest.’”

The same is happening in Detroit’s emerging foodie scene.

Sandy Levine is a James Beard semi-finalist and the owner of two of Detroit’s most-heralded restaurants: Freya and Chartreuse. He says lots of Canadians used to make the trek over the border.

“A large amount of people have come to Detroit because they they heard really good things about it, and they just wanted to see for themselves. And you know, for the first time, that steady increase has kind of stopped,” Levine said. “We certainly still see people from Canada and from other countries, but it’s not nearly to the degree that it was maybe like six months ago or a year ago.”

Levine’s theory for the change? Again, bad vibes.

“There’s definitely a sense of just, kind of tension in this country, and I think a lot of the people are looking to just avoid that,” he said.

So if a city like Detroit is seeing an immediate impact, how about places not quite as close to the border?

Robert Chambers helps manage the Windermere Hotel, a bed and breakfast on Mackinac Island.

“We’ve definitely had some regulars who’ve had to cancel their reservation, and they’re from Northern Ontario. They stay with us every year,” Chambers said. “Unfortunately, about two months prior to our opening, though, they contacted us and said they wouldn’t be able to make it to the States this year.”

Chambers told WDET in late May that they didn’t have a single booking from a Canadian. It’s significant, even if Canadians don’t make up a large portion of their guests.

“So not a huge dip as far as numbers go, but we still really look forward to seeing friends and loyal customers at the hotel every year. It’s unfortunate that they can’t make it now,” he said.

And being over an hour away from Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, he figures short term stays to the island will be limited too.

There’s a feeling — from some — that the bad vibes aren’t permanent. Or as Ambassador Hoekstra puts it: “The Canadians are, you know, they’re acting on emotion.”

Back in Detroit at the El Moore, Soucisse says that’s true. He became an American citizen a decade ago, but he’s originally from Montreal.

“I know for a fact that my French Canadian family — or as we call ourselves, Quebecois — do not want to be a 51st state, and will not be a 51st state,” Soucisse said. “I hear the steady drumbeat from my friends and family over there.”

He says Canadian guests have been pretty honest about their motivations for canceling upcoming reservations or choosing not to spend their money in the U.S. right now.

“I thought it was great that they were letting us know,” he said. “Oftentimes they would include messages like, you know, we’ll be back. You know, someday.”

With Trump’s trade war far from settled, a crackdown on immigrants and people from other countries, and ongoing threats to send federal troops into American cities, it’s unclear when that “someday” will be. That could pose a serious risk to a tourism industry that’s still recovering from the pandemic.