Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s Democratic Primary for the U.S. senate seat, even though he did not win the majority of votes in Wayne County. 

He says that stems from historic tensions between Arab and Black residents. Speaking on the WDET program The Metro, El-Sayed said the mistrust among Black voters is valid. But President Donald Trump poses a bigger threat to the state. 

“[Trump threatens] our ability to afford the basic things, and certainly the Arab and Muslim community, and certainly the well-being of the Black community. You think about the assault on the Voting Rights Act, led by the folks that he appointed to the courts. We have to come together beyond differences to recognize that we’re all in the same boat now, and we’ve got a responsibility to come together to build the future that we want.” 

El-Sayed argues his Republican opponent in the general election, Mike Rogers, will back any policy Trump wants to pass. Rogers says El Sayed’s progressive views are too extreme. 

Additional headlines for Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026

Pet vaccinations

The state veterinarian is reminding pet owners to make sure their furry friends are up to date on vaccinations.

Dr. Nora Wineland says pets are exposed to contagious diseases through wildlife, other animals, ticks, mosquitoes and pathogens in the environment.  Wineland says summer activities increase pets’ risk of exposure to contagious diseases. 

DNR hosts Beginner Backpacking

Anyone interested in being guided through their first hiking and backpacking experience can sign up this week for a DNR training in September.

Beginner Backpacking at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park will teach the basics of backpacking as hikers set up their first camp along the shores of Lake Superior before hiking through the woods and along Mirror Lake to the highest peak in the park.

The training is Sept. 18- 20. Registration closes Friday, Aug. 14.

Planet Ant party

Planet Ant’s Colony Fest and Summer BBQ are happening this Saturday. From 2 p.m. until midnight, the community can celebrate the training and performance space in its Black Box building with food, yard games, Mario Kart and a beer tent. Admission is free.

The Colony Fest Improv Tournament happens at Ant Hall across the street from 8-10 p.m. The event is a comedy showdown with the four troupes who won improv battles in July competing in a head-to-head championship. Tickets are $12.51.  

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

The Secretary of State has rejected a Republican Party request for a list of people who volunteer to be poll workers that would include personal identifying information. 

The state says the GOP wanted home addresses, phone numbers, birthdates and medical or disability status—and that that information is exempt from disclosure as a “clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.”

Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says sharing unredacted information could be used to target prospective poll workers based on party affiliation. She says sharing information that could be used to dox, threaten or harass would discourage citizens from volunteering to be election workers.

The Republican Party can appeal the state’s refusal. The state has also declined to share identifying information in voter rolls with the Trump administration. That position was upheld in court. 

Additional headlines for Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026

Gordie Howe crossing open to bikers, pedestrians Wednesday

On Wednesday, people will finally be able to walk and bike between Detroit and Windsor using the Gordie Howe International Bridge. 

The Detroit Greenways Coalition has created the Detroit/Windsor International Bike and Trail map. The map highlights biking and walking routes between the two cities. 

Coalition Executive Director Todd Scott says the view crossing the bridge is beautiful. “I know they already have high expectations, bicyclists and walkers, but I think it’s going to exceed those. It’s a smooth, beautiful, clear modern piece of infrastructure that I think is going to blow people away.” 

The bridge is toll-free for anyone who is walking or biking across the span; however, visitors still must go through customs.  

Michigan Supreme Court overthrows permit for Line 5

The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled against Enbridge’s oil and gas pipeline tunnel project that would run through the Straits of Mackinac. The “Michigan Public Service Commission” okayed the project to build the tunnel around the Line 5 pipeline after considering its possible environmental impact to the surrounding area. But the state’s highest court found Michigan environmental law requires a broader look at the impact continued operation of the entire pipeline would have. 

The issue now returns to the Public Service Commission for a new review. Enbridge is a financial supporter of WDET but has no input on its editorial decisions. 

Flint finishes inspecting water lines

More than a decade after the Flint water crisis began, city crews have inspected the last pipe connecting a home or business to the city water system for lead. The city has inspected more than 31,000 service lines since 2016 and replaced those made of lead or galvanized steel. 

Mayor Sheldon Neely estimates the inspections, replacements, and other improvements cost more than a billion dollars. 

Primary election today

Last but not least, it is Primary Election Day in Michigan. We will soon know who will move forward to compete for governor and congressional seats in November.

Wayne County voters also considered whether to expand SMART bus service, Highland Park narrowed its field of mayoral candidates and Detroit schools asked to tax businesses.

Check in with WDET and the Detroit Evening Report tomorrow for election updates. 

