Do you consider yourself a storyteller? It’s in human nature to tell stories. Stories have been used to pass down knowledge and legacy. The power of storytelling has the ability to transcend time. It has a way of connecting people across scripted lines in our society.
A new exhibition opening next week wants to explore storytelling through the lens of food, poetry, comedy, visual art, fashion, film, and performance.
Many Tongues Flyer
“Many Tongues,” curated by Omo Misha of Irwin House Global Art Center, will use activations to dive into the power of storytelling, while uplifting Detroit creatives.
Brittini Ward; Multi-disciplinary Artist
Brittini Ward or Eye N Eye is a storyteller, poet and multidisciplinary artist. Her recent works include “The Seer,” commissioned by the Kennedy Center, and “Grandma’s Baby,” featured in Wasserman Projects’ Bas Bleu Exhibition.
LaMarr Ward is a film maker, multidisciplinary artist and featured panelist for “Many Tongues.” His works, “Windstorm Chronicles” will be on display.
They joined The Metro to talk about “Many Tongues” and the importance of storytelling as a connector for all people.
Panel Discussion Flyer
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WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
A conservative Dearborn mayoral candidate who has made “faith, family, and freedom” the centerpiece of his campaign has struggled to pay his own bills, even as he poured more than $50,000 into his race for mayor.
New Mexico is now the first state in the nation to guarantee free child care for all families, regardless of income.
The new initiative, which began Nov. 1, is expected to save families about $12,000 per child each year.
Child care is essential to family stability, workforce participation, and New Mexicos future prosperity, said New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. By investing in universal child care, we are giving families financial relief, supporting our economy, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow and thrive.
New Mexico has consistently ranked among the lowest in the country for child well-being. According to the 2025 Kids Count report, 60% of children ages 3 and 4 are not enrolled in school.
State officials and child advocacy experts say the new no-cost child care program could help reverse that trend.
New Mexico is creating the conditions for better outcomes in health, learning, and well-being, said Neal Halfon, professor of pediatrics, public health and public policy at the University of California, Los Angeles.
In addition to offering free child care, the state has launched initiatives to expand access, including a campaign to recruit more licensed and registered home providers. It also established a $12.7 million low-interest loan fund to help construct, expand and renovate child care facilities.
A new study suggests long-term melatonin use may be linked to heart failure, but experts say more research is needed before drawing any conclusions.
Researchers reviewed health records for tens of thousands of adults with chronic insomnia and found that people who took prescribed melatonin for more than a year had a higher chance of heart failure over five years.
The study also found that melatonin users were more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure and die of any cause compared to those who didn't use the sleep aid.
However, experts stress that people shouldn't panic yet. They emphasize that the results show an association, not causation, and more research is needed to confirm these findings.
The study focused specifically on adults with chronic insomnia who were prescribed melatonin, rather than those using over-the-counter versions of the supplement.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Fire broke out Monday at the Corewell Health Care Center on Rochester Road in Rochester Hills requiring evacuation of the building.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, no injuries were reported and the fire was out before 2 p.m. It’s believed the roof caught on fire while contractors were working on the HVAC unit on the roof.
As of 1:45 p.m. Monday, firefighters were still on scene. No other information was immediately available.
The Oakland Press will update this story as details become available.
You may be familiar with the Grammy-winning band Red Hot Chilli Peppers, famous for songs like “Dani California on Stadium Arcadium” or “Can’t Stop” off the 2002 album “By The Way.”
Hall of Fame Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith recently announced The Chad Smith Foundation. Chad grew up in Michigan and returned to the place where he got his start to help students do the same.
The Curtis and Joan Smith Scholarship will honor his parents while also providing need-based support for incoming music students to the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance.
During U-M’s Band O Rama, Chad joined the Michigan Marching Band in Hill Auditorium for a performance including U of M’s fight song “The Victor’s” and the Red-Hot Chili Peppers classic “Can’t Stop.”
Tia Graham had the chance to chat with Chad about the foundation, the scholarship and growing up in Michigan.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
Timberland is bringing its iconic “Yellow Boot” to Detroit. The footwear company announced the opening date for its first Detroit location, set for Friday, Nov. 14. The store is located at 1217 Woodward Ave., across the street from Bedrock’s new Hudson’s site tower. Opening weekend festivities on the following Saturday and Sunday include a sweepstakes […]
McDonald's is rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel at some locations across the country as the fast-food chain deals with a penny shortage.
The rounding policy affects customers who pay cash without exact change, with totals adjusted up or down by as much as two cents.
For example, a meal costing $12.06 would be rounded down to $12.05.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 20 Democrat-led states are challenging a new Trump administration policy designed to block nonprofit and government workers from a student loan cancellation program if federal officials determine their employer has a “substantial illegal purpose.”
The policy is aimed primarily at organizations that work with immigrants and transgender youth.
In the lawsuit filed Monday in Massachusetts, the states argue the Trump administration overstepped its authority when it added new eligibility rules for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The overhaul will worsen job shortages and create instability in state workforces, the suit said.
The legal challenge is being led by New York, Massachusetts, California and Colorado. New York Attorney General Letitia James said the rule is “a political loyalty test disguised as a regulation,” adding that it’s “unjust and unlawful to cut off loan forgiveness for hardworking Americans based on ideology.”
