Gov. Gretchen Whitmer turned heads this week when she said she will not run for president in 2028.

Speaking with Fox 2’s Roop Raj at the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Mackinac Policy Conference, Whitmer said she plans to take time off after her tenure as governor ends.

“I’m looking forward to taking a break…there is time until 2028. There will be a robust group running for president. I will not be one of them.”

Later in the day, during a conversation with Tricia A. Keith, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Whitmer clarified her remarks.

“I never knew I would run for governor. I should know better. Never say never.”

Whitmer said she does not want to be distracted by speculation about future political plans and remains focused on governing through the end of her term in November.

Additional headlines for May 29, 2026

Whitmer signs $152 million Selfridge funding bill

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation on Mackinac Island earmarking $152 million in state funding for improvements at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

The funding is intended to prepare the base for new F-15EX fighter aircraft announced by President Donald Trump in 2025.

Whitmer said the investment was made possible through bipartisan cooperation.

“We secured the KC-46 tanker mission thanks to President Biden…last year we secured the F-15EX fighter mission thanks to President Trump. Together these missions will lock in Selfridge’s future.”

The governor said the base supports 5,000 families through jobs and emphasized the economic impact of the investment.

Detroit sports roundup

Tigers open series against White Sox

The Detroit Tigers begin a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox this weekend.

The Tigers remain near the bottom of the American League Central standings and are looking to gain ground with a strong showing in Chicago.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:40 p.m. ET Friday at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Detroit City FC faces Charleston Battery

Detroit City FC travels to South Carolina this weekend for a USL Championship Eastern Conference matchup against the Charleston Battery.

The clubs last met March 28, when Detroit earned a 1-0 victory at Keyworth Stadium behind a strong defensive performance.

Saturday’s match will be played at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

Detroit to host transportation technology conference

Detroit will host transportation leaders from across the country during the Intelligent Transportation Society of America Conference and Expo, taking place June 9-12 at Huntington Place.

Organizers expect more than 3,000 public- and private-sector transportation professionals and 170 exhibitors to attend the annual event.

The conference will feature more than 100 sessions focused on real-world deployment of intelligent transportation systems, including artificial intelligence, automated vehicles and connected mobility solutions.

More information is available at ITSAmericaEvents.com.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

The man accused of setting a fire inside Huntington Place has been charged. Deshawn Victor Harrison was arrested on Friday, May 8 and has been charged with two counts of arson. 

Harrison is accused of walking into Huntington Place on April 26 and using water bottles filled with gasoline to douse the carpet before setting it on fire. 

Huntington Place released a statement saying: “there was no impact to guests… staff or scheduled events.” 

Harrison is in the Wayne County Jail with a $100,000 bond and is due back in court on May 18.

-Reporting by Jonathan Roden 

Additional headlines for Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Michigan ranks low on disability employment

Michigan ranks 44th in the nation for disability-inclusive employment according to a ranking created by EVERWAY, a company that provides solutions for Neurodivergent and autistic individuals. 

The ranking measures employment rates across states using data from disability statistics dot org which found in 2024 only 42.4 % of the people in the State of Michigan with a disability were employed. 

-Reporting by Jonathan Roden 

Metroparks teach swimming, water safety for all

The Huron-Clinton Metroparks hopes to teach 5100 people to swim this year. Its Everyone in the Pool initiative has worked to increase water safety and swim skills for children and adults – especially in communities of color where people are less likely to learn to swim.

They point to data that suggests Black children between 5 and 19 are 5 times more likely to drown than white children the same age, and their own study which found 70% of children in Detroit have little or no swim experience. Huron Metroparks is offering free swim lessons in partnership with the YMCA.

To register for lessons, visit metroparks.com/everyone-in-the-pool.

Summer youth programs at The Yunion

The Yunion has opened registration for two summer youth programs. Level Up Workforce & Leadership Development Camp will allow rising 9^th and 10^th graders to focus on both academic and work skills during its free 6-week program.

And the Keys 2 Life Performing Arts Program will give kids between 11 and 13 a chance to focus on music, dance, theater or digital media with some academic re-enforcement thrown in.

Registration for both programs is open until June 5. For more information visit the theyunion.org/camps.

Vintage Fest this weekend

Camp Dearborn is hosting Vintage Fest this weekend with three events happening at the same time.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Classic Car Show will showcase restored and preserve classic autos, The Friends of Camp Dearborn Flea Market will offer one-of-a-kind homemade arts and crafts. It runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The annual Tin Can Tourists’ Open House will give visitors a gander at more than 100 vintage trailers and coaches from as early as the 1930s between noon and 3 p.m.

Camp Dearborn is a 626 acre park located in Milford but owned by the City of Dearborn.

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Detroit police and fire departments have released a video of a man who started a fire inside Huntington Place last month.

Officials say on the morning of April 28 a man poured gasoline onto the carpet in the convention center’s first floor concourse and set the carpet on fire.

Police are looking for information about the man – dressed in all black, wearing a grey face mask and carrying a black backpack. Anyone with information can contact the Police Department’s Fire Investigation Division at 313-596-2940. 

Additional headlines for Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Michigan Supreme Court hears lawsuit against House Speaker Matt Hall

Union members and lawmakers will gather at the State Supreme Court Wednesday to support sending several bills passed during the 2023-2024 legislative session to the governor for her signature. Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall has held the bills back. The court will hear oral arguments this week.

The 9 bills affect pensions for corrections officers, health insurance premiums for public workers and garnishment policies for low income residents – among other issues.

Judge halts termination of TPS for Yemenis

A judge in the Southern District of New York has stopped the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Yemeni nationals living in the U.S.

Then Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced in March that Yemen no longer met the conditions for TPS designation. TPS protections and benefits were supposed to end May 4, but District Judge Dale Ho said last week that the Trump administration did not follow the law when it revoked TPS status for people fleeing armed conflict in Yemen.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule this summer on DHS attempts to terminate TPS status for Haitians and Syrians. 

High school marks end of first E-sports season

Denby High School has wrapped up its first E-sports season.

School leaders say video gaming has already led to higher grade point averages. The E-sports program at the Eastside school offers students the opportunity to compete with other schools in gaming, commentating and graphic design.

Korran “Ms. Que” Whittake tracks student progress in the E-Sports program. “I want to see kids really getting into school and using this platform… to really get into school and doing something that they like,” says Whittake. She hopes that the E-sports program leads to higher GPAs and more opportunities for students.

The E-Sports program has already led to one student receiving a full scholarship to Olivet College.

-Reporting by WDET’s Jonathan Roden

Drinks x Design

Drinks x Design will explore product design in the city. The event will shine a spotlight on Caroline Del Guidice, Jimmy Ward, Ryan Kahen, Kyle Stahler, The Duey Dealer, Eric Strebel, Botzen Design, Vidit Singh, Shayla Johnson, All Motion Studio, Hanna Garza and more! 

Drinks x Design is May 7 at Vander Design, with music by Ember LaFiamma and food by Waka Street Food. The event is free but reservation is required. 

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.