Detroit officials say they’ve filed the “largest blight lawsuit in its history” against a blockchain-based real estate platform after it failed to maintain hundreds of residential properties in the city.

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Real Token, also known as RealT, is a Florida-based company that markets itself as a decentralized real estate security token platform. In the lawsuit, the city alleges that the company’s co-founders, brothers Remy Jacobson and Jean-Marc Jacobson — and their 165 affiliated companies — have neglected over 400 properties in Detroit by failing to maintain basic health and safety requirements, leading to widespread code violations and blight.

Detroit’s Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallet says the city wants them to pay $500,000 in blight tickets and ensure their properties pass compliance inspections.  

“We are also asking the judge to hold the Jacobson brothers personally liable for the circumstances that their tenants find themselves,” he said. “We are also asking the judge to take control of the entire process so that even the vacant properties are properly attended to [and] properly registered.”

Mallet says Real token used a complex web of shell companies to avoid responsibility for keeping up their properties.  

Real Token says it paid their parties to manage the properties and blamed them for the problems.  

“We are sending a message,” Mallet wrote in a statement, “no matter how innovative your business model may be, you cannot hide behind technology or corporate formalities to evade your responsibilities as a property owner.”

Other headlines for Thursday, July 3, 2025:

• More than 6,000 signatures have been collected by the group Dearborn Wants Wards to change the city council from an at-large body to district-based seats.
• The Michigan House has passed two bills that give police the ability to test for controlled substances during traffic stops.
• AAA says it expects almost 2.5 million people in Michigan to travel this Fourth of July weekend. State officials say they are suspending roadwork at more than 100 project sites over the holiday weekend to help ease traffic congestion.

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

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.

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

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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.

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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Bill would allow friends, family to officiate weddings

A new bill would allow friends and family members to officiate wedding ceremonies without getting ordained.

Currently, Michigan law only permits certain city officials, judges, or ordained individuals—such as ministers—to perform weddings.

State Senator Veronica Klinefelt sponsored the bill. She says some religious leaders have denied couples based on personal beliefs. She shared her own experience:

“The priest I was seeing made the determination that I shouldn’t be getting married and wouldn’t conduct the ceremony. This year, I will be married 40 years. So I don’t know that he was any more equipped to make that call than my family members who were at that wedding.”

The bill would also expand officiating privileges to township clerks and state lawmakers. It has passed in the Senate and is now headed to the House.

Detroit bike trail guide to include Gordie Howe Bridge path

The Detroit Greenways Coalition is expanding its bike trail guide to include a route across the Gordie Howe International Bridge into Canada.

The group is working with Bike Windsor Essex to compile a list of trails and attractions for cyclists on both sides of the border.

Coalition Executive Director Todd Scott said the potential for tourism is significant:

“I was at the Ontario Bike Summit recently, and they said that bike tourism in Ontario contributes $900 million to that province’s economy. That really opened my eyes to how much potential there is for expanding that bike tourism into the Detroit area.”

The guide will answer questions about cross-border documentation and differing cycling laws. It’s expected to be ready before the bridge opens later this year.

Dearborn updates food truck regulations

The City of Dearborn has revised its food truck regulations, allowing permanent operations in areas zoned for commercial and light industrial use.

The update includes requirements for proper electrical hookups, propane storage, and sanitation. Trucks will not be permitted in business districts near restaurants to protect brick-and-mortar establishments, but they may operate in public parks if they meet city standards for power and waste disposal.

The new rules take effect September 1st.

Juneteenth Black-Owned Business Market in Royal Oak

Bamboo Royal Oak is hosting its first Juneteenth Black-Owned Business Market on June 18th, celebrating Black excellence and economic empowerment.

The event features local entrepreneurs offering handcrafted jewelry, fashion, cuisine, wellness products, and more. It’s free for attendees and vendors.

The market runs from 3–8 PM. For more information, email ally@bamboocowork.com.

Dearborn Summer Market returns this Friday

The Dearborn Summer Market returns this Friday at 4:00 PM in West Downtown Dearborn.

The market highlights downtown businesses, local vendors, and free kids’ activities including face painting, balloon twisting, and caricature art.

More information is available at dearbornsummermarket.com.

Detroit residents will be voting for a new Mayor this year, and one Michigan State University Professor has some ideas on how the winner can improve support for neighborhoods during their term.

Deyanira Nevárez Martínez is an associate professor of urban and regional planning at MSU. She recently wrote an article for The Conversation outlining where Detroit needs the most work. 

She says there needs to be a focus on ensuring new growth in the city does not displace legacy residents.

“Maybe you look into programs where you can suspend their property taxes for a few years, or you look into programs that will help them invest into their own property and be able to make sure that they can stay in their property.”

Martinez suggested investing in more social infrastructure such as after school programs and community health clinics.

“There is a growing number of folks who need assistance with their housing. They’re not unhoused.” Martinez said. “They are struggling to pay rent, or they’re struggling with other issues. They need assistance with their health care. They need assistance with their schooling, and so those things are incredibly important as well for a thriving community.”

Martinez says the next mayor should prioritize developing more housing on vacant land in the city.

“We insist on having single family residential housing, and potentially, if you have a neighborhood that has several of these lots that are vacant, you can build duplexes on them or triplexes,” Martinez said. “Bring more density into a neighborhood, and then also bring housing types that could be accessible to different kinds of folks in the area as well.”