A separate coalition of cities, nonprofits and labor organizations also filed a legal challenge in Massachusetts on Monday. That suit was brought by Boston; Chicago; Albuquerque, New Mexico; San Francisco; Santa Clara, California; and the National Council of Nonprofits.
Responding to the lawsuits, Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent said it’s unconscionable that the plaintiffs are standing up for criminal activity.
“This is a commonsense reform that will stop taxpayer dollars from subsidizing organizations involved in terrorism, child trafficking, and transgender procedures that are doing irreversible harm to children,” Kent said in a statement. “The final rule is crystal clear: the Department will enforce it neutrally, without consideration of the employer’s mission, ideology, or the population they serve.”
Another lawsuit challenging the rule is expected to be filed Tuesday on behalf of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights advocacy organization, the American Immigration Council and The Door, a legal group. They’re being represented by the groups Student Defense and Public Citizen.
Congress created the program in 2007 to steer more graduates into lower-paying public sector jobs. It promises to forgive their federal student loans after they make payments for 10 years while working in government jobs or for many nonprofits. More than 1 million Americans have had their loans canceled through the program, including teachers, firefighters, nurses and public defenders.
Under the new policy finalized last week, employers can be removed if they engage in activities including the trafficking or “chemical castration” of children, illegal immigration and supporting terrorist groups. “Chemical castration” is defined as using hormone therapy or drugs that delay puberty — gender-affirming care common for transgender children or teens.
The education secretary gets the final say in determining whether a group’s work has an illegal purpose, weighing whether the “preponderance of the evidence” leans against them.
In their lawsuit, the states argue that entire state governments, hospitals, schools and nonprofits could unilaterally be ruled ineligible by the secretary. They say Congress granted the benefit to all government workers, with no room for the Education Department to add limits.
The states also object to the department’s reliance on the phrase “substantial illegal purpose,” saying it’s an “overbroad and impermissibly vague term” that is aimed “at chilling activities that are disfavored by this Administration.”
The lawsuit asks a federal judge to declare the policy unlawful and forbid the Education Department from enforcing it.
The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
FILE – The U.S. Department of Education building is photographed in Washington, Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
City Council President Mary Sheffield is running for Mayor, leaving District 5 open for new representation for the first time in more than a decade.
District 5 police Commissioner Willie Burton and UAW retiree Renata Miller are facing each other for the seat.
Burton’s campaign
Willie Burton was the youngest police commissioner in the U.S. when he took his seat in 2014. Before his election, he served for two years on the Detroit Public Schools Police and Public Safety Oversight Committee and then as Director of Community Relations for Wayne County Commissioner Martha Scott.
Burton’s campaign website calls for improving public transit, lowering water rates, and pushing for more affordable housing.
But Burton says his biggest concern is improving mental health support and services in the city. He says if he wins, he plans to hold a mental health symposium within his first 100 days in office.
“Our community has to be educated as well when it comes to crisis intervention training, which is Mental Health First Aid, as well as training our officers,” Burton said. “So we have our officers as trained, which is one thing, but our community has zero training. The business partnerships in the city has zero training.”
Burton says he wants to see Detroit receive a state-of-the-art triage center and social workers with more boots on the ground to help with issues from domestic violence to homelessness.
Miller’s campaign
Renata Miller is a UAW retiree. She is a founder of the Detroit Historic District Alliance and a community ambassador to the Detroit Opera House. Miller has served as president, vice president, and membership chair of the Historic Indian Village Association. She is also the program director of the Lawn Academy, an organization that teaches environmental stewardship and provides job training to youth in Detroit.
Miller’s campaign page says she is committed to protecting Detroit’s historic neighborhoods—advocating for community-led development, and ensuring government transparency.
Miller also advocates for more jobs in the city, quality affordable housing, and improved safety in the neighborhoods.
At a candidate meet and greet event hosted by the community group and podcast Detroit is Different, Miller said the best way to serve the public is to meet with the public.
“You have to get out to your residence,” Miller said. “You’re not, you shouldn’t even act or move without coming to the community. They know what they want, and they know what they desire for their neighborhood. Some of them have plans that you will never think about, but if you don’t engage with them or talk with them, you’ll never know what the desire is.”
Controversial candidates
Both Miller and Burton have faced criticism in the media. The Detroit Free Press described the race for District 5 as an “unenviable choice” for its residents, as both candidates have had their fair share of legal issues in the past.
Burton was arrested during a Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting in 2019, where the Detroit police department’s controversial use of facial recognition was being discussed. The board chair had Burton removed after warning multiple times that he was out of order. Burton was handcuffed, but not charged.
Renata Miller’s record includes a 2001 bankruptcy filing, multiple lawsuits with Southfield and Bloomfield Hills landlords, and a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction in 2003.
Political analyst Mario Morrow says it’s in both candidates’ interests to speak up about their faults.
“Before they take the seat, they need to go out here and campaign hard and admit their flaws. Then, when they get into the seat, say, ‘We won’t make those mistakes again, and we’re going to do better by our constituents, ’” Morrow said.
Morrow says the issues that most affect residents in District 5 are the same for the rest of the city, so the next council member in the seat needs to be able be dependable.
“It doesn’t matter who the mayor is, the city council has a big role to play, even though it’s a strong merit mayoral endorsed government. People are really concerned about the future of the city, and… people are fearful of change, and this change over is causing a lot of confusion, especially in District 5,” Morrow said.
*After multiple attempts by WDET, Renata Miller declined to be interviewed.