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

The Detroit Department of Construction and Demolition gave city council an update on the removal of the contaminated dirt in the city on Monday. 

The Department has replaced tainted backfill in more than 100 properties. That’s out of the 450 lots that were identified. The average cost of the fill removal and replacement is about $36,000 per site. 

Department Director Tim Palazzo says they have tightened up process for approving construction fill materials over the last several months. “The first thing is that we collapsed the number of sites and sources from which we receive fill material down to seven public pits. These only excavate native sand, gravel, soil from longstanding operations.” 

Palazzo says they inspect those sites on a monthly basis and send their staff—as well as a third-party environmental consultant—to oversee operations at the sites. He says they have also started sampling the fill before it even leaves the source site.

-Reporting by Bre’Anna Tinsley 

Additional headlines for Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Community discussion about ICE

The Southfield Neighbors Action Committee is hosting a community discussion Wednesday about ICE enforcement in Southfield. “What Does It Mean To Be A Good Neighbor When ICE Moves In?” will be moderated by Kermit Williams, political director of Oakland Forward.

Panelists include Elida Reyes from Community Action for Empowerment, Lauren Fink from Southfield Neighbors Action Committee, Dr. Patricia Talley from Mexico Negro and U.S. House Representative Rashida Tlaib.

The event is Wednesday from 6:30- 9 p.m. in Room 115 at the Southfield Pavilion at 26000 Evergreen Road.

Good Food for Michigan

Dearborn Public Schools has received a state grant designed to bring more Michigan-grown food to its cafeterias. The Good Food for Michigan Project is giving the district more than $460,000. Dearborn schools serve more than 3 million meals to around 20,000 students at more than 30 sites. 

The Good Food for Michigan Project is a collaboration between the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, the Center for Good Food Purchasing, and the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.  

Detroit Riverfront hosts art exhibit

People visiting Detroit’s Riverfront and Southwest Greenway can now take in a little bit of the DIA’s art collection. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is hosting the museum’s Inside Out project featuring large-scale reproductions of 7 works. The pieces will be in place until October.

Girls soccer clinic

The Hamtramck Parks Conservancy and the city’s recreation department are partnering to offer a girls soccer clinic on August 17. Women coaches and trainers will work with girls between the ages of 10 and 17 years old. Balls, nets and pennies are provided.

The clinic runs from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Veterans Park Soccer Arena at 8684 Joseph Campau. 

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

Houses of worship may soon be added to the list of sensitive locations where certain advertisements are not allowed within a 1000-foot radius. 

Councilmember Scott Benson says posting ads for things like alcohol and cannabis near a house of worship is inconsiderate. “You have your church, and then 30 feet from your church is a probably a 40 by 20 sign advertising King of Bud, just a level of disrespect and a level of just insensitivity to what we have here.” 

The Public Health and Safety Committee approved the changes to the amendment today. City council will choose whether to enact the changes at the next formal session. 

-Reporting by Bre’Anna Tinsley

Additional headlines for Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Gordie Howe toll deal

We’re learning more about the deal to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge on July 27. CBC News and other media report 50% of toll profits over the bridge’s first 15 years of operation will go into a U.S. development fund. President Trump had said he would not let the bridge open unless Canada agreed to share toll revenue.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens told CBC’s Power and Politics while the deal may look like a win for Trump, the U.S. won’t get much out of it. He said it could take longer than 15 years for Canada to recoup the cost of building the bridge before it would share revenue with Michigan. 

Canada spent almost $6.5 billion to build the bridge. The U.S. paid nothing. 

-Reporting by Pat Batcheller

Freedom Tour Detroit

High school students are invited to apply for the Freedom Tour Detroit 2026. The four-day program explores advocacy, civil rights, justice and Detroit history.

The Michigan Coalition for Human Rights, the City of Detroit’s Office of Veterans Affairs, Wayne State University and the American Civil Liberties Union are working together to offer in-person seminars and guided field trips between July 30 and August 2.

Applications are due by Sunday, July 19.

Summer Games at the Michigan Science Center

The Michigan Science Center’s After Dark series is back with “Summer Games” on July 24. This event offers those 21 and over a chance to explore science, sports and a little friendly competition.

The Penske Planetarium will offer a one-night only show featuring the “Olympians of the Night Sky,” Detroit City FC will be in the house with giveaways and photo ops, former Piston and President of the Motor City Cruise Durand “Speedy” Walker will speak, and adult games—including a 50-foot inflatable obstacle course, Warrior Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em and something called Hippo Chow Down.

National Coney Island is bringing classic and veggie coneys and there will be signature cocktails from the Byrdie Bar.