She also suggested investment in other vacant land opportunities that benefit neighborhood communities, highlighting the city’s solar neighborhood initiative as a great use of vacant land if done responsibly.

In this episode of The Detroit Evening Report, we highlight the Detroit Fire Department’s new Nurse Navigation program, a luxury hotel coming to Michigan Central Station, and the latest closure in the Bobcat Bonnie’s restaurant chain.

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Detroit Fire plans nurse triage program to ease ambulance demand

The Detroit Fire Department hopes its new “Nurse Navigation” program will help reduce response times.

Instead of dispatching an ambulance for minor calls, a third-party service would connect those calls to certified nurses via telehealth.

The department handled 158,000 medical runs last year, with 40% classified as Code Threes — less serious calls.

Fire Commissioner Charles Simms says the program would help free up ambulances to respond to higher-priority emergencies.

“If we have, you know, 40 ambulances out there per day, but a large majority are responding to Code Threes, they may not be readily available for Code Ones and Code Twos. This program will allow them to be ready to respond to just Code Ones and Twos.”

Simms explains that Code One and Two calls are more severe, life-threatening emergencies like chest pain or cardiac arrest. A Code Three call might be something like a sprained ankle or knee pain.

A dispatcher would connect Code Three calls to a nurse, who would guide the patient through their options.

“That dedicated nurse will talk to the patient to determine whether they need telehealth care, can manage with self-care, or should go to urgent care — and guide them through that process.”

Nurses would also help arrange appointments with primary care physicians and could even order free transportation.

City Council approved $650,000 to launch the Nurse Navigation program. Simms says they’re still looking for a third-party provider, and the program is expected to launch in early 2026.

Luxury hotel coming to Michigan Central Station in 2027

Luxury hospitality brand NoMad will open a hotel inside Michigan Central Station in 2027. The hotel will have 180 rooms and occupy the top five floors of the building. It will include 30 suites, a wellness facility, a restaurant, and a bar.

Brand officials say they plan to showcase local artists and makers throughout the hotel and guest rooms.

Ford Motor Co. led the restoration of the train station after it sat empty for 30 years. Company officials say the hotel is the next vital step in the redevelopment.

Bobcat Bonnie’s closes Ferndale location

Ferndale restaurant Bobcat Bonnie’s closed its doors today. It’s the latest shutdown for the small chain.

In March, Bobcat Bonnie’s closed its Corktown location after 10 years in business. Other locations in Wyandotte, Ypsilanti, Clinton Township, and Grand Rapids have also closed over the past year. Plans to open a Kalamazoo location have been scrapped.

The Ferndale location will sell all its furniture, dishware, art, and other items on Tuesday, June 3. Lansing is now the chain’s only remaining location.

In this episode of The Detroit Evening Report, we cover Detroit parks national ranking, Sister Pie temporarily closing, community milestones, and hepatitis screening and vaccines.

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Detroit climbs to 58th in national park ranking, praised for access and equity

Detroit parks ranked 58 on the Trust for Public Land’s 2025 Parkscore Index. That’s up from the 65 spot the city held last year. The ranking is based on five categories: acreage, access, amenities, investment, and equity. Detroit received high marks for park access, with 84 percent of Detroiters living within a 10-minute walking distance of a park. The city also scored well in equity and park amenities. Detroit has more than 300 parks, with 14 regional parks of at least 50 acres, including Belle Isle and Palmer Park. 

Sister Pie to temporarily close as owner plans a period of rest and reinvention

Detroit Baker Sister Pie is temporarily closing after experiencing some financial struggles. Owner Lisa Ludwinski announced on the company’s Instagram the business will close and  “enter a period of rest and radical reconfiguration, of exploration and experimentation.” Sister Pie will still host occasional pop-up events and continue with special orders and classes. Sister Pie opened in 2015 in West Village. Ludwinski released a cookbook in 2018 that topped the New York Times best baking books of the year. 

Windsor park honors Mary E. Bibb with new gateway arch

The Mary E. Bibb Park in Windsor, Ontario unveiled a gateway arch honoring the journalist. She and her husband, Henry, launched the first black newspaper in Canada called the Voice of the Fugitive in 1851. The publication was the first antislavery newspaper published in Canada by people of African descent. Bibb was also an abolitionist, educator, artist, and seamstress. A request was made in 2020 by the Friends of the Court-Mackenzie Hall which is adjacent to the park to rename it in Bibb’s honor. The Friends of the Court commissioned the design, fabrication and installation of the gateway arch, with financial support from the Gordie Howe International Bridge’s community organization investment fund.  

Feast of Resistance celebrates Asian comfort food and community milestones this Saturday

The nonprofit, Rising Voices, is hosting their annual Feast of Resistance this Saturday at the ACA Community Center in Madison Heights. The community potluck is a tribute to Asian and Asian American comfort foods. This year is the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian American refugees immigrating to Michigan, the 20th anniversary of the ACA Community Center, and the fifth anniversary of Rising Voices. The event is free to attend. Potluck dishes are encouraged but not required. It starts at 5:30 p.m. at 32585 Concord Drive in Madison Heights. 

Michigan health officials urge testing and vaccination during Hepatitis Awareness Month

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is urging residents to get tested and vaccinated. Viral hepatitis can cause inflammation to the liver and liver cancer. People who have the virus can go many years without feeling sick, and wont be alerted until advance stages of the disease. Getting tested is the only way to know if you have the virus. The health department recommends vaccination against hepatitis for people of all ages, including children and infants.