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On Nov. 4, Dearborn residents will vote for mayor of the city. Current mayor Abdullah Hammoud is running for a second term against political newcomer, independent Nagi Almudhegi.
Here are a few a things to know as voters head to the polls Tuesday:
ON THE BALLOT
Oakland County voters will see ballots full of local candidates for mayor, council and other public-board seats as well as ballot proposals from charter amendments to millage requests.
TURNOUT
Turnout is hard to predict because there are too many variables, according to a county clerk spokeswoman.
To learn more, visit the Oakland County clerk’s elections page: https://www.oakgov.com/government/clerk-register-of-deeds/elections-voting.
WEATHER The National Weather Service’s White Lake Township office predicts mostly sunny skies with a high near 57 and occasional wind gusts as high as 18 mph.
POLL HOURS
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in every jurisdiction.
WHO CAN VOTE
You can vote at your polling place until 8 p.m. Tuesday – anyone already in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot. You have the right to register to vote and vote up to 8 p.m. Tuesday.I
NEED TO REGISTER?
If you’re not registered to vote or need to change the address for your voter registration, visit your city or township clerk’s office as soon as possible Tuesday to avoid lines. You can vote at your clerk’s office. You cannot register to vote after 8 p.m. Tuesday.
HOW TO VOTE
Check out the front and back of your ballot to review your choices. Be sure to vote for nonpartisan candidates and on any ballot issues. The non-partisan group MichiganVoting.org has a tutorial on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n483tnkddoE.
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If you’re at a polling place and make a mistake, election workers can spoil that ballot and issue a new one.
WHAT DO I NEED TO VOTE
Voters must be at least 18 years old and U.S. citizens. People currently in jail or prison cannot cast a ballot. Voters must show proof of being a Michigan resident and living in their city or township for at least 30 days before Tuesday. Proof must be either: a Michigan driver’s license or state ID; or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government check that shows your name and address or another document issued by a federal, state or local government agency. Michigan residents attending college can register to vote based on their school or home address. Out-of-state residents who are U.S. citizens attending Michigan schools can register to vote based on their school address. Michigan residents attending out-of-state schools can register to vote at their Michigan address. It is illegal to cast ballots in two different states for the same election.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS:
These must be returned by 8 p.m. Tuesday to your municipal clerk’s office. If you filled out an absentee ballot but haven’t returned it and want to make changes, visit your municipal clerk’s office to spoil the ballot and get a new one.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER TUESDAY
Unofficial results will start to be posted shortly after 8 p.m. on the county clerk’s website: https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/MI/Oakland/124349/web.345435/#/summary.
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At 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, the County Election Certification Board, which includes two Democrats and two Republicans, meets to validate results in the county canvassers training room in the west wing extension of the first floor of the county courthouse at 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac. This meeting is open to the public.
Voter casts a ballot at Pontiac High School. on Aug. 5, 2025. (Peg McNichol / MediaNews Group)
The Red Hot Chili Peppers may be strongly associated with southern California, but drummer Chad Smiths heart never left the Midwest.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, who grew up in suburban Detroit, is gifting a need-based music scholarship to the University of Michigan.
A lot of people (say), The Chili Peppers, West Coast band, California this and California that. I get it. I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Smith told The Associated Press in an interview Sunday, just hours before he made the official announcement during a surprise appearance at the Ann Arbor schools annual Band-O-Rama event. The Minnesota connection is strong. The Michigan connection is strong.
And thats why were here. Its a natural, authentic fit for us.
Smith, 64, performed the RHCP hit Cant Stop, alongside the Michigan Marching Band at Hill Auditorium.
The Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship, which is named in honor of Smiths parents, will be awarded to an incoming University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance student, beginning in 2026.
The scholarship is a partnership between the School of Music, Theatre & Dance and the Chad Smith Foundation and comes on the heels of one with the same name launched two months ago at the University of Minnesota. Smiths parents are Minnesota alums.
Michigans version of the Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship will support incoming freshmen to the School of Music, Theatre & Dance undergraduate program who demonstrate financial need and a strong commitment to pursuing a music career. The scholarship reinforces CSFs mission to expand access to high-quality music education and career pathways for aspiring musicians across the country.
Smith attended Lahser High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and began his career playing in clubs and bars across the Detroit area. He credits his parents with nurturing his love of music and supporting his dream to pursue it professionally.
My mother is 98 years young. Still going. Shes here today amazing, Smith said. So, to be able to honor her (and) my father unfortunately passed away, but they were so integral in helping me with my musical path.
Smith has been with the Red Hot Chili Peppers since the late 1980s. During that time, the quartet, which also includes singer Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea, have been one of the biggest-selling music acts, mixing layers of funk, punk, rap and traditional pop over a foundation of rock.
The backward-baseball-cap-wearing Smith has held down the beat on such hits as Give It Away, Under the Bridge and Dani California. The Chili Peppers were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
Im fortunate to be in a band people like and I play the drums and maybe some drummers or musicians will get inspired just from my story, Smith said. So, yeah, its just an opportunity to give back to what Ive been so lucky to have and for next generations of musicians to be able to pursue what they love.
The federal government told a judge Monday it will use all remaining contingency funds to provide reduced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in November as the shutdown continues to block new spending.