Michigan Science Center After Dark Summer Games is Friday July 24 from 6-10 p.m. Tickets are $35 for members, $45 for non-members and $30 for designated drivers. Learn more at mi-sci.org. 

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

Federal regulators say the autonomous vehicle company Waymo must stop its cars from blocking first responders. Waymo has been testing its vehicles in Detroit. The head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the agency found several cases of Waymo driver-less vehicles traveling into emergency scenes, blocking firefighters or failing to stop for flashing lights and flares. Federal regulators say they will meet with autonomous vehicle developers to devise ways to address the problem. A Waymo vehicle will stop, however, if it notices nefarious activity from kids riding in it. A Waymo car in California recently stopped in a parking lot and called police after two teens in its back seat allegedly began drinking alcohol and shooting water beads from a toy gun.

Additional headlines for Friday, July 10, 2026

Bar IX location coming soon?  

Detroit’s first women’s sports bar is crowdfunding to open a permanent space. Bar IX hosts pop-up watch parties for women’s sports. The bar has raised 65 percent of if its 125-thousand-dollar goal since the campaign kicked off on June 30. Organizers are giving away merchandise such as stickers, keychains, and t-shirts with donations. 

African World Festival

The African World Festival is this weekend at Hart Plaza. The festival celebrates culture and history with music, spoken word, food and a retail marketplace. The festival starts today and runs through Sunday. Visit Charles H Wright museum website at for more info and to buy tickets.

Lake St. Clair Metropark to receive updates

Lake St. Clair Metropark is getting 15 million dollars in improvements. The improvements include reopening the North Marina, expanding accessibility across the park, adding new trail connections and modernizing infrastructure. It’s the biggest investment in the park in decades. Renovations at the marina will fully reopen the marina with 78 boat slips for transient docking and bring accessible floating finger docks back to the North Marina basin. All renovations are expected to be completed by the end of summer 2027.

Detroit Riverfront tour

The Detroit Parks Coalition is hosting a free walking tour about the Detroit Riverfront tomorrow, July 11 from 10 a.m. to 11a.m. The tour will give an overview of the history of the riverfront as a well as more info on the newest Ralph C Wilson Centennial Park. Meet at the Dock, located near the Huron-Clinton Metroparks Water Garden across from the Plaza. Parking is available along Jefferson Ave, Rosa Parks, and in the nearby Bagley Mobility Hub and Assembly garages.

Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey is pushing back against the Trump administration’s decision to send Justice Department operatives to monitor the August primary election. The DOJ says it will be watching the voting in Detroit, Lansing, and East Lansing, which are Democratic strongholds. Trump has falsely claimed that fraud in Detroit cost him the 2020 election. Justice officials say they’re worried about compliance with election law and long lines at polling places. Winfrey says no such delays happened in 2024 because the state had adopted early voting.

-Reporting by Pat Batcheller

Additional headlines for Thursday, July 9, 2026

Growing Cyclosporiasis cases

The state health department says an outbreak of a parasitic infection has grown to almost 1 thousand cases. Cyclosporiasis causes severe diarrhea and other symptoms. Investigators have not found the cause of the outbreak, but people usually get it by eating contaminated fresh produce.

Health experts advise washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly and seeking medical attention if symptoms persist. They can last for weeks without treatment.

Money for new mothers

Republican House Speaker Matt Hall says he doesn’t want a state program that pays new mothers to get the 20 million dollars it is expecting from the new state budget. R-X Kids gives women 15 hundred dollars during pregnancy and 500 dollars a month for the first six months of a newborn’s life. Studies show it has reduced infant mortality in Flint, where it began. Republican Speaker Matt Hall says more traditional social safety net programs with tougher eligibility requirements should get the money.

“I’m hopeful that we’ll have a WIC program, that our child protective services will be well funded, that the cash assistance program will be well funded.”

R-X kids serves all eligible mothers in designated coverage areas regardless of individual family need.

Reporting by Michigan Public Radio Network’s Colin Jackson

Rental housing gridlock

Efforts to reform Detroit’s rental housing remain stalled… and advocates blame the city’s largest court for some of the gridlock. A lawsuit by the Detroit Tenants Union accuses 36th District Court’s Chief Judge of failing his legal duty by allowing landlords without a certificate of compliance to continue collecting rent.

Right now, only 14 percent of Detroit landlords are compliant with city safety inspections. Donovan McCarty represents the union.

“If landlords can keep going in to collect rent that’s not lawfully collected, then they have no incentive to actually come into compliance, and that I4 percent number will not grow to where we need it to be.”