The move came after two federal judges on Friday ordered the government to keep the program running. One ruling came in a Rhode Island lawsuit brought by nonprofit groups, and another in a separate case filed by more than two dozen states. The USDA had argued it could not legally tap contingency funds to maintain benefits, but both judges disagreed.
In a court filing Monday in the Rhode Island case, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it will spend $4.65 billion about half the usual monthly amount to cover benefits for existing SNAP households. Officials said the step will exhaust the programs contingency fund, leaving nothing for new applicants or emergencies.
A USDA official cautioned that it could take weeks or even months for recipients to receive their partial payments because states must recalculate benefits. The official said USDA staff will be available to assist states and that the agency is prepared to issue such notice and revised issuance tables to state agencies on November 3, 2025.
One of the groups involved in the Rhode Island lawsuit responded positively to Monday's announcement, but cautioned about what could be ahead.
Todays announcement is an important first step, but its not enough, said Diane Yentel, President & CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits. Millions of families, children, and seniors remain at risk of delayed or reduced food assistance. The federal government must act urgently to ensure every person who relies on SNAP receives their full benefits.
The government shutdown has now stretched on for more than a month, with no end in sight. Its unclear what would happen to SNAP if the shutdown continues after the contingency funds are drained.
More than 40 million Americans rely on SNAP each month for food assistance.
President Donald Trumps administration said Monday that it will partially fund SNAP after a pair of judges rulings required it to keep the food aid program running.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture had planned to freeze payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program starting Nov. 1 because it said it could no longer keep funding it due to the shutdown. The program serves about 1 in 8 Americans and is a major piece of the nations social safety net. It costs about $8 billion per month nationally.
Watch below: Forgotten Harvest CEO talks about what they're doing during SNAP funding pause
Forgotten Harvest CEO talks about what they're doing during SNAP funding pause
Its not clear how much beneficiaries will receive, nor how quickly beneficiaries will see value show up on the debit cards they use to buy groceries. The process of loading the SNAP cards, which involves steps by state and federal government agencies and vendors, can take up to two weeks in some states. The average monthly benefit is usually about $190 per person.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the nations largest food program, said last month that benefits for November wouldnt be paid out due to the federal government shutdown. That set off a scramble by food banks, state governments and the nearly 42 million Americans who receive the aid to find ways to ensure access to groceries.
Most states have boosted aid to food banks, and some are setting up systems to reload benefit cards with state taxpayer dollars.
It also spurred lawsuits.
Federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ruled separately but similarly Friday, telling the government that it was required to use one fund with about $5 billion to pay for the program, at least in part. The benefits and administration cost over $8 billion per month.
The judges gave the government the option to use additional money to fully fund the program and a deadline of Monday to decide.
Judge John J. McConnell Jr., in Providence, Rhode Island, said if the government chose full funding, it would need to make payments Monday. With a partial version, which would require recalculating benefits, the payment deadline is Wednesday.
Trump said on social media Friday that he does NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT. He said he was telling government lawyers to prepare SNAP payments as soon as possible.
Benefits will be delayed in November because many beneficiaries have their cards recharged early in the month and the process of loading cards can take weeks in many states.
Democratic state attorneys general or governors from 25 states, as well as the District of Columbia, challenged the plan to pause the program, contending that the administration has a legal obligation to keep it running in their jurisdictions. Cities and nonprofits also filed a lawsuit.
The USDA has a $5 billion contingency fund for the program, but the Trump administration reversed an earlier plan to use that money to keep SNAP running. Democratic officials argue that the administration could also use a separate fund of about $23 billion.
U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell in Providence, Rhode Island, said SNAP must be funded using at least contingency funds, and he asked for an update on progress by Monday.
In an additional order Saturday, McConnell said if the government makes full payments, it must do so by the end of the day Monday. If it chooses partial ones which involve recalculating how much recipients get those would need to be issued by Wednesday.
That does not mean people would necessarily see the payments that quickly, because the process of loading cards can take up to two weeks in some circumstances.
McConnell also ruled that all previous work requirement waivers must continue to be honored. During the shutdown, the USDA has terminated existing waivers that exempted work requirements for older adults, veterans and others.
In Boston, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ruled the suspension was unlawful and said USDA has to pay for SNAP. Talwani ordered the federal government to advise by Monday whether they will use emergency reserve funds to provide reduced SNAP benefits for November or fully fund the program using both contingency funds and additional available funds.
Advocates and beneficiaries say halting the food aid would force people to choose between buying groceries and paying other bills. The majority of states have announced more or expedited funding for food banks or novel ways to load at least some benefits onto the SNAP debit cards.
Rhode Island officials said Monday that under their program, SNAP beneficiaries who also receive benefits from another federal program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, received payments Saturday equal to one-fourth of what they typically get from SNAP. Officials in Delaware are telling recipients that benefits there won't be available until at least Nov. 7.
To qualify for SNAP in 2025, a household's net income after certain expenses cant exceed the federal poverty line. For a family of four, that's about $32,000 per year. Last year, SNAP assisted nearly 42 million people, about two-thirds of whom were families with children.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — The Red Hot Chili Peppers may be strongly associated with southern California, but drummer Chad Smith’s heart never left the Midwest.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, who grew up in suburban Detroit, is gifting a need-based music scholarship to the University of Michigan.
“A lot of people (say), ‘The Chili Peppers, West Coast band, California this and California that.’ I get it. I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota,” Smith told The Associated Press in an interview Sunday, just hours before he made the official announcement during a surprise appearance at the Ann Arbor school’s annual Band-O-Rama event. “The Minnesota connection is strong. The Michigan connection is strong.
“And that’s why we’re here. It’s a natural, authentic fit for us.”
Smith, 64, performed the RHCP hit “Can’t Stop,” alongside the Michigan Marching Band at Hill Auditorium.
Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith holds a pair of drum sticks in Hill Auditorium on the campus of the University of Michigan Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Mike Householder)
The Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship, which is named in honor of Smith’s parents, will be awarded to an incoming University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance student, beginning in 2026.
The scholarship is a partnership between the School of Music, Theatre & Dance and the Chad Smith Foundation and comes on the heels of one with the same name launched two months ago at the University of Minnesota. Smith’s parents are Minnesota alums.
Michigan’s version of the Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship will support incoming freshmen to the School of Music, Theatre & Dance undergraduate program who demonstrate financial need and a strong commitment to pursuing a music career. The scholarship reinforces CSF’s mission to expand access to high-quality music education and career pathways for aspiring musicians across the country.
Smith attended Lahser High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and began his career playing in clubs and bars across the Detroit area. He credits his parents with nurturing his love of music and supporting his dream to pursue it professionally.
“My mother is 98 years young. Still going. She’s here today — amazing,” Smith said. “So, to be able to honor her (and) my father unfortunately passed away, but they were so integral in helping me with my musical path.”
Smith has been with the Red Hot Chili Peppers since the late 1980s. During that time, the quartet, which also includes singer Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea, have been one of the biggest-selling music acts, mixing layers of funk, punk, rap and traditional pop over a foundation of rock.
The backward-baseball-cap-wearing Smith has held down the beat on such hits as “Give It Away,” “Under the Bridge” and “Dani California.” The Chili Peppers were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
“I’m fortunate to be in a band people like and I play the drums and maybe some drummers or musicians will get inspired just from my story,” Smith said. “So, yeah, it’s just an opportunity to give back to what I’ve been so lucky to have and for next generations of musicians to be able to pursue what they love.”
Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith performs with the Michigan Marching Band in Hill Auditorium on the campus of the University of Michigan Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Mike Householder)
Two Dearborn men and a group of alleged co-conspirators hatched a plan to commit a terrorist attack in support of the Islamic State, according to a federal criminal case filed Monday that described reconnaissance, firearms and fears the group was targeting an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Ferndale.
The case against Dearborn residents Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud was filed three days after high-profile raids by members of an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in Dearborn and Inkster and comments from FBI Director Kash Patel that investigators had thwarted a violent plot tied to international terrorism that was planned over the Halloween weekend.
A view of west Nine Mile Road in downtown Ferndale earlier this year. (CLARENCE TABB, Jr. — The Detroit News)
The criminal complaint describes a group of five co-conspirators, including a juvenile, training with and stockpiling weapons and scouting potential attack locations in downtown Ferndale. The popular downtown is filled with restaurants, bars, clubs and shops and is known as a haven for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“Based on my investigation in this case, this information is consistent with (the juvenile), Ali and Mahmoud scouting possible LGBTQ+-friendly attack locations in Ferndale,” FBI Special Agent Nicholas Czech wrote in the complaint.
The men, whose ages were not immediately available, were charged with receiving and transferring, and attempting and conspiring to transfer firearms and ammunition while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the weapons would be used to commit an act of terrorism. The felony carries a maximum 15-year federal prison sentence.
Investigators say Mohmed Ali was spotted handling firearms at at Downriver Guns on Sept. 24, 2025. (U.S. Attorney’s Office)
The charge was filed three days after FBI agents raided two homes in Dearborn and an Inkster storage facility and arrested five people ages 16-20.
Mahmoud’s lawyer Bill Swor declined to comment until he had a chance to read the criminal complaint.
Attorney Amir Makled, who represents a 20-year-old Dearborn man, has denied the men were involved in terrorism.
“One thing is for sure, they didn’t have a plan to attack and are not part of a terror cell,” Makled told The News.
Ali, Mahmoud and others are accused of using online encrypted communications and social media apps to share extremist and ISIS-related material that encouraged terror attacks.
Based on the chats, an attack appeared scheduled for Halloween, according to the government, and Ali and the juvenile “sought guidance from the father of a local Islamic extremist ideologue…on this question,” the FBI agent wrote.
The ideologue is not identified by name but “has publicly proclaimed his support for the Islamic extremist ideology espoused by ISIS,” the agent wrote.
Since the raids, provocative statements from FBI Director Kash Patel and other Trump administration officials, a lack of criminal charges or details about alleged wrongdoing, or names of the accused, led criminal defense lawyers in Metro Detroit to question the legitimacy of the investigation and deny there was a terrorist plot.
The court filing describes talk of a terror attack, firearms and training.
The investigation dates to July, when investigators discovered encrypted chats in which Ali and a juvenile were said to be planning a terrorist attack in the U.S. on behalf of the Islamic State, according to the 73-page criminal complaint.
FBI agents alleged Mahmoud and others conspired to commit the attack.
Amid those chats, Ali purchased an AR-15-style rifle and accessories in August and September, according to the government.
“Then in October 2025, Mahmoud purchased over 1,600 rounds of ammunition that could be used in the AR-15 style rifles he and Ali had purchased,” the complaint reads.