The 36th District Court didn’t reply to a request for comment.

You can hear the full conversation at WDET.org or on The Metro podcast.

Grow Detroit Young Talent

City officials kicked off the 12th annual Grow Detroit’s Young Talent
Summer Employment Program Wednesday.

The program will provide over eight thousand summer jobs for kids in the city. It’s Mary Sheffield’s first year leading the effort as Mayor. Over 90 thousand positions have been extended to Detroit’s young people since the program began in 2014.

Leaders from multiple faith communities in metro Detroit are calling on state legislators to pass a Michigan Voting Rights Act after the justice department announced plans to send election monitors to three Michigan cities. 

Clergy gathered at Central United Methodist in Detroit and at locations in Grand Rapids and Lansing to show opposition to Trump administration policies speakers say are designed to threaten communities across the country. 

Hazel Gomez of Dream of Detroit says faith leaders will and must defend voting rights. “We will organize, we will train, and we’re going to de-escalate. And in the primaries in August and in the general election in November, our goal as clergy of all faith traditions is to stand at the polls, to accompany, and to watch over our beloved communities.”

Wendell Anthony of Fellowship Chapel in Detroit – and president of the Detroit NAACP is also calling on lawyers to join the front lines, saying “We’re not afraid to sue somebody.”  

Additional headlines for Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Bill to guarantee children with legal representation passes state legislature

A bill that would guarantee children access to legal representation in delinquency cases is headed to Governor Whitmer’s desk. The legislation would require the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission to create a system similar to the one used by adults facing criminal charges who may not be able to afford an attorney. 

If passed, the indigent defense commission would be required to have at least one attorney experienced in juvenile justice to help set the standards. The bill cleared the legislature last week with bipartisan support. 

-Reporting by MPRN’s Rick Pluta

National Wheelchair Games

The National Wheelchair Games are coming to Detroit this week. It is the largest annual wheelchair sports event for veterans in the world. Athletes compete in more than 20 events including basketball, swimming, track and field and boccia.

The 45^th National Wheelchair Games will be hosted by several venues and based at Hunting Place. The Opening Ceremony is July 9 with competition running through the 14.

Detroit Kite Festival

The 8^th Annual Detroit Kite Festival is Sunday on the Belle Isle Cricket Field across from the James Scott Memorial Fountain. Festivities kick off at 10 a.m. and run until 6 p.m. Plans include food, music and kites, of course. Kites are available for purchase. Learn more at detroitkitefestival.org. 

Public reading of Declaration of Independence at Greenfield Village

Sites across the country will commemorate the 250^th anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence with a simultaneous reading of the document Wednesday. Greenfield Village is one of those sites and invites the community to join the event for free.

Visitors will also hear live music, see historic vignettes and learn about Centennial games on the Village Green. The event begins at 5 p.m. The reading – synchronized with other readings across the state begins at 6 p.m.

No tickets, reservations or parking passes are required.

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

The Professional Women’s Hockey League held its draft in Detroit last month. Players from around the country and around the world were in town to secure a spot on one of its 12 teams – including the one that will play in the Motor City in the fall.

WDET recruited two young hockey players to cover the event.

Camila Sanchez is a rising sophomore at Cass Technical High School who played center last season with the Livonia Knights. Kyla Foreman played forward with the Downriver Otters before an injury took her out for the season. She’s headed to the 8^th grade.

Both girls learned to play in Clark Park’s hockey program – a program focused on introducing the sport to Latino kids and other kids of color, with a strong focus on girls.

During the PWHL Draft, Camila and Kyla attended press conferences, conducted interviews and recorded events.

They met women who already play for the PWHL, the women who lead the league, and the women who were top prospects for spots on teams across Canada and the U.S.

Camila and Kyla share their memories and reflections on the experience with WDET’s Sascha Raiyn, including their encounter with defender Laila Edwards.

A man who allegedly threatened a Madison Heights Mosque was arrested today. On Sunday, someone left voicemail messages threatening the Islamic Community Center on Dequindre near 11 Mile Rd. Police say the man said he would kill people and suggested Muslims are terrorists. 

The Council on American Islamic Relations Michigan chapter praised police for their swift action in identifying a suspect.  

Additional headlines for Tuesday, June 30, 2026

SCOTUS rules in favor of ending TPS

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Trump Administration’s efforts to end Temporary Protected Status. TPS allows people fleeing violence abroad to live and work in the US. The ruling may affect people from Lebanon, Haiti, Honduras and Burma, among several others. 

Republican Steve Frisbie represents Michigan’s 44th state House district, which includes the Battle Creek area, home to a Burmese community of thousands.