Investigators allege Ali, Mahmoud, the juvenile and two others practiced shooting firearms at gun ranges, a stop investigators believe was to develop the skills to aid in the attack.
The investigation is the latest in Metro Detroit, a region where several residents in recent years have been accused of providing or trying to provide support to the Islamic State or launching failed attempts to kill people.
“Through swift action and close coordination with our local partners, a potential act of terror was stopped before it could unfold,” Patel said in a social media post. “The vigilance of this FBI prevented what could have been a tragic attack — and thanks to their dedication, Michigan will have a safe and happy Halloween.”
In the wake of the raid, Makled faulted Patel for making “premature” comments about the investigation. The five people arrested by the FBI ― all U.S. citizens ― were not planning an attack, he said.
“There was never any planned mass-casualty event or terrorism plot of any kind that I’m aware of,” Makled said. “They might have been on some websites or online chat groups that they shouldn’t have been, but nothing that is illegal.”
Authorities are pictured outside of a home on Horger Street on Oct. 31. (CLARENCE TABB, Jr. — The Detroit News)
Waymo LLC, a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet, said Monday that its self-driving fleet is headed to the Motor City. The electric autonomous ride-hailing service has become a fixture in cities like Phoenix and San Francisco, where hundreds of vehicles — instantly recognized by their rooftop Lidar arrays — service hundreds of thousands of customers with no driver behind the robotaxis’ spinning steering wheel.
Recently, the service expanded to Los Angeles, Atlanta and Austin — and now it is expanding again with service in Detroit, plus San Diego and Las Vegas. Detroit is significant because it’s Waymo’s first northern market. Waymo said the service is targeted to operate 365 days a year through rain, sleet and snow.
The service is also notable because it uses Zeekr minivans, the first Chinese electric auto brand on U.S. streets. At its inception in Phoenix, Waymo used Chrysler Pacifica minivans, which have been phased out over time.
“Starting next week, you’ll see us manually driving around the city as we familiarize ourselves with Detroit’s historic streets before moving to autonomous operations,” Waymo said in a press release. “We’ll arrive with a mixed fleet of all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles with the 5th-gen Waymo Driver and Zeekr RT vehicles equipped with our 6th-gen Waymo Driver, which will be key to driving in winter weather.”
Waymos are hailed by an app similar to Uber and Lyft. Waymo is the most-used robot service in the United States and is in fierce competition with Amazon’s Zoox and Tesla Inc. robotaxis to bring driver-free ride-hailing services to U.S. customers. The latter service, which recently started testing in Austin, Texas, with human monitors on board, aims to be more affordable than Waymo by eschewing expensive Lidar arrays and navigating solely by cameras.
Waymo said that it is coordinating closely with local officials, including the Michigan Department of Transportation and the city of Detroit, as it begins its step-by-step testing approach in the Motor City. Neither MDOT nor the city offered comments ahead of the Monday announcement.
“We’re proud of our roots in Metro Detroit, including in Novi, where we’ve had an engineering team for many years,” the company statement said. Waymo’s Novi office employs several dozen engineers, technicians and test drivers.
The company has prepared for its Detroit rollout through launches in other cities, closed-track testing and forays into areas like the Upper Peninsula with snowy winter conditions. A recent Waymo blog post discussed efforts to create an “all-weather Driver.”
The first phase of the Detroit rollout will feature human drivers manually operating the vehicles to collect a highly detailed, high-definition map of the city, Waymo technical program manager Jake Tretter said in an interview.
Once that phase is complete, the vehicles will roam the streets — supervised — using their autonomous technology while a human operator sits in the driver’s seat to make sure performance is safe and smooth.
The company did not provide a timetable for when testing phases would end and the public would be able to hail self-driving rides from the Waymo app.
“Our goal is to do it as soon as possible,” Tretter said. But he also stressed the importance of building “trust and understanding” so Detroiters are ready for an eventual full launch in the city.
“It’s harder to lose the trust and try to regain that than it is to slowly build that trust and make sure that we’re working in unison with the community and policy and legislators,” he added.
The Detroit expansion will “first and foremost” focus on the city’s urban core near Comerica Park, Ford Field and Little Caesars Arena before expanding out slowly from there.
Waymo began operating as a service open to the public in Phoenix in October 2020. Since its introduction in San Francisco in 2023, it has become a tourist sensation as well as ferrying locals on their daily rounds. Waymo has been validated over 100 million fully autonomous miles and 10 million-plus trips.
In May of this year, Waymo released a study saying that over 56.7 million miles, its vehicles had 92% fewer crashes with injuries to pedestrians and 82% fewer crashes with injuries to cyclists compared to human drivers. The company’s latest data show similar rates across 96 million miles.
Still, its robotaxis have faced scrutiny from safety regulators, including a 14-month probe by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into more than a dozen minor crashes in which Waymo vehicles ran into parked cars and other stationary objects. Waymo recalled 1,200 vehicles, leading NHTSA to close the inquiry, Reuters reported.
In addition to eventually opening its service to the public in Detroit, Waymo is partnering with organizations like the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan.
“For many people living with epilepsy, transportation is a significant barrier. The Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan celebrates organizations like Waymo, which are leading the way in providing accessible and safe transportation solutions,” said Andrea Schotthoefer, the foundation’s president. “Their efforts show what’s possible and inspire collective action toward a future where transportation barriers no longer stand in the way of opportunity and inclusion.”
A Waymo autonomous self-driving Jaguar taxi drives along a street on March 14, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
As domestic travel booms, many Americans still flock to the familiar — national parks packed before sunrise, selfie-saturated landmarks, cities so overrun with tourists their official mottos may as well be “Been There, Done That.”
Just beyond the beaten path, however, lies a less choreographed America where predictability gives way to surprise and encounters feel more personal, perhaps even profound. These destinations may draw steady crowds like their bucket-list cousins, but they glow with a gentler light: less mainstream, more meaningful.
If zigging where others zag sounds like your kind of trip, this great nation has a wealth of places that might just redefine what “must-see” really means. From California to Florida, these seven detours favor the road less traveled — destinations that may not rack up as many hashtags, but hold their own with standout sights, strong local flavor, and often with fewer crowds and fresher stories.
Lodi’s Wine and Visitor Center carries hundreds of bottles made from locally grown winegrapes. (Photo by David Dickstein)
For wallet-friendly California winetasting: Think Lodi, not Napa — While some snooty oenophiles may scoff at uncorking a grape getaway in California’s understated Central Valley instead of world-renowned Napa, open-minded and budget-conscious wine lovers should give Lodi a taste (visitlodi.com).
Craving a laid-back, grassroots vibe over one cultivated with polish and sophistication? That’s penny wise, not pour foolish. Tastings in Lodi typically run $10 to $20, and often the fees are waived with purchase. By contrast, just 70 miles west, expect to shell out $50 to $125 for samples, and good luck getting in without a reservation. Yep, Lodi welcomes walk-ins.
Among the region’s standouts is Harney Lane Vineyards, one of the few 100% estate-grown wineries in California. This family-owned gem (harneylane.com) offers a personally hosted flight of five small-lot selections — featuring zinfandel, the region’s signature grape — for as low as $20. The Wine and Visitor Center (lodiwine.com), also in town, proudly carries hundreds of wines made from Lodi-grown grapes, four of which can be tasted for just $12.
While Napa Valley has nearly 20 Michelin-rated restaurants to Lodi’s zero, that soon could change with the recent opening of Americana House (americanahouselodi.com). Michelin-starred chef Charlie Palmer has brought his signature progressive American cuisine to a destination known more for value and authenticity than refinement and luxury. Naturally, the months-old restaurant boasts the best wine list in town — yet another reason to zig (or zin?) where others zag.
For a Vegas nightcap: Think speakeasy, not lobby bar — You’ve painted the town and aren’t quite ready to cash in your chips after doing Lord knows what in Sin City. The easiest place to enjoy a nightcap is the lobby bar of your hotel. But if you’re of drinking age and prefer to swig with a zig, skip the obvious and go underground — not to a basement dive, but one of Vegas’ cool, covert speakeasies where the vibe is as smooth as the top-shelf spirits.
Bellagio (bellagio.com) has one that makes its lobby bar seem as old-fashioned as, well, an old-fashioned. It’s called The Vault, and the lounge’s whereabouts are on a need-to-know basis. But since it’s just friends here, this secret bar is nestled discreetly behind the live gaming tables on Bellagio’s casino floor, near the cashier. The joint is a masterclass in moody opulence with equal parts speakeasy, sanctuary and cinematic seduction. Stocked with some of the most expensive and rare bottles in town, and boasting a bar menu that makes no apologies for $60 cocktails, it’s as clear as VING vodka that The Vault is for Bellagio’s highest-end guests.
For those more comfortable with a $13 starter shot of Kentucky straight bourbon, there’s a speakeasy inside the Cosmopolitan that’s a cut above both literally and metaphorically. A working barbershop by day and live music lounge by night, The Barbershop (barbershoplv.com) is a sharp 180 from Cosmo’s neo-retro lobby lounge. Actually, when it takes slipping through a janitor’s closet to get inside, we’re talking something unlike any lounge anywhere.
For a blend of Arizona art and landscape: Think Bisbee, not Sedona — Both of these destinations are Arizona gems, but they shimmer in wildly contrasting hues. Sedona is beautiful and well-known for a reason. Its red rock scenery is dramatic, the hiking is excellent, and the town is full of spas, galleries and restaurants that cater to tourists. But it’s also busy — especially on weekends — and much of the experience feels inauthentic, designed for visitors.
Zag-worthy Bisbee (discoverbisbee.com) offers a very different kind of escape. It’s smaller, raw and far less crowded. The town has a strong local identity, shaped by its mining history and current community of artists, musicians and longtime residents. You won’t find chain stores or luxury resorts here — just quirky shops, historic buildings and a slower pace that feels real.
If Sedona is the place everyone’s heard of, Bisbee is the one they haven’t, but should. It’s not trying to impress anyone, and that’s part of the charm. For travelers who prefer character over convenience and want to explore a town that still feels lived-in, Bisbee is worth the detour.
The Adolphus Hotel is a grand, Beaux-Arts landmark in downtown Dallas. (Photo by David Dickstein)
For a Texas-sized vacation: Think Dallas, not San Antonio — Being home to the legendary Alamo, a vibrant River Walk and two major amusement parks has folks stampeding like longhorns to San Antonio for a vacation in the Lone Star State.