Frisbie says he supports the high court’s ruling, but adds that people fleeing Burma should apply for asylum.

“I’m all in favor of letting them come to the country. Sort them out and look at them on an individual basis or a family basis to figure out what they’re fleeing from and why and if it’s legitimate and they’re not from the military side of things in Burma.” 

The government has deported thousands of immigrants while they waited for courts to hear their asylum claims and some who showed up to their hearings were arrested. 

Detroit meeting of immigration advocates

Immigration advocates met in Detroit to adopt a list of policy goals. Strangers No Longer is a Catholic-led organization active across Michigan. The group adopted policy objectives to bring to people running for state and federal offices. 

Those include allowing people to secure driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status, more oversight of immigration detention centers and for local police to stop working with federal immigration enforcement. Advocates also want more due process protections for detainees.

Whitmer threatens to recall troops

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is threatening to bring home 170 Michigan National Guard troops from Washington D.C. if the Trump administration uses them for crime and immigration enforcement. 

Whitmer says she deployed the troops to assist with security for celebrations surrounding the country’s 250th anniversary. 

Great Lakes Museum announces paint-by-number project

The Dossin Great Lakes Museum has announced the art for its community Paint-by-Number project. Brontae Williamson’s “Currents in Color” was chosen after the museum accepted submissions this spring.

The 32 by 8 foot mural will be painted by the community over the summer then hung on the museum building on Belle Isle. The Dossin says it will release information to the community soon about how people can come to paint. 

Dan Robbins is the Detroit-born artist who developed paint by number. 

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

The Zekelman Holocaust Center has a horse chestnut tree grown from a sapling of the tree Anne Frank could see from the annex where her family hid from the Nazis.

The  ‘Anne Frank Tree’ is mentioned in the Diary of a Young Girl written by the 12 year old before she was killed in the concentration and extermination camp at Bergen-Belsen.

The Zekelman’s Jamie Miskowski spoke with WDET’s Sascha Raiyn about the tree as a living testament to the story of the Holocaust.

“She wrote about it several times in her diary. About how seeing it gave her hope, a sense of connection to the outside world,” said Miskowski. The tree is an example of spiritual resilience—where someone living through the worst of times still sees something positive in the world.

The original tree outside of the Anne Frank house began to get sick in the early 2000s, and the Zekelman applied to raise one of its saplings to keep its legacy alive. It was one of around a dozen initial recipients.

Having a living artifact poses new challenges with caretaking, but it also resonates strongly with guests and staff as a symbol of Anne and other Holocaust victims’ lasting legacy.

“I also like to think about it as a symbol of the over 4,000 Holocaust survivors who came to Michigan after the war,” said Miskowski, “who themselves put down roots and built new lives, new families, new legacies, careers that outlive them, and found ways to thrive right here in our community.”

The Zekelman Holocaust Center plans to add a multimedia exhibit about the tree to the Anne Frank Gallery in 2027.

 – WDET’S Natalie Albrecht contributed to this story.

This story was edited on June 30, 2026 to correct the concentration camp where Anne Frank died and the photo credit. 

This story is a part of WDET’s ongoing series, the Detroit Tree Canopy Project.

Detroit Police shot a teenager who was running away from them after they arrested another teen near Campus Martius downtown.

Chief Todd Bettison says officers approached a group of young men and arrested one who was holding a suspicious-looking backpack. He says they searched the backpack and found a gun in it. An 18-year-old started walking away from the group and officers chased him.

Bettison says the officer who shot the fleeing teen feared for his safety. This happened a few hours before the annual fireworks over the Detroit River. Police said the teen was shot several times and is in serious condition. 

Police also arrested minors who violated the city’s 8 p.m. curfew and held them 
until a parent or legal guardian came to get them. (Batcheller/Raiyn) 

– Pat Batcheller contributed to this report

Additional headlines from Tuesday, June 24, 2026

SCOTUS rules against Michigan family

The Supreme Court ruled today against a Michigan family who said their rights were violated when their county sold their house for less than half its open-market value to cover a tax bill of just over $2,000.

Isabella County maintained that auction sale prices are always lower than open real estate transactions. It said requiring foreclosure prices to match the open market would essentially end those sales.  

Project documenting Native boarding schools reaches close

A project that gathered testimonies from more than 360 survivors of Native American Boarding schools has finished its first phase. The Tulsa-based National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition collected video oral histories from Indigenous survivors across 19 states.

The stories will be preserved in the Library of Congress. The project aimed to document the systemic abuse endured in boarding schools and how survivors found healing. 