But let’s pour some of that famous San Antone picante sauce on those travel plans. Instead of remembering the Alamo for a Texas-sized trip, consider breaking off from the herd by heading north to “Big D.” Dallas offers up a more robust downtown scene, a larger and more thrilling theme park — Six Flags over Texas (sixflags.com) — and nearby Fort Worth with its cattle-crazy Stockyards (fortworthstockyards.com) and the colorful Cultural District where El Chingon Mexican restaurant (elchingon.com) tops an exciting food scene with its Pancho Villa-inspired flair.
As far as legendary downtown hotels are concerned, while San Antonio’s Menger is respected as the oldest continuously operating hotel west of the Mississippi River, Dallas’ Adolphus Hotel (adolphus.com) is the hands-down winner for Beaux-Arts grandeur meets modern luxury. Built in 1912 by beer magnate Adolphus Busch, the 407-room jewel is located within walking distance of museums, theaters and upscale shopping. You’ll want a healthy walk after enjoying afternoon tea in the hotel’s opulent French Room, a cherished Dallas tradition.
Ark Encounter in northern Kentucky is a replica of Noah’s signature project. (Photo by David Dickstein)
For a family-friendly menagerie: Think Kentucky’s Ark Encounter, not a traditional zoo — If you’re weary of zoos that feel more like concrete enclosures than conservation sanctuaries, consider a detour to northern Kentucky, where a colossal wooden ark rises from the hills like a myth made real.
The Ark Encounter (arkencounter.com) isn’t just a replica — it’s a reimagining of stewardship, scale and storytelling. Built to biblical dimensions, this seven-story timber-frame vessel invites visitors to step into a world where animals weren’t displayed — they were protected. With immersive exhibits, lifelike dioramas and a petting zoo that prioritizes interaction over spectacle, this attraction south of Cincinnati offers a gentler, more thoughtful lens on our relationship with the animal kingdom.
For urban Southern hospitality: Think Knoxville, not Nashville — Nashville isn’t called Music City for nothing. It’s got the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, Country Music Hall of Fame, recording studios and honky-tonks that all welcome toe-tapping tourists. But Nashville also is getting more crowded and chaotic — and more expensive — with every new flight added at Nashville International Airport. In fact, BNA had its busiest month ever in June when 2.4 million passengers passed through its gates.
Zigging to Knoxville 180 miles east will get you Tennessee-kissed Southern hospitality without Nashville’s drawbacks. Its music scene is turned down lower, but still holds its own from the storied, century-old Bijou Theatre to the outdoor stage at World’s Fair Park, where the iconic, 266-foot-tall Sunsphere proudly stands.
Knoxville knows how to treat its guests. Whether you’re savoring the prime hanger steak or rainbow trout at stylish Oliver Royale (oliverroyale.com) or sinking into the plush linens of The Tennessean Hotel, this city pairs refinement with warmth. Speaking of The Tennessean (thetennesseanhotel.com), each of its recently renovated 82 rooms is exquisite, an adjective that applies throughout the renowned downtown luxury property. The tea service, alone, is worth a visit — sweet, savory and seeping in Southern charm right down to the last drop of the hotel’s signature sweet peach noir blend.
For a Miami vibe: Think Coconut Grove, not South Beach — The crown jewel of Miami tourism is undeniably South Beach with its miles of white sand and turquoise water seaside and pastel-colored art deco hotels, restaurants and bars giving the neighborhood its signature retro-glam vibe. And if glamor, grit and tropical swagger are your Miami vices, by all means keep zagging.
Away from the sensory playground that is South Beach lies a zig-worthy community often described as Miami’s bohemian soul wrapped in lush greenery and waterfront serenity. Coconut Grove offers boutique hotels, trendy eateries, high-end shops, and a village-like vibe steeped in easygoing charm. Accommodations don’t get more chill than Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove (mrccoconutgrove.com), a 100-room boutique hotel with bay views and a rooftop pool, just steps from the shops and restaurants of Cocowalk. Even its exterior is cool – designed to evoke the sleek, curved lines of a luxury cruise ship, porthole windows and all. South Beach flaunts flash, but it doesn’t have this.
The Vault at Bellagio in Las Vegas is a speakeasy designed for high-roller indulgence. (Photo by David Dickstein)
Health insurance premiums in the Affordable Care Act marketplace could increase by an average of 114% for subsidized enrollees in 2026 if Congress fails to extend enhanced subsidies set to expire at the end of 2025.
The dramatic increase stems from the scheduled expiration of subsidy enhancements that have helped millions of Americans afford health coverage. Without congressional action, many people will lose their subsidies entirely, while others will see significantly reduced assistance.
"The primary factor that's driving premiums so much higher is the impending expiration of the subsidy enhancements," said Louise Norris, a health policy analyst with healthinsurance.org. "For people who get a subsidy in the marketplace, which is nearly everyone, the average premium increase is more than 100%."
Base premiums across the marketplace are rising by an average of 26% for 2026, but the loss of enhanced subsidies means the actual cost to consumers could be far higher.
Insurance companies factored the expected subsidy expiration into their rate calculations, anticipating that younger, healthier people would drop coverage due to higher costs.
Consumers can prepare by updating their marketplace accounts with projected 2026 income and household changes without immediately selecting a plan. If Congress extends or modifies the subsidies, people can change their plan selection up until the Dec. 15 deadline.
For those who cannot afford ACA marketplace coverage, Norris cautioned against non-ACA-compliant alternatives, which often exclude pre-existing conditions and may not cover essential health benefits.
The enhanced subsidies were originally implemented as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic but have been extended multiple times.
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