It identified eight boarding schools that operated in Michigan. Three are still open.

Huron Valley warden on leave following inmate deaths

Jeremy Howard, the warden at Michigan’s only women’s prison has gone on personal leave after three deaths at the Huron Valley Correctional Facility.

The Michigan Department of Corrections told the Detroit Free Press today the leave is “personal and unrelated to current events.” The deaths of Khaira Howard, Rebecca Fackler and Ashley Hoath are still under investigation.

A former corrections officer at the facility was sentenced last week for criminal sexual conduct involving an inmate. The warden at the Cooper Street Correctional Facility in Jackson has been temporarily assigned to lead the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility.  

PWHL announces outside investors

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) announced the Illitch Company is one of its first two outside investors. Toronto-based Kilmer Sports Ventures is the other.

Mark and Kimbra Walter founded and funded the league in 2023 with hundreds of millions of their own dollars. Mark Walter is the owner of the LA Lakers, the Dodgers, and the LA Spark.

The PWHL has not yet turned a profit but just two and a half years later has doubled its size to 12 teams – including Detroit’s scheduled to play at LCA in the fall. 

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

Wayne State University has announced the inaugural director of its Detroit Center for Black Studies. Dr. Richard D. Benson comes from the University of Pittsburgh where he was an associate professor. His work has focused on the Black radical tradition in education. The university cites Benson’s work as an examination of the intersections of Black intellectual traditions, education, activism, and social movements.

The Detroit Center for Black Studies, it says, is being established to “create an interdisciplinary… Detroit-rooted center for scholarship, teaching and public engagement that reflects both the richness of Black Studies and the unique intellectual context” of the city. 

Additional headlines for Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Company contracted for Solar Neighborhoods goes under

One of the companies contracted to build arrays for Detroit’s Solar Neighborhoods program has been sold. The city is looking to DTE Energy to take over.  

The company Lightstar was contracted to build 63 acres of solar fields in the Gratiot/Findlay and State Fair Neighborhoods for phase one of the project and 19 acres in the Houston-Whittier/Hayes neighborhood for phase two. 

Detroit Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Trish Stein told city council that tax credits for the project are scheduled to expire by July 4, so a decision needs to be made soon. “You heard it today, the residents came and they talked to you about some have got their energy efficiency upgrades, some have not. Ninety-seven of those 209 homeowners have not had their energy efficiency. They have been waiting for over a year.” 

Stein says DTE is ready now to take over the project. Lightstar was expected to start construction early this year. 

Gordie Howe Bridge opening

Officials will cut the ribbon on the new Gordie Howe International Bridge in southwest Detroit on Friday. The Detroit News and the Free Press cited sources with knowledge of the plans who did not want to be identified.

The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority would not confirm the reports but said it expects to open the bridge for traffic soon.

Trump threatened to block the opening unless Canada agreed to share toll revenue with the United States. Canada paid for construction and co-owns the bridge with the state of Michigan.

Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told a Senate panel that Customs and Border Protection agents are ready to go.

-Reporting by Pat Batcheller

Michigan ranks worst for child wellness

A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranks Michigan worst in the Midwest for overall child wellbeing. The Kids Count Data Book bases its scores on education, health, economic wellbeing and other factors. 

The data come mostly from 2024, meaning the impact of some recent steps the state has taken don’t show up. 

-Reporting Colin Jackson/MPRN

Conversation about media bias and Palestine

Arab Americans for Progress, Pluto Press and Source Booksellers are bringing a conversation about media bias and Palestine to the Arab American National Museum Thursday. Adam Johnson, author of the book “How to Sell a Genocide” will speak with moderator Bilal Baydoun.

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to register on Eventbrite.

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

The Madison Heights City Council voted to cut “Drag Queen Story Time” from their Pride festival days before the event. The story time event would have featured drag queen performer Jadein Black reading books to children during the city’s celebrations.

Council members voted 4-3 to cancel it, due to concerns about the “appropriateness” of a drag queen reading to children.

Black told Fox 2 she was surprised the city canceled the program. Black says instead she will be performing a drag queen story time this weekend at Sidetrack in Ypsilanti. 

Additional headlines from Thursday, June 4, 2026

New hangar opens at Detroit airport

A new 20,000 square foot hangar opened at the Coleman A. Young International Airport on Detroit’s east side Wednesday.  

It’s the first new facility to open at the airport in 60 years.  

Mayor Mary Sheffield says it’s the start of many investments in store for the airport.  “We are continuing major investments into our airport, including runway and taxi upgrades, safety enhancements, the upcoming My Flight helicopter tour facility in the new Benjamin Davis Aerospace Academy that will be opening this fall.” 

The new hangar was planned, designed, and built by Avflight. The company has operated at the city airport since 2011.  

Incentive increases attendance in DPSCD

The Detroit Public Schools Community District says nearly 84% of high schoolers were paid for attendance this year. That’s roughly 12,800 students who received at least one $100 visa gift card for showing up to class everyday between January and May this year.

District officials say absenteeism decreased by 10 percentage points this school year compared to 2023-24 before the incentive program began. The district launched the initiative last year as part of an effort to curb chronic absenteeism. 

Free Dutch Girl Donuts 

Friday is National Donut Day, and Detroit staple Dutch Girl Donuts is celebrating by offering free donuts at its new second location in New Center.

Customers can receive two free donuts while supplies last from 8-10 a.m. at its location on 2820 E. Grand Boulevard.   

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

Detroit Police want to extend their contract with ShotSpotter before it expires at the end of the month. But DPD officials tell city council they’re searching for alternatives to the technology. 

Detroit City Council has expressed concerns about ShotSpotter’s surveillance tech in the past and they have questions about the effectiveness and security of the system. 

DPD Officer Mathew Pencil frequently responds to ShotSpotter incidents in the city’s ninth precinct.

He told council members that hearing gunfire is so common in the city, that sometimes residents won’t even call 911. “Sometimes residents are afraid. Sometimes they can’t tell where they came from, or they assume someone else will call. ShotSpotter doesn’t hesitate, it doesn’t panic, it doesn’t look away. It alerts immediately, and it gives the chance to intervene while seconds matter on the street.” 

Pencil says ShotSpotter’s surveillance is the reason police responded after 66 shots were fired in one neighborhood on the night of August 17, 2025, minutes before anyone called 911. 

The city’s Public Health and Safety Committee voted to postpone a decision on the contract until next week in order to hear from residents first. 

-Reporting by Bre’Anna Tinsley

Additional headlines from Tuesday, June 2, 2026

UAW strike

About a thousand UAW members went on strike at the Dauch Corporation factory in Three Rivers Monday. Dauch is the company once known as American Axle. The Three Rivers plant is the company’s largest in Michigan. It makes axles for General Motors. 

The union says Dauch is refusing to restore fair wages after the workers took cuts during the Great Recession. UAW President Shawn Fain kicked off the strike with a video saying “no contract…no axles.”

The Detroit News reports the strike could disrupt production of pickup trucks in Flint if it goes on for more than a couple of weeks. 

Pheasant Flock Party

This weekend, you might want to pop into Detroit’s first ever Pheasant Flock Party. Brewery Faison and the Detroit Bird Alliance are co-hosting the event Saturday where Michiganders and Michigeese can partake in a bird festival block party.

There will be a bird impersonation pageant, a “crow-off,” bird-themed workshops and games, a “pheasant strut” (as one does) and a meet and greet with Fabio the Pheasant.

The Pheasant Flock Party is Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. at Brewery Faison at 1087 Beaufait Street on the city’s east side.

Vault of Midnight hosts game night

Vault of Midnight hosts its monthly game night Sunday in Hamtramck. This month’s featured games include Wondrous Creatures, High Society Yokai Carnival, some tiny games and more.

Detroit Vault of Midnight Game Night is every first Sunday from 5 – 8 p.m. at Florian East Lagers and Ales at 9350 Joseph Campau in Hamtramck. 

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

Eid Al-Adha starts Wednesday. The three-day holiday commemorates the sacrifices of the Prophet Ibrahim and marks the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca.

After the attack on a San Diego mosque earlier this month, Eid celebrations are a focus of heightened security and interfaith solidarity.

The Michigan Multifaith Clergy Rapid Response Network is inviting Christian clergy from across the state to gather outside the Dearborn Civic Center from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Wednesday to stand in solidarity with members of the Islamic faith.

The Rev. Shannon Jammal-Hollermans, an organizer of the event and pastor of First Congregational Church of Christ in Lowell, says Christians are called to show public support for the Muslim community at a time when anti-Muslim sentiment is high and could increase during election season.

A coalition of Muslim congregations has granted permission for the gathering. Christian clergy planning to attend are asked to register. 

Additional headlines for May 26, 2026

Study finds most Michigan firefighters have average PFAS blood levels

A Michigan Department of Health and Human Services study finds that most firefighters in the state have average levels of PFAS concentration in their blood.

Firefighters have been thought to be at greater risk of PFAS-related health effects because the chemicals are found in firefighting foam. However, the study indicates most Michigan firefighters have similar PFAS blood levels as the general population.

The data does show airport firefighters have significantly elevated PFAS blood levels compared to those who work at residential departments. MDHHS researchers say more work is needed to determine exactly why that is.

More than 1,000 firefighters from departments across Michigan were tested to compile the data.

Two candidates disqualified from Michigan’s 13th Congressional District race

The Wayne County Clerk has disqualified two candidates in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District.

Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett says neither Democrat John Goci nor Republican Raphiel King gathered enough valid signatures to qualify for the August primary ballot.

That means incumbent Democrat Shri Thanedar’s only challenger will be state Rep. Donavan McKinney. The winner will face the only GOP contender, T.P. Nykoriak, in November.

Detroit’s Spirit Plaza reopens after renovations

After six months of construction, Detroit’s Spirit Plaza has officially reopened.

The downtown space underwent a $2.9 million renovation and celebrated its redesigned space with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 23.

The plaza now includes a new playground, a covered stage, more green space and an improved seating area. An official grand opening will be held June 6.

A former Detroit Police sergeant accused of raping six women and girls will stand trial. The Detroit Free Press reports Benjamin Wagner faces 20 charges, including criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping. 

Prosecutors allege that he committed the crimes between 1999 and 2003, attacking females ranging from 14 to 23 years old. He was charged in March, based on DNA evidence from a rape kit that sat in storage for years. The survivors testified against Wagner at his preliminary hearing. 

His lawyer argued some of their stories had changed over the years. A judge ruled that enough evidence exists to let a jury decide.  

Additional headlines for Tuesday, May 19, 2026

DHS may end TPS for Burmese refugees

The Department of Homeland Security wants to end Temporary Protected Status for Burmese refugees. TPS allows those fleeing dangerous conditions in their home country to live and work in the U.S. 

TPS status was granted when the U.S. declared the mass killings of the Rohingya people a decade ago to be genocide. A federal judge postponed the effort to end Temporary Protected Status for Burmese refugees. DHS claimed conditions were safe enough for refugees to return.  

Detroit sidewalk repairs

The city currently has a backlog of 6,300 sidewalk repair requests. Some residents have been waiting up to five years for a response. 

Detroit City Council approved an $8 million contract two weeks ago to fix the sidewalks and allocated an additional $1.5 million in carry-over funds from the previous budget. 

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield says when she was on city council, she constantly received questions about sidewalk repairs. “Oftentimes I think we think about big developments and big investments that residents want and deserve in their neighborhoods, but it’s also about simple quality of life things like lights and sidewalks that residents deserve to get addressed.” 

Officials say the backlog should be cleared by the end of this construction season. The city is now taking requests for 2027.  

-Reporting by Bre’Anna Tinsley

Chemical clean up

Monsanto and the state of Michigan have reached a settlement to help pay for cleaning up PCB contamination. 

PCBs are a class of chemicals that had a wide range of industrial uses before they were banned. They’re linked to cancer, weakened immune systems and neurological disfunction, among other things. 

PCBs are particularly troublesome because they persist in the environment and build up in the food chain. For example, the state has had to issue advisories warning people not to eat certain types of fish because of contamination.

Attorney General Dana Nessel says Monsanto has agreed to pay somewhere between $108 million and $240 million once the settlement is paid in full. As part of the deal, Monsanto does not acknowledge any wrongdoing.

It will be up to the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and the Department of Natural Resources to develop cleanup plans. 

-Reporting by Rick Pluta

Local governments prepare to spend opioid settlement money

Local governments in Michigan are sitting on $176 million from the nationwide opioid settlement. The attorney general’s office reports that cities, townships, and counties have spent less than 20% of the money they’ve received since checks started going out in 2023. The funds are supposed to help communities reduce drug overdoses and deaths. An adviser to the Michigan Association of Counties tells Bridge Michigan some local governments are preparing to spend part of that money this year.

Last year, Michigan recorded the fewest drug-related deaths since 2013. 

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The schools Cheryl Sanford attended growing up in Highland Park are closed now—as are all of the schools children in the city attended at that time.

Shrinking population left schools empty and in disrepair. Now, the Highland Park School District authorizes one of the two charter schools in the city. Barber Preparatory Academy teaches kindergarten through eighth grade. There is no option for Highland Park students to attend high school in the city.

Sandford is the current president of the school board. She spoke with WDET’s Sascha Raiyn as part of our Crossing the Lines—Highland Park series. She says her vision for the kind of education the city can offer in the future comes from her experiences of what used to be.

